A SHRILL CRY in the Ears of Cavaliers, Apostates, and Presbyters, for the Resolve of XIII QUERIES Touching The Primitive state of this Nation, since the Conquest: The late proceed of the Army, the Covenant, and other weighty matters, tending to the public Peace of the Nation.  
By a well-willer to Peace and Truth.  
O England, England, that thou didst know in this thy day, of blessed Visitation, those things that concerns thy Peace.  

February 5. 1648.  
Imprimatur  
THEODORE JENNINGS.   
LONDON Printed by Robert Ibbitson, in Smithfield, near the Queenes-head Tavern, 1648.   

A Shrill Cry in the Ears of Cavaliers, Apostates, and Presbyters, for the Resolve of XIII Queries, touching the Primitive State, of this Nation, since the Conquest.  
THe various changes both of Governors and Government in this Kingdom is not unknown to those who have read our English Chronicles, the last of which was by William Duke of Normandy, who though he pretended claim to the Crown, yet found his Sword his best title, which yet was a Right not only uncertain, but inferior to those immediately anointed, or those hereditary elected Kings, chosen and consented too by the people, he thought it therefore wisdom not long to Rule the Nation, by that wherewith he got possession, but rather to gain their consent granting many immunities, and yielding to such laws as they should propound for their quiet and peaceable Government, for the managing of which Agreement: doubtless there was by consent a Representative elected and entrusted, not only to consult, but by a deliberate Result, propose to the King what they conceived necessary to the well-being of the Nation, Taking such security from the King by oath or otherwise, in the behalf of himself and Successors, that he will grant and maintaina each particular agreed, and upon security so first given, he had power to bind the people by oath for ends expressed, to maintain the honour and greatness of him whom they had so entrusted: Yet was not this power so absolute on the King's part, but that provision was made by a mutual consent, that he should frequently call and consult, with these Feoffees touching the State of the Kingdom; that with their advice, as they saw cause, old Laws might be repealed, and new made: And this appeareth by the Coronation Oath, binding the King to what the people shall choose. And that the Parliaments trust was more absolute is evident, in that they put by some succeeding in the same line, which they conceived unfit for such a trust; and deposed others though Crowned, that were found unfaithful. This being then the primitive state of this Kingdom, from or near that time, the right of the Conquest, being dissolved into the right of agreement, I shall propound a few Queeries, to be resolved by any rational man.  
I Query 
 WHether if a succeeding King, bound upon the Right of the Crown, swearing to maintain, and govern by the Laws; of which this is a part, that is to say, to call frequently his great Council, by whom he is to be advised, in the weighty affairs of the Kingdom, shall either not call, or if call them, use sinister, and indirect ways to corrupt them, or if not so; immediately dissolve them, thereby rendering their meetings fruitless, because to them he would not be accountable for the trust reposed in him; Whether such a King is not only perjured, but hath justly forfeited his trust to the Kingdom, and is worthy for it to be deposed?  
TWO Query. 
 Whether, if during such an intervaile, this King shall in pursuance of a Tyrannical and Arbitrary power, contrary to the known Law, send to apprehend the person, and seize upon the Estate of any one Subject of this Land, if he be able to make his defence, and oppose that power; may he not? since in so doing, he defendeth not himself only, but the known Law of the Land? and whether, if this person, assisted by God in this Defence, should conquer this Tyrant's power, and take him prisoner, were not acquitted both by God, and Man, if he put him to Death?  
III Query. 
 Whither, much more then, if a King engaged as aforesaid shall for the setting up of his own tyrannical and arbitrary will? and in pursuance of the same, entangle himself and Kingdom in intricate troubles, and by the advice of evil Council also exposed it to a foreign 
* That is to say, the Kingdom of Scotland, which opposed their natural King against his introducing of an Arbitrary Power both in Church and State, not only in their own, but coming in an hostile manner against the King of England, and his evil Coutcell, pleading no other law, but that of Necessity.  Nation, shall at last be enforced to call a Parliament, which upon their meeting, find the cause to be his contempt of the great Council, and following those that he had corrupted to carry on his intended design, they being yet so indulgent to him, as to excuse his fault, desiring only to bring them to justice, if then he shall so ill requite them, as not only to defend such Delinquents, but set up his Standard against the Parliament, murdering his best Subjects, compelling them in their own defence to take up Arms, and shall in that defence get an absolute Conquest over him, and make him their Prisoner, shall not they betray their trust, if they make him not an example of justice for the same?  
iv Query. 
