A Looking-Glasse for Statesmen, Wherein they may clearly see the reward of their several Actings.  
 a group of men, labelled Daniell, Moses, Joseph, Sidrack, Meshack, Abednego, Mordecai, and Nehemia  two arms appearing out of the clouds 
יהוה   five men, each being executed in a different way, labelled Haman, Saull, Strauford, Achitophel, and Laud  
THe several Actings of men when formed, proceed from one of these two Principles; either from Divine wisdom, or human Prudence, and sometimes from both: Now when Divine wisdom doth act singly, and alone, it oftentimes( by the prudential) is judged weakness or folly, but the conclusion is always in Honour, Peace, and Safety: human Prudence, when it relateth simply to the Actor, and not to the prejudice of another, is of great use to the owner; as when to eat, when to drink, to work, to sleep, to wake, to buy, to sell, to mary, or give in marriage: in any of these, or the like, it is an ornament of great price, when rightly managed: But when it lays about it to compass designs for itself, that tendeth to the hurt of another, it proveth most pernicious and destructive unto the Actor, to whom it promiseth great honour, and full content●●: As by these following examples on your right hand, doth manifestly appear.  
●●e lascivious Courtier doth laugh at the sillie chastity of Joseph,( as he accounts it) to re●●●se such a favour from his mistress as he did, but being only acted by Divine wisdom, conclusion be a sufficient ground for us to beware how we trespass upon divine Justice.  
MOses had little reason to slight such an Inheritance as the Crown of Egypt, for a reversion of Honour, amongst poor Captive Bondmen.  
DAniel might very prudently have shut his windows, and so have saved himself from the lions den.  
MOrdecai might have allowed Haman his Negative Voice in State business, and cut him a Congee with a bended Knee, rather then expose himself, and the Nation to a Halter.  
●Hidrach, Meshack, and Abednego, might have clawed the King by the Elbow, and have  told him that he was supreme Head and governor, over all Persons, and all Causes, might by his Prerogative frame them any Religion to worship God by; and not have expo-themselves to the fury of the Furnace.  
NEhemiah might have Voted as the Courtiers did, and needed not to have looked thin upon the matter, because his Bretheren were not fully delivered from their thraldom, ●●r being in favour with the King, he might easily have gotten twenty hundred pounds a year 〈◇〉 Him, and His Heires for ever, and suffered the Poor Commons to shift for themselves.  
ONe President more, but of a different kind, that in this acted by human Prudence, and is proper to be ranked in the other page.; but that his Motto is, nevertheless his heart is upright in all things, save in the matter of Uriah: DAVID, when he had commit●… folly with Vriah's wife, to cover his baseness, began to act prudentially; and therefore sent uriah to come to Court, where he is kindly entertained, and made much of; and seeing his ●… airy March will not prevail with him to be a cloak to the Design in hand, it is likely that ●… odd liquour will enliven his Spirits to be Cornuted: But seeing this will not take; Prudence● rcheth forth unto blood, and Uriah is slain: Now David acts to some purpose: A great ●… urning is celebrated for worthy uriah; and because his lame Soldiers should not beg in the ●… ts, nor the widows of the slain Commanders wait at the Parliament door for relief; ●… s sent for and made his wife: And that his great love unto uriah might more clearly ap●… see, how he that formerly had slain a bear, and a lion, is worse then either, unto the ●… nites, who it is probable had Artickled with Joab for the surrender of the City upon 〈…〉 yet because they had slain in battle, a valiant Captain whom he so dearly loved, they ●… e of unheard of cruelty in could blood. Now see what follows: The next news we of, Amnon his son, defileth Tamar his sister; Absolom his darling son, murders his bro●… Amnon: A spirit of Stupidity possessed David, so that Justice is neglected, and having ●… g Guard thought himself secure: Absolom hath gotten the Throne: When restored, ●… k in battle that Abishai must sucour him: His Bed was turned into a quagmire; the ●… n his Bones made him roar; his moisture was like the Drought in Summer, and being ●… ty yeares old must have a Virgin to keep him warm: A dear bought Bargain. No ●… n will by human Prudence be advised to shun shane at so dear a rate; for had ●… ure mercies of God extended unto David, and kept him, he might have perished, as  
WHen King Saul was dethroned by Samuel, and David his Son in law was exalted, he might have had honourable quarter from him during his life; for David thought it honour enough to be his Armour-bearer, and take Orders from him: But when the women in their Songs gave David their praises ten for one, then Saul begins to Act prudentially: Nothing will satisfy blood-thirsty Saul, but the life of David, though sometime his integrity did force from him an abundance of hypocritical tears: but note his conclusion.  
A Chitophel was in his Generation never accounted of as a Fool, or a Thin-Pate, but tis said of him, that his councils were so infallible, as the Oracles of God; and therefore says David, Except thou go back, and destroy the good council of Achitophei we cannot be safe: And you may see, had it been followed, how dangerous it was. Now this man, so infallibly wise, and also a professor formerly of Godliness, as David witnesseth, We took sweet council together in the House of God, we eat bread as familiar friends, that thou sh●uldest lift up the Heel against me, is intolerable: That this man, so quallifyed, should by human Prudence put in for a share in so horrid a Treachery, and forget so good a Master, in giving such dangerous council, and taking up such bloody resolutions against the person of his Lord; were it recorded in profane history, would hardly be believed; but behold his Figure: he had so much honesty left him, as to save the Hangman a labour.  
HAman came short of no man in his time, but the King only: He wanted neither power, wealth, favour, nor council, to accomplish his designs, and complete his Honour but only to suppling the sinews of Mordecaies stiff knees, which would not bend before him: He now consults with his council how to quit himself of the whole Rabble of those Agitating Jews: mark well the end of his Tragedy.  
LAud, we well remember was on his Mountain so strong, that he was in his thoughts unmovable; and up make himself sure, sent the Dr●●●mer to Tyburn; but before the flesh was off his Bones, himself had a receipt from the same chirurgeon.  
unmovable Strafford, who wanted nothing to secure greatness, but goodness, was unexpectedly thrown off his mountain, notwithstanding his Martiall power over the lives of men that stood in his way.  
THese few examples I have drawn forth before your view( honourable Statesmen) And if you think it wisdom to trade in human Prudence, to the prejudice of others, the best pennieworth that you can expect in this Market, you may find in David; and if you like it, much good do you: but unless with him you water your Couch with tears, your portion is in this page.. For here stands the Case: when men have formed an Action, that will not hold weight at the beam of Justice; Divine wisdom being the Judge, if the action relate unto the prejudice of another, Divine Vengeance sendeth its Warrant unto Divine Justice, to Attach the person Delinquent, and no bail to be taken, but an Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth, and he that sheddeth mans blood by colour of Law, as did Ahab by the council of Jezabel, and Laud in our dayes, shall surely speed as they did: And say not in yourselves wee see their errors and will shun them, by standing on their shoulders,( so you may now their Heads are off) and we will accomplish our designs we have projected: Be not deceived ye great Ones, whom God beholds, God is not mocked, look what you sow in the furrows of Iniquity, you shall be sure to reap in the Crop of Vanity: But if you Plow by the Rule of Divine wisdom and Justice, you shall reap Honour and Peace that is immortal, immutable, and glorious: Therefore cease to do evil, learn to do well, seek judgement, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless,, pled for the Widow, set the Prisoner free, and then you shall not have cause to fear the face of man, or dread the malice of your adversaries.   

Printed for I. H. in the year 1648.