upon the King See what the rationall Scotch-man speaks to this purpose and if he speakes not truth beleeve him not he proves by various arguments that the King is under the La◠as King amongst which arguments one is this Lex Rex pag. 183 c. Else the Lord in making a King to preserve his people should give liberty without all Politick restraint for one man to destory many which is contrary to Gods end in the Fifth Commandement if one man have absolute power to destroy soules and bodies of many thousands Againe That the King should be under one Law of God to be executed by men viz. the Guardian Law of property and not under another Law Royallists are to shew a difference from Gods Word Deut. 17.20 The King on the Throne remaineth a Brother Psal 22.22 and so the Judges or three Estates are not to accept of the Person of the King for his greatnesse in Judgement Deut. 1.16 17. and the Judge is to give out such a sentence in Judgement as the Lord with whom there is no iniquity Pag. 235. c. Againe pag. 235. If God have provided that the King who is a part of the Common-wealth shall be free of all punishment though he be an habituall destroyer of the whole Kingdome seeing God hath given him to be a Father Tutor Saviour Defender thereof and destinated him as a meanes for its safety then must God have worse not better provided for the safety of the whole then of the part Againe if all the sins and oppressions of the Prince be so above the punishments that men can inflict they are not sins before men by which meanes the King is loofed from all guiltinesse of the sins against the second Table for the Ratio formalis why c. And lastly the Prelate taketh it for confessed saith our Author that it had bin Treason in the Santiedrin and States of Israel to have taken on them to judge and punish David for his Adultery Pag. 241. and for his Murther but he giveth no reason for this nor any Word of God and truly though I wil not presume to goe before others in this Gods Law Gen. 9.5 compared with Numb 35.30 31. seemeth to say against them nor can I think that Gods Law or his Deputies the Judges are to accept the persons of the great because they are great 2 Chron. 19.6 7. and we say we cannot distinguish where the Law distinguisheth not the Lord speaketh to under Judges Levit. 19.15 Thou shalt not respect the person of the poore nor honour the person of the mighty or of the Prince for we know what these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mean I grant it is not Gods meaning that the King should draw the Sword against himselfe but yet it followes not that if we speake of the DEMERIT OF BLOOD that the Law of God accepteth any Judge great or small and if the Estate be above the King as I conceive they are though it be an humane Politick constitution that the King be free of all co-action of Law because it conduceth for the peace of that Common-wealth yet if we make a matter of Conscience for my part I see no exception that God maketh if men make I crave leave to say A facto ad jus non sequitur thus far that honest publique Advocate We see all Scotch-men are not of the bloud Royall and when we heare this mans reasons Junius Brutus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I. M. senure of King c. and those which other men have brought against exempting the King from the Co-action of the Law answered we shall then thinke men have some cause and ground for their hainous resentment of the proceedings against the late King and for that great stirre they make in the world about them But suppose say they the King notwithstanding his place to be liable to capitall punishment by the Parliament it remaines to be clearly prov'd that they who did it were qualified with that power Ans We must conceive plowing with their owne Heifer that by that power they meane Parliamentary power and this is the power that they who did it were chosen to and enabled to act till they dissolved themselves that they are essentially Judges and so men competent and quallified to doe Justice is solidly asserted and demonstrated by the above-cited strenuous Author Lex Rex and though the House hath been dismembred for that we know these Ministers hint at taking the excluders for Presbyterian when indeed they were royall Martyrs though it be not so full and formall a power as we could wish yet we say againe an injury takes not away a right the remnant of them after the seclusion of some and the defection of others farre exceeding that number which by Law as we are informed makes an house and till they unhouse themselves retaine that authority to which they were elected supposing the proceedings were in some respect extraordinary yet here againe the Scotch-man who ecchoes well in Lancashire will helpe us out Elias causeth to kill the Prophets and Priests of Ball saith he 1 King 18.19 according to Gods expresse Law t is true it was extraordinary but no otherwise extraordinary then it is at this day when the supreame Magistrate will not execute the Judgement of the Lord those who made him a supreame Magistrate under God who have under God Soveraigne liberty to dispose of Crownes and Kingdomes are to execute the JVDGEMENT OF THE LORD when wicked men make the Law of God of none effect so Samuel Killed Agag whom the Lord commanded expresly to be killed because Saul disobeyed the voyce of the Lord 1 Sam. 15.32 But in the last place if this be made to appeare say the Ministers yet by vertue of religious Oathes and Vowes which have been taken we conceive the King ought to have been