instance that neither the Moon-light Star-light or Candle-light doth it or can doe it But thou wilt say by the shining light of the Sunne the day is known from the night Canst thou finde out the depth and subtlety of this argument looke over then upon the other it 's the very same in Mood and Figure because that Light or Appearance of God which is like Moon-light proves not the day or Cause therefore the greater light will not doe it not the sunne not the highest and most glorious shinings of God 2. That the Benjamites had an ill Cause and yet in Battle overthrew the Israelites two severall times we grant which might be to humble the one and harden the other but here the main and essentiall part to make the comparison hold between this Example and the thing whereto they apply it is altogether wanting We do not say that Victories and Successes barely considered prove a good Cause but this we say such may be the Actings and Appearances of God for a People so wonderfull may be their Victories and Deliverances as thereby it doth infallibly appeare the LORD his owning and justifying their Cause For the Victories which the Benjamites had there is nothing appeares in them of any speciall divine presence no remarkeable foot-steps of Gods walking in their Camp not one thing in the History witnessing a singular and transcendent love of God towards them Whereas our Victories all along in England Ireland and Scotland have had most apparent evidences of Gods especiall presence with us we have seen his Goings in our Army before us and our salvation hath been wrought for us by an extraordinary powerfull hand and therefore unlesse they shew us that the LORD was with the Benjamites in the same manner hee was with us * where doe they read that Israel Benjamin before they sought did both parties solemnly appeal to God and after they had referred the Cause betweē them to Gods tribunall seat Israel lost the Battle and gave them the like victory in the circumstances and severall particulars which we had over the Scots In mentioning this example as they shew their great perversnesse against the works of God and implacable malice to us so it only serves and we cannot imagine for what other use and end they bring it then to darken the glory of God and deceive simple people Object 3. Many have been great Conquerours as the Caldeans Assyrians Romanes howbeit wicked men and their Cause sinfull and unjust Ergo Victories and Successes in War prove nothing Answ That this Objection may be capable of answer there are 3. things to be cleared 1. Whether men howsoever wicked may not have just cause to fight and therein the Lord to take their part 2. How it doth appear that when their Cause was unjust that the Lord then gave them good successe 3. But if so then where is it recorded that wicked men in sinfull and unrighteous Causes have had the assistance and help of GOD in as full and large manner and way as we have had I have now done for this time and as I am upon closing I remember how the Clown served Aristides who giving his voyce to the banishing of Aristides and being asked of him unknown * Plutarch in Apo. whether he knew him against whom he had given his voyce answered that he knew him not but it was trouble to him to heare him termed a just man It may well be that some who know mee not will give their voyce against me for what I have now done but they must be such then as are troubled to hear of justice of an honourable and righteous Cause This just Cause I have indeed here pleaded and in the Second Part by the good hand of God assisting me will plead it more to the satisfaction of all such as love the present Government and desire the prosperity and peace of this Common-wealth FINIS
England No more then Balaam helped Balak by his Enchantments and Sorceries he is so far from having any thoughts to reward them as that he is upon the point to cast them off and to cloth the naked Germaine againe with Red and Black as making use no more of the Blew for he sees the Covenant so ominous and unhappy as no designe or plot ever prospers that goes forth under the name of it As if God had spoken of it Cursed shalt thou be in the City and cursed shalt thou be in the Field cursed shalt thou be when thou commest in and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out And thus much of Balak and Balaam or the pararell between them and the Enemies of this Common-wealth ‖ Isa 44.11 in acting their Designes or cause alike Let them all be gathered together let them stand up yet they shall feare and be ashamed together I should now speake something in Answer to such objections as might be made against the thing here stood for something I shall write although a larger discourse the Reader shall have in the Second part Object 1. Solomon sayth a Eccl. 9.1 2 Judicium carnis de administratione dei erga personas ipsas Junius in Loc. Est autem hic descripâ—io elegantissima totius judicj carnalis ibid. Sententia carnis de administratione dej in mundo Gartw in Loc. No man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before him All things come alike to all there is one event to the wicked and to the righteous Hence it follows that nothing can be concluded from Successes Victories or outward deliverances as if thereby it might be proved that God should owne and justifie one mans cause more then another Answ 1. It is a great Question whither these are the words of Solomon some say not but the Atheist or carnall reason is here brought in denying Gods providence and framing an Objection thus If things here below were ordered and administred by a just and wise God some distinction then would be seene between men and men in order to their condition and events of things but wicked men and such whose cause is sinfull and unjust prosper and have as great successe as the righteous and those whose cause is right and good Ergo. An Argument like Catos after Pompey was beaten by Caesar and the same in effect which the Scots and English Presbyters now maintaine to darken the glory of God shining forth in his works But 2. Admit another interpretation neverthelesse by these words All things come alike to all c. It cannot be meant as if nothing could be gathered from Gods dispensations in the World or that Events and successes prove nothing for such a sence is a plaine contradiction unto other Scriptures b Psal 34.15.16 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous his face is against them that doe evill to cut off the remembrance of them from the Earth When he saved Noah and his Family from drowning and left the rest to perish in the great waters delivered Lot out of Sodome and gave up the Sodomites to be burnt with fire and brimstone brought Israel safe through the red Sea and left the Aegyptians there to be overwhelmed and destroyed Here all things are not alike neither is there one event to the wicked and to the righteous Besides by the deliverance and good successe which the Lord gave Noah Lot and the Israelites it did appeare and had there been nothing else that same thing was enough to prove their way and cause to be better then the others It is therefore most true as one saith * Jermin upon Eccles 9.3 p. 312. As God beholdeth men who are not alike so he beholdeth them in a manner not alike And much to the same purpose are Salvians words ‖ Intelligis generalem quidem esse in omnes domini visâ—onem sed meritorum fieri disparilitate diâ—â— versum boni quippe aspiâ—iun tur ut conserventur mali ut disperdantur Salvian de Gub dej l. 2. Thou understandest the sight of God to be generall upon all but to be made different by diversity of their deserts for the good are beheld that they may be preserved the wicked that they may be destroyed so he 3. Should the place be understood that nothing can be proved by Events and Successes there would then little use many times be made of Gods pow er justice goodnesse or any cause to ascribe glory and praise unto him for his great and marvelous works for suppose he have saved a people by a speciall and mighty hand and destroyed their enemies in an unwonted and extraordinary sort and all this after both have solemnly and often appealed unto Heaven that the Lord would judge the cause betwixt them yet must not any man beholding these things say that God in all this either gave any signe or token to the Conquerors of approving their Action or that they subdued had not a just and righteous cause Now what place is there here if such Events and successes speake nothing to sing the Song of Moses Great and