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<DATE>2011-12-09</DATE>
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<NAME>Louis Goldberg</NAME>
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<TEXT LANG="eng">
<FRONT>
<DIV1 TYPE="title page">
<PB REF="1" MS="y">
<P> A CHARACTER OF His mo&s;t SACRED MAJESTY <HI>KING CHARLES</HI> the II^d.</P>
<P>WITH</P>
<L>A &s;hort Apologie before it,</L>
<L>An Introduction to it,</L>
<L>And a Conclu&s;ion after it.</L>
<P><HI>Written By a Mini&s;ter of the Word,</HI> Who hath for a long time de&s;i|red, and daily Prayed for the happy Set|tlement of Church and State within the three Nations of <HI>England, Scot|land</HI> and <HI>Ireland</HI></P>
<P>In <HI>Truth,</HI> &amp; <HI>Peace,</HI> &amp; <HI>Order.</HI></P>
<Q><HI>Some mocked: and others &s;aid, We will hear thee again of this matter,</HI> <BIBL>Act. 17. 32.</BIBL></Q>
<P><HI>LONDON,</HI> Printed by <HI>D. Maxwell.</HI> 1660.</P>
<PB REF="2">
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="preface">
<PB REF="2">
<HEAD>The Apologie.</HEAD>
<P>IF any &s;hall <HI>wonder</HI> (as doubtle&s;s many <HI>will,)</HI> why a private <HI>per&s;on</HI> &s;hould pre&s;ume thus to <HI>meddle,</HI> in &s;uch a high <HI>bu&s;ine&s;s,</HI> and of &s;o great concernment as <HI>this:</HI> tis an|&s;wered, Fir&s;t, That in a &s;inking <HI>Bark</HI> the poore&s;t <HI>Ship-boy</HI> is as much concern'd to mind his own <HI>pre&s;ervation,</HI> as the <HI>Pilot</HI> him&s;elf. And then, for the <HI>Sub&s;tance</HI> of what is here written, He is not <HI>alone,</HI> or doth not &s;tand as one &s;ingle <HI>per&s;on</HI> to affirm it, becau&s;e there are more then many <HI>thou&s;ands</HI> (as he dares pre&s;ume to &s;ay) within the&s;e <HI>Nations,</HI> who&s;e <HI>Hearts,</HI> and <HI>Tongues,</HI> and <HI>Hands,</HI> and <HI>Feet,</HI> with every thing <HI>be&s;ide</HI> are ready to bear <HI>wit|ne&s;s</HI> to it.</P>
<P>For the <HI>Writer</HI> hereof, if He had manife|&s;ted him&s;elf to be one of tho&s;e &s;trange <HI>Spirits</HI> which very much appear in this <HI>&s;cribling Age,</HI> the <HI>rankne&s;s</HI> and luxuriency of who&s;e <HI>fancies,</HI> (to the exceeding high <HI>di&s;honour</HI> of God, and the very great <HI>reproach</HI> of Religion) make bold <HI>profanene&s;s,</HI> filthy <HI>ob&s;coenity,</HI> or down|right and di&s;gracefull <HI>railings,</HI> as <HI>foyls</HI> to &s;et
<PB N="2" REF="3"> off (what they abu&s;e) their <HI>wit,</HI> whereby they <HI>fight,</HI> as much as they can, again&s;t God, with his own <HI>weapon,</HI> he could not <HI>&s;uffer</HI> too much for &s;o doing: But he cannot lie under that <HI>guilt,</HI> who <HI>hates</HI> and abhors &s;uch <HI>blots,</HI> and <HI>blurs,</HI> and <HI>defilements,</HI> and <HI>wa&s;te</HI> of Paper; and here mo&s;t &s;eriou&s;ly <HI>profe&s;&s;eth,</HI> (&s;o far as he can know his own <HI>Heart,)</HI> that he <HI>beleeves</HI> there is not one which breaths out of <HI>fle&s;h</HI> and <HI>blood,</HI> who more de&s;ires the happy <HI>&s;ettlement</HI> of this <HI>Church</HI> and <HI>State,</HI> then <HI>him&s;elf:</HI> and could be well <HI>content</HI> to do or &s;uffer any thing within his compa&s;s in <HI>order to it.</HI> And therefore being much per&s;waded of the <HI>Truths</HI> laid down in the&s;e following <HI>Papers;</HI> and ho|ping they might (accidentally at lea&s;t) <HI>tend</HI> to|wards that happy <HI>End</HI> to which they are <HI>intend|ed;</HI> he was like one of tho&s;e <HI>bottles</HI> in <HI>Job,</HI> rea|dy to <HI>bur&s;t</HI> until he had found a <HI>vent for them.</HI></P>
<P>Yet, if his &s;trong <HI>affections</HI> and hearty de&s;ires herein <HI>expre&s;&s;ed,</HI> have carried him beyond the Rules of <HI>Prudence</HI> or <HI>Di&s;cretion,</HI> he humbly craves <HI>pardon</HI> for his <HI>&s;ake,</HI> who&s;e Goodne&s;s hath been wont to <HI>wink at,</HI> or not to <HI>impute</HI> the Errors of an hone&s;t <HI>Zeal;</HI> and &s;o loves the <HI>&s;trength</HI> of his peoples good <HI>affections,</HI> that he <HI>pa&s;&s;eth by,</HI> or overlooks their <HI>failings</HI> and <HI>in|firmities.</HI></P>
</DIV1>
</FRONT>
<BODY>
<DIV1 TYPE="introduction">
<PB N="3" REF="3">
<HEAD>The Introduction.</HEAD>
<P><HI>THe &s;imple</HI> (&s;aith Solomon) <HI>believeth eve|word;</HI> whereas he that is <HI>wi&s;e,</HI> will not be too <HI>credulous. Fama mendax, Report</HI> hath got a very ill <HI>Name,</HI> and till &s;he hath freed her &s;elf from that <HI>a&s;per&s;ion,</HI> which chargeth her &s;o <HI>much</HI> and &s;o <HI>often</HI> with &s;peaking <HI>fal&s;hoods,</HI> they which <HI>con&s;ider,</HI> will not be apt to give <HI>credit</HI> unto eve|ry thing &s;he <HI>&s;peaks.</HI> And there is much <HI>Rea|&s;on</HI> for it: as it is <HI>true</HI> likewi&s;e, that if we do not <HI>a&s;&s;ent</HI> unto the <HI>reports</HI> of many, who are of known <HI>hone&s;ty,</HI> and therefore dare not <HI>make a lie,</HI> nor willingly <HI>publi&s;h</HI> any thing that is <HI>fal&s;e;</HI> we our &s;elves de&s;erve not to be <HI>believed,</HI> even then when we &s;peak <HI>Truths.</HI></P>
<P>Now no <HI>Truth</HI> is for every ones <HI>turn;</HI> and therefore this may be que&s;tioned by <HI>&s;ome,</HI> and di&s;liked or &s;lighted by <HI>others,</HI> e&s;pecially by &s;uch who&s;e Black <HI>mouths</HI> and venom'd <HI>tongues, (which in good time</HI> will doubtle&s;s <HI>fall upon them|&s;elves)</HI> have been long <HI>&s;pitting</HI> of <HI>Poy&s;on</HI> at the &s;acred <HI>Per&s;on</HI> pre&s;ented in this <HI>Narrative;</HI> &s;uch who care not how fal&s;e any <HI>accu&s;ation</HI> is, &s;o it be <HI>&s;pitefull</HI> enough; having learn'd a damn'd <HI>Po&s;ition</HI> from that Devil <HI>Machiavel, Calumniare fortiter &s;emper aliquid adhaerebit,</HI> Throw <HI>Dirt</HI> enough upon, or calumniate any man to <HI>purpo&s;e,</HI> and &s;ome of it will <HI>&s;tick</HI> on him,</P>
<P>And there is no <HI>wonder</HI> at all in this, if we
<PB N="4" REF="4"> con&s;ider, that it is in vain for any one in the world to think or hope that he can be <HI>beloved</HI> of all; for there was never yet any man to whom &s;ome took not <HI>exceptions;</HI> impo&s;&s;ible it is, either to <HI>plea&s;e</HI> or di&s;plea&s;e all <HI>men,</HI> whiles &s;ome are in love with <HI>Vice</HI> as deeply as others with <HI>Vertue,</HI> and &s;ome di&s;like <HI>Vertue,</HI> if not for it <HI>&s;elf,</HI> yet for contradiction <HI>&s;ake,</HI> and will ra|ther <HI>devi&s;e</HI> then want cau&s;es to bla&s;t it.</P>
<P>But for him who now writes this, (which long &s;ince had been <HI>communicated,</HI> if the <HI>times</HI> had been fit to bear it) his witne&s;&s;es are in <HI>Heaven,</HI> and in his own <HI>bo&s;ome</HI> too, that he dares not knowingly (let the Readers hereof think what they plea&s;e) <HI>&s;peak</HI> or <HI>write</HI> any thing <HI>again&s;t,</HI> but for Truth, which he undoubtedly <HI>believes</HI> what here <HI>follows,</HI> is, (therefore <HI>cannot but &s;peak it)</HI> and &s;o pre&s;umes that many-many thou&s;ands of the&s;e now undeceived <HI>Nations</HI> will do, and entertain the <HI>report</HI> (as it mo&s;t highly de|&s;erves) with much <HI>joy</HI> and <HI>gladne&s;s.</HI></P>
<P>And that it may be &s;o <HI>received,</HI> and not thought to be a <HI>phanta&s;ie</HI> of the Writers own <HI>Brain,</HI> he will make ha&s;t to di&s;cover <HI>when</HI> and <HI>how</HI> he came by it. In order to which, the Reader may plea&s;e to take notice, that the <HI>occa&s;ion</HI> of his having it offered it &s;elf <HI>thus.</HI> Where fir&s;t of the <HI>Per&s;on</HI> from whom it was had, and then of the <HI>time</HI> when and how he <HI>had it.</HI></P>
<P>For the <HI>Per&s;on</HI> fir&s;t, from whom it was had, He is a Gentleman of a very good <HI>Extraction,</HI> a <HI>wi&s;e</HI> and an hone&s;t <HI>man,</HI> a <HI>per&s;on</HI> of very much <HI>Honour</HI> and Integrity, one of a very high <HI>Re|&s;olution,</HI>
