SOme Virtuoso's of the Heathen World, who were puzzl'd at the unequal distribution of Things, resolv'd the events of this Life into meer Chance, or a Fortuitous concourse of second Causes: Others of them more Studious, and so more refin'd, attributed the good or bad success of Human Affairs, to the swinge of a fatal necessity; some look'd no higher than to the Will, Conduct, Liberty and Wisdom of Man, as the great disposer of our Con∣cerns: But those of greater perspicacy, and more ele∣vated reason, referred the accomplishments or frustra∣tion of Mens Designs to a higher Hand, * even Divine Providence, which they meant under the various shapes and Names, the Vanity of some, the Igno∣rance of others, or the Superstition of a third Party gave it: And we, who have a more sure word of Prophecy, a clearer Light, and a surer guide, revere as the sole Arbitrator of the Emergencies and Trans∣actions of this World, that superintends all our Actions and Contrivances, sometimes prospering the most unlikely, sometimes defeating the most pro∣mising, attempts, even those which have wind and tide, (so to speak) a concatenation of all necessary Causes, a concurrence of all probable Circumstances, to make them Auspicious, and Crown them with successful Issues: To convince us all, * That the way Page  2of man is not in himself, that it is not in him to direct his steps. And though Man proposeth, yet it is God disposeth, a clear instance of which, we have in this Psalm, and more particularly in our Text, Yet have I set, &c.

This Psalm, as many others, represents to us mysti∣cally the Success of Christ's Kingdom, and the secu∣rity of his Throne, maugre all the opposition of Men and Devils; but literally David's establishment in his Regal Office, and Royalty; after all his Troubles, in despight of all the Difficulties which lay in his way; and how fitly applyable to our Sovereign's advance∣ment will anon appear.

I will at this occasion confine my self to the Literal Importance of the Text, and consider from it: First, The peculiar Interest God claimes to himself in the Setlement of Kingly Government. I have set my King. Secondly, The Wise and Powerful Conduct of Divine Providence in making good his special Care of Kings, and bringing about their Settlement, not∣withstanding the Rage and Malice, the Power and Plots of Enemies, whether the Contrivances, Wits, or Conspiracies of Grandees: Whether the Fury of an Heady Multitude, or vain Madness of Popular Facti∣on; all which is express'd, or couch'd in the preced∣ing Verses, recapitulated and wrapt in this short ad∣versative Particle, Yet; Which how small soever it appear to you, is very Emphatick: The Filings of Gold are precious, and so are the least Expressions of Divine Writ: As we hang great weights on small Pins, and set large Wheels on work by little Springs, so, much is included in this small Syllable Yet; That is, Maugre all the rage of the Heathen, and the vain Imagination of the People, in despight of the Power of Adversary Princes, and the Policy of Rulers: I Page  3have accomplish'd my Purpose, and consummated my Work, Yet have I set my King, &c. I have laugh∣ed at their close-lay'd Projects, and derided their Coun∣sel, I have blasted their Attempts with the breath of my wrath: I have quell'd their force, and broken their Bands; I have master'd their Power, and daunted their Courage, and own'd my Anointed: And instead of their breaking our Bands, or casting away our Cords, I have broken them with an Iron Mace, and crush'd them as a Potter's Vessel; So much is imported in this Yet, Yet have I set my King, &c.

As to the First, The peculiar concern God takes for Kingly Government: The general Providence of God is conspicuous in the Order and Variety, the Beauty and Harmony, the Diversity, yet Uniformity, ob∣servable in the frame of Nature: The Universe is no greater Monument of his Power, than 'tis a Mir∣rour of his Providence: But his special Providence sig∣nalizes it self in the Care of Kings, and Fate of King∣doms; in disposal of Crowns, and conferring of Scepters, in the mighty Revolutions of Government: As it is a great Diminution of the Reverence we owe the Deity, to ascribe every petty Chance, every trifling Emergent to a special Surveyance; so not to range the Momentous transactions of the Lives of publick Persons under his peculiar Inspection, not to attribute the signal Benedictions of Nations to his Conduct, is Prophaneness or a piece of Presumptuous negligence. Well then may God claim a peculiar Interest in the establishment of Regal Authority so beneficial to Mankind, and advantagious to Christian Society. Kings are the chiefest Objects of Gods choicest Care, whom he tenders with more than ordinary Affection; It is he that advances them to their Thrones and estab∣lishes them thereon: This appears, *

1. * From the Divine Institution of this kind of Go∣vernment, God says, By me Kings reigne, and Princes decree Justice: Whatever Phanaticks or Republicans say, Kings derive their Authority from a higher Foun∣tain than the People, they have their Commission from Heaven, are God's Delegates, and Vice-gerents, not the Creatures of the multitude: And as Monar∣chy hath its Original from God, who settled this Model amongst his own peculiar People; so it carries more lively Vestigies of his Government of the World, than any other: Hence it is God communicates his Name, as well as Power to * Kings: * Iraeneus tells, Kings are constituted by the very same Authority and Command, by which Men are made and born, for the benefit of them over whom they exercise Jurisdiction: Kingly Govern∣ment is no human Invention, for modelling the World into Order, no politick Contrivance for Dis∣ciplining mankind into Society: Much-lefs, an Arti∣fice to gratify the Ambition of any who would va∣pour it in Pomp and Splendor: No, its Pedigree may be traced higher; it brings its extraction from Hea∣ven and the state of Innocency will not exclude it.

The general custom of Nations in owning and re∣taining this form, speaks out its Divinity, and the pe∣culiar Interest of Providence in maintaining it; even these Nations, that are not more distant from others in Situation, than they are different in Manners; how wild soever the Soil be, without Culture; how Sa∣vage the People, without Arts, are yet under Monar∣chical Government: This * Universal Harmony is no small Testimony to its Divinity; it must be some Ex∣traordinary Beauty that conquers all Hearts, and sets it Trophies every where; which not only the best Polish'd and Civiliz'd Nations in the World, but even Barbarous Scythians, rude Af∣fricans Page  5and Wild Indians are enamour'd with: It must be Heavenly Manna that can satisfy every Palate, considering the contrary Tempers and dif∣ferent Dispositions of Men. It must needs be more than Human, that is rever'd in the dark Corners of America, as well as in the refin'd parts of Chri∣stendom.

2. The peculiar Interest of Providence in reference to Kingly Government, may be demonstrated from the Proviso's scatter'd up and down his World, for the Security of those entrusted therewith: By which we see the Spirit of God strangely super-intends the Cause of Kings; Moses layes a Bridle on our Ton∣gues, * That we speak no Evil against them; * Solomon will dive deeper, and not so much as allow an Evil Thought, not a Whisper or a Mutter, though in the se∣cretest recess of our Dwellings: The Gospel is no less friendly, St. Peter and St. Jude go further, they con∣clude an inward Despection of them Criminous; sure∣ly if they would have the Tongue curb'd from speak∣ing, the Mouth from muttering, the Mind from con∣ceiving Disloyalty: They would not have the Hands lift up against them in Cruelty and Blood: Jeremiah commands the Jews to pray for the Life of the King of Babylon: St. Paul exhorts Supplications to be made for Nero: Is it likely, they would allow their Subjects to petition them in Tumults, to starve them by Votes of Preclusion, to conspire against their Persons, or bandy against their Authority, to Invade their Terri∣tories with force, and dye Scaffolds with their Blood: No, no, it would extreamly detract from the Divine Wisdom, to establish a Polity, and make such Cau∣tionary Laws for its Safety, and then approve the Se∣ditious Fetches by which some Demagogues would un∣dermine it, or the open Force by which some Saucy Page  6Encroachers would invade it: This were to coun∣ter-act his own Ordinance, and to resemble Charles the V. his Disingenuity, who commanded Publick Prayers to be made for Clement the VII throughout all his Dominions; when by his Authority his Cap∣tains held him Incarcerated.

