The Way to a Lasting PEACE, AND TRUE RECONCILIATION.  
IT may be said, by way of Allusion to the Prophet's Words, Isaiah 9.5, etc. That after the outward War of Confused Noise, and Garments Rolled in Blood, is at an end, there must be another War or Battle, of which the Prophet saith, This shall be with Burning and Fuel of Fire, etc. That as the former War Killed Men's Bodies, this latter may Destroy Men's Corruptions and Lusts, from whence all outward Wars and Fightings commonly proceed.  
That this may be Effected in all, from the Highest to the Lowest, there must be a diligent Watch kept, by every one, over their own Hearts and Ways, unto the Convictions, Motions and Strive of the Holy Spirit within; through the neglect and want of which, the Flood came upon the Old World, and 'twas said, God's Spirit shall not always Strive with Man; but after his long Suffering and Patience, he swept them all away, except those few in the Ark.  
And Christ saith, Mat. 24.37, 38, 39 viz. As the Days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be: For as in the Days that were before the Flood, they were Eating and Drinking, etc. until the Day that Noah entered into the Ark and knew not until the Flood came, etc.  
There was these two things in the Days of Noah observable, viz. An Ark and a Flood; an Ark to Preserve the Faithful, and a Flood to Destroy the Careless and Ungodly.  
Therefore those that expect a Perpetual and Lasting Peace, must leave their Wantonness and Mocking, as those Atheists did, the Apostle speaks on, 2 Peter 3.3, 4, 9 Because all things seemed to them to continue as they were from the Creation, etc. But the Lord (saith the Apostle) is not slack concerning his Promise, as some Men count slackness, but is long Suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should Perish, but that all should come to Repentance: But the Day of the Lord, saith he, will come as a Thief in the Night. Therefore let all Fear the Great God, and forsake the Evil of their do, and be like that good Man Noah, who being moved with Fear, Built an Ark for the Preservation of himself and his Family.  
Are not the Coffers of Princes Emptied, and the Riches of the People much Exhausted? But is not Pride, Covetousness, Luxury and Wantonness increased and abounding? Which the Prophets Burning and Fire, spoken of before, must Consume, and they be forsaken, before a perpetual and lasting Peace be Established: And that Government that makes the Nations happy must be upon his Shoulders, that the same Prophet mentions to be borne and given, in his very next words, after the War and Battle with Burning and Fuel of Fire, saying, For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the Government shall be upon his Shoulders.  
Come therefore unto him, who is the Prince of Peace, and Lord of Glory, whose right it is to Reign Spiritually in all Crowned Heads, and over all their Subjects: If you would, in good earnest, enjoy a firm and lasting Peace; For there is no Peace, saith my God, to the Wicked, Isa. 57.21.  
Come to him all you that call yourselves Catholics, and Learn of him Universal Love and Good Will towards all those you count your Enemies, and cease Persecuting of them for their Consciences to God, over which he only ought to Rule, if you would enjoy a firm and lasting Peace. And come all you called Protestants and Non-Conformists of all sorts, and Protest by your Practice, against all Ungodlikeness and Nonconformity to the Divine Will and Commandments of the Almighty; rest not in the Name, but manifest yourselves to be Transformed in the Renewedness of your Hearts, by bringing forth the Fruits of a Real Protestation against all manner of Wickedness which abounds amongst you, to the Contempt of True Religion and Holy Conversation, if you expect a firm and lasting Peace.  
For the end of the Bloody or Lion's War must be the beginning of the Lambs, who shall have the Victory, not by Garments Rolled in Blood, for he Wars not to Destroy Men's Lives, but their Corruptions and Lusts, and to save their Souls; his beginning is said to be, With one Crown upon his Head, and a Bow in his Hand, but the Work of the Lord shall so Prosper in his Hand, that the Revelation of Jesus Christ to his Servant John tells us, That on his Head were many Crowns, at last, Rev. 19.12.  
For when his Name comes to be universally Known, by Reading it Written upon his Vesture and upon his Thigh, viz. That Great and Glorious Name of King of Kings, and Lord of Lords; then all Crowns shall be laid down as it were at his Feet, And of the Increase of his Government and Peace there shall be no end; for the Stability of his Times shall be Righteousness and Peace.  
When this comes to be fulfilled, Times will be Settled in good earnest, and there will be no doubt of a firm, lasting and perpetual Peace. For the Lion and the Lamb shall lie down together, etc. And there will be no Destroyer upon all God's Holy Mountain, etc.  
And although my Grey Hairs may not be Privileged from the Grave until these things be accomplished, yet I shall lay down my Head in hopes, that some may be now alive, who may more fully see the fulfilling of them.  
For who knows but the King of Kings may send forth his Ambassadors of Peace to the Nations yet a far off? And that such may be prevalent, in the Spirit and Power of Jesus Christ, to awaken the Nations to a True Reconciliation with God, that they also may be partakers of a saving and lasting Peace through Jesus Christ.  
And who knows but these Overturning of Governors and Governments, and the Bowing of Great Potentates (in making them willing to yield up their late Conquests, and some to confess to that which formerly they would not acknowledge) may make way for Christ's Peaceable Government?  
And who knows but the same God, in the Day of his Power, may Bow many Strong-willed and Stouthearted Ones of the World to give and yield up the Old Conquest or Power? That Wickedness of all sorts hath so long had over them, unto him that is called, The Desire of all Nations, and is foretold to come as the Effect of all those Shakes and Overturnings that shall be in the World, that God and his Christ alone, whose Kingdom cannot be shaken, may remain; the Firm Peace and Everlasting Rest for the People of God.  
But know this, that now there is no whole and entire Nation that is the People of God, but they only that Fear God and Work Righteousness, in every Nation, are accepted of him.  
Come therefore all you Princes of this World, and Purge yourselves and Courts from all Unrighteousness, and follow the Example of that Holy King David, who promised, That when he was Restored to his Kingdom, he would not suffer a Liar to be in his House. Come also all you Nobles, and Purge your Families from the Workers of Iniquity; and all you People that Profess Christianity, by the Power of Christ, Purge your Consciences from all Dead Works, and Learn truly to serve the Living God.  
And come all you that Rejoice in the Glad-tidings of Peace in your Native Countries, and Learn Sobriety and Moderation in all things, that there may be Rejoicing in Heaven also at your Conversion from the Evil of your Do, that you may offer to God, by Jesus Christ, the Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving, by Killing your Lusts and Corruptions; for as in the outward Sacrifices there was something to be Killed, so must Wickedness be Slain, before you can truly keep a Day of Thanksgiving unto God: When this is Practised, then may we all expect a Ratification from Heaven of a True and Perpetual Peace.  
But if Unfeigned Repentance be wanting, your Joy will be turned into Mourning; and instead of Days of Rejoicing, The Great Day of the Lord will come upon you, that shall Burn as an Oven, and all that are Proud, and all that do Wickedly shall be as Stubble, and he will leave them neither Root nor Branch.  
Therefore be Serious, and Repent of your former Mispent-time, and Reform from the Highest to the Lowest, both Great and Small, then may you expect a Firm and Lasting Peace, That every one may sit under his own Vine, and under his own Figtree, Praising the God of Peace, and Loving one another, even your Neighbours as yourselves.  
Hertford, the 1st of the 8 th' Month, 1697. John Crook.   

LONDON, Printed and Sold by T. Sowle, next Door to the Meetinghouse in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-street, 1697.