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england_n	day_n	king_n	lord_n	14,831	5	3.9145	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93347	Gods unchangeableness: or Gods continued providence, in preserving, governing, ordering and disposing of all creatures, men, actions, counsels and things, as at the beginning of the world, so to the end of the world, for ever, according to the counsel of his own will. From whence is gatherd six necessary inferences very applicable to the changes, alterations and vicissitude of these our present times. Wherein is clearly demonstrated and proved, that Oliver Cromwell is by the providence of God, Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland, &c. to whom the people owe obedience, as to him whom God hath set over them. Unto which is added, the causes of discontent, repining and murmurings of men: also, some serious advertisements, and seasonable admonitions to the discontented, and reprehensions to all impetuous, arrogant murmurers. Together with answers to some cheif objections made against the Lord Protector and his present government, endeavouring (if possible) satisfaction to all men. / Therefore written and published for publicke good, by George Smith, Gent.	Smith, George, 1602 or 3-1658.	1655 (1655)	Wing S4036; Thomason E824_4; ESTC R207687	84,417	65

against it w and we have seen Gods provident care thereof that they that have been the heads of this assault have been broken in peeces and their ass●tiations the Word of God is as fire and it shall consume stubble All the enemies of truth shall be like straws though numerous which conspire against a burning coal and encompasse it by heaps to put it out that when they think they have done it and have eclipsed the light for a little while it shall kindle burn and consume them all these straws though mighty for a time shall come to nothing This is their time of attempts and this is the time that God will purge his Church This is the time of Reformation and of great judgements For whenever God hath been doing any great work tending to Reformation the devil and Satan that great old Enemy and subtle Serpent hath alwaies made the greatest opposition the greater the work is that God is doing the stronger the oppositions will be as we see in Rev. 12. 1 2 3 4. considered and compared That God is doing a great work in these daies is manifest clear as the light of the Sun But what God will do he only know To us it is unknown whether he will at this time give in to England the mercies promised or whether he will yet afflict us with more and greater Judgements we know not The former shall be made good assuredly to his Church the latter seems rather to be our present portion the effects of all the alterations and changes in our times is hid from our eyes only it is Gods good pleasure and he is doing a great work There are three things evils that have long threatned the great judgements and changes which we of England have lately felt and seen in this Nation 1. The encrease and growth of all kinde of sin especially corruption in Religion x and a general crying oppression these do still remain as high as ever 2. The appearance and encrease of secondary causes thereunto conducing principally Jealousies Divisions Emulations Hypocrisie Sedition and Treachery z These things are effects of Gods anger a and forerunners of great changes but these do encrease in England 3. The straits and necessities of the Church when good men especially holy godly Ministers are scorned contemned and misused b then God is exceeding angry and brings wrath without remedy For the Churches necessity is Gods opportunity to deliver his Church and to avenge himself of their enemies and that is alwaies by great changes God hath made change after change in England once twice thrice and again but the evils are not changed therefore more changes are threatned The Prophet denonncing Judgement against the King and Kingdome of Israel saith thus Thou profane wicked Prince of Israel whose day is come when iniquity shall have an end thu● saith the Lord God Remove the Diadem and take off the Crown this shall not be the man Ex●lt him that is low and abase him that is high I will overturn overturn overturn it and it shall be no more until he come whose right it is and I will give it him c This Prophecy was concerning Zedekiah and Israels carrying captive into Babylon and the government of Christ to whom all Kingdoms and Nations are given and are his right whom he is pleased to set up as vicegerent under him to rule in righteousnesse and judgement shall be established God will abase him that is highest and exalt him that is low and will overturn and overturn again and again until he come for his right it is to whom Jesus Christ shall give it So it is evident that all turnings overturnings and changes that have been in this Nation or whatsoever shall be are not by accident nor by the subtle contrivement of counsel or men but as all is ordered by Providence to effect Gods will for man is not able of himself to bring any enterprise to passe he is not able saith Doctor Preston to see all the wheels that tend to make up an enterprise nor if he were able to see them all he is not able to turn them nor to fit every one so together as to make up an enterprise God by providence after several changes and several attempts of new enterprises which the attempters though skilful to deceive and powerful to compell could not enterprise hath given us a Supream Magistrate to judge the people of these Nations And by providence hath intitled him OLIVER Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and of the Dominions thereunto belonging This is the man whom God by his secret providence hath made the instrument of our deliverance from the designs of an Anti-christian brood and from the powers of Royall and Hierarchical enemies and rescued our Laws and Religion out of usurpers hands therein comparable to Gideon It is true he accepted of what Gideon refused d but he coveted not what Gideon asked e nor indented beforehand as Iephthah did f He might have sate in Parliament at ease and with profit as others did but providence ordered him to another work And he freely and voluntarily exposed himself to all hardships to endure the parching Sun by day and the nipping frost by night as a zealous Patriot of his Nation his sleep departed from his eyes His bed the open field and the Heavens his Curtains He was not backward to jeopard his life in the high places of the field for the safety of his Countrey not shifting to secure himself in the greatest danger nor declined any Engagement with the Enemy let the disadvantages be what they could 〈◊〉 three four or five to one of the Enemies party yet not once that I can remember was he put to the worst or caused to fly from or turn his back from the Enemy from the beginning of the war to the end thereof He is of an ancient Family He hath been well educated in Learning and in Religion except only some youthful tricks hath been a professor of holinesse and practiser of justice the man of the Saints praiers whom God prospered and made successeful in all his undertakings and providence hath kept in all dangers ordering all along by gradations to what he now is as is observed in our third Inference Why God hath done all this we cannot give any reason but that it is his secret will to effect his own purpose But whether it shall be at this time as an income of mercies or encrease of afflictions I leave to the all-knowing God who will manifest his pleasure in his own time It may be a mercy from God and so I esteem of it but we may by our divisions turn it to a judgement as indeed our seditious practises do threaten Sure I am whatever may be that since providence laid this burthen upon him he hath managed it with much wisedom and justice the fruits whereof we have had some taste To the honour of God I

