To the Parliament of England, and the several members thereof
         Fisher, Samuel, 1605-1665.
      
       
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             To the Parliament of England, and the several members thereof
             Fisher, Samuel, 1605-1665.
          
           4 p.
           
             s.n.,
             [London :
             1659]
          
           
             Reproduction of original in Cambridge University Library.
             Attributed to Samuel Fisher. cf. NUC pre-1956.
             Caption title.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Anti-Catholicism -- Great Britain.
        
      
    
       A39576  R5800  (Wing F1059).  civilwar no To the Parliament of England, and the several members thereof. Fisher, Samuel 1659    1779 8 0 0 0 0 0 45 D  The  rate of 45 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the D category of texts with between 35 and 100 defects per 10,000 words. 
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           To
           the
           Parliament
           of
           England
           ,
           and
           the
           several
           Members
           thereof
           .
        
         
           
             FRIENDS
             ,
          
        
         
           ON
           the
           day
           of
           your
           last
           solemn
           Fast
           and
           Humiliation
           ,
           which
           was
           on
           the
           third
           day
           of
           this
           〈◊〉
           month
           1659.
           
           I
           told
           you
           in
           the
           Name
           of
           God
           ,
           who
           then
           moved
           me
           so
           to
           do
           ,
           that
           you
           cannot
           possibly
           prosper
           in
           your
           Councels
           ,
           nor
           be
           accepted
           in
           your
           sacrifices
           ,
           if
           before
           him
           you
           be
           found
           guilty
           of
           forswearing
           your selves
           ,
           which
           whether
           you
           are
           or
           no
           in
           that
           tedious
           Case
           of
           
             Tithes
             ,
          
           I
           then
           also
           warned
           you
           to
           consider
           :
           I
           have
           since
           that
           seen
           such
           necessity
           laid
           upon
           me
           from
           the
           Lord
           this
           once
           more
           to
           arise
           and
           contend
           on
           the
           Lords
           behalf
           ,
           who
           hath
           a
           Controversie
           with
           you
           ,
           O
           ye
           mountains
           ,
           and
           ye
           strong
           foundations
           of
           the
           earth
           ,
           that
           whatever
           should
           befal
           me
           from
           you
           for
           so
           doing
           ,
           yet
           wo
           is
           unto
           me
           from
           him
           if
           I
           do
           it
           not
           :
           in
           order
           to
           the
           clearing
           of
           my
           Conscience
           in
           which
           service
           ,
           and
           in
           obedience
           to
           him
           ,
           whose
           Spirit
           hath
           prest
           me
           to
           it
           ,
           and
           also
           in
           bowels
           of
           true
           love
           to
           all
           your
           Souls
           ,
           and
           tender
           compassion
           to
           this
           bleeding
           Nation
           ,
           I
           have
           here
           presented
           you
           with
           these
           few
           following
           Queries
           ,
           which
           you
           are
           to
           read
           in
           the
           fear
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           light
           of
           God
           ,
           that
           shines
           into
           all
           Souls
           ,
           and
           searches
           the
           secrets
           of
           all
           your
           hearts
           ,
           to
           answer
           to
           God
           himself
           in
           your
           own
           Consciences
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Whether
           have
           you
           not
           said
           ,
           vowed
           ,
           covenanted
           and
           sworn
           ,
           and
           caused
           this
           Nation
           to
           vow
           ,
           covenant
           and
           swear
           with
           hands
           lifted
           up
           to
           the
           most
           High
           God
           ,
           to
           endeavor
           to
           the
           utmost
           of
           your
           ,
           and
           their
           power
           the
           Extirpation
           of
           all
           Innovation
           in
           Religion
           ,
           Popish
           institution
           ,
           superstition
           ,
           &c.
           and
           to
           Reform
           according
           to
           the
           example
           of
           the
           best
           Reformed
           Churches
           ?
        
         
           2
           Whether
           
             Parish-Churches
          
           ,
           
             Parish-Priests
          
           ,
           and
           the
           
             Parish-pay
          
           by
           that
           way
           of
           
             Tithes
          
           (
           which
           was
           the
           Ordinance
           of
           God
           under
           the
           Law
           ,
           which
           together
           with
           the
           Priesthood
           thereof
           is
           now
           changed
           be
           not
           
             Superstitions
             ,
             Innovations
          
           and
           
             Institutions
          
           of
           the
           
             Pope
             ,
          
           imposing
           the
           establishment
           thereof
           by
           their
           civil
           Laws
           upon
           simple
           
             Priest-Ridden
          
           Princes
           ,
           Powers
           and
           Parliaments
           ,
           in
           the
           dark
           dayes
           of
           his
           undue
           dominion
           over
           
           them
           in
           this
           
             English
          
           Nation
           ,
           and
           that
           so
           unquestionably
           ,
           that
           none
           of
           you
           ,
           but
           such
           as
           are
           willingly
           so
           ,
           can
           in
           these
           times
           of
           Trying
           of
           all
           things
           be
           easily
           ignorant
           of
           it
           ?
        
