The truth of the times vindicated whereby the lawfulness of Parliamentary proceedings in taking…The truth of the times vindicated whereby the lawfulnesse of Parliamentary procedings in taking…

Ans. There needs no great skill to untie this knot, not mediator to make us friends, the Parliament hath raised this Army by an act of judgement and jurisdiction, not over their Prince, but in regard of Delinquents: so the same act may be a work of jurisdiction in regard of others, and yet an act of preservation in regard of our selves. The execution of any malefactor in an ordinary way of Law is both preservation to the State, and a work of jurisdiction in regard of the offender, so here; yet I do not say it is a work of jurisdiction over our Prince, but in regard of delinquents that are about him.

Dr. F. Mr. Bridge gives us proofs for this way of self-preservation from the Law of Nature, it being natural to a man, and so to a community to defend it self. And were this argument good, then might private men and the people without the Parliament take up arms and resist, for self-preservation is natural to them.

Dr. F. Mr. Bridge gives us proofes for this way of self-preservation from the Law of Nature, it being naturall to a man, and so to a communitie to defend it self. And were this argument good, then might private men and the people without the Parliament take up armes and resist, for self-preservation is naturall to them.

Ans. It follows not, because, though I say every thing may defend it self by nature, yet I say also it must do it modo suo & naturae suae convenienti; we say that all creatures do defend themselves, and it is natural so to do; yet we do not therefore say that a beast defends himself in the same manner as a man doth, or a man as a beast, but in a way suitable to every nature. Now if a private person be in danger to be oppressed by a Prince, flying is more fit defence for him, and therefore saith our Saviour, If they persecute thee in one City, fly to another: but if the State be wronged and oppressed, which is a public grievance, then the State, and those that represent them are more fit to take up Arms for its preservation. For Nature in general teacheth self-preservation; Nature specificated teacheth this or that preservation: now the nature of a community, and of a particular person are distinct, and therefore though I say a community is to defend it self because sui tutela is natural to every thing; yet I do not say, that a particular private person may ordinarily defend himself in that way which is most suitable to the community as the taking up of Arms is, yet I suppose no moderate man will deny this that the Subjects (though) not invested with authority have a power to keep out an enemy from landing in case of foreign invasion, yea though the Kings Officers should be negligent therein; or so malicious and treacherous as to forbid them to defend themselves and their Country.