A sudden ANSWER To a sudden moderator; Who, directed by Reason and no more, expects sudden PEACE, or certain ruin.  
This assures him from GODS Mouth, he shall see neither sudden Peace, nor ruin, and yet certain Peace( though never in his way) to them that love Truth in sincerity; and certain ruin to the Adversaries thereof.  
— Pacem Te possumus omnes.  JOB. 34, 29. 
When He giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when He hideth His face, who can behold Him? whether it be done against a Nation, or against a man onely.  PROV. 16.7. 
When a Mans ways please the Lord; He maketh his Enemies to be at peace with him.  
LONDON, Printed in the year of Restauration, when the times always have been, are, and will be Troublous. 1642.   

REASONS by way of APOLOGY, for this sudden answer.  
IT is sudden indeed, and, may be, the Reader will say so; the labour of a few houres, stolen away in the Night from sleep: If I nodded over it( which is not my manner, yet) it is pardonable. The Reason it was so sudden is besides the quickness of the time, the same the Author gives of his MODERATION, lest it prove like an almanac, which a few dayes passed puts out of date. As he had a grave respect to the Times, and to his Reader, so have I too, for I find his book( I never yet found his second) as the air is, when some epidemical disease is raging, very catching; the very Reason this, why this Answer is sudden. I protest to the Reader, for these Reasons, I could not sleep till I had done it. I must give a Reason also why I give him any Answer at all: Because I find him neither an( empty) fool, nor a railer; if either of both, I knew my charge, Answer him not, 2 King. 18.36.  
I find him upon confession without shrift, a Moderator, and in his own Character a medley. What is that? I cannot tell myself, except such a thing as he makes Religion, Truth and Peace: neither the one nor the other; nor good, nor bad; but another third thing & that is stark nought; I know not what he is, but like a Meteor he is, he hangs in suspense, and, likely, will fall anon. A well poised lump betwixt air and earth, and, because of its predominancy, does fall flat ●h●●her; and there it would expire, breath-out, and die quickly, but that it hath some of the quality we call heat, which keeps it from being key-cold: he might have forborn his Characters, for I knew before I came at them, as what himself is; so what he makes, Religion, Truth, Peace, Missellanies All: and so has uncovered himself in the eyes of all the godly, as one of the vain fellowes shamefully uncovered himself. The good Lord remember not this against him, but remember him of that dreadful threat, I will show, &c. To comfort him now a very little, if he were sensible of his danger, I will tell him what his Readers say in his prays, That he is so brimful of wit, as that he runs over, and full of Reason also: but this is too short of his commendations: I will add, now I have red and understood him; The Moderator is full of rhetoric and Oratory too. And let him take all that, but little good that will do him, till he shall devote all that, in homage and due service to the glory of the giver. For my part I like his rhetoric very well; but three words of plain English I like ten times better: specially at this time.  
Nay, let me tell you I have red 1000. Papers and 1000. too and never met with any I liked better for the Composure( though he Rambles, and so he confesseth) and worse for the matter, Strange! you will say. I thought so. I shall have an heavy Censure laid upon me before I begin. Good Reader hold a little, let me speak first, and that I may gain upon thy Patience; I will assure thee this, That though I have a naughty, and an untoward heart, and most deceitful; yet I shall, in the name of all the true hearted in the world, clear it to be, in this great business, neither double nor cloven, nor biased any way but to the way of Peace, Truth, and Holinesse. And because I can force myself to believe, That the Moderator is, as he seems to be, a man, that loves his Country, and desires the Peace of it with all his heart; I shall so contend with him as a Man, that loves, and desires the same thing, and as hearty as he doth and shall for bear all bitterness, counting it an unreasonable thing, that a man pursuing Peace should pursue persons, make war with them, or make a lye.  
It is true his characters are nought, and, in reading them my spirit was stirred on the suddame not a little: The way also he goes in pursuance of Peace, is clean out of the way of heaven: But yet I bear him witness he pursues Peace hearty: And the Characters he gives of himself and Truth, are hearty also, as he feels his own pulse, and as he conceives of Truth. My answer shall not deal with him there, but it shall keep with him in the main. As for his rhetoric and Oratory both, dilating upon the good of Peace, and evil of war, I think he might have spared both, for we are flesh and blood also, too sensible of punishment, and senseless of sin, we can feel as quick as we hear, or he can speak.  
I would now bespeak his heart towards me, before he reads onward of my Answer.  
The Lord give him to look for Truth here on earth, and to find it, which he says he looks not to find till he comes to heaven: And such a Peace now, which will stand him in stead, when he lies on his death bed: And in pursuance of all this, a better guide, then now he follows, directed by reason.  

HE that is his own guide has a fool to his Master; and he that is guided by Reason has but a blind guide at the best; and yet he will be more blind and fool too, if he will put it out: though holding the clae of Reason in his hand, and opening both his eyes, he shall not be able to see whereat to enter, or where to come out of the labyrinth of these times.  
