THE Doctrine of Unity, OR An ANTIDOTE for the City of LONDON and therein for the whole Kingdom besides, AGAINST DIVISION A certain SYMPTOM of DESTRUCTION. With a Caution for Malignants of the same City.  Ecce quam bonum & quam jucundum est habitare fratres in unum. 
NOva rerum facies; Nay, and we men too as well as things have put on new faces. It is a difficulty to find one man that hath not changed his opinion or metamorphosed his manners since the beginning of Parliament, some varying in some things, others in all, but all in some: Some turn to the King, others to the Parliament, and some turn round. So that we men who should be stable firm and constant in our judgements and opinions, are now grown effeminate and change with every new moon: nay, and it is well, if not before: where can you find one of that gravity and perseverance, who can give you this account that he hath been always one? No, we have most ignobly degenerated from that virile and unshaken spirit, that every Heroic mind ought to carry along with it. And though it be plausible for a man sometimes mutare sententiam, upon better ground and reason; (for no man ought so to sacrifice to his own Net or to adore his own judgement or opinion, as not to be counterpoised or overbalanced by better and more clear principles of reason) yet for a man (like a weathercock) to have no certain station; but to vary according to the incertain blast of fame, or the several opinions of those many companies and associates he meets with all; is extremely fanaticke and ridiculous. And I wish that there were not to many amongst us (dangerous men) who in these dubious and uncertain times know not (in case a storm should arise) where to cast Anchor; who by their division and opposition have talked themselves quite beside their reason; having no dependence but upon a future incertain opportunity, which they are ready to embrace whensoever it shall offer itself, be it on which side it will. The most prevalent party shall sway their judgement; and as the doubtful success of war shall appear to either side (whether seemingly or certainly) to crown their endeavours, so will these men like an over or under charged balance, go up or down. And these are they who cry down siding faction and sedition. (and justly to) while in the mean time they are the most dangerous men, who know not the treachery that is lodged in their own hearts, but hang upon the tenter of an uncertain event, whether agreeable to or against conscience. And who more likely (what ever they pretend) to blow the miserable and unhappy coal of sedition and division amongst us, than such who watch their opportunity to raise themselves by the ruin of others. Neutrality always carries with it an eye of policy, And though I cannot but acknowledge myself an enemy to the Cavaliers, yet I must profess to the whole world, that my conscience instructs me, that I have more reason to dread the former, than the latter, by how much the more a clandestine and unknown enemy is to be feared above an open and professed one.  
And for my part, I desire to stand neuter as to either of these. But now give me leave to inform our grave and wise Citizens (for the spring approaches in which we must expecta 2d attempt, if not before prevented by a seasonable accommodation) upon what pin the danger of this famous Metropolis hangs; and that is, upon the imminent hazard of fraction and division, the certain carecter of ruin and confusion. It is the Devil's position (too too much practised now adays by his Agents and instruments) divide, and overcome. No way like that to faci●ate a conquest. For as in a great Arm 〈◊〉 let the body keep entire and undevided; many thousands happily will not overcome them, but disperse and divide them into smaller bodies, and then that force which might be before almost invincible, may now be put to flight and be routed (if not destroyed) by a petty inconsiderable Army. Or as it is with a man's hand, one finger by itself hath but little strength it it, but take the whole hand together with the united some of all the fingers and then it will prove very strong and potent. So it is with this City, while it remains entire without rents and divisions, all jointly combining for the good of the public, it is like an impregnable Fort, not to be taken by a fare greater power than the Cavaliers dare lay claim to: But if once divided than it is laid open and made obnoxious to the might and power of the Enemy, and is easily overcome, you know who said it a Kingdom divided within itself cannot stand; and if it were possible that hell could be divided it would come to utter ruin and desolation: of such power and force are schisms and divisions. This is that which is the odium of Heaven, the delight of hell, and the ruin of us poor mortals. This is that feed which the Devil and Antichrist so w●●●● scatters throughout the whole world raising 〈◊〉 against 〈◊〉, p●●ner against power, a Kingdom, City and Country against themselves. Were it not for this no people or persons could ever be made miserable. O then worthy Citizens, (whose piety and zeal to the public, will be for ever admired and renowned in succeeding ages.) Unite yourselves by a strong tye and obligation, to serve your King and Country. And let not the policy of the subtle adversary divide you one from another: consider that it is the Devil's stratagem, more practised now than ever; and if you ruin not yourselves, 'tis not any external force or power can hurt you. Union in a good cause is the joy of heaven, the envy of Hell, and the happiness of men. 