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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93348	Great Britains misery; with the causes and cure. Described first, as it is from the justice of God the authour, who is now in controversie with the inhabitants of the land for sin: especially for eight capitall crimes, all which are aggravated by sundry circumstances. Secondly, the injustice and malice of the instruments of this misery, Satan and his agents: their main aime, and particular ends, moving them therunto. Vindicating, plainly and fully, (by way of answer to severall objections) the lawfulnesse and necessity of raising arms by the Parliament, and kingdom; for the defence of the King, kingdom, religion, laws, and known rights of the subject: against that viperous generation of papists, atheists, delinquents, and licentious men, who have at once invaded all. ... / By G.S. Gent. Imprimatur Ja. Cranford.	Smith, George, 1602 or 3-1658.	1643 (1643)	Wing S4037; Thomason E250_4; ESTC R212534	90,980	68

continuance of this Parliament was the chiefe for the further redresse in things and causes of the kingdomes grievances which else we could not but thinke would quickly have returned to the former evils as we know Petition of Right never observed things did formerly notwithstanding the Petition of Right granted by the King and accepted by the people with great joy and thankfulnesse Yet his Majesty through that wicked counsell hath not observed it What assurance or hope can we have of the continuance of any of the rest to enjoy them any longer then this seeing this is all the security we have for them And this which was one of the last enacted is the first assaulted for if the King may or can breake this he may or will deny us all the rest if such a wicked malignant counsell be still suffered Therefore we have good cause to beleeve that that counsell consented The passing of the Bils of publike benefit in this Parliament but a trap to catch the people to make themselves destroy the Parliament and all Lawes together to the passing of such Statutes onely to insinuate into the peoples affections to blind their eyes with a shew of reformation because they well knew that the heavy burdens and intolerable oppressions that lay so newly upon the backe of the Subjects had imbittered their hearts and enraged the spirits of the people which the passing of those Acts they thought would mitigate that by such meanes they might seduce the people and draw them as they have done to joyne with them against the Parliament that so they might make them instruments to undoe themselves and to destroy all other Acts and the whole Lawes for by this way they have taken they may and meane to destroy all as well as this one for all hangs upon this He that sees not or that will not beleeve that this is their purpose is desperately blind and malitiously wilfull Nor doe I charge the King in these things although it be our greatest misery that his Majesty is thus misled to his own Majesties prejudice and his Subjects ruine we know Kings themselves cannot erre but Kings see with other mens Kings see hear speak and act by other men and are often abused in counsels to the prejudice of their people Dan. 6. 4. 14. eyes heare with other mens eares speake with other mens tongues and act by other mens hands All Kings are guided by counsell Nebuchadnezzar was ruled by his counsell and intrapped by their subtilty to signe a Decree against Daniel which he intended not Ahashuerus was perswaded by the counsell of wicked Haman to signe a Decree against the people of the Jewes under a faire pretence as the wicked counsellors to our King have done and beleeved the counsell to be very good there was a shew of profit which Kings love and a shew of conformity and order a thing very good and desired by Esther 3. 8. 9. all good men Now the King Ahashuerus could not imagine that Haman would betray the life of his Queene who had done no harme to any nor of Mordecai who had saved the Kings life King Rehoboam would not give an answer to his peoples petition till he was advised by his counsell and therein he did well But he did not well to reject the counsell of the old grave counsellors 1 King 12. 8. and follow the counsell of young gallants brought up with him in his youth Now we may thinke it was his affection to the persons of the Flatering counsell seeke their owne advantage not the Kings good men that caused him to harken to their counsell and it is flattery in such men to give such counsell as they know will best please Kings because they seeke honour to themselves not good to the King or revenge upon them they hate though the hazzard the Kings prejudice When Ahab had but a desire to Naboths Vineyard and was denied Jezabel thought that desire warrant enough for her to use the Kings name and his Seale too and to send to all the Elders Nobles and Citizens in the City of Naboth and they all as ready to obey whatsoever was the desire and command 1 King 21. 