Selected quad for the lemma: judgement_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
judgement_n	according_a	law_n	time_n	1,531	5	3.5321	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89518	Vox turturis vel columba alba albionis=The voice of the turtle, or, Englands white dove in the deluge of division, the second time sent forth from Gods Arke, to prsent a peace-offering upon the altar of Jehovah Shalom. Humbly proposing that divine direction, which the God of Peace hath revealed in his word of truth, for determining differences by an holy ordinance of his owne institution, wherein himselfe is the sole judge, ... Shewing how by this divine way of Gods judgement, not onely the great differences here in church and state depending, may speedily and happily be determined with glory to God, honour to the King, and happinesse to the kingdomes, but also all the greatest controversies, both civill and sacred throughout Christendome may be composed, the effusion of blood prevented, many prophecies conducing to an universall peace fulfilled, the happy use of this holy ordinance made knowne, and the name of God thereby manifested, ... even among heathens. / Per E. M. Arm. Christi servorum minimo minorem.	Marbury, Edward, 1581-ca. 1655.	1647 (1647)	Wing M570; Thomason E518_4; ESTC R206163	81,199	64

VOX TURTURIS vel COLUMBA ALBA ALBIONIS THE VOICE OF THE TVRTLE OR ENGLANDS WHITE DOVE In the deluge of Division the second time sent forth from Gods Arke to present a Peace-offering upon the Altar of Jehovah Shalom Humbly proposing that divine direction which the God of Peace hath revealed in his Word of truth for determining Differences by an holy Ordinance of his owne Institution wherein himselfe is the sole Judge Proverbs 16.33 Prov. 18.18 Shewing how by this Divine way of Gods Judgement not onely the great differences here in Church and State depending may speedily and happily be determined with glory to God Honour to the King and happinesse to the Kingdomes but also all the greatest Controversies both Civil and Sacred throughout Christendome may be Composed the Effusion of Blood prevented Many Prophecies conducing to an universall Peace fulfilled the happy use of this holy Ordinance made knowne and the name of God thereby manifested and magnified among all Nations which by Cruelty and bloody Division is Blasphemed even among Heathens Per E.M. Arm. Christi servorum minimo minorem Should not a people enquire at their God to the Law and the Testimony if they speake not according to this word 't is because there is no light in them Isa 8.19 20. Hearken and give eare to me O my people for a Law shall proceed from me and I will bring forth my Judgement for the light of the people Isa 51.4 When I shall take a convenient time I will judge righteously the earth and all the Inhabitants thereof are dissolved but I will establish the pillars Psal 75.2.3 Per sortem Deus ipse in judicio sedet Sicut enim Deus per Jethronem consulait ut causis levioribus ab aliis judicibus dijudicatis difficiles Moysis Cognitioni reservaretur Sic Deus instituit ut quae nulla cujusquam ingenii vi perspicientia causa dignosci posset ad se per sortim judicium deferretur Cartw. in Proverbs 16.33 LONDON Printed for T.W. 1647. To the Gentle Judicious religious Reader The humble addresse of the harmlesse Dove THis Dove like that of Noah at the first sending forth found no rest for the sole of her foot no place for her peace-offering as in Mesech and the tents of Kedar whilest the Dove perswades and pleads for peace proposed and pressed an holy and happy way of peace the Serpent prevented and perverted the progresse therof and preparation was made for war She looked and laboured for peace but there was no good and for the time of healing but behold trouble Jer. 14.19 The Land remained like a glassie sea mingled with fire Rev. 15.2 Every field of our Albyon so called quasi Olbyon because happy and pleasant was become like that place called Armagedon 1 craftinesse of destruction as it is interpreted Rev. 16.16 The whole land over-spread with waters of Marah and Meribah of bitter strife bloody division Waters like the fountaines on which the third Angell poured out his Vials and they became blood like the rivers of Egypt which was their first plague all turned into bloud or like that Sea on which the second Angell poured his Vials of wrath so that it became as the bloud of a dead man and every living thing died therein Rev. 16.3.4 So deplorable was this deluge of deadly dissentions Exod. 7.20.21 that the Rod horse and his rider who had power to take peace from the earth and that they should kill one another c. Rev. 6.4 may be said to have run a race of ruine through this wretched Land and foure of those seven Angels which stood before God with seven trumpets might seeme to have sounded in these three sorrowfull Kingdomes Rev. 8. that seeming but a prophesie the performance whereof is manifested in our unhappy Calamities