I Should not delight in this day of Publick Calamity come upon you, to bee uncovering your nakedness, did I not judge it a duty in order to lead you to the true covering, and out of all false ones, which in vain you hide under, in your defiled state, rendring your selves by so doing but the more naked in the sight of God and men, giving enemies more occasion to rejoyce at you, and incourage themselves in an evil matter against you, saying, They offend not, because you not onely have, but still do sin against the Lord, the habitation of Justice, and hope of your Fathers, though they that say so, it may bee too truly, shall not go unpunisht in the end.

I beseech you therefore give mee leave, in the bowels of love and meekness, a little to treat with you, as an Army under these di­stinct considerations, of chief Commanders, and commanded; for so I shall speak to you, both as to your sin, and duty.

And first to you Commanders, you have been concerned of late years in very eminent Transactions in Publick Affairs in these Na­tions; have pretended to a very great knowledge, and strict obser­vation of the Lord, and his goings, and doings, in the midst of us, with what hee yet intended to do further in the latter daies; and by comparing his works with his word, have often said, you judge his design to bee the exaltation of his Son, the Lord Jesus, and his in­terest in these Nations, and removing out of the way what ever hin­dered [Page 4]his going on with this work: As also you observed his Mo­tions herein to bee gradual, causing his work small in the begin­nings, to go and grow higher and higher by degrees, and more refined as it grew, and so have Instruments been hee hath made use of, and when they have not had spirits growing up in light, life, and refinedness, with the work, by many strange providences have been some on one account, some upon another, laid aside; yea some of them beginning but a little to slack their pace, and draw back, have not stayed in that retrograde motion, till they have joyned with the most avowed enemies to the Blessed Cause at first they were in­gaged in, so dangerous a thing is drawing back.

And while you were thus rightly observing the works and word of the Lord, and helpt to follow it accordingly, being little in your own eyes, and going out in a spirit of trembling, you exalted your selves in Israel, went on and prospered; God was with you, and the shout of a King amongst you, enemies feared, fled, and fell before you, and your most difficult waies and works were made plain, and easie; and though you walkt in untrodden-paths, you were carried on safely; enemies envying, yet dreading you; friends rejoycing, and blessing God for you, and you from him in his name; and though it must bee remembred to the praise of the Lord, and due abasement of Instruments, you sometimes walkt as men, especially when you lean'd to your own understandings, and did not trust in the Lord, as before; Particularly in 47, in your tampe­rings with the King, and his interest, which lead into those Laby­rinths (as you may well remember) in 48. out of which, nothing but the wisdome of the Lord directing to seeking him, and con­sulting your duty according to his word could extricate you, as was eminently experienc'd in that not to bee forgotten meeting at Winsor 48. see the memorial of it; and how the Lord lead that year, yea several years after even to Woreester fight, by a graci­ous guiding presence of his, you cannot but remember that were wise observers of the operations of his hand: and after that fight, when you were returned in safety, you then also seemed to have upon your hearts, a great sense of your duty, in prosecuting the work of the Lord you had been employed in, but found as you judged the Parliament unwilling to go so fast, or rather hindering and obstructing you in the speed you were intended to make, [Page 5]upon which, some contests arose between you and them in that point, and you come to see as you say, a necessity of dissolving them, as men not spirited for the further work of the Lord in that day; how clear and true the demonstration of this necessity was, I take not upon mee to judge, since you so lately (how truly I dare not determine neither) call in question your action afore­said, and call them to sit again, saying, The work had not prospe­red since their dissolution, which might bee too true, yet the Cause might rather bee that greater unfittedness found in you that followed them, who walkt in more polluted paths, in which the work of the Lord could not prosper; and this seems to mee ra­ther to bee the mind of the Lord, especially when I consider the work that Parliament, after you had called them, and they sate again, were employed about, and upon the matter, onely prosper­ed in, viz. judging those more gross turnings aside from the Lord and his work, that they found amongst you in the Army, which when they have in some measure judged, as men not designed to, nor delighted in by the Lord to bee used much further, they do by strange providential proceedings amongst them, period them­selves, and in the doing that, also well-nigh hazard putting a period to the peace of these Nations.

