all the Glory be given to the most High from Men and Angels and that continually for his great Wisdom Power Glory and Majesty And great Honour and Renown great Joy Peace and Prosperity from the most High upon Englands Royal Majesty upon his Royal Person and all his Royal Relations that so he and they may long live to Reign for God and with God among the Sons of Men from Generation to Generation for the great Joy Peace and Prosperity of all Nations What Victory or Conquest is got by any one Person or by an Army of Men the Glory of it is to be given to the God of Heaven and the Honour of it to the King of that Nation When David in his own Person did get the Victory and Conquest over Goliah the Philistins Champion it was a Honour and a great Honour to King Saul and all Israel And when Joab with King Davids Men did get the Victory over the Children os Ammon and had taken their Royal City the City of Waters Joab he sends for his Lord King David to come and to take the Honour and the Crown and the Glory of it which was due to him Therefore what ever Wisdom Power Courage or any Grace any Subject in England Scotland France and Ireland hath received from the God of all Wisdom Power and Grace it doth become them so to prove and improve them that they may tend for the Glory of the most High and the great Honour and Renown of Englands Royal Majesty Kings are born for Honour and great Honour in this World therefore it is the Duty of Loyal and Faithful Subjects to do what they can to uphold their Honour to maintain it and to increase it among the Sons of Men and above any of them and not in the least to oppose them and dethrone them as the Church of Rome has done too many There is a Generation of Men that are not for Kingly Government over them but they would have a King among themselves such another Tyrant as Oliver Cromwell was these are they that make a noise about Religion of Christs Personal Reign ' upon Earth but these will be deceived of their Expectation to their great Shame and Condemnation The Reign of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ it is Spiritual and not Temporal when he was upon Earth he made himself of no Reputation but took upon him the form of a Servant therefore the Jews did flight and undervalue him so that he has no encouragement to come in his own Person among the Sons of Men but he will come to Judge the World and to Condemn them most that would have him come to Reign among them and will not let him Reign in their Hearts and to rule and over-rule them by his Word and Spirit The Kingdom of Christ it is not in outward Glory but it is in Righteousness Joy and Peace in the Heart It is Righteousness that will exalt a Person be he High or Low Rich or Poor Learned or Unlearned with an Ornament of Grace and a Crown of Glory which the Devil nor the World cannot give nor take away therefore in the House of the Righteous there is the richest Treasure and the sweetest Pleasure because there is a sound Heart which is the life of the Flesh A wholesome Tongue which is a Tree of Life and Righteous Lips which are the delight of Kings yea of him who is King of Kings and the onely Ruler and best Ruler of Princes because he is the Prince of Peace the Lord of Hosts who doth what he will among the Sons of Men both with the Government and the Governing of them because he has all Power in his own hand and the whole Creation at command As the Lord of Hosts is the Prince of Peace so he is the Son of Righteousness who loveth the Righteous and doth preserve them and layeth up sound Wisdom for the Righteous He lays it up for them that they may lay it out for him in due time and season to prevent much Evil that it may not come to a City or a Kingdom to remove much Evil that is come and to procure and secure great Honour Peace and Prosperity to King and Kingdom By him and for him it is that Kings do Reign and in the World remain he sets them up and keeps them up for his own Will and Pleasure they are not set up for the will and pleasure of Men neither have they any power for to oppose and depose them as too many have done to the great shame and confusion of their own Faces and much Trouble and Misery of too many Nations but the Righteous Lord who is a great God and mighty King over all the Earth has known the Soul of our Royal Sovereign in great Adversity he has been his Strength in time of Trouble he has brought him out of great Tribulation and will bring him to great Honour and Exaltation for the Glory of his great Name for the Honour of his Holy Gospel and the Government of the Church of England and the Peace and Prosperity of all Kingdoms to the shame of them that are Enemies to the Protestant Religion and to the Government of the Church of England Sir To lay a Foundation for