Eighteen Questions Propounded
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A87228.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
Eighteen QUESTIONS PROPOUNDED, TO Put the great QUESTION between the ARMY and their dissenting BRETHREN, out of Question, (Viz.)
Whether the best way to secure the GOVERNMENT of these Nations, in the way of a FREE-STATE, without a Single Person, King, or House of Lord's; Together with our Liberties, as Men and Christians; Be either to Choose a New and Free PARLIAMENT, or else to Restore the last Long PARLIAMENT.
Published by JER▪ IVES.
9ber 21
LONDON, Printed by G. D. for Francis Smith, and are to be sold at his Shop, at the Elephant and Castle near Temple-Bar, 1659.
EIGHTEEN QUESTIONS PROPOUNDED, TO Put the great Question between the Army and their dissenting Brethren, out of Question, &c.
READER,
I T cannot but affect the hearts of all those that are Lovers of Civil and Religious Liberties, to see the great Assertors thereof fall out among themselves, some pretending, that we cannot secure our Rights, either as Men or Christians, but by a free and new Elected Parliament, and for this they are ready to Engage unto Blood; Others they think, that the last long Parliament, are the only Free Representatives of the People, and that no Force can dissolve them, till they dissolve themselves, and for the restoring them to the exercise of the Supreme Authority over these Nations, they are ready to Engage the Nation in another War. For the satisfying those that dissent by reason of the fore-mentioned Perswasions, I shall offer these ensuing Questions.
1. Whether a Free Parliament, ought not by the Laws and Customs of this Nation, to be chosen by the general consent of the People?
2. Whether a Parliament so chosen, ought not to do what they think best for the Weale of the Nation that so choseth them, without the Interruption of any party, upon any pretence whatsoever?
3. If any shall say, a Free Parliament ought not to be so Elected, and so Impowered; I demand then, How they are a Free Parliament, in the sense that the People of this Nation, according to Law and Custom, do understand a Free Parliament?
4. If it shall be Answered in the Affirmative, that a Free Parliament ought to be so chosen, and so impowered as aforesaid; I demand, (as the Nation is now influenced by Priests, Lawyers, and Cavileirs ) How the ends of the good People can be answered, by a Parliament so Elected and Impowered?
5. If ever any Parliament could have answered the ends of the good People of this Nation; I demand whether the last long Parliament were not once the most likely of any that went before them, or of any that in reason can be expected to succeed them?
6. Notwithstanding the great hopes we had of them, considering the good beginnings they made, and the fair opportunities the • had, to perfect what they had begun; I demand whether the most considerable of the good things they did, (viz.) the taking away King-ship, and Peerage, and declaring this Nation a Free-state, &c. were not rather the fruits and effects of that force, which was put upon them when the Army garbled them, then the Votes and Results of a Free Parliament?
7. Whether that Parliament did not Act highest against the interest of the good people of this Nation, when there was no force at all upon them?
8. Whether there was not a time when the Army and divers others were accounted the great Assertors of their Countries Liberties, when they refused to comply with the Votes of the then Free and Uninterupted Parliament?
9. Whether there was not as much of the hearts and Spirits of all people concurring to their Inte • ption in 1653. as ever was to their Election.
10. Whether those men that last Sate, were not rather admitted to serve the present Exigency (as the best expedient that then could be thought on) rather than out of consciousness to their Just Authority as a Free Parliament?
11. Whether there did not remain a force upon them all the time of their last Session, in as much as the greatest part of their Members were Secluded?
12. If all Force, Fetters and Shekles had been taken off, and they had enjoyed the free and accustomed power and privileges of the Parliament of England; I demand, if ever Sir. George Booth, and Major General Brown, &c. had been Voted Traitors?
13. And whereas it is objected, that by an Act made by King, Lord's, and Commons, that 40. of them should make a Corum, and that they should not be dissolved till they dissolve themselves, and therefore there being yet a Corum, they are therefore a Free Parliament; I demand, whether by this Argument, those which the Army secluded when they came from Hounsloe Heath, may not as well call themselves a Parliament, seeing they were a Corum, and kept their places in the House when the rest went away to the Army, & were as truly forced out then, as these were afterward; & whether this very Argument would not make them a Parliament, if another interest should prevail to take off that interruption. Again, the intent of that Act was not, that any 40. whom, the Sword should se • erate from the rest should make a Corum, but rather if by degrees some should die, and others by the consent of the Major part should be voted out, as being uncapable to Sit, or that others should be absent by reason of any Emergencies, that then and in such cases 40 should make a Corum, and this is the reason why a fixed number are appointed a Corum in all State Conventions; therefore it remains, that the last Parliament were rather chosen and elected by the Army in the capacity they stood since they were first garbled, then the people's free Representatives, because the Army might have elected that number they forced out, as well as those they kept in, unto whom they might have subscribed obedience?
14. I demand then, how any can cry Hosanna, to the last Assembly, as to a just and free Parliamentory Authority, and endeavor to restore them to the exercise thereof, upon that foot of account, unless they also endeavor to take off the first as well as the last interruptions, which how safe that will be I leave others to Judge?
15. If we should assay to restore them upon a prudential account; then I Query, what reason there is to believe such a thing will be effected unless they will reseed from their own Votes, or the Army subject unto them; which how they can do with safety to themselves, or the good people of this Land, I leave others to Judge?
16. If it should be effected, and that they should come to the Exerise of their Authority; I demand what reason there is to believe they will answer the ends of the good People of this Land?
17. If their restoring cannot in reason be thought practicable, and if practicable, not profitable; why should we labor in the fire of contention to effect it?
18. If then this cannot be a free Parliament, upon their readmission, considering the force that remained upon them, and that most of the eminent good things they did were by force squezed from them, and therefore in law cannot be the free Representives of the People of England; I demand, whether some other number of honest men chosen out to serve the present Exigency, may not be as lawfulll an Authority as they, and sooner answer the desire of all good People?