8. of a Queene because she as the counsellers that rule our Soveraigne puts a very faire pretence upon her bloudy designe as different from her intentions as God is from the Devill the commands a religious fast to be proclaimed and the man that she meant to destroy she pretends to honour Set Naboth saith Verse 〈◊〉 she on high above all the people and that all may passe under pretence of justice and Law Naboth must be accused before all the people and his accusations Verse 13. testified upon oath and he must be accused of no small crime no lesse then treason not onely against the King but blasphemy against God Naboth See Verse 1● did blaspheme God and the King Gods name is ordinary abused in such bloudy treacherous designes that the shew of holinesse may cover the bloudy designes and all the multitude are ready and forward not onely to Verse 11. beleeve but to act such wicked commands Thus we see Kings have beene misled and wicked things have beene committed under a shew of good and pretence of Religion God hath in great mercy discovered letters written to the great City of Letter Commission sent to London to act bloudy slaughters London the City of our Naboths and Commissions under the great and Royal Seale to effect as bloudy and cruell designes as that of the Counsellours of Nebuchadnezzar against Daniel or that of Haman against Mordecai or of Jezabel against Naboth not onely to have destroyed one Daniel one Mordecai one Naboth but many yea all our Daniels all our Mordecai's all our Naboths and grave faithfull Counsellours of the kingdome and under the notion of defence of the Protestant Religion the Priviledges of Parliament and the knowne Lawes of the kingdome none of which are in the least manner opposed but by them that protest to doe all these bloudy and barbarous cruelties under pretence of defending them I know not what Princes Counsellours or Captaines have consulted to plot this wicked designe what Hamans what Jezabels But I know God hath discovered it and I dare pronounce from the mouth of God who ever they be they shall not prosper Plotters of ●●ca●herous bloudy designs shall not prosper whether they have prevailed with the King to consent to it or whether they have done it without his consent as they have done and daily doe what his Majesty never heard of they have more eye upon his Majesty then his Majesty hath upon his Seale or what passeth under it in his name especially in this time of warre wherein all things are common and men cannot keepe their owne wives from the violent lust and rage of bloudy Cavaliers It is not long since God by his wonderfull providence discovered a dangerous

●sa 55. 1. 314 of Judas so we may say of them they take counsell with us they eat and drink a our table c. and we have trusted them with our neerest secrets it is with us as once with Jerusalem among all her lovers there was none tocomfort her all dealt treacherously with her And as our Saviour himselfe foretold that a mans foes should be of his own houshold meaning as I conceive Lam 1. 2 Mica 7 6 M●●● 11. 30 those that professe to be his Desciples as well as of a domestick Family such as take upon them to preach Christ that they shall be his greatest enemies as we have seen and find at this day in Bishops Deans and the multitude of corrupt Clergy and Minster-mungers haters of hollinesse hellish Sophisters pretend to preach Christ while they by all their power set up Anti-Christ the Apostle hath long before told us that in these last times it should be so that some should depart from the Faith and give heed to the Doctrine of Devills Be lovers of themselves covetuous boasters proud blasphemers without naturall affection despisers of them that are good having a Forme of 2 Tim. 2. 3 5. 4. c. godlinesse but denying the power thereof And thus of the matter and forme of Great Britains misery The finall cause of it is two fold First as it is from God the Author secondly The finall cause of great Brittains misery is two-fold first from God as it is from men the instruments As it is from God it is also twofold for the good of his children and to destroy his enemies All the afflictions calamities and miseries that God brings upon the godly are for their good All things work together for good to them that love God our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and Rom 8. 29. eternall weight of glory First by afflictions God makes them examine themselves 1. Cor. 4. 17. for sin thus David did thus the Church did search and try and turn 1. Sam. 22. 1. Lam 3. 40. to the Lord affliction prepares the heart for grace and advanceth to glory Secondly it weaneth them from the world makes them contemne the vanities of the world which before they liked David saith it was good for him Psal ●19 Verse 67. 71. that he is afflicted before I was afflicted I went astray 3. By it God tryeth their ●aith and patience as he did Job every grace is exercised which else lies dead in Iob 2. 6. Heb 11. 17. Iob. 34. 63 them not known to themselves nor to others 4ly By it God corrects them for sins past and brings them unto better obedience that they may live after the will of God not after their own lusts In a word God afflicts the godly 1. Cor. 11. 32. 1. Pet. ● 7. 1. P●t 4 2. for their Reformation they are purged by it from their sins as gold is purified in the Furnance of Fire when thy judgements are in the earth the Inhabitants of the world will learne righteousnesse The afflictions of the godly are Esay 48. 10. P●●● 12. 6. Pro 17. 3. Es●y ●● ● not punishments they are but shews of punishment shewing onely what they deserve not inflicted as they deserve their present affliction is their hell and it lasts at the longest but for terme of life afterward cometh joy and everlasting happinesse as the Apostle teacheth Henceforth is layed up a Crown God afflicts his children in love shewing what they deserve not afflicting them as th●y deserve 1. Tun. 4. 