A MYSTERY OF GODLINESS, AND NO CABALA; Or a sincere Account of the NON-CONFORMISTS' CONVERSATION. From the 24. of August to this time. For the conviction of Adversaries, the instruction of the ignorant, the confirming of the weak, and the satisfaction of all. Occasioned by a bitter and malicious Paper, called the CABALA.  
LONDON, Printed in the Year, MDCLXIII.   

A MYSTERY OF GODLINESS AND NO CABALA; Or a sincere Account of the NON-CONFORMISTS' CONVERSATION. From the 24. of August to this time. For the conviction of Adversaries, the instruction of the ignorant, the confirming of the weak, and the satisfaction of all. Occasioned by a bitter and malicious Paper, called the CABALA.  
WHen the fears and jealousies of some concerning us are so restless, the malice of others is so implacable, that we suffer not only for what we have done, but for what we may do, and we are not only obnoxious to Authority for those miscarriages the world hath seen us guilty of, but unto the Tongues and pens of men; for those likewise the world may imagine us guilty of: To justify his Majesty's clemency over us, to give the world a reason of the hope that is in us, to satisfy all sober men, and to to promote tee peace and settlement of our native Country, we declare.  
1. That it is true indeed, we cannot come up in all things to their judgement who are over us, as we know they could not come up to ours, when we were advanced over them; and as we could not allow them any public employment or encouragement when they could not comply with us, and our Laws and Constitutions, so we cannot expect any public employment or encouragement from them, now we descent from, and cannot close with their Laws and Constitutions: Yet it is true, that we submit patiently to that Authority which we cannot obey cheerfully; really we cannot conform in conscience, and really we cannot resist in conscience; for we must needs be obedient, not only for wrath, but for conscience sake: we suffer, yet we repine not; we murmur not, we speak no evil of Dignities; we dare not curse the King, no not in our thoughts: we desire to fear God, we desire to honour the King; and we would not meddle with them that are given to change, or to Innovations; they of us pay tribute from whom tribute is due, custom from whom custom, and fear from whom fear; and his Majesty hath our hearty prayers day and night before the Throne of Grace for a blessing upon himself and Government; and if we could renounce the whole Covenant, yet would we not renounce that part of it, wherein we have promised, sincerely, really, constantly, in our several vocations, to endeavour, with our Estates and Lives, to preserve and defend the King's Majesty's Person and Authority, that the world may bear witness with our Consciences of our Loyalty, and that we have no thoughts or intention to diminish his Majesty's just power and greatness: for indeed we (whatever the world may think of us) desire to honour his Majesty: 1. For the Lords sake, by whom King's reign, who by a special providence hath set our gracious King over us. 2. For our own sakes, who though we are not capable of preferment under his Majesty, yet owe unto him our lives, which he hath pardoned, our liberties and estates, which he secures to us, and the protection he affords us: It is a mercy that we may live comfortably as Christians, though we cannot be employed and preferred as Ministers.  
2. It is true we have different apprehensions in many things from other men, and in many things we are otherwise minded; but we are resolved, in those things, to which we have already attained, to walk by the same Rule, to mind the same things, and if we cannot be of one mind, we desire to be of one heart; and to preserve unity of affections in our differences of judgement.  
We desire heartily, that the small things we differ in should not have so much power to divide us, as the great things we agree in should have to unite; however we beg of the Lord heartily, that we may live peaceably with all men; we desire earnestly to seek truth and peace, and to follow peace and holiness, without which, we think, we cannot see the Lord: we desire to be just in our dealing, harmless and innocent in our behaviour and carriage, and to have our conversation honest in the world, that whereas some speak against us as evil doers, they may by our good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation; and though we are sorry to hear it, that some think it strange that we run not with them to the same excess of Riot, speaking evil of us, yet will we sit still, knowing that they shall give an account unto him who judgeth righteous judgement.  
3. Without all dangerous, offensive, or suspicious designs or complotings, which we abhor, have, we since the twenty four of August, held up our private Devotions in the Apostles Doctrine, and fellowship, and breaking bread from house to house, and in prayers, loving as brethren; at these our Meetings we plot nothing but the saving of souls, comforting the weak, reclaiming the erroneous, instructing the ignorant, building poor souls up in their faith, as helpers of their joy, for the perfecting of the Saints, the work of the Ministry, the edifying of the body of Christ, and helping our brethren in the public ministry, who since our withdrawing have a great burden lying upon them; some may preach Christ out of envy, some out of discontent, but Christ is preached, and we dare boldly say, nothing but Christ crucified is preached among us: wherefore we rejoice, and we hope they rejoice too, ever since we hope without offence we have preached the Word, and have been instant in season▪ and out of season, reproving, rebuking, and exhorting with all long-suffering and doctrine: here have we no thoughts of our King and Country, but thoughts of peace; no words of either, but serious Exhortations to obedience under the one, and ear●●st prayers for the peace and prosperity of the other: we ●●sire indeed to converse profitably, to improve our time and opportunities usefully, to provoke one another to love and to good works. In obedience to his Majesty's Laws for peace and order, we have no factious Conventicles; in compliance with his Majesty's good inclination, for serious holiness, for sober friendship we converse with one another lovingly, we meet at one another's habitations friendly and neighbourly, we open our doubts one to another sincerely, and endeavour to resolve one another satisfactorily; we pray unanimously, one reads, another openeth what is read, and presseth home what is so opened; and so with prayers, and a hymn, and a little refreshment we dismiss one another, and take our leave▪ the Prophets speak, two or three, and the others judge; if any thing be revealed unto another that sitteth by, the first holdeth his peace, for we all prophecy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted; but we must needs say, whatever in suggested to the contrary, that among us the spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets; for we own, that God is not the Author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the Churches of the Saints: we hope there is so much of the English genius of Friendship and good nature abroad in the world, that none will censure us, either for familiar meetings, which are neighbourly, or for making good use of those meetings which is Christian: Indeed we were unsufferable, if we set up private meetings in opposition to public Assemblies; but it's a common observation by this time, that we never go together privately the same hour that others meet publicly; and indeed we are glad when they say unto us, Let us go up to the House of God. One thing we have desired of the Lord, that while we seek after, that we may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of our lives, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his Temple. And it's seldom that we escape any opportunities of joining with the public Assemblies, for though we cannot administer in the Church, yet we cannot separate from the Church: we would not partake with the Church's sins, lest we be defiled; we would not remove from the Church, lest we be nothing: And indeed we desire only in private to set home upon our hearts what we have gained in public; we would second the Ministers at home, whom we cannot assist abroad: It's true, they of us that fear the Lord, speak often one to another, but we dare not speak any thing that is amiss, for we know the Lord hearkeneth and heareth us, and a Book of Remembrance is written before, for them that fear the Lord, and think upon his Name.  
4. Forasmuch as there is no well-affected Christian that is not deeply sensible of the unsetledness, division, animosities, profaneness, decay of Trade, and other calamities, whereby our Native Country is exposed to the pity of Neighbours, and the scorn and insultation of Enemies; we do effectually endeavour to work our hearts to a sound humiliation for our own sins, which have contributed too much to the common calamities, seeing we are so unhappy as to add to the measure of public provocations, we cannot but be so compassionate, as to endeavour to add to the measure of public prayers, humiliations and intercessions.  
5. To prevail with God the more effectually, we zealously stir up our Neighbours and Friends to be passionately affected with the present Estate of the Churches and Servants of Christ, that as they helped on their miseries by their sins, so they may assist in their recovery, by their tears, sighs and prayers.  
