HINC ILLAE LACHRYMAE. OR THE Impiety of Impunity.  
Containig a short, serious and most certain Demonstration of the main (if not, only) rise and Original of all the grand grievances, and Obstructions of Piety and Justice, over the whole KINGDOM.  
Together with a Sovereign Salve, and precious Plaisture, for the Unquestionable Cure thereof (by God's blessing) if it be seriously and seasonably applied, according to direction herein, humbly prescribed.  
By a faithful Friend to the Truth and a most humble Servant to all the Loyal and Religious Presbyterian Members of Parliament.  EZECHIEL 13.22. With lies, ye have made the heart of my people sad, whom I have not sadded, And strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wickedness. MAY. 18, 7. We unto the World, because of Offences, it inevitably will be that Offences come, but woe to that man (or those men) by whom the Offences do come. GALAT. 1.7, 8. There be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. But, though I, or an Angel from heaven (or one like an Angel, for pretended purity and Saint-ship) preach any other Gospel (or broach any other damnable destructive opinions) than that which I have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 
LONDON, Printed in the year. 1648.   

The Impiety of Impunity.  
WHen the Lord, the most righteous judge of the whole world, and the most potent and prudent Moderator of all things in heaven and earth, began, first, to settle the Commonwealth of Jsrael, and to give those his people good Laws, and holy and wholesome Institutions, which, if a man do and perform he shall even live, ye happily, live, in them, Ezech. 20.11. He then also gave them special Cautions and Commands to keep and do them, as is most clear, Levit. 19.15. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgement, thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty; but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. And remarkably excellent (for all that sit in seats of judicature) is that, Deut. 1.17. Ye shall not respect persons in judgement, but you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgement is Gods. So that (hence) it is evident, that it is not enough for a people to have good Laws and pious and provident Precepts, but there must also be a special care had to a just and impartial judging of God's people according to those Laws, neither to pervert or wrest them (Deut. 16.19.) according to men's Schismatical humours; nor to slight or neglect them for want of a righteous and severe execution of them; which, indeed makes Magistrates and judges, but mere Scare-Crows in a Commonwealth, and just like the sign or picture of George on horseback with his Sword brandished and flourished over his head, but never striking with it; whereas it is the exact and impartial execution of Laws, indeed, which is the life and lustre of Laws, and the firm establishment of States and Kingdoms. Now, than this being thus only in brief hinted; now for application of these premises to our present purpose. It is most undeniably true, that (by God's great mercy) England hath as good and wholesome Laws and Ordinances, both old and new, for the well and orderly regulating of all things both in Church and State, I believe, as any Nation in the World: Nay, may we not (with holy David) say most truly, God hath not dealt so, almost with any Nation under heaven, as with us, and as for his judgements, they have not known them, as we have, both in the power, purity, and plenty of them; O that we had hearts enough practically thankful for so rich and rare a mercy! But, may not that question be put to too many of our Judges and Magistrates, yea, even in our High and Honourable Supreme Court of Parliament, which the foresaid kingly Prophet David did put to the Judges of his days, Psa. 58 1, 2. Do ye, indeed speak Righteousness, O ye Congregations? Do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men? yea rather, in heart and tongue, ye work wickedness. So, may not I be humbly bold, in the bitterness of my Soul, to sigh out this very same most sad complaint of the Prophet (not, as those late audacious Incendiaries, those Jesuiticall-spirited and murmuring Masters of misrule, who plead most unjustly for Liberty (or rather for Licentiousness) of Conscience, I mean those spiritually proud Sectaries and fiery Salamanders of Contention, Master john Goodwin, together with his most seditious brother john Lilburne, Overton, and divers others of that rotten rout, unworthy the naming, who swelter and swagger, with their restless spirits and pens, against any Authority, Dominions and Dignities, save only such as themselves would wickedly set up to please their own seditious and pernicious Palates: But, as the Lord, the most righteous judge, and only searcher of the hearts and reigns of his Children knows, in the spirit of meekness, sorrow, and sobriety) may not I (I say) too justly, thus complain against some of our Parliamentary Judges, in these our days, and of these I mean (mainly, and specially) divers disaffected Schismatical Members of both Houses of Parliament, who (being got or crept in among our other most famous and faithful Parliamentany Worthies, whom from my heart, I highly honour and love, but by what means they have thus crept in, I know not, but it were singularly worth the serious search and Scrutiny to know how they came in, and by what right they sit as judges and Senators there) who do most unjustly and partially (for their Schisms sake, and other most unworthy Selfe-ayms, and Interests) wrist the judgements and Ordinances of the Land, yea of the Lord God himself, and accept the persons of most bold blasphemous Sectaries, Anabaptists, Antinomians, Antiscripturists, Seekers, and (who closely and craftily include and embrace all those others in their bosoms) disorderly and dissembling Independents; whereby they extremely struggle in upholding these, to withhold and hinder (if not totally to overturn, eradicate and ruinated) the glorious work of our Parliamentary promised, yea our Covenant plighted through Reformation, especially in matters of our Religion, and godly Church Discipline (for which I mainly complain and plead in this discourse) calumniating and disgracing it, with the most opprobrious titles, and injurious terms of a bloody, tyrannical, and Antichristian Deformation; and most falsely and fraudulently magnifying (yea, even deifying) their own sandy congregational way with the specious Epithets and Encomiums of Milkie-paths (forsooth) glorious ways, Christ's Kingdom and such like most loud lying and eluding glosses; Thus, wilfully (I fear) forgetting that which the holy Spirit of God says, by Solomon the wisest King that ever was; Prov. 24.24, 25. He that saith to the wicked thou art righteous, him shall the people curse, and Nations shall abhor him. But, to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. Now, that our sly and subtle Sectaries and Independents (every where) are most deeply died, even in grain, with this foul and faulty spot, which is not the spot of God's Children, but (Deut. 32.5.) of a perverse and crooked generation, let these following testimonies, fallen out (besides their manifold former Calumnies and Slanders, by them cast upon the pious Presbyterian Church-Government, and upon the Reverend, and pious Pastors and faithful friends and furtherers of it, published in their most wicked printed Pamphlets, and recited by Reverend and religious Mr Edward's in the third part of his Gangrana, p. 200, 201, 202, 203, etc.) and whereof I myself, together with many other religious and substantial Citizens of London, were eye and ear witnesses at Westminster) be sufficient to demonstrate and make evident to any impartial and unprejudiced Christian, or, that is not wickedly obstinate and wilfully incredulous, which were as follow.  
