then no dissenters but Malignants was to bring Delinquents to condigne punishment who had abused this State by the Royall Consent and Authoritie and to oppose the tyranny of the King and flattery of the Countiers A principle large enough to worke on and to take in by consequences of affaires the utmost improvement upon this ground all the Parliamentary party acted together not being able to see or hope for any thing more then a reformation and that of the grossenesse of actings and so firme were wee in this that wee never changed our thoughts untill the delayes in warre and the influences of the Court together with wearied and neutrall friends and the thoughts of places and preferments made men to study new wayes of compliances and to leave the first principle for the present enjoyments But God who overruleth the counsells of men and had a further designe will not suffer so good a beginning to make a fatall end And according to his usuall way from small beginnings brings forth his greatest glory acting things beyond our first thoughts or designes The King was first opposed universally in his personall capacity and reserv'd in his publique in these who fought against him this went downe currant and without any demurre among us and upon this wee waged warre but God who still meant to carry on a higher designe keepes us equall and faire for a long while together now giving the advantage to us now to him still making drawne battailes while there was a lesser piece of royalty opposing a greater owning the Cause so farre as not to discountenance that side he meant to honour at the last but no effectuall worke was done but honourable retreats and dayes of thanksgiving for non-routing and security rather then for any victory wee ever had over the Kings party except especially that of Marston-Moore wherein the chiefe instruments of the new modell were agents which was soone recruited and ballanst by our own parties negligence in the South and their diligence over their affaires God kept all this while a kinde of equalitie persons were engaged of different tempers not of different principles and it had been well for all our reports then at London that wee kept our ground into such straits wee were then brought though wee seemed to have a great and potent Army that nothing could serve in the view of the whole Parliament but a wise disbanding that Army and framing a new Modell which was a cause of strange necessitie at that time and a hopefull way of our ruine by many even in Parliament who gave their votes for it out of another end who are since discovered but it hath since proved the ordinance of God This is the poore Army that the great repinings and discontents are made from This Army which hath been preserved by Gods right hand who have done that work which is wonderfull to relate against this Army all the arrowes of malice and designe are shot to wound either their persons or names It 's sad to think that our eyes should be evill because Gods is good that wee should repine at instruments when God doth the work let us as men that would faine see into Gods wayes consider what hath been done since that change what a continued continuation of providences I might say miracles if they had not some meanes to produce them have wee had since that despised modell The thoughts of these things are only repeated for our conviction There are two things very remarkable in these affaires since our first engaging against the late King each of which shall have their due consideration First That all our affairs were hardly kept in aequilibrio in a faire and right correspondency untill this new Modell but that the King got more ground by his influence then we by our Armies the Armie under the Lord of Essex being a petty Royall Armie made up of all sorts of humours and Confederates of either side rather kept the Parliaments credite then gave them any use for theâ—r money and we never had a battle fought by him but we came off and that barely and with losse as well as the King 2. That never since this poore at first despised though now envied Army was modell'd we never either received a considerable losse or check in our proceedings though the action of this Army hath been in three Nations and accompanyed with miserable discouragements from all parties and difficulties that other Nations would have thought insuperable and so acted that nothing but God hath visibly appeared It cannot it must not be forgotten it will be written in marble if not in our hearts and the place it selfe will be made immortall to all posterity the first testimony of God to the first action of this Army at Naseby when all Politicians were securing of themselves and our wisest friends fearing what the issue would be and the royall power at the greatest height and going on in the fullest carrere what a glorious turne was there given to the designes of the Enemie and reviving to the hopes of this Nation God never before so peculiarly and in our low condition owning his poor people and ever since God set up his Standard there he hath made bare his arme and never suffered one eminent nay hardly any defeat to be given to this Army making that the earnest of the Conquest of Gods Enemies in these three Nations whereas in all our former Battails we could never say we had a victory except some speciall formerly named which had their recruits very soone from this time I say as if God had the idea of this Armie in his eye and had with his owne hands framed the modell of it and culling out the Army he meant to blesse hee hath ever uninterruptedly afforded his presence though the difficultyes and multitude of Enemies have been more then could be expected or then ever Armie under-went who served a State in such transactions What eye cannot see the plots and contrivances both of the common and secret Enemies how many wayes have been used to overthrow this Parliament and Army and what humours have been predominant among themselves to ruine that body yet how strangly and beyond all mens thoughts have they been carryed through if we were delighted in viewing divine actings or had a designe to make a History to astonish all the world Let us follow the Army from Naseby up and down England at home from thence after two Warres the second more dangerous then the first being upon more cunning pretences and made out of our divisions among our selves and especially levelled against the Parliament and Armie a war that divided the Armie as well as the first confiding instruments yet with what wonder of glory did God break forth their deliverance for after God had helped them to drive the K. into the Scots Armie a presage of his sons reserve new Insurrections are in the most speciall Counties round about the Parliament which first began more
