The prelatical Cavalier catechized, and the Protestant souldier incouraged. By a missive sent to King Charles in the name of the Protestants beyond seas. Wherein these three questions are resolved. Viz. First, how inconsistent a prelaticall government is with the true Protestant religion, and with the peace and welfare of this kingdome. Secondly, how absolutely necessary it is for King Charles and his associats, to entertain peace with the Parliament at any hand, if ever he hopeth to recover or enjoy any glory or splendour of his royalty. Thirdly, which are the best means King Charles, &c. can use for obtayning an honourable peace for the present, and improving and continuing the same in time to come. Much conducing to encourage and confirme all true Protestants in the truth of the Protestant cause, especially all souldiers that are for King and Parliament. ... Presented to the Honorable Councels of Great Britain, now sitting in Parliament; and the rest of the Kings Majesties subjects. / By Eleazer Gilbert, a minister of Gods Word. Printed, and published according to order. Gilbert, Eleazer. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A85989 of text R200215 in the English Short Title Catalog (Thomason E296_28). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 71 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 13 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A85989 Wing G706 Thomason E296_28 ESTC R200215 99861020 99861020 113147 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A85989) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 113147) Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 49:E296[28]) The prelatical Cavalier catechized, and the Protestant souldier incouraged. By a missive sent to King Charles in the name of the Protestants beyond seas. Wherein these three questions are resolved. Viz. First, how inconsistent a prelaticall government is with the true Protestant religion, and with the peace and welfare of this kingdome. Secondly, how absolutely necessary it is for King Charles and his associats, to entertain peace with the Parliament at any hand, if ever he hopeth to recover or enjoy any glory or splendour of his royalty. Thirdly, which are the best means King Charles, &c. can use for obtayning an honourable peace for the present, and improving and continuing the same in time to come. Much conducing to encourage and confirme all true Protestants in the truth of the Protestant cause, especially all souldiers that are for King and Parliament. ... Presented to the Honorable Councels of Great Britain, now sitting in Parliament; and the rest of the Kings Majesties subjects. / By Eleazer Gilbert, a minister of Gods Word. Printed, and published according to order. Gilbert, Eleazer. [2], 30 p. Printed for Robert Leyburn, and Richard Wodenothe, and are to be sold at the Star, under Peters Church in Cornhill, London, : 1645. Annotation on Thomason copy: "Aug: 16th". Imperfect: quire B bound in prior to t.p. and is filmed with 49:E.296[27]. Reproduction of the original in the British Library. eng Charles -- I, -- King of England, 1600-1649. Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1642-1649 -- Early works to 1800. A85989 R200215 (Thomason E296_28). civilwar no The prelatical Cavalier catechized, and the Protestant souldier incouraged.: By a missive sent to King Charles in the name of the Protestan Gilbert, Eleazer. 1645 12629 13 0 0 0 1 0 18 C The rate of 18 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2007-02 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-03 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-05 John Latta Sampled and proofread 2007-05 John Latta Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE PRELATICAL CAVALIER Catechized , and the Protestant Souldier incouraged . By a Missive sent to King CHARLES in the name of the Protestants beyond Seas . Wherein these three Questions are resolved . Viz. First , how inconsistent a Prelaticall Government is with the true Protestant Religion , and with the peace and welfare of this Kingdome . Secondly , how absolutely necessary it is for King CHARLES and his Associats , to entertain Peace with the Parliament at any hand , if ever he hopeth to recover or enjoy any glory or splendour of his Royalty . Thirdly , which are the best means King CHARLES , &c. can use for obtayning an honourable Peace for the present , and improving and continuing the same in time to come . Much conducing to encourage and confirme all true Protestants in the truth of the Protestant Cause , especially all Souldiers that are for King and Parliament . Being a Work , very usefull and profitable to be read of all . Presented to the Honorable Councels of Great Britain , now sitting in Parliament ; and the rest of the Kings Majesties Subjects . By Eleazer Gilbert , a Minister of Gods Word . Printed , and published according to Order . LONDON , Printed for Robert Leyburn , and Richard Wodenothe , and are to be sold at the Star , under Peters Church in Cornhill , 1645. with brothels and whore-houses . But when did your Highnes , or any of your followers , taxe these men ? For not onely dispensing with , but even selling and licensing adultery , fornication , Idolatry , perjury , &c. Yea , which is as it were , the very essence and soule of Church Discipline ; ( Excommunication ) for so great was the corruption of your Bishops , and their Officials ; that for the value of twelve pence or some other such trifling summe of money , a man might either be received in , or ejected and cast out of your Hierarchicall Consistory , so that they have made Excommunication almost a very Chimaera , and consequently have enervated , extenuated , or rather annihilated the whole strength and power of your Church Government . Furhermore , we appeal unto your Highnesse and your Associates ; what ungodly , unjust and preposterous thing it was , that these Bishops Officials , being themselves but Laick men ; neither Prophets , nor perhaps bred in the Schools of the Prophets ; should at their own pleasure , summon up from the furthest corners of your Kingdom ; nay , and not onely so , but punish , suspend , and censure , both the persons and doctrine of your most godly , learned , and orthodox Divines ; if either themselves or their Bishop had conceived the least spleen against them : may not the Proverb be well applied to such unequall and rigid Judges , Sus Minervam ; or may not such reverend men say unto such Laick Bishops , as the Egyptian said to Moses , Who made you a Judge over us ? In one word , if your Highnesse will but with an impartiall eye : behold or survey the stupendious insolencie and corruption of your Bishops Courts and their Officers , these twenty yeers past , &c. you cannot but confesse with us , that they were and are no other then a company of covetous , temporizing Horsleeches come to their Consistories ( not so much to compose and decide differences , and to preserve peace and piety amongst your people ; as to get mony and enrich themselves by the sins of the people : whereas if this charge were committed to godly and conscionable Pastors and Ministers assisted with the Suffrages of their Elders and Deacons ( as it is in the government Presbyteriall all this corruption might be , or at the least , the most part prevented . Finally , that we may perswade your Highnesse , &c. not onely to leave , but also to loath the paps of that inchanting Sorceress : wee will adde this one thing more , viz. the greatabuse which was committed by your Bishops in their Ordination of Ministers , how contrary to the Gospell ? and inconsistent with the practice of a Protestant Church is it ? that the Ordination of many Ministers should be committed to the hands and authority of one man : viz. a Bishop , and that when such easie terms , and so small a triall ; that let an Artificer or Husbandman come to a Bishop or his Chaplain upon some Ordination day , provided with some perfunctory Letter , or superficiall testimony from a man ( if but of ordinary quality ) always provided that he hath his fees in his hand , and a black coat upon his back , and then , although hee were as false and wicked as ever was Judas or Cain : as void of feature and good manners , as was Thersites and had no more learning then had Balaams Asse . He shall be admitted to the Ministerie , quite contrary to Pauls charge to Timothy ; which was not to lay hands suddenly upon any man . Not that this authority of laying on of hands , or ordaining Ministers belonged to him alone : as the Prelats do alleage , for this is contrary to his own practice , when 1 Tim. 3. 