unite spirits and affections whereas plurality of parties or interests nourished they generate and consider advantages as hath been evident in the traverses of this Nation You have seen the standing out of the King against a few just things made at last that many that would have been granted would not serve the turn I profess it is meer zeal to Justice hath produced this I have avoided bitterness to the utmost My only hope desire and prayer is for the welfare of the Nation and the establishing of it upon the firm basis of most undenyable verities I shrink under the opposition Truth is like to find I know the alterations of Nations come not till Nature as it were almost stifled labors for life it must purge or perish I know where knowledge is greatest Satan is busiest here must be great if not the greatest opposition what God hath I hope dictated to my spirit I have held forth to you of this Nation who are in supream Trust You know how dangerous a thing it is to alter the frame of Ancient Government you yet see its easier far to pull down then to build to you I say it must be extraordinary Justice and exemplary vertue must stablish you The temper of our old English Government in the mixtures of the three main Regiments was in Christian Politicks heretofore held the soundest of all most just and so most durable As for evil Government of Kings through usurpation of power the purity of it being destroyed they did admit and do to this Establishment without King or Lords yet if the contrary drawings of the Democratique estate or insatiate interest as old Writers have objurgated of many equals tend to the continuance of pressures either of purse or person the issue will be dangerous it 's evident the looser knots have been untied by the halter I mean the Robber Burgler c. but the treble Cord of the Religious Necessitous poor which are a multitude joyning with the pretending Leveller and Hypocritical Opposer will know their time they look for the day of their necessity There is nothing of Justice or Civil Righteousness in a strict survey more then what meer form produces or necessity among the many If there be not a speedy settlement there must be a dis-settlement the people are prone to as well as stirred up to disobedience did you command never so well if Subjects shake off the yoak or loose it but in what or as long as they please Empire must down We are now as it were in the dregs of so called Populacy the Kings attempted alteration and alteration was just but just things must be done justly and as he suffered for seeking himself so will others in their day if the expected one come mete out to you You are compassed about with difficulties every way God give you eyes to see your way still we looking at your transactions afar off have seen God going along with you Be not deceived you see it was not in eminency of Justice Righteousness Mercy and Truth acted but held forth no we saw your failings but hope of your integrity for we saw God evidently changing your Errors into a question of foresight and prudence to your Enemies so that they beleeved that Stratagemicall which was Casual or rather of providence O that all this might but raise a heart in you to serve and trust God do not only hear Sermons and for you of other stations labour Righteousness in your places your divisions shew your carnality Learn the nature of the one Covenant made with Abraham Isaac and Jacob and ratified to us Christians so distinguished from time as of Faith and Works that as much of Works is now requisite under the Covenant so called of grace as was before of Faith under the Covenant of works contend not so much whether Magistrate or Congregations be the Keeper of the first Table as both to give due glory to God and educate the people faithfully in the knowledge and practice of the Doctrine of the Gospel and you chief in power to see to govern them according to a Rule of Righteousness upon a sure foundation in all places and callings which according to the Talent God hath given me I shall here hold forth to you and that out of the so called Law of England or usually accepted Law Books of the same with the Word of God and the approved examples of our most free Progenitors wherein that I name not the Authors I have before laid down the reason I shall only now hint That its the duty of Magistrates not to regard the person of the man from whom the work comes grant it but my mite if it be pure Gold put it into the Treasury I will give much light to some and though others know much more let them also improve their talent make use of this till then Some say 't is the nature of Englishmen better to follow in the dark then go before in the light give no more occasion to that proverb I am no enemy to Powers or Authorities Here is nothing difficult elevated above ordinary frame so austere that the practice is impossible for a time or dangerous to many for it is salutary to ten times so many more It is the reducing Government in as much as may and the progresses thereof to the Rule of our Saviour My yoak is easie and my burthen light laying forth Justice in a due proportion betwixt the Duty and the Power so opening the reason of the Magistrates power and the Subjects obedience that the ancient Quarrels of Interests on either side must be little if any at all stinting the many mutterings and murmurings against the State from the default of Officers and Clerks not of the Judges themselves which if not done do all the good you can and you will be still aspersed and scandalized and there is