TOwards the compleating of every Stru­cture, three things are necessary: the work­men, the Materials, the Tooles: this Structure is the Common-Wealth; the Workemen, those good and indefatigable Members of the Houses of Par­liament; the Materials are Orders, Rules, Ordi­nances, and good Lawes, made, and to be made; the Tooles are the Iudgements and opinions of Men; these Instruments (if necessary to the buil­ding) although never so meane, ought not to bee neglected; and therefore though you find this paper amongst the Horchpot of Bookes, slight it not: the Widdow in the Gospell was commen­ded for her mite, as much as the bounteons gi­vers. I am a Native, and Free-man in this Com­mon [Page 2] Weale, and desire among so many thou­sands to bring in my Manuall also towards the good of this Fabricke, and therefore ad rem.

How horrible, how unchristian-like Civill War is, Volumes might be compleated in manife­station, one yeare in that more considerable then thirty of War abroad.

The cause of our Masacring one the other is not well understood; Reason in all men is not alike; shall we butcher each other, we having no for [...]ine enemy amongst us, because each have not like understanding? O God forbid. Misdoings, not misunderstandings, are just causes of punish­ment, and then surely not of War.

Suppose the KING should conquer, were it certaine whether all those good Lawes made this Parliament should still continue? whether those worthy men of that great Councell should not be miserably distroyed, yea, another Parlia­ment had, and old Lawes for Subjects benefit and priviledges nullifyed, Kings Prerogatives more inlarged, established? Would not our Religion be in extreame hazard, yea, his sacred Majesty, and Posterity, peradventure, by those treacherous Papists, together with many other rablements, [Page 3] taking the advantage of being in his Army, at the instant of his conquest, be in danger of being conquered? May we not then fear many of our chiefest Nobility might be attainted, or destroied, and other upstarts, enroomed, and also many places of all sorts bestowed upon people, who are both empty of worth, birth, and fortune, in liew of their owne cankred pernicious councells? might not we expect the plundering of our E­states, the ravishing of our Wives and Chil­dren; yea all our Lawes, Liberties, Religi­on, all the good wee now happily enjoy, all at once in the Laps and hands of Miscreants, Vermin, and base seducers of that our Noble King.

Should we be conquerers, would not the King have it ever wrote in his heart, how stained should we be with the blood of our Fathers, Kin­dred, Friends, and Countrymen, &c? would not after-ages extreamely blame us? would not o­ther Nations deride us? may not Kings in future times hate the Lawes now made, calling them forced? may it not happen, that in the tryall of this victory, some mischance may fall upon his [Page 4] Sacred Majesty, or upon our Noble Prince? did not holy Davids heart smite him for touching, yea, but the Lap, though of Sauls Garment? Is every cranny of your heads pried into, and is there no other way but war? what shall I say, thinke, or doe, my Pen cannot expresse the horrid con­clusions of such a war? If there be any such that have drawn breath from the poysonous aconites of the earth, as now to belch forth such venemous counsells to proceed (if possible to the contrary) in this true-Religion-decaying war, my Pen shall not honour them so much as to set downe their curse, it was prepared for them of old, and God is just, & in due time will render it them. Preces, & Lachrymae, Arma sunt Ecclesiae. Clergy methinkes should take all caution, not to blow at the bel­lowes of this dissention, but rather labour to sweat water and blood for prevention, and so to Oratory that to their Auditors. Religion, the true protestant Religion, I trust in my Redeemer, I shall defend with my life, next to that the Laws, and Liberties of our Nation, and the Parliament, and Priviledges thereof, being the top of our In­heritance, I would sacrifi [...]e my deerest blood in defence of. But when these shal be but in dispute [Page 5] of violation (although I confessed I thinke the world is satisfied, that there hath beene unparal­lelled mistakes) hrongs of people stand amazed at the beginning of such a war: yea, bleeding Ire­land, those miserable comfortlesse people there, breath out such sighes and groanes at these distra­ctions, that heaven suffers violence. Changes and chances happen to all men in this mortall life, like chances of gamsters at Di [...]e. If good chance, it may miscarry by over-sight, if bad, it may for­tune to be amended by good play, shall then these my humble concei [...]s happen in o the hands of any Member of that Great Councell, let mee beseech him, (and surely if God heare my earnest prayers, they are in some degree to doe for me) let them promote with effect but this motion, that forthwith a day of humiliation be set a part, yea with iniunction of more strictnesse then or­dinary, to councell with God in this great work, and I trust his Sacred Maiesty will doe the same. Where the wit of man ends, there the Provi­dence of God begins. Come out of your selves then you learned Councell, and let us together with you, fall flat upon the earth before the Lord, that he the King of Salem, would now [Page 6] find a way of reconciliation. Cor Regis, manibus Dei. This being done, assure your selves will vi­vifie the doubting spirits of many thousands, and also God, even our owne God, will give us his blessing.