A cry for a right improvement of all our mercies, and all those vvorks of wonder that God hath wrought among us: VVith some cautions touching the election of the (expected) new representative. Humbly presented by a friend to the publique. Friend to the publique. 1651 Approx. 34 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 7 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2012-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2). A81107 Wing C7448 Thomason E643_21 ESTC R206016 99865223 99865223 117460

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A81107) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 117460) Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 99:E643[23]) A cry for a right improvement of all our mercies, and all those vvorks of wonder that God hath wrought among us: VVith some cautions touching the election of the (expected) new representative. Humbly presented by a friend to the publique. Friend to the publique. 12 p. Printed for Tho. Brewster, and Greg: Moule, and are to be sold at the three Bibles in Pauls Church-yard, at the West-end thereof, London : MDCLII. [1652 i.e. 1651] Date of publication from Thomason Collection. Annotation on Thomason copy: "October: 22.". Reproduction of the original in the British Library.

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eng Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1649-1660 -- Early works to 1800. Great Britain -- History -- Commonwealth and Protectorate, 1649-1660 -- Early works to 1800. 2020-09-21 Content of 'availability' element changed when EEBO Phase 2 texts came into the public domain 2009-10 Assigned for keying and markup 2009-10 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2011-09 Sampled and proofread 2011-09 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2012-05 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

A CRY FOR A Right Improvement OF All our MERCIES, and all thoſe VVORKS of wonder that God hath wrought among us: VVith ſome Cautions touching the Election of the (Expected) New Repreſentative.

Humbly preſented by a friend to the Publique.

Pſal. 98.1. O ſing unto the Lord a new ſong, for he hath done marvellous things. His right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the Victory. Pſal. 47.5. God is gone up with triumph, the Lord with the ſound of a trumpet. Pſal. 68.4. Sing unto God, Sing prayſes to his name, Extol him that rideth upon the heavens, by his Name Jah, Allelujah.

LONDON, Printed for Tho. Brewſter, and Greg: Moule, and are to be ſold at the three Bibles in Pauls Church-yard, at the Weſt-end thereof. MDCLII.

A Cry for a right Improvement Of all our MERCIES. Allelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent is taking unto him his great power, and raigneth.

HOW evidently, how eminently hath he reigned in the Field, in England, Scotland, and Ireland! How great is his Name, how dreadful, and yet how gratious is his preſence! Yea, how glorious in power is his right hand there, where he daſhed in pieces the enemy, where he brake the Arrows of the Bow, the Shield, the Sword, and the Battle, and none of the men of might have found their hands: when the Lord aroſe to judgement for the meek of the earth, and made his judgement to be heard from heaven, through the world; O ye, All ye Servants and ſaved ones of the Lord, be ye greatly ingaged, and abundantly inlarged in real praiſes. Vow vows, and pay them unto the Lord our God, who ſhall, who hath cut off the ſpirit of Princes, and is terrible to the Kings of the earth; who will be exalted among the heathen, who will be exalted in the earth, who is more glorious and excellent then the Mountains of Prey.

Who not only in our firſt, and our ſecond war, but alſo in this our third moſt difficult and dangerous conteſt, wherein the Enemy and old Deceiver plaid his Maſter-piece, contending for the old intereſt of the Dragon, the Beaſt, and the falſe Prophet, under the moſt ſpecious pretences of all that is ſacred; to dazle and deceive, and draw into the confederacy ſo many of our poor brethren, and to deceive (even totally) if it were poſſible, the very elect.

Who I ſay not only in thoſe former, but in theſe latter alſo, hath not deſpiſed the prayer of the humble, but hath given in ſuch a gracious return unto the prayers of his poor people (ſo much deſpiſed by their now ſubdued brethren) As again a third time to reſtore England into a real (and Scotland and Ireland into a very hopeful) capacity to lead a peaceable and quiet life, in all godlineſs and honeſty. That the Lamb may lie down in peace with the Wolfe, and the Leopard, the Beer, and the Lion; that the hand of violence may ceaſe in all the Mountain of his holineſs; and that none that fear him in truth, or are ſound in Fundamentals in Religion, may be deſtroyed or hurt in all his holy Mountain.

Now let all that are real And as for all formal, falſe hearted Hypocrites, his hand will find them out. ſervants unto the God of our ſalvation, (that guideth us with ſtrength, and crowneth us with his ſaving health) let them be joyful in glory, let them ſing unto the Lord, and bleſs his name, and declare his ſalvation from day to day. Let the redeemed of the Lord ſay, and do ſo, even fear the Lord, and ſerve him in truth, and with all the heart: for conſider how great things he hath done for us. And what the Lord our God doth now require of us; even to do juſtly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.

