Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	great_a	king_n	people_n	5,724	5	4.8029	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93347	Gods unchangeableness: or Gods continued providence, in preserving, governing, ordering and disposing of all creatures, men, actions, counsels and things, as at the beginning of the world, so to the end of the world, for ever, according to the counsel of his own will. From whence is gatherd six necessary inferences very applicable to the changes, alterations and vicissitude of these our present times. Wherein is clearly demonstrated and proved, that Oliver Cromwell is by the providence of God, Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland, &c. to whom the people owe obedience, as to him whom God hath set over them. Unto which is added, the causes of discontent, repining and murmurings of men: also, some serious advertisements, and seasonable admonitions to the discontented, and reprehensions to all impetuous, arrogant murmurers. Together with answers to some cheif objections made against the Lord Protector and his present government, endeavouring (if possible) satisfaction to all men. / Therefore written and published for publicke good, by George Smith, Gent.	Smith, George, 1602 or 3-1658.	1655 (1655)	Wing S4036; Thomason E824_4; ESTC R207687	84,417	65

u there is a time of warre and there is a time of peace w We had our time of war and tasted of the bitternesse of it God now in great mercy offereth us our time of peace if we will not accept of it but provoke God by our murmuting we may fear the event Christians and Englishmen I pray consider that saying of Ahner to Joab Shall the sword devour for ever will it not be bitternesse in the latter end x You know how it proved bitter both to Abuer and to Joab Discontents Ambiand false Interest procured the sword to eat the flesh of them by the just hand of God As Abuer had shed the bloud of many in Israel in an evil cause his bloud was shed by Joab wickedly y And Joab because beshed the bloud of war in the time of peace z he was slain by the sword at the horns of th● 〈◊〉 a God hath manifested his will to us by clear providences Let us as men tha● fea● God and own his providence submit unto it and not murmure nor repine but with patience wait to see what God will yet do for us He hath multitudes of blessings to the obedient and as many curses and scourges to the murmurers If it he as the Psalmist saith a good and pleasant thing for brethren to dwell together in unity b Then it must needs be an evil and unpleasant thing for Brethren to dwell together in discord dissention strife and variance all disunited and disjointed in affections Consider what I have said and the Lord give every one a good and right understanding in all things If that I have said being well weighed be not found to be truth beleeve it not But if it be the truth follow it practise it or this that I say shall one day be a witnesse against him that readeth and slieghteth it and give me leave to adde this to the rest and tell you that those that are contemners and murmurers against the government of a Common-wealth in the Infancy of it they are he greatest enemies to that Common-wealth not hurtful only to themselves but to the whole Nation the evil example of one murmurer draws more to the imitation of that sin then the perswasion and good counsell of many can divert and so all or multitudes oft perish together As we see in the men that were sent to spy out the Land of Canaan they murmured and brought an evil report of that good Land which caused all the people to weep and murmure and cry out against Moses and Aaron c for which their murmuring they were excluded from that good Land and promise And not only so but they even those men that brought up the evil report were destroied before the Lord by a plague d Consider what God hath done he will do still For God is unchangeable It is one of his Attributes which he takes only to himself I am the Lord I change not e In him is no variablenesse neither shadow of change f Therefore it must of necessity follow from Gods unchangeablenesse that whatsoever he hath done in former times he will do the same for he is the same what judgements he hath inflicted for any sin or that he hath threatned to inflict he will still do the same therefore the Apostle tels even us Christians that whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our Learning g c. I confesse my Brerhren when I took my pen in hand to write upon this subject Discourse I intended not above three sheets of paper but the matter is encreased before me and I could not expresse my self with more brevity I would yet for further satisfaction modestly give Answers to some Objections made by some sorts of men against his Highnesse the Lord Protector which I will do in as few lines as I can possibly Object It is Objected That the cause of our war which hath cost so much bloud and treasure was To defend our Rights and Freedoms against the Tyranny of Kings to be governed under a Parliament as free People by just Laws c. But the Lord Protector assumes to himself the Authority of a King by exercising a greater Tyranny over the people then the King did to give Laws c. Answ I answer the cause of our warre as instrumental was To defend the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament the Freedom and liberty of the People and the defence of the true Religion against incroaching Tyranny and innovations subtlely insinuated by the late King and his evil Counsel But that our Warre intentionally was against the lawful Authority of Kings or against the Person of the Late King as he was King or against his just prerogative I deny Only against his evil Councel the War was