but that the Parliament-men would have been so wearied that they would have sought to have relinquish'd this And I do conceive that the People would by this means have been distracted divided and molested with Taxations to bear this great charge besides many other grievances I forbear Fourthly To sum up all Mr Prynnes Endeavors together they hold out thus much First He laboreth to exalt him to the Throne to that honor to be our Shepherd our Governor a man who I beleeve God had appointed to death Secondly He seeketh the setting up and the continuance of a Kingly Government which I beleeve God hath numbred and finished Thirdly He seeketh to destroy or to weaken those which were instrumentally our best friends Fourthly He held it safer for the Common-wealth and more advantageous for to have the constant Government of the Common-wealth to be determined by such a great number of Parliament-men rather then by one as chief and other Officers as Judges distributed unto their several Charges but how far this would have been from the pattern of the will of God revealed in the Scripture and how far this would have burthened the people and put them from their peace and comfort I purpose if God will to shew afterwards in the place thereof more at large All these arise from this root He seeth the Common-wealth to be troubled and out of order and I beleeve he labored painfully to cure and remedy those troubles But God hid from his eyes what was the true cause and thence proceeded his mistakes in the remedy Consider onely this task When Moses sate and the whole People came about him from morning to night it was too great a burthen both to him and them But in case many Moses's many Judges had been appointed to sit and determine every case of the peoples then Causes must needs have been longer in the issuing them and both the Judges and the People should have been more burthened but I forbear in this place It is observable That a disease truly and evidently known it is in a ready and probable way to be cured with more ease more speed less danger and less cost On the contrary Physicians mistaking the disease oft-times administer such potions as do more hurt and do more endanger So it is in this matter the distemper is mistaken My advice therfore is this That we follow the wisdom of God revealed in the sacred Scriptures without turning to the right or to the left hand For I beleeve if we do follow our own inventions in these weighty matters Peace and Truth will hardly meet together If God help us to agree in this weighty point namely That our Governors be such true Shepherds as come in at the true door of Gods revealed will contained in the holy Scriptures Then we need not to doubt but that such will love the sheep and upon such God will bestow his blessed Spirit upon them to guide them Such God will own and the People will finde the benefit by them and will hear their voyce We are not left without hope for God hath promised to restore Judges as the first and Counsellors as at the beginning then shall we be called a City of Righteousness Isai 1.26 And by this means we shall again acknowledg the great happiness that it is to have God to raign over us Now let us consider the other part of Mr Prynne his Speech and Endeavors which was to render the Army as enemies to the peace and safety of the Common-wealth as appeareth in the first leaf in the superscription or in the Directory to the Reader that he might thereby point out to the Reader what he intended in the following Treatise or matter of his Writings the words are these viz. The Armies Remonstrance Novemb. 20. is a way to speedy and certain Ruine and a meer Plot of Jesuites to destroy us This if we read and consider the substance of Mr Prynne in his Speech will evidently appear that he labours to render the Army as enemies to the Common-wealth as those that sought to bring another War and more bloodsheding as those that were favorites to and complotters with Papists Jesuites as those that sought the destruction of the Kingdom Let us now consider whether this Charge were true or no and first let us begin at the Root after consider the fruit that groweth upon the Branches Mr Prynne maketh this the Root or Ground That the Army laboured to bring the late King to a just Tryal for the breach of Gods Laws who is the King of Kings he saith That this was plotted by Jesuites to the end they might hinder the re-establishing the late King in his Throne Now when it is uprightly considered of I believe it will appear directly to be contrary to his Propositions even as light is contrary to darkness which appeareth if we consider these two matters 1. That the Officers held no correspondency with Jesuites so known to be nor did they favour the Jesuites so much as other men 2. That if there had been many Iesuites in the Army disguised yet it had been directly contrary to their Principles to their Prosperity to depose those Members of Parliament secluded or restrained and likewise it was more contrary to the Religion and intentions of Iesuites to bring the King to a lawful Tryal First Touching the first It is evident in my apprehension that the Army I mean the principal Leaders of the Army held no correspondency with the Iesuites first because their Tenents their Religion and their Practice was directly in opposition to the Iesuites For if we consider this that the Iesuites maintain the Worship of Idols and they the Iesuites teach and maintain That Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion and to further that they will not suffer the Lay-people to read the Scriptures in their own language the Iesuites will not suffer the Lay-people to dispute religious matters much less to speak to an Assembly of People by way of Prophecy and many other like matters too tedious to rehearse Now if we do consider unpartially the Army both in their profession and practice are directly opposite to these matters And that the Army held no correspondency with the Iesuites appeareth in this because in all this War they used the utmost of their endeavors to pull down or destroy or captivate that party Indeed it is considerable that the Kings party were a great party of either Iesuites or those that highly esteemed Iesuites and by Letters and writing discovered and intercepted it too evidently appeared that they held correspondency with them but I never heard that I remember that the Officers of the Army were tainted with that infection nor that any Writing was discovered or other act done by them that might lead us to have such hard thoughts of them And since that time we may take notice That those Ministers that they appoint or those that they favour are such men that do teach sound doctrine we
others and hate them without just cause it cometh to pass oft-times that God doth turn these slanders and unjust reproaches into blessings Balak sent for Balaam to detest Jacob and to curse Israel But God turned that curse intended into a blessing Numb 23.8 How shall I curse where God hath not cursed Vers 24. Behold the People shall rise up as a Lion he shall not lie down till he eat of the prey and till he drink the blood of the slain c. Numb 24.5 How goodly are thy Tents O Jacob and thy Habitations O Israel Vers 6. As the valleys are they stretched forth as the gardens by the rivers sides as the Aloe-tree which the Lord hath planted as the Cedars besides the waters Vers 9. Blessed be he that blesseth thee c. These things I desire may be well noted and weighed In this matter first Hath not God in the sight of all the world turned this imprecation into a blessing For God hath been so far from destroying that Army that on the contrary God hath destroyed their Enemies and preserved them Note secondly That this imputation was unjustly layd upon this Army namely that they delighted in War For this I do undoubtedly beleeve That the Generals and chief of the Army and many others were so far from delighting in War that it was their grief that they could not finde the way to true Peace without War God is the Searcher of all hearts and he hath shewn and will shew who those blood-thirsty men are there meant by David Thirdly Note That it is evident if we consider the substance of Mr Prynnes speech in the latter part especially that the Officers of the Army were rendred odious by Mr Prynne in the face of the Parliment publiquely in so much that he saith That they sought the destruction of the Common-wealth This could not be hid from the Army Dearly beloved Country-men Do by them as you would be dealt withall had you been in their places judg righteously Consider that this Army hazarded their lives and many lost their Lives amongst them of their dear Friends in defence of the Parliament and Common-wealth There was now but a step between them and death For may not any rational man see plainly That they being at the time being rendered odious and Enemies to the Common-wealth by Mr William Prynne in a publique way What wanted then to bring them to destruction Onely this in a rational way wanted That the King might be made their Head and Governor and by that means who is so blinde that doth not see that the Kings helpers in time of his Troubles should have been exalted and made their Judges The Army themselves were to be disbanded that Mr Prynne seeketh in his speech to effect and without controversie it had been disbanded had not God shewed the Army the danger and the snare that they were in and withall if God had not given to the General and to the Army an undaunted courage and if the blessing of God had not gone along with them they had been destroyed For as touching the Kings party of them of their former mercies or cruelties rather the Army had had experience too much for to trust them upon such slight pretences Consider now deal unpartially would not you if it were your case rather your enemies and Gods enemies and the countries enemies should perish rather then your selves and many others Well had the Army sate still till they had been destroyed we might have lamented over their and our miseries in Davids language 2 Sam. 3.33 Thus dyed Abner as a fool dyeth Vers 34. Thine hands were not bound nor thy feet tyed in fetters of Brasse But here I end with this Scripture hoping that God may one day shew M. Prynn cause to revoke this imprecation In the mean time he may evidently see that it is turned to a blessing Concerning M. Pryns Speech I could answer to the particulars but considering the straitness of present time and likewise considering that if I should be long some of his papers might be read of too many Therefore I observe Davids counsel in another case who desiring to cover Sauls death and Jonathans desired That it might not be told in Gath nor published in the Gates of Askelon least it caused the daughters of the Philistines to rejoyce I shall therefore endeavor to bind up his answer fast together his Speech may be divided into two parts viz. In the first I find many witty and ingenious contrivances fine twined threds or to give them a term more suitable to his intentions let them be taken for such cords as the Philistines used to bind Sampson with Therefore we shall let them pass under this name M. Prynns new inventions to binde the King and secure the Common-wealth to be in a firm lasting peace c. and future felicity The Second part may be considered under this notion M. Prynns endeavour to render the Army odious and enemies to the Common-wealth I do hope and believe that M. Prynne his aims and intendments were real for to obtain Peace and Safety But I believe that he was mistaken and erred from the pattern shew'd in Gods revealed will very far When I looked well upon M. Prynn his Speech with what learning wit and eloquence it is contrived considering his parts It occasioned me to remember Pauls speech 1 Cor. 1.27 28. Thus â—xpressed God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and the weak things of the world to confound the mighty Vers 28. And vile things of the world and things which are despised and things which are not hath God chosen to bring to naught things that are Our blessed Saviour sheweth us a reason of this Math. 11.25 I give thee thanks O Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and men of understanding and hast opened them to babes Vers 26. It is so O Father because thy good pleasure was such In our times it is not to be much marvelled at that wise men come short when we consider of former times the children of Israel were very apt to break sleight and neglect Gods commandements and to prefer their own inventions Was it not strange that they should forsake that Fountain of living Waters that great God Jehovah of whose Faithfulness Wisedome Power Goodness Long-suffering They had had such large experience of Yet search the Scriptures and you may see many instances how they distrusted God how they forsook God murmured complained despised and provoked God from time to time Was it not to be admired that they should forsake God and set up a golden Calf in Moses his absence Was it not to be admired That having had such experience of Gods Providence and Blessing under the Government of those Humble Wise Faithful Judges or Governors being such men as entred into their Offices by the immediate and prescribed will of God from Moses to Samuel Under
