A PEACE, but NO Pacification.   

A PEACE, BUT NO PACIFICATION. OR, An Answer to that new design of the Oath OF PACIFICATION AND ACCOMMODATION. Lately printed. A subject for all that love true peacè and liberty, to consider.  
By John Saltmarsh, M.M.A.  
LONDON, Printed by Barnard Alsop, and are to be sold at the Castle in Cornhill. 1643.   

A PEACE, but NO PACIFICATION.  
IT is a notion more Platonical than real for a private man to think he can arbitrate imperial differences, and it is rather an act of fancy than judgement, a policy of Imagination, than State, for the soul of one is of no just latitude nor comprehension for a design of that breadth, as the Pacification of a kingdom, and when the judgement proves too narrow for the design, the design must needs fall short of the requisite proportions; and further, they that would intervene in such controversies, and mysteries of high Accommodations, must be situated geometrically for both sides, and stand upon so much vantage ground, as he may have a full prospect over all particulars, whether springing or full blown. As for instance, if you would compose the King and Parliament, you must either have a right and clear cognizance of both, and see almost the veriest atoms in the state of both, or else you shall do right to neither; for the least things are of moment in States, and politics, and I do believe it is impossible for any to be so qualified an Arbitrator for our supreme disputes, being so full of new Revolutions, and Interpositions, especially now, when an Almighty power seems to mingle, and incorporate his own Interests with ours, and engage us upon new Fundamentals.  
And though Accommodation be such a subject as will gain both Readers and parties, yet it is of dangerous consequence, to write unto the spirits of men, of things that may retard and stay their public pursuits; especially now in a time of an Irish Accommodation; for there are few in such haste after their enemies, but they will stay a while and talk with any that can parley and discourse of Peace; and the music of Pacification is so sweet, as many could willingly let their engagements fall out of their hands to harken and follow such tunes: we should be far better Statesmen for these times, if we first laboured to find the true elevation of things, for when we have such intrinsical variations in our State and Church, it cannot be an act of commensuration to weigh designs at the beam of old politics and Conveniences, and they that would now place us upon old bottoms, are such in whom the old interests prevail more than the new, and if we take hold of them to guide us, they will at length bring us back into as bad a condition as we have forsaken; although they may seem to lead us about a while through some new and pleasing conceptions to entertain us from observation. It was a smooth fallacy of the Prophet, who led his enemy so far, as he suffered him not to see the mistake, till he had brought him into the midst of Samaria. The peace and prosperity we have had, have wrought in us such principles of ease and indulgency, as makes us industrious in projectings after Pacifications, never looking forward at inconsistencies, nor behind at consequences, nor about us, at the season, and other circumstances.  
For Accommodations in the latitude of the notion, are of such a contexture, and intermingled constitution, as they usually take in various and equal principles from both. Now I appeal to any whether the others Principles either Religious or civil be consistent with ours now, and whether they be such as can dwell together, or incorporate, whether their essences and operations be not divers, and being so contrariant as we see, and having wrought out each others interests into several independencies and stations already, how shall these be reconciled! unless we attain hereafter to live under those heavenly and prophetical influences, where Antipathies and Contrarieties are made friends, Where the Lion and the lamb lie down together, and the children play with the Cockatrice.  
Again, Accommodation is the putting an untimely period to our Reformation, which by that must necessarily be prevented in the period it aimed at, because it seems to be met in the half way, and we bespeak it to stop, and bring with us a new design rather of diversion, than advancement or propagation.  
