AN
EXAMINATION
OF
THE
ESSAY
,
OR
,
An
Answer
to
the
Fifth
Monarchy
.
The
Proof
of
the
Essay
,
and
the
Essay-Masters
pursuant
to
the
Invitations
;
Judg.
19.
30.
Who
having
Considered
of
it
,
and
taken
Advice
,
Let
me
speak
my
mind
.
I
Account
it
a
great
unhappinesse
this
Nation
groans
under
,
not
onely
that
it
is
broken
into
many
Factions
,
but
that
whilst
each
of
them
Imposeth
the
other
upon
,
All
(
or
at
least
the
most
of
them
)
pretend
to
Righteousnesse
,
(
and
amongst
those
the
late
Essay
)
.
How
much
men
(
under
this
notion
)
have
shrouded
their
own
Errors
and
Designes
,
by
this
means
,
exposing
the
name
of
the
Lord
to
Blasphemy
;
I
leave
every
serious
Christian
to
consider
,
I
shall
not
censure
the
Authors
of
this
Paper
,
they
being
(
in
a
great
measure
)
strangers
to
me
:
but
wish
that
whilst
we
are
Contending
about
(
what
least
becomes
one
that
ought
to
be
a
Pilgrime
in
this
World
,
viz.
)
the
Civil-Government
of
this
Nation
,
(
to
which
there
are
many
pretended
Titles
on
foot
)
we
may
not
,
as
a
House
divided
against
it self
,
fall
into
confusion
;
Nay
,
into
the
hands
of
the
Common
Enemy
.
For
preventing
which
,
by
moderating
and
helping
the
Considerations
of
these
Essay-Masters
;
I
propose
these
following
Queries
.
I.
Whether
the
late
Single
Person
were
not
incited
to
the
putting
a
force
upon
this
Parliament
,
and
the
set●ing
up
a
Power
contrary
to
Law
,
by
you
or
some
of
you
?
Or
at
least
wise
,
whether
you
did
not
,
or
do
not
approve
the
Action
,
by
owning
of
,
and
contending
for
,
the
short
Convention
and
turning
out
of
this
Parliament
;
all
but
a
few
of
which
you
Judge
qualified
for
Trust
and
Rule
,
&c.
and
if
so
,
whether
you
are
not
accessary
to
his
Evil
,
in
taking
the
Government
;
as
an
apt
medium
is
,
to
a
necessary
consequence
?
II.
Whether
your
apprehensions
of
Christ's
Kingdom
had
it's
beginning
in
our
late
Revolutions
(
without
assigning
,
in
which
of
them
,
and
when
,
and
where
it
began
)
be
a
sufficient
Ground
to
debarr
the
Nation
from
their
share
in
Government
?
And
why
our
Revolutions
of
late
years
are
more
an
evidence
of
Christ's
Kingdom
,
then
those
in
former
years
;
or
the
Revolutions
in
other
Nations
,
viz.
Holland
in
the
Change
of
their
Government
the
troubles
lately
in
Poland
,
formerly
in
Germany
and
France
,
&
c
?
And
whether
men
had
not
as
good
Grounds
for
such
conclusions
formerly
,
as
you
have
now
for
yours
?
and
whether
the
Jews
by
the
same
Ground
are
not
justified
in
their
conclusions
against
Christians
;
And
the
Pope
in
his
pretended
Infallibillity
.
They
both
having
their
apprehensions
to
justifie
their
Actions
,
as
well
as
you
yours
for
your
Conclusions
?
III.
In
what
speciall
sense
can
it
be
said
,
that
the
Government
of
this
Nation
,
more
then
other
Nations
is
given
to
Christ
,
since
his
Government
,
whether
considered
Personall
,
or
Spirituall
,
is
to
be
Universall
;
And
his
coming
to
his
Government
(
when
he
takes
it
into
his
hands
)
being
in
respect
of
certainty
and
speed
,
like
lightning
from
the
East
to
the
West
,
or
by
what
Promise
or
Prophesie
so
inconsiderable
a
part
of
the
World
(
as
England
)
,
shall
be
the
seat
of
Christ's
Kingdom
,
when
all
other
Nations
shall
remain
under
the
Government
of
men
,
if
not
the
worst
of
men
?
IV.
Whose
work
is
it
to
take
the
Government
from
Men
,
and
give
it
to
Christ
,
whether
the
Work
of
Men
,
or
of
God
?
If
of
God
,
what
is
Man
that
he
should
interpose
in
it
?
If
of
Man
or
Men
?
At
what
time
and
times
?
and
by
what
Commission
doth
he
or
they
do
it
?
that
we
may
know
how
to
obey
:
many
having
formerly
pretended
to
this
Work
,
when
designing
onely
a
Crown
for
themselves
?
V.
What
Person
or
Persons
are
they
,
that
in
your
sense
are
so
qualified
for
Government
,
and
by
what
right
do
they
so
stand
?