6. We endeavour by all means to gain just notice, and a true account of the estate of our Native Country; that as the men of Issachar, we may be men understanding the times, and knowing what Israel ought to do; and herein we observe: First, our sins we allow, to the great dishonour of the Majesty of the holy God we serve, and the purity of the holy Gospel we profess: And secondly, the judgements we lie under, by reason of these sins; our great design is to root up the greatest evil, that is Sin, and draw near the highest good, that is God, that he would take delight in us to do us good, and would receive us graciously, and love us freely.  
7. We deeply lay to heart, and secretly mourn for the sins of the people, representing them to our thoughts in their heinous nature and circumstances, humbly entreating the Lord for their serious repentance of them, and earnestly deprecating the judgements provoked by them; so that we lay together both the evils we feel, and those we have too just cause to fear, and in a due sense of both, we desire to humble ourselves, and others, under the mighty hand of God.  
8. And therefore whensoever we have an opportunity to speak from God to his people in the public Assemblies, we desire to speak a present truth, and to lay open and bewail the sins of the time, and to awake the people with all zealous exhortation to a lively and just sorrow for all the overflowings of wickedness, and to a vehement and godly striving against the stream thereof by their prayers and utmost endeavours, day and night constantly pouring out their hearts in strong cries and servant prayer to our God, that he will be pleased to visit us in mercy and compassion, and cause the light of his countenance to shine upon us.  
9 And however, privately we set apart one day at least in every week for this holy end and purpose, wherein we humble ourselves in private fasting and prayer, till it please our God to return to his in his wont pity and compassion, and put an end to our sins and miseries, recovering us to that first state of Innocence, peace and plenty, which we were happy in before our late miscarriages.  
10. We do restrain our wont pleasure, not allowing the liberty of that mirth and lawful refreshment which we might formerly make use of, while the hand of God lieth thus heavily upon us.  
11. We do not allow ourselves the neglect of any good means of prayer, reading, meditation and conference, whereby the peace and welfare of this Church and State may be procured and maintained, and shall carefully avoid all words and actions, ways and means, which may at all tend to the widening of the unhappy breaches, and the increasing the many and woeful differences among us, seeking peace, and ensuing it, studying now in our leisure time, to look into the bottom of Controversies, that we may bring differences to as narrow a compass as we can, beget a mutual good understanding and satisfaction among sober men, clearing up things as far as lieth in our power for the reuniting of all honest and faithful hearts in a firm concord of Christian love, endeavouring to discover and defeat all the devices and machinations of Satan, and his Engines, against the peace and welfare of the Church in all parts of the world, especially in these wherein we are interested.  
12. And particularly considering ourselves, our own miscarriages and infirmities, we shall not as afore fly out upon the weakness, defects, or excesses of our Fathers or Brethren, aggravating the blame of those their actions or Opinions, which may be capable of a gentler or milder construction, resolving to look as charitably upon all their proceedings, who are otherwise minded in matters of an inferior Nature, bending our whole endeavours against known sin, and open profaneness, the great Enemies of our peace and settlement: As we have preached, so we desire to live, that charity that suffereth long, and is kind, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  
13. And to that purpose we have first of all laid aside all our lesser Opinions among ourselves, and our little separations and divisions, and resolvedly knit ourselves together in an entire affection one to another, that by this all men may know that we are Christ's Disciples, because we love one another, and are ready to show all mutual respects of Christian love, and observance to each other upon all occasion loving as Brethren: As likewise we shall in all meekness of spirit lovingly converse with, and kindly, affectionate to, and respectful towards all our Fathers and Brethren in their places, living without offence, and blameless.  
14. We mourn, but not as men without hope; that our gracious God will find out a way to have mercy upon us, and to cheer up his countenance towards all his Chosen Ones, wiping (as that holy Bishop said) all tears from their eyes, and all spots from their faces, and answering the holy desires of their hearts, in showing them Zion in perfect beauty, and that not by overturning any part of the Government, but by opening our hearts to see our errors, and close one with another, by turning the heart of the Father towards the Child, and of the Child towards the Father, lest God come and smite the earth with dicurse.  
15. In the mean time we possess our Souls in patience, and we keep silence before God, waiting upon him that hideth his face from Jacob; for his Spirit of love, unity, peace and concord, resolving to continue thus doing, till we receive an answer from heaven.  
16. It's true, there are many of us whose bodies will not bear that austerity of fasting and humiliation which our cause may require, yet they that cannot fast do pray, and they that cannot spare a day in seven, can spare an hour in twelve, and make up the rest in frequent and servant ejaculations.  
17. Whereas some have pretended that we set up a Government within a Government, and that we have an Authority among ourselves, we must let the world know we are all equal, and we have no formality or Ceremony among us, but a free and voluntary entrance, left open for all comers into this strict course of Christian Austerity, without any noise, without the required notice of any, but God and their own conscience, that all may well know and see, that here is no design than merely Spiritual, aiming at nothing but Religious Transactions, between God and our own Souls, and consisting in the performance of the unquestionable exercises of Piety and holy Devotion.  
18. Since we have been uncapable of speaking to the people the things that are of everlasting concernment, we have recommended to them the writings of good men, pious and peaceable, who being dead yet speak, and poor men we know may read a good book, when they cannot hear a good man; and we ourselves teach them from house to house, with tears day and night, as the Apostles did, leaving with them such books as Mr. Baxters Call, his Now or Never, his Directions for Peace of Conscience, his Saints Everlasting Rest, Mr Bolton, Dr. Sibbs, Mr. Perkins, Mr. Dod, and Dr. Preston.  
19 We settle men's judgements upon most firm and solid principles, leading to peace and holiness, leading them through that safe and middle way that is equally distant from all the extremes men have run into in their hearts about some points of Religion, as particularly in the points now in difference among us, we teach our people, that though we cannot conform to the Church without sin, yet they cannot separate from it without sin; we cannot administer according to the prescribed form, but we and they can hear according to it; we must join with the Church in our duties, though we are not guilty of her infirmities; we teach them that it is one thing to hold communion with a Church that is under some miscarriages, and another thing to act those miscarriages; what we chiefly insist on, are things much comporting and agreeing with the spirit of the Scriptures, and things that are most proper to build men up in their most holy Faith, and to promote the power of godliness in their hearts and lives.  
20. It's true, we desire to settle our people's hearts upon all occasions, but always offering them such things as tend to peace and quietness, and godliness of living, dealing as faithfully with them, as those who must give an account; and if therefore we have any interest with them, we improve for God our Sovereign, and the Church of Christ, for whose distressed members we sometimes solicit them with success, and find them willing above their strength and ability, and we hope the Lord will not forget their work and labour of love, and yet we desire not to wrong any Minister in his place, for indeed we stated the point of Minister's maintenance upon such grounds, that we are persuaded no sober Christian, with whom we have any interest, will withdraw any thing that is due from any man that labours in the Word and Doctrine, and watches for their Souls: And though we are otherwise represented, yet our great endeavour is, by a discreet interposition to allay and fix the people to a due temperament (gently guiding some men's well-meaning zeal by such rules of moderation, as are best to restore and preserve the health and peace of this Church and Kingdom, much pleasing ourselves in that good and firm understanding which would thence grow between his most Excellent Majesty and his good people, all jealousies being laid aside, our own and our Posterities Interest lay before us many strong obligations to seek and preserve the peace and welfare of the Land of our Nativity; the offence which some men's dangerous meddling and overbusy interpositions have contracted upon our profession, we have resolved to expiate by such moderations for the future, as might not only check the excesses of our practice, but of our Opinions too, no men having a greater kindness for peace and settlement preserved in truth, unity and order, than ourselves, whom it most concerns, whether we consider our consciences; callings or interests, as knowing, that nothing undermines to much in our Authority and Calling, as those dangerous dissensions wherein the people learn to shake off both.  