8. of Righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give unto all them that love his appearing Now for the ungodly and wicked it is not so with them for all afflictions to them are reall punishments and as Mr. Calvin observes are but the earnest of Gods wrath and beginnings of their everlasting misery hasten their ruine and destruction wicked men in all their afflictions either run farther from God or seek to unlawfull means for help as Saul did or seek unto God Gods afflicts wicked men in anger 1. Sam. 28. 7. 1. King 21. 27. Hosea 7 14. Esay 1. 5 Deut. 6. 15. D●ut 28. 65. 2. Sam. 17. 23. Math 27. 3. Exod 14. 7. with fained affections and with hypocriticall hearts as Ahab did but they forsake not ●heir sin they howle upon their beds but in hypocrisie while the judegement is upon them for they still rebell against God the Lord complaineth of them thus Why will ye be striken any more ye will revoult more and more And so they hasten destruction till Gods anger be kindled and he destroy them from the face of the earth yea themselves in their afflictions to ease their bodies send their soules by their own impatient hands presently to hell as Ahitophell and Judas and Pharoh who were more hardened by afflictions and grew more enraged against God and Gods people and so hastned their owne ruine Secondly the finall cause as it is from the Devill and his Iesuiticall Faction The finall cause of Brittains misery as it is from the Devil men Iob 1. 11. Luke 22. 31. Pet. 5. 8. Iob. 2. 2. the instruments it is nothing but the utter subversion of our holy Religion and replantation of Popery the overthrow of Laws and Liberties and introducing an Arbitrary Government for Satan and wicked men hate the godly and seek by all means to destroy them As for Satan he compasseth the earth and walketh continually too and fro in it turning every stone to worke molestation and mischief to the faithfull And for wicked men though their chief Ayme be that which I have spoken yet they have also other particular ends of their own especially in this present destroying and seditious war and their ends are divers according to the divers affections and inclinations But all in general dis-affect holinesse naturally and therefore all take part against Wicked men hate holinesse and holy men religion and laws and desire their destruction that maintaine or practise either and associate themselves with those that seek to overthrow them this is the first end and onely moving cause in Jesuits Papists Bishops and others Popishly affected of this war and misery Observe first how they used all hellish policy for divers yeers before this Parliament began to keep off all Parliaments Contempt of Parliaments and to bring them out of use that so the laws might dye by a poysoning death and by degrees perish And that our Religion might not out-live our Laws which indeed it cannot probably they had a poyson to destroy it secretly and hypocritically under a fair pretence of Gods honor to setle Conformity Iohn 19. 7. and Order in the Church and by their policy and power corrupted the Courts of Iudicature Then by their own law among themselves punished Fined Imprisoned and Banished all true sound Protestants zealous for God

and for the truth and power of Religion Ministers and Laiety calling them as Ahab did Eliah Troublers of Israel And as Saul through ignorance they through malice make havock of the Church accusing them by the Acts. 17. 19. names of factious men that raised new Doctrines which they cast reproaches Acts 28 22 upon and caused to be spoken against thus they Suspended Imprisoned Silenced and Banished our best Orthodox Divines men conformable to the esta●●●shed Persecution of 〈…〉 Ministers Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England not Annabaptists Brownists Famalists Donatists c. which if they had onely done we should not so justly complaine but choice Protestants men fearing God walking orderly warranted by Gods word and the Laws of the Kingdom onely refusing their new popish Canons and Oaths imposed contrary to Gods word and our established Laws yet now these say they fight for the Protestant Religion but as before to take it from us and therefore when former policies could not prevaile they took arms to cut off Religion and Law at once in destroying this Parliament by force and by the same force to make a Parliament The destruction of this Pa●● were the destruction of all They that were the Causers of the war in Ireland were cause of the warre in England of their own choice to repeale what Laws they please and to set up Popery in full power in all the three Kingdomes of Great Britain and afterward to suppresse the Protestant Religion through all the Christian world Nor let me be mistaken for I think not that the King intends all this but this is the intent and ayme of the Iesuiticall Plotters We see a proofe of it in Ireland They have perswaded the King to take arms against his Parliament by their unjust reports and false calumniations as if the Parliament would straighten the Kings prerogative and deprive Him or his Posterity of their just Rights and so they make it the Kings particular quarrell till they have made Him their Agent so far as lies in him and then they will not spare to destroy him if he hinder the rest that they have resolved upon God rebuke them and save his people The Parliament and with them all we Protestants may in the presence of God with upright hearts say to the King as David said to Saul in the like case Wherefore 1. Sam. 24. 