Lord Bishops None of the Lords Bishops, Addendum
GOOD COVNCEL FOR THE PRESENT STATE OF ENGLAND.
I Call that Counsel onelyonly good, which God himselfe giveth in his Word: and such is this Counsel, which is here given, as being taken from the mouth of God speaking in his Word. 'Tis a dangerous thing, and impious too, for Men to neglect Gods Councel, and follow their own. This is a signe of a People given up of God: As the Lord saith,*Psal. 81. 1…. 12. My poople would not hearken to my voyce, and Israel would none of me: So I gave them up unto their own hea…s lust, and they walked in their own Counsels. And what's the issue of such Counsels? David tells us, and that with an imprecasion, ‡Psal. 5. 10.Destroy thou them, ô God, let them fall by their own Councels. And this is meant of such Councels especially, as are taken not onelyonly without the Lord, but against the Lord. Of which David also saith,‡Psal. 2. 1, 2, 3, 4. Why doe the Heathen rage, and the people imagine a vaine thing? The Kings of the earth set themselves, and the Rulers take Councel together against the Lord, and against his Christ: Saying, Let us breake their bonds a sunder, and cast away their cords from us. And what followeth? He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speake unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. For God hath set his King, even the Lord Iesus Christ, upon his holy hill of Sion. This King hath all power in heaven and in earth given into his hand. And he hath, as a golden Scepter sweetly to governe and protect his own people, so an Iron Rod to break in pieces his enemies, wherupon the Kingly Prophet concludes thus, Be wise now therefore ô ye Kings, be instructed ye Iudges of the Eearth: Serve the Lord in feare and trembling: Kisse the Son, least he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. And what doth more kindle Gods wrath against a State, or Nation, then to Slight and Scorn his Councels, and with those Giants of old to consult, and confederate, and even make Warre against the Lord and his Christ?
And now, ô England, thou a…t making a great preparation for Warre. But of whom hast thou taken Councel? Of the Lord? From his mouth? Hast thou consulted his Oracle, his Word? If not, what ever other Councel thou takest, or followest, it is but such, whereof David thus speakes, *… Psal. 33. 10, 11.The Lord bringeth the Councel of the Heathen to nought, be maketh the devises of the people of none effect, and casteth out the Counsels of Princes. The Councel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. And ‡v. 16, 17.There is no King saved by the multitude of an Host, a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An Horse is a vaine thing for safety, neither shall be deliver any by his great strength. Solomon saith, By wise Councel thou shalt make thy Warre. And no Councel can be wise, which is not taken of God, and much lesse, what is taken of enemies against God.
Of whom then dost thou take Councel for thy Warre… Heare, ô England, examine thy selfe. I know the Councel of thy heart (as Solomon saith is as ‡Pro. 20. 5.deep waters, into the bottome wherof a vulgar eye cannot elsily pierce. But yet a man of understanding will draw it out. But if thou wil… not discover who is thy Counsellour, certainly thy intended actions will bewray and publish to the world.
And therefore in the Second place, consider the Cause of thy Warre, that it be just. I do not meane made seemingly just by false colours, and pretences, but that it be really and truly just before God an Men, Otherwise, thou hast two grand Causes of feare, that the issue shall not be prosperous; to wit, not takiug Councel first of God for thy Warre: secondly, not undertaking it upon a just Cause or quarrell.
But (to come a little nearer home to the point) is the Cause such, as it will beare any Consultation, or Communion with God. So as thou mayst with a good heart and Conscience seek unto God, to maintaine thy Cause? And for what ever Cause thou indendest thy Warre, or against whom, surely the Cause being publicke, and so concerning the whole Land, such a seeking of God is required, as is solemne, publicke, and universall. And we are sure, that as yet, ô England, thou hast not sought God, for the good Speed of this thy great and warlike preparation And then, what good issue canst thou expect for?
