M. Harrington's Parallel unparalleled: OR, A Demonstration upon it, and the Parable opened.  
Wherein it appears, Neither the Spirit of the People, nor the Spirit of men like Mr. R. but the Spirit of God, of Christ, of his People in Parliament, and Adherents to the Cause, is the fittest for the Government of the Commonwealth, Zach. 4.6.  
THe Repute which I have retained of Mr. Harrington's Person and Parts, has put an Act of Prohibition into my hands( as I take my Pen) to avoid personal Reflection; as well as an oblivion of his, and of any others incomposure of mind or Oratory that I have met with; not worthy the ingenuity either of Man or Christian: In the Principles of both being so propense to serve him and them( in the Love of the Truth, and Cause contended for,) that having red the Bill thrice over already, and yast it, I profess I am more ready to wipe my Pen upon my own Skirt, then on his or theirs. Yet common sense( I presume) will allow me the common liberty of animadverting or making a common judgement with other men upon the Paper-Kite that flew about the last week( without his Anger be it, for we are both in jest!) and whatever he conceives of me,( with the Lords grace!) I will rather sing to his Passions as Nurses do to Babes, Hush!— Lullaby! then let out my own.  
But I must confess, to fly a Kite, I did ever take for Boysplay until now; being surprised with the Novelty and Noise of it, I began to gaze for company, and found his Temptation to be the benefit of the Wind, or of Popular applause, which Mr. Harrington( and in many things deservedly) hath to help him. With which confidence he is pleased to shoot it up into the open Air, hisce verbis at the Neck of it, viz. Whether the spirit of the People, or of men like Mr. R. be fitter to be trusted with the Government. By J. Harrington: and there he holds it, as an Appeal to the Observer. A pretty!( imprudential) sport! yet I cannot choose but smile! and 〈◇〉. I have committed it to memory, that so much humanity is( yet) left me, as not to envy others the matter and occasion( he gives) to laugh with me. 
O imitatores!— ut mihi saepè  
Bilem, saepè jocum Vestri movere tumultus.   
As the make of it is inartificial, the matter irrational and ungrounded, so the Motion of it( or the flight) as hobbling and headlong as the rest, without equality, balance, or impartiality. Headed with an Appeal; but Winged with a Parallel of Spirits, viz. the spirit of the People! and the spirit of Mr. R. tattered, hackled, and shagg'd on purpose to make it mount and fly apace! but with a short bob-tail; and yet two lines of Apology is tied to it, to make it fly the better, and to inform us, that it was the employment of two or three hours in a rainy day; which we need not question from the Dirtiness indeed of the whole stuff. But( with Civility to so worthy a Person) seeing I am at leisure for an hour or two also, to answer his mirth, if not his mind; I must consider his Parallel, p. 1, 2.( to pass by the undue Character which he gives of me, and of men of my judgement( but what he means by it, I know not, neither doth he determine it, unless in this) that they take the People for profane wretches, &c. Whereas indeed we take the people for the faithful ones, adherents to the Cause and Commonwealth, or for the Body in Sanity; and not for profane wretches; Nor yet profane wretches, haters of the godly, and persecutors, &c, for the people, as Mr. H. does.)  
To his 1. Par. That the Spirit of a people where they live by a King, will obey a King very faithfully; But Mr. R. is not for a King upon any Terms whatsoever. Behold the Parallel! by which he grants that this of mine is as Right and straight a line of Reason as his own,( or as that he calls the Peoples,) else it cannot be Parallel; and also it must be produced in one and the same Superficies, which contains the longitude and latitude of the Commonwealth: and why then doth he complain of it? if we give as much to the whole people as is their Right, or as they can desire for their Weal? But if on our Parts and on his( or the Peoples) he will needs have us stand like Parallel-lines at an Aequi-distance to run ad insinitum, and never meet;( only for discriminating good and bad, adherents and Delinquents, sound and unsound, according to the Nature, Reason, and Righteousness of our Cause, and indeed the best forms of all Commonwealths,) I have not so learned Christ, nor the public; neither have I learned so little mathematics, but that a twofold use I know may be made, even of Parallel-lines for the public service, either of which I offer as an expedient to Unite us, if it may be by any Art, Reason( or grace) effected. As 1. To make a Quadrate or perfect square, wherein on all sides of the Commonwealth, the People( that have not forfeited) may find their Rights, immunities and Liberties( Civil and Spiritual) all alike, in equal, even, and full proportions; so as no one party, sort, side, nor faction, may have more Interest or Dominion then another, in this sound body of Adherents, but to be square on all sides. This is the platform of the New Jerusalem, Rev. 21.16. The City lieth four square, and the length is large as the breadth: the length, the breadth, and the height of it are equal. So Ezek 48. And in this form was the Camp of Israel, Numb. 1. that Military republic, and must be ours before we come to a full point. 2. To draw a Right-line through this Parallel, or these two, viz, the spirit of the People, with the spirit of the other; This shall make both sides equal, and useful, as I could enucleate it with admirable demonstration and reason. Now the Right-line is the interest of Christ in the Nations, Rev. 11.15. Isa. 28.17. and the Cause contended for,( which is a Plumb-line, Amos 7.7. and a Measuring-line, Zach. 2.1.) This running through us, will knit and unite us, as the ewes and Gentiles at a greater distance, Ephes. 2.14. For he is our peace, Micah. 5.4, 5. and this, this man shall be the Peace. Neither is it a Parable( if a Parallel) to Mr. H. his own Reason, that we should be against any other King in the Commonwealth, seeing the People can subsist, and that best too without it.  
