YOu may remember, when in the day of your former sitting as the Peo­ples Representors, and a faithful Party among you, were according to their then light going on in the Lords work taking away the Tyranni­cal, Antichristian, heavy Yokes, which the King and his Prelates, laid upon the Bodies and Consciences of the good people of this Nation, and also the Army, together with your selves, gave them hopes, that you would endeavour to take away all the remaining Oppressions that then were, or in the future should be found lying upon them, and would bring forth Righteousness to them (as by many Declarations may appear) which was then, hath been all along, yet is, and in every Generation for time to come, (but above all when the Kingdom of Jesus Christ shall most visibly appear, and be set up in the world) will be the Cause of God and his People; that by the good Providence of the Lord, as also through the many Prayers, Petitions, and Strivings of the honest Party in the Nation, Army, and among your Selves, to, and with the Lord and You, and against the common enemy, very great and wonderful things were successively one time after another brought about, and done amongst us, towards the ease of the people; viz. the late King brought to Justice, and other great ones with him, his Monarchy, House of Lords, together with his own, and the aforesaid Tyranny of his Lords Spiritual and Temporal, (so called) and of other corrupt persons, with much of the Oppression then lying upon us, taken away; How the Lord blest you with success in your Councels and Forces both by Land and Sea, and you also had the love and prayers of the good people, and what a terrour of you was upon the Enemy both at home and abroad, whilest some who were faithful among You, and the honest part of the Army, were in the zealous prosecution of these things, and afterwards declared for the Destruction of Antichrist, and the Ad­vancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and appeared to be growing up into the Light, Spirit, and were doing the things relating and leading thereunto, you very well know.

The Enemy being every where totally subdued, and the three Nations of Eng­land, Scotland, and Ireland, with all the Territories thereunto belonging in our [Page 4]hands; the Dutch Fleet also beaten at sea, and they thereby almost brought as it were upon their knees, in the doing whereof, the appearances and salvation of the Lord with, and about his poor unworthy people, were so very wonderful and glorious, that the faith and expectations of many or most of them who went along with him to that day (especially towards the latter end) whrlest these things were doing, were very much raised, and that from Scripture grounds to be eying the Promises and Prophesies relating to the Deliverance of Zion; The Destruction of Babylon and Antichrist; The Call of the Jews; The Advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ; all which shall certainly be fulfilled in the latter dayes. (Among other see the following Scriptures. First, The deliverance of Zion, Psal. 48. Psal. 69.35, 36. Psal. 87.5. Psal. 102.13. to 22. Psal. 132.13. to the end, Isa. 2.2, 3, 4. Isa. 4.5, 6. Isa. 33.20. Isa. 35.9, 10. Isa. 46.13. Isa. 51.3, 5. to 11. Isa. 52. Isa. 60. Isa. 62.4, 8, 9, 11, 12. Isa. 65.19, 21. to 25. Micha. 4.2, 3, 4, 10. to 13. Obadiah verse 17, 18, 21. Zeph. 3.13, 15, 17. to 20. Zech. 2.7. to 13. Zech. 8.3. to 8. Zech. 9.15, 16. Zech. 12.2, 3, 4. to 9. Secondly, The Destruction of Babylon and Antichrist, Isa. 47. Jer. 50. Jer. 51.2 Thess. 2.8, 9, 10. compared with Rev. 18. Thirdly, The Call of the Jews, Jer. 23.3, 7, 8. Jer. 30.3, 10, 11. Jer. 31.8, 9, 11, 12.23.28. Ezek. 36.24. to the end. Ezek. 37.21, 22. Amos 9.14, 15. Zeph. 3.19, 20. Isa. 66.20. to the end. Fourthly, The Kingdom of Christ, Psal. 72.1, 8. to 17. Isa. 9.6, 7. Isa. 32.1. Jer. 23.5, 6. Jer. 30.9. Jer. 33.15, 16. Ezek. 37.24, 25. Dan. 7.13, 14, 27. Obadiah verse 21. Zech. 9.9, 10. Zech. 14.9. Luke 1.32, 33. Luke 22.29, 30. John 18.37. 1 Tim. 6.14, 15. Rev. 2.26, 27. Rev. 11.15. Rev. 19.13, 14, 15, 16. Ezek. 21.27. And that these Scriptures shall certainly be fulfilled, see Jer. 33, 20, 21, 25, 26. compared with Isa. 60.22. I the Lord will hasten it in his time.) And could believe no other, but that those late wonderfull Revolutions and Overturnings, did loudly call upon them to be looking out that way, and to be considering what was next to be done by them, in order to a further going on with the Lord as Instruments of his pleasure, in the bringing forth these things.

And knowing very well that the Lord eminently owned his people, and his presence was wonderfully with them whilest there was a zealous pressing after Righteousness, and strong endeavours used by some among you, and in the Ar­my, to get the most godly, faithful men into all places of Trust, in the Army, Navy, and elsewhere, who would brow beat and punish wickedness, and counte­nance and endeavour to promote goodness, and good men, and that nothing pros­per'd and went on to purpose till this blessed course and way was taken. (Wit­ness the Victory obtained by the Eastern Association Sectarian (so called) Horsemen (chiefly) and Foot at Marston Moor, against Prince Rupert, and his Army; Also (after the New Moddel) at Naseby Fight, Afterwards in the West; Then at Preston in Lanckashire against Duke Hamilton and the Scottish Army; The subduing of Ireland and Scotland; The Fleet also beating the Dutch; and so on till the last Battel at Worcester.) They were very much carried forth to desire, and endeavour that all things for the future might run in that channel; without [Page 5]which, they were considently perswaded (as well they might) that the Lords for­mer presence would not be with our Councels and Forces, as it was before but would forsake them.

Now there being at that time a Corrupt, Malignant, Neutral, Presbyterian party among you in the House, as there hath been all along, and was to the very day of your Second Dissolution, who were unsuitable to the work you were called to do, and that knew notLet the Army beware of this. Joseph, but rather closed with wicked men and enemies, they did so oppose and hinder, that the Righte­ousness, and Justice, and putting faithful men into places of Trust, so greatly desired, and promised, could not be effected as it ought to be: Insomuch, that when the late General Cromwel came from Worcester, several persons eminent for Godliness of the Congregations in, and about London, and others, came to him, Desiring that he would employ his utmost endeavours to get you to improve the great Mercies and Victories which the Lord had bestowed upon us, as also to answer the expe­ctations of his people in doing the good things promised. In answer to which he replied, (beside other as bad expressions of you) That there was no more hopes of drawing on the Parliament thereunto, [meaning you] then was of making a bar of iron become a Lute string; and desired, that they with the Congregations to which they did relate, would seek unto the Lord to know his pleasure, in what was to be done, and to let him know what upon such seeking should be set upon their hearts; whereof you shall hear more afterward. And would likewise say of you at other times, that there was not above five or six of you in the House [which more plainly appeared in your second sitting] that had either a heart or minde to do any good thing, which words were oc­casioned by several other good people who came to him for help, complaining, That they had waited upon you day after day till their hearts aked, their legs were weary and they almost undone, and could get little or nothing from you but a company of fair promises. Others saying, That when you did any thing for them, it was for the most part so long first, that they had almost as good have been without it. And was it not too much so in your second sitting.

Many also were the complaints of the Countrey people and others against you upon the same account; some of them saying, That you were a company of corrupt self-seeking persons, that minded your own Interest more then any thing else, which [they said] was manifested by giving and receiving gifts, to and from one ano­ther out of the Spoils of the Enemy, that ought to have been brought into the Lords Treasury for the discharging of Publick Debts, and the further carrying on of his work withall: And that you preferr'd your Kindred, Relations, Friends, Servants, and Flat­terers, whether wise men or fools, honest men or knaves, into places of Trust, [and so it was in your second sitting, witness Nedham and others] contrary to the Qualifi­cations so much pretended to in that day; wherefore you being acted by such a corrupt self-seeking spirit, little or no good at all could be expected from you. All which being too sadly known to the forementioned good people of the several Congregati­ons, they proposed to the General, &c. (as being the result of what was set up­their hearts after seeking the Lord.) That a short time of six moneths or thereabouts might be put to your sitting, and that in the interim care might be taken for the Qua­lifications [Page 6]of persons to be elected to succeed in the Government which might be furnish­ed by the Lord for the further carrying on of his work, which you had not enough of Were you not as short of spirit for the work in your second sitting as before. spirit [nor it seems of honesty] to go on in withal. And to say the truth, upon this account, among other the like things that might be mentioned, was there a general out-cry amongst most of the friends of the Cause in the three Nations for a New Representative (as so called in that day) and for your Dissolution; the Generall (as you have heard) by himself, together with the Officers of the Army, as well as others, complaining of you, and both private­ly, and publiquely, among themselves, and elsewhere, breathing out their desires for your Dissolution, and that such faithful persons might come into the Power, as would indeed bring forth the good things promised, as may more plainly ap­pear, in a Letter sent by the Officers of the Army in England to Lieutenant General Fleetwood in Ireland, after you were dissolved, shewing the reasons thereof, signed by Major General Lambert, Major Generall Disbrow, Commissary Generall Whaly, Major General Harrison, Collonel Saunders, Collonel Hacker, Collonel Rich, Captain Farley, Major Packer, Major Wiggan, and others. As also in a Speech made by General Cromwel in his own, and in the names of the Officers of the Ar­my to the Members of the Little Parliament in the Council Chamber before their Sitting, likewise shewing the grounds and necessity of their dissolving you, and by way of encouragement to them to sit; in both which are several Particulars laid to your Charge, with which whosoever shall compare your late spirit and actions, it will very plainly appear, that you were rather worse in your late se­cond sitting, then in the time of your first.

I shall first begin with theBoth the Letter and Speech may be seen in a Book called, The Fifth Monarchy, or King­dom of Christ in Opposition to the Beasts. Sold at the Crown in Popeshead Alley. Letter, wherein are five of the Particulars of your Charge.

See that Book, page 22. First, They complain of your evil mannagement of the Af­fairs that were under your hand.

2. That the then dangerous remedy of dissolving you was not used till all other ways had been by the Army assayed, and by you rejected.

3. That after four years expectation from you, since the change of the Government [to wit from Kingship to a Commonwealth] they found no Was it not so again in this your second sitting? Indeed you were very expert in laying Burthens and Taxes upon the people. But what Righteous­ness and Justice did you bring forth? Or what yokes lying either upon the Consciences or Bodies of the good people did you take away? Or what hath the Officers of the Army, who thus com­plain of you; and dissolved you for not doing these good things, done herein to this very day, but strive to advance and settle themselves. performance by you of those good things that tended to the settlement of the Com­monwealth in Peace and Righteousness.

4. They say, They were abundantly satisfied from the long experience they had of you; that as you were then constituted, you were so far from being the Instruments of [Page 7]perfecting the Work of the Lord, that the whole Cause was in great danger to perish un­der your hands, for which there hath been so vast an expence of Blood and Treasure; and therefore after seeking the face of God, and taking counsel with one another, it was generally apprehended, that the onely way left to preserve the Cause, was to prevent your sitting by a speedy dissolving you, and laying the Government upon the shoulders of such men as might hopefully give the People the fruit of all their Labour, and Blood, and encourage good men to be still willing to hazard their lives against the Common Enemy, which, as things then stood, many had little heart to do.

5. That it was in their hearts to seek those good things in such a way, as that you might have had the honour of it, but you had not then a heart to incline to the Motion made in order thereunto; but rather endeavoured a hasty inconsiderate passing of an Act for a New Representative, though the General and Officers at a meeting, with many of your Members, did abundantly demonstrate the evident danger of it: yet did you the next day so earnestly and precipitantly persist in it, as necessitated them to put you to that suddain dissolution. Thus far the Letter.

They also say in the Speech by way of charge against you, see page 29, 30, 31. of the forementioned Book, wherein are twelve Particulars.

1. That when the General and the Officers of the Army came from Worcester, they expected that you having such a History to look back unto, a God that appeared for you so eminently, so visibly; the mercies that God had shewed, the expectations that were in the hearts of all good men, would have prompted you, that were in Authority, to have done those good things, which might, by honest men, have been judged a Return fit for such a God, and worthy of such Mercies, and a discharge of duty to those for whom all these Mercies had been shewed, (to wit) the true interest of the three Nations.

[And likewise say,] They came fully bent in their hearts and thoughts to desire and use all fair and lawful means they could with you, to have had the Nation reap the fruit of all that Blood and Treasure that had been expended in this Cause, and had many thirstings in their spirits, to finde out wayes, and means wherein they might be any wayes instrumental to help it forward, and that they did from time to time solicite you to that purpose; and when they saw nothing could be done they reminded you by a Petition, but had no return at all; all the satisfaction they could get from you was but a few words. And finding the Peo­ple It hath since appear'd, that the Armies strivings and thirst­ings to have had the Nation better'd by all the expence of Blood and Treasure, hath onely been to greaten and enrich themselves, and studying how to get the peoples money to be upheld therein, whereby they are looked upon as cheating, self-seeking, unfruit­full persons as well as your selves, neither of you both having either honour or repute, but are a stink unto all honest men; do bring down judgements upon the Nation, put all things into confusion, yet neither they nor you the honesty or goodness to lay these things to heart to this very day, but Lambert, Disbrow, Berry-like, go on to advance your selves, though the Nation perish. dissatisfied in every cor­ner, and bringing home to their doors the Non-perfor­mance of those things that had been promised, and were of due to be performed, judging themselves concern'd (they say) they endevoured, as be­came honest Men, to keep up the Reputation of honest men in the world, [it seems you would not] and therefore had divers times endeavoured to obtain a Meeting with divers of your Members, and in those Meetings did in all faithfulness and sincerity beseech you, that you would be mindeful of your duty, and [Page 8]of the discharge of your Trust to God and man, and that they had at the least ten or twelve Meetings begging and beseeching you, that of your own accords you would do those good things that had been promised, that so it might appear you did not do them by any suggestion from the Army, but of your own ingenuities, that so you might have the reputation and good opinion of the people to the utmost; also declared plainly to you, that the Issue of not doing those good things would be the judgement and displeasure of God against you, the dissatisfaction of the people, and the putting things into confusion, yet they could not prevail with you, and that you laid them not to heart.

2. That you would not hear of a New Representative till such time as the Army came to their close considerations what to do, and then you began to take it to heart, and seem'd exceeding willing to put it on, but not with that integrity and caution as would have saved the Cause and Interest that you and they had been so long engaged in, and that your intendment and design [in all you did at that time] was onely to recruit the House the better to perpetuate your selves, several of the Officers having divers times been spoken to by you to give way thereto, which was so unreasonable a thing, as they not onely had a perpetual aversation to, but did abominate the thoughts of, and al­wayes declared their dissatisfaction with and judgements against it.