I being (on Tuesday, February 2. 1646. and on the Thursday following, Febr. 5th. in the afternoon) at the  for Complaints, to hear the examination of one Kiffin a Glover, a sly and sottish Mechanical preaching Anabaptist, and one Mr. Knowles, another of his anabaptistical brethren, which last, had cast off his former regular Ordination in the Church of England, as being sinful (forsooth, as himself then confessed) and had a pretended Ordination from a true reformed-Church (as he falsely termed it) in a private House, by a company of Sectaries, there disorderly assembled: Together also with one Gorton, another Nonsense anabaptistical Preacher, forsooth, and a most notorious base fellow, and audacious Malefactor in New-England, who had there been fettered in Irons, and whipped, and was like to have been hanged for his most impious and audacious blasphemies and misdemeanours; upon occasion of the mentioning whereof, in that Court, I heard an eminent Independent Gentl. of that Committee, say openly in the face of the Court, I (says he) ye may see how they begin already, what think ye, will they not do hereafter, if they get power and may be suffered? And with the said Gorton, was then also examined one Patience a Butcher, or Tailor; ordained also (forsooth) to be a Preacher, in a true reformed-Church (as he also falsely and foolishly termed it) in a House in Bell-Alley in Colleman-Street, by the Saints, forsooth, of that Church, Men and Women (Hee-Saints and Shee-Saints, and all of them it seems, Church-Officers with them) upon trial of his gifts, by these Saints, as thus he also himself confessed. At the hearing of whom examined, my heart was (at the first) affected with no little joy and comfort, to hear and observe, even all along, the Christian Courage, and godly Zeal of that ancient and pious Patriot Sir Robert Harlow religious and renowned Major General Massey, Colonel Hollys, Mr. Tate, Mr. Baynton, and some other worthy Presbeterian Members of the House, then present at this Committee (as formerly at another sitting, I observed the singular zeal of my most highly honoured good friend, Mr. Grimstone, much honoured Colon. Harvy, and others) both in their frequently and fervently speaking and pleading for the Cause of God, then in agitation before them. But when I on the other side saw and observed, in this Committee, very many known and professed Independents, to sit as judges there, and too frequently and fiercely (me thought) to act and plead for, yea and to put words into the mouths of those Delinquent Sectaries, and (though all of them were, I say, known adversaries to our pious Presbyterian Church-Government, intended, as we steadfastly hope, by the better-part of the honourable Parliament, yet these I say) to sit as judges there, and to speak such encouraging words (and that in open Court) to the Delinquents, and then also to have power to Vote on their behalves; and contrawise also, to observe and hear them use such discouraging carriages, and dishearting expressions to the honest and pious Covenant-engaged and Ordinance animated Prosecutors of the Offenders. This made me fetch a deep Sigh, indeed, as being much amazed at it, and I must confess, my heart was very much daunted and damped with grief to see and observe such a most unequal and palpably injurious mismanaging of so great and godly a work as we hoped and expected this would and should have been unto us. And it was indeed unto me a wonderful and strange Paradox of Prudence and justice (as I humbly conceive) that the apparent and professed enemies of the Presbyterian-Cause and Reformation, should thus sit as Judges and Parties to affront us, and frown upon us, for our loyal, religious, and just actings against such crafty and accursed adversaries of the Truth. Which made me begin seriously to consider with myself, how improbable (if not almost impossible) it was for us in such a case and condition of times and things, ever to expect a full and free course or current of justice against them. And hereupon, indeed, my sad thoughts began to reflect backward, and to think upon the by-past-times of the tyrannical Prelates, when pious and peaceable Professors were (under the names and notions of factious and schismatical) cited in their High-Commission-Courts, and there judged by those known enemies of their causes; where, indeed I confess, they were all professed adversaries (but here, our truly seditious and Schismatical Delinquents, and the honest prosecutors of them also find an unhappy mixture of Foes with Friends) whereby though the pious Professors themselves could there find, indeed, neither expect any justice; yet the wicked Apparators and Persecutors of those true Saints and Servants of the Lord, were countenanced and encouraged by those their Prelatical Masters, yea and liberally rewarded by them: But, here, in this Committee for Complaints, where the cause being far otherwise, the case is also in some sense clean contrary, and (if I may be humbly bold to speak plain English) in some respects, with us much worse, and more unjust, when the most pernicious and audacious Schismatical offenders are familiarly much countenanced and encouraged, and the honest and Covenant-Conscientious Prosecutors of them are disgraced, flouted, frowned upon, yea and imprisoned for their pious pains, and religious actings for God and his most righteous Cause: whereby, I say, our Case is thus like to be far worse than that of the Prelate's days (comparatis comparandis) and our grievances, yea I say, our Soul grievances, so far (we fear) from being redressed, that they are like to be much more increased, if this most unjust course of judicature should (which God forbidden) be continued, and that Sectaries be thus suffered (both in Parliament and country-Committees) to sit, as uncontroleable judges, who are so far from either doing or suffering justice to be done upon the most seditious and factious disturbers of our pious Peace and unquestionable Truths of God, and of all godly ecclesiastical and civil Order; that they both countenace (at least as much as in their power and policy consists, and truly that's not little now adays) and very greatly encourage them in their unsufferable Schismatical impundencies and blasphemous impieties, both against God and Man, and all under base and abusive pretences of tenderness of Conscience, forsooth, and Christian Liberty to speak and do whatsoever they list, without control; otherwise, they cry out of Antichristian Persecution. But mark here (good Reader) what wise King Solomon most pertinently says to this very purpose, even touching Impunity to be the grand cause of the great growth of Impiety, yea and of Impudence also therein, Ecclesiastes 8.11. Because sentence against an evil work is not speedily executed; therefore the hearts of the sons of men is fully set in them (mark this notable and emphatical expression) to do evil. And certainly (if ever) this Scripture is now adays to the full confirmed, to the unexpressible grief of our Souls be it spoken.  
But now to come to a more particular manifestation of the truths which I only in brief have mentioned before, concerning the most irregular and extrajudicial and inequitable carriage of things by our Sectarian Judges in the Court of the Committee for Complaints, at Westiminster, to the palpable and apparent heartening and animating of the most notorious Schismatics in their most blasphemous and impious pranks and practices; and to the most strange, and almost incredible disheartening (as much as in them is) of the pious Presbiterian-Partie, from their just zeal and commendable activity in the Cause of GOD, and forwarding the work of Reformation. Witness first, (therefore I say for confimation of these my affirmations) the most unequal and unwarrantable miscarriage of things by some of the disaffected party of the foresaid Committee, at the examination of an old and bold blasphemous Schismatic, commonly called the Chicken-man; who after this notorious Sectary had made a repetition (whereunto he was commanded by the Court) of his Sermon, forsooth, which he had Preached (or rather prated) in a private house, for which he was complained of, and when he had and a ciously delivered, even in the face of the Court divers very dangerous and most false opinions of his; yet was so far and free from punishment, or somuch as any bare discouragement (for aught we yet can hear or know) that one of the said Committees was heard to say to one of his disaffected brethren of this Committee, sitting by, concerning this beggarly Chicken-man and his impious preaching; here is Gold in an earthen vessel. And the said Chicken-man himself confessed (as will be testified) that he had 5 s. given him by some of the said Commit, for his brave boldness (it should seem) in thus affronting the authority of Parliament. Witness likewise the great encouragement and countenancing of the Schismatical impiety, and disorderly audaciousness of those two foresaid Anabaptists, Mr. Knowlis, and Kiffin the Glover, at their examination forementioned, at the very beginning whereof an eminent disaffected Member of the Committee stood up, and the Court being set, and the pious Chairman in his place, be spoke very much (in the first place) to the Chairman, and very affectionately in those Schismatics behalf (whereby they might easily see and know before hand, they had at least, one fast friend in the Court) for a fair proceeding for them, in their examination; which I humbly conceive and verily believe was never denied them, or otherwise intended toward them. And when Kiffin, in particular, was closely examined for his disorderly and Schismatical private preaching (as never having been duly ordained thereunto) another of the Committee did in my sight and hearing, even as it were check the religious Chaire-man, learned and much honoured Colonel Leigh, for justly endeavouring strictly to examine the said Delinquent. And this same Gentl. to the said Anabaptists farther great encouragement, at the same time, apparently justified (and that in the face of the Court) those audacious fellows, in their unordained and irregular preaching, even contrary to the Parliaments own Ordinance, using these words, or the like, in effect. That the Parliament did not intent, nor was it (as he conceived) the sense of the House, by that Ordinance, to hinder guifted-men from Preaching, this being one thing 〈◊〉 which many had fought, and spent their blood, and ventured their ●ives; but it was mainly to restrain Prelatical and jesuitical ●reaching, which was a means to encourage the Cavaliers and Malignants against the Parliament. And when some of the honest and religious Witnesses gave in their testimony against the Delinquent, divers of the audacious and unruly Anabaptists and other sorts of Sectaries (whereof there were very many then in the Court, and so use to be, to affront and flout the Presbyterian Citizens with unsufferable scoffs and jeers to their faces) fell a hissing and to loud laughing at the Witness, to the great offence and disturbance of the Court (which I myself heard and saw round about me) and noble Sir Robert Harlow most zealously and justly finding much fault with their so uncivil and unmannerly miscarriage of themselves, and expressing much displeasure at it; One of the disaffected Members of the Committee put a smooth jeer upon it, and said, He conceived it was rather an acclamation or applauding of the witness, than any disparagement to him. Which, how likely hissing and laughing mixed together, can make up such a sense let any judicious man judge.  