But you having dissolved them, as aforesaid the first time, a little Assembly of men is called, not in the way, nor after the manner of the Nations, but upon a more select and avowed ac­count of men fearing God, though I doubt in their choice, the wisdome of man was too much exercised; but being come toge­ther, though they had their weaknesses as men, not to bee pleaded for, or owned, they seem more effectually to prosecute the true ends of Government, viz. discouraging the bad, countenancing the good, attempting to break and remove oppressive yoaks, and to assert the liberty of the poor people of the Lord, as well as others, on all accounts, than any before, or since, that I have observed: But these mercies being too great for so ungrateful, and so unworthy a people as this Nation; together with the Instruments weakness and inability to bring them forth in that glory and beauty, as God will have his works brought forth in their season; as also the great Artifice used by the Devil, and Instruments amongst themselves, who acted Tobiah and Sanballats part, when they could not by [Page 6]opposing the work openly so effectually hinder it, come in and pretend, as they of old, to build with them, and thereby cause the work to cease, and render both it and the most forward work­men a scorn and reproach amongst the Heathen; these also are sud­denly (on what grounds, in what manner, and for what ends be­comes the Army to consider) dissolved; and the names of many of them, whose memorial in ages to come shall bee blest, were cast out as evil for Righteousness sake, and marks † of Ignominy and Reproach put upon them before all the Nation by some of your selves or adherents, that knew what would gratifie you, and pur­sued that path accordingly, as your weekly Pamphleter Needham, whose tongue is no slander, used, (and still uses frequently for your service) to do at that day; and you made it much your business to be raking into, and laying open, Cham-like, the infirmities and nakedness of your brethren, contrary to that counsel, or rather reproof given in a like case in Obadiah, from 10, to the 15. com­pared with 8, and 9 verses, being a glass in which you may see your selves and actions; I desire you will look into with tremb­ling. For thy violence against thy Brother Jacob, shame shall co­ver thee, and thou shalt bee cut off for ever. In the day that THOU STOODEST ON THE OTHER SIDE, in the day that the stranger carried away captive his forces, and forreigners entred into his Gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, EVEN THOU WAST AS ONE OF THEM, but thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy Brother, neither shouldest thou have rejoyced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction: neither shouldest thou have SPOKEN PROUDLY IN THE DAY OF DI­STRESSE. Thou shouldest not have entred into the gate of my people, in the day of their calamity, yea thou shouldest not have look­ed on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity, neither shouldest thou have stood in the cross way, to cut off those that did escape, neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of his distress. For the day of the Lord is neer upon all the Hea­then; as thou hast done, it shall bee done unto thee, thy reward shall return upon thine own head, Vers. 8. Shall I not in that day, saith the Lord, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the Mount of Esau? Vers. 9. And thy mighty men. O Teman, [Page 7]shall bee dismayd, to the end that every one of the Mount of Esau may bee cut off by slaughter.

