the Sword Strong-holds and Forts Ammunition and the like into confiding hands To this there is enough said though I had said nothing I will say but this So long as these Strong-holds and Breast-workes doe stand they will bee a memoriall of the Kings illegall and most injurious dealing with a righteous people So long as these shall be spoken of will the injustice the bloudy proceedings of the King in the hands of bloudy Counsellours be remembred also to all generations We shall tell it to our children and they to their children That the King of England would have oppressed his owne people he would have inthralled their Lawes Liberties Religion And for the maintenance of all these their lives and all that was deare unto them did his people so fortifie and Breast-worke themselves against the fury and rage of their King in the hands of bloudy persecuters The Case of Conscience now The People must not stand up for their lives and liberties Ob. against murtherers for if they stand up against them they stand up against their King We deny that and conclude the Contrary Ans That a standing up against Murtherers is a standing up for their King To deliver him out of the hands of Murtherers It has an affiance with duty a full aspect and agreement thereunto Why but if you resist these Murtherers Obj You resist the King and if you resist the King You resist the Higher power and that is the Ordinance of GOD wherto we must be subject for Conscience sake Yes but wee are cleare mistaken in point of Power Ans Therefore I will aske a question and resolve it What is this higher Power Qu. I will tell you first what it is not It is not that Power Ans which the King may have a will to give and may commit to an Edomites hand It is not a destructive power that is from the Divell whereby Saul and his Edomite were inabled to lay waste one City and made faire-offer to destroy another Not such a Power whereby the King and his wicked Councell now indeavour the same destruction to two Kingdomes It is not such a Power What Power then Qu. A Power whereunto in case the King or his Edomite wrongs me Ans though the lowest in his Kingdome yet I may appeale from him or them for Righteous Judgement And this Power is the Law and in the high Court Who can determine what Law is and doe stand bound to right mee oppressed by a Contrary Power though the meanest of many Thousands and not worhty the dust I tread upon yet This Court stands bound to right me And if so be they stand so bound to a private Person we must note this by the way how much stronger is their obligation to two or three Kingdomes To stand up for Defence of Lawfull power against this Destructive Power And now we have learn't our duty and office too we would have the Pa liament stand up for us we made choice of them for that end The greatest shame in the world If wee should not stand up for the Parliament with our Swords in our hands or with what commeth next to hand in defence of Lawfull power and all that is deare or neere unto us involved in the same What! see a King seduced by evill Counsell giving up his power I say his power not the higher power into an Edomites hand and this Edomite flourishing with his Sword and displaying his Banners in Israels Land and Israel stand still the while What a shame to all Israel But blessed be God they doe not stand still they move and they doe great things as their GOD inables them Who gives Courage Spirit and invention when and where Hee pleaseth And where the Inhabitants of the Land are not over-powered by the King and his bloody party there they doe fortify the Cities and Townes and Breast-worke themselves there And these Forts and Breastworkes are like to remaine to after Generations an Eternall dishonour to the King now in the hands of desperate and pernicious Men For when the Childe shall aske Wherefore were these Forts and Breastworkes raised The Father will Answer The King of England seduced by evill Counsell would have destroyed the Parliament of England Laws Liberties Religion Life and all Therefore did the Parliament and all good people in defence of the Parliament and themselves raise up themselves and these Forts Strong-holds and Breastworkes so wee shall declare to our Children what the King by his pernicious Counsellors has done against his good people and what the Lord has done for them shall be had in perpetuall remembrance But will not this be called a resisting of the higher power Qu. Yes by those who understand not what higher power or Law meaneth Ans or judge it to be that which ruleth in their Members Or doe understand by power The Kings private will or that Commission he can give under the Great Seale such a KEEPER it hath into the hands of Edomites Davids utter and implacable enemies now not like but of the same generation with the Edomites in ancient dayes But is it not a Resistance of the Power Quest which is indeed the Ordinance of God No Ans but a contending for that Power the setling and establishing thereof in the Land by all lawfull meanes which GOD has not onely allowed but commanded That his people may live as His people in holinesse and righteousnesse giving obedience to their Master in Heaven and in Relation to Him to that power He has set over His people on earth This is more then enough to these questions which we finde so fully and excellently cleared to every eye but theirs who will not see though we should as the Proverbe is Shew them the Sun in our hand Si solem ipsum gestemus in manibus Last 7.1 I conclude then That they and they onely shew themselves conscientious men and to understand the weight of duty who stand-up now for their Lawes and Liberties and life of their lives their Religion so to deliver a captive King a distressed Church and State now in the hands of bloudy and most pernitious Counsellours And if all the people in the Land doe not stand-up now in this breach it is not because they want will but because they want power they are over-powered The Divell is as strong now and works as mightily now so does the Edomite also the Divels right hand in our Land as they did anciently in the Kingdome of Iudab But some make scruple here and conscience too for they say They have taken an Oath to serve the King Ob. and they cannot dispence with their Oath God forbid they should Let them serve the King and serve him heartily and faithfully but then they must not serve his private Will which they see enlived made strong and mighty by an Evill spirit now ruling against the Common-wealth and publike Faith of
