I Shall not speak to those Epressions of du­ty and loyalty, so eloquently digested in­to a discourse by the Gentleman appoin­ted by you to deliver your Sence: you will have in your hands presently greater and more solid Arguments of his Majesties gracious ac­ceptance, then I can enumerate, or then per­haps you your selves discern: for besides the provision made against the remotest fears of the severity of certain Laws, and besides ma­ny other Freedoms and bounties conveyed to you and your posterity by these Articles, there is a doore, and that a large one, not left, but expresly set open, to give you entrance by your future merits to whatsoever of honor, or other advantages you can reasonably wish; so that you have in present fruition what may abundantly satisfie, and yet there are no bounds set to your hopes, but you are rathr [Page 12]invited, or according to the new phrase, but to an old and better purpose; you seem to have a Call from heaven to excercise your Arms, and your utmost in the noblest and justest Cause the world hath known; for let all the circumstances, incident to a great and good cause of War, be examined, and they will be found in that which you are now warrantably called to defend. Religion, not in that narrow circumscribed definition of it, by this or that late found out names, but chri­stian Religion is our Quarrel, which certainly is more fatally struck at by the blasphemous license of this age, then ever it was by the rudest incursions of the most barbarous and avow'd Enemies to Christianity. The vener­able Laws and Fundamental Constitutions of our Ancestors are troden under impious and (for the most part) mechanick feet. The sacred person of our King, the life of those Laws and head of those Constitutions, is under an ignominious imprisonment, and his life threatened to be taken away by the sacrilegi­ous hands of the basest of the people that owe hsm obedience, and to endear the Quarrel to [Page 13]you, the fountain of all the benefits you have but now acknowledged, and of what you may further hope for by this Peace, and your own merits, is in danger to be obstructed by the execrable murther of the worthiest Prince that ever ruled these Islands. In short, Hell can add nothing to that desperate mischief, now openly projected. And now judg if a greater, a more glorious field, was ever set o­pen to action, and then prepare your selves to enter into it, and receive these few advices from one throughly embarqued with you in the adventure.

First, Let me recommend unto you, that to this, as to all other holy actions, you would prepare your selves with perfect charity, a cha­rity that may obliterate whatever of rancor a long continued civil War may have contract­ed in you, against any that shal now co-ope­rate with you to so blessed a work, and let his engagements with you in this, whosoever he be, be as it ought to be, a bond of unity, of concord, of love, stronger then the neerest ties of nature.

In the next place, mark and beware of those [Page 14]that shall go about to renew or create jealou­sies in you, vnder what petence soever, and ac­count such as infernal Ministers, imployed to promote the black design on foot, to subvert Monarchy, and to make us all slaves to those that are so to their own avaratious lusts. A­way as soon, and as much as possible may be, with those distinctions of Nations, and of parties, which are the fields wherein the seeds of those rank weeds are sown by the great enemies of our Peace.

In the last place let us all divest our selves of that preposterous, that ridiculous ambiti­on, and self-interest, which rather leads to our threatned ruine, then to the enjoyment of advantages unseasonably desired: And if at any time you shall think your selves pincht too neer the bone, by those Taxes and Levies that may be imposed for your de­fence; consider then how vain, how foolish a thing it will be, to starve a righteous Cause for want of necessary support, to preserve your selves fat, and guilded sacrifices to the rapine of a merciless enemy: And if we come thus prepared to a contention so just [Page 15]on our part, God will bless our endeavours with success and victory, or will crown our sufferings with honor and patience; for what honor will it not be (if God have so determined of us) to perish with a long glo­rious Monarchy? Or who can want pati­ence to suffer with an opprest Prince? But as our endeavors, so let our prayers be vigor­ous, that they may be delivered from a more unnatural rebellion then is mentioned by any story, now raised to the highest pitch of success against them.

I should say something to you for my self, in retribution to the advantageous men­tion made of me, and my endeavors to bring this Settlement to pass, but I confess my thoughts were wholy taken up with these much greater concernments; let it suffice, that as I wish to be continued in your good esteem and affection, so I shall freely adven­ture upon any hazard, and esteem no trouble or difficulty too great to encounter, if I may manifest my zeal to this cause, and discharge some part of the obligations that are upon me to serve this Kingdom.