To the Members of bo●h Houses OF PARLIAMENT For their serious Consideration, in making up the Breaches of this Nation. LORD God grant England's Parliament May have their Hearts now wholly bend, To Act such things, as in God's sight May be to all both just and right. O England! thy long Parliaments Have caused, in thee, such woeful Rents, Thy last caused Thousands Innocents', To suffer grievous Punishments. The Fathers, Children and their Mothers Are separated from each others: The Parents forced in Prison to lie, Till many Scores therein did die. And that's not all, in this our day, For Goods are taken all away, And nothing left for Young or Old To lie upon, or keep from Cold. And many tender Babes now here. Suffers, as if Transgressor's were, Some Took from Bed, on bare Board's lay, Bed-clotheses being taken all away. And now 'tis counted a light thing, Houses to break, and enter in, Take all, and Innocents' to starve, When Parliaments should such preserve. And if such things be Clristian Works, Than what is Heathen, Jews or Turks? Besides those things, they will you tell, Themselves are not Infallible; For certainly they do not know, Whether they're in the Right or no. And if there be not certainty, Then men may soon mistaken be; And in Extremes, which still are Evil, Call Devil, Saint, and Saint a Devil. O! how do men, in this our day, Destroy their Neighbours, and yet say, They are not sure, they cannot tell, There's none are now Infallible. O English Men! the God above, Commands, that you your Neighbour's love, Even as yourselves, likewise all men: His Law you do transgress, till then. Amongst some other sad Disasters, Now England's Scum * Note, The Wicked Mercenary Informers. is made their Masters, If Lord or Knight run not their Rounds, Then have at them for a hundred Pounds. But unto you that now are chose, Men do a trust in you Repose. Let me to you something propose, Hoping when met, you all will close, In Repealing all such Laws, As do provoke and justly cause, The Righteous Gods just Indignation, To be poured forth upon this Nation. Let all men have free Liberty, To Worship God; for certainly He is most able to direct, When other means will not effect. If forced, then sure, in despite You can but make an Hypocrite, Although the Body brought in sight, The Heart may other things indite. Force never yet accomplished that, Which Forcers mostly aimed at; Nor never yet did Honour bring, To Nation, parliament or King. But now I hope, you'll Honour bring, To Nation, Parliament and KING, In suffering all feed on that Pasture, To stand and fall to their own Master. And that's the way will please him most, To purchase which, his Blood it cost. Therefore, be sure, he'll cast away, All such as will not him obey. To ancient Laws do you stand fast, Yet see the Scale be equal cast; Give Caesar's Due, do you make haste, Take heed you do not God's Due waste. Distinguish rightly of such things, What's due to God, what's due to Kings. When each of them hath Right, it brings You justly to perform such things. As do belong unto your place, To go beyond, that's your disgrace: Therefore to that, haste on a pace, And do those things that's in your place. Which is good Laws, 'twixt man and man, Make such, and force them what you can. But Christ will suffer none to thrive, That limits his Prerogative. For he is King of Conscience sure, And therefore he will not endure, That any should make Laws for him, That can't give Faith, nor keep from Sin. Therefore act not above your Sphere, You have no Power but only here; For when men go unto the Grave, You have no Power to damn nor save. Therefore there is no Reason why You should make Laws, and Conscience tie, Except you could, when men do die, Help them to Heaven eternally. For such as Conscience tie, do not Regard what Christ hath said in that, In holy Writ we do not find, That to do so, it was his mind. When he was asked the Question, Whether The Tares and Wheat should grow together? Then let the Tares alone, said he, By th' Angels those must gathered be. Yet many Laws are made 'gainst those, Who are their Friends, and not their Foes. Lord God forgive, even all those, Who were the cause of such great Woes. And cruel Sufferings in this Nation, Without all Pity or Compassion, As if some should not live on Earth, But starved be by lingering Death. But now, this is the thing we hope, You will not act as these and Pope, Whom our forefather's did oppose, Till flames of Fire did them enclose. For they did rather choose to die, Than act against their Conscience: Why? Because they knew most certainly, For that to die Eternally. And so, they chose to suffer here, That they in Heaven might appear With Consciences spotless and clear, For they were void of slavish sear. For where the Conscience is in doubt, No man on Earth can free it out. For it doth still accuse within, All such as act and live in Sin. And so, its time, and Reason why, Laws be Repealed, that Conscience tie, Which if you do not, certainly With you God will be angry. Five may not join with Family, To Worship God in Unity When many hundreds, as we see, May meet to act all Vanity. And such have not the least Reflection, But rather seem to have Protection, When such as truly do serve God, Oft times do feel their heavy Rod. And so, as Scripture plain doth say, We see fulfilled in this our day, All that from Evil turn away, Are often made a daily prey. For some have suffered very deep, Their Ox, their Cows, and all their Sheep Are taken from them, Children weep, Nought left to cover when they sleep. Some lain in Prison many a Year, Some died, which caused many a tear; For which cause, some do justly fear, A time of Judgement doth draw near, Unto this Land, except the Yoke Be taken off; that heavy stroke, Which still lies on the Innocent, Them to destroy was their intent. Yet such as do offend God, must Know certainly, that he is just, To every man, Reward will he, According as his Works shall be. Whether private men, or a whole Nation, God hath for each a Visitation: Such as are wilful in Oppression. Shall suffer deep for their Transgression, O England! England! thou mayst see, God's Judgements like to come on thee. Therefore make haste, Repent, and flee To th' Rock that can save thee and me. Which if thou dost not speedily Forsake thy lewd Debauchery, And make the Oppressed to go free Thou't suffer great Calamity. Abandon also thy great Pride, And all Ungodliness beside, Or else thy Torment and thy Sorrow Will be like Sodom and Gomorrah. For Sin hath caused in many Nations, Both great and grievous Desolations. And who provokes the Righteous God, Must surely feel his heavy Rod. William Money. THE END.