The Protector, (so called,) in part vnvailed: by whom the mystery of iniquity, is now working. Or A word to the good people of the three nations of England, Scotland and Ireland, informing them of the abominable apostacy, backsliding, and underhand dealing of the man above mentioned; who having usurped power over the nation, hath most wofully betrayed, forsaken, and cast out the good old cause of God, and the interest of Christ; and hath cheated and robbed his people of their rights and priviledges. / By a late member of the Army, who was an eye, and an ear witnesse to many of those things.

To the READER.

THe present dispensation upon the world is darke and gloomy, as also so mysterious to many of the Saints, as (according to Zach. 14.6.) Is neither dark nor cleare; In which season the mystery of iniquity (the spirit of the Beast and false Prophet) doth transforme himself into an Angel of light, and is working by the Protector (so called) many of the Rulers, and Clergy of the Nation, and weaves the designe he would carry on with so fine a web, so much pretending for Christ, the good of Saints, and the Nation (when it is not so) as that none but the Lord can discover him, which he is a do∣ing, as also destroying him by the Spirit of his mouth and brightnes of his comming.

And because that things are so that many of the Saints who desire to be faithfull to, more refined in, and cannot (ex∣cept the Lord leave them) Apostatize from, their former Ʋir∣gin Spirit, and principle, which they had for him, his worke and people (and in which he hath so owned them) are persecu∣ted, imprisoned, and most barbarously used, by the above Mentioned Protector and his brethren (the Apostates, and backsliders of our day, and Nation) and their Mercenary soul∣diers, for bearing their testimonies, against the horrid wick∣ednes, and abominations which are broken in upon us, con∣trary to those promises, engagements, protestations, and decla∣rations, which he and the Army made to the Lord, and his people in the day of our streights, which actions (doubt∣lesse) can proceede from no other then the Mystery of iniqui∣ty, which at present workes, 2 Thes. 2.9.10. and by which so many simple honest soules are deceived and led away to wonder after the beast.

Therefore out of love to the honour, and glory of God, the welfare of the Saints, and true interest of the Nation and that glorious cause which we for so long time have beene en∣gaged in, and from a reall hatred, and detestation, of all Apostacy, backesliding and under hand dealing whatsoever, be∣ing deeply sencible of, and affected with the sad Condition, which at present the Nation is in, by reason of these things, and for the better information of others, doth your Freind who (in the strength of the Lord) desires to be faithfull in his ge∣neration, lay before you some passages and things, whereby such as feare the Lord (who if they knew it would doe no iniquity) might a little search into, examine, and consider things, and so comparing them with their former Ʋirgin Spirit, and prin∣ciple, they may the better know how to steere their Course and to follow no man, nor things, further then they follow (or are for) Christ.

And surely if we consider the eminent presence of God which was with the Army and us. All that time they were opposing of, and destroying the bloody Antichristian brood, which was in England, Scotland, and Ireland. (viz. the late King and his Monarchy with the bishops, and that Hierar∣chy and all the Appurtenances belonging to them) in the do∣ing of which so much of the Saints with others blood was shed, it cannot but bee matter of great astonishment and greife, to any honest, Vnbyast, ingenious heart to consider that they who professe to be Christians, and to have been so much called by the Lord to his worke, and have been so instrumentall in his hand, in destroying the Antichristian broode: should not∣withstanding be setting themselves in many of the same pla∣ces and thinges, and thereby give nourishment to that which they had destroyed, which will plainly appear if you weigh and consider the things that follow.