acle of Mercie
create Light out of Darknesse, Order out of our Confusions, and peace
out of our passions.

_Thou, O Lord, who onely canst give us beauty for ashes, and Truth for
Hypocrisie; suffer us not to be miserably deluded with Pharisaicall
washings, in stead of Christian reformings._

_Our greatest diformities are within; make us the severest Censurers,
and first Reformers of our own souls._

_That we may in clearnesse of judgment, and uprightnesse of heart be
means to reform what is indeed amisse in Church and State._

_Create in us clean hearts, O Lord, and renew right spirits within
us; that we may do all by thy directions, to thy glory, and with thy
blessing. Pity the deformities, which some rash & cruel Reformers have
brought upon this Church and State: Quench the fires which factions
have kindled, under the pretence of Reforming._

_As thou hast shewed the world by their divisions, and confusions,
what is the pravity of some mens intentions, and weaknesse of their
judgements; so bring us at last more refined out of these fires, by
the methods of Christian and charitable reformations; wherein nothing
of ambition, revenge, coveteousnes, or sacriledge, may have any
influence upon their counsels, whom thy providence in just and lawfull
wayes shall entrust with so great, good, and now most necessary a
work: That I and my people may be so blest with inward piety, as may
best teach us how to use the blessings of outward peace._

* * * * *

21. _Upon his Majesties Letters taken and divulged._

The taking of My Letters was an opportunity, which, as the malice of
Mine ENEMIES could hardly have expected; so they know not how with
honour and civility to use it: Nor do I thinke with sober and worthy
minds any thing in them, could tend so much to my reproach, as the
odious divulging of them did to the infamy of the Divulgers: The
greatest experiments of Vertue and Noblenesse being discovered in the
greatest advantages against an enemy, and the greatest obligations
being those, which are put upon us by them, from whom we could least
have expected them.

And such I should have esteemed the concealing of my Papers; the
freedom and secresie of which, commands a civility from all men, not
wholly barbarous; nor is there any thing more inhumane then to expose
them to publick view.

Yet since Providence will have it so, I am content so much of My heart
(which I study to approv