REBELLION STRIP'T AND WHIPT THROUGH All its Principles and Pretences From the first to the last By way of Appeale to the Consciences of the City of LONDON in particular and the whole Kingdom in generall In the behalfe of his most Sacred MAjESTY and the Church now trampled on by Traytors Pro ARIS et FOCIS Printed in the yeere 1648. To all true-hearted Englishmen of what degree or qualitie soever especially to each particular Citizen of London Courteous and friendly Reader FOr so my believing charitie perswadeth me to style you although my mean and inconsiderable deserts cannot hope to lay claim to the title As it is a certaine truth for our comfort that man's passive extremitie is Gods active opportunitie deliverance then stepping in when in our apprehensions wee are past hopes of being delivered so it is as necessary a truth to be practised that when Kingdomes Cities Families or friends are most passive under the extremitie of accumulative miseries threatning ruine and desolation then to be most active in our assistance counsell and to our power deliveranco Such like thoughts as these possessing me in these unhappiest of unhappy times wherein a generally-feared destruction hangeth over our heads like a sharp pointed sword only by a small thread perswaded me with the poore widow my abilities not being able to bestow more to cast in this my following mite and if it shall though in it selfe worthlesse prove by the concurring operation of Gods Spirit upon the hearts of men in the least manner instrumentally contributary to the reformation of some information of others and a desired restoration of the whole Kingdome in generall the City of London in particular where I received my first birth and being to their ancient honour and former truth and peace return your thankes to the Lord of heaven and earth the fountaine of all Mercies and pray for the Eternall happinesse of Your reall friend Country-man and fellow Citizen Rexophilus Londinatus Christianus Protestans Maii prim 1648. Ne inutilis olim vixisse videar 25 Proverbs 11. A word spoken in season is like apples of Gold in pictures of Silver 122 Psalme 8. For my brethren and companions sakes will I now say peace bee within thy walls WHen the Hebrew-tongued bells sadly invite the Charitable assistance of others to a pacification of that rebellious Element Fire Hebrew Letters must bee read backward A Custome in England to ring bels backward when houses are on fire destructively active beyond its legall bounds and a reduction of it to its proper center and due obedience who will not unlesse some whose preventing care is little about their own and carefull pitty lesse imployed about others ruines willingly contribute their quenching paines Nay who except others as miserably destitute of honesty as wealth whose strangely malicious mindes repine at the fruitfull industry smiling prosperity of others and whose irregular expectations hope to supply the defect of their own wealth and boy up their almost irrecoverably sunk estates by a generally concurring destruction will not subscribe to a voluntary demolition of their proper and more peculiar buildings only to anticipate the devastation of others by that mercilesse raging tyrant When the angry windes begin to vent their spleen and the passive surges which not long before were united into one only unfurrowed face like slaves forced to a degeneration are compelled by those powerfully Commanding Masters into high swelling frowns and deep-furrowed wrinkles thereby menacing ruine to all floating travellers in that uncertain watery region Will not then all obliged and resolved guides Vela moderantes per aequoris undas unlesse some who with too much ease can change ingagements of publike preservation into permissive if not active resolutions of desolation or others whose winding limbs embarqued on gainfull private hopes or aguish losing fears can comply with every rouling wave thereby in vain expecting in a Fly-boat of neutralitie to swim safely to a self-securing shore will not all except such consult a prevention of such a universally-threaten'd destruction My dearest Country-men England hoc momento temporis O that Fame could give my Pen the lye but alas alas experience already hath and still doth afford us too too certain grounds evidencing its truth is at this very day become a sad paralell of these preceding lines England not long since famous abroad happy at home even beyond si foelicitatem noverit desire of additionall happinesse for its united domestick structures I mean its Monarchicall government compacted into so sweetly agreeing * King Lord and Common in Parliamenâ— disproportionâ—d proportion that setting aside those Concomitantes Regnorum devastatores those destroyers of men and Kingdomes Ambition Envy and Sedition which blind the judgements sight enforcing it to a partiall if not an envious construction of the best things the most prying eye could not discern the * Poorest men humblest stone remedilesly press'd