the Edomite in our sense and in Scripture language That Legion of the Papists now Raging and Rioting in our Land we shall resist the King too for this Edomite is the chiefe MANAGER next to the Divel of all the Kings affaires in this Kingdome his very best Subjects and truest Friends O horrible what words are these Papists his best Subjects It must passe for it has the Kings allowance he has declared it so he has proclaimed it so once and againe and a third time The Edomites in Ireland in England they are the Kings best Subjects those he may confide-in his heart may cleave to them in love when David The faithfull of the LORD are called Traitors every day and his good People Rebels all O David cannot be silent now any longer GOD knowes and all the Christian world knowes Davids heart is upright and his hands cleare and his prayer pure touching this matter Their hands have not shed innocent bloud nor have their eyes seen it but with indignation and Zeale against these Murtherers And we say That many Kings have beene seduced by evill counsels Many whose hearts have beene stolne away from their good people and given-up into their enemies hands cleaving to them in love and some have shed bloud to their power as Saul here and others after him But oh how loth I am to speake The Evill Counsellours have carried-on the King in the Path of the destroyer beyond all These for he has given a Commission to destroy his good people and makes shewes That his soule bleeds over them He pittieth his Peoples nakednesse and takes from them their cloathes hee calls them Rebels in Ireland and entertaines the same Rebels here He professeth to do all by helpe of GOD and the Law and all he does has a manifest contrariety to GOD and contradiction to the Law He professeth with his tongue to be for Religion indeed when his heart and hand is utterly against the professors of the same To take them from the Earth He professeth to maintaine his Peoples liberties and does all that is in the power of his hands to inthrall and oppresse his people To make their neckes bend to the Edomites yoake he would make beleeve his hand goes along with GOD when hee puts it forth against The Almighty in all his peoples sight as if he had an arm like GOD. But the bloudshed in both his Kingdomes this The Lord sees and heares the voice of it too And which maketh the voice yet louder The LORD heares how he chargeth it upon the innocent and blesseth the Murtherers those that have shed it indeed The LORD lay it close to the heart of his Majesty that his soule may bleed over the blood he hath shed That he may forbeare to say so till he does so That his soule may shed teares for the bloud he hath shed indeed and indeed Let others pray The LORD bring his Majesty home to his Parliament upon the wings of the Churches Prayers They that pray so pray well but they pray better who pray The Lord open the Kings eyes and heart that he may discerne the Path he has trod the way he is in and feele the working of that bloud shed upon his soule working in him a sorrow after a godly sort The LORD shew him the falshood the hypocrisie of his heart make it as manifest to him as it is to all his good People That his uncircumcised heart may be humbled that he may abhorre evill and loath himselfe for what he has done Amen say I and all who wish that his soule may prosper He may come home to his Parliament and doe more hurt then good there unlesse his heart be humbled for all he has done first I remember very well the Eleventh King of Scotland the worst King that ever was I thinke yet was brought home to his Parliament I meane he came-up to his good People even to all the desire of their hearts for thus he did Those pernicious Counfellors he had many and they stole away his heart or he stole away theirs surely the King was worst because chiefest in the trespasse he suffered to be imprisoned and over some the wheele was turned And all this he did in deep dissimulation that he might the more freely with no resistance worke-out his owne will and doe according to his owne pleasure afterwards And so he did the yeare after by that time he saw all cleare before him the hearts of his Nobles gained for he gave the offenders into their hands and all was well and now they must be feasted They were glad of that and to supper they came which was served-up in a Lordly dish and after the meat Wine they are and dranke and their hearts were merry but the worst Wine was kept last towards the close of the Feast the Nobles were made drunke with their owne bloud as with sweet Wine A few escaped and those few by the helpe of the People rose-up against their King and slew him I shall not meddle with that though in the close of the worke I shall point to that King againe and another halfe as bad I conclude from hence That till the King be truly informed for what he has done That he has walked in the counsell of the ungodly his foot has stood in the way of sinners and he sitteth in the seat of the scornfull Till his heart be humbled for this Tâ—ll his soule cleaves to the ground for this and what else God and his conscience best knowes Till this be the King cannot come-back to his Parliament he caâ—not be to the heart and desires of his good People there Therefore pray we LORD turne the heart of the King give him a sight of what he has done and humble his soule in the sight of it th the hath blasphemed the Name of his GOD deal deceitfully with his Maker treacherouoy with His People abominably with His Day prophaning it by a Law He must be restlesse in his spirit till he hath vindicated That dishonour done to That Rest forcing and persecuting His best Servants touching that matter and shedding their bloud to his power ever since LORD give the King a sight of all this and of all that The Searcher of hearts and his owne heart knowes by himselfe and kindly humble him for all Then all the rest followes the King will be right for his Parliament his heart will be with them then it will be said and not till then What the King does pleaseth all his people and what his good people doe pleaseth the King Amen But if the King doe not his duty his people must doe theirs if hee looke not to his charge how he rules not his but Gods People THY PEOPLE sitting in GODS Throne Yet must the people look to their obedience they must be subject to the higher Power notwithstanding I come then to resolve what this higher Power is and the cases of conscience thereabouts Not touching the giving of