But the man speaks not so many words( he thinks) as he does Reason, and yet we could almost wonder, what the man stands reasoning about, and expecting all the while, were it not that he tells us, he is directed by Reason, and does expect suddaint Peace or certain ruin. I protest to him before Almighty God, nay from His mouth, he shall see neither: not a sudden Peace; a man directed by Reason cannot expect so: the motions are too violant( we take nothing from an All mighty hand, but He is making inquisition for blood) to be hushed up and stilled on a sudden. Nor certain ruin, except to the enemies of God, and His Peace; and your mialing persons, certain ruin to them also, and it will be sudden, when it comes: but, directed by reason we believe their ruin will not be sudden neither, not yet: But I make hast to my promise, which is a sudden answer.  
I omit his preamble, It seems the mans eyes are open: and directed by reason, what says he?  
Moder. The cure is Desperate.  
Answ. Quickly answered, The Disease is so.  
M. The chirurgeons do cut too far.  
A. Not far enough.  
M. In letting-out putrefaction, they let out the very vitals.  
A. It must be so: never any man took a strong purge but precious spirits went out together with the execremen●s. There is some spending of vitals, And yet the Body must be purged, else it dies: I am persuaded his physician will tell him so, though directed but by reason.  
M. When the Militia, the Navy, the Ports were first put into new confiding hands, I looked upon that action like to that cloud, which seemed as a mans hand.  
A. Who bid him do so? His eyes misguide him, and his Reason too; was then the first appearance of a cloud, and but such an appearance, as a mans hand then? The Lord knows, and his People also. That the cloud was up, as high as the Sun at noon and a thick cloud also, and it darkened the heaven long before. And there was no other way directed by Reason that could be taken to prevent a shower of blood from falling( like the rain we call Spouts)[ when the rain falls not broken into drops, we call it the[ pouts. Sr. W. R. Hist. l. 1.7. Sect. 6.] upon the Church, truly so called but by putting the Militia into new( for the old were nought and rotten) confiding hands, for the others could not be trusted, they have declared themselves the betrayers of God, His Christ and their Country.  
M. The more active of the Parliament are accused of Treason.  
A We grant that.  
M. The Kings adversaries are impeached by the Parliament for Traitors.  
A. That is true too, Traitors sure enough, that will advice their King to betray his great Trust, laws, Liberties, Religion, and all into his enemies hands.  
M. Thus the Scene begins to alter, and instead of Reforming, the Parliament is busied, almost puzzled in saving( for so they call it) a distressed Church and State.  
A. We call it so indeed, and the Parliament are busied, nay, as the man directed by reason says, puzzled too in saving of it. I pray heaven( it is the Players phrase, good, but abused too often) bless them in this puzzling work, the proper work of a Parliament indeed, but of God to finish it: and because it is such a puzzling work, The God of wisdom led them into all wisdom to the execution of their charge, the cutting off that Viperous generation of men, those troublers, who are eating out the bowels of their Mother: and let those, that have engaged themselves upon this puzzling work, the saving a distressed Church and State know, they shall not lose their labour of love, and work of Faith, though Israel be not saved, which were but a little short of Blasphemy to doubt.  
M. Common Law called Salus Populi, and Statute Law, enacted by nature, called Lex Necessitatis, must warrant all their undertaking, and justify all manner of severity and violence.  
A. No but it shall not, but the contrary, It shall condemn all undertakings to distress the Church and State; and eurse from heaven all manner of violence upon the people: And it shall warrant and justify all undertaking against those miscreants, who have so wasted their own Country, and eat out the heart of their own Mother.  
M. The most eminent discovery of this war was about the Town of Hull.  
A. Be it so; but a Discovery there was six yeares ago, when the Service-Booke was sent into Scotland; and quickly after the Sword: Then( to look no farther back) there was a Discovery plain enough, and more then an appearance of a cloud and thick darkness; it gathered towards the North, and what if we grant it was most eminently seen before the Town of Hull? we grant it; and this withall must be granted too for it is eminently discovered also, That the ground of the quarrel is not whether the Town of Hull shall be the Kings: but whether this kingdom shall be the Lords ( i.e.) whether the Lord Christ shall have this kingdom for his Possession. I will venture my soul upon it, and it is more to me then all the kingdoms of the world. This is the ground of the quarrel, and eminently known so to be. I look for a vial of wrath now, and the Spouts of His Displeasure to be powred down; yet I am secure about it, for the kingdom is the Lords: Let the Lord Christ alone to Rule there, He will reign most gloriously amid His enemies: He is a strong Redeemer, and they that will not submit to His Golden sceptre, shall be broken to pieces with His rod of Iron.  
M. The King has caught the affections of his Subjects with Promises and Protestations, to defend the property and liberty of his Subjects, though Promises are but shadows.  
A. They are so indeed, and no trusting in such shadows, but whether he hath caught the affections of his Subjects under these shadows I think it is scarce questioned.  
M. But if he has caught his Subjects under these shadows, how much more then will his Subjects be his when these promised Elessings shall be theirs in earnest?  
