IT is amazing to consider the strange turns of Providence in the greatest Transactions of Humane Affairs, such as the Revolutions of States, and the Changes and Alterations in Go­vernments, which since they are God Almighty's immediate Work, and conducted by him, whose power nothing can controul; one would think they should receive their accomplishment all at once, and have their progress, and end an­swerable to their beginnings; whereas we often see on the contrary, that the most Glorious dawnings of Liberty are overcast on a sudden, the Springs of Actions fall from their vigour, and grow feeble, the whole Motion becomes heavy and irregular, as if the great Master Workman [Page 2] had met with an Impediment, that he could not go on, and was check'd by the unworthiness of those he had begun to appear, and act for.

When Israel came out of Aegypt, and their Leader and Deliverer, especially commissionated and appointed by God, had entered upon his Charge; when Kings were confounded for their sakes, and the Sea divided to give them passage, and then return'd to its Channel to inclose, and overwhelm their Enemies, what could one ex­pect from such a series of Miracles? but that they should have been directly conducted to Canaan, as fast as they could have moved upon the Wings of Victory, to take possession of a Land, which seem'd promised to their Fore-fa­thers for that Generation to inherit. Yet instead thereof, we find them led about in the Mazes of a Wilderness, and so long forced to wander, till two only of all that vast number, who by their growth and maturity had any remembrance of Aegypt, were left alive to to taste the sweets of Canaan, the Reason whereof stands upon Sacred Record, viz. Their Ingratitude towards God, and towards Man, there is interwoven with their whole Story a strange Account, how soon they forgot the Holy One, who was so visibly pre­sent among them; to which is added their fre­quent murmuring against their Leaders, taking [Page 3] upon themselves a liberty to censure them, and lay it as a miscarriage at their Door, if any thing happened otherwise then they expected, which was even carried to so great a Delicacy, that Moses was in fault, if they had not variety, as well as plenty, sometimes the Government was charged with being Arbitrary, and taking too much upon them, when a few discontented Heads of Families wanted Employments, and grumbled that they were excluded from the management of Affairs. Lastly, They are branded with a faint-heartedness, and desponding of God's power, and goodness, after so many incontestable Proofs given them of both; which was particularly remarkable after the Spies were return'd from viewing the Land, and had made their report, which they did faithfully as to the goodness of the Soil, but pusillanimously as to the difficul­ties that lay in the way, when only stout Joshua, and honest Caleb were neither frighten'd them­selves, nor terrified others, assuring the People, there was nothing that they would not overcome with ease, for that what was on their side, was more then that was against them; but they being now strongly possess'd with imaginary Apprehensions, and fondly being imposed upon, and imposing upon others, they so far lost all sense of Man­hood, that they thought it was better for them to [Page 4] return to their old Slavery, then to hazard any more for retaining their liberty. Their former cry was, can God furnish Water, and can he sup­ply us with Bread in the Wilderness, and now it run, can he subdue these Sons of Anak, and de­stroy such a race of Giants. There is no doubt but the same Power which had wrought so many Miracles, can add to the number. There is no doubt but God, who had forced Nature out of its Course, can with more ease get the better of Man, however terrible we figure him to our selves. And it is most certain God will do all that he has promised; but there is no reason, they should expect to see it, who are always diffident, always tempting him, and who omit no oppor­tunity to call his power in question, but those who had lived so long in a constant contradicti­on to the Divine Will, God set himself at last to contradict them, so that they were gratified with neither of their wishes, they neither were allowed to go backward to Aegypt, nor forward to Canaan, but their Carcasses fell in the Wilderness. What shall I say now, that I tremble, or that I rejoyce, that our Case in England is so nearly parallel'd with that of the Israelites? It cannot be disown'd, but that our late Deliverance was the greatest, next to theirs, and it might be equall'd to it, but that ours was from an impending Bon­dage, [Page 5] and theirs from what they had groan'd under some hundreds of years, neither one, nor the other could be effected by our own strength, or single endeavours, but in the one God ap­peared by Miracles, and in the other by extraor­dinary Providences, which are no less signal marks of his being present among us, as also that this Work is of him, and therefore it shall stand, whether it receives its perfection, or not, in our days, who I fear are justly to be reproached with all the Folly, that Israel was guilty of Can we say we have had any truer Sense of what we owe to God for all the Mercies he has bestowed upon us, have we not rather cast him further out of our thoughts? are not our profanations rather encreased? is not all manner of lewdness and the vilest debaucheries, which the late Reigns are made infamous for encouraging by great Examples, now carried to a further degree of Scandal, and a higher pitch of Impudence then ever? are these Morals to draw a blessing upon a Nation, or to procure assistance from Hea­ven.

