THE Observation is as true as it is common; That when any Breach or Alteration has been made upon the Antient and well Constituted Government of this Kingdom which doth reside in an Uinnterrupted Hereditary and Lineal Succession; This being Established and Confirmed by all the Statute and Common Laws, authentick Records and Right Precedents) either by wrong Invasion upon, and forcible Dispossession of it, or by subtle Intrusion or stepping in between, Hereupon the Tongues and Pens of People have been more open and enlarged than at other Times of righteous Settlement. The Reason whereof is so obvious, that there is no need to assign it; Because here is occasion given for it, but there is none then. For an Example hereof we need go no further back, than the Reign of Oliver Cromwell, and that eighteen Years of Confusion and Bloodshed which was then. What an ex­ceeding deal of Work was for the Press in those days? When any Great and unusual thing is done in the World, if People should hold their peace, the Stones would immediately cry out (according to that Rhretorical form of Speech) importing that the most dull and silent of Mankind must be affected with, and talk thereof. And tho' through the Evil and Depravation of our Nature, they do more con­sent unto, and are carried away with a corrupt and wrong Thing, especially where it gets Riches and Power, and the Multitude on its side; Yet the World was never so universally bad, That every without one exception should be led away with the Spreading, Prevailing, and contagious Error; But some have all along kept and preserved themselves in their Integrity, free and sound from the Disease and Corrupti­on of the Times.

There have been a Remant, and a few (as this is always the Lot and Portion of the Right and bet­ter Side) in whom hath appeared outwords of Truth, and Prnciples of Righteousness and Honesty. So it will be (notwithstanding the utmost Opposition and Persecution) as long as God hath a Church in the World; Unless all Men should be transformed into wild Beasts or Devils; that is, until they come to lose all the Seeds and Tinctures of Reason and Religion, and they are made up of nothing but Violence and Evil. (Here it must be acknowledged that Pride, Revenge, Envy, Discontent, and the several Ingredients of Sin and Passion will be apt to creep in, and also intermingle with the Right side) so that if there should not be a word spoken or written; Yet as long as there is a Real and Essential Difference between Good and Evil, Truth and Falshood, Right and Wrong (which is so far ingrasted into the Nature of Men, that it cannot be utterly rooted out) Every one that hath but common un­derstanding would discern the one from the other.

It hath been the constant Method, that when Iniquity hath been set up on High, and it hath intrud­ed and Usurpt it self upon the Rightful Authority, They have also plai [...]ered, and flourished it over with Goodly words: But when on the other side Words of Truth do come forth, which make to see through, or under the Foundation thereof, and this doth it more and more, that the untempered Morter of the [...]ther can no longer Palliate, or make it up again; Then the last Resort is to Gag the Mouth, Tye up the Hand, and Imprison the Body, to prevent and hinder all going forth of such True and right Words: For every one that doth Evil, hateth the Light, neither cometh to the Light, lest his Deeds should bere­proved, John 3. Ver. 20. Or as it is in the Margin there, discovered. Here if the upright in Heart (God being on their side, whilst they act and labour for him) would strive against these Devises of the Workers of Iniquity, their Foundation would be discovered, and at length fall, and be consumed. Surely their turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as Potters Clay; which, tho' they can or do fashion to this or that purpose, according to their own Will; yet it may be all broken into pieces, or dis­solved into Dirt.

