a most Heavenly work to rid the earth of him and a service most acceptable unto the Lord when Raviliack was demanded by his examiners to declare the reason moving him to his attempt he answered That the reasons why it was requisite to kill the King they might understand by the Sermons and Pamphlets of the Preachers Wel Sirs we all know the meaning both of you and of your Prophets and therefore as Elias from the Lord did charge Ahab with the death of Naboth because the letters provoking to it were signed with his seal so do I from the same Lord charge you with all those evil opinions and hard conceits which are already kindled in the mindes of any against the King by the meanes of this Pamphlet because 't is published by your Authority Yea if any further mischief shall befall his Sacred Majesty upon the same at your hands will the Judge of Heaven and Earth require it and know you further that the guilt of all the blasphemies reproaches scornes slanders which are spit out against the King either in this book or any other published by your leave and Order without your deep repentance and humiliation shal be heaped upon your Souls at the day of Reckoning even as if your own selves had been the Authors of them for nil interest sceleri an faveas aut facias to favour and to doe in this case is all one nay the Apostle speaks as if those who appove of other folks ill doings were in a degree worse then the Actors themselves and given up in a further measure to a Reprobate sense Qui non vetat peccare cum potest jubet saies the wise Heathen not to prevent a mischief when one may is directly to command it to be done Gentlemen for as your souls friend I would fain have you recover again that Title I charge you before the living God and Jesus Christ who shall one day sit in judgement upon you to ask your Consciences in secret whether it be not a sin and a wickednesse to speake evil of the Ruler of the people to act Shimei's part against Gods Anointed whether to write or publish such Pamphlets as this be the way to Honour the King in the eyes of his people Whether you have thus learned Christ from the Church of England Whether you ever met in Gods word with any saying or example to warrant you in this way of proceeding And I require you also as you will answer it before the Lord to ask your own hearts whether to Authorize such a work as this to the Kings defamation be a Christian work Honourable and becoming the dignity of a Parliament whose actions ought al to be glorious and presidentiall Nay is it an Act prudentiall in you thus publikely to own and countenance this prolem populi this abominable thing which the very Parents and Authors of are ashamed to father What will you say 't is one of the Priviledges of Parliament you fight for to Authorize things against the King against your own Allegeance end Protestation surely ab initio non fuit sic former Parliaments disdained to own such a Priviledge to tread in such pathes Or will you say you are more Omnipotent then those your Predecessours were who never had those brave advantages that you have true nor never did desire them But can your new Omnipotency make that which is evil in it self turn good by your Authorization I pray where had you this large Commission Who gave you this Authority Christ in whose hand is all power never did let your Chaplains prove it if they can or your Consciences affirm it if they dare Nor will that Writ which called you together and fixt you in your Spheare at Westminster tell you that the King the fountain of power under God did place you there in this sort to exercise your Activity against him your Patent therefore by which you have Authorized this work of darknesse must needs come ab Inferno And can you expect that the Judge of quick and dead will at the great day pronounce well done good and faithfull Servant unto you for doing Satans work for executing his Commission O how much better will you finde then it had been if you had wrapt up your Talents in a Napkin and in the meane time how much more had it been to the dignity of that High Court of Parliament which you pretend so much to stand for if you had but left out the name Parliament and said Published by speciall Order of the Rebellious faction in the two Houses at Westminster But now I have begun to take upon me to speak unto you O you lofty men let me ask you a question more to a like purpose What reward or commendation can you expect at Gods hand for maintaining your Beadsman Britanicus to libell against his Soveraigne to teach and excite by his weekly books the ignorant and seduced vulgar throughout the Kingdome to joyn with him in reviling and laughing to scorn their publike Father now your selves have most unjustly thrust him into affliction Dare you say his expressions are not vile O let me beg pardon of my Soveraigne and of all modest men if to the shame of these mens faces and to the increase of indignation in all godly spirits against their courses I doe with detestation repeate over here one of his passages published to the world on Monday the 4. of August 1645. Where is King Charles What is become of him Some say when he saw the storme comming after him as far as Bridgewater he came away to his dearly beloved in Ireland Yes they say he ran away out of the Kingdome very Majestically Others will have him erecting a new Monarchy in the Isle of Anglesey A third sort say that he hath hid himselfe it were best send Hue and Cry after him If any man can bring any tale or tidings of a wilfull King which hath gone astray these four yeares from his Parliament with a guilty Conscience bloudy hands and a heart full of broken vowes and protestations if these marks be not sufficient there is another in his mouth for bid him speak and you will soon know him then give notice to Britanicus and you will be payd for your paines GOD SAVE THE PARLIAMENT O you Men of Westminster is this your Beadsman that prayes for you that works for you that is maintained and cherished by you then these are the scornes of your hearts the flouts of your Spirits that are vomited up by his mouth and pen if not why have you not hang'd the villain or rather torn him in pieces with wild horses Are not you they that call your selves the Kings most Humble most dutifull and most Loyall Subjects Are not you they that would be accounted the Holy just most Christian and unerring Parliament have you not talked much of reforming our Church and Government and will you countenance and favour such persons Is this the Reformation you
to discover Hypocrites that men might beware of them They are these 1. If the King can be gotten to settle the Militia in their hands all the Injustice and unlawfulnesse of the war on their side will be thereby cancelled and whatsoever they have done against him and his subjects will be Authorized as found and good their crafty seizing upon it at first and their violent use thereof since to the destruction of so many will go for worthy deeds and the King will be judged to have been much to blame in making any opposition against them and for his calling them Rebells His own Act will be the eating of those his own words and speake them to have been His most humble dutifull and obedient subjects all the while they fought against him yea and all they did in that kinde to have been done out of pure love to His Good and Glory and for the benefit of Church and Common-wealth And then too if withall the King shall but confer some new Titles of Honour upon their Chieftaines as when time was he did upon Lesley for this they expect and intend to demand too then they shall appeare White all over and who will dare to say to the contrary and full as good subjects almost as their Brethren the Scots That is one Reason 2. If they can get the King to settle in their Hands that depositum of Power and Authority which God hath intrusted in His they shall bring him as they desire into their own condition and make him such a one to God as themselves have been and are to him whereby Gods displeasure may be so far kindled against him that he may permit them having all the power in their hands to bring their endeavours fully to passe in destroying Him and His posterity and then the world shall be taught to beleeve that Heaven hath punished him for such His sin and confirmed with its blessing all their sayings and doings against him that God was of their minde all the while as now by the success is most apparent Honesta quaedam scelera successus facit saies Seneca the highest Villanies if succesfull shall be accounted vertues and these men care not to obtain truths but opinions warrant 3. They desire the Militia may be settled in their hands quia omnis in ferro salus est their whole safety consists therein it is the Nurse of their wealth and the sole Anchor of their security for O si pateant pectora virûm quantos intus sublimis agit fortuna metus what great feares have these mens High fortunes created in their Bosomes could we but view their insides They dare neither trust the King nor yet the Countrey that trusted them for should the strength be in any hands but their own