of Delinquency the Reason I intend is Because that such eminent persons are usually compassed about with such giant-like assistants that although it be evident in Scripture that the People have right in divers cases to depose and to punish offenders yet they dare not they cannot at their pleasure they may possibly by woful experience come to see they are mistaken in the man and they may cry out by reason of their afflictions but how to remedy them they cannot tell for want of power Woful experience we have now had of this whereby we may easily discern how hard a matter it is to remove a King or Governor though never so apparently a Delinquent let us be warned and enquire of God who shall govern us so shall we be sure we shall not err But to return we may further observe in the same leaf that Mr. Prynne doth acknowledg That this way and these prescriptions were such as he had no warrant for neither from the sacred Scriptures nor from any other president recorded in humane Records Fol. 37. his words are these None of our Ancestors ever demanded or enjoyed the like nor no other Kingdom whatsoever since the Creation c. I will not contradict his Testimony in these his expressions In this I fully agree that the sacred Scriptures the unerring Rule of Truth is so far from retaining such a president as that the Scriptures Testimonies are evident copious and eminent in the direct opposition Consider what Mr Prynne further speaketh in his Speech fol. 39. his words are these These great Officers and Judges having now no dependance at all upon the King who can neither place nor displace any of them And a little further he adds these words As the King hath entrusted you with c. so hath he entrusted you with his Conscience and Courts of Equity too c. This was a rare matter for a King or Supream Judg to entrust another man with his Conscience and more with his Courts of Judicature A little further he addeth fol. 40. That never any Parliament in England claimed or enjoyed such matters as these c. I do verily believe a great part of the former I hear some use very bitter expressions against new opinions and against some that are not so indeed But let the godly Reader unpartially consider That these matters are new Opinions indeed such as neither Scripture nor humane Records can produce by his own confession And further note That these are not new Opinions about circumstantial matters but they do much concern Gods Glory Kings Governors Peoples future security Are not these Opinions Capital If Errors they are great ones I shall but touch one Use I make of this and desire all that are godly to consider namely That it is good to be humble meek and lowly for God saith That he will teach the humble and instruct the meek Jam. 3.17 That Wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable gentle and easie to be entreated Vers 14. But if there be bitter envying and strife in our hearts rejoyce not for this Wisdom descendeth not from above but is earthly sensual and devillish Vers 18. The fruits of Righteousness is sown in Peace of them that love Peace Many in these times cry out against Opinions that never knew nor seriously examined their own hearts First It is good to examine our own hearts where we shall easily see much ignorance much pride much evil In many things we sin all Jam. 3.2 Now this benefit we shall have thereby that we shall be the more merciful in censuring others There is a generation aboundeth now that will be wiser then those Governors that God hath set over us And do exclaim against our Governors for their remissness in that they do not at once root out all Errors But consider thou that dost thus may not thy lot fall amongst the number of those Hereticks against whom thou art so fierce Could we wait and perswade our Governors in meekness of wisdom for Reformation of things amiss then we should sooner prevail because God would go along with us Mr Prynne is very hot at some times in censuring and delivering other mens opinions over to the Sword of the Christian Magistrate I could advise him to take heed that he be not too quick-sighted to spy to condemn and persecute other men for their opinions I advise and counsel him and my own heart to be slow to wrath slow to censure others Let us set the staff at our own doors for we know not how soon it may come to our own turn to be in error James 3. That wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable c. Mr Prynne was in a great Error in labouring to take from the King as a King any power rightfully due God helped the Army and the remaining part of the Parliament I do believe to discern the way that God had appointed to remedy those evils in such a way as he himself had appointed Consider we well of two things in this Mr Prynne's Speech First he saith That the King should be deprived of all Right and Power in the nomination of Governors Against this the Scripture is directly in opposition for in the first and purest time Moses had that authority to appoint or at the least to approve of the Officers under or inferior to him Read and observe the place Exod. 18.24 And Moses chose men of courage out of all Israel and made them Heads over the People and they judged the People at all seasons David he appointed the Officers of the Army as namely Joab the Captain of the Host and others and we may read That the Kings placed and displaced many put to death and pardoned many I cannot be large in proving such evident matters I shall have occasion in the Sequel to treat more of these matters Such as will have Kings against Gods will they may here see that verified that Samuel speaketh of namely That they shall cry out by reason of their afflictions but God will not here them It is many years since the days of Samuel and the people have been much corrupted and oppressed by evil Kings which no doubt the people discerned plainly but none durst none could help themselves And had not God stirred up these worthy men men that to posterities to come shall be recorded for their courage and faithfulness in helping the Lord against the mighty in delivering the people out of that Egyptian Bondage Consider a word dear Countrymen under Kings we bestowed time and cost to instruct our children in the ways of godliness Suppose the King then being should dye or some Idolaters poyson or make him away and set up his Son who they see is inclining to Idolatry in his stead what then followeth Answ Then all our labour is lost or else our children shall be persecuted and slain for not forsaking their former principles and this cometh often to be the affliction
Magistracy Supported because I believe God hath not called me to that work I shall leave the consideration of it to those that God hath appointed to judg The Cases that will come to be tryed in this kind or of this nature are many and differ much according to the Objects and Circumstances and cannot wholy be so determined but that much must be left to the wisdom of the Governors Concerning the death of the late deposed King Mr John Goodwin hath learnedly tryed and determined the justness thereof to my best understanding to whom I should refer the Reader only a word or two I conceive may not be impertinently spoken concerning that matter The first thing that I propound to consideration is this namely Whether that at and before his Tryal for his Life his Judgment and Execution he was properly a King or was deposed from being a King so that in that condition may we not look upon him as one that had been King but for such just cause deposed that to the equity thereof both the Houses of Parliament together with the Army and the Common-wealth consented and were actors therein and consented thereto Doth not this evidently appear if we consider that the Parliament formerly many and several times by publique writing declared That the King was so far a Delinquent that they were forced to disclaim his former authority and to take up Arms against him In the prosecution of Justice they subdued the late King and his party Now in this condition the King remained not being restored to his former Kingship which being considered will it not appear That those that gave sentence against him and those that brought him to his Tryal and did cause Justice to be executed upon him did not take away the life of a King but of one that had been King and hoped so to have been again Secondly I do propound to consideration Whether it be not lawful to desert and to depose Kings and to bring them to punishment for the breach of the Laws of the most high God This I believe appeareth plainly if we first consider That both King and People are all Gods Subjects God is the King of Kings God saith That one Law shall be to all Exod. 12.49 It is to be considered what God gave Joshua in charge Iosh 1.8 Let not this Book of the Law depart out of thy mouth but meditate therein day and night that then mayst observe and do according to all things that is written therein To this very purpose God speaketh the same matter as the duty of Kings Deut. 17.18 And when he shall sit upon the Throne of his Kingdom then shall he write him this Law repeated in a Book Vers 19. And he shall read therein all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God Vers 20. That he may prolong his days in his Kingdom c. From these places it appeareth That both Ioshua and the Kings were to be subject to Gods Law otherwise God would have left them to their liberties but contrarily God doth directly impose upon them the diligent observation of all his Laws 2. We may note That the breach of Gods Laws were punishable in Kings plainly implyed in these words That it may go well that his days in his Kingdom may be prolonged By this we may plainly see That on the contrary if a King do neglect and transgress Gods Commands then his days in his Kingdom may be shortned The end wherefore God doth expresly charge them to regard the Law importeth plainly that it was to that end that it might be their Rule and Bounds And so likewise if by diligent need to Gods Laws the days of Kings may be prolonged then on the contrary for the neglecting and much more for the grievous breach of Gods Laws their days may be shortned To this purpose we may read That although Ioshua were a man that was placed as Governor over Israel by God himself and although he were so eminent a man for piety a man that had long and constantly walked in the ways of God of whose godliness the people had had long experience yet observe what the people answered to Ioshua in point of their obedience recorded Josh 1.16 Then they answered Joshua saying All that thou hast commanded us we will do c. Vers 17. As we obeyed Moses in all things so will we obey thee only the Lord thy God be with thee as he was with Moses Hence we may observe in these words Only the Lord thy God be with thee as he was with Moses is plainly implyed a conditional subjection in the people as if the people should have said We desire to be excused in case that we do see it appear by those fruits that thou bringest forth that God is departed from thee and that thou forsakest those paths in which God hath commanded us to walk and hath commanded thee to observe in such cases we will be free we do not promise to be obedient to thee This is a plain conditional engagement implyed plainly in those words Only the Lord thy God be with thee as he was with Moses There is no King Emperor or Governor whatsoever but they are included all of them within the Rule of Gods Law that is to be the Rule and Guide of all their Actions the Bounds thereof they may not pass by turning aside either to the right or to the left hand nor by adding to the Commandments of God nor by taking any thing from Gods Commandments Moses was a notable excellent and eminent Example to Governors he observed Gods Laws willingly and circumspectly so did Joshua and all those Judges that were chosen immediately by God Thus David did endeavor to walk in Gods ways and some of the Kings of Israel although they lay under great temptations being lifted up so high in the opinions of the people these all acknowledged the Law of God to be their Rule their Guide and their Bounds For the breach of this Law old Eli was punished with temporal death although in his own person he were circumspect and obedient yet because that he suffered Gods Laws to be violated by his own sons God is so provoked that he taketh away his sons by the sword and the father by an untimely death an eminent pattern for Governors to look upon Governors are leading men their example is more prevalent then others they do more hurt then others by their evil examples therefore great men shall be greatly tormented God spared not Kings that broke and violated his Law Saul though he was chosen to his place by God immediately and therefore was anointed with oyl after an extraordinary manner yet when he went beyond the Bounds of Gods Commandments though it were in offering Sacrifice a matter good in it self yet because it was more then God commanded God cast him out of his place for it If we add to Gods Will revealed in his Word we sin or
David and some others Answ That proveth not in the least That the Government of the Kings was to be compared to that Government by Judges because this Government by Judges was Gods prescription and direction but that Government by Kings was the prescription of the People the Peoples invention in imitation of the Heathen round about and this was expresly forbidden by God before in Deuteronomy Thou shalt not follow the manner of the Heathen Nations round about And it was expresly against the Counsel of God recorded by Samuel it was against Gods Will for though God did permit Kings to be yet he did not originally appoint them but contrarily God dehorteth the people from having Kings in a vehement manner and taking it in the highest degree to be both the breach of Gods Commands or Institutions and likewise a very forsaking of God recorded by the Prophet Samuel 1 Sam. 8.7 They have not cast thee away but they have cast me away And further note That God out of his tender compassion to the people notwithstanding that they had cast him away in the form of their Government yet God lovingly admonisheth the people God giveth warning to the people what they should get by having a Government by Kings namely 1 Sam. 8.11 This shall be the manner of the King that shall raign over you He shall take your sons and your daughters your fields and your vineyards your servants your cattel and your sheep and ye shall cry out by reason of your oppressions but I will not hear you in that day Further consider That God did permit divorce in sundry cases and did permit the Israelites to have more wives then one this matter to my apprehension hath a better footing and much fairer shew of Gods approbation then the Government by Kings and notwithstanding Christ our Lord saith That this was not originally right God did not in the first and purest Institution ordain this matter yet God did act in many cases and blessed children and married persons in this way In the first being of Kings God did act in this cause as namely God chose Saul and David yet nevertheless God did expresly by the Prophet Samuel in threatning manner admonish and foretel the people That Kings would oppress the people and make them cry out and GOD would not alter the Government by Kings when they would Observe we well That where men do not cleave close to Gods Ordinations to his Institutions and do not prefer the Wisdom of God before their own wisdom it is a righteous thing with God to suffer them to smart and to endure bitter afflictions when we shall not have ability to help our selves We have had experience of Kings from Samuels time to this day and now God hath given such an opportunity as hath not been a long season now we have comfortable hope that God will give and restore Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning Oh dearly beloved whosoever thou art hinder not Gods Work of Reformation left thou