is now in any mans days now alive and we all know That Necessity hath no law Therefore if the Magistrate do require more then ordinary of us to supply our present wants and to deliver us out of such great dangers and troubles as otherwise would come upon us even to the destroying both of persons and estates of all that fear God we must not call this Oppression nor murmur against the Magistrate for in so doing we shall murmur against God for it is he that sendeth these wars and troubles upon us for our sins who then can give us peace It 's not in the Magistrates power until the Lord please As for example if the Lord please to send a famine of bread in the Land and make us buy our food at an extraordinary rate shall we therefore murmur at the Magistrate or will that do us any good until the Lord be pleased to send plenty So now also if the Lord be pleased to make us buy our peace at a dearer rate then ordinary let us not murmur against the Magistrates but rather let us consider our ways and labour to finde out the cause why the Lord doth thus chastise us and to remove it that so these evil effects may cease And truely if we consider well what the Lord hath done for us in giving food and raiment in such a plentiful manner and that England is yet a Nation inhabited by its own children notwithstanding those fierce and bitter wars that have been even in the bowels of it we shall have more cause to praise the Lord for his mercies then to murmur at his chastisements for he hath not dealt so with every nation How often hath he chastised his people Israel with sorer chastisements then we have yet felt praised be his Name as we may read in 2 Kings 6.25 when an asses head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver and the fourth part of a kab of doves dung for five pieces and when women boiled their children and eat them because of the siege and straitness thereof I suppose England hath not yet tasted so deep of this bitter cup Chap. 10. But there is a generation of murmurers and complainers as Jude saith that are not afraid to speak evil of dignities which remain still in the body of the Nation and disturb the peace thereof and will do until they be purged out the Lord is a doing of it for the head and the tail must go together Isai. 9.14 He hath already cut off the head which is the ancient and honorable the tail must follow which is the prophet that teacheth lyes and doth daub the Princes of the Nations with untempered mortar seeing vanity and divining lyes saying Thus saith the Lord when the Lord hath not spoken See Isa. 9.14 15. with Ezek. 22.27 28 29. You may know them by their fruits These are they which teach the people to murmur against the present Powers and to complain of the great Taxes and heavie burthens that are now in the Commonwealth when indeed they were the men that first caused them by stirring up the people crying out Curse ye Meroz curse bitterly the inhabitants thereof because they came not out to help the Lord against the mighty and Cursed be he that keepeth back his hand from shedding of blood And are still the onely continuers of these bitter wars which cause the Taxes to continue by stirring up sedition and causing division amongst the people Whereas if they would as much labour to make peace there would the sooner be an end of these troubles and a removing of the heavie burthens and Taxes necessitated thereby But these men it is to be feared have a further designe in hand then all men know for if it be observed they could in the beginning of the wars list up their voices like a trumpet cursing Meroz bitterly using the aforesaid words to stir up men to go and fight against the King And in those days they could pray heartily even with tears for the prosperity of the Parliaments Army and as heartily give thanks for the overthrow and destruction of the Kings party and teach others so to do let them deny it if they can And this zeal continued so long as they thought that if their forefathers the Bishops and the rest of that brood had perished with him that then they should have been heirs of their inheritance viz. of all their Lands and Revenues and so of all their honour pride and vain-glory and to have had the Scepter committed to them to rule and tyrannize over the consciences of men fearing God While this hope remained their zeal burnt hot as fire and all was well and the Parliament was a power ordained of God But when the honourable and prudent Rulers of this Nation denied them these things and especially that they might not tyrannize over the conscience to make all men be of their Religion to see with their eyes and go on their legs and believe as they believe even as they do at Rome when this is denied then they are the men that first complain of persecution because they themselves may not be the persecutors and now they cannot in conscience give thanks for shedding of blood but when the State desired those that feared God to give him thanks for that great deliverance and victory over the Scots at Dunbar there was scarcely one in five miles compass to be found and some of those that did meet by relation of some that are honest which were among them they told