hard bondage The house of Israel was Gods Vineyard and the men of Judah his pleasant plants Whence God looked for judgement but behold oppression for righteousnesse but behold a cry b Religion and policy were with many but one and the same thing We fasted for strife and debate and smote with the hand of wickednesse but did not loose the bands of wickednesse to undoe the heavy burthens and let the oppressed go free c Providence dissolved that Parliament not yet that I know lamented by any And truly I conceive it was no lesse mercy from God that the succeeding Parliament was dissolved too Many members therein having a design to destroy our Laws and Religion to cut off the head of the two great Ordinances of God Magistracy and Ministery at one blow and so set open a floud-gate for loose licentious liberty to break in upon us to our confusion where then should we have found the true liberty and priviledge of the people so much talked of while we were under the oppression of an arbitrary power blessed be that providence that hath prevented those designs and freed us from that yoke giving us comfort in hopes of a setled peace and holy Reformation with the restoring us again to our Laws and true priviledges By that Illustrions and Noble Champion OLIVER Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland e. whom Providence hath made instrumental to hinder destruction to the Nation and provide that our Teachers are not driven into corners as the Lord hath promised they shall not be d Let no man mistake me to think that I am an enemy to Parliaments I am not God knows it but I am a lover and honourer of Parliaments and shall ever as my own life and the publike safety But I hate the sins of Parliaments covetousnesse self-seeking oppression schisms divisions factions and private interest these God hates and I cannot nor will love what God abhors though I be hated for it I do with much thankfulnesse acknowledge it as a free mercy from God that we have this present Parliament My Praier is that God will make them blessings to lasting posterities And surely it is free-love and mercy from God in setting up that authority and single person which hath called this Parliament And as great a mercy that Providence discovered that Plot and murtherous design hatched in France and to be executed upon his Person in England The same mercy and free-love was extended to this Nation for his Highnesse late escape from the danger of his presumptuous attempt in a recreation not becoming his dignity I pray it may be a monition to him not again to go out of his place and rank Providence having called him to the care of the greatest affairs con●erning the Church of God in general and the welfare of the people of these three Nations A heavy burthen and requires the whole strength of body and minde And above all these mercies we must not forget to acknowledge it a mercy from God that we at this day do enjoy the Ordinances of God notwithstanding the mighty oppositions both on the left hand and on the right hand Superstition on one side and imprudent zeal on the other we have the word of Truth held out to us and may enjoy every Ordinance in its purity if we will or if we were not wanton for men may be as holy as they will or can be there is no restraint in that nor persecution for it I wish we did not too much counive at grosse apparent heresie and blasphemy For though the truth should be free heresie should have a bar God blames the Church of Pergamus and the Church of Thyatira for suffering them them that held the doctrine of Balaam and for suffering her that called her self a Prophetesse to teach and seduce e c. Dead flies saith Solomon cause the Ointment of the Apothecary to send forth a stinking savour f and corrupt doctrines suffered are dishonour to the Truth We come to the second Inference and that is That all Judgements and Afflictions are from God only and are the just recompence for sinne procured by our selves men or things afflicting being but secondary causes instruments in Gods hand This is very fully proved in the whole Book of God That all Iudgements and Afflictions are from God is sufficiently proved in our foregoing discourse And that they are the just recompence of sinne is as clear for God never punished but for sin and if there had been no sin there should never have been any punishments The Soul that sinneth shall die g The old world was destroyed by a deluge and why for Sinne God saw that the wickednesse of man was great upon the earth h c. And for sinne Sodom and Gomorrha was destroied by fire from heaven Nadah and Abihu for their sinne were devoured by fire and that for ought we know for a sinne of Ignorance i The wages of sinne is death k What else is warre pestilence and famine but the recompence of sin and so procured by by our selves All afflictions on the body in the minde on the estate or in our respective relations are just recompence for our sinnes from the hand of God l There hath been no alteration no overturnings iudgements and misery but for sin and is all procured by our selves We may say of England as Daniel said of Israel when they were under the captivity of Chaldea To us belongeth confusion of face to our Kings to our Princes to our Fathers and to all the people because of our transgressions m And as Ezra That God hath punished us lesse then our deservings n And as Jeremy It is of the Lords mercy we are not consumed o Our elder Sister is Samaria and our younger Sister is Sodom we have justifiedour Sisters in all the abominations which we have done p What shall we say to the pride of England even in the day of her calamity Oh the pride of apparel the pride of place of gifts of blessings received yea of graces and of our supposed or flattered humility What shall we say to the idlenesse and fulnesse of bread the drunkennesse swearing forswearing and the abominable blasphemies that England is guilty of And what shall we say of the murders adulteries mighty oppressions self-love and wicked Sorcery that is in England the dishonouring of the Lords day contempt of Gods worship and generall neglect of all duties of the first and second Table what lukewarmnesse is there in Religion more then ever was in Laodicea What hot contentions about fancies and ceremonies and coldnesse to the power of holinesse What unthankfulnesse under the enjoyment of multitude of mercies What security and self-promising of happy condition as if no evil could befall them like the men of Laish that dwelt carelesly and there was no Magistrate in the Land that might put them shame in any thing q Although our professed and

