THE Commissioners of the generall Assembly of the Church of Scotland are better read in bookes then men, and in this age of different opinions, they doe like those at the confusion of langua­ges, sort themselves with whosoever they be that jumpe with them in judgement, and thinke them honest and infallible in all things else, that hit right in Presbytery, though they but pretend to it, for such there are that are neither Presbyterians, nor Independents, but cry up the one, because it cries downe the other, and consequently the English Army that new model, which they hate for their vertues, not for their vices, their victories, not their tenets. But the greatest Clerks are not always the wisest men, nor see not the furthest into a milstone. Some read Machiavell to do him, but they to undo him. There are Protestant Jesuites of the short robe, that can so disguise themselves as to cozen them of the long, and draw them (by an erro­neous credulity) to be really theirs, but by seeming that they are not.

Al's not gold that glisters, nor all true Englishmen or Patriots that are friends to Presbytery, or foes to the Army. Believe it, there are many Lay Lord-bishops stil alive, that go disguised in Presbyterian visors, be­cause they know it is in vain to strive against the stream, untill the wind blow right for them. Whoever he is that is an Englishman, and intrusted for the Common-wealth, if he be factor for the King, he holds his principles as well Ecclesiasticall as civill, and intends the Prerogative of both, time wil tel you so, though they do not; if God deceive them not, they wil deceive you; but hitherto they have missed [Page 2]their mark, travelled with iniquity, conceived mischeif, and brought forth a lye, and so I am confident wil ever do. Only take heed you of partaking in other mens sins, cal not evil good, nor good evil, but di­stinguish; cry down error, but not the Army, lest you change the act­ors, but not the tragedy, and cry up Presbytery, but not al Presbyterians, lest as wise as you are, at last you conclude with a non putarem.

The King long since pawned both the word of a King and a Gentleman, and never yet redeemed them (for Peter Martyr observes, That at Rome its a maxime that Merchants, not Kings are to keepe their words, and Popery and he have been long bed-fellows) how to charm our English credulities, in his papers he calls God to witnesse, another state stratagem (it seems he is not witnesse to oaths and pro­mises) for nothing must be left unsaid or unassaid, and vouches con­science for the continuing of Arch-bishops, Bishops and their lands, because of the great Charter, and the curse of the superstitious do­nors. So that the Ecclesiasticall part of Magna Charta may not be vi­olated, nor Popish Episcopall lands alienated, but the civill or secular part of it may without offence, his peoples liberty, property, and e­states too fans scruple. Rare Chimistry, in conscience, that can di­stinguish without a difference, whereas indeed the root of the matter grows out of that old rotten maxime, No Bishop, no King. He that can breake his word when he will, and make conscience of what he wil, well he may ruine me, but he shall never deceive me, whose nature is so apparently disagreeing to his office, and the duties belonging thereunto.

