bring his cause to a period in three moneths he is dismist of course unlesse it be necessary to send Commissions beyond seas between Merchant and Merchants or in very difficult cases and where the witnesses are in forreigne parts rare The contrary practise whereunto is but as a sweet harmonie to Satan for does not he laugh to see a murderer escape through a misnaming or mistake in the Indictment and a poore man that cannot read hanged for a sheep or some corne taken to relieve his poore wife and children to see a man that hath an estate to walke abroad and confront his creditors though a prisoner in execution and a poore wretch not worth ten pounds thrust into a hole untill he pay one hundred pounds which he is no more able to doe then the Phylosopher to dry the sea with an Oyster shell It is not Cor gaudium to him to heare learned men say that the Plaintiffe hath a cleere right and title to the Land or money demanded but because of some mistake in the bill or proceedings he must pay costs to the Defendant that is the wrong doer Blessed God! did thy sacred Majestie dispence with the breach of thy holy Law to save the life of an Oxe or a Sheep that should fall into a pit on the Sabboth day and shall not thy servanti dispence with a circumstance where the right plainely appeares to save the life of a family nothing is substanciall in a course of Iustice but what is equall reasonable and good all other formes or methodes are but in effect Poperie or Turcisme as being a slavery to mens persons or estates and to be abolisht by vertue of the Covenant which in the equity of that branch of the Hierarchy I speake of the Ceremoniall and Circumstanciall formes and proceedings which are costly delatory and mortiferous but the essence of the Law like the substance of the doctrine of the Church of England truly so called not as Constituted in a Gospell order but in opposition to Rome as Antichrist is said to sit in the Temple of God and Rome called a Church in opposition to Turks and Pagans is in most things inviolable inalterable and immutable for indeed the Law of England is ancienter then books the maine pillar whereof is the righteous Law of God according to which the reformation must be otherwise it is impossible to have any setled peace in a Commonwealth where every one does or may study Scripture it is pure sollid reason whereof to deprive any Law Custome or Course of a Court is to take away the soule from man for where the Law or any Course of Practise is taken upon trust by tradition and not upon election and choice of reason the greatest tiranny and oppression is exercised by collour of that Law which puts oppression both into one Act and an Art but then this Law must be publique reason that which the Iudicious and most learned men judge so to be not the sense or Iudgement of any private man for that will be as dangerous to the Commonwealth as the private interpretation of Scripture arising out of some mens braines and not out of the Scripture it selfe is to their soules 2 Pet. 1. 20. and 3. 16. by misinterpreting and drawing them violently from the true sense to a false one to uphold their errors as it is possible some may uphold old errors against new truthes for advantage sake for there is a remnant of old Adam in the best man The two great enemies that S. Paul had were two Smiths the silver Smith and the Copper Smith that got much money by making silver and copper chaines or Image to the Heathen Gods and Goddesses Acts 25. 24. to the 28. great is Diana and 1 Tim. 4. 14. Now because it is of very high concernement for all that are servants to the Commonwealth in publique imployments to live in the opinion of all good men as the best and strongest fortification and engagement to faithfulnes and diligence therefore having received some loving advertisements from some faithfull friends in England as if we proceeded here irregularly or arbitrarily in matters of Iustice that some turned the Law into Preaching that had other busines to do and that Ministers are harshly dealt with or to that effect knowing that truth is very welcome and reason very prevalent with your Honors I crave leave to answer first as to the administration of Civill Iustice in this Province thus it stands my Lord Lieutenant the dayes of whose life the Lord of life multiply and sweeten to the further Terror of his Enemies and greater comfort of his deere servants upon many petitions from the Inhabitants of the Province of Munster was pleased to revive the Presidencie Court there as formerly consisting of the Lord President two Gownemen viz a first and second Iustice and other Commissioners My Lord Deputie who is a blessed Instrument and indefatigable in the works of holines and righteousnes for the great ease and safety of the people hath altered the Provinciall Court into County Courts that whereas before the people travailed fourty or fifty miles now their differences are ended at home in the nature of Assizes or sittings And the Honorable Commissioners of Parliament promoting the true liberties and freedome of the people have given great ease to them in taking away some needlesse offices and in matter of Fees there being seldome twenty shillings spent in a cause by all parties unlesse it be in Councells Fees which are ascertained and but very small in comparison I doe not in the twenty shillings include the charge of witnesses which yet is very small not goeing out of their owne County but the Fees usuall which are allowed to the officers Iury Clarks and Attorneys for the Court hath not any every man pleading his owne Cause which I observe to be a good way for discovering the truth The forme and method of proceedings hath not by me been altered in any point considerable but indeed the originall constitution of the Court seeme to me to be excellent in foure particulars The first proces of the Churt hath ever been a summons in the nature of a Subpena then an attatchement or distresse of the defendants goods not restraining his person but for matter of Contempt or upon very just and reasonable cause Secondly It is a mixt Court and the Bill may containe both Law and equitie whereby halfe the suites in the Province are ended or prevented but hath no Cognizance of Pleas reall concerning titles of Land Thirdly The Cause is heard and ended as soone as it is ripe for hearing indeed herein is some alteration for whereas formerly there were but two or three sittings in a yeare the Iustices and practizers attending the upper Courts at Dublin in the Terme-time and so causes depended long Now having no other busines to doe wee end the difference as soone as it is prepared for a hearing which some how Iustly let wise men Iudge
and humanity are inseperable it was in too much neglecting himselfe for like a candle hee wasted his vitalls to give light to others seldome thinking it time to eat till he had done the worke of the day at nine or ten at night and then will sit up as long as any man had busines with him indeed he was every thing from a foot Souldier to a Generall and thought nothing done whilst any thing was undone his last tedious and wet march into Conaught for the reducing of Clare and other Castles after the rendition of Lymericke cost him deere as I understand occasioning the fever his heavenly Father would not suffer him to dye by the hand of the enemy nor of the Pestilence whereby many of his deere servants have beene called home he was a most exact Iusticiarie in all matters of morall righteousnes and with strength of sollid reason had a most piercing Iudgement and a large understanding heart to discerne betweene good and evill truth and error hee was one of those good Magistrates prophesied of in Rom. 13. and his conversation was a true interpretation of that Text being so intent to Gods honor that he never thought himself served or be friended in any Action unles God was therein served and honored let us minde our duty sayes hee and what Scripture have you to warrant it I believe few men knew more of the Art of Policy and selfe interessed prudentialls but never man so little practized them he is and shall be most deere to my remembrance and of all the Saints that ever I knew I desire to make him my President for uprightednes singleheartednes and sincerity he exercised it to his enemies Oh sayes he deale platnely with them let them know what they must trust too and though hee was very sparing in his promises to the Rebells yet he was most liberall in performances he had a very cleere divine light of truthes supernaturall and being strong in faith and of a most humble and meeke spirit gave God the glory of all successe upon the least losse we received by the Irish or any disappointment Oh sayes he is not our God angry with us let us be fervent in prayer to know his minde in every checke or chastisement as upon the losse in attempting the Island by Lymericke where gallant Major Walker lost his life He wrote to Colonell Lawrence and others of us here by the name of his Christian friends and brethren to be