GODS UNCHANGEABLENESS OR GODS Continued Providence in preserving governing ordering and disposing of all Creatures Men Actions Counsels and Things as at the beginning of the world so to the end of the world for ever according to the counsel of his own will FROM WHENCE Is gathered six necessary Inferences very applicable to the Changes Alterations and vicissitude of these our present times WHEREIN Is clearly demonstrated and proved That OLIVER CROMWELL is by the Providence of GOD Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland c. to whom the People owe obedience as to him whom GOD hath set over them Vnto which is added The Causes of Discontent Repining and Murmurings of Men Also Some serious Advertisements and seasonable Admonitions to the Discontented and Reprehensions to all Impetuous Arrogant Murmurers Together with Answers to some chief Objections made against the Lord Protector and his present Government endeavouring if possible satisfaction to all men Therefore written and published for publike good By GEORGE SMITH Gent. JER. 10. 23. O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himself it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps PSAL. 75. 6 7. For promotion cometh neither from the East nor from the West nor from the South But God is the Judge he putteth down one a●d setteth up another 1 PET. 2. 13 14. Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as supreme Or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well for so is the will of God c. LONDON Printed for Tho. Underhill at the Ancor and Bible in Pauls Churchyard and Lawrence Chapman next to the Fountain Tavern in the Strand 1655. TO ALL FREE-BORN PEOPLE of England that are lovers of Peace and Truth Grace be unto you and Peace from God our Father and from the Lord JESUS CHRIST c. CHRISTIAN READER THere is not any Doctrine more usefull to the life of man or more necessary to be known to the comfort of the Saints then the Doctrine of Providence for not to know and beleeve that God the Creator doth by his secret and wise providence govern all things is injurious to God and hurtfull to our selves and as much as to deny the Soveraignty and high prerogative of the Lord Jehovah over the worlds which is indeed the exercise of his Kingly dominion in ordering the whole universe which in the following Discourse I offer unto your serious consideration But because these times are pestered with many pestilent opinions and seditious practises all truths cannot please all men every man believeth or denieth whatsoever may most advance their own particular judgments and interests so that I well know this discourse will be very unpleasant to many of this age Therefore good Readers and my friends let me beg your patience not only in the matter of my discourse thwarting the desires and self-designes of men it being against the common stream of the now raigning opinions but in the manner also in my applications to the present Changes and alterations designs and interests so strongly strugled for by the most of men to all which this my discourse runs in flat opposition the same thing being flatly denied which I affirm and do defend I think I am the first that in this way and manner hath published any thing in defence of the present Government under his Highness the Lord Protector I have not read nor seen any thing written of this nature but what hath been to the contrary by which I received so little satisfaction or am so farre from being satisfied by what I have read that my spirit burned within me to make opposition thereunto which caused me to put my pen to paper on this subject Give me also leave to give my Judgment in the matter I am one of the free-born of the Nation and claim my vote as well as any other having a proportionable right to all priviledges and must proportionably share in any affliction that God shall please to inflict upon the Nation Therefore it concerns me to speak as well as to hear others speak if I speak not their sense let me be born with as I bear with them that speak not my sense if any my friends be offended at what I write I cannot help their passion nor will I be angry at them I know not any mans aym nor end in what they do so well as I know my own I know my own I know my aym is publike good and my end Gods glory nor do I seek to please men but to please God I seek not victory but verity if God accept of my endeavour I have my end if men reject it or me for it I pass not yet I would so speak and write that I may not give any offence neither to the Jew nor to the Gentile nor to the Church of God but if offence be taken without cause why therefore should I lose my liberty in which Christ hath made me free But though I be free from all men as the Apostle speaketh yet would I be servant to all in the sense the Apostle speaketh that I might gain the more to God There is a time to speak and a time to keep silence If ever there were a time to speak for God and the Cause of the Saints on earth the despised ones it is now no time to be silent but to contend earnestly for the truth and for the faith that was once delivered to the Saints It was but once delivered I dare not say it shall be delivered a second time to them that have had it once delivered if they lose it whether it be to a Nation or to a man only We in England have had it delivered to us We beyond Capernaum have been exalted unto Heaven c. the mysteries of the Gospel have been unfolded unto us above all other Nations and God hath long owned us to be his people the Word hath been operative working in power piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit joynts and marrow a discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart It hath been a converting Word else whence had those rebellious children their conversion boasted of that cast off their Mother that bare them and brought them forth an Antichristian Church brings not forth a Christian brood It is thus farre true that we have had much chaff mixt with the pure wheat many weeds have grown in this vineyard of Gods planting Was there ever wheat without chaff Was there ever a garden without weeds but never so many as at this day some have been alwayes and some will be to the end of the world there shall be there must be tares among the good corn the evil one will cast tares where God casts good seed and that evil one hath been busie in this age above all ages the field of Gods Kingdom seemeth

p. 7 8. Why Jehu was punished like Achab. p. 8. Admonition to those that God hath made punishers of others sins ib. Providence ordereth all actions and things to advance men and Nations as pleaseth him p. 9 10. Providence ordered Oliver Cromwell to be Lord Protector p. 11. Every mercy and every judgment is from God not from men but as instrumeuts in Gods hand p. 11 12. Inferences drawn from the Doctrine of Providence p. 13. All mercies to men or Nations are of Gods free grace and love ib. Particular mercies instanced p. 14 15. All Judgments are from God as recompence for sinne p. 16. Particular sinnes instanced and at ripeness in England ib. How Priviledges of Parliament were lost p. 17. A Memento of the Covenant ib. The wicked are taken in their own craftiness and fall by their own designs p. 18. Observations of some Actions and Designs of King James and of the late King p. 18 19. Six peeces of Providence very observable to the late King p. 20. Considerable Providences to the long Parliament p. 21. Six considerable Quaeries propounded p. 22. God hath set a time when he will give in mercies and when he will instict Judgements p. 22 23. And upon whom ib. And how much it shall be p. 24. But all those times and purposes in God are unknown to men p. 24 25. Mens boldness to foretell Gods times and purposes ib. Revelations and visions in these times but vain fancies p. 26. These are trying and shaking times p. 26 27. God shaketh Nations