Witness, here also, that most licentious and illegitimate abuse offered to the Liberty of the freeborn Subjects and Citizens of London, in that palpable and most worthily punishable affront, and illegal imprisonment of those 3. worthy, religious, discreet, and conscientiously active Gentl. and Citizens of London, Captiane Wigmerpoole, Mr. Patrick Bamford, and Mr. Valentine Feige, who were all three, at one instant, most injuriously imprisoned, for only acting about a most honest Petition and Remonstrance, which was to have been recommended by the Citizens, to the Lord Major and Common-council of London, to be, by them presented to the Parliament, in the name of the whole City; and all this in such a regular and modest manner, as had been by the Parliament itself ordered and prescribed to them; yet notwithstanding (I say) for this honest and orderly acting of theirs, these 3 aforesaid Gentl. were imprisoned, by some Sectarian Parliament-Members, contrary to the intention, and order of Parliament, as that whole Committee for Complaints publicly acknowledged in Court, and worthy Sr. William Strickland (who then sat in the Chair) protested against it as unlawful, and none of his act or consent. And those Schismatical Members that commanded this most unlawful imprisonment; being, since that, discovered who they are. And shall the Sectarian Party complain (as in Teuledaye's seditious cause they did) of wrong done to them, in the obstructing and hindering their most pernicious and seditious petitions, and dare they most abusively impeach 11. worthy Members of the House of Commons, for this very thing▪ as one soul fault and offence against the subject; but indeed mainly, because they are faithful Presbyterians? And shall not these Sectarian-Members be much more justly impeached of most illegal and injurious infringement of the Subject's Libertyes (equally as precious to us, as Parliament Privileges are to them) and be enforced to give just repairations to those injured Gentl. for their false imprisonment? And, truly, I much marvel, that they themselves are so silent, all this while, in this their own so just vindication of themselves therein. And (which, though here in the last, yet not in the least place, but which deserves to be in the first and prime place, as being first acted. Witness, in a special manner, the most impious and slanderous abuses cast upon the whole Assembly of venerable Divines, both formerly, and still to this very day (and that without all fear of punishment on the offender's part) in most scurrilous and scandalous Pamphlets, by the pernicious Pens of blattering and barking Sectaries of all sorts: But more notoriously in that most high affront, and great discouragement, yea and disparagement too (as much as in them was) intended to be put upon the said reverend, and religious Assembly, by the Sectarian disaffected party, in the House of Commons, it felse, by whose means the Assembly of Divines were most unjustly denied permission by the Authority of that House to vindicate their Integrity against an all over most slanderous Remonstrance, published in print against the whole Assembly by 7 of the most Capital and Cardinal Schismatics of the same Assembly; yea, though our Divines had most earnestly petitioned the House of Commons, yet were denied this most just favour from them, and were, thereupon, enforced to fly unto the most honourable House of Peers, for justice therein, and, there, by God's good providence, most honourably obtained it, to their unterminated and indelible honour and praise, be it ever mentioned. And truly (Christian Reader) if these things were not too apparently thus, viz. That the very Fountain and Spring of all the sad and bad obstructions of the work of Reformation were not at this Conduit-Head, the Parliament; and that all sorts of Sectaries, and their Boulsterers and Abettors (notwithstanding all Petitions and Complaints against them) were not, There, strongly and strnagely countenanced and encouraged; how durst Mechanics, Soldiers, and Troopers in the Army, & all Sectaries both in City and Country, so audaciosly and disorderly take upon them to Preach without Due-Ordination, yea and to re-Baptise men and women, youths and maids, so frequently and familiarly, yea and obscurely too, naked in Rivers, and that in cold weather, sometimes with great danger of death, yea death itself, in some, so plunged overhead and ears in the water? How durst many, both Commanders and Common-Souldiers in the army (yea, that army of Saints, for sooth, so magnified, and cryed-up, for Piety and Civility) so audaciously in high contempt of the Authority of Parliament, scorn and cast away Ordinances of Parliament, produced for the protection and safeguard of godly and grave Ministers, abused, beaten, and with great violence kept out, yea and sometimes pulled out of their Pulpiss by those sainted Soldiers and Commanders? Yea, how durst some of them be so bold, so impious, so blasphemous against God and his Christ, as (horresco referens) to bring a Horse into a Church, to piss into the Font, and with that piss (in high and horrid contempt of that sacred Ordinance of Christ himself for Baptising of Infants) to baptise the horse in the Font, to sign it with the sign of the cross, to have Godfathers and Godmothers for it, and to name it Baal-Esau (an act alone, if there were nothing else in the Army, enough to bring God's wrath upon them most deservedly) all this being strongly justified by reverend Mr. Edward's, Gangr. pt.. 3. p. 17.  
