Declarations act lies in hypocrifie in all their conversations fight for lies and hypocrifie in their contentions which is begotten and maintained by lies in hypocrifie this party where ever they come it is for the good of that place the preservation of those Countries if you will beleeve lies and hypocrifie this party if you will yeeled your selves up to them will not plunder you will not prejudice you will pay for all that they have do no man wrong If you will beleeve lies and hypocrifie this party fights for the true Protestant Religion the Law of the Land Priviledges of Parliament Liberty of the Subjects If you will beleeve lies and hypocrifie this party say the Parliament would make you slaves change your Religion destroy your King undoe your Kingdome If you will beleeve lies and hypocrifie This party where ever they come will tell you that they have prospered in all the Controversie had the better by much at Keynton Battaile that they might have easily come to London when they came to Braiford if they pleased but they had not the least thought of plundering the City if you will beleeve lies and hypocrifie This party will tell the places where they are that London is divided and cutting of one anothers throats that they have 30 or 40 thousand there on their siaes that London is almost starved for want of Victualls if they will beleeve lies in hypocrisie Never such an Army of prophane liers and hypocrites but it s no marvaile since lies and hypocrifie brought them together 3. The present state of the Kingdome sheweth the great and dreadfull blood-guiltinesse of our times the blood of Christ the blood of Saints the blood of many poore ignorant people lies heavy upon some great Persons and Families in this Kingdome when the blood or Christ of Caine of good of bad shall joyntly sorich in Gods eares how shall he not heare The cry of the Widdows and Fatherlesse calls for vengeance how shall he not heare What murther did ever swim to Heaven in blood Murther though secret and but once seldome escapes underected unrevenged what vengeance might those expect who have been the proper causes of the bloodshed of thousands God give repentance unto life that blood-guiltinesse follow them not to death 4. From the State of Kingdom we may observe the damnable contempt of the Gospel of grace in this Kingdome O ye wretches what injury hath the Gospel of Grace done you wherfore go you about to kill it many good works it hath done for you for which of these would you destroy it Is it because it would teach you to be happy for ever Is it because it would save you Is it because it hath brought along with it peace plenty preservation Is it because it hath made you the only Canaan of the World the envy of Nations a terrour to your enemies the delight of your friends for which of those good workes would you destroy it Have you not wronged it enough already by stopping the current of it hindring the progresse darkning the glory banishing imprisoning abufing mocking and persecuting the Children of it But must you now seeke the life of and will you doe this under the pretence of fighting for it What Indas with a Kisse What Crowne Christ with Thornes againe in opposing his Truth spit in his face againe in despising his Word dissemble like lewes with Haile Haile and hang him on the Crosse take heed the Gospell may save those that killed Christ but Christ will never save those that kill his Gospel hath not this tyed fast the three Crownes upon the head of your King succeeded you in all your enterprises made you famous in all the world hath the Gospel or its Children done you any hurt that you now goe about to ruine both have you not finnes enough to plead against you but you must engage Christ and his Gospel and his people against you at the great day would you make sure the deepest the hottest the dreadfullest part of Hell is this your ambition What is your aime at the heart of God his Gospel at the eye of God his people God give repentance unto life before this also pursue you to eternall death 5. From the present State of the Kingdome wee may with admiration behold Gods mercy to unworthy England O England wherefore art thou not destroyed is it from the cart of thy Governors the wiled me of thy Counsellors the faithfullnesse of thy State Officers is it because thou hast wanted enemies abrord hast no Traytors at home art at union with thy self that thou art not destroyed is it because thy Prophets have beene fatchfull thy Judges impartiall Gods worship purely administred his Sabbaths sanctified is it because thou hast beene thankefull under mercies Truthfull under meanes kindly entreated Gods Ministers loved his people if not for these wherefore art thou not destroyed have thy Pilots sought to split thee upon the Rocks and yet art thou not destroyed have those who should have bin thy Fathers thy protectors â—â—ld thee tempered with other Nations for thy ruine and yet art thou not destroyed have all the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of ruine been upon thee and ye art thou not destroyed hast thou bâ—n more sinfull then many Nations laid in the out and yet are thou not destroyed have there bin so many plots and projects so contrived to carried on and yee nor destroyed hast thou bin so neere 〈…〉 many times and yet not lost have there bin so many factors for