Narrative of what was Spoken by Mr Prynne 2, Text (3 of 3)

Narrative of what was Spoken by Mr Prynne 2 · 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, … That 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 befor… 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 migled 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 monie to the Souldiers, ſaying, ſay ye his Diſciples came by night and ſtole him away whiles we ſlept: So they took the monie 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 nought, 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 propagate the Goſpel by their Swords and Arms otherwiſe than this, the Goſpel it ſelf is ſilent: Yea uu… Chron 22.8. c. 28.3.God 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 as the expreſſe word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, when Gods Houſe was to be rebuilt, and his Kingdom propagagated; 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) Zech. 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. 2.17.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 4:20directlie oppoſite, deſtructive to, inconſiſtent with this Peace, to the King, Prince, Goſpel, Ambaſſadors, and Kingdom of peace, as Armies, Souldiers, War, Arms: And therefore it is obſervable, That when our Saviour ſent forth his Diſciples to preach the Goſpel, and ſet up his kingdom, he did not make choyce of Captains of thouſands, or hundreds, nor yet of Souldiers, or Armed men: but of mean ccMat. 10.9, 10. Lu. 9, 3. c. 22.35. Mar. 6, 8, 9.Matt 10:9Matt 10:10Mark 6:8Mark 6:9Fiſher-men, and others altogether averſe from war; commanding them in expreſſe terms, ccMat. 10.9, 10. Lu. 9, 3. c. 22.35. Mar. 6, 8, 9.Matt 10:9Matt 10:10Mark 6:8Mark 6:9to take neither Gold, Silver, nor Braſſe in their purſes, nor ſcrip, nor two coats, nor yet Staves, (much leſſe Swords, 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 Strivers, (much leſſe then profeſſed Warriers) John 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 in to 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, VVar, 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 2.4. 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 Knolls Turk…ſh Hiſtory, Pauli Oroſii Hiſtoria. The Hiſtory of the Arbigenſes.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 Jeſuites, 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 Jacobus Cruciger (Rector of the Jeſuites at Lanſperg) in his explication of the Rules of their Order, Parlus 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 Johanne 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 Jeſus 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 Joynt-Kings with, or Vece-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 Righteouſneſſ… and Peace, and Joy 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 John Bradſhaws and our New Republicans illegal warrant in July, 1651. ſome four dayes after his impriſoment there, divers Officers and Souldiers of the Garriſon, who had long debated every day for ſundry Months befo…e, their preſent expected perſonal reign of Chriſt on Earth, repaired to him, to know his Opinion conce…ning it, as he was taking freſh Ai… in the Bowling-Alley, ſtanding in a ring about him: Upon which he fi…ſt demanded their Opinions of it: when they had all fully utte…ed their Conceits in the Affirmative with much conſidence; M. Pryn briefly anſwered, That now they had beheaded one of our Kings, and almoſt conquered another, and o…r 3. Kingdoms, they tho…ght, talked of nothing but being all Kings themſelves, and of reigning perſon…lly on Earth cheek by joll with Chriſt himſelf, as his Fellow-Kings, no Earthly King being fit to be a Companion for ſuch tranſcendent ſ…blinated 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 g…ounded thei… 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 Jeſus, 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 Jeruſalem 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 Ʋmpire: For the words are moſt poſitive, that none elſe ſhall thus reign with Jeſus Chriſt a thouſand years, but only the ſouls of thoſe who were beheaded for the teſtimony of Ieſus Chriſt, &c. It being 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 7 reaſons 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 him (by refuſing to ſuffer with or for him) he will alſo deny us. With which words theſe formerly confident Swordmen were ſo non plaſſed, 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 Goſ…el 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. 3 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. 9….8 Pſal. 45.6. Pſal. 145.13. Pſal. 146.10 Iſay 19.7. 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, and 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 Oath, Religion, Worſhip, Faith, Principle…, Co…nſels, reſolution…, con…, when true, ju…, honeſt, upright, …incere, commendable, and in their Kingly, publick Government, evidenced by its Antiquitie, the experiences of many ſucceſſive generations to be beneficial, ſafe, ju…t, 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. P…al. 15, 4.1. Chron. 28.7, 8, 9. Prov. 24.21. Pſal. 57.7. P…al. 46.1, 2, 3. Pſ. 27.1, 3. Jer. 2.11. Rom. 8.35, 36, …6, 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, r…in of any Nation, Church, peopl…, kingdom, State, Counſel, perſon, to be addicted to changes, unſtable, variable, unconſtant, fickle, mutable, t…ſſ…d 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, t…ſſed 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. I…ay 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 you alwayes ringing the changes in our Churche…, 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 tranſgr…ſſ…rs, 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, may 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 Hackneſs of darkn…ſſ …or ever, as three Prophets, and 3 Apoſtles reſolve in expreſs terms, Iſay 57.20, 21. Jer. 9.2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Mich. 7.5, 6. Jam. 1.6, 7.2 Pet. 2.17. Jude 12, 13. O therefore now at laſt repent, repent with greateſt grief, ſhame, horror of this you. 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 G…d, peace, truth, juſtice, righteouſn…ſs, hon…ſty, piety, duty, into **Iſay 59.8.Isa 59:8ſuch J…ſ…itical paths, wherein there is nothing but waſting and deſtruction (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 Expoſt…lations 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, ƲTTERLY INEFFECTƲAL. 