her fall off when the Ship men who were the supream Governors of the Ship were about to flee out of the Ship to the utter endangering of the lives of all the Passengers as the Apostle Paul did confidently advertise see Acts â—7 30 31 32. So it may seem the chief of the Parliament Souldiers did well to hinder and restrain at present from entring into the House some of the Members who had they been in the House were of equal Authority Note Events do usually make very cleer and sure discoveries and manifestations of the prudential and faithful manage of important expedient undertakings which in their present enterprisings have seemed very dark to some As it may easily be  discerned by diligent observers of Heroical Actions and of the generally received principle Salus populi suprema Lex in Voting with the rest whereas if they had not been so restrained or secluded it was with most likely probability apprehended that the majority might have swayed by Votes to the extream prejudice both of the Civil State and Church Affairs VI. K. Saul having been justly hindered and restrained in his unworthy and pernicious designe against Jonathan even by the chief of the Souldiers He doth notwithstanding afterwards apply himself to act as became him according to his office in the behalf of the Kingdom and against the enemies of the peace of it see vers 47 48. And such his approved course tended very much to the vexing of the common enemies and the delivery of Israel out of the hands of spoilers see vers 47 48. 6. May it not be inferred hence That such Members of the Parliament as were restrained in that nick of time from the opportunity of acting unworthily then onely ought notwithstanding to have applyed themselves to have returned seasonably and gone on as formerly in the discharge of Parliamentary Authoritative power and weighty employment committed unto them by the Countries and Corporations for which they were the Representatives Verily had they so approved themselves or shall any yet do so in a due way it might much have conduced to the publike good to the peace of their own consciences and obtaining the Spirit of Glory to rest upon them 1 Sam. 15. 2 3 7 8 9 13 14 15 20 21 24 32 33. Observation I. 1. Parallel inference SAul in his reign over Israel the Israelites having earnestly desired a Kingly Government see 1 Sam. 8. 19. And having approved Sauls designment unto it see 1 Sam. 10 â—4 He in process of time had a special Commission and imployment put upon him even to execute Iustice on certain enemies whose Ancestors had raised an unjust and unnatural war against the Israelites about four hundred yeers before see Vers. 2 3. compared with Exod. 17. 8. THe English Parliament long long desired and longed for and now by the good hand of God providentially over-ruling and it happily continuing to sit unto this day did in due time effectually and seasonably engage it self unto a faithful endevor as the cause of God and his people required to restore the Nation to their Just Liberties and to reform Religion which had been withheld and depraved by Tyranny and Antichristian Hierarchy as is to be seen in the English Histories of Civil and Ecclesiastical Occurrences yea and bring notorious Delinquents to Justice as the Parliament Remonstrances do testifie And blessed be the God of England who with such unspeakable merciful goodness hath visited the languishing Nation II. Saul and the people did in good part very vigorously pursue their Commission in engaging and fighting those Amalekitish enemies who had been such grand Delinquents against the Israelites 2. The majority of the English Parliament for some time after their first convening did act strenuously unto the reforming of sundry grieoppressions both in Common-wealth and Church Affairs engaging themselves many ways therunto yet nevertheless afterwards But yet notwithstanding they failed greatly in their not executing impartially according to the commission and trust assigned unto them in that they spared King Agag and the best things see Vers. 7 8 9. they fail'd greatly in unvoting their votings against future addresses when clear and evident discoveries were of unsufferable desperate tyranny yea and at last in voting unworthy Concessions to be a just Foundation of safe Peace which were indeed most dangerous and destructive tending to spare the capital Delinquents and such seeming best things of a flourishing vain condition as in greatest likelihood would in short time have involved into the former deep gulf of misery and ruine and worse then before III. Saul notwithstanding such his rebellious miscarriage against God yet he professeth and protesteth the contrary either justifying or denying or disguising or exousing or extenuating his sinister prevarication howbeit he was again and again effectually convinced thereof by the Prophet Samuel see Vers. 13 14 15 20 21 24. 