<PB N="5" REF="4"> and of a much tried and approved <HI>Valour,</HI> a Bed chamber <HI>man</HI> to his Maje&s;ty in <HI>Scotland,</HI> taken pri&s;oner at <HI>Worce&s;ter</HI> (a|mong&s;t many other Gentlemen of good <HI>Qua|lity)</HI> and brought to <HI>London,</HI> but had his liber|ty there upon his <HI>Parol.</HI> And it was <HI>he</HI> that gave me the <HI>Character</HI> o<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> his Maje&s;ty, as after|ward, with &s;ome requi&s;ite circum&s;tances to|wards the <HI>clo&s;e</HI> of this Introduction more fully appears.</P>
<P>For the <HI>time</HI> when I had it, it was &s;uddenly after his Maje&s;ty (above-mentioned) &s;uffered a defeat at <HI>Worce&s;ter</HI> from that very numerous <HI>oppo&s;ition</HI> there made again&s;t <HI>him;</HI> which cer|tainly <HI>thou&s;ands</HI> would have forborn to <HI>make,</HI> if they could before have known him <HI>aright.</HI> And that circum&s;tance of <HI>time</HI> invites me (by the way) to <HI>revive</HI> and <HI>relate</HI> a very &s;ad <HI>&s;tory,</HI> (I de&s;ire pardon if I <HI>lengthen</HI> it out too much) becau&s;e it is &s;uch a <HI>one</HI> as de&s;erves neither to be written nor read but with <HI>abhorrency;</HI> however I &s;hall <HI>repeat</HI> it, becau&s;e I fear it is too too much <HI>forgotten</HI> by the Nation <HI>here,</HI> though certain|ly it is regi&s;tred and recorded in <HI>Heaven,</HI> to be reckoned <HI>for</HI> when God &s;hall plea&s;e to do it.</P>
<Q><P>It was about the <HI>time</HI> when &s;o many of the poor vanqui&s;hed <HI>Scots</HI> were brought Pri&s;oners to <HI>London,</HI> and not a few of them 'twixt <HI>Wor|ce&s;ter</HI> and that <HI>place,</HI> when they were <HI>Captives, unarmed.</HI> and &s;ome of them half <HI>naked,</HI> when <HI>wounded</HI> before, and many of them <HI>faint, &s;ick</HI> and almo&s;t <HI>fami&s;hed</HI> (circum&s;tances which did
<PB N="6" REF="5"> mo&s;t highly aggravate the <HI>cruelty</HI> which was &s;hewed <HI>them)</HI> for when it was thus with them, above all example of <HI>immanitie</HI> and barba|rou&s;ne&s;s ever read or known before (as I &s;up|po&s;e) e&s;pecially by men that du&s;t call them|&s;elves <HI>Chri&s;tians,</HI> yet by &s;uch, had in cold <HI>blood</HI> their <HI>brains</HI> beaten out in &s;everal places as they pa&s;&s;ed by the <HI>Engli&s;h</HI> Souldiers, be|cau&s;e they went not <HI>forward</HI> and <HI>fa&s;ter,</HI> when by rea&s;on of their extreme <HI>lamene&s;s</HI> and <HI>fee|blene&s;s</HI> they were &s;carce able to <HI>move at all,</HI> and nothing done to tho&s;e <HI>barbarous,</HI> inhu|mane <HI>mon&s;ters</HI> for &s;o doing: though we may &s;ay of their <HI>cruelty</HI> then, what was long &s;ince &s;poken by the <HI>Spirit of God,</HI> of that horrid act of <HI>Simeon</HI> and <HI>Levi,</HI> who fell upon the <HI>Sheche|mites</HI> when they were <HI>&s;ore</HI> (and expected not that violence and &s;ury which they were made to feel) <HI>Cur&s;ed be their wrath, for it was fierce, and their rage, for it was cruel.</HI> Of which cruelty in tho&s;e &s;trange <HI>Butcheries,</HI> the Rela|tor hereof lived near enough the <HI>road</HI> where they pa&s;&s;ed, to have been an eye witne&s;s of &s;ome of them, it he could have endured to behold the &s;ight of men <HI>cau&s;ele&s;ly murdered.</HI> And they of the City of <HI>Durham,</HI> as very ma|ny others inhabiting tho&s;e mo&s;t remote Nor|thern parts of <HI>England</HI> are able to relate ma|ny like <HI>horrid, cruel, parallel</HI> &s;tories before this time, after the <HI>Scots</HI> defeat at <HI>Dunbar.</HI></P>
<P>O what a <HI>Savage,</HI> Cruel, Bloody thing is man when he hath lo&s;t his <HI>Humanity!</HI> for then they who have been inured to &s;hed <HI>blood</HI>
<PB N="7" REF="5"> make it but a <HI>&s;port</HI> to kill, as if the life of a man were not worth the <HI>valuing;</HI> for <HI>cu&s;tome</HI> makes that mo&s;t hateful and unnatural <HI>&s;in,</HI> &s;o familiar to <HI>them,</HI> as that the <HI>horror</HI> thereof is tvrn'd into <HI>plea&s;ure;</HI> thus they making ha|vock of men, as <HI>fearfully made, as dearly re|deemed, as tenderly cheri&s;hed and brought up as others,</HI> yet, <HI>occidendi cau&s;a, occidunt,</HI> they <HI>kill</HI> becau&s;e they take plea&s;ure in <HI>killing,</HI> and are no more troubled at the death of a <HI>man,</HI> then if a <HI>dog</HI> had faln before them.</P>
<P>But the <HI>lives</HI> of tho&s;e poor men I named, as the blood of very very many more, within the circuit of this <HI>Nation</HI> (to go no further) cry loud for <HI>Vengeance,</HI> and the <HI>avenger of blood</HI> will certainly in his due time return, full <HI>an&s;wer</HI> to that <HI>loud cry.</HI> For God (who is <HI>Mercy</HI> it &s;elf) abhors <HI>Cruelty</HI> above all other <HI>&s;ins;</HI> he cannot endure that one man &s;hould <HI>de&s;troy</HI> an other, as the <HI>Bea&s;ts</HI> of the field, the <HI>Fowls</HI> of the air, and the <HI>Fi&s;hes</HI> of the &s;ea do. And as every &s;in hath a <HI>tongue,</HI> &s;o that of <HI>blood out-cryes</HI> and drowns the re&s;t; it is alwayes clamorous and <HI>re&s;tle&s;s,</HI> and will never leave <HI>crying</HI> out unto God, until it be wa&s;hed away with a flood of <HI>tears,</HI> i&s;&s;uing from bleeding and broken <HI>hearts,</HI> and dyed into another <HI>colour</HI> by the <HI>blood of Chri&s;t;</HI> but if not &s;o, it will certainly, in conclu&s;ion, bring <HI>woe</HI> and mi&s;ery enough unto them that <HI>&s;hed</HI> it</P>
<P>For there was never any <HI>drop</HI> of Inocent blood &s;pilt upon the face of the Earth, from
<PB N="8" REF="6"> the blood of Righteous <HI>Abel</HI> unto this pre&s;ent <HI>hour,</HI> or that &s;hall be &s;hed &s;o long as there be <HI>men,</HI> and <HI>malice,</HI> and <HI>mi&s;chief</HI> in the world, but it &s;wels big as the &s;ea in the eyes of God, and cannot be wa&s;hed away by all the waters therein. And further, neither the <HI>heat</HI> of the <HI>Sun,</HI> nor the <HI>du&s;t</HI> of the <HI>ground,</HI> &s;hall ever be able to <HI>dry</HI> or <HI>drink</HI> it up, till it be either <HI>A|venged</HI> or <HI>Pardoned:</HI> Unle&s;s the <HI>Earth,</HI> and <HI>Heavens,</HI> and all that are therein can be <HI>brib|ed</HI> to keep <HI>&s;ilence,</HI> and to take no notice there|of. <HI>And the Lord, the Lord God of Mercy, deliver this Land from that, and from all other Blood-guiltine&s;s.</HI></P></Q>
<P>I have done with this mo&s;t <HI>Melancholy,</HI> Sad, Bloody Story, which hapned (as I have &s;aid) about the time when that Noble <HI>Per&s;on</HI> (before mentioned) was intreated by &s;ome, who much de&s;ired to have &s;atisfaction <HI>therein,</HI> That he would plea&s;e (he having had &s;uch a particular Knowledg of the <HI>King</HI> by rea&s;on of his near attendance on <HI>Him)</HI> to give them a true <HI>Cha|racter</HI> of his Maje&s;ty, and to &s;peak nothing but what they might confidently from his mouth <HI>believe</HI> and report as <HI>Truth.</HI> The Gentleman was very <HI>free</HI> to it, and a&s;&s;ured them (among&s;t whom was this <HI>Relator)</HI> that he would not <HI>&s;ay</HI> any thing more or le&s;s as <HI>to it,</HI> but what he &s;hould <HI>report</HI> for <HI>Truth,</HI> if de&s;ired as his la&s;t <HI>words</HI> when he came to dye; which now hear <HI>&s;peak thus;</HI></P>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="text">
<PB REF="6">
<HEAD>The Character.</HEAD>
<DIV2 N="1" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>I.</HEAD>
<P>THat His Maje&s;ty was a Prince unto whom the Lord had given a very large mea&s;ure of Wi&s;dom and Under&s;tanding, far above his Years; for to the great Ad|miration of tho&s;e who there &s;ate in Council with him, and when they thougbt that they had &s;poken unto &s;ome good purpo&s;e, His great Rea&s;on, upon Emergent occa&s;i|ons, would weigh down all theirs.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="2" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>II.</HEAD>
<P>He &s;aid, That while he had the Honor and Happine&s;s to wait upon his Maje&s;ty at St. <HI>John&s;tons</HI> in <HI>Scotland</HI> (which was during the whole time of his abode there) he kept both his Eyes and Ears open upon him, and could never ob&s;erve nor hear (which was very remarkable) that his Maje&s;ty was addicted unto any &s;in of Youth.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="3" TYPE="section">