some reason for they and their Clerks are alike for their care is neither for publike good nor common honesty all they look at is private gain the great dishonour of a State and Nation Now the God of Heaven give me wisdom to hold it forth in such order that it may carry such an evidence of Truth that all Interests may submit to this one Interest of the Regiment of Christian reason in a Commonwealth and what ever is defective may by your power and industry with the advice of such whom you shall choose be speedily setled to his glory and the comfort of this afflicted Nation and set as a light upon a hill to be a direction and president to all the Nations of the Earth That you as faithful workmen may do great things to give free liberty to the word of salvation and build up the Jerusalem of God and set on the Gates and Barrs Locks and Bolts whereby the Congregations of the faithful may be kept pure within themselves by the power of the Word and free and secure from the violences of Enemies carnal and spiritual
lay to heart these things First that you are in Gods stead Next that there are many vows upon the Nation for Justice and Righteousness against the then and still continued unchristian uncivil nay inhumane dealings of man with man as man with God c. You stand in the eys of all all your goings are marked and all your failings graven to Record Publick necessities your own consciences and peoples complaints have plucked forth Declarations to men as well as Covenants to God the Obligations to men are still the same if the reason be the same And for our Obligations wherein we lift up our hands to the most high God truly though the Covenant as is said be out of date that is the end of the Covenant for satisfaction to the King to draw him to an union and conjunction with his great Councel be disobliged yet the seeking of the setling of this Nation the three Nations all Nations according to the Rule of Righteousness in love peace and unity yea the drawing of them to uniformity both in Doctrine and Discipline according to the Word of God that is by the evidence of truth and the manifestation of the Spirit is still the duty of all Christians for this had been a duty had the Covenant never have been it was before it and must remain after The present Age is in the learned part very acute at least to censure all persons and then assuredly the actions of Enemies You have many who foment jealousies from the supposed Errings and delays some to one end some to another but all of beleeving the old experimented Rule of the destructiveness of popular Government from the variety and inconstancy the dilatoriness and ambiguousness of their proceedings and unsatisfiedness of so many selfish Interests as are among them this is to bring in the Government of a King again Indeed multitude of occasions makes your proceedings slow-paced Instead of particular Acts which are unsatisfactory settle a compleat body of Government you have means of supplying all indigencies for if you improve your power to evident publick good who will oppose The Royalist and all among the Parliament party agree in many just things yet uneffected Justice is the preservation as foundation of the Throne If you will raign safely walk not in any of the wayes of them that fell before you the president of their punishment as their error is too nigh at hand Let no interest deterr you from your Rule Conserve indeed the real Liberties of the people free us from all those Legerdemains the sleights of Oppression and Tyranny What was unjust gain in the King let not the State demand there depend upon follow providence as far as you will and be as remiss and so called merciful as you please but in things just and evidently conducing to common good be severe and unalterable this is righteous In things difficult and doubtful first use reason and prudence discover the interest opposing and so proceed to afflict this wil breed both fear and love Alter a good and just thing though to a more just by degrees and gently for interests have here lawful pleas but in evidently evil it 's the glory to make speed Connive not there for an hour What is here driven at is the just Reformation of all our Laws the Reduction of them to a Rule and standard of Christian Simplicity You that are of the long Robe both in and out of the house you whose knowledge both divine and humane abounds as your abilities in outward as inward excellencies Judges Councellors and Officers of all sorts look not at ancient Customes but at the common Justice of them not how they restrain particular evils but as they conduce to universal good If you will not admit the opposition of inferiors do nothing but carrying that evidence of reason as may stop the mouths of fools as well as satisfie wise men Let Godliness now in this light be the pretious gain it s the Pearl of great price Surely there are things called Law admitted practically for Law and those opposed and complained of which are so notoriously unjust and irrational so destructive to the Nation as its the admiration of all men they are not amended 't is laid onely to the charge as a matter of Interest to be obstructors see in the day the Lord opposing every evil thing lay down Self and God will stablish you To you Princes and Nobles I say learn by Gods dealings with you to see Thrones and Scepters Powers Civil and Military Riches and Honors Wisdom and all are the gifts of the Almighty Wisdom The Hand of Providence holds them forth and disposeth them as it pleaseth You have been bad Stewardes amend