21. It is true, we cannot own that Episcopacy now established, so as to undertake it ourselves, yet we would submit to it as to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake, whether to the King as Supreme, or to those who are sent by him, whose great charges and care is like enough to betray them to some errors, and many enemies, whereof they canno but contract good store, while so eminent and so active, they provoke that envy which improved to a popular odium, is able to overcast the highest Merit and Integrity; wherefore the Bishops have our prayers, pity, and assistance; and although we cannot in our judgement approve all that they do, driven it may be rather by the▪ temper of the people and unhappiness of this age, than 〈◊〉 their own disposition to any height and rigour of action; yet we allow not that their persons or Government should be exposed to the malapartness of the loose and irreverent multitude, who take a bold liberty to despise Dominions, and to speak evil of Dignities, whereas we have always taught, that men should cheerfully submit to the Authority, when they cannot in Conscience allow all the practices of those that are over them in the Lord: Indeed, we never met with a more perplexed conjuncture of affairs, than the late business of Bishops, when between our unsatisfiedness in Conscience under that Government, and the woeful necessity if we shaked off that of being under none, we run head, long to that which we thought then expedient, rather than we should suffer some inconvenience under that which, well regulated we must▪ always approve as just, preferring the humour of some particular men, before the reason of the Christian World: Well experience hath taught us▪ that we had better live where nothing is lawful, then where all things are so; that Anarchy is the greatest oppression, licentiousness the greatest grievance and an unbounded liberty the greatest slavery▪  
22. Indeed we allow it for weaker Christians, who have not their hearts enlarged with an ability to express their own wants and desires, both lawful and convenient to help themselves in prayer, the use of a prescribed form, wherein they may have their own case and condition more pithily and affectionately than they are able to express it themselves, and if the use of such a form do prove a means to warm the affections, and enkindle their grace, we looking not upon it as any quenching of the Spirit, it being not in our apprehension essential to the nature of prayer, that it be either read, or rehearsed by memory, or by immediate suggestion, but rather that it be delivered out of the book, or out of the heart, with understanding and suitable affections, with humility and confidence, and an inward sense of our condition; nor is there any great difference betwixt repeating by memory, and reading out of a book, the memory being but a kind of invisible book for the register of our thoughts, though in this case it should be especially remembered, that in the use of such prescript forms, to which a man hath been accustomed, he ought to be narrowly watchful over his own heart, for fear of that lip-service and formality which in such cases we are more especially exposed unto; but yet for any one so to fit and satisfy himself with his Prayer-book, as to go no further, this were still to remain in his Infancy, and never grow in grace or gifts; and withal, it's very hard for a man to find a prescribed form that may suit with our several emergencies; and therefore indeed we do not tie ourselves so precisely to any particular form of words, though of our own composing, and fitted to our condition, but that we may either add or alter, according as our emergent occasion, or some new affection suggested shall require: Sometimes we feel our hearts more warm, our desires more vigorous, and our expressions more copious and ready: And in this case we suffer not ourselves to be streightened or confined to any form, but take our liberty to expatiate more freely, according as we find our inward: in●argements.  
23. Amongst all the stratagems of Satan, whereby he would undermine Religion, and pervert the souls of men, though there cannot be any more unreasonable, yet there was never any more unhappily successful than the raising and cherishing fears and jealousies in the world, that Religion in the height and exaltation of it, is an Enemy to Government; and that to be a through-paced, a sincere and zealous Christian, is to be dangerous to the State: We therefore, as Ministers of this Religion, are bold in the evidence & truth of the Gospel, to say that (whatever the men of the world judge of us) we profess Christian Religion in so harmless and innocent a way, that we have studied and endeavoured to state the Rights of Civil Government upon the clearest and firmest principles, to secure them by the most powerful obligation, and to urge them upon men by the most efficacious motives of rewards and punishments in the world: And we profess sincerely, that we look upon our late miscarriages as most unhappy scandals to our Religion, and those engaged in them so for us, to persist still as Enemies to the Cross of Christ, and men born to bring our holy Christian profession into jealousy, suspicion, and disgrace with the powers of the earth, and to stir up the Kings of the earth to stand up, and the Rulers to take counsel together against the Lord, and against his Christ, that they should break their bonds in sunder, and cast their cords from them: We are so sensible of the original and institution of Government, of the end and use of it, in respect of good and evil men, and thereof the necessity of subjection for Conscience sake, and of the sin and danger of resisting an Ordinance of God, considering that they who resist privately or openly by word or deed, resist to their own damnation; that we cannot allow any person upon any pretence whatsoever, in any manner whatsoever, to vilify, despise, murmur against, disparage, undermine, or oppose lawful Authority that is set over him, we say upon any pretence whatsoever, either 1. In respect of the person governing, as Error, Heresy, Idolatry, harsh Administration, or the like, in which cases the servants of God in all Ages had no other remedy but patience, and prayer, and crying mightily to the Lord, 1 Sam 8. 9, 11, 12, 18. as they did under Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero, those Monsters of mankind. Or 2. In respect of the persons governed, be they never so holy seeing, best of men, yea God and Man in this case obeyed unto the death. 3. In respect of any causes whatsoever, though it be Religion, whereof we conceive the Magistrate ought to have the greatest care, so that we are persuaded in our Consciences, that to them who have embraced Christianity in the true and genuine spirit of it, as we hope we have all done; and to those who without vile affections, and carnal interests, shall apply themselves to know the mind of God delivered in Scripture: As we hope we do with peaceable submission, and patience is a clear duty under any Government; so that though the Spirit of the Ruler be stirred against them, yet they cannot stir out of their place.  
24. And as we are thus justly affected to Sovereignty, as knowing by whom the powers are ordained, as we dare not curse the King in our heart, or revile the Ruler of the people, much less slander the footsteps of Gods Anointed; as we submit for conscience sake to every Ordinance of God; yea to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake, not daring to disobey in regard of the Oath of God; and pay custom where custom, and tribute where tribute. So indeed whatever apprehensions men have of us abroad in the world, we desire to fill up every relation conscionably and faithfully according to the Rule, and as men that desire to approve ourselves to God and men; as 1. to our calling, we desire to be faithful, neither suppressing nor corrupting the truth, to take heed to ourselves, and to all the flock of God, over which the holy Ghost hath made us overseers, to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood: We desire to speak from the heart to the heart, to feel in ourselves what we speak, to others; that we may serve God with our spirit in the Gospel of his Son, that we may save ourselves and those that hear us; that we may walk from love to God, to the glory of God, and the salvation of our souls, as able, faithful, resolute, industrious, in preparing for, and exercising of our Ministry, and as compassionate of souls, preaching the Word purely, plainly, prudently, powerfully and sincerely, administering the Sacraments carefully, instructing our Flocks, advising, admonishing, and comforting them as we see occasion; being good examples to Believers, in words in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity and waiting upon God for success: We desire to be neither too austere in our retiredness, nor too cheap in our sociableness, but carrying so even a hand, that our discreet affableness may be free from contempt, and that we may win our people with a loving conversation; as secondly to our Relation, first to our Familiar, we desire to be the mouth of our people to God by constant prayers, and the mouth of God to our people by wholesome Instructions, and holy Admonitions, loving, tender, and careful of our nearest Relations, devoting them to God's service, and committing them to his care, providing yet for them honest things in the sight of men, and going before them in good examples of piety and holy conversation, and so overlooking them, as they that have more than mere bodies committed to our charge: We desire to be familiar, meek, humble, and courteous towards all, and helpful one way or other to our neighbour, as they that think ourselves born to do good, maintaining peace and love at home and abroad.  
