A LETTER FROM A FRIEND TO A Loyal Subject Where ever he is in England Scotland France or Ireland that is Wise and Faithful Valorous and Couragious for the great Honour of God and our Royal Sovereign CHARLES the Second King of Great Britain By J. V. LONDON Printed by Tho. James for the Author M.DC.LXXX A LETTER from a FRIEND TO A LOYAL SUBJECT Honoured Sir ALL that do profess the Faith should Countenance and Encourage that Man that can manifest the Power of Faith for the great Honour and Exaltation of a Kings Person and the great Joy Peace and Prosperity of many Nations which will be brought about in a short time by that Man in whom the Lord of Hosts doth make bare his Arm to manifest his Wisdom and Power among the Sons of Men for the great Joy Peace and Prosperity of them for the Glory of his great Name and to have the Devil and all the Workers of Evil brought to shame that so his Gospel which is the Gospel of Reconciliation and the glad Tidings of Salvation may run and be glorified among all Nations where it is not and may flourish more and more where it is 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 which will be brought about in this Generation for Englands great Honour and Exaltation and for the great Shame Contempt and Terror of all them that are for Strife and Contention Sedition and Treason for Wars and Confusion by John Varney a Friend to the Sons of Men in the work of Faith and the labour of Love for them in such high and honourable Work that will prove pleasant profitable and delightsome to many Persons in all Nations and Victorious Glorious and Crowning Work that will Crown the God of Heaven with much Glory among the Sons of Men and our Royal Sovereign Charles the Second King of Great Britain with great Honour and Power over them over all Heathen and Popish Kings Priests Princes and Emperors in the World The words of our Lord and Saviour when he was upon Earth with the Sons of Men his words were words of Life and of Power among them so are the words of that Man in all Generations that doth believe in him and can manifest the Power of Faith for him Therefore let every Soul be subject to the highest Powers for there is no Powers but of God the Powers that be are ordained of God Men and Devils have their Power from God but the Power of Faith it is the Power of God it is not the Power of any Mortal Man but it is the Power of God in Man the Power of God with Man the Power of God for Man and the Power of God above Man and above all the Powers of Hell do what they can The time is come that all they that are Enemies to the Protestant Religion and to the Government of the Church of England that have slighted and undervalued Divine Faith which is better than Strength or Weapons of War or Silver or Gold either a Person or a Nation will be ashamed when they come to consider and understand that it is by Faith I stand I stand in the Love and Favour of God I stand by the Wisdom and Power of God Therefore as by Faith I stand so by Faith I shall quit my self like a Man and make all that are Enemies to God and Man throughout the whole World to tremble as the Devil and all the Workers of Evil that are engaged with him and for him against the Protestant Religion and the Government of the Church of England which is for Unity Peace and Concord for Piety and Vertue which would have all the Sons and the Daughters of Men cease to do evil and learn to do well and in every Grace and Vertue to excell which is for the honour of the Protestant Religion and the Peace and the Prosperity of all Kingdoms Therefore all that call themselves Christians and Protestants in England Scotland France and Ireland and do not conform to so excellent a Government which is for Love and Vnion to prevent Strife and Contention Sedition and Treason Wars and Confusion they be foolish proud stubborn and rebellious Children but they that will do what they should not do must be made to do what they would not For though Men are not to be compelled to be Religious yet they are to be subdued when they Rebellious By the Laws of the Land by the Command of them that have Power in their hand they ought to be made Servants and Labourers to them that do conform that is to bear most Burdens to pay most Taxes to furnish our Royal and Gracious Sovereign with Men and Money when he doth require it and may have occasion to use it This will be the way for to bring home many that be gone a stay and to reprove rebuke and to condemn them that will not obey this will be the way for Papists to become Protestants and for Protestants and Papists to become good Christians and Loyal and Obedient Subjects This will be the way for to prevent much Evil that it may not come upon the Nations to remove much Evil that is come and to procure and secure great Honour Peace and Prosperity to our Royal King and many Kingdoms This will be the way that we shall become as fair as the Moon as clear as the Sun and as terrible as an Army with Banners so that we shall become a Wonder to our Selves a Terror to our Enemies and a Crown and a Glory to all Kings and Kingdoms This will be the way for the workers of Evil to become workers of Righteousness so that Righteousness will run down like a mighty stream and the Wickedness of the Wicked will come to an end to the great shame contempt and terror of the Devil who is the Author and Cause of all Evil among the Sons of Men. He is that Prince of the Air that is every where to make Strife and Contention Sedition and Treason Wars and Confusion among all Persons Families Cities and Kingdoms He sets Learned Men one against another to confound and destroy each other he sets the Wise against the Strong the Strong against the Weak and the Rich against the Poor to bring Desolation among all Persons and Nations He sets the Turk against the Pope and the Pope against him and the French King against them both and is it not time for me to set my self against them all for their great shame and down fall but I shall set my self most against the Devil because he hated Man from the beginning and did endeavour to destroy him as soon as he had a Being he is a Murderer he caused Cain to kill his Brother Abel he has caused all Wars and Murders that have been among