Have we not likewise among us the Mur­murer, the Discontented, the Envious, and the Busie-body. I dont speak now of the profess'd Enemies of our Establishment, for they though they are with us indeed, and barefaced too, yet they [Page 6] are not of us, they have separate Principles, and separate Ends, and therefore perhaps one may be tempted to wonder at our patience, if they should be suffer'd much longer indistinguishably to mix with us: I mean such as have no disguise for their ill affections, but dare publickly to re­joyce at what all honest men look upon as a Na­tional Calamity, and openly repine at, or un­dervaluingly lessen all our Successes. Is it not yet time to renounce any further Society with those, who have chosen to worship other Gods, and live in a publick Profession of it, especially since their conversation has no other tendency, but to inveigle and delude the unwary, till they can find an opportunity to confound and destroy all. A People must fall unpittied who take no care to secure themselves against an intestine Enemy, that uses no care to conceal himself, I thought there was nothing so sensible as to be de­spised, I am sure nothing is more visible, then that we are contemptibly treated by these Peo­ple, and they that have a faculty of bearing it long, are at last thought to deserve it, for I hope our Government is not under such a degree of Impotence, as not to have the means in its hands to vindicate it self: Therefore I dont pre­tend to concern my self with such as these whom I leave to the Laws, that are already made, or [Page 7] if they are too weak to restrain them, to such as shall be thought fitter, hoping that no partial considerations inclining to avour some particu­lar persons on other accounfts, shall obstruct any vigorous Resolutions to support the Dignity of the Government, and firmly to provide for the Public Safety. The Persons whom I now speak of, are of a far different sort, whom I look upon as Friends still, though they may be grown cooler upon some melancholy Reflecti­ons, as if their Deserts were not enough taken notice of, nor their Services rewarded, the No­tion they have entertain'd of Liberty, wont al­low them to think it safe, unless the Conserva­tors of it are exactly according to their Standard, the Remembrance of what some of them may have suffer'd in former Reigns, inclines them to forget that An Act of Grace has pass'd since, and therefore they dont consider, that when the consent of a Kingdom has drawn a veil of Ob­livion over-past miscarriages, it is then Un-Gentle­man-like, if not odious to have too good a Memory. They are too rigid examiners of the mistakes of those, that are not in their good graces, and at the same time overlook perhaps as gross Faults in those whom they honour with their friendship, which yet detracts from the Credit of (what they would pretend to be) [Page 8] Reformers, and discovers that they are animated by the narrow Spirit of a Party. They only contemplate and expose the frail side of those they dont affect, and wont allow the Ballance to be laid before them, of the Good and Evil they have done, to make a proportionable abate­ment according to Prudence and Equity. They would introduce a Maxime, then which no­thing could be more unjust, nor more unfitted for the Condition of Humane Life, which is a state of Weakness and Recollection, (viz.) That no subsequent Behaviour, can expiate for any past failings, which, God be thanked, is not agreeable to Divine Justice, and ought there­fore to be suspected, as far as it departs from that Rule. They are so enamoured with their own Capacity, and so fully satisfied that theirs is the proper Talen for business, that they think it is being injurious to the Publick, not to employ them in the way they would propose, and to possess a place, which they conceive would bet­ter become themselves, or to enter into a Con­currence with them, are Crimes irremissible. They dont pry, but rake into the Actions of Great men, as if they had an Interest they should be faulty, and were to share in the Forfeiture, or Composition, for they are not sanguinary but by accident, as they may be heated by oppositi­on, [Page 9] otherwise those that have been represented for the blackest Offenders, and even Subverters of Fundamentals, they can be contented that their demission should be their punishment, Thus Guilt sticks to places of Profit and Credit, as the Jewish Leprosie did formerly to the Walls of their Houses, and you must go out of them, to get clear of the Infection. But how­ever that these are Obstacles to the Repose of a Country, which keep it in a constant Vibration, that it cannot find its Center of Settlement, yet since these passions dont fall upon the stupid or unthinking, I hope the good Sense of those who are at present unluckily biassed by them, will restrain them from sinking the Vessel in which themselves are embark'd, tho' the Helm be not committed to them, I promise my self, that persons of understanding and knowledge of the World, will rather find out means to recover the Ground they seem to have lost, then be obstinate to make their ways more slippery, till they are carried upon a Precipice, where the next stept must be inevitable ruine. Their ex­perience will teach th [...]m, they ought to be con­tented to share the Favours of the Government, without engrossing them, and that when a Na­tion is unhappily divided into Parties, whose num­bers are pretty equal, and their interests diametri­cally [Page 10] opposite. It is then the greatest kindness to each, as well as the concern of the whole, that neither side should be put into the power of the other; but that matters should be managed by ballanc'd Counsels, as Foreigners are tried per Medietatem Linguae. They cannot be but now con­vinc'd, that a censorious stiffness, is only adapted to Plato's imaginary Republick; but Insinuati­ons, proper Condescentions, and reasonable Compliances, are the qualities that recommend at Court, as they do indeed in all other Conver­sations and Friendships, for that man must live alone, who will be always imposing his own Sense as a Law, who never speaks