at the founding of the first of which Angels trumpet there followed haile and fire mingled with bloud which falling on the earth the third part of the trees and all green grasse was burnt up are not a third part of our trees our strong men our young men our provisions and fruits of the earth consumed The two staves of beauty and bonds are broken mentioned Zech. 11.7.10.11 the Bonds of unity and beauty of orderly government are broken and we may feare the breach of the staffe of bread comes marching towards us like Jehu furiously fearfully At the sounding of the second Angels Trumpet as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the Sea and part of the sea he came bloud and the third part of the living creatures which were in the sea died and the third part of the ships were destroyed In this mare mortuum and dead sea of dissentions 't is to be feared we have suffered shipwracke of at least the third part of our martiall men Munition and mony the three sinews of a State besides the decay of Trading and Merchandizing c. At the sounding of the third Angel there fell a great star from heaven burning as it were a lamp and it fell upon a third part of the rivers and fountains of waters and the name of the star was called Wormwood and the third part of the waters became wormwood and many men died of the waters because they were made bitter The Lord having permitted that grand Impostor the divell a dangerous deceiver from the beginning Lucifer in the shape of an Angell of light to mix wormwood with the fountaines of living waters the holy word of God Many men by the wormwood of mis-interpretation and gall of misapplication thereof have so imbittered those sweet and pleasant waters that they are to too many become aquae mortis destructive and deadly which in truth in themselves are the cleere Aquae vitae waters of life quickning and reviving the drooping dying soule At the sounding of the fourth Angel the third part of the Sun was smitten Christ the Sun of righteousnesse obscured by the pride and infidelity of men the third part of the Moon the Church and the third part of the Stars the Ministers and teachers so as the third part of them was darkened and the day was smitten that it shone not for a third part of it and the night likewise the light of the Gospell clouded by the night of blacke ignorance Alas I. om 4.1 2. how is the gold become dim how is the most fine gold changed the stones of the Sanctuary are poured out are scattered in every place in every corner of every street The sons of Zion comparable to fine gold how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers the worke of the hands of the potter The Prince the Peers the Priests all slandered and sleighted derided despised destroyed The whole Land is filled with bitternesse and made drunke with wormwood Lam. 3.15 Isa 51.19 20. The mighty have stumbled against the mighty and both are fallen together The whole body is sicke and the whole heart is heavy The Lord hath taken

Isa 42.10.11 12.44.23.25.29 27. Esa 59. Zech. 7.5 Almighty God at first revealed this holy and happy way to his own people only therefore David after he saith The lott is fallen unto me in a faire ground c. presently addeth I will blesse and praise the Lord who hath given me understanding to know and acknowledge so great mercies Isa 58.2 They seem to seeke me and delight to know my wayes as a Nation that did righteously and forsook not the ordinance of their God they aske of me ordinances of Justice they take delight to approach unto God c. 5 Cautions for Fasts that they be not performed singly and severally each side and party at severall times and for themselves severally and one against the other as hitherto it hath been which it may be feared hath caused God to with-hold his hand of mercy from us in regard we have without charity rather prayed for ruin then reconciliation one to another fasting for strife and debate to smite with the fist of cruelty having our hands defiled with blood God by his Prophet complaines of such fasts as also of the contemners of his Ordinance of Peace and Iustice Isa 58.2 our feet swift to shed bloud not knowing not willing to know the wayes of peace such fasts God hath not chosen with such sacrifices of bloud God is not well pleased Is 1.15 When ye spread forth your hands I will hide mine eyes from you yea when yee make many prayers I will not heare for your hands are full of bloud Your fasts feasts prayers praises Assemblies oblations sacrinces Sabbaths are all vain not valued but vilified not accepted not respected but rejected as hatefull detestable abominable Is 1.11 But our Fast must be an universall and unanimous Fast throughout the three Kingdomes joyning all in hearty prayer for the forgivenesse of the crying sins of the Kingdomes for the remission of the sins of each place and person therein and with single and sincere hearts forgiving each other forgetting all wrongs and renouncing all revenges