IF there be any of you, who have not as yet seriously reflected on that deplorable condition your poor Countrey have labour'd under for these many years past; Wherein, in one or other capacity you have been Actors or Witnesses: It would seem to be an indispensable duty lying upon you to look back, and be­stow some of your deepest thoughts on so sad a subject; To the end, that accordingly as you shall find your selves to have had accession, lesse or more, to the horrid sins, and iniquities of those late times, you may mourn for it, and by repentance obtain mercy. It is not denied, much wickedness hath been committed in the very sight of the Sun, and with a high Arm, but most are ready to wash their hands, and to clear themselves because of those plausible ends they perhaps had in their eye, not considering that good Intentions can never justifie bad Actions: others are apt to extenuate, and lessen what they have done amisse, or consented unto, by excuses drawn from Ignorance, Example and Simplicity. So as to this day, it is doubtfull (notwithstanding of all the dispensations they have seen) whether the Mask yet be taken off, or that Paint wash'd away under which much Deformity was cover'd, or the Principle chang'd, those transactions which were Criminal, may, perhaps, by some be still owned, as Characters of Duty, and a multi­tude may yet be insnared in the mire of delusion and error, neverthelesse that many ingenuous persons long ago have been undeceived upon foresight of those sad events that came to pass [Page]thereafter, disowning such courses as [...] been intangled in, knowing it was humanum errare, but worse to persevere.

Upon this account I hope it may not be judged Arrogance, or Presumption for us to excite one another to so necessary a duty, so much importing that Peace of Conscience, and that eternal Felicity we all look for.

In order whereunto, it may be usefull to present to your view a short Embleme of that which your own more exact observati­on must needs suggest to your memories and apprehensions, in deeper and more lively colours, being so recently acted amongst you.

In the year 1637. such a feaverish distemper seized upon the animal spirits of a great many of the Kingdom, as that by degrees the natural constitution of the body Politick was al­tered, the humors infected, the vital parts and bloud inflamed and corrupted. Whether this pestilentious air had its origi­nal from the Maligne influences of the Stars, or insinuated by the artifices and malice of Men and Devils, or inflicted by the Almighty for punishing a sinfull and unthankfull Generation, as the first and supreme cause over-ruling all other to serve his purposes, I leave to your own disquisition: However, certain it was, the Contagion became universal, persons of all Ranks and Degrees were taken with it, and most dangerous symptomes more and more appeared: Those who had lived in the injoy­ment of a long Peace, and were full of the fruits of it, Riches and Plenty, but more happy in being under the Government of the most Religious and best Prince in the World, in the vio­lence of their distemper, threw away their mercies, and distur­bed a well setled Church and State, gradually descending from Duty to Faction and Rebellion: first, suffering themselves to believe aspersions, and false representations of their Dread So­veraign; thereafter limiting, prescribing and imposing upon the Royal Authority to serve their ends and interests: and last of all, by Arms invading it, assumed it unto themselves, follow­ing that Maxim, Scelera sceleribus tuenda sunt. And all this done (as either they did believe, or would have the people to [Page]believe, [...] or necessary Duties, Reformation of Religion, Extirpation of Heresie, Superstition and Arbitrary Government, Notions and Terms frequently used by Rebel­lious and factious Innovators, whereby many were deluded, and made to promote (as is to be feared) the ambitious and covetous ends of a few. Thus all at last was involv'd into one abysse of misery, distraction and disorder: Whereunto con­tributed not a little the concurrence of those who should have been guides to the peoples Souls, and lights to have shown them the paths of Peace and Obedience; I mean Gospel Ministers, who should have brought Water to quench, and not Oyl to increase the fire; but some of them, in stead of sounding a re­treat to popular fury, were (if not kindlers) fomenters of the flame, by the Interest and Reputation they had with the people.

The Kings most Gracious Majesty, though he could not approve of such irregular and tumultuous Combinations as then were afoot, without danger to himself and his people, was pleased, by many indulgent Concessions, to endeavour to quiet their spirits even to the height of their professed desires, especially in the year, 1640. and 1641. by His own personal presence; but nothing could prevail, the more His Majesty comply'd, the more exorbitant they became in their demands, untill at last they would interpose in the Affairs and Govern­ment of His other Kingdoms also, dictating models in Church and State there as well as at home, to serve their beloved In­terests; unto which His Majesty could not condescend being inconsisting with His honour and safety of His people: So hard a matter it is, if not impossible, for men engaged in pre­cipices of defection to retreat, like all motions downward, facilis est descensus averni; and whom the wind of Ambition drives, non respieiunt, forward they must go though to their utter ruine.