earnest with the Lord to know his minde what he would have his poore servants in the Army to doe I doe verily thinke that since the Apostles dayes there was never more Divine breathing of the Spirit of Christ in any Letter then in that He had a most noble propertie that if any man was questioned or censured behind his backe he would be his Counsell and argue for him every thing that could be rationally alledged never did man in the owning of his Authority more disowne himselfe hee was a most exemplary Christian in duties of piety and Religion alwayes beginning and ending Conferences Councells with prayer seeking wisedom advise and strength from God upon all occasions he had constantly when in Garison an exercise before supper and though he satt in Councell till eight or nine at night yet by his good will the discourse should not be the shorter but when Mr. Pacient a man of great experience in heavenly things or any other seemed to be strained in time he would say let us not thinke that time too long in Gods immediate service and when others had spoken to any disputable and usefull question hee would speake with that depth of Iudgement ever tending to unity and unanimity in opinions and affections that to my slender apprehensions I doe not know that ever I heard him maintaine any error and was willing to heare truth from the Souldier when the sicknes encreased the last yeare he appointed not onely one or two dayes to seeke the Lord to revoke that Comission but every fourth day of the weeke for six weeks together and sure it is a blessed thing when Moses speaks to Aaron the Magistrate to all Gods people to be servent in prayer when wrath is gone out from the Lord and the Plague begin Num. the 16. 46. his estimat or character of a godly man was not principally that he was of such a sorme opinion judgement or attainement but where he found the maine bent and resolution of his scule to be to know God in the face of Iesus Christ and to promote his glory to serve the Saints to begin or second a good motion with all his might to doe good to every visible object to love the first appearances and cherish the least sparks of grace and Image of Christ in whom soever existing and to renounce the honors profits and pleasures of this life for Christs sake who became of no reputation for us he greatly delighted in the Communion of Saints and made union with Christ and not any other opinion the ground of it which is the onely foundation of that Church against which the gates of hell shall never prevaile as that sweet spirited Christian Mr. Iesse hath unanswerably evinced he would often say to this effect that there was no honor like to the service of Iesus Christ and let our ambition be who shall be most instrumentall for God in his generation and having done our worke with all diligence let us trust God for our wages but halfe worke is not pleasing to God I know the want of some distinguishing ordinances was a burden to him and I am afraid that our heavenly Father hath a controversie with many of us in Ireland for severall deficiencies or redundancies as first our undervallueing the Lords Supper I am afraid sometimes that God will make the lesse account of our bloods and of our children because we so little esteeme if not trample under-foot the blood of his Son in that Ordinance if a Christian cannot conveniently enjoy it yet he should mourne for the want of it Secondly for not Sanctifying the Lords Day the morallity whereof too many deny and such as hold it yet upon every triviall and slight busines which might have been done the day before or deferred till the day after forget to keep it holy I agree that works of necessity and mercy may be done upon that day where it is really so of Gods sending and for publique utillity but a culpable necessity of our owne making will not excuse the breach of that holy Law Thirdly that when the honest interest is strugling for life some should be striving for estates or rather when Iesus Christ is daily Crucified in his members by the bloody Tories there should be emulations and contentions amongst us for superiority or prudencie as was amongst the Apostles that whereas S. Paul only commands to render honor to whom honor is due Rom. 13. 7. wee are too ready to assume titles of honor which are
Parliament leaving the body of Antichristian Goverment by Bishops as before or if the body of Antichrist come to be destroyed and the thighes leggs or feet onely remaining in any Coercive Presbiters when Kings will play at small games rather then sit out and joyne with any people in the world to persecute the people of God see the end of such Kings ver 14. They shall make warre with the Lambe and the Lambe shall overcome them for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithfull and this Arraignement of Monarchs and Grandees for abusing the Spouse of Christ shall not be onely upon the puritie of Intention which will not Iustifie any Irregular Action for to Act Irregularly upon an Impetus or Impulsive spirit makes Scripture uselesse but according to naturall Iustice and common equitie that when Kings shall proclaime the Saints Traitors Heretiques and Rebells because they will not fall downe and worship the Lord according to human inventions and shall raise Armies to destroy them as enemies to their Crowne and dignities such Kings have forfeited their Civill Rights as the Kings of Canaan did and honest faithfull righteous men chosen by the people shall be their successors to whom by vertue of the equity of the Oathes of Allegiance and Supremacy the people are to be true and faithfull as to the Lord for whom and by whose lawes they preside and regulate their Administrations and other obligation lies upon no man by vertue of any such Oath that he formerly tooke for there is no other successor the wisedome of God hath in Iustice so ordered it and He that is Truth when men are lyars is also wise when they are fooles for the oath was only binding to the positique capacity to be true to the King so farr as he was true to the Lawes and safety of the people Hee that tooke it in any other sense made the King a God infallible and impeccable when he sets up a standard of defiance against them is any man so unsound in his intellectualls as to thinke that the oath obliges him to stand still and suffer his owne throat to be cut No oath can tye any man to doe or suffer that which is destructive to humanity and as for Christians certainely by that statute of Numb 30. what ever any Christian vowes without the consent of her husband Iesus Christ is meerely voyd in Law and a precipitate rash oath as that of David against Nabal I Sam. 25. 22. binds not but to repentance Levit. 5. 4. 5. If it be objected that Iosua fought against Kings of another Nation as Gods people in England did not what forraigne assistance hath been in that kinde I shall not dispute but the answer is very easie that the neerenes of the relation much aggravates the offence on the Royalists part If ambitious Princes would give Commissions of Array against forraigners and not to destroy their owne people then it might be but a sin against the sixt and eight Commandement but to destroy his own Countreymen is a complicate offence of Treason also and a sin against the fift Commandement as well as the other two to betray those that trusted him and certainly had not the Parliament executed the late King the Danes or some others might have destroyed them for God binds his people by his legall Commands to Act and accomplish his designes and to destroy all Tirants and oppressors and to say who ever heard of such a thing before is an argument wherewith onely ignorant poore people are taken as the people said when Iesus Christ cast out the dumbe Spirit Matth. 9. 33. 34. it was never so seene in Israel he casteth out Divells through the Prince of Divells wee doe not read that God ever dealt with any Saint as with Iob yet Iob was no hypocrite I say the Lord hath layd an absolute Command upon the Parliament to proceed as they have done upon paine of his high displeasure and being guilty of high treason against the Majesty a terme not fit for any mortall man because higher then that wee cannot give of Heaven and of being utterly destroyed if they had not done it and that stroke put England into a salvable condition for doe but consider how severely the Lord dealt with Israel and Iudah when their Princes turned Lions and Wolves Then the Lord gave them a King in his anger 1 Sam. 8. 7. and Hosea 13. 11. ver I gave them a King in mine anger and tooke him away in my wrath will any man say that Sauls office of being King was of Divine ordination which was done in anger all Gods ordinances are appointed in love for the good of his people and Divine and humane society but Sauls being made King displeased the Lord and it is very remarkable that on the day and at the very houre of election Samuel dealt justly with them and told them of their great evill in rejecting God and his Goverment 17 18 19. and Samuel called the people together unto the Lord to Mizpeh and said unto the Children of Israel thus saith the Lord God of Israel I brought up Israel out of Egypt and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all Kingdoms and of them that oppressed you and yee have this day rejected your God who himselfe saved you out of all your adversities and tribulations and yee have said unto him Nay but set a King over us but though the Kingly Government displease God yet observe how gently Saul behaved himselfe to the people 1 Samuel 11. 