they might be called to an account for all their doings the Law might be in force again and Justice suffered to shew her face Treason should sit no longer in the seat of Religion Truth might appear above-board and Peace be restored unto the Nation and Order might come again into fashion Yea had the King His power again He might call a Parliament a true Parliament a free Parliament which is a thing that they quake to think on for then like a Company of poore Hope-losts they should stand below and look up to that place of Honour where erst they sat and have so much abused and who in their condition can indure this Nemo Hercule nemo No mervail therefore if they desire to hold fast the Militia in their own hands 4. Should they part with it they should not onely degrade themselves of their present Honour and disarme themselves of safety but of their wealth and riches too for all is now at their Command the Lands Estates the goods and Fortunes of all their Country-men which the Militia of the Kingdome hath invested them with a right in and possession must be maintainted by the same meanes as obtained But should the Militia return into the Hands of the right owner Honest men would enjoy their own as before and they who are now so Gay would remaine stark Naked like Jack-daw in the fable when every bird had re-assumed her own feathers And then further too their pleasures would also cease that sweetnesse they feel in shedding of bloud would be no more which very want would be as bad as death unto them their Natures are now so accustomed unto it In a word as Amos speakes they have gotten them Hornes by their own strength or sleight and the Hornes are the defence of the Head the Militia are these Hornes and should they part with that they fear they should not keep their Heads long after and therefore great reason they have rather to desire the settlement of it for ever in their own Hands But with their favour what reason hath the King to trust them that will not trust Him them with His weapons upon that experience He hath had of their love and kindnesse Who will not trust Him with His own Can it be imagined that they will imploy them otherwise then they have done considering what their delights are Nay may it not be expected that they will make Him the Author of all their Evill which from thenceforth they shall doe when by His consent the power is once settled in their goods Hands Surely they that used His name to the raising of so many men against Himself to the killing of so many of His Subjects when He openly opposed them will not scruple to doe all their mischeif under His Name and Authority when they have so faire a pretence for it Nay should the King doe in this as they would have Him may not the Just and Holy God account Him a partaker with them in Evill His Majesty by His own pious confession hath smarted under the Hand of God for His consenting though doubtlesse against His will to the shedding of Straffords innocent Bloud and should He againe after His Humiliation for that by a new consent make Himself guilty of many more Blouds the continued Anger of the Almighty might be too heavy a burden for Him to beare No doubt but they are and will be the more importunate for His consent now because they see His heart hath smot Him for His consent then for how ever it was blattered much at the beginning by those of their faction against forcing of tender Consciences yet verily we beleeve there were never men that delighted more in offering violence to the Soules and Consciences of the righteous then themselves do wherefore should His Majesty yeild to them in this particular it would be in singultum cordis a corrasive to His Heart for ever and therein a glory unto them and also it would argue too great a distrust in Gods defence of Him and be a mean to delay Gods punishment from falling upon the heads of these lofty Rebells And besides all this His Majesty hereby shall give way to the settling
highest injustice for as to detract from the Standard which is the rule of measures is the greatest sinne so is it to detract from the King who is the Standard of righteousnesse in his Kingdome 4. Consider whether the demand of having the Militia out of the Kings hand wherein his Authority and Power consists which your Leaders and you insist upon be not against piety and a plaine urging the King to act Esau's part in resigning up his birth-right and whether you think in earnest as some of your Preachers have suggested that you have a sufficient ground to expect Gods blessing upon your undertaking though it be unlawfull because Jacob was blessed afterward though the means which he used to accomplish his design were not approvable nay seeing the King is not like Esau so easily drawn to part with his birth-right but rather like Naboth will keep his inheritance for feare of Gods displeasure consider I pray whether you in going about to force him thereto by violence are not all the while acting the parts of Ahab and Jezabel who were persons that had sold themselves to work wickednesse nay whether you are not more deep in the evill then they were in regard the King is not to you as Naboth was to Ahab a subject nor have you as he did tendred an answerable exchange or rather a better for what you demand from him consider I beseech you and thinke well in your owne hearts of this particular 5. Consider and call to mind whether those Teachers who have been most active and busie in drawing you into this your way have not hereby contradicted their own former Doctrines It was said of Stephen Gardiner that no man in the daies of Hen. 8 had spoken better for the Kings Authority then he had done in his Book de vera obedientia and yet no man more violent then he was in Queen Maries time in persecuting those that held fast to the same truth and Doctrine may not the like be said and affirmed of many of your Preachers that no man taught the duty of Obedience better or inveighed more against Rebellion and shedding of bloud then they heretofore have done but now none more violent then themselves in opposing those that practice according to the same Doctrine if it be lawfull to resist defame and oppresse the King now why did they then speak against such doings or if good language of him as their Soveraign and humble obedience to him was true Doctrine then how comes it to passe that 't is not preached still now there is such need of it truth is unalterable They tell you of a certaine New Light received which it seems was an attendant upon the Militia for till this was seized on by their Faction that was not seen and had not this been first obtained probably that had been still concealed may not this New Light therefore be suspected and the rather because 't is so contrary to that which Gods Word holds out unto us which as a sure and certaine guide we are commanded to take heed unto Esay affirmes that whoever speaks not according to the written Testimony bath no light in him And Saint Paul is resolute that if an Angell from Heaven shall teach contrary to that Gospell himselfe had preached which was the Doctrine of obedience to Princes and of love to his Brethren he ought to be held accursed wherefore consider seriously in your own hearts whether you have done well in suffering your selves to be thus led by your new lighted Teachers 6. Consider whether they doe not onely oppoâ—e their owne former Doctrines but also their own former doings and perswade you to goe with them in those wayes which heretofore they exclaimed much upon others for going in did not they complaine much against forcing tender Consciences and against urging subscription to things of an indifferent nature though allowed by Law because scrupled at affirming the same to be against Christian Liberty and yet do not they now countenance farre greater violence in pressing of things more directly unlawfull As for example would not they have the King forced against his Conscience to consent to the altering of that Church-Government which he in his soule is perswaded to be most Orthodox and agreeable to Gods Word and to the State of this Kingdome and which this Church and Nation hath so thrived under yea and which himselfe at his Coroâ—ation took a solemn Oath to maintain And have not their very selves been the chief Instruments of urging their Brethren to the taking of new and unlawfull Covenants and when unto tender and scrupulous Consciences the offensive Oath hath been tendred in one hand and an Halter in another with a furious Commination that they should have the one if they did not presently accept of the other a course which the Bishops never used have not some of these Ministers approved of this rigorous dealing yea and when some of the members of Christ have been at the place of Execution to be murthered and Martyred by their Faction for their Loyalty to their Prince or for falling off through trouble of Conscience from their ungodly Covenant and way have not some of their Preachers stood barking at them on purpose to disturb their spirits and to hinder their quiet passage out of this miserable World even as that bawling Fryer did