Chap. IV. 7be HIS T 0 RY of tbe PuRrTANS~ 523 ,, vity? If they met without leave in {o great a number, were they told Rinter11 d I . I h f h . . egnum. ,, their error ? I ilia not me de Wit 1 t e matter o t e1r pettt10n; 1 6 59 , " but, dear brother, I mull tell you, I hear that dirt was thrown upon~ " his late bif!hnefs at that great meeting: that they were exhorted to " fiand up f~r that good old caufe, which had long lain afleep--I " thought my father had purfued it to the lafi. He died, praying for " thofe that defired to trample on his duft. Let us then not render evil " for good, and make his memory fiink before he is under ground. " Let us remember his !ail: legacy, and for his fake render his fucceffor " confiderable, and not make him vile, a thing of nought, and a by- " word. Whither do thefe things tend? What a· burly· burly is there? " One hundred indepe~l!linifiers called together; a council, as you " call It, of two or three hundred officers of a judgment. Remember " wnaf1ias always befallen impaling fpirits. Will not the loins of an '' impofing independent, or anabaptift, be as heavy as the loins of an " impaling prelate, or preibyter? And is it a dangerous opinion, that " dominion is fozmded in grace, when it is held by the church of Rome, " and a found principle when it is held by the fifth monarchy men? " Dear brother, let us not fall into the fins of other men Jell we par- ,, take of their plagues. Let it be fo carried, that all the people of " God, though under different forms; yea, even thofe whom you " count without, may enjoy their birthright and civil liberty; and that " no one party may tread upon the neck of another. It does not be- " come the magifl:rate to dcfcend into parties; but can the things you ~· do tend to this end ? Can thefe things be done, and the world not " think his highnefs a knave or a fool, or oppreifed with mutinous fpi- " rits? Dear brother, my fpirit is forely oppreifed with the confidera- " tion of the miferable fiate of the innocent people of thefe nations : " What have thefe ilieep done that their blood {hould be the price of our " lufl: and ambition? Let me beg you to remember, how his late high- " nefs loved you ; how he honoured you with the higheft truft, by " leaving the fword in your hand, which mull defend or defiroy us. " And his detlaring his highnefs his fucceifor, iliews, that he left it " there to preferve him and his reputation. 0 brother! ufe it to curb " extravagant fpirits, _and bufy-bodies, but let not the nations be go- " verned by !t. Letus take heed of arbitrary power; let us be govern- " ed by the known laws of the land; and let all things be kept in their " proper channels; and let the army be fo governed, that the world " m~y never hear of them unlefs there be occafion to fight. And truly, " brother, you muft pardon me, if I fay God and man may require this " duty at your hand, and lay all mifcarridges of the army, in point of ' 4 .difcipline, at your door. You fee I deal freely and plainly with you, Xxx2 "as
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