thousands of other wayes at hand to determine them But in matter of war and the grand decisions of the justice and equity of taking up Arms and entring Nations or opposing persons in great power in the world where arguments are strong on both sides and parties violent if in such case Appeals be solemnly made to God the issue of such affairs are to be accounted higher then nature and truly to be judged as revelations of Gods will at least at present and to that affair which they appealed to God in as only righteous to give verdict unto by his own appearance since all other meanes of conviction failed Much of the same nature is that determination by lots though it be more mediate and not so solemn being but generally used and often without sense from whom the disposal of them are yet the issue is judged to be from God and an absolute express of his mind and will not of blind Fortune or Chance much more then may we say of the issue of that Appeal which was made with as much sense of unworthiness and vileness in themselves as confidence of their integrity and willingness to let God judge as also when it was made in dealing with these who had laid all the reproches that malice could invent or fiery zeal vomit upon both their Cause and persons what ever the secrets of God may be which are infinite depths or what ever he may permit in the generall rule of the world yet if men are put to such straits in actings their names so vilified that none but God can right them and men have at the same time so much sense of Gods justice and faith in his truth as to make him sole umpire God will not in justice condemn the righteous and spare the wicked for these appeals as they are extraordinary ejacusations of our spirits in the most difficult and doubtful cause so they are pressings of the Almighty to let forth the beams of his wisdom and justice to convince the sons of men after all experiments of nature and reason and God is so put to it if I may humbly express it to give forth righteous judgement that even the heathens and his enemies have found his appearance when they have appealed to him against the Christians who owned God and had not dealt justly with them I would not be thought to circumscribe the wisdom of God or his justice that it must of necessity alwayes be manifested immediatly on such Appeals but I affirm that it is Gods usual way and the events of them are to be weighed and remembred again and again as the most probable cleering up of hard and formerly questionable enterprises when the Army went into Scotland â—ow were they vilified by that Nation â—eâ—en with reproches of the highest scanâ—aâ— and infâ—â—â—y slighted with the basest contemâ—t as men given over by God hating his truth and people and now at last invading them to show their utmost malice to that Nation the Aâ—â—y fâ—y to heaven leave all to God and desire his 〈◊〉 power to determine whether these things were not quite contrary the Lord looked on their condition and hath helped them in the sight of their enemies what can we conclude on these things are these only acts of permission towards us and of meer paâ—ience and long-suffering what can be more apparent that we acted upon right and just principles and to honest ends seeing God himself who was made the Judge hath given the sentence We may remember and know the nature and ominousness of Appeals with trembling by Gods actings to the late King and his who to make his designes take the better with the people in every declaration Appeals to God so to deal with him and his as he was true to the Protestant Interest when he had Papists in his bosom as his cheif Councellors and that he never intended to raise war against the Parliament when all his end of with-drawing from them was to form an Army against them How hath God Judged both himself and his for it ever since never leaving to follow him with Judgements untill he had made himself a Publique spectacle of his justice and hath now laid aside all his Faâ—â—ily God may for some secret ends let his enemies prosper for a long time over his people to afflict and chastise them and make them partakers of his glory but he never or very seldom after manifold deliverances and absolute appeals to his righteousness hath afforded them assistance especially when it s among his own people in their controversies and truth is on the one side and prejudice on the other I could if I were a challenger dare all the world to show an instance after an immediate Appeal whether God hath not either eminently given the sentence on the right side or at least whether upon such isâ—ue all men have not so interpreted it hath God nothing to do with this world Hath he given over his Supremacy to Fortune and Chance Or when can God be seen in Determinations if not after such Addresses to his peculiar Moderation Where shall the Righteous fly when they are condemned Or how shall men know that Vengeance only belongs unto God but by such Divine Conclusions But we must leave the conclusion to God to confirm as the Determination in it self There was much to be observed in the Scots Answer to that Clause of our Appeal rather leaving us to do it and threatning us upon it than putting their Cause and Confidence on Gods approbation and issue for whereas they were positive and peremptory enough in their Charges yet they were very faint and staggering in the manner of Appeal to God as either fearing their Cause through inward conscience of carnal complyances or assurance of their own strength to do the work by themselves it is enough what God hath done he will in his time either convince or destroy men But besides all which seems to be more considerable than any yet after not only Appeals such yet may be too confident but after the contradicting prayers of his own people God hath cast the scale on this side and made answer according to the Requests of the vilified Party never was heaven so much troubled with interests and opprest with contrary Petitions if we may modestly express it then in these few yeers the Saints formerly have made but one publique cry How long Lord Jesus Come quickly and there hath been a pure harmony in their Addresses to God though in different conditions but now heaven suffers a strange kind of violence the violence of Truth and Error in the same Petitioners but God hath made the Heavens Brass and his Ear heavie to all the Prayers even of many of his own People in these Affairs and ordered Events contrary to their prayers I know in what causes God may do this but when Saints and Saints shall pray and God answer only the one the other may well look round about them If aay
