made choice of men as no way that I know scandalous so every way eminent for their learning and piety no lesse than for their Loyalty nor can I imagine any exceptions to be made against them but only this that they may seem too able and too wel affected toward me and My service But this is not the first service as I count it the best in which they have forced Me to serve My self though I must confesse I bear with more greif and impatience the want of My Chaplains than of any other My Servants and next if not beyond in some things to the being sequestred from my Wife and Children since from these indeed more of humane and temporary affections but from those more of heavenly and eternall improvements may be expected My comfort is that in the inforced not neglected want of ordinary means God is wont to afford extraordinary supplies of his gifts and graces If his Spirit will teach me help My infirmities in prayer reading and meditation as I hope he will I shall need no other either Orator or Instructer To Thee therefore O my God doe I direct my now solitary prayers what I want of others help supply with the more immediate assistances of thy Spirit which alone can both enlighten My darkness and quicken My dulnesse O thou Sun of righteousnesse thou sacred Fountaine of heavenly light and heat at once cleare and warme my heart both by instructing of me and interceding for me In thee is all fulnesse from thee all-sufficiency By thee is all acceptance Thou art company enough and comfort enough Thou art my King be also my Prophet and my Priest Rule me teach me pray in me for me and be thou ever with me The single wrestlings of Jacob prevailed with thee in that sacred Duell when he had none to second him but thy selfe who didst assist him with power to overcome thee by a welcome violence to wrest a blessing from thee O look on me thy Servant in infinite mercy whom thou didst once blesse with the ioynt and sociated Devotions of others whose fervencie might inflame the coldnesse of my affections towards thee when we went to or met in thy House with the voice of Iâ—y and gladnesse worshiping thee in the unity of spirits and with bond of Peace O forgive the neglect and not improving of those happy opportunities It is now thy pleasure that I should be as a Pelican in the wildernesse as a Sparrow on the House top and as a coale scattered from all those pious glowings and devout reflections which might best â—indle preserve and encrease the holy fire of thy graces on the Altar of my heart whence the sacrifice of prayers and incense of praises might be duly offered up to thee Yet O thou that breakest not the bruized Reed nor quenchest the smoaking Flax do not despise the weaknesse of my prayers nor the smotherings â—f my soul in this uncomfortable loneness to which I am constrained by some mens uncharitable deniâ—lls of those helps which I much want and no lesse desire O let the hardnes of their hearts occasion the softnings of mine to thee and for Them Let their hatred kindle my love let their unreasonable deâ—â—alls of my Religious desires the more excite my prayers to thee Let their inexorahle deafnesse encline thine eare to me who art a God easie to be â—ntreated thine eare is not heavy that it cannot nor thy heart hard that it will not heare nor thy â—and shortned that it cannot help Mâ— thy desolate Suppliant Thou permittest men to deprive me of those outâ—ard means which thou hast appointed in thy Church but they cannot debarre me from the comâ—union of that inward grace which thou alone â—reathest into humble hearts O make mâ— such and thou wilt teach me thou â—ilt hear me thou wilt help me The broken and â—â—ntrite heart I know thou wilt not despise Thou O Lord canst aâ— once make me thy Temple â—hy Priest thy sacrifice and thine Altar while from an humble heart I alone daily offer up in holy meditations fervent prayers and unfeigned tears my self to thee who preparest me for thee dwelle sâ— in me â—ad acceptest of me Thou O Lord didst cause by secret supplyes miraculous infusions that the handful of meal in the vessell should not spend nor the little oyl in the cruise fail the Widow during the time of drought and dearth O look on my soul which as a Widow is now desolate and forsaken let not those saving truths I have formerly learned now fail my memory nor the sweet effusions of thy Spirit which I have sometime felt now be wanting to wy heart in this famine of ordinary and wholsome food for the refreshing of My Soul Which yet I had rather chuse than to feed fom those hands who mingle my bread with ashes and my wine with gall rather torme nting than teaching me whose mouâ—hs are proner to bitter reproaches of me â—hen to hearty prayers for me Thou knowest O Lord of truth how oft they wrest thy holy Scriptures to my destruction which are clear for their subiection and my preservation O let it not be to their damnation Thou knowest how some men under colour of long prayrs have sought to devour the houses of their Brethren their King and their God O Let not those mens balms break my head nor their Cordialls oppresse my heart I will evermore pray against their wickednesse From the poyson under their tongues from the snares of their lips from the fire and the swords of their words ever deliver Me O Lord and all those Loyall and Religious hearts who desire and delight in the prosperity of my soule and who seek by their prayers to relieve this sadnesse and solitude of thy servant O my King and my God 25. Penitentiall Meditations and Vowes in the Kings solitude at Holmeby GIve eare to my words O Lord consider my Meditations aud hearken to the voice of my cry my King and my God for unto thee will I pray I said in my hast I am cast out of the sight of thine eyes neverthelesse thou hearest the voice of my supplication when I cry unto thee If thou Lord shouldst be extream to mark what is don amisse who can abide it But there is mercy with thee that thou mayest be feared therefore shall sinners fly unto thee I acknowledge my sius before thee which have the aggravation of my condition the eminency of my place adding weight to my offence Forgive I beseech thee my Personall and my Peoples sinnes which are so far mine as I have not improved the power thou gavest me to thy glory and my Subiects good Thou hast now brought Me from the glory and freedom of a King to be a Prisoner to my oun Subiects Justly O Lord as to thy over-ruling hand because in many things I have rebelled against thee Though Thou hast restrained my Person yet enlarge my heart to Thee thy grace towards Me. I
them from those exact Tribunalls To which in the obstructions of justice among men we must religiously appeale as being an argument to us Christians of that after unavoidable judgement which shall rejudge what among men is but corruptly decided or not at all I endeavoured to have prevented if God had seen fit those future commotions which I foresaw would in all likelyhood follow some mens activity if not restrained and so now hath don to the undoing of many thousands the more is the pitty But to over-awe the freedom of the Houses or to weaken their just Authority by any violent impressions upon them was not at all my design I thought I had so much justice and reason on my side as should not have needed so rough assistance and I was resolved rather to bear the repulse with patience then to use such hazardous extremities But thou O Lord art my witnesse in heaven and in my Heart if I have purposed anie violence or oppression against the innocent or if there were anie such wickednesse in my thoughts Then let the enemie persecute my soule and tread my life to the ground lay mine Honour in the dust Thou that seest not as a man seeth but lookest beyond all popular appearances searching the heart and trying the reins bringing to light the hidden things of darknesse shew thy self Let not my afflictions be esteemed as with wise and godly men they cannot be any argument of my sinne in that matter more then their impunity among good men is any sure token of their innocency But forgive them wherein they have done amissâ— though they are not punished for it in this world Save thy servant from the privie conspiracies open violence of bloodie and unreasonable men according to the uprightnes of my heart the innocency