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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	king_n	parliament_n	petition_n	2,565	5	9.5981	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93350	The Protestant informer, or Information to all Protestants: shewing the causes and end, of this unjust warre, plotted by Romish Jesuites, and now managed by English papists, and their abbettors against this Parliament, and in this all other Parliaments: proving by forepast proceedings, present actions and persons acting that: this warre is no new quarrell, nor caused by the militia but divellish malice, against the true Protestant religion, and lawes of this kingdom, to set up, and establish popery, and hath beene fifteene, or sixteene yeares last past, preparing. Also justifying this Parliaments proceedings, by nature, law, and religion, against the false calumniations of all malignants: with an exhortation, to courage, liberality, patience, and constancy, to the hazard of life, and fortunes: in defence of Gods true worship; your own rights, liberties, and this present Parliament; with confidence of a blessing, and victory, like Caleb, and Ioshua: for your God is with you. Published for information to the ignorant. By Gregory Thims Gentl.	Thims, Gregory.	1643 (1643)	Wing S4038A; Thomason E91_17; ESTC R13261	21,917	24

compell them his Majesty was incensed and perswaded with his army to advance to Barwick but by Gods providence there was a pacification and his Majestie returned home in pe●●e Though quickly after he returned to that wicked Counsell of Bishops and popish affected all promises bu●i●d in oblivion was perswaded ●o raise another Army New Proclamations and Declatations were printed full of b●tternesse against the Scots and a Parliament called to raise monies for that warre the Parliament refusing was presently dissolved But the warre notwithstanding went forward then the Scots as we all know entred Newcastle standing upon their just defence Then this Parliament was called to debate of the war which through Gods goodnesse they againe pacified to the great content of both kingdomes onely Bishops Papists and popish affected stormed at the peace especially that his Majestie had graciously signed the Bill because of the many great affairs in hand that this Parliament should not be broken without the consent of both Houses and presently they plotted how to breake it First they endeavoured to bring the Kings army from York against it the Earle of Strafford having in readinesse 8000 Souldiers in Ireland to be brought hither to assist that worke and to subdue the kingdome as was before intended by the Duke of Buckingham but this plot being by Gods mercy discovered Lictors axe tooke off this actor as Feltons knife the other then they laboured to hinder the proceedings in Parliament by their votes as we are informed by the Parliaments first Remonstrance when votes could no longer hinder they bread division in both houses and then betweene the King and both Houses caused his Majestie to accuse some of both Houses of treason but could never shew what the treason was though desired by both Houses But indeed they thought to have put all in a present uproare and so to have broke the Parliament Having during the time they were with the King in Scotland as they hoped made a party there and by the Honour blinds the eyes and corrupts justice as Solomon speaks of gifts honours which they had perswaded the King to bestow upon some of the Citizens they thought they had blinded the City too and then having actually raised that bloody rebellion in Ireland intending the s●●e in England they prevailed with his Majesty to come in hostile manner against his Parliament to take from thence by force those members before accused having in a scrowle divers others they likewise intended to accuse so to have broken the Parliament or forced it to their own ends which Gods Providen●e and the Parliaments wisdome prevented Then presently they endeauored to make themselues masters and possessors of all the armes and strong holds of the kingdome first they bought out Sir William Belford out of his place in the tower whom they knew to be vncorrupted and no instrument for their treason and put Collonel Lunsford in his place after him Sir Iohn Byrone Captain Leg to be gouernor of Hull then the Earle of New castle Alluery fit men to betray a Kingdome These passages declare euidently their intention was to make warr against the Parliament and Subiects and hence it was that the Parliament desires to setle the militia of the Kingdom in safe hands and for this cause most Countyes petitioned to haue it soe Soe that the Militia was not the cause of their warr but their preparation caused the militia They also made mutinies and tumults against the Citizens First Lunsford began in westminsterhall then others of that faction in westminster and after at white hal gate and the strand cutting and slashing vnarmed and harmelesse citizens and