14. He would not be admitted himself without the laying on of hands , of the company of the Eldership ; but rather to dehort him from being corrupted by the example of these men , who had arrogantly assumed unto themselves this liberty , and as contrary is it also to the practice of Paul and Barnabas , Acts 13. 1. and these Deacons mentioned , Acts 6. 6. From which Pontificiall presumption , it hath come to passe , that in your English Prelacy ( as from the Trojan Horse ) there have issued so many Apostolicall Preachers , who being for their fees admitted to the Ministery by some Bishop , without any Church , stipend , or maintenance , are forced ( as it were ) to beg their bread from doore to doore , and that not out of conscience ( as the Popish Mendicants ) but of constraint : they not having so much by their calling , as will supply their necessary sustenance : or which is much worse , sometimes to go beyond the Seas , and there turne Apostates , either to the Roman , Nicholaitan , or Lutheran superstitions , or thirdly , which is as bad , or little better then the former , or rather then they should starve , some of them doe wander to Amsterdam or New England , & their side with some new fangled schisme : Good God how abominable should this be to your Highnesse who professe your selfe Defender of the Faith ? How dishonourable is it to your Nation ? and how prejudiciall to the true Protestant Religion and professors thereof , who should have amongst them all but one God , one Faith , and one Baptisme , and who should have no more Ministers amongst them to work at their Altars , but such as have a competent maintenance , and are able to live by the Altar : Is this the care of your right reverend Fathers to provide for their children , or hath your Highnesse all this time , suffered your selfe so wofully to be misled by these ghostly Vultures , as to permit them so shamefully ( as the Pope doth to himselfe and his Cardinals Nephews ) to ingrosse unto themselves and their symonaicall friends ( neither of whom , nor perhaps any of them ever dared to adventure themselves beyond the seas to see the face , or learn the posture of any Christian or Protestant Church , or it may be hath no more learning in them then to resolve the Bishop of that grand question ) who was Melchisedecks father ? to permit such men , them we say , so shamefully to ingrosse to themselves all the fattest Benefices in your Kingdoms , and that a few ( perhaps forty or fifty prelaticall Priests or Ministers , by their codpiece or Court Symonie , should have every one for his yearly stipend 1000 or 2000 livre. a year at the least , when it may be , 5000 more godly , learned , and every way more worthy pastors , who have also a greater charge to mayntain ) shall not have so much amongst them all , but are enforced , notwithstanding , their assiduous labours , and conscionable conversation , to eat the bread of car fulnesse , and to drink the waters of affliction by measure . That such barbarous , or rather Antichristian inequality , should not onely be tolerated , but also , with tooth and nail , so eagerly be mayntained , without reformation and that by a Protestant Prince , who styleth himself , Defender of the Faith , and by his associates who pretend and professe so much of the Protestant Religion , is a thing we must needs confess beyond our admiration . What should wespeak of your admitting Popish Priests and sacrificatures unto your parochiall charges , yea , and sometimes to steer the helme of Christs ship amongst you , without any imposition of hands , admission , or vocation , other then they received from the Roman Bishops , by whom they were ordinated sacrificers ; to offer in their blasphemous Masses a Sacrifice both for quick and dead which how far it doth derogate from the all-sufficiency of Christs passion , and how far such Sacrifices and Sacrificers are different from those in the Gospel : Rom. 12. 1. which consists principally in killing and mortifying our sinfull lusts and affections ; we hope may appear easily to any true Protestant whom God hath not given over to believe strong delusions , and to hold the truth in unrighteousnesse nor is there any lesse difference betwixt the calling of a Priest by a Popish Bishop , we speake as they are devoted to the errours and blasphemies of the See of Rome , as now it is unto the dispensation and ministry of the Gospell , and the calling of a Protestant Minister by a lawfull Presbyter ( for ought we know then there was betwixt the calling of Annas and Caiphas , and that of Paul and Barnabas : Act. 13. 1. And so also we could tell your Prelates of their permitting women to baptise children in case of weaknesle , and if they cannot conveniently be brought to Church , as if the salvation of infants did depend upon the act of Baptisme and not upon the free grace of God , who according to the good pleasure of his will ; and in relation to the covenant he hath made with our fathers hath elected them to salvation in Christ their Saviour for by the ministery of the Sacraments , Gods promises unto us are not accomplished and finished , but only established and confirmed : here therefore is one grosse errour more to permit women to baptise , whom the Apostle , 1 Tim. 2. 12. will not permit to teach or speak in the congregation , nor to have any publike charge in the Church ; certainly , if they may lawfully be permitted to minister the one Sacrament , we know no reason why they may not as lawfully minister the other , which we hope no sound protestant will deny to be flat contrary to the ordinance of Christ , and a meer profanation of those holy mysteries . The like also we might alleage of the Anabaptists , Brownists , and divers other Schismatikes , that are permitted by you on both sides to the great disparagement of our Protestant Religion who although they were never brought up at the feet of Gamaliel , nor bred in the schools of the Prophets , but meer husbandmen or tradesmen , whose credit wealth and wit lieth in their hands and fingers , yet forsooth will brag of the Spirit and without any warrant or commission from Christ or his Church , will presume to take upon them this sacred function , and both preach and baptise without any warrant or calling , other then their own private phantasie or some brainsick enthusiasme . What need we say more ? seeing that which we have already affirmed , is abundantly sufficient to discover to the world that your late English , Episcopall Prelaticall Government , which your Highnesse and your associats do so stifly maintain , hath been no other ( we mean especially in point of discipline ) then a pattern of Popery , a map of Machiavilisme , a rapsodie of Superstition and a bundle of corruption , in regard whereof ( for ought we know ) we may as lawfully say , that of your Church and your Church government , as Buchanan your Highnesse Fathers Schoolmaster spake of old Rome . Totam denique quantacunque Roma est Nascentom , vegetem excute & florentem Nihil invenies nisi Lupercall Lupercale , Lupos , Lupas , Lupanar . To conclude , therefore this first question , and apply it to the use of your Highnesse , and your Associates seeing that your late Prelacy , as it was exercised in England : and as it is now so stifly maintained by you , hath not , nor ever had any just ground from the Word of God , nor from Christ , institution nor the practice of Gods true Church for divers hundred of yeers after Christ , untill Antichrist began to shoot out his horns . And for as much also as the true and solid peace and prosperity of a people , and their welfare also in respect of politicall government depends much , if not altogether , upon the right and orthodex government of the Church , consisting in soundnesse of doctrine , and integrity of discipline . It is high time for your Highnesse , ( seeing that yoy Hierarchy can hold no water , is not like to hold water ) although with the Papist you should plead never so much antiquity for it ( for as your own Hierarchicall Civilians will confesse ) Quod non valet ab initio , tractu temporis non convalescit . ) To bethink your self of some more sound , lawfull , and warrantable way of governing your people in matters of Religion which is grounded ; not to much upon mens inventions and Pontificiall Canons , as upon the Institution and written Word of God , and of his Son Christ , whose Gospel and Ordinance , doth not onely blesse and sanctifie but authorize and qualifie all humane actions , and that as well under the Gospel , as under the Law : for why should we think , that Almighty God should be lesse carefull of the Government of his Church under the New Testament , then he was in the time of Moses , or that he should then leave , or now under the Gospel allow all things in his Church ; nay , any thing to be managed by the will and determination of subordinate Officers and Magistrates , without any ground ( explicit or implyed ) from himself , whereas we know , that ( not onely Moses under the old Testament was so shie to do any thing ) in the government of Gods people of his own head . and without a speciall direction and commandement from God : that he would not admit unto the Passeover , one that at a Funerall had touched the corps of a dead man : before he had asked counsell of God , as you may see , Numb. 9. 