12. There were some that would not have Saul raigne over them which the people would have had put to death but Saul said ver 13. There shall not be a man put to death this day whereas the Monarchs of the world make men offendors for a word one man for speaking in jest that he will make his sonne heire of the Crowne meaning a house that had that signe in Cheape-side and another for saying there goes Ed. 6. in Coleman-street have been most Tirannically murdered and executed Saul was never so bloody minded But one passage I may not omit the Holy Ghost foreseeing that Monarchy would have many Advocates to plead for its divine right for the satisfaction of all that will not wilfully shut out the light calls this importunitie of the Israelites to have a King to be a great wickednes and such a sin that the Lord will not let goe unpunished but sent unreasonable weather thunder and raine in wheat harvest Proverbs 26. 1. As snow in summer and as raine in harvest so honor is not seemely for a foole I hope England will not forget the wet season in summer 1648. how it was mid-winter at mid-summer and certainely the works of God have a voice and are most eloquent to his owne people what the Lord did to the Israelites for their asking a King England hath great
blush at it of the danger infamy and horror of perjurie remembring them of Ananias and Saphira who for telling a lye without any oath were strucken dead upon the place that their Popes have been monsters of mankinde conjurers witches and divells in a humane figure that Priests and Friars are very cheats and theeves in robbing poore deluded simple people that their Priests by their Law are not to marry and by custome not to live chast that the pretended miracles they brag on are meere impostures that their true miracles are onely such as these their Priests to have no wives and yet many children Friars to have no ground and yet most corne no money nor vineyards yet the best Sellars of wines and provisions that it is a miracle that they doe not all rise as one man against the Pope for his cruelty that having power as they hold and himselfe confesses to let out and discharge all their ancestors friends from Purgatory which they say is as hot as Hell fire yet will not doe because they have not money enough to give him and his Priests for it that their Religion is wholly composed and patcht up of Iudaisme Paganisme and Turcisme and as many absurdities in those points they differre from Protestants as there have been minutes of time since they crept in amongst them which some call preaching Innovation though in effect it is no other then what some of the Reverend Iudges in England have mentioned in their charges in the Circuits upon the Statutes of Recusancy which expressions though for the matter of them they must seeme to exasperate yet the manner of delivery may much mollifie and salve it we pitie their blindnes that their soules should be so deluded and they perceiving that it is so spoken in love and that we would not displease them but inteutionally for their owne good they are not angry with that Surgeon that cuts and lanches the patient desiring to cure him but concerning the last part of the objection that wee have silenced the Clergie in Munster to make way for our selves to vent our owne opinions because I understand that the matter of fact concerning that particular hath been untruly represented and a false disguise put upon it as godly learned Ministers were thereby discouraged from coming over hither where they are so much wanting and should be so cordially welcome I presume briefely to report the true state thereof at my coming into Munster I found the Clergie there generally sequestred for delinquencie against the Parliament in having adhered to the Lord of Ormondes and Lord Inchiquines illegall authorities after their being declared Traytors which resolutions were printed with their names thereunto which was not denied scarce by any of them my Lord Lieutenant looking upon it something like the generall case in Adam that man who was the master peece of the creation was wholly lost was pleased to referre the said Clergies Petition to Sir William Fenton Colonell Phaier and my selfe to proceed against them in like manner as the Honorable Committee at Westminster proceed against scandalous Delinquents or insufficieut Ministers which we did accordingly and in his Excellencies absence attended my Lord Deputies pleasure therein who joyned Esquire Gookin Dr. Harding Colonell Hodder and Capt. Baker with us and as in all his Actions having in his eye the glory of God and the goodtof poore Creatures required us to Act therein as might most conduce to the publique good we endeavoured what we could to seperate the precious from the impure and to distinguish betweene murder and manslaughter viz. though they had all contracted and were involved in a generall guilt by that subscription and consequently obnoxious to Iustice because a greater difference could not possibly have been done to the Parliament then for the Provinciall Ministers to declare their Iudgments and resolutions to assist and adhere to those Traytors for no doubt but thereby many of the English which had so much suffered by the Rebells were taken off from their former good affection faithfulnes to the Parliaments just authority being like so many poore sheep ruled by those whom they call their spirituall Sheepheards yet becanse many of them might be drawne thereunto for their own preservations as the case then stood with them and upon the matter forced to subscribe rather to save their livings then out of any disaffection to the proceedings of Parliament such of them as did acquit themselves from scandall in life and doctrine and were gifted for the Ministerie are continued and enjoy their benefices without diminution unlesse it be in case of pluralities and truly for my owne part I found much Ingennitie in many of them and wherein they differ from us I take it to be from a consciencious principle hope daily pray that there may be a right understanding and better agreement between all honest and consciencious people that feare the Lord that we may all as one man with one shoulder labour to exalt the Kingdome of Iesus Christ and to advance holines rigbteousnes in our severall Actions but indeed the harvest is like to be very great in this Nation and the laborers in Christ Vineyard are very few many poore English here are like corne ready to be brought into Gods Barne by Conversion but there are very few painfull skilfull harvest-men pray we therefore the Lord of the Vineyard that hee will send forth Laborers unto his Vineyard or as the words are cast them out for men are very slow in so holy a worke Preachers that have the tongue of the Learned that know how to speake words in season acceptable and delighfull Esay 50. 4. Ecles 12. 10. able Ministers of the new Testament 2 Cor. 3. 6. who by an ordinance of heaven ought to have a comfortable maintenance 1. Cor. 9. 14. Gal. 6. 6. And as I was concluding came the sad newes of the translation of our incomparable Lord Deputie the truly Honorable Henry Ireton Esquire therefore though I feare I have already exceeded the limitts of an Epistle yet my heart being so brimfull of grief I humbly beg Your wonted Clemency and much Honored patience that it may a little vent and run over in a few broken words though bedewed with teares his Death is such an Ecclipse to poore Ireland that may be best felt understood many yeers hence indeed England and Scotland and all sorts of people in the three Nations especially the poore oppressed fatherlesse and widowes to whome he was upon all occasions a patron father and husband have no small cause of lamentation never had Commonwealth a greater losse because undoubtedly there was never a more able painefull provident and industrious servant that with more wisedom prudence faithfulnes fortitude and selfe-deniall discharged his duty to all people and acted every part so well since he first appeared to publique view as if he had been borne only for that particular if he erred in any thing as error
