them And if not we shall put all who will not bow before the Dagon of our new erected Supremacy once for all and for ever out of case to appeare afterward For this end have we gathered our host For this end do we march Fall on red shankes Feare not have not we bid you You are pitched upon as the most qualified Souldiers for this expedition against the Mediator whom we have denied to be a Monarch and proper instruments for our purpose for we know you well to be such as these must be who will do our businâ—ssâ— even men who feare not God nor reguard not men March therefore right trustie and well beloved Saraâ—ens ye who call not upon the Lord and so are onely sit to be at our call and bidding and eat up his People in the West who call upon him as bread Make these the Mediators subjects smart for it and either bring them to binde themselves no more to own Him nor his Ambassadours or leave such monuments of your savage crueltie behinde you as will answer the keenness against Christ of those who send you in this expedition we have secured you against all hazard hell excepted and we know you no more feare that then we doe of future danger or pursuite for what destruction you bring upon these against whom we send you onely destroy Most deare Brethren what miseries you have endured by the barbaritie of these Monsters let loose upon you are the matter of amazement mourning and lamentation to all who in every place call upon the Name of Jesus Christ ouâ— Lord both theirs and yours to whose eares the report of your sufferings is come But amidst all these calamities and cruelties you are not without comfort O what a cordial may this be to remember and consider both who suffers with you and for whose sake you suffer these thinâ—s You cannot consider this but it will comfort you over your loss when this is laid to heart yeu will not so much be moan the loss of what is robbed from you as you will blesse that ever you had any thing to lose for his sake who savâ—d you when ye were lost You will then wonder at the honour and reâ—oice that you are counted worthy to sufâ—er these things for his sake who for your sake suffered far other things You will take joyfully the spoiling of your goods for him who for your sakes became poor that you through his poverâ—ie might be made rich O what will not be â—asie and sweet to suffer for that sweet names sake which is as an ointment poured forth by the savour vvhereof your dead souls have been quickened and your drouping and desponding spirits revived cheered and comforted Consider then since Christ your King your Captain and Saviour neither did nor does escape the vvorlds malice and persecution and since he vvas hated and handled as the vvorst of men novv again in the vvorst of times is so dealt vvith if it be not reasonable that vve should provide for the like and resolve to go through the many tribulations vvhich may be fall us in his company and for his sake If we intend to follow him to the place of fruition we must go that way which he hath paved before us it cannot be avoided yea how incongruous were it if we could How unsuteable were it That the Lord and Master should meet with so much suffering for the servants sake and rejoyce amidst it all as knowing he should see a seed and have this recompence and satisfaction for all the travel of his soul that the souls of his servants â—hould reap the advantage of what he underwent for them That he shonld be beaten for the servants sake that through his stripes the servants might be healed and the servants to be alwayes favoured and applauded in that world which had put the Master to shame and suffering while he was negociating his servants businesse And as he hid not his face from shame and spiting for their sake so he laid down his life upon their interest Were it seemly that he who bore their burdens should wade and swime thorow â—eas of sorrows and they sail in streames of pleasure That he should be crowned with thornes to purchase them an immortal Crown they crowned with roses That he should be hunâ—ed and had not whereupon to lay his head that he might by being handled so purchase a Kingdome to his followers that he should go thorow death aud such a death and be laid in the grave that he might have accesse to go and prepare a place for them and take possession of the undefiled inheritance as their common Head and Trustee in whom and with whom they now sit in heavenly places and they dwell at ease in their own house Truely to say nothing of the after glory for who can say what it is since it is above apprehensions Onely this is sure that they who suffer with him shall also reigne with him if there were no more then the present sharâ—ing and partaking in his sufferings it were honour enongh O how much above all regal dignite is it And how in comparably beyond the fancied honour of a diademe to be crowned with thornes for Christ's sake There is an inherent glory for suffering in Christ beyond all the ambition of the worldâ— after that painted and putrid glistering bubble with the glanceing whereof vain men are so much taken up If this were keept in the view of the soul what strength would it furnish What support would it supply the spirit of a sufferer for Christ with but deare friends the word of your Testimony