the lesse to love and esteem Iesus Christ because he and his parents were very poor that there was no room for such poor people in the inne but in a stable fitter for a horse then a family though poor Is there any reason to bring that for a charge against a chief Governour that is not true and if true is no fault at all poverty is none what reason is there to gratifie and please the enemis of God to cause them to rejoyce and to pour contempt upon the way of God for exalting them of low degree Love covers a multitude of sins 1 Pet. 4. 8. and want of love makes those sins that are none 21. There was a book printed called a Declaration of Members of severall Churches and a number of names as of one congregation and there was not one of that congregation signed it this I can prove is not this a way of lying and dissimulation Saith the Lord I am against them that cause my people to erre by their lies they shall not profit Ier 33. 32. Thus I have given you a proof of some of the evils ye are carryed away with and that which is here said is enough to prove that death and destruction is in your paths you are fallen you are fallen and almost if not altogether become one in opposing with those that God hath sufficiently witnessed against know that God is for us and that ye sight against God therefore ye cannot prosper his Highnesse may say to each of you Forbear thee from medling with God who is with me that he destroy thee not 2 Chron. 35. 21 22. I be seech you consider what I say and weigh it in the sight of God with a calm and Christian spirit and harden not your necks against the truth as you will answer it to the great Iudge Oh that you would lie down in the dust and acknowledge your iniquity and return unto God by unfaigned repentance hast to do it lest Gods fury break forth like fire upon you and there be no quenching your return would rejoyce us much as being welwishers to your souls and bodies though I must declare against your sins designs and way because ye have call an odium upon all the people of God that do own and submit to the present Government charged us with hypocrisie and dissimulation and by your so doing ye cast an odium upon the Name of Christ which we professe your lies are manifest your carriage is not in meeknesse nor are your souls possessed with patience ye are murmuters and complainers without cause you father your words and actions in opposing to be of God and from the holy Spirit of God which is a blaspheming of the Spirit of God you are very unjust and unreasonable to charge his Highnesse so deeply and falsly because you never did nor can prove what you say to be true Are ye so greatly deluded to think that such preaches and printings as ye make against the Government and Governors will do any good except only to discover your madnesse and folly to all men I know you are great transgressors and disclaim all your opposition of the Government c. ye grieve the faithfull in that ye cause divisions and dissensions contrary to the doctrine ye have heard and learnt therefore we desire and warn all that fear the Lord and all others that desire their outward safety to withdraw from you and avoid you as those that by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple and are causers of divisions as Rom. 16. 17 18. and that ye by your opposition strengthen the hands of the wicked and harden the late Kings party in their evill opposing and ye approve and justifie and own by your practise all the opposition that hath been made against the people of God and so are partakers of their sin and are liable to their punishments submit to God seek meeknesse consider Rom. 14. 19. Jam. 3. 18. if ye will not desist your wilfulnesse in opposing will prove your sorrow if not your ruine And for the late Kings party I desire they would consider that God hath witnessed against them in the destruction and ruine of the late King and many of them some say there hath been slain about eight hundred thousand in the late vvar in the three nations to whom must all this bloud be laid but upon them which begun the war and that was the late King and those that sided with him Say not he had cause to do that he did what ever the cause was he should not have begun a war and God hath judged him for it they have had many times the advantage of us in number and otherwise there hath been of their side many that have not wanted skill nor will resolution nor courage they have had severall times plain field battels and several times tryed for it from whence is it that they have so often lost the day and have not prevailed nor can prevail it is plain enough expressed I would they could see it in Jer. 1. 19. its time for them to consider that they have had multitudes of plots and devices and all fruitlesse know ye not that many of you have been destroyed and ruined and if ye will still fight against God it will be your ruine also if ye are willing to be destroyed yet pity your wives and little ones who are like to suffer and perish by your ruine for their and your own good cease opposing and plotting I beseech you submit to God Psal. 66. 