marvellous are thy works O Lord God Almighty just and true are thy ways thou King of Saints As for the grounds of the War between them it is possible many may be ignorant thereof therefore if they may neither say nor think of the cause by the events be they whatsoever here then they must either hold their peace or offer the Sacrifice of fools It is a rule in Aristotle Ex vero semper sequitur verum but this Doctrine that Events prove nothing cannot be Sound because such an absurdity and untruth follows thereupon 4. Had these men been living who teach that nothing can be concluded from successe or event when the ‖ †There is aâ— much now in a solemn appealing unto God as there was in casting a Lot so that if men being at difference doe appeale and that before the World unto God that he should judge the cause between them No question but the Lord now upon this appealing to him will doe as formerly he did in the Lot give a most righteous sentence by his ordering hand of providence And therefore it seems to me that had a Scot and others of his mind bin found out by a Lot as Achan was they would not have allow'd it or stood to it but have said One event to all Lot fell to Achan Jonathan Jonas and others they could easily have evaded it had it been their case as for example they would have pleaded all things come alike to all there is one event to the wicked and to the righteous And therefore whatsoever the successe or event be of the lot nothing thence can be inferred as to prove a man guilty or that any distinction or difference should be put betweene person and person Cause and Cause But what cannot men doe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by wit and art as to make
the works of God and his Administrations sought out of all that have pleasure therein to be of no effect and to teach men so to doe when and as they please I have read of Antonius when he angled some dived under water put fishes upon his hook the which he cast up at his pleasure one after another hee that would learn to wrest the Scripture needs not seeke any further Counsel then here for if he cast in his hooke where these Divers are hee may be sure they will fit him with fish to the purpose a subtle device and trick whereby to mock God and destroy his owne soule 5. Sometime the event or successe of a thing is so far from being Null or standing as as a Cipher as the equity and truth of the Cause is thereby confirmed and no other way Put a staffe in the water and it will seeme crooked not that it is so but we cannot see it right for the water Even so a Cause howsoever right and just yet through the cunning of men by the water of their calumniation and slander it may seem otherwise and by many otherwise believed As on the contrary a filthy dunghill may be covered with snow a viper hid under a rose an a 2 Sam. 15.8.11 an unrighteous Cause so coloured and cloak'd with such titles of Truth piety Religion Gods worship c. as some deceiv'd thereby may think the same to be just and good When Jannes and Jambres two Aegyptian Sorcerers withstood Moses and five hundred false Prophets of Baal contended with Elias Here was Cause against Cause Plea against Plea as it is now between us and the Scots But how was the truth here discovered and made to appeare and those satisfied or convinced which were concern'd therein Truly by the Event or Sucâ—â—sse that is he Lord making them Conquerours and giving them the victory who had the just and rightfull Cause That â—aul by his calumniations lyes flatteries and other deceitfull practises had so clouded David's Cause as many thought that his carriage dealing toward his Father in law was not good and that Saul had some reason and ground for what he did so much is very cleare by many passages and expressions of David in the Psalms But the Successe and Event cleared David and justified his Cause as how to wit by the many wonderfull and seasonable deliverances which David had by the Lords mighty appearing and working salvation for him with an high hand On the contrary is not destruction to the wicked Job 31.3 and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity that Divine Justice that followed Saul all along in life and death was such an Event as did prove with a witnesse what for a man he was and how unâ—â— righteously he had dealt with David It is true and I know it to be so that the Parliament of Englands Cause in reference to the publique Enemies of this Common-wealth by what name or title soever hath beene proved sufficiently to be a Just Cause even thâ— Cause of GOD both by the law of God of Nature and Nations As for instance * See a booke Intituled the golden Rule or Justice advanced The putting to death the late KING the laying aside the House of LORDS the Constitution of England a COMMON-WEALTH the present Parliament a true REPRESENTATIVE and Supreame Authority of the Nation The marching of our Army into Scotland upon grounds of Justice and Necessity All these things have been proved over and over neverthelesse some envying the good we have because it came not to us by them Others perceiving that their private profits and interests must goe downe and lye in the dust if publique Good be set up and prosper hereupon they consult together and are Confederates and what can be done by fraud or falshood or any way they seeke to attempt Yea such are the depths of Satan and mystery of iniquity now working to deceive every where and every one as that the just and righteous Cause of the Parliament is questioned by some denyed by others and all this through the deceit and craft of such men who either are discontented because others under God did the good work and not they or who finde themselves now shut out from the * Act 10.25 〈…〉 know thâ—â— by this 〈◊〉 we have 〈◊〉 wealth A 〈◊〉 reasoÌ„â—â—â—â—eâ—ore 〈◊〉 should 〈…〉 â—ccupation gâ—infull trade formerly they had and unwarranble ways to deceive and 〈◊〉 the people in soule purse and person But the Lord whose wayes and judgements are all â—â—â—â—teous he I say who justifies the righteous and condemns 〈◊〉 wicked seeing them to cast such a cloud over his Cause and to make it contemptible before men by aspeâ—â—ng 〈◊〉 with Treason Vsurpation Oppression Fraud c. comes forth in behalfe of it and as hee did for Moses against the Magicians for Elias against Baals Prophets and for David against Saul so doth hee for us or rather for his great name gives such such glorious Successes and most remarkable Events to this Cause every where that unlesse men did wilfully shut their eyes or made themselves blind through malice pride covetousnesse c. they might see * Quid faciun video nec me ignorantia veri deâ—ipiet sed amor as clearly as they doe the sunne shining at noone day to be a RIGHTEOUS AND GOOD CAUSE the which the Lord hath doth and will still defend Object 2. The Israelites in two Battles were overcome by the Benjamites but they had a good Cause the which the others had not Therefore Successes or Events in Warre prove nothing in respect of the Cause whether it be just or unjust Answ 1. Some mens tongues are like a mill that is loose hung keepes a mighty crackling but grinds no corne This example of the Benjamites I heare is much talked of and as David said of Goliah's sword there is none like that So some say there is none to this it cannot be answered But how farre this is from that rule simpliciter ad simpliciter inconsistent to the matter they bring it for and to what they apply it will appeare by putting it into forme for thus it must be if it be any thing If GOD sometimes for reasons known to himselfe suffer wicked men to prosper in a bad Cause as to have a Victory once or twice being fewer in number then their Enemies It will necessarily follow that what soever assistance he gives a people in Battle what Victory and Deliverance soever they have in what manner or way soever he appeares for them and against their Enemies Nothing by the Successe or Event can be gathered concerning the justice of the Cause on whose side it is A simple Reader without helpe of Schoole-learning may easily see the vanity and absurdity of such reasoning Suppose I would argue thus there is not any light that shewes a distinction or difference betweene day and night and to prove this assertion I