beest found a fighter against God remember that our forefathers have been a gainsaying people let not us I pray you resist the good Spirit of his grace 2. But further consider That although David and some other Kings were better then the rest God would not suffer the Rod of his Wrath to lie always so heavy as at sometimes yet even David and Solomon and others were not blessed with the like measure of grace that the Judges were blessed with Consider did Moses Joshua Gideon Samuel did they kill innocent Vriah Did they commit Adultery with Bathsheba Did they number the people with David Did they set up Idolatry or suffer Idolatry Did they build sumptuous houses and gardens and orchards as Solomon Did they commit such abominations as many other Kings did Consider of it That this Government by Judges instituted by God himself in these first and purest times was the best Government it was most for Gods glory it was according to his will and it was most for the peoples good 3. Consider That although God commendeth David in the general yet that proved nothing in this particular case namely it neither proveth to them be of Gods first Institution nor any Institution not that place for instance if a master of a family having an hundred servants some of these may be as personable nay they may some of them be beloved of the master and be rulers in the family but this doth not prove That the form of their government being a form of their own invention was or is so good a form as that form of government that the master himself appointed We ought warily to distinguish between those matters that God doth permit and between those matters that God doth institute and ordain Adam our grandfather sinned by eating of the forbidden fruit yet nevertheless God made some of his posterity Instruments of his glory and they were beloved of God yet it doth not thereby follow That Adams condition was so good after as before God saith David was a man after his own heart but it neither followeth thereby That all Kings were men after Gods heart in that sence nor doth it thereby follow That the government by Kings was so good a government as the government by Judges for that is against the express letter of the Scripture and against the experience of all ages to this present Object Doth not God say That Kings shall be thy nursing fathers and Queens thy nursing mothers Answ This sheweth That although the people had deserved that God should make all Kings to be enemies or scourges to the people for rejecting God their King and for their evil and obstinacy in forsaking the first and best form of government by Judges a form prescribed and blessed by God yet this sheweth That God would not always be alike offended he would let some Kings be nursing fathers although many were evil towards God and the people Another instance consider A father having many children employeth or there is employed divers nurses some of his own chusing and some of his childrens chusing the father considering the childrens weakness and offence in chusing other for nurses without his order he doth neither allow of their act in chusing nor of the persons although he may forgive his children part of their offence and promiseth that some of these should prove nurses to them though many should prove crosses this doth neither approve of his childrens act in breaking his way prescribed neither doth this indulgence or mercy in the father encourage or warrant other children to follow that way not prescribed but expresly witnessed against One instance more to open the matter consider Certain men being to go to a place far distant from them there are divers ways that lead to the place the master of the company he sheweth to them the best way but the company are obstinate and will to King and Princes by descent without enquiring Gods counsel
note that God rejected him from being King 1 Sam. 15. ver 26. Thou hast cast away the word of the Lord and the Lord hath cast away thee that thou shalt not be King over Jsrael Ver. 28. Then Samul said unto him the Lord hath rent the Kingdome of Israel from thee this day And note now that when Saul was deposed Chap. 16.14 The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evill spirit sent of the Lord vexed him Wee may note that because the people made David King a man chosen by God and not by the peoples rash proceedings that God gave to David his good and blessed Spirit 1 Sam. 16.13 Then Samuel tooke an horne of Oile and anointed him David in the middest of his Brethren and the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward here we may note that it is no vaine thing that God should appoint our governors for us God let the people taste of the difference between Kings and Iudges in that Salomon set up or countenanced Idolatry and laid great taxations upon the people yet it did not extend so far not by very much as afterwards the People felt under the government of other Kings which were set up rashly by the people without such an immediate call and for ought I know not being anointed with Oile by any true Prophet of God This I note the rather because I have respect to God his expresse Command and Direction which was never reversed to this very Day recorded Deut. 17.14 where God saith if thou shalt say I will set a King over mee like as all the Nations that are about mee Ver. 25. Tou shalt make him King over thee whom the Lord thy God shall chuse I shall only at the present observe these two notes from this place first that God doth not hereby either command or allow that the People should set up a Government by Kings for the Lord saith if thou shalt say I will set a King over mee this came to passe in the Dayes of Samuel Then the people they would have a King the People here did not inquire of God first now it doth not follow that because the People said wee will have a King that therefore God doth either approve or allow of this matter but the direct contrary appeareth 1 Sam. 8. in most eminent manner But secondly I do observe that God saith thou shalt if thou wilt be wilfull and have a King yet thou shalt make him King whom the Lord thy God shal chuse here I put a reall difference between a King or governor being chosen by God immediately and betweene the choise that the People make I purpose if God will to speak more of this in place afterwards But this Rule also the People soone forsooke namely they made themselves Kings of their owne chusing wherein I conceive they did not inquire of God who should be the man therefore the Lord saith they had Princes and hee knew it not that is to say they did not according to the Rule inquire of God who should be King Thus much to shew that it was better with the People when they eyed God and kept close to the Rule when God chose the person then it was when they fell more fouly as afterwards they did but this still doth not prove that God did institute that forme of government by Kings or much lesse that this forme of government was as good and as well approved of by God or so blessed as the government by Judges But to go on to speake more punctually or more particularly to the being of Kings I shall endeavour according to the measure of grace received to speak of them in true proportion as God hath spoken of them in the holy and sacred Scriptures The first King that I finde recorded was Abimeleck Iudges 9. it is noted that this Man was no lawfull governor appointed by God but one that usurped the Kingdome because he entred not by and according to the true way wherein and whereby God had prescribed which I believe was principally in regard that the People did not enquire of God who should govern them but contrarily the People chose him out of or for sinister respect because of affinity kindred and also because hee entered by force wee may see what is recorded Iudges 9. By this mans government there were very sad events or fruits that followed or sprung for he was the occasion of much evill and bloodshed this serveth to warne us to take heed that we enquire of God who shall govern us and that we do follow the most cleare and evident Rules and Presidents prescribed and recorded in the sacred Scriptures the sure Rules of Truth our Saviour teacheth that the true Shepherd entereth at the true doore that is according to the revealed will of God And on the contrary those Wolves and Foxes do enter in at the window that is as I conceive by some way that God hath not prescribed as by friends out of by respects or by Fraude Force Mony Beauty Personage Eloquence or such like all of them not in such away as is prescribed in the most unerring Rules of Truth After him arose Saul to be King concerning his person he was truly and rightfully called being chosen by God but concerning the forme of government by Kings this was the Peoples invention in imitation of the Heathen Nations as appeareth 1 Sam. 8.5 The people said make us a King to judge us like all Nations from this place I observe that it was not the Peoples demand to have this or that man in particular to be their King but they desire onely to have a King By which it appeareth that this sinne lay not in regard of the person but it was in respect to the forme of government before they were governed by Iudges which Forme of govermnent God did immediately prescribe and owne it and blesse it but this Forme of government by Kings the people they did invent it in imitation of the Nations round about concerning those Nations God had expresly said that they should not follow the manners and customs of the Nations But secondly against this way of government by Kings God doth I believe expresly evidently and eminently oppose himself in these particulars First God saith that by this meanes or way that the people here lusted after they had cast off God from being their King or reigning over them Which is expressed 1 Sam. 8.7 They have not cast thee away but they have cast mee away that I should not reigne over them this I conceive is plainly implied and expressed that the greatnesse of their sinne lay in regard of the forme and not in regard of the person as if God should have said they have not so much sinned in desiring another Governor although I believe this also was their sinne but they now have rejected the forme of government by me immediately prescribed Further God opposeth this forme of Government by
Kings immediately in shewing the People the great evills that they should reape by Kings noted 1 Sam. 8. From Ver. 9. to Ver. 19. Kings will take your Sonnes and your Daughters from you and will appoint them to serve themselves This God doth not say was lawfull for Kings to doe for Gods Law was expresse to the contrary Exod. 22.21 Moreover thou shalt not do injury to a stranger Neither did Gods Lawes permit that they should wrong any man and Samuel useth that as a strong argument to convince them of their evill namely in these words 1 Sam. 12.3 Behold here J am beare record before the Lord of mee whose Ox have I taken or whose Asse have I taken or whom have I done wrong unto or whom have I hurt Ver. 4. Then the People said thou hast done us no wrong nor hast hurt us neither hast thou taken any thing of any Mans hand Hereby appeareth the Peoples great evill and ingratitude and their unrighteousnesse in forsaking that government with which they could find no fault Further this shewed that Kings would prove great evills because they would be great wrongers and great oppressors because they would take by violence their choisest comforts from the People And further this shewed that Kings would rule by the Rules of their owne wills in our dayes called their prerogatives this is shewed in these expressions Kings will take these and these things from you but this they ought not to do for herein Samuel sheweth his integrity we may observe that the Law of God ought to be the guide the Rule and the bounds to all men high and low to King and People this is evident Deut. 17.16 to 20. There God saith that the King should have the Booke of the Law and that hee should reade therein all the dayes of his life that hee may learne to feare the Lord his God and to keepe all the words of this Law and these Ordinances to do them that his heart be not lifted up above his Brethren and that hee turne not to the right hand or to the left hand c. From hence we may see that the King is not to do what hee listeth but he is as expresly commanded to observe and do the Law as any other man yea and in some sort more because his example is more prevalent to draw others either to good or evill But further wee may here note the difference betweene Kings and Iudges the Kings they will do thus and thus they will breake the bounds set unto them but the Iudges were humble meeke men this God knew when hee put in that clause so nearely linked to the observation of his Law namely that his heart be not lifted up above his Brethren experience hath taught us much of this could we be warned That Kings their hearts will be lifted up Observe I pray you the Iudges they acknowledged the People to be their Brethren but Kings they say their blood and their discent is more Royall more Illustruous more Excellent then those they call the baser sort and the more ignoble It is to be noted that in the first and purest times those men that were truly godly truly vertuous those men that were most precize that were the most observant of the Law of God Those men then were accounted to be the most noble and so we finde they were in Gods esteeme for wee finde Moses taken from keeping the sheepe And Gideon from threshing and David from the Sheepe-fold and made Rulers of the People But the World is now turned upside-downe for what do some men now applaud and worship but the Blood Royall and Noble Blood we have men now that are truly noble and eminent for Piety that sway the government of the Common-wealth but what is the tumult They say they cannot see their Nobility I would speake soberly and forbearingly consider warily and truly is it not because the God of this World hath blinded the eyes of many men But let us further note that this King Saul or a King or the Government by Kings would not onely deprive the People of their Sonnes and Daughters but also Kings would take their seede and their Vinyards 1 Sam. 8.15 Their Men-servants and their Maide-servants and the chiefe of your yong men and your Asses and Sheepe and yee shall be his servants Note I pray you that this People had great liberty and freedome under the government by Iudges could they have improved these with thankfull and contented hearts but they would reject and slight these mercies they would be governed by Kings under which Government they should endure many afflictions but when it commeth to this height that they themselves should be servants then they begin to be more sensible then they cry out but saith God Ver. 18. The Lord will not hear you in the day and time of these afflictions By this evident admonition it plainly appeared that God opposed in threatning manner this government by Kings for note that the cause here was not so much about the person to be made King but it was about the forme of government by Kings Note further how Samuel humbly and patiently doth argue the cause with the People Chap. 12. ver 7. to 13. where Samuel putteth the People in minde how God had not bin wanting to them but from time to time had raised up and appointed good governors for them Which governors God protected guided and blessed to them and made them Saviours and not oppressors nor destroyers to them sometimes for their sinnes and to prove them whether they would cleave to God and to shew them the benefit that it was to have God to appoint good governors and for other ends which God knew to be for his glory and their good God did leave them without chiefe Iudges and then we see the People they run into many by-paths and sinfull courses and then God suffered them to feele afflictions by enemies but note that when the people considered the cause and sought the favour of God and cryed to God to helpe them God never failed but answereth their petitions note in what manner God answered them he raised up Iudges vvhich God made to be blessings and Saviours to the People From this expostulation of Samuel we may observe that God by Samuel reproveth the People for altering that forme of government which God in his wisdome had prescribed and blessed to the People And the People could not deny the truth of this but further note that God to the end that posterity to come might evidently see his displeasure for that cause because the People had altered the forme of government by Iudges and instead thereof had wilfully and obstinately desired a government by Kings Therefore the Lord sheweth the People by an eminent and wonderfull way expressed thus 1 Sam. 12.17 I will call unto the Lord and he shall send Thunder and Raine that yee may perceive and see how that your wickednesse is great which yee