Nay, more, How durst that base and bold traitorly Tailor, loyce, so impudently, and independently (it seemed) assault (as we all know of late, he hath done) the King's Person in his bed, together with his armed traitorous Troops, and most audaciously wrest and wring his Majesty out of the Parliaments hands, forcing noble Colonel Graves to fly away, and so imprisoning both the King himself and the Parliaments Commissioners in their Harpiean paws and power; And in all this their traitorous actings and proceed, their General, Sir Thomas, Fairfax to be silent, and at most, to plead ignorance thereof, and (notwithstanding that, now, he sees and knows it, yet) suffers that traiters' head still upon his shoulders, and executes not Marshall-Law upon him, and some of the other prime Actors therein (which, I humbly conceive, by the rules of Martial discipline, he might and should have done) the best way, I suppose, to purge his own innocency therein, and to clear his integrity to the Parliament, and to make all honest men to believe he had no hand therein, and gave no consent thereunto. And yet, in all this, I cannot but mightily admire and wonder at the most strange stupidity, and enchanted besottednesse of the Malignant party, also, that they should be so bewitched by that Hypocritical and most dissembling Army of Saints, forsooth, as to believe that they do all this in honour to the King's Person and dignity, whereas, they and we all know 'tis one of these Schismatics prime principles (as Lilburne, and all his desperate adherents hold and publish in print) utterly to cast off Monarchy and Magistracy. And I myself can justify that one of the principal Colonels now in the Army, and a Member of the House of Commons, and one of them that had his hand in print with the others, that by name, impeached the eleven Members: Yea, I say, one of the most smooth-mouthed Saints in that whole Army, having not long since, had conference with me in London, and I at that time pleading with him, in the behalf of the King, professing it was my mind and judgement, that all good and godly courses were to be used to work His Majesty (if possible, by God's gracious help) to true repentance and godly reformation with us; but, he answered me presently, That the King was a a man of blood, and must be brought to justice for it, unless he could clear himself. And do these men, than (think our Malignants) intent any good to the King or his posterity. Yea, (to go on) and were it not for our Parliament Sectaries, how durst our audacious Sectaries and Schismatics pen, print and publish (even almost without control, I am sure without just and mightily merited punishment in the most of them) such base, blasphemous and notoriously seditious books, such as lying Lilburnes base Pamphlets, goodwin's abominably blasphemous Hagio Ma: against GOD and all sound power of Godliness, against the King, and the Lords and Commons in Parliament, to stir up the hearts of the people (if it were possible for them, and that the overpowering hand of God did not most mightily and mercifully cross and confound their most devilish and desperate design therein) to rise up in rebellion against them all, and so to bring all things both sacred and , into a most unexpressible and woeful Chaos and confusion? which how near they are come to it, at this time (by all the strangely grasped power which the Army hath now got into their clutches) we all see and stand amazed and wonder at. And, how durst the (of late) degenerous Gentry of that unconquered County of Kent, who (formerly) began so bravely, but afterward I say, turned their backs so unworthily upon Piety and justice, as to endeavour to bring that people into one of the greatest and basest Yokes of slavery and arbytrary Tyranny that ever any people endured, or, indeed, could endure, viz. Not so much as to dare to grown out their griefs, no not in a modest way of petitioning for ease of them; and so to make that an accursed leading-case to all the Counties and Committees over the Kingdom? And, were it not that the Sectaries in the Parliament, and their nauseons neutral Sidemen, were so potent, politic and confident to carry on any design suitable to their self-aymes and interests, especially, their damnable Diana, an intolerable toleration of Liberty of Conscience; how durst a certain company of them (in most high affront to the famous City of London (which hath deserved so well of the Parliament) and apparent injury to their famous and faithful late Lord Major, Alderman adam's in the time of his renowned Majoralty) suddenly enter his house at 12. or 1. of the Clock at night, forcing him out of his bed, at that time of the night, and (as it was generaly reported) searching his house, yea and his very pockets of his wearing , as if he had been a very Traitor, and all this but only out of mere Chimeras, conceits, and jealousies of him, being a most pious and zealous Presbyterian, but, they were not able to find aught against him, to lay to his charge (such was his intact integrity, and unspotted loyalty) for which so injurious dealing with him, and thus affronting him in his peaceable house and bed of rest, had he presently clapped them up in prison, in the City (as, 'tis believed, he might, they so illegally assaulting him, the City's supreme Magistrate) he had done most worthily, but we hope time will call them to account for this and the rest of their most ingrateful deal with so renowned and honourable Citizens, who have by their persons, lives, blood, and almost incredible sums of treasure, (next under God) been the main preservers of the Parliament to this very day; yet, which hath, I say, with such black and gross ingratitude, rewarded all their cost and kindness, by discountenancing and retarding their justest desires, calling and counting their most famous and faithful Petitions and Remonstrances, seditious and candalous papers; and now of late especially, abusing the whole City (to please a rebellious Army) as touching their Militia, and by an Ordinance of the Sectaries and their Sidemen (for, none else, certainly would or did assent unto it) of both Houses, condemning the Citizens most honest Petition, and necessitated Reingagement to stand to their Covenant, of high Treason, and the Authors thereof and Actors therein to be Traitors (to a most disloyal Army) thus, making our sacred Covenant, so solemnly commanded by both Houses, taken over the whole Kingdom, a most dangerous snare unto us all, and hereby bringing all honest and Conscientious Covenanters into a most intricate Labyrinth and dangerous Dilemma, viz. That, if they will not (in the present and most eminent emergency of the Church and States great danger) act according to their Covenant, they are accursed, as forsworn Perjurers to their great God; And if they do act according to it, they are proclaimed Traitors, to the Parliament or Army, rather. O inauditum & infandum-nefas! And if these things were not thus, how durst those mercenarie-Scriblers of the weekly diurnals, and that botching Moderate-Intelligencer (as now adays he terms himself, being by his own fear and shame whipped out of his former title, the Parliament-Scout, forsooth, and the rest of their brazenfaced brethren, the other mendacious News-mongers, the undoubted hirelings and panders of Independents, and all other sorts of Sectaries, how durst these, I say, so audaciously strick with the fist of slander, one week; and stroke with the fingers of flattery, the next week, the untainted integrity and resplendent reputation of our most loyal and loving Brethren of Scotland, as they have done? making their incomparable fame and faithfulness to stand or fall, every week, at the reversion of the beggarly shreds of their botching pens and pleasures; yea notwithstanding, that those our most dear Brethren had heretofore requested the Parliament to punish, or, at least, to restrain or silence their insolences, in thus using and abusing them, as indeed they do to all others of the Presbiterian-party, on whomsoever their saucy humours please to spit upon, and all this without the least appearance of punishment or restraint? Yea how, I say, durst all these, and more than these most gross and grievous enormities and foul deformities in Government thus boldly breakout among us, were it not that such a company of disaffected Members did thus sit judges, as aforesaid in the Parliamentary Committee for Complaints at Westminster, yea and in the very body it self of the whole Parliament, both Lords and Commons, whether, all the Schismatics and Sectaries over the whole Kingdom, both City and Country, do too well know all their business are at the last and utmost exigent to be transacted and heard, and where they are sure such a company of their fast friends, shall sit as their judges, and therefore whatsoever Complaints are made against them, they do but laugh in their sleeves at us, and contemn all our threats or menacings of them, as being well assured that by these their Patroness means, either our complaints shall be totally stifled, as abortive-Embrio's; or if heard, so pinched and pined with most tedious-tyring and languishing delays, that we were (for the most part) better sit still in silence, and groan under our grievances, than torture and turmoil ourselves with remediless wrestle, to little or no purpose. Which things (and many more to these effects, too tedious here to be cited) being thus, alas, to what end is all this noise of our so hoped and longed-for Reformation, in the serious Suppression of Blasphemies, Schisms, and Errors, and in the substantial settlement and completing of our promised Presbyterian-Government? Why do the honest-hearted, active and religious Covenant-engaged Citizens of London, thus toil and tire themselves, day by day, with too lank and empty hopes, and pining expectations of redress of all these high dishonours of almighty God, and great grievances on the hearts and consciences of his people, in bringing seditious Sectaries, as Delinquents and bold Affronters of the Supreme Court of the Kingdom, the Parliament, to this Committee, where they continually find such a company of their Jndependent friends sitting as judges of those Offenders whom these very Judges (as being known Parties with them in Judgement and Opinion) do ardently love and like, yea hug in their hearts, and as much as possibly they can, do labour to maintain, countenance, commend, and encourage in their most erroneous, yea blasphemous and seditious practices. witness, blasphemous Best, that bold and abominable Beast, indeed, not worthy to live; seditious, lying Lilburne, Overton, and such like turbulent trash; who (though some of their persons are (I confess) or have been (but, with no little struggling) only imprisoned, where truly, they are (just as the Romish Jesuits were) better maintained, than abroad, yet) are still strangely permitted to foment and scatter in scurrilous Pamphlets, their most blasphemous opinions, and pernicious practices; yea, and are most unworthily and wickedly justified and commended, even by very many of our Sectarian disaffected Members of Parliament? Alas, what's become, now adays, of the pristine power, dignity, equity, gravity, and awful and lawful severity of our former ancient English-Parliaments? Heretofore it was as terrible, criminal, and punishable to speak (especially to write) against the justice, acts and edicts of