<PB N="10" REF="7">
<HEAD>III.</HEAD>
<P>To te&s;tifie this his Maje&s;ty was very careful to have a mo&s;t Regular and Ex|emplary Court, keeping his whole Fami|ly there in very excellent and good Or|der: And to this end, if he had heard of any Per&s;on or Per&s;ons in it given to Swearing, Drunkenne&s;s, or to any other Exorbitancies, upon a Serious Admoniti|on, if they did not Reform, they were &s;hewed the way out of his Doors, not to be taken into his Family any more.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="4" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>IV.</HEAD>
<P>He told us that he had heard the King oftentimes to &s;ay thus, (and he de&s;ired that this might be in a &s;pecial manner re|membred by us) That if ever it &s;hould plea&s;e God to Re&s;tore him unto, and to &s;ettle him in his Ju&s;t Rights, that he would a&s;&s;oon endure a known Traitor a|bout him, as a Debauched man.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="5" TYPE="section">
<PB N="11" REF="7">
<HEAD>V.</HEAD>
<P>That his Maje&s;ty was very &s;trict in the Ob&s;ervation of his Private Devoti|ons twice every Day, and would not &s;uf|fer any occa&s;ions to divert him from tho&s;e Duties; and that he was as careful likewi&s;e to frequent the Publick Ordi|nances.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="6" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>VI.</HEAD>
<P>That his Maje&s;ty retired him&s;elf in his Chamber or Clo&s;et, where he Fa&s;ted every Tue&s;day in Memoral of his Royal Father, (that day of the Week forced out of his Life by the hands of Violence) which day weekly he re&s;erved him&s;elf, as much as he could, from all company and bu&s;ine&s;s, whether Publick or Private.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="7" TYPE="section">
<PB N="12" REF="8">
<HEAD>VII.</HEAD>
<P>That his Maje&s;ty was a Prince as Ju&s;t to make his Word good as any one in the world could be, for he would never fail to perform any thing he promi&s;ed (if po&s;sibly in his power) and therefore was more &s;hie in promi&s;ing, for fear that he might not be able to make good his Word.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="8" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>VIII.</HEAD>
<P>That his Maje&s;ty was a Prince in who&s;e Di&s;po&s;ition he had ever ob&s;erved a very high mea&s;ure of Noblene&s;s, Goodne&s;s and Gentlene&s;s; as good a Friend as any one could find any where (like <HI>Theodo&s;ius</HI> that good Emperor, who then thought he had a kindne&s;s done to him&s;elf, when he had a good occa&s;ion offered him to &s;hew cour|te&s;ie unto others) for his Maje&s;ty was al|wayes ready to be doing favours. And as he was &s;o good a Friend, &s;o was he as good an Enemy too, for he could ea&s;ily forget and forgive any injuries done unto him&s;elf.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="9" TYPE="section">
<PB N="13" REF="8">
<HEAD>IX.</HEAD>
<P>That his Maje&s;ty knew how and when to take up the State and Per&s;on of a King, and when to lay it down. And further, that when he had any good occa|&s;ion to improve his Valor, he was then as bold as a Lion, and when not, as meek as a Lamb.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="10" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>X.</HEAD>
<P>La&s;tly, He &s;aid, That he looked upon his Maje&s;ty as upon a Prince, too good for <HI>Scotland,</HI> too good for <HI>England,</HI> too good for the World, and therefore thought that his Goodne&s;s might ha&s;ten his Glory. But then he further added, That he had &s;ome great rea&s;on to hope that God had not &s;o wonderfully Qualified him, and &s;o miraculou&s;ly Pre&s;erved him, but that he had &s;ome great things to do For him, and &s;ome great things to do By him.</P>
</DIV2>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="conclusion">
<PB REF="9">
<HEAD>The Conclu&s;ion.</HEAD>
<P>NOw as this and much more was <HI>affirmed</HI> by the Per&s;on of Honour before <HI>&s;poken of,</HI> concerning that mo&s;t excellent <HI>King;</HI> &s;o the &s;ame in <HI>&s;ub&s;tance</HI> was likewi&s;e often atte&s;ted by many Godly <HI>Scotch</HI> Mini&s;ters, and others taken Pri&s;oners at <HI>Worce&s;ter,</HI> and &s;ince that time by divers more of good <HI>Quality,</HI> and of <HI>repute</HI> too for <HI>Godline&s;s</HI> and <HI>Hone&s;ty,</HI> of which <HI>thou&s;ands</HI> in the&s;e Nations have <HI>heard</HI></P>
<P>However then it hath plea&s;ed Almighty <HI>God</HI> (for <HI>cau&s;es</HI> onely known to <HI>him&s;elf)</HI> to &s;uffer his Maje&s;ty to drink &s;o <HI>deep</HI> of the <HI>Cup</HI> of af|fliction (&s;ince he was &s;o violently <HI>forced</HI> from his own <HI>Countrey, and from his Fathers hou&s;e,)</HI> and ca&s;t wholly upon the <HI>Providence</HI> of God for his <HI>&s;ub&s;i&s;tence&punc;</HI> which mu&s;t needs be a very <HI>hea|vie</HI> and grievous tryal unto him; for the <HI>wants</HI> of Kings are by far more <HI>weighty</HI> and <HI>pre&s;&s;ing</HI> then tho&s;e of private <HI>men,</HI> in re&s;pect of <HI>them|&s;elves,</HI> their high <HI>Names, Titles, Places;</HI> and and in regard of others who look for &s;helter and <HI>comfort</HI> under their <HI>&s;hadow,</HI> which they can|not <HI>afford</HI> if their <HI>&s;ub&s;tance</HI> be taken from <HI>them. Sapiens mi&s;er, plus mi&s;er e&s;t, quam &s;tultus mi&s;er.</HI> A <HI>Fool</HI> in mi&s;ery is in&s;en&s;ible, becau&s;e he <HI>appre|hends</HI> not his condition; whereas a <HI>wi&s;e</HI> man can both <HI>feel</HI> and <HI>aggravate</HI> it, (though both many times to little <HI>purpo&s;e,)</HI> and therefore up|on con&s;ideration <HI>concludes,</HI> that it is be&s;t to
<PB N="15" REF="9"> <HI>bear</HI> what he cannot <HI>remedy. Fortit&egrave;r ille fa|cit, qui mi&s;er e&s;&s;e pote&s;t.</HI> No man more <HI>&s;trong</HI> then he that can &s;toutly &s;tand <HI>under,</HI> and not be made to <HI>buckle</HI> under his heavie <HI>Cro&s;s,</HI> not bear it up onely with <HI>head</HI> and <HI>&s;houlders,</HI> as bruti&s;h <HI>men</HI> may do, but with <HI>life</HI> and <HI>&s;pirit;</HI> and cer|tainly they are mo&s;t <HI>happy</HI> that can be mo&s;t <HI>mi|&s;erable</HI> and make lea&s;t complaint. And &s;uch hath been the carriage of his Maje&s;ty &s;ince he was forced, (as <HI>David</HI> &s;ometime <HI>was</HI> to <HI>Adul|lam,)</HI> yet hath born all with marvellous <HI>Wi&s;|dome</HI> and Chri&s;tian <HI>Patience</HI> for more then eight years la&s;t pa&s;t, when God pre&s;erved him at, and delivered him from <HI>Worce&s;ter,</HI> (not to &s;peak of his many <HI>flittings</HI> up and down, to and fro, and his great <HI>un&s;ettlement</HI> before that time,) I &s;ay that his Maje&s;ty in all his <HI>Tryals</HI> hath been &s;till looking up unto that invi&s;ible <HI>hand</HI> from whence all afflictions come: And I &s;peak not this of my &s;elf, but fr<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">m other credi|ble Witne&s;&s;es that do affirm it, having ob&s;erved the whole tenour of his conver&s;ation <HI>all along,</HI> wherein his Maje&s;ty hath highly <HI>improved</HI> his mo&s;t heavy <HI>pre&s;&s;ures, bearing them all with an even mind,</HI> in being as well <HI>taught</HI> as <HI>cha&s;tened,</HI> and con&s;equently made by far <HI>more perfect through his &s;ufferings,</HI> and now long enough in the <HI>fire to come forth pure Gold,</HI> wherein his Maje&s;ty hath been <HI>tried</HI> to purpo&s;e; tried for many years la&s;t pa&s;t with the want of any <HI>certain</HI> or known <HI>Revenue</HI> to &s;upport his <HI>Per&s;on</HI> and <HI>Dignity;</HI> tried with many <HI>tentations,</HI> to divert him (if it had been po&s;&s;ible) from the Prote|&s;tant
