A SCOURGE FOR A DEN OF THIEF'S. Master, is it I● Mar. 14, 19 Matt. 26.22.25. LONDON, Printed by J.C. for the Author, 1659. A SCOURGE FOR A Den of Thiefs. DO we live in an Age that it is a shame to speak the Truth, or Danger to Proclaim the Glory of God? Let the Children of him that was a Murderer from the beginning, and a Liar, (Joh. 8.44.) Let them that make a Lie, believe a Lie, (Rev. 22.15.) Let them that believe a Lie love a Lie, 2 Thess. 2.11. The Truth is, JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY ONE LAWGIVER. To others may be Legislative Powers many; 1 Cor. 8.5, 6.) BUT TO US THERE IS BUT ONE LAWGIVER, who is able to save and to destroy. (Ja. 4.12. Isa. 33.22. Eliah was but one against 450. 1 Kings 18.22. And Micajah but one against about 400, 1 Kings 22.6, 8.13, 16. Behold, I Peter Chamberleu, Doctor in Physic, do once again bear Witness, That if the Laws of God be set up, in the Name and Title of the Laws of God: And the corrupt Laws of our Heathen and Antichristian Forefathers, and of our more corrupt Lawyers and Courtiers be abolished; There shall be more equal Distribution of Justice, even concerning Meum & Tuum (besides other Matters) in one year than hath been done these 500 years by Kings, Parliaments, Councils, Armies, or People, by all the Laws of men; and all People shall rest satisfied. But if men go on to prefer Man before God, and to prefer the Laws of Men before the Laws of God; I do hereby Testify, That my Soul is guiltless of the OATH that lies upon the whole Land, wherein both Parliament, Army, and People were engaged. I said in Print, If Public Goods and Lands were sold, the Parliament would remain in Debt: and the Soldiers unpaid, AND IT IS SO. I said in writing, That God would Chastise the Parliament, AND IT WAS SO; for this Men thought me Mad. I lost four years' Attendance on the Parliament for the Public Good; yet I had many Friends amongst them. I lost both Houses, Lands and Goods by Committees, and Officers of Parliament and Protector: I lost the Rewards & Wages due to me from the late King; yet have done service unto all without Recompense. I ask none, but the fruit of mine own Labours, which is not yet granted. 'TWAS GOD MADE ABRAHAM RICH. Gen. 14.23. & 14.1. LET MY VOICE AT LAST BE HEARD. We shall not need to envy Holland for Trade, nor the Indies for Wealth. There need be no complaining in the streets, nor Soldiers want Pay. We shall no more feel the oppression of Taxes, Assessments, or Excise, but there is Remedy for all; And 500000 li. at Stake for performance: If yet we forbear contriving the Public stock into private Pockets; and set up a sufficient employment for all Poor: And make an Everlasting, Honourable, Well-grounded Peace, with the Uuited Provinces, by countermining the Jesuits of both Nations, and advancing Trade; All which, may well be done: And for which the Pawn of 500000 li. shall be laid down (which is more than King or Parliament, Protector or Committee ever laid down for their fidelity, without the taxing of the People; though they have been trusted with Millions and Millions, and the Work no forwarder than you see this day. Nevertheless, Shall faith be found on Earth? (Luk 18.8.) or English Lawyers destroy English Laws? Thy Kingdom come (O Lord) Thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven. (Matt. 6.10. Salus Populi Suprema lex If the Parliament, whom the Lord hath hitherto Honoured with the Authority, or the Army to whom God hath vouchsafed the Power of the Reformation we now enjoy, are pleased to take this Scourge into their hands, and grant what tends thereto, without injury to any: I will undertake upon my Life, to bring those that will lay down the 500000 pound, and engage much more, that the things herein mentioned shall be performed in every Punctilio; But if they will neither do it, nor accept of it, nor suffer it to be done, then for certain, God will overturn, overturn, overturn, till he come to whom the Right is. I am not ignorant how difficult that work must be, which hath been the Engagement of Parliament, Army and Protector: yet not effected. I am not Ignorant what sum of Money must be raised yearly, to keep the Officers and Soldiers, and Navy, in constant Pay and maintenance. I am not ignorant what a vast sum it is to offer 500000 li. Advance. I am very sensible how highly Men in Power will Resent it, if I should fail of my undertaking, and all men beforehand will give out their several Verdicts. I am very sensible, how my life is exposed to the fury of the Soldiers, if they want their Pay. I am no less sensible, that I cannot escape the fury of the People, if once they have Tasted the sweets of Freedom, and be again betrayed or entangled into Bondage. Nor am I ignorant