The Hartlib Papers

Worthy freind

your discourse with me the last weeke, & the earnestnes of your desire to see the grounds of my resolution made out; which is to bee quiet, & do my duty under the present power, as acquiescing in this reuolution of gouvernment hath put me upon a designe to giue you satisfaction, at least so farre as the opening of my thoughts will yeeld it, & as it may please God to blesse it unto you; <to cleer> to both you see <unto you> your duty in this iuncture of time wherin many are staggered; & murmur at the proceedings of those that are in power. but I haue beene taught by <of> God, to quiet mine owne affections; & <still my> thoughts at the Changes which fall out of <hee brings upon> this <present> world as <chiefly when> they relate to the great wheele of <a nationall> Gouvernment, which as it is supreme so <it> stands immediatly under the hand of the most high, who ruleth in the Kingdome of men & giueth it to whomsoeuer he will. I say I haue been taught to quiet my spirit at the <such> Changes, because I cannot find that it doth belong unto me, to iudge definitiuely of the rights which the supreme powers ouer us in the world <have>, <or> pretend to haue unto their places. <for> first I said, that it is no part of my duty as a Christian; to subiect <burden> my Conscience, & burden it with the affaires of state <which are> intrusted to the management of other men: those whom God doth engage into public places, it is their proper worke to Charge their Consciences with the care thereof; & if they do not lay their trust Conscionably to heart for the ende for which God hath put them in their places; but turne it to their priuat aduantages, I think it is a happines unto them, soone to bee put out of the same; because the lesse time they stay therin, the lesse guilt they contract unto their soules, & the lesse iniurie they do unto the public. [left margin: 1. Petr. 4. 15] the Apostle forbids <bids> all Christians to looke to themselues that they bee not found <as> busie bodies in other mens matters, & this sinne he ranketh in that place under <with> the Generall head of euill doing, & sets <it> parallel to the particular sinnes of Murther & Theft; now if I being a priuat man; should take upon me to Charge my Conscience with the iudicature of Public affaires; to determine by what right those that manage them take upon them their public places; I should as I conceiue go beyond my line, & shew my self a busie body in other mens <their> matters. <for> my Christian aime & profession, doth oblige me <only first> to worke out mine owne Saluation in mine owne <priuat> calling, with feare & trembling, & <then to> hold forth the word of life <to others> that is the rule of harmlesnes & unblameablenes; as it becommeth a Child of God, without rebuke [left margin: Phil 2. 15, 16] in the midst [word deleted] of a crooked & perverse nation <therefore> a Christian if he bee true to his aime, doth <should> behaue himself as a stranger & Pilgrim in this present world; intending only to use it as his passage towards the Kingdome that cannot bee shaken; now it would bee a mad course for a stranger & pilgrime in euery country where hee comes, to take upon him the iudicature of the affaires of gouvernment in that country; & to make it a matter of Conscience to himself, to determine the rights which the supreme powers haue to their places. I say this would bee a mad stranger & pilgrim who would oblige himself to this <left margin: in forreign places where<euer> hee passes.> & so I conceiue that hee is as farre out, in the profession of Christianity who will take upon him the iudicature of supreme rights to power <in this world> as a matter of Conscience <for Conscience which in Christianity> in Christianity is engaged only to the loue of Christ, whose Kingdome was not <being> of this world; he determined not the rules of right to <left margin: the supremacie of power amongst men. but left them as he found them in it till he [bring them all?] bring all power under his owne.> Secondly as it is no part of my duty as a Christian; so neither doth it belong unto me, <either> as a good <commonwealthe man> Citicen of a Commonwealth, being in a priuat station; or as a discreet man <left margin: being in a priuat station> to make my self a iudge of the rights & wrongs which may bee, in the reuolutions of gouvernments <therin> wherof it is morally impossible for me to know exactly the true causes & circumstances. <for> no discreet man will iudge of differences in small matters by the outward appearance <only> without searching into the Causes & circumstances which make <the> matters of fact to bee truly right or wrong; & should I in this great matter[altered from the greatest matters], <left margin: take upon me to bee a iudge therin, when as> [whence?] it is not possible for me (I being none of the Counsell) to know satisfactorily, what the causes & circumstances of the change are? take upon me to bee a iudge therin? or am I obliged, being but a priuat man, & endevouring to behaue my self as a good Citicen in this commonwealth <my place>, bound to search into those causes & circumstances to [perform?] performe my duty? I suppose none will say so <left margin: for <because> I may <fully> know my duty without that discouerie> & if it doth not at all belong to my station, nor is a part of my duty to search theerinto; what discretion would it bee in me, to apply my self therunto <to take that care upon mee>: & except I should take <it> upon me to make this [search?] I conceiue it would bee an unconscionable & indiscreet part in me, to settle any iudgment of those <in> matters so then it is <both> a thing morally impossible for me to know the grounds of right & wrong in this reuolution; nor is it <& if >[word deleted] & also not requisite for me to search therinto; for the performance of my part of my <the> duty, of a priuat Citicen in this Commonwealth; (seing all that I haue to do,is cleer before me without that search;) therefore <left margin: of such a nature. all which being so> <it followeth that> I am bound to quiet my spirit in <about> this business; & leaue the iudicature of the [word deleted] right and wrong therin, unto God & those to whom his Prouidence in due time may referre it.