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
them and lay them up let them be put into the treasury of your hearts to be considered of Dearly beloved Fathers I pray you accept favorably of these few following lines wherein I have laboured to present to your godly considerations such a platforme or draught of Government as is drawn from or out of the unblemished and most perfect patterne prescribed and revealed in the sacred Scripture those streight and unerring rules of truth in the discription thereof I have endeavoured without adding or diminishing according to the measure of Grace and strength from God received to present it to you with faithfulnesse These reasons following have moved me to present these following lines to your considerations First aiming at Gods Glory having an especiall respect to the accomplishment of those precious promises foretold by the Prophets Secondly because that I my selfe and my posterity are concerned in the cause Thirdly because that such an opportunity I believe hath not beene offered from the dayes of Samuel to this time considering I look upon you as men that aime principally at the glory of God and not so much at any worldly respects yon knowing and seeing the brittlenesse the uncertainty the mutability and vanity that is to be attained in any worldly comforts compared with those true weighty precious treasures provided promised and reserved for all those that love God believe in him and do unfeinedly desire to doe his Will and Commandements Fourthly I do consider that your actings now and the platforme of Government that you are now considering of is such as is like to concerne posterity It will concerne England Ireland Scotland and our Neighbour Nations they will warily look upon it and it will concerne the Islands in the Indies Barmoedas Virginia New England Newfound Land and other places Consider therefore I pray you with the greatest respect that you have an eye to the patterne of the Sanctuary to those rules and warrantable presidents recorded in Gods revealed Will the holy Scriptures I pray you turne not to the right hand nor to the left hand remember what an expresse charge God gave to Ioshua Chap. 1.8 Let not this Booke of the Law depart out of thy mouth but meditate therein day and night that thou mayest observe and do according to all that is written therein for then shalt thou make thy way prosperous and then shalt thou have good successe I beseech you deare Fathers consult not too much with flesh and blood follow not the many and uncertaine presidents and inventions of men If you keepe close to Gods Rule you shall not err you shall be safe and then shall I and my posterity some of your little children shroud our selves under the protection of your wing with more peace and comfort conceiving our selves by Gods Providence to be secured from the many Wolves and Beares and Lyons that lie in waite to hurt us I have travelled through many difficulties forsaken Wife Children and some worldly comforts that J might present these following lines to your considerations which I would not mention but to this end That it might take some impression in your hearts and cause you advisedly to read and to consider what is contained in these following lines and that so all my labour may not be lost and these matters cast aside as wast paper to that end I pray you not to looke so much at the Garment as at the substance and not so much at the Order or Forme as at the Truth and true Meaning of what J have tendred to you but whatever my successe shall be I know my dependancy and whom I have trusted Dearely beloved Fathers J meane not to exclude my requests from being presented and are intended by me to be tendered to those two worthy Servants of God Sir Thomas Fairfax and Sir Oliver Cromwell being Fathers of this Common-wealth in an eminent manner To them and to the rest of those worthy Governours of this Common-wealth to you all I present my requests and what shall be contained in these following lines Dearely beloved Fathers you have now a great and glorious or precious opportunity put into your hands of Reformation be but Faithfull in this and God will make you Rulers of more and greater Cities of Heavenly places In the meane time till you can settle Government according to your desire I pray you let the administration of Justice come thorough as few hands as with equity you may that so the poore may come at their right with as little difficulty or charge and with as much ease as may be which I do believe you do endeavour I humble request of you likewise that you will take off from the Common-wealth what burdens and taxations you can I pray you be deeply and thoroughly affected with the many sad complaints and sighs of many poore hearts that are under your Government that are of your flock remember what frame of spirit was in that first and godly and eminent patterne of piety namely in holy and humble Moses that blessed man of God he sought the good the ease and the comfort of that people God committed to his government he changed this transitory life and now lives with God and with his blessed Angells to eternity the memory of him is recorded for our learning in Gods Booke of Records and is precious and blessed in all Ages Remember how our blessed Saviour delivered us from those oppressions of sinnes and from Satan and from Death and laid downe his life to redeeme us and all this hee did freely for us when no eye pittied us yea even then when wee were at emnity with him and he was a precious patterne for us to imitate and now hee sitteth in glory and is blessed to all eternity Hee regarded not the momentary trifles of worldly wealth the Foxes had holes and the Birds of the Aire had nests but the Sonne of man had scarcely a place whereon to rest his Head bee mercifull because your Heavenly Father is mercifull I do believe you do earnestly desire and endeavour to take off from the people what burdens you can J do consider that you have very many and great engagements that for the present you cannot avoide Taxations but I hope those occasions will in time convenient be removed so that then I hope you will ease the people what possibly you can I hope God will shew you a way to do it of this I am perswaded that we might be more eased in this matter were it not for the gainsayings and molestations that diverse bring upon us by reason of their irregularities I pray you be mindefull of our Trading and Marchandize to incourage that that so the poore labourer may bee imployed and relieved I cannot but with thankefulnesse acknowledge your great care and charge that you have allready taken in setting out Ships to secure our Marchants at Sea I pray you still continue your watchfulnesse that way because these times are times wherein many ungodly
ENDEVORS Aiming at the GLORY OF GOD THAT PEACE TRUTH may meet together Wherein is contained the excellency benefit and necessity of good Government and Governors A loving Reply to Mr William Prynnes Speech made to the House of Commons and afterwards published Some matters are propounded to the Consideration of the Ministry and also to particular and to all Opinions The first purest best and most blessed form and manner of Government prescribed by God and recorded in Gods sacred Word together with the way of entrance or Gods calling of persons to places of chief Government the great consequence thereof Wherein is shewed That Government by Succession from the Father to the Son was none of Gods Institution in the first and purest Times And also the Government by Judges is plainly proved to be the best form of Government being Gods immediate direction most blessed and approved for Gods glory and for a peoples greatest Good Comfort and Safety By JOHN BLACKLEACH Isai 1.26 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 Righteousness and a faithful City Deut. 28.1 If thou shalt obey diligently the voyce of the Lord thy God and observe and do all his Commandments then the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all the Nations of the Earth Gen. 49.18 O Lord I have waited for thy Salvation LONDON Printed by John Macock for the Author and are to be sold in Popes-head-Alley 1656. To my dearly beloved Country-men of England and to all of what Country soever namely to all such as love the true onely glorious and blessed God and endeavor unfeignedly to do his Will to such as have obtained like precious faith with us Grace Mercy and Peace be to you through the acknowledging of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord. Dearly Beloved UPon the serious and often consideration of that happy and blessed condition and unparaleld benefit which the blessed Angels do and the elect Children of God shall enjoy to Eternity in having God for their defence and their exceeding great reward The benefits thereof for number and greatness far exceed what the eye of man hath seen or the ear heard or what the heart of man can conceive Amongst other priviledges and benefits this is not the least That they shall have God to govern them whose wisdom is most absolutely perfect to lead them and to direct them Revel 19.11 John saith I saw heaven open and behold a white horse and he that sate upon him was called faithful and true and he judgeth and fighteth righteously Vers 12. And his eyes were as a flame of fire and on his head were many crowns and he had a name written that no man knew but himself Vers 13. And he was clothed in a garment dipt in blood and his Name was called The Word of God Vers 14. And the hosts which were in Heaven followed him upon white horses c. Vers 15. And out of his mouth went a sharp sword that with it he shall smite the Heathen and rule them c. From this place being full of consolation I shall onely collect this one point of Observation pertinent to the matter by me intended namely That the whole hoast of Heaven the blessed Angels the Saints and Children of