Eliah Matth. 11. 14 15. Therefore Christ comes not as men imagine but according to the Scripture as I shew you here and they that look for his coming in this way shall see him Heb. 9. 28 and the rest shall never see him but shall be shut up in darknesse There is abundance more reasons that I could give you to shew the beauty and excellency of this kingdome which I omit for the present because I intend to be brief and the time doth require it Therefore now I shall shew you some reasons to shew why this kingdome was not set up afore this time 1. Because our Saviour Christ foresaw that the Kings of the Gentiles would not have suffered the Gospel to be preached in their kingdomes if so be that the Apostles had gone then to put them down and set up of the poor to be kings over them 2. Because the Gospel of this kingdome was first to be preached in all the world for a witnesse to all Nations and then which is now comes the end of their kingdomes and Christs kingdome takes place Matth. 24. 14 30. and the Princes of the Gentiles shall mourn because they must bow to this kingdome and become servants to the poor 3. Because the Gentiles have their times limited Luke 21. 24. and though known then to none but the Father Acts 1. 6 7. So that the Apostle then speaking of it puts a certain time for an uncertain Revel. 11. 2. but now the tokens are come the time is manifested Matth. 24. 32 33. that all may see it 4. Because the Scripture was ingrossed heretofore in the great mens hands so that they might do as they pleased with the people that knew little or nothing of Scripture but when the Art of Printing was found and they had liberty to have the Scripture knowledge is increased among the People and shall increase So that they will not be ruled by the Kings set up after the manner of the Gentiles any more Here is the Good Old Cause that God raised our Army to stand for and if they will not stand for this kingdome and government of Christs own institution which I do shew here they shall fall and those that take up this Interest shall prevail Here you see the Reasons why this kingdome ought to be set up and Reasons why it was not set up before this time And if you ask me the reason why King Charles is so unfortunate since I make him to be the best of all Kings truely I answer Because his resolution is not right for he would come in and settle all things as formerly we had them therefore he cannot prosper but let him leave that resolution and resolve to stand for this way surely he shall find better fortune and be more glorious and more surer in his throne then any of his Predecessors though he seem to be a step lower then they were For I say to him that shall be King and to him that is Deputy and King also for a Deputy was King 1 Kings 22. 47. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted But the rich in that he is made low James 1. 9 10. Here is matter of joy for both Mens Good Old Cause shall fall indeed Mr. Prin doth shew the right cause of this War as at first it was declared and that was but a pretence for they quickly routed such as stuck to that their Cause was to get all from the King Countrey and Church and to keep it and this they call the Good Old Cause and they that stand for this are counted the good people and well-affected but I am sure their Cause is neither good nor old and if the long Parliament come together and sit to maintain it according to their invitation let them beware of John lest they also be served as Baal's worshippers were 2 Kings 10. 25. and it was a wise saying of the Philistines to their King 1 Sam. 29. 4. Wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master should it not be with the heads of these men Thus you see mens Cause and Gods Cause mens end and Gods end and intention Therefore let the Parliament at their next meeting settle this government for none else will stand for if the long Parliament go settle themselves as heretofore their Generall in time will break them and set up himself so that there shall be nothing but tossing the Nations to and fro in bloud until this way of Christ be setled And if you desire to know who hath wrote these lines you may come to know me by my face and form of my visage which of late hath been changed I nor any other can give a reason for it but this that it 's a Sign of God and a Seal to this work of God that should stop the Kings of the Gentiles mouths Isaiah 52. 