OH that you had an eye to see, and an ear to hear, and an heart to perceive and understand, in this your day, the things that belong to your everlasting peace, and also the things that make for peace amongst all men; and tend to the good, wel­fare, benefit, and prosperity of your selves, and all people that are under your Rule, Government and Authority, that you might con­sider your wayes and your doings, and know your work and your du­ty, in your several places, both towards God and towards man, that you might know the right way and the equal path, and walk therein, doing the things which ye ought to do, and which properly belongs to you, and which the Lord requires of you, in order to the consci­onable discharge of your duty in your several places and capacities, thereby answering the righteous end of Government & Rule amongst men; and that you might forbear to intermeddle with those things which belong not to you, and which have no relation to your trust, nor was ever committed (or intended of God to be committed) to your management, that you might clearly see and discern those things which are the cause why the Lord (in all ages) hath turned his Hand against Kingdoms, Nations and People, and overthrown them in his Wrath, and brought them to desolation, after his long-suffering and patience hath been exercised towards them, in waiting for their re­pentance, and that your hands and hearts might be turned against such things wherewith and whereby the righteous God is provoked at this day, [...] Power and Authority might be exercised i [...] the preventing, suppre [...]ng and removing those gross Evils and c [...] rent Iniquities, which are manifestly evident in your fight, and con­cerning which, you cannot doubt, or be mistaken; but that at is the cause of his Wr [...]th, and sore Displeasure, and for which his Fury w [...]ll [...] poured [Page 2]out, and his Judgments executed, though he suffer long; that so you might be a blessing in your day, to your selves and all that are under you, and that VVrath may be removed and turned away from You, and from the Nation, and the Judgments that have been exe­cuted, and the Fury that hath been poured-out upon others, in the Justice of God, because of such things, and which may justly be ex­pected by you, and which are indeed foreseen to be coming, and are impending, may be diverted and removed, and that you might in all things answer the end for which Rule and Government was appoint­ed, and for which Rulers and Magistrates are ordained.

Is not the Peace, Welfare, Prosperity, Quietness, Happiness and Tranquillity of all People, the very Cause and End of the Institution of all Rule, Authority and just Government amongst men, that all men under it might live a peaceable and quiet life in all Godliness and Honesty? that thereby the unruly might be ruled, and the dis­orderly might be ordered and governed; and the injurious person might be prevented and hindred from doing injuriously, or punished for the same; and that the peaceable and harmless might be protected in peace and quietness, and good men defended, countenanced and encouraged in well-doing?

And are not all good and just Laws as so many Pales, Fences or Bounds, to stand between the Injurious and the Innocent, between the disorderly and the orderly, between the Oppressor and the Harmless, be­tween the Just and the Unjust; that the one might not break over upon the other, to hurt, injure or destroy them in their Lives, Liberties, Persons or Estates, but that all thereby might live in peace and quiet­ness together? And are not such good Laws made (or added) because of transgression, and because of a transgressing nature in mankind, (begotten by the Devil in the Fall) which is not subject to the just and righteous Law of God, which saith, Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye the same unto them; and is it not because of such injurious men, and for such lawless unrighteous evil-doers, who live in that faln state and evil nature, and are not subject to the righteous Law of God written in their hearts, which requires them to love God above all, and their neighbours as themselves; I say, is it not for such that Laws are made? and is it not because of such, that Rule and Government amongst men was appointed and ordained of God? else what use were there of it in the world? for they that [Page 3]are subject to the Law of God in their hearts, are thereby bound to peace and quietness, and taught to do to others as they would have others do to them, and so comes not under mans Law, (as to the condemning power thereof) though they consent to it to be good and wholsome; neither doth the Law become a terror to them, but rather a protection and a defence, against such as would injure them, harm them, or destroy them.

And is not this the end for which Rulers and Magistrates are ap­pointed and ordained of God? and is not this their duty towards God and towards man, to use all diligence in their several places and capacities, to endeavour to maintain and keep up those fences and bounds that are made between man and man; and in case of breach thereof, or any intrenchment thereupon, to endeavour the repair of such breaches, and to stand with their Sword in the gap, between the injurious, and the innocent and harmless; turning the edge thereof against the evil-doer, for defence of the innocent? And is it not for this end that the Sword of Power and Authority is put into their hand, to terrifie and punish all such unruly, disorderly, injurious, unjust, unrighteous Peace-breakers, who will not otherwise be re­claimed from injuring and destroying such as desire to live at peace with all men, and to do to all men as they would be done unto? And is it not in the doing hereof, that Magistrates are said to Rule for God, and not to bear the Sword in vain, as they turn the edge thereof (without respect of persons) against such men, and against such things which are contrary to his righteous Law? and when they endeavour, as much as in them lieth, the preventing, and also the removing of those things which are forbidden of him, and because whereof his Wrath cometh and abideth on mankind, even until whole Kingdoms and great Nations perish in his Wrath and are destroyed? And is it not a duty incumbent upon all Magistrates and men in Au­thority, in order to the faithful discharge of their Trust committed to them of God, and concerning which they are accountable unto him? And is it not even their duty towards God, and towards man, to en­deavour as much as in them lies, to stop and prevent all those floods and streams of ungodliness and unrighteousness amongst men, which even overflows, and runs down like a mighty River, whereby the holy Spirit of the Lord is grieved, and wherewith his righteous Soul is vexed from day to day? And is not this their work, and that which [Page 4]the Lord requires of them? and if through their negligence or re­misness herein, or their countenancing or tolerating thereof, or winking thereat, the Lord be so long provoked until his Wrath break forth, and his Fury and Indignation be poured out upon such who are under their Government, and for whom they are accountable, and they be destroyed in his Wrath; though they perish in their sins, yet, will not the Lord in justice require their blood at the hands of such Rulers and Magistrates, who had power to prevent such things which was the cause of their destruction, but did it not?