exempred from that proceeding Ans It was the Kings choyce ‖ See his answer to the Pet. of Right Maxime that he owed account of his actions to none but God and these men swallow it roundly of late but this Prerogative being destructive to the end of Magistracy and rendring it an inconceiveable discommode considering the corruption and temptations of great ones rather then an advantage to any people is absolutely incompatible in its owne nature to any mans person though in supreame trust this being cleare the supervention of Oathes for the preserving his person alters not the case if any such Oath or Vow be lawfull we conceive it must be conditionall since the declared minde and Lawes of God are the boundaries which men may not step beyond In priviledging their Kings if they lift them up by Oath higher then they ought to doe or invest them with impunity whatever their demerits and mis deserts may be even by destroying the Nation habitually the matter of that Oath we doe insist is res illicita and so it falls a peeces
THE Northern Subscribers Plea Vindicated FROM The Exceptions laid against it by the Non-subscribing Ministers of Lancashire and Cheshire AND REINFORCED By J. DREW ACT. 5.38 39. If this Counsell or if this Worke be of men it will come to nought but if it be of God yee cannot overthrow it least happily ye bee found even to fight against God GAL. 2.18 If I build again the things which I destroyed I make my self a transgressour Dic quibus in terris eris mihi magnus Apollo Nascantur flores inscripti nomina Regum Virg. Eclog. Published according to Order LONDON Printed by R.I. to be sold by John Wright at the Kings head in the Old Bayley MDCLI ERRATA BEsides some litterall Errours and false pointings in these Sheets Page 2. line 2. read by these l. 22. r. have Pag. 3. l. 4. r flowing Pag. 4. l. 12. r. pouring Pag. 6. l. 15. put out some Pag. 7. l. 13. r. as to the meanes c. pag. 15. l. 7. put out or a naturall existence Pag. 19. l. 15. r. exultations l. 19. r. ejulation Pag. 20. l 18. put out they have l. 33. r. notifie l. 38. r. prepossessions Pag. 29. l. 24. r. What they non-will they never understand Pag. 30. l. 22. r. dispossessed power l. 35. r. charge Pag. 32. l. 5. r. our Pag. 44. l. 19. for vainely r. unjustly Pag. 54. l. 29. for nothing r. not King Pag. 59. l. 1. put out not Pag. 67. l. 26. r. falling out TO THE Truly Religious and publique-spirited Patriot Sir James Harington Knight A Member of PARLIAMENT and of the Councell of STATE 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Honoured Sir IT might be judged my folly should I here take upon me to informe you My forgetfulnesse if I should mind you that it is the commendation of those starres fixt in the Heavens of the Nations in the most anomalous times to know no Eccentricks nor any motion but what is direct As the fining pot for silver Prov. 17.21 and the furnace for gold so is a man to his praise To be upright in a warping Generation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 2.15 Numb 4.24 and to follow the Lord wholly argues that nature and spirit in the subject which act 's few of Adams children and indulgeth no compliance with those interests which draw men aside from serving the counsell of God in difficult and criticall seasons There is an houre of temptation now come upon the world to try them that dwell upon the earth and what with the divine providences really disserving the ends of some men and the pretences of others to conscientious dissatisfactions such a number have shrunk from their high callings Psal 90.17 that could not the mighty God do his own work by a few as well as by many wee might sit down and dispaire the establishing what by his presence for many years with our counsels and Armies hee had in mercy wrought for us 1 Sam. 12 22. but the Lord will not forsake his people for his great names sake because it hath pleased him to make them his people Sir That this God would continue you among the rest of his called and chosen and faithfull Ones a blessing to this poore Nation that hee would make you an honour to your honourable family and accepted of the multitude of your Brethren Esth 10.3 as hee who sought the wealth of his people and spake peace to all his seed that hee would perfect your joy and crown and enable you to stand compleat in all his will that an entrance may be ministred to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is that which he strives for at the Throne of Grace who is Sir Your servant indeed J. DREW The Northerne Subscribers Plea re-inforc'd THese Conscientious Non-subscribers who in the Title Page of their Plea beare the World in hand that they much desire satisfaction and in the entry of their Appendix seeme to be very eager of it by pointing out an expedite way to those who may please to undertake the businesse That it may yet further appeare it was not a desire to contend but a care to proceed upon a cleare ground which put them to a stand about the Engagement yet these very men tell us betwixt their * Fronti nulla fides Juv. Title and the Appendix viz. Pag. 68. That now it would be construable those courses even all endeavours after their satisfaction are held to defend themselves who are pre-engaged and to decoy others into the same trap with them rather then to satisfie Conscience dashing downe at once by this profession of their thoughts all their pretences to satisfaction as men resolved to fasten the designe of deceiving as an odious Vizzard upon the most brotherly and Christian intendments and