Eliah Matth. 11. 14 15. Therefore Christ comes not as men imagine but according to the Scripture as I shew you here and they that look for his coming in this way shall see him Heb. 9. 28 and the rest shall never see him but shall be shut up in darknesse There is abundance more reasons that I could give you to shew the beauty and excellency of this kingdome which I omit for the present because I intend to be brief and the time doth require it Therefore now I shall shew you some reasons to shew why this kingdome was not set up afore this time 1. Because our Saviour Christ foresaw that the Kings of the Gentiles would not have suffered the Gospel to be preached in their kingdomes if so be that the Apostles had gone then to put them down and set up of the poor to be kings over them 2. Because the Gospel of this kingdome was first to be preached in all the world for a witnesse to all Nations and then which is now comes the end of their kingdomes and Christs kingdome takes place Matth. 24. 14 30. and the Princes of the Gentiles shall mourn because they must bow to this kingdome and become servants to the poor 3. Because the Gentiles have their times limited Luke 21. 24. and though known then to none but the Father Acts 1. 6 7. So that the Apostle then speaking of it puts a certain time for an uncertain Revel. 11. 2. but now the tokens are come the time is manifested Matth. 24. 32 33. that all may see it 4. Because the Scripture was ingrossed heretofore in the great mens hands so that they might do as they pleased with the people that knew little or nothing of Scripture but when the Art of Printing was found and they had liberty to have the Scripture knowledge is increased among the People and shall increase So that they will not be ruled by the Kings set up after the manner of the Gentiles any more Here is the Good Old Cause that God raised our Army to stand for and if they will not stand for this kingdome and government of Christs own institution which I do shew here they shall fall and those that take up this Interest shall prevail Here you see the Reasons why this kingdome ought to be set up and Reasons why it was not set up before this time And if you ask me the reason why King Charles is so unfortunate since I make him to be the best of all Kings truely I answer Because his resolution is not right for he would come in and settle all things as formerly we had them therefore he cannot prosper but let him leave that resolution and resolve to stand for this way surely he shall find better fortune and be more glorious and more surer in his throne then any of his Predecessors though he seem to be a step lower then they were For I say to him that shall be King and to him that is Deputy and King also for a Deputy was King 1 Kings 22. 47. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted But the rich in that he is made low James 1. 9 10. Here is matter of joy for both Mens Good Old Cause shall fall indeed Mr. Prin doth shew the right cause of this War as at first it was declared and that was but a pretence for they quickly routed such as stuck to that their Cause was to get all from the King Countrey and Church and to keep it and this they call the Good Old Cause and they that stand for this are counted the good people and well-affected but I am sure their Cause is neither good nor old and if the long Parliament come together and sit to maintain it according to their invitation let them beware of John lest they also be served as Baal's worshippers were 2 Kings 10. 25. and it was a wise saying of the Philistines to their King 1 Sam. 29. 4. Wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master should it not be with the heads of these men Thus you see mens Cause and Gods Cause mens end and Gods end and intention Therefore let the Parliament at their next meeting settle this government for none else will stand for if the long Parliament go settle themselves as heretofore their Generall in time will break them and set up himself so that there shall be nothing but tossing the Nations to and fro in bloud until this way of Christ be setled And if you desire to know who hath wrote these lines you may come to know me by my face and form of my visage which of late hath been changed I nor any other can give a reason for it but this that it 's a Sign of God and a Seal to this work of God that should stop the Kings of the Gentiles mouths Isaiah 52. 13 14 15. But methinks I hear some say The Jews will have no such poor King as you set forth they refused King Jesus because he was outwardly poor I say God hath provided one that is so noble in birth and parentage for them that none is equall to him upon that account yet he and all such shall be servants to our poor Kings and the Jews shall be satisfied in my next that followeth both in English and Latine that was a long while ago given to the great Jewish Rabby Manasseh Ben Israel A word to the Souldiery and the people in general ANd truely the people are now in such amazement that they know not who to obey with safety for Lenthals Parliament sits though few in number to maintain as they call it a Free State but the main end of it is to hugge and make sure to themselves the unrighteous Mammon