severall wayes ib. The word of God like fire shall consume all opposers p. 28. The greatest Reformation hath ever met with greatest opposition ib. Three things have long threatned Judgment to England ib. Men not able to bring any enterprise to pass by all their contrivings p. 29. The Lord Protector set up by Providence made successfull by Saints prayers ib. Although God hath set the time for every purpose which cannot be altred yet men are to be diligent in the use of all lawfull means p. 30 31. How God is said to repent or to be changed p. 32. No means must be used but lawfull means p. 33. We must not trust in means nor be too solicitous in the use of means without a particular Promise ib. Nor to use unwarrantable means to obtain lawfull things ib. Christs Kingdom is spiritual 34 He accepts not the use of the sword in the Saints hand to set up his Kingdom ib. Reasons why p. 35. The pressings in mens spirits not alwaies agreeable to the Spirit of God p. 35 36. The Spirit of God leadeth but to one truth ib. The right means to obtain Mercies and to avoid Judgments 36 37. What the Doctrine of Paul and Peter is concerning the civil Magistrate ib. The civil Magistrate hath authority to command the worship of God and to punish the contemners of it p. 38. When God hath manifested his will by the work of Providence we are to submit and not to murmur p. 39. Murmurers reproved ib. The effects of murmuring ib. The causes of mens murmurings p. 40. Severall sorts of murmurers noted p. 41 42. Order in discipline required by Christ in his Church ib. Men ascribers are God prescribers p. 43. The murmuring of Corah was against the Offices of Magistracy and Ministry p. 43 44. Advice to the people p. 44 45. Men are building new Babels ib. Kings nursing fathers to the Church under the Gospel ib. Christs enemies shall be slain miraculously by the sword that goeth out of his mouth p. 46. It was Israels sinne in asking a King before God gave him And it is a sinne in any people to reject a King when God gives him p. 47. Seditious persons like Sheba the sonne of Bichri ib. The bitterness of warre instanced in Abner and Joab ib. Five principall Objections made against the Lord Protestor Answered p. 48. The cause of our late warre what p. 49. The Lord Protector vindicated as to former promises p. 50. In his trust to the Parliament and Nation ib. In breach of Priviledges of Parliament p 51. That this is a free Parliament ib. Concerning the Militia p. 52. Concerning his Negative voice p. 53. Concerning Religion p. 54. Concerning making Laws and raising of Money p. 55. That he is no favourer of Cavaliers but as in justice he ought ib. Gods Vnchangeablenesse OR Gods continued Providence in preserving guiding ordering and disposing of all Creatures Men Actions Counsels and Things as at the beginning of the world so to the end of the world for ever According to the counsell of his own Will THat there is a God that hath created the world and all things we all acknowledge the Heathen confesse the same but know not the true God in his essence and being God hath hid himself from them farther then what is revealed to them by the works of creation therefore they frame gods to themselves according to their fancies and so make many gods We Christians do acknowledge one God and but one God distinguished by three persons Father Sonne and holy Ghost And that there is three Persons or three Hypostases and but one God is revealed to us by the Word of God contained in the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament where only this mystery of the Godhead is to be known therefore the wisest and most prudent of the Heathen cannot know this because they have not the sacred Scriptures made known to them But this we all prof●sse to know and to beleeve therefore it we●e in vain and lost labour to use Arguments to prove it But that this one God the God of Israel doth govern order and dispose all C●eatures Actions Things Men and Counsels according to the purpose of his own will is not so clearly acknowledged nor beleeved but contrary it is denied by some though by name they are Christians yet they go not in their practise in this particular beyond the old Sect of Stoick Philosophers who though heathen acknowledge a Deity yet leave the guidance and ordering of things to nature and so tye God to second causes Therefore it will not be unnecessary to prove that there is a secret and special providence of God that governeth and ordereth all things for indeed the want of the knowledge and practice of this is the cause of great complainings discontents and murmurings against God and against men We look at instrumental causes but see not the efficient cause the cause of all causes Jaco● did not only look to the foot of the ladder which he see in his vision but he 〈◊〉 at him who sate at the top of the Ladder a This Ladder doth literally set forth Gods Providence governing all things The steps or gradations of the Ladder are the divers means which God useth The Angels ascending and descending are the ministring spirits which God sendeth forth to execute his will as the Apostle tels us they are all ministring spirits sent forth to minister

governments and things From whence I inferre First That all mercies are from God and are given in to a Nation or people of Gods free love not of any desert merit or by any procurement of men Secondly That all judgements and afflictions are from God only and are the just recompence for sin procured by our selves men or things afflicting being but secondary causes instruments in Gods hand That the evil designs of men their wicked counsels aims and ends are all ordered by providence and turned to their own ruine Fourthly That God in his secret counsel hath set a time when he will give in mercies to a Nation and when he will inflict judgements and hath also appointed the means and upon whom it shall be what it shall be and how much it shall be and that those times altogether unknown to men Fifthly Although God have set the time for the one and for the other which shall certainly be accomplished in its time according to Gods good pleasure yet men are to be diligent in the use of all lawful means for the obtaining of the one and for the avoiding of the other Sixthly That when God hath effected and done his will in any thing visibly made known to us by the work of his providence We are not to murmure nor repine though it be in any thing contrary to our expectation or desire or though it be to our great affliction but to submit to it willingly only by praier to seek unto God and patiently wait his time and means for deliverance For the first That all mercies are from God and are given in to a people or nation of Gods free love not of any desert merit or by any procurement of men This inference is very clear and warranted by sacred Scriptures whether spiritual mercies or temporal mercies First All spiritual mercies are of Gods free love we neither deserve nor can by any means of our own procure the least spirituall mercy We are all by Adams fall alienated from God and are become his enemies n We are born heirs of wrath w and there is nothing in us that can reconcile us to God nor any way appease his wrath against us therefore whatever the mercy be that we enjoy it is of Gods free-love Any punishment lesse then hell fire is a mercy from God which we cannot deserve God indeed made man righteous and upright but men have sought out many inventions x Men can pervert their own waies and make themselves miserable but no way help themselves out of misery But God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son c. Joh. 3. 