A speech to the people, or, A briefe and reall discovery of the unhappy estate of these most distracted times with a necessary caution to all good subjects / vvritten by T. I. gent. ...

A SPEECH TO THE PEOPLE.

MIserable and most deplo∣rable is the unhappy e∣state and condition of these our present times: And as if Gods vengeance did not fall fast enough upon our heads for our e∣normous crying sinnes, whilest the Almighty speaks peace and plenty unto us, out of the abundance of his rich and most unparallel'd goodnesse: Wee as if wee had surfeted with too much plenty and happinesse,

while God smites us not, goe about to smite each other. What can then be expected, without hea∣ven avert the judgement, convert and turne our hearts unto him, but that our long enjoyed peace should be turned into a present doubtfull War, and our happy plenty into an unhappy penury and want.

Who is so blind, as not to fore-see these things at hand? And yet good God, most of us, as if our senses were become even stupid and senslesse, seek not the right way to cause the Almighty to avert these imminent and impendent dangers from falling on us: or I wish I might not more truly say, from suffering our selves to fall into them: For what could the Almighty have done more for Israel then he hath done for us▪ Have not we for many yeares under religious Princes, (the memory of all which ought ever to be plea∣sant unto us, and cause us out of a just and due gratitude to be ever thankfull unto God) long and happily enjoyed both peace and plenty, flowing, I had almost said even overflowing with the sacred Word of God, as Manna sent from above to feed our hungry soules; flowing again I say with all rich variety of plenty and delight, to afford happy solace and sustentation to our naturall bodies.

And since our good God will not out of his unfathom'd mercie take them from us, doe not we I feare (I appeale to every ones conscience)

betake our selves to such courses as will soon, yea doubtlesse too soone deprive us of them; for with horrour (deare Countrymen of soule I speak it, how much is the King of Heaven and his A∣n••••n••ed our dread Soveraigne here on Earth both at one time neglected? how much and how scorn∣fully are sacred Functions and places Prophaned and vilified? how much in a word are the known Lawes of this our Nation most strangely, either wrested, misconstrued or impugned? But no wonder if the Law of GOD which ought to be written in Golden Letters in the tables of our Hearts be so much disregarded, so much dise∣steemed, if mans Law be no more reputed, so much contemned. Feare God and honour the King, is the King of Heavens counsell, and how can wee imagine or rather justly assure our selves, that we can give Caesar a due honour, when as our tongues as well as our actions, well scanned, and with a vigilant eye being pryed into, con∣vince us, that we do not cordially and really feare, love, honour, & obey that great Caesar of Caesars.

O therefore if we would have all things to go well with us (as many fearfull curses fall on his head, who would not) let us make in the first place our atonement and peace with God, that the God of true peace may send his peace to reign amongst us, and this is the speediest and happiest way to avert the Almighties Judgement from falling on us, and to cause his mercies as formerly

they have done, to flow more powerfully upon us, for mistake not deere Countreymen, For the feare of God is the beginning of wisdome, as saith Kingly Solomon; and I too much feare this feare is not as yet engrafted in our hearts, nay rather I feare it, not at all; for did we truly feare God, wee should be afraid (and justly too) to violate his most just and sacred Law. And you know beloved, I wish you would also practice what you know, 'tis his expresse charge and command, Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars, honour to whom honour belongeth, and shall any Mandate from any inferi∣our power, cause any of us to violate the Man∣date of heaven it selfe? me thinkes I heare you all say, as being of one minde with one voice, (justly indeede astonished and amazed) God forbid. O then why contemne ye the power of your Caesar? and is not this too frequently by too many of us daily practised? Truly if ever there were a Prince on earth after Gods own heart, such is our religi∣ous King CHARLES, as unparaled for his life as he is for his vertues, and what madnesse then were it for us (I say for us) because without wee will consent to our own undoing, heaven as it seemes is vnwilling to deprive us of these his un∣esteimable blessings (I meane peace and plenty) so long, so happily continued amongst us, as if our good King had nothing else but love and mercie lodging in his royall heart, how hath he wooed us to continue in this our peace? first then acknow∣ledging

our own unworthinesse, Let us make our peace with God, and in the next place, not onely remember, but execute Gods Command, by giving unto Caesar the things that are Caesars, Honour to whom honour belongeth: Thus you shall bring true honour to your selves, whilst you give a due honour to God and the King, and become so many happy instruments, next under God, to settle a firme and most happie peace in these his Majesties Dominions, your native soile and his once (I would I could but say, and still justly say) most flourishing Kingdome. And I beseech him who ruleth the heart of Kings as it best pleaseth him, so to rule the hearts both of him and you all, that his holy law, may be the holy rule by which you may al square all your actions, so shall God be honoured by you, and in a due obedience to his just and imperial commands, our pious and most religious King CHARLES, bee unani∣mously and chearfully obeyed, and if it bee thy heavenly will Lord say Amen, both for thy owne sake, for thy servant our dread Soveraignes sake, for his illustrious Consort, and all their royall off∣springs sake, and lastly for al good peoples sake, who humbly and heartily implore this great mer∣cie from thee.

FINIS.