EMANUEL OR GOD WITH US Wherein is set forth Englands late great Victory over the Scots Armie in a Battle at Dunbar Septemb. 3. 1650. And by many Particulars of Gods Acting and Appearing then for us it is certaine and so much is cleâ—rly proved that our Armies marching into Scotland and the Wars undertaken and prosecuted against that Nation to be upon Grounds of Justice and Necessity as the PARLIAMENT of ENGLAND hath declared Also here is shewed how grosly the Covenant is abus'd and what an Idoll it is now made With the fraud and falshood of the Scots and their Kings hypocrisie and dissimulation Moreover such Objections are answered as seeme to have any thing in them against the point here Asserted By JOHN CANNE The First Part published by Authority Psal 41.11 By this I know that thou favourest me because mine Enemie doth not triumph over me Isa 26.11 Lord when thy hand is lifted up they will not see London printed by Matthew Simmons next doore to the Goden Lyon in Aldersgate street 1650. To the Right Honourable the Supreame Authority of this Nation the Parliament of ENGLAND SIRS MANY men have written well and effectually in the defenc of your Cause and have sufficiently proved it to be a righteous and glorious Cause Nevertheles as the Philistims stop'd the Wels which Abraham had dig'd and filled them with earth so it hath been the constant endeavour of some men by fraud and falshood to darken the cleare and evident truth which hath been opened to the end people might not have the benefit of such wholsome and sweet water But the Lord of Hosts whose Cause yours is hath like Isaac digged again the wels of water what was stop'd by others he hath opened He I say now is a Writer for you so that were there no Bookes extent pleading your Cause Gods owne hand were enough the late booke written as it were with pen and inke of divine providence were sufficient As the unbeleeving Jewes could not keep Christ in the grave though they rol'd a great stone before the doore of the Sepulcre but hee gloriously ascended so this righteous Cause which God hath put into your hands shall rise and shine as the Sun far and neere amongst the Nations of the earth In spight of enemies let them use all the the wiles wit and wayes they can to keep it under Aristotle saith omne inconsuetum est obscurum I confesse the way which I here take to justifie your Cause against all Adversaries of what name or title soever may at first seeme obscure being hitherto by few walked in Scire per causam is the common rode but when it shall be considered what light I have â—â—nd whose hand as a Guide I here follow I question not but it will be acknowledged that a more certain way cannot be chosen to give a clear and full satisfaction to all men desirous to know on whose side the Truth and Right is between you and your Enemies I doe observe that there are two sorts of men unfruitfull Beholders of Gods marvellous and great works 1. The bruitish man as David calls him he never considers of them nor sees any thing of providence therein As Nicomacus in Plutarch fitly answered an Ideâ—t that could see no beauty in the famous Helena painted by Zeuxis take my eyes quoth he and you shall think her to be a Goddesse Even so had these men other mens eyes any spirituall discerning they would see in Gods dispensations so much of his power goodnesse justice c. as they would say Jehovah there is none like unto thee who shall not feare thee O Lord and glorifie thy name Another sort there are who will speak of divine providence and confesse that all things are govâ—rned by Gods counsell and nothing comes to passe but according to his will and pleasure notwithstanding they will not see his hand when it is lifted up nor make any profitable and good use thereof As the Papist though in words they acknowledge the Scriptures yet by their corrupt interpretation in a manner deny them So these men though they confesse a providence yet by their unsound application thereof doe in effect deny it destroying with one hand what they build with the other And with this later sort I specially here deale I shall not trouble your Honours with a large Epistle Only thus as God by his Acting for you hath made it evident and you many times in your Declarations humbly confesse it that he is on your side takes your part justifies and ownes your Cause so let it appeare â—o the world by your Actings that you are not for your Selves and your own Interests but for God as owning his Cause which is Truth Righteousness Now the Lord who alone hath power to make you able to Act Appeare for him and his Cause as he hath Acted and Appeared for you and your Cause give you both hearts and hands so to doe And thus shall hee ever pray who is Yours most humble and faithful Servant JOHN CANNE EMANVEL OR GOD WITH US Wherein is set forth Englands late great Victory over the SCOTS Armie in a Battle at Dunbarre the third of September 1650. AS The Sun would shine in it's own brightnesse and glory though all the world were blind or did wilfully shut their eyes against it So will the Lord gloriously appeare in his mighty and wondrous works howsoever man shuts his eyes and a Isa 26.10 11. will not behold the majestie of the Lord nor see wâ—â—n his hand is lifted up I make no question had the Scots obâ—ained the Victory though not cloathed with halfe so many remarkable circumstances of Gods presence they would have said and their friends here likewise in the words of the Prophet b Psal 9.4 Thou hast maintained my right and my cause Thou satest in the throne judging right And as Protogenes said of the Painters line c Non enim cadere in alium tam absolutum opus Plin. na hist l. 35. cap. 9. none but Apelles could draw it So would they peremptorily have concluded had our Army been overthrown a speciall hand of God remonstrating a justifying of them their Cause their King and Kirk I hope without offence what they would have done had our Cause been theirs we may take the like liberty and with reverence to the place say d Psal 41.11 By this I know that thou favourest me because mine enemy doth not triumph over me Yea and make it appeare in the eyes of all impartiall and dis-ingaged men that the Lord was so with us and for us in this great Victory as doth strongly prove make good our Armies marching into Scotland and the Wars undertaken and prosecuted against that Nation to be as the e Decl. of the Parl. of England upon the marching of the Army into Scotland Parliament hath declared upon Grounds of Justice and Necessity 1. It is a sign that the Lord maintains the
Cause of a people when he seasonably delivers them from an insoleÌ„t proud Enemy from f Psal 75.4 vain-glorious fools Holelim Mad-boasting fools vainly promising themselves Victory breaâ—hing out threatnings Thus the Aegyptians triumph g Exod. 15.9 The enemy said I will pursue I will over come I will divide the spoile my lust shall be satisfied upon them I will draw my sword mine hand shall destrâ—y them Behold how they flattered them selves in their own eyes h Hab. 3.14 rejoycing to devour the poore in secret But whilst they were imagining a victory and dividing the prey i Judg. 5.30 the Lord stirred up himselfe and awaked to Israels judgment even unto his Cause and therein not only got himself a great name but it is recorded as one k Neh. 9.10 of his signes and wonders shewed upon Pharaoh a special deliverance and that which carries the stamp and character of a divine providence and mercy towards his Church and People No lesse insulted Benhadad he will not be satisfied with l 1 King 20.5 Ahabs silver and his gold and his wives and his children m Vers 6. But he will send his servants and they shall search his house the houses of his servants and it shall be that whatsoever is pleasant in his eyes they shall take it away Besides he takes his gods to witnesse n Vers 10. If the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow him Here I may say with the Prophet o Psal 52.1 Why boastest thou thy selfe in mischiefe O thou mighty man How God destroyed the Army of that blood-boasting Tyrant and cloath'd him with shame the History shews and with all in that the Lord did so it did evidâ—â—â—ly appeare that Israel had the better Cause Other instances of the like kind might be produced but we come now to the application Touching the insolency of the Scots how proud and puft up they were with an imaginary victory it is almost incredible They reproached us with that condition the Parliaments Army was in when it made its hard conditions with the King in Cornwall this jestingly they calâ—d Essex his Pound demanded of our men to yeeld up our Train Carriages and Fire-arms They had disposed of us and of their businesse in sufficient wrath and revenge towards our persons and had swallowedâ—p the poore Interest of England believing that our