But thou wilt say, how shall I seeke Counsel and helpe of God? For this, I will propound but one example. The whole Tribe of Benjamin stood up in maintenance of a most wicked and prodigious fact, as that towards the Levites Wife. He sent her being dead in 12 pieces to all the Tribes of Israel: who abhorring such a Fact, first sent to their Brethren the Benjamites to punish the Malefactors. They refused. Whereupon all the Tribes assembled. And first they aske Counsel of the Lord which of the Tribes, shall goe up first against Benjamin. He Answers, Iuda…. And though the Cause was just, and God councelled them, yet they were expulsed with the losse of 22 thousand men. They consult God the Second time; and that with weeping before the Lord untill even: the Lord answers them, Goe up, yet this time also they were beaten and lost 18 thousand men. Strange? Well they inquire of the Lord the third time, but in a better manner then before: for all the People of Israel assemble to the House of God, weeping and fasting the whole day untill even, and offered burnt offerings, and peace offerings before the Lord; and then asking the Lord, shall I yet againe goe to battaile against Benjamin, or shall I cease. The Lord answers them the third time, Goe up, for to morrow I will deliver them into thy hand. Whence it is to be noted, that till this Third time, that they make their peace with God by burnt-offerings, and peace-offerings, God doth not give them an answere of peace, and prosperous successe. Hence then, ô England; take thy patterne of seeking God, and asking Counsel of Him. First, doe not first resolve with thy selfe to fight, and then goe aske of God, not, whether thou shalt fight, or no, but onelyonly, who shall goe up first. For then thou mayst speed, as they did. Secondly, thinke it not sufficient to powre forth teares of worldly sorrow for thy discomfiture, and therupon resolve to renew the battaile, for which also, though they had an Answere of God for it, yet it was without any Promise of good Successe. But Thirdly, a Generall Fast must be Proclaimed over the Land, and a Solemne Day must be kept in offering up the burnt offerings of an humble and contrite heart, and peace offerings of reconciliation with God through faith in Christ, joyned with a thorow Reformation of thy notorious Sins and transgressions, wherewith the whole Land is burthened and defiled. Then, then (I say) and not before (alwayes provided the Cause of Warre be known to be just, as that of the Israelites was against the Benjamites their Brethren) mayst thou with a good Conscience and sure confidence in God make thy Warre.
But what Sins are those, which thou must reforme? In brief, thou must (ô England) call in those wicked and ungodly Bookes, Orders, Edicts, Declarations, whereby the Doctrines of Grace have been suppressed, the Sanctification of the Sabbath cryed down, Ministers persecuted, and put out of their places, much innocent blood hath been shed, especially of those 3 banished Close Prisoners; and to Summe up all in one head-Sinne, to cast out those, who are the maine Instruments and movers of all these and other outrages in the Land, to wit, the Prelates, who (as the limbs of Antichrist, and so Christs adversaries) doe of late especially challenge their Lordly Jurisdiction from Christ alone,*Mat. 20. 25. Mark. 10. 42. Luk. 22. 25. which notwithstanding he hath expresly forbidden as heathenish, and tyrennicall: and which his‡2 Thess. 2. 4. 7. & 3 loh. 9, 10. Apostles branded for Antichristian, and the Mystery of Iniquity. So as till these usurpers of Christs Throne, be cast out, with all their Baggage and Trumpery of their Cermonies and will-worship, be sure, ô England, thou canst not look to prosper in any thy undertakings, be they never so just: for in maintaining thy Prelates, thou maintainest open Warre against Christ, and his Kingdome, and (hadst thou eyes to see it) against thine own Kingdome too, and the peace and prosperity thereof.
But it will be alledged that thy Reverend Prelats hate a Publick Fast, as being Puritanicall, and consequently any such Reformation, as aforesaid, as being all Puritanicall: that their Order is most Christian, and consonant to Civil Government, and most agreeable with the Monarchy; and the like. And therefore, that thou art bound to defend them, yea though it be by making open Warre against all those, that doe withstand their Hiearchy. I… this be thy resolution, ô England, then know this for a certainty that thou caust not long stand: seeing thy so maintaining of that Antichristian Tyranny is to wage open Warre against Iesus Christ, the onelyonly King of his Church. And therfore if this be the cause and end of thy warlike preparations, be sure thou shalt not prosper in why way how art thou so blind, as not to se, how thy prosperity must of necessity be thy ruine. For as Christ saith,*Mat. 12. 25. A Kingdome divided against it selfe cannot stand. And so if the Iland which consists of two Kingdomes under one King be divided against it selfe, and the one Kingdome destroy the other, is it not as with the body when the right hand cuts off the left? And shalt not thou, ô England, be hereby exposed to thy false friends, and deadly enemies without, who could not wish a better opportunity for the effecting of their long wished desire, then to see this goodly Iland to imbrue her hands in her own bowels and blood? And therefore, if thou hast any such designe ô England, who could, who would counsel and instigate thee unto it, but the Spirit of Iezebel of Rome, possessing thy …relotes, who as those‡1 King. 22. false Prophets, bid thee to goe up against Ram…th Gilead, and prosper.