Your next step you take as a fruit, I fear of your former, was falling back again into the old exploded way of the Nation; having too neer a similitude (though a far worse ground) to their action, 1 Sam. 8.5, 7. You having now departed from that more pure path you were eminently lead to, and blest in while you pursued the ends of Righteousness, as you acknowledge; the consent of the good people in the three Nations, Navies, Armies, Churches flow in to you, and in hopes of what would bee brought out by you, rise up as one man, and call you blessed: But a King you must have, as the Nations, in nature, though not in name; who also is made, I beleeve, in judgement, beyond his own and your intention, too much like him described, in 1 Sam. from the 11th. to the end; but you (as they) will have him in that posture, and neer that port of King and Courtiers formerly, which being so annext to this neer similitude, rises with it in all its Pompal formalities, as a Ghost out of its grave, to bee once more adored by a company of dying declining Christians, and by this means is the hearts and hopes of the prophane Cavileer, and neu­tral spirit, and their adherents incouraged, and the spirit of the most sincere through the three Nations (except such as could say a confederacy) bowed down and dejected: A Government framed, none knew by whom, and imposed by you the chief Officers, and your adherents, on the three Nations, Navies, and Armies, without their consent, unless fraudulently, and unfairly gotten: Addresses made and sent down to bee signed by the Army, not time given for due consideration or consultation in a case of that kinde; or if some did consider and express their dissatisfaction, they were pre­sently either thrown out of their places, or else looked on as per­sons not fit to bee trusted in them; And I beseech you consider, was not this an evil, an high aggravated evil? considering its circum­stances against that positive Rule, Luk. 6.39. And as you would that men should do to you, do yee also to them likewise; It also laies you under, like guilt to that, charged 1 Cor. 6.8. Nay, you do wrong, and defraud, and that your Brethren; As also against that Rule, 1 Thes. 4.6. That no man go beyond, or defraud his Brother in any matter. To all which add the cryes, calls, tears, and beseechings of [Page 8]some from all parts to you, to ponder your paths, warning you in the Name of the Lord, of the danger of your way, that it was dis­pleasing to the Lord, gratifying to enemies, and grievous to the hearts of his most sincere ones in the three Nations, and yet you would not hear; no, though the Lord also every morning brought his judgement to light, yet you were as the unjust, that knew no shame; but you sleight those that bore witness for the Lord against you, and contemned the witness they bore, saying of and to some of them, they would have been quiet, had they been uppermost, and the cause of their dissatisfaction, was onely because they were not so, which your own consciences could tell you was notoriously false; but at last you proceed to imprison some, banish others into remote Islands, snatching and keeping others from their precious Relations, to what prejudice to some of them is not desired to bee further remembred, and with all art and industry, by frowns, fa­vours, profits, airy honours, indeavour to debauch others from their former profest principles and practices, of more integrity to God and their Country, and what woful work you have helped to make of this kind in City, Country, Churches, by your King-craft, and worse than Bishop-like trapannings, there is sad cause to re­member; and I should speak more, had not the Lord spoke so much; but surely you did not onely sin, but made Israel to sin; ful­filling that sad word, Isa. 9.16. For the leaders of the people cause them to erre, and they that are lead of them are destroyed; and hereby you pave a way, as it were, to the Lords anger, which discovered it self at home and abroad, at Sea and at Land, amongst your Coun­cils and Forces, insomuch as hee who you had set up as your Protector in name, was never less truly so to you, these Nations, nor himself, than hee was after you had so unduly exalted him, and cloathed him with those vain empty names and titles you had given him.

But you go on, as persons engaged, and indeavour to engage o­thers, as fast as you can, in the same snares with your selves, which the places you were in gave you great advantage to do, being chiefest Officers, Councillors, yea of the closest Caball some of you, and others of you more subordinate, were ready to receive impressions from the rest, and communicate accordingly to those under their charge; by means of which, many, if not most of those [Page 9] filthy, flattering, hypocritical Addresses, were framed, and lit­tle less than imposed on Regiments under their commands, and made as traps and snares frequently to catch and weed out such as could not run to the same excess with you, without asking a question for conscience sake, whereby many poor souls for fear of losing their places, profits, favours, &c. contrary to their consciences, bowed down to these abominations, and engaged with you (though falsly) to live and dye with that poor person that was then up, against all opposers, forgetting the Lord whom you in those paths were opposing, and provoking him to his face, thereby to oppose you, by taking away your Protector from amongst you, as hee saw good, which stroke, with the manner of it (in several respects, not thought fit to mention) taking him away on that remarkable day, the third of September, made famous formerly by the Lords eminent owning him and the Ar­my under his command, in two signal Victories obtained a­gainst the enemies of the Lord, when hee fought his bat­tels on his name and peoples behalf, and hee is now like Aaron of old, uncloathed and stript of that honour for­merly put upon him, not wisely improved by him to the service of the Lord that gave it; Ah, this stroake spake much to wise ob­servers, yea very much to you that survived to look well to your next steps, but alass, God speaks once, yea twice, but man regards not, you still hold fast deceit, and refuse to return, and wax worse and worse deceiving, and being deceived; who could have thought that you, who were used to say Gods work grew more refined, and so must Instruments, that should bee used and prosper in it: that you should bee the Instruments to advance another poor man to his, your own, these Nations hurt, Gods dishonour, and the dis-service of that blessed cause of God (by this and such like means now become a by-word, and a reproach amongst the Heathen) that you knew was sufficiently destitute of the Character aforesaid? but this you do; and the better to cover your evil herein, you cloathe him with those Epithites you did, giving occasion thereby to the poor fawning Sycophant-like spirited people in the Nation to strive in sin to out-strip you, giving those very Epithites, some of them, to him, that were due to God onely, viz. the man of Gods right hand, whom hee had [Page 10]made strong for himself, with others too much like it; and this person, not to mention his merit or right, is advanced by you to a place of the chiefest rule and dignity in the head of three Nations, without the fair or free consent of them, the Armies or Navies; how right this was in the sight of God or men, judge yee.