Now O dear Sirs, the Lord help us, he hath loaden us with mercies, and how doth that charge us with Duty! God hath now put us upon the tryal, and truſted us with a vaſt charge, who is ſufficient to anſwer it? what a price is in our hands? a bleſſed price: how much may it be improved (through his grace) towards the promoting of that great deſign of heaven, in ruining the man of ſin, furthering of Reformation, and advancing the Scepter of Jeſus Chriſt in the Church, and in the Kingdoms of this world, which ſhal become our Lords. O that it may be, O let it be ſo: ſo ſhall we have joy, and gladneſs indeed; and our brethren of Scotland that worſhip God in truth, and any Scots or Iriſh that hereafter ſhall do ſo, ſhall bleſs God heartily that ever they were beaten by us, as ſome honeſt quondam Cavaliers have done, and do.

Let now the worſt and more incorrigible be made exemplary, by feeling the hand of Juſtice. But let all that are capable of mercy, ſee our earning bowels towards them, in the concernments both of body and ſoul.

O that they may have cauſe to bleſs God for his mercy in ſubjecting them unto us! Let's ſtudy to exalt God in the eys of men and Angels, and eſpecially in the eys and hearts of theſe poor deluded ſouls; upon whoſe ruins he hath exalted or eſtabliſhed us: Is not Gods ends in ſmiting, and depreſſing, that he may boar mens ears to receive Inſtruction, and cauſe them to turn from their Enterpriſes, that he may cauſe their life to ſee the light? O that we may do like God! let ſuch be our ends, and the travel of our ſouls.

God hath made us our Scottiſh Brethrens Maſters, (notwithſtanding all difficulties, diſcouragements, and earneſt and conſtant prayers, with Faſtings and appeals of their Friends to Heaven) He might have made them Ours; and we know the duty of Maſters, and the manner of Good ones, the Lord make us ſuch.

Indeed, their deſerts are very ill, but ſo were the deſerts of Joſephs Brethren; and we know our Saviours Rule, viz. To love enemies, do good to them that hate us; and we muſt be like our Father which is in Heaven, in mercy.

Indeed, they have forfeited all their Intereſt in our Solemn League and Covenant, for Ʋnity and Amity, and endevor to promote their wealth, and can now challenge nothing of us: But God hath not forfeited his intereſt in us nor in them, nor diſengaged us from ſeeking, even in all ſelf denying ways, to promote his intereſt in them.

His Ayms in all his ways, are purely to ſanctifie Gods Name, to advance the Scepter of Holineſs and Righteouſneſs in the hand of Jeſus Chriſt, and the accompliſhment of that holy and righteous will of his; from which, if we turn aſide unto carnal Intereſts, we loſe our ſelves, and our Intereſt in our God: The Lord help us to ſerve the Intereſt of his Name and Scepter, and to do his will, with all our might, and in the ſimplicity of our hearts.

God hath great things to do in the world in theſe later dayes; and he ſeems to have layd the foundation of the great things of our Age among us in theſe Nations; and if we fall in, and comply with him; how happy, how happy are we: But if we ſhall either by injuſtice, oppreſſion, or want of bowels of mercy, or by prophanneſs, or accurſed ſelf-ſeeking, or ſlothfulneſs, and nonproſecution of his ends, make fruſtrate his Ayms in theſe beginnings, how dreadful will our account be? Hath any Nation under the whole Heaven ſuch a price, ſuch a tallent in their hands?

God by furniſhing us with ſuch Inſtruments, as the better ſpirited of our Souldiery, and many others like to them in ſingle-heartedneſs to the beſt Intereſt, and ſingle-ey'd-cleer ſightedneſs, and moſt heroick reſolution; together with the fame of Gods doings gone forth into all the world; and by his mighty encouragements to our faith and confidence, by the eminent evidences of his preſence with us, and of his purpoſes to go through ſtitch with his work; and by removing the great externall impediments out of the way, hath put into our hands the greateſt tallent that is in the hand of any Nation under Heaven: And if we improve it at home and abroad, for real advantage to the intereſt of the Giver, then bleſſed are we; but if not, then how much the more ſhall we be accurſed, Heb. 6.7, 8. And take the unprofitable ſervant, and bind him, &c. Caſt him into outer darkneſs.

