Narrative of what was Spoken by Mr Prynne, Text (3 of 3)

Narrative of what was Spoken by Mr Prynne · Text (3 of 3)

p. 74You all pretend you are setting up Christs Kingdom, and propagating his Gospel amongst us by your Arms, Swords, Pistols, and Army Predicants: But we read in the Gospel, ttMat. 26.47, 67, 68, c. 27. to 38.66. c, 28.11. to 16. John 19.23, 24.32.34.Matt 26:47Matt 26:67Matt 26:68John 19:23John 19:24John 19:32John 19:34That the Souldiers armed with Swords, Staves, Spears, were the only Officers and persons imployed to apprehend King ttMat. 26.47, 67, 68, c. 27. to 38.66. c, 28.11. to 16. John 19.23, 24.32.34.Matt 26:47Matt 26:67Matt 26:68John 19:23John 19:24John 19:32John 19:34Iesus himself, and bring him to justice before Pilat. The only men who stripped him of his own Garments, put upon him a scarlet Robe, then plotted and set a Crown of Thorns on his Head, instead of a Crown of Gold, put a Reed into his hand instead of a Scepter, & then mocked, spit in his face, reviled, buffetted, and bowed their Knees unto him in scorn, saying Hayl King of the Iews, and led him away to crucifie him; After which they gave him Vinegar to drink mingled with gall, (instead of a Cordial) crucified him, then parted his Garments; casting lots. After this they set a watch upon his Sepulchre, lest his Disciples should take him thence. And when he was risen from the dead, to smother the truth of his Resurrection; The chief Priests taking counsel together, gave large mony to the Souldiers, saying, Say ye his Disciples came by night and stole him away whiles we slept: So they took the mony and did as they were taught, and this their Lye is commonly reported among the Jews till this day, These things truly the Souldiers did, as the Evangelists record to their perpetual honor. After which Herods men of war and Souldiers (who likewise set Christ at naught, mocked him, then arrayed him in a gorgeous Robe, and sent him to Pilate to condemn, Lu. 23.11.) stretched forth their hands to vex certain of the Church, killed Iames the Apostle with the Sword, apprehended Peter and put him in Prison, where he was guarded day and night with four Quaternions of Souldiers, to prevent p. 75an escape, Acts 12.1. to 8 But that ever they did set up Christs Kingdom, and propogate the Gospel by their Swords and Arms otherwise than this, the Gospel it self is silent: Yea uu1 Chron. 22.8. c. 28.3.1 Chr 22:8God himself in precise terms resolves, That men of war, who have fought great Battels, and spilt much Blood upon the earth, (though against his enemies) shall not be at all honoured, employed in building of his Temple. Yea this is the expresse word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, when Gods House was to be rebuilt, and his Kingdom propagated; not by ARMY, (so the Hebrew and Margin render it) nor by Power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts, is this work to be done) Zec. 4.6. Our Saviour Christ is both the xxHeb. 7.2. Isaiah 9.6. 1▪ Pet. 4.9.Heb 7:2Isa 9:61 Pet 4:9King, and Prince of Peace: his Gospel the yyRom. 10 15. Eph. 6.16. c. ….17.Rom 10:15Eph 6:16Gospel of peace: his Apostles and Ministers zz2 Cor. 5.20. c. 14.32. Eph. 2.17.2 Cor 5:20Eph 2:17Ambassadors of peace: and his Kingdom consists aaRom. 14.17.Rom 14:17in Righteousness and peace. Now nothing is more bbIsay 59.7, 8. 2 Chron. 15.5, 6. Ier. 4.10, 19, 20. c. 8. 15, 16.Isa 59:7Isa 59:82 Chr 15:52 Chr 15:6Jer 4:10Jer 4:19Jer 4:20directly opposite, destructive to, inconsistent with this Peace, to the King, Prince, Gospel, Ambassadors, and Kingdom of of peace, as Armies, Souldiers, War, Arms: And therfore it is observable, That when our Saviour sent out his Disciples to preach the Gospel, and set up his Kingdom, he did not make choyce of Captain… of thousands, or hundreds, nor yet of Souldiers or Armed men: but of mean ccMat. 10.9.10. Lu. 9, 3. c. 22.35. Ma…. 6, 8, 9.Matt 10:9Matt 10:10Fisher-men, and others altogether averse from war; commanding them in expresse terms, to take neither Gold, Silver, nor Brasse in their purses, nor scrip, nor two coats, nor yet Staves, (much lesse Sword, Pikes, Horses, Pistols) nor any thing else belonging to a Souldier, no offensive or defensive Arms, at the most but a single ddGen. 32.10. Exod. 12.11. c. 21.19. 2 Kings 4.29.Gen 32:10Exod 12:112 Kgs 4:29walking staffe, like Travellers, to help, support them: Yea Christ expresly resolves, That his Ministers are and must be no Fighters, no Strikers, nor Strives, (much lesse than professed Warriers) Iohn 18.36. 1 Tim. 3.3 2 Tim. 2.24. They have no Sword, but that of the Spirit and their Mouth, the word of God) and fight with it only against mens Sins Lusts, not Persons Eph. 6.17. Heb. 4.12. Rev. 19.15, 21. Yea when Peter once did but draw his Sword to defend King Jesus against the Souldiers, who came with Swords and Staves to apprehend him, he said unto him, Mat. 26.52 Put up thy Sword again into its place, for they that take the sword shall perish with the sword: Nay the state of the Gospel is so inconsistent with Souldiers, Arms, War, That upon the sincere profession of it, God requires the Professors thereof, to beat their Swords into Plowshares, and their Spears into Pruning-hooks, p. 76Nation shall not lift up Sword against Nation, Neither shall they learn VVar any more; but to live in peace with all men, and keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace, Isay. 4. Mich. 4.3. Luke 2.14. 1 Cor. 7.15. c. 14.53. Gal. 5.22. 2 Cor. 13.11. Eph. 4.3. Col. 3.15. 2 Thes. 3.16. Heb. 12.14. Never was the Kingdom, Gospel, Church of Jesus Christ promoted, advanced in any Age or place by war, & Swordmen; but many **See Knolts Turkish History, Pauli Orosii Historia. The History of the Albigenses.Churches have been utterly destroyed, extirpated, depraved, corrupted; none ever edified, planted enlarged, much lesse reformed by them. Our present Armie-Saints, and new Military-Apostles by their fighting, praying, preaching, fasting, instead of promoting the Gospel, Protestant Religion, and Church of England, have almost totally subverted them, by **See Mr. Edwards Gangraenaes.broaching, countenancing, protecting all sorts of Heresies, Blasphemies, Sects, Schisms, Errors, Opinions, Religions, setting up new Conventicles of Sectaries, Seducers in all places, opposing, slighting, traducing the very Church, Doctrine, Ministry of England; the very Function, Ordination of Ministers, by decrying, detaining their Tithes and former maintenance, as litigious, Jewish, Antichristian; by swallowing up all the Lands, Revenues of Bishops, Deans, Chapters, Arch-Deacons, and a great part of our Ministers maintenance by sequestrations, and monthly Contributions to maintain their Army Evangelists, now ready to swallow up the remainder that is left, and continuing in a body for that purpose, by the very Jesuites instigation, who not only professedly teach in their publick University at Madrid, the Art of War by Land and Sea, the making of Guns, Gunpowder, fireworks, all manner of Military Engines, of which they read Lectures, as most agreeable to the Name, Profession of their Martial Father Ignatius, as eeRelatio de stratagematis & Sophismatis Iesuitarum c. 4.Alphonsus Vargas a Spanish Priest records; but boast, ffLud. Lucius, Hist. Iesuit. l. 1. c. 7. p. 156. Cornelius Cornelii, Epist. Com. in Minores Prophetas: And his Epistle to his Historical and Legal Vindication, &c.That the General of the Iesuites, can bring into the Field more Souldiers, of his own order, in a shorter time than any Christian King whatsoever: and likewise expresly affirm, That their Gopsel and Religion is to be propagated, set up; the Heretiques, and Evangelical Sectaries, who resist them, refuted, extirpated, abolished with Fire Armies, Sword and War, in England & elsewhere, as Iacobus Cruciger (Rector of the Iesuites at Lansperg) in his explication of the Rules of their Order, Paulus Windeck, De extirpandis Heresibus Antid. 10, 11. p. 404, 412, 480. Thuanus, Hist. l. 65. p. 238. l. 66. p. 299. Franciscus Verona. Apol. pro Iohanne Castle. par. 5. c. 13. Hospinian, Hist. Jesuitica. l. 4. p. 212, 213, 214. Hasenmullerus, Hist. Jesuit. p. 77c. 1. & Spec. Jesuiticum, p. 61. unanimously attest. O then discern at last whose Gospel, Kingdom, you are now propagating by your Army, Arms, and Westminster Conventicle, not Iesus Christs, but the very Jesuites, his greatest Underminers.