the Parliaments of England, as to speak or write treason against the Person, or Crown of the King. But that now, in these our days, every base and ignoble Sectary should be thus permitted presumptuously to speak, writ and preach against it, and that, with the most false and ignominious acrimony of spirits and pens, that possibly may be, I am confidently persuaded, it is not to be paralleled by any bypast ages or Histories. What? hath amiable Astraea quite forsaken our Parliaments on earth, and is impartial and Majestical justice no where to be found? for if not there, where shall we find it? Shall honest, peaceable and humble hearted Presbyterians be thus, enforced (which God forbidden, and which, as yet, we hearty abhor) to fear and suspect that those audacious and contumelious aspersions, and (we hope and believe) most slanderous Calumnies of seditious lying Lilburne and the rest of his rebelliously railing and scribbling Comrades, are like to prove too true assertions? and all because of such delatory obstructions, yea, even vicious violations and infringements of the course and current of justice, and the Subjects hereditary just Liberties, equally as precious to them, as due privileges are to the Parliament: God forbidden, I say, we should have continued cause to fear it. But, if it be otherwise; How, then, comes it to pass, that the wheels of the glorious work of a deeply desired, and most duly promised and long expected Reformation turn and roll so slowly and heavily? How is it, that Votes and Ordinances for the advancement of pure Religion, the power of godliness and our Covenanted Presbyterian Church Discipline, are so extremely delayed, and with such admired difficulty, even as it were, but, pedetentim, or guttatim, obtained and produced; and when any do come forth, how is it that they are so void of expected and necessitated strength and corroboration for their work intended (or rather, by some, but deceitfully pretended? But only by reason (as it is Vox populi, which men commonly say, is Vox Dei.) that those disaffected Members especially of the Honourable House of Commons do so craftily and vigilantly watch their own seasonable opportunities (by the improvident and sometimes, I confess, necessitated absence, and thereby paucity, too often, of the honest and truly pious and zealous, Presbyterian party, either to null them, or at least, to delay, obstruct, and invalidate them, and to make them of little or no solid use, when they come forth unto us? Wherein, also, (which fetches a most just and deep fie from my soul) the known Independents are not a little, backed and abetted (a most foul shame to be spoken of them) by many who formerly (at least in show) were clearly for us; but, now a-dayes (though we believe; not properly principled the Schismeticall-way yet) are mightily biased, wheeled and blown about (I know not by what unhappy fate, or flate of wind, unless, as I hear and 〈◊〉 a Golden-ayre or Silver-blast) in voting and acting for the 〈◊〉 almost, on all occasions; who they are, I spare to name, though I could, many of them, Et digito monstrare quod his est; but, they themselves best know, and are conscious to their own hearts of this their great evil of so unworthy doubling Tergiversation; and though we pity and pray for their Souls, yet they may and must be assured, we look upon their persons with very sore-eyes and sour faces. Great and grave Senators of England (I speak to the truly pious Presbyterian party thereof in both Houses) I beseech you, for the Lords sake, think often and earnestly on that faithful (for, heaven and earth shall perish before one jot or title of God's Word shall not come to pass) yea think upon, even with trembling, that fearful threatening of the Lord our God, Jerem. 48, 19 (which also, I have formerly made serious use of in another piece of mine, entitled, Instices Plea.) Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord negligently (or, deceitfully, as some translations notably render it) and cursed is he that withholdeth his sword from blood. Yea, I say, from blood, when the Lord requires it, even the blood of Blasphemers, and bloody Malignants, especially in these our late and most lamentable lawless Wars, on the Royal Party; for then, to spare, is so fare from Piety or pity, that it is egregious impiety to God and our sacred Covenant, and Diabolical cruelty against men; yea and a most dangerous hazarding of the ruin of your own lives, if not of Parliament, State, and the whole Kingdom, as Ahab for sparing Benhadad, and Saul for sparing Agagg, found it too true; and we may justly fear the like, when such (whom God hath appointed to death) live so confident (and that, not without cause) that the bitterness of the fear of death is over past with them; and all by reason of the strange Impunity of the bloody Impiety, even of grand Offenders of all sorts to this very day. There was a time (I must and do ingeniously confess) when the great (and, then very just) apology and plea of our great and wise Parliamentary Master- Builders, why the work of Reformation, in Religion (for I desire mainly to harp upon this string, as the summum, though I will not say, Vnicum necessarium) and speedier building of God's House, Church-Discipline went not on more sound and seriously, was, That the prudence and providence of the Parliament must, first, see to the very being, before the well being of the Kingdom which then indeed, was in continual hazard of ruin and destruction by the great hostile powers on the King's party; True, I easily and willingly grant this: But, now that the Lord hath most graciously banished those our great and just fears, hath like dust, dispelled our enemies, and given us opportunity (even ever since the ruin of Sir jacob Ashleys' forces, and the rendition of Oxford) to build our own houses in most sweet security (and which we do indeed, with both hands, but scarcely care to build God's House with one hand) O what, now hinders this best and most blessed work? but, only and unquestionably, these Parliamentary Schismatics, these our mere pretending Master Builders, who prove indeed, the main-molesters of it? And, dare they indeed, call and count themselves Master- Builders, and yet, still, are the principal causes that God's house must either lie waist (as much as in them is) as being most unwilling (some of them) that we should have any Government at all; or at best, now and then permit it to be patched up with such poor pieces (as I touched before) as rather amaze us with sorrow to see, than animate us with any just comfort to enjoy; whereof, I said before, truly, I know no greater ground, or unquestionable cause to complain (next to our gross ingratitude to God for so great a good as is Opportunity, now so long and so fairly offered us, but so loosely and lazily, if not lewdly abused by us) than the intolerable (I had almost said the inexpiable) impiety of the impunity of our unsufferable Schismatics and Sectaries, especially the admitting & tollerating of men disaffected to Church discipline, at the Fountain head, whereby all the streams of justice and equity, thence issuing into City or Country, are lamentably poisoned and polluted (a thing most worthy of unexpressible punishment) and thus suffering Independents to sit in such prime places of judicature, and in Parliamentary, and Country Committees, to the most strange and strong obstruction and impeding of all our hopes or happiness from our most renowned Parliament, in general, even the pious Presbiterian-party thereof in both the most Honourable Houses. Well, though these our disaffect Pretenders smooth up themselees, and wipe their lips with an All is well with them; yet let them give me leave to tell them one thing ' to their just shame and sorrow of Soul (if it may be) and that is; what a Heathen Prince hath pronounced against them, and 'tis backed also with Scripture authority and approbation; viz. That honest-hearted King (of a Heathen,) King Darius, into whose heart, the Lord having put a resolution to forward the building of God's House at jerusalem; Ezra, 6. Which work had been much opposed and impeded by the enemies thereof, yet, now I say, the King having resolved that the work should be seriously set upon, and that none should hinder it; the Text says, ver. 11. He made a Decree that whosoever should go about or endiavour to alter the King's word, therein, the timber of his house should be pulled down, and a Gibbet should be made thereof, and he to be destroyed and hanged thereon; and that his house should be made a jaxe, or dunghill, for this; even for daring to be so bold and impious as to offer to hinder the work of building of God's House. Mark this, O all ye Schismaticall-spirits, who, now adays, so impiously and audaciously have so long and lewdly endeavoured to hinder the building of God's House, among us in England, even the glorious work of Reformation in Religion, the settlement of the purity of Doctrine, and of the godly order and holy harmony of Church-Discipline. Hear it, I say, and tremble at it, and be ashamed to hear a heathen-King so zealous for God (and you to be so cold) and so justly to pronounce your deserved punishment; and take heed lest the Lord, the righteous judge (if too long and impenitently provoked by you) even for this, this great Sin of thus impeding & opposing the blessed work of a thorough Reformation among us be most severely revenged on you. And let me tell you all my dear brethren in general, both one & another, and myself too; never let us think 'tis possible that our temporal affairs of full trading, paying of the Kingdoms debts, ease of excise, and other tedious taxations, freedom from fears of new wars and commotions among ourselves, the total disbanding of our Armies, dismantling of Garrisons, and such like desired national comforts shall thrive and prosper or answer our hopes and expectations, so long as Religion in its power and purity is so slighted, God's faithful and painful Ministers are so wickedly denied, not only honourable, but even competent maintenance, and are, besides, so scorned and abused, and so long as God's House, Church-Discipline, is so strangely neglected and delayed, and all sorts of Schisms, Erronrs, Heresies, and most blasdhemous Opinions are with such accursed and most impious impunity permitted among us, and especially, I say, that horrid and kingdom confounding sin of, thus, most fearfully violating our sacred and solemn Covenant with our God, wherein, with deep attestations and protestations, holding up our hands and lifting up our hearts to the high God of heaven, we vowed the utter ruinating and extirpating of all those forementioned sores, evils, and plague provoaking crying-crimes, yea, and whatsoever else was contrary to the power of Godliness. Touching which Covenant, hear me but one word more (o all ye of the Schismatical generation, in general) concerning your most unconscionable and double dealing, and deluding of us therein also, and then I shall hasten to the main thing I aim at in this discourse, which is, that having so conspicuously and evidently laid open the heart grinding and grieving Sore and Core of the kingdom's present and pressing sorrow; I may also humbly make bold to tender the application of a Plaisture, which (I humbly conceive) is most likely (by God's blessing) to make an undoubted comfortable cure thereof; but, to the thing in hand.  