have done in the sight of the Lord in asking you a King Ver. 18. Then Samuel called unto the Lord and the Lord sent Thunder and Raine the same Day and all the People feared the Lord and Samuel exceedingly Ver. 19. The People said wee have sinned in asking us a King besides all our other sins c. Concerning this King we have occasion to note that Gods Presence did remove now and stand at a further distance then before God did not wholy depart from them but remembering the multitude of his mercies he did still favour the People but as the Tabernacle for the sinnes of the People was removed out of the Host Exod. 33.7.8 Yet not wholy out of their sight so here God removed his gracious presence further off from the People The next King was David who was a good and vertuous King God would not afflict the People so much that they should have no good Kings Davids blemishes I forbear though some blemishes he had such as I believe were not to be found amongst the Iudges that were immediately appointed by God to their place after succeeded Solomon how far he declined from the straight Rules of Gods revealed Will are to be found recorded in the Booke of Kings Rehoboam Reigned he had 18. Wives and threescore Concubines and desired many Wives 2 Cro 11 21 23. He forsooke the Law of the Lord and all Israel with him for which cause Shishack came up against Jerusalem and tooke the strong Cities which were of Iuda The People were made servants to Shishack 2 Cro. 12.1 to 9. Further he did evill and prepared not his heart to seeke the Lord. Ver. 14. Ahijam reigneth he walked in all the sinnes which his Father had done before him and his heart was not perfect with the Lord 1 King 15.3 Asa reigned he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord he put down his Mother because she had an Idoll in a Grove 1 King 15. Nadab reigned he did evill in the sight of the Lord and made Israel sinne 1 King 15.26 Baashaw reigneth he did evill in the sight of the Lord and caused Israel to sinne 1 King 16. Elah he reigned did evill being drunke was slaine 1 King 16. Omri reigneth he did evill in the sight of the Lord worse then all that were before him 1 King 16. Zimri reigneth was burnt 1 King 16.18 Ahab the sonne of Omri reigneth and did worse then all before him 1 King 16.3 Ahaziah reigneth he did evill he sought helpe of Baallzebub the God of Ecron 2 King 1. Iehoram reigneth he did evill in the sight of the Lord. 2 Kin. 3.2 Iehosaphat reigneth he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord. 2 Kings Ioram reigneth he did evill 2 Kin. 8.9 Jehoram sonne of Iehosaphat reigneth he did evill 2 Kin 8.17 Jehu reigneth he regarded not to walke in the Law of the Lord God 2 Ki. 10.31 He is an occasion to cause Israel to sin therefore they are smitten in all the Coasts of Israel Ver. 23. Athalia reigneth did evill is slaine 2 Ki. 11.3.6 Iehoash reigneth he did good in the Eyes of the Lord during the time the Priest taught him 2 Ki. 12.2 But the high places were not taken away he is slaine Ver. 21. Iehoaash sonne of Iehu reigneth did evill in the sight of the Lord and causeth Israel to be delivered into the hands of their enemies 2 Ki. 13.2.3 The Destruction of the People was so great that there was left but 50 Horsemen and 10 Charrets and 10000 Footemen they were destroyed and made like Dust beaten to powder 2 Ki. 13.6 7. Iehoash sonne of Iehoaash reigneth he did evill in the sight of the Lord. 2 Ki. 13.10.11 Ieroboam reigneth he did evill in the sight of the Lord. 2 Ki. 14.23 24. Amaziah reigneth did uprightly in the Eyes of the Lord but not like David 2 Ki. 14.3 Azariah reigneth did uprightly in the Eyes of the Lord but they burnt Incense in the high places and the Lord smote the King and hee was a Leper to the Day of his Death 2 Ki. 15.3 4 5. Zachariah reigneth hee did evill in the sight of the Lord 2 Ki. 15.8.9 Shallum reigneth is slaine 2 Ki. 15 14. Menahem reigneth did evill 2 Ki. 15.17 18. Pekahiah reigneth He did evill in the sight of the Lord. 2 Ki. 15.23 24. Pekah reigneth He did evill 2 Ki. 15.28 The People carried away captive Iotham reigneth He did uprightly but the People burnt incense in the high places in his Dayes the Lord sent enemies upon the People 2 Ki. 5.34 37. Ahab reigneth He consecrated his Sonne in the fire he did much evill 2 Ki. 16. Hoshea reigneth Hee did evill in the sight of the Lord he becommeth servant to Salmanasser King of Ashur 2 Ki. 17.2 3. The People besieged and carried captive Ver. 6. Because they kept not Gods commands diligently 37. Hezechiah reigneth He did uprightly according to all that David 2 Ki. 18. Manasseh reigneth Hee did evill in the sight of the Lord after the abomination of the Heathen 2 Ki. 21.2 He did much evill and filled Jerusalem from corner to corner with innocent blood 2 Ki. 21.16 And hee caused Iuda to sinne and to do evill Ver. 16. Ammon reigneth He did much evill in the sight of the Lord 2 Ki. 21.20 Iosiah He reigneth He did uprightly in the sight of the Lord 2 Ki. 22.2 Iehoahaz his Sonne reigneth he did much evill in Gods sight 2 Ki. 23.32 The Land in his Dayes was put under great tribute Ver. 33. Iehojachin reigneth He did evill 2 Ki. 23.37 very much evill Iehojachin his Sonne He reigneth He did much evill 2 Ki. 24.9 The People carried captive in his Dayes very much People Ver. 13.4 Zedechiah He reigneth and He did evill in the sight of the Lord very much 2 Ki. 24.9 20. It is well to be considered of that amongst all the Iudges of Israel that came into their places according to Gods institution there was not one man of them that I know of that was taken away by the Sword of the enemy nor by treachery slaine by their owne People nor came to any untimely Death save one man and that was not for practicall evill of himselfe but for suffering sinne to go without due punishment in his children But contrarily they are noted much for Humility Sincerity and Piety Certainly the Spirit of God doth wisely describe Governors for our learning had we but hearts wisely and diligently to observe them But note contrarily that amongst the Kings how many were taken away by untimely Deaths some by Gods command slaine some by the Sword of the enemy some carried captive and the greater part slaine by the People and the most of them are noted to bee notorious sinners I shall rehearse some of them although I believe not all The first fruits of their King Abimelecke Iudg. 9.6.53 The next was Saul slaine was his owne Executioner 1 Sam. 31.4 Nadab slaine by
the house of the Lord shall be exalted in the top of the Mountaines and shall be exalted above the Hills and all Nations shall flow unto it I leave this to your consideration Read Dan. 7.24 25 26 27. The ten Hornes that thou sawest are ten Kings that shall arise and another shall arise Ver. 25. and shall speake words against the most high and shall consume the Saints of the most high and thinke that hee may change Times and Lawes and they shall be given into his hand untill a time and times and the dividing of time Ver. 26. But the judgement shall sit and they shall take away his Dominion and consume it and dectroy it unto the end and the Kingdome and Dominion and the greatnesse of the Kingdome under the whole Heaven shall be given unto the holy people of the most high whose Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdome and all powers shall serve and obey him From these precious Promises or Prophesies recorded by the Prophet I shall collect such things as I do conceive do plainly arise from the Text. First that Kings should be enemies to the Saints and people of the most high and should do much damage to them during their government and that they should be lifted up in their own imaginations to think that they might change Times and Seasons by which I conceive is meant that they shall endeavour to govern not according to the prescribed rules of God but by their prerogatives royall as they terme it that is according to what seemeth good in their eyes being beyond those limits which God hath prescribed in his Law this I conceive is plainly held out in these expressions and think that they may change Times and Seasons by Times and Seasons may be meant such things as are already prescribed by a higher power within bounds and by the wisdome of him that had true authority to appoint such Rules Secondly I observe that such corrupt Governours shall be destroyed and put downe by those that God in his wisdom appointed as instruments to accomplish his decrees This is plainly held out in these expressions And they shall take away his Dominion to consume and to destroy it unto the end noted Ver. 26. Thirdly that now in these latter times God hath determined to restore and to reforme government which I conceive is plainely held out in these expressions Ver. 27. The Kingdome and Dominion and the greatnesse of the Kingdome under the whole Heaven shall be given to the holy people of the most high whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom Fourthly that this prophesie is not yet fully accomplished because it appeareth plainly to my best understanding that from the Prophet Daniels time to this time the government under the whole Heaven was not yet given to the holy people and also because this Kingdom this government or this power taken out of the hands of the foregoing Kings shall be everlasting it shall continue notwithstanding all oppositions against it I leave these things to due consideration Reade Micai 4.1 to 9. But it shall come to passe in the last dayes that the Mountaine of the house of the Lord shall be prepared in the top of the Mountaines and it shall be exalted above the Hills Ver. 3 And hee shall judge among many people and rebuke mighty people a farre off and they shall breake their Swords into Mattocks and their Spears into Sithes Nation shall not lift up a Sword against Nation neither shall they learne to fight any more Ver. 4. But they shall sit every man under his owne Vine and under his own Fig-tree and none shall make them afraid for the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Ver. 7. and the Lord shall reigne over them in Mount Sion from hence forth for ever Ver. 9. Now why dost thou cry out with lamentation there is no King in thee is thy counsellor perished for sorrow hath taken thee as a woman in travell Ver. 12. But they know not the thoughts of the Lord they understand not his counsell he shall gather them as sheaves in the barne Ver. 13. Arise thresh O Daughter of Sion for I will make thy horne Iron c. This prophesie I do conceive is not fully yet fulfilled and compleated for although it might have respect to the comming of Christ yet it holds out more matter then as I conceive yet is come to passe because the prophesie recorded that men should breake their swords into mattocks and their speares into sithes Nations shall not lift up a sword against Nations neither shall they learne to fight any more This I conceive cannot be accomplished because if we understand it in any sence I see not that this is yet accomplished but is still to be accomplished And for severall other reasons here aledged which I leave to consideration Reade Revel 11.15 And the seventh Angell blew the Trumpet and there were great voices in Heaven saying the kingdomes of the World are become the Lords and his Christs and he shall reigne for evermore From this place I conceive may be gathered that the governments shall be reduced to such a method and forme as God hath prescribed in his holy Word according to the first and most immediate pure instruments Reade Revel 14.8 And there followed another Angell saying Babilon that great City is fallen is falen Now we may note that Babilons confusion springeth from this root for want of good Government this is the very root of the sin and disorder namely evil Government for if we read the Records of the Kings of Israel and take notice we may plainly see That evil and corrupt Governors brought confusion to and amongst the People on the contrary consider That in an orderly and in a rational way when God will bring his people out of confusion into order God will certainly reform Government that being the principal instrumental way of Reformation so then when God foretelleth That the Babel of Confusion shall fall this is a principal part of the meaning namely That corrupt Governors must fall with or before it Time bids me forbear to multiply places there are many godly and learned men that have written largely and learnedly concerning Babele fall to whom I refer the Reader for further satisfaction and shall conclude this Point with that which is written Revel 18.8 Therefore shall her plagues come at one day death and sorrow and famine and she shall be burnt with fire for that God which condemneth her is a strong God Note I pray you in the verse before She sate as a Queen and lived in pleasure Was not this draught much like the picture of evil Kings But Vers 9. The Kings of the earth shall bewail and lament over her Note that the Kings of the earth are noted to lament and to fear her torments Why should they fear Ans Because a guilty conscience causeth fear they being sensible that they have so slighted Gods Law which have committed fornication note like
