NOva rerum facies; Nay, and we men too as well as things have put on new faces. It is a difficultie to finde one man that hath not changed his opinion or meta­morphosed his manners since the beginning of Parlia­ment, some varying in some things, others in all, but all in some: Some turne to the King, others to the Par­liament, and some turne round. So that we men who should bee stable firme and constant in our judgements and opinions, are now grown effeminate and change with every new moone: nay, and it is well, if not before: where can you find one of that gravitie and perseverance, who can give you this account that he hath been always one? No, we have most ignobly degenerated from that virile and unshaken spirit, that e­very Heroick mind ought to carry along with it. And though it be plausible for a man sometimes mutare sententiam, upon better ground and reason; (for no man ought so to sacrifice to his own Net or to adore his own judgement or o­pinion, as not to be counterpoised or over-ballanced by better and more cleare principles of reason) yet for a man (like a weather-cock) to have no certaine sta­tion; but to vary according to the incertaine blast of fame, or the severall opi­nions of those many companies and associates he meets with all; is extreamly fanaticke and ridiculous. And I wish that there were not to many amongst us [Page] (dangerous men) who in these dubious and uncertaine times know not (in case a storme should arise) where to cast Anchor; who by their division and oppo­sition have talked themselves quite beside their reason; having no dependance but upon a future incertaine opportunity, which they are ready to imbrace whensoever it shall offer it selfe, be it on which side it will. The most prevalent party shall sway their judgement; and as the doubtfull successe of warre shall appeare to either side (whether seemingly or certainly) to crowne their indea­vours, so will these men like an over or under charged ballance, goe up or down. And these are they who cry downe siding faction and sedition. (and justly to) while in the meane time they are the most dangerous men, who know not the treachery that is lodged in their owne hearts, but hang upon the tenter of an uncertain event, whether agreeable to or against conscience. And who more likely (what ever they pretend) to blow the miserable and unhappy coale of sedition and division amongst us, than such who watch their opportunity to raise them­selves by the ruine of others. Neutrality alwayes carries with it an eye of policy, And though I cannot but acknowledge my selfe an enemy to the Cavalliers, yet I must professe to the whole world, that my conscience instructs me, that I have more reason to dread the former, than the latter, by how much the more a clandestine and unknowne enemy is to be feared above an open and pro­fest one.

And for my part, I desire to stand neuter as to either of these. But now give me leave to inform our grave and wise Citizens (for the spring approaches in which we must expecta 2 ^d attempt, if not before prevented by a seasonable accōmoda­tion) upon what pinne the danger of this famous Metropolis hangs; and that is, upon the imminent hazard of fraction and division, the certaine carecter of ru­ine and confusion. It is the Divils position (too too much practised now adayes by his Agents and instruments) divide, and overcome. No way like that to faci [...]ate a conquest. For as in a great Arm [...] let the body keepe intire and unde­vided; many thousands happily will not overcome them, but disperse and divide them into smaller bodies, and then that force which might bee before almost invincible, may now be put to flight and be routed (if not destroyed) by a petty inconsiderable Army. Or as it is with a mans hand, one finger by it selfe hath but little strength it it, but take the whole hand together with the united some of all the fingers and then it will prove very strong and potent. So it is with this City, while it remaines intire without rents and divisions, all joyntly combining for the good of the publique, it is like an impregnable Fort, not to be taken by a farre greater power then the Cavaliers dare lay claime to: But if once divided then it is layed open and made obnoxious to the might and power of the Enemy, and is easily overcome, you know who said it a Kingdome divided within it selfe cannot stand; and if it were possible that hell could bee divided it would come to utter ruine and desolation: of such power and force are schismes and divisions. This is that which is the odium of Heaven, the delight of hell, and the ruine of us poore mortals. This is that feed which the Divell and Antichrist so w [...] scatters throughout the whole world raising [...] against [...], p [...]ner against [Page] power, a Kingdome, City and Country against themselves. Were it not for this no people or persons could ever be made miserable. O then worthy Citizens, (whose piety and zeale to the publike, will bee for ever admired and renowned in succeeding ages.) Vnite your selves by a strong tye and obligation, to serve your King and Countrey. And let not the policy of the subtill adversary divide you one from another: consider that it is the Divels stratageme, more practised now than ever; and if you ruine not your selves, tis not any externall force or power can hurt you. Vnion in a good cause is the ioy of heaven, the envie of Hell, and the happinesse of men. Tis that which now puts a Price into your hands of being for ever happy. Tis that, and nothing else under heaven, that can secure you from the Common adversary: seeing that there are so many fra­tres in malo, combined together against you: doth it not concerne you to be­come fratres in bono? wherefore let us all joyne in a solemne vow never to di­serte the cause untill heaven crowne our desires with a blessed issue. Tis for out Religion, then which, nothing on this side heaven more precious. This is that which through the divine assistance gives wings to the soule, and makes it sore aloft, never suffering it to be at rest, untill with a holy impatience it hath got in­to, and reposed it selfe in Abrahams bosome, while all other terrene and sublu­nary happinesse whatsoever, is but like to golden chaines, cloggs and fetters bin­ding us over to these uncertaine vanities, dividing betwixt us and heaven, depres­sing and detruding the soule into the lowest centre. This is that which sweetens and adds a pleasant s [...] pour to all other fading and momentany happinesse: were it not for a future expectancy of heaven, what would the short ini [...]yment of a petty inconsiderable nothing availe us; what a small difference then betwixt us and bruits; or rather what a great difference would there be; for they (which were made only for the service of man) would after this little minute or mo­ment of life past, be in farre better state and condition then the reasonable soule: for they shall returne to their first principles, nothing, but poore man be for ever, even to the utmost extremity miserable. If we give away our Religion, we re­nounce our God, fell Heaven, and depart from all possibility of our succeeding eternall happinesse, and the soule must have a being, if not above, yet below, if not in blessednesse, yet in perpetuall woe. O then let us resolve to unite our selvs in a sacred combination; and rather divest our selves of all we are, have, or en­joy; then part with this pretious gemme, which will bee our surest and most faithfull friend when either we forsake the happinesse of the world as certainly we must for so heaven hath decreed it, Statutum est omnibus semel mori: or when it shall leave and desert us, as casually it may, for there is no stability or constancy in any temporall happinesse. Againe it is for our Parliaments, and in them for our lawes, liberties, and properties; if we maintaine not the former, the latter will quickly be forced from us. The policie of State erected Parlia­ments as the ultimum refugium (in case other powers neglected their duty, or abused their authority in preiudice of the publike) for the subiect to flie to, for redresse of their heavie pressures and grieuances, and these always have been the certaine propps and pillers of State, and the Patrons of our Laws and Liberties:

And if we shall now foolishly like Esau, part with our glorious Birthright for a poore messe of Pottage, sell our Parliaments for a trifle, what wil become o [...] us and our whole posterity. They are the onely evidences wee have to shew for all we enjoy, and if wee loose these, no other assurance whatsoever can se­cure our Titles. As the Sunne is to the Earth; The Phisitian to the weake Pati­ent or (which is yet more) the life or soule to the body of man, such and of the like consequence are our Parliaments to us. While the Sonne appeares with its resplendent raise the earth fructifies and is beautifull, but if that should hide or withdraw it selfe, how would the glory of the spring flagge and hang down its head for want of that glorious lustre: and the earth become sterill and barren, bringing forth nothing but combersome weedes and fruitlesse Thistles. And while the weake patient is ruled by the skilfull Phisitian, and followes his pre­scriptions, so long the violence of his disease doth abate, and there is great hopes of a recovery; but let him discontinue his course of Phisicke and desert his Phisitian, and immediately he fals into a desperate relaps, and becomes worse then ever.

