THo this Day, has lost one half of that blessed Cause, which at first compos'd the reason of its Solemnity; and tho there is nothing which can so sensibly revive in us the memory of Charles the Second (were it possible for us wholly to forget him) but what likewise ought to plunge us in Howlings and Regrets so vast, as not to be capable of being exceeded, but by that fatal Deprivation of the best of Kings for which they were poured forth: Yet there is still so much remaining for engaging us to celebrate it with the highest Extasies and Transports, that to commence our acknowledgments with any thing of a contrary strain, were equally to be impertinent to it, and injurieus to our own selves, by disturbing those Resentments of our Felicity, which at once creats and testifies it, with the melan­cholly allay of any sad or mournful Reflection. And indeed that after the woful and barbarous Usage of the First Charles, and after the cruel Exile and Banishment of the Second, the Royal Race of the Stewarts, under whose Government we had been so long Happy, should have been restor'd again to its Native Right, and install'd upon that Throne whence it had been so unjustly tumbled down, cannot but be as perpetual, as transcendent an Occasion for our loudest Accla­mations and Rejoycings while there is One of It to continue our Glo­ry and Happiness by Ruling over us, and that, I hope, shall be, while the Sun rules by day, and the Moon by night in the Firmament.

But when all our former Miseries are not only so entirely extinguisht by that blessed Restoration, that nothing but our own Wickedness and Folly can possibly make us repeat them; but when also the mercy and felicity of it is so advantagiously lengthened out unto us in the happy Accession of our present Great Monarch to the Crown of these Na­tions, as to deaden in us the feeling and sense of a loss sustain'd by the removal of his late Dearest Brother, of ever blessed and glorious Memory, which otherwise had been unsupportable beyond all the Sufferings wherewith our most resolute Constancy could have been shoked or assaulted, and had certainly overwhelm'd us with Sorrows [Page 6] as excessive and unconsolable, as our foregoing Blessings in so Good a King were great and surpassing; When, I say, we find such inestimable Advantages flowing to us from the Restoration, what measures, what heights of Joyfulness, what soarings of Exultation, or ravishments of Gratitude, and triumphant Exclamations can be sufficient to express and solemnize the never to be forgotten happiness of this Day? This is our Salvation, and thus will we Rejoyce in it. We will rejoyce in thy Salvation.

But the better to enhanse and raise its excellency, and so to influ­ence our intensest degrees of rejoycing because of it, let us cast back a view upon that wretched and disastruous Schene whereupon all those Miseries and Calamities were acted, which did so heavily ly upon us in that execrable Rebellion, and those saddest Troubles that immediatly went before it. And who is there among us who knows not that our Afflictions did so closly besiedge us on all hands, that whether we lookt on the Publick, or on our own privat Concerns, there was nothing to be discovered but what seem'd to vy the mon­struousness and cruelty of those who usurpt over both, against the utmost passiveness and capacity of being injur'd that either of them was indu'd withall?

Was not the Church, alas! violated in its Purity and Glory by the most sacrilegious Intruders that ever durst enter the thresholds of so holy a place? when not only its best and most Primitive Go­vernment was abolished, and it self subjected to the basest Anarchi­cal Model of insolent and confounding Presbytery, wherein a medley of imperious Clergy-men and whining Laicks metamorphos'd all things belonging to its Discipline and Worship into as much a Chaos as was the mungrel composure of their own selves: but also when we had the most essential parts of our Devotion and Religion turn'd out of doors, and it became Schism to pray to Christ in those prevailing words which himself did prescribe, and Antichristianism to sing Praises to the Trinity in that short Stanza of Hallelujahs which the first Ages of Christianity brought in use, and Heresie to profess the Faith of our Redeemer in that sacred Form of Belief which his own Apostles did bequeath to the Christian World.

And was not the State likewise brought under no less dismal a Ca­tastrophe? [Page 7] when the Anointed of the Lord, and the breath of our no­strils, was loaded with all the Affronts and Indignities that Wicked­ness it self could either deserve or inflict; when his sacred Person was baffled under the Banners of his pretended Authority, and it was not enough to have rais'd an intestine and Civil War within the very bowels of his Kingdoms, unless to justifie that, and to secure the greatest Crime with another as great, there was one engender'd be­twixt those two also; when he was dragg'd and hurried from Prison to Prison, and at last brought upon a Scaffold to transcribe the fate of the King of Kings, and be a second Instance how patient Heaven could be at the calamities of oppress'd Innocence, and how malitious Hell in the persecuting of it. What eyes can refrain from gushing out in Tears at the sad remembrance of so horrid a Tragedy, which I am sure cannot be more deplor'd by us, than it is now tormenting to those miserable Wretches who were the desperat Actors of it? And who can but abhor and detest those mischievous Methods and Prin­ciples which by a natural and immediat consequence carried along that Ax, that damnable Ax, by which it was executed?

