So in another place 't is said that the Servant of God who would win others to mind the things of God must not strive much lesse curse but be gentle unto all men apt to teach patient in meeknesse instructing them that be contrary minded and that oppose themselves trying if God will as peradventure that way he will give them repentance to acknowledge the truth and so be recovered out of the Devills snare wherein doublesse all they are intangled that mind their owne things more then the things of Christ In those purer times this was the onely way which Gods Ministers tooke to alter mens mindes and tempers we beseech you saies the Apostle to be reconciled to God nay God by us beseecheth you God himselfe the person offended seeketh and prayeth to be reconciled with his Enemies even as our gratious King hath done to be at peace with them that have so highly abused him The Prophet Hosea forespeaking of these times tells us that God would draw people to himselfe with the Chaines of Love he would take them aside and speake friendly to them pardon their iniquity cover their sinnes and so allure them in a gentle way to mind him more and themselves lesse And shall any pretender for God or Christ thinke harshnesse and cursing a better way or meane to effect the same thing 2. Naturall Reason perswades the contrary He that knowes whereof man is made and what is in man and is the searcher of his Heart yea and the changer of it too Reason saies can best of all direct in the way to alter the same Besides if it be true which the Apostle saies that the preaching of the Law doth put us out of frame and temper by meanes of sinne that dwelleth in us which becomes thereby more outragious then Reason suggests that much more will the preaching of Curses doe the same thing Againe that course which is not availeable to draw one man to another betweene whom there is a lesser distance can never be Effectuall to draw men to God betweene whom the distance is farre greater That which cannot provoke us to love our Neighbours as our selves or to mind his things as our owne can never prevaile to stirre us up to love God better then our selves and to mind the things of Christ above our owne Reason teacheth all this I confesse these harsh Themes or Texts may be suteable enough as they may be handled to drive people out of themselves and to make them mind their owne affaires but little but how they should drive any nearer unto God unlesse by accident or cause them to set their affections on things above my Reason cannot apprehend our blessed Saviour would not goe in Mr Marshalls way when he dealt with Iudas the Traitor for when that Apostate desciple for his worldly advantage sake went as a Chaplaine with the Souldiers to apprehend his Lord and Soveraigne Christ did not at that time fall to curse him for minding his mony more then his Master his gaine more then his Conscience but with a mild Compellation doth insinuate unto him how he covered a most foule Treason under a faire pretence friend saies he betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kisse which very manner of speech without all question did so worke upon the Spirit of the Traitor afterward that he never joyed in his mony more but ere long brings it back to the Close Committee and there he leaves it confessing that he had betrayed Innocent Bloud now surely by the consent even of Reason this course which Christ tooke is most seasonable to the temper of those people that mind their owne things most if we would worke in them a sight of their Errour and not that which M. Marshall seemes to fancy Which also 3. Experience it selfe contradicteth M. Marshall teacheth us in the 6th Page of his Sermon that to Curse is maledicere verbo malefacere re to speake evill to revile to reproach to wish mischiefe unto to doe any evill against a man to execute indeed to the utmost of power what one would wish in word in briefe 't is to deale with a man as M. Marshalls Faction have â—ince dealt with the King and with the Queene But did ever any one read or heare or by experience see any man that was yet a stranger to God or to Religion converted by these meanes How this Generation of New Reformers are like to prevaile for Christ in this their way let all men judge according to observation It is most true they have not failed in any one of M. Marshalls particulars in their endeavours with the Queene they have spoken evill of her reviled her reproached her slandered her robbed her spoyled her shot at her persecuted and hunted her out of the Kingdome done her all the mischiefe both in word and deed which was in their power to doe and sorry they were that their power was not answerable to their will to have proceeded farther in their evills against her and all this was to bring her into love with the Protestant Religion which they most scandalously and falsely say themselves are of though indeed of all Religions in the world the true Protestant Religion doth most of all oppose and contradict such wayes and courses and they are the greatest Enemies that ever the Protestant Religion had thus to slander and disgrace the same yea they have occasioned hereby many unhallowed men and women to blaspheme our holy Profession and to commend of that of the Adversaries of Rome the Pope had never such an Harvest in England this foureskore yeares put altogether as he hath had in these foure yeares last past or since these men have managed the Militia This experience doth teach us and on the other side the same Mistrisse doth assure us that the onely way to worke an Evangelicall temper in those that differ from us is to make unto them a presentation of Christs Example in our teaching to discover his Conditions in our behaviours to manifest his meeknesse and affability in our speeches which course indeed doth mightily calme the rage of sinne and extinguish the heat of it yea it tames the heart of a sinner captivates his spirit and after a manner inforceth him to mind his owne things lesse and the things of Christ more O had our New Reformers but gone this way to worke I dare boldly say they might have done God much service but their pleading for the Militia was a plaine disclaiming of this way of Christ And thus we see from Scripture Reason and Experience that M. Marshall is as much mistaken in the seasonablenesse of his Text in the second respect as in the former and I suppose the ground of his mistake is this he did not sufficiently consider of peoples tempers and dispositions 3ly Mr Marshall saies His Text is seasonable to the occasion of this dayes meeting which is purposely for the helpe of the Lord and his cause and people
