I Received your Letter, welcome to me, though empty of any newes, which in that you Father on the turbu­lency of these times, give me leave, Sir to tell you it is your fault in part, that the times prove so, when as it is within the power of your knowne wisdome and a­bilityes to have provided against the hapning of, or to compose the troublesomnesse of these times now they are befallen us. A single person, amongst may more, can act but his part of worke, but a man of eminency and worth can exced his fellow workmen in the doing it. As it is the ablest taske of an honest and wise Citi­zen, to keep the City at Vnity within it selfe, so it is of each Member in a body politique to preserve that Bo­dy unanimous and entire. The unhappy contest be­tween Yee in your House, befalling yee upon your vi­ctory, have again divided it into Presbyterian, Jndepen­dent, two mature and as yet unsetled Tenents. And it is much, that two opinions, betwixt which there is no materiall difference, should cause a difference, yea such an one, as if pursued, must prove destructive to your selves and freinds. To prove that they are not material­ly differing, is no hard taske, the Persons partaking with, and maintaining them may differ, each partie stri­ving [Page 2]to lead up and multiply their parties following them. To shew that there is no considerable difference betweene the two Tenents. Or that they are both un­certaine, unsetled yet, you may please to observe the sound, yet reserved, judgement of them both: First, The Presbyterian and the Covenanters maintaining that Government, no man will think, that their Covenant doth so presently oblige, as that the Presbyterian Gover­ment should immediately and forthwith commence or begin assoone as the Covenant is taken, but it is to be presumed, then, when the Warre is ended, when a firm and well-grounded Peace is setled: All Government whatsoever is incompatible with a Civill Warre, which destroyes and confounds all Lawes and Order: So the Independent. who contends for Liberty, &c. is not, or may not be for ought We know, simply and alwaies a­gainst all Government, peradventure only for a time, untill he fees a quiet and more calme time, wherein the Presbyterian, or any other wholsome, or good forme of Government may be without interuption and firmely setled. Then his opinion so strictly for▪ Jndependency may alter, when oppurtunity shall serve, without im­peachment to his judgement, or inconstancy in his opi­nion. Neither is Jndependency an abdication alwaies of all Government, nor positively, any sect at all: it may seem rather a privation of all Sects in Government, and how long? until a composure & setlement of these pre­sent differences for a peace is not setled as yet rather in­stead of it, an eminent & dreadfull face of a New War, this present Discord ocasioning the same. The privative particle [in] in the word it selfe [Jndependant] implies as much as that he holds off, and declines all bonds of [Page 3]Government, but no man knowes, how long: His ma­naging his intended course in the maintaining this his Tenent, may resemble a Traveller's purpose bound for his journey to a Country a farre off, who deeming the next way, to his journey's end to be unsafe and dange­rous, goes therefore out of the next way, stayes some­times by the way, goes sometimes backe, allwayes yet providing and casting with himselfe what may make for, what against his rest and quiet, when he comes to his journeyes end, which, notwithstanding these hesi­tances, he intends, and hath it alwayes in his eye, as sure­ly, as if he had hastned thereunto: So it may fare with the Jndependent for ought can be discerned to the con­trarie. He may aime at this or that particular forme of Government to be hereafter setled; and in this his con­tending for Libertie, may desire peradventure to shake of this present Yoke of Government for a time, which hard and heavilie preesseth him, thinking that without shaking off such a yoke there can be no firm or setled Government at all. Not that he doth totally, or finally decline or detest all Government, either the Presbyteri­an, or any other forme, but that he expects a more free and fit season, for establishing that which he intends, and aimes at, namely upon the establishment of a firme and lasting peace:

For there is not, therefore a certaine or setled Peace, because (there are no visible Forces appearing on the one side, or because the King doth in his passionate, and mournefull words, (expressed of late in severall his De­clarations) tell the People, How he longs for peace, lamen­ting the want of it, how sensible he is of, how desirous to shunne the effusion of more blood; Neither is the Army [Page 2] [...] [Page 3] [...] [Page 4]therefore to be disbanded upon this Name or desire of Peace: the warre may break out again especially when as the conquering partie, the Parliament whose Army it is, and by whole ayd they have gayned the power, is so much inveighed against, opposed, and by calumnia­ting tongues, traduced for the abusing their power to oppression, injustice, and unnecessary protracting this Warre, Neither can the Parliament as yet, act in their full strength to the settlement of Peace, They have e­nough to do to maintain their owne Power against a restlesse Enemy, who seekes all opportunities of ad­vantages of prevailing against them, So that, howbeit the end of each of their desires (the King's the Parlia­ment's) may be Peace, the wayes of attaining it, are differing, and so repugnant each to other, as we cannot tearme this present cessation from a Warre, a safe or lasting peace.

