A General Cry: FOR THE KING To come sit with his PARLIAMENT IN HIS Former Splendour, Honour, and Royal Majesty; or the Kingdom is undone, etc.  GEN: 49. 9 10. 
judah is a Lion's Whelp, from the Prey, and as an old Lion: who shall rouse him up: the Sceptre shall not departed from judah, nor a Lawgiver from between his feet.  
Printed in the Year, 1648.   

A general Cry: for the King to come sit with his Parliament in his former Splendour, etc.  
THe general Cry hath been a Personal Treaty, and is now aaking, aching, The King must come home to sit with his Parliament in his former Splendour, Honour, and Majesty, or the Kingdom is undone, His Person is no ways liable to Justice; for he is the Lords Anointed, His Person is Sacred, the Kings of Izraell were so, they were immediately set up by God, and he only hath power to pull them down; It is granted that the Kings of Izraell were tips of our Lord Jesus, the King of the Church, and in that respect were only Anointed, and Sacred; but not as his Anointed one's, whom Jesus Christ hath made Kings and Priests (or Princes) unto God, and his Father, Rev. 1. 6. concerning whom God saith, he reproved Kings for their sakes, saying, touch not mine Anointed, nor do my Prophets no harm: Nay Kings shall be given for them, and these Kings of the Gentiles, were immediately constituted & set up by the people. And thus the Kings of England have received their ancient Splendour, Honour, and royal Majesty, and have been interressed, entrusted, and absolutely authorized, and impowered, with the execution of Law, both for their own, and the public good, and safety of the people, that all, being regulated, and protected, might be every one contented with their own propriety, and right, the Person of the King being subject to Law, and all his actions ruled by it. Thus the King's Prerogative is the bounds of liberty, and the people's obedience declares their allegiance, they may not contest one against another. The King's power doth not extend to act any thing contrary to Law, nor hath he power to make Laws, that hath been always reserved unto the people, as their principal Prerogative, inherently in themselves, & the only means for the public good, and safety of each, & every of them; but wholly committed at all times unto their grand trusties. Next under God, the high Court of Parliament, the heads of their Tribes, the Kingdom representative, persons chosen from among themselves, who should be of singular wisdom, and integrity, Exod 18. 21. such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness, and well acquainted with the people's necessities, that they may thereby be able to make good, and suitable Laws, for the good and relief, of all and every one, the King by his Office, and his Oath being only bound to confirm and maintain, all those Laws so made, in a Parliamentary way, for the public good and safety of the people, this is the supreme rule, all Laws are derived from hence as their Fountain, and end in this as their proper Centre. All Actions that oppose this rule are against Law, and the eminency of the person so acting, aggravates the offence, and declares the foulness of the Rebellion and treason, nor ought any such to be protected in life, limb, or Estate; but whosoever shall any ways contrive or endeavour to subvert the fundamental Law of the Land, by acting in an arbitrary and destructive course, shall suffer for it as the highest Treason, because 'tis against the public good and safety of the people: this was the Earl of strafford's, and William Land Arch Bishop of Canterbury their Case, who were adjudged, condemned, and executed for it. But it is well known, that the King hath done far worse than they did, not only endeavouring, but with a high hand practising the subvertion of the fundamental Laws of the Land, and the destruction of the Kingdom, not only for many years together in the times of peace; but at last by setting up his Standard, and proclaiming open War upon his Parliament, invading the Kingdom and people, & fight against them so long as he was able, persisting in full opposition to the Parliaments humble suits, and Declarations made unto him, showing the manifest danger he would expose his person and people unto, when he should so do, and that therefore they were bound in duty and Conscience to defend the Kingdoms, against him and all his wicked Councillors and adherents, most traitorous proceed against their lives, Estates, and liberties, whensoever he should make War upon the Parliament, who proposed no other end unto themselves, but the care of his Kingdoms, and the performance of their duty and loyalty to his person, (and therefore) that whensoever the King maketh War upon the Parl. it is a breach of the trust reposed in him, by his people, contrary to his Oath, and tending to the dissolution of this Government, that whosoever shall serve and assist him in such War, are Traitors by the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom, and have been so adjudged by two Acts of Parl. and aught to suffer as Traitors, (Parl. Declara. 20. May 1642.) 11. Rich. 2. 