consisted in suffering rather then in obeying rather in bearing from the hand what the Power inflicted Magistratibus ex animo deferendus honor etiam Tyrannis Ans then in doing what the Power commanded This is true for there is an obedience in suffering and so no resisting of the power for he that suffers from the hand of the Ruler for what his conscience will not suffer him to doe he doth not resist but obeyes the Ruler And yet we must note That there is a wide difference betwixt giving obedience to that the Heathen Emperours commanded by their Lawes and obedience to that which Kings now command against Law Christians then did take-up the burden of their Ruler with a bended knee as the Lord Verub expresseth it and as I may interpret it i. e. They made their body bow unto it not their conscience They suffered for that they could not obey as the three Worthies in Daniel who yeelded-up their bodies â—o the dispose of their King and so The LORD Whom they served kept their bodies untouched by the fire who would keepe their consciences free from polution It is otherwise with Christians now They are called to liberty To obey their King ruling by Law The â—igher Power which GOD has set over them and which the King cannot commit to an Edomites hand If he dâ—es it ought to be resisted for it is a terrour to the good not to evill workes Cleane contrary to tâ—at a Minister of GOD should be And whereas it is said We must give honour to Magistrates though Tyrants we grant as much for it hath beene and is the manner of all the children of GOD so to do David did so witnesse his words and humble deportment before Saul But David did not give his throat to Saul though Saul was King and David a private man yet he read no Law nor could see Reason for that but all Law and Reason against it There is one argument more from the example of the Jewes if not shrinking-up their hands into their sleeves after the Persian manner yet bowing their hands behinde them in homâ—ge to their Emperours person and commands Philo relates the story in his Ambassie to Cajus as followes Caligula would set-up his Image in the Temple of Jerusalem that Abomination in that Sacred Place So he would do And for that end Petronius was sent unto them to assure them That Caligula their Emperour would have it so and for that purpose an Army of foot and horse was in a readinesse to shoulder-in the Image if by faire meanes he prevailed not The Jewes with their wives and children met the Emperours Ambassadour stand before him as children before their parents with their Armes bent behinde them assuring the Ambassadour by that reverentiall posture of their bodies That as they were not so mad as to withstand their Lord so they were not so mindlesse of their duty to GOD as to suffer that abomination to be brought into their Temple unlesse over the heads of themselves their wives and children trampled upon all the way thither as the myre in the streets And so they quitted themselves say they of themselves like men in hese two great points In preserving entire the service of their GOD And the bâ—nd of allegeance to their Prince This is the very posture of good Subjects Ob. to carry their hands bent behinde them while they suffer the Rebels to ride over their heads And that is the objection from hence I confesse this Story speakes as fully to Doctor Fearnes purpose Ans as any we have read yet will it not satisfie his tender conscience nor any understanding man For he must heare Reason A wise man will not show his teeth that cannot bite his offer that way may cause all his teeth to be struck out I will shrinke my hands up into my sleeves or turne them behinde me if I am not able to use my hands Againe If the Jewes at that time would expose themselves wives and children to the lust of one domineering Lord That is no rule for Christians so to doe Nay it was no rule for the Christians after them So we will answer practice with practice For they being oppressed by the hand of an Heathen Emperour Lucinius sought helpe from a Christian Emperour who gave them aid and thereby they oppressed him that oppressed them Though yet it makes a wide difference to live under them whose will is their law and will doe what they list And under him who is under a power which must rule him and his commands Whereof bâ—fore The case is cleared without controversie the King is not the higher Power Yet before we conclude let us heare how the Heathen have resolved this matter Whose is the power The Kings Who has the power over the King The Law Then the Law is the higher power sayes Plutarch in his Moralls But me thinkes Aristotles words are yet more notable he sayes He that will have the Law to be the higher power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Polit. lib. 3. sub finem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 obliquos agit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibid sets GOD uppermost and the Law next to Him But he that will have man to be the higher power sayes a Beast may be it A Beast Yes so sayes Aristotle and his Reason must be this though I finde it not in the place for it is sufficient that he sayes a Beast Man may be carried by his sensuall part then he walks like a Beast and acts like a Beast his Reason and Judgment may be steeped as was said in his affections Lust may sway him Anger too and turne him from the rule of Law and Reason both yes that it may the best men living and all the while the man is so carried he acts like a Beast Therefore we must not place the higher power in him What is the higher power then The Law What is the Law It is as the minde of the Law-giver Senate or Councell should be void of all sensuall Desire and Appetite I expresse it as well as I can I would it were expressed better and better thought upon for truely it is very excellent I conclude then that is the higher power that can doe me no Wrong but all the Right that can be because it is void of all manner of Malignity from selfe seâ—fe-seeking or selfe-pleasing Then it is a Truth as cleare as the Sun-beame That the King is not the higher power he is a Man and may doe and does much wrong for there is a Malignity in man even in the best of men and will be there so long as selfe is in him I am now to make further discovery of this malignant spirit in Saul persecuting of David so we proceed in the Story where we shall read that which may be a great disheartning to Israel now while they looke downward upon number and strength of men But if they looke upward setting their faces