doe unto Archbishop Cranmer when some have seen or heard them acting their parts in this manner they have thought of that Fryers Picture as it standeth there in the Book of Martyrs And here by the way let me exhort all men to read that Book often in these times and they shall find a very great resemblance between the bloudy Persecutors of those dayes and these now and a great similitude in their courses it was not doubtlesse without a speciall providence that the said Book was of late twice reprinted that so there being a greater plenty of them we in these times might being many of us be more enlightned supported and comforted in our sufferings And I would have you observe among many other things that Note of Mr. Fox How Henry the Fourth that deposed Richard the Second was the first of all English Kings that began the mercifull burning of Gods Saints for their standing against the Papists so that we may thence learn that 't is no new thing for them to be given up to the acting of cruelties against Gods Church and people who have first given up themselves to practise Rebellion against their Soveraign these two sinnes as it seemes before now have gone together But I return Did not many of those your Ministers complain most fearefully in times past for the meer change and alteration of some few phrases and expressions in the Common-Prayer-Book holding it then as it seemed so perfect a platform of Church-Service as that no word or sillable ought to be altered in the same and yet now upon the suddain have not
fruits according to Christs Rule He being a Christian must needs loath their Liberty and being a Protestant must needs hate their Religion For first what is that Liberty which they maintaine If the uncontrouled practice of those that be obsequious to them or if their own Acts and Ordinances may speak it is such a Liberty as Turks exercise over Christians or as Canniballs in the Western World exercise over their fellow-Heathens or as Beasts of prey doe practice upon inferiour Creatures A Liberty which only the strong can enjoy but the weak and feeble are the worse for A Liberty which Lyons Wolves and Kites may thrive upon but Lambes Kids and Doves will be undone by A Liberty for them that have Might and Power to take away their neighbours goods by Sea and Land A Liberty to Kill Slay and Cain-like their owne Brethren whom they hate or that be not of their opinion A Liberty to doe as Enoch ap Evan did without danger of Hanging A Liberty to Steal a Liberty to Lye a Liberty to Slander and Raile upon their Betters A Liberty which the Devill liketh above all things A Liberty to break the Oath of Allegeance and all Gods Commandements so they observe the Ordinances of Parliament A Liberty to be of any Religion save only of the True A Liberty for the Child to Rebell against the Parent the Servant against his Lord and for the Base to rise against the Honourable A Liberty to shake off the Yoke of Subjection and Obedience to their Soveraigne A Liberty to take from Him what God hath given Him Authority Power Wealth and Honour A Liberty to mock Him to scorne at Him in His Affliction to write Libells against Him to hunt Him up and down His Kingdomes like a Partridge upon the Mountaines to murder Him if they can A Liberty to Vote away mens Estates and to voice away the lives of their fellow-Subjects when there is no Law to condemne them In a word a Liberty for every man to doe what is right in his owne eyes or as himselfe lusteth provided that He will take part with the Parliament as they call it against those whom they please to judge their Enemies we doe not say that all particulars that be on that side doe act all and every of these things but they may if they have power and a will thereto for they have Liberty as well as the rest of their faction who are already the Servants of Corruption this is that cause of Liberty which they maintaine Now in the second place for their Religion what is that Truly we cannot tell unlesse we say of it as was wont to be spoken of that of the Papists in the Prayer on the fift of November Their Religion is Rebellion their Faith Faction and their Practice Murdering of Soules and Bodies For since they have pulled downe and discountenanced the Religion of Jesus Christ established amongst us which was a Religion of Peace Patience Obedience Love they have not given us a plat-forme of any that we might know what Faith they fight for what Religion in particular it is which they maintaine we confesse we are yet to seek what t is they aime at sometime we see occasion to think t is the Popish Religion which they are setting up sometime that t is the Turkish we cannot imagine that it can be the Christian Protestant Religion for that is it which they only labour to destroy When we observe how they deny the Kings Supremacy not only in Spiritualls but also in Temporalls How they take upon them to absolve from the Oath of Allegeance to loosen Subjects from their Loyalty to raise Rebellions How they allow of King-slandring King-hunting King-killing How they make Gods Commandements of none effect by their traditions and Ordinances preferring these before the precepts of Christ in their inflicting greater penalties for the not observing them How they challenge infallibility unto themselves requiring Faith and Obedience to their dictates and judgements the people must beleeve as the Parliament Judgeth they must hold the opinion of not Erring and of the necessary assistance of Gods Spirit in the Parliament Committees as the Romanists conceive to be in their Papall Consistories They must fancy in them a like unlimited Authority to dispense with Gods Lawes against theft murder oppression and the like as some Papists doe to be in the Pope and as what is done by his Command so what is done by theirs must be beleeved to be done by Gods As he will be accounted Gods Lieutenant so will they by a Commission of their owne making as what is done for the advantage of his See so what is for the furthering of their designes must be apprehended to be done for the upholding of Christ and as t is taught by some of the Popish Clergy that whoever is out of Papall Obedience must undoubtedly perish so hath it been Preached by some of the Parliament Ministers that whoever is not under the Obedience of Parliament is a Malignant and in state of Damnation When I consider of these and such like particulars withall how bold they are with the Scriptures of God in corrupting with their false glosses and interpretations à la mode de Rome the pure text and Word of God forcing it to speake against it selfe in furtherance of their cause How Saint Paul himselfe is in danger of an Index Expurgatorius from them also how he hath been censured already for his speaking so broadly against the sinne of Rebellion to speak in those points or places rather as a Politician in respect of the times wherein he lived then as a Divine Considering also how they shun disputes with us whom they account their adversaries as the Papists were wont to doe How they inhibit the reading of our Bookes How they command the simple people who are their Disciples not to joyne with us in our Prayers to God or in our praises of God yea taking an Oath of some of them to that purpose no the Wife must not pray with her Husband nor the Childe with his Parent if the Husband or Parent doe professe themselves for the King and for the ancient established Church of England as we are able to prove by particular Examples In a word considering how they pursue us with lies and slanders how they imprison us and force upon our Consciences ungodly Covenants How they persecute with fire and sword all that be not of their opinion as the Papists of old were wont to doe How like to the proceedings of the Popish Inquisition these of their holy House are in diverse particulars which might be instanced in when we doe consider of these and many such like matters wherein they imitate those of Rome we thinke it to be the Romane Religion which they mean to maintaine and set up amongst us Not that we thinke they will admit of the Popes Authority for they intend to be Popes themselves as Henry the 8. disclaimed