raised that the Priviledges of Parliament the Liberty of the People and the truth of Religion might be defended and established This will appear by severall Parliament Declarations Protestations and solemn Covenant wherein the Parliament do declare protest and covenant as their own priviledge freedom and liberty c. to defend and preserve the Kings person his just Rights and Prerogatives so far as it might stand with the preservation of Religion and the peoples Rights But the late King standing in strong opposition to the Parliament and Liberty of the people and his Rights and Prerogatives coming in competition with or against the preservation of Religion and Priviledges of Parliament and the peoples Right He defending and taking upon himself all the evil Actions and wicked devices of his evil Councell miscarried for so providence had ordered it should be And the people as providence led them submitted to a Parliament to govern them as a free People they expected much ease and great Reformation but enjoyed Now I would ask the Objectors these two short Questions 1. If a Parliament should become more tyrannicall then a King and lay heavy burthens upon them reaching to their persons lives and estates by an unknown Law or arbitrary power and suffer Innovations to come in on every side to the contempt of Religion and adulterating every truth turning Religion into every shape to metamorphise truth whether in this case if such should be the people might not as justly cry out and take up Arms against such a Parliament as against a King 2. If all these evils could be found and sensibly felt by the people whether it were justice to themselves acceptable to God or benefit to their posterity to cast off and to abandon for ever the authority and use of Parliaments I think they would give their negative except such as would live without all order or command which is to be worse then devils Nor is the office nor just power of a King to be for ever rejected because there have been Tyrannical oppressing superstitious or idolatrous Kings for the office of a King is the Ordinance of Jehovah and cannot be made null by man To this

office though not by the Name or Title of a King God by his providence hath exalted the Lord Protector And he that resists his just Authority and Government resists the Ordinance of God It is evident he hath not assumed to himself that authority he that objects that I beleeve speaks against the dictates of his own conscience except his conscience be cauterized and that he hath exercised any Tyranny or oppression over the people it is false and malicious calumniation or that he will ever do any such thing is but envies suspicion therein measuring his Corn by their own Bushell He hath been the instrument in Gods hand to withhold greater oppressions from the people and what at this day lies upon their shoulders were laid on by others not by him from which he is endeavouring to free us Let us not therefore whilest he is easing of us cry out against him and say he hurts us like the dogge that bites him that saves him from the tree And for Laws he hath given none of himself for he refers that to the Honourable Parliament now sitting and successors That which he did by advice of his Councel in the regulating of the Chancery and ejecting scandalous Ministers and bringing all treasuries into one c. were I think very acceptable things and beneficial to the Nation such as were long looked for from but they came not Object 2 Obj. I but he hath protested engaged and promised before God and men against the government to be by one person and that the government should be by succeeding Parliaments c. I answer not contesting whether he made any such particular engagement and promise or not but grant he did such a thing I hope the Objector will grant for it cannot be denied that in every promise or engagement there is some condition the condition not kept the promise or engagement is void Whether it were between man and man in private contract or whether it were between a publike person of trust and a Nation or to other persons of publike concernment if in any thing of private contract doubtlesse although the promiser were a looser by it he is in strictnesse of conscience tyed to perform what he promised But if to publike concernment the conditions failing in the least he is not bound to perform what he promised and intended for that were the highest breach of trust possibly his Highness might by perswasion and conditions promised engage against the government by Kings and to be governed by Parliaments beleeving such or such conditions being performed it might be most for the Peoples Freedom and Liberty but when he found the conditions waved and that the Freedom and Rights of the people was monopolized and their liberty turned into licentiousness he might change his minde and purpose A good Father that promiseth to his childe such or such an Inherinance and really intends to do it yet if he be fully and experimentally convinced that his childe will abuse that donation he revokes his promise alters his intention and gives it to any other and that justly I am unwilling to speak all the truth in this case because I would not cast dirt c. But the question is whether his Highness was not bound rather to wave such a promise to preserve posterity then to keep it to enslave a Nation he being a chief and principal man in trust For as I said just now in every promise there is some condition as when it was imposed by supream authority on all the people of the Nation to engage to be true and faithful to that government then without King or House of Lords The condition was implied that the people must have honest and just protection under that government And