your wayes God hath here and there taken all away otherwhere a great part most have suffered know God is able yet to take away the remainder seek not therefore in passion to break out what ever you do carry God along with you and that not in thought but deed assuredly the judgement else will be more smart and deeper in every change le ts see the Work of God upon your hearts change Profession into Practise of Christianity idolize not the Form but acting sincerely Zeal Holiness Austerity of Life in the avoiding the very appearances of evil but exemplary in Charity and that not onely in giving much but giving well ordering the wayes not of your selves onely but of your Families so that the nobility of your souls in the excellence of graces may speak you illustrious above ancient riches the Vertues or Vices of your Progenitors The same I may say to the Gentry and men of great estate City and Country know God gives you much that you may do much for him wherein is now your excellency Titles Alas they are but like Absoloms Pillar serve but to eternize his faults and miserie Good cloathes large Retinue as Revenew if not larger and they generally idle and so necessarily vicious Coaches and horses bountiful and luxurious fare as much spent to feed and cloath ten as well would satisfie each day one hundred and for one hundred as would plentifully maintain a thousand Is God honored in all this or is the poor profited you may think it for thus did your fathers and so did you but where is the Rule the charges of the Commonwealth if but five shillings are a burthen to you who spend ten pound nay a hundred pound nay a thousand pound in waste and they that have nought follow your example thereby believing they gain credit I now shall speak one word to the Army You have followed Providence make no Selfish Interest your Idol lest Providence forsake you be assured others have many enemies but for you how few are your friends there are great engagements upon you to God who hath with such a continued course given success to your undertakings I am so far from incouraging to Mutinies as I condemn them there are just wayes use them I would
thee for his glory was he unjust in his dealings with Job then note that poverty is no shame Christ hath sanctified it no nor death no not on the Cross if as Christ the Captain of our salvation thou beest made perfect through sufferings not so if thou blasphemest c. And now one word to the Teachers of the people Take heed to your selves lest while you preach to others your selves become not castawayes Some of you call your selves still the Clergy I pray evidence by what special right or title next you claim special Ordination pray agree to what end we are jealous of a many among you that would ingross all knowledge of the Gospel by as gainful a Trade as others did and do the Law Briefly thus If you have an infallible Word shew it if but a humane and that that be attainable meerly or more especially by Learning and that by disquisition knowledge shal encrease then shew how parts and graces are distinguishable and whether you wil quench the spirit altogether or allow it altogether or what or how tel me why a brother a member of the congregation by them approved may not improve his Talent to the edifying of his Brethren as well as a Batchelor of Art or Master before ordained as you call it Common Place as you call it and that often more sorily then an honest Bibling brother that never came at the Colledges though at the Schools of the Prophets I cannot disallow Pastoral designation and so in order from Pastoral or Teaching abilities but to rest in designation any more then in ordination is incongruous I know this opens a gap to fears of maintenance but I see none justly I pray God your standing off open not wider ones If you be not the chief you are none what is the cause of your contest I profess I am not prejudiced against any person I have been inquisitive into intendments and I judge the tree by the Fruit may not man do so is it not consonant to reason When do you leave your Parishes generally but to get better greater Livings you have made the notions of the Religious a call from one people and assent of the other call but stales to your additional maintenance I agree maintenance necessary but I dare not boggle with the things of God speak right out eight score be it so is but sufficient by the year to maintain any Family and till I come at that I will not hold me to any call you dare not do it abuse not your selves many see it say not else you can have so much in another place This is the beautiful Harlot your hot and eager disputes are the Alarms to our continued feuds I cannot speak this to all for there are some who imitate as much as this Age will permit the example of Christ their Master and what ever their opinions be in Politicks they submit to the Powers for conscience sake and what ever they may think they unrake not the coales of dissention much less will they blow them to a flame here are all our griefs here is one wound so long kept open hereby is all obedience in all degrees lost and extinct no respect of Magistrate in any degree the truth is the unfitness of some Magistrates in not having abilities and of others in misimproving them and so of Ministers hath heightned by a just judgement the evil of contempt on all sides the retaining and so eager seeking unwarrantable interests will make the Callings I fear suffer by bringing all into question my reason is This hath been Gods way here now and before As all things