3. That though you were un­willing to hear of a It was just thus with you in your second sitting; for though you seem'd exceeding willing to hear of Proposalls from the Friends of the Cause in order to Settlement, yet your spirits too much closed with that spirit that here they so complain'd of, and could not endure to hear of such faithful persons coming into power, as would indeed pre­serve the Cause; witness your late voting Major Gene­ral Harrison uncapable of future employment, &c. and resolved as formerly to recruit the House with men of the same spirit as your-selves. And therefore no wonder the Army and the good people declare their dissatisfaction with, and rejoyce in your Dissolution as before. Yet in this very thing hath the Army done worse themselves, as you may see afterwards. New Re­presentative before, or to proceed in one line considerable in it, be­fore it had lain three years before you, yet when the Army came to their close considerations, instead of protracting, you made as much preposterous haste on the other hand to put it on, without con­sideration or care had in the Qualifications of the Act, you were about to assert and provide for the security of the Cause, but would have thrown it back into the hands of them we first fought with, which had they suffered you to have done, they should have been rendred the worst people in the world, and have become Traytors both to God and man.

4. That the Interest of the People of God was grown cheap with you, and not laid to heart; a also if they came to Competition of things, the Cause even among your selves, was (even almost in every thing) going to the ground, and saw plainly and evidently, that in some Critical things, the Cause of the people of God was a despised thing: and therefore not yours, but the hands of other men must be trusted with it.

5. That if any body were in Competition for any place of real and signal Trust, it was a hard and difficult thing to get any thing to be Carried without making parties, without things indeed unworthy of a Parliament, and not as it ought to be.

6. That you Alderman Atkins his saying in the House in the time of your late sitting, That Mr. Sympson was an Anabaptist, and would not Christen Children, nor give the Sacrament (as he called it) to the people; also as ignorantly seconded by Sir Arthur Haslerig, saying, He believed the Sacrament was a converting Ordinance, and that the Ministers of Mr. Sympsons judgement were not the Ministers you intended to own. With other the like arguments to keep him out of Bishopsgate. As also keeping Mr. Feak out of Christ Church, (so called) though formerly put in by your Or­der, and continuing Mr. Jenkins there, who was formerly seque­stred and imprisoned by you upon the Scotch Engagement, and lately refused to read your Declaration against Sir George Booth, yet gave thanks when he was overcome; together with your hasty Vote for the continuance of Tythes, with other things of this na­ture that might be mentioned, plainly declares you to be acted by the same spirit in owning carnall Interests in opposition to the Friends of the Cause as you were before. discoun­tenanced the business of the poor People of God in Wales, who had watching over them men like so ma­ny Wolves, ready to catch the Lamb as soon as it was brought out into the world, that you signally threw that business under foot, to the discountenancing of the honest people there, and to the countenancing of the Malignant Party of this Commonwealth, which they say was as perfect a trial of your spirits as any thing, which many had felt by sad ex­perience.

7. That they found you never intended good to the people of God, (to wit) that com­prehension of them under the several forms of godliness, and that your tenderness was forgotten to them all, though that by their hands and means it was (through the blessing of God) you then sat where you did, and Affairs had been instrumentally brought to that issue they then were brought to, which was but an ill requital.

Page 34. 8. That though many words had been spoken to you for the Regu­lation of the Law so much groaned under, in that posture it then was in, yet many months together was not time enough to pass over one word call'd incumberances, and this they say they found was your then spirit and complexion.

9. That they saw your intendment was to perpetuate your selves and men of that spi­rit, which some understood from your-own mouths, from your own designs, who could not endure to hear of being dissolved, the which, had you been a Parliament never violated, sitting as free and as clear as any ever sat in Englaud, yet to go about to perpetuate your selves they thought was so great a breach of Trust, as greater could not be.

Page 35. That you did not proceed in wayes that were honest and safe to the Nati­on, in providing Qualifications of the Act of a New Representative, so as to keep out Presbyters or Neuters, to put the power into whose hands they having deserted the Cause and Interest upon the Kings account; and upon that closure between them and the Neigh­bour Nation, was to have delivered up the Cause into the hands of Interessed and Byast men who had little affection to the Cause, and when the General and Officers made such objections as to the danger of this proceeding that you could not but assent unto, yet answer was made as before, that nothing would save the Nation, but the continuance of your selves in Power.

Page 36. That you would not, though the Government was in that unsettled condition, and things being under so much ill sense abroad, and so likely to come to con­fusion in every respect if it went on so, answer the General and Officers desire, to di­volve the Trust (then in your hands) over to persons of honour and integrity, that were well known, men well affected to Religion, and the Interest of the [Page 10]Nation, which they told you, and had been confest by you, was no new thing when these Nations had been under the like burly burlies and distractions, which they offered to you out of the deep sense they had of the good of these Nations and the Cause of Christ; which in all likelihood had been lost, had the Power been longer continued in your hands. But the answer still was, that nothing would save the Nation but the Continuance of that Parliament.

Page 36, 37. 12. That you dealt You dealt as cunningly and deceitfully with the Friends of the Cause in your second Sitting, as formerly with the Army, for upon the Qua­kers Petition, among others, against Tythes, you took the advantage one Morning, when se­veral whom you thought would oppose you were absent, and voted the continuance of them though (as it is reported) that business of Tythes was not to have been debated till about four dayes after; and thus did you carry it in putting Mr. Canne by from writing the Intelligence, and placing Ned­ham in his room; and how you likewise dealt treacherously with the Army a second time, is very well known, which juggling trapanning practises of yours among other things, declares plainly you would have dealt as deceitfully in the business of the Representative you were lately a­bout, had you not been dissolved a second time. But I forbear to mention any further at present, though very much more might be spoken in ma­nifestation that your spirit in your second Sitting was worse in every particular then in the time of your first. deceitfully with the General and the Officers of the Army in saying you would endea­vour to suspend proceeedings with the Re­presentative the next day till you had a further Conference with them, and yet for all this did you that very day proceed with all the eagerness you could, and had al­most finished it, and brought it to that is­sue with that haste, that it had never been before, unsafely and dishonestly leaving out the things that did necessarily relate to due Qualifications, and resolved to make it a paper Bill not to ingross it, that so in a cheating manner you might make the quicker dispatch of it, thus to have thrown away all the Liberties of the Na­tion into the hands that never bled for it; and therefore for the preservation of the Cause (they say) they thought it their duty not to suffer it, and upon this the House was dissolved. Thus far is charged upon you in the forementioned Speech to the Little Parliament.

This we tell you [speaking to the Little Parliament] that so you may know that what hath been done in dissolving this Parliament, was as necessary as the preservation of this Cause, and that necessity that led us to do that, hath brought us to this issue of exercising an extraordinary way and course to draw your selves together upon this account, that you are men who know the Lord, and have made observations of his marvellous dispensations, and may be trusted with the Cause, &c.

In which words of the General and Officers of the Army to the Little Par­liament, thus laid before you, is given a perfect Character and Description of the then (and may it not too truly be said the late) frame of your Spirits, and what you would not do as to a more thorow carrying on his Work and Cause, as also what with all haste you were doing against it; with several other things too truly laid to your Charge contained in this Speech: and that upon the ac­compt of these things you were dissolved.

Now what ever the design of the then General, Major Gen. Lambert, and some other of his Machevilian politick Officers and Assistants was in dissolving, and thus casting durt upon you the Lord and themselves best knows; who doubtless in his own time will (and hath begun to do already) discover, and bring all the [Page 11]hidden works of darkness, and secret wicked things to light; yet there then was (and as by after actions also did appear) very evident grounds to believe and say, it chiefly was to make way, and as a stirrup to get into the Power them­selves, and therefore, though it was unrighteously and wickedly done as to them, yet doubtless as just and righteous in the sight of God, considering the foremen­tioned evils laid to your charge, as was formerly the sifting and purging your House to hinder the personal Treaty and upon other accounts, or beheading the late King, and casting out his Monarchy for his Tyranny; and dissolving the last Parliament as enemies to, and opposers of the Cause of God and his people, that so your selves, or better then you, might come into their places, both of which according to mans Law, and the old almost ruined Constitutions of this Nation, are judged lawful Powers, as well as your selves.

And although it be granted there was a deceitfull treacherous spirit which lay (like a serpent under the grass) in the bottom of this action in some of the Army who pretended to be either the stone it self mentioned, See page 43 of the fore­mentioned Book. Dan. 2.44. or at least to have had somewhat of the spirit of it: So was there likewise at the same time an honest, single, sincere spirit among some of the Army, the Navy, the Churches, and good people of the Nation, who were indeed for the work, and will ere­long be found had then, and yet have the true spirit of the stone (in some mea­sure) both planted, and abiding in them, who did very much approve of and re­joyce in your being dissolved, and that upon the forementioned too true account given by the General and Officers of the Army, as is manifested in the latter end of the forementioned Speech to the Little Parliament (page 45. of that Book) in the following words.

Sayes he, All that I have to say in my own, and in the names of my Fellow Officers, (who have joyned with me in this work) that we shall commend you to the Grace of God, and to the guidance of his Spirit having thus far served you, or rather our Lord Jesus Christ in it, we as we hope, and shall be ready in our stations, according as the Providence of God shall lead us, to be subservient to the work of God, and the Authority which we reckon God hath set over us: And although we have no formal thing to present you with to which the hands and outward visible expressions of the hearts of the Officers of the three Nations are set, yet we may say for them, and we may say also with confidence, that our Brethren at Sea, with whom neither in Scotland nor Ireland, nor at Sea, hath any Artifice been used to perswade their approbation to this work, yet we can say, that their consent and affections hath flowed into us beyond our expectations, and we may say with all confidence that we have had their approbation and full consent ☞ unsought in­deed to the other work, [to wit, in dissolving of you] so that you have their hearts and affections in this, and not onely they, but we have very many papers from the Whatever Churches, or other Persons they were, that closed with former De­clarations, or thus freely sent in their papers, or otherwise spake in approbation of your first Dissolution, for not doing the good things promised: as also approved of the Call of the Little Parliament in order to the doing of them, and yet afterward closed with and abetted the Protectoral Government, which was raised up upon the ruines of the honest part of the Little Parliament, on purpose to hinder their doing those good things, have turn'd their backs upon the Cause of Christ as well as the Army, and ought to repent of their great evil in so doing as well as they. Churches of God thorow­out the Na­tion, wonder­fully both ap­proving what hath beene [Page 12]done in removing obstacles [that is in removing of you] and approving what we have done in this very thing, [to wit, in calling the Little Parliament.]

In all which, together with the forementioned particulars of your Charge contain'd in that Speech and Letter, is set forth the matter of fact that was against you, together with the righteous judgement that for the saving of the Cause there was an absolute necessity to pass upon you, and also how most of the good people in the Army, Navy, and Churches, &c. in the three Nations, did both approve of, and rejoyce therein.

And to say the truth, there was but very few, compared with the others, who might then truly be said were Friends to the Cause that were dissatisfied; whose dissatisfactions were not meerly because you were dissolved, and the other chosen in your stead, for they also complain'd of you, and desired a New Representative as well as others, but that it was done in such a manner as in their then appre­hensions not onely made way for the General to take the Power himself, but also tended to pluck up by the very roots the old way of chusing Rulers, by the whole Bulk or Body of the people, which they called (and formerly was so) the Legall Foundations, which was then in their judgements (and still is of some of them, who understand no better how to follow the Lord in his overturning dispensati­ons) the onely legal and best way for the choice of Rulers. So that all things considered, setting aside the forementioned dissatisfactions of some, which was onely as to the manner, but not to the matter of your being dissolved, which signi­fies little or nothing at all as to the clearing of you; it plainly appears, that for your unfaithfulness in, and unfitness for your stewardship, and not thoroughly improving the Talent which was then committed to you, for God and his Peo­ple, you were both by his Providence, and their Approbation and Consent justly laid aside. Insomuch, that if the now true friends of the Cause, had either Light, and suitable thereunto, a sincere, upright, courageous, single, and lively Spi­rit for Christ, and Righteousness, as they ought to have, (and as the Saints shall have, when the Law shall go forth of Zion) to follow the Lord in his Overturn­ing dispensations, who as he hath formerly, and in our Day, so hath promised for the future safely to lead his People [on in his work] in wayes they have not gone with their feet, Isa. 41.2. And to bring the blinde by a way they know not, and lead them in paths that they have not known, &c. Isa. 42.16. Would lay aside the excrementitious outside, shell, or notion of things relating to a further carry­ing on of the Cause in its purity; to wit, the spirit of the Nation, or whole body of the People, which the Lord by a continued series of providential Dispensations (because of the malignity of their spirits, against his Cause and People) hath one time after another cast out, and witnessed against; and on the other hand would look into the very spirit, kernel, and substance of things relating thereunto, to wit, the spirit of the good People who have gone on with the Lord in his work to this very day: who desired, consented, and approved of your being then laid aside, you were really, clearly, deservedly, and justly cast out; and to say the truth, had not from that time to the very day of your second Call, nor have not now, the least [...]ght to sit again upon the former account, which I am perswaded the Lord in due time will make manifest, notwithstanding through the short-sightedness (though [Page 13]I trust simplicity) of some friends who desired (and were instrumental therein) you might be called to sit a second time, (and possibly by your selves) it is appre­hended that there we went out of the way at first, and therefore must there begin again: But if I know any thing of the minde of God, (as I trust through his Grace I do) by the observations that I have made of his footsteps in the carrying on of his work hitherto amongst us, you are all mistaken, and I know you will finde it so, which I doubt not but clearly to manifest in that which follows.

For although we had many Deliverances and Victories, and the Lord emi­nently blest us with success, and our dread was upon our Enemies both at home and abroad, whilest you were sitting, especially towards the latter end, yet be it known unto you, it was not purely for your sakes, considered as you were a Parliament in the Bulk, but as there was a sincere, single, honest spirit (according to their then light) acting for Christ, his Cause, and Interest, in some among You, in the Army, and also in the Nation, which I conceive will be granted by every discerning person who was upon the place, and made observation of things; and which the late General Cromwell, and his then Officers, do also ac­knowledge in the forementioned Speech to the Little Parliament, Page 27. of that Book, in the following words.

Sayes he, After divers turnings of Affairs, it pleased God much about the midst of the War to winnow the Forces of this Nation, and to put them into the hands of men of other Principles, then those that did engage at the first, &c. Those strange windings and turnings of Providence, those very great appearances of God in crossing the designs of men, [to wit, Hollis, Stapleton, and the men of that spirit among you, and in the Army,] that he might raise up a contemptible company of men not verst in Military Affairs, nor having much natural propencity to them, through the owning a If the General and Officers of the Army had kept close to the practice of this honest Principle, those Officers he hath left behinde him, and their pretended faithful brethren lately imprisoned in Scotland, had not been served such a Monckish treacherous trick as now they are; but they that deal treacherously with their Principles, as also stand by and assist whilest their Brethren are im­prisoned for their faithfulness thereunto, it is just with the Lord to suffer or appoint others to deal treacherously with them. Principle of Godlines, which so soon as it came to be owned, and the state of Affairs put upon that foot of Ac­count, how God blest them and all their undertakings, by the raising up of that most improbable, despicable, contempti­ble means, (for that we must for ever own) you very well known, &c. He goes on.