6 , 7 , 8 verses , and in Exod. 25. 40. hee is expresly charged by God not to make the Tabernacle after any other fashion then was shewed him in the mountain ; but also Christ himself , who was Moses prototype ; whom God in the 18 of Deuteronomy 15. did promise to raise up as a Prophet like unto Moses , ( although much more excellent ) for Moses as a servant , but Christ as a sonne , Heb. 3. 5 , 6. Did dispose and regulate his little flock according to the will of his Father ; not according to the will of man , nor according to his owne will as he was man : but according to the will of his Father ; for as himself witnesseth , John 5. 30. He came not to seeke his own will , but the will of his heavenly Father : and this kinde of government revealed in his Gospel without all question he will continue and have amongst all his chosen people to be continued untill his second comming whose voice all Christians but especially , all Protestants , or reformed Christians must obey , unlesse they will deny Christ to be their Prophet or derogate from the worthinesle of his propheticall office ; one principall part whereof was not only to reveal unto his people his Fathers will concerning their redemption , but also to govern and rule them in the performance and execution of that will unto the end of the world : wherefore to draw the frame and authenticalnesse of a Church government , from any other pattern then from Christ and his Apostles , is no other then to deny both the Propheticall and Regall office of the Sonne of God ; who if he be a King over his people , why should he not be able both to prescribe laws unto them , and also guide and rule them according to these Laws so far as may conduce to his owngory and their happinesse : Surely they that draw the frame and government of an Evangelicall Church under the Gospel , from any other authority , or build the same too much upon the placets and inventions of men who are not onely vain , but vanity it selfe , nor subject to deceive , but also to be deceived , doe but take their marks by the moon , build their house upon the sand . preferring Eleazer the servant to Isaac the sonne , and Moses the messenger , unto Christ the master and Judge of all the earth . In a word to say that Christ is not as carefull of his Christian Church under the Gospel as Moses was of the Church of the Jews ; and that he hath not in his Gospel prescribed , what kind of Magistrates , Ministers ; and Officers hee would have , and by what Laws he would have them to be governed , were to make him more negligent of his people then was Numa of the Romans , Solon of the Lydians or Lycurgus of the Lacedemonians ; all which ( although Heathens did prescribe wholsome Laws unto their Common-wealth ) which so much as to thinke of the Lord Jesus ( in whom were hiden all treasures of wisdome and knowledge ) were most damnable and blasphemous . So much of the first Question , viz. How inconsistent your late Church government was with the Gospel , and how far it hath been of late years in your Kingdoms abused . The second Question . HOw inconsistent this kind of Church government is unto your Highness safety and prosperity of the Republick : and consequently what a preposterous thing it is to continue the same in these Kingdoms ? This Question is easily resolved , if you will suffer your judgment without partiality : but to reflect upon these three Objects , viz. First , the disposition and affections of your own Subjects . Secondly , the reputation and expectation of Protestant Princes and Professors amongst us beyond the Seas . Thirdly , the condition and nature of the true Protestant Religion , and Protestant Professors established and regulated by a Presbytery ; which , without all peradventure of all Christian professions this day in the World , is that which is most sound and orthodox in it self : as being most free from corruption , and most safe for a true Protestant Prince which undertaketh to mayntain ( not a Protestant Religion , for so do the Kings of Poland , Sweden , and Denmark , although corrupted with the Roman and Lutheran Superstitions ) but the Protestant Religion , which onely is most consonant with the doctrine and practice of Christ and his Apostles , and most agreeable to that pattern of wholsome doctrine expressed in the Gospel , the patronage whereof no Prince can deny that is a true Protestant unlesse it be such a Prince that affecteth tyranny ; and would make under the cloak of Relgion ( not the Word of God and welfare of his people ; but worldly policy and private respects , ) to be rule of his government . First then , May it please your Highnesse and Confederates , to cast your eyes upon the people ( we mean not such people , whom malice , corruption , or covetousnes , ( without any respect to the Word of God , or a good conscience ) have drawne to your side ) but the mayn body of the two of your best Kingdoms of England and Scotland , for the most and best part , how exasperatly and uncontrolable are they set against this way : mayntayning it for a maxime ( as your Associates doe ) No Bishop , no King , so they ( No Bishops , no Popery : ) where by the word Bishop , they do not understand any of Pauls Bishops mentioned in the Epistle to Timothy and Titus , for such Bishops as these they seek for , and their Petition unto your Highnesse is ; Da nobis tales Timothaeos , & nos eos cib abimus auro , & potabimus balsamo ; Such Bishops as these may be well consistent with the Presbyteriall Government , and by the prayers and suffrages of such Bishops ( before ever hee medled with a Hierarchy ) your Royall Father King James did enjoy many peaceable and happy days which ( if it had pleased our Great Land-lord ) might have been continued unto your Highnesse and your posterity , and which ( wee beseech the Almighty , mangre the unhappinesse of your present distempers , ) may be continued unto you and yours ( as long as the Sun and Moon endureth . ) But by a Bishop , your people for the most part , understand a domineering , temporizing and self-seeking prelate ; where by the word Bishop or prelate , they doe not so much conceive one particular office , or individuall person of one Clergy man , but collectively , all his subordinate Officers Assistants , and Attendants ; such as Deans , Archdeacons , Prebends Surrogates , Chancelours , Commissaries , Registers , Proctors , Apparitors , Chaunters , Choristers , Canons , Pety-Canons Vergers , and all their Ecclesiasticall Courts , Laws Canons , Orders , Innovations and Ceremonies which although they were in themselves never so indifferent , decent , or commendable yet the Commons for the most part of both these Kingdomes are perswaded , and hold it for ▪ Maxim irrefragible , that dictates such a Bishop ( we say not such a Prines , mayntaining or approving such persons or things ) is no other then a relike of popery ; a limbe of Antichrist : a Wenne upon the face , or a Boyle upon the blest of a true Protestant Reformed Church . Nay , there be many thousands of Husbandmen , Artificers and Tradesmen ; besides people of greater quality ( if we be not much misinformed ) within your Island , whom ( if wee should goe about to perswade of the lawfulnesse of such a Bishop but in jest ) they would be ready to cut our throats in earnest so rigidly are they set against this kinde of Prelacie : the Hierarchy , that the very name of a Bishop , is to an ordinary English or Scotish countrey man as the King of Spain is to a Hollander : for as the one taketh it for an argument somuch honesty to rail against the Spanish King , so doth the other hold this to be a speciall marke of a good Protestant to condemne and cry down Episcopacy , the very name of a Bishop they hate worse then a young Court Lady doth old age , or a Jew Images . Seeing therefore your people ( for the most part are thus disposed ) it is the duty of a wise Prince , being Pater patriae , to comply to their desires ; your greatest strength consisting in their affections , and their affections being so brittle as a Crystall glasse , which being once broken can hardly be souldred together again : yea , although