the Popes Supreamacy but retained many Points of his Religion so perhaps will they doe these be our thoughts sometimes But then againe we fear it may be the Turkish Religion which they mean to advance when we consider what correspondency they have with the Turkes in diverse things viz. How they have sold and made money of Christian men which none in Europe save onely Turkes are wont to doe How it hath been propounded among some of them to send to Argier and to sell for slaves the Messengers of JESUS CHRIST together with others of their Country-men of better Condition then themselves whom for their Religion and Conscience sake they have imprisoned How themselves are turned to be robbers and Pirats like those of Argier making all their own which by rapine and violence they can get from Christians How they have suffered those theeves their Brethren to steale away Christian Children from these our Coasts while themselves possessing our means of defence have stood still looking on or else were busie in the interim in taking away our goods when we consider of these things and also how they have chosen for the Propagation and maintenance of their new Religion to walke rather in the way of Mahomet then of Christ we conceive that they intend rather to be his Servants For Mahomet did set up his Religion by fraud and force of Armes by the sword and shedding of Bloud and so doe these endeavour to set up theirs Mahomet layed to perpetuate and continue his Religion by introducing of ignorance by deposition of Schooles and Universities by banishing of Learning which is the very method of these men whereas the way of Jesus Christ whom the Christians worship and obey was clean contrary And the Turkes have judged of their cause and Religion by their military success they thinke and plead it to be the best because the most prosperous so these men conclude by the same rule that their cause is the better because at the present t is the most successefull These be our thoughts and the grounds of our fears at other times concerning the Religion which these new Religion makers doe intend to set up and maintain But what ever Religion it be which they shall chance upon we conceive t is resolved amongst them it shall not be the Christian Protestant Religion what ever their outward pretences be for this is that which they labour only to destroy as appeares by many particulars 1. By their persecuting and abusing the King who is the chiefest Prince in the World that publikely professeth himselfe the Defender of the Protestant Faith and who hath maintained it in the greatest tranquility and glory that ever it enjoyed since Christs time to whose Bosome all Christian Protestants in Europe have had recourse for relief comfort in dayes of darkness and Affliction This Prince this Man of Gods right Hand this Sun and Shield of distressed Christians have these men laboured to obscure and darken by lyes slanders and reproaches to weaken and disable by taking away his Authority Wealth and Power to depose and murder by hunting of him shooting at him and Rebelling against him to the end he might never more be a nurcing Father to the persecuted Flock of Jesus That the Sheep of the Lord when worryed by Wolves in other Nations might flye no more unto him for refuge that the Lambes of Christ which this Church under his Command hath brought forth may no longer enjoy pasture under so safe and so indulgent a Keeper 2. By their discountenancing Banishing Imprisoning and Murdering the Fathers and Doctors of the Protestant Christian Church those in speciall who have been the chiefest pillers and upholders of its glory and strongest Champions against Antichristianity in their Generations whose Workes and labours are Famous through the Christian world and whose Names after-Ages will not mention without Admiration of which number are the these most Reverend Grave and Learned Prelates and Doctors Doctor Laud Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Primate of England Doctor Usher Arch-Bishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland Doctor Davenaunt Bishop of Salisbury Doctor Morton Bishop of Durham Doctor Westfeeld Bishop of Bristoll Doctor Hall Bishop of Norwich Doctor Ward Professour of Divinity at Cambridge Dr. Featly Dr. Holdsworth and many more of high worth and learning some of whom are already murdered and forced out of Gods vineyard into their Graves by the Cruelties Oppressions and unkindnesses of these men Others of them are now in persecution and banishment and others in Bondage and Prison for the Gospell of Jesus all of them in such a low and disgracefull Condition that unlesse by their patience and example in sufferings they can do the Saviour of the world no more service 3. By their exposing to contempt and beggery all that were in the Office of the Ministry those onely excepted who to satisfie their lusts were willing to make shipwrack of a good Conscience and to Apostatize from the Faith received to renounce the meek and peaceable Doctrine of the Gospell which they had formerly taught and to preach in the stead thereof Sedition Rebellion War and Bloud stirring up the members of Christ to Kill Slay and Destroy each other according to the tenour of certain bloudy and Antichristian Ordinances but all that held fast to the Testimony of Jesus they have disgraced defamed silenced banished and beggered Yea one of the first things they set about at the beginning of their meeting was to make Gods Prophets the scorn of the World vile and contemptible in peoples eyes that what ever they should preach might not be beleeved which they indeavoured and in part effected by giving publike liberty to all that would to bring in what accusations they pleased against them which were received and beleeved without proof though the informer were the most stinking drunkard and vilest blasphemer in the Countrey and the Ministers some of the most painfull and consciencious yea were it never so evident that malice alone set the Accuser on work to revenge himself upon the Minister for his indeavouring to reclaime him from some sin yet should the said Accuser be openly countenanced and encouraged by some of the shamelesse members and the Messenger of God scorned set at nought his living sequestred his person imprisoned his wife and children turned out of doores and all that he had taken from him and the Honester the man the worse used alwayes for by his known honesty he would doe Christ the more service if let alone and their cause the more dammage and this sufficiently speakes their malice against Christian Religion But 4. It appeares further by the endeavours of some of them to take away all certaine and settled maintenance from the Ministers of Christ for time to come that they might not have hereafter any outward encouragement to set up his Religion againe Judge Cooke in the Bishop of Winchesters case out of Ecclesiasticall story observeth well and these men it seemes have
ill spoken of the same reason may be given for the enemies prevailing of late against the Kings men Though I doe not say that all on the Enemies side are free from this hellish sinne or so respectfull of Christ and God as the Turkes are in this particular for there are with them even with them also most horrid swearers and most execrable blasphemers but their evills hurt not us as our owne doe nor are so mis-becoming their Cause as ours are to that which we maintaine And indeed never any good undertaking had so many unworthy attendants such horrid blasphemers and wicked wretches as ours hath had I quake to think much more to speak what mine eares have heard from some of their lips but to discover them is not my present business a day may come when the world may see that we who adhere to the King for Conscience sake what ever is said of us to the contrary have as truly hated the prophanesse and vilenesse of our own men as we have done the disloyalty and Rebellion of the Enemy For indeed the truth is betwixt them both as betwixt two mil-stones the King his Cause and our selves too are ground in pieces and were the matter well opened it would appear that both those and these have had but one and the same end even to satisfie their owne lusts and enrich themselves with the ruines of their King and Country But without all question neglect of Religion and want of Discipline hath weakned and undone the Kings Armies O had His Sacred Majesties Commands and Orders for the exercise of both been put in Execution the Enemy had never been able to have stood before us 3. Popular Fury which is like the rushing of mighty waters comes also in to the making up of this Land-floud which gives the Adversary such occasion of glorying the Addition of the many though it can adde no true credit to their Cause yet it makes the successe appear extraordinary The People sayes Jeremy are foolish and know not Gods way and our Saviour sayes the Multitude walke in the broad way they are led much by mouth and noise and incline alwayes to the strongest their delights are to lift up those that are already up and to throw downe lower the already downe with them the winner hath alwayes praise let a man get power or prosperity how he can he shall not want vertue in their opinions A notable Testimony of this we have in that propheticall vision Rev. 13. wherein is foreshewn what shall fall out in these latter times we are there told of a certain Beast with many Heads whom all the world wonder after in regard of his Power and Authority which notwithstanding was not lawfull or rightly come by as the Text infers For the Dragon or Devill did give it to him and not God yet such was the blindness and fury of the People that they did worship and adore him for it And by the way let us here note that Satan is sometime said to give power by Gods permission as well as God and as that power which is gotten by honest and lawfull meanes is Gods gift of which kinde was that of Pilat though abused by him it was conferred upon him by the voluntary designement of Caesar the Supream Magistrate and therefore our Saviour