A FEW Plain Words To be considered by those of the ARMY, Or others that would have a PARLIAMENT That is chosen by the voices of the people, to govern the three Nations.  
Wherein is showed unto them according to the Scriptures of Truth, that a Parliament so chosen, are not like to govern for God, and the good of his PEOPLE.  
Also something to the other part of the Army, and the New Committee, who turned out, or owns the turning out of the late Parliament.  
From a lover of the Truth of God, and all his Creatures, GEORGE FOX the younger.  
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Simmons, at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate, 1659.   

GReat are the cry out of some of you of the Army, and the people of these Nations, concerning the dissolving of the late Parliament, and it appears with a pretence of a very great zeal, that you have for Liberty, Equity, and Justice, and the general good of the three Nations, and you appear in a great fear, that if the people lose the enjoying of Parliaments, that then they shall lose their birthright and their liberty, both as men, and as Christians; and that equity shall be laid aside, and that the people must be ruled over by a tyrannical power of rebellious men, whose wills must be the Laws that the people must obey. But you say if the Parliaments be chosen by the people, then in effect the people makes their own Laws to be governed by, because they chose their Lawmakers themselves; and this is England's Birthright you say, and it is just and equal that the people should enjoy it; and if they do not, than the preservation of the people of God you say is lost, and all good government will cease, and the people will be made a prey upon, and so the three Nations will be ruined at once; and therefore seeing such things are like to come to pass, if a Parliament chosen by the people be not upheld, some of you have said, you will assert their Cause to the last drop of your blood.  
Answ. Friends, It's good to be zealously affected in a good cause, and its good that the zeal be according to knowledge, & its precious to have the zeal moderated with the wisdom of God; therefore I exhort you in that life & wisdom which is of Christ, my Master, (who came not to destroymens' lives, but to save them) that you would mind the dread & fear of the Lord God, which is the beginning of wisdom, & be moderate, & in coolness consider these things which I shall declare unto you, which in waiting upon the Lord, he by his spirit of wisdom & understanding opened in me, concerning the choosing of Parliaments by the voices of the people, and I know that you who truly desires the good of God's people, and that mercy & justice might be establishd by righteous Laws, (whereby equity and justice might be done unto all without respect of persons) may clearly see with God's witness in you (which will answer to my words) that you are not like to see your desires fulfilled by a Parliament that's chosen by the voices of the people; mark the reasons; because the greater parts of the people that are admitted to choose Parliament men, are such as do not truly desire the good of God's people, whatever they may profess in words; and therefore it being in their power to choose whom they will among themselves (as it is) because most voices carries it; they will choose such men, as are like minded with themselves, that's plain and according to the Scriptures, for the world loveth their own, as saith John; and now for proof, that the greater part are not such as desire the good of the Lords people, I would have you consider, how that the Scripture saith, that the flock of Christ is a little flock; and Christ saith, Straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it; but broad is the way that leadeth unto destruction, and many there be that walk therein, and though Israel be as the sand of the Sea, yet but a remnant shall be saved; now if ye believe these Scriptures, then may you see that a Parliament that is chosen by most voices, are not like to act for God, and the good of his people; and it hath been the complaint of the soberest and honestest men in several Counties, when they should have chosen Parliament men, that they could not choose such a man as they judged would act singly for the good of the people of God and the Country, because they were over-voted by the wild disaffected people, who sometimes have been stirred up by their Priests to vote for such a man as the Priests knew would act for their covetous, oppressing self-interest; and in some places some great proud men who desired to be in Authority, hath feasted the people, and sent gifts to them with flatteries, thereby striving to get the people to vote for them, promising them to stand for their Liberties, when it hath been but to serve their own self-ends, and thus the people have been deceived; and if at any time in some Counties and places, the honest sober people have chosen some honest men to serve in Parliament, yet there being so many in the Parliament that have sought their own honour and gain, that such men as were honest, and would have made just Laws, and have acted for Equity and Liberty, they have been hindered; because what is done in Parliament, is done by most voices also, and the honest party in the Parliament having been the lesser party, have been over voted also: the light in your consciences will witness that these things are true.  
And whereas it is said, That it is England's Birth right that the people should choose their own Lawmakers.  