but to cavil and find fault, and never hears but to con­tradict, and his advice will be rarely askt, who does not allow a liberty not to follow it, tho' it be found defective and mistaken. They ea­sily see that a King of ripe Years, and mature Judgment wont bear being put back again into Pupillage, nor long understand it as a Service, to be advised to clip the Monarchy, to make him­self great. When the Jews towards the latter end of Samuel's judging them, having no good opinion of the Duumvirat of his Sons, who seem'd designed to succeed him, desired a King after the manner of the Eastern Nations, which were the Countries about them; Samuel fairly [Page 11] laid before them, what were then the Rights of those Monarchies, and what they were to expect under them, that such Princes would command the service of their Persons, and of their Cattle, as their occasions required either; that they would dispose of their Daughters and Young­men into their several Palaces for the uses of their Family, and others they would place in their Military Chambers to be employ'd in their Wars. That they would be Masters of their Lands, and perhaps sometimes make presents of them to their Eunuchs and Favourites, as we see practised in those Countries to this day, where a despotick Form of Government is so Establish'd by the most ancient Prescription, that tho' they some­times change their Princes, and set up others without regard to the strict Rules of Succession; yet even in those cases they never yet thought of altering the Maximes of their Government, and accommodating them more to private In­terest by way of composition with the Succes­sor; but when they give the Crown, they give it with all its Ornaments, and Inherent Rights, as thinking them indivisible from it; nor do we find that the Jews made any exceptions to the declared Prerogatives of those Monarchs, or of­fer'd any Limitations or Restrictions for their peculiar exemption, but without other Capitu­lation [Page 12] they still press'd, they might have a King like to their Neighbours. So the People of England, when they were justly apprehensive of falling under a Foreign Yoak, which neither we, nor our Four-fathers could bear; we then begg'd of Al­mighty God, that we might have an English King, that is, one who should govern us according to our Laws, and not set his own Will above them, who should neither invade our Property, nor lay snares for our Liberty, but should protect both without respecting of per­sons, and to that end take care of an equal admi­nistration of Justice, who should maintain the Religion establish'd, with a tenderness to those, who cannot bring themselves to a conformity to it, and in short, one in whose Reign, Justice and Mercy should meet, and embrace, Charity and mutual forbearance should grow in request and be promoted, and Industry and Honesty should have nothing to fear, but every thing to hope for. Now praised be our God, who hath heard our Prayers, and given us a King and Queen, that are the patterns of Innocency and Moderation, who have no divided Interests from their People, and can have no designs but to make them United and Happy. We have a Prince, who according to the most celebrated Presidents of the best of his Predecessors and Ancestors, is always ready [Page 13] to go out with our Hosts, who upon all occasi­ons exposes his Sacred Person, and a Life that is so precious to us, because there are no other means left to preserve us from the devouring Jaw of an overgrown Enemy; it is his Presence only, and his Credit which can form an Opposition to prevent the Ruine of all Christendom, and the setting up another Universal Monarchy, under which we are sure to be the worst and most in­humanly treated. It is for him therefore that the Net is spread, and all the Machinations, that Hell can invent, are put in practise to extinguish the Light of our Eyes, and to stop the Breath of our Nostrils. The Ministers of France from Fa­ther to Son make Court to their Master, by con­triving, or receiving Projects of all sorts of Mur­thers, Poysons and Assassinations, pointing all their Malice against one Crowned Head, being assured, that if ever it takes place, they shall ef­fect, what the bloody Emperor only wished, and at one Blow cut of the whole Force of Europe. Ought we not therefore on our side gratefully to consider what we owe to such a Prince, not only for undertaking our Deliver­ance at first, but that ever since he has declined no hardships nor hazards to procure our Safety and Security, will it become us to add to his difficulties and troubles, by our querulous [Page 14] humours, and giving him occasion to think, that after all we suspect the sincerity of his Inten­tions, should we not rather jointly endeavour to make the Crown sit easie, where we have so deservedly placed it, should we not be as tender and zealous for what relates to the Head, as for any thing that concerns the Body? or is it more than Justice to give unto Caesar, the things that are Caesars? who is not satisfied? that these are some of the undoubted Prerogatives of a King of England, that he should have a settled Revenue fit to support his Dignity, so that he need not be obliged to have recourse to his Peo­ples Aid to live as a King, but only for the extra­ordinary occasions of the Kingdom, that he be allowed freely to choose those he will advise with, and please himself in those, he will be served by, and if we cannot bear an abridgment of these Priviledges in a private Family, much less ought they to be repined at in a Sovereign. I dont say, That any ought to be exempt from an­swering for any enormous Crimes, provided it be not made one, to be a Counsellor or a Servant in Credit with the King, who otherwise, I think, as St. Paul pleads for the Labourers in the Gospel, ought to be had in esteem for their works sake; and I cannot but say, they would be very unfairly dealt with, if they should be pointed out, and stand [Page 15] as marks for Envy and Malice, only for being ca­pable by their Genius, Assiduity and Abilities to share the Cares, or soften the Toiles and Chagrins, that are inseparable from Royalty.

