A
Briefe
Description
by
way
of
supposition
holding
forth
to
the
Parliament
and
such
as
have
but
common
reason
,
wherein
a
true
Common-wealth
consisteth
:
as
also
the
grand
enemies
of
this
Common-wealth
plainly
discovered
.
SUppose
that
ten
or
twelve
sorts
of
people
(
being
of
severall
opinions
)
are
all
together
willing
to
inhabit
a
fruitfull
Island
,
yet
before
they
resolve
to
plant
or
build
,
they
judge
it
necessary
to
have
one
of
the
wisest
of
them
to
be
their
Magistrate
or
chiefe
overseer
,
with
so
many
servants
as
the
time
requires
,
not
only
to
keep
the
people
in
order
,
but
also
to
be
in
a
posture
of
defence
,
against
all
enemies
whatsoever
,
maintaining
the
same
(
for
their
service
to
the
Common-wealth
)
out
of
the
Common
stocke
.
After
this
;
all
persons
that
are
of
one
and
the
same
opinion
are
gathering
themselves
(
as
members
belonging
to
one
body
)
together
making
up
when
they
are
seperated
,
the
number
of
ten
or
twelve
different
Congregations
,
every
one
providing
maintenance
for
his
own
Ministers
,
and
the
Magistrate
standing
unmovable
(
as
a
center
)
between
them
all
,
to
keep
the
ballance
in
the
Government
,
that
one
sect
may
not
domineer
over
the
other
.
If
he
(
to
wit
the
Magistrate
)
joyne
himselfe
(
as
a
member
)
to
one
particular
Congregation
he
hath
his
liberty
to
honour
the
same
,
with
his
presence
,
with
his
tongue
,
with
his
pen
,
and
with
his
own
money
:
but
not
with
the
sword
or
money
of
the
Common-wealth
,
for
he
is
in
regard
of
his
Office
to
be
considered
not
as
a
perticular
but
as
a
generall
person
standing
for
the
good
of
all
:
just
as
it
is
with
a
Treasurer
,
who
is
intrusted
with
a
summe
of
money
to
imploy
the
same
not
for
his
own
,
or
any
ones
private
advantage
in
particular
,
but
for
the
benefit
of
all
those
that
have
intrusted
him
.
This
now
(
when
there
are
made
Hospitalls
for
the
poor
;
work-houses
for
the
idle
and
evill
persons
;
as
also
generall
meeting
places
for
the
dispelling
of
errors
)
is
a
true
and
perfect
Common-wealth
,
without
calling
the
Ministers
of
one
particular
sect
nationall
Ministers
.
Till
Sathan
appearing
(
in
his
servants
)
as
an
Angell
of
light
,
doth
bewitch
and
overcome
the
Magistrate
which
commonly
happens
in
this
following
manner
:
The
Ministers
of
every
sect
,
having
their
own
meetings
among
themselves
,
are
labouring
and
striving
(
some
to
a
good
,
and
others
to
an
evill
end
)
to
bring
the
greatest
number
of
persons
under
their
jurisdiction
:
the
evill
minded
loosing
their
customers
,
and
so
their
maintenance
by
the
encrease
of
others
,
the
truth
having
most
power
,
are
consulting
together
,
in
what
manner
to
gaine
the
Favour
and
Assistance
of
the
Magistrate
.
Appearing
before
him
with
flattering
addresses
and
fair
pretences
calling
him
the
most
noble
,
most
excellent
,
and
most
serene
,
&c.
Telling
him
that
they
have
a
great
inclination
and
desire
to
his
continuance
in
the
government
.
Thus
having
made
their
first
entrance
they
proceed
and
goe
on
(
to
complish
their
design
)
insinuating
him
that
there
is
a
certain
sort
of
people
under
his
government
that
very
much
increase
being
(
as
they
call
it
)
of
dangerous
principles
,
because
they
are
opposite
to
them
:
warning
him
with
great
earnestnesse
to
take
speciall
notice
of
them
,
with
this
conclusion
,
if
he
doe
not
suppresse
them
(
to
hinder
their
increase
)
that
he
is
in
danger
to
loose
his
government
.
The
Magistrate
not
perceiving
that
the
old
Serpent
is
hidden
under
these
fair
pretences
,
nor
discerning
the
wolves
in
sheeps
cloathing
,
is
moved
and
resolved
to
reward
them
for
all
their
pretended
care
and
kindnesse
manifested
to
him
,
allowing
them
maintenance
,
not
of
his
own
but
of
the
Common-wealths
money
,
which
belongeth
not
to
him
;
much
lesse
to
them
,
they
then
being
made
partakers
of
the
money
unjustly
taken
of
the
Common-wealth
,
are
in
feare
that
the
honest
people
of
the
other
Congregations
(
perceiving
these
contrivings
)
will
discover
their
wickednesse
and
deceit
.