Fulness that is in them they are his for all things were made by him and for him that are in Heaven and in the Earth whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers for by his Wisdom and Power the whole Creation doth consist For it pleased the Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Sir that in him in his onely beloved Son should all Fulness dwell Fulness of Merit and of Spirit Fulness of Wisdom and of Power Fulness of Righteousness and Holiness and Fulness of all Grace and Glory to make all that come unto him Wise Strong Rich Honourable and most Happy But they that will not Sir deny themselves overcome themselves and lay out themselves to come unto him they will not enjoy themselves in the midst of many Enjoyments in the World But Sir Their Lives will be uncomfortable to themselves and unprofitable to others because they cannot be fruitful in good Works till they come to Christ stay with him and abide in him then they will be useful and fruitful in their Generation for the good of many in the Nation then Sir they will come to be Plants of Renown and will flourish in the Courts of Gods House and bring forth pleasant and profitable Fruit in due time and season that will revive and refresh the City of God which is the Church of Christ in England Scotland France and Ireland yea throughout the whole World But Sir Unprofitable Branches that be in his Vineyard that will not bring forth the Fruits of Righteousness which is Faith Love and Obedience he will take away and cut down as Branches and Trees that cumber the Ground Sir The Righteous Persons be they where they will they be the most Excellent Persons in the Earth because they be most Fruitful in their Generation for the great Honour of God the King and the Nation The Lord loveth the Righteous let who will hate them he knows the worth of them they are Sir his Plants of Renown his Glory and his Crown and the Labour and Travel of his Soul The Lord that loveth the Righteous doth preserve them and watch over them as his Treasure because in them he takes pleasure Sir They be a Foundation to a Nation and do many times preserve a Nation from Desolation The Righteous Persons Sir should be minded and regarded by the Sons of Men because they be the Light of the World for them The Righteous Persons are most useful and fruitful for they be the Salt of the Earth and a City on a Hill They be Men of Wonder and sometimes Men of Thunder Are they not as fair as the Moon as Clear as the Sun and as Terrible as an Army with Banners because they be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Sir In the Righteous Lord that loveth Righteousness I have both Wisdom and Power Righteousness and Strength Therefore let not any be offended but let every one labour to be amended that so the times may be the better for them and many the better for the times for the Lord he waits to be gracious and doth not delight in the death of Sinners but had rather that they would turn and live to him and for him and then they will for ever live with him in whose presence is fulness of Joy and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore that will make amends for all the Tryals Troubles Losses Crosses and Reproaches they can meet withal in this life Sir This is high and honourable work pleasant profitable and delightsome work victorious glorious and crowning work that will crown the God of Heaven with much Glory among the Sons of Men and our Royal and Gracious Sovereign Charles the Second King of Great Britain with great Honour and Power over them over all Heathen and Popish Kings Priests Princes and Emperors in the World which will be for the great Honour Peace Profit and Comfort of all Loyal and Faithful Magistrates and Ministers of the Gospel in all Nations that have been for a long time slighted and undervalued by a Gain-saying Proud Stubborn and Rebellious Generation that have acted against Law and Religion against Gospel and Reason Out of Pride and Contention they have caused Sedition and Treason Wars and great Confusion but the Expectation of such Men will in due time perish because they trust to an Arm of Flesh and make Lies their Refuge but the Hope of the Righreous is Gladness because he trusts in the Lord in the Lord Jehovah who can and will in this Generation for the Peace and Prosperity of many Nations bring Order out of Confusion Light out of Darkness and Good out of Evil when vain has been the help of Man yea of many Wise Strong Rich and Learned Men to bring it about but vain is not the help of the God of Heaven who has all Power in his own hand and the whole Creation at command Sir It is in vain for Men of this Opinion or that Opinion for to complain the times are sad when that by their strife and contentions they have made them so bad It is Pride that has caused Contention and Contention Seperation from the Government of the Church of England which ought not and would not have been if that they had minded and regarded the Peace and the Prosperity of the City and the Kingdom Great has been the Mischief that