of my hands in this matter Plead my cause and maintain My Right O thou that sittest in the Throne iudging rightlie that thy Servant may ever reioyce in thy Salvation 4Vpon the Insolency of the Tumults I Never thought any thing except our sins more ominously presaging all these mischeifs which have followed then those Tumults in LONDON and WESTMINSTER soon after the Convening of this Parliament which were not like a storm at Sea which yet wants not its terror but like an Earth-quake shaking the very foundations of all then which nothing in the world hath more of horrour As it is one of the most convincing Arguments that there is a God while his power sets bounds to the raging of the Seas so 't is no lesse that he restraines the madnesse of the people Nor doth any thing portend more Gods displeasure against a Nation then when he suffers the confluence and clamours of the vulgar to passe all boundaries of Lawes and reverence to Authority VVhich those Tumults did to so high degrees of insolence that they spared not to invade the Honour and Freedome of the two Houses menacing reproaching shaking yea and assaulting some Members of both Houses as they fancyed or disliked them nor did they forbeare most rude and unseemly deportments both in contemptuous words and actions to my selfe and my Court. Nor was this a short fit or two of shaking as an Ague but a quotidian feaver always encreasing to higher inflamations impatient of any mitigation restraint or remission First they must be a guard against those fears which some men scared themselves and others withall when indeed nothing was more to be feared and lesse to be used by wise men then those tumultuary confluxes of meane and rude people who are taught first to petition then to protect then to dictate at last to command and overawe the Parliament All obstructions in Parliament that is all freedome of differing in Votes and debating matters with reason and candour must be taken away with these Tumults By these must the Houses be purged and all rotten Members as they please to count them cast out By these the obstinacy of men resolved to discharg their Consciences must be subdued by these all factious seditious and schismaticall proposalls against Government Ecclesiasticall or Civill must be backed and abetted till they prevailed Generally who ever had most mind to bring forth confusion and ruine upon Church and State used the midwifery of those Tumults whose riot and impatience was such that they would not stay the ripening season of counsells or fair production of Acts in the order gravity and deliberatenesse befitting a Parliament but ripped up with barbarous cruelty forcibly cut out abortive Votes such as their inviters and incouragers most fancyed Yea so enormous and detestable were their outrages that no sober man could be without an infinite shame and sorrow to see them so tolerated and connived at by some countenanced encouraged and applauded by others What good man had not rather want any thing he most desired for the publique good then obtain it by such an unlawfull and irreligious means But mens passions and Gods direction seldome agree violent designes and motions must have sutable engins such as too much attend their own ends seldome confine themselves to Gods means Force must croud in what reason will not lead VVho were the chief Demagogues and Patrons of Tumults to send for them to flatteâ— and emboulden them to direct and turne theiâ— clamorous importunities some men yet living are too conscious to pretend ignorance God in his due time will let these see that those were no fit means to be used for attaining his ends But as it is no strange thing for the Sea to rage when strong winds blow upon it so neither for multitudes to become insolent when they have Men of some reputation for partâ— and piety to fet them on That which made their rudenesse most formidable was that many Complaints being made and Messages sent by My self and some of both Houses yet no order for redresse could be obtained with any vigour and efficacy proportionable to the malignity of that now far spread disease and predominant mischiefe Such was some mens stupidity that they feared no inconvenience Others petulancy that they joyed to see their betters shamefully outraged and abused while they knew their only security consisted in vulgar flattery So insensible were they of mine or the two Houses common safety and honours Nor could ever any order be obtained impartially to examine censure punish the knowâ— Boutefeus and impudent Incendiaries who boasted of the influence they had and used to convoke those Tumults as their advantages served Yea some who should have bin wiser Statesmen owned them as friends commending their Courage Zeal and industry which to sober men could seem no better then that of the Devill who goes about seeking whom he may deceive and devoure I confesse when I found such a deafnes that no Declaration from the Bishops who were first fouly insolenced and assaulted nor yet from other Lords and Gentlemen of Honour nor yet from my self could take place for the due repression of
annexed rather then perturb the publick peace The truth is some men thirst after Novelties others despaire to relieve the necessities of their Fortunes or satisfie their Ambition in peaceable times distrusting Gods providence as well as their own merits were the secret but principal impulsives to those popular Commotions by which Subjects have been discharged to expend much of those plentifull Estates they got enjoyed under my government in peaceable times which yet must now be blasted with all the odious reproaches which impotent malice can invent My self exposed to all those contempts which may mostdiminish the Majesty of a King and encrease the ungratefull Insolencies of My People For Mine Honour I am wel assured that as mine Innocency is clear before God in point of of any calumnies they object so My reputation shall like the Son after Owles and Bats have had their freedome in the night and darker times rise and recover it selfe to such a degree of splendour as those ferall Birds shall be greived to behold and unable to bear For never were any Princes more glorious thē those whom God hath suffer'd to be tried in the fornace of afflictions by their injurious subjects And who knows but the just and merciful God will do Me good for some mens hard false evill speeches against Me wherein they spake rather what they wish than what they believe or know Nor can I suffer so much in point of honour by those rude and scandalous Pamphlets which like fire in great conflagration◠fly up down to set all places on like flames than those men do who pretending to so much piety are so forgetfull of their duty to God and Me By no way ever vindicating the Majesty of their KING against any of those who contrary to the precept of God and precedent of Angels speak evill of dignityes and bring rayling accusations agaynst those who are honoured with the name of Gods But 't is no wonder if men not fearing God should not Honour their Kings They will easily contemn such shaddowes of God who reverence not that Supreme and adorable Majesty in comparison of whom all the glory of Men Angels is but obscurity yet hath he graven such Characters of divine Authority and sacred power upon Kings as none may without sin seek to blot them out Nor shal their black veiles be able to hide the shining of My face while God gives Me a heart frequently humbly to converse with him from whom alone are all the traditions of true glory and Majesty Thou O Lord knowest My reproach and My dishonour My Adversaries are all before thee My Soule is among Lyons among them that are set on fire even the Suns of Men whose teeth are spears and arrows their tongue a sharp sword Mine Enemies reproach Me all the day long and those that are mad against me are sworn together O My God how long shall the sons of men turne my glory into shame how long shall they love vanity and seek after lies Thou hast heard the reproaches of wicked men on every side Hold not thy peace least My Enemies prevaile against me and lay mine Honour in the dust Thou O Lord shalt destroy them that speak lies the Lord will abhor both the bloud thirsty and deceitfull men Make my righteousnesse to appear as the light and