3. It is very much to be lamented and deplored that many of the Parliament Members after their votings for the Concessions as a Foundation of good Peace and after the remarkable Occurrences which have ensued thereupon even hitherto they do yet notwithstanding justifie disguise excuse or extenuate such their votings whatever conviction is or hath been since that time yea and do hitherto seem to be well pleased in their pretended whole seclusion which was onely pro tempore IV. When Saul the supream Magistrate had bewrayed a very great degree of unfaithfulness in his sparing King Agag from death yet the uprightness justice and 4. When the Majority of the Parliament failed in great degree as hath been hinted already then the faithfulness justice and zeal of the lesser number remaining and sitting in Parliament who yet were a full number of constituting zeal of Samuel the Prophet and Iudg though of inferior Authority then Saul is singularly approved in his bringing King Agag to justice see Vers. 32 33. Members of an undeniable Parliamentary power is highly praise-worthy in their appointing an high Court of Justice for the due bringing of capital Delinquents to just Tryal and Sentence for the executing of condign punishment upon them V. Notwithstanding that Agag was a King yet his Kingship did not priviledg him to be above Law neither did his prerogative exempt him from legal proceeding against him see Vers. 32 33. Joshua Gideon and Jehu were approved in their due executing of Delinquent Kings see Rogers 53. Serm. on Judges 5. It is a weak and unwarrantable plea for Kings if their Might do not overcome Right that their Kingship taketh them off from being subject to Law Note There is one onely absolute and independent Lawgiver who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords see Isai. 33. 22. Jam. 4. 12. 1 Tim. 6. 15. Note All grant that subjects may have the benefit of the Law against the King in case of Goods and Lands by vertue of the legality of the eighth Commandment of the Decalogue And tryals in such case have been very usual in
the foresaid marriages were nullities as incestuous marriages are no marriages by reason of the absolute prohibition of God Thus Master Perkins in his Warning against the Idolatry of these last times meaning the idolatry of Popery as the scope of his Treatise importeth vide Vol. 1. pag. 677 678. 4. The judgment of some sound and much honored English Ministers of the Gospel most of which are now asleep in the Lord yet a few still alive who conferring and humbling themselves frequently in private at such times as overtures were with Spain and shortly after with France about King Charls his mixt marriage The Questionist demanded the same he now represents to Disquisition and the most and best approved for their learning and piety inclined to the affirmative 5. The Solemn League and Covenant 1643. engaging unto an extirpation of Popery in the second Article For the course insisted on in the Qnestion seemeth to have an effectual tendency to the keeping of the said Covenant in that Article of it 6. The Commissioners of the General Assembly of the Kirk in Scotland in the Necessary and Seasonable Testimony against Toleration approved by the Estates of present Parliament who amongst other Texts of Scripture alleaged by them against Toleration have these words Pag. 5. The children of Israel after their return from Babylon made a Covenant and entered into a Curse and into an Oath to walk in Gods Law and to observe and do all the Commandments of the Lord their God Nehem. 10. 28 29 30. Let this Text alleaged be compared with Ezra 10. 2 3 5. And the Reader is desired to take the Bible and to turn to and observe the Texts cited which undoubtedly must needs affect greatly and the rather sith cited by such interested persons and to such purpose IV. The same Texts of Scripture and Scriptural Reasons which do make against the marriages of the people of God with the daughters of a strange god and all that are born of them do seem also by necessary consequence to conclude against the marriages of Protestants with Papists and all that are born of them viz. Because 1. Popery is the Religion of the Roman Antichrist who is the man of sin the son of perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped So that 〈◊〉 as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God see 2 Thes. 2. 3 4. And who is the king of the Locusts as singularly described Apocal. 9. 3 5 7 8 9 10 11. Yea who is the whore of Babylon on whose forehead was a name written Mystery Babylon The Great The Mother of Harlots And Abominations of the Earth see Apocal. 17. 5. 2. The Antichristian Religion was inspired and promoted by Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders and with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish through divine effectual permission see 2 Thes. 2. 9 10 11 12. Even as the Heathenish idolatry is devilish and is therefore in no wise to be communicated with see Deut. 32. 17. 2 Chro. 11. 15. compared with 1 Cor. 10. 20 21. 3. There are the same or the like sacred precepts requiring to come out and separate from the Antichristian Religion and to have no communion therewith lest uttermost peril do overtake see Apocal. 18. 4. as are for the relinquishing of Pagan Idolatry see 2 Cor. 6. 17. Isaiah 52. 11. 4. The idolatries of the Papists being compared with the idolatries of the Heathen they are every jot as gross and vile if not more as are the Heathenish yea they are indeed so odious as is not meet to be once named amongst Saints further then just cause requireth See by way of allusion the Psalmists expression Psal. 16. 4. V. Magistrates in new Testament times ought to hold course against sinful evil in any kinde committed as well as they did in old Testament times see Rom. 13. 