PLAIN ENGLISH TO THE PARLIAMENT and ARMY, and to the rest of the PEOPLE. To Convince the obstinate. Vndeceive the simple. Vindicate the innocent. Settle the wavering. By John Redingstone. Prov. 25.11. A word fitly spoken, is like apples of gold, in pictures of silver. January 12. 1648. Imprimatur Gilbert Mabbot. LONDON, Printed by Henry Hil●, and are to be sold over against Thomases Hospital in Southwark, M.DC.XLIX. Plain English to the PARLIAMENT AND ARMY, And to the rest of the PEOPLE. IT is evident that the higher powers, Rulers, Kings, Rev. 13. etc. When contrary to their constitution, they pervert Justice, and become a terror to good works; and justify the wicked in their evil: such tyrants are not only abomination to the Lord, but by the testimony of the Gospel, they do forfeit their authority also: And in this very case the Apostle Paul calleth Ananias a whited wall, Act. 23.3, 4, 5. not High Priest nor Ruler (and gives the reason) for sittest thou to judge me after the Law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the Law: affirming, that he knew not that he was the high Priest (viz. because he had forfeited his calling, and the Apostle spoke truth) saying, It is written thou shalt not speak evil of the Ruler of my People: Therefore what Ruler so ever wilfully and publicly perverts the Law, introducing an arbitrary, tyrannical and unjust cause, acting against the public good and safety, to the ruin of the People, loseth his power, and ceaseth to be Ruler, and aught to be declared & proceeded against for such a one. For doubtless the Apostles practice, and the Scripture is a good rule to walk by; For all Scripture is given by inspiration of God; and is profitable for Doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Tim. 3.6. 2. Whereas the King, not regarding the public good and safety of the People, did introduce an arbitrary and tyrannical course; and endeavoured, with an high hand, by force of arms to subvert Salus populi, and the destruction of the Kingdom; setting up his Standard, and waging an open war upon the Parliament, and against all his good and loyal Subjects; persisting in full opposition to the Parliaments humble suits and Declarations made unto him, Parl. Decl. 20 May, 1642. showing that whensoever the King makes war upon the Parliament, it is a breach of the trust reposed in him by his People; contrary to his Oath; and tending to the dissolution of his Government. That whosoever shall serve and assist him in such war, are Traitors by the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom, 11 Rul. 2. 1 Hen. 4. and have been so adjudged by two Acts of Parliament: Therefore we may see by the Parliaments Declaration, and the King's practices compared, that the King is wholly elapsed in his splendour, dignity, honour, Kingly power, Majesty, and stands guilty of all the precious blood, rapines, and ruins of millions of People in these three Kingdoms, and hath disobliged the Parliament, Army and People of their allegiance to him; and this may be a good reason why the right honourable the Lord Fairfax his Excellency, and this Army, took their Commissions only for defence of the Parliament and Kingdom, and have done most righteously in so doing. God sealing to their endeavours, by his blessing, with extraordinary success, to the subduing of the King, with all his traitorous forces, and made the King their conquered, and captivated prisoner, who hath not minded, lex talionis, and that he that ruleth over men, must be just, ruling in the fear of God; And that Adoni-bezek, 2. Sam. 23.3 though a heathen King, acknowledged, saying, As I have done, so God hath requited me; and they brought him to Jerusalem, Judg. 1.6, 7. 3. The King perverting his duty, rejecting the fear of God, despising good council, when seasonably given him, by them of whom he ought to have received it, and wholly adheared to, and followed perverse, foolish, slanderous, wicked, proud, haughty, deceitful, murderous men's counsels; who endeavoured utterly to root out, extirpate, and extinguish the very name and being of all those who were the faithful of the Land, and endeavoured a thorough reformation of all wicked, unrighteous practices, in the King, his family, and Kingdoms; therefore the King with all his heathen adherents, took council together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, Psal. 2. saying, let us break their bonds in sunder, and cast their cords from us; and making war upon them; they compass the camp of the Saints about, Rev. 20.9. and the beloved City, Mount Zion; The habitation of the Saints, where the Saints receive their Commission from the great King, King of Kings, to have a two edged sword in their hands, to execute judgement upon the Heathen, and punishment upon the people; To bind their Kings with chains, Psal. 149. and their Nobles with fetters of iron; to execute upon them the judgement written, This honour have all the Saints. Hence than we see what a type of Holy Writ lies upon our Parliament and Army, to execute judgement upon the King and his wicked Adherents? although others have been so exemplary before them? Also we may see how Mr Prynne doth play the Jesuit by his most scandalous and false Pamphlets, endeavouring to subvert others to the disturbance of the public welfare and safety of the Kingdom; not minding that Salus populi is Suprema lex, & that he may in due time justly suffer as an evil doer, according to his demerits, and be taught, That it is an abomination to Kings to commit wickedness, for the Throne is established in righteousness, Prov. 16.12. 4. And surely all the Kings false deal pretending the Kingdom's welfare and safety, sealed with most solemn abjurations and execrations against Himself, his Throne and Posterity, thereby to hid his iniquity from the eyes of the people, the more easily to seduce them to belief, and to join with him, was the highest cruelty and means that could be, to bring Gods heavy wrath upon his own head, and to remove the Throne from himself and his posterity; For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain: And mercy and truth preserve the King. As a roaring Lion, Prov. 20: 28: Cap. 28.15, etc. and a ranging Bear, so is a wicked Ruler over his people. And are not such destructive beasts to be taken and destroyed? Again, the Prince that wanteth understanding is a great Oppressor; 'tis much that Mr Prynne doth not remember this truth ever since the King suffered his ears to be cut off. Again, a man that doth violence to the blood of any person, shall fly to the pit, let no man stay him. God makes no distinction of King or Beggar, he is no Respecter of persons; But the soul that sinneth it shall die, no man ought to stay him from it: King Ahab and Queen Jezebeel must