Army lay at their mercy and that they would suddenly with their new King at the head of their Army march up to London without any opposition or interruption David Lesley then Generall in the field boasted he would have our whole Armie dead or alive by seveâ— a clock the next morning Neither were the Ministers lesse insolent and presumptuous then the rest for as Pharaoh said of the children of Israel they are intangled in the land the wildernesse hath shut them in so these conceiving us to be in a trap * Tantaene aenimis caelestibus irae Virg. Eneid l. 1. perswaded their Commanders to draw up their Army between us and home that none might escape or drive us into the Sea and so drown us It seems the Scots would have been like the Fig-tree to which Christ went for fruit and found none no Quarter no Mercy no Deliverance to be expected from them It was the honour of the Nâ—monâ—ines that they would make peace with Mancius a Roman Captain when they might have had the killing of the whole Army to a man But the Scots although not Conquerours but in conceit will swallow up our whole Army not spare a man neither is there any one to deliver them out of their hands But p Exo. 18.11 in the thing wherin they dealt proudly the Lord was above them So that what David prayed for when his ememies insulted was a mercy here bestowed upon our Army q Psal 35.26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoyce at my hurt let them be cloathed with shame and dishonour that magnifie themselves against me And in this the Lord hath not left himself without witnesse in reference to the Justice of our Cause by giving us so wonderful a victory and deliverance I shall conclude with this admonition to the Scots and their Adherents r Psal 75. l 5. I said to the vain-glorious fools be not vain-gloriously foolish and to the wicked lift not up the horn Lift not up your horn on high speak not with a stiffe neck 2. It argues Gods owning a people and their Cause when he Å¿ Psal 136.23 remembers them in a low estate appâ—ars for them when humane helps and hopes in a manner faile and gives them victory over an Enemy strong t Judg. 3.29 lasty and men of valour In the Book of Judges Samuel Kings Chronicles the people of God sometimes have been so low as they have not u 2 Chron. 20.12 known what to doe x Deut. 32.36 their power gone their Generall y 2 Sam. 21.15 fainted a 1 Sam. 30.10 half of their Army so feeble sore broken as not able to march In a word they have been reduced to such streights as if they had the sentence of death in themselves Now Gods appearing for them at such a time and giving them the victory in such a case not only shewed that it was the work of his own hands but as if upon the Actings and Appearances of the Lord it had been written in broad and viâ—ble Characters THIS IS GODS CAUSE How weake and low the condition of our Army was thus it is related We being thus humbled by the hand of God and the menaces of mercilesse men Our Forces lessened our bodies enfeebled with fluxes our strength wasted with watchings want of drinke wet and cold being our continuall companions much impaired our strength and courage and made above 2000. men altogether uselesse which were sent away at severall times to Berwick His Excellency and his Officers finding their unfitnesse for further delay and being in and under such streights and distresses resolved by day breake to breake through this Israelitish condition Mans extreamity is Gods opportunity when we are b Psal 107.28 29. at our wits end then maketh he the storm a calm and bringeth us to our desired haven And it is an usual thing with God thus to manifest his power in our weaknesse and by unworthy and unlikely instruments contemptible in the eyes of men to bring great things to passe to confound the things which are great and mighty that it may appear c Eccl. 9.11 The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong and therefore d Jer. 9.23 the mighty man should not glory in his might but his glorying should be in the holy one of Israel Again the Lord very often puts off the time of our deliverance till we are at a lost and in the lowest and weakest condition that
so the power and goodnesse of God may the more shine forth and the mercy it self when it comes tast the sweeter As the greater a mans hunger is the sweeter is the meat and the more relish he hath in it That this victory may appeare to be of God and not of man and what a signall Testimony the Lord hath given in this particular that the Battle and Cause was his I desire the Reader to observe that e Heb. 11.34 out of weaknesse our Army was made strong f Isa 40.29 God gave power to the faint and to them that had no might he encreased strength He that was g Zec. 12.8 feeble among them at that day was as David and David as the Angel of the Lord before them h Ezek. 21.26 The Lord exalted him that was low and abased him that was high i Job 12.21 Powred contempt upon Princes and weakned the strength of the mighty No sooner had our men powred out their complaint before God and shewed before him their trouble saying k Psal 142.6 Attend unto my cry for I am brought very low deliver me from my * Did not the Lord put his hook in their nose and his bridle in their lips there would not be greater persecutors in the world theÌ„ the Scots especially their Kirk-men persecutors for they are stronger then I. But suddenly the Lord arose like a Gyant refreshed with wine wounded the hairy scalp of his â—nemies smote them upon the cheek-bone and put them to a perpetual reproach l Psalm 97.8 Sion heard and was glad and the daughters of Judah rejoyced because of thy judgments O Lord. 3. That the Lord hath given Testimonie to the Justice of our Cause doth further appear by the great number of the enemies overthrown by a few Some report the Scots Army was thirty thousand but six thousand horse and sixteen thousand foote at least Ours to sound men were not above seven thousand and five hundred foot and three thousand and five hundred horse these with the courage which the Lord was pleased to give them in less than an hours dispute put the Enemies whole Army into confusion and it became a totall Rout our men having the chase and execution of them near * Magna ea victoria neque cruenta nobis suit Quinta ab hora diej ad noctem caesi hostes decem milia passuum cadaveribus atque armis opplevere Tac. Anal. l. 2. 8. miles their foot in a manner all taken and slain to the number of 15000. whereof a third part were computed to be killed 200. Colours and more of Horse and Foot were taken 10. Colonels 12. Lieutenant-Colonels 9. Majors 47. Captains 72. Lieutenants 80. Ensigns besides Cornets and Quarter-masters All their Train of Artillery consisting of 22. field-guns beside smaller peeces They left behind them all their Arms no lesse than 15000. their Tents Bag and Baggage Thus the Lord m Psal 68.30 rebuked the company of spear-men the multitude of the buls with the Calves of the people and so let thine enemies perish O God And that it may appear n 2 Chron. 14.13 they were destroyed before the Lord and the same God which to them was terrible a consuming fire making his arrows drunk with the blood of the slain and of the Captives to our Army was their rock their fortresse and deliverer the horn of their salvation who covered their head in the day of battle and girded them with strength Our slain hurt were not many I do not believe saith his Excellency we have lost 20. men not one Commissioned Officer slain that I can hear of save one Cornet and Major Rooksby since dead of his wounds and not many mortally wounded Was not that promise here made good even in the letter o Ps 91.7 8. A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand but at shall not come nigh thee Only with thine eyes thou shalt behold see the reward of the wicked He shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wings shalt thou be safe I have read of a * Antigonus Generall who finding his Souldiers dismayed by the smalnesse of their company and the multitude of their enemies asked them how many quoth he do yee reckon me at who am your Commander and I eader If David were p 1 Sam. 18.3 as ten thousand of the people what is David's Lord Our Souldiers never thought as Caecina did * Tacit. An. l. 1. unam in armis salutem that their safety only consisted in their weapons they are better principled and therefore knew that Salvation belongeth to the Lord and making him their Refuge even the most High their habitation hee was with them in trouble he delivered them and honoured them his right hand and his holy arm got them the victory Heretofore when the Lord had acted and appeared for a people in this manner it was always observed by the godly wise as a sure evidence and signe of his approving their Cause as on the contrary a righteous hand of divine punishment upon the destroyed party for taking up Arms in defence of some thing unjust and sinfull either Person or Thing And indeed the promise runs so q Lev 26.2 If yee walke in my statutes and keepe my commandements and do them r Vers 7.8 Ye shall chase your Enemies and they shall fall before you by the sword and five of you shall chase a hundred an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight This promise is enlarged in Å¿ Ch. 23.10 Joshuah One of you shall chase a thousand * Nos quoque si legem observemus victorias consequemur So we also as Lavaret on the place shall obtain victories if we keep the law This thing afterward was notably performed in t 1 Chr. 11. Davids Worthies of whom some one u 2 Sam. 23.18 lifted up his sâ—ear against eight hundred and slew three hundred at one time x 1 Chron. 