by an oppressing * Rich persons Superiour or highest advanced pinacle proudly scorning inferiour subjected materialls without a check from the master builder I mean the established law whose enlivener fonsque origo is our Soveraigne Lord King Charles c. Sine quo nulla nova fuit est Angliâ lexque erit Jeremiah 9. chap. 1. v. This England quis non talia scribendo lachrymarum flumina mittet who can forbeare wishing with the Prophet That his head were full of water and his eyes a fountain of tears to weep for his Native Country by the beginning Sparcks of an unfortunate Northern fire-brand strange it is that so cold and almost benumming a climate should yield such nimbly-devouring fire intermixing in its consuming progresse with unnaturally connaturalizing materialls by degrees grown almost into one entire flame This winged Vessell truly styled Europ's Soveraigne whose swelling sayles not long since were filled even to envy and admiration of all round about her by long continuing uninterrupted succesfull gales At last by the enforcement of rigid necessitie justly steering its powerfully commanding course for its command proceeded from a * Commission from his Majestie Just power neere the * Scotland Calidonian waters met with some surly opposing gufts high-working ambitious and rebellious waves which not wanting a concurring assistance and incouragement from other mutinous spirits strange it is that children of the same wombe should rend the very bowels of their naturall parent upon the unreasonable invitation of aliens accompanying the same Fleet with this Royall Pilot denyed to strike sayle or expresse obedience to his lawfull commands Which strange and unnaturall opposition increasing like snow roul'd from place to place even to a monstrous heap by the senslesly assisting and furiously active hands of such persons was soon howsoever dissolved by the favourable breath and gracious condescentions beyond expectation of the Royall CoÌ„mander himself as it seemed having a brest more affected with the losse of any under his command however in their obedience repugnant although I cannot but
now horresco scribere a restrained Prisoner to his royall Prerogative and Rights by the Law of the Land justly and undoubtedly manifested to be his his Subjects singulatim and their fellow Subjects to their ancient Liberties Proprieties and Immunities by the same Law really theirs and in the conjunction of such loyall affections and really performed actions the three Kingdoms to an entire Peace and undeniable Truth according to the truest construction of their own solemn League and Covenant which being by their contributed assistance forwarded to a perfect consummation we shall return thanks to God for his exceeding bountifull expressions of such a mercy and gratification to them as Instruments conducing thereunto hoping that we shall not need to put them in mind that our hopes onely are that such kind of auxiliary affections will proceed meerly out of loyall affections to his Majesty and love to us their Brethren and not from an intent commandingly to incorporate themselves into Englands Priviledges Freedoms Honours and Wealth therefore at present shall have no occasion to acquaint them that Englands birth-right will not be sold upon unequall terms to this purpose O thou God of all Spirits grant to them and us thy assisting grace that we may obey thee O Lord who art the King of heaven and earth in all things for thy own sake according to thine own rule and King Charles our Soveraign thy substitute upon earth for thy sake that so all of us guided by one Law of truth thy will reveiled in thy Word governed by him our King according to the truth of Law established and all our multiplied sinnes against thee being pardoned treason and rebellion against his Majesty buried in an unrepealable Act of oblivion we may for the future live in piety and godlinesse towards thee our God in obedience and loyalty to his Majesty in unity peace and concord like Brethren one among another Amem Amen Amen But I return to England which still remaineth passive under a tyrannically wasting fire and like a Ship still tossed to and fro by raging tempestuous windes it 's true Religion by Law established it 's really fundamentall Lawes respecting both Prince and People his just Rights and the Subjects most certain and generally contenting Liberties approaching neer to a dissolutiō though not a destruction for magna veritas prevalebit the gates of hell shall never be able to prevail against truth being ready to sink into an Aristocraticall boundlesse or Anarchicall bottomles Sea Therefore my dear Country-men that I might not appear like an uncharitable Travellour passing thorow a Town contracted by fire into one flame without observation pitty or according to my present poor ability some assistance or that I may not seem carelesse to sail by a distressed Vessell lost almost in the deep by the violent beatings of seditiously conspiring waves I have here contributed