 Whether, if a Parliament shall not only take notice, but declare against this exorbitant power of such a King, and after seven years' war, expense of millions of Treasure, with the blood of thousands of the people, he being their prisoner, shall turn so apostate to their first principles that the most of them, contrary to their Covenant, shall be so corruped; as to be induced to carry on their enemy's interest, endeavouring to make use of restoring his person, to carry on designs known to be destructive to public safety, have not such betrayed their trust?  
V Query. 
 Whether then, if their and the Kingdom's General, invested with power, when they at first were rightly principled, to pursue the declared ends of public safety, and shall (through the blessing of God) subdue the open and known enemies thereof, should not betray his trust, if he do not, being informed, and having sufficient matter, bring a charge against the chief actors in those designs, that they might answer the same, and that without the least breach of privilege?  
VI Query. 
 Whether, if these parties so charged, shall be so far from clearing themselves from the guilt thereof, that they sitting within the House, shall not only with the help of the same Faction, secure themselves within those walls from a just scrutiny and legal Trial, but shall proceed more insolently therein to the countenancing 
(a) Some of the Members observed to give those Mutineers public thanks.  of Tumults against those that have opposed them in the same, by which the Speaker, with the Members, were violently forced to unvote what they had before resolved; some of them being likewise threatened to be murdered: whereupon the Speaker and many more, were forced to fly to the Army for refuge, whilst they in the mean time were moulding their Faction into a 
(b) Which doubtless would have been acknowledged so, by those persons that oppose this present supreme Power, which is conceived upon better grounds undisputable  Parliament, choosing a new Speaker, that so in the absence of those who stood in their way, they might carry on their destructive Counsels by a Parliamentary Authority. Now whether the General should not betray his trust, if he did not restore these Members, although with the hazard of much bloodshed, these men having to their power engaged both City and Country to oppose him in the same? And whether it was not a great provocation to the Soldiery of the Army, who were embarked and engaged in the same public interest, and have ventured their lives in the Conquest of the common Enemy, to seize upon the person of the King, to prevent the carrying on of corrupt interest by these homebred Enemies?  
VII. Query. 
 Whether, when those Members were restored, the other charged, fled; and the House in a probability to be settled to pursue their former declared engagements, which they did for a while, until the same design which was again secretly hatched, began to appear, being cunningly acted by the same party within, and others at distance? New Members are called in from those places where the King had the greatest influence, fit for the overbalancing those who stood for the Kingdom's Interest? The Scots secretly invited, the City and Country moved to present turbulent Petitions, that the eleven Members might be recalled, the Militia settled in the hands of those of the same Faction: The Scots answered in their unreasonable demands, presented in their Commissioners Papers, the Army to be disbanded, the only rub in their way, and such Propositions to be sent to the King, as might best promote their designs: Upon which, the House before framed for the purpose; the eleven Members were recalled and restored, without any inquiry into those crimes charged against them, who no sooner come, but the Kingdom is suddenly in a new flame. 
(c) Some Members publicly acting in the same.  Insurrections in many parts of this land, the Scots upon our borders with a potent Army, whilst the City was endeavouring with the Parliament, to recall the General's Commission, for pursuing the Rebels in Kent, and other places; themselves refusing to give any assistance either of men or money, though the Enemy were at the very walls of the City, and in that very nick of time, violently pressing for a personal Treaty, which was not only granted, but covertly carried on 
(d) Who durst not publicly own these Rebellions.  by those Members in the House in the pursuance of the same design, whilst many of the faithful Members were employed abroad to quench that fire which was almost in every place kindled: I demand then, God having by the General, and those under his Command, so miraculously delivered this Nation again from a second War, whether they were not engaged by all the bonds, both of Nature, Religion, and right reason, upon the cognizance of some of these Members, and the apparent defection of others, appearing by their Votes, to seclude such from the great Council, acknowledging them only fit to be confided in (though the lesser number) who have continued faithful, until orderly provision shall be made by them, for a free and  election of new members?  
VIII. Query. 
 Whether this then being the Supreme Power, the people of England are not to rest quiet in their determinations, and are not bound to maintain them in the same?  
IX. Query.  
Whether it is not the undoubted privilege of this Supreme Power, upon the observation of interchangeable occurrences, as they shall see cause, altar their Resolutions, since their power is such as to repeal Laws, and make new; the Kings refusing to consent, or by treasonable practices make himself uncapable of trust, it being in their power, upon good grounds so to declare?  
X. Query. 
 If the King have not power to deny what the people shall choose by their Representative, why then should the Lords claim privilege above him, since the chief burden and charge lieth upon the Commons of England?  
The Eleventh Query. 
 Whether it is at all to be doubted, that any alteration of Government by them shall not much more tend to the good of the Commonalty, rather than that by the King, since these Laws made, must be equally binding to themselves.  
