A Word in season: TO ALL SORTS OF WELL minded people in this miserably distracted and distempered Nation.  
Plainly manifesting, 
 That the safety and well-being of the Commonwealth under God, dependeth on the fidelity, and steadfast adherence of the people, to those whom they have chosen, and on their ready compliance with them.  
Also That the destruction and bondage of the Commonwealth in general, and of every good minded man in particular cannot be avoided▪ if the people, through want of consideration, shall give care to any other counsels or counsellors.  Proverbs 2.11, 2. 
Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee, to deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward th●ngs.  
Published by Authority for the Public good.  
London, Printed by Thomas Pain, dwelling in Red-Crosse-street, in Goldsmithe-Alley, over against the sign of the Sugarloaf. 1646.   

A word in season, TO ALL SORTS OF WELL MINDED PEOPLE IN this miserably distracted and distempered Nation.  
SINCE, (as the Scripture speaketh) no man hateth his own flesh, but loveth and cherisheth it; and that naturally, every man seeketh his own good: It is very strange, seeing we have the help of Reason, of Ex●erience, of the Word of God) that ●he right way, which leadeth to that End, ●hould be so hard, and difficult, to be found, certainly, it cannot be so in itself; God hath been more good to man, then to make ●hings necessary hard to come by.  
The difficulty will rather be found to a●ise by our own default, from our want of a patiented, settled, serious, and religious consideration of things, whereby we are continually liable upon all occasions to be misled either by our own evil and eager desires, o● by the evil examples of others, or by evi● (though long settled) customs; or by the persuasions of politic deceivers, into such ways, which though they seem to be strewed with Roses and perfumes, yet are the ways of death, and when we least suspect, bring us to destruction.  
Our blessed Saviour therefore bids us to b● wise as Serpents, because whilst we live in this world we have to do with Serpents, and to beware of Wolves that come to us in sheep's clothing, to be innocent as Doves, is a most blessed temper of spirit, but very unsafe and liable to every gin, and bird of prey, if the wisdom of the Serpent be not joined therewith: Now all the helps of reason, of experience or the Word of God, produce not this wisdom without consideration; advised deliberate consideration, (such as few in this Nation are accustomed unto) without which that which is called knowledge or understanding, is not true knowledge nor understanding, serving to no public use at all, except to distract and distemper, and ve●● and destroy a Nation. It is the voice of God himself; My people will not consider, they will not understand; without consideration it is impossible to understand any thing as we ought, and without understanding (true considerate understanding) man is like unto the beasts that perish: nor had this Nation ever been thus miserable as it hath been, is, and is like to be, but for want of this kind of consideration in the People; so that it may be as truly said of this, as of the perverse, rash, inconsiderate Nation of the Jews; thy destruction is of thyself, O England. And if ever there were a cause to study and put in practice the wisdom of the Serpent, to bewa●e of Foxes that come to us in sheep's clothing: if ever there were a time requiring the uttermost of wisdom and consideration ●n all sorts of people, rich and poor, high and low, one with another; now there is a cause, now is the time.  
For never to this day, were those who are trusted with the care of the Commonwealth, so beset and surrounded with difficulties; with unexpected appearances of strange things, such as no age can parallel, of so high and great concernment, as the least miscarriage therein, may in a moment of time make void all their long, their faithful and painful endeavours, and involve us all into the most miserable bondage that ever overwhelmed any people.  
And therefore (however any sort of men may delude themselves) if we do not al● jointly and unanimously (laying aside al● does affection for differences in judgement i● Religion) patiently, setledly and seriously deliberate and consider what every one of us ought to do, in reference to their preservation, abandoning all passion and wilful prosecution of perverse and preposterous things, all jarring and repining at their proceed; this Nation cannot be safe or happy, nay, cannot but be miserable and wretched.  