God hath once more ſubdued under us, all that riſe up againſt us, and hath ſuppreſſed the Suppreſſor. Take we now warning by former harms, procured by Principles of diviſion and ſuppreſſion. Let all that fear God and love his Name, be now of one heart, and maintain the unity of the ſpirit in the bond of peace; not ſetting up Ʋniformity againſt unity of ſpirit; not Circumſtantials againſt Eſſentials. Let's allow Jeſus Chriſt to be the apportioner of the meaſures, or proportioner of his own gifts, unto perſons and Societies; and let us own all that are his, and all that is his in them, and not diſown, as not perſons, ſo not Communities, becauſe not of our length and breadth (whether below us, or above us:) let us rejoyce that Gods name is ſanctified, and Chriſts kingdom advanced in any meaſure, in any Societies or Aſſemblies, though not of our own way; and let us deſire & pray that it may be ſo; and that in all the dwelling places of Mount Zion, and in all the Aſſemblies thereof, he will create a cloud and ſmoak by day, and the bright ſhining of a flaming fire by night, and proſper his own work.

And in caſe of offences, let's apply to Chriſts direction and Authority, and not to the Dragons power or means; and let the help of Caeſars ſword in matters religious, be craved only againſt ſuch as are inconſiſtent with true Chriſtianity, and only when the Church hath done all it can, and the delinquent is become as a heathen man, Mat. 18. But let ſwords be beaten into plowſhares, and ſpears into pruning hooks, and let none hurt or deſtroy in all the Mountain of his holineſs.

And take heed of any more breaches; ſhut the Devil out of doors; Remember, a Kingdom divided cannot ſtand, hath not ſtood; two of them have been through diviſion utterly demolliſhed amongſt us in theſe laſt ten years; true, their Ruins hath been, or is, advantage to the intereſt of God, in the promoting his deſigns, and in the preſent peace and ſecurity to his little ones; but that's no thank to thoſe that gave the occaſion, nor may we do evil that good may come thereof; therefore, let's have peace amongst our ſelves.

God hath promiſed his ſpecial preſence (as the God of love and peace) among his people united, and not otherwiſe: Let us now therefore with mutual imbraces, in peace and love, ſit down under this ſhadow (even the ſhadow of his ſaving health ſtretched over us in him who is his ſaving Arm, and our Lord and SAVIOƲR) with great delight, and let his fruit be ſweet unto us, and let the high praiſes of God be in our mouths.

And as breaches and diviſion ſhould be avoided under greateſt peril, among the ſound principled (as for others, there's no peace to the wicked, and we muſt ſeparate the precious from the vile, the whole from the infectious, ſick and unſound.)

So alſo muſt ſuch a ſpirit of malitious prejudice, and ſenſoriouſneſs, which cauſes Ridged, and Crabbed ſeverity towards brethren Conſcientiouſly diſcenting, and differing in Judgement, & practices (yet ſound in fundamentals, and eminently pious) by all means be avoyded; Seeing Conſcience, pure Conſcience, being Gods Vice-King, may not be forced, nor ridgedly dealt with, when it really eyes God, (though erroneous, if not in fundamentals, and things directly deſtructive.) God accepts no forced, none but voluntary ſervice from this creature wherein he hath placed this Vice-King, whom he will have guided by no Rule, but by the light of his own truth, Iradiating the underſtanding, and by or through it, directing and regulating the Conſcience. And the Conſcience that purely keeps to this Rule, is a tender thing; and is certainly one of thoſe little ones, which our heavenly father will not have to be offended.

Alſo take we heed of Pride, and baſe ſelf-ſeeking. That the hearts of none be proudly lifted up above their brethren; and that we ſeek not great things for our ſelves.

Remember we what was evidently the cauſe of that diviſion, bringing that totall ruine that is come both upon that Monarchical Kingdom in the houſe of the Stuarts; And alſo upon that other power, which after Reſided in the hands of Lords and Commons, united with the Scots, and was eminently reputed Presbyterian; and this latter of the Scots alone, being but a branch of the other.

Was it not clearly pride cauſing contention; and ſelf-ſeeking to Monopolize the great things of the earth, that they might Rule as Lords alone? And that malitious, ridged, crabbed ſpirit of ſeverity towards diſcenting brethren? In one word; was it not their balking the Intereſt of heaven, (which looks with an indifferent eye upon all that are ſervants to it, ſo far as they are ſervants to it) and ſetting up the Carnal intereſt of a party, in prejudice thereunto: let the Conſcience of the unbyaſſed Spectator ſpeak.

