7

ning it out fo long, till the Purfes of the People are fo Drain'd, and the Nation fo impoverished, that it will be an equal Choice, whether we have Peace or War, being either Way exposed to the like Inconvenience. There is fome great let or hindrance lyes in the way of our Happinefs, or elfe why do we at this day stand looking upon one another, like the Sons of Jacob, as if we were at our Wits end, not knowing what to think or expect, notwithstanding the great Deliverances that God has wrought for us; for we have been wonderfully preferved, but not by our own Wisdom or Conduct, for we have made no other ufe of thofe feveral Advantages which God has put into our hands, but as if we expected that he would repeat his Miracles to preferve us: Wherefore he has fo figually appeared on our behalf, no man can determine, yet a Guess may be made; for if his Mercies have their proper Effe&t upon us, by turning us from the Evil of our Ways; he will do more and greater things for us But if we make him no other return for all his Bencfits, than that of an unthankful and hardened heart; Then has he fhewed thefe great Signs amongst us, that he may be Juftified when he Judges, and we be condemned out of our own Mouths which God of his Mercy prevent, and to that end let every Man do his Duty

at

at all times, and at all Seafons; and mind the Publick more than his own particular Advantage. Let neither the Frowns nor Favour of Men, tho' never fo great, draw him afide and then we

fhall fee Peace in our Ifrael. I doubt not Gentlemen but you will do your Parts,' and this is all that I have to trouble you with at this time.

THE

THE

LEGALITY

Of the

Convention-Parliament,

Though not called by Writ.

I'

T's a new fort of Doctrine; That where there is a Power to do a greater thing, there cannot alfo be to do

a lefs. The Lords who are born Counsellors to the King and Kingdom, the Members of the Houfe of Commons were all duely chofe by fuch as had Right to Elect Members for Parliament: The two Houfes meet at the fame day, and first declare the Throne vacant

and

and then fill it with this King and Queen, and they thus Elected, thefe Lords acknowledge to be our Rightful and Lawful Soveraign Lord and Lady; which is the greatest thing that the two Houfes are capable of doing, and have thereby, according to the Maxims of thofe very Lords, altered the Government in a molt Effential point of it; and yet, fay they, All Subfequents, tho' with the Concurrence and Confent of this lawful King and Queen, are invallid, unlefs fupported by the Authority of this or fome other Parliament, because the last was not called by Writ in due form of Law: So that the Reprefentatives of the Nation, Affembled without a Writ, can only do one thing, and that the higheft, to make a King: And by like Reafon, If when Affembled by Writ, can do every thing but the greatest: But it is against all manner of Reafon and Policy, to fuppofe that the Power that can make a King, cannot do every thing elfe that is neceffary to fettle the Government. If those Gentlemen had understood the true meaning of Writs, and been fo ingenious as to confefs it they would not have made that an Objection against the Validity of the laft Pars liament.

Writs are neceffary in their proper time, but not fo neceffary as to give the