Here it comes to pass, That the greatest Fool calls Fool first; for they do first throw out that Reproach of Sedition and Rebell on falsly upon others to ward off, and turn away that true imputation of both; which, as they are secretly and inwardly Conscious of, so it may be justly fastned upon themselves. Let them call it what they will, Defence of the Parliament and Liberties of England, Preservation of Religion, &c. It was six Years plain down Rebellion foregoing, that brought King Charles the First to the Block; And so notwithstanding it hath been term. [...]Deliverance (I believe they will not find it so at long run:) It was plain invading this Realm by a For [...]gn Prince, bearing Arms, raising Tumults, (all which in Ipsissimis verbis, was contrary to that Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy, which his Sub­jects had before token) which caused our King to be Deposed. At which juncture of Time almost e­very Sermon from the Pulpit, and Paper from the Press [...]as a false, Infamous, and Scandalous Libel: For as the Chief Justice Coke had long since Remarke [...] [...]hat Libelling is the fore-runner of Rebellion, so it did exactly prove; for, whereas the King had Emitted forth his Declaration for Liberty of Con­science; That all people might worship God according to their several Opinion and Persuasions, and they might Preach all God's Word with this necessary Caution; Provided than there nothing should be deliver­ed to alienate the Hearts of his Subjects, from Him or His Government; so as to make them withdraw. or cast off their Allegiance; for to do that, or to despise and falsifie a solemn Oath, there is not one Sen­tence in all the Old and New Testament, which can be truly alledged to justify that: Because such like a thing hath been done in former Generations, and in other Countries, therefore that it was lawfully done, is a fallacious and wrong Conclusion: But our People did abuse the favour of their King unto Evil surmisings and Rebellious Practices, as if He had granted this Universal Liberty only to bring in Popery: But supposing that should be granted (which perhaps was not so) for this is the most forcible [Page 2]way of Reasoning, when admitting his Objection, we can certainly confute, if not convince, and actu­ally bring over the Adversary; Yet God, who causeth Light to shine out of Darkness would have Esta­blished this to them, and to their Generations for ever more upon a righteous sure Foundation, what ever designs might lie hid in the Heart: All one as the Reformation was somewhat brought on, and fur­thered by the Lust and Revenge of Henry the VIII. By which may be seen that there is no such thing as Pure, Undefiled Religion among the Princes of this World: And tho now they have the same Liberty nevertheless, Yet God will judge whether it was not granted by the Political Methods of Ini­quity (which must do somewhat to oblige all Parties, and all sides, lest the seeming or called Godly should reprove it, as the Universally Righteous will nevertheless) as it is now retained by the Sinful si­lence of the first Sort, and by their Consenting with the Deeds of them. All the Churches are to know that the Almighty God could, and as he is Holy and True, so he would preserve, increase, and add to their Numbers, if they did not overp [...]ss the Deeds of the Wicked; yet they prosper. Jer. 5. Ver. 28. For they imagine that hereby they continue this their Priviledge, and therefore they have omitted. Mar. 23.23. (from whence it appears, that omission of Duty is a Sin, and that Christ will enter into Judgment for the same) to speak forth all God's word against all manner of Sin and Transgression in all people from the greatest of them to the least of them. for so indeed it ought to be spoken forth and declared.

But such is the untoward Nature of Men, who are weary of the best things, if they have them long, and they are desirous of Novelty and Variety, tho' it be unlawful, That as they will do ten times more in Loans and Gifts to an unjust Possessor, than to a rightful King; Even so the Religious also will hide their Eyes from the breach of almost all the other Commandments of God, as if the whole of Religion, and what he required of Man was to provide against, and keep out Popery. People are kept hoodwinkt or deluded with false Notions, or rather they do take up with half the thing, not understanding it throughly and wholly. Thus it is both as to serious and common Matters.