even as God for Christs sake shall forgive us being members of one body whereof Christ is the head brethren in Christ God being the Father to whom alone belongeth revenge such sacrifice we may believe will prove acceptable In the second day that the like duties preaching praying and praising of God as on the first be performed religiously but Dove-like mourning and Bear-like roaring cannot well accord before the Lord We roar like Bears and mourne fore like Doves saith the Prophet Is 39.11 We look for judgement but there is none for salvation but it is far off Neither our praying fasting not preaching can prove acceptable in the sight of God the searcher of all hearts and tryer of reins unlesse the madness of our malicious minds be mitigated the hardnesse of our cruell hearts be mollified and the act of violence be out of our hands If we outwardly pretend to appear before God in the forme of Doves with a shew only of simplicity sorrow and innocence but in hearts be ravening Wolves stinging Serpents roaring Beares ready to teare and devour one another What fruit can fasting produce It is said 1 Chr. 10.13 14. of Saul that he died in his transgression which he committed against the Lord and his Word in that he asked not counsell of the Lord therefore he slew him and turned the Kingdome to David To put on the shew of a silly sheep the habit of a harm lesse Lamb yet inwardly to be subtill foxes and greeey wolves ready to supplant to worrey to r●●● to destroy one another cannot but make our fasts or other sacrifices rather detestable then delightfull rather abominable then acceptable this is not the fall that God hath chosen and we may justly feare that the Lord hath protracted our peace making with-held the happiness of union from us only for our Cain like cruelty bloudy-mindednesse to our brethren Our fasts have not found the hoped for fruit our prayers have not prevailed for Peace nor hath our preaching been prosperous in the purposes and thing whereunto it was sent and appointed In the Civill law all appeal is denied from the sentence of a Lott because it is the sentence of the Lord who hath no superiour That after the holy duties religiously performed to prevent revolting from the judgement which God shall give by Lotts and revenging private wrongs passed before between particular parties that all both Prince and people Commanders and Souldiers Pastors and Flocks unanimously joyn in Covenant with Almighty God willingly to submit to that judgement which God shall give by lotts without any repining repugnancy or resistance thereafter and really to remit all wrongs without retaining any malice or mentall reservation of revenge hereafter A judicio sortis appellari non potest Baldus Bartol Jason apud Go. 2. ad Taur Le. 38. Greg. Toloss appel l. 2. Hee shall call the heavens that hee may judge his people Psal 50.5 Call my Saints together unto me those that have made a covenant with me The heavens shall declare his righteousnesse for God is judge himselfe Nehem 10. A pattern for the Covenant Ezra 10.5 Exod. 19.5 6. If ye will keep my Covenant then shall ye be my chiefe treasure above all people and yee shall be unto me also a kingdome of priests and an holy Nation And whereas we have joyned in Covenant and association one side against the other even to the death and destruction one of another Now all make Covenant each with other una voce uno animo uno corde Altogether with heart tongues and hands in thoughts words and deeds to maintain and preserve the glory of God in the true Protestant Religion the honour of the King in his just rights and Prerogatives and the welfare of the State and Kingdome in the Lawes of the Land the Liberty and property of the Subject and priviledges of Parliaments according as Almighty God by this his judgement shall declare and decree to renew our league of brotherly love and Christian amity to live in love endeavouring by all possible meanes to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace all professing protesting and covenanting before Almighty God to defend and with their lives and estates to maintain Gods glory the Kings honour and the Kingdomes peace against revolters Jer. ●1 6 Proclaim all these words in the Cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem saying heare ye the words of this Covenant and do them v. 3. And say thou unto them thus saith the Lord God of Israel cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this Covenant 2 Chron. 15. When Israel had for a long time bin without God without a Priest and without the Law and there was no peace to him that went out or in but great vexations on all the inhabitants of the Countries Nation destoryed of Nation City of City and God did vex them with all adversity Asa their King