God shall have this unmatchable this exceeding great benefit namely They shall be guided ordered and governed by the Word of God All the Hoasts of Heaven followed the Word of God upon white horses Which sheweth That this shall be the happiness of the blessed Angels and Saints to be guided by and subject to the Word of God We may easily discern our own weakness in guiding our selves we all like sheep are apt to go astray and to run into many dangers But God is infinitely wise to direct us he is strong to protect us he is rich in mercy abundant in mercy as the heavens are higher then the earth so is his mercy He likewise is able to fill and to satisfie our Souls with good things with him is the well-spring of life Glorious things are spoken of thee O thou City of God By this means namely by being guided by God we shall not need to fear we may lie down and rest in peace because the Lord is our Keeper read Psal 23. The consideration of this leads me further to consider of Government amongst men here on earth Upon diligent enquiry into the revealed will and minde of God recorded in the sacred Scriptures I finde That on earth it is a matter of the highest concernment to have good Government good Shepherds such as are sent of God Search the Scriptures and you shall find That when the People enjoyed godly wise faithful Governors they were endowed with many other singular and great blessings from God On the contrary when their Governors were corrupt the People were disturbed oppressed and afflicted The Scriptures are so full so copious so evident in the proof of this that I shall spend the less time in quotations Read the story of the Judges the book of Kings and the Chronicles of Israel and that being blessed to you by God will help you clearly to discern the truth of this matter The experience of all Ages will shew That from good and evil Governors proceeded the prosperity and adversity of the Nations Search the Chronicles and Records of the Ages and Times from Moses his time to these days wherein we live and it will evidently appear That from this principle from this root namely from Government arose the prosperity or adversity of the People and Nations If we look but back from the time of King Henry the eight we shall see this State tossed to and fro suitably to those persons that were the principal Governors and that both in religious duties and in other temporal matters The experience the Records of all Ages do abundantly testifie being duly weighed and considered of what great concernment Government is of to render a people blessed or despised of God To the intent that we may the better and more clearly see the singular benefit that it is to have a good Government I shall propound briefly some particulars to consideration For instance look upon the universal works the Creation of God Consider the Sun how it goeth his due course not failing to perform his great journey round about this world in twenty four hours the Sun knoweth his rising and his going down not altering nor failing one minute of time nor failing one foot of ground in all his great and unwearied journeys O how excellent are all thy works O God Consider likewise those excellent vertues and operations with which the Sun is beautified and enriched as namely First Light which sheweth man the way and work he is to perform without light Man is miserable Secondly The Sun heateth the air and comforteth man and all creatures Thirdly The Sun causeth the bud of the herb to
spring forth it causeth the Corn to grow whereby man is nourished Now consider whence or how this creature the Sun is so wonderfully and excellently made is it not from the wisdom and excellency of the most high God that made it and governeth it Now let us but consider That if God should but with-hold his hand if God should but withdraw himself his wisdom his power his faithfulness his skill for want of such a Work-master these glorious works of God would be confused and fail This sheweth that there is a necessity for the well-being of matters of great consequence especially such as are the Governments over and amongst men that the Governors be chosen men we cannot be too circumspect what Governors we do receive and that they be men chosen of God c. If we err in this Governor we shall finde that great trouble will follow Consider likewise the Stars of Heaven which although they are to us innumerable yet every Star hath his proper place they go their appointed journeys and courses which they keep without jarring or alteration performing those operations to them appointed Consider likewise the Tydes how they do ebb and flow keeping within the limits of time and proportion Thus far they flow and so return in their due and appointed seasons And doth not this come to pass from the excellency and perfection of that God that created and is the Governor of them Consider likewise amongst men in every great and useful work if the guide and governor of the work be skilful and able doth not the work committed to him prosper proportionably On the contrary if a foolish man a disordered person have the government in chief of such matters are they not likely to fail and be confused Consider likewise in a Ship when the Master is godly wise skilful and able is not the Voyage by him likely to come to good issue But on the contrary if a foolish disordered unjust man be the Master is not the undertaking endangered if not overthrown And is not this matter namely the Government of a Common-wealth to be looked upon with as much regard Ought not men to be very heedful and circumspect who and what manner of persons they accept to govern them Doth not this matter immediately concern Gods glory Doth it not concern the good and comfort of our Souls of our Bodies of our Estates and of our Children Yes certainly the matter is of great concernment And yet are we not to lament this namely That men oft rush upon the chusing of Governors as the horse into the battel with too little fear or wit Men are too much of these tempers First Either they will admit of no Government whence springeth misery confusion and every evil work by this means some say as Pharaoh said to Moses Exod. 5.2 Who is the Lord that I should hear his voyce and let Israel go I know not the Lord neither will I let Israel go Thus will it be with many who acknowledg none to be their Rulers And some David speaketh of Psal 12.4 who say in their hearts Our tongues are our own who is Lord over us These men know not what they do they desire that which would assuredly make them miserable But of this in another place if God will Or secondly Others they desire to have Government but they consider not of how great concernment Government is of Hence it comes to pass that like the people in Samuels time men will have a King they will have a Governor not duly weighing and considering what maner of Governor they desire whether he be godly or ungodly whether he be wise or foolish whether he be a man sent of God or a man of their own inordinate desires whether he come in to be the true Shepherd by the door of Gods Word according to the rule there prescribed or whether he come in at the window or creep in some other way by friends beauty riches eloquence fraud flattery Thus lamentable experience teacheth us hath been the practise of the People and Nations from the time of Samuel to this day too often Hence it cometh to pass that so many Wolves enter into the sheep-fold who miserably devour persecute destroy the sheep The consideration of these miseries which arise from and attend upon those people that have wolves in sheeps clothing instead of true Shepherds occasions us to search and enquire what may be the true ground or fountain whence this evil springeth There are two main and principal Causes which occasioned God to suffer Jsrael to be so misled so seduced so deceived so afflicted The one Reason was Because the people slighted dis-esteemed and undervalued this pearl of great price namely to have God to be their King and to have him immediately to choose their Governors for them The second Reason was Because the people did not diligently observe and cleave to the Commandments of God but instead thereof they followed their own inventions And if we shall warily consider what the cause hath been and is why the People and Nations have done and do so miscarry in their Governments it ariseth from these two fore-named Grounds namely the slighting Gods Mercies and departing from prescribed Rules For the first of these read Deut. 6.11 to 16. where God admonisheth them to take heed and to beware lest when they had abundance when they had eaten and were full that they did not then slight disesteem or forget God Reason God gave them in this admonition as namely because vers 12. God brought them out of Egypt out of a low condition vers 15. and because God was a jealous God among them and lest the wrath of God were kindled against them to destroy them Notwithstanding those and many other Exhortations and Cautions which the Lord from time to time laid before them to warn them yet they soon and often turned aside from God the Fountain of living water and digged to themselves broken Cisterns that would not hold good water And touching the second namely their departing from the Rules prescribed Moses did often admonish them as in this Chapter vers 16. Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God c. Vers 17. But you shall keep diligently the Commandments of the Lord your God and his Testimonies and his Ordinances c. Dearly beloved this is very apparent That Government is of very great concernment Therefore it is to be prized at a great value We ought with great diligence to seek and to search the Scriptures that so we may find the right and pure way prescribed owned and blessed by God for the choice of our Governors By this means we shall obtain a blessing from God we shall have true Shepherds we shall discover wolves in sheeps clothing who slily creep in to devour and to destroy If God so often willeth us to take heed to keep all his Commands then certainly this which is of so great concernment is not to be slighted but
