GReat are the cryings out of some of you of the Army , and the people of these Nations , concerning the dissolving of the late Parliament , and it appears with a pretence of a very great zeal , that you have for Liberty , Equity , and Justice , and the general good of the three Nations , and you appear in a great fear , that if the people lose the enjoying of Parliaments , that then they shall lose their birth-right and their liberty , both as men , and as Christians ; and that equity shall be laid aside , and that the people must be ruled over by a tyrannical power of rebellious men , whose wills must be the Lawes that the people must obey . But you say if the Parliaments be chosen by the people , then in effect the people makes their own Lawes to be governed by , because they chose their Law-makers themselves ; and this is Englands Birth-right you say , and it is just and equall that the people should enjoy it ; and if they do not , then the preservation of the people of God you say is lost , and all good government will cease , and the people will be made a prey upon , and so the three Nations will be ruined at once ; and therefore seeing such things are like to come to passe , if a Parliament chosen by the people be not upheld , some of you have said , you will assert their Cause to the last drop of your blood .

Answ. Friends , It 's good to be zealously affected in a good cause , and its good that the zeal be according to knowledg , & its precious to have the zeal moderated with the wisdom of God ; therefore I exhort you in that life & wisdom which is of Christ , my Master , ( who came not to destroymens lives , but to save them ) that you would mind the dread & fear of the Lord God , which is the beginning of wisdom , & be moderate , & in coolnesse consider these things which I shall declare unto you , which in waiting upon the Lord , he by his spirit of wisdom & understanding opened in me , concerning the chusing of Parliaments by the voyces of the people , and I know that you who truly desires the good of Gods people , and that mercy & justice might be establishd by righteous Laws , ( whereby equity and justice might be done unto all without respect of persons ) may clearly see with Gods witnesse in you ( which will answer to my words ) that you are not like to see your desires fulfilled by a Parliament that 's chosen by the voyces of the people ; mark the reasons ; because the greater parts of the people that are admitted to chuse Parliament men , are such as do not truly desire the good of Gods people , whatever they may profess in words ; and therefore it being in their power to chuse whom they will among themselves ( as it is ) because most voyces carries it ; they will chuse such men , as are like minded with themselves , that 's plain and according to the Scriptures , for the world loveth their own , as saith John ; and now for proof , that the greater part are not such as desire the good of the Lords people , I would have you consider , how that the Scripture saith , that the flock of Christ is a little flock ; and Christ saith , Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life , and few there be that find it ; but broad is the way that leadeth unto destruction , and many there be that walk therein , and though Israel be as the sand of the Sea , yet but a remnant shall be saved ; now if ye believe these Scriptures , then may you see that a Parliament that is chosen by most voyces , are not like to act for God , and the good of his people ; and it hath been the complaint of the soberest and honestest men in several Counties , when they should have chosen Parliament men , that they could not chuse such a man as they judged would act singly for the good of the people of God and the Country , because they were over-voted by the wild disaffected people , who sometimes have been stirred up by their Priests to vote for such a man as the Priests knew would act for their covetous , oppressing self-interest ; and in some places some great proud men who desired to be in Authority , hath feasted the people , and sent gifts to them with flatteries , thereby striving to get the people to vote for them , promising them to stand for their Liberties , when it hath been but to serve their own self-ends , and thus the people have been deceived ; and if at any time in some Counties and places , the honest sober people have chosen some honest men to serve in Parliament , yet there being so many in the Parliament that have sought their own honour and gain , that such men as were honest , and would have made just Laws , and have acted for Equity and Liberty , they have been hindred ; because what is done in Parliament , is done by most voyces also , and the honest party in the Parliament having been the lesser party , have been over voted also : the light in your consciences will witness that these things are true .

And whereas it is said , That it is Englands Birth right that the people should chuse their own Law-makers .