gotten by deceit Chiefly Church and Crown-Lands and this is a matter of joy to their party Bampfields Parliament as report goes look upon themselves as yet not dissolved but rejourned and have in their meetings more members then Lenthal But Prins Parliament exceeds both in regard of its Members and Right Cause which truth the Records of the times and all honest people can witnesse that the Army was raised for the defence of the King and Parliament as Mr. Prin maintains These Parliaments signifie nothing no nor the head-Officers of the Army but the noble spirits of the under-Officers and Agitators doth all Therefore you brave Britains stand up for Christs kingdom let not self-interest blinde your eyes the glory is yours for you are Christs chief Instruments Kings or Parliaments are as nothing before you yea you Souldiers can take down your head-Officers if they stand between you and Christ O go on as ye are Christians and go on as ye are bold Britains of a noble stock as ye have it in the introduction of this Book to set up Christs Kingdom Was it not a bold British Souldier under King Belinus the Britain that struck one of the grave Senators of Romes beard while yet they
A Rule from Heaven OR VVholsom COUNSEL TO A Distracted STATE Wherein is discovered The onely Way for settling THE GOOD OLD CAVSE AND Removing the Maladies incident thereunto and Mr. Pugh his Prophesies opened By ARISE EVANS 1 Thes. 5. 20. Despise not Prophesyings Mat. 6. 33. But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you LONDON Printed for the Author and are to be sold at his House in Long-Alley in Black-fryers 1659. The INTRODUCTION ALthough we have been of all Nations the most sinful yet from time to time God in Mercy did deal with us that we Britans might be a People saved to the Glory and Honour of his free Grace as it is written Isa. 43. 2. This people have I formed for my self they shall shew forth my praise And as it is seen from age to age Gods Justice is such that it will not pass by the sins of any people but especially his own people as you see Amos 3. 2. so he owning us did severely punish us for our sins at all times First by the Grecians when our Royal City of Troy was destroyed and then after we came hither by the Romans Saxons Danes Normans yea God made use of all the Nations round about us when we sinned to punish us for our sins not according as our enemies willed who would have utterly destroyed us nor according to our deserts who deserved no less then utter destruction but God according to his purpose corrected us in mercy and measure And when our City of Troy was destroyed and we scattered from thence to seek a new habitation some of us came to Italy which Country long after gloried in being Trojans but the Nobles followed Brute their Prince and from all parts as they were informed came unto him into Grecia where in time Brute became potent having with him in Towns Woods and Desarts a strong Party when at the Request of Brute Pandrasus King of Greece would not grant them Liberty in his Countrey or leave to depart out of his Country but went about to punish them Brutus overthrew the King in battle took him prisoner that Pandrasus King of Greece to reedeem himself according to agreement made between them was glad to furnish him with a Navy and much Treasure and give him his Daughter to wife whereupon Brute and his company leaving Grecia came through many Countries found many more of the dispersed Trojans fought many Battels victoriously got much honour and riches and made no stay until he came to this Land which God had promised him in a Vision at Leogitia And coming by Gods Providence to this Land we found here certain Giants descended from Ham the son of Noah who then called the Name of this Land Albion from Albion the fourth son of Neptune that was the first King which reigned here of that Race those Giants did oppose us but we destroyed them all and the name of the Land we called according to the name of Brute Britain and as we searched the Land we found in many places of it but most of them inhabiting North-Wales a people descended from Japhet the son of Noah called Samotheans This Samothea by Moses Gen. 10. 2. is called Meshech and he came here within 200 years after the Flood he excelled all the men of that age in wisdom learning and knowledge both in Divinity and Philosophy and being skilful in the Law of God and Man he was exceedingly given to the Religion of his Grandfather Noah which he upheld in his Family and when the earth was dividid Gen. 10. 