the people that they had more need to keep it as a day of Weeping Mourning and Humiliation then a day of Thanksgiving with many other scandalous words tending to the disaffecting and disengaging of the hearts of the people from the State Therefore let it be well considered who are they that despise dominion and are not afraid to spoak evil of dignitses These are they which in all ages had the praise of men generally therefore saith Christ Luke 6.26 Wo be to you when all men speak well of you for so did their fathers of the false prophets These were they in Ahab's days which deluded him and all Israel teaching them to forsake the Commandments of the Lord and to follow Baalim when Elijah that one Prophet of the Lord discovered the folly and deceit of four hundred and fifty of them at once 1 King 18.18 19 20 21 22 23 24. These are they which again in King Ahab's time deluded him and caused him to go up to Ramoth-gilead to fight when that one Prophet of the Lord Micaiah withstood four hundred of them to their faces and warned Ahab not to go up yet he believing the four hundred false Prophets rather then that one Prophet of the Lord went up and was slain Thus we see that through their lyes and delusions they bring even Kings and Princes to destruction both of body and soul These are they which in our age and in this Nation of England
have done the same to Charles deceased which their fore-fathers did to King Ahab in stirring of him up to war against his subjects especially against those that most feared God and so have brought him to destruction And these are still at this present time deluding his ignorant son calling of him Charles the second having his person in admiration because of advantage as Jude saith v. 16. and by this means they stir up him and his poor deceived supposed subjects to war against the Powers of this Nation of England so wonderfully set up and established by God himself and powerfully preserved and defended by his immediate hand against all enemies whatsoever which all that have but eyes open may easily see and yet these Seers are so blinde that they cannot see the hand of the Lord lifted up against them and that Kingly power as they call it which hath always joyned with them being deceived by them to persecute the Saints and children of God of whom God is now taking vengeance yet they are still leading their King whom they have chosen and his subjects whom they have deceived into the pit of destruction without remedy they themselves being certain to fall with them for if the blinde lead the blinde they shall both fall into the ditch Matth. 15.14 Therefore let the honourable Parliament of England beware of them let the noble and valiant Army take heed of them and watch them as the worst enemies they have For what Satan and his instruments cannot do by tyranny and strength that they will accomplish by treachery and deceit if possible Therefore let the Commonwealth of England in general with all the noble Governours and Officers and honest plain-hearted Country-men learn to watch them with a single eye lest they seduce you and cause you to divide and so bring you to destruction before you are aware Therefore dear Country-men take heed of being deluded by them again to war and bloodshed lest you provoke the Lord to anger and so the whole Nation be drowned in blood without remedy for then they that now complain of some Taxes necessitated by these present troubles stirred up first by them will have cause to complain for want of bread to eat and cloathes to put on Therefore having food and raiment let us be therewith content and serve the Lord our God with gladness and joyfulness of heart for the abundance of all things lest he give us up to serve our enemies which he shall send against us in hunger and in thirst and in nakedness and in want of all things and he put a yoke of iron upon our necks until he have destroyed us See Deut. 28.47 48. Thus have I in some measure discovered who are the instrumental causes of our unhappiness I shall proceed to the third particular viz. Whence the original of Monarchy did spring And in the clearing of that I shall not make use of the worst of people viz. the Nations of the world for they were enemies to God and given up to work all manner of wickedness with greediness although they had Kings as appeareth by their adulteries abusing themselves with mankinde and with beasts and causing of their children to pass thorow the fire to Molech allowed of by their Kings like the wicked Rulers of Sodom Levit. 