And as I am obliged for these grounds conscionably to bee quiet within my self; so I think I am bound no lesse conscionably to consult with my duty, how in this iuncture of time I should behaue my self towards God & my neighbours in this commonwealth. As to God; I suppose you will reddily yeeld that I ought to ad looke up & obseruing his hand which is lifted up ouer these nations; to adore his Prouidence, to Reuerence his iudgments & hope in his mercy: wee haue seen in so few yeares yeares in these three nations so great reuolutions, wrought by so unexpected [catchword: wayes &]

As to my Neighbours (of which number you are one) I think it my duty, where euer I find an open dore to steppe in; to serue them in the best things through loue. upon this account now I offer my self by the opportunity which you haue giuen me [word deleted] <unto> you; to as to an inhabitant of the world; [that?] to desire you to looke upon God's iudgments as they are in the earth; that you may learne righteousnes, & not beare any envie at his poeple, or at his instruments, lest you bee put to shame: [left margin: Esa. 26. 10, 11.] for all those shall bee put to shame that will not obserue[altered from obseruer] & consider <see> the hand of the Lord when it is lifted up; <& his Maiesty when it appeareth> yea the fire of the Lords enemies shall devoure them. & this I put you in mind of <I say> as an inhabitant of the world <that you should> Looke about & see what desolations the Lord hath wrought, & is still working in the earth; & learne from thence to feare before him. but as you are an inhabitant of this Commonwealth & of Sion, I think it my duty to put you in mind of the great & mercifull deliuerances shewed by God unto this Nation; & to his poeple, who haue trusted in him & stood up for his cause of Christian, & Liberty iust Civill Liberty: you may see all along that hee hath broken the yokes of bondage, & cast downe the mighty from their seats; who pretended to sit therin for by themselues, or sought to sit therin for themselues, rather then for his poeple & seruice. looke upon the true intrinsecall Causes of the <former> reuolutions all along; as now they haue been discouered, & then tell me whether the hand of God did not light upon each party assoone, as it [beganne?] was fully set, to act only for it self in its place. I shall not descend to particulars, but as you are a good Commonwealths man learne by this to act for the public, & not for your self; & <for the public good sake> that you may bee in a capacity to do this first your first duty is to quiet your spirit from murmuring <now> & not suffer my distemper to arise upon <not> your affective, [word deleted] arise you for <passion to diuert you from> your duty in your stations as sullen Children sometimes use to do, who will not eat their meat because <when> they haue not their will. & what you resolue to do your self encourage others to do in like manner; chiefly those whom you think most able to helpe with counsell or endevours to settle us in the Liberty which wee haue fought for <left margin: which I take to bee a Regular Christian Liberty wherin we may bee> to bee free from Anarchy on the one hand & tyrannie <from> the Tyrannie of arbitrary power on the other; hauing iust commonwealth lawes wherunto all may bee equally subiected; for our mutuall goodnes safety & nationall interest; that wee may bee preserued from oppression at home, & invasion from abroad <abroad from invasion>. So farre as in your station you can Contribut unto these aimes I conceiue it is your duty as a good Commonwealths man cheerfully to concurre with others therin, not suffering your self to be staggered at the irregularity of any who may seeme <to you> to act beyond their line. for what althogh some that are peeuishly discontented neglect their duty or fearefully discouraged neglect their duty & suffer all to go to wrack <left margin: should their example be my rule? or what although others> [or those that?] seeme more foreward then they ought to bee <& by> oueracting their duty & seeme to <left margin: set us upon the brink of a precipice, from whence wee may <iustly fear to> fall either into under a worse Tyrannie then euer yet wee were under; or under a greater Anarchy then any nation hath been subiect unto, if wee <go but> but steppe one foot steppe out of the way. shall this precipitation of theirs excuse me, if I resoluedly go beyond my line; because they are rashly gone beyond theirs? surely no.> [several lines deleted] but the more others seeme to bee irregular in their course; the more carefully I ought to bee to walke exactly by a rule in mine owne. if others <seeme to> Change their aimes because they are for <& desert> the public, because <happly> they are disappointed of their priuat designes <& hopes> or forget their Principles & promises, because they haue <gained the> gotten <beyond them hopes> priuat aduantages <which they never could have hoped for> beyond their expectations; should their misbehaviour sway me to the like irregularity either way; to helpe on the Confusion & tumultuously to disturbe the peace? I suppose no, but if I am bound so much the more as a good Commonwealths man, to keep stedfastly to my aime; to maintain & hold forth my Principles; & to performe my promises for the public to the utmost of my power. & thus I haue giuen you an account of my duty as I am a member <an inhabitant> of this Commonwealth in this iuncture of affaires. there is yet another sort of Duty incumbent upon me & you, as wee are inhabitants of Sion & members of the Commonwealth of Israel. And in this respect I conceiue our duty to bee <is> to looke stedfastly to the accomplishment of the promises which God hath made unto his Church, concerning the Kingdome of Christ; & to fitte our selues as wise Virgins with oile in our lampes, to bee reddie to accompany the Bridegrome into his wedding Chamber. wee know that the greater the confusions & unsettlements are in the affaires of this world; the neerer our deliuerance is & our settlement <is> by Christ; for the Apostle tels us that Gods meaning in his promise of shaking both earth & heaven, is a purpose to remoue those things that are shaken, that those things which cannot bee shaken may remain with us. [left margin: Hebr. 12. 26 26, 27.] what is it that hinders us from the enioyment of things that cannot bee shaken? is it not our resting upon the thinges which can bee shaken, & our unwillingnes to part with the settlement which wee seeme to haue in them? & if wee are loath to bee unsetled in such enioyments as these; do wee not resist the settlement wherunto [catchword: wee are]

