LEt not any mans impatience , prejudice , or strong affection , carry him to the practise of , or an endeavouring to a settlement of the Nations on such Foundations , as may and will prove absolutely prejudiciall to the safety , peace and welfare of us , and our posterities .

We have for a long time prayed to our God in these words ; Lead us not into Temptation , but deliver us from all Evill ; which is to be taken in a double sense : As ,

Not to act Iniquity , from or by a Law , but to prevent it : and to be upon our watch , is in some measure , the answer of that part of the Lords Prayer .

Have not the English Nation , and the good , wise Senators therein experienced , how a single Persons Government , hath point blanck crossed their prayers , & their good intents when they were redy to put them into Laws for the good of posterity .

The whole prayer called the Lords Prayer , is not understood , nor doe most men understand what they doe , when they use it : for if they did but once understand what they pray for , they would act accordingly ; Thy will be done O Lord , on earth as it is in Heaven , &c. And yet men , nay wise men , that daily use thiss prayer , will daily act contrary things , and lead themselve into temptations , to act one part of the Lords prayer .

But they will thrust us into the highest temptations that posible can be on earth , and cunningly creep after themselves : What greater temptation was ever any man led into , than the late Protector was ; was he not led from one degree to another , till he grew so great and mightie , that his looks and threats could fright all men but fools .

Was he not a dread and terrour to that very Armie , that raised him from the mean condition he was once in , to all his greatnesse : What is the L. Fawconbridge ! & what has Thurloe done , but help subvert the Right , Liberty & Priviledge of the people of England . And could he not reward men at his will & pleasure , some that never did the least service for the Nation , nor ever did venture a haire of their heads , nor spend a penny of mony in the Parliaments Cause with great places of trust & profit , others that ventured their lives and estates , and received wounds and scars , First Mr. Hollis , Maj. Gen. Broun , Cor. Joyce M.G. Harrison , Quarterm . Courtney , Mr. Can Sr. H Vaine , M.G. Overton , Col. Ock●y , and many others . did he reward with Ignominie and Reproach , Prisons , Banishment and great threats to others , that did but speak for a righteous Government ; What may otherwayes be now expected ?

Was he not led into Temptations , when neither Law nor Justice could reach him .

Have men eyes & will not see , & ears & will not hear ; & still go on in hardning their hearts : Friends , My advise is , consider and take heed , least God come unaware & smite us with a curse , and destroy our Nation for our hypocrisy , and sinning against light and our own prayers .

Was not his case sad , when his temptations led him to sin against God , and his own prayers ; also the light of his understanding and conscience ; his praiers and appeals to the righteous God standeth registred in Heaven and on Earth also ; and yet will men follow his steps , and lead themselves into temtation : such men I would advise to leave of praying , and dissemble no more with God nor your Countrie-men .

Was there ever any man in our daies raised to that name and fame of Religion and profession , and led into somany snares and temptations . It s true , Christ Jesus was taken up to a Pinacle , and showed all the glory of the Earth ; Then said the Devil , all this I will give unto thee , if thou wile fall down and worship me , It s worth our remembrance at this time .

Who would now be led or thrust into temptation ; Is it for nought , that God raiseth up some poor worms to remind you of these things : Consider , ye wise in heart , and prudent in understanding , and harden not your hearts in the dayes of temptation , when your fathers tempted you , least Gods signal hand of judgement follow you and yours .

Was he not fed by the subtiltie and craft of some that knew his disposition and temper , and heightned by them , For that was good Law and Justice , that formerly was Treason , Injustice , and breach of Priviledge , &c. untill his Kingly Domination and stroke fell on their heads .

And is not the like now in this our day , hath not the subtiltie of some begotten Addresses from several parts ; as if they were to the son of God , whilest others nearer home are leading him into temptations , or thrusting him upon them ; remember what is said before : And it may be in time , you that are most eager for a fingle Person , may feele the first stroke in bodie or soule , if not in both . * * Princes enthroned , when once their turns are ended , hue down those staires by which themselves ascended . It was the late Protectors own Distitch . It s true , if you can touch Pitch , and not be defiled , you may do well ; it s a hard matter ; did not the late great Governour insnare some of all sorts that ever came to him ; and had he not a kinde of vertue that did run into men by his presence , & had not the late King the same vertue , for no sooner had any man kiss'd their hands , & talked with him , but presently cried him up ; & is not the same vertue still in one man when so lifted up ; is he not cried up for a brave man and so forth , though he may be a Devill at heart : Lead us not into temptation , nor your posterities , I beg .