ENGLANDS APOLOGY for Its late CHANGE OR A SOBER PERSVVASIVE Of all Disaffected or Dissenting persons to a Seasonable ENGAGEMENT for the Settlement of this COMMON-VVEALTH Drawne from The Workings of Providence The State of Affaires The danger of Division LONDON Printed by Matthew Simmons and are to be sold in Aldersgate-street 1651. Impartiall Reader I Intend not to make a Preface that may swallow up this short Treatise Epistles are commonly but the clogges and burthens of Bookes and expresse little more then the Title page Others have spoke enough to the argumentative part of our Affaires and have proved by reason what God hath acted by providence this discourse is rather directed to the consciences then the fancies of men and may serve as a serious memoriall of what God hath done for us and an aviso to men in their rash and bitter censures that this state and change which though it be new that it may not seeme strange God hath ushered it in with the greatest ceremonies of providence and put extraordinary characters of his presence and glory in it I have no more to trouble thee with but the reading of it which yet may be profitable if not perswasive which is the end of the discourse ENGLANDS APOLOGY FOR ITS LATE CHANGE THough it is not probably to be expected that any argument or reason should be forcible to perswade the hearts of men when so many wonderfull providences and glorious appearances of God have made no impression or that words should prevaile where things are undervalued Yet because every Christian ought to endeavour to make his owne heart and others sensible of publique miseries or mercies and seeing the intent of this discourse is to unite not divide and that it is high time to leave off quarrelling with persons and actions it is possible this paranetick may not be in vaine if either the miseries of a civill warre which hath almost ruin'd this Nation or the horror of dead carkasses lying alwayes in our way if the cry of bloud which hath been powred out not from one but every veine of this Nation if the desolationâ— of Townes and Cities the mournings of widdowes and Orphanes in every corner the mischiefe of factions and dâ—visions in our own families if lastly the effectuall workings of the very finger of the Almighty if all or any of these were fit to work on our affections to thirst after a settlement of this State and to perswade mâ—n to acquiesce in what God hath done for this Nation and to comply with the Parliament in securing this Common-wealth wee needed no paper-exhortation and this might well have been spared But it s to be feared and lamented that Gods workes among us as his Word hath had different and sometimes contrary effect some are hardened under the dispensations others softned and that most of this Nation are under a judiciall blindnesse and stupidity which will hardly be remedied but by the ruine of this generation who have so highly provoked God in opposing his great designes in the latter dayes for though God hath walked up and downe in garments of bloud for this almost ten yeares and hath not spared the flesh of Princes and great men and hath shewed himselfe directly against that royall party which at first began these miserable warres and shewed forth most eminently his indignation against that person and family with all that have adhered to them yet which is most sad not onely are their hearts hardned and their necks stiffe against the Lords work but in any who acted at first with vigour and vehemency against that party have turned their faces and have been of late the most dangerous opposers of this Parliament and Army and are become the hopes of the common enemy yea many lost in prejudices and discontent have wholly espoused others are courting that interest as if they would unravell all these lines of providence whereby wee have been blessedly led into a Common-wealth And like the children of Israel would rathâ—t turne back to eate Garlick and Onions under Pharoahs bondage then be led by providence under the conduct of Moses thâ—ugh to Canaan It is from these secret quarrells and murmurings and disaffections among godly men which have though they had their first rise from private animosities yet they have been formed and aggravated by close and subtile enemies from these are the foundations of our ruine and of our enemies designes and hopes who while wee are discontented among our selves for trifles are preparing engins to cut us off both at once many essays have been used to that end which had not God from heaven disappoâ—nted had tooke effect ere this and occasioned the sad repentance of the mistaken actors And doubtlesse among all the hardships this Parliament and Army hath gone through either in opposing the common enemy or working out their owne distempers they have met with nothing more sad and dangerous then the slightings and disrespects of these who were once and should be still friends who have but one and the same common enemy still how ever wee may subdivide into severall parties rather by the delusion of names then reality of differense But it s better to bewaile these distempers with our teares then expresse them my intent is not to open our wounds but to cast in some Balme to heale them wee have too long been petting and objecting while God hath been acting and doing us good without our observance or notice the great designe of this paper is but to minde us what God hath done for us to presse all honest hearts to an improvement of our mercies with sence of the worth of them And to perswade honest and inquiring men to a compliance in time with this Common-wealth least they come to unite with the common enemy who is yet acting in both Nations in one more visibly to ruine us by our divisions It s worthy consideration what wee have been doing all this while and why we are disquieted with the present State seeing these things have been brought forth among us which have not been the events of long contrived plots but of speciall administrations of Gods wisdome and respect to this Nation and meerely acted by God beyond the policy and engagements of the wisest men yea the whole series of workings in these affaires hath been demonstrative that it was not of men nor of their wills but of Gods And how ever particular observances may judge of things yet if the whole be viewed and the harmony of every part in this great worke all dissenters must needs have their consciences under conviction while their interests are unsatisfied Let us take a short account onely for to helpe our memories of our first principles and Gods actings to improve them and wee shall see that few of us have eyed what wee first undertooke or what God hath beyond our thoughts done for us Our first principle wee acted from and from which wee stated our Cause from which wee had