9. hearest thou mens words saying Behold the Parliament or thy people the Protestants seeks thy hurt But we are all accused by corrupt Counsellors to our King as the three Servants of God were to Nebuchadnezer by the heathen ●an 3. 8. 12. Caldeans and for no cause but as they refused to worship and Idol so we for refusing to adore Popish Ceremonies and to give away our Birth-rights and Liberties And as Daniel by the precedents and princes because they hated him for his goodnesse and could find nothing against him to accuse him of but treacherously in the matter of his Religion Therefore they devise a way pleasing D●n 6. 3 4 to the King and destructive as they thought to Daniel in which all the Precedents Verse 5. Princes Governours Counsellors and Captains consulted together and come to the King urging Him to establish a Royall and firm Decree that Verse 7. no man ask any Petition but of the King for thirty dayes in which they pretend honor to the King and order in the Kingdom and the King signed it for He looked not to their private bloudy end Now they knew Daniel would be constant in Prayer to his God therefore they watch him and found him praying Vers● 1● so accuse him of the breach of the Kings Law and regardlesse of the King Then the King see his error and as the Text expresseth was displeased with Himselfe that He had made such a Decree and set his heart to save Daniel to deliver him but they urge his Acts which they say cannot be changed The King yeelds to them against nature both in respect of conscience and affection a weaknesse but afterward he shewed justice upon the unjust Accusers 〈◊〉 24. Here 's the authority of Sacred word to confirm the story and here 's the example of error mercy and justice in a heathen King who as Joseph●● relates ●xample of 〈◊〉 was by the Malignant Princes haters of Daniel urged to cast Daniel into the Lyons Den a second time alleaging as is usuall in such men to b●inde the Kings See Jos●pas in his book of an-tiquities Chap. 11. judgement that the Lyons were all gorged before and therefore had not destroyed Daniel Whereupon the King commanded the Lyons to be glutted with meat and then cast in those Malignants Princes to try if the Lyons would touch them when they were gorged who were presently devoured c. Hence may arise severall Inferences which for brevity I passe onely this by Inferences observeable way of instance First that wicked Councellors seek the destruction of good men more then the preservation of the common good Here is a plain instance Ester 3. 8 9 1. Sa. 2● 9. 10 Ier 20. 1. 2. of the truth of it as is seen in Hamans plot against Mordecai and his people we see it in Doeg against David in Pashur the Priest against J●remy and others frequent in holy Scripture Secondly that wise and good Kings may be intrapped by the snares of wicked Councells we have instance in this King Nebuchadnezzer so in King Ahashuerus to the destruction of his Queen and her people in Ester 3. 6 c. Salomon the wisest of Kings by the counsells and insinuations of strange wives in his son Rehoboam by the counsell of yong men c. See it in King James of happy memory a second Salomon for wisdom yet by the policie of Gundamores infusing a Romish Spirit into some of His councell which we beleeve he saw at last but seeing dyed c. And to the grief and great misery of His Majesties Subjects His Majestie is this day abused and His Kingdoms ruin'd by the same Romish Faction Thirdly here is instance of Gods protection to his people When Kings through Gods mercie for their errors and the unjust malice of wicked Councellors Example of gods protect 6 Gods people have present joy and comfort both in the State and in their own conscience al●o that the enemies of Gods people are cut off by the same judgements that they intended to bring upon the godly it was so with Nebuchadnezzer his Princes were e●ten by the Lyons but Daniel escaped Haman Ester 7. 10. Ester 9. 2. 3. was hanged upon the Gall●w● provided for Mordecai Mordecai had his honors and all they that took Arms against the Jews were slain by the Jews and the Iews escaped c. Observe that our case at this day is the case of the three Children of Daniel Mordecai and the Jews who may with good conscience say to our