there prophecied to be performed by the Lords Judgement between the Nations Swords to be beaten into mattocks and speares into pruning hookes and no more fighting and in the preceding Prophece●●t it is shewed that God by Christs judgement shall restore the state and government of things to their right use and order What this Dove proposeth and presseth is no other then that the determination of the great differences depending between his Majestie and the Parliament might be referred to the Lords judgement by divine Lott being an holy way originally instituted by God himselfe to that peculiar end of ending Controversies as by Prov. 18.18 and many presidents in holy writ and the authority of Divines both ancient and moderns is plentifully proved Neither is there any other way revealed in Gods word whereby so apparent and immediate a judgement may be said to be given by God as by this way of the divine Lott And howsoever by reason of the ignorance of some who know not and therefore neither conceive nor consider the holinesse and happinesse of this divine way The infidelity of others who either doubting of the truth of Gods word or perhaps distrusting the justice of their owne cause dare not trust the judgement of God in the disposition of the Lott The arrogance and selfe conceited obstinacy of others who preferre their owne wisdomes counsells or wayes before the judgement Oracle and ordinance of God And because of the selfe-seeking ends of others who principally prosecuting those designes which conduce to their owne private purposes profits and preferments and so grow carelesse of promoting Gods glory and the Kingdomes peace but rather protract it Although I say by reason of these Remoraes this sacred Ordinance Judgement and Decree of God may want its due respect among the worldly wise as the best and most divine matters and ordinances which concerns Gods glory and the peoples good usually meet with strangest opposition the Devill and his agents labouring the prevention of all proceedings tending to that purpose yet the harmlesse Dove humbly desires that all true lovers of Gods glory the Kings honour● and the Kingdomes peace and happinesse would be pleased throughly to peruse this Treatise penned and published to no other end then the glory of God and peace of his people and seriously to consider the matters especially those Texts of holy truth therein contained and the happy effects which by the holy use of this sacred Ordinance may be produced and then doubtlesse they will confesse the use hereof in this Kingdomes case to be not onely convenient but necessary and to be prefer●ea before any way or meanes of humans designment in these seven severall respects 1. In respect of the glory of God which will hereby be more advanced not onely by committing of our doubtfull and difficult differences to his divine determination making and taking God for our onely Judge saying with Jehoshaphat and the men of Judah Wee know not what to doe but our eyes hearts and hands 2. Chron. 20.12 are towards thee but also by the just holy and happy Judgement which the Lord will give by his owne way of the divine Lott Whereas if peace be procured by humane powers and policies wee are apt to attribute most to the arme of flesh and sacrifice to our own nets and the Lords glory is too often layd aside as the Lord by his Prophet Jeremy complaines Wherefore say my people Jer. 1.31 we are Lords we will come no more to thee 2. All motters in difference both Sacred and Civill in Church and State will be setled according to the will of Jesus Christ himselfe being Judge which will be more pleasing to God profitable and satisfactory to men 3. The Kings Honour will be preserved and his mind better satisfied being wonn by divine judgement willingly to consent not forcibly by Conquest and compulsion constrained to passe or signe Propositions 4. His Majesty will be more cleerely satisfied touching his just Rights and Prerogatives being assured that the King of Kings who is the primitive of all Principalities by whom and from whom all powers are ordained and derived knowing what is justly due to Princes will give to Caesar the things that are Caesars as to God the things that are Gods And as concerning that party of the Nobility Gentry and Comminalty which adhered to his Majesty in these unhappy warres their punishments both pecuniary and corporall touching their lives liberties and estates Deut. 17.8.9.15 Gods judgement by Lott will take off all aspersion of cruelty and oppression Num. 15.34.35 Levit. 24.12 being left to Divine disposition rather then humane designement will be a way more phasing to God and more mercifull pions and satisfactory in the sight of men To this purpose you may please to peruse the 2 Chron. 