'tis that which now puts a Price into your hands of being for ever happy. 'tis that, and nothing else under heaven, that can secure you from the Common adversary: seeing that there are so many fratres in malo, combined together against you: doth it not concern you to become fratres in bono? wherefore let us all join in a solemn vow never to diserte the cause until heaven crown our desires with a blessed issue. 'tis for out Religion, than which, nothing on this side heaven more precious. This is that which through the divine assistance gives wings to the soul, and makes it sore aloft, never suffering it to be at rest, until with a holy impatience it hath got into, and reposed itself in Abraham's bosom, while all other terrene and sublunary happiness whatsoever, is but like to golden chains, clogs and fetters binding us over to these uncertain vanities, dividing betwixt us and heaven, depressing and detruding the soul into the lowest centre. This is that which sweetens and adds a pleasant s● pour to all other fading and momentany happiness: were it not for a future expectance of heaven, what would the short enjoyment of a petty inconsiderable nothing avail us; what a small difference then betwixt us and bruits; or rather what a great difference would there be; for they (which were made only for the service of man) would after this little minute or moment of life past, be in fare better state and condition than the reasonable soul: for they shall return to their first principles, nothing, but poor man be for ever, even to the utmost extremity miserable. If we give away our Religion, we renounce our God, fell Heaven, and departed from all possibility of our succeeding eternal happiness, and the soul must have a being, if not above, yet below, if not in blessedness, yet in perpetual woe. O then let us resolve to unite our selus in a sacred combination; and rather divest ourselves of all we are, have, or enjoy; then part with this precious gem, which will be our surest and most faithful friend when either we forsake the happiness of the world as certainly we must for so heaven hath decreed it, Statutum est omnibus semel mori: or when it shall leave and desert us, as casually it may, for there is no stability or constancy in any temporal happiness. Again it is for our Parliaments, and in them for our laws, liberties, and properties; if we maintain not the former, the latter will quickly be forced from us. The policy of State erected Parliaments as the ultimum refugium (in case other powers neglected their duty, or abused their authority in prejudice of the public) for the subject to fly to, for redress of their heavy pressures and grievances, and these always have been the certain props and pillars of State, and the Patrons of our Laws and Liberties:  
And if we shall now foolishly like Esau, part with our glorious Birthright for a poor mess of Pottage, sell our Parliaments for a trifle, what will become o● us and our whole posterity. They are the only evidences we have to show for all we enjoy, and if we lose these, no other assurance whatsoever can secure our Titles. As the Sun is to the Earth; The Physician to the weak Patient or (which is yet more) the life or soul to the body of man, such and of the like consequence are our Parliaments to us. While the Son appears with its resplendent raise the earth fructifies and is beautiful, but if that should hid or withdraw itself, how would the glory of the spring flag and hang down its head for want of that glorious lustre: and the earth become sterile and barren, bringing forth nothing but cumbersome weeds and fruitless Thistles. And while the weak patient is ruled by the skilful Physician, and follows his prescriptions, so long the violence of his disease doth abate, and there is great hopes of a recovery; but let him discontinue his course of Physic and desert his Physician, and immediately he falls into a desperate relapse, and becomes worse than ever.  
And lastly, while the life or soul of a man is united and continues with the body, so long it is active and moving, but when once the soul hath left its habitation and is departed, the body than perishes & decays and moulders away into its first principles. Just thus it is with us; while we enjoy the Sunshine of our Parliaments, and desert not this great Physician which is as the very life and being of the State, so long prospire succedunt omnia, the State flourishes, the King is happy in his people, and the people blest in their King. The King enjoys his just Prerogative, and the people their Liberties, and properties. But if once these be taken away, or but discontinued for a time, than multitudes of State pressures and unsupportable burdens crowd in upon us, the Law than looseth its strength and vigour, and the Subject his liberty and property, than forced benevolences and loans, a fare greater plague to the purse than the twentieth part, will be imposed upon us. Then will the Tyranny and Arbitrary power of the Lieutenant's and deputies Lieutenant's be again revived amongst us, then shall new imposts and excises again vex us; n d new found courts and Corporations, fare worse than the old, poster us, then will the grand