And lastly, while the life or soule of a man is united and continues with the body, so long it is active and moveing, but when once the soule hath left it's habitation and is departed, the body then perishes & decayes and moulders away into its fi st principles. Iust thus it is with us; while we enjoy the Sunshine of our Parliaments, and desert not this great Phisitian which is as the very life and being of the State, so long prospire succedunt omnia, the State flourishes, the King is happy in his people, and the people blest in their King. The King enjoyes his just Prerogative, and the people their Liberties, and properties. But if once these be taken away, or but discontinued for a time, then multitudes of State pressures and unsupportable burdens croud in upon us, the Law then looseth its strength and vigor, and the Subject his liberty and property, then forct bene­volences and loanes, a farre greater plague to the purse than the twentieth part, will be imposed upon us. Then will the Tyranny and Arbitrary power of the Lievetenants and deputies Lievetenants be againe revived amongst us, then shall new imposts and excises againe vex us; n d new found courts and Corpo­rations, farre worse then the old, poster us, then will the grand Proiect Ship-money, and coate and conduct money (of which now there may be greater need then ever) (the great drayners and exhausters of the subjects store) be againe set on foot to undoe us. Then will Monopolies (the ruine and bane of a state) like pests of lice and Locusts swarme amongst us, then shall we have a High Commission Court, and Starre-chamber againe, to exercise a power and iurisdic­tion above and besides the Law, to plague us with grand penalties, for our small offences, and then should a Proclamation crate Law, and be of as good authority as my Lord Coke, or any of our yeare Bookes; and Magna Charta, be as a dead letter, not able to defend the Subiects Liberty or property, thus would it farre with the State, I and much worse, if we were but once courted out of our Parliaments, and which is above all our condition would be as bad, if not worse in the Church; then would the Pontificiall power Lord it over us againe, and ex­communicate [Page] praying and Preaching, or those that use it, without that they will follow the Episcopall straine, crying up the Kings Prerogative, and pre [...]ching downe the subiects liberty and property; as if the Kings honour and substance did depend meerely upon the ruine of his people. No contientious Lectorers, or pious and laborious Preaching Ministers should then be tollerated. No, the pride sloath and covetousnesse of the Prelacy and these are inconsistent, they cannot possibly stand together, but the one will detrude and depresse the other. Then should we have the rabble of innovations introducted, new disciplines, I and new doctrines too broached; Iesuits and Seminary Priests, with their facti­ous and damnable religion nou [...]ished; I and wee our selves too poasting head­long to Popery. To be short, all things both in Church and state would change their habits and become new; nothing then sh uld be tollerated, but which should have the spetious and faire pretence of a refined government, or of a more pure and glorious religion; whereas the meere bent and aime would be gradually to introduct an Arbitrary power in the State, & pompous superstition and Pope­ry in the Church. Now our Parliaments are as a Hedge wall or fence against such incroachments or usurpations, which while it stands secures us from all these but if we unwisely suffer this pertition to be broken or trodden downe, then all these heavy burdens and miseries, threatning ruine to our Religion Lawes. Li­berties and properties like an invation of the vast and irresistable Ocean flow in upon us. O then worthy Citizens (you whom succeeding ages will honour, and dignifie with the style of your countreys Patriarches) tye your selves toge­ther in the bend of Union, and resolve never to desert the Parliament, least Heavkn as a just judgement upon so vilde a defection, deprive you and your po­sterity of the future happy injoyment, of so great a blessing. Your Religion, laws Liberty, and property (the compendium of all temporall happinesse) doe now lye at stake in this unhappy contention, and if you would be stript and divested of all these (without which life is but a burden, and that as a prologue of eter­nall infelicity) ye most exact and compendious way to accomplish it, is by er­ecting a Wall of division amongst your selves. And if you would mainetaine and defend these (as it concernes every one to doe, who would not inslave him­selfe and his whole posterity) the onely meanes (under God) of preservation and continuation of our present felicity, is by a sweet concord and union, where­fore take your choice either divide and destroy; or unite and preserve and over come; either will perfect its worke amongst us. But rather then live to see the former, may Heaven be so proprious to me as to close mine eyes, that they may not attest the just judgement of so unworthy an Apostesie, or be sensible of the misery.