Suppose we give an instance in this Iast; When the French were moving upon the Waters the Summer before the Date hereof, It was given out throughout all this Nation, to make the people more unanimous in Opposition of them, That they came to spoil and make a Conquest over this Country. They did not then come so near, as to send out their Declarations, and make their pretences known: But if they had, and declared accordingly, That they came only to restore the deprived King; and that they did covet and design no more, but barely to effect this; and they would be contented only with the Charge of the Expedition paid, with some moderate Gratuities to the Sould ers and Seamen, and henceforward these Nations should abide by one another in Unity, peace and Concord: If the usual Consultation, Treaty and Security was had hereupon, The people of England might credit and fully rely on these their so far seeming, reasonable and just demands, all one as they did take the P. of O's Word to let him come in, when he had before declared, that he did not intend to make a Conquest over them. Indeed there is somewhat more to be considered in the disparity of the Numbers and Power which the one hath, over what the other had; But the Word and promise of the Princes and Potentates of the Earth are much alike, that there is no sure Trust or Reliance to be given to any of them. They were wont to speak in old time saying, Thou shalt surely ask counsel at Abel, and so they ended the Matter. 2 Sam. 20. Ver. 18. As we are allow'd, yea, and commanded to search the Scriptures, so any one at his leisure may read the four following Verses, as they he open in the Bible. I am one of them that are pea [...]eable and faithful in England. It seemeth hard and unequal to me, that a whole Nation should be endangered to be ruined and swallowed up by Strangers and Foreigners for the Ambition and Contention of two Men: Whereas Right might be done in a peaceable and prudent way (without their Aid or violent Int [...]rposure and Medling) upon the terms of universal Forgiveness, not one man excepted. But if one is so stiff as not to grant that; as I suppose he would with all his Heart be glad to be re-admitted in upon those mild and equitable Conditions, which will make him both revered and loved; for it is neither Duty, nor yet Wisdom to speak or behave ones self proudly in the day of distress. They are Adversarie [...] to the King. 2 Sam. 19. Ver. 22. and hinder his Restauration, who dictate otherwise, notwithstanding their ignorant Zeal, and vain Talk for him; And if the Offenders are afraid to trust to this, as W [...]kedness and Guilt is Timerous and Suspicious, it being what is natural and usual, that they who have transgressee without a Cause should be also f [...]arful without a Cause, that is, without a True Cause) Then let all those that are indeed Criminals stand by themselves; for there is no reason why others who as yet are not so, should make themselves criminal also in defending them. And let him come singly to punish them, whilst all others stand persectly Neuter, and disinterested as to that Cause, only in defence of their Country to stop the Incursion and Spoil of strangers and Robbers. The right understanding and acting a [...]cording to this Truth would go a great way towards the bringing and setling Peace again in our Borders. And though people now say the Righteous and Loyal party would bring the French in, Yet herein they say falsly, for if ever the French should come in (which, tho' at present unlikely, and that Word according to the Divine Method in Psal. 89. throughout, and Jer. 37. 10 seems to be falsified at first, to exercise the more our Faith therein nevertheless, Yet nothing is impossible with God, who knows which Side will have the worst of the War at long run) Yet not we, but themselves would cause this break­ing in of Foreigners and Strangers; For the original Cause, and first Occasion is to be lookt back into. Who invited another to come in, when all things were quiet, before he moved upon the Waters? To disturb quiet Things that is properly Sedition, as Rebellion is the breaking out into the open Act of Hostility. And then they did drive their King out to seek his Bread in that Neigh [...]our Country, where he supposed that he might sooner have it; And because he enought himself not safe among the Children of them, who Murthered his Father; therefore He was forced [...]o take Sanctuary among Stranger. Here he sho [...]ld rather have abode quiet, and not sought to have Recovered his Kingdom again by [...]lood and Force of Arms. But yet he did, and doth still betake himself to those Methods which is usual for Sovereign [Page 3]Princes when they have been Dispossessed to do in like Cases. Which same Plea and Saying, tho it may seem a little allowable in Fore Humane, Yet it will in no wise excuse or justifie him at the Bar of God [...]or the Blood that hath been spilt on this Occasion. However they are much more inexcusable, who first Rebelled against him, and do still endeavour to keep him out with the Price of Blood, and with the loss of so many thousand [...]en's Lives, than Himself is, who seeks after this manner to be Re-instated again. They, are Sinners and Trangresors on both sides, Though his Rebellious Sub­ject [...] are the greater.

From hence came those Wars and Fightings among us, So th [...]t after the way which they barely accuse others of Se­dition and Rebellion, Themselves in very deed have been proved guilty of the same.

In the very same manner it may be Answered, as to what they call False, Infamous and Scandalous Libels: A Libel signifies a little Book. Here again they are befo [...]e hand to term it so in these 3 Epithets, which herein are true, Proper, and Opposite: Becavse in what t [...]ey call such Libels their own False, infamous and Scandalous Doings are spoken and treat­ed of: So that this Reproach offered by them must a [...]so cease, for it is truly turned upon themselves; and it doth not justly belong to the Authors of such Writings, but to themselves the Actors of such things. Wherein they have Erred, and a [...]e Deceived, and they do still go aside from the Way of Truth; whereby they are become a Shame and In [...]amy even to Turks, and to the other Nations, and they have made the Name of Protestantism to slink. Gen. 34.30. among the Super­stitious Inhabitants of this and other Lands, whilst t [...]ey have given occasion to both to say, Tuese are the Dis [...]ipl [...]s of Je­sur Christ, the Prince [...]f Peace, and they call themselves of the Pure, Res [...]ned Religion, who break and sa [...]ifie their O [...]s. dis [...]nour and dispbey their Parents, they kill and murther one another. I do hereby enter my Protestation against th [...]se Deeds of such Nuncupative Protestants. They are become a Scandal, and Rock of Offence, not so much to them who ca [...]s themselves so, but to all Real and Universal Christians, such who have respect unto all the Commandments, and not keep some, and neglect others, as the manner of many is.