remote in Wales that they might more insensibly supply the whole and the designe might be thought more barbarous and lesse considerable while stronger and more effectuall influence were operating nigher hand yet this poor Army must through all the Generall in Kent and Essex the Lieut. Generall in Wales and Major-Generall Lambert in the North having all their hands full and the Scots under Hamilton when the conjunction of Langdale and the old Malignants making up the harmony of malignancy though in a discord No sooner had our now worthy Generall ordered the affairs of Wales but new work was provided for him In the North Major General Lambert had long expected him and though he had by his wisdome and valour kept his own ground yet the Enemie who grew like a snow-ball by going got mighty advantages and taking their way through Lancashire a place they thought good Quarters for their Army as to find capable and zealous Subjects for their design but God who ever appears in the best opportunity to shew forth his continuall displeasure against any conjunction with the royall party upon what pretence sover brought up then Lieut. Generall Cromwell to joyne with the Major Generall who both with all their Forces could not make a third part of the Army they were to encounter withall but God so appeared that they routed that vast Army which carryed with them the highest designe and had more advantages of power and plea then any Army of such a mould that ever came into England What can be more immediatly from God then such overtures will God justifie the wicked so poâ—itively and perpetually against the godly and that by his owne power not only by permission Is there nothing in these affairs can take our hearts Doth God doe strange and unexpected things for to be dis-respected Let any Nation shew a parallell and not draw such conclusions as we now draw It 's true and it must be one cause of our daily humiliation that we have not answered God in our duties sutable to those manifestations but yet the neglect on our parts should not annihilate or darken the glory of God in his owne actings but rather shame us and heighten Gods goodnesse unto us who is so in love with Englands liberties that our unworthinesse unsutablenesse cannot stop him in his course of grace and mercy Let us if wee must needs take our prejudices and satisfie them as to all Gods actings in England yet when we look on Ireland and it 's sad condition before and how and when restored and by what instruments and then let malice act to the utmost if there be but a spark of honesty or any glance of a spirituall eye left and we must needs stand amazed though discontented at Gods goings with these whom we despise How have we cryed out against these bloudy rebells as wee had just cause for how many yeares were monethly publique fasts throughout the Nation kept for poore Ireland besides all the private unknowne bleeding of the soules of many Saints in corners and yet no fruit considerable that wee could call an Answer untill God appeared by himselfe when this Army was on the Sea-side in readinesse to be transported and in what a manner and method of miracles God hath appeared there is not to be exprest at a distance God gave in the first wonder at Dublyn by that ever to be honoured Coll. Jones ere the Army came over that they might not have their flesh and bloud too much discouraged both at home and abroad and yet would have them ready ere he began that they might improve and finish it What of designe had the Parliament in this Expedition to divide their Army which was so small at home among so many enemies or what hopes could that part of the Army have to encourage them to leave their owne Nations without God had moved them when they lay at the water side ready for a winde to saile from their owne Nation where God had made them so prosperous against the common enemy and to leave all their friends and to arrive at a a Nation wholly engaged and enraged against them and but two Townes Dublyn and Derry that were left as receptacles of them or earnests of hopes and these both besieged by farre more then the full Number of this Army could Muster and yet how willingly did they goe and how gloriously did God appeare making a whole Nation both of bloudy rebells and royall Malignants to be overthrowne by them not suffering them to give them one defeate though they had multitudes of advantages and in one yeare almost to reduce that Nation to a new obedience and were that History of Ireland well printed how farre would it exceed all the Relations of its first Conquest by this Nation when little else save ambition of domination and of enlarging our power not to execute Gods righteous judgements against bloud-thirsty men did put them upon endeavouring the Conquest of that Nation What of flesh and bloud can be demonstrated to be predominaut in these transactions but love and zeale in the instruments to free the Protestant party from further cruell miseries by the Popish and royall party there who became soone one power from God to back these undertakings Are wee sorry because God imployes not these instruments that suite with our particular humors and stated interests is the worke of God the lesse to be eyed because he useth despicable and poore instruments or moves beyond our Modell the generations to come will remember these things and take them in though we thorough the clouds made by the vapours of our owne engagements and factions see little in them Irelands Protestants will doubtlesse keepe a Chronicle of these acts and blesse God for the instruments when they are entombed in the bloud of the enemies of the Gospel and who knowes but Ireland who hath never yet soild the Gospel but have been under the sad persecutions for the little light they had in it and have not yet extracted factions and divisions out of Gods mercies to advantage the common and watchfull enemy If Irelands wonders will not make you in love with Gods actings which was nothing else but the prosecution of the same cause beyond the Sea yet let the harmony and continuance of Gods appearances to owne this cause and this Parliament in the three Nations the motions in each deserve a particular History let the universall proportion of divine actings for I dare not call them otherwise pardoning mens insirmities be a confirmation of each other for what ever the pretences and pleas have been either civill or sacred in England Ireland or Scotland yet God hath drawne one line of providence thorough all and given an equall and astonishing successe against every party in each which have but appeared against them If wee passe by all the rest and come into Scotland a priviledged place and one would thinke holy ground yet when once they came to dally with
