party when the Philistims gathered themselves against them d 1 Sam. 13.5 thirty thousand Charets and six thousand Horsmen and people as the sand which is on the Sea-shore for multitude Overthrew Zerah the Aethiopian when he came against As e 2 Chron. 14.9 with aâ— host of a thousand thousand and three hundred Charioâ—s and by a small number in comparison of his What is to be learnt hence what observation to be rais'd what use to be made of such glorious Vctories such great Actings and high Appearances of God Onely that hee is f Psa 24.8 mighty in battle g Exo. 15.3 a man of warre h Ps 77.14 a God that doth wonders Great things and unsearchable marvellous things without number What nothing else Yes surely something more i Job 5.9 namely that he owned their cause and acknowledged them to be his Souldiers and k 2 Chron. 14.12 his host whom he delivered made Conquerours with a stretched-out Arm and with great judgments the others he took for his enemies and that their Cause was naught and wicked They might see by destroying them in such a wonderful and strange manner l Ps 92.5 A brutish man knoweth not neither doth a fool understand this I have read of one Atabalipa King of Cusco who being perswaded by one Vincent a Fryar to become a Christian upon this reason that he should serve the God that made Heaven and Earth The Indian asked the Fryar how he knew it he having a Bible in his hand told him he had learnt it there The King takes the Book in his hand opens it smels to it and lays it to his eare and hearkens if it spake any thing but perceiving he could have no satisfaction by his feeling neither did the Book speak to him hee threw it away and laughing at the Fryar told him that his Book and he were both fools Now such there are at this day and not a few for all the world like that Heathen King because God speaks not to their dull and blind hearts in their grosse and foolish way they profit not by the works of his hands neither are his present Appearances and Givings in to his people though the same with his former dispensations all along held forth in holy Scripture observed at least not acknowledged of them and God glorified as they ought and should doe But what of all this yet m Ps 10.16 the Lord is known by the judgements which he executeth 4. I suppose it cannot be parallel'd as his * In the 4 letters betweene him and the Ministers Excellency hath well observ'd of the like solemn Appeales unto God in reference to the Justice of a Cause a Deut. 17.8 between blood and blood between plea and plea and between stroke and stroke being matters of Controversie as was done by ‖ Solemn Appeales made by both parties to Almighty God The Answer of the Parliament to the Scots Kings Declaration page 36. both parties before the War began The Scots not only took God to witnesse that they had clean hands and pure hearts were men like Nathanael in whom there is no guile but * See pag. 23. in that Answ referred the Cause between Them and Us to the unerring sentence of the highest Judge as he should appear in his providence and mighty Actings either for us or them It is true they are a people presumptuous and lavish this way as in all their Remonstrances Declarations Petitions Answers c. may be seen evermore Appealing to the great and eternall God the searcher of all hearts and taking the Lord to record upon their soules touching their integrity and clearnesse in walking But howsoever seeing now b Psal 102.19 God hath looked downe from the height of his Sanctuary hath c Neh. 9.28 heard from heaven and d 2 Sam. 22.14 from heaven uttered his voyce and e Ps 76.8 caused his judgment to be heard Methinks they should feare and be still f Josh 7.19 give glory to the God of heaven and make confession to him and the rather because they know as he is a g Tit. 1.2 God that cannot lie a God that h Ps 33.5 loveth righteousnesse and judgement and i Ps 45.7 hateth wickednesse so it is k Ps 85.11 righteousnesse that hath now looked down from heaven and l 1 K. 8.32 in heaven God hath heard and done and judged his servants condemning the wicked to bring his way upon his head and justifying the righteous to give him according to his righteousnesse This Appealing unto God is like the water which was given in tryall of Jealousie m Numb 5.27 If the woman had done trespasse against her Husband the water would become bitter in her bowels her belly swel and her thigh rot But if n Vers 28. clean and not defiled shee should conceive seed and be fruitful So it is when men call upon God to judge their Cause and wil have a witnesse in Heaven and in his definitive sentence pretend to stand If they are Liers Dissemblers Hypocrites fals-hearted double-hearted c. no marvail if the Curse enter into them and that God by some visible sensible remarkable hand punish them for their great presumption and for such impudent boldnesse and because they did not o Deut. 28.58 feare this glorious and fearfull name JEHOVAH THY GOD. Again on the other hand if men appeal unto God as David did in the Cause between him and Saul p 1 Sam. 24.12 the Lord judge between me and thee and are upright before him walke in their integrity setting the Lord alwayes before them The Lord will open to them his good treasure hee will make them the head and not the taile they shall be above only and not beneath and wheresoever they goe they shall prosper Neither did the Scots rest in a bare appealing unto God as to plead the Cause between us and them but so confident they were or rather foole-presumptuous of Gods being on their side as if they had tyed him as the * Alex. Gent. Dic. l. 6. c. 4. Tyryans did their god Hercules with a golden chain to secure themselves of his residence among them And here some of their Ministers play'd their pranks telling the people yea and God too he could not be just and righteous and like himselfe unlesse he assisted them to destroy the Sectarian Army as they cal'd us to such an height of blindnesse and madnesse were they lifted up making true the proverb q Prov. 26.28 a flattering mouth worketh ruine Henry the 2. hearing Menz his Citie to be taken used this blasphemous speech I shall never quoth he love God any more that suffered a Citie so deare to me to be taken from me I am so far from wishing that any of them should be given up to such gall of bitternesse and power of darknesse as to blaspheme the God
Squint-eyes if you set a booke direct before them they cannot read a word nor see a letter though it be a large and faire print but hold the booke side-way then they can read very well and see even the least and smallest point Such mercies and deliverances as are before their eyes and wherein the power goodnesse justice and faithfulnesse of God most shine forth and which look most fully and directly at his glory those their squint-eyes cannot see * Quid non mortalia pectoracoges Auri sacra famâ—s Virg. Eneid 3. But for others which come in side-way that is advance their Interest help to hold up their unsanctified places and standings their pomp pride Lordlinesse bring them in Corn and Wine c. These side-way blessings whether Victories or what else they can see and will read them and in their Churches too and keep dayes of publique Thanksgiving in remembrance of them If the State command it l Isa 26.11 Lord when thy hand is lifted up they will not see but they shall see and be ashamed for their envy towards thy people yea the fire of thine enemies shall devoure them 6. Not onely hath the Lord given us this great Victory but with it hath happily brought to light many remarkable things whereby is discovered the grosse hypocrisie falsehood and dissimulation of the Scots especially some of their Church men and that great Proselyte their King which is another weighty Argument to prove Gods taking our part and Cause against them 1. Since the Victory some of their Officers and Souldiers have declared that the hand of God was certainly against them because their King was constrained to take the Covenant to own their Declaration altogether against his conscience For howsoever they well knew that whatsoever he did in this particular would be contrary to his mind Neverthelesse willing or not willing do it he * As puppets are moved wholly at his direction and bent that exteÌ„ds or slacks the strings whereon they dance And the blind Bayard rusheth into the Battle which way he should goe he sees not save only his rider spurreth him so is this mans case must and shall howsoever as was said they knew that therein he would dissemble and play the hypocrite and themselves also It may seeme strange to all sincere and conscientious people that men speaking so much of religion of the great Cause of God of advancing the glorious name of Jesus c. should act so corruptly before God and men Touching the hypocrisie and deep dissimulation both of King people the * The Answer of the Parliament of England to a paper entituled a Declaration of the Kings Majestie c. page 17.19 same in the Parliaments Answer excellently is observed In the space almost of 24. hours to grow up in the full perswasion of the Justice and Equity of all the Heads and Articles contained in the Covenant and to be able to declare that he hath not sworn nor subscribed them upon any sinister intention and crooked design for attaining his own ends and fixed a resolution to persist therein really constantly and sincerely all the dayes of his life Againe He that can on the 15. of August hug all his Malignants and Popish party in his bosome and lodge them in the secret Reserves of his favour and love as his best friends can now on the 16. the day following from the fulnesse of perswasion of the Justice and Equity of all the Heads and Articles of the Covenant renounce and discard them in the sight of God and the world and vow never to have any more to doe with them There needs nothing to be added for the matter it selfe is like a filthy carkasse which will rot and consume away though it be never toucht Among the Myconians it was no unseemely thing to be bald because the people were naturally so if their young King among other nations had thus dissembled it would have been judged a thing unseemly most unchristian but it seems among Scots falshood and hypocrisie is no deformity no blemish or fault in nature they being naturally so I speak not of all but of the most part lyars and a seede of falshood Physitians in some unseemly convulsions wish their Patients should looke on themselves in a glasse which will cause them to strive the more when they shall see their owne deformity If the Scots would but looke here upon themselves and behold this deformity I should thinke they would strive the more against it howsoever God sees their halting and double-dealing and hath already shewed his great indignation against them for it Some of them say * In a letter to his Excellency God hath hid his face for a while from the sons of Jacob but by your leave Jacob's sonnes are m Isa 63.8 children that will not lye they will not n Isa 28.15 make lies their refuge and under falshood hide themselves they will not o 1 Tim. 4.2 speak lies in hypocrisie but p Zech. 8.16 every man the truth to his neighbour q Zech. 8.3 and Jerusalem shall be called the City of truth If men trust in vanity and speak lies conceive mischiefe and bring forth iniquity if there be transgression and lying against the Lord and a departing away from our God speaking oppression and revolt conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falshood If judgement be turned away backward and justice standeth afarre of If truth be fallen in the street and equity cannot enter God indeed wil then r Isa 59.2 hide his face from such a people as the Prophet hath it yea though they boast of a Covenant and a Temple title themselves the Sonnes of Jacob and say Å¿ Isa 65.5 stand by thy selfe come not neer to me for I am more holie than thou 2. Their dissimulation each with other doth further appeare and Gods judgment upon them likewise for it No sooner did the Scots King heare of the losse of their Army bu he protested he was glad of it and * This was affirmed consideÌ„tly to the Lord Gen. by Major Gen. Straughams Trumpet falling down on his knees gave great thankes in the presence of all about him that they were so destroyed * Stat. Hist l. 8. c. 25. Plyny writes of a people called Tentarites when they have taken a Crocodile they will so fright him with their words and threats as he is forct to cast up and vomit out the prey which before he had swallowed downe If it should be granted the Scots by their thundring threats of rejection deposition Sale Excommunication c. had so terrified the young Crocodile I speake * It is usuall in Scripture to resemble Tyrants to Serpents Dragons Leviathan Psal 74.13 14. Ezek. 29.3 Isa 27.3 in Scripture language having gotten him amongst them as he was forced to vomit up his owne sins and his Fathers and Mothers sins all the idolatries adulteries
