THat the Enstalment of his Highness into that place of eminency, His Legal In­auguration. care and trust wherein now he stands was Legall, needs be no mans doubt or Hesitation. I con­fess that the Righteousness of Proceedings for these last 20. years, hath been questionable and full of [Page 2] Ambiguity, as hath appeared by those fiery Contests between men of the same Countrey and Religion: But as to the Legitimacy of his Highness Intro­duction, it is written as with a beam of the Sun, there is no better right or property that any man hath to his Inheritance, both the one and the other being joyntly sustained, upheld, and acknowledged by the Law. Nay, the Law of Nature it self, accor­ding to learned Grotious, doth countenance and confirm the present Settlement; For, saith he, natural Law is the dictate of right Reason, and is to be judged by the necessary conveniency or inconve­niency any thing hath to the rational nature. Again, We conclude (saith he) that to be a point of Natures law, which is received for such amongst all, at least the most Civil Nations. And as Seneca speaks well, Argumentum veritatis est aliquid omnibus videri. Now then, if all Nations Civil, desires no Ruler but what comes in by Consent and Law, and that it agrees fully with the rational and social nature so to do, then doth the Law of Nature, which is also the Law of God, favour and countenance his Highness Ingress to that high office of Pro­tector.

So then, if the Legallity of his Highness stan­dings be so evident and perspicuous, as that the known Laws of the Land, the Law of Nature, and of Nations are so congruous with our present Governor, certainly then it is the indubitable law of God; for if God would and did lay such strickt injunctions upon the primitive Christians to submit and obey their Governors though Usurpers, as Nero, &c. Certainly it will be very displeasing to God to [Page 3] harbour so much as a hard thought against one whose standing is upon such termes of honour and justice.

General consent and approbation, The general consent and approbation. is such a thing as hath for a long time departed, and stood at a di­stance from us; we have been like the Arke tossed upon the floods of uncertainties; that hath been our lot for a long tract of time. The Psalmist saith of God, That He stilleth the raging of the Sea, and the tumults of the people; the Holy Ghost seemes to intimate, Psal. 65.7. that the mindes of the generality of men are as instable, and inconstant as the waves of the Sea, and as apt to fall as suddenly into the same disorder, inconvenience and molestation. Yet both the one and the other at his rebuke and con­trole: who is this, saith some of our Saviour, whom the Seas obey? now then if that discord and vari­ance be turned into amity and agreement, and those insolent waves of strife and contention, into the sweet calme of peace and unity, and all men (though once enemies) with one heart, and one minde, say this is he, certainly its little lesse, if at all then a testimonial divine.

There was a thing called and urged heretofore as an Agreement of the people, but it was onely so called, as too sad experience hath sufficiently testifi­ed, but the Agreement of the People in reality, and properly so called, after many blasts and stormes, is now happily arrived in the faire haven of Peace and Safety.

This General consent of which we now speake, is evident 2. wayes.

[Page 4] 1. By the peoples Representees met and assem­bled in Parliament.

2. By Proclamations with alacrity and cheere­fulness in all places, as also by Addresses from most parts, and from all sorts of men, which are noone­day evidences of love, respect and submission. And that which is as much as all the rest, is that all those signal testimonies were altogether voluntary and unconstrained, there was not the least shadow or appearance of promise or allurement on the one hand (save the merits of the person) nor feare or threatning on the other, that should induce them thereunto: If then the consent be so universal, as both by Parliament and the Peoples manifestation, since and that without any urgency or constraint, it follows then, that certainly God and men are a­greed, and that the two sticks (as Ezekiel speaks) are grown into one.

As to those radiant abilities and endowments of mind which issue forth upon all occasions, The endow­ments of mind that renders him meet. and as op­portunity presents, in consideration with his Call and approbation, is of very soveraign importance to the businesse in hand.

By abilities, I meane that wisdome, courage, ju­stice and mercy which he expresses, according to the varietie of affairs that is administred unto him: As for example; That 4 or 500. Officers, the Represen­tees of the most valiant Army in the world, should addresse themselves, first, by way of submission, and then to desire some things which he quickly discern­ed not to be convenient (as well as themselves after­wards) and to treat them with that strength of rea­son [Page 5] and resolution, even to the admiration of most of those heroick spirits: as also to entertain the fa­mous Citizens of London, the Army at other times, and other Corporations and Societies of men in their various and distinct addresses unto him, with that sweetness, candor and affability, and to their excee­ding satisfaction, so that as yet it may be said hither­to as it was of Titus Vespatian that he never sent any man sad out of his presence.