I answer , then many thousands of men in England have been wronged of , and kept long from their Birth-right ; for such as are not Freemen of some Corporations , or have not free land of their own , are not permitted to chuse Parliament men , ( mark that ) though they be farre more honest and understanding men then many that are free of such Corporations , and have such land ; so that it s but a part of the people that must chuse Law-makers ; and further , he that hath free land worth forty shillings the year in several Counties , he may give his voyce in several Counties where his land lieth , for several Parliament men , when as he that hath land but in one County , cannot have the same priviledge , though he be a far more honest man ; and he that 's a free-man of that Corporation , that findes a Parliament man , or men ; and hath free lands in the country also , he may chuse both in the one , and other ; but he that is not free of such a place , he may not have the like priviledge , though he be more honester then the other ; and this arose from the same ground , that negative voyces arose from ; And it hath been the manner and custome of England , to call and chuse many wise men , after the flesh , & many mighty , and noble men ( so called ) to be Parliament men , that so we see the calling & chusing of Parliaments in England , hath bin exactly contrary to Gods calling , & chusing ; Read 1 Cor. 1.26 . ( & therefore such Parliaments are not like to act for God & the good of his people , but against them ) But that which God hath called and chosen , shall confound and bring to nought the wise and the mighty , and the noble things ( so called of the world ) ( and this the Lord will bring to pass ) that so no flesh may glory in his presence ; Read 1 Cor. 1.27 , 28 , 29. And likewise the chusing of Parliament men , according to the custom of England ( which is called its Birth-right ) stands in respect of persons , and not in equality ; for the rich covetous oppressing men , who oppresseth the poor , they have the only power to chuse Law-makers , and they will chuse to be sure such as will uphold them in their oppression ; and the poor man that is oppressed , though he have no power allowed him to chuse , yet he must be subject to the Lawes which they make who are his oppressors , or else he is accounted a Rebell ; so what right think ye is the oppressed like to have , when his oppressors chuse the men that are to be Judges of his cause ; and thus the rich men oppress the poor , and draw them before their Judgment feats , as they did in james his dayes ; James 2.6 . These things being considered , ye may see the unequalnesse and partiality that hath been in chusing of Parliaments , according to Englands custom , and how unlike it is that a Parliament so chosen should make England a free Nation , seeing the great oppressors of the land ( viz. ) Priests , and Lawyers , and the great wicked , covetous , persecuting men are so much concerned in the chusing them ; so that if Parliaments so chosen should continue , the people of the Lord are not like to be set free from their oppression , ( though Parliaments and Rulers have been made to do many good things by a power which many of them scarce knew ) but the Lord hath a further thing yet to do in the Nations , then either Protectors or Parliaments would submit unto ; therefore the Lord hath thrown them by , but they had first a day of tryal given them , and now is the Lord trying others , and if they will not do his work , in breaking every yoke , and letting the oppressed go free , God will assuredly break them with a greater destruction then came upon those before them ; Therefore let your moderation be known unto all men , for the Lord is at hand ; and thirst not after blood , lest the Lord give ye blood to drink ; and we know that Kings , and Protectors , and Parliaments have made fair pretences , and have given themselves fine titles , and have pleaded that they had a just right to , and a necessity for their authority , and sought to get into the affections of the people by smooth words and large promises , to carry on their own design , but their hearts were not right before the Lord ; and therefore he broke them , and their titles ; and know that the people that fear God , they matter not titles , and high names , but they look for righteous actions to be brought forth ; & many sees that a Parliament that was chose by the most voyces of the outwardly rich people , were not like to act righteously ; and therefore they are willing to wait to see what the Lord will do by others , and we see that people have been in great blindness , in contending for Parliaments so chosen ; so let this wisdom be learned and lived in , which is better then the strength of fools , who oft perish in their passion and folly .

And now friends in the Army and Committee that have turned out the Parliament , dread ye the Lord God , and mind the equall , just , noble principle of God in you , which hath stirred against tyranny and oppression , and make it not your business to declare onely for freedom , as some before you did , and did not the thing they declared for ; but in the fear and wisdom of the Lord , go ye on to act for the good of all his creatures , and seek not your own honours , but singly do the same both for your friends and enemies , that you would have them do for you if they were in authority as ye are ; and untill ye come to this , ye are not like to prosper ; the Lord abhorreth the lying , flattering , double , deceitful tongue and heart ; and the people also have been wearied with fair words , because the actions have been wanting that should have accompanied the said words .

