Land that want bread are numerous 3. Kingly Government is a kind of Scourge and at best an allay of the freedome of a people a sacred thing esteem'd of difficult accesse Idolatrously adored an occasion of great superfluity excesse and vanity unsuitable to this day that is upon us and lastly makes the Person too stour and haughty to fall under the reproofs of the poor mean servants of Christ that come to them onely in the name of the Lord and so exalts their hearts to their own destruction in the end and the people's smart in the mean time 4. The Kings of Judah were Types but Types are Ceased Kingship is now to be preserved in the Person of Christ He will administer it in Truth in the truth of his own righteous and royal spirit not in figure and shadow through pitiful poor base men servants of lusts The poorest Saint that Cobbles under a Stall hath more of true Majesty and is more a King then the greatest Prince among them that is under the power of lust in his own soul I might give many other Reasons as the Impolitiquenesse of it to make a Family-quarrel the unsafeness of it for the person or family we should so set up But I leave politiques to Statesmen I am chiefly exercised in the Conscience of the thing The like I say for Lords I am not against Lords simply But they are thrown out It concerns us to consider by what hand and on what grounds before we admit them again If they were unnecessary and hinderful of our Cause and proceedings either we have altered our Cause or they are so still It was not the Persons we animadverted against but the Power How unrighteous is it if our Judgments be altered of the Power to place it in New Persons when many of the Ancient Peers are yet living as deserving as the New Is not this the way to breed a quarrel between Peers and Peers as between King and King 2. Walk not in the way of the Gentiles The Judgment of God made Kings Kings made Lords They were onely to help the King to inslave the people What people that had their choice would set up either Lords without Lands can do no more service for God nor their Country then other men 3. I am not against a Distinction of Ranks of men Variety is the beauty of the universe and an exercise of Vertue Where would bounty and humility be if there were not Rich And where were patience and contentation of mind if there were not mean men I would have every one have their Rights no industrious men want all honest men free I would not affectedly set up mean men against the wealthy nor would Itye wisdome and understanding to men of Estate Liberal and generous Education is a good quality but let it not go alone in the choice of men to rule but look for the spirit of Government 4. It is far from me to Monopolize or ingrosse in my judgment the priviledges and advantages of that Righteous Kingdome which God is setting up over the Earth to Saints onely which shall be shared among all that submit to it and oppose it not so far as they are Capable much lesse do I reckon of Saintship by any form of words that men expresse themselves in And though I dare not abett all that are zealous for this Cause for Saints yet I must professe my faith is shaken concerning those that desert it and it is an argument of some more Noble if not divine thing in men through all Shocks of temptations on the one hand and the other to preserve their Integrity And this I am perswaded As many have bin already shaken off as untimely figgs so few or none will hold out with this good Cause to the end but those that are of an Incorruptible seed whom therefore I shall desire to know by their fruits and judge of them according to their works 5. And as I am not able to say but a spirit of righteous Government as to things between man and man may be found in some who are not Saints upon the Strictest account of regeneration who may therefore for ought I know have the exercise of their talent allowed them even in the Kingdom of Christ subjecting that Rule of theirs in due subserviency to the spirit Spiritual affaires so can I not on the other hand admitt that to be the proper Rule and Government of Christ be it exercised by whomsoever though the Highest Professors in Religion and on never so high an account that is contrary to the light of Scripture rightly understood or the light of incorrupt Reason in any sort of men The Demonstration of the spirit and the righteousness of that Kingdome justifying its self undeniably to the conscience of the natural man in things that are under his Judgment as well as to the spiritual Christian in things which are proper to his discerning So as there is no Arbitrariness here in this Kingdome but all by Rule and that Rule is so clear and undenyable as nothing can rise up against it in any mans conscience Lastly I desire I may be believed that I have not bin led by any prejudice against his present Highnesse in this Testimony which I bear who as He hath not by any Publique Act of his Government disobliged any that I know of so by his affability and Courtesie wins upon all if any private passages have not bin so to the Rule I would not mention them because I would not multiply them As the Place he is in sought him not he it so I desire He may lay it and himself at the feet of Christ to dispose of him and his Interest as may be most for his glory So is he sure not to be layd-by dishonourably if any could have a heart or stomach so to do Christ himself must give up the Kingdome to God and so must all Rulers and Potentates unto Christ else Wo be to them THE Cause of God AND Of these Nations CHAP. I. Of the deplorable Estate of the Nation at this day after so fair advantages as were put into our hands IT is a certain truth No man is made unhappy but by his own choice God hath not bin wanting to let us find that all the power of our enemies either at home or abroad could not destroy us while we had hearts and were watchfull to use the means to preserve our seivs confidence in men and distrust in God commonly go together and are much of like dangerous Issue and Consequence We have lost more in this seven years Peace by trusting too much to a friend then we did in all our twelve years war while we conflicted with hoasts of enemies inasmuch as we have been still losing our liberty by little and little which all the time of the wars we went on gaining more and more and if we get no more by losing him but resolution to take up our trust we shall be confiderable