Afterwards thou shalt be called a City of righteousness a faithful City Isai 1.25 26 27. ch 2.2 3 4. Of this I purpose to speak more afterwards Dearly beloved friends thus much I can and do affirm to you all in the presence of that all-seeing â—od who will bring hidden things deeds of darkness to light even in the presence of that God who I do Love Fear Worship who is my Hope my Joy from whom I received all the Good I have from whom I expect my comfort for the time to come I have not so far as I know my own heart any prejudice nor respect of persons nor any past present or future by or sinister respect in the writing this little Treatise I have never received the value of one penny in recompence of my endeavors and for the time to come I am so far from thoughts that way That I do expect rather that I shall receive injury hereby and that this may be a great hinderance to me in wordly respects only this is my comfort That I know whom I have trusted And this further can I say likewise That at the writing hereof I know not nor did ever see either those truly honourable Generals the Lord Fairfax nor the Lord Cromwel nor any Captain or Souldier amongst them except some few I lately saw in or neer to London as I passed by them nor do I know any one of them if I see them again so far as I conceive It is possible some of my acquaintance may be in the Army but if it be so I know it not And concerning those worthy men for so I esteem them to be that now sit in the Parliament I never saw any one of them to my knowledg except one who I have seen I think three or four times yet I know not certainly whether he be of the Parliament or no only I think he is Whereas I affirm that I know not any of the Army or of the Parliament I intend that I know not the persons of the men but by their fruits I know much concerning them Some may judge this to be superfluous to mention but I shall shew you what moveth me so to do In discoursing with divers men I find to my best apprehension That there is such a crooked and perverse generation of men that imagine mischief that invent base false and slanderous reports against Parliament Generals Army and indeed against the most that truly fear God Blame me not therefore courteous Reader if I labour to prevent slanderous and lying Tongues And this likewise I affirm That with due regard of Gods presence in the fear of God being much sensible of my own weakness seriously considering of how great weight it is to write books and to present them to publique view I am very fearful to presume above what is meet and this I say further that my purpose is to propound the matters and causes I shall principally insist upon in this following Treatise I purpose likewise according to the measure of light grace and opportunity that God shall give me to prove and clear the matters propounded and then having presented the cause I shall earnestly desire of God to stir some persons who are more learned and better able then my self and to enable and direct them so That they may more largely and clearly shew forth to publique view the mind of God in these matters of Government and Governors It is now a long season that the Nations have been so kept under by Corrupt Governors above two thousand years during which time where or who was the man that durst or did punctually discover the Corruption of Governors or of Government 1. This is one reason that moveth me to present the cause to publike view namely because I know not or do not discern that any one writer from Samuels days to this time the pens of the Scriptures excepted that hath punctually written upon this subject 2. This is another moving cause because now being a time of more Liberty and considering that I my children and posterity are concerned in the case of Government I conceive there is reason good why I should present this cause to publike consideration 3. This is another motive I look upon the great effusion of bloud that hath been shed about this matter the cause for ought I know being not yet wholy determined but is still so that I conceive that our godly Governors are ready to prefer Gods glory and the common good before their own interests in those matters that they shall clearly see to be the mind and will of God 4. This is another motive seeing apparently our miserable condition people being divided in judgment and in affection so that our condition is much like a ship in a Tempest Therefore the end of my endeavors shall be so far as God shall assist that I may reconcile differences and that Peace and Truth may meet together as Moses and Aaron met together in the mount of God and kissed each other And as this is the end I propound to my self so likewise I purpose it shall be the Title or Superscription Dearly beloved friends all you that love and fear the Lord all you that have obtained like precious faith I earnestly intreat you to assist me in this work with your prayers with your most best uttermost and strongest abilities Contend for the truth in love but strive not lust not to be contentious Reject not that Truth that Good wholy which is accompanied with some blemishes Men cast not away a good garment because of a little dirt Consider the great differences and troubles about Governors and Government Therefore I humbly request thee to weigh try prove examine search the Scripture cleave to the Truth Seek the favour of God with more then ordinary prayer That the good holy Spirit of God may lead thee into truth For it is evident that many unclean Spirits many false and lying Spirits are permitted to deceive many in these our days This point of Government is of great concernment if God help us to discern the good and right way prescribed practised owned and blessed by God to chuse persons so that God may be said to chuse for us to shut up all windows and by-ways that so Wolves Foxes and beasts of prey may be kept from the Sheep If God help us to discern the way the true and right way and in that way to set open the door that the good and true Shepherds may enter whose fruits will soon discover them to be good and true Shepherds for they will love the flock they will watch over them not for the fleece mostly but to defend them from beasts of prey These good Shepherds will seek the comfort of the Flock they will drive them to the wholesom pastures and to the still waters where they may be refreshed where they may bless the name of the Lord and lie down without fear for true love casteth out fear and
others from such open provocations of God as swearing whoring false speaking and like sins Presently many are apt to mischieve him it is well for him if he scape with base language as Roundhead Whores-bird Roundhead c. with bitter hatred I have lately seen this and heard it to my sorrow It is said of the wicked That they cast up mire and dirt This I say unto those that fear God Walk humbly circumspectly mourn for these abominations And God will spare you as a man spareth his son in the day of calamity when the wicked shall be destroyed together I pray you that are more sober consider you hear such complaints against the General Officers and Army put these complaints in the ballances of Truth bring them to the Touch-stone You have had experience of the behaviour of both parties on which side did sin prophaneness plundering and such acts of prophaneness most abound Were the Officers and Souldiers of the Malignant Army more holy more harmless then this party of this Army For which side did God witness or do you judg that God seeth not or regards not c. Well seek not evasions do not resolve not to see not to consider not to acknowledg Object But some I believe will find fault with me because I do not name and particularize actions persons times and places more particularly with more evident witnesses c. Answ 1. My time will not suffer me to be so large although I purpose if God will when I come to points wherein I purpose to engage or insist in those things I purpose to be more punctual 2. I answer That men do not use candle-light at noon days when the Sun shines bright but in dark places So are these matters they are not done in corners these matters are accompanied with a cloud of witnesses Your own experiences your own consciences rightly ballanced are more then a thousand witnesses There are extant in some Books many of these particulars where they are more largely handled only I hope it will not be grievous if I put you in minde of those things whereof you have experience already Moreover those miraculous passages of Gods Providence wherein Digitus Dei the finger of God evidently appeared and doth still appear to admiration So that if our hearts be not hardned and our eyes blinded I conceive these are witnesses sufficient But notwithstanding if we shut our eyes if they be not opened I do conceive and answer as Abraham answered to Dives being in torments That if one should arise from the dead you would not believe But let men judg what they please this is the comfort and stay to them whose hearts are right with God namely this That God seeth he regardeth he is a strong God a wise and faithful God he will make bare his arm and mightily work for the good of his chosen and to the confusion of his enemies Object Courteous Reader Christian Friend lest thou shouldst take offence because I kept not more close to the matter propounded Answ I seeing and considering the great bitterness the great heat that evidently appeareth to be in the prejudiced and fore-stalled hearts of many men I endeavored only to qualifie that heat and in part to remove that prejudice otherwise I conceived that there would be no place for Peace and Truth to meet together But to proceed The man that hath most effectually written to my apprehension that yet hath come to my knowledg to hinder Peace and Truth at this time from meeting is Mr William Prynne in his Book called The substance of a Speech made in the House of Commons Touching this man I have no prejudice against him I never saw him to my knowledg I have likewise met with some other of his Labors and upon some consideration of the matters in them contained to my best apprehension this I finde That he hath taken much pains that he is a man endowed with divers good gifts if they be sanctified I do beleeve he is zealously affected and that his intendments are for the glory of God and for the good of the People I love the man and do beleeve that we shall both meet before God and his glorious Angels to both our comforts through the rich mercy and free favor of our God in his dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ I would not cast dirt upon all his Labors but onely I shall endeavor to sift and winnow them and desire him to recollect his thoughts and to revive his Works over again and where he findeth an error I desire him to recall that and to revoke it Who knoweth the errors of his life In many things we sin all This perswasion I have of Mr William Prynne That he is so zealous and so ingenuous that he will not persist in a known error Paul being in an error when he persecuted Christ in his members brought much glory to God great advantage to his Church and left himself as an eminent pattern for others to imitate When and after he saw his error he recanted and repented and repaired his error In the first Scripture alledged I find this place cited out of Mat. 5.9 Blessed are the Peace-makers for they shall be called the children of GOD. This place in his intendments pointeth out that which he hoped as I beleeve should be the issue of his Labors in the work following But here I finde that of Solomon verified That the race is not always to the swift nor riches to men of understanding For had this speech of his prevailed it would have been so far from causing peace that I do beleeve both we and the children yet unborn should have had cause to lament it Had his speech there declared in that book prevailed it would have effected much more sorrow and trouble then before The next Scripture is Psal 68.30 Rebuke the company of spear-men scatter thou the people that delight in War Some Translations read it thus Destroy the Company c. This Text here is placed as a leading exhortation to the Reader to perswade them to follow this example This place compared with that which goeth before and with that which followeth after plainly holds out thus much That Mr Prynne did endeavor to render the Army root and branch odious for the Army consisted of the Head and Members which appeareth in the first leafe in the Title or Inscription of his Book in these words namely The Armies Remonstrance Novemb. 20. is a way to speedy and certain ruine and a meer plot of the Jesuites to destroy us This he presents to the whole Kingdom I hope by this time Mr Prynne seeth cause to recall and revoke this For he inviteth the Kingdom with him to pray That God would destroy the Army in the Scripture before cited I say with Steven the Martyr Act. 7.60 Lord lay not this sin to his charge I answer by way of reply to this Scripture That when men do lay unjust slanders and reproaches upon