For the greatest and most superlative freedom, of this Nation (and wherein the safety and wellbeing thereof doth reside) consisteth in this; That Laws cannot be made Government (Ecclesiastical or Civil) cannot be established or Altered: War cannot believed, nor Peace concluded, nor monyer raised, not any thing done; but by the Authority of those whom the People themselves do choose for Parliament: and intrust as their Commissioners, with full and complete power for their good. Had it not been by this just Authority, We had never been freed, from the tyrannies, oppressions and cruelties of the High Commission, Star-Chamber, and Councel-board: from the burdenous Execution of Forrest-law, Court of Honour, Commissions of Waste: from the Extortions, and Exorbitances, in the Courts of justice, Chancery, Requests: from Shipmoney (for remission whereof, no less than twelve Subsidies were required) and from all those other innumerable Patents, Projects, Illegal warrants, and Imprisonments: Things which the whole Land long groaned under; though (now removed) the benefit be unworthily forgotten, or mis-attributed to an Act of grace.  
Had it not been for this Authority; the Court of Wards had never been abolished, that for many Ages hath oppressed the Land.  
Had not this Authority opposed; the King had been furnished with monies to have warred upon our Brethrens of Scot●and, in his first attempt upon that Nation.  
This Authority, in the worst of all former Times, when the strongest force and power was upon them▪ ever stuck closest to the interest of the People, nor did the People in the worst of times, ever forsake them, but maintained Their power and privileges, their Essence and Authority, whensoever they called upon them for help and assistance, nor hath this just and powerful Authority been more true to the Commons that chose them, then to those worthy Lords and Patriots, that at any time have assisted them for the common good of the Nation, preserving their Honours with as true affection as the liberties of the People; no man can name the time that (intentionally) this Authority ever did injury to any Just interest either at home or abroad, but have borne and suffered much, from those that have made an ill use of their lenity and credulity.  
All which is necessary to be remembered, and seriously considered in this instant of time, because if these things be seriously laid to heart, it may happily expel those poisonous vapours, with which our air gins to be infected, we have a generation of forgetful, ingrateful people, who because the Parliament cannot yield unto all they desire (without extreme thraldom to the people, in things Ecclesiastical and Civil) are degenerate into a malevolent disposition, murmuring and repining at all their proceed, and making hard constructions of their Just endeavours; and by politic and subtle means, labour to alinate the hearts of their friends from them, and to incline them to give ear to other Counsels, laying open their infirmities, (which they should rather go backward to cover) and would (if they could) possess the world that there is a sort of men that would settle Religion more purely, perform and interpret the Covenant more exactly, and do justice more speedily, and more sincearely than this just Authority, whom the peoble themselves have chosen, nay, there are fames abroad, that there are catalogues taken of any thing that may possibly bear a bad or sinister construction, to be showed to the people, in the day of their extremity, if such a day can be procured.  
And for what end all this? Why, you shall not fail to be told it is for the glory of God, the setting up of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and the everlasting good of the souls of the people, and the like; but take ye heed how ye hear or give credit to these Siren songs? these charms of Dalilah, are but to deprive Samson of his strength, to rob the people of their Power: It is a sad proverb, but Court Logic hath proved it so frequently true, that it may be related without suspicion of blasphemy, In nomine Domini incipit omne malum; When the Devil transforms himself into an Angel of light, to make his delusion currant, he is necessitated to use such language: For which cause our blessed Saviour adviseth us to be Wise as Serpents, lest we be beguiled by their subtle glozing dissimulations.  
But as the Apostle saith in another case, If an Angel from heaven preach any other doctrine, let him be accursed. So in this case, if any though in the shape of an Angel of light, of strength, of powers, or dominations, shall endeavour, by any means whatsoever, to divide you from those you have chosen, either in affection, or assistance, you are to hold them for the most accursed Traitors that ever trod upon English ground, and to use all lawful means to bring them to condign punishment; being well assured, that whatsoever is pretended; the intent can be no other than to extirpate for ever the foundation of the freedom and safety of the people: which once done, a ready way is made for any thing that can make a people wretched and miserable, without hope of remedy.  