that which they desire should be unreasonable , yet ( if the common stream be very strong ; a discreet Prince can have no better policy then to row with the tyde ( although he should be forced , through the violence of the weather , to land at the wrong stairs ) it is but a little going on foot ( if he cannot have a Coach or Sedan ) that will bring him to his right Harbour . Nor can the foregoing or quitting the Prelacy Hierarchy , detract any thing ( if you consider rightly from the stature of your magnificence . For why , may not a Moderator ( in a government presbyteriall ) be as safe and honourable unto your Highnesse , and as well endowed by your Highnesse bounty ; as any prelate under the government Hierarchicall ; your Highnesse especially , having therewith ( which wee are sure you have not now ) the affections and consent of your people . Neither can it any ways be dishonourable to admit of this change at the request of the Commons , seeing you have the president of divers wise and mighty Potentates for the same ; who rather then they would admit of warre to come within the channell of their Dominions , upon any terms ; did think it no disparagement to subscribe unto their peoples demands ; although sometimes absurd and ridiculous : Witnesse Lewes the Eleventh , and Henry the Seventh ; then which all England and France ; cannot point forth two of more profound judgment , and better verst in the mystery of government , who in cases of controversie with their subjects , were the first propounders and seekers of peace ; and by their soft complyance , did dint the bullets of their peoples fury ; and so by this means , when the storme was over , and businesse came to be debated upon the great Carpet ; did in a short time , and by degrees become Masters of their own ends , and their subjects affections : Yea , which is yet more , Suppose that your Great Counsell would comply with your Highnesse to continue this Hierarchy , ( which as we understand they will yet hardly do ) yet shall not ever your Highnesse or your posterity have any setled peace in your Dominions , unlesse you abolish the same : The people wil stil once in twenty or thirty yeers run into their old byas , Episcopacy ( as it hath been there amongst you exercised ) being in their construction ( as is aforesaid ) no other then a wound or gangreen upon the brest of the English Church in which wound , so long as there remayneth any corruption , so long there will be pain : and so long as there is pain , the patient will complain , the humour therefore must be purged , and the wound before it be sewed up , well clensed , lest it burst out again , or if it be a gangreen , the part that is festered must be cut off : — Immedicabile vulnus , Ense recidendum ne pars synceratrahatur . For if it be let alone , the whole body will be thereby endamaged so long as the cause remayns , so long will the effect be continued ; so long as your Highnesse doth mayntain and patronize Episcopacie , so long will your people murmur and grudge at your government . As therefore you tender the health of the Common-wealth , and as you desire the setled peace of this Kingdome ; venienti occurrite morbo : purge out this old leven , cleer the brest , and heal the heart of your politicall body , and that so seasonably and speedily , that your miseries come not to a greater heighth ; for , — Sero medicina paratur , Cum mala per longas invaluere moras . If your disposition to jarring turn once into a setled habit of warring ( without the rich mercy of God . ) there will be norhing wanting to make your calamities irrecoverable . Furthermore let your Highnesse and your Confederates ( if you be as you professe your selves to be true Protestants , duly consider what a great improvement this will be to the Protestant Religion ; if you will abandon this kind of government , and establish throughout all your Dominions the government Presbyteriall ; what a great heartning and encouragement to all forreigne Protestant Princes and professors throughout Europe , who do worship God in spirit and truth & are resolved to maintain their Religion in the same purity it was in the Apostlestime , and many yeers after , untill pride , ambition and corruption began to sway : What joyfull news ( we say ) will this be to them ? that your Highnesse and Associates have resolved to put to your helping hands towards the curtaling of the Popes horns , and that you have given such a blow to the Roman Antichrist , as that you have not only ( within your Dominions ) cutoff the head and members ( that is , the Prelaticall Bishops and their Court-keepers , but also demolished and defaced the very Images , and representations of that Babylonish Monster ; yea , that you have not onely cashiered and discarced all open professors of popery ( such as were Jesuits , Priests , and others their Disciples and Emissaries ; but also all Ecclesiasticall Dignities , Orders , Canons , Courts and Conditions of men , which did any ways concern or rellish a popish Hierarchie . For certainly ( say what you will ) their is no Religion in the world next to the Muscovites , ( except the Lutherans ) who yet in their Prelacy and Church Discipline , are not so corrupt and extravagant ) which doth more punctually resemble the government of the Roman Church , then doth the English Hierarchie in so much that since the beginning of your late intestine broyls in Great Britain , the Jesuits have not failed to stirre up and incense the King and Parliament of Poland , either to banish and exterminate all your Highnesse Subjects and Countrymen out of their Kingdome , or else to vex and charge them yeerly with such grievous and unaccustomed taxations , as that now they can hardly gain livelihood amongst them ( notwithstanding their laborious endevours , good desert , and great services which they have done for them ) and why is all this forsooth , but because they will not be of their own Kings religion ; which they take for granted ( to be Roman Catholick ) else why did the Jesuits of the City of Vilna , ( wherein is the chief Tribunall and Universitie of the great Dukedome of Lithuania ) in Anno 1641. upon their Saint Ignatius day ( at which time the Jesuits do use to keep a solemne Feast , for the honour of their Patron and Founder : with great joy and acclamations , singing of Anthems , drinking of Healths and shooting off divers great peeces of Ordnance which they had planted upon the top of a hill close by the City ) congratulate and give thanks to God for the happy conversion of the King of England . Thirdly , for we will speak no more of this second Question , doth your Highnes and Associates think , that the Presbyteriall government ( if you should forsake the other ) will be prejudiciall to Monarchy ? Surely , howsoever your Prelates have scandalized and spoken ill of that way , calling the followers and professours thereof , and that in an ill sence , and that by way of obloquy ; Puritans : yet ( if our observation fail not in most parts of Christendome ( which some of us have surveyed ; and so have few or none of your English Prelats , or Dirgy-men : For as we understand , they are none of the greatest Travellers , they think this qualitie no ways sutable to their grandeur , and therefore leave it to Seamen , or others of a meaner condition : and so receive all things willingly ( which they are to know or speak of , of other Nations ) at the second hand . Shewing themselves hereby more carefull and vigilant for the bodies , then for the souls of men : if our observation ( we say ) fail not ; you shall find that in all the World there is no Religion to a Sovereigne , that desires to make himself absolute , and would have a continued permanence of his Monarchy ) even to such a Prince , we say again : that there is no Religion under Heaven so competent and agreeable as a Protestant Presbytery ; in so much that we cannot but wonder ; that a Prince professing Religion onely for policies sake : should suffer any other to be within his Dominions . For let a Protestant King ( we mean one that rules over a people of that profession ) be never so notoriously wicked in his person , and enormious in his government : let him stamp vice with his example , and make it currant by being his , let him remove the ancient bound-marks of lawfull Sovereignty , and every day make more yokes and new scourges for his poore people : let him take reward and punishment out of the hands of Justice , and distribute them without any respect to right or wrong : in a word , let him so exceed in mischief , ruine and oppression , as that Nero being compared with him may be held to be a very Father of the people . Finally when he hath done all that he can to procure hate and contempt yet shall hee not for all this have occasion to feare such a people , but may boldly go in and out to his sports , without either a publick guard or privy coat ; nor need hee take the lesse drinke when he goeth to bed , or the more thought when he riseth : but may without the least suspicion of a Jesuited Raviliac , solace himselfe in his bedchamber ; or elsewhere , more securely then the Grand Signeor can do in his Seraglio . The third Question , which is this , viz. HOw much it concerneth your Highnesse and your Confederates at any ●●nd and upon any conditions : not onely to embrace peace with your Great Counsell ( if it be offered ) but also eagerly to pursue and seek after 〈…〉 such things as may concern the same ( if the Lord hath not given you over to believe strong delusions , and passed the same sentence against you and your Kingdoms as he did once against Belshazzer , Daniel 5. 