the end of all promises and engagements ought to be to Gods glory and publike good Now if after such promise or engagement made by his Highnesse if either the condition or the end did not concurre or answer the intention as we know it did not his Highness is absolutely freed from his promise or engagement and no way tied unto such a promise Object 3 It is further objected That he was the Commenwealths Servant trusted by Parliament to maintain the Priviledges of Parliament and was paid for what he did But for him to dissolve Parliaments break their Priviledges and set up himself to rule and govern as he please is not just Answ Let it be granted he was the Common-wealths servant he ever acknowledged it so was the Parliament too but became Lords over the people at their own will and although he were trusted by the Parliament yet he was not a servant to the Parliament farther then the Parliament was Servant to the Commonwealth for publike benefit he himself as a member had equal voice in Parliament and had greater trust imposed on him then all even by the authority of Parliament for their lives and liberty and the well-being of the three Nations lay in his trust and faithfulnesse who never failed in the least of any performance in which by the blessing of God upon his industry providence made him instrumental of ●heir preservation and of the nations He was as a Souldier well contented with his pay he repined not nor sought for more only endeavoured that the fruits of Gods blessing given in by God to the Nations by his industry and faithfulnesse might be distributed to the people in all justice which was not done but the contraty Therefore I say he being established the chief person in trust was bound to discharge that trust in all things for publike good especially providence leading him by gradations step by step to what he did which if he had neglected or shall hereafter neglect God will raise up some other but if he had been unfaithful in this then what should he do as Job speaketh when God shall arise up and when God visiteth what should be answer him Nor did he break the priviledge of Parliament though he dissolved that Parliament for the priviledges of Parliament were broken but not by him long before their dissolution by whom and upon what design the whole people of the Nation knew and I willingly omit to repeat If the attempting to take out five Members was a breach as surely it was then the taking out or driving away of more then half five hundred was a greater breach and as much as a whole dissolution which priviledge could not well be restored without a dissolution for if that Parliament as was in design by some had been perpetuated or if as was by some others designed there had been another force upon the house or as they called it another purge where had been the priviledges of the people What would have become of the fundamental Laws of the Nation and amongst how many heresies and corrupt new formed Religions must we have searcht to finde truth and who should have known his right or enjoyed his propriety in any thing Nor did his Highnesse

men if all might elect whom they would to serve in Parliament or all that would by designs get to be elected should be Members it is more then probable the Enemy might in short time be Masters of the Militia and by it not only give away our Freedoms so much talked of and the liberty of the people but take away our lives also and which is more then all take from us the priviledge of the Gospel and what else hath been purchased with so much bloud and treasure and turn our pleasant Eden into an Acheldama The good people of this Nation with his Highness may say at this time as David once said The Sons of Zervia he too hard for me which caused David to omit the doing that justice he willed to be done And truly my judgement tels me if his Highness should for his time whatever he may for publike good grant for future part wholly with the Militia from his hand he should provoke providence and betray his trust to the Commonwealth which consists not of a few men that appropriate singularity to themselves for private interests but all the people and give his life as a prey to his enemies and with himself the three Nations which till some settlement be established depend upon his welfare As also the interest that all true Christian people in the world have in the welfare of this Nation There must be a trust somewhere but every man may not be trusted though every free born subject have right in it Nor can it be trusted in the hands of the multitude for they rule by voice not by Law nor to some of them because others have equal right Nor can it be safe under the hand of a government Democratical the thing mightily aimed at by the opposites to his Highness under specious shews to please and to deceive the people which is as experience tels us next cosen to the highest Tyranny why then not rather in him of whose trust and fidelity the people of this Nation have good experience and great deliverance from a first and second thraldom till he by Gods blessing with his Parliaments advice can settle it in safety for the future And whereas it is objected That he seeks a negative voice to the Parliaments resolves is a scandal He asks it not but only in those things that fundamentally concern the government and that is if men could see for publike benefit that neither Oligarchy nor Domocracy may start up to enthrall and enslave the people by governing them according to will and fancy by promises without known Laws where then would be the freedom and liberty of the people now so much talked of by the Objectors These things he only excepts against in all other things whatsoever of Parliament Resolves being drawn into