         
           3.
           
           Whether
           it
           be
           any
           less
           then
           cursed
           
             Covenant
             breaking
             ,
          
           and
           
             palpable
             Perjury
          
           in
           your selves
           ,
           or
           any
           that
           have
           so
           vowed
           ,
           covenanted
           and
           sworn
           as
           aforesaid
           ,
           not
           to
           endeavour
           the
           extirpation
           aforesaid
           ,
           much
           more
           in
           stead
           of
           removing
           that
           
             Popish
             yoke
             of
             Tithes
          
           to
           re-establish
           the
           payment
           of
           it
           with
           
             Treble
             dammages
             ?
          
        
         
           4.
           
           Whether
           you
           may
           not
           be
           said
           so
           to
           re-establish
           it
           ,
           whenas
           notwithstanding
           the
           onely
           way
           and
           means
           of
           recovery
           of
           
             Tithes
             ,
          
           that
           ever
           stood
           by
           
             Law
          
           in
           this
           Nation
           ,
           which
           was
           that
           of
           the
           
             Spiritual
             Courts
          
           (
           there
           being
           an
           expess
           Statute
           yet
           extant
           unrepealed
           ,
           that
           it
           shall
           not
           be
           lawful
           for
           any
           man
           to
           be
           summoned
           before
           any
           
             Secular
             Iudge
             ,
          
           or
           sued
           in
           any
           
             Temporal
             Court
          
           in
           that
           matter
           )
           is
           (
           
             de
             jure
          
           )
           taken
           away
           already
           in
           the
           fall
           of
           the
           
             Bishops
             Hierarchy
             ,
          
           and
           of
           the
           said
           
             Spiritual
             Courts
             ,
          
           you
           nevertheless
           encourage
           the
           
             Iudges
             ,
          
           by
           your
           
             Orders
          
           and
           
             Ordinances
          
           to
           try
           that
           Case
           of
           
             Tithes
          
           in
           their
           
             Temporal
             Courts
             ,
          
           who
           do
           accordingly
           so
           strictly
           reinforce
           the
           payment
           of
           
             Tithes
             ,
          
           that
           such
           tender
           consciences
           as
           because
           of
           the
           
             Oaths
          
           and
           
             Vowes
          
           to
           God
           you
           have
           bound
           them
           in
           ,
           and
           to
           avoid
           the
           guilt
           of
           
             Perjury
             ,
          
           dare
           not
           pay
           them
           ,
           by
           such
           
             H●ngry
             Harpies
          
           and
           
             Greedy
             Gatherers
          
           as
           the
           
             Parish-preachers
          
           make
           use
           of
           ,
           have
           not
           onely
           
             Treble
             ,
          
           but
           sometimes
           
             Tenfold
          
           dammages
           forcibly
           wrested
           from
           them
           :
           which
           said
           
             Iud●es
             ,
          
           forasmuch
           as
           they
           are
           also
           sworn
           
             (
             as
             Iudges
             )
          
           not
           to
           Act
           against
           any
           Statute
           Law
           ,
           whether
           in
           so
           acting
           they
           are
           not
           doubly
           forsworn
           ,
           't
           is
           good
           for
           them
           timely
           to
           examine
           ?
        
         
           5.
           
           Whether
           the
           
             Apostles
             ,
          
           who
           came
           after
           
             Tithes
             ,
          
           who
           were
           to
           go
           into
           all
           Nations
           ,
           Ministring
           the
           
             Gospel
             ,
          
           did
           ever
           m●ke
           such
           complaint
           for
           
             Tithes
             ,
          
           as
           the
           Ministers
           of
           the
           Nations
           now
           do
           to
           
             Magistrates
             ?
          
           And
           whether
           was
           there
           not
           provision
           enough
           for
           them
           ,
           not
           by
           compulsion
           ,
           nor
           yet
           by
           
             Tithes
             ,
          
           but
           as
           love
           constrained
           ,
           by
           which
           they
           then
           ministred
           one
           to
           another
           ,
           though
           they
           were
           scattered
           up
           and
           down
           through
           many
           Nations
           ,
           whereas
           these
           
             Ministers
          
           settle
           themselves
           in
           Parishes
           ,
           for
           
             Term-of-life
             ?
          