lawful things It is evident That at Joshua's command the people were armed to the war and that they were directed by him without asking leave of other inferior Officers or of the people It is evident likewise that David Saul Solomon c. did many acts of War and Peace without any such manacles I would not multiply Scripture to prove such apparent matters Now if this be not a sin if it be not the direct breach of Gods command in a high and great measure for Mr Prynne to take from the King his lawful priviledges my understanding faileth me This sin hath been punished severely both in the times of the Judges and Kings let the godly wise consider it Beloved Country-men it is no light matter who we make to be or receive to be either King or Governor We had need to pray to God to search the Scriptures we had need to enquire of God who shall govern us For we must give and yeeld unto Gods Stewards and our lawful Governors so much and no less power then God hath afforded to them in the holy Scriptures It is just with God for the looseness wantonness and wickedness of people when they enquire not of God when they attend not to the prescribed Rule of his Word to know who shall guide them but rashly carelesly and slightly follow their own inventions about Governors I say It is just with God that Wolves in sheeps clothing should deceive them And whereas they might lie down by the still waters in peace without fear if they would take counsel of God who should govern them For the want of this watchfulness for want of enquiring of God and keeping close to those patterns those rules appointed by God in his revealed will the sacred and unerring rule of truth the Scriptures it cometh to pass that the People err in their choyce and in accepting of those persons to govern them that are not men appointed by God Hence it cometh to pass the People they are molested persecuted devoured and rest in continual fear and the misery is they see not the cause of their disease God well knew this therefore when he would shew mercy to Israel his first born Son when no strange god was with him then he took especial care to provide good Shepherds which Shepherds he furnished with his blessed Spirit He commanded them to carry the Sheep of his pasture in their bosom God blessed directed strengthened protected such Governors and Government of his own devising Moses a man much in favor with God a man enriched with a great measure of the Spirit of God did well know weigh and consider of what great concernment it was for the peoples good That God and not the People should appoint a man to be the Shepherd of his people No doubt he considered as much the Peoples Liberty as we do and that the People might unwarrantably have chosen themselves a Governor after his decease but he saw much of Gods minde and the Peoples good rested in the choyce of the person Therefore Moses knowing that the people might err in chusing themselves a Leader he therefore seriously and earnestly desireth of God that he would appoint a man Numb 27.16 Let the God of the spirits of all flesh appoint a man over the Congregation Vers 17. Who may go out and in before them that the Congregation of the Lord be not as sheep without a shepherd Mark how God answereth them that seek for safety and direction to him and trust not in themselves Here we may note two considerable matters First That Moses looked more at Gods glory and the Peoples good then at the preferring his Children to Government A true Note of a true Shepherd Secondly Note That in the Government that in these first and purest times when Israel his strength was as an Vnicorn then when God prescribed Governors in Mercy to his first born Son Government went not by succession from Father to Son in those times from Moses to Samuels time Indeed afterward when the people would slight God and obstinately cast God off from being their King it is considerable likewise That God removed then his gracious presence farther off from them then before though for his own goodness sake he did not wholly depart from them yet he stood at a farther distance from them From that time to this Government hath usually followed by natural generation from Father to the eldest Son I say not that it hath been thus by Gods Commandment for I purpose if God will in time convenient to speak a word to that to try the case Hence it hath come to pass That a good Father begetting an evil Son the People have been miserably afflicted O that People would be wise to learn by their own experiences Well let the world do what they please I purpose seeing God hath promised to restore Judges as at the first that I will not cast away my confidence and hope that God will perform his Word and that we may see it performed Object But why might not the People have chosen themselves a Governor was there any great matter in that Ans The People were so well instructed in Joshua his time that after his time the State being left vacant of a principal Guide they did not count it to be safe for them to chuse themselves therefore they asked counsel of God and attended to Gods direction as appeareth by their actions Judges 1.1 After that Joshua was dead the Children of Israel asked the Lord saying Who shall go up for us c. On the contrary look how it fared when the people chose themselves and by succession recorded Judges 9.6 And all the men of Shechem came and made Abimilech King c. By which choice of the peoples own invention in which they consulted not they enquired not of God who should govern them If we read the place recorded for our learning we may see what great afflictions did befall them which did evidently spring from this root namely their mistaking the man More I purpose concerning this matter afterwards if God will Our Saviour saith If the first fruits be holy so are the branches This was the first president I conceive revealed That the Son of a cheif Judg succeeded in Government next after his Fathers death and I conceive the people liked this so well that during the time of the Judges till they had forgotten this and grew wanton till they rejected God there was not the like example or practise This I insert only as a taste and to prepare your minds to consider of what concernment it is to eye God in chusing Governors for we may not warrantably deprive Governors of those lawful rights priviledges granted them by God Neither is it in the power of the People to remove a King or Governor I would not be mistaken here for where I affirm that it is not in the power of a People to remove depose and punish a Governor in case
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
that act of the peoples as appeareth 1 Kings 12.24 Thus saith the Lord Ye shall not go up nor fight against your brethren for this thing is done by me The peoples sin lay in another way They enquired not of the Lord who should govern them therein lay their evil From that root sprung up their error and this error was the very cause I do undoubtedly believe that they had so many corrupt Governors that ruled over them It may evidently be seen that men usually run into extreams and all is because they are not circumspect in following Gods Commandments they depart from the Rule Now dearly beloved Countrymen I judg it will be seasonable because such precious liberties are not usual to consider a little what our condition is and what we are and in what relation we do truly stand according to the true Rule of Gods sacred Word the most blessed and unerring Rule of Truth God in great rich and singular mercy undeserved by us hath put a great difference between us and the beasts of the field and between us and these sensless creatures lands houses and such earthly inheritances How cometh it then to pass That when a King dyeth the breath is scarcely out of his body or his body quite cold there is such post-haste such running and riding to proclaim one King in his room what is the matter of such great haste surely there is something in it Do they not take us as young heirs take their fathers inheritance as beasts lands houses This maketh me to consider sometimes the manner and actings of such men of War as do live upon the labours of honest and true men they when they espy a prey presently up top-sail top gallant sails and all the sails it were oft-times better for the true honest and plain-dealing men that they should make less haste observe it well your honest Merchant men make less speed to pursue after others because they mind their own Surely Moses that godly man made no such haste nor did the good Iudges of Israel they stayed till they were called by God Certainly I should note it to be the Character of a good Shepherd or Governor when they do first consider the great weight and concernment for Gods glory and for the peoples good that Government is of certainly if it be heartily and duly considered there is not just cause for so great haste Moses and Gideon and the rest considered the great weight for saith Moses My abilities are but weak and Gideon said he was but mean in his own esteem for such a work it is like they considered That except God did in an extraordinary manner promise to assist them with his blessed Spirit they should be insufficient for so weighty employments Indeed if any look at their own glory and ease and worldly riches it is no marvel then if such make speed but consider that if any want Gods blessed Spirit into what a truly miserable condition do they plunge both themselves and those poor people that must be judged preserved and protected by them I do confess I see no such cause of haste when matters are truly considered of There will or would be less bloodshed and more peace if men were truly consciencious of their duties Crowns would be of less esteem It is well to be noted That in the first and purest times God owned and blessed the people as his proper and peculiar inheritance and so carryed himself to them for Moses had children yet God so honoured and loved the people that he did not leave them the people to the Judges as their inheritance although the Judges were blessed Judges but did keep them as his own inheritance and so provided men whose inward affections he knew and God did immediately appoint Judges himself for them and those God blessed with his good Spirit all of them such did not claim the people as their inheritance and so leave them as beasts lands or houses to their children this continued all the time of the Judges But when the people preferred their own inventions before the wisdom of God and would be governed by a King and so cast off God from raigning over them then a declining people and a forsaking God Not long after God made David a promise That some of his posterity should hold the people as their inheritance in some proportion Government went then by Succession But consider now beloved Countrymen That there is no King upon Earth hath such a promise as David had now the partition wall is broken down God is reconciled if we believe therefore for any King now to claim Government by Succession they must shew some Charter some gift from God for it for my part I have searched the sacred Records of Gods Will revealed and in all the Word of God I can see no such Scripture if they can shew any hidden light let it be shewn that I may see it too but till then I shall conceive that we Believers are Gods inheritance and God by my consent shall be our King and appoint our Governors in his own way and then I am sure this people I and my posterity may rest in secure peace for then God will not fail to bless such Governors with his good and blessed Spirit Beloved Countrymen GOD hath preferred us in honor above beasts or lands and shall we like those asses beasts prostrate our selves to such a servile condition Object But suppose a King can say His forefathers obtained the Kingdom by the Sword by Conquest Answ I look upon that as the worst and meanest title of all For our Indians that know not God can shew such a title for their unjust encroachments upon other mens Lives and Estates And consider That that man that possesseth but the Goods or Lands of another mans by violence shall hold that no longer then till the other man hath power to take them again but we acknowledg a God and his Word must be our guide But further consider That suppose that we should grant to a King as good a title to Government as Moses Joshua Saul had who were men immediately appointed by God which no King I beleeve can shew the like yet these could not rightfully claim the people as inheritance to leave to their Children that is Gods proper right and God is a jealous God Kings must therefore shew such a Promise made to them by God and recorded in Gods Word as David had or else I must desire leave to be excused if I conceive that I and my posterity through the gracious bounty of a good God in Christ do look upon my self as free and not as a bond-man And yet further Could Kings shew as good a promise as David had yet God must chuse the man which should be Governor For Gods Word is express Deut. 17. Thou shalt make him King whom the Lord thy God shall chuse This is a sentence recorded and never repealed to this day There is an apparent