3. and be preserved if ye oppose ye perish they that have thought otherwise have been often deceived Do ye not see the more ye oppose the worse ye are for now ye have lesse favour and more charged then afore yet do not think that ye are too hardly dealt with by his Highnesse late proclamation c. he dealt too kindely and friendly with you till be did see that you were the worse for kindnesse and that the requitall ye gave him was to seek his life and our ruine for which ye deserve to die therefore ye may be content and glad ye scape as ye do it is not fit to let you have a way and means to nourish you and inable you to seek our ruine If ye will be quiet and peaceable favour will be given you that you may live and your families I fear you would hardly extend that favour to us if you were in our condition and we in yours Seeing God hath so often witnessed against you be at last afraid of his tokens as Psal. 65. 8. before it be too late I advise you for your good it will be well for you if God will give you eyes to see it and hearts to receive it I say to all that oppose the present Government and Governors why are ye so offended at his Government what evill hath he done and why are ye so offended at his Highnesse what hath he done whom
PLAIN DEALING OR The unvailing of the opposers of the Present Government and Governors In Answer of several things affirmed by Mr. Vavasor Powell and others SHEWING 1. That there is no reason to oppose or finde fault with the present Government 2. That there is not any Scripture that doth justifie their opposing the present Government 3. That the Word of God is for the present Government and Governors and requireth us to own them and to be subject to them 4. That the holy Scriptures are against the opposition that is made against the present Government and Governors 5. Reasons to prove that his Highnesse Oliver Cromwell and the Right Honourable his Councel ought to execute the Legislative Power By Samuel Richardson I speak as unto wise men judge what I say 1 Cor. 10. 15. If I have spoken evil bear witnesse of the evil but if well why smitest thou me Joh. 18. 23. He that is first in his own cause seemeth just but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him Prov. 18. 17. Prove all things hold fast that which is good 1 Thess. 1. 21. London Printed by E. C. and are to be sold by John Clarke at the Entrance into Mercers Chappel at the lower end of Cheapside 1656. PLAIN DEALING OR The unvailing of the opposers c. I Have seen great wickednesse under the title of a Word for God and in a paper called a Testimony on truths behalf I have seen many untruths In former times the Church of Rome covered and carried on all her filthinesse and abominations under the name of holy Mother the Church and seeing now one Church will not do it is carried on under the name of divers Churches and lest that should fail and come short they adde divers Christians It hath been a true proverb In the name of God all evill begin so the Mandates against the Lollards Richard by the grace of God c. in behalf of holy Mother the Church by the Kings authority cause William c. to be arrested and sent to us that they with their pernicious doctrine do not infect the people of God so that the naming the Grace of God holy Mother Church and people of God then they were imboldened to condemn and burn the people of God Mr. Powell and a few others do say that they have neither heart nor hand to the present Government is it not therefore necessary to make it appear that they ought to have both their hearts and hands to it not only for wrath but for conscience sake and that Nature Reason and the Word of God requireth the same and that their opposing the present Government and Governors is not without sinning against God and men and that the cause of their dissatisfaction is grounded upon ignorance and mistake as is evident in the proof of these four particulars following in which the Reasons of their dissatisfaction are answered The first is That there is no Reason to oppose or find fault with the present Government This is proved first from the Government it self 1. In that it is so ballanced and framed that it provides for the good of all there being not any thing in it but that which is for the liberty safety and welfare of the people And 2. That whatsoever good may be done in any Government may be done in this 3. It is not possible for this Nation to enjoy more liberty benefit and freedome in thing civil and religious then we do and may enjoy in the present Government as considered in the Instrument 1. For things civil we enjoy great peace and freedome we quietly sit down under our own vines and eat the fruit thereof and enjoy our relations c. That which some complain of is Excise and Taxes there is no cause to finde fault with the present Government for them seeing they were before this government had any being and greater then now and in as much as this Nation is divided into parties each desiring to suppresse the other no one of them if they had the upper hand could keep it without an Army and an Army cannot be maintained without Taxes or Free-quarter or plunder which is ten times worse yet Mr. Powel and others call it but a pretence of necessity to continue