essayes that can be drawne from any man to that end like those Prisoners who passionately desiring a release yet out of a sullen or a jealous temper doe avowedly interpret every mans endeavour to that purpose as a designe upon them to make them greater slaves Prepossession is a very tough and intractable humor and Apologies sometimes harden and inrage the persecutors of innocency Why what evill hath he done saith Pilate and they cryed out the more exceedingly crucifie him Mark 15.14 Now although upon this account it may be thought too late or to little purpose to emit any Plea for the satisfaction of dissenting Consciences in point of submission to the powers in being over us yet that we may not be wanting to our owne Consciences or the submitting Consciences of our friends in justifying their submission as conscionable indeed we thinke our selves bound to take the weight of those exceptions laid against our Plea by those Classicall Authors as turning the ballance clearly in their esteeme against that obedience which we contended for as due from us to the present Authority we then profest not to undertake the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Athan satisfying of Consciences Pag. 13. our end was to acquit our selves from the imputations of time-serving and ‖ Nil-bonum nisi quod rationabiliter bonum Jo. 13.17 blinde obedience in owning or taking part with those few heads and stayes of our Tribes kept together by the Providence of God for our support in this strait of time those few graines not ‖ Amos 9.9 fallen to the earth in this season of our Nations sifting that it might not be presumed or concluded as commonly it useth to be that there is little conscience in any saving in those who put themselves on the suffering side seeing men generally at a losse we made search after our duties and then made * Intellecta licet pro re pro tempore fari Mant. knowne to the world that we found upon search to have influence on our Consciences how farre these undertaker◠have weakned our Plea as to its essentials who thinke they have driven conscience and reason
out of every line of it scarce leaving one ragge to cover the Subscribers nakednesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 5.14 after examination we shall cheerfully submit to the judgements of all those who by reason of use leave their sences exercised to discerne both good and evill sometimes we are charged as senslesse other times as religionlesse but to us it is a very ‖ 1 Cor. 4.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Synes small thing that we should be judged of mans judgement we must stand or fall to another Master if we beare not the same respect and conscience to the truth in this our defence which these Ministers pretend to in making up their judgement against us and if we labour not to approve our hearts and waies to God in our present obedience to the Powers that be Job 11.11 as much as others doe in dis-obliging themselves at this season he who is the discerner of all hearts shall not he judge and he who knowes vaine man shall not be consider it We shall begin our reply where their first exceptions are commenc'd and that is against our first Argument here we must take notice of what they grant which is our Argument in terminis and what they deny which is our sence of it they grant the being of these present Powers over us from God and the proposition likewise upon which this is built viz. That all constitutions of Government have their making and marring their standing and falling from God This they say proves our assertion in a right acceptation but not in that sence which serves for our turne Therefore they distinguish betwixt events following from Gods decree concourse or providence and those events which are authorized and approved of by God we receive the distinction and if it be made appeare that both those senses or distinct notions of events are at the service of our assertion then our turnes shall surely be served but the latter sence say they concerns your purpose therefore our assertion shal proceed in these termes That the powers in being are from God by way of Authorization or that he approves their being over us that the Lord appropriates changes of Government and Governours to himselfe we proved in our Plea from these Scriptures Ezek. 21.27 Zech. 11.8 Hos 13.11 And Acts 13.20 21 22. which these Gentlemen are content to wave as impertinent to what we should prove But Sirs if you be content that the Lord should approve of what he appropriates to himselfe they serve clearly for the proofe of our proposition formed to your own sence and evince the being of our Authority over us by way of Authorization from God if the Lord commands the diadem off mens heads removes the Crowne sets up or exalts him that is low and abases him that is high if he cuts off those who were given for Shepheards gives his people Judges raiseth them up Kings grant that he never intitles himselfe to the thing hee dis-owns and then all these things are from him by way of Authorization when God saith I exalt this man shall wee say he approves not of his exaltation Jer. 27.6 7. I have given all these lands into the hands of Nebuchadnezzer and all Nations shall serve him saith the Lord. I but it is unlawful to serve him saies man for God doth not approve of this his gift doth not warrant this mans Authority as a divine Ordinance thus man becomes more wise and jealous then the holy one his Maker Well to our case then the swaying powers amongst us are they of