There remains yet a third sort; who ought not to be passed over in silence, for I fear their number is much more considerable then the for­mer, though that is all that can be considerable in them, and those are the Timerous, the Dis­pirited, the Unactive, and the Over-credulous always to their own disadvantage; such as these keep us out of Canaan, and retard our Settlement, not by any assistance they give our Enemies, for they are not capable of acting either way, but by casting a damp, and discouragement upon the best of Causes, and by with-holding the Divine Assistance, whcih is never given to those who will not help themselves; to the daring and con­fiding, God says, be it according to your Faith, but to the faint-hearted Wretch, be it according to your Fears. They retain indeed the Shapes of Men, but they demean themselves, as if they were of the Race of Issachar, made to bear bur­thens and couch under them, they seem to know the blessing of Liberty, and were it to cost them but a Wish, they would not be without it; but they dont enough reflect that in proportion, that any thing is valuable, it must be purchased at a [Page 16] higher Price, they dont look abroad, and see, that in other Countries, they have thought their Freedom from a servile Subjection well bought at the Expence of infinite Treasure, of streams of their Blood, and the continuance of a War from Father to Son. These People hunt after all Re­ports, and are always doubting of favourable ones, but are struck if any thing goes never so little amiss, they think every disaster is decisive, and that a Cause is lost when ever the Enemy gets any advantage. We read in the Roman History, that when the Chance of War turn'd against them, as it did sometimes with a terrible reverse of Fortune, some of their Generals could not bear to survive a Disgrace, but according to the Bravery practised in those Times, the Death, they could not meet with, in the heat of Action, they were Authors of to themselves in cold Blood, as thinking it more becoming them, to keep Company with those who died in Battle then, with those who fled from it; but others of them, who had a righter Notion of the many Turns and Accidents in Humane Affairs, and consider'd that Men ought always to strive, and expect that one happy day should repair the injuries of another, they did all they could to make the best of a Retreat, to rally their scatter'd Troops, and bring them into places of Safety, [Page 17] to be ready for another tryal, and these the Senate always complemented for that they did not cast of all hopes, and despair that the Com­mon-wealth should ever recover their loss. The World is a Scene of variety of all sorts, there is always a Succession of Clouds and Sun-shine, a checquering of Successes and Misfortunes, that no body need to despair, but the brave, the dili­gent, and the persevering will have their shares of prosperous Events, as they must now, and then, bear the unlucky ones. Those only are mark'd out for ruine, who basely desert them­selves, cast away all means of their defence, and the utmost necessity cannot make them valiant. In an Army, it is certain that every man is not alike stout, nay, the difference is vastly great, some have a Natural and Original Courage, which prompts them, (as one may say) to fall on without Officer or Drum, they have a heart to at­tempt anything, and a resolution to die, or conquer, others only have a copied Courage, and are brave by Imitation, they are animated by great Ex­amples, and ashamed to stay behind, when they see their Companions push on so vigorously; there is a third sort, that as a noble Poet of ours formerly observed, would be Cowards, if they durst, they cant well bear the Face of an Enemy, but when they consider, if they turn their backs, [Page 18] they ignominiously fall upon the point of an Of­ficers Sword, the more prevailing fear makes them keep their Ranks, stand their Ground, and they make a shift to kill their man Se Defendendo, because they can avoid it no longer; the Case of our Poltrons in the State, if they consider it a­right, is not unlike to these in an Army, they would fain be safe themselves, and upon that condition they would hurt no body else, but they dont see, that it is now too late for any such Composition, there is no Medium left, but to contend, or perish, all they can otherwise hope for is to be prisoners at discretion, that is to have their Persons and Estates at the mercy of those, who know none, to be given up to such, who have the English Name and Liberty in the great­est Aversion, who will content themselves with nothing less, then to tirannize over Body and Soul. Do you think you have a Julius Caesar to deal with? who had the Generosity to declare, and the Faith to keep his word, that whoever did not oppose him, he would look upon him as of his side. What is more obvious, then that if you dont maintain your present liberty, you fall into the hands of one, who, tho' his Inten­tions were never so good, wont have it in his power to perform any thing, that is now promised to lull you asleep, for he must be anothers Ser­vant, [Page 19] when he is your Master. Though I dont well see what any one can promise himself from his good nature, if he were the Master of it, who in his Declarations set out to prepare his way, and dispose People towards him, publishes his pardons with so many exceptions, that almost every man must think himself excluded from the benefit of them. Those who bungle and are awkward in giving good words and making fair promises when it is palpable they are intended only to cajole and amuse, they leave but an ill impression of their Address and Skill, and none at all of the soundness of their purposes to perform what they would be understood to oblige them­selves to, or is it that insincerity for all its Tricks and Grimaces, is not allowed to speak out, and plain, like truth. The Magnanimous only know how to forgive, and to shew pitty, but the fearful and the bigotted are cruel both, by nature and principle; can he ever return with real kindness and affections to a People, of whom he spreads a­broad those complaints that they have so highly injured, and deserted him? wont all the thanks for his coming back be sent to Versailles, or Lorette, and nothing appear here, but the mark of dire Revenge, with a new Edition of the Western Amni­sty, to be published in all the Countys of England, and another Itinerant Executioner dressed up in the [Page 20] shape of a Lord Chief Justice shall be sent down with a Power to hang, and ransome whom he pleases? and have we so soon forgot? that if the covetousness of that bloody Tool, had not coun­terpois'd his cruelty, scarce any had been left alive in those populous parts of those they thought fit to involve under the Names of Harbourers of Traitors or dangerous to the Government; will he after what hath hapned to him, ever think himself safe in the hands of Protestant Subjects or