ENgland, that was lately the Glory of Nations, the Refuge of her Friends, and Terrour of her Ene­mies, how is she become the pi­ty of such as affect her, the scorn and prey of her Adversaries! thy self, through thy Natives Di­visions, giving Forraigners hope to attain that which they never durst have attempted, hadst thou been in some measure united. But Time that pe­riods all Governments, is now determining of thine, by which this Political Estate flourished: It is now corrupted, rotten, and wasted, that little or nothing remains of it, scarce so much as was left of Jezabel, the hands and feet. It is like a sometime glorious Palace, that for want of sutable Inhabi­tants, and due repairing, through the injury of Time, and evil disposed people continuing of spoil and waste upon it to enrich themselves, have brought it to desolation; so that the heirs of it [Page 6](Englishmen) cannot with security live in it; but a Rafter of Peerage, a Beam of Presbytery, or a Pillar of Independency may chance to cripple them, if not knock out their brains; 'tis so dis­joynted and crazed by the windes of Faction and Division, that it were an indiscretion to think of repairing it; it would require so great pains and charge, and yet be neither usefull nor seemly: Therefore, lest a Tempest blow it down, let judi­cious workmen orderly take it in pieces, to pre­vent danger and losse, and save such materials as are solid and useful; and what among them is rot­ten and rubbish, let them be for the fire or the Dunghil.

To begin at the top, as it now stands: Look up­on the Lords House, or House of Peers. I dispute not what they were in their first Institution, but survey them as they are at present. Nobility was first dispensed for a reward of Vertue: Do but consider how they are multiplied since King James his beginning; the Duke of Buckingham, but a yonger Brother of an indifferent Family, became Minion to the Father and the Son; and what a crowd he brought into the House of Peers! as the Earls of Anglesea, Denbigh, Middlesex, Man­chester, Newport, Portland, &c. But Ubi latet Virtus in these mens Ancestors or themselves; Or for what cause they were raised, I at present examine not, but behold them as they act for Salus Po­puli. The Common-wealth had better have gi­ven many millions, then have had that small di­stance of place between the House of Peers and [Page 7]House of Commons: For within these eight yeers, what with Conferences, Debates, Messa­ges and Messengers of their own, how little have they done, and how much and many Businesses have they congested and heaped together? that had each individuall the integrity of Job, and wis­dom of Solomon, they can hardly do us right. What tugging, pulling, and drawing divers wayes, as each faction can make its interest strong? whereas if Salus Populi is to be considered, why may not one room hold them without such punctilioes of Honour? where it may come to a present conclu­sion, whether it be good for the Common-wealth or not; where Prince, Peers and Commons may all at one time agree. But if they shall insist upon their Priviledge Jure Haereditario, I cannot see but that Arch-Bishops and Bishops had as ample and anci­ent a prescription Jure Divino, to their almost era­dicated Hierarchie. And though old customs keep fast roots; yet when they prove obnoxious to Sa­lus Populi, then malus usus abolendus: Therefore let one room contain you for your Debates and Re­sults, and let none be admitted, but such whose ver­tue shall give assured proof, that they are worthy of so high a calling and so great a trust; and if they shall merit from the Common-wealth, either for Councel or Action, let them according to their de­sert have compensation out of the publick Trea­sury; so that their Posterity shall fare the better for their Ancestors vertue: But their Issue which may prove dissolute or worthlesse, ought to have no claim to their Fathers seat in Counsel; for that [Page 8]in time will revive the old Corruption: Let their vertue only give them admission; if they be of a generous spirit, it will stirre up in them a glo­rious emulation, to outgoe, at least to imitate their Progenitors worthy undertakings. Thus shall Salus Populi be furnished with fitting Ser­vants able to discharge the Trust reposed in them.