But this was not all. For after those inhumane and butchering Usurpers had assassinated the Father, and thrust out the Children, that they might possess the Inheritance themselves, was not the Royal Line it self rendered the most criminal and treasonable thing that their Laws were levelled against? And was not a price set upon those Heads which were destin'd for Crowns; and every covetous or dar­ing Villain prompted to spill that precious Blood, whose sacredness would have heightned Murther with the dreadfullest Accession of Sacriledge and Parricide too? And were not the Royal Brothers, both whom Providence has thought fit to reward with the Imperial Crowns of these Kingdoms, no doubt for their Christian and Gene­rous Deportment during the time of their Afflictions, were they not, I say, forc'd out of their own Dominions, as well as out of their Rights, and made to wander abroad, tho to the glory, yet to the eternal shame and disgrace of our Great-Britain; The first, that thereby all the World saw it honoured with two such Brothers as each deserv'd rather to sway the Scepter of the whole Universe, than that of so small a Corner of it; and the latter, that it beheld that [Page 8] two such Nations, who know how to prize and value every thing else, were yet so pitifully blinded, as not to bestow their Regard where the greatest Merit was to attract it?

Now what can be imagin'd after all this to aggravate the Misery of a People, or gradually to improve their Disasters into a more wretched height? yet there is one circumstance more. For all this was done by a sort of Creatures whose abject and mushrome extract was equal to nothing beside, but the virulence and insolence of their Temper. Things that were the very Sediment and Ferulency of Mankind, and the very Gall and Bitterness of it too. That wrapt the Shape of Man, and Shew of Religion forsooth about the most horrid Villanies and Crimes, and thus reverst the Jewish method of covering their Tabernacle with the Skins of Beasts and Goats, by shrouding the most Bruitish Natures and Vices with a Humane Form, and a Pretext of Conscience too. Who made Shams of God Almighty, and turn'd Religion to be the great Stickler for Interest, and truckling Wheedle of all but such as wrought behind its Curtain.

And having thus serv'd themselves of whatever was Sacred, they played the like Tricks with what was Civil too. For all those Laws that suited not their wicked Designs, these they cancell'd and abro­gated: and when they wanted any to give them something of a co­lour and shadow for perpetrating their Mischief, then they made them. And to make things Crimes by a subsequent Law which were committed in Innocence, and then annull that Law when it had done their turn, was as peculiar to their Government, as their Humours were to themselves.

Was there ever any People more grievously, even surrounded with Misery and Reproach? Or could any Nation have been sub­du'd by its greatest Enemies into a more lamentable Condition, or rendered more the contempt, and hissing, and mockery of the whole Earth, yea the Aceldama, the field of Blood and Desolation of it also?

But what shall we think when to all this yet there was added one degree further of what brought up our ruine to so stupendious an ascent? For however w [...]e [...]ch [...]d and infamous it had been to have al­ways drudg'd under those abominable Rebels, who at first took hold [Page 9] of the Supreme Power, and thus been enslav'd to a damn'd Pack of the most Tyrannous and Perfidious Rascals that ever lifted up hu­mane face to eye the Sun in his; Yet even that state, tho the worst that could readily have either befallen us, or been dream'd of, had been infinitely preferable unto what did follow it ere all was done, and iniquity brought to an end. And none will doubt of this who can but reflect what sad vicissitudes and alterations that new form of Go­vernment, which nothing less than Atheism Blinded with Wicked­ness could have introduc'd, was necessarily obnoxious to, and actu­ally did undergo. For after that cursed Oliver, whom Providence only permitted to triumph so long, that he might sufficiently fill up the Cup of his Abominations, and at last tumble into Hell overbur­dened with the weight of his Villanies; after that detestable Traitor, I say, was gone, what Confusions and Devastations did not imme­diatly arise, as if our British Soil had been sown with so many Cad­mus Teeth, when the ugly Carcase of that Incarnate Wretch dropt into it. And had not the Bowels of Divine Compassion at last be­gun to yern upon us, and to deliver us from that deluge of fury which was a breaking out, our case had been as far beyond that of the Mi­dianitish Host, when every mans Sword was at his Neighbours Breast, or Hobbs's imaginary State of Nature, wherein an universal fear en­gages to a resembling War, as these are, the little Marshallings of some Ants upon the easie rising of a Mole-hill.

