then no dissenters but Malignants was to bring Delinquents to condigne punishment who had abused this State by the Royall Consent and Authoritie and to oppose the tyranny of the King and flattery of the Countiers A principle large enough to worke on and to take in by consequences of affaires the utmost improvement upon this ground all the Parliamentary party acted together not being able to see or hope for any thing more then a reformation and that of the grossenesse of actings and so firme were wee in this that wee never changed our thoughts untill the delayes in warre and the influences of the Court together with wearied and neutrall friends and the thoughts of places and preferments made men to study new wayes of compliances and to leave the first principle for the present enjoyments But God who overruleth the counsells of men and had a further designe will not suffer so good a beginning to make a fatall end And according to his usuall way from small beginnings brings forth his greatest glory acting things beyond our first thoughts or designes The King was first opposed universally in his personall capacity and reserv'd in his publique in these who fought against him this went downe currant and without any demurre among us and upon this wee waged warre but God who still meant to carry on a higher designe keepes us equall and faire for a long while together now giving the advantage to us now to him still making drawne battailes while there was a lesser piece of royalty opposing a greater owning the Cause so farre as not to discountenance that side he meant to honour at the last but no effectuall worke was done but honourable retreats and dayes of thanksgiving for non-routing and security rather then for any victory wee ever had over the Kings party except especially that of Marston-Moore wherein the chiefe instruments of the new modell were agents which was soone recruited and ballanst by our own parties negligence in the South and their diligence over their affaires God kept all this while a kinde of equalitie persons were engaged of different tempers not of different principles and it had been well for all our reports then at London that wee kept our ground into such straits wee were then brought though wee seemed to have a great and potent Army that nothing could serve in the view of the whole Parliament but a wise disbanding that Army and framing a new Modell which was a cause of strange necessitie at that time and a hopefull way of our ruine by many even in Parliament who gave their votes for it out of another end who are since discovered but it hath since proved the ordinance of God This is the poore Army that the great repinings and discontents are made from This Army which hath been preserved by Gods right hand who have done that work which is wonderfull to relate against this Army all the arrowes of malice and designe are shot to wound either their persons or names It 's sad to think that our eyes should be evill because Gods is good that wee should repine at instruments when God doth the work let us as men that would faine see into Gods wayes consider what hath been done since that change what a continued continuation of providences I might say miracles if they had not some meanes to produce them have wee had since that despised modell The thoughts of these things are only repeated for our conviction There are two things very remarkable in these affaires since our first engaging against the late King each of which shall have their due consideration First That all our affairs were hardly kept in aequilibrio in a faire and right correspondency untill this new Modell but that the King got more ground by his influence then we by our Armies the Armie under the Lord of Essex being a petty Royall Armie made up of all sorts of humours and Confederates of either side rather kept the Parliaments credite then gave them any use for theâ—r money and we never had a battle fought by him but we came off and that barely and with losse as well as the King 2. That never since this poore at first despised though now envied Army was modell'd we never either received a considerable losse or check in our proceedings though the action of this Army hath been in three Nations and accompanyed with miserable discouragements from all parties and difficulties that other Nations would have thought insuperable and so acted that nothing but God hath visibly appeared It cannot it must not be forgotten it will be written in marble if not in our hearts and the place it selfe will be made immortall to all posterity the first testimony of God to the first action of this Army at Naseby when all Politicians were securing of themselves and our wisest friends fearing what the issue would be and the royall power at the greatest height and going on in the fullest carrere what a glorious turne was there given to the designes of the Enemie and reviving to the hopes of this Nation God never before so peculiarly and in our low condition owning his poor people and ever since God set up his Standard there he hath made bare his arme and never suffered one eminent nay hardly any defeat to be given to this Army making that the earnest of the Conquest of Gods Enemies in these three Nations whereas in all our former Battails we could never say we had a victory except some speciall formerly named which had their recruits very soone from this time I say as if God had the idea of this Armie in his eye and had with his owne hands framed the modell of it and culling out the Army he meant to blesse hee hath ever uninterruptedly afforded his presence though the difficultyes and multitude of Enemies have been more then could be expected or then ever Armie under-went who served a State in such transactions What eye cannot see the