3. The Preservation of this Model in the World, from its beginning to this very time, notwithstand∣ing of all the attempts of men to break it, or shake it off; is no small indication of God's peculiar concern for it: * He that considers, how that since Lucifer's Fall (who was the first Rebel and Incendiary, let factious Schismaticks and feditious Boutefeaves glory if they can in their common Father,) and Adam's Miscarriage, the whole race of Mankind became Turbulent and Ungovernable: How Contentious are some, and Am∣bitious are others: How Discontented are some, and cunningly Seditious are others, to work on their Tempers: He that considers the Inconstancy of the Populacy, the envy of Powerful Competitors; the Conspiracies of Grandees; the Jealousy of some State-Ministers among themselves, and their Treachery to∣wards their Sovereign: * The Skittishness of People, and the Natural Untowardness that is generally in Men against their Governours: That notwithstand∣ing all this, Monarchy should keep footing in the World: We may conclude, there is more than an ordinary Providence in it, and say in an Extasie, It is the Lord's doing, and is marvellous in our Eyes: It is he that giveth Salvation to Kings, and the Shields of the Earth belong unto God.

4. The special concern of providence in behalf of Kings, appears in the sad and deplorable end of those, who either by open Violence, or secret Treachery, invade their Authority, or disturb their Government: Page  7God will not suffer such violations of his Ordinance to escape signal tokens of his displeasure; nor have there been any sinners more remarkable instances of divine vengeance, nor human justice, than such; witness Corah, and his Confederates; Absolom, and Achitophel; Zimri, and Joab; Sheba, and Amasa; our own Chronicles and Times afford fresh bleeding Examples, of the calamitous fall of some Families, once illustrious, but now levell'd with the ground, with ignominy, and disgrace, as the just reward of their unjust aspiring, and rebellious opposing the Regal Authority, * these perished in the gain-saying of Core: Let all Rebells and Seditious Persons be afraid, since they trace the steps, they'l tast the punishment of such Criminals; Sedition is as odious now as ever, and the Divine Providence as ready to detect, and crush it, as ever.

I will not entertain you with a politick Lecture on Goverment, this is not my province; nor will I so far disparage Monarchy, as to make any Compa∣risons betwixt it and any other Form, being fully assu∣red no other Model has such a stamp of Divine Ap∣probation, a King being the clearest reflection of the Deity upon Earth; nor will I adduce these irrefra∣gable testimonies from the Hero's of the Church, who determined for Kingly Government, in an Age they were shatter'd with its frowns, more than che∣rished with its smiles, and felt its Prosecution more than Protection; nor will I heap up those Elogies, with which the great Masters of human policy have raised it, beyond all saucy competition of in∣feriour Models; only mind you of a pretty simili∣tude of one of the Glories of his Age, the great Nazianzen, who speaking of the necessity of Go∣vernment, and how Rulers are the Vice-gerents and Page  8lively pictures of God; he says, ordinary Magistrates are a contracted Character of God, or his Picture drawn to the neck and shoulders; these above them were his Picture drawn to the middle, but the King was his Portraiture in full length: And for the pre∣ference of Monarchy, i'le assert, it is the most Anci∣ent, the most honourable, the most advantagious to the ends of Government, and happiness of Socie∣ties.

1. Kingly-Government is the most ancient, even as old as the World, and in despight of all the haters of it, with it, and no sooner shall it receive its Fune∣ral; though it may be rationally conceived, the World is near its dissolution, when so considerable a Pillar of its standing, is so barbarously attacked, and rudely inveyed against, by the enemies of all Order; indeed things that fortuitously start up by the policy of some Ages, or the custom of particular Nations, ac∣quire not that Universal Reputation, or perpetual continuance, wherewith Monarchy has, and is like to keep footing in the World. * It is beyond all per∣adventure, all Nations, any way famed for Antiquity, were in subjection to Kingly-Government, the Foun∣dation was laid in Adam, nor did it expire with him, but was entailed on his Eldest Son, who, though short of his Brother Abel in piety, yet did not lose his Su∣periority over him, for it is said, his desire shall be to thee, and thou shalt rule over him. Dominion was not early founded in Grace, according to the whimsey's of the Fifth-Monarchy-Men. It is certain, a Com∣mon-wealth without a King is the natural offspring of Ambition, and the product of a teeming Faction.

2. Kingly-Government is the most honourable; blessed art thou, * O Land, when thy King is the Son of Nobles; upon this score we may vie with all the King∣doms Page  9in the World, none of them can boast such a Se∣ries of Princes, such a Lineal Succession of Kings, in a regular and orderly Descent; what interruption of the Monarchy, what bandying of the Scepter into diffe∣rent Families, without Allyance and Blood interest betwixt them, to the greivous convulsion of the Estate most Kingdoms in Europe have undergone, How short-liv'd has the Royal Power been in some Fami∣lies, like a glazing Meteor or blazing Comet, whilst Ours, by the Divine Blessing, has been a fixed Star, or like the Sun, rather casting the benign influences, to the Elevation of our Nobility, the Cherishing of our Clergy, the Establishment of our Gentry, the Protection of our Commons? We admire a stately Palace for the orderly variety of its parts, and the beauty of its structure, but we so much the more regard and commend it, that it has stood out against wind and weather, and the injury of time, so many Ages. And certainly, since a special providence has through so many successive Generations signaliz'd its care of our Monarchy, to the envy of our Neigh∣bours, and astonishment of our Enemies, and trans∣mitted the Crown in its Right and Lineal Course, to His Head, who now carries it, (who though it were not by inheritance, as it is indisputable, yet were it by merit His Right to wear it,) we may expect no common or ordinary Blessings, from One, to whom the Virtues of those Princely Hero's, are convey'd with their blood.