I say to behave himself upon such excellent terms in the morning of his rule and government, argues a princely minde, and well inspired, and it is enough to fill the hearts of all men with satisfaction for the present, and of good expectations for the future, and that the same species of fortitude and magnaminity lodges in his brest, which his good old father of re­nown exprest so freely: he seemes to be like to Dieneces the Spartan; when one thought to have ter­rified him, saying, That the flight of the Persian arrows would fly so thick as to hide the Sun; He an­swered, it is very good news, for then shall we fight in the coole shade. Now this noble and generous minde in conjunction with love of justice and mercy, which are apparent also, and will be more manifest doubtless in due time, is another consideration, not onely of our submission but rejoycing in him, considering also, that God hath delivered us from that misery mentioned in the Proverbs, Woe to that people whose King is a childe.

We have all natural affection for our Children, The respect and affection of many to his Highness late Father. Friends, and Allies, and certainly they the same for us, we our selves would think it a strange solecisme in nature for them that was bosome friends and ac­quaintance [Page 6] in war and peace, not to be favourable and indulgent to our children in our absence, especially nothing appearing distasteful or injurious from them, to forfit or rescind those respects which other­wise were due, and they might challenge at their hands.

If any of us have a tree that bears plenty of good and pleasant fruit, all care is taken to nourish the same, and to graft or inoculate, that so we may have more of the same species, the excellency of every kinde being most desireable; it is famously known, even to the ends of the earth, that the stock bare the execellent fruits of wisdome, valour, justice and mer­cy; then doubtless, if the branch be but wel cultured with our prayers to God, and by council by those that are able and convenient, we shall not need to feare but the branch will also bring forth fruit accor­dingly in its season.

General consent and approbation to this con­sideration is also very material: The concur­rence of Pro­vidence. It was said concer­ning the children of Israel that came out of Aegypt by night, that the dogs did not bark at them, which the Holy Ghost takes notice of, and acquaints us therein of the providential care of God toward that people, that such a snarling and watchful creature should give no Alarum to the Inhababitants, to preju­dice or molest them in their way, there is not the least murmurings or repininings, nay not of those that are most querelous amongst us that is come to my ken; and not onely so, but those of a different minde are now reconciled, what is it there that thus causeth the Lamb and the Lyon to lye down together, not long since we were even quot homines, tot sententiae, we [Page 7] were even a Babel, a heap of confusion, and now with one heart and one minde, consenting in one wars and strifes (saith St. James) comes from our lusts, but peace comes immediately from the God of Peace; generally if you observe troubles, sicknesses, miseries and deaths springs up out of the dunghil of sinne and unrighteousness; but tranquility, plenty, health and all good things proceeds onely from the throne of Gods goodness and bounty; the face of things seems already to look with a more lovely and smiling countenance, its true, formerly men were quiet and submissive, but it might be observed, more for feare and dread then good will by many, but now for love and respect. Old things are passed away, and all things are become new

That which the sword could not do for a long season, though weilded with valiant and skilful hands, God Almighty hath undertaken it, who makes the greatest contrarieties to dwel and abide to­gether, and hath effected it, viz. the peace, quiet, safety and glory of our Nation out of that Chaos and disorder wherein it lay.

It is such a kinde a thing which hath been alwayes reputed and esteemed next or equal to being it self. Honour and safety of the Nation. For suppose a Nation without Honour and safety, you would conclude it miserable, and according to the Proverb in the High way to beggary and ruine.

Therefore first the Honour of a Nation consists in its oneness and agreement, as it was said of Jerusalem to be a City at unity within it self, a people that are unanimous and agreeing, resemble not onely Jerusa­lem the City of God, but also the whole universe.

Where all things move in their proper sphear, [Page 8] though infinite in number, yet its lovely amiable and delightful to behold the Sun shining, the rain falling, the grasse growing, the fish swiming, the birds flying, the rivers running, and all in a pleasant uniformity. But you will say these are moved necessarily. It is true, most things do, yet its set for our example, having the use of reason, and the benefit of further revelation by Gods word, we are in a capacity sufficient to love one another, and to keep our selves in peace equal with those things that are necessarily so.

Secondly, The honour of a Nation is provided for, when the people are steady and constant, and not volatile and flitting; what affiance can any Prince or People have in an unconstant and unstable people, that are for one thing to day, and another to mor­row, as if they were governed by the Moon: we know that in sacred Writ, its a brand set upon persons that are given to change, and so in the judgement of God as well as of men its a dishonourable thing: Its no mans doubt, but as agreement and certainty tends to the honour of a Nation, it doth also upon equal terms turne to the safety, and that upon this ground in rea­son. If that disagreement and unconstancy renders a people unsafe, and more lyable to a prey, then the contrary must needs follow, for the contrary of con­trarieties have their contrary consequences: from whence it follows without all controversie, that sub­jection and agreement with perseverance therein ought to be all mens care and practice, otherwise we dishonour our Nation, as well as our selves, and ren­der our Country unsafe.