11.18 Three men brake through the host of the Philistims As Major-Generall Whalley's Regiment charged through the Enemies whole Army and back again with little or no losse I know there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or few nothing is unpossible with him Notwithstanding when by weaknesse he overcomes strength and power by a few many and multitudes as a Ps 11.7 the righteous Lord loves righteousnesse so this shews that he hath pleaded and maintained the righteous mans Cause That God delivered divers Kings and all their host into the hand of Israel b Ios 11.4.8 much people even as the sand that is upon the shore in multitude with horses charets and by a few totally routed the c Judg. 6.5 7.12 Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the East which lay a long encamâ—ped in the vallies like grashoppers Saved Israel by a very small
party when the Philistims gathered themselves against them d 1 Sam. 13.5 thirty thousand Charets and six thousand Horsmen and people as the sand which is on the Sea-shore for multitude Overthrew Zerah the Aethiopian when he came against As e 2 Chron. 14.9 with aâ— host of a thousand thousand and three hundred Charioâ—s and by a small number in comparison of his What is to be learnt hence what observation to be rais'd what use to be made of such glorious Vctories such great Actings and high Appearances of God Onely that hee is f Psa 24.8 mighty in battle g Exo. 15.3 a man of warre h Ps 77.14 a God that doth wonders Great things and unsearchable marvellous things without number What nothing else Yes surely something more i Job 5.9 namely that he owned their cause and acknowledged them to be his Souldiers and k 2 Chron. 14.12 his host whom he delivered made Conquerours with a stretched-out Arm and with great judgments the others he took for his enemies and that their Cause was naught and wicked They might see by destroying them in such a wonderful and strange manner l Ps 92.5 A brutish man knoweth not neither doth a fool understand this I have read of one Atabalipa King of Cusco who being perswaded by one Vincent a Fryar to become a Christian upon this reason that he should serve the God that made Heaven and Earth The Indian asked the Fryar how he knew it he having a Bible in his hand told him he had learnt it there The King takes the Book in his hand opens it smels to it and lays it to his eare and hearkens if it spake any thing but perceiving he could have no satisfaction by his feeling neither did the Book speak to him hee threw it away and laughing at the Fryar told him that his Book and he were both fools Now such there are at this day and not a few for all the world like that Heathen King because God speaks not to their dull and blind hearts in their grosse and foolish way they profit not by the works of his hands neither are his present Appearances and Givings in to his people though the same with his former dispensations all along held forth in holy Scripture observed at least not acknowledged of them and God glorified as they ought and should doe But what of all this yet m Ps 10.16 the Lord is known by the judgements which he executeth 4. I suppose it cannot be parallel'd as his * In the 4 letters betweene him and the Ministers Excellency hath well observ'd of the like solemn Appeales unto God in reference to the Justice of a Cause a Deut. 17.8 between blood and blood between plea and plea and between stroke and stroke being matters of Controversie as was done by ‖ Solemn Appeales made by both parties to Almighty God The Answer of the Parliament to the Scots Kings Declaration page 36. both parties before the War began The Scots not only took God to witnesse that they had clean hands and pure hearts were men like Nathanael in whom there is no guile but * See pag. 23. in that Answ referred the Cause between Them and Us to the unerring sentence of the highest Judge as he should appear in his providence and mighty Actings either for us or them It is true they are a people presumptuous and lavish this way as in all their Remonstrances Declarations Petitions Answers c. may be seen evermore Appealing to the great and eternall God the searcher of all hearts and taking the Lord to record upon their soules touching their integrity and clearnesse in walking But howsoever seeing now b Psal 102.19 God hath looked downe from the height of his Sanctuary hath c Neh. 9.28 heard from heaven and d 2 Sam. 22.14 from heaven uttered his voyce and e Ps 76.8 caused his judgment to be heard Methinks they should feare and be still f Josh 7.19 give glory to the God of heaven and make confession to him and the rather because they know as he is a g Tit. 1.2 God that cannot lie a God that h Ps 33.5 loveth righteousnesse and judgement and i Ps 45.7 hateth wickednesse so it is k Ps 85.11 righteousnesse that hath now looked down from heaven and l 1 K. 8.32 in heaven God hath heard and done and judged his servants condemning the wicked to bring his way upon his head and justifying the righteous to give him according to his righteousnesse This Appealing unto God is like the water which was given in tryall of Jealousie m Numb 5.27 If the woman had done trespasse against her Husband the water would become bitter in her bowels her belly swel and her thigh rot But if n Vers 28. clean and not defiled shee should conceive seed and be fruitful So it is when men call upon God to judge their Cause and wil have a witnesse in Heaven and in his definitive sentence pretend to stand If they are Liers Dissemblers Hypocrites fals-hearted double-hearted c. no marvail if the Curse enter into them and that God by some visible sensible remarkable hand punish them for their great presumption and for such impudent boldnesse and because they did not o Deut. 28.58 feare this glorious and fearfull name JEHOVAH THY GOD. Again on the other hand if men appeal unto God as David did in the Cause between him and Saul p 1 Sam. 24.12 the Lord judge between me and thee and are upright before him walke in their integrity setting the Lord alwayes before them The Lord will open to them his good treasure hee will make them the head and not the taile they shall be above only and not beneath and wheresoever they goe they shall prosper Neither did the Scots rest in a bare appealing unto God as to plead the Cause between us and them but so confident they were or rather foole-presumptuous of Gods being on their side as if they had tyed him as the * Alex. Gent. Dic. l. 6. c. 4. Tyryans did their god Hercules with a golden chain to secure themselves of his residence among them And here some of their Ministers play'd their pranks telling the people yea and God too he could not be just and righteous and like himselfe unlesse he assisted them to destroy the Sectarian Army as they cal'd us to such an height of blindnesse and madnesse were they lifted up making true the proverb q Prov. 26.28 a flattering mouth worketh ruine Henry the 2. hearing Menz his Citie to be taken used this blasphemous speech I shall never quoth he love God any more that suffered a Citie so deare to me to be taken from me I am so far from wishing that any of them should be given up to such gall of bitternesse and power of darknesse as to blaspheme the God