and Patience hath somewhat of a precious peculiaritie in it not onely in reguard that it is the presently opposed Truth you are persecuted for and so must be sweet because seasonable but the Word of your Testimony and that Truth for owneing of which yon are put to suâ—â—er the loss of all things is that very Truth for which Christ himself suffered as a Martyr Viz. That Hâ— was a King â— This Question is put to day unto his followers with greater contempt than Pilat put it What and is Iesus a King then O noble cause O who would not rejoyce to enter the lists of Contradiction with these his enemies have once an opportunity to say Yea he is a King and will be a King when you â—re gone and will prove himselâ— higher then the Kings of the earth by rescinding your Supremacy â—hat Idol of his indignation and object of his revenge O what ambition should this raise in the soul of every saint what patience in tribulation should this produce what holy courage what humble boasting what triumphing and rejoyceing to be offerred up a sacrifice upon the Interest of this Kings Crown Can you consider that your present sufferings losses are a seal to that great Truth which Christ sealed with his blood and not blush at the honour and blesse him for ever that now
sinceritieâ— and hath strained his wit to put a sufferabâ—e sense upon a â—upremacy whereby our Lord is put again to suffer I say I scruple not to let the world know that this is the Echo of my soul as to him or them O let never my soul enter into the secrets of that man lett him who while he thus seeks to â—ile the eyes of others bewrayeth this secret he is no Seer nay that some finger is put into his eye I â—hall not say whose it is neâ—eâ— be the man of my councel nay let all the â—ervants and all â—he people of God stand aloof fâ—om him and his whispeâ—ings because in stead of being in case to give wholsome advise as one who stands in his masters Couâ—cel he will by his palliatings and perverse mutterings seduce pervert and ensnare his breath will be contagious since his speech must bewray him to have the botâ—h of the Court-Creed running upon him Hence Fourthly I must professe and I desire to say it as in the presence of God and as writing that which I must carry-in in my hand before the Tribunal of Christ what ever prejudice should be taken up against the speaker or the thing spoken that it passâ—th the ken of my poor shallow capacitie after all the discoveries the enemies have made of the desperatnesse of their designe how by all possible means and malicious methods to ruine the work of God and after the Mediators Crown is so formally set upon the head of another and all that is now doneâ— and driven in destroying the remnant is in order to the establishment of that invasion of his Crown and Scepter what addresse is possible to be made to him â—ho is thus set down in the Mediators Chair of State and weares his Crown in our sight without sin except it be to tell we can make none or to beseech to forbeare to persecute the Mediators Ambassadours who must continue to preach the Gospel by vertue of their Commission Yea who dare not think oâ— appearing before Christ withâ—ut having given such a Testiâ—ony of their resentment of the usâ—rpation of thâ—ir Masters â—hroâ—e and Scepter and who dare neâ—er preseâ—t themselves to God without doing the equivalent of spreading that Supremacy before him and praying that he would take unto him his â—reat power and reigneâ— and possesse himself again of his own â—hâ—one and disposseâ—sing these who have usurped it shew his zeal for his Prerogative Royal Andâ— how such a declaration before men and such dealing with Goâ— can consist with addresses tâ—â—â—em in Church matters who have taken to themselves his house in possession and yet be frâ—â— from all compliance with countenancing of and conniveance aâ— that great wickeâ—nessâ— I see not And I hope never to see with his eyes who saithâ— he sees it They have now stated the quâ—rrel clearly for us And as ever we would have Christ to stand be us and stand up to plâ—ad this own cause when we are not able to withstand the power of thâ— enemy let â—s stand by him and stand aloof from them As we have neither hoof nor hâ—â— to part with in this matter so we have nothing to seek from any that siâ—s in our Masters chair of state God forbid that ever we should be seen to bow or beg before tâ—em while they sit there how ever when we are passive we may make use of what libertie is given yet it is our safetie it is our peace it is the interest of the Gospel and for the glory of our exalted Prince to abstaine from seekings anâ— receivings from those who stand in such termes of opposition to him As to the second question What hopes we may entertain of a Delivery from our persecuters First I say there is nothing in my judgement which can deliver me or any who considers the nature of our National revolt in all its God-provoking circumstances and how deeply every one is guiltie from him who sitteth upon the throne to him who grindeth behinde the mill and how this sin is now become the sin of the Nation whereby the whole is made a curse without meditating terrour at tâ—e apprehensions of the â—â—yrcenesâ—e of the wraâ—h of God Almightie against Brittan Lesse thâ—n such a