25. We think we have fully informed ourselves in all the necessary points of Religion; and we are so firmly grounded in those fundamental and saving truths, that we will not be carried about with every wind of doctrine; as for circumstances, we neither neglect them, nor yet too eagerly pursue after them; we receive nothing in Religion upon trust: nor dare we absolutely follow any guide, but such as we are sure cannot err; we have some hours for speculation, but our Life is to reduce knowledge to practice, and so much we think we know, as we can live; where we are convinced we we can submit, where we must descent we can be silent, and where we descent from the Church, we desire to examine throughly whether we are deceived; we keep close to those truths which do most promote the glory and grace of God, the reformation of men, and the salvation of souls: Whosoever therefore by pride, or faction, or schism, or ambition, or novel fancies, and arrogance, or ignorance, or sedition, or popularity, or vainglory, or envy or discontent, or corrospondence, or any other carnal reason shall cause divisions or offences by teaching any other doctrine then what we have received, we look not upon him as the Servant of Christ.  
26. We desire we may not be judged for our austere conversation and strict life; for we desire, so to speak, and so to do, as they that shall be judged by the Law of Liberty: We would our discourse were grave, discreet, pertinent, free from vanity, free from offence: We allow ourselves no corrupt or unsavoury communication; in worldly affairs we desire nothing may fall from us but what is seasonable and well advised; in spiritual, such as may minister grace to the hearers, and such as is sparing and charitable, allowing neither detraction nor censure; not meddling with any matters of State▪ but keeping ourselves within compass, only desiring to understand the times, that we might know what Israel ought to do: In word and actions we desire to walk circumspectly, to avoid all appearance of evil; to walk as in sincerity, as in truth, and as in the sight of God; exercising ourselves to a good Conscience, void of offence towards God and towards men; willing in all things to live honestly, and endeavouring to live without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation; and if we are more earnest and serious then ordinarily, you must know, that we are sensible how short time is, what eternity is, and what are our immortal souls, and what that God is with whom we have to do. Our recreation we desire may be safe, inoffensive and moderate in time and measure, such as may refresh a tired body and mind, and not effeminate or debauch them, we would indeed rejoice, as if we rejoiced not. We allow ourselves so far creature-enjoyments, as nature requires, and grace moderates, and our God blesseth: we redeem our time, considering it is not our own improving it to our best advantage; we know a day or a night well spent, makes way for Eternity. We desire to be very observant of our outward conversation, but we look chiefly at our inward frame; we live by the precepts, we live upon the promises, we affect not singularity, we aim at sincerity, our Habits commend us not to God, yet by our Habits we would not give offence unto men; our devotion we desire may be with fear and reverence on the one hand, and with Faith and sincerity on the other, we watch unto prayer, and we watch after prayer; and indeed we desire always to watch and be sober, fearing in adversity, and rejoicing in tribulation, knowing that tribulation provoketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed.  
27. Our endeavours to keep a good understanding at Court by our Friends and Brethren, is loaded by our enemies (for so some would be still, notwithstanding his Majesty's endeavours for pacification) with all the obloquys and exasperations imaginable, and looked upon by some indifferent men with jealousies and fears; but these men know not the just motives and pregnant grounds with which we think ourselves furnished for those undertake, God knows it is not any interest or party we desire to serve there, but we pursue the peace and good of the Kingdom, and endeavour to prevent future dangers, which we may foresee will in all likelihood follow some men's activity (if not restrained) by a moderate Interest; not as if we would stop the course of Law, or weaken Authority, but that we desire heartily, as many honourable Persons do, with his Majesty and his Father of blessed memory, That no Party or Interest be exasperated (and the multitude are easier exasperated than appeased) by crossness, and asperity of some men's passions, humours or private opinions, grounded only upon differences in lesser matters, which are but the skirts and suburbs of Religion; wherein (as his late Majesty of renowned Memory observed, as an Angel of God) a charitable counivance and Christian toleration of sin dissipates their strength, whom rougher opposition fortifieth, and puts the despised and oppressed party into such combinations as may most enable them, yet a full revenge on those they count their persecutors, who are commonly assisted with that vulgar commiseration, which attends all that are said to suffer under the notion of Religion.  
Indeed we only desire (what that famous Prince wished) viz. That solid piety, and those fundamental truths (which mend both hearts and lives of men) be kept up and encouraged with equal justice and impartial favour; and that the outward circumstances and formalities of Religion devour not all, or the best encouragement, of learning, industry and piety, but that with an equal eye and impartial hand favours and rewards he distrited among all men, as they are found, for their real goodness, both in ability and fidelity worthy and capable of them: This, saith that excellent Prince, will be sure to gain the hearts of the most, and the best too, who though they be not good themselves, yet are glad to see the severer ways of virtue at any time sweetened by temporal rewards.  
And though it be suggested, that we are not to be trusted about his Majesty, although we can make it appear, that since his Majesty was restored we have passed three years with so much innocence, and so little compliance with any Interest or Faction, that not one public action we did since, but is capable of a fair and equitable plea; yet since an Act of Indemnity and Religion is passed, we think it our duty so for to comply with his Majesty's Intention in granting that Act, as not to mention any thing, how defensible soever, which he hath commanded should be utterly forgotten, but to give our present sense of things, we can sincerely profess, that we have not only a Loyal, but a most affectionate esteem for his Majesty's Person and Government; for since, besides the general obligation of Subjects, we are bound by our Religion to prise gratitude above all things; we could not be just, should we not most earnestly desire the happiness of that Prince, unto whose single endeavours we owe all our Liberty; for we all acknowledge, that his Majesty's personal and passionate interposings did confirm our Indemnity, and his most pious and unequalled Declarations have satisfactorily evidenced, that he is not unwilling to indulge the utmost extent of sober and Christian Liberty, which, as we have elsewhere professed, are expressions of so much goodness in the midst of so great power, and after somany provocations, that he hath not the heart of a man, much less of a Christian, that hath not a due sense of them; we are sure they have so throughly possessed us, that if in any public action of ours there be any Instance that can be wrested to the disparagement of his Majesty's Royal Authority and Government: we entreat the world to take notice, that we do hereby utterly disown it, as being directly contrary to our professed Principles, which lead us to no one point of outward practice more strictly and powerfully then an exact and punctual obedience to his Majesty's Commands, and a cheerful submission to his Authority. And once for all, now it hath pleased his Majesty to enjoin an outward conformity, to which we cannot in all things subscribe, we are resolved, the Lord assisting us, to submit with cheerfulness, and to suffer with silence, for as there is an active disobedience, which is to resist, so there is a passive disobedience, that is, to repine, neither of which can we by any means approve of; since whatever we cannot conscientiously do, we think ourselves obliged to suffer for, with as much joy, and with as little resistance, as if any other act of obedience were called for from us. We may perhaps be too partial to ourselves; but certainly in general we may pronounce, that whoever is of this temper, whatever his judgement be, as touching things indifferent in their own nature, yet he cannot be supposed incompatible with ways of public safety. And over and above all, we are not capable of being dangerous to this Government, but by our Representatives in Parliament, who are now men of such unspotted integrity towards his Majesty's Person and Government, that it is a wonder if malice itself can find the least suspicion of danger.  