In the days of rare Queen Elizabeth, of ever blessed memory, and so along, to later times, we all know, or have heard, how the crafty Romish jesuits, having found by long experience, that their tying up of the Consciences of their Popish-Proselytes from taking the Oath of Supremacy, and from receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper with us Protestants (whom, you know, they called and counted Heretics) proved a great prejudice to the progress and growth of their great design, Universal Papall-Monarchy: at last, they grew so cunning and crafty, that, for the advancement and propagating of the Catholic Cause (as they called it) they would give dispensations, (by the Pope's indulgences) to take that Oath, and to Communicate with us, in the Lord's Supper also, if they were put unto it, rather, I say, than to hinder their other dark and devilish design. And is it not just thus with our palpable and Jesuiticall-Spirited Independents and Sectaries, that generation of jugglers (if ever there were any in the world) now adays among us: I mean mainly the subtle Seducers, and learned Ringleaders of them; for, was there not a time (and that, not long time ago) when their novel and most nauseous upstart-Schisme began, first, to rise and grow up among us; that, O, then, for an Independent, a Separatist, or Sectary to be put to the taking of our sacred and solemn Covenant, O, it was most tart and terrible, and would by no means be endured by them, but they startled at it, and flew from it, as from a hideous Hobgoblin, or a Noli me tangere. But, now, of later times, and in these our more moderene days, they also having like the Ingling jesuits) craftily and cunningly found by practice and experience, that this Bolt was like to shut them out of the Parliament, Conutry-Committees and other eminent, gainful, graceful, and over-awing places, both Marshal and majesterial: they now, therefore (just, I say, like the Jesuits of Rome) for the propagation of their Cacolick Cause also, I mean, Toleration of All-Religions, and diabolical and accursed Liberty of Conscience, alias, most profane Libertinism; do most dissemblingly, falsely and fraudulently using the said Sacred Covenant, as those Jesuits did the Sacred Scriptures, only as a Nose of wax, or a Sailor's Breeches, to help them in a storm, or at a dead-lift) give selfe-dispensation of Liberty to their Consciences to submit to the taking thereof, as well, and readily (to see to) as the best of us all, but, still, with the Jesuits old tacite-trick of Equivacation or mentall-Reservation, taking it in their ownsense, as most malevolently hating the literal and genuine sense thereof, and the positive and plain intentions and ends of the Parliament in general, in the Covenant; as is, and long hath been apparent by their practices and professions also both by word and pen, among us, not only in the Parliamentary and Country-Committees, but also, and most especially, in the Army, where, most Insolently and audaciously (as was touched before) the Commanders, Officers, and Soldiers slight, reject, and scorn all Ordinances of Parliament, yea and the very Covenant itself, as it relates to Church-Government, especially, and suppression of Errors, Schisms, and Blasphemies; yea not withstanding that some of them pretend they have taken the Covenant, which must needs show and assure us most undoubtedly in what sense, and with what Conscience, and to what ends they took it. The serious consideration whereof makes me, here also, to fetch another deep sigh for his Excellency Sir Tho. Fairfax, who of late, hath not a little overclouded and eclipsed the former radiant lustre, and most specious splendour of his (then) justly merited Fame and Honour, both by some late strange miscarriages in the Army in general, and also in so improvidently, and (doubtless) insnaredly admitting and entertaining, as his chief Chaplains for the Army, two dangerous and audacious Soul-seducing Schismatics, as Mr. del, & Mr. Saltmarsh, together with their bold & blustering brother Peter, who are most pernicious & pestilent instruments to infect & poison the whole Army, if it be possible, with their seditious and damnable Doctrines: by which deceitful design of theirs, (I say) forementioned in thus taking the Covenant, they most Satanically keepup, and drive-on their own hopeful and underhand mischievous Machinations, and thereby also mightily molest, obstruct and retard, almost all our pious Presbyterian-Actings accor: ding to our Conscience and Covenant, as the fear of the Lord (whose vows are upon us) do most importunately command us, and our fervent and deeply obliged love to Truth and Peace doth constantly constrain us. And thus we see (to our sad sighing, indeed,) that no bands, nor bounds will hold or keep in these vild and wild Beasts, but that most craftily and unconscionably they break through all, and we have now (therefore) but one only way (under God alone) which is the last and main thing I aim at in this discourse, to help ourselves out of the tearing and tiring troubles of these Briers and Brambles, our Sectaries and Schismatics; and that (I humbly conceive) is only this, and it is backed also with a fresh and experienced pregnant example among ourselves, some few years past, which is, as followeth.  
