THere is no Nation under Heaven that enjoys a greater ſhare of what all Mankind covet, than the Engliſh; nor is there any thing of which they are more Jealous, than the Liberty of their Perſons, and the Property of their Eſtates; And with good Reaſon: For there is but a Third, which is Health to Enjoy theſe, which renders Human Life as happy as this World can afford; And for this Reaſon our Anceſtors have obtained all thoſe admirable Laws, which ſtand as a continual Guard about us Night and Day, to Protect our Freedom and our Eſtates.

There is a known Fable of the Dog, that coveting the Shadow loſt the Subſtance, and once already we of this Nation have been ſo ſtupid to turn the Fable into Truth. We were frighted with the ſhadow of the Government, which we were told had a black, and longer Reach, than did appear, and were Terrified out of our Wits, Reaſon and Religion, into a moſt bloody and unnatural War, and at laſt into that very Miſchief, which we took up unlawful Arms to avoid.

To cry out againſt Arbitrary Government is of late become not only a Virtue but a point of Religion, and has been ſet up as a Mark and Eſtimate of a True Proteſtant: But to lay the Saddle upon the right Horſe is accounted a Crime ſo great, that whoever attempts it, is preſently cryed out upon, for a Papiſt. And the Reaſon is evident, for they who make all this noiſe about it, are the moſt Arbitrary principled perſons in the World, and if I do not make it appear ſo, I will be content to be eſteemed the moſt infamous Lyar under the Cope of Heaven: But if I ſpeak Truth, and ſuch evident Truth as is perfect matter of Fact, and too notorioufly known by. Thouſands yet Living, to be denied. If I cannot prevent the Miſchiefs, which may follow theſe wild and groundleſs Clamors againſt the Government, I ſhall however diſcharge my Conſcience to my Neighbour, and my Duty to God, and my King, and leave a Teſtimony againſt ſuch as pretend to be Religious, for ſpeaking Evil of Dignities, and deſpiſing Dominions, which will one day riſe up in Judgement againſt them, and defeat them of the Plea That they did it ignorantly.

I would only deſire the honeſt Reader to Enquire who they were that firſt cryed out againſt Arbitrary Government, or the Deſigns of it in the Reign of King Charles the Firſt? It was the Proteſtant Diſſenters, and principally thoſe then called Presbyterians. Let them deny it if they can or dare: For if they do, I will ſhew that they not only did it, but gloried in it; and were reputed the moſt noble Patriots, and ſo ſtyled for ſo doing.

Who was it that animated the People to take up Arms for Defence of Liberty, and Property, againſt the King? The very ſame.

Who maintained, continued, and finiſhed the War, and the Tragedy of the Kings Murther? The ſame Men, though now they had gotten new Frocks and Vizards on, and called themſelves Iudependents, or, Congregational Church-Men; a Name that comprehended all Sects, and Opinions. I love Truth, and will ſpeak it, Many of the Presbyterians deſerted them, and declared boldly againſt their Proceedings: But ſtill the others went on, and called themſelves the Godly Party, and the Saints, and all the Thanks the poor Presbyters got for aſſiſting them to get into Power, was to be trampled upon themſelves, and reviled as Antichriſtian and Apoſtates.

Who were they that Baniſhed His preſent Majeſty, ſought that Life which could not have been preſerved but by a Miracle? Who Compoſed and Commanded Olivers ſtanding Army? Who Commanded all the Garriſons, Forts, Caſtles and Ships? Who Ruled according to Will, without and againſt Law? Even the very ſame Men, the Godly Party of Congregational Protestant Diſſenters.

Who are they that cry out now againſt the Government, and talk of the great Danger of Anbitrary Power? Search the City, Examine the Countrey, Ranſack the Coffee Houſes, Frequent the Clubs: If you hear any Perſon inveigh againſt the Government, or Diſcourſe of the Fear of Arbitrary Deſigns, you may pawn your Life on't, you may find him in a Conventicle upon a Sunday, if he pretends to any Religion, or Reading Hobs's Divinity, and Atheiſtical Principles at Home.