Remember how you have cryed out against the oppression of a forced maintenance for teachers , and now ye are tried , and have power given you to break that oppression down , which some of you I say have desired others to do ; therefore abuse not your power , but leave the people free to maintain their own Teachers ; ( mark ) The Ministers that Christ sends forth , they have no need of you in this particular , as to provide food and raiment for them , for their heavenly Father knowes that they have need of those things , and provides it for them without an outward Law to compell it , that so they lack not any thing ; and that Teacher that will not consent to this , he serveth not the Lord Jesus , but his own belly ; and that is his God ; and such a one can never profit the people , and ( mark ) if ye should take away tythes , & command by a Law any other maintenance from us for Teachers , that would be the same Tyranny and oppression in the nature and ground of it , that tithes were , and we must bear our testimony against it also , and our lives , or estates , or both must yet suffer ; therefore if ye do thus , you leave us in the same bondage as before ; And let Lawes be provided , that are righteous , just , and equall , according to that of God in the conscience , and let such be impowred to execute them that will hear and determine causes freely , according to righteousness ; and let causes of difference between man and man be heard in every County , and when by plain proof of 2 or 3 witnesses ( without transgressing Christs doctrine ) it come to be manifested who have done the wrong , then let the executioners of the Law be impowred to cause the party or parties , to restore for the wrong that is done according to equity , that so this abominable oppression about the Law & Lawyers may be broken down ; and thunder down all ungodly gamings , and showes , whereby the foolish wilde people are cheated of their monies , and spends away their precious time to the dishonour of the pure God .

And let the people of the Lord have their liberty , to speak his word freely , where and when his spirit leads them and gives them utterance ; and let the Law take hold on such as would wrong any mans person or estate .

And let the dread of the Lord be upon your spirits , and wait in his light , to receive his wisdom , that therein you may be ordered in the particular , and in it order all things to his glory , and that ye may remove all that which is standing , which is contrary to the will of God .

And meddle not to establish Religion and Teachers by an outward Law , for verily if ye do , ye will be broken ; Let that alone to Christ , whose work it is : Consider all that went before you of late years , that would be medling with such things , the Lord broke them to pieces , and they were warned in their day , as ye are now . And let not your many victories which ye have obtained , nor your being preserved in so many overturnings ( wherein ye have been made Instrumental ) nor your strength , courage , nor wisdom puff ye up ; for thus saith the Lord God , even as earthen vessels are in the hands of a Potter , ( who have power to dash them one against another , until they be broken , or to break them in pieces with another thing , that appears more weake then they ) even so are you in my hand saith the Lord ; and I can confound your wisdom , and take away your courage , and smite you with faintness , and dauntedness of spirit in the twinkling of an eye ; therefore seek not your selves , for if you do , your day shall be but short .

Remember you of the Army had power once before to have acted for the good of your Nation , but the subtilty in some who sought themselves ( whom God hath since blasted ) beguiled you , and ( mark ) some of you sold your power for Commissions , and others for nothing but flattering words , and so betrayed your own integrity , and the cause of your Country ; and now you have power again , do not abuse it ; serve not the lusts nor the self-interest of any man or men whatsoever , but serve the Lord and your Generation faithfully ; mark , if you consent to deceit , and make an agreement with death , through fear or any self-end whatsoever , God will break that agreement , and bring shame upon you for it . And Friends , there is a lofty , proud , self-seeking spirit yet amongst many of you , which if you cease not from , it will be the cause of your destruction ; and truly , if you provoke the Lord to break you , it will be more heavie & terrible then the breaking of those that were before you ; therefore let the Lord be minded , and linger not about things , but be valiant , and act faithfully for the just liberty of all , without respect of persons , and let revenge be forgotten , and this will overcome your enemies , and make you truly honourable in the hearts of all people . This is your day , prise it , And let your deeds make it manifest to the people , that you have not sought your selves , ( in this which you have done ) but the general good of all , and then you will need the fewer words to prove your enemies lyars , who have accused you to be self-seekers . And now woe is coming both upon Teachers , Rulers and people that are in the good words , but out of the good deeds and life ; and the Eternal God who is the light , will break , shatter , confound and over-turn , untill the good life come up and be set on the top of all ; and now the name of truth only will be too narrow a covering , for it is the nature of truth it self that will be able to cover , and to be a sure hiding-place in this the day of the wrath of the Lamb.