25. Mene , Mene , Tekell Uphansin : that is ( in our construction and as wee probably conetjecture by the ways which you have taken ) to weigh you in a ballance , with your Father , Queen Elasabet , of ever blessed memory and divers other good and glorious Kings of England , and f●●e finde you too light , then to number you : that is , to abate the number of your Kingdoms and finish the glory and splendour of your Monarchy . For who is he that hath but half an eye , and doth not perceive this course of war if it be not both throughly and speedily diverted ) to be altogether fatal and destructive unto your Highnesse but especially in these four respects , viz. First in respect of your Kingdoms . Secondly in respect of the Protestant Religion , if you be , as you professe a lover of it . Thirdly , in respect of your Sister and Nephews ; who in all likelihood can never be restored , so well into their rights as by the prosperity and successe of the Protestant cause : and fourthly , in respect of the duty which by the Law of God , you owe unto your Subjects . First , in respect of your Kingdoms which by this course are almost already consumed as by a raging fire , which consumeth the houses or Millo and Sechem , and the Cedars of Lybanon , Judg 9 , 15. ●o for by war ( as one house setteth another on fire one Kingdome destroyeth another . This means therefore to allay your discontentment being too rigid and destructive , ought both seasonably and speedily to be prevented , left your Kingdoms being hereby depopulated the Revenues of Great Britain ; prove as small unto your Highnes as are this day the Rents of Pomerland , unto the Duke of Prussia , which within these twenty yeers and lesse ; might pro tanto , have vied happinesse , with any part of your three Kingdoms : and yet they were consumed by strangers in a publike war , by an open and known enemy the wound reached no further then the flesh & therefore the more curable : but you have struck your self into the bowels , it is a private , as it were ; an intestine and civill War : which you have fomented and consequently , the more ominous , execrable and incurable , For if a Kingdome be divided against it selfe , how can it stand ? and if you thus bite and devoure one another how can you chose but be destroyed one of another ? If then war considered absolutely , and in it selfe be so rigid and exigent , that it should never be undertaken , but in case of extremity ( as a man should never let bloud but in case of necessity . How much more to be abhorred is that Civill war , wherin all things are miserable ? For it is not an open enemy that you fight against , but even your own familiar friends ; it is not a Turke , the common enemy of the Gospel ; nor a Spaniard the known enemy of England : but your owne Brethren and Countreymen ; who doe professe with you to have all one God for their Father , one Christ for their Redeemer , one truth for their Religion , one CHARLES for their King , and one Great Britain for their Countrey : and yet alas , how doth Manasseh advance against Ephraim , Ephraim against Manasses ; King against Subject , County against County , Father against Son , and Son against Father ; and that in such bitternesse and eagernesse of spirit , that one is become a curse to another blowing the Trumpet of Sheba one against another ; and saying one of another ; They have no part with us of God nor in the inheritance of Christ Jesus ; every one to his Tents ô Israel so that , while as both of you seem to strive about one Religion ; there is in effect betwixt you both as much as no Religion ▪ Religion it self is almost lost through the quarrels and questions for Religion : it faring with her as it did with the woman in Plutarch , who having many Suitors ( when every one could not have her to himself , they cut her in pieces , that so none might have her . For certainly ( if our information fail not , there be almost as many false brethren , and professors of the one side ) as there be abettors of the Prelacy , and Papacy on the other ; yea , and as obstructive and obnoxious to the Protestant Cause though both of them be eq●ally enemies to peace : being not onely contentious but lovers of content on : However we conceive the separating Schismaticks to be the most dangerous they being so wedded to their own phantasies and onthusiasmes , that whatsoever opinion they once lay hold on ( let it be never so contrary to the analogie of faith , or the rules of charity in the communion of Saints ) these men we say , are so zealously confident in their way , that they had rather there should be no Protestant Religion at all in the world , then that opinion or phantasie which they have conceived of it , should not prevail , atque hinc illae lachrymae : From hence your Kingdoms have received a double blow , one from your professed Friends , another from your professing enemies , whom because , nec verit ati nec paci cedere norunt : they neither can , nor know how to give way to a true Protestant peac● ; we will leave to themselves , and proceed unto the second motive which should incline your Highnesse and your confederates to peace . And this is the respect you should have to the Procestant Religion : where by a Protestant Religion we understand , not a profession of Christianity which is reformed onely an part , such as is that of the Lutherans , and your late Hierarchie in England , which though ( as is aforesaid ) it was purged by the care of godly and orthodox Princes from the heresies of the Romane Church ( in matters and points of doctrine yet did it in matters of discipline retain diverse exorbitant scandalous and corrupt customs ; and superstitious ceremonies , which made the English Church ( although not the same ) yet to resemble , and be too too like that , which is mayntained by the Roman Antichrist ) but by the Protestant Religion we understand such a profession of christianity as is reformed in both these ( so far as the excellencie , perfection and purity of a militant Church may subsist withall ) without any excessive or corrupt mixture of humane inventions or superstitious customes and ceremonies either in doctrine or discipline ( such as we believe your self will confesse ( if you know any thing of a presbyterian government ) to be this day amongst all Europian Christians most candidly and incorruptible mayntained and practised by the Presbyterian Protestants . This is that Religion which is in every godly and decent respect , most consistent with the truth and purity of the Gospell and which ought to be mayntained , preserved and cherished by Protesiant Princes and States with as much eagernesse and industry as the Jesuiticall Pentificians have to mayntain their Romish Idoll which an all probability can never be done by war , especially by such a war as that is which is abetted by your Highnesse and Confederates ; for hereby ( if we be not much deceived ) you doe what you can to encourage and hearten the Papists against the Protestants and proclaim ( as it were with open mouth to the wide world ) that you are turned Apostates from the Protestant Religion : For what greate cause or occasion can your Highnes and your associates give unto the Papist to work the finall overthrow and ruine of the Protestant Churches and States , then to entertain and harbour prejudicate and inreconcilable affections against your Protestant Subjects and brethren : this is all they seek for ●●fer if your Italie , Gallico , Haspamol●sed Austrian Papists can have but such a strong foundation to build upon ( as the distance and estrangement of Protestant Spirits , either opposed or alienated one from another in points of Religion , then are they perswaded ( and so in all humane reason they may well be ) that neither