the works of God and his Administrations sought out of all that have pleasure therein to be of no effect and to teach men so to doe when and as they please I have read of Antonius when he angled some dived under water put fishes upon his hook the which he cast up at his pleasure one after another hee that would learn to wrest the Scripture needs not seeke any further Counsel then here for if he cast in his hooke where these Divers are hee may be sure they will fit him with fish to the purpose a subtle device and trick whereby to mock God and destroy his owne soule 5. Sometime the event or successe of a thing is so far from being Null or standing as as a Cipher as the equity and truth of the Cause is thereby confirmed and no other way Put a staffe in the water and it will seeme crooked not that it is so but we cannot see it right for the water Even so a Cause howsoever right and just yet through the cunning of men by the water of their calumniation and slander it may seem otherwise and by many otherwise believed As on the contrary a filthy dunghill may be covered with snow a viper hid under a rose an a 2 Sam. 15.8.11 an unrighteous Cause so coloured and cloak'd with such titles of Truth piety Religion Gods worship c. as some deceiv'd thereby may think the same to be just and good When Jannes and Jambres two Aegyptian Sorcerers withstood Moses and five hundred false Prophets of Baal contended with Elias Here was Cause against Cause Plea against Plea as it is now between us and the Scots But how was the truth here discovered and made to appeare and those satisfied or convinced which were concern'd therein Truly by the Event or Sucâ—â—sse that is he Lord making them Conquerours and giving them the victory who had the just and rightfull Cause That â—aul by his calumniations lyes flatteries and other deceitfull practises had so clouded David's Cause as many thought that his carriage dealing toward his Father in law was not good and that Saul had some reason and ground for what he did so much is very cleare by many passages and expressions of David in the Psalms But the Successe and Event cleared David and justified his Cause as how to wit by the many wonderfull and seasonable deliverances which David had by the Lords mighty appearing and working salvation for him with an high hand On the contrary is not destruction to the wicked Job 31.3 and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity that Divine Justice that followed Saul all along in life and death was such an Event as did prove with a witnesse what for a man he was and how unâ—â— righteously he had dealt with David It is true and I know it to be so that the Parliament of Englands Cause in reference to the publique Enemies of this Common-wealth by what name or title soever hath beene proved sufficiently to be a Just Cause even thâ— Cause of GOD both by the law of God of Nature and Nations As for instance * See a booke Intituled the golden Rule or Justice advanced The putting to death the late KING the laying aside the House of LORDS the Constitution of England a COMMON-WEALTH the present Parliament a true REPRESENTATIVE and Supreame Authority of the Nation The marching of our Army into Scotland upon grounds of Justice and Necessity All these things have been proved over and over neverthelesse some envying the good we have because it came not to us by them Others perceiving that their private profits and interests must goe downe and lye in the dust if publique Good be set up and prosper hereupon they consult together and are Confederates and what can be done by fraud or falshood or any way they seeke to attempt Yea such are the depths of Satan and mystery of iniquity now working to deceive every where and every one as that the just and righteous Cause of the Parliament is questioned by some denyed by others and all this through the deceit and craft of such men who either are discontented because others under God did the good work and not they or who finde themselves now shut out from the * Act 10.25 〈…〉 know thâ—â— by this 〈◊〉 we have 〈◊〉 wealth A 〈◊〉 reasoÌ„â—â—â—â—eâ—ore 〈◊〉 should 〈…〉 â—ccupation gâ—infull trade formerly they had and unwarranble ways to deceive and 〈◊〉 the people in soule purse and person But the Lord whose wayes and judgements are all â—â—â—â—teous he I say who justifies the righteous and condemns 〈◊〉 wicked seeing them to cast such a cloud over his Cause and to make it contemptible before men by aspeâ—â—ng 〈◊〉 with Treason Vsurpation Oppression Fraud c. comes forth in behalfe of it and as hee did for Moses against the Magicians for Elias against Baals Prophets and for David against Saul so doth hee for us or rather for his great name gives such such glorious Successes and most remarkable Events to this Cause every where that unlesse men did wilfully shut their eyes or made themselves blind through malice pride covetousnesse c. they might see * Quid faciun video nec me ignorantia veri deâ—ipiet sed amor as clearly as they doe the sunne shining at noone day to be a RIGHTEOUS AND GOOD CAUSE the which the Lord hath doth and will still defend Object 2. The Israelites in two Battles were overcome by the Benjamites but they had a good Cause the which the others had not Therefore Successes or Events in Warre prove nothing in respect of the Cause whether it be just or unjust Answ 1. Some mens tongues are like a mill that is loose hung keepes a mighty crackling but grinds no corne This example of the Benjamites I heare is much talked of and as David said of Goliah's sword there is none like that So some say there is none to this it cannot be answered But how farre this is from that rule simpliciter ad simpliciter inconsistent to the matter they bring it for and to what they apply it will appeare by putting it into forme for thus it must be if it be any thing If GOD sometimes for reasons known to himselfe suffer wicked men to prosper in a bad Cause as to have a Victory once or twice being fewer in number then their Enemies It will necessarily follow that what soever assistance he gives a people in Battle what Victory and Deliverance soever they have in what manner or way soever he appeares for them and against their Enemies Nothing by the Successe or Event can be gathered concerning the justice of the Cause on whose side it is A simple Reader without helpe of Schoole-learning may easily see the vanity and absurdity of such reasoning Suppose I would argue thus there is not any light that shewes a distinction or difference betweene day and night and to prove this assertion I
it is well knowne and our Army found the strength and fruit thereof in the day of Battaile When we see Clouds over our heads loden and full with raine we think it will not be long before the Earth receive the bles sing of it from God He that had seen what fullnesse of God what enlargment of the Spirit there was in Prayer for our Army might through faith have foreseen the Victory and said God will send l Ezek. 34.26 SHOWRES OF BLESSING m Psal 68.9 a PLENTIFULL RAINE Raine of Liberallities as the Hebrew is in giving Salvation to England Men at Sea labour to bring themselves upon such Points or Ports as they may receive good Wind to bring them home We know n Psal 33.16 17. there is no King saved by the multitude of an Host a mighty man is not delivered by much strength an Horse is a vaine thing for safety The Battell is not mans but Gods his right hand and holy Arme is the wind which brings us home gets the Victory for us And knowing this our labour was to bring our Army by Prayer upon that Port or Point where we might see Jehovah riding upon the Wings of the Wind girding our Army with strength in the day of Battail and the Enemies as Chaffe which the WIND driveth away * Fulmen adversus hostes imbrem ad refocillandum exercitum Euse Hist Ec. d. 3. c. 9. Eusebius reports that the Christians by prayer obtained lightning against their Enemies and raine to refresh the Army What lesse by Prayer obtained we but on our part Victory and great deliverance Against the Enemy he sent out his Arrows and scattered them he shot out lightnings and discomfited them o Psal 56.9 When I cry unto thee then shall mine Enemies turne back this I know for God is for me p Psal 66.20 Blessed be God which hath not turned away my Prayer nor his mercy from me It is a rule in Art and daily experience shews it contraries placed together doe mutually illustrate each other That there was Prayer made for the successe and wellfare of the Scots Army q Ezek. 3.21 Weeping and Supplications upon the high places r Mal. 2.13 A covering the Altar with Tears with weeping and with crying I say for their prosperity and our overthrow who knows it not Å¿ Ezek. 8.14 Women weeping for Tammuz the Covenant I should have said Now seeing the Lord when they did cry and shout did shut out their Prayer covered himselfe with a cloud that their Prayer should not passe through What should this signifie I shall forbeare to give them mine owne Opinion I desire they would lay their hands on their hearts and speake truely whither hence they have not just cause to think that t Ps 10.97 their Prayer became sin or u Pro. 289. an abomination or that the Lord x Ps 8.4 was angry against it or he heard them not because * Isa 1.15 their hands were full of blood and ‖ 1 TIm 2.8 wrath or ‖ †Ps 66.18 regarded iniquity in their hearts or as it is said of the * Job 27.9 Hypocrite Will God heare his cry when trouble commeth upon him It is true of some God speaks ‖ Jer. 11. Though they cry to him * Ezek. 7.18 cry in his ears with a loud voice he will not hearken to them Though they ‖ †Pro. 1.28 seeke him early with much fasting and ‖ Jer. 14 1â— spread forth their hands he will * Isa 1.15 hide his face from them But who are these not a nationall Church standing for the Holy Covenant for the great cause of God and Reformation not men zealouslie earnest for the purity of divine worship and Enemies to Idolatry superstition heresie Schisme prophanenesse No the Prophets tell us otherwise these were ‖ †Isa 1.4 A sinfull Nation a people laden with iniquity ‖ Mic. 3.4 a seed of evill doers Rulers of Sodome * Ver. 23. rebellious Princes and Companions of theevs ‖ Mic. 2.3 who hated the good and loved the evill Whose ‖ †Jer. 14.14 Prophets Prophecyed lyes the Lord sent them not neither spake unto them They Prophecyed to the people a false Vision and divination a thing of nought and the deceit of their own heart These people whose prayers God would not heare and from whom he had hid his face were an HYPOCRITICALL Nation * Isa 10. dissemblers in their heart ‖ Jer. 4.2 AN ASSEMBLY OF TREACHEROUS MEN ‖ †Jer. 15.17 OF MOCKERS such as would deceive every man his Neighbour would not speak the truth but teach their Tongues to speake lyes and wearied themselves to commit iniquity Sons not of Jacob but * Jer. 42.20 of the Sorceresse Children of Transgression a seed of falshood of the Adulterer and of the Whore It is true such a Nation the Lord would not heare neither would his eye pitty them but did appoint them for Famine Pestilence Captivity and the fearfull Sword of War But what then Can it be shewed in holy Scripture that a pure Kirk holding fast the Covenant of God and having under hand the great work of Reformation seeking God by fasting and Prayer in a righteous and just cause were not onely denyed of his presence and pretection but left to the Sword of Hereticks and cruell persecutors to be devoured I remember I have read somwhere that whilst Pompey prospered and Rome flourished Cato stoutly held and defended a divine providence but when he saw Pompey overthrowne by Caesar his body cast upon the shore without honour of Buriall and himselfe exposed to danger of Caesars Army he changed his Opinion denying that there was any Divine providence but all things set out by chance The time was when the Presbyterians Scots and English spake much of Divine providence In Victories and deliverances they could see much of God I meane when the Prelats were going downe and they thought to have had as great power to persecute when like proud Haman they thought that the seducing the men whom the Parliament would honour and Mordecai and his people should be all destroyed then indeed every victory and deliverance against the Kings party in Books and Sermons must have a divine mark and Character of Gods presence then it was the War of God the Cause of God yea and confirmed to be so by Gods Actings and appearances for us But seâ—ng now their way like Baal is like to plead for it selfe sits upon a wooden horse and must stand of it selfe as it will if it be of God with Cato they have ‖ Some report that Manna at first was in eating very sweet and did relish wel but afterward through the murmuring unthankfullnesse of the people it had no savour or good tast That these men see not so much of God in his Dispensations have lost that relish sweet tast of