King God delivereth his people and brings the wicked to destruction as Daniel did We are innocent before God and against the King have We done no hurt And may expect deliverance by God and revenge by his hand upon those that wrongfully seek our lives Secondly some men are moved to it by Ambitious desires they make honors A second sort of enemies are men ambitious of honour and command and dignities their end to obtain honour they will use any dishonourable wayes and use honour as dishonorably These are men like Aesops dog look at the shadow and neglect the substance Vertue which is the way to Honour they ●●un and Vice which is the originall of shame they follow and climb to Honor by the staires of Vice would be inobled for ignoble actions These are commonly very active men in things they know will please Princes without respect to Vertue or Justice their end is Honour not Duty And when their end is attained they are yet unsatisfied the more Honour the greater their Ambition especially in the Honour-seeking-Clergie that when they are at highest desire to soare higher and indure no competitour but if crossed in their end they grow secretly discontented full of venome ●alignity and hatred against ●ersons or causes that hinder grow desperate and seek any bloudy revenge and rather then lose their own private ends care not to destroy Kingdoms If they go not forward they 'l set all backward and think it some honour to be buryed Wicked men to game their own ends care not to destroy whole Kingdom ● in the ashes of a Kingdom and therefore raise sedition and civil war against their Prince if he hinder or against God himself to make war against his dearest mem●ers and thus have some at this day done and do against conscience and knowledge and still blow the fire of Contention to continue and increase Great Britains misery Thirdly another sort of men make Profit and Command their end they are moved and stirred up to Contention and War out of Covetousnesse especially A third sort of enemies are covetous men great men when not contented with their own will be owners of other mens Estates Possessions Inheritances and Rights Kings over their Subjects Lords over their Tenants and men of place and authority over their inferiours to make themselves commanders and ●ords over other mens Rights usurping power against Law and distinguish not betwixt Law and will hence ariseth murmuring impatience and opposition bleeding cruelties and seditious mutinies from a sparke to a flame hence grew the discontent of the people of Israell and the reason why they asked a King that a King might do them Justice and hence 1 Sam. 8. 3 4 5 1 King 12. 16 it was that they revoulted from their King because he did not Iust●ce unto them and this hath been one cause of our civill war is our present misery and was the cause of the first civill war in England in the ninth yeer of the raign of King John which occasioned the great Charter agreed upon between the King and the Subiect the beam of upright Soveraignty and subiection but when covetousnesse See Daniel History gets into the one scale the beam turneth and becometh unequall Fourthly others are moved to it by feare safety to themselves is their particular end when by their actions and proiects they have out of malice ambition A fourth sort of enemies are Delinquents covetousnesse or any other way done violence to religion law or the peace of the State and are by the law found faulty and convicted as Delinquents they rise in Rebellion against the Law to escape punnishment in hope by destroying the law they shall prevent the Iudgment of the Law and hence they disturbe the peace and quiet of the Kingdoms rather then they will suffer the just sentence of Iustice they will destroy most unjustly their just Lawes Religion and Kingdom And of this sort there are of all degrees Nobles Clergy Gentlemen Citizens c. These are the principall causers continuance and aggravation of our bloudy War and the hinderers of peace they shun peace as the greatest plague Thus Cataline did being guilty of many crimes to save himselfe conspired against his Country and was assisted by Lentulus Cethegus and many notorious offenders and vile persons who also stood in feare The fift end is spoyle and robbing many deboyft men and of broken fortunes decayed in estates seeke to get estates to themselves out of the ruine and destruction A fift sort of Enemies are men of broken fortunes of the Kingdom by robbing plundering and pillaging honest men and therefore desire to breake the Lawes that they may escape cleerly unquestioned withall their theevery and other insolencies Sixtly some make liberty and licentious loosenesse their end they hate the very name of Resormation either in Lawes or Religion and looke upon them as A sixt sort of Enemies are licensious men their enemies and therefore desire the destruction of Parliaments they prefer licentious liberty and voluptuous pleasures above all Parliaments Lawes or Religion They looke upon it as their God preferring it above God and are worse then Fpicuras their master who knew no other God yet as Seneca saith even in the shop of pleasures voluntarily abridged himself of that content but amongst us there are a sort of men Gentlemen and others who are never satisfied in their Senea in E. pist 18. disordered courses like those described in the booke of Wisdom Say they shall be as if they had never been and shall be forgotten in time therfore will I enjoy all pleasures and not lose any part of their voluptuousnesse Wisd 2. 1 2. 7. c. Others there are that are malitious enemies to the Kingdoms just defence or Newters out of an ignorance of God and the just cause of God as if all their service and obedience to God hung upon their obedience to the commands of A seventh sort that are enemies to God and Religion are Superstitious Ignorant men Math. 15. 6. men make men gods and God nothing making the commandements of God of no effect by the tradition and commandements of men Now because some of these sorts of men especially the latter are so well instructed by the father of envy and grand Seducer of men that they as himselfe did to our Saviour alleadge texts of Scripture to seduce men from their obedience to God to the obedience of men I conceive it very necessary to give a brief Answer to their main Objections They object from that place Rom 13. 1. Let every soule be subject to the higher Power for there is no power but of God c. And that we are bound to render to all that which is their due Tribute Custome Honor Fear to whom t is due Obiect 1 Hence they argue that all men are bound to yeeld obedience to the higher power but the King is highest in power therefore