Our tongues are our own What Lord shall controul us It were well or better then it is with too many if they were no worse then the beasts that perish for many now cannot or do not agree so lovingly as the unreasonable beasts that shall perish Do not the wilde Bears agree amongst themselves But to leave the world in the broad way to destruction I entreat you Countrymen you that desire to do Gods will do you seek to be made conformable to that glorious image of God Lev. 11.45 Be ye holy saith God for I am holy Ephes 4.2 16. Follow the Truth in love forbearing one another and forgiving one another Mat. 5.43 44 46. Joh. 13.34 Consider I pray you That that wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable then gentle and easie to be entreated full of mercy Jam. 3.17 Vers 14. But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts rejoyce not neither be lyars against the Truth for this wisdom is not from above but is earthly sensual and devilish Dear Friends amongst the many sins of our times I finde or shall rehearse three or four predominate corruptions and notorious sins namely First Contempt of the Ministry Secondly Contempt of those that most truly fear God And thirdly Dividing and separating one from another upon too slender grounds I could reckon up many more but these I onely mention at the present The Devil laboreth to deceive men in those things that are most precious in those things that may be most effectual to draw us from God For the first God saith Do my Prophets no harm 1 Chron. 6.22 And again the Apostle saith That we should have the Ministers of God in high esteem for their works sake And Nahum 1.15 Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that declareth peace which are the Ministers and Embassadors of the most high God Thus the Prophet Isaiah expresseth his estimation by Gods own direction concerning the Ministers Isai 52.7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that declareth and publisheth peace and good tidings and publisheth Salvation saying unto Sion thy God reigneth Thus Rom. 10.15 How beautiful are the feet of them that bring the glad tidings of peace and tidings of good things Observe here That if the feet of Gods Ministers which is the lowest part of the body and most soiled by dirt be so beautiful of what high estimation ought the person of the Ministers to be of It it an argument That where we see men so abuse and contemn the Ministry that those men are apt to slight the Word of God If one bring us a precious Jewel would it not be a great part of ingratitude to throw dirt and dung in his face that brought it And observe well where you see men so much abuse slight and contemn the Ministry there and then it is more then probable God is withdrawing his gracious presence from those men When Cam once discovered his fathers nakedness was not he neer to a curse And are not Ministers our spiritual Fathers Consider how the Galatians behaved themselves towards Paul their Minister Gal. 4.13 14. And ye know how that through infirmity of the flesh I preached the Gospel unto you Which tryal ye despised not but received me as an Angel of God yea as Christ Jesus In the primitive Times of the Church in the next Times after those great persecutions we may read what estimation and respect both Constantine and the Christians yeelded and gave to the Ministers and shall we decline so far from the Rules of Scriptures and from the Examples of the Churches in the purest Times Friends or Country-men Consider what Jude speaketh Vers 8. Notwithstanding these sleepers despise Government and speak evil of them that are in auâ—hority Vers 9. Yet Michael the Archangel when he strove against the Devil and disputed about the body of Moses durst not blame him with cursed speaking Vers 10. But these speak evil of those things they know not Vers 11. Woe be unto them c. Consider that evil words do corrupt Doth a Fountain send out sweet water and bitter c. Remember I pray you That that wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable Look well first to your own hearts and you shall there finde cause enough to bear more with those things which you conceive to be errors in other men but especially in Ministers The Devil laboreth most to corrupt men in those matters that are of the greatest concernment For consider that the Ministry they perswade men to serve the true God in an eminent way If therefore the Devil can but bring their Ministry into contempt then the people will take but little heed to their Ministry So likewise if he can draw men to disgrace those that fear God and have most respect to Gods Commandments this is a very effectual way to draw others into those ways that are opposite to them that lead to certain destruction Remember Christs caveat Mat. 18. Take heed that you offend not one of these little ones c. And touching the third matter consider that Satan laboreth to sow discord amongst brethren for this weakens both parties and the known Rule is to be noted Divide and Rule and doubtless in such Divisions the Devil he ruleth too often and too apparently Moses commendeth to us an humble frame of spirit and left it in his last Exhortation to the people when he saith Deut. 32.2 My Doctrine shall drop as the rain and my speech shall distill as the dew as the showre upon the herbs and as the great rain upon the grass His speeches were weighty lovely and precious Note I pray you how and in what a beautiful frame and habit he blesseth and commendeth to the people an humble frame of heart and spirit Deut. 33.1 Now this is the blessing wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the Children of Israel Vers 2. The Lord came from Sinai c. Vers 3. Though he love his people yet all the Saints are in thy hands and they are humbled at thy feet to receive thy words Note I pray you to observe and lay it up as a Treasure in your hearts That God accounteth men then fit to profit or receive Gods Word when they are humbled at his feet that is when we lie most low which is plainly shewed in these words At the feet of God which is the lowest part in our apprehensions Consider that this grace is of great esteem in Gods sight Mark upon what terms the glad tydings of Salvation are tendred even to such as were in a low condition to such as were in their blood and no eye pityed them to such as see their own not so much other mens wants to those that are lost in themselves David saith Psal 25. God will teach the humble c. Countrymen Friends Beloved We have many risings of heart amongst us many differences do but obtain and keep and make use
of an humble heart and I doubt not but that peace and truth will meet notwithstanding all other oppositions And on the contrary so long as you carry in your company proud hearts you shall not enjoy and obtain peace and truth the Reason is plain because God resisteth the proud he knoweth the proud afar off What saith Jam. 4.1 From whence are wars and contentions among you are they not hence even from your pleasures that fight in your members Vers 2. Ye lust and have not ye envy and desire immoderately I shall conclude this Exhortation with that Ephes 4.29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouths but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers Vers 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God Vers 31. Let all bitterness and anger and wrath and evil speaking be put away with all maliciousness Vers 32. Be ye courteous one to another freely forgiving one another even as God for Christs sake freely forgave you There hath been or is stil a great variety distance and difference of opinions amongst too many if I should or could answer to the satisfaction of all a work much beyond my compass yet new opinions springing up I should still have more and continued labour and trouble Yet I shall propound to the consideration of the godly and well-affected that way that God hath prescribed owned and blessed for the composing and ending of all differences that are or shall arise Much labour and travel and pains is and hath been taken to compose differences I pray you that you will consider That God who is wise and knoweth what is in man better then man himself this God brought his Church and chosen People out of Egypt through the Wilderness being a Type and Figure shewing us how we must through the wilderness of this world through many temptations and tryals pass before we arrive at the Land and place of our Rest Many are the sentences recorded by Moses that man of God which shew That God took an especial care of his Church and Chosen and as in other matters so especially in this matter namely That in all cases of difference whether it were in the duties of men appertaining to God in matters of his Worship or in such differences as did arise or should be amongst men which likewise had a reference to the breach of Gods Law in all of these cases God left not the people without order and means to try determine and compose differences for otherwise it had been the peoples great misery but God is the God of Wisdom and Order and not of Confusion Now if we do consider well of it the way that God ordained and owned and blessed to that end to compose differences was by appointing Moses to give Judgment in all cases of difference this plainly appeareth Exod. 18.15 16. by this means all matters of difference were desided And so likewise the Ministers counsel was of great use as appeareth Deut. 17.9 10 11 12. there God doth directly command his people to seek counsel of the Ministers and likewise doth will and command us to hearken to their counsel The Gospel is not against that good order that God in his wisdom prescribed Now Beloved Friends the way to compose differences I beleeve will lie much in this namely That we highly esteem of the counsel of our Governors temporal and spiritual Government is established and strengthened by the Gospel and who can or dare prescribe a better form for the Administration of Justice then God himself hath described and prescribed and never repealed Moses was the first in Gods Ordination and