Many of you (especially Millinaries, and Fifth Monarchy-men,) pretend, that Jesus Christ is now comming to reign personally on Earth a thousand years, and that you shall all reign together, as Ioynt-Kings with, or Vice-royes under him. But the setting up of a New Republick and Aristocracy, is wholly inconsistent with this Kingdom and Monarchy of Christ you now expect; which suites only with a Temporal King and Kingdom. How this Opinion will accord with Christs own description of it, John 18. 16. My Kingdom is not of this World, or Pauls, Rom. 14.17. The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, (nor yet Arms and Armies,) but Righteousnesse and Peace, and Ioy in the Holy Ghost, (which Souldiers, Armies usually destroy, not produce, or propagate) let those who maintain it, consider. When Mr. Prynne was kept close Prisoner in Pendennis Castle by Iohn Bradshaws and our New Republicans illegal warrant in July, 1651. some four dayes after his imprisonment there, divers Officers and Souldiers of the Garrison, who had long debated every day for sundry Months before, their present expected personal reign of Christ on Earth, repaired to him, to know his Opinion concerning it, as he was taking fresh Air in the Bowling-Alley, standing in a ring about him: Upon which he first demanded their Opinions of it: when they had all fully uttered their Conceits in the Affirmative with much confidence; M. Pryn briefly answered, That now they had beheaded one of our Kings, and almost conquered another, and our 3. Kingdoms, they thought, talked of nothing but being all Kings themselves, and of reigning personally on Earth cheek by joll with Christ himself, as his Fellow-Kings, no Earthly King being fit to be a Companion for such transcendent sublimated Saints as they thought themselves. But they were all most grosly mistaken: for that very Text of Rev. 20.4, 5. (which he read out of one of their Bibles) whereon they principally grounded their Opinions and Reign, was pointblank against them. And I saw the Souls OF THEM THAT WERE BEHEADED, (not of them who took off their own Christian Protestant Kings and Nobles Heads) for the Witnesse of Iesus, and the word of God, and which had not worshipped the Beast, nor his Image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, nor in their hands, and they p. 78lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years: (is it not added on the Earth, and Chap. 22.5. rather proves their reign to be in the New Ierusalem in Heaven.) But the rest of the dead, (who were not thus beheaded) lived not again,) (much lesse then reigned with Christ,) till the thousand years were past. By which it is most apparent, That if Christ shall reign personally on Earth for a thousand years, as they all conceived, and that this time was now at hand: yet not one of them should, or possibly could reign with him, if this Text be Vmpire: For the words are most positive, that none else shall thus reign with Iesus Chris… a thousand years, but only the souls of those who were beheaded for the testimony of Iesus Christ, &c. It b…ing expresly averred in the affirmative; then in the Negative, But the rest of the Dead lived not till the thousand years were past. Upon which account, the late King, and other Protestants whose Heads they had cut off, and those Godly Christians they had slain, murdered in the Wars; and perchance himself and others who had lost their Ears, Liberties, Estates, and were shut up close Prisoners, for the Testimony of Iesus Christ, and had not worshipped, but opposed the Beast of Rome, his Image, Superstitions, innovations, Proceedings against the late King, Parliament, Religion, nor received the mark of the Beast in their Foreheads or hands, might peradventure reign with Christ a thousand years. But as for themselves and other Army Saints, who made it their businesse, and reputed it their honour, Saintship, to cut off the Heads of their own Christian Kings, Nobles, Brethren; to destroy Kingdoms, Parliaments, & their Privileges; secure, imprison, close imprison their Members, worshipping the very beast and his Image, and visibly receiving his mark in their Foreheads, hands, by these their Jesuitical practises; keeping up an Army and Iron-Sword still drawn amongst us, to the great oppressing, undoing of their Native Country, of purpose to keep off the wooden Crosse of Iesus Christ, which he hhMat. 16.24. Mar. 10.21. Lu. 9.23. c. 14.27.Matt 16:24Mark 10:21expresly enjoyned them with self-denying Spirits to take up daily, and follow him, and that other Crosse, their own Consciences tell them, these perfideous, treacherous practises of theirs justly demerit, they could have no ground at all from this or anie other Text to reign with Christ in his Heavenly or earthly Kingdom, out of which these their seditious, unrighteous, and bloody practises did eternally exclude them, as the 10, 14, 15. verses of this very Chapter, Rev. 22.11, 15. 1 Cor. 6.8, 9, 10. Gal. 5.20, 21. resolve. Therefore if ever they desired or expected thus to reign with Christ, they must all presently repent of these their former Exorbitances, p. 79put off their Swords from their sides, take up Christs daily crosse, lay down their own heads upon the Block, and then willingly chearfully lose them, not for their Treasons and Rebellions, but for the Testimony of Iesus Christ, and the word of God, and opposition of their former treasonable Plots of the Beast of Rome; then they might expect to reign with him, otherwise they had no hopes by the resolution of this Text, and that parallel'd place, 2 Tim. 2.11.12. which excellently explains it; If we be dead with Christ, we shall also live with him; If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: If we deny by him (by refusing to suffer with or for him) he will also deny us. With which words these formerly confident Swordmen were so non-plussed, that they had not one word to reply, and gave over all future discourses of this subject ever since, being as unwilling to lose their Souldiers pay or Heads for the testimony of Christ, as the iiMat. 19.21, 22.Matt 19:21Matt 19:22young man in the Gospel was, To sell all he had and give it the poor, to gain eternal life and Treasures in Heaven.

Lastly, consider, That as it is the highest glory, excellency of God himself, the greatest comfort, felicity, security of his Church, Saints, that he is the living God stedfast for ever, Dan. 6.26. That he is the Lord and changeth not, Mal. 3.6. That with him is no variablenesse, or shadow of change, James 1.17. That he is the same immutable God for ever, from everlasting to everlasting: That his Counsels, thoughts of heart, purposes, truth, faithfulnesse, commands, loving-kindnesse, Covenant, stand fast, firm, unalterable to all generations, for ever and ever, Psal. 33 11. Psalm 90.1, 2. Psalm 100.5. Psal. 02.16, 17. Lam. 5.19. Hebr. 8.13. Psal. 110.4. So it is the most transcendent Honour, Dignity, Glory of God the Fathers, and Jesus Christs Kingship, Kingdom, and the chief consolation, exultation, Beatitude of their Subjects and chosen Saints; That the Lord is, and fitteth King for ever; That he is an everlasting King, which reigns and shall reign for ever and ever; that his Kingdom, Dominion, Throne, are all everlasting, established, and enduring for evermore, for ever and ever, throughout all Generations; that they cannot be moved, and shall have no end, Psalm 10.16. Psal. 29.10. Psal. 92.8. Psal. 45.6. Psal. 145.13. Psal. 146.10. Isay. 9.7. Dan. 4.3, 34. c. 7.14, 27. Jer. 10.10. Mar. 4.7, Lu. 1.32, 33.2 Pet. 1.11. Rev. 11.15. Hebr. 12.28. Lam. 5.19. So also it is the praise, honour, glory of all Nations, Churches, People, Kingdoms, Governments, aud every particular person, both as a man, Christian, Counsellour, or publick Minister of State, to be p. 80constant, stedfast, fixed, resolute, immoveble, and unchangeable in their Oaths, Religion, Worship, Faith, Principles, Counsels, resolutions, courses, when true, just, honest, upright, sincere, commendable, and in their Kingly, publick Government, evidenced by its Antiquitie, the experiences of many successive generations to be beneficial, safe, just, profitable, honorable for the gegeneralitie of the people, and firmlie established by Laws, Oaths, Covenants, prescription, with all other civil and sacred ratifications: as is most apparent by Josh. 24.15, 16. to 28. Psal. 15, 4.1. Chron. 28.7, 8, 9. Prov. 24.21. Psal. 57.7. Psal. 46.1, 2, 3. Ps. 27.1, 3. Jer. 2.11. Rom. 8.35, 36, 36, 37, 38, 39. 1 Cor. 15.58. cap. 7.37. Heb. 6.18, 19. Col. 2.5, 6, 7. 2 Thess. 2.17. c. 3.3. Eph. 6.13, 14. Col. 1.23. Acts 20.24. c. 21.13, 14. Rom. 13 1, 2, 3. 1 Pet. 2.13, 14, 15. Tit. 3.1. 2 Chron. 13.5, 6. c. 11.13, 14, 15, 16, 17. c. 23.1, 2, 3, 4, &c. c. 26.1. c. 33.24, 25. 2. Sam. 7.13, 20, 29. 1 Chron. 17.13, 14, 22. to 28. c. 22.10. 2 Chron. 9.8. c. 21.7. Ez. 37.45. Prov. 29.14. worthy special observation. But it is the sinne, shame, reproach, infamy, dishonor, ruin of any Nation, Church, people, kingdom, State, Counsel, person, to be addicted to changes, unstable, variable, unconstant, fickle, mutable, tossed to and fro, backward and forward, upward and downward, this way and that way, like children, fools, reeds, Vanes, weathercocks, empty, clouds, wandring stars, the restless sea and its waves, tossed and turned about with every wind and storme; like wild asses, dromedaries, traversing their wayes; or whorish women gadding about to change their lovers, wayes, and doting upon every Novelty or New lover they meet with, as Gen. 49.4. Ps. 78.8, 9, 10. to 40. Ezech. 16.25. to 60. Jer. 2.11. to 37. Pro. 7.11.12. Jam. 1.6.8. Hab. 1.14, 15. Pro. 24. 21, 22. Isay 24.5. Ps. 106.20. Mat. 11.7. Rom. 1.23.25. Acts 28.6. 2 Pet. 2.1, 2, 14. to 22. c. 3.17. 2 Tim. 3.6, 7. Eph. 4.14. Jude 6, 12, 13, 16, 24. resolve. Why then are yon alwayes ringing the changes in our Churches, Kingdoms, Parliaments, Government, Religion, modelling, unmodelling, chopping, changing, altering, building them up and pulling them down again from day to day, against all Oathes, Vowes, Covenants, Laws, Establishments, Policy, Prudence, Justice, Safety, Settlement, by which you become the highest transgressors, Gal. 2.18? Is this to shew your selves Saints, men of God, or prudent Senators or Statesmen? No, no: but to be that generation of spoylers and treacherous men, (no more to be believed, trusted by any, though you speak fair words, nay swear and p. 81vow) who have spoiled and dealt very treacherously with your brethren and the House of your Fathers, (who raised, entrusted you for their defence and preservation;) against whom God denounceth a Woe, and answerable retaliation in conclusion: to be spoiled and dealt treacherously with your selves, (as some of you, your new Protector, and those now sitting have been already dealt with, and others who made them treacherous) Is. 33.1. Jer. 12.1, 2, 6. c. 3.4. Yea such Neighbors, brethren as will utterly supplant, deceive, slander their very nearest, dearest relations, whose habitation is in the midst of Deceit; whom God himself commands us to take heed of, and not to trust, for they are all an assembly of treacherous, double-minded men, unstable in all their wayes; empty clouds carried about with a tempest; raging waves of the sea which cannot rest, foaming out their own shame, casting out mire and dirt; wandring stars, to whom are reserved the blackness of darkness for ever, as three Prophets, and 3 Apostles resolve in express terms, Isay 57.20, 21. Ier. 9.2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Mich. 7.5, 6. Iam. 1.6, 7. 2 Pet. 2.17. Iude 12, 13. O therefore now at last repent, repent with greatest grief, shame, horror of this your Treachery, Inconstancy, and **Psal. 95.8, 10, 11.Ps 95:8Ps 95:10Ps 95:11harden not your hearts as in the day of temptation and provocation, (Decemb. 6. 1648. & May 7. 1659.) when you erred in your hearts, & wandred out of the way of God, peace, truth, justice, righteousness, honesty, piety, duty, into **Isay 59.8.Isa 59:8such Iesuitical paths, wherein there is nothing but wasting and des…r…ction (as God resolves, & all men find by 11 years sad experiment,) else he will swear in his wrath, you shall never enter into his rest.

If these Evangelical, Scriptural Expostulations will not perswade you, to sound a present retreat, & sue out a Bill of divorce from your false Good Old Cause for our future publike safety, peace settlement; M. P. shall then intreat you to believe your own Declarations: In your last, May 6. 1659. you truly declare to the world That the only wise God in the course of his providence, hath disappointed; all your endeavours, and rendered all (your) means to obviate the dangers and settle these Nations in peace and prosperity, VTTERLY INEFFECTVAL. Will you know the true reason of it? It is because ever since you have interrupted and forcibly dissoved the Treaty of Peace between the late King and his Parliament, Decemb. 6. 1648. you have walked in such crooked counsels, pathes of iniquity, bloud, violence, Treason, destruction, as whosoever goeth therein shall NOT KNOW PEACE, and have neither known nor pursued the true way of Peace; as God himself resolves you, if you dare credit him, p. 82Isay 59.2. to 16. which you may do well to study. If you will not believe God, nor Mr. Prynne herein, pray then believe your own selves, whiles in your right senses, before the good spirit of God departed from you, and now pursue that only way to our peace and settlement you then at least 4. times successively prescribed. In your humble Remonstrance from his Excellency and THE ARMY under his command, presented to the Commissioners at St. Albans, 25 June 1647. p. 12. these are your own printed words: We doe further clearly confess, We do not see how there can be any peace to the Kingdom firm or lasting. without a due consideration of and provision for the Rights, Nota.Quiet, and Immunity of His Majesties Royal Family and late partakers. And herein we thinke that tender and equitable dealing (as supposing their case had been ours) and a Spirit of Common love and Iustice diff…sing it self to the good and preservation of all, will make vp the most Glorious Conquest over their hearts (if God in mercy see it good) to make them and the whole people of the Land lasting friends, The like words, expressions to the same effect you use in your Representation of the Army, 14 Iune 1647. & in your Generals Letter to both Houses of Parliament, 6 Iuly 1647. Declaring it the General sense of all or most of the Officers of the Army, to avoid all Harshness, and afford all kind usage to his Majesties person, Family, aud late Party; as the most honourable, prudent, and Christian way and the most hopefull course, to take away the present and future seeds of Warr amongst us to posterity▪ and to procure a lasting Peace and a Government in this distracted Nation: And in your Proposals 1 Aug: 1647. for The settlement of a firm peace, you have the like expressions again: as Mr. Prynne in his Speech in Parliament, Dec. 4. 1648. (p. 79, 80, 81, 82.) evidenced to the House of Commons, perswading them to pursue this only way of Peace, and not your quite contradictory Remonstr: 20 Nov. 1648. (when debauched by the Iesuits, the only way to unsetlement, tumults, warres, desolation) as experience hath now sufficiently demonstrated. O therefore now at last embrace, pursue this true and only way to safety, peace, settlement by your own quadruple Resolutions: and then we shall soon have peace, quietness safety, and assurance for ever.