all these things be forgotten and spilt as water on the ground is there nothing of glory sparkling out through these manifestations that may convince us of our opposition and disaffection to these proceedings It cannot be but some men conquer their convictions as the Army hath done malignant persons who yet hate them because of their owne interests But to goe on how gloriously hath God appeared ever since while the enemy beyond the water have been studying with what solemnity to Crowne their Kings God hath crowned our cause with many Diadems of his glory and mercy for after that Battel at Dunbar and the strangenesse of the issue contrary to all their faith and assurances and many who were accounted the honest party began to reflect on their former principles and carriages and having rallyed in the West by their friends adde more strength and remonstrate against the State for their tampering so much with the King and their juglings among themselves which they have largely exprest in print whereby they show some sence of Gods hand against them yet neverthelesse what ever thought they had of their owne party at home they continued their enmity against us and not withstanding all overtures made to supple their spirits and improve these convictions which if truly weighed are from the same principles with ours and no more difference then of a Scots and English interpretation of the same thing notwithstanding all these faire and cordiall affections we to the utmost exprest to them yet they cunningly watched their opportunities First to slip into England of which they were prevented and then Secondly to fall upon a part of our Army in their quarters where God appeared againe and both took their chiefe Leaders and â—cattered their whole party this great and further appearance of God wants not its circumstances to make it an eminent mercy and to strike deep into our spirits for First they were the Army which had most of the hearts of the godly with them as being separated from the grossnesse of the royal principles protesting with more zeale and honesty for the Kirkes interest and so would have gained more then ordinary on mens spirits and againe they had the great command in the West whereby they did great damage to our Army and had advantages of stealing into England both to withdraw part of our Army from them and stirring up new fires among us which would too soone have been effected by their Covenant pretences besides the manner of their overthrow is as remarkeable God striving in all this war to leave signal characters of his own hand in every of our mercies for when the General had marched a great way from Edenborough towards the West and sent expresse orders to the Major General to meet him without fail at such a time in such a place where the General came according to his appointment with a great body of Horse and foot they could not hear any newes of the Major Generals approach the weather being so bad and provisions so scanty both for horse and man his Excellency was forced to march back with all his forces and frustrate his own intentions the Countrey people hearing of the Generals retreat run to Kerr and his party tell them of the estate of things and how his Excellency was returned to Edenburgh and that Major Generall was left alone Kerr seeing his advantage which he had long waited for presently fals on his Quarters promising himselfe a full defeat of that party But they being in readinesse received them valiantly with some few Troops and quite routed him and pursued and took and shattered all his confidents whereby we may see how every deliverance and victory is circumstantiated with some beame of peculiar glory and providence And if the delivery of Edenborough Castle that impregnable Fortresse were added and the manner of obtaining it it would bring forth a new matter both for praise and conviction but I intend not this for an exact history Thus it hath been from first to last and every victory like one star that differs from another in glory and however there may be a difference between persons and parties in respect of profession or holinesse as there was between the Army under Kerr and that under Lieut. General Leslye the former being more purged and professing of principles with more zeale and indeed we may justly call them a Sectarian Army opposing and divided from the publique proceedings of Kirke and State yet they are all one looked on by God as to helpe and prosperity when they either with others or by themselves have lifted up their hands against this cause a consideration which is not slightly to be rejected and which may well make men wary of second actings against them God hath yet made that good in these Nations to this Common-wealth and Army so farre as they have had sincere intentions in the management of this warre which he did once to Israel No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper though carved and whetted by the fairest glosses and religious instruments Wee have hitherto in summe and as in transitu given the Reader an account of the series of Gods workings for us since he thought fit to make use of this Army against the common enemy Let us now reflect with wonder and astonishment at the dulnesse of our apprehensions and strangenesse of the opposition and inward murmurings of many otherwise observant and godly against this Common-wealth and Army for which God give us leave a little to expostulate with their spirits with whom are you angry who hath done all these things is there nothing of the image of Gods mercy power and wisdome written on any of these victories could so small a bulke of flesh and bloud destroy such potent Armies storme such brasen walls clime such high places with so little losse if the Almightie had not seconded and engaged his right hand with them These are farre from Rhetoricall but they are reall expostulations Are wee angry that God hath heard our prayers which wee so long time put up to him for subduing the common enemy in the three Nations or that he hath done his own worke without our mediums What shall be said shall all these actions of Gods power in and so much goodnesse be buryed in a discontented humour and the glory of them blasted by a designed prejudice God forbid the ages to come shall remember our insensiblenesse with teares of bloud and owne themselves to be our children as high-raised up-starts doe their poore parents who blush when they are named But if any spirit be so sleight as to say all these are but events and no proper declarations of the truth of a good principle they being oftentimes occasionall and permissive by God to a bad as a good cause I answer in generall that its true that commonly and ordinarily God keepes such an even course in the universe that all things fall alike to all and the same event unto