saies it was of God or from above So that strength and Authority on the other side which is obtained by unlawfull courses is the gift of Satan and such was that of the many-headed Monster forementioned He is said to have received power from the Dragon because by fraud violence and unjust wayes he had gryped a great strength of the Militia into his hands whereby for a season he was succesefull in many designes Yea sayes the spirit vers 7. He made Warre with the Saints and overcame them He prevailed over men of all sorts small and great rich and poore free and bond and compelled them to receive a Marke or to take a Covenant and no man might live and trade buy or sell in all his Quarters that scrupled at it And in regard of this his great Power and success together all that dwelt upon the earth or in the Countries where he had to doe those onely excepted sayes the Text whose names were written in the booke of Life did worship the Beast wondered after him and admired him saying who is like unto the Beast who is able to make Warre with him And no doubt but the Beast did admire himselfe too for such his greatness and success among the People whose foolish and froward access indeed did make the same so extraordinary These I conceive are the chief causes of that prosperity which the enemy so much glories in what invisible reasons there be in Gods secret Councell for his permitting this I cannot tell but sure I am though the Adversaries may have received their power as that beast did to doe as they have done yet Gods Hand it selfe is in the Judgement as 't is a punishment And indeed we have sinned one with another and therefore are justly punished one by another we had made this happy and rich Kingdom the stage of our wickedness and therefore it is become unto us an Acheldama or field of blood and should God make it an Hell also for ever to torment us in it would be but our due merit and his true Justice Let us give God his due glory He is righteous in all his doings The Judgement indeed hath falne hitherto most heavy upon the Kings Family and Party and this I beleeve is of Gods speciall permission too but whether because Judgement doth usually begin at Gods own house or because we on that side are in the generall so sinfull and the best of us so little affected with these nationall miseries and so little humbled under our own I cannot tell Gods Councells are a great deep But let this be confessed to our shame of which I wish we could take more unto our selves for this is a time and season to do it in I thinke since the world began there was never so great a Judgement lesse laid to heart wherein so many are concerned then this is by us Alas Alas Who amongst us yet speaketh aright Who repenteth him of his wickedness Who lamenteth for his sin Who smites himselfe and sayes What have I done Every one in a manner still goes on â—in his old course and runs desperately upon his owne ruine even as the Horse that wanteth understanding rusheth into the battle We have those that seeme to hate Religion as much as the Rebells doe Loyalty yea that make Religion a mark of Rebellion even as they on the other side do make Rebellion a mark of Religion Nay I would they did not hate both Loyalty and Religion too sure they use those worst that are to both these best affected we must needs think that God hath an high indignation against such persons and disdaines sure
That 't is an heinous crime and sin in the King to endeavour to maintain Monarchy or to solicite any Princes though Protestants and of his owne nearest bloud and Alliance beside to aide him therein 3. That all Princes are contained and included in the King of Denmarke for in the Kings soliciting him he solicites all them Whence by the way we may also observe how provident these times are in providing for the credit of their future Clergy for 't is doubtlesse for their sakes that an Argument à singularibus ad universalia is here amongst other like stuffe made paâ—â—able and good by Authority and speciall Order of Parliament Concerning the Religion of these men it hath been made apparent already that the fruits and effects of it speake it to be such a one as deserves the hatred of all men though it cannot under any proper name be the object of the Kings opposition for no man can directly say what it is themselves are not yet resolved upon it nor what to call it But whatever is the ground of the Kings opposing them 't is evident that the Cause of their resisting him which I hope all Christian Princes will take speciall notice of is for Monarchy sake he would maintaine Monarchy He will not tamely admit the downfall of Monarchy in this noble Kingdome which these men as appears by their owne words would faine effect and therefore they thus persecute him and exclaim upon him nor are they either ashamed or affraid to intimate the same to the whole world let all the Monarchs of the Earth take it as an open defyance if they please they thinke themselves able to grapple with them all yea they and their faction where ere they prevaile are resolved not to leave a Monarch standing I desire of all you His Majesties Subjects of Great Brittain and Ireland who have unfortunately been seduced by this faction but to observe well this discovery which themselves have made by this passage of their own intentions they have told you oft and perhaps may tell you againe by some impudent speech or declaration that they intend still to maintaine true Religion and Monarchy in this Kingdome to have a King over them and that they be only ill tongues Enemies to Parliaments that say otherwise c. But I beseech you beleeve not a word they say to this purpose for God hath here made their owne tongues and pens to betray their Hearts for your sakes that you might speedily withdraw your selves from their seduction and not be their Instruments to embrew your hands in the bloud of your Soveraigne and to take from him his Inheritance who hath alway defended you in yours with peace and plenty till by their fraud and violence he was disabled and how have you enjoyed your selves and comforts since let your experience speak it to your owne Hearts Be you assured from what you have felt that Monarchy is the Protection of this Nation and of you the good people in it call but to minde the daies past when a Monarch only had the Militia in his disposing quà m placide poâ—ens dominusque vitae how pleasingly powerfull was he in the use of it with what innocent hands did he sway the Scepter How unbloudy was his whole raigne How tender and sparing of the lives of his Subjects Populus iste non bella nôrâ—t non tubae fermituâ— truces non arma gentes cingeres assuêrant suas muris nec urbes we knew not what Warres or Alarums meant nor did we need weapons to protect our selves nor Walls to defend our Cities pervium cunctis iter every man might travaile safely communis usus omnium rerum fuit there was a common use of all Common blessings yea and every man beside without disturbance enjoyed the comfort of his own Labours But since Monarchiall Government hath been obscured by these mens introduction of themselves upon the Stage of Action what hath been in practise amongst us but all kind of Oppression Tyranny Injustice and Villany whereof I heartily wish that your Experience did need my further information wherefore I pray take speciall notice of this passage 't is published you see to the world by Authority of Parliament yea by their speciall Order and therefore you have reason to beleeve it to be the true intent of their Hearts and the rather because 't is so agreeable to all their Actions yea though the contrary should be told you hereafter by the same Authority Be it known I say unto you all and remember it well the end of all these warres and fightings against the King is to destroy Monarchy in this Kingdome and to keepe you the free-borne Subjects of it in this turbulent slavish and underly condition whereunto a few of your Tyrannicall fellow-Subjects have already brought you they tell you sometimes that 't is the Militia of the Kingdome onely which they would have settled in good hands and the King shall be King still but your experience have taught you that no hands are so good as his neither can the Kings bare Title be able to defend you in your possession They tell you that they will defend you but you have payed for so much wit as to judge of what you shall have by what you have had already from them therefore as no man having tasted old wine straightway desireth new viz. if he be also acquainted with the relish of the new for he saies the Old is better so you having had a sufficient tast of both Governments the Monarchicall and the other new one which we cannot yet tell by what name to call have no reason by any meanes to allow of this since you are so sure that the old is better In a word let this Conclusion be rooted in your Hearts which experience hath in part confirmed unto your senses that as the Moone and Starres would fall infinitly short of that bright Lustre which now they have if the Sunne were stripped of his abundant shining so take from the King his Royall Prerogative let him be as a King and no King and all the people great and small will quickly feel that from his flourishing Condition proceeded all their happinesse I shall not here need to spend time in shewing the Excellency of Monarchy above all other Governments and the fitnesse of it for this Nation abler Pens have done that abundantly since the beginning of this unreasonable Rebellion only this I say to introduce any other forme into this Kingdome is a new thing never yet in being here and therefore I apprehend such an Act to be a perfect opposition unto Gods revealed will whosoever be the Agents in it for as the saying is Qui mala introducit voluntatem Dei oppugnat revelatum in verbo qui nova introducit voluntatem Dei oppugnat revelatum in rebus and therefore I advise all Statesmen consulere providentiam Dei cum verbo Dei to take Councell of Gods Providence as well as of