Mr. Prynne having thus discharged his Conscience towards the Army-Officers and Swordmen; the Primum mobile of all our late, present motions and commotions, wheeling about all the rest, he p. 83shall in the second place addresse himself to their subordinate, selected Westminster Conventicle, now sitting under their force and lure, to act, vote what they prescribe them; forcibly ddLu. 6.22.separating their old fellow Members from their company; and himself above all others, who hath lost, suffred, spoken, written, acted more from time to time for God, Religion, Laws, Liberties, Properties, Parliaments, and their privileges, against all Iesuitical underminers, than all of thē put together, notwithstanding all discouragements, ingrate requitals from them and others. He shall only desire them in relation to the old and newly secluded Members, to answer that one expostularie Text, Mal. 2.9. Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us? (yea one Mother, Church, Countrey engendred, nourished, entrusted us all alike:) Why then doe ye deal treacherously every man against his brother by prophaning the Covenant of our Fathers? As for your New erected, revived Republike, you so much dote on; ee1 Cor. 4.8.1 Cor 4:8Wherin ye have reigned as Kings without (yea against) us, and we would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you; He shall desire you for your own, our Churches, Religions sake, safetie, honour, to consider its Papal, Jesuitical, Antichristian, Spanish, French originals, and its sad effects, to their advantage, and the ruine of our Religion, alreadie discovered, which you cannot gain say: To weigh his former expostulations with the Army-Officers, Soldiers, and these few Scriptural (to omit manie other Political, Historical considerations, beyond all refutation, and more to be valued than all Politicks of carnal heads or hearts,) to enamor you again with hereditarie Kings and Kingship, which you have so rashly, brutishly, perfidiously abjured, out of meer self-ends and interests, having not the least syllable in Scripture to justifie either the forcible bloudie manner of erecting, new modelling your Illegitimate Commonwealth, or your adopting it in the place of our old Kingdom and Kingship.

First of all consider, that as Jesus Christ himself is a King by birth and inheritance, Mat. 2.2. Lu. 1.32, 33. So it is also his supremest, royallest Title, Attribute in the very Gospel, that hee is ffDan. 2.47. Col 1.16, 17. c. 2.10. 1 Tim. 6.15, 16. Rev. 17.14. c. 19.18. Eph. 1, 21.Dan 2:47Col 1:16Col 1:171 Tim 6:151 Tim 6:16Rev 17:14Eph 1:21King, & Lord of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, and the head of all Principalities and Powers: Now the abolishing of Kings, kingship, Princes, Lords, divests Jesus Christ himself of these his most royal Titles and Soveraigntie; Because he is thus stiled only in relation to earthly Kings, Princes, p. 84Lords, who rule and reign over Kingdoms, Nations, by, for, through, under him, as his Ministers, Officers, Viceroyes, Deputies, and are appointed, commissioned, accountable to, judged, removed by him alone; as subordinate Kings were by the Emperors, Kings of Babylon, Assyria, Parthia, and our Edgar, who were stiled King of Kings, because Kings were Subjects to them, held their Crowns by, from, and under them, and did homage to them as their Subjects, as you may read at large in Mr. Seldens Titles of Honour, part 1. ch. 3. sect. 2. and Dan: 2.21. 37, 38.47. c. 17.25. many of these Kings losing this Title of King of Kings, when their subordinate Kings and kingdomes revolted, ceased, or escheated into their own hands: In relation to these Titles of Christ, it is expresly prophecied, Ps. 72.10.11. The KINGS of Tarshish, and OF THE ISLES shall bring presents, (principally intended, verified of this our Island of Great Britain, which Bp. Vshers …ccles. Brit. …ntiq. c. 3, 4, … 6, 7.8. Spel…anni Concil. …om. 1. & E…st. Ded. to Fox Acts & …on. in H. 8.6. Qu. Eliz. their Sta…es to this …pose.had the first Christian King we read of in all the world, Lucius; the first Christian Queen, Helena; the first and most glorious Christian Emperor, Consiantine the Great; the first Christian King who opposed, abolished the Popes Supremacie, Henrie the 8. the first Protestant King who by publike Acts of Parliament abolished both the Pope and Poperie, and established the reformed Protestant Religion; & the first Protestant Queen who did the like; to wit, King Edward the 6. and Queen Elizabeth; and more devout pious Kings, Queens, martyred for religion, canonized for SAINTS, and reputed such in the Churches of Christ and Kalendars of Saints, than anie other Kingdom or Countrie in the world, how great or populous soever, as our own and forein Histories record to our immortal Honor.) It then follows, the Kings of Sheba & Seba shall offer gifts: yea, ALL KINGS shall fall down before him (in way of adoration, & by their president and leading example) all Nations (under them) shall serve him. How can, how dare you then abolish Kings, Kingship, Lords (especially in our Island) without committing the highest Treason, not only against our Kings and Lords; but the Lord Jesus Christ the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Since REGNUM ANGLIAE EST REGNUM DEI, & IPSE SIBI REGES PROVIDEBIT: as our …almsb. de …stis Regum c. 13. Mat. …stm. Anno 5. Poly…on. l. 6. c. 18 …. Dunelm 136. …mton, col 955. A el…s, de Vita …irac. Edw. …fess.Historians inform us:) And can you … 9.19. r. 10.22.resist his power with all your armed forces? are you stronger than he, when he shall enter into judgment with you for depriving him of these Titles?

2ly. Consider, It is Gods special promise, covenant made to Abraham the Father of the Faithfull, Gen: 17.6. I will make thee p. 85exceeding fruitful, I will make Nations of thee, & Kings shall come out of thee; And his extraordinarie blessing on Sara, v: 16. I will bless her, & she shall be a Mother of Nations, & Kings of People shall be of her. 3ly, It was Iudah his blessing, Prerogative, Gen. 49.8.10. Thy Fathers children shall bow down before thee: The Scepter shall not depart from Iudah, nor a Law-giver from between his feet until Shiloh come. 4ly, When Balaam prophecied of the happiness & prosperity of Israel, he useth these as the highest expressions thereof, Num. 23.21. &c. 24.7. The shout of a KING is among them: and his KING shall be higher than Agag, and his Kingdoms shall be exalted: 5ly, It is recorded by the Spirit of God, 2 Sam: 5.12. David perceived, that the Lord had established him King over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israels sake. And when God (after he made him King over them) had promised by the mouth of the Prophet Nathan, 2 Sam: 7.10. Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more, neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them, as before time, under their Iudges: How did God effect this promise? but by establishing an hereditarie kingdom amongst them in David, during his life, whom he caused to rest from all his Enemies round about: And when thy dayes be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy Fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and will establish his Kingdom; And thine House and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee, and thy Throne shall be established for ever, Ver: 11, 12, 16. How much holy David was transported, yea ravished with this News from heaven, and with what enlargement of Spirit he blessed God for, and prayed for the accomplishment of it, as the greatest blessing and confirmation of his people Israel by God himself, v: 23, 24, and the highest honor, blessing, to his own house, you may read to the end of the Chapter. Thus again amplified by him in his Speech to his Princes, to his Captains of thousands, of hundreds, Officers, and other mighty men, 1 Chron: 28.4. to 10. The Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my Father to be King over Israel for ever; and he hath chosen Iudah to be Ruler, of the house of Iudah the house of my Father; and among the sons of my Father he liked me, to make me King over all Israel; and of all my sons he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the Throne of the Kingdom of the Lord over Israel. And he said unto me, I will be his Father; Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to doe p. 86my commandements and my judgements, as at this day. Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the congregation of the Lord, and in she audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandements of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good Land; and leave it for an Inheritance for your children after you for ever. An hereditarie Kingdom being the chiefest means and blessing under God to preserve the inheritances not only of the Princes, Nobles and mightie men, but even of Colonels, Captaines, and Souldiers themselves, in Gods and Davids computation; who lost all they had, by **2 Kings 17.20, 21, 22, 23.2 Kgs 17:202 Kgs 17:212 Kgs 17:222 Kgs 17:23forsaking their lawful Hereditarie Kings, and were carried into captivitie. 6ly, The accomplishment of this Promise to David, & his seed, was reputed an extraordinarie blessing to the Israelites, not only by King David, Solomon, God himself, the people of Ierusalem and the whole Land, as you may read in the 1 of Kings 1.36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 45, 46, 47, 48. c. 2.4.12. c. 3.6, to 15. c. 8.20, 25, 26, 27. worthy perusal: but even by foreign Kings and Queens: Witness that memorable Letter of Hiram King of Tyre to Solomon, 2 Chron. 2.11, 12. Because the Lord hath loved his people, he hath made thee King over them. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel that hath made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the King a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an House for the Lord, and an house for his kingdom. And that speech of the Queen of Sheba to him, 1 Kings 10.9. 2 Chron: 9.8. Blessed be the Lord thy God which delighteth in thee to set thee on his Throne to be King for the Lord thy God: Because the Lord thy God loved Israel to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee King over them to do Iustice and Iudgement. And the Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed such royal Majestie, Honor, and such riches on him and his people too, as had not been bestowed on anie King or people before him, 1 Chron: 29.25, 28, 30. 2 Chron: 1.9. to the end. Chap. 9.9. to 30. Neh. 13.26. 7ly, God himself records by King Solomon, Prov. 20.8.26. A King that sitteth in the Throne of Iudgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes, and bringeth the wheel over the wicked, Prov: 29.4.14. The King by Iudgement stablishe… the Land; Yea the King that faithfully judgeth the Land, his throne shall be established for ever: And he resolves definitively against all Opponents, Eccles. 10.17. Blessed art thou o Land, when thy King is the son of Nobles. 8ly, God himself doth specially promise the Succession and Continuance of Hereditarie Kings p. 87and Princes as a blessing, reward to his people for their obedience to his Commandements, and chief means of their perpetual continuance in houour, peace and prosperity, Jer. 17.24, 25, 26. &c. 22.4. And it shall come to passe, if ye diligently hearken unto me saith the Lord, to hallow the Sabbath day, and do no work thereon, then shall there enter into the Gates of this City, (mark it) Kings and Princes sitting upon the Throne of David, riding in Chariots, on Horses, they and their Princes, the men of Iudah, and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem, and this City shall remain and flourish for ever.