<PB N="16" REF="10"> <HI>Religion,</HI> in which he hath alwayes &s;tood <HI>con&s;tant, firm, &s;tedfa&s;t</HI> and <HI>unmovable,</HI> with his <HI>head</HI> again&s;t the <HI>&s;torm,</HI> not at all wrought upon by many &s;pecious <HI>overtures</HI> made unto <HI>Him,</HI> by many <HI>&s;ubtle</HI> and plau&s;ible Arguments pre&s;&s;ed upon <HI>Him</HI> to pervert him from it; yet &s;till hath continued like &s;ome <HI>fre&s;h Rivers,</HI> which (they write) make their way through the <HI>&s;alt Sea,</HI> and &s;till retain their <HI>&s;avour:</HI> And after all &s;uch <HI>at|tempts,</HI> it may further and truly be &s;aid of <HI>Him,</HI> what was &s;ometimes written of that Noble <HI>Fa|britius,</HI> That he would <HI>re&s;olve well,</HI> and when once he had <HI>re&s;olved,</HI> you might as &s;oon have put the <HI>Sun</HI> out of his <HI>cour&s;e</HI> as <HI>Fabritius</HI> from his re&s;olution. Which (with many more parti|culars that might be added) are &s;ufficient to <HI>confirm</HI> all tho&s;e who have made any &s;cruple or doubt to the <HI>contrary,</HI> that as his Maje&s;ty hath hitherto <HI>appeared,</HI> &s;o he is like to <HI>continue</HI> a very good and a gracious <HI>Prince.</HI></P>
<P>And we have very great <HI>cau&s;e</HI> further to &s;ettle us in this <HI>hope,</HI> if we &s;eriou&s;ly con&s;ider of one <HI>in&s;tance</HI> more, which I &s;hall here <HI>in&s;ert:</HI> For as it was &s;ometimes recorded to the very high commendation of that no le&s;s <HI>good</HI> then <HI>great</HI> Emperour <HI>Con&s;tantine,</HI> who when he was told by his <HI>Phy&s;icians,</HI> That there was no way to cure him of his <HI>Lepro&s;ie</HI> but by bathing his fle&s;h in the blood of <HI>young Infants;</HI> his heart <HI>abhorr'd</HI> their advice, and he pre&s;ently an&s;wered like <HI>him|&s;elf, Malo &s;emper aegrotare quam tali remedio convale&s;cere;</HI> That he had by far rather conti|nue a <HI>Leper</HI> &s;till, then be &s;o <HI>cured,</HI> the <HI>reme|dy</HI>
<PB N="17" REF="10"> was &s;o much wor&s;e then the <HI>di&s;ea&s;e:</HI> So when his Maje&s;ty hath been often <HI>told,</HI> That the be&s;t way to recover his <HI>Rights</HI> unto his three <HI>King|domes,</HI> was to make his way by <HI>force</HI> and <HI>violence</HI> with any foreign <HI>aid</HI> he could get to his <HI>a&s;&s;i|&s;tance,</HI> (and without doubt, if tenderne&s;s of <HI>Con&s;cience</HI> had not awed and kept him from a &s;infull <HI>compliance</HI> with them, if he would but <HI>hi&s;s</HI> he could not have wanted <HI>help</HI> enough from <HI>abroad;)</HI> He hath always manife&s;ted &s;uch a mar|vellous <HI>regret</HI> again&s;t that de&s;perate <HI>remedy,</HI> up|on many &s;erious and &s;ad <HI>con&s;iderations,</HI> as the effu&s;ion of much more <HI>blood,</HI> (which he de&s;ires exceedingly to be <HI>tender</HI> of) with divers other great <HI>mi&s;chiefs,</HI> which mu&s;t unavoidably follow &s;uch a <HI>force,</HI> as if he had rather <HI>be</HI> and remain a great &s;ufferer <HI>&s;till,</HI> (if that violence may po&s;&s;i|bly be avoided) then &s;o <HI>&s;etled.</HI> And many of his Maje&s;ties greate&s;t <HI>Adver&s;aries</HI> have heard <HI>enough</HI> to acknowledge this to be a <HI>truth,</HI> if they would but &s;peak out.</P>
<P>That we may therefore &s;eek out for <HI>help</HI> be|fore our <HI>hurts</HI> grow <HI>incurable,</HI> and not for ever continue to be our own <HI>&s;poilers,</HI> and our own <HI>prey,</HI> I &s;hall add this, That though the <HI>Body</HI> of the&s;e three Nations (if they be con&s;idered col|lectively and together) may not unfitly be re|&s;embled by that <HI>figure</HI> of the <HI>Man</HI> in our <HI>Al|manacks,</HI> who &s;eems to be <HI>wounded</HI> in every <HI>part, from the &s;ole of the foot to the crown of the head;</HI> yet I cannot look upon it as pa&s;t all <HI>remedy</HI> or <HI>cure; For there is &s;till Balm in Gilead, and Phy&s;itians there, by which the</HI>
<PB N="18" REF="11"> <HI>health thereof may be recovered.</HI></P>
<P>In order to which, let us fir&s;t <HI>know,</HI> that <HI>to &s;in is not the way to pro&s;per.</HI> And therefore that we may not <HI>flatter</HI> our &s;elves into <HI>ruine,</HI> nor be <HI>infatuated</HI> to de&s;truction, let our con&s;ideration and <HI>fear</HI> prevent our <HI>peri&s;hing.</HI> And if we do <HI>de&s;ire</HI> to under&s;tand the minde of God <HI>aright, we</HI> mu&s;t not take &s;ome pa&s;&s;ages of Scripture in a literal <HI>&s;en&s;e,</HI> which the <HI>Spirit</HI> of God never <HI>intended</HI> by <HI>them,</HI> but that which is quite <HI>con|trary;</HI> and there are many <HI>&s;uch</HI> to be ob&s;erved in the &s;acred <HI>Story,</HI> like that in the la&s;t of the <HI>Re|velations, He that is unju&s;t, let him be unju&s;t &s;till.</HI> To this end Almighty God &s;peaks often to <HI>&s;inners,</HI> unto whom he intends <HI>Mercy,</HI> that they &s;hould <HI>Return,</HI> as if before they had been quite out of their <HI>way; Repent, and turn your &s;elves from your tran&s;gre&s;&s;ions, &s;o iniquity &s;hall not be your ruine.</HI> And therefore if we would have <HI>mercy</HI> and pardon for &s;in, we mu&s;t labour as much as we may to free our &s;elves from <HI>guilt,</HI> and &s;hew as much <HI>forwardne&s;s</HI> to redre&s;s Evils as to <HI>acknowledge</HI> or grieve for <HI>them;</HI> remem|bring (among&s;t many more particulars which might be here in&s;erted) that unque&s;tionable <HI>Trath, Non dimittitur peccatum, ni&s;i re&s;titua|tur ablatum;</HI> That there is no <HI>remi&s;&s;ion</HI> with|out <HI>re&s;titution,</HI> if it can be <HI>made.</HI></P>
<P>And here likewi&s;e we of the&s;e <HI>Nations</HI> &s;hall do very well to call to <HI>remembrance</HI> our former <HI>Vows</HI> and <HI>Oaths,</HI> as that of <HI>Allegiance,</HI> and other lawfully <HI>impo&s;ed</HI> on us, and <HI>taken</HI> by us; as al&s;o &s;ince <HI>tho&s;e</HI> were u&s;ually <HI>tendred,</HI> The <HI>So|emn</HI>
<PB N="19" REF="11"> <HI>Prote&s;tation,</HI> and after that the more <HI>So|lemn League and Covenant,</HI> which upon &s;erious <HI>con&s;ideration</HI> was commended to the people <HI>here,</HI> and by them <HI>received</HI> and <HI>&s;worn to</HI> with <HI>hands</HI> lifted up to <HI>Heaven;</HI> and it would be remem|bred likewi&s;e, what in them <HI>both</HI> was <HI>promi&s;ed</HI> to his late <HI>&s;o-&s;o-&s;o</HI> much &s;uffering <HI>Maje&s;ty,</HI></P>
<P>For <HI>Vows</HI> (if lawfull and in our <HI>Power)</HI> when <HI>made,</HI> they mu&s;t be <HI>kept; Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God. Jephta</HI> was over-&s;trict in this when he had made a <HI>ra&s;h Vow,</HI> yet he concluded, <HI>That he had opened his mouth to the Lord,</HI> and therefore thought that he might not <HI>go back from it.</HI></P>
<P>And for <HI>Oaths,</HI> it is very ob&s;ervable in the ca&s;e and &s;tory of the <HI>Gibeonites,</HI> that though they had &s;urreptitiou&s;ly and by <HI>fraud</HI> gained a <HI>League</HI> with the <HI>I&s;raelites,</HI> God is very angry with <HI>I &s;rael</HI> four hundred years <HI>after</HI> for the <HI>blood</HI> of &s;ome of them <HI>whom Saul &s;lew,</HI> though they were but <HI>&s;ervants,</HI> yea, <HI>drudges</HI> to the <HI>I&s;raelites;</HI> the <HI>Rea&s;on,</HI> Becau&s;e there was a <HI>Perjury</HI> attend|ing upon their <HI>&s;laughter,</HI> violating that ancient <HI>Oath,</HI> wherein the <HI>Princes</HI> of the Congrega|tion had <HI>bound</HI> them&s;elves upon <HI>Jo&s;hua's League</HI> with tho&s;e <HI>Gibeonites, That they would &s;uffer them to live:</HI> And though this <HI>Oath</HI> was extor|ted by <HI>fraud</HI> from <HI>I&s;rael,</HI> yet becau&s;e it was <HI>&s;o|lemn,</HI> and by no le&s;s <HI>Name then the Lord God of I&s;rael,</HI> God long after mo&s;t &s;everely <HI>puni&s;hed</HI> the breach <HI>thereof</HI> with <HI>three years famine upon I&s;rael.</HI> All <HI>Vows, Oaths. Covenants</HI> (if law|full) made on <HI>earth,</HI> are regi&s;tred in <HI>Heaven,</HI>
<PB N="20" REF="12"> and God holds it a very high <HI>indignity</HI> that his Name &s;hould be <HI>Sworn by,</HI> and the <HI>Oath viola|ted.</HI> And if the <HI>Vows</HI> and <HI>Oaths</HI> of others may <HI>bind us,</HI> how much more <HI>mu&s;t our own.</HI></P>