And therefore be advised in time, before you are engaged too fare, and be confident, those inconveniences you have fancied to yourselves (and wherein you are like enough to be mistaken) if they should indeed prove real ones, yet were you better to have patience, and by loving discourses and prudent means endeavour to work a better information, (which time may produce, as by experience in yourselves you cannot but know) rather than through impatience and violent importunity, to cast yourselves upon a remedy that must necessarily be destructive to the whole people of the Land: For once suppose or admit that any (pretending whatsoever, piety or authority) may more properly judge of Law (or religion so far as concerns the public) or give interpretation of oaths or covenants, or treaties or transactions, or any thing which is of public concernment, than those whom the people have chosen▪ and farewell common freedom for ever, who ever those are you would so prefer, as far as in you is, in so admitting or supposing, you betray the great freedom of the Nation, and set Masters over the Parliament, than which there can be no greater Treason.  
Be not flattered and deluded out of your Birthright: Consider, what ever you are, you are but apart of the whole people, it is impossible that you can give the sense and mind of all the Commons of England: Nay, if you could, it is not lawful for you to do it otherwise then by a becoming information, and to rest satisfied when you have so done: You are not entrusted by the people, you are not Chosen to that end: But this just Authority is a power chosen, and entrusted; and you are to know, that they are absolutely Free to follow the dictat of their own Understandings and Consciences, informed by the word of God, by principles of right Reason, and all other good means, as is most probable to conduce to the safety and weal of the People; which they lately and worthily have declared to be the end of the Primitive Institution of all Government.  
Whosoever shall tell you, that either themselves or any others, will ever do you more good than those you have chosen; make no scruple to own them for deceivers, that Absalon like, kiss, and woo you, of purpose to enslave you.  
What though some things may not be done so perfectly, or so inexcusably as you could wish: Consider, they are but men, subject to the same passions and infirmities as yourselves; they are not like some ancient Fraudulent great Counsels, that have maintained the Canons and Decrees thereof to be infallible: Nay, they are so fare from such delusion, that they have many times altered their own Orders, Ordinances, and Acts, upon further or better information, and do not refuse, nor reject Petitions and informations duly offered by any peaceable Persons, few, or many, and as readily follow the advices of others (which they approve) as their own immediate apprehensions and Counsels.  
And as a sure testimony of their faithfulness and sincerity; do but seriously consider, how exceedingly God hath blessed them, viz. with the affections of the people; with power and strength in the field, with deliverance from many most desperate Plots, and out of many sore and difficult exigents, that their enemies have been as Chaff before their Armies: What force hath been to mighty, or place to strong for their Achievement? And now, that they have all, as it were in their own command (by the same good providence of God) would you now because they cannot please you in every particular, except they shall go against their own Consciences, gladly see them trodden upon and brought under: Surely, if you would but open your eyes, you could not but see; that the hand of God is still with them, and will not be shortened: He hath already brought low the Mighty, and reproved, vanquished even Kings for their sakes, and for theirs whom they represent: And do You now Think that Any shall be able to lay their honour in the dust? You cannot certainly be many, that have been thus blinded or deluded: Nor can you possibly long continue in so bad a mind. A little consideration must necessarily change your minds, and God, I trust, will prevent you with his converting grace, and will not suffer you to be tempted above your power. However, this is most visible to all considerate men, that there are multitudes of honest Religious people, that remain immaculate in their affections to this Honourable Parliament, and are truly thankful for their unwearied labours, in recovery of the long lost Liberties of this great Nation, and stand firmly resolved to maintain and defend with their lives and estates, their just power and privileges against all opposition, circumvention, or delusion whatsoever: And those who shall cease to do this, through any conceived cause or provocation, they shall esteem them the most treacherous upon earth, and not worthy the name of true Englishmen, or Christians.  
This, by general discourse and observavation, is found to be a known truth; and therefore, it is earnestly hoped, the Honourable Parliament will no whit abate of their resolutions, to make this Nation absolutely free and happy, notwithstanding the manifold new discoveries of strange Apparitions, if they but please to consider seriously the true Englishmans temper▪ they will find, they have multitudes more with them then against them; and that in times to come this shall be an English proverb, As certain to perish, as those that openly oppose, or would secretly undermine a Parliament.  
FINIS.