13 14 15. But methinks I hear some say The Jews will have no such poor King as you set forth they refused King Jesus because he was outwardly poor I say God hath provided one that is so noble in birth and parentage for them that none is equall to him upon that account yet he and all such shall be servants to our poor Kings and the Jews shall be satisfied in my next that followeth both in English and Latine that was a long while ago given to the great Jewish Rabby Manasseh Ben Israel A word to the Souldiery and the people in general ANd truely the people are now in such amazement that they know not who to obey with safety for Lenthals Parliament sits though few in number to maintain as they call it a Free State but the main end of it is to hugge and make sure to themselves the unrighteous Mammon gotten by deceit Chiefly Church and Crown-Lands and this is a matter of joy to their party Bampfields Parliament as report goes look upon themselves as yet not dissolved but rejourned and have in their meetings more members then Lenthal But Prins Parliament exceeds both in regard of its Members and Right Cause which truth the Records of the times and all honest people can witnesse that the Army was raised for the defence of the King and Parliament as Mr. Prin maintains These Parliaments signifie nothing no nor the head-Officers of the Army but the noble spirits of the under-Officers and Agitators doth all Therefore you brave Britains stand up for Christs kingdom let not self-interest blinde your eyes the glory is yours for you are Christs chief Instruments Kings or Parliaments are as nothing before you yea you Souldiers can take down your head-Officers if they stand between you and Christ O go on as ye are Christians and go on as ye are bold Britains of a noble stock as ye have it in the introduction of this Book to set up Christs Kingdom Was it not a bold British Souldier under King Belinus the Britain that struck one of the grave Senators of Romes beard while yet they
them all concludes Britain to be the most amiable and being in love with her beauty according to Solomon song 4. is resolved to take her to wife that he might beget a son of her body to inherit his glory therefore Jesus the King after the manner of Kings sends the most honourable of all his Disciples Joseph of Arimathea by Name an Embassadour to Britain and he coming to Arviragus then King of Britain was so courteously received that the King gave him some Land to inhabit and liberty to declare his message to the British Lady so called for method sake but the said Lady notwithstanding the Kings consent for modesty sake as prudent Ladies use to do in such a case doth not seem to grant her love to her beloved at the first motion because she might have been judged to be of an unconstant minde for altering her estate suddenly and without mature deliberation for these causes the suit continueth so that the agreement is not fully made between Jesus Christ and the British Lady until King Lucius time and then they were married with great joy and not long after the British Lady brings forth a son to Jesus Christ namely Constantine the great who gave such a wound to the enemies of Jesus Christ that they could never recover it we then being assured that the British Lady should bring forth another son to destroy all the enemies of Jesus Christ and receive of his glory for this cause Britain had many enemies that envied her because of this honour that God was pleased to give her which is worth your consideration Britain being thus exalted and her son made Emperour Satans Friends fell into a tottering condition therefore he stirreth all his instruments against the British Nation as the Saxons Danes Normans and all the Nations round about sought to destroy them till they drove the Britains into Wales and at last after much Wars for a long time through a guile used in their agreement with Edward the first who privately sent his Queen to Carnarvon where the first Prince of the English Race was born and the Britains submitting to him brought themselves into such misery that from Edward the first to Henry the sevenths time the Britains were in great slavery the English using them cruelly destroying their ancient Records prohibiting them to bring their Children up in Learning intending to extinguish their ancient Language and bring the prophesies and promises written in the same Language to none effect but for all that the Britains through Gods Providence preserved their Language and so much of their Writings as is needful to hold forth the truth for them And of all the enemies that we had since our coming to Britain the Romans were the most honest and noblest Enemy for they indeed esteemed the Britains according to their worth and quality making a difference between us and the Barbarous people round about us because the Romans found the Britains to be as good men as themselves were for all the Countries hereabout submitted to Julius Caesar without any great resistance but when he sent to Cassibelan King of the Britains to have him submit Cassibelan sent him word That he and the Britains had not learned as yet to live in servitude and that Caesar should find it a hard matter to bring them to it whereupon Caesar being in wrath came to Britain with all his Power but he found Britain so hot that he was forced to go back into France from whence he came and after many returns to little purpose being half ashamed Caesar sought to gaine the Britains by love and at last came to an agreement with them that the Romans and the Britains should become one people Thus they concluded So that you may see in the Chronicles as many more were Constantine the Great was a Britain by the one side and a Roman by the other for which cause Pompey who was sent from Rome to conquer the other side of the world sent a jeere to Caesar for that he could not otherways overcome such a small handful of people as he