The Twelfth Query. 
 Whether it is possible as the Land is now divided, those Laws agreed upon, though never so good, should please all interests? and whether the imposing of just Laws impartially, without respect of persons, is not approvable to God, and all good men?  
The Thirteenth Query. 
 Whether it stand with the Majesty of this supreme Court and Peace of the Kingdom, to suffer their authority or any power under them to be contemned, and the people stirred up to Rebellion, because justice according to the Covenant is done upon the King 
h Who Machivilian-like following the Example of Strafford and Canterbury by his pretended Innocence, and resolute dying, hath endeavoured to act a greater revenge by sowing the seeds of Discord amongst the Ignorant people, than ever he did in all his life. , and other Delinquents although it should be promoted by them, who by their pretended holy function, and perverted Scriptures, may think to scape punishment for the same.  
These Queries I leave to be resolved by any impartial man, not doubting of any but those who are in a spirit of slumber, and will neither hear, see, nor understand, & they are King, Cavalier, Apostate Parliamentarians, and the malicious waspish Presbyter, who endeavour to set the whole Kingdom on fire, because a brat of their own begetting will not be received for a child of Truth, such as by their false glosses, pervert the very Letter, together with the end of that which they call the holy Covenant, breaking every part of it themselves, and yet audaciously charging it upon others: For is not our engagement to the King conditional, upon keeping the Laws, and other things therein expressed, upon breach of which, he proving a Delinquent, as indeed he did the chief? Are we not bound by the same Covenant to bring him with others, to condign punishment? and for that part that is for the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, Heresy and Schism, I know none more guilty of breach in this particular than themselves; for is not this Popery to compel men in matters of Faith, implicitly to believe and obey what they impose? and this Prelacy to exercise dominion, and reign as Kings over their faithful Brethren in Christ? And hath not these been formerly acknowledged by themselves Heretical? Besides, is not this Heresy to tie the Priesthood of Melchisedech to any learned Tribe whatsoever, since it was one main end of Christ's Ascension to give gifts according to his measure without respect of persons? and whether it be not blasphemous to the holy Spirit to confine his unction and illumination of the Saints in the saving mysteries of the Gospel, more to the learned than others, as if such gifts were to be bought with such money; which pretended holy Simony, doubtless was the cause why so many of them had no part nor share in this matter, yet am I no enemy to learning, neither allow I any pretended Illumination, that agreeth not with Scripture, and the Anallogie of true Christian Faith.  
And is not this Schism in the Church, to endeavour to separate those that hold the head, and other fundamental truths, though they agree not in those that are of doubtful disputation, crying out and petitioning against them as men not fit to be trusted in a civil Commonwealth, yea and for dissenting but from their Presbytery if they follow the practice of Scotland, as doubtless they would, for such a dissent; their Families shall be ruined and left in a worse condition than a Heathen and a Publican.  
And is not this Schism also in the State, to alienate the People's hearts from their Superiors, and one from another, stirring up their brethren in Scotland in unity with us to invade their own native Country.  
Is this also to keep the Covenant, out of their place or way allowable by God or man, to force the three Kingdoms into a Uniformity of Doctrine and Discipline, as if God were delighted in a constrained obedience, 
And other Heresies which for brevity sake are not here recited.  or the Kingdoms thereby being free from intestine Rebellions? or can this government, found guilty of such abominations be a Government nearest to the word of God, or the Kingdom of Scotland, the best Reformed Church, or doth the Covenant express conformity to a Nationall Church, or the Word of God acknowledge any other, since that of the Jews, but that one visible Catholic Church which is in all Nations dispersed into Congregations and Families, called (by Peter) A holy nation, a royal Priesthood, a peculiar people, That Congregation or family then wheresoever it be, that in matter, form, doctrine, or discipline, shall conform to the Primitive Institution, that must needs be the purest Church, which we are bound by the Covenant to hold forth in these Kingdoms, and that is conceived to be this: When at the first by the preaching the sincere word of the Gospel, so many as heard it that were convinced of their lost estate, by reason of sin, were incited thereby publicly to profess repentance from dead works, and faith towards God, through the Lord Jesus, desiring thereupon ro be baptised into the body of Christ's visible Church, and under his Government to obey, both in Doctrine and Discipline; what they shall clearly be persuaded to be his Will, and for that end frequently meet in their several Assemblies, and there orderly and decently exercise each others gifts, for the edification one of another, in their most holy Faith, that so upon very good experience had of such gifts, they might out of themselves, and for themselves successively choose, as they stood in need, Pastors, and other Officers, as they conceived necessary to the well-being and governing those who had voluntarily submitted themselves thereunto. So that then doubtless this constitution would have continued as a pattern to all succeeding Congregations, those extraordinary 
* And though this Government by reason of darkness is not received in the Nations, yet I doubt not but the time will come that the Kings and Rulers of the Gentiles shal● being their glory to it.  Messengers, only excepted, that by their Miracles shown their authority from God, to lay this first foundation, and prescribe the form for this spiritual building.  