28. in a case of the like nature between Judah and Israel where the Prophet Oded presseth for fraternall pitty and mercy to be shewed to the conquered brethren And Num. 25.34 The man that gathered sticks on the Sabbath day and the sonne of the Israelitish woman that blasphemed being convicted of their crimes were not put to death untill Moyses had inquired of God and received commission from the great Judge of the world for their execution 5. All future ●ewdes malice and resolutions of revenge which might remaine among Families in generations to come will be much mitigated if not cleans remitted when the desposition of the Lord shall be discorned in dispatch of the differences 6. All Vowes Covenants and Oathes made by either party in any matter of opposition one against the other may by Gods judgement declaring the illegality of the matter sworns to be performed be made voide and not binding which by no humane Lawes of dispensation could be discharged freed or made disobliging to the 〈◊〉 of the Covenanters c. 7. Division and Effusion of Blood detestable to God damnable among men To the Devill and his disciples onely delightfull will bee prevented and avoided 〈◊〉 mindes touching all doubtfull and difficult differences more cleerly convinced resolved and satisfied by Gods owne immediate judgement against which no honest godly Christian will presume to murmure dispute or oppose And a pious prosperous s●●● firme lasting found and well-grounded Peace with Truth by the Prince of Peace who is our Peace truly and perfectly established Which that the God of Peace by his blessed Sonne on whose shoulders he hath set the government of Peace with the assistance of his blessed Spirit of Peace who is onely able may please speedily to performe heartily prayeth the unworthiest of Gods servants who is humbly Thine also in Christ Jesus E.M. The Contents of the ensuing Treatise CHAPTER I. OF the severall acceptations and derivation of the word Lott of the division and distinctions of the severall sorts of Lots And of the definitions and descriptions of Lotts but especially the Divine Lott which is intended for the Subject of this Discourse CHAP. II.

happy The Apostles persisted in the ancient custome of the Church under the Law in difficult cases to cast Lots Maier in act 1.2.26 for they had no figne which of the two proposed was most worthy and therefore left the Election to the Lord. Neither was their Lott in vaine for if lots being cast in Jonah by common ignoble and heathenish persons had the due effect much more by the Apostles preparing to it by prayes invocation of the Lord. Election by Lot Gods judgement Calvin in Act. 1. As there is an abuse so there is a good use of Lots as by the Apostles practise appeareth The corruption of the abusers doth no more vitiate nor vilifie this sacred Ordinance then the adulterate vanity of the Caldees genuine Astrologie or an hereticall Reader the holy Scripture an ungodly preacher the word of God or an unworthy receiver the Eucharish In this Election we may discerne the conveniency and necessity of Gods judgement by lot in case of difficulty by the Apostles care and piety to wait on God Commit a doubtfull case to Gods determination in the way prescribed in his Word Inquire of God addresse themselves to the Law and the testimony not presumptuously rely on their own judgement though doubtlesse they might with much more safety then any of the most sanctified of these times but go to god in his own way wherby they gave him the glory and the good redounded to themselves For whereas as Mayer saith they seemed to esteeme more of Ioseph then Matthias as naming him first and givin him two names of excellent signification Barsabas the sonne of rest sirnamed Iustus signifying his singular honesty yet God contrary to their opinion preferreth Matthias and leaveth Ioseph Thereby teaching them and us not to glory in the estimation of men but study to be approved of God and in our opinion and acceptance of others not to give too much way to our owne wilfull partiall humour by neglecting the one party and respecting too much the other but rather in a case of doubtfull difficulty to leave the judgement to the Lord by lot lest we should seeme to sleight Gods judgement or to fight against God in preferring our owne wills before his which naturally all men incline unto being partially affected to their owne desires and designes which are weake and wretched and whose hearts are deceitfull above all things rather then to submit to the Lords wisdome which cannot be deceived and who seeth not as man seeth but giveth to every one what is justly due To Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are Gods Seeing then Lotts in generall are Gods ordinance and have been used by the holiest and best of Gods servants with such good successe the use of them under the old Testament ought not so to prejudice the use of them now as that it should be counted an imperfection in these dayes to cast lots upon any just occasion which tends to Gods glory in setling peace and unity among his people then which nothing is more pleasing to God seeing none will affirme that whatsoever was in use then is an imperfection now especially of matters morall which all Divines hold to be perpetuall and none can deny the Proverbs of Salomon to be sound canonicall morall Divinity And this