His 2. Par. The people where they subsist by Lords, are faithful to their Lords, &c. But the spirit of Mr. R. is not for the Government of Lords, or such as might pretend to any Reason of their Government: but for the Government of a few that cannot pretend such Reason, &c. Not of Lords, because we can live without them; and better too, or with more freedom. But to say, we are not for such as have the best Reason of Government, and Right too in the whole World, is a false witness nor have I argued for the Government of a few, that have no Reason to Rule, in arguing for the Parliament, and People( Adhering to the Cause) who have both the Reason and Right too.  
To his 3. Par. The spirit of Mr. R. is not only to have a people that can live of themselves, to be governed by none other but such as himself; but throwing away all modesty, is a professed enemy to any man, that at such a streight shall fairly offer a charity to the people, or service to his Country. This Bill is as long as a Taylors, who takes measure of other men, but not of himself; nor is there the least colour of Reason or Truth in the charge( or charity in it) seeing Mr. R.( a poor despised dust!) is so conscious of his own imbecility and unworthiness, that he professes it before God and men, the highest honour he aims at, in this world, is to be but humble and holy! faithful and serviceable! among the meanest of his Brethren! in the interest of Christ, and the Commonwealth! And had rather( incomparably) be one in subjection then in Superiority! at the Lords foot, then mans head! in the number of the holiest, then of the highest! and to have a Government over his own Spirit, then over any man on earth! Prov. 25.28. and 16.32. For he that ruleth his spirit, is better then he that taketh a City. And the Lord is his witness, how little it ever was so much as in his thought, what Mr. H. hath exhibited as a charge! his utmost ambition is to be governed in an 〈◇〉, for the good of all; and to contend in virtue with the good, not with the great! Neither hath any Discourse dropped from his Pen or Lips, for any one Party, Sect or Faction, but for the whole body of the well-affected,( for the which he hath published three Treatises with strenuous Arguments too to propagate it.) Nor is he an enemy,( much less a professed one) to any man that shall offer a charity to the People, or service to his Country; but if to any, to him that does it not; or does all he can against them without charity when emerging; so to impose a Platform inconsistent with the being and well-being of our Cause, is but little Charity to the one, or service to the other. Charity must have eyes as well as hands; and though she give her branches, yet retain her Roots. It was as much Charity in Edward 6th. to give a bridewell for the Sinner, as an Hospital for the Sick: and what do we say more? only discriminate! And yet to the one and the other in the Commonwealth is Mine enlarged, so as rather then hinder the service of another, I do proffer my own most cordially with the Sacrifice of my life( for the good of my Country! and glory of my Christ!) Tam dulce & decorum est pro Patriâ mori. And therefore God forgive him this incogitancy! and censure so groundless! that whiles he looks for more Modesty in me, he does not loose it in himself! or respect the gift, and reject the grace! or occasion the Turkish lamentation, Our Mustapha is dead! O Mustapha! Mustapha! the flower of Chivalry! to be said of Charity by such a Liberty audacter calumniari. Seeing as Aristides once said, It is the part of a good Citizen to do good against evil, and of a good Commonwealths-men to rejoice in good things, and not in good words, or high Encomiums, no more then to be discouraged by bad.  