perswade the King to demand them out Charging the five members a breach of all priviledges of Parliament of the House if those had beene delivered by the same right they might next day have accused as many more and so as many as they pleased which we know they intended where then had beene the priviledge of Parliament a precedent to Kings is no lesse then a Law is this but a jealousie Then they by what meanes I know not perswaded the King to come in person to the House with 400. Cavaliers desperate men armed with weapons of warre to take them by force or to destroy them had not God sent them away as he did Eliah when Ahab sought his life I am sure this was no jealousie when the Tower of London was committed to Lord Cottington afterward to Lunsford and others it was jealousie enough and when Captaine Legg and the Earle of Newcastle were authorized to keepe Hull both knowne Papists afterward when the King withdrew himselfe by their counsels to Windsor and the Queen sent beyond Sea with the kingdomes jewels to trafficke for men money and armes I am sure this proves more then jealousie When they drew the King by their counsels to Yorke when there was no cause of feare they deluded the people under the Kings name and procured a strong guard for his person so they wrought meanes to make the King afraid of his people and the people afraid of their King Seneca saith he that thinketh a King can be secure in the place where all are afraid of him abuseth himselfe Kings See Senec. in Cle'n l. 1. c. 19. saith he need not sortifie unaccessable places nor cut downe sides of Mountaines nor ensconce themselves with wals and towers clemency will secure a King in the open fields and that onely is his impregnable fortresse c. Thus when they had procured their guard pretended for defence it proved presently an army of offence to destroy the kingdome And yet they would perswade us there was nothing but needlesse jealousies any rationall man will say it was now time that the Parliament should provide for the kingdomes safety for they prepared no army till things were gone thus farre against them Then the Kings Standard was set up at Notingham warre professed which before was by words protestations and attestations under many of their false hands denyed Now they fell to sacke houses besiege Castles plunder abuse and destroy those that favoured not the popish faction from Notingham they marched to Shrewsbury where with Papists and Heathen-Welsh they made a mighty army which ever since hath over-spread the kingdome destroying men and beasts just as their confederacie have done in Ireland and yet these are all but jealousies But besides these we had jealousies apparent enough that this would be the issue by their preparations for 20. yeares past * See the Remenstrance of that Parliament Ann. Dom. 1628. lately printed Gen. 47. 14. all which shewed their intent was to set up Popery and to force or weary out Parliaments forcing them like Issachar to couch betweene two burdens And these ten or eight last yeares things have hasted to a period as a stone to its Center at the beginning of this Parliament we were almost brought to hold our lives by Patent of them as they held our Former proceedings clearly show an intent of innovation 2. Sam. 3. 27. livelihoods by Patents of the King from us and still we must beleeve their fair words and protestations but not beleeve our eyes nor their actions although we have proved their words protestations all false and all their actions as we feared and expected their words have been and are as deceitfull as the words of Joab to Abner that they may smite us under the fifth rib without suspition or resistance We must beleeve that those Irish Rebels that are in the army of Cavaliers and those that are to come mean to fight for the Protestant Religion here though they fight against it in Ireland Truly it is a wonder but that it is done by the hand of God for our punishment that ever a knowing people after so many experiences of their persidious breach of promises and insulting treacheries should be led as the people of England are to destroy themselves and betray the Gospel of Christ Was there ever any thing more manifest then their unfaithfulnesse if we had no other example then the example of Ireland what promises what protestations what mighty shewes of good was intended Promises broken therefore not to be be leeved to them and calling upon the Parliament for helpe that all the kingdome sounded with the noyse of their zeale but as provision was making ready they hindred it stayed the sending of helpe to them and at last openly opposed their assistance made warre upon us here and secretly assisted the Rebels with what they were able from England or other kingdomes that so the Rebels might be quickly able