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A61217 A clear apology and just defence of Richard Stafford for himself with a rehearsal, and further explanation of what he hath done concerning national affairs. Stafford, Richard, 1663-1703. 1690 (1690) Wing S5110; ESTC R219673 45,943 40

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is the alone Prerogative of God for He knoweth all things and searcheth the Heart that not the least Thing can be hid or concealed from him Whereas we only perceive a little according to the exact Truth but much more in a false and imperfect manner by doubtful Report and mistaken Observation And then we cannot throughly apprehend a thing wherein many are concerned so we can give no perfect Judgment and Determination God hath taken the like method for the exercise and administration of his Kingdom and Dominion over Men as our Kings and Governours over their several Countries And he hath a Book for his Government over all the Nations and Families of the Earth high and low rich and poor together as our Statute and Common Law is for England and their civil canon or municipal Laws for other Nations His Word is given unto Mankind to be a Rule for their Actions and a Law for them to live and be governed by and from that we are allowed and commanded to Reprove all manner of Sin and Transgression as any one now doth Lev. 19. 17. take notice or speak of what is done contrary to the Government and Laws of this Nation which is esteemed no fault but rather commendable and a Duty The same is and ought much more to be in things pertaining to God and so likewise would be if there was amongst us the like Zeal for and Knowledge of him that is invisible who fills Heaven and Earth with his Presence as now there is regard for the Son of Man whom we see to be little and to fade as a Leaf But this is to be understood for the Fear and Instruction of some and for the Comfort of others That God is not confined to the Imaginations and Sayings of Men If some speak smooth things and prophesie Deceits and others too hard Speeches and mistaken Applications The Judge himself will not ratifie what they say but condemns whom man absolves as again acquit whom man condemns For he cometh for he cometh to judge the Earth He shall judge the World with Righteousness and the People with his Truth Psal 96. 13. And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of Life and the dead were judged out of those Things which were written in the Books according to their Works Rev. 20. 12. This according to the Decree of the Eternal and unchangeable God is as certain and True as if it were already past and fulfilled As Judges and Justices of Gaol delivery do try Prisoners by the statute Book of this Realm at those Assizes which are holden twice a year so at this general Grave delivery which is to be kept once for all The dead Bodies of all People of every Place and Generation since Man was Created on the Earth shall arise and we shall all be judged by Christ and his Saints according to those Words written in the Bible And this according to the plain and common sence and understanding of the same Words Behold in this they are not just I will answer all mine Accusers and Enemies that God is greater than Man and so much do his Laws exceed theirs Wherefore do I mention that God is greater than Man In comparison of him the Nations are as a drop of a Bucker and are counted as the small dust of the Balance It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the Earth and the Inhabitants thereof are as Grashoppers We shall find and know that He bringeth the Princes to nothing He maketh the Judges of the Earth as Vanity Notwithstanding the People have more regard to them because they are seen and their utmost Power is known then they have to Almighty God who is not seen and whose Punishment is threatned But though God is not seen yet his Works are And how Great must He be who built this vast House of the World and created all things therein What is the Wrath of a Worm of five or six foot long to the * Isa 59. 15. Displeasure of Him who hath Heaven for his Throne and the Earth for his Footstool What is a single Individual or an Assembly of Men who dwell in Houses of Clay that they should when met in Council as yet exalt themselves to do according to their own will notwithstanding Gods Commandment to the contrary If not to speak Exod 9. 17. out because they profess that they know God but in Works deny him yet to think and act Marvellous things against the God of Gods Dan. 11. 36. And in this they are worse then him here spoken of or Pharoah for he knew not who was the Lord that he should obey him What is abomination of Heart they imagine to be bravery of mind that they can and are for doing things otherwise and as it were hinder that his will be not done here on Earth Which argues the exceeding sinfulness of sin with the infinite guilt and demerit thereof and it shall be punished with proportionable Condemnation Misery They are corrupt and speak wickedly concerning oppression They speak loftily They set their Mouth against the Heavens their Tongue walketh through the Earth therefore his People return hither and Waters of a full Cup are wring out to them Psal 73. 8 9 10. By the height and breadth and depth of such kind of Transgression we may judge of the length of future Torments Whose Thoughts were thus exalted to Heaven their Souls shall be thrust down to Hell Shall not God search this Luk. 10. 15. out for He knoweth the secrets of the Heart the innermost Thoughts and most hidden Imaginations Even now he looks down from the Habitation of his Holiness and is not far from every one of us for at this very moment He both sees and hears all that we are talking of or doing in our Houses and several places of abode And so He hath done all along of this Generation of Men now living as He did of those before we were born We read of Him in his Word for the Lord your God is God of Gods and Lord of Lords a great God a Mighty and a Terrible which regardeth not Persons nor taketh Reward Deut. 10. 17. We have a sence and aw and dread of Him upon our minds we may know and perceive his Laws written in our Hearts and inward Parts by laying open our Conscience as in his sight and by communing with our own spirit when we are for a little while silent in our Chamber and somewhat freed and separated from the Things of this World All these wayes God doth shew and manifest himself unto Mankind so that they are without excuse This may be thought proper to instruct and convert Heathens or the neighbouring Nations which do grovel in the darkness of Popish ignorance but doth not seem so applicable to our own Countrey where the Scriptures are read and preached in a known