Government of so little concernment to us that we should rush upon men that must be our Shepherds in whose hands our lives and comforts must be next under God I have heard many Reports touching this person whom many do so labour after consider well what fruits you see from that branch what tokens of godliness is there in him David saith That he loveth those that love the Lord and hateth those that are Gods enemies Read Psal 22.21 to 29. David saith Psal 37. That the end of the just man is peace But the transgressors shall be destroyed together and the end of the wicked shall be cut off Read Psal 37. and consider well of it Now is it not apparent that the person so much desired hath correspondency with Idolaters and prophane persons Doth he not love them and converse most familiarly with many such Do not his Letters and Intelligences import so much Friends You that are so eager do you know what you should gain in case he were made your Guide and Ruler It is not unlike but that those persons which are your enemies should be made your Judges and Governors in case you obtain your desires To further this end there is a Malignant party that hateth those that love and fear the Lord these report That in the Army there are many Jesuites countenanced and that the Parliament and Army prefer and countenance such amongst others they mention one Mr Peters who they say is a Jesuite Let us now as in the presence of that glorious and strong God who will one day destroy the workers of iniquities and those that invent love and sow lyes as the devil soweth the tares to choke the good corn these shall feel the fierce anger of God when they shall desire that the mountains might fall upon them to hide them from the glorious God who loveth the Truth let us impartially weigh these Reports First for Mr Peters I my self have known the man many years and I have often heard him preach I never heard him teach such Doctrines as might give us occasion to suspect him to adhere to the Jesuites his Doctrine was godly and sound he is zealous and active but no way addicted that way and unto this testimony I doubt not but that if need require I can bring the testimony of many thousands But consider unpartial and friendly Reader it is not on him alone that they lay such calumnies but on many others which are eminent for piety and holiness Now let us a little enquire for the rest of those many Jesuites touching the Army upon the best intelligence that I am able to get I am informed that the General is truly devout and godly and that there is not any Jesuite known so to be that is either an Officer or a Preacher in the Army And touching the Parliaments favouring Jesuites this I experimentally see and hear that in this Kingdom those Ministers whom they countenance and allow chiefly are such as teach sound doctrine to my understanding And the Royalists in argument I never heard any but do acknowledg so much and I have purposely discoursed about that matter with divers of them This I see that to my understanding we have just cause to praise God that the Gospel is so freely preached And although some leaven of corrupt doctrine be against their minds as I believe sown here and there Yet it is to be considered that their hands are full of business they cannot yet reform many matters I do undoubtedly believe they will hereafter reform Countrymen and Friends let us consider well of this do not we by our gain-saying by our perverseness by our sins hinder the Government in the work of Reformation And if upon just examination we do find our selves guilty let us repent and amend for God will prove and try all our works In the mean time consider that if the contrary party should prevail can they that truly love and fear the Lord by that means expect especially in such troublesom times that they shall enjoy more liberty to serve God aright Object But many complain of great Taxations and that there are defects in the Administration of Justice many Debts unpayd and the impotent Poor unprovided for Answ I desire every man duly and unpartially to consider That the Times are troublesom many disbursements they have that they cannot avoyd the Army here and in Ireland the great number of Ships of Munition of Provisions former Debts and many other charges which every man is not sensible of all do hinder that they cannot do what otherwise they would I hope and beleeve that it is a great burthen and grief to them that such burthens and taxations should be and I beleeve it is their desire their study and care to ease the People and to take off these Taxations with what expedition they can And I am not without hope that God will shew them a way so to do and give them hearts to make use of it by which these burthens may be taken off and the People comforted And for the other Grievances I desire that we may for the time being bear with some inconveniences I do hope shortly we shall see a greater Reformation In the mean time I desire that we by our distempers do not weaken their proceedings so that they may not effect such Reformation as otherwise they might And likewise I desire that we may not by our gainsaying both hinder those comforts we might enjoy and bring upon our selves more and greater Troubles This I take notice of In the Country sin goeth on and is committed with an high hand swearing and cursing lying and other sins do abound in the sight of the Sun What sin is strange but for those that fear the Lord they are an abomination to the wicked Consider this It is the duty of all men to walk circumspectly and precisely as in the presence of an holy God Therefore I desire that men such as are guilty may no more hate other men for that which is our own duties The consideration of this grievous sin so abounding namely the contempt of them that fear God causeth me to fear that God that is jealous of his Honor will not suffer this sin to go unpunished I fear that a further scourge will pass through the Land without timely and serious repentance But this I believe that God will deliver his Church and People About sixteen or twenty years ago I remember that the prophane distinguished or differenced those that feared the Lord those that walked the more circumspectly and had respect to all Gods Commandments from themselves under this and the like notions they called them that feared God by way of disdain Puritans c. And now I find that in company in many places if a man out of due regard of the truth and fearing to speak that which may provoke Gods displeasure do but argue religiously concerning the truth of the passages of Gods Providences and perswade
namely in his Throne in his Power that by vertue of that place was belonging to him his strength lay in his inward affections there is the second place lay his strength For the first I have spoken already it armed him with sufficient Power to oppose his opposers and to suppress them And touching the second namely his inward affections this was the next security to the People in both these Mr Prynnes Arguments do fail and lose the end propounded namely our security For touching the first his Arguments they tended to bring the King into his Throne where had he been setled we should have found by experience to our cost that Kings are of too great Power to be put into and kept in such fetters long or often And touching the second namely his Heart of that we have had much experience for if we look to the fruits a sure rule to discern the heart where actions are apparent there we may plainly see that his heart was carryed away from us to our adversaries for proof of this I desire that we may look back to his favouring Idolatry and Idolaters and prophane persons and his suppressing and discountenancing the most faithful Ministers and People Was it not for these and such like matters that the whole Kingdom in a manner did forsake and oppose him at the first And did it not evidently appear afterwards during the War all along that his helpers and his Favorites were Papists and I believe many little better then Atheists and most prophane persons insomuch that they distinguished or differenced themselves from them that feared God by titles and carriages suitable to their prophane hearts Have we forgotten the horrible Blasphemies damnable swearing prophane cursing a note which the Holy Ghost giveth as a property of Gods enemies Rom. 3.14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness destruction and calamity are in their ways and the way of peace they have not known the fear of God is not before their eyes c. Have we forgotten their whoring plundering their perfideous dealings their fine designs their bloody cruelties Beloved Friends these sins were not committed in corners in secret but in the sight of the Sun And were not many or most of their principal Leaders leading men to give them patterns in sinning I would advise our Royalists now to take heed what they do for it is very evident that to this day a great part to speak with as much moderation as I may of those that are so bitterly against the Army and Parliament declare too evidently That there is too little fear of God before their eyes but much blasphemous swearing much cursing much hatred against them that fear God I am a witness of this to my sorrow They that party that cry out most especially against the diversity of Opinions but in the mean time many of them agree in one joynt Opinion witness their fruits namely this That they will cast off Gods yoke his Commandments They will be so far from doing the good will of God that they hate him that they perceive hath respect to Gods Laws I hope there are many that fear God that through weakness seem to side with that party but let them beware for if that party could prevail they should finde a strong party against themselves Well if I should be silent and the stones they tread on should hold their peace yet the most high God seeth these things who is a God jealous of his honor and will not hold such wicked guiltless Dear Friends I call God to record That with grief I rehearse these matters neither do I do it out of hatred to that party but aiming at Gods glory their true good and conversion Consider dear Friends Do not those intelligences and correspondences which the King held all along with Papists Idolaters with those bloody Murtherers in Ireland who filled their shoes with the blood of so many thousands in Ireland and that in a time of Peace as if it had been in a time of War Do not these declare That the late King his heart was not right with the Lord Can any man shut his eyes so close to hide these things from his sight Note further what the King granted and Mr Prynne layeth down as a sure foundation to build a sort upon against the revival of Bishops In his Speech he saith That the King consents to put down corrupt Bishops and their appurtenances c. but with this clause That he will still allow of Apostolical Bishops He saith The King contendeth for no other now but their power of Ordination onely Who is so blinde now that doth not see the Kings heart in this lowest time of his dejection Now for us to hope That our power shall prevail more then the King his power in case he had been again received as a King I do conceive our hope should have been built upon the sand Consider we further That suppose that the Kings heart was most cordial for the Papists of which there was just cause of suspition if we consider of all the premisses together then we may easily gather That a Dispensation from the Pope would take away all these bonds Moreover let us but consider That in case the late King had been restored if his heart had not been firm he should not have wanted enough men that would have perswaded him that these ties or cords with which he was bound were forced upon him in his afflictions and that God had afforded to Kings other and more power And that it should be a sin in him not to break such unlawful Covenants forced upon him And like it is That the King would have readily consented Then should they that had been actors in making those acts been accounted vilde and sinners and no doubt but that they should quickly have tasted of the cup of his displeasure 4. Lastly Consider That in case that these obligations could have prevailed yet what comfort or benefit should the Common-wealth have received thereby Ans 1. We should have had the maintenance of a titulary King and his Company to have provided for Secondly We should have had continual emulation and jealousies between the King and the Subject or Parliament who must have kept some armed Force for their defence For can we conceive That the King and his Favorers would ever have taken it well and quietly to have been thus deprived of those things that they would have conceived to have belonged to all his predecessors always and that no Record from the Creation neither divine nor humane could give a president for Thirdly Do we think this would have brooked if the Parliament must in a full Body consisting of Lords and Commons have given their direction and consent to so many State-matters from time to time Then it seemeth to me that it would have unavoydably followed That the Parliament must have sitten continually or at the least very often From which or upon which I do not see
in comparison But that such small numbers such weak men upon such unequal terms of disadvantage should prevail against such great numbers of able men in outward appearance so well furnished and armed with so great advantages and encouragements as in outward appearance the Opposites and Enemies of our present Army and Government had I do beleeve the like is not recorded either in the sacred Scriptures or in any humane Records God driveth their Enemies before them as chaff before the wind It is true That if contrarily we look upon this Army and Government as those that love and fear the Lord then we sometimes in Scriptures finde God doing wonderful and miraculous matters exceeding these Victories but not usually for these are transcendent Victories But if we should look upon the Parliament and Army as upon Gods Enemies I doubt not but I may safely affirm That there is no Record neither divine nor humane that sheweth that God did ever do such wonders give such victories upon such unequal terms of disadvantage to the Enemies of his Church and People so many and in so short a space of time as these have been effected The Lord open the eyes of all those that love and fear him Consider further That in all these proceedings we may note That our worthy and dearly beloved Generals have not aspired to any place of Government further then they have been evidently called in all these Wars they have endured many perils much affliction much hardship and when God giveth to them victories they lay down their Conquests and give those places into the hands of the State Consider that we may read of men that had not such opportunities as they have had that have attempted and obtained Crowns and Kingdoms to themselves by violence Consider further That in those Propositions that the Army their Officers propounded to the Common-wealth to settle a Government by men selected through the Land did they name themselves to be chosen into great places No certainly They put it further off into the hands of others who in after-times must have been their Judges And further The choyce of those they committed to others that were strangers to them Whereby it plainly appeareth That according to that measure of Light in that matter that God imparted to them they sought Gods glory and the good of the Common-wealth and not themselves Object There are many other Objections very impertinent or inconsiderate as namely That this State now suffereth many evil Opinions and Practices Answ I could desire every man to take heed first to his own ways for it is the practice of too many to be careless in examining themselves and forget not altogether that many now leap over the offences of the contrary party and bury them in silence or call evil good I do not doubt but that the Government doth labour to suppress all known sin and I believe that as God giveth to them time and opportunity we shall see it appear by their fruits which God grant Something more I judg my self in duty bound to write touching that Book entituled The Sword of Christian Magistracy Supported written by Mr William Prynne From the general consideration of the whole matter as it is there written and the manner thereof Considering likewise what pains he hath taken in the alledging and searching so many Records of humane Authors of Emperors Kings States Magistrates the Consent of Ancient and Modern Writers the Statute Laws of England Considering likewise the great pains time and charge he spent about the other his Labours namely that Speech of his to the House of Commons dated the 4 of Decemb. 1648. Upon the consideration of the whole it causeth me to consider how we are oftentimes mistaken when we too earnestly and with much care and industry endeavor to attain matters which could we accomplish those things that we so affectionately labour after which oftentimes we fall short of yet they would but little avail us and oftentimes turn to our great disadvantage We often travel in those ways that are a great way about when we might go a nearer and safer way and attain the end of our journey with more ease and safety I do not judg That it is unlawful to cite the Testimonies of other Records besides the Testimony of the Word of God but to spend much labour or time in the allegation of other Testimonies besides the Word of God contained in the Scriptures the unerring Rule of Truth I do conceive it ads but little strength to the cause if it be a matter that bindeth the conscience in holy duties For when we alledg the Word of God delivered by the Prophets and Apostles men immediately sent by God this cometh with the Authority and hath the Majesty of God stamped upon it this cometh with power it searcheth tryeth and convinceth the heart and inward affections it is like a two-edged-sword it pierceth speedily unresistibly The Writings of men are not useless but being compared with the Word of God they then are but as a candle compared with the Sun Now for men that would walk by the benefit of the light and desire that others should walk by the same light for such men to spend so much pains to light many candles to shew the way then at noon-day when the Sun shineth in his strength is not to so much purpose The Word of God cometh thus namely Thus saith the Lord c. But when men alledg the Testimonies of other Writers they must come clad in this habit namely He saith 2. It often cometh to pass That when we are so intent so studious and spend so much time in searching examining and alledging so many other Authors besides Gods unerring Word it often cometh to pass that we are too short in our allegations of the Word of God it self the lively and clear Fountain of Living Waters 3. By this means of looking too much upon humane authorities and neglecting or too little taking heed to the Word it self it cometh to pass oft-times that humane Authors varying in their judgments lead us aside into those Errors that they hold 4. From this Root it cometh to pass that the Servants of God are too much slighted and despised for they being conversant and studious chiefly of the Word of God they are but meanly respected because they come adorned and decked chiefly with plainness and simplicity Paul cometh thus apparelled 1 Cor. 2.4 Neither stood my words and my preaching in the intising words of mans wisdom but in plain evidence and power Was not this the cause that Christ Jesus was so much despised Was not this the cause that his Apostles and Disciples were despised Read 1 Cor. 2.11 13. Which things also we teach or speak not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth 5. Oft-times this being adorned or apparelled so much with the authorities of so many other Writings besides the Word lifts us up in our affections to