And ought not you seriously to consider these things, and to walk so in your several places and capacities as that your consciences may be clear in the sight of God, and that you may be clear from the blood of all men? for surely you cannot but expect that the righteous God will deal righteously, and reward every one according to his deeds done in the body, whether they be good or whether they be evil? And though he be a God long-suffering and of tender mercy, yet he will in no wise acquit the guilty; and may you not read this at large in holy Scriptures (which were written afore-time for our learning, upon whom the ends of the world are come) that though he suffered long the provocations of the wicked, yet at last (except they turned unto him by unfeigned repentance) his Wrath brake forth against them, and he overthrew and destroyed them in his fierce Anger and sore Displea­sure, as the Land of Egypt, the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and many other Kingdoms and Nations; and are not the same sins which they were guilty of, and which was the cause of their overthrow, as great in these dayes as in theirs, and as abominable in the sight of the Lord now as then, and cry as loud in the years of the Lord now as then; and is he not as greatly provoked thereby now as then? and may not his Wrath break forth, and his Judgments be executed, and his Fury be poured-out (in Justice) now as then? And is it not then your wisdom to be considerate in these weighty matters, which are of such great concernment to you, that you may find a hiding-place in the day when his Wrath is poured forth upon his Enemies?

And do you indeed judge that the most heinous crimes and crying sins of these times, is difference in Judgment about matters of Religion; and that such as differ from you in Judgment concerning matters of Faith and Worship, are the onely evil-doers? Do you believe and judge that People meeting together to wait upon the Lord, and to [Page 5]worship him according to the perswasion of their consciences, (though differing from you in judgment) is in it self a sin so heinous and a crime so great, as that it cryes in the ears of the Lord, and provokes him to VVrath? is this the heinous Abomination of the times? and are these the great Offenders against God and man, that above all others your eye is upon them, and your Sword drawn forth, and the edge thereof turned against them, though you have nothing against them of evil-doing, either against God or man, but only concerning the VVorship of their God, because they differ from you in judge­ment concerning the way thereof? and yet must such be look'd upon and accounted the greatest transgressors, and undergo the greatest stroak of your Power, as the chiefest Disturbers of the Kingdomes peace, and the only Troublers of Israel? do you believe that this is according to the will of God, and that hereby you please him, and do that which is accepted of him, and that which he requires of you in order to the discharge of your Trust and the clearing of your Con­sciences? is this ruling for God, to turn your Sword against such who live in his Fear, and endeavour to keep a Conscience void of offence to­wards God and towards all men, only because they cannot bow, nor con­form to a way of your prescribing, contrary to the perswasion of their consciences, though in all lawful things they submit to you, and are subject to your Authority, and live honestly and walk peace­ably towards all men? Are there not very heinous crimes and crying sins, yea great abominations against God, that are evidently and ap­parantly so, and which are not found by secret search, but are ma­nifestly known, and openly committed throughout the Land, and which none dare to plead for or justifie; which you cannot be ig­norant of, neither can you be mistaken, which doubtless you know is so in the sight of God, and whereby he is greatly provoked? and should it not be your care to endeavour a Reformation thereof, and to stop the currant thereof? Is this a time to be striving with people and punishing them, about disputable points of Religion, which you your selves have not an infallible judgment in, neither indeed doth it belong or appertain to your judgment, or relate to your trust, it being the prerogative of Christ Jesus, who alone is Judge in these cases, and hath reserved that power to himself, and not given it, or committed it unto any Ruler or Magistrate upon Earth, so as to force or compel any man, in things pertaining to the VVorship and Ser­vice [Page 6]of God, whom we are to hear and obey in all things, who is both King and Lawgiver to his People; I say, is this a time to be striving about things which are disputable, and to spend your time and imploy your selves about such matters, when the Land even overflows with wickedness and abomination, which is evident and apparent, and concerning which you cannot doubt or question, but that the Lord is provoked therewith, and which properly doth belong to you to look after, & to endeavour a reformation of? Would you not judg it great imprudence and indiscretion in that Ship-master, whose Vessel having sprung a leak, whereby himself and all that are imbarqued with him are in danger to perish in the Sea, that when his careful Mariners are diligently imployed in stopping the same for general preservation, that even then at that time he should be striving and contending with them, and punishing of them, because they differ from him in judg­ment about some disputable points of Navigation (which he himself hath no certain knowledge of) in order to the bringing of their Ship to its desired port, though peradventure his judgment be more er­roneous than theirs, and so whilst he is imploying his time about that which is then needless, and neglecting that which is absolutely ne­cessary to be done for their present preservation, his Vessel in the mean time even sinks under him? And is not this a fit comparison? and doth it not run parallel with the present case and state of things at this day? and is it not more needful for you to endeavour to pre­vent those dangers that are apparent, by endeavouring to stop those floods of wickedness and unrighteousness, which even overflows the Land, and which may endanger to sink the whole Bottom (in which all your concernments are imbarqued) under the wrath of Almighty God? and would not this be more sutable to your Trust, and tend more to the discharging and clearing of your Consciences, both to­wards God and man? And as for such who differ from you in judge­ment, about Religion, Faith & Worship, it would be your wisdom to follow wise Gamaliel's Counsel, and let them alone; for if the things about which you strive with them be not of God, it will fall of it self, and come to nothing, though you meddle not with it; but if it be of God (as surely it is) then take heed what you do, for you will never be able to destroy it, though you oppose it with all your Power, and therein be found fighters against God? neither will those Laws by which you proceed against them, justifie your proceedings any more, than they [Page 7]were justified who proceeded against Daniel, the three Children, Christ himself, his Apostles, Servants and Martyrs in Ages past, who could all of them plead, they had Laws and Decrees for what they did, and many of them proceeding more according to those Laws then in being, than is done at this day; yet you your selves will condemn them for Persecutors and wicked men, and therein you judge right­ly; and you may consider what was their end, and what they brought upon themselves by so doing, though many of them did it ignorant­ly, thinking thereby they did God service: And it would be more ac­ceptable to God, and more honour to the King and better service to him, by all that are in Authority under him, to endeavour the stop­ping and preventing of Wickedness and Prophaness, that it might be removed out of the Land, that so his Throne might be established in Righteousness; than the putting of those Laws in execution against peaceable people about Religion, because they cannot submit to things contrary to the perswasion of their consciences.

