FOr as much as divers Ministers of the Gospell (as they stile themselves) in the Province of London, in their Letter to the Lord Generall and his Councell, presented to his Excellency Febr. 18. 1648 did neglect the grace of truth and sobernesse, contrary to their duty, as appeares in St. Paul, who when reproached by Festus, an­swered, I am not mad most noble Festus, but speake forth the words of truth and sobernesse; Therefore according to the gift of the Spirit, and measure of grace that is given to me, the weakest of Christians, I shall proceed to answer the un­truths and manifest reproaches cast upon his Excellency and the Generall Councell therein.

First, Minst. 1. therefore unto pag. 1. 2. whereas you acknowledge, You were invited, but did refuse any such meeting as was proposed un­to you by the Generall Councell; and that you do give his Lordship and his Councell the reason of that refusall, &c. To this

I answer, Answ. That the reasons of this your refusall are meere pretences, grounded upon your owne wils, and upon a bare opinion of some of your Brethrens dislike of their late actions, &c. you not considering that your Brethren are as fallible as your selves: And that you have done contrary to the Gospell practise, in refusing any such meeting as was pro­posed unto you; to informe and instruct them cleerely by rea­son, well grounded upon Scripture truth; also by your car­ping [Page 2] at, and traducing their honest, just, and faithfull pro­ceedings, legally grounded upon their Commissions, and their Authority derived from the Parliament, for the wel­fare and safety of this Nation, besides your reproaches cast upon them; whereas you ought to have dealt with them in all humility and love, much more then Act. 26. 24. &c. Paul did to F [...]st [...], (for that you were much more obliged unto them) also to King Agrippa and Bernice.

And thus St. Luke presented his Gospell unto most excel­lent Theophilus, Luk. 1. 3, 4. which you have not done; and therefore it is evident that you have passed your owne bounds, and acted beyond your sphere, the which you have most injuriously and unjustly applied unto them, not onely in this, but in many other calumniations in the rest of your Letter, as shall be cleerely proved. Therefore to proceed.

Secondly, Minist. 2. whereas you tax them of injustice, pag. 3. say­ing: But as if the justnesse of your way were already granted by us, we were onely invited to contribute our assistance, in prosecution of what you had undertaken, which we conceive to be out of your sphere; and for us to have joyned in any consultation of this nature, would have made us accessary unto them, and guilty of the evill which is in them, and even partakers of other mens sinnes, contrary to the Apostles rule, who bids us abstaine, even from all appearance of evill, and have no fellowship with the unfruitfull works of dark­nesse, but reprove them rather. Answ. I answer:

Friends, had you any reason to cast this odium upon them, except to exasperate the malignant spirits of the peo­ple to sedition, by perswading them, that the Generall and his Councell are the vilest of sinners? acting without their sphere, in the unfruitfull works of darknesse. And do you not in this make way to the malignant multitude to thinke that the Generall and his Councell are in as evill a capacity as themselves, in acting according to their owne wils, for that you do perswade them, that they act without their sphere; and that their consultations and concurrence with the Parlia­ment, in execution of justice upon the King and his adhe­rents, might have been opposed by them; not considering [Page 3] with your selves, that his Excellency and his Councell are authorized and impowered by their Commissions from the Parliament, for the defence of the People, from which they ought not to decline; and in which thing God hath helped them against all his and their enemies, in the grea­test exigencies of distresses, from time to time, as much as any Army since the daies of Gideon. And are they not also bound by their Covenant to bring Delinquents to condigne punishment, of whom the King was chiefe? O that you had seene, and pull'd the beame out of your owne eye first, else how can you see cleerely to cast the mote out of your Bro­thers eye; but I spare, &c. onely Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Thirdly, Minist. 3. againe, whereas you alledge, It is already suf­ficiently knowne (besides all former miscarriages) what attempts have of late been put in practice against lawfull Authority, especi­ally by the late Remonstrance and Declaration published in opposition to the proceedings of Parliament, as also by seazing and imprisoning the Kings Person without knowledge and consent of Parliament. I answer:

Men who are authorized and intrusted by the Parlia­ment, Answ. to act for the Nation in generall, as the Lord Ge­nerall and his Officers are, may not be able at all times to stay for particular directions, and yet attempt nothing against lawfull Authority, so long as they act onely for the good and safety of the People, as they did, and therefore are now cleered by the Parliament for their so doing. You might also very well re-mind how they remonstrated to the Parliament, what they would do upon good grounds, long enough before they proceeded to action; all which time there was no Ordinance or Act of Parliament made to restraine them, as there is now made to justifie them in all their proceedings.

Fourthly, Minist. 4. and whereas you accuse them, of their late acti­ons towards many of the Members of the Honourable House of Com­mons, forcibly hindering above one hundred of them for sitting in Parliament, and imprisoning many of their persons, calling it an unparalleld violence, many of them being knowne to be men of emi­nent [Page 4] worth and integrity, who have given most ample [...] of their reall affections to the good of the Parliament. I answer:

That if they did seclude so many, Answer. and imprison many of their persons, yet their worthines, either as Members of the House, or men of eminency and integrity, who had given most ample testimony of their reall affection to the good of the Kingdom, was not the cause therof, as you say, but their persisting to do an unworthy act after they were admonished, pursuing their designe in behalfe of the King, against the safety of the Peo­ple; and some other unworthy actions of some of them, pre­ceding that one act. You have the like case in As in 1 Kings 1. 52. & chap. 2. 12. &c. to ver. 35. is very apparent, and in the former part of the first Chapter. Ad [...]jah, Joab and Abiather, men of eminent worth, and two of them of great trust and integrity, who had suffered with David in all his afflictions, Joab exposing his life in all Davids and the Peoples warres, for the safety of the Kingdome all his daies, save onely in this last action, consulting with and helping Adoniiah, Davids eldest Sonne alive, and not yet de­clared against, as Heire apparent to the Kingdome: Nor had David then declared for Solomon, whom God had de­signed to be Ruler of his People; and yet upon this occasi­on, not onely Joab must have his other personall transgressi­ons put into the Ballance with this Nationall one, and be put to death, but Abiather also; although the Lords An­noynted, having by this one offence forfeited his Autho­rity, and deserved to die, must be thrust out of the High Priesthood, and be sent to Anothoth, to his owne Lands, as a peculiar favour shewed to him, in that his life was spared, because he bare the Arke of the Lord before David; and yet his father and all his family, save onely For that A­biather escaped away. himself, were destroyed by Saul for Davids sake, and Abiathers Sons, did also hazard their lives, to give David intelligence when he fled from Absolom.

Fiftly, whereas you say, page 4. Remember the advice of Solomon, Minist. 5. Feare thou the Lord and the King, and meddle not with them that are given to change, &c. And then say, The feare of God therefore (whose Ordinance is violated when Magistracy is oppo­sed) makes us afraid of medling with those who without any colour of legall Authority, meerly upon presumption of strength, shall at­tempt [Page 5] such changes as these are, &c. I answer:

That what you have peremptorily asserted, Answ. is not proved, and may be retorted; for St. Paul, Rom. 13. 1, 2. having laid downe every Christians duty, to the end that they knowing these Higher Powers (when lawfull) Kings, Rulers, &c. may not resist them; he sets them forth by their constitu­tion (viz. that) Rulers are not a terrour to good works, but to the evill. Wherein he implies this Doctrine, That what Rulers soever, Kings or others, who decline their du­ty, and contrary to their constitution, become a terrour to good works, and justifie the evill (viz.) wilfully and publiquely perverting the Law, and do ordinarily introduce an Arbitrary, Tyrannicall, and unjust course, acting against the publique good and safety, to the ruine of the People, who have intrusted them; such do thereby lose their power, and cease to be Rulers, and ought to be declared In this case the Tyrant Nero was by the Senate of Rome senten­ced to be whipt thorow the Ci­ty, and thrown down the Tar­peian Rock, so then even nature it self concurred with St. Paul in those very people to whom he had written &c. the Athe [...]ians and Lacedemo­nians were full of these exam­ples, Act. 22. 4, 5. & 23. 3, 5. and pro­ceeded against for such. For these Tyrants calling good evill, and evill good, are abomination to the Lord, and do forfeit their Authority thereby, by the testimony of the Gospell. St. Paul, Acts 22. 45. appealing unto Annanias, as High Priest in the Jewish acceptation, and as he had estee­med of him, when he was a persecutor, and received Au­thority from him, being one of the Estates of the Elders of Jerusalem, St. Pauls saying, I persecuted this way (to wit which he now professed) unto the death, binding and delivering unto Prison both men and women, as also the High Priest doth beare me witnesse; but within a few daies after he denieth his Au­thority and Rule, calling him the accident, whited wall, a colour that makes faire shew, but hath no substance; for in truth Ananias had forfeited his Authority and Rule. And St. Paul gives the reason, saying, For sittest thou to judge me after the Law, and commandest me (to wit arbitrarily and tyrannically) to be smitten contrary to the Law. And there­fore he affirmed, That he knew not that he was the High Priest, (although in the Jewish acceptation, he both knew and had appealed unto him as High Priest) and confirmeth it with Scripture, saying, It is written, thou shalt not speake evill of the Ruler of the People. This truth considered, how [Page 6] then could you charge his Excellency and the Councell▪ It have violated Gods Ordinance, by opposing Magistracy, without any colour of legall Authority, seeing they have concurred with, and are justified by the Parliament in all their proceedings against the King; and for that he long since had forfeited his Power and Authority, much more than Ananias, dete­sting himselfe of all, and dis-obliging this Parliament, Ar­my, and People, of their Allegiance to him, and also sub­jected himselfe unto the power of the Parliament, and Ju­stice of the Lawes of this Land, for the following reasons:

First, because the Kings of the Gentiles were alwaies by humane institution, intrusted for the safety of the People, and are no sacred annoynted Types of Christ, King of the Church, as the Kings of Iudah and Israel were, and received their institution to that end from God.

Secondly, because our King hath been a terrour to good works, and justified the evill, and evill doers, for many yeares before he raised warre upon the Parliament and Peo­ple) by forcing Ship-money and Loanes by his Privie Seale, and Monopolies of all kindes, oppressing and persecuting his Subjects in an Arbitrary way, by Star-chamber and Counsell-board Censures, losse of member and blood, and stigmatizings, &c.

Thirdly, Parliament Declaration 20 May, 1642. Persisting in full opposition to the Parliaments humble Suits and Declarations made unto him, shewing that whensoever the King makes warre upon the Parlia­ment, it is a breach of the trust reposed in him by his Peo­ple, contrary unto his Oath; and tends to the dissolution of this Government; which truth fully appeares at this day. They further declared, that whosoever shall serve and assist him in such warre, are Traytors by the Fundamentall Lawes of the Kingdome; [...]. Rich. [...]. [...]Hen. 4. and have been so adjudged by two Acts of Parliament, and ought to suffer as Traytors.

Fourthly, he afterwards did indeavour with a high hand utterly to subvert salus populi, and to destroy this Na­tion, by setting up his Standard, and waging open warre upon the Parliament, and against all his good and loyall Subjects.

[Page 7] Fiftly, by his prosecution of two warres, in destroying the precious lives of very many, together with the rapines and ruines of millions of people, in these three Nations.

Sixthly, for that the King despising good and faithfull counsell, when seasonably given him by the Parliament, of whom he ought to have received it; wholly adhered un­to, animated and followed, perverse, foolish, slanderous, wicked, proud, malitious, haughty, deceitfull, and murthe­rous mens counsell, who endeavoured utterly to root out, extirpate, and extinguish the very name and being of all those who were the faithfull of the Land, and endeavou­red a thorow Reformation; of all wicked and unrighteous practises in the King, his family and Kingdomes.