I answer, than many thousands of men in England have been wronged of, and kept long from their Birthright; for such as are not Freemen of some Corporations, or have not free land of their own, are not permitted to choose Parliament men, (mark that) though they be fare more honest and understanding men then many that are free of such Corporations, and have such land; so that it's but a part of the people that must choose Lawmakers; and further, he that hath free land worth forty shillings the year in several Counties, he may give his voice in several Counties where his land lieth, for several Parliament men, when as he that hath land but in one County, cannot have the same privilege, though he be a far more honest man; and he that's a freeman of that Corporation, that finds a Parliament man, or men; and hath free lands in the country also, he may choose both in the one, and other; but he that is not free of such a place, he may not have the like privilege, though he be more honester than the other; and this arose from the same ground, that negative voices arose from; And it hath been the manner and custom of England, to call and choose many wise men, after the flesh, & many mighty, and noble men (so called) to be Parliament men, that so we see the calling & choosing of Parliaments in England, hath been exactly contrary to God's calling, & choosing; Read 1 Cor. 1.26. (& therefore such Parliaments are not like to act for God & the good of his people, but against them) But that which God hath called and chosen, shall confound and bring to nought the wise and the mighty, and the noble things (so called of the world) (and this the Lord will bring to pass) that so no flesh may glory in his presence; Read 1 Cor. 1.27, 28, 29. And likewise the choosing of Parliament men, according to the custom of England (which is called its Birthright) stands in respect of persons, and not in equality; for the rich covetous oppressing men, who oppresseth the poor, they have the only power to choose Lawmakers, and they will choose to be sure such as will uphold them in their oppression; and the poor man that is oppressed, though he have no power allowed him to choose, yet he must be subject to the Laws which they make who are his oppressors, or else he is accounted a Rebel; so what right think ye is the oppressed like to have, when his oppressors choose the men that are to be Judges of his cause; and thus the rich men oppress the poor, and draw them before their Judgement feats, as they did in james his days; James 2.6. These things being considered, ye may see the unequalness and partiality that hath been in choosing of Parliaments, according to England's custom, and how unlike it is that a Parliament so chosen should make England a free Nation, seeing the great oppressors of the land (viz.) Priests, and Lawyers, and the great wicked, covetous, persecuting men are so much concerned in the choosing them; so that if Parliaments so chosen should continue, the people of the Lord are not like to be set free from their oppression, (though Parliaments and Rulers have been made to do many good things by a power which many of them scarce knew) but the Lord hath a further thing yet to do in the Nations, than either Protectors or Parliaments would submit unto; therefore the Lord hath thrown them by, but they had first a day of trial given them, and now is the Lord trying others, and if they will not do his work, in breaking every yoke, and letting the oppressed go free, God will assuredly break them with a greater destruction than came upon those before them; Therefore let your moderation be known unto all men, for the Lord is at hand; and thirst not after blood, lest the Lord give ye blood to drink; and we know that Kings, and Protectors, and Parliaments have made fair pretences, and have given themselves fine titles, and have pleaded that they had a just right to, and a necessity for their authority, and sought to get into the affections of the people by smooth words and large promises, to carry on their own design, but their hearts were not right before the Lord; and therefore he broke them, and their titles; and know that the people that fear God, they matter not titles, and high names, but they look for righteous actions to be brought forth; & many sees that a Parliament that was chose by the most voices of the outwardly rich people, were not like to act righteously; and therefore they are willing to wait to see what the Lord will do by others, and we see that people have been in great blindness, in contending for Parliaments so chosen; so let this wisdom be learned and lived in, which is better than the strength of fools, who oft perish in their passion and folly.  
And now friends in the Army and Committee that have turned out the Parliament, dread ye the Lord God, and mind the equal, just, noble principle of God in you, which hath stirred against tyranny and oppression, and make it not your business to declare only for freedom, as some before you did, and did not the thing they declared for; but in the fear and wisdom of the Lord, go ye on to act for the good of all his creatures, and seek not your own honours, but singly do the same both for your friends and enemies, that you would have them do for you if they were in authority as ye are; and until ye come to this, ye are not like to prosper; the Lord abhorreth the lying, flattering, double, deceitful tongue and heart; and the people also have been wearied with fair words, because the actions have been wanting that should have accompanied the said words.  
