I Have observed that generally books written for the healing of our breaches, have looked to one single Interest only, when as in reason and religion also, we ought to accommodate our selves as far as equity will give leave to the minds of others, for self humor is a di­sturbing thing and we are not made to swallow up one ano­ther, but rather to endeavour to our utmost power to give satisfaction to all sober Interests, and this I conceive is the high-way to compose our differences, I have here propoun­ded that which may in reason and conscience, can but will comply, give content to the Royalist, Presbiterian, and Congregational Interests.

It is certainly a good, though difficult work to unite parties, and to bring 2. if it be possible 3. into one; for my own particular I am little concerned in affairs among us, so as to be bettered or worsted any other wayes then the Common weal shall suffer, and as I am pained with longing till I see my native Country settled upon foundations of righteous­nesse [Page 2]and peace, I have therefore studied what may be aba­ted of the humor of each side and partie, and what allowed to one another, and have taken into my thoughts, what materially relates to our differences, and I find one vanity much abounding among the sons of men, that they will take up something that one way or other suits with their own convenience, and then are so weded to their own case as not to see the least reason in anothers, be there never so much; and it is too much the unhappinesse of English men, that they like a thing upon a meer fancie, rather then upon grounds in reason which puts upon earnest desire of change continually. I have likewise considered this maxim, that that which in it self is best, yet may not be best for such a people so and so qualified; And as good food may be dan­gerous when a body is not rightly prepared to receive it, so may a civil Government which may have many conve­niences in it, prove the destruction of a people, not constitu­ted to embrace it, and that by the woful warrs and force that must be to maintain that which mens affection opposeth, and now what ever the things I propound may be in them­selves absolutely considered, yet I am fully satisfied as the case stands, amongst us they are the things only that can settle us, and are no ways repugnant to honesty and consci­ence, which is chiefly to be preferred, I have impartially dis­coursed, with all sorts and parties and watched where any strength should lay against my affirmations, & finding none able to gain-say them in point of solid argument, is that only which moves me to think them so reasonable, as to present them to publick view: I think not fit to insert here the grounds of what I offer, because of their tediousnes & your ability at first sight, to see into the reason of them more then my self; Upon long deliberation and much weighing them, now I beleeve if at this turn prejudice and rigor be not laid aside, and such moderation prudence and charity as to do [Page 4]good against evil made use of by authority & wickednesse be not suppressed among the people, that our wounds wil be only skinned over and shortly break out againe to the great danger of the whole body. First therefore the genius of the people of England not yeilding to a Common-wealth-go­vernment, but requiring a Kingly one, let moderate Monar­chy be establisht, wherein the King may rule with Christian Prudence and Policie, wherein the peoples reall good may be had in regard, and their true freedome secured, and the rights and priviledges of the peoples Representatives in Par­liament maintained, and wherein also each estate may be ob­liged to promote together good Lawes for the Land. Some there be that cannot be contented with Royall Majestie, as a title for the King, or great magnificent excellent Soveraigne, but dread and adore him under the termes of sacred, infi­nite, as one that can doe no wrong: but how this honour to man tendeth to the honour of God, let the impartiall judge. 2. As to Church-government, let an Assembly besummon'd of English, Scots, French, and Dutch, Protestant ministers, Epis­copalians, Presbyteriant, and Congregationall persons, where­of Dr. Hamond, Mr. Peirson, Dr Seman, Mr. Pool, Mr. Nie, Dr. Owen, and Mr. Baxter would doe well to be, seaven being versed in the Controversie, who may freely debate and con­sider what the Magistrates power and businesse is in matters of Religion, and what government Christ hath appointed for his Church, and that we may have neither name or thing establisht, but what the word of God alloweth of; and that tradition and custome may be no offence, seeing the holy Scriptures are able to make the man of God wise to salva­tion through faith in Christ; therefore if this golden rule al­low of Bishops, let us have them, or Elders let us have them, and such Pastors, Deacons, and Church Officers, neither more, lesse, or any other, all made good by such clear proofe and sound evidence, & printed: that no consciencious person [Page 4]may be constrained either to flie or suffer through a non­conformitie, and such only left as will comply with any thing that shall comport with their ease and profit, and if what be done in Church-affaires be fully proved, the gain-sayers mouth will be stopt, and the Churches be more pure and in­tire, giving no occasion for separation from them. Now I doe humbly conceive this following course would doe very well as to these matters, namely, if any place doe want a Minister, let any foure of the Parish have libertie to bring in one to preach upon tryall, afterward let some good men in the Parish present one that they doe judge fit to Authoritie with desire to be admitted to be their Minister, and to re­ceive the maintenance allowed; but regard should be had as near as may be to the generalitie of tose that are good in the Parish as to the choice, and the Minister setled, his worke should be to gather out of the Parish into the Church all such as shall be fit, and to administer the Sacraments to them, and to baptize their Children: and the Ministers further worke should be on the Lords day in the morning to begin with a short preyer for a blessing on the whole day, or the Lords prayer, that those that do scruple formes may come in after­ward, and then to read a Chjapter in the Old Testament, of­ten the 20 Exod. and in the Psalmes, and a Chapter in the New Testament, and then proceed to singing a Psalme, pray­er, and preaching, as usually, but not to be confin'd to a forme of words in prayer, but the substance only laid downe as it is excellently well by the last Assembly; and in the afternoone before Sermon to have on one Lords day Catechizing, ano­ther a Chapter read in the old and New Testament; and on the third, expounding of some part of Scripture; and so con­stantly, the Minsters worke should be also to bury and preach in season and out of season. Thus far most sober good men of the Episcopalian, Presbyterian, or Congregationall partie might agree, and if the Scripture requires no more, it is pit­tie [Page 5]more should be imposed, but there is a difference which should be decided with much wariness, and that is about Or­dination: Some hold that a Church constituted as I have be­fore mentioned, should choose ruling Elders, who should or­daine, and that the Apostles being vertually Elders did upon this account ordaine; others hold the Apostles ordained as extraordinary Officers, and so Ordination ceaseth; but it is generally received, that laying on of the hands of the Presby­terie, is an Eldership of Pastors of Churches; which if it may be made good from Scripture, then I conceive the ensuing expedient would tend very much towards reconciling of Brethren, let eight Parishes be constituted a Diocesse or Clas­sis, the Pastors of which to choose out one to be Bishop, Presi­dent or Chaireman, who with two or three or more of the rest of the Presbyters may ordaine: here is the Bishop that is with­out Lordliness, and that hath a flock to take care of.

