A Serious and faithful representation of the judgements of ministers of the gospel within…A Serious and faithfull representation of the judgements of ministers of the gospell within…

Now we desire you seriously, and as in the sight of God, to examine your own hearts and ways, and to deal with your selves as sometimes Nathan did with David. Put case some other Party of men in the Kingdom, whose Principles had not been concurrent with yours, should have attempted acts of such a nature, as those that you have performed; as seizing the Kings person, and removing him from place to place without and against his and the Parliaments consent: would it not have been judged by you an intolerable contempt both of his and their authority? Put case they and their Confederates had attempted the removal of the Parliaments Guards, secured or inhibited a great number of their Members, contrived and promoted new Modules of their own, destructive to the being both of this and all other Parliaments, with other acts of the like nature; we appeal to your own consciences, what clamours and accusations against them would from your selves have proceeded. And if in other Persons you would condemn the fact, the Lord grant you hearts to see who are the men. Was it once a crime of the highest nature, to endeavour the subversion of the fundamental Laws of the Kingdom, to dissuade the calling, or persuade the dissolution of Parliaments; to countenance Arminians, or connive at Papists: and can it be now commendable to contrive the subversion of the whole Laws and Government of the Kingdom all at once; and in stead of a few errors to allow, (as we fear some amongst you endeavour) a total impunity, and universal Toleration of all Religions? Be not deceived, God is not mocked: He knows how frequently you condemn that as a great crime in others, which you would have accounted a virtue in your selves; But God who is no respectre of Persons alloweth no such rule. Rom. 1.22. Those who knowing the judgement of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death; not only do the same things, but have pleasure in, (or, consent with) them that do them, in judging another condemn themselves. Rom. 2.1.3. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgement of God? Verses 2.6.11. No surely, we are sure the Judgement of God is according to truth, against them which commit such things, Who will render to every man according to his deeds; For there is no respect of Persons with God.

Now we desire you seriously, and as in the sight of God, to examine your own hearts and wayes, and to deal with your selves as sometimes Nathan did with David. Put case some other Party of men in the Kingdome, whose Principles had not been concurrent with yours, should have attempted acts of such a nature, as those that you have performed; as seising the Kings person, and removing him from place to place without and against his and the Parliaments consent: would it not have been judged by you an intolerable contempt both of his and their authority? Put case they and their Confederates had attempted the removall of the Parliaments Guards, secured or inhibited a great number of their Members, contrived and promoted new Modules of their own, destructive to the being both of this and all other Parliaments, with other acts of the like nature; we appeale to your own consciences, what clamours and accusations against them would from your selves have proceeded. And if in other Persons you would condemne the fact, the Lord grant you hearts to see who are the men. Was it once a crime of the highest nature, to endeavour the subversion of the fundamentall Lawes of the Kingdome, to disswade the calling, or perswade the dissolution of Parliaments; to countenance Arminians, or connive at Papists: and can it be now commendable to contrive the subversion of the whole Lawes and Government of the Kingdome all at once; and in stead of a few errours to allow, (as we fear some amongst you endeavour) a totall impunity, and universal Toleration of all Religions? Be not deceived, God is not mocked: He knows how frequently you condemne that as a great crime in others, which you would have accounted a vertue in your selves; But God who is no respecter of Persons alloweth no such rule.