Separation has made in this Generation in three Ancient and Renowned Nations as England Scotland and Ireland Has not Separation caused Mutiny and Mutiny Sedition and Sedition Rebellion and Rebellion great Disorder and Confusion among many Persons and Families in these Kingdoms to the shame of the Protestant Religion and the Government of the Church of England so that the times have been the worse for such Men and many the worse for them but there is no time too late for that Man that is wise in Heart for to cause such Men by the Wisdom and Power of God for to smart The Heart of the Wise Sir teacheth his Mouth and addeth Learning to his Lips The wise in heart will be called prudent now Wisdom dwells with Prudence which will enable a Man for to hearken unto Counsel and to attain unto great Counsels so as to know when and how in due time and season for to Counsel Councellors and to inform Senators not onely what may be done but what is best to be done for the great Honour the Peace and the Prosperity of a King and Kingdom Sir A King and a Kingdom may stand in need of a Parliament and an Army of Men but the Lord of Hosts who is the King of Glory and the Prince of Peace stands not in need of any of them but can work with them or without them when and by whom he please for to manifest his Wisdom and Power among the Sons of Men for the great Honour and Exaltation of a Kings Person and the great Joy Peace and prosperity of many Nations which will be brought about in this Generation for Englands great Honour and Exaltation to the Worlds Admiration O great is the Wisdom and Power of God in Man with Man and for Man when and by whom he please for to make bare his Arm that so all the Glory may redound to him and that no Flesh should glory before him because all the Sons of Men have their Wisdom their Power and their Strength from him that is comfortable to themselves and profitable to others for both the preparation of the Heart and the answer of the Tongue it is from the Lord For the way of Man is not in himself it is not in Man that walketh for to direct his steps much less to order his thoughts but the steps of a good Man and so his thoughts are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way for the way of the Lord is strength to upright but destruction will be to the workers of iniquity in this Generation to their great shame and condemnation who are for strife and contention sedition and treason for wars and confusion Therefore let all them that be wise be lovers of peace and workers of righteousness and then the Lord who is a lover of righteousness will encourage them assist them and reward them Let all labour to be wise in heart because that they among the Sons of Men will best understand the Mind of the God of Heaven they will know how to do his will and keep in his love and favour which is better than life and all the delights of this World but the wisdom that is in the World among too many of the Sons of Men it is foolishness and doth many times end in madness because they do not make the Word of God their Rule his Spirit their Guid and his Glory their Aim but they that do will never want a wise Councellor and a most excellent Comforter Sir In the work of Faith and in the labour of Love for the Peace and Prosperity of many Persons in all Nations I shall for the present take my leave and shall remain your true and loving Friend John Varney a Member of the Church of England and of the City of London a Subject to his Majesty of Great Britain and Servant to the God of all Wisdom Power and Strength who can do what he will and work with whom he will among the Sons of Men to manifest his Wisdom and PoWer over rhem that so all Strife Contention and Wars throughout the whole World may cease and amoug all People in all Naâ—â—ons 〈◊〉 Trade great Joy and a lasting Peace Therefore Glory and great Glory be given to the most high from Men and Angels and that continually foe his great Wisdom Power Glory any Majesty and great Honour and Renown grreat 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 for the great Joy and Prosperity of them and at last for ever with him among the Holy Angels in his Kingdom of Heaven Amen Amen let all Loyal and Faithful Subjects in England Scotland France and Ireland say and pray yea all Persons in all Nations that do love the Peace and Prosperity of their own Souls and the Comfort of their Lives August 30th 1680. Fâ—Nâ—S
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
that which is sinful Shall she give them great Gifts and promise them great Rewards to make Strife and Contention Sedition and Treason Wars and Confusion to undermine and overthrow the Protestant Religion the Government of the Church of England and our Royal Sovereign his Majesty of Great Britain And shall not that Man be minded and regarded by the Wise Godly and the Learned of the Church of England that shall deny himself overcome himself and lay out himself to undermine and confound the Devil and all the Workers of Evil all that are Enemies to the Protestant Religion and to the Goverment of the Church of England but the work of Faith and the labour of Love is regarded by the God of Love though it may be slighted and undervalued by too many of the Sons of Men But what our Saviour said that shall I say They that be not his Friends are his Enemies they that be not for him are against him Who can with one Man wound and confound all his Enemies by Sea and by Land Therefore they that do not countenance encourage and set forward this noble Design that he has enabled me to make known in time for the great Joy Peace and Prosperity of Mankind they be not