TO HIS Excellency the Lord General Cromwell. A few Proposals, relating to Civil Government.  Humbly offered by John Rogers an unworthy servant of Christ, and Preacher of the Gospel now at Tho. Apostles London. 
RIGHT HONOURABLE,  
WHilst my soul is boiling over into earnest prayers to the great Jehovah for Wisdom, Counsel, and Courage for you in this exigency of importance, as the great Deliverer of his people (through God's grace) out of the house of Egypt, I am visited with that word in Exod. 12. 42. It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord for bringing them out of Egypt; This is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the Children of Israel in their Generations. So this is the day (viz. April. 20. 1653.) to be much observed (or in Hebr. full of observations) and the rather for that in the revolution of times, the changes will run their round out, and then the Lord will come to reign. For at as first Israel had no Governor but God, and next to him Generals, as Moses, Joshua, etc. with their Officers; and after that Judges and Synedrions or Parliaments over them, and then Kings; So now the change is to go back again from Kings to Parliaments, from Parliaments to Generals, until we have Governors as at the beginning, Isa. 1. 26. and till Christ come.  
But my Lord, my heart is full (with humble thankfulness, and resentment of the hopes you have put us all unto, and to your Honour indeed) I am pressed in spirit; and so are many others (after a solemn meeting of prayers with hundreds of this City at Tho. Apostles London, about this change, and to seek God for you) to present you with these following Proposals.  
I. That your Excellency do choose the men that must govern this Commonwealth (being that it is the judgement of many faithful discerning Ministers, and others, that you are called thereunto of God.) So Moses did choose able men to be Rulers in Exod. 18. Propos. I 25, 26. And they judged the people at all seasons, but the hard causes they brought to Moses. So that Moses. gave them their charges to do righteously without respect of persons, Deut. 1. 16, 17. And Joshua the next General (with's Officers) commanded the people, Josh. 3. 2. and the Lord said to Joshua (though in another case) ch. 4. 2. Take you twelve men out of the people, one of a Tribe, etc. and says the text, Vers. 14. that very day (that Joshua did so) the Lord magnified him in the sight of all Israel, and they seared him, as they feared Moses before him. So it is upon our hearts (Right Honourable) that God will make you hereby, Right Honourable indeed, in the sight of all his Israel. After this, Gideon (the General of that little Army of three Bands, that destroyed the huge host of the Midianites) was offered by the Israelites the Government, Judg. 8. 22. for he had won it. And Nehemtah, chap. 7. 2. gave Commissions out to men fearing God, to govern. And so all the Governors that ever were victorious (in the word) were either Rulers themselves, or else chosen to be such, or else chose such, wherefore we say, as Ezra 7. 25. And thou, after the wisdom of thy God that is in thine hand, set Magistrates and Judges which may judge all the people that are beyond the River, all such as know the Laws of thy God, and teach thou them that know not.  
The second Proposal, as to number of persons that shall Govern, I humbly propose either a Synedrin, Parliament, or Council of seventy, or else one of a County. For that in the Commonwealth of Israel (which is our best pattern) they had three sorts of Courts, the Upper Propos. TWO Court (or Synedrin) which consisted of seventy able (fit) men joined with Moses, Numb. 11. 16, 17. And the Lord said to Moses, Gather before me (or in my Name) seventy (worthy) men of the Elders of Israel, whom thou knowest, to be the Elders and Officers over them; For I will come down and talk with thee, and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and I will put it upon them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, etc. This number answers to the seventy, which at first went into Egypt, Gen. 46. 27. Exod. 1. 5. Deut. 10. 22 and to the seventy Elders which went up Mount Sinai, Exod. 24. 1. 9 Now in this first great Senate, they sat in form of an half Circle round; so that the Nasi or Abbethdin, chief, or father of the house sat as the Speaker in Parliament doth, to see all before him.  
The second sort of Synedrin was called the Lower Court, etc. they were under a great Senate, and consisted of three and twenty persons who sat in the City gates, as Amos 5. 5. which Christ implies, when he promises the Gates of hell (Counsels and strength) shall not prevail against his Church. So Deut. 16. 18. And the third Court consisted but of three Judges in small Cities. But  
Secondly, or else choose one of a County, representing that County, as one of a Tribe did represent the Tribe, in Num. 1. 4. And with you there shall be a man of every Tribe; and Vers. 16. These were the renowned, i. e. famous for abilities and qualifications, called to be Statesmen, or to consult about matters of State, Num. 7. 2. and 16. 2. But if the present juncture of affairs requires a quicker dispatch, that in the interim, twelve Worthies may be chosen as present Governors, Josh. 4. 1. 2. Numb. 14. Deut. 16. 18. Ezra 7. 15. like to Israel's twelve Judges.  