plots and contrivances both of the common and secret Enemies how many wayes have been used to overthrow this Parliament and Army and what humours have been predominant among themselves to ruine that body yet how strangly and beyond all mens thoughts have they been carryed through if we were delighted in viewing divine actings or had a designe to make a History to astonish all the world Let us follow the Army from Naseby up and down England at home from thence after two Warres the second more dangerous then the first being upon more cunning pretences and made out of our divisions among our selves and especially levelled against the Parliament and Armie a war that divided the Armie as well as the first confiding instruments yet with what wonder of glory did God break forth their deliverance for after God had helped them to drive the K. into the Scots Armie a presage of his sons reserve new Insurrections are in the most speciall Counties round about the Parliament which first began more
choise unparalleld workings of him against the Powers of this world who stand in his way to the advancement of his Sons Throne God writes his mind somtimes in his Works as well as in his Word and there are many overtures in Civil affairs which the Word doth not so positively direct but providence and the necessity of affairs must be the rule in and how ever the providences of God are not demonstrations a priori as they say yet they may very well be a posteriori though they do not state things yet they do distinguish them and as God will rather have heaven and eâ—rth to pass away then one iota or tittle of his Word to fail so he will have all men to give him the glory of his Works else he will destroy all the civil Heavens and earths which men sets-up and God blames his people as often for not observing his Works as for disobeying his Statuâ—es If the permissive acts of Gods justice in the world ought to make all men fear and tremble how much more these positive and errectual assistances of Instruments in executing his righteous judgements the children of Israel were blamed for nothing more than that they forgat the wonders of God at the red Sea and in the Wilderness But that we may not look on these things at large let us view what have been accompanying all our transactions in these last yeers which make them more than events to convince our spirits First all that God hath yet acted for us hath been from the smallest and contemtiblest beginnings that even wise men have been afraid of their own Acts and our enemies have laughed in secret at us seeing our ruine in our first foundation and so weak we were that we were rather objects of the piâ—y of our friends and scorn of the contrary party who would ever have imagined that such a new Model should have thriven better than so great and well accomplish'd Army which preceded or what could wise men either fore-see or Christians believe concerning any great matters to be accomplished by such Pigmies Secondly As God took the lowest condition to begin this work so he ever brought our estates unto the greatest straits ere he appeared to point out to all men that he would be alone seen in the prosecution of this cause and that he would have the glory of making this Nation a Common-wealth In England remember especially Naseby when the King was the â—ighest that ever he was since the war began where was the first experiment of Gods engaging with them at Kent Essex ' Waâ—es especially at Preston when the Nation was most divided and incensed against these proceedings and our Army scarce a third part In Ireland when all was lost but two Towns Dublin and Derry But above all in Scotland when we fed on our Vital Spirits more than Bread and lived by our courage and Gods support more than food how hath God helped I have often looked on it as an absolute and general observation in Gods actings that he never brings his enemies into straits to help them but it is his usual way where he means to make his providence glorious and his people most praising to let them be past saving in their own sense and their enemies hopes and truly our Victories were seldom given until not only our means but almost our faith failed us Thirdly these successes have been uniform and universal in every part and against every party which have upon any pretence whatever banded themselves against this State and their transactions yea so eavenly hath God gone forth and so impartially that how ever we may at first question the principles we cannot deny the acts but to be from God Yea not only height of Royalty and the grosness of Malignancy but the flourishes of the best precenses have been blasted and overthrown by these manifestations the Church as well as the World have been under a Divine censure for opposing themselves and complying with the first or new modell'd enemy against this State which may make all godly hearts serious and wary if not to tremble at their fire and heat in their reflections on these things If these things be not timely considered but our obstiâ—acy grows with Gods admonitions the next work will be Excommunication Fourthly all these works we now see have been begotten and brought forth in the midst of the plots of open and secret enemies plots laid so secret and sure that nothing but he that discovers the hidden things of darkness could discern or prevent and so hath God ordered and casted the season of our deliverances that they have been beyond the enemies designes and perfectest perswasions and our expectations of the most observant spectators that God might have all the glory Who could imagine what hath been working in hell and the corners of darkness against this work of God now in part broughâ— forth and yet all disappointed and frustrated with condignet punishment on