sons death 1 Sam. 28. 15 19. here we see what power self-interest hath ever good men therefore he that can deny himself is higher then an Angel for Lucifer fell through Ambition and that a Witch had power to raise Samuel is a great dishonour to him a terrour to me and showeth that self-interest is to be abhorred Eli was free from it for he submited to the sentence of God when it put a period to his time of prosperity 1 Tam 3. 18. And I will now speak touching English men there is a Book come forth intituled The Lord General Fleetwood's Answer to the Humble Representation of Col. Morley and some other late Officers of the Army If he wrote it he is a self-denying man indeed and sheweth in that book the only way for Englands happiness he that observes the series of Gods providence may be assured that this Stump-Parliament which was just seven years under the band of Ironsword and brass-Canon that is from April 22. 1652. to April 22 1659. I say we may be assured that this Parliament will grow to be full consisting of KING Lords and Commons as it was at first and then more excellent Glory shall be added to it by their setting up of Christ's Kingdom For surely the Lord's Decree shall stand let self-interest-men doe what they can God and the people shall bring it to passe for Nebuchadnezzar's Vision shall be fulfilled again Dan. ◠for he was but a type of King CHARLS and this Parliament promised him according to Dan. 4. 36. that they should add to his Majesties glory and so they shall keep their promise and oaths made to him God will have the first Oath performed Rev. 2. 4. later oaths for self-interest shall not prevail against it 3 therefore I say to your Lordship and to the Parliament Remember your Vows to be true to the KING 1 Esdras 4. 43. Pay your Vows Ecclesiast 5. 4. I looked upon your going to Scotland as a mighty providence for the welfare of the Nations and indeed the fulfilling of what I said should come to pass in that time for God worketh by hid wisedom so that men cannot see it when it is done no nor for a long time after but when there eyes are opened by a more shining of the work then shall they see in what time it was done My Lord the people came before you they dare not speak out as yet they have been so Curbd but you may know their mind by their miseries I beseech you pitty them that their souls may blesse you Else England will be distroyed for some old Prophesies saith that if England loose its opportunity it shall be invaded with three mighty Armies raised and supplyed by all Christendome one shall appear in the south with the Queen and a great favourite of our Army another in the North under the King and Duke of York the third in Ireland under Henry Duke of Gloucester and before these three Armies meet English men will be so few that the Daughter shall say to the Mother O Mother I have seen a man to day and London with all the Towns in England will be destroyed therefore I say again pitty poor England that God may blesse you the more Oh pitty poor decayed men that are daily cast into prisons for debs by their cruel Creditors where they are speyled being unable to pay or live there the Parliament were about to take some course to help them before now Oh move them to do it speedily you will have the prayers of many poor distressed souls which in the day of battail will be a greater defence for you then your Army David Psal. 41. 1. 2. So wishing your excellency all happinesse I hoping to be in your Lordships Judgement a faithful Servant to the Publick And your Lordships servant in particular ARISE EVANS From the Kings Play-House in Black-Fryers London Jan 30. 1659. Gentlemen MY last Book printed May 1659. sheweth you the Kingdom of Christ in part but now through Christ's assistance I shall shew you further and to give you a hint of what is contained in the said book called A Rule from Heaven First Ye have page 1. to pag. 26. the Introduction wherein is shewed the Descent of our Nation the noble Actions of our Predecessors with their Sufferings at several times for their sin and a view of our ancient Prophesies that foretels the trouble and sufferings of our KING Nobles and Royal party with a promise of great Glory to them at last and an Assurance of peace for Ever Secondly From page 26. to pag. 45. ye have the Kingdom of Christ shewed though indeed not so fully and so clear as I had done if time had permitted for when the combustion was among us by the Armies throwing down one Government to set up another it was in my mind suddenly afore they run into errour and to prevent it to shew them a better Government then they knew before even a Government of Christ's own Institution and therefore I hastned and was brief having not time enough to clear the matter Thirdly Page 45. Ye have a threatning of our Army if that they would not suddenly stand up for this Good Old Cause namely the Kingdom of Christ and set it up else as stout as they were they should fall and come to nothing and their Parliament you know sought divers wayes their ruine since that time and they have been divided so that now they had need look upon my words lest they repent too late as their Parliament did once yea twice now and knew not how to help it Fourthly page 46. and page 47. Ye have a speech to the Long Parliament to tell them that notwithstanding their endeavour to set up themselves their General should dissolve them and I bad them beware of Jehu for so I called him and though they us'd all their craft against him yet I said he should prevail and I told them