19. So loved that is he loved beyond what can be expressed He gave his only begotten Son it was a free gift free love in the full dimensions unconceivable and incomprehensible He sent his Son made of a woman and made under the Law to redeem us that we might receive the Adoption of Sons y yea Christ gave himself to redeem us from our iniquity z We are not redeemed by corruptible things but with the precious bloud of Christ a if all the Angels in heaven should give themselves to die for the sin of one man it could not redeem him All Angels and Men joyned together cannot procure the expiation of one sin therefore all is of Gods free love but that God should give his Son Jesus Christ into the world to take our nature our flesh and for us to undergo reproach and shame and sorrow of soul and at the last lay down his life for us that we by his death might have life This is a love not to be expressed Secondly All temporal mercies are of Gods free-love No man hath by right nor desert the least claim to any good thing but as it is the free-gift of God every mercy to a Nation to a Family or to a particular man is the free-gift of God It is Gods free love and mercy that the heavens are not made Iron and the Earth brasse and that our fruitful Land is not turned into a barren wildernesse that the fruits of the earth are not parched away by droughts nor destroied by Inundations nor an Enemy let in upon us to devour and consume all our labours It is Gods free mercy to man to give wine to chear the heart and bread to strengthen him And that he giveth us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons filling our hearts with food and gladnesse a mercy that we of Gods free mercy enjoy at this day beyond imagination And it is free mercy that God doth not suddenly smite us for our unthankfulnesse under such enjoyments and for the murmurings of men for such a blessing It was Gods free-love to his Church to put into the heart of Henry the 8. to cast off the Popes Supremacy let the cause or end be what it will It was from God the earnest of future deliverance from the bondage of spirituall Babylon It was Gods free-love to preserve Q. Elizabeth from the rage and bloudy plots of an Antichristian brood that she might be instrumental to a Gospel-Reformation carried on by her with much piety although not perfected It was Gods free-love to this Nation to scatter the Spanish Armado in 88. And to defeat the Papists bloudy design in their hellish plot of the Powder-Treason in 1604. And it was free mercy from God to withhold the destroying plague of pestilence from this City of London amidst the many great distractions wherewith he had afflicted us this sinfull City which deserves nothing from God but wrath and judgements yet God hath long spared it when the plague hath been sore in other countreys and in divers places of this Nation It was doubtlesse free-mercy from God that God gave us a Parliament in 1640. and the fault was in men that it was not for happinesse to posterity It was free mercy from God that we were victorious over the power of a late Royall Army and that we were not given as a prey into their hands and it was no lesse free mercy to England that we had victory over he insulting people of the Netherlands as also to order things by his wise providence to compose things so as new to settle a peace between the two Common-wealths which I pray may be lasting to Gods glory It was the Lord that was on our side when men rose up against us else they would have swallowed us up quick The snare is broken and we are escaped And truly whatsoever some men think it was a great and free mercy from God that our everlasting Parliament was dissolved who had a price put in their hand but they neglected it though they sate full twelve years Self-seeking covetousnesse and private interest blasted the good fruit we expected at the first we made them demy-gods but God hath shewed us they were but men They indeed took off an oppressor but they gave life to oppression and brought a free people into

of a Councel seeking God by praier and fasting All his Councel and all other persons of quality whom it concerned to be acquainted with the thing should most harmoniously agree and resolve to meet one way as to the government of the three Nations And with one consent publikely to entitle him then his Excellency to be Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and of all the dominions and territories thereunto belonging Let me say again with the Prophet Who is he that saith it cometh to passe when the Lord commandeth it not Lam. 3. 37. These things sufficiently prove the Inference That the evil designs of men are ordered by Providence to their own prejudice The next and fourth Inference is That God in his secret counsell hath set a time when he will give in mercies to a Nation and when he will inflict judgements and hath also appointed the means And upon whom it shall be what it shall be and how much it shall be And these times are altogether unknown unto men That this is a truth that God hath appointed a set time for mercies and for judgements the holy Ghost witnesseth Eccl. 3. 1. To every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven If there be a time to every purpose then nothing is contingent if to every purpose then it must needs be appointed by God none but God knows all times and purposes therefore none but God can appoint times and seasons This is one part of Gods Soveraignty as he is Governour of the world Men sometimes may appoint times and never intend to keep them and they may sometimes appoint times to some purpose which they are not able to perform or sometimes they may appoint times and their minde changeth they are altered from what they intended But God is just and intendeth to do all that he saies and appoints And he is infinite can do whatsoever he will nothing can disable him And he is unchangeable In him is no shadow of change whatever he hath appointed shall surely be done in its time Is there not saith Job an appointed time to man on the Earth Job 7. 1. as much as to say there is an appointed time You know God promised to give Abraham a Son of whose seed the Saviour of the world should come a And God set a time when that mercy should be given And at the set time Sarah conceived and bare Isaac b so God promised to give unto Abrahams seed the whole Land of Canaan and he set the time when it should be made good and that was from the time of the promise four hundred and thirty years which was made good to a day for saith the Prophet Moses at the cud of 430 years * even the self same day all the hosts of the Lord went out of Egypt c The Prophet Isaiah prophesying of the encrease and glory of the Church saith The Lord shall hasten it in his time * God had set the time when it should be the Psalmist speaking of the time of Gods shewing mercy to Zion saith The set time to favour her is come d Daniel spake of the appointed time when the Saints should possesse the Kingdom e The very time was set for the coming of Christ in the flesh When the fulnesse of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman f c. And there is a time set and certain when he shall come the second time in glory g but these times are altogether unknown to men So for Judgements God hath appointed and set the time