Nevertheless, be this known unto you all, That whatsoever may be in your minds concerning us, or in the purpose of your hearts to do unto us, or to cause us to suffer upon this account, as you shall not thereby provoke us to render unto you evil for evil, or to move a hand against you, or any wayes practise or endeavour your hurt, ruine, overthrow or destruction, (though we are well assured that if you proceed against us, you will thereby provoke the Lord against your selves, and bring ruine upon your selves) yet our hand shall not be upon you, or against you, but rather pitty you, and pray for your conversion, and endeavour your good in what we may; neither shall all your hard dealing with us, and cruelty towards us, prevail with us to do any thing contrary to the perswasion of our Conscien­ces, or to bow or conform to any thing which is against the righteous Law of God, and the Requiring of his Spirit in our hearts; for we will bow down unto the Lord, but we will not bow down unto ano­ther; neither shall we do any thing which is forbidden by your Laws, or omit the doing of any thing which is required by your Laws, out of wilfulness, stubbornness, pride, or contempt against your persons or authority, but shall submit unto you in all lawful things; only when your Laws come in competition with the Law of God in our Consciences, then judge you which we ought rather to obey; for if we sin against the Testimony of our Consciences, who then can give [Page 8]us peace? and whether it be not better for us in such cases to trust the Lord, and to fall into his hands than into yours? for if we are faithful unto him, and obey him in what he requires, he is able to deliver us out of your hands, and to restrain your wrath; but if we disobey him, by obeying you, and by submitting to your Commands, you cannot save us from the stroke of his Hand, nor deliver us from his Wrath; Therefore it is our firm resolution, and the purpose of our hearts (whatever the Lord may yet suffer you to do unto us, or inflict upon us) not at all to defile our Consciences by doing any thing which we are perswaded is contrary to his will; for we have counted the cost of this work, and are freely given up unto the Lord, to be disposed of at his pleasure, either in doing or suffering, it be­ing his Cause and not our own, we being onely Instruments in his hand; so that the controversie is between you and God, and to him do we look, and commit our selves, and the keeping of our souls in well-doing, and leave it to him to plead our Innocency, and the Righteousness of this Cause with all that rise up against us. And this is written and tendred to your serious consideration, in that Love which would have none to perish in their gainsaying, but ra­ther that all might turn from their wickedness and live.