the destruction so many Traytor to thy peaâ—â— scattered throughout the three Kingdomes and yet preserved If thou hast any ingenuity any morasity any grace admire Gods mercy and be thankefull 6. From the present State of the Kingdom we see what will suddenly become of us if God doth not give us hearts to prevent it all you that would not bee Papists stand forth now if ever and fight for your Religion all you that would not be slaves stand forth now or never and fight for your liberty Consider the consequenees 1. Of losing The day 2. Of getting The day 1. If you lose the day you lose all you are undone in your estates undone in your liberties undone in your poore posterity you and they were as good bee in Turkey nay which is worst of all undone in your Religion you may write Ichabod upon all 2. If you get the day you and yours are made for ever your freedomes will be recovered and confirmed your estates secured Religion purified you shall see such daies of light and life as will make you forget all your nights of griefe and sorrow Thirdly consider Christ hath forewarned us of the sorrows of latter daies of Wars and rumors of Wars that the Father should be against the Childe and the Childe against the Father that his cause should make a breach in the neerest relations and of many troubles but withall adviseth us not to be troubled but to rejoyce and to be exceeding glad
change qualities and habitations well once Angells are now Divels once Divells are now Saints the later daies shall produce great matters of this nature the first shall be last the last shall be first I am still where I was how shall I judge For further direction herein Consider secondly having seene the Parties what are their practises in the managing of the Controversie here let us observe two things First how each Enemy hath beene detected to other Secondly how each Enemy hath proceeded against other First the Parliament Party c. by the severall complaints cries and Petitions of the People for redresse hath found out their Adversaries utterly mallignant against Religion and Law Religion in Doctrine in Discipline In Doctrine they arfirme and appeale to the knowledge and experience of al men to give testimony to the truth hereof that their Adversaries in the chiefe and prime Leaders have for a long season endeavoured to undermine the fundamentall points of the Protestant Religion by silencing our godly learned and painfull Ministers by corrupting our Universities with Popish and Arminian Governours in most Colledges by placing superstitious idle scandalous ignorant non resident and non-preaching Ministers throughout the Kingdome by committing the power of Printing and the Key of the Presles into the hands of Popish Praelaticall Arminian Domestick Chaplaines by tolerating and countenancing preaching and printing Popish Arminian and licentious Tenets that the Pope is not Antichrist nor Rome Babilon with the like Popish Tenets that men may fall from grace and be for heaven to day and for hell to morrow with the like Arminian Tenets That Sunday is no Sabbath and men may spend it in pastimes and sports with such like licentious Tenets c. Thus they have been malignant against the Doctrine of the Church In Discipline Secondly they likewise affirme with the like appeale to the knowledge of all men that their adversaries have been alwayes malignant unto Religion as in Doctrine so in Discipline by prescribing altering and corrupting formes of prayer in the Church by turning Tables into Altars and placing greater degree of holinesse in one part of the Church than another by command in cringings bowings duckings by introducing many guegaws and ridiculous Innovations of copes pictures crucifixes crosses candle-stickes tapers c. into the worship of God Thus they say they have been malignant against Religion in Doctrine in Worship Secondly they have discovered their adversaries malignant against Law by endeavoring to bring in an Arbitrary government as is evident in in the charge of Srafford and Canterbury prime quondam agents of this present faction which hath had a being and a working in capite long agoe and we know that operaetio alicujus rei conseqâ—â—tur essereâ— by pleading for and pressing Ship moneys coat and conduct moneys Arbitrarie taxations Monopolies Patâ—nâ—s almost for every thing by reâ—arding Parliaments the onely remedy of the Kingdomes miserie before we had one by endeavouring and bringing to passe the dissolution of them when we had any and now the destruction of this present Parliament which they connot dissolve Thus the one party hath discovered their enemy Secondly the other Party affirme the same against the Parliament c. viz. that they are enemies unto Religion and unto Law unto Religion here they alleadg nothing in poyn of Doctrine but for discipline they say that they goe about to alâ—er and change the well order'd Government of the Church by Bishops with their dependants a Government honour'd for so many hundred yeares antiquity with so many godly and learned Divines which hath made this Church famous in the world with so many Martyrs and holy men c. Moreover they affirme that their Adversaries now discourage Learning favour ignorant fellowes Preachers in Tubs c. countenance Brownists Anabaptists Schismaticks Separatists Sectaries c Thus they are Malignant against Religion