the bringing of all things in Earth to answer the minde of God as is done in Heaven A thing not done at once nor presently but by degrees nor to be perfected but by the appearance of Jesus Christ as he lets down the spiritual knowledge and revelation of himself unto us in the opening of the Scriptures We are to be preparing and occupying our Measures and Talents till he come and put the finishing hand to Crown his own work 3. To direct us in the Way of serving this Cause That we go not forth headily and rashly presumptuously and self-confidently in our own wit will wisdom or rage there hath been too much of this but humbly waiting upon God watching and looking up to him what door he opens what way he leads what means he puts into our hands and not to be troubled if we cannot see to the end of our way distinctly but from step to step If we be brought to an obedient following of him our way shall be as the encreasing light growing to perfect day This was the way God perswaded the Parliament unto at first we had never else taken down Bishops not being provided of a Discipline in their room but God carryed us over this Objection then And so this was the way the Army professed themselves to be lead in and they prospered wonderfully Those were the days of innocency and simplicity though much weakness and childishness and God may upbraid us with that time as once he did Israel Jer. 2. I remember thee the kindness of thy youth in the day of thy espousals when thou followedst me in a Land that was not sowed When thou knewest not how thou shouldst live but hadst every meal from Heaven Israel was holinesse to the Lord c. And this is a great thing we have Covenanted and engaged to the Lord. It is no new thing ye are exhorted to but the Vowes of God are upon us The Lord hath had livery and seizin of us we have lived upon him and he hath found us in a Desert Land and hath borne us upon Eagles wings and why should it not be so again To conclude let us consider what a Name and a Praise we began to be made in the Earth What people were like England a People saved by the Lord Shall we begin in the Spirit and seek to be made perfect in the flesh Shall we that have been assisted and carryed forth to assert the Cause of God against the corrupt usurpations of the World when they had so long prescription a King of ancient Descent that had such a fouundation of the National Constitution the Laws an Army to stand upon the Spirit of the world in its vigour to maintain and uphold them Shall we that did not then shrink but wrought our Cause through the fire and through Seas of blood shall we now after we have conquered all these real difficulties be afraid of a thing of nought of the shaddows of our own unbelieving fears that have no foundation or bottome of reason or righteousnesse or consent or constitution to urge themselves upon us Where is the King of whose frown ye should be afraid Where 's his Power Where 's his Army What is become of the Great men and Mighty men Who shall hurt you if ye be followers of that that is good If any be stept up into their places and shall offer to oppose the Canse of God ye need not wish for weaker Adversaries for they will be self-condemned They stand upon a Bogg which will swallow them up having no righteous foundation And for your Comfort let me add this one Word The World ye are to grapple with hath lost a great strength of late It s very Heart-strings are broke This I must say for Him that is gone It was He that bare up this old ruinous Frame which in likelihood had fallen before this if His Parts His Courage His Religion had not supported it Whether He did well or ill in it judge ye Indeed it broke him at length and he fainted under the weight of it but He was a strong Buttresse to it when it was sinking in the time of the little Assembly The Law and the Clergy had then crackt if he had not put thereto his shoulder I am not against the Honest Interest of the Ministery or Law if that Interest be publique if it be the Interest of Righteousnesse and of the Spirit I call them old and rotten in the corrupt State of them wherein at present they stand But I say while that Prop of them lasted there was no attempting against them for God had given him to be a prolonging of days unto them And as he that stood in the way did lett the revealing of the Man of sin till he was taken out of the way so the Spirit of God in his poor Witnesses had not full play against this old and corrupt State of things while that Great Spirit acted the Defence of them A Word to the Reader to remove Prejudice MY ayme is to give my witnesse against the Present Apostacy whether this Generation will hear or whether they will forbear I have believed therefore have I spoken These things are not ministred but with some Faith that God will appear and revive this Cause and his poor people and as I know not which way so I am not Solicitous I would be