But you proceed in your fraudulent practices, as formerly, to gain consent, where it is not given, and are helpt herein, by some of the poor Prophets of the Land, who now (as of old) lead the Van in this day of Degeneracy, strengthening the hands of the wicked, as well as saddening the hearts of the righteous, according to Ezek. 13. so that none returns from his wickedness; and that they may strengthen themselves and you in this carnal confederacy, present you with the names of an hundred Churches in the lump, that so you may not at all suspect your way, having such a number of those who have profest to have given up their names to Christ, to approve of you therein, and as it were bless you in the name of the Lord; and thus you wrap it up, fulfilling that word, Jer. 5.30, 31. A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the Land, the Prophets prophese falsly, and the Priests bear rule by their means, and my peo­ple love to have it so, and what will yee do in the end thereof? And hereby you bring your selves by such actions within the verge of that judgement, written in Prov. 24.24. Hee that saith to the WICKED, thou art RIGHTEOUS, him shall the people CURSE, NATIONS SHALL ABHOR HIM. I should speak much more here, but that I desire rather to bee silent, the person concerned being gone off the stage, and I wish may keep off, lest a worse thing befall him, and many learn by such sudden castings down, as well as liftings up, to know that the Lord rules in the Kingdomes of this world, giving them to whom hee pleases; and whoeser walks in pride, hee is able to abase, and may so know him, as more to know himself, and learn the fear of the Lord, that teaches to depart from all iniquity.

And having spoken thus to you Commanders, lest the infe­riour rank of men of all sorts in the Army, should think them­selves innocent, by beholding you so guilty, give mee leave to add a word to such.

And first I desire you will remember that you have your share of sin in these things, having been the leggs and hands by which these mischiefs aforesaid have been acted; some of you having actually seised the poor Saints of the Lord, haling to pri­sons, and keeping them there, or at least, saying, a confederacy with those that did so, or not bearing a faithful witness, as be came you against it, standing most of you under the influence of sinful engagements, ready bent to fulfil the pleasure of your Rulers more fully in that point, contrary to light, and much struglings in your own consciences against such things, the Lord grant you repentance and pardon for it, and to beware of any such engagements that shall be tendred to you in future, (and oh that you had a little more considered that lately tendred to you, and signed by you, about the conduct of the Army, which I fear will prove a sore snare) and though it will bee said for you in the case aforesaid, that you were under many temptations, viz. fears of frowns, and loss of favours, as also that little mony due to you for your Arrears, if you had born your witness, or quit your station; all which indeed might have been your portion, in dis­charge of your duty, yet you not venturing to run such a hazard for the Lord, how have you fallen! below the spirits of Chri­stians, of English men, of an Army nor mercinary, yea of Romans, though Heathens, who valued their Country, and the Common Rights of it, at a higher rate; and by your sin, without repentance, are also under that woe denounced, in Isa. 31.2. Yet hee also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his word, but will arise against the house of evil doers, and against the HELP of them that work inquity; and you have sinned al­so against that Rule, Isa. 8.13. Say not a confederacy to all them to whom these people shall say a confederacy, neither fear yee their fear, nor bee afraid, but sanctifie the Lord of Hosts him­self, and let him bee your fear, and let him bee your dread; and let mee beseech you so to ponder the paths of your feet, as to re­pent of what is past, and to take heed in time to come, that you follow no leader, nor leaders in any way, how plausible soever, that you have not well-grounded assurance, is warranted by the word, which while you observe as your Rule, will bee an ho­nour to the Lord, and you, while you live, and peace of con­science [Page 12]to you, when you come to dye, when all else you do, not concurrent herewith, will leave you under sorrow, shame, and a blot that will nor bee wiped away.