Neither deals he so ingenuously or candidly as he ought, in Quoting the words of p. 70. In the words of Hen. 8. from their old Mumpsimus and his new Sumpsimus, &c. for he wholly omits the Author, Hen. 8. and makes them mine, saying, He should be fined 5 li. but this is no Common-prayer( Sir,) but a special one! nor is it a fine for quoting an Author, but in the Roman Commonwealth for fixing a slander, was there a severe one; and when the Crimes could not be proved, the false Accusers had their legs broken: but I had rather he should break my head, then have that Law of force, unless to break the legs of his mistaken Conclusions and false Characters of us; and to endear him the more by it to the truth, righteousness and holiness of a Commonwealth, or Christian Constitution; which is all the Contest between us,( viz. the 〈◇〉, or Nature of the Commonwealth) and though in other things he be far my Superior, yet in this I humbly think him short. And therefore as in construing latin we give the Adjective to the more worthy Gender, where the Substantives be many, if we keep the concord; so where the platforms of Commonwealths are many, let us keep to that which is most worthy in it's Gender, Nature, Case, and number, i.e. e. a holy, Christian, and Theocratick Commonwealth; and not a Heathenish nor a Popish platform.  
But the main body of this Gentlemans Paper mounts better then the Parallel; and possibly with much more applause, p. 2, 3. by a pretty Artifice, to evade our Argument; for, he finds fault with two Greek quot. Englished; In the first he hath got the start indeed, at which I was a little amazed: I enquired the matter, and found it to be a mere Errata of the Printer, that helped him at a dead lift,( of which are too many in that Treatise) for I went to the Printer, who had all the Copy in his Custody, and upon the search together, we both saw the word ( to) left out, in p. 72. That in lacedaemon none stood up( 〈◇〉, assurgunt, or rose ex aliquo loco, out of any place) praeterquam Regi & ephoro, but to a King and the Ephor( or one of the Court of the Ephors,) the word to being slipped out at Press, alters the Case, but not the Argument; which is, that a Single Person hath an easy access by such a platform of a Commonwealth. Nor could he in Reason have suggested it mine( who have been a Student in that Tongue above this 20. years) unless my late sufferings had so impoverished me, as to make me wholly ignorant of the Dative Case. But( suppose the Case lost in two letters) doth this enervate the Example? or Sequel of a Single Persons rise from the practise and principles of Heathen Commonwealths? The other Quotat. out of Heraclid. is as I have regularly Englished, and not as Mr. H. hath rinsed or sentenced it; The Thesmothets were sworn, 〈◇〉, not to take gifts( for bribes,) nor to put up the golden Statue: Mr. H. would have it, or if they did, they were to pay a Statue of Gold. But to make it sense, it is his own; for the Conjunction, 〈◇〉, is not disjunctive but Copulative, so that in the grammar of it, ( & respectu Potestatis) under submission, I say, It must be Construed as I have rendered it, unless there had been some private Reason in the latter, repugnant and gainsaying to the former, to alter the Concord; which is the only exception that I know of in the Rule. Wherefore to swear them not to do this, or that, is as elegantly expressed, and as truly Construed, neither( or not) to do this nor that, seeing the Negative rules both. A many instances in oratory I have by me; but that upon search I have found one( more famous then either of us) who translates this very Greek long since after the same Rule with me; his words are, solemn juramentum praestare solebant justè se in Magistratu versaturos, dona non accepturos, nec Auream Statuam posituros. Whose Learning, Reason, Interest and Understanding so far surpassing mine( if not his) in ancient Language, Authors, and Commonwealths, is unquestionable all over Europe; and of sufficient validity and credit to rescue my Quotation or Translation from Mr. H's Invasion. But by this( saith he) Mr. R. understands a King; and what needs that? seeing the next words are( which Mr. H. omits) 〈◇〉. But the King( who was one of the Archons) did dispense the power which appertained to sacrifices and to Wars. Who must needs be more then King-priest, or King-herald, that hath the Administration of Wars and Peace. The Rectifying of the Readers judgement in these, was the grand inducement of putting pen to paper, and not to vindicate myself so much; seeing he that seeketh his own revenge, serveth himself more then the truth, and besides that, entrencheth upon God's Prerogative of Judge and Avenger. And as I have my ends, if I can but divert the force and fury of others from them in power( though upon myself) for the Publick's sake; So am I as much honoured in my Antagonist; so Noble and so worthy a person( as I judge Mr. H. to be) doth make the Honour of the reflection, a Corrective to the humour; and the Credit of it, to the smart. It was a pitiful complaint of poor Aristides( the Locrian) when he was bit with a Weasel very dangerously, 〈◇〉, &c. that it had been much more pleasing to him, if it been by a lion or a Leopard, or such a( noble) creature; but to receive it from so contemptible a beast, did afflict him more with the ignominy then with his death.  