his Word in cases of this Nature But I returne again to these men Who would have us by these their words of His Maj. soliciting the King of Denmark and in him all other Princes to take notice that he calls in forraign Aide which fault they amplifie over and over in other places for though themselves may without offence or sinne call in another Nation and hire them with I know not how many 1000. Pounds a moneth to help them cut the throats of their Country-men yea and may make use of any forreiners in the world of what Nation Religion or Spirit soever they be to help them to destroy and pull down Monarchy yet the King may not without exclamation desire the aide of a Protestant Prince no not of his neerest Kinsman the King of Denmark to uphold the same But what is the reason that the King must be confined to this restraint themselves walk so much at Liberty Why they tell us at the end of their notes that the King had made resolutions and promises that he would never bring in forreine forces Which themselues indeed never did nor ever intended for doubtlesse they resolved at first to bring their defignes to passe by any meanes and rather then faile to get assistance Flectere si superos nequeunt Acheroâ—â—a movere and therefore themselves are free and do as they please whereas the King is entangled in his own promises They say Pag. 58. As to the bringing in of forrain forces The King Mar. 9. 1641. in his Declaration from Newmarket saith Whatsoever you are advertised from Rome Venice Paris of the Popes Nuncios soliciting Spain and France for forrain â—ydes We are confident no sober honest man can beleeve Us so desperate or senselesse to entertain such designes as would not onely bury this Our Kingdome in soddain destruction and ruine but Our Name and Posterity in perpetuall scorn and infamy Also they tell us of other words which the King spoke some three weeks after to the same purpose which indeed as I take it do expresse the inward ground and Motive that caused him to speak the former viz. We have neither so ill an opinion of Our own Merits or the Affections of Our Subjects as to think Our self in need of forraigne force Also August the 4. in his speech to the Gentry of York-shire the King acknowledgeth say they that He is wholly cast upon the Affections of his people having no hope but in God His just cause and the love of his Subjects Now these observators having quoted these three expressions of the King do conclude saying What distinction can now satisfie us that neither Irish French Lorraiâ—ers Dutch Danes are forreiners To which I answer First for the Irish they are no more forreiners then the Scots are nor in some respect so much for Ireland hath been a dependant unto the Crown of England many hundred yeers before Scotland was and then for French Lorraiâ—ers Dutch and Danes I shall answer concerning them when they are landed for the Kings assistance and in the meane time it would be but just that they should satisfie us that neither the Irish Scots French Burgâ—ndiâ—â—â— Dutch Wallâ—ns Italiâ—ns that are already in their Armies are neither Papists nor Forreiners as I said before the time and place is known to many where neere 30. of their men being taken were examined and found to be of six severall Nations all forreiners and all Papists But these words of the King alleadged by these men against Him do plainly discover to every honest eye that His Majesties designe was never to use any but His own Subjects nor did He think it possible and the rather in regard of His own good merits that people so long instructed in Protestant Religion should ever prove so ungratefull as to force Him their Prince to stand in need of forreigne assistance and therefore the Heads of the faction having in their malicious policy to work feares and jealousies against Him told the people that the Popes Nuncio that great Bulbegger was soliciting both in Spain and France the Kings businesse for forreigne aides and of this they said they were advertized from Venis and Paris yea and from Rome it self with which it seems they held intelligence even from the very beginning Now to remove this foolish vanity and to retaine a clearnesse in His peoples hearts the King expressed himself in that sort unto them assuring them that they were all forgeries against Him and that he did wholly cast Himself upon the Affections of His people and was confident that no sober man could beleeve Him so senselesse as to entertaine such a designe which would have been so detrimentall both to Himself and His Kindom and in very deed if before he had tryed his own people he had called in such Armies of Forreiners as they reported it must needs have been confessed a desperate part in him a mean to have brought a suddain Destruction upon his Kingdome and a perpetuall Infamy upon His Name But if after three yeares as long as was allowed to the fig-tree in the Gospell the King finding his Subjects unfaithfull and cold in their affections towards him Nay more perceiving by so long experience that their endeavours were to take from him both his Life and his Inheritance yea and his Honour too and that they abused his good opinion of them by mis-interpreting his professions unto them and conceiving him tyed thereby from using others help for defence of himselfe and Monarchy I beleeve if he had or should alter his Resolution and call in any Prince in Christendome to his assistance in the maintenance of Regall Authority which God hath intrusted him withall and of that Government which as the most absolute God established among his own people and hath alway blessed this Nation under He being utterly disabled to do it otherwise it should be reckoned by the Almighty at the great day if any fault at all but among his infirmisies Yea and if destruction thereby should fortune to come to the whole Kingdome the whole infamy and guilt thereof should be charged upon the Heads of these his most perverse and injurious people even as that of Jerusalem by Titus Vespasian is laid upon the seditious that were therein even unto this day But my humble prayer to the Almighty is that he would yet please to spare us and to bestow his grace at length upon the people of this land that they might cease provoking his Divine Majestie to punish that way this so Horrid a sin and so High abuses to his own Annointed And thus I have done also with this particular SECT XXIII 1. The Libellers Cavills at the word Mongrill Parliament At the Commissioners for the Treaty at Uxbridge At the Kings pawning His Jewels answered 2. His Majesties Affection and Goodnesse to His Subjects for want of other matters objected as a fault against Him by these Libellers IN the third place they accuse the
did hurt or harme unto us they that brought you into these miseries however they courted and encouraged you before will reject your complaints with a quid haec ad nos you should have looked to these things before hand for Pharisees will be Pharisees unto the worlds end It is a fearefull thing to be given up to shed bloud King James would say if God should leave him to kill a man he would think God did not love him and I believe your selves were of the same opinion all the while the Doctrine of Jesus Christ which commandeth love to enemies did season your hearts but what a strange alteration is there now in your dispositions since the Doctrine of Devils hath been preached unto you for no other is this of butchering your brethren of killing slaying and destroying then the doctrine of him who is a murtherer from the beginning you would not have been hired heretofore to have acted the executioners part which is a lawfull office upon a Malefactor condemned by lawfull Authority so tender you were of shedding bloud but now you make no scruple at all of it you are greedy and thirsty many of you to spill the bloud of Innocents only for their constancy in that Doctrine of Obedience and Loyalty to the King which your selves also in Christs Schoole have been instructed in meerly upon the temptation and motion of them you call the Parliament who have no more Authority over the lives of men without the Kings allowance then your servants have over yours nay which is more strange yet you are bewitched by their