5 25. he had for his portion in Europe all the Country lying between the River of Rhene and the Pirenian Mountains which Lands he peopled with such number as could be gotten in those days but he chose for his own habitation this Island and called it Samothe he dwelt in North-Wales and Samothea begat Magus Magus begat Sarron Sarron begat Drius Driâ—â—… begat Bardy these five Samothea Maguâ— Sarron Drius Bardy reigned here long time before Albion came and they were so famous for learning that every one of these erected a Colledge of himself so that the Greeks Persians Athenians even all the Gentiles had their Characters and Learning from these Colledges first which then was pure Knowledge though afterward corrupted by new devises among them of other Countries who thought they were no body if they did not adde to it When we Britains being descended of Gomer the son of Japhet found these Samotheans our Brethren not onely because of kinde but also for their Learning and Vertue we were right glad to meet with them so that we joyned with them and became one people and in short time after things in Britain were so settled specially in matters of Religion that as I may so say we were Christians above a thousand years before Christ was born First we believed in the onely true ever-living God Maker of all things Secondly we had three Names to the same God by which we called upon him and did worship him believing that he was three in One and One in Three Thirdly we believed that the soul is immortal and that when one died his soul entred into another body prepared of God for him so that if he that died was a good man his soul was raised and went into a more honourable and glorious body but if he that dyed was a bad man his soul descended and went into a more dishonourable and base body God in this case judging every man according to his works done in his body thus we believed the Resurrection and surely it doth in some measure agree with the Gospel as may be proved by many Texts and was not the soul of Elijah in John the Baptist which made our Saviour affirm that John was Elijah Mat. 11. 13 14. Fourthly for the Government of this Religion the Land was divided into 28 parts where were seated 28 Flamines whereof three of them were called Archflamines which were then as the Bishops and Archbishops of our time but after a more perfect manner for then there was three Archflamines over the Britains which did signifie the Trinity and Personalty of the Godhead but our Church of England had but two Archbishops Therefore it was not a hard thing for Lucius King of the Britains to stablish the Christian Faith in his Kingdom it being all one with that they had in Doctrine and Government onely differing in Names and Ceremonies so that Lucius which was the first Christian King in the world quickly and without violence brought the Britains to the Christian Faith who hearing Christ preached immediately believed and were baptized that Lucius changeing the word Flamine into Bishop thus altering few Names and Ceremonies the work of reformation in Britain is done quickly And in Contemplation of these things I see Jesus while he was on earth viewing the Daughters of the Gentiles to finde out his Spouse and among
divided and do no righteous things we cannot stand long if we have not a King But you will say Who shall be King If you go in a righteous way I will shew you that Charles Stuart is the man who by right should enjoy it according to our ancient custome for he is the true heir of all for in him runs that stream of Royal Blood that shall make glad the City of God for all the Blood-Royal of the Britains Scots Saxons Normans is primary in him I could make this out and shew you his lineal descent if I thought you would question it I could also make it appear abundantly by their prophesies in Mr. Pughs Book that God long before this time hath determined and declared his Fall and his Restoration and that word Koronog vaban which is the Key of all our prophesies belongs to him and that it cannot be brought to speak for Oliver Cromwel as Mr. Pugh would have it But what should I trouble you with these things which you cannot relish I shall shew you a more excellent way for God did not cast down Charles to the end that he should be set up again upon the same slipery foundation for he had better he a step lower then he was that he might stand surer Therefore take this as followeth Men and Brethren I Having read Histories and seen the course of the world from time to time I finde that from the Creation to this day there is troubles in the world about superiority and that much innocent blood hath been spilt by Governors to maintain their worldly Interests yet for all that could they never make themselves and posterity sure to hold long nor finde a way to govern that was not defective in the Issue their Foundation being bloody could not stay them from falling they would not come to judgement nor be called to an account for what they did and their shedding of innocent blood but they could not shun it when Gods time came I might prove this not onely from Histories but also from the holy Scripture that it is so now and hath been so at all times in all the habitable world among all nations from the beginning but my business is not to make great Volumes to shew all that might be said in this Case onely I say that all sorts of Government yet known and established among men whether by Kings Hereditary counted best or by Elective Kings or by States or whatsoever else is or hath been it is nought and destructive to men therefore I through Gods help briefly shall shew you a Form of Government that hath not been yet made known to the world though figured forth in the Gospel by Jesus Christ and his Apostles this sixteen hundred yeers And now our necessity requireth me to hold it forth we have had much talk of the Kingdom of Jesus-Christ but we are ignorant of it all this while none sheweth it though it be time for if the Protector Army and Parliament striving about the Militia as they did with the late King fall to War again as it is like they will then wo to England that ever the Gospel shined so bright in it and that by it it could not finde the way of peace therefore take this as followeth for your direction 1. Let not the chief of Great Britain and Ireland enter into his Power and Government until he be above fifty yeers of age 2. Let him be a poor honest godly man even so poor though industrious in his calling that he hath been forced to take Almes and let him be chosen by lot 3. When he is king for that Title the Scripture gives him 1 Pet. 2. 