Gallicantvs, seu Præcursor Gallicinii primus.: Containing two addresses, the one to the King, the other to the Parliament. Tegether [sic] with a postscript about the affaires of religion, of most high concernment. By R. Lanceter, author of Gallicinivm, now in the presse.

An humble Addresse and Supplication to the Kings most excellent Majesty, Charles the Second, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.

Blessed be God even the Father, who onely doth great wonders, that he hath so wonder∣fully brought and established your Majesty in your just Rights, and Sovereignty: The s••me Lord blesse preserve, and guide your Majesty, in this great and high Calling, and Charge, whereinto he hath brought and setled you: And withall, advance your Throne into the high calling of God in Jesus Christ, that you may be truly and compleatly glorious, both in the Father, and in the Son.

May it please Your Sacred Majesty,

WHEREAS it hath pleased Almighty God to traine you up long in the Schoole of affliction and (no doubt) to fit you thereby for some speciall and extra∣ordinary work of his; as it hath been his usuall way towards such as he hath designed for the most gratious archievments And accordingly hath abundantly ma∣nifested the power of his grace upon your Royall heart, by those many signall testimonies thereof already shewn forth: whereat all your good subjects exceeding∣ly rejoyce and praise the Lord. That it may appear that as your Majesty hath set your heart towards God, so himselfe hath set his heart towards you, to advance your Throne above all the Kings of the Earth, and above all that ever were before you; You may please to see the evidence hereof in what the Lord is pleased here to present you with. Wherein your Majesty becoming highly instrumentall, if it be found to be truly of God, never was King, or Potentate on earth called as yet to that place of eminency with God, as is your Majesty hereby.

It hath pleased the Lord Almighty, who hath ordained the times and seasons for the bringing to passe his mighty Works, and for the discovery of the hidden things of darknesse, to exercise your humble Suppliant, Subject and Servant, in the relu∣ctance with that darknesse, all the time that he exercised your Majesty with afflictions. And now upon your deliverance out of them, to have also given him a release from those chaines of darknesse, so far as to present your Majesty with that light, into which he hath escaped The summary tender whereof is under these three heads.

• 1. That it is not possible, that either at present, or in former times, for many hundreds of yours, either we, or any other Nation, called Christian, or any other Nation or Party in the World, can be the Church of Christ and people of God, or in way of salvation; but absolutely either Antichristianly or Diabolically in state of wrath and damnation.

• 2. That it is not possible that any, or all the wayes that men do, or can devise, to state and settle Religion and the Church, in the wisedome that they act in, can ever do it aright, and make the case better then it is; but in all likelihood to render all still worse, and more Antichristian.
• 3. That yet there is a way, not new, but layd of old by Christ, wherein the Primitive Apostolicall Church constantly walked, but ever since utterly lost in the World, as to a Church-way, such a way as is most cleare, easie, undenyable, which all the World will grant (if once they see it) to be the truth of God, the onely way to make all Churches, Churches of Saints, and all people to live blessedly, an happy people both here and here∣after.

This the Lord hath reserved to be manifested in your dayes, and your selfe for such a time; and commendeth the same to your Royall care, for the advancement of his glory in the Son, and of your Majesties Throne in both.

I am not mad, or a Fanatick, but I speak the words of truth, and sobernesse. I have been in the Ministeriall Calling about thirty years, in your County of Norfolk. I have lived to see, and with much reluctance and grapling with, have passed through the calaminities of these times, especially the distractions, and monstrous emergencies in the notion, way, and pretence of Religion. I have been ever formerly conforma∣ble in all things, both as to Doctrine and Discipline, as an obedient son of the Church of England. And during these times, while the truth of Christ was more and more obseured by the devices of men, I have given my selfe into all my utmost endeavour, to clear up the saving truth unto my own soul, and consequently to the consciences of all others, especially of my Charge. In this my search and incessant study, finding my selfe more and more confounded, and the truth hidden from me in the abundance of the rubbish of mans wit and devices cast upon it: It pleased God to recall me from the wisedome of men to that of himselfe in his word, and to cast my self upon the pure discovery of truth in those heavenly Oracles: which being the way of his own Ordinance, it pleased the Lord to meet me therein, and by revealing his Son in and unto me, to vouchsafe me, in the knowledg of him, that light of truth, which is not possible to be found in all the works of men whatsoever. And being convinced by the clearnesse thereof, and also by imparting the same to others of best judgment and piety, that it was indeed the onely saving truth, but yet wholly unknown, and quite crosse to the opinion and way of the World; I thought it my duty, and thereunto, also I discerned my selfe especially called, to publish the same to the World, as being of the highest concernment unto all that possibly can be imagined, both for this life and for that to come.

Now, may it please your Majesty, hence is my present Addresse and Supplication unto you in the first place. 1. For that intending the Dedication of this Work to your Majesty, it being so high an undertaking, might be too bold a daring to presix your name thereto without your good liking and consent. 2. For that understanding that your Majesty, together with your high Court of Parliament are setting your eyes to the affaires of Religion, and that to the settlement thereof in such a way as I can∣not in conscience close with; therefore I thought it better to appeare beforehand in the case (possibly some good may come thereby) then to be found an apposer of authority afterward. 3. For that considering that the things which I come forth with are of the highest concernment that ever came forth, even the same with those of Christ and his Apostles, which the World hath so long lost, and have the like need of again, and consequently of especiall concernment unto your Majesty in many re∣gards, both respecting God, your place, and people: necessary it is that my Address

be first to your Majesty, and thereto that I am especially called of God, I can give evidence of sufficiently.

The whole drift of this my humble Addresse and Supplication to your Majesty is, onely to vouchsafe unto your humble Suppliant an hearing, tryall, and examination to the utmost. And if I be found an Imposter, a Deceiver, or one deceived, accordingly to receive pu∣nishment, and a reclaiming from error. But if in the truth, then to close with it as from God from on high visiting us, in order to fulfill his promises unto the last. Ages.

The Lord Almighty confirm and establish your royall heart more and more in all good∣ness, and give you the light of the knowledg of his glory, in the face of Jesus Christ.