witchcrafts sodomies murthers c. of his Ancestors to William the Bastard as they make him say in his Declaration Yet he knew how to lick up all againe and to turne when occasion should be to his former vomit and wallowing in the mire Germanicus howbeit a Heathen was so affected to see his men cast away as that he said * Se tanti exitij reum clamitaret vix cohibuere amici quo minus eodem mari opeteret Tac. Annal l. 2. he onely was guilty of their death and could hardly be stayed by his Friends from casting himselfe into the Sea But their Kings happy Conversion amounted not to so much humanity ingenuity pitty fellow-feeling c. It seems by this he was at most but a Pharisaicall Proselite of whome Christ sayth t Mat. 23.15 Yee * So did the Scots to make this man their Proselite compasse Sea and Land to make one Proselite and when he is made ye make him two fold more the Child of Hell then your selves Some give the sence of the place thus the Proselite is two fold worse because whatsoever he saw evill in the Pharisees that he would learne and practise but wherein they did well and what was good therein he followed them not Such a Proselite their King seems to be he sees them dissemble seek to cozen the World under glorious words of a holy Covenant pure worship a zeale of God against superstition Heresie Prophanenesse c. This he learnes by heart and speaks it by rote and lies and dissembles as fast as they but for other things which he sees amongst them as are venerable lovely and of good report we doe not understand he is this way inclined to follow their example 3. Remarkeable it is and another proofe of Gods witnessing against their Cause how the Scots Prophets u Lam. 2.14 have seene vaine and foolish things false Burthens and causes of banishment These men as our Generall hath well observed have hindered the passage of good things to the hearts of the People And when much love hath been offered them in the Bowells of Jesus Christ by good words and faire Speeches they have deceived the minds of the simple whereby they have brought the just guilt of much blood upon their owne heads And not onely like x Jer. 28.1 2 3 4. Hananiah have some of them sought out false Visions Prophecying the destruction of an Army promising safety and Victory to theirs but leaving the subject to which they were called and taking to them the Instruments of foolish Shepheards they would give Orders to the Souldiery where to March when to Fight Counselling them contrary to the advice of their chiefe Officers by which their rash and heady presumptions many were overthrowne and destroyed It is somewhere reported of the Indians that if they snuffe up into their Nostrills the powder of the Herb Cohabba they will streightwayes run mad and are ready to doe any bad thing We can shew it by experience when Ministers leave off to Preach Christ and meddle in State Affairs and Worldly polities will determine of civill powers asperse the Government under which they live and not be subject to the higher Powers for all their swelling words of being the Ministers of Jesus Christ ready to speake in their Masters service and will refuse no suffering so they may fullfill their Ministrey with joy Such as doe receive their Carnall Doctrines are driven into a kind of fury and madness acting strange things prejudiciall and destructive to the People amongst whome they live Philosophers doe hold if the inferiour spheres were not rul'd in a manner corrected by the highest the swiftnes of their motion would quickly fire the World There are no men so swift of motion as some of our Coat and did not the higher spheres wisely rule them and many times correct them too they would soone set on fire both Church and State Scotland at present can say so by wofull experience England would say no lesse if her higher spheres were as low and dull as theirs 4. This is to be added as a further manifestation of God just hand against their unrighteous Cause To wit wha◠this Army was I mean in their owne eyes which the Lord by weaknesse overthrew All Covenanters no * As Gideons Army was glorieous when it was separate from all the Cowardly faint-hearted So the Scots having outed and routed all disaffected to the Cause of the Kirk and Covenant it must needs be honourablē Malignants Sectaries Papists an Army in point of Covenant Reformation like the Spanish Armado in 88. INVINCIBLE An Army like Alberts Duke of Saxony called the Dye Groate Gaerde the great Rod or Whip so this shall be the Hammer of Hereticks the Scourge of Schismaticks and Sectaries That is being interpreted the Arme of Flesh and instrumentall means to hinder the passage of the Gospell suppresse the wayes of Christ and power of godlinesse and to advance humane institutions formallity Tyranny c. Indeed such glorying there was in this reformed Army having none in it but Subscribers to the Covenant and the Priests of the Lord the sons of Aaron being likewise amongst them their enemies vaine men Children of Belial with whom were the golden Calves which the Parliament had made whose leader was the great Antichrist As the foolish and ignorant people did fully beleive there would be little need for them to Fight but standing still they should see their Enemies fall before them Being dealt withall here not much unlike one Tammoran a Jacobine Fryer who perswaded Joanillie Anastros Boy to kill the Prince of Orange and for his encouragement gave him certaine Characters in paper assuring him that he should goe invisibly having the same about him The Crue of the condition of this Army having also the Kirks blessing with it so tickled the ears of the people as it was no other then as a Chrame to bewitch them causing them a Jer. 29.31 to trust in a lye and for sake their owne mercies Among the Scythians when their Priests foretold an untruth they were carried along upon hurdles full of heath dry wood drawne by Oxen and manicled Hand and Foot and burnt to death My worst wishes towards these men is Repentance from dead works and that God will make them see how extreamly they have deluded and abused the People It was piously and Christianly spoken of our Generall in his Letter to them The Lord pitty you sayth he Truly I pitty them with my heart and my Bowells yearn for them neverthelesse being to speake of their hypocrisies and delusions in so grosly dissembling with God and his People as the same Hand writes I conceive it is my duty having the Prophets Apostles and Christ himselfe for an example to discover things in such a way as is best and profitablest to undeceive the people b Isa 29.16 Surely their turning of things upsidowne shall be esteemed as
the Potters Clay Their filling of mens ears with the nauseous noyse of the Covenant the cause of God Reformation the extirpation of Heresie Schisme Superstition is no otherwise as they apply it but hatching Cockatrice Eggs and weaving the Spiders web It is the very same which the Prophet calls c Ezek. 13.15 Dawbing with untempered Morter When a man dwells in a ruynous house the Mason comes and Plaisters it over and makes him beleive that all is well then the house falls and smothers him So by their lyes they make sad the hearts of the righteous whom the Lord makes not sad that is d Isa 59.15 he that departeth from evill they brand him with the contemptible name of Sectary Schismatick Regicide Rebell and strengthen the hand of the wicked that he should not returne from his wicked way e Hos 7.3 They make their King glad with their wickednesse and the Princes with their lyes Hence the wrath of God riseth against them cuts off f Isa 9.15 head and taile Root and Branch and there is no remedy g 2 Tim. 2.7 Consider what I say and the Lord give ye understanding in all things 7. Neither was it without a speciall providence of God that our WORD should be the LORD OF HOSTS theirs THE COVENANT Here now lay the great Cause betwixt us and them They for the Covenant we for The Lord of Hosts and as the Cause thus stood betwixt us so the Lord by a mighty hand gave a remarkable Witnesse from Heaven on whose side the truth and right was For as ‖ As the hand of God upon that Idol was sufficient to convince the Philistims of the vanity of it an their madnesse yet the were rather hardened in their Idolatry by it then reclaimed So I feare will be the condition here of some Dagon fell when the Ark came neare it so fell the Covenant as another Dâ—gon at the presence of the Lord of Hosts Since this great Victory some of the Presbyterian Ministers here have openly declared that there was an Achan in the Scots Army it is true there was so indeed but what was that Achan Seing they tâ—lâ— us not I shall doe it for them the Cherem or Cursed thing I â—ake it was the Covenant this should have