some buckets of water towards the asswaging of this devouring fire sent some assisting necessaries aboard the Kingdoms sinking Ship In doing whereof if my zeal to the Protestant Religion loyalty to my Soveraign love and fidelity to my native Country affection and approbation of the well composed Lawes thereof compassion and pitty to all my misguided misinformed and seduced Country-men shall expose me to censure condemnation nay death it self I am resolved by the help of God in whom alone is my confidence with the Apostle into whatsoever condition I shall be cast therewith to remain content esteeming it dulce decorum pro Religione Rege Patria legibusque Angliae mori Now because it concerneth all who raise buildings not so much to catch the eyes-observance with insubstantiall shadowes as to remain lastingly serviceable to lay a sure foundation least that declining or by opposing force enforced to a removall each particuler superstructure meet with the same ruine and suddenly sinking-fate my intent therefore not being for procuration of popular ayery applause but information and reduction of those into the good old way of the Christian Protestant Religion Reason Law and Loyalty who through ignorance and misinformation have been made pedes instrumentales the feet by which the Machiavilians of these times have walked on towards the end of their designs manus complicantes the hands with which Politicians have framed their Engines for an enforced alteration of Englands government without whose assistāce their plots would have proved but like statues without motion or abortive Births dead in the very womb those I mean whose intentions at first never aimed at a totall change of Government by a diminishing though in a petitionary much lesse a bloody compulsive way his Majesties royall Prerogative and just Regall power but having been abused through specious pretences of Reformation have been ignorant instruments of Englands unhappinesse As for the Initiatours Contrivers Plotters of this rooting design who begin at the end thereof and accordingly have in England per fasque nefas endeavoured the attaining their ends levelling all ancient bounds of Regall Prerogative just Parliamentary Priviledges private mens proprieties and liberties digging so deep in quest of the fundamentall Lawes that they have arrived at the Antipodes and yet after six yeers endeavours are as far from finding that fundamentall vein as they were when their bloody designs opened the first vein in the Kingdoms body I cannot expect a smooth face from them expressing favour to these lines or remain satisfied with what is written therefore I shall onely pray for them that the God of heaven would open their eyes causing them to see how with Jeroboam they have not onely sinned themselves but caused many thousands in England to sin and grant them repentance and pardon for all their accumulative offences before they go down to the grave and be seen no more I shall therefore fundamina ponere leaving discourses of the necessity of a Nationall government the antiquity rationality and precedency of Monarchy beyond any other form the comparative excellency of the English Government in respect of others practized and bearing the same title the Presse having been already fruitfull in Writings of that nature lay down some undeniable positions and truths ab omnibusque concessa First in respect of a Government already lawfully setled Secondly in regard of those ligamenta fidelitatis promissory oaths by which religious engagements we oblige our selves to an acknowledgement of some rights due to the supream Governour by the generally received and practized custome of a Nation as also to maintain such rights against all violent opposition hindering any compelled diminution or alteration of the same by any persons whomsoever Hoping that in the result of all nemo Christianus contra Religionem nemo Anglicina contra leges Angliae nemo sobrius contra rationem nemo fidelis contra Regem nemo Pacificus contra pacem durabilem contendet that all true Protestants rational men faithfull Subjects lovers of their Religion King Country and Peace will condescend to what hereafter they shall find propounded Therefore
Supremacy are by the Law of the Land injoyned to be taken by all Persons capable thereof especially men imployed in any publicke Office but more particularly the House of Commons in Parliament sine quo non est talis 5. Eliz. cap. 1. In which they sweare without Equivocation or mentall reservation to beare Faith and true alleagiance to his Majestie his Heires and Successours to defend him and them against all Conspiracies and attempts whatsoever against their Persons Crown and Dignitie Now let all reasonable Men consider and within their owne judgements resolve these questions themselves Coll. Ordn. first book 93. Is it maintenance of his Majesties crown and dignity and defence against all attempts c. To force the Militia inseperably belonging to the Crown from him under pretence of groundlesse feares and jealousies Is it maintenance of his Crowne and Dignitie First book Coll. Par. Ordn. pag. 309 310. June 1642. I meane his regall Crowne of Government to demand as they did in their nineteen Propositions all governing Kingly power from him plainly then speaking that their intent was not to maintaine notwithstanding their glorious pretences the Law nor resolution ad errores reformandum but regimen Angliae mutandum For had they really intended as they verbally often pretended in their Ordinances and Declarations Coll. Ordn 130. alibique Preservation of the Law of the Land his Majesties royall person Fo. 15. Coll. Ordn. Decemb. 