In the next place I desire to consider the best pleas I have met with by any of the Army in their own vindication; as first, they say all Governments are lawful, and so that by a Protector, and therefore that was not their sin.

Answer, How far a Government by a King or Protector is in its own nature lawful, or unlawful, I shall not here dispute, but it satisfies mee that the introducing both the one and the other, hath been declared Treason by a Law of the Land that wee have as much reason to reverence and adhere to (considering the reasons upon which it is grounded) as most Laws extant; to which let mee also add, the full concurrence of the Army there­with, with their exprest abhorrence of the contrary, stated by the Army, sometimes upon transcendent grounds, to a Law of the Land, as is to bee seen in their Muscellborough declaration in the year 50. all which considered, together with what God hath spoken since in opposition to such a practice, makes it very neer of kin to a thing unlawful at least for this Army to bring in such a Government.

But secondly, It is said that these Governments were not of choice, but of necessity.

Answer, So you say, but how or to whom that necessity appears beside your selves, is a question; when you are willing to submit this point to the judgement of more unbiassed persons, I hope you will bee heard, and till then, not expect to bee belee­ved.

But thirdly, you say your aims and ends were good.

Answer, What your ends were, the Lord knows, and will ere long let you and us know better; but good ends for the most part make but bad and unwarrantable Rules to act by; and so far as men may rationally guess at your ends, by your means you use towards them, they were not like to bee very good; and of this you wanted not warnings from all parts, but you would not then hear.

Again, though you in the first part you acted under a single person might have something of a colour of good ends in what you [Page 13]did, yet sure you had none such for your second part under your second single person; or if you shall yet say, you did judge that also a likely way and means to those good ends, will not all ra­tional men in these three Nations rise up at once and conclude you as a company of the most unfit men in England to judge in cases of like kinde in future, who are subject to such gross mi­stakes, wherein our lives, liberties and estates are concerned? and how would the sense of your miscarriage formerly, if it were right upon you, make you dread like paths, which you now not­withstanding, as fearlesly as ever are running towards.

But fourthly, You say you have repented, and indeavour to evince it by, First, your dissolving that Parliament called by Richard Cromwell. Secondly, In throwing down him.

Answer, Whether those actions had more of sin or repentance in them, your preingagements considered, remains a question with some, though out of question with others, especially as to you chief Commanders; and to the latter of them, whether you were herein so guilty, as you would now bee thought to bee, let the Arguments used by some of you to him, at that time, pleading your necessity from others, more than willingness in your selves to that work, speak; though I beleeve indeed you were minded to attempt somewhat of alteration in his Counsel, as you were neerly concerned, in point of reputation, and other­wise, at that time to do; as also that you were providentially carried upon those leggs on which you went, whither some of you would not have gone; and therefore at that time in the Ge­neral Council of Officers you did plead hard for the single Person, some of you; others to have but the name, when the thing it self could not bee had, and thereby manifesting your constant good affection to the last, losing this ground but by inches, rather furiously driven off it, than fairly quitting it; so that upon the whole, this looks very unlike a peece of repentance in you the chief Officers; but if any have a share more than others in this service, it is the inferiour ranks of men in the Army, who sin­ned not after the similitude of the chief Officers transgression, in setting him up, though some were drawn, and others driven by them, to sacrifice to him in those wretched addresses, when up, but were much more willingly helpful, and truly joyful, in throwing him down.

But fifthly, You say you acknowledged your evils to the late Parliament, when you brought them to sit again.

Answer, You did very generally and cursorily mention some of your wandrings, but how few of these many particulars afore­mentioned, with many more of like kinde chargeable upon you, is observable? and the more so, because when any comes to speak with you particularly, they usually meet with that com­mon question much in use amongst that poor people in Mala­chies time, saying, Wherein have wee done so evil? And though demonstrations are clear now, as they were then, yet it is as hard to convince you, as it was them; and therefore that I might (if the will of the Lord were) a little help you in this main point of Repentance, upon the truth of which, and your being renewed, depends so much in this case; I therefore would a little treat you on this subject.

