A Seasonable Word to the Parliament Men

A Seasonable word for the Parliament-men to take with them when they go into the House.

WHat hath God done? As your Sitting again is by a Wonderful hand of Providence; so doubtless, the effect (whatever it be) will speak out to the Nation something more then ordinary. Though I cannot say what it will be, yet with some confidence I dare say, the Lord by you, either intends to heal the great Breaches of this miserable Nation, and thereby make your Memories blessed; or, to bring us yet lower, and make our Wounds greater and deeper, and that by you. However things fall out, I worship God with my Soul, that I have lived to see this late Revolution, and that there is a door open to me, to speak soberly and humbly once more to You: I say once more, for Truth and Righteousness, and for the Interest of Christ and his People.

I need not tell you (for my mind gives me, You are very sensible of it) never were more eyes upon men then are now upon you; and Your Motions will be narrowly looked into, both by friends and foes: you cannot halt nor turn to the right hand nor to the left, but one or other will spy it presently. It was a good saying of David, Let integrity and uprightness preserve me. Verily, (Sirs) it is honesty, and doing just things that must keep you, for nothing else will do it: and the neglect of this, was the cause, why others lately were laid aside, and nothing remains of them (among the faithful of the Land) but the infamous memory of their falsehood and hypocrisy. And no marvel, for they were like the Dogs set in Capitolio, to fray away thieves by night, who left the thieves, and fell to bark at true men walking by day. It is well known under the Last Government of a Single Person, very few, except Turncoats and Time-servers, (Virtutem qui verba putant, ut lucum ligna, as Horace speaketh) Men of corrupt minds, who suppose that gain is godliness: I say, except such as would make shipwreck of faith and a good Conscience, few else had either countenance or safety. But that snare is broken, and we are escaped.

To You therefore that are now sitting at the Helm of this Commonwealth, I do desire (without giving flattering Titles) to propound a few things.

1. In the fear of God, give me leave to remind You, what were the Great and General Complaints of people against the Long Parliament. I shall not engage as to the truth of the Reports, but only tell you what was commonly said.

1. That there was a preferring of unworthy men unto places of greatest trust and profit; Relations and other worldly respects swayed more then due qualifications: and hence grew up (a while after) such a generation of men, as filled the Land with violence and oppression; so that there was nothing but a great cry everywhere: yea, it is said, since a Stop was put to that Parliament, none have been more active and forward to exercise an Arbitrary power over the good People of the Nation, then the persons whom they prefer'd.

2. The Report went, that some of that Parliament more endeavored to enrich themselves by Delinquents Estates, then to be any ways useful or serviceable for the public good of the Nation. It was Isaac 's question to Jacob, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly my son? If it be true, that in a few years some got a thousand pound per annum, others fifteen hundred, some two thousand, it was quickly gotten.

3. Another General Complaint, was, their taking little heed to their Promises. As the Domestic servants of the late King were wont to say, They could not depend on his Promises, nor believe what he said. I shall conclude nothing here; but certain it is, the Complaint was general, that they would give their friends fair words and large promises, but never mind their Cause, though they were quite undone by it.

I shall not enlarge upon those particulars; for my scope and purpose is not to discover any man's nakedness, but to prevent (what I can) future miscarriages. Truly, my desire and prayer to God is, that this Parliament may do worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem. Only let me tell You, if some men, who for betraying the just Rights of their Country (had they their deserts) ought to he punished, should they notwithstanding be trusted again with the places and power they had, it will very much sadden the hearts of your true friends, and they will have the less hope to see much good done by you.

Sirs, As for good men, and such as will faithfully serve you and their Country, it is below their Principles to be running after you for places; such a practice suits not with their spirits, but with a sort of servile mercenary fellows, that will hire out themselves to do anything for their belly. And therefore I do beseech You, for God's sake, and for your Countries sake, and for the Good Old Cause sake, take heed how you do put such persons into places, who (betraying their trust) sought to betray the Commonwealth.

Secondly, As you are sensible of the grievances of the people, and will endeavor (I hope) to remove them, as you are able: So it is desired and expected by the Godly, that you will be mindful of the great reproach which hath lay'n these 5 or six years upon the Name of God, and the holy profession of the Gospel. It will be little comfort to many of your friends, to see the Civil Rights and Liberties of the people restored, and nothing done to the vindication of God's glory, which hath suffered so much through the Late Apostasy.