had the preeminence of matters of Judicature and Aaron likewise had his charge and authority very nearly assistant to Moses the Ministers counsel was to be of force By Moses all matters whether they were breaches of the first or second Table whether they were matters more immediately committed against the Majesty of God or whether they were mediately committed against our neighbor all these matters were examined tryed and judged by Moses God appointed him to judg and to put an issue to all matters The Ministers had their place likewise their counsel was of great use I purpose to speak more particularly to these in place afterwards This Use only I commend to the consideration of all who it may concern namely That seeing that God hath given such authority to Governors as it is evident that God hath for this was not cancelled or removed by the coming of our blessed Saviour but contrarily this was confirmed as seasonably I hope will plainly appear Consider of that place 1 Cor. 6.4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to the life set them up which are least esteemed in the Church c. Was not this the way to heal their distempered differences namely by Governors or Judges and rather then they should pretend some excuse he saith Set them up which are the least esteemed c. not that the Apostle intended that they should set up any carelesly but vers 5. he speaks this to shame them This matter being of such great concernment it behoveth us for the good of us and of our posterity to take special care that so far as it may be in our power let us use all circumspect care That we allow of set up and obey such men as may be according to Gods mind there lyeth much weight in it for let our differences be what they will be or shall be or can be yet the Governors will they must they ought to hear try and judg of them This is doubtless Gods own way it hath his Image and Inscription I grant That if any Governors any whatever shall not act for God but against Gods Laws the Body of the People or their Representatives have or ought to have power to depose and punish such for in relation to God and his Laws both the Governors and the governed are and ought to be subjects to Gods Commands But beloved Friends do not so far trust to this your liberty that by reason thereof you neglect to enquire and take counsel of God who shall be your Governors have an especial eye to the Rules contained in his Word about this matter ask counsel of God For consider well of it let the Experiences recorded in Scripture let the Experiences recorded in other Nations let our own Experiments recorded in this k nd teach us That when a Government is once setled it is a difficult matter to remove or alter either the person or the form of Government once established although we should apparently see that they were evil towards God and us We have I believe much cause to be thankful to God That he hath granted unto us more liberty now in these matters then our Fathers obtained from the days of Samuel to this day Those Governors that now we enjoy both in the Parliament and in the Army I believe they
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
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
successively I doe but labout to set before you these instances and it is because I am not like so far as I know to have any more opportunity in this World to speak in the cause blame me not therefore if I propound these things to your consideration for I and my posterity are like to be subject to what forme of government you establish and I evidently see that from Government will arise great blessings if it be such government as God approveth if it be such as God hath prescribed then I know that the blessed Spirit of God will rest upon such governors On the contrary I know that if you mistake in government I do expect that great afflictions will follow and Governors not entring into their places according to the Rule of Gods Word I shall not expect that the gracious Presence of God will accompany them And this I evidently see by the records of the Sacred Word of God and by the experience of all Ages recorded that where government is corrupted they are a meanes to draw the People from the sincere worship of God and they are a meanes to bring the Wrath of God upon the People I doubt not but there are amongst you many wise godly and men precious in Gods esteem I pray God double the Spirit of his grace upon you and direct you to see much more of Gods minde however let it not be grievous if I put you in minde of those things which you know and which are plainely recorded in Gods sacred Word Moses put the People in minde of the same things often and so did Ioshua and so did Christ and his Apostles This is all that I can do by all the instances or arguments I can alledge it is but only to perswade or put you in minde of what is already recorded plainly in Gods Word which is a bright shining light all that I can say in comparison of Gods sacred Word is far short of the darkest night compared to the brightest shining light of the day therefore all that draweth me or is any motive to me in this cause is this namely The records of the sacred Scriptures shew such a Government and such Governors God did prescribe in such a manner and they were blessed by God they were a blessing to the People and the holy good and blessed spirit of God was given to such God in his wisdom did so appoint On the contrary I have observed both from the Records of the sacred Scriptures and from the Records of all Ages and from well considered experience that although the inventions of men which swerve from the most approved Rules of Gods Word may have a faire shew in some mens eyes yet he that well noteth such inventions shall in the issue finde Gall and Wormewood bitter fruits and Gods good Spirit doth not accompany such inventions which causeth me to keepe a loofe from Mans inventions especially in such a weighty matter and of so great eminent and high concernment both for Gods glory and for the Peoples blessednesse I conceive we cannot possible be too circumspect nor cleave too close and stedfastly to the most approved and blessed forme of Government and Governors prescribed owned and blessed by God and recorded in the sacred Scriptures for our learning Dearely beloved Fathers I speake freely and willingly and with more liberty of speech to you because I am perswaded that your heartâ— do really seeke Gods glory because I believe that you seeke not your selves and have better learned to tread under foote these trifles these sublunary comforts and do seek for an immortall Crown of glory provided for those that seek Gods glory you beloved know how to value Eternity better then a moment better then this short span of time Therefore I pray you be not offended But further where there are many Iudges of equall authority though Men fearing God and seeking Gods glory yet in many or in some causes and most especially in the most weighty causes do not respects sway much As namely loth to displease one another and lothfully to discover themselves Are not numerous companies having all equall authority subject to emulation to jealousies yea and sometimes to be so divided that doth it not sometimes appeare so violent that it occasioneth civil warres or contentions I pray you to consider mortall man is subject to frailty Therefore seeing the Heavenly frame of government is by one â—od and unto Gods Word the whole Host of Heaven is willingly obedient and considering that that government that God appointed in the first and purest times when God most immediately appointed government to his beloved first borne and peculiar Church and People considering that God appointed this forme of government namely by one Man a chiefe Iudge who had sole power to judge and appoint and to determine the weightiest causes is not this the safest way to avoide confusion and contention and most like to be blessed Herein indeed will lie the great weight of all the matter namely that we cleave close to Gods Rules that so a Wolfe may be prevented for getting into the sheepe fold For let us but seeke God in those wayes he hath appointed seriously and heartily and I doubt not but that we shall obtaine a blessing a Man sent of God And then let us never fear but God will accompany such a man with his blessed Spirit Did ever a People seeke GOD humbly following GODS Rules and heartily and failed I believe no Record of Divine authority will demonstrate such an example in such a cause so prosecuted Object But was not this forme of government peculiar to the state of the Israelites is it not abolished at the comming of Kings Answ I desire every one that doth unfeignedly desire to do Gods Will to be wary of this Objection and consider that it is too much for us to turn aside from Gods Institutions but to deny Gods Institutions this is a sin of a deep impression How often doth GOD bid us beware that we do neither add nor diminish this being duly considered I answer First this Order of government by Iudges in this manner was Gods owne Order God did most immediately appoint this Order Secondly God did prescribe this to his Church and People before the Law was given Moses was appoinâ—ed and had his power and place and the rest of the Judges were orderly distributed before the Law was given at Mount Sinai Thirdly this order of government was continued confirmed and blessed immediately by God himself undâ—r the Law Fourthly this O der was further confirmed by GOD when the People in the Dayes of Samuel desired a Government by Kings which appeareth in that GOD plainely affirmeth that the People cast God off when they altered this forme and further it appeareth that God was the same long after by the expressions of the Prophets Fifthly there was never any Government since to this Day to be compared with this Government nor so blessed by God
