Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	england_n	king_n	queen_n	3,439	5	6.9536	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93348	Great Britains misery; with the causes and cure. Described first, as it is from the justice of God the authour, who is now in controversie with the inhabitants of the land for sin: especially for eight capitall crimes, all which are aggravated by sundry circumstances. Secondly, the injustice and malice of the instruments of this misery, Satan and his agents: their main aime, and particular ends, moving them therunto. Vindicating, plainly and fully, (by way of answer to severall objections) the lawfulnesse and necessity of raising arms by the Parliament, and kingdom; for the defence of the King, kingdom, religion, laws, and known rights of the subject: against that viperous generation of papists, atheists, delinquents, and licentious men, who have at once invaded all. ... / By G.S. Gent. Imprimatur Ja. Cranford.	Smith, George, 1602 or 3-1658.	1643 (1643)	Wing S4037; Thomason E250_4; ESTC R212534	90,980	68

himself and others Others say The Parliament was too strict and stood upon too high terms with the King raised neealesse Jealousies between His Majestie and His people onely upon suppositions and possessed themselves of his Castles Towns Navie c. All his own proper and just rights but they that ple●d this we know put fair gl●ss●s upon corrupted Texts The rest complain of Evil Counsel'ours about the King Bishops and corrupt Clergy that had suckt poison from Rome and were engaged by vow to set up Popery in England and therefore they drew away the King from London and from His Parliament and resolved to joyn His Majestie and the Queen i● one Religion as they are one body and to that end they incens●d His Majestie against His Parliament first some then more and perswaded him because they could not change Religion except the Laws were in their own handling and that was not ever likely to be so long as Parliaments were of force therefore the Parliament must be first broken which they are now doing 〈…〉 Armies one of Papists at York another at Oxford of Papists and Atheists or between both and when that is done the other will not bel●ng in effecting Thus severall men of severall opinions complain of severall things as causes of Britains misery and not without cause But God the cause of these and all other causes is not considered of When indeed none of all those causes nor Men nor accidents no cause of m●sery without God Isa 45 7. all these if all put together could affli●t or trouble us if God did not affli●ct us by them It is God that doth all things I form the Light and creats Darknesse I make Peace and create evill I the Lord do all things If the counsell of the wise Councellers do become brutish and the Princes of Zoan become souls or if the Princes of Noph are deceived and have seduced Egypt it is the Lord that hath done it He hath mingled a pe●verse Spirit in the midit thereof All secondary Isa 19 14. causes are directed by God and cannot of themselves do anything at all either to Misery or Happinesse whether to a Kingdom or to a private man God leadeth Counsellors away spoiled and maketh the Judges fools saith Job Job 12 17. he is the cause of all whether of Misery or Happinesse God stirred up Hadad 1 Kings 11. 14 23. Amos 3 6. and Rezon to be adversaries to Solomon who did much misc●i●f in Israel Shall there be evil in the Citie and the Lord ●at● not done it God is the Authour of all the evil of punishment not of the evil of sin he appointeth every afflection wh●t it shall be when it shall be upon whom it shall be how much and how long it shall be first What it shall be Whether Sword Pestilence or Famine Thus saith God appoints what it shall be Jer. 15 2. Deut. 18 61. He appoints the time when Job 7. 1. Eccles 3. 1. Upon whom Deut. 29. 21. Fzek 96. How much it shall be Job 1 12. 2. 6. God appoints how long every affliction shall last Rev. 2. 10. Rev 11 11. Psa 129 2 3. the Lord Such as are for death to death such as are for the sword to the sword such as are for famine to the famine c. 2. He appointeth the time when it shall be There is an appointed time to man upon earth saith Job God hath set a time to every purpose saith Solomon 3. He appointeth upon whom it shall be as well every particular man as a nation or kingdom The Lord doth separate every particular man to ●vil he appoints who he shall be and he appoints every particular man that is spared in the time of a generall calamity 4. He appoints how much the punishment or affl●ction shall be When Satan had leave from God to afflict Job for before he had leave he could not do any thing at all he was limited how much he must afflict him first he might afflict him in nothing but in his Cattell Goods and Children not touch his body After he had Commi●sion to afflict his Body but not to touch his Life 5. He appoints how long t●e affl●ction shall last If Satan or wicked men have Commission to put any of Gods people into prison or to try them by any other affliction the time is set The devil shall cast some of you into prison and you shall have tribulation ten dayes Yea if they have power to bring them to the brink of death it shall be but for two dayes and a half David complained That the plowers plowed upon his back and made long their surrows but when the time set was expired the Lord cut in sunder their cords and then they could plow no further when the traces by which the horses draw be cut the plow must needs stand still Balaam cannot curse Israel though Balack would give him his house full of silver and Num. 24 13. Gen. 27 33. gold except G●d give him leave Holy Is●ack cannot blesse Esau his eldest son if God wi●l not have him blessed Nor can Luban nor Esau hurt Jacob Gen. 31. 