But it wilbe pretended, they are Rebells whom thou wilt Warre against. Wherein Rebells? For casting our Christs enemies, those Antichristian usurpers the Prelates? Indeed thus thou didst deale with those 3 above said, as Seditious Persons, because they convinced the Prelates of their usurped title of Iurisdiction from Christ, wherein they did not in the least point transgresse, or yet so much as trench upon any of thy Laws, but defended them against the Prelates. And if in so doing any shalbe accounted of thee to be Rebells, certainly they which doe it not, are neither good Christians, nor good Subjects. But if indeed thou wilt Warre against any such, as Rebells, let the Case first be tryed in a faire and Judiciall way, a better then which cannot be, then the present Parliament. And because the Prelates are Parties, let them be excluded out of the Court, till the matter be deci…ed. For no Reason, that Parties should sit as Judges, as the Prelates did in the Censuring of those former three, though they excepted against them in open Court. And if indeed by such a faire tryall any shalbe found judicially to be Rebells against their King, then make Warre against them, and spare not, and I could wish to be the foremost in the fight. But if they onelyonly stand to defend their ancient Rights and Liberties and those good Laws of the Land, which as the Ligatures doe bind, unite, and fasten the Head and Body, the King and his Subjects together: and which both Prince and People are bound by mutuall Covenant, and Sacred Oath to maintaine, let the Parliament determine, whether that be Rebellion, or no.
Which, till it be determined, let me crave thy patience, ô England, in a few words; and hearken to the Counsel, that I shall give thee in Gods own Name and words. And because the present Parliament is the Representative Body of the whole State of the Land, let me first addresse my Speech to it, now Assembled in both the Houses. Now where Gods word saith,*Pro. 24. 6. By wise Counsel thou shalt make thy Warre: he immediately addeth, And in a multitude of Councellers there is Safety. And you, most Noble Senate, are a Multitude of Councellers, whose wisdome and Councel is requisite at this time for the making of Warre, or not, and much more, for the making of Warre against your Brethren, and in the very bowells of the Land. Which Warre if it be for the Prelates Hierarchy, let me say, as he did,‡Iudg. 6. 31. If Baal be a God, let him plead for himselfe. For otherwise… the making of such a Warre cannot be for safety: and therfore I hope a multitude of such Counsellers will never give their consent, much lesse their Counsel for such a Warre. Yea because as the wise Heathen Statesman and Orator said, Iniquissima pax justissimo Bello anteponenda est: even an unequall Peace is to be preferred before a just Warre: how much more is a most just and Christian Peace to be preferred before a most unjust and Antichrrstian Warre; Such as is undertaken for the maintenance of the Hierarhy, which is meerly Antichristian. And miserable are those Warriers, that fight for the Beasts Kingdome, and for the Dragon against the Lambe, Iesus Christ. And therefore to prevent this, hearken to Christs words, Blessed are the Peace-makers: for they shalbe called the Children of God. And if any be charged of Rebellion, if it be found so by you, let the Civil Sword of Justice be drawn, and not the bloody Sword of Warre, by which the innocent may as soone suffer, as the nocent. And for the better making of way for Peace: let the make-bates be removed, those Ackans of Israel, the troublers and incendiaries of all Estates both Civil and Christian. And who are those but the Prelates? Solomon saith,‡Iudg. 6. 31. Take away the wicked from before the King, and his throne shal …e established in righteousnesse. This he compares there (v. 4.) to the drosse purged away from the silver; which is not done, but by the fire. So this Seperation of these wicked from the King cannot be, but by a strong and a holy Zeale. And till this Seperation be the Kings throne cannot be established in righteousnesse. And as (Pro. 26. 20.) where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: So where there is no Tale-bearer, the strife ceasseth. And surely if these Sycophants… and Eare-wiggs were removed, we should neither heare of Warre between Prince and People, nor feare any Invasion of Forraign Power.
