THE PARLIAMENT OF GRACES; Briefly showing The banishment of Peace, the farewell of Amity, the want of Honesty, the distraction of Religion, the flight of Sobriety, the lamentation of Patience, the love and care of Charity.  
Together With the cause of the breaking up of the House of the Parliament of Graces; worthy the reading in these times of desolation and calamity.  
By Humphrey Crouch  
Printed in the year 1643.   

THE PARLIAMENT OF GRACES.  


The names of them that are present in this Parliament.  
Patience;  
Hope,  
Humility,  
Obedience,  
Charity.   

The names of them that have absented themselves in this times of distraction, are these:  
Peace,  
Amity  
Honesty,  
Religion,  
Sobriety,    

And first of all distressed patience speak,  
And unto all the rest her mind she breaks,  Patience. 
DIssressed Brethren, for so many I term you? Our House is divided, as is the kingdom: Peace is fled For where there is war, there is no room for Peace. Amity taken her leave of us: for where there is dissension among brethren, there can be no love nor amity abiding.  
As for Honesty, she left us long ago; before these wars began, because she could not find an honest man.  
As for Religion, she hath been so cuffed and beaten by the Nonconformists and Separatists of these times, that she hath absented herself from us for a time, to see what the en of these things will be; notwithstanding she hath a hope that the King and Parliament will not see her quite trodden under feet: and when it shall please God that the King and Parliament accord together, then will she fly unto them for succour.  
Sobriety seeing swords drawn in Churches, and Religion put to flight, was ashamed to stay among such uncivil and unnatural people. But stay, who comes here? Our old friend Honesty: alas poor wretch, thou departedst in an ill time, and art returned in a worse.  Honesty. 
Brethren, how fare you?  Patience. 
What? Our old friend Honesty? what, go away from us in an ill time, and return again in a worse? alas! here is no employment for thee. I tell thee what, since thou tookest thy leave of us last, our kingdom hath been altogether by the ears.  Honesty. 
I am sorry to hear it; but where are all the rest of our brethren? Me thinks your number is very small. What's become of our old friend Peace, the quietest wretch that ever was known.  Patience. 
Alas! our poor friend Peace was beaten out of the kingdom by a malignant party, they call him Discord, a very rascal, one that hath set all the kingdom together by the ears; and there is no hope of her return till the King and Parliament agree.  Honesty. 
But where is Amity?  Patience. 
I tell thee Honesty, Amity took her leave of England, and of us, just about the time our Queen took her leave of the King, only she left some of her garments behind her; which in her absence, the more is the pity, hath been so stained in blood, that all the water in the river of Thames is not able to cleanse the stains of so deep a Die.  Honesty. 
The more is the pity. But where is my kind friend Charity?  Patience. 
Oh Charity! although she be not here with us, yet she is one of our Court, and one of our counsel; and although she was very fearful to stay in the kingdom, and was once minded to leave the kingdom; but that she feared, that if she went, the kingdom could not stand, she resolved then not only to stay, but to do the best service she could for the common good of the weal public; and to this end got a Frock, and turned Porter, and carries in every day whole baskets of plate and money, to maintain a war, as I hear, in defence of the gospel.  Honesty. 
Why are you in any fear, or have you a jealousy of the King?  Patience. 
No, but of some that are about him, as Papists, and divers ill-affected persons, that may perhaps divert the King from what he is, or keep him from what he should be, so that Charity takes not this porter's pains to maintain a war against the King, but against them that keep his majesty from his Parliament.  Honesty. 
That is one way, but fair means is another way, and a safer way to stay the effusion of blood; for in such a war the father kills the son, the son kills the father, one friend kills another. Ah poor England! there is strange alterations since I was here last.  Patience. 
Alas brother! you say true, but it can no way be helped, but by taking up arms, the more is the pity, all the fair means that could possibly be used, have been put in execution, both by petition, perswadement, and what not: and shall the Parliament suffer the country to be ruined, and the City spoiled by those malignant persons of his side, and not seek to prevent it? No, the lawfulness of the cause proves the lawfulness of war, though of itself unlawful and unnatural.  Honesty. 
But all this while where is Religion the pillar of the Church then?  Patience. 
O poor soul! almost distracted: she runs from the Parliament to the King, and from the King to the Parliament with these words, Have pity, have pity upon me my fiiend, lest my glory be eclipsed, and my honour lie in the dust.  Honesty. 
Why hath her old Patrons the Bishops failed her and given her three slips for a taster.  Patience. 
No honesty, but she finding them dishonest unto her did petition unto the Honourable House of Parliament that they would be so pleased to turn them out of her service.  Honesty. 
And have they done so.  Patience. 
Yes truly in that they did very justly, and very honourably: As for Canterbury he wou●ud have given all Lawde to the Pope: and the Pope to the devil, but the Parliament stopped his passage.  Honesty. 
But there was a little great bird there called Wren, Pray what is become of him? I remember, I once asked a service at his door; and after he heard my name was honesty, he gave me a kick, and bid me be packing: and then I thought it was time to leave England, when the pillars of the Church refused me.  Patience. 
O that bird the run, though the least of birds; yet the highest in ambition. I tell thee what Honesty, Because he would have been highest; strived to sit upon the Roman Eagles back, but the Parliament clipped his wings.  Honesty. 
But hath Religion any hope of being established again? to her former dignity by consent of king and Parliament.  Patience. 
The King puts her in good comfort, and doth protest as his Father before him was so is he, (Semper eadem) one and the self same, Defeador of the self same Faith: and bids her be of good comfort: For He is fully resolved to venture his estate, life, liberty and all, before He will see her suffer the least injury that may be: The Parliament assures her of the same.  Honesty. 
Then why is not the thing done, since both parties are 'greed what is the seanon on't  Patience. 
O Sir, to tell you the the truth; there are adverse parties of both sides, which hinders the cause, and keeps the work unfinished: For first the strongest and most ablest Papists in the land are of the King's side, and keeps him from his Parliament: secondly there are a many, who out of a blind zeal cry out no Bishops, no this thing, no that thing, as if His majesty and and the Parliament understood not what they did without their directions: so the Papists gives offence one way, and these theot her way, and what settled peace are we like to have; till God turn these Achithophels' wisdoms unto foolishness.  Honesty. 
But pray how stands the City affected to Religion?  Patience. 
With a full resolution.  Honesty. 
Then I perceive this is a place of abiding for me, if they entertain Religion, they will also entertain Honesty: with hat the whole Courrrose, and all with one voice cried, Lord, put an end to these sinful days; and shaking hands said, The world is at an end. And so I end.  
FINIS.