Project Ship-money, and coat and conduct money (of which now there may be greater need than ever) (the great maintainers and exhausters of the subjects store) be again set on foot to undo us. Then will Monopolies (the ruin and bane of a state) like pests of louse and Locusts swarm amongst us, then shall we have a High Commission Court, and Star-chamber again, to exercise a power and jurisdiction above and besides the Law, to plague us with grand penalties, for our small offences, and then should a Proclamation crate Law, and be of as good authority as my Lord Coke, or any of our year Books; and Magna Charta, be as a dead letter, not able to defend the Subject's Liberty or property, thus would it fare with the State, I and much worse, if we were but once courted out of our Parliaments, and which is above all our condition would be as bad, if not worse in the Church; then would the Pontificial power Lord it over us again, and excommunicate praying and Preaching, or those that use it, without that they will follow the Episcopal strain, crying up the King's Prerogative, and preaching down the subject's liberty and property; as if the King's honour and substance did depend merely upon the ruin of his people. No contientious Lectorers, or pious and laborious Preaching Ministers should then be tolerated. No, the pride sloth and covetousness of the Prelacy and these are inconsistent, they cannot possibly stand together, but the one will detrude and depress the other. Then should we have the rabble of innovations introducted, new disciplines, I and new doctrines too broached; jesuits and Seminary Priests, with their factious and damnable religion nourished; I and we ourselves too posting headlong to Popery. To be short, all things both in Church and state would change their habits and become new; nothing than should be tolerated, but which should have the spetious and fair pretence of a refined government, or of a more pure and glorious religion; whereas the mere bent and aim would be gradually to introduct an Arbitrary power in the State, & pompous superstition and Popery in the Church. Now our Parliaments are as a Hedge wall or fence against such encroachments or usurpations, which while it stands secures us from all these but if we unwisely suffer this pertition to be broken or trodden down, than all these heavy burdens and miseries, threatening ruin to our Religion Laws. Liberties and properties like an invation of the vast and  Ocean flow in upon us. O then worthy Citizens (you whom succeeding ages will honour, and dignify with the style of your countries' patriarchs) tie yourselves together in the bend of Union, and resolve never to desert the Parliament, lest Heaukn as a just judgement upon so vild a defection, deprive you and your posterity of the future happy enjoyment, of so great a blessing. Your Religion, laws Liberty, and property (the compendium of all temporal happiness) do now lie at stake in this unhappy contention, and if you would be stripped and divested of all these (without which life is but a burden, and that as a prologue of eternal infelicity) ye most exact and compendious way to accomplish it, is by erecting a Wall of division amongst yourselves. And if you would maintain and defend these (as it concerns every one to do, who would not enslave himself and his whole posterity) the only means (under God) of preservation and continuation of our present felicity, is by a sweet concord and union, wherefore take your choice either divide and destroy; or unite and preserve and over come; either will perfect its work amongst us. But rather than live to see the former, may Heaven be so proprious to me as to close mine eyes, that they may not attest the just judgement of so unworthy an Apostesie, or be sensible of the misery.  
But yet to draw more close and near unto you worthy Citizens, this City is the Metropolis, the only renowned and famous City of the whole Kingdom, that which hath bread and raised so many great and glorious lights both in Church and State: the most faithful and tender M●ther to a vigilant and dutiful child that ever England had, where have you found men raised (even from the most low and indigent condition) to those vast and almost unfadomable Mines and Treasure of wealth, that many men have attained to through their sedulous care and industry in this City? Some of your Families being Noble, others matched with Nobility, and thousands of you attained to great dignities; and I may justly say that this City never failed any man of his great reward, that hath been true and faithful to God and his own soul.  
O then do not by fraction and division amongst yourselves, go about to destroy this great and glorious City; your nursing Mother that hath bread, nourished, & elevated you above the vulgar condition, no greater or more crying sin against nature and gratitude than this; to be a cause or means of the destruction of that, which hath been thy life and preservation. Matricide of all other crimes, is the most unnatural, most detestable, do not to spare a poor patrimony (which thou art not sure thou shalt preserve neither) sell thy glorious Mother to utter ruin and confusion, lest one day the ruins and desolations of this famous City rise up in judgement against you; it is division only that can raze and overthrow it, and unity alone that can and will preserve and support it.  