one question why I put so much right on this It 's answered that there is nothing more cleer that where his People are engaged in several parties some by mistakes and ignorance of Gods mind others out of Truth and they both pray to him God will alwaies hear thâ—se prayers which are most according to his mind and give forth issues answerable for all our prayers are no farther to be expected to be answered then they are according to Gods Will and that Will of God doth manifest the truth of our prayers when prayers clash in heaven it is the same with opinions and judgements of Saints on earth concerning Gods mind which have but one truth to rule them and according to the consonancy of apprehensions to that God owns or dis-owns all their actings It is most sad and dangerous to do any publique act wherein any which are godly shall dissent much more that which any of them shall pray against and this very consideration hath made this Parliament and the Army to make so many pausings in their actings as fearing themselves and their own mistakes when so many good men seem to be against them yet it is as sad and should be much weighed that God should continually answer one sort of prayers and quite neglect the other when they come both from godly persons whom God loves What one petition hath God ever seemed to receive as made by his own Spirit against these proceedings but hath cleerly demonstrated that at least he is angry with the dissenting Prayers of his own people I leave these things on mens Consciences how they can interpret Gods actings against their prayers and how they can digest Gods hearing of these they judge their enemies at the same time and work out contrary issues All these considerations put together may suffice to work us to a meditation at least of what God hath done and to parley with our own hearts why we should yet refuse our full consent to the establishment of this Common-wealth shall any that professeth the name of Christ maintain secret war and malice against his actings or think to prosper by helping the common enemy But if nothing yet said will move us to have better thoughts of these Transactions let us once again consider in what times these things are dore against whom and by whom First all these workings have been in the latter days when God is throwing down the old heavens and earth and hath his notable designs to effect and all these mysteries of Prophesies to open which have lain hid for many ages and seemed formerly quite buryed in the prosperity of the Kings and Princes of this world Secondly against whom hath God appeared but against those persons both in Church and State who hath adorned this Nation with the raggs of Popery and Antichristianisme or with Tyrannie and Oppression and as they have raised themselves God hath discovered them and as they have shifted their Quarters God hath followed them with his just displeasure and indignation against any complyers with them Thirdly however God may permit for a long while his enemies to tryumph yet when ever he begins he will make an end and these principles which seem general and easie at the first God will improve and hath done beyond all our intentions for it was hardly possible in the multitude of these overtures to lay any deep plot before-hand of them new and unexpected emergencies of their designes and Gods providence alwayes on a sudden breaking foâ—th which were not only difficult to fore-see but sinful to withstand And truly those that think of plots deeply laid before-hand to bring out these great things may as well suspect the Providences by which they have been necessitously led into them Fourthly for however we may make little account of providences yet they are the most exact comments on divine prophesies of any other and are the special visible key whereby God opens all those seals that are in that book and what ever special inspirations we may have from heaven to guess at Gods intent yet the words are so dark wherein God hath written his mind of these affairs and so blurred by Antichrist that until God come to open them by his actings we know not how to interpret them with safety or comfort hence it hath come to pass that many pages must now be blotted out of many worthy and learned and in most things cleer Comments on Daniel and the Apocalypse because every day God acts beyond their present thoughts and gives occasion of reforming their own confident apprehensions of the nature and issue of those prophesies so that if Gods providences compared with his words of prophesie be not looked into we must still be in the dark as to the understanding of these great mysteries by what can we hope that God is about to fulfil his word concerning the destruction of Antichrist but by his keen and severe prosecution of every limb and member of that body yea and beginning first among his own people that the enemies may not have cause to reflect and tell God to reform first at home how can we know that God is pouring out the viaâ—s of his wrath and upon whom but as God discovers it by his terrible actings among the sons of men by which he cals on all men to hear and obey not to murmure or dissent But if the manifestation of God notwithstanding all this seem uncleer and unperswasive to dissenters to gain their full consent to this Common-wealth let our own interest prevail upon us and if heaven be too light let earth be added to it to weigh down our judgements God hath given us an opportunity against our wills to make our selves the freest and happyest Nation on this earth and we are the first of so large a Continent that God hath advantaged with such a blessing our Ancestors for these 500. yeers have bin strugling to get but the name of freedom and liberty and have for this end deposed one King and set up another who had commonly a worse title and reign but God hath given us our choice whether royal bondage or English liberty were we ever so nigh the regaining our conquer'd priviledges as now what is there but a name between us and a Free-State and nothing wanting to perfect all besides Gods assistance to prosecute what is begun and direct what is not done but our own election of what may make us happy which happiness if we imagine consists only in the title of a king among us let us remember what we have spent on that name already of our measure of bloud and how God hath made it contemptible We may all now see how Gods great design is to bring to nought the Princes of this world and hath his principal quarrel with them because they have bin the greatest shedders of the bloud of Saints that crâ—es under the Altar and the only mighty upholders of the throne of the Beast and are still