then they perswade the King from London pretending danger to his maiesties person by tumults when indeed there was no tumult but what themselues caused But it is a paradox if his maiestie The letter that came from L. D. to the King makes it c●eare wishing the king to be take him to a strong hold left London because of tumults that they should endeauor as they haue done to make mutinyes and tumults in the city to bring him thither againe But it is manifest that his maiesty was not indeed afraid of any hurt by the city for then he would not hau● gone through the city with onely one coach and a lesse attendance then ordinary to guild-hall a lit●e before his goeing from London and it is clear there was no cause of feare because his Maiesty had no affront but Supplications and prayers from the people But wee now See they had an other end in perswading his Maiestie The answer to the London Petition in part promiseth so much away as well as in sending the Queene beyond the sea as alsoe the Lord Digby and others to trafficke for men and armes to assist their bloudy designes then they might not be suffered to gather an army at Kingston windsor c. Then they perswade the King to York where they also pretend danger yet there was no tumults but what they made in abuse to good protestants and prouide a guard of armed men and trayned bands which as we haue Seene quickly grew to an army of offence first to Hull and since to the whole Kingdome and thus you see what their preparation● were Now let vs consider and see what their war is They could vs they would make no warr against the Parliament But they told vs of the Kings rights and prerogatiues which they would maintaine and defend the protestant religion the priuiledges of parliament and the rights and libertyes of the Subiect against innovations and arbitrary government But if that were the cause of their warr they would not fight against the parliament for all these the Parliament would have to be established for ever first for his maiesties just rights and prerogatiue they offer to confirme to him and his posterity yea more to make him the happiest of all his progenitors And for the establishing the protestant religion together with the continuance of the just and ancient priuiledges of Parliament and the knowne rights of the Subiect it is all that the Parliament destre of the King that which they from the beginning and still doe humbly Suplicate his majestie for against all innovations and arbitrary government therefore that can be no cause of their warr Besides I thinke no man needs information to assure him that the cause why Popery is broken so farr in vpon vs and foe much innovation and arbitrary government as of late years hath bin want of Parliaments and would with greater violence break in if this Parliament were not Nor was it ever knowne that any free elected Parliament of 500 or 600 Lords and gentlemen of Severall countyes and familyes were the cause of any innovation or arbitrary government nor is it likely can be But contrary have ever beene and at this day are the securitie of this kingdome against both And therefore it is that this warr is made against this Parliament to

more then now That the Parliament have no end to themselv●s in this warre but onely Gods glory and the publike good is manifest in their contempt of dishonourable honours and corrupt dignities doe but consider what some of them have lost and what other of th●m might have if they were or would be corrupted Some have lost the favour of their King and the highest places of honour and profit others might receive what favours honours and dignity a King can give if they would betray Go●s truth and the kingdomes trust yea those very men that are for this cause hated d●shonou●ed and proclaimed traitors and Rebels should not bee denied what outward honours a King could bestow upon them And shall wee not honour such Champions for Christ and such Patriarches of their countrey and defend them while they defend us to the hazard of our lives and best fortunes with them who willingly sacrifice themselves to honourable deaths rather then to preserve their lives by any di●honourable act to prodite their trust reposed by God and men counting it as the Poet said To be a sweet and noble gaine in Countries quarrell to be slaine To all the former add this that after their offers petitions and propositions formerly for peace were all reiected they at the request and humble petitions of many of Vs in the City of London and ●ther counties willingly offered again new propositions more low then the former accompanied with the humble petition of both houses to be accepted ● manifest testimony of their desires of Peace and vnwillingnesse to warr if necessity constrained not In the second place consider their present actions in the managing of this their defensive war hauing no other choyse but two extreams either to Fight or lose all all being challenged and at once assaulted by men ●●ing armyes Now we know that