Guards? but must not his Restorers remain here, and fill the Palace, and City under pre­tence of his Security? shall not the Ports and Keys of the Kingdom, be deliver'd up to Foreigners? and is not the Navy of England to be navigated and commanded by the French? When I consi­der the dreadful Consequences of such a Resto­ration, I dont know but it may be Charity to wish, that the whole Island should rather be torn up by the Roots by an Earthquake, and be plunged into the Sea, as the Point at Port Royal lately was, then that it should stand upon its Basis, to be so long the Theatre of French and Irish Tragedies, till every man has ears bored through, and the indelible Characters of perpe­tual slavery are stamp'd upon all that shall be per­mitted to survive, would this be called living? then so may damnatien too, which is but the [Page 21] unterminable Duration of a miserable being. But, God be thanked, I see no reason to appre­hend, that we are so near falling into this wretch­ed condition, which nothing but our own Cowardise, Treachery, and Penuriousness can subject us to. I dont pretend to extenuate our dangers, or vainly to say, there is no ground for our fears. It must be acknowledged that God has been pleased in our days to raise up a Prince whose formidable power is become the Amaze­ment, as well as the Terror of all Europe; a Prince, who to the Intrinsick Strength he had in commanding over so large, so fertile, so popu­lous, so industrious a Kingdom, hath added to it the spoils of all his Neighbours, he hath several Armies to act in all the Extremities of his Domi­nions, with which and a Chain of fortified Towns on his Frontiers he hath as it were encompassed him­self with a Wall of Brass, he hath a Treasure scarce to be exhausted, which does not only answer all the occasions at home, of Fleets, Armies, Forti­fications, Magazines, Necessity and Magnificence, but [...] [...]et enough left to corrupt a great part of [...] Courts of Christendom, and to influence even the Counsels of Infidels, he does not satisfie himself to purchase now and then a single Secret, but is able to buy whole sets of Counsellors, nay, he hath so much to offer, that Princes them­selves, [Page 22] and even Crowned Heads are scarce proof against it. Can we not remember when Prorogations and Dissolutions of Parliament were trafiqued for, Compositions made for Neu­tralities, the Price paid at Whitehall, and a Page of the back Stairs erected into a Treasurer Quoad hoc, for receiving this goodly secret service mony, which we now feel, what a disservice it has proved to the Publick, what we have seen done here, may we not easily imagine to be still practised in other parts, nay as great as this Princes Wealth is, his ambition is yet more end­less and unbounded, which neither declining years, nor growing infirmities can correct or moderate, he makes War for his Glory, and Peace he calls his Guift, and so he may lenty too, with a much juster Title, but that he keeps to himself while all Mankind starves about him, except those only that live upon his Basket. Europe, Africk and America can give Testimony to the vastness of his Designs, tho' they have not equally prosper'd in all places, and it is not long since that they began to disclose themselves too in Asia, but the Climate was too warm for them, what have we seen in a long Reign of forty eight years, but some Princes and States unjustly attacked, others menaced, Popes crouching to redeem his displeasure, the dispensers of pardons [Page 23] forced to ask one, on the other side multitudes of his own Subjects for keeping a good Consci­ence, first circumvented by strains of Law, then driven out to seek protection elsewhere, contrary to all Law, Faith, and Prudence. Capital Cities Bombarded, and laid in ashes for every light of­fence, and the injured obliged at last to make the Satisfaction, Towns surpriz'd in Times of Peace, without any provocation given, and for no other reason but that of conveniency, Princes stript of their Territories and never more admit­ted to re-enter, because they were suspected not to incline to his Interests, and their Conduct was displeasing, Provinces ravish'd and dis­membred upon Titles that had been abjured, and what before was but an encroachment upon Neighbours, or devouring by peace-meales is now turn'd into an attempt to swallow all Europe. But what then? must we give up our selves as a Prey, because the mighty Nimrod pursues us; if we may say with David, that we are surround­ed with Enemies on every side, that they gape upon us, and are ready to devour us, can't we take up his confidence too, and trust that God will deliver us, if we act like men, and look up to him for his Salvation. If all great difficulties must be submitted to, and force and violence, for being exorbitant, may not be resisted, then the most [Page 24] Heroick of all Vertues, Fortitude is but an empty Name, which is only conversant about things not easie to be attempted, or surmounted, it does not indeed seek contention, but where it is unreasonably urged, it never declines it; in calm and quiet times it gives way to Civil and Domestick Concerns, and like some Roman Com­manders, 'tis found at the Plow, or in some Rural Occupation, till the Service of ones Coun­try, or the Insolence of an Enemy, rouzes the noble Passion, arms it with anger and disdain, and then all opposition is but food to an aspiring flame, which it catches at, works it self into, and reduces to nothing. Incredible at most have been the Successes of those, who have taken up a Resolution never to yield, and some from a low Ebb of Fortune, have recover'd themselves, and lost nothing, because they were willing to hazard All. The Gauls and Cartha­ginians both over-run Italy in their Turns, yet they who prevail'd over an entire State, were baffled by a broken one. We once thought our selves Masters of France, when a nick-named King of Bourges canton'd in his own Country, re­cover'd Paris, and the whole Kingdom again. What shall we say? that there are stated bounds set to the Rage of Men, as well as to the swelling of the waters, or that such is the Power of Vigour [Page 25] and Constancy that it runs an Enemy out of breath, and finds out a weak side, which only long grapling together could discover; the An­cients knew not better how to express such a surprizing Change, then by saying their blind Goddess was either wearied, or relented; but it becomes Christians rather with humility to own, that the most reduced State is the proper Season for the Almighty to arise, and confound the Ar­rogant Oppressor, and to make it appear that he is a present help in time of need. But though I have not disguis'd any thing of our Enemies Strength, because I would not abate our vigilance, and pre­venting care, yet I am far from thinking, that our case is any way desperate, or without resource, if we do but make use of the means, that are still in our hands for our preservation.