Whereupon
they
presently
resolve
to
extoll
the
Magistrate
in
the
publique
meeting
places
,
calling
him
a
very
good
and
religious
Magistrate
because
he
is
good
to
them
,
the
Common
people
seeing
the
great
union
and
familiarity
between
the
Magistrate
,
and
those
Ministers
,
are
commonly
inclined
to
fall
in
with
their
affections
,
where
the
magistrate
is
affected
,
because
they
seek
favour
and
offices
by
him
;
wherein
the
Ministers
are
very
serviceable
to
advance
their
own
Disciples
before
others
in
the
government
,
that
so
their
kingdome
(
their
children
being
brought
up
to
the
same
trade
)
may
stand
upon
a
more
sure
foundation
then
heretofore
,
giving
out
by
the
mouth
of
their
followers
that
the
interest
of
the
Magistrate
lyeth
in
them
,
the
Magistrate
perceiving
that
not
only
many
of
his
Officers
,
but
also
the
generallity
of
the
Common-people
agree
with
those
Ministers
,
is
easily
perswaded
to
beleeve
that
his
interest
lyeth
in
them
,
being
now
afraid
to
displease
those
cunning
sophisters
who
by
their
subtilty
have
brought
him
by
degrees
under
their
own
power
,
being
no
more
(
as
heretofore
)
a
servant
of
the
Common-wealth
but
a
servant
of
one
particular
sect
which
are
preparing
his
heart
for
persecution
,
by
slandring
and
branding
as
hereticks
and
blasphemers
,
those
that
differ
from
them
in
opinion
,
to
render
them
odious
in
the
sight
of
the
Magistrate
,
perswading
him
to
abuse
the
Sword
and
power
of
the
Common-wealth
,
by
the
persecution
of
such
as
in
matters
of
religion
live
according
to
their
own
light
and
understanding
blamelesse
and
without
offence
,
till
the
long
suffering
of
God
,
towards
that
hypocriticall
generation
is
come
to
an
end
,
as
wofull
experience
hath
made
manifest
here
in
England
,
in
the
bringing
down
of
the
King
and
Bishops
,
what
will
become
of
the
little-Bishops
,
and
of
them
that
strengthen
their
hands
(
by
forcing
the
people
to
give
tythes
to
them
)
the
Lord
knowes
;
the
Whore
(
and
her
Daughters
)
have
made
drunk
the
kings
and
Rulers
of
the
earth
,
with
their
cup
of
fornication
,
yet
I
hope
that
once
the
sword
of
justice
,
shall
cut
off
the
coard
wherewith
the
Ministers
and
Magistrates
are
tyed
,
that
so
all
sects
(
in
these
Nations
)
being
brought
to
the
enjoyment
of
equall
priviledges
,
the
great
worke
of
God
(
which
hath
been
obstructed
)
may
be
carried
on
againe
,
in
more
truth
and
power
then
before
,
to
the
convincing
of
all
Antichristian
dominions
,
and
especially
New-England
,
where
the
Magistrates
(
being
deceived
by
the
Clergy
)
are
become
the
greatest
persecutors
of
all
those
that
professe
themselves
to
be
of
the
reformed
protestant
religion
,
prescribing
and
imposing
of
their
own
rules
and
formes
,
upon
the
people
for
their
own
ends
,
inflicting
punishment
upon
such
whose
consciences
cannot
indure
to
pay
tythes
or
taxes
,
to
hold
up
their
enemies
(
in
spirituall
matters
)
against
themselves
this
now
being
unreasonable
,
and
contrary
to
cristianity
,
then
equity
requires
,
that
,
that
law
(
whereby
the
people
are
forced
to
pay
tythes
to
Ministers
)
ought
without
delay
to
be
abolished
,
for
we
have
no
reason
to
expect
a
peacable
Government
,
whilest
the
Magistrate
as
Magistrate
continues
,
to
favour
(
with
the
sword
or
money
of
the
Common-wealth
)
any
sect
or
person
in
particuler
,
being
the
chiefe
cause
,
not
only
of
partiality
and
strife
in
cities
and
countryes
,
but
also
oftentimes
of
warre
and
horrible
blood-sheddings
which
will
certainly
be
revenged
in
this
life
,
or
in
the
life
to
come
,
upon
such
as
have
not
prevented
these
mischiefes
according
to
the
power
and
opportunity
which
was
left
or
given
in
their
hands
.
1.