1641. honour and Estate just Prerogative and Soveraignty they should have provided having also declared in that grand Remonstrance to the Kingdome that their intent was to restore the ancient honour greatnesse and security of the Crowne More wals of Brasse if it were possible to invent which I must confesse passeth my beleefe more and a more excellent one for preventing any more shaking of the Law established by intrenching upon the Kings just Prerogative and the Subjects Liberty then the Trienniall Parliament which they confesse themselves to be a perpetuall Spring of remedies for the future And not on the first Onset Magis Postulare quam Petere totally require rather then desire the Kings royall Power Nineteen Propos for that end breaking all hedges of publicke and generall liberty to preserve or advantage some few private peeces of inclosed grounds Oath of Alleagiance and Supremacy Is it faith and alleagiance and a Declaration in your Consciences that none hath power to discharge Subjects from their Alleagiance and Obedience to his Majesty To frame Oathes wherein you ingage your fellow Subjects Coll. Ordn. 93 138. even in a manner to protest against their alleagiance and obedience to his Majestie by Covenanting to assist the Forces raised and continued by both Houses who are but Subjects else why doe they Petition to his Majesty in those submissive stiles Of his Majesties most humble and loyall Subjects against the Forces raised by the King and that they shall nor directly nor indirectly assist the Forces raised by the King without the consent of both Houses witnesse their Vow and Covenant Ordered die Sabbathi 1643. and and their latter composed Negative Oath much to the same effect Oath of Supremacy Is it a Declaration in your Conscience that the Kings highnesse is the onely supreame Governour of this Realme and all other his Majesties Dominions To deprive him of his Negative voyce in Parliament to create Magistrates to exercise a power over the life and death of his Subjects nay to doe any thing but what Subjects ought to doe and Oaths oblige unto Is it a defence of all Jurisdictions and Priviledges Preheminences and Authorities belonging to the Kings highnesse his heirs and Successours and annexed to the imperiall crown of this Realm To declare that the King is not in a condition to govern Answer to the Scots Declaration Novemb. 28. 1647. to imprison him to affirm that they will make no more addresses unto him that they will settle the government of the Kingdom without and against him These considered I appeal to all hear O heaven judge O earth with yee Inhabitants of England Scotland and Ireland who are guilty of perjury I am sure none but will confesse that the Oaths of Alleagiance and Supremacy are lawfull in themselves commanded by a compleatly lawfull authority remaining enjoyned confirmed by act of Parliament therefore ought to be taken by all according to the literall sense thereof and endeavours used to perform the same according to each mans uttermost ability As for that exception savouring more of a Turkish or Jesuiticall then of a Christian Protestant's affirmative judgement nay it is contrary to common reason and altogether vain For any one to apprehend that singular persons one by one are obliged to the observation of these Oaths but a body representative is one as if one man alone could be perjured and yet that the multiplication of that unite equally engaged both in the keeping and the breach thereof to four hundred gave a dispensation from the guiltinesse of the sin as if an offender were an offender because quatenus homo unicus per se peccans sinning as one man alone and not because the offence committed was a deviation from the Law of God Reason or the Law when as it is far more correspondent to reason to affirm that the more the Offenders are the more guilty because more spreading and the greater the Offenders are as representitave bodies or Magistrates abusing a conferred power are more dangerous because exemplary for citius ducti per exempla quà m praecepta we are too apt to follow sin in a multitude especially if they be great persons of repute pretending assertours and reformers though they prove desertours and deformers of Religion Lawes and Liberties Besides God in the Scriptures commandeth us not to follow a multitude to do evil which implieth that a multitude may do evil and what is a representitative body but a multitude in a grammaticall sense and therefore if they do evil they must not be followed Nay the whole current of Gods Word runs with variety of judgements threatned against all that are in authority if they recede from his Commandements The Prophet Micah with others are full in this respect You may see many more among the rest of the Prophets Micah 3.