forme of government which God did in his wisdom appoint to his beloved first borne Sonne in the first and purest times of government from Moses to Samuel was much better then that government of Kings which succeeded afterwards in more corrupted times when God was angry with the people and was such a government as the people invented in imitation of the Heathens Secondly this government of God was better and the Peoples worse because God blessed his owne Directions and Prescriptions It is to be noted that of all the Iudges that God appointed immediately or in which the people asked counsell of God those governours God blessed them with his good and holy Spirit all of them from Moses to Samuel there was not one of them an evill governour that I can find and they all proved blessings to the people But those governors that the people chose and invented themselves many or most of them God did not so blesse with his good and holy Spirit and they proved curses and crosses to the people and were great afflictions to the people as appeared in Abimeleck in Ieroboam in Ahab and others Next let us consider That this people the children of Israel had the best forme of government from Moses to Samuel which appeareth from the considerations of diverse Scriptures Exod. 5. God there saith yee shall be my chiefe treasure though all the people of the Earth be mine this place sheweth that God preferred this people at this time above all other people therefore it may plainly be gathered that God took more speciall regard to appoint them a better government then other Nations but other Nations had Kings at that time and God prescribed and appointed to them Iudges at that time Therefore government by Iudges in that first and purest times were better then government by Kings Read Exod. 33.16 So shall I and thy people have preheminence above all people that are on the Earth here again the same is repeated to shew that this people had preheminence above all other people and should they be preferred in smaller matters and not in this matter of government being a matter of the greatest concernment Read Levit. 9.23 and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the People from this place it appeared that in this most excellent mercy they were far preferred before other people for did any other People see the glory of the Lord as they did no verily Read Levit. 26.12 Deut. 4.5 Behold J have taught you Ordinances and Lawes as the Lord my God commanded mee that yee should do Ver. 6. keepe them therefore and do them for that is your wisdome and understanding Ver. 7. For what Nation is so great to whom the Gods came so neare unto them as the Lord our God is neare unto us in all c. Ver. 8. And what Nation is so great that hath Lawes so righteous as all this Law that I set before you this day Ver. 9. But take heede to thy selfe and keepe thy soule diligently that thou forget not these things and that they depart not out of thy heart all the dayes of thy life but teach them thy sonnes and thy sonnes sonnes Ver. 2. Yee shal put nothing to the Word which I command you neither shall you take ought there from that yee may keepe the Commandements of the Lord your God c. Deare Friends let us well weigh the very expresse and direct force of such a plain downright Rule of God God tells them that they had Lawes and Commandements such as no people on Earth had the like Consider what was meant by Lawes and Precepts and Ordinances This is meant by it the whole frame of their government For Rules and Lawes and Ordinances implyeth most plainly two things the governours and the governed for else to what purpose had God given the lawes if he had not appointed governors to see those lawes executed We see it to be of necessity and most principall concernment that in all combinations or societies wherein many act together there must be Order which is nothing else but government We see likewise that this government being regulated and ordered wisely justly mercifully c. This puts a beauty upon all matters to be acted by Societies This Order in Government it puts a shining luster upon all pieces of worke and upon all Societies Do but withdraw a wise and good government and let either a foole or a negligent person or a disordered Epicure or a Tyrant mannage actions and you shall presently find that Workes or Societies guided by such will either turn into a Chaos or into disorder or at the least in the best cases the lustre and beauties of such societies will be taken away That which I shall then gather from these Scriptures is that no Nation under Heaven had so good a government which is plainly expressed in that none had so righteous Lawes and Ordinances as this people of Jsrael had now in this time of the Judges now in these first and purest times now in this time when God shewed his glory so eminently now in this time when God came so neare unto this people as no Nation upon Earth had such a government such governors which is plainly implied and expressed under these words Lawes and Ordinances This being true then it followeth plainly That this government by Judges was better then the government by Kings for at that time they had Kings in their Heathen governments the Egyptians they had a King a Tyrant an unrighteous oppressor a ripe of the Devill but God saith that at that very time the Ordinances and Lawes the whole-frame of their governors and government was better then all other Nations did enjoy then certainly it was better then the government by Kings We can no way evade or avoid in a plain way of righteousnesse this truth it followeth plainly directly and strongly But further it appeareth clearly that this government was better then that government by Kings because God in his wisdom saw this government to be best for his Church and people God was the Author of this government by Iudges God did prescribe this government and blesse this government And God is not as man his works are not imperfect God seeth and knoweth at once what is best consider then That God is likewise unchangeable Concerning the Government by Kings God was not ignorant of it he saw that but it plainly appeared that he approved not of it because nevertheles God prescribed to the people this way of Government by Judges this was Gods own Ordinance and God saith This Government was the best no Nation had so good a Government take it in what respect you will or can take it Further let us consider That these Ordinances of God these Laws this Government prescribed and blessed by God himself do continue in force to this day they were never changed nor repealed to this very day Object But do we not find that there were some good Kings as
and so continued in the breach of Covenant and of Gods Law they had not yet restored God to be their King as in the days of old as in the beginning This is plainly expressed in these words Kings not by me Princes and I knew it not As if God should have said I expected they should repent and turn from their evils and have enquired at and taken my counsel who should be the man that should be their chief Governor but they go on and obstinately follow the counsel of their own hearts They have Kings but not by me they have Princes and I knew it not that is They did not come and make me acquainted they did not enquire of me who should govern them therefore the Enemy shall pursue them But to go on They have transgressed my Covenant and broken my Law whence I gather plainly That the Government by Judges together with their entrance into their places it was part of the Law of God God did ordain and appoint that the Government should be by Judges and that God would have that priviledg that preheminency therein that he would be consulted withall who should be the man that should be principal Governor that is to say God and not the people without the express counsel of God known should appoint the man and name the person and the erring from this here God calleth the transgression of his Law and the breach of his Covenant That this is the very true minde of God I beleeve the very words in the Text and their application by God himself do naturally and plainly hold out so much But secondly I gather this to be the meaning here considering the presidents prescribed and practised by God himself God mediately appointed Moses Joshua Gideon Samuel and some others This sheweth that God did ordain and institute not onely the form of Government by Judges but also God did himself immediately appoint the persons in which nomination we may observe That God did not appoint in these first and purest and uncorrupted times that Government should go by Succession from Father to the eldest Son Moses had children and other of the Judges had children yet God in his wisdom saw it to be most for his glory and for the peoples good that the principal Government should not be continued by descent This plainly appeareth by those presidents in which God himself did the most immediately appear in and the most immediately appoint Afterwards in more corrupted times the people chose by descent but this proved not to be compared with that way which God in his heavenly wisdom did appoint in the first and in the purest and best Times I should further note divers things here as their casting God off their punishments being the fruits the people reaped but I forbear and proceed The Lord saith Deut. 4. Vers 2. to 9. That God had taught them Ordinances therefore keep them saith God What Nation is so great that hath Laws so righteous as all this Law Take heed to thy self and keep thy Soul diligently thou and thy sons and thy sons sons Ye shall put nothing to the Word that I command you neither shall you take ought there from This people they were well disciplined by God they had the presence of God so neer to them and God was so tender over them as appeareth Deut. 32.10 God led him about he taught him he kept him as the apple of his eye Vers 11. As an Eagle stirreth up her nest fluttereth over her birds stretcheth out her wings taketh them and carrieth them on her wings Vers 12. So the LORD alone led him and there was no strange god with him Thus did God neerly shew the people his glorious majesty his power his wisdom his Truth his grace goodness bounty mercy his unchangeableness When we consider of it we may say with the Prophet Isaiah Oh that we had harkened to Gods Commandments then should our prosperity have been like the floods and like to the mighty waters But alass this people grew to be full they were at ease they were wanton which God noted Deut. 32.15 He that should have been upright when he waxed fat spurned with his heels that is he esteemed these precious mercies to be of little value Therefore God seeing this saith Deuteronomy 32. Vers 15. Thou art fat thou art laden with fatness thou art gross therefore he forsook God that made him and regarded not the strong God of his Salvation God being most infinitely wise he knoweth which way is best to remedy this distemper namely these surfets in prosperity This therefore God telleth the people admonishing them in the times of their prosperity to take heed to Gods Commandments and not to turn any way aside to the right or left hand nor to add nor diminish But observe we this people would not harken they would not be convinced that the wisdom of God was best and safest for them God had himself immediately prescribed both the form of Government and the persons yet this people preferred the GOVERNMENT by KINGS such as the HEATHENS round about had of which the LORD had said to them Ye shall not follow their Manners nor Customs before the Government by Judges and therefore the Prophet Samuel telleth them that such things would befall them by having Kings but they would not harken to God to the Prophet Therefore the Lord fore-seeing and knowing what would follow he admonished them they will not now be perswaded Take heed for it is no light matter for hereafter you shall cry out by reason of your afflictions but I will not hear you that is to say you shall feel this breach of my Law and Covenant Kings shall be your Oppressors they will slay my Priests set up Idolatry force you to Idolatry they will worship the hoast of Heaven they will fill the streets of Jerusalem with blood they will be the causes that my anger shall be kindled against you they shall be the causes that I will bring an Enemy upon you and deliver you into captivity Hosea 8. Therefore saith the Lord the Enemy shall pursue you that is to say he shall prevail against you This shall come to pass because you have broken my Law and transgressed my Covenant you have set up Kings but not by me and Princes but I knew it not as if God should say I did not acknowledg the way of Kings I knew it not c. and yet you repent not you return not to me c. Samuel faithfully and plainly fore-told this 1 Sam. You shall cry out by reason of your afflictions at that day but I will not hear you you have chosen a form of Government by Kings and Kings you shall have This sheweth That the matter of Governors and Government is no light matter in Gods estimation we may make as light a matter of it as we will but God knoweth that Kings will afflict us and oppress us Kings will draw us to Idolatry they