44. Pro. 16 1. Pro. 16 33. if God will f●rbid them nor speak ought but good unto him The preparation of the heart is in man but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. The devil may plot and wicked men may purpose but God despiseth their words and actions Pbaraoh may pursue the Is●aelites with a mighty host but he cannot Exod 14. 3. hur● one of th●m when his Commission is out nor can he save himself from Gods hand So long as God would have the Israelites afflicted every task-master in Egypt could make their lives mis●rable but when the time is come that God will have the affliction cease Pbaraoh and all his power cannot continue Exod. 21. 7. it one day not so much as a Dog in all Egypt can move his tongue at man or beast And as no affliction can come to Gods people without God so Gods people Good men cannot afflict the wicked without God Num. 14. 40. cannot afflict their afflicters till God appoint the time and means If the Israelites will of their own heads without warrant from God go up to sight against the Ammonites they cannot prevail If Abab will needs go to battle though against the enemies of God without Commission from God he shall not prosper although he disguise himself and arm himself compleatly God can direct an arrow out of a bowe that shall smite him between the joynts of 1 Kings 22 〈◊〉 his harnesse Misery saith holy Job cometh not forth of the dust not doth trouble Job 5. 6. ●●●ing out of the ground That is It is not from below but from above there is no place for chance or fortune or can the miscarriages of actions and things beget misery but as God useth such means to effect his own will There can

of the Emperour Trajanus delivering a sword into the hands of one of the Governours of his Empire said unto him these words Use this sword for me as long as I do justly and against me if I doe unjustly Where the people are a free people saith learned Dr. Willet and the Princes received with conditions to maintaine See Dr. Will. in Exod. c. 20. quest 24. the ancient franchieses liberties and immunity of the Countrey the State may lawfully maintaine their Liberties against all vexation and violence Besides if a King or any his ministers shall under an established Law contrary to that Law assault a private man to take away his life or goods without the sentence of the Law such a private man is not bound to submit his life but rather to preserve it either by flight or defend it by resistance a man is bound to defend the life of another if unlawfully assaulted much more his owne every animall is by nature taught to defend it selfe what A private man may desend himself against unjust violence nature allowes to other creatures it denies not to a man besides the Law of the kingdom allowes a man to defend himselfe against all unjust violence And Scripture yeeldeth us warrantable example in that kingly Prophet David he defended himselfe against Saul his King although he would not lay his hand upon Saul teacherously to kill him yet he would take up armes to defend himself and himselfe saith that three wayes he might see the death of Saul and be guiltlesse either that he die a naturall death or that God smite 1 Sam. 26. 10. him by some extraordinary stroke or that he wilfully descend into the battle and perish Now that David would have joyned in battle with Saul if Saul had assaulted him is cleare sor when David had delivered the men of Keilab from the Philistins and possessed himselfe of the Towne it being a strong place with gates and barres he heard that Saul would come thither against him Then he enquires two things of God first whether indeed Saul would come secondly whether the men of Keilah would deliver him up into his hand and the Lord answered him that Saul would come and the men of Keilah would deliver him up He asketh not whither he 1 Sam. 23. v. 10 11 12. should fight with Saul but resolved if the men of Keilah would stand faithfull to him to abide the siege and stand battle against Saul But because the Keilahites were treacherous he departed and went whither h● could for safety So when Antiochus by cruelty oppressed the Jewes forcing them to forsake their Religion the Lawes and Customes of Josep war Iewes l. 1. c. ● 1 Macc. 2. 24 25. c. their Nation Matthias the sonne of Osmoneus with his sonnes tooke armes against him flew Bacchades chiefe Captaine of his Garisons and by force opposed the cruelty and unjust commands of Antiochus The office of a King is the ordinance of God and Kings are Gods annointed but we must consider there are annoynted of God that are not Kings all Gods elect Saints on earth are Gods annoynted as well the begger as the King and these whether King or begger are pretious in Gods sight God hath reproved annoynted Kings for these annoynteds sake saying touch not mine annointed and doe my Prophets no harme Kings Psal 105. 