Augustine also acknowledgeth where he confesseth Lots upon Ministers to be lawfull August Epist 119. c. 20.180 Conc. 2. ad Doct. Christis 28. especially in the time of persecution if it be disputed amongst them who shall tarry that the Church may not be lest desolate or they being slaine it is by Lot to be decided who shall supply the place And with him consents Gregory 1 Reg. 14. and Origen Nom. 23. in Jos It followeth in the next place that something be said touching the persons places times manners cases occasions who where how and when Lots have been used and are still in use a briefe collection whereof in the insuing chapter appeareth CHAP. II. IT was the opinion of Origen and others of the learned Fathers grounded on the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuagints translation of Deut 32.8 and other places of Scripture that Lots were not only used among men on earth but even by the Lord himselfe among the celestiall powers and Angels in heaven who had their severall places and charges assigned to them by Lot who should rule this or that Province Dan. 10.31 who tend this or that person Mat. 18 10. Acts 12.15 who govern this or that Church Rev. 1.20 Quod ita gestum esse non solum in terris arbitror verumque etiam in coelestibus hujusmodi sortem quae apud Deum distinguitur etiam illo tempore habitam cum divideret constitueret excelsus gentes disseminaret filios Adam constitu●rit fi●es g●●tium secundùm 〈…〉 lorum Dei Which thing was not usuall upon earth alone but in heaven also with God himselfe who allotted to the Angels according to their severall excellencies the tuition of the Nations of the earth at what time they were disposed of into their severall territories Origen in Jesu Nave cap. 18. 〈◊〉 23. Ambrosan Luc. c. 1. summus sacerdos adhac sorte quaeritur The high Priest is elected by Lot St. Ambrose also upon the first of Luke and many not of former times only but of later dayes also and those of good esteeme and note affirme that the high Priest in the old Testament was elected by Lot Beda in Act. c. 1. Alexan. de Ales s●● part 2. q. 185. in 4 Tom. de sort c. 2. Cajotan in Luc. c. 1. Bulling in Act. c. 1 Perkins aurea armill c. 22. Schindl Lexlc Pontaglot Luc. 1.9 The Hebrews saith Mayer on the first of the Acts v. 26. were wont to begin no weighty businesse but having first consulted with the Lord and the Bible by Lot By whom where in what cases and upon what occasion Lots have been used and where they are still in use is the next point considerable The Apostles of Christ parted among themselves as Prochorus writeth the whole world to preach and plant the Gospell in Proch hist Joan. c. 1. And in like manner the 72. Disciples which of them should accompany and attend on each Apostle as the Levites did on the Priests and Johns lot light for Asia and Prochorus his Lot for to attend on John And in the Jewish Church for the more ready and orderly performance of Sacred offices the divisions thereof were made among them by Lot where the whole body of the tribe of Levi was sorted into ranks 1 Chron. 25.8.9 first the Priests all divided into twenty foure Companies according to their Families which took their courses by turnes every weeke after weeke in order the order of their courses being determined by lott to take away all murmuring that none might complaine as being lesse regarded and cast behind others And accordingly the Levites were

of the Lord a Judgement Sentence Decree Acts 17. God hath appointed a day in which he will judge c. Jer. 33.14.15 Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will perform the good thing which I have promised c. I wil cause the branch of righteousnesse to grow up he shall execute judgement righteousnesse c. At that day a man shall look to his Maker and his eyes to the holy one of Israel and not to the Altar the workes of his hands or fancies of his own braines c. Isa 17.7 Acts 17.31 Jer. 25.15 16. Blood purged out of the mids of Jerusalem as the Lord promised Is 4.4 Isa 43.7 Jer. 31.19 It shall be to me a name a joy a praise and an honour before all the Nations of the earth Statute Law and Ordinance of the Lord wherby Christ Jesus may gaine glory to himselfe from all Nations of the earth by making them one flock under one Shepheard by the way of his owne judgement bringing Jewes and Gentiles Christians and Turks Heathens and Infidels to be of the same sheepfold under his government as by this Prophecy may be intended If Christ shall not faile till he have set Judgement on the earth Psal 94.15 Isa 42.4 viz. set all things in good order The whole earth for the most part especially Christendome being at this time in terrible tumultuous turmoiles combustions and bloody contentions concerning Religion and other matters of civill government Doubtlesse it may be a blessed fulfilling of this Prophecy if all the differences both concerning Church and State being truly stated were referred to the judgement and resolution of the