mine innocency to shine forth as the Sun at noone day Suffer not my silence to betray mine innocence nor my displeasure my patience That after my Saviours example being reviled I may not revile againe being cursed by them I may blesse them Thou that wouldst not suffer Shimei's tongue to go unpunished when by thy iudgements on David he might seem to iustifie his disdainfull reproaches give me grace to intercede with thy mercy for these my enemies that the reward of false and lying tongues even hot burning coals of eternall fire may not be brought upon them Let my prayers and patience be as water to coole and quench their tongues who are already set on fire with the fire of Hell and tormented with those malicious flames Let me be happy to refute and put to silence their evill-speaking by well-doing and let them enioy not the fruit of their lips but of my prayer for their repentance and thy pardon Teach me Davids patience and Hezekiahs devotion that I may look to thy mercy through mans malice and see thy Iustice in their sin Let Sheba's seditious speeches Rabsheka's railing Shemei's cursing provoke as my humble prayer to thee so thy renewed blessing toward Me. Though they curse do thou blesse and I shall be blessed and made a blessing to my people That the stone which some builders refuse may become the head-stone of the corner Looke downe from heaven and save me from the reproach of them that would swallow me up Hide me in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man keep me from the strife of tongues 16. Vpon the Ordinance against the Common-Prayer-Booke IT is no news to have all Innovations ushered in with the name of Reformations in Church and State by those who seeking to gaine reputation with the Vulgar for their extraordinary parts and piety must needs undoe whatever was formerly setled never so well and wisely So hardly can the pride of those that study Novelties allow former times any share or degree of wisdome or godlinesse And because matter of prayer and devotion to God justly beares a great part in Religion being the Souls more immediate converse with the divine Majesty nothing could be more plausible to the peopl than to tel them They served God amisse in that point Hence our publique Liturgy or Formes of constant Prayers must be not amended in what upon free and publique advice might seeme to sober men inconvenient for matter or manner to which I should easily consent but wholly cashiered and abolished and after many popular contempts offered to the Booke and those that used it according to their Consciences and the Lawes in force it must be crucified by an Ordinance the better to please either those men who gloried in their extemporary veyn and fluency or others who conscious to their own formality in the use of it thought they fully expiated their sin of not using it aright by laying all the blame upon it and a totall rejection of it as a dead letter thereby to excuse the deadness of their hearts As for the matter contained in the book sober learned men have sufficiently vindicated it against the cavils and exceptions of those who thought it a part of piety to make what profan objections they could against it especially for Popery Superstition whereas no doubt the Liturgy was exactly conformed to the doctrine of the Church of Engl. and this by all reformed churches is confessed to be most sound and Orthodox For the manner of using Set prescribed Formes there is no doubt but that wholsome words being known fitted to mens
or mine with theirs either in Prayer or other holy duties as is meet and most comfortable whose golden Rule and bond of Perfection consists in that of mutuall Love and Charity Some remedies are worse then the disease and some Comforters more miserable then misery it selfe when like Jobs friends they seek not to fortifie ones mind with patience but perswade a man by betraying his own Innocency to despair of Gods mercy and by justifying their injuries to strengthen the hands and harden the hearts of insolent Enemies I am so much a friend to all Church-men that have any thing in them beseeming that sacred Function that I have hazarded My owne Interests chiefly upon Conscience and Constancy to maintaine their Rights whom the more I looked upon as Orphans and under the sacrilegious eyes of many cruell and rapacious Reformers so I thought it my duty the more to appeare as a Father and a Patron for them and the Church Although I am very unhandsomly requited by some of them who may live to repent no lesse for my sufferings than their owne ungratefull errours and that injurious contempt and meannesse which they have brought upon their Calling and Persons I pity all of them I despise none onely I thought I might have leave to make choice of some for my speciall Attendants who were best approved in my judgement and most sutable to my affection For I held it better to seem undevout and to heare no mens prayers than to be forced or seem to comply with those Petitions to which the heart cannot consent nor the tongue say Amen without contradicting a mans own understanding or belying his own soule In Devotions I love neither profane boldnesse nor pious non-sense but such an humble and judicious gravity as shewes the Speaker to be at once considerate of Gods Majesty the Churches honour and his owne Vilenesse both knowing what things God allows him to ask and in what manner it becomes a Sinner to supplicate the divine Mercy for himself and others I am equally scandalized with all prayers that sound either imperiously or rudely and passionately as either wanting humility to God or charity to men or respect to the duty I confesse I am better pleased as with studied and premeditated Sermons so with such publique Formes of Prayers as are fitted to the Churches and every Christians daily and common necessities because I am by them better assured what I may joyne my heart unto than I can be of any mans extemporary sufficiency which as I doe not wholly exclude from publique occasions so I allow its just liberty and use in private and devout retirements where neither the solemnity of the duty nor the modest regard to others doe require so great exactnesse as to the outward manner of performance Though the light of understanding and the fervency of affection I hold the maine and most necessary requisites both in constant and occasionall solitary and sociall Devotions So that I must needs seem to all equall minds with as much Reason to prefer the service of my own Chaplains before that of their Ministers as I do the Liturgy before their Directory In the one I have been alwaies educated and exercised In the other I am not yet Catechized nor acquainted And if I were yet should I not by that as by any certaine rule and Canon of devotion be able to follow or find out the indirect extravagances of most of those men who highly cry up that as a piece of rare composure and use which is already as much despised and disused by many of them as the Common-Prayer sometimes was by those men a great part of whose piety hung upon that popular pin of railing against and contemning the Government and Liturgy of this Church But I had rather be condemned to the woe of Vae soli than to that of Vae vobis Hypocritis by seeming to pray what I do not approve It may be I am esteemed by my Denyers sufficient of My self to discharge My duty to God as a Priest though not to Men as a Prince Indeed I think both Offices Regall and Sacerdotall might will become the same Person as anciently they were under one name and the united rights of primogeniture Nor could I follow better presidents if I were able than those â—wo eminent Kings David and Solomon not more famous for their Scepters and Crownes than one was for devout Psalmes and Prayers the other for his divine Parables and Preaching whence one merited and assumed the name of a Prophet the other of a Preacher Titles indeed of greater Honour where rightly placed than any of those the Roman Emperours affected from the Nations they subdued it being infinitely more glorious to convert Souls to Gods Church by the Word than to conquer men to a subjection by the Sword Yet since the order of Gods wisdome providence hath for the most part alwayes distinguished the gifts and offices of Kings of Priests of Princes and