Page 27, 28. The issues of those suc­cesses that God was pleased to give this Nation were very great things brought about, besides the Dints that were upon those Nations and places where they were carried on, even in the Civil Affairs, to the bringing Offenders to Justice, the state of this Government to the Name at least of a Commonwealth, the searching and sifting of all Places and Persons, the King removed and brought to Justice, and many great ones with him. The House of Commons the Representative of the People of Eng­land, winnowed, sifted, and brought to a handful, &c. All which great things were instrumentally brought forth by the honest Party, after the many strivings and contendings with a Malignant, Rigid Presbyterian, Neutral, Corrupt Party among you, as the then General and Officers also confess in Page 28. of that [Page 14]Book. Sayes he, As the effect of that memorable Year 1648. was to lay the founda­tion of bringing Delinquents to punishment, so it was of the Change of the Government, although it be true, if we had time to speak, the carriages of some in Trust, in most emi­nent Trust, was such as would have frustrated to us the hopes of all our undertakings, had not God miraculously prevented, I mean by that closure that would have beèn endea­voured with the King, whereby we should have put into his hand, all that Cause and In­terest we had opposed, and had nothing to have secured us but a little piece of paper, &c. Which clearly confirms what I have said, that the Lord blest us with success in our Councils and Forces, as there was a sincere spirit acting for the Cause and In­terest of Christ in that day and no otherwise, his free grace onely excepted.

For when you were dissolved, and the Little Parliament called, there was a greater presence of God with them, a terrour upon the enemy both at home and abroad, especially upon the Lawyers, National Clergy, and all other corrupt Inte­rests; as also the hearts of most of the true friends to the Cause more rejoycing then in the time of your sitting. But I let that pass, and shall in the next place in some measure discover the mystery of iniquity that lay in the bottom, and was working in Transactions after you were dissolved, wherein lies the corrupt foun­tain or spring, (though unseen by most people) from whence the late Apostacy had its rise, which so caused the forementioned presence of the Lord to depart from our Councills and Forces, and exposed us to the reproach and scorn of our enemies both at home and abroad, and also occasioned the late distractions, and divisions, as between the true, so the true and false professours amongst us, and is as it were the pin and hinge, on which all the confusion and dark apprehensions of things have had their dependance and moving from that time to this very day, and is as follows.

For after you were dissolved, and the Little Parliament were about to be cho­sen, besides what was spoken to your selves, and was desired of you by the Ge­neral and Officers of the Army; to wit, That you would divolve your trust over to Persons of Honour and Integrity, that were well known, men well affected to Religion, and the Interest of the Nation, &c. He also declared in the presence of Major Gen. Lambert, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Major Gen. Harrison, Mr. Cradock, Mr. Lockyer, and others who were in a private consultation about that choice, That if there were one man more faithful to the Saints, and more suited to the work then an­other, and that had not been left behinde in former dispensatious, by the blessing of God he should be chosen, and that Relations, and all others not thus qualified, should be reject­ed; and that from this Scripture, which was then mentioned by the party to whom these words were spoken, to wit, Hosea 11.12. Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the House of Israel with deceit; but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the Saints. The first part of which Scripture he and his Officers applied to you in the forementioned Speech to the Little Parliament, page 38. of that Book; viz. That like Ephraim and Israel you had compassed God about with lies, and deceit, to wit, with your Fastings and Thanksgivings, and other exercises [yet did not do the good you were call'd for] which they had all cause to lament of, but [the Little Parliament] were called by God to be faithfull with the Saints who were somewhat instrumentall in their Call, and to be just ruling in the fear of God, &c. [Page 15]Which principle was more publickly (though hypocritically) declared by them in that Speech page 41. of the forementioned Book, sayes he to them, I confess I did never look to see such a day as this, it may be nor you, when Jesus Christ shall be so If Christ indeed be King of Nations as well as of Saints, as surely he is, and as the Officers of the Army have both here and elsewhere acknowledged him to be; and the Little Parliament was called to act upon his foundation, and to do all things in his Name upon an avowed account as their Judge, King, and Law-giver, as these their words import. And the Lord by his eminent presence with, and refreshing the spirits of such as were faithful among them, as also rejoycing the hearts of his faithful people, and striking a terror upon the enemy whilest they were sitting and endeavoured to be acting according to that blessed spirit and principle gave testimony thereunto; and the Spirit of the Lord, and his faithful people grieved, and his presence, as also their prayers withdrawn, and the Nation almost ruined since they were rejected, and the Lord so wonderfully overturn­ed and blasted the designs of whatever had enmity to, and was set up after it, and seems by those his overturning dispensations not to be pleased till those who have dealt thus treacherously re­turn to the real practice of this their declared principle, and to own that Spirit they have so rejected: Then whosoever it is that shall be either laying, or building upon any other foundation, or be promoting any persons into power on this side of it, though never so refined, do set down short of what the Lord in that day had brought us unto, and are in the apostacy still, and must be overturned as well as your selves and all others that have gone before them. own'd as he is this day, and in this world, Jesus Christ is owned this day by you all, and you own him by your wil­lingness in appearing here, and you manifest this (as far as poor creatures can) to be a day of the power of Christ by your willingness; I know you remember that Scripture, Psal. 110.3. The people shall be willing in the day of thy power. God doth manifest it to be a day of the power of Jesus Christ.

Having through so much Blood and Trials as have been upon these Nations made this to be one of the great Issues thereof to have a People called to the Su­preme Authority upon such an avowed account, God hath owned his Son by this, and you by your willingness do own Jesus Christ, &c. I confess I did never look to see such a sight as this. We have not allowed our selves in the Choice of one person, of whom we had not this good hope, that there was faith in Jesus Christ, and love to all the Saints; and thus God hath owned you, and by your comming together have you owned him, &c. And towards the latter end of that Speech, [Book page 43.] he further saith unto them, Truly seeing things are so, that you are at the edge of the Promises and Prophesies, at least if there were neither promise for this nor prophesie, you are to be coveting after the best things, endeavouring after the best things, and as I have said elsewhere, If I were to chuse the meanest Officer in the Army, or Commonwealth, I would chuse a godly man that hath Principles, especially where Trust is to be committed, for I know where to have a man of Principles, I believe if any of you should chuse a servant you would do so, and I would all our Magistrates were so chosen, that may be some effects of this, it is our duty to chuse men that fear the Lord, to praise the Lord, yea such as the Lord forms for himself, and he expects not praises from others, &c. In all which are good words spoken, and principles laid down, as if he and his Officers fully intended to per­severe in the practice of them; but may not the true Friends of the Cause to the great grief and sadness of their spirits, say of them, as the Lord concerning Israel of old, Deut. 5.28, 29. They have well said all that they have spoken, but oh that their hearts and tougues had gone together, that there had been indeed such a heart in [Page 16]them, as in sincerity to have kept to the real practice of those blessed principles, then had it been well with them, and with the poor Nation upon that account. But notwith­standing these golden words and pretences, the Lord, my self, and others knows, that there was at the same time, yea some time before these words were spoken, as in the seed of the serpent against the seed of the woman, or in the spirit of Saul and his followers against the spirit of David, and his followers, so a spirit of enmity and hatred secretly lodging in the breasts of the then General, Major Gen. Lambert, Major Gen. Disbrow, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Coll. Whaly, Coll. Goff, Dean Owen, (so called) and others, against several of those honest men who were afterwards turned out of the Little Parliament, who were faithful Friends to the Cause of God, and indeed above others, and that upon Scripture grounds for the Advance­ment of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and most suited to those good things, which the General and Officers in the foregoing Speech do seem so much to press after, whose principles they seemingly most owned, and whose assistance they greatly desired (pretending to be of one heart with them) in the dissolving of you, and choice of the other, yet for no other cause then their pressing, to be acting up to these principles in reality and power, was this enmity against them, which will afterwards appear so plainly, as he that runs may read it.

For notwithstanding the forementioned pretences and promises of chusing none but what were faithful with the Saints, and most suited to the work, yet was there such persons who were of a contrary spirit and principle purposely chosen and packt together, (viz. Coll. Montague, Coll. Barton, Coll. Mathews, Sir William Roberts, Alderman Tichborn, and others) and those the greater number, as that when the forementioned good things came to be done, and the remain­ing more refined oppressions which lay upon the good people and others to be taken away, they did so oppose and hinder the honest party in the House, that very little or nothing at all could be done for them; the General, Ma. Gen. Lam­bert, and the forementioned persons secretly owning of, and holding a Corre­spondency with this corrupt Party all the while; which was such unheard of juggling, deceit, and wickedness, that when I most seriously and thorowly set my self to consider of it, I cannot but cry out with a holy detestation and abhorrency in my spirit, both of it and them, and say, Oh! the Hypocrisie, Treachery, Villany, Wickedness, and abominable unrighteousness that lies hid in the bottom of the late and present Apostacy, and that surely the Lord who loveth righteousness, and hates iniquity, and every false way, will not let so great, and not to be parallel'd wickedness pass unpunisht with­out some more eminent publick repentance for the same, then hath yet beenIf this wretched envious spirit did not yet remain, would they since your second Dissolution have been so forward to take into their New Coun­cil Lawrence Strickland, Tichborn, Hewson, Clark, and others of that cor­rupt part of the Litttle Parliament, who left the House and went to deliver up their pretended power to the General, upon which he was made Protector, and promoted and abetted the late Apostacy, and do what they can as it were to stave and keep off the faithful Friends of the Cause who are well known to be men of integrity, and well affected to the Interest of the Nation, which your not endeavouring to divolve the Trust in your hands upon, was one of the great grounds why they pretendedly dissolved you. The Lord who wil not be mocked, nor his faithful people whom both you and they have cheated and dealt unrighteously and hypocritically with all, will not long bear such wicked actions at their hands. manifested by them, and it will be well for them [Page 17]if the aforesaid enmity to the true spirit of their forementioned profest and decla­red principles, and to these very persons and others like them who through grace in some measure are endued therewith, doth not yet remain untaken away, for herein (in a great measure) will lye the contest for the future, for either this hypo­critical, self-seeking, treacherous, envious spirit in the remaining Officers of the Army that have now power in their hands must be put away, and they really united to what they have so greatly profest and declared, and what they have so pretended to dissolve you for nor doing of, which they have not been to this very day, or else there will be no peace from the Lord and his faithful people with them; and all their shrowding themselves under your wasting, decaying wing, had you been sitting, or under a power that is more refined then you, if short of the spirit they have so rejected, and as it were crucified, and endeavour­ed to keep down in the grave as the Souldiers did Christ in the dayes of his Humiliation, can save them from the wrath of God, and the Lamb, and his faithful followers. I shall now return to speak a little further how and for what cause it was that the forementioned presence of the Lord departed from, and went not forth to own and prosper the Councells and Forces of this Nation as before.

As I said before, when you were dissolved, and the Little Parliament called upon the avowed account of the Son of God, and to be acting upon his foun­dation as he is King of Nations, and to do all things in his Name as their and our King, Judge, and Law-giver, Isa. 33.22. as you may see by the forementi­oned Speech they were called to do, and the persons of the aforesaid ho­nest spirit and principle, who for some time (till the fish was caught and the bird taken) were seemingly owned, were labouring as it were in the very fire to bring forth in reallity what the General and his Officers so pretended to in words, and to own and preserve the honest Interest, and taking away all the remainingAmong other Acts and Votes that past whilst this honest Party fat, they prevailed for the passing of these four hereafter mentioned. First, for abo­lishing and taking away the Court of Chancery, wherein was depending 23000. Causes, some of them having lain there five, some ten, some twenty, some thirty years and more, to the utter undoing of many Families. The second Vote, for a New Body, or Moddel of the Law, then, and now so greatly desired by good people, which your not do­ing of was one other reason of your Dissolution. A third Vote, the taking away the Power of Pa­trons to make Presentations to Church Livings. The fourth was; that Innocent Negative Vote of not a­greeing with the report of the Committee for Tythes, touching what they offered as the best way to eject ignorant, prophane, and scandalous Mini­sters, upon which presently followed the Dissolution of the House. See a Book written by L. D. otherwise Mr Barhone then a member of that House, sold at the Crown in Popes head Alley, and worthy your taking notice of. oppres­sions lying upon the bodies and Con­sciences both of them and others; not onely the same, but a greater pre­sence and glory was with and upon our Councils and Forces, our ter­rour upon the Enemy both at home and abroad, and the hearts of most of the true Friends to the Cause of Christ, and the Commonwealth, more rejoycing then in the time of your first sitting; yea, the very Nati­ons were angry, and began to be wondering and looking after the things that were coming upon them, as they shall more eminently be and do, when the Spirit of Life from God shall enter into the Lords faithful people, to revive that spirit, which in these persons was after­wards [Page 18]as it were trampled upon, cast out, and crucified, according to Rev. 11.11, 18. So also the Lawyers, Clergy, and all other corrupt Interests, to wit, the Adonijah, false spirit of Magistracy and Ministry in these Nations, were almost at their wits end, for fear their Corruption, Bribery, Dilatory proceedings in Law suits, Double Fees, Taking Fees from both parties, &c. A Coercive power over their Brethren Consciences, Tythes of all kinds, Power of haling their Pa­rishioners before Magistrates, Casting them into Prisons, Seizing upon their Goods, and Forcing them to pay treble Dammages for non-payment of Tythes, and great Riches they gain'd upon this account would cease, and be utterly ta­ken away, and were ready to faint, and cry out, as the more wicked Children of their dear Lady Mother, Mystery, Babylon, the great Whore, and mother of Har­lots, and abominations of the earth, both in the Magistracy, and Ministry thereof shall certainly, and more eminently do in the latter dayes, according to, Revel 18.