A. There needs no Question: they will be all his, when he makes all good which he says; when he speaks that they may see him; good words realized by good actions then they will be all his hand and tongue, and heart and all, the truest Subjects to their King that are in the world, as long as he is the Lords, keeps to Him, his Master in heaven, and will entrust himself, and his people under His shadow, which is the shadow of the Almighty.  
M What advantage have we had by any thing that has been acted by the Sword?  
A. We cannot boast of Advantages though we have I think as much advantage thereby as we looked for from such an instrument, an opressing thing where ever it is: and yet I will say we have had and have a very great advantage by it. It hath kept the Sword of the adversaries from some of our throats; and the Cause of Christ from being trampled upon by the foot of Pride, like mire in the street: And though we are a wasted peeled people indeed, yet, blessed be our God, not like Ireland; we are not yet delivered up as a prey to the adversaries teeth; he cannot execute the fierceness of his wrath upon us: and this Advantage we have by the Sword. In short, we have the very same advantage by the Sword now, which Nehemiah and the builders had in those troublous times; if they had not had the Sword in the one hand, they could not have builded with the other: I know I have but a hard pull of it, to draw advantage from the Sword: but yet this Advantage we have, as afore said: Therfore the Moderator does us a plausible wrong here, in telling us in his foolish pity, that we are abused. No, we are not abused in his sense nor after his thoughts, though abused we are, and most notoriously abused: by whom? By those from whom we can expect no right, such sons of Belial they are: so much to our abuse, and the Moderators pity. At this standing we may gather some Flowers of rhetoric, and observe some strains of Oratory bestowed upon that old theme, The Tyranny of war: and in passage he bestows pretty civill language upon the Parliament sometimes, but that is his craft, that he may give them some by-blowes, presently after undiscerned, and truly his smiting is very smart, and as palpable as a man biased, we know which way. Let him go his way, he says;  
M. Though the times are so catching, we can scarce call any thing our own, yet, I hope, they will let us enjoy the use of our reason still which shall always led my faith, &c.  
A. Yes, good reason; enjoy it, and use it, I pray you, and your faith too, but no reason it should led your faith, but rather follow: but take your course, and go on.  
M. And expectation in such open affairs, as these: my Reason and faith both having settled me, and made me obstinate in this opinion, that a peace warily concluded on by an accommodation must be the happiest issue that can be given to these differences.  
A. Look ye, the moderator is an obstinate Man, he cannot moderate well: but I will do him the favour to pass that by; we have all now, and can eye his full scope. I shall go forward a little, and return in good time: and he shall go on how with little interruption, for they be matters of great Difference, but not controverted betwixt us: he tells us how he came to be settled in his opinion, viz. from the aims in this war( wherein we must observe his modesty) The grounds or causes of it,( where we must discern his charity,) That he will think Religion, Laws, Liberties, the moving cause therof, for that's confessed, though not agreed upon. Then he falls into his rhetoric again, as if words could make us more sensible, what war is, then blows. I assure you, he is deceived, we need not his rhetoric, nor Oratory neither, our sense is quick enough at that point, God knows. Then he assureth when all is done, there will be no victory: yes, but there will, for when all is done, Truth will prevail, and be more glorious the more it was darkened, dashed upon and opposed. I passe-by his by-blowes, rather his rude dashing upon the Parliament: then up again, wipes his mouth and away. But I cannot for bear the mentioning of this, touching his Religion( for it is not ours I hope.) It is many times but a servant to other designs, and so it shall be followed, and this is his allowance. Truly, if I would speak here in so clear a case, I would speak clean contrary that all designs should be servants to Religion, should serve to usher-in that: would we have our Laws better exercised, our liberties more enlarged, and secured? yes indeed would we, What, by the domineering Sword? O no, the thought of it makes our hearts to bleed: but yet this is the design to bring in Religion, to settle, ensure, and secure that, as in Nehemiah's dayes.  
He goes on, I cannot observe his method, for I see none: he deals truly with us in this, for he tells us he rambled, he does indeed, let him ramble-on; if he goes so before, I must ramble-after: but he falls in his way upon the Remonstrance of the kingdom, and censures it at his pleasure. He would not have had the vile Counsellors discovered; nor the Malignant generation, when it was boldly affirmed there were none such in the land; nor any in Ireland say we as truly.  
Then he gives a shrewd blow at the Parliament, again telling us, what keeps it from staggering; but there he is quiter out, for that, which he mentions, will make them fall, when right aims, the glory of their God, and the good of this people, shall make them stand firm and steady, upheld by an almighty arm. Then he falls upon Arguments of advantage and disadvantage. The Advantage the King hath( for that syllable has as much advantage as another Army;) The advantage the Scots had in their year; and the disadvantage-ground we stand upon; and here he speaks not reasonably as a man directed by Reason; yet truly the Advantages on the one side are so considerable; the disadvantage on the other side so great, that surely the man, who is directed by reason, and has no other guide, will be stark mad with Reason. But let me put in a word to make him sober, there be great advantages on their side, great disadvantages on this side; Treasure spent, and spirits spent, and all spent: see now and spy out, on whose side Truth is. It is but a syllable neither but more considerable then many Armies: on whose side is truth? on the stronger side( you will say as a Moderator) that hath all advantages in sight. Nay, I do not believe it, but leave it not to my conceit, for I shall not declare my mind now at that point, but spy it out on whose side Truth is, there is the advantage.  