judged the Britains to be therefore Caesar bore him a grudge for it to his dying day so that before Pompey came to Rome Caesar having many of the Britains with him met him and shewed him the Britains Valour in a Battel where Pompey was slain and Caesar made Conqueror of the World And know this also that the Romans should never have had footing in Britain had Britain then been united within it self for King Lud died and left behind him under age four sons Cassibellan his Brother was made Protector and usurping the Throne Androgeus son and heir to Lud being deprived of his right agreed and sided with Caesar and went to Rome therefore many towns not submitting to Cassibellan because he was not their lawful King made much for Caesar and brought in the Romans as abovesaid so that Caesars report is true saying That Britain was divided when he invaded it but had he come in King Luds time he had found no entrance into Britain Yet as the truth is our Confedracie with the Romans did us much evil for our men going out of the Land to maintain the Romish interest made our number decrease and emboldened our pilfring Enemies to set upon us specially after they saw that huge host go out of Britain for the service of Christ under Constantine the Great Thus much touching the Romans as being worthy of note I thought good to shew you And now to return where I left The Britains as before you see were in great distress from the time of Edward the first to the time of Henry the seventh that is to say above two hundred years and for all their enemies could do to them the Britains kept their Language Records and Prophesies so that Henry the seventh being a Britain-promised Prince had them Prophesies as his guide and he observing them came accordingly to the Throne to the comfort of all people for he united York and Lancaster redeemed Wales and was the means to bring England and Scotland under one head and from that time to this day the Welch British blood according to the Welch Prophesies hath continued on the Throne of great Britain Thus far God hath done for us in fulfilling our prophesies blessed be his Name for ever and more is yet to be fulfilled of the said Prophesies which will infallibly come to pass as the rest did for God is come in his promises therefore now it is time for you English-men to consider it and not henceforth to despise deride and scorn the Welch that ye may as Britains be made partakers of the blessing with us denying your English or Saxon interest for surely the Saxons shall vanish as God hath determined it by our Prophesies The mystery of our Prophesies and Knowledge was delivered to us of old by Samothea or as Moses calls him Gen. 10. 2. Meshech that is a Messenger or Angel of God others call him
divided and do no righteous things we cannot stand long if we have not a King But you will say Who shall be King If you go in a righteous way I will shew you that Charles Stuart is the man who by right should enjoy it according to our ancient custome for he is the true heir of all for in him runs that stream of Royal Blood that shall make glad the City of God for all the Blood-Royal of the Britains Scots Saxons Normans is primary in him I could make this out and shew you his lineal descent if I thought you would question it I could also make it appear abundantly by their prophesies in Mr. Pughs Book that God long before this time hath determined and declared his Fall and his Restoration and that word Koronog vaban which is the Key of all our prophesies belongs to him and that it cannot be brought to speak for Oliver Cromwel as Mr. Pugh would have it But what should I trouble you with these things which you cannot relish I shall shew you a more excellent way for God did not cast down Charles to the end that he should be set up again upon the same slipery foundation for he had better he a step lower then he was that he might stand surer Therefore take this as followeth Men and Brethren I Having read Histories and seen the course of the world from time to time I finde that from the Creation to this day there is troubles in the world about superiority and that much innocent blood hath been spilt by Governors to maintain their worldly Interests yet for all that could they never make themselves and posterity sure to hold long nor finde a way to govern that was not defective in the Issue their Foundation being bloody could not stay them from falling they would not come to judgement nor be called to an account for what they did and their shedding of innocent blood but they could not shun it when Gods time came I might prove this not onely from Histories but also from the holy Scripture that it is so now and hath been so at all times in all the habitable world among all nations from the beginning but my business is not to make great Volumes to shew all that might be said in this Case onely I say that all sorts of Government yet known and established among men whether by Kings Hereditary counted best or by Elective Kings or by States or whatsoever else is or hath been it is nought and destructive to men therefore I through Gods help briefly shall shew you a Form of Government that hath not been