necessary to salvation are through the goodness of God plain and evident so all things necessary to righteous Government what Magistrates stumble at is the perversness of people in pursuing unjust ends to or against their fellow-brother but especially in cutting short or tying him up too strictly in the requisites of honour order and maintenance and that for the Publick The people stumble at the Magistrates evil using and greatly abusing his Trust and power to self-interests professing for the publick but intending and visibly bettering self It s a received Rule The disease is more then half cured if the true reason be known O you Magistrates and Law-givers you have the first part to act be you righteous evil and disordered people are the manifest tokens of a loose negligent Magistracy It s evidently easie to settle a Nation more numerous more disordered from ignorance and will then this is in the time we are discoursing how far the Magistrates power extends in Religious things or in a Politick consideration what shall be done when the Nation is setled before the settlement be made or agreed upon let 's not to avoid the evils of the worst of Levelling so called give advantages to their designs or proposals Let 's walk so that we may by reason as well as power maintain our proceedings before we undertake le ts resolve to prosecute or surcease upon evident and publick reason the want of this hath disobliged more then ever the Covenant or Engagement bound And as I begun with you in Supream Power Civil or Military or both so give me leave to end when you first engaged when first you began this great work of Religion and Publick Liberty how hot and spirituous were you when great oppositions and many designs were on foot how watchful when you were running for the Goale and striving for the Mastery yea as your selves said venturing for your own Lives and Liberties how regardless of bare forms how then could you look at publick good in the nighest safest way you could then lay out your way besides the common Road without the formality of suing out an Ad quod damnum yea what strength of reason could not untye the Sword did cut Thus are the burthens snares and vexations of truly religious people gone as to the conscience Thus far you have been sincere in your Obligations to God be also as faithful in your Trusts to the Nation I would not have Judges taken away root and branch Judges are found in Holy Writ yea such in power and Authority as we desire to have we desire Justice should flow like streams and Righteousness like mighty waters the want of this impoverishes the Nation I am in such place that I see and know it yea I beleeve let it be rightly scanned it will appear most costly more ruinous and more enslaving then two such Armies and as now practised more intolerable then an universal Toleration so often charged upon you Now the Lord God of hearts lay what is written to all your hearts and grant that you may go on as you have promised namely according to the great Trust that is upon you from the people you proceed in procuring common good which is the true and ultimate end of all just Government and by a right aim at that direct all your actions and not cease to improve
He was neither believed or regarded of the wicked world and though he saw Gods great judgement upon the world and his special mercy to him in their destruction and his own wonderful preservation immediately sins grievously and is derided of his own accursed son yet this is the man whom the Lord chose and with him enters an express Covenant When he chose a Judge and Ruler whom did he choose but Moses And his present qualifications were an Alien exposed in a strange land and fled then for fear of what the eye and Judgement of man called murder I speak not this to justifie suddain murders and where he was at first a hired servant at best a sheppard a stammerer and tediously impertinent even with God himself and loth to the work though God had also fitted him in a humane way for government yea the extraordinary duty which was upon him to lead a rebellious and stiffnecked people as he found them to which end surely by divine providence he was not only of a meek spirit to bear injuries but wise to make use of them brought up not only in Pharoahs house but learned in more then the ordinary politiques or usual recreations of hawking and hunting swearing drinking gaming c in all the learning of the Aegyptians which was the admirablest of that age as stories witness the very Greeks themselves borrowing their knowledge from them And this was according to the rule of God for the choice of a Magistrate men of knowledge not men that had the age for knowledge or education or such like helps if they wanted the thing but that knowledge indeed I omit to speak of Abraham Isaac and Jacob as exercising but only a paternal power which though it were the foundation or rise of other governments yet must now be enlarged as necessity evidences as well as enforces and when the other Judges or Heads or Elders were chosen they were chosen according to the rule and so long they prospered yea go to the Kings Saul seeking Asses David from the Sheep-fold and how were these despised that I may speak it once for all the generality of men saw not Gods choice else why did the people so murmur against Moses and Aaron Miriam against Moses as also Corah Dathan and Abiram and the next day all the people notwithstanding that exemplary punishment upon them saying of them swallowed up you have slain the people of the Lord so of Saul