How many degrees beyond the ordinary sphear , Will you build again , that God once destroyed . have you thrust good nature into ; and will you still go on , & bring him into all manner of temptations , & hereby besot or bewitch the poor & ignorant men , makes me wonder & ask what 's God doing .

But it s like you will set him as high as you can , and get gradually after him , and at length teach him to do as bad things as the old man did and his Predecessor , I mean the late King , until the poor Nation be in the like condition , as it was , under Oppression and Tirannie , against which was much blood and treasure spilt , & is like now to be contracted on them that did it : And many of ●ou were Law makers for it . by the craft and subtilty of such as would be above or beyond law and reason , and unto this will the Lawyers lend their assistance ; that so their work might increase , For the greatest part of the Lawyers did assist the King against the publick interest of the good people ; also they that pretended to the good old cause , are since corrupted . and will ere long draw up Indictments against all and every particular man that fought against the late King , for and in the Cause of the late Parliaments quarrell against him , there being law enough , say they , to hang every one of those that so fought or lent moneies ; and is not this the best that is like to come to us , a setting men together by the ears , one family against another , till at length we come to miserie and confusion , ruine and desolation .

Lead us not into temptations , but deliver us from all evill O Lord .

And from a Lord above Law , though ( never so just &c. ) he pretend to protect us ; least his little singer prove heavier than his fathers hand , which was bad enough .

The old mans principles , are not his sons ; and that wise men see and know . 〈◊〉 am perswa●ed that the ●●…e Protector ●as the wisest ●●d best that ●●er England ●ill have .

Which makes men at this time strugle and strive , who shall lead him by — one is for this , & another for that ; good reason will tell us , & also lead us out of Temptation , & not put us further into it : I pray confider & agree , put of the works of darkness & put on the Armor of light , who is for things & not men .

My meaning is this : God hath by a signall stroke of Justice taken away your King ; and by his divine hand of Providence your Protector ; and yet will you thrust your selves and one another into temptations , Make your heges and diches , bars , gates and stiles , never so strong , and he shall leap over them if not wholy beat them downe ; and spoyle the best laws you can make , and men will be tempted to lift him up , ( which need not ) and he , when lifted up and setled , will pull them after , which is no new thing : such is & will be our opression .

Your sons must go to Court for preferment , your daughters must do the like , and doth not this lead into temptations : Galantry is a snare , voluptiousnesse is a snare ; wantonesse is a delight , and naturall to a Court though of the meanest rank or stamp , what iniquities is there , and you have not done it , and led us into ? Pray consider , before it be too late ; time tarries for no man ; do not die while you are alive : I speak to all of all sorts and all Powers : Your Fathers are dead , and some of us had been happy if we had never seen this day , and had been taken away from the evill , that is and is like to come ; but a word to the wise is enough , onely let me mind you of one thing more , & then I shall by the mercy of God & his assistance be at rest , & wait Gods further appearances & follow him .

The wise and praying man foreseeth an evill and preventeth it ; also God hath said , the secrets of the Almighty are with them that fear him ; and they shall not fear what man can do unto them ; nor create fears and jealousies to themselves as some doe , nor subtilly make Bug-bears to fright poore ignorant men , as some do while some great ones act Machivel , & turn Atheists under a pretence of good , piety , & preservation of the Libertie of Gods people ; which Gods people hope they can trust God with all ; and so must doe when all vain hopes faile and fair pretences deceive us .

Let now our just Rights and Liberties be Asserted , and then no one single Person can hurt another , then if he kill or hurt any , the law will hang the Murderer , though he be a mighty man ; and if he steale away our monies and estates the Law will defend us ; and the true genuine Law is and ought to be such , and so settled and secured , that no man should be above it , or out of the reacht thereof ; but all men should be put into such a capacity , as he would they should do to him , so he to doe to others , rest .