<P>Now the&s;e particulars require a very careful and &s;erious <HI>Review,</HI> which we hope will be <HI>ta|ken,</HI> e&s;pecially now at la&s;t it hath plea&s;ed Al|mighty God, and in a <HI>very &s;hort &s;pace</HI> of time, &s;o wonderfully and unexpectedly, to alter and change the outward <HI>Face of things</HI> here among&s;t us, in making us like the <HI>I&s;raelites, when newly return'd out of their Captivity, to be like men that dream;</HI> or as <HI>&s;leepers</HI> &s;uddenly &s;tarted and awakened out of their <HI>dreams,</HI> that cannot pre&s;ently con&s;ider where <HI>they are,</HI> or how it is <HI>with them.</HI> So it hath been with <HI>many</HI> of us (by the encouragement we have had by <HI>&s;om<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> things</HI> already received in <HI>hand,</HI> which of late we could &s;carce know how to <HI>hope for)</HI> which makes us ready to <HI>que&s;tion</HI> or make doubt whe|ther it be &s;o with us in <HI>reality,</HI> which in deed is <HI>true. Ne&s;cis quid ve&s;per &s;erus ferat: We know not what a day may bring forth:</HI> Yet if we ob&s;erve the <HI>Cour&s;es</HI> of Gods <HI>Providence,</HI> we may learn better how to know it. One day <HI>cleared</HI> the innocency of <HI>Jo&s;eph</HI> from that mo&s;t unju&s;t A&s;per&s;ion which lay &s;o long upon him, and brought him from a <HI>Pri&s;oner</HI> in <HI>Egypt,</HI> to be|come the <HI>Ruler</HI> over all the Land of <HI>Egypt;</HI> and the &s;ame day changed his Fetters of <HI>Iron</HI> in|to a Chain of <HI>Gold,</HI> his Rags into fine <HI>Linnen,</HI> his Stocks into a <HI>Chariot,</HI> his <HI>Jaile</HI> into a <HI>Pal|lace,</HI> and <HI>Potiphars Captive</HI> into <HI>Potiphars Lord</HI>
<PB N="21" REF="12"> <HI>and Ma&s;ter. Serving</HI> and Suffering leads unto <HI>Honor;</HI> and God at la&s;t will be &s;ure to pay his Children well for their <HI>Patience</HI> and <HI>Pre&s;&s;ures.</HI> I &s;aid but now, That the great things <HI>which God hath done for us, done for us already,</HI> have made us like men that <HI>dream.</HI> O how <HI>much</HI> did one day bring <HI>forth!</HI> and another day may bring forth much <HI>more;</HI> and ble&s;&s;ed be God it is not a <HI>Dream we are in,</HI> for God hath begun to open <HI>a door of Hope unto us,</HI> which in good time may lead us on towards an happie <HI>&s;ettlement;</HI> and we have great cau&s;e to <HI>prai&s;e God,</HI> and earne&s;t|ly to <HI>pray</HI> for tho&s;e worthy <HI>Patriots</HI> who have been &s;o <HI>in&s;trumental</HI> in it; as for all others who by his <HI>Providence</HI> &s;hall be again &s;uddenly <HI>intru|&s;ted</HI> with the great Publick <HI>affairs,</HI> and high con|cernments of the&s;e <HI>Nations,</HI> that (by his mo&s;t gracious <HI>a&s;&s;i&s;tance)</HI> as they have a <HI>Price put in|to their hands,</HI> &s;o they may <HI>improve</HI> it to the utmo&s;t <HI>advantage,</HI> that the <HI>end</HI> of their meeting may be <HI>Happine&s;s,</HI> and the conclu&s;ion thereof <HI>Peace,</HI> which we may <HI>expect,</HI> if among&s;t many other <HI>things,</HI> which of nece&s;&s;ity mu&s;t fall into their mo&s;t &s;erious <HI>Con&s;ideration,</HI> they &s;hall <HI>think</HI> too, and that very <HI>&s;eriou&s;ly,</HI> of what hath been immediately before <HI>&s;poken,</HI> as of that which here <HI>follows after.</HI></P>
<P><HI>Secondly,</HI> Suppo&s;e that if the <HI>Condition</HI> of things among us &s;hould yet <HI>continue</HI> as they now for the <HI>pre&s;ent</HI> are, and the&s;e <HI>Nations</HI> fot a time might appear to be &s;etled in <HI>Peace,</HI> and &s;o that they might imagine them&s;elves to be very <HI>&s;e|cure,</HI> yet could they never be e&s;tabli&s;hed in <HI>Safe|ty:</HI>
<PB N="22" REF="13"> Becau&s;e &s;uch a <HI>Peace</HI> would be like a grie|vous <HI>Sore, skin'd</HI> over, not <HI>cured,</HI> and therefore continually ready to <HI>break out again.</HI> For his <HI>Maje&s;tie,</HI> or &s;ome other of his Royal <HI>Line</HI> (and ble&s;&s;ed be God there are many of them) will be alwayes laying <HI>Claim</HI> to their <HI>Rights</HI> here, and if they cannot by any <HI>fair means</HI> find out a <HI>way</HI> to them, will then force them&s;elves, in the u&s;e of all other <HI>endeavours</HI> to make their way. And the Laws of <HI>Nations,</HI> of <HI>Nature,</HI> yea of <HI>God him&s;elf,</HI> will <HI>ju&s;tifie them herein.</HI> And there is never a <HI>one</HI> in the&s;e <HI>Nations</HI> who may &s;eem to oppo&s;e this <HI>mo&s;t,</HI> nor any other &s;ingle <HI>Per|&s;on</HI> in the <HI>world</HI> that under&s;tands <HI>him&s;elf,</HI> but will &s;ay, That in this <HI>ca&s;e</HI> he would do as much.</P>
<P><HI>Thirdly,</HI> (which cannot chu&s;e but be mo&s;t heedfully <HI>minded)</HI> That which is gotten by <HI>Force</HI> and <HI>Power,</HI> mu&s;t be by <HI>Power</HI> and <HI>Force maintained,</HI> which will of nece&s;&s;ity put the peo|ple of the&s;e <HI>Nations</HI> to an immen&s;e yearly <HI>Charge</HI> of many hundred thou&s;and <HI>pounds;</HI> and when a very heavy <HI>burden</HI> is &s;etled clo&s;e upon the <HI>backs</HI> of <HI>men,</HI> the longer it <HI>lyes,</HI> &s;till the <HI>heavi|er</HI> it will appear to <HI>be:</HI> and people when they have been long <HI>heavy laden</HI> will grow &s;o extreme <HI>weary,</HI> as that they will never be <HI>contented,</HI> nor yet <HI>quiet,</HI> till they have their <HI>&s;houlders ea&s;ed,</HI> e&s;pecially when they may have hope to exchange a very chargeable and uncertain <HI>Peace,</HI> for that which is accompanied with far le&s;s <HI>charge,</HI> and much more <HI>&s;ecurity.</HI> There was never any <HI>Cap|tive</HI> violently bound in affliction and <HI>Iron,</HI> that
<PB N="23" REF="13"> could fall in love with his <HI>Chain:</HI> neither any people that are born <HI>Free,</HI> patiently and long endure either <HI>Bondage</HI> or <HI>Burden,</HI> if they can po&s;&s;ibly be <HI>removed.</HI> I never read of any <HI>Fool</HI> like him in the <HI>Proverbs,</HI> that <HI>could laugh when he was la&s;hed, and feel it not.</HI> Men who are en|dued with <HI>Rea&s;on</HI> cannot &s;o <HI>degenerate,</HI> as to be like the dull <HI>Camels</HI> which <HI>cry</HI> and roar in the <HI>evening</HI> when their <HI>burdens</HI> are taking <HI>off,</HI> but in the <HI>morning</HI> make no <HI>complaint</HI> when they are <HI>laying on.</HI></P>
<P>And therefore if it &s;hall now at la&s;t plea&s;e Almighty God <HI>who can do</HI> what <HI>he will,</HI> and therefore can bring <HI>Peace</HI> out of <HI>Strife</HI> and <HI>Contention; Truth</HI> and <HI>Light</HI> out of <HI>Darkne&s;s;</HI> &s;o <HI>Order</HI> and <HI>Settlement</HI> out of <HI>Confu&s;ion</HI> (for all things are &s;o far from being <HI>impo&s;&s;ible</HI> to him that nothing is <HI>hard.)</HI> I &s;ay if the good Provi|dence <HI>of God only wi&s;e,</HI> &s;hall in his good time &s;o <HI>order</HI> it, that after the many <HI>turnings</HI> and overturnings, the many <HI>hopes</HI> and <HI>fears,</HI> the ma|ny expectations and di&s;appointments the three Nations have &s;o long laboured <HI>under;</HI> and af|ter the long and tyring expectance of his Ma|je&s;tie, he &s;hall at la&s;t return home with the af|fection, and de&s;ire, and invitation of his <HI>people,</HI> and upon Honorable and good <HI>Terms</HI> (fit for a good King to <HI>grant,</HI> and Loyal Subjects to <HI>de|&s;ire)</HI> which no doubt if they were heartily and humbly <HI>offered,</HI> would be mo&s;t willingly and graciou&s;ly <HI>accepted;</HI> &s;o that his Maje&s;ty who was driven from among&s;t us by force and <HI>vi|lence,</HI> might be drawn to us home again by <HI>Cords</HI>
<PB N="24" REF="14"> <HI>of Love,</HI> managed by fair and gentle and peace|able hands: It would prove (as we have great cau&s;e to hope) a <HI>Mercy</HI> to the&s;e Nations not to be forgotten, and for which we might never think our &s;elves &s;ufficiently <HI>thankfull.</HI></P>