England No more then Balaam helped Balak by his Enchantments and Sorceries he is so far from having any thoughts to reward them as that he is upon the point to cast them off and to cloth the naked Germaine againe with Red and Black as making use no more of the Blew for he sees the Covenant so ominous and unhappy as no designe or plot ever prospers that goes forth under the name of it As if God had spoken of it Cursed shalt thou be in the City and cursed shalt thou be in the Field cursed shalt thou be when thou commest in and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out And thus much of Balak and Balaam or the pararell between them and the Enemies of this Common-wealth ‖ Isa 44.11 in acting their Designes or cause alike Let them all be gathered together let them stand up yet they shall feare and be ashamed together I should now speake something in Answer to such objections as might be made against the thing here stood for something I shall write although a larger discourse the Reader shall have in the Second part Object 1. Solomon sayth a Eccl. 9.1 2 Judicium carnis de administratione dei erga personas ipsas Junius in Loc. Est autem hic descripâ—io elegantissima totius judicj carnalis ibid. Sententia carnis de administratione dej in mundo Gartw in Loc. No man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before him All things come alike to all there is one event to the wicked and to the righteous Hence it follows that nothing can be concluded from Successes Victories or outward deliverances as if thereby it might be proved that God should owne and justifie one mans cause more then another Answ 1. It is a great Question whither these are the words of Solomon some say not but the Atheist or carnall reason is here brought in denying Gods providence and framing an Objection thus If things here below were ordered and administred by a just and wise God some distinction then would be seene between men and men in order to their condition and events of things but wicked men and such whose cause is sinfull and unjust prosper and have as great successe as the righteous and those whose cause is right and good Ergo. An Argument like Catos after Pompey was beaten by Caesar and the same in effect which the Scots and English Presbyters now maintaine to darken the glory of God shining forth in his works But 2. Admit another interpretation neverthelesse by these words All things come alike to all c. It cannot be meant as if nothing could be gathered from Gods dispensations in the World or that Events and successes prove nothing for such a sence is a plaine contradiction unto other Scriptures b Psal 34.15.16 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous his face is against them that doe evill to cut off the remembrance of them from the Earth When he saved Noah and his Family from drowning and left the rest to perish in the great waters delivered Lot out of Sodome and gave up the Sodomites to be burnt with fire and brimstone brought Israel safe through the red Sea and left the Aegyptians there to be overwhelmed and destroyed Here all things are not alike neither is there one event to the wicked and to the righteous Besides by the deliverance and good successe which the Lord gave Noah Lot and the Israelites it did appeare and had there been nothing else that same thing was enough to prove their way and cause to be better then the others It is therefore most true as one saith * Jermin upon Eccles 9.3 p. 312. As God beholdeth men who are not alike so he beholdeth them in a manner not alike And much to the same purpose are Salvians words ‖ Intelligis generalem quidem esse in omnes domini visâ—onem sed meritorum fieri disparilitate diâ—â— versum boni quippe aspiâ—iun tur ut conserventur mali ut disperdantur Salvian de Gub dej l. 2. Thou understandest the sight of God to be generall upon all but to be made different by diversity of their deserts for the good are beheld that they may be preserved the wicked that they may be destroyed so he 3. Should the place be understood that nothing can be proved by Events and Successes there would then little use many times be made of Gods pow er justice goodnesse or any cause to ascribe glory and praise unto him for his great and marvelous works for suppose he have saved a people by a speciall and mighty hand and destroyed their enemies in an unwonted and extraordinary sort and all this after both have solemnly and often appealed unto Heaven that the Lord would judge the cause betwixt them yet must not any man beholding these things say that God in all this either gave any signe or token to the Conquerors of approving their Action or that they subdued had not a just and righteous cause Now what place is there here if such Events and successes speake nothing to sing the Song of Moses Great and marvellous are thy works O Lord God Almighty just and true are thy ways thou King of Saints As for the grounds of the War between them it is possible many may be ignorant thereof therefore if they may neither say nor think of the cause by the events be they whatsoever here then they must either hold their peace or offer the Sacrifice of fools It is a rule in Aristotle Ex vero semper sequitur verum but this Doctrine that Events prove nothing cannot be Sound because such an absurdity and untruth follows thereupon 4. Had these men been living who teach that nothing can be concluded from successe or event when the ‖ †There is aâ— much now in a solemn appealing unto God as there was in casting a Lot so that if men being at difference doe appeale and that before the World unto God that he should judge the cause between them No question but the Lord now upon this appealing to him will doe as formerly he did in the Lot give a most righteous sentence by his ordering hand of providence And therefore it seems to me that had a Scot and others of his mind bin found out by a Lot as Achan was they would not have allow'd it or stood to it but have said One event to all Lot fell to Achan Jonathan Jonas and others they could easily have evaded it had it been their case as for example they would have pleaded all things come alike to all there is one event to the wicked and to the righteous And therefore whatsoever the successe or event be of the lot nothing thence can be inferred as to prove a man guilty or that any distinction or difference should be put betweene person and person Cause and Cause But what cannot men doe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by wit and art as to make
EMANUEL OR GOD WITH US Wherein is set forth Englands late great Victory over the Scots Armie in a Battle at Dunbar Septemb. 3. 1650. And by many Particulars of Gods Acting and Appearing then for us it is certaine and so much is cleâ—rly proved that our Armies marching into Scotland and the Wars undertaken and prosecuted against that Nation to be upon Grounds of Justice and Necessity as the PARLIAMENT of ENGLAND hath declared Also here is shewed how grosly the Covenant is abus'd and what an Idoll it is now made With the fraud and falshood of the Scots and their Kings hypocrisie and dissimulation Moreover such Objections are answered as seeme to have any thing in them against the point here Asserted By JOHN CANNE The First Part published by Authority Psal 41.11 By this I know that thou favourest me because mine Enemie doth not triumph over me Isa 26.11 Lord when thy hand is lifted up they will not see London printed by Matthew Simmons next doore to the Goden Lyon in Aldersgate street 1650. To the Right Honourable the Supreame Authority of this Nation the Parliament of ENGLAND SIRS MANY men have written well and effectually in the defenc of your Cause and have sufficiently proved it to be a righteous and glorious Cause Nevertheles as the Philistims stop'd the Wels which Abraham had dig'd and filled them with earth so it hath been the constant endeavour of some men by fraud and falshood to darken the cleare and evident truth which hath been opened to the end people might not have the benefit of such wholsome and sweet water But the Lord of Hosts whose Cause yours is hath like Isaac digged again the wels of water what was stop'd by others he hath opened He I say now is a Writer for you so that were there no Bookes extent pleading your Cause Gods owne hand were enough the late booke written as it were with pen and inke of divine providence were sufficient As the unbeleeving Jewes could not keep Christ in the grave though they rol'd a great stone before the doore of the Sepulcre but hee gloriously ascended so this righteous Cause which God hath put into your hands shall rise and shine as the Sun far and neere amongst the Nations of the earth In spight of enemies let them use all the the wiles wit and wayes they can to keep it under Aristotle saith omne inconsuetum est obscurum I confesse the way which I here take to justifie your Cause against all Adversaries of what name or title soever may at first seeme obscure being hitherto by few walked in Scire per causam is the common rode but when it shall be considered what light I have â—â—nd whose hand as a Guide I here follow I question not but it will be acknowledged that a more certain way cannot be chosen to give a clear and full satisfaction to all men desirous to know on whose side the Truth and Right is between you and your Enemies I doe observe that there are two sorts of men unfruitfull Beholders of Gods marvellous and great works 1. The bruitish man as David calls him he never considers of them nor sees any thing of providence therein As Nicomacus in Plutarch fitly answered an Ideâ—t that could see no beauty in the famous Helena painted by Zeuxis take my eyes quoth he and you shall think her to be a Goddesse Even so had these men other mens eyes any spirituall discerning they would see in Gods dispensations so much of his power goodnesse justice c. as they would say Jehovah there is none like unto thee who shall not feare thee O Lord and glorifie thy name Another sort there are who will speak of divine providence and confesse that all things are govâ—rned by Gods counsell and nothing comes to passe but according to his will and pleasure notwithstanding they will not see his hand when it is lifted up nor make any profitable and good use thereof As the Papist though in words they acknowledge the Scriptures yet by their corrupt interpretation in a manner deny them So these men though they confesse a providence yet by their unsound application thereof doe in effect deny it destroying with one hand what they build with the other And with this later sort I specially here deale I shall not trouble your Honours with a large Epistle Only thus as God by his Acting for you hath made it evident and you many times in your Declarations humbly confesse it that he is on your side takes your part justifies and ownes your Cause so let it appeare â—o the world by your Actings that you are not for your Selves and your own Interests but for God as owning his Cause which is Truth Righteousness Now the Lord who alone hath power to make you able to Act Appeare for him and his Cause as he hath Acted and Appeared for you and your Cause give you both hearts and hands so to doe And thus shall hee ever pray who is Yours most humble and faithful Servant JOHN CANNE EMANVEL OR GOD WITH US Wherein is set forth Englands late great Victory over the SCOTS Armie in a Battle at Dunbarre the third of September 1650. AS The Sun would shine in it's own brightnesse and glory though all the world were blind or did wilfully shut their eyes against it So will the Lord gloriously appeare in his mighty and wondrous works howsoever man shuts his eyes and a Isa 26.10 11. will not behold the majestie of the Lord nor see wâ—â—n his hand is lifted up I make no question had the Scots obâ—ained the Victory though not cloathed with halfe so many remarkable circumstances of Gods presence they would have said and their friends here likewise in the words of the Prophet b Psal 9.4 Thou hast maintained my right and my cause Thou satest in the throne judging right And as Protogenes said of the Painters line c Non enim cadere in alium tam absolutum opus Plin. na hist l. 35. cap. 9. none but Apelles could draw it So would they peremptorily have concluded had our Army been overthrown a speciall hand of God remonstrating a justifying of them their Cause their King and Kirk I hope without offence what they would have done had our Cause been theirs we may take the like liberty and with reverence to the place say d Psal 41.11 By this I know that thou favourest me because mine enemy doth not triumph over me Yea and make it appeare in the eyes of all impartiall and dis-ingaged men that the Lord was so with us and for us in this great Victory as doth strongly prove make good our Armies marching into Scotland and the Wars undertaken and prosecuted against that Nation to be as the e Decl. of the Parl. of England upon the marching of the Army into Scotland Parliament hath declared upon Grounds of Justice and Necessity 1. It is a sign that the Lord maintains the