If
by
the
Law
of
the
Land
,
by
what
Law
?
If
by
God's
Word
,
where
,
and
how
doth
it
appear
?
since
the
reference
to
the
Laws
of
new-Haven
in
new
England
is
no
more
binding
then
the
Laws
of
new-Boston
there
?
VI
.
Whether
the
Plat-form
of
the
Commonwealth
of
Israel
suited
for
the
Government
of
a
select
People
,
under
a
special
Profession
and
Covenant
,
and
for
the
most
part
Typical
and
Allegorical
;
will
,
in
all
things
suit
England
;
and
whether
the
Scriptures
doth
condemn
all
Civil
Government
in
other
Nations
,
differing
from
that
?
VII
.
If
the
Government
of
the
Commonwealth
of
Israel
(
besides
which
we
have
no
Example
of
a
Popular
Government
in
Scripture
)
be
to
us
onely
a
Plat
form
for
our
Government
,
what
need
then
is
there
of
any
qualified
Persons
,
for
making
Laws
,
those
Laws
being
already
in
the
Word
of
God
,
which
yet
(
not
to
derogate
from
the
Scripture
)
it
is
humbly
conceived
,
will
hardly
extend
to
the
determination
of
Controversies
in
this
Common-wealth
,
about
titles
of
Land
,
raising
of
Assessements
,
securing
the
Peace
thereof
from
the
Common
Enemy
,
&
c
?
VIII
.
Whether
at
the
same
time
,
you
say
,
you
witnesse
against
future
Violence
,
in
the
foundations
of
it
you
do
not
own
the
Violence
;
putt
on
part
of
this
Parliament
;
and
impose
on
most
of
this
Nation
the
greatest
violence
imaginable
,
the
being
excluded
(
for
ever
as
well
as
at
the
present
)
from
all
right
of
Government
?
And
whether
,
at
what
Instant
it
becomes
practicable
,
are
the
Governed
any
way
beuer
related
to
the
Governours
,
than
the
Gibeonitcs
were
to
the
Israelites
?
IX
.
Whether
the
Debarring
and
Bereaving
the
Nation
of
their
just
Rights
,
in
matters
Civil
,
as
well
for
Future
,
as
at
Present
,
tends
not
to
the
provoking
them
,
to
deprive
you
of
both
Civil
and
Spiritual
;
all
men
desiring
(
as
lawfully
they
may
)
to
be
delivered
from
those
by
whom
they
are
Captivated
:
And
thus
whilst
you
are
pleading
for
the
Freedome
and
Rule
of
Christians
,
you
adventure
their
utmost
Vassallage
,
giving
the
Nation
a
just
Plea
for
it
;
as
also
to
Blaspheme
your
holy
Profession
,
and
to
say
,
that
the
Spirit
of
Munster
hath
got
footing
in
England
?
X.
Whether
you
,
or
some
of
you
,
in
former
times
were
not
forward
Disciples
of
John
Lilburn
,
and
Active
in
asserting
the
Freedom
of
the
People
,
and
promoting
their
then
intended
Agreement
;
And
if
you
run
into
so
great
Extreams
about
Civil
Government
,
what
security
can
the
Nation
have
of
your
Constancy
to
any
Government
,
though
by
your selves
proposed
?
XI
.
Whether
seeing
,
as
you
say
,
this
Parliament
have
been
honoured
in
God's
Work
,
the
benefit
of
which
we
this
Day
reap
;
We
may
not
hope
God
will
honour
them
further
,
in
their
cleaving
to
Him
and
His
,
seeing
after
six
years
preparation
,
by
affliction
,
and
when
under
the
height
of
Contempt
,
they
were
unexpectedly
brought
together
again
;
without
any
projection
,
or
contrivance
of
their
own
?
XII
.
Whether
you
,
or
the
most
of
you
,
have
not
been
as
active
as
most
men
,
in
supporting
the
Power
of
the
late
Single
Person
,
by
holding
and
executing
Places
of
special
Trust
and
Profit
for
several
years
,
untill
difference
arose
betwixt
Him
and
You
,
or
till
it
fell
in
course
to
You
to
be
Disbanded
:
and
whether
You
,
or
some
of
You
have
not
received
extraordinary
Rewards
under
that
Government
;
and
if
so
,
whether
you
own
your selves
qualified
for
Government
,
the
chief
and
chargeable
part
of
Repentance
being
yet
wanting
,
viz.
Restitution
?
XIII
.
