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heaven_n great_a see_v world_n 7,593 5 4.4143 3 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A61217 A clear apology and just defence of Richard Stafford for himself with a rehearsal, and further explanation of what he hath done concerning national affairs. Stafford, Richard, 1663-1703. 1690 (1690) Wing S5110; ESTC R219673 45,943 40

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is the alone Prerogative of God for He knoweth all things and searcheth the Heart that not the least Thing can be hid or concealed from him Whereas we only perceive a little according to the exact Truth but much more in a false and imperfect manner by doubtful Report and mistaken Observation And then we cannot throughly apprehend a thing wherein many are concerned so we can give no perfect Judgment and Determination God hath taken the like method for the exercise and administration of his Kingdom and Dominion over Men as our Kings and Governours over their several Countries And he hath a Book for his Government over all the Nations and Families of the Earth high and low rich and poor together as our Statute and Common Law is for England and their civil canon or municipal Laws for other Nations His Word is given unto Mankind to be a Rule for their Actions and a Law for them to live and be governed by and from that we are allowed and commanded to Reprove all manner of Sin and Transgression as any one now doth Lev. 19. 17. take notice or speak of what is done contrary to the Government and Laws of this Nation which is esteemed no fault but rather commendable and a Duty The same is and ought much more to be in things pertaining to God and so likewise would be if there was amongst us the like Zeal for and Knowledge of him that is invisible who fills Heaven and Earth with his Presence as now there is regard for the Son of Man whom we see to be little and to fade as a Leaf But this is to be understood for the Fear and Instruction of some and for the Comfort of others That God is not confined to the Imaginations and Sayings of Men If some speak smooth things and prophesie Deceits and others too hard Speeches and mistaken Applications The Judge himself will not ratifie what they say but condemns whom man absolves as again acquit whom man condemns For he cometh for he cometh to judge the Earth He shall judge the World with Righteousness and the People with his Truth Psal 96. 13. And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of Life and the dead were judged out of those Things which were written in the Books according to their Works Rev. 20. 12. This according to the Decree of the Eternal and unchangeable God is as certain and True as if it were already past and fulfilled As Judges and Justices of Gaol delivery do try Prisoners by the statute Book of this Realm at those Assizes which are holden twice a year so at this general Grave delivery which is to be kept once for all The dead Bodies of all People of every Place and Generation since Man was Created on the Earth shall arise and we shall all be judged by Christ and his Saints according to those Words written in the Bible And this according to the plain and common sence and understanding of the same Words Behold in this they are not just I will answer all mine Accusers and Enemies that God is greater than Man and so much do his Laws exceed theirs Wherefore do I mention that God is greater than Man In comparison of him the Nations are as a drop of a Bucker and are counted as the small dust of the Balance It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the Earth and the Inhabitants thereof are as Grashoppers We shall find and know that He bringeth the Princes to nothing He maketh the Judges of the Earth as Vanity Notwithstanding the People have more regard to them because they are seen and their utmost Power is known then they have to Almighty God who is not seen and whose Punishment is threatned But though God is not seen yet his Works are And how Great must He be who built this vast House of the World and created all things therein What is the Wrath of a Worm of five or six foot long to the * Isa 59. 15. Displeasure of Him who hath Heaven for his Throne and the Earth for his Footstool What is a single Individual or an Assembly of Men who dwell in Houses of Clay that they should when met in Council as yet exalt themselves to do according to their own will notwithstanding Gods Commandment to the contrary If not to speak Exod 9. 17. out because they profess that they know God but in Works deny him yet to think and act Marvellous things against the God of Gods Dan. 11. 36. And in this they are worse then him here spoken of or Pharoah for he knew not who was the Lord that he should obey him What is abomination of Heart they imagine to be bravery of mind that they can and are for doing things otherwise and as it were hinder that his will be not done here on Earth Which argues the exceeding sinfulness of sin with the infinite guilt and demerit thereof and it shall be punished with proportionable Condemnation Misery They are corrupt and speak wickedly concerning oppression They speak loftily They set their Mouth against the Heavens their Tongue walketh through the Earth therefore his People return hither and Waters of a full Cup are wring out to them Psal 73. 8 9 10. By the height and breadth and depth of such kind of Transgression we may judge of the length of future Torments Whose Thoughts were thus exalted to Heaven their Souls shall be thrust down to Hell Shall not God search this Luk. 10. 15. out for He knoweth the secrets of the Heart the innermost Thoughts and most hidden Imaginations Even now he looks down from the Habitation of his Holiness and is not far from every one of us for at this very moment He both sees and hears all that we are talking of or doing in our Houses and several places of abode And so He hath done all along of this Generation of Men now living as He did of those before we were born We read of Him in his Word for the Lord your God is God of Gods and Lord of Lords a great God a Mighty and a Terrible which regardeth not Persons nor taketh Reward Deut. 10. 17. We have a sence and aw and dread of Him upon our minds we may know and perceive his Laws written in our Hearts and inward Parts by laying open our Conscience as in his sight and by communing with our own spirit when we are for a little while silent in our Chamber and somewhat freed and separated from the Things of this World All these wayes God doth shew and manifest himself unto Mankind so that they are without excuse This may be thought proper to instruct and convert Heathens or the neighbouring Nations which do grovel in the darkness of Popish ignorance but doth not seem so applicable to our own Countrey where the Scriptures are read and preached in a known