Gods lifting up or no has he given the Kingdom into their hands or may they say our own hands and power has gotten us this greatnesse and laid the foundation of this eminency not the latter The holy one will have the living to know that the most high ruleth in the Kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he pleaseth and setteth up over it the basest of men Dan. 4.17 If the Lord himselfe hath raised them up we dare not thinke but he approves his own act they tell us that God may be intitled to their power as it is a * Pag. 2. and 8. natural force or inergy or in respect of its metaphysical existence and no otherwise but we take Majesteriall power or dominion to be a thing of a clear distinct nature and consideration from Physical Energy and so we beleeve do the Ministers of Lancashire too Dominion is a judicial power or ‖ Jus imperandi Psa 72.8 Gen 1.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 jus et dominium ac aeuthoritatem denotat c. Mercer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Chrys in Gen. 1. jus in creaturas Deus homini dedit stitit illas coram homine ut sisti solēt subditi corà m novo principe inaugurando et accipiendis mandatis ejus atque 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suit figonum dominii et imperii Polan Syntag. li. 5. ca. 35. the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speaks no lesse See Gen. 42.6 with Psal 105.22 144.13 Dan. 7.27 Eceles 9.19 Psal 8.6 morall right to rule the Lord in translating Throns and Scepters shifting principalities from hand to hand and poureth supremacy from vessel to vessell he does more surely then give men a naturall power to grow great this he communicates as the Author of nature but as that God whose Kingdome ruleth over all he disposeth of Dominions modells and breakes againe frames of Government and stil continues his Ordinance amongst the sons of men When God as sovereign of the world lifted up Nebuchadnezzar over Judah he did not only enable him with power to conquer that people but gave him a right of Dominion and rule likewise we cannot perswade our selves that he would have commanded the remnant of his people of serve him or have promised that it should be well with those that did serve him if it had been otherwise besides this Nebuchadnezzar made Zedekiah Jehojachins Uncle King in his stead 2 King 14.17 which delegation stood approved as his act who had royal power * Nil dat quod non habet to give for when Zedekiah endeavoured to shake off Nebuchadnezzars supremacy the Holy Ghost stiles it a Rebellion against that King and Ezek. 17.16 the Lord threatens him severely for it as I live saith the Lord God Vers 20 surely in the place where the King dwelleth that made him King whose Oath he despised and whose Covenant hee brake even with him in the midest of Babylon he shall dye So that God ownes the making men Rulers as well as the raising of them from the dust 1 King 16.2 this was his word to Baasha I have made thee Prince or Ruler as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is rendred 2 Sam. 7.8 1 Chron. 5.2 over my people Israel and this is that we contend for touching our present Powers their right inforo humano to rule cannot be lesse then Baashaes was yet he is registred for
the supposition may passe would he thinke himselfe fairely dealt with all if some wilde Antinomian should charge him with teaching that those whom God saves he saves them because they are doers or for their deeds We doubt he would hardly bear such a mis-construction or indulge the liberty of such an interpretation as this so we say the prevailing Party layes claime to Gods approbation in the contests about Government among the Sons of men but will it thence follow that we hold God approves them because they prevaile surely he may doe it upon another account but whatever that be their prevailency may beare witnesse that he does owne them Pro hic nunc whatever the ends be that his holy will makes use of those powers for we make God the great Arbiter in all Quarrels and prevailency in contests of this nature shewes us for whom he Arbitrates 1 Chro. 5.2 Judah prevailed (a) Hence comes Gibbor Nimrods stile that mighty Hunter Gen. 10.8.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was strong above his Brethren and of him came the chiefe Rulers but the birth-right was Iosephs the least that we can give to Iudah's prevailency is this to attest the Lords designement of that Tribe to beare rule and his actuall disposition of authority to it and wil it now follow 1 That we make force the infallible umpire betwixt Parties claiming interest in the constitution of Government or 2 That the same Government and cause without any alteration of its institution and demeanour may lay claime to divine approbation as its strength varieth That Absolons and Zimries authority were good before God during the time of their prevailence Sirs those instances are not of cases Arbitrated but in Arbitration David had then a considerable Army when he fled from his Sonne with which the Lord of Hosts pleaded his cause against that rebellious Absolon in the day of Battell so when Zimries wickednesse was heard of it presently came to umpeirage all Israel made Omri the Captaine of the Host King over Israel THAT DAY in the camp 1 King 16.16 and when upon the death of Zimri the people were divided into two parts 't is said the people that followed Omri PREVAILED against the people that followed Tibui the Sonne of Ginah so Tibui dyed and OMRI REIGNED ver 22. I wonder