What bloud and confusion attended their Counsels and undertakings in all the three Nations is well known, and may be remembred with horror and trembling: they were the first movers of the stone, setting all on fire at home, and by Corre­spondencies [Page]and [...] spirits of their neighbour Kingdom of England, untill all was in Combustion together. And in fine, the total issue of the whole (though, as may be supposed, not design'd at first) prov'd Tragical to King and Kingdoms.

The Wheel at last came to turn upon themselves, and they to drink of the Cup they had made others drink of, when they were big with hopes, and high in the imaginations of their hearts, in that Battle of Dumbar in the year, 1649. After they had disowned the cause of their Prince, though He had trusted His Person amongst them: this their fatal blow they had by a party of their own forming, not only equally, but more guilty than themselves, as to the horrid murder of their Dread Soveraign, yet raised up by them, and whom they had for a long time assisted in Arms upon foundations of Treaties and Covenants: but what hath its establishment on wicked Counsels shall not prosper, fides quae scelere pacta est, scelere Rumpetur; Divine Justice punishing them by a Generation no better, but worse than themselves. What was then the pro­duct of all their Combinations and Conspiracies against their King, Laws, and fellow Subjects? Nothing but ruine to them­selves, and with them to a poor Kingdom, whose Bloud and Treasure they had misimployed to serve their ends, and so ex­hausted it, that when the people were willing to Sacrifice their lives and fortunes, for the service of His Majesty that now is, in the year, 1650. and 1651. what they could do, proved in­significant to effect so great and good a Work; and thereupon the Nation was subdued, and subjected to the power of a Re­bellious sword, The Kings Majesty expell'd His Kingdoms, the most Eminent of His Subjects slain in the field, imprisoned, or banished, others of them who had been faithfull to Him, and active for Him, forced for their preservation and subsistence, and preventing the final ruine of a poor Country design'd to de­struction upon the least pretence, to comply, own and act, un­der a Tyrannical and unjust power.

Which forc'd Compliance, did exceedingly add to all their former Sufferings and Calamities; but the hope they had of seeing that day they now behold, made them bear all with Patience.

This is a short and rough Draught of what you have been Actors in, or Spectators of; a sad and Tragicall Scene, and a Bloudy Stage these Kingdoms have been. No doubt, you are able to add to this, both light and colours, and so give life unto it; you have here only some lineaments offered for your improvement.

Consider, I beseech you, how many thousands have lost their lives in the field, most whereof by a mis-guided zeal, or implicit adherence to a Party, were induced to believe that therein consisted their duty to God and their Countrey, Tan­tum potuit Religio suadere malorum. But alas! it was but Delusion and Error; you are a remnant left, you have out­lived a long age of War, and seen the wonderfull Work of the Almighty, the Restauration of His Majesty to His Crowns and Kingdoms. Should not this mercy you have above others no more guilty than your selves, oblidge you to a serious review of these things, impartially charging your souls with what ac­cession you have had to the sin and iniquity of them? You have to do on the one hand with a God whose Mercy is above all His Works; many of you, no doubt, will have St. Paul's plea, what they did was in Ignorance; those who you look'd upon as Guides, caused you to erre, by advice and example; on the other hand, you have to do with a most Gracious King, whose glory it is to be mercifull, in imitation of that eternall Goodnesse: He hath mercy not only for such as went astray from their duty through the simplicity of their hearts, but for bitter enemies also. Improve then the opportunity you have yet in your hands, to the Glory of God, the satisfaction of other Nations, the comfort of your own souls, and the bene­fit [Page 8]of your Posterity; let not pride of heart (to [...] constant, though in a bad Cause) keep you back. Be not asham'd to disown and declare against such Methods and Courses, as formerly led you to that ruine you have beheld with your eyes, no less than the subversion of your ancient Go­vernment by Bloud and Desolation; Inform your children to beware of your sins, lest they partake of your Judgements; This will evidence true Repentance, this will purchase you Se­renity of mind, Peace with God, and Peace with man. For the carrying on this Work, I shall make bold to mention two or three particulars, that seem to be of as deep a dy as any you have been guilty of, and therefore specially to be mourn'd for, though perhaps you have not as yet taken notice of the wicked­ness of them in that latitude you ought.