Seventhly, by betraying his Subjects into the Enemies hands abroad (to wit) in the Isle of Hee, and in neglecting to relieve his Subjects in Ireland, against those most barba­rous and bloody Enemies, and in bringing of them, and other Forraigners from other Witnesse the Iermine Horse, Spanish Fleet, and the Scots invasion. nations in upon us.

Eightly, for that the King with all his trayterous For­ces, did continue to resist the Parliament and this Army raised by their Power and Authority, for the defence of this Nation, untill they had subdued them, and made the King their conquered Prisoner, after which time he ceased not to persist in his former designes.

Ninthly, by his transgressing transcendently, more than Saul did, for he onely spared Gods enemies, for which his Kingdome was taken from him, Iosh. 15. and given unto Da­vid; but our Saul destroyed the Lords dearest friends, Exod. 4. 22. & 19. 5. his first borne, his peculiar Treasure and Jewels, most deare and tender unto him; Zach. 2. 8. he that toucheth them, toucheth the apple of his eye; Psal. 105. 14, 15. these are his truly annoynted ones, he hath reproved Kings for their sakes; saying, Touch not mine annoynted, and do my Prophets no harme.

Now, forasmuch as the Powers that be, are ordained (or ordered) of God, and God hath so ordered it, that this Army, contrary to the endeavours, strivings, and expectati­ons of their Enemies multiplied plots and practises, open­ly perpetrated against them in all parts of England, Wales, [Page 8] Ireland and Scotland, &c. besides all the in-workings and se­cret plots in the Parliament and City, and in all other places against them, as also by many of them who call themselves Ministers of the Gospell. I say, seeing God hath so ordered all, that this Army should prevaile against all, and subdue all unto the Immediate Supreame Power of the Parliament, and by their Authority and Commissions given to them. How is it then, that ye who are teachers of others your selves, are not yet ashamed to violate Gods Ordinance, by piercing and wounding of that Authority which God hath set up in the Parliament: through the sides of the Generall, his Councell, and this Army; you having pre­sumed upon the fluid and vulgar opinion, of your Autho­rity with the rude multitude of Malignants, to counter­check and controule all, and with one breath to have cried up the Kings life into safety, and to have freed his person from Justice, saying, The Lord hath said it, as those 400. Prophets said to Ahab. Zedekiah smiting Micaian on the cheek, 1 [...]a. ch. 22. because he declared Gods will for Ahabs death.

Sixthly, whereas you say, We have not forgotten those de­clared grounds and principles, [...]inist. upon which the Parliament at first took up Arms, and upon which we were induced to joyne with them, from which we have not hitherto declined, and we trust through Gods grace never shall, &c. I answer to page 5, 6.

That it is well knowne, Answ. the first grounds and principles of the Parliament were for Salus Populi; and it had beene well if you your selves, and every Member of the House also, had not declined, but acted upon that principle ever since: And although I grant you, The Kings practises upon the Parliament was an high violation to their Priviledges, and an act so injurious and destructive to the good of the Kingdome. Yet I answer:

It was but while the Parliament, and those five Members were fixed for the publick good and safety of the People, but since that, many of the Members declining that Princi­ple, desired the King rather than the safety of the People, by whom they were intrusted for the good of this Nation. Therefore upon that occasion they were very justly secluded [Page 9] and imprisoned, without that, that the Army did act any vi­olence upon the Parliament, or made any breach of their priviledges, as you have inferred, and for that the foresaid members were not seized upon, when they were assembled in the house, but without doores, and for acting, against the safety of the people. And without that, that the Parliament is not now free, and full, and as really, as when the King would have seized on the five Members; for the Parliaments being free, and full, doth not consist in a multitude, who are contra­ry minded, Note [...]. and principled, but the Parliament is free, and full, because they now do act unanimously for the safety of the people, and the good of the Nation, blessed be God for it, and blessed bee the repairers of the breach, and the restorers of paths to dwell in. I say 58. 1 [...]. And without that, that his Excellency or the Councell of Warre, are but private persons, in referrence to the power of Magistracy, or have usurped an Autho­rity over King and Parliament, or have medled with affaires which belong not to them (as is suggested by you) but have onely per­formed their duty, to that end for which they were entru­sted, and authorized by the Parliament, in defence of this Nation: and therefore they could not have neglected what they have done; without breach, of publicke trust, reposed in them. And most repugnant, to the Lawes of God, nature, and Nations, to­gether with the dictates of reason, and neglect of their Commission.

Seventhly, And to pag. 7, 8 [...] together with the rest of your Letter tending to that purpose. I answer, and retort the matter, falsly surmised by you, against the Generall and his Councell. That the King alone, did divest himselfe, and by his owne doings subvert and overthrow the whole frame and foun­damentall constitution of the Government of the Kingdome, accord­ing to the Parliaments forecited Declarations of May 20 1642. And therefore it was, and is now high time (after so long an interruption of enemies) for the Parliament and Army, concurrently, to appear to do their duty, not only by executing justice upon the person of the King, and his adherents, but also in new moddling and settling such a frame and fundamentall constitution of Government in the Kingdome, as God shall put into their hearts, to be most convenient, and [Page 12] usefull, for the wellfare and safety of the people. And for the maintenance of Religion, their priviledges, Lawes, and Liberties, a­gainst all Malignant councells and designes, for introducing of an arbitrary and tyrannicall power, and against all irregular proceedings of private persons (tending to the subversion of the Parliament Army or people) whither pretended ministers of the Gospell, or o­thers, by what soever falacious device presented, to delude; deceive, and pervert the people, by perswading them that his Excellency, the Councel, and the Army, have failed in per­forming of their duty to the Here you wil­fully forget that part of the Covenant viz. to bring delin­quents to con­cligue punish­ment, and was not he the cheif? King in the severall Oathes and Cove­nants generally taken, throughout the Kingdome; and in the protestati­on of May 5. 1641. I further answer.

You have not considered that the King did since that time refuse all the good and faithfull councell, of the Par­liament, and by setting up his standard, waging and per­sisting to wage an open Warre upon them, and against all his good and faithfull Subjects, whereby hee did head all the heads of the Malignants, and became the cheifest, and did thereby divest himself of all royal majesty, splendor, power authority, honor, and estate, and did disoblige the Parlia­ment, Army and people of their protestations, oaths; Vowes, and Covenants made in his behalf, by his said wilfull oppos­ing & rejecting of them, when seasonably offered unto him, without that, that (as you have alleadged in pag. 9.) there was any similitude of agreement in their Oath, and Covenant taken, towards the King, and that which the people made with Ze­dekiah, or that the Army did despise, or breake any such Oath and Covenant, and thereby violated Gods word, and more righteous Oath, to provoke the wrath of the Lord against them, at is untruly suggested; therefore to use your own words of reproof. It is not high time that you would commune with your own hearts, consider the evill of your owne wayes, and turn from them? and have you not done to the Generall and his Councell, as the Prophet Shemiah, and the Prophet N [...]adia, and the rest of the Pro­phets did unto Nehemiah, when he enquired of them, to put them in feare? and have you not feigned these things out of your own heart, to weaken their hands from the worke (of the Lord) that it might nor have been done? and is not [Page 13] this a strong motive to the Generall, and every one of his Councell, and Army, who love the Lord with all their heart, to be very couragious, and to pray as Nehemiah did, now there­fore, O God strengthen my hands? And for Instruction, I shall take your own words, intreating you to remember from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do your first workes, &c. and also how hath the Parliament (and Army) which sustained the force, and opposition of pro­fessed enemies for many years, been made contemptible, and torne in pee­ces, by (you their) professed friends in one day? how is the golden cord of Government broken in sunder, and the honor and the authority of Magi­strates laid in the dust? by your misapplications in this one let­ter, as if you were ignorant, that the supreame power is in the Parliament, and that the Army, have their power from them, and doe act together with them, for the safety of the people. And was not this a declared ground, and cheif prin­ciple, upon which, the Parliament first raised armes, and up­on which wee were induced, to joyne with them, and from which the now Members, and those who adhere to them, have not declined from the beginning. And Oh, that you had not brought against them a exyling accusation, whereby you speak evill of those things, you seem not to know, but what you onely seem to know by naturall bruitish reason, grounded upon outward honour and profit, Jude. like those filthy dreamers, whom Jude speaketh of (who taking their owne opinion for the Oracle of God, do spiritually) defile the flesh, despise do­minion, and speake evill of dignities, wo unto them for they have gon in the way of Caine (swelling against their brethren whom God hath preferred, and accepted,) (and to obtaine corruptable, honour, riches, and greatnesse of the world have) ranne greedily, after the error of Balaam, for reward, And (swallowed up with earthly-mindednesse, have) perished in the gainesaying of Core. You like these are murtherers, com­plainers, walking (not after Gods written truth, even as they also—dreamed, but) after your own lust, your mouth speak­ing great swelling words, having mens persons in admiration, because of advantage, the Parliament and Generall with this Army, even those Moseses, or Moses, whom ye have refused, saying who made To wit, the Parliament and his Excellency. you a Ruler, and a Judge, the same did God send, to be our Rulers, and deliverer.