Preachers both in the Jewish Christian Churches I am sorry to find My self reduced to the necessity of being both or enjoying neither For such as seek to deprive Me of Kingly power and Soveraignty would no lesse enforce Me â—o live many Months without all Prayers Sacraments and Sermons unlesse I become My owne Chaplain As I owe the Clergy the protection of a Christian KING so I desire to enjoy from them the benefit of their gifts and prayers which I looke upon as more prevalent than My own or other mens by how much they flow from minds more enlightned affections lesse distracted than those which are uncombred with secular affairs besides I think a greater blessing and acceptablenesse attends those duties which are rightly performed as proper to within the limits of that calling to which God and the Church have specially designed and consecrated some men and however as to that Spirituall Government by which the devout Sonl is â—ubject to Christ and through his merits daily offers it self and its services to God every private believer is a King Preist invested with tbe honour of a Royall Priesthood yet as to Ecclesiasticall order and the outward polity of the Church I think confusion in Religion will as certainly follow every mans turning Priest or Preacher as it will in the State where every one affects to rule as King I was always bred to more modest and I think more pious principles the consciousnesse to My Spirituall defects makes me more prize desire those pious assistances which holy and good Ministers either Bishops or Presbyters may afford Me especially in these extremities to which God hath bin pleased to suffer some of my Subjects to reduce me so as to leave them nothing more but My life to take from me and to leave me nothing to desire which I thought might lesse provoke their jealousie and offence to deny Me than this of having some means afforded Me for My Soules comfort and support To which end I
come far short of Davids piety yet since I may equall Davids afflictions give Me also the comforts and the sure mercies of David Let the penitent sense I have of my sins be an evidence to me that thou hast pardoned them Let not the Evils which I and my Kingdomes have suffered seem little unto thee though thou hast noâ— punished us according to our sins Turn thee O Lord unto Me have mercy upon Me for I am desolate and afflicted The sorrows of my heart are enlarged O bring thou me out of my troubles Hast thou forgotten to be gracious and shut up thy loving kindnesse in displeasure O Remember thy compassions of old and thy loviâ—g kindnesse which have been for many Generations I had utterly fainted if I had not believed to see thy goodnes in the land of the living Let not the sins of our prosperity deprive us of the benefit of thy afflictions Let this fiery tryall consume the dross which in long peace and plenty we had contracted Though thou continuest miseryes yet withdraw not thy grace what is wanting of prosperity make up â—n patience and repentance And if thy anger be not to be yet turned away but thy â—and of iustice most be stretched out still Let it I beseech thee be against me and my Fathers house as for these sheep what have they done Let my sufferings satiate the malice of Mine and thy Churches Enemies But let their cruelty never exceed the measure of my charity Banish from me all thoughts of Revenge that I may not lose the reward nor thou the glory of my patience As thou givest me a heart to forgive them so I beseech thee doe thou fergive what they have done against thee and me And now O Lord as thou hast given me an heart to pray unto thee so hear and accept this Vow which I make before thee If thou wilt in mercy remember me and My Kingdoms In continuing the light of thy Gospell and setling thy true Religion among us In restoring to us the benefit of the Laws and the due execution of â—â—â—tice In suppressing the many Schisms in Church and Factions in State If thou wilt restore me and mine to the anciâ—nt Rights and glory of my Predecessours If thou wilt turne the hearts of My people to thy self in Piety to me in Loyalty and to one another in Charity If thou wilt quench the flames and withdraw the fewell of these Civill Wars If thou wilt bless us with the freedom of publique Counsels and deliver the Honour of Parliaments from the insolency of the Vulgar If thou wilt keep me from the great offence of enacting any thing against my Conscience and especially from consenting to sacrilegious rapines spoilings of thy Church If Thou wilt restore Me to a capacity to glorefâ—e Thee in doing good both to the Church and State Then shall my soule praise thee and magnifie thy name before my People Then shall thy glory be dearer to me then my Crownes and the advancement of true Religion both in purity and power be My chiefest care Then will I rule my People with iustice and my Kingdomes with equity To thy more immediate hand shall I ever owne as the rightfull succession so the mercifull restauration of My Kingdomes and the glory of them If thou wilt bring Me again with peace safety honour to my chiefest City and my Parliament If thou wilt againe put the Sword of Iustice into my hands to punish and protect Then will I make all the world to see and my very Enemics to enioy the benefit of this Vow and resolution of Christian Charity which I now make unto thee O Lord. As I do freely pardon for Christ's sake those that have offended me in any kind so my hand shall never be against any man to revenge what is past in regard of any particular iniury done to me We have been mutually pnnished in our unnaturall divisions for thy sake O Lord for the love of my Redeemer have I purposed this in my heart That I will use all means in tbe wayes of amneâ—ly and indempnity which may most fully remove all fears and bury all iealousies in forgetfulnesse Let thy mercies be toward me and mine as my resolutions of Truth and Peace are toward my People Hear my prayer O Lord which goeth not out of fayned lips Blessed be God who hath not turned away my prayer nor taken his mercy from Me. O my soule commit thy way to the Lord trust in him and he shall bring it to passe But if thou wilt not restore me and mine what am I that I should charge thee foolishly Thou O Lord hast given and thou hast taken Blessed be thy name May my people and thy Church be happy if not by me yet without me 26 Vpon the Armies Surprisall of of the King at Holmeby and the ensuing destractions in the two Houses the Army and the City VVHat part God will have Me now to act or suffer in this new and strange scene of affaires I am not much solicitous since little practise will serve that man who onely seeks to represent a part of honesty and honour This surprize of Me tells the world that a KING cannot be so low but He is considerable adding weight to that Party where he appeares This motion like others of the Times seemes excentrique and irregular yet not well to be resisted or quieted Better swim down such a stream than in vaine to strive against it These are but the struglings of those twins which lately one womb enclosed the younger striving to prevaile against the elder what the Presbyterians have hunted after the Independents now seek to catch for themselves So impossible is it for lines to be drawn from the center and not to divide from each other so much the wider by how much they go farther from the point of union That the Builders of Babell should from division fall to confusion is no wonder but for those that pretend to build Ierusalem to divide their Tongues and hands is but an ill omen and sounds too like the fury of those Zealots whose intestine bitternesse and divisions were the greatest occasion of the last fatall destruction of that City Well may I change my Keepers and Prison but not my captive condition onely with this hope of bettering that those who are so much professed Patrons for the Peoples Liberties cannot be utterly against the Liberty of their King what they demand for their own Consciences they cannot in Reason deny to Mine In this they seem more ingenuous than the Presbyterian rigour who sometimes complaining of exacting their conformity to laws are become the greatest Exactors of other mens submission to their novell injunctions before they are stamped with the Authotity of Lawes which they cannot well have without my consent 'T is a great argument that the Independents think themselves manumitted from their Rivals service in that they carry on a businesse of such consequence as the