contracted by long rest and so Israel might be like a Dove without an heart an Asse and a strong Asse couching downe betwixt burthens laid upon them by Saul and his bloudy Courtiers for Saul commands and the Edomite smote Nob and overthrowes all who stood-up for or had an hand with David And all Israel stood shrinking up their armes into their sleeves as we reade in Xenophon The Persians were wont to doe before their King in homage and subjection to all his commands But as I said I will not conclude so That a deadnesse of spirit was upon Israel at this time I beleeve there was a more commanding cause then that which with-held Israel at that time Wee shall heare that anon when I have taken off the imputation of treason and rebellion charged upon David by his master Saul for David a private man doth defend himselfe as well as hee can and would have fortified Keilah had they not proved treacherous to him and the lawfulnesse of this may be questionable by all Israel as well as by Saul himselfe Whether David in defending Keisah Quest had not maintained it against Saul It was not against Saul Ans It was against the notorious violences of his evill spirit those David would have withstood But Keilah was Israels City Saul the King of Israel Qu. why would David fortifie that City As it is more then probable he would have done had not the Keilites proved themselves ungratefull and treacherous Because David knew That Saul secretly practised mischiefe against him Ans and would destroy Keilah for his sake All this is written 1 Sam. 22. Therefore hee thrust himselfe into Keilah would have fortified that place But Saul might thrust out David thence for it was Sauls City Qu. was it not No it was Israels City Sauls for Israels good to defend Israel Ans not to destroy Israel We are sure of that But David had strong-holds here and there Qu. and did Breast-worke himselfe against Saul his master No Ans not against Saul his master but against those notorious violences the actings of the evill spirit upon Saul his master Against these extreame out-rages and riots David did fortifie and Breast-worke himselfe And where ever we reade of these strong-holds and Breast-works there we shall reade of Sauls bloudy persecution against David Israels best friend and temporall Saviour Therefore will those strong holds be an eternall dishonour to King Saul till the Records of Time be lost 1 Sam. 26.19 1 Sam. 23.14 David did get up to his strong-hold where be abode and there he did Breast-worke himselfe Why It is answered for Saul sought every day to kill him It is upon ever-lasting Record an eternall dishonour to King Saul so to persecute his best servant for who so faithfull as David in all his Kingdome And if David a private man did so fortifie himselfe to safe-guard his owne throat much more might all Israel for their owne and Davids sake stand-up against the insolencies of a private will and an evill spirit acting thereby Whatever held in Israel from comming-out armed at this time conscience it was not To let the King doe what a Tyrant does make will his law and doe what he pleaseth and yet Israel stand still the while behold all this with open face hold their hands in their pockets or shrinke them up into their sleeves in homage forsooth to the Evill spirit commanding in Saul and in obedience to the Edomite executing that command Surely the like was never done since the beginning of the world untill this Day For here is the King of Israel smiting Israel the great Fiduetary of the Kingdome to whom Cities and Townes Priests and People are all intrusted betraying this Trust into an Edomites hands And so he that should next to GOD uphold and preserve Israel destroyes Israel and will lay their Cities waste And all this that he may be avenged of David one of the best men and best subjects he had in his Kingdome We are well resolved now in point of Israels subjection to that power which GOD had intrusted Saul with thereby to be a Terrour to the evill not to good workes Rom. 13.3 And that if Israel had stood-up in their owne and Davids defence they had not stood-up against Saul but for him and against the notorious violences the actings of the evil spirit by Sauls and his Edomites hands And so I come to enquire concerning this Edomite who he was VVhen we know him we shall see plainly that Israel could make no scruple of conscience to stand up in resistance of him who stood up against the Crowne and peace of Israels King and Kingdome VVho this Edomite was How bloudy his minde against Israel VVho was this Edomite A Childe of Edom who in the day of Hierusalem said Rase it rase it even to the foundation thereof And The LORD remembers this and chargeth the Edomite with it Amâ—s 1 11. hee did pursue his brother with the sword and did cast off all pitty and his anger did teare perpetually and kept his wrath for ever The LORD threatens the Edomite in the same place also For three transgressions of Edom and for foure I will not turne away the punishment thereof A finite number for an infinite for three transgressions and for foure But his bloudshed his cruelty towards his brother that shall set deepe upon his score Though the LORD should passe over six transgressions of Edom yet the seventh GOD will not passe over I will not turne away the punishment thereof Edom has broken all the bands of Nature O take heed of breaking those bands of Nature and brother like kindnesses the Edomite did so he did pursue his brother with the sword and when he had his brother under his hands he cast-off all pitty his anger did teare as wee reade before An old adversary to Israel Num. 20.14 The Edomite knew of all the travell that befell his brother Yet he will not shew his brother the least favour he will not suffer him to passe by the Kings high way though Israel will not be chargeable to the Edomite for a drop of water or a mouthfull of grasse if my Cattell drinke of thy water then we will pay for it A reasonable request as ever was asked yet the Edomite would not grant it He would give his brother a stone for bread and for a fish a Serpent so he answered his brothers request and then came-out against his brother with much people and a strong hand When In the day of Iacobs trouble And now see what he has done He had no sooner the word of command from Sauls mouth but hee answers it with his hand Turne thou and fall upon the Priests And Doeg the Edomite turned and pursued his Brother with the sword and shewed no pity Ah Lord Can an Israelites heart endure to see this An Edomite flourishing with his sword in Israels