But the Prelates (will some say) are by the Laws of the Land …thorised, and so incorporated into the Body of the State: So as …tis no easie matter to make this Separation. 'Tis true indeed, that an old inbred malignant hun our, or incorporated Wenne (as Iuniu… calls the Popedome, and Hierarchie) is not easily removed from the Body. But to you… comfort… most Noble Physitians) the Wenne hath of its own accord star…ed out of his place, So as it is but closing it up, that it returne not. For of late the Prelates have by their very claim of holding their Iurisdiction from Christ, fallen off from, and disclaimed their dependance upon either Kings Prerogative, or Law. And how severely have they in their Courts of late Censured those, that have withstood this their usurped Title, as Dr. Bastwicke, Mr. Burton, Mr. Pryn. Yea and but the other day, and within the very smell of the approaching Parliament, was not a Learned Reader in the Law in the Temple, now a member of the Parliament, inhibited and suspended from his Reading, because he undertook to prove, that Prelaticall Iurisdiction was not Iure Divino, by Divine Authority? So as now they having withdrawn themselves, and flown off from under the protection of Royall Prerogative, and Law, and having no one Evidence in Scripture for this their Title, which they are able to produce: they lye naked and exposed to this present Parliament, quite to casheere and abandon them, and send them with all their Pompe, Pride, Tyranny, and Antichristian Titles to Rome, from whence, with the great Antichrist, they had their first Rise and Originall. Therfore in Gods Name cast them out, as notorious Innovators, and enemies of all Laws of God and Man; for as that*2 Thess. 2… … anomos, that Lawlesse one, they wilbe tyed to none, but tramble upon all. How have they trampled on the sanctification of the Sabbath, and the morrality of the 4th Commandement, polluting it with their foule Pawes? How have they dared the Courts of Civil Justice, that no Prohibitions can be obtained for the most innocent Causes, to fetch them off the hooks of their High Commission? How have they trampled upon Gods word, and all the Doctrines of Grace, utterly prohibiting them to be preached, without which Doctrines there can be no true Preaching? How doe they trample upon all godly Ministers and People, hunting them out of every hole, with their Beagles, So as what a kind of Convocation is now in beeing, and what Can…ns they will make, if they be suffered judge you, especially when they have such a Lawlesse Pope over them, as now they have. Out with them therfore, out of hand.
But some will say, they are grown potent in Court, and they have a strong Faction and Party, so as they are become a Noli me tangere: and no sooner shall the Parliament begin to meddle with them, but they will procure a hand to knock them off and breake up all.
Is it so? Will they do thus? It is not unlikely, because they have been such expert practisioners in such kind of fea…es. For all the world shalbe set in a flame and combustion, rather then one Sparke shall cindge their Coat. And if so, what then? Surely then, woe to thee, ô England, never look for Parliament more, but prepare thy necke for the Prelates Iron Yoake. Woe to thee, ô Scotland, i…case thy Prelates return by a forcible reentry, which shalbe my earnest Prayer, they may never doe. Nay I hope, for all their power and pride, their Kigdom is near at an end in this Hand. For Christ hath stirred up all the good Peoples hearts against them, and their Tyranny. And now, most Noble Senate, Christ requires, your helping hand, and unanimous votes to cast them out. Which to effect, first let a league be renewed between Christ and this Kingdome, by humiliation, by Reformation, by purgation of the Land from all Romish Altars, Images, and other Superstitions in Churches, and from all manner of humane Inventions and Ceremonies whatsoever to bind the Conscience of any man in the service and worship of our God. Then Secondly (the Prelates being casheered) stand closse to the King, and let him know and feele the boundlesse affections of his People, in their free and liberall Contributions, for the necessary maintenance of the State of the Kingdome. For nothing can Seperate Prince and Peoples affections, but Prelates.
But for conclusion abruptly, if their malice and power prevaile so farre, as to cause an untimely and unhappy beeaking up of this Parliament, as formerly they have done, which hath been and is the onelyonly cause of all the Calamities of the Land, which now is drawi…g on to utter ruine and confusion, if not at this time through Gods mercy, by the meanes of this present Parliament prevented: now or never take heart and courage unanimously to doe your utmost for the preserving both of your King and Countrey. And therfore before you be dissolved, if you cannot attaine to the establishing of so many Acts, yet at least let these particular Protests… be left recorded for perpetuall memory, and a Testimony to all the world, to Angels and Men, of your zeale for God, of your loyalty to your King, and of your love to your Countrey.
First, Protest against the Hierarchy, as an Antichristian Tyranny over the Soules, Bodies, and Estates of all the Kings Subjects, and therefore ought to be rooted out, and not suffered in any Christian Church, or Common Weale.