True it was an Act unparallel'd by any of My Predecessors yet cannot in reason admit of any worse interpretation then this of an extream confidence I had That my Subjects would not make ill use of an Act by which I declared so much to trust them as to deny my self in so high a point of my Prerogative For good Subjects will never think it just or fit that my condition should be worse by my bettering theirs Nor indeed would it have been so in the events if some men had known as well with moderation to use as with earnestnes to defire advantages of doing good or evill A continuall Parliament I thought would but keep the commonweal in tune by preserving Laws in their due execution and vigour wherein my Interest lyes more then any mans since by those Laws My Rights as a King would be preserved no lesse then My Subjects which is al I desired More then the Law gives Me I would not have and lesse the meanest Subject should not Some as I have heard gave it out that I soon repented Me of setling that act many would needs perswade Me I had cause so to do But I could not easily nor sudenly suspect such ingratitude in Men of Honour That the more I granted them the lesse I should have and enjoy with them I still counted my Selfe undiminished by my largest Concessions if by them I might gain and confirme the love of my people Of which I do not yet despair but that God will still blesse me with increase of it when men shall have more leisure and lesse prejudice that so with unpassionate representations they may reflect upon those as I think not more Princely then freindly Contributions which I granted toward the perpetuating of their happines who are now only miserable in this That some mens ambition will not give them leave to enioy what I intended for their good Nor do I doubt but that in Gods due time the Loyall and cleared affections of My people will strive to returne such retributions of Honour and love to Mee or my posterity as may fully compensate both the acts of my confidence and my sufferings for them which God knowes have been neither few nor small nor short occasioned chiefly by a perswasion I had that I could not grant too much or distrust too little to men that being professedly My Subjects pretended singular piety and religious strictnesse The Injury of all Injuries is That which some men will needs load me withall as if I were a wilfull and resolved Occasioner of My owne and My Subjects miseries while as they confidently but God knowes falsly divulge I repiniâ—g at the establishment of this Parliament endeavoured by force and open hostility to undoe what by My Royall assent I had done Sure it had argued a very short sight of things and extreme fatuity of minde in Me so farre to binde My owne hands at their request If I had shortly meant to have used a Sword against them God knowes though I had then a sense of injuries yet not such as to think them worth vindicating by a Warre I was not then compelled as since to injure my selfe by their not using favours with the same candour wherewith they were conferred The Tumults indeed threatned to abuse all Acts of Grace and turne them into wantonnesse but I thought at length their owne feares whose black arts first raised up those turbulent Spirits would force them to conjure them down againe Nor if I had justly resented any indignities put upon Me or others was I then in any capacity to have taken just revenge in an Hostile and Warlike way upon those whom I knew so wel fortified in the love of the meaner sort of the people that I could not have given my enemies greater and more desired advantages against Me then by so unprincely inconstancy to have assaulted them with Armes thereby to scatter them whom but lately I had solemly setled by an Act of Parliament God knows I longed for nothing more then that My selfe and My Subjects might quietly enjoy the fruits of my many condescendings It had been a Course full of sin as well as of Hazard and Dishonour for me to go about the cutting up of that by the Sword which I had so lately planted so much as I thought to my Subjects content and Mine owne too in all probability if some men had not feared where no feare was whose security consisted in scaring others I thank God I knew so well the sincerity and uprightnesse of My owne heart in passing that great Bill which exceeded the very thoughts of former times That although I may seâ—m lesse a Politition to men yet I need no secret distinctions or evasions before God Nor had I any reservations in my own soul when I passed it nor repentings after till I saw that my letting some men go up to the pinacle of the temple was a temptation to them to cast me downe headlong Concluding that without a miracle Monarchy it self together with Me could not but be dashed in peices by such a precipitious fall as they intended whom God in mercy forgive and make them see at length That as many Kingdomes as the Devill shewed our Saviour and the glory of them if they could be at once enioyed by them are not worth the gaining by wayes of sinfull ingratitude and dishonour which hazards a Soule worth more worlds then this hath Kingdoms But God hath hitherto preserved Me made Me to see That it is no strange thing for men left to their own passions either to do much evill themselvs or abuse the over-much goodness of others whereof an ungratefull surfet is the most desperate and incurable disease I cannot say properly that I repent of that Act since I have no reflections upon it as a sin of my will though an errour of too charitable a iudgment only I am sorry other mens eyes should be evill because mine were good To thee O My God do I still appeale whose Aldisâ—erning Justice sees through all the disguises of mens preâ—ensions and deceitfull darknesses of their Hearts Thou gavest Me a heart to grant much to my subiects and now I need a heart fitted to suffer much from some of them Thy will be don though never so much to the crossing of ours even when we hope to doe what might be most conformable to thine theirs too who pretended they aimed at nothing else Let thy Grace teach me wisely to enioy as wâ—ll the frustratings as the fulfillings of My best hopes and most specious desires I see while I thought to allay others fears I have raised My Own and by setling them have unsetled My self Thus have they requited Me evill for good and hatred for My good will towards them O Lord be thou my Pilot in this dark dangerous storme which neither admits My return to the Port whence I set out nor My making any other with that safety and honour which
I designed T is easie for thee to keep Me safe in the love and confidence of my people nor is it hard for Thee to preserve Me amidst the uniust hatred and iealousies of to many which thou hast suffered so far to prevail upon Me as to be able to pervert and abuse my Acts of greatest Indulgence to them and assurance of them But no favours from Me can make others more guilty then my selfe may be of misusing those many and great ones which Thou O Lord hast conferred on me I beseech thee give ME and them such Repentance as thou wilt accept and such graces as we may not abuse Make me so far happy as to make a right use of others abuses and by their failings of Me to reflect with a reforming displeasure upon my offences against thee So although for my sins I am by other mens sins deprived of thy temporall blessings yet I may be happy to enioy the comfort of thy mercies which often raise â—he greatest Sufferers to be the most glorious Saints 6Vpon his Maiesties retirement from VVestminster WIth what unwillingnesse I withdrew from WESTMINSTER let them judge who unprovided of tackling and victuall are forced to Sea by a storme yet better do so then venture splitting or sinking on a Lee-shore I stayed at White-Hall till I was driven away by shame more then fear to see the barbarous rudenesse of those Tumults who resolved they would take the boldnesse to demand any thing and not leave either My self or the Members of Parliament the liberty of our Reason and Conscience to deny them any thing Nor was this intollerable