In the first place, I shall begin with those Covenants, and Oaths you took, the grand Engines of drawing you away from your Duty at first, and the very womb that impregnated all the Treasons, Warrs and Calamities you have acted, seen or felt; Sinfull in the manner, as entred into, and imposed upon others over whom you had no authority; Sinfull in the matter, as obliging to Injustice, breach of Duty and for­mer Oaths, to the abetting and maintaining Rebellion and War, against your Sacred Soveraign His Person and Authori­ty; by which Oaths God was highly provoked, your King's Just Rights trampled on, and obedience to him subjected, and made subordinate to inferiour ends.

In the next place, you would not forget that great impo­sture (if you had any hand in it) those mock Repentances many Loyal and Faithfull Subjects were enjoyned to make, before they could be admitted to serve their King against a common Enemy, for no Crimes but performing good and ne­cessary Duties; You called evil good, and good evil, Loyalty a sin, and a Rebellion a vertue. Surely the thoughts of this must ly heavy upon the spirits of some: dayes of Fasting and Humiliation were kept, that we might be more wicked; in this was the Iniquity even of your holy things. And lastly, remember that which did much aggravate all, you suffered [Page 9]your selves all along to believe the Reproaches, Lies and Ca­lumnies, that by malice were cast upon your Soveraign and His Government, not considering that Rumer res sine teste, sine Judice maligna, fallax, and such a Soveraign as was the best of Men and Kings: And this notwithstanding all the de­monstrations of love and tenderness He had from the begin­ning of His Reign manifested to you; He was alwayes more ready to exercise a Fatherly love in pardoning Insolencies and Incroachments, looking upon them as proceeding from mis­presentation you had of Him, and the peevishness of dispo­sition, than as a King to punish them as proceeding from con­tempt and malice; you hardned your hearts to the very last, still conceiving of Him as of an Enemy to Religion and the good of the People, for both which He died a Martyr, you standing by, as it were, with dry eyes untill He was unhuman­ly murdered in the sight of the Sun: Nay, you opposed and weakned their hands, who in the year 1648. under the con­duct of the Duke of Hamiltoun, a person of Honour, known Integrity and Constancy to his King and Country, went to hazard their lives for preventing that fatal blow that short­ly thereafter ensued.

These things are not mentioned to render you odious in the sight of man; but that you may humble your selves for them in the sight of God: If once a repenting spirit be powred forth upon you, none can be so rigid and severe to you, as you will be to your selves; none will need to excite you to Repentance, you will long and wait for opportunities to demonstrate it to the World; you will be far from ex­tenuating Crimes by false comments and glosses; No, you will desire to shew them in the worst colours, that when Divine goodnesse hath vouchsafed you mercy, His infinite Grace and Love may appear more abundant; and that when your gra­cious Prince hath forgot and forgiven all, His transcendent meeknesse and clemency may be more manifest to all the World; There will be no need to invite you to hate and abhorre such deluding wayes; as like Syrens, first inticed you to turn out of the Road of your Duty, you your selves will be mindfull to [Page 10]set a mark upon them, that all may be aware of ever going again in these paths; you will with joy drink-in principles of true Piety, Duty and Obedience, which will quickly speak forth themselves in a willing and sweet Conformity to the commands of your Soveraign; as it was your great unhap­pinesse once to be patterns of Disobedience to others, you will have an Ambition to go now before them in Order and Devo­tion, even (if it were possible) to supererogation. We have at present (and long may He reign) a King set over us, whom God hath owned in a most Signal manner, confirming His Title of late as by a voice from Heaven; When he was a Stranger in a Forreign Land, shut out of His Kingdoms by force and malice, did not the Almighty himself appear, and break those Gates of Brasse and Iron, by most remarkable Providences, confounding the Counsels of His Enemies, dividing them among themselves, breaking them into pieces, in a Divine method, preparing the way without Blood for His Restitution? He returned to us not only upon the account of His Title and Right, but as the desire of our Souls, few but were sensible His return would be unto them a greater happinesse than many Crowns could be unto Him. Can any be so dim-sighted as not to see the eminent hand of the Almighty in this great Work? No surely, none can, but such as are given up to blindnesse of understanding, to a deluded or bitter spirit: Can any think that Fortune, Time, Craft, or Industry did effectuate it? No, Christians ought, and will con­ceive otherwise, and that there is a secret and eternal Wheel, the Spring of all motions and revolutions.

There was indeed a complication of Craft, Dissimulation, Perjury, Blood, Force and Combinations, Hellish Instruments and Arts made use of, in expelling of Him; but God, who is Omnipotent, and hath the hearts of men in His hand, needs no such to bring to passe the council of His will.