9ly. It is very remarkable, that though divers of the hereditarie Kings of Davids posterity were verie wicked and idolatrous, yet God himself (though **1 Tim. 6.15. Dan. 2.21. c. 4.25, 35, &c.1 Tim 6:15Dan 2:21King of Kings, who setteth up Kings, and pulleth them down, and disposeth of the Kingdoms of the earth to whom soever he pleaseth) by reason of his Oath and Covenant made to David, would neither remove, nor disinherit them, thongh he did very sorely afflict and punish them for their iniquities, Ps. 89, 3, 4, 20. to 38. 2 Sam. 7.11. to 18. 1 King. 11, 12, 13, 39. Of this we have a memorable Scripture-Presidents 1 King. 15.3, 4, 5▪ Ahijam King of Iudah walked in all the sins of his Father, which he had done before him, and his heart was not perfect before the Lord his God, as the heart of David his Father. Nevertheless for Davids sake did the Lord give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his Son after him, and to establish Ierusalem; Because David did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, So 2 Chron. 21.5, 6, 7. Jehoram reigned 8 years in Jerusalem, and he walked in the way of the Kings of Israel, like as did the House of Ahab, for he had taken the Daughter of Ahab to wife, and he wrought that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. Howbeit the Lord would not destroy the House of David, because of the Covenant he had made with David, and as he **2 Sam. 7.12. 1 Kings 11, 36. 2 King. 8.19. Psal. 132.11, 12, 13, 14.2 Sam 7:121 Kgs 11:362 Kgs 8:19Ps 132:11Ps 132:12Ps 132:13Ps 132:14promised to give a light to him and to his Sons for ever▪ Which Texts compared with Psal. 131.11, 12, 13, 14. infablibly ratifie these thtee conclusions. 1. That as Gods Covenant and Oath made to David, and his Royal Posteritie, did not determine by Davids death, but extended to all his Posterity after him; so our Oaths of Fealty, Supremacy, Allegiance, and Solemn League and Covenant, made to the late King, his Heirs & Successors in precise terms, determined not by his death, but remain to his Royal Posterity, and are perpetually to be performed to them, uuder pain of highest perjury, guilt, punishment, as is most apparent if compared with Gen. 50.25. Exod. 13.19. Josh. 24.32. Josh. 9.15, 18, 19, 20, 21. 1 Sam. 20, 16, 17, p. 8823, 42, c. 24.21. 22 2 Sam. 9.1, 3, &c. c. 21.1. to 10. 2ly. That the Sinnes and wickednesses of Davids posteritie, did not cause God himself to break his Oath and Covenant with them, or jndicially to deprive or disinherit them of their Crowns and Kingdom, contrary to his Oath and Covenant, which he held inviolable and immutable, Ps. 89.3, 4.34. Psal. 132 11, 12. Heb. 6.17, 18. Much lesse then may we or any other Subjects, who are but men infringe our Oaths, Covenants to our sacred hereditarie Kings and their posteritie for their sinnes or wickednesse, nor disinherit thē of their Crowns, Scepters, Lives, Realm, Ps. 15.4. Ec. 8.2. 3ly. That a hereditarie succession of Kings in the Royal Line, though many of them be wicked, is yet a special means ordained by God for the establishment, peace, perpetuity of their kingdoms and people: which else would be unsetled, distracted, consumed, destroyed by civil wars, distractions, and Usurpers of the Crown, destroying, murdering one another, as the kindom of Israel was after the revolt of the ten Tribes from the house of David, whose **See Bishop Vshers Annal. vet Te…t. p. 132.hereditarie kingdom continued at least 134 years after the total destruction & captivity of the Kingdom of Israel: whose revolt from the House of David produced nought else but a Succession of very wicked, idolatrous Kings and Usurpers, endlesse wars, miseries, publick Idolatry, Apostacie from God, all sorts of Sins, rapines, and perpetual Captivity, as the books of Kings and Chronicles resolve, especially 2 Kings. ch. 17. In which revolt and rebellion, it is observable, that all the Priests and Levites, and all the Godly men throughout the revolting Tribes of Israel, who set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel, left their possessions and went to Ierusalem, and strengthened the kingdom of Rhehoboam the Son of Solomon against the Vsurper Ieroboam, as the Scripture records for their honour, 2 Chron. 11.13, 14, 15, 16. 10ly. Upon this verie reason God himself records, that when **2 Chron. 23.2 Kings 11.2 Chr 232 Kgs 11Athaliah had slain all the seed Royal but Ioash, and usurped the Royal Throne for six years space, Ioash being but an Infant, Iehojadah the High Priest hid him from this Usurper till he was seven years old, and then entring into a Covenant with the Captains of Hundreds, Rulers, and Levites, they all assembled at Ierusalem, & entred into an Oath and Covenant, That the Kings Son should reign as the Lord hath said of the House of David. Upon which they presently brought out the Kings Son, Crowned, and anointed him their King, and said, God save the King. Which Athaliah the Vsurper hearing, run out p. 89to the people, and cryed, Treason, treason; upon which Iehojadah the Priest commanded the Captains of the Host presently to seize upon her, and cary her out of the Temple, and slay all that should follow her; whereupon they laid hands on her, and carried her forth and slew her: After which Iehojadah made a Covenant between the King and the people, that they should be the Lords people▪ and all the Captains, Governors, Nobles, and people of the Land brought down the Kings Son from the House of the Lord to the Kings House, and set the King upon the Throne of the kingdom. And all the people of the Land rejoyced, and the City was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the Sword, 2 Kings, 11.4 &c. 2 Chron. 23. This ‖‖2 Chron. 24, 25, 26. c. 25.1, 2, 3, 4. 2 Kings 14. to 7.2 Chr 24:252 Chr 24:262 Kgs 14Ioash being afterwards slain by the conspiracy of his Servants against him, Amaziah his Son, reigned in his stead by hereditarie Succession, who when he was established in the kingdō slew his Servants that had slain the King his Father, but not their Children, according to the Law of Moses. After this **2 Chron. 33.20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. 2 Kings 19 to 26.2 Chr 33:202 Chr 33:212 Chr 33:222 Chr 33:232 Chr 33:242 Chr 33:252 Kgs 19Ammon the Son of Manasses succeeding his father, worshipping his Idols, following his Sinnes, and trespassing more and more without humbling himself; his Servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own House. But the People of the Land slew all that had conspired against King Ammon, and made Josiah his Son King in his stead, (not disinherited him for his Fathers and Grand-Fathers crying Sinnes,) as the only means ordained by God for their safety, peace and settlement Which sacred Presidents of Gods own registring, and his peculiar peoples making in obedience to his Commands, for our imitation in like cases, are a more real, sacred means to our present peace, safety, establishment, than any the Army-Saints, Sectaries, Iesuites, and Westminster Conclave can prescribe, and the Parliament, Statute of 27 Eliz. c. 1. have declared, enacted it to be legal, as well as scriptural. 11ly. When God himself promised restitution from Captivity, and resettlement, re-establishment to his people, he doth it by promising the restitution of their lawfull hereditary King and kingdom to them, and the re-uniting of their kingdoms (formerly divided by rebellion against, and revolt from the House of David and hereditary Royal line) into one, Mich. 2, 13. c. 48. Their King shall pass before them, and the Lord on the head of them, even the first Dominion, the Kingdom shall come to the Daughter of Jerusalem. Zech. 9.9. &c. Rejoyce greatly O Daughter of Zion, behold thy King cometh unto thee: be is just and having Salvation, &c. and his Dominion shall p. 90be from Sea to Sea, and to the end of the Earth, Isaiah 32.1, 2. Behold a King shall reign in Righteousnesse, and Princes shall rule in Iudgement; And he shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a Covert from the Tempest, as Rivers of Water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land, Ezech. 37.22, 24. And I will make them one Nation in the Land, upon the Mountain of Israel, and one King shall be King to them all, and they shall be no more two Nations, neither shall they be divided into two Kingdoms any more. And David my Servant shall be KING over them, they shall all have one Shepheard over them: they shall also walk in my Judgements, and keep my Statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the Land that I have given to Iacob my Servant, even they and their Children, and their Childrens Children FOR EVER, and my Servant David shall be their Prince for ever. Which is likewise repeated and amplyfied Ezech. 39.23, 24. Zeph. 3.13, 14. Jer. 23.4, 5. c. 33.14, 15, 16. Which Texts, though mistically meant of our King and Saviour Jesus Christ, hereditary Son of David, according to the flesh, sitting upon his Fathers Throne, and ruling for ever over his mystical Kingdom and Church, as is evident by comparing them with Isay 9. 6, 7, 8. Dan. 7.27. Lu. 1.32, 33. yet since King David, Solomon, and other pious Kings of Israel, and their hereditary kingdom, were types of our Spiritual King Iesus, and of his everlasting, spiritual kingdom, And Christ Jesus under the very Title, Name, Notion of an hereditary King alone (not of an Optimacy, Oligarchy, Popularity, Democracy, or elective King) is thus prophesied to be a Saviour, Redeemer, Restorer, Establisher, Preserver, Defender of his captivated, oppressed, inthralled, dissipated, divided, unreformed Subjects, Kingdom, Church, People; and his perpetual prese… with and reign over them, is made the only ground of the restauration, unity, felicity, prosperity, safety, perpetuity of his kingdom and people, as David, Solomon, and other good Kings of Israel were to their Subjects during their successive Reigns: and seeing Christs mistical Church and Saints, are alwaies thus stiled his Kingdom, a Kingdom, but never a Free-State, or Common-wealth, at least but once, Eph. 2.12. the only Text throughout the whole Bible, where this word is mentioned in any kind, and that not in opposition, or contradistinction to a Kingdom, but as the very same thing with it, (as p. 91our Kingdom in gg9 E. 2. c. 8. Mar. ses. 2. c. 7 H. 7. c. 1.some Statutes in stiled a Common-wealth) as being the hhAristot. Pc lit. l. 3. c. 12. l. 4. c. 2 I, Case Sphaera Civitatis l. 3. c. 5. … 238. l. 4. c. 3. … 324.excellentest, honourablest, durablest, freest, happiest, of all other forms of Republick, under which general name it is comprised: It thence infallibly follows, that an hereditary Kingship, kingdome, is the best, happiest, durablest, securest, honourablest, desireablest of all other Governments whatsoever, being the verie Government of Jesus Christ himself, who according to the flesh was born King of the Iews, and sits upon the Throne of David his Father, Mat. 2.2. Lu. 1.32, 33. and was not chosen King by his Saints, like an Elective King; but elected them to be his Subjects; as he expreslie resolves, Iohn 15.16. 1 Pet. 1, 2.9. Rev. 17.14. And that the restitution of this our antient Kingly Government, (not of a new Jesuitical, Spanish; Outlandish Republick) is the true and only way to our restauration, redemption, peace, settlement, safetie and future prosperity; as the Parliament and most excellent preamble of the Statute of 25 H. 8. c. 22. (worthy perusal) resolves. Wherin after many long intestine civil wars for the Title, succession of the Crown, and Soveraigntie of our Realm, The Nobles and Commons assembled in Parliament, calling to mind, That the unity, peace, and wealth of this Realm, and the Succession (and Inheritance) of the Subjects in the same, most specially and principally above all worldly things, (let our Republicans, and Westminster Juncto observe it well) consisteth and resteth in the certainty and surety of the procreation and posterity of the Kings Highness, in whose most Royal person at this present time is no manner of doubt nor question, (as the Statutes of 1 Iac. c. 1, 2. resolve, there was none at all in King Iames or King Charles) did thereupon by this special Act, and a strict Oath, declare aad establish the surety, title or succession of the Grown of England in him and his Heirs for ever, upon which dependeth all our joy and wealth, as they more at large expresse. 13ly. God himself in direct terms declares, that it is a matter and badge of honour and prosperity for any Nation to be advanced from a Commonwealth or Principality into a Kingdom, Ezech. 15.13, 14. Thou didst prosper into a Kingdom. And thy renown went forth among the Heathen for thy beauty, for it was perfect through my comelynesse, which I put upou thee saith the Lord: which compared with Rom. 13.1. Let every Soul be subject to the Higher Powers, for there is no Power but of God, the Powers that are are ordained of God, Col. 1.16. For by him are all things created that are in Heaven, p. 92and that are in Earth, visible or invisible, whether they be Thrones or Dominions, or Principalities, all were created by him, and for him Tit. 3.1. Put them in mind to be subject to Principalityes and Powers, to obey Magistrates, 1 Pet. 2. 13, 17. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man, for the Lords sake, whether to the King as Supream: Fear God, Honour the King; are infallible demonstrations, That as kingdomes and Kings are of Divine institution and planting, so they are reputed, instituted by God and Jesus Christ, as the most prosperous, happyest, divinest, honourablest, supreamest of all other forms of Government and Governors whatsoever, created by and for Iesus Christ, and have been the very Governments and Governors alone, in and by which he hath precisely promised, declared, that he will most advance his own Spiritual Kingdom, Church and Glory, (as is undenyable by **Worthy se…ious particu…ar perusal.Ps. 68.29.31.32 Ps. 102.22. 2 Kings 19.19. Isay. 37.20. Rev. 11.15. Psal. 2.10, 11. Psal. 68.29. Psal. 72 10 11. Psal. 102. 15. Psal. 138.4. Ps. 144.10 Ps. 148.11. Ps. 149.8. Isay 49.7, 13. c. 52.15. c. 60.3, 10, 11, 16. c. 62.2. Rev. 21 24.) the expresse lively Images of Christs own Spi-Spiritual Kingdom, Kingship, on whose Throne alone they sit, as his Vicegerents, 2 Chron. 9.8. Col. 1.16 and therefore are stiled Kings, Kingdoms, not Optimacies, or Republicks) yea not only Kings but Gods, and Gods Anointed, as well as Christ himself, Exod. 22.8. Iosh. 22 22. Ps. 82▪ 1, 6. Iohn 10.34. 1 Cor. 8.5. 2 Sam. 12.3, 5. c. 22 52. Psal. 20.6. Isay 45.1. Lam. 4.20. 1 Sam. 16.6. c. 24.6, 10 c. 26.9, 11, 1, 23 2 Sam. 19.21. 14ly. God himself in sundry Scriptures positively declares, and denounceth the plucking up or rooting out of a Kingdom, and making it no Kingdom, or a base or viler Kingdom than it was before; and the leaving of an antient Kingdom without a King, or hereditary Successor or Heir to sway the Scepter, to be a most severe, sad, grievous Iudgement and Punishment on them for their crying, hainous offences and Sinnes against him; yea an immediate concomitant or Forerunner of their utter desoiation, & a matter of present and future lamentation, not of a mercy, blessing, or cause of rejoycing, as our seduced Bedlam-Republicans, Army-Saints, and Pseudo-Politicians repute it, as all these Texts infallibly resolve, Judg. 17.6, &c. c. 18.1. &c. c. 17.1. &c. c. 21.25. Hos. 3.4. c. 10.3.7.15. (a notable Scripture) Is. 9.2, 11, 12. c. 7.16. Amos 1.8.10.13, 14, 15. c. 2, 2.5. &c. Mich. 4.9.10. p. 93Jer. 17.25.27. c. 22.5. to 30. c. 25.8. to 38. Ezech. 19.14, 15. (a signal Text) c. 17.12, 13, 14. c. 29.14, 15. Lam. 1.6. c. 2.6.9. c. 4.20. c. 5.16. Hab. 1.10.14, 15. Nah. 3.17, 18, 19. Hag. 2.22. Ezech. 21.26, 27. Against which Scriptures (worthie your particular perusal) no one Text can be produced, to prove it a blessing, benefit, honor to any kingdom or Nation whatsoever.