yet made known to the world though figured forth in the Gospel by Jesus Christ and his Apostles this sixteen hundred yeers And now our necessity requireth me to hold it forth we have had much talk of the Kingdom of Jesus-Christ but we are ignorant of it all this while none sheweth it though it be time for if the Protector Army and Parliament striving about the Militia as they did with the late King fall to War again as it is like they will then wo to England that ever the Gospel shined so bright in it and that by it it could not finde the way of peace therefore take this as followeth for your direction 1. Let not the chief of Great Britain and Ireland enter into his Power and Government until he be above fifty yeers of age 2. Let him be a poor honest godly man even so poor though industrious in his calling that he hath been forced to take Almes and let him be chosen by lot 3. When he is king for that Title the Scripture gives him 1 Pet. 2. 13. and that Title is best known to England by our Law let him have the sole power in Church and State namely the Militia or whatsoever else is appointed for the good and defence of the Nation shall be his and let him be accountable to no man 4. Let all Writs go and whatsoever is done let it be done as heretofore in the Kings name and let him have but a hundred pound a year to maintian him 5. Let the Kings personall work be so little so plain and easie that notwithstanding his great power yet so that he cannot erre in what he doth which shall be onely to call a Parliament and sit with them and let there be but one house of Parliament 6. Let the Protector Steward Deputy King or whatsoever you please to call him be hereditary in a male line of ability and stature to rule and let him go on ruling as the Protector doth now only he must give account before the King and Parliament every third year for all that is done amisse in ruling by him or his Officers under him though done by a Constable or Corporal shall be laid to his charge because that upon knowledge thereof he did not punish the Offendours 7. The King every third year upon the third week of December shall send forth Writs to call a Parliament and command them to meet him at the Parliament-house the first week in March and they are to sit untill the first of September and no longer 8. That no man be chosen to serve in Parliament but such as are above fifty year old and that are judicious able men in knowledge of Law and Judgement 9. That none be put in nomination to be chosen but such as fear God hate covetousnesse love the poor and is peaceable Chuse none that hath not been just and honest in his dealing with all men good and charitable to the poor and is full of the holy Ghost 10. That none be chosen which be in places of profit or preferment under the Deputy or Protector as now ye call him nor any Commander of the Army who all are subjects to be judged by the Parliament and not to sit as Judges in their own Cause For though the Protector be liable to suffer for every fault his officers do he not avenging the oppressed that made his complaint to him or he not sitting in the seat of Judgement to hear complaints thrice a week where the poorest sort as well as the rich without hinderance may come be heard and relieved yet shall his Officers suffer every one for his own fault according to his desert and the King and Parliament shall judge it but whosoever he be that sought not to the Protector first and is not relieved in a weeks time after his complaint made though the wrong be done him in Parliament time yet shall he not be heard by the King and Parliament 11. The Deputy or Protector every week thrice shall sit on a throne in an open place where every one may come and make his complaint to him clearing it by evidence and after that he must give just judgement speedily in a weeks time or else the King and Parliament shall call him to account for it neither is it intended that the Protector must judge all causes between man and
generality or middle sort of men saith he James 2. 6. Ye have despised the poor Do not the rich men oppresse you and draw you before the judgement-seat As if he should say I appeal to your own knowledge whether it be not the rich ones that bring all evil upon you ye despise the poor harmlesse men which love God and not the world and ye would not have them which by Gods apointment should reign over you and ye have chosen the rich to reign over you that love the world and not God but what do you get by it do they not make war among you to maintain their humours draw you drive you yea consume you to nothing many times this you see is true And again these poor must not be such poor as make themselves voluntarily poor you know some of the Church of Rome do so and glory in it but alas it is a vain glory Neither are they such as become poor by prodigality and evil-husbandry but such poor as the Lord doth delight in and which follow him and have been industrious also yet through crosses and temptations have been kept alwayes under by the power of God so that they could not attain to any state in the world for they do not desire it much being content with what God sends them for they know riches is a tempting thing that doth cause many to forget God and be as strangers to him and that of this sort is the tempting love of riches to which most mens wills are inclinable and therefore it is a dangerous temptation 1 Timoth. 