<P>For his Maje&s;ty, I am per&s;waded (and &s;o are multitudes of thou&s;ands more of my belief here|in) that he is <HI>led</HI> by &s;uch <HI>Principles</HI> both of <HI>Goodne&s;s and Honour,</HI> (what ever may be fan|cied by &s;ome to the contrary) that if he were &s;o invited <HI>home,</HI> He would not longer de&s;ire obedience from his <HI>People,</HI> nor a ble&s;&s;ing from <HI>God,</HI> then he &s;hould punctually perform what|ever he &s;hould <HI>promi&s;e</HI> in this <HI>ca&s;e.</HI> And when nothing el&s;e be&s;ide is like to do it, his &s;ettlement in all probability might &s;ettle and e&s;tabli&s;h, in good time, and with the content of all <HI>Intere&s;ts,</HI> (if their own wilfulne&s;s did not <HI>ob&s;truct</HI> it) the&s;e three mo&s;t mi&s;erably divided, much impo|veri&s;hed and greatly di&s;tracted Nations in <HI>Righ|teou&s;ne&s;s and Truth,</HI> in <HI>Peace and Order;</HI> for all the&s;e mu&s;t concur to make us happy: For what would <HI>Peace</HI> be to us without <HI>Truth</HI> and <HI>Righteou&s;ne&s;s,</HI> but a fatting up to &s;laughter. But all the&s;e might <HI>center</HI> together without that hereditary and perpetuated <HI>charge</HI> now lying upon the Nations to make them more mi&s;erable. And for his Maje&s;ty, he would no doubt further an&s;wer &s;uch a free and a fair call (as hath been &s;poken of) by a reciprocal love, care and good|ne&s;s every way manife&s;ted unto all his loving and obedient <HI>Subjects.</HI></P>
<P>Now the&s;e mo&s;t heedfull <HI>premi&s;es</HI> being put
<PB N="25" REF="14"> and kept together, and mo&s;t &s;eriou&s;ly thought on, I hope that all (but in a &s;pecial manner tho&s;e many <HI>Worthies</HI> now intru&s;ted with our Safety and Settlement) as every one be&s;ide a|mong us, who have kept their <HI>eyes</HI> in their heads, and con&s;equently have &s;een and ob&s;erved the Ca|lamities and Mi&s;chiefs. with all other deformed <HI>I&s;&s;ues</HI> of our long un&s;etled Condition, will &s;it down and <HI>con&s;ider</HI> and <HI>follow after the things that may make for our Peace:</HI> Remembring that if they are <HI>ble&s;&s;ed,</HI> and &s;hall be called <HI>the children of God who are Peace-makers,</HI> there mu&s;t be another <HI>Name</HI> found out for &s;uch as have a <HI>Mark</HI> &s;et up|on them becau&s;e they cau&s;e <HI>Divi&s;ions,</HI> and are <HI>Enemies</HI> to it and <HI>Di&s;turbers</HI> of it.</P>
<P>But I know there are &s;ome among us to whom &s;uch <HI>Arguments</HI> as I have u&s;ed are as unprofita|ble as unplau&s;ible, who out of <HI>&s;elf-ends,</HI> that they may reign them&s;elves as <HI>Kings,</HI> have en|deavoured to keep out any other that bears that <HI>Name.</HI> And another great rea&s;on for it, be|cau&s;e there are not a few of them who&s;e pale <HI>guiltine&s;s</HI> cannot abide the thought of &s;eeing his Maje&s;ty <HI>here,</HI> fearing that their guilt will not abide the <HI>touch,</HI> (for guiltine&s;s would fain keep out of &s;ight;) and to this end have not been wanting to <HI>per&s;ecute</HI> him mo&s;t maliciou&s;ly with <HI>&s;landers</HI> and reproaches, to make his Maje&s;ty (if they could) le&s;s beloved and le&s;s de&s;ired of his <HI>People;</HI> &s;uch as <HI>mu&s;&s;le</HI> up the mouthes of their own Con&s;ciences, that hereby they might <HI>&s;tave</HI> off their guilt and fears from <HI>&s;taring</HI> them in the face, and more qnietly pur&s;ue their unrighteous
<PB N="26" REF="15"> and unju&s;tifiable <HI>Ends;</HI> who&s;e word is, <HI>Que|cunque modo rem,</HI> that they re&s;olve to <HI>thrive</HI> how ever they <HI>get,</HI> and think, <HI>&V;bi utilitas, ibi pie|tas,</HI> there is <HI>Piety</HI> where ever there is <HI>profit;</HI> hence believe <HI>Naboths vineyard</HI> a very good <HI>purcha&s;e,</HI> a great <HI>penniworth,</HI> it lies &s;o convenient for them; loving the <HI>inheritance,</HI> when they de&s;troy the <HI>Heir:</HI> So e&s;teeming the Gold of <HI>Tholou&s;e</HI> very precious; the Bread of the Church, though taken from a robbed Altar, exceeding &s;weet; not at all con&s;idering, that the <HI>Table</HI> of a wicked man oft-times becomes his <HI>&s;nare,</HI> as his pro&s;perity his <HI>ruine.</HI> But <HI>a bruti&s;h man knoweth not, neither doth a fool u<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">der&s;tand this;</HI> when a wicked man growes green, and &s;its very contentedly under the &s;hadow of his <HI>Gourd,</HI> there is a <HI>Worm</HI> (which he &s;ees not) prepared to eat it down, and his pre&s;ent <HI>flouri&s;hing</HI> is a forerunner of his everla&s;t|ing <HI>withering.</HI> The Pro&s;perity of a bad man is ever <HI>in primis,</HI> at the <HI>fir&s;t: Son, thou had&s;t thy plea&s;ures</HI> thou ha&s;t not: They think not of the <HI>Hand-writing</HI> after their mad merriments, nor of the heavie <HI>reckoning</HI> after their great <HI>meals. Envy not therefore the Oppre&s;&s;or, nor choo&s;e none of his ways,</HI> though they &s;eem never &s;o pro&s;pe|rous, no more then thou woulde&s;t do a <HI>Lackey</HI> in his imbroidered Coat, becau&s;e his <HI>bravery</HI> is a Livery of his <HI>bondage.</HI> The <HI>Palate</HI> is not al|wayes a competent Judge of the food it eats, be|cau&s;e there are <HI>feveri&s;h</HI> and di&s;tempered, as well as good and &s;ound <HI>Palates</HI> that can ta&s;t well of things as they are; and the&s;e prefer hard <HI>fare</HI> much before poi&s;oned <HI>dainties,</HI> and cour&s;e <HI>Frieze</HI>
<PB N="27" REF="15"> far beyond infected <HI>Velvet,</HI> and had rather pine away by rea&s;on of <HI>want</HI> with their own &s;hort <HI>meals,</HI> (&s;o long as they feed on nothing but their own food,) then grow fat with the bread of <HI>Tears;</HI> had rather labour for <HI>little</HI> or no|thing, then receive the greate&s;t <HI>wages</HI> that may be gained by <HI>unrighteou&s;ne&s;s;</HI> to be contemned and poor, then &s;uffer any unju&s;t gain to defile them by cleaving to their fingers. But for all tho&s;e that <HI>dare</HI> do otherwi&s;e, <HI>deceiving and being deceived;</HI> deceiving others, but them&s;elves mo&s;t, they will find too late, when their Account is ca&s;t up, their Con&s;ciences &s;o filled with the pledges of <HI>unrighteou&s;ne&s;s,</HI> that there will be no room left for God and his con&s;olations to <HI>dwell there.</HI> From hence at la&s;t proceeds the trouble and di&s;quietne&s;s of <HI>Spirit</HI> in men pre&s;&s;ed down under the weight of their own <HI>guilt;</HI> for as Vir|tue and Goodne&s;s rewards it &s;elf, &s;o to it &s;elf is Sin a puni&s;hment. <HI>Poena peccati peca&s;&s;e,</HI> e&s;pe|cially to &s;uch who&s;e Con&s;ciences were bung'd up, hoopt over, when they &s;hall after come to any tenderne&s;s of <HI>feeling,</HI> (if they do not get them pacified through him who alone can quiet them,) if once throughly awakened, they will be ready to break open the <HI>Bre&s;ts</HI> of tho&s;e which bear them, or burn like Wild-fire in them; they put guilty men into &s;uch a mi&s;erable <HI>plight,</HI> that they will not know what to do, being de&s;irous (if it were po&s;&s;ible) to run out of them&s;elves, <HI>Me fugio&mdash;</HI>becau&s;e they cannot con&s;ider what they &s;hall do, therefore &s;ometimes leap into <HI>Hell</HI> in thinking to <HI>avoid</HI> it; not caring what
<PB N="28" REF="16"> becomes of them&s;elves, or of any thing be&s;ides; and if they mu&s;t peri&s;h, would have all extin|gui&s;hed in their <HI>ruine.</HI></P>
<P>But what ever a de&s;perate wicked man would have, <HI>Quod qui&s;que fecit patitur&mdash;</HI>the righ|teous God will <HI>render to every one according to his deeds,</HI> and is never wont to &s;uffer the guilti|ne&s;s of &s;ome to hurt the innocence, or to hin|der in the lea&s;t either the inward or outward peace of others that de&s;ire it, long for it, and can give God <HI>no rest</HI> until they have <HI>obtained it.</HI> In order to which, as <HI>Satan</HI> hath been long act|ing his part vigorou&s;ly by his In&s;truments, ani|mating, &s;trengthening and encouraging all the Powers he could find or make among us <HI>to do mi&s;chief;</HI> &s;o mu&s;t all of us, who de&s;ire and labor to know, and love, and fear God aright, <HI>&s;trive toge|ther in our prayers,</HI> &amp; all other lawful <HI>endeavours,</HI> that we may improve all the Intere&s;t we can make in <HI>Heaven,</HI> to prevent his mi&s;chief. <HI>Pray</HI> we mu&s;t, but <HI>means</HI> mu&s;t be u&s;ed likewi&s;e, for Prayer with|out Means is a <HI>mockery</HI> of God, becau&s;e God is to be <HI>found</HI> in the lawfull u&s;e of <HI>Means,</HI> which if we <HI>neglect,</HI> we <HI>tempt God</HI> in&s;tead of tru&s;ting in <HI>Him.</HI> Here then we mu&s;t labour more and more to <HI>acquaint our &s;elves with God,</HI> who can work <HI>with,</HI> or <HI>without,</HI> or <HI>above</HI> Means, but or|dinarily <HI>by</HI> them; and becau&s;e all means &s;erve him, we (in their lawfull u&s;e) mu&s;t never <HI>di&s;tru&s;t him.</HI> When a mans Hou&s;e is on fire, he de&s;erves to be <HI>burnt</HI> in it, who (if he be able) doth not ari&s;e and help to <HI>quench</HI> it. And when poor di&s;tre&s;&s;ed men are at Sea in an horrible <HI>tempe&s;t</HI>