when he will inflict them whether on Nations Families or persons God himself witnesseth this Truth when he tels Abraham The sins of the Amorites were not yet full h the time and measure of their iniquities was set Israel had sinned against God a long season in oppression and in Sabbath-breaking c. but when the time was come and the measure of their iniquity made up that they came to despise his word and to misuse his Prophets there was no remedy then God gives them into captivity i Destruction was threatned to Palestine and the time set k So for Babylons Judgements the time was set l The devils have a time set and they know it is set but know not when it shall be m Jehu had a set time for his Family to last four generations and it was fulfilled n at that time As there is a set time for mercies and for judgements known and appointed by God so he hath appointed upon whom it shall be He in his secret counsell spareth one and punisheth another as pleaseth him He hath set his mark upon his as he did upon the house of the Israelites that the destroying Angel might passe over o the destroier shall not touch one that hath the mark Old Young Maids Children and Women that are marked p but those that have not Gods mark of protection them he separates every one to evil q So he hath appointed what it shall be whether sword famine or pestilence or any other affliction according to their sins Thy men shall fall by the sword and thy mighty men in the war r this was a particular judgement threatned for the pride of the women Again I will number to the sword and ye shall bow down to the slaughter ſ this was threatned for the hypocrisie of the people and in more particular it was against Assyria They shall waste Assyria by the sword t So in particular the Lord called for a famine u so the Lord by the Prophet saith I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt w this was a judgement among others for oppression and irreligious worship also the grashopper and the palmerworm to devour the fruit of the Land He will likewise send harmfull beasts to destroy as is threatned to the people walking stubbornly against God x he also threatneth to smite them with Consump●ions with burning Agues and Feavers with blindenesse and with astonishment and other particular plagues y and all these are appointed by God this for one and that for another as pleaseth him This the Prophet Jeremy maketh clear and saith Thus saith the Lord Such as are for death to death Such as are for the sword to the sword Suchas are for famine to the famine and such as are for the captivity to the captivity z as God hath appointed to every one so he commandeth to be done and providence effecteth all God hath also appointed how much it shall be how long every judgement and affliction shall last not oppressing men Nimrods of the earth nor Satan himself can punish or afflict till God will have them afflict nor can continue the affliction either to a Nation or to a man a day longer then the time God hath set You know David complained that the Plowers ploughed on

if we ask according to our own will he will not hear him that is he wi●l not give him what he asketh And we must also ask in faith without wavering Jam. 1. 6. but how can we have faith in asking any thing for which we have not a promise for faith is grounded upon the promise Abraham beleeved the promise Rom. 4. 3. he staggered not at it he was fully perswaded that what God had promised he was able to perform and would do it q And without faith it is impossible to please God r what is not of faith is sin without faith God accepts no praier ſ and in the last place we must ask all that we pray for in the Name of Iesus Christ Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name he will give it you t See Joh. 14. 13. And in extraordinary cases we must adde spiritual ●●sting to our praier for there is a kinde of devil that goeth not out but by praier and fasting u humble your selves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up Jam. 4. 10. we must come with humbled hearts willing and desirous to bring our wils to Gods will but take beed of fasting and praying and making appeals to God w to bring Gods will to your will it is not safe to tempt God For our God is a consuming fire The next means is to get the love of God kindled in our hearts let us get burning zeal to the truth and receive the truth in the love of it contend for verity not for victory Advance the Gospel in the Ministry of it love the brotherhood honour all men fear God and honour the Supream Magistrate x whether King or Lord Protector this is Apostolical doctrine Let every soul be subject to the higher powers for there is no power but of God the powers that be are ordained of God y This is the Apostle Pauls doctrine and this is the Apostle Peters doctrine Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake z for so is the will of God a This is no new devised doctrine nor is it in the least Antichristian but the doctrine of the Law and the doctrine of the Gospel If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine that is that denieth this doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed b to deny this truth of the Gospel and teach for Gospel another thing is to bring in another Gospel But I am commanded by the Gospel that though men or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel then what the Apostles have preached not to beleeve it c The Gospel establisheth a standing Magistracy and a standing Ministry by them Liberty and Religion is maintained and preserved if well regulated Therefore it highly concerns Parliaments of which by Gods mercy and love to his people we are not wholly deprived nor by one for ever oppressed It is Gods mercy and his honour the Lord Protector I mean whom God hath made instrumental to call this Honourable Assembly in Parliament together I say it concerns them to consider whence we are fallen and whether we are going and by their authority to put bars against licenticusnesse and loose liberty and to be a wall of protection unto the truth that those Foxes may be taken that spoil the Vines for our Vines have tender grapes d Honourable Parliament if my Scribling Sheets ever come to your view take notice from them that God hath by his good providence called you together to make up the breach that finne hath made or rather God for sin upon us We have been perfidious to God and God hath removed justice and equity from us You must be both Phinchas and Aaron Phinchas to rise up with courage and zeal not only to do justice but to give life to the just Laws of the Nation that justice may be done by a Law against the transgressors of Gods Law e and Aaron to stand between the dead and the living that Gods anger may be appeased f You in behalf of the good people of these three Nations are to settle by Gods assistance these unsetled Nations what is possible for the present and with all possible care to look to the future the God Almighty be your strength and your Counsellor in the great work under your hands that you may be instruments in 〈◊〉 hand to establish a just and setled Magistracy and a holy religious Ministry That the glory of the Lord Jehovah may be advanced and the people of these Nations may again enjoy their Rights and Proprieties our sins cry to God for g●eate● judgements and the people cry under great pressures And God hath called you that are the great men of these Nations to prove and to try what you will do for him Jer. 5. 