15. Psal 82. 6 7. are gods in the Throne men in the grave gods as they are executioners of Gods will and worthy of all honour reverence and obedience men as they are executioners of their owne wils and neglect Gods command Kings are Kings in two respects in respect of God who sets them up and 1 Sam. 10. 24. 1 Sam. 11. 15. in respect of men that chose them and accept of them and so every kingdome is bound to obey their owne King not another Now God sets up Kings to be a terror to the evill not to the good to punish ungodly men and oppressors not to cherish them nor to oppresse Rom. 13. 3. 1 Sam. 8. 5. and the people choose and accept of Kings to be their protectors and to doe justice betwixt man and man Now if a King faile of the duty of a King I say not that he is therefore no King but still a King and Gods annoynted but if he command things contrary to God and contrary to the Lawes of his kingdome he is not to be obeyed but contrary if there be a Parliament they that is the Parliament may and ought in the kingdomes defence to oppose any power directly or indirectly raised to the dishonour of God and violation of the Lawes of the kingdome or the rights and freedome of the subjects yet so as they are bound to preserve if possible the person of the King and this is agreeable to right reason and is the judgement of the learned of all times divine and humane Object 4 A fourth objection is that some factious men in Parliament not the whole Parliament for their private ends raised jealousies of the King that by his counsels he was perswaded to change Religion and Lawes and destroy the Priviledges of Parliament whereas the King by severall Declarations to all his loving subjects makes protestation of his reall intention to defend and maintaine the Protestant Religion of Queene Elizabeth and King James as also all the knowne Lawes just priviledges of Parliament and the liberty of the Subject Answ Answer This is a cavill invented by the popish faction and Demy-Jesuits put into the mouthes of their speakers and is a notorious false scandall cast upon good men terming them scandalous of whom we ought not to entertaine an evill thought Whereas indeed there were no factious men in either house or Parliament but of the popish faction Whilest the Bishops popish Lords remaened in the house they hindred all proceedings and as soon as they were out they put the King upon a warre who are separated from them and have raised this warre against them we know they came as unjustly to their elections as they have since unfaithfully discharged their trust many of them obtained voyces for their elections by letters bribes threats flatteries and violence and had Papists votes which is contrary to Law these onely are the factious men that for particular selfe-ends endeavour to destroy our Religion and to ruine the Kingdome Whereas the other which is the Parliament have and doe hazzard all that is their owne yea their darest lives for the publike good They that flatter Kings seeke worldly preferments which these are willing to lose to discharge good conscience Saul had no better argument to discourage his servants from holding with innocent 1 Sam. 22. 7. David then to tell them David had not fields and Vine-yards to give to every one of them But this Popish faction declared plainely that they sought the ruine of the Parliament else why did they accuse five members at once of Treason and

sins that do provoke more wrath then others do whether against kingdoms or particular men Touching those sins that most provoke God to wrath and hasten judgements Among many I will name eight all which have long and do still Eight sins that hasten Judgements upon England rage in this Kingdom Idolatry Prophening the Lords Day Pride Oppression Murther Drunkennesse Whoredome Lukewarmnesse in Religion First for Idolatry This is a grievous sin immediately against the person The first is Idolary 1 Sam. 2. 25. of God If a man sin against God who shall intreat for him This sin is committed either when we worship a false God or the true God in a false manner and is a denying of God to be God Sets up something created in the room of the Creatour which is the greatest dishonour that can be to God being committed by any that have ever known God and God is most tender Isa 42 8. and jealous of his honour he will not give his glory to any other but will surely make that man or that nation miserable that thus dishonour him He commanded his people Israel If any man or woman did worship any Deut. 17 3 5. other God he should be stoned to death if a whole city it was to be destroyed And when the two Tribes and half beyond Jordan erected an Altar Deu 13 12 15 supposed by the other nine Tribes and half to be for Idolatry they all with Josh 22. one consent took arms to go against them but being assured by enquiry that no such thing was intended they desisted But when all Israel fell to Idelatry for it is a sin to which nature is very prone and began to chuse new Gods that is to mingle with the pure worship of God the superstitious Ceremonies of the heathens presently war was in their gates and God Judg 5. 8 Judg. 2. 