Since
Obedience
to
the
late
Government
is
lookt
upon
as
so
great
a
Crime
,
that
Repentance
is
required
in
the
most
godly
,
and
best
qualified
that
acted
under
it
;
You
are
desired
to
shew
out
of
the
Word
of
God
,
where
ever
any
People
are
required
to
Examine
the
Right
and
Legality
of
a
Power
,
under
which
they
Live
,
and
have
Protection
,
before
they
yield
obedience
in
things
morally
lawful
;
and
whether
such
being
possest
with
the
seat
of
Government
,
are
not
to
be
looked
upon
as
the
Powers
that
are
;
to
which
,
the
Apostle
directs
Obedience
,
even
under
the
Government
of
Caesar
Augustus
,
who
got
the
Empire
by
Blood
,
Treachery
,
Rapine
,
and
Oppression
.
XIV
.
Whether
,
by
the
same
ground
,
if
your
Government
Essayed
,
were
setled
,
we
ought
not
as
well
to
dispute
our
obedience
thereunto
,
as
you
,
to
former
or
present
Powers
,
since
this
hath
no
more
of
the
Suffrage
of
the
People
(
if
so
much
)
as
that
had
:
neither
can
you
hold
out
more
specious
pretences
of
Freedom
and
Godlinesse
than
hath
been
formerly
pretended
to
;
and
the
great
Offence
,
taken
at
the
former
Government
,
arose
from
subsequent
Actions
,
and
no
man
can
foresee
what
the
best
of
men
will
be
,
till
tryed
;
and
therefore
,
what
security
shall
the
Nations
have
,
that
your
Essayed
Government
and
Governours
shall
be
better
than
the
last
form
,
surnamed
the
Apostacy
?
XV
.
Whether
,
Since
Repentance
is
required
for
former
Obedience
,
Works
will
not
serve
as
well
as
Words
,
(
especially
,
being
joyned
with
Words
)
?
If
so
,
Whether
our
Chief
Commanders
in
the
Army
,
that
adventured
lives
and
all
,
(
when
you
were
in
a
great
measure
secure
,
)
to
restore
this
Nation
to
its
present
freedom
;
Whether
these
,
I
say
,
ought
not
to
be
looked
on
,
as
specily
qualified
for
Government
,
(
God
having
been
with
them
;
and
owned
them
,
)
and
so
to
be
the
Subject
of
Commendation
,
and
not
of
Reproach
?
XVI
.
That
since
in
all
Repentance
some
must
judge
the
truth
thereof
,
that
you
would
be
pleased
to
assign
your
Judges
,
otherwise
we
are
left
without
Government
,
all
(
or
almost
all
)
being
in
your
sense
transgressours
;
And
that
herein
you
would
be
pleased
to
consider
,
that
if
you
pitch
upon
the
baptized
or
Independent
Churches
,
As
they
(
as
such
)
have
nothing
to
do
to
judge
any
thing
that
is
without
,
so
it
is
to
be
feared
they
will
judge
favourably
each
for
his
own
party
:
And
being
your
triers
(
you
denying
Communion
each
with
other
,
and
therein
differing
)
would
hardly
,
by
your
own
principles
,
find
some
of
you
,
that
signed
the
Essay
,
qualified
for
Government
.
The
Presby●er
,
you
will
hardly
set
him
up
to
judge
,
being
byassed
also
by
contrary
Principles
and
narrow
spirit
:
the
Magistrate
(
if
any
there
be
in
your
account
)
cannot
judge
;
they
onely
by
your
Essay
,
are
to
meddle
with
things
meerly
Civill
:
so
that
it
is
humbly
conceived
,
your
Essay
is
felo
de
se
,
and
ought
forthwith
to
be
interred
,
and
the
Testimony
thereunto
,
since
published
,
may
serve
for
its
winding-Sheet
.
XVII
.
Whether
there
be
not
more
of
the
Serpentine
subtilty
and
craft
,
than
of
the
Simplicity
and
Innocency
of
the
Dove
,
in
so
placing
the
names
of
the
Subscribers
,
that
one
John
Owen
is
the
first
in
the
Paper
,
thereby
misleading
the
Reader
to
conceive
it
to
be
Dr.
John
Owen
,
in
order
to
the
giving
reputation
to
your
Paper
?
XVIII
.
Wherefore
consider
of
it
,
take
advice
,
and
speak
your
minds
,
whether
it
be
not
the
Duty
of
all
that
meddle
with
Governments
,
seriously
to
weigh
the
Apostle's
words
,
Jud.
8
,
9
,
10.
verses
.
And
whether
it
be
not
better
for
you
,
and
all
Christians
,
to
study
more
their
and
your
own
duties
,
and
how
to
obey
,
and
heartily
pray
for
our
Rulers
,
that
God
would
spirit
them
for
their
great
work
,
and
so
fill
them
with
Wisdom
,
to
establish
both
our
spiritual
and
civill
Liberty
;
that
neither
any
Christlan
be
debarred
in
spiritual
or
civil
Liberty
;
and
that
no
Prophaneness
,
Atheism
,
or
Injustice
be
in
our
Land
;
but
Justice
run
down
as
a
stream
,
which
;
if
the
Lord
have
any
pleasure
in
us
,
will
be
our
portion
?
FINIS
.