some stately Habitation for a Church a Temple or some great Hall for Publick Use and Service it is commendable and many will countenance encourage and set forward a Work of that nature and they do well but to lay a Foundation by Divine Meditation for the great Honour and Exaltation of a Kings Person and the great Joy Peace and Prosperity of many Nations it is more Honourable and at this time suitable and seasonable profitable and comfortable and advantagious tomany Persons Families Cities and Kingdoms therefore all that do love the peace and the prosperity of their Souls and the comfort of their Lives should countenance encourage and set forward this high and honourable Work that is for the Glory and the great Glory of the most High and the great Honour and Exaltation of Englands Royal Majesty our Royal and Gracious Sovereign Charles the Second King of Great Britain among the Sons of Men and above any of them above all Heathen and Popish Kings Priests Princes and Emperors in the World that so all Nations may be freed from Slavery and throughout the whole World great Joy Peace and Prosperity so that in these days of the Gospel will the Righteous flourish and in the Reign of our Royal Sovereign there will be abundance of Peace from the Wisdom and the Power of the Prince of Peace who can when he please and with whom he please cause all Strife Contention and Wars throughout the whole World to cease to the great Shame Contempt and Terror of all them that be for Strife and Contention Sedition and Treason for Wars and Confusion Shall the Church of Rome mind and regard her Children that be workers of Evil Shall she countenance and encourage them in
and the prosperity of a King and many Kingdoms There be many devices in the heart of man but the Counsel of the Lord that shall stand and the thoughts of his heart in all generations what he will have brought about among all Persons in all Nations to the great shame contempt and terror of the Devil and all the workers of Evil who are for Strife and Contention Sedition and Treason for Wars and Confusion But Sir the God of Peace knows when how and by whom he pleaseth for to cause all Strife Contention and Wars throughout the whole World to cease and among all People in all Nations a free Trade great Joy and a lasting Peace to that end this great Lord has enabled me to understand his Mind and to make it known in due time They that must wait Sir upon the Lord must be of good Courage and then he will strengthen their Hearts that they shall be able to act for him and to act with him in high and honourable Work It is God that has made my Feet like Hinds Feet to leap over a Wall of difficulty and danger He has girded me with Strength and has made my way plain and will make his work prosperous that he has wrought in me in this day of his power by the power of his Spirit which is a Spirit of Light and of Life of Liberty and of Ability for to enable them that do enjoy it and will be ruled by it for to attain retain maintain and proclaim that which is suitable and seasonable profitable comfortable and advantagious for all persons in all Nations that do love the peace and the prosperity of their Souls and the comfort of their Lives But Sir There is a Generation of Men that will believe no more than they can by their Sense and Reason understand and such Men be always at a stand for the good of a City and a Kingdom to bring Order out of Confusion Light out of Darkness Good out of Evil and Peace out of Trouble but to him that believes and knows he believes all things is possible to be done that is lawful commendable and most honourable under the Sun what is lovely and praise worthy among the Sons of Men for the peace and prosperity of them Is is but reasonaable for all Men to believe in the Lord of Life who is the King of Glory and the Prince of Peace but to Believe in him and to Act for him it is above Reason but not against Reason it is the work of Faith and the labour of Love that can do it Sir A Friend loveth at all times and a Brother is born for Adversity for a Nation yea for many Nations great Joy Peace and Prosperity which will be brought about in this Generation for Englands great Honour and Exaltation and for her Enemies great Shame and Condemnation Therefore cry out and shout thou Inhabitant of Sion thou Church of Christ in England Scotland France and Ireland yea throughout the whole World for great is the Holy One of Israel in the mid'st of thee for to make thee most Renowned among the Sons of Men for Wildom Power and Strength over them over all Heathen and Popish Kings Priests Princes and Emperors in the World over all the workers of Imquity the Seed of Evil Doers and the Children of Disobedience over all that are Enenemies to the Gospel to the