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 f…rther clearly confeſs, We do not ſee how there can be any peace to the Kingdom from or laſting▪ Nota.without a due conſideration of and proviſion for the Righ…s 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 …rs) and a Spirit of Common love and Iuſtice diff…ſing it ſelf to the good and preſervation of all, will make up the moſt Glorious Conqueſt over their hear…s (i… 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 June 1647. & in your Generals Letter to both Houſes of Parliament, 6 July 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, and 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 A…g: 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 Jeſuits, 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 fitting 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 Jeſuitical 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 than one expoſt…larie 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 treachero…ſly 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, perſidiouſly 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. 4.17.25. many of theſe Kings loſing this Title of King of Kings, when their ſubordinate Kings and kingdoms 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, ve…ified of this our Iſland of Great Britain, which ggEp. Vſhers Eccleſ. Brit. Antiq. c. 3 4, 5, 6, 7.8. Spelmanni Concil. Tom. 1. & Epiſt. Ded. to it. Fox Acts & Mon. in H. 8. E. 6. Qu. Eliz. & their Statutes to this purpoſe.had the fi…ſt Chriſtian King we read of in all the world, Lucius; the firſt Chriſtian Queen, Helena; the firſt and moſt glorious Chriſtian Emperor, Conſtantine 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 hhMalmsb de Geſtis Regum l. 3 c. 13. Mat. Weſtm. Anno 1055. Polycbron. l. 6. c. 18 Sim Dunelm col 136. Bromton, col. 909.955. Ael…edus de Vita & Mirac. Edw. Confeſſ.Hiſtorians inform us:) And can you iiRom 9 19. 1 Cor. 10.22.Rom 9:191 Cor 10:22reſiſt 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 Title?

2ly. Conſider, It is Gods ſpecial promiſe, covenant made to Abraham the Fat…er 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 Judah his bleſſing, Prerogative, Gen. 49.8.10. Thy Fathers children ſhall bow down before th…e: 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, N…m. 23.21. &c. 24.7. The ſho…t 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 Judges: 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 forever, Ver: 11, 12, 16. How much holy David was tranſported, yea raviſhed with this News from heaven, and with what enlargement of Spirit he bl…ſſ…d 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 J… dah 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 the 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, 25.2 Kgs 17:202 Kgs 17:212 Kgs 17:222 Kgs 17:25 …orſaking 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 o… Jeruſalem 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. Bl…ſſ…d 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 King… 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 ſu…h 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 ſateth in the Throne of Judgment ſcattereth away all evil with his eyes, and bringeth the wheel over the wicked, Prov: 29.4.14. The King by Judgement ſtabliſheh the Land; Yea the King that faithfully judgeth the Land, his throne ſhall be eſtabliſhed for ever: And he reſolve 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 honour, 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, though 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. Abijam 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. Nevertheleſſe 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 8:19promiſed to give a light to him and to his Sons for ever Which Texts compared with Pſal. 132.1, 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, under 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 judicially 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. vel Teſt. p. 133.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 Rheboboam the Son of Solomon againſt the Ʋſurper Jeroboam, 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 Sinner,) 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, enact…diit 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. 213. c. 4.8. 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 Oh 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. Beho…d a King ſhall reign in Righteouſneſſe, and Princes ſhall rule in Judgement; 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 thall 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, 18. 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 preſence 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 ſucceſſiive 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 8.1 Mar. ſeſ. 2 c. 1. 7 H. 7 c. 1.ſome Statutes is ſtiled a Common wealth) as being the hhAriſtot. Polit. l. 3. c. 12. l. 4. c. 2 l. Caſe Sphaera Civitatis l. 3. c. 5. p. 238. l. 4. c. 3. p. 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 Jac. 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 Crown 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 upon 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 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 ſerious particular peruſal.Pſal 68.32. Pſal. 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, 16, 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 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, Richeliev, 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. 94leiſure in Thucidides, Diodorus Siculus, Xenophon, Plutarch, Arrianus Juſtin, Bp. Ʋſhers, Annales-Veteris Teſtamenti; whence Heniochus an antient Greek Comaedian, compares Ariſtocracie, and Popularitie unto two ſcolding Women, who coming amongſt the Grecians, 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.Declaratoins 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 Jeſuits 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 John Kempsfield, a Commander of the Horſe in the late Kings Armie: who diſcerning the Kings inclination to cloſe with the Scots and Presbyt…rians, 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 e…tſoon able to call out manie a ſheep-clothed-wolf from their ſtations, ſtalls, looms, aprons, weeds, liveries, ſhops, yea and Buſt coats; what ſay you to Pulpi…s 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 …peak 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 ſinger. 