nature hath taught all creatures to defend their 〈◊〉 but nature Law and religion teach and allow men to defend themselves from vniust violence the law of the kingdom allow a man to kill rather then be killed and religion restrained not that kingly prophet David to take armes in defence of his life against Saul his King if David might defend himself against Saul th●n much more against Sauls evill counsellours But it is objected That David would not lay his hand upon Saul the Lords annointed when he had twice opportunity put into his hands Answer It is true David would not nor might not kill Saul in a treacherous manner But if Saul would wilfully thrust himself into battle against innocent David and perish David should have been guiltlesse as appeareth 1 Sam. 26. 9 10. David took Arms in his own defence The Parliament and Kingdom in defence of their Religion and Hereditary rights and not onely so But to defend the Kings Person and to rescue Him from the hands of cursed Dam-my Ram-my Cavaliers Therefore scandalous are those mouthes that report the Parliament takes Arms against the King We have made choice of the men and have trusted them with all our Rights The King hath accepted of them and acknowledged them His great Counsell And they according to their trust defend our Rights and His Person and Posterity They freely venture their lives and estates for us and for our King against wicked Councellors who seek His Majesties ruine as well as ours Therefore we are bound by conscience Law and Religion to defend them Should we neglect them because they do His Majesty and us right or shall we dissert them because they will not betray us Though Saul had sworn that Jonathan should die the people would 1 Sam. 14 39. Vers 44. and 45. rescue him and said Jonathan should not die Much more would they have rescued Saul against wicked Counsellors that sought his ruine Our Parliament is not onely in danger and with it all that is ours But the Person of our Soveraign Lord King Charles by Jesuites and Popish Traytors who if they cannot poyson His soul will poyson stab or destroy His body We cannot think they will deal better with Him then they did by Henry the third and Henry the fourth of France whom they slew The one because he would not suffer them to sway the Scepter The other because he refused to break his Covenants with the Protestant Princes If these men should prevail in their Warre These words are by the Arch B minced and altered as may appear by comparing the first Coppy with the late Edition and afterward be denyed any thing what they will further desire for the establishment of Popery They will as treacherously end his dayes whose Religion alows it and commends us meritorious to kill any King that is a Protestant or favourer of Protestants Therefore we may in this see how farre our Clergy is faln toward Popery who now defend them and most confide in them who of late they declared to be Idolaters Terming their Religion Rebellion Their Faith Facton And their practice the murdering of bodies and soules God in mercy deliver His Majesty from their doctrines and treasons Thirdly Consider the Persons ingaged in this defensive Warre and it will appear That they are all His Majesties best and most faithfull Subiects True Protestants Yea a Parliament The Kings great and known Counsell Able Honest and Godly Men Not corrupted by flattery nor misled by the hopes of fleeting honour But like Nehemiah and Ezra stout in the Cause of God hold the Sword in the one hand whilest they build the decayed W●lls of Jerusalem with the other Men that fear God and honour the King Not Papists Anabaptists nor Atheists as some falsly have called them except any such have disguised and treacherously intruded themselves to rob the Kingdom of their Money and betray their Army to the enemy and would be a most acceptable service of any that could discover any such If any Brownist All of upright intentions will ingage themselves for their just rights against Arbitrary Government and the profest enemies of all Christendom the Papists be accepted in the Army which is not by me denyed they cannot be said to have been incendiaries in the State nor are they disconsonant from us in any fundamentalls onely they differ in Ceremonies nor are their many of broken fortunes nor deboyst Dam-mys Though some such too many have intraded themselves into the Army none engaged in the Warre but as Mercenaries Such as love the warre for the pay but pay nothing to the warre and as backward to fight as unwilling to be disbanded These by their fearfull Oaths dishonour God and cause the Land to mourn and by deferring battle and proferring plunder preiudice their iust Warre As Achon did in the Army of Gods people There was one Judas amongst Christs twelve Apostles and one Achon in the Camp of God I pray God to purge such out of his and Our Armies Now having informed you of the Kingdoms danger and the Justnesse of the Kingdoms defensive warre