loath to blow the Coals of another Intestine War But better our Peace be interrupted then Truth perish which is more our Life than the blood that runs in our Veynes I know it must be not by Might nor Power but by the Spirit that our deliverance is wrought whether in War or Peace I should hope the present Vsurpations should be too much self-condemned in the Practisers of them to bear a quarrel and that if we knew once but how to Value our Cause and the ground we are upon our Opposites would quickly rebate their Courage seeing the day is so farre risen I am not against Monarchy as an unlawful Government we find it owned of God and honoured to be a Type of the Reign of Christ but I am upon this Dilemma withall the Promoters of it here Either we did well and were guided by a divine hand in taking it down or not If not why do we not ask the World mercy and restore the old Family again If we were directed by God to remove it let us see the same divine hand leading to the restoring it else What a scandal is it to our Cause to build again the things we destroyed That God leads us not to it appears 1. Because his people consent not in it and Governments for the forme of them are to be founded upon Consent The people that adhered and are yet faithful to this Cause have not onely their Interest among others but Paramount to the rest of the Nation 2. Our Condition calls not for unnecessary charge Taxes lye heavy on the Commoners The poor of the
and idle persons therein entertained and maintained upon the charge of the poor exhausted Commoners justice as much delayed as before the Lawyers as Corrupt and Exorbitant Those Bawbles as once they were deem'd and styled and ridiculous formalities of State again introduced as vain and excessive Feastings and as superstitious and Idolatrous Funerals as in the darkest times in all these things as if we should professe to glory in our shame The election of Members to sit in Parliament as Corruptly negotiated and sollicited as in the Kings time Armies modelled and imployed not for maintaining of the Cause of God and the Nations save onely in name and title but indeed and in truth to maintain those that have Usurpt the Dispose of us and it and all our Liberties A Council receiving paye for work the Nation never set them upon When others would serve gratis Nehemiah did not so nor the former Council of State though they had their faults In a word all things running again in the old Channel and not onely King Lords and Bishops set up again under new appellations but even the old Names and Powers claym'd and contended for as to the two first The Negative Voyce and the Militia it self not excepted two main branches of the late Quarrel and if these succeed to the desire of some as if we look to humane probabilities there may be too much Cause of fear when we consider what attempts were made and what means were used the last Parliament to have made a King we must have Bishops too if the old Proverb which was no doubt the result of a deliberate consideration and inspection into the Nature of the two Interests No Bishop no King do hold good While these things have bin doing the hand of God hath bin upon our Bodies our Cattel our Trading What strange and New diseases have swept away whole Families and Townes almost of late years So as we could not avoid taking notice of an intimation of Divine Displeasure therein Unnatural and intemperate seasons a plague among our Horses wherein perhaps we have too much confided Our Merchants break and run away daily Our Ships lost and taken to incredible numbers Our Men the strength of our Nation sent to digg their graves with their swords in forreign Countries and disagreeing Climats whither they are prest forth against their Consent a thing that would not have bin put up formerly and the Poor of the Land increasing wonderfully upon us whole Families ready to starve for want of Trade and Imployment whilst that which would maintain many Thousands is lavisht I may say imbezeld to keep up the Port of a few new rais'd great Ones at an unnecessary height Where these things may End or whereto they are directed in the Intentions of many that drive them on the Lord alone knows but it is much and with too much ground or appearance of likelyhood suspected to be with an eye to bring-in the old Family assoon as they have made all things ready which by that time all is said that these Designers are able to alleadge of the Commodiousnesse thereof to put us out of fear of any more Warrs and Changes and to save the Charge of maintaining Armies to keep out that Title I fear the Nation may have too strong a Temptation unto And then what will become I say not of King's and Bishops Lands which many of the Gentry and Sould'ers have swallowed down it were the lesse matter if the disgorging of them were the worst consequence but what would become of the Estates and Libert'es not to say the Lives of all honest men that have adhered to this Cause Nay what would become of the Cause of God and Religion which we have bin contending for against Popery and profanenesse let every indifferent person Judge Though the truth is setting these consequences aside if there were a Necessity of a King again I must professe I should think it more righteous yea more honourable for our principles and our Cause to take a branch of the old Family that hath not forfeited his Right by actual hostility against us than to set up any other Family in that place so little grudge have I against that expulsed Family though I think whosoever pretends to be their Friend and should wish them restored to that Office and Dignity in this Day wherein God seems to be overthrowing