Every Libel (see Coke's Reports, Le case de Libellis famosis) is to the Scandal of the Governments, and to the Breach of the Peace. But when there is an Actual breach of the Peace already in this, and more especially in the Neighbour Nations; which hath so been for these four Years, Those Words of Truth and Soberness, which do exhort to fill and com­pose these troubled Waves (— Pr [...]stat m [...]tes componere fluctus) and which shew us the only good and right way, how it may be all retrieved and healed, and made up again without the farther Less of so much as one Man's Lie mo [...]e viz. By changing this New and wr [...]ng Constitution into the Antient and Rightful Government; This doth in us wise break the Peace, but would Establish it; Nor yet doth it widen, but it would repair the Breach: Only there it Strength and Will wanting to make it close and keep together. But then indeed it is a scandal to the present Governour (for Gover­nour and Government are two distinct things; in that sometimes they take upon them to Govern, who [...]ave no Right, so to do) that themselves should not be govern'd by the Law of God: That they should so long live, and act in the breach of sundry of God' Commandments; whereby they are in real danger of future Condemnation, and of going away into everlasting Punishment; That Q [...]e would admire (unless they were deluded and deceived by Sathan, who holds them Captive at his Will, and it is to be [...]ear'd, that after all the Warning which hath been given, they will at last fall into the hands of this Roaring Lion [...]ho they can give sleep to their Eyes, and slumber to their Eyelids day after day, and nig [...]t after night, as they do, until they throughly amend their ways, and their Doings, and unti they throughly, execu [...]e Judgment between a Man and his Neighbour. Jer. 7. Ver 5. Lest they should Sleep the Sleep of Death and their Souls should be [...]athere [...] with the Sinners and Transgressors of former Generations. By these Words, That ye [...]hroughly exe­cute judgment between a Man and his Neighbour, is, or may be understood according to the Meaning and Requiring of the Spirit of God at his Day (for the H [...]ly Ghost in the Penning and Giving forth or the Scriptures hath provided and ordained them for a Law to all Persons, Times and Places, Generations and Countries). That they do righten (See the Marginal Reading of lsi [...] [...]. Ver. 17) Adjust and Determine the Matter between King James and t [...]e Prince of Orange according to the instruct on or Wisdom justice judgment and Equity. Prov. [...]. Ver. 3. But until they do this, How can they have any peace in their Consciences, unless they did act in the Deceivableness or Unrighteousness, and had im­ [...]ibed in strong Delu [...]ions? But th [...] Knowledge of t [...]e Truth would break this inward stupidity, in which sense it doth break the peace within, which is the most tronolesome kind of any; nevertheless it is better so broken than kept. And as the same Truth doth ba [...]ely recite, reprove, and discover their scandalous Doings, and as it doth lay open their Fals­hood and Hypocrisy, They do thus conceive Enmity against, and utter Error concerning it. Whatever the [...] now do to pre­vent and hinder the goings forth of His Eternal Truth (because by the publication thereof some few. Thoughts of their Hearts are revealed) Herein they do provoke the Lord to iealousy. Are they stronger than be? Or how canth [...]y help when the Dead, small and great shall stand before God, That themselves shall not ap [...]ear also? And then all the Thoughts of all their Hearts will be Revealed; all the Words of every Tongue will be Declared, and all the Deeds of their past Life will be manifested and judged.