Neither could it possibly have been otherwise. For, beside that sad experience had taught all men in the preceeding Reign of the Usurper; what it was to trust any that could be no other but such an one too, with so edg'd a Tool, as the Supreme Power is, and so had made them become warry how they resigned their share of it; how could any, not wholly sunk in the vilest degene­racy and abjectnesse, brook to have his neck trampled upon by such an one, as himself did equal, if not better, at least to whom he could have no other obligation to be subject, but that he could not com­mand so much force, nor oppress so irresistably, as the other could. And when the Supreme Management of Affairs was not yet suffici­ently enough setled in any ones hands, that the greatest miseries and embroilments should have then ensued, would have been so far from [Page 10] looking like any thing of wonder, that the contrary had been cer­tainly the vastest one next to the impossibility of any at all.

Thus it was that the Publick groan'd under the violence and ini­quity of that fatal Rebellion. And we cannot guess shrewdly, be­cause we cannot but be assur'd, that then all private mens Fortunes and Lives were at the beck of its mercy likewise: the one being the necessary result of the other; so that I need not insist any more upon it.

It was then from such a comfortless estate that the Restauration of the Royal Family to their ancient Rights and Prerogatives did rescue us. And tho there had been nothing else in that King, who was restored again to the Throne of his Ancestors, to recommend him, but that he was Vested with the true Title to be so; Yet we had had all manner of reason to resent such a blessing with the highest degrees of Gratitude and exuitancy. And the removing of that one curse, of having servants ruling over us, had been motive enough for influencing us still to remember with proportionable reflections the Honour at least, which with him was restor'd unto us upon this hap­py day.

But when it was so Good and Gracious a King, as our late Sove­raign was, that put an end to all those lamentable troubles and con­fusions; When it was a King who was as tender of his Subjects inte­rests as of his Own, and made no other advantage of his Power and Dignity so much as to advance the good and welfare of his People & to perpetuat to them all those Blessings that ever any Nations were ca­pable of; and so, when with him both Peace and Plenty, both our Reli­gion and our Liberties nay and an Indemnity to all our Crimes too, did return unto us, and he had no sooner mounted that Throne where­to his Right was as great, as were his Inclinations towards us, but he heap'd equal Loads of Felicity upon us, unto those of Misery which the Usurpati [...]n had done before; What can be thought any wayes capable to resemble such an Accumulation of Happiness for expres­sing the sense we ought to have of it?

And now it having pleas'd the Divine Majesty to take unto him­self that Glorious Monarch, and to bestow upon him an Heavenly Crown, for having so well employed the Prerogatives of one that was [Page 11] Earthly; nothing could have more engaged either our Wonder, or our Gratitude, than so to propogate the advantage of the Restaura­tion, as to exalt One upon his Throne, who might only not equal, because he did rather excell Him in all those Royal Induements for which He was so much the Object both of his Peoples Love and Ad­miration; and so to give us an evidence that beyond the Superlative Qualifications of the One, there was some kind of Transcendency to be allowed the Other, at least upon the account of that Competiti­on, which in any but himself alone had been altogether impossible: And without the least imputation of flattery, I may undoubtedly say, that both these, our Astonishment and Thankfulness, I mean, ought to be fill'd to the highest pitch by the happiness wherewith Heaven has now blest us, in giving us a King, whom we are bound to esteem more for his being Brother to our Former, rather in his Vertues, than in his Blood. It were, I know, too much presumption for me to attempt the Character of a Prince, whose only One is, that he is above All. Neither shall I dare to meddle with the drawing such a Pourtracture wherein the greatest Master would but bungle at his best.

Only I must tell you that we have a King whose Education gave him to understand the state of Humane Affairs at a more advantagi­ous rate, than ordinarily the breeding of such as are born for Em­pire can possibly yield. Since he was not train'd up amidst the soft and tempting pleasures of an enticeing Court, which use to bewitch the most of Princes so, as to divert their thoughts from these suit­able reflections that should teach them that tho they be gods, yet they must die like men; and so to deprive them of having those just Mea­sures they ought to entertain, both of Themselves, and Those whom Providence has plac'd below them. But he was brought up in the School of Affliction, and made to pursue his Fortune by those Ver­tues, which rather use to acquire, than inherite a Crown.