now distressed in Ireland So that he conceives it seasonable as I apprehend him in respect of the day or the duty thereon to be performed yet the pretended occasion of that dayes meeting as I take it was to pray and not to curse I did never read that bitter cursing was ever injoyned as any part of the duty of a fast day and therefore no marvaile if the fruits of such fasting dayes have proved so bitter to the whole Nation I have heard both M. Marshall and other Ministers of that Faction at some fifty or sixty miles distance inveigh most bitterly against the Cavaleers for their Cursing and Swearing the report whereof doubtlesse they did receive from some good hand for to my griefe and sorrow I find that notwithstanding his Majesties Military Articles and frequent Proclamations to the contrary many that have Relation to his Armies are most extreamly given over to that hellish sinne for in that particular they rather chuse to follow M. Marshalls doctrine then that of their owne Ministers who dislike the same they thinke they may practice Cursing as lawfully as he preach it though I beleeve they mistake him therein for he would have onely those of his owne side to whom he preacheth to practice the same and not the Cavaleers to whom it doth not belong nor indeed in respect of their cause so well become But such is mans nature Nittimur in vetitum in wayes of sinne one will strive to out goe another And let M. Marshall say what he can the Cavaleers will account those in Rebellion against the King as worthy of Curses as they on the other side can account them But this I must say of the Cavaleers I could never observe any of them so transcendently bold as to fancy they did helpe God or his cause by their Cursing nor yet to professe publiquely that the Fast day was a day seasonable for the practice thereof nor dare we who are Ministers among them teach any such doctrine for we have not so learned Christ no but let M. Marshall and all his side know that we thinke we are bound in Conscience upon the Fast dayes to discover the horrid nature of the sinne of Swearing and of Cursing others even to the faces of those we conceive guilty of it endeavouring thereby to humble their soules for it And we pray our selves and teach others that 't is the duty of Christians to pray for all and to curse none no not those that are for the present Enemies to God or to themselves who thirst for the ruine of Christs Gospell and of the defender and Professours of it we hope and pray for their Conversions for we know not but God may call them at the eleventh houre onely we pray that their mischievous imaginations against the Lord and against his Annoynted and servants may never prosper that their Hypocrisie may be discovered that so the simple well meaning People may no longer be deluded by them we pray Fill their faces with shame of their owne doings that they may seeke thy Name O Lord We conceive that cursing of others on the Fast day would rather appeare to be an act of Pride in us and of selfe justification then of selfe condemnation which is the proper act of a Fast day we hope that those Prayers which we put up for our bloud-thirsty Enemies as they are most selfe denying so are they most suteable to the worke of Humiliation and if they prove not effectuall in their behalfe for whom they are made yet in the end they will through Gods gratious acceptance by Christs meanes prove most beneficiall and comfortable to our selves And we thinke we helpe the Lord and his cause best when we walke onely in that way which himselfe doth lead us in and wherein his cause alwayes at the last hath best thrived and prospered and that hath been not the high way of Cursing and selfe advancing but the low way of praying and selfe denying yea we apprehend that 't is the strength of God alone that must pull downe his Enemies and maintaine his owne cause which he will undoubtedly doe by some meanes or other when his wronged and afflicted people are fit for mercy and deliverance and are brought to kisse the rod which beats them and this we tell them they shall doe when they leave cursing their Enemies and with appeasednesse of Spirit can pray for them this is the doctrine which we Preach unto them to be practised on the Fast day and on every day and I beseech God give to every one of the Kings Subjects and People grace to follow it We read Ezek. 22.30 That in a time of generall Calamity God sayes that he sought for a man to make up the Hedge and stand in the gap before him that he might not destroy the Land but he found none Had God looked for Cursers or if they could have done the deed doubtlesse he might in those dayes as well as now have found many for 't is an easier thing to nature and more common to curse Enemies then to pray for them but he looked for a man that should act Moses part who stood in the breach and prayed for them and so was a meanes to preserve them The Story