18.19 20 21 22 23 24. and God in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways Act. 14 16. therefore they are no example for us to walk by But we shall look into the ways of the children of Israel God's peculiar people for I know that the people of England in general would gladly be counted the people of God and would be offended if we should deny them the name of Christians We shall therefore consider how there came to be a King in Israel at first over the people of God Whether it was by the commandment of God and so according to his pure minde or whether it did not spring from a corrupt principle in the people and was the pride and wickedness of their hearts and not the least but the greatest of all the sins they committed to chuse any other King to rule over them but God onely For the clearing of which I shall examine these following Scriptures 1 Sam. 8.4 5 6 7 8 9. we read that all the elders of Israel gathared themselves together and came to Samuel and said Behold thou art old and thy sons walk not in thy ways now make us a king to judge us like all the nations Here we see the pride and wickedness of their hearts in that they would have a King to judge them like all other nations whom God had given up to walk in their own ways and according to the lust of their own hearts Therefore observe what followed first it displeased Samuel the Prophet of the Lord secondly he prayed to the Lord and sought him about it thirdly the Lord answered saying Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they have said unto thee for they have not rejected thee but they have rejected me that I should not raign over them according to all the works which they have done since they came out of Egypt even to this day wherewith they have forsaken me and served other gods so do they also unto thee Now therefore hearken to their voice howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them Thus we see that though they pretended good in it namely that it was because Samuel's sons were wicked yet the Lord was angry with them and said that they rejected him in so doing notwithstanding he gave them their desire which was a King but it was in his anger and he took him away again in his wrath See Hos. 13.11 Again when Samuel had declared the manner of their King and told them that they should cry out in that day because of their King which they had chosen but the Lord would not hear them yet still they refused to obey the voice of Samuel and said Nay but we will have a king over us to judge us and go out before us and fight our battels that we may be like all the nations So Samuel rehearsed all these words again in the cars of the Lord by which he was provoked and said in his anger Give them a King And here 's the beginning of Kings amongst the people of God And thus have I shewed plainly that it was not at all of God but contrary to his holy will that any should have the name of a King over his people but himself and it did arise from the pride and corruption of the people as further appeareth in these words And Samuel called the children of Israel together unto the Lord to Mizâ—eh and said Thus saith the Lord God of Israel I brought up Israel out of Egypt and delivered you out of the hands of the Egyptians and out of the hands of all kingdoms and
at mine hand and cause all the Nations to whom I send thee to drink it Consider what Nations ver. 18.19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26. First Jerusalem and the Cities of Judah and the kings and Princes thereof to make them a desolution an astonishments and hissing and a curse as it is at this day We are sure this is true that they are a hissing and a curse at this day why then should the other be so incredible namely that he will destroy all the Kings of the Nations with their honorable Princes if they stand up against him and against his Anointed as followeth Pharoah King of Egypt and his Servants and his Princes and all his people and all the mingled people and all the Kings of the Land of Vz and all the Kings of the Land of the Philistines and Ashkolon and Azzah and Ekron and the remnant of Ashdod Edom and Moab and the children of Ammon and all the Kings of Tyrus and all the Kings of Zidon and the Kings of the isles beyond the sea Dedan and Tema and Buz and all that are in the utmost corners the Lord will find them out and all the Kings of Arabia and all the Kings of the mingled people that dwel in the desert and all the Kings of Zimri and all the Kings of Elam and all the Kings of the Medes and all the Kings of the north far and near one with another and all the Kingdoms of the world that are upon the face of the earth c. To all these was the Prophet sent to declare to them the words of the Lord of hosts the God of Israel namely that they should drink and be drunken and spue and fall and rise no more because of the sword which I will send among them The certainty of it doth further appear in the 28 29 verses where he saith If they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drinke then shalt thou say to them Thus saith the Lord of hosts Ye shall certainly drink for lo I begin to bring evil upon the City which is called by my name viz. Jerusalem and shall ye be utterly unpunished Ye shall not be unpunished for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth saith the Lord of hosts Thus is the designe of the Lord of hosts made plain by the Holy Scriptures of truth and not by any cunning devised fables or fancies of my own brain These sayings are faithfull and true therefore they will come to pass in their appointed times And that they are not yet come to pass is plaine to all that do understand for most of the Kings of the nations are yet in their pompe and glory and are enemies to the Lords Anointed therefore he will avenge himself upon them speedily