The Queries.

1 WHether the Resignation of the Powers and Authorities given and received by Oliver Cromwel (mentioned in the Oath taken by him, Decemb. 16. 1653.) from the major part of the people (there mentioned) called by him to sit in Parliament (if true) did in the least invest the said [Page 4] Oliver with a more Legall power to Governe the Common-wealth as a single person, than he had be­fore he called and impowered them. And if not, then —

2 Whether it be not exceedingly necessary to make diligent enquiry what persons they were, who drew up the Instrument, intituled, The Government of the Common-wealth of England, Scotland, and Ire­land, and the Dominions thereunto belonging, &c. And who it was that Authorized and Impowered them so to doe — And if it appear to be from an usurped pow­er of their owne or others, then —

3 Whether the said persons be not guilty of High Treason against the Common-wealth, by inslaving it to the Government of one single person, as in Arti­cle 1. where they positively conclude, that the Govern­ment of this Common-wealth, &c. shall be and reside in one single person; as also in Article 33. where they likewise assume the boldnesse, as not onely to no­minate, but also to institute and invest Oliver Cromwel to the exercise of the said Rule and Government.

Whereas an Act of Parliament, Anno 1648. (not then repealed) saith, That it shall be High Treason to set up Charls Stuart, or ANY OTHER PERSON Chiefe Magistrate in England, or Ireland, or any of the Dominions thereunto belonging, &c. It being also quite contrary to the Armies Declaration, June 14. 1647. p. 8, 9. where they positively affirme, That Arbitrary or Absolute power in Any person, &c. during life, doth not render that State any better than Tyranny, nor the people subject thereunto, any better than Vassals.

4 Whether the said persons be not also guilty of breach of well knowne, and fought for priviledges, [Page 5]a few of which take as followeth. (1) As in Arti­cle 12. where they injoyne the Electors and Elected of them they say shall be Parliament-men, to indent with each other, That the Elected shall not have power to alter the Government as it is by them established — whereas it is well known what power the old Parli­ament exercised in reference to the Kingly Power it selfe. (2) As in Article 22. where they say, That the persons chosen and Assembled (as aforesaid) or any sixty of them, shall be, and be deemed the Parlia­ment of Engl: Scotl: and Irel: and the SUPREAM LE­GISLATIVE POWER TO BE AND RESIDE IN THE LORD PROTECTOR, &c. whereas the Armies Declaration of June 14. 1647. p. 9. saith, That they are so far from DESIGNING, or COM­PLYING to have an ABSOLUTE or ARBITRA­RY power SIGNED or SETLED for CONTI­NUANCE in any person WHATSOEVER, as that if they might be sure to obtaine it, they could not wish to have it so in the persons of Any whom they could MOST CONFIDE IN, or who should appeare most of their OWNE OPINIONS OR PRINCIPLES, or whom they might have MOST PERSONALL ASSU­RANCE OF, or INTEREST IN. (3) Article 24. where they say, That all Bills agreed unto by the Parl: shall be presented to the Lord Protector, FOR HIS CONSENT, &c. whereas in the Armies Remon­strance, Albans, p. 66. they propose to the Parl: then sitting, that they would declare, That as to the whole interest of the people of England, the Representatives thereof, have and shall have the Supream power and trust of making of Lawes, Constitutions, and Offices, for the ordering, preservation, and Government of the whole, and as to the altering, and repealing, or abolishing the same, the [Page 6]making of war or peace, and as to the Highest and Finall judgement in all civill things, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER APPEALE TO ANY CREATED STANDING POWER. And that all the people of this Nation, and ALL Officers of justice, and MINI­STERS OF STATE as such, SHALL in all such things be ACCOUNTABLE AND SUBJECT thereunto, and bound and concluded thereby. I might also instance in many other particulars, but these shall suffice at present to shew how the Army hath A­postatized from their Principles, and that to their E­ternall infamy, without Repentance; for certainly they will one day finde that God will not be mocked, and that it was not a Childish sport they were about when they used those solemne expressions in behalf of themselves and the Common wealth, whose SER­VANTS they then were — All which being serious­ly considered — then —