so the power and goodnesse of God may the more shine forth and the mercy it self when it comes tast the sweeter As the greater a mans hunger is the sweeter is the meat and the more relish he hath in it That this victory may appeare to be of God and not of man and what a signall Testimony the Lord hath given in this particular that the Battle and Cause was his I desire the Reader to observe that e Heb. 11.34 out of weaknesse our Army was made strong f Isa 40.29 God gave power to the faint and to them that had no might he encreased strength He that was g Zec. 12.8 feeble among them at that day was as David and David as the Angel of the Lord before them h Ezek. 21.26 The Lord exalted him that was low and abased him that was high i Job 12.21 Powred contempt upon Princes and weakned the strength of the mighty No sooner had our men powred out their complaint before God and shewed before him their trouble saying k Psal 142.6 Attend unto my cry for I am brought very low deliver me from my * Did not the Lord put his hook in their nose and his bridle in their lips there would not be greater persecutors in the world theÌ„ the Scots especially their Kirk-men persecutors for they are stronger then I. But suddenly the Lord arose like a Gyant refreshed with wine wounded the hairy scalp of his â—nemies smote them upon the cheek-bone and put them to a perpetual reproach l Psalm 97.8 Sion heard and was glad and the daughters of Judah rejoyced because of thy judgments O Lord. 3. That the Lord hath given Testimonie to the Justice of our Cause doth further appear by the great number of the enemies overthrown by a few Some report the Scots Army was thirty thousand but six thousand horse and sixteen thousand foote at least Ours to sound men were not above seven thousand and five hundred foot and three thousand and five hundred horse these with the courage which the Lord was pleased to give them in less than an hours dispute put the Enemies whole Army into confusion and it became a totall Rout our men having the chase and execution of them near * Magna ea victoria neque cruenta nobis suit Quinta ab hora diej ad noctem caesi hostes decem milia passuum cadaveribus atque armis opplevere Tac. Anal. l. 2. 8. miles their foot in a manner all taken and slain to the number of 15000. whereof a third part were computed to be killed 200. Colours and more of Horse and Foot were taken 10. Colonels 12. Lieutenant-Colonels 9. Majors 47. Captains 72. Lieutenants 80. Ensigns besides Cornets and Quarter-masters All their Train of Artillery consisting of 22. field-guns beside smaller peeces They left behind them all their Arms no lesse than 15000. their Tents Bag and Baggage Thus the Lord m Psal 68.30 rebuked the company of spear-men the multitude of the buls with the Calves of the people and so let thine enemies perish O God And that it may appear n 2 Chron. 14.13 they were destroyed before the Lord and the same God which to them was terrible a consuming fire making his arrows drunk with the blood of the slain and of the Captives to our Army was their rock their fortresse and deliverer the horn of their salvation who covered their head in the day of battle and girded them with strength Our slain hurt were not many I do not believe saith his Excellency we have lost 20. men not one Commissioned Officer slain that I can hear of save one Cornet and Major Rooksby since dead of his wounds and not many mortally wounded Was not that promise here made good even in the letter o Ps 91.7 8. A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand but at shall not come nigh thee Only with thine eyes thou shalt behold see the reward of the wicked He shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wings shalt thou be safe I have read of a * Antigonus Generall who finding his Souldiers dismayed by the smalnesse of their company and the multitude of their enemies asked them how many quoth he do yee reckon me at who am your Commander and I eader If David were p 1 Sam. 18.3 as ten thousand of the people what is David's Lord Our Souldiers never thought as Caecina did * Tacit. An. l. 1. unam in armis salutem that their safety only consisted in their weapons they are better principled and therefore knew that Salvation belongeth to the Lord and making him their Refuge even the most High their habitation hee was with them in trouble he delivered them and honoured them his right hand and his holy arm got them the victory Heretofore when the Lord had acted and appeared for a people in this manner it was always observed by the godly wise as a sure evidence and signe of his approving their Cause as on the contrary a righteous hand of divine punishment upon the destroyed party for taking up Arms in defence of some thing unjust and sinfull either Person or Thing And indeed the promise runs so q Lev 26.2 If yee walke in my statutes and keepe my commandements and do them r Vers 7.8 Ye shall chase your Enemies and they shall fall before you by the sword and five of you shall chase a hundred an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight This promise is enlarged in Å¿ Ch. 23.10 Joshuah One of you shall chase a thousand * Nos quoque si legem observemus victorias consequemur So we also as Lavaret on the place shall obtain victories if we keep the law This thing afterward was notably performed in t 1 Chr. 11. Davids Worthies of whom some one u 2 Sam. 23.18 lifted up his sâ—ear against eight hundred and slew three hundred at one time x 1 Chron. 11.18 Three men brake through the host of the Philistims As Major-Generall Whalley's Regiment charged through the Enemies whole Army and back again with little or no losse I know there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or few nothing is unpossible with him Notwithstanding when by weaknesse he overcomes strength and power by a few many and multitudes as a Ps 11.7 the righteous Lord loves righteousnesse so this shews that he hath pleaded and maintained the righteous mans Cause That God delivered divers Kings and all their host into the hand of Israel b Ios 11.4.8 much people even as the sand that is upon the shore in multitude with horses charets and by a few totally routed the c Judg. 6.5 7.12 Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the East which lay a long encamâ—ped in the vallies like grashoppers Saved Israel by a very small
of Heaven because of their pains and their sores as I unfeignedly desire and my prayer to God for them so is that they may see how the Lord to whom they have again and again appealed is against them and their Cause as being come to them to judgment r Mal. 3.5 a swift witnesse against the sorcerers against the adulterers against false swearers And therefore they shall do well to Å¿ Deut. 17.13 heare and feare and doe no more presumptuously The Prophet David saith t Ps 77.19 Thy way is in the Sea and thy path in the great waters In a Sea-voyage there are no lanes no foot-paths no print of wheels no high Mercuries to direct the Marriners all their direction must be fetched from the Pole and Stars compared with the card and compasse and touched needle It were to be wished that some men for their owne sake and the sake of others would look lesse upon the rotten post of the Covenant the humane Kirk and the Lordly discipline and see more of Gods footsteps and goings in his sanctuary how he bows the Heavens and comes down and darknesse is under his feet when he arises how his Enemies are scattered and the wicked perish at the presence of God Are the unreasonable creatures cal'd upon u Ps 96.11 12 13. heaven and earth the sea the field and all trees of the wood to rejoyce and be glad because the Lord judgeth the world with righteousnesse and the people with his truth should not man more abundantly utter the memory of his great goodnesse sing of his righteousnesse and talk of his power Now wherein is this great goodnesse righteousnesse and power of God more seen then when God hath his way in the Sea speaks from Heaven that is being appeal'd unto as the supreame Judge and call'd upon to give sentence in a Cause depending between two Nations he speaks out and gives sentence yea so x Job 37.4 thundreth with the voyce of his Excellency as our Enemies themselves being Judges they must confesse it is a Divine voyce a God speaking the righteous judgment of the most high y Ps 107 4â— Who so is wise will observe those things even they shall understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord. 5. There is not a surer evidence of the Lords presence with a people and pleading their Cause then when in the way of his providence he makes the unreasonable creatures seasonably serve for their comfortable deliverance and safety When he a Dan. 6.22 stopt the Lyons mouths b Dan. 3.27 restraind the violence of the fire c Ps 114.3 Caused the sea to flie Jordan to run back What was shewed here That the Lord d Ps 109.31 stands at the right hand of the poore to save him from those that condemn his soule Again when e Nah. 1.3 the Lord hath his way in the storm When f Judg. 5.20 the stars in their courses shall fight against Sisera and g Josh 10.11 great stones from heaven shall be cast downe upon the heads of the Canaanites when the Lord visiteth h Isa 29.6 with thunder and with earth-quake and great noise with storm and tempest and the flame of devouring fire What is here signified That he is angry with those against whom he thus fighteth takes them for his Enemies and that they have a sinfull and unrighteous cause What a cleare Character and sign the Lord gave our Armie of owning them and us and the Cause for which they fought Our posterity after us shall have cause to remember and to blesse God for it Thus it was Vpon Saturday August 30. we marched from Muscleburgh to Heddington where by that time we had got the Van brigade of our Horse and our Foot and Train into their Quarters the Enemie was marched with that exceeding expedition that they fell upon the Reed-forlorn of our Horse put it in some disorder And indeed had like to have engaged our Reer-brigade of Horse with the whole Army had not the Lord by his providence put a cloud over the * Luna clariore paene coelo visa languescere Tac. Aonâ—â— l. 1. Moon thereby giving us opportunitie to draw off those Horse to the rest of the Armie So his Excellency From anoâ—â—er ‖ In a â—â—â—tive 〈…〉 friend Col. Overton Governour of Hull hand thus The Enemie unknown to us attended upon 〈◊〉 right wing and in the Evening drew up a strong party upon our â—â—cer guard and might probably have spoiled them if not proviâ—â—â—tially prevented by the over-shadowing clouds which so eclipsed the Moone as thereby a period was put to the Enemies motion untill the Skie was cleared c. A little before day the darkenesse is greatest When our streights and troubles are at the highest then is our deliverance nearest at hand In sick persons we see it commeth to passe that they think there is no hope of life when the Physitians and standers by see certaine and undoubted signes of health When i 1 Sam. 23.24 Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them here was little hope of life what way now could a man imagine of safety to David What probability or possibility in mans understanding that he should escape yet the Lord found out a way for him and delivered him When the King of Syria sent Horses and Chariots and a great host to apprehend Elisha and they had k 2 K. 6.14 compassed the Gitie about in which he was What hope of life here what way was there in human Reason for the Prophet to escape Yet the Lord who knowes how to dâ—liver the godly out of temptations had a doore open for him whereby to escape When the Scots Army suddenly and unexpectedly fell upon us had many advantages Our whole Army was like to be engaged not then in a capacity or posture to fight but rather as sheep to be led to the slaughter what hope of life here who can see any way of comming out As a man upon a Rock in the Sea sees only waters round about him no land so is our present case we see nothing but either fight or flye Coacta stabile ad praelium we must fight and are forced to it even in this sad and hard condition But the Lord who hath his preventing blessings of goodnesse commanded the Moone not to give her light over-shadowed her with his thick clouds so that the Scots are here left like the Sodomites in darknesse groping for our men as they did for Lot's house whilst the Angels of the Lord put forth their hands and pulled us in under the shadow of the Almighty Thus God was seene in the Mount an act of speciall providence and sufficient to convince any Adversary that the Lord was with us and with our Cause unlesse he be like unto him who said I will not be convinced though I am convinced Indeed some men are like