You of the Nobility, my Illustrious Hearers, may be encouraged here-from, to Submission and Loyalty; You serve a King who is the Son of Nobles, who was Born to command you, and from his very Cradle has an Air of Greatness; Plutarch says, there is a certain Greatness, and innate Gallantry Page  10of Spirit, * in those Descended of worthy Progenitors; such have spirit and courage for Heroick Atchievments, whilst these Terrae Filii, these of obscure exstraction, have a great deal of Copper or Dross mixed with their Ore or Argent, are by Nature destin'd to low or sordid Imploys: You serve no upstart of the Rabble, or creature of the Populace, nor a King by chance, but one who hath all the Majesty of a Prince, and the Gallantry of a Hero. It was the favour of His Predecessors, distinguished yours from their Neigh∣bours, the Dignity of the Subject being a Ray from the Sovereign, as His is a Beam of the Divinity. How can you look on your selves, and these Badges of His favour, by which you are Elevated above o∣thers, and not reflect Honour to the Original of your Grandeur? you should consider, that as the Painter consulted best for perpetuating his memory, when he indented his own Image in Minerva's Picture, that the one could not be erased without defacing the other. There is such an Union betwixt His Majesty and you, that an injury done him reflects as much dishonour as Ingratitude on your selves, and the more the Sovereignty is depressed, the more you will ever be trampled upon; so that it is an equal wonder, a Noble-man should ever be a Traitor, as a Son be∣come a Parricide, or a Wife Murther her Husband.

3. Kingly Government is most accommodated for the safety of the Subject, * and the preser∣vation of Peace and Prosperity in a Nation; the great Bulwark of a Kingdoms Felicity, are in Polybius's Opinion, Concord at home, and Strength against Foreign Invasion: Monarchy prevents the Emulations and Clashings of Subjects for Priority and Power; and so secures the State from Civil Commotions: Page  11And by uniting the Subjectsunder one common Head, it provides best against Foreign Encroach∣ments.

We our selves know, that the short Mis-rule of our late Demagogues produced more mischief to their Nation, than the worst of our Monarchs ever did, when they most out-stretch'd their Power: And there are rare Instances upon Record of any of our Lawful Sovereigns, whose Miscarriages were not more than pre-ponderated by the Advantages of their Govern∣ment: Neither Aristocracy, which is but the Grandees bandying into a Faction; or Democracy, which is a confus'd Popularity rank'd into a Sham-Order, can ever make the Subjects so Unite at Home, or so For∣midable to their Neighbours as Monarchy will make them; upon which account we may safely and firmly conclude, it is best accommodated for the Honour and Strength, for the Safety and Prosperity of a People.

And were it not so, the Divine Providence, which disposes all things by the highest Wisdom, exactest Reason, and profoundest Justice, would not so signal∣ly own it; and this leads me naturally to the second Head: And that is, the Mysterious, Wonderful and Powerful conduct of Providence, in making good his special Care of Kings, and bringing about their Settle∣ment, notwithstanding all opposition to the contrary; all which is included in this adversative Particle, Yet will I set my King, &c.

I see Almighty God, not only Accomplishes his Work, but Magnifies and Extols the same; takes com∣placency in viewing the Parts, in recounting the se∣veral Circumstances that may enhance the same: That it may become at once the Object of his Ene∣mies wonder, and of his own rejoycing; of their Shame, and his Glory: Here in a Holy Triumph, he boasts Page  12that maugre all the rage of the Heathen, maugre all the Power of the Kings of the World, the Policy of the Rulers of the Earth; the Combination of their Asso∣ciates, maugre all their Craft, and Cruelty, maugre their Spight and Strength, he did his work, Yet have I set my King, &c.

Indeed the Divine Providence is conspicuously Tri∣umphant in baffling the Attempts, and conquering the Enemies of Kingly Government, Yet have I set, &c. The Rage and Plots of Gods Adversaries are Illumi∣nating Shades to the Honour of the Victory; and the Glory of the Conquest, he obtains in behalf of his Anointed: O! the Mysterious Conduct of Divine Providence, which sports with the Strength, laughs at the Spight, makes a game of the Policy, and a pastime of the Power of poor Mortals; when levell'd against his Purpose, and over-rules their Counsels and Actings, to further what they intended to defeat: The Provi∣dence of God never appears with greater Lustre, his Oeconomy is never more wonderful, than in Conver∣ting the means of crushing, into occasions of more signal consummating his Work; as here, this magnifies his Wisdom, and exalts his Power, that he may well, like a triumphant Conqueror, brave it over his ma∣ster'd Foes, or like as a Mariner (solaced with the after reflections on the past dangers of his tedious Voyage,) sits down and exults at the whistling of the Wind and the noise of the Waves, when his Ship is securely Harbour'd, and he himself past danger, Yet have I set, &c.

This is our Kings Birth-day, and I know nothing more suitable to this days Solemnity, or the Text, than a few Reflections on some Circumstances rela∣ting to his Advancement to the Throne of His An∣cestors, which may raise our esteem of Gods Wisdom, Page  13and beget some Joy and Satisfaction in Us; in the survey of the Conduct of his Providence in subduing his Foes, we are not only truly Thankful enough, except we expand our Thoughts, and stretch our Fancy to contemplate the several Methods, by which the Factious Party sought to Justle Him from His Right: The viewing these in their just Dimensions, may conduce to the further Magnifying the Wis∣dom, and admiring the Righteousness of God.

God should not lose his Honour, by omitting any remarkable Passage, or by a careless touch or superfi∣cial mentioning of these Stratagems, whereby they sought to cross his Providence, or frustrate his Coun∣cel, in the Opposition they made against the King: And that the Conduct of Providence may appear in its Beauty; let us take a view of those Difficulties which seem'd to obstruct; of these Intricacies which way laid; these Mountains of Opposition which withstood, these Intrigues and Cross actings which were like to Baffle our Soveraign's Ascent to the Throne; let me rip up the various Scenes of the rest∣less Faction, by which they sought, and thought to stop His Passage thereto.

1. The ordinary Prologue to all Mischief, the Em∣brio of Sedition, the Cockatrice Egg of Rebellion; repining Complaints, malicious Murmurings, dis∣contented Whispers; loaden with which, Designing Men sent to the several Corners of the Nation, to alienate their Hearts from the King, that Then, and now is; and dispose them to take Fire against a fit op∣portunity for the common Cumbustion of the King∣dom. The Devil, who himself was the first Rebel, inspires his Followers with cunning, and slight enough to manage his Treasonable Intrigues against Kings: And these Hellish Instruments vent Speeches of doubt∣ful Page  14Construction, that like their Masters Responses may be interpreted either to good or evil Purposes in promiscuous Companies: They make such Insi∣nuations against the Government, with Ifs and Ands, with Winks and Nods, and a thousand Grimaces, with Sighs and Sobs, that some well-meaning People are wheedled to think Them the only Patriots, the best Repairers of our Breaches, the fittest Redressers of our Grievances, and Reformers of our Disorders; If a Happy juncture of Affairs could promote such to bear sway: * Thus Otho by his sligh Hits at Galba, and am∣biguous Expressions concerning him, paved the way to his ruine: O! the pious Regrets, the heavy Sighs, the mournful Complaints these Hypocrites have belch'd out, with lifted-up Eyes and Hands, with mortify'd Looks, but Cruel Hearts for the Oppressions of the Land: And when they have made Tryal of Peoples Tempers, and disposed some by this previous Art to be of their Party, they advance a step further.