signification of his displeasure that we are the people against whom the Lord will have indignation â—or ever lesse than utter ruine and the perishing of the name of that Nation that Generation and People from under the heavens of the Lord who have so contemned his Covenant and â—aken his name in vain is lesse sure than what our iniquitie gives ground to â—â—are is but hovering over us and ready to fall upon us It is true not a few and blessed be â—e for that â— have found mercy not to go alongs with all these courses But yet let me say even to these it becomes us to be very sober in our expeâ—tations and submissive passeing the example of Ephesus c. let us perswade our own souls into this submission and sobrietie from the example of God's holy procedor wiâ—h Moses Deut. 3.23 24.25 26 oh if but for an unadvised word If but for a little smoak about the fire of his holy and fervent zeal for God he who next to the Mediator wâ— as reckoned faithful in all the house and matâ—ers of God was keept out of Canaan May not that holy peremptorinesse in the just and jealous God whereby he refused to be importuned by such a servant make us in remembrance of what we have unworthily done and left undone very sober in our expectations and silent though he should cause us fall iâ— the wildeâ—nesse and make our death prevent the dawning of that blessed and desirable day O thâ—t we could in the mean time learne at thâ—t holy man to be solicititous how to transmit pure ordinances to the posteritie as we seâ— he was that if we must go off the stage yet we may live and die witnessing how desirous we are that God may be great amongst the posteritie whâ—n we are gone And that an example of witnessing for our wronged Lord and Mâ—stâ—r may be transmited to those who shâ—ll succeed withal warning them that they doe noâ— follow our example wherein we have not contented valiantâ—y for Christ and the interest of his Crown Secondly I cannot forbeare to say that if in the soveraignitie of his Grace he should go out of the common roade of his ordinary providence and make the delivery come in ouâ— dayes Yet I am sure at least I may say it as to my self a sober reflexion upon what we have been and done may make us feare that we shall have no other interests in it but to be Spectators And that if â—e make use of instruments it shall be of such how few soever how base and fecklesse soever before men how weake and witlesse soever as are free of what my self and many are guiltie of And with whom there hath been a fire of
witnesse doth give a distinct sound It palpably declâ—res and plainly proclaimes our Defection from God and Apostasie from him after we had bound our souls with an oath to the contrare It is not onely because we were not answerable to our Covenant-engagements to studie holinesse in the feare of God and walk like a people dedicat and devoâ—ed to him though such a breach goes alwayes before and the other followes afâ—er Buâ— because we dealt unfaithfully in thar Covenant made for Reformation in his house we beâ—ame lukewarme in the cause so the curse of deteâ—table neâ—trality hath over taken us our solemne acknowledgement of sin and engagements to dueties were forgotten Yea we proceeded from one degree of unfaithfulnesse infixedâ—esse in our Covenant with the most High to another till the whole of that Covenanted-work of Reformation was surrendered and put in their power who have destroyed all and razed and overturned the blessed foundations of that beautiful structure and this was done with such a hast and precipitation as he was looked upon as a peevish Ridicule who would have advised in that day to see previously to the securitie of Religion before these were put in power who were it's known and constant enemies And so what ouâ— worthy Fore-fathers of truely blessed memory by their zeal their wisdome their courage for God their valient contendings for the truth their prayers their witnessings their sufferings had by the good hand of their God upon them wrought out for us and put us in possession of we blindly and basely abandoned all and suffered our selves to be fooled out of the cause and out of our faithfulnesse to Christ with a flourish or small parcel of good words And it is for this iniquitie that the holy and righteous Lord pursues us this day it is for this that he doth punish us by these very hands into whose hands we put power to overturne his work and left them at liberty to do so Now O generation see the word of the Lord. It is not my purpose hereâ— to give an account of the several steps of our defection or to draw the lineaments of it's black visage that is an undertaking above my pen and parts let the Lord with whom is the residuâ— of the spirit finde out and furnish some for it and O that for my interest in the defection and my accession to the cause of Gods contending this day with poor Sâ—otland I may obâ—ain mercy to go mourning to my grave This may be cried out upon as Treason well if the mentioning of the Land 's treacherous dealing with God be called Treason all my Apologie is that that makes the necessitie of doing it double and indispensible dutie let me be a Traitor if that be Treason But I know this may be particularly bogled at and abomâ—nat as if it were the reviving and raking