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Amos 6.11 12 13 14. Hosea 5.9 10 11 12 13 14 15. O come therefore for the prevention of such like judgements and the removing from us what we already lye under let us by a timely repentance return unto the God of heaven humbly entreating him that he would forgive us all our sins more particularly that he would not lay this hainous sin of Perjury to Englands charge but give us grace to mourn and weep for that and all others which have occasioned our Land to mourn in misery and weep in blood Now to contract the premised severals into a narrower compasse thereby to make this rooting design appear plainly
the often reiterated advice of Reverend Judge Jenkens to restore His Majesty to His Throne and procure a gracious Pardon from Him with an all-burying Act of Oblivion O that men would in this their day perceive those wayes wich do lead to Peace and Truth and walk therein before they be hidden from their eyes And whereas the happinesse of a blessed Peace between these Kingdomes that is 5. Article Covenant by the union of the three Kingdomes under One King professing the truth of Religion governing by His established Law denyed in former times to our Progenitours is by the providence of God granted unto us c. So that now we are no more Aliens nay Neighbours but Brethren not envying one anothers happinesse and prosperity being not infested with offensive or defensive Acts of hostility upon either of our borders but reciprocally endeavouring one anothers peace and welfare mutually joying in the enjoyment of one anothers happinesse Let each of us endeavour that the Kingdomes may remaine in such a firme peace and union that is by our mutuall obedience to our Soveraigne and the Laws of each respective Nation and in brotherly love one towards another Amen O heavenly Father Give us to this end powerfull endeavours to make good our Covenant accordingly And may Justice be done to the wilfull opposers in manner expressed in the precedent Article We shall also according to our places in this common cause of Religion Liberty and peace of the Kingdomes 6. Article Covenant assist and defend by all lawfull meanes all those that enter into this League and Covenant c. nor shall we make defection to the contrary part but shall oppose and hinder That is all such who envying our blessed union thus religiously lawfully cemented shal oppose us and it endeavouring by heretical erroneous divulged positions to dishonour God and robbe him of his glory by seditious doctrines to infuse into the people a disloyal spirit of Treason and Rebellion against the Kings Majesty His heires and successours of disobedience to Him and His lawfull Commands whereby His honour is despised the generall good of the Kingdomes not onely neglected â—ut much endangered all which we shall do as in the sight of God And because these Kingdomes are guilty of many sins against God and his Son Christ Jesus as by our present distractions dangers too manifestly appeareth Let us all pray that the God of heaven and earth would give us his grace of humiliation for our own particular the general sins of this Nation especially that we have not valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel nor received Christ into our hearts conforming our lives and actions to his practice and precept but rather have made use of the liberty and freedome which we had by Christ from the rigorous exaction and condemning power of the Law Gal. 5.13 as an occasion to neglect and altogether to deny our obedience to the Law as the rule of direction Notwithstanding that thou who art truth it self hast told us that the end of thy comming was to fulfill and not to destroy the Law 5 Mat. 17. Neverthelesse we despise it running madly into sin as an horse rusheth into the battaile Let us further pray that God would bestow upon us his grace of assistance whereby we may be enabled to amend our lives to performe all holy actions required by himselfe to himself according to his revealed will all our duties towards Men according to their severall degrees and places Honour and obedience to the King as Supreame to whom they primarily belong to all subordinate Magistrates as rivelets streaming from him the Spring Forgiving all our enemies persecutors and slanderers praying God who hath the hearts of all men at command winding them which way he please as he doth the Rivers of water to pardon their sins and turne their hearts and cause us to live in love peace and charity one with another Thus let us shew an example of a