Taxes c. And as things are tell me what civil priviledge can ye have more then ye have and there are evident reasons to make it appear that if the Kings party had the upper hand there would be a greater charge and tax upon the people then now there is and if the Taxes were more then they are if necessity required them there were no reason to complain of the Government or his Highnesse for them because not his Highnesse but the people reap the benefit of the Taxes also the present income by them is not enough to defray the charge of the publick 2. For freedome in Religion it is so great it is even unspeakable for under the present Government we enjoy more liberty then we have enjoyed or have heard that ever any of this nation hath enjoyed since it was a nation we enjoy as much liberty as can be expected as much as can be given as much as lawfully may be desired if that which is expressed in the instrument of government be performed 1. Under this Government we may serve God according to our understandings and consciences and be as holy and Religious as we can be we are not forced to be of the opinion and Religion that the Magistrate is of right or wrong and to change when he changeth his or else be persecuted now men are not tempted to sin or play the hypocrites to avoid persecution now men are ready to shew what they are and if evil they may be avoided 2. Ye say ye are Christians and have right to the things of Christ and who hinders ye of them if ye would have liberty protection countenance and assistance of the Magistrate ye have it what would ye have more of the Magistrate for the advancement of Christs Kingdome 3. This government maketh room and giveth place to the Government of Christ in the world because it medleth not with making nor imposing lawes formerly made in matters of Religion therefore it is a great mistake to think this government doth oppose and hinder the government of Christ and untruly said that we were ten thousand times further from our liberty then afore Mr. Powell saith that we are deprived of our freedome more then in the daies of wicked Kings and that the blessed cause and noble principles are altogether laid aside is not Religion a blessed cause and is it not a noble principle to deny the civill Magistrate a coerâ—ive power in matters meerly Religious and seeing the Magistrate owns this principle how is it denied if you would have greater liberty then we enjoy tell us what is that liberty you would have I know no liberty that is denied except you would have liberty to destroy us and your selves
but Gods owning the Government and Governors God hath testified his owning them and we are to follow the Lord which way soever he goeth therefore we are to own them and assist them with our persons and estates lest we sin and suffer for it as the Citizens of that great City of Constantinople did who refused to part with so much money as was necessary to oppose their enemies though they were besought with tears to do it they would not neither freely nor by force they stood for the priviledge of the subject it was not their priviledge to keep that money that the publick stood in need of though they thought so it was their ruine there not parting with some of their estates they lost that goodly City and lost all their money and treasure and their lives also the enemy seeing so great treasure and supply wondred at their folly The fourth is That the holy Scriptures are against the opposition that is made against the present Government and Governors This is proved 1. Because the Scripture saith Put them in minde to be subject to principalities and powers to obey Magistrates Tit. 3. 1 2. In resisting the powers they resist the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Rom. 13. 2. Object If so then ye sinned in resisting the late King and so resisted the ordinance of God 1. To this I answer three things the first is That our resistance was but a defensive war which a King of England approved of when against himself See Acts Monuments Church 3 book end pag. 74. 2. Also the late King in beginning the war became guilty of all the bloud shed in it if that had been all there was sufficient cause for that to cut him off 3. Also the King was one with Antichrist against whom we are commanded to make war 2. The opposers of the present Government c. sin in that they do not seek the peace of the Nation but in stead thereof they disturb and indanger the peace of it for if they who were in captivity in a strange land were to pray and seek the peace of that place Jer. 29. 7. then much more ought the opposers and we to seek and pray for the peace of our native Countrey where we are not captives but enjoy very great liberties and priviledges and that which is my duty to do I may promise to my power to do and if I seek not the peace of the place I sin the opposers are so far from seeking the peace of it that they are not willing that others seek it that they shoot their sharp arrowes bitter words at those that oppose their opposition 3. The opposers sin in that they neglect to own the work God is a doing in this generation which is a part of that generation work appointed for us to do some that now oppose have owned Gods work and now appear to leave following the Lord and cease owning the work God is now a doing and seek what in them lies to hinder God and man in that work 4. The opposers sin because in so doing ye nourish the works of the flesh which ye should mortifie and crucifie The works of the flesh are manifest in their opposition hatred variance emulation wrath strife seditions Gal. 5. 