Secondly they say they are malignant against Law going about to bring in an Arbitrary Government by voting and making Ordinances as binding without the King and by vertue thereof to seize upon what is the Kings therefore the Subjects may now looke to themselves by compelling men that are not willing â—o assist in this quarrell by demanding the twentieth part of their Estates by voting men Malignants who have not and doe not according to their Estate contribute freely to their assistance by seizing upon their Horses Armes Plate Money casting their persons into Prisons c. Thus are they malignant against the Lawes of the Land and thus each Partie hath found out his Enemy Is this thy case Alasse poore England thy wound is deepe thy remedy dangerous why hast thou taught thy Children no better Doe all plead for truth Doth Truth plead for all Truth is one and so are her Children how is it they are now fallen out Truth makes peace Errour contention all is not well where is the fault good is the Cause and one party with it each is not right one party must fall I guesse which it is I know what I think but I may be deceived I le suspend my opinion till know their proceedings 2. For further satisfaction herein consider how each Party having discovered pursues their Enemy First the Parliament c. have pursued the Cause of Religion in point of Doctrine after this method by opening the mouthes of godly learned and silenced Ministers by granting liberty without interruption for the frequent and powerfull preaching of the Word wherever men will maintaine it by promising and preparing for the removall and just punishment of wicked scandalous Ministers by discountenancing Popish Arminians and encouraging knowne godly and Orthodox Preachers Secondly they pursue the Cause of Religion in point of worship after this Method by prohibiting all Popish superstitious Innovations by tolerating the bare omission of Ceremonies confessed to be unnecessary and but indifferent things and therefore not to be prest upon any men whose consciences cannot beare them by resolving upon the best means they can think of to find out the will of God concerning his worship being very doubtfully disputed amongst the godly and learned Ministers viz the choosing of an assembly of godly and learned Ministers of different judgements in that point to study dispute and the best way they can to find out the will of God herein whose power is onely declarative and therefore can there be no prejudice by the overtopping number of any of one judgement by voting the abolishing of Bishops being found a chiefe spring of all our troubles in the three Kingdomes and therefore this Kingdome hath as much reason with joy and gratulation to accept of this Act and the King to confirme it here in this Kingdome as in the Kingdome of Scotland and our King in Scotlans had in the same case and upon the same grounds Thus they have pursued the Cause of the Kingdome in respect of Religion Secondly in respect of Law they have taken this course by taking notice of all these
now was unlawfull then for which we may thanke a Parliament and in fighting for the Parliaments Cause wee fight not against but to defend Authority and for the King and not against him having what Authority he hath confirmed and established by the Parliament Sixtly there have beene sufficient Answers to this Objection to prove the lawfulnesse of taking up Armes in this Cause for the satisfaction of truly tender Consciences by divers Bookes made by godly and learned Ministers viz. Booke intituled Anticavalier sâ—â—e made by Mr. Iohn Goodwin and Mr. Buraough his Postscript to his last Booke upon the name of the Lord of Hosts in Answer to Doctor Ferne c. Besides many other Bookes and Sermons of this kinde where men might have satisfaction in abundance c. Seventhly as for an Answer to the Cavaliers themselves who demand with what Conscience we can fight against the King as they are taught to miscall it they are capable of no other but this that when they will satisfie you with what Conscience they will drink and be drunke whore and bee damn'd and choose rather to goe to Hell with their Comrades than to Heaven with the Round-heads with what conscience they blaspheame God curse sweare rob plunder kill murther c Then will you tell them with what conscience you take up Armes in this Cause surely if the tongues of all the blasphemers amongst them were bored with an hot iron and of the Swearers were clipt you should hardly from the greatest to the least of them understand whether they speake English in asking with what Conscience you doe so These were the Objections concerning the King There are likewise Objections concerning the Parliament Object 1 The King is not with them nor many Lords and Commons c. This hath beene suggested if it were possible to blind poore ignorant people and to possesse them with a conceit that therefore they are no Parliament though in plaine termes they will not affirme so much Answ VVell what then are they no Parliament thâ—y will not tâ—tidem verbis affirme this they have more witâ— but they would have others make that inference for they buz this abroad that the greatest part of the Parliament are with the King and many now in the Parliament doe not consent to the Votes that are past and yet they put forth their Votes Ordinances c. in