3 4. To this end let it be well weighed and application be made accordingly what is asserted by the Commissioners of the General Assembly in the Testimony against Toleration pag. 6 7. in these words For it cannot be shewn that any part of that power which Magistrates had under the old Testament is repealed under the new Neither can any convincing Reason be brought why it should be of narrower extent now nor then May it not seem hence That the Estates and Ministers and Elders of Scotland are of one minde That Popish wives ought to be separated and their children ought to be removed from patrimonial inheriting in a Christian reformed Nation VI. And who knoweth but that as the Question agitated and resolved in King Henry the eighth his case touching the unlawfulness of his incestuous marriage with Queen Katherine portending extream prejudice to the Kingdom in such spurious succession as might be by the Lady Mary as appeareth in the History above cited Acts Mon. Tom. 2. p. 326 327 c. and as indeed most wofully ensued afterwards in the Marian days yet tended through divine providence unto a making way for true Reformed Religion in some degree by his marrying with Anne Bullen mother to Queen Elizabeth So it may please God that the Question represented touching the marriages of Protestants with Papists and touching their children if it shall be duely discussed it may become remarkably occasional unto a safe and wel-grounded establishment of Peace with Holiness even throughout England Ireland and Scotland too The premises being rightly observed according to the Question as it hath been stated and grounded seeming to be for the affirmative Epilogue NOw then forasmuch as the Question hath been fairly plainly submisly and Christianly represented to the General Assembly conveening to discuss and determine arising Questions that are of notable and high concernment Their grave wisdoms are once again beseeched to confider of it To speak their mindes to take advice and give counsel They shall have joy by the Answer of their mouths soundly and impartially uttered And a word spoken in its season how good is it And let the Lord whose the preparations of the heart and answer of the tongue are Prov. 16. 1. be graciously present and propitious in giving understanding in all things Amen Amen A Postscript To the most able and Religiously affectionate Commissioners of the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland Tending to Pacification betwixt the two Nations concerning the present State proceedings Mercy unto you and Peace and Love and Truth be multiplyed from the King of Saints and Prince of Salvation who worketh all things after the counsel of his own Will and doth all things well expecting that Wisdom be justified of her children REverend Sirs behold now the proposer of this Question hath taken upon him to interrogate your General Assembly a word in the cause of God and his people even as cause hath seemed to require knowing well how much it behoveth and becometh all those that make mention of
the Lord not to keep silence in the day of Jacobs trouble if a necessary word seasonably spoken may become any way instrumental unto the breaking forth of light in these days of darkness and gloominess days of clouds and thick darkness And seeing God doth not altogether hide from seeing eyes and hearing ears and understanding hearts what he is about to do The wonderful and unwonted daily occurrences do seemingly declare That the Lord of hosts is doing his work his strange work and bringing to pass his act his strange act of removing the Diadem and taking off the Crown overturning overturning overturning it that it may be no more in as much as the horrid and grievous sin of Tyranny hath found out the guilty capital Delinquents to allude to that which is prophetically denounced see Ezek. 21. 25 26 27. God thus thundering and speaking as it were from Heaven who can but tremblingly speak If children should hold their peace the stones would immediately cry out Hence the said proposer hath taken upon him also to propound a few words unto your learned and solid wisdoms who are the choice and eminent Commissioners of your General Assembly and to pray you of your gentleness to hear with patience some advertisement for the stirring you up to contribute your best assistance in this perplexed conjuncture of Affairs in our three Nations in helping the Lord against his opposites Right worthy Sirs It manifestly appeareth by the return of the hearty thanks of the Estates of your Parliament for your Testimony against Toleration and likewise their concurrence with it that ye have singular interest in the Estates of Parliament May it please you therefore to improve your interest by suggesting and perswading them that whereas this your Parliament was extraordinarily summoned and the form and frame or materials in great part regulated by such of the Estates and Souldieries who sought the real welfare of your Church and Nation in the extream exigencies thereof without the command or direction of any legal Monarch to give order thereabouts and as indeed your case seemed absolutely to require they would now deeply ponder and bethink themselves of the best expedient for the settlement of Truth and Peace as may tend to the lengthening of your tranquillity in the liberty of true Religion and also Ecclesiastical and Civil Government for the suppressing of Popery Prelacy Heresie Schism and Prophaneness which otherwise will infest your Nation as well as others whether neighbors or more remote If ye as Mordecai sent Queen Esther word do altogether hold your peace at this time Deliverance and Enlargement may come some otherway but ye may not expect the comfort thereof And who knoweth whether your favor