14 gave them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them and into the hands of their enemies See the same sin in Solomon and the punishment of it in his 1 Kings 11 11. 1 Kings 12 25. 16. 2 Chron. 4 23 24. Ant. l. 9 c 2. 2 King 21 18. son Rehoboam Also in King Joash for this sin God gave him into the hands of the King of Assyria by a sinall and weak army So Joram who had married with Ahabs daughter who drew him as Josephm relates to execute divers mischiefs and amongst the rest to adore strange gods God punished him by the revolting of the Idumaans and smote him with a grievous disease of which he died and afterward was not suffered to be lamented nor buried in the sepulchre of the Kings The examples of Gods high displeasure against this sin are many both in Sacred and humane writings Secondly The prophaning of the Lords day This is also a sin immediately The second is Sabbath breaking l sa 58. 13. Lev 24 11. Jer. 17 25. Vers 27. against God and is committed either by the neglect of Spirituall Worship or by doing any bodily works of our callings Also by Sports Pastimes idle words or vain thoughts on that day The man that gathered sticks was by Gods command stoned to death Great blessings are promised to the keeping of that Day holy And great Judgements threatned if it be by any means prophaned God threatneth that he would kindle a fire in the gates of Jerusalem that should not be quenched And for this sin in the reign of Zedekia● ● Chro. 36. 21. Jerusalem was destroyed and the people carried captive into Babylon till the land for the space of threescore and ten yeers lay waste to keep her Subbaths for so long they were in captivity of which sin and punishment good Nehemiah puts the people in minde after their return when they began again to prophane the Sabbath day saying Did not our fathers thus And Did not our Neh. 13 18. God therefore bring all this evil upon us and upon this city Thirdly Pride This was one of the sins of wicked Sodome that cryed to heaven for judgement It is a sin very hatefull to God and not pleasing to men The third is pride In other sins men agree together in the sin but one proud man hates another that is as proud as he This sin ingageth God in war against men God resisteth the proud The Lord threatneth that he will destroy the house of the Jan. 6. 4. P. o. 15 26. proud Proud men are great enemies to a State If a people their affliction pray unto God and are not 〈◊〉 it is because of the pride of evil men Job 35. 12. God will marre the pride of Judeh and the great pride of Jerusalem The prophet tells us That because the daughters of Zion were haughty Walked With out-stretched necks Jer 13. 9. and wanton eyes mincing as they go c. The Lord will smite Isa 3 16 25. them and the men shall fall by the sword and in the war The pride of the women shall be punished by the death of their husbands Israel for her Pride Hos 6. 5. 2 Chro. 32. 25. shall fall and Judah shall fall with her And because Hezekiahs heart was lift up with pride therefore there was wrath upon Judah and Jerusalem Fourthly Oppression This is one of the crying sins that hasteneth Judgement against a nation or private men Ye shall not appresse one another but thou The fourth sin is Oppression Levit 25. 27. shalt fear thy God This fear of God and Oppression are contraries Where the fear of God is there is no oppression and where dppression is there is no fear of God These cannot dwell together in one heart nor in one kingdom This is a sin contrary to the nature of God who is Mercy it self Therefore he heareth the cry of Labourers servants and strangers when their hire is kept back and it entreth into the ears of the Lord If the cry of the lesse be so displeasing Deur 24 15. Jam. 54. much more of the greater When the whole kingdom crieth as the cry of the Israelites in Egypt A people oppressed by authority cries loud Exod. 2 23. This was in the dayes of Solomon as well as Idolatry and was as sevearly punished in his son Rehoboam This is a sin as well against the Gospel as the Law condemned by both The Law commands to shew mercy and compassion Oppresse none But saith the Prophet They the Kings Princes and People Zech. 79 10 11. hearkned not they stopped their ears that they should not hear this command but made their hearts as an Ademant stone c. Therefore came great wrath from the Lord of hosts and afterward when misery was an them they cried but God would not bear because they would not hear when the Prophet of God cried to them in his Name but they were scattered with a whirlwinde among all nations The Scripture sets forth oppressours by the names and nature of