The next peece that fals in course, that may be made to serve for use or ornament, to raise this new Fabrick upon the old foundation, (and are worthy of reserving) are such members of the Commons, as have endevoured to cherish Salus Populi; they have been nearest related to her, and by her have had her grand Trust reposed in them; but how performed, and by whom obstructed, the world takes too much notice of it. But how can it be otherwise? the course of Elections duly consi­dered, which have the tracts of tyranny that still re­main in them: for why should free-holders or cor­porations only have voyces in the choyce? and not also the meanest he that lives, if indued with an understanding to distinguish between good and evil. Is it just that any should be obedient to that Law which he never assented to? Job left a do­ctrine to the contrary, Chap. 31. Vers. 13, 14, 15. The next inconvenience is, the disproportionable distribution of Burgesses, as they at present stand. What though they plead Antiquity for their Charters? Circumstance of time and place make great differences and alterations; for that which is necessary at one time in a place, may be [Page 9]destructive at another time in the same place; tis likely at the first, when those grants to severall Corporations were made, they were then flourish­ing and populous, which now lie ruin'd and wasted; for instance, Dunwich sometime the Regall Seat of the East Angles, now a poore Sea-devoured-Towne, consisting of a few fishing Cottages; Rysing in Norfolk more inconsiderable then that; there are many scores of Corporations of the like condition. Seges est ubi Troja fuit. There­fore Sublatâ causâ tollitur effectus, when they cease to be what they were in their first institution, detur digniori. The last and greatest inconvenience is the manner and way of Electing: Tumultuary Facti­on and Parties bandying against each other; what canvasing, plodding, plotting, contriving, by friends, letters, bribings, drinkings, feastings, are com­monly used and employed to obtain a Burgeship! I have been grieved to see it, and am asham'd to speak what strong desires, labours, and paines have been taken (in my esteeme) by the best of men to gaine such places. I hope it hath been to keep out a worse, that hath aspired to it, and not to sa­tisfie their own ambition. Tis an easie mat­ter to find a fault, but a most difficult and intricate businesse to redresse a mischiefe, especially of this superlative nature. Here I were at a ne plus ultrà, had I not a Divine hand to uphold me, and to light and lead me through this dark Labyrinth; all what hath preceded, is mans, and may be sub­ject to errour: but what followes, is a rule from God, and ought to be obeyed by you; for it is a [Page 10]Divine, positive, absolute Institute, given, conti­nued, approved by God and his Christ. Take it briefly, Make your Elections by Lots; this is the way that God divided Lands by, by these he de­tected Achan the Malefactor, by these he enthroned Saul, by these he discovered the delinquent Ionah, by these he puts ends to controversies, by these hee disposed of his Sonnes garments, by these af­ter his Sonnes Consummatum est, when his elected Vessels the Apostles and Disciples (after his Ascention) had proceeded in their choyce for a successor to supply Iudas his Apostleship as farre as true zeal and humane prudence could direct, two Competitors stood, the Lot fell to Mathias; I know nothing left more plaine and absolute unto us, and lesse taken up; yet S. Paul writes, these things were left for our Examples. The Admini­stration of the Sacraments de modo, we are not agreed upon; some will have the one performed by dipping, others by sprinkling: The other, taken as our Saviour at Supper, others at dinner; some sitting, others kneeling, a third standing; but this Rule is only used in all difficulties, both before and since our Saviours Ascention, and therefore affords no dispute against it. The not using of it, I feare, is the maine cause of our pu­nishment. S. Iames tels we ask, and receive not because we ask amisse; we have miss'd the true way all this time, therefore have we been thus betrayed in our Elections, by Apostates and Hypocrites; and untill you submit to this president which Al­mighty God left you, use and employ the utmost [Page 11]circumspection and reason that you can, yet you shall entertaine into your Councels Judasses, Hy­pocrites, Atheists, Devils incarnate, that shall en­ter among you in sheeps cloathings, but as Wolves they tear, rend and crush you into pieces. This I am confident is agreeable to Gods Spirit, and will be acceptable unto him, and he will poure forth his blessing accordingly. I undertake not to direct; but what apprehensions it hath pleased the Lord to give me, that am the weakest of men, I shall out of my cordiall affections to my distressed Coun­trey, lay down in persuance of this Divine Insti­tution.

You have all gone astray, and not performed the trust according to your own undertakings, and our expectation, but have suffered us to be­come much more miserable, then you found us: Therefore before the Lords wrath break forth against you, and you be scattered from those slip­pery places, where you sit, humble your selves be­fore him, and kisse the Sonne, by being obedient unto him, in embracing his appointed Rule. In order unto which, resolve upon a determinate time to conclude your own Sitting, and limit a set time for another Parliament to beginne, in which allow all the Natives and Denizens a free voyce in their choyce of their Representatives; next distribute and alter according to your wis­domes the number of Burgesses, as shall be most consistent with each Counties interest through­out the whole Kingdome: Lastly, issue forth your Summons for Members to be chosen in some [Page 12]course, as may be most agreeing to Gods Rule; as for example, if you should proportion ten Di­visions for the County of Essex, two Members in each Division; after the Sheriffe hath your Writ, let him issue out his Warrants to the high Constables of each Division, of the certain day and place, then the high Counstables theirs, to the under-Constables of every Parish, where let every man have his free voyce in chusing two Parish Electors, which are to be sent from the Pa­rish to the Division: Now if the Inhabitants shall be divided into severall interests, so that four Competitors stand, then let them come to the Lot, which may be performed in some such way as this; they having proceeded as farre as judge­ment and reason can carry them, they ought with prayer and all humility, to resign the Contro­versie to bee decided by God, who is the only Searcher of hearts, who will vndoubtedly upon such an humble resignation, dispose of the Lot to his own glory and his peoples good. In Order to which, a child of six or seven years old, may draw the name of him out of a Box or Bag, that shall first come to the Lot; so the second, third, and fourth; this to avoid exceptions of Priority of calling to the Lot; the manner of the Lot it selfe, may bee performed after some such way as this; Let there be an Instrument made into which two silver Bullets, and two golden Bullets are put; they being some time tumbled and shaked together, after the boy hath drawn the first name, a spring lets forth one Bullet, which if a silver one, hee is [Page 13]rejected, if a golden one, he stands; these being thus chosen, repaire to the Division at the appoin­ted time, where they Elect Members, where if they be divided, as before, the same course as be­fore is to be taken.

