A Considerable QUESTION ABOUT Government, (Of very great Importance in reference to the state of the present times) Briefly Discussed.  
WITH A Necessary ADVICE TO THE Governors and Governed.  
By ISAAC PENINGTON, (junior) Esq  
May 9  
LONDON, Printed for Giles Calvert, at the black spread-Eagle at the West end of Paul's. 1653.   

A QUESTION ABOUT Government, etc.  
THe Question is this: Which is better, both for the Good, Safety and Welfare, both of the Governors and Governed, Absolute or Limited Authority?  
Absoluteness is a full Power of Government without interruption, without rendering an account, residing in the Breast, Will or Conscience of the Governor or Governors.  
Limitation is a circumscribing of this Power within such certain bounds, as the people, for whose sake and benefit Government is, shall think fit to confine it unto, for their good and security.  
Now without Controversy great is the advantage of Absoluteness, both to the Governors in the execution of their Duty, and to the People towards their reaping the fruit of Government; supposing the person or persons who govern, to be men of knowledge and integrity, whose Judgements and Consciences are not liable to be deceived or perverted.  
Laws cannot fully answer the needs and necessities of men, many may need a Law before it can be made: nay Laws are usually much needed by the people, and they suffer much through the want of them before they have them: but a standing clear free Light and full Power might effect this.  
But now in respect of the corrupt estate of Man, who is too apt to bend all aside to his own advantage with the prejudice of others, this root becomes evil, and brings forth the worst kind of fruit. It brings forth Slavery in stead of Liberty, Oppression in stead of Ease, swallowing up the good and happiness of the People in stead of nourishing and preserving it.  
It is the happiness of Man to be governed by Rules of Righteousness: To have these freely, purely, swiftly and fully framed and dispensed. This may be best done by an absolute Government. But because of man's corruption (which always lieth lurking in him, and is still ready to issue forth from him, when it espieth its opportunity) it is impossible this should be rightly ordered and administered: And we find daily, that by Absoluteness in Government the People are exposed to slavery, their liberties, yea their very lives subjected, not to righteousness in another, but to the corruption of another. So that Absoluteness of Government, take it as the state of things now stands, is no other than a giving up of the estates, liberties and lives of the People into the jaws of unrighteousness, into the hands of a selfish Power.  
This then is the plain result; Absoluteness is best in itself, but limitations are safest for the present condition of man. But what if God (from whom both these had their being, continuation and blessing) be striking at the root both of Absoluteness and of Limitedness, showing the weakness and insufficiency of both, and turning them upside down as fast as he discovereth it? For my part I desire to be silent concerning these things; not only outwardly before men, but even inwardly in mine own Soul: According to which propensity, I hasten to a conclusion, only adding one word of advice both to the Governors and the Governed in these tottering times.  
My advice to the Governors is, That they undertake not to bring forth that which is not in them. He who stands below, when he looketh on those above, easily espieth many miscarriages in them (though not always justly) making no question of amending them, when he himself comes in place, and is invested with Power; but doth it prove so? The Parliament seemed to spring up with a more excellent spirit, undertaking to rectify that which was crooked in the foregoing Government, but did they indeed and in truth effect it? The Army seemeth to rise up with a more excellent spirit than they: but what their thoughts and intentions are, and what will be the success, the Lord only knoweth, (for man himself knoweth neither his own heart nor ways, seldom being what he still taketh himself to be.) He who is of counsel with the Lord, may know what he intends; but alas how easily may all the good purposes of man fall to the ground, and he prove the great Introducer of that which he proposed to himself to be the Deliverer from! There is some times a sudden blast of the Lord, leading man towards that which is righteous; but so soon as man is exalted, he forgets the Lord, and returns into himself, and in that very day all his good thoughts die and perish. Man so soon as ever he comes into place of government, his heart is immediately lifted up above his brethren, which temper maketh him unfit for government, and prepareth the way to his own ruin. The wind of the Lord is strong, O take heed of exaltation! The wisdom, heart, and spirit of man is narrow and weak, Oh take heed of undertaking much! The true oil is very rare and scarce, O who can do the work of the Lords anointed!  
My advice to the Governed is, but this. Expect not that fruit from your Governors, the root whereof is not in them. Did man ever bring forth righteousness or peace? Have ye not yet had enough of looking for Reformation and amendment of things from this or that party? O Lord God what a poor Reformation and settlement is it, which man desires, and yet how far is he from attaining it! In the midst of all his travelling pangs, he travels but with the wind, and can bring forth but a whirlwind. Who hath shaken this State? Is it not the Lord? and do ye think man can settle it? If ye yourselves were Governors, ye would act like those that had gone before you; and having the same spirit of selfishness and injury in you (though ye see it no more in yourselves, than they did in themselves) how dare ye be so bitter against them? Be still, be quiet, and ye shall see that the Lord will deal with those that oppress you. There is no power of unrighteousness and oppression, shall be able to found itself so deep, or settle itself so strong, but the Lord will shatter and raze it. If the Lord hath designed (and be arisen in this Land) to break open the gates of violence and oppression, woe be them who henceforth, under any pretence whatsoever, step into the seat of it. There shall henceforward be no peace to the wicked, saith my God; but only a little stillness and security, while his foundation is undermining. Fear not the hand of the oppressor because of his height or irresistibleness; for, for this end is all this, that God might glorify and exalt himself in his downfall and desolation; which when it is perfected, then shall it be said and sung with joy, Come and see what desolations the Lord hath made in the earth. Only be not ye too busy, but kiss the rod; and complain not so much of the iniquity and unrighteousness of others, but mourn bitterly over that root, nature, and vigour of it which is in yourselves.  
There is indeed a great truth now held forth, That the Saints shall govern the world, which is the very interest of the world, though they know it not: for the nature and happiness of their life dependeth upon the nature and happiness of the life of Christ. When the Spirit of Christ is poured out upon, and springeth up in his Saints, they shall be able to effect this: But if they who are not this in truth, shall take this upon them (or if they who are in it, in the root and nature of it, shall step into it too soon) they will not only fall short of effecting what they aim at, but in stead thereof will bring forth the clean contrary, viz. the greatest unrighteousness established by the strongest and most unrighteous Law. The Law of the spirit of Christ is the easiest, the best, the sweetest: but the Law of the Spirit or corruption of man, under that vizard is the worst. Oh that this so long-captived-Nation, could lift up their eyes towards, and wait for, the salvation of God  
FINIS.