of them that wickedly shed bloud was not shed God punisheth the impunity of murder by murder As Jacobs sons stain'd the coate of their brother Joseph with the bloud of Kids so Brittains sonnes unnaturall brethren stain the garment of the earth with the bloud of men in every place God is provoked to use the sword of wicked men to punish these guilty Kingdomes The sin is made the punishment of the sin and the punishment will turne to sin upon the heads of the Punishers Absoloms sinne of Rebellion and defiling his fathers bed was the punishment of Davids sin yet it was not lesse then sinne in him The The blood of Queen Maryes dayes cry bloud of Queen Maryes dayes is now required which we have not lamented and therefore hath since then cryed against us The bloud of Queen Elizabeths time is not forgiven though some of those bloud-shedders were by Gods hand cut off shortly after who were guilty for the bloud of guiltlesse Essex and at their end some of them acknowledged Gods hand justly was upon them Other blouds of latter times are fallen in with the complaint of the Marian bloud and now must be avenged together The bloud of Germany puts in an Indictment against us for our neutrality the bloud of France pleads accusations The blood of latter times in the three kingdomes cry of treachery the bloud of all the three Kingdoms joyn in one complaint for impunity and treachery Some spilt in wrath others by conspiracy and false accusations some by poyson and other secret plots and some by causelesse Imprisonment c. The blouds of all thus shed complain with one voice that Justice hath been stopped corrupted and prevented The Avengers of bloud roughly dealt with beaten accused and wholly suppressed false evidences hath been admitted and true Testimony cast out The bloud of the poore is heard cry in Gods eares as well as the bloud of the rich the bloud of Princes and people cry and God is come down to see if it be according to the cry and will not respect the persons of men He is come to judge the earth and will do right to all men And now the bloody and deceitfull men shall not live Psa 58. 11. Gen. 18. 25. out their dayes This is the day of the God of Hoasts the day of vengeance in which he will be avenged on all his enemies He now makes inquisition for bloud Psal 55. 23. Ier. 26. 10. Eccle. 8 12. and will spare none when he hath used the rod to correct his people he will cast it into the fire to be burnt Sixtly Drunkennesse the English mother sin and master destroyer of souls The cause of Gods displeasure upon particular men and the whole Kingdom Drunkennes is justly punished and ye● more is threatned as have formerly been observed by many among other judgements upon the grain Barly severall times smitten by drought and wet lesser judgements are warnings and threaten greater if the cause remain but the sin remaines and still raigns and is at this day threatned with greater judgements just answering to the sin Famine is the companion of War and is now entring into the Land hasted forward by an Army of Spoylers worse then the Locusts of Egypt to devour and eat up the fruits of the Land as is threatned for this sinne Weepe and houle ye drinkers of wine the field is wasted the Land Exod. 10. 12. Ioel. 1. 5. 10. mourneth for the Corne is dryed up the abuse of Pl●nty must be punished with want Seventhly Whoredom a common sin of these Kingdomes secretly committed and openly known but not punished if punished it is the poverty of Whoordom is most justly punished the whoremonger not the sin The Noble so by Title have a tolleration by their greatnesse the rest by their money a sin punishable by Gods Law with death yet suffered by men to escape without correction It hath contracted a double guilt upon the Land the guilt of the sinne and the guilt of Impunity God sent the plague of pestilence among the people of Israell for this sinne and 1. Cor. 10. 8 for it he hath sent severall plagues amongst us and smitten many thousands by death but no Phinehas hath stood up to execute judgement Adulterous marriage have been suffered and connived at and strange marriages with strange Numb 25. 7. Nations and strange religions and strange rebellious broods have followed and likely are crept into some of our greatest Families who usurp the names Strange and Adulterous Marriages are like to be some cause of our presens milery and inherit the Lands of those that never got them The old world was condemned for this the sonnes of God took them wives of the daughters of men of all that they would choose and there were Giants in the earth They made strange marriages such as we in England as that between Lord Mount-Joy and Lady Rich that between Lord Car and Countesse of Essex also secret whisperings of unnaturall Sodamy never questioned The sins conniv'd at in this Nation are such as Abimclech durst not commit nor suffer although he Gen. 20. 7. were a man subject to behold beauty with desire What absurdity were it to believe that the Off-springs of such kind of Matches and Broods have produced a generation to punish the Kingdom for this sin of Whoordom and that God should make them Instruments and Actors to aggrivate our misery at this day who set themselves to do mischief and are mocking Ismaels haters of the children of promise as unnaturall as Absolon who abused his fathers bed and Gen. 21. 9. 2. Sam. 16. 22 3. Sam. 13. 14. as Ammon who d filed his halfe Sister We see in nature that the creatures that generate by couples are tender of the good and preservation one of the other the young own the Male and the Male take care of them whereas among those that generate promiscuously the Male never ●●reth for the young or the yong never own him But we worse and more unnaturall then the bruit beast seek to ruine one another the father the son the son the father c. Surely Gods hand is plainly seens in the miseries now upon us answerable to this sin of Whoordom besides the former warnings we have had by lesser judgements That is ●ot he least that God hath a long time been silent which presaged great wrath as he said of Israel I will not visit your daughters when they commit Whoordom nor your Spouses when they commit adultery Impunity betokeneth Hosea 4. 14. destruction and now the dayes of visitation are come these are the dayes of rec●m●ence and England will know it and acknowledge it is justly punished Hosca 9. 7 Fightly Lukewarmnesse in Religion England above all Nations is guilty of this sin never people enjoyed so glorious means of knowledge nor never Lukewarme a great sinne and justly punish'd had any people more