The most implacable of His Majesties enemies themselves being Judges, must and do confesse, that God hath owned Him and His Cause: Doth not all this speak aloud to the people of these Nations to Receive, Love and Obey Him? If Rebellion and Disobedience be capable of degrees, Surely to disobey His [Page 11]Commands, to oppose His Authority, would be Rebellion of the first Magnitude.

If there were any of those Vicious Humours yet remaining that were the fewel of our first Distempers (as I hope there are none) I would recommend to such as an Alexiterion, to pre­sent often to their mind the beginnings, progresse, and dole­full Issues of such Counsels and actings as we have been in­gaged in, which were not only the naked Events, but the pro­per, and natural effects of Faction and preposterous Zeal, this would be in stead of all other Antidotes? If the Errors of others should make us wise, how much more should we be instructed by our own? The care we have to preserve our bodily health, cautioneth us not to taste such meats as once proved De­structive, how much more wary should we be in medling or tam­pering with any thing that occasion'd such a mortal sicknesse of the body politick? If such Humours be spent it will be known by the introducing of the contrary. The Physicians say, that so long as the natural, vital, or animal faculties, do not perform, or perform amisse their proper functions and actions, the body is not in health; but if there be good blood, and spirits gene­rated, a sound habit of bodies attained, it denotes all is well. It is so in the State, when the people breach forth Obedience, Peace and Love, it is a diagnostick sign they are in a good tem­per. Search your selves, you are best acquainted with your own Constitutions, and see that the Disease be eradicated and not palliated; if all be right with you, you will desire to make it known to all the world, that you are recover'd from such a dangerous and long sicknesse: you have been of late the Reproach of the Protestant Religion, and the scorn of Nations, begin now to be Exemplary unto them in Piety towards God. Devotion to your Soveraign, and Love to your Coun­trey, thus God will rejoyce over you to do you good, the King will delight in you as in faithfull Subjects, and others will be provoked by you to exceed you in Loyalty and Duty. Thus will you make up the Breaches you broke down in some measure, and wash away those spots and stains you have brought upon your selves and the Nation.

In time coming beware of disputing, or questioning the Com­mands, or Authority of your Soveraign, that was the first step that led out of your way formerly, and will again lead you into a Relapse, Principiis obsta Believe, and be satisfied He rules over you for your good, and that your peace and tranquil­lity, is wrapt up in the safety of His Royal Person and Autho­rity, as in a Publick and Sacred Thesaury: He is Parens Patriae, study to behave your selves as obedient children, and entertain no thoughts of owning Interests distinct from what are His; if you be divided from Him, you must wither as a branch cut off from a tree: therefore if you love your selves you must love Him: Salus Populi Suprema Lex, was a misleading Principle as it was of late understood; if it had been rightly, these unhappy Wars had never been: for if you had look'd upon your King as Salus Populi, in whom your being consists, you would never have espoused Quarrels and Ends opposite to Him: He is the head that sends forth animal spirits unto the whole body, with­out which the body cannot subsist; He is as the Sun in the Firmament who enlightens and quickens the creatures below. Be careful then, lest you deprive your selves of those influences of love and goodnesse; He is ready at all times in the beams of light and warmeth to send down upon you.

What Order in Church or State He in His wisdom shall establish, embrace and receive with chearfulnesse, He knows best what is most for your good and peace, and what is fittest and most consonant to His Government, in which all your con­cerns are included; Have no desires excentrick to His, no mo­tions of your own, for then you will wander; suffer your selves to be carried gently with the motion of Him as your Primum Mobile.

If the Government of the Church by Bishops be restored, remember you lived happily under it, the casting it off was as the opening of that Box of Pandora, from whence issued those Miseries and Calamities you have labour'd under for more than half of the time the People of Israel wandred in the Wilder­ness, and besides you must needs have observ'd that their loins were not so heavy as the finger of that Presbytery you have [Page 13]been under; in stead of fourteen Diocesian, you have had one thousand Parochial Bishops, and every one of them exercising a Coercive power over you, besides that constant Conclave, the Commission of the Kirk, and other Superior Judicatures, who Lorded it over Kings, Parliaments, People, and their Brethren also: the sad effects whereof the King and Kingdom were sen­sible of in the year, 1648. by their Magisterial opposition at that time to the Parliament who were carrying on a most necessary Duty, in order to the Delivery of His late Majesty from the Barbarons Imprisonment He was under in the Isle of Wight; for which it is to be supposed, all good men of them that had any hand in it (all had not) have mourn'd; and if God and His Majesty have cast a Mantle of Mercy over them, it is no more to be mentioned, nor made use of, but as Pilots in a storme do of a Rock where there hath been a Ship-wrack.