did that which was right in his own eyes Chap. 18. 1. and 19. 1. repeated upon the occasion of the abuse and murder of the Levites Concubine where the Holy Ghost does not meane such a King as Abimelecke or as the Gentiles had to breath life into the Lawes by his Royall assent for such a King the people of Israel never had nor owned in the Land of Canaan not a man that challenged a power unaccomptable to oppresse murder sweare plunder and commit all manner of wickednes without controle such a monster being fitter to carry garbidge to Beares then to live amongst Civill people but there was then no man zealous for Gods glory to fight for Israel and to judge them according to the Law of God therefore the Lord raised up Samuel a singular man for Iustice and mercie 1 Sam. 1. 28. Hanah his Mother lent him the Lord Chap. 3. The Word of the Lord was revealed unto him he dealt faithfully in telling Eli what the Lord commanded thereupon he was established to be a Prophet of the Lord vers 20. Chap. 7. He exhorteth to solemne Repentance then they make him a Iudge vers 6. being so he yet prayed and sacrificed and the Lord discomfited the Philistines by Thunder and Samuel judged Israel all his dayes and went Circuits carrying home Iustice to the peoples houses and built an Altar unto the Lord having ver 12. taken a stone and called the name of it Ebenezer saying hitherto hath the Lord helped us Iudges being to take speciall care that God may be purely worshipped and glorified and that Gods people may not forget the mercie of the Lord in destroying their Enemies Certainly Moses and Samuel were two of the best Iudges that ever were in the world and are to be as patternes and looking-glasses to all Magistrates so that as he is the best Christian that is most like unto Iesus Christ so he is the best Iudge that is most like unto Moses and Samuel Moses Exod. 18. 13. sat to Iudge the people who stood by him from the morning untill the evening he ended the businesse of the day with the day ver 16. sayes he I Iudge betweene one man and another and I make them know the Statutes of God and his Lawes if a Iudge can but teach people the Statutes of God and his Lawes his worke is in a good forwardnes and more then halfe done In that Samuel is commended for telling Eli the destruction of his house it argues that the best part of faithfulnes is to discover the abuses and errors in any profession as being best knowne unto them for the end of the professors and of every ones profession ought to be the same viz. the welfare of the body politique therefore whereas there are many Ieofailes rubs that lie in the Allies of Iustice that poore men are overborne in their righteous causes by full purses which the Reverend Iudges proceeding regularly as they find the course of the Court cannot remedie without the power of Parliament I have seriously thought that oppressions in Courts of Iustice have been spun by the late Courtiers with so fine a threed that few but those that daily meet with it in practise can see it and therefore unlesse it please God to move the hearts of the honorable Iudges in pure love to Iustice to propound fit remedies to the Parliament plaisters that may be large enough for the wound I meane an Act of Retranchement to cut off all unnecessary delayes and expences in matter of Iustice between man and man that poore men may have it for Gods sake the rich for reasonable consideration it will lye very remote from the understandings of many worthy publike spirited men what course to take therein without which all the warres have been but as purgings and vomitings the health of a State consisting in the equallity and harmony of Iustice and all Martiall Iustice is sanctified by the Civill Iustice as for example if one of the Reverend Iudges would make it his suite to the Parliament that a bargaine and sale might be as strong as a fine Recovery that a poore Farmer or Cottager might leave some small portions to his yonger Children without paying one or two yeares purchase for the charge of a fine and recovery what an ease might this be to men of small estates to passe them from one to another and to cut off Intailes by a deed in writing without so much solemnitie and expence if another would set forth the unprofitablenes of Outlawries which are to no purpose but to multiply expence And a third be earnest for an Act to plead the generall Issue in all Actions and at the Assises to insist wholly upon the merit of the Cause whether the money be due or not whether the Plaintiffe have right to the Land or not I am confident it would make sweet musicke in Parliament I do not intend to dispute the lawfulnes of Legall proceedures in point of conscience to them that Iudge them so but in point of comfort at the day of Iudgment let me humbly propound this to those that sit in the seat of Iustice whether it appearing to them that the defendant hath paid the money though it be after the day of payment limited in the Condition or that the money is payd upon a single Bill where payment by Law is no plea or that the Plaintiff in an Ejectment hath a cleere right to the Land but the lease Entry and Ejectment was not proved in due forme of Law or if a wilfull murder be committed and so found by the Iury but there is a word mistaken in the Indictment whereby the murderer escapes for that Assises and so the matter compounded or the prosecutor desists and the Plaintiff in the Ejectment must begin againe having lost his own charges and payd above five pound costs to the defendant who continues the wrong keeps the Lands unjustly from the plaintif the defendant that hath paid the money is forced to fly into Chancery for reliefe where the unjust Plaintiff at Law refuses to appeare or else demurrs because he hath a Iudgement at Law or the witnesses dead and so the poore defendant taken in execution and buried above ground in prison for ten pound where the principle debt was but five pound and that paid though not at the prefixt day and so proved to the Iury I say whether it would not be easier for thē to give an accompt of reforming such errors then otherwise but if by the Parliaments intention in altering the Iudges oathes enjoyning them onely to proceed according to Iustice the Iudge may not of himselfe moderate such like extremities then of what huge concernment must it needs be humbly and earnestly to sollicite for present remedies for what souldier can with comfort fight with a blunt sword it is a great joy to Physicians to cure their Patients but if any dye under their hands when they might by a little
to feare the Lord his God to keep all the words of this Law and these Statutes to doe them ver 20. that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren and that he turne not aside from the Commandement to the right hand or to the left to the end that he may prolong his dayes in his Kingdome he and his Children in the midst of Israel And they read those words I will set a King over me which is spoken by the people Thou shalt set a King over thee as if God had commanded a Kingly Goverment in Canaan which was only permissive as the sin of Adam let them have a King at their owne perill saith the Lord The Lord foresaw that the Israelites would rebell and cast off a happy Goverment by the heads of the people and Iudges and God permits it and Moses speakes of the election and dutie of a King the election is from the people they will have a King whether the Lord will or no where by the way wee may take notice how bold many have beene and poore deluded Royalists still are to wrest the Scripture for the advancement of Monarchy when men dare say that in the Hebrew it is that Moses commands them to elect a King which the holy Scripture reproves in them as the greatest insanity madnes in the world that when they may have honest Religious men to go in out before them that will not oppresse them nor exalt themselves above their brethren that they will notwithstanding inslave themselves to the Arbitrary and lawlesse Iusts of one man and his posteritie whether they be Idiots Children knaves Theeves Murderers Fornicators Gluttons Drunkards Idolators or Women which though never so wise Religious and mercifull as by reason of the tendernes of their spirits and want of temptation I believe there are more godly women then men in the world yet it is against the law of God and Nature to make Millions of men subject to the commands of a woman but blessed be God that the knowledge of the Hebrew language is not necessary to bring an English man to heaven Iosua had the honour to conduct them into Canaan and they tooke it into possession but there was a remnant of the Canaanites left unsubdued to prove them as the law is Deut. the 20. from the 16. 10 the 18. which I the rather mention for the Illustration of the equitable proceedings in Ireland the Lambe Iudges and makes war in Righteousnes Revel 19. 11. Every Souldier hath been as a Iudge to execute the Iudgment written Psal 149. 9. farre be it from Gods servants to slay the righteous with the wicked Genes 18. 23. No such beatificall sight as to see a Murderer that hath imbrued his hands in the effusion of Innocent blood to suffer the most painefull and shamefull death that can be imagined but the Children of those Murderers ought not to be put to death for their originall sin as we read in the case of Amaziah 2 Kings 14. 5. 