But the King can work like a King, and bestow Honours like a King, &c. He can so, and he is more bound to God that hath so enabled him but God( one syllable also and no more, yet of more Advantage than all the arms in the Heaven, Earth, or Sea) can do more, he can work like a God; give like a God; sustain like a God, all like a God, where God is there is the advantage, spy it out, it is discernible, where Truth is there is God, and where He is there is there is the advantage; &c. he will go on merrily for all the trouble, that is directed by Faith: he not so, that is directed by Reason: yet we will go on.  
The next step he falls upon Charactars, gives us a cleare-one of himself, of Truth also, and so he hath dishonoured himself, and thrust back Peace: God give him to see it, and pardon the iniquity of His Servant: Above all, The Lord unveil his eyes at this high point that he may seek for truth here find it, and stand up for it, resist the opposers of it even unto Death( if the case so require) for so he must do on earth, else he shall never find heaven as he expects, and truth there.  
Now we are at the end, we will return, and according to his desire, own Reason on which side soever we shall find it. and seeing it leads us to an accommodation, thereby to find peac, thither we will return, for there is all the matter, and kernel of the business.  
That a Peace warily coucluded on by accommodation must be the happiest issue that can be given to these Differences. Here the moderator hath a great advantage of me, though what I speak, shall be directed by Reason and by something like it, but much better; yet I say, he hath a great advantage, for speaking for a State-Peace as he doth for a State-Religion, and Truth( all which I abominate as much as he allows) he is more to the Genius of the State and more in show for the Peace of his Country than I can b●; and yet I will not stoop an inch to him at those high points, my love to Religion, to Peace, to Truth to my King to his kingdom: why then must wee hear so ill in undertakings of this kind that we are sons of Mars, wee call for a sword, we delight in blood speak to us of Peace we are for war, are content to see our Country rent asunder with her own hands? A heavy censure this; were there any of that wee call Truth in it as the searcher of all hearts knows, there is none, we appeal to him in it( I speak in the name of all the true hearted in the World) He knows we seek Peace and pursue it, as hearty as King Hezekiah did, when a proud adversary was before his wall: so hearty, and yet the doubt may be, whether not too eagerly, and therefore it flies from us: but I say, we pursue it, our consciences b●are us witness, our God also, wee wssh for peace as earnestly, as the husband-man does, whose Horse is taken from him, he cannot plough his heart too, he is careless to sow, because he knows not who shall reap: so the moderator, we tell him; we desire Peace as the husband-man does; if he will believe it, and why should he not? If the husband-man plouges not, he cannot sow, if he sow not he cannot reap; then we must want bread & feel the want sooner then he: I am willing to insist a little upon this first, to clear us of this dirt cast into our faces, that we do not wish our Countries peace; I tell him again, for I would speak very feelingly, we will bid as much to purchase Peace, as the Countries will do, which have been hurried and spoiled; we will give as much as they for Peace, if we may except one thing, but it is more considerable then an Army, what is that? A thing not much inquired after, but we call it Truth; wee thank God he hath given us so much discerning of it, that wee can put an esteem upon it, that we can count of it though but a monosyllable, more considerable then Armies, which the Country-men for the most part, cannot do, so much to blame are their Teachers, we speak this with hearts grief, and in the dearest affection to our Country mens souls, and say, except but that we call Truth, and we call God to record upon our souls, we will give as much as all the Countries give: nay, & yet I will speak no proud word we will give as much for Peace as this moderate man will do, so he will not give Truth for it, which we may suspect by his Character, he will rather part with then his money. At this one syllable only, but so considerable, we shall differ with him if different in mind from us, and turn our backs upon him & yet shall show our selvs as sensible of the blessings of Peace, and the misery of war as the moderator can be, and need not his flowers of rhetoric to express our sense that way our feeling, I mean which is the quickest sense we have, and I have expressed it already as feelingly as I can when we approve ourselves at that point, as tender as is the husband-man.  
Why then harken says he to reason, to an Accommodation. What is that? To Acommodate this difference by some middle way, wherein either party shall remit somewhat of the rigour of those terms in which they now stand. This is an Acommodation and the way unto it, and the moderator is so obstinately resolved upon it, that he thinks he hath spoken all, and is in the right way to Peace, and that there is no other way, when as the very Truth is which will appear presently, Toto Caelo errat, The man is quiter out of the way, and if I might express it so, as one doth he is heavenly wide, for first, he takes it for granted, that there are but two parties offended, the King, and his friends; the Parliament and their friends: That is a great mistake, for all the Powers in Heaven and Hell are parties here, and offended greatly: michael, and his Angells, beelzeebub, and his Angells, nor these onely, there is a principal verb,( whom he hath l●ft out) one syllable indeed but infinitely concerned and engaged in this business and of more advantage then are all the World: And there is a second Person, equally concerned too whom for honours sake I will name, Ephesians 1.12. far above all Principality, and power, and might, and Dominion, and every name, that is name, not onely in this world, but also in that which is to come: all these he hath left out of the Treaty, the Father and the son. These two the moderator hath( whether willingly, or ignorantly I judge not, ignorantly I think) left out of the Treaty, acknowledging but two parties offended; And so though he bee all for a middle way, yet he hath mistaken his way utterly. And now he is more than half persuaded, that no man will undertake to answer him: why? Because the Answer he thinks, will run point blank against Peace, that Mother-Blessing, so comprehensive, that it contains all things which make a Nation honourable, and the head of kingdoms: And he will clash against sacred Majesty too, for he will not abate an inch from the height of that Imperious Reformation, which the Parliament Intend, and carry all level unto.  