On the other side, the Presbyterian for his Covenant sake drives at a particular forme of Government, sub­ject yet to interpretation and dispute (toSee the Articles in the Cove­nant for the Presbi­ter Go­vernment. be regulated according to God's Word to the best reformed Chur­ches or the like) wherefore it cannot have any positive or firm settlement in mens consciences, untill more pre­cisely defined what it is, and to be regulated by the like power, which did institute it. Now that these two O­pinions no more differing or crossing within themselves then a rasa tabula doth differ from the Character, which may now be printed in that Table, and anon blotted out againe, should breake out into virulency and oppo­sition each against other, artificially and handsomely hatch'd by a third and malignant party who have bin convicted, and censured for their malignancy and there­by [Page 5]by a Peace hath seemed to be well nigh setled, that that Party should, by your Division, now prevaile and be­come Judges of yee, and of your Friends, the executi­oners of their owne feirce malice; what a misery and confusion must befall us all, after an expecting our se­curity through your accord, and hoping through your sobriety, and temper (next unto God's blessing) to have enjoyed an un-interrupted Peace? Not that the successe and victory obtained by your freinds assistance should enflame ye into discord about tearms meerly notionall, at least not universally received and approved, because controverted as yet, and stronglyBy the Vniversity of Oxford at a Con­vocation held there Iune 1. 1647. objected against by Others of a contrary Diet to both the Presbyterian and Jndependent, Tearmes also scarce understood, not heard of by the most part of the People; who rather then they will undergoe the charge and hardship of a continued or second Warre, about opinions unknowne, about Words unheard of, except in the worst sence of Facti­ous, Schismaticall, rending from the ancient and received forme of Government, will choose rather to submit to the mercy of a former or latter Enemy, and to be ensla­ved by enduring an Iron yoke, then to be consumed by a lasting Warre.

If concerning these new, unheard of Tenents (which may be good and profitabl [...] when reteyned, yet distur­bing by reason of their Novity) Ye shall embroile your selves, your Parliament and Army in a second Warre, haying so victoriously sped by your mutuall assisting one another in the first, and consequently loose what ye have gained, ye cannot but foresee the event. The Quarrell seemes to be tripartite, between the Presbyte­rian, Jndependent, and the Kings party: you wilnot find it [Page 6]so, but two Parties to joyn against a third, although be­ing fienely carried, it may otherwise outwardly appear. And those two, which in their Bodies are most contigu­ous each to other, will sooner unite in their accord to the subduing of the third, then having gained the power by degrees extirpate the other also, and set up what they please themselves. So, having prevailed through your dividings will by the hard chance of your example, bet­ter manage their Victory to keep it, then Ye did, when Ye prevailed, which We, the standers by, are most sensible of, who shall be scorned and trampled on in your sufferings occasioned by your contention. The di­vision was at first betwixt the King's Party, and the Par­liament, how occasioned, how prosecuted, most men know, together what hath bin the progresse, what the successe. To breviate it in one word, (setting aside all emergent and collaterall Disputings and Debates, all Changes, Chances and Innovations, which have fallen out since the beginning of this VVarre, and are no pro­per effects thereof) The King having suffered much wrong to be done by his subordinate Ministers of Ju­stice, to his Free-born Subjects (which was not for 1.2. or 3. years onlie done but for many, and untill a Parlia­ment was called) and no power in being to emulate and match the Kings, save the Court of Parliament of Lord and Commons assembled for vindicating such