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. Mintril (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 ſeek 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 ſati…factorie 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 Jeſuits made of it, to induce him and others to Poperie; and what endeavors were uſed by the Jeſuits 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 Jeſuit, 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 Jeſuit, (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 Jeſuits 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 44.121, 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 Jeſuits, Seminarie Prieſts, Papiſts, Poperie; the manifold miſchiefs, dangers accrewing by their increaſe, toleration, and ſ…ſpe…ſion 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 Jeſuits 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, 2…4, 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 James and King Charles, not only baniſhed out of England, Scotland, Ireland, and all their Dominions; but likewiſe out of France, Germanie, Poland, Bohemia, Auſtria, M…ravia, 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 P…ſts 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 Jeſus, 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 Ravencus 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 Jeſuits 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-M…mbers and Lords Houſe by force, erecting your New Republike, and Parliamentarie Conventicle, &c. are the Works of the Jeſuites 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, a…e the very Jeſuits principles; as you may read at leiſure in Johannis Mariana, De Rege & Regum Inſtitutione, l. 1. c. 6. Creſwels Philopater, Franciſcus Verona Constantini, Apologia pro Johanne Caſtellio et Jeſuitis; Jeſuitae 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 Jeſuitical Phyſiognomies, heads, perrewigs, inſtead of your old genuine Protestant complexions, brains, notions, hair. And if the preſent freſh Addreſſ…s, 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-Johns 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 he 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 Judas Iſcariot, the Traytor of Traytors, Acts 1.18. Mat. 27.5. Peruſe over all our Books, Records, Hiſtories, 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 Ʋnparliamentary Juncto, 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 Juncto, under a pretext of Reforma…ion, 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. 13 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.Remonſtrances 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, Innovatons, 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. 93redreſſed, ere 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 faith fulneſſe 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,Mat. 21.23.Matt 21:23 againſt all our Laws, Statutes, Declarations, Remonſtrances, Oaths, Vows, Proteſtations, Leagues, Covenants, Cuſtoms, Preſcription time out of minde, Liturgies, Collects, Canons, Articles; Homilies, Records, Writs, Writers, and their own manifold obligations to the contrary for their inviolable defence, 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 Jacobi c. 1. (worthy moſt ſerious conſideration) with all poſsible publick joy and acclamation, from the bottom of their hearts 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 ſole Heir of the Blood-Royal of this Realm, And therunto (by this publick Act of 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 of this High Court of Parliament, and the whole Nations Loyalty and Faith to his Majeſty and his Royal Poſterjty 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, as the Parliament, ffExact Collection, and a Collection of them. The Good Old Cauſe truly ſtated.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, their Crown and Dignity, ggSee the Letany, Collects, for the King, Queen, and Royal Iſſue: Canons, 1605. Can. 54.or any of them, and to maintain all Iuriſdictions, Preheminences, Authorityes, juſtly belonging, united, or annexed to the Imperial Crown 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 meat, wherein they conſtantly prayed to God, (according to the hhTertulliani Apol…g Euſeb. de Vira Conſtantini. l. 4. c. 19, 10. Caſſiador. Hiſt. Tripartira, l. 5. c. 22. Athanatius Apologia ad Conſtantinum Imp. Sozomen Eccleſ. Hiſt. l. 2. 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, 880, 891, 925, 926, 1022, 1024, 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 Ages,) 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 Ʋtopian 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 Judgement, 1 Sam 8. and ſay reſolutely to them, We will have no New Common-wealth nor Ʋnparliamentary 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 deſire 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 ſurely 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. 10.6.101…. See My New Diſcovery of Free State Tyranny; And Englands New Chains.2 Chr 10:62 Chr 10:101little fingers have been heavier than our Kings whole loyns; and the counſels, 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: 28.2.3.22. to 36.King Jehoſhaphat 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, wilt 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 t… 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 Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jeruſalem, 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 need to fight in this battle: only ſet your ſelves (in array againſt them) and ſtand ſtill: (keep your ground, fear not, ſubmir 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 Judah 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, Impoſitions, 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. 98hold the Mungrel multitude of Anabaptiſts, Quakers, Sectaries, Republicans, Ʋaniſts, Cromwelliſts, Jeſuits, 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 Ʋn-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, now likely to transform London into another iiChytrai Chron. Sax…nia l. 14. p: 411, to 414. Munſteri Coſmog. l. 3. c. 142, Sleidan Comment. l. 10Munſter, and England into a ſecond G…rmanie; 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. 11…, 41,Ps 11:41lie 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 Judge 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 yourſelves and ye ſhall be broken in pieces; take counſel together, and it ſhall come to nought; ſpeak the word and it ſhall not ſtand: for God is with us. For the Lord ſpake thus to me with a ſtrong hand, and inſtructed me, that I ſhould not walk in the way of the people; ſaying, ſay not a Confederacie, 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 bleſſ…d 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 Atheiſmum delapſa eſt per ſapientem Prophetam in veritatis viam reducitur; habent enim haereſes periodum ſuam ad modum Rerumpublicarum; 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.