their Counsels nor intentions can neither fundamentally nor essentially concur , and conscquently no confederation nor conjenction in real endeavours , will ever be brought to any setled purpose or period , either in Great Britain , or elswhere . And to this purpose , wee cannot admire enough of your Highnesse , and your Great Councell , that you should take so shall notice of the Spanish King , and the German Emperour , who are so fast vying stakes with the French King which of them should soonest by this means engrosse unto themselves the European States , and erect a Catholike Christian Monarchie , to which purpose , they omit no way or means to make the Protestant Princes and States fall by the eares together , and keep their Houses and Territoires in perpetuall division . To omit Germany , and other places , where we have not been so well accuainted : wee appeal to the verdict of your own Countrymen , Merchants that travell into Denmarke , Sweden , Poland , Russia , amongst almost an innumerable multitude of Lutheran Protestants , who ( if they understand , or have taken notice of the practice or preaching of these Luther Priests and Ministers , cannot but acknowledge and testifie how carefully and industriously the Jesuits ( especially in Poland and Prussia , ) doe foment and hire unconscionable Divines to mayntain pretences of a fundamentall difference in Religion betwixt us and them : which in truth and substance is but all one giving unto the Lutherans many promises and priviledges , which they will not so much as profer unto the Evangelick Protestants that separation being made between the Lutheran Protestant and the Reformed Evangelick Protestant , the occasion of Disputes envy strife , rayling and evill ●●mising might never be wanting amongst them ; and that as well for temporall and worldly , as for heavenly and spirituall respects . The third motive to induce your Highnesse unto peace , is the Obligation which God and Nature hath laid upon you , to mayntain the Rights of your Sister and Nephews , whose parents , if they had been either Papists or Neuterals , might have this day been sitting in their Castle or Wittenbergh . For although ambition , was the cause pretended ; yet who knoweth not that knoweth any thing ? that their Religion was the cause intended . For had they complyed so much as some other Princes do that beare the name of Protestants ( with the Spanish King , and the Germane Emperour ) neither had their Confederates so miserably flinched from them us they did , nor they liad been so rigidly and cruelly ejected out of their own inheritante us they were . But because Gods judgments are unsearchable , and his ways past finding out ; for , who knoweth Gods mind ? or who hath been his Counsellor ? and also because no man can discerne Gods love and hatred in this respect by this event of any temporall occurrence , all things falling out to all to them that sweare , as to them that fear an oath , we will neither think the worse of them , because of their present afflictions nor the better of their enemies , because of their atchieved victories . The Almighty hath his own fulnesse of time , for the managing and disposing all important passages under the Sunne , but especially for such as doe more immediately concerne his own glory and the good of his Church ; and although he hath suffered the Roman Antichrist and his Catholick children , for these thirty or forty years past , to ride over the bellies , plow , and make long furrows upon the backs of these and some other Protestant Princes , Psal 129. 3. yet as God is just , and his Gospel true , the feet of all the enemies of Protestant Religion shall slide in due time : Yet a little while , and he that shall come will come , and will not tarry , Deut. 32. 35. For when , That seven-headed and ten-horned monster , having caused the Kings of the earth to commit fornication with her , Rev. 18. 3. and stirred them up by policie and machiavilisme to fight against the Lamb , Revel. 17. 14. so soon as shee shall be fully drunk with the blood of the Saints , and of the Martyrs of Jesus Christ , and also hath made these Kings drunken with the wine of the wrath of her fornication ; in a word , when shee hath for a long time sitten upon that septicolled Citie like a Queen ; saying , and domineering over it , I am no widdow , and shall see no mourning : then shall there come upon her a sodain alarm , as there did upon Samson , Up Samson , the Philistims are upon thee : Up Romish Babylon , for all thy strength and cunning , a Lambe shal overcome thee , and these Kings which thou cast been so much in love with , and have been so much in love with thee , they shall stand afar off because of thy torment ; saying , alas Alas for that great City , for in one houre is thy judgement come . If therefore your Highnesse and your Confederates have not already given your names to this Beast : and if you be not yet drunke with the wine of the wrath of her fornication . For the Lords sake , come out of her let not your souls come into her counsels , neither be ye joyned with her Assemblies , lest partaking of her truelty you partake also of her plagues : For as the Lambe overcommeth and destroyeth all such as oppose and contradict him in the truth and purity of his worship ; so doth he in his appointed time , honour , crown , and blesse all that in syncerity and simplicity of heart joyne with him for the mayntenance of the purity and truth of his Ordinances , of which number are ( not onely these noble Princes ) so many of them as have declined that broad way , and embraced this narrow way ; one that leads to the new Jerusalem , but also the mayn body of Great Britain , England and Scotland , which have mutually and interchangeably Hungary , ingaged themselves ( besides a considerable number of Reformed Protestants beyond the Seas ; yea , and the Luther an Protestants also in Denmarke , Sweden , Germany , Prussia , &c. besides the protestants of the Greek Church , inhabiting the Territories of Muscovia , white Russia in Poland , and other places , who are almost allequally engaged with us towards the curtaling of the horns of the Romish Bishop : all which ( as we conceive ) if there were any firme complyance betwixt you and your Great Counsell of State , might here be brought easily to reconciliable minds towards us , to joyne with us in one common cause , for the abandoning and abolishing all Antichristian and and unlimited Jurisdiction from the protestant Churches throughout Europe . So that in all places and Dominions of Christendome , there may be but one Shepherd , and one sheepfold , every severall Kingdome and Province thereof ( through the annuall and mutuall correspondence of their Princes and States ; and the strength of a generall Councell , by their authority seasonably convocated , being perswaded and throughly informed in the truth of all essentiall points that may any ways concerne our salvation , and finally , all that professe the name of Christ may be brought to consent together to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace , that there may be but one Faith , one Lord , and one Baptisine , one Father in us all , through us all , and for us all , and then , what an easie thing it were for a Christian King , that is , Defender of the Faith Inot onely to enlarge his Dominions , but also to improve his just splendour and priviledges both for himself and for all that he hath relation to throughout the known world , we leave to the censure of the indifferent reader . But if wilfulnesse and prejudicacie have so much preposessed you , and your associates , that you will not thinke of any other or better way to prevent your own and your Kinsmens ruine , then that which you have now in hand : Wee have no more to say to you but what Mordecay said to Ester , Ester . 4. 13. Deliverance will be brought another way : For as God is true , you will finde this certain that so many of your kindred , and other Protestant Princes and States that doe justly suffer for the cause of Religion if they persevere unto the end ) God will exalt and raise them by the same Religion and work their deliverance by no other means then by the same whereby they have suffered . The fourth and last motive , which we shall mention at this time , is the duty , which by the Law of God you owe to your people , which is to shew your chiefest care , and use your best means , for the preservation of their lives and liberties , especially , seeing they are all members of that politicall body whereof your Highnesse professeth your selfe to be the head , and seeing also that in them , viz. in then good affections , health and welfare , doth consist ( as Samsons did in his locks ) your great strength and livelihood . For if there be a sympathy and fellow-feeling , in the body naturall , in so much as when the foot is trod upon , or any other member hurt , the head will complain , as if the injury were done unto it and so likewise in the true Church of Christ , or body mysticall ( as the Apostle emplyeth when he biddeth us rejoyce with them that rejoyce , and weep with them that weep : Rom. 12. 