[Page 12] Take heed therefore of levelling your selves with them, * Their owne words retorted saying, you take too much upon you; nor be not mutineers like Corah, De­than, and Abiram; Lest a more spirituall judgement do con­sume you, aud your names be written in the Earth, whilest yee your selves call justice and righteousnesse, murder, in those who did proceed to execute judgement upon those against whom they were bound to do it by the Covenant. And where­as you do affirme, That the O most shamefull pre­sumption and pride, for they are all quite contrary to you, t. c. Al­stedius, &c. remember the Scribes and Pharises, 10. 7. 47, 48, 49. Tenure of the Scriptures, constant judgement, and Doctrine of Protestant Divines, both at home and abroad, do fully concur in their judgements with you. How can that be, when as there was never like example of any King before this, who did so wilfully diminish, and totally devest himselfe of all his Majestie, just Power, and Greatnesse, by adulterating himselfe and spending his strength with strangers, against his cordiall, faithfull, and espoused People? was it not then high time for his Espousals to have a Bill of divorse? And did not this grand pretended father of this Nation, destroy a multitude of his best children? And would he not gladly have slaine all the rest, upon further opportunity? was it not then high time the Parliament should execute judgement upon him? that God and all the world may be witnesses, they would give him no further opportunity or meanes, either by cohabitation or communion to destroy them? and did not the Peoples spirits groane in them, and their backs bow under the burden of their irrepairable losse, untill they were in some measure eased?

Therefore Examine your own hearts as in the sight of God (to retort your own words) and make the case your owne, as Nathan made the parable Davids, in that you have Jesuitically, under pre­tence of Religion and conscience, raised false and reproach­full imputations upon the Generall and his Councell, tradu­cing and aspercing them with evill, that you may the more easily divide the Peoples affections from them, and sowing sedition in their hearts, beget in them an evill opinion of Authority, and make them ready to rise up in rebellion against the Parliament and Army, upon any opportunity from the Enemies at home, or from abroad? Are not these your owne New Retorted. modelized dividing, destructive Principles, contrived against the safety of the People, and tending to the dissolution of the Parliament [Page 13] and Army? making way to all kinde of ignorance, errour, superstition, and licentiousnesse. By wedding the People to your own dreams instead of Gods lively Oracles, and the plain, free, and pow­erfull dispensation of the Scriptures, which is the way of Gods Spirit, Gal. 6. to guide his People into all truth; be not decei­ved, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reape; God will render to every man according to his works, for there is no respect of persons with him.

