THE Coffin opened: OR, Self-Interest Discovered, to be laid up in the Coffin, under the Name of the GOOD OLD CAUSE. In Answer to a late Pamphlet printed, and reprinted, entitled, A Coffin for the Good Old Cause: Written by a Discarded Officer of the Army, in the behalf of himself and Complices.  By H. P. a known Friend to the Cause and Commonwealth. 
THe Pamphlet begins with that of Solomon, That a wise man forseeth an evil, and preventeth it, but fools go on, and are punished: What wisdom then can the Parliament hope to find in his advice, that foresaw not the loss of his place, but went on and was punished for interrupting them? But( to prevent the slighting of the Pamphlet) he tells us, It is the Judgement of all the Parliaments friends in England, that they are ruining the Good Old Cause. A full Judicatory indeed; did he not speak by Hyperbole? Hath he tried, or doth he know the thousandth part of the Parliaments friends? 'tis likely the Excluded Army Officers judged so, and the late armed Sectarians( as he calls them) judged so: But are they this Parliaments friends, that took up Arms against them, and turned them out of doors? blessing God that Hell was broken up( as one of them canted it) to whom Parliaments are Antichristian, as Mr. Robotham( in his Treatise on the Revelations, and in the Dedication of it to Oliver) with Deering, Pinchion, and Chillingworth, learnedly proves. What sober person of England took up Arms against this Parliament to cast them out? What Sectarian did not? of would not? I hope( of his All) he w●ll except the Lord General monk, Okey, All●red, Morley, &c. with all the Army now in London, from thinking the Cause now nigh its Interment by this Parliament.  
But he adds, Men must not go a step beyond reason: True, but what reason had he for marching against this Parliament, and breaking them up? the Parliament act( in his judgement) without reason in excluding the rebellious Army Officers: but they acted rationally in excluding the Parliament. It will ruin the Cause( he thinks) to model the Army, and slight the Sectarians, but not for the Army and Sectarians to eject the Parliament. He proves it thus:  
The Parliaments Army is unsettled, their H●use divided; their Friends discouraged, their Trade decayed, their Treasure exhausted, and ●he●r Enemies increased; therefore the Cause is dying.  
1. The Army is unsettled, and not like to be otherwise, while there are so many strange faces among them. 1. This is not the first time the Army hath been thus unsettled, and yet the Cause much advantaged by it: witness the model in 1645. and 1647. and other times, when nigh, if not full as many Officers were changed, as now. 2. You think the Soldiers will not follow their new Masters: Do you think meet that the Parliament mainta●n an Army, who will march under no other Conduct than what pleases the rendezvous? 3. Where had our Parliament been, and how unsettled had the Nation been, had not the Army been thus unsettled, and mastered? 4. Were the Soldiers so zealous for their old Officers( as you think they are) why did they revolt from them, and with scorn contemn their Authority, not staying( though much entreated) till their Officers were indemnified? 5. If that truly meritorious p●ice of our Blood and Treasure ( the Blessing of a Commonwealth) be obstructed by this unsettlement of the Army, we must found our ruin on your Treacheries: Not but that we see the Cause( under God) sufficiently secured by this renowned Parliament, and General monk: but if it should be cast( as you would have it) into the late Officers and Sectarians hands again, this Parliament( as formerly) must endure a third Martyrdom, and the best of Causes turn to the worst of Curses, an Arbitrary Sword-dominion. 6. The Parliament have laid by the Anabaptists( not( as you aver) because of a different persuasion in Religion, but) because they are true heirs to the Munstrian spirit, evidenced in their late Rebellions, and therefore they still cherish those more sober Anabaptists, that hated those Extravagancies of the Army and Sectarians. 7. And since you judge, the Parliament not to trust Capital Offenders, why do you complain? What can be a more Capital Offence, than to chop off the Parliament, the politic Head of the three Nations? yea, the Majesty of the people was thrust at, and thrust out by your Swords in their Representatives. 8. But you dislike the Parliaments trusting the Presbyterian, because Booth and Love opposed them. Sir, the Commonwealth intends to thrust out Faction, and to trust all( as far as may be safe for it.) Did not Lambert, Fleetwood, and the whole host of Sectarians, not onely oppose, but depose our Parliament, yea expose them to the mercy of a Bullet? Did Presbyterians ever break up Parliaments, as you have done? Yet Presbyterians are not trusted as Presbyterians, but as obedient to government: To which frame of spirit could the Sectarians come, this Parliament and Commonwealth have a ring for their finger, as well as they had a Jewel for Lamberts ear, while he obeied.  