5. You have known the way of the Lord and the judgement of your God turn you not aside as others have done God seeks now as he did in Jerusalem to finde a man if there be any that executeth judgement and secketh the truth that he may spare poor England Jer. 5. 1. And let not the poor of these Nations be forgotten by you provide houses and stock to set them to work in all Cities Countreys and Towns that there may not be a beggar in our Israel g Debts ought to be paid but Publike Faith debts not paid is most dishonourable to the Nation I know as things have been managed it is no easie thing to pay them But to purge the University and Nurseries of Learning from their open pollutions and vicious practices and Schools of Learning to be purged of vitious Schoolmasters the poyson of youth and the bane of age and ages is a work acceptable to God a means to obtain blessings to posterities and it will cost no money to do it These and the like means diligently used really prosecuted freed from self-interest vain-glory or hypocrisie will assuredly multiply mercies on the Nations and prevent the judgements threatned and cause England to be the praise of the whole earth I pray give me leave to say what the Lord by the Prophet said in another case concerning Tythes then due by a Law of God leviticall only belonging to the Jews now due by no such right but they were unjustly withheld Therefore saith the Lord Prove me now therewith if I will not open to you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing h c. So I say Use such means as before I have briefly mentioned and prove the Lord if he will not double and redouble all sorts of blessings on this Common-wealth I blesse God that there hath been a beginning of a Reformation of some things by his Highnesse more then in some years past by others though much was promised And I blesse God that put into his Highnesses heart and this present Parliament to call for a general and

ourdiscourse which may satisfie humble men But saith the wisest of men The foolish man perverteth his way a and his heart fretteth against the Lord This is a carnal heart for a spiritual man sees God in all and bears all things with patience and waits by praier for guidance by providence but never praies against a manifest providence except to be delivered from the evil that may in some cases be feared for providences lead the people of God into straights and afflictions for sin as well as it delivereth them from afflictions when they are humbled and this the Church was well acquainted with therefore say It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord b then by the rule of contrary it must needs be evil to repine and murmure It is very observable that Moses mentioneth a mixed multitude that came with Israel out of Egypt Exo. 12. 38. these were of other Nations probably Servants that kept their cattle c And they seeing the mighty wonders that God did for his people in Egypt joyned with them and would go out with them As the multitude that followed Christ for the loaves c but being crossed in their expectation they grow discontent and murmure lusting after the fleshpots of Egypt d and bred a generall discontent among the people such a mixed multitude was among the people of Israel after they were delivered from their seventy years captivity which good Nebemiah separated from Israel e Such a mixed multitude are at this day in England some of other Nations some of contrary Religions Priests and Jesuites and others that have by all subtle waies insinuated themselves and these have set the people into discontents and murmurings and are enemies to the advance of the Gospel and to the building of the spirituall Temple no lesse then those adversaries of Iudah and Benjamin that would have insinuated themselves under pretence of helping to build the Temple saying they sought the God of Israel as the Israelites did and did sacrifice to him f when indeed they were enemies and endeavour to hinder their work but Zerubbabel and the chief of the Fathers cast them off then they send to have conference with Nehemiah to betray him but he would not own their message g and the work in his hand prospered But our Fathers of England have hearkened to these our mixt multitude and Gods work hath been hindred and themselves lost their honour The mixed multitude among us are grown numerous and incorrigible they do not only murmure but they some of them threaten and resolve not to be satisfied for if one sort have what he desires another will dislike it and that which is accepted this year shall be cried down next year nay sometimes next day for they that seek they know not what cannot tell when to be pleased at every thing that is done some cry out against it and against the Instruments doing it without regard to Providence or publike interest and these cause murmurings among the people who would not murmure but for them These are those that have tasted of the heavenly mauna but grew wanton lusting after other food many of these came into our hosts because they saw the great thing the Lord did for us but they came not in with the first nor did they bear the brunt of the day and being enticed by their own lusts they murmure and grow impatient at every providence that crosseth their desires They murmured against our first Parliament called Anno Dom 1640. and rejoyced when it was dissolved endeavouring to carry on their designs by the next Parliament but providence crossed them and they were dissolved too And Providence hath ordered all actions counsels and things to set up another way of government which for private interest was cried down Now Oliver by the Providence of God is set up and made Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland c. the great and general murmuring is against him He is a man of honour and integrity the instrument in Gods hand to do great and mighty things for us And as I have said before he is the man of the Saints prayers and by their praiers God hath made him prosperous and successeful in all his undertakings we yea many of the chief murmurers have acknowledged it and owned him as our Ioshua What hath he done to the prejudice of the people or Nation that we now murmure against him why he hath by Gods providence frustrate the designs and aims of the mixed multitude therefore they all murmure The Antichristian and prelatical parties and all the Hierarchy are angry and seek his life the Levelling party and the men of the Fifth Monarchy they are angry and combine together by plotting against him and as the Prophet saith of himself so I may say of his Highnesse They watch for his halting saying peradventure he will be enticed and we shall prevail against him and take our revenge upon him h Besides these there is another sort of this mixed multitude that murmure and they are pecuniaries either oppressors or mercenaries Because it is conceived his Highnesse will look after the publike treasuries and manage the publike treasure to publike advantage These were afraid of a day of account in this life that were not afraid of a judgement day in the life to come therefore they are angry There is another sort that are ambitious to have the honour and command that Providence hath cast upon his Highnesse therefore they are angry for ambitious men cannot endure any superiour Good men without holy watchfulnesse may fall into the evil of ambition We finde that Aaron and his Sister Miriam a Prophetesse grew