15ly As for your new magnified Common-wealth and Aristocracie, preferred by you before our Kings and Monarchie,

1. Consider that of Prov. 28.2. For the Transgression of a Land many are the Princes (or Governors) thereof, but by a man of understanding and knowledge the State thereof shall be prolonged: And compare it with Hosea 10.3. For now they shall say, We have no King because we feared not the Lord, what then should a King do to us: Lam: 5.16.8. The Crown of our head (to wit, our King, c. 4.20.) is fallen: wo unto us that we have sinned: Servants have ruled over us, there is none that delivereth us out of their hand. And then you must needs confess; that your subversion of our Kingly Government by one single person, to set up a Polarchie and New Republike under many ‖‖Prov. 19.10. c. 30.21, 22. Eccl. 10.5, 6.7.Prov 19:10Eccl 10:5Eccl 10:6Eccl 10:7Servants & Governors, is in Gods own, his Churches, peoples account, an heavie judgement, vassallage, bondage on them for their transgressions, sinnes, and a matter of great lamentation, woe, Ezech. 19.12, 13, 14. not a blessing, ease, libertie, means of their happiness or establishment.

2. Consider, that you cannot derive the Pattern of your New Commonwealth from the Scripture, Gospel, Church, or presidents of God and Jesus Christ; but only from the aaDion. Cassius. Dionys. Halicar. Polybius, Livy, Justin, Eutropius, Godwins Roman Antiquities, Bodins Commonwealth.Old Heathen, bloudie Romans, after their Regifugium; who were alwaies altering their Government from one new form to another, continuing not long in anie one condition, till setled in an Emperor, and Empire; and at last in a Regal Roman Pontiff; in which state it hath continued almost 1700. years; and the new Jesuitical models of Parsons, Campanella, Richelieu, Mazarine, Spain, France, recommended to you from Antichristian Rome to work our ruine; Or at leastwise from the old seditious Graecians and Athenians; who are thus branded in Historians, (b)(b)Aelian Var. Historia, l. 5. c. 53.Omnino ad commutandos Reipublicae Status erant versatiles, et omnium propensissimi ad vicissitudines; (as you and the Army-Officers now are) which proved their utter ruine; and caused endless wars and tumults between themselves, till they were subdued, enslaved by the Macedonians, Persians, Romans, and other foreign Kings; as you may read at p. 92duplicate page p. 93duplicate page p. 94leisure in Thucidides, Diodorus Siculus, Xenophon, Plutarch, Arrian… Iustin, Bp. Vshers Annales Veteris Testamenti; whence Heniochus an antient Greek Comaedian, compares Aristocracie, and Popularitie unto two scolding. Women, who coming amongst the Greek Cities, put all things into tumult and disorder, making them bedlam mad against each other to their utter desolation.

ccGrotius de Jure Belli, l. 3. c. 15. p. 537.Tum geminae ad illas accesserunt Mulieres

Quae cuncta conturbarunt: Optimatitas

Est nomen alteri: alteri Popularitas

Quarum incitatu, pridem externatae furunt.

And have they not produced the self-same Madness, Furie, and sad effects among the Armie, yea and our 3. kingdoms? How then can you, or anie wise men, but only TOM OF BEDLAMS, be anie longer in love with either of them, and preferr them before Kings and Kingship: when as your selves, as well as other Members, declared, resolved in two ddSee my Speech, p. 102 103, 104.Declarations of 12 April 1646. of 17 Decemb. and in the Votes of Novemb: 9. & 23. 1647. That the Agreement of the People for a Representative and Republike (without a King and House of Lords) are not only Seditious, but destructive to the very Being of Parliaments, and the Fundamental Government of the Kingdom, by King, Lords and Commons. And is this then the way to peace or settlement? eePsal. 11.3.Ps 11:3If the Foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous doe to save or settle us? O therefore let not that brand of the Holy Ghosts owne imposing rest anie longer on you, Ps. 82.5. They know not, neither will they understand; all the Foundations of the earth are out of course: And although you say, think you are Gods, and are all the children of the most high in this pursute, yet you shal die like men, and fall like one of the Princes: yea be buried in your own and your Republikes ruines again, with greater infamie, shame, loss, than you were on April 20. 1653. when you were shamefully turned out of House and power together by those who now recall you, and yet will not take warning.

Mr. Prynne is in good hopes, that all these undenyable, unanswerable Scriptural considerations will fully convince and convert our Republican Conventicle, (and Army-Officers too) from their Jesuitical destructive modle of A Common-wealth, unto the love and restitution of our antient hereditary Kings, Kingship, as the only Divine, Saint-like, Gospel, safe, probable way to our future lasting peace and settlement, which he intended to have propounded to them.

p. 85Finally, if you are resolved, notwithstanding the premises, to Act as a Parliament without your secluded fellow Members, King, or House of Lords, then follow the Presidents of all your Protestant Predecessors in these particulars.