Take we heed therefore of claſhing with the Intereſt of heaven, but be we ſure we advance it with all our might, and with all our ſoul.

For, all Revolutions, and Changes whatſoever, but eſpecially in the habitations of the Church, (and more eſpecially in theſe laſt dayes, wherein he is cauſing thoſe eminent Allelujahs to be ſaid and ſung unto his Name.) Are for the perfecting of his glorious work and praiſes for, and in the Church or Churches of Chriſt: And if any perſon or people impowred for this end, will not bow and buckle hereunto; he will break them in pieces, or lay them by, and take up others.

And in expreſſion of our gratitude, why ſhould not annual days be aſſigned in thankful remembrance, with command that Pſalms of prayſe be ſung unto our God, and the people ſtirred up to a thankful remembrance of all thoſe never to be forgotten works of wonder, from 1639. hitherto?

And how becoming were it, for the Governors of a people ſo wonderfully ſaved, owned and bleſſed, to appoint ſome to draw up a full, but very brief Repreſentation of the moſt remarkable mercies towards us, with effectual Arguments and Excitations to thankfulneſs in heart and tongue, but eſpecially in life and converſation; and in going one before another in the example of a real Reformation, according to the vows of God that are upon us. And that we often revive and renew all our holy Vows and Engagements to our God, in the time of our diſtreſs.

And whiles that on the one hand, we take heed to avoyd the ſtrained and corrupt (that I ſay not Jeſuited) conſtructions of our Covenants or Engagements, that would be obtruded upon us (as that any Perſons, Family, Society, or Conſtitution ſhould by the Covenant be exempt from Juſtice, and ſo ſhould have commiſſion to ſerve the Devil, as much as they would or could; or that any thing ſhould be the Rule of our Refomation, Civil or Religious; but the Word of God and moral Righteouſneſs:) So on the other hand, to take ſpecial heed that none of our plain, clear, and unqueſtionable Covenants and Engagements to walk with God, and with our brethren in ways of Holineſs and Moral juſtice, and love and mercy, in our ſeveral places and callings, be forgotten by us, under greateſt peril.

And being ſo drawn up and approved, then to ſet it forth by the Authority, and with the Countenance of the Parliament of England: And the rather, that the world may take notice, That whatſoever may be prophanely inſinuated by him that affirms the Covenant (without diſtinction) to be an old Almanack out of date, (which only ſome part thereof, referring to that which is not, is) or falſly ſuggeſted by ſuch as endevour to impoſe their lewd conſtructions upon us: yet that in truth the Parliament and Commonwealth of England are not unmindful of any Covenants or Engagements that really and indeed lie upon us.

And one thing may here be moved, being not ſo meet to be moved by, or not ſo well taken from that publike hand, viz. That ſure our mercies carry this Obligation (to us) in the very face of them; like thoſe to Iſrael by the hand of Moſes and Aaron.

That we ought in gratitude and obedience to God our Saviour, to lead a peaceable and quiet life, in all godlineſs and honeſty under that Government, and thoſe Governors, by, or through, and under which, and whom God hath by ſuch a mighty hand, and out ſtretched arm, working wonders for us, in all theſe Lands, put us into ſuch a happy poſture, wherein we now ſtand, and for which and wherein, he is ſo greatly to be feared, ſerved, and had in honour. And I humbly crave leave to offer the enſuing cautions, viz. That if that ſelf-denying reſolution, for a New Repreſentative (at this time ſo dangerous) take place, what care and exact caution muſt be had, and given in the qualification both of the chooſers and of the choſen, ſo as may prevent the utter fruſtration of all Gods ends (as to mans eye) intended, in all that his wonder-working hand hath wrought; and that his wiſdom and mercy hath intruſted us with: which, if care be wanting, may be indangered.

And yet alſo, that thoſe that are made uncapable either in the one or the other, may be cleerly given to underſtand, that it is not out of any malice towards them, (though deſerved by them) but of meer duty and faithfulneſs, which ſhould be notoriouſly violated, and Gods anger provoked, if when God by his Almighty arm and Councel, hath ſuppreſſed and diſappointed their principles and purpoſes, ſo contradictory to his promiſes and purpoſes, of latter days accompliſhments, we ſhould now put it to vote with them, whether Gods purpoſes or theirs ſhall ſtand? and be further let to know, that when time and good inſtructions through grace ſhall wear off the antipathy from off their ſpirits, they ſhall then moſt gladly enjoy the ſame priviledges which any do.