wrongs, as, for redresse of greivances in the Common-wealth,See the Statute 36. Edw. 3. cap. 10. the proper end of instituting and ordaining a Parl. at the first. Those Ministers of Justice were rescued by Armes and a strong hand from the hand of Justice. To which by the way, the Kings freinds recriminatorily, Object. That the Parliament hath done the like, and that [Page 7]therefore each Power (the Kings and the Parliaments) are guilty of iniustice of Oppression &c. So the Parliament is ingaged in a Warre, as ye are now enforced to secure and maintaine themselves, their freinds, succeeding Par­liaments, and the Lawes the Sinews of all peace, and in that they have as yet prevailed, wrestling with many difficulties and finding yet reluctancy, much repining and envy at their proceedings, they imprison, impose an fine their Adversaries, yea they lay Contributions and heavy Taxes on their Freinds, amongst other the Sub­jects of this Kingdome, untill their intended work for a safe and lasting Peace be finished, Neverthelesse it is not to be thought that they offer this, simpliciter per se, and with a purpose to continue in so doing, but per ac­cidens, being thereunto necessitated, for the mainte­nance of their power, for defence of themselves and their Adherents. Hence was die first occasion, the issue of these six yeers War, and will be the fuell of a New fire, kindling through your discords, If not timely prevented. If the Parliament upon their Victory, shall subdivide a­gain, rending into new Opinions, and they so earnestly maintained by each others Partisans, as that betwixt the K. & the Parl. it cannot be, but that the more weake and vanquished Party of those two (the Presbyterian and In­dependent) would rather adhere and apply themselves to their first Adversary, to joyn with him for their assistance then to be overcom by their last in this new subdivision. If you please to forecast what may probably be the E­vent, how neerly ye are linked in a mutual botherhood with another Nation, what hath bin the end of your mutuall League, the preservation and maintenance of the Peace of both Kingdoms, consequently of the third. [Page 8]For this rent rests not with us alone [...] of English Na­tion, it concernes our united Freinds, who have had an hand in setling the Presbyterian Government, not that they contend happily to have it immediatly to begin be­fore the Warre is ended, and in a rigid unalterable way to inure, or to endure for ever. Another Parliament may alter and abrogate it, as this Parliament hath, the Episcopall, their Articles, Manifestoes, and Declarati­ons do evidence no such conceipt of power or primacy over us, or our Parliaments, as to make any Government of their devising perpetuall amongst us, no more then any of our devising, perpetuall as unto them (We are governed by distinct and different Lawes from them, Neither is the Union betwixt Us and Them, any thing the lesse, because of our severall Formes of Governe­ment in Church and Common-wealth) but during the time of these combustions, and They in part foreseeing the eminency of our troubles, to joyn with, and assist us in the removing of them: Now to forsake Them, or the Leagve entred into by Us and Them [one Article wher▪ of is the maintenance of the Presbyterian or such a like forme of Government, yet with an expresse limitation, how: with a tacite sense, when, where to bid battaile, both to them, and to your solemne Vow. Vnlesse yee shall be evinced by sufficient Arguments to the contra­ry; as where strength of Reason, inevitable necessity, your endeavours for the maintenance of a firme and well-grounded Peace still encountred by a Malignant and adverse Party, who can yet insinuate [their desire of, and affections unto such a Peace) to be the cause of your deserting it, For such respects and interests may in any impartiall and un-byassed Judgement, dispence [Page 9]with and make voide your tie, or Covenant, subject un­to greater and more obliging Interests, even in the co­venanters eye, unlesse they be seasoned with much pre­judice.

