A Modest Narrative
of
INTELLIGNECE:
Fitted for the Republique of
ENGLAND & IRELAND.
From Saturday, May 19. to Saturday, May 16. 1649.
Supream and Legislative are terms Conventiale, That the Representative of
the People in Parliament is the Supream Power, its granted; how then
that which is Supream(supremo tum detur supras)shall be limited
as to its commanding vertue, when as no one Parliament (beside
which there is no legal power)can bind succeeding Parliaments, because
all of equall authority? Its not so ease to demonstrate at our people in
the lower (who I will assure you are four)do imagine. Well, then there is no
Law making Power but in Parliament, and because the most quick-fighted eye
yea should all humane Wisdom be transferred to one man, it could not foresee
the Accidents that may be in one years Revolution, therefore it is that the supream
Power in all places and ages act Ex Arbitrte, Arbitratily,(which term
may admit of a good sence) necessarily, having within the Confines of its Trust
in Civils an Omnipotency(if I may so say)granted them. Which Considerations
may make us wary how we suffer a dissolution of this Parliament, not knowing
(notwithstanding the confidence of our State Hereticks and others) how to supervise
the next, or any Parl. Whether constituted of Members fitly qualified according
to rules of Election. An Expedient some have thought of, (and truly
too many are in love with conceits of their own brains, though in themselves never
so deformed,)which is, (the time of sitting being limited for one, and for an
other to begin;)That though it goes ill with us in one Voyage, it may be well in
another; and therfore though one Parliament does amiss, another coming may
amend all. Which Exp dient I final examine thus; Its granted, that a Parliament,
as such, is the highest Power, well then, one cannot give rules to another. And
as for the Sword or Multitude, their force is not binding; wherefore the
Parliament(supposing it ill constituted) being the highest legal Power, and having the
Militia, to whom(being supream) it, cannot be denyed, may, having all power
backed with all the force, act ex libitu, as they please, and then what is become