As to the Reward promised by the Workers of Iniquity, I have several times thought (as I have heard or read that Portion of Scripture; When thou sawest a Thief, then thou consentest with him: Psal. 50. Ver. 18., That as there are three sons of Thefts and Robberies, so they do use the like Methods: There is a little Degree, a middle Sine, and the great­est of all. The first Sort is, when a Pocket is pickt, or any thing taken away privily, or when two or three or half a dozen do Rob upon the High-Way. These are Liberal and Bountiful to Oslers, Tapsters and Inn-keepers, and the others will bribe it off to prevent their own Discovery; what they do easily come by, they d [...] as frankly part withal. The middl [...] Size is, when a hundred or two do Rob together in a Company, as in some parts of Italy, the Desarts of Arabia, and Sea Pyrates. These do not fee altogether so much because they do depend upon their Numbers, outward Strength and Force; and their Designs are open and Bare-faced to take violently away. But as the yrate told Alexander; The great­est Robbery of all is, W [...]en Kings and Gen [...]rals with their Arm [...]es co s [...]oil and disposs [...]ss whole Countries; Or when they do take a whole Kingdom or Principality away at once. Of this there are two sorts; either open Hostility, which seems fairest, because then Others can stand upon their Guard and Defence: The other is by the Close, Hidden and Hypocri­tical Methods of Usurpation. Like the turnings and windings of a River, which we know not presently whither it ends; Or like the glidings and insinuations of a Snake or Serpent, which may seem smooth or tickle at first, but the end thereof is deadly. They commonly go this way to work, and srue themselves in, [...]hen they cannot accomplish it by the other. But in the first sort of this great Violence or Robbery, They have some specious Reasons to Colour it over, Tho' at last they are forced to resort to the French King's Mott [...] upon his great Guns; Rati [...] Ʋltima Regum; In which thing A­nother hath exactly imitated, and is like unto him; for though they seem to be at so great Enmity and Opposition, yet they do both agree and concern in the same Violent and Unrighteous Action; as appears by that [...]nsc [...]on which as I have heard, was on the Cannon, that went over for the Reducing of Ireland; which was in the [...]utch Language to this Signification; I have got it, and I will maintain it: Most opposite Word! an [...] exactly agreeable to such a King, who is a King for that Womans Reason, because He is so, and only because He is in possession of a Kingdom.

This Proclamation (which gives occasion for these Remarks) in th [...] Gazette is put in an opposite Column to that for High-way men and Robbers on purpose (as I suppose) to make Libellers more odious. But I do believe that God the [Page 4]Judge of all men will rather judge themsolves (by whose pretended Authority it is Emitted forth) to be of this sort, sooner than he will pronounce whom they call Libellers to be wicked Offenders; For in the mean while they do use the same Methods with High-way men and Robbers; for as these Fee Inn Keepers; Oslers and Tapsters to hold their peace, so do they give forth the Wages of iniquity to the several Balaams among us; That, whilst themselves have forsaken the R [...]g [...]t way; and are gone astray, they may not be rebuked for their Iniquity. The Prophets wake my People Err. That bite with their Teeth, and cry Peace, and He that putteth not into their Mouth, They even prepare War against them: Mic 3. Ver. 5. But seeing they are still fed, and Bread is put into their Mouths, These D [...]gs are Dumb. Isa. 56.10. as others are through fear and sloth whose Bread hath been taken away. However rough or harsh this may seem, it is the very Parase of the Holy Ghost speaking on this wise, not our of Invidiousness or abusiveness of Expression, but to set forth the nature of this their Sin of Omission, with the aggravation thereof in the sight of God. And thus they stop the several Mouths, by giving a Livelihood or Preferment, which the Receivers consent unto for to get or keep the same. And then again exactly after the same Me­thod of High-way men and Robbers, where Gifts and fair Means will nor do, There they proceed to a Pistol or Sab, so do these to Punishment and Severity. One may arford to lett good Bargains, where he hath Dispossessed the right Owner, and be very Liberal of that which is not their own, but another Man's: But he that will Judas-like do any thing against the Word of God, and his Righteousness, Though it here covenanted for Twenty or Fifty pieces of Silver (watch per­haps the Informer may be yet baulked of, notwit [...]standing such particular directions are here specified for the certain and speedy Payment thereof) may also meet with Judas his Doom; It would be good for him, if he had never been born: It would be better for him if he had never touched or meddled with such Mony, which is the reward of Iniquity; The Consequence where of will be Persecution and Oppression, if it be not the worst kind of direct Murder it self: This should make honest People have more care, and engage them to a yet greater Faithfulness; as to whom ten or a hundred times as muc [...] would not be a prevailing Temptation to commit the Sins of Treachery and Unfaithfulness.