the heads of principal Authors It will be endless to run over the variety of these discoveries and other circumstances which if well considered are as much as the mercies themselves amount unto The last great demonstration of Gods presence with this Army in Scotland may serve instar omnium to Uniting our confidences if all the rest be of no value which was Gods determination of the iustness of our Cause after solemn appeal to God on both sides especially on ours this being the publique expression of our Army in that candid Remonstrance ere they entred Scotland that they did appeal to God the righteous Judge of quick and dead if their hearts were not sincere in what they remonstrated and in their affections to that Nation and did moreover put it only on God if ever they came to engagement pardoning human infirmities to deal with them according to the justness of their Cause and the truth of their hearts I quote this especially because as it was the most solemn appeal to Divine Justice so what God did in this was the confirmation of all the rest of his publique actings by them and the Umpire only left to God to own them or destroy them as his wisdom and justice saw their hearts and cause how was Gods arm made bare for them at last though he carried himself a long while as if he meant to make good the reproches of their enemies against them It must be confest Appeals are of a very high and dangerous nature if not done with the greatest seriosity and upon the surest grounds and they do either argue abundance of carnal confidence or integrity and pureness of spirit that they ought not to be frequent and common but where no other way is or can be found out of deciding controversies of a high and controvertible nature where confidence on both sides are equally positive and immoveable by mediate arguments yea It is without question trivial and common affaires cannot be grounds of Appeal to God there being
malignancy and comply with the royall party though they had the Temple of the Lord written in their foreheads and the Covenant on the palmes of their hands and used it as their Phylacteries yet opposing this designe which God hath put into the Parliament to prosecute by their Armie how hath God owned them in the face of their chiefe despisers I am not now in kindling fire of diffention miserable man is he that le ts fall a sparke willingly to contribute to this fire but to lay before honest and inquiring men what reason wee have to stand and pause upon Gods actings and mollifie our hearts by these continuall droppings God knowes with what heart that Expedition was undertaken and with what little provision of outward advantages it was managed on our side for after our March into the North with so much leisure and delay to see what overture might bee offered from heaven to prevent us which was passionately longed for by the Generall and his Officers when wee came to the borders and marcht thorough Berwicke wee had not three dayes provision nay not one day neither could there either for love or money be obtained a present necessary supply as if wee were rather going to visit our friends and to helpe them then to fight and yet if all circumstances be duely weighed Gods actings by this Army in Scotland are farther and more glorious progresses of his wisdome and power in the same principle and a clearer demonstration of Gods owning this Cause then any which have been yet Let us consider first whom God appeared against not the Irish rebells nor the absolute malignant party but those who profest to walke under the shaddow and protection of the Covenant who were thought by all diffenters not onely to be Patrons but principalls of all reformation a people who had onely profest opposition to this Parliament and Army and that for the most part in spirituall pretences these who had first invented the names of shame and odium on the Army as Sectaries yea who had annihilated this Parliament and its Authoritie and set a King over them and this Nation in the exactest idea to which if wee adde the state of our Army among them with their height and confidence all the world must see that no power but of the Almighties could have done it for us For our Army though they have had more opportunitie of action which they delighted in yet were they never brought to such extremities to so low an ebbe by both want of victualls and all necessaries neither have any former example of Gods appearing with them in England after such a manner for though they were oftentimes fewer in number then their enemies yet never reduced to such a disproportion as at Dunbarre In England yea and Ireland they fought against Forts and Bulwarkes stout and perfect enemies but there they fought against hunger and cold sicknesse and diseases and lost their naturall spirits and strength when they should have had most use of them None can expresse the low condition they were in their men falling sicke and dying like rotten sheepe their Horses hardly able to carry their riders and yet were their beasts provided for better then themselves the most part of their worke all the while they were in Scotland untill the battell was but a continuall march from Mussleborough and Penclan hils unto Dunbar for necessary provisions But that God who hath still done all for us might exalt his owne name and give a demonstrative testimony not onely of his continuall presence with them but a sign for unbeliâ—f he brought them as low as it was ordinarily imaginable and the enemy as high and confident as flesh and bloud could make them all relations of our necessities at that instant with the circumstances of it can be but as the painting of hungry and starved men with a few open mouths and pin'd faces and on the contrary as the enemy had by all the policy and