<PB N="29" REF="16"> ready to &s;wallow them up, they are worthy of no pitty if at that time they go about to &s;ecure their own <HI>Cabins,</HI> and &s;uffer the <HI>whole &s;hip</HI> to &s;ink and peri&s;h. What then &s;hall we further <HI>&s;ay?</HI> What <HI>do?</HI> A&s;&s;uredly we mu&s;t confe&s;s that of our &s;elves <HI>we know not what to do,</HI> and there|fore (&s;till ob&s;erving and &s;erving the good Provi|dence of God) it will be be&s;t for us to lift up and to keep our <HI>eyes upon him, who can do ex|ceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think;</HI> and then, if we can be but <HI>fitted</HI> for the Mercies we would <HI>have,</HI> and &s;tand in need of, (if they be good for us) we cannot <HI>want them.</HI> And what &s;hall we further &s;ay? Certainly we can nei|ther &s;ay nor do better, then to call to remem|brance our former wayes and doings which have not been <HI>good.</HI> and in what we have not had the grace to do what we <HI>&s;hould,</HI> truly, and fully, and heartily to acknowledge and repent for all the e|vils that we have done: (True Repentance being like a <HI>Sponge</HI> to wipe off Blots and Blurs from our Souls.) Here then let us further <HI>take to our &s;elves words, and turn unto the Lord with all our hearts,</HI> and &s;ay unto him, <HI>Take away our iniqui|ty, and receive us graciou&s;ly; &s;o will we render the calves of our lips:</HI> That we being throughly humbled in his &s;ight, he may <HI>exalt us in due time,</HI> and re&s;tore unto us all tho&s;e <HI>mercies</HI> we formerly &s;inned away, which we were <HI>carele&s;s</HI> in <HI>keeping,</HI> and which we undervalued in <HI>enjoy|ing,</HI> and to return them unto us, (as all other needfull mercies) in mercy, and then they will do us <HI>good.</HI> The&s;e Petitions, and the like to
<PB N="30" REF="17"> be &s;ent up unto God in <HI>general.</HI></P>
<Q><P>And for our particular and pre&s;ent Conditi|tion, let us make it further our great <HI>bu&s;ine&s;s</HI> to multiply our <HI>Prayers,</HI> and to direct them unto the true <HI>Object</HI> and Center of <HI>Prayer</HI> Al|mighty God, who alone can hear and help, (yet not &s;o to multiply them, but that their <HI>weight</HI> may exceed their <HI>number;)</HI> where for our encouragement let us further know, that if we can but <HI>petition well,</HI> we may then hope to <HI>&s;peed well,</HI> and obtain at Gods hands what we <HI>ask</HI> and what we ask <HI>not,</HI> as in the ca&s;e of <HI>Solomon,</HI> who becau&s;e he petitioned for <HI>Wi&s;|dome</HI> which plea&s;ed God well, he had <HI>Riches and Honour ca&s;t in to it.</HI> And what &s;hall we now de&s;ire! That God would plea&s;e to make all tho&s;e in the&s;e Nations under&s;tand his mind <HI>better,</HI> who have been turned wholly or too much into <HI>them&s;elves,</HI> and altogether neglect|ing that <HI>Royal Law,</HI> have <HI>done</HI> many things they vvould not <HI>&s;uffer,</HI> and &s;o they might <HI>gain,</HI> have not cared how they, have <HI>gotten.&mdash;</HI>That God would multiply in their <HI>room</HI> the number of &s;uch publick-&s;pirited per&s;ons that tie them&s;elves up to the <HI>Rules</HI> of <HI>Ju&s;tice,</HI> and therefore more mind the good of <HI>Community</HI> then their own private and particular <HI>advan|tages,</HI> and &s;hew them&s;elves alwayes more for|ward to contend for Gods <HI>rights</HI> then their <HI>Own.&mdash;</HI>That God would plea&s;e &s;till to in|crea&s;e the <HI>number</HI> of tho&s;e who&s;e ends and aims are firmly bent to clo&s;e up all tho&s;e <HI>Breaches</HI> which the &s;ins of the&s;e Nations have made;
<PB N="31" REF="17"> and to give a <HI>check</HI> unto all &s;uch who&s;e endea|vours are &s;till to make tho&s;e Breaches <HI>wider.&mdash;</HI>That God would plea&s;e for ever to call in that <HI>Commi&s;&s;ion</HI> formerly given to the de&s;troying <HI>Sword</HI> which made &s;uch havock in the&s;e Nati|tions, that keene&s;t and &s;harpe&s;t of all temporal <HI>Swords,</HI> and which pierced <HI>deepe&s;t</HI> becau&s;e dravvn from among <HI>our &s;elves,</HI> and that vve may not any more be delivered into the hands of <HI>bruti&s;h men, that are skilfull to de&s;troy.&mdash;</HI>That God vvould plea&s;e to make the&s;e Nati|ons after their &s;o much <HI>bleeding</HI> to recover their former health and <HI>&s;trength,</HI> and to <HI>live</HI> in his &s;ight, by cau&s;ing the hearts of all the <HI>People</HI> vvhich inhabite them, more to <HI>bleed</HI> for that great effu&s;ion of <HI>blood</HI> &s;hed and &s;pilt upon them, as for all other hainous <HI>&s;ins</HI> com|mitted in them, that they may not be made to <HI>bleed afre&s;h</HI> by &s;uch heavy <HI>Judgements.&mdash;</HI>And novv his <HI>Judgements,</HI> his mo&s;t heavy Judgements have been in the&s;e Nations, <HI>that he would plea&s;e to make the inhabitants thereof to learn Rightcou&s;ne&s;s, and to learn obedience by the things they have &s;uffered.&mdash;</HI>That God vvould &s;urther plea&s;e to <HI>unite</HI> the Hearts of all his People in the&s;e Nations <HI>together,</HI> as if they vvere all but one man, that they may joyntly, &s;everally and unfeignedly <HI>pray for</HI> and pur&s;ue after &s;uch a <HI>Peace</HI> and Settlement as may make us at once both <HI>&s;afe</HI> and <HI>happy.&mdash;</HI>And that he vvould plea&s;e to <HI>be get</HI> and <HI>increa&s;e</HI> a right and a true under&s;tanding betvvixt his <HI>Maje&s;ty</HI> and the People of the&s;e <HI>Nations,</HI> that he may
<PB N="32" REF="18"> not be made further to &s;uffer by any of their bold and mi&s;grounded <HI>prejudices;</HI> nor they longer block up the vvay of their ovvn hap|pine&s;s again&s;t them&s;elves by their <HI>cau&s;ele&s;s fears.&mdash;</HI>That God vvould &s;tir up the hearts of all the people in the&s;e Nations <HI>who know how to pray,</HI> unfeignedly to pray for his <HI>Maje&s;ty,</HI> that if it &s;hall &s;tand vvith the good plea&s;ure of Almighty God, to <HI>&s;ettle</HI> the&s;e Na|tions by the happy e&s;tabli&s;hment of his <HI>Royal Maje&s;ty</HI> here among&s;t us, that he vvould make him &s;uch a <HI>Ble&s;&s;ing</HI> in <HI>Him&s;elf,</HI> and to the&s;e Nations &s;uch a Ble&s;&s;ing likevvi&s;e, that the Gene|rations to come <HI>may call him ble&s;&s;ed,</HI> vvhereby all &s;uch as have been &s;o pre&s;umptuou&s;ly and vvickedly <HI>bold,</HI> (led hereunto by their ovvn <HI>mi&s;conceiving)</HI> to utter <HI>hard &s;peeches</HI> again&s;t his Maje&s;ty for the time <HI>pa&s;t,</HI> may be convin|ced and made a&s;hamed, and endeavour by their <HI>Subjection, Love</HI> and <HI>Loyalty</HI> to his Maje&s;ty, for to <HI>&s;alve</HI> and heal up all again for the time to <HI>come.&mdash;</HI>And then that God vvould fur|ther plea&s;e daily to add unto the number of tho&s;e <HI>Chariots</HI> and <HI>Hor&s;emen</HI> in this our <HI>I&s;rael</HI> that &s;till may be <HI>mighty to prevail with him,</HI> and <HI>to &s;catter tho&s;e, yea, all tho&s;e who&s;oever they be that delight in War.&mdash;</HI></P></Q>
<P><HI>That delight in War:</HI> For War as it is &s;ome|times <HI>nece&s;&s;ary,</HI> &s;o it is alvvayes <HI>evil,</HI> the vvor&s;t of all <HI>remedies</HI> that can be thought on; for if fighting and killing in this <HI>Ca&s;e</HI> have any other end propo&s;ed be&s;ides <HI>Peace</HI> and Settlement, it proves <HI>Murther.</HI></P>
<PB N="33" REF="18">