Eighthly, Minist. 8. whereas you say to the Generall and his Coun­cell: We desire you would not be too confident in your former succes­ses, if God have made you prosper while you were in his way, this can be no warrant for you to walk in wayes of your own. &c. I answer,

This is one of your former pretences, Answer. multiplied by sup­position, and cannot be proved by truth of Scripture, and reason well grounded thereon, and therefore to this, with the rest of your generall charge, in the last part of this your Let­ter, I shall by Scripture and reason, prove, that the Generall and his Councell are now in Gods way, as much as ever, and may expect successe, and a blessing from God therein.

First, because the Generall and his Councell, do, and have performed their duty, in al their proceedings, concurring with the Parliament, to execute justice upon the grand Delinquent, and also upon some of the chiefe of his Stiled Parliam. Decl. 20 May, 1642. wicked Counsel­lors and adherents

Secondly, for that the King, their conquered and captiva­ted Prisoner, by the rule, Lex talionis, ought to be done unto as he did unto others; Iudg. 5. 6, 7. and this Adoni-bezek, a Heathen King, acknowledged, saying, As I have done, so God hath done unto me; and they brought him to Jerusalem (the place of publike Ju­stice) and there he died; and although Agag said, Surely the bitternesse of death is past, Sam. 15. 32, 33 yet Samuel in this very case said, As thy sword hath made women childlesse, so shall thy mother be childlesse among women; and Samuel hewed Agag in peeces before the Lord in Gilgall.

Thirdly, in that the King with al his Heathen Adherents, took counsel together against the Lord, and against his an­noynted, saying, Psal. 2. Let us breake their bonds in sunder, and cast their cords from us; Rev. 20. 9. and making war upon them, they compassed the [Page 14] camp of the Saints about, even the beloved City Mount Si [...] where the Saints receive their Commission from the great King, King of Kings; to have a two edged Sword in the [...] hands, to execute judgement upon the heathen, and punish­ments upon the people, to bind their Kings with chains, and their Nobles with fetters of Iron, to execute upon them the Judgement written, Psal. 149. this honour have al the Saints. Is there not then a strong tye of holy writ, upon our Parliament and Army to prosecute, and execute Judgement, not only upon the head Malignant, the King, but also upon others, the heads of his wicked adherents, although none others, have been so exem­plary before them?

Fourthly for that the King did use false dealing, in pretend­ing the Kingdomes welfare and safety, sealed with most so­lemne abjurations, and execrations In some of his Declarations praying God to deal with him and his, accord­ing to his inte­grity, when he disquite contrary to what he had avowed. against himselfe, his Throne, and Posterity, thereby to hide his iniquity from the eyes of the people, that he might the more easily seduce them to beleife, and to joyn with him? and was not this the highest cruelty, and means that could be, to bring Gods hea­vy wrath upon his Which God hath already fulfilled, Prov. 28. 15. owne head, and to dethrone his posteri­ty? for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine. Yet he was an anoynted tipe of Christ, as all the Kings of Israel were. 2 kin. 24. 25, 26. As a roaring Lyon, and a ranging Beare, so is a wicked Ruler over his people, And are not such destru­ctive beasts to be taken and destroyed. Also it is written, a man that doth violence to the blood of any person, shal fly to the pit, let no man stay him, God makes no destinction of King or Begger, he is no respecter of persons, but the soule that fur­neth it shall die, no man ought to stay him from it. King And was not the first blood shed in, [...]r neer the Place, wher the King died, countenanced by himsel [...]e [...] his own [...]ement? Ahab and Queen Jezabell must dye, because Nabeth is unjustly cut off, and his Vineyard taken from him. Moreover, the dogges must eate her flesh, and lick up his blood, and also, his Son King Joram being slaine, must bee cast * into the very same plat of ground. And was not the King the occasion and contriver, of the first blood-shed? And did he not persist to de­stroy multitudes of his most faithfull peoples lives and estates, many yeares together? and can wee thinke God hath forgot to be just? Ahab and Jezabels sin, was covered over, with as much piety as might be, but God will not he mocked, for [Page 15] whatsoever a mansoweth, that shall he also reap. God will [...] through Kings in the day of his wrath.