Nay, we have a King who to the benefite of his Education, has also had that no less extraordinary one of being so long a Subject to as great a King as ever the World saw, before his own self who succeed­ed him; and so, who cannot but on the one hand have learn'd all the Arts and Maximes of Government from so glorious an Example. [Page 12] and on the other what are Inclinations and Interests of a Subject from his own late and wonted condition. And besides these two there could not be any other thing more conducive to fit and ac­complish him for being such a King as by no common conjunction might, and I am perswaded will, reconcile le Bon and le Grand, the being Good and Great, together.

And from what of his Reign has past already we cannot but pro­mise to our selves that few men have ever made better use of their own most proportionable advantages, than he has of his. For was there ever a King that entered upon the Theatre of Empire with more gracious and glorious Beginnings than he has? Has he not e­qually prevented our Wishes, and out-done our Hopes; and so far concurr'd to grant us all that our hearts could in Reason desire, that we have, and can only have our selves to blame, if our happiness be not as vast, as his Zeal to promote it is so. Did he not secure to us our Protestant Religion in this his first Parliament by an Act more great than all that were past by his Predecessors, at least upon this score that it includes whatever they have done, and palpably sug­gests that if more had been possible, it would have done that also. And to enhance this, if it be capable of being so, did he not all this, even before he receiv'd our dutiful Declaration of his Authority, and acknowledgements of his Goodness: Thereby to let all the World know that he was much more concerned for what did mostly concern us, than what upon any other account carried a nearer relation to his own self. Were there ever greater endearments from a King to his Subjects? or rather is it imaginable how there could be any greater, or any besides themselves but so great?

But has he not likewise given us more than sufficient assurance in his Gracious Letter that as nothing has a greater tendency to secure our Priviledges and Properties, than the aggrandizing of his Power and Au­thority; so he proposes no other end for maintaining it in its greatest lustre, than to be the more enabled to defend and protect our Religion as established by Law, and all our Rights and Properties. Words sure that ought to be as eternal, as they are obliging; and which ought to be engrav'd as indelibly upon all our Hearts as they would, were they where they should be upon the hardest Porphyries and Marbles.

[Page 13] And let not any envious or embittered Spirit go about to rob us of the full satisfaction which cannot but redound to us from such sig­nal vouchsafemnts, providing we will not be more injurious to our own Interest, than to that best of Princes who contributes so plenti­fully to advance it; let them not, I say, evacuate to us such a blessing, by their wicked and base Detractions and Surmises, as if all this were done with the greater Artifice, the more inevitably to supplant us af­terwards. For as Hell could not suggest any thing more malitious, so neither could it what would be but near so gross or effronted ei­ther: when it is aim'd against a Prince whose Personal Excellencies have been as yet so little questionable by any that ever knew him, that even his most inveterate Enemies, not kowing where else to fix, have been hitherto forc'd to draw Impeachments from his very Ver­tues, when they were to cast their ugliest Slanders upon him. So that now to insinuate any thing of him which would bring his Vertue upon the Stage, cannot but look, as on the one side, the desperate Effort of forlorn Wickedness, so on the other, the most impudent and unworthy Attempt that even That was ever straitned unto.

But there are two of his Properties, for which he is at once the Example and Darling of all good and generous men, that so infi­nitly baffle and confute all such calumnious and traiterous aspersions, that it may be reasonably doubted, whether all those who either hint at, or give ear to them, do more endeavour to reconcile the greatest inconsistency with one another, or to impose upon all man­kind in spight of the clearest Convictions to the contrary: and these are his Resolution, and his Ingenuity.

As for the first, He has been from his Infancy, known to excel in in it so singularly, that as never Man shew himself more gallant and brave, than he has done in the greatest exigencies and dangers, when it appeared to be in his very Element, to stand undaunted amidst Thunder and Smoak, and all those dreadfullest hazards, which could either have terrified or affrighted all who were no more but mortal; So has never Man yet been able to tax him for compassing any of his Designs, by such undue or unjustifiable Means, as he would not have publickly avowed, before ever he undertook the atchievment of them: His amoition never having carried him toward that, [Page 14] which his Heart did not furnish him with sufficient courage; so to pursue, as not to be affrayed of owning it, so soon as ever he thought upon acquiring it. And indeed where there is so little fear, and so much greatness of Mind, 'tis not possible that any thing can at once be resolv'd, and yet need to be purchas'd by some sinistruous or cu­zening ways too; Since to propose, and to dare it, is the veriest same thing. And for a valiant and resolute man not to act above board, were as great a Paradox even in Nature, as for any to do so is one in Morality. Now the matter of Fact of this being Irrefragable beyond all manner of suspition, the Inference which issues from it, as to our present purpose, is so palpably evident too, that the formality of a Deduction would be no less impertinent, than it is needless.