<P> I ob&s;erved but now, that if we de&s;ire to be <HI>&s;afe</HI> and happy by the <HI>e&s;tabli&s;hment</HI> of his Ma|je&s;ty among&s;t us, we mu&s;t be <HI>in&s;tant</HI> and impor|tunate with God in his <HI>behalf: The Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, and he turneth it whi|ther&s;oever he will.</HI> No King can encline his own <HI>heart</HI> which way him&s;elf <HI>li&s;teth;</HI> and therefore it is the duty of the people that would be <HI>happy</HI> under a good <HI>Prince,</HI> to Petition the Lord for every thing that may concern his pre&s;ent and Eternal <HI>good and welfare,</HI> that &s;o he may become a King of <HI>Prayers</HI> and a King of <HI>Pray&s;es.</HI> It is an <HI>heedful</HI> exhortation of the Apo&s;tle in his fir&s;t Epi&s;tle to <HI>Timothy,</HI> where he &s;aith, <HI>I ex|hort that fir&s;t of all Supplications, Prayers, Inter|ce&s;&s;ions be made for all men, for Kings, and for all that are in authority:</HI> for <HI>Kings</HI> fir&s;t, and there is great <HI>rea&s;on</HI> for it, as will pre&s;ently appear.</P>
<P>The <HI>Tempter</HI> in the Go&s;pel <HI>pre&s;ented</HI> unto our Ble&s;&s;ed Saviour the <HI>&s;ight</HI> of the <HI>Kingdoms</HI> of the <HI>world</HI> and the <HI>glory</HI> of them: The Kingdoms and their glory! and we may <HI>confe&s;s</HI> that there is no &s;uch Beauty, Splendor, Bravery, Riches, Plea&s;ures, Maje&s;tie to be found in the world as in the <HI>Courts</HI> of Princes, who are Gods <HI>De|puties</HI> here on <HI>earth;</HI> there is <HI>&s;oft rayment,</HI> there are &s;umptuous Fea&s;ts, rich Jewels, glorious Tri|umphs, royal State; there is honourable Atten|dance, and what not? And all the&s;e (no doubt) Satan pre&s;ented on their <HI>faire&s;t &s;ide,</HI> to their be&s;t <HI>advantage:</HI> But he did not tell him how
<PB N="34" REF="19"> many <HI>Cares</HI> and anxieties attend <HI>Greatne&s;s:</HI> He did not <HI>acquaint</HI> him with the abundant troubles, the great di&s;quiet, and marvellous perplexities which u&s;ually attend <HI>earthly Crowns;</HI> all the&s;e Satan <HI>hides</HI> out of the <HI>way;</HI> nothing may be <HI>&s;een</HI> but what might both <HI>plea&s;e</HI> and <HI>al|lure.</HI> But mo&s;t certain it is, that the Crowns of <HI>Gold</HI> which adorn the <HI>heads</HI> of <HI>Kings,</HI> though they &s;hine and gli&s;ter, yet all is not gold in <HI>them,</HI> becau&s;e they are <HI>in-layed</HI> with <HI>Bryers</HI> and <HI>Thorns.</HI> High <HI>Seats</HI> are alwayes <HI>unea&s;ie:</HI> And there is no good <HI>Prince</HI> who de&s;ires to manage his <HI>Scepter</HI> well, if he view it round on all <HI>&s;ides,</HI> but &s;hall find that there is a gread deal more attending earthly <HI>Diadems</HI> be&s;ide <HI>Pomp</HI> and <HI>Glory.</HI> And for this <HI>rea&s;on,</HI> Fir&s;t, <HI>Prayers mu&s;t be made for Kings</HI> that de&s;ire to rule well, becau&s;e their trou|bles, cares and fears are greater then other <HI>mens. Secondly,</HI> Their <HI>Temptations</HI> are likewi&s;e <HI>greater</HI> then tho&s;e of private <HI>Per&s;ons,</HI> and therefore they &s;tand more in need of joynt, publick and private <HI>Prayers.</HI> And, <HI>La&s;tly,</HI> They mu&s;t in a &s;pecial manner be prayed for by their <HI>people</HI> upon the account of <HI>good,</HI> vvhich may be received un|der them; <HI>That they may lead a quiet and peace|able life in all godline&s;s and hone&s;ty.</HI></P>
<P>I have done vvith my &s;hort Narrative con|cerning the mo&s;t <HI>eminent</HI> King, vvhich might have been abundantly more <HI>enlarged</HI> by a better <HI>Pen,</HI> though I conceive there is no great <HI>need</HI> of it, in regard that God, vvho hath &s;o turn'd the <HI>Hearts</HI> of the people in general tovvards his
<PB N="35" REF="19"> Maje&s;ty, wil doubtle&s;s (and that &s;peedily) turn the <HI>face</HI> of the King towards his <HI>people</HI> in bringing him home unto <HI>them,</HI> and then he vvill be his own and therefore much better <HI>Epi&s;tle.</HI> When a very great number of the people in the&s;e Nati|ons, men of even <HI>&s;pirits,</HI> &s;ound <HI>minds,</HI> uncor|rupt <HI>principles,</HI> and of godly and blamele&s;s <HI>lives,</HI> that never cea&s;e Praying for the happy &s;ettlement of this <HI>Church</HI> and <HI>State</HI> upon the &s;ure founda|tions of <HI>Truth,</HI> and <HI>Peace,</HI> and <HI>Order,</HI> and long for it as the <HI>morning,</HI> &s;hall not be di&s;appointed of their <HI>Hope.</HI></P>
<P>To <HI>Conclude</HI> then, after all our <HI>Mi&s;eries</HI> we may be yet <HI>happy</HI> and <HI>&s;afe,</HI> and every thing we want and hope for be&s;ide that's good for us, &s;hall a&s;&s;uredly <HI>be had,</HI> after we have been deeply <HI>humbled for,</HI> and have <HI>thankfully accepted of the puni&s;hment of our former iniquities,</HI> and vvhen God &s;hall plea&s;e to <HI>&s;peak peace unto us,</HI> vve re|&s;olve by his <HI>Grace</HI> and a&s;&s;i&s;tance <HI>not to return again to folly;</HI> and labour vvith all our might to <HI>perform</HI> and do vvhat vve <HI>re&s;olve:</HI> By vvhich means all <HI>heats</HI> and animo&s;ities among&s;t us might be in good time quenched or <HI>cooled,</HI> eve|ry mans <HI>rights</HI> and properties <HI>&s;etled, Trade</HI> en|couraged and increa&s;ed; and the three Nations in general, who for &s;ome years la&s;t pa&s;t by rea|&s;on of their <HI>&s;trange actings</HI> and divi&s;ions, have made them&s;elves a <HI>Scorn</HI> and contempt unto o|ther <HI>people</HI> round about them, might regain their <HI>honour,</HI> and become both their <HI>Envy</HI> and <HI>Terror;</HI> yea, then all <HI>Ble&s;&s;ings &s;hall overtake</HI>
<PB N="36" REF="20"> <HI>and come upon us, both the ble&s;&s;ings of Gods left and right hand.</HI> When (which is <HI>fir&s;t</HI> to be con|&s;idered, though here put in the <HI>la&s;t place)</HI> we <HI>con|tend</HI> for the e&s;tabli&s;hment of True <HI>Religion;</HI> of <HI>Religion</HI> (though we may <HI>tremble</HI> to &s;peak it) which hath been &s;o much <HI>pro&s;tituted</HI> in the&s;e Nations unto ends that have not been <HI>good,</HI> and made a <HI>&s;tirrop</HI> to get up to Power or <HI>Riches:</HI> Oh how many thou&s;and <HI>&s;ouls</HI> have been and are be|trayed by the <HI>abu&s;e</HI> of that <HI>Word,</HI> who&s;e u&s;e is Soveraign and <HI>Saving!</HI> Yet although &s;ome, and they <HI>too too many</HI> under the <HI>mask</HI> and &s;hew of Religion have been <HI>naught,</HI> yea and mo&s;t <HI>vile;</HI> it is not po&s;&s;ible for any to be <HI>good</HI> who are not <HI>Religious.</HI> I &s;ay therefore when we endea|vour after <HI>that,</HI> which above all things ought to be mo&s;t <HI>dear</HI> unto us, and before all other things mo&s;t to be contended for, the <HI>Purity</HI> and <HI>Pow|er</HI> of Religion, the <HI>Purity</HI> thereof &s;eparated from all <HI>dregs</HI> or mixture of <HI>Error</HI> or <HI>Ignorance</HI> which do marvellou&s;ly <HI>deba&s;e it.</HI> And then the <HI>Power</HI> of it, con&s;i&s;ting in a right <HI>under&s;tanding</HI> of all tho&s;e things we <HI>may</HI> and we <HI>mu&s;t know,</HI> which concern <HI>God</HI> and our <HI>&s;elves:</HI> And as Religion takes its name from <HI>Binding,</HI> &s;o then may we be accounted <HI>Religious</HI> when we <HI>bind</HI> our &s;elves, as much as we may, to <HI>&s;earch</HI> after every thing vvhich God vvould have us to <HI>know,</HI> and then to <HI>do</HI> what vve <HI>know;</HI> the <HI>Practice</HI> of Duty be|ing the <HI>Life</HI> of Duty. In &s;hort, vvhen not the <HI>Form,</HI> nor the <HI>Vi&s;ard,</HI> nor the <HI>Face,</HI> nor the <HI>Shew,</HI> nor the <HI>Name</HI> only, but the Purity and
<PB N="37" REF="20"> Povver of Religion &s;hall <HI>&s;hine</HI> among&s;t us, vve cannot be le&s;s then an <HI>happy people:</HI> For this vvill be the only means to <HI>procure,</HI> to get and to keep the <HI>pre&s;ence</HI> of God in <HI>mercy</HI> and for ever to abide vvith us: <HI>And happy are the people that be in &s;uch a ca&s;e; yea, ble&s;&s;ed are the people who have the Lord for their God.</HI></P>
<TRAILER>FINIS.</TRAILER>
</DIV1>
</BODY>
</TEXT>
</EEBO>
</ETS>