witchcrafts sodomies murthers c. of his Ancestors to William the Bastard as they make him say in his Declaration Yet he knew how to lick up all againe and to turne when occasion should be to his former vomit and wallowing in the mire Germanicus howbeit a Heathen was so affected to see his men cast away as that he said * Se tanti exitij reum clamitaret vix cohibuere amici quo minus eodem mari opeteret Tac. Annal l. 2. he onely was guilty of their death and could hardly be stayed by his Friends from casting himselfe into the Sea But their Kings happy Conversion amounted not to so much humanity ingenuity pitty fellow-feeling c. It seems by this he was at most but a Pharisaicall Proselite of whome Christ sayth t Mat. 23.15 Yee * So did the Scots to make this man their Proselite compasse Sea and Land to make one Proselite and when he is made ye make him two fold more the Child of Hell then your selves Some give the sence of the place thus the Proselite is two fold worse because whatsoever he saw evill in the Pharisees that he would learne and practise but wherein they did well and what was good therein he followed them not Such a Proselite their King seems to be he sees them dissemble seek to cozen the World under glorious words of a holy Covenant pure worship a zeale of God against superstition Heresie Prophanenesse c. This he learnes by heart and speaks it by rote and lies and dissembles as fast as they but for other things which he sees amongst them as are venerable lovely and of good report we doe not understand he is this way inclined to follow their example 3. Remarkeable it is and another proofe of Gods witnessing against their Cause how the Scots Prophets u Lam. 2.14 have seene vaine and foolish things false Burthens and causes of banishment These men as our Generall hath well observed have hindered the passage of good things to the hearts of the People And when much love hath been offered them in the Bowells of Jesus Christ by good words and faire Speeches they have deceived the minds of the simple whereby they have brought the just guilt of much blood upon their owne heads And not onely like x Jer. 28.1 2 3 4. Hananiah have some of them sought out false Visions Prophecying the destruction of an Army promising safety and Victory to theirs but leaving the subject to which they were called and taking to them the Instruments of foolish Shepheards they would give Orders to the Souldiery where to March when to Fight Counselling them contrary to the advice of their chiefe Officers by which their rash and heady presumptions many were overthrowne and destroyed It is somewhere reported of the Indians that if they snuffe up into their Nostrills the powder of the Herb Cohabba they will streightwayes run mad and are ready to doe any bad thing We can shew it by experience when Ministers leave off to Preach Christ and meddle in State Affairs and Worldly polities will determine of civill powers asperse the Government under which they live and not be subject to the higher Powers for all their swelling words of being the Ministers of Jesus Christ ready to speake in their Masters service and will refuse no suffering so they may fullfill their Ministrey with joy Such as doe receive their Carnall Doctrines are driven into a kind of fury and madness acting strange things prejudiciall and destructive to the People amongst whome they live Philosophers doe hold if the inferiour spheres were not rul'd in a manner corrected by the highest the swiftnes of their motion would quickly fire the World There are no men so swift of motion as some of our Coat and did not the higher spheres wisely rule them and many times correct them too they would soone set on fire both Church and State Scotland at present can say so by wofull experience England would say no lesse if her higher spheres were as low and dull as theirs 4. This is to be added as a further manifestation of God just hand against their unrighteous Cause To wit wha◠this Army was I mean in their owne eyes which the Lord by weaknesse overthrew All Covenanters no * As Gideons Army was glorieous when it was separate from all the Cowardly faint-hearted So the Scots having outed and routed all disaffected to the Cause of the Kirk and Covenant it must needs be honourablē Malignants Sectaries Papists an Army in point of Covenant Reformation like the Spanish Armado in 88. INVINCIBLE An Army like Alberts Duke of Saxony called the Dye Groate Gaerde the great Rod or Whip so this shall be the Hammer of Hereticks the Scourge of Schismaticks and Sectaries That is being interpreted the Arme of Flesh and instrumentall means to hinder the passage of the Gospell suppresse the wayes of Christ and power of godlinesse and to advance humane institutions formallity Tyranny c. Indeed such glorying there was in this reformed Army having none in it but Subscribers to the Covenant and the Priests of the Lord the sons of Aaron being likewise amongst them their enemies vaine men Children of Belial with whom were the golden Calves which the Parliament had made whose leader was the great Antichrist As the foolish and ignorant people did fully beleive there would be little need for them to Fight but standing still they should see their Enemies fall before them Being dealt withall here not much unlike one Tammoran a Jacobine Fryer who perswaded Joanillie Anastros Boy to kill the Prince of Orange and for his encouragement gave him certaine Characters in paper assuring him that he should goe invisibly having the same about him The Crue of the condition of this Army having also the Kirks blessing with it so tickled the ears of the people as it was no other then as a Chrame to bewitch them causing them a Jer. 29.31 to trust in a lye and for sake their owne mercies Among the Scythians when their Priests foretold an untruth they were carried along upon hurdles full of heath dry wood drawne by Oxen and manicled Hand and Foot and burnt to death My worst wishes towards these men is Repentance from dead works and that God will make them see how extreamly they have deluded and abused the People It was piously and Christianly spoken of our Generall in his Letter to them The Lord pitty you sayth he Truly I pitty them with my heart and my Bowells yearn for them neverthelesse being to speake of their hypocrisies and delusions in so grosly dissembling with God and his People as the same Hand writes I conceive it is my duty having the Prophets Apostles and Christ himselfe for an example to discover things in such a way as is best and profitablest to undeceive the people b Isa 29.16 Surely their turning of things upsidowne shall be esteemed as
the Potters Clay Their filling of mens ears with the nauseous noyse of the Covenant the cause of God Reformation the extirpation of Heresie Schisme Superstition is no otherwise as they apply it but hatching Cockatrice Eggs and weaving the Spiders web It is the very same which the Prophet calls c Ezek. 13.15 Dawbing with untempered Morter When a man dwells in a ruynous house the Mason comes and Plaisters it over and makes him beleive that all is well then the house falls and smothers him So by their lyes they make sad the hearts of the righteous whom the Lord makes not sad that is d Isa 59.15 he that departeth from evill they brand him with the contemptible name of Sectary Schismatick Regicide Rebell and strengthen the hand of the wicked that he should not returne from his wicked way e Hos 7.3 They make their King glad with their wickednesse and the Princes with their lyes Hence the wrath of God riseth against them cuts off f Isa 9.15 head and taile Root and Branch and there is no remedy g 2 Tim. 2.7 Consider what I say and the Lord give ye understanding in all things 7. Neither was it without a speciall providence of God that our WORD should be the LORD OF HOSTS theirs THE COVENANT Here now lay the great Cause betwixt us and them They for the Covenant we for The Lord of Hosts and as the Cause thus stood betwixt us so the Lord by a mighty hand gave a remarkable Witnesse from Heaven on whose side the truth and right was For as ‖ As the hand of God upon that Idol was sufficient to convince the Philistims of the vanity of it an their madnesse yet the were rather hardened in their Idolatry by it then reclaimed So I feare will be the condition here of some Dagon fell when the Ark came neare it so fell the Covenant as another Dâ—gon at the presence of the Lord of Hosts Since this great Victory some of the Presbyterian Ministers here have openly declared that there was an Achan in the Scots Army it is true there was so indeed but what was that Achan Seing they tâ—lâ— us not I shall doe it for them the Cherem or Cursed thing I â—ake it was the Covenant this should have beene destroyâ—d and therefore seing their Cause was the Covenant and the Covenant Anathema no marvaile they fell in the day of Battail Now that the Reader may be of the same Opinion with me I shall lay downe many Reasons for it But before I speake of them I desire that these things may be taken notice of 1. I have * In a Booke entituled The snare is broken elsewhere clearly proved that the Covenant is sick of Jehorams Disease the Bowells of it are fallen out It is a Covenant like Musgrum or Toad-stoole though it grow it hath no root not a word or warrant in holy Scripture for its justification either in reference to the matter of it or the manner as it was given and taken It is an Oath indeed but contrary to the definition of a religious lawfull Oath a Covenant it is but against the properties use and end of a sacred or holy Covenant these things we have fully manifested by the word of God and reasons and have answered to whatsoever probablie may be said in the defence thereof 2. Howsoever they have set up Altars to THAT SHAMEFULL THING and bow their knee before it yet have not any of them to this day and I desire ‖ I hope such as feare God and have by others been seduced and deluded about this Covenant will now have their eyes open It gives just cause to the buyer to suspect his wares are nought who is not willing to bring them forth to light for trial all men in all places to observe it well fairly appeared in the behalfe of it as taking it part by part and proving every part I say it againe as yet they never came so nigh the Covenant as â—o prove eyther the Ground-work matter or forme of it justifiable That which they doe is thus they tell us The Generall Assembly hath approved it So the Reverend Synod of Divines in England the Kirk allows it Learned men of the reformed Churches beyond Sea consent to it But the Church of England as some call it Resolveth that all Counsells and Synods whither Provinciall Nationall or Oecumenicall * Jer. 11.13 they may err and have erred in things appertaining to God and the same is profest by all Protestant Churches King Henry the 8. put out the name of the Pope but allowed still his Laws I know some are well content that Popes and Prelates should goe downe howsoever they will walke in their steps as to be Lords over Gods Heritage and have dominion over the faith and Consciences of men Beza sayth ‖ De har civil mag puniendis that God never gave power to man for imposing Laws upon the Conscience nor can indure that any besides himselfe should beare sway or dominion over the minds of men Neverthelesse when these men speake great and swelling words the KIRR the GENERALL ASSEMBLY the REVEREND SYNOD OF DIVINES they looke now that men should * Cajetan the Cardinall was wont to say had it not bin for Luther the Pope would have made the Germans eat grasse like Beasts Now were it not but that God raiseth up some instruments to discover these mens legerdemains guiles devises they would in time make people such I dolls so bruitish as to believe whatsoever they should say right or wrong fall downe and worship them yeild subjection and obedience in points of faith to whatsoever is imposed upon them under these big names and titles howsoever they bring nothing neither can they from the word of God for the cleare justification thereof But really the Priests of Rome in this particular deale more plainly and truely and are truer to their owne principles then these men are They say right out that the Pope in things belonging to faith ‖ Nullo casu errare potest Be jarm de just l. 1. c. 7. he can by no possible means err when he sets forth a Decree * Divinitus illi praecuâ—sa est omnis via Th Bozius l. 12. â—esig c. c. 16. God stoppeth every way unto him which might bring him into errour so that he never was he never shall be able to doe ought against faith Now grant this then whatsoever he deviseth and imposeth upon men although there be not any Scripture brought to confirme it yet there is no need to question the same The Ministers of the Church of England and Scotland say a Generall Assembly and Synod of Divines may err and have erred in things appertaining to God Neverthelesse Magisterially and Authoritatively they will have their Acts and decrees received as this Covenant â—o be the Covenant of God though nothing doe appeare wherefore it should be