19 20. One of them said in the pulpit he wondred women could lye so quietly by their husbands and not provoke them c which tended to the destruction of humane society Is this to preach Jesus Christ and him crucified or rather is that preaching that crucifie Christ They also shew us what lieth in the bottome of their hearts we see like end like means all is nought God is not with you herein to you it is not given what ye extraordinarily insinuate God with us and gards of Angels do ye think God will not take care of his great name will God leave his people and bring to nothing the many and great deliverances he hath given us He that hath begun our enemies ruine will if they repent not make an end Psal. 140. 4 8. 5. They sin in that they say against his Highnesse whether it be true or false if it be true ye uncover your fathers nakednesse this God condemns Ezek. 22. 10 He was cursed that saw his fathers nakednesse and told it and he blessed that covered it Gen. 21. 22 23 26 27. 6. Ye sin in that ye act contrary to the Word of the Lord Mat. 18. 15. but in stead thereof ye rail like mad men for so ye are judged to be by many that hear you 7. Ye sin in that ye speak and affirm many things which are untrue to carry on your design and to make the Government and those in authority and us odious 1. Ye say ye are persecuted for Christ and for Religion this I have proved false in my late Apologie and that in so saying ye persecute his Highnesse as Gal. 3. 29 30. Act. 22. 14. 9. 4. 5. 1. Mr. Feak saith the words of his Mittimus are to commit c. in order to the peace and safety of the Nation by which it appears it is not for Religion 2. So they say that the Saints are committed for their consciences this is untrue for they are imprisoned for their words that oppose the present Government and Governors is a thing of great concernment and indangering the civil peace to deny the authority under which we live to oppose the Government and civill Magistrate causeth debate debate causeth a difference difference causeth divisions and sidings of parties sidings of parties causeth envie and jealousies and condemning of each other and that causeth variance and variance greatly distracts mens mindes distractions of mens mindes maketh seditions seditions bring in tumults tumults work insurrections and rebellion insurrections make depopulations and desolations and bring utter ruine and destruction of mens states and lives and the whole Nâ—tion The offence some of them commit tends to this every Governor is bound by the law of nature to use the means to preserve the peace and welfare of the people some of their words that oppose the Government c. strike at both and it were a great sin in those in authority to suffer it if the good man of the house will not suffer his house to be digged through much lesse is their practise to be suffered if a good man do ill it is so much the worse for so much as he is in esteem or eminent for knowledge or goodnesse so much the more evill and dangerous and taking is the evill that he doth and so much the more care and means is to be used to prevent the spreading of that evil and so much the greater punishment he deserves that commits the evill saints are to be under the temporall sword His Highnesse hath shewed great love patience and forbearance to those that oppose and abuse him and indanger all untill there appear no remedy or hope of gaining them
nor that they will be quiet and even then he dealeth friendly with them in that they are only secured and not put to no torture and that to prevent further danger for that man that hath spoken most against him and much abused him c. though he should not confesse his fault in so doing yet if he stould promise to be quiet and peaceable for the future he would freely forgive him and quickly set him at liberty which sheweth that all that is aimed at is the preservation of the peace and safety of the people this is no hard measure yet for this he is blamed if they say they detest the imprisonment of the Saints they plead it is their conscience to oppose c. and their testimony but that is no argument to exempt any from punishment if it were there should no one be punished for any fault whatsoever though it were insurrections adultery and murder that is some mens conscience and testimony 3. So they say men are committed for they know not what this is also untrue they and others know it is for speaking and indangering the civill peace or for not promising to be peaceable So Mr. Powell complains because they are not brought to their trial it 's well for some of them they are not brought to their triall if they should they might suffer the Bishop of Canterbury petitioned to be brought to his triall they granted his Petition and cut off his head but not without cause 4. One of them said that day the Government was proclaimed that it should not continue a year ye see it hath continued longer therefore it was from a lying spirit or at best from a mistake yet he will go on in opposing it 5. They say the Army fought against the late King because he was King if they did so they did ill but I do not beleeve they were so simple if the being a King is unlawfull why are we required to pray for Kings why should Christ and Saints be Kings he hath made us Kings Rev. 5. 