Friends but Enemies to the Peace and Prosperity of their own Souls and the Comfort of their Lives Sir He that handleth a Matter wisely shall find Good and who so trusteth in the Lord happy is he As my Faith is from the God of my Hope so my Hope is in the God of my Faith who will bring forth the Righteousness of his Servant as the Light and his Judgment as the Noon-day to make good what he has enabled him to hold forth in this Generation for the great Joy Peace and Prosperity of all Nations to that end I have declared that our Royal Sovereign Charles the Second King of Great Britain in this Generation will be the Chiefest and the most Renowned'st Emperor in the World and over the World the time is come that it is to be made known to all People in all Nations that it is already done and so well done that it is not all the Powers of Hell nor all the Powers of the World that can undo it again It is done but not by the Counsel of Men in Parliament nor out of Parliament it is done but not by Strife and Contention Sedition and Treason by Wars and Confusion but it is done by a secret Decree from the God of Peace that so all Strife Contention and Wars throughout the whole World may cease that so among all People in all Nations there may be a free Trade great Joy and a lasting Peace This Noble and Royal Decree from the God of Peace it is his secret Determination for to disappoint in due time the Turk the Pope and the French King of their Expectation that they shall not Rule and Over-rule the Nations as too long they have done for the Devil and their own Lusts but the God of Peace who is the God of Power will have his Annointed and our Royal Sovereign Charles the Second King of Great Britain to Rule and to Over-rule them and all Nations by the Word of his Power which is the Scepter of his Grace by which he will be known in all Paths and Places of the World to be the Creator of Heaven the Earth and the Sea Sir As our Royal Sovereign has this great Honour to be the Chiefest and most Renowned Emperor in the World and over the World from Gods Royal Decree and Determination to Rule and Over-rule the Nations for him and with him by the word of his Power so he has this great Honour by way of Conquest but not by the power of the Sword but by the power of Faith between God and my own Soul over the Devil the God of this World who has deceived and destroyed too many hundred thousands of Persons in all Nations with the things of this World that be uncertain and deceitful They be like a Bladder full of Wind but do not satisfie the Mind But the time is come that the Devil that has deceived too many in all Nations I shall endeavour to deceive him very much in this Generation but not Sir of Silver or of Gold of Houses or of Lands but of as many Souls as I can because the Soul of one Man or Woman more worth than all the Kingdoms of this World Sir The Soul of a Man is capable of higher Enjoyments and greater Honours than this World can afford for all things under the Sun is but vanity Honours are uncertain Riches are deceitful and the Pleasures of this World they be more bitter than sweet they fill many with Pain some with Shame and some with a foul and loathsome Disease but they give the Soul no true Ease but they that hunger and thirst after Righteousness will be filled with Grace and enjoy much peace that peace which the World cannot give nor take away but there is no peace to the Wicked to the Workers of Iniquity what-ever they do where-ever they go till they come to be Workers and Lovers of Righteousness then they will have peace with God and Joy in God The work of Righteousness is peace and the effect of Righteousness is Quietness to the Mind and will prove profitable to Mankind The Labour of the Righteous tendeth to Life to the Life and Comfort of his own Soul and of the Souls of many in Court City and Countrey The Devil who is the God of this World doth labour to do what he can with the things of this World to deceive the Sons and the Daughters of Men to win the Souls of them But Sir He that can win Souls from the Devil and the love of this present Evil World he is Wise for God and Strong in God and will be fully and greatly Rewarded by God For as the Fruit of the Righteous is a Tree of Life so the Reward of the Righteous is a Crown of Life which the Righteous Lord will give to every one that is a lover and a worker of Righteousness The Secret of the Lord Sir is with the Righteous what he will have brought about for the great Honour and Exaltation of a Kings Person and the great Joy Peace and Prosperity of a Nation and it is not all the powers of Hell nor all the powers of the World that can hinder it There is a time and a season for every purpose under the Sun much more for Gods secret Decrees to be made known and done For what the most Wise God doth Will before time he will have it brought about and fulfilled in due time by that man whom he doth give wisdom and power to understand his mind for the Will of God is the Master-wheel that sets a work all the powers in man and all the powers of man to bring about what he knows that is best to be done for the great honour the peace