But yet to draw more close and neare unto you worthy Citizens, this City is the Metropolis, the onely renowned and famous City of the whole Kingdome, that which hath bread and raised so many great and glorious lights both in Church and State: the most faithfull and tender M [...]ther to a vigilant and duti­full childe that ever England had, where have you found men raised (even from the most low and indigent condition) to those vast and almost unfadomable [Page] Mines and Treasure of wealth, that many men have attained to through their sedulous care and industry in this City? Some of your Families being Noble, o­thers matched with Nobility, and thousands of you attained to great dignities; and I may justly say that this City never failed any man of his great reward, that hath beene true and faithfull to God and his owne soule.

O then doe not by fraction and division amongst your selves, goe about to destroy this great and glorious City; your noursing Mother that hath bread, nourished, & elevated you above the vulgar condition, no greater or more crying sinne against nature and gratitude then this; to be a cause or meanes of the de­struction of that, which hath beene thy life and preservation. Matricide of all other crimes, is the most unnaturall, most detestable, doe not to spare a poore patrimony (which thou art not sure thou shalt preserve neither) sell thy glorious Mother to utter ruine and confusion, least one day the ruines and desolations of this famous City rise up in judgement against you; it is division onely that can raze and overthrow it, and unity alone that can and will preserve and support it.

Againe, as this City is the greatest, so it is the richest and most wealthy City in all the Kingdome, this is as it were the Apotheca repository, or Treasury of the Kingdome; where the common Stocke or Treasure, is reposited or laid up: and is from hence as occasion cals for it, disbursed, scattered and diffused into the whole State. Now would you keepe and preserve the Stocke and Treasure of the City, the onely way to doe it, is by unity, division (like a theefe) will robbe and spoyle you of it, and make the Cavaliers master of all you enjoy this is their hopes, and you are their envy; they long to enrich themselves by your Coffers rapine is their pray and livelyhood; and they know here is good plun­der. I here is that, that will make abundant restitution to such who pretending they have lost that they never had, doe in these troubled waters, make a rich booty of poverty; and labour to patch up a decayed fortune by the ruines of o­thers, I this will make a full satisfaction to the Cavaliers, if they could attaine it (which judgement I beseech God divert from this poore distracted City) for their ill service to the publique. And let not those that are Malignant in the Ci­ty (out of I know not what vaine hopes) promise to themselves a greater free­dome or security in a common Plunder then others, and so be wrought upon, to betray this great and glorious City to utter ruine and destruction; for let them know tis a mercy that none yet could meet withall, to spare even their owne faction; and why should they then feed themselves with such idle and almost im­possible possibilities. Besides the souldiary is for the most part the scumme and [...]ffamanicke of the heady, rude, and untamed multitude (made many degrees worse by that desperate and bloody profession) and therefore it is not to be ex­pected that they will shew favour to any, when they have sufficient power; and fit opportunity to be cruell, or if they would shew mercy (a rare and unusuall qualification with men of that profession) doe you thinke, or can you discover so much folly in your selves to beleeve, that they would stand to dispute or en­quire who are Malignants and who not or to sever the Goats from the Sheep, [Page] and to spare the former, but destroy the latter it is the extremity of folly to con­ceive it, their necessity, and cruell desire of spoyle and plunder, would not per­mit them to make any demurre or distinction, and rather then they would suf­fer one Round-head (as those men of blood are pleased to style all such as are faithfull to God, loyall to their King, and true to their owne soules) to escape free from the hand of violence (such an odium they beare in their hearts to all honest men) they would robbe and plunder their owne freinds; and make such (as a just judgement upon so horrid a Treachery) prove actors in their owne ruine, why then if this be true, as I beleive every wise and judicious man will ea­sily (without much perswasion) conceive so, let this abate and conjure backe a­gaine that dangerous destructive Spirit of division that is risen amongst us, wee raised it, and the Devill foments and increases it; and (if we be not the more vigi­lant and carefull over our selves, and labour while it is time, to reconcile and make up our fractions and oppositions) will never be at rest, or cease blowing of this Coale, untill he hath made an unquenchable flame and fire amongst us, let us not then nourish the Devill. Brat, or foster such a Scorpian in our breasts as will sting us to death, and undoe us and our whole posterity for ever.