shall not err therein unless they run out of willing and set purpose Whereas heretofore we were disobedient and did not all things according to the Pattern shewed us we are to acknowledge our Iniquity and Transgression and from henceforth sorever we and our Children are to promise unto the Lord and keep it to do according as he hath said and commanded in his Word which we ought in like manner to obey as if we heard his Voice from Heaven As we daily Pray so we are likewise to do lest we be found Mockers and Dissemblers with God and have our portion with Hypocrites and Unbelievers his will on Earth Which again is not to be measured by what is acted on this stage of Sin and Confusion or publickly done in the place where Satan's Seat and Kingdom is but as it is clearly written and manifestly revealed by the Word and Spirit of God which came down from above and knoweth what is God's will And what is done in Heaven the fanie is expected here In the Mouth of two or three Witnesses every Word shall be established and we have three holy Men of God who were moved by the holy Ghost and give attestation and confirmation to the same thing He is the Rock his work is perfect for all his ways are Judgment a God of Truth and without Iniquity just and right is be Deut. 32. 4. The Works of his Hands are Verity and Judgment and all his Commandments are sure They stand fast forever and ever and are done in Truth and Vprightness Psal 111. 7 8. By this it appears that our late Revolution is none of God's work in which he is well pleased For I the Lord love Judgment I hate Robbery for burnt Offering and I will direct their work in Truth and I will make an Everlasting Covenant with them Isa 61. 8. So that if People would do the work of God and come to settlement and stability of Times they must only use such means all along as are good true just and lawful and none others These are to be known by God's Law only for as aforesaid that is the supream Rule of Good and Evil Truth and Falshood Right and Wrong And if thence it doth appear that this Nation hath trespassed against their God Isa 58. 2. and have forsaken and resisted his Ordinance by putting down that Power which is asserted Rom. 13. 1. to be of God though it was an Heathen at the very time If this be a Sin and Transgression then there is no hope to avoid the present Displeasure and escape the future Punishment of God otherwise than by making a Covenant with our God and by restoring the King to his right and henceforward to tremble at the Commandments of our God and l●t it be done according to his Law Ezra 10. 3. The Laws of God are to be set before People and they are to be exhorted to the Observance of them but still men have their Liberty and full Freedom of Action If they will not do so out of Conscience and Obedience to God they may let it alone Or to speak plainly deliberately and truly in the Gentile dialect choose and be damned according to what they have done and involved themselves in from Rom. 13. 2. It is at their own Peril and Danger The divine Promises and Threatnings are to be used only but no outward force and compulsion for the right Christian Religion doth not allow of any And here is a Threatning as true as Gospel which lies expresly against the Nation and People of England * Which I would not have against my own particular Person for ten thousand Kingdoms or the greatest Places of Honour and Profit and I would more fear it than to dye an hundred Temporal Deaths The Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Vnrighteousness of Men who hold the Truth in Vnrighteousness Rom. 1. 18. It is only revealed and made known here but it is to be executed and felt in another Place So though We are in the true Reformed Religion yet We are not under the aforesaid Penalty to continue and practise any Unrighteousness towards our King who is a Member of a false superstitious and corrupted Church Thou that abborrest Idols dost thou commit Sacriledge So they should not commit any Injustice Wrong Sin or Evil. Thou that mak●st thy boast of the Law through breaking of the Law Dishonourest thou God for the Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you In this National Corruption there have been no less than five Laws of the second Table expresly violated as by Dishonouring of and Disobedience to Parents Committing of Murder Theft bearing False Witness Coveting and taking possession of anothers Inheritance who was greater than Naboth and his inferiour did it Again if the solemn Oath hath been despised and the Covenant broken whereof God alone is to judge and determine of both sides then as sure as God is which is as evident as the Heavens He created and we see or that he laid the Foundations of the Earth which we tread on so certainly will He recompence it upon their own Head Unless all this is prevented by true and unfeigned Repentance in order to which it is necessary not only to be sorry or secretly to bewail but further to undo the Fault as much as it can be And as God was dishonoured publickly in like manner to regain his Favour They should publickly acknowledge their Iniquity to their God that they have transgressed against him by forsaking his Ordinance despising his Oath and breaking his Covenant To speak after the manner of men That God should have repair for his hurt Majesty which they offended and despised and also have Glory given unto him by confessing their own shame for we must do as much to reconcile our selves to an offended God as the Great Ones of the Earth require from all that displease them And this is the true design and end of Confession Those Things done in Private may be there acknowledged but in other Things the acknowledgment should be altogether as Publick as the sin was according to Lev. 26. 40. Josh 7. 19. Ezra 10. 2 3 10 11. Mark 1. 5. Acts 19. 18. And where any thing hath been taken away from any man by False Accusation He is to be restored to it again and the very Truth of all Things to be brought out and to be known openly before the World It might be so ordered and consented unto That They have Deputies faithful couragious and learned to implead one another before the Great Council of the Nation and Witnesses examined upon Oath of both sides Which would be a more Christian and Rational way than to lead forth Armies to push at and gore one another like a Multitude of Bulls and Calves of the People Psal 68. 30. Man was born more naked and unarmed than those dull Creatures but they have found Instruments of Death to knock down and butcher