shall he he in derision what a Benjamite a yonger son c. shall he deliver us how Deliver as if they had said he cannot and if you aske me the reason both of this and all other disobediences to prophesies commands and declarations of the will of God I must deal plainly with you the same reason moved them moves us and so on the contrary we believe or believe not the word As our harts are affected so move our hands so are our actions enlivened see this when Saul chops the Oxen in pieces and sends them through all the coasts of Israel with that Proclamation So shall it be done to him that will not follow Saul and Samuel The fear of the Lord fell upon them says the Text what is that but the Lord put or raised up their spirits to the work and so it was effected and where God gave a spirit of sloath deadness of heart c. there they set still and were afterward punished as well as cursed who did not help the Lord against the mighty Yea the Prophets were not esteemed in their daies which of them came to his end either without sufferings or but by sufferings and who were the Enemies The Kings c. and which of them but the evill ones see Isaiah Jeremiah and the rest and yet their great renown was spread abroad amongst strangers though there may be a reason for it as Jeremiahs providing for by Nebuzaradan giving him in charge to Gedeliah and that was he prophesied against Zedekiah and for Nebuchadnezar but our Saviour hints another God did not raise up his Prophets in vain but they were his messengers and against the Kings and Princes and therefore being hated or at best neglected by them so were they by the inferiors following their example and so called mad fellows and by the base Priests of Idols forbid to prophesie in the Kings Court and all along such were they whom God chose owned imployed and Covenanted with and now not to speak here more of the persons I come to the nature of the Covenant which both with Noah Abraham and his offspring Moses and all Israel were in the letter but outward blessings and though by the word everlasting there is more to be gathered yet at first veiw what is it Seed time and Harvest the dominion over and use of the Creature but with restraint not with the blood cold and heat Summer and Winter and now God gives a law and not before otherwise then as the voice of nature sounded it forth against murder professing he will not only require the blood of man at the hand of man and that without any exception but even of the beast and this law was before the so called partition wall of divine love to the Jew was declared while all men were simply considered as the sons of Adam Upon this declaration declaration there is a new covenant but what is that All this land will I give to thee and thy seed and blessings where ever they go assured by the note of Gods Alsufficiency which though typing higher matters both in respect of the place Canaan and his seed the Lord Christ Jesus typed in Isaac yet Abrahams faith fails him for his life and wife he lies and Jacob pilleth rods and decieves as some say Laban to enrich himself and was irregular in his affection to Rachel and other frailties Such also was the Covenant with Moses and all Israel In blessing I will bless with riches honor long-life victories over enemies and this was in case of obedience to Gods laws and then for disobedience Cursing I will curse the earth should be Iron and the heavens brass and as before one should chase 100. and 100. put 10000. to flight c. so now they should flye when none pursue the same Covenant with Solomon all which shews that what the Lord held forth to the Jew was outward and legal obedience so called righteousness and now that the Covenant might have effect God gives his law with promises and threats and this according to the nature and quality of it either toward himself or of one man toward another for the Laws towards God they were either the moral the sum whereof was the ten Commandments of which the first four are here first to be discussed and are indeed the prerogative or royall law which were briefly To have but one God Secondly to make no likeness of him Thirdly not use his name irreverently Fourthly to sanctifie a seventh day if not the seventh day to him
ballance against Iustice but wind and dust This Machivellian reason is of the corrupt Court viz. men by these private litigations wranglings and contentions are fired in spirit each against other and so are taken off projects against the publick peace of the Nation but a Christian will easily beleeve this reason heightens both publick and private vengeance Besides this blind reason makes no distinction betwixt poor and rich just and wicked men but put all to the Oare and let them tug for Mastery and the Lawyer sets on the bank and with their labour is carried into the Ocean of so gotten riches this I presume sufficiently evidences that the Laws ought to be without any question in the Native Tongue plain and few and nigh at hand Next let us know how we should have them administred wherein waving the private interests aforesaid the matter will be plain for it is agreed on all sides That Iustice ought not to be delayed no more then denyed or sold the Subject demanding this had no more but Iustice when it was granted in the so called Magna Charta Now I suppose this delay must intend not the customary time of lawing but the due time and that peremptorily except in cases of so called Essoyn that is when such due case in Law appears as all reason must agree there can be no proceeding but with greater