Againe, this City is the B [...] of malice, against this doe the Cavaliers bond all their aimes, as being their principall Opponent, and maintainer of the cause in question. Tis you brave Citizens that have freely (to the great honour of your Nation) disbursed and expended your Treasure for the good of your King and Countrey; and have withheld nothing, neither estate, nor persons, which might conduce to your Countries welfare and happinesse (for which Heaven grant you an eternall reward) I say it is you, and you alone that have beene the maine propp and support of the cause of God, of our religion, of our Parliaments, Liberties, and properties; and therefore you cannot but expect that this should swell and increase the envy of that faction against you, and more inflame their blood to a revenge upon you, then upon any part of the Nation besides, of ways the more potent and noxious the enemy, the greater is the heart of malice and en­vy against him. Now this likewise should ingage you to a strong & indisolvable Vnion one with another: by how much the greater their malice is that malig [...]e you; by so much the more should your love and intire affection be augmented a­mongst your selves. when rapinous and devouring wolves hearde and fllock to­gether, that is not a time for innocent and harmelesse Sheepe to be divided and strayning one from another.

Lastl [...], this City is as the center or middle point, or as the heart or life of the Kingdome, upon this is the eye of the whole Nation, the good or ill successe of this City hath an influence upon the whole common wealth; and if the Cava­liers once getting footing here (which Heaven forbid) twill not then be diffi­culte to make a Conquest of the whole Kingdome, and that bei g brought to passe, we know that then we are ad arbitrium Principis, at the arbitrary will of our Prince for all that we enjoy; then that position of the Civilians (one of the main grounds of our present contention) would be good law. Voluntas regis legis habet vigorem, the will of the Prince, is a law, then would all depend upon [Page] our Soveraignes pleasure, we could make no certain claime or title to any thing under heaven; and what assurance can we hope to get of that ei [...]he [...] ▪ [...] when [...] Religion shall be forced from us. Now on you noble Citizens, and on you a­lone, under God, doth all the future happinesse of this Nation depend, if you faint the whole Kingdome will presently faile, fall, and come to utter una­voidable desolation. Consider with your selves that this is a blessed and honou­rable opportunity that God hath put into your hands, and who knowes but for this very cause God increased your store, and reserved you and it for this occa­sion, to be the meanes of preservation of your King and Countrey, and in them of your Religion, Lawes, and Liberties. What greater renowne or honour can possibly befall you then this, to be the supports and patrons of so great happi­nesse to your Countrey? to preserve a bleeding, fainting, dying Kingdom from utter confusion and desolation. In your hands, under God, is wrapt up our very life and happinesse, and you have the honour of the blessed opportunity of con­tinuing and maintaining both, and what ingagement can be greater, or give fuller satisfaction to the most vast illimited ambitious desire in the world? O then, let this likewise move you to continue firme, stable, and united one to­wards another, considering that your fractions and divisions will not only de­stroy your selves, but expidite and post on the ruine of the whole Nati­on, and if by your division yov shall worke out your owne confusi­on, and by con [...]equence undoe the Kingdome, no doubt the desolations of poore deplorable England, will one day be accounted upon your score, and rise up in iudgement against the City. O then for the Kingdomes your owne, and your posterity sake (which are all bound up in this opportunity) imbrace unity and follow peace one with another, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of peace shall be with you. 2 Cor. 13.11.