Withall consider, Sir the prowesse, valour and suc­cesse of your Army, the faithfullnesse of your General, how victoriously he hath sped in his designes and enter­prises of reducing the strong holds and fortresses held in opposition unto ye, consider withall his Armys strength and power, in case they become your Enemies, who have hitherto bin your freinds, And to have it quarrell with ye, or ye with it, and the City of London the place of your security, the Arsenall and Bulwarke of your safety, well rampierd with the prayers, affections, and and hearty supplications unto Almighty God, of the a­blest Citizens for your prosperity, but now divided in it self, as VVe your freinds, ignorant how to demean our selves, when we see how many of your adherents wave­ring now, and not fully or constantly resolved to con­tinue partakers with yee, standing neutrall ready rather upon your dissentings to betake themselves to the party adverse to yours, finding in them consent and unity where we see also what a confusion must attend the progresse of a new VVarre, the dangers, jealousies, and uncertainties which most men will apprehend, or must be Subiect to, what a Revolution there will be of all things into a new distraction, for howbeit the Warre seem neer ended betwixt the King's Party and the Par­liament's, that being censured and punished for their de­linquency in case they should prevaile, which cannot be without your Dividing (for all the consultation, pri­vie and close Actings and contriving are about, and [Page 10]how to help the King to his former power, that thence his party may recover their strength again] with what revenge they shall execute their malice on your freinds, under the Notion and Censure of being Rebells, and having gained the power, make good, the Censure by the Sword.

In the doubtfull event of the Victory (as which side shall prevaile, which shall be overcome) your Valiant Cheiftain shalbe, or ye will suspect him so, Courted by that Power which he hath vanquished to be over­come himself, and what the event? He which with five other more Lords and Gentlemen adherents to the Par­liament hath bin by a clancular and privy Oath taken at Oxford [about four yeares since] by the King's Party abiding, and repairing thither, sworne in the fwearers Conscience to be a Traytor, Now the same Party doe Court and smile on him, whither to own him as their freind, or to use him as an instrument of their hopes, as­suring and setting before him his Majesties grace and pardon for what is past, And leaving it to the doutbful­nesse of that Question, Whither it may be better for him to persist in his Active and Constant way for pro­curing this Kingdoms Peace, so to runne the hazard of being yet overcome, before he hath compleated it, or to stand to his Maiesties pardon, in case he shall revolt and assist the King, The Resolution of which Question de­pends upon the various acceptions of his Judges in case of his being overcome, for whatsoever the King's temporarie and personall mercie may be in granting pardon to your Generall, the Parties who have already adiudged him a Traitor, can by a stronger influence on the King's affections take off the not working of such [Page 11]pardon from any blemish to be cast upon his Majesty with that politique and applauded principle, Amo pro­ditionem, odi proditorem. Neither is a Pardon in these hazardous and uncertain times so sure and ful a reprive or safeguard to a man, as his owne Innocency is. A pardon is subject to reservations in the pardoner, to dis­putes, as whither the Pardon be lightly pursued & duly pleaded It hath in it many perquisites and circumstan­ces to make it compleat, not to be hereafter questioned; the Law hath many wrestings and niceties in it, especi­ally in the practice and manner of pardoning, to ren­der the true sense, intricate, wherefore no certainty or lasting confidence in a Pardon had, And if your Gene­rall hath out of an honest, noble, and cleare integrity, God and his owne Conscience bearing him witness, and no man suspects the contrary, taken up Armes to serve his Countrey, for the maintenance of their Just Liber­ties, a sacred Text hath poynted out the way which he is to take, by the comparison it makes between an hu­mane and Almighty Power, it is better to trust in God, who can defend Him in his innocency, then to put any confidence in Princes, who can pardon Crimes. These things need not to be set downe before your veiw. Yee are circumspect and wise to foresee & avoid your dan­gers if the earnest thirst after making good your new o­pinions, mislead ye not into a continued discord. Last­ly, compare the power of your Generall and his Ar­my ready now to invade the City, with the condition of your friend in it divided now within it selfe, and having of strangers many Incendiaries and close Pio­neers in it to undermine your strength, divers of the Citizens along time your enemies, especially those of [Page 12]the more loose and meaner sort, thirsting for, and ready to be in a combustion to prey on the wealthier (your Freinds) It is yet I verily presume within the power of your wisdomes (God seconding your just endeavours) to dispell these eminent cloudes by complying with the Army, by reconciling those two, between whom there seemes to be, but is no reall difference, unles the strong malice, and exquisite subtilty of a third make it so, or the pride of heart betweene the rigid Presbyterian, and strict Jndependent, both violent and headstrong in their wayes. The Author of Peace, and Giver of Grace to the Humble, direct and prosper Yee in Your wayes to both, So praieth.