Repentance, when in truth, I take, doth consist in these fol­lowing particulars, viz. 1 Conviction, 2 Humiliation, 3 Con­fession, And 4 Forsaking sin confessed, and would intreat you seriously to consider this first part, to wit, Conviction; and ask your souls this single question, which the Lord will one day ask you, viz. Have you indeed been convinced, that you have wandred out of the way, with the causes, effects, and degrees thereof, and sinful­ness of your so wandring, with respect to some Rule, or Rules of the Law by you transgressed herein, and what those Rules are; as al­so what is the nature of your sin towards God, towards Men, to­wards those without, those within, those under your charge; as also those that have been imprisoned, opprest, afflicted, derided, and scorned, by you, or some of you, for their indeavouring to bee faithful to the Lord, and his interest in this back-sliding day? if you are rightly convinced, you will see your sin, in these its se­veral aspects; for as the Spirit of the Lord convinceth clearly, so as no light doth like it, so it convinceth very particularly and ful­ly, and usually laies the soul convinced under the weight of its sin, in its several aggravations, as it respects some Rule or Rules transgressed by it, and so renders sin exceeding sinful, Rom. 7.13. Now, have you been so convinced? hath that deluge of dishonour brought upon the Name of the Lord, those stains, blemishes, and blasphemies brought upon that blessed cause of [Page 15]God? together with that ignominy, contempt and cruelty cast upon, and exercised towards many of those poor unworthy wit­nesses to the Lord and his work, in this day of declining, been with weight upon your hearts, yea or no? if not, sure you are yet very far from thorow convictions.

2 As to your Humiliation, that alwaies attends true convi­ction, and includes contrition, as Zach. 12.10, 11, 12. Ezek. 7.16. Have you been at this work, families apart, your wives apart, and each soul apart, mourning bitterly over your transgres­sions, as an Army? if so, what means those sleighty extenuating expressions concerning your sin, when spoken of? as also the si­lence of you Leaders (who have lead in transgression) in your daies of seeming solemn mourning before the Lord? you either contenting your selves, that some amongst you speak largely in your names, leaving you to your liberty of assent or dissent (which you may possibly think you have) in such eases, or else otherwise discovering heart-risings against others, using plainness amongst you, which you brook not so well; bee plea­sed to read Davids practice in such a case, a King and Comman­der, not inferiour to any of you, 1 Chron. 2.8. And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing. And vers. 17. Is it not I that commanded this people to bee numbred? Even I it is that have sinned, and done evil in­deed, but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O Lord my God, bee on mee, and on my Fathers house, but not on thy people, that they should bee plagued.

3 To that of confession, which ought to bee particular and pub­lick, where evils have been so, Lev. 5.5. And it shall bee when bee shall bee guilty in one of these things, that hee shall confess that hee hath sinned in that THING. Ezra 10.11. Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your Fathers, and do his plea­sure, and separate your selves from the people of the Land, and from the strange wives; then all the Congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must wee do, but the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and wee are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two, for wee are many that have transgressed in this thing. Act. 26.10, 11. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the Saints [Page 16]did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief Priests, and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them, and I punished them oft in every Synagogue, and compel­led them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even to strange Cities. Where is now this free, full, publick, particular confession of yours? James 5.16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another that you may bee hea­led. This is the way that God will bee glorified, by persons that have so publickly dishonoured him, as you have done in your publick actions. Ezek. 44.10. And the Levites that went a­stray; When Israel went astray, which went astray away from mee after their Idols, they shall even bear their iniquities, v. 13. They shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed. Take heed therefore of consulting with flesh and blood in this case; it is a hard lesson for persons in that port and degree in the world that you are in; but this is a part of that great lesson of self-denial, wherein every cross that lies in the way of duty, must bee taken up by you; for if you have sinned, you must rise out of it in the way of God, or bee ruined by it; for hee will assuredly distrain for his glory that you will not give him.