hundred yeeres then Come-up taking in o our Serious thoughts That wonderfull yeere of â—8 Then the 5th of November 1605. And then 1639. when thâ— second Spanish Fleet was upon our English shore from which our Deliveâ—anâ—e wâ—s more miraculous then was that in 88. because from this lâ—st wee were delivered before we thought of the danger and the snare broken before wee would see it and so up all along to this day But I shall Recall but these three last yeeres TO BRING TO REMâ—MBRANCE how wonderfull The LORD was towards His People in Scotland and here three yeeres agoe Indeed wee have need of all those straits we were in To bring to Remembrance The wonderfull workes of the LORD The operation of His hand in making TWAâ—â—ONE so making Peace Soâ—emâ—eâ—y Recorded on the Seventh of September 1641. And Many dayes of Thanksgiving and opening wide the Churches Mouth Since and before To bring to Remembrance The Churches Deliverance from blooâ—y Courts Cursed Oathes Sore oppressions grievous yoakes vexing Bryars grieving Thornes Divellish Machinations horrid inventions upwards to this day to this very day the 15 of June 1643. To bring to Remembrance What Truely I cannot expresse it I see so much of Hell in it such depths of Sathan That I cannot expresse it But to bring to Remembrance The Admirable kindnesses Wonderfull Providences glorious Discoveries And now I can condemne my owne hasty Spirit and I hope can more quietly Rest upon GOD for after Time The Truth was I thought verily and so did Thousands besides My selfe thinke That if the high Court did Propositi n it once more Treat Spend Time that may with implacable Adversaries If so They will breake us all in pieces Thought I and wiser men then my selfe specially the best affected in the City And yet truly not to belie my selfe I did verily believe That GOD is in heaven and did LAUGH all the while and His Faithfull Servants might laugh too but yet so bruitish My thoughts were Treat once more and break us all So I thought and so though many more not so well considering what GOD had done before and what He might doe then with another Treaty But now having so many experiences we can quietly resigne the matter into GODS hand Let men alone to their worke and GOD alone to His worke and let us doe our duty That is our worke GOD will not breake Hâ—s people not He though men should proposition it again as some will goe neare to doe yet He will not break H s people but He will break His Adversaries as it is at this day Had there not beene those offers to Peace from the contrary side fained and treacherous There had not beene a discovery of those Right Men in Oxford and London Their fine devices the depths of Satan our Adversaries had not so broken themselves and we had not had our good day Thursday the 15. of June To call to remembrance all the forementioned and our old Protestatiâ—n To humble and shame us for it and so to enter into a New a New Covenant Vow and Oath If that bloudy designe had not been and been discovered which was to ruine King Kingdome Lawes Liberties Religion and all So horrid a designe it was and is acknowledged to be by those who should have been Actors in it upon sound conviction we hope true and deepe humiliation for it If such a designe had not been and been disclosed Then had not Shecaniah I meane the Nobles and Worthics of the Land thought upon the way â—zra 10 2. The only way to recover and save a distressed State and Church sinking into the pit of destruction We have done so and so yet there is hope in Israel concerning these things Nâ—w therefore let us make a Covâ—nant with our GOD To put away all persons and things which have thrust GOD from us Let us make a Covenant to doe so and stand to it So spake Shecaniah then So said in effect our Nobles and Worthies now And so they entred into the way the only way to recover a sick and languishing State to raise it up from the dead before the Pit close its mouth upon us VVe know not what will become of it Not how we enter into it nor how we shall stand to it VVe know some will be grieved and have indignation against the Holy Covenant And have intelligence with them that forsake The holy Covenant VVe must leave this to whom it does belong and doe our duty Blesse we GOD who put such a prize into our hands To strengâ—â—en our hands in GOD by renewing our Covenant againe VVe entred into Covenant formerly and some of the chiefest amongst us have done wickedly against the Covenant Dan. 11. corrupted by flatteries and corrupting and so are left to miserable delusions And we the best of us all have done weakly against the Covenant None of us have dealt truly None have kept close to it and to our GOD. And yet is there hope in Israel concerning this To make a Covenant with our GOD firmer and surer laying our heart a fleeting slippery thing under Sacred bands and feâ—ters stronger then Brasse That we will keepe closely with our GOD VVe Yes we Mr. Cal. Sermon and our house As it has been excellently charged upon us will serve our GOD VVho has done all these things for us VVe are firmly resolved to serve Him not as we have served Him but in Sincerity and Truth And being so resolved we will put away all persons and things which stop-up the currant and streame of blessings hindring good from comming-in And wee will advance those persons and doe those things which may procure good to our souls and peace to King and Kingdome VVe will enter into Covenant upon this being firmly resolved so to doe even as Israel under grievous Adversaries Num. 21.12 oppressing some Israelites and imprisoning other some and vexing all Israel Then they vowed a vow unto The LORD That if He would be pleased INDEED to deliver them from that oppressing Adversary They would make sure worke with the Adversary he should annoy and vexe them no more Then I will utterly destroy their Cities Nor will we make gaine of the spoiles but devote all to Thee The giver of Victories Now marke how well pleased The LORD was with this Vow And The LORD hearkned to the voice of Israel and they did as they had vowed for they called the place HORMAH a curse or utter destruction Vers 3. Now The LORD be praised and evermore blessed be His holy Name Who has put it into the heart of His Servants to do this thing the ONE THING NECESSARY at this time an ONELY VVAY to save a Nation as appeareth fully by the words of Shecaniah YET THERE IS THIS HOPE and as clearly in the story of Asa VVhere we reade how the case was with Israel when Israel were loose with their GOD how successefull when the people made a covenant with their