13. and that Title is best known to England by our Law let him have the sole power in Church and State namely the Militia or whatsoever else is appointed for the good and defence of the Nation shall be his and let him be accountable to no man 4. Let all Writs go and whatsoever is done let it be done as heretofore in the Kings name and let him have but a hundred pound a year to maintian him 5. Let the Kings personall work be so little so plain and easie that notwithstanding his great power yet so that he cannot erre in what he doth which shall be onely to call a Parliament and sit with them and let there be but one house of Parliament 6. Let the Protector Steward Deputy King or whatsoever you please to call him be hereditary in a male line of ability and stature to rule and let him go on ruling as the Protector doth now only he must give account before the King and Parliament every third year for all that is done amisse in ruling by him or his Officers under him though done by a Constable or Corporal shall be laid to his charge because that upon knowledge thereof he did not punish the Offendours 7. The King every third year upon the third week of December shall send forth Writs to call a Parliament and command them to meet him at the Parliament-house the first week in March and they are to sit untill the first of September and no longer 8. That no man be chosen to serve in Parliament but such as are above fifty year old and that are judicious able men in knowledge of Law and Judgement 9. That none be put in nomination to be chosen but such as fear God hate covetousnesse love the poor and is peaceable Chuse none that hath not been just and honest in his dealing with all men good and charitable to the poor and is full of the holy Ghost 10. That none be chosen which be in places of profit or preferment under the Deputy or Protector as now ye call him nor any Commander of the Army who all are subjects to be judged by the Parliament and not to sit as Judges in their own Cause For though the Protector be liable to suffer for every fault his officers do he not avenging the oppressed that made his complaint to him or he not sitting in the seat of Judgement to hear complaints thrice a week where the poorest sort as well as the rich without hinderance may come be heard and relieved yet shall his Officers suffer every one for his own fault according to his desert and the King and Parliament shall judge it but whosoever he be that sought not to the Protector first and is not relieved in a weeks time after his complaint made though the wrong be done him in Parliament time yet shall he not be heard by the King and Parliament 11. The Deputy or Protector every week thrice shall sit on a throne in an open place where every one may come and make his complaint to him clearing it by evidence and after that he must give just judgement speedily in a weeks time or else the King and Parliament shall call him to account for it neither is it intended that the Protector must judge all causes between man and
were Gentiles for when Belinus King of the Britains had conquered all so far as Rome the Roman Senators said and sent to him saying That he must not come there for it was the seat of the Gods and when Belinus boldly resolved to try whether they were Gods or no he marched to them and found no resistance because they were not able to fight him for the Senators thought they being set on Thrones in a gallant posture to daunt perswade the Souldiers that they were Gods that could destroy the Souldiers in a moment but the undaunted British Souldiers being not afraid of their presence came to see them and a bold Souldier to try their Deity taking one of them by the beard made them all flee and be glad to give of their gold to serve the Souldiers need Here were gallant spirits and much more gallant were the Britains that went with Constantine the great to raise up Christs Church and make it famous in the World but your work is more eminent then both the others O fail not to do it set up Christs kingdome And because none shall disgrace me saying He set a time for the Kings coming in 1653. and it came not to passe I did not conclude so but made a doubtfull case of it as you may see in my Book called The Eccho pag. 134. and printed 1652. And now I shall shew you a seasonable Vision that I had in 1634. I Saw my self standing on a pool of water in Merionithshire at the parish of Talyllun the pool is called in our Welch language Llunniamgyl the honourable Colonel John