1. Take into your saddest considerations the great increase, disguises of dangerous Iesuits and other Romish vipers now amongst us, which A. B. a Jesuite in his Mutatus Polemo: Or, The Horrible Stratagems of the JESUITS lately practised in England, during the Civil Wars, and now discovered by him, a RECLAIMED ROMANIST, imployed before as a Workman of the Mission from his Holiness; dedicated by him to your own President Bradshaw; published by SPECIAL COMMAND of your New Republike (London Printed for Rob. White 1650.) thus relates to your selves and the world, p. 3, 4. That he could bring in to your COUNSEL-TABLE a horrible long Catalogue of more perniciously damnable Actors of JESUITICAL Devils in mens shapes, yea in MINISTERS too, crept in (from forein Seminaries) to undermine our Church and State, then was in the yeer 1605. in that infernal Powder-plot: That there was one Regiment, or more of them, under Sir Iohn Kempsfield, a Commander of the Horse in the late Kings Armie: who discerning the Kings inclination to close with the Scots and Presbyterians, and expecting no advantage to their Cause by siding with him, held their private Conventicles and Councels at Oxford, wherein they resolved to desert, and draw off all their own and all his other Forces from him, and close with the prevailing Parliament partie, which they accordingly effected: ‖‖Ibid. p. 10, 11.That upon the Kings departing to the Scots Armie, and surrender of Oxford, the Jesuits, Priests and Popish partie under him, not only changed the habits of their minds, but bodies also: turning from upside Cavaliers and High Royalists, and God-dammees, holie Converts and Parliamenteers: nothing but the Holy Covenant being heard in their mouthes. For our bodies, Proteus is lesse than a fiction to us.Nota. He that ere while was a Commander in a ranting equipage, is now slinking into a Coblers stall, or Weavers loom, or Tapsters Apron, or Coachmans box, or Beggars weed, or Horsemans frock, or Serving-mans liverie, or Tailors shop, or Pulpit-thumping Presbyters Gippo, into what not. It is not unknown what trade we drive beyond Sea, when no Trade comes amisse to us. To make this p. 86good, our Governors the States of this Commonwealth (if they will deign to hear me now their true Servant) shall bee eftsoon able to cull out manie a sheep-clothed-wolffrom their stations, stalls, looms, aprons, weeds, liveries, shops, yea and Buff coats; what say you to Pulpits too? Let not Engl. (now like a bird (ah me!) pursued by several fierce flying Falcons, and too too near the intended hard gripes of their cruely sharp tallons) either out of a dull or drowsie sottishness, or a phantastical humour of contradiction, suppose I speak what I know not: if I should tell them I can, and (now being about to do it will (but privately before Authoritie) produce a Catalogue of Catholicks, (Fathers, so we will be called) of several Orders and others that are Natives, gone into remote Counties, who duly go to Church too, and of an incredible number now living in this Commonwealth under several Notions, whcih I my self can point at with a drie finger. I tell thee in general, there is scarce a Town or Citie, but in few miles of it I can furnish the Reader (to thy Amazement be it spoken) with some who have lived in England 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 20, 40, 50 years (I. B. of Ne. in Es.) unknown, unsuspected, but taken for clean contrarie; let them avoid me if they can: They are his own words, Page 26. to 37. he shews how Mons. Montril (the French agent) trepand the poor Cavaliers of the Kings partie, in transporting them out of Scotland into France; how they were there butchered by the French: Such is their love to the Royal party of England: what endeavours were used by Card: Mazarine, Father D. and le M. to seduce and corrupt Prince Charls in his Religion both before and after his Fathers death; and what promises were made both by the French and Spaniard, that all Catholick Princes should be invited and consulted with for an unanimous invasion of England, if he would turn Catholick. Page 32, 33. hee hath this memorable passage: During these Sollicitations, news comes aloft upon the wings of the wind, That the People and State of England had summoned his Father to an High Court of Judicature, to bring him to a trial for all the innocent bloud he had spilt, and the hideous devastations he had caused. This was no little good News to the Cardinalitical party, (I mean the Iesuitical,) (this Jesuit himself being then at the French and Princes Court in Paris) For in my next I shall satisfie thee, concerning their p. 87cunning workings; how even those who pretend so much charitie to the Son, ‖‖See here, p. p. 43, 46, 62, 63.did séek by all Machinations to expedite and accelerate this high piece of Iustice upon the Father: And now, say his Tutors to him, If they proceed to death with your Father, it will prove the better for you; for it shall utterly alien the hearts & affections of the people from them, and you shall finde them to be more eagerlie violent for your reinvestment, not considering the change of your Religion, which by anie means shall not be known, but to your good Catholick Subjects of England, till such time as you have vested power enough into your own hands to protect it, and your self in it. But indeed the Lad had somewhat of his Fathers astutiousnesse in him; and presently asked the CARDINAL the same question as his Father once did the King of Spaine, when he was almost easilie intreated to have turned to the Faith Catholick: How shall I (said he) ever expect to be King of England, if once the English should understand I have turned Catholick? To which they easilie gave a satisfactorie resolution, telling him; That (as the case now stood) he must never look to be admitted, but by fire and sword: the main force of Armes must make way for him, neither could he in the least atchieve that, or put it in execution without the ayde of Catholike Princes, which they will never be brought to act in without a firm assurance of your real and faithfull conuersion. What impressions the News of his Fathers decollatiō made upon him; what use the Cardinal and Iesuits made of it, to induce him and others to Poperie; and what endeavors were used by the Iesuits to make up a peace between the Spanish and French to invade England, and make it their prey if he would turn Papist, under pretext of restoring him to his Crown, you may read in this Iesuit, p. 33, 34, 35, 36. and in Militiere his Victorie of Truth, dedicated to King Charles after his Fathers death, to pervert him in his Religion, as the only means of his restitution. These Passages of this Iesuit, (who stiles himself, p. 39. The faithful Servant of the Commonwealth of England.) dedicated to President Bradshaw himself, and printed by his SPECIAL COMMAND, and our Republican Governours now sitting, Ann. 1650. (when Mr. Prynne was committed close Prisoner by them without hearing, or accusation) will justifie the truth of all his ‖‖See my Epistle to a Seasonable Vindication, &c. Edit. 2. 1655. My Quakers Unmasked, & A New Discovery of Romish Emissaries, 1656. The Plots of the Jesuites, printed 1653. And the Jesuits undermining of parliaments and Protestants. By William Castle, 1642.former Discoveries; That your beheading the King, and degrading our Kingdom into a New Free-State, was the verie French Cardinals, Spaniards, Popes, p. 88and Iesuits plot, to ruin both our Protestant Kings, Kingdom, Church Religion, even by your own confessions, and that it gave unto them strong arguments, to perswade the Kings posteritie and partie for ever to abominate our Religion, as manie of them have done upon this very account, though the King himself, and his Brothers yet continue constant (through Gods merciemercy) against all provocations; to their eternal honour, but your perpetual infamie, who have put them upon such direfull Temptations.

2. Before you engage in any other Business, peruse all former Acts and ‖‖Printed in my Hidden Works of Darkness, &c. & Mr. Rushworths Historical Collections, p. 41. to 44.128, 129, 185. to 190, 140, 141, 510, 568. Exact Collection, p. 5. to 20.Petitions of our Protestant Parliaments since 1 Eliz. to this present against Iesuits, Seminarie…Priests, Papists, Poperie; the manifold mischiefs, dangers accrewing by their increase, toleration, and suspension of our Lawes against them; the causes of their growth amongst us, and remedies to prevent the same: Then put them all (with the Oath of Abjuration, and 5. Bills against them, assented to by the late King in the last Treatie) into immediate, impartial vigorous execution.

3. Imploy faithfull, knowing, stout, active persons, with sufficient power, and encouragements to discover, detect, apprehend them, under what ever disguise and shelter they now secure themselves: Especially take diligent care to ferret these Romish Vermin and Troublers of our Israel out of all your Armies, Garrisons, Camps, and all Sectarian separate Congregations, the Boroughs wherein now they lurk securely, by putting them all to the Test of the Oaths of Abjuration Supremacie and Allegiance.

4. Permit no Seminarie Priests, Friers, Romish Emissaries of any Nation, but especially no Iesuits of ‖‖Romes Masterpiece, p. 14 15.any their 4. ranks to remain in our Realms, or Dominions: it being impossible to enjoy any peace, settlement in Church or State, or to expect anie dutifull obedience, quiet in or from the Armie, whiles these ‖‖Ludovicus Lucius, Hist. Jesuit. l. 3. c. 2. p. 271, 294, 374. l. 3. c. 2. p. 607, 609, 610, 611, 614, 639, 671, 673, &c. Hospinian Hist. Jesuit. l. 3. & 4. speculum Jesuiticum.firebrands of Sedition, Treason, remain within our coasts: upon which account they have been by sundrie Proclamations of Queen Elizabeth, King Iames and King Charles, not only banished out of England, Scotland, Ireland, and all their Dominions; but likewise out of France, Germanie, Poland, Bohemia, Austria, Moravia, Transilvania, Hungarie, Venice, and other Popish Kingdomes, States, as well as out of the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and Protestants Territories: as the Authors of all their Wars, Troubles, Tumults, Insurrections, Rebellions, Treasons, Regicides, and the publike Pests of Church and State.

5. Put no arms into Anabaptists or Quakers hands, (formerly ‖‖See Lucas Osiander contra Anabaptistas.decrying them, as unlawful) lest London become another Munster, and England another Germanie, in few moneths space.

p. 896. Since Christ Iesus, who is truth it self, hath laid down these 3. Gospel-maxims of infallible veritie: Mat: 7.15. to 21. Lu. 6.43. &c. That Ravenous wolves in sheeeps clothing, as well as trees, are and shall be known by their fruits. John 8.44. You are of your Father the Devil, for his works ye doe. Rom. 6.16. That to whom ye yield your selves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey. If all the premises infallibly convince your Consciences, Judgements, as they will and must do, That all the forementioned fruits you have produced since December 4. 1648. are the proper fruits of Iesuits and Romish wolves in sheeps clothing; yea the very worst, sowrest of all their Fruits and Powder Treasons: That the workes you have done in murdring our Protestant King, destroying our Parliaments, Kingdoms, Government, Laws, secluding your fellow-Members and Lords House by force, erecting your New Republike, and Parliamentarie Conventicle, &c. are the Works of the Iesuites and Devil; That you have yielded up your selves as obedient servants unto them in everie of these, against your own former Oaths, Protestations, Vows, Covenants, Declarations, Commissions, Principles, Professions, Judgments, rightly informed consciences: the Votes, Obsecrations, Disswasions of your Fellow Members, and most indeared Protestant Friends, Ministers, Relations: the Indentures, Desires of those Counties, Burroughs you represent: And that the very Principles, by which you have acted since Dec. 1648 and now again, are the very Jesuits principles; as you may read at leisure in Iohannis Mariana, De Rege & Regum Institutione, l. 1. c. 6. Creswels Philopater, Franciscus Verona Constantini, Apologia pro Johanne Castellio et Jesuitis; Iesuitae Reinaldi liber, De Iusta Reipublicae Christianae in Reges Impios et Haereticos authoritate, &c. published under the name of William Rosse, in Ludovicus Lucius Historia Jesuitica, l. 2. c. 3. Hospinian Hist. Jesuitica, l. 3. & 4. & Speculum Jesuiticum, printed 1644. wherein you may truly view your Iesuitical Physiognomies, heads, perrewigs, instead of your old genuine Protestant complexions, brains, notions, hair. And if the present fresh Addresses, Petitions of Anabaptists, Quakers, Sectaries, from Southwark, Warminster, Hertfordshire, Kent, and other places to the Army-Officers, and your selves, with their late listings in the Army, affronts to Ministers in their Churches, ejection of some of them to intrude themselves, alreadie budding forth, sufficiently discover whose Servants you are, and whose drudgerie you must execute. O then immediately abjure, rescinde, p. 90and null them all with highest indignation, and persist no longer in any such destructive waies, counsels, projects, under any pretext, consideration, interest or perswasions whatsoever: But rather remember Mr. Oliver Saint-Iohns words (now sitting amongst you) in his Argument at Law against the Earl of Strafford (printed by the Commons house special Order) p. 64. In this I shall not labour to prove; That the endeavouring By Words, Counsels and Actions, to subvert the fundamental Lawes and Government of the Kingdom is Treason by the Common Law: If there be any Common Law Treasons left, nothing Treason if this be not, to make a Kingdom no Kingdom: And then consider Sir Edward Cooks memorable Observation (published by the Commons Order) 3 Instit. c. 2. p. 35, 36. It appeareth in the holy Scripture, That TRAYTORS never prospered, what good soever they pretended, but were most severely and exemplarily punished (in conclusion:) which he proves by the examples of Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, Num. 16.31, 32. c. 27. 3. Athaliah, 2 Kings 1.1.16. Bigthan and Teresh, Esth. 2.21.23. c. 6.2. Absolom, 2 Sam. 18.9.14. Abiathar, 1 King. 2.26, 27. Shimei, 2 Sam. 6.5, 6. 1 Kings 2.8.46. Zimri 1 Kings 16, 9.18. Theudas, Acts 5.36, 37. and Iudas Iscariot, the Traytor of Traytors, Acts 1.18. Mat. 27.5. Peruse over all our Books, Records, His…ories, and you shall finde a principle in Law, a rule in Reason, and a trial in experience, That Treason doth ever produce fatal and final destruction to the Offender, and never attaineth to the desired end (two incidents inseparable thereunto.) And therefore let all men abandon it as the most poisonous Bait of the Devil of Hell, and follow the precept in holy scripture: ‖‖Prov. 24.21. 1 Pet. 2.17.Prov 24:211 Pet 2:17Fear God, honor the King, and have no company with the Seditious Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum. So he.