Bils and offered unto his Highness if he consent not unto them within twenty daies they are to passe into and to become Laws although he shall not give his consent as is exprest in Art 24. And for his seeking to have power to make Laws and to raise money it is meer calumniation he seeks it not nor claims it not but leaves it to the wisedom of Parliament as appears in Art 6. except as is there excepted for and in cases of safety and of necessity till the time that this presant Parliament were assembled and that to be done by him with the advice of his counsel as in Art 30. so then he seeks not the strength nor treasure of the Nation to himself nor to have it in his own power as is objected And for Religion he seeks nor to have it in his power but leaves it also to the Parliament to debate consult and resolve that he by them and they by him might receive all light possible in so great a business for In the multitude of counsel there is safety It is indeed a great work beyond the wisedom of man to appoint without divine assistance and spiritual wisedom His Highness well knows the evil of the rigid prelatical Persecution in Tyrannizing over the consciences of men in that rigid st●ictness And he as well knows the evil of unbridled liberty that it is abused and made a Cloak of maliciousness and as servants to corruption occasions to the flesh and to licentiousness blasphemies heresies and doctrines of devils the original of all discord dissenti●ns quarrels seditions and confusion which seldom ends if tolerated but with destruction to the best and most flourishing Commonwealths These are Rocks that will split the Ship of the best fortified Commonwealth therefore carefully to be avoided by the best advice and skill of the most experienced Pilot in which his Highness doth not refuse the counsel of this Parliament nor doth he refuse to pass the Bill they shall agree on except in his wisedom he see as our chief Pilot something in it be dangerous to the well-being of the Nation and give them satisfaction therein for he is more in this case then any one man in Parliament possibly a vote may be carried by one man which in such a case he may justly deny because the utility peace and happiness of a Commonwealth depends upon the right Discipline in Religion and the justice of Execution of just Laws for regulating between two extreams Religion in the power of it in all godlinesse is a Law in it self and needs no Law to command it for Religion is truly the very nursing Mother to all vertues graces peace and unity among men And I must tell the Objector that the late Kings have not really endeavoured this but he or they had power to have done it the neglect was his ruine and a chief cause of Englands misery Nor did we engage against this power or authority of the late King but against his misusing of that power casting off those just Laws which by his authority he should have observed and commanded to be executed for the good of his people He seeking to rule by his own will by absolute power in himself to cast off all just Laws and adulterate Religion at his pleasure this was the Original of our war and this is that which the Ancients in all times have called Tyranny But his Highness assumes not to himself so much Authority as the late and former Kings claimed and exercised That which he claims is such a power as may enable him to establish Religion in its purity and that he with his Parliament might enact and give life to all just Laws under which the people may live in all peaceableness and be governed in all sobriety and godlinesse with tranquillity and utility for present and future that the people may dwell safely every man sitting under his own Vine and under his Figree as in the daies of Solomon 1 King 4. 15. Besides we ought to consider that for severall years past we have travelled in a wilderness in untroden and uneven waies and are digressed much from the right way of good discipline almost

infatuated in all his Counsels and undertakings against Alexander ever following the worst counsell and using the unsafest means to preserve himself which sheweth plainly that God had purposed his destruction and the losse of his Kingdoms And that the disappointing him and his Counsell in all their Designs and overthrowing their bloudy and cruell Armies was the immediate work of providence for the accomplishing of the secret purpose of God If we continue not to imitate and act the same sins of oppression and innovation or the like as Jehu did If so we do Iehu's reward will be given for our God is an unchangeable God What he hath done to others before us he will as surely do still and for ever where the like sins are acted God sometimes gives a King in ●is anger and takes him away in his wrath Hos. 13. 11. They whether King Parliament or people that reject the Word of the Lord the Lord will reject them 1 Sam. 15. 23. Thus God did by Saul and thus he did by Rehoboam for in that the ten Tribes revolted God himself testifieth and saith This thing is done by me 1 Kin. 12. 24. Who is he saith the Prephet in the name of the Church that saith it cometh to passe when God commandeth it not Lam. 3. 