The Protestant INFORMER OR Information to all Protestants Shewing the causes and end of this unjust warre Plotted by Romish Jesuites and now managed by English Papists and their abbettors against this Parliament and in this all other Parliaments Proving by forepast proceedings present actions and persons acting that this warre is no new quarrell nor caused by the Militia But divellish malice against the true Protestant Religion and Lawes of this Kingdom to set up and establish Popery and hath beene fifteene or sixteene yeares last past preparing Also justifying this Parliaments proceedings by Nature Law and Religion against the false Calumniations of all Malignants With an exhortation to courage liberality patience and Constancy to the hazard of life and fortunes in defence of Gods true worship your own Rights Liberties and this present Parliament with confidence of a blessing and victory like Caleb and Ioshua For your GOD is with you Published for Information to the Ignorant By Gregory Thims Gentl. PSAL. 37. 14. The wicked have drawne out their swords and bent their bow to cast downe the poore and needy and to slay such as be of upright conversation JUD 5. 23. Curse yee Meroz saith the Angell of the Lord Curse yee bitterly the Inhabitants thereof because they came not forth to the helpe of the Lord to the helpe of the Lord against the Mighty GAL. 5. 15 But if ye bite and devoure one another take heed that ye be not consumed one of another London Printed 1643. The Protestant Informer WEE all complaine of our present misery by the bloudy distractions of the kingdome by this unnaturall Warre But few of us consider seriously of the cause whence these distractions come For information herein take notice that sinne is the only cause of every affliction and of all punishments whether to private men or whole kingdomes Wee by our sinnes have provoked God Esay 26. 9. Deut. 6. 15. Deut. 28. 63. to anger and God sheweth his anger by his judgements upon us King and Subjects have sinned and now King and Subjects are punished God causeth us to punish one another He doth it either to reforme us or to destroy us But God is the efficient cause of all The cause of all causes all other causes are but Gods instruments Now the instrumentall cause of our distractions is wicked men God useth one sinner to punish another as Israels 2 Chro. 12. 2. Esay 10. 5. 2 Sam. 12. 11 12 sinnes was punished by wicked Shishake and by Idolatrous Asher Whom God calleth the rod of his anger and the staffe in his hand So God punished Davids sinne by wicked Absolom and King Rehoboams 1 King 14. 16. sinne by his rebellious people and the sinne of the people by their King Jeroboam Yet bee informed that though God doe use wicked men for his instruments wicked men do wickedly even in the things which God useth them to doe his will for they are naturally the Devils instruments to execute his will and their owne devillish malice as we see in Iob. That which God Iob 1. 15. doth by wicked men is just but that which wicked men doe is unjust for they have no eye to the doing of Gods will but to their own wicked ends which is alwayes unjust and sinfull For example It was just with God to punish Davids bloud-guilt nesse and adultery by Absoloms rebellion and defiling of Davids concubines But it was unjust and wicked in Absolom to doe it It was just with God to punish Rehoboam by the revolt of his people but unjust in them to cast him off from being their King So it is just with God to punish us at this day by these distractions and unnaturall warres and to suffer the King to be misled by a wicked counsell to afflict and spoile his people but it is unjust in that counsell and error in the King to be led by them to doe such things For their ayme is wicked and devillish and are naturally the Devils instruments to make warre against Christ their end is to destroy the true protestant Religion to subvert our good Lawes and to establish popery and bring us and our posterities our bodies and soules into spirituall and slavish bondage for ever and to root out protestant Religion from all places in Christendome This is a certaine truth and will clearely appeare to any rationall man That will but take a view of their fore-past proceedings Their pres●nt war and the persons contriving and acting it First take a view of their fore-past proceedings and consider not to looke so farre as to the Raigne of Queene Elizabeth or King Iames both of blessed memory in whose times that Jesuiticall faction were active in treasons by poyson stabbing blowing up Parliaments destroying postrities of Kings Nobles and massacring whole kingdomes Onely note their proceedings in the passages of things since the first of his Majesties Raigne at which time we may remember the Duke of Buckingham was the great Favourite who by confederacy which Jesuites and Priests First in Spaine and after in France when his Majestie married with the French Kings Sister gave great incouragement to the popish party in all places and furthered