SInce it hath pleaſed the Divine Providence in ſo wonderful a manner, and by ways and means no leſs miraculous, then thoſe by which he did, heretofore, preſerve and reſtore his own choſen people, to reſtore Vs, and Our good Subjects to each other, and to ſhew Vs a very hopeful Proſpect, if not to put Vs already into poſſeſſion of that Peace, Happineſs, and Security with which this Our Kingdom hath been heretofore bleſſed; It will become Vs all, in Our ſeveral Stations, to acknowledge this tranſcendent goodneſs of Almighty God, in ſo ſeaſonable a conjuncture, with ſuch a Circumſpection, Integrity, and Reformation in Our Lives, that We may not drive away that Mercy which ſo near approacheth Vs, by making Our ſelves (wholly) unworthy of it. And in Order hereunto, We think it high time to ſhew Our diſlike of thoſe (againſt whom We have been ever enough offended, though We could not, in this manner declare it) who, under pretence of Affection to Vs and Our Service, aſſume to themſelves the liberty of Reviling, Threatning and Reproaching others; and as much as in them lies, endeavor to ſtifle and divert their good Inclinations to Our Service, and ſo to prevent that Reconciliation and Vnion of Hearts and Affections, which can only, with Gods Bleſſing, make Vs rejoyce in each other, and keep Our Enemies from rejoycing.

There are likewiſe another ſort of Men, of whom we have heard much, and are ſufficiently aſhamed, who ſpend their time in Taverns, Tipling-Houſes, and Debauches, giving no other Evidence of their Affection to Vs, but in drinking Our Health, and Inveighing, againſt all others, who are not of their own diſſolute temper; and who, in truth, have more diſcredited Our Cauſe, by the Licence of their Manners and Lives, then they could ever advance it by their Affection or Courage. We hope that this extraordinary way of delivering Vs all, from all We feared, and almoſt bringing Vs to all We can reaſonably hope, hath and will work upon the Hearts, even of theſe Men to that degree, that they will cordially renounce all that Licenciouſneſs, Prophaneneſs, and Impiety, with which they have been corrupted and endeavored to corrupt others, and that they will, hereafter, become examples of Sobriety and Virtue, and make it appear, that what is paſt, was rather the Vice of the Time, then of the Perſons, and ſo the ſitter to be forgotten together.

And, becauſe the fear of Puniſhment, or apprehenſion of Our Diſpleaſure, may have influence upon many, who will not be reſtrained by the Conſcience of their Duty, We do declare, That We will not exerciſe just Severity againſt any Malefactors, ſooner, then againſt Men of diſſolute, debauch'd, and prophane Lives, with what parts ſoever they may be otherwiſe qualified and endowed; and, We hope, that all Perſons of Honor, or in Place and Authority, will, ſo far aſſiſt Vs, in diſcountenancing ſuch Men, that their Diſcretion and Shame will perſwade them to reform what their Conſcience would not, and that the diſpleaſure of good Men towards them, may ſupply what the Laws have not; and, it may be, cannot well provide againſt, there being by the Licence and Corruption of the Times, and the depraved Nature of Men, many Enormities, Scandals, and Impieties, in Practiſe and Manners, which Laws cannot well deſcribe, and conſequently not enough provide againſt, which may by the example and ſeverity of Vertuous Men, be eaſily diſcountenanced, and by degrees ſuppreſſed.

However, for the more effectual reforming theſe Men, who are a diſcredit to the Nation, and unto any Cauſe they pretend to favor, and to wiſh well to; We require all Majors, Sheriffs, and Iuſtices of Peace, to be very vigilant and ſtrict in the diſcovery and proſecution of all Diſſolute and Prophane Perſons, and ſuch as Blaſpheme the Name of God, by prophane Swearing and Curſing, or revile or diſturbe Miniſters, and deſpiſe the Publick Worſhip of God; that being firſt bound to the Good behavior, they may be further proceeded againſt, and expoſed to ſhame, in ſuch a manner, as the Laws of the Land, and the juſt and neceſſary Rules of Government ſhall direct or permit.