Now because M….P. finds some Grandees of his own Profession sitting in the House to countenance and make up this Vnparliamentary Iuncto, he shall desire them in the first place seriously to consider, how much they have formerly and now again dishonoured themselves, and the whole profession of the Law, in sitting in, complying with, acting under, such illegal Anti-Parliamentary Conventicles, Powers, Changes, Changers; yea crying them up for legal English Parliaments, Powers, obeying, executing all their illegal new Knacks, Orders, Ordinances, as Acts of Parliament in civil, criminal, real or personal Causes, against all Records, Law-books, Presidents of former Ages, their own Judgments, Oaths, Science, p. 91Consciences, to the intollerable scandal of their Robe, the injurie, abuse of the whole Nation, the prejudice of all their lawfull Superiours and the Publick, the encouragement of usurping Traytors, Tyrants, Oppressors, in their waies of wickedness, the ill example of most others, and their own just reproach.

2ly. To observe, How God in his retaliating Justice, hath recompensed this their wilfull prevarication upon their own heads, by turning many of them out of their respective places of Judicature, honor, profit, (the ground of this their sinfull complyance) with infamy, dishonour, reproach, even by the very Persons with whom they unworthily complyed, and those especially in present power, who had neither been an House of Commons, much lesse a mock Parliament, without their presence and complyance.

3ly. That the base unworthy, unchristian complyance of the Lawyers and Clergy of England, with our late trayterous Innovators, Usurpers, out of base fear, sordid covetousnesse, ambition, self-saving, or self-seeking, to the prejudice, ruine of King, Kingdom, Parliament, Lords, Law, hath brought an universal odium upon them, with those with whom they most complyed, as well as others, the Army Officers and present Iuncto, under a pretext of Reformation, designing both their ruines through the Jesuites Politicks, who now bear greatest sway, having turned many of them with scorn and contempt out of their former places of Judicature, beyond their expectations, and reviled both their persons and professions, to their faces, as a Generation of sordid Temporizers, and useless, faithless persons, not fit to be entrusted any more, but discarded out of their new lawlesse Republick, which hates both Law and Gospel, as warranted by neither, and repugnant unto both.

4ly. That the only way now to regain their lost Honour, and preserve both our Laws, Liberties, Religion, establish future peace, settlement, and prevent impendent ruine, is, to endeavour to restore our antient, hereditary, just, legal Kingship, Kings, Governors, Government, with all their necessary invaded Prerogatives, Lands, Revenues, Rights, Jurisdictions, and inviolably to preserve them with their lives and estates against all conspiracies of Popes, Jesuits, and foreign enemies to subvert, and undermine them in any kind; as the several memorable Parliaments and Statutes of 29 H. 6. c. 1.31 H. 6. c. 1.39 H. 6. c. 1.25 H. 8. c. 22.2 E. 6. c. 26.7 E. 6. c. 12. 1 Eliz. c. 3.4.20. 5 Eliz. c. 1.29.30. 1▪ Eliz. c. 1.2. p. 9223.24. 18 Eliz. c. 21.22, 23 Eliz. c. 1.13.14. 27 Eliz. c. 1.2.28.21. 29 Eliz. c. 7, 8. 31 Eliz. c. 14, 15. 35 Eliz. c. 2.12, 13.39 Eliz. c. 26, 27. 43 Eliz c. 17, 18. 1 Jac. c. 1. 3 Jac. c. 1, 2, 4, 5, 25, 26. 7 Jac. 6, 22, 23. 21 Jac. c. 32, 33. & 3 Car. c. 5, 6. in their respective preambles and bodies (worthy our most serious review in the Statutes at large) resolve, being more to be credited, pursued, than all the rash Jesuitical suggestions, votes, and inconsiderable resolutions of any unparliamentarie Conventicle, or upstart Pseudo-Polititians, advancing themselves to the helm of our new Republick, by colour of the Statute of 17 Car. 7. Which Bill by the Commons House resolution in their ‖‖Exact. Collection, P. 17.Remonstrance of 15 Dec. 1641. seems to be some restraint of the Regal power in dissolving of Parliaments, not to take it out of the Crown, but to suspend the execution of it for the time and occasion only, which was so necessary for the Kings own security, and the Publick peace, that without it they could not have undertaken any of those great things, but must have left both the Armies to disorder and confusion, and the whole Kingdome to blood and rapine, Therefore the Parliament must needs determine by the Kings death, as he hath infalliby evidenced beyond contradiction.

In the last place, Mr. Prynne shall most importunately beseech all the antient Nobility, secluded Members, well-affected Gentry Clergy, Commonalty of the English Nation (which had never so many effeminate, false heads, and hearts as now, many aaIud. 18.7.27.Judg 18:7Judg 18:27Jesuite, Priest, Monk, lurking under the disguise of womanish Perewigges brought into fashion by them) as they now tender their own private, or the publick safety, weal, settlement, and preservation of our endangered Church, Religion, Kingdom, Parliament, Laws, Privileges, Properties, and prevention of their impendent ruine. First of all seriously to consider, lament, cast off, reform, their own late, present, monstrous sottish stupidity, sleepinesse, bbMat. 16.25.Matt 16:25self saving, self-seeking Spirits, and most unworthy, un-manly, un-English, unchristian pusillanimity, cowardize, ccProv. 29.25. Isay 8.12, 13. c. 7.4. c. 41.14. c. 44.8. Mat. 10.28.Prov 29:25Isa 8:12Isa 8:13Matt 10:28fear of a few contemptible Mercinary mortal men, who shall shortly dye, and become as dung upon the earth; and their grosse breach of all publick Oaths, Protestations, Leagues, Covenants, in not opposing, resisting them manfully in their several places and callings; Which hath been the principal cause of all the publick Changes, Innovations, Oppressions, Grievances, Exorbitances, Insolencies, they have hitherto suffered by their own armed hirelings, and are the ddIsay 13.6, 7.8. c. 27.11. c. 24.17. Iudg. 20.41, 42, Is. 3, 4. Ier. 48.43, 44. c. 49.24, 29. Lam. 3.47. Ezech. 30.13, 14.Isa 13:6Isa 13:7Isa 13:8Judg 20:41Judg 20:42Isa 3:4Jer 48:43Jer 48:44Lam 3:47Ezek 30:13Ezek 30:14saddest symptomes of our approaching imminent desolation: if not speedily repented, redressed, p. 93ere it be over late. 2ly. To pursue these Gospel advises, 1 Cor. 16.13. Watch ye, stand fast in the Faith, quit ye like men, be strong. Gal. 5.1. Phil. 1.27, 28. Stand fast in the liberty, wherewith Christ hath made you free, and be not intangled again with the yoke of Bondage; in one Spirit, striving together with one mind for the Faith of the Gospel, (the fundamental, Laws, Liberties, Government, Privileges of the Nation.) And in nothing terrified by your Adversaries, which will be to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 3ly. Do you all now publickly, resolutely, constantly, unanimously, (according to the eeCollect. of Ordinances, P. 420 to 427.tenor of the Solemn League and Covenant) claim, assert, vindicate, and endeavour to preserve with your Lives and Fortunes, the Reformed Religion, Worship, Doctrine of the Churches, the Rights and Privileges of the Parliaments, the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland, and the Kings Majesties Person, Authority and Posterity, in the defence and reformation of the true Religion, and Liberties of these Kingdoms. And with all faithfulnesse endeavour, the discovery of all such as have been, are, or shall be Incendiaries, Malignants, or evil Instruments, by hindring the Reformation of Religion, dividing the King from his People, or one of the Kingdoms from the other, making any factions or parties among the People, contrary to this League and Covenant, that they may be brought to publick Tryal, and receive condign punishment; assisting, defending each other in the maintenance and pursuit thereof, without any division, withdrawing, defection, or detestable indifferency, or neutrality whatever. For which end, in a brotherly, friendly, christian, yet stout and resolute manner, demand publickly of the General Counsel of Army Officers, and their Westminster Conventicle.

1. By what lawfull Commission, Authority, or Warrant from God, our Laws, or the generality of the people of England (whom they have voted the Supream Authority, and whose Servants they pretend themselves) they have formerly and now again, forcibly secluded the whole House of Lords, and Majority of the Commons House, from sitting in our Parliamentary Counsels, or the Old Parliament if yet in being, and made themselves not only a Commons house, but absolute Parliament without a King or them, contrary to the very Letter, scope of the Act of 17 Car. c. 7. by which they pretend to sit?