but sure there is something in this Ver. 20. and Samuel standing as appointed over them Doubtlesse this change upon Saul the restraint of his bloudy hand the thrusting-backe of his sword three times successively was the fruit of Samuels words and answere of his prayers for an in behalfe of David and to withhold Saul from shedding innocent blood I make mention of it here To shew that all faire and warrantable wayes were used prayers and supplycations were put-up for Saul while there was time for it and persons fit for that service which did properly belong to Samuel and the Priests not to the Heads of the Tribes It was their time now to appeare in the Field there to hold up their hands with their Swords for Saul in pursuance of his own way and to satisfie his will hath commanded the Edomite and Nob is destroyed and Saul is hasting to Keilah and hath called together five thousand men David and his men must look to have the roughest hand put out against them that ever was put forth for it is Sauls hand and his Edomites as it is at this Day Therfore I will cleare Israels duty now touching their prayers for their King now as I have cleared their practice in taking-up Defensive Armes That they have performed their duty at that point just as belongeth to the Israel of GOD. Armies appeare in the field in a seeming opposition to the King yet not so indeed but in opposition to his wicked Councell carryed on and acted by that evill spirit who now workes so effectually all over all the Christian world Now the Objection is That Christians should make no Resistance no not of the Devill but by prayer and fasting I have denyed that and made it cleare That when the Devill acts by the hand of an Edomite then he must be resisted by the sword of an Israclite We must make him bleed a spirit though he be if he maketh us bleed Yet I say as Israel then so have Israel now taken the old way of disposessing the Divell by prayer and fasting They have made petitions to their King prayers and supplications have been put-up to him So many and so servent That Israel may be said in this behalfe to be a praying people wrastlers with GOD for their King and their King may be said to be a King of prayers But yet there is no Answer of prayer Yes there is as shall appeare by and by though yet not such an Answer as Israel could desire with all their hearâ—s And for this it is a sad thing to consider Whether the sighing of the poore under his oppression hath not thrust-back the sighings and groanes of the poore for and in his behalfe whether the blood he hath shed for he hath given a commission to the Edomite the Papist an old Adversary to Israell vvhether this blood he hath spi t like water cryes not lowder in the eares of the LORD for Revenge Then the prayers of his faithfull servants can doe for mercy vve cannot resolve it but it yeelds a sad consideration Yet certain it is The true Israell of GOD Ministers and people may see a Return of prayer for and in behalfe of their King which appeares thus The King by the motion of his evill Councell pursued a way not good he sent a cursed Booke into Scâ—tland vvorse then a Sword against David This destroyes the body That the soule This Booke was rejected by the best Law and Reason that ever was read Facile est quic quid in presenti faculonocet illud grave c. Salv. de Eccl. lib. 2. yet the King vvas pleased to force it upon them and they forced it away The King pressed by an evill Councell pressed-on and sent Messengers again and again and then the Sword pressed on Then he vvent himselfe to the borders as often as Saul sent Messengers to fetch David-in The third time he went himselfe And vvhat he did there for and in behalfe of David I meane the true servants of GOD he knowes and GOD knowes and more then tvvo or three in the vvorld for his ovvn hand has made it legible pursuing David vvith the Sword and those that have an hand vvith David ever since His heart could not be vvith David the faithfull in the LORD in one Kingdome and his hand against them in another But how comes it to passe that the King we must speake out now or never has driven on-vvard furiously more then 4. yeares together pressing-on against the dravvn sword and yet the svvord has not taken him off from the earth We must say GOD is exceedingly patient and long-suffering but sure the prayers of them vvhom he persecutes has hitherto been as a shield over his head to keep off that deadly shower vve read of from falling on his hayry scalpe Psal 116. Prayers have turned back from him the svvord of the destroyer vvherevvith he assayed tvvice to have destroyed his native people or to make their necks stoop to an iron yoake Prayers have vvithheld from his lippes That horrible draught the portion of their Cup vvho vvalke in such vvayes fier and brimstone and an horrible tempest His good people have put up prayers for their King they are not wanting therein If they are wanting to their King it is in reproofes in telling him in plaine and down-right words as the Prophets before him That he is in a perishing way Certainly if they are wanting to their King it is in this they have not sent him a writing such as Iehoranâ— received wherein was written Lamentations Mourning and Woe 2 Chro. 21.12 They have sought GOD for their King and they have not sought Him in vaine therfore it is that he yet drives-on furiously to destroy David and those that have an hand with David and against the Angels sword in his way and yet the sword has not cut him off from the earth And his good people are not a weary they will continue seeking GOD for him still though he revile them they will blesse him See Thank-off p. 83.83 though defamed they entreat being persecuted they will suffer it For this is his good Peoples duty theirs whose duty it is to lye on their face but not theirs to whom GOD sayes now as unto Ioshua GET THEE VP there is an accursed thing which has thrust you from the Lord and it must be thrust away they must be cut off from the earth who have taken peace thence and have put forth their power to dethrone the LORD Christ Ioshus then and the Worthies of the LORD now must not lye upon their faces but according to the power that GOD has put into their hands they must oppose these actings of the evill spirit working effectually with the Princes of the earth I Remember now what the Scots did not 3. Yeeres agoe but almost as many hundred Their King Iames the third lived an idle life from the beginning of his Reigne which was the Seventh