28. It is true (as some say) that by our diligence, good husbandry, and the blessing of God upon our endeavours, we have got among us a considerable part of the treasure of this Land; for we are a people that improve our time, and follow our business, as whose strict profession forbids us those excesses which swallow up other men's time and estates; Hounds, Hawks, Games, Wine, womans, Plays, and other vanities, have neither our thoughts nor our purses, which we reserve for higher advantage, which we constantly watch, and as constantly meet with (so great an advantage hath the sober against the intemperate) yet out of what we have, are we ready upon all occasions to assist his Majesty, and support his Government; yea if, as some would have, it should please his Majesty to impose upon us a Levy for our former miscarriages, his Indulgence to us, and for the peace and tranquillity we enjoy under him, it should be parted with as cheerfully as ever we parted with money in the heat of the late trouble; neither would we so anxiously look upon what is gone of our estate, as we would thankfully take notice of what remains. It is true, we have got estates some of us in the late troubles, and now we have places about the King, and indeed we know not how to expiate former transgression against his late Majesty, but by endeavouring to be as capable as we can to serve his Son: Among our many failings we hoped this would have been none, that we used all means to get into his Majesty's service, no place escaping us that could be had for love or money; as we have done amiss, not out of malice, but misinformation, or misapprehension of things, so we hope none shall be more loyal and faithful than we, who, sensible of our errors and our injuries, do feel in our own souls most vehement motives to repentance, and earnest desires to make some repairations for former defects.  
For his Majesties and his Father's faithful Soldiers and Subjects, who out of conscience sunk in the same ruin with their Liege, Lord and Sovereign, we declare, upon all occasions, when we are called to it, that we think it necessary for public settlement, that they should be provided for as may be just and expedient; such valour and gallantry we confess they have showed, that we heartily wish we may never want such men to serve our Sovereign, to maintain his Laws and Kingdoms in such a peace, as wherein they may enjoy their share and proportion as much as any men; and so wish withal, that we did close so unanimously in one common subjection, that there were no note of distinction left, and no quarrel remain but this one, viz. who should be most Loyal and faithful: we would have our fellow Subjects live as strictly and as warily as we do, and they will see, the very money that is spent upon their vanities would procure them places as well as ours does us: and as for such of them as the iniquity of the times, or their own faults have made poor, our very excesses would support them, and what we throw away idly would relieve them: we are ready to join in any expedient that may accommodate all grievances, that if it be possible we may have no more complaining in our streets. In a word, those that are well inclined on all sides are ready to agree, but that there are some crafty and subtle men on both sides, that would keep our distances and animosities to serve their private ends, which they propose sometimes to themselves out of the public ruin, aggravating all things with the most odious circumstances, and endeavouring to inflame the vulgar to a temper uncapable of restraint or Government, that now we are at such a distance, we look upon it as no less a providence, that God keeps the people within the bound of Law, and the reverence of Authority, then that he keeps the Sea within its channel, and the waters within their banks. And thus indeed since our seclusion have we endeavoured to approve ourselves Gods faithful Children and Servants by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report, as deceivers, and yet true.  
29. The great discourse of the Nation at this time is their Taxations, from which some would persuade the world we under our present discontent make some advantage, in reference to which our sense hath been always this: 1. That all our payments are our advantage, we allow his Majesty a part of our Estate, to secure the whole; we support his Government, he protects our lives and estates from that rage and rapine which in a few days may destroy the industry of many years; we teach men constantly not to be so impertinent, as to complain of any common charge or burden which seems necessary to the present policy, under which we may have leave to live peaceable and quiet lives, in all godliness and honesty; no safety to us without the restraint of other men's lust and violence, and no restraint, without a Government that is able to raise a constant guard to every man that would live securely under his own Vine, and under his own Figtree.  
We know that there are four pillars of Government and Order. 1. Religion, that settleth the heart of men. 2. Justice, that ordereth their lives. 3. Counsel, that may apply the Rules of Justice and Religion to particular occasions. 4. Treasure, which last is so necessary, that without it, Officers will be corrupted, Counsels betrayed, Armies ill paid and disciplined, Trade obstructed, and a poor Nation will lie open to the dangerous attempts of an untoward people at home, and the unneighbourly encroachments of potent Princes abroad. 2. All payments are of our own imposing, by our consent in Parliament. 3. Our late miscarriages occasion our present grievances. 4. Yet we are not now under the eighth part of former payments: We tell our people, that our King affords us Christian protection, and therefore we may very well allow him dutiful assistance, by our lives, estates and prayers.  
30. Here we thought to have concluded, but that there remains two particulars more, whereof we think fit to give an account, and then we shall set a period to this importunity.  
The first is this; viz. Why we have been so importunate, both a little before the 24 of August, and ever since, against Popery.  
Ans. It's true, that we had verily thought Popery had rendered itself justly odious, by its own abominations in doctrine, worship, and bloody slaughters, and that in these days of light and knowledge, to imagine a possibility of its return upon the Protestant Churches, (which yet hath been the Opinion of divers eminent for Learning and Godliness among us) was groundless fear, where no fear was: yet really considering: 1. The vast numbers of Popish Emissaries, Priests and Jesuits that swarm among us, English Colleges, as we are certified, being much emptied by the reason of multitudes sent hither, whose ways are subtle and close, whose industry is indefatigable, whose influence and efficacy upon all sorts of persons is powerful, whose support from abroad is past finding out. 2. The printing and vending so many English Popish books, which considering the Apostasy of some, the indifference of others, distracted by our unhappy divisions, cannot speak less than a great inclination to a revolt to Popery. 3. The toleration of Popery publicly by them pleaded for. 4. The Jesuits designs and models of reducing England to Rome's obedience, followed and promoted by many deluded Protestants. 5. The union of foreign Popish power, which how soon the Court of Rome (being ever vigilant to improve such occasions for the propagation of its own greatness) may make use of, for the extirpation of the Protestant Religion; we need not divine. 6. The whole body of Popery published by Sectaries, especially Quakers; upon these considerations we were awakened, to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the Saints; having not the least thought of any dangerous intimations to the people, as if our Governors or Government (both which we think in our consciences clear in that matter) had any inclinations for, or were to give any countenance to that Mystery of Iniquity: And it was therefore that we recommend to our beloved Congregations: 1. The love of the truth in sincerity. 2. Serious endeavours to heal the sad breaches and divisions which are among us. 3. To read good books. 4. To make Conscience of all Family duties. 5. To attend on public Ordinances. 6. To be well grounded in the principles of Religion, and to watch over their hearts.  
2. It was given out, that we the dissembling Party had made an accommodation among ourselves, the naked truth whereof is this; indeed we have endeavoured to follow the things that make for peace, which we have reduced to these heads following.  
1. Peace with God; if our ways please the Lord, our Enemies will be at peace with us.  
1. Of Nature in one common grace, wrought in us by one Spirit; if we had all one new Nature, we should have all one mind.  
2. Of Judgement; 1. In principles of Doctrine which we draw up; which are 1. Few. 2. Plain. 3. Weighty. 4. Clear. 5. Subservient to godliness. 6. Universally professed.  