againe out of the ashes wherein they were burnt and by the burners designed for ever to lye buried of the causes of wrath I need say little as to this But that the Causes of wrath need neither my patrociny nor Apologie they carry alongst their own sâ—d aud certain evidence with them and I judge many who did not then see so far as these Seers did who drew them up and mourned before the Lord under the conviction of the guâ—lt therein held forth have since been convinced to their cost that the secret of the Lord was with these his Servants and that they stood in his Counsel and if any of them be â—ot they may be ere all bedone O the burning of the Covenant in England and the Causes of wrath in Scotland shall certainly be followed with a fire and siercenesse of indignation as shall make Authors Actors Abettors and Rejoycers thereat know what it is to give such an open defiance to the Almighty A Covenant burnt and burnt by Authority in the sight of heaven with such hell-black solemnities where the great God is Altera pars Contrahens for Reformation of Religion accordâ—ng to his word and righteounesse in walking before him is such a sin as may make every soul to tremble at the fore-thoughts of what God will do for vindicating his glory from that contempt thereby cast upon him My present businesse is not to addresse my self by way of Testimony or representation to them who have done such horrid things Onely I wish that the burning of that City into ashes where that Covenant was burnt together with that non-such plague and war may make them take warning ere it be too late who did this wickednesse for Alas all that is come will be forgotten when the wrath and vengeance that is yet coming shall be execute and mentioned O England England I feare I feare thy wo hasteneth the wrath of God is upon the wing against thee both for breach of Covenant and wipeing thy mouth as if thou hadst done nothing amisse Thou hast stood and seen thy brothers day Alas for thy day when others shall stand aloof from thee for feare of sharing in thy judgements O how unexamplified must the plagues be wherewith they shall be pursued whose wickednesse hath such a singularitie of hainousnesse in it on the ground of the Righteousness and Veracity of God! The burning of a Covenant made with God is a sin which I believe never had precedent or parallel and I also believe that the terrible tempest of the wrath of God falling from Heaven and following this guilt shall for ever fright men from following their steps who for this shall be made spectacles of his displeasure and documents to the coming of Christ what a dreadful and fearful thing it is for men taken red-hand in this wickednesse to fall into the hands of the living God! And as for burning the Causes of wrath I grant that wickednesse hath a perfect parallel but of a tremenduous consequence in â—ehojakim's practice recorded Jer. 36.23 where that ungodly King of unhappy memory upon his apprehended restitution to freedom and deliverie from the judgemâ—nt of God pursuing him for his wickednesse is so grated with the prophets faithfulnesse as he burnt the causes of wrath Now let it be taken notice of how the anger of the Lord burnt against this bold burner see his burial and Epitaph Ier. 22.18.19 but more particularly see how for this very consumating wickednesse he and his posteritie for ever are deprived from Crown and Scepter Ier. 36.30 2 Chro 36. His bâ—otheâ— Zedekiah it is true was made King for a time but he also continued to do evil in the â—ight of the Lord and broke the Covenant of God though he burnt it not and then the Lord sweeped that race for these rebellions against him together with the throne off the face of the earth thus the burning of the Causes of wrath and the breach of God's Covenant brought down the fire of the wrath of God from heaven which consumed with its flame these who had dared the Almighty after
such a manner As the Kingdome of Israel was put to a period and perished because of Hosheah his breach of Covenant so the Throne of Iudah was riding post the last stage to ruine when it came to the breaking of Covenant and burning of the causes of wrath God would beare with them no longer But for adding this evil to all the other evils they had done in his sight he overturned that throne of iniquity and cast them out of his sight for ever But my Friends that which we are called to mind in this day of our visitation is seriously to recollect our thoughts and remember what was our frame in the day when these things were carried on and done before our eyes what were our feares for the work of God what were our cares and solicitousnesse about the preservation of that precious interest I judge you will allow me to say it to you that it might have been expected from the West of Scotland in a particular manner that they would have given some evidences of a peculiar concernednesse in the interest of Christ and for the preservation of our pure and blessed Reformation purged from the plague of usurping Erastianisme and its wretched bratâ— abjured Episcopacy Lâ—r us call ourselves to the remembrance of our carriage in that day were we frighted at the dismal appeaâ—ances of these dangers wherewith the work of God was threâ—tned by iâ—carceâ—ating some of the most