And again, these times are such as the infuosins are stronger, and the principles too, being enabled not only by many divine influences and providences and concurrencies; but carried on with Arguments, and reason, and treatises, which the contestations of former ages in this kingdom never knew; each party assuring their side with a more learned Artifice, so as men are now acted as well by conscience as passion, as well by judgement as resolution, and this is one reason with me that not any such pacification can well be transacted, for both sides have been so Argumentatively and rationally informed, and have taken in their own fundamentals so deeply, and in so much divinity, and assurance, as it is not possible nor probable to mediate a reconciliation till you have loosened and unhinged the one; and therefore these Maxims of Moderation & Accommodation are rather the issues, and ingenious experiments of Melancholy spirits, who please themselves and others in these storms, and gloomy seasons, by painting twilights and calm interludes; or else the subtle incantations of some that are no right wishers to the cause: and do we not further see how the wars and broils of preceding ages, left always a turbulent and inflaming remainder in the dispositions of men? so as the old differences and effusions did only forsake the broader and wider passages of battles, and sought out straiter, those of Emulations, duels, and quarrels, and men have rather fought the great Contentions over again in the Abridgements afterwards, so as the war was still the same in such unsound Pacifications, only the method was new, and the blood of those warm distempers flowed down only in narrower channels, and thus when civil contentions, and national flames are forced back again by the hand of an immature Pacification, they broke out in as many particular combu●tions, as summed up, would make a competent destruction. And besides all these considerations, the Parliamentary party have obliged themselves by vows and Covenants, and so are not such masters of times and circumstances, as their enemies are; (having given up their own relations and self policy, and involved them in more universal and sublime ends) but their enemies (whose interests are of a lighter and easier, and more sequacious constitution) are ready to turn with all advantages of State, and every civil or gainful emergency; and though they be men of obligations, and Covenants too, yet their Covenants are rather like engines of Policy and Religion, to open and shut at pleasure, and to set down and take up their souls and affairs to the necessities, conveniences, and occasions of State: and this overthrows the very substratum and fundamental of this new Oath; for when there hath been such private landing places and secret posterns in their own Covenants, to go out and come in at, it is most likely that if they find not the like liberty again in another, they will force it; it being now made by wicked Counsellors one branch of the Prerogative to be transcenden● to Obligation, and Protestation, and Covenant, and to make the supremest violations and evasions lawful, but the woe will not fall so directly upon the Covenanter, as upon those that have mistaught him, and drawn out his good intentions into the labyrinths of their own art, these are the ministers of seducement, & by such are the best carried on, (having made some virtue their friend for a time, or some peculiar disposition of their master at their first insinuation.)  
And though the Author of the Pacificating Oath would persuade us of the terrors, and judgements, such oaths would cast upon the violators, as if the violation brought with it (like a boding Comet) the sparklings of an heavenly indignation; yet we must know that Princes as they are exalted into the divine notion of Gods, so their Favourites make them believe that their political deity can secure them; and then there are ever some State Casuist at hand too who can heal their distempers with many a blandishment and evasion, so as I know not whether to admire more the glory, or infelicity of a crown, for there is a Divinity which is calculated merely for the Meridian of Princes, and will fit no lower condition; and there is an order of Prerogative Divines, who only study the disinteressings and disobligings of their Prince: now I would gladly know what remedy he hath reserved for us in case of violation (it being too apparent how the supremest may be misinstructed and abused,) all I can find out, is an heavenly indignation & revenge; and he must know, this is not an immediate judgement which treads always on the heels of a transgression, but may be poured upon the next succeeding Throne, or at least in the evening of the offendor; for there are certain gradual effluxes of the Divine Wrath, and many stays and periods which his Infinite wisdom makes, and is not accountable to our Tribunals; and what shall a State do then in this space and interval to judgement? for being then made passive again, it becomes a subject to as much, if not more tyranny, than before: and usually the revolt of Prerogatives, and the Relapses are more dangerous than the first excess: as the wrath of Pharaoh and Saul after some particular violations grew more implacable and violent: and as we see in civil Stories of our own: and the reason why a relapsing power becomes more vindicative, because there is a capacity of revenging recovered, and there seems to lie nothing in their way to break the stroke.  