3. It will be now your wisdom, seriously to heed what the Lord hath signally owned, and wonderfully upheld in spite of all opposition; I say, what the Gates of Hell have been against, but could not prevail. Again, on the other hand, observe where his public rebukes have been, and what that Power and Policy is, which the Lord from Heaven hath cursed: and take heed you be not gathering where God is scattering, not designing against THAT upon which he hath engraven, GRACE, GRACE. A word is enough to the wise.

4. Whereas the Army of late hath declared for the Good Old Cause, & many thousands in and about this City and elsewhere, have engaged by their Application to the General Council of the Officers of the Army, to stand with them in the prosecution thereof: I humbly offer to your consideration, Seeing it hath pleased God to put you again into a capacity for the carrying on of the Lord's work, Whether it may not be necessary, that something also be declared by you in reference to the said Good Old Cause (if you really intend to carry it on) so that it may be known far and near, what a happy accord there is between the Parliament, Army, and the Good people of the Nation, and how former divisions and breaches are healed. But,

5. Give me leave to tell you of the Spirit of God now raised higher in the hearts of his Saints, for the Interest of Christ and his People, then it was at your former sitting. And it is such a Spirit, that many waters cannot quench it, neither can the floods drown it; it is a Spirit that will not close with any corrupt Interest, neither be silent if men take unrighteous courses. O. P. knew this well enough: for though he gained upon other men, and turned the Nations upside down, and brake Parliaments at his pleasure, yet still this Spirit got ground of him, and the more he wrestled and strove against it, the more it grew and prospered.

True it is, You need not question but to have Followers enough, what way soever you lead; there are Lawyers, Priests, Courtiers, Triers, Office or place-Beggers, &c. that are for any change, like Gnato in Terence, Ais, aio; neges, nego: If you say it is thus, so do I; if you say nay, so do I. Mutor pro ration temporis, as one said; such who the other day defied a Commonwealth, and gave it under their hands, that they would fight against it, will now crouch to you for a morsel of bread. But there are people which fear God more then men, and will not be partakers of other men's sins; these were they, who in the strength of the Lord, held forth a public Testimony against the Apostasy, and kept alive the Good Old Cause; yea, let me tell you, You had not sat where you now do, if the Spirit of God in these men had not shaken the very foundation of the last Government.

6. I should not be faithful, either to God, or to you, or to my own Soul, if I did not call upon you, to give Jesus Christ his RIGHTS. Indeed, this should be more minded of you then the Civil Rights of the People: God hath made him both Lord and Christ; not only King of Saints, but King of Nations; and all the Kingdoms of the world shall be his, and he the ONELY POTENTATE. It is true, this Stone hitherto the Masterbuilders have rejected, and hence God hath destroyed the work of their hands one after another. How far you are enlightened concerning the visible and glorious Kingdom of Jesus Christ, I know not; but this is certain, if you honor him, he will honor you; and if you make it your work to prepare the way for him, he will protect you against all men, and make you a blessing to the Nation.

The Army before their declension eminently declared for Jesus Christ, and THIS THEN was the chief part of the Good Old Cause, viz. NO KING BUT JESUS; his Kingdom, Laws, People, &c. was THEN the Good Old Cause, and they thought themselves to be the Army of the Lamb, his sanctified ones, and the Lord's mighty Host to pour out vengeance upon Babylon; they have promised once more before God, Angels, and men, to maintain the Good Old Cause, and they have told us what they mean by it, namely, No King but Jesus. Now let them take heed, for God will not be mocked, and it is a fearful thing to fall into his hands.

7. I might likewise remind you of the breaking the Long Parliament: I confess as things have appeared since, we have cause to think, he who did it, sought only himself, and not God's glory, nor the Public interest of the People. Nevertheless, looking beyond men, we shall see a righteous God who loveth righteousness; and doubtless, the only wise God would not have had it so, but for some good end. And why (among other ends) may not this be one; namely, by such a way and means, to purge out your dross and tin, and to make you the more meet for the masters use?

I have but one word more, & it is to tell you what God is now doing in the Assemblies and great Councils of men; namely, more visibly cursing the craft of subtle men, and more sensibly blessing plain and honest dealing then formerly. So that this I dare say (and could wish it were written on the walls of Your House) Politicians by their cunning tricks, and brain-working, some years past, might have expected to speed better, and their deep designs to stand longer, then they will do now. For as the Lord is now bringing in Truth and Righteousness to the Nations, so the sincere and upright doings of plain Jacob's and Nathaniel's shall stand, whilst the deep workings of Ahithophel's and Machiavels shall fall, as Dagon did before the Ark.