In the days of Elijah when the Israelites were parched with drought, and a three years longing expectation of a change of Weather, and that the time of their refreshing was come, the Directions the Prophet gave to his Servant were, arise, go up now, and look towards the Sea, which he often repeated, reporting at first, that he saw nothing, but at last a Cloud began to appear, which soon o're-spread the whole Face of Heaven; if we after some years disappointment would cast our eyes the same way, we should see that which [Page 26] would be no small comfort to us at present, and what may be yet much more extensive in its consequences, we may contemplate a Fleet de­sign'd to have surpriz'd us, before we were all joined, and after that to have convoyed over an Army of French and Irish, who were to have laid the Kingdom desolate, in order to settle it, I say we might have seen those fallen into a Pit who had digged it for others, surpriz'd themselves to find us better prepared to receive them, then they expected, and that they could not now re­tire, till they were beaten, burnt and scatter'd so, as to run to Rocks and Shoals for shelter. But I shant enlarge further upon this Subject, be­cause I dont doubt, but it is, (as it ought ever to be) fresh in every mans memory: But it suffices me to observe that the French are not without their mistakes and failing in conduct, as also that Success is not chained to all their Enterprizes. If the Prospect at Land has not been hitherto al­together so pleasant, yet I dont see, what there is there to terrifie, or distract us, that the French should now and then surprize a Neighbouring Town at the very opening of the Year, is no such startling thing, if it be considered, that they make use of a Season, in which nothing hinders, but they may unite their whole Force, and bring it all to bear upon one place, that they are under [Page 27] no necessity of management for any manner of expence necessary to the War, but have their Magazines all filled for the Subsistance of any number of Men and Horses, and are provided with Artillery at hand sufficient to lay all flat be­fore them, which makes them quicker in their executions, then any relief can be in assembling, and the advantages being so great in gaining a little time, it ought to teach others not to favour an Enemies being early in the Field, whilst they are perhaps deliberating about their Preparati­ons: But that the French should act defensively all the rest of the Campagn (as they have done of late since His Majesty has been pleased to take upon him the Conduct of the War in Flanders) proves at least that they rely more upon Policy, and Stratagem then the Courages of their Men as superiour to ours, and therefore I know not why we should sink in our own Opinion of our selves.

But to make it further appear what little rea­son we have to distrust the goodness of our Troops, I am not afraid to instance in the late Action at Steenkerk, however others have drawn out of it a Subject for their boasting, that we should take a long march to attack the French in their Camp (which they know so well how to choose) is an argument that we seek as [Page 28] much the occasions to give them Battle, as they industriously avoid them; that about twenty Ba­talions of ours should be engaged with above double the number of the Enemy, that they should beat them from post to post, till they were Masters of two of their Batteries, kill and wound almost as many of them as our whole number amounted to, shews that whenever the advantage shall be equal on both sides, or that the disadvantage is not intollerable, we may hope to give a good account of them; if the straitness of the ground or any other Obstacles, which I dont pretend to be well enough versed in military matters to explain, kept their Foot from being ruined that day, they ought rather to ascribe it to their good fortune, then any of their performances: It is no small sign how de­sirous they are, to have as few such to oppose them as may be, since they made such extrava­gant offers to draw the wounded Prisoners into their Service, and used so many artifices to de­tain those that would not be tempted, which tho' it was notoriously unjust, as being contrary to the Faith of their Cartel, yet one can't say it was imprudent, having made so late a tryal what those men were able to do, who, it is certain, be­haved themselves to the admiration of both Par­ties. A passionate love to ones Country will excuse [Page 29] one, if I confine my self more particularly to take notice of those that went from hence, of whom I have heard that honourable Character, that for their zeal and fidelity to their Majesties Service, for their union among themselves, with­out any of those distinctions, that are kept up with such violence in the rest of the Kingdom, and for the gayety and briskness, with which they are led on to Action, that rather increases in it, they are to be compared with any Body of Men, that are in any part of the World, whose undauntedness of Courage prognosticks, that they may one day sully the Glory of him, that proudly takes to himself the Name of Invin­cible. These then are the Foundations we have to depend upon, under God, a victorious Navy, and untainted Army, which has already done great things in Ireland, as an earnest of what may be expected from them in other parts. It re­mains therefore on our part to give fitting en­couragement both to one and to the other, those whom their Circumstances exempt from fight­ing for their Country, have yet a share to bear in the defence of it, which is freely to contribute to maintain such as are not sparing of their bloud for their sakes. As we are Islanders, I suppose it is not to be feared that we shall neglect the Sea, but I know not whether every one is as fully posses­sed [Page 30] of the equal usefullness of an Army to act of­fensively by Land.