will cause the fierce wrath of the Lord to break out against us Consider of it we have had the experience of above two thousand years what the fruits of Kings have been search diligently the Records of the sacred Scriptures from Samuel his time to this present day and the Records of all ages How often have the people been tossed to and fro in Religion in War in bloodshed under the Government of Kings the Father of one Religion the Son of another How much War and contention hath there been for to obtain Crowns and Kingdoms Consider of it Was it so under the Government by Judges prescribed by God Did they perswade the people to Idolatry Or contrarily did they not from time to time perswade the people to the true Worship of God Which of the Judges did strive for the Government But contrarily the very first of the Kings did shed much blood having in aspiring mind to obtain the Crown c. Search the Book of the Judges concerning Abimelech and his fruits Country-men beloved Consider of it I am perswaded That if such experiences such admonitions such warning as God hath given us recorded in the Scriptures and from our own and other Nations if these will not prevail though Abraham should send one to us from the dead it would not prevail One admonition more I desire we may remember God saith to Israel They were full and fat they would not serve the Lord in their own Land in the abundance of all things they would not observe Gods Law and Covenant without addition or diminution they would follow their own inventions Therefore saith the Lord they should serve their Enemies in hunger cold and nakedness in the want of all things and in a strange Land Consider dearly beloved That from the excellency of Government doth arise the happiness and blessedness of the Saints in the Kingdom of Heaven I pray you therefore let us set a high price upon Government Let us proceed warily in matter of Government let us enquire of God let us follow the purest the most clear and evident presidents and prescriptions without turning to the right or left hand let us enquire for the old and good ways prescribed owned and blessed by God himself against this there can be no just exception And it may be God will see and regard us and remember the riches of his own compassion of his own precious promises Isai 1.26 God will restore which argueth they then were not in being Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning then shall we be called a City of Righteousness a faithful City I might multiply Testimonies the Scripture is obvious and copious but time bids me forbear Therefore I go on to consider a little more particularly Kings concerning whom the most high and wise God did both see and know what and when the first King should be and how long the continuance of the Government of Kings should continue and when their Kingdoms should be finished of this I doubt not now the end of Kings and all other afflictions work together for the glory of God and the good of Gods Elect and I doubt not but that God would use some Kings as instruments in some particulars to be helpful to his Church and People Object Some and too many use this as an argument That Kings were good for Gods Church and People for say they did not God make Promises to Kings of good things and were not some Kings good instruments in some things to promote Gods glory Did not Solomon build a Temple to the name of the Lord c. Ans One instance consider Adam our great Grandfather after he had broken Gods Commandment and eaten the forbidden fruit after this and presently upon the occasion of what came to pass by reason of his transgression God out of his bounty and goodness maketh a Promise of great worth to Adam and to his posterity namely That the seed of the woman should breaks the serpents head Consider now would it be safe or sound arguing to argue thus Adam did well because God in mercy gave him a precious promise No verily Or would it be safe to say That we some of his posterity may follow his steps in sinning because that he obtained a precious promise No verily because we are first to have respect to Gods Covenant to his Law And also we are to consider That the root from whence this promise sprung was not from or because God was pleased with or approved of Adams transgression but the Promise sprung out of Gods abundant and rich mercy and free grace From the premised respects and considerations I gather and conclude That those gracious promises or acts wherein God used Kings as instruments or actors in some good things these do neither approve of the Government by Kings nor do they prove that the institution of Kings was approved by God and much less do they prove That the Government by Kings was of equal goodness with the Government by Judges in which the Word of God is plain and evident That God prescribed owned and blessed the Government by Judges And contrarily the Word of God is plain evident and copious That God did not allow of the Government by Kings but did expresly disapprove of that form of Government by Kings and to this we may add the experience of the fruits of Kings to this very day Object Some do use this argument to strengthen the continuance of Kings namely That God did fore-tell that Kings should be and some Kings God did himself appoint Ans God did fore-tell that Israel would kick with their feet and slight his Commandments God did fore-tell that the people would reap bitter fruits from Kings This doth not shew that God did allow or approve either of the one or of the other God did appoint some Kings immediately shewing that in this way if the people had kept close to God and have gone no further backward from his Rules and Directions then it should have been better and safer for the People it was too much to alter the forme prescribed by God but it was an addition to and aggravation of this sinne when they slighted God and did not enquire of God who should be the man that should be their King from time to time When they followed the Rule and made him King whom the Lord did chuse it may be noted that God chose Saul immediately by lot wherin we may note that although God were angry yet hee tooke thus much care for the People that God let Saul rightfully raigne no longer as King but so long as hee walked in Gods wayes and during that time God gave Saul some portion of his good Spirit or a spirit which made him sutable in some proportion to govern his People as appeareth 1 Sam. 10.9 God gave Saul another hearts and all those tokens came to passe c. And when Saul departed from God and forsooke his Law wee may
one of his own people 1 Ki. 15.27 Elah slaine in like manner 1 Ki. 16.9 And of Baasha his predecessors progeny God saith 1 Ki. 16.4 he that dieth of Baasha his stock in the City him shall the Dogs eate and he that dieth in the field the Fowles After him Zimri pursued by the People burneth himselfe 1 Ki. 16.18 Jehoram slain by his own people 2 Ki. 9. Ahaziah slaine in like manner 2 Ki. 9.27 Iesabell slaine 2 Ki. 9. Ahab slaine his posterity slaine 2 Ki. 10.6 by the Elders of his own people Ver. 7. Athalia slaine by her own people 2 Ki. 11.3.16 Iehoash slaine by his own servants 2 Ki. 12.20 Shallum slaine by his own people 2 Ki. 15.10.12 Pekahiah slaine by his own people 2 Ki. 15 25. Pekah slaine by his owne people 2 Ki. 15.30 Amon slaine by his own people 2 Ki. 21.23 I know not any one of these but that they are noted to be notorious sinners I doe let passe some others slaine and carried captives only these briefly as the shortnesse of time will permit the Lord give us hearts to understand the meaning of the blessed spirit of God aright Note here that God in his righteous Iudgements suffered and appointed Kings to be punished on earth God did not let them alone to be punished in another World I do believe that all these were not to be approved in the instruments and manner of their slaughters but some of them are approved and all of them are noted to bee taken away by Gods righteous judgements for the breach of his Laws and Commandments Now let the sincere godly hearted unpartially compare this government by Kings with that government by judges in which I pray God to direct you aright Thus have I endeavoured to present to our view the Kings that reigned over Iudah and Israel the Lord give us understanding to consider what bitter fruits the People reaped by changing their forme of Government I shall onely in this matter consider that doubtlesse these Kings many of them or others in their room would have beene much better had the People kept closer to the Rules prescribed and from time to time enquired of God who should have beene the man that should have governed them for we may note that although God promsed David that some of his posterity should governe yet they ought to have made him King whom the Lord should chuse Deut. 17. But we may note that God did so withdraw his good Spirit from the people that I remember not that it is recorded from Solomons time and after that the People did ever solemnly enquire counsell of God Who should governe them I doe believe that if the people had solemnely and seriously sought to God in this matter God would have provided some of Davids posterity from time to time and so have blessed and guided them by his good Spirit that they should have beene much better then they were but I doe believe God suffered them to swerve that we by their examples might learne wisdome whatsoever was written before time was written for our learning Having thus far proceeded in laying downe or describing the Cause or Foundation wherefore or whereupon I endeavour in the feare and love of the great and most high God according to the measure of Grace received to describe such a government Governors together with their entrances and authority as God hath prescribed owned and blessed in all which I doe consider that from the time of the Prophet Samuel to this day there hath beene so great a swerving and declining from that first most pure and cleare Fountaine from those most straight wholesome and good Rules Precepts and Commandments described by that most high and onely Wise God therefore I pray you blame mee not if I decline from humane authorities in all this description I desire to enquire for the old and good wayes of our good God And I consider that Gods Wayes his good Will and Pleasure is most certainely most wisely most apparently made knowne in the Scriptures written by the Prophets and Apostles men that most truly and faithfully made knowne Gods good Will and Pleasure without mixture of their owne or other mens inventions Therefore I shall most chiefly and only in comparison alledge the authority of the Scriptures and the rather because I consider that as the interposition of the Earth between the Sun and Moone darkneth that light and maketh an Eclipse whereby we are hindered from the more apparent and clear light and benefit that otherwise we might receive so I feare it would come to passe if I should follow other inventions I am sure that in this way the true light is most unerring I shall next endeavour to shew what encouragement I finde recorded in the sacred Scripture that do strengthen or encourage me to believe That God now in these latter Dayes and Times will restore and reforme government so that we shall have Judges as at the first and counsellors as at the beginning and then wee shall be called a City of righteousnesse a faithfull City I shall begin to propound to consideration this Scripture Esai 1.24 Thus saith the Lord of Hosts the mighty one of Israel Ah I will ease me of mine adversaries and avenge mee of mine en mies Ver. 25. Then will I turne mine hand upon thee burne out thy drosse till it be pure and take away all thy tinne Ver. 26. And I will restore thy Judges as at the first and thy counsellers as at the beginning afterwards thou shalt be called a City of righteousnesse a faithfull City From this place I observe That corrupt Governors are the great hinderances of Reformation because the Church shall then be a City of righteousnesse when they have Judges as at the first Secondly I observe That such corrupt Governors and Governments God hath determined shall be put downe this is expressed in these words J will ease me of my enemies and burne out thy Drosse this is plainely implyed in these words I will restore thy Judges as at the first c. Thirdly I observe that at this time when the Prophet Esay wrote this sentence or this precious promise The government that then was in being which was a government by Kings was neither the first government nor the best or pure government but hereby noted to be a corrupt government If this were not the plaine and true meaning of these words I believe God would not have made this to be the way and meanes whereby the Church should become in Gods estimation a City of righteousnesse and a faithfull City and this appeareth if we do consider that the way how and cause why they should become a City of righteousnesse was Because a better government should be to the Church and People of God and that which then was in being should be destroyed but then the government was by Kings Fourthly I observe that this government should be reformed or regulated according to the first
watchfulnesse in this matter which doth so nearly concerne the glory of God and the good of us and of our posterity I find that God doth descâ—ibe a clear evident and great difference betweene the chiefe or principall Iudge or Governor and the other Governors inferior to them in regard or respect of their callings or of Gods sending them into and unto those places of government therefore I shall observe the wisdom of God who first ordaineth the head or chiefe governor and shall begin with the chief Judge We finde that God did himself immediately appoint Moses Exod. 3.10 Come now therefore I will send thee unto Pharaoh that thou mayest bring my people the children of Israel out of Aegypt Ver. 12. And certainely I will be with thee c. Here is Moses call so likewise God did immediately appoint Ioshua Read Joshua 1.1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord the Lord spake unto Ioshua the sonne of Nun Moses Minister saying Ver. 2. Moses my servant is dead now therefore arise go over this Jordan c. Read Num. 27.18 And the Lord said unto Moses take Ioshua the sonne of Nun in whom is the spirit and put thine hands upon him c. VVe may note here that in the Verses before Moses did earnestly intreat God that he would appoint a Governor or Shepherd to go in and out before the people Moses knowing of what concernment it was to Gods glory and the peoples good that the people should have a good shepherd note that God doth not presently answer Moses thus let the people chuse a Governor themselves but on the contrary God owneth this way of his own prescribing as appeareth because as God did immediately chuse Moses as is before considered so also here again God proceedeth as before and doth immediately chuse Ioshua to be the chief governor of his people And secondly we may observe that God giveth this further manifestation of his minde in these wordes in whom is the spirit wherin and whereby God sheweth that the People might have erred if they had chosen for they could see but the outward man But God knew exactly who would be for his glory and for the peoples good he knew in whom his blessed spirit was Next reade Judges 1.1 After that Joshua was dead the children of Israel asked the Lord saying who shall goe up for us against the Canaanites VVe may here note that the people had bin so well instructed in the dayes of Moses and Ioshua that they did account it to be Gods Will and their duty to let God chuse their chiefe Governor no doubt this people did not do this unadvisedly but upon knowledge and due consideration that it was the Will of God and that it was the most surest and safest way for them that God should chuse their principall Governor for them Therefore they used the means they enquired Gods minde who should governe them And it is to be duly considered that this People nor any of their posterity did never seek God in such weighty Causes Humbly Heartily Earnestly but God did usually mostly if not alwayes condescend unto them and answer them graciously whether they enquired Gods Mind by the judgment of Vrim or whether by lotts I cannot tell but God answered both these wayes and God owned and prescribed both these wayes as appeareth by Samuel his practice in chusing Saul by Gods immediate direction 1 Sam c. VVe may note further that the people are recorded by God to be a people that did cleave close to and were observant of Gods Commandments Josu 24.31 And Israel served the Lord all the dayes of Ioshua and all the dayes of the Elders that overlived Joshua and had known all the workes of the Lord which hee had done for Israel We may note that after this Generation the people grew wanton and forsooke the streight and pure wayes of the Lord therefore the Lord delivered them into the hands of their enemies Judg 2.12 13.14 But the way that God helpeth them is by raising up Judges Judg. 2.16 Reade Judges 3.9 And the children of Israel cryed unto the Lord and the Lord stirred up a Saviour to the children of Israel and he saved them Ver. 10. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he judged Israel Here we may note that it is not a vaine thing to seek the Lord for although the people had done wickedly yet when they cryed unto the Lord the Lord heareth them And secondly we may note that God owneth this way that himself chuseth Government immediately Thus we may read that God did immediately send Gideon Judg. 6.14 And the Lord looked upon him and said go in this thy might and thou shalt save Israel have not I sent thee I note that where God doth immediately send or appoint government from the dayes of Moses to the dayes of Samuel God doth not institute or appoint the Son to succeed in Government next after the Fathers death and this continued all the time of those first and purest times and those times wherein God did most immediately appoint Government in favour and in mercy to his Church and People Whereby it plainly appeareth that succession from the Father to the Son was none of Gods institution in those first and purest Times God chose Samuel to be Governor or cheife Governor immediately by which and by the former Governors mentioned before it plainly appeareth that God did prescribe and owne and blesse this way it appeareth that it was Gods minde and will to chuse Governors himself immediately The next way that God did prescribe of chusing governors was by lot whereby God did immediately chuse the chief governor recorded 1 Sam. 10.19 Now therefore stand you here before the Lord according to your Tribes and according to your thousands Vers 20. And when Samuel had gathered together all the Tribes of Israel the Tribe of Benjamin was taken and afterwards he assembled the Tribe of Benjamin according to their families and the family of Matri was taken so Saul the son of Kish was taken and Samuel said See ye not him whom the Lord hath chosen By this place it plainly appeareth That God did ordain this way for the chusing the principal Governor namely by lots whereby God is said to chuse There were some Judges the manner of whose choyce is not so expresly recorded those most eminent are such as God first raised up and used as instruments in more then an ordinary manner such for ought I know may be made useful for Gods glory and for the peoples good such as God hath raised up to work deliverances for the people such as in that respect may be called Saviours and such as are men well known to be men of courage humility and p ety We find That God afforded deliverances protection and peace to the people by such men as for ought I know were so raised up this way is the nearest to these most pure and immediate
are of Gods precious servants that do truely and unfeignedly endeavour and desire to do Gods Will well then here is a precious opportunity for if you should study all your life to do an act well pleasing to God this is the very act being an act concerning these worldly matters that is acceptable to God namely to follow Gods choisest Rules of direction with all your heart with all diligence in the matter of the form of government and the persons to be governors that so Gods blessed Spirit may rest upon them For consider that if you mistake or turne aside from Gods Commandements and so do mistake in the forme and persons we are undone the glory and splendor of your labours are lost for if the person of our chiefe Governor be not chosen exactly according to the choisest Rules gathered out of the blessed and good Word of our God how shall we the People lie downe and rest in peace without trouble and feare for we know that in by-pathes Wolves and Foxes do come into the Sheepfold which although they should come softly to us as if they meant us no hurt yet our hearts cannot be quiet for Wolves and Foxes meane us no good Nay further if they should come disguised in sheeps clothing so that we know them not by outward appearance yet if any should come in by any indirect means which God forbid in those paths those beasts of prey come in certainly our hearts cannot be securely and contentedly quiet because we shall look back upon former experiences recorded in the Scriptures where we may finde that such men as have attained to the places of chief Governors not in a way of God upon such persons God hath not bestowed his good but an evil spirit and such persons have proved to draw the people to sin and have been a means to bring the fierce wrath of God upon the people Therefore I do seriously confess in the presence of our glorious God that when I do consider the great danger weight and charge of a chief Governors place I see no cause in any worldly respect that is truly real and substantial why any man should covet desire or thirst after it but contrarily considering the great charge of souls the great account they must give to God for to whom much many Talents are given of them much shall be required God is a jealous God of his honor Considering likewise the shortness of our lives being but even comparatively a moment and considering likewise the danger that attendeth men in eminent places they are set in slippery places and considering likewise what diligence God requireth and self-denial in such places To me it plainly appeareth That a quiet or peaceably life with competency is much to be preferred and is truly and solidly better for a mans own comfort Moses and Gideon are recorded in Gods Records for their humility and wisdom and for that they looked upon places of charge Governors places as being very weighty to bear above their own abilities Consider therefore that if any man should attain Government in any by-paths not being sent of God into what a deep miserable and woful case for soul and body should such plunge themselves and so many thousands of Soules for this undoubtedly I shall expect that where any doe attaine governors places not according to Gods Rules that to such God will not give his good Spirit but rather an evill and a deceiving Spirit Note I pray you that although God was offended with the People yet because the People followed Gods counsell in accepting the person that God saw meete to Governe them therefore the Spirit of God came upon Saul all the time that hee rightfully reigned but presently when God had rejected him from governing it is noted and recorded that an evill spirit came upon him though hee retained his place after Therefore I humbly request you lay aside all worldly respects in this case and joyne all your strength diligence and hearts cheerefully and unanimously for Gods glory and the good of us your People and of our and of your posterity Remember dearely beloved how often God doth repeate these instructions namely that his People should diligently take heede to observe and note his Commandements and meditate in them day and night to doe and to observe them how often doth God admonish them to take heede not to add nor diminish to or from his Commandements and not to turne aside to the right nor left hand how many eminent examples hath God recorded of his anger against such as have cast away his Commandements and likewise his blessing upon them that with the greatest intention have followed those wayes that God directed and our Saviour telleth us that those that doe Gods Commandements are like to the wise builder that builded upon a Rocke Consider what great compassion God hath shewed to us that are Gentiles by nature and were Aliens from the Israel of God and Strangers from the Covenant of the Promises now God hath broken downe that partition wall and hath given us hope of salvation and hath made us partakers of those precious promises of Grace that are like to the balme of Gilead God through his blessed Sonne and our Saviour hath freely forgiven us our Offences and hath given unto us an assured hope of salvation Remember then what Christ saith that if wee love him wee should keepe his Commandements And consider wee shall get no benefit by turning from our God if we could obtaine the wings of the Morning and go over the face of the whole Earth yet we sall certainely finde that there is no God like to our God nor no devices or inventions of Men to be compared with those most beautifull and perfect wayes of our God And notwithstanding that Israel knew all this yet how apt were they and how often did they forsake the strong and gracious God and rejected his Commandements And preferred their owne inventions before Gods Commandements and before his Blessed Institutions in so much that GOD complained that the Ox acknowledgeâ— his owner and the Asse his Masters Cribbe but Israel would not obey the Lord their God Consider what could God have spoken or done more unto us hee hath sent his Prophets rising up early hee hath set before us Life and Death Good and Evill Prosperity and Adversity God hath set before us an eternall weight of glory a Crowne of glory God hath given us us unworthy such great and precious favours hope nay sure hope that we shall shortly our glasse runnes apace see God and enjoy him and the company of his blessed Saints and Angells to all eternity who is the Fountaine and perfection of all good beyond what the eye hath seene or the eare heard and beyond what ever entered into the heart of man to conceive Consider I pray you that notwithstanding that Israel knew many of these things yet they forsooke the Fountaine of living waters in so much that God saith of them Esai 48.18 Oh that thou haddest hearkened to my Commandements then had thy prosperity beene as the Flood and thy righteousnesse as the Waves of the Sea thy seede also had beene as the Sand that is numerous and our blessed Saviour saith Mat. 23.27 O Jerusalem Ierusalem which killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy Children together as the Hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and you would not Ver. 38. Therefore behold your habitation shall be left unto you desolate But Dearely beloved Fathers I hope better things of you God hath used you already as instruments of his glory to doe great things God hath by you opened such a door for Reformation as I believe hath not beene since the dayes of Samuel the Prophet Now you have a precious Pearlâ— in your hands now you have an opportunity the Lord give you hearts not to slight it but to improve it for the honour of God and for the good of his Church and People you may I believe if God give you hearts be a meanes that wee may have Iudges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning then shall wee be called a City of righteousnesse and a faithfull City Isa 1.16 And then shall Peace and Truth meete together as Moses mâ—t Aaron in the Mount of God and they kissed each other Exodus 4.27 And then shall wee be a People whose governors and government shall be like in forme like unto the resemblance of that blessed forme and frame of government in Heavenly places amongst the blessed Saints and Angels which they do and the Elect children of God shall enjoy to all Eternity The consideration of that blessed and happy Government in Heaven drew mee to desire that our Government upon Earth might be in some proportion like to it this was the first mover under G d that caused me to write these few Lines and it is the utmost and onely end of My Endeavours FINIS Imprimatur Iohn Downame Decemb. 28. 1649. Errors in Printing discovered to be rectified Pag. 20. line 26. for revive read review P. 29. l. 28. for offered r. afforded P. 39. l. 18. Some words omitted P. 40. l. 14. for task r. case P. 53. l. 3. for second r. first and second Table P. 81. l. 26. for speak r. joyn P. 100. l. 26. for mediately r. immediately P. 113. l. 16. after Abimelech there wants part of a sentence P. 125. l. 37. put out onely P. 141. l. 11. for to r. for P. 157. l. 6. for Lawyers r. Laws
and purest times and by Judges which being considered I believe it plainely followeth that from the time of Samuel to this day this prophesie hath not bin fulfilled and accomplished because there hath not from that time to this bin such a Reformation such a Government by Iudges as was in the first and most pure times instituted the most immediately by God himself and is held out in these words As at the first c. Fifthly I observe that there is just ground to hope and believe that such a Reformation God will worke namely that God will restore Iudges as at the first Sixthly I believe there are good grounds from this place compared with the acts and great workes that God is now working and hath wrought to expect that this very time is the time or the beginning of the time God pointed out in this prophesie Because that corrupt government by Kings is put downe in such a way of burning and righteousnesse as hath not bin from that time to this day as I believe and such an earnest seeking and strong endeavours as hath not bin usuall for to set up and restore a government by Iudges as at the first in which endeavours I cannot but acknowledge that I believe it evidently appeareth That many men have affectionately endeavored with the hazard of their lives and of all their worldly comforts to obtaine a government such as might be for the glory of God and according to his Will revealed as at the first Object How commeth it then to passe that sin abounds so much and that wickednesse is not more suppressed Answ We are to consider that great workes are not alwayes finished so soon as they are begun God may suffer some sins now more then ordinary to appear that by that meanes we may see them and see the evâ—ll of them and the danger of them and by seeing them we may see how and where they may be rooted up this government is yet in agitation not fully settled as I conceive they have many occasions their Enemies not wholy subdued We may observe that in those times when God was about to work the greatest deliverances for his Church God worketh by contraries in mans apprehension when Israel was nearest to their deliverance out of Aegyt then God let them taste the most bitterly of he yoke of their oppression although Moses at the same instant was labouring for their deliverance Secondly can we see no reformation consider that the Gospell hath free liberty to be preached many Congregations are much reformed and a free liberty for Reformation to others Idolatry is suppressed the Ministery and People are freed from those troubles in conscience that formerly they would have beene glad to have beene eased of and further consider that in these times there is much more light many things formerly obscured and hid are now appeared and concerning those sins that are a just cause of griefe I believe when government is setled they will be driven away as chaffe before the winde and touching those Burdens and Taxations I believe they are our governors griefe to impose them and I hope God will shew them a meanes to ease them and to take them away in the mean time let us seek God unfainedly and God will answer us graciously Thirdly let us consider which party those that are for or those that are against this present government or Army be most guilty of the sin most reigning I shall speak something what my own experience reacheth and so far as my memory and opportunity hath received from other men Those generally that stand for the Army and Parliament are godly or civill the most of them I know not one other wayes Those that are against them are many of them such as I have heard my self with much grief that have bin swearers most notoriously and have spoken of the secrets of nature of Men and