But if his resolution be great, sure his ingenuity is no less; not only because the one is the necessary Product and Consequent of the other, so that there was never a Dissembler who was not a Coward before; But also because all the World has particularly observ'd in him the strickest niceness in adhering to his Word, that Honesty it self could assume. Neither could this have been so universally no­ticed, and talkt of, if it had not been proportionably as excessive in him, as it is too far from being so in the most of men beside: Things that either are not, or yet are vulgar and common, not happen­ing readily to gain so much credite and repute in the World.

But when that obliging Force which lies in the Word of a King, and a King speaking to his Parliament too, comes as an accession to engage the sincerity of his Intention unto it, shall it therefore be jealous'd what he has condescended to ascertain us of, because of that redoubled Tye wherewith it is Twisted, like a threefold cord that cannot be broken? Shall his Word when he was not a King be so universally Trusted to, and Confided in, that the most of Kings Laws could not afford half the Security; and shall his Royal Word now when he is a King become more uncertain than the most of mens ordinary Asseverations use to be? No, no. These are contradicti­ons not more prejudicial to his Honour and our Allegiance, than shamefull and ridiculous in themselves.

And therefore let us at least vye our own being good to our selves, with his being so to us, by firmly believing what He has so solemnly [Page 15] set his Scepter to; Since to do otherwise were the most infallible way to bring that upon us, which then we were so fondly apprehen­sive of, as thereby to be guilty of that, which on any other occasion we would condemn most. And the truth is, were it possible to tempt and provock him to be unjust to his own self, by recalling that Prince­ly Word which He has fully engaged (which blest be God all the malice and enmity of his Enemies can never be able to do) he could not think he were so to us, did he once think that we repos'd not that entire confidence in what he has done which it deserves; since whoever Distrusts, has thereby forefeited all pretence of obligation upon Him that gave His Parol, and formerly renunced his Right in such a Security, by thus virtually refusing to take it. And all the end for which one passes his Word, being to assure the other that he shall not be cheated, he keeps it very punctually to him, that lays no hold nor stress upon it, tho he should act quite contrary to what it had promised; because then the other would not be cheat­ed, seing he cannot be said to be so, who never expected to be dealt otherwise with. So that whoever will be so wicked as to call in que­stion what has the Royal Assent to procure it Authority, must re­solve to be so mad and foolish too, as to do all that in him lyes to cancel the Obligation that is on the Kings side of it also, and so to re­duce Affairs unto that same posture wherein they were, before such a positive engagement made any alteration in them.

Now when it is so manifest, that all things concur to make us as happy Subjects as it is possible for us to be while we have no other King but that of Heaven; our present One on Earth having not only blest us with all that we are capable to receive from him, but being also such of himself, as cannot but continue them always un­to us so long as Almighty God in mercy does allows us him (and may that be while he be the oldest King, that ever sat upon any of those Thrones which he adorns); shall we not gratefully rejoyce in that Salvation, which at first was wrought in the happy Return of the Royal Family, to the Possession of their Ancient Rights, and is now renewed to us by the glorious Succession of our Great JAMES the Seventh, to the Crowns of these Realms? This, th's certainly is so blessed an effect of the Restoration yet lasting unto us, that [Page 16] while we enjoy it, unless we would affect to be the most monstru­ous Wretches that ever trode upon the Earth, & to combine the high­est ingratitude, with the highest folly and madness, it is quite im­possible but we must now shew our selves truely and heartily, thank­ful for the great and unspeakable Mercies thereof; but we must re­joyce in this salvation.