received but ipse dixit their will and bare word and the great sound of a Generall Assembly Thus Reader I have thought good to mind thee of to wit howsoever the Presbyterian Ministers both here and elsewhere cry up the Covenant and in their Pulpits make it halfe their work to speake against Covenant-breakers notwithstanding they have not by the word of God ever shewed the same to be lawfull I say more and will abide to it there is not one of them single ‖ Nunquâ—m vaâ—â— it aut valebit facere contra fidem Boz â— 16. c. 8. nor the whole Colledge of them together that can prove it to be the Covenant of God i Pro. 14 15. The simple beleivâ—th every word but the prudent man looketh well to his going And now I come to the reasons the Covenant being the Scots Cause could not but incense the Lord of Hosts to jealousie and wrath against them considering the foule and grosse abuse thereof and to what bad and base uses it is put As 1. This Covenant as it wanders like Cain in the earth is now made a common Strumpet as the Prophet sayth k Eze. 16.15 openeth her feet to every one that passeth by It 's a cover for every pot A Scotch Army is raised to invade England and by the Covenant lawfull and by the same Covenant is unlawfull when the Kirk cannot prevaile to have what Generall they please a Fidler for all Companies a Cloak to any designe it 's like a Dutch-mans house you may turne it up or down wear it which way or how you wil. As it wil fit a Presbyterian so it will serve a Cavaleer or a Malignant likewise and as well their King and his party by it can as fairly carry on their interest of Tyranny and Idolatry as the other their way which they falsly call the cause of God And why not For may not the former abounding in their owne sence and taking the liberty which the later doe say the Church of Rome is best reformed according to the word of God and by the Covenant they are bound in their places to seek the extirpation of the Presbyterian-Church Ministry worship Government as Hereticall Factious Schismatical Cosmus Medicis Duke of Tetruria gave two Anchors for his impression with this word Duabus meaning it was good to have two holds This Covenant carries the like device or Coat-Arms two holds yea ten and they may be used any way put * forward or backward as men please and Politicians know how to turne and wind them so 2. That the Lord of Hosts was against the Covenant the Scots Cause no marvaile for if we will take the Presbyterian sence of it the Covenant enjoynes men to destroy the Churches and people of God and to suppresse the gifts of God and the Spirit of Christ in his Saints and Servants Yet so Cauté si non casté as Nero cladded the Christians in Bears skins when he perceived the Mastives otherwise would not devoure them so this great wickednesse in the ‖ This is the Covenant Tongue By this Covenant-Oath all Independents ought to be expelled from the house of Parliament yea not to sit in any Court of Judicatory to heare votes to determin the weighty causes of Religion Church Reformation but as offensive Rubs Remoras to he removed onely sound Presbyters Lords Commons to Rule The implety of Impunity pag. 12. It seems the Covenat in a Presbyterian sence destroys a man in things outward and temporall as well as things spirituall inward Covenant Tongue must be called the extirpation of Heresie and Schisme and under that colour men may act the highest persecution and the Covenant will allow it It is said that the comming up of the Preaching Fryars was purposely to suppresse the Truth and Tiberius made Caligulus his Successor that he might destroy these People I will not say that it was in any mans heart when this Covenant was first devised that it should be a Snare and a pit whereby to destroy true Religion and the faithfulst Professors thereof but this I will say as it is now interpreted and some would have it executed one maine thing to be found in it is the blood of the Prophets and of the Saints and of the souls of the poore innocents being like the Idolls of the Samoeds whose mouths and eyes are all bloody Or Hercules Image which had a string in his Tongue and a Club in his hand inficiet or interficiet perswade or kill I have seldome heard of the like Covenant unlesse that of Charles the 5. who Vowed to make the Decrees of Trent to be received by the Sword When he maketh Inquisition for blood l Psal 9.12 he remembreth them he forgetteth not the cry of the humble 3. This Covenant must needs be one of the things which God hates and is an abomination to him because it is m Prov. 6.19 a false witnesse that speaketh lyes and soweth discord among brethren The use end of a lawful oath as Pareus saith * Vt lites controversiae fimanter Comment ad heb c. 6.16 is that debates and controversies may cease So the Apostle n Heb. 6.16 An oath is the end of all strife * On the 3. Com p. 75. The taking of an Oath saith Mr. Elton serves to further brotherly love and to confirm lawfull peace and society between party party Countrey Countrey Kingdome Kingdome And a little after that Controversies which hinder love Christian charity may be ended So †Blakewel word for word What a Make-bate this Covenant is between man and man Family and Family Church and Church Nation and Nation I may speak the lesse considering our present sad experience shewes it abundantly It is no o Isa 54 10 Covenant of peace but an Ishmaelite whose hand is against every man As flyes sticking to a sore hinder the healing so this Covenant as a noisome flie keeps open the differences and breaches between brethren and neighbours obstructing the recovery and cure thereof Gideon's Altar and Ensigns did cary this motto p Judg. 6.23 New Transla marg JEHOVAH SHALOM that is the Lord send peace but on the Ensigns and Colours of the Covenant is engraven the marke of the beast WARRE AGAINST THE SAINTS covered over with a spetious pretence * See the Motto upon the Scots Colours hanging at Westminster For God and the King for Religion the Church c. As the Turks say it is for Mahomet that they make war upon the Christians and the Popes plead it in ordine ad deum that they supresse the truth and persecute the professors of it so they make the Covenant to speak lies in hypocrisie Woe unto them that call evill good that put darknesse for light and bitter for sweet 4. That the Scots Covenant and so their Cause was evill and therefore the Lord of Hosts fought against it appears
bred it even so my mind gives me the Covenant is now matter of shame and sorrow to some who had a chiefe hand in the first promoting of it 7. Neither in the last place may it be forgotten as another cause wherefore the Covenant could not stand before the Lord of Hosts Namely because as it is used it serves to heighten and strengthen formality prophanesse and loosenesse of life What an enemy it is unto Gospel-truths and the power of godlinesse I have shewed before this only here may be added how it leads men unto humane Formes and builds them in a carelesse spiritlesse and fruitlesse worship The Spanyards say of Aquinas he that knows not him knows not any thing and he that knowes him knows all things The Covenant is the Scots Aquinas he that takes it is no Malignant no Sectary or Schismatick but * Vox pietatis excusatio iniquitatis Aug. in Psal 38. a geud Christian whosoever refuseth it is an enemie to the Kirk the work of Reformation and the great cause of God so that the Covenant is lifted up above faith and the grace of God in Christ as if it were that man of sinne opposing and exalting it selfe above all that is called God The Turk keeps a lock on the crown of his head thinking he shall be drawn up into heaven by it such is the vanity and madnesse of some as they think God loves them and that they shall be saved and upon this account because they are Covenanters not having besides any appearance of piety or fear of God before their eyes a Jer. 50.38 It is a land of graven Images and they are mad upon their idolls b Josh 7.12 I will not be with you any more except ye destroy the accursed from among you Having thus shewed that the Lord of Hosts was above the Covenant and why against it I shall now in the Close humbly propound something to the consideration of our State The c Numb 21.8 brazen Sâ—rpent howsoever set up by Gods appointment yet afterward was d 2 King 18.4 broken in pieces being abused to Idolatry If this Covenant had been of God which never was but ‖ So the Temple howsoever built by Gods commaÌ„dement yet being abus'd and made an idoll as this Covenant is the Lord would have it to be destroyed Nehushtan bras at first it being now made an Idol like e Judg. 8.27 Gideons ephod a snare to Israel England I mean whether it be not fit following the good example of that great Reformer Hezekiah that it should be put downe by publique Authority Methinks there should not any relick or monument of it remain in the Land but what hangs up in Westminster-Hall and the rather seeing the Lord of Hosts hath gone before us and cast the first stone at the Hulalah The manna which the Lord gave Israel when it f Exo. 16.20 stanke and bred wormes they having kept it against the word of the Lord they threw it away Flowers though they pleas'd us wel when they were fresh yet when the sweetnesss of them is lost when they stink and are offensive wee cast them off Had this Covenant like Manna been good at first a lovely and sweet flower which never was Neverthelesse seeing it is now a worm in our bowels most offensive something should be done in a publique way to shew our disowning and rejection of it I know that maxime in Logick * Arist 2 Pol. tollatur abusus maneat usus seu substantia but that rule cannot be applyed here because this Covenant was sinful and unlawful in the very matter and substance of it g Isa 57.14 Cast ye up cast ye up prepare the way take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people 8. Concerning this Victory it is further related thus They staid only two shocks and soone left their Train their Foote threw downe their Armes and both Horse and Foot ran severall wayes I have read of a certain mercenary Souldier who would with many disgracefull speeches exclaim against great Alexander Memmon the General of Darius Army lent him a blow with his lance saying that he had hired him to fight against Alexander and not to raile at him It is not credible how the Scots Souldiers aspersed his Excellency with their bold and base reproaches but in Battle were like the Satyr that winded his horn and ran away from the sound of it fulfilling that saying in the Prophet h Isa 33.14 fearfulnesse hath surprized the hypocrites And here was another clear demonstration that the Lord tooke our part and by his acting and appearing in this manner against them manifested himselfe an Enemie to them and their Cause It is usually Gods manner when he comes to visit i Isa 10.6 an hypocriticall Nation and purposeth to tread them downe like the mire of the street for maintaining an unjust Cause to send k Levit. 26.36 a faintnesse into their hearts and l Jer. 49.5 bring a feare upon them m Vers 29. a feare on every side and n Eze. 7.18 horrour shall cover them then o Job 12.5 he will take away the heart of the chiefest of them p Jer. 51.30 their might shall faile q Psa 76.5 their stout-hearted be spoiled and none of the men of might shall find their hands their men at such a time shall be as women and r Isa 30.7 their strength to sit still Å¿ Isa 13.7 8 All hands shall be faint and every mans heart shall melt and they shall be affraid Pangs and sorrowes shall take hold of them they shall be in paine as a woman that travelleth they shall be amazed one at another their faces shall be as flames How this t Job 5.21 dreadfull sound comes in their ear and u Ps 48.5 6. through feare they hast away It is 1. Because x Job 37.22 with God is terrible Majestie Now y 2 Chr. 14.14 the feare of him comes upon them and a Ex. 15.16 by the greatnesse of his arme they are still and b Mic. 7.17 affraid When they heare c Judg. 7.20 21. the sword of the Lord and of Gideon all the host runs flyes cryes d 1 Sam. woe unto us who shall deliver us out of the hand of this mighty God e Rev. 6.16 or hide us from the face of him that sitteth upon the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb Why are thy valiant men swept away they stood not because the Lord did drive them Jer. 46.15 2. Trembling and anguish seizeth on them because their enemies are Gods friends And howsoever at other times they scoffe the people of God and set light by them yet in Battle their appearance and presence is terrible and dreadfull to them f Ezek. 32. I will make many people amazed at thee and their Kings shall be horribly affraid of thee g Deu.