wrong to the other party then the stay can be to this which is injustice but the truth is to have so many reiterated summons formal and costly for small causes is yea though it were Law that is formerly so either established or practised unfit to be so continued And in many cases formal processes are vain dilatory and ruinous and the Subjects priviledge is that is just mens to have all such excrescences cut off and meet Medicine applyed to the wound the want of which after so many Vows Covenants Promises Engagements c. giveth spirit to the enemy and sets an edge upon their reproaches and deadens the hearts of all true friends to Iustice and Righteousness Some Nations would never suffer the Sun to rise upon a crime unpunished committed after the Sun went down and so not go down before punished if acted after Sun-rise you must suppose complained of and possible to be effected But the meaning is their punishment was immediate others gave three days others fourteen dayes Now the best men alwayes give the least time yet enough delayes whether in criminall or Civil Cases alwayes are the nourishers of corrupt ends if not perjuries our Judicatories are for Civil Cases in some places weekly but the business in formality depends a quarter half and sometimes a whole year let there be justice done under a penalty Now the trick is delay till the Witness be gone or hath forgotten it or can be wrought off or the Jury fitted to the turn The Heathens abhorred what Christians practice for the Criminal part the Sessions are or ought to be four times in the year but the now Lawyers are so afraid of their own Law for it is so doubtful that few but the Superiour Judges who by reason of their places must do or will understand it And hence men for ordinary acts lie sometimes twelve moneths two years in prison by Adjournments and no penalty upon the Iudge for he is seldom evidently faulty but the Clerks no Commission to try him or a defective one whereby the prisoner is without all Remedy Next the Processes for the Tryal before the Iudges are not every mans purchase and the appeal being onely to London the charge which rich men and free men count nothing of is to poor men destructive and unsufferable And we had need call for setled Courts and Laws and the Judges to determine by a day under a Fine or Penalty for in Arbitrary ones and so remote as London from many parts and the Clyent must go himself or his case is lost and undone where orders are gotten to day and then the party out of Town revoked to morrow and Order upon Order Term after Term and Judges sittings uncertain onely when they can be perswaded together What is it but the Abyss of confusion and that which threats most direful plagues and judgements to the Nation let the honour of the Nation be never so much pretended yea though these acts were done to enemies both of God and men solely and onely For pure and holy Justice is prostituted if not ravished nay is then made the Bawd to each exorbitant passion and affection Wise and Just Law-givers must therefore settle Courts in due and fit places times frequent and ordinary yea if it were every day and enforce prosecution under due penalties And in case of appeals while appeals which in respect of difficulties and that of moment may be betwixt persons mean and of small ability that they be setled in due places and ordered in such manner that Right may be done to the meanest not as in the formal way of so called Forma Pauperis and all the Processes thence issuing where the cause is determinable all Dilatory Pleas excluded and errors of course amended and no error pleaded after issue joyned These are principal priviledges of free Subjects but indeed the highest and greatest are least understood or regarded by the many Now whether these Laws be administred in the Towns Hundreds c. is in the Supream Magistrate surely in the County and in a due place there both for convenience of Travaile and Reception of Suitors not in Confinio Comitatus The reasons for and against this will not be worth the while they holding forth nothing of moment more then what is before declared onely this That by this means every County will have a various Law and carried according to particular interests of places and persons but this is not be esteemed for we allow the Supream power the enacting the head Law So that the Law will be the same though the dispensation may be diverse then as it is now and ever will be for bind what you can a wise Iudge will have or make to himself a latitude but if truly wise who will grudge while Iustice indeed is his onely ayme and end But to avoid such and the like Objections If the Supream power settle County Courts both for Law and equity and admit once yearly itinerate Iudges to receive the complaints of Suitors against all other Iudges and for determining difficult matters in Law after the manner of the now Assizes it will take away all the grounds of interested objections against the necessary administrations of Provincial or County Jurisdictions which some frame from the reasons of County as Congregational Independency or their seares of introducing the Churches giving an Analogicall Rule at least of exteriour Governement to the Common-wealth Now having taken this short view of the Laws Administration let us in the next place consider the Qualifications of the Law-giver and Law-dispenser whereby Iustice may be executed