Nor let the Author of the new Oath think he can be more ingenious in contriving, than some Ministers of State in eluding, nor so exquisite in the form, as they in their suggestions and infusions for violation: 
Cap. 29.  and whatsoever he tells us of the ancient transaction in such cases, I must answer him, that if he can revive the 
(a) Tanti nimirum est Rerump: firma & valida fundamenta poni, quoram non postremum hoc fuit, ut fides ac iuramentum civitatem regerent. Liv.  ancient reverence and simplicity and faith of those ages with the ancient transaction, than I shall allow more to his precedent: but he knows that the 
(b) Principi nihil iniustum quod fructuosum; Expediret autem fingere contrarium atque ita iuramentum concipere, non afficiam populum iniuriis. Lib. 5. pol. c. 9  machiavelism of later times have made a maxim in the science of politics, how to overwit their own obligations, and have made it one part of the perfection of a Statist, 
(c) Sic Julius 11 Pontifex iactare ausus est, turpissimo hercule exemplo se foedera & societates cum Gallis Germanisque non aliter contrahere quam fallendi gratia.  to be too wise for engagements: and though the wisdom of the first coalition in this State made it their surest design to seal the Inauguration by an Oath, yet we see there is no infallibility in such counsels and acts; no protection from the violence of evil counsel: and such hath been the declination of States of late, that oaths were but in the reputation of politic forms with many, unless it be with those who drive on a holier design, as that of Reformation, and with such, Covenants and oaths have their just reputation, as it appears in the late transactions of Scotland, and other Reformed kingdoms, and of England now; and this appears to be the opinion of this author too, for in his sixt page, he urges much the stately and sanctimonious form or solemnity, as of necessity amongst Plebeians, so as by that very notion, he pleads the pomp and Ceremony of an oath so as if he would have it by that access of some glorious lustre, to dart the people into an obligation, as well as the Prince; when as there are many safer, and more natural means to becalm the jealousies of Subjects, even a real application to their affections, in the motions of justice, 
Quale erat Atheniensium & hodie multorum principum viro populum nullis iniuriis affectum iri, Plebs enim iuramento hoc contenta, & veluti secura de reliquis non admodum erit sollicita, etiamsi postea magnis iniuriis afficiatur.  and Peace, and Religion; and that people shall never take umbrages, where the goings of the Prince are clear and discerneable, and not shaded by the crowd of Privadoes and bad Ministers; but in a word, when the first and Primitive oath which is the highest and most supreme rise of an obligation, is not inviolable, nor includible, what strength and assurance, can be in derivatives and supplementals of the same nature?  
Nor do I think it a design of that happy and wholesome constitution as some take it, I mean an oath of Pacification, for satisfaction of jealousies, for there is an art to take away all jealousies, and in the room bring delusions of assurance, and so thicken and incrassate the satisfactions, that people shall in time forfeit their liberties in a mist, and scarce believe they are oppressed, till they be oppressed almost beyond a remedy; and this nation hath been ever easily carried on into such an incredulity and misbelief, and have often served many years apprenticeship both of ignorance and bondage.  
Nor will any wise man suppose that to be a good condition for any State, especially for a government so mixed as ours, which ought ever to be looking to the just Interests of one another, especially after a season of encroachment and exorbitation: for to take in such a remedy as shall leave no jealousy behind it, is to take in such a quantity of Opium as will rather bring a Lethargy than a kindly rest, and rather make a kingdom stupid than peaceable; surely those remedies are best, which keep States waken and sensible, and the eyes of the kingdom open. And as there is a jealousy in some which is but a virtuous luxuriancy of love and affection, and tends only to the preservation of honour and propriety in the suspected party, so there is in the best States: & sure there is no such way to keep things in their own rights and privileges, but such a solicitous and careful vigilancy, and wise suspicion.  
That which I now conceive to be the only Interest of our Reformation, is not a Pacification but a Peace. For a Pacification is a more proper and safe notion for foreign States than our own, for a Pacification is but the accommodating of a difference, and a meeting of several principles, and a resolving to agree with one another, without any further incorporation, but this cannot be intrinsical nor natural enough for us of the same kingdom, this is no such indistant complication as we should now aim at, and as our new & holy fundamentals call for: our purest & soundest peace would be from a succumbency & invalidity, when on the worse part the opposition is spent & exhaled, than there is no fear, that there will break forth any fresh and mutual Contendings, and there must needs be more security in that peace where all possibility of resistance is taken away, than where there lives two natures of proportional abilities and passions, which would prove like the two men in the Fable, who being weary with beating one another, took truce for an hour's refreshment, and fell fresh to their blows again.  