But that such felicities ought to make the deepest impressions of gratitude upon us, is so certain, and so acknowledged a Truth, that it could not but be very superfluous to enlarge any further upon it. The only fear is, that we think not of them what they really are, but thorow some Rebellious or Fanatick impatiency, at the present constitution of things, look upon that as our Misery and Wretchedness, which is so much the contrary, that it could not pos­sibly be more so. And had not our late Treasons and Conspiracies, but especially the present rising in Arms, against the Interest and Prospe­rity of this Nation, as well as against Him who Reigns over it, made it too notorious to the whole World, at what Rate many amongst us do value that which all honest and good men account to be their greatest honour and blessing, I should not have seem'd to de­serve so ill of my Nation, as in the least to have insinuated that any such degenerate things were ever nurst up in its Air. But it being too palpable now to be capable of being huddled, nay, these Re­bels publishing their shame, and their guilt together, in their volumi­nous Manifesto's, 'tis necessary that we likewise brand them upon all occasions, as the most unreasonable and unchristian Monsters that ever infested any People. Were it not that I will neither encroach too much upon your patience, nor prostitute my pains upon such Fana­tical and wildest Miscreants, I should easily make good this charge against them upon both these respects.

But I would fain know what it is that really they would be at, if they can but tell so much themselves Is Monarchy their griev­ance? That perhaps shall be mine too, after once I have seen that it has done as much mischief in as short time, as what brought it under, did. But being fully perswaded that I shall never see That, So I have no fears ever to be guilty of This. Nay it is not possible that it can arrive; since at least amidst all the miseries, which in that case were [Page 17] incumbent, this one comfort would remain, that it was a King who did Inflict them; And who has but a Soul within him, who would not rather choose to be trode under a Kings Foot, than the ugly hoove of every pitiful Ass?

But I defie the greatest Republican ever to afford me an in­stance of Plenty and Happiness which was enjoyed under a Com­mon-wealth parallel to that which we appeal to of these five and twenty years last bygone, which were effluxt under our Monarch; whose Subjects had wallowed in such unmixt, uninterrupted Fe­licities, as had almost made them forget they were Earthly, had not some factious devilish Male-contents, kept them in mind of the contrary by those Disturbances and Rubbs which they threw in their Road. These are Arguments which our own Experi­ence furnishes us withal, and therefore cannot but be as obvious, as unanswerable: And upon that head I shall not make use of any other.

Only let me yet ask this one question, Who is it that has any considerable fortune and interest to be concerned in, and has his wits too, who would condescend to run all at the risque, and adventure of a new revolution like to that whose sad effects I shortly Described in the beginning of this Discourse? And that no change were possible, but what would as exactly copy out the former, as face answers face in the water, is so undenyably cer­tain, that I dare refer it to the pretended Earl himself to draw us but any probable Scheme, how things could be prevented from running into the same Channel. It matters not much therefore what all those can say, whose desperat condition is such, that whatever Reelings happen, it is impossible they can be worse than they are; and it is not so that they may be better: For all kind of variety pleases where there is something expected, but nothing to be lost. And I doubt not to averr that, bating those unaccoun­table vertigo's of some giddy and ignorant people, this is chiefly at the bottom of all these stirrs, which so much allarm us. And had not the Earl justly incurr'd the severest Censures of the pre­sent Government we should have had no man, either more boast­ing [Page 18] of his Loyalty, or sooner in the Fields against all its Enemies, than he. So that all the other pretexts are, and must be held forth upon design to take with silly people who are soon set agogg, and use not much to look beyond the outmost appearance and surface of things.

O but the Protestant Religion is in hazard, and just in St. Peters circumstances, even sinking down, and ready to perish, if some powerful hand lend it not help to support it. This is truely the main clamour which breeds us so much noise; there being a generation of sneaking Yelpers, whose hollow Mouths have at once profan'd these blessed words, and almost deafned us. And before I go any further I must tell them that as this Plea is not peculiar to them, so it is too much superannuated now to take in an Age wherein Folks Eyes are a little more open'd that they were wont to be: and as there has been a long time ago those who upon the least touch howl'd always furiously out, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord; so whoever gave any heed to them render'd it puzling to be distinguisht whether themselves were greater Fools, or they greater Knaves; since all the Villany and Wickedness imaginable has been abetted under the Vizorn of Religion, by some one Mountebank of it or other; neither has Rebellion especially ever been beholden more to any thing for gaining its Partisans than to a lugubrious visage and sniveling Tone which us'd to work upon the Vulgar, in stead of Godliness and Devotion.