designedly the throne of kingdoms consults neither theirs nor the Nations peace But which is the Misery of all the rest There are not wanting that endeavour to perswade us that though these symptomes of death are upon us yet we are well and upon an excellent constitution What would ye have May ye not be as good as ye will say they and that this is our Cause we fought for Which is so true as that the Calves were Israel's Gods that brought them up out of the land of Aegypt As if the setting up a few men that seemed sometime zealous for the Cause were the triumphing of the Cause when the body of the Adherents languish God knowes whether in this I do enviously detract from the Merits of any His late Highnesse or others that rose with him who deserved eminently in their day And None was more joy'd to see the power come into His hands then those that have since had so much cause to bewail the ill use of it But to take it ill of us that we cannot dance and sing in these circumstances is such an unreasonablenesse as is amazing Wonder not that men that have been free should think it irksom to be in bondage That those that have purchased their liberty at such a Rate should be willing to enjoy it That those Court Trinkets and Fopperies those chargeable Bawbles and Vanities being once cast out are not without regret and anguish received and taken in again No No we cannot so easily take upon us all the Blood that hath been shed in this Quarrell we cannot state the cause upon a Person or a Family or the individuall circumstances of Hic Nunc Tyranny is Tyranny and Oppression is Oppression be it excercised by whomsoever and superfluity and luxury are worse in this Generation than in the former daies A liberty there is I grant to say what you will against the old Court the High Commission the Star-Chamber the waies of the Bishops and former Tyrants and persecutors and to professe and practise any thing that touches not present Corruptions but shall we have liberty to witnesse against the same Evills in new dresses * May Sir Henry Vane freely propound a Healing Q. A. No If he do he must for an answer be sent to Carisbrook Castle May Col. Okey Lt. Gen. Ludlow and other faithful Officers in the Army freely remonstrate against incroaching Tyranny No they must then be cashier'd and sent to the Tower May Mr. Cardel freely preach against a formal Ministry and Worship No He must then leave his Benefice in Lumbard-street May Mr.
John Goodwin try the Tryers No He must then be school'd for his pains and know that He that set them up will maintain them May Major Gen. Overton exercise his command freely without serving the lusts of great ones No He must then be banished to the Isle of Garnsey If not what liberty have we or indeed what liberty can be expected when those that take upon them to measure it out to us are themselves the great Object of Offence and have made themselves deservedly the very Butt against which all faithfull witnessing must be directed unlesse we will put out our eyes the light of our Reason and our Consciences and call Evil Good and Good Evill as too many have been corrupted or deceived to do in these daies CHAP. II. Enquires the Remedy in this case where the forwardness of the natural Man is rejected and it is shewed That by the first Covenant there is no recovery for us if God shew us not a better Covenant and bring not down our Spirits to the tearms thereof THe Case standing thus with us the Question will be What way of recovery is there for us The flesh and the naturall Man is forward and bold and would be undertaking presently like Israel of old who when they had offended the Lord with refusing to go up at his command thought to mend all again presently with changing their resolution But the Lord tells them It would not be accepted then Because they would not go up in his Time they should not go up in their own If they did they should fall before the Canaanites There is a season and an opportunity which if it be let slip is never to be recovered again as it was with Jerusalem O that thou hadst known at least in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace but now they are hid from thine eys Ye shall desire to see one of the daies of the Son of Man and shall not not see it The night cometh wherein no man can work 1. There is a day of grace wherein God makes offers and tenders of his presence and assistance which is meant by the daies of the Son of Man wherein the patience of God waits upon the world Persons and Nations not leaving himself without Witnesse that he is ready to do all on his part towards the saving and redeeming of them Thus the old World had their day during the preaching of Noah The Jews had theirs during the preaching of Christ All men have their day wherein God shews himself not willing of their death And thus England hath had its day as hath been shewed But if this be overslipped then follows 2. In the second place the day of Judgment Heb. 10.26 27. If we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledg of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the Adversaries That which grace will not do judgment shall There is an Order for the issuing out of all Gods Attributes though he have magnified his Word above all his Name and given it the first place yet he hath not ceased to be just and righteous he must make Rebels stoop to him else he had as good give up his Kingdom Therefore When the Master of the house is risen up and hath shut to the door and ye shall begin to stand without and knock c. then though Noah Daniel and Job stood before me my heart could not be towards this people In that age when the Jews were rejected