and for the truth and power of Religion Ministers and Laiety calling them as Ahab did Eliah Troublers of Israel And as Saul through ignorance they through malice make havock of the Church accusing them by the Acts. 17. 19. names of factious men that raised new Doctrines which they cast reproaches Acts 28 22 upon and caused to be spoken against thus they Suspended Imprisoned Silenced and Banished our best Orthodox Divines men conformable to the esta●●●shed Persecution of 〈…〉 Ministers Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England not Annabaptists Brownists Famalists Donatists c. which if they had onely done we should not so justly complaine but choice Protestants men fearing God walking orderly warranted by Gods word and the Laws of the Kingdom onely refusing their new popish Canons and Oaths imposed contrary to Gods word and our established Laws yet now these say they fight for the Protestant Religion but as before to take it from us and therefore when former policies could not prevaile they took arms to cut off Religion and Law at once in destroying this Parliament by force and by the same force to make a Parliament The destruction of this Pa●● were the destruction of all They that were the Causers of the war in Ireland were cause of the warre in England of their own choice to repeale what Laws they please and to set up Popery in full power in all the three Kingdomes of Great Britain and afterward to suppresse the Protestant Religion through all the Christian world Nor let me be mistaken for I think not that the King intends all this but this is the intent and ayme of the Iesuiticall Plotters We see a proofe of it in Ireland They have perswaded the King to take arms against his Parliament by their unjust reports and false calumniations as if the Parliament would straighten the Kings prerogative and deprive Him or his Posterity of their just Rights and so they make it the Kings particular quarrell till they have made Him their Agent so far as lies in him and then they will not spare to destroy him if he hinder the rest that they have resolved upon God rebuke them and save his people The Parliament and with them all we Protestants may in the presence of God with upright hearts say to the King as David said to Saul in the like case Wherefore 1. Sam. 24. 9. hearest thou mens words saying Behold the Parliament or thy people the Protestants seeks thy hurt But we are all accused by corrupt Counsellors to our King as the three Servants of God were to Nebuchadnezer by the heathen ●an 3. 8. 12. Caldeans and for no cause but as they refused to worship and Idol so we for refusing to adore Popish Ceremonies and to give away our Birth-rights and Liberties And as Daniel by the precedents and princes because they hated him for his goodnesse and could find nothing against him to accuse him of but treacherously in the matter of his Religion Therefore they devise a way pleasing D●n 6. 3 4 to the King and destructive as they thought to Daniel in which all the Precedents Verse 5. Princes Governours Counsellors and Captains consulted together and come to the King urging Him to establish a Royall and firm Decree that Verse 7. no man ask any Petition but of the King for thirty dayes in which they pretend honor to the King and order in the Kingdom and the King signed it for He looked not to their private bloudy end Now they knew Daniel would be constant in Prayer to his God therefore they watch him and found him praying Vers● 1● so accuse him of the breach of the Kings Law and regardlesse of the King Then the King see his error and as the Text expresseth was displeased with Himselfe that He had made such a Decree and set his heart to save Daniel to deliver him but they urge his Acts which they say cannot be changed The King yeelds to them against nature both in respect of conscience and affection a weaknesse but afterward he shewed justice upon the unjust Accusers 〈◊〉 24. Here 's the authority of Sacred word to confirm the story and here 's the example of error mercy and justice in a heathen King who as Joseph●● relates ●xample of 〈◊〉 was by the Malignant Princes haters of Daniel urged to cast Daniel into the Lyons Den a second time alleaging as is usuall in such men to b●inde the Kings See Jos●pas in his book of an-tiquities Chap. 11. judgement that the Lyons were all gorged before and therefore had not destroyed Daniel Whereupon the King commanded the Lyons to be glutted with meat and then cast in those Malignants Princes to try if the Lyons would touch them when they were gorged who were presently devoured c. Hence may arise severall Inferences which for brevity I passe onely this by Inferences observeable way of instance First that wicked Councellors seek the destruction of good men more then the preservation of the common good Here is a plain instance Ester 3. 