           And
           whether
           is
           it
           not
           more
           according
           to
           the
           example
           of
           the
           
             best
             Resormed
             Churches
             ,
          
           which
           are
           those
           of
           the
           
             Primitive
             times
             ,
          
           as
           well
           as
           a
           more
           likely
           way
           to
           end
           that
           endless
           
           strife
           ,
           which
           to
           the
           stark
           stinking
           shame
           of
           their
           profession
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           wearying
           of
           the
           whole
           Nation
           the
           men
           called
           
             Ministers
          
           are
           together
           by
           the
           ears
           in
           with
           all
           manner
           of
           
             people
             ,
          
           to
           leave
           all
           manner
           of
           
             people
             freely
          
           to
           chuse
           ,
           and
           
             freely
          
           to
           maintain
           the
           
             Ministers
          
           of
           their
           own
           chusing
           ,
           and
           all
           
             Mini●ters
             freely
          
           to
           give
           out
           what
           
             freely
          
           they
           have
           received
           ,
           according
           to
           Christs
           Command
           ,
           to
           such
           as
           he
           sends
           them
           ,
           then
           to
           force
           the
           
             Flocks
          
           of
           other
           folds
           to
           feed
           and
           cloath
           such
           
             Hireling
             shepherds
             ,
          
           as
           they
           neither
           hire
           ,
           nor
           hear
           ,
           nor
           were
           ever
           fed
           by
           ,
           and
           against
           their
           own
           consciences
           to
           help
           to
           uphold
           such
           
             Steal-Sermons
             ,
          
           and
           
             Sell-Sermons
          
           as
           
             God
          
           neither
           sent
           nor
           spoke
           to
           ,
           and
           such
           
             Seers
          
           concerning
           whom
           they
           see
           the
           
             Sun
          
           is
           already
           set
           upon
           them
           ?
        
         
           6.
           
           Whether
           it
           be
           possibly
           to
           be
           expected
           (
           unless
           
             God
          
           himself
           be
           so
           changed
           as
           to
           take
           pleasure
           in
           iniquity
           )
           that
           
             God
          
           should
           take
           pleasure
           in
           this
           Nation
           ,
           or
           that
           the
           Parliament
           ,
           and
           people
           thereof
           should
           ever
           prosper
           truly
           into
           a
           
             Common-VVealth
             ,
          
           and
           not
           rather
           perish
           at
           last
           by
           some
           
             Common
             Wo
             ,
          
           ruine
           and
           calamity
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           found
           before
           him
           in
           the
           cases
           aforesaid
           ,
           under
           the
           guilt
           of
           those
           gross
           sins
           of
           
             covenant
             breaking
          
           and
           
             perjury
             ?
          
        
         
           7.
           
           Whether
           it
           be
           possible
           (
           unlesse
           
             God
          
           be
           changed
           from
           what
           he
           was
           of
           old
           )
           that
           your
           many
           prayers
           should
           enter
           into
           the
           ears
           of
           the
           Lord
           of
           hosts
           ,
           that
           your
           fastings
           and
           humiliations
           (
           which
           are
           but
           fa●ed
           if
           you
           turn
           not
           to
           him
           that
           smites
           you
           with
           all
           your
           hearts
           )
           should
           find
           acceptance
           with
           him
           ,
           that
           your
           most
           solemn
           meetings
           should
           meet
           with
           any
           thing
           but
           rejection
           as
           
             iniquity
          
           and
           
             hypocrisie
             ,
          
           and
           that
           he
           should
           deliver
           you
           in
           your
           callings
           upon
           him
           in
           this
           day
           of
           your
           trouble
           ,
           if
           he
           find
           you
           guil●y
           of
           falshood
           ,
           and
           forswearing
           your selves
           ,
           if
           you
           perform
           not
           to
           the
           Lord
           your
           
             Oaths
             ,
          
           &
           pay
           not
           your
           
             Vows
          
           unto
           the
           most
           high
           ?
           and
           whether
           were
           it
           not
           much
           better
           for
           you
           to
           hearken
           then
           hastily
           to
           offer
           ,
           or
           to
           obey
           then
           to
           sacrifice
           with
           your
           hands
           full
           of
           blood
           ?
        
         
           8.
           