reall reformation that the Lord may turne away his wrath and heavy indignation and restore truth and peace to these Churches and Kingdoms which God out of his infinite mercy grant Amen Amen To draw to a conclusion I shall by way of a briefe recollection propound some few questions to my poor deceived Country-men which their owne knowledge can answer Had the irregular faction of the two Houses intended as they only pretended a reformation of some errours which perhaps like Cobwebs in an uninhabited house were growne through too much security a crime incident to an uninterrupted peace in Kingdomes they might have been swep't downe with the milde beesome of Instruction and care taken to prevent the like for future and needed not to have pull'd downe the building to take them away Did ever His Majesty in all His transaction by His Messages and Declarations since these unhappy times propose any new thing for the inlargement of His owne Prerogative or derogatory to the Law of the Land and more particularly that part thereof which concerneth the Subjects Liberty Did the King Patronize any Instruments who ranne formerly beyond the just bounds of the Law from condigne punishment Did He ever practice Popery truely so called or propose any thing that to the most jealous and suspicious thoughts might in after-times have occasioned the introduction thereof Or did he ever administer the least ground to fear his recidivation from the Protestant Religion but rather hath evidenced the contrary by His Practice Proclamations Declarations and Commands Did not His Majesty ever first send Messages of Peace and reconciliation Vid. all His Messages Col. Parl. Ordin Wooing His Subjects to the enjoyment of their owne Tranquility and happinesse On the contrary have not the irregular faction of the two Houses notwithstanding their pretences of Religion and Law subverted the ancient Law and Liberty of our Nation and defamed the Religion established abrogating its formes of Worship This will appear if you consider That in all their addresses though pretending Peace they never endeavoured a reconciliation between His Majesty and themselves in such a manner whereby a mutuall satisfaction and security might have been given and received as it is requisite between two differing parties but they must have all giving His Majesty no satisction at all Did they ever command the practice of the Religion and formes of worship established notwithstanding their pretended maintenance thereof or did they ever so much as consult about preservation thereof but on the contrary have suffered heresies Schismaticall opinions openly to be Preached and Printed contrary to the same Government Did not His Majesty yeild to the setling of the Presbyterian Government for three years in a Legall manner as flowing from the power of the Crowne But this would not satisfie They like strange gamesters fling at all they must have totaliter totum Therefore consider hereof you have againe the result of the designe Epitomized Nolunt hunc regnare Their Writings
Actions past present although spiced over with never so many plausible pretences affirme no lesse O Angliginae Angliginae quae vos dementia cepit O English-men let me expostulate with you Did all of you nay did any of you six years past by your first assistance intend what you now see brought to passe The frame of your Government altered Your King your Soveraigne a Prisoner I am confident that few or none of you you I meane to whom I write contributers of your assistance not knowing wilfull contrivers had then no such intentions Why then by silence will you suffer the guilt of these bloody designers to be originally pinn'd upon your back Take notice that sin-guilty men are of a nature much like the Plague they love to have company in infection avoid the one therefore as you would flie from the other follow the common Proverbe Set the saddle upon the right horse Weigh in your thoughts past and present actions have they not sufficiently abused you you deceived mislead Londoners I meane Could you ever some years past have supposed that an Army formerly stiling themselves your protecting friends â— July 1647. should by an opposing march come against you slaying even at your City wals some ingaged for your and its defence that the Cannons mouth should by them be turned against your dwellings that your defensive meanes of preservation within your wals your Chaines I meane by the prevalency of that faction should be knock'd off Could you then expect or fear to be thus domineered over by such bucklers and the Lording swords I am certaine such thoughts could not then possesse you Now all this being true why will you by your too too passivenesse be continuers of your owne Miseries Consider further do you all expect Clavum regni tenere doe you all hope to be Kings to governe none obey you cannot entertaine such vaine conceipts Do you expect that liberty should be granted in Civill affaires Vitam sine lege vivere to live without a Law