hem Commissions and Power, in the name of the
Commonwealth, to manage the work of an Army.

"_Thirdly_, A Parliament's work in this case is either to send
Ambassadors to another Nation which has invaded our Land, or that
intends to invade, to agree upon terms of peace, or to proclaim
war; or else to receive and hear Ambassadors from other Lands for
the same business, or about any other business concerning the peace
and honor of the Land.

"For a Parliament is the Head of a Commonwealth's Power; or, as it
may be said, it is the great Council of an Army, from whom
originally all Orders do issue forth to any Officer or Soldier. For
if so be a Parliament had not an Army to protect them, the rudeness
of the people would not obey their proceedings; and if a Parliament
were not the representative of the People, who indeed is the body
of all power, the Army would not obey their orders.

"So then a Parliament is the Head of Power in a Commonwealth. It is
their work to manage public affairs in times of War and in times of
Peace; not to promote the interests of particular men, but for the
Peace and Freedom of the whole Body of the Land, viz., of every
particular man, that none be deprived of his Creation Eights,
unless he hath lost his Freedom by transgression, as by the Laws is
expressed."[200:1]

With this admirable summary of the functions of a Parliament, our
author brings his consideration of their work to a conclusion, and
somewhat later proceeds to consider the source and function of a true
Commonwealth's Army, which he evidently regards as a necessary evil,
capable of much harm as well as of some good. He says:

THE RISE OF A COMMONWEALTH'S ARMY.

"After that the necessity of a People in a Parish, in a County and
in a Land, hath moved the People to choose Officers to preserve
common peace, the same necessity causeth the People to say to their
Officers--_Do you see our Laws observed for our common
preservation, and we will assist and protect you._

"These words, _assist_ and _protect_, implies the rising of the
People by force of arms to defend their Laws and Officers, who rule
well, against any invasion, insurrection or rebellion of selfish
Officers or rude people: yea, to beat down the turbulency of any
foolish spirit that shall arise to break our common peace.