it selfe is worth our observance God offered to make Moses a great man yea a mighty Nation if he would but give him leave to destroy those rebellious Israelites who sure were Gods Enemies for He doth not use to destroy his friends But Moses would not yeeld though he might have come to great preferment by it Had he been of M. Marshalls mind he would have thought it his duty not onely to have left praying for them whereby he held Gods hands but also to have fell a revileing reproaching and doing them all the mischiefe that possibly he could and so have helped the Lord more quickly to have destroyed them But surely that selfe denying course of Moses was more acceptable and pleasing to God then this other of Mr Marshall would have been And I beleeve for my part that God on the Fast dayes when we meet togeather to helpe him and his cause doth expect from us even such like prayers as Moses offered and doth look that we his Ministers should call upon people in that way and manner to afford their assistance and I verily believe had M. Marshall and all the Ministers on his side so done the distressed people in Ireland which he seems so specially to commiserate had been better helped then they have been for let us but consider a little by the way more fully to evidence M. Marshalls mistake what great benefit this Cursing doctrine hath reached out to the afflicted Protestants in that Kingdome Soon after the Preaching of this Sermon which was Feb. 23. 1641. The predominant part of his Auditory their hearts being thereby fitted and prepared to Cruelty fell to put the same in practice for hereupon the lands of that Nation were exposed to
beginning of his Epistle Dedicatory before his Sermon doth prove it It is fit saies he my obedience should last as long as your Commands which therefore are supposed to be never errant for so I have alwayes interpreted your requests and desires to be we can say no otherwise to God himselfe and no question but M. Marshall would have all men of his mind ergo 2. That all men should beleeve and take their cause to be Gods c. is evident in that he saies they are all called to be Leaders and Captaines of the Lords Host called that is immediately by the Lord himselfe as Deborah Barack and the Iudges of old were by some speciall instinct and inspiration no other kind of call can he challenge for them for the King by whom God ordinarily calls and makes Captaines and Leaders of his Host I am sure M. Marshall himselfe will not say did call them together to doe as they doe to set his Kingdomes in a Combustion but rather to confirme and establish them in a further Peace not to raise Armies against his owne Person and expresse Commands but to consult together for the tranquillity and safety of his people Now if they be such as M. Marshall intitles them and so called as he without any proofe supposeth them then it must needs follow that they who helpe them helpe the Lord and their cause must be the cause of the Lord 3. That all who doe not helpe them and their cause are to be accursed accounted of and dealt withall as was expressed the tenour of M. Marshalls discourse upon his Text in the proofe of his doctrine doth sufficiâ—ntly declare as I shall shew when I come to note his Misapplications But further that M. Marshalls meaning is the same as was expressed I doe appeale to the people whose Evidence is as sufficient in this case as M. Marshalls owne They will witnesse with me that they doe thus interpret and understand him as was apparent not onely by the Prisoners that were taken at Brampton-Bryan Castle of whom is mention in the Preface to this discourse but also by that extract of them those miserable wretches that were slaine at Hopton Castle for they while they maintained the same against the Kings Souldiers amongst other revileing and blasphemous expressions some of them would cry out O you Rogues you doggs will you fight against the Lord against your redeemer which plainly infers that 't is a generall position infused into them all by their teachers that their cause is the cause of God and they that oppose them oppose the Lord which blasphemous expression occasioned others as vile from some of the prophaner sort of our men which indeed I tremble to expresse and afterward when that Castle was taken that blasphemy of theirs together with other opprobrious and reviling speeches did stir up that rage in the mercilesse Souldiers which occasioned that barbarous and inhumane slaughter of those miserable men for which my heart hath often bled in secret as God knowes it being an Act however deserved on the sufferers part yet too too cruelly inflicted by the Kings men most contradicting His Majesties meeke and gratious Spirit of much disparage among vulgar people to His righteous Cause and most unbeseeming Christian Souldiers insomuch that my prayer is and shall ever be good Lord smite the hearts of the Actors in and Consenters unto that bloody Tragoedy with true remorse for that their barbarous cruelty But here by the way I would have all men note the originall cause of that and such like deeds of barbarousnesse and inhumanity the Preachers of that side infuse by their doctrines such blasphemous and bloody Principles into their men who being of the common sort doe think it part of their zeale to discover the same in words as well as when they have power to performe it in deeds and thereby doe exasperate the opposite party to pay them home in their own Coyne for they think they have as good grounds to reckon themselves to be for the Lord as the others have and if to be bloody and cruell be the way to shew it they can be as bloody as they though I am sure our men have not so learned Christ from their teachers but alas the examples of others though deadly Enemies will