Jones one of your House knows the place and as I stood upon the water I saw a company of black Foxes pursuing a young Lion and as they followed the Lion they ran round about me sometimes on the water and sometimes on the high way that is on the North-side of the pool I pitied the Lion and cast stones at the Foxes with all my might but as I was throwing stones at the Foxes immediately they appeared to be young children that stood still a while on the way the North side of the pool and a voice said to me Why dost thou cast stones at the children and as I came to land immediately they turned to be black Foxes pursuing the Lion again but on a sudden the Foxes being on the water became white Lambs stood still and the Lion being on the water turned to them and they as it seemed to me kissed each other Thus the Vision ended The Interpretation as I humbly conceive is this CHarles is the Lion and you are the Foxes the stones are the words of my former Books against you for which I was reproved your becoming children was your dissolution or interruption which made you repent that you did not before make your peace with Charles your turning to black Foxes again signifieth that you are the same now as ye were before your dissolution your turning to be white Lambs is that you shall propound this way of peace to Charles and your kissing each other signifieth that you will effect it and settle peace in a glorious manner This is the summe of all in few lines to you consider it and know that these words are faithfull and true This Vision I had quite forgot untill within this twelve-moneth I told it many but I could not tell how to apply it right untill this time of your second meeting I pray God it be rightly interpreted so that there may be no more innocent blood spilt in this Cause and that this word become not unprofitable to you through the deceitfulnesse of riches gotten in these times that you do not lose the immortal glory set before you here and take notice that this word I present you withall is the word of the kingdom Matth. 13. 19. And I know nothing more against it then seeming godly mens self-interest in the world which Interest will ruine them if they go on in holding for it as they do The Postscript ANd to shew you all in a word First you see that Jesus Christ is for a Single person and not for a Free State as you call it He that is chief Luke 22. 26. Those mine enemies which would not that I should reign Luk. 19. 27. So that Jesus when he speaks of these things he is for a King and a kingdome as you may see throughout the Gospel Secondly you see that he would not have the great and rich to be his Kings like as the Gentiles have but would have the poor and low exalted to the Throne Lu. 22. 25 26 27 28 29 30. Thirdly you see that as I said before there must be two exalted in his kingdom yet one above the other must be the Chief for when the mother of Zebedees children petitioned our Saviour Jesus Christ for her two sonnes James and John saying Grant that these my two sons may sit the one on thy right hand the other on thy left in thy kingdome he doth not answer her saying There is no such thing to be in my kingdome but saith To sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father Matth. 20. 21 22 23. Here you see that two are to be exalted yet differ in power one above the other as the right hand is above the left and if you consider this word prepared and promised you shall find the harmony of it touching this kingdome and admire it for saith the King Inherit the kingdome prepared for you Matth. 25. 34. and Saint James calls it The crown of life and kingdome promised of God to them that love him James 1. 12. James 2. 7. And to you I say the Parliament that now sit for I have not addressed my self to any other power before though I had this knowledge long before now Do you set up this kingdome for you are those like Zorobabel that began the work do you also finish it Zachar. 4. 9. Do you make an agreement with Charles Stuart and call him in if you think fit to rule and inherit his own and set a King above him according to this discovery for I do believe seeing things going on since as they did many of you repented that you did not agree with him before you were dissolved but then you had not this way to propound to him which being observed will secure every man in his right after the agreement so that none shall wrong another for Christ in the poor man being exalted to the right hand having the sole power will keep all in order and subjection And as God hath been preparing this kingdome for us from the foundation of the world So you after your late repulse are better prepared to set it up then you were before and do it let no self-interest hinder it for you may secure all ye have thus in peace better then to keep up your free State as ye call it by war and fear untill at last you lose all and it is necessary that ye are now in such a state else you could never have power to make agreement and to set up Christs kingdom but have a care that ye lose it not again before you do the work for our noble Army whose wisdome and valour you know whose descent I shew from the Original may have a design which ye cannot apprehend FINIS