2ly. By what Authority they presume to turn our most antient, glorious, p. 94famous, honourable, first Christian Kingdom, into an infant, base, ignoble, contemptible Sectarian Free-State or Commonwealth, and disinherit our hereditary Kings and their Posterity,eeMat. 21.25.Matt 21:25 against all our Laws, Statutes, Declarations, Remonstrances, Oaths, Vows, Protestations, Leagues, Covenants, Customs, Prescription time out of minde, Liturgies, Collects, Canons, Articles; Homili…s, Records, Writs, Writers, and their own manifold obligations to the contrary for their inviolable defen…e, support, and preservation, only in pursuit of the Jesuites, Popes, Spaniards, and French-Cardinals forecited plots; And who gave you this Authority? The rather because the whole English-Nation, and High Court of Parliament, wherein the whole Body of the Realm is, and every particular Member thereof, either in person or representation, (by their own Free-elections) are deemed to be present by the Laws of the Realm, did by an expresse Act, 1 Iacobi c. 1. (worthy most serious consideration) with all possible publick joy and acclamation, from the bottom of their heart▪ recognize, and acknowledg, (as being thereunto obliged, both by the Laws of God and Man) that the imperial Crown of this Realm, with all the Kingdoms, Dominions, and Rights belonging to them, immediately after the death of Queen Elizabeth, did by inherent birth-right, and lawfull and undoubted Succession descend & come to King Iames, as next and sols Heir of the Blood Royal of this Realm, And therunto (by this publick Act o… Parliament, to remain to all Posterity) they did humbly and faithfully submit and oblige themselves, their Heirs and Posterity for ever untill the last drop of their bloods be spent, as the First fruits of this High Court of Parliament, and the whole Nations Loyalty and Faith to his Majesty and his Royal Posterity for ever: upon the bended knees of their hearts agnizing their most constant Faith, Obedience, and Loyalty to his Majesty and his Royal Posterity for ever. After which the whole English Nation, and all Parliaments, Members of the Commons House ever since, and particularly all Members of the Parliament of 16 Caroli, continued by the Statute of 17 Car. c. 7. pretended to be still in being, did by their respective Oaths of Allegiance, Fealty, Homage, and Supremacy, (containing only such Duty, as every true and well-affected Subject not only by his duty of Allegiance, but also by the com…mandement of Almighty God, ought to bear p. 95to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors, ffExact Collection, and a Collection of them. The Good Old Cause truly stated.as the Parliament, and Statute of 7 Iac. c. 6. declares) joyntly and severally oblige themselves, To bear Faith and true Allegiance not only to his Majesty, but his Heirs and Successors, and him and them to defend to the uttermost of their power against all Attempts and conspiracies whatsoever, which shall be made against his or their Persons, ggSee the Letany, Collects, for the King, Queen, and Royal Issue: Canons, 1605. Can. 54.their Crown and Dignity, or any of them, and to maintain all Iurisdictions, Preheminences, Authorityes, justly belonging, united, or annexed to the Imperial Crowu of this Realm; Which all Members of the long Parl. & those now sitting ratified, not only by hundreds of printed Declarations, Remonstrances, Ordinances, but likewise by a Religious Protestation, Vow, and Solemn National League and Covenant, (publickly sworn and subscribed with all their hands, in the presence of God himself, and by all the well-affected in these three Kingdoms) but by all our ordinary publick Liturgies, Collects, Directory Articles, Homilies, Prayers before Sermons, in all or most of their Families, Closet-Prayers, yea Graces before and after mea…, wherein they constantly prayed to God, (according to the hhTertulliani Apolog Euseb. de Vita Constantini, l. 4. c. 19, 20. Cassiador. Hist. Tripartita, l. 5. c. 22. Athanatius Apologia ad Constantinum Imp. Sozomen Eccles. Hist. l. …. c. 18. l. 4. c. 13. Surius Concil. Tom. 1. p. 617. Tom. 2. p. 670, 737, 738, 739, 740, 762, 853, 869, 871.875, 887, 891, 925, 926, 1022, 10…4▪ 1039. Tom. 3. p. 8.238. Cl. 1 E. 1. d, 17. Cl. 24 E. 1. d. 10. Cl. 34 E. 1. d. 9, 16. Cl. 35, E. 1. d. 15. cl. 9 R. 2. d. 11. cl. 15 R. 2. d. 56. cl. 16 R. 2. d. 11. cl. R. 2. d. 35.practise of the Saints in the Old and new Testaments, the Primitive Church of God, and Heathen Nations, & of the Church, Parliaments of England themselves, in all Age…,) not only for the health, life, wealth, safety, prosperity, preservation, salvation of our Kings and their Realms, but likewise of their Royal Issue and Posterity. That there might not want a man of that Race to sway the Scepter of these Realm, so long as the Sun and Moon shall endure, or to the like effect And if they cannot sufficientlie satisfie your judgements, consciences, in this particular, nor answer the precedent reasons in defence of our hereditary Kings & Kingship, against their Vtopian Republick, Then take up the peremptory resolution of all the Elders, and Tribes of Israel, when oppressed by Samuels Sonnes Mis-Government, turning aside after filthy lucre, and perverting Iudgement, 1 Sam. 8. and say resolutely to them, We will have no New Common-wealth nor Vnparliamentary Conventicle to rule over, oppresse, ruine us, Nay, But we will have a KING (our own lawfull hereditary King) to reign over us, that We also may be like all other Nations, (yea like our selves and our Ancestors in all former Ages) and that our King may judge us and go out before us, and so put a speedy end to all our present & future Changes, Wars, Troubles, p. 96Fears, Dangers, Oppressions, Taxes; and restore us to our pristine Peace, settlement, unitie, amitie, securitie, prosperitie, felicitie, upon the Propositions assented to by his beheaded Father in the Isle of Wight, whose Concessions the Ho: of Commons without division, after 3. daies and one whole Nights debate; (4 Dec. 1648. notwithstanding all the Armies menaces) Resolved upon the Question, to be a sufficient Ground for the House to proceed upon for the settlement of the Peace of the Kingdom: upon better terms, and greater advantages, than ever they have yet enjoyed, or can possiibly expect from any New Free-State, or other New Armie Government or Governours whatsoever. The old Parliaments, Statutes of 25 H. 8. c. 22.26. H. 8. c. 3. & 1 Eliz. c. 5. (the most impartial Judges in this case) long since resolving, that it is, and of very right and duty ought to be the natural inclination of all good people, like most faithfull, loving, and obedient Subjects, sincerely and willingly to defire and provide for the supportation, maintenance. and defence of the Person, Crown, Royal estate and succession of their dread Soveraign King, upon and in whom all their worldly Ioy and wealth, and the surety of them all, next under God, doth principally depend; as we have experimentally found by all the miseries, Oppressions sustained under our late New forms of Governments and Governors, whose **2 Chron 10.6. to 18. See My New Discovery of Fre… State Tyranny; And Englands New Chain….2 Chr 10:6–18little fingers have been heavier than our Kings whole loyns; and the cousels, proceedings, of our young raw Statesmen, more pernicious, exorbitant than the old ones under our Kings. Which should engage all to return to their old Kingly Government.

4ly. If they will not upon anie terms be serued up to such a degree of Christian, or old English Resolution, as thus to expostulate with their servants, hirelings, and fellow Members, after so manie high and bloudie contestations with their lawfull Soveraign in Parliaments, and the field, when their Laws, lives, liberties, Church, Religion, Kingdom, and all earthly comforts were less endangered than now in their own judgements; Mr. Prynne shall then intreat them only to take so much courage, as over-timerous **2 Chron: 28.2.3.…2. to 36.King Iehoshaphat and his cowardly people did, when three confederated forein Nations came up to invade and destroy their kingdom; and to act as they did then. First, let them appoint a publike Fast throughout the Kingdom, Citie, Countrie, and use the self-same praier as they used. O our God, will thou not judge them! for we have no might against this great companie, (no nor that little Conventicle, inconsiderable handful of Armie-men & Sectaries p. 97now combined against us) but our eies are unto thee; Annexing to it this praier of David, Ps. 140. Deliver us O Lord from the evil man, preserve us from the violent men, which imagin mischief in their heart, continually are they gathered together for war. Grant not, O Lord, the desire of the wicked; Further not their wicked devices, lest they exalt themselves, Let the mischief of their own lips cover them; let them be cast into deepe pits, that they rise not up again: Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth; Let evil hunt the men of violence to their overthrow: Then pursue the Prophets advice from God unto them. Hearken ye all Iudah, and ye inhabitants of Ierusalem, thus saith the Lord God, Be not afraid nor dismaid, by reason of this great multitude (much less of this small Conventicle) for the battle is not yours, but Gods. To morrow go out against them, ye shall not néed to fight in this battle: only set your selves (in array against them) and stand still: (keep your ground, fear not, submi… not to their power, usurpations, impositions in any kind) and the Lord will be with you; Whereupon they rose early in the morning, and went out against them with their Priests before them, singing praises and Psalms of thanksgiving to God. And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the children of Ammon Moab, and Mount-Seir, which were come against Judah, and they smote one another; For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against them of Mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them; and when they had made an end of them, every one helped to destroy another. And when Iudah looked upon the multiude, behold they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. Whereupon Jehoshaphat and his people gathered up their spoiles for 3. daies space together, they were so great; and on the 4th day they blessed the Lord, and returned with joy to Jerusalem, (without the losse of anie one mans life, or one stroke struck by them) because the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel. Imitate but their example herein; go out only couragiously against these Invaders of your Countries Rights, Liberties, Privileges, without fear or dispondencie; Own not their incroached Parliamentarie power, Acts, Imposition, Edicts, Taxes, Excises in anie kind; Keep fast your purse-strings, and part with no farther pay to your Armie-Saints, till they obediently submit to your commands, as their Masters, and acknowledge themselves to be your mercinarie Servants, not your soveraign new Lords, Masters: Then without any more fighting, bloudshed, danger to your persons or estates, you shall soon behold p. 98the Mungrel multitude of Anabaptists, Quakers, Sectaries, Republicans, Vanists, Cromwellists, Iesuits, Papists, now combined against you, divided against each other (as you see they are pretty well) and every of them will help to destroy one another, as they begin to doe; and their Westminster new-convened Vn-Parliamentarie Conventicle thrust out of doors by themselves again, with greater scorn, infamie, derision, damage to them, than heretofore: as Obad. 10.15. Ezech. 35.15. Deut. 32.35, 36.41, 42. Ps. 7.15, 16. Ps. 9.15. Ps. 140.11. Prov. 12.2, 3, c. 24.21, 22. Mich. 3.9. to 13. Hab. 2.12, 13. Rev. 13.10. c. 17.6. c. 16.4, 5, 6. Mat. 7.2. Judg. 1.6, 7. may assure both you and them, compared with Gods late wonderfull providences of this kind upon all sorts of Innovators: So as you may sing, kkPsal. 20.8.Ps 20:8They are brought down and fallen, but we are risen and stand upright. But if you neglect or refuse to follow this advice; beware lest through your unworthie cowardize and negligence in this kinde, you become not a speedy prey to these ravening wolves, llChytra… Chron: Saxonia l. 14. p: 411, to 4…4.now likely to transform London into another mmMunsters Cosmog. l. 3. c. 142. Sl…i…ian Commens. l. 10Munster, and England into a second Germanie; as in the year 1534.

Mr. Prynne having thus fully, faithfully, sincerely discharged his dutie, and satisfied his own conscience; is resolved to nnPsal. 4.8. Psal. 119, 41,Ps 4:8Ps 119:41lie down quietly, to take his rest, and hope for the salvation of his God; concluding with the words of St. Paul in a like case, 2 Tim. 4.6, 7, 8.16, 17, 18. I am now ready to be offred, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which God the righteous Iudge shall give me at that day. At my first answer no man stood by me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge: Notwithstanding the Lord stood by me and strengthned me, that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lyon, And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me to his heavenly KINGDOM; to whom bee glorie for ever and ever, Amen.

Isay 8.9. to 16. Associate your selves O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird your selves and ye shall be broken in pieces; take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word and it sh…ll not …tand: for God is with us. For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong …eud, and instructed m…, that I should not walk in the way of …; saying, say not a C…nfedera…ie, to whom this people shall say p. 99a Confederacie, neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. But sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread, and he shall be for a sanctuarie.

Ps. 26.3, 4, 5. O Lord, I have walked in thy Truth; I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I goe in with dissemblers. I have hated the Congregation of evil doers, and I will not sit with the wicked.

Pro. 29.25. The fear of man bringeth a snare, but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

Ps. 18.46, 48, 50: Ps: 144.10. The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock, and let the God of my salvation be exalted. He delivereth me from mine enemies, yea thou liftest me up above those that rose up against me; thou hast delivered me from the violent man: Therfore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the Heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. It is he that giveth Salvation unto Kings, that delivereth David his servant from the hurtfull sword. Great deliverance giveth he unto his KING, and sheweth mercy to his anointed; To David and to his seed for evermore.

Thomas Campanella De Monarchia Hisp: c. 30. Omnis haeresis cum ad Ath…ismum delapsa est per sapientem Prophetam in veritatis viam reducitur; habent enim haereses periodum suam ad modum Rerum publicarum; quae à Regibus in Tyrannidem; à Tyrannide in Statum Optimatium, et inde in Oligarchiam, atque tandem in Democratiam, ‖‖See Polybii Hist. lib. 6. p. 521 to 527.& in fine rursus in statum Regium revolvuntur.

William Prynne. From my Studie in Lincolns Inne May 18. 1659.

FINIS.