seduction to think that in killing your Brethren you do God service though our Saviour fore-speaking of this very particular shewes the ground of this ill opinion to be only ignorance of God and want of knowledge Nay not only those that have been Agents or Souldiers in this Rebellion but in like manner all you who have willingly contributed Plate Moneyes Horses or any thing tending to the advancement of it I feare you are under the guilt of bloud and will be indicted one day at Gods barre as accessaries to all these evills that have been committed against the King and against your brethren all the men and all the women that brought in their Salts Spoones Rings and Thimbles by the suggestion and perswasion of false Teachers must hold up their hands at Gods Tribunall as guilty persons for doing things by the seduction and example of others so cleane contrary to that light of the Gospell which so many years together had been taught unto them O friends strong and strange is the delusion that is fallen upon you and thick is the veile that is over your eyes farre are you gone without looking back and most difficult is it yet to perswade you to it I have often feared with my selfe that place in Esay to have too neer a relation to you The hearts of this people are made fat their eyes dim and eares heavie and to continue so till the Cities be wasted without an inhabitant the houses without man and the Land be utterly desolate I beseech you in the bowels of Jesus Christ think seriously upon the matter O that I could perswade you to it while there is time for repentance and save your selves at length yet from this untoward generation break their yoak from off your necks renounce their societies have no more to doe with them read mark and ponder upon that place Prov. 1. 10. to the 20. Verse and remember from whence you are fallen and return to your Loyalty O Countrey-men Return return and to provoke you more earnestly hereunto consider with your owne hearts of these particulars 1. Whether this way wherein you have gone be not directly opposite both to Christs Doctrine and example doth not the Gospell command to give tribute to whom Tribute is due feare to whom feare and Honour to whom Honour belongeth and doth it not teach that all these appertain to the King and yet have they not all been with-held from him was not our Saviours practice in this particular most remarkable for our imitation He wrought but one money miracle while he was on the Earth and that was to have wherewithall to pay Caesar his Homage and himselfe sayes he did it least he should offend so carefull was he not to displease the King and being tempted at another time to give some countenance for with-holding the Kings Rights disclaimed the motion and cryed out redde Caesari quae sunt Caesaris Deo quae sunt Dei inferring that God and Caesar in such matters go together to injure the one is to wrong the other for God hath commanded that Caesar be honoured and that all which is his be rendred to him Now whether you and your Leaders have done according to this doctrine and example let your own consciences judge 2. Consider whether this way wherein you have gone be not also contradictive to the Law of the Land The denyall of the Kings Supremacy in this Kingdome hath been wont to be accounted so heinous an offence that he who is guilty of it is judged by the Law to die as a Traytor And the doing of any thing in prejudice of the Kings Authoritie as the raising of Forces without him nay the having but thoughts of mischief towards him though they never breake forth into Action is reckoned by the Law for no lesse then High Treason and some have suffered death for such things nay further yet the bare instilling misconceits of the King into the people to with-draw their affections from him hath even in this very Parliament been cald High Treason Now whether the Kings Supremacy not only in things Spirituall but also Temporall be not denied and whether by your opposition to his Majesties Person and commands and by whispering yea by open speaking evilly of him and consenting to what hath been written against him you have not made your selves guilty of that grand Crime let your own consciences also determine unto you 3. Consider whether it be not against common equity to practice the taking away from any one that which comes unto him by lawfull inheritance succession or just election whether you would not so judge it if any should divest you of what was left you by your Parents and whether the Kings Authority and Revenews which you with others have endeavoured to dispossesse him of be not of the same Tenure and held by the best Title indeed if men come to power and Authority by fraud and violence as your new Masters have done the case is otherwise lives lost in conspiring the downfall of such may be reckoned well sold every man in common equity were there no tie of duty or allegeance is to help him to right that suffers wrong but to concurre in oppressing the Supreme Magistrate and in taking from him what belongs unto him if conscience be suffered to make report it will be confessed to be the
you by the conditions of those persons that are above-board with you and imployed by you as also by that progresse which Religion hath had since you have domineered for the goodnesse or badnesse of Rulers hath alwayes been concluded upon from the growth or decay of Religion in their dayes But truly Sirs not to flatter you we observe your Piety to be nec una nec vera nec bona and therefore conceive it to be in very deed nulla I must be plaine 't is my profession and my resolution and therefore you must beare with me First 'T is not una for you are divided in Religion the very best among you I shall minde you to this purpose of some passages in Print between your two so much extolled Professors nay Martyrs so intitled so honoured William Prynne and Henry Burton whom at the beginning of your meeting you sent for and reeeived with more affectionate and generall applause then ever since was shewn unto your Soveraign these two however conjoyned in that ridiculous and admired Triumph which your selves with the City of London was pleased to make them even these very two have been at daggers drawing almost ever since about their Religion and each of them have even amongst your very selves Followers and Disciples great plenty they are indeed the two grandest Champions of the two grandest Factions of those 52 which as reports goes doe swarm among you Prynne is as appears for the Presbyterians and Burton for the Independents And their controversie is about no lesse then a maine part of the Gospel for of that nature is Church-Government in Burtons present judgement and Prynne was apprehended of the very same opinion all the while he held up Satans banner against the Bishops though now it seemes as many others of his Sect are he is fallen from it for he holds now as Prelaâ—s did before that there be Nationall Churches and that each hath a Liberty to chuse and settle such a Form of Church Government as is most sutable to the Lawes Customes and manners of the people yea and further that there is no direct precept or pattern in Sacred Writ for particulars in Discipline and Ceremony but they are left to humane prudence And to prove this against his Brother Burtons Faction he doth use those very Arguments which were wont to be used against himselfe and his Sect and are to be found originally in Mr. Hookers Ecclesiasticall Policy But Burton spits at him for this and affirms plainely that to shape Religion in point of Church-Government to humane Policy is to shape a Coat for the Moone humano capiti cervicem jungere equinam populo ut placeret fabulas facere to coyne tales to please people Wherefore he taxeth his Brother Prynne of high presumption in thus attempting to mingle Earth and Heaven together they are his owne words for I 'le not vary a syllable from his own expressions what sayes he cannot your Law and our Gospel cotten together unlesse our Gospel weares your Lawes Liverie and be tyred in a Gown like one of your Sergeants made up of two severall colours Prynne is peremptory that Church-Government and Power of making Ecclesiasticall Lawes to binde was ever in the Civill Magistrate the Priests or Clergie never had any thing to do in that worke by right and now sayes he the power is in the Parliament that place Math. 18. 