the name of both Houses of Parliament and therefore they would have you make the inference viz. that they are not the Parliament therefore it is not amisse to answer this tacite and silent Objection for Answer therefore First they were a Parliament none will deny that Secondly an Act hath been past that they shall not be dissolved but by an Act made in Parliament by the major Vote and is there such an Act yet past no man can prove that Thirdly though many are not in the Parliament which are Members vet they should be there and they have been summoned to be there and it is their delinquency and carelesenesse of or malignity to their Countries good that they are not there and some of them most unworthily and unnaturally are in actuall War against the Parliament are they no Parliament because such as these are absent Fourthly the King doth alwayes call them his Houses of Parliament and therefore who can question it but the truth is they suggest many things to deceive the common people as if we were the only Nation of Fooles in the world Object 2 Some furious spirits in the Parliament compell the rest to doe what is done and those are put out in name of the Parliament c. Answ First doth not this cast an imputation upon the Nobility and the greatest part of the commons of weaknesse if not of absolute folly that they should be led by a few factious spirits in all their Votes and determinations Secondly were not the unjust and illegall dissolutions of Parliaments grounded upon exceptions against some particular Members under the name of a few factious and seditious persons as all men know Thirdly suppose that the rest were advised and mis-led by the Counsells of those few against their owne judgements who are called factious and seditious which can never be granted untill a Parliament be chosen of such as will believe it are they not the Votes of the Parliament when the major part shall passe them truly â—â—argues they want matter of accusation that make use of such silly shifts as there are Object 3 The Parliament goes about to alter Religion to bring in Brownisme Anabaptisme c. Answ First it is false for none can accuse them in respect of the Doctrine of the Church of England which is the maine of Religion and seldome are men said to alter Religion but in point of Doctrine Secondly it is reformation of government confest on all hands to bee corrupted which they endeavour and if there be no need of Reformation why were there so many complaints made hereabout Thirdly suppose they should goe about to alter Religion which we will never grant except they were such as their accusers who could hinder them may not they if they see cause alter Religion aswell as former Parliaments Fourthly as for those scandals of their intentions to bring in Brownisme and Anabaptisme c. it is notoriously knowne that under the name of Brownist and Anabaptist by the Praelaticall Party the Oracles of the Court are alwayes understood all such who dare not out of Conscience submit to those unwarranted Ceremonies by them introduced into the worship of God Men that will not sweare and lie blaspheame Gods name and prophane his day are the Sectaries Brownists and Anabaptists of these times Lastly these men either understand not what Anabaptists are or else speak very unadvisedly in charging the Parliament with Anabaptisme for one of the maine points of Anabaptisme is that no man ought to take up Armes in the cause of God at all but rather to suffer to plead and contend for the truth by no other weapon than lachrymis precibus and if the Magistrate should take away our Religion yea cut our throats in that cause we must patiently submit c. Now if we consider what Doctrine of this kind the Praelaticall Party have lately broached abroad they may better learne to charge Anabaptisme Lastly Consider which of these two parties are most likely to goe about to alter Religion either that party that consists of knowne Orthodox Godly and Religions men whose judgements and practises have alwayes been towards piety and purity or that party which consists of the Popish and Arminian faction and whereunto all the Papists of the Kingdome personally and vertually come to yeeld their assistance which is the very case of the adverse party against the Parliament that there is a going about to alter Religion by them is evident and therefore if Popery be worth fighting for let them not be ashamed of it but let them speak plainely by their words
because our Redemption draweth nigh out of this eater will came sweetnesse and light out of this darknesse the immediate fore-runner of a cleere and warme day is a misty morning Christ ascended from his Crosse to his Crown so shall his Churches though now for a little while the cry of the Churches of Christ be how long Lord how long c. yet suddenly their songs shall bee Babilon the great is fisten is fallen he will shortly take down your harpes from the Willow Trees and teach you to warble out the Songs of Sion in the Land of Canaan Fourthly consider that God will doe his great wonders of judgement upon the wicked of the World by his Church and people c. at a time when they shall bee most confident of utter ruinating his Church the whole current of the Scriptures declares that God will make his Church his battle dxe and weapons of his Warfare that by his Churches be will