they had many friends that were powerful with God the Apostles and others yet they could not prevail to bring back the heart of God to that people though Paul bids high and would have given his salvation for it No the fire must now work upon them Judgment must have its course the Decree is gone forth there is no arresting of it And though God will take up again and be reconciled at last yea and with more abundant kindness gather his people again yet it must be through a long tract of suffering a 1600 years rejection and no hopes given them till Jesus Christ be sent the second time in the glory of the Father to restore them Let this be considered for if this be our case that the door be shut and that we begin to stand without and knock as me-thinks it looks too like such a thing we have not that success and admission within that formerly we had we shall receive but cold answers without doors then deliverance must be wrought through the fire we must bear our iniquity before God be pacified towards us But we have been so dandled and playd with that like wanton children not used to be lasht we know not how to understand correction but are ready to think God is playing with us when he is laying the rod upon us Thus it was with us all the dayes of the late Protector we put all upon the account of jest and tryal All our losses abroad of ships and me splitting our Designs we understood them but as tryals And things running Counter at home to honest principles and expectation we thought they were but mists cast before our eys sure the day would clear up and things would go well at length Though some felt the rod to smart others call'd it play and sport therefore we had need to be awakened to know where we are that the rod is upon us and if we understand not Jezreel Loruhamah follows and if that speak not loud enough Loammi will You may observe in that first of Hosea the Prophet had three children The first he was appointed to call Jezreel that was as the first drops of the showr of vengeance now Israel look to thy self and remember the day of Jezreel what Jehu did serving himself when he pretended to serve me I will therefore visit saith God the blood of Jezreel on the house of Jehu There was the warning piece shot off which might have its usefulness to some tender-hearted Israelites to drive them into their Chambers till the indignation was over past Those that were not awakened by this hear next of Loruhamah I will no more have mercy And if this do not full execution Loammi follows Ye are not my people To apply this Our Mercy runs low already but when God shall declare against us as not his people we shall be sensible of his displeasure too late CHAP. III. A particular enquiry into the immediate Causes of this dangerous relapse of ours ENGLAND hath had many Physicians yet have I met with few that have hit upon the very Cause of this relapse of ours or that prescribe a proper and sufficient remedy though many pens are at work and many brave English Spirits give their Essay say much and very well as to the rescuing our too far gone liberty and more do sigh and mourn not able to utter and vent the grief of their hearts
not the sweet and candid Rule of Christ whom they refused in his heavenly appearance but an Earthly Lordly Rule puts an Iron Scepter into his hand to dash them in peices like a Potter's vessel and so answers these fools according to their folly yet answers them not Their spight was at the spiritual seed therefore they shall have the Children of the Earthly Jerusalem Reign over them for these were his Body or his Princes which he set over all the Earth Thus as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge or to entertain Christ in his meek large gentle heavenly appearance which knows how to give men their Rights as well as Christians and every one their food in due season The Lord gives them up to their own hearts lusts and desires and feeds them with flesh which they called for a fleshly Religion till it came out of their Nostrils and they are sick and vomit again and have enough of this Religious spirit insomuch that with all their hearts they would have had the power any where rather in this hand that in the name of God and Religion could do such things take away liberty and property destroy their Rights inslave their persons alter and change laws and times at his pleasure break Oaths and Engagagements without remorse Any spirit but this spirit Thus God filled them with their own ways and punisht them with their own Inventions Thus he brought fire out of Abimelech to devour the men of Shechem and fire out the men of Shechem to devour Abimelech for they were a plague to each other for they were of one spirit but thus wonderfully ordered to be each others Torment If you ask me now What spirit this was that made such work what was the spirit of that Generation and of Him that was in Judgment set over them though in mercy too I will grant you for God did make use of him as a Bulwark still against the Common enemy though we lost ground within doors Was it an evil spirit how then could any good come from it I answer It was not a profane spirit nor a spirit void of Religion there was much of Religion and Righteousness of one sort in it but if you would know what spirit it was It was the spirit of the first Covenant grafted indeed upon a new and living stock Christ and the Gospel but bearing its own sowre grape The spirit of the Law which you know makes nothing perfect though in a Gospel dresse the spirit of the first born after the flesh or the life of Christ's first appearance which is never safe and sure from starting back returning to corruption till it be