how contemptible the thing itself may be for my sake, Though, give me leave to ask one Question, Whether, if I had fed as fat upon the Public purse and kept back mine own, and could as easily dispense with Engagments as some Wise men of this Nation, who were once less than myself, I might not have been as wise, and as soon believed as they? But I am very well assured, that this very Proposition will be my Witness in the Day of the Lord; that I have been faithful and no Liar, but have spoken the Truth from my heart, and have not hid my Talon in the day of Trial, though I have long kept silence, waiting when others, more near the Helm, would accomplish the Work. Therefore, if accepted, I desire all Treaties may be in Writing and Printed that no misprisions might disadvantage the Good in ended; and that all the World may Witness, whether the defect shall lie in me or others. The Postscript. Whilst the Leaden Letter walks slowly to the Press, I hear of JEALOUSY stepped in between the Parliament and Army, Commissionating her two Favourites (the invisible Jesuit, and long incensed Malignant) to Divide both Them and their Spoil. Machiavelli is admired for his Learned Dictate; of Hypocrisy, and she walks confidently both into Churches, and Councils of State in all Countries, till at last advanced to Power, she grows weary of her Mask and discovers her Face; But JEALOUSY inspired with Fatal Prophetic Fire, consumes the Thrones of Kings, and Coins their Crowns into Thorns: making the boldest Tyrants fearful to enjoy what once they longed for, and lose what through Labour, Blood and Perjury they have obtained to. Oft with prophain Feet she Tramples on the chastest Beds, and cruelly converts them into Graves, making the dearest friends the greatest enemies. O Jealousy, What hast thou done? Rather, what hast thou not done in England? But the wisdom of God is above all. 'Tis Jealousy doth threaten the Soldier a disbanding, to provoke his Power. 'Tis Jealousy reminds the Parliament of their long interruption to inflame their Authority. 'Tis Jealousy bids the People remember their manifold unjust Plunders and Taxes to affright them with a decay of Trade, Poverty and manifold Miseries, till that (despairing) they harken not to Moses, though he foretell their Deliverance. I know myself despicable and despised. And many had rather perish than be saved by my means, though forced to follow some of my former Counsels. I know the Work Great, Difficult, and Terrible. Yet, Oh yet! let Aaron's Censer divide between the Dead and the Living; What is passed cannot be Amended. Who can recall yesterday? The noise of 500000 li. may fright all the Usurers in Town, lest I mean them; and turn the Scriveners (as once) a grazing. The noise of maintaining an Army of 30000 Men, and a Navy of 100 sail of Ships, and maintaining a swarm of Poor besides, shuts up the Tradesman's shop, and locks the Merchant's Coffer for fear lest I mean them. But to resolve the doubt; Doth any think it impossible for 500 noble, well-minded, godly men in England, each to advance 1000 li. a piece, to Redeem Themselves and their Posterity eternally from slavery and Taxes, and be repaid in time their own again? Or do they suppose, All my numerous acquaintance so inconsiderable, that I know not where to have the sum, should the number be wanting? I have already 50 Worthies in London, but Doubts and their former sufferings, have cautioned them as yet to conceal their Names, lest a Snake may be in the Grass and a Hook in the Bait: There hath been such fishing for Money these many years. Were it impossible to unite these 500 Worthies in Counsel (when this Paper hath purchased a good report) that they may first debate the weightiest matters: And so offer them to the Parliament and Army, for a better Stamp of Power and Authority. Then Treat with Agitators for all the several Regim●ts of Soldiers, to condition their Pay, employment and maintenance; And with trusties for all the several Shires, about employing the Poor, and taking off all Taxes? Shall the industry of Holland maintain a constant Army by Land, relieve All comers, welcome All strangers, set out a formidable Navy at Sea, Oppose and weary the richest Kings in Europe, having neither Fire, Water, Earth, Aire, Iron, Wood, nor Stone, etc. to boast of? And shall we fear to maintain ourselves, who have all these in abundance! MAN ONLY MAKES MAN MISERABLE. 'Tis God makes all things good. I have said. Nor will I further Court Men to their happiness: Though neither Parliament, nor Army, nor yet the People will believe me, Shall they hate me for my good will? My Treasure is above. God is my exceeding great Reward. O ENGLAND! SIN NO MORE LEST A WORSE THING COME UNTO THEE. Joh. 5.14. FINIS.