And seeing no other way to help themselves; By their Emissaries and Agents, (such as Whitlock, And it may too truly be suspected that the same dark lanthorn spirit, and most of the same persons are now at work with some of the Grandees of the Army, as in the time of your first Dissolution, labouring as for life to keep such faithful men from coming into power, as will suffer no custom or practice, though never so specious in the outward pretence, that is Oppressive, and without warrant in Scri­pture, to lie upon the Bodies or Consciences of the Lords people. Which forementioned persons and others of that spirit have been, and are the great Incendiaries, as was for­merly Strafford, Cottington, Canterbury, Wren, and others in their day: and I am very much out of the way if they leave not off, but persist in this wicked underhand opposing the work of the Lord, that the wrath and judge­ment of God and his people will break forth against them as against the former. St. Johns, Lisle, As also Philip Nye, (afterwards Metropolitane Tryer at White Hall) Deane Owen, Doctor Tho. Goodwin (so called) and others) they repair to the then General and some of his Officers, and to a Corrupt party in that Little Parliament, pack'd beforehand for such a purpose, crying out as it were for help: which General, &c. were as willing to receive and hearken to them as they to come; for that the aforesaid honest Party in the House did also strike at their self-seeking and corrupt Interests, and were labouring to bring the great Officers to serve the State (which was so impoverished) a Year without pay, as also would render them very cheap, and have their persons no further in admiration, then as they honoured the Lord, and their sincerity to the Cause and Interest of Christ appeared. Wherefore the forementioned corrupt per­sons being so well agreed, their Case also being alike desperate, and knowing right well they could expect no better at their hands, being thus greatly afraid (as they are to this day) according to Isa. 41.6, 7. They helped every one his neigh­bor, and each corrupt Interest said to his Brother, Be of good courage. So the cor­rupt Lawyer encouraged the Clergy-man, the Clergy-man the eminent Ʋniversi­ty man, the eminent University man the corrupt, self-seeking General and his Offi­cers, the General and his Officers (with the former) the corrupt Party in that Little Parliament, who upon a first day (Heathen-like called Sunday) on which they usually pretend to worship God, and compass him about with lies, (an evill they so complained of in you) they held Cabals at Whitchall and the Cockpit to [Page 19]consult the Dissolution of the Little Parliament, which being fully agreed and concluded upon, the Plot was so laid between them, that Sydenham, Montague, Pickering, Strickland, Lawrence, Clark, and others of the corrupt Party must get together betimes the next morning into the House two hours, sooner then usu­ally without the honest Parties knowledge, and before they could get together and move a resigning or translating their pretended Power to the General, that so his after Power and Government might appear with the greater face of Lega­lity, and be accepted of by the good people; but as early as it was, this their wicked Motion met with opposition from the friends of the Cause of Christ, who came in unexpectedly upon them, insomuch, that the Corrupt Party durst not hazard to put the forementioned Motion to the Vote; but without either Vote or Ad­journment to any other place or time, they with their Speaker in all haste go away to White-Hall to deliver up their pretended Power to the General, leaving a con­siderable number of the honest Party behinde them in the House, who in a little time after were by that Tyrant and Traytor both to God and Man, Coll. Goff, and Lieu. Collonel White (since drowned coming from Mardike) and Musque­teers they brought (who are alwayes ready for any villany they are put upon) turn'd out of the House; thereby thinking and endeavouring so to fasten the Image of their corrupt Interests, and therewith all the remaining oppressions lying both upon the Bodies and Consciences of the Lords People with nails, that it should not be moved, and thus the business stands between the Officers of the Ar­my, and that honest Party of that Little Parliament to this very day.

In doing which wicked action, and therein discountenancing, persecuting, yea what in them lay as it were crucifying this honest Spirit in these persons, who were bringing forth the forementioned good things, which the Army so great­ly promised, declared, and pretended to fight for, and which you were dissol­ved for not doing of. And the General thus setting up himself upon the Mo­narchical, or Beast-like Foundation, so contrary to former Declarations, and as it were upon the ruines of the very spirit and principles, which he and his Officers but a little before had so greatly pretended to own, and be of themselves, and also do­ing the very same, yea worse things then for which the late King was beheaded, and which they also condemned in you; as also Persecuting, Imprisoning, and Banishing some of the forementioned faithful Friends of the Little Parliament, and others of the Lords people, and blaspheming the Spirit of the Lord in them, saying, They were acted by a giddy headed, rash, fanatick, devillish Spirit; and this for no other cause, then their faithfulness to the Lord, in pressing after the good things according to their forementioned declared Principles, and op­posing the General and his Officers backsliding from them, and doing things, so di­ametrically contrary thereunto, therein falsifying their Trust, and building again what they formerly had destroyed, and declared against; the Army and all the fore­mentioned corrupt Interests, with several Independent, andThe good things they desired in those Addresses doth no more excuse their evil in addressing, and there­by abetting that Tyrannical Beast-like Government, then the Devils bringing Scripture in his mouth excu­sed his wickedness in tempting of Christ. some Baptized Churches, by their Pow­er, Addresses, and otherwayes in the mean while countenancing, [Page 20]encouraging, abetting, and upholding them therein, by all which the blessed Cause and work of Christ was very greatly stopt and hindered, the Spirit of the Lord and his People grieved.

Now since these with many other wicked things that might be mentioned came to be done by that professing hypocritical generation, the forementioned glorious presence that was formerly with you, the Little Parliament, and their Councils and Forces was withdrawn, the courage of the enemy heightned, the corrupt Interests before mentioned lifting up their heads and rejoycing, accord­ing to Rev. 11.10. The Nations abroad contemn and scorn us; the lively fresh spirit for the work and Cause of Christ, which seem'd formerly to be in the Ar­my very much choaked and lost; the hearts and prayers of the remaining faith­ful Friends of the Cause which were formerly with and for them, now grieved, and engaged against them, by all which the state and condition of this poor Na­tion was, and is very greatly impaired, our Land Forces wasted and consumed at Hispaniola, Jamaica, Mardike, Flanders, and elsewhere, our Shipping lessened and diminished; our Stores and Provisions for Sea and Land expended and very much consumed, and but very very little or no profit; our Magazines emptied, Treasures wasted, Trade in a very great measure lost and decayed, as Tradesmen of all sorts, and Shopkeepers (many of whom are broken, and are breaking eve­ry day) finde by such sad and woful experience, as they never did before, nor in the memory of man was the lke ever known or heard of, (though Mr. Nye, Tho: Goodwin, Dean Owen, (so called) and the Officers and Messengers of above one hundred Congregations in England could tell their late Protector, that they and the Nation had not eaten the Bread of Adversity, nor drunk the Water of Affliction, but had served God in the abundance of all things;) Very great new debts contracted, lit­tle of old being satisfied, all which sad effects, with others that might be menti­oned, (as was said before) he that hath but half an eye, or that runs may read, is the bitter fruit of the Apostacy, Treachery, and Crucifying the Spirit of the Lord in the Members turned out of the Little Parliament, who were bringing forth that Justice and Righteousness which the Army and good People of the three Nations were so greatly engaged in, and was no other then what the faith­full Friends of the Cause are calling for in this day, and will give the Lord nor them no rest till they do obtain.

All things going thus contrary to the sinful desires and vain expectations of the upholders, and abbettors of this great Apostacy, (notwithstanding the many helps they had to carry it on;) yet as if they had been left by the Lord to stud­dy and procure their further destruction, they not onely afresh imprison the Lords faithful people for witnessing against them, but also suffer others of them to be haled before Magistrates, cast into prisons, forced to pay trebble damma­ges, their goods to be seized upon, and ten times more taken away then their pretended due came to, for not paying of Tythes, and this greatly approved of by the then General (his Officers and all his worthy Addressors upholding him therein,) who was once the head of the Sectaries, out of a carnal design to draw in the Presbyterian Cleargy to stand by his Interest; who since the New Moddel, and beheading the late King, to this very day, it is well known have been ene­mies [Page 21]to, and opposers of the Lords Work and Cause, that hath been, and is yet fur­ther to be carryed on in these Nations. Though he and his Officers not long be­fore had as good as acknowledged in the forementioned Speech to the Little Parliament. See Book, page 40. 41. that the now Ministry of England, as to their then, and present standing derived it self, and succession through the Papacy, and therefore a false succession, and none to be the true succession but what was through the Spirit given in that measure the Spirit is given, which [sayes he] Chri­stians are well able to discerne and do. And yet for all this, contrary to Scripture or Reason, forced them to pay such Ministers as they judged were not onely de­stitute of a work of Grace in their hearts, much less of the Spirit for that work, but also derived their succession through the Papacy, wherein with other things of this nature that might be mentioned; it appeared their tenderness was forgot­ten to the Lords people under several forms as much as yours, and that the cause of the people of God was despised by them.

Thus were things going on, one the one hand, and some of the Lords faith­ful people, called Sectaries, Anabaptists, and Fifth Monarchy men by their Faith, Prayers, Appeals, Prophesyings, and Testimony against the Apostacy, and Abet­tors of it, counterworking and pulling down on the other, which honest, faithful spirit in them to the Lord, his Cause, and interest, can, will never leave working nor overturning till our Lord Jesus Christ comes whose right it is. This rem­nant of witnessing Sectaries (so called) get ground, all the designs and stratagems made use of to quell them, and to uphold and strengthen the Protectoral Beast-like foundation in himself and family were frustrated, and came to nothing; the Lords faithful people rejoyce, the old Protector (so called) is greatly troubled, grows faint, his heart as it were falls flat, and he dyes. I do the rather mention these things that you may the better remember the several steps of providence preceding your second coming into power.

The light, the delight of their eyes, the breath of their Nostrils, their Moses, Da­vid, great Mordecay, and Elijah, or rather the most Famous Renowned Prince of their Apostate Congregation, who was gotten so far on of his journey to­wards Zion; yet by himself, and them through unbelief, and a self-seeking, self-exalting spirit, made their great Captain to return back again into Babylon, being thus taken away, and therein, their head, as it were, struck from of their shoul­ders; the remaining body of the Apostates, to wit, the late Council, Army, In­dependent Cleargy, Tryers, and Ʋniversity men, &c. either not seeing, or rather being ashamed it should be known they saw this their sin of Apostacy from the Cause of Christ, and how the presence of the Lord was departed from them upon that account; instead of acknowledging the same and returning into the way from whence they had so treacherously and wickedly departed, and was the cause of all this evil that was upon them and the Nation, they go on like so ma­ny blinde Bayards, or as a people besotted in their former evil wayes, and to mend the matter, or lick themselves whole again, they set up Richard Cromwel the eldest son of that family, upon his deceased Fathers Throne, thereby endeavour­ing what in them lay, to confirm and establish the aforesaid Tyrannycal, oppres­sive Power which they had exercised in the life time of his Father, who to estab­lish [Page 22]himself more strongly therein he calls a Parliament, chosen by the whole bulk or spirit of the Nation, as did his father before him, without any respect had to those good qualifications, which you not being so honest to provide for in the Act of a New Representative you were about, in the time of your former sitting, was charged upon you as one of the great crimes, that it seems would have been committed by you, for which they pretended you were dissolved.

These persons so chosen come together, some of whom were friends to a Commonwealth Government in opposition to that of a Single person, yet most of these (as was in his Fathers Parliaments) very short of thatYour unwillingness to divolve your trust over to persons of Honour, and Integrity, who were well affected to Religion and the Interest of the Nation for the further carrying on of the Cause of Christ, was another of the pretended Reasons why the Army first dissolved you; and yet afterward, as here may be seen, they did worse themselves. excellent lively spirit for Government, and bring­ing forth of Righteousness, which the dispensation that is upon us calls for from Rulers in this our day, and these three Nations; so that no great good could be expe­cted from them had they not been overvoted by the greater pary that were of a contrary spirit to them.

The other part of the House which were very much the greater number consi­sted of persons tainted with both the Old and New Court Interest, who like Si­meon and Levi brethren in iniquity, would alwayes be sure to joyn together a­gainst the Commonwealths men, and others, to hinder whatever tended to ad­vance that interest or way of Government, and did strike at the dethroning of their own, and of these the OldYour not endeavouring in the time of your first sitting to keep out Presbyters, Neuters, and Masignants from coming into Power, was another of the pretended Reasons why the Army dissolved you; yet therein also as may be seen they did the same themselves. I mention these things not to excuse you, or in the least to make divisions, but that the poor people of God and the Nation may the better see and know how likely they are to be ruined and undone between the Army and you. Oh that ever men, who have profest to be the Army of the Lamb, and such professing men as many of you would be look­ed upon to be, should ever deal so treacherously with the Cause of God, and his people, as you have done! Malignant, Neutral and Presbyterian spirit were predominant, who endeavoured (covertly) all they could to bring things to run in the old Malig­nant Channel, and to be laying bonds upon the con­sciences, as well as upon the bodies of the Lords people, called Sectaries; as also if they had been suffer­ed to go on would have disbanded, if not the whole Army, yet at least have purged out all therein, whom they had judged to have been such factious seditious persons; as Sir Arthur Hasel­rig (who then pretended to be a more faithful friend to the honest frinds of the Cause, then in this time of your second sitting he hath proved to be) and others, very well know.

Things going on in this manner, and the Brass, Iron, and Clay of this Toe of the Image, or Horne of the Beast, mixing and agreeing no better together, and the pretended honest part of the Army so likely to be cast out, and as it were undone if things went on so; they consult together, and conclude, that there was no­thing would preserve themselves, and the honest Interest but the dissolution of that Parliament; in order to which, they rendezvouz together in their arms the [Page 23]night before, in several places of the City and about White-hall. Richard Crom­well the then Protector, Coll. Goff. Com. Gen. Whaly and others of the Army who closed with this corrupt party of that Parliament, at the same time endea­vouring all they could to draw away a party or all engaged with the other to stand by them, fearing that their Kingdom would also be struck at or diminished by this business, the pretended honest part of the Army prevail and send to the aforesaid Richard Cromwell, (a pretended legal Authority) desiring him by his power to dissolve that Parliament (who sore against his will) answered their desire therein, whereby they apprehended they were Legally Dissolved.

This great overturning dispensation being thus brought about, the Lords faith­ful people and all others that may truly be said were friends of the Cause, did greatly concurr with, and approve of what was done by the Army, in procuring the Dissolution of that wretched Parliament, and did bless the Lord for the same, and likewise desired, and greatly pressed after the Dissolution of the Pro­tectoral Government also, as that which they formerly in the King, and now a­gain so lately in the Protector (so called) had the too sad experience was Tyran­nical and Oppressive, and altogether inconsistent with the well being of the people of these Nations, and were not without some hopes. The Army having but a little before Declared to the world, They could not but bewail their great failings and turnings aside, and wherein soever they had back-slidden they desired to take shame to themselves, and that they were now as ever equally endeared to the good Old, Cause and utter enemies to all Tyranny and Oppression, &c. but that they would have gone on to endeavour with all their might to have brought things to that perfection and state they were in when the forementioned presence and glo­ry of the Lord, was with, and upon us, to wit either to the choyce of the same, or other persons of that honest spirit, and principle who were formerly turned out of the Little Parliament, (who have not since defiled their Garments with the late Apostacy, or if they have, have repented publickly for the same) the depar­ting from, and rejecting of which spirit and principle, by the then, and now buil­ders, was the onely chief Cause of the Lords, so withdrawing his presence from their Councels and Forces since that time.

In order to which several faithful friends to the Cause in discharge of their con­sciences, and duty (as they then apprehended) to serve the Lord in that present juncture of affairs, did draw up, and (by the hands of Major Mallery, Lieutenant Collonel Pinchin, Captain Cust, and others) present to Lieutenant General Fleetwood, and the General Council of Officers a paper, called the Good Old Cause, Stated, which holds forth that the Army themselves did formerly declare for and approve of that very spirit, and principle, and such persons to be in Power, as is before mentioned and therein was desired.