37. Many other observable providences have offered the due consideration of them to us which I may not passe by with silence among many that have attended our late Parliaments both in their sitting and in their dissolution I shall minde you of these few the first shall be this That when things were not likely to succeed according to the Parliaments design or a great part in Parliament They devised to publish an Ordinance called the Self-denying Ordinance thereby calling all the members of both Houses from all offices and military affairs here was a specious pretence but by them that made it it was not intended to be observed for who left any place of profit to serve the publike It is true so far as the present design reached it took and made a great and a good change in the Army but providence ordered that Ordinance and that change pulling down and setting up to frustrate the future design of them that made it Providence by that Ordinance took off the Right Honourable his Excellency the Earl of Essex from being General when he had gone with courage and fidelity as far in that work as his principles could carry him providence made him instrumental to lay the foundation of that work Providence also by that Ordinance and that change Ordered That the Right Honourable and Noble Sir Thomas Fairfax should be set up in his room to raise the structure of that work and building upon the fonndation Essex had laid as fitter to effect Gods further purpose who built as far as his principle could carry him when providence had used Essex as far as God had purpose to use him in that work Providence also in Sir Thomas Fairfax his time put a perverse spirit amidst the Members of Parliament so as the contest was very great grew into factions and interests some designing the life of him whom others designed to die so as the power of the Sword was called to end the controversie and all to the accomplishment of Gods will his Excellency the Lord Fairfax having a farre larger Commission then ever the Parliament gave before having in his hand power the use of the whole Militia Castles Forts Towns c Providence ordered upon some scruple in his Excellency that he voluntarily and resolvedly laid down his Commission when earnestly sollicited both by Parliament and by the then L●eutenant General Cromwell to hold it up And providence still ordering things to effect the purpose of God Ordered that the then Lieutenant Generall should have the same Commission or larger without limit to be Captain Generall of all Forces by Sea and Land Castles Forts c. consequently of all the whole Militia This was providence That he might lay on the topstone of the structure and finish the work so farre And as Providence had stirred him up as a valiant Champion so next as a faithful Patriot to his Countrey to dissolve a sit still Parliament to whom God had given all opportunities to do their Nation good but they would not nor could give themselves to consider what was their duty to act for their private Interests some levelling the Earth for their own design others building of Castles in the Air for a Fifth Monarchy an unsafe practice and very unsound doctrine unwarrantable to be maintained in bloud If these be not clear providences what shall we call Providence These things we have seen gradually acted and ordered by a secret and wise providence turning the design of the Parliament in their Self-denying Ordinance and the Powers and Commissi●ns thereupon granted to their dissolution which they aimed should have been the means to have perpetuated their sitting These things premised I shall modesty offer six Queries to any impartiall man upright and unbyast in this case First Whether it was not of providence that the Parliament gave to his Excellency the Lord Cromwell that unlimited power for the safety of the Nation as it was of providence that the Late King and his Councel past an Act of unlimited time for the Parliament to sit to his own ruine and casting off his posterity 1. Whether his Excellency were not bound in conscience for publike safety being a publike person in trust to make use of the one as well as the Parliament made use of the other and by that authority to dissolve an undoing Parliament as well as to suppresse a destroying Enemy both conducing to publike safety Thirdly whether the dissolving of that Parliament were any greater breach of priviledge then the taking out of one half of the members by force of which he had before of late a President in the time of the Lord Fairfax and well approved of by the dissolved Parliament Fourthly whether as Providence served our necessity by the late Kings Act for the Parliaments sitting for a long time It did not after severall admonitions as much serve our necessity after their too long fitting to dissolve that Parliament by the power of their own Commission Fifthly whether it were not evidently a providence That the succeeding Parliament not appointed by his Excellency but chosen by the Souldiery Many of them promoting except in giving away the publike treasure the like destructive waies to the taking away our Fundamental Laws and bringing in as it were another Gospel pulling down and overthrowing all but set up nothing except a floudgate to confusion should of themselves that is the major part to prevent those almost executed designs dissolve that Parliament and resign their authority into his Excellencies hand Sixthly whether providence did not wonderfully order things in that time of distraction discontent and division among the people at home and a bloudy warre abroad That his Excellency calling