Secondly, and consequently, Protest against all Altars, Images, and such like Popish Idolatrous Reliques, utterly unlawfull to be erected in any true Christian Church.
Thirdly, Protest against all humane Rites and Ceremonies whatsoever imposed upon mens Consciences in the worship of God, as being all of them Antichristian, bringing into bondage mens Soules, which Christ hath redeemed with his precious blood, who is the onelyonly Lord of the Conscience, and the onelyonly Law-giver to his Church for all matters of Faith, and of the worship of God.
Fourthly, Protest against all such generall Taxes layd upon the Subjects, as whereby both their ancient Liberties, and the fundamentall Laws of the Kingdome are overthrowne, and so vindicate the Honour both of the King, and of this noble Kingdome, that it may not be recorded to Posterity for a State of Tyranny and Slavery.
Fiftly, and consequently, Protest against all those wicked Iudges, which have in such wise declared their opinions for intollerable Taxes expresly contrary to the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdome, as thereby they have given occasion for the betraying of all, and the bringing of the whole Land under perpetuall Slavery.
Sixtly, Protest against that Prelaticall Declaration set forth in the Kings Name before the 39 Articles, wherein those Articles of the Dostrines of Grace, are made voyd, and so all preaching of them suppressed.
Seventhly, Protest against that Booke for Sports on the Lords dayes, as whereby both the fourth Commandement, and the fifth are most desperately overthrown: as also against all those Bookes that have been set forth for the maintaining of such profanation, as whereby God is greatly dishonoured, and his wrath provoked even to the Spewing out of such a Nation out of his mouth.
Eightly, Protest against all that Prelaticall Tyranny in oppressing the preaching of Gods Word on the Lords dayes in the after-noone, and other dayes in the week, and their Antichristian persecuting and putting out of all godly and painfull Ministers, such as will not conform to their lawlesse Ordinances.
Ninthly, Protest against that most terrible and odious shedding of the innocont blood of those 3 forementioned, now perpetuall Exiles and Closse Prisoners, even their very Wives most lawlesly detained from them, with a… their other severe punishments, one of them being a Minister, who in discharge of his duty first preached in his own Church, and then published his Sermons in Print against the Prelates notorious practises and Popish Innovations, for which he underwent punishments so great, so many, as no Age… no Christian State can parallell; so as their blood doth incessantly cry against this whole Land, as guilty thereof (though shed onelyonly by the Prelates instigation as aforesaid) untill it be purged.
Tenthly, Protest against that accursed Booke, Relation of a Conference, &c. published in Print, and Dedicated to the King, by the now Prelate of Canterbury, wherein he belyes, and so blasphemes God, Christ, the Holy Ghost, the holy Scriptures, the Church of England, in saying it is one and the Same with that of Rome, of the same Faith and Religion with that Whore of Babylon, and many such like impious assertions, the whole Booke professedly tending to reconcile England and Rome, and so to bring the whole Land backe againe to Popery.
Eleventhly, If this great and Warlike preparation be by the Prelates Diabolicall Instigation (as by no other it can be, except by the Pope and his Iesuiter, and his Nuncio's Negotiation have also a hand in it) to goe against the Scots, and if the cause shalbe found to be no other, but that they have abandoned, and Remaunded to Rome all their Prelates, as the grand Enemies of Christ, and his Kingdome, and of the peaceable and prosperous estate of the Realme, and consequently of the Kings Crown and Dignity; and that they stand for the maintenance of their just Laws and Liberties, the continuance whereof is the Kings honour, and the establishment of his throne: If (I say) no other cause can justly be alledged, and yet they shalbe invaded, as Rebells: Protest against all ayd and assistance of such an Invasion, as being against the Law of God, of Nature, and of Nations, and as being a Warre directly against Jesus Christ, in the maintenance of Antichrist, and his Antichristian Hierarchy; and so such, as must needs recoyle, and that in divine fury upon England it selfe, which having burned her neighbours house, exposeth her owne to the flames. Yea for England to Invade Scotland for no other cause in truth, then before mentioned, namely, for their maintaining of the true Faith and Religion of Christ, and their just Lawes and Liberties, which all true Christians, and Civil States ought to lay down their very lives for; (as the light of Nature taught the very Heathen, Pugnare pro Aris ac focis; and that Grecian could say, A'iresomai teleutan mallon, 'è a'neleutheros sun: I choose rather to dye, a Free-man, then to live a Slave. And the Monarchicall estate, governed by good Laws, was ever preferred, and opposed to Tyranny) were to renounce and give up her own ancient Liberties, and to betray, and persecute, and destroy the true Faith and Religion of Christ, and so set up and professe the Infidelity and Idolatry of Antichrist, and so with him and his cursed Crue, to goe into perdition. The Primitive Christians under Julian the Apostata, served him in the Warres against his Enemies: but when he Commanded them to goe against Christians, who refused to worship, or offer Incense to his Idols, they cast down their Weapons, acknowledging the Emperour of heaven. And when Saul *1 Sam. 22.commanded his Servants to fall upon the Lords Priests, none of them would doe it. And I read of a Secretary to an Empresse, who being commanded by her to draw an Edict againg the Christians, he still found delayes: but at length she growing instant upon him for it, so as he could no longer delay it, he tooke off his Military girdle (the Ensigne of his service) and cast it at her feet, and so discharged himselfe from her Court.