those that lies in Christs way to his royal Throne and the glorious exercise of his Kingly power shall be first on the Powers of this world who have combined together against the Lord and his Anointed and have bin the most undermining and profest enemies that Christ and his Saints have had in the world and all those that seek to underprop that tottering state must expect to fall with it for God hath either laid aside or destroyed the best sort of men who though with never so much tenderness or zeal put forth a hand to uphold this Monarchy and if ever Haman begin to fall before Mordecai he never riseth more but to his utter ruine What is it that lies so weighty on our spirits that no providence no argument can ballance I wish it were not to be feared of many they have made snares for their Consciences and then catch themselves willingly in them Are not the dayes of Mourning for the late King yet expired and our hearts refreshed by what God hath acted since in these three Nations It s now high time for us to wean our hearts from the flash ravishments of Names and Titles when we have so long suffered for our affections Surely if we were impartial Judges of that Act which I may call the first cleer and thorow Act of Justice that ever was executed in the Western World and if we did like good and wise men observe the nature and fruit of Actings we shall find that as never an Act of Justice wâ—s accompanyed with more remarkable observations and blest with more happy Testimonies of Approbation then the beheading the late King Besides the righteous grounds upon which they gave sentence of death against him which when looked into we had rather need to wonder such a Head should sâ—â—nd on his shoulders then that it was solemnly severed from it being one who was the Author of the shedding so much blood in three popolous Nations meerly for his prerogative tyranny for all other things he might have had and much of that also with the hearts of all good subiects But the circumstances if they doe not deserve a better name in his execution may inform us somthing more then ordinary if we shut not our eyes First that God should so order it to bring him to his death and shed his blood before that very place where the first blood in this war was shed while he looked out through that window with sport God doth somtimes write mens sins in their punishments Secondly that in so populous and vast a City among millions of his most intire and desperate friends there should not be found the least tumult or motion or insurrection for to rescue him all men being under a divine restraint and awed by the dreadfulness of Gods justice in such an act what was that poor Army who were disperst up and down the City to the legions of enemies that were against them who might have destroied them in a moment and eat them up at one morsel I am loath to strain these things too far but only to name them to make us consider that they are not ordinary It was one of the great circumstances named in the childrens of Israels deliverances out of Egypt that not a dog did bark at them but doubtless never was such an act of such concerment done since that time in the world with less noise and silence then that which argues that something more then humane was at the doing of it and which may not be omitted God hath not suffered the least hair of the heads of any of the prime Instruments in that glorious piece of service to be touched by any Assassinate notwithstanding all the threatnings and bloudy malice that works strongly in dissolute and desperate spirits And if we have had but any eyes to view the consequences and issues of it we cannot say but that there is at least occasion of seriousness and ponderousness of spirit ere we have a thought amiss concerning the lawfulness and justness of it for as until that time we did but trifle and dally with the sword and were but off and on up and down more in hazards then hopes so from that day hath God blest us and without intermission or halt freely fought our battels and intirely engaged himself in England Ireland and Scotland and which is more hardly a drop of blood hath been spilt in England on that Quarrel ever since as if God should say the sacrifice is offered up the Achan is destroyed my wraâ—h is appeased all the blood you shed before was an aggravation of your sin while that person who was the Author of all and the common person and head to give life and motion to all the rest was untouched in such a dialect God seems to speak to open and attentive ears by all his actings since I leave these as considerations to employ second and more serene thoughts upon yet if any be of so tender Conscience in that particuler that they still scruple let them not judge others who are clearly satisfied they have their liberty of dissent yet let them know they are bound to present dutyes which if we had but a faculty of arguing how easie might we draw the necessity of cutting of the late King commune with your own thoughts was not he guilty of all the blood which hath been so prodigally spilt among us It must either ly on him or the Parliament if on the Parliament we condemn our selves for joyning with them and we are partakers of the same murther if it lay on the King what way had we to free this Nation of the guilt but letting him bear his own punishment all other acts of friendship would be but contracting of his guilt on us for as there be two ways of making a man guilty either by his own personal act or by complyance with another which is done by countenancing the malefactor as by coacting with him as he that keepes a murtherer in his house and gives him any counâ—enance is in law made equally guilty with him It would have been thus with our Parliament had they gone on in any other way then to preserve this nation but by revenging blood with blood for how ever publique wars may seeme to be an excuse and mitigation of guilt of killing of man yet it s the cause that gives the advantage of innocency and righteousnes in these acts the wrong cause make all the rest murtherers in Gods sight and he will prosecute them as murtherers especially the prime agents in such affairs yet all meanes was used to the utmost until we had almost lost our selves and the sence of our cause again let us seriously contemplate what good we could have of such a person after all his high and bloody actings against this Nation when he refused to grant the propositions of the Parliament so necessary for this Nation and only shewing a willingness to grant some of them and that