Now whether it was that the spirit of the Army which was so deeply drench­ed, and as it were over head and ears in the late Apostacy, like old Bottles, could not bear the new wine, to wit, the self-denying spirit in the forementioned per­sons turned out of the Little Parliament, and in others like them, that was the reason they were not called again, or what the matter was; but to be sure if they and the people who called you had been right and clear in their understandings, [Page 24]or had had a true hint or taste upon their spirits of that Blessed, Excellent, Live­ly Spirit that shall execute the Justice and Righteousness that shall be when the Law shall go forth of Zion, and our Lord Jesus Christ and his Saints shall reign in Righteousness, Isa. 32.1. They would have walked in that matter less by sence, and more by faith, have trusted God, and never called you. But so it came to pass, that through the darkness and short-sightedness of some of the Friends of the Cause and according to their desires you were called together again to take your former Power, as being in the outward appearance the onely visible Legall Autho­rity in the Nation, The best expedient to root out the Monarchicall Protectorall Go­vernment; To raise Indeed you were very good at raising money and Soldi­ers to secure your selves, and at going to Feasts prepared out of the Orphans money by the carnal vain Magistrates of the City, to bribe and blinde you, that you might not search into and purge out the foolish, apish, corrupt practices, and op­pressive Customs that are amongst them, and from framing the Government of the City in the way of a Commonwealth, as you had declared the Government of the Nation to be. And at voting the continuance of Tythes, and therewith your wicked Ordinance for trebble dammages; at raising Enemies to the Cause under Collonel Thomson, to ballance and put a check upon the faithfull Friends thereof; at perpetuating your selves as before, by filling up your House with new Mem­bers; at owning corrupt Interests, and preferring corrupt persons into places of Trust, contrary to your own Votes and Declarations; at discountenancing the business of the friends of the Cause, to the countenance of the enemies thereof; at dealing deceitfully with the Army and Friends of the Cause; as backward to reform the Law, as also to divolve the Trust lately in your hand over into the hands of faithful men, as formerly you were, and as ready to do the same, yea worse things then in the severall foregoing Particulars is charged against you: But as for the Cause of Christ accord­ing to the true intent and spirit of it, the Just, Civil, and Re­ligious Liberties of the good People, and providing Persons of a more excellent spirit for Government, to promote and bring this forth you understood it not, nor laid it to heart no more then the Army, and therefore very unmeet to be con­tinued, but dissolved as formerly. Money, And to prevent future War and Bloudshed, Maintain the Good Old Cause, the Liberties and Freedoms of the good people in the things of God relating to the Conscience, until such time as a better Moddel of Govern­ment should be found out; so that here was your then Se­cond call and Standing, by all which it is probable you might apprehend the Lord did own you, notwithstand­ing you retained the same spirit as before; and that du­ring the time of your more then six years dismission from your former Power, had onely been putting you (as formerly Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon) to eat grass with the Beasts of the Field, Dan. 4.25. or made you as ordinary men, that so you might the better understand and know, that the most High ruled in the Kingdoms of men, and gave them to whomsoever he would, thereby to humble and make you better.

Now seeing you were once more brought together into the Power, not called thither by Malignants, Presbyterians, or the late new Court Party, who profess to remain in that spirit, but by some of the faithfull Friends of the Cause, and the Army, who as they say (though honest men think otherwise) are returned from their Apostacy, to do the forementioned good things till such time onely as a better Moddel was found out, who in case you answer'd not what you were call­ed for, had also the same power to take from you again what they had so com­mitted to you; you should not have been high minded, but feared, and been [Page 25]looking about you, and considering whether the same or a worse spirit had not been in you now then formerly, and have taken heed of doing the same or worse things that so caused the Friends of the Cause and the Army to complain of you, and so greatly desire your Dissolution, and a New Representative to come in your places. For if during the time of your almost seven years Dismission from your former Power, you had only been like unto Nebuchadnezars stump, Dan. 4.15. root­ing in the earth, and bound as it were about with iron and brass, and had not repented and broken off your former sins and evils charged upon you by the Army and others, and grown better by the shame and affliction of being so laid aside, but still remained as at your first Dissolution, you could not honestly expect that the Friends of the Cause who called you onely to do those good things which the Army pretendedly dissolved you for not doing of, would take it well at your hands, or bear you herein, because the former glory and presence of the Lord that was with the Councels and Forces of this Nation, is by reason of the late and present Apostacy almost clean departed, and we as it were upon our last legs, and do well understand (some of them at least who are more clear-sighted) that it is not barely the name of a Commonwealth Government, and a people of a low, dull spirit and understanding exercised therein, who like so many heavy listless horses put into their gears, must either draw or be whipt to it, as most of you were in the time of your first Sitting, and to the day of your late disso­lution. But the Righteousness and Justice thereof executed and brought forth with an excellent, lively, fresh spirit, by an humble, gracious, willing people, who have the concernments and wellfare of the Nation upon their hearts more then their own, and are tender unto, and faithful with all the Saints, anointed thereunto by the Lords Spirit, (which once the Army so greatly pretended to own) that will save and exalt these sinking Nations, and do see that thither we must come, or we perish, and therefore if you would not speedily put to your helping hand in this crisis of danger, to bring this in, but would from time to time, as in the time of your first Sitting either continue your selves with your old spirit, or not before your rising so provide as to keep out Cavaleers, Neuters, Presbyters, and the late New Court Party from coming into Power for the future (as there was very little likelihood you would, so many among you having Apostatized from your for­mer Acts, Votes, and Declarations, and fell in with the Protectorall Govern­ment, nay voted for Kingship again, and therein dealt treacherously with the Cause of Jesus Christ, and your own Principles, as well as the Army) you could not ex­pect any other from them and the Army, if their hearts were sincere and upright with God indeed, as they lately pretended to be, but that they would take care to do it themselves, though as formerly a desperate disease had a desperate cure.

And it seems for this very cause among others, it was that you were so lately dissolved a second time, whereby it very plainly appears that your late call to the Power was not a dispensation from the Lord to manifest we went out of the way in your first dissolution, but onely that the necessity and justness thereof might more plainly appear not onely to your selves, but to the satisfaction of some friends of the Cause, that could not otherwise be satisfied but by the late tryal [Page 26]of your spirits a second time. As also that you might be instrumental (as the righteous judgement of the Lord upon them) to take away the Power, Govern­ment, Splendor, and Greatness of that family, which was so hypocritically, un­righteously, and wickedly raised up upon your, and the honest part of the little Parliaments ruines though in the outward pretence, and shew for better ends, and this your work being done, to be removed again as before, that so a second trial might be upon the spirits of the Army to see whether according to their former and late pretences, they would indeed be so honest (having so greatly mist it hitherto,The Lord hath one time after another since the Army rejected their profest spirit and principles, in casting out the honest part of the Little Parliament, (as upon Pharaoh of old, who would not let Israel go to Canaan, Exod. Chap. 7. to Chap. 12.) so blasted their designs, and thereby plagued and brought them down, as they are necessitated for their own preservation to send unto and call upon the faithful Remnant (as did Pharaoh to Moses) to pray for, advise with, and come into their assistance, as if he would force them to let them go; and doubtless will never let them rest till they acknowledge their iniquity, and return to walk with more refinedness ac­cording to their former honest Principles. and thereby Pharaoh-like hindered the Lords faithfull people from going to Zion) as to bring in better and more suitable persons then your selves (whom they had so greatly complained of) into the Go­vernment of the Nation, to carry on with life and pow­er the blessed Cause and Work of the Lord for the future, which both you and they notwithstanding your many high professions have so greatly opposed and dealt treacherously withal.

I might have been more large in comparing your spirit and actions in your late second Sitting with the forementioned Particulars charged upon you by the Of­ficers of the Army as the grounds and reasons of your first Dissolution, and have shewn more fully wherein you were rather worse then in the time of your first Sitting; but it being more properly the Armies work to do it for their further vindication, who have in the Generall done something therein already in their Plea they set forth for your late Dissolution, I shall leave it to them, or to some other persons who were more upon the place, and could better observe you then my self, (who had little heart to come where you were upon the forementioned account) and shall conclude with (I hope) a Seasonable Word by way of Counsel and Proposal to the Officers of the Army themselves, of whom the true Friends of the Cause have to this day too great reason to say, having had such sad and wo­ful experience of their Adulteries from their former honest principles, neighings, and going a whoring after the accursed thing, to wit, the Monarchical Tyrannical Power, Pomp, and Greatness, and their great lewdness and abominations there­in committed, yea greater then for which the late King was beheaded, and they also pretended to dissolve you a first and second time, and yet like the Whore, Prov. 30.20. wipe their mouths as if they had done no wckiedness. But are now as ever equally endeared to the Good Old Cause, and utter enemies to all Tyranny and Oppression, when as the Lord and his people, yea the carnal people of the Nation, knows it is not so: As the Lord concerning Jerusalem of old, Jer. 13.27. O Ar­my, Army, will you not be honest, sincere, upright, deny your self-Interest and Great­ness, [Page 27]and he in reality what you have so greatly profest! Will you not return from whence you are fallen, and so truly be said to repent, must you needs ruine the Nation by your continuing to go on in your Apostacy and Wickedness, will you not be clean, when shall it once be?

YOu may by reading over the foregoing Word to the Remaining Mem­bers of the Long Parliament lately sitting at Westminster, whom you have now dissolved a second time (as it concerns you so to do) take notice of almost all the most considerable circumstances relating to the Blessed Cause and Work of Christ, that you and the good people of this Nation have been so long engaged in; and upon what account it was that the Lord so greatly blest the Councels and Forces of this Nation against the common enemy, whilest it was carrying on; also how the forementioned good peo­ple desired that the Righteousness, Justice, and good things promised both by you and them, might be brought forth, and the Remaining more refined Oppressions lying upon their Bodies and Consciences taken away, as an improvement of all those great Mercies and Victories which the Lord had so wonderfully and graciously bestowed upon us: And how they likewise desired that the then Long Parliament sitting at Westminster, being short of spirit for the further carrying on of this work (as they were to the very day of their second Dissolution) might be dissolved, and that other more suitable persons thereunto then they were, might be called to do it; as also how greatly you seem'd to con­cur and go along with them therein, as being of one heart with them, declaring that you would have none to come into the Power for the future, but Persons of Honour and Integrity, that were well known, men well affected to Religion, and the Inte­rest of the Nation; Men who knew the Lord, and had made observations of his mar­vellous dispensations; Just men, ruling in the fear of God; A willing people, who had faith in Jesus Christ, love to, and were faithful with all the Saints, men who were called chosen, and faithful, yea that it was your duty to chuse men that feared the Lord to praise the Lord, such as he had formed for himself, because he expected not praises from others; as also pretended you dissolved the Old Parliament for their un­willingness and backwardness in bringing forth these things; yet how hypocriti­cally, treacherously, and unrighteously your selves afterwards dealt, and went directly contrary thereunto in rejecting the good you had so greatly pretended to thirst after the accomplishment of, and doing the very same, yea worse [Page 28]things then you had so complained against them for, your after actions compa­red with the several Particulars of your Charge against the aforesaid Old Parlia­ment taken out of your forementioned Letter to Lieu. Gen. Fleetwood then in Ireland, and the then Generals Speech in his own and your names to the Members of the Little Parliament before their Sitting, do very plainly manifest.

First, Did the Old Parliament mannage their Affairs evilly in the time of their first Sitting, and did as evilly in rejecting the Councel and Advice you gave them, and the means you used to have had them done the good things promised both by you and them, and was of due to be performed tending to the Settlement of the Commonwealth in Peace and Righteousness? So did you. For after their first Dissolution you rejected the wholesome councel given you by your faithfull friends, as to the choice of persons that would indeed bring forth that good you so greatly pretended to be thirsting after, and dealt deceitfully and treacherously with your then declared spirit and principle, as to the Qualifications of Rulers for so good a work, packing that Little Parliament for the most part with self-in­terested persons, such as Alderman Tichborn, Mr. Lawrence, Coll. Montague, Mr. Strickland, Sir William Roberts, Coll. Barton, the late Coll. Mathews, Collonel Clark, and others, who were contrary to that honest publick spirit and principle, which but a little before you had so greatly pretended to own in the Dissolution of the Old and choice of the Little Parliament, who whilest they were sitting hindered the Honest Party among them (as you have heard before) from doing those good things that would indeed have settled the Commonwealth in Peace and Righteousness, and you their encouragers, and confederates all the while.

Secondly. Did the Old Parliament do evilly in endeavouring all they could to perpetuate themselves, and thereby all the Oppressions that then were upon the people, by filling up their House with men of the same corupt Spirit and Principles with themselves in order thereunto? As also in not laying the Government up­on the shoulders of such men as would hopefully give the people the fruit of all their labour and blood and encourage good men for the future to venture their lives against the common enemy? So did you. For you very well know that the business was so laid between you and the forementioned Corrupt Party of that Little Parliament, as that they not onely hindered the Honest Party among them from the doing of that good whilest they sat, and providing for the sure lay­ing of the Government upon the shoulders of faithful men for the future, but that they might for ever hinder them from so doing, and thereby uphold both your own and their several self Interests, and all the remaining Oppressions that then were, and to this very day are lying upon the people; in a clandestine se­cret manner without the honest Parties knowledge or consent, wherein you dealt deceitfully and treacherously with them, (the like carriage in the Old Par­liament to you a first and second time, was another pretended reason of their first and second Dissolution) you consult together, and so order the matter, that the aforesaid Corrupt Party, with the Speaker, must leave the House, and bring away their Power to your Geverall, and Coll. Goff, &c. presently be sent with souldiers to turn out the other, and your General soon after be set up upon the Monarchical, Protectoral, Beast-like Foundation, with a Negative Voice in all things [Page 29]that opposed his Government, as also the Power of the Militia, during his life, and afterwards to his Successor, which the Lord, his people, and your selves had so greatly witnessed and declared against, and which cost so much Blood and Trea­sure to oppose in the King, end eavouring all you could to uphold and perpetuate him and your selves therein, with all the Pride, Pomp, Luxury, Tyranny, Oppre­sion, and Popish, Sinful, Heathenish, Foolish, Apeish Customs and Practises a­mong your selves, the City, and the rest of the Nation, attending the same, with many other the like wicked actions committed by you, which would be too tedious to mention; wherein also you did worse then the Old Parliament.