But briefly to answer this Cavil, or rather Calumny, Is it not conspicuous as the Noon-day, from what I have shown already, that we have all the Security for our Religion, not only that in Reason we can demand, but even that is possible to be given us? And what more is it that these People would have? Truely I cannot guess, unless it be the Kings Head (which God preserve from their Mercy) for that was the thing which was meant by the securing of Religion about fourty Years since: and we cannot dream what else that Language signifies now, when Invention it self could not contrive beyond what is done already to satisfie us.

[Page 19] But alas! that were so very wretched an expedient for such an end, that, as I shew before what befell our Religion in the late Troubles, so were these repeated, there would be no Remedy for it, but it behov'd a second time to demonstrate to the World, that what­ever plausible pretence Rebellion carries before it, as if it were only resorted unto for the maintaining of Religion, yet after it has served its turn it never fails to prove as treacherous even unto That, as it was unto him against whom it arose. And how is it possible that these can have any true Zeal for Religion who stand not to violate its most sacred and fundamental commands, and make use of it for no other end than to be a Stale and Wheedle for promoting the most wicked Practices and Designs that despe­rate Villany can prompt men unto; as all Rebels and Traitors of necessity must do: that which gives them the denomination being in its very constitution and essence as the sin of Witchcraft, and to be rewarded with no less than Damnation both here and hereafter. So that let them sigh and talk as they will, I had rather my Religion were entrusted for its safety unto any man alive, providing he had any himself at all, than unto such a one as by his being guilty of Rebellion had rendered himself equally unworthy to be relyed upon, and to defend what he cannot but offer to assist without all his Weapons recoil most fatally into its bosom.

But now let it be granted that our Protestant Religion is in dan­ger (which for Argument sake may), yet I should be content to learn whether or not they pretend to be Christians who thus put themselves in array for protecting it? sure, if they be, they are the worst that ever durst meddle with that holy Name: either the worst verst in its nature and genius, or the worst accustomed to yield it obedience, that ever men were. I had but lately an oc­casion to shew from this Pulpit how much Christianity is express against the taking up of Arms to resist the Supream Authority, and that upon any pretext whatsoever, whether of Religion, or any other thing; and therefore I shall not now embark my self into that Theme. But this I would gladly be resolv'd of, where such a Tenent, as that of Resistance, would at last take a stop? For let [Page 20] us suppose that the Presbyterians should prevail (as God forbid), were there not as good ground, and as much reason for the Inde­pendents to take up Arms against them, and by their own example to make their Swords cut out a way for their Religion, as there was for them to rise up against the Adherers to Episcopacy? And when the Independents had got the uppermost, might not the Ana­baptists follow the same method with them; and the Familists a­gainst the Anabaptists, and so on in infinitum. For Religion is still the Plea, and every one is to be Judge for himself. Neither is there any difficulty in all this, but how to gather together Force enough to be able to overcome; for if that were once had, there were no more to do but for all to fall on. And if this be not all one with Hobbs's Fancied State of Nature, only putting in the word Religion, for that of Right; and if the same Mischiefs and Confu­sions would not equally follow from both; I appeal to the Con­sciences even of those against whom I am speaking, so that they have not stiffled them for good and all. And that ever Christiani­ty would allow that it self was the great Firebrand and Incendia­ry of the World, were so very odd to imagine, that nothing could be more so, were it not that any did ever yet really believe it.

Neither shall they ever be able to produce the least Iotta of Scripture to vouch their assertion; unless it be that of Luke, Think ye that I am come to send peace on the earth, &c. Where the visible mistake of a Command for a Prophesie, were far more pardonable than any other application they use to make of the Word of God. It is true we are commanded to obey God rather than man; but when these interferr, are we not commanded likewise to suffer for righteousness sake? Never one Syllable is to be found for taking up Arms, and compelling the lawful Magistrate to prescribe us no­thing but what we think GOD has done so too. So that there is a clear midst betwixt these two, of refusing to obey an unlawful command, and forcing that to be retracted by the power of Arms, to wit, the suffering patiently for Conscience sake. An harsh Do­ctrine indeed to Flesh and Blood, but that is which we must cru­cifie, [Page 21] if we will be Christs Disciples, or have any part in him.

And it is further observable that the true Religion may be de­fended, with the greatest consonancy to all this, maugre the fiercest Persecution that ever attempted to ruine and overturn it. For it being only seated in the Mind, and this not being capable to be vanquisht by all the external force that can assault it, since one may alwayes think as he pleases, do what any body else can, all the cruelties and tortures that malice could invent needs never constrain any man out of that which he has so entirely in his own power, that without his leave it can never be wrested from him. It is but to defend themselves therefore, and not their Re­ligion, that so much adoe, and such a bustle is made. For who­ever has but Fortitude and Christianity enough to expose and adventure the first, cannot be in great strait about the security of the latter.