2. Principles of obedience of Worship, of government contained in the ten Commandments, the Lords Prayer, the Belief, and the Scripture.  
3. Of affections; one heart where there cannot be one mind, kindly affectionate one to another, loving as Brethren.  
4. Of ends; they that agree in the end, will in time agree in the means.  
2. Unity; and that Scripture.  
3. Uniformity; that every thing be done according to Scripture, decency and order, that we be one of one way, and of one mind, and walk by the same Rule.  
4. Orders; none stirring out of his place, all studying to be quiet, and to follow their own business peaceably and obediently, knowing them that rule over them.  
5. The power of Grace and Religion, which is a wisdom from above; first pure, then peaceable, and the power of Religion makes for peace. 1. By subduing lusts, whence come worse. 2. By working that love that beareth all things, etc. 1 Cor. 13. 3. By enlightening the mind, difference come from ignorance, if we have grace to practise what we know, God will reveal other things in due time, and we shall all agree. 4. By subduing that covetousness, ambition, pride, envy, etc. that disturb the world. 5. The power of Grace in us will convince all men, that God is in us of a truth, and so will pacify the world.  
The 6th thing that makes for peace, a great care of weak and wilful ignorance, which is lazy, and will not search for truth; bashful, and is ashamed to do it; sullen, and will not understand.  
7. Take care of interest private or public; keep up a frame of spirit that looks rather what is just, necessary and true, than what is expedient and useful.  
8. Be humble and teachable, neither proud nor selfconceited pertinacy, nor think seriously on this obvious truth, a man may err: put on meekness and long-suffering.  
9 Take care of respect of persons, and of prejudice.  
10. Be deliberate and sober, proving all things.  
11. Have a zeal always guided by knowledge.  
12. Let nothing be done through strife, or vainglory.  
13. Prudently suspend your judgement and practice, and if you have faith, have it to thyself.  
14. All lawful condescension and forbearance one with another, forbearing and receiving one another, and bearing one another's burden.  
15. Wait by prayer on the God of peace, for yourselves, for your Ministers, for your Magistrates.  
16. Mark them that cause divisions, and avoid them.  
17. Give up yourselves to your faithful Ministers, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.  
18. Be wise unto sobriety, and rather believe then dispute, avoiding all unnecessary questions.  
19 Take care of an Innovating Spirit, stand in the way, ask which is the good way, and walk therein, and you will find rest for your Souls.  
20. Consider one another, so as to provoke one another to love, and to good works.  
21. Let the spirits of the Prophets be subject to the Prophets.  
22. Correct and keep down the rising of our knowledge with humility in ourselves, and charity towards others.  
23. So long as there is sound agreement in fundamental truths, and in the simplicity of the Gospel, silence all disputes, in matters merely notional and curious, which have no necessary influence into faith and godly living.  
24. Let there be a joint obedience to the truths wherein all agree, and pursuance of the end which all profess, whereunto we have already attained; let us walk by the same Rule, let us mind the same things, Phil. 3. 26.  
25. Out of a serious and single-hearted love of truth, let us address ourselves to the search of holy Scriptures.  
26. A mutual and brotherly love, which is a very great means to work upon the judgements of one another, and to take off all impediments as usually arise from personal prejudice in disquisition of truth.  
27. Keep yourselves to the Analogy of faith, the form of sound words:  
28. Labour against the inward grounds of contention, as pride, self-love, envy, malice and covetousness, and endeavour after a meek, charitable, yielding, and submissive disposition of heart and frame of spirit, that may let fall private interest for the public.  
29. Meet and converse together for a mutual good, understanding of one another.  
30. Wait upon God for further illumination in all truth.  
31. Let the grounds of Religion be laid by Catechising.  
32. Suppress the beginning of religious debates, by a fair and amicable communication among yourselves.  
Thus we have given a sincere account of ourselves, which we beseech the Lord to bless, to confirm the weak, to direct the doubtful, to convince gainsayers, and to gain peaceable and sober men favour with God and men.   

A SOLEMN VOW That we have taken.  
WE the Ministers of the Gospel, in the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, living under one King, and being of one Reformed Religion, having before our eyes the glory of God, and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the honour and happiness of the King's Majesty, and his Posterity, and the true public liberty, safety, and peace of the Kingdoms wherein every ones private condition is included, and calling to mind the treacherous and bloody Plots, Conspiracies, Attempts, and practices of the Enemies of God against the true Religion, and Professors thereof in all places, especially in these three Kingdoms, ever since the Reformation of Religion, and how much their rage, power, and presumption are of late, and at this time increased and exercised; whereof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland, the distressed estate of the Church and Kingdom of England, and the dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland, are present and public Testimonies; We have now at last, (after other means of supplication, Remonstrance, Protestations and sufferings) for the preservation of ourselves and our Religion from utter ruin and destruction, according to the commendable practice of these Kingdoms in former times, and the example of God's People in other Nations; after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a mutual and solemn League and Covenant, wherein we all subscribe, and each one of us for himself with our hands lifted up to the most High God, do swear.  
And because these Kingdoms are guilty of many sins and provocatious against God, and his Son Jesus Christ, as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers the fruits thereof; We profess and declare before God and the world, our unfeigned desire to be humbled for our own sins, and for the sins of these Kingdoms, especially that we have not as we ought, valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel, that we have not laboured for the purity and power thereof, and that we have not endeavoured to receive Christ in our hearts, nor to walk worthy of him in our lives, which are the causes of other sins and transgressions so much abounding amongst us; And our true and unfeigned purpose, desire, and endeavour for ourselves, and all others under our power and charge, both in public and in private, in all duties we owe to God and Man, to amend our lives, and each one to go before another in the example of a real Reformation, that the Lord may turn away his wrath and heavy indignation, and establish these Churches and Kingdoms in truth and peace. And this Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God, the searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to perform the same, as we shall answer at that great day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed. Most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his Holy Spirit for this end, and to bless our desires and proceedings with such success, as may be deliverance and safety to his people, and encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under, or in danger of the yoke of Antichristian Tyranny, to join in the same, or like Association and Covenant, to the glory of God, the enlargement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and the peace and tranquillity of Christian Kingdoms and Commonwealths.   

Bishop HALL'S Holy Order OF THE Mourners in ZION.  
FOrasmuch as there is no well-affected Christian, that is not deeply sensible of the woeful calamity of this once glorious Church, now humbled into the dust of confusion, and exposed to the pity of all those foreign Neighbours, which heretofore blessed it as a singular pattern of Divine Mercy; and to the scorn and insultation of Gath and Ascalen: And for as much as it is, and hath been ever the practice of the Enemies of our peace, to range themselves into several Ranks and Files, under various Forms, Qualities, and Denominations; as on the one side▪ the Society of Jesus, the Order of the glorious Virgin, th● Archi-confraternity of the most holy Trinity, and the rest of this kind not easy to be numbered: On the other side, Seekers, Quakers, Shakers', Dippers, the holy Family of Love, Ranters, and such other Prodigies of Mis-religion and Faction; and thereby have found advantage several ways for the promoting of our ruin: Why should it not b● found requisite, that we, the professed Servants of our Lor● Jesus Christ, Orthodox and genuine Sons of the Church o● England (whose hearts are moved by the good Spirit o● God to a just resentment of our miseries and dangers) should firmly resolve (for the countermining of these Engineers of Hell, and Conspirers of our destruction) to ente● into a safe, warrantable, Holy Fraternity of Mourners i● Zion; whose profession and work shall be a peculiarity o● Devotion, striving with servant Prayers and Tears to obtain from Heaven a seasonable redrefse of these our pressing Calamities, and a prevention of that utter overthrow and final Devastation which threatens this miserable Church wherein we do yet live: And for this purpose may it be thought meet to tie ourselves by our secret and silent Vows to these Rules following.  
