A Character of his Most Sacred Majesty King Charles II, Title page – Preface
A CHARACTER OF His moſt SACRED MAJESTY KING CHARLES the IId.
WITH
A ſhort Apologie before it,
An Introduction to it,
And a Concluſion after it.
Written By a Miniſter of the Word, Who hath for a long time deſired, and daily Prayed for the happy Settlement of Church and State within the three Nations of England, Scotland and Ireland
In Truth, & Peace, & Order.
Some mocked: and others ſaid, We will hear thee again of this matter, Act. 17. 32.
LONDON, Printed by D. Maxwell. 1660.
The Apologie.
IF any ſhall wonder (as doubtleſs many will,) why a private perſon ſhould preſume thus to meddle, in ſuch a high buſineſs, and of ſo great concernment as this: tis anſwered, Firſt, That in a ſinking Bark the pooreſt Ship-boy is as much concern'd to mind his own preſervation, as the Pilot himſelf. And then, for the Subſtance of what is here written, He is not alone, or doth not ſtand as one ſingle perſon to affirm it, becauſe there are more then many thouſands (as he dares preſume to ſay) within theſe Nations, whoſe Hearts, and Tongues, and Hands, and Feet, with every thing beſide are ready to bear witneſs to it.
For the Writer hereof, if He had manifeſted himſelf to be one of thoſe ſtrange Spirits which very much appear in this ſcribling Age, the rankneſs and luxuriency of whoſe fancies, (to the exceeding high diſhonour of God, and the very great reproach of Religion) make bold profaneneſs, filthy obſcoenity, or downright and diſgracefull railings, as foyls to ſet off (what they abuſe) their wit, whereby they fight, as much as they can, againſt God, with his own weapon, he could not ſuffer too much for ſo doing: But he cannot lie under that guilt, who hates and abhors ſuch blots, and blurs, and defilements, and waſte of Paper; and here moſt ſeriouſly profeſſeth, (ſo far as he can know his own Heart,) that he beleeves there is not one which breaths out of fleſh and blood, who more deſires the happy ſettlement of this Church and State, then himſelf: and could be well content to do or ſuffer any thing within his compaſs in order to it. And therefore being much perſwaded of the Truths laid down in theſe following Papers; and hoping they might (accidentally at leaſt) tend towards that happy End to which they are intended; he was like one of thoſe bottles in Job, ready to burſt until he had found a vent for them.
Yet, if his ſtrong affections and hearty deſires herein expreſſed, have carried him beyond the Rules of Prudence or Diſcretion, he humbly craves pardon for his ſake, whoſe Goodneſs hath been wont to wink at, or not to impute the Errors of an honeſt Zeal; and ſo loves the ſtrength of his peoples good affections, that he paſſeth by, or overlooks their failings and infirmities.