what witnesse we have of the Divine Authorization of many that were Kings over Israel setting aside theirs and the peoples prevailency that cleaved to them it wil be easily granted that Menahem Pekah and Hosea 〈◊〉 Kings over Israel and reigned till God cut them off for their abominations but how came they to be Kings what Titles had they how neare of kin to the Scepter the text tels us they were Captaines of the Host men of power and we say God disposed of the Kingdome into their hands but how will this be proved why they prevailed upon what score or to what purpose the Lord owned them we are unworthy to know but owne them he did as Kings and his people owned them too upon their prevailency this was the needle that drew after it the thread of Allegiance The like we say touching Jerobohams and Omri's Enthronment these dissenters acknowledge that Jerobohams reigning over the Ten Tribes was from God only they say that the businesse betwixt them and the Two Tribes adhering to Rehoboham was not debated by the Sword and so the two Tribes were not the worsted and over-borne party As if there could be no worsting or prevailency unlesse it be by the sword 1 Kings 12.22 23. True God tooke up that difference by the mouth of his Prophet he is not tyed to manifest his approvall onely one way this takes nothing therefore from our assertion touching prevailency it may be a testimony of Gods good pleasure in every contest about the disposall of power where he interposeth not more immediately notwithstanding this Concerning Omri they tell us that Gods not approving him and the people is but a slender argument that he approved their actions God sometimes will not suffer his Prophets to be reprovers Answ 1. Why then do these men take such paines to bend severall Texts in Hosea and Micah to a reproofe of them such Texts too as will then suit their purpose when the councells of the house of Ahab and the Statutes of Omri are proved to be the powers of Ahab and Omri the submission of Gods Prophets to Ahab and so many of Gods people to Omri would hardly have been gained if this had been to walk in the Statutes of Omri Micah 6.16 and to keep the councells and works of the house of Ahab 2 Those sinnes in the Kings of Israel which were of such a reach and influence upon the people under them as to involve the whole Nation in a miserable guilt never as we know of escaped reproofe the sins of Ahab Ahaz Jeroboham and Manasseth that were of this impliâ—ancy came all under the lash yea the sinnes of Omri too 1 King 16.26 yet he is not reproved for usurpation though by their principles it involves every one in his sinne who submitted to his power 3 T is the abuse of Gods patience and that line upon line he has given them which causeth him to stop his prophets mouthes I will make thy tongue cleave to the roofe of thy mouth that thou shalt be dumb and shall not be to them a man reproving for they are a rebellious house Ezek. 3.26 this sin these Ministers lay not to the charge of the people who chose Omri for their King as we can see In the close of their exceptions against our first medium though they thinke they have us fast enough yet they complaine they know not where to hold us we doe so contradict and thwart our selves here only say they we wish them to consider if the superinduction of a power against the wills of many yea of most men which in our plea we justifie be not a selfe-contradiction in reflexion upon that position of theirs viz. Frames of Government are by God resolved into peoples wills And in answer hereto we wish them to consider that this contradiction vanisheth as easily as the former if the case prove ever such as that the will of the most people happen not to be the prevailing will it will be hardly proved that that halfe of the people which made Omri King were the greater halfe though they were the prevailing halfe thus we see this other contradiction falls into accord without any helpe from Sancta clara or Scotus de duno And now having sufficiently as it should seeme broken the bones of our first argument brought to prove the being of these present powers over us from God they proceed to give their sence on our second taken from Rom. 13.2 and then discant upon it First they tell us if the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here used for Divine Ordination bee any where used for the Lords Ordination of a power which
hath lifted them up as wel as cast them downe here are many of Sions complaints and lamentations gathered together and it were easie for us to collect as large a bundle of her Hymns Hallelujahs and triumphant Exaltations when God has given her the necks of her enemies to tread upon but these gleanings on either hand only shew how and in what manner God dealt with his people at such and such seasons Heb. 3.1 calling them to Songs upon Sigionoth sometimes to rejoycing sometimes to ejaculation they only prove that it has been thus from the beginning but are not standing or perpetuall rules of Divine administrations towards the godly nor prove that it shall be so unto the end if we looke upon those gracious promises drawing to the birth in these latter dayes we may conclude Zion shall be comforted according to the times wherein she has knowne adversity and that she shall not be troden under foot still of the wicked so that prevailency and outward illustriousnesse though Characters of the wicked race till their day be done shall Characterize the Generation of the just when their day begins and the acceptable yeare is proclaimed The Sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee saith the Lord and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves downe at the soles of thy feet and they shall call thee the City of the Lord the Zion of the holy one of Israel whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated so that no man went through thee I will make thee an eternall Excellency a joy of many Generations Isa 60.14 15. And it shall come to passe in the last dayes that the mountaine of the Lords House shall be established upon the top of the mountaines and shall be exalted above the hils and all Nations shall flow unto it Isa 2.2 And the Kingdome and Dominion and the greatnesse of the Kingdome under the whole heaven shall bee given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdome and all Dominions shall serve and obey him Dan. 7.27 What though prosperity spake against the Church of old may it not therefore now speak for it an argument from this Topick viz. successefull providence is of that purport and force in these daies of ours which it was not of in ancient times t is very considerable in our case now those promises are fullfilling though when they were but in making it lookt another way yea t is a thriving argument and will gather yet more strength and weight in favour of the Church before it come into the mouthes of our children Had these Ministers but heapt together as many promises of what the Churches condition shall be and which we see have taken effect in some comfortable degree as they have done testimonies of what its lot was of old it is likely they would have seene they have very little ground for such an odious untheologicall insinuation as that of theirs in this paragraph is viz. That the mighty presence of God with his Saints and Servants who bend themselves against the usurpations of Antichrist and labour his dethronment in these dayes is no otherwise to be accounted of then his providences towards the Babylonian Seleucidan and Roman Tyrants were of old in effecting their enslavements of his Church and chosen Now to goe forward In driving on their Answer to that use wee make of providence a little further they charge us as counterfeiters of the broad se ale of heaven by making that a signe of Gods mind which he never instituted to that purpose but presumption is a groundlesse charge we have told them once and againe and now tell them once for all it is Heterodoxie in our judgements to affirm that the Lord hath ordained Providences and prevailing successes * Yet see what single providence once did Jona 1.15 16. solitarily to nolifie his approving or dis-approving will yet providence in conjunction with the word gives effectuall notice and sound conviction yea the Lord many times by Providence alone gives a check to the censorious and unadvised harshnes of mens spirits against a people or cause Dan. 3.25 26. and boring through their propositions makes way for a more impartiall judgement and charitable perswasion in them Pauls shaking the Viper off his hand without harme Act. 28.6 made the Barbarians think otherwise of him then before thus crosse and adverse providences in a good cause strike many heart-searchings Jos 7.8 and staggerings into the stablest and best ballanced leaders Lord saith Joshua what shall I say when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies successe hath light as wel as heat and comfort in it to Gods people and adverse occurrences darknesse as well as trouble the Lambes conquering the Kingdomes of the World will so cleare the promises that all Nations shall come to the brightnesse of Zions rising Christ gets up to his Throne by pulling downe the Principalities and Thrones of others present proprietors no doubt Hag. 2.21 22. and if prevailencie helpe not the Sons of men in discerning his title to dominion the promises of his successe such is the hardnesse of mens hearts must stand still for Cyphers and 't is to us altogether inconceiveable Si prae scriptio malefida in omni foro procedat how he will ever finde a vacant or empty Throne upon the earth or how he shall get possession of what his Father has given him if his way be not made by notable shakings See Mr. Owen's Sermon on Heb. 12.26 27. and translations of the customes and the constitutions of Governments in the World A dead woman saith the Proverbe will not be carried out of her house under foure men Their comparison betwixt Providence as we use it Pag. 14. and Lot seemes to us a very poore one we never looked at Providence as an Ordinance of God for the determining a Right but seeing the hand of the Almighty in important events we think our selves bound to acknowledge it and to conclude as much from it as his Word will give us leave which in a righteous cause amounts to a testimony that he ownes it if he favours and more then ordinarily succeeds the managers of it for God is in the Generation of the just Psal 14.5 Psal 41.11 And by this I know saith David thou favourest me because mine enemy doth not triumph over me if the Army have tempted God by casting themselves upon Providence and by their appeales to his Majesty in courses injustifiable as they here tell us we shal in no case stand by them but leave them as they desire to be left even to him that judgeth righteously their sinne no doubt shall finde them out and are there not with us even with us sinnes against the Lord our God 2 Chron. 28.10 In the next place they thus documentize us the argument from Providence is ab eventu or from the issue of a thing they then