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. 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.

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 naturall 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 sutable 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, flie to another: but if the State be wronged and oppressed, which is a publick grievance, then the State, and those that represent them are more fit to take up Armes for its preservation. For Nature in generall teacheth self-preservation; Nature specificated teacheth this or that preservation: now the nature of a communitie, and of a particular person are distinct, and therefore though I say a community is to defend it self because sui tutela is naturall to every thing; yet I do not say, that a particular private person may ordinarily defend himself in that way which is most sutable to the communitie as the taking up of Armes is, yet I suppose no moderate man will denie this that the Subjects (though) not invested with authoritie have a power to keep out an enemie from landing incase of forrain invasion, yea though the Kings Officers should be negligent therein; or so malitious and treacherous as to forbid them to defend themselves and their Countrey.