But Antichrist hath darkened this primitive lustre, confounding and razeing up the foundations thereof, setting up instead thereof his Babilonish Hierarchy, and worldly glory, and now the Presbyters, sons to the same father, and eggs of the same Cockatrice, following his steps, persecute those as heretical, who endeavour to build again this Tabernacle of David, that is thus ruinated, which for so doing, they shall ere long be to Christ responsable, as Rebels to that his peculiar interest.  
And as for the Nationall or worldly Kingdom, included also in the Covenant, we therein engaging to preserve the peace thereof, it is a Kingdom so distinct from the former, that it differeth both in matter, form, laws, and discipline 
* So than that which God hath joined ought not to be separated, nor that separated that aught to be joined or mixed, which hath been the cause of all Antichristian consusion, which both considered destinctly may reside together in one Nation, each being helpful to the other  although both under one & the same supreme King, Christ jesus, who as a mighty Monarch ruleth over all Nations, by one municipal law, which is that called Moral; the first and second Table thereof, requiring only such a worship, and obedience, both to God and man, that was fixed in, or terminated on the things of nature, that is to say. First to acknowledge God, Creator, and Preserver of the World; that no Image be made of him, that his name is holy, the time appointed for his worship sacred. And then secondly, that all Superiors 
* Which are variously styled, and set over the people according to the customs of Nations, or the interchangeable occurrences of divine providence,  under him, in the making or execution of good laws over Nations, Cities, or Families, are to be reverenced, and obeyed, and that the preservation of each man's propriety in the things of this life; expressed in the following branches of the same Tables, is the supreme end of all Civil Government. Those Magistrates then, suppose Christians, that propound to themselves this end, and pursue those things in the Law expressed, punishing all those that transgress from the plain letter thereof, keeping also within their bounds not entrenching upon the Prerogative of God, are good Magistrates: And those that do otherwise, shall be unto God accountable; yea, and to the Magistrate if there be any other more supreme to whom they may appeal, and if not, the people with their assistance may endeavour to compel the same, 
* Scotland b●ing a precedent in their first coming into England to oppose th● King & his evil council, the same people also opposing their own last coming in though it were by Parliamentary authority.  and those inseriours, suppose Christians, yea, officers in the Church, that obey not such Magistrates, but entrench upon their power in civil things, do not preserve the unity and peace of the Kingdom; and in so doing they are not only responsable to such Magistrates, whose Authority they despise, but to God also.  
These things seriously considered, it will evidently appear whose counsels and practices in these times of difference are faithful to their Covenant, and who are the breakers thereof. O thou Presbyterian, or other, thou that boastest of the Covenant, by breaking of the Covenant, dishonourest thou God? and thou that sayest another should not steal, committest thou sacrilege? and thou that judgest another, and dost thyself worse things, thinkest thou to escape the judgement of God? Repent therefore, and change thy mind from such destructive practices, and unite against the common Enemy, lest that Scripture be verified of you that is spoken by the Apostle to the rebellious Scribes and Pharisees, Behold ye despisers, and wonder, and vanish away, for I work a work in your days that you will not believe, although it shall be plainly told you. And that other Scripture, When thy hand is lifted up they will not see, but they shall see and be confounded, because of their envy to thy people: Then shall the righteous rejoice, and be exalted in Christ their King, which hath taken to himself his great power, and will reign▪ maugre the malice of all opposers, that hath delivered his people in this Nation by his outstretched Arm, not only from Egyptian darkness, but from sore bondage, destroying hard hearted Pharaoh and all his host as it were in the midst of the Sea: And he that hath delivered us, will also yet do it; and although the Enemy shall yet be gathered together against us, like a flood, yet the Spirit of the Lord shall drive them away; let us not therefore only sing the Song of Moses, our deliverance agreeing to that of Egypt, but of the Lamb (who alone is the Deliverer of his Church in these Apostate times) saying, Thou only art worthy to receive honour, and glory, dominion, and power, for thou hast redeemed us out of all nations, kindreds, and tongues, and hast made us Kings, and Priests unto God. Who doubtless according to his promise will once more, not only shake the earth, but the heavens also, that those things that can never be shaken, may remain to his people.  
FINIS.