Thirdly, Did the Old Parliament do evilly in not providing such Qualifications in the Act for a New Representative they were about in the time of their first Sitting, as to keep out Presbyters, Neuters, and Malignants from coming into Power for the future, and therein would have given away the Cause into the hands that never bled for it, and that would impose upon their Brethren, which you say had you suffered, you should have been the worst people in the world, and have become Traytors both to God and Man. So did you. And therein (to use your own words) were you indeed Traytors both to God and Man; for the very next Parliament that was called after your General was made Protector, and the next to that, did most consist of Presbyters, Neuters, and Malignants, and Persons packed for the support of your Interests, and secluded and kept from sitting near a hundred Members, among whom were several Persons for a Commonwealth Interest, that so they might hot hinder your corrupt design of advancing and perpetuating your selves. And just so was it in the last Free Parliament (so called) summoned by his Son Richard your late Protector, chosen (as was his Fathers) by the Clergy andAnd this also you did contrary to your former de­clared Spirit and Principle in your Speech to the Little Parliament. See Book pag. 42. where you acknowledge that the whole Bulk of the People of this Nation were not fit to chuse or be chosen Rulers till the Spirit was more poured forth, and they thereby brought to own the Interest of Jesus Christ. spirit of the Nation, most of whom were enemies to, and opposers of the Cause of God and his People, and what endeavours you used by writing Letters, and sending your Emissaries and Agents to the se­veral Burroughs and Corporations to get your Kindred, Relations, Servants, Flatterers, and mercenaries, whether wise men or fools, honest men or knaves to be chosen for that end, and to keep the faithful friends of the Cause from being chosen, (another evil complain'd of in the Old Parliament) and yet how the Lord blasted you in all your vain hopes and expectations from them, and for the preservation of your selves and the honest Interest, you were still necessitated to dissolve them you very well know; in all which you not onely dealt deceitfully, treacherously, and wickedly with your former honest Principles, but doubtless did worse then the Old Parliament would have done; and the great kindness you pretended to shew unto the good People in dissolving them, doth not in the least excuse your great evil in laying such a wicked Foundation as necessitated you to call such unworthy Persons to be building upon it: And I appeal to any honest faithful, unbyast person to judge, whether your late unbelieving, treacherous car­riage, (since the second Dissolution of the Old Parliament) in framing your [Page 30]new Council of Safety (so called) mostly with those very Persons that were the promoters & abettors of the late Apostacy, as also casting several faithful friends of the Cause out of the City Militia, and placing in their stead such as Alder­man Tichborn, Alderman Pack, Alderman Viner, Alderman Atkins, Alderman Foot, Alderman Chiverton, and others who have likewise bowed the knee unto, and abetted the aforesaid wickedness, doth not declare you (notwithstanding your many late Prayers, Tears, Fastings, shews of Repentance, and also Profes­sions of your sincere intentions to return to own and advance the Cause of Je­sus Christ) to be still acted by the very same, if not a worse spirit then before.

Fourthly, Did the Old Parliament in their second Sitting so carry it, as if the Interest of the People of God was grown cheap with them, and not laid to heart, and discountenanced their business that came before them to the discountenancing of them and countenancing the Malignant Party, and as if they never intended good to the people of God. So did you, and worse. For you stood by and upheld your Old Protector whilest he confirmed a former wicked Ordinance, and therewith all those cursed, Popish, Oppressive Laws, contrary to Scripture or Reason, for im­prisoning the Lords People, taking away their goods, and forcing trebble dam­mages from them for non-payment of Tythes, and this out of an unbelieving carnal design to quiet the National Clergy, and draw them to your Interest, though known enemies to the Cause of Christ which hath been, is, and ought further to be carried on in these Nations, whereby several poor Families of the Lords people have been almost ruined and undone; and how they were many times discountenanced and overthrown in their business by reason of your coun­tenancing and abetting those corrupt Interests you very well know.

Did the Old Parliament do evilly in their late Sitting in keeping Mr. Sympson out of Bishopsgate so long, and so unwillingly voting his readmission at last, as also in being so negligent, and backward in doing right to Mr. Feake, in restoring him to the Meeting-house by Newgate Market, where he formerly preached, and was placed by their Order, and afterward unrighteously turned out by the late Apostacy. As also in voting Major General Harrison uncapable of future publick employment? So did you. For after the Old and Little Parliament were dissolved, you first turned Mr. Sympson and Mr. Feake out of those places, and cast them into prisons for their faithfulness to the Cause of Christ, and your forementioned honest Principles, and witnessing against your back-sliding from them, and suffered, if not ordered, Mr. Lee, Mr. Jenkins, and others who are known enemies to the Cause to come into their places, and there continued them, keeping the others out, till the late Sitting of the Old Parlia­ment, who (though long first) restored Mr. Sympson; but Mr. Peake (if there be a keeping close to the former honest spirit, and orders thereupon) was and is un­righteously kept out both by them and you to this very day. And how you likewise took Maj. Gen. Harrison's Commission from him, or otherwise put him by his Command in the Army, as also inhumanely and unworthily sent him to Prisons and Banishment upon the same account with the former, and to this very day endeavour all you can to keep him and other faithful friends out of Publick Employment, unless they comply with your selfish corrupt practises, and own [Page 31]you, as indeed returned from your Apostacy, when it is not so, you very well know; which with many other things of this kinde that might be mentioned, declares plainly that the interest of the people of God is grown cheap with you and not laid to heart, and their business discountenanced to the countenance of the Malignant Party, and that you intend good to the people of God no fur­ther then your own interest and safety will stand therewith, and therein also are worse then the Old Parliament.

Fifthly, Did the Old Parliament manifest their Spirit and Complexion to be cor­rupt by their backwardness in proceeding to regulate the Law which was then, and to this day is so much groaned under, as that many moneths together (you say) was not sufficient to pass over one word called incumberances. So did you and worse by ma­ny degrees. For when the forementioned honest Party of the Little Parlia­ment had voted a new Body or Moddel of the Law for the speedy ending of Law Suits with little charge, as also the abolishing and taking away the then and now corrupt oppressive Court of Chancery, wherein was depen­ding twenty three thousand Causes, where some had lain five, some ten, some twenty, some thirty years and more, to the undoing of many families; and had appointed a Committee for the bringing of Sir John Lenthal Chief Jaylor of the Ʋpper Bench Prison, and all other corrupt persons imployed in Publick Trust to an account for the evil management of their Trust, and had made some good progress therein, to the suspen­ding or casting the aforesaid Sir John Lenthal out of his place, among other good things they were doing for the ease of the people, you turned them out on purpose to hinder them from bringing what they had so voted, and were go­ing on to do, unto perfection. And after this illegally, and dishonestly impri­soned and banished some of the aforesaid honest Members of the Little Parlia­ment, and others of the faithful friends of the Cause without any thing laid to their charge, seeing the face of an accuser, or bringing them to a legal Tryal, which is worse then was done in the Kings dayes. As also sent Alderman Chiverton then Lord Major, (now one of your Commissioners for the City Mi­litia) and Alderman Robbinson the then Sheriff, two reputed Malignants, with their Malignant City Marshals the acquaintance and confederates of the late Mall Cutpurse and her Crew, to hale others of the forementioned friends of the Cause from their Meeting-place in Colemanstreet, when they were seeking the Lord, and pleading for his Righteous Cause, and witnessing against your Apo­stacy from it, and to cast them in prisons to make them give over, and afterward set the then Chief Justice Glyn, one of the Eleven Members formerly impeach­ed by your selves of Treason, as also Alderman Tichborne, and others of your now new Council of Safety, and Commissioners of the Militia, to try and pass Sentence upon them, who though the Jury had cleared them, yet to satisfie your lust, and please you, for their own advantage, they illegally laid Fines uponviz. Cornet, Day, and John Clark. two of them and kept them in Newgate above half a year after at great charges, and when the judge­ments, and overturning dispensations of the Lord came upon you, and took away the light of your Eyes, breath of your Nostrils, and struck your head from off [Page 32]your Shoulders, and they durst keep them no longer, they turned them out say­ing nothing unto them; which wicked action among other things of this kinde that might be mentioned, declares plainly That the Cause even among your selves, (as well as among the Old Parliament) was almost in every thing going to the ground, yea the Cause of the people of God a despised thing with you. Likewise unrigh­teously decimated the Estates of the Cavaleers; when by your carnal, unbelieve­ing, selfish Act of Oblivion they would not be drawn to your Interest. As also carryed it in so insolent, high, and arbitrary a manner, that almost no Lawyer durst plead in a Cause against you, for fear of being cast into prison; Revived, and upheld Monopolyes (so greatly complained of in the late Kings dayes) not onely in Merchandise and other things, but also upon the Scriptures; so that some Bibles were not to be had without paying ten, or eighteen pence a piece more, then they were formerly sold for: Suppressed the printing Presses against all who wrote in vindication of that Blessed Cause, and those good Principles you once so highly pretended to own and assert, and against your Judas=like Treachery and Back-sliding from them, and is another evil that your selves formerlySee Book called the Looking-glass, page 19.20. complained of in the Old Parliament. also stood by, and abetted your Kingling, or Humble Petition and Advice Parliament; Mostly made up of Sons, Kindred, Servants, and Sallary-men, to trappan, and like so many evening Wolves, ravening the prey, cunningly to steal upon and take away one whole years rent from the people for all such new houses as they had built (within ten miles round the City of London) upon new Foundations, to the al­most, if not altogether ruine and undoing of many of them, the better to up­hold your new Court Pride, Pomp, and Luxury, which persons of a self-denying, sincere, honest, publick spirit would greatly abhor to do.

All which, with many other evil practises of yours relating to the late and present abhord Apostacy that might be mentioned, (which I leave to the lately dissolved Members of the Old Parliament for the lessening their evil, if compa­red with yours, to make a more full discovery of) it plainly appears, that not onely in every one of those particulars which you have so charged upon them as the reasons of their first and second Dissolution, but also then for which you fought with, brought to Justice, and beheaded the late King, you have by far done worse your selves, and therein overpassed the deeds of the wicked; which treacherous dealing of yours with, wickedly departing from, Judas-like betray­ing, and as it were crucifying and keeping down in the grave that blessed Cause of Christ, his faithful people, and those good Principles you once so greatly pretended to own, thereby standing in the way, and hindering the faithful Friends of the Cause from going to Zion, is the chief cause of all those losses, miseries, disappointments, and judgements which hath been from the Lord upon you and the Nation (as upon Pharaoh of old, who would not let Israel go to Canaan) from that time to this very day, and hath occasioned the enemy both at home and abroad, as also the Carnal, Episcopal, Atheisticall Apprentices of the City of London, whom the Lord for the malignity and opposition of their spi­rits to his Cause and People hath so many times disappointed and subdued as the [Page 33]people of his curse to misapprehend and say, it is onely because the Government by King and Bishops is taken away, (with other blinde stuff of that nature) and that it will never be well until they be restored again; thereby casting dirt up­on, and as much as in them lies, making null and void all those wonderfull and glorious Appearances, Deliverances, and Victories which the Lord from time to time hath shewen and given to his People both against them and it; as if all had been onely by Chance, Fortune, or Common Providences, or as among Papists, Turks, and Heathens, and to threaten once more to put it to the trial whether it be not so; and how far the Lord may make use of them as his Rod to rebuke and scourge you, and all your Cycophant Addressors, who have sided with, abet­ted, and not witnessed against your wickedness, as also the poor Nation may likewise suffer in the common calamity for your sakes, together with their own iniquities and opposition of their spirits to the Cause, and People of God; the Lord who will not be mocked nor dealt treacherously withal by you, as you have mocked and dealt treacherously with his people onely knows; For how can you rationally or honestly expect any other but that a consumption and de­struction from the Almighty is determined, and will unavoidably come upon you, unless you speedily and thorowly repent and return from your Apostacy. And yet too too much is it to be feared, that notwithstanding this, as also all the wholesome advice, admonition, and reproof, that by speaking, writing, printing, and therein line upon line, that from time to time hath in all singleness and plainness been laid before you in order thereunto, you lay it not to heart, nor intend to act according to it no more then the Old Parliament did the Coun­sel and Advice of the same nature, which you, say you, gave to them, but are still resolved to deal treacherously and deceitfully (as they did) with the Cause and People of God, and to go on acting by the very same carnall, selfish spirit, and policy as before, calling to your assistance chiefly those very Persons that were the first Contrivers, Promoters, and Abetters of the la [...]e and present Apo­stacy, whom the Lord hath had, and doubtless yet hath a controversie with, and would not, no nor without eminent repentance will not own, nor give favour in the eyes of his faithful People, but rather more cause them to stink in their nostrils, and are as unwilling and backward (as a Bear to come to the stake) to call the forementioned faithful Persons turned out of the Little Parliament, and others of that publique spirit into Power, for fear they will do their work too thorowly. But go on as long as you will, and be as Politique in your Shifts and Contrivances to uphold your carnal Interests, and to keep them out as ever you can, yet assure your selves the Lord who loveth righteousness, and hateth iniquity, and every deceitful practice, and takes the wrong you have done to them, and therein to his Cause, as if done unto himself, and hath already begun to call you to an account, and to punish you for the same, will never cease disappointing, overturning, and sending streights upon you, till you acknowledge your iniqui­ty in that very thing, (and well if you escape so too) which so far as I yet under­stand you have not done to this very day. And that you may the better weigh and consider what I say herein, read the following Scriptures. Isa. 26.11. Lord when thy hand is lifted up they will not see, but they shal see, and be ashamed for their [Page 34]envy at the people, the fire of thine enemies shall destroy them. Also Isa. 33.1. Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled, and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee, when thou shalt cease to spoil thou shalt be spoiled, &c. comp. Rom. 1.31, 32. and Rom. 2.3.

Think not because you are a professing people, and the Lord hath so many times appeared for you, covering your heads in the day of battel, and like­wise given you houses full of good things which you filled not, Deut. 6.11. that you shall alwayes have his presence and salvation with, and about you, though you commit iniquity, and go on therein without repentance, but rather consider what he saith to Israel of old, who had sinned and back-slidden from him as you have done. Amos 3.2. You onely have I known of all the Families of the Earth, therefore will I punish you for all your iniquities.

Oh how greatly hath the blessed Name, Cause, Wayes, and People of God suffered, been reproached, set at nought, and blasphemed by your (as well as by the late Old Parliaments) evil mannagement of the Affairs under your hand from the first beginning of your Apostacy, or turning the honest Members left be­hinde in the Little Parliament out of the Power to this very day? How is the Enemy encouraged to lift up themselves in the hopes and expectations that they shall once more have a day to advance their Carnal, Popish, Superstitious, wicked Interest, and to tread down the Cause and People of God under their feet?