5 Whether all the aforesaid persons may not justly expect to be called in question for all such their actions, when God shall in justice give an opportu­nity to his people (and yet untainted free-borne persons of this Common-wealth) so to doe, and that according to the Armies owne principles, as in the Breviate of their Remonstrance, Albans pag: 8. where after they have laid down several presidents of Gods people fixing solemn punishments on wicked Kings, they present Asaph, Psal: 83.11. Praying that Nobles, and Princes Enemies to Gods people, may be used after for­mer examples, whereupon they draw this conclusion.

That as this kind of men is opposing Christ in these last times so are they by him and his people to be punished; allu­ding to Psal: 1. and Psal. 1 [...]o. 5. (viz:) The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through Kings in the day of thy [Page 7] wrath, in Psal, 149.8, 9 to bind their Kings in chains, and their Nobles in fetters of Iron, to execute upon them the judgment written. And Rev: 19.17, 18. The fowls are invi­ted to eat the fl [...]sh of Kings, and Captains slaughtered by the Lamb. As also in page 9. where they say to punish Instru­ments, and let the head go free, leads to endless trouble: be­sides it seems a most unequal, and partial way of Justice; and the same principle that exempts Kings from justice, would absolve their inferior Ministers (or what they do in pursu­ance of such Commands. And hereupon they urge the ex­ample, 2 Chro: 23. ult. and the City was quiet after they had slain Athaliah with the sword. And Numb: 25.4, 5, 9. in the case of Baalpeer, where the Lord said unto Mo­ses. Take all the head of the People, and hang them up before the Sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel — And Moses said unto the Iudges of Israel, slay yee every one his men that were joyned to Baal­peer, at which time (say they) the chief men guilty were first hanged, being a thousand, and then inferior men slain, being twenty three thousand, 1 Cor. 108. both ma­king 24000.—As also page 7. where they urge Job 34.30. that the Hypocrite Reign not, least the people be insnared, these are their own words in reference to the late King, and his party, in point of Iustice against them, and so consequently applicable to all such as are, or shall be found imitators of them. And if so, then —

6 Whether the Government, or Monarchy of Charls Stuart which the army termed one of the ten Horns, (they say) the Lord made them instrumental to de­stroy, (as in their Declaration to Scotland pag: 38.) as being guilty of the blood of the Saints, can be thought by any rational man, to be that Government, they then Jehu like 2 King: 10.16) so furiously contended [Page 8]for, and that against the very same party they now joyn hands with all, ( viz. this particular illustrated at large in a Book lately published, Titled, an Image of our re­forming Times, or Jehu in his proper colours, and are to be sold by L: Chapman at the Crown in Popeshead-al­ley. And if not, then—

7 Whether the said Army, &c. hath not played the hypocrites in a most high nature, by their now adhearing unto the present Government.

And whether in so doing they have not also clearly declared themselves Rebels, and Traytors to Jesus Christ; and that from their own expressions (as in their Declaration to Scotland, pag: 36, 37, 38, 39. where among other words to this purpose they demonstra­ted to all the world, that the Lord made them Instrumen­tal to vex all in his sore displeasure that took Counsel a­gainst Christ, whom the Lord hath Anointed, and decreed King. And that they themselves had not only PRO­CLAIMED Jesus Christ King of Saints to be OUR KING, but that they would submit unto him UPON HIS OWN TEARMS, and admit him ONLY to the exercise of his Royal Authority,) and thereby have made themselves not only lyable to the aforesaid tem­poral punishments instanced by them, but also to the eternal wrath of the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, who will render vengeance in flaming fire to them that are so ob­stinately disobedient to his Royal Commands, 2 Thes. 1.8. &c. And if so then—