It might ſeem weak to propound expedients in a buſineſs of ſuch vaſt concernment, and about which men of ſo great wiſdom are engaged; and not to do it full and effectually. Therefore I do not ſay I propound expedients (it being a work fit for thoſe of greateſt wiſdom, and for a ſmall volume alone.) But in few words, and very imperfectly to give a hint or two of what is in preſent thoughts, As to ſay, That none ſhould be eligible unto the New Repreſentative, that hath acted in oppoſition to the Parliament, either when conſiſting of Lords & Commons, or in oppoſition to the Parliament and Commonwealth of England as it now conſiſts. And that only ſuch ſhould be eligible, that are in Church Fellowſhip with ſome one or other Congregation, ſound in fundamentals of Religion, (ſuch as ſhall be named) and holy and regular in their practices; according to ſuch general marks as ſhall be expreſſed.

And alſo that did evidently appear in purſe and perſon (in arms, or in Councels and voluntary Contributions) engaged againſt the late invading Scots. And that every Perſon Elected ſhall within—dayes after ſuch Election (or before received in Parliament) preſent a certificate of this latter, under the hands of the chief officers of the County or Hundred, City or Ward; & a Certificate of his ſoundneſs in fundamentals, and Godly and regular converſation, in Fellowſhip with a Congregation ſound, &c. the ſaid Congregation owning and being owned by 7. 10. 15 — Congregations, ſo and ſo conſiſting, & coming up to ſuch marks as ſhall be expreſſed in the act; I ſay a Certificate under the hands of the Elders or chief Officers of ſo many of thoſe Congregations as ſhall be named. Which yet, together with the moſt carefully compoſed oath to be taken by the Repreſentees: nor yet any other expedient can ſecure us, without the ſpecial help of heaven. Therefore ſolemn ſeeking the face of God upon the chooſing day, and place or places, cannot be blamed.

And further, That if there ſhall be any reſolution to make voyd and null the Laws and Cuſtoms, requiring the payment of Tythes in the form and manner as is now uſed, and to make proviſion for Miniſters maintenance in ſome other way: That then all care may be taken, that no diſſervice may be unto the work which Tythes ought to maintain; nor unto the Commonwealth, by the diſcharge of Tythes for leſs then the full value thereof: the Tythes being as due to that publike Intereſt unto which by Laws or Cuſtoms they have been reſerved, upon the ſetling at the Conqueſt and ever ſince, (and how long before it matters not) as the Land is unto the preſent ſeveral Poſſeſſors thereof; who, or elſe their Anceſtors, whether Normans, Saxons or Brittains, ſome time ſince the Conqueſt, or at the Conqueſt, became poſſeſſed or repoſſeſſed of them, either by the gift of Kings of England ſince, or of the Conqueror then, (for ſome conſiderations or other) or by purchaſe with money: and all and every way, as to all Lands, Tythable, I ſay, they became poſſeſt or repoſſeſt of them, with that charge, duty, or (if we may ſo call it) Encombrance upon them, viz. The Tythes, payable, as by Law or Cuſtom was due and payable: So that if we ſhould remit them for leſs them the value, we ſhall then cleerly give away from the Intereſt which they are deſigned unto, unto the Land-holders of the Land; which how pious or equal it is, judge.

And the ſame is to be ſaid in the caſe of wardſhips and wardlands (but as reſerved to the uſe of another Intereſt.) Its true, its not equal that a ſmall peece of Wardland ſhould make all other Lands liable, nor that Orphans ſhould be inthraled as Wards were uſed to be inthralled. But moſt equal it is, that that Land, which was received, either by gift or by purchaſe, As Ward land, viz. with that charge or incombrance upon it, viz. as liable to bring in ſuch advantage to the Crown or whom the Crown would give it unto, in ſuch and ſuch caſes, it being but as the reſerve of a Fine or Heriot unto the Lord of the Mannor; moſt equal it is, that if it ſhall be diſcharged of thoſe incombrances, they ſhould then purchaſe the ſaid diſcharge at a valuable Rate, giving a valuable conſideration to the State.