I shall by Gods good hand upon me walk strait on & unbiased in a middle way, indeed, not gazing upon or prying into, what the King and Parliament do; The Lord bless King and Parl say I and make them of one mind & one heart, & so direct them in all their ways that in all they do they may have the answer of a good conscience from wichin, how ever things stand or fall without. But I say I will not meddle with these state-affairs, my foot shall not enter into this maze: Something the moderator will force from me anon, which will reflect upon sacred Majesty, but it shall be spoken with the clearest evidence of Truth and love to his Peace and crown that is conceivable.  
Therefore to undeceive the moderators over-hasty expectation, I will tell him now the way I will go & then go on in it; I will apply myself to that third party God for three persons are but one God whom the moderator hath left out of the treaty for Peace; and shall make it clear in a few words to all that will see; that he is a Syllable of such concernment in this business, that till he be put into the treaty, till he be treated with and in his own way there will be no way made for Peace & I must tell him this also by the way, that this third party is, in a treaty of this Nature a hard Master, and will hold us with some rigour to his terms, and Imperious demands and cannot endure a middle way; which, notwithstanding, a World of men do now beat upon, and with all their might bend unto but if it be the right way then God hath deceived me; and if it be Gods Peace they seek after; then this is not facred Scripture which I shall now propose to your eye; It is a day of trouble and of treading down, and of perplexity, by the Lord God of Hosts; and thou didst look in that day to the armor of the house of the forest. I observe hence, that judah was greatly distressed at this time: Peace seemed to be quiter taken from them; and fain they would recover it again but they were quiter out of the way; a great blame lies upon them, what was it for? not because they looked to the armor of the house of the forest, which house of armoury S●l●m●n built for his whole kingdom 1 King. 7.2. nor are they blamed for spying out the breaches of the City of David which were many, and looking to all means to stop the same, and to fortify themselves they were not blamed for this, for all this was wisely done and the better, had it been don sooner. But for this they are blamed; Thou didst look to the armor &c. but ye have not looked unto the maker thereof, neither had respect unto him, &c. v. 11. They looked not unto God in all this; they had no respect unto him, and yet they would have Peace, and would be safe, well fortified against their Enemy; not considering that God was their Adversary; He powred upon them through that vial the fury of his Anger and the strength of battle. Esay 42.25. and he must be looked unto, a respect must be had unto him, before ever they shall have peace on the Earth: and it must bee obtained by weeping and mourning, Esay 22.12, whereunto the Lord called them by those evils He inflicted upon them. But we red there how untoward the people were, and it is just our case now; we comply with the moderator, here we are of his judgement for we look to every thing and b●nd ourselves every way, but we look not unto the Lord God, we have not a respect unto him.  
And this I thought fit to premise in more words, that I may be the shorter afterwards; but especially, that the people may know, wee wish their Peace: as hearty as themselves can do, onely they must know also unto whom they must look, and have a respect unto, if they look to have their expectation answered; for the Lord gives Peace, it comes from His hand; as the inward Peace which cannot bee plundered; so the outward also: the Lord, God of Peace give his People both through the Lord Jesus Christ our Peace-maker, and is called the Repairer of the breach.  
And so I return into our way again in the pursuit of Peace, by way of Accommodation, and here;  
We protest again in the presence of GOD, That our ears are open unto it, and our eyes spying out a way whereat to enter in and come fairly out with an Olive branch in our hands, for it seems a Labyrinth: And yet wee could have an easy passage, if the Peace sought for were a mans Peace, in his hands to give; or the sword, we would have sheathed, mans sword; we could then make up the difference by an Accommodation. But the Peace is GODS Peace, whom the Moderator, the Inquisitor also( likely one and the same) hath left out of the Treaty, GODS Peace I say in his hands to give when he pleaseth, and we must wait his time the Sword is in mans hand indeed, as the Axe is and the Rod is; but it is Gods Sword wherewith he is avenging the quarrel of his Covenant, Mans the vial, God powers it out; we beg, and entreat and pray, saying, Rest and be still; jer. 47.6. The Answer is still, It cannot rest: The Lord knows the Father of our Spirits, the God of all flesh; He knows we would have Peace; but we know no way in the world how to accommodate it, but by making Peace with God( who is offended) removing what is grievous to his Eyes and by breaking down that which breaks His heart; zach. 6.9. And we are confident, till this be done, valiant ones shall cry out, and ambassadors of Peace shall weep bitterly Is. 33 7. as once they did; for ask from one end of the heaven to the other; but it will suffice toaske from the beginning of Gods book to the end of the same. The Answer will be No Peace till God be at peace; till we have made His Christ our Friend: And this cannot be, till we have done as aforesaid, removed that which makes Him our Enemy; and our weapons turn back wherewith we fight even against babylon.  