Thus, if you make, and leave these Christian, zealous, and just Protestations among the Recods of Parliament, in case it shalbe by the malice and inchantments of the Prelates unhappily dissolved, before you can produce them into a full Act, and establish them for a Law: though otherwise ye cannot effect a reall Reformation of all the mischiefes and maladies, which the Prelates in speciall have filled the Land withall: yet forasmuch as you have thus publickly, both for your own persons, and as the Body representative of the whole State of the Land, solemnly protested against all these things: there is no question to be made, but that God in his mercy and favour will accept of your will for the deed it selfe, and will still preserve both you and your posterity, and the whole Land from destruction, and will find out some other way for the rooting out of the Hierarchy; according to those Prophesies in the Revelation, the full filling of which cannot be farre off.
Now the Lord Iesus Christ guide and govern the Kings heart to the love of God, and of his truth, and let him clearely see how miseraby he hath been abused by those notorious hypocrites, his flattering and Sycophantising Prelates, and so take off and divide his Noble heart from them, that being reconciled to God in reforming the manifold and horrible abuses, which the Prelates, to the dishonour of God, and of the King, have been the Authors and Instruments of, and being united to his loving and loyall People, as the Head to the Body, in this Body representative, the Parliament: he may long raigne over this Land, and all his other Kingdomes in much peace and prosperity. And the same Lord Iesus Christ so unite the hearts of this Parliament unto God, and to the King, and among themselves, and so guide them by the wisdome of his Spirit and Grace, that they may sit, and consult, and conclude such righteous Acts and Decrees, as may be for the honour of God, and of the King, for the advancement of Christs Kingdome, and the establishment of the Kings Throne upon the Pillars of good Government with justice and mercy… in punishing the wicked, and relieving the afflicted and oppressed Innocents, as David in that Psalme penned for his Sonne Salomon, a type of Christ, prayed saying,*Psal. 72. Give the King thy judgemens, ô God, and thy righteousnesse unto the Kings Son. He shall judge thy people with righteousnesse, and thy poore with judgement. He shall judge the poore of the people, he shall have the children of the needy, and shall breake in pieces the oppressors. Even as the Heathen also said of the duty of Kings, which was, Parcere subjectis, et debellare superbos: To spare his Subjects, and the proud beat down. And as they said of Iulius Caesar, Caesar dando subl…vando, ignoscend…, gloriam adeptus est: Caesar by giving, relieving, and pardoning, got himselfe a glorious Name. And lastly, the same Lord Iesus Christ, power his Spirit of Grace and Supplication upon all the people of the Land, that being sensible both of their own Sins, and of the Nationall Sins of the Land, as also of the heavy yoake of Anticrhist, and the burthens of Egypt, wherewith those Taskemasters, the Prelates, have pressed them down, and broken their backs, and made their lives bitter unto them, they may truly repent and reforme their lives, and cry alowd to the Lord, as his People in Egypt did against their Taskmasters, and pray incessantly for the good successe of this Parliament, that it may be as a Moses sent of God in the‡Cum duplicantur Lateres, tunc venit Moses. doubling of their Bricks, to deliver them, from the Spirituall Egyptian bondage of the Prelates: and dayly to pray for the King their Soveraigne, and for his happy and truly Religious Raigne over them, that they may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty. … 2… 2.Amen Even so come Lord Iesus and helpe thy poore England, and thy poore People therein. Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Prynne, Lord Bishops None of the Lords Bishops (1640)