stratagems of war endeavoured to being them into this condition by waving to fight them so they then thought they had their end and the blessed opportunity was instant nothing else was expected but to have them all devoured at one morsell and that they might not faile in their assurance they made the covenant their word then as formerly their pretence as the infallible earnest of a full victory and some of their eminent Officers cal'd in scorne to some of our men that now was the day come the Covenant should be avenged of the Sectaries and that their name should be blotted out from the earth thus did they triumph through the covenant and play with that sacred bond But that all good people may see at what a height of confidence not onely the Army but Kirk were attained unto and how God appeared both against Ecclesiasticall prophecies and civill designes I shall relate a story of as great credit as wonder on the same day this glorious mercy was wrought for us at Dunbar one of the Ministers of Edenburgh I take it his name was Hagoe was preaching to a great congregation in that City rayling on our Parliament and Army raising the expectations of th people for to expect some more then ordinary vengeance and that from Heaven on them and like a false Prophet told them to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord and whereas he and his fellow Ministers had often told them of this Army and of their wickednesse and denounced the judgement of God on them they should now see and that it may be ere they went from that place that God would confirme the words which he had so often spoken by the mouth of his Ministers to them concerning this cause for he knew in what straits we were and what their hopes were that day but he knew not the counsels of the Lord Immediately as he had finished his prophecy or at least ere he had done his worke God sends in some men that came from the battel all bloody and with sad countenances which was seconded by fresh witnesses all the congregation is amazed the Minister silenc'd by his own mouth and so trembling that he could not hold the Bible in his hand and though there were some children to be baptized yet he could not doe it and thus abruptly left the Congregation with horror for his false prophecy against Gods people This relation hath its confirmation from the Scots themselves and multitude of hearers in Edenburgh and it may well be believed without witnesse if we knew the temper of most of the Scots Ministers and how much given they are to such a method of prophecy But the Gentleman might have considered that they had not the Kings malignant or Hamiltons false Army to excommunicate but an Army I may say formed I and helped by the Lord. What shall we say to these things If God be for us who can be against us It s dangerous medling with those whom God ownes Shall
all these things be forgotten and spilt as water on the ground is there nothing of glory sparkling out through these manifestations that may convince us of our opposition and disaffection to these proceedings It cannot be but some men conquer their convictions as the Army hath done malignant persons who yet hate them because of their owne interests But to goe on how gloriously hath God appeared ever since while the enemy beyond the water have been studying with what solemnity to Crowne their Kings God hath crowned our cause with many Diadems of his glory and mercy for after that Battel at Dunbar and the strangenesse of the issue contrary to all their faith and assurances and many who were accounted the honest party began to reflect on their former principles and carriages and having rallyed in the West by their friends adde more strength and remonstrate against the State for their tampering so much with the King and their juglings among themselves which they have largely exprest in print whereby they show some sence of Gods hand against them yet neverthelesse what ever thought they had of their owne party at home they continued their enmity against us and not withstanding all overtures made to supple their spirits and improve these convictions which if truly weighed are from the same principles with ours and no more difference then of a Scots and English interpretation of the same thing notwithstanding all these faire and cordiall affections we to the utmost exprest to them yet they cunningly watched their opportunities First to slip into England of which they were prevented and then Secondly to fall upon a part of our Army in their quarters where God appeared againe and both took their chiefe Leaders and â—cattered their whole party this great and further appearance of God wants not its circumstances to make it an eminent mercy and to strike deep into our spirits for First they were the Army which had most of the hearts of the godly with them as being separated from the grossnesse of the royal principles protesting with more zeale and honesty for the Kirkes interest and so would have gained more then ordinary on mens spirits and againe they had the great command in the West whereby they did great damage to our Army and had advantages of stealing into England both to withdraw part of our Army from them and stirring up new fires among us which would too soone have been effected by their Covenant pretences besides the manner of their overthrow is as remarkeable God striving in all this war to leave signal characters of his own hand in every of our mercies for when the General had marched a great way from Edenborough towards the West and sent expresse orders to the Major General to meet him without fail at such a time in such a place where the General came according to his appointment with a great body of Horse and foot they could not hear any newes of the Major Generals approach the weather