beene destroyâ—d and therefore seing their Cause was the Covenant and the Covenant Anathema no marvaile they fell in the day of Battail Now that the Reader may be of the same Opinion with me I shall lay downe many Reasons for it But before I speake of them I desire that these things may be taken notice of 1. I have * In a Booke entituled The snare is broken elsewhere clearly proved that the Covenant is sick of Jehorams Disease the Bowells of it are fallen out It is a Covenant like Musgrum or Toad-stoole though it grow it hath no root not a word or warrant in holy Scripture for its justification either in reference to the matter of it or the manner as it was given and taken It is an Oath indeed but contrary to the definition of a religious lawfull Oath a Covenant it is but against the properties use and end of a sacred or holy Covenant these things we have fully manifested by the word of God and reasons and have answered to whatsoever probablie may be said in the defence thereof 2. Howsoever they have set up Altars to THAT SHAMEFULL THING and bow their knee before it yet have not any of them to this day and I desire ‖ I hope such as feare God and have by others been seduced and deluded about this Covenant will now have their eyes open It gives just cause to the buyer to suspect his wares are nought who is not willing to bring them forth to light for trial all men in all places to observe it well fairly appeared in the behalfe of it as taking it part by part and proving every part I say it againe as yet they never came so nigh the Covenant as â—o prove eyther the Ground-work matter or forme of it justifiable That which they doe is thus they tell us The Generall Assembly hath approved it So the Reverend Synod of Divines in England the Kirk allows it Learned men of the reformed Churches beyond Sea consent to it But the Church of England as some call it Resolveth that all Counsells and Synods whither Provinciall Nationall or Oecumenicall * Jer. 11.13 they may err and have erred in things appertaining to God and the same is profest by all Protestant Churches King Henry the 8. put out the name of the Pope but allowed still his Laws I know some are well content that Popes and Prelates should goe downe howsoever they will walke in their steps as to be Lords over Gods Heritage and have dominion over the faith and Consciences of men Beza sayth ‖ De har civil mag puniendis that God never gave power to man for imposing Laws upon the Conscience nor can indure that any besides himselfe should beare sway or dominion over the minds of men Neverthelesse when these men speake great and swelling words the KIRR the GENERALL ASSEMBLY the REVEREND SYNOD OF DIVINES they looke now that men should * Cajetan the Cardinall was wont to say had it not bin for Luther the Pope would have made the Germans eat grasse like Beasts Now were it not but that God raiseth up some instruments to discover these mens legerdemains guiles devises they would in time make people such I dolls so bruitish as to believe whatsoever they should say right or wrong fall downe and worship them yeild subjection and obedience in points of faith to whatsoever is imposed upon them under these big names and titles howsoever they bring nothing neither can they from the word of God for the cleare justification thereof But really the Priests of Rome in this particular deale more plainly and truely and are truer to their owne principles then these men are They say right out that the Pope in things belonging to faith ‖ Nullo casu errare potest Be jarm de just l. 1. c. 7. he can by no possible means err when he sets forth a Decree * Divinitus illi praecuâ—sa est omnis via Th Bozius l. 12. â—esig c. c. 16. God stoppeth every way unto him which might bring him into errour so that he never was he never shall be able to doe ought against faith Now grant this then whatsoever he deviseth and imposeth upon men although there be not any Scripture brought to confirme it yet there is no need to question the same The Ministers of the Church of England and Scotland say a Generall Assembly and Synod of Divines may err and have erred in things appertaining to God Neverthelesse Magisterially and Authoritatively they will have their Acts and decrees received as this Covenant â—o be the Covenant of God though nothing doe appeare wherefore it should be
further thus As it is a * Canem rabidum Hier Catalog Script Eccle. mad dog as Julian was cal'd biting where it should not so it is a dumb dog in the Presbyterian sence not barking or biting where it should doe and where there is just cause and reason for it The Scripture sayth p Gen. 9.6 He that sheddeth mans blood by man shall his blood be shed q Num. 35.31 Ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a Murtherer which is guilty of death but he shall surely be put to death r Deut. 19.13 Thine eye shall not pitty him c. Å¿ Pro. 28.17 Let no man stay him from the Pit Now howsoever it be acknowledged by the Presbyterians that the late King was a man of blood and did most unnaturally murther and kill many thousands of his best Subjects yet they say by the Covenant Oath men were bound although clearly against the Law of God to preserve his person and not to put him to death notwithstanding all the innocent blood which he had shed and other high crimes committed As his Excellency sayth away with the Covenant if this be so a Heathen could say †Nihil honestum esse porest quod justicia vacet Cicero offic lib. 3. Nothing can be honest which wants justice And 't is a Maxime in Law * Contractus vel pacta contra legem prohibitam nâ—â—ùnt jure nulla L. non dubinm C. de 11. l. â—bemujs nulli Prohibited contracts or Covenants against Law are by right nothing Againe ‖ Conditio turpis vel impossibilis vitiat actum de Verb. Obligat A condition evill or impossible makes the Action voyd Our Divines also affirme the like * Si factum sit juramentum de rebus quae non sunt nostrae pocetatis illâ—tâ—â— Alsted Caâ—â— c. 15. p. 288. An Oath is unlawfull being taken concerning things which are not in our power †Nihil honestum esse porest quod justicia vacet Cicero offic lib. 3. It is Tyranny sayth another to oblige others unto impossible things So Rivel ‖ Tyrannicum est ad res non possibiles aliâ—s ad stringere Pareus Com. in Gen. 24. v. 8 No man ought to be constrained by Oath to act any thing that is unjust His Reason is Because obedience to Gods Commandements which never disagree among themselves is to be preferred before all things That it is not in mans power to preserve the life of a Murtherer whither King or Subject the word of God clearly holds it forth and so much I have in another place proved and therefore it is Tyranny in the Covenant to force men to do that which is not in their power neither can they do it possibly Or if they should * Nemo juramento cogi debet ad aliquid inique perpetraÌ„dum Quia obedientia erga divina mandata quae inter se nunquam pugnant Omnibus est praeferenda Explicat de Catalog 3. prae p. 90. it were then a sinfull and most unjust thing ‖ Non tantum non obligat sed si observetur auget reatum Ames cont l. 4. c. 22. Amesius goes further If a man saith he should sweare that hee would not doe his duty and office he is so far in such a case from keeping his oath that keeping it he encreaseth his sin So then by this it appears if men by the Covenant did bind themselves not to doe what God required of them and what their duty and office was to doe namely not to put a Murtherer and Tyrant to death yet they ought not to keep such an unlawfull Oath or Covenant but rather repenting of it fulfill the Commandement and will of God t Pro. 13.14 The law of the wise is a fountaine of life to depart from the snares of death 5. Howsoever the Scots and some here cry up the Covenant as they did the Image which fell down from Jupiter Great is Diana of the Ephesians Neverthelesse and let it be well minded what the Covenant is it is not yet known not the Negative or Affirmative parts of it neither can the Takers of it agree among themselves about the particulars contained therin Some think it was in taking like the Jewish Manna in eating of which a report goes that it tasted as every one would have it so it is supposed that the Covenant might be applyed every way and to any thing as men did desire to please their pallat But here was not that way which David desired the Lord to lead him in u Psal 27.11 Margent A way of plainnesse here would be no x Jer. 4.2 Juramentum licitum est de rebus veriscerto cognitis PolaÌ„ Syntag. l. 9. c. 