eminently faithful and useful Instruments in that work Or were we wakened out of our dreame of halcyon dayes of liberty c. when the blood of these wor hies was shed Where are the evidâ—nces of our love and loyaltie to Jesus Christ are they extant are they uâ—on record can we say in this day wâ—en we are as broken in the place of dragons and coveâ—ed as with the shadow of death that we did neither deal faintly nor falsely in â—iâ— Covenant Alas what can we say what should we say shame and confusion of face belong to uâ—â— a blushing silence will be a fit expression for a stupiditie which we cannot sufficiently lament by words nor make language of we were in that day under such an universal distraction aâ— both did presage and procure the desolations of this day we were fooled into such a frolick as in thâ—se irreligious transports we never remembered there was an Interest of Christ to be seen to or secured in the first place till we saw it was irrecoverably lost And now God is righteous in lâ—shing us by these very hands into which we put power to destroy that which we were bound to have preserved with the loss of all things life it self not excepted O for the spirit of repenâ—ance to be poured out upon all of us that remâ—in for if we were weeping upon him for pardon taking vengeance on our own inventions and wreâ—tling with him by prayer and supplication if we were much upon our knees before him when we are fallen into the hands of these from whom we are no able to rise up our enemies should not stand long upon their feet who now trod under foot his preciouâ— interests and people for a Saint is a Hercules in genu that foot oâ— pâ—ide come against us should soon slip if the slippings of our own feet and backeslidings were mournâ—d over Secondly my deare Friends let me beseech you vvithout being mistaken as if â—t lâ—ed to the griefe of â—hose whom he hath wounded seriously to reflect on your frame and carriage afterward and let us consider whether we walked mournfully before the Lord and endeavoured to make our sorrow swel to a just proportion with the growing desolation of the Sanâ—tuary and the growing defection and grievous Apostasie of the Nation from our Covenant and solemne Engagements to God for of whom and from whom might this have been exspected if not of us We saw the blood of these precious Saints and Martyrs of Jesus shed vve savv the frame of our Government dissolved and overturned vve savv an Act resâ—issory the vvickednesse vvhereof reached heaven vve savv abominable and abjured Episcopacy re-established by Lavv and the faithful Ministers of Christ driven from their flocks thus vve savv Iericho rebuilt and so the Nation became a Curse being so deeply and so deliberatly involved into the guilt of open ovvned avouched and by Lavv established perjurie Novv vvhat did vve in rhe mean time Alas vve had not the spirit of the day in its day vve carried not as knovving the times and vvhat the Israel of God ought to have done But for all that vvas yet acted and done Satan had not driven our Apostasie from God the full length he intended and therefore he still drove on and remembring vvel hovv he had been put to flee often seven vvayes before the flameing zeal and holy fervour of these vvorthies vvho had wrestled that poor Church into a state of freedom from an Exotick hardship and the base bondage of Prelacy and hovv it had come to that amongst us thaâ— Jesus Christ vvas ovvned by all the Authoritie in the Nation as sole and absolute Soveraigne in his own house and hovv his Throneâ— Crovvn and Scepter had been secured unto him and that Prerogative onely competent to the Son of God setled upon him by Lavv vvhich vvas a National Declaration emiâ—ted in the sight of the vvorld of this import let him who built the house beare the glory Let him sit and rule upon his Throne Satan I say envying that blessed settlement vvhich he had found so hurtful to his Kingdom of darknesse and vvhich vvas the Crovvn of that poor Church vvhose Reformation in this vvas beyond all the Churches of Christ I knovv upon the earth though now Alas we may take up this Lamentation over our selves the Crown is fallen â—rom our head wâ—e unto us for we have sinned to the end the mountain of Zion might once for all be desolat and the foxes wiâ—h every beast of prey be at liberty to walk upon it prompted men hâ—ving once set them a going in a course of defection to run to such a height of opposition to the Lord 's anointed as never since man was upâ—n the earth was there such a Supremacy fâ—amed into a Law whereby name and â—hing of all Kâ—ngly power is plainly and explicitly taken from and extoâ—ted out of the hand of ouâ— blessed Loâ—d Jesus Christ and gâ—ven unto and setled upon the King O dangerous and unsetlâ—ng setlement noâ— the incommunicable Prerogative of Him who is King in Sion and whos 's right it is to give Lawes to rulâ— his own Church and House is alieanat and appended to the Imperial â—rown of tâ—e Nation and it is now declared for ever to be its inherent right to dispose of and do in all Church matters as our King in his Royal wisdom shall think fit The most manifest uâ—mâ—sked high and horrid usurpation of tâ—e Throne of Christ that ever the world saw Anâ— thâ— most down righâ— contradiction to