consult a remedy and if a meeting of some few Churches yea be it provinciall shall be required till error arise it may not be unlawfull they have the Right But if the Magistrate upon error settle a Law to prevent that error further the Magistrate ought not to go and so far he may then the Churches ought to observe that Law But in case of Error or such Conventions as are possibly dangerous to the Civil Peace the Supream Magistrate ought to be advised and ought to be obeyed if dissenting yea though his dissent be not in some eyes well grounded for this evil is the least however experience hath manifested in a superstitious Age the Church-man prevailes in a swording the Magistrate What I have written may to many seem doubtful to whom the power of Right belongs But the plain meaning is this This being a Church-Affair an Assembly for the settlement of conscience it is the proper work of the Churches And if the Churches have power over one the other as in the Popish Episcopal and Presbyterian way the Summons ought De jure to move from the Church but the Magistrate may prohibit and ought to be obeyed but divers Churches dissenting this in fact caused first an address to the Imperial Power and so it would do again also the very Congregating such Members into one place ought both for the safety of them that meete and the place where they meete and of the whole State to be not onely with the knowledge but the approbation of the Supream Magistrate and the rather for that though those elected ought to go yet no Christian may be debarred this in that way and in the Congregational way more clearly will assure that though the business be a Church business and concerning matters of meer conscience yet the great matter is as they are men to consult of difficulties and this is the Church-work and therefore the Magistrate ought not to prescribe the Christians met what to propound For I presume That ought to be long before manifested first in the private Congregation then in the adjoyning Churches yea in publike Conventions There is another part of the Quaere that is Whether the Magistrate may summon without the Churches prayer Now as to the right assuredly as a Father of the Country principally intrusted for the good welfare and peace of his people and as a Christian taking notice of unchristian Controversies he may invite assembling the Churches and may require it but ought not enforce untill the civil Peace be actually disturbed he leaves the sin at their door This root of bitterness arose from thoughts of the necessity of remedying what was amiss and venturing all for that which is true and false A false colour of truth with a real mistake the Magistrate cannot enforce here the Church must have its due liberty here otherwise we must admit by the Rule of Contraries the like power to the Church against the Magistrate offending No let each keep their place and if the Magistrate will amend the Church let it be by Preaching not fighting let them come that will upon his call let him perswade the other not enforce actually politickly he may no not though all that come agree with him But I am confident Take away the interest of Power and Revenue and the Spring of all these controversies will be dried up for the matter is clear in it self and by most so agreed I could enlarge much in this and all the heads that I have treated on I could have multiplied Quaeries to delight the Ear and make the Book more Merchantable in this Age I could have scattered witty varieties Recorded old Histories and enterwoven new Stories to have delighted a foeminine fancy I could have so polished my phrase and trimmed my discourse that it should have stoln away the heart of a light youngling and like a Romance fettered him in a clew of delights till he had come to the end of the Book and been never the wiser But as the first thing moved me to this Work was the serious apprehension of the bitter Cup the Lord had put into the hand of the Inhabitants of this Nation to drink and what God had done in Germany when my soul considered the deadly defiances among men so called Christians not onely Nation against Nation but they of the same Nation one against the other When I eyed the Threats and Promises of the Word of the Eternal God Revolved his Acts of old and at present done amongst us comparing the Professions and Practises of Christians and that though we had light above others yet our sins were more grievous then others but most of all was my spirit affected with the many engagements which lay upon the Nation For this light drew from us on all sides Royal and Parliamentary and that under what notion or name or opinion soever you will rank them Promises and Vows of setling Truth and Righteousness King Parliament and People all seeing the Errors in Church and State a bare name no face if a footstep of pure Christianity This in the first place put me upon a more serious way of Writing and in the second place the multitude of my occasions would not permit the idle time to clip and pare and file when I was forced to steal time to cast and mould the matter of this Discourse by a quarter of the hour to day and as much the next seldom an hour together and then happily not of a week two or three sometimes not of a moneth after This will render me to a wise man over zealous and over-confident to rush so unadvisedly into such a great undertaking as it doth attempt the holding forth though but in Essay the frame of a Civil Christian Government and they that know me will say Have so many Ages passed Are so many wise men at present And none to undertake it but one so young a man not able for time to have digested in any part the voluminous Tracts