If there be any such, I hope they will rectifie their mistake, when they reflect we are too near the Continent, not to be concerned in whatever is doing there, especially on our opposite Coast, the Parliaments in King Charles the 2^d. time, even when they they were most suspected to follow hlindfold the inclinations of the Court, were yet so sensible, of how fatal a consequence it would be to Us here, if the French King should be suf­fered to be Master of the Spanish Netherlands, that they never failed to lay hold on all occasions to make vehement Addresses on that account, with offers of their Lives and Fortunes to preserve that Barrier; and can we now with indifference look upon the further Progress that is made there, when nothing is left to put any stop to their be­ing possess'd of the poor remainder, but that which is indeed the best of Ramparts, the Bodies of Men, and if any considerations should make us lay open that Bulwark by withdrawing our joint assistance, what is more visible, then that not only Flanders would be immediately over­run, but Holland too would be reduced to the last extremity, if they could not save themselves by submitting to any Conditions that should be imposed. In all which cases what would our [Page 31] cautious Maximes avail us, of depending upon our Situation, either to act defensively, or to manage the War separately, I fear we should make a wrong Calculation, if we think our selves stronger then the French at Sea without our con­junction with the Dutch, as it is certain they cant carry on the War at Land without our help.

If we first renounce the Terms of the Alliance we teach others to follow the example, and to take no care but for themselves; if by this means the Dutch Squadron should stay at home, I would fain know, whether we do not then lose more Ships, than were burnt of the French last Summer; if we have been so provident as to se­cure a reserve to supply their places in some measure, have we found Seamen so plentiful as to man many more Ships than those we have set out hitherto; or does any body doubt, but the French have all along been building as fast as we, and who can tell, but they have re­sources besides, which we have not: There are Princes very powerful at Sea, who have not yet taken party in this War, and Ships of all Rates may be hired compleatly equipped, as some­times Land forces are. Should we once bring our selves to such a confession of our weakness, as to play only a defensive game; I am apt to believe we shall find our selves mistaken even in [Page 32] the managing part, and be no such savers, as we make an account for; if a strong diversion be not made abroad, we shall be so much the more liable to be insulted at home, which a long ex­tended open Coast does sufficiently expose us to, together with an inviting party among our selves, who daily shew with impunity, not on­ly a disposition, but an impatience to joyn with our Enemies, and this will put us under a neces­sity of keeping an Army in the Bowels of our Country, who can never be supposed to be so well disciplined, but it will be more for the ge­neral interest, and particularly for that of land­ed men, whatever the disadvantage may be pre­tended in carrying out mony to pay them a­broad, rather to leave them there still to forage in places, where long usage has made it more tollerable.

A Descent (no doubt) such as his Majesty has been pleased to declare he intends, would above all things revive the Spirits of this drooping Coun­try, and (by Gods assistance) raise its reputation to the pitch it has been at in former Ages, but then it must not be undertaken by halves, nor with a neglect of what advantages a vigilant Enemy may draw from it, while such a design is putting in execution; least that might be to endeavour only to wound him in a Limb, in a [Page 33] remote Province, and receive our selves at the same time a mortal Wound in a vital part, for such I must look upon Flanders and Holland to be, which in the posture of this War, stand as the Outworks to England, and those being once lost, I question whether there be any other choice left, but to fall by Storm or Surrender. It may be ill curing by revulsion, if care be not taken to pre­vent the parties falling into a greater weakness by the remedy. Scipio did not carry the War in­to Africk, till Marcellus in many tryals had given an assurance, they could make a stand in Italy: Till we can have some satisfaction of the same nature, ought we not rather to apply our vigour, where we may at once both pary and thrust.