2.25 11.25 I will put the dread of thee and the feare of thee upon Nations who shall heare report of thee and shall tremble h Jos 2.9 Your terrour is fallen upon us that all the Inhabitants of the land faint because of you i Jos 5.1 Their hearts melted neither was their spirit in them any more because of the children of Israel Thus k Job 17.8 the innocent shall stirre himselfe up against the hypocrite and howsoever behind their backs they shall be called a Sectarian Army and Anti-christs souldiers yet when they come face to face they are a dread and a terror and a great feare unto them and no marvail mark the reason l Ps 14.5 for God is in the congregation of the righteous and breaketh the bow and cutteth the spear in sunder and the Chariot he burneth with fire No marvail they throw away their Arms and flie Horse and Foot when God striketh their hearts with inward stinging terrours this was signified by the m Exo. 23.20 Deut. 7.20 Josh 24.12 hornets n Deut. 32.25 The sword without and terrour within shall destroy As a Theif flies before the pursuer and dares not â—ight or look back knowing what he hath done and how his condition is so men being conscious to the falshood and injustice of their Cause have no courage in Battle but through the horrour and dread of a guilty Conscience with sorrow and shame flye before their enemies 4. Feare and faintnesse is upon them because now they begin to consider the great things which the Lord hath done for their enemies What remarkable deliverances and victories they have formerly had how hee hath evermore blest the labours of their hands and made them successefull and prosperous wheresoever they come This coming to their mind with thoughts of Gods revenging hand formerly upon them forth iâ—deceit and hypocrisie in acting the same thing which now they doe it convinceth them that the others have a rightful cause they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haters of God and fighters against God and Christ ‖ Jer. 33.9 When the nations of the earth shall heare all the good that I doe â—nto thee they shall feare and tremble for all the goodnesse and for all the prosperity that I procure unto thee Saul seeing the Lord was with David o 1 Sam. 18.28 29. he was the more affraid of him howsoever some men make no profitable and good use in beholding Gods mighty Actings for his people neverthelesse affraid they are of such with whom they see Gods presence and appearance thus to be As the Lord said of Noah and his sons p Gen. 9.2 the feare of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth so there fals and lies a dread and fear upon these men although as Saul did David they hate them and are enemies to them continually 5. And in a word they are affraid q Psal 65.8 at Gods tokens what desolations he hath made in the earth Who knows the power of thine anger whilst they consider what others have suffered for hyporisie falshood cruelty and other misdemeanors they cannot but quake and tremble to think how the like wrath is powring out now upon them yea greater deeper heavier being for hypocrisie and prophanenesse of life far worse and viler than many Nations whom the Lord hath scattered and destroyed for such sins r Psal 66.5 Come and see the works of God he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men Å¿ Isa 42.18 Heare ye deafe and looke ye blind that ye may see Again on the other hand if they are the people and it be the cause which the Lord loves and likes and wil defend he will in Battle put courage and strength into them t Lev. 26.6 None shall make them affraid u Psal 112.8 their heart is established and they shall not be affraid untill they see their desire upon their enemies And no marvell for x Isa 12.2 the Lord JEHOVAH is their strength y Deut. 7.21 a mighty and terrible God among them a Psal 74.12 working salvation in the mids of the earth As one set on a high rock or standing upon a sure and invincible Tower may looke and laugh at all his enemies below not caring what they can do possibly against him how fiercely and furiously soever they assault him so they who have God for their rock and tower though they b Psal 23.4 walk in the valley of the shadow of death though their enemies are two to one yea ten to one and have all the conveniencies accommodations and advantages that their hearts can wish yet they need feare no evill for he c Psal 118.7 that takes their part with them that helps them wil let them see their desire upon them that hate them d Isa 28.29 This also commeth from THE LORD OF HOST which is wonderfull in Counsell and excellent in working 9. If by the return of prayer we may learn any thing of the mind of God in this likewise we have a full and cleare testimony given us that the Lord loved us and approved our Cause This thing his Excellency hath well observed * In his letter to the Ministers in Edenburgh Castle Did not you saith hee solemnly appeale and pray did not we so and shall we after all these our prayers fastings teares expectations and solemn Appeals call these bare Events The Lord pitty you Some men are like little children who cannot read unlesse it be in their owne Booke what gracious Answers and speciall returns of prayer the Lord vouchsafes unto others here they can see nothing of God nothing of his power goodnesse justice and faithfulnesse nothing of his justifying and owning a righteous Cause and his just displeasure against lying and falshood It is only a bare Event which they behold and nothing else to such grosse darkenesse of heart are they given up and delivered over It was a law among the Assyrians that if any did fall sick he should ask counsell of those that had been visited with the like sicknesse by what meanes and way they were recovered If you ask of d Exo. 17.11 Moses e Psal 56.9 David f 2 Chron. 14. Asa g 2 Chron. 20. Jehosaphat h 2 King 19. Hezekiah when they fought against their Enemies who were more in number and mightier then they how out of weaknesse were made strong waxed valiant in fight subdued Kingdoms and turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens They would say The Lord i 1 Chr. 5.20 helped them and delivered the enemies into their hands because they made their supplications and prayers unto him When God purposeth to bestow any speciall favour upon his People he moves their hearts before hand to pray for it How the Lord prepared the heart even filled the souls of many thousand pretious people with the Spirit of Supplication
them which formerly they had they may thanke themseÌ„lves this is of their ingratitude murmuring against God Moses changed their Opinion nothing now but bare events successe proves nothing all things come alike c. Howsoever the Victories and deliverances which they so cried up as to have on them the visible stamp and Character of Gods owning the Cause were not by many degrees in severall particulars so eminent and remarkable as these are of whom we speake Now who can but pitty the people thus deluded and abused by these men And what hath been the * Hos 15.1 Snare on Mizpah and the Net spread upon Tabor the ‖ Zech. 13.4 rough Garment whereby they have deceived the simple but chiefly their long Prayers frequent Fastings for the prosperity of the Scots Army bitter exclamations and invectives against the present Government Those who hawk for Birds make a stale of the Owle and so the silly Birds whilst they are staring about her are taken For what serves some mens sowre faces bowing downe the head as a Bulrush covering the Altar with tears with weeping and with cryings throwing all the curses of the Law at Magistrates but as a bait to catch silly Birds simple people for whilst they stand gazing on these men as at some strange Creature a wonder to see so much rebellion malice hypocrisie covered under the cloak of a holy Covenant the cause of God extirpation of Heresie Schisme prophanenesse they fall into the Net of destroying and undoing themselves x Isa 58.34 Wherefore have we fasted say they and thou seest not Why have we afflicted our souls and thou takest no notice Behold ye fast for strife and debate and to smite with the fist of wickednesse y Isa 59.1 2. Behold the Lords hand is not shortened that it cannot save neither his ear heavy that it cannot heare but your iniquities have seperated between you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not heare 10. How exceedingly the Lord at this time appeared for us and gave witnesse to the Justice of our Cause will be the more perspicuous and cleare if former Victories and deliverances be duely considered that is what God hath done for us in England and Ireland and how he hath all along gone forth with this Army since it was first raised still upholding the same cause which by the Scots to their shame and losse is now opposed It is true the cause of God this publick righteous Cause which is now held forth by the Parliament of England hath found Enemies of severall kinds of all sorts and sice As the Trent Fathers howsoever among themselves they could not agree yet to oppose and persecute Luther therein unanimously accorded together So the Enemies of this Commonwealth although there be among them some difference and that not a little as being some Papisticall others prelaticall some Presbyteriall yet here they all center and are one in malice and revenge in their designe and plot all one as seeking every one of them the overthrow of this present Government A Painter being Commanded by the Turk to paint every Nation in his habite Painted the Germain naked and being asked the Cause Answered he could not prescribe him a particular kind of habit he was so delighted with Novelties If it were my task to set out here to the life what the designe and plot is of the Enemy I mean wherein they agree altogether against us I could not doe better to have it truely understood then to compare it to the naked Germain for one while it hath upon it Scarlet or Royall a Rev. 12.3 Red other while an Irish b Pro. 7.9 black sometimes a Scotch c Ezek. 23.56 Blew thus there is a changing and shifting of Colours from Red to Black from Black to Blew as they see occasion of advantage yet so as but one body the plot and designe still the same In this combination sayth the Parliament the Popish * An Act of Thanksgiving for setting a part Tuesday Octob. 8. 1650. Prelaticall Prophane and Malignant Parties stand behind the Curtaine and seemed for a season to be quite laid aside that the cause of God the Covenant and work of Reformation might beare the name It is true they did so here now was laid aside in Appearance Red and Black and the naked Germain comes forth all in Blew having on his forehead RELIGION and under the name of Religion the extirpation of our Religion Laws and Liberty is intended But the Lord of Host who had before delivered our Army and us with it out of the Paw of the Lion and the Beare Royalists and Irish the same God by weake means delivered us from that insulting Enemie who had defied the Army of the living God If we heare one Cock Crow and no more there is some hope and probability the day is breaking but if all it is taken for certaine and out of doubt In many Victories which the Lord hath given us so much hath appeared being lookt on single and a part as we might hopefully say Englands great day of deliverance from the Tyranny of Kings and Priests is at hand But when we consider successes and victories every where in England in Ireland in Scotland so seasonable and wonderfull as no other Nation almost hath ever heard or been made partaker of we should not glorifie God in those great things which he doth for us unlesse beleiving his works we did say The Lord is creating England a rejoycing and her people a joy d Judg. 13.23 If the Lord meant to â—ill us he would not have shewed us all these things That e Deut. 23.14 Jehovah walks in the midst of our Câ—mp to deliver them and to give up the Enemies before them makes one Army a blessing in the Earth no Weapon that is formed against it doth prosper And for the Machavilion Councells traiterous devises and all endeavours of the Enemy here and every where whither Popish prelaticall Irish Scotish we see still like Arrows they fall on their owne heads are not these things sufficient evidences and demonstrations that the Lord takes our part is Emanuel God with us and with our cause Surely let the Enemy like another Pharaoh harden himselfe and in the time of his distresse trespasse yet more against the Lord as Ahaz did Yet we for our parts shall not be unbeleiving but beleive yea and further be assured from these present actings and appearances of God for us that he will mainetaine this Cause of ours against all Enemies in spight of all their falshoods lies Hypocrisies never so artificially and deceitfully cloaked and covered over with the cause of God the Covenant Reformation Praying Fasting When Balak and Balaam King and Prophet had done what they could turned every stone and tryed every way from place to place what they could doe against Israel by their Sorceries and Enchantments and perceiving all