10. I was never against Kingly government but against their coersive power in matters meerly religious 6. They say the King lost his life because he was King no it was for beginning the war and the guilt of the bloud shed in it c. 7. Mr. Powell saith we build again what before we destroyed this is also untrue for they have destroyed corporall punishments in matters religious and that is not built again also I know some call the triets Antichristian but I do not see them prove it So they say it was but a pretended necessity for the doing that his Highnesse hath done So they might say of David eating the shew-bread Mat. 12. So some of them had a hand in breaking up the first Parliament I aske them if they opposed the Parliament upon a pretended necessity there is ground to beleeve he would not have done some things that he hath done if absolute necessity of preventing evill and danger had not occasioned it how can they judge of the greatnesse of the necessity that are ignorant of the designers their designs their causes and their circumstances and tendencies Surely those who frequently judge of the measure of the necessity and so judge unwisely and unjustly of the necessity and censure and condemn others 9. Mr. Powell saith these men who now build what they did once destroy and justifie what they did once condemn witnesse their own writings particularly the Declaration of the Officers and Souldiers of the English Army August 1. 1650. pag. 7. 12. whereof the Lord Croâ—well was Generall the words whereof are as followeth We are perswaded in our consciences that the late King and his Monarchy was one of the ten hornes of the beast spoken of Rev. 17. 13 14 15. and that we were called forth by the Lord to be instrumental to bring about that which was our continuall prayer unto God viz. the destruction of Antichrist and the deliverance of his Church and people and upon this single account we ingaged not knowing the deep policies of worldly states-men and have ever since hazarded our lives in the high places in the field where we have seen many wonders of the Lord against all the opposers of the work of Jesus Christ whom we have all along seen going with us and making our way plain before us and having these things singly in our eye namely the destruction of Antichrist the advancement of the Kingdome of Christ the deliverance of his Church and the establishment thereof in the use of his Ordinances in purity according to his Word and the just civill liberties of English men 1. Observe It saith the late King was one of the ten horns of the beast not as he was King nor as he was chief Governor but because he gave his power viz. his horn his strength to the beast the false Church of Rome may be called a beast for her beastlinesse the Lord Bishops and Popes Priesthood and so became one with Antichrist of whom they were the late King and his Monarchy was a mixt power Civill and Ecclesiasticall together he assume the title of Defender of the Faith which the Pope gave to Henry 8. King of England Supreme in all causes Civill and Ecclesiasticall head of the Church and so assumed the name and office of Jesus Christ to be a law-giver in matters of Religion for what the Bishops did herein was by and under his authority all which is proper only to Jesus Christ he is the head of his Church Col. 1. 18. Ephes. 4. 15. he is the only Law-giver in matters of Religion Jam. 1. 12. therefore it is blasphemy to give the titles of Iesus Christ to the King therefore it is said the names of blasphemy was upon the head of the beast 2. With his horn viz. power the late King pushed and goared the people of God persecuted the Saints for not yeelding subjection to Antichrists lawes he had an imposing spirit in matter of Religion which is the spirit of Antichrist and such a King and Monarchy is not set up nor desired 3. They declare Gods call to endevour the destruction of Antichrist and this they have done in part in destroying him and that wicked Government God requireth his people to make war with Babylon Antichrist the army of the Dragon to shoot at her spare no arrowes Ier. 50. 14. God ordaineth his arrowes against the persecuters Psal. 7. 13. they that are with the Lamb Rev. 14. 1. are to make war with the Dragon and his army and there is great joy in the army of the Lamb to wound a chief officer as a Major Generall as the late King was in the army of the dragon and I saw him wounded and fell I shouted for joy 4. It saith that they sought the destruction of Antichrist this they have done as for the outward part of it in England in separating Civill power and excluding the Ecclesiasticall 5. It saith they