THe Infinite Eternal Being, the onely True and Li­ving GOD (who formed thee in thy Mothers womb, and breathed into thee the breath of life) Lo he is near thee, his piercing Witness is within thee, his All-seeing Eye beholds thee, he searches thy heart, and tries thy reins, the depths of thy Counsels are discovered to him; O King! Fear and dread before him. The Lord God Omnipotent, who ruleth in the Kingdoms of men, and disposeth of them as he pleaseth, hath exerci­sed thee with various vicissitudes, and suffered thee to be a man of sor­rows; he hath led thee through many straits, that in thy prosperity thou shouldst remember him, and bow unto him: he hath cast thee down, and he hath raised thee up, and now wonderfully set thee upon thy Fa­thers Throne, even to the amazement of the people; give him the glo­ry of all. Now thou art chief Ruler of a numerous Nation, a wise and knowing people are thy Subjects, O that Solomon's request unto his God were thine, that thou mightst rightly go in and out before this people. Then should divine Wisdom be thy Diadem, and thou shouldst be a blessing to the people.

And now that the Lord hath dealt thus bountifully with thee, Come let us Reason together, and expostulate a little what may be for thy good, and what the God of thy life requireth of thee: For know this, O King, that in thy Life and Government consists thy present, future and eternal happiness. I have seen, I have seen the place thou stands on to be slippery ground, and the need thou hast of Divine supportment; for what thy own infirmities, and the iniquities of the people thou lea­nest to (whose delight is not in the Law of the living God) thy con­dition certainly is very sad, and to be lamented by all that love thee. Was it the mind of the Lord in this last overturning and change of Go­vernment onely to advance an Outward Monarchy, or an earthly King­dom? to re-edifie the Towers of Babel? to beautifie an adulterated Harlot, and renounce his Spouse? to crown Babylon and her Merchants, and leave Sion and her children in the dust? Or hath the Lord any pleasure in the flesh-pots of Egypt? or can he have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness? or will he lend his ear to the yelling noise of the wicked? Art thou altogether ignorant of the wonderful things which the Lord will do? Can he forsake his Sion? can he delight himself in Babylon? or thinkest thou he hath forgotten to be gracious to his people? He cannot forget his Own, his Seed is sure to be remem­bred by him, and the Kings of the earth must bow before him.

There is a people that are near unto thee, and enjoy a liberal share of thy natural affections; but, O King! their hearts are not right be­fore the Lord, nor are some of them faithful in their love to thee. By their fruits thou shalt know them, if they creep into places of honour, profit, and preferment to themselves, if they hunt after the Earth, and mind earthly things, they are of Esau's generation. Beware of them, for they will sooner enrich themselves in thy Ruine, then either serve thee or their generation faithfully. There are others also, who with their tongues extol thee, but the guile of their hearts, and the burning heat in their breasts dishonour thee; Rancour and malice remain un­mortified, and they take conusel together for the blood of the innocent. These men know not how to forgive an enemy: O King! be wise, and let not such have too much influence upon thee. Another sort there is that are of Haman's nature; couldst thou give every individual of them to the half of thy Kingdom, yet while Mordecai sits in the gate, and bows not to that exalted spirit, all would not avail them; Ammon and Amaleck will joyn hand in hand to incense the King against the inno­cent; and if possible, through their mis-reports and importunity ob­tain a Decree from Caesar for the Banishment or Destruction of that People. These men with their Dulce Venenum will indanger thee; and if thou givest thy power unto them, will unavoidably be thy Ruine; Therefore hear O King! and despise not good counsel.

Give not the choisest Jewel in thy Crown to such unworthy Coun­sellors, but stay thy mind upon the Royal Law written in thy Heart ¹ with the finger of the living God; let thy delight be to read and medi­tate on that golden Book day and night. Make that invaluable Jewel of my God placed in thy soul, the Line or Rule of thy life, and that will make thy Life happy, and thy Reign glorious. Tis the spring of Divine Wisdom; Drink thy fill, O King, at that celestial Fountain; drink, I say, abundantly thereat, thou canst never draw it dry. O that thy heart were refreshed with the streams of eternal life that flows from it.

And now the remaining part of my message to thee, is that which the righ­teous God expecteth from thee.

Dwell, O King, in that noble Principle which leads to Mercy and Moderation. Lean no longer upon the Reeds of Aegypt, nor ttust no more to the inchantments of her Magicians; but let them know thou dwel'st in that wisdom which is above them, and hast now learn'd to forgive an Enemy: O King I counsel thee, be drawn no further into Blood; but make them Quondams I require thee, that shall wilfully persist to minister any Woolvish Counsel to thee; Drink no more of their bitter Waters. Be cloathed with the Royal Robe of Clemency, and count it thy honor to be affectionately kind to the Kingdom, to pass by injuries, and forgive wrongs; For to shew mercy is better than to be dyed in blood, and would sooner inthrone thee in the affections of the people, than outward force or violence; and count them not thy friends that counsels thee to the contrary.

And as for Religion, This the righteous God requireth of thee: Live in that which is pure and undefiled, and keep within thy Sphere: Force not any to an outward Form; for Conscience is Christs Throne, and if thou seek'st to Lord it there, or suffer others so to do, thou art an U­surper, and Sions King will plead his Controversie with thee, and make War against thee, and be to hard sor thee. Therefore O King, let the Seed of God go free, and be no longer oppressed by the Egyptian Task­masters: Take not that Authority upon thee, which Christ the Son of God never gave unto thee, nor no power; But let every man worship his God as he is perswaded in his conscience; for what is not of faith is sin, and faith is the gift of God. Wouldst thou, O King, be forced to a­ny form against thy Conscience? Surely not. Then do not thou offer to use force against the People, but let equal liberty herein be given to all people, I require it of thee in the Name of the Living God, as their proper right and priviledge, and as thou expects his blessing in this world, and in the world to come. And roll away the stone of reproach from this English Nation, which long hath been a professing People; I say remove and take away all force and compulsion about Religion, and down with Tythes and all forced maintenance of any Ministry. Ah how many of the dear children of God are now in Bonds, and have been long in several Goals of this Nation, and some have there ended their daies for conscience sake, because they cannot satisfie a greedy, devou­ring Antichristian Ministry. Shall not, and hath not the righteous God visited for these things. O let the innocent sufferings of the righ­teous Seed come before thee, let the cry of the oppressed pierce through thee, and enter into thy bowels, that thy heart may be filled with com­passion towards them, and the Prison-doors by thee may be opened for them, and for all that suffer for Righteousness sake: This is a work would make thee glorious, and happy were Englands King, would he thus favour Gods people. But if thou still wilt stop thy ears to good counsel, and give away thy power to the Prelates who will persecute; and if thou wilt strengthen the hands of the Uncircumcised Philistines; if thou wilt make covenant with Death, and let thy little fingers prove heavier than the Ioins of thy Predecessors, and seek to banish Truth out of thy Coasts, and utterly subvert the Royal Seed;

Then know this, O King; The righteous God who set thee upon the Throne, will pluck thee down; He will overthrow on the right hand, and on the left, until Sions enemies be confounded. He wil take the King­dom from thee; He will overturn thy Mountain, and lay thine honor in the Dust, and work deliverance for his people in a way which yet thou seest not, and then shalt thou know the words of truth are spoken by me,