Other passages might be instanced to evince of how dangerous a consequence the continuing of an Unlimited Power and Au­thority, Coercive and Independent on the Civil Magistrate would be in any Society of Men whatsoever, and is no lesse Monstruous than a Body with two Heads; but the truth of this being apparent to all unbyassed persons, that have observed but a small part of what hath been done, I shall not insist.

Some will perhaps answer, that their Authority is Divine, and the object of their Power Spiritual; As the one in reference to the Government of the Church Originally and Authorita­tively will never be made appear; So for the other, how far in all times they have transgressed their limits, at least in ordine ad spiritualia, is but too well known.

Peradventure some will say, that the Nation is oblige'd by Convenants and Oaths to maintain Presbyteriall Government, and to abjure Episcopacy: This were petere principium, as the Logicians say; These Covenants and Oaths were unlawfull from the beginning, (as hath been formerly hinted) and to plead a Sinful Act to justify the Superstructure, is Divinity that will not be allow'd. Such Oaths could never oblige but to repentance, it is that only must absolve you from the sin of them in the sight of God; as for any stamp of Law was put upon them [Page 14]in these tumultuous Times, is now made void by a subsequent:

If you will have recourse to the Scriptures and Primitive Times of the Church, Bishops will be found there warranted, and since the Church hath had Christian Kings to be nursing Fathers to it, they have been continued, and further degrees of Honour and Power plac'd upon them, for the good of the Church and propagation of the Gospel, and serving those great ends of Government, in which consists the well-being of a People as Men or Christians.

Wherefore be encreated to lay aside Prejudice, arising from ends of your own Pride, Ambition or Advantage, and stumble not at names. Whether the care of the Church be primarily lodg'd in many, or in a few (where there is no Di­vine explicite or implicite command in the matter) the Gos­pel may flourish; what hath the greatest tendency to Order and Peace, in extrinsick things, none will deny but it ought to be followed: every constitution doth not suit alike with all Governments, in all times and in all places: Monarchical Go­vernment is natural to you, none can boast of such a long suc­cession of Kings, in one Royal Family, as you may, and it is your glory. Since Episcopacy is most suitable to it, and no Divine prohibition to the contrary, embrace it with honour and reverence, as bearing a Divine Impression, and the will of your Prince; expect more of Moderation from it, than ever you found from the other; minde the essentials of Religion and Godlinesse; let your Zeal be employ'd that way, Zeal for things not necessary is a moth to all real duties, like the tything of Cummin-seeds, forgetting the weightier matters of the Law.

Whilst you entertain this frame of spirit, you may expect the blessing of God, the favour of your King, and eternal fe­licity to your souls; whereas a turbulent and unquiet mind is like the raging of the Sea, casting up nothing but mire and dirt, and whereby you neither have, nor ever can reap any thing but dis-appointments, miseries, and the hatred of all the Christian World: If you do not stand in the way of your own mer­cies, you may be confident your Gracious Soveraign, though [Page 15]in Person He be remote from you, will, like the Sun, refresh you with influences of his Love and Care, as his Royal Ancestors have done before Him: He hath begun already to communi­cate to you the sweetnesse and moderation of his Government by persons of Honour and Wisdom, Integrity and publick Spi­rits, He will by them have an ear open to your Grievances, to make every Burden light, and every Yoak easie, and you will quickly perceive what a difference there is, between the fruits and effects of Faction and Turbulency, and these of hum­ble and cordial Compliances.

All I have further to recommend to you, is, that you receive this as you would do a very ordinary Box, wherein there are some things of value, if they be well improved. The persons Name who sends it, is conceal'd, lest some might judge he in­tended his own advantage by it; as for the particulars that are offer'd to you, they are able to abide the test and trial of any that will but consider them without partiality and anticipa­tion: they could not be cloathed in a more simple or vulgar Dress: It is the truth, plainness and reason of things must carry your approbation. You have only some short hints of Duties held forth to you, and as it were some short notes de­livered into your hand for your enlargement and application, there is no more pretended unto: if they be unnecessary, dis­pose of them as you would do of Physick, the cure being al­ready perfected. Farewel.