4 As to your forsaking of sin, that must not onely bee for­saking such particular acts of sin, which its possible have forsaken you, and you are not capable of committing those individual acts again; but a departing from all of that kinde, yea of every kinde; and in this give mee leave once more to ask you; what are you doing herein? are you not again, instead of forsaking, fallen, and falling, into some of your old steps, that yet you would bee deemed to have repented of? else, why did you (not long since) come before the Lord in a very solemn day, profes­sing you were there like a company of poor children that knew not one step of your way, to inquire of the Lord a right way, when before your coming there, you had resolved of; so, consi­derable a part of your way, as the conduct of your Army; and that not for that time onely, as was then your pretence (which had been somewhat more tollerable) and whether not also of that rare composition since called the Committy of safety? you may do well to consider; at least whether in any rational mans judge­ment, [Page 17]the constitution of it considered, it can bee thought to bee the product of such a solemn daies seeking the Lord for di­rection; and is not your Army thus setled intended to bee influential to the framing your whole fabrick of Government now in the forge? and have not some of you already said, that if it please not the people it is to bee offered to, they must bee pleased whether they will or not, and yet pretensions of all freedome to bee used towards all good people? yea, I have been told by some of you, that you intended to do no­thing in your Government without advice had with good peo­ple, from all parts; hath that been, or is it intended? what is this other than the very first step that Oliver Cromwell took? and who seeth not that this Army will yet again, notwithstand­ing all its mistakes be supream, admit nothing above it, or equal to it in all our greatest concerns of life, liberty or estate? which must needs have this effect, to make good men nauciate it, or what is to bee done by it, as formerly; and then those that will follow for the loaves, and transgress for a morsel of bread, shall again bee admitted in their sphear of subserviency, to a competent share in this new gain'd dominion over the lives, liberties and estates of such as cannot for conscience sake bow to such an Image, when set up; and if this bee indeed forsaking sin, then I understand it not; but this is your way, to which, if God will condescend to save by, you will serve him in, but not out of it, as I perceive; but know this, you must come to his waies, or bee broken by him; and deceive not your selves, I beseech you, with pretensions of doing good out of the way of it; though they may bee as high rai­sed in your imagination as Heaven, yet if not laid in deep humiliation for past transgression, with thorow abhorring your selves in sense of them, as also declining all paths that lead to the like in future, they will prove but abortive, and like a house built upon the sand, that will assuredly fall, and great will bee the fall of it; and therefore since its most certain you cannot prosper in any work in your hands, till the Lord have accomplished this great work of unfeigned repentance upon your hearts, consider your waies, and see if the Lord hath re­covered you to this path of his good pleasure, manifest it, and [Page 18]bless him for it; and if not, take heed of pretending to it, but rather confess your sin, and give glory to the Lord, who hath said, Hee will indeed bee sanctified by all that draw neer to him, and before all the people hee will bee glorified; and truly, till you are taught to glorifie him in this way of his, that leading, guiding presence of God, in relation to his work in your hands, will not bee with you, but will certainly and vi­sibly depart from you; and oh that I could say it were not al­ready departed, as from Saul of old, causing you to labour in the fire for vanity, and run out of one fire into another, which is too visibly your portion at this day; and base fears of man (for want of a Spirit of Faith, as formerly to make the Lord your fear, and your dread) are upon you, causing you to make undue haste many times; and the spirit of rage and madness of the Nations, rising against you, cannot bee kept down by the spirit that yet appears to act you, but it grows and gains visibly, yea runs upon you, teareth and rends you daily; and it is onely the Spirit of the Lord that can raise up a standard to give check to such floods; and till this Spirit more appears to act you, which will first carry you out of your own wisdome, strength, and every polluted path, and make you as poor children, not in word onely, but in truth, to say in the Lord you have all, and not elsewhere, you are, I am perswaded, with other poor ones that follow you, like to wander in the wilderness; and which is most sad, without a guide, till many, if not most of your carkasses fall there, or the Lord have purged out the rebels from among you; there is but one Name under Heaven that Salvation shall bee had from for Nations, as well as Souls, the closing with whom in his own way, as the wisdome of the word directs to, would make you and these Nations also in their publick affairs hap­py; and the contrary makes them miserable: this is the founda­tion, other than which (what ever any poor deluded flat­tering Courtiers have formerly prophanely said of any of the projects of mens brains) can no man lay, nor any Nation or Nations with security by warrant from the word build upon; but their buildings will tumble, for hee hath said, Hee will shake Nations thereby to remove what ever may bee shaken, [Page 19]till their desire comes to him, who shall alone bear the glory, and not man or men with him.