prevaile more in matters of evill then the precepts of any though of neerest friends in matters of good And thus have we seen M. Marshalls mistakes in the seasonablenesse of his Text insomuch that I suppose it may be concluded contrary to what he fancyeth that his Text was most unseasonable 1. In respect of the times being times of the Gospell and so times of Blessing and not of Cursing of returning good for evill and not on the contrary of overcoming both ours and Gods Enemies with our benefits and Prayers 2. In respect of the temper of most People who in these last and worst dayes do generally mind their own things and not the things of Iesus Christ to please their own humours their own corruptions which are rather to curse and wish hurt to others then to dislike of such curses the things of Christ his precepts his commands are contrary to our selfish inclinations 3. In respect to the occasion of the dayes meeting which was being a Fast day to humble themselves for their former uncharitablenesse towards their Brethren to get their spirits meekned by Gods word and so fitted to serve the Lord in their callings and to be assistant to his cause and people by their Prayers which must proceed from hearts and mouths seasoned with Charity and not with Cursing 4. But specially it seems to be a Text most unseasonable to the Honourable Assembly of Parliament who all should be as the Lord dealing out blessings to this Nation as the Lord doth and the rather because they were call'd together for that purpose and not to be a Curse unto us they are called saies M. Marshall to be Captains and Leaders of the Lords Host I suppose he means or should meane under the Captain Generall Christ Iesus and therefore 't is fit they should be conformable to his Orders and to his Example in all their wayes and Carriages He was mercifull peaceable and indulgent to his inferiors and so should these have been provoked by him to be whereas to Preach of Cursing to them and so to imbittor their spirits must needs be most improper and unseasonable and the only way to make them unlike the Lord whose Leaders and Captains over us they ought to be I am sure it hath been a meane to breed extreame disorders and confusions And thus I have discovered M. Marshalls Misapprehensions in the Choice of his Text and so I end the first Section SECTION II. Wherein are discovered Mr Marshall's Misinterpretations I Shall now take a view also of his Interpretation of his Text which followes after his division of it which is this In this Text saies he which I call the doom of
the Church are and sympathize with them inquiring wherein they may be helpefull and then he shews well that somewhat must be done to God for it and somewhat must be done from God for it Somewhat must be done to God for the Church and that it saies he we must pray for it for God hath not promised to do any thing without prayer but he will do all things by it and herein to the shame of many that pretend themselves for the King I must needs say they are most extremely and most Atheistically defective His Sacred Majesty in the piety of his spirit and confidence in God hath strictly commanded fasting and prayer yet what is there practiced in many places by many people on that very day but drinking and swearing yea and by some that should give better example playing at Cards How empty are Gods houses and how full are Alehouses But good Lord lay not this sinne to the charge of thine Annoynted or of those that are truly and conscientiously for him But hence hence it is that the righteous cause lyeth so long in the Sudds for did we pray better our enemies would soone be turned backe this will I do for you howbeit I will be sought unto for it by the house of Israel saith the Lord God And here by the way Master Marshall exhorted his Auditors unto another good duty and that is to prize and esteeme of such as have the spirit of prayer which also is too much neglected by many in some of the Kings quarters for as Master Marshall saies truly to whom I consent to pray is not to read prayers or to say prayers or to sing prayers or barely to conceive and utter prayers but 't is a powring out the soule to God with purity faithfullnesse servency humility and constancy and those that can thus pray are as he well the very Chariots and Horsemen of Israel But alas I say how extremely are such men slighted and scorned by many amongst us insomuch that if injuries or abuses would drive them all as they do too many from the Kings side and from their Allegiance His Majesty should scarce have one praying man in some of his quarters The Rebells by their wicked pretences have brought Religion into such extreme suspicion as that many amongst us who know not themselves what true Piety and Religion meaneth do thinke it impossible as I suppose that any man should be both religious and loyall but let Atheists and prophane men know that our Loyalty is of a better kind then theirs is for it is so strengthend by Religion that all the injuries and reproaches which the Rebells the Divell and themselves together can heape upon us or dart against us shall never be able to enervate or weaken it in us but I returne to Master Marshall who sayes 2ly Somewhat also must be done from God for the Church and that is we must imploy all the gifts and talents which God hath given us in the Churches service they are given us for that end to profit the Church withall 1 Cor. 12.7 and therefore as good stewards of the manifold guifts and graces of God we must dispense them Most true hath God given men wisedome strength or wealth why all these and what ever else they have that may in any thing be availeable they are bound as they will answer it to God at the dreadfull day of Judgement to imploy at this present in the service