What might not you have done by this time for the Advancement of the Cause of God and his People not onely in our own, but in other Nations, had you kept growing up in the light, spirit, and practice of those good Principles you once so greatly pretended to own, and had not through unbelief and a self-seeking, self-exalting spirit so treacherously and wickedly departed from them? Yea, how far might we have been gotten on of our journney towards Zion, had you pressed forward according to what above nine years since youSee Declar. (Heathen-like called) August 1. 1650. by it self, or in p. 18, 19. of a Book called the Fifth-Monarchy. declared to the Scots; wherein you say, It is our prayer daily that those that fear the Lord in England and Scot­land may become one in the hand of the Lord, and joyn together in the Advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and throwing down and trampling upon the Seat of the Beast; why should not Scotland as well as England rejoyce to see the Horns of the Beast cut off, that we may joyn together to hate the Whore, and burn her flesh with fire; as also that the Lord was about to put on the Saitns beautiful garments, and to make them a praise in the Earth. And likewise above six years since to the Little Par­liament, page 43, 44, of the forementioned Book, that you thought something was as the door, that you were at the threshold, and therefore it became you and them to life up your heads, and to encourage your selves in the Lord; looking upon your selves to be either the Stone it self, or at least to have had somewhat of the spirit of it, and that your Call of the Little Parliament was a fruit and an effect of the Stones smiting; saying, That some of you thought it your duty to endeavour that way, not vainly looking on that Prophesie, Dan. 2.44. and the Kingdom shall not be deliver­ed to another people, and that it was set upon your hearts, and upon all the faithfull in the Land, it may be it was not your duty to deliver it over to any other people, and [Page 35]that that Scripture might then be fulfilling unto you. Also that we were at the edge of the Promises and Prophesies, and did think that God was bringing the Jews home to their station, from the Isles of the Sea, as once he led Israel thorow the Red Sea; And although there were neither Promise for this or Prophesie, we should be coveting after the best things, and therefore if you were to chuse the meanest Officer in the Army, or Com­monwealth, you would chuse a godly man that had Principles, especially where trust is to be committed, for you knew where to have a man of Principles, and wisht that all our Magistrates were so chosen, &c. Wherein you speak as highly for the Work, King­dom, and Interest of Christ, as can almost be spoken by any in this, or indeed in any other day on this side the eminent fulfilling of the Promises and Prophesies relating thereunto.

Now what great things might have been done towards the Calling home of the Jews? Also what a glorious Presence and Salvation from the Lord might we have had upon and about us, to the amazement, terrour, and silencing of the Ene­my both at home and abroad, according to Psal. 48. so as they would not have dared to lift up their heads, or have wagged their tongues against us as now they do. Yea, how many poor creatures might, according to Esther 8.17. & Zech. 8.22, 23. have been won over to own and love the Cause and Interest of Christ, that now are either turn'd Atheists, or else remain in the hardness, wickedness, and opposition of their hearts and spirits thereunto, had you not declined, but, as was said before, kept growing up in your then light, as also in the frame of your spirits and actions towards that perfection that shall be in the Lords faithful People, when the Righteousness of Zion shall go forth as brightness, and the salva­tion thereof as a lamp that burneth, and he make Jerusalem a praise in the Earth, Isa. 62.1, 6, 7. which is our duty not onely to be praying for, but pressing after, as well as after that perfection of light and holiness in the inward man that shall be in that day, or at the Resurrection of the dead Saints, when our Lord Jesus Christ shall come, and all the Saints with him, Zech. 4.5. comp. 1 Cor. 15.23. Rev. 20.4. and how we were growing up into this Righteousness, and the People according to Hosea 14.7. began to return from their oppression, revive as the corn, and grow as the vine, and this glorious Presence and Salvation was dawning and breaking in upon us, when the honest spirit (which you have so rejected) was encouraged and acting in the Authority of this Nation, as hath been already mentioned, you very well know. But our too sad experience tells us, that the Lord hath now cause ra­ther to complain and say, according to Isa. 1.4.21, 22, 23. Ah sinful Nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil doers, children that are corrupters, they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel. How is the faithfull City become an Harlot, it was full of judgement, righteousness lodged in it, but now murtherers. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixt with water, thy Princes are rebellious and companions of thieves; every one loveth gifts, and followeth after re­wards, they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widdow come unto them; and upon this account we have cause to lament and complain, according to Lam. 2.15, 16. All our enemies have opened their months against us, they hiss and gnash their teeth, they say we have swallowed them up, certainly this is the day that we looked for, we have found we have seen it, comp. with Job Chap. 29. & Chap. 30. [Page 36]and this is the very state and condition that the Cause and people of God, and the Nation, which had once a beauty and glory upon them, is brought into at this day by reason of your Apostacy.

Now in regard it is thus with you and the poor Nation (for your sakes) as it is, and things are under so ill sense abroad (to use your own words to the Old Par­liament) and the issue like to be the further displeasure and judgements of the Lord against you, the dissatisfaction and sadning the hearts of his faithful people, and put­ting all things into greater Confusion, if you continue to steer your course as formerly; which so far as I can yet see, or hear, you are resolved to do, though the Cause, Your selves, and the Nation perish: and although you therein so carry it as to give the Lord and his Faithfull People just cause to say of you, as of Ephraim of old, Hosea 4.17. The Army is joyned to Idols, let them alone. Yet considering on the other hand, that he likewise calls to such a back-sliding people as you are, to return unto him: and upon their return, hath graciously promised he will heal their back-sliding, and love them freely, Jer. 3.22. comp. Hos. 14.4. And not knowing though you have gone on so long in the hardness of your hearts, but he may yet pour out a spirit of grace and supplication upon you, and give you to look upon his Cause and Faithfull Remnant whom you have so rejected, and as it were Pierced and Crucified, and to mourn, and be in bitterness for the same, as one is in bitterness for his first-born: as also to return to the real practice of your forementioned honest Principles, it being better with you then then now; and to cause Judgement so visibly to return unto Righteousness, as that all the upright in heart may follow it, and be encouraged to venture their Lives with you as formerly, against the Common Enemy, which as things now stand they cannot but be very unwilling to do. And likewise having, though I have so searched to the quick and spoken plainly, a desire to be merciful, as my heavenly Father is merciful; and to be instrumental, so far as he shall assist, to pluck you out of this deep ditch you have plunged your selves into; and that whether you will hear, or whether you will forbear, you may be left without excuse. As also that I may discharge my love and duty towards the Blessed Cause of Christ, the Saints, and the Land of my Nativity, I shall in all sincerity and faithfulness lay before you, what according to my present Light and Ʋnderstanding, will (if any thing) recover the forementioned Cause, the Saints, Your selves, and this al­most ruined Nation out of that sad and perishing condition that by reason of your Apostacy and treacherous dealing with your former honest principles they are brought into, and will engage the forementioned Glorious Presence and Sal­vation of the Lord to be with, and about us, as in former dayes; in order to which, though in and of my self I am very unworthy and unable to advise in a business of so high and weighty a concernment as this is: I counsel and propose as fol­loweth.

First, endeavour to be humbled for, repent of, and to turn from every particu­lar personal sin and iniquity that you have been in the committing of, for if you, or I, or any other regard iniquity in our hearts, or wilfully live in the practise of any known sin, the Lord will not hear our prayers, nor accept of any thing we do for him wherein his Name and Glory is concerned, Psal. 66.18. Prov. 15.8, 9. [Page 37] Isa. 1.11. to 20. Therefore if there be any such thing as false musters, or Dead pay, or wherein soever wrong hath been done, or sin committed, do so no more; As also restore back to those of whom you have bought Debenters at cheap rates, somewhat proportionable to your great gains thereby, if they be living; and if dead, then to the Widdows, Children, or Kindred related to them that are left be­hinde them: As also to be sure to promise nothing to any for the future either of a publick or private nature, but what is in the power of your hand to do, and have a real intention thorowly and speedily to perform, and herein be growing up into that holy frame mentioned Zeph. 3.13. The Remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths, &c. And what I say to you in this particular, I say to my self, and to all others fearing the Lord; for the People whom the Lord will delight to use in his Work, must be a sincere, upright, self-denying, holy people, therefore let us not hide our ini­quities, but rather say to the Lord according to Job 34.32. That which I see not teach thou me, if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

Secondly, Be also humbled for, repent of suppress, and put away for the time to come, All the Pride of Apparel, &c. Luxury, Gaming, and whatever else is sinful, and of an evil report that is committed in your Families, by your selves, Wives, Children, Servants, and Relations, according to Job 11.13, 14. comp. with Chap. 22.23. If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hand towards him, if iniqui­ty be in thy hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles, &c. And endeavour all you can for the future to get such as fear the Lord to attend upon you; for it is not onely your duty, but declared Principle to the Little Par­liament so to do. See page 43. of the forementioned Book; Let not their failings, infirmities, and too many times neglect of duty, hinder you from doing yours, if you can get them; there is little good to be expected from you whoever you are, though your knowledge and profession be never so high, whilest you are careless and slight in this particular.

Thirdly. Be also deeply humbled for, and repent of your forementioned great Apostacy from, rejecting of, & treacherous dealing with the Cause of Jesus Christ, and your forementioned honest Principles, and all your persecuting, Imprisoning, and Banishing of your Brethren for their faithfulness thereunto, and for all other your great evils and miscarriages therein committed, whereby the Name of the Lord and the Profession of the Gospel hath been, and is so much reproached and dishonoured, and his Blessed Cause and Work so greatly stopped and hindered, The hearts of his faithful people grieved, and hath brought so much poverty and misery upon this Nation, and return in the sincerity and uprightness of your hearts to revive and promote the aforesaid Blessed Cause, and those good Principles from whence you have so greatly departed, and resolve in the strength of the Lord to return no more to folly. And that this your repentance and thorow returning may so appear to all the faithful Friends of the Cause, as to put them past all doubts and fears of your deceiving them any more for the time to come.

First, Cast off the Counsel of St. Johns, Lisle, Whitlock, Philip Nye, Tho. Good­win, Dean Owen, (so called) (and all other the like Incendaries) the Heads of the [Page 38]corrupt Lawyers and Clergy, unless you finde they have really and thorowly re­pented of their great evil in being so instrumental to help turn, (and keep) your then General and you aside into these crooked paths after the first Dissolution of the Old, and choice, and turning out of the Little Parliament; as also see them singly and sincerely pressing you to come up to the practise of your former De­clarations, and to the owning of that spirit, those principles and persons which you once so greatly seemed to own, but afterwards through the enmity of your spirits, and their wicked Counsel and Advice as greatly and wickedly rejected. For if they remain as they were, Owen, &c. according to Lam. 2.14. Are the Pro­phets that have seen vain and foolish things for you, and have not discovered your iniquity to turn away the judgements that are fallen upon you, but have and do see for you false burthens and causes of banishment.

Secondly, Send by way of intreaty (it being your duty so to do,) according to Matth. 5.24.25.) having so greatly wronged them) for those faithfull per­sons whom you have so rejected and turned out of the Little Parliament, whose Garments have not since been defiled with the late, and present Apostacy, or if they have, are known to have throughly repented of the same, with others of that publick spirit to come unto you, who if any in the Nation, yea, I may say in the world will (the Lord assisting) bring forth the good things promised, and have been so long expected for the good of the Nation. And when you have so done.

Thirdly, Acknowledge your great sin and iniquity to them. First for re­jecting and casting them out of your hearts, and afterwards out of that Little Parliament, on purpose to hinder them from doing that good for the people, which you pretendedly dissolved the Old Parliament for not doing of, and called them to do; which were no other then what you will finde the true friends of the Cause, will neither give you, nor any other that for the future may come into the Government of the Nation rest, do what you can to uphold your own and other carnal Interests, in opposition there­unto, yea the Lord no rest till they do obtain; And when you have in the singleness of your hearts, thus acknowledged your iniquity to them and desired mer­cy for the same, (as Gen. 50.16. to 20. Josephs Brethren did to him.) I hope they will have so much both of the spirit of the Father of the Prodigal, though brought to your Husks, and of the spirit of Joseph to his Brethren, as to be wil­ling to go forth in their spirits to meet this in you, and weepingly to joy and re­joyce over you, as also to pardon and pass by all the wrongs and injuries, that you have done unto them, and therein to the Cause of God and his people. But if this be not in your hearts to do, they must remain where they are, keeping the same distance from you as before, lest they go before they are sent, and so come off with loss and disappointments in their own spirits as to you, as my self and others have done since you so deceivingly Declared that you were now as ever equally endeared to the good Old Cause, &c. when it was not so.

Fourthly, With the Advice and Consent of the faithfull friends of the Cause both in City and Countrey (it being usurpation in you and acting arbitrarily to [Page 39]do any thing without them) Deliver up (with limitations not to impose upon the consciences of any in matters of Faith and Worship, and in all things else that are against the safety of the Whole) the Power, Authority, and Government of the Nation into their hands; for (by what hath been said both by you, my self, and others in this and other Papers, and keeping close to the spirit of them) under Christ their right it is, and take heed of mixing them as in the time of their first Sitting with persons of a contrary spirit and principle, on purpose to hinder them from doing the good they are called to do, and thereby designedly and wickedly give your selves a second feigned necessity of turning them out and setting up another Single Person, or Protector upon their ruines as you did before, but rather encourage and strengthen them all you can in the bringing forth this good, and suppressing the evil; for that it is onely the bringing forth of righteousness, and breaking off all yokes of oppression, that will save and exalt this sinking Nation, Prov. 14.34. Isa. 1.17. to 20.

