THE Humble and Healing Advice of Colonel Robert Overton Governor of HULL.  
TO CHARLES LORD FLEETWOOD, And General MONCK, And all other inferior Officers of both Armies in England and Scotland.  
LONDON, Printed by T. M. for Liverwell Chapman at the Crown in Poper-Head Alley, 1659.   

TO His Excellency Charles Lord Fleetwood, and the Right Honourable General Monck, and all other Inferior Officers of both Armies in England and Scotland.  
The Humble Cautionary Christian Exortatory, seasonalle, Healing and  Representation and Address of colonel Robert Overton, Governor of Kingston upon Hull, a fellow-servant with you in the Cause of God and his Country, and one who desires to shun the effusion of blood amongst those who (in the midst of many enemies) are embarked together in one Public and Christian Concern.  
Right Honourable and beloved Brethren and fellow servants,  
WHatever are our particular affection, inclinations and judgements, in respect of Forms and Constitutions, Civil and Ecclesiastic; yet the mark we all aim at, and the race we profess to run, is to serve the Lord, and to submit to his Sceptre, who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and the only Lawgiver (by the Decree and determination of Heaven) throughout the world; but alas, darkness is so intermixed with our light, and self is so interwoven with all our public assays and attempts, that Babel-like, our buildings are accompanied with nothing but confusion and contempt, which makes the Nations abroad to scoff and scorn, and our enemies at home to rejoice in hopes of our ruin: and the Lord himself who waited to be gracious (but must be exalted in righteousness, (is forced to shake and shake, overturn and overturn; and yet in much mercy to his people) because no foundation is laid that either bears any proportion with what we profess, or otherwise answer the ends of God, in that new Creation he is about to form throughout the whole Universe, by restoring of Judges as at the first, and Councillors as at the beginning, that righteousness may run down is a mighty stream, our Officers become peace, and our Exactors righteousness: In order to this, it hath pleased the Lord in the prosecution of his own purpose to pour us from Vessel to Vessel, and according to the prophecy of the last times (writ for our instruction; especially, upon whom are the ends of the World) hath been overturning and overturning, and will overturn, till he come whose Right it is: How this alarm of the son of David hath been sounded in your ears by a faith full Remnant, I need nor remind you; but what hath been the plain and positive providences of Jehova. I beseech you seriously collect and review; there hath not one of the many changes we have passed through, ●ut it hath conveyed in it, either more directly or indirectly something of special and effectual tendency to the decay of the old, and increase of the new world; all the designs and contrivements of men, either of opposite principles or of opposite interest, the last (having rather wanted love to the Lord, then light in his work) have Dagon-like fallen before the interest of Christ and his people; and no wonder, for no weapon form against either can prosper; upon this account, I will be hold to ascert in the light of the Lord, that the Thrones of Bishops, of the King, Parliaments and Protectors have been thrown down, and other principles and Interests wherein many good men have been engaged) have also obviated a directing doom; the Lord had once raised up a generation of men after some overturning, who in a measure of the power and spirit of Elias, were upon laying the foundation (a glance there was at least of the glory which shall be revealed,) of this restitution spoken of in scripture; but an Apostasy like the sun under an Eclipse interposed us, and the practical prosecution of that Reformation: I will not determinately ascertain the cause, possibly that Assembly▪ had more the name and the show than the substance and reality of Christ's Government: (for I judge as their convening together, respected the designs of some Instruments, they were mischievously mixed for other ends) and probably we were not fitted and spirited for such a dispensation under that Apostasy; the displeasure of the Lord faced the followers of it in all their undertake, till that ruin and destruction so threatened the revenge of Justice, that necessity forced us to face about, but like bewildered Israel of old, we knew not where to pitch our Tents; at last, by the most general concurrence, the former famous long Parliament, in their best reduced capacity were judged the most apt expedient, at least towards present security if not settlement; who were a while beating about the bush; but though there be many pious, prudent and public Patriots and spirits amongst them; yet they were so intermixed with the late Court Creatures and Kingling Champions, with persons of very opposite principles; that neither Christ, his Peoples, nor the Nations ends were likely to be answered: And I fear some were so misled by principles of a persecuting tendancy (though they may not otherwise have that hellish seed in their heart) for I cannot but honour the memory of many in that Assembly for the works sake, wherein they have been made Instrumental; that endeavours were not closely wanting to bring all to bow to their ●aal; and in order thereunto to wrest the Sword forth out of their hands, who I hope, more than accidentally, or necessituously are sure guard to God's people against the spirit of these Nations; which otherwise like an inundation, would break in upon them; upon this account (respecting his end, as in all other Changes) is the Lord pleased to pass them by either as useless or obstructors in his Work: What may be the designs or ends of any who are the Instruments of this last dessolution; I shall leave to the Lord to find out, who will cause the righteousness of the righteous to shine forth as the sun at noon day, and will reward the workers of iniquity, according to the evil of their do: Now having taken the short survey of these providences and appearances of God, with incurrance with scripture (may be of use to direct us in this dark day. I shall apply myself more particularly to you, and from my heart do wish for Zion and these poor Nations sakes, that we may meet with such an expedient in righteousness, as may reconcile differences, and prevent the effusion of blood:  