of their King and Country we thinkes every true Englishman should blush to looke upon any thing which himselfe hath that his Soveraigne wanteth or that may do him any service shall I goe into my house to eate and drinke and lye with my wife saies gallant Vriah when the Arke of God and my Lord Ioab and the servants of my Lord are incamped in open fields So me thinke should every Gentleman every rich man say shall I go in Skarlet while my Soveraigne goes in Sackcloth shall I be richly clad while my Soveraigne is meanely attired shall I have gold in my Chests while my good Soveraigne wants it to buy food to put in to his Souldiers bellies shall I lye soft and fare well while my Soveraigne lodges hard and fares ill yea is hunted up and downe the land like a Patridge upon the Mountaines and is robbed of his maintenance shall my Soveraigne be in my Saviours condition and complaine with him The foxes have holes and the birds of the aire have nests but the King of England hath not where to hide his head and shall I live like that Dives in the Gospell and care for nothing No farre be such things from me I had rather begg with my Prince my naturall Leige Lord if God so please then raigne and domineere with his rebellious Enemies Thus I say me thinke we should all even grutch our selves to fare better then our King or to enjoy any thing which he wanteth or to have any thing in our possession which might be serviceable to farther that righteous cause which His Majesty maintaineth But once againe to Master Marshall who now drawes toward the end of his Sermon which he concludes with an exhortation so the margent calls it to his Right Honourable and beloved Auditors and wisheth that they could heare the Lord himselfe speaking to them in the same language as once he spake to Cyrus and truly I wish the same thing with him for then I hope they might have beene drawne from that bloudy and sinfull way which ever since some of them have walked in For God I am sure would not have spoken to them as Master Marshall hath done But instead of exhorting them he doth fall to commend them you saies he who have heretofore lived at ease injoying the delights of the sons of men have now changed your pleasures for paines your delights for dangers your profits and gaines for expenâ—es c. if they have as he saies beene Changelings in these things I wish they had beene such in nothing else or done no worse but alas they have changed our peace into warre our happinesse into misery they have turned the whole Kingdome upside downe and of a flourishing Country have made it an Acheldama or field of bloud But Master Mashall goes on and tells them such fruitâ— as yours are not brought forth by every plant such plants as you grâ—w not on every ground no God forbid they should the world would soone be at an end then nor had it stood till this day if former ages had produced many such But goe ye on saies he ye nobles and worthyes forget what is behind if the worme of Conscience will give them leave God and his People will never forget it I beleeve they will not for there is too great cause it should be remembred Get the resolution of Zisca that Brave Bohemian Captaine who not onely was willing to fight while he lived but bequeathed his skin when he died to be made a drumme head
the sword of Christs mouth which is the word of God is the only weapons ordained to destroy that nor should that be quite abolished from the earth as Learned Divines did hold till the comming of Christ himselfe they told me that all the true godly Divines in England amongst whom they named in speciall M. Marshall were of their opinion that Antichrist was here in England as well as at Rome and that the Bishops were Antichrist and all that did endeavour to support them were popishly affected Babilonish and Antichristian too yea many professed Papists were in our Armies who they said did fight against Christ and Protestant Religion and therefore they thought they were bound in Conscience to fight against them and us that took part with them and in so doing they did but help God against his Enemies I urged them to shew what call or warrant they had so to doe being not Authorised by the King they seemed to inferre a threefold call or Warrant 1. The Command of the Parliament 2. The Example of all Godly and powerfull Ministers leading encourageing and stirring them up thereunto And 3. The Motion of Gods spirit in all Gods people provoking them all with one minde to undertake the same businesse and to confirme all this they alleadged that place Iudg. 5. Curse ye Meroz Curse ye her inhabitants with a bitter Curse because they came not to help the Lord against the mighty And that place Ier. 48. Cursed be he that witholds his hand from bloud And that in Psa. 137. Blessed is he that dasheth the Children of Babilon against the stones And do not you think say they if the Papists prevaile but they will destroy all us do you think they fight for the Protestant Religion I answered no I did not beleeve they did nor did they pretend any such thing but onely to ayde their naturall Liege Lord the King against those that wronged him as in duty being his Subjects they were bound to doe I did not deny but they might secretly ayme at their owne ends too as the King of Ashur did when he was doing the worke of God Esay 10. But God who ruled the world and alwayes defended his true Church would not suffer them to pursue their owne ends any further then should make for his owne praise and his peoples good Then I endeavoured to shew them that those Scriptures which they alleadged were misapplyed by them and did rather make against them but they took me off from that discourse with Mr Marshalls application of them M. Marshall said they doth apply them as we doe in a Sermon