A General, Or, no General, &c.
I.
VVHether the Army at this Juncture of time do Wiſely, Prudently, or according to their Duty, to Impoſe, Urge, or Deſire any thing more of the Parliament, then what the Reaſons of State before them, together with their Wiſdome, ſhall lead them unto?
II.
Whether that the Parliament did not much like a prudent Council, in taking into their own hands the giving of Commiſſions; ſince that it is ſo eaſie for a General to form an Army of Perſons Diametrically oppoſite to the Intereſt of a Parliament: As was ſadly experimented upon the Nation by that Uſurper, General Cromwell; Who by that means became able to give Laws to his Superiours, together with three4 Nations; became Supream whilſt he lulled a company of Stupid Souldiers, by a pretence of Piety and Godlineſſe?
III.
Whether thoſe inconſiderate Officers of the Army do not know how eaſie it is for a General of an Army to make himſelf Protector, or King, or Emperour?
IV.
Whether that in their Crying, viz. C. F. to be General, be not intended J. L?
V.
Whether theſe ſordid, raſh, undigeſted, Undertakings do not render us leſle formidable, and more weak, in the eyes of forreign Nations?
VI.
Whether, that conſidering our diviſions, in reſpect of Religion and Civil Intereſt: it will not better become us to unite, that thereby the practiſes of the Church of Rome, by the Jeſuites their Emiſſaries, may be prevented?
VII.
Whether or no, that if the Parliament had refuſed to paſſe Commiſſions for any Temporizers in the former Changes; they ever ſhould have had cauſe to fear ſuch under-hand practiſes?
VIII.
Whether that the difficult obtaining Grants for Commiſſions, for faithful Adherers to, and Aſſertors of, the Liberty of a Common-wealth; was not the Symptom of another intended ſingle Perſon?
IX.
Whether it becometh an Army, that waged War againſt a King, and executed him, and that did drive out his Poſterity, & immediately declared for a Common-wealth; to ſet up, any of their own Members, by the Name of General, Protector, Emperour, or any other Name or Title whatever?
X.
Whether that by ſetting up a General now, contrary to the ſenſe of the Parliament, be not the moſt dangerous Undertaking that can be adventured upon; and the Conſequence nothing leſſe than Confuſion, and nothing of more advantage to the common Enemy?
XI.
Whether that thoſe that break the Iſe in that ſo dangerous an Undertaking, have not in their Eye Advancement and Preferment, if they obtain Supremacy, and addition of power to thoſe whom they cry up?
XII.
Whether thoſe they cry up for to be inveſted with6 abſolute power in the Army, have more Religion and Piety, or can pretend to more, than O. C. did?
XIII.
Since all men are Lyars, and the heart of man is deceitfull, and that there is none righteous no not one: If ſo, Whether then it be not the duty of the Parliament, to prevent any man or men whatſoever, of ſo great a Temptation as Abſolute Power, by which means (for the moſt part) is ſhewn the vileneſſe that is in the hearts of the Sons of men?
XIIII.
Whether an Oligarchy would not be dangerous now, ſince men in greateſt Truſt demonſtrate ſo much Ambition, that they cannot be ſtayed Six Months from a ravenous perſuite after Power and Honour?
XV.
Whether ſuch Perſons as deſire to be Uppermoſt, be profitable Members to the Commonwealth?
XVI.
Whether the pulling down of Richard the lame Protector, was any other then a deſign to ſet up others in his Room?
XVII.
Whether the Calling this Parliament was intended for any thing elſe, then a Curtain or Vail to the former indirect Actions?
XVIII.
Whether if the Army had any Commonwealth Principles, the honeſteſt of them are not bound faithfully to adhear to the Parliament.
XIX.
Whether there can be any Action ſo Impious, Fooliſh, Sordid, and to be ſcorned of all men; yea, of all Ages: If the Army ſhould have any hand in forceing or impoſing any thing upon the Parliament: ſince it was their own work of calling them to fit again, and ſince have owned their Power by not a few publick Actions.
XX.
Whether it will not argue that they have very ſhort memory, ſince it was but the other day that they bewailed their Apoſtacy, in declining the lawful and juſt power of this Parliament; and adhered to the baſe, ſelf, unrighteous, Ends of unworthy and ambitious minded men?
XXI.
Whether it be poſſible, by any ſingle Perſon or other Council, the Intereſt of the People of God, of different perſwaſions, can be ſo well ſecured as by the preſent Parliament.
XXII.
Whether it doth not behove the preſent Parliament to put their Authority to tryal, by calling to their8 ayd, ſuch as ſhall adhere to them, in oppoſition of thoſe that ſhall dare impoſe any thing upon them, againſt the Wiſdom, Policy, and Reſolution; and nor ſtoop to receive Lawes from the Servants of the Common-wealth?