8 9 1. Sa. 2● 9. 10 Ier 20. 1. 2. of the truth of it as is seen in Hamans plot against Mordecai and his people we see it in Doeg against David in Pashur the Priest against J●remy and others frequent in holy Scripture Secondly that wise and good Kings may be intrapped by the snares of wicked Councells we have instance in this King Nebuchadnezzer so in King Ahashuerus to the destruction of his Queen and her people in Ester 3. 6 c. Salomon the wisest of Kings by the counsells and insinuations of strange wives in his son Rehoboam by the counsell of yong men c. See it in King James of happy memory a second Salomon for wisdom yet by the policie of Gundamores infusing a Romish Spirit into some of His councell which we beleeve he saw at last but seeing dyed c. And to the grief and great misery of His Majesties Subjects His Majestie is this day abused and His Kingdoms ruin'd by the same Romish Faction Thirdly here is instance of Gods protection to his people When Kings through Gods mercie for their errors and the unjust malice of wicked Councellors Example of gods protect 6 Gods people have present joy and comfort both in the State and in their own conscience al●o that the enemies of Gods people are cut off by the same judgements that they intended to bring upon the godly it was so with Nebuchadnezzer his Princes were e●ten by the Lyons but Daniel escaped Haman Ester 7. 10. Ester 9. 2. 3. was hanged upon the Gall●w● provided for Mordecai Mordecai had his honors and all they that took Arms against the Jews were slain by the Jews and the Iews escaped c. Observe that our case at this day is the case of the three Children of Daniel Mordecai and the Jews who may with good conscience say to our

owne cause and his servants working his worke and in his owne time will make their worke prosperous in their hands as he did to Nehemiah Nehe. 6. 15. 16. Thirdly God hath afflicted Britaine for these sinnes and a multitude of other transgressions and doth still continue to afflict us for our impenitencie but it is observable that he whips us because he would convert us and yet he preserves us from destruction because he would not totally destroy us therefore hath wonderfully discovered the Plots of the enemie and blasted their bloody designes when they had prepared them as they thought ready to destroy us former mercies are engagements of future deliverance hence I conclude from the confidence of Manoahs wife when an Angell had told her she should beare a 1 Sam. 17. 37. sonne that should begin to deliver Israel her husband seeing the Angell assend Iudg. 13. 22 23 up in the flame sayd we shall surely dye because we have scene God if saith she the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have shewed us these things Fourthly I finde by all Stories Divine and Humane that ever I read that before God destroyed a people or Kingdome he hath taken away his Prophets Iudges and righteous men or they have beene rarely found or else he hath taken Esay 57. 1. Exod. 32. 10. Ier. 7. 16. Ier. 14 11. off their affections and spirits from prayer for that people or Kingdome I confesse this hath in part beene made good to England some have beene over awed their mouthes stopped some banished others destroyed and many forced to flie to other Countries for shelter Yea the two Fountaines of Religion and holinesse as well as the Courts of justice were exceedingly corrupted all which presaged a storme comming and now it is come But consider Gods Isay 1. 26. Ministers are restored increased and many returned from their Exile righteous Iudges are set up and good men put in Authority The affections of the godly and that of many thousands are moved with zeale to God exceedingly and their hearts stirred up to earnest constant prayer and unwearied labours have seene some gracious returnes of their prayers and fruit of their labours and waite Mica 7. 9. by faith with patience till the Lord plead their cause and execute Iudgement for them Besides notwithstanding the corruption of the fountain God hath from thence produced pure streames planted fruitefull vines in his Orchard When were more young able godly Ministers in England then now When were men stirred up with zeale for God to lift up their voyces like Trumpets to tell Israel Esay 58. 1. Act. 4. 36. 1 Thes 5 14. Psal 147. 1. Esay 8. 11. c. Esay 10. 14. vers 15. 16. her transgressions and Iudah of her sinnes When were more sonnes of consolation to comfort the feeble minded But if God graft new siens and plant young Vines in his Vineyard he is not about to destroy it but rather to gather his own together that he may destroy the wicked by themselves Fifthly no story of any age or people can give a president that ever God destroyed an humbled praying people notwithstanding the irreligiousnesse of a multitude of godlesse men amongst which they live whom God can cut off Mat. 13. 30. some other way or reserve to greater wrath but if a considerable number of repenting reformers have beene found God hath for their sakes spared such a people or Nation therefore this Church and Nation Onely we must consider Tim 2. 19. God lookes for a greater number in Great Britaine than in any other Nation or Kingdome God would have spared Sodom for ten righteous sake yet seven Luk. 12. 