to assist them here Commission of Array is a direct breach of liberty to butcher us as they have done the Protestants there And now we our selves are forced and compelled most slavishly by the Commission of Array to breake our priviledges and freedome and fight against the Parliament to make our posterities slaves as well as our selves and yet we must beleeve we shall enjoy our liberties and the freedome of free subjects He that will beleeve such impossibilities and apparent untruths and not beleeve that they meane as some of them have sworne in my hearing that they will not leave a Protestant Round-head alive in England is more stupid then Harpast Seneca's foole who being strucken blind would not Vid Senec. E. pist 50. beleeve she could not see but said the house was darke Let no man imagine that those who are traytors to God will ever keepe any promise with godly men We know a perjured Papist if by his forswearing he further the Catholike cause shall be a canonized Saint Object 5 Objection fift They say although many great taxes and grievances lay upon the subjects before this Parliament we see his Majesty redressed all and confirmed severall Acts of grace to the great benefit of the Subject as is confessed by the Parliament in their first Remonstrance which his Majesty would never have done if he had intended either change in Religion or Priviledges of Parliament c. Answ Answer whatsoever the grievances were that have since this Parliament beene redressed or what Acts of grace his Majesty hath beene pleased to passe for the kingdomes benefit were as gratefully acknowledged as gratiously confirmed and those redresses and Acts cost the kingdome a million and a halfe as appeares by that Remonstrance which deserved all those Acts of grace and more especially it being but right and justice that the King should signe all such Bils as tend to his Majesties honour and the kingdomes safety But of all those Acts of grace that Act for the

owne cause and his servants working his worke and in his owne time will make their worke prosperous in their hands as he did to Nehemiah Nehe. 6. 15. 16. Thirdly God hath afflicted Britaine for these sinnes and a multitude of other transgressions and doth still continue to afflict us for our impenitencie but it is observable that he whips us because he would convert us and yet he preserves us from destruction because he would not totally destroy us therefore hath wonderfully discovered the Plots of the enemie and blasted their bloody designes when they had prepared them as they thought ready to destroy us former mercies are engagements of future deliverance hence I conclude from the confidence of Manoahs wife when an Angell had told her she should beare a 1 Sam. 17. 37. sonne that should begin to deliver Israel her husband seeing the Angell assend Iudg. 13. 22 23 up in the flame sayd we shall surely dye because we have scene God if saith she the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have shewed us these things Fourthly I finde by all Stories Divine and Humane that ever I read that before God destroyed a people or Kingdome he hath taken away his Prophets Iudges and righteous men or they have beene rarely found or else he hath taken Esay 57. 1. Exod. 32. 10. Ier. 7. 16. Ier. 14 11. off their affections and spirits from prayer for that people or Kingdome I confesse this hath in part beene made good to England some have beene over awed their mouthes stopped some banished others destroyed and many forced to flie to other Countries for shelter Yea the two Fountaines of Religion and holinesse as well as the Courts of justice were exceedingly corrupted all which presaged a storme comming and now it is come But consider Gods Isay 1. 26. Ministers are restored increased and many returned from their Exile righteous Iudges are set up and good men put in Authority The affections of the godly and that of many thousands are moved with zeale to God exceedingly and their hearts stirred up to earnest constant prayer and unwearied labours have seene some gracious returnes of their prayers and fruit of their labours and waite Mica 7. 9. by faith with patience till the Lord plead their cause and execute Iudgement for them Besides notwithstanding the corruption of the fountain God hath from thence produced pure streames planted fruitefull vines in his Orchard When were more young able godly Ministers in England then now When were men stirred up with zeale for God to lift up their voyces like Trumpets to tell Israel Esay 58. 1. Act. 4. 36. 1 Thes 5 14. Psal 147. 1. Esay 8. 11. c. Esay 10. 14. vers 15. 16. her transgressions and Iudah of her sinnes When were more sonnes of consolation to comfort the feeble minded But if God graft new siens and plant young Vines in his Vineyard he is not about to destroy it but rather to gather his own together that he may destroy the wicked by themselves Fifthly no story of any age or people can give a president that ever God destroyed an humbled praying people notwithstanding the irreligiousnesse of a multitude of godlesse men amongst which they live whom God can cut off Mat. 13. 30. some other way or reserve to greater wrath but if a considerable number of repenting reformers have beene found God hath for their sakes spared such a people or Nation therefore this Church and Nation Onely we must consider Tim 2. 