THe Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the Com­mons House of PARLIA­MENT, have since their last Meeting, in many weighty and arduous Affairs, presented [Page 4] Your Majesty with their humble Ad­vice; which with all Thankfulness they acknowledge, never wanted a most Gracious Reception. Never any Prince did so freely commune with his people, and never any people did with more joy and duty commemorate their hap­piness.

The last Session of Parliament our care was chiefly to secure the Being of this Nation under our ancient happy, Monarchical Government. This Session we have endeavored to advance the Peace and Welbeing both of Church and State.

Material Structures are best secured by deep Foundations in the Earth, but the Foundations of true Happiness are from above: We have therefore in the first place perused the Laws, which do enjoyn the observation of the Lords-day, and where we found any defect, [Page 5] either in Rules or Penalties, we have with great Care supplied them: Well knowing, That he who doth not re­member on the first day of the Week, to observe a Christian Saboth, will hazard, before the week comes round, to forget he is a Christian.

We read in the Story of Lewys the ninth of France, when he took his Voy­age into the Eastern Empire, to assist the distressed Christians: The fame of his Holiness moved the King of Tartary to send his Embassadors to offer him friendship, and to acquaint him, he had a desire to become a Christian: Where­upon Lewys sent him Preachers, to in­struct him in the Christian Religion: But the Tartarians observing the Lives of the Christians were not answerable to their Profession; they returned, with the shame of their own ill lives upon them, whose Doctrines were so famous.

That which in those days was the Reproach of those Christians, is much more at this day the shame of this Na­tion: We know more, but practise less then they did: We generally love a Sceptical rather then a Practical Reli­gion, and are contented to spend that time in study of curious deceiptful No­tions, which ought to be imployed in the practice of known Truths. Too many amongst us are of the Sect of the Gnosticks, hunting after Novelties and Phantasms, till variety of Notions makes them mad: Hence do arise all those Sects and Schisms in the Church, which being nursed up in Pride, refuse to conform to any Laws, and make Re­ligion it self the Cloak for all their Se­parations: Whereas true Religion is the Band of Society, the sinews that hold fast the joynts of the Body Poli­tick: If these be broken, the Body must be dismembred; if they be but sprained, the whole body is in pain, and the Mem­ber made unuseful.

At the Opening of this Session, Your MAJESTY was most graciously pleas­ed to call upon us to prepare some Laws for the prevention of the growth of Po­pery; and we have heartily laboured therein, both to prevent the growth of Popery, and all sorts of Sectaries and Nonconformists; But as the rankest Corn, and the fullest Ears are aptest to be laid; so fares it in this matter, these Fruits are not yet ready for the harvest; But we are confident, by the wisdome of Your Majesties Government, and the readiness of your faithfull Subjects to support it, by the just and due Execu­tion of the Laws, (especially if such persons be intrusted with the Execu­tion of the Laws; as do love them) these persons will either be perswaded to Con­formity, or forced into a peaceable and orderly Conversation.

To this purpose, I am commanded by the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the Commons House of PARLIA­MENT, humbly in their Name, to beseech Your Majesty, That You will be pleased to issue out Your Procla­mation for the putting those Laws which now are in force, against the Popish Recusants, Sectaries, and Non-Con­formists, in effectual Execution.

I am likewise commanded to de­sire Your Majesty, That You will be pleased to issue out another Procla­mation for the prevention of that Pro­phaneness, Debauchery, and Licen­tiousness, which to the high displea­sure of Almighty God, the disho­nor of Your Majesties Government, and the grief of all good men, is now practised amongst us.

And for the better securing the Peace of the Nation against the United Counsels of all the Dissenters to our Religion, and established Discipline, we have prepared an Additional Bill for the Ordering the Forces of the King­dom, whereby Your Majesties Lieu­tenants, and their Deputy Lieutenants will be enabled to Train, Discipline, and keep together such a Party as will be able to prevent Disorders, and suffici­ent to check any Insurrections, till the Great Body of the Militia can come in to their assistance.

During the late unhappy Wars in this Nation, our Neighbors Eyes were open to spie out all advantages of spoiling our Trade, and to advance their own; but by the several good Bills made ready for Your Majesties Royal Assent, we hope we shall restore and increase the flourishing Trade of this Nation.

Great SIR,

I have but one word more, and that is by command from Your Ma­jesties loyal and dutiful Subjects, the Commons of England: They have duly considered the present unsetled condition of this Nation, and the great expence which must attend such Distractions: And do humbly beseech Your Majesty to accept an aid from them, consisting of Four entire Sub­sidies; Two of which are to be paid by the First of November next, and the other Two by the First of May next following.