6. 9 10. buried in oblivion by them for the temptation they are acquainted with is their sufferings and their adversaries reproaching of them because of their godlinesse and low condition and to such poor our Saviour saith Luke 22. 28 29 30. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations and I appoint unto you a kingdome as my Father hath appointed me That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdome and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel And as Saint James saith James 1. 12. Blessed is the man that indureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him for you must understand that these poor must be just and holy ones and that no wicked ones shall inherit this kingdome of God 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. Let this suffice to prove that Christs kingdome is that which I have shewed you in the foregoing passage Now I say unto you It is in vain for any to think of setting up any other Government as saith the Angel to Ezra 2 Esdras 10. 54. for in the place wherein the highest beginneth to shew his kingdome or citie there can no mans building be able to stand and God hath begun here to shew it this many years therefore your buildings fall Reasons why this kingdome should be set up among us 1. Because it is of Christ founded Therefore it is his kingdome which is most perfect though contrary to the kingdomes of men which shall stand for ever to his glory 2. Because we were taught by Christ to pray saying Thy kingdome come Therefore we ought to endeavour to fulfill our prayers in setting it up for our good 3. Because such a King being old and hath not long to live here and but a poor allowance of a hundred pound a year one that fears God and is chosen of God by lot one whose integrity is known to men before he is chosen so that he never was for the world I say such a one will do right and cannot do wrong for the fear of God his age weaknesse disability in money and the Law will bind him to it There is none else can do us right but such a one as Christ and his Apostles and I do shew you for our former Kings had mighty Revenues and power therefore they did what they listed against Law and Reason for which cause they came to destruction many times Our former Parliaments being up were worse then our Kings laying heavier burthens on us Therefore the Generall of our Army pulls them down and he sets up himself under the name of Protector but nothing is mended therefore the Army pulls him down and are in confusion not knowing what to do and nothing shall stand but this kingdome that I shew you because it is of God it is in vain for you to set up any other form of Government for it shall fall it shall be pull'd down by others 4. This Kingdom is not any way against the Kings of the earth but of much advantage to secure both great and smal in their just Rights for whereas now they through their corrupt and boundlesse resolution hazard souls bodies States to maintain their prodigall unjust deeds untill they lose all for it this kingdome and King will keep them in safety and sure possession for understanding that they are to give account every third year they will take heed what they do and not run in such extravagant unjust courses and ungodly wayes and have much more comfort by it then now they have for God the people will blesse them and there is no other way to establish and confirm every one in his just right but this for Christ is the Prince of peace and will not disinherit any line yet will punish offenders and preserve their seed that amend 5. It prevents all treason for to what end should any conspire against this King that hath but a hundred pound a year which they shall not enjoy if they kill him the Law goes on another is chosen and they are to suffer the most infamous and cruel death as can be devised and none can come that way to reign in this kingdome It shall not be here as formerly it was or as the saying is Treason never prospereth for if it prosper who dare call it treason They shall not advance themselves thereby all treason aims at some good advantage and preferment but here is nothing to be had if any do it death and damnation is their reward which none living can desire therefore this King needs no guard God and his innocency is sufficient for his guard and let not his Deputy have any guard to encourage him in wickednesse but let him have officers persons to keep order about him as the Lord Major of London hath now about him 6. Because in such a King Christ comes to reign upon earth for Christs coming must be as the coming of Eliah was in John Baptist for Eliah was taken up to heaven 2 Kings 2. 10 11. as Christ was Acts 1. 9 10 11. and it was as hard a thing to see him ascend as it was to see Eliah ascend and as there was a promise that Eliah should come on earth again Malachi 4. 5. So he came in John Baptist Luke 1. 17. and Christ saith that John was that