Preach'd before the Parliament which we had at Brampton I told them that surely they were mistaken in M. Marshall for though some Weavers and Taylers and Tinkers and Pedlers and such like who were suffered to preach did abuse and pervert Gods word to their own purposes yet M. Marshall who was one whom my selfe knew better then they did I was perswaded had more wisedome learning and honesty then so to doe and much other discourse to this purpose we had togeather insomuch that at last they desired me that I would come againe unto them and pray with them but my occasions carryed me out of the Towne on the morrow that I could see them no more Now behold about the end of Iuly or beginning of August after I fortuned to be in a Booksellers shop in Ludlow where I chanced to see a Sermon of M. Marshalls upon that Text Iud. 5.23 Curse ye Meroz c. which I had either not seen before or not sufficiently observed wherefore reading the same that discourse which I had with the forementioned Prisoners came into my mind and I did conclude that this was the very Sermon which they had alleadged unto me in their owne defence wherefore having by experience seen in part what dammage thereby was already done to simple people and beleeving that others of the like ranke and quality in other places might be by the same as much misled I did apprehend my selfe in the accidentall meeting with this Sermon after such my forementioned discourse to be called by a speciall Providence to set pen to paper to vindicate the Scriptures of God and did thinke it my duty and that I was bound in Conscience being a Minister of God to warne all men of the danger and to discover the snare which is layd to catch and draw them into wayes of Bloud and murder It is true M. Marshall is my deare friend yet Gods truth is more deare unto me yea the least title of that I hope I shall ever esteem more precious then all the friends in the world opposed unto it And I know M. Marshall is an able man and my selfe weake in compare with him yet in the cause of God I am not affraid to take up the Buckler against him I have been bold once already even to provoke him into the publique lists for to justifie his new and most ungospellike way but his Conscience or his Courage would not serve him to answer my letter and therefore I hope that grace is not quite extinguished in him perhaps through Gods blessing if this ensuing discourse come to his hand he may see more of his errour and of the hurt he hath done thereby to others and so maybe awakened to glorifie God and his truth by a self denying recantation my humble prayers are and shall be to God for him that he may so doe And I desire of you all Christian Readers that you would joyn with me in the same prayer for him and also that God would molliâ—ie and sanctifie the spirits of all those of M. Marshals faction who have brought these lamentable miseries upon this now most wofull Nation that they might at length smite their owne breasts and cry O what have we done And thou O great and mighty Majesty of Heaven and Earth who alone canst open the eares of the deafe and the eyes of the blinde cause thou these men to hear that cry of bloud in their owne soules which themselves have shed and to see those calamities with watry eyes which themselves have occasioned charge thou upon their Consciences that high disgrace which they have put upon the meek and loving Gospell of thy deare Sonne And thou O Sonne of God whose Gospell it is defend the honour of the same and make us all to behave our selves worthy the still enjoyment of it even for thine owne merit and mercy sake Amen Amen SCRIPTURE VINDICATED from the Misapprehensions Misinterpretations mis-applications of Mr Stephen Marshall in his Sermon Preached before the Commons House of PARLIAMENT Feb. 23. 1641. upon that Text in Iudges 5.23 Curse ye Meroz said the Angell of the Lord curse ye bitterly the Inhabitants thereof because they came not to the help of the Lord to the help of the Lord against the mighty THis Text as with Mr Marshall so with the rest of the Ministers of his party is of great use
of the Cavileeres that he can see none of these miscarriages in his owne party or are they no miscarriages because they do them surely M. Marshall hath not discharged himselfe in that particular for which he entred his Office if by the word he meanes Gods word or else he is lesse perswasive and powerfull in his teaching then he was wont to be indeed being so farre out of Christs way no marvaile if God refuse to smile upon his labours with a blessing as heretofore But how mildely and mercifully M. Marshall doth teach those of his Faction and how according to the word to behave themselves we shall see hereafter in this his Sermon and perhaps shall thinke from what we shall therein finde that to behave themselves according to the word in his sense is to justifie themselves in their wicked waies by perverting and abusing the word for that is the thing which by his example he teacheth in the same and herein I confesse he hath been too unhappily successefull upon the weake spirits of the vulgar people But I returne from his selfe to his Sermon Now by this digression we have seene from M. Marshalls own writeings what is the foundation of that good opinion which himselfe and these of his side have of themselves and of their cause tâ—e Parliament judgeth so which is also the reason why the King and all his friends who are eminent in Wisedome Strength Authority or Riches must be beleived to mannage the ill Cause against the Lord and against his Church the Parliament iudgeth so And therefore 't is every mans duty to speak evill of them to reproach them to call them Papists and doggs yea and to do any mischiefe to them in deed that can be wished in word to seize upon