There was (as we all well remember, at the beginning of this present Parliament) a great Complaint (and that, not without great and just cause) against Popish Lords and Prelates, sitting in the House of Peers, and of rotten-hearted Malignant Members in the House of Commons, who, in those times, mightily molested and obstructed the most weighty and great affairs of the Parliament, and so consequently perturbed the good of the whole kingdom, especially, then also, in matters of Religion, and due execution of justice upon offenders: whereupon the most famous and ever to be honoured and renowned City of London bravely began to Petition the Parliament for the expulsion of them out of both Honses, and immediately thereupon, almost all the well-affected Counties of the kingdom followed their worthy example, and most eagerly and earnestly fell a petitioning against them, and continually came flocking up to London to the Parliament in most numerous and mighty multitudes, to that purpose, yea and so importunately pressed their desires therein, till at last, by God's wonderful providence, and the Parliaments most favourable acceptance of their Petitions, and (so far, then from calling or accounting it a breach of Privilege of Parliament, that) they gave them all great thanks for their Love and Zeal therein: And all these things thus concurring together struck (as it was apparent) such terror and amazement into the hearts of the Popish-Lords, Prelates and Malignants in both Houses, that speedily upon it (partly by the Prelates own remarkable pride and folly, and partly by an univerfall Conscience-accusing fright and terror at these things) both Houses of Parliament were most admirably freed of them; and all things, thereupon, presently after, were carried on most prosperously, and with singular smooth success, to the great comfort and universal high content of the whole kingdom, (and so continued a long time after) until these present crafty Sectarian Mombers unhappily crept into the house of Commons, and others have since been poisoned by them. And have not We (my dear Presbyterian Brethren, for, to you, now I apply this my main and most earnest desire) in these our days, as great and just cause (considering all I have already said before, and much more that might be said therein) as ardently and earnestly to complain, protest, and petition against some disaffected Lords in the House of Peers, and against many Independent Members in the House of Commons, who (next to our own sins) are the main, if not only, restless Remora's, and most dangerous disturbers and delayers, yea mockers and deluders of our Covenant-engaged Reformation, to Gods most high dishonour, the most justly incensing of his devouring-wrath against us, and the deep heart-wounding grief and sorrow of all the truly pious and peaceable people throughout the whole kingdom, by reason of their hopes thus unhappily damped and delayed, yea, I say, jeered and abused by those Sectaries and Schismatics in the House of Commons. 'Slight not (I beseech you, my dear Presbyterian-brethrens, both in City and Country) this my serious, and I hope seasonable advice, by supine security in regard of the present seeming serenity of things, which hath been the bane of many famous and flourishing States and Commonweals; and yet (all things considered) we have little cause to conceit so of the present times. But, if they were so, yet know that I have read, long since, in Plutarch's Lives of a Governor of Thebes or Athens (if my memory much fail me not) to whom a faithful friend of his scent a Letter wherein was the discovery of a dangerous plot against him and his City, which was intended to be attempted on him that very ensuing night on which his Letter came to him the immediate evening before to have prevented the danger of it, had it been timely taken: But he (being a deboyst drunken Prince, notwithstanding that the messenger told him his Mr. desired the speedy reading of it, and return of his answer) presently put the Letter into his pocket, and only returned this answer; Res seriae ad crastinum; Weighty matters to morrow. But, that very night the Design was set upon, his enemies suddenly broke in upon him, slew this Prince in his bed, and surprised his City. Take heed timely, therefore, I say, and beartily pray you, my dear Brethren, of slighting this my counsell; our danger is, undoubtedly, very great, and I know not how near it is (yea and who knows what a day or a night may bring forth) though for the present, things seem fair and clear about us, as here you heard it in this foresaid pertinent and applicable example. The King, himself (Proh dolour) stands out still (and for my part, I cannot much wonder at him, therein, he being so mightily animated thereunto by Sectaries and Schismatics who pleading for Liberty of Conscience, stand out boldly against the Parliament, and will use what kind of worship and serving God they please, yea and are extremely connived at, and to lerated therein: And why may not King Charles also plead for and be permitted the Liberty of his Conscience, and be tolerated to have his Prelatical Chaplains (as now also the Sectaries in the Army have already begun pretty fairly to give the King all this, and promise and pretend much more, till they have their wills of him) and allowance of his Common-Prayer Book, and refuse to be directed, in God's worship, by our Directory, and resuse to hear our pious preachers, as well as our Sectaries and Schismatics, who familiarly resuse both, yea, almost, all of ours; running into houses and corners to practise what they please in matters of Religion? Why may not King Charles, I say, expect thus much liberty of Conscience, and, as I said before, be, thus, hardened by our means to stand out stillmost stiffly against us; besides, Malignant-Royalists grow thick and numerous within our City and adjacent Countries round about us; bloody-minded Anabaptists, & such like seditious Schismatics, as cruelly as craftily, yea as vigorously as viruently do drive on their designs among us, especially that of intolerable Toleration, and accursed Liberty of Conscience, against all godly Government and religious Order, wherein the most desperate Atheists and Malignants (for the present) join and combine most eagerly with them; yea, our own hoped friends, within us, grow mightily disconetnted, and mutinously-minded (witness Smithfields late firy-uproare at the strange miscarriage of things in the Parliament, and continued taxations on the poorer sort of people; and thou, o loyal London, the Kingdoms most famous and magnificent Metropolis, art in as great danger of sudden distress, as ever, if occafion (which the Lord in his great mercy forbid) be mischeivously offered, thy grandest Guard (under God) the City Militia, being for the greatest part of it (notwithstanding all thy petitioning about it) even to this day (according to that Apologue of the poor Sheep's Mastiffs committed to the keeping and custody of Wolves and Foxes) I mean, in known Sectaries and notorious Schismatics and Neutrals hands and commands, in whom thou canst not with any clear safety trust or confide. And therefore again and again, I humbly and hearty beseech you, whom it, thus, mainly concerns, timely to look about you, and to be advised, as you tender your lives, Wives and Children, Peace and Prosperity; yea, your All that is most precious to you, even your pure Religion especially, your sacred Covenant, Country's Liberties and just Freedoms; and speedily take some honest, lawful, and laudable importunate course by Petitioning, & soliciting even without denial, for the timely calling into the House of Commons, of all the pious and loyal Presbyterian Members, and especially of the insufferably abused, because most injuriously and slanderously accused 11. Members, if they be not come in already, and for the serious expunging and expelling of known and pernicious pragmatical Sectaries out of both Houses of Parliament, as being the main, if not only causes (as I have most abundantly shown) of all our present and most pressing, yea oppressing fears, and growing and groaning Calamities.  
Object. But, here, if any object (as, indeed, it hath been objected to me already, upon occasion of this very motion of mine, in private) that, though Sir, we acknowledge your counsel is good & pertinent to our condition; yet, we believe 'tis not (now) so feasible and seasonable in regard of the times and the general disaffectednesse of most men, and the present policy and power of the Independents in the Parliament and elsewhere?  
Answ. To all which I answer, first, who drove out the Popish-Lords, Prelates, and other Malignant-Members (fare more firmly fastened and riveted in among us, even by a Law, although Such (which Independents are not, as Such) both in Parliament and in all other parts of the Kingdom, than these our Parliamentary Jndependents are, or, I trust, ever shall or can be) who, I say, thrust and threw these out of both Houses of Parliament? Was it not the Lord God himself, by his special blessing on the unanimous confluence of importunate Petitioners, protesting against them from all parts of the Kingdom? Even the Lord our God, who is yesterday, and to day, and the same for ever, and can any thing be impossible for him to bring to pass, who, within these six years last passed, hath all along, done, almost, all things miraculously for us, which we knew not how to have done for ourselves? Take but this one example hereof; did not the Lord beyond our expectation (even to our just admiration) make the Prelates themselves (in a special manner) by their proud Protestation against the Parliaments just proceed, and their Petitioning to the King for his protecting of them against the power of the Parliament) to overthrow and throw themselves out of the Parliament, even into imprisonment in the Tower of London? And are not our Sectaries of these days, think you, as spiritually, yea and carnally proud and ambitious too as ever the Prelates were in their generation? and are they not every way as pernicious and pestilential to Church and State, and many of them most illegally and abusively elected and shuffled in to be Members of the House? Secondly, for our great, yea, exceeding great encouragement herein, hath not the Lord (upon occasion of the late solemn Fast over the whole kingdom, against Heresies and Schisms, voted in Parl. Feb. 4, 1646, and religiously performed and kept accordingly March 10th, than next ensuing) put into the hearts of the most religious and renowned Lords and Commons in Parliament, to renew, & as I may say, revow, and publish to the whole world (to Gods high honour, and our unexpressible comfort) their cordial and zealous detestation of Heresies, Schisms, and Blasphemous Opinions, together with their religious resolution peremptorily to proceed agaidst them; and for fuller satisfaction herein, I will give the Reader, their one words, in that most excellent Ordinance of theirs, worthy to be engraven by us in fair Characters of Gold; which were, as followeth.  

Die Jovis, Febr. 4, 1646.  
An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons in Parliament assombled, concerning the growth and spreading of Errors, Heresies, and Blasphemies, setting apart a day of public Humiliation, to seek God's assistance for the suppressing and preventing the same.  