This Rule may be emproved to the satisfying of all interests, in the choyce of all Officers and Magistrates throughout the whole Kingdome. What just exception can be taken at this way, in which as much of reason is used as can be, and when all men according to their distinct affections shall have freedom of Nomination, and the Party so nominated, shall have equall admittance to the Lot? only after we poore blind mortals have ac­cording to our weak judgements and corrupt af­fections preferd who best pleases us: we in our contest subm't to God to reconcile us, by disposing of the Lot according to his only All seeing Pro­vidence, to such a person as he judges meet for us.

Some perhaps will be ready to make empty and vaine Objections; But in answer to all that may be raised, let such but eye who assumes the dispose of the Lot to himselfe only, and let them be distrust­full if they can, unlesse they bee Pagans that make Chance or Fortune a God. To carnall and am­bitious men, this will be a great vexation; what though I make friends, and a strong Party for my nomination, yet the Lot will not, cannot be bribed or circumvented, it frustrates all my endeavours and designs. If thou have any part of a Christian in thee, be contented, for it is the Lords doing, [Page 14]and when thou art fitted for it, the Lord will call thee by it. This is the onely way to suppresse all Court craft, all faction, avarice and ambition; this is the way that God will owne us in for his people, when our eyes are towards him, and our dependence onely upon him, if the Lord shall in his mercy to save you from destruction put it into your hearts to walk in this way. During the time that shall intervene betweene the ending of this Parliament and the beginning of another, make choice of the uprightest and wisest Compatriots to direct and govern the people, that you may not for the honour of Parliaments seem to doe things (as you have too often done) out of fear and forced to do it. These being performed by you, in future provide for particular Interests, that have suffered much by Committees of Parliament; for if a party cannot be made by friends, or facti­on, the number that makes a Committee may be birds of a feather, and report the matter to the House as they affect, or distast the parties; the parties most injured many times undergoe cen­sure, the House concluding them upon the Com­mittees report; to avoid which abuse, let the parties have a certain day set them, and an houre allowed them to shew cause why they should not be concluded according to the Committees re­port, and there receive your finall sentence; thus shall Iustice be uprightly executed, and no man have cause to complain.

The last acceptable work you can do for this exhausted wasted Common-wealth, is, by Com­missioners [Page 15]Itenerants, to call all Money-mongers to an exact account, and there will be a considera­ble Sum regained from those miserable wretches (that have defrauded us) to ease the present bur­then of the people, as will bee easily made to ap­peare, if you will give a reall encouragement thereunto. I had not thus presumed to have been so free, but that in the beginning of this Parlia­ment, a Grandee told me it was lawfull for any man to propound, it was you onely could de­termine.

A word to the Army, Verbum Sapienti, I will be Canis ad Nilum. Victory brings a very short glory, where Government is imperfect. You know warres are best overcome, either by preventing of an Enemy, or by diverting of him. Principally con­sider that dangers hasty and sudden, ought not to suffer delay, sudden mischiefes require speedy remedies; You have a necessity upon you, which is sufficient to make you resolute.

• 1. Whether did the State of England doe well in beheading the Queen of Scots, for privily endeavor­ing with Confederates in this Kingdome to disturbe the peace thereof?
• 2. Whether doth the State of England doe well in not beheading Duke Hambleton, who actually invaded [Page 16]this Kingdome with homebred Traytors, and a forraign Army, but instead thereof Vote a mulct of 100000 l. upon him when they can get it, to put in the bottomlesse bag with Wallers 10000 l. when Chaloner and Tomkins were hang'd? look to him Army, for these things God visits.
• 3. Whether did the State of England doe well in affording Aide to the late honest Minor Party in the Parliament of Scotland, against the major corrupted Hambletonian Party?
• 4. Whether ought not all honest upright conscienti­ous men in Parliament and Kingdome, doe the like against the Major corrupted Party for Recovery of Salus Populi?