callings of Governors by God to their places in those first and purest times But this is not so safe and clear a way so far as I understand First Because we read not we cannot find it recorded that I can find and I have searched the Scripture with diligence that God did appoint the people to chuse that way Consider That those acts that the people did are not therefore Gods Commandments and Institutions for then we must follow them in many actions which would be vain to conceive Secondly The People may err and are much subject so to do Thirdly Gods Law is express we may not add nor diminish we may not turn to the right nor to the left hand to or from Gods Commandments Fourthly I believe the promises of God lead us to chuse most exactly according to the purest Institutions noted in Isai 1. I will that is God will restore thy Judges as at the first c. that holdeth out as in the purest times c. Before I make Application of what is mentioned touching the calling of these chief Judges I conceive it will be needful to answer an Objection which is this Object May not the people chuse chief Governors did not the people chuse Jepthtah Answ The exact manner of Jepthtah's choyce is not so plainly described but that for ought I know they might have some further enquiry then is set down much we read not of Jephthahs acts this is to be noted concerning him That he did such an act as no other Judg did that we reâ—d of namely he vowed such an unllimited and unlawful vow as occasioned him to sacrifice his daughter and so he did which was the direct breach of Gods Command in a high degree But secondly consider That it is a safe way in dubious matters especially in such eminent matters as do so immediately concern Gods glory and the peoples good to walk by the plainest by â—he most evident ways that God hath prescribed 3. God saith expresly with many threatnings and many times That we shall neither add nor diminish from his Institutions Now this is evident That God chusing immediately either by voyce by Prophet or by lot is Gods own appointment It is without denyal or question and God foreseeing that the people would corrupt their ways and break his Institutions by desiring to be governed by Kings yet God was so jealous of his honor and tender of the peoples good in the choyce of the chief Governors that he saith expresly Deut. 17. Thou shalt make him King whom the Lord thy God shall chuse Therefore considering that we may neither add nor diminish it is without comparison much safer to chuse by Gods plain Rules For in both the Government by Judges and in the Government by Kings it is to be noted That God did immediately chuse Governors and I cannot see that a people that will follow Gods express Command and President can avoyd but that God and not men must chuse the chief Governor It is expressed and recorded That God raised up Judges and made them Saviours to the people but because the manner how God raised them up is not so plainly expressed therefore I conceive that it is the safest way to follow the plainest and clearest ways by which are plainly declared the manner how God did chuse and wherein God did act own and most eminently bless but where God raiseth up men and maketh them eminent Instruments for his glory and by them worketh deliverance to a people in such a case I dare not oppose it doubtless I believe it is a way nearest to Gods immediate callings and nearest to the plainest Presidents recorded in the sacred Scriptures Fourthly If the people chuse they are subject to err and mistake they see but the outward appearance and they may intend one man and it may be a great number carryeth the choyce to another or they may be mistaken in the man most meet for Government which will appear if we consider that Samuel a wise and holy man was mistaken in chusing but amongst one mans children how much sooner may we be mistaken when we having less understanding then Samuel are to chuse out of a multitude and we may be over-powered by money by friends by kindred by beauty by eloquence by fraud or force or ways we know not of Fifthly Experience may teach us That people do err very often and chuse those men to be their Judges or Governors that prove direct enemies to them and to their posterity witness Abimeleck and a multitude of others recorded for our learning and for our instruction Sixthly God never erreth and he doth bless with his holy Spirit men of his own sending Seventhly God complainenth of this by his Prophets formerly cited saying They had Kings but not by me Princes but I knew it not From the premisses may be gathered three ways whereby Governors were in those first and purest times chosen and ordained two of them are very clear the third I dare not absolutely oppose but leave it to the consideration of the godly-wise-hearted I shall propound to consideration somewhat touching the particulars and then make a general Proposition to consideration touching all the three joyntly as God shall assist First concerning the immediate Call of God by voyce or Prophet or some such way as God shall see meet I know no place of Scripture that doth declare That God will no more appoint Governors as at the first as he did Moses and Joshua Secondly This Prophecy Isai 1. holdeth out much for these words as at the first and as in the beginning may for ought that I know be determined by God to be accomplished in the full latitude namely as in the time of Moses and Joshua That Prophecy Dan. 7.27 in these words And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the holy people of the most High This seemeth to me to import That God intendeth to do great things for his people in these latter times Read Micah 7.17 According to the days of thy coming out of the Land of Egypt I will shew unto him marvellous things This to my apprehension holds out That God will do marvellous things God is not limited within bounds he can do as great things now in these latter times as in the former times Thus in other places Thirdly I believe That with limitation and submission to Gods good will and pleasure we may safely present our humble prayers to God in the Name of his Son our blessed Saviour That he would be pleased to appoint our chief Governor for us The Lord was so far from rejecting the people Judg. 1.1 when they sought his gracious favour in this particular that he graciously granteth their request God doubtless will not be offended when people with the greatest care and diligence cleave closest to him the Apostle willeth us That in every thing our request should be made known unto
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
not then let us within some little considerate time before the time be ended which God directeth you to set apart for this work proceed to chuse by lot It is a safe way it is a way God himself prescribed it never erred Will it not be a way to remove all jealousies and subtleties and to compose all differences and to put an end to all strife But dear Fathers I pray you however in some convenient time chuse some one chief Governor eminently known for courage and for piety and give him all the lawful power that God in his wisdome gave unto Joshua and to other lawfull governors This will be a way for Gods glory and for the peoples for us your childrens safety and comforts for Gods Wisdome is infinitely beyond all mans inventions I pray you let us not have a Titular Governor if you shall not think meet to condescend to any of these wayes I know whom I trust and I hope I shall shew my selfe obedient in all lawfull matters to such as God and you shall see meet to appoint and I shall not cease to entreate God so to direct you with his good and blessed Spirit that you may do that which is well pleasing to him Now I conceive it will be meet to speak something touching those Governors inferior to the former which are for the glory of God for the ease of the chiefe Governor and for the Peoples ease and comfort Now again I look upon the most glorious perfect and beautifull frame of Government which the blessed Angells do and the elect children of God shall enjoy to all eternity Where I find one blessed God the governor and the rest all appointed and distributed into their severall places by the power and wisdom of that blessed God This leadeth me to conceive that God proportioneth his Works like unto himself for so God did in the Creation of the World and the creatures therein God made one man governor of all the creatures upon Earth and that man named the Creatures and disposed other matters it had bin mans happinesse provided that Gods glory had bin maintained that the government of the World might have continued in and according to that lovely order Secondly God made that one man in his owne image like to himselfe and I believe we shall finde that God composed or framed the Government of his Church and People in some proportion like to the frame of the Heavenly Government my time will not admit to speake much of that blessed Spirit of God part whereof God did communicate or bestow upon Moses and so let him represent his place so far as might stand with Gods glory that is so far as Moses might be subject to Gods Commandements for therein God reserved to himselfe his own glory in Adam the great Emperor or governor of the World Yet hee was subject to Gods Commandements from these considerations I shall proceede When God in those first and purest times did appoint the distribution of governors recorded thus Exod 18.25 And Moses chose men of courage out of all Israel and made them heads over the people Rulers over thousands Rulers over hundreds Rulers over fifties and Rulers over tens Here I finde that God gave Moses authority to appoint the governors that were to govern the People Which authority I do believe doth undoubtedly belong to all good governors being chiefe governors onely this is to be considered that the People here were neâ—re to Moses so that Moses knew many or all of them Therefore I believe that God that is the God of wisdome and of Order will allow that where People live further off and the chiefe governor may not know all the men whose dwellings are further off from him and therefore cannot so well know the qualifications and fitnesse of men for government in such cases it doth much differ but Moses must I meane the chiefe governor must doubtlesse approve of all governors under him that governe for Gods glory and for the Peoples good ease and comfort There must be no inferior governor that he approveth not for that would be directly against the frame of the Heavenly government and against the expresse letter of these first and purest institutions And Moses must I meane the chiefe governor must chuse immediately if it be possible with convenience the chiefe next to himselfe namely the governors of thousands this most nearely resembles Gods President God chose Moses and Moses chose them under him the words are expresse and I dare not alter them I dare not prefer my wisdome before Gods Wisdome nor dare I add nor diminish to or from Gods Prescriptions the rest of the Rulers of hundreds fifties and tens may be chosen proportionable to this president provided that the chiefe Governor approve of them Now that this way is most for Gods glory and the Peoples good appeareth if we consider that government distributed resembleth or supplieth that defect of man who cannot be every where present nor here all causes for otherwise they all represent but one intire and absolute governor therefore God appointed one chiefe governor namely Moses like to himself but through the occasion of mans weakenesse to supply that defect God suffereth the Government to be distributed Secondly it appeareth that this is the best way that the chiefe governor should appoint or at the least approve the rest because the Wisdome of God saw meete it should be so as is expresly recorded Thrdly consider that it doth strengthen uphold and knit together the whole frame of Government forces united are the strongest Fourthly it doth prevent divisions and may be a meanes to reforme abuses when inferiour governors are offendors thus God when he seeth his Lawes broken doth remove and punish delinquents For if you should admit of governors against the minde and approbation of the chiefe governor it must needs follow that that State so doing must be corrupted divided or sore shaken and endangered in short time for let but Gods Lawes take place and then the governor in chiefe is subject alike with the rest and the rest acting for God have power to punish him because God is their highest governor and they must obey God although it be against the chiefe of men Therefore the danger cannot be great thereby but on the contrary it is for Gods glory and for the peoples good that the chiefe governor should appoint or approve of the rest at the least Fifthly it will appeare to be Gods appointment by the Records in the sacred Scriptures not only in the first institution which is the best and the surest but also in the continued practice of chiefe governors all along from time to time This appeares Ioshua 1.17 As we obeyed Moses in all things so we will obey thee but Moses had the authority to appoint governors therefore Ioshua had so and it appeareth by Ioshua his actings afterwards Thus we may reade that Saul and David did appoint governors recorded in many places