6. And it came to passe as soone as the Kingdome was confirmed in his hand that hee slew his servants which had slaine the King his Father But the Children of the Murderers he slew not according unto that which is written in the booke of the law of Moses wherein the Lord commanded saying the Fathers shall not be put to death for the Children nor the Children be put to death for the Fathers but every man shall be put to death for his owne sinne Deut. 24. 16. And many that by reason of their wicked principles and adherence to the Pope are not fit to be trusted in Garisons yet receive rents for their houses or estates there Ezek. 18. 20. The soule that sinneth it shall dye the sonne shall not beare the iniquity of the Father neither shall the Father beare the iniquitie of the Son the righteousnes of the righteous shall be upon him and the wickednes of the wicked shall be upon him Now by the equitie of that law Deut. 20. 16. where Gods people shall reside they being chief in Command may and ought for their owne securities expell delinquents and malignants out of London or any Garrison in England or Ireland for a time or for ever as may conduce to the Weale publique and their owne safeties whose lives are so precious in the Lords esteeme But here I meet a Goliah in the way that threatens much but the spirit of God is not in it and therefore it is but as a statue that God had given the land of Canaan by promise to Israel and therefore they might justly maintaine a warr to destroy the Canaanites Hittites Amorites Perizites Hivites and Iebusites and there being no command to destroy the Gibeonites Deut. 20. 17. therefore the league with them was lawfull Ios 9. wherein the warr may be judged lawfull on both sides for Iosua to fight having a command from God and the Canaanites to defend their possession not knowing of any such command but is there the same reason to destroy ancient Monarchyes when they oppose Iesus Christ and wil not suffer his people to enjoy their liberties which he hath purchased for them by his precious blood Answer Yes doubtlesse there are as evident promises for the Churches of Christ in this age of the world to be redeemed out of Antichristian bondage by the Moseses Iosuas Sampsons Gideons Iepthahs and Samuels which the Lord shall raise up to be instruments in his hand to save his people as there were in Moses and Iosuas ages that the Church of Israel should be delivered from the Egyptian slavery and reason to me cleerely makes it out that if a promise of an earthly Canaan were a ground of the Churches Warre much more their spirituall liberties that if I may defend my house by force from theeves and robbers certainly I may defend my selfe in the exercise of my spirituall liberties which are ten thousand times deerer to me if I may fight for a peece of glasse may I not engage for a precious pearle that is invalluable The Kings of Canaan might have pleaded antiquity succession and the peoples consent which no King can plead against Gods people in the matter of their spirituall priviledges God will have the Monarchs of the world know that whatever Civill right they may pretend to their Kingdomes where they have by force or flattery gained the peoples consent as the honest man parts with his purse to save his life yet they must not upon paine of forfeiting their Royalties persecute his friends and servants Kings that stile themselves Defenders of the Faith if they prove offendors of the faithfull God will take away their Kingdomes in a way of Iustice and righteousnes when any of the 10. Kings having formerly given their power and strength to the beast Revel 17. 12. shall afterwards cut off his head as Henry the eight used the Pope in taking away his supremacy and making himselfe head of the Church by Act of
which may not be mee thinks it should have been the continuance of a Kingly Goverment in England to have had the preeminence and power in one Good Gracious Iust Mercifull Valiant Faithfull and Patient Man as a Moses or a Iob Iehosophat Iosiah or Hezekiah that would dye for the people A Christian that like his Saviour Iesus Christ goes about doeing good Acts 10. 28. that makes it his trade to relieve the poore people the father lesse and widow and such as are oppressed and his recreation to sit down at night and thinke upon it and that day which he hath done no good in he counts it lost A man whose maine resolution of his soule is to know God as accounting it the most honorable thing in the world for the Creature to know its Creator that counts it his chiefest good to promote the glory of God to doe good if it were possible to every visible object and living creature at least to pray for them A man that loves the Saints as his owne soule for Christs sake knowing he will reward him and puts forward every good motion withall his might that will renounce his owne honour and become of no reputation and thinke himselfe highly honored if by the meanest office of love he may be serviceable to any specially to the Elect if such a man had a plenartie of power to doe what he pleased without controle from a blessed principle of love to God what aboundance of good might an E. 6. have done had his dayes been numerous whom God onely shewed to the world and recalled him as not worthy of him I say what aboundance of good might one such rare incomparable person doe in a short time when great Councells can move like great bodyes but slowly but this is but worldly wisedom to be wise above what is written for man to be wiser then God who sayes it is dangerous to trust any single person though never so singular with an unlimitted power for the best men are but men at the best and there is no grace but may be counterfeit he that seemes to be a Paul to day may be a Saul to morrow the heart of man is deceitfull above all things and the very conceit of such a power is enough to corrupt the best man living therefore the best goverment is to have Princes of the congregation godly righteous men to be chosen governors and Iudges a Iosua to lead and conduct their Armies against their Enemies which Iob calls a King in the Army Iob 29. 25. is a sweet text for a generall I sat chief and direct as a King in the Army as one that comforteth the mourners V. 11. to 18. When Iob was compassed about with extraordinary honors and seated in the Assembly of other Easterne Princes sat in the Chaire those honors entred not into his soule but his thoughts were taken up about the afflicted and miserable such as were in a mournefull condition his soule was with their soules to alleviate and ease his distressed Countrey men by bearing part of their burden his greatest coverousnes was to enrich the poore and the desire of comforting them was always the strongest of his passions and so the people are not to be led up and downe by the noses but the Magistrates are to open their eyes who are very sensible of their own good and this is the minde of God and great designe of Heaven to governe the world by rationall men as hee enlightens it by the sun for Reason is the soule of all things sublunary and the life of all Iust human lawes without exception by this reason no man in the world ought to challenge a power unaccomptable over others for the people are more immediatly the originall of all Iust power then any King ever was of a Constables authority And ought to be accountable by the same reason for offences against the Publique good as a Constable for his offence but it is not the name of a King but the boundlesse power which I argue against though the Romans for the insolence of Tarquin would not endure the name if any people shall place the Legislative power in Parliamentary authority and give unto one man the Title of King for their better correspondency with forraigne Kingdomes with no more power to hurt the people then the Duke of Venice or the Duke of Genoa have such a goverment may be Iust and Rationall but Domination is a sweet morsell let all States take heed how any man growes too popular engrosses too much power into his hands Object But many object that Paul and David being annointed by Gods speciall command that their office was pleasing unto God Ans I agree that Annointing does generally imply that God accepts of such persons and things that are so annointed by his command but observe that God and the people were of a contrary minde in that Action God appointed and annointed Saul as a Captain to goe before them to defend them from the Tyranny of the Philistines 1 Sam. 9. 15. 16. and Chap. 14. 47. So Saul tooke the Kingdome over Israel and fought against all his enemies on every side against Moab and against the Children of Ammon and against Edom and against the Kings of Zobah and against the Philistines and whithersoever he turned himselfe he vexed them but the people tooke it as an accomplishment of their desires to have a King as the Nations had which power God gave him not but told the people that hee would make them cry Chap. 8. 18. And yee shall cry out in that day because of your King which yee shall have chosen you and the Lord will not heare you in that day and wee read 2 Sam. 21. That they had three yeares famine for Sauls wickednesse because hee had slaine the Gibeonites in his zeale to the Children of Israel it is a golden Scripture sufficient to satisfie an Iron age of men that are so stupid to thinke that Kings and their Children are not to be executed for murders vers 1 2 3 4 5 6. 9. then there was a famine c. and so did Iob 4. 10 11. The roaring of the Lion and the voice of the fierce Lion and the teeth of the young Lions are broken the old Lion perisheth for lacke of prey and the stout Lions whelps are scattered abroad I judge the meaning of it to be that men who raigne like Lions Kings and great ones who under the face of men carry the hearts of Tygers and their Children who equall them in and inherit their fathers crueltie and their wives who surpasse them in Insolence and Marian persecntions must all receive such punishments as their sins deserve they end their lives tragically heaven hath and will make it seene in their persons that it never leaves cruelties without chastisement as there shall be no Innocent ones abandoned so the greatest persons that are culpable shall not be unpunished such as plough iniquity and sow wickednes