19. God lookes for a greater number in Great Britaine than in any other Nation or Kingdome God would have spared Sodom for ten righteous sake yet seven Luk. 12. 48. Gen. 18. 32. 1 King 19. 18. thousand in Israel was too few although God tooke notice of them all and surely twice seven thousand cannot save England but if those in England who have given their Names to Christ be found to be truely repenting praying and reforming their evill wayes with resolution to perseveere undoubtedly England 2 Chro. 7. 14. Iohn 17. 19. shall be saved for their sakes The example of Judea and Jerusalem in the time of Josiah nor the present condition of Germany are no objections of validity against this truth except we resolve to cherish our base lusts seeke our private ends love our selves so as to neglect God and the meanes he hath in mercy freely 1 Chron. 28. 9. ult given us to save us this is to forsake God and then God will forsake us and cast us off for ever and it shall be said of England as once of Babel we would have Jer. 51. 9. healed Babel and she would not be healed c. 6ly Although for these sins now raigning in this Kingdome namely Idolatry prophanation of the Sabboth oppression c. God hath destroyed whole Kingdomes layd them mast and given up his owne people with the wicked into his Ier. 24. 5. enemies hands Yet you must consider it was when generally or wholly the people were willing to yeeld to such sinnes as it was before and instantly after Iosiahs time Besides when those men so given into captivitie have beene sold Dan 6. 6. verse 23. 24. Esth 8. 7. Neh. 4. 8. c. Nehe. 6. 15. 16 1 King 18. 24. to destruction and appointed to slaughter by their enemies maliciously to destroy the Church of God God hath for his owne Names sake given them a glorious deliverance much more will he deliver at this time being now invocated on both sides and called to be Iudge of the truth as in the time of Eliah Yet I say not but England is punished for these sinnes and may be brought very low and into great straights because of unbeleefe lukewarmenesse and impenitencie before she see a full deliverance which if it be so the fault is our owne Hos 13. 9. Seventhly it hath beene usuall with God when admonitions have beene rejected and easier chastisements slighted to lay great and heavie Iudgements upon Deut. 28. 29. his owne people and of long continuance and in these Iudgements to take away many of his children till his people returne and earnestly seeke God and till Hos 5. 15. Ezek. 5. 13. the time of his indignation be accomplished great sinnes and long continued in bring great and long Iudgements except there be proportionable humiliation to prevent it but glorious deliverance to Gods people will come and wonderfull Deut 7. 23. destruction to their enemies will be seene to all the world and assuredly deliverance will come to Britaine if we waite by faith and patience with diligent use of the meanes without murmuring at the miscarriages and accidents in things failing of men or Armies confided in or be discouraged at the seeming unprosperous successe of our Armies or the successefull enterprises Psal 73. 18. Psal 76. 10. of the enemie in all which God hath a secret way of providence and will make to the manifestation of his glory Nor let any man thinke that he shall be delivered by another mans faith and repentance or escape by other mens cost and industry for although enlargement come and the Kingdome be delivered yet Esth 4. 14. the unbeleeving and mammonist may be cut off before or after Consider what became of that great Lord on whose hand King Iehoram leaned because he beleeved not the Word of God Besides at the great day of account Christ may say to such ● King 7. 17. I know you not depart c. You that were not with me were against me Therefore let every one conscionably doe his owne part and duty and then depend Mat. 25. 40. 41 Mat 12. 30. upon God for a glorious and comfortable deliverance which God grant for his Names sake But there are foure evills that exceedingly hinder the worke of Britaines deliverance which must be removed Two concerne private men two concerne the Publicke Magistrate the evills in private men are first neglect of selfe-examination every ones not judging and condemning his owne sinne Secondly our forwardnesse and rashnesse to censure and condemne the faults miscarriages or neglects of others Parliament Armies Commanders c. whom we are bound to pray for as they are the Instruments of God for our good The evills in the publicke Magistrate are first not clensing Gods Armies of knowne Achans who seeke the wedge of Gold and the Babilonish Garment these Iosh 7. 11. 12. hinder God from going out with our Armies cause the mouthes of ill affected men to be opened against our just cause and discourage many well affected people and is an occasion Why our Armies turne the backe upon the enemie secondly the nourishing of flattering Zibas and traiterous Iudasis who take pay of our money are maintained in excesse and riot at our costs while the common Souldiers want necessaries yet like Iudas betray our cause and sell us for gaine Let us pray and our Parliament and Generalls endeavour to have these evills removed And God will be seene to goe out with our Armies and will undoubtedly worke our worke for us save our King and destroy his and our enemies Let all Glory be given to God FINIS