15. And be like affectioned one towards another . And again , Who is weak and I am not weak ? who is offended , and I burn not ? if ( wee say ) there is such a sympathy in the mysticall and naturall body , why should not the same be also in the body politicall ? if therefore any , or many members of the body of Great Britain . be diseased or distempered through malignant humours , which may perhaps , not onely work obstructions in the pipes of government , but also make the head complain , and cry out for pain ; yet are not these members ( by war or any other means of this nature to be cut off from the head , unlesse they prove so poysoned putrified , and gangrened ; that they are destructive to the whole body . But God be thanked Sir , the humours of your people are not yet so desperate , but that if your Highnesse ( like a good Phisician ) will vouchsafe in love to visit them , feel their pulses , and apply unto them a dosis or potion sutable to their distempers , they may be easily , both cured and qualified : but as for the medicine which you have applyed to them hither-tils , ( if we be not much mistaken ; the ingredients thereof have been too sharp , and if you give them any more of it , you are like to marre all . ) For there be some humours and diseases that are sooner expelled and cured by lenatives then by corasives by gentle potionsr then by sharp purgations : and such are these of the Inhabitants of Great Britain , both Scots and English ; but especially the Scots , whom I cannot more fitly compare then to a Cannon bullet , which is dinted and quelled with the least softnesse , and is never so rigid and piercing , then when it is most resisted would you therefore have the peoples sore healed ? why then , Sir , correct your physick , this plaister of war is too corasive ; Bellona should be a Kings ultimum refugium , his last , because his worst refuge ; Be therefore perswaded by us , that whosoever did first perswade your Highnesse to this course , had as good advised you to tread upon a thorn , or put your hand into a Wasps nest . For when you conceived , White Hall to be on fire , they did what they could to adde fuell to the flames , and cast on faggots when your house was burning , making the rent greater , and the wound deeper ; and consequently the remedy worse then the disease . As therefore your Highnesse doth tender your own Honour and safety , welfare of your Children , and Friends , and prosperity of your people ( if it be possible ) and as much as you can divert from them this course of war . Remember that God will require the life of a man at the Hands of his brother , and if of a brother ; much more of a father . Gen. 9. 5 For a King is the nursing Father of Gods people ; take from hence-forth a precise account of the death of your meanest subject ; and let his bloud and life be precious unto you . Seeing that homo quilibet , est pars communitatis : every particular person is part of the whole State ; a Subject of one Kingdom , and member of one politicall body ; If therefore one member suffer , let all the members ( especially your Highnesse the head of all ) suffer with it . 1 Cor , 12. 26. Otherwise it is a dangerous symptome that the body of these Kingdoms is palsie-stricken , or at the least some Lethargy or mortall sicknesse is approching , to it , which rendreth it both insensible and incurable . The fourth and last question is , what is the best means or which may be the chiefest preparatives for your Highnesse and your Associates to obtaine an honourable and lasting peace . We shall in this point also endevour to give you satisfaction if either you will follow our advice , or receive the same without partiality or prejudice . And first , we say , that the best way to a firme and honourable peace is by the work of righteousnesse , For the work of righteousnesse is peace , and the effect thereof ioy and assurance for ever : as the Prophet speaketh , Esay 32 , 17. Where by the work of righteousnesse , wee doe not so much understand that imputed righteousnesse of Christ , which is truly and properly inherent in him , but so made our by faith , that God doth accept of us as righteous for his sake , as if this righteousnesse were properly and truly inherent in our selves , which is called the righteousnesse of faith , Rom. 1. 17. and the righteousnesse of the Kingdome of God , Matth. 6. 33. nor by this work of Righteousnesse doe wee understand altogether thut actuall righteousnesse which is to be performed by us : whereby we shew the truth of our faith , by the works of piety , charity , humility &c. ( although the words may admit either of these without prejudice ) but by the work of righteousnesse we conceive principally , an habituall disposition and inclination , both to practise and affect things that are good and righteous : in a word wee mean no otherwise then that your Highnesse would withdraw and alienate your affections from unjust and unrighteous persons . Offices and Officers , who have these many yeers past mayntained , and still hope to mayntaine themselves by the ruine of the Church and Common-wealth , who ( like so many Syrens ) have so long and so miserably inveighled you ; and by their Circean inchantments , moved you to presse that prerogative ( which the Almighty gave you for the preservation and welfare of the people ) and that both in Church and State Affairs ; so much and so far as that whereas it should have been as a Diamond in your Crowne , to honour and adorn you , they have made it by their Sophisticall and Machiavilick insinuations , as a prick in your side , or a thorn in your foot , to hurt and mischief you . May it therefore please your Highnesse , to let this be the first preparative to an honourable and happy peace , even to withdaw your Royall person and favour from the contagious company of such flattering Sycophants ; that from hence-forth you may not onely professe , but practice that part of the Royall Motto ; Salus Populi , suprema Lex : And to this purpose , because your Great Counsell of State are now about a work of Reformation , let not your Highnesse fail to comply with them in the same , then which you shall finde nothing more pleasing to God , and profitable to your self , and that in these two things , viz. First , in contenting your self with such a competency of Royall Priviledges , Revenues , and Prerogative , as may be most consistent with the truth and purity of that Religion which you professe ; manners of the Country , and affections of your Subjects , shewing rather a royall and Christian moderation , then an imperious and insatiable ambition : and ( so you may enjoy it peaceably and comfortably ) thinke your self-sufficiently enriched , although you have no more for the present then what is shared out for you by the providence of God , and love of the people ; yea , although it were much lesse ( especially , rebus sic stantibus , then was left you by your royall Progenitours . For what greater happinesse can come to a King then contentment , who is never more excellent and commendable , then when his affections are most moderated ; and what contentment can your Highnesse want ( when , if complying to the complexion and disposition of your politicall body ) you continue to be the head of such a wise , noble , and godly Nation ; to sway the Scepters of three almost Angelick Kingdoms in one City , whereof there is to be found more wealth , lustre , beauty : Prudence Temperance , Justice , Valour ; and finally , all the delights of the sonnes of men : then the Emperour of Muscovia , and divers others great Potentates can command within the Circumference of their vast Dominions . Happy therefore is that Prince , who knowing that he cannot have all contenteth himself with a part , even with such a part as he may quietly and honourably possesse with the suffrages of his people ; for if the greedy appetite be not satiated , a poore shepherd shall finde more hearts case in a beggars cottage then a great Emperour ( if ambitious ) in a Princely Palace . Let Kings therefore consider , that the more they abound with worldly wealth : the more doe abound their cares , for when goods increase , they are increased that eat them ; and the best way for a King to be rich is to