5. These persons thus called together, having more light, faith, and communion with God then formerly they had, in the work of the latter dayes, and that they are called unto, as I conceive they have, and laying Jesus Christ the Foundation on which they intend to Build; as also consulting with and managing all their Af­fairs according to the Scriptures, as is their judgement founded upon the same, Deut. 17, 18, 19, 20. Deut. 4.6, 7, 8. 2 Tim. 3.16. and not onely theirs, but of most of the Friends of the Cause, as also assented to by your selves, and all the Great Lawyers, and all others present at theSir Thomas Widdrington having presented your Protector with a Robe, afterwards delivered him a Bible, and among other expressions said, It is a Book of Books, and besides other things it conteins in it both Precepts and Examples for good Government. Alexander so highly valued the Books of his Ma­ster Aristotle, and other great Princes other Books, that they have laid them every night under their Pillows; these are all but Legends and Romances to this one Book, a Book to be had al­wayes in remembrance; I finde it said in part of this Book which I shall desire to read, and it is this, Deut 17.18, 19, 20. And it shall be when he sitteth upon the Throne of his Kingdom, that he shall write a Copy of this Law in a Book out of that which is before the Priestt, and Levites, and it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the dayes of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, and to keep all the words of this Law, and those statutes to do them, that his heart be not lifted up above his Brothren, and that he turn not aside from the Commandment to the right hand or to the left, to the end he may prolong his dayes in his Kingdom, he and his Children in the midst of Israel. In which words you acknow­ledge that the Scriptures ought to be the foundation of both the Government and Laws of this Nation, which, though after this, you decline from, and therein adde Apostacy to Apostacy, yet do justifie all others that shall go on therein, and proceed ac­cording to Scripture Quualifications for the choice of Rulers, according to Exod. 18.21. Hosea 11.12. Speech made by Sir Thomas Widdrington then Speaker of your Petition and Advice Parliament, at the second Inauguration of your late General in the Protectorall Government) is the duty of all Gods Magistrates to do, Having also the concern­ments and welfare of the Nation upon their hearts more then their own, will I hope whilest they are Sitting, carry it so self-denyingly, graciously, and uprightly, and with such tenderness towards all fearing the Lord, esteeming none because of this or that judgement, further then their sincerity and faithfulness to the Cause and Interest of Christ appears; [Page 40]and will endeavour to do all things both at home and in other Nations so for the honour of him who is their and our Judge, King, and Lawgiver, as also your own and the Nations real good; and likewise with the approbation and consent of the faithful Friends of the Cause, to carefully provide for the future well Government of the Nation by the hands of other faithfull Persons against they rise, as you will have no occasion (if your hearts be sincere and upright with God indeed, and have grace to deny your selves) to maintain any enmity in your spirits towards them, so as to despise, reject, and turn them out as you did before, but will rather encourage, rejoyce in, and bless God for them. And whatso­ever your politique shifts and devices may be to avoid it, hither you must come at last; for without this be done, let the foundation you lay as to future Go­vernments, and the Persons you call to build thereon in the outward appearance be never so pure, or so much for Christ, yet it is (and you will finde it so) but a false Conception, a Bed too short, a Covering too narrow, a Plaister, that though it may skin over, will not thorowly heal the wound that your Apostacy and trea­cherous dealing with your Principles hath made upon you; for the first, foremen­oned, Cause of the Lords displeasure against you must be taken away, or else no sound cure can be expected; (neither indeed would such as are faithful, had they a true understanding of things, and did seriously weigh and consider what hath been already, and might further be said in this business, dare to come in and assist you till this work were done, for fear lest the House that in the simplicity of their hearts they would be building, should fall upon their heads); and the Lords thus dealing with you is no other then according to the usual method he goes in in matters of this nature, Prov. 28.13. He that covereth his sin shall not prosper, but he that confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall have mercy. Remember what became of Cain who retain'd his wicked spirit after he slew his Brother Abel, Gen. 4. to verse 14. Of the Ongregation of Israel, who out of such a spirit as you are act­ed by, would have stoned Caleb and Joshua for opposing their going back into Egypt, and pressing them to go on the Canaan, Numb. 14.23.32.43. Of Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, and the two hundred and fifty famous renowned Princes of the Congregation, and the people joyning with them in opposing the spirit of the Lord in Moses and Aaron upon the account with the former, and how all these remaining in the wickedness of their spirits, in opposition to the spirit of the work of the Lord in his little Remnant in that day must not prosper, but their Carkasses fall in the wilderness, dye of the Plague, fall before their enemy; the ground open and swallow Korah and his company up alive. Numbers 16.2.31, 32. Josephs Brethren, who out of the wickedness and enmity of their spirits towards him, cunningly endeavoured all they could to make him away, and sold him into Egypt, must lay aside their enmity, and own and acknowledge their iniquity therein to him, and beg pardon for the same, or else no peace or prosperity for them could be expected, Gen. 50.17. to 21. Ephraim and Israel having committed whoredom, Begot strange Children, Revolt­ed from, and Dealt treacherously against the Lord as you have done, and the Lord ha­ving rebuked them and threatned that they should fall in their iniquity, & that he [Page 41]would be as a moth and rottenness to them, as he hath hitherto been to you, yet they went on, and the Text sayes, would not frame their doings to turn unto their God, because the spirit of whoredoms was in the midst of them, as it is with you; but instead of returning to the Lord in a right manner, as to the very thing wherein they had displeased him. It is said, When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to King Jareb, as you have done to the Lawyers, National Clergy, Cardinal Mazarine, and other cor­rupt Interests in the Nation; and it is to be fear'd, that to please, and keep the rude multitude quiet, that so you may go on in your way, or to draw trade to the City, you suffer wicked Stage-Playes which were once supprest to be in use again; if a right spirit of Magistracy were among you, these things would not date to shew themselves; but these practises will not cure you of your wound no more then King Jareb and the Assyrian cured them. For I will be unto Ephraim as a li­on, and as a young lion to the House of Judah, even I will tear and go away, I will take away and none shall rescue him; I will go and return to my place till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face, in their affliction they will seek me early, Hosea 5. These with many other Scriptures of this nature doth witness the truth of what hath been asserted, wherefore it concerns you to consider, and to look about you.

Sixthly, And if yet the Lord shall so far love, own, and honour you as to change your spirits, and cause you willingly to stoop to this; then their, and your next work, (and oh that it were so now) is to endeavour all you can, according to your former declared principles, (denying your selves in your kindred and re­lations) if not rightly qualified) to let no man pass into any command or place of trust in the Army, Navy, or Commonwealth, but faithfull persons, fearing God, and of approved integrity, and have love to all the Saints; that so wickedness may be supprest, and punished, righteousness encouraged, and the Lord engaged to be present with, bless, and prosper you in all your future undertakings for the preservation and advancement of his Cause and people as in former dayes. Your thus maintaining purity, love, and unity between persons both in the Civil and Military Power, and being as it were of one heart and soul upon the account of righteousness, and in a spirit of self-denyal, meekness and zeal growing up toge­ther in every day and generation in the light, spirit and things relating to the Cause and Work of Christ in the world, towards the forementioned perfection that shall be in the Saints in the latter dayes, according to Micah 4.2. Isa. 32.1, 2. will so revive the Cause and encourage the former honest lively spirit that seem­ed to be among you, and through grace is yet alive in a Little Remnant (or else we had been as Sodom) as will not onely cause the Lord to be in the midst of us, but also to rejoyce over us with joy, and singing, and to rest in his love, as he will more eminently do over his faithfull people in the latter dayes, Zeph. 3.17. and cause our terrour upon our enemies to be greater then ever it was before; and surely honest men may think it is high time for you who have power in your hands, and profess to be Saints, and to be now as ever equally endeared to the good Old Cause, throughly to deny your selves, and not suffer the Cause, and the Nation to be lost and ruined for want of a little honesty; but rather to be doing what [Page 42]you possibly can do to bring things into the posture that hath been laid before you, for that it so plainly appears both by the Scriptures and the late Revolutions and outgoings of the Lord in the midst of us, together with the present fearful­ness that hath possest you, and according to Isa. 33.14. shall more eminently fall upon the Sinners and Hypocrites that pretend to be of Zion in the latter dayes; there is nothing less then your hearkening unto and following the fore­mentioned counsel that hath been given you, will save you and the Nation from the further ruine and destruction that is coming upon you.

And for your encouragement that the Lord will receive you graciously, and pass by all that you have done against him in case it be in the purpose of your hearts in reality thus to come unto him; consider that he stiles himself, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin, and will by no means clear the guilty, &c. Exod. 34.6, 7. Also the case of the Prodigal who went from his Father, and came not again till all was spent, and he brought to eat husks, and so must return or perish, as soon as ever it was in his heart (and accordingly did so) to arise and go to his Father, and acknowledge his sin unto him, the Text sayes, Luke 15.20. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and run and fell on his neck and kissed him, and instead of upbraiding and punishing him, commands the best Robe be put on him, a gold Ring on his hand, and shooes on his feet, as also the fatted Calf to be killed to eat, drink, and be merry; and if you return as he did, I hope you will finde no elder Brethren to re­pine at it. And so David Psal. 32.3, 4, 5, 6. Sayes he, When I kept silence my bones wax­ed old through my roaring all the day long, for day and night thy hand was heavy upon me, my moisture was turn'd into the drought of summer: I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. Now this is that I minde, sayes he, I said I will confess my transgression unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin; for this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found.

When Josephs Brethren acknowledged the evil they did unto him, and begged pardon for the same, instead of being revenged upon them, it is said, And Joseph wept when they spake unto him, and said, Fear you not, I will nourish you and your little ones, and he comforted them, and spake kindely to them, Gen. 50.17, 21. Now if there be so much pitty and compassion in men to those that trespass against them, there is so in the Lord much more. Also Jer. 3.22. and Hosea 14 4.5, 6, 7. I will heal their back-slidings, I will love them freely, for mine anger is turned away from him; I will be as the dew unto Israel, he shall grow as the Lilly, his Branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the Olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon; They that dwell under his shaddow shall return, revive as the corn, and grow as the vine, &c. These among other Scriptures shews the readiness that is in the Lord to forgive the iniquities of, and to be gracious to a repenting, returning, and back-sliding people, and oh that this goodness of his might powerfully and kindely work upon your hearts to acknowledge your iniquity, deny your self-interests, and to return unto him.

But if notwithstanding all that I have said (I trust) in faithfulness to the Lord and you, you shall yet continue to go on in the hardness, wichedness, and slavish [Page 43]fearfulness of your hearts and spirits, and through the advice and perswasion of Philip Nye, Tho. Goodwin, Dean Owen, (so called) and the forementioned Ineendia­ries upon carnal politique considerations, be still upholding carnal Interests, and the Old, Corrupt Oppressive Customs and Practises relating either to Magistracy or Ministery that hath no warrant in Scripture, which hath brought all the divi­sions, confusion, and miseries upon the Nation, and the better to carry on this your wicked design shall continue in your rejecting the true spirit of your fore­mentioned honest Principles in those faithfull Persons turn'd out of the Little Parliament, and in others with them, who (as was said before) are spirited, and principled, if any, to bring forth good to the Nation; and shall rather proceed to moddel your future Councels with Malignants, Neuters, Presbyters, or uncon­verted Apostate Protectorians, such as Tichbern, Lawrence, Strickland, Whitleck, Clark, and others of that spirit, be it known unto you, you are Apostates still, though the form you come under in the outward appearance be never so specious, and the Protestations and Declarations you make and set forth be never so glori­ous and taking upon the people; and the faithful Friends of the Cause, if they in­tend to retain their former integrity and faithfulness both to the Lord, and it, cannot, dare not own or touch with you, but according to Numb. 16.21.26. must separate and stand at a distance from you as before, lest they be consumed in all your sins. And although by your more refined Machevilian Devices, and the ma­ny Professors, yea Pastors and Members of Churches you may gain thereby to your Interest, as also by the strength of your Armies and Navies, you may think to bear up, and to stout it out a little longer against the Lord, his Cause, and his faithful Remnant, and the very spirit of your former honest Principles, yet know that when you have done all you possibly can do to uphold your selves therein, the spirit of the Lord in his forementioned faithful Remnant, as it hath already begun to do, will according to Isa. 28.17. further overflow, and look into your hidling place, and see your sin as if written in your foreheads, and to have a lye in your right hand, and so will go on to abhor and blow upon you, and by degrees will bring you down, as your old and late Protectors with their Parliaments, and the late Old Parliament, and so shall you become as a shameful spewing, a by-word, and a reproach not onely in our own, but the Nations round about us. If God be God, as surely he is, and Righteousness be Righteousness, and the Scriptures are the di­ctates of his Blessed Spirit, and he ever had a glorious Cause on foot in England, leading us out of Babylonish and Antichristian Bondage towards that glorious freedom and liberty that the Saints who have the first fruits of the Spirit, and the whole creation groans, travelleth in pain for, and waits to be delivered into, and shall eminently be when Zion shall fully be delivered, Antichrist destroyed, the Jews called, and our Lord Jesus Christ and his Saints, according to Isa. 32.1, 2. shall Reign and Rule in Righteousness in the world, all which, as is mentioned in pag. 2. of this Book shall certainly be fulfilled in the latter dayes; it must be so, unless the Lord be more merciful to you then ordinarily he is to others that have sinned against, and back-slidden from him as you have done, which you have no reason to expect, he being so much concern'd for the recovery of his Name and Glory to do some eminent remarkable thing against such a perfidious, hypocritically, [Page 44]Apostate professing Generation as you have been and are, that thereby he not onely may keep the feet of his faithful witness-bearing people from slipping, and encourage them to fear and trust in him for the future, but that also all others may hear and fear, and do no more so wickedly.

And that the Common Enemy may not have the least encouragement from what I have said to believe that now all shall be their own, and that the Lords lifted up hand against you is in order thereunto. I further declare my present apprehensions are, that although the Lord may make use of them as his Rod to rebuke and scourge you not onely for not bringing forth that good, but also contrary to your Declarations doing worse things your selves, then for which you sought with, and beheaded their King, as also cast out and banished his Posterity; yet the Lord hath a people in this Nation whom he hitherto hath kept; and I trust will keep faithful to the end to his Blessed Cause and those good Principles you have so treacherously departed from, whom he will by his Almighty Power and Providence so preserve out of their hands, that they shall never be able to overcome or have their wills upon them, but they shall go on in the power of his Spirit, (Isa. 59 19. and Mal. 4.2, 3.) with life, power, and an undaunted spirit in that blessed Work and Cause that for some years together hath with such wonderful success been carried on against them. Neither do I see in the midst of all the confusions, distractions, fears, and straits you are encompassed with, the least ground to believe that the Lord will cast away the Cause and Interest of his Son, to make way for a carnal Man, and that wicked Generation whom he hath so many times subdued as the people of his Curse to bear Rule in this Nation, and therein send us back to Egypt or Baby­lon any more, but rather is thereby removing that which stands in the way, and hinders his faith­ful people from going to Zion. Wherefore if the Lord hath so punisht you a professing People, who in the outward shew may be said to be the green tree, and caused you thus to fall before the spirit of his Cause and faithful people; and so to disappoint and bring to nought all that you contrive and act against them; then how shall they who are a wicked Generation, who should they prosper would set up wickedness by a Law, and may truly be termed the dry tree, be able to prevail against them? And if you who by your profession are called a righteous people, scarcely be saved, where shall they who may be said to be the ungodly and sinners appear; The present dispensations that are upon you, gives not the least ground to believe that they shall bear rule any more; therefore let them set their hearts at rest; Surely the Lord would never give his people that light, faith, and communion with himself, and such tastes of sweetness in their spirits in that Communion in the discovery (Isa. 33.17, 18.) of the glory that according to the Promises and Prophesies is to be re­vealed in the latter dayes, and so much love to his Cause and Work that hath been formerly, and is yet on foot, though not so visible as once it was, leading thereunto, and so owned their Testimony against you, in bringing you down for opposing of them, or shewen us all these things as the wife of Manoah said to him, Judges 13.23. if he intended to cast them away, or deliver them up either into your or the common enemies hand. Would the Lord who stiles himself a faithfull promise, Covenant keeping God, and that cannot lye, ever bid his people, Isa. 62.6, 7. not to keep silence and give him no rest till he establish and make Jerusalem a praise in the earth, if he did not really intend to do so? or have begun to put on the Saints Beautiful Garments, and to make them a praise in the earth, not for their righteousness or Goodness, but for his own Names sake; As also plagued Israel of Old for not pressing forward, but endeavouring to go back to E­gypt, and will not he who hath a fulness of the spirit, and love to his work, and all power in his hand to do it, and hath already laid the Foundation of Zions welfare, carry it on and lay the top-stone also? Surely he will; And the Rage and Tumults of the Carnal Apprentices and others at this day, for the bringing in Charles Stuart, and saying, They will lose their lives every one of them, rather then they will have such men to Rule as will take away the corrupt Customs and Practices that are among them, is an eminent hint to me, that the very Day of the setting Christ and his Saints upon his holy Hill of Zion is at hand, yea so upon us, that none can put it off; and be­ing so fully satisfied in my Spirit it is so, I shall conclude with the following Scriptures. Esther 6.13. And Zeresh Hamans wife, and his wise-men, said unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. Psal. 2. Why do the Heathen rage, and the People imagine a vain thing. The Kings of the Earth set themselves, and the Rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his Anointed, saying, Let us break their Bonds assunder, &c.