that the Army had a Design they knew not of and shewed them that they had no way to make themselves happy but speedily while they had time to make their peace with CHARLS STUART and I gave them a Vision I had 1634. to assure them if they sought it they might have had peace as you see all along if you read to the end of the said book I say you may discern if you read from page 46. to page 60. of that book how far those words of my penning have been fulfilled upon the Army and Parliament Thus ye have the Contents of the said book Now it is true that it displeaseth some of the Kings party the reason is because they did not fully understand it and it is left dark in some points because I had not time to open it 〈◊〉 cannot abide to hear of any to be in power above 〈◊〉 KING It is true there is none above the KIN◠namely Charles the First We read that Israel had two Kings at one time and
THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE FOR A KING SHEWING The only way for the Future Settlement and Peace of England Humbly Presented to his Excellency the LORD General Monck By ARISE EVANS When there was no King in Israel every one did what was right in his own eyes Judg. 17. 6. LONDON Printed for the Author 1659. TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE LORD GENERAL GEORGE MONCKE MY LORD I shall not wrap my self in a cloud of high Eloquence or be able to show your merits I hope you are he that God hath raised to make England again happy yea more happy then ever it was which now is in a sad condition under many miseries her once glorious Church and Kingdome that shined in prosperity in the sight of all the world troden under foot Parliaments-priviledges violated the peoples Liberties detained their goods being spent through long paying Excise Assesments and such new devises to pole them which never was known in England before trading utterly gone the one part of the Nation being imployed to destroy and eat up the other and of late no visible Authority and men kept under and kill'd for offering to shew their agrievances and yet no visible hope of redemption but of that which under God appears in you Many have promised well and God gaue them golden opportunities to make themselves and the Nation glorious but their self-ends deceived them and they fell into contempt because their minds was not fixed on just things to the glory of God and good of the whole Nation For the Nation now are not ignorant as they were in the beginning of these times before they fell like Adam but having tasted of such a fruit as shewed them their nakedness they are become wise knowing wherein their happiness lies ond are ready to say with Israel 1 Sam. 8. 19. notwithstanding all the perswasions of self-interest against it nay but there shall be a KING over us and to speak of Samuel's Case self-interest is such a thing that not only Samuel was blinded by it but the Angels also that fell for might not Samuel have seen that God promised Abraham that Kings should come out of him and to Jacob that Kings should come out of him also Gen. 17. 6. Gen. 35. 11. and that Moses had said that Israel might have a King Deuter 17. 14. and how the people did what was right in their own eyes slighting the law of God because there was no King in Israel to minister Justice Judg. 17. 6. and that they did then as bad as the Sodamites Judg. â—9 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27. I say might not Samuel have known these things I sure but it made against his interests for he was for a Government by Judges therein lay his and his sons interest but Israel will have a King for all Samuels pleading against it and the Lord perswades Samuel to barken to the people in it so that the Lord is also for a King and a King they have for all that Samuel could do and they lived more happy under their Kings and served God more truely then ever they did under their Judges Saul cloathed them in Scarlet and put Gold upon their apparel and David did more but Solomon made silver at plenty as stones Gideon the best of there judges got gold from them and made an Idol of it and the people left the Lord and iwent a Whoring after it Iudg. 8. 27. But King Asa upon the repetition of the judges evill times by Oded the Prophet and his comparing it to the time present Israel then was fallen from God I say Asa tooke courage from Odeds words and put down the Idols and he gathered Judah and Benjamin and most of Israel came to him and agreed with King Asa that whosoever would not seek the Lord and serve him he should be put to death 2 Chron. 15. now I say it appeareth by this that Kingship is best for the Nations Souls and Bodies therefore God and the People will have a King let Samuel do what he can he shall not be able to binder it Samuel a glorious Prophet saith to the people that a King was not Good for them and useth many arguments to perswade them against Kingship and in the conclusion saith your King will so oppresse you that you shall cry out in that day because of your King and the Lord will not bear you in that day what a strong motive is this from a Prophet yet the people will say nay but there shall be a King over us 1 Sam 8. 18 19. what is the reason they are so wilful it is because they knew that Samuel said all this for his own ends that his Children might have the preheminence over them and they knew that his sons were sinful Judges taking bribes and perverted judgement 1 Sam. 8. 1. 2 3. therefore they would not trust them with their warlike affairs for they had smarted of late days