to be in vaine it is said f Numb 24.25 Balaam rose up and went and returned to his place and Balak also went his way doubtless as convinc'd that the Lord was so with Israel as they should not prosper in that way and course which they had taken up against him Will the Enemies of this Common-wealth be worse and more blind then they What blinder then Balak and Balaam It seems they are for howsoever they have gone as far in essayes and trialls and found no better successe yet have they not the understanding the others had that is to give over and cease as they did and goe every one to his owne home Balak brought Balaam up to the high places of Baal so hath the Enemies designe been * Namely by the late King and his wife who made it their Master-piece and ground-worke to have in the first place the Priests of Rome and England for their asistants Of her it may be said as Livia gravis in Remp. mater Tac. An. l. 1. brought unto the House of Baal The Priests of Roome have built Altars offered Sacrifices ‖ In the Popish Synagogues beyond Sea the late King was every where prayed for that he might prevaile against the Parliament and called upon their Gods their He Saints and She Saints for aid and assistance and the Parliament of England by them hath beene cursed with Bell Booke and Candle But there was no voyce nor any that answered The Lord who g Psal 20.2 sendeth his people help not from the high places of Baal but from his Sanctuary and supporteth them out of Sion turned that curse into a blessing unto us Besides whatsoever the Baalimites could otherwise doe as the Pope Cardinals Jesuites Monks Fryars with the English Arch-Bishops Bishops Deans Cannons the rest of that Viperous brood either by their counsells Policies * There have bin many great Collections among the Papists as voluntary gifts in all Popish Countreys for to furnish the late King with monies in his war against the Parliament besides the great sums he had from them other wayes Purses or what way else they have contributed from time to time all the furtherance and help they could But as a wet Sack wherewith a naked man is covered is so far from arming him against the cold that it doth increase his shivering So this Enemies Designe hereby was so far from being holpen or effected as this prov'd a means the Lords good hand so ordering it of its greater fall and ruine Truly in vaine is Salvation hoped for from the Hills and from the multitude of Mountaines truely in the Lord our God is the Salvation of Israel Isa 3.23 2. As Balak brought Balaam h Num. 32.14 into the Field of Zophim that is of the * So is the word by the Learned Interpreted Spies or Scowt-watches So the Enemies great cause or designe hath been here likewise witnesse the Popish prelatical and Malignant party who have watcht all opportunities to raise Hurliburleys and Commotion both in England and Ireland and where ever they have spied any advantage or imagined the least help of successe multitudes have made themselves ready to engage against the Parliament What i Isa 29.20 watching there hath beene for iniquity k Psal 37.32 to slay the righteous pretended to be for the Protestant Religion Priviledges of Parliament and the liberty of the Subjects now for the Covenant and reformation it is well knowne by what the blood-thirsty Irish and desperate English Cavaleers have often attempted but he that sits in Heaven laughed them to scorne so as their taking Counsells together their Associations conspiracies and insurrections in City and Countrey was to them no otherwise then a Quagmire or Irish-bog the more they stir'd the deeper they sanke and faster they were l Isa 47.11 Mischiefe did fall upon them and they were not able to put it off and suddain desolation which they did not know Our Army m Psal 18.42 Beating them small as the dust before the wind casting them out as the dirt in the street 3. As Balak when he saw he could not attaine his end by carrying Balaam unto the two former places he brings him then n Num. 23.28 unto the top of Peor to o Deut. 3 2◠Beth-Peor the House or Temple of his God the Kirk in which his Idoll was the enemies designe their great cause after they have p Ezek. 9.5 wearied themselves to commit iniquity and with their lyes at length is brought to the holy place where under colour of Religion and reformation it may be the more strengthened and better carried forth But as Solomon sayth q Ezek. 24 1◠The Sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination how much more when he bringeth it with a wicked mind As the Lord here saw * Si mulata aequitasnon est aequitas sed ini qua duplex quia iniquitas est simulatio Aug. Super. Ps 63. more dissimulation Hypocrisie falshood then on the high places of Baal or Field of Zaphim so doth the power of his anger the more appeare here the Lord will shew himselfe that he hath not pleasure in wickednesse is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity And howsoever perhaps they might flatter themselves and think He would hide his face and never see it or say How doth he know Can he judge through the dark Clouds Neverthelesse he did see their falshood and jugling how cunningly soever covered and hath left them as Lots Wife to be a Pillar of Salt a memorable example unto posterity not to provoke the Almighty and terrible God in such sort for as Eliphaz sayth in Job The Congregations of Hypocrites shall be desolate My flesh trembleth for feare of thee ‖ Job 15.43 and r Pro. 21.27 I am afraid of thy Judgements Two things I find more acted at Beth-Peor First Balaams wicked Doctrine who Counnselled Balak to lay a Stumbling-block before the Children of Israel whereby they might be occasioned to rebell against the Lord and so destroyed 2 Balaks putting off his Prophet without any reward when he saw he had received no profit by him and that all his juggling and Hocus-Pocus helpt him not O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisdome thou hast made them all What was that Declaration which the Scots lately counselled their King to set forth but * It carries the look face of their Kirk Balaams Doctrine a stumbling block a snare a pit For what was the maine drift and scope thereof but rebellion against God and man namely to have the English rise up in Armes against the Magistrate that so they might be cut off I say themselves their Families Wives and Children utterly undone and then the Scots to come in for our Gued or Goods As for the other particular their King perceiving now that he cannot carry on his designe by their Wiles wherewith they thought to have beguiled
instance that neither the Moon-light Star-light or Candle-light doth it or can doe it But thou wilt say by the shining light of the Sunne the day is known from the night Canst thou finde out the depth and subtlety of this argument looke over then upon the other it 's the very same in Mood and Figure because that Light or Appearance of God which is like Moon-light proves not the day or Cause therefore the greater light will not doe it not the sunne not the highest and most glorious shinings of God 2. That the Benjamites had an ill Cause and yet in Battle overthrew the Israelites two severall times we grant which might be to humble the one and harden the other but here the main and essentiall part to make the comparison hold between this Example and the thing whereto they apply it is altogether wanting We do not say that Victories and Successes barely considered prove a good Cause but this we say such may be the Actings and Appearances of God for a People so wonderfull may be their Victories and Deliverances as thereby it doth infallibly appeare the LORD his owning and justifying their Cause For the Victories which the Benjamites had there is nothing appeares in them of any speciall divine presence no remarkeable foot-steps of Gods walking in their Camp not one thing in the History witnessing a singular and transcendent love of God towards them Whereas our Victories all along in England Ireland and Scotland have had most apparent evidences of Gods especiall presence with us we have seen his Goings in our Army before us and our salvation hath been wrought for us by an extraordinary powerfull hand and therefore unlesse they shew us that the LORD was with the Benjamites in the same manner hee was with us * where doe they read that Israel Benjamin before they sought did both parties solemnly appeal to God and after they had referred the Cause betweē them to Gods tribunall seat Israel lost the Battle and gave them the like victory in the circumstances and severall particulars which we had over the Scots In mentioning this example as they shew their great perversnesse against the works of God and implacable malice to us so it only serves and we cannot imagine for what other use and end they bring it then to darken the glory of God and deceive simple people Object 3. Many have been great Conquerours as the Caldeans Assyrians Romanes howbeit wicked men and their Cause sinfull and unjust Ergo Victories and Successes in War prove nothing Answ That this Objection may be capable of answer there are 3. things to be cleared 1. Whether men howsoever wicked may not have just cause to fight and therein the Lord to take their part 2. How it doth appear that when their Cause was unjust that the Lord then gave them good successe 3. But if so then where is it recorded that wicked men in sinfull and unrighteous Causes have had the assistance and help of GOD in as full and large manner and way as we have had I have now done for this time and as I am upon closing I remember how the Clown served Aristides who giving his voyce to the banishing of Aristides and being asked of him unknown * Plutarch in Apo. whether he knew him against whom he had given his voyce answered that he knew him not but it was trouble to him to heare him termed a just man It may well be that some who know mee not will give their voyce against me for what I have now done but they must be such then as are troubled to hear of justice of an honourable and righteous Cause This just Cause I have indeed here pleaded and in the Second Part by the good hand of God assisting me will plead it more to the satisfaction of all such as love the present Government and desire the prosperity and peace of this Common-wealth FINIS