their estates and to slaughter their bodies for the Parliament judgeth so Nor must any one doubt but in so doing he helpeth the Lord against the mighty for the Parliament judgeth so And if the Ministers on that side shall please to say that they doe not enter upon their Office in the Army to fight or to meddle in the Councell of Warre and notwithstanding shall manibus pedibusque with tooth and naile and tongue too stir as much and more then any against Law it selfe yet it must be apprehended that they doe all things well and as they should doe for the Parliament judgeth so And if in stead of teaching men to behave themselves according to the word they shall teach them to pervert the word for the justification of themselves in wayes of wrong and blood why this also is well done if the Parliament judgeth so In a word telling of untruths breaking of oathes resisting and defaming the King shedding of innocent blood and such like things if these 〈◊〉 whom the Parliament judgeth Gods people do commit them to promote that which they call the Lords cause are no transgressions but acts of Religion and zeale for the Parliament judgeth so This is the great and undeniable evidence the Parliament judgeth so But let me tell all men that the judgement of God is greater then that of the Parliament and he knoweth all things and will judge all men with righteouâ— judgement even these Parliament men themselves whom ere long he shall fetch before his Barre of Iustice their Militia shall not hinder him therein as it doth at this present his vicegerent and to that great and dreadfull Lord God I leave them and returne to Mr Marshall whose Misinterpretation of his Text we have in part seen and the ground thereof to be a false opinion of the infallibility of judgement in the Parliament I shall still follow him When he had in his sence expounded his Text he doth note by the way some observations before he concludes upon his main doctrine all which he should have done well to have quite omitted or else in more full and cleare tearmes to have propounded them they are these in their order Although Gods people {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} must blesse and not curse yet in some cases they may forsake mount Gerazim and ascend mount Eball and there curse and cursâ— bitterly Mr Marshall should have done well in a few wordes to have noted what cases those are for people being naturally inclined rather to curse then blesse are apt to be mistaken in thinking that to be a case which is not beside many true Godly people doe think that in no case they ought to curse in these daies because the Spirit of the Gospell is no cursing spirit nor are the times of the Gospell cursing times and the doctrine of the Gospell is blesse and curse not which they interpret in no case therefore I say M. Marshall should have done well to have set downe his cases which he would have excepted Although the Curse causelesse shall not come yet when Gods people according to Gods direction clave non errante doe curse their curse is like the flying rowle Zack 5.3 4. a consuming curse In this also Mr Marshall should have done well to have given some infallible Rules that people might know when they should curse according to Gods direction clave non errante for every man is ready to think himselfe a Pope and when ever he hath a provocation to curse to think that he hath that clavem non errantem in his possession though some Protestants question whether there be any such unerring Key committed to any upon earth or no The mighty doe frequently oppose the Lord it is no new thing to finde the mighty in strength the mighty in Authority the mighty in wealth the mighty in parts in Learning and Councell to ingage all against the Lord his Church and cause Here also M. Marshall might have done well to have distinguished upon the Mighty for those ignorant people that take M. Marshalls words for Scripture may perhaps misapply his meaning and from what they may learne in the next observation when they see any one of their own side grow mighty above others in â—uthority and wealth by meanes of those estates of other men which they hope shortly to enjoy they may take upon them to murder them and so some of the Worthy Members may chance to have their throats cut because in regard of their mightinesse they may be apprehended likely to oppose the Lord his Church and Cause for the mighty doe frequently do so saies M. Marshall Therefore had he said some of the mighty some of the wealthy do so it had been more safe and more advisedly spoken or had he used St Pauls modesty and saiâ—not many Noble not many Mighty not many Learned doe assist the Lord and his cause he had been lesse liable to misconstruction for not many doth not â—xclude all nor suggest a â—uspition of all but yeeldeth to Gods praise that some of eminent ranke in all Ages have been friends and defenders of the Church of God Indeed to that observation M. Marshall in some