The third Proposal, As to their Qualifications, they must be menfearing God, Nehem. 7. 2. Exod. 18. 21. lovers of Truth and Justice Propos. III Deut. 16. 18. hating bribes and covetousness (which corrupt Justice) Deut. 16. 19 Exod. 28. 21. not respecters of persons, Deut. 1. 17. and 16. 19 Wise (though not politic) and Understanding in the times and seasons, Deut. 1. 13. Searching Gods word, Dan. 1. 4. and 9 2. (As the Jews Cachami wisemen or Magistrates do at this day,) they must be able active men, Exod. 10. 21. Gen. 47. 6. 1 Chron. 26. 6. in the things of God, and at all seasons ready to hear and help the oppressed, Exod. 18. 19, 22. the Greek is, at every hour, (who were wont to sit from the daily sacrifice in the morning, till the daily sacrifice in the evening (so that they began and ended with Sacrifices every day:) And then they must be Easers of the people as Numb. 11. 17. Exod 18. 22. hence the word Rulers, (Nasi,) is so named of lifting up, or easing the burdens of the people. And they must govern as the Servants of Jesus Christ, Isa. 60. 2, 10, 17. Rev. 21. 24. But not as Lords over Christ, Rev. 4. 10, 11. lest the Nobles be like Oreb, Judg. 7. 25. and Zeeb, and the Princes as Zebah and Zalmunna, that take the houses of God (i.e. Christ's Government and Jurisdiction over Churches and Consciences) into their possession, Ps. 83. 11, 12. Such are (v. 13.) set as a wheel upon the run, till they have run themselves all to pieces (and this was openly declared would be the ruin of this Parliament at Thomas Apostles Febr. 18 (unless God prevented) a day when we and the Navy were engaged together all day long. Lastly, they must govern all for God (not too much for man) 2 Chro. 196. Take heed what you do? for ye govern not for man but for the Lord, saith Jehosaphat. O that! they may be Moses' for meekness! and for their oft meeting and conferring with God on the Mount! Joshua's for courage! and samuel's for uprightness! and Davids for God's Favourites! and for figuring out the coming of Christ! and solomon's for wisdom, and workers for Gods latter Temple! and daniel's for discerning the days we live in! and Nehemiah's for activity, and ability, and bvilders up of the broken walls of Jerusalem; and then shall they in their measure make good the promise of Judges as at the first, Isa. 2. 20. and then the work of the Lord shall go on in the hands of Zerubbabel with shoutings of grace grace unto it.  
The fourth Proposal is, That those who are righteous, and spirited for this Government, of the Worthies of the late Parliament (that Propos. IV are without just exception) may be owned with honour, That the righteous suffer not with the wicked.  
The fifth Proposal is, That the Rulers (after they be chose) be set solemnly and publicly apart by prayers to God for their Work, Propos. V and his wisdom, as they were wont to do in Israel, as Numb. 11. 16, 17. Gather them before me, and I will take of the Spirit which is upon thee, and put it upon them; and say to the people sanctify yourselves. So Ezra 9 23, 24. So we fasted and besought our God for this, and he was entreated of us; and then I separated twelve of the chief, says he. And although in the Commonwealth of Israel, they were wont when they set them apart for Governors to pour out a horn of oil, or else to lay on hands on each. These Ceremonies are now abolished, and yet the signification of them remains, viz. that there be some evidence or other that the Lord hath laid his hand on them, and hath poured out his horn of oil upon their heads, unto their very hearts; I mean his Unction from on high, the holy Spirit, enduing them with sanctified gifts and abilities, separating, and setting them apart for the work of this Government, by such a measure of his oil of grace, as suits with the age wherein we live (i. e. abundantly more than in former ages.)  
These Five Proposals (Right Honourable) put in practice (with God's blessing) shall serve as five fingers sor the Work, and will show that the hand of the Lord is with us; wherefore consult with the Saints Deu. 1: 13. and send to all discerning spirited men for their Proposals.  
And I beseech your Excellency to accept these few (at first) from a faithful Commonwealths man, one that longs for the day of the Lord Christ, and that this Government may be a forerunner thereof, and a preparative thereunto, these Proposals are presented with the full sails and gales (I hope) of the Spirit. Seeing thousands of glazed eyes are upon you, with hungry long for such a Government, as may be most intent to make way in these three Nations for that day of Christ's reign in righteousness. That our mountains may drop down with new wine, and our hills with milk Joh. 3. and great be the day of Jezreel by this Government, is the soule-struggling and faith-acting unfeigned, and resolved prayers of one who desires nothing of your Excellency for himself, but to be  
one of the meanest of Your Servants for Christ, and this Commonwealth. JO. ROGERS. From my Study Tho. Apostles 25. day of the second Month Ziu. 1653.   

Printed for Robert Ibbitson, 1653.