shall reap the same ver 8. 9. those to whom the newes of the murder of the Innocent is as sweet as a plentifull harvest is agreable to the husbandman shall not be able to avoid the stroke of Iustice but be like high trees that are planted upon the mountaines shall be made a sport and pastime for the windes and tempests But the poore Gibeonits case before wee leave it affords us an excellent document how Gods Israelites ought to carry themselves towards Ismaelits and Canaanits that would have destroyed them viz. to be very sparing in promises and protection towards them but haveing once conditionated with them and received them into favour to be very liberall in performances towards them and not to violate faith given in a title though the conditions were obtained by craft and deception And now I humbly intreat you to observe what little esteeme David had of Sauls Royall seed to hang up seven of them for what offence does not appeare but very probable that they had given Saul bad councell to destroy the poore Gibeonites and yet David had sworne to Saul not to cut off his seed after him 1 Sam. 24. 20. 21. And now behold I know well that thou shalt surely be King and that the Kingdome of Israel shall be established in thine hand Sweare now therefore unto me by the Lord that thou wilt not cut off my seed after mee and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my fathers house and David swore unto Saul With these two arguments I doe in the name of the Lord Challenge all the Royalists in England Ireland and Scotland to answer them if they can or rest satisfied with Scripture and reason 1. That no oath of Allegiance or Supremacy can be any ground to any people not to doe Iustice upon a King for murder David a man after Gods owne heart that never offended but in the matter of Vriah therefore did not erre in delivering up Sauls seven sons to execution would not make his oath to Paul a ground not to doe Iustice for the Spirit of God in David argued thus I am by the Law of Nature as I am a creature a poore worme bound to the holy and just Law of my Creator which is unchangeable and undispensable God can no more dispense with my loving and obeying of him then hee can cease to be God by reason of his Infinite goodnes which Law is that blood requires blood Genes 9. 6. It is a fundamentall Law without which there can be no conservation of human society and I finde in the Law of God that my eye must not pittie him that sheds blood Deut. 19. 11 12 13. But if any man hate his neighbour and lye in wait for him and rise up against him and smite him mortally that he dye and fleeth into one of these Cities then the Elders of the City shall send and fetch him thence and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood that he may dye ver 5. thine eye shall not pittie him but thou shalt put away the guilt of Innocent blood from Israel that it may goe well with thee paralell whereunto is 2 Kings 14. 4. And also for the Innocent blood that he shed for hee filled Ierusalem with Innocent blood which the Lord would not pardon And therefore when I take an oath of Allegeance or Supremacy it must be saving that faith which I owe unto my Creator as in Iustice Littletons case when any man did Fealty to his Lord it was with a saving that faith and dutie which he owed unto the King and those other Lords which he held land of by Priority of Tenure which if it were not expressed it is implyed in Law 2. Thus I argue that if it were just to put Sauls sons to death for their fathers sin wherein hee was principall and they but accessaries at the most doubtlesse it had been just to have recompenced it upon the head of their father it could be no sin to put Saul to death for killing the Gibeonites where it was lawfull to execute his sons which might have made many pleas that what they did was Sauls command they had the Kings Commission of Array and warrants from Saul to raise forces to secure the Countrey and under pretence of keeping the peace to plunder and destroy whom they pleased but observe what a glorious sight it was in the eyes of heaven 1 Sam. 21. 14. when those seven sons were executed God was intreated for the Land It may be the common Law would have acquitted those seven gentlemen because regularly where the principall is dead the accessory cannot be tryed but the Law of God makes all principall in murder whether present or absent as the Law of man makes all principall in the highest offences of Treason and the lowest offences of trespasse nor did David question what shall I shed the blood of the seed Royall for the Gibeonites who were strangers and bondmen hewers of wood and drawers of water upon which Eternall Law of Righteousnes Major Ottoway and Cornet Grant were shot to death for murdering an Irish-man at the siege of VVaterford who having leave to goe into VVaterford to receive some money and to returne was at his coming backe murdered by their Orders or Command for which by the Councell of Warre they were justly condemned and the execution was a most famous peece of justice for had not zeale and love to Iustice preponderated and out-voted all private affections much might have been said for the vallor Gallantry and hopefulnes of the Major and Cornet I could not in faithfulnes but mention it as being a case so parallell to that 1 Sam. 21. That Sauls sons should be executed for murder of the Gibeonites and out of my dutifull respect to beare witnesse to the exemplary and exact discipline of the Army where vice is punisht vertue rewarded whereof I was sometimes Advocate and count it more honorable to be a member of an Army fighting for Christ then to be head of an Antichristian Empire But before we leave David let me but observe how the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel for Davids one sin of numbring the people what had the poore sheep done that 70000. men from Dan to Beersheba should dye by the Pestilence in three dayes Did not God thinke you therein reckon with them for their Kingly goverment you will have a King saith the Lord to them whether I will or no you shall now smart for your wickednes for your great wickednes for unmanning your selves making your selves lesse then men to make one man equall with God to doe what he pleases I will not endure it in my owne people Eli sinned yet the people not punisht for he governed the people according to the minde of God but you will have a King sayes the Lord as the Heathens have be it so but if he sin I le punish you not only with the famine but by a
