XLV. HEAR ME OUT.

I MUST confess myself to be (what I ever was) for a commonwealth: but give me 232leave to state the meaning of the word, seeing so much mischief hath taken covert under the homonymy thereof.

A commonwealth and a king are no more contrary than the trunk or body of a tree and the top branch thereof; there is a republic included in every monarchy.

The Apostle speaketh of some Ephesians, in the ii. and 12, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel: that the commonwealth is neither aristocratical nor democratical, but hath one sole and single person, Jesus Christ, the supreme head thereof.

May I live (if it may stand with God’s good will and pleasure) to see England a commonwealth in such a posture, and it will be a joyful object to all who are peaceable in our nation.