But I wish that it were seriously laid to heart upon what Forge this mischievous Doctrine was at first hammered out. It is true, it came to Scotland from Geneva, but it is as true that Geneva brought it from farther South; and tho it seem'd even ambitious of the most Diametrical Opposition to Rome that the common no­tion of Christianity to both could allow, yet it stuck not to borrow from thence a policy which had for a long time prov'd so very successful there.

'Tis true our modern Papists, especially in Britain and France are asham'd now to own what brought their Holy Father to the highest top of such a Pinacle of Grandure; being in that but too openly ungrateful to what has serv'd them so abundantly or rather prodigiously well. But pretend what they will, I know that things go otherwise at Rome, where the Inquisition were as inevi­table [...]or one who would but smatter out any thing to the contra­ry, as it would be enrag'd against him, were he once but within its Clutches. And tho I made it greatly my business when I was there to learn out what was the opinion of the place concerning such a Doctrine, yet I can avowedly say, that of all I spoke with anent it, I never fell upon one, who either did not frankly ack­nowledge [Page 22] to me, that it was de fide there, that Heretick Kings ought to be Excommunicated, and expell'd their Thrones; or else did not decline the giving his judgement in an Af­fair which he was sensible was so vastly ticklish and nice to be medled with; thereby insinuating as much as that he durst not ut­ter any thing contrary to the Court verdict. But what can be more clear, than their Writings against Barclay and Widringtoun, and their kindest hugging of Marriana and Sanctarella at Rome, to evidence what I am alledging? And so while our Rebels and Fanaticks make such a clutter upon pretence of keeping out Po­pery, they are as great Papists themselves, and sure as dangerous too, as those whom they are so eager against, at least in one no less essential a point, than the Infallibility, or Transubstantiation it self.

Thus leaving them to themselves, as it seems God hath done already, let me now in one word address my self to you who are present, beseeching you that as you value the credit and glory of our Nation; and as you tender your own interest and felicity, you would seriously lay to heart what I have been discoursing un­to you. And methinks I may say in Moses his words (Deut. 30: 15, and 19.) See I have set before you this day, life and good, and death and evil; I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both ye and your seed may live. I have set before you the miserable and wretched estate wherein these poor Nations were involv'd during the late Rebellion; and I have likewise set before you what has been the vast and inestimable ad­vantages of the Restoration of the Royal Family, and especially what are our happiest blessings in our present Great King; and if neither the formidable Aspect which appears on the one hand can fright you, nor the beautiful and ravishing countenance of things on the other can allure you; but that in spight of both you will choose cursing and death and ruine, then you'l have only your selves to thank for the event of the preference, and I have dis­charged my Soul from the guilt of your Blood. Alas! shall any [Page 23] be so madly infatuated as so soon after our late Troubles to run again into the like destruction, when to all the other miseries of it, there would this one be added too, that there were not even that of an excuse for it which was before, because now the sad and fatal consequences of Rebellion are so manifestly known, and so fresh and recent in our memories likewise.

Let us therefore be so considerate of every thing that can make us to be so, and so sensible of the present happy estate wherewith God Almighty has to the wonder and envy of the whole earth most graciously blest us, as thorow the fullest transports of resentment to shout aloud in the words of my Text, and in the highest rap­tures of gratitude cry out, We will rejoyce in thy salvation.

And indeed it is the Salvation of God: his Providence having all along appear'd so signally in the management of it, that had there not been any other argument to evince the Beeing of such a Supream Government over all the Actions and Destinies of Men, yet it would have sufficiently done it. It is therefore unto God especially that we should be thankful, it is to his Infinite Good­ness and Mercy that we should acknowledge the Debt of such Blessings; and so we should improve them every one at that rate as may best serve to advance his Glory, and those great Designs and Ends which he propos'd to himself in the bestowal of them; which undoubtedly were, that we might be dutiful and loyal to his Vicegerent whom he has so visibly set over us, and lead a quiet and peaceable life under him in all Godliness and Honesty; that being Good and Obedient here, we may be eternally Happy and Blessed hereafter. Now unto the great King of kings, and Lord of lords, God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be all praise, power, honour, glory, and dominion, now and for evermore. Amen.