Monitor and hee that is a friend to publique libertie is counted an enemy to Cesar poore Turks Russians and Europian slaves that delight rather in servitude then freedome and like spannells fawne upon those that most beat them and are sorry that they have but one life to loose for the glory of their Soveraigne well after Ieroboam and Rehoboam there was warre betweene Asa King of Iudah and Baasha King of Israel all their dayes 1 Kings 15 16. 32. and see what became of Baasha 1 Kings 16. 1. Then the Word of the Lord came to Iehu the sonne of Hanani against Baasha saying for as much as I exalted thee out of the dust and made thee prince over my people Israel and thou hast walked in the way of Ieroboam and hast made my people Israel to sin to provoke me to anger with their sins behold I will take away the posteritie of Baasha and the posteritie of his house and will make thy house like the house of Ieroboam the son of Nebat him that dyeth of Baasha in the City shall the dogs eat and him that dyeth in the fields shall the fowles of the aire eat Then Elah succeeds Baasha he being druncke was killed by Zimri who made himselfe King 1 Kings 16. 9. Where Monarchies have been elective or gotten by force or fraud what hath been alwayes held the best way to secure the new Monarch in his throne but by dedestroying the family of his predecessor Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha left him not one that pissed against the wall neither of his kinsfolks nor of his friends 1 Kings 16. 11. As the Popes alwayes glory to rescinde and repeall the Acts of their predecessors what bloody butchers have Kings Popes ever been if any man stand in their way let his name be blotted out then Omri was chosen King and besieged Zimri in Tirzah Zimri becomes desperate sets the house on fire and burnes himselfe ver 17. 18. and ver 25. this Omri wrought evill in the sight of the Lord and did worse then all that were before him Ahab his sonne succeeded him and ver 30. Then Ahab the son of Omri did evill in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him so that 1 Kings 21. 25. there was none like unto Ahab which sold himselfe to worke wickednesse in the sight of the Lord whom Iezebel his wife stirred up and therefore whereas the practise of the primitive Christians is objected that they prayed for the healths and prosperitie of the heathen Roman Tirants that persecuted them here you may see the reason thereof they knew that if one Tirant died a more cruell one would succeed as the poore woman having had three cruell Landlords successively haveing wisht the death of the two former prayed earnestly for the long life of the third and being demanded a reason thereof answered that the last is alwayes the worst and if this should dye certainly the next would be the divell for a more cruell Tiger there could not be in a human shape then the third was but concerning the Primitive Christians that were as the Lords garden hedged in with his protection it pleased God sometimes to take away the hedge and to let the wild beasts in they saw that through many tribulations and persecutions in the world they must enter into the Kingdome of heaven and finding that Antichrist was to be their greatest and the most cruell enemy to the Church of God and that he could not get into the throne during the raigne of the Roman Emperors who hindred him as it is 2 Thess 2. 7. 8. therefore they prayed for the prosperity of the Dragon for the fourth Monarchy Dan. 7. 7. is generally interpreted to be the Roman Empire which is described to be very terrible and dreadfull and exceeding strong it had three iron teeth it devoured and brake in peeces and stamped the residue with the feet of it and if this heathen Empire was taken away the poore Christians knew that the same power must be given to the beast Anti-Christ Revel 13. And therefore it were better for them to have it continue but it is most admirable to observe that the great Monarchies of the world viz. Babylonians Persians Grecans and Romans should be set out and described by foure beasts it shewes unto us that those that are most highly esteemed by the men of the world are but as beasts in the sight of God that the great King of Kings who rules in Equity and Righteousnes over all the world looks upon the great Nimrods and Monarchs of the world with a most contemptible eye counts them no better then the most ravenous creatures that are suffered a little to rage for the punishment of wicked men when the Lord sayes that the beast shall devoure his people It is the King of Asiria and his wicked Cavaliers and therefore God threatens to deale with him as with a beast I am against thee O Gog the chief Prince of Mesbech and Tubal Ezek. 38. 2. 4. I will put a hooke in thy jawes and so the Lord threatned to put a hooke in the nostrills of Senacherib the King of Asiria and a bridle in his lips Esa 37. 29. because of his rage and his tumult it was fit to use him as a beast and marke how contemptibly God speaks of the great King of Babylon and his numerous Army Ioel 2. 20. his stincke and ill savor shall come up the Spirit of God gives no other Epithet then a stincking King an unsavorie prince and David speaking of Saul and his Courtiers Psal 59. 6. 7. 8. as if he had predicted the deportments and behaviours of the malignants about such time as the late King was Iusticed their nocturnall whisperings in Tavernes and Conventicles against the State and such as are Godly in the Land they returne at evening they make a noise like a dog and goe round about the City behold they belsh out with their mouths swords are in their lips for who say they doth heare but thou O Lord shalt laugh at them thou shalt have all the heathens in derision ver 14. at evening let them returne and let them make a noise like a dog and goe round about the City and therefore Gods people may rejoyce in the Lord as in ver 16. 17. But we will sing of thy power yea wee will sing of thy mercy in the morning for thou hast been our defence and refuge in the day of trouble unto thee our strength will wee sing for God is our defence and the God of our mercie Indeed he was the song of the drunkards Psal 69. 12. but now to be compared to a beast is worse then to be so by nature for it is no dishonor to a hog to be called so for it is but to be as God made it but for a man to make himselfe a beast is the corruption of the creature the worst deformitie that can be in the world and
inspiration wrote to the Saints at Rome was to satisfie them in any doubt that might arise by their living under Imperiall Goverment to tell them that untill God did finde out a way to free them from hard Taske-masters they must submit for conscience sake if Nero would send to them for halfe their goods it was better for them to part quietly with them then to resist and so to loose their lives for what could two or three hundred Christians doe to oppose the Emperours power however he was none of their Lord they set him not up but they came in by blood and conspiracies or els the Romans elected them the Christians were meerely passive in the Goverment and in conscience ought to pay tribute to them not as if the Goverment was approved by God but because it was Gods will that Christians should with as much peace and quietnes as the world would affoard thē passe the time of their sojorning here in feare wherein the Saints lookt at the performance of the promises of God and the will and minde of their heavenly Father which they found in Scripture to be that as the people of God had suffered under the Egyptian power those Pharoes and hard taske-masters and so under the Babylonish power in the captivitie and had suffered and were trampled upon by the Assyrian Persian and Grecian Monarchs so likewise they were to suffer and to be oppressed by the Roman power as we read Dan. 7. where by the vision of the foure Beasts is represented the foure Monarchs men of bestiall spirits that create a propertie by force as amongst the beasts possession is the onely right but sayes Daniel it must not be so alwayes for ver 18. and 26 27. But the Saints of the most High shall take the Kingdom and possesse the Kingdom for ever even for ever and ever but the Iudgement shall sit and they shall take away his dominion to consume and destroy it unto the end and the Kingdom and dominion and the greatnes of the Kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all dominions shall serve and obey him see Dan. 2. 44. now this is a truth that the Malignants exceedingly vex and fret at Psal 2. 1 2 3 4. why doe the Heathen rage and the people imagine a vaine thing the Kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take councell together against the Lord and against his Annointed saying Let us breake their bonds asunder and cast away their cords from us he that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh the Lord shall have them in derision then shall he speake unto them in his wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure ver 6. Yet I will sayes the Lord set King Iesus upon his holy hill of Sion The Monarchs of the world thinke to intaile their Crowns so fast upon their posterity and make Lawes like the Medes and Persians to be unchangeable and men may thinke to establish Royall Statutes and make firme Decrees that Monarchy shall stand but the Lord will blow upon them It is admirable to consider that Scripture of Ier. 29. Babylon was to be destroyed as it is Psal 137. 8. 9 O daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us happy shall hee be that dasheth thy little ones against the stones and yet for the 70. yeeres the people of God must be patient and pray for the peace of that City where they were captives doe but read that excellent place Ier. 29. from the 4. to the 7. 