oppression my case alone though cheifly Mine For the Lords and Commons might be content to be over-voted by the Major part of their Houses when they had used each their owne freedome Whose agreeing Votes were not by any Law or reason conclusive to my Judgement nor can they include or carry with them My consent whom they represent not in any kinde Nor am I further bound to agree with the votes of both Houses then I see them agree with the will of God with my just Rights as a King and the generall good of my people I see that as many men they are seldome of one minde and I may oft see that the major part of them are not in the right I had formerly declared to sober and moderate mindes how desirous I was to give all just content when I agreed to so many Bills which had been enough to secure and satisfie all If some mens Hydropick insatiablenesse had not learned to thirst the more by how much more they drank whom no fountaine of Royall bounty was able to overcome so resolved they seemed either utterly to exhaust it or barbarously to obstruct it Sure it ceases to be Councell when not reason is used as to men to perswade but force and terrour as to beasts to drive and compell men to assent to what ever tumultuary patrons shall project Hee deserves to be a slave without pitty or redemption that is content to have the rationall soveraignty of his Soule and liberty of his will and words so captivated Nor do I think my Kingdoms so considerable as to preserve them with the forfeiture of that freedom which cannot be denyed me as a King because it belongs to me as a man and a Christian owning the dictates of none but God to be above me as obliging me to consent Better for me to die enjoying this Empire of my soul which subjects Me only to God so farre as by Reason or Religion he directs me then live with the Title of a King if it should carry such a vassallage with it as not to suffer Me to use My Reason and Conscience in which I declare as a King to like or dislike So far am I from thinking the Majesty of the Crown of England to be bound by any Coronation Oath in a blind and bruitish formality to consent to what ever its subjects in Parliament shall require as some men will needs infer while denying Me any power of a Negative voice as KING they are not ashamed to seek to deprive me of the liberty of using My Reason with a good Conscience which themselves and all the Commons of ENGLAND enjoy proportionable to their influence on the publique who would take it very ill to be urged not to deny what ever my selfe as King or the House of Peers with Mee should not so much desire as enjoyne them to passe I think my Oath fully discharged in that point by my governing only by such Lawes as my People with the House of Peers have chosen and my selfe have consented to I shall never think my selfe conscientiously tied to go as oft against my Conscience as I should consent to such new Proposalls which my Reason in Justice Honour and Religion bids me deny Yet so tender I see some men are of their being subject to Arbitrary Government that is the Law of anothers will to which themselves give no consent that they care not wi h how much dishonour and absurdity they make their King the only man that must be subject to the will of others without having power left Him to use His own Reason either in Person or by any Representation And if my dissentings at any time were as some have suspected and uncharitably avowed out of error opiniativenesse weaknesse or wilfullnesse and what they call Obstinacy in me which not true Judgement of things but some vehement prejudice or passion hath fixed on my mind yet can no man think it other then the Badge and Method of Slavery by savage rudenesse and importunate obtrusions of violence to have the mist of His Errour and Passion dispelled which is a shadow of Reason and must serve those that are destitute of the substance Sure that man cannot be blameable to God or Man who seriously endeavours to see the best reason of things and faithfully followes what Hee takes for Reason The uprightnesse of his intentions will excuse the possible failings of his understanding If a Pilot at Sea cannot see the Pole-star it can be no fault in him to steere his course by such staâ— as do best appear to him It argues rather thosâ— men to be conscious of their defects of Reason and convincing Arguments who call in the assistance of meere force to carry on the weaknesse of their Councells and Proposalls I may in the Truth and Vprightnesse of my heart protest before God and men that I never wilfully opposed or denyed any thing that was in a faiâ— way after full and free debates propounded to me by the two Houses Further then I thought in good reason I might and was bound to do Nor did any thing ever please me more theâ— when my judgement so concurred with theirs that I might with good conscience consent to them yea in many things where not absolutâ— and morall necessity of Reason but temporary convenience in point of honour was to be considered I
most self-punishing sin the Ingratitude of those who having eaten of our bread and being enriched with Our bounty have Scornfully lift up themselves against Vs and those of Our owne Houshold are become Our Enemies I pray God lay not their sin to their charge who think to satisfie all obligations to duty by their Corban of Religion and can lesse endure to see then to sin against their benefactours as well as their Soveraignes But even that policy of my Enemies is so far veniall as it was necessary to their designes by scandalous Articles and all irreverent demeanour to seek to drive her out of my Kingdomes lest by the influence of Her example eminent for love as a Wife and Loyalty as a Subject Shee should have converted to or retained in their love and Loyalty all those whom they had a purpose to pervert The lesse I may be blest with Her company the more I wil retire to God and my owne Heart whence no malice can banish Her My Enemies may envy but they can never deprive me of the enjoyment of her virtues while I enjoy my self Thou O Lord whose Iustice at present sees fit to scatter us let thy mercy in thy due time re unite us on earth if it be thy will however bring us both at last to thy heavenly Kingdome Preserve us from the hands of our despitefull and deadly Enemies and prepare us by our sufferings for thy presence Though we differ in some things as to Religion which is My greatest temporall infelicity yet Lord give and accept the sincerity of our affections which desire to seek to find to embrace every truth of thine Let both our Hearts agree in the love of thy selfe and Christ crucified for us Teach us both what thou wouldst have us to know in order to thy glory our publique relations and our soules eternall good and make us carefull to doe what good we know Let neither ignorance of what is necessary to be known nor unbelief or disobedience to what we know be our misery or our wilfull default Let not this great scandall of those my Subiects which professe the same Religion with me be any hindrance to her love of any Truth thou wouldst have her to learne nor any hardning of her in any errour thou wouldst have cleared to her Let mine and other mens constancy be an Antidote against the poyson of their example Let the Truth of that Religion I professe be represented to her Iudgement with all the beauties of Humility Loyalty Charity and Peaceablenesse which are the proper fruits ornaments of it Not in the odious disguises of levity Schisme Heresie Novelty Cruelty and Disloyalty which some mens practises have lately put upon it Let her see thy sacred and saving Truths as Thine that she may believe love and obey them as Thine cleared from all rust and drosse of humane mixtures That in the glasse of thy Truth shee may see thee in those mercies which thou hast offered to us in thy Son Iesus Christ our only Saviour serve thee in all thâ—se Holy duties which most agree with his Holy Doctrine and most imitable example The experience we have of the vanity and uncertainty of all humane glory and greatnesse in our scattering and eclypses let it make us both so much the more ambitious to be invested in those durable honours and perfections which are only to be found in thy selfe and obtained through Jesus Christ 8. Vpon His