being so bad and provisions so scanty both for horse and man his Excellency was forced to march back with all his forces and frustrate his own intentions the Countrey people hearing of the Generals retreat run to Kerr and his party tell them of the estate of things and how his Excellency was returned to Edenburgh and that Major Generall was left alone Kerr seeing his advantage which he had long waited for presently fals on his Quarters promising himselfe a full defeat of that party But they being in readinesse received them valiantly with some few Troops and quite routed him and pursued and took and shattered all his confidents whereby we may see how every deliverance and victory is circumstantiated with some beame of peculiar glory and providence And if the delivery of Edenborough Castle that impregnable Fortresse were added and the manner of obtaining it it would bring forth a new matter both for praise and conviction but I intend not this for an exact history Thus it hath been from first to last and every victory like one star that differs from another in glory and however there may be a difference between persons and parties in respect of profession or holinesse as there was between the Army under Kerr and that under Lieut. General Leslye the former being more purged and professing of principles with more zeale and indeed we may justly call them a Sectarian Army opposing and divided from the publique proceedings of Kirke and State yet they are all one looked on by God as to helpe and prosperity when they either with others or by themselves have lifted up their hands against this cause a consideration which is not slightly to be rejected and which may well make men wary of second actings against them God hath yet made that good in these Nations to this Common-wealth and Army so farre as they have had sincere intentions in the management of this warre which he did once to Israel No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper though carved and whetted by the fairest glosses and religious instruments Wee have hitherto in summe and as in transitu given the Reader an account of the series of Gods workings for us since he thought fit to make use of this Army against the common enemy Let us now reflect with wonder and astonishment at the dulnesse of our apprehensions and strangenesse of the opposition and inward murmurings of many otherwise observant and godly against this Common-wealth and Army for which God give us leave a little to expostulate with their spirits with whom are you angry who hath done all these things is there nothing of the image of Gods mercy power and wisdome written on any of these victories could so small a bulke of flesh and bloud destroy such potent Armies storme such brasen walls clime such high places with so little losse if the Almightie had not seconded and engaged his right hand with them These are farre from Rhetoricall but they are reall expostulations Are wee angry that God hath heard our prayers which wee so long time put up to him for subduing the common enemy in the three Nations or that he hath done his own worke without our mediums What shall be said shall all these actions of Gods power in and so much goodnesse be buryed in a discontented humour and the glory of them blasted by a designed prejudice God forbid the ages to come shall remember our insensiblenesse with teares of bloud and owne themselves to be our children as high-raised up-starts doe their poore parents who blush when they are named But if any spirit be so sleight as to say all these are but events and no proper declarations of the truth of a good principle they being oftentimes occasionall and permissive by God to a bad as a good cause I answer in generall that its true that commonly and ordinarily God keepes such an even course in the universe that all things fall alike to all and the same event unto
both the bad and the good cause thus God suffers it for a long time for the hardening some and destroying others and to draw off the hearts of his front depending on these injoyments or advantages in this world yet at the same time he would not have his people put the right of their sufferings or his enemies prosperity on â—o large and indifferent a supposition but to look into the Will of God in thus disposing of their states and to find-out the particular end of God to them in it But as there is a general and special providence of God in the World so there are events sutable these special Providences of God call on all men for serious observation for in them God goes out of his ordinary course and they do show either his special owning or dis-respect whether to a person or party and are ofteâ— distinctions of the truth of Principles and Actings and if there were nothing to be seen of God more by these then other manifestations the World might grow careless and secure from expecting any evil from the hand of God or any punishment for iniquity more then what a godly man himself may have by the same strokes And if this principle should be true what reason have the Malignants or Papists to look any more into Gods hand on them or tò think their cause the worse because Providence overthrows their Armies why should any cry out on them for hardned and obstinate persons saving they have no more but events to convince them being still confident of the justness of their cause And to what end have we kept so many days of Thanks-giving for Victories if there be nothing in the issues of affairs restifying to the Truth of things it can be nothing else but a mocking of God to give him solemn praises for that which can neither shew us the goodness of our cause or Gods peculiar respect to us more then our enemies for we have no more witness to the Truth of our Principles then they have save