10. If the Parliament had complyed with the late King and set him upon the throne it had been putting a golden Scepter into the hand of Anti-Christ and a reed into the hand of Christ to have called Christ master but to have Crowned him with thornes and a mortall man with Gold it had been but mocking and scoffing at the promises of Iustice Holines Purity Peace Plenty and freedom from oppression which the people of God are to enjoy upon the earth for doe but consider how ridiculous it is to call those Defendors of the Faith that are offendors of the faithfull that make the Saints offendors for a word that hate the Saints as men naturally hate poyson from whence it followes that the darknes and dissatisfaction which hath been upon the spirits of many Christians concerning the Iustice done upon the late King proceeds from their not understanding the Scriptures not distinguishing the times and seasons which the Lord hath appointed for his people when to be in a suffering condidition and when to be in a prosperous condition the primitive Christians were predestinate to be conformed to the image of their head Iesus Christ in a patient suffering Rom. 8. 2. 9. under Tirants but in these later times the Saints are to get victory over the Beast and the Kings of the earth shall bring their glory to Gods people Revel 21. 24. the Churches of Christ shall not any longer as sucking Lambes be in feare of wolves or as tender kids in the pawes of Beares nor as a prey to the mouthes of Lions but those that oppresse the Lords people shall be fed with their own flesh and drunke with their own blood as with sweet wine and all the world shall know that the Lord is the Saviour and the Redeemer of his people the mighty one of Iacob Esay 49. 26. as it is Gods prerogative to binde the Divell in chaines so the Saints shall binde Kings on earth let Malignants mocke and jeare at the Saints and servants of the most high God minde what the Scripture sayes Psal 149. 1 2 6 7 8 9. ver prayse the Lord sing unto the Lord a new song and his praise in the congregation of Saints let Israel rejoyce in him that made him let the Children of Sion be joyfull in their King Let the high praises of God be in their mouths a two edged sword in their hands to execute vengeance upon the heathen and punishments upon the people to binde their Kings with chaines and their Nobles with fetters of iron to execute upon them the Iudgement written this honour have all his Saints prayse yee the Lord that as Paul was delivered from the mouth of the Lion so the Saints shall be delivered from all the Lions and beasts of prey for God will ere long visit Babylon and all those Kings that have been druncke with the blood of the Saints and then all men that are of the same spirit as the holy Apostles were as all Christians are animated by the same spirit as the members by the same soule shall rejoyce Rev. 18. 20. and it is a speciall duty of Christians to express their joy by singing exaltations in the Lord Rev. 19. 1 2 3. and for the effecting of so glorious a work the Lord will plead with fire and sword with
more then ordinary trouble have recovered them it cannot but be a purgatory to an Ingenious spirit certainly that Iudge which helps a man to his right and thereby preserves a family from beggery deserves as much as he that cures a man of a desperate fever But I Sam. 8. Is the Statute Law concerning Kings where it cleerely appeares that the first generation of Monarchs and the rise of Kings was not from above not begotten by the Word and Command of God but from the peoples pride ardent importunity they were mad for a King to be like unto the Heathens I beseech you observe the story it is a Chapter that deserves to be written in Capitall letters of Gold and if it were convenient to appoint the reading of it but once a moneth in the publique meeting places I am confident it might be of great advantage in the satisfying men of perverse spirits for let the most violent assertors and contenders for Monarchy but seriously consider and be intreated to heare it as the Word of God 1 Thess 2. 13. and they must needs be convinced that they which endeavour to destroy a Parliament consisting of Godly Wise and Iudicious men that are willingly bound by the same Lawes which are made for others abhorring all thoughts of unaccomptablenes and to set up a King who fights for a boundlesse prerogative to doe what he pleases on earth giving an accompt thereof only to God as if hell were made only for them who must not be toucht nor be punished in this life for any of their abominations doe cast off and reject the God of Iustice and mercy for when good Samuels rule the people it is God that rules in them and by them and there is nothing so contrary to the gracious Nature of God as the violence oppression and Legall Thefts of the wicked Nimrods of the world and then marke the doome of their favorits Iohn 12. 48. he that rejecteth mee and receiveth not my words hath one that Iudgeth him the word that I have spoken the same shall Iudge him in the last day First it is very observable what it was that bred a dislike of the Iudges ver 3. they turned aside after lucre and tooke Bribes and perverted Iudgement which Samuel did not ver 5. when Common-wealths men turne private wealths men and more minde the Trimming of their owne Cabbins then the Ship of State then the people cry out make us a King to Iudge us like all the Nations as if they should say better have one Tirant then thirty Tirants in Athens better fill one purse then many now the Lord Commands Samuel to protest solemnly against Monarchy that they may not pretend ignorance but be left inexcusable and then if they will have a King hearken unto them sayes the Lord ver 7. which is no approbation of Monarchy as some vainely argue the Lord therein dealing with them as a tender wise Physician when the impatient Patient cryes out for wine which will encrease the disease the Physician to satisfie his importunitie gives him a little wine which he knowes rather encreases then asswages the disease but knowes that if he have it not his impatience may worke a greater mischiefe ver 19. Nay but we will have a King over us are words of men possessed with afrensie give us a King or wee shall run madd for him wee will have one whatsoever it cost us that we may be like all the Nations shall France and Spayne have Kings and we none will they take away our God from us from vers 11. to 17. Samuel describes a lively portraiture and lineament of a Kings prerogative which are principally three as you may please to observe first a prerogative over mens persons to imprison any one whom the King pleases Hee will take your sons upon pretence of disobedience or for reason of State either intowre him or send him beyond sea if he were a Commonwealths man which in Court language is as much as to say a dangerous man ver 11. 13. and 16. Secondly in point of Militia ver 12. Hee will ap point the Capitaines the Kings Councell called that an inherent priviledge as an inseperable accident and incident to the Crowne without which he is no King and then having the sword it is no head matter to command all the money in the Land Thirdly in point of Interest and propertie ver 14. 17. he will take a tenth of all the Corne Wine and Cattle if the Iudgement of Ship-money had not been reversed a tenth would not have sufficed I meane that senseles Iudgment which I cannot mention without indignation that men should be so silly to talke of building of ships when the Land was ready to be invaded or in eminent danger as if it were a time to looke after leather to make buckets when a house is on fire It seems to me that the holy Spirit in expressing those three grand prerogatives that the Kings of the Gentiles would pretend unto had an eye to the present age wherein wee live and therefore many booke learned Royalists not being able to answer this Scripture have declared their Iudgements to be whether their hearts and pens were of the same minde Ilargue not that the Lord did allow of such a Goverment and ver 11. hee will take your sonns which is to be meant by usurpation contrary to the Law of God Deut. 17. 20. See the learned Annotations upon that Chapter very excellent not what they ought to doe in right but that they would so doe in fact they read hee shall take your sons and ver 15. hee will take a Tenth that he shall and may take a Tenth as if they had a Commission from heaven so to doe and to fortifie that opinion they alleige Deut. 17. 14. When thou art come unto the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee and shalt possesse it and shalt dwell therein and shalt say I will set a King over mee like as all the Nations that are about me v. 15. Thou shalt in any wise set him King over thee whom the Lord thy God shall choose one from among thy brethren shalt thou set King over thee thou mayest not set a stranger over thee which is not thy brother ver 16. but he shall not multiply horses to himselfe not cause the people to returne to Egypt to the end that hee should multiply horses for as much as the Lord had said unto you yea shall henceforth returne no more that way ver 17. Neither shall he multiply wives to himselfe that his heart turne not away neither shall he greatly multiply to himselfe silver and gold ver 18. And it shall be when he sitteth upon his Throne of his Kingdome that he shall write him a copie of this Law in a booke out of that which is the Priests the Levites ver 19. and it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the dayes of his life that hee may learne