their designes in England by uncontrolled power For through the favour and authority the Duke 〈◊〉 from the King hee ruled and swayed the course of thing● in the Kingdome and it was evident by those times that the Jesuites swayed him And by his greatnesse brought many of their owne faction into the greatest places of command whom they desired hee put in and whom they disliked he put out that most at the Counsell-Table were their such 〈◊〉 such as 〈◊〉 not oppose them And to make way for their designe upon England they set upon the protestants in France to weaken them and to that end His Majesties Shippes were ●ent against Rochell which destroyed their shipping and blocked up the passage and when the Duke was questioned in Parliament The answer was the Ships were not lent with intention to hurt Rochell but in complement to the King of France Then a Fleet was prepared the Duke himselfe ●ould go with it pretending to relieve Roc●ell but when they came to the Isle of Ree al our brave Souldiers were betrayed to the Sword Rochell robbed of their provision and the protestants Sold into their enemies hands What other Voiages were made to Cadis and other places we remember too and observed then that their end was nothing but to weaken the kingdome and prepare to the ensuing treason against our Religion and Lawes Then they began the work of England by crying up Arminianisme defending those tenents patronizing their writings printing and publishing those dangerous books of Mountagues which before King James had seene disallowed condemned and forbid to be printed Mountague was made a Bishop and Doctor White also for defending those bookes at a packt conference All others were presently preferred that favoured those tenents as Conzens Wrene Corbet c. Thus

destroy it and with it all other and to bring in an arbitrary government c. It is true particular men and private counsells may be corupted to please Kings in hope of present honors and great estates to betray a kingdome as private counsels at this day And particular men lately fied from this parliament to a●chiev their privat ends care not to destroy the priviledges of parliament or to take away all Parliaments or which is worse by the same army they break this to force a pact Parliament of their owne choyse and soc make vs slaues by act of Parliament let up popery by the authority that threw it downe and kill us with our owne weapons This is cle●●e as the light yet men will not see it but are willingly held in the f●ols paradise and suffer themselvs to be deluded by proclamations declarations and protestations which are but the snares of the wicked to catch simple men al which though they have passed under the kings nams I hope his maiestic neuer saw nor heard of Because they have beene all falsified and their actions quite contrary to their promises and protestation● like 〈◊〉 who set their faces eastward when hey meane to now westward Therfore it will be the wisdom of every man to make his eyes judge in this cause rather ●hen his ears actions best shew the intentions every tree ●s knowne by his fruite At the entrance of Queene Mary to the Crowne great protestations was made to maintain the protestant religion but wee see her actions were destructive to it The like protestutions we have heard concerning Ireland and great calling on the Parl. for assistance for that kingdome but as often as preparations were made all assistance and helpe was hindred and the rebels were from hence strengthened Wee have heard severall proclamations to put lawes in execution against Papists but wee see that the Parl. themselves were restrayned and might not execute the knowne Laws vpon them though they by humble petitions sought it and now wee see them in best esteeme and most trusted Wee have heard great promises that there was no intention to make warr against the Parliament and seen it testified vnder many Lords hands now in the Kings army onely a guard desired for the Kings Person but wee see a miserable and bloudy warr to destroy the Parliament We heard great protestations that no papist should bee admitted into the Army but we may see papists swarme in that Army yea in the kings Court like wasps about a hony pot and in the north under the command of the Earle of Newcastle you may see eight thousand professed papists of one cluster We have heard heaven and earth called to witnes that their war was to defend Protestant Religion but it were strange to see so many papists fight for it but if it were so why do they set up publike masse in Yorke and other places where that Army is and imprison Protestant Ministers and a●l other that doc but say they fight for the Protestant religion We have heard protestations that priviledges of Parliament should be maintained and the liberty of the Subject but if a Parliament may be broken by force how can priviledges and liberties be preserved You will ●ay we have triennial Parliaments I answer that is nothing for the king is no more bound to be