commands to set them in right order again But that remains in a dead letter and it is not faithfully handled nor universally applyed for the Priests have been partial in the Law They have kept back some part of it and have not made known the whole counsel of God unto the People And also according to the marginal reading of Mal. 2. 9. They have accepted Faces by applying it superficially and favourably to the higher sort of People As they have done and do not cease to justifie the Wicked for Reward for some Place or preferment either already bestowed or in hope and expectation to be given And so it comes to pass that Gods faithful Messengers who have appeared in their several Generations as singular are persecuted and prosecuted Now God doth lie still and hide himself to see what the Children of Men will do Though it is the secret continued Prayer of his Elect and Servants Arise O God Judge the Earth for thou shalt inherit all Nations Psal 82. 8. Yet He will not before the appointed time But his Law is given in the mean while and he doth prove the doings of the Children of Men. There hath been a long and continued controversie in the World throughout former Generations and in all Nations and the same continues at this day not only amongst Heathens Mahometans Papists but to our greater shame even in the more pure reformed Churches and at this very instant is in the Land of our own Nativity the Substance whereof is to this following effect Whether the Laws of God or man shall have the superiority and take place Whether his Light is to be extinguished and his Truth stifled which he would send out Psal 43. 3. if it should reprove the Darkness and Wickedness that is in Palaces and great Houses or manifest the Error of their corrupt ways But mention is made vers 1. of an ungodly Nation and a deceitful and unjust Man They would ungod him if they could reach up and pull down the High and Lofty One or lead away captive as hath been done with dumb Idols the living and Almighty God But because that is not in their Power They will do as far as is suffered They act in opposition to the Father of Lights James 1. 17. and do what lieth in them to prevent the rising of the Sun of Righteousness and afterwards stop out the shining Thereof When he that dwelleth between the Cherubims would shine forth Psal 80. 1. They will hinder it what they can But God doth suffer it so far for the next thing is he will stir up his strength vers 2. and then poor Creatures who now provoke the Lord to Jealousie will find that they are not stronger then he in this their short time they will not bear that word which convinces of Sin and Unrighteousness But how then will they endure his Indignation and Punishment which that was to warn them of and put them in a way how they might escape Even thy Truth O my God Psal 71. 22. is called a false and feigned libel if it doth discover their own Falshood and Hypocrisie And it must skulk about in Corners or be conveyed in a secret place though there is stampt upon it the Image and superscription of the Great and Invisible King but they are fearful Rev. 21. 8. to own and confess it before the World for they fear the Displeasure of Men more then the Displeasure of God They would have Gods service be brought down to Mans purposes and be so modelled as to be made consistent with the foolish policy and misapprehended welfare of a Nation These things are strange to mention but themselves know that their inward Thought Pride and Rebellion of Heart is that though they will acknowledge with their Tongue and Lips that the Most high ruleth over the Kingdoms of Men and his Dominion is above and over all yet they would have it so far come under theirs That if Gods Laws are contrary and not agreeable to humane constitutions They must not be spoken of Amos 7. 13. nor laid before our Princes and our Priests our Lords and Counsellers for fear of Punishment and being prosecuted as one against the Government when themselves in this very thing are against the Government of their God Alas How do a small Number of Grashoppers here on the Earth think of and would do towards the great Lord of the World How do men that shall die and must appear before him in judgment demean themselves towards him now they are but a little while in the way Arise O Lord let not man prevail let the Heathen be judged in thy sight Put them in fear O Lord that the Nations may know themselves to be but men Psal 9. 19 20. Again thus much is signified by what is written He ruleth by his Power for ever his Eyes behold the Nations let not the Rebellious exalt themselves Psal 66. 7. And though the Nations be never so angry yet now is the time come that God shall take to himself Psal ●●●● Great Power and Reign A little opening and appearance thereof doth now begin in this place and Nation which will be likewise followed in the Habitable parts of the Earth For the matter of contention is not so much between the two Kings who are both Pot-sherds of the Earth and shall each of them severall be brought down to the bars of the Pit although now they have their Armies and cause their Terrour in the Land of the Living Cease ye from man whose Breath is in his Nostrils for wherein is he to be accounted of We ought utterly to draw off from the Persons of each and not to have them in admiration and not name them more then needs must for by so doing men do forget and lose the knowledge and fear of the Lord and are not so sensible of the Glory of his Majesty and infinite Greatness But the thing which the Lord doth require of our Land is that she do not depart from and for sake his Eternal and Immutable Rules of Judgment and Righteousness and that his People be very couragious to keep and to do all that is written in the Law of Moses that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left Josh 23. 6. So whatever is further commanded in the Book of Psalms the Writings of the Prophets and the Gospel of Christ declared by the Evangelists and Apostles All things are to be done according to his revealed Will now a little before he ariseth to shake terribly the Earth for the Word of the Lord is right and all his Works are done in truth he loveth Righteousness and Judgment Psal 33. 4. 5. Righteousness shall go before him and shall set us in the way of his Steps Psal 85. 13. Gods Work ought to b● done in his own prescribed method according to what is written which is so plain and easie to be understood that wayfaring men though Fools