No no deceive not your selves your cunning Masters that have hitherto blindfolded you and led you by the nose will when they have gained the full command of the reines make you passive in any thing that their ambition malice and covetousnesse shall though falsely suggest as necessary and convenient Therefore be perswaded to a desertion of them and their designes What though you have got a scratch or two in your reputation by your former erroneous actions would you rather have it fester through neglect and so indanger the losse of a member then apply this salve of a penitentiall returne which will heale you in a moment Non est perniciosum in praelio vulnerari sed post vulnus acceptum vulneri medicamentum non applicare It is more madnesse to refuse a cure then dishonour to receive a wound Is it not a far better happier Government and freer from oppression to live under our Soveraigne Lord the King Ruling His Subjects by a written Law and resigning the Ministers of that Law if they neglect executing Justice and Judgement according to the direction thereof to the strictly searching examination of a Parliament one of their proper workes and according to their merit by them to receive Punishment then under a company of Tyrannicall persons quibus voluntates solummodo leges governing according to their owne wils and from whom there is no appeale Once more therefore let me earnestly desire all my abused and deceived Country-men to returne to the God of heaven by a true and unfeigned repentance to their Soveraigne in Loyall affections and obedienciall actions to their Country in a true hearted fidelity And here although I have not the least cause knowing the principles of Religion on which they stand to doubt their contrary practice yet for the further advancement of His Majesties Honour their owne reputations as English Protestants Vindication of the Kings so just a Cause and stopping the mouthes of envious men who watch for reviling opportunities let me adde this request to all those who by the assisting and directing power of the Almighty God have ever since these dismall dayes of bloody disloyalty been kept in the straight path of obedience to His Majesty That they would invite all former wanderers out of that way unto a returne by perswasive arguments of reason sound principles of Religion alluring expressions of affection laying aside all bitternesse of spirit revenge and hatred the bane of Peace and reconciliation forgetting all former deviations putting a difference between the efficient and instrumentall cause I meane the contrivers of this Rooting designe and the Instruments who were abused into unlawfull actions by specious pretences and know not the end to which these beginnings did tend considering that though Nature hath equally bestowed eyes upon all birds yet she hath not given to all eyes alike qualified with the Eagles therefore let us all rather endeavour to cleare their sight then muffle them with the vailes of scornefull and reproachfull words Nay let us even to the most wilfull persisters and invenomed spirits imitate the example of blessed S. Steven whose heart hands eyes and tongue then begg'd mercy and forgivenesse of the God of heaven for his hard hearted adversaries when they were knocking him downe to the earth with stones And when in after times the wheel shall turne placing their expectations in the chaire of power with a nunc fruimur votis forget not to use the reines of command with Moderation still remembring that the irregular deeds of State affaires and Princes imployed instruments reflect alwayes upon their Royall Master the Kings honour being then wounded when they do but slip into the practice of unwarrantable unjust oppressing actions remembring also that many thousands in England have almost for seaven years time been bred up like wilde Colts by their Riders unto stubbornesse and disobedience and therefore in probability may sooner be stroked then whipp'd into a condescending compliance for oftentimes we know that the sence of an immoderately beating hand forceth a penitentiall though formerly prodigall child to a backsliding and re-excursions unto more desperate undertakings Although England hath been long troubled almost with a general phrenzie yet the Iron rod Bread and Water are not properly to be given them as food whom Time the mother of Truth and Instruction the Judgements Informer hath like Physick recovered from that distemper Remember that England hath been long sick of a Consumption even to a fear'd dissolution of the whole body like a Patient by the losse of much blood brought into an extreame weakenesse and all know that knowing Physitians although probably there may still remaine some bad humour administer not strong Purges but comforting Cordials then when there is as it were an interregnum inter mortem vitamque not knowing which will be the Conquerour life or death still having in your thoughts that it is the onely glorious property of mercy for a man then to pardon