our confidence which is as firm and stablished in them as us Let our Brethren look and remember what expressions they used formerly in their thanks-giving sermons both before the Parliament in the City and up and down all the Kingdom for any show of a Victory when the Army was commanded by the Lord of Essex when any party was routed under Sir William Wâ—ller or any of the first Commanders though we lost it as soon as we gained it and they were far from the Victories are now despicably called Events of War with what affection and zeal did they prove the equity of our fighting against the King by these mediums it became a common expression at such days That our God was not as their God our enemies themselves being Judges and by what should our enemies be judges against themselves for us but by Gods appearing against them and ordering the issue of things beyond all their height of confidence and expectation Many other such like expressions have been with much heartiness exprest in such days blessing God for owning his people in a day of need and making a difference between them and their enemies the testimony of all which they gathered from particular succesâ—es But why trifle we in a matter of such consequence are all these actings in England Scotland and Ireland for these many yeers so negâ—igently to be taken notice of only as Events of ordinary actings What can then be called Glorious Appearances of God in this World or what Victories can we have so much câ—nscience as to write Gods Name as on these How can a model of the workings of God for his people be drawn in fairer and clearâ—r colours Had God acted with these that dissent and by these instruments which they had sanctified for the work though far lower than he hath dore wiâ—h these whom they despise the world should have another account and these providences should have been proclaimed in other names then accidents and events if not the persons canoniz'd long ere this in every Church and Chappel and if God had permitted such an overture that the Scots had beaten and overcome our Army at Dâ—nbar which would have been the saddest day that ever Englishmen saw we need not question but the name of all these former eminent and conâ—icued Victories both in England and Ireland would be blotted out from the earth except these hearâ—â— in whom the glory and mercy of them were engraven with the same finger that wrought them and nothing else but the just judgements of God declared to be executed against the Sectarian Parliament and Army by Gods faithful and Covenant-keeping people who can imagine that tryumphant conclusion that would then be made of the wickedness of our Cause Principles and Persons of the truth of mens railings and the reason of their discontents how would all men be exhorted from henceforth to beware upon penalty of the like judgements of God to withdraw from any complyance or conjunction with these who were the declared enemies of God against whom he had bent his Bow utterly to destroy telling all men to consider â—ow God had at last found his secret enemies and vindicated the cause of his Covenant especially in Scotland where it was made and preserved we may easily without uncharity guess that a thousand such inferences would soon be drawn from such an event But seeing God hath given us the use of such an argument and added that mercy to all the rest with a cleerer representation of his face towards us than ever before why shall we think them common or unclean are our Victories less precious to us than theiâ—s would be to them are we more glad to see another Nation conquer us than we to defeat them in their Designs against us or can we rejoyce that God useth forraign Instrumeâ—ts in his work rather than these of our own Nation How are we degenerated how surpris'd in our affections that we should desire more for the Scots to conquer us than for the English to preserve us from them If we have lost our consciences yet let us retain our natural affections and if this Government be evil in our eyes yet let us have so much wisdom and self-love left as to prefer it before a Scottish Tyrannie if our mercies be not in every point and circumstance fashioned according to our model let us not throw away the substantialls of our Liberties by maligning and opposing those which are the visible preservers of them Let us once again look back upon Gods providences for us and mind the series of them with the variety and manner of bringing them forth and study more the nature of them for they deserve the most refinedness of our thoughts to be set on them and the purest place in our hearts to have them registred if every fly and gnat every piece of dung and filth shews forth somthing of God to be observed by us what do these
ENGLANDS APOLOGY for Its late CHANGE OR A SOBER PERSVVASIVE Of all Disaffected or Dissenting persons to a Seasonable ENGAGEMENT for the Settlement of this COMMON-VVEALTH Drawne from The Workings of Providence The State of Affaires The danger of Division LONDON Printed by Matthew Simmons and are to be sold in Aldersgate-street 1651. Impartiall Reader I Intend not to make a Preface that may swallow up this short Treatise Epistles are commonly but the clogges and burthens of Bookes and expresse little more then the Title page Others have spoke enough to the argumentative part of our Affaires and have proved by reason what God hath acted by providence this discourse is rather directed to the consciences then the fancies of men and may serve as a serious memoriall of what God hath done for us and an aviso to men in their rash and bitter censures that this state and change which though it be new that it may not seeme strange God hath ushered it in with the greatest ceremonies of providence and put extraordinary characters