Hitherto I haue giuen you the grounds <an account> of my quietnes [word deleted], & of my resolution to performe all dutyes heartily <do my duty> as acquiescing in the present reuolution <of affaires in the grounds> which lye[altered from lyes] nee neerest to my heart <because they> as flow[altered from flowing] from [th?] the life of the spirit wherin I desire to doe all things; there bee many other grounds which may bee alledged upon a rationall account, & may perhaps take more with some others who trouble their heads with coniecturall rationall discourses & coniecturall probabilities of dangers then I hope you do; yet because they will bee bussing their thoughts <to> into your eares <to perhaps> to stagger you; let me offer that which in a rationall way from the word of God, may bee obserued for their use; & which from the present circumstances of affaires is obuious to euery [catchword: mans understanding]

I conceiue then that a man euery man may find iust & sufficient reason to acquiesce in this Change of Gouvernment who will seriously & without passion & preiudice reflect first <either> upon God as hee hath a hand in it; or upon himself as hee is under it; or upon the men that haue been instrumentall in making it; or upon the Change it self <which is made> & the probable consequences therof.

    first if a man doth <rationally grant> belieue that God hath a hand of Prouidence in any thing hee will see reason to acknowledge this Truth which the Scriptures hold forth that hee is the iudge of all the earth & that he executeth iudgment & righteousnes & Louingkindnes therin, that in these things hee doth delight; [left margin: Ier. 9. 24. Deutr. 32. 4.] & that all his workes are perfect. & if his Prouidence is to bee seen in any thing it it is <to bee> seen most in the Changes of Nationall Gouvernments. now if this bee so there can bee no reason why I any should bee disquieted at his disposall of the gouvernment from one hand into another. [left margin: ps. 75; 6, 7.] God claimes this eminently unto himself as his peculiar worke, that he puts downe one & sets up another as a iudge; & therefore forbids us to think that promotion doth come from any worldly Contriuances either from the east or the west or the south lest wee murmur at men & not regard him in the busines. & if this is his alone priuiledge & his worke who art thou that will controule him in his wayes & will not acquiesce [at?] therat? [left margin: Ezech. 21. 26, 27.] wee are told that which is come to passe concerning the Kingdome of Israel, that hee would exalt him that is low & abase him that is high, & would ouerturn ouerturne ouerturne that kingdome & that it should bee no more untill hee come, whose right it is, & that hee will giue it him. this is fallen out in Israel to this day; & shall bee so till the Messiah come whose right it is, to posse the nations & to receiue the utmost endes of the earth for his inheritance; & if God hath thus determined his Counsell ouer his owne poeple Israel till Christ come can wee expect it should bee oterwise among the Gentiles? surely no, & therefore there is no reason; that wee should bee disquieted & not acquiesce at the Changes which are brought upon the Gentiles. [left margin: Zeph. 3. 6, 7, 9.] Chiefly seing hee hath declared that hee will make their towers desolate, & devoure the earth with the fire of his iealousie, till hee turne to the poeple a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord with one consent: & if this is to bee the issue of these Changes, is it not our happines to bee under these Changes <the same>? from hence wee may gather the reason & ground of that precept which is giuen to all soules; [left margin: Rom. 13. 1, 2.] That they should bee subiect to the powers that are ouer them; because the powers that are <are of God &> are Gods ordinance: & hee that resists the powers resists the ordinance of God. now if wee acquiesce not; wee resist in our affections; & reiect the ordinance of God which is ouer us.