present at any triennial Parliament to confirme any act if it bee called then at this besides the King is no more 〈◊〉 to call any trienniall Parliament then he is bound to preserve this We haue heard Proclamations prohibiting plundering by the Kings Army and molesting his good subjects but wee see the doe plunder dayly in all places except where they cannot overcome or where nothing is to bee had We have heard of an acceptation of an accommodation and seen it published by their owne faction but we see them the next day come furiously and treacherously upon part of the Parliaments Army at Brai●ford and barbarously slue many men more righteous then themselves an act 〈◊〉 themselves We have heard of a gratious acceptance of the City petition and a readinesse to imbrace propositions of peace but we have seen some of the petitioners excepted against and accused of treason He that hath but 〈◊〉 an eye may see their aime when they flatter and animate the rudest of men to rebell against authority and overthrow the governement of the great City to make way to overthrow the lawes of the whole kingdome ●●lfull fishers will fish in troubled waters and bankrupt Cavaleers can make best pillage in a divided City and this is their aim without difference to friend or foe the pillage of one is as sweet as the other propositions of peace have been sent as we desired and they expected with an humble petition of both houses to the King to remove the cause of the war and accept of their propositions what effect it hath wrought let the world iudge and the Parliament consider to whom the answer is directed Yet thus much we may observe in it which shewes no forwardnesse to peace that no authority is ascribed or allowed to the Parliament save only the name both houses and wee may feare some designe against them and us if there be a cessation of armes without dispanding the armies But the people of this kingdome ever have and I hope ever will account Parliaments the fittest and best expounders of Law and Iudges of offenders either to acquit or condemne them they never wrest the Lawes for private ends as other expounders or rather forgetters of Law have lately done when the Subject had lesse use of the Law and lesse liberty were imprisoned contrary to Law beyond the knowne power and rights of any Kings of England their habeas corpusses and all baile denied them Nor knew we by what Law to proceed against any papist though the Lawes were knowne to us And by the discipline of our Church governement we could not well distinguish between protestant religion and popery the booke of common prayer though no idol was idolized which hath in it good and holy things may be and was abused contrary to the institution and meaning of the Parliament first instituting it Things ceremoniall were urged as substantiall what the arch-bishop and his Romish pensioners pleased and ye bee no innovator but for the Parliament to desire any dimination though of things offensive is innovation whatso●ver makes for popery may be added but nothing popish taken away For my p●rt I protes before God the searcher of al hearts ●hat I am no Sectary so called but a true pr●testant according to that established doctrine or Queene Elizabeth and King I●m●s of blessed memory I disallow the opinion of the Brownists as I condemne the opinion doctrine and It is a great disquiet and trouble to a state when men will go b●fore the law and not follow the law in obedience practice of Papists or Anabaptists and never contemned or willfully neglected

For the Parliaments Army is the Kingdoms for God the King and the Kingdom The other is the Cavaliers Army against God the King in future though hid by present flatery and the Kingdom which they would destroy as we by wofull experience see whereever they come or can prevail Be therefore exhorted to be couragious in this Cause for God the King and your Posterity Wisemen forewarned will be forearmed If through our credulity to deceivers we suffer our selves to be destroyed Or if we believe our danger and do nothing to prevent it Our misery will be the greater And we most miserable under it Consider what Mo●dica in such a case said to Ester and the same I say to thee If thou help not at this time according to thy ability place and degree Deliverance shall arise some other way but thou shalt perish Destructive warre is now Est 4. 