A Modest Narrative
OF
INTELLIGENCE:
Fitted for the Republique of
ENGLAND & IRELAND.
From Saturday, May 12. to Saturday, May 19. 1649.
I Would not be thought so much as tacitly to plead for the perpetuation of
this Parliament; well knowing how apt the best regulated nature is
to deviate from what is good, when not equally capable of power and subjection;
though the observance of Member qualification in future Representatives,
be as difficult as the violent dislolution of this wold be dangerous,
though our Apocripba Statesmen (in their dividing Agreement) would have
the elected, that are uncapable of being such, Indicted and Fined, &c. So that
the Body of the Commonwealth must turn on the untempered Hingh of a rufty
Sheriff that may have half as much honesty, as his difercet Jury hath good affection,
by which we may see their prosound Statessm, and they ( if not acted by
some more knowingly pernicious then themselvels) their State damning herefie;
for State Hereticks they may well be called, who apply the Term People as the
Roman Catholikes do the Church; for when we ask, how they would prove
the Scripture to be the Word of God ? they say, By the Church. And if we then
ask how they would prove their Church to be a Church ? they answer, By the
Scripture. And then following them with this, How the Church shall be adjudged
to Be according to Scripture? they tell us, By the Church. Thus by a
like Argumentum Circulare, a running round in a Ring, do our uncivil Civil Hereticks
answer; for when we ask them, how they can prove that they act for the
People? they tell us, because they act for Liberty. And then a king them how
shall it be adjudged that they act for Liberty ? they tell us, by the People. And
then following them to know who are the People ? they tell us, those that stand
for Liberty ; so that these giddy Conductors (if you will follow) will lead you
in a Maze, and instead of a good Counter-march, will bring you into a Rout.
But lay some, we should think them to be Justies, but that holy orders will not
admit of marriage; truly of the Ecclesiastick Order they are not, for they will
not trouble the Church-house, if the Church Members will not trouble them.