Another t [...]ing may be observed among High-Way men and Robbers; That they are commonly very Unanimous, and they do but s [...]ldom fall out; for it they should, then all the Gang would be in danger to be broken and ruined; This same is the very Reason, why there hath been such an universal [...]onsent, Harmony and Agreement among the great Mul­titude of the Workers of Iniquity. There has been no such Clashing in their Parliamentary Consultations, nor confront­ing the Head thereof as in the Reign of former Rightful Kings; for indeed if it should be once so, This new erected Ba­bel would end Anger to fall, or at least it would not go forward as now it doth: For a rightful Government like an Oak well and deeprooted doth bear Wind [...]s and Storms, will stand amidst, and against the Strivings and Divisions of the Peo­ple; But a Constitution of Man's devising and Wisdom is like a Reed shaken with the Wind, which every Puff of con­trary breath d [...]th make to stagger, and it many Trees of the Wood should move against it, This would soon blow it quite away, or at lost it would fall, and great would be the Fall thereof.

As Counterf [...]it Gold doth often shine and glister more than true, so Fiction and Falshood doth more Ape and Imitate what is true and real, than perhaps this doth exert it self forth: In like manner it is when the Wicked are joyned hand in hand (who hall not go unpunished as to the future, however t [...]ey escape now) and they have got the Government lodged in them ho it be wrong, Yet nevertheless they will keep their hands inure, and they will punctually, formally and continually practice the several acts of Administration thereof from time to time; for as the Life of a Law is in the Execution of it, so their ill-gotten Power (improperly called Authority, because this Word supposes what is lawful, which theirs is not) is kept up meerly by Use and Exercise thereof. As by taking the Royal Title, Signet and Arms, and by doing the several Regal Acts, Interlining their Name; into the Publick Est: blished Liturgy, so that Prayers are said daily for them throughout the Realm, Co [...]ferring imaginary Titles of Honour, m [...]king seeming Laws, and a Multiplicity of them, whereby is shown forth a secret Consciousness, as if they were not altogether so Valid; Appointing, Judges, and the Courts of Judiia [...]ure go on, and are held in their Names: And then there must be Imprisonment and Punishment of Offenders, yea, and Executions for Treason, as if they were real Kings: For when an Intruder or Usurper steps up, He hath his Throne baked, and cemented with Blood, whereby he doth imagine, that he makes it more sure and fast unto himself, not so much from the Conglutinating Nature thereof, but by the Victory, which with his vast Multitude, He doth get over the single Opposers: So that in all likelihood this Proclamation will be put into a vigorous and constant Execu­tion; If they do not get it confirmed into what is called an Act of Parliament at this their next meeting together) There was some [...]ssay and Endeavour towards this in that their Sessions o Nov. 4. 1692. in a Bill which was going forwards in the Lower-House, Entituled, For the better Prservation of Their Majesties Pers [...]ns and Government, which same Bill proved Abortive, and was rejected, or othewise it will be as a nine days wonder, and vanish off again as meer Talk and waste Paper. But as I once heard Dr. Patrick, the now Usurpt Bishop of E [...]y (as he was expounding the Tin Com­mandments in his then Parish Church at Covent-Garden (make a true Observation; That when Authority doth once begin to Command unlawful things, it doth thereupon grow and become weak and ridiculous. This he spake a tittle before the late Revolution, when there was a real Auth [...]r [...]ty. So when that (which hath now the Name thereof) doth emit such kind of Edicts; tho' with their Armed Men and Multitudes, and by their diligent Execution thereof (for wrong is common­ly more busie and active than right) They will take care, that it shall not hereupon become weaker; Yet there will not much heed and obedience be given to it from the Hearts and Conscience of Men; because for want of Lawfulness both in the Imposers, and also in the Matter it self, It hath not much; or rather no Obligation at all upon the Heart and Conscience.