1. That without all offensive, tumultuous and suspectible Gomplotting and Conventions, we shall hold up our private Devotions, and perform these our godly undertake to that premised end.  
2. That there shall be no superiority or subordination in this holy Fraternity, nor any soul more interessed in i● then other; and therefore no Formality or Ceremony of admittance into it, but a free and voluntary entrance, lest open for all comers into this strict course of Christian austerity; without any noise, without the required notice of any, but God and their own Conscience, that the world may well see and know, that here is no other design then merely spiritual; aiming at nothing but religious transactions between God and our Souls: and consisting in the performance of the unquestionable Exercises of Piety and holy Devotion.  
3. That we shall zealously excite our Neighbours and Friends to be passionately affected with this sad Estate of God's Church, and to be liberal of their sighs, and tears, and prayers for the happy recovery of it.  
4. That we will effectually endeavour to work our hearts to a found Humiliation for our own sins, which have helped to contribute to the common stock of our miseries, and daily renew our Vows of a more strict and holy obedience, and a more close walking with our God.  
5. That we shall deeply take to heart, and secretly mourn for, and lament the sins of our people, representing them to our thoughts in their heinous nature and quality, humbly begging for their serious repentance of them, and earnestly deprecating the judgements provoked by them.  
6. That for this end we shall do our best endeavour to get just notice of the sad estate of this distracted Church of ours, and to be truly apprehensive of the peril wherein it stands, as also of the horrible Blasphemies and damnable Heresies which have been of late disgorged from the mouth of Hell amongst us, and those hellish practices which have followed thereupon, to the high dishonour of the Majesty of that holy God whom we pretend to serve, to the utter shaming of that blessed Gospel which we profess, for as much as we cannot mourn for what we know not, nor mourn enough for what we do not know to be so transcendently sinful.  
As of the sins, whereby we have moved the fierce anger and wrathful displeasure of our God against us, so also shall we take full notice of the judgements, whereby we have smarted from his most just hand; yea (in a larger comprehension) of the judgements past, present, eminent; amongst which, how can we but sorrowfully reckon the mutual effusion of so much Christian blood, spilt by the hands of brethren, (and as the Tribes of Israel did for Benjamin) bitterly mourn for the slain of our people; of whom so many on both parts have been swept away from the earth, in the sury of a violent hostility, as might well have served to store a populous Nation, or might probably have overrun the professed enemies of Christendom: To these we cannot but add the woeful disasters and inexpressible miseries which do always inevitably attend an intestine war.  
But of all judgement, none have cause to make so deep an impression in us as the spiritual; as knowing, that as our God is terrible in all his inflictions, so most of all where he is least-felt; when he pays us in our own coin; when he punisheth us with our sins, making one sin the revenger and executioner of another; when he repays our actual rebellion against him with a senseless obdurateness, with a plausible security and deadness of spirit. When he rewards our neglect and contempt of his Ordinances, with giving us up to spiritual delusions, and to the seductions of the spirits of error, to prodigious whimsies, and spiritual blasphemies.  
We shall then (as we have too just reason) lay together these evils that we feel, with those which we have no less cause to fear; and under the sense of both shall find our hearts pierced with sorrow, and resolved into the just tears of our mourning.  
8. That we shall not fail both by night and day constantly to pour out our hearts in strong eries and fervent prayer to our God, that he will be pleased now at last to visit this miserable and disconsolate Church in mercy and compassion, and cause the light of his Countenance to shine upon us once again,  
9 That the matter of our Prayers shall be the illumination and reduction of those our weak Brethren, which ofsend through ignorance, and out of a well-meant zeal are in the simplicity of their hearts miscarried into erroneous ways, whether of doctrine or practice; for the merciful conversion of the not-obdured and wilful opposers of the Truth; for the seasonable confusion of the desperately malicious enemies of God and his Church; for the settling of the Church of God in righteousness, order and peace, for the prevailence and happy success of the Gospel against all Schism, Heresy, errors in Opinion, and wickedness of life; for the discovery and defeat of all the devices and machinations of Satan, and all his accursed Instruments, against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, and especially in these disjointed members of it, wherein we are interessed; for the encouragement and prosperity of all those that are faithful in the Land, and that are hearty wellwishers to our Zion; for the averting of those heavy and desolatory judgements which our sins have thus long and loud called for; and lastly, for the making up of our deplorable breaches, and reuniting of all honest and faithful hearts in a firm concord and Christian love.  
10. That we shall every week set apart one day for this holy purpose; wherein we shall humble ourselves in private fasting and prayer, till it shall please our God to return to us in his wont Compassion, and to put an end to these deadly distractions under which we labour.  
11. That we shall willingly abridge ourselves of our wont pleasure; not giving ourselves leave to enjoy any public meetings of mirth and jollity; nor take the liberty of those lawful Recreations, which we have formerly made use of, whiles the Hand of God lies thus heavily upon this Church and Nation.  
12. That it shall be the desire of our hearts, that all which shall condescend to join together in the profession of this holy Fraternity, be knit together in an entire affection to one another, and be ready to show all mutual respects of Christian love and observance to each other upon all occasions; being withal in all meekness of spirit charitably affected to, and lovingly conversing with those their Brethren and Neighbours, which are not yet so sensible of the just cause of their humiliation.  
13. That in the conscience of our own wants and infirmities, we shall make it our care to spend our main censures upon ourselves, and our own enormities: Not being apt to fly out upon the weaknesses and defects of our Brethren; bearing with those that are otherwise minded in matters of an inferior nature, not aggravating the blame of those their Actions, or Opinions, which may be capable of a gentler and milder construction; and reserving the edge of our zeal for those foul and gross offences, which carry open guilt in their faces, making head against them by all spiritual resistance and godly endeavours of Reclamation.  
14. That whensoever we shall be called to deliver the Message of God to his people in public Auditiories, we shall not fail to lay open and bewail the sins of the time, and to rouse up our Hearers, with all zealous Exhortations, to a lively sense of just sorrow for the universal overflowings of wickedness, and to a vehement and godly striving against the stream thereof, by their prayers and utmost endeavours.  
15. That we shall heartily labour not to be found defective in the use of all good means, whereby the peace and welfare of God's Church may be procured and maintained; and shall carefully avoid all such ways and means, which may in any sort endanger the widening of the unhappy breaches, and multiplying of the many and miserable distractions thereof.  
These are the Laws, to which we have thought fit in these doleful times to bind ourselves, in the presence of that God, who hath graciously wrought in us a feeling compassion of the public evils; beseeching him, who is the Father of all mercies, to enable us by the powerful operatio of his good Spirit, to an effectual performance of all these our holy engagements, that after the short time of our mourning in this vale of tears, we may be admitted to be the blessed partakers of that eternal joy which abides for all his in Heaven.  