14. in the Land Such a warre as is against God Therefore sit not still and say with thy self let others fight give pray c. and think to be safe thy sell like Gilead Dan and Ashe● all reproved But Zebulon and Iudg 5 Nephtalie are commended who Jeoparded their lives in the fields against the enemy In the mean time Meroz a people able to help and neer at hand stood Newters But Meroz is therefore cursed and that bitterly because the Inhabitants came not out to the help of the Lord and his people Therefore all that are Gods people or tha● look to have part in Christ will now come forth to the help of the Lord against Baal Halt not between two opinions If thou be a Protestant defend thy Religion against them that say they are Protestants but are not If thou be a Papist why doest thou desemble Professe to be what thou art and be what thou professest A profest Papist is in a better condition and more to be trusted then a lukewarm Newter There is but one God one Truth and one Faith in which men can b● saved The Parliament professe that one God Truth and true Faith of Jesus Christ and that they and all Gods Elect except such as are yet ignorant do defend The other Army say the like but 't is to deceive us and say they take Arms to defend that which none oppose but themselves They make protestation and urge it upon men by force wherein they call God to witnesse and so do we But they have now brought the controversie to a desired Issue for surely The Judge of all the world will do right and though he now afflict his people and for a time suspend sentence it will not be alwayes so But he will shew wonders in the world and declare to the eyes of men who speaks the Truth and who desemble A considerateman may see the Parliaments reality and the others dissimulation by the mercies of the one even to their professed enemies and the barbarous cruelty of the other not onely to us but to their own friends spoyling and plundering all one as well as another witnesse Banbury Brainford Reading Newbury and all Towns and places where by force or fraud they have entred which the Parliament forces have not done in any Town or place where they have entered with the hazard of their lives Thus men consider not Nor compare their barbarous cruelty to our men their prisoners whom they beat wound and starve with the good usage their Cavaliers have which are the Parliaments prisoners who are allowed good lodging fire food of all sorts Bear Wine and what not They want nothing but honesty and liberty to act more mischief but ours are denyed all things but honesty which they cannot take from them All this God beholds whose eyes run too and fro through the earth beholding the good and bad and will recompence all according to their doings God is the righteous Judge of all men he is unchangeable his power is not weakned his eye not shut nor his ear heavy to hear his iustice and his mercy is the same as in former Ages On him our eyes waite to see his iudgements upon out enemies and his deliverance to his people We know there 2 Thes 12 7. Reve. 13. is a mistery in the working of Antichrist and he a Monster having many heads and horns But we are sure that Antichrist shall fall and it is probable that this is the time and warre in which England shall cut off one of those heads This Warre is his warre against Christ And now Christ calls all that are his to stand for him If now you deny your help you deny Christ and therefore give me leave to rememb●r you of Christs words spoken in this case to you That if you deny him Matth. 10. 33. before men he will deny you before his father If you by Newtrality think to save your lives you will indanger to lose your souls for ever But if Matth. 16. 25. in this case for Christ and his Gospels sake we loose our lives we shall surely save our souls and procure a blessing to our posterities Every man is willing to enjoy the propriety of his Goods his Liberty and Peace c. But are unwilling to be at any pains or cost to preserve or procure it But contrary many at this day are so extreamly stupid and grossely fordid That they take more pains run into greater danger and bestow more cost to betray their Rights and Liberties c Then is by the Parliament required of them for their present and future security The twenty part is the most they require And that but lent Your charge for your wives ●evers and Taffaty Gowas and your own expence in Taverns would quickly recover that charge What may we think of such men But as men void of naturall affection much more destitute and empty of Religion Love or Charity who disobey or refuse such an order seeing by lending a twenty part the other ninteen may be preserved which else without order or parts those Cavaliers will by force take altogether and by it strengthen themselves to continue a warre to destroy our Laws and posterities That which the Parliament requires of you and me is but to defend you and me c. against their rage and rapine But you will say and think you hit the nail on the head that it is against Law Answ If it be not against Law to defend thy self against violence or to preserve the Law it self from violation Then it is not against Law to contribute mony as a means But a man in case of necessity in his just defence may kill Although the Law say he shall not kill Much more a Parliament who are providers maintainers and best Judges of the Law may by their Order lawfully in case of necessity to defend the Law cease the Subiect at their descretion The whole Kingdom have trusted them with Religion Laws and Estates which they are to maintain and defend at the Kingdomes charge If the sword