made a sacrifice seasoned with salt and salted with the fire of the eternal Spirit through the offering up of the flesh And because this discovery is of so main importance and concern unto us therefore I shall discourse largely of it in the next Chapter and shew you How this is the Spirit in which our first life and Activity appears and how it ministers in the things of God that is in the first Court and where it is to give up and resigne which when it doth not it converts into Enmity against that better and latter spirit and so is justly rejected and throwen off by God And these things I shall as God assists discourse to you not as Notions barely but as things that have really operated and produced their fruits among us Which if the Lord give us to understand and make a right use of may make us wise to salvation to save our souls I am sure if not to save the Nation but I say to save the Nation also for This man shall be our peace when the Assyrian shall come into the Land and this wisdome and knowledge shall be the Stability of our times Though I cannot say whether we be yet humble and broken enough to receive it but may put the Lord to cast us again into the fire to make us Malleable to this Impression CHAP. IV. Shewing what manner of Spirit that was that miscarryed in this Cause I Am apt to believe that the Instruments which carryed on the work in this Nation generally were not mistaken in themselves but that they were sincere and upright with one sort of uprightnesse and did indeed intend the freeing and delivering of us yea I am apt to retain that charity of the late Protector that He intended no lesse when He dissolved the long Parliament and did those High Arbitrary things But it is not every spirit Nay it is not any spirit be it never so raised and anointed that can carry through to the end in case of some temptations but that spirit that is by extraction divine That that is of the Earth will seek and at last find its Center in the Earth though it may by strong Engines be carryed and kept aloft awhile But natural principles let them be never so much heightened will never hold out to the end of God's Works As the eye of the fleshly Israelite could not see to the End of those things that were to be Abolished And this is the great witnesse which God is minding to hold forth unto us in this day by all our Apostacy and backslidings even to distinguish between seed and seed Spirit and Spirit Then saith the Prophet ye shall returne and discern between the Righteous and the Wicked c. There is a Righteousnesse in the flesh which is Wickednesse before God not simply in it self but as it exalts and magnifies it self in a sense of its own self-sufficiency and in the excellency of its work opposing the work and way that is more excellent because it finds not its own strength adaequate to it as being that which Flesh and Blood cannot endure and yet cannot give way to Another no not to the Lord himself by the breaking and crucifying it in its Natural abilityes to do that which it cannot do This was the very Case in our Saviour's time The Jewes were pitifully at a losse and would faine have recovered their ancient splendor and glory but they mistook both their objest and their way to it expecting a Carnal when the designe of God was a Spirituall Kingdome and expecting to attain that by their own Righteousnesse which God discerning the insufficiency and weaknesse of the Law to assist them unto through the Flesh sent his own Son to do for them Rom. 8. And this is that alone that can unriddle and resolve our Case Therefore I said We must go into the Sanctuary to understand it To clear this up to those that are spirituall and can judge what I say I shall desire to make this Question Whether this Apostacy that is upon us be not a Judgment That is whether to be delivered up to such a Reprobate sense as we seeme to be both Rulers and people The one to act and the other to accept and submit to those very things which we destroyed be
they in whomsoever not in person or appearance disliking the same thing in this person and countenancing it in another If ye desire to see your sin This is thy sin O England All our thoughts all our wayes all our motions all our imaginations have bin are will be found before the Righteous God in this Day of his clear Judgment that is coming upon thee evil onely evil and that continually thou canst not turn thee to any one of them to find the least comfort and satisfaction of a good and righteous working and operation in them for How can an evil tree bring forth good fruit or a bitter fountain send forth sweet water Thy fountain is bitter thy root is rottennesse This I must testifie against thee from the Lord. Not but that thou hast done Gods work and fullfil'd and executed his pleasure upon Kings Nobles Bishops and all the slain and poyled of the Land Thou hast dressed the Lord's sacrifice but thou hast done it in thine own spirit and so art no better then Jeroboam then John then Nebuchadnezar and art accountable for all that thou hast done And God hath now taken thee in the snare of thy own heart and hath spread thy filthynesse thy unrighteousnesse thy ambition thy partiality thy hypocrisie in the sight of the Sun Thou art returned with the Dog to the vomit and with the Sow to the wallowing in the mire Thou hast corrupted thy self and art become abominable Judah hath justified Samaria Thy sins are as Scarlet they are of a double dye to the sins of the former generation which God hath cast out before thy face Thou sawest the Judgments of God on them for the wayes of pride unjustice oppression which thou walkest in and wast the Rod in his hand the Instrument