8 Whether it be not now high time for them to en­tertain that Governor, whose Right it is, (both as Cre­ator, God, King, Lord, Saviour, and Lawgiver,) to govern the Person, or Persons now Governing, as any other person, or persons in the Common-wealth.— And [Page 9]whether this can any otherwise be done then by a ge­neral submission to those holy, just, and perfect Laws, Sta­tutes, Judgments, and Ordinances which Jesus Christ himself (whom they have already so proclaimed to be King of this Common-wealth,) hath constituted, and appointed to Govern his Subjects by, (whether in reference to the outward, or inward man,) as they are re­corded in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testa­ment, & that without any mixture of the depraved light of Nature, 1 Cor. 2.14. and Eph. 2.3. or vain Heathenish constitutions, or traditons of men as now practised a­mong us.— And that according to the Armies own ac­knowledgment, as in page 6. of their aforesaid abridg­ment, where they say— The Kings of Israel must know the Law for a Rule, Deut: 17. And Josiah being seven years old, had a Crown put upon his head, and the testimony in his hand, Note the Law of God a Rule from Heaven. If for all Rulers then why not a rule for our pre­sent Rulers. Are not mens Laws then con­sequently un­just, and so from the Devil. 2 Kings 11.12. that being elder he might re­member the Rule which David avouched to be FROM HEAVEN, as a RULE for ALL RULERS. 2 Sam. 23.3. He that ruleth among men, must be just ruling in the fear of God; as also in pag: 8. where they raise this asser­tion, (viz:) That just Laws being from God, (Themis the Daughter of Iove,) who is not ever under them, owns not his subjection to God And if so, then—

9 Whether our present Rulers he under the subjection of God, or whether it be possible for them to make up the vast devastations, and breaches already made by them, both on the behalf of the Lord Jesus, and in reference to the priviledges of this Common-wealth, (under the com­mon pretence of necessity) then by joyning in Cove­nant with all the people of God to set up the afore­said Laws, Statutes, Judgments, and Ordinances of King [Page 10]Jesus, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. And whether it be not the alone way to reconcile all past and pre­sent differences throughout the Common-wealth, and to stop the mouths of all gain sayers whatsoever; as also the only expedient to take off all the present bur­thens, and oppressions which the generality of the peo­ple of this Common-wealth lye under.

1. For who dares be so impudent as to oppose the Government of him they do acknowledge their Crea­tor, God, King, Lord, and Lawgiver, as they relate either to the inward, or outward Man, and consequently re­nounce all other Governments whatsoever, and those that strive to support them, as Charls-Stuart, or any other per­son or persons whatsoever.

2. What need shall we have then of a standing Ar­my, when we have all unanimously Covenanted with our God to set up his well-beloved Son, and our a­lone Saviour upon his Royal Throne, by prof [...]ssing a [...]d practising his Laws and Ordinances, but that when need shall require, we may imitate the antient people of God, (whilst Governed by that Law) by rising unani­mously to the assistance or defence of each other when there shall be an occasion, so that the present Army may be spared to make further way for the promoting of the interest of the Lord Jesus, even to the ends of the world, and over which they acknowledg him to be King, and themselves appointed to vex all that wil not yeeld obedience to him, as aforesaid.

3. Touching the Antichristian oppression of Tithes, what need will there be to pay them, when Gospel Mi­nisters shall, and will be contented with Gospel wages, or maintenance, and not exact the hire of a Harlot.

4. Whar need will there be of the devouring Law­yer, [Page 11]when we shall have Judges as at the first, and Rulers as at the beginning, (viz) when such persons shal only be imployed as Advocates, and Judges, or shall be found qualified according to the will and pleasure of the alone Lawgiver, such as are valiant for the truth, men fearing God, and HATING Covetousness.

5. Whether it will not also be the most probable means that ever was, or ever is like to be to convert the Jews to the Christian faith, seeing that our Gospel is only a complement of their Laws, Matt. 5.17, 18, 19, &c. which when they are once convinced of, will doubtless be as willing to imbrace the one, as we the other, in such of them as are not abrogated by our Ld. Jesus, as the moral, and judicials relating to their civil state, by which means both Jew and Gentile may be brought into one fold, and under one Sepheard and conse­quently see the accomplishment of all those glorious Prophesies to that purpose.