for these be the days of vengence in which all things that are written in the Prophets against the enemies of Christ must be fulfilled Luke 21.22 And now in the earth is distress of nations and perplexity and mens hearts failing them for feare and for looking after the things that are coming on the earth For the signes of the coming of the Lord are now amongst us even here in England and the beginning of sorrows is in the nation the Lord hath now begun to make us drink of this bitter cup and it will be great mercy if we drink no deeper notwithstanding some murmur and complain it is because their eyes are not open to see God's designe now upon the face of the earth if they did they would see more cause to give thanks to the Lord for his mercies then to murmur against him for his favourable and gentle chastisements he hath not dealt so with every nation and if England escape thus it will be very strange to me and so I beleive it will be to all that rightly understand what God is now doing and his work which he will accomplish upon the face of the earth yet before the end for he hath not yet made a man more precious then fine gold even a man then the golding wedge of Ophir Isa. 13.11 12. neither hath he made the earth empty and laid it waste and scattered the inhabitants thereof Is 24.1 2 3. but when it shall thus be in the midest of the land among the peoples there shall be as the shaking of an olive-tree and as the gleaning of the grapes when the vintage is ended they shall lift up their voice and sing for the majesty of the Lord ver. 13.14 Therefore let the wicked and ungodly men that know not Christ and obey not his holy Gospel but are enemies and will not that he should reigne over them let them howl for sorrow of heart for their sorrows are begun and the day of the Lord is at hand and it shall come as a destuction from the Almighty then shall all their hands be faint and every mans heart shall melt and they shall be afraid pangs of sorrow shall take hold of them they shall be in pain as a woman in travel they shall be amazed one at another and their face shall be as flames Isa. 13.6 7 8. But let those that feare the Lord and keep his commandements rejoyce and lift up their heads for the day of their Redemption draweth nigh For it shall come to pass even in those days that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved Luk. 21.28 Act. 2.21 The next thing in order to be observed is wherefore God will destroy them Answ. Because in all ages they have been his enemies and the persecuters of him and his Saints Those they were that in the time of the Law being deluded and blinded by the false prophets did persecute and kill the prophets of the Lord as in Ahabs days Zedekiahs days and Jehoiakims days Ier. 26.29 chap. 37.12 13 14 15. with 1 King 9.9 10. and chap. 24.25 26 27. They also were the men in Christs days which by wicked hands brought him to his end as it is written Act. 4.26 The Kings of the earth stood up and the Rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ for of a truth against thy holy child Jesus whom thou hast anoninted both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and people of Israel are gathered together c. This is the generation the Lord speaks of Mat. 23. calling of of them Serpents and generation of vipers saying to them How can you escape the damnation of hell because they had slain the Prophets and righteous men that lived in their days and in the days of their forefathers This is that wicked spirit of persecution which all along from Cain to the end of the world hath reigned and will reigne in the hearts of all ungodly men and women to persecute and kill the Saints Therefore saith Paul Gal. 4.29 As then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit even so it is now and Christ
that are in high places for the God Israel hath said They which rule over men must be just ruling in the fear of God and as the light of the morning when the Sun ariseth in a morning without clouds and as the tender grass springing out of the earth by the clear shining after raine 2 Sam. 23.3 4. And truly there hath bin a great shower upon the nation these many yeers but now it is ended therefore the Lord grant that after you may so spring up and grow in works of Justice and mercy and righteousness that by them you may shine forth in the nation So as both your selves and they which do behold you may have cause to rejoyce and glorifie God Otherwise I for my part am very Confident that Englands miseries are not yet done but the Lord will again chastise us with chastisements seven times worse then before but I hope for better things although I thus speak Sixthly The example of Solomon is worthy of serious consideration who when the Lord had made him ruler over his people he then besought him for an understanding heart that he might discern between good and bad and that he might know how to judge righteously between man and man and how to go out and in before so great a people and this thing pleased the Lord so that he did not onely grant him his request but also gave him riches and honour which he did not aske nor cover after and promised him further that if he