die, because Naboth is unjustly cast off, and his Vineyard taken from him; Moreover the dogs must eat her flesh, and lick up his blood also, in that very plat of ground: It is very strange that Mr Prynne cannot mind this truth, not knowing that the King did not only shed much private or particular men's blood, his own being one, but hath publicly bereft multitudes of his most faithful people of their lives and estates for many years together: And can unrighteous war extenuate his fault? Was not that the utter ruin of Hanun the King of Ammon, and his Kingdom? although what he acted was not against his own Subjects; but David's servants only defacing them in show, hair and habits? And can we think that God hath forgot to be just? Ahab and Jezebeel's sin was coloured over with as much piety as might be: But God will not be mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap●: Gal. 6. Psal. 110. God will strike through Kings in the day of his wrath, and his instruments to execute the judgement, written, This honour have all the Saints, Psal. 149. 5. And is it not the Parliaments and Armies duty, now God hath delivered the King into their hands, and left him at their dispose, to execute the judgement written upon him and his Adherents? And to secure themselves and the people, who have always stuck close unto them in their greatest distresses? Hath not the King been a corrupt fountain, poisoning every stream and rivulet he hath had access unto? And will he not do so still if he be not cut off? Hath not this husband adulterated his bed, and spent his strength with strangers, being fallen into a loathsome and poisonous disease (worse than King Vriah's leprosy) and is sick unto death? Hath not this Father murdered a multitude of his best children, and would gladly kill all the rest? Is it not then high time for the Kingdom to have a Bill of divorce? And also to have him brought to a just trial? That God and all the world may be witnesses, they will give him no further opportunity or means, either by cohabitation or communion with them to destroy them? And do not their spirits groan, and their backs bow under the burden of their irreparable loss? 6. Also now God hath by his singular goodness, through greatest difficulties, given the faithful of the Land some rest and peace with their Lives, Estates, Laws, Liberties and Privileges, anciently and inherently in themselves; but with much expense of blood, loss of friends, and hardship regained by right of conquest: Is it not then their duty to keep that which God hath repossessed them of? Did not Jephtha and Israel do so with that which was the Amorites by original right; they only won it by the sword, and did wear it, Judg. 11.19, 20. etc. 7. And doth not the eminency of the King's person aggravate his sin and judgement? And hath it not made him successes? And was it not Coniah King of Judah's case? As I live, saith the Lord, though Coniah the son of Jehojakim King of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet will I pluck him thence. Writ this man childless (to wit in respect of kingly Government, else not) a man that shall not prosper in his days, Jer. 22.24, 30. 8. Nor could the Army any longer defer to seclude from the Parliaments fellowship; all such who undermined and disappointed their proceed for the executing of Justice, & settling of the Kingdom, and that those who are faithful might act freely for the Kingdom, in judgement and righteousness: Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroyeth much good. And is it not great wisdom to execute judgement speedily, and to preserve the Kingdom, as much as may be from further war, by executing the judgement written. 9 We know the Parliament have the King authoritatively with them, both for the making and executing of Law in its royal power, office and capacity, they have the Sword, the Sceptre and the Seal, that they may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God, Mic. 6.8. And hath it not been 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 Parliament, when the King was in personal opposition unto both? And is it not most righteous and just, that his Person in this sense should be subject unto the power authoritative. 10. And is it not evident that the King's transgression is transcendent unto saul's? who did only spare God's enemies, and yet his Kingdom was taken from him, and given unto David; but our King hath slain and destroyed the Lords dearest friends, his first borne, his peculiar treasure and jewels, most dear and tender unto him, He that toucheth them, toucheth the apple of his eye; these are his truly anointed ones, He hath reproved Kings for their sakes, saying, Touch not mine anointed, nor do my Prophets no harm, Psal. 105. 11. And many have added this evil u● to all their sins, to ask them such a King to rule over them (as M. Prin and many others) one who is corrupted, stained and rejected of God, and not without blemish as Saul was, when desired by the people, and yet God saith, that in so doing they had rejected him. And the people did very sensibly confess the Lord's justice, and wrath against them, for that they had added this evil (of ask them a King) unto all their sins, entreating Samuel to pray unto the Lord his God for them, that they die not. O that all the people in England, who are guilty in this kind, were but as sensible of God's wrath against them, and that they would entreat the Lords Prophets and anointed ones, to pray unto the Lord their God for them; and that they did but know, that the Lord for this same purpose hath raised up the King, that he may show his power in him. And that the name of the Lord may be declared throughout all the earth, And now let all the world take notice and know, that the Lord will not forsake his people for his great names sake, because it hath pleased him to make them his people, only fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart: For consider how great things he hath done for you, 1 Sam. 12. Had ever any Parliament and Army the like experience of the Lords goodness unto them? And is it not that you may execute Justice, and that righteousness may run down like a mighty stream? And that the Lords people may be set free from all tyrants and oppressors hands, every one freely enjoying their Rights, Privileges and Liberties, only be very courageous in doing the work of the Lord, and love him with all your hearts, for he hath promised, he will never leave you nor forsake you: So that you may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. But as all those who will not walk in God's way and counsel, according to the truth plainly and sincerely set forth unto them, If ye shall still do wickedly ye shall be consumed both ye and your King, 1 Sam. 12. ult. FINIS.