9. But you suspect the Cause, while one of the Commissioners refuseth the Oath against the Stuarts: Sir, that your Army Officers would never have ventured your places upon? you never scrupled, either the taking, or breaking any Oath: you have sworn to this Parliament, Oliver, Dick, this Parliament again, and( might you be admitted) would doubtless swear once more: thus have you marched and counter-marched in Oaths and engagements without scruple; being so hardy as not to dread an Oath, That Commissioners fault is to refuse swearing, and your honesty is to refuse keeping an Oath. But Sir, they that know the Oath not passed the House( as you imply in you last page.) will hardly believe it was yet offered, to any Commissioner to take.  
10. But you farther suspect the business, because that old Cavalier Sir Anthony Ashly-Cooper, is admitted a Colonel; what, because ( among all your Lords, Lambert, Hewson, Fleetwood, &c.) you had none so high as a Knight before? or are you ashamed to see a disengaged enemy( as you think) more faithful to the Parliament, than yourself their engaged Vassal? Sir Anthony was no old Cavalier, when you would have made him one of Olivers privy Council: but now 'tis a sin in the Parliament to receive him, though a duly elected Member. God grant the Commonwealth more such converts.  
2. You urge the House is divided, and therefore cannot stand. But seriously, did you ever hear of a Parliament House that was not divided? Did Christ say or intend, that a House divided in point of judgement or debate, cannot stand: which is the present case. Do not most of the best Acts pass, by dividing the House? you think you could secure the Cause, if the House were excluded; why then do you make ready the Coffin, when 'tis but divided? what's division among themselves, to their ex●lusion by you? and yet the Cause is upon it's feet. Sir, an equal division in the House, eagerly prosecuted is a State of War: but a mayor vote makes union, because 'tis called and obeied as a vote of Parliament; which is the present Case, and therefore, yet there is no need of your Coffin.  
3. You insist, That the Parliaments friends are discouraged. But Sir, 1. Were they not much more in October last, when they were thrown out of Commission and Credit, only for being faithful to the Parliament? the nine Officers Letter, judge you in the ruiners of the Cause? 2. Whom do you mean by the Parliaments friends? but such( as you describe them) as need the Parliaments pardon, are turned out in this new Model, and removed from the Conduct of the Army. What friends they are, appears by their twice trampling the Parliament under foot, repealing the last Acts they made, valuing nine of themselves at a higher rate than the whole Parliament of England, calling the Parliament( in their Declaration and Plea) a rush they catched at, to save themselves from drowning; imprisoning their friends, turning out of the Army such as stood for them, murdering some that fought for them at Portsmouth, and setting forth what Armies and strength they could make, against the Parliament Generals in the North, and at Portsmouth, for the utter subversion of them; raising up all the Sectarians of the Nation into a Militia against them. Heavens! with what face can these men rule themselves the Parliaments friends? 3. But are the Parliaments real friends discouraged? Is General monk, or any Colonel of his faithful Army dissatisfied? Are the Irish or Scotish Parliamenters troubled and disturbed at these things? or indeed, any one person that loved the Parliament? Let the World judge the truth of it. You insist, but their reputation now withers in good mens esteem. True, but as Micaejahs did with Ahab, because he would not do, and say what Ahab would have him. And by calling yourself and Complices good men, you show, that you would speak long enough, before you would speak any evil of yourself. Yet, while you call the Army and Sectarian tumuknaries good men; their own works, and the Nations words declare the contrary. You say the Parliament hath put out good Sir Henry Vane, and let bad Oliver St. John rule the roast. Sir, your judgement which of them is good or bad, might have done well, had not your intended Protector Lambertiz'd: but now you might have suspended it, till you came to Rhadamanthus seat.  
But yet you say, you are surer friends to the Parliament, than Oxford or Cambridge, Lawyer or Clergy, Calamy or Case. I believe so to; in that you sent them home to die in peace; while these with might and main choose them to those insupportable burdens of governing this Nation, as the peoples Representatives. You would have sent them out of these turmoils into Heaven, with pikes and muskets, in your late marches against them; but these would fain keep them here, appears by their late siding against the Army,& Sectarians that fought the Parliament. Your story of Col. Riches unhandsome usage by the House, being so vain: the Gentleman doth and oftentimes hath disproved it: But I do not much wonder at your calumniations, remembering that while the Lord General monk actually appeared in Arms for this Parliament, you rendered him to the world, as one that had espoused the Interest of Charles Stuart.  