would walk in his ways and keep his statutes and commandments as his father David did he would also lengthen his days 1 King 3.5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. Now would the honorable Rulers of this nation know how to discern between good and bad and to judge righteously between man and man and how to go out and in before this great people which the Lord hath set them over Would you have honour and riches here and true happiness hereafter with God in glory Then ask it of the Lord as David and Solomon did meditate in his law and exercise your selves therein day and night learn out of that what is Justice and Judgement and equity and the Lord will be with you and give you wisdome and understanding in all things for he is no respecter of persons but giveth to all that ask in faith freely and upbraideth not James 1.5 Therefore Right Honorable dispise not these sayings because of the weakness of the instrument who at this time puts you in mind of them but let the counsell of the Lord be acceptable to you it may be as Daniel saith a lengthening of your tranquillity Chap. 4.27 therefore let all that are in authority labour to be such as they ought to be namely men fearing God and hating covetousness for if any be otherwise minded let them know the Lord will have such to rule before he hath done and aske the Lord for wisdome even that hidden wisdome which few or none of the Princes of this world have attaind unto 1 Cor. 2.8 that so you may wise and understanding hearts to judge the people righteously for without this wisdome who is able to go out and in before so great a people as God hath set you over especially when the eyes of most of them are upon the Rulers for evill and do watch for their haltings Be wise now therefore you that are the Rulers of the Nation and be instructed yee that are the Judges of the people and remember that although you be called Gods yet you must die like men and after that cometh the righteous and impartiall Judgement of God to whom you must give account at the great day of all your actions Therefore take heed ye be not conformable to their Image which God hath cast downe by you and do not tread in the footsteps of them whom God hath destroyed by your hands for their pride vaine-glory covetousness and oppression which wickedness in them was now come to the full But especiaily take heed of persecuting the Saints and men fearing God for conscience sake in the things of God the which they were deluded and led into by those wicked Antichristian Ministers which attended upon them in the Bishops days a great part of whom is left amongst us to this day and some of them so transformed into Ministers of righteousness that they will hardly be discerned from them but this need be no wonder for Paul saith the Devill himself is transformed into an angel of light 2 Cor. 11.14 15. but by their works they may be known Therefore if there be any secretly inticing your Honours to persecute men fearing God which make the holy Scripture a rule both for their faith and obedience you may be sure they are of that old generation the Lord Christ speaketh of you may read their genealogie and see whose children they are Mat. 23.27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37. compared with John 8.44 But I know by wofull experience they have so much of the wisdom from beneath as to call us Hereticks and pestilent fellows and movers of sedition and ring leaders of sects for after the same manner they accused Paul Act. 24.5 But his answer is sufficient for all those which tread in his footsteps and contend earnestly for that faith which was once delivered to the Saints in Pauls days which answer is written Act. 2.4.13 14 15 16. in these words They cannot prove the things whereof they accuse me but this he confessed to Felix that after the way which they call Heresie so worship I the God of my fathers beleiving all things that are written in the Law and the Prophets and have hope towards God which they themselves allow that there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust And herein do I exercise my self always to have a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man From which words of Paul I observe these things 1. That they which persecuted him did themselves allow that it was lawfull for him to beleive all things written in the Law and the Prophets and yet they accused him for an heretick even so do men in these days they will allow us to beleive all things written in the Law and the Prophets and all the gratious words of Christ and his Apostles but if we practise them they will accuse us for hereticks 2. Those which do believe all things written in the holy Scriptures and acknowledge the resurrection of the just and unjust and labour to keep good Consciences void of offence towards God and towards man they are no Hereticks let them believe and do what they will if it be no more then is written in the word of God to believe and obey Therefore let all men take heed how they persecute any for believing or practising any thing written therein although it be never so contrary to their judgement 3. If any be Hereticks it must needs be they which