2. These hollow Blasts and secret Whispers bluster out in scurrilous Libels, pestiferous Pamphlets, and licentious Invectives; whereby the King is Traduc'd, His Ministers Defam'd, His Government Aspers'd; These are the little Beagles, the Cruel Hunters, the Ring-leaders of the Party, heat and ply the great Beast of many Heads, and few Eyes, and little Brains, (the Populacy with,) before they let go their great Buck∣hounds, or appear with Cannons in the Field: These are light Fore-runners of Fatal Conspiracies and Tra∣gical Events, the ordinary Premises of Rebellion: Ma∣licious Incendiaries will ever find or fancy Matter for Quarrel in the best modell'd Government upon Earth: These who make bold with the Kings Name, will not spare his Person, if a concurrence of advantagious Circumstances fall in to second their Hellish pur∣poses: Page  15When People are shaken from that Reve∣rence to the King's Name and Person, which is no less the Bulwark of their Safety, than it is the Guar∣dian of the Sovereign's Dignity; there is an open door to all Insolent Invasions on his Authority: The Facti∣on, knowing the Empire our Monarchs have in the Hearts of their People, (beyond any other Kings in the World) have ever labour'd by Reproaches and Calumnies to Alienate their Affections from them: This is indeed no new Stratagem of the Party; for as our Saviour says, So Persecuted they the Prophets that were before you: So Maligned they with their Libels and virulent Tongues the former Kings; so did they Slander their Ministers of State, Mis-representing their Actings, and Plotted against their Lives.

3. There is a Damn'd Conspiracy under the Flag of a Sham-Popish-Plot, set on foot, and carried on with such Hellish Artifice, as blinded the Wisdom of the Nation: And the Leaders of the Faction in this out-did their Predecessors, who seem'd to have been but Puny-Pioneers for undermining the Government, in comparison of these Engineers: How far the King was Impos'd upon, and his Parliaments deluded, the Issue (in the sad Executions, which if continu'd, had exhausted some of the Innocent and best Blood of the Nation,) has left upon Record: And if the Wisdom and Courage of his present Majesty had not a wak'ned the King, and the Honest of the Land to look about them, and detected the Cheat; We had been de∣stroy'd before we had apprehended any Danger: It is an old Remark, * Conspiracies against the King and Government are not believ'd till perpetrated: One of the neatest Historians of our Nation, has this Politick Reflection on the Conspiracy against King James I. Which the Universal Benignity of his Nature, being Page  16one of the most Accomplish'd Princes, and best Lov'd by his People in the World, would not suffer his Councel to believe any durst have attempted against so good a Monarch, though yet he perish'd by it: He says, * People believe not any Conjure against his Prince, till they find the Treason take effect; and distrust the Plot till they see him Dead: But the Death of such who are suspected to be Authors of Disorders in a Common∣wealth, spares an infinite number of Lives, and much Civil Blood, when they are first surpriz'd; neither are too strict Circumstances of Law to be observ'd, when a small delay may abolish all observing of Order and Laws: And indeed too much caution is needless, where ne∣cessity requires speed; dilatory Methods against Traytors has diminish'd the Authority of the Mo∣narchy, and given too much time to its Implacable Enemies, to gather strength, and make head against it, to its dissolution.

When Sedition peeps out through the crevis of Pamphlets and Libels, or shews its Horns in Tumults, it is in its Infancy, and may be suppress'd with less expence of Blood and Money: But if it be permitted to commence to its full stature, and break out in a Monstrous Rebellion, the Actors are Burnt with the Flames of their own kindling, and Severity against the Ring-leaders, is the Security of the Throne, and the Safety of the Government.

4. The Party becoming bold, if not impudent with their Success, they'll scorn to deliver their Mind in Slie-insinuations, or ambiguous Phrases: They'll pull off the Mask, they'll quarrel at the Kings Preroga∣tive, limit and curtail it by Votes, Exclude the Righ∣teous Heir, and Starve the King by discharging any to supply Him by Loan, or advance on His own Re∣venue; A Cruelty the meanest of the Nation would Page  17have justly counted intolerable; we may rationally enough conclude, these, who would have famished the King, would have cut his Throat if they could; and these, who would not permit him to improve His own, would never help him with theirs in his extre∣mity. God knows, if the King were of such Mens Dyeting, how slender would His Fare prove, how nigardly His Commons, and sorry His Allow∣ance? He would have been little better than another Lazarus at the Gates of these Diveses, only with this dissimilitude, Dives denied but his own, but these Cormorants, would Judas like carry the Purse, snatch at Crown-Lands, and swallow Bishopricks, but starve their owners, as the Defenders of the Good Old-Cause did before.

Concerning their unmannerly medling with the Kings Prerogative in their Votes, I will only say, if the King had taken advantage of the Offers, which that transport of joy, affection, and zeal, at his Re∣storation, would have inclined his people to make him; (for then we were as men in a dream, as the Psalmist saith, we had such sorrowful Resentments of our petulant encroachment on the Sovereignty, such severe reflections on our Dis-loyalty, that we thought though we parted with all, we could not over-do, or over-act for the Interest of the Monarchy, which we found by the want of it, was the best preservative of our own,) there had not been room now for these Debates anent Prerogative and Priviledges, Ar∣bitrary Government, &c. and what not, which are so Seditiously set on foot, and managed so ma∣lapertly.

I will not rake any further into the proceedings and practises of a strong Party, in the grand Assem∣bly of the Nation, and other Courts, I find them set Page  18out to my hand very lively and justly, * by a neater Pen, who has represented with equal Eloquence and Ingenuity, the devices and pragmatical fetches of the Faction.

I'le only mention one Vote that passed the House, it was, that if any mischief befell the King, be sure the Papists would bear the blame of it, and undergo the punishment, whereby, any Phanatick Mis∣creant might securely prove Regicid, for by this he was sure not to be questioned or quarrelled; poor Innocents, be't to bear the infamy of the Fact, and fall Victims to expiate the guilt of others. The Papists, or any suspected to be so, were marked out to fall as Sacrifices to the cruel Saviours of the Na∣tion; for a slander and suspicion, was suffiient pro∣bation against these or the Kings best friends, when great Degrees of Treason and Sedition in others were minced into Misprision of Treason, little Abor∣rations, and I know not what.

This Vote was much like Nostredamus's Sons Pro∣phecy, who foretold the City on such a day should be burnt, and accordingly set on fire, there want not some who Prophecy the very mischief they intend to perpetrate, there are who even wish these Con∣fusions, they would bear the World in hand, they desire not to come to pass, and by faint speaking a∣gainst slily animate people to these Seditious Me∣thods and Treasonable Practices, they pretend to abo∣minate; they give Life to these dangerous fears, unjust jealousies, and malignant discontents, they seem to harangue and remonstrate against. This is a re∣fined piece of knavery the party has often used, even to wound the Government with such seeming kind, but venemous, Insinuations, and vent their malice in Charities Livery; how like this is to his Hypocri∣sie, Page  19who betrayed our Saviour with a kiss, I leave you to determine.

