protection we commend our poor endeavours, and let him do what seemeth him good.

"Or, put the case, this necessary consequence could be " avoided, think you the ambition of some new statesmen ac"customed to such arbitrary and necessitated power, on the one "side, and the remaining loyalty of his majesty's disinherited "subjects, watching all opportunities to right their injured "sovereign and themselves, on the other side, would not raise " perpetual tempests in this kingdom?

"Or, if such an almost unpreventable evil should not ensue, think you such swarms of sectaries sweat for nothing? "Are their purses so apt to bleed to no end? Will not their "costs and pains expect at least a congratulatory connivance " in the freedom of their consciences? Or will their swords, "now in the strong possession of so great a multitude, know "the way into their quiet scabbards, without the expected "liberty of their religions? And can that liberty produce "any thing but an established disorder; and is not disorder "the mother of anarchy, and that of ruin?"

You speak ignorantly and poorly, so you think and write. Sectaries' purses! Alas, Sir, God help our treasuries, if we spent out of their coffers: these are the men who hinder us; you are deceived. There is about London, one, and I believe he is not alone, jesuit, in the sect of the anabaptists; he labours, sweats, confers, preaches, defends that point with all his might. And why? Because he knows, that all the disciples he gets into that way, are all clearly withdrawn from the parliament. Their tenet is, you know, if you know any thing, that Christ can defend his kingdom without war; and their usual quotation, that of our Saviour to Peter, " He that takes the sword, shall perish thereby."

"Open then your eyes, closed with craft, and wilful blindness, and consider, and prevent that, which your continued

"disobedience will unavoidably repent too late.

"But the truth is, they are all papists, by your brand, that "comply not in this action with you. Admit it were so; are "not papists as tolerable for his majesty, as anabaptists, "Brownists, separatists, atheists, antinomians, Turks, and "indeed all religions and factions, nay, papists too, for his "subjects? These of his majesty's side come freely, out of " their allegiance as subjects; your's are preached in, coming " out of obstinacy, as rebels: they at their own charges, " proportionable to their abilities; these, like Judas, selling " their sovereign's blood, for ill-paid wages. Yet, both sides " pretend a quarrel for the true protestant religion.

"Good God, what a monstrous religion is this, that seeks "protection from the implacable opposition of her two "champions!

"His majesty protests to maintain it; the two houses "protest to maintain it: oh, for an Edipus to read this

"riddle!

"His majesty adds one clause more, wherein if the other " party would agree, the work will be at an end, which is : "According to the established constitutions, by oath taken " by him at his coronation: and there the two houses leave "him, contending for a yet undetermined alteration."

You may blush to mention such a word; was it not enough for yourselves to forswear, lie, &c., but you must seek to be guilty of other men's sins also? Your oath, &c., was it not a fine one? And that I may say no more, horresco referens, God is, to the everlasting shame of that party, now shewing what the head of the faction durst do, and did do, in the great oath you mention, of which the world will, ere long, receive enough of satisfaction in his condemnation, and the truth's vindication.

"And, for my part, I dare not conceive such evil of the " Lord's anointed, and my gracious sovereign, as to fear him " perjured.

"Hath not his majesty, in the presence of that God by "whom he reigns, imprecated the curse of heaven on him " and his royal posterity, (sub sigillo sacrament. too) if he, to "his utmost, maintain not the true protestant religion exer"cised in that blessed queen's days, and propagated by the " blood of so many glorious martyrs, at which time God " blessed this island in so high a measure, if he preserve not "the just privileges of parliament, and liberty of the sub"ject.

"Nay more, did not his majesty so promise the severe "execution of the statute against all recusants, that if he "failed, he desired not the aid of his good subjects?

"What inferior person would not think his reputation "wronged, not to take up confidence upon such terrible

"terms? What notorious evil hath his majesty perpetrated, "to quench the sparkles of a common charity?

"Consider, oh, consider; he acts his part before the King " of kings, whose eye is more especially upon him; he acts "his part before his fellow princes, to whom he hath de"clared this his imprecation; he acts his part before his "subjects, whose stricter hand weighs his pious words with "too unequal balances.

"Were he the acknowledger of no God, yet the princes " of the earth, if guilty of such a perjury, would abhor him. "Or, were all the princes of the earth blind, deaf, or partial, "would not he think his crown a burthen, to be worn upon "his perjured brow, before his own abused people? Or, "having renounced his subjects' aid upon his fail, could he

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expect that loyalty, which now he wants upon a mere sus"picion?

"But he is a prince, whom God hath crowned with graces "above his fellows; a prince, whom for his piety, few ages "could parallel."