23. p. 628. swearing in judgment that is consideratly knowingly and understanding what they did But here rather the doctrine of blind obedience and the Colliars faith was countenanced and what * Hos Confut. Petti c. 14. p. 18. Hosius saith ignorance in most things is best of all to know nothing is to know all things And Cusan ‖ Obedientia irrationalis est consummata perfectissima scilicet quando obeditur sine inquisitione rationis sicut jumentum obedit domino suo Cusan Exercit l. 6. Irrationall obedience is the fullest and perfectest that is when obedience is shewed without enquiry or asking any reason as a beast obeys his Master This blind obedience in taking the Covenant I much pitty and howsoever the time of this ignorance God winked at neverthelesse let men take heed of presumptuous sins as not to plead for Baal against knowledg and conscience the Lord of Host hath begun to cast dung in the face of it he will every y Rom. 1.18 day more and more y Rom. 1.18 declare his wrath from heaven against all ungodlinesse and unrighteousnesse of men who hold the truth in unrighteousnesse 6. That the Covenant the Scots Cause was the Achan who will not think so if he duly consider how after a Scots trick it serves to make men hypocrites and lyars Of their King made to * Qui nescit dissimulare nescit imperare dissemble before God and the world and that by the Covenant I shall speak no more only it is worthy of note as one saith of Traytors ‖ Proditores etiam ijs quos anteponunt invisi sunt Tacit. Annal. lib. 1. they are odius to those even whose instruments they are So many men although they make use of the Covenant as a Traitor to further their design yet is the same detested and hated by them The Covenant usually hath been taken as men do physick in extremity and for necessity sake not but the purge is bitter and loathsom to them so in extremity to prevent sequestration and the Kinks curse they have swallowed it but sore against their wills Neither would they have done so if necessity had not been As a monster occasioneth griefe to those that
2.25 11.25 I will put the dread of thee and the feare of thee upon Nations who shall heare report of thee and shall tremble h Jos 2.9 Your terrour is fallen upon us that all the Inhabitants of the land faint because of you i Jos 5.1 Their hearts melted neither was their spirit in them any more because of the children of Israel Thus k Job 17.8 the innocent shall stirre himselfe up against the hypocrite and howsoever behind their backs they shall be called a Sectarian Army and Anti-christs souldiers yet when they come face to face they are a dread and a terror and a great feare unto them and no marvail mark the reason l Ps 14.5 for God is in the congregation of the righteous and breaketh the bow and cutteth the spear in sunder and the Chariot he burneth with fire No marvail they throw away their Arms and flie Horse and Foot when God striketh their hearts with inward stinging terrours this was signified by the m Exo. 23.20 Deut. 7.20 Josh 24.12 hornets n Deut. 32.25 The sword without and terrour within shall destroy As a Theif flies before the pursuer and dares not â—ight or look back knowing what he hath done and how his condition is so men being conscious to the falshood and injustice of their Cause have no courage in Battle but through the horrour and dread of a guilty Conscience with sorrow and shame flye before their enemies 4. Feare and faintnesse is upon them because now they begin to consider the great things which the Lord hath done for their enemies What remarkable deliverances and victories they have formerly had how hee hath evermore blest the labours of their hands and made them successefull and prosperous wheresoever they come This coming to their mind with thoughts of Gods revenging hand formerly upon them forth iâ—deceit and hypocrisie in acting the same thing which now they doe it convinceth them that the others have a rightful cause they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haters of God and fighters against God and Christ ‖ Jer. 33.9 When the nations of the earth shall heare all the good that I doe â—nto thee they shall feare and tremble for all the goodnesse and for all the prosperity that I procure unto thee Saul seeing the Lord was with David o 1 Sam. 18.28 29. he was the more affraid of him howsoever some men make no profitable and good use in beholding Gods mighty Actings for his people neverthelesse affraid they are of such with whom they see Gods presence and appearance thus to be As the Lord said of Noah and his sons p Gen. 9.2 the feare of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth so there fals and lies a dread and fear upon these men although as Saul did David they hate them and are enemies to them continually 5. And in a word they are affraid q Psal 65.8 at Gods tokens what desolations he hath made in the earth Who knows the power of thine anger whilst they consider what others have suffered for hyporisie falshood cruelty and other misdemeanors they cannot but quake and tremble to think how the like wrath is powring out now upon them yea greater deeper heavier being for hypocrisie and prophanenesse of life far worse and viler than many Nations whom the Lord hath scattered and destroyed for such sins r Psal 66.5 Come and see the works of God he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men Å¿ Isa 42.18 Heare ye deafe and looke ye blind that ye may see Again on the other hand if they are the people and it be the cause which the Lord loves and likes and wil defend he will in Battle put courage and strength into them t Lev. 26.6 None shall make them affraid u Psal 112.8 their heart is established and they shall not be affraid untill they see their desire upon their enemies And no marvell for x Isa 12.2 the Lord JEHOVAH is their strength y Deut. 7.21 a mighty and terrible God among them a Psal 74.12 working salvation in the mids of the earth As one set on a high rock or standing upon a sure and invincible Tower may looke and laugh at all his enemies below not caring what they can do possibly against him how fiercely and furiously soever they assault him so they who have God for their rock and tower though they b Psal 23.4 walk in the valley of the shadow of death though their enemies are two to one yea ten to one and have all the conveniencies accommodations and advantages that their hearts can wish yet they need feare no evill for he c Psal 118.7 that takes their part with them that helps them wil let them see their desire upon them that hate them d Isa 28.29 This also commeth from THE LORD OF HOST which is wonderfull in Counsell and excellent in working 9. If by the return of prayer we may learn any thing of the mind of God in this likewise we have a full and cleare testimony given us that the Lord loved us and approved our Cause This thing his Excellency hath well observed * In his letter to the Ministers in Edenburgh Castle Did not you saith hee solemnly appeale and pray did not we so and shall we after all these our prayers fastings teares expectations and solemn Appeals call these bare Events The Lord pitty you Some men are like little children who cannot read unlesse it be in their owne Booke what gracious Answers and speciall returns of prayer the Lord vouchsafes unto others here they can see nothing of God nothing of his power goodnesse justice and faithfulnesse nothing of his justifying and owning a righteous Cause and his just displeasure against lying and falshood It is only a bare Event which they behold and nothing else to such grosse darkenesse of heart are they given up and delivered over It was a law among the Assyrians that if any did fall sick he should ask counsell of those that had been visited with the like sicknesse by what meanes and way they were recovered If you ask of d Exo. 17.11 Moses e Psal 56.9 David f 2 Chron. 14. Asa g 2 Chron. 20. Jehosaphat h 2 King 19. Hezekiah when they fought against their Enemies who were more in number and mightier then they how out of weaknesse were made strong waxed valiant in fight subdued Kingdoms and turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens They would say The Lord i 1 Chr. 5.20 helped them and delivered the enemies into their hands because they made their supplications and prayers unto him When God purposeth to bestow any speciall favour upon his People he moves their hearts before hand to pray for it How the Lord prepared the heart even filled the souls of many thousand pretious people with the Spirit of Supplication