Leave
the
ministers
to
be
provided
for
,
by
their
own
people
that
imploy
them
,
and
if
by
this
means
any
that
are
now
ministers
shall
become
destitude
;
let
some
course
be
taken
to
supply
them
during
the
time
of
their
lives
:
but
no
incouragement
for
any
others
in
time
to
come
to
make
a
trade
or
merchandize
of
the
things
of
God
.
2.
Expell
out
of
the
Schooles
called
Universities
,
the
humane
formes
of
religion
,
that
they
may
be
Universities
indeed
.
3.
Erect
Schools
of
learning
in
all
Cityes
and
market
Towns
or
other
convenient
places
,
throughout
these
nations
;
to
instruct
every
one
as
wel
poor
as
rich
that
have
a
desire
to
learn
Arts
and
Sciences
to
answer
the
ends
of
nature
for
the
Common
good
,
for
in
spiritual
matters
the
revealed
will
of
God
is
only
our
rule
.
4.
If
it
were
the
magistrates
work
to
set
up
nationall
ministers
according
to
their
own
understanding
,
then
we
should
be
in
danger
to
have
as
many
religions
as
there
be
severall
wayes
of
Government
in
the
world
,
and
the
magistrates
changing
their
opinion
,
the
whole
national
ministry
must
also
as
often
be
changed
,
whereby
it
comes
to
passe
,
that
the
peoples
fear
towards
God
is
taught
by
the
precepts
of
men
,
which
makes
their
worship
in
vain
,
and
destroyeth
(
as
much
as
in
them
lyeth
)
their
soules
.
5.
If
you
accept
of
any
form
besides
the
holy
Scripture
,
&
set
up
a
national
ministry
according
to
that
form
,
then
will
that
shamefull
reproach
remain
,
that
the
magistrates
and
ministers
in
England
have
brought
down
the
King
and
Bishops
rather
to
succeed
in
their
places
,
then
to
bring
the
people
to
liberty
and
happinesse
,
for
the
Lord
alone
will
prescribe
both
Lawes
and
Rules
for
his
people
to
walke
in
;
and
the
magistrates
are
to
incourage
and
preserve
them
,
in
all
countryes
against
evil
doers
.
6.
Make
a
true
distinction
between
England
and
all
Antichristian
Dominions
;
by
bringing
the
holy
Scripture
in
the
publick
meeting
places
(
instead
of
the
Popes
,
Luthers
,
Calvins
,
or
other
doctrins
)
upon
the
Throne
;
that
so
Christ
alone
may
be
exalted
,
giving
liberty
after
the
reading
of
the
same
to
every
one
in
an
orderly
way
to
declare
his
own
mind
and
understanding
,
even
as
it
was
among
the
Jewes
,
Acts
13.
excluding
only
such
who
are
not
willing
to
stay
their
turne
,
till
they
are
better
disposed
without
oppressing
them
by
imprisonment
,
or
otherwise
,
continually
observing
that
no
preheminence
or
sole
priviledge
be
granted
to
any
of
offering
any
thing
or
of
speaking
first
,
that
so
every
one
being
at
liberty
and
unhindred
,
may
bring
forth
that
,
which
is
most
conducing
to
the
Common
welfare
,
all
of
them
fitting
still
in
silence
so
long
afte●
the
reading
of
the
Scripture
,
till
any
one
think
it
fit
in
his
judicious
&
humble
mind
to
propose
somwhat
,
for
mutual
edification
,
endeavouring
withall
to
make
his
discourse
short
;
that
another
may
have
his
time
likewise
,
contrary
to
the
custome
of
the
common
Teachers
,
who
only
or
solely
speaking
doe
lengthen
their
discourse
to
the
wearinesse
of
their
auditory
;
for
which
end
the
moderators
(
who
ought
to
be
meek
and
understanding
men
)
are
to
observe
that
there
be
due
order
kept
.
And
for
as
much
as
the
Lord
hath
eminently
appeared
in
these
Nations
to
make
the
people
instrumentall
for
a
general
work
;
sounding
an
alarm
to
the
nations
about
it
,
that
the
powers
of
the
earth
that
presume
to
give
edicts
in
matters
of
religion
(
and
thereby
making
themselves
as
a
beast
for
the
whore
to
Ride
upon
&c.
)
must
fall
in
the
day
when
God
begins
to
arise
to
redeem
his
people
from
all
Antichristian
powers
,
therefore
it
is
good
for
magistrates
never
to
set
up
or
meddle
with
any
particular
form
or
ministery
composed
and
ordained
by
the
will
and
power
of
men
,
leaving
that
worke
only
to
the
Lord
;
protecting
all
such
in
peace
and
safety
whom
God
shall
raise
up
to
doe
his
mighty
work
.
By
P.C.
V.Z.
FINIS
.