you! That I was in possession of the government by a good right
from God and man. And I believe, that if the learnedest men in
this nation were called to show a precedent equally clear of a
government so many ways approved of, they would not in all
their search find it. And if the fact be so, why should we
sport with it? With a business so serious!... For you to disown
or not to own it; for you to act with parliamentary authority
especially, in the disowning of it, contrary to the very
fundamental things, yea against the very root itself of this
establishment, to sit and not own the authority by which you
sit--is that which I believe astonisheth more men than myself;
and doth as dangerously disappoint and discompose the nation,
as any thing that could have been invented by the greatest
enemy to our peace and welfare."

After drawing the distinction between fundamentals, which may not be
shaken, and circumstantials, which it is in the power of Parliament to
alter and modify, he continues:--

"I would it had not been needful for me to call you hither to
expostulate these things with you, and in such a manner as
this! But necessity hath no law. Feigned necessities, imaginary
necessities, are the greatest cozenage which man can put upon
the providence of God, and make pretences to break known rules
by. But it is as legal, as carnal, and as stupid to think that
there are _no_ necessities which are manifest and real, because
necessities may be abused or feigned. I have to say, the wilful
throwing away of this government, such as it is, so owned by
God, so approved by men, so witnessed to, as was mentioned
above, were a thing which--and in reference to the good of
these nations and of posterity--_I can sooner be willing to be
rolled into my grave and buried with infamy, than I can give my
consent unto!_

"You have been called hither to save a nation--nations. You had
the best people, indeed, of the Christian world put into your
trust, when you came hither. You had the affairs of these
nations delivered over to you in peace and quiet; you were, and
we all are, put into an undisturbed possession, nobody making
title to us: Through the blessing of God, our enemies were
hopeless and scattered. We had peace at home; peace with almost
all our neighbours