From the Bishops, whose abolition he tells you in his message from the life of Wight, he cannot consent to, he falls downe to the Militia, and does as unclearly consent to that, as he clearly dissented from the other; for first having laid a firme foundation of it to be in­herent in the Crown (as if the interest of the King were divers from that of the Kingdome, and the Crowne or Court to be preferred to the Common-wealth and its safety) by a strong assertion, though he can neither presse men nor raise monies, and therefore cannot give his consent to alienate it from the Crowne, and that because of his trust, which he is carefull to keep, but not to performe. Yea, so ten­der is he of the Common-wealth, that he will not part with the Mi­litia no not to it selfe; but to give an infallible evidence of his inten­tions, he will and he will not as to himselfe depart with it during his reign, for first he sayes he will consent to an act that the whole power of the Militia shall during that time be ordered and disposed [Page 3]by the two houses, and after he comes with a mental reservation, and saith, that neither his Majesty, nor any other (by any authority deri­ved only from him (shall execute, &c. also that patents and commis­sions must go as formerly, viz. In his owne name, which to grant, it seems in court construction, is to yeeld the right of the Militia to be in the Crown, the thing he drives at, for therby he gains more de jure then he loses defacto, and is the more to be avoyded, and the legal in­tentions of such laws, and their tearms (bordering upon the Crown) both in this and other things of like nature ought to be made more explicate both to the vulgar peoples better understanding and Kings also, who only talke of a trust to delude the people, and make it a stalking horse to compasse their wills, and make them­selves absolute, for what bears their image or superscription, it seems acording to the Court-credit is believed to be absolutely and inseparably theirs, as if the Crown were neither from, nor for the people; upon these tearms, in time, our monies will be pre­tended to as well as our Laws, if care be not taken to prevent it. All monopolies have legall pretences, specially Prerogative the worst of all, wherewith his Majesty is so im­petuously principled, that he is not counsellable in things touching common and publick good in a regular understanding of them according to the end and ordination of go­vernment. If the Militia be a flower of the Crown, pray, take it out, and stick a jewell i'th room on't which is both of more Majesty and lesse danger. From the Militia hee passes to the Armies arrears, and in time proffers to pay them 400000.{abl.} a great summe (it seems he hath been lustily promised, and well advised, during his abode at Hampton-Court) but nothing to a willing minde, for so he hopes either to disband them (and then he knows how to re-inburse that money, and as much more as will pay his arrears also) or to win them to himselfe when he himselfe becomes their pay master. And though he cannot depart with the Militia from the Crown, yet with the Court of Wards he can, though that also is invested in the Crown for protection and that of Infants, but this he is content to have taken away if it seem grievous, not the other though it bee so, to all. In the close he mindes them of that which of all other must not be forgot­ten, The dissolving this Parliament to make way for another by due elections, that is wherein his partizent, Cavalliers and malignanrs may be both elected and electors, and so undoe all that either is already or shall hereafter be done by this, and then we have spun a long thread to little purpose, rare sophistry and King craft. But I hope the people of England understand their interest better then thus to pull downe their props, and bring the house upon their heads, and that they will not take seemings for Beings, nor shadows for reallities. Take heed of disguises and Court-masks, after so many blows and bullets, be not fool'd with faire words, and false fires. I pray your Maje­sty Beleeve your selfe a Subject, as well as a Sovereigne, and know that honesty is the best policy. stand not on your head and shake your heels against heaven. Take God more into your counsells and your people into your care: It hath ever been the fault of Kings to study and practice policy more then piety, which hath brought so great miseries upon many of them, and some to untimely ends, and what came of them after, God knows: what will it advantage you to gain the whole world (of power, and that power never so absolute) and lose your precious soule, you must dye as well as other men and leave your Crowne behinde you when you goe to the grave. Sure Kings either thinke they may sin cum privilegio, or that those things which are sins in other men, as bing, dissembling, oppression, murder, rapine, swearing, forswearing, are not so in them. Play [Page 4]with your conscience which one day will be serious with you, pretend, not protection when you intend destruction, be not deceived, Got wil not be mocked. How can you expect to be believed that never kept your word till this parliament, nor now if you could have broken it, the endea­vours whereof hath been the cause of all this Civill war and blood-shed, besides, you still retain the same principles, entertain the same counsellours, and adhere to the same friends. It's true that Kings are called Gods, so are Devills to, therefore beare not your selfe upon that, as if there were no excellence in God but Power and Sovereignty, whereas he hath other Attributes and Properties besides that are honourable, and that he is to be honoured for, as goodnesse, mercy, justice protection, faithfulnesse, initate him in these, so shalt you be Gods indeed, and though you must dye like men, yet shall you be as the Angels, for as ill Kings their condemnation is greater, so are good Kings their glorification higher, by how much their talent and stewardship on earth is above others.

The Scots are singular School-men in State-matters, and can distin­guish to a mote in the sun. If the Parliament wish'd them to advance Southward, they retreated Northward by a Scotch figure, because the North of England, is the South of Scotland. And lay just so long before Newarke, till by private confabulation, the King came to their Leaguer, and then, and there broke their word (but kept Covenant with the Parliaments Commissioners,) against their promise carrying away the King to Newcastle, in all post haste, as if they had meant to have invi­ted him to Edinburgh, in freedom, honour and safety, but no such mar­ter my Lord; touching the Kings dignity and greatnesse; the Cove­nant only binds on this side Tweed, for beyond it He's little enough, but it seems they have bargained with him like the two Tribes and halfe, so they may have all beyond Jordan, theyle see him in safe possession of Canaan, therefore, for that end, must there needs be a personall Treaty, and an invitation of him (whom they'le neer invite into Scotland) to London, in honour, safety, and freedome, the Kings own words, fiddle and stick, which makes Pregmaticus (the Court-jester) ready to leape out of his skin, for joy, to heare this tune played upon the Scotch Bag-pipes, so that hee'l goe neer to want a Theame, to time upon next week, being reconciled to this loyall fraternity. But they tell you the reason (and for my part I beleeve them) why they would have the King entertained at our cost, because they say their happinesse is in him, for you must consider the two great wheels of the Scotch Engine is now in perpetuall motion, the one to make England Scotland in matters Ecclesiasticall, so that It is, and It is not so, in Scotland, were urged in the Assembly like ipse dixit in the Schools: the other is to make Scotland England in things ervill, and though an English man in Scotland must not untie the Kings shoe latchet, yet they stick not to propose to have the third part of of­fices about him here. They cry out of the abuse offered a single Com­missioner at Hampton-Court, and that no repaire is made, the whilst [Page 5]they sanctuary Knox, and nose us with Cheesley those arch incendiaries, that in whole volumes abused the whole state of England, with breach of priviledge of Parliament to boot, which by Covenant is to be maintained, and they punished, but a trick at maw will helpe that, for they can in their printed Papers (those Scotch spectacles to blind Eng­lishmen) take the Covenant in pieces, and quote it in abstract Proposi­tions leaving out the principall verbe still, the conditionate coherence of one thing with another, so that the reason why they so cry up them­selves (wherein they have an excellent faculty) for transeendent Cove­nanters, is, because they doe by the Covenant, as some Sectaries of these times doe by the Scriptures, bring their sense to it, and not take sense from it. And for most part what is their Religion? Presbyterie, they doe by it as the Jewes did by the Temple, worship it instead of God, and though swearing lying, and dissembling, be even nationall vices amongst them, yet by vertue of this bare badge they cry up them­selves for the people of the Lord, as if heaven also could be caught by craft, but forma dat esse is a maxime undeniable with them, they are the best Christians and Covenanters, because the best Presbyterians, which they make their staulking-horse to catch citie and countrey, and the Assembly also, and their skreen to be-spatter the English Parliament, ex­cept the eleven Members, whose devotion to Presbyterie and the old Model, prefers them in favour above the rest. From State Presbyters, Libera nos.