Remember how you have cried out against the oppression of a forced maintenance for teachers, and now ye are tried, and have power given you to break that oppression down, which some of you I say have desired others to do; therefore abuse not your power, but leave the people free to maintain their own Teachers; (mark) The Ministers that Christ sends forth, they have no need of you in this particular, as to provide food and raiment for them, for their heavenly Father knows that they have need of those things, and provides it for them without an outward Law to compel it, that so they lack not any thing; and that Teacher that will not consent to this, he serveth not the Lord Jesus, but his own belly; and that is his God; and such a one can never profit the people, and (mark) if ye should take away tithes, & command by a Law any other maintenance from us for Teachers, that would be the same Tyranny and oppression in the nature and ground of it, that tithes were, and we must bear our testimony against it also, and our lives, or estates, or both must yet suffer; therefore if ye do thus, you leave us in the same bondage as before; And let Laws be provided, that are righteous, just, and equal, according to that of God in the conscience, and let such be empowered to execute them that will hear and determine causes freely, according to righteousness; and let causes of difference between man and man be heard in every County, and when by plain proof of 2 or 3 witnesses (without transgressing Christ's doctrine) it come to be manifested who have done the wrong, then let the executioners of the Law be empowered to cause the party or parties, to restore for the wrong that is done according to equity, that so this abominable oppression about the Law & Lawyers may be broken down; and thunder down all ungodly gamings, and shows, whereby the foolish wild people are cheated of their moneys, and spends away their precious time to the dishonour of the pure God.  
And let the people of the Lord have their liberty, to speak his word freely, where and when his spirit leads them and gives them utterance; and let the Law take hold on such as would wrong any man's person or estate.  
And let the dread of the Lord be upon your spirits, and wait in his light, to receive his wisdom, that therein you may be ordered in the particular, and in it order all things to his glory, and that ye may remove all that which is standing, which is contrary to the will of God.  
And meddle not to establish Religion and Teachers by an outward Law, for verily if ye do, ye will be broken; Let that alone to Christ, whose work it is: Consider all that went before you of late years, that would be meddling with such things, the Lord broke them to pieces, and they were warned in their day, as ye are now. And let not your many victories which ye have obtained, nor your being preserved in so many overturnings (wherein ye have been made Instrumental) nor your strength, courage, nor wisdom puff ye up; for thus saith the Lord God, even as earthen vessels are in the hands of a Potter, (who have power to dash them one against another, until they be broken, or to break them in pieces with another thing, that appears more weak than they) even so are you in my hand saith the Lord; and I can confound your wisdom, and take away your courage, and smite you with faintness, and dauntedness of spirit in the twinkling of an eye; therefore seek not yourselves, for if you do, your day shall be but short.  
Remember you of the Army had power once before to have acted for the good of your Nation, but the subtlety in some who sought themselves (whom God hath since blasted) beguiled you, and (mark) some of you sold your power for Commissions, and others for nothing but flattering words, and so betrayed your own integrity, and the cause of your Country; and now you have power again, do not abuse it; serve not the lusts nor the self-interest of any man or men whatsoever, but serve the Lord and your Generation faithfully; mark, if you consent to deceit, and make an agreement with death, through fear or any self-end whatsoever, God will break that agreement, and bring shame upon you for it. And Friends, there is a lofty, proud, selfseeking spirit yet amongst many of you, which if you cease not from, it will be the cause of your destruction; and truly, if you provoke the Lord to break you, it will be more heavy & terrible than the breaking of those that were before you; therefore let the Lord be minded, and linger not about things, but be valiant, and act faithfully for the just liberty of all, without respect of persons, and let revenge be forgotten, and this will overcome your enemies, and make you truly honourable in the hearts of all people. This is your day, prize it, And let your deeds make it manifest to the people, that you have not sought yourselves, (in this which you have done) but the general good of all, and then you will need the fewer words to prove your enemy's liars, who have accused you to be self-seekers. And now woe is coming both upon Teachers, Rulers and people that are in the good words, but out of the good deeds and life; and the Eternal God who is the light, will break, shatter, confound and over-turn, until the good life come up and be set on the top of all; and now the name of truth only will be too narrow a covering, for it is the nature of truth itself that will be able to cover, and to be a sure hiding-place in this the day of the wrath of the Lamb.  
THE END.