48. Gen. 18. 32. 1 King 19. 18. thousand in Israel was too few although God tooke notice of them all and surely twice seven thousand cannot save England but if those in England who have given their Names to Christ be found to be truely repenting praying and reforming their evill wayes with resolution to perseveere undoubtedly England 2 Chro. 7. 14. Iohn 17. 19. shall be saved for their sakes The example of Judea and Jerusalem in the time of Josiah nor the present condition of Germany are no objections of validity against this truth except we resolve to cherish our base lusts seeke our private ends love our selves so as to neglect God and the meanes he hath in mercy freely 1 Chron. 28. 9. ult given us to save us this is to forsake God and then God will forsake us and cast us off for ever and it shall be said of England as once of Babel we would have Jer. 51. 9. healed Babel and she would not be healed c. 6ly Although for these sins now raigning in this Kingdome namely Idolatry prophanation of the Sabboth oppression c. God hath destroyed whole Kingdomes layd them mast and given up his owne people with the wicked into his Ier. 24. 5. enemies hands Yet you must consider it was when generally or wholly the people were willing to yeeld to such sinnes as it was before and instantly after Iosiahs time Besides when those men so given into captivitie have beene sold Dan 6. 6. verse 23. 24. Esth 8. 7. Neh. 4. 8. c. Nehe. 6. 15. 16 1 King 18. 24. to destruction and appointed to slaughter by their enemies maliciously to destroy the Church of God God hath for his owne Names sake given them a glorious deliverance much more will he deliver at this time being now invocated on both sides and called to be Iudge of the truth as in the time of Eliah Yet I say not but England is punished for these sinnes and may be brought very low and into great straights because of unbeleefe lukewarmenesse and impenitencie before she see a full deliverance which if it be so the fault is our owne Hos 13. 9. Seventhly it hath beene usuall with God when admonitions have beene rejected and easier chastisements slighted to lay great and heavie Iudgements upon Deut. 28. 29. his owne people and of long continuance and in these Iudgements to take away many of his children till his people returne and earnestly seeke God and till Hos 5. 15. Ezek. 5. 13. the time of his indignation be accomplished great sinnes and long continued in bring great and long Iudgements except there be proportionable humiliation to prevent it but glorious deliverance to Gods people will come and wonderfull Deut 7. 23. destruction to their enemies will be seene to all the world and assuredly deliverance will come to Britaine if we waite by faith and patience with diligent use of the meanes without murmuring at the miscarriages and accidents in things failing of men or Armies confided in or be discouraged at the seeming unprosperous successe of our Armies or the successefull enterprises Psal 73. 18. Psal 76. 10. of the enemie in all which God hath a secret way of providence and will make to the manifestation of his glory Nor let any man thinke that he shall be delivered by another mans faith and repentance or escape by other mens cost and industry for although enlargement come and the Kingdome be delivered yet Esth 4. 14. the unbeleeving and mammonist may be cut off before or after Consider what became of that great Lord on whose hand King Iehoram leaned because he beleeved not the Word of God Besides at the great day of account Christ may say to such ● King 7. 17. I know you not depart c. You that were not with me were against me Therefore let every one conscionably doe his owne part and duty and then depend Mat. 25. 40. 41 Mat 12. 30. upon God for a glorious and comfortable deliverance which God grant for his Names sake But there are foure evills that exceedingly hinder the worke of Britaines deliverance which must be removed Two concerne private men two concerne the Publicke Magistrate the evills in private men are first neglect of selfe-examination every ones not judging and condemning his owne sinne Secondly our forwardnesse and rashnesse to censure and condemne the faults miscarriages or neglects of others Parliament Armies Commanders c. whom we are bound to pray for as they are the Instruments of God for our good The evills in the publicke Magistrate are first not clensing Gods Armies of knowne Achans who seeke the wedge of Gold and the Babilonish Garment these Iosh 7. 11. 12. hinder God from going out with our Armies cause the mouthes of ill affected men to be opened against our just cause and discourage many well affected people and is an occasion Why our Armies turne the backe upon the enemie secondly the nourishing of flattering Zibas and traiterous Iudasis who take pay of our money are maintained in excesse and riot at our costs while the common Souldiers want necessaries yet like Iudas betray our cause and sell us for gaine Let us pray and our Parliament and Generalls endeavour to have these evills removed And God will be seene to goe out with our Armies and will undoubtedly worke our worke for us save our King and destroy his and our enemies Let all Glory be given to God FINIS