Secondly consider thy self as thou art under the present gouvernment; art thou not under the protection of it? canst thou protect thy self without it? dost thou not desire to bee in safetie by it? <left margin: dost thou not endevour> that thy lot may prosper in it? if not; get thy self <gone> from under it & chuse another place of abode; but if thou canst not with convenience remoue; there is no reason but thou shouldest acquiesce to yeeld subiection, & that willingly & cheerfully, to that power from which thou canst haue protection <but> if thou art discontented at thy lot, which is not in thy power to alter; thou art a foole <because thou> that troublest thine owne peace in vain. consider also this that there is no power in being <left margin: but this which is now ouer thee; if thou wilt not do thy duty under this thou must either approoue of an Anarchy (which no rationall man <can> intend to set up) or of some other ruling power which <if> thou seekest to set up without a due call & in [any?] turbulent way, thou makest thy self guilty of seditious <practises> & wilt deserue to bee punished accordingly>

Thirdly consider the men by whom the Change of Gouvernment is wrought: hitherto in their former undertakings for the Liberty & safetie of this nation they haue freely ventured their liues, & do still stand in the same resolution; they haue hitherto held forth honest & iust Principles & Aimes, & still hold forth the same: they haue been trusted hitherto, & they haue not bee unfaithfull to their trust; but by them God hath brought under the enemies who did oppose our liberties & our safetie, & <of the public safetie & of our Liberties.> therefore there is no reason but that they should bee trusted henceforth nor is it <as heretofore: because it is not> iust that now they should bee suspected of euill designes; seing in <looke upon> their former contests wherin they appeared against the King <left margin: more then the Parliament did.> or against a party in the Citie; or against the party which did sway the Resolutions of the Parliament to another aime those [without]? [word deleted] to them must safe for the public, for which they separated <in the Parliament would not vote [Hammilton?] an enemie & which was not would haue brought in the King againe by making voting his answers satisfactory, for which they> <separated> a great part of that Body from the rest: I say in <looke upon> all these contests wherby they did interest themselues in the affaires of state <you will see that> they did behaue themselues with that moderation & discretion & that conduct towards the public <left margin: that none but the incorrigible enimies of the state, did suffer therby> & with that conduct in managing their affaires that were able to giue a rationall account of the iustice & necessitie of their proceedings; & of their interest in the settlement of the state; not being called to their employment as meer mercinary souldiers; but hauing upon a call freely offered themselues therunto as free borne natiues for the defence of the Liberties of the Nation <left margin: & for the settlement of the rights therof which belongs to the militia of euery nation to preserue as it is effectually the strenth> which in <some> former transactions haue been both by the Parlement & by the King put into their hands & been reserved unto them to bee managed: since which time I confesse that I haue lookt upon them as men under another Character & stampe then a meer Army <left margin: which ordinarily is to led by an implicit obedience, & is of the Body therof: & of the militia of this nation in this time they are the [visible?] representatiues.> to bee directed by another counsell & power from without: for if it can bee made out that it may time some time <heretofore> both the King on the one side & the Parlement on the other did deferre unto them the transaction of the public settlement; I know not what they did want of an investiture into Authority aswell to Act with the supreme <in counsells> power power, Chiefly seing they had actually all the power of the Nation in their possesssion: & in that respect were to bee lookt upon as the Representatiue of the Militia of the Nation, which is effectually & by the law of nature the Body <left margin: of the Nation in its strenth> therof. so that upon all these considerations I do confesse, that I can see no reason why they may not bee now trusted as well with the management of this Change, as they haue been with the former <changes>; & therefore <I think> all rationall men ought to acquiesce at this reuolution of Gouvernment aswell as [at?] the former.

Lastly consider the Change it self & compare it with the former <changes> & I suppose you will see a great deale of reason to acquiesce in it, & hope well of it. for in the former Changes <left margin: haue had a good effect hitherto: &> although they <some of them> were greater then this, as when the Kings head was cut off & <all at once the commons> House was Garbled: the House of Lords put downe, the Kings head cut off, & the Kingdome Changed into a commonwealth; yet the issue of that Change hath bee was <hath hitherto been> prosperity unto the Nation, & all that are good Commonwealths men, & haue been quiet; haue found their aduantage therby: & if the experience of former Changes <times> may giue a ground to hope <well> of future, there is no great reason to bee much troubled <at this change> therat: besides the former Changes all along either were wrought with more hazard of opposition & danger of irritating a strong party which sometimes was exasperated therby, but now it is not apparent is reason that any party will bee stirred up by this change or & so no public disturbance like to ensue; which should quiet <incline> the spirits of rationall men to [catchword: acquiesce]

     Letters from & to

Mr Durie & Dr Ciprianus Kinner