Lord himselfe by this way of his owne prescription By this meanes the barbarous way of warre the heaviest of Gods judgements more fit for heathenish brutish people then Christians would be avoided effusion of bloud prevented and the glory given to the Lord alone to whom it is onely and justly due and for which end God made man and so the name of God being spread ever the face of the earth All Nations might be taught it and brought to the use of this blessed way of Reconciliation To difpise or neglect this way of the Lord and goe the way of cruelty and violence the way of the Sword is to change the Judgements of the Lord into wickednesse and to refuse and contemne the Judgements and Statutes of the Lord as the Lord by his Prophet complaines Ezek 5.5 6 7. Surely the way of Cain like cruelty Bloudy butchering of our Brethren can be no way acceptable but rather detestable to the God of Peace no satisfactory way of Judgement to the consciences of men no sound foundation whereon to settle Reformation or build the Church of Christ The judgement of Christ in this way of divine Lott will appeare more consonant to the Word and will of God more Pious and prosperous among men If we seriously consider these ensuing Prophecies Isa 9.5 6 7. Surely every battell of the warriour is with noise and with tumbling of Garments in blood but this shall be with burning and fuell of fire For unto us a Child is borne a Sonne is given the government is upon his shoulder and be shall call his name wonderfull Counseller c. the Prince of Peace The increase of his Government and Peace shall have none and Hee shall sit upon the Throne and kingdome of David to order and stablish it with Judgement and Iustice. Jer. 23.5 6. Jer. 33.14 Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch and a King shall raigne and prosper and shall execute judgement and justice in the earth In his day Judah shall be saved and Israel dwell safely and this is the Name whereby they shall call him the Lord our righteousnesse In cases of difficulty and difference the Prince of peace the wonderfull Counseller the true King of the Israel of God may well be a more competent and covenient Judge then the bloody Sword which though victorious yet cannot by its Conquest so convince the minds consciences of men as therby to invest the Conquerour with a true right and just title to things therby obtained Peace amity unity how pious how pretious how prosperous among Brethren both Gods Testaments are a plentifull testimony and if no Text to prove it might be produced yet the wofull experience of the want thereof would sufficiently confirme it But if jarres divisions dissentions dangerous doubtfull difficult arise as offences will and doe come why should not the determination thereof be referred to the judgement of Justice it selfe If the rod of Pride bud and spread and cause and raise contentions among the ambitious sonnes of men Then shall the bud of the Lord be beautifull and glorious Isa 11.1 And there shall come a rod out of the stock of Ishai on whom shall rest the Spirit of the Lord the spirit of wisdome and understanding of counsell and strength of knowledge c. And he shall judge but how not after the manner of men after the sight of his eyes or hearing of his eares But with righteousnesse and equity shall he judge the poore and meeke of the earth and hee shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth c. Isa 2.11 to the end The haughtinesse of men shall bee humbled Isa 11.1 the loftinesse of men shall be abased and the Lord onely shall be exalted in that day Cease yee from man whose breath is in his nostrills for wherein is hee to be esteemed Isa 3.13 14. The Lord standeth up to plead yea he standeth up to judge the people The Lord shall enter into judgement with the ancients of his people Isa 4.2 And what shall bee the fruits of his Judgement why Justice being the girdle of his loynes c. The wolfe shall dwell with the lambe the leopard ly down with the kid the calfe the lyon and fat beasts shall rest together and a little child shall lead them c. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all his holy mountaine his Church for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord c. Jer. 31.34 Blessed fruits of a more blessed stocke When the Lord shall wash the fi●●hinesse of the daughters of Zion and purge the bloud of Jerusalem out of the middest thereof by the spirit of judgement Isa 4.4 That Israel may be glad and the daughters of Judah rejoyce because of Gods righteous judgements Jer. 23.5 6. ●3 14.15 So shall the heathen feare when the Lord shall build up Zion and shall appeare in his glory vid. Zech. 4.6.6 12 13.15.8.21 Jer. 33.9 Psa 165.12 cause his power to be knowne to the sonnes of men c. If a bitter root bearing wormwood and gall shall be found among you to whom will ye seeke for health and helpe why in that day the root of Ishai shall stand up for a signe unto the people and the Nations shall seeke