Christian Brethren, of what quality soever; I cannot fear, lest it will seem too much boldness in me to invite you all to take part with me in this holy Fraternity; which you shall highly wrong if you look upon it as mine, or any merely humane institution: No, the Founder of it is in Heaven; it is the charge of the Holy Ghost himself, by the hand of his chosen Vessel, Weep with them that weep: If our tears therefore be (as they are) most just, ye are bound to add yours to them, and shall offend if ye forbear: Neither can you be ignorant that the Son of God himself whiles he was visibly here upon Earth, did not only own it as wellpleasing to him, but encouraged it with the promise of an assured comfort, and crowned it with no less title than Blessedness: And if ye look for a more ancient precedent, even before the Lord of Life was manifested in the flesh, ye do apparently find this Fraternity of singular note in old Jerusalem, Ye know the Man clothed with white Linen, which had the Writers Inkhorn by his side, had this charge from the mouth of the Lord himself, Go through the midst of the City, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the Men that sigh, and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. Lo here, a company of Mourners marked out for Mercy; even whiles the Sanctuary is contemptuously defiled, and all Jerusalem is in blood.  
Shall I now need any other motive to win you into the Brotherhood of this sacred Order?  
Know then, that they which sow in tears shall reap in joy; and he that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.  
Know that they are not Tears, but Pearls, that thus fall from your Eyes, dearly precious to the Almighty, and carefully reserved in his Casket, for the decking of your Souls to all Eternity.  
Know that even the Lord of Glory was a man of sorrows, and that he bedewed Jerusalem with his Tears, ere he watered is with his Blood. If therefore ye will be moved either with the sweet and unfailable promises of a gracious acceptation, and a blessed remuneration of everlasting comfort, or led by the Precept, or the Example of that dear Saviour, whose Name ye profess to bear, refuse not, delay not to enter yourselves into this so holy, ancient, and highly privileged Fraternity of Mourners in Zion.  
Mourn then, my Brethren, mourn heartily, but (as the Apostle in another case) Mourn not as men without hope, Be not disheartened, O ye faithful Mourners in Zion, as if ye were hopelessly condemned to a perpetual darkness, and were doomed to dwell under a Cloud of endless sorrow. The Almighty will find a time to have mercy upon his poor Church, and to clear up his countenance towards his chosen Ones; wiping all tears from their eyes, and all spots from their faces, and answering the holy desires of their hearts, in showing them his Zion in her perfect beauty. Could we but weep sound, he would smile upon us, and comfortably shine upon his Sanctuary, and make the place of his feet glorious, even an eternal excellency, the joy of many Generations: Indeed for the present, O our God, thou hast removed our Souls far from peace; thou hast most justly filled us with thine indignation; for we have deserved that thou shouldst pour out iniquities upon us, and shouldst bring upon us the fruits of our own thoughts, and measure our works into our bosoms; and cause us to drink at thy Hand the Cup of thy fury, yea, even to have the dregs of the Cup of trembling to be wrung out to us, for we have walked every one after the imagination of his own evil heart; our transgressions are with us, and are multiplied before thee; and though we have professed to be humbled under thy mighty hand, we have not cried to thee in our hearts, when we howled upon our beds; neither have we loathed ourselves in our own sight for the evils that we have committed; so as we do now justly lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us, willingly acknowledging that our iniquities have most deservedly turned away thy blessings from us, and drawn thy judgements upon our heads.  
But, O Lord, hast thou so smitten us, that there is no healing for us? Have we put ourselves utterly out of the reach of thy boundless mercies? Art not thou the God that retainest not thine anger for ever, because thou delightest in mercy? Oh why shouldest thou then be to us as a mighty Man that cannot save? O thou the hope of Israel, and the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, return, return to thy people in the tender bowels of thine infinite pity and compassion; humble our Souls throughly under the sense of our many back slidings and grievous provocations of the Eyes of thy Glory: Oh strike thou our heart with an unfeigned repentance of all our evil ways, and once again speak peace unto thy servants: Was there ever a more stiffnecked and rebellious people, O Lord, than thine Israel? more eminent in abused mercies? more notorious in all kinds of abominable wickednesses? more exercised with variety of judgements? Yet when they cried to thee in their distress thou were still ready to hear, and deliver them, and to renew thy so often forseited blessings upon them, and wouldst not let loose thy vengeance upon them till there was no remedy. Behold, we are thy people, though a sinful one; a second Israel both for sins and mercies: Now, Lord, since it is thy marvellous mercy that we are not yet consumed, be still pleased to magnify thy infinite goodness in thy gracious forbearances and our powerful conversion to thee: And though we cannot but confess that we are a sinful Nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil doers, yet, Lord, thou knowest that thou hast thy secret ones amongst us; a people that prayeth, and trembleth at thy judgements, and waiteth humbly at the door-posts of thy Sanctuary; a people that desireth to walk close with thee their God, and to be approved of thee in all their ways; a people that figheth and mourneth for the abominable sins of the Land of their Nativity; Oh, for their sakes, be thou entreated to hold off thy revenging hand from this sinful Nation, and even yet still provoke us by thy goodness to Repentance, O thou the righteous and merciful Judge of the world, who even for ten righteous persons wouldst have spared a Sodom and Gomorrah from their fiery execution; be pleased tenderly to regard the cries of thy many hundred faithful and devout Souls, that sue to thee for the stay and removal of thy deserved judgements: Oh do thou look down from Heaven, and behold from the habitations of thy holiness and thy glory, the unsaigned humiliation of thy servants, who are prostrate before thee with fasting and weeping, and mourning; turn away thine heavy displeasure from us, and pity thy. Sanctuary which is desolate; so shall our mouths be full of the praises of thy Name, and thy Saints shall rejoice and sing new Songs unto the God of our Salvation.  
In the mean time we shall in silence and hope wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from Jacob, and not cease to pour out ourselves in Tears and Supplications to him that is mighty to save; neither will we suffer our cheeks to be dry, or our souls to receive comfort, till we shall receive a gracious answer from Heaven, and shall see that the Lord hath been pleased to show mercy to his Zion.  
In this condition, we that are Zions Mourners shall not need to be distinguished (as other Orders are wont) by Colours, Devises, Abiliments. Our qualifications will be easily discerned by our sad faces, wet eyes, deep sighs, mortified carriage, willing neglect of those vanities wherewith others are transported, our holy retiredness, assiduous Devotions, and strict professions of Godliness, Carry yourselves thus, dear Brethren, and God and his Angels shall gladly welcome you into that holy Society of Mourners, which shall be marked out for preservation here, and for eternal comfort hereafter.  
Lastly, let none of you discourage himself from entering into this sacred Fraternity, out of the sense of his bodily infirmity, or the urgent necessity of outward impediments. There is many an holy Soul that dwells inconveniently, in a crazy, tottering, ruinous Cottage, ready to drop down daily upon his head, not able to endure the substraction of one Meals support: There are not a few well-affected Christians, whom the necessary exigences at their Calling and Estate, like so many hard Taskmasters hold close to their tale of Bricks, not allowing them the leisure of our limited Devotion. Let all these of both kinds know, that they have no cause hereupon, either to hold off, or to think they shall (in this case) need the dispensation of any superior power; since their condition doth sufficiently dispense with itself. Even the severest Casuists of the Roman Church (who are wont to be the rigidest Exactors of the outward exercises of Mortification) do, in these Cases, allow of a just relaxation.  
My Brethren; if ye cannot fast, yet ye can pray, if your Stomaches be weak, yet your zeal may be strong; ye can mourn though ye pine not; and if ye cannot spare a day in seven, yet ye may spare an hour in twelve, and make up the rest in your frequent and servant Ejaculations: shortly if you have truly mourning Souls they will be accepted in the necessary want of the strict terms of bodily exercises.  
Farewell in the Lord.   
FINIS.