subject of this Petition, and is fo fully and clearly expreffed, that it is not poffible in fo few words to give a better Defcription of those great Ends, at which fuch Affemblies fhould aim; for it doth not only instruct the People what to ask, but admonish the Members of this great Councel, what they are to endeavour in all their Confultations, being as well a Scheme of their Duty, as a Rule for our Devotions. In the confused Affembly at Ephefus, it is faid, that the greater part knew not wherefore they were come together, Acts xix.32. But it cannot be fufpected, that those who are admitted into fo Honourable a Councel, fhould be wholly ignorant of these ends, however they may be liable to forget them; and therefore the Church hath made this daily Prayer to be as a conftant Monitor to them, that they may remem ber their duty as well as know it, and daily propofe these things as the mark, at which they may aim in all their deliberations. To which purpose we do in the general, first, defire of God to direct them to the right Ends, which are mentioned here; and then to profper the Counfels fo directed, that they may bring forth the happy effects mentioned in the next Paragraph: If he do not guide they will not aim right, and if he do not profper them they cannot hit the mark; without his Grace to direct their Hearts the Counsellors will advife with evil defigns, and without his Bleffing upon their Refolutions and Decrees the Counfels will mifcarry and come to nothing: fo that we must firft effectually engage God to be with them, and then their ends will be thefe thre

I. The Avancement of God's own Glozy. It is an evil thing for any members of this Honourable Af fembly, to act and speak merely for applause, to move or comply with things, which will make them most grateful, without confidering, whether they be plea

fing to God, or agreeable to his Laws, whether they will bring honour to the divine Majefty or no. It is the duty of every Man in all his Actions to aim at the glory of God, I Cor.x.31. but it is much more expected from fo eminent Perfons in matters of fo great and general concernment : They that are so high must remember him that is highest of all, at whose Bar they must all anfwer, if they make unrighteous decrees, Ifai.x.I. So that they ought to confider, what Laws and Counfels will give the clearest Testimony of their Obedience to God, what will beft agree with his Will, what is the most just and pious, and what may be the most likely to engage the whole Nation to praise God for their meeting together: And these things they must advance with all poffible vigour, neither courting the favour, nor fearing the displeasure of any Party, fo they may but glorifie and please their heavenly Father, and have the Teltimony of a good Confcience.

II. The next End is to promote the Good of the Church, that is, to make fuch Laws and Conftitutions as may fecure our most holy Faith, and preserve our antient and right ways of worshipping God. They muft not fuffer the prophane to fcoff at thefe facred things nor the factious to revile them; they must not allow Seducers to draw men from the true Faith; nor permit men of contrary Principles openly to use other Forms of Worship, to the amufing and dividing of the People, and the expofing the Laws, and the worship by them established to cenfure and contempt; they must defend the Priviledges, and keep the maintenance inviolable of that facred Order, which prays for them, and ferves to the Salvation of Souls. And these things they muft do for their own,and the Nation's fake, as well as for the fake of God's Minifters; for it is a great mis take to think, that it is only the Intereft of the Clerg

to promote these things, fince the Laity are as much concerned herein as they; for if Religion be dispised, and the Church divided, if Ecclefiafticks be made contemptible, and either Idolatry or Fanaticifin tolerated, the whole Kingdom will fuffer by it, we shall foon find, that it will let in fuch a Flood of contention and strife, fuch a Torrent of Injustice, Debauchery and Mischief,as will involve us all in one common ruine. Religion is the bond of Peace, the foundation of Government,the fecurity of Magiftrates, the defence of Laws,and the bridle of the People, and doubtless the Church and State do now ftand and will fall together; but I hope our prudent and honourable Senators will fhew their care of their Country by their maintaining of Religion, and declare themselves good Patriots by promoting the good of the Church.

(d)

Ab hac

III. And lastly, They are to aim at the welfare of the whole Nation,as well of the King,as of all his Subjects; whofe fafety, honour and welfare, are fo linked together in their own nature,that we have them put into one Sentence and fignified in one Word: For the Intereft of the Prince and People, if rightly understood, is but one, and the fame thing. It is the fecurity,honour and happiness of the People to have their King fafe from danger, honourable in efteem, and profperous in his affairs (d). And on the other fide, it is the fafety and the credit, the advantage and comfort of the King, that his People be numerous and quiet, honoured abroad and abounding in plenty at home(e), their happiness and miferies are reciprocal; and we ought not to make any differencé

anima Populorum vita falufque Pendeat. Lucan. 'AgεTus TewToy Epγον σώζων τὸν ἄTarta anna owCovra Plut.in Pelopid.vid.2 Sam.18.3. Prov. xiv.28.

σω

Nec magis fine te nos effe felices, quàm tu fine nobis effe potes Plin. Paneg

between

between the Prerogative of the King, and the liberty of the Subject. The good Senator knows how to advance both at once: as to the Prince, he will aim at his fafety, his honour and welfare, by giving him prudent and honeft advice, by affording him liberal and neceffary fupplies, by profecuting his Enemies, and complying with all defigns for the general good: Again,he will alfo aim at the Peoples fafety and profperity, by devifing wholesom Laws, and repealing fuch as are found inconvenient, by encouraging Trade, impeaching Criminals, redreffing grievances, and the like; whereby all may receive benefit. Let us all therefore earneftly beg of God to give us fuch Counsellors, and to bless them fo long as they defign thefe, and no other ends the good Lord grant that the Members of this High-Court may not aim at their private ends, and defign to make themfelves great or rich, left they who haye fuch bad ends, ufe as ill means to accomplish them; for those who come in,or act in,this Councel to advance their fortunes or encrease their Offices and Honours, will be apt to oppofe any good thing, or promote any bad thing, fo it will but help them to what they defire; the Good Lord keep out all fuch partial, fordid and corrupt Perfons from thence, and then God will direct and profper them, He will make us happy in them, and oblige us to praise him for them, and that from time to time.

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. II

S.V. at all things may be fo ozbered and lettled by their endeavours upon the best and lure& foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and fuLice, Religion and Piety, may be established among us for all generations:]

When the Counfels of our Senators are directed to a right end, it is to be hoped they will be profpered, and bleffed by God fo as to have moft happy effects: And when they aim fincerely at the glory of God, the good of the Church, the welfare of the King and the Kingdom, it is great pity they fhould miscarry; wherefore we pray,that he who directed them to thefe noble ends, will grant them to be as fuccessful as they are pious. Now the effects which we wish and pray may follow upon their Confultations and Endeavours are, I. That all things may be brought into good Order. II. And that they may remain fo for many Generations. There are always fomethings in diforder, the State being like fome Clock or curious Machina, wherein there are fo many Motions,and fuch variety of Wheels, that fome will be wrong without a daily care: fome old Laws may grow inconvenient by the Alteration of Circumftances, and these are to be repealed; others very profitable may become neglected and forgotten, thefe are to be revived: Some faults and grievances may be difcovered in feveral matters. Now all these are to be rectified,and put into Daber;and when they are rightly 02Dered, then they are by the Royal affent to be fettled, and turned into fixed Laws. But befides, there are fome things which are very good and profitable, and are well ordered already, which yet fome forts of men (who like nothing but what is of their own deviting) do find fault with, and would have either wholly taken away, or altered agreeably to their own fancies, and the way