15 16 17. If thy brother offend c. He will have to be meant not of Excommunication but of the Civill Court of Justice And he sayes further that in the Assembly or Evangelicall Synod Act 15. the Apostles did not passe their Votes as they were Apostles guided infallibly by the Holy Ghost but rather as they were in their ordinary capacity as Elders and chiefe members of it and this he concludes to be an undeniable Scripture Authority for the lawfull use of Parliaments and Synods under the Gospell upon like necessary occasions and for their power to determine Controversies of Religion to make Canons maugre all evasions and exceptions of Independents to elude it all which with much more such stuffe to the same purpose as it seems Prynne hath against his Adversaries and proves it as Burton notes with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but sayes he that shall not serve the turne for he denies every bit of it with another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as good as his he is very positive that we should have a very mad world of it if Civill States or Parliaments should have liberty to frame Church-Governments or set up Discipline He allows a State to pull down an old Church-Government indeed but by no meanes to set up any for that he saith is another thing And he tells Prynne plainely that he is out of his proper orbe in talking thus and 't is out of his jealousie that Church Censures should trench upon his pleadings at the Barre of Justice and for his part he is confident that the place Mat. 18. belongeth not to Civill Courts but to the Church as all Presbyterians heretofore did expound it and for the Decrees made at the Synod Act. 15. He is of opinion because they were binding that they were made by the Apostles as they were Apostles and that the Parliament now hath no power to make the like And he is directly of opinion that that Assembly or Church-meeting was no Parliament scil no such Parliament as Prynne would have it and therefore he adviseth him thus Good Brother be not so peremptory but take in your top-saile 't is too high to bear up against so stiffe a gale of Scripture and reason Prynne affirms before-hand that whosoever submits not to that Church-Government which the Parliament shall set up is guilty of arrogancy schism contumacy and liable to such penalties as are due to those offences Burton cryes out Good Brother be not so legall what if they set up such a one as godly people cannot submit unto must they either violate their consciences or suffer in their good names for arrogant contumacious schismaticks and be liable to I wot not what penalties beside why good Brother if we should go and live under the Turkish Government and could not in Conscience turne Turks in the Religion there established yet there is a way of exemption for it namely to become Tributaries to the State as many Christians do Good Brother let 's not have any of Draco's Lawes executed upon innocents shall we now turne worse persecutors of the Saints then the Prelats Surely Henry Burton being so wise and so good a man in your esteems you cannot imagine but he sees some reasons for his thus speaking Againe Prynne in another place requires absolute obedience to the generall consent of the Assembly and Parliament which Burton holds utterly unlawfull and alledgeth to prove it so that generality of Votes whereby the Jewes State did carry it away to crucifie their King inferring thereby that he thinkes it possible that this
corruption in our nature and practice and for mine owne Name sake saith the Lord I will defer mine anger and for my praise will I refraine from thee that I cut thee not off and againe the second and third time for mine owne sake even for mine owne sake will I doe it and in another place not for your sakes be it knowne unto you will I doe this but for mine owne holy Name sake this Name of God is that strong hold which Zachariah the Prophet directs unto in times of danger and that Tower whereunto the righteous flie and are safe as Solomon tells us But then though our selves indeed be as nothing in this case yet our miseries which are great upon us may be said to have an influence upon Gods pitie to stirre him towards us for the oppression of the poore and sighing of the needy I will arise saith the Lord and will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him And againe because they have called thee an out-cast I will restore health unto thee and heale thy wound thus have they called us thus have they made us and that for Gods name sake which makes the more for us yea and yet they give God thanks for their successe against us as if he approved of their injuries to us and this is further also to our advantage as the Spirit tels us in the Prophet Your Brethren that hated you and cast you out for my name sake said let the Lord be glorified but he shall appear to your joy and they shall be ashamed as if he had said the sooner for that And to assure us of this we have a further argument yet scil the engagement of his Gospel with us which is as deeply interessed in our sufferings as we our selves are and doth as equally need deliverance yea that is likely to abide under disgrace and obloquy if the cause we are persecuted for be not supported nay if our enemies meet not with Confusion in their way Christ's whole life and carriage as well as his Doctrine will fall under suspition and condemnation by their prevailing 't is well known that his name is pretended in all their proud rebellious butcherly opinions and proceedings as if he had given some precept or example for such doctrines and doings and had discountenanced that low way of humilitie obedience meeknesse and love to Brethren yea to enemies which we maintain and suffer for But Christ's Gospel is his glory 't is his word which he is resolved to magnifie above all things and to vindicate the Honour of that his Father to whom he cannot be unfaithfull hath committed all Authoritie and power into his hand wherefore we need not feare though we are now down we shall rise again though we sit in darknesse yet the Lord shall be a light unto us he will plead our cause he shall execute Judgement for us Yea and that for his Justice sake also for Christ is King still for all this and Judge of all the earth and his office is to help them to right that suffer wrong to punish ill doers yea his delights are to confound the crafty and to throw down the proud and lofty Bloud guiltinesse he hareth how was Cain branded for it and cursed How were Simeon and Levi in their posterity scattered but for one bloudy act in heat and anger they had not yet arrived at studied or reiterated murther Rebellion he abhorreth and rather then that shall goe unpunished God will create a new thing the earth shall open her mouth and swallow up Corah and his Companions if Moses cannot master them and rather then Absalom and Achitophel shall scape their due demerits the one shall hang himselfe and his haire the other let David doe his best to save his sonnes life he shall not have his will for God is King above him and hath decreed that Justice shall be done upon all Traitours Treachery and falshood his soule loatheth and therefore hath ordained it shall cut its own throat rather then want an Executioner and be the cause of its own ruine in deed what was never true in it selfe cannot be long true unto it selfe Ephraim and Manasseh may be both against Judah but before they have done they will be as much against each other nay rather then faile Egyptian shall be against Egyptian falshood will find enemies amongst those of its own House and herd there may be a Conspiracy in it but no true concord for 't is only righteousnesse and peace that can kisse each other The strongest fire-brands in ill are like the fire-brands of Sampsons Foxes knit but in the tailes not heads nor hearts how sure in the end are they to burn their own knots asunder No Confederacy sayes God nor Association without me shall stand take Councell together it shall come to nought and gird your selves as strongly as you can you shall without faile be broken in pieces the zeal and justice of the Lord of Hosts will bring this to passe for us He hath done the like for his people in times past and he will not leave his ancient custome which may bring to our thoughts another Argument of assurance It hath been Gods wont when he hath beat his child to burn the rod Babilon the Hammer of the whole earth was at length broken Ashurs glory and greatnesse though some years in growing was consumed in a moment the rod of Gods anger is also the object of his indignation the instruments of his judgement scape not his fury the dreggs of the cup fall out to be their portion I will take the dreggs of the cup of my fury out of thy hand saith the Lord to his people with whom he had begun and will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee and have said to thy soule bow down that we may go over The rod of the wicked may be upon the back of the righteous but it shall not rest there namely for ever But perhaps you 'l say when will God doe this How long How long shall we stay before we have experience of it Himselfe sayes after a little while mine indignation shall cease towards thee and mine anger shall end in their destruction God doth all things in due time he gives rain to the earth food to man and fury to his enemies and all in due serson to me belongeth vengeance and recompence saith the Lord their foot shall slide in due time for the day of their calamity is at hand and the things that shall come upon them make hast every thing is most beautifull in its season and a worke of this nature is then in season and most beautifull when Gods hand is so clearly seen in it that all men may confesse and say verily it was his doing But what are the signes of that season I 'le name four and so