of his presence and glory in it I have no more to trouble thee with but the reading of it which yet may be profitable if not perswasive which is the end of the discourse ENGLANDS APOLOGY FOR ITS LATE CHANGE THough it is not probably to be expected that any argument or reason should be forcible to perswade the hearts of men when so many wonderfull providences and glorious appearances of God have made no impression or that words should prevaile where things are undervalued Yet because every Christian ought to endeavour to make his owne heart and others sensible of publique miseries or mercies and seeing the intent of this discourse is to unite not divide and that it is high time to leave off quarrelling with persons and actions it is possible this paranetick may not be in vaine if either the miseries of a civill warre which hath almost ruin'd this Nation or the horror of dead carkasses lying alwayes in our way if the cry of bloud which hath been powred out not from one but every veine of this Nation if the desolationâ— of Townes and Cities the mournings of widdowes and Orphanes in every corner the mischiefe of factions and dâ—visions in our own families if lastly the effectuall workings of the very finger of the Almighty if all or any of these were fit to work on our affections to thirst after a settlement of this State and to perswade mâ—n to acquiesce in what God hath done for this Nation and to comply with the Parliament in securing this Common-wealth wee needed no paper-exhortation and this might well have been spared But it s to be feared and lamented that Gods workes among us as his Word hath had different and sometimes contrary effect some are hardened under the dispensations others softned and that most of this Nation are under a judiciall blindnesse and stupidity which will hardly be remedied but by the ruine of this generation who have so highly provoked God in opposing his great designes in the latter dayes for though God hath walked up and downe in garments of bloud for this almost ten yeares and hath not spared the flesh of Princes and great men and hath shewed himselfe directly against that royall party which at first began these miserable warres and shewed forth most eminently his indignation against that person and family with all that have adhered to them yet which is most sad not onely are their hearts hardned and their necks stiffe against the Lords work but in any who acted at first with vigour and vehemency against that party have turned their faces and have been of late the most dangerous opposers of this Parliament and Army and are become the hopes of the common enemy yea many lost in prejudices and discontent have wholly espoused others are courting that interest as if they would unravell all these lines of providence whereby wee have been blessedly led into a Common-wealth And like the children of Israel would rathâ—t turne back to eate Garlick and Onions under Pharoahs bondage then be led by providence under the conduct of Moses thâ—ugh to Canaan It is from these secret quarrells and murmurings and disaffections among godly men which have though they had their first rise from private animosities yet they have been formed and aggravated by close and subtile enemies from these are the foundations of our ruine and of our enemies designes and hopes who while wee are discontented among our selves for trifles are preparing engins to cut us off both at once many essays have been used to that end which had not God from heaven disappoâ—nted had tooke effect ere this and occasioned the sad repentance of the mistaken actors And doubtlesse among all the hardships this Parliament and Army hath gone through either in opposing the common enemy or working out their owne distempers they have met with nothing more sad and dangerous then the slightings and disrespects of these who were once and should be still friends who have but one and the same common enemy still how ever wee may subdivide into severall parties rather by the delusion of names then reality of differense But it s better to bewaile these distempers with our teares then expresse them my intent is not to open our wounds but to cast in some Balme to heale them wee have too long been petting and objecting while God hath been acting and doing us good without our observance or notice the great designe of this paper is but to minde us what God hath done for us to presse all honest hearts to an improvement of our mercies with sence of the worth of them And to perswade honest and inquiring men to a compliance in time with this Common-wealth least they come to unite with the common enemy who is yet acting in both Nations in one more visibly to ruine us by our divisions It s worthy consideration what wee have been doing all this while and why we are disquieted with the present State seeing these things have been brought forth among us which have not been the events of long contrived plots but of speciall administrations of Gods wisdome and respect to this Nation and meerely acted by God beyond the policy and engagements of the wisest men yea the whole series of workings in these affaires hath been demonstrative that it was not of men nor of their wills but of Gods And how ever particular observances may judge of things yet if the whole be viewed and the harmony of every part in this great worke all dissenters must needs have their consciences under conviction while their interests are unsatisfied Let us take a short account onely for to helpe our memories of our first principles and Gods actings to improve them and wee shall see that few of us have eyed what wee first undertooke or what God hath beyond our thoughts done for us Our first principle wee acted from and from which wee stated our Cause from which wee had