of his vengeance upon them shalt thou therefore escape O! I dread to think what a sad reckoning this Generation hath to make I can see no glimpse of Comfort for us in any promise or prophecy or example or record in Scripture unlesse God powre out a spirit of grace and supplication a spirit of deep contrition and humiliation upon us but our Carcases must fall in the wildernesse as Israel's did Loruhamah and Loammi must be named upon us Israel shall be as Ethiopia and the bringing up of the Phlistins from Caphtor and the Assyrians from Kir shall be of as sacred memory as our Victories and successes the successes of the great Turk as holy things as all our deliverances I say unlesse God make us ashamed not onely of our sins but of our selves and of the spirit and root we have growen upon and acted from in all this I speak not now to natural men I know God judges every one by the light and law that they are under but I speak to the Saints of England that would be thought and call'd so many moral men have done bravely and faithfully and those that have corrupted in those principles having profest no higher shall be judged no deeper But you that say Ye see you that have discern'd and cryed up a Cause of God not civil liberties onely as men but a Cause of God in civil liberties all for God for the glory of God for the Kingdome of God I say you shall be judged out of your own mouths Is this the Cause of God Is this the Kingdome of God You in the Council you in the Army Is this the Cause of God now your turn is served Moral men shall onely be judged for their work not prosecuting the Cause but letting it fall but you shall be judged for no better a spirit unless you judge your selves I say there is no hope for you unlesse a spirit of judgment and burning arise up within you and cleanse your blood and filthynesse from you And ye shall pay not onely for your spirit but for that guilt also wherein ye are in Common with others for not prosecuting but letting fall this Cause when so far carryed on though darkly and blindly by you and in the letter For the same evil made you desist namely self-Interest that made you manage it in unrighteousnesse For be it known unto you The Cause of God is amongst us and shall go on and is carrying on through all these dark Meanders and Intricacies whilst you sleep on your down Pillows and stretch your selves upon your beds of Ivory and the next advance of it will be the routing of you Except God awaken you to meet him by speedy Repentance God will glorifie himself in his Judgments on you as upon the Cavaleirs before you Therefore trust not in vain Visions and cry not The Temple of the Lord. Is there any truth mercy and justice in the Land Are not the necessities of the poor as great as ever are not the oppressions as many is not pride luxury and profannesse as rife are not the Courts of Justice as corrupt Is not the spirit of God restrained and persecured Is Christ in the Throne Will ye call this a Reformation that ye are made Kings and Princes No! the Lord will not own it This is your work and your Cause it is none of his and God will make you know one day ye had power to have reformed these things but used it not forsooth because you would have offended this great man and tother useful Interest ye must have broak with a broken shatter'd World which will not be able to afford you the least shelter in the day when God shall visit you God will carry on his own Cause if we had never a tongue in the Parliament to plead it nor never a pen in the Nation to contend for is but what will become of you I know not How God will do it I know not but by his own appearing It is the day of His Power the day of the Spirit that is to have its turn next not Man's day but God's not Man's spirit but God's and whom He will use as his Instruments I know not if any of this Generation it must be by a Regeneration of them new moulding new framing new spiriting new principling of them The new wine must have new bottles but I see little towards any such thing in any of you Yet I believe God hath a remnant among you whom He will lead on to farther things but it will be with weeping and supplications with great brokennesse of heart and poverty of spirit with self-judging and self-abhorring and then what revenge will ye take of your selves what restitution will ye make to the Nation what right will ye do to all men even to your enemies Then will ye throw away your Idols of Gold and Silver to the Moles and to the Bats Then the lofty looks shall be humbled and the haughtinesse of man shall be laid low and the Lord alone exalted in that day Till the Spirit be thus powred forth from on high I look for no salvation to be wrought but the people shall labour in the fire
that there were some of this Spirit under all the several degrees of light and discerning in this Cause I do verily believe who were therefore accepted of God and blessed in their Deed and in Christ were the blessing of the whole and are many of them at rest whither they arrived some sayling through the Sea of their own blood spilt in the High places of the field others spent and wore out themselves in Counsels leaving the Remnant of their despised and afflicted Brethren to suffer the indignation of an Apostate world and to be sad spectators of the havock and shipwrack of a blessed Cause ready to enter the Haven of its publick obtaining and triumph While this Spirit was up in our Counsels and Armies God never withdrew from them for God was the Father of it and it is his own Child and he cannot deny himself to this Spirit which is become a fool in it self and seeks all its wisdom and dirction from him therefore he