in the eyes of the Estates be not for such a time as this Now howbeit the generality of the Reformed Christian World studious of Zions peace are not ignorant of your abundant and excellent sufficiencies in the managing of the weighty concernments of your own Countrey Yet your humble advertiser inquisitive and solicitous of your entire faithful deportment presumeth it will not be vexatious unto you to be put in remembrance of such truth as ye well know and are established in Which remembred and made use of may become serviceable in this time of need Be pleased therefore to take notice and observe these few hints Government being a goodly and honorable Ordinance of God instituted for the Weal of all Nations and humane Societies in the latitude of the fifth Commandment and first of the second Table of the Decalogue yet the constituting and exercising of it for its kinde whether supream or subordinate seemeth in the Scripture language to be an humane Ordinance or Creature even as right reason may dictate and sway any society to choose and comply withal according as divine providence and effectual ordering and permission may be discerned when the state and condition of occurrences requireth a new moulding and fashioning as sometimes it doth see 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. compared with 2 Sam. 5. 1 2 3. 1 Kings 12. 1 15 20 24. Hushai his speech who was a great Counsellor of State seemeth to be a reasonable and just political Maxime viz. Whom the Lord and his people and all the men of Israel chuse to be supream his will I be and with him will I abide see 2 Sam. 16. 18. And to say nothing what humane writings tell us touching political Government in its kindes or species as likewise touching their rules given in the main of them practicable in any kinde of lawful policy whether it be Monarchical Aristocratical Democratical or mixt of these Nor yet to say nothing of Church Government by Presbyteries and Synods in any Common-wealth as being directed unto in the Word of God and is therefore unchangeable de jure in the substantials of it in all ages and times of the Church That which is to be remembred and taken notice of is touching Political Government of Common-wealths which according to the divine story in Scripture written for our learning Rom. 15. 4. hath been variously changeable in various ages and periods of times viz. From Adam to Moses it was in one kinde even by Patriarks from Moses to Samuel it was in other kindes even by Moses Joshua Elders Heads of Tribes and Judges from Samuel until the Captivities of Israel and Iudah it was again in other kindes even by Kings variously promoted unto the Government by Gods designe viz. Either elected by the people or by descent approved amongst the people or by conquests from the return of the Jewish captivity until new Testament times it was yet in other kindes even by Princes Governors Captains or Roman Deputies and the same judicial penal Laws of divine institution and enacting did equally and respectively serve in one kinde of Government as well as another for the preservation of life livelihood and liberty in a due way of administration So that such passages of Scripture well observed and remembred it may seem That our Lord Christ is no more a friend to Monarchical Government then to Aristocratical or Democratical or mixt of any of these Moreover let it also be remembred That after the return from the captivity when preceding Monarchy had ceased and yet Jacobs Prophetical prediction failed not Gen. 49. 10. and the Government was changed through divine dispensation of times and seasons which the Father hath put in his own power yet such after Government did flourish and prosper greatly And although the external pomp and splendor of the Common-wealth was not in all things so illustrious as formerly at some times by how much a deficiency was of some special means and accommodations as had been for the structure of Solomons Temple and magnificent Kingly Palaces c. Yet the latter condition both of the Temple re-edified and Common-wealths posture wanted not altogether their glory and encouragements yea and in that which was most considerable even spiritual dignity and welfare it had the
England Why not much more therefore in the case of notorious blood-guiltiness by vertue of the sixth Commandment of the Decalogue VI. Samuel did justice on King Agag being Iudg of Israel to execute the sentence of God pronounced 6. The High Court of Justice erected by the Parliament have justly sentenced the great and hainous Delinquents unto just punishment against Amalek which was neglected by Saul That it might be also a terror to other Kings that they persecute not the people of God see Doctor Willet on 1 Sam. 15. 33. however such proceeding hath not been ordinarily means having been wanting used That this course also may be a terror to the greatest personages that they may not oppress nor raise unjust and unatural war in the Nation 2 Sam. 12. 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 13 14. Observation I. 1. Parallel Inference DAvid the King of Israel having highly and hainously transgressed in the matter of Uriah the Hittite see 1 Kings 15. 5. compared with 2 Sam. 11. 2. He was therefore according to Gods direction to be convinced and reproved of such his capital sin by Nathan the Prophet see Vers. 1. 