Maiesties repulse at Hull and the fates of the Hothams MY repulse at Hull seemed at the first view an act of so rude disloyalty that My greatest Enemies had scarce confidence enough to abett or owne it It was the first overt Essay to be made how patiently I could beare the Losse of My Kingdomes God knowes it affected me more with shame and sorrow for others then with anger for My â—elfe nor did the affront done to Me trouble Me so much as their sinne which admitted no colour or excuse I was resolved how to beare this and much more with patience But I foresaw they could hardly conteine themselves within the compasse of this one unworthy act who had effrontery enough to commit or countenance it This was but the hand of that cloud which was soone after to overspread the whole Kingdom and cast all into disorder and darknesse For 't is among the wicked Maximes of bold and disloyall Undertakers that bad actions must alwaies be seconded with worse and rather not be begun then not carried on for they think the retreat more dangerous then the assault hate repentance more then perseverance in a fault This gave me to see clearly through all the pious disguises and soft palliations of some men whose words were somtime smoother then oyl but now I saw they would prove very Swords Against which I having as yet no defence but that of a good conscience thought it my best pollicy with patience to bear what I could not remedy And in this I thank God I had the better of HOTHAM that no disdain or emotion of passion transported me by the indignitie of his carriage to do or say any thing unbeseeming my selfe or unsutable to that temper which in greatest injuries I think best becoms a Christian as coming nearest to the great example of Christ And indeed I desire alwayes more to remember I am a Christian than a King for what the Majesty of one might justly abhor the charity of the other is wiling to bear what the height of a King tempteth to revenge the humility of a Christian teacheth to forgive Keeping in compasse all those impotent passions whose excesse injures a man more then his greatest Enemies can for these give their malice a full impression on our soules which otherwaies cannot reach very farre nor do us much hurt I cannot but observe how God not long after so pleaded and avenged My cause in the eye of the world that the most wilfully blind cannot avoid the displeasure to see it and with some remorse and fear to own it as a notable stroke and prediction of divine vengeance For Sir Iohn Hotham unreproached unthreatned uncursed by any language or secret imprecation of Mine only blasted with the conscience of his own wickednesse and falling from one inconstancy to another not long after paies his owne and his eldest Sons heads as forfeitures of their disloyalty to those men from whom surely he might have expected another reward then thus to divide their heads from their bodies whose hearts with them were divided from their KING Nor is it strange that they who imployed them at first in so high a service and so successefull to them should not find mercy enough to forgive Him who had so much premerited of them For Apostacy unto Loyalty some men account the most unpardonable sinne Nor did a solitary vengeance serve the turne the cutting off one head in a Family is not enough to expiate the affront don to the head of the
his owne glory I am sure the event or successe can never state the Justice of any Cause nor the peace of mens conscinces nor the eternall fate of their soules Those with Me had I thinke clearly and undoubtedly for their Justification the Word of God and the Lawes of the Land together with their own Oaths all requiring obedience to My just commands but to none other under Heaven without Me or against Me in the point of raising Armes Those on the other side are forced to flie to the shifts of some pretended Fears and wild fundamentals of State as they call them which actually overthrow the present fabrick both of Church and State being such imaginary Reasons for self-defence as are most impertinent for those men to alledge who being My Subjects were manifestly the first assaulters of Me and the Lawes first by unsuppressed Tumults after by listed forces The same allegations they use wil fit any Faction that hath but power and confidence enough to second with the sword all their demands against the present Lawes Governour which can never be such as some side or other will not find fault with so as to urge what they call a Reformation of them to a Rebellion against them some parasitick Preachers have dared to call those martyrs who dyed fighting against Me the Laws their Oaths and the Religion Established But sober christians know That glorious Title can with Truth be applyed only to those who sincerely preferred Gods Truth and their duty in all these particulars before their lives and all that was dear to them in this world who having no advantagious designs by any Innovation were religiously sensible of those ties to God the church my self wch lay their Souls both for obedience just assistance God could and I doubt not but he did through his mercy crown many of them with eternall life whose lives were lost in so just a Cause The destruction of their bodies being sanctified as a means to save their soules Their wounds and temporall ruine serving as a gracious opportunity for their eternall health and happinesse while the evident approach of death did through Gods grace effectually dispose their hearts to such Humility Faith and Repentance which together with the Rectitude of their present engagement would fully prepare them for a better life then that which their enemies brutish and disloyall fiercenesse could deprive them of or without Repentance hope to enjoy They have often indeed had the better against My side in the field but never I belive at the Barre of Gods Tribunall or their owne Consciences where they are more afraid to encounter those many pregnant Reasons both from Law Allegiance and all true Christian grounds which conflict with and accuse them in theâ— owne thoughts then they oft were in a desperate bravery to fight against those Forces which sometimes God gave Me. Whose condition conquered and dying â— make no question but is infinitely more to be chosen by a sober man that duely values 〈◊〉 duty his soule and eternity beyond the enjoyments of this present life then the most triumphant glory wherein their and Mine Enemies supervive who can hardly avoid to be daily tormented by that horrid guilt wherwith their suspicious or now convicted Consciences doe pursue them especially since they and all the world have seen how false un-intended those pretensions were which they first set forth as the only plausibl though not justifiable grounds of raising a War and continuing it thus long against Me and the Laws established in whose â—afety and preservation all honest men think the welfare of their Countrey doth consist For and with all which it is far more honourable and comfortable to suffer then to prosper in their ruine and subversion I have often prayed that all on My side might joyn true piety with the sense of their Loyalty and be as faithfull to God and their owne soules as they were to Me. That the defects of the one might not blast the endeavours of the other Yet I cannot thinke that any shews or truth of piety on the other side were sufficient to dispence with or expiate the defects of their Duty and Loyalty to Me which have so pregnant convictions on mens consciences that even profaner men are moved by the sence of them to venture their lives for me I never had any victory which was without My sorrow because it was on mine owne Subjects who like Absolom died many of them in their sin And yet I never suffered any defeate which made Me despair of Gods mercy and defence I never desired such Victoryes as might serve to conquer but only restore the Laws and Libertyes of My People which I saw were extreamly oppressed together with my Rights by those men who were impatient of any just restraint When Providence gave me or denyed Me Victory My desire was neither to boast of My power nor to charge God foolishly who I beleved at â—ast would make all things to work together for my good I wished no greater advantages by the Warr then to bring My