A Letter to a friend in the country concerning the prorogation of the Parliament on Munday Jan. the 10th, 1680/81

A LETTER to a Friend in the COUNTRY, Concerning the Prorogation of the PARLIAMENT, On Munday Jan. the 10th 1680/81.

SIR,

HEaring the dismal news of the Parliaments Proroga∣tion much to my amazement, together with many others; especially considering the hazardous case of the Na∣tion, and the stupendious Fears possessing the minds of the People, which by this Transaction are much aggravated, but the way to a calm is thorough Tempests: Truly Sir, It can't be imagined otherwise, then that the dissolution of the last Parliament was much to the loss and detriment of the Popish interest; this being very much cleared from the dross of unbyassed interest and principles of selve-love giv∣ing motion to selfish ends. For Sir, It can't be denied but that amongst this last were many brave men of Estates, who endeavoured to maintain the Protestant Cause with dis-interessed Affections; As also to their utmost, bended their forces against the Roman Catholick Cause and Inte∣rest, who neither were Worshippers of the Beast, or of his Image. Sir, Pray pardon me, let it be said of them, ad famam perpetuam, that they were men hating Popery, and all the wicked Tenets of the Romish Church, who hold it conformable to the Rules of Sanctity, to Murder others under the Notion of Hereticks, O nefas Infandum! But the Noble Gentlemen of our Parliament proved themselves favourers of the Hereticks, and their Noble Actings make it

evident they were the same sort: And indeed Sir, those who I durst averr (ab imo pectoris) cordially to endeavour the good of both King and Country. But Alas! After their honest endeavours and brisk Actings are now dismissed, but I can't but commend them, they stood it out, even when they were, I will not say, (in punctum mori) and at their last gasp, but perhaps in a fair way thereunto, they breathed out faithful to the Protestant Interest, and so departed; to the trouble of many, what end it may produce is past our knowledge. But the poor City is amazed, and sundry persons you know make sundry constructions, but however the end of all things is with God; and if it be for our good let us be thankful, but if not, let us hope, dabit Deus his quoque finem, they are not for ever, and the designs of our sweet tempered Prince, are nobis ignota, hidden from us: But let what will be our lot, let us endeavour to obtain sub∣mission to the Divine pleasure. And indeed Sir, it's our duty to prepare for what may fall upon us, that we may not say we had no notice: God hath let out his Torch in the Heavens to be an object of the vision of our Eyes, and the serious contemplation and consideration of our minds, but we hope Babylon will fall, but there I desist at present; and so long as these honest and good Representatives were in the exercise of their Parliamentary power, they neither acted like Novices or Cowards, or like men byassed by base selfish interest, but purely for the love of their King & Coun∣try, to whom their Love proved so True and Faithful as to run thorough any difficulty though never so daring. In a Word Sir, they were men (thorough the Divine bene∣diction of Almighty God) spirited for that Work for which they were appointed, and wherein they acted, and that like men, ay and wise men and not fools, but after all comes the heavy news of a Prorogation, but it is for ten days ac∣cording to common report, and in the mean time let us be silent, and chearfully submit, and pray that God would then Graciously be pleased to put it into the heart of our King to let them Re-Assemble, and Sit prosperously to Set up the Protestant Interest, and to ruine the Anti-Christian, which would be to the Comfort of all good Protestants, as also of Sir,

Jan. the 11th. 1680/81.

Your Servant in Willingness.