If it be now questioned, whether the Popish, or Phanatick Party, be most dangerous to the Govern∣ment? or which of these, was the late King, or his present Majesty is in most hazard? To this I say, we all know who acted upon the Father, what was alledged others Plotted and Contrived against the Son; have not our King, our Nobles, our Priests, been dragged to Gibbets, haled to Scaffolds, made Tragical Spectacles of Ignominy and Dis-honour, by the cruel malice of the One, while the other ven∣tured their Lives, and wasted their Fortunes, to serve and save oppressed Majesty, and support the Throne, when it was tottering? Did not some of the Romish Communion cleave to the King in His ex∣tremity, when, Loyalty was a Crime, and Rebel∣lion Triumphant, while the other tack'd about with the Times, stooped to prosperous Villany, and A∣dored the mock-Idol of Tyranny and Oppression, of their own setting up. Have not State-Committies of Safety, and Kirke-Commissions for Reformation, bel∣ched out as cruel Edicts against Mens Persons, Lives, Liberties, Offices, and Estates, and put them in Exe∣cution, with as much severtiy, as ever the Spanish In∣quisition? Have not Home-Conventicles, and Re∣publican-Clubs, sent out sparkes, to the disturbance of the Peace, and the shaking of the Government, these several years, beyond any thing the Romish-Con∣clave was able to effectuate.

If the one twit the Papists with a Jack Clement, who Murthered a King, they'l tell you of a more daring wickedness in Jack Presbyter, who Murthered another, but with some more ceremonious Sanctity, mock-Justice, and such like shameless Circumstances Page  20of damned Hypocrisie: * If you tell them of a Ravilliac, they'l answer, a Rathillat no more resembles the Name, than transcribed the Villany. And now shall we think the Principles of Deposing Kings more Savoury in the Mouths of Phanaticks, than in some Popish-School-men? Shall we think the practice of King-killing and Assassinating Bishops, when it is for Religion, more Hallowed in Schismatical Butchers, than in some Ro∣mish Miscreants? Yet the Actors of these Barbarities, are the Chariots and Horsemen of Israel, the Patrons of Gods Cause, the Precious ones of the Lord, the Saints and Martyrs of the Faction: But if these be the Prime Candidates of Heaven; then Shimei and Rabshakeh, Corah and Judas, and all the men of Belial need not question Assurance.

5. The Faction think not themselves secure with∣out a Covenant; they had experience of the Service∣ableness of this to their Hellish Purposes: This was the Gideon Sword, with which they Thresh'd the Mo∣narchy, and Sequester'd the Church, cut off the Crown, and threw down the Mytre: But they knew the Name was odious, and the Court would scent the Design, that well-meaning People would startle at the mention of a Word so Fatal to the Nations; as we cannot see the very Instruments wherewith our Friends are Butcher'd; and there is somthing I know not what in the Names of venemous Creatures, that grate our Ears, fret our Blood, and touch us with a secret Horror, so the Word Covenant would Alarm the Loyal of the Land, it must be smoothed and min∣ced for these Ostrich-stomachs, tender of any thing but Monstrous Villanies, for these delicate Ears only erect∣ed for Seditious News, into an Association: But as Pyrats change their Flag, but not their Purpose; High∣way-men their Habit, but not their Practice; Beasts Page  21of Prey their Habitations, but not their Savage Na∣ture; so Rebels, retain their Bloody Designs under all Disguises: And as their Arch-leader Cromwel would not be call'd King, that he might act the Tyrant, and play the Destroyer in a Protectors habit; so the Cove∣nant must be Antiquated, and an Association substituted in its room; and these are as like one another, as Judas and Iscariot, as Convertible as Cromwel and Ʋsurper.

It was truly strange, that after all our dear bought Experience, after the Blessings of the Restoration of the Monarchy, and our own Restitution to our Rights and Liberties thereby; after all the Discoveries of the Party, which a little glance backward might give people; any should have been deluded twice in one Age, by the very same Stratagems: There is a cer∣tain fascination in Sedition, when it can so successful∣ly erect its Trophies on Peoples Credulity, and De∣bauch a Nation twice in one Age by the self-same Methods.

All Grand Conspiracies against the Government are carried on under a Sham-zeal for Religion, a Counter∣fit Affection to the Publick, a Crocodile Pity for op∣pressed Liberty, an earnest desire to Redress Grievan∣ces, and when these are managed with a Stentorian Voice, and Senatorian Gravity, with Shaftsburian Har∣rangues, and Cromwelian Devotions, with Long Par∣liament Preachments, and Assembly Fasts, with Mis∣placed Curses, and Misapply'd Texts; with an O Yes, O Yes, the Cause of God, the Cause of God, and the other circumstances of Pageantry, which were tedi∣ous to rehearse; down must all go without pity, and the Work goes bravely on, though the King be Butcher'd, Religion Destroy'd, under pretence of Defending of it it, Property fall Victim to the keenest or longest Sword, and Arbitrariness Introduced under a coun∣terfit Flag of staving it off.

When the same Antimonarchical Principles Jea∣lousies and Pretences, (the Blinds under which Treason and Murder made their advance formerly) are now set on foot, though some of the Actors be changed, the same fatal Game is certainly intended to be Re∣acted in the Nation: This is not the Fanciful Idea of a Cloyster'd Monk, or the Chymerical fear of a Melan∣choly man; this is not the contemplative Notion of a sarcastical Wit, this is not a remote possibility, or uncertain contingency, but what we have heard with our Ears, saw with our Eyes, felt on our Backs, and known to our Cost.

6. Sedition produces not all its ill Effects at once, but mends its pace by degrees, till it burst out in Thunder and drop Blood; thus impudently (after these several steps) it shews it bare face in a formidable Rebellion, Private Whispers, Licentious Invectives, Secret Con∣spiracies, Pragmatical Medlings, Presumptuous En∣croachments, Factious Bandyings usher'd an open Re∣bellion in both Kingdoms. I will not interrupt the Joy of this day, by grating your Ears with recounting the dismal Consequences had issued upon the success of this Rebellion; if Providence had permitted so far the punishment of our Sins: Nor will I expatiate in aggravating the Injustice of the Attempt, or the per∣fidious Ingratitude and Treachery of the Actors; the Skars we yet retain of our late unhappy Troubles (which the signal Advantages of the Restitution of the Government, the Clemency of the late King, and the Conduct of our present Sovereign, (who then bore a great part of the Care without the Crown) have much worn off) are no sadder Indications of what is past, than Prognosticks of the Calamitous events we had groaned under, if the Rebellion had pros∣per'd: And that will easily appear, if you consider these two particulars.

1. The respite the Loyal of the Land had by the Blessings of the Restoration, has set the Teeth of Re∣bels on edge, who like Tygers and Woolves, and such Savage Creatures, have their edge whetted by being with-held so long from their Prey: And God knows, if they should Triumph over our Liberties and Tram∣ple our Honour in the Dust a second time, by a Pro∣sperous Rebellion, without any Metaphore, our latter end would have been worse than the beginning: O what Cruel Imposers on the Consciences of others? What Violent Invaders of Property? What Insolent Oppressions of our Freedom, have they formerly proved, by which we may rationally conjecture, as they are improved in Cunning and Impudence for carrying on the same Villainous Methods, there cruelty were no less, if put in the same circumstances of Power and Opportunity.