Protestant Religion and to the Goverment of the Church of England and that without making of War or shedding of Blood This is the Lords doings who is great in Counsel and mighty in Power to work in Man with Man and for Man when Parliaments Armies and Counsels may be at a stand Sir It is the unbelief of Men that doth hinder the God of Heaven from working in them and with them for the good of themselves and others There is nothing too hard for the God of Heaven who is the God of all Wisdom and Power for to bring about by that Man that doth Believe in him and can act his Faith for him For though Faith be Gods Gift yet Man must Act his Faith that will bring Glory to God Honour and Renown to a Kings Person and Peace and Prosperity to a Nation Sir The Lord Reigneth who made the World and doth Govern the World as one Man and can do it with one Man when and by whom he please to make bare his Arm and that his Enemies will know to their great shame and overthrow For this great Lord and King will make quick and powerful Work in this Generation for the Information Reformation and Salvation of many Nations in this day of his Power by his Word and Spirit of Power that so the Heathens may be Converted and Jews and Gentiles brought into one fold that so all Strife Contention and Wars throughout the whole World may cease and among all People in all Nations a free Trade great Joy and a lasting Peace So that Sir it is in vain for the Turk to strive to be greater than the Pope or the Pope greater than he or the French King greater than them our Royal and Gracious Sovereign Charles the Second King of Great Britain is Wiser and Stronger and Greater than them all but not by the Wisdom and Power of Men not by the Sword of them but by the Wisdom and Power of God in Man with Man and for Man that so all Nations may be freed from Slavery and throughout the whole World great Joy Peace and Prosperity to the great Shame Contempt and Terror of the Devil and all the Workers of Evil Sir Shall the God of all Wisdom and Power enable me to work with him and to work for him in such High and Honourable Work Victorious Glorious and Crowning Work and shall not my Person be minded and regarded by the Wise Godly and the Learned of the Church of Christ in England Scotland France and Ireland yea throughout the whole World Am I not a Member of the Church of Christ in England and a Member of the City of London Am I not a Subject to our Royal and Gracious Sovereign Charles the Second King of Great Britain What though I am by Birth Education and Trade inferior to many and by Nature as bad as any yet he that is Mighty and most Mighty among the Sons of Men and over the Angels in Heaven who has put down many Proud and Mighty Angels and Men from their Seat and has exalted among the Sons of Men many that have been Humble and Meek this great Lord and King who doth Try and will Judge the Children of Men has magnified me among many of them but it is with those Graces that makes me amiable in his own Eyes and serviceable for his Glory Therefore not unto Man not unto Man no nor to the Angels in Heaven but let all the Glory be given to the God of Heaven for his great Wisdom Power Glory and Majesty who can do what he will and work
all Persons in all Nations in all Generations he is an implacable Enemy to the Sons and the Daughters of Men he sets the Church against the State and the State against the Church that so there may be neither Church nor State among them but the Devil shall be deceived of his expectation to his great shame and condemnation for I shall set all Wise Strong Rich and Learned Men against him yea all People in all Nations that do love the Peace and the Prosperity of their Souls and the Comfort of their Lives therefore I shall set the Turk and the Pope and the French King against him and all that do assist him and them because he has deceived them with a Religion that tends to their shame and will be to their ruin if they do not leave it in due time Therefore all that have a Soul to save I hope will leave that Religion which makes them the Devils Slaves He that winneth Souls from the love of the things of this World and from the service of the Devil the God of this World that Man is Wise and Stronger than the Devil he is Wise for himself and he is Wise for others that the Sons and the Daughters of Men may enjoy the greatest freedom the freedom of the Mind the greatest Liberty the Liberty of the Will and the greatest Power Power against Sin and the greatest Victory Victory over the World I am at War for them with the Devil who is the God of this World who doth do what he can with the things of this World to deceive the Sons and the Daughters of Men to win their Souls from them but before the Devil shall have his will over the