Again, as this City is the greatest, so it is the richest and most wealthy City in all the Kingdom, this is as it were the Apotheca repository, or Treasury of the Kingdom; where the common Stock or Treasure, is reposited or laid up: and is from hence as occasion calls for it, disbursed, scattered and diffused into the whole State. Now would you keep and preserve the Stock and Treasure of the City, the only way to do it, is by unity, division (like a thief) will rob and spoil you of it, and make the Cavaliers master of all you enjoy this is their hopes, and you are their envy; they long to enrich themselves by your Coffers rapine is their prey and livelihood; and they know here is good plunder. I here is that, that will make abundant restitution to such who pretending they have lost that they never had, do in these troubled waters, make a rich booty of poverty; and labour to patch up a decayed fortune by the ruins of others, I this will make a full satisfaction to the Cavaliers, if they could attain it (which judgement I beseech God divert from this poor distracted City) for their ill service to the public. And let not those that are Malignant in the City (out of I know not what vain hopes) promise to themselves a greater freedom or security in a common Plunder than others, and so be wrought upon, to betray this great and glorious City to utter ruin and destruction; for let them know 'tis a mercy that none yet could meet withal, to spare even their own faction; and why should they then feed themselves with such idle and almost impossible possibilities. Besides the souldiary is for the most part the scum and ●●ffamanicke of the heady, rude, and untamed multitude (made many degrees worse by that desperate and bloody profession) and therefore it is not to be expected that they will show favour to any, when they have sufficient power; and fit opportunity to be cruel, or if they would show mercy (a rare and unusual qualification with men of that profession) do you think, or can you discover so much folly in yourselves to believe, that they would stand to dispute or inquire who are Malignants and who not or to sever the Goats from the Sheep, and to spare the former, but destroy the latter it is the extremity of folly to conceive it, their necessity, and cruel desire of spoil and plunder, would not permit them to make any demur or distinction, and rather than they would suffer one Round-head (as those men of blood are pleased to style all such as are faithful to God, loyal to their King, and true to their own souls) to escape free from the hand of violence (such an odium they bear in their hearts to all honest men) they would rob and plunder their own friends; and make such (as a just judgement upon so horrid a Treachery) prove actors in their own ruin, why then if this be true, as I believe every wise and judicious man will easily (without much persuasion) conceive so, let this abate and conjure bacl again that dangerous destructive Spirit of division that is risen amongst us, we raised it, and the Devil foments and increases it; and (if we be not the more vigilant and careful over ourselves, and labour while it is time, to reconcile and make up our fractions and oppositions) will never be at rest, or cease blowing of this Coal, until he hath made an unquenchable flame and fire amongst us, let us not then nourish the Devil. Brat, or foster such a Scorpian in our breasts as will sting us to death, and undo us and our whole posterity for ever.  
Again, this City is the B●●● of malice, against this do the Cavaliers bond all their aims, as being their principal Opponent, and maintainer of the cause in question. 'tis you brave Citizens that have freely (to the great honour of your Nation) disbursed and expended your Treasure for the good of your King and Country; and have withheld nothing, neither estate, nor persons, which might conduce to your Country's welfare and happiness (for which Heaven grant you an eternal reward) I say it is you, and you alone that have been the main prop and support of the cause of God, of our religion, of our Parliaments, Liberties, and properties; and therefore you cannot but expect that this should swell and increase the envy of that faction against you, and more inflame their blood to a revenge upon you, then upon any part of the Nation besides, of ways the more potent and noxious the enemy, the greater is the heart of malice and envy against him. Now this likewise should engage you to a strong & indisolvable Union one with another: by how much the greater their malice is that malign you; by so much the more should your love and entire affection be augmented amongst yourselves. when rapinous and devouring wolves heard and fllock together, that is not a time for innocent and harmless Sheep to be divided and straining one from another.  
Lastl●, this City is as the centre or middle point, or as the heart or life of the Kingdom, upon this is the eye of the whole Nation, the good or ill success of this City hath an influence upon the whole common wealth; and if the Cavaliers once getting footing here (which Heaven forbidden) 'twill not then be difficulty to make a Conquest of the whole Kingdom, and that bei g brought to pass, we know that then we are ad arbitrium Principis, at the arbitrary will of our Prince for all that we enjoy; then that position of the Civilians (one of the main grounds of our present contention) would be good law. Voluntas regis legis habet vigorem, the will of the Prince, is a law, than would all depend upon our Sovereign's pleasure, we could make no certain claim or title to any thing under heaven; and what assurance can we hope to get of that ei●he●▪ 〈◊〉 when 〈◊〉 Religion shall be forced from us. Now on you noble Citizens, and on you alone, under God, doth all the future happiness of this Nation depend, if you faint the whole Kingdom will presently fail, fall, and come to utter unavoidable desolation. Consider with yourselves that this is a blessed and honourable opportunity that God hath put into your hands, and who knows but for this very cause God increased your store, and reserved you and it for this occasion, to be the means of preservation of your King and Country, and in them of your Religion, Laws, and Liberties. What greater renown or honour can possibly befall you then this, to be the supports and patrons of so great happiness to your Country? to preserve a bleeding, fainting, dying Kingdom from utter confusion and desolation. In your hands, under God, is wrapped up our very life and happiness, and you have the honour of the blessed opportunity of continuing and maintaining both, and what engagement can be greater, or give fuller satisfaction to the most vast illimited ambitious desire in the world? O then, let this likewise move you to continue firm, stable, and united one towards another, considering that your fractions and divisions will not only destroy yourselves, but expidite and post on the ruin of the whole Nation, and if by your division you shall work out your own confusion, and by consequence undo the Kingdom, no doubt the desolations of poor deplorable England, will one day be accounted upon your score, and rise up in judgement against the City. O then for the Kingdoms your own, and your posterity sake (which are all bound up in this opportunity) embrace unity and follow peace one with another, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of peace shall be with you. 2 Cor. 13.11.  Rom. 16. ver. 7. 
I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them.  
FJNJS.