There remains but little more of Reply; only the Sides of the Paper( to help it's flight) are stitched or starched up in some hast,( in four or five places;) as first, p. 2. where he frets( a little too much) at an innocent wish that he were as much against Anarchy and Atheism; which( without the Art, or least intent of slandering) he might the better have waved as to himself, had it not been too visible a Character of others( mainly intended) in the same Club, when that was attended for Trump about. But although Mr. H. be a Generous Gentleman, yet I would not think him so impatient or imprudent, for the loss of a penny to cast away the purse; or of one ear, to fire the sheaf. A nobleman in the Court of the Emperor Rodolph. 2. bringing a Chrystal-glass full of water in the morning to wash the Emperours face, let fall the Cover unawares, at which he dashed apieces the whole Glass for anger; but if the Cover be lost, it doth not hurt the Glass or his credit in those principles that are clear, pure and crystal for a Commonwealth. So in p. 3. upon Rotation, he repeats my words, and then cries, Well-bowl'd Mr. R. I believe so too, for I have hit the JACK I am sure; and I am much mistaken if my Ground be not the best of any yet set, viz. for a Christian or Theocratick Commonwealth; yea, this I may add, that my Bias is in my Bowl,( viz. a principle,) whiles most mens Bowls are in the Bias,( viz. of the Times, let them turn as they will.) So in the same page., saith he, Steal a little more, and say his Cake is doughty! which if I do, it shall be from the Prophet, Hos. 7.8. Ephraim hath mixed himself among the people! Ephraim is a Cake not turned! or doughty on one side! viz. on that side wherein he mixes with the multitude! or the spirit of the Heathen Nations!) In which sense only, we are against his Rotation( and not in it's self against it;) and so we say, it was not in the Commonwealth of Israel, nor can it be in a Christian, therefore much ingenuity is not requisite to answer that. As for another way( discrepant to Mr. H's) of Liberty of Conscience in the worship and service of God I it hath been all along stated and exhibited to us( in some measure) more responsible to our Cause, and Reasonable in our Consciences, then the National Rule, or Conscience which he proposes;( adequate to his new Definitiou of man, by nature( Aphor. 27.) rather a Religious then a rational Creature, So that, the leading which the mayor part of man kind gives up to, in matters of Religion, must be the National Rule, Aphor. 31, 32. in his opinion.) But thus( I hope) without much heat, or firing on either part I have yielded for once to this childish sport; and submit the matter to the Reader( if he be but master of his own judgement!) and had recommended this the week before the last week, but that I looked for another flight of the same, or of the like unto this Parallel. Agesilaus King of Sparta was a prudent and brave soldier, and yet with his children he would ride on a Hobby-horse, but a friend of his espying it, Agesilaus desired him to forbear his censure till he had some children of his own; and so I make it my request to my brethren till the case becomes their own. And shall yield him with Nicostratus to his emulous Corrival of Art Laodocus, 〈◇〉, that he is indeed Great in the LEAST ART, and I LEAST in the Greatest; the Lord make us both better! and fitter for his service!  
