Proposals to this present convention

PROPOSAL
L
I
For the perpetual Security of the
Proteftant Religion*
AND THE
Liberty of the Subjects of England,
Humbly OlFef’d
By the Author of the B R E FI AT E:
■ FTER the Great Bleffings that (eem defigned for the whole Nation^ ^rom the happy Agree*
ment between the Two Houfes, in that Great Point before them^ the Vacancy of the Throne \ I
cannot, but crave Pardon and Leave to put the Reprefentatives of the Nation in Retnem-
r brance, that though this Vacating of the Throne opens lb large a Door to our Great and ma¬
ny Deliverancesyyet our laftingSecurity is not inti rely Complected herejand that therefore they baulk not
the next Point, which is as ftoutly to be Afferted_, viz. That the Bower How of Setling the Government^
and filling the Vacancy, is reverted to the Community, rhhereof they are the Reprelentatives. This is ah op¬
portunity we are like never to have again in the World; and a Precedent ought to be made for the Ages
to come. It is not to be thought after an Agreement on thefirft Point, but that .this Convention is wil¬
ling to ihveft the Prince of ORAlStGE with the Government,during his Life; (for they fay,both the Prin-
eejjes are willing it fhould be (b, and no prejudice to either;) But how this can be orderly done, until
thQ Tower \dq averted; let the Wildom of the Nation confider, and lay it well to Heart.
There is One main Objection, If the Convention choole a King and Queen at this Time, then will the
Tsovernmene be for ever E\eBive; But this is a great Miftake ; for, we muft know, it is the Confiitutiod
of a Government, which makes it EleBive or Hereditary, and not One ABual Choice, or jingle Trecedent.
This being ( note that well) by a Convention not a Parliament i whrlft in the prelent Juncture , that
Vacancy in the Throne ( which may never happen again to the End of the World, J leaves us no other
means or expedients of re-eftablilhing our Government, than by Electing Our Governour.
When an Hereditary Kingdom is let up that was none before, the Per Ion on neceffity muft be by Ek-
Bion at firft; though at the lame time, the Compatft of Obedience to the Perfbn lb Lleded, and to
his Lineal Heirs in Succeffion after him, may be fuch, that what at firft was in the Peoples Tower and
Right to give, after Submiffion paid, will never lye in their Power to refume back ; The Cale is the
lame here* We underftand then, when it is refolved, that the Throne is vacant, or Government dilfolved,
(which is all one) the meaning is not, that the Confiitution of the Government is dilfolved,^ for therefore is it
lb warily expreft ) but the Government in the Adminifiration* It is EflenSal to Goverment to have pars I0i-
yerans, and pars fubdita 5 and the pars lmperaris failing fas in our Cafe) the Goverrfment is Not ; that is,'
it is dilfolved lb, as there can be no Exercile of it, till it be lettled again; nothing that the King can do,
or Tarliament can do, can vacate the Confiitathn: It is That they both derive from, and hold by . Only
the Community being thole, as firft made it, (it muft beconleft) they can dijjblve it, or change it, if they
think fit. | The Kmg hath not yet diflblved it; but the Convention (being,upon the Diflblntionof the Go¬
vernment in thb Exerdle, call’d thus together, as Deputies of the Communityyo fet that up, may do lb,
6r what is better they may confirm the Fundamental Points of it, and Mend the Reft, as they lee good*
It were then Advifable, both for the Honour and Safety of the Nation, That the Convention did agree
and declare, that the Goverment of England be ftill an Hereditary Limited Monarchy ; with this change
only, that the Defeent of the Crown be bound to a Trotefiant. This falVes the Objection for ever.
Beit agreed and declared again,That the Government be ftill a Mixt Government; and that the Suprdam
Legislative Power, wi h all the Rights and Properties of it, do, and fhall lie in a Parliament.
For Gods fake and Your Countries, ule your prelent Advantage y leaft you mourn the Lois of lb fa¬
vourable an oftered oppertunity, never to be regaind. ,
The Confiifution f I lay) of the Government fiiould be conlidered and declared, a lid the Power of this
Convention to difpole of new Governours be afferted, before the Actual Inveftiture of Any be concluded,
/if we relblve to be true Subjects of England, or have any Regard to our lelves, or our Pofterity, in a
Concern lb valuable, as Gen erations to come lhall reap the Ble&ng of it, and acknowledge the
Founders. '
'Londonj Printed for T. Tillier, i <58$v