Enemies to moderation and my Freinds to peace I was afraid of the temptation of an absolute conquest and never prayed more for victory over others than over my self When the first was denyed the second was granted me which God saw best for Me. The different events were but the methods of divine justice by contrary winds to winnow us That by punishing ouâ— sinnes he might purge them from us by deferring peace he might prepare us more to prise and better to use so great a blessing My often Messages for Peace shewed that I delighted not in Warre as my former Concessiâ—ns sufficiently testified how willingly I would have prevented it and My total unpreparedness for it how little I intended it The conscience of my Innocency forbade Me to feare a Warre but the love of my Kingdomes commanded me if possible to avoid it I am guilty in this Warre of nothing but this That I gave such advantages to some men by confirming their power which they knew not to use with that modesty and gratitude which became their Loyalty and my confidence Had I yâ—ilded lesse I had been opposed lesse had I denied more I had been more obeyed 'T is now too late to review the occasions of the Warre I wish only a happy conclusion of so unhappy beginnings The unevitable fate of our sinnes was no doubt such as would no longer suffer the divine justice to be quiet we having conquered his patience are condemned by mutuall conquerings to destroy one another for the most prosperous successes on either side impaire the welfare of the whole Those Victories are still miserable that leave our sinnes un-subdued flushing our pride and animating to continue injuries Peace it felâ— is not desirable till repentance have prepared us for it When we fight more against our selves and lesse against God we shall cease fighting against one another I pray God these may
that degree of Honour and Majesty which becomes the Place in which thou hast set me who art the lifter up of my head and my salvation Lord by thy grace lead me to thy Glory which is both true and eternall 22. Vpon His Majesties leaving Oxford and going to the Scots ALthough God hath given Me three Kingdomes yet in these he hath noâ— now left me any place where I may witâ— Safety and Honour rest my Head Shewing me that himselfe is the fafest Refuge and the strongest Tower of defence in which I may put my Trust In these extremities I look not to man so much as to God He will have it thus that I may wholly cast my self and my now distressed affaires upon his mercy who hath both hearts and hands of all men in his dispose What providence denies to Force it may grant to Prudence Necessity is now my Counsellour and commands me to study my safety by a disguised withdrawing from my chiefest strength and adventuring upon their Loyalty who first began my Troubles Happily God may make them a means honourably to compose them This my confidence of Them may dis-arme and overcome them my rendring my Person to them may engage their affections to me who have oft professed They â—ought not against me but for me I must now resolve the riddle of their Loyalty and give them opportunity to let the world see they mean not what they do but what they say Yet must God be my chiefest Guard and My Conscience both My Counsellour and My Comforter Though I put my Body into their hands yet I shall reserve my Soule to God and my selfe nor shall any necessity compell me to desert mine Honour or swerve from my Judgement What they sought to take by force shall now be given them in such a way of unusuall confidence of them as may make them ashamed not to be really such as they ought and professed to be God sees it not enough to deprive me of all Military power to defend my self but to put me upon using their power who seem to fight against me yet ought in duty to defend me So various are all humane affaires and so necessitous may the state of Princes be that their greatest danger may be in their supposed safety and their safety in their supposed danger I must now leave those that have adhered to me and apply to those that have opposed me this method of Peace may be more prosperous than that of Warre both to stop the effusion of bloud and to close those wounds already made and in it I am no lesse solicitous for My Friends safety than mine owne chusing to venture my selfe upon further hazards rather then expose their resolute Loyalty to all extremities It is some skill in play to know when a game is lost better fairly to give over than to contest in vaine I must now study to re-inforce my judgement and fortifie my mind with Reason and Religion that I may not seem to offer up my Soules liberty or make my Conscience their Captive who ought at first to have used arguments not Armes to have perswaded my consent to their new demands I thank God no successe darkens or disguises Truth to me and I shall no lesse conforme my words to my inward dictates now than if they had been as the words of a KING ought to be among loyall Subjects full of power Reason is the divinest power I shall never think my selfe weakned while I may make full and free use of that No eclipse of outward fortune shall rob me of that light what God hath denied of outward strength his grace I hope will supply with inward resolutions not morosely to deny what is fit to be granted but not to grant any thing which Reason and Religion bids me deny I shall never think my self lesse than my self while I am able thus to preserve the Integrity of my Conscience the onely Jewell now left me which is worth keeping O thou Soveraigne of our Soules the onely Commander of our Consciences though I know not what to do yet mine eyes are toward thee To the protection of thy mercy I still commend my self As thou hast preserved me in the day of Battaile so thou canst still shew me thy strength in my weaknesse Be thou unto me in my dâ—rkest night a pillar of fire to enlighten and direct me in the day of my hottest affliction be also a pillar of cloud to overshadow and protect me be to me both a Sun and a Shield Thou knowest that it is not any perversenesse of will but just perswasions of Honor Reason and Religion which have made me thus far to hazard my Person Peace and Safety against those that by force have sought to wrest them from Mee Suffer not my just resolutions to abate with my outward Forces let a good conscience alwayes accompany me in my solitude and desertions Suffer me not to betray the powers of Reason and that fortresse of my soule which I am intrusted to keep for thee Lead me in the paths of thy righteousnesse and shew me thy salvation Make my wayes to please thee and then thou wilt make mine Enemies to be at peace with me 23. Vpon the Scots delivering the KING to the English and his Captivity at Holmeby YEt may I justifie those Scots to all the world in this that they have not deceived me for I never trusted to them further than to men If I am sold by them I am onely sorry they should doe it and that my price should be so much above my Saviours These are but further Essaies which God will have me make of mans uncertainty the more to fix me on himselfe who never faileth them that trust in him Though the Reeds of Aegypt break under the hand of him that leanes on them yet the Rock of Israel will be an everlasting stay and defence Gods providence commands me to rerire from all to himself that in him I may enjoy my selfe which I lose while I let out my hopes to others The solitude and captivity to which I am now reduced gives me leisure enough to study the worlds vanity and inconstancy God sees 't is fit to deprive me of Wife Children Army Friends and Freedom that I may be wholly his who alone is all I care not much to be reckoned among the Unfortunate if I be not in the black List of irreligious and sacrilegious Princes No Restraint shall ensnare my soul in sinne nor gaine that of me which may make my Enemies more insolent my Friends ashamed or my Name accursed They have no great cause to triumph that they have got my Person into their power since my Soule is still my owne nor shall they ever gaine my Consent against my Conscience What they call obstinacy I know God accounts honest constancy from which Reason and Religion as well as Honour forbid me to recede 'T is evident now that it was not evill Counsellours with me but a