It is an Old Saying, He that Accuſes another ought to be clear himſelf: For ſhame, Let the Congregational-Men leave Clamouring about Perſecution and Arbitrary Government, of which they are ſo horribly guilty, and for which they have ſo great an Account to make to God Almighty: For though the Law may have forgiven them, yet without Repentance there is no Remiſſion in Heaven; and it is a very wild Repentance which brings no other Teſtimony than the Repetition of the ſame Offences, for which they ought to be Penitent.

And if this be a Demonſtration, that they are the ſame Congregational-Men, and only want Power, I will ſhew you their Picture drawn by their own hand, and if they look Black and Ugly, Perſecuting and Arbitrary with a Superlative Tincture, 'Tis their own handy-work, not one ſtroke of mine, more than hanging the Picture in its proper Light, which will diſcover its native Colours.

Obſerve this Treaſon was to Aid or Aſſiſt His preſent Majeſty, (then in Exile) to recover His Crowns Obſerve here is a Bill without a Parliament but you ſhall preſently ſee a Bill paſſed into a formal Law without either Conſent of Lords or Commons: And was not this excellent Freedom of Parliament, Liberty of the Subject, and a Fence againſt Arbitrary Government.

Obſerve here, After all the Blood and Treaſure ſpent, and the Solemn Oaths taken to Defend the Liberties, and Priviledges of the Parliament, againſt Arbitrary Power, how it is drawn into a Compendium of a Council of State! and the Free-born Engliſh Governed at the Will of His Highneſs and Officers! But this is not all, we want only a ſtanding Army and abſolute Dominion over Liberty and Eſtate to make up the compleat Picture of Arbitrary Government, and here it follows.

Obſerve here, Dear Countrey-men, Impriſonment, Fine, and Baniſhment Commanded, and Practiſed with the higheſt Arbitrary Power, and to maintain a ſtanding Army.

Obſerve, It was by Clamouring againſt Arbitrary Government, that deluded the People to Rebel, and Aſſiſt them with Power, which when they had got, you ſee how the Congregational People uſed it.

Obſerve who are they that now make the outcry againſt Arbitrary Government, Andrew Marvel, Oliver's Latin Secretary leads the Van, in a Libel, which wore that Name, and I need not tell you who they are that proſecute the out-cry.

If after all this you cannot by Comparing their paſt Actions, with their preſent, ſee the ſnare they are laying for your Liberty and Property, you are not ſo wiſe, as the Fowls of the Air, or the Beaſts of the Field; for Solomon tells you, In vain is the Snare laid in the ſight of any Bird. I have done my duty, I have told you the Truth, I have forewarn'd you of the danger. If you ſuffer your ſelves to be impoſed upon, you can blame only your own Folly and Credulity.

I have but one thing to add, and that is, If you think, and find I have told you a plain Truth, and pointed to you where the real danger of Arbitrary Government lodges, That you would be as valiant for the Truth, as ſome ill People are againſt it, That you would upon all occaſions ſhew your ſelves good Subjects by vindicating His Majeſty and the Government from the ſcandalous Imputations, with which Virulent, and Seditious Tongues Blaſpheme the Footſleps of Gods Anointed, That you would Inform the Ignorant, confront the Impudent, ſatisfie the Doubtful and Staggering, and unite the Loyal, which will be no more than your own Duty, Intereſt, Safety, Liberty, and Property calls for at your Hands; And for the Congregational Declaimers againſt Arbitrary Government, Let them remember Adonibezek's Toes and Thumbs, and the Gratious Act of Oblivion, and know that in Heavens Court of Judicature, forbearance is no part of Payment. Let them repent of their former Arbitrary and Tyrannical Uſurpation, or elſe I fear and juſtly too, they will pull down ſwift deſtruction upon themſelves, while they are preparing a pit for others.