I protest before the living God( indeed I am earnest, and is there not a cause? I am pleading for God, He needs me not, not such a poor worm, but it would make a dumb man speak, hearing that he who stands for all, stands now as a Cipher, nay less then that, He gains not a place, he is not so much as once name in this Treaty, nor is the removing of those things so much as mentioned, which make Him our adversary; I am pleading for God, for his Cause, his Truth, his Peace, his King, his kingdom; in a dearer affection my deceitful heart tells me to my Country, then is expressable.) I protest then before the living God, that if so be wee should stand and ask every day from the month of March to the next the next year; Is it peace? the Answer will be as often repeated, No, no peace, no Accommodation. nor never will be, till you are come up to God, to his terms, to make Peace with him, through that middle was, God, Man, Iesus Christ: I pray you harken to it and consider on it.  
M. There is a State Religion, which may be a Servant to other designs, and such a Truth too, and such a Peace also.  
A The moderator saves so and gives us Characters of all these( as of himself too) but some thing like Reason will not give me leave to think, that such a Religion is any better then no Religion: or that such a Peace is not more destructive than war. our Peace with that, where with we should have war; and warring against God of whom we should seek Peace, hath caused all our troubles, it cannot lessen them.  
But the Peace is not the worse coming through the Princes hand.  
A. No, but much the better, so he seek it too as we must at Gods hand, and by that middle way which God found out, thereby to declare the unsearchable riches of his wisdom, Mercy, Grace. It is supposed now that in seeking Peace at the right door, the extra or intra pro●… ens, that which will hinder the obtaining our suite must be removed, even what ever provocations there are before Gods eyes.  
M. And he is a gracious Prince.  
A. I will pray, God save the King, and bless him, with the blessings of His right, and His left hand, and having given some grace, dd more,  
M. Remember we not the Declarations he hath made? no Prince ever gave such engagements.  
A. Yes we Remember very well And that others have said almost as much, and have done almost as little, But let the moderator go on: though he hath lost his guide and is quiter out of the way.  
M. He is an envious man that would not make a bonesire for every Declaration he hath sent.  
A. I dare not say so, that he is an envious man, that will not make a bonfire: I think he may be a good man and yet think a bonfire an unworthy expression of true Joy. I would forbear farther Answer here, but I cannot & fain I would speak abstractly, and in the general( though there is deceit) but I must speak as the case requires, in truth of heart A Rulers Declaration of his Grace, Trust, and Service is to no purpose except to make a bonfire, if it be not followed, with Truth and Action: The higher the person is the more he stands charged from the mouth of God, and his example so to practise, that he may be seen to speak, He hath spoken with his mouth, and fulfilled with his hand, is four times repeated[ 1 King. 8 15. 2 Chro. 6] To the praise of God himself, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Higgaion Selah, also words seriously to be considered on, I will add this; good words are good Remonstrances of of a good mind; when Actions are not Contra-Remonstrances.  
M. We could not see our season, we might have closed with the King, when he seemed to open his arms.  
A. Truly if I could forbear now( but my words are as fire within me) I would answer nothing; because I have two affections, which are almost become passions, so stirring they are within me at this very time, Anger and fear; I am angry with the moderator, and for very just Reason, I could be shrew his fingers for opening the Kings arms so wide; and I could wish he had bit his tongue, when he  told us, they seemed to open and no more; so some Persons have done, and an Engine also, they seemed to open their arms to embrace, and killed in embracing[ Philetae amplexu strangalant: Sen: Hist: of the world, page. 532. I have overcome my Anger, I will by Gods help overcome my fear too, why should I be afraid to speak, speaking from Gods mouth, and in a zeal for my King and Country, guided by knowledge? I am constrained; the Lord knows I am, for I will appeal to Him, beholding with open face, the Sword lifted up like Abrahams hand, over isaac, to kill him and his Mother too( that is the purpose) a dumb man spake then & why not I now? I will open my mouth and speak; It shall not be  told to Posterity( It is the moderators Reason) why he spake, and I love my King & Country as well as he, Peace too & Truth also) That we do all wilfully blind the eyes of our Reason, and will not see that which is palpable before us; I must speak that our Children may not tell their children that their Parents were a poor naked People, blind too, and dumb also; In answer then to these open arms; This I say first That next to the open arms of God the either of our Lord Iesus Christ, and in him so wide opened towards us; next to those Almighty arms would his poor People, sly for refuge into the arms of his majesty; and they will force themselves to believe they are open to defend them his distressed People: but if they should come, they cannot force themselves to believe, that those at his elbow, will not close his arms upon them, even when he is opening to receive them and so strangle them out-right, which is quickly done, for they are more than half dead already; because his arms and heart are so shut against his good people. What have they done? he that searcheth the heart and trieth the reins knoweth, they know not themselves guilty of any thing against his sacred majesty, wherefore his arms should bee closed against them: and opened towards his, and their Enemies. They have looked narrowly into their hearts, what they have done or spoken, which might close his Majesties arms against them, and they find nothing that they have done, or spoken, but good for him before the Lord, and therein they have not been silent night nor day, and that is their comfort.  