But you fervently urge, That the Sectarian and Charles Stuart both cannot be suppressed. I suppose your mean the rebellious Sectarian, for others the Parliament suppresses not; and then I answer? 1. The rebellious Sectarian is as much an enemy to the Cause of a Commonwealth, as charles Stuart, for he ran into Monarchy with Oliver, Richard, and Lambert, against a Commonwealth; yea into such a Monarchy as never was exercised in England. 2. If the Parliament cannot( as you judge) keep down both, they must in prudence, rather accept C. Stuart, than any other single Person: and admit the old Monarchy, rather than that caconical Government, Sword-men and Sectarians have set up. 3. Why cannot the Parliament keep down the Sectarian and C. Stuart, rather than the sober party and C. Stuart, whom they lost out of their respect to the Sectarian? 4. God is the same, and the Army( as to its strength) the same, and the conduct( being in that most experienced Souldie●, General Monk) far better; Why then is the Coffin now brought forth▪ 5. You dishonour the Parliament of England, by insinuating their Interest to be so narrow, as( if you are said aside) they cannot find persons capable to wield their sword in the face of their most daring enemies. Admit the turbulent Sectarians were indulged, they would do the Commonwealth as much service as they did you; to wit, hid their heads in the day of trouble. 6. In brief, the Good old Cause is maintained, not by rallying up Sectarians, against the sober Party, but Commonwealths-men against a single Person; and till the Commonwealth is framed, it is uphold by this Parliament and Army, and the many thousands, engaged upon the account of several Lands bought of the State; which is a firm Basis, while Sectarianism( upon too sad experience) appears to degenerate into the vilest Monarchy. And after the Commonwealth is formed, 'tis supported by its own sweetness and profitableness. Thus Royalists and Sectarians must both be kept out of office, to uphold the Commonwealth.  
4, You say decay of trade will force the people to destroy the Parliament and the Cause; as judging they were the Causers of it. Not so, for 'tis clear that the storms the A●my raised( while rampant) made rich men unwilling to venture their Estates in way of trading; but the Armies hurle-burlies being now laid, by the election of the turbulent Officers, trade will soon revive, with such lifts as the Parliament will give to it.  
5. You say, Our Treasure is exhausted, it will be difficult to come by more, and the Army will not fight without pay; therefore the Cause must fall. 1. Who exhausted our Treasuries, but the late Officers? who hardened peoples hearts, but the late Officers and Armies Abuses? 2. Would you( if you were in place again) fight without pay? or will the Sectarians, if the Parliament accept them? 3. The Parliament will be able to give the Army pay, and fill up their Treasuries better than any other Interest. 4. To ease the people of Taxes, the Parliament hath farmed out all the Offices of the Nation. 5. Your Expedient of receiving again the late rebellious Officers and Sectarians, will neither make the Tax come in the faster, nor the work be carried on the cheaper, since both Sectarian and Wallingfordians are perfectly hateful to the people; so that your way will never keep the Cause out of the Coffin.  
6. You farther urge, That the Parliaments enemies increase, therefore the Cause must fall, and farewell to it for ever. 1. Its strange men should say their enemies increase, who within these two Moneths, had two Armies in England against them, and now not a man that takes up a sword against them? 2. The sober sort of English men that were once Neuters, are now won to the Parliament, for their sub●ecting the Military to the Civil Sword, and humbling the campant Sectaries and Army Officers. 3. These new enemies( as you call them) are old ones, having fallen off from the Parliament with Ol●ver, 7. years since; and proved their enem●es as much as any; and therefore sure you speak Ironically, when you say, the Parliament kicks off their fastest friends; when they lay aside such as have twice tr●mpled on them. 4. You confess Malignants, Neuters, and Presbyterians come into the Parliament, and surely this is hot losing friends, or increasing enemies. 5. The Parliament is hastening in that noble and glorious struction of a Commonwealth; which when once settled, how ambitious will men be to sit under the shadow of it. 6. They are about to fill up the House, which will actually engage the whole Nation. I like your advice of so bearing to put all magistracy ●nto one pe●swasion● hand: which is a danger at the heart of all you said before, concerning Sectarians and your equal Commonwealth is inconsistent with your Officers you pled for.  
Upon the whole matter, it appears to be the great concern of the Parliament. 1. To make all Persons that have acted in the last Rebellion, uncapable of any place of trust, or of electing others to it. 2. Forthwith to fill up the House, that Taxes may come in peaceably, and the dissatisfactions of the people may be removed. 3. To take special care, that the old Army Officers may be secured from coming among, or tampering with the soldiery. 4. Not to spare Sequestration, and Sale of any Persons Estate not indemnified; in that thereby they best secure the Cause. Now, should the Parliament be influenced by the Coffin, the World will distrust Parliamentary policy; for they run on the rock, by which they have been twice already split: they will hug those Serpents, whose venom they have sadly felt: and will certainly loose their loyal Servant General monk, and his faithful Army( as is too manifest already) and suffer their true friends Okey, allured, Crook, &c. to be bearded by their scornful adversaries: Crouch to those whom they lately cashiered: force the Nation into implacable enmity against them; trust whom they have many ways disobliged: become a Sanctuary for Traytors. And at last( instead of a happy Commonwealth) leave the harassed Nation, to the boundless Tyranny of a Protector and his Bassage, till some foreign Prince be ready to swallow us up: with this unhappy disadvantage, to decline the only friends that owned them, in the hour of their temptation: while they embrace their traitorous enemies, that eagerly pursued theirs and Englands ruin.  
FINIS.   

London, Printed for James Johnson, 16●●.