2. As their Malice was increas'd, so was their Hy∣pocrisy, and Rebellion never marches more furiously, or Harasses more cruelly, than when it strikes and Fights in the Name of the Lord; when it comes with a Curse ye Meroz because they came not to help the Lord a∣gainst the mighty; And Cursed be he that doth the Work of the Lord negligently, or keepeth back his Sword from Blood: A Religious Rebel, a Seditious Saint, a Gifted Brother, a Godly Schismatick with the Bible in one Hand, and a Dagger in the other; with the King∣dom of Christ in his Mouth, and Spite against the King in his Heart, will exceed a Jew in Obstinacy, a Turk in Cruelty; yea, out do an Indian in Barbarity.

Thus I have drawn a Scheme of the Actings of the Party, unfolded their Windings, diffected their Ar∣tifice, by which they sought to Dethrone the King that lately was, and Exclude His present Majesty, in whose Exaltation to, and Preservation on the Throne, Page  24in despite of all the Machinations of the Faction, God has signally vindicated his Providence, and manifested his Care of Crown'd Heads: That now like a trium∣phant Conquerour in a Holy Boast, he may say, Why did the Faction rage, and the People imagine a vain thing? Why did Grandees Combine? And Rulers take Councel together? For all their Opposition, Yet have I set my King, &c. And we may say, He that sitteth in Heaven hath Laugh'd; the Lord has had them in Derision, he hath spoken to them in his Wrath, and vex'd them in his sore displeasure.

We now see God suffers Rebellious Contrivances to go on to some pitch of Maturity, and make some Progress, as the gradual steps of Advance∣ment the restless Faction made; but it is for the further Confusion of the Actors, and the Illu∣stration of his own Glory, in their more signal overthrow: For if such Courses were nipped in the Bud, or made too soon Abortive; it would bring less Shame to the Authors, less Terrour to others, fewer Admirers of his Providence, or Reverers of his Justice: And this is a signal indication of God's peculiar In∣terest in our King, and special Care over him: That when the Party had closely and cunningly laid their Projects in their Clandestine Cabals, and brought them to the point of Execution, He disappointed their Devices, * that their Hands could not perform their inter∣prises; He took the Wise in their own Craftiness and precipitated their Counsel: Yet have I set my King upon my Holy Hill of Zion.

As God rejoyces in bafling the Attempts, detecting the Cheats, confounding the Policies, and Conque∣ring the opposition of His and the King's Foes, here, Yet have I, &c. So, let us in such miraculous trains of Providence, whereby the Plots and Power of the Page  25King's Enemies are defeat; let us Glory and Boast in the Name of the Lord, Who giveth Salvation unto Kings, and stilleth the Tumults of the People: Let us Triumph in such events of his Providence, as seal particular care of the King, his Affection to his Per∣son, his concernedness for his Interest; with whose Preservation the Security of our Laws, the freedom of our Religion, the Honour of our Nation is twisted. Let us say with Ahimaaz, * Blessed be the Lord which hath deliver'd up the men, that lift up their Hand against my Lord, the King: Now know we, that the Lord saveth his Anointed; he will hear him from his Holy Heaven; By the strength of his Right hand he hath wrought Salvation for us: Some trust in Chariots, * and some in Horses: But we will remember the Name of the Lord our God: They are brought down and fallen that rose up against us: But we are risen and stand upright. Behold, as Aged Men are reviv'd with a present solace at the successful Encounters, and master'd Misfortunes, of their Youth: Or Travellers ravish'd in their Re∣pose, with rehearsal of their toilsome Pilgrimage; so may we rejoyce in consideration of the mysterious Conduct of Divine Providence, by which our King and the Nations have escap'd.

From the Conduct of Divine Providence in Settling our King on the Throne of his Ancestors, maugre all the opposition to the contrary: Let no cunning Achitophel flatter himself in his close-laid Designs; or Treacherous Absalom pride himself in his Power or Po∣pularity: We see God either frustrates their Devices, * or weakens their strength, that they cannot accom∣plish them, or ensnares them in their own Craft, or precipitates their Counsels to their own undoing. The Policy of Man is too shallow to grapple with Infinite Wisdom; and his Power too weak to oppose Omni∣potency. Page  26God beats men often with their own Weapons, and turns their Stratagems against them∣selves to their ruine, plays his Game by their Hand, when they least intend it; causeth their Policy to coun∣teract it self, in accomplishing what it was design'd to baffle, as in the case of Joseph, Moses, Jonah, and our Sovereign; we may transfer to the fraudulent practices of the Enemies of the King, what Jethro said of the Egyptians, in the thing they dealed proudly, God is above them; in the thing they dealed treacherously, God was above them: Yet have I set my King, &c.

Let these who took encouragement to persist in their Villanies from the success of their Rebellion, and aspers'd Providence upon this score, as approving their Treasons, like that Atheist, who, upon his fair gale, after he plunder'd the Temple, cry'd out, O behold, how God loves Sacriledge: Let them now behold, how God vindicates himself; and dashes their confidence, in detecting their Plots, and baffling their Attempts, in infatuating their Councel, and crushing their Power; and now quit all Enterprises against that, which God so signally in the issues of his Providence takes under his Patrociny and favourable Protection: Let them now see their Argument turned against themselves; we see the Chase is quite turn'd: And though Provi∣dence suffer Treason and Rebellion to vapour it for a time, and bear all like a torrent before them: Yet she will not prostitute her self to befriend them still, she will not be violent'd long to favour Rebellion with success, or crown Treasons with Triumphs: God hath more than sufficiently vindicated his permissive Providence in winking at the Indignities done Charles the I. by his special care of his Posterity, in preserving them in their Exile; in returning them with such uni∣versal Acclamations, in advancing two of them peace∣ably Page  27to the Throne of their Ancestors, for all the Plots of their Foes, the policies of their Heads, the malice of their Hearts, or opposition of their Hands; And next the Miracle of the Restoration of Charles the II. The advancement of our present Gracious So∣vereign to His Throne, through so many Difficulties, Intricacies and Obstacles, is matter of astonishment to all considering Persons; and speaks out a Chain of spe∣cial Providence that encircles Kings: We may say, * It is the Lord's doing, and is marvellous in our Eyes; we will rejoyce and be glad for it.