THE Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England having entered into a solemn-Covenant, to endeavour, sincerely, really and constantly the Reformation of Religion, in Doctrine, Discipline, and Worship, and the extirpation of Popery, Superstition, Heresy, Schism, Profaneness, and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound Doctrine, and the power of godliness; and having found the presence of GOD wonderfully assisting us in this cause, especially since our engagement in pursuance of the said Covenant: Have thought it fit (lest we partake in other men's sins, and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues) to set forth this our deep sense of the great dishonour of God, and perilous condition that this kingdom is in, through the abominable blasphemies (mark their zealous expressions here) and damnable Heresies vented and spread abroad therein, tending to the subverssion of the faith, contempt of the Ministry, and Ordinances of Jesus Christ: And as we are resolved to employ and improve the utmost of our power that nothing be said or done against the Truth, but for the Truth; so we desire that both ourselves, and the whole kingdom may be deeply humbled before the Lord, for that great reproach and contempt which hath been cast upon his Name and saving Truths, and for that swift destruction which we may justly fear will fall upon the immortal souls of such who are, or may be drawn away by giving heed to seducing Spirits. In the hearty and tender compassion whereof, We the said Lords and Commons do order and ordain that Wednesday being the 10th day of March next, to be set apart for a day of public Humiliation for the growth and spreading of Errors, Heresies and Blasphemies, to be observed in all places within the kingdom of England, and dominion of Wales, and town of Berwick, and to seek to God for his direction and assistance for the suppression and preventing the same. And all Ministers are hereby enjoined to publish this present Ordinance upon the Lord's day preceding the said 10th of March.   
See, hence, then may dear Presbyterian Brethren, first, as I touched before, if here be not singular encouragement unto you all in City and Country, to set seriously and speedily upon this work of modest and lawful petitioning, as a foresaid. Secondly, whether you are not most likely to receive kind acceptance, in so doing, and thanks for your pains and care therein. And thirdly, (if the Parliamentary Independents hinder not, as they are most likely to be the main, if not only, obstacles therein) what unquestionable good & desired success (as by this excellent Ordinance may easily be gathered) is likely to follow thereon. And fourthly, and lastly, consider from all the foresaid premises, thus, now put together, whether all truly pious Protestants and Presbyterians over the whole kingdom have not as great and just cause to bend all their zeal and combined power of Petitioning against the Sectaries and Schismatics in Parliament (as the unquestionable causes of the great growth of all the Errors and Schisms among us; and as the most unhappy obstructers and hinderers of the most long and zealously desired building and settlement of the Presbyterian Church-Government) as ever they had against Papists, Prelates, or Royall-Malignants? Which, if they see not, certainly they are wilfully blind, or if seeing, yet are basely content, willingly, to yield to a most ignominious and slavish security and Laodiceanluke-warmnesse to the unexpressible misery that inevitably accompanies the being justly spewed out of God's presence and protection of love, by most lewdly allowing a most abominable Toleration of all religions, and so by an unquestionable consequence of having no religion among us, and then also no God to help us. O, then, that it would please the Lord to put into the hearts of his honest and heroic Servants both in City and Country, now again, most stoutly and strenuously to show their godly zeal and faithful fervour of Spirit against those enemies of our Covenant in this the Churches as great necessity and importunity, as ever it was in, with a joint and unanimous consent (as then they most happily and honourably did, and that with singular approbation and commendation of both Houses of Parliament, and with desired success too) to petition Both Houses (in a warrantable, modest, fair, and befitting manner) for the removeall of the persons of such Parliamentary Independents out of their Houses, as are the known fautors and favourers of all Schismatical Covenant-contemners and Ordinance violaters, in reference to their contempt and obstructing of the Presbyterial Church-Government and power of godliness, even as perniciously and impiously (though more clandestinely and craftily) as ever the Popish Lords, Prelates or Malignants formerly were in their way; and therein most invincibly to endeavour the just exonerating of our souls of the kingdom's great and groaning spiritual grievances (the best way of all others to remove all our temporal disturbances also) in the unsufferable abuses both of God and man among us, even the intolerable growth and spurious spreading of blasphemies, heresies, errors, and schisms, together with the most abominable impunity of the Broachers and Abettors of them, and for the holy and happy compassing and completing of one of the main ends of our sacred Covenant with our God, and with our most loyal and loving brethren of Scotland, namely, the solid and substantial settling of the Presbyterian Church-Discipline, according to the word of God, and the example of the best Reformed-Churches. And, O that it might please the Lord, (who has the hearts of all men in his hands, and who can most easily turn them as the Rivers of water) to put into the hearts of our most renowned, noble, and precious Patriots, the  and honourable Presbyterian friends of Truth and pious Peace, in Both Houses of Parliament, who (cordially and christianly casting away all ignoble self-seeking aims and interests) do religiously and conscientiously cohere and correspond, with sound and settled judgements and resolutions, to set up Christ's kingdom, according to the Apostolical institution in God's word, to be happy and honourable means (for the more smooth and certain carrying on of this said blessed business) to purge (if it be possible) Both their Houses in general, and inparticular, of all Committees, from such incompetent and unequal judges as Sectaries and Independents are (who ever they be) from sitting in such seats of judicature, to hear, overrule, vote and determine such weighty Causes, as are matters of Religion and Church-Reformation, as, wherein, they themselves are so faulty and offensive, yea devoted enemies to the Church and Children of God, in point of Godly-Government and Church-discipline: wherein, that the Lord, the great God of wisdom, the only guider of every good action, and the only giver of every good gift, would direct and erect the hearts of our truly pious Parliamentary Patriots and sound Presbyterian Lords and Commons, with profound wisdom, impregnable fortitude of Spirit, and invincible Christian Courage, impartially and efficaciously to vote, act, and execute (in pursuance also of their most excellent and religious Ordinance against the growth of damnable errors and blasphemies, forementioned) in the first place, to remove those sorely offensive rubs and Remora's out of their Houses, which thus have and do (and till they be removed, unquestionably will) most sadly interrupt, impede and retard the somuch and so long desired glorious work of Reformation, it is, and ever shall be a special part of my most serious and incessant prayers: That, so, this being at length holily and happily effected, judgement may run down in our streets like waters, and Righteousness as a mighty and strong stream. That, so, our God may [in Christ] take pleasure in us, and delight to do us good, all our days, and to our succeeding Posterity after us, Amen.   

A Postscript.  
CHristian Reader, I have thought fit (in this last place) to desire thee to take serious notice (but not without a most deep sigh from thy Soul) that whereas the Parliament intended (as we then hoped) to have done some great and remarkable work, for the just impeding of the growth of blasphemous Errors, Schisms, and Heresies among us, as is most abundantly evident by that most excellent Ordinance of the 4th of March, 1646, forementioned; yet (notwithstanding that Ordinance, and the solemn day of Humiliation kept over the whole kingdom the 10th. of March following) nothing hath been done therein, ever since, which is now above 5. Month's past; but, contrariwise a most foul and filthy greater growth and increase of them, in all parts and places of the kingdom, without the least control or restraint by any authority. O consider, I beseech thee (good Reader) in the fear of the Lord, what a horrid and hideous face of most abominable hypocrisy and dissimulation does this neglect therein represent to the Lord our God, and the whole world, unto our everlasting indelible shame! And, whence, my Christian Brethren, can you possibly conceive this most black sin hath its rise and original, but mainly, if not only, from the Sectaries in our Parliament, who, as we have apparently seen, all along, have, without all question, most strongly and strangely, and yet most craftily and cunningly crossed and crushed all motions and means of carrying on this or any other weighty work of Reformation among us? And will not our God be avenged on such a genearation as this? And, shall they prosper, shall they escape, or shall they be delivered that do such things, and that (thus) break their Covenant with their God? Ezekiel, 17.15, 16.  
FINIS.