which he that but offers at such an Essay ought to have gone through and to do all this raptim and that by snatches which required the most serious thoughts Lastly A man that practised the Law of England so short a while that he could not comprehend the Ambages of it and for eminency of parts a man of no Renown the world hath not taken notice of him I know this as to others will be the whispers and speakings concerning Me and this Work It is not presumption of my Abilities nor to gain applause that I adventure upon this Work my heart was fired within me when after so many reiterated undertakings for Righteousness Justice c. I saw the VVork so far off from perfection that it was worse then before I waited attended hoped prayed and all yea incited men able and skilled in the Laws of the Land by long study and approved parts They agreed Error in the whole a necessity of Reformation and that even by a
lost the glory of Pastors by preaching Christ and pretending for Christ and following the world and seeking Self so they must redeem their ancient honor by signal services Let love be even to Enemies and let the reducing of those that go astray be with that real sincere affection as they Preach Saint Iohn did his back-sliding outlaw given in trust to a Pastor or Bishop Let them be Fathers of the Church and brethren in Christ let them be eyes to the blind and teachers to them that are slow of heart let them be diligent and faithful in their places preaching in season and out of season looking at their duty more then the reward for by the vertual Succession or publike Designation they own the charge of the Lord is upon them and they pluck a wo upon themselves if they preach not the Gospel Lord dispel from their minds the rudiments of the world the superstitious reasonings of the flesh and all carnal Ordinances and give them the Evidence of thy Spirit that by thy Power they may be instrumental in this our day of high expectation to draw much people to the Lord. Holy Father give us Magistrates as of old men full of wisdom and of the fear of the Lord men of courage and despising riches let them make Thee their strength not trusting to their knowledge knowing that in case of a Kingdom appointed to ruine by God wise Councels and fair occasions avail not but are by a secret over-ruling Providence wholly inverted nor to their courage riches or power for the same reasons Let them not undertake War for Ambition nor as all Christian Princes and States of late have done engage in Oathes in policy and for stratagems let their leagues be kept inviolably the priviledge of Nations is above that of private persons let their Laws be not onely in the letter but the practise also the Indexes of pure Iustice let their Government be such a sweet mixture of Iustice and Mercy that may declare they seek Reformation not destruction the Glory of God not the benefiting of Self let them hear before they determine determine before they execute and yet execute so that Righteousness may be preserved free from the scandal not onely of false Iustice but also of too late Iustice Banish from the hearts of all such as thou shalt call to places of Judicature every affection that is dissonant to the purity of Christian Profession Let not form destroy the essence of Justice O Lord look upon all those that have power wisdom and riches whereby being eminent in their Generations they are rendred useful for thy glory that they may all of them improve the Talents that they have received to the end for which they were principally given And Father let thy many promises of building up Sion sending down the New Jerusalem setling the people in peace making them all of one heart and mind be fulfilled to us in this our day Many beleeve it is the great work of thy Glory reserved for thy Call of thine own people Lord hasten that time shorten the evil dayes for thine Elects sake and stir up all hearts in their respective places so to act as the vigor of all Christian vertues may be so apparent that all eyes may see the brightness of thy glory the perfect image of the Father shining forth in the conversations of the children Let all our emulations be holy tending onely to incite and stir up desires of more affectionate duties and services to the eternal Majesty not seeking after principally loose and accustomed liberty but laying such a due restraint upon all inordinate walkings that even propension to transgression may be chastised nay strangled in the heart before it grows to action Let the gifts of the mind in our Commonwealth have the first place then the excellencies of the body and let those of the world have the last as the lowest in the Sphear of Christian Politicks Let thy Kingdom even of thy Son the one eternal immortal invisible infinite Prince the Prince of Peace come let his Spirit so rule and raign in the hearts of the sons of men that his will may be so done of us here as it is in heaven that thou and thy Name may be glorified by all flesh even so be it O Lord. Amen Amen So prayes CHARLS GEORGE COCK Student of Christian Law Of the Society of the Inner-Temple now resident in Norwich FINIS Postscript As I find this VVork accepted I shall enlarge Isaiah 62. vers 1. For Sions sake I will not hold my tongue and for Ierusalems sake I will not rest untill the Righteousness thereof break forth as the light and the salvation thereof be as a burning Lamp Vers 6. and 7. Ye that are the Lords Remembrancers keep not silence and give him no rest untill he repair and set up Ierusalem the praise of the Earth