Fifthly, for that it was the Parliament and Armies duty, when God had delivered the King into their hands, and left him at their dispose, Psa. 14. 9. to execute judgement upon him, and to secure themselves and the People, who have alwaies stuck close unto them, in their greatest distresses? hath not the King been a corrupt fountaine, poysoning every streame and rivolet he had accesse unto? and would he not have done so still, if he had not been cut off? and is not justice executed, a good meanes to establish the faithfull of the Land, in rest and peace, with their lives, Estates, Lawes, Liberties, and Priviledges, an­tiently and inherently in themselves? and have they not with much expence of blood, losse of friends, and hardship, now through Gods singular goodnesse regained all, upon a Note this wel good, just cause, and title, by right of conquest? is it not then their duty to keep their own, Iudg. 11. 19, 20. which God hath possest them of? did not Jephthah and Israel do so, with that which was the Amorites by originall right? they onely won it by the sword, and did weare it.

Sixthly, did not the eminency of the Kings person, agra­vate his sinne and judgement, Ier. 22. 24. 30. and make him successelesse? and was it not Coniah King of Judahs case? As I live saith the Lord, though Coniah the Son of Je [...]akim King of Judah, were the Signet upon my right hand, yet will I pluck him thence. And againe, Write ye this man childlesse, To within re­spect of Kingly Government, else not. a man that shall not prosper in his daies; for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Iudah. Wisdome is better than weapons of War, but one sinner destroyeth much good. And is it not great wisdome, that they have executed speedy judgement upon the King and his adherents; and thereby endeavoured, as much as may be, to preserve the Kingdome from further war?

Seventhly, hath not the Parliament the Power and Autho­rity for making, and executing Law? and is it not most righ­teous and just for the reasons foregoing, that the King, and other the heads of his adherents, should be subject unto the Power, Authority, and unto Law and Justice▪

Now upon all the foregoing considerations, Conclusion. and conclusi­ons [Page 16] of Scripture and reason, is it not abundantly prov [...] that the Generall and his Councell, are now in Gods way, and may expect successe, and a blessing from God, and are safely guided by the Spirit of truth? that the meanes they [...]e are justifiable, with in their sphere, charge, and duty, agreeable to the Lawes of God, nature, and Nations, together with the dictates of reason.

But as for you, you have murmured, reproached, and traduced them very much, in this your Letter, and have most highly pro­voked the Lords wrath against your selves, by opposing of those unto whom the Lord hath manifested his own power, love, and goodnesse, and therefore you have added this evill unto all your sins, to ask you such a King to rule over you, one who was corrupted, stained, and rejected of God, in point of Government, and not without blemish, as Saul was, when de­sired by the people, And yet God saith, in so doing, they had rejected him. Aud the people did very sensibly confesse the Lords Justice, and wrath against them, for that they had ad­ded this evill (of asking them a King) unto all their sins: In creating Samuel to pray unto the Lord for them, that they dye not.

O that you and all the people in this Nation who are guilty in this kinde, were but as sensible of Gods wrath against you all, and that you would confesse and forsake your sin, that ye may finde mercy but if ye will not walke in Gods way and counsell, accord­ing to the truth, [...] Sam. 12. ult. plainly and sincerely set forth unto you, If ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall he consumed, both ye and your King, but I hope better things of you for the future, and that you will keep your selves within your own sphere, preach wholsome doctrine, and not meddle injuriously with State-matters, but if at any time you are thereunto called or invited, I beseech you to speak and publish nothing, but the words of sobernels and truth.