The consideration of the Mysterious tract of the Divine Providence in behalf of the King, in mastering all the Lets, and conquering the hinderances of his just and deserved Exaltation to his Throne, may en∣courage Him and Us to trust the Divine Goodness for His Majesties future Prosperity: These Oppositions in the Morning of his Reign, were but mists, through which he has broken Victoriously with Splendor: And we may rationally hope the rest of his days will be more Serene, and his End, like the Sun's Declension, in a beautiful Cloud: We need not fear his future Peaceful Reign; Seditions, Conspiraties, when they are detected, Popular Tumults, when they are sup∣pressed, Intestine Insurrections, when they are crush'd, Sham-Plots and Sancy Competitions, when they are basted, are the Security of the Throne, and the esta∣blishment of the Government: These are like Winds, which shake and threaten to pluck up Trees, yet strengthen their rooting; or like these morning Clouds which Eclipse the Sun, or darken the Air, but leave the one more sprightly, and the other more clear: That Chain of Providence which preserv'd him in his Exile, where the disaster of his Fortune did not de∣press the Gallantry of his Spirit, (as usually falls out Page  28in persons of an Ordinary Elevation) but it broke forth in his Military Encounters, to the Conquest of his Enemies, and the astonishment of his Beholders, and wonderfully restor'd Him and his Sacred Brother to their undoubted Rights, will not desert Him: These former instances are Ensurances to Us; He is God's darling, and the Object of his special Care, happy Presages of the same Providence, watchful Eye and tender regard of him still; We may allude to what David says, * He that deliver'd him from the paw of the Lyon, and out of the paw of the Bear, will not leave him in the hand of the Philistines: * He that hath deliver'd him, and doth deliver him, will make his Days Many, His Reign Prosperous, His Enemies As straw trodden down for the Dunghil, * His Subjects Happy, His Crown Flourishing, and his Armies Victorious.

And it cannot be doubted but it will be so, if we answer the Design of Providence, and our Duty in Loyalty and Obedience; we should convince the World, that though the King be of a different Reli∣gion from us, yet Loyalty towards Him is an essen∣tial Ingredient of ours: Let us labour to exceed Papists in Affection to his Person, Obedience to his Laws, and Concernedness for the Safety of his Crown, and the Happiness of his Reign, that we may vindicate our selves and our Religion from the unjust Aspersions of any Adversary: So the King, like a Loving Father, will make no discrimination, in the distribution of his Favour and Protection, for the different Features of his Children: We see this, and thank the King for it already; and we need not jea∣lous the continuance of it, so long as we persevere in our Duty: Nothing can make us unhappy under his Government, or obstruct from us the benign In∣fluences of the Throne, but our own ungovernable∣ness: Page  29Let us, by all Offices of Humanity and Charity, treat our Fellow Subjects without distinction, since we all Worship one God, and serve one King, and hope to meet all in one Heaven: Let us forbear bitter Railing and Reviling, for there may be more of a hellish Spirit in that, than there is of Antichristianism in some objects of our Rage: And since our Hearts and Affections, our Prayers and Devotion meet in one Center, as to the Kings Welfare and Happiness; let this unite us in Love and Peaceableness together; let our contest be, which shall exceed one another in Loyalty and Humanity; not like the Briar and the Thistle, which shall rankle one another most, or fret our Superiors; but let it be, like that betwixt the Vine and the Olive, which shall be most beneficial; like that of Aristides to Themistocles, * Laying aside pri∣vate Piques, let us study which of us can be most Service∣able to our Country, most Dutiful to our Sovereign, and helpful to one another.

And to rivet this Loyalty in your Hearts, let me offer some Considerations from Nature, from Reason, from Religion, and Interest. First, what Curtius observes, * That some Climats and Nations are naturally more dis∣posed to revere and affect their Kings, than others, is true of the Body of our Nation: And of all People under Heaven, We are under the greatest Obligation to our Monarchy, and to assert the Kings Right; for two thousand years we knew no other Government, and the Reins were held in a Lineal Succession by the Fore-fathers of his Sacred Majesty, who now Happily sways the Scepters over us: The Scotish Nation has been fam'd all the World over for its Loyalty and Courage; this was the Genius and Complexion of our Country, until our late unhappy Times; a Scots Traytor was of Old as contradictory, as a Drunken Page  30Christian, or an Innocent Robber: And it had been so still, if a new Sect or Hotch-Potch Party had not sprung up here, and in our Neighbour Kingdom; who could reconcile Godliness and Villainy, Sacriledge and Saintship, Religion and Rebellion; great preten∣ders to Strictness, but affectors of Looseness; of strong Faith, but little Charity; of great Devotion, but little Honesty; of specious Names, but vitious Natures; of fair Pretences, but foul and abominable Practices: These, these, were they that debauch'd the Nation from its Integrity, and deprav'd some People with Disloyalty; God grant, we may recover our Antient Reputation, and repair the Credit of our Country, by a stedfast Adherence to the Crown; * and make some Compensation for the Indignities done the Fa∣ther, the Disservice done the Son, the Ingratitude done the Duke, by a Dutiful Allegiance to the King.

2. We have the greatest reason in the World to en∣gage us to persevere in Loyalty; * We live under a Monarchy that is the best temper'd in the World, our Liberty and Happiness depends on our Obedience; and these are so twisted with the Sovereignity, that they stand or fall, live and dye together: We have a King, whose tender years have not been corrupted with Luxury, but one who bore the yoak in his youth, and hath been early disciplin'd to Hardship, in whom there is nothing of Softness or Effeminacy to encourage the most daring Rebel: We have a King, who is no Novice to the Intrigues of State or Mines of Policy, one that will not be impos'd on by the Craft of any Achitophel; one who is habituated to the difficulties of Government, whose Vigilance eased the Care, whose Policy prosper'd the Reign, of his Royal Bro∣ther, whose Sagacity detected afar off the Rebellious Designs of a Monstrous teeming Faction then, whose Page  31Courage and Resolution dash'd their Impudence, and crush'd their Insolence since: We live under a King, whose Stoutness and Conduct, whose Valour and Gallantry, has made him the Terror of his Foes, the Envy of his Neighbours, and the Darling of his Sub∣jects. The Benignity of the Kings Temper, the Cle∣mency of his Nature, the Gentleness of his Reign, (which perhaps is beyond parallel; that for the Re∣bellion lately commenced, none fell in this Capital City, the seat of Publick Justice, but two, by the Hand of the common Executioner) the firmness of his Word, which he signaliz'd to the exasperating of a daring Faction; these, with the constellation of the other Royal Virtues which adorn his great Soul, are Pre∣sages of more Prosperity to those Nations from his Government, (though he differ from us in Points of Faith and Matters of Worship) than could be expected from a Spurious Competitor, or a Protestant Ʋsurper: And when I have said so, I have wrong'd none by the Comparison but the King, and I am at his Mercy for it: But still I'll assert, we have all the Reason imagi∣nable to maintain his undoubted Title with our Lives and Fortunes, against all the Protestant Rebels in the World: And that because,

3. Our Religion tyes us thereto, Loyalty is the Glo∣ry of the Truly Protestant Religion: And these who act otherwise, have its Form, but not its Power, and treat it no otherwise, than Joah did Amasa, under colour of affection to its Name, wound it under the fifth rib. No Religion in the World, no System of Divinity, no platform of Morality, no model of Po∣licy, which the Sages of Greece, or the Senators of Rome ever invented, press'd Loyalty from such con∣vincing Topicks, or rational Arguments, as our Reli∣gion: Our Duty to the King stands on the same Basis Page  32in our Religion, with our Duty to God; its perfor∣mance encourag'd with the same Eternal Reward, ri∣veted with the same weighty Considerations, its omis∣sion or neglect attended with the same Penalties and Dangers, that are entail'd on contempt of God, or the greatest wickedness: Our Religion is no more posi∣tive against Whoredom and Drunkenness, than it is a∣gainst Treason and Rebellion: And among us a Rebel against the King, under whatsoever pretence, is no more an Unnatural Scot than a Hypocritical Protestant: And so long as we Live and Act according to the Principles of our Religion, our Zeal for that will ne∣ver make us Factious or Seditious: And the King will be encourag'd to protect us in the Exercise of it. Therefore,