The tail of the Kite is short( p. 6.) and serves for little, unless like a Fox-tail to make a dufl! Indeed I do hope from my writings, he hath not cause to charge me with Passion and apprehensions of Sanctity in myself above others, as he would insinuate; it is true my style is quick and terse! but truly my spirit is with fear and trembling least I should offend. As to the last; I am kept in a continual sense of my own nothingness and vileness! at the Lord's precious feet ( quia habet aures in pedibus) by prayer! and am far from such presumptuous Conceits. As to the first; I cannot excuse the rashness, naughtiness and folly of my spirit! it is my shane! my burden! and infirmity! which keeps me low, and with many tears! but by charging mine, let not Mr. H. think to discharge his own. Ludus enim genuit trepidum Certamen & iram. And for future, if he please, let us be more serious;( as the story saith of the two Goats on a narrow bridge, the one lay down whiles the other ran over him and so escaped) I shall rather lie down with the Cause, then keep up with the Contention. But because of the greatness of his spirit( as appears in's Apol. to the Reader) I may have leave to say with Arist. to Alex. 〈◇〉, the indignation of such great and gallant souls is wont to fall upon superiors, not inferiors, or on Equals. 〈◇〉, seeing no man may be your compear.— said Nugis addere pondus. We both desire a Commonwealth! an excellent! wise! and Popular one! an Equal and a just one! but the Rule to effect it is hard to adhere to! for to add equal things to unequal, makes the whole unequal( is a Mathematic. Demonstration;) so to give us up to the spirit of the Nation( without discrimination) is unjust, unequal and destructive to the Cause and Commonwealth: but the Spirit of Christ and Adherents( i.e. e. the sound, best, ablest and holiest in the body of People and of Parliament) will preserve them both. Est modus in rebus! sunt certi denique fines! Quos ultra citraque nequit consisterc Rectum. The true mean observed! and true ends preserved! our highest Ambition is but such foundation as does best consist with the Word of God, and with subjection to our dearest Jesus Christ! both in the constitution and administrations of Government to the Weal of all, both of men as men, Christians as such, and benefits of the very Beast in the field, or whole Creation which groaneth, Rom. 8. Not losing the use of those distinguishing Characters God hath made, and Mercies he hath given us in! with due and equal encouragement and protection to all Believers alike; though under different persuasions in Circumstances and Discipline, holding fast to the head Jesus Christ; and not that one Party, opinion or persuasion be set up for a National Rule or Standard over another. And this, is the Holy, Christian, Comprehensive, just and equal Commonwealth that we contend for, which we should find to be the only constant and stable too under all shakings! Heb. 12.28. Isai. 33.6. and past the hazard of all Contradiction! either in Reason! or in Religion! But to period this Youthful exercise with a youths Answer! When a friend had promised him such a Cock of the Game as would never yield, but first die in the place! O no!( saith he) No Sir! but such a one rather( I would have) as would never die! but kill others in the Place! And so say we, not such a Commonwealth as will die in the Place!( that did lacedaemon, Athens and others; that were destroyed by other People! or their own Divisions!) but such a one( we would have) as will never die! nor be destroyed! but will destroy all others that fight against it! Isai. 54.17. Zach. 10.4, 5. and 12.3. and 14.2, 3. Dan. 2.44. This is promised by the Almighty! we hope endeavoured by the mighty in Parliament! and Army! and when performed, the controversy is ended!  
— & verbum non amplius Addam.   

To the judicious Reader.  
SInce my last Concertation with Mr. P. B. and H. for a Christian Commonwealth, I am condemned( unkindly) to run the gauntlet, and endure the strappado of mens Tongues! and squalid apprehensions! of such especially as tie knots in Bulrushes! But I cheerfully submit; and must confess in many places I suited expressions to the Persons, Subject, and things before me! rather then to my own faculty or function! And to refresh the Reader with a pleasant Word, jest, or excrescence of Wit here and there! that upon another Subject( more noble and Divine) had not been fit, or of weight! which some will yet think too light and vain, and I only say for it, That grave clothes( so a habit of Words!) do as little become children, as childish do grave men. Others that haye a thirst of Revenge to quench! have made an Invasion upon my Name and Innocency, as an enemy to Magistracy and Ministry, &c. which as it is altogether ungrounded and devised by my enemies, so I profess before the great Searcher of hearts, that I prefer those two high and bleffed Ordinances of God with us, above the common lights and benefits of the Sun to rule by day and the Moon by night! Gen. 1. As the Necessities and Complexion of the Times have put me( for want of a better) upon this Subject( so excentick to my spirit! and ecstatical to my work( which is most sweet, when it is most with God, and least with men! and) rather in the matters of the Gospel! then of Government!) so I shall determine( without the like occasion or great Provocation for the Common service) to recede in silence! until we can be warmed with the better influences of a more benign G— and warranted or invired by a friendlier countenance from Authority. Wherefore, all I desire is( for this once) to weigh Circumstances! and award prejudices! Pick out the good and leave the bad! or at least but balance the one with the other, and I shall submit it to the Censure of my veriest Enemies. For I beg it of men to read that wisely, which I writ like a Fool! But I beg it of the Lord, that I may writ that most wisely, which some read like Fools or inconsiderate Censors. And so I remain ready and devoted, to pay all I owe to the public by service or by silence; to be reputed any thing: or nothing( or worse then nothing) so I may be but Christs and my Countries in every thing.  
J. Rogers  
FINIS.