My poor advice is therefore to you; as ever you intend to prosper, bee wise, yee Rulers, Officers and Souldiers, kiss the Son, not onely as a King and Saviour to your souls, but as King of Nations, lest hee bee angry, and yee perish from the way, for if his wrath bee kindled, and that but a little, onely blessed are they that trust in him.

And if you desire thus to own him, do it by acknowledging him as your Law-giver, by your receiving and magnifying that Law, hee hath said, hee will magnifie and make honourable, and casting off the Laws of the Heathen, that serve for little else, but to lead into labyrinths; yea, Seek the Lord, and wait on him for light and wisdome, and consult his Word, and see if it bee not able thorowly to furnish to every good work, beyond what any Laws of men can do; yea, this were the way to lay such a Magna Charta, as would stand more sure a­gainst any alterations, than any you can lay, both as to our rights, as men and Christians, which is the great thing in contest, and would have a blessed instructing effect upon the administrators, as in Joshua 1.8. As also upon them to whom they do administer, teaching them the knowledge and fear of the Lord, which is so much wanting in these Nations at pre­sent; when every mans particular interest should lead him to consult the Law of the Lord, in which his great interest is so much made known, and by beholding the Righteousness of that Law should fall in love with it, and into a more frequent delightful meditation upon it, which being blest by the Lord, might bee instrumental to turn water into wine, to the con­verting of many poor souls that might begin at first, but with their own interest, besides the civilizing effects, as to man­ners amongst men, this Law of the Lord hath a blessed tendency to beget, beyond any other Law whatsoever.

But for you or others, that shall go after any other, be­sides, or short of him, or his righteous Laws, truly your sorrows will bee multiplied, and you will lye down in them at the last; and though you may think you have strengthened your selves in the unitedness of your Army under such a con­duct, [Page 20]yea much more strengthened your arm of flesh, by your new-raised Militia, or what else you may imagine, remember that the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven a­gainst all unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrigh­teousness; And you have none of these coverings large enough to keep that from falling heavy upon you, to the sudden dissolving of every Covenant with death and Hell, and over­flowing every hiding-place made up but of the refuge of lies, how like to truth soever they may bee.

These things being of some weight upon my heart, I durst not but speak to you, though I had arguments enough from a sense of my own unworthiness upon all accounts to have silenced mee, as well as my weaknesse for such an undertaking, in a service in its own nature usually un­acceptable, and much more may bee so with you for my sake; but I have in this matter consulted duty to the Lord, who I have indeavoured to eye in it; and secondly, to your souls, that I would fain see recovered out of such destroying paths. I hope you will pass by weakness herein, and ac­cept my intention, which hath been to serve you the most effectually I could. I have not troubled you oft in this kind, and for ought I know, it may bee the last service of this na­ture I may ever discharge to you as an Army, which if it bee of any use, I shall rejoyce, if otherwise, my soul I hope shall mourn on your behalfs (if it may bee to pre­vent that misery coming on you) and all of us with you, but that I trust the Lord who knows how to deliver, when all other means fails, will bee a little Sanctuary to all that in sincerity commit themselves to him, desiring to hate every false way, for hee hath said it, that is able to perform it; Upon all the glory there shall bee a defence, and when the Enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him; Which I beleeve hee will yet do for his poor remnant, for his holy Names-sake, and so do it as to astonish and confound enemies of all sorts, greatly discover and shame false-hearted friends, take his people off from Idols, yea every pleasant picture, and cause them to sing to himself alone, as the God of their salvations, who remembers them in their low estate, because his mercy endures for ever.