1. Hen. 4. And yet the King did proceed in setting up his Standard, and waging an open War upon the Parl. and against all his good and loyal Subjects, contrary to his Oath and duty, not regarding their public good and safety, and thereby put them out of his protection, and dissolved their allegiance to him. And this may be one reason the right Honourable, Sir Thomas, now Lord Fairfax, his Excellency, and the now Army took their Commissions only for the defence of the Kingdom and Parl. and have done most righteously in it, God sealing unto it, by his blessing, in giving them extraordinary, and unheard of success, to the subduing of all those traitorous forces, and captivating the King, so that we see by the Parl. Declarations, and the King's practices compared, that the King is wholly elapsed in his Splendour, Dignity, Honour, and Majesty, and stands guilty of all the precious blood shed in these 3. Kingdoms, besides all the rapine, and ruins, of million of people, now providencially confessed by him, in his signing the preamble & the first Proposition, fully justifying the Parliament, of performing their duty, in all their proceed, in defence, & for the safety and preservation of the Kingdom and people, and hath made himself culpable in the eye of the whole world; surely then it is but a foolish thing to think he shall ever be granted a negative Vote, that were to take away the privilege of Parl. for making any Laws, but such as the King wills, be they never so useful for the people. And to grant him the Militia were to arm him with power to wreak, his wrath upon all that have opposed the pernicious courses of him and his adherents, & to exclude the Parl. and people in the future, from all means of defence, when their enemies shall invade them in their rights; what reason is there then that the Parl. shall protect the King from Justice, and bring him home to sit among themselves, seeing he hath rejected their wholesome advice and Council, humbly offered unto him in due time, even as Sihon King of the Amorites, rejected the Council, and Messengers of Jeptha, and Israel, humbly offered unto him, he not regarding them; but dissolving all amity with them, did fight against them to the loss of his life and Kingdoms. Our King being much more bound in duty for the public good and safety of his Parl. and people, (than Sihon was to Jepthae and Israel) yet dissolving all bonds of duty, he perpetrated an unjust and wicked War, to the incredible destruction of his most faithful people, & quite contrary to his many Oaths, and protestations made to the contrary. Nor hath he ever manifested any sign of repentance by setting against his wicked Counsellors, and adherents, desiring they may be brought to condign punishment, nor showing any grief for his great offence committed against the Majesty of God in thus setting against the public good and safety of the Kingdoms and people. Again, what reason? of his former liberty to sit and act with the Parl. he being at their dispose, is this the way to secure themselves and the people (who have always stuck to them, and suffered with them) from all future dangers, will not a poisoned Fountain corrupt every stream, and rivellet it can have access unto, if it be not cut of. Again, if you say he is their Father, and Husband, and they are his wife and Children, with whom he ought to have cohabitation, and Communion, as the only means to cure all distempers in the Kingdom: Argue rightly, the Husband hath adultrated his bed, and spent his strength, with harlots and strangers, having exposed himself by a loathsome and poisonous sickness unto death, the Father hath murdered a multitude of his best Children, and would gladly kill the rest, being a prisoner for it, is it therefore fit he should have cohabitation, and Communion with them. Can this be the only means, to cure all distempers in the Kingdom, esspecially now he hath dissolved his interest of a Father, and Husband, almost to this great Families destruction, but irreparable loss  
Again, consider with what expense of blood, loss of friends, Estates, and hardship, the faithful of the Land, have by God's singular goodness unto them, at last overcome Giants of difficulties, and now being at some rest, quietly possessing and enjoying their lives, liberties, Estates, and Laws, anciently and naturally inherent in themselves, & now theirs by right of Conquest also. How can they now surrender themselves, and all they enjoy, (in a most slavish manner) unto their conquered enemy and prisoner, that he may possess all as his own, and rule them at his pleasure and will. You know that Jeptha and Israel would not part with that right which God had pessest them of, not full 300. years, unto their then enemy, but not conquered prisoner, the King of Amon, and yet it was not theirs, but the Amorites, by original right, they only won it, and did wear it by the Sword, and God's goodness to them. judg. 11. 19 20. etc.  
Again, consider how the King's personal presence with his Parliament can produce personal unity, seeing the Lord hath said, the soul that sinneth, it shall die, Zek. 18. 20. by this means they may bring not only his sin, but all Gods righteous Judgements belonging to the King upon their own heads; for thus saith the Lord, because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction: therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people. 1 King. 20. 24. May not God most justly say this unto the Parliament, if they let him go free.  
Again, the eminency of the King's person, and sin, doth no ways extenuate but aggravate his judgement, and makes him successes, it was Conjas' Case. As I live saith the Lord, though Conja the Son of jehojakim, King of juda, were the Signet upon my right hand, yet will I pluck him thence, jer. 22. 24. 30. read the place. And again, writ him a man that shall not prosper all his days. Will it not then aggravate the Parliaments Judgement, and make them successless, if they make themselves partakers of his sin, in not executing Judgement. But we hope better things.  