And further, I humbly crave leave to offer, That though it be certainly the duty of all Miniſters, when the ſtate of things ſhall ſo require, by their own hand labour, or induſtry (as they are able) to adminiſter unto the neceſſicies of their own, and of others alſo; And the duty of every Chriſtian of every Profeſſion, Trade, and practice, in his place and ſtation, according to his abilities, and the call of opportunity and neceſſity, to hold forth the word of life, and for the inlightning of the world, to let his light ſhine before men; and cauſing that light to ſhine forth which hath ſhined into his heart, to give the light of the knowledge &c Yet it being alſo certainly a duty upon us to make proviſion according as the Lord hath ordained, That he that preaches the Goſpel, ſhould live of the Goſpel. That therefore proviſion ſhould be made for a comfortable Maintenance, for ſo many publique, ſtanding, or conſtant preachers, as are neceſſary in every part of this Common-wealth.

And ſeeing we that have received ſo many eminent and ſignal mercies, muſt therefore do ſomething eminent and Signal; That therefore we not only do what remains to be done, for the propagation of religion, to the batten parts of great Brittain; But alſo appoint a Committee to conſider of ſomething to be done towards the advancing of Gods Goſpel work in other Lands.

And I humbly crave leave yet further to offer to conſideration; whether it might not be an acceptable ſervice to God, and much for the ſpiritual intereſt of his people, if ſome way were thought on, to provoke Church ſocieties, ſound in fundamentals, and well ſavoring of holineſs, to ſhew all fair reſpect each to other, though of different ſtrains in Religion; and to watch over each other, and over all Church Members in their neighbourhood, to what congregations ſoever they belong: and upon any offence, not reformed, upon admonition or reproof, to acquaint the Congregation whereof the party is. And alſo ſome way to provoke all Chriſtians to joyn themſelves unto ſome one ſociety, well ſavouring of holineſs, and ſound in fundamentals, and practiſing accordingly.

And that to incourage & provoke thereunto; that ſome priviledges may be intayled upon it: as, that the being in Church-fellowſhip with a Society, ſound in ſuch fundamentals, as ſhall be named, and practiſing accordingly, being free from ſcandals, according to ſuch rules as ſhall be ſet forth; & conſiſting of 7. 10. 15. 20. Families at leaſt (as ſhall be Judged meet) and the ſaid ſociety or Congregation owning and being owned by 7. 10. 15. Congregations ſo and ſo qualified; I ſay, that ſuch Fellowſhips ſhould make men capable of ſuch offices and places of truſt in the Commonwealth (unto ſuch a limitation as ſhall be named) which others ſhall not be capable of; And this would alſo ſomething the better ſecure the Commonwealth in the choice of men to places of truſt.

And to provoke all Miniſters and Congregational Churches, with all care and faithfulneſs, to read and expound holy Scriptures conſtantly: and to Chatechiſe in the grounds of Chriſtian Religion, in their reſpective Congregations.

And might it not be reaſonable, as to prevent uncleaneſs, that it ſhould be penal for any to be in company of a woman in a ſuſpitious way: not having ſuch reaſons to ſhew, as ſhall be ſatisfactory to a Jurye and might not the Law, that ſuffers the ſtarving of poor debtors in priſon, that have nothing to pay whiles their Families ſtarve for want of them and men of eſtates to lye in Priſon and cheat their Creditors, be reformed? And might not the Law for the execution of thieves, except notorious ones, be abrogated, and ſome other courſe thoughton, that would be worſe in their thoughts then death; but more agreeable unto Gods Law to Iſrael?

And if not in theſe things, Then wherein ſhall we expreſs our real thankfulneſs for all that we have received? What ſhall we render unto God for all his benefits towards us? Wherein ſhall we expreſs our reſolved readineſs to pay our vows unto God? and that we are really and in truth, ſervants unto him, who hath ſaved our ſouls from death, our eyes from tears, our feet from falling; and hath put new ſongs of praiſe into our mouths. Let the more able Party and cleer ſighted ſhew; let the wiſdom of the wiſe find out wherein, that it may be done; That the actions of our hands may bear witneſs of the reality of our hearts, in ſinging ALLELƲJAH.

Pſal. 47.6, 7. Sing praiſes to our God, ſing praiſes: ſing praiſes to our King, ſing praiſes. For God is the King of all the Earth, &c.

Pſ. 47.3. He ſhal ſubdue the people under us, & the nations under our feet. Rev. 17.14. For he is LORD of LORDS and KING of KINGS, and they that are with him are called, and choſen, and faithful.

FINIS.