with whom he will among the Sons of Men to manifest his Wisdom and Power over the Devil and all the Workers of Evil. Sir Men are to be minded and regarded be they High or Low Rich or Poor for their Wisdom and their Learning for their Power and their Strength for their Honours and their Riches for their great and high Places but most of all for their rich Graces for their Faith that works by Love because it is a wonder-working Grace for the God of Heaven and a Victorious and a Glorious Grace among the Sons of Men for the great Joy Peace and Prosperity of them Sir I hope that the Wise Godly and the Learned of the Church of England will not be offended that I can manifest the power of Faith for the Glory and the great Glory of the most High and the great Honour and Exaltation of Englands Royal Majesty of his Royal Person and of all his Royal Relations which will be for the great Joy Peace and Prosperity of all Nitions To that end let all that can pray Pray for the long Life and prosperous Reign of our Royal Sovereign Charles the Second King of Great Britain and of 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 and at last for ever with Holy Angels and Men in his Kingdom of Heaven Sir It is in vain for the Ministers of the Gospel in London and about London to preach the Word of God in season and out of season if they do not mind and regard countenance and encourage that Man who hath believed their Report and to whom the Arm of the Lord is revealed What have they to mind Who should they mind more than such a Man who can set to his Seal that God and his Word is true and their Doctrine so far as they agree thereto Has not their Persons and their Ministry for a long time been slighted and undervalued by them who are Enemies to the Protestant Religion and to the Government of the Church of England that for a long time have made Religion a business of Discourse to no purpose But Sir It will be known to the great Joy and Shame of many a one that Religion is a Business of the highest Nature and the greatest Conquest and that not by the power of the Sword but by the power of Faith and the Word of God which will prevail when all the Traditions and Additions of Men will fail As a Vertuous Woman Sir is a Crown to her Husband and the Glory of the Man so a Wise Faithful Vallorous and a Couragious Man is a Crown and a Glory to all the Ministers of the Gospel in the Land yea he is a Crown and a Glory to the God of Heaven He is a Crown and a Glory to a King and a Kingdom such a Man is a wonder to himself and will prove a Terror to the Devil and to the Workers of Evil who are Engaged with him and for him against the Protestant Religion and the Goverment of the Church of England and that without having a Sword in his hand or Men or Money at command Sir This is from the power of Faith which is the power of God in Man and with Man and for Man and will make all that are Enemies to God and Man throughout the whole World to tremble Let not any therefore slight and undervalue a spark of Faith in themselves or in others but let every one labour to get it to keep it to prove and improve it because it is such a Spark that in whom it is wrought it will in due time break forth into a Flame and put the Devil and all the Workers of Evil to shame and bring a King and a Kingdom to greater Honour Renown and Fame than has yet been done by all the Parliaments Armies and Counsels that have been since England has enjoyed a King Sir It was by Faith that I did understand that our Royal Soveraign Charles the Second King of Great Britain would be the Chiefest and most Renowned Emperor in the World among the Sons of Men for Wisdom Power and Strength over them over all Heathen and Popish Kings Priests Princes and Emperors in the World Therefore I was not affraid nor ashamed to make it known in due time for the great Joy Peace and Prosperity of Mankind that so the times may be better than they have been in this Generation and many the better for them in all Nations This is the way that we shall soon Sir become the Wonder and the Glory of the World the Crown of Kingdoms the Desire and the Delight of Nations the Joy of the whole Earth and the City of the Great King for Unity Peace and Concord for Piety and Vertue for Wisdom Power and Strength for Honours Riches and great Glory Therefore let the people praise God yea let all Heathen and popish Kings Priests Princes and Emperors in the World praise him and give unto him the Glory due to his Name who can do what he will and work with whom he will among the Sons Men to manifest his wisdom and power over them 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 Therefore it will be Rebellion for any persons in any Nation for to make War against the Protestants or the Protestant Religion the Government of the Church of England or our Royal Soveraign his Majesty of Great Britain whom the God of peace did bring to his Throne in Peace in a wonderful manner beyond the Expectation of the Wisest and the Learned'st in the Nation And as the Lord who is the most Wise and most Strong Sir has done great things for the Preservatition and Restauration of our Royal Sovereign so he will do great things in this Generation for his great Honour and Exaltation for his great Joy and Consolation because he is a Prince for Peace and a lover of Peace and because his Subjects do enjoy the greatest Liberty and are Men of the greatest Wisdom Courage and Nobility So that Sir all People in all Nations will come to know and to understand what a great and mighty King our Royal and Gracious Soveraign Charles the Second King of Great Britain is among the Sons of Men for Wisdom Power and Strength over them who can with one of his Subjects bid Defiance to the Turk the Pope and the Devil and all the Workers of Evil to their greater Shame Contempt and Terror than an Army of Ten hundred thousand Men can because the Lord of Hosts is with him as a mighty Man as a Man of War to subdue his Enemies under his Feet and as a God of Peace to cause all Strife Contention and Wars throughout the whole World to cease to the great Shame of all them that be for Strife and