He is our dread sovereign; never the better, I must tell you, Sir, for such as your commendation, if the old rule be true, which is, a perversis vituperari decorum est; it is ill to be commended of wicked men. We desire that our king may be inferior to none of the kings of Israel in heavenly graces, no, not Josiah, Hezekiah; to none of the kings of England in earthly glory; no, not Henry VII. in riches, nor Henry VIII. in works of reformation: the evil counsels that are about him being taken from his throne, we doubt not the prosperity thereof. The pulling of feathers from our garments to make pillows, and put under the elbows, is both the work and emblem of a parasite. There were certain families in Africa, saith my author, which if they did but only commend trees, beasts, or children, for the most part they never did thrive after it. Gell. lib. ix. cap. 1. God bless his majesty, and his.

"What vices of the times have branded his repute? His "youth, high diet, strength of body, and sovereign power, " might have inclined and wrapped him to luxurious vanity, " as well as other monarchs, whose effeminacies have enerved "the strength of their declining kingdoms. How many "would have held it a preferment, to be attorney to his royal " lust, or secretary to his bosom sin? yet he remains a pre"cedent of unblemished chastity.

"He might have pleased and pampered up his wanton "palate with the choice of curious wives, to lighten cares "which wait upon the regal diadem; yet he continues the "pattern of a chaste sobriety. He might have magnified "his mercy, and sold his justice, to reward a service, in par"doning offences committed by those of near relation; yet "he abides the example of inexorable justice.

"These and many other eminent graces and illustrious " virtues, can claim no birth from flesh and blood, especially " in those whose pupilages are strangers to correction; nor " is it safe divinity, to acknowledge such high gifts from any "hand but heaven.

"Which being so, my conscience and religion tell me, "that Almighty God, who is all perfection, will not leave a "work so forward so imperfect; but will, from day to day, "still add and add to his transcendant virtues, until he

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appear the glory of the world, and after many years be

"crowned in the world of glory.

"Rerum prima salus, et una Cæsar." - Martial, lib. viii. "Ер. 66.

"Rerum prima salus, et una Christus." -Phil. iii. 8.

POSTSCRIPT TO THE READER.

"Now thou hast heard the harmony of Scriptures without "corruption, and the language of reason without sophistry." Reader, thou hast read these notes upon this unanswerable piece, as they are pleased to style it; I appeal to thee, whether this be not Scripture full of corruption, and language which is nothing but sophistry: do not forget that the devil quotes Scripture, but our Saviour cites it right, Matt. iv. 3, 4, &c. He is the Jew that is one inwardly, Rom. ii. 29, and not he that praiseth himself is allowed, but he whom the Lord praiseth, 2 Cor. x. 18.

"Thou hast not only heard divine precepts, but those "precepts backed with holy examples: neither those out of "the Old Testament alone, but likewise out of the New."

The precepts and examples too, how impertinent, thou hast seen reader, before; be not cozened with a blind confidence; remember Solomon's rule, Prov. xiv. 15, "The fool believes every thing, but the prudent will consider his steps."

6.

"Being now no matter left for thy exceptions, prevaricate no longer with thy own soul: and, in the fear of God, I now adjure thee once again, as thou wilt answer before the "tribunal at the dreadful and terrible day; that thou faith" fully examine and ponder the plain texts which thou hast "read, and yielding due obedience to them, stop thine ears " against all sinister expositions; and remember that histo"rical scripture will admit no allegorical interpretation."

Your rule for the exposition of Scripture is a fine one, are you not ashamed of it?

"If any thing in this treatise shall deserve thy answer, do "it punctually, briefly, plainly, and with meekness. If by "direct Scripture thou canst, without wrestling, refute my

error, thou shalt reform, and save thy brother; if not, re"cant thine, and hold it no dishonour to take that shame to "thyself which brings glory to thy God."

Your answer you have had plainly, Sir, by direct Scripture, and those your own too, delivered from the pestilent perverting, as is to see to all men, not wilfully blinded. Now, therefore, I retort your admiration, and what you say to the reader I say to you, As you will answer before God's tribunal, be not ashamed to vomit up your poison you have given and taken, and receive this antidote, Exod. xxi. 33, " If a man shall open a well, or dig a pit, and not cover it again, the owner of the pit," &c. Read and apply with trembling. There was a bird in those countries named Justus, because she always hid her excrements, which she knew to be exceeding hurtful to men.-Phot. in Biblio. I would you would get a paddle and cover your dung.

1 Peter iii. 13: "Be always ready to give an answer to every one that asketh you a reason, with meekness and fear."

If the sons of Sion get advantage hereby to establish them in the present truth, I have enough, and let Christ, the king of kings and Lord of lords, have honour in this, that great is truth, and it will prevail.

Deo trin-uni gloria.