know when he hath enough : and not to improve his revenues through pilling and polling his Subjects by sordid and unnecessary Taxations and Monopolies , for hereby hee doth not strengthen his Crowne , but bewray his tyranny , nor increase his honour ; but call in question that love which he oweth to his people . O what great grief it is to loyall and loving Subjects , to see their Sovereigne undoe himself , for the enriching a company of unworthy , temporizing , and self-seeking Parasites ? Who perhaps ( if his back should be at the wall ) would turn their backs upon him , and like a shadow , follow him no longer then the Sun shineth , or if he should stand in need of their counsell , could give him none better then that of Achitophel . That any Prince should thus mistarry , is grievous and lamentable ; but for such a King as your Highnesse should be who have so often smarted through the Machiavillick impostures of the Roman Antichrist and his Abettors ; for such kind of men : expose yourself , your posterity and Crowns to such extream exigencies . Quis talia fando , temp●ret à lachermis ? Be wise therefore , ye Kings , and be learned , yee Judges of the earth be carefull as to have the wicked removed , so also to have your desires moderated seek no more then is enough either for your selves or others : for then certainly you shall finde in your Thro●e more cares then comforts , and in your Crowns , more thorns then Diamonds for he that loveth silver shall never be satisfied with silver , nor he that loveth abundance with increase : as wealth cannot fill mans heart so cannot grace his purse : naturall desires are finite but the desires of the soul are infinite , which when they are not watched but let goe loose roving up and down , and not composed and limited according to the rules of godlinesse have brought men even Kings and Princes into infinite labyrinths and anxieties : witnesse that insatiable conquerour , whose unlimited ambition the Poet thus bemoneth : Unus Pellaeo Juveni non sufficit orbis Aestuat infoelix angusto limite mundi . And many also of the Roman Caesars , whose time wee may read in their insatiable affections and whose covetousnesse hath brought their Titles and Diadems unto their uttermost period , of whom we may almost say , etiam perire animae that little of them that is left is perished : in a word , therefore , happy is the man be he King or Subject , that delighteth more in piety then in pelfe , in heavenly goodnesse then in worldly goods . — Cui paternum Splendet in mensa tenui salinum Nec leves somnos timor , aut cupido — Sordidus aufort : Secondly , for the obtaining an honourable and lasting peace , and performing this work of righteousnesse , your Highnesse must look well to the rightnesse of Religion viz. that the Religion which you establish be made choice of not according as to the eye it seemeth gayest , but as it is most free from , and most contrary to all corruption of mans life and manners , such as is grounded , not upon mens invention , but divine direction : That your Highnesse give way to such a kinde of divine worship as is not according to the nature and will of man but according to the will of God who being a Spirit loveth best to be worshiped in spirit and truth , and not in or by any painted or graven images , outward pomps , gaudie cloaths or superstitious representations of any thing that is in heaven above or in earth beneath , such as all false Religions abound withall , and whereby hereticall and Idolatrous Priests , delude and dazle the eyes of simple people , who are naturally inclined to affect that soonest which to the eye seemeth gayest , making them believe that these dumb shews and pictures , are lay mens books , in the mean time hiding from them the power of Christ in the work of the ministry . And seeing there is no difference between your Highnesse and us in points of doctrine ( the word of God being preached by us both in as great purity and orthodoxnesse as can be consistent with a militant Church ) our request unto your Highnesse is ( as you tender either your own or our peace , to admit with us the same reformation and purity in matters of discipline , as is implyed in the premises for certainly Sir solong as the discipline of your Church remaineth unpurged , the members and professors thereof can never properly be said to be of the true Protestant Religion : well they may be called Protestants , and said to be of a Protestant Religion , viz. comparatively as they have relation to Eutherans or Nicholuitans , or some other sect of Protestanisme but to be Protestants indeed , that is , true Protestants , of the true reformed Protestant Religion they cannot because their Religion is reformed onely in part . viz. in matter of doctrine , the discipline remaining and being retained in the same corruption and superstition as they received it from the Roman Church : whereas the true Protestant Religion exercised in the Presbyteriall government is equally reformed as well in discipline as in doctrine , depencing absolutely upon the word of God , without any excessive or scandalous mixture ( other then accords with Christian simplicity decencie , and charity ) of humane inventions , or superstitious innovations : But if you Highnesse will needs maintain some disparity amongst Ministers , preferring some before others , who in respect of their eminent parts , may seem to deserve better we will not discommend it providing that your Highnesse remember well your Fathers Councell in his Basilicon Doron , pag 44. viz. so to charge and change them with such bonds as may preserve them from creeping into corruption . A third mean to procure an honourable and lasting peace is to unite the people , as well as the Countreys of England , and Scotland , ( which can never be effected by your Highnesse so long as you stand in opposition to the Parliament ; But and if you can be so happy as to come in then we conceive it may easily be wrought in this manner ; viz. First , by making an universall act of oblivion in both Parliaments for all Nationall quarrels and deadly feuds , which have been a prohibition from all , which in time to come may acrew betwixt the natives of either Kingdome by reason of any occurrence or passage of preceding or future times . Secondly , by abolishing the respective names of English or Scotish men ; which ( in respect of the great controversies and differences , which have been between the two Kingdoms ) doe still continue names of prejudice , to the great exasperating of the affections of both sides , and possessing them with rigid and implacable mindes , one against another , upon the least and most slender occasionall distastes , and that all the inhabitants of this one Island may be called by one name , of East , West South or North Britains ; with some aditionall title of the Shire or County , prefixed for disinction sake . Thirdly , by engaging an equall number of both Kingdoms in their fellowship at armes , in some publick and fortunate lawfull war , beyond the Seas , where their honour and danger may be equally divided , and no jealousies , nor contention arise amongst them , but of wel doing , certainly , one victory obtained by the sound valour of the Scots and English , ( wheresoever it be , so it be not at home , let it be in Bohemia , France , Spain , or where your great Councell will think fiting ) will make a stronger and more indissoluble knot of union both between them and your Highnesse , and amongst themselves then ever your Highnesse could make by choosing your Minions alternatively out of each Nation , or by making Scotch men Lords of England ; English men Lords of Scotland ; or yet by mixture of marriage , for although marriage may make two persons one , yet can it not make two people to be one ; certainly , all these are too weak ingrediences to compound a love-potion for them that were wont to thirst after one anothers blood , it must be something more energeticall and vertuous that must qualifie and chain the different humors of these two Nations ; and make them forget whose fortune it was to be envied , and whose to be contemned in times past ; and to speak ingenuously : never had King a fairer oportunity to effect this , as your Highnesse hath now , all the Kingdoms in Christendome almost being now by the ears together , especially if in this your day , your Highnesse would resipiscere , and come to your self , and so much tender your own health and welfare , as to apply unto your almost gangreen , and incurable wounds , a salving playster of Parliamentary Union . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A85989e-290 Transilvania , France , Ireland . Aristot . Ethic. lib. 5.