cannot he may not be wanting to it When in the management of the most outward Affairs viz. our Martial Affairs the Army or those that had the conduct thereof own'd this Spirit they never were without Counsel nor without Signal ownings and testimonys of acceptance from God When they said They knew not their way but from step to step when they had done one thing they knew not what was next neve were they guided in so safe and successful a path the Promise being to the bliud that have thus made themselves blind for the Kingdom of Heavens sake that have resigned their way and the leading of them to the Lord that The will lead the blind by a way that they knew not He will make darkness light crooked waies streight and not forsake them But when some thought they had been children and fools long enough and had a lust to be wise and saw that unless they were so God did not make hast enough to give them that which it may be he would have given nay certainly will give his people in his own time Rule and headship over the world and that with a clear evidence and demonstration in the Conscience of the world it self of the indubitablenesse of their right and title thereunto and their fitness alone separate from all other men to exercise this dominion But I say they would have it in their own time and by their own way would ravish and usurp the blessing and I could wish it were but so as Jacob did and that no worse might come of it though that was bad enough He got the blessing with a present curse and a great deal of sorrow But here is the very splitting and loosing of our Cause so far as in them was to expose it but that indeed it cannot be lost being the Cause of God and the whole world is his and the Earth and all things must give up their dead Whosoever and whatsoever hath swallowed it up must render it again That 's the comfort of it which therefore incourages me to hope it may not be in vain to close with a word of Exhortation to all that are faithful whether in Parliament or Army or abroad in the Nation or in any of these three Nations wheresoever these may find them That they would not give up their hope that they would not despond concerning our good Cause Joseph is yet alive the Cause lives still though under many gashes and stabs yet it is alive being of an eternal nature it cannot dye The Cause of God the right of God and of his Son Jesus Christ cannot be extinguished Therefore I beseech you prepare your selves to serve it contend vigorously for it It will shew it self to you and that shortly I am perswaded and that not to suffer any more Maintain it a while it will be able to maintain you I say All you that are born of it and born into it that have suckt its milk that are Natural to this Cause and it natural to you Go on to seek the peace and welfare of it It will reward you all Perhaps you may discern it some of you in one light some in another gradually differing as you may read before is allowed Let that make no difference at all among you Some it may be are exercised in the rights of men others in the rights of Christians some more in the Letter others more in the Spirit The more outward not opposing that to the inward work and Kingdom God accepts of the one as well as of the other All did not bring the same offering to the Tabernacle but some Badgers skins while others brought silk and gold c. The lower is in order to the higher the outward to the inward and is in some sense the preservation of the inward Therefore I say ye are all one womans children Jerusalem that is above which is free stand fast in your Liberties If any of your Brethren be at present found in opposition they will they must be brought over to you it cannot be avoided and those that seemed sometime friends but were not but servants of Mammoni you have an ease and freedom by the removall of them for they were but a clog unto you and for them you have lost you shall have double come forth to you even from whence you least of all expected yea Nations shall flow in unto you Be but true to God you shall never want strength if all the Armies in Heavou and all the Interest of God in the Earth be able to carry you out you shall not fall nor shall your Cause fall Only be sample and be not too wise to look before hand as those whose way is in themselves but as he that was brought down to God's foot that righteous man so be ye waiting truly upon him in a Resignedness of mind following him as his Providence opens the way to you designing nothing of your selves and you shall see God will shew you what to do yea how you shall recover this Cause again for All things are possible to him and it lives to him now and he will make good what you do and his glory shall be your rereward when He goes before you and who dares fall upon that Rear And all this pittiful poor dark worldly stuff which hath been built upon that precious foundation which God hath layd in this Nation in the hearts of his people and in the works of his providence shall crumble and moulder away like dirt and melt like wax before the fire of this righteous Appearing and arising of God in his poor broken Remnant Amen Hallelujah Wherefore serve the Lord without sollicitousnesse for your labovr shall not be in vain Believe so shall ye be established The words are few and the Counsel is short but heed it well and lay it to heart It is of greater Moment then ye may be presently aware of I will not say Heaven and Earth shall passe away before they shall be unfulfilled but it may be ye may find the Lord hath said so I think I may say It is the Counsel of God unto you for your good which first or last must and shall take place and that ere long too FINIS