Supposing a Descent not yet practicable with a Defence, we must look upon Flanders as the weak side of France, on this account at least that it is the only part where it can be come at at present, and it is a sign they have that opinion of it themselves, by their covering it in that manner with Fortifications, where any Frontier Town hath an inaccessible side by reason of a Morass, steep Rock, or the like, it requires little cant or ex­pence to secure it, as far as that goes, I dont say this is the Situation of the other parts of France, but they have an advantage almost equivalent to it, which is they find themselves safe from any [Page 34] very vigorous Attack on their East-side, till a Peace with the Turk, will allow more, and better Troops to be drawn down that way. In the mean time it were to be wished, not only that care should be taken to keep up our numbers compleat (which by the by I think ought not to be left so much to chance and uncertainty, as that our defence should rely wholly on the Scum and Tatters of the Town and Country, which are ordinarily your volonteer recruits) but that we should rather strain to augment, then dimi­nish them. If the Enemy increases in Strength every Year, and we lessen ours, or keep at a stand, we may quickly see an end of the War, but it will be with our ruine. I am aware that the main objection against all that is here touch'd up­on remains yet to be spoken to, which is in short a want of mony, and that nothing can act be­yond its power; I allow the Maxime is true, but I hope the Application is wrong in the present Case. To be engaged in a War, and not to feel it, is a vain Imagination; but if the War we are entered into, be unavoidable, if it is for our All, and that mony is the Sinews of it, there is no doubt, but it must be had, if it can be found. It is better paid to keep danger at a distance, then to redeem a Military Execu­tion, and the one or the other is like to be our [Page 35] Lot. By our way of Living, and by the Course of our Trade, one would not think that we are so far exhausted, as some People seem to com­plain, we have yet wherewithal for superfluities, no price deters us from gratifying our vanity and luxury, and while that lasts, all close-handedness in a common Concern, will look more like a grudging of the Publick, then any real necessity. I dont say but some branches may be as far charged, as they will reasonably bear, but are there not others that have not yet been try'd? we see the industry of our Enemies and of our Friends too, who leave no stone unturn'd, but daily set on foot new Projects and Proposals to provide for the growing Occasions, if we cant invent, I wish we could imitate, the Abuse of these things lies only in the continuance of them, beyond the necessity that first enforces them, which no constitution of Government can so well remedy, as we may; but otherwise all Methods taken up by Publick Authority in the Case of Self-preservation are just and honest; skin for skin, and all that a man has, will he give for his life, is not more a Description of the practice of Man­kind then it is an Advice, what ought to be done in such Emergencies, he cannot be accounted an Englishman, who does not value this cause at the same rate, in which not only his own being [Page 36] is concern'd, but the being of the whole English Nation down to all posterity. Is not this enough to justifie either French, Dutch, or Moscovitish ways (if you will) when others fail to raise mony in proportion to the want of it. I have wonder'd to see some men busie themselves in writing studied Pamphlets against this, or that way of raising of mony, without being pleased to extend their care a little further, to shew us at the same time, how the Publick should be otherwise sup­plied. I know not whether such Authors may not be something of the Humour of the Mob, that will gut, or pull down a Fabrick for no­thing, when they wont lay a Brick, or a Plank towards repairing it, without being paid for it, but do they think? every thing is to be rejected, in which they can remark an inconvenience, prudential deliberations have comparative good and evil for their Object, and that is best, which has the least of ill in it; now I would gladly be resolved by these nice Examiners of Matters, which is more eligible to run a more then proba­ble risque of losing all one has, or to pay a tenth, an eighth, or some such rateable part out of ones Expences by a General Excise. I would not be misunderstood, I am not pleading for an Excise, nor do I know any body that would, but upon a Supposition, that it is the only way left [Page 37] for our Safety, I know these are cases reserved to a Parlia­ment, which no body ought therefore to meddle with, either to write for, or against, it belongs only to them to consider in what measure they will supply Their Majesties, and they are the sole Judges, by what method it is fit to be done, so that it is as much a presumption for people without doors to prevent them, as it would be to prescribe to them. But otherwise if this were a point proper to be argued, I must confess nothing would incline me more to think well of a General Excise, then some of the Objections that I find made against it. When I see it represented sometimes as a Fonds that would make Parliaments useless, and at other times, that it is able to furnish besides what is necessary for all extraordinary oc­casions, mony enough to bribe both Houses to consent to keep it up, I can fancy it no less then a Treasure equal to the Revenue of France, having hitherto believed that nothing but that was strong enough to work such wonderful effects; and I am tempted to wish, that the Author was known, and that his judgment was such as might be safely relied upon, I should then rejoyce, that the Nation had so rich a Mine yet unopen'd, reserv'd like a Sacred Treasure, (as they say there was at Rome,) not to be touch'd, but upon an Invasion of the Gauls, that is the French: not doubting but let the Sum be never so great, a Salvo would be found against all the Romantick. Notions of the Uses it would be put to, I am satisfied that it ought to be the least of our fears, that a Par­liament should ever be brought to give once for all, we have a notable Instance to the contrary in one of the late Reigns, nor do I conceive how it can be imagined, that an excise like the Trojan Horse should carry a House of Commons in its belly, so as there needs only but to open the Machine, and out comes three or four hundred Members at least, of what size or complection [Page 38] you would have them, does any body think in good earnest, that either the Freeholders, or Burgers of Eng­land are all such Cullies, or the Excise-men generally such Darlings of the People, that for their sakes, they should irresistibly choose those for their Representatives, who will not only perpetuate what is supposed to be extreamly burthensome, but endanger their liberty of choice for the future. Besides the reflections is very un­just, as well as indecent upon the King, to load him with the suspition of any such design, who having voluntari­ly given up a considerable Revenue, which was for ever fixed in the Crown, and that somewhat unseasonably too, (if one may say so) for the ease of his People, ought to have removed all jealousie, as if he were capable of grasp­ing at more, or detaining any thing longer, then it may be subservient to our security; but such Arguments as these serve only to introduce a clouted Phantome, con­trived to scarce People with, which no body sure will break his neck out of a Window, to avoid. Therefore I shall pursue this matter no further, remembring the Bounds, within which it is circumscribed, and acquiescing in the Wisdom of those, who are now assembled to de­liberate upon the most important Points, that were ever under the consideration of an English Parliament; beseeching God to direct and invigorate their Counsels, that maturely weighing the difficulties we labour under, both from within, and without, they may propor­tion their advices and assistances, according to the ur­gency of Affairs, so that Generations to come may rise up, and bless them for continuing down to them the civil and religious Liberties which we now en­joy.