But however let us doe them all good Offices, and keeps them at all due di­stances mix not interests, keep Covenant in the intive plaine English sense of it, avoid their tedious Haranys, pend speeches, and voluminous Papers, which they only speake to the Parliament first, to the end that after they may speaks them in print to the people, which they know so great a body as the Parliament, pressed with infinit and weighty businesses cannot suddenly answer, and so think to cary the cause by cajoling the vulgar, and to divide betwixt the body reall and re­presentative, and then the towas's their owns; too much Serpentins wisdome to stand with the innocency of Doves. Thinke not the worse of Presbytery be­cause they Idolize it, but let power of godlinesse and purity of worship get hand in hand. Let (in a word) the Parliament be true to their trust, and England to it selfe.

The Army are men both in their effects and defects, and Englishmen also, the Kingdome have cause to say so, though too many are loath to speake out their commendations for feare of discommindng them­selves. Emulation as it tends towards imitation is a vertue, but as to envie a vice. In the way of their possession they have done rare things, [Page 6]both as good Souldiers and true Patriots, in over-comming open ene­mies, and disappointing secret ones; but they are nothing so good at book-work, as at sword-play; it cannot be denied but they make foul worke with Scripture and Pulpits, we never reade of Centurion Prea­chers, and yet one built a Synagogue, and had so great a faith that Christ himselfe marvelled at it, but he had deep humility withall, and yet a great Commander, moving in his sphere as a Souldier, and not out of it. The other is renowed for a devout man, fearing God with all his house (there indeed it seems he taught as a pater familias) a Gi­ver of Almes, and frequent in prayer, but neither before nor after Peter came to him, doe we read that he took upon him to preach: It seems though they were both gracious men, yet neither of them was a Gifted Borther. They abound in Victories, and so they doe in Errours, it is pity they should doe so, that they who have beene the Lords Hoste, and fought his Battails, should now be the Devils seeds-men and sow his Tares.

Yet I would have them to bee not so bitter against the Reverend and godly Ministers in the Land, because of Ordination, you know not what spirits ye are of, nor whose Designe you drive therein; they have the same Seal for their Ministry that Paul had for his Apostleship, 1 Cor. 9.2, they have by it converted not a few to Christ, and that too as the truth is in Jesus, which we do not finde to be the property of Antichrist or his Ministers. An orderly call addes both beauty and efficacy to the Word preached. Take heed by dispa­raging them or their Function in the eyes or eares of their People, you weaken not their hands in the Lords worke, for which they ought to be had in estimati­on, or of being an occasion of putting out such lights, who have shaken the kingdom of Darknesse, and by the blessing of God upon their labours have made England famous for powerfull Preaching and professing in all the Christian World, and those of you that are sonnes and not bastards, I am confident under God have had them for your fathers. Beware of a spirit of Antichrist amongst your selves, it is he that pretends to both Swords, and whose comming is after the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders, and with all deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse, viz. salse Doctrine and Errour, and the reason is rendred, because they receive not the love of the truth, which is not then so light a matter as you take it for, when as the Gospel of peace (if it understand it selfe aright) bids us contend for it, against men of heretical judgements. Dote not so much upon the word gifted Brethren, it is a proud word since extraordinaries ceased, and makes grace a younger brother, those of you that are gracious, communicate your graces and spiritual experiences unto edification as fellow-members and private Christians, and be not many Ma­sters [Page 7]in opinion, do not the worke of an Office in the Church (I speak not of cases extraordinary, which have their extraordinary priviledges and dispensa­tions) Without being an Officer of the Church, one of those that Christ hath ordained. Gifts no more intitle men to publique Offices in the Church than in the Common-wealth or Army, without a call. An outward call is not nothing. Study not confusion, God is not at all the God of it, and least of all in his Church. There is no better nor no worse argument agaiust you than that of Christ, The tree is knowne by his fruits. Some of your Converts I have seen and talked with, full of opinion but very empty of grace and the vital Prin­ciples of Religion, put them upon dispute and they are old excellent, but upon Chri­stian communion and they have not a word to say.