10 Whether in consideration of these things it do not meerly concern the persons who drew up the afore­said Instrument with all others that have acted in pur­suance thereof; as also the army in general to make a speedy & publick reconciliation of such their actions. And forthwith set themselves to redeem the time they have so spent, by making good their former protestations, and Ingagements in the behalf of the Lord Jesus & his people. Seeing they say them­selves, Abridg: Rem: Albans pag: 10. That even a servant by the civil Law may accuse his Master as guilty of Treason; and that God bates all workers of iniquity. Psal: 5.5. And accepteth not the pers [...]ns of Princes, nor regardeth the rich more then the poor, nor honoureth not the person of the Mighty. As also that Reformation were better begin at the Majoraties, then the Minoraties, Numb: 25.27, 28.

11 Whether the refusal of the present Rulers, and Army so to do, must not unavoidably put them upon a desperate princi­ple, [Page 12]of persecution of such of the people of God, (as are resolved by the assistance of the Almighty to persevere in this pub­lick Cause of Christ, until they shall see the accomplishment thereof, it being no more then the present Army hath all along De­clared for as aforesaid.) And whether by so doing, they will not run themselves into the most abominablest wickedness that ever was committed by the Sons of Men, (as they pretend to Christianity) seeing the Armies Declaration of June 14, 1647. pag, 7. saith, That it is no resisting of Magistracy to side with just principles; as also in their abridgment of their Remon­strance Albans pag: 8. where in the case betwixt David and Saul, they say, that David did not forbear Saul meerly out of reve­rence to his Authority, And how much more where the person is not lawfully called to his Office: Exce Mr: John Goodwin, and consider these expressions. for he took up Arms to defend himself against him and would if that part would have joyned) have used force a­gainst Saul. As also in pag: 6. where they affirm, that a person assuming a hurtful power never committed to him, and taketh away the foundations of Liberty, and redress such person, (all be it law­fully called to his Office,) setteth the people free to take their best advantage, and proceed in judgment against him, and this they back with two Arguments, the one drawn from Rom: 13.3.4. where they say, Paul speaks of Authority, and Magistracy in its constitution, (not of a person abusively exercising it,) to be Gods In­strument of good to every one, and an incourager of good in every man, and an enemy to evil. The other from 2 Chro. 21.10. Where Lib­nab (say they) which is a City belonging to the Priests, Josh. 21.13.) revolted: Ne subjecta esset ei, from all subjection, (to Jeno­ram their lawful King,) because he had forsaken the Lord God of his Fathers, (in English because he had Apostatised from his for­mer ingagements,) a fair caution one would think for all Apo­states, and especially for those of them, that have made use of those Arguments not only to accuse, but also to execute Judg­ment upon persons for so doing. I need not here mind them of the late president.

In breif.

VVHether persons so deeply ingaged as the Army to set up the Laws and Ordinances which are from Heaven, in their primitive purity, at contained in the word of God, or holy Scriptures; and after by the Temptations, and suggestions of their own evil and corrupt hearts within, and a multitude of fawning parasites without, are drawn to Apostatise in so foul and shameful a manner from their former reso­lutions, ought not upon a full and perfect knowledg, and ad­monition thereof by their fellow Brethren, (yet abiding in their integrity,) rather cry peccavi, and so repent of such their misdeeds, then by a most vile and desperate resolution to justifie such their Apostacies, by persecuting their faithful Brethren, (be­cause they wil not comply with them in their evil actions,) and so bid an open defiance even to the Lord God Almighty, through their confidence in an arm of flesh, (notwithstanding their large experience of the vanity thereof,) and thereby fil up the measure of the wrath of their Predecessors, & so bring upon their own heads all the guiltless blood that hath been shed from the blood of righteous Abel; unto this present time.

The Lord in much mercy set these words home upon the spirits, and hearts of those whom they do or may so nearly concern, least when with Esau they seek Repentance, and that with tears, they shal not find it.