The advice of that vvorthy commander Sir Ed. Harvvood, collonell written by King Charles his command, upon occasion of the French kings preparation : and presented in his life time by his owne hand to His Maiestie : hitherto being a private manuscript : also a relation of his life and death : whereunto is also annexed divers remarkable instructions written by the late and ever-famous, Earle of Essex : all tending to the securing and fortifying of this kingdome both by sea and land and now seasonably published for the benefit of these times.

The Conclusion.

THus farre are his owne words, and here I inten∣ded to have finished this discourse, but my thoughts prest me to a new taske, and what shall I

say most Noble Lords, and worthy Gentlemen, I will say to you even as Abraham did to God; Seeing, saith hee: I have begunne to speake unto my Lord, that am but dust and ashes, Let not my Lord bee angry, I will speake but this once. Seeing, I have taken upon mee to publish something, that I hope, may tend to the good of our bodies; give mee leave now to adde something, (which I hope) may bee no lesse for the good of soules, and that is this, most Humbly to crave, that you will bee pleased to take to your most wise and grave considerations, that noble and pious worke happily begunne and successefully proceeded in, of the Feoffees for redeeming in im∣propriations, of which body before it was supprest, I was (though unworthy) a member, and therefore can say the more, of which I dare bee bould to say, it was one of the most glorious workes that ever was undertaken in this Kingdome of late yeares, and did more conduce to the spreading abroad of the glorious Gospell of IESVS CHRIST, then any I ever understood of, or heard of. Of which I may truly say, as Solomon of the vertuous Huswife, to those that did contribute to it Many Daughters have done vertuously, but thou surmounts them all. I deny not, but it is good to give to Hospitals, to repairing of Churches, setting up of Free-Schooles, building of Almes-houses and the like; But I have ever thought such as concerne soules, to bee as farre above them, as the soule is above the body.

This Pious Worke it was well approved by his Majesty, as we were informed, at our first taking of ••t; And I am sure of all the best Subjects, onely the

Diotrephes, that Saint Iohn speakes of, (That love Prehe∣minence, and thrust their Brethren out of the Church) the Prelates of our time, that never did further, but ever hinder any good Worke that tended to the ad∣vancement of the Gospell of Christ, if it did not Comply with their ambitions. But of them I will say no more, (you have said so much, and so wel.) But for this Pious worke I dare be bound to say, if it had continued, and not beene supprest, by their meanes, That by this time most of the Impropriati∣ons of this Kingdome had beene brought in, and laid unto the Church againe. A worke fit for such an Age as this, that hath enjoyed the Gospell so long, to have propagated it to the darke corners of this Kingdome, and this to be effected and done, not by a forced and strained exaction, but by a free and wil∣ling contribution of such as understand the nature of it, and saw the present good fruits and effect of it, which adde much to the glory of it. The Con∣tributions at first were very incouraging, and some underwrit yearely good summes, others to every im∣propriation we brought certaine summes; but to∣wards the time of our unhappy dissolution the con∣tribution grew much greater; for, not a weeke be∣fore we were supprest, a Lady, yet living, sent us word, shee would give a thousand pounds presently to the furtherance of the Worke, and many wills have since beene altered that we heard off, that gave brave proportions to it. I never heard of, nor can yet see any such way to spread the Gospell to the remote and blind corners of this Kingdome, neither can we, for ought I know, ever hope to see Popery quelled,

till a godly painfull Ministry be established, and that will never be, till competent meanes bee provided: both these had been effected, and the effects in time, would have manifested what I have said, and the benefit thereof would not onely have extended to the Church, but also to the Common-wealth; for where a good Ministery is placed in a Towne, there idlenesse will be abolished, the poore and impotent children, and vagrant set on worke, and His Majesty have gained true and loyall Subjects, such as he may repose himselfe in their loves and fidelities. Its the glory of our Religion, it was never stained with those hellish Plots, Massacres, and Treacheries against their Soveraigne; and if ever Popery bee put downe to purpose, it must be by the meanes of establishment of a powerfull Ministry; then shall we see Satan fall downe like Lightning, It must be the breath of the Lord that must abolish the man of Sinne. I deny not but good Lawes doe well, but what through favour, conniving, and want of execution, we dayly see they have not such good effect, as were to be wished: that I am confident, it must be the powerfull consciona∣ble Preaching Ministery of the Gospell, that must especially effect it, and to procure that, nothing wil more conduce, then a full, free, and plentifull provi∣sion for the Dispencers of it, and not for such as doe least to have most. The Lord in mercy direct you, blesse and prosper your proceedings, and in his good time, give us to enjoy the happy fruits and effects of your great, long, and unwearied Paines.

FINIS.