           Whether
           it
           be
           a
           sufficient
           plea
           before
           God
           in
           the
           cases
           aforesaid
           for
           this
           
             Parliament
          
           to
           say
           that
           the
           land
           cannot
           bear
           the
           taking
           away
           of
           
             Tithes
             ,
          
           as
           if
           the
           perfect
           removal
           of
           the
           
             Popes
             yoak
          
           from
           off
           their
           necks
           and
           the
           return
           of
           
             Tithes
          
           to
           the
           people
           ,
           who
           are
           the
           right
           Original
           owners
           thereof
           ,
           and
           might
           at
           first
           keep
           them
           to
           themselves
           ,
           till
           
             doting
             Doctors
          
           deceived
           them
           
           into
           a
           bestowing
           thereof
           ,
           or
           might
           bestow
           them
           on
           the
           poor
           ,
           or
           on
           whom
           they
           pleased
           till
           
             P.
             Innocent
          
           the
           third
           imposed
           the
           paymen●
           of
           them
           to
           
             Parish
             priests
             ,
          
           were
           insufferable
           to
           the
           Saints
           ,
           unsafe
           to
           a
           Nation
           that
           perfectly
           
             protests
          
           against
           the
           
             Pope
          
           and
           all
           his
           
             impositions
             ;
          
           or
           as
           if
           any
           but
           the
           blind
           
             Popishly
             affected
             party
          
           that
           are
           your
           flattering
           foes
           ,
           or
           any
           of
           that
           
             well
             affected
             party
          
           who
           have
           been
           your
           constant
           friends
           ,
           whom
           you
           have
           engaged
           to
           live
           and
           die
           with
           in
           so
           good
           a
           cause
           ,
           would
           kick
           ,
           and
           fling
           ,
           and
           be
           impatient
           under
           the
           burthen
           of
           their
           own
           freedoms
           ?
        
         
           9.
           
           Whether
           would
           not
           the
           breaking
           of
           every
           such
           
             Popish
             yoke
          
           from
           off
           their
           Consciences
           encourage
           all
           the
           aforesaid
           
             well-affected
             party
             ,
          
           so
           as
           to
           knit
           them
           firmly
           to
           you
           ;
           And
           whether
           doth
           it
           not
           rather
           discourage
           and
           weaken
           their
           hearts
           and
           hands
           to
           youward
           upon
           any
           occasion
           ,
           when
           assistance
           from
           them
           is
           expected
           ,
           to
           see
           all
           their
           
             Hopes
          
           frustrated
           ,
           all
           your
           
             Vows
             ,
             Oaths
          
           and
           
             Covenants
          
           disregarded
           ,
           your
           
             Promises
          
           falsified
           ,
           and
           their
           
             Petitions
          
           and
           
             Propositions
          
           to
           you
           in
           the
           particular
           aforesaid
           sleighted
           ,
           or
           at
           best
           answered
           with
           only
           thanks
           for
           their
           good
           affections
           ,
           and
           assurances
           that
           the
           things
           desired
           are
           under
           Consideration
           ,
           when
           yet
           from
           time
           to
           time
           that
           which
           by
           
             Oath
          
           and
           
             Covenant
          
           should
           have
           been
           long
           since
           
             Removed
             ,
          
           by
           your
           new
           
             Orders
          
           and
           
             Ordinances
          
           for
           it
           stands
           still
           rather
           
             Re-established
             ?
          
        
         
           10.
           
           Whether
           the
           
             Parish
             Priesthood
          
           of
           this
           Nation
           ,
           who
           are
           well
           ,
           neither
           full
           nor
           fasting
           ,
           do
           deserve
           that
           this
           Parliament
           should
           make
           such
           provision
           for
           them
           ,
           as
           they
           do
           ,
           and
           take
           so
           much
           care
           as
           they
           have
           done
           for
           their
           
             Tithes
             ,
          
           when
           as
           both
           now
           ,
           and
           upon
           every
           occasion
           ,
           as
           well
           when
           things
           go
           well
           with
           them
           ,
           as
           when
           worse
           ,
           they
           are
           ready
           to
           arise
           up
           in
           
             Armes
          
           against
           you
           with
           any
           
             discontended
             ,
          
           whether
           
             Kingly
             ,
             Priestly
          
           or
           
             Popish
             party
             ,
          
           to
           the
           eminent
           endangering
           of
           the
           whole
           
             Common-wealth
             ,
          
           the
           infinite
           expending
           and
           exhausting
           of
           the
           
             Treasure
          
           thereof
           ,
           the
           
             Imbroiling
          
           of
           this
           Nation
           in
           new
           War●
           till
           it
           welter
           in
           its
           own
           
             blood
             ,
          
           and
           contrary
           to
           the
           
             Scripture
             ,
          
           which
           wills
           all
           
             Ministers
          
           to
           be
           no
           
             Strikers
             ,
             imbruing
          
           their
           own
           hands
           in
           the
           
             innocent
             blood
          
           thereof
           ?
        
         
           
             Given
             out
             on
             
               the
               10th
               day
               of
               the
               6th
               month
               ,
               1659.
               
            
          
           
             Samuel
             Fisher
             .
          
        
         
           THE
           END
           .