M His Majesties arms seem open to receive them, why do they not come?  
A His good People, those that are his indeed, cannot trust shows, and seemings; When his arms are wide open to those about him, his and their Enemies, his arms cannot so much as seem to open towards his poor people I will give him, who is not willingly Ignorant good Reason for this, when I have  told him what befell myself once, which will instruct the ignorant more then Reason can small things will illustrate great. I came once to my friends house, whose heart I knew could close with me as mine with him; and entering his Out-Court, out flies a mastiff Dog to my face, by a Providence I withstood his first onset, and presently help came in; for I was at my friends house, whose arms were open to receive me, he saw well what a greeting I had, therefore he greeted me the more hearty and I him: but I  told him Sir, the Proverb holds not, love me love my Dog, you must trusse-up your Dog, else you know who will never come at you, though you could open your arms as wide as the two Poles are distant; North and South: he believed me, else he had not shewed himself a wise man, or a friend.  
He that will open his arms to receive his friend, will take care, to remove all Jealousies his friend may so much as conceit to the contrary; much more will he take care; that his Dogs mouth may be muzzled-up, if not trussed up by the neck.  
To speak out, for so I am resolved from the mouth of God; his sacred Majesty cannot open his arms to receive his Subjects into favour and grace: he cannot so much as seem so to do, so I say directed by Reasons. more strongly bottomed then are the everlasting hills, and perpetual Mountaines.  
1. He cannot open his arms to his poor Subjects, till he hath opened his heart to God in confession, that God made him King in his stead, set him upon His Throne,[ Gods Throne;] put the Testimony into his hand, his lawbook before his eyes, commanding him to do thereafter, to be a Father to his Country, Lord Protector there, to do his People all right, to suffer no wrong to be done unto them, for therefore God made him King, and set him upon His Throne; till the King hath opened his heart to God in confession of his own sins, the sins of his people also; their Idolatrous ways and Courses, which brings a sword to lay his Land waste: till he hath so don, he cannot truly open his arms to his poor People.  
Whether the King hath done this or no he is to be accountable to God alone. Be it so, though that is nothing to our purpose; but till he hath made this confession in sincerity and Truth, he cannot so much as seem to open his arms towards his Subjects indeed and in Truth: And when he shall make this his confession betwixt God, and his own soul, then will the consequence there from be as discernible to his poor Subjects, and as operative towards them for good, as light is, and life is, both which will manifest themselves where ever they are: till this be done he cannot open his arms towards his poor Subjects.  
2. Nor till he shut his ears, and his heart to vile councillors, I say vile councillors, who make the King rush upon the drawn sword, and practise against the Law of Heaven, and the Law of the Land, and are themselves as the Ravening Wolves; he cannot open his arms to his distressed people, nor his ear to their cry, till he hath closed his care, and his heart fast up against those vile men, nay not till he hath cut them short by the shoulders, or trussed them up by the neck.  
3. Nor till he has barred up his heart against the Councells of her, that hath lain in his bosom, for she drives the trade of the World, and is a chief, and principal Agent therein: To dethrone the Lord Iesus Christ, and to advance Antichrist,( it will never be, but it is the great design, Trade and project the World is now driving on: And she an active instrument, for carrying on that design with all her might.) The King cannot open his arms truly, and hearty to receive in his poor distressed people, till he hath barred up his heart against the council of her that hath lain in his bosom, nor which was first, and it shall be last.  
4. Till he walks contrary to himself, as contrary as were the streams in the South, when they were turned back: as contrary as Manasseh was to himself, after he was brought into the thorns, and was humbled: till his heart bee turned back, till he walk contrary to himself; till he shall confess his imquity, and the iniquity of his people with their trespass, which they trespassed against the Lord, and that also they have walked contrary unto the Lord and that the Lord hath also walked contrary unto him, till he shall confess this, and thus open his heart before the Lord, he cannot open his arms toward his good people. And according to the tenor of these words, his good people have done for themselves, and do, and do speak for their King also thereafter night and day before the Lord; and what they speak before the Lord I will not shane to speak before men. I will add, whosoever he is, that is to make answer to such a passage as this, and does not speak according to the tenor and purpose of these words, the truth is not in him, he holds it in unrighteousness Rom. 1.18. and he is an Enemy to his King and Kingdom; to the soul of his soul, and the life of our lives; the life of Truth, and the Faith of the gospel. I have spoken according to my charge the Oracle of God: But yet if in the judgement of any, as one of the fools in Israel, It is for Israels sake, that they may have Peace, if as as a man besides himself, it is for Israels sake too, in abundance of affection to Israel that Israel may have Peace, Peace with God and then peace from God, even from His Hand, which cannot be till our uncir cumcised hearts are humbled for our whorish waves, therein warring against the God of our Peace: No Peace I say again to Prince or people, till there be a giraing with sackcloth and a wallowing in dust[ Jer. 6.26. for our shedding of blood, & provoking the Lord with Images & strange vanities. And this I have desired to speak to my own & every mans heart in as express terms as Isaac the munk spake to valemce the Emperor who  told him that things when: very cross No marvel said Isaac, for you walk cross to God, You shall have no Peace while you war with Him. You have hurried the faithful Pastors from their flocks, Restore them again and cease thou to rebel against God, and God will cease to fight against thee[ Tripart. Hist. lib: 9. Cap. 13] Thus plainly I have spoken that we may have Peace, Peace now, when war is at the gate, peace then when pangs are upon us a peace that cannot be plundered. Amen.  