else but Histories of Civil affaires revilings and defamings of authorityes and casting fire bals of sedition up and downe Congregations to incense mens spirits against the present Government This is one of the greatest reasons which I can by observance finde out that the Ministry is so low and in such contempt because they mingle Christ and this world so promiscuously together and do not keep within the bounds of the Gospel in their publique preachings to the world But speake more in the language the of Stage then of a crucified Christ and this makes many withdraw from the publique assemblies because they can heare little but cavils in Pulpits and Christ in private houses I wish the honour of thâ— Ministry might shine in the glory of the Gospel for other respects they will finde them to be but temptations and hinderances to their worke Is there any thing else which stands in our way for strawes must be removed as well as reall blockes before prejudiced eyes are there any complaining wee are yet unsetled and opprest Let these men answer themselves that if they will have a settlement they must contribute to the procuring of it for while every one divides who shall settle If they cry out of oppressions it s very unjust they should expect otherwise who will not come under protection as it s most unreasonable any should desire protection who will not engage to be serviceable to promote the Common-wealth I shall end with proposing some Queries to zealous and honest men with a word of application from what is done in Scotland and no more trouble the Reader in this kinde First Whether must there bee an act of oblivion past for all the mercies and victories wee have had over the common or secret enemies of this State or to what use shall wee put all these wonders Secondly What lower improvement could there have been of so much bloud and continuall deceipt among us by the name of the King and his family but a cutting off the one and racing out the name of the other or whether ever any peace with these persons could bee sound or acceptable without some speciall sacrifice of them to Justice let it lye on our consciences Thirdly Whither wee can imagine that God had not higher ends then wee first proposed in our engaging against the King or then what could bee at first by us foreseene or whither any condescension in us could have gaind him without hazard and losse of our maine liberties and priviledges Fourthly Whither the providences of God seeing they have been so peculiarly acted are not to be guides and rules to us in prosecuting a generall and indefinite principle or how wee can with comfort satisfie our selves in civill quarrells but by providentiall events or what is that event wee thinke most demonstrative of Gods minde if these are not Fifthly Upon what hinge will wee turne the doore of our affaires if not upon the continuall and daily manifestations of God having our end and principle right or whither any person or power can foresee all the turnings and changes in a multiplyed affaire without some leading providence of Jehovah Sixthly Whether is the better foundation for action a supposed principle with contrary actings of providence or the like supposed principles with extraordinary lettings forth of Gods power and Majestie But what need wee querie humors and discontents will soone turne all these expostulations to encouragements wee are now through Gods blessing come to a period at home all the expectations of our enemies is from the broken reed of Scotland but the vaile is now off the malignant party is but retired there under another head and if wee may beleeve the Scots themselves and those which are accounted the honest party and their Remonstrances wee have nothing to fight against but the malignant party in Scotland the honest party who were first deluded being first subdued and now beyond the water they are put to the shifts of a generall complyance which will be no discouragement to us as formerly for then wee fought against many pretenders to the Covenant and who were with a conscience engaged and yet God esteemed it not but now wee have a full marke the old enemy newly crowned and all things made up in Scotland to follow this designe But I hope Englishmen can doe no lesse then the honest Scots have done remonstrate against those proceedings and yet God makes them know that bare Remonstrance against that party without union with Gods instruments will not serve but there must be an unanimous correspondency of all good men against these shifting zealots And wee have now a more ground of hope against them if God hath owned us when they seemed to keepe at a distance from the malignant party and to fix their principle on a surer and more cleare foundation how will he now appeare for his people when they have past thorough all delusions and are to meete againe with their old enemy but what horror of spirit will fall on these good men who will rather venture themselves with malignant assistances then comply with Gods workings I have no more to say he that cannot trust God now with our cause hath either too much interest or too much ignorance after all the wayes God hath taken to open our eyes Let our Parliament and Army never doubt encouragement but keepe up their spirits high for Gods ends seeing they have none now to encounter but their old enemies without any pretence that may trouble their consciences or delay their marches And let godly men know who stand yet out as God hath done all for us without them so he will now more especially because they are now under the first consideration and must come under the same viall and at least expect the sprinkling of it while they have any conjunction with that party which God hath devoted to destruction if our consciences be not quite asleepe and if wee have any sensiblenesse of our present advantages and future miseries let us set our seales to Gods actings and rejoyce in the Lords will so gloriously manifested and not strive against the streame of providences but as men convinced by God not by men engage our selves to maintaine this Common-wealth which is the onely Bulwarke left us both to keepe out tyranny and preserve our liberties which in due time wee shall have most free and stablished if our owne fond affections to strangers and prejudices of our friends doe not undoe all FINIS