Thirdly, As for liberty for tender consciences, there need be no more then this, that none should be debarred meerly meeting in private about the service of God, I do not meane by private that the doors shall be shut, but in other places be­sides the Church, and a penalty upon those that hinder them, for they may meet for the purpose of good discourse, repea­ting of Sermons, besides its hard to thrust out those that dif­fer only in circumstantialls; and if I mistake not, very Reve­rend fathers have highly approved that perticular, Church­es with their Minister should choose out such as God hath endeued to speak to edification, wherefore let only such be suppressed as shall preach or publish blasphemy, treason, or such grosse errors as the Parliament shall think fit to punish, this is not like to touch any truly godly, and then it is to be hoped that men will spend their heat against fundamentall errors, though retaining good will and compassion for the in­fected, and that an agreement in greater truths will swallow up differences about the lesser, and reconcile christians in [Page 6]love to one another, these three forementioned particulars, are not only very soveraign for the healing of our Nations, but I think I may call them the essentialls of settlement, and they will gain all the three great parties amongst us, and bind peace fast to us; but though these are the main things ne­cessary, yet there are two things more that very much con­duce to the making of our settlement such a compleat and happy one, as is to be wished.

The first is, An act of Indempnitie and forgetfullnesse, for all words, books, writings, actions Military and civill, in re­lation to our Wars, differences, changes, extended as far as possible; this will turn anger into love, but as for the war at first, it was a breach between the three estates, neither of which alone had power to make a Law, therefore to make the war with the King all one, as if it was undertaken by pri­vate persons, is to nullifie the power of the House of Com­mons, and an enslavery of the people, and for what hath been done since things have been out of course, christianity teach­eth us not revenge, wherefore let reason guided with cle­mency rule herein.

Secondly, That the Nations mind may go on, and the Par­liament not change from the intentions of the people, that an act be made that on such a certaine day, every three years the Sheriffe of each Country shall under a penalty, summon the Country to choose Knights and Burgesses to serve in Par­liament, who shall sit on such a certain day, likewise as shall be appointed, and the foregoing Parliament, if not dissolved, shall end the day before the new one cometh to sit, some ge­nerall qualifications would do well, as to choose no Atheist, Papist, Drunkard, Whore-monger, common swearers or pro­fane person, these things being done, other necessaries would be easie, you should not be daily in danger of plots, our common enemy would not be of & in our own bowels, there would be no more expectation of tumults or of more tos­sings, [Page 8]and things would be in such a quiet posture as Milita­ry Officers may be turned into Civil, swords into plough­shares, and every one may then set under his own Vine, eat­ing the fruit of his own labor. This will not only maintaine peace at home, but defend our peace from enemies abroad, then you will have a fair opportunity to set forward trade, to hear complaints, redresse grievances, to ease burthens, prevent fraud, to take off oppression, to consider poor pri­soners for debt, to equal elections for Parliament men, to cause Justice to be administred impartially, to suppresse scandalous profane, and obsceen books, to regulate the Law, and its charges, so as that the poorest wronged may have right, in all things to be a terror to evildoers, but a prais to thē that do well, then will righteousness run downe as a mighty stream, and God even our God will bless us, but whoever hath power given them and shall neglect the poor and needy, suffer violence and wickednesse, love their own ease, judge for re­ward: this their sin will be bitterness in the latter end unto them: Now there be these three things I would leave with you for the publick good, Namely,

First, That a house be set up in every County, with three overseers for the poor, that they which can work should, & the other be provided for, near the Sea, if a trade was mannaged, busses for fishing may be used, and many lame and blind imployed about the nets in the mean time, the coining of Copper tokens or Farthings, would much serve the good of the poor.

Secondly, That the art of Navigation may be strengthned, for through the neglect and breaking of it Seamen and shipping, the walls of our Nation is much lessened and decayed, and is in danger (if not lookt after) to fall and come to ruine.

Thirdly, As you would have God preserve us from the plague and sword, take a more effectual course then ever, to prevent and punish swea­ring, cursing, whoring, drunkennesse, cheating, Idle and loose gaming, and all prophanesse and debaucherie, otherwise what peace on earth if heaven should fight against us? I remember before our late troubles we was trou­bled with an uncivil wicked crew, given up to gaming, drinking, violence, playes, and all manner of sensual vanitie, who cared for no more religion then to nick name those that was indeed religious, and to vilifie stricknesse and cry down and abuse those whose tender consciences could not conform to imposed ceremonies.