And therefore, Right Honourable and dear Friends, the Council of the Officers of the Army in England, you are they who more especially than others, have been actually engaged in the great and various turns of State; by you instrumentally the foundations are put out of course, and the price of the blood and treasure, spilt an● expended in the late Wars, lies now in your hands; Christ calls upon you for his right, as the son of David, which your power hath possessed you of; The Saints (for whose sakes the Lord hath reproved all before you) expect that you should not keep them from their purchased possessions; they are the true royal heirs and are now at age; the fullness of time is coming, wherein they must take the Kingdom and possess it; the poor peild people of these Nations, who have fed you with the bread of their Tables, they groan under those burdens which you were hired to take off them, and are waiting for the travel of their bodies, and the return of their treasures: Take heed therefore, I beseech you, that you make not this an opportunity of advantaging and greatning yourselves; have a care that no remainder of the spirit of Apostasy raise you up to your ruin, as it hath done others before: You are plucked as brands out of the fire, and are in some manner made whole; sin then no more lest a worse thing befall you; for the tree that is twice dead must be plucked up by the roots, being fit for nothing but the fire; This I will aver to you from the Lord that you have now an opportunity, either (in mercy) of recovering the glory you had lost by your Apostasy or (in judgement) it is an occasion for your final fall:  
Consider that God is not mocked, his arm hath been bared in Judgement against the hypocrites of these times, and woe will befall you if you return with the dog to the vomit; you see there is few that can fasten any faith upon you. Beware that your practices Justify not the proceedures of those in Sco●land, for the blood that may be spilt will then lie at your doors, and the Lord will avenge it upon you, take heed of proportioning your choice rather to your turns then truths; a little leaven leavens the whole lump; you know what Spirit hath been the bane of your apostasy, and the brand of all your practices and Professions, if you intermix politic time serving trucklers, with those who are Public spirits, your Council will prove abortive; look but a little back, and see how the Lord is cutting his work short in righteousness, as it was well observed by one, you can now Deceive none but yourselves; I wish you may deceive them by well doing, all the Promises Professions and protestations you can make, will signify nothing, it is only your actions that will honour you  
A word to General Monck and the Officers under his Command in Scotland: Your Letters and Declarations I have seen and seriously considered, and am heartily sorry for any just occasion, that either may be given you, or which through misprisions you may have taken, to make such a breach in the body of the Army▪ I am very much afraid that in this matter you are under a bad influence, though you have a plausible pretence, and although I wish, and shall press after a right understanding betwixt you and the Army in England, yet in this your undertaking, I cannot bid you good speed; because by the observations I have already made, whatever you may pretend to the Church of Christ; you are unbargued with that Spirit and Interest which more Diametrically opposes the design of God, in the Exaltation of his son and Sunts; then the present posture of the Army in England protends. And therefore (though for my part I cannot altogether excuse them) they have a prevailing advantage against you, and though possibly not for their own, yet for Zions sake they will be inebled to foil you; I beseech you there fore to take heed of a painted design, and drive not so furiously against the dispensation of God, though it be clouded with the weakness and failings of the instruments, we have great cause of jedousies that there was a faction prevailing in Parliament which would have proved pernicious to that which must prevail: And although I did not concur with the Armies proceed in their proposals for General Officers; yet I could neither well approve of their laying some honest members of the Army aside, nor of the new conduct appointed; though I was one myself: The worst of men imbargued with the dispensation of God, (though they have also designs of their own) will prevail over those who may be more innocent than themselves, but in conjunction with an opposite interest, I will not make this the case in respect of persons, though it may as relating to things; this is a shaking overturning dispensation as I have premized, and you may observe, and it is of very dangerous consequence, to endeavour upholding any thing that God is throwing down▪ I shall therefore conclude with an interpository word to both Counsels, and begin between you; As Abraham did to Lot. You are brethren, why should you disagree by a good meditation between you the designs on either side might receive a check, which Conquest would Crown their mediums; wherein you might better meet at blows, you can play no other than your Common Armies gaim by your contests; however take heed of any union from the rock of Ages, all confederacies short of or against that will be shattered to pieces; comply with the best expedient to that end, and the hearts and hands of the faithful will be with you, otherwise you may be assured from the Lord, that another overturn will suddenly overtake you, and I question then whether ever you will have an opportunity to cause the Nations following to praise you; the binding up of this breach is that I very much breath after, I fear there is not so much sincerity on either side as can ballest the blood that may be spilt, if you proceed against each other, for my own part in persuance of that trust committed to me, I shall, endeavour to secure the peace of this place, and be ready to comply with and countenance that, which hath most of the image and superscription of Christ upon it; and in the mean time, mourn over your sinful selfish spirit which provokes the Lord thus to rend and tear us in pieces.  
The Heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing,  Psal. 2.1. 
But kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the way,  Psal. 2. and last. 
FINIS.