Christians to the end that their own designes may succeed the better at home they dare not doe any evill to others that good may come thereby unto themselves nor doe they in any sort allow of that distinction which one of M. Marshalls Auditory did make with the approbation doubtlesse of some fellow Members that though evill may not be done to further the private good of any man yet to further the publique Cause it may No the People of God dare not be so wise as to use any meanes but what they may with confidence from the word expect Gods blessing upon for Gods People rest chiefly upon God for helpe they live by saith accounting as M. Marshall saies the Battaile not theirs but Gods whose cause is united to the cause of his people when Asaph saies M. Marshall had laid downe the Churches sufferings Psal. 74. the pulling down of their Synagogues the wasting of their Country the reproach and scorne cast upon them by their enemies he doth v. 22. 23. interest God in all this From which quotation of M. Marshalls we may also note for our purpose by the way that the pullers downe of Churches the wasters of their Country the casters of reproach and scorne upon their betters are the Enemies of Gods Church and people and so also of himselfe indeed the Psalmist in plain words calls them Gods adversaries Thine Adversaries roare in the midst oâ— the Congregations they set up their Banners for tokens they breake downe the carved worke in thy Temples with Axes and Hammers they have set fire upon thine Holy places and have defiled by casting downe the dwelling place of thy Name yea they have said let us destroy kill slay and destroy them altogether thus have they burnt up the Synagogues of God in the Land Now from this place of Scripture so happily quoted by M. Marshall we learne that the Authors of such actions or expressions may be concluded to be the Enemieâ— of Gods Church and people yea M. Marshall helpes us in this Collection too Pag. 18. of his Sermon where he pronounceth this sentâ—nce They must needs be blessed that serve the Church and he must needs be cursed that deprives it of its dues And who these are that doe so I leave to every mans owne observation to determine 3. The Church and people of God as M. Marshall Pag. 16. inferres unto us are they that maintains the good cause and saies 〈◊〉 when Davids cause was good his adversaries must needs be evill and then he could foretell that they should be ashamed and brought to confusion cloathed with reproach and dishonour who opposed themselves against him which indeed fell out accordingly upon all that pack of Rebells and Traitors that conspired against the Lords Annoynted to pull him from that honour whereto God had advanced him Achitophell hang'd himselfe and a Tree hang'd Absolom and twenty thousand of their followers that did associate with them were slaine in a day And Sheba afterward who trod in their rebelliouâ— steppes against the King had his head severed from his shoulders and therefore M. Marshall was in the right also for that particular And then that we might the better know the good Cause he gives us two markes of it which also may be allowed of the good Cause saies he which is Gods Cause is a noble Cause and a successefull Cause and therein he speakes right for the King For The Kings cause is a noble cause not onely in respect of his Royall selfe whose cause it is and in respect of those Noble Personages that are agents in it but also because it is not for a trifle or a thing of no great Consequent but even for a Crowne which according to Master Marshall's judgement in that place doth enoble the cause the Kings cause sure is for no lesse then for a Crowne and for to keepe the Dominion of three Kingdomes which the Lord of Heaven and Earth hath intrusted him withall He would still hold his Soveraignty onely and immediately from the Lord but they would have him acknowledge his dependance upon themselves and if he would but so farre deny God and debase himselfe as in that manner to worship them they tell him as one did once our Saviour all theâ—e will we give thee or wee 'l make you the most glorious Prince in Christendome but the King like a good Tenant maintaines the right of his true and old Landlord the glorious Lord God therefore his cause is a noble cause 't is Gods Cause and saies Master Marshall 2. Gods cause is a successefull cause in the end or finall issue it will prove so for a while the malignant Church may prevaile against the good and an ill cause may have the better and then that shall be called good falix prosperum scelus virtus vocaâ—ur and the good cause failing in the execution will have the denomination of bad and therefore I beleeve their great Major Crommell was in the right when he said if we prevayle our opposers will be acounted the grandest Traitors to the state that ever were and be used accordingly but if the King prevaile our undertaking will be judged the most horrid and blacke Rebellion that ever the sunne saw If therefore we will judge by the event we must suspend our sentence till all be done the good cause like good men growes illustrious by degrees as the sunne shines more and more bright toward the perfect dayâ— as the waters of Siloe run so doth Gods helpe often come to his people slowly but surely and though successe of late hath in some places favoured the Kings Enemies for the sins sake of us his followers yet I thinke Master Marshall cannot deny if he doth but remember that the King hath thriven somewhat since himselfe went downe with the Army towards Nottingham with this opinion in his heart and these words in his mouth for the incouragement of his Companions that the King might fly from place to place for a little while but there is no remedy he must yeeld and come in at last he cannot possibly withstand our great forces And I doubt not through the the mercy of our stong our just and holy God but in the end Master Marshalls quotation in his 17 pag. from Esa. 44.17 will be evidenced to be true no weapon can prosper that is formed against it the Kings cause and every tongue that rises up in judgement against it shall be condemned Fourthly and lastly we gather from Master Marshall pag. 18. that those who be of the Dragons Army of the Church malignant that have as in pag. 20. their names in the Dragons muster booke are none of the Church or people of God And herein he speaks most truly also But how shall we know who they are Master Marshall like a freind helps us in this too in the same place viz. the later end of the 18 pag. by his quotation of a Scriptures The first is Prov. 30.17 the eye