2 7 8 9. KIngs in all ages and times as well as others falling by occasion into scandalous and capital offences a faithful and impartial course of conviction and reproof ought to be held with them by meet persons as just opportunity may serve thereunto The Law is given to Kings as well as to others and therefore they ought to know it and be convinced by it that their hearts may not be lifted up see Deut. 17. 18 19 20. Hos. 5. 1. II. For the better and more effectual convincing David the King of his odious sin of oppression adultery and murder God directed Nathan to take up a parable in his mouth Sith in such way of expression there was a special 2. It is Gods will that such persons whom it may more specially concern do hold the most effectual course for the detecting and convincing grosse offenders of the vile and odious sins they are tainted with whether oppression tyranny adultery murder c. And in case of effectual course held and efficacious vertue see Ver. 1 2 3 4. see also Jothams Parable in such case Judg. 9. 7. Yea and our Saviours most authoritative course therein Mat. 21. 45. not prevailing whether by similitudes or otherwise the Delinquents shall remain untractable and obstinate they may certainly be left without excuse see Hosea 12. 10. III. King David who had more understanding then all his Teachers see Psal. 119. 99. And who was also a man singularly zealous see Psal. 119. 139. He having now heard and observed a cleer eviction in the case represented in the parable of the implied Delinquent he even as right reason guided gave this just sentence That he was worthy to die see Vers. 5. 3. Hainous capital Transgressors whoever they are whether high or low ought without any respect of persons to be adjudged by the Magistrate sitting on the seat of Justice and bearing the Sword to such corporal punishment as the nature of the offence calleth for in its desert whether death or any other see Rom. 13. 4. Note There ought to be an unresistable force in Right Reason to sway Judges to act according to it see Acts 4. 20. IV. The general and indefinite expression in the parable uttered by Nathan Vers. 1 2 3 4. Moving David on just ground unto such his sentence Vers. 5. is particularly applyed by Nathan to David himself vers 7. So as David saw it did belong unto himself although a King as well as to any other faulty in such kinde see vers 13. 4. The Law and Minde of God touching the capital punishment of the polluting and crying sin of wilful murder whosoever is the committer of it yea though he be a blood-guilty King may not be by the Magistrate looked upon as one to be dispensed withal see Gen. 9. 6. Numb 35. 30 33. Matth. 26. 52. V. Gods sparing David 5. The unsearchable ways of the from death and yet appointing the childe to death see vers 13 14. as it argued Gods absolute soveraignty and indepency in doing what he will yea touching his Laws so it sheweth his just severity against murder see Ibid. 13 14. one onely absolute Lawgiver even the infinite most wise holy and just God ought to be admired and adored see Rom. 11. 33 34. But the people of God ought to walk and act according to his revealed Will in his Word see Deuter. 29. 29. Zechar. 7. 1 2 3 4 5. 8. 19. Observation I. Parallel Inference 1. IT was well understood by the people of God the Jews unto whom one ly in the Old Testament times were committed the Oracles and Ordinances of God as their singular advantage and preferment see Psal. 147. 19 20. Rom. 3. 1 2. yea even by those Jews who lived in the time of the Babylonish captivity and newly after the return thence that the divine Ordinance of Religious and Solemn Humiliation in Fasting and Prayer on just cause and occasion thereunto was very requisite and IT hath been well understood by the Reformed Churches in Europe and particularly by the people of God in England who heretofore lived under the spiritual Babylonish captivity that the sacred Ordinance of Religious Humiliation on just cause and occasion is very requisite in New Testament times as well as it was of old even according to the New Testament doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and accordingly they do exercise themselves therein This may evidently appear to any that observeth the doctrine and practice of the Reformed Churches and particularly and in a special and effectual maner in the English Nation even unto this day as the accordingly did exercise themselves therein see Vers. 3. 5. Dan. 9. 3. Ezr. 8. 21. Nehe. 1. 4. Acts of Parliament for Fasting and Prayer in April 19. and May 17. do bear witness 1649. II. The Jews of those times also knew well what were the kindes and ways of such religious Humiliation in Fasting and Prayer and answerably as the emergency of the cause and opportunity served thereunto they exercised themselves 2. The people of God in England do likewise by the patterns in Scripture know well the approved kindes and ways of religious Humiliation in Fasting and Prayer and answerably as any just occasion and opportunity requireth and serveth they are wont to set themselves thereunto viz. 1. Publikely as publike Authorised Persons ordered Ezra 8. 21. 1. Publikely as Parliament and Rulers do appoint and require 2. Privately as the Governors of Families saw it meet Esth. 4. 16. 2. Privately as Families approve themselves in England above other Nations 3. Secretly and alone as any singular person saw fit Dan. 9. 3. Nehe. 1. 4. 3. Secretly as conscientious persons having ability and opportunity approve themselves to him that seeth in secret III. The Jews had likewise the prudence to discern what were special