publike day of Humiliation for emergent causes named which God will doubtlesse accept of as of late he did by a signet of his favour when we by his Highnesse order sought God for Rain in our great necessity Although some who stile themselves Saints not only refused to joyn in our Petitions but used unchristian speeches to Gods dishonour and contempt of the duty And truly it was sad to observe the general neglect of our late Solemn Fast that only Shops should be shut and places for recreation full as I was informed but Churches shut or empty in respect of the numbers of Inhabitants many omitting the duty out of carnal respects and many out of will because it was commanded and because the end crossed their self-interests I do affirm that it is no lesse a duty in the Christian Magistrate to command the duties and performance of duties for the true worship of God then it was duty to the Magistrate under the Law but the Magistrate under the Law did command such duties as Asa Jehosaphat Jehojada Hezckiah and others We know that Asa did not only command Reformation of Gods worship bur annexed to his command a great punishment i And Ezra did the like k And the Apostle Paul diminisheth nothing of the Magistrates Authority under the Gospel nor is there any Scripture that offers the least doubt of that their authority but rather makes it greater Heb. 10. 28. therefore I say that the neglect or rather contempt of such duties and the suffering of it uncontrolled by the Magistrate will in stead of a blessing bring a curse as is threatned by the Prophet Jer 48. 10. but the due observance of the holy and spiritual worship of God held forth by the Magistrate and practised by the Minister and People is the chief means to divert the judgements we fear and procure the blessings we want I come now to the sixth and last Inference and that is That when God hath effected and done his will in any thing visibly made known to us by the work of providenee we are not to murmure nor repine though it be in any thing contrary to our expectation or desire or though it be to our great affliction but to submit to it willingly only by praier to seek unto God and patiently wait his time and means for deliverance This hath been the practice of the godly in all ages k Thus holy David did while his childe was yet alive he used all lawful means for the life of it But when God had done his will and the childe was dead he left off to mourn and murmured not but patiently bear the affliction Thus did just and righteous Job he feared his Sons might sinne and procure Gods displeasure he therefore used the right means to prevent it m but when Providence had brought that to passe which he feared and God had visibly manifested his pleasure Job was patient he murmured not neither against providence nor instruments but blessed the Name of the Lord n The Church under her great affliction murmured not they acknowledged Gods hand and complained of their sins the cause of all o and waited patiently for their deliverance It is good saith the Prophet that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord p Surely saith Job it is meet to be said unto God I have born chastisement I will not offend any more q And the Apostle exhorts that we be followers of them that by faith and patience inherit the promise r But to murmure against providence is wickednesse and the effects of murmuring and discontents is very dangerous Dangerous to a mans self and bringeth others into dangers too You know what became of the murmuring Israelites in the wildernesse from time to time as is recorded in the Books of Exodus and Numbers Consider the case of murmuring Korah and all his murmuring company the earth opened and swallowed them up ſ This was the immediate hand of God not Moses nor Aaron yet such was the rebellious hearts of the people that the next day they all fall to murmuring against Moses and against Aaron and accused them that they had killed tho Lords people t And for this there died presently of them fourteen thousand and seven hundred by a sudden plague u You know that for this sin of murmuring all the people that came out of Egypt from twenty years old and upward were excluded from the promise except Caleb and Ioshua w Hence the Apostle exhorts us Christians not to tempt God as they tempted him nor to murmure as they murmured and were destroied for saith he All these things happened unto them for our examples x God is the same to us that he was to them only he hath divers dispensations of his judgements he is an unchangeable God for evert If we sin like them that went before us we shall be as greatly punished as they were yea greater Though God do not so usually strike men suddenly for sin as formerly yet there is greater wrath to come Let us a little consider the cause of mens murmuring and see if it do not arise from a carnal heart a carnal man propounds ends to himself as the Merchants St Iames speaks of that say they will go to such a City or such a Countrey and buy and sell and get gain but say not if God will so it is with men that seek their own ends in any thing they propound this or that but God is not in their thoughts they say no● if God will but we will do this or that thing or would have this or that done c. It may be nay it is common with these men that they will have the Name of God in their mouths but as the Psalmist speaks God is not in all their thoughts And therefore when their wils and designs are crossed they are angry and repine against God and men Thus the people of Israel did in the wildernesse they met with crosse providences which they looked not for and they could not bear it but cry out against Moses saying because there were no graves in Egypt Hast thou brought us to die in the wildernesse y and again wherefore hast thou brought us out of Egypt to kill us in the wildernesse our children and our cattel z Thus at this day we have seen many strange Providences such as we looked not for and men have had many and diverse designs aims and ends but meet with crosse Providences which they cannot bear nay resolve they will not bear they complain and cry out against this and that thing but specially they murmure against God and own not his providence in governing the world Therefore they also murmure at the thing done and against the Instruments doing it this is I say against God himself for he alone orders every thing and every Action as is proved in the beginning of this