4. Interest, which in this Selfish Age preponderates all other Considerations, should have a mighty influ∣ence on Loyalty and Peaceableness; Liberty and Pro∣perty, the Darlings of Mankind, the Hue and Cry of the Faction, are never in hazard; but when the So∣vereignity is invaded, and Prerogative impair'd: We rebelled our selves into Tyranny and Slavery, into Ra∣pine and Oppression, Arbitrariness and Irreligion: He, that would comfortably enjoy the Fruit of his own Vine, and sit with Ease under his own Fig-tree, can do it most contentedly, when the King, like the Sun in a serene day, diffuses his warm and kindly Beams without disturbance: Our Liberty consists in our Obe∣dience, our Submission to our Sovereign's Will is the rise of our Felicity: These, who seek to better their Estate by Sedition, are often undone by their Rebellion: We have bleeding Instances of these, who have fallen from their Legitimate Grandeur, by affecting and aspiring after unjust Greatness.

For Conclusion, let me add these three Directions, which may be helpful to preserve us in Loyalty to the King; and they are patly adjusted to what I have already said, and to our Circumstances.

1. Let us not entertain in our minds Discontent at the publick Administration of Affairs; It is out of the abundance of the Heart the Mouth speaketh, the Hand acteth; if our Hearts be season'd with Affection to the King: Neither Murmurs nor Invectives will find matter within us to work on; People may be over∣aw'd from Seditions Speeches and Practices by the Se∣verity of the Law, and the Watchfulness of Rulers: But if Discontent be harbour'd in our Spirits, it will break out on the first opportunity: The more wary we are this way, the Government is more Safe, and we the more Happy; People that resolve within them prejudice against their Rulers, are driven to shoot be∣yond their Mark, and commit Out-rages they never dream'd, nor thought possible for them once to have fallen into: I believe Judas never intended to com∣mence Traytor, when he began to play the Thief, nor did his Followers purpose to bring the King to a Scaffold, when they first indulged themselves in Ma∣ligning his Government, and Aspersing his Person; but in no Sin more than in Sedition and Treason: They must needs run whom the Devil drives; Beware then of Discontent, the very first Seeds of Mischief.

2. Let us never be Impos'd upon by the same Stra∣tagems, by which we were formerly deluded; the Clamorous Harangues of some Factious Demagogues against Tyranny and Arbitrary Government; which were never felt till the King was dethron'd and Re∣bellion Prosperous: The great Darlings of the Populacy, are Religion and Property; and these cunning Men that ride it as they please, make Zeal for these, a Co∣verture Page  34for their Covetous Projects and Ambitious De∣signs: And People are so easily tickl'd with the Beauty of the Pretence, that they are precipitated or e're they are aware into dismal Courses, destructive in the Issue to both: So that they are made to truckle under their Ʋsurpation, who pretended the greatest affection to their Liberty, and vapour it with the property of the Subject, and the Sacrilegious Spoils of the Church: Tyranny is a Child of the Croud; and never any have more furiously Spur-gall'd that great Beast, than those who have crouch'd and faun'd to cajole it; and when it is wheedled out of its Wit and Interest, as well as out of its Submission and Obedience; there is some∣thing set up like Massinello in Naples; something, as a Judicious and Loyal Author has it, That is a King Incognito, * or in Disguise, or a Tyrant in the Dress of a private Man; though he were call'd, The Protector of the Nation.

As Satan is never more to be dreaded, than when he transforms himself into an Angel of Light; and is never more a Devil, than when he appears a Saint: So the Enemies of the Government are never more to be suspect, than when they speak much good of God, and ill of the King; and think their Zeal for the for∣mer, a Pass-port for Injuries done the Later; where∣as God in his Word, makes Obedience to our Supe∣riours, the Test of our Dutifulness to himself: Do not think, after our dear-bought Experience of the Hy∣pocrisy of the Party, that their specious Pretences for Religion and Liberty will justify, yea or extenuate our sordid complyance, for all our good meaning.

There is not the least question, but as in Absalom's unnatural Rebellion, some in the simplicity of their Heart went with the Drove; so in our late Wars, many well-meaning persons were cheated out of their Page  35Duty and Loyalty, who came too late to their Wits, the just conviction of their Folly, or a due sense of their Sin, when they found they were deceiv'd; their honest Meaning mis-improven, their Help mis-apply'd, even to the ruin of what they intended to maintain and promote: Yet what the better was the King of their Honest Intentions or Loyal Affections, when they were active Instruments of bringing about the Mischiefs, under which He and the Kingdoms were Oppress'd: Their Honest Meaning might extenuate their Fault, and blunt the edge of their self-stinging Reflections, and put them in probable capacity of God's Mercy and the King's Clemency; because they might say with the Apostle, They did it in Ignorance; But in the Issue there was no difference, God and the King, Religion and the Government, Liberty and Pro∣perty, suffer'd by the Zealous mistakes of the deluded Innocents, as well as by the furious practices of De∣signing Incendiaries: Nay, the more really Honest some were, who were stollen off their Feet, the more Pernicious was their Errour in Debauching others from their Duty; the more influential their example to the detriment of the King, and the ruin of the Na∣tion.

Let us reflect on the Tragical Catastrophe, and dis∣mal end of Treason and Rebellion; * seditious Attempts and Designs, how pleasing soever they seem to be in the beginning; how promising and flattering soever they appear in their first Aspect, yet in the Progress they prove dangerous, and in the Issue fatal. The fond hopes of aspiring Spirits, by which they build Castles in the Air, flatters them to their undoing, like some Serpents, which tickle and wound at once; and that which in the Project promises them a great reward and advantage, is in the Issue full of danger Page  36and difaster: The fair Designs of Traytors, are but the haught and painted Images of a deceitful Dream, instead of which they meet with an inglorious End. Many Instances from divine and human Stories could be adduc'd of this kind; ambitious Men, who leap to Greatness too soon, repent their Madness too late, and often Hopp without Heads; but few read their own Destiny in such sad Presidents as are on Record, or look upon such fatal Examples as their own Mir∣rours, though few or no Sins bear greater Stigmas of Divine Vengeance, or marks of Human Justice than Treason and Rebellion; the Fomenters or Promoters of such Villainies are scorch'd with the Flames of their own kindling: And were there no more to caution us against such Practices, than the tender considera∣tion of our Families, who would embarke with a Factious Party, if it were no more but for this, that the Dowry and Inheritance he leaves his Wife and Children, are Poverty and Infamy; and though the Clemency of the King forgive the Guilt, yet this re∣moves not the Ignominy. Well! let me shut up all with Solomon's advice, Fear God and Honour the King, and meddle not with those that are given to Change: * For their Calamity shall arise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruin of them both.