The good old Puritan that is not ashamed of faith and repentance is the name of substance, your Proselites must needs be strange crea­tures, that are strangers to the sincere milke of the Word, borne and bred a mongst foolish janglings, for your Sermons which tends to singularity and plurality of opinions, conduce not to devotion but to disputation, which old Mr. Dod (whose very name is pretious for his practicall piety) was wont to say, made his heart the worse a long time after.

And indeed a practicall hearted Christian loves not to hear truth doubted, for that makes faith take wind, and the whole Soul consequently fare the worse, but knows they are ordained to other use, viz to be a whet-ston to our graces not to our wits. Such preaching disputants batch addle egges, fil empty hearts with empty no­tions. How forcible are right words, but what doth your arguing availe? but to dis­tune the soule. Opinion begets pride, and that keeps out every thing but it selfe. If you will needs preach, then preach truth and not error, as you will answer it at the dreadfull day of judgement, and gather the sense of Scripture from its scope and drift, comparing spirituall things with spirituall; and not incoherent­ly making it speak what it never meant. You have been victorious over Errour, therefore let not error at the last get victory over you, like the Israelites that ha­ving conquered Idolaters, worshpped their Idols. Cry not up liberty of Conscience to the losse of Conscience, and countenancing licentiousnesse of opinion, see ye not how his Majesty himselfe pretends deeply to its for the setting up prerogative and Episcopacy. What Snake may not lye hid under that herbe? when once it's grown a word in fashion. Liberty of conscience will bee as common, as not guilty at the Assizes, and of equall credit. Divine Truth is always the same, of an inflexi­ble nature, various not according to mens judgements, shall the judgement of a man be the rule of Gods un-erring Truth? Truth is truth, and error error, whe­ther men thinke it to bee so or no, principles of nature vary not like languages, and if they bee inviolable, and indispensible, much more is Divinity, for the [Page 8]known will of God is obliging, which way soever it be revealed, whether by nature, or by the word, though against nature, as when Abraham was com­manded to kill his son; or above nature, as in the union of the two natures in one person, or the being of three persons in one God-head, nay of the two; the word is the more foreible and binding, because nature is so much defaced; therefore not the Law given to the Israelites the more obliging, and their sins the more provoking. Opinion ought not to be the rule of things, but the na­ture of the thing is selfe. There is a Truth of God, and that but one, which we must maintaine to the death (else the Martyrs dyed in vaine, if for but opposing anothers lawfull liberty) not only in resisting impiety, but in opposing heresie. Thus saith the Lord, Jer. 6.16. Stand ye in the wayes, and see, ask for the old paths, where is the good way and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your soules.

And for Malignants that would fight againe to be slaves, though they had more wit before than to stand to it. For the ingenuousest of them say, that if the King had got the better, the Kingdome had beene un­done, they see so farre now into his disposition, and yet they in hope to be sprinkled with Court holy water, are content to sell their birth­right, which their Progenitors nobly purchased with their blood, and they as ignobly sell it with theirs. They are weary of peace already, which yet is a cheaper tenure to hold by then disseising, which would fall to our share if they should paramount, as themselves stick not to say, and threaten to try us all for Traytors at the Kings Bench barre, where proud Mallet and pricket Heath should give sentence, and then there would be old worke for new Tiburne. Hambleten and Taffe denizoned with the Estates of Northumberland and Pembreeke, and their blew Ribbands to boot; as judging most fit, that they should ride on horse­back that fought for S. George.

But why should wee engage againe, let them have slavery and bon­dage without fighting for it. Those of them whose Ancestors gained their Honours by fighting for their Countrey, let them now lose theirs for endeavouring to fight against it, a doom which their own forefa­thers would passe upon them, were they alive, to see such degenerate stems to grow out of such noble stocks, for Nobility and Gentry ought not to distend by propagation without derivation, not by blood but by vertue. And those of them who Citizen like bought their Armes and Honours, let them all be reversed till they renew their Pattents at the old rate, and compound at Heraulds-Hall for their forfeited honours, by shamefull deserting their Countrey, more worth them the Kings in Christendome.