Again, is not the Parliament very sensible of Gods righteous hand, in blasting all the King's designs when hatched, and his Counsels, though laid as low as Hell, delivering his person into their hand, and will they not execute Judgement upon him: that God's blessing may be continued upon the Kingdom, with them and their posterity, and will they not expel from their fellowship in both Houses, all such as they can discover, to have undermined their proceed, and to have been underhand friends to the King, that they may be able to act freely for the Kingdoms, in Judgement and righteousness, without interruption, or opposition of the wicked. Wisdom is better than weapons of War, but one sinner destroyeth much good. Eccles. 9 18. How much more may many achan's among them destroy 3. Kingdoms (which God forbidden) if Law Justice, and Judgement, be not executed.  
Again, let the King in his person be where he will, have not the Parl. the King Authoritively with them, in his royal Power, Office, & Capacity, to maintain Law, and execute Justice upon the wicked▪ they have his Sword, his Sceptre, and his Seal, that they may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God. Mica 6. 8. And is it not in this sense, the King cannot deceive nor be deceived, never dies, can neither do, nor take wrong, and is it not in this sense, we have fought for the King and Parl. though the King was in personal opposition to both, what necessity is there then that he must sit in person with the Parliament. We know, that neither policy, open War, Treachery, great and small Guns, all kinds of practices, and Counsels, with Pikes, Swords, etc. could formerly reach them, in many years, yet now more privately short daggers can, or may do it, suddenly, surely, and is it not the time of the personal Treaty: this personal treachery hath been perpetrated, in a most butcherly, and bloody manner, upon Col. Rainsborough, a principal Heroy, & faithful Member of their own House, and Servant to the Kingdom, Did ever any Treaty, end without Treason, acted by the King's party, Did ever any man thus perish, being at rest in his quarters, and in the midst of your own forces; for whom let every faithful one lament, as David did for Abner, saying, how died he as fool, his hands were not bound, nor his feet put in fetters, (there was no cause for that, he was no Delinquent, nor conquerred prisoner) (he fell) as a man falleth before (Children of iniquity) wicked men, and is there not a conspiracy, (in the midst of us, against all the most active men in both Houses, and the Army, who if now dissolved the Kingdom is ruined, & may you not all fall, if you do not timely Justice, upon your, & God's enemies, the chiefest & fatest of them. Ought Agag, to be spared; if you would have yourselves & the Kingdom sure settled, & secured from destruction by their enemies, read) 1 Cron. 10. 13. compared with 1 Sam. 15. 9 etc. and 22. 23.  
But to conclude, though many have added unto all their sins, this evil to ask them a King, (not one as Saul was then, without blemish, when first appointed of God to satisfy their vain desires, they trusting in a King more than in God.) But one worse than Rebellious Saul, when Afterwards corrupted, stained, and rejected of God; for his transgression was only in sparing Gods enemies, which may possible be the Parliaments sin and confusion, if they be not zealous and faithful unto the Lord; which God forbidden, but the King's transgression is in destroying and ●uting of the Lords dear friends, his first borne, his peculiar Treasure and Jewels, those that are so tender to him, that he that toucheth them, toucheth the apple of his eye, God hath reproved Kings for their sakes, saying, touch not mine Anointed, nor do my Prophets no harm, john 15. Exod. 4. 22. & 19 5 Zec. 28. Psal. 105. 14. 15. here then you see therefore the greatness of the King's sin, and suitable is their sin who ask such a King, and this, even this sin, have they added unto all their sins, as if that God had said, there is none of all your sins like unto this sin, it is a seminary of sins, and hath its womb full of the greatest sins, and Judgements conceived in it, and to be brought forth together, and although there be many that have done all this wickedness, and turned aside after vain things, yet know that the Lord hath promised, for their encouragement and comfort, that he will not forsake his people for his great names sake, because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people: Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth, withal your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you, 2 Sam. 12. 22. 24. Had ever any Parliament the like experience of God's goodness; and is it not, that you may settle and secure every one in their rights, privileges, lives, and liberties, that they may live a peaceable and godly life, under you, being freed from all Tyrants, and oppressors hands, is not God's glory, in the public good and safety of the people, your principal aim and interest, that all things may be reform according to God's Word, we beseech you then, set that pattern before you, without any fear or amazement; for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, josua 1. 5. so that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me, Heb. 13. 6. Now if any of you will not walk in God's way and Council, according to the plain truth, sincerely set forth unto you; but if we shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your King. Sam: 12. ult.  
FINIS.