beat in piâ—â—es all the Nations of the Earth and that hee will make Sions hornes Iron and her hooses Brasse c. and that Ieralclem shall be a cup of trembling and a huâ—chen-s me si ne and that all that harthen themselves with it shal be broken to pieces by it and though men gather themselves 〈…〉 formed and for the time of it it shall be when they say â—â—â—our our eye looke upon ziâ—n and let her be defiled It shall be then when all the whoâ—â— Eaten shall bee fil'd with admiration both of the suddainnesse and irrecoverablenesse of their ruine Firstly Consider that the state of this present time and the face of things now doth abundantly intimate that this cannot be long and that the very quarrell in which Antichrist shall fall and the Churches of Christ shall rise is now begun in this Kingdom For First the cause is purely the glory of Jesus Christ his Word and Worship this is the very quarrell between Christ and â—nticâ—rist Mâ—â—â—â—eil and the Dragon as the word in imates Secondly the followers and figâ—â—ers in this Battell are the Angels of Michael and the Dragon who rank themselves on the one side but gouly honest men c. and on the other but Papists and Atheists c. Thirdly this quarrell is generall as the last and greatest quarrell must be for the good Party now through the Christian world waits with prayers and teares for a good successe here in England and the Pepish partie also with all their endeavours in Spane France Ireland Denmark c. seek the surtherance of successe on their sides Fourthly God hath hitnerto managed and followed the Cause after the same method as he will in that quarrell Michael will not goe but with his Angels but yet he will so mannage the businesse as that it shall appeare that he is Michael the mighty God and hath he not done so in all the Battels hitherto in this present Controversie Hath he not appeared in glory at Keynton Battell to the terrour and amazement of the Adversaries though like hardned Pharash's they will not acknowledge Gods wonders how did he appeare a Brainford though our Advertaries brag at the sucess therof as they may with everlasting shame and reproach for their Treachery Cruelty and Cowardizc when they came with a full intent to be drunk with our blood and to swell with our wealth to plunder our City though they have the face to deny it when some of the chiefest of them sent word to some of their friends in London to change their lodging and secure themselves in such and such places intimating their intentions of blood c. yet how did God drive them away by two broken unprovided Regiments though they came intentionally the whole Army consisting of many thousands c. how hath God appeared at Winchester at Chichester c. surely all this doth afford matter of incouragements in this Cause Therfore if any considerations of the right or left hand Liberty or Religion inward or outward man will take held upon us we should hold on in the worke and give out our selves in our Prayers Estates and Persons now or never better it is to part with some now like men then with all hereafter like slaves did you but know the consequences of this Warre you would count it the best Husbandry to spare from your backs and bellies to maintain it be not deceived with conceits of a Peace and an Accomodation let the hatefull memory of that man be written in blood who delights in blood yea let him have blood to drink for he is worthy let in ward and outward trouble be his portion that desires not Peace with truth and holinesse but there is all improbability at least as yet of any such Peace for the interruption of the Protestant cause in Ireland occasioned by if not aim'd at in these present distractions the insurrections of the Papists and the risings up of severall Armies throughout the Kingdome besides the greater Body with the King to wit the Earles of Newcastle Cumberland Woâ—cester Sir Ralph Hoprens c. the continuall Discoveries of Preparations beyond Seas by Factors gone over to that purpose for Armes and Ammunition c. are sufficient intimators to any man of the me nest capacitie that it is very unlikely that we shall have a good Peace from them as the case now stands The Peace of the Gospel and of the Kingdome is the Crown we fight for and therfore our Parliament Worthes are now labouring for such a Peace without any more shedding of blood which if it could be attain'd would be the joy of every honest heart only this we feare our Enemies Designe in pretending a desire of Peace is to delay if possibly untill the Spring in which time they hope to gather strength and recover that blood which though they will not confesse they lost in the Fall Happily they intend to make up their number again with an Army of Irish Rebels for doubtlesse the Irish and English Rebellion against the Peace of the two Kingdomes is all of a blood and breeding but let them come we feare nothing that blood is as corrputed as the former and God will let it out Our Cause is good God is with us and their Rock is not as ours our enemies themselves being Iudges He hath shewed himselfe glorious in his belinesse fearfull in praises working wonders He hath thrown down mountaines fill'd up vallies renewed his works of Workers Be bold and confident that beleeving in his Name without feare he 〈◊〉 leave us untill we doe enjoy the glory of God in Canaan FINIS