Women in such a manner as if they had never lived where Gods Word had come to their knowledge in such a manner as the very Indians that are civilized are ashamed of or not accustomed to in such a manner as That their mouthes are filled with cursing and bitternesse destruction and calamity are in their wayes the way of Peace they have not knowne I leave them and speak to some other I believe there may be many some I know of whom I am perswaded I may safely affirm That they are the elect of God and yet neverthelesse through weakenesse for so I judge it to be do not favour the Army and the present government I hope God will shew them just cause to see their error and to acknowledge it in this particular But concerning those that stand for the present government and Army I know not nor have I discoursed with nor heard of any one Man that hath cordially favored the proceedings of the Army and this present government but they appeare to be either godly or civill not openly prophain I would not be mistaken I speak not in this particular what the Souldiery may be I mean the common Souldiery may be I know nothing against them but this I can affirm upon my own knowledge upon inquiry in Cornewall and in Devonshire they behave themselves so orderly that I much rejoyced to see their civill and orderly carriage and I did purposely enquire of the Inhabitants and I remember not any one but did acknowledge that they carried themselves orderly To conclude my Answer to this Objection I do acknowledge sin is committed too openly in the sight of the Sun there are many offences Let us all look to it for Christ Jesus the Sonne of the blessed God saith that woe be to him by whom the offence commeth Certainly there is a righteous God that will prove and try all our hearts and workes to whose righteous judgement I willingly refer the Cause I humbly request those that fear God not to be offended for consider that many take liberty to the utmost to detract the Army and present government therefore give me a little liberty I would not exceede the bounds prescribed by God But to return to shew cause why we may now expect Reformation Iudges is at the first this following is the seventh Observation gathered from this prophesie namely because God hath stirred up many godly and learned in these times to put in writing what they have gathered from the prophesies of the Prophets and these joyntly and unanimously do agree so far as I know that near to these times God will doe great things such as have not bin done for a long season in reforming matters in exalting and lifting up his Church out of affliction This is an encouragement to us to hope and expect that we shall have Iudges as at the first and counsellors as at the beginning then shall we be a City of righteousnesse a faithfull City Unto the foresaid Scripture we may add that Esai 2.2 It shall be in the last dayes that the Mountaine of
God chusing a governor and the peoples chusing a governor therefore he chuseth a governor by lot wherein and whereby God chuseth therefore Gods direction and institution is that God shall chuse This is most for Gods glory and for the peoples greatest safety Lots are Gods own Ordinance as appeareth in many places Josh 7.17 So Joshua rose up early in the morning and brought Israel by their Tribes and the Tribe of Judah was taken And he brought the families of Judah and took the family of the Zarhites and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man and Zabdi was taken And he brought his houshold man by man and Achan was taken God could have shewed to Joshua who was the man so well as he shewed to him that there was an offence but he causeth Joshua to enquire his will in such a way as God had prescribed This sheweth that in difficult cases God ordained that people should enquire his minde by lots and this Samuel knew and therefore he enquireth Gods minde by lots in this very case of government this was never repealed to this day for God is not yea and nay God is not contrary or opposite to his own Rules This is certain it is better and safer for people to be directed by God to chuse the man yea although God for our sin should be angry with us yet even in those causes it is better to fall into the hands of God then into the hands of man and this David well considered when he chose to fall into the hands of God and not into the hands of man But further we may observe That this was the usual way namely by lots that the people took to enquire Gods minde in weighty and difficult causes as appeareth Iosh 18.6 I will cast lots for you here before the Lord thus Vers 8 10. read 1 Sam. 14.42 And Saul said casts lots between me and Ionathan my son and Ionathan was taken Here we may see that God appeared and gave a true determination and this was a way to avoyd strife Read 1 Chro. 26.13 And they cast lots both small and great for the house of their fathers Here again we may note That this use of lots was to shew what Gods minde was and to prevent all jealousies or indirect means and to prevent strife Read Nehem. 10.34 We cast lots for the offerings of the wood even the Priests the Levites and the People Read Ionah 1.7 And they said every one to his fellow come and let us cast lots that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us so they cast lots and the lot fell upon Ionah By this it evidently appeareth that the people in weighty cases did enquire to know Gods minde this way namely by lots Secondly We may observe That God doth answer the people this way Thirdly We may observe That the lot did not err nor fail to shew that which the people sought to God for Read Act. 1.24 And they prayed saying Thou Lord which knowest the hearts of all men shew whether of these thou hast chosen Vers 26. And they gave forth their lots and the lot fell on Matthias This sheweth that lots were not abolished but they are now of the same use that they were under the Law this is an example of the Apostles men in an extraordinary measure guided by the good and holy spirit of God and this was written no doubt for our learning this was and is a clear and evident direction in the very case of governors for the Apostles were Gods Embassadors his own Witnesses they were the Pen-men of the holy Scriptures this matter was an eminent and a weighty matter they chose but one of two The Reason is evident because the nature of their cause required no more First Because not any amongst all although holy would serve they must be men that had been the most noted to be eye-witnesses of what Christ had done and suffered and so that they had seen and heard those things themselves Secondly The Apostles were present that had an infallible spirit Thirdly This cause differs from the Governors of a Common-wealth because God in his wisdom ordered the Governors of a Common-wealth to be chosen by God out of all the people and I do conceive with due and humble respect to those that shall see Gods minde more clearly that it is the safest way to follow the most direct and evident Rules prescribed owned and blessed by God in the same cases Now it evidently appeareth that the Prophet Samuel directed immediately by God himself did chuse out of the whole twelve Tribes of Israel by that means God did fully chuse according to Deut. 17. to make him Governor whom the Lord did chuse immediately in this very case of chusing the Governor of a Common-wealth for in this case this president by Samuel was a certain and an approved president in chusing the person that God saw meet to be chief governor This was not about the form of government whether it should be by Iudges or by Kings for of that matter God shewed his minde by Samuel before expresly witnessing against the form of government by Kings but this was a Rule to shew how God is said to chuse the person that he seeth meet to govern I leave it to the consideration of the godly From these places before mentioned first I observe That it plainly and clearly appeareth that lots were ordained by God and that God owned them because God truly appeared and truly gave answer by them and because that God blessed this way of his own devising Secondly I observe That the lot when men cast themselves or referred themselves wholy to or upon God in such cases did never err it always gave a true direction a true determination in all weighty causes Search the Scriptures and it cannot be found that the lot ever erred Let not as fear therefore to chuse our chief governor by lot for let us not doubt God is the same unchangeable God yesterday and to day and the same for ever Will not this way compose all our differences Will it not heal all distempers Will not this way end all our strife Will not this way keep out all Wolves and Foxes and other beasts of prey Shall not we by this way return again to the Lord and by this means God shall be our King his Laws our guide by this means we shall obtain a man from the Lord and we shall be blessed and Peace and Truth shall meet together and so shall we have Iudges in some proportion as at the first and Counsellers as at the beginning and we shall be called a faithful City Thirdly Let us remember the great effusion of blood that hath been shed and the great envies hatred malice that is at this day reigning in the Land Is it not in every Country in every City in every Paâ—ish Nay there are but a few Families comparatively where there are not some breaches
about this matter and what the issue will be the Lord knoweth If therefore there be any bowels of pity if you love Gods glory if you be lovers of peace and truth then fear not to trust in God in this matter God is not changed Do we not trust our Souls with God and shall we not trust God with our Bodies The Lord give us understanding And now I shal speak a word to the third way of chusing Governors it is said in sundry places of Scripture that when the people had forgotten or cast behind them Gods Commandements yet even when they earnestly sought Gods helpe Gods counsell then God stirred or raised them up a Saviour or Deliverer The way being not so plainely described where we may take notice of the peoples negligence in not seeking to God for Governors for at such times when the people committed such wickednesse we shall usually find that the State or Common-wealth was vacant of a chiefe governor Read Judg. 3.7 So the children of Jsrael did wickedly in the sight of the Lord. Ver. 9. And when the children of Israel cryed unto the Lord stirred them up a Saviour and he saved them Ver. 10. and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he judged Israel We may note here that the people were negligent in inquiring of God before their distresse for a chiefe Judge the state was empty And we may note that till they sought the Lord God suffered them to be afflicted but when they cry unto the Lord when they do cleave to the Lord the Lord relieveth them and sheweth to them mercy this way namely by stirring them up a chiefe governor And further we may note that when God putteth his spirit eminently in such a person then he judgeth Israel no doubt but the Spirit of God came upon him in some extraordinary manner Read Jud. 3.12 Then the children of Israel againe committed wickednesse in the sight of the Lord. This was after the death of their former governor Ver. 15. And when the children of Israel cryed unto the Lord the Lord stirred them up a Saviour c. Jud. 4. The children of Israel againe committed wickednesse Ver. 3. And the children of Israel cryed unto the Lord and we may there read how the Lord shewed them favour by stirring up a Saviour Where the Man was nominated that was their leader by the prophetess Debora but Debora at that time judged Israel Ver. 4. And so Debora by Gods appointment I believe judged Israel to the day of her Death The next was Gideon Judges 6. He was immediately called concerning divers Judges it is not so expresly noted after what manner God stirred them up Whether it was by immediate Revelation or by Prophets direction or put his Spirit into their hearts and made them to be notable and eminent deliverers of the people In all such dubious cases the safest way is to follow the most evident and clear Rules Wherein and whereby God doth most evidently prescribe own and blesse Now consider that Gods immediate call is clear without all doubt and chusing Governors by lot is evident and clear to be a way that God himself prescribed and the lot never erred The third way is more dubious yet I dare not oppose it where God raiseth up a man and maketh him an eminent deliver of his Church and people if the people in such a case chuse such a man to govern them God may blese it this way is left recorded in the sacred Scriptures and we find that thus far God blessed this way that hee made such Men so raised up or stirred up by God to become saviours the people were protected and not devoured and the people were blessed with peace in their dayes this is the nearest way next to the former but in any wise take heed not to establish government by succession from Father to Son we have tasted deep of the cup of affliction in this kind The Father a good man the Child otherwise the Father holding one opinion and the children another this plainely appeareth from the Divine Records in the Sacred Scriptures and by the late sad experiences in this kind We may plainely see the bittter fruits the people reaped by Government from Father to Son if we consider and compare the fruits by Iudges with the fruits that the people reaped by Kings which succeeded by succession Note well that the Government had continued from Moses to Samuel which was many hundred years many generations and yet we see God so blessed these Iudges that came not in by succession but were by God appointed where he saw meet Read 1 Sam. 9.8 And the servant answered Saul againe and said behold J have found about me the fourth part of a shekell of silver which was about five pence Read Gen. 23.15 that will I give the man of God to tell us our way note well the plainnesse and godly humility of the Iudges in those times that would accept of five pence Note likewise that in a short time when the Government went by succession from Father to Son the case was altered we may note in three or foure generations the governors built stately houses rich gardens a thousand Wives and Concubines great multitudes of Charets and horses these things were directly against Gods Commandements Deut. 17 In any wise hee shall not prepare him many Horses neither shall hee take him many Wives neither shall he gather him much silver and gold but we may note that Kings quickly overtoped and annihilated Gods Laws This God knew when God put a bit in the mouth of Kings to curb their pride Deut. 17.18 19. namely Gods Lawes that so their hearts should not be lift up but these Lawes would not hould them their hearts were above Gods Laws God warned the People of this the 1 of Samuel but the People would not hear till they cryed out under Rehoboam by reason of their oppression I believe a door-keeper would not now accept five pence Dearely beloved Fathers if you should consent to government by succession it might be just with God to let their hearts be lift up like to Rehoboam that God might make their little finger bigger then the former Kings loynes the Father chastised us with rods but the Son may with scourges I pray you therefore let us have plaine humble blessed Iudges as at the first not chosen by succession but as in the beginning I shall now from these considerations make one general proposition and humbly lay it down at your feet dearly beloved Fathers which is Considering the sad and lamentable envy emulations strife differences that have been and are at this day in the Nation may it not be meet solemnly after an extraordinary manner to humble our selves and to cry unto our God for direction who shall be our governor It may be before the time which you set apart for this occasion bee expired God may reveal his minde in some extraordinary manner but if God appear