I look for peace, when I look to see fire like another deluge round about me, when others shall be at their wits end for expectation: I resolved therefore to speak out, and plainly for the Peace of my King, and Coontry, that he and his people might be shown the excellent way to accommodate the same. again, I live if I do live, by Truth in my heart; I would die when I must die with Truth in my mouth; then I look to go to Heaven, and find Truth there, and live with Truth for ever. These thoughts made me obstinately settled, that I would speak out the Truth, and for Truth so help me God Amen. I have two words more; I have bent my answer to the main scope the Moderator has in his eyes the Peace of the King and kingdom, we both make way after the same thing, and go both cross; He would have Peace[ by an Accommodation while we stand in defiance with Heaven: I would have peace made with God first; the whole matter is committed to Him, Who is the Way the Truth and the Life; for He is judge himself. Other things may seem to require answer but truly I took care onely to find out his scope, and thereunto to bend my answer; he glanceth at this & at that; & clasheth here and there, and takes a liberty of conceit, yet will make us believe He conceits the best; and will not censure, indeed that is a point of wisdom. And yet we have warrant to believe that the aims of the Lords servants have been straight and level to His glory and His peoples good else His Hand had not been so with them hitherto. If I have any discerning or can make any discovery upon the ways of men, and find them off and on I pray God, as well as I can, to settle them: If I find them constant to themselves to God and his Cause, I say and I am sure of what I say, after they have sufferod a while, the Lord will make them and their work perfect[ 1. Pet. 5.10.] For there shall be no work done for the Lord which he will not finish and recompense those that have laboured in it. There are disadvantages now but one God is sufficient to make all up, a scattering now; there will be a time of gathering, A cross ways and wills now; God is making a Method of them. That he is not plucking down his house, he assures you in the word of a God, who tenders his house and honshold, better then any father on earth can do. And now that my thoughts are upon Gods House I think of an Epith●t● The Moderator is pleased to give: The Reformation now intended, and upon design; he calls it an Imperious Reformation. It is well if it be so, for if there should be a daubing in such a work as that is so nearly concerning God and his Christ, we should say of it as joab said in Davids works; It is abominable. We wish hearty, that Reformation may so imperiously command, that it will abate nothing of Gods Right, nor suffer any thing to stand that grieves his Spirit; and is offensive to his eye. Certainly so it should be, and so it must be. The house that is to be bailded must be exceeding magnifical, of same, and of glory through all Countries.[ 1. Chron. 22.22.5. Why so magnifical & wonderful great? For great is our God above all Gods[ 2 Chron. 2.5.] It is easily applied, the Lord hold the hands of his Servants to the work, their eyes to the Rule, their hearts to him; That is the way to have Peace again, which the shedding of blood and abominable Idolatries have taken from the Earth. The Lord fill his Servants with his Spirit, make them complete for this great business, It is for their God, and his Christ, a great God above all Gods; blessed for ever, Amen.  
I have one word more to say to my own heart and to the moderator: Let us cease from our own wisdom, from seeming wiser than our Teachers, and giving Rules to our betters: nor let us be too bold with our fellow Subjects neither; they may bee directed by Reason too, and happily by a better guide; Let us look to ourselves, and into our own hearts, prie narrowly there, what wee have done to make the breach wider, and to let in wrath upon our brethren: upon true search we shall lay hands upon our mouths, smite upon our thighs, and be humbled even unto dust: and all our work will be to make our Peace with our God; In his name who can repair, and make up the Breach though wide as the Sea: when every one shall do so in his own particular, God will give us Peace; It shall come in as a River, and righteousness as the waves of the Sea. Amen.  
Let him take hold of my strength that he may make Peace with Me: and he shall make Peace with Me.  Isay. 27.5. 
Scias. Eum pessimè dicere qui optimè placeat malis, cum optimè dicere qui maxim, placeat bonis.  Plin. Ep.  

A Postcript.  
IN this Treaty of peace, we should look upon the Kings Majesty as the principal, but being not himself, but engaged to a party, who pretend Loyalty yet drive their own ends to the the ruin of their King and his Kingdoms: We look upon them, even the Atheists in three kingdoms, the Papists all the world over; And do affirm from Sacred testimony, That we can accommodate a peace with them upon no better terms, then we can make peace with the devil.  
FJNJS.