A Peace then and not a Pacification is our assertion, and I hope all who value a Reformation according to their Covenant, will pursue those things which make for that, and suffer themselves not to be taken off their holy and famous resolutions for Peace, by any fair or specious argument for Pacification, Pacification being but the half way to Peace, and this I conceive is the Peace which will make both England and Scotland happy, not so much by inventing any new engines to bind our Kings in chains, and our Princes in fetters of iron, but by endeavouring such an extirpation of Popery, prelacy, and malignity, as our Peace may be rather secured by a disability of contending, than by any new Oath or possibility of resisting.  
For any further criticism upon the Author I have none; I confess he reasons well upon many particulars, and makes his ink rise high, and dash handsomely upon those that stand about the Throne, and had he reached further with his pen even to a Peace, and writ but beyond a Pacification, he had writ well.   

A Review.  
I Shall gather his design into this compend.. An Oath and ceremonious form for the King, another for the Queen, and the temeration being so dangerous, he thinks we are secured sufficiently: and he presumes, (having laid down this form) to lay upon it this weight, the honour of God, safety of Religion, 
P. 1.  justice of Parliament. I confess the Oath abstractively considered is able to bear this, and a larger superstructure; but when concretively and pactionately taken, let all judge who knows there is a revolution in the highest orbs, and a changeableness and mutability in every thing to the very borders of immortality.  
In the ceremonious form he seems to aim especially at the satisfaction of the people, 
P. 6.  and he pleads for the attiring and apparelling the Oath in some glorious ceremonies: but popular satisfactions in true Christian States are more solidly obtained by just and free and regular redresses: I know very well that gusts of discontent will be blowing sometimes from the people upon the best administrations, but they will soon blow over, God having obliged himself not to suffer the rod of the wicked to rest upon the lot of the righteous.  
And for the Oath to the Queen, 
P. 1.  I only expose to the consideration of any, what security or assurance is there in such Fundamentals which an Absolution or Dispensation, or other jesuitical engine can overturn at pleasure, though I could tell him more too, for at the privilege of this Oath he must needs let in a toleration of that which the condition of our Covenant cannot comply with.  
〈◊〉 word, for any such obligationall happiness, let the States of Holland reply, who have had too sad experience of the many effusions which the ministers of that tyrannous Philip had contrived, and especially now, in the season of the universal apostasy, wherein Faith shall not be able to grow up to so just a stature as formerly, being a qualification (saith that holy assertion) scarce to be found on earth.  
And though this way of obligation and satisfaction hath been made use on (as he says) by God and man, yet we must know God hath an essential immutability to ensure his oath, and man had a fidelity then, which was not so well acquainted with the artifice of reservation, equivocation, and elusion.   

Conclusion.  
NOw consider the frailty and uncertainty in such foundations as oaths, the complexion and obligation of our late Covenants, the evasions and machinations of a reconciled enemy, the inconsistency of our principles and theirs, the fresh feuds from the remainders of an old combustion, our deep engagements, our small purchase for the expense of so much blood and treasure, and tell me if there be any security but in some things beyond an Accommodation.   

To the Reader.  
I Have no other quarrel to the book than its incongruity to our Reformation and Covenant, and civil liberty and security, though it may be this is a misfortune rather of the author's affection than intention; which making too much haste after Peace, fell into this error of Pacification: I could wish his excellent expressions had flowed in a better channel: nor would I be mistaken by others in what I do, for I undertake not to write in a politic, out a rational capacity.  
Quod si Pompeius & Caesar conjungi possint, me satis vicisse putabo. Bald. in Ep. ad Cico●.  
FINIS.