Sons of Men he shall be chained and confined to his Den and there will I make him shake and quake by the Power of Faith and the Word of God which is an Iron Rod and a sharp Sword by which I shall smite him and wound him home I shall not fear him nor spare him but play and display upon him Hail-stones and Coles of Fire by the power of Faith and the Word of Gods Power Sir It was long before I did begin to make War with the Devil but having begun to make War with him in my own Person for the great Joy Peace and Prosperity of all Nations I shall not leave him but will vex and perplex him wound and confound him till all Strife Contention and Wars throughout the whole World doth cease and among all People in all Nations there be a free Trade great Joy and a lasting Peace that the Sons of Men may live Conquerors in the World and die Conquerors over Sin Death Hell and the Devil They must hate what is Evil what is Evil in themselves for it is weakness and foolishness to speak gainst Evil in others and to love and approve of it in themselves but they that hate what is Evil in themselves will begin to loath it and then to leave it and then to be weary of it and then the Devil will be weary of them This is the way for the Workers of Evil to leave the Devil and the Devil to leave them This is my great Design and the labour and travel of my Mind for the Devil to leave the Sons of Men and the Sons of Men to leave him that so he may take up his rest in his Den and not for to have any lodging among them but in his Den there let him roar rage and swell but no more cause the Sons of Men for to rebel They that do hate what is Evil in themselves and do love what is Good in others will labour to be good in their own Persons and to do much good in their Generation for the great honour of God the King and the Nation They that would overcome the Devil who is the author and cause of all Evil they must not slight and undervalue the Publick Prayers of the Church of England because they be suitable and seasonable profitable and comfortable for all Persons in all Nations for to inform them and to reform them if they be not wanting to themselves they be such Prayers that will teach Men to know how to Pray in their Families and between God and their own Souls from whom they may have what they can desire as truth of Grace strength of Grace and increase of Grace The Prayer of the Upright it is Gods Delight and tends to Mans great Peace Profit and Comfort it is Faith Prayer and Meditation that will drive the Devil from Mens Habitations so that they will enjoy great Consolation and be free from Condemnation and everlasting Damnation Prayer without Faith it is heartless and Faith without Prayer it is fruitless Faith and Prayer will purifie the foulest heart that the Devil cannot lodge there in any part they will strengthen the weakest Memory and comfort the saddest Spirit Faith and Prayer will make a weak Man strong in the Power of God as bold as a Lion for the great Honour of God and the King and Wiser than the Devil and all the workers of Evil who are Enemies unto him Therefore what Victory or Conquest any of the Sons of Men do get by the Power of Faith over Sin Death Hell and the Devil and over the workers of Evil the Glory of it is to be given to the God of Heaven and the Honour and the Profit of it to the King of that Nation who is over that Person Well might I declare in due time for the great Joy Peace and Prosperity of Mankind that our Royal Sovereign Charles the Second King of Great Britain would be the Chiefest and most Renowned Emperor in the World and over the World because I have been at War for him with the Devil who is the God of this World but I have not been at War with him with an Army of Men but by the Power of Faith I have him under my feet and shall triumph over him for the Glory and the great Glory of the most High and the great Honour and Exaltation of Englands Royal Majesty among the Sons of Men and above any of them above all Heathen and Popish Kings Priests Princes and Emperors in the World for the Honour and Renown of the Protestant Religion and the Government of the Church of England and and for the Peace and Prosperity of all Kingdoms Sir it has been a Sin and a great Sin of too many both in Church and State both Learned and Unlearned Men that they have not proved and improved their Wisdom their Knowledge their Power and their Courage for the Honour of our Royal Sovereign Charles the Second King of England Scotland France and Ireland as they might have done but they have too much improved it against him and his Royal Father our late Royal and Gracious Soveraign a King too wise mild and too good for a proud stubborn and rebellious Generation but the right hand of the Lord will find out all