ambitious against Moses they quarrell with him about the Ethiopian woman which he had married that 's their pretence but then they plainly tell Moses that God had not only spoken by him but by them also You know how God took it at their hands if good men sin God will not spare them but more severely punish them some other there be that murmure against his Highnesse as Ioab did against good David in the case of Abner because he made peace with him and with the house of Saul k Others murmure because they conceive more honour greater esteem and better reward is given to some then to themselves like those that were hired into the Vineyard l you know what answer Christ gives to such This kinde of evil began to enter into the hearts of the Disciples but Christ taught them a better lesson m of some of these sorts are all the great murmurers of which the Apostle Iude saith plainly these are they that walk after their lusts and their mouth speaketh swelling words n These strive for masteries they would all command but they cannot endure to obey and would perswade the people that all their oppressions injustice and cruelty is righteousnesse and that the justice

cloathed in a ves●ure dipt in bloud And as in Psa. 58. 10. The Saints shall wash their feet in the bloud of the wicked and in Psa. 68. 23. That thy foot may be dipped in the bloud of thine enemies c. The meaning of these places is plain to be no more but the suddain destruction which the Lord Jehovah should bring upon the wicked such as are enemies to the Church as in the words going before in Psa. 58. 8 9. As a Snail that melteth they shall passe away and before the pots can feel the thorns he shall take them away as with a whirlwinde He shall who is that he It is God Jehovah he shall do it not the Saints the Lord Christ to whom all power and dominion is given and was given to him from the time of his Incarnation as he himself witnesseth Mat. 28. 18. All power is given to me c. he doth not say It shall be given me but in the present tense It is given unto me Hence is that of Isa. 63. 3. I have tr●d the wi●epresse alone and of the people our Saints there was none with me for I will tread them in mine anger and trample them in my fury See Rev 14. 20. and Rev. 19 17 18. by which it is evident that the destruction of Christs Enemies shall not be by the sword in the hand of the Saints but by some miraculous way from heaven like that expressed in Rev. 20. 9. Fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them It is doubtlesse true that Satan is let loose out of prison and God useth him instrumentally to deceive the Nations we see it and the Lord Jehovah doth cause them by Satans deceits to destroy and consume one another but the great destruction must come by some great and miraculous way from the hand of God and thus Christ is said to be King of Nations and he is King of Saints in a peculiar manner he is the protector and safe preserver of the Saints on earth and he ruleth in them spiritually notwithstanding M. Spittlehouse be of an erring opinion as he expresseth in a late Paper published in print I shall esteem and strive to imitate him in any vertue but I must dissent from his errours Of this I have spoken in our fifth Inference to which I referre the Reader for further satisfaction We that make Scripture our rule say and shall ever aver that the Kingdom of Christ is set up by praier and that is the power of the Spirit of God within us he shall rule in the hearts of the Saints and by his Kingly power shall and will subdue our lusts or fantasies and self-waies mortifie the flesh and the affections thereof that we may be fit Temples for him to dwell in that he alone may rule and reign there l Others there be that will have none to rule over them but Caesar Caesar must be their King they will neither have Christ nor his vicegerent to be their King but they say stoutly as the unbeleeving Jews Away with him away with him we have no King but Caesar m Such are the great Disciples of M. Evans who hath a notable Art to abuse Texts of Scripture Many other such Babel practices we have to work confusion in a poor shattered Common-wealth but God in his appointed time will prove our buildings and what they are whether we have built upon the sands or upon the rock n I shall at this time omit to numerate mens self-waies and shall with the Apostle Paul give this caution to all he saith of himself according to the grace of God which was given to him as a wise Master Builder he had laid the foundation and another buildeth thereon but let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon for the fire shall try every mans building what it is 1 Cor. 3. 10 13. Let not any that professe to be Christians contend for victory but seek verity for strife and division are fleshly and carnal as the Apostle expresseth in the Chapter last mentioned The Lord Christ exhorts us to peace the Apostles all exhort to peace love and concord and Saint Paul tels us If we bite and devour one another we shall be consumed one of another o And the Lord Christ by a convincing Argument saith that If a Nation be divided against it self it cannot stand p Consider how great things God hath done for you q therefore serve the Lord with all your heart But if you will murmure against God and do wickedly ye shall be consumed both ye and your King these are the words of Samuel to the people when they bad sinned in asking a King not simply in asking a King but violently desiring it before Gods time came that he would give them a King for David was from the beginning ordained to be their King although they had not asked a King as is evident Gen. 49. 10. and Kings are Gods Lieutenants on earth It is no lesse sinful to refuse a King when God gives him then it was sinful to ask a King before Gods time was come wherein he would give them a King Let not this be Englands sin it will not be unpunished we have seen the work of Providence all along in setting up our Lord Protector all the plottings and devices and counsels of men could never have effected such a thing in such a way it is evident that God hath done it we have seen the working of the wheels and the living creatures by the wheels spoken of by the Prophet Ezechiel in Chap. 1. 15 16 17. c. and in Chap. 10. 13. c. And a wheel in the middle of a wheel r It is hard to kick against pricks and it is a dangerous thing to provoke providence I have seen a seditious Paper sent abroad by some that stile themselves sober Christians intitled Some Memento's to the Army I hope they are as they stile themselves But I am sure Christians have neither precept nor example of such practice to stir up rebellion There was one Sheba the son of Bichri a very seditious man upon Scripture record a Son of Belial of whom it is said He blew a Trumpet and said We have no part in David every man to his Tent O Israel ſ Bichri prepared as he intended for a new war against David What his reward was from the hand of a just God you shall see 2 Sam. 20. 22. he lost his head by the hands and consent of his associats Scatter thou the people saith the Psalmist that delight in war t You may know that warre is every where in Scripture threatned as one of Gods sorest judgements and peace is promised as a singular mercy to a Nation it was so to the Nation of the Jews and is especially promised to the Church under the Reign of Christ Kingdom when they shall beat their swords into plow shares and their spears into pruning books