Yeere of his Age He was no sooner Marryed but hee Doted and had a speciall gift in flattering himselfe Excluâ—a Nobilitate And those about him few or none of the Nobility the worst he could pick from cut of the Cities or Country quickly learnt the Court-Art and could flatter as well as their King but none more accurately then the Priests could doe They told their King he might doe what he listed he was King and his will was the Law Thereafter he might punish and might pardon and bestow his honours as he would and not as the Common Law wills but saies the Author all as hee wills so it must bee will was Law and King both and Commands all What a miserable Confusion was here The face of the Kingdome quite changed Nobles could not be heard nor the Law neither and good Men were Silent Some base Men or quite degenerate had the eare of their King and his heart and commanded his hand and they did all till they had almost undone all for they Monopolized the Common good of all the Subjects their King They Ingrossed his heart that deare Commodity So as That which should be as Rivers of water to Refresh the whole Kingdome they made as a sealed fountaine quite shut-up to all honest Men and open to c. In the Nick of Time there came an Ambassadour out of England if I well remember to treat of Peace and to seale it with a Marriage when the Prince and Princesse should come to age So great a businesse required consultation The King calls a Parliment He with his wicked Counsell has his end satisfaction of a Private will and to enlarge Private wealth The Nobles and Commons have their end the Common-wealth the publike Faith and Trust of the Kingdome They are all assembled the Lord Douglasse a faithfull Minister of State is their Speaker his Speech is long that which relates to the present is short He tells them wherefore they were called together what their Kings end what theirs the Kings businesse requires no haste the matters of the Kingdome does he opens unto them the sinke of the Court shewes the Nobles and Commons their Vassalage under these the vilest persons who stanke all the Kingdome over We are Nobles sayes he ye and we are a free people yet if we looke not to it quickly we must be made servants to the basest Masters the lusts of our King and his favourites who have stollen away our King his heart is gone quite alienated from his friends and betrayed to his enemies No sooner this was spoken and his speech ended but out he and the rest went Nobles and Commons and to the Court gate What is the mattes sayes the King We will plucke the evill Counsellours from your side said they The Question was quick the Answer was as quick They will have their demands and they have them those evill Counsellours the Plague and Pests of the King and Kingdome all but one and he was a youth too ingenuous to learne the art so quickly is spared at the request of the King but all the rest are given over unto them and they as quickly hang them up How did they doe for Ropes That might be a question indeed being so neare the Court gates Vt câ—m funes in re subâ—ta decsseâ—â— They made an honest shift for they hanged these evill men up with their horses bridles Perfidious Scots said some three years agoe Honest Scots say I and shall say so till I read and finde the contrary They will bestirre themselves when they see a Kingdome neare to ruine There is not the like story but a very notable one of Dursthus their eleventh King mentioned befoâ—e hee was slaine in battell by his owâ—e subjectâ— They â—re blamed for it to this day that they brake their Oath with their King No they did not he brake with them and was the most perfidious King that you shall read of in any Chronicle The case is plaine and the manner of resistance cleared to be as becommeth Israel then and now But all Israel comes not in now as they did then to help the LORD against the Mighty There will be excellent Reason given for this in the next Chapter CHAP. 8. Mans extremity is Gods opportunity David had a glorious deliverance when he was made meet for it So shall the Church have when their adversaries have filled up their measures When Gods People are purified in their furnace then their God will send them glorious Saviours and a glorious Salvation In the meane time they hold fast their confidence DAvids helpers came-in he was raised to a glorious condition here on earth the Crowne was set upon his head presently and there is mighty Reason why it was so His head was made meet for a Crowne he was fitted for deliverance All his strong holds were downe all his Altars the lying vanities whereto he trusted were as Chalke stones that are beaten asunder Isa 27.8 He was greatly distressed forsaken of all humane helps refuge failed all is gone and all the discouragements in the world were upon him yet at such a time he fainted not but encouraged himselfe in the LORD his GOD Then he could exalt GOD in that day Psal 18.12 he could say of Him Thou art my strength my Rocke my Fortresse c. he called upon the LORD in that day SO he was saved from his enemies and from the hand of Saul 2 Sam. 22. Our case is otherwise our helpers come-not-in as to David all as one man we are yet greatly distressed True you will say in some quarters of the Land but it is not every mans case and God forbid it should be so all the Land over So say I too Amen And yet it must be every mans case I meane not to suffer all alike the spoyling of our goods but to be affected and afflicted for what others our Brethren and Sisters doe suffer that way this must be every mans case to have a sympathy a fellow-feeling of what others doe suffer wee must suffer all in compassion before we are dâ—livered every man must beare his part Heb. 10.33 partly sayes the Apostle whilest we were made a gazing stocke both by reproaches and assliâ—â—ions and partly while ye became companions of them that were so used If we examine our case by this Scripture it will tell us how fit and meet wee are for deliverance which we wonder does linger so long The sword has greatly distressed our land how has it wrought upon the oppressed therein or what compassion in those who have not yet been oppressod by it Surely it may be answered Perdidistis utilitatem calamitatii miseâ—rimi fâ—cti estis pessimi permansistis Aug. de Civis l. 1. c. 33. that the most of us have lost the fruit of all this sore wrath which has lyon upon our neighbours these many yeares and upon our owne land these few moneths which yet
those few prevailed for the evill was from themselves the accursed thing is in Israels Camp There is a deep matter in it said Iob A root of wickednesse it must be discovered and rooted out before The LORD will take off His hand Who gave Iacob for aspoile and Israel to the robbers Did not The LORD Isa 42.24 He against Whom we have sinned For they would not walke in His wayes neither be obedient to His law Verse 25. Therefore He hath poured upon him the fury of His anger and the strength of battell The anger of the LORD is kindled against His people and He hath stretched forth His hand against them and their carcasses were torne in the midst of the streets Then the LORD was pacified towards His people was He not No for all this His anger is not turned away but His hand is stretched out still The Syrians before and the Philistines behinde and they shall devoute Israel with open mouth Now The LORD is pacified No not yet For all this His anger is not turned away but His hand is stretched out still And the very same reason now as then For the people tâ—rneth not unto Him That smiteth them neither doe they seeke The LORD of bosts Therefore His hand is stretched out still It is repeated againe and againe to assure us if we proceed in our sinning before The LORD He will proceed in punishing before all Israel and before the Sunne till we repent of our sins He will not repent of His sore plagues He will proceed to smite till our uncircumcised hearts be humbled till we can accept of our punishment and say from an ingenuous and humble spirit The LORD is righteous in all that He has done against us Till this be we shall finde it will be thus His anger is not turned away but His hand is stretched out still I will punish you seven times more for your sinnes and I will breake the pride of your power Levit. 26.18 i. e. If you will walk contrary to Me I will walk contrary to you And now consider we with all our hearts how contrary we have walked We thinke the wrath that lyes upon the land is sore and heavy and indeed it is so But consider we was it a light provocation to prophane The LORDS day to mar the beauty of it more then any other day The Bishops gave command for that you will say That is true Therefore the land has spewed them forth You shall heare more of their rough hand and bloudy designes But never any more of their unrighteous decrees and grievousnesse Be the Nations never so angry they shall never prevaile to bring in Bishops againe But the people were content to have it so to have The LORDS Day so prophaned to have such a scorne put upon it And therefore if we be trod-upon all the land over as mire in the streets And if the land should now lye-fallow and keep her Sabbaths we must acquit The LORD and say Hee is righteous But I will not reckon up particular sins for they are infinite We are conluded Great and marvellous are Thy workes LORD GOD ALMIGHTY just and true are Thy wayes Thou King of Saints for Thy judgements are made manifest Rev. 15.3 2. The LORD makes His Adversaries successefull gives them power over His people to put forth all their wrath against them as at this day I say all their wrath never was there such a wrath boiled to such a height of rage as now it is at this day for it is agâ—iâ—â—â— David and his men put forth by Davids King and his men which will be a scorching wrath and it shall be put forth to the utmost extent because under specious shewes and formall pretences to maintaine our Lawes by lawlesse men our Liberties by companies of Robbers our Religion by Papists the bloudiest men that are or ever were in the world haters of GOD and the power of godlinesse This will be a bloudy persecution the roughest hand will be put forth now that ever was put forth against the Church for it is put forth against David and his men as was said by Davids King and his men for Reasons so specious and formall in some mens eyes as aforesaid Never any Popes were greater oppressors then those that had the most specious names Pope Godly Pius Pope Harmlesse Innocent Pope Civill Vrban these were wicked Popes yet not more wicked then they who have a form and specious pretences They will make a people free by oppressing their Lawes and them under the foot of pride c. and their King glorious so they say by making him a Lord over a conquered Nation Vnum aliqueâ— voluptate ac deliciis flâ—ere gementibus undique ac lament antibus aliiâ— hoc non est Regni sed carceris esse custodem Th. Aâ—â— Vâ—â—p and that sayes Sir Thomas Moore is not to be a King over men but a Taylor over Captives To be a Keeper of a prison and not chiefe Guardian in a Kingdome Yet the LORD may suffer these men or rather beasts in the shape of men to goe-on to the length of their chaine and to prosper so as it may be said The Tabernacles of Robbers prosper and they that provoke GOD are secure into whose hand the LORD bringeth abundantly GOD is righteous so we are resolved But why is it so For excellent Reason That their Adversaries may fill up their measure apace and heighten their destruction which will be in all His peoples sight as lifted-up even to the Skies Their rage reacheth to heaven so shall their judgment also Secondly GOD useth the wicked as Scullions to try His people and to purge and to make them white so perfecting His praise and His Churches salvation to make His people MEET for deliverance as we shall heare by and by GOD does not suffer this viperous generation to run at large laxis habenis as a best with reines on nâ—ck that they might satisfie their lusts upon His people though so they do and GOD suffers it to be done but that is not Gods end this God intends The purifying the purging the humbling of His servants that their lusts may be subdued the lusts of the Eye of the world and Pride of life This is Gods end the very purpose of His heart to make a people meet for deliverance when this is done the Rod shall be cast into the fire the tabernacles of the Robbers shall be destroyed and they sent to their owne place We wait and God waits We have waited three yeares God has waited eighty yeareâ— we wait for deliverance GOD waits for glory in waiting to shew mercy we shall have our waitings in good time when His people shall be truly humbled for then they shall see their desire upon their enemies and give GOD the glory of all His worke even of His strange workâ— for Thirdly When His people are meet for deliverance they shall be delivered