THere's more a Stir with You, and your Politiques, Morals and Duties, than with half the Town beside. As if there were no brains forsooth. but under your Night-cap; no conscience or loyalty but under your doublet. Prethee let's have no more of these invidious, and grating reflexions upon Controversies that are now dead and buried; no raking of Exclusions, and Associations out of their Graves again: Reform at home first, before you break-in upon the Province of your Neigh­bours. Let but every man mend one, and we shall quick'y have a good World on't. In fine, do as you would be done by, is a good Lesson.

Wouldst thou have the History of the Exclusion so forgotten, as to leave the common peo­ple [Page 2] still poring, and bro [...]ding upon the Principle of it? Or wouldst thou have such an Amnesty pass'd upon the Asso­ciation▪ as utterly to suppress the memory of the Crime, and yet uphold the reputation and credit of the Position: & consequently, support the lawfulness, and the authority of the Practice? So that all this while here is but private medling on the one hand, to the hazard and dishonour of the Crown, the Royal Family, and the publick Peace: and private med [...]ing on the other hand, to detect the Rotten­nels, the Hypocrisy, and the pernicious Tendency of those Doctrines and Doings. How comes it to be more lawful, (nay and laudable too.) for a Quack to give the Kings Sub­jects Poyson in their Po [...]ridge, then for an honest man to ofter them a plain Doss of Sallet-oyle to setch it up a­gain? And now to go on with ye, 'Tis good advice for every man to Reform at home, before he takes upon him to reform others: And it is as good advice taken, as gi­ven. If you find that I do not practice my self, what I in­culcate to others; do but say Wherein, and I shall take it well to be minded of it: And in the mean time, I would have you to consider a little, of Governing your self by those measures that you prescribe to others. What are all your Petitions but Invectives against your Superiors, and Censorious Reflections upon the management of pub­lick Affairs? How many thousands of bodies and souls; How many millions of Money might have been sav'd, if your Weavers, your Butchers; Tinkers and Coblers had been kept to their Looms, their Kettles, and their Stalls, instead of trooping to Westminster to advise with the Close Committee, about the settling of Religion, and State; the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament, the Liberties of the Subject; and the Reformation of England and Ireland, [Page 3] in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline and Government, accor­ding to the word of God, and the Example of the best Reformed Churches; And I know nothing to the con­trary, but that the late King might have ordered the bu­siness of Calling and Dissolving Parliaments; or of ma­king War and Peace; Every jot as well by his Authority Royal, or the advice of his Privy Council, without trou­bling so many Bumkins and Mechanicks to leave their Ploughs, their Shops, and their Trades, only to lend a Helping Hand▪ to the keeping of the Ark steddy. The ve­ry support of your Interest is the license of the multitude, and the only Argument for your Cause, is the madness of the people. VVhat are all your Vox-Populi's, and Pa­triae's, but the Usurpations and Encrochments of Fools upon the business of Wise Men; and the setting of the Go­vernment upon the Head, with the heels uppermost? what are all your Popular Remonstrances, and Addresses, I say, but so many Attempts of the Mobile, to confound and sub­vert the order of the Publick, by intermedling in matters which they have nothing to do withal? VVhy d'ye not live-up to the moderation that you Preach, and keep within the compass that you prescribe? The Subjects part is Resignation, and obedience; and that which you impose upon the world for Reformation, is downright Se­dition▪ and 'tis not the Name, or Colour of Liberty, or Religion, that will bear-out private men in any Enter­prises whatsoever, upon the work and authority of their Governors. In one word, your Conversations are a direct Contradiction to your Precepts, and your Discourses.

As in what Particulars, I prethee?

Why truly, in the Whole Course of what you either Recommend, or condemn, you are the greatest meddelers in [Page 4] Nature, your selves, and yet at the same time the Greatest Complainers of other peoples medling; as if the Reputa­tion of a Trimmer, were more Sacred, on the One hand, then the Honour of the Government, on the other▪ And 'tis much at the same Rate, that you manage the Doctrine of, do as you would be done by▪ As for the purpose; How would all your popular Sticklers for the Sovereignty of the People, take it, to be Beaten out of doors by their Own servants, and to have their Children rise in Rebellion a­gainst their Fathers? What a hurry have we had; what Plotting, Swearing and Conspiring, to cut-off the unchang­able Succession of the Crown, as the only Expedient un­der the Sun, to deliver us from Death and Damnation? To say nothing of the Imposture, both of the Fears, and of the Dangers: To say nothing of the Treason that was Cover'd under the Cloack of That Exclusion: To say no­thing again, of the Malicious Manage of the Contrivance which was as Rude, and unmannerly, as it was Wicked and unjust: But to speak a word now, to parity of Reason in the Case. How would the Agitators of the Exclusion of a Lawfull Prince, take it to be pay'd in their own Quoyn and Disinherited, themselves? If either Conscience, or Pollicy may be heard upon the Point, the Equity lies In­finitely Stronger Against the Subject; If they shall pre­tend to be Jelous, without Reason; Pragmatical, against Law, and Impossing, beyond president. In one word? according to your Rule of Do as you would be done by, E­very man that would disinherit deserves to be disinherited.

Nay, I have nothing to say to the contrary, but that it was an Ill Bus'ness, Though the Devil▪ let me tell ye, is not always so black, as they paint him.

But for the Devil of the Bill of Exclusion, I Defy [Page 5] All the Painters in nature, to make him blacker then he is But no man can Sufficiently Abominate That Execrable Project, without laying it in All the Hideous Colours, be­fore his Eyes. Do but Read it there a litle; and if thou hast but one Drop of Honest, English, or Christian Bloud in thy Veins, 'twill fire the very Soul of thee, with Indignation, and Horrour.

Iames Duke of York is by this Bill, in the First place to be made [For ever Uncapable to Inherit, Possess, or enjoy the Imperial Crown of this Realm, and of the Kingdom of Ireland▪ and the Dominions, and Territories to them, or ei­ther of them Belonging, or to have, Exercise, or Enjoy Any Dominion, Power, Iurisdiction, or Authority in the same Kingdoms, Dominions, or Any of them. Bill of Exclusion] Now go on your self there.

[If the said Iames Duke of York shall at any time hereafter Challenge, Claime, or Attempt to possess, or Enjoy, or shall take upon him to use, or Exercise Any Dominion, Power or Authority, or Jurisdiction withn the said Kingdoms, or Dominions, or any of them, as King or chief Magistrate of the Same, that then he the said Iames Duk of York, for every such Offence shall be deemed, & Adjudged Guilty of High-Treason, and shall Suffer the Pains, Penalties, and Forfeitures, as in Case of High-Trea­son Ibid]▪

Plain-Dealing is best among Friends.

And further [That if any Person, or Persons whatsoever shall Assist, or Maintain, Abett, or Willingly adh [...]re unto the said Iames Duke of York, in such Challenge Claim, or Attempt, or shall of themselves attempt, or En­deavour to put, or bring the said Iames Duke of York into the possession, or Exercise, of any Regal power, Jurisdicti­on, [Page 6] or authority, within the Kingdoms and Dominions a­foresaid, or shall by Writing or Preaching advisedly publish, Maintain, or declare, that he hath any Right, Title, or authority to the Office of King or Chief Magistrate of the Kingdoms and Dominions aforesaid, That then every such person shall be Deemed, and Adjudged guilty of High-Treason: and that he Suffer, and undergo the pains, Penalties, aforsaid▪ Ibid.] and forfeitures

Prethee tell me what did all the Engagements, Ne­gative Oaths, and Abjurations, effectually, more then This Bill of Exclusion? Or what did Cromwells High Court of Iustice, do more, or Worse, to Charles the First, then the Treatment that This Bill had provided for Iames the Se­cond? But go on with it still.

[That he the said Iames Duke of York shall not at any time from and after the 5th of November. 1680. Return, or come into, or within any of the Kingdoms or Dominions aforesaid, And then He the said Iames Duke of York, shall be deemed, and Adjudged Guilty of High­Treason; and shall Suffer the penalties, and Forfeitures, as in Case of High-Treason. And further, that if Any Person or persons whatsoever, shall be aiding and Assisting unto such Return of the said Iames Duke of York, that then eve­ry such person shall be deemed, and Adjudged Guilty of High-Treason, and shall Suffer in Cases of High-Treason.]

Turn the Text now, of, Do as you would be done by, and see what will come on't. But what if the Duke should have Return'd after all this, with his friends about him, to Stand by him in the Vindication of his Right?

Why then [It shall and may be Lawfull to and for any Magistrates, Officers, and other Subjects whatsoe­ver of these Kingoms and Dominions aforesaid; And they [Page 7] are hereby Enjoyned to apprehend, and secure the said Iames Duke of York, and every other person offending in any of the premisses; [...]nd with him or them in case of Re­sistance, to Fight, and him or them by Force to Subdue: For all which Actings, and for so doing, they are, and shall be by vertue of this Act Saved Harmless, and Indemnify­ed. Ibid.]

Wel [...]! And now read this Last Enacted:

[That during the Life of the said Iames Duke of York, this Act shall be given in Charge, at every Assizes, and General Sessions of the peace within the Kingdoms, Dominions, and Territories aforesaid, and also shall be Openly read in Every Cathedral, and parish Church and Chappels within the aforesaid Kingdoms, Dominions and Territories, by the several Respective Parsons, Vicars, Cu­rates, and Readers thereof, who are hereby required Im­mediately after Divine service, in the forenoon, to read the same twice in every year, That is to say, on the 25th of December, and upon Easter day, during the life of the said James Duke of York Ibid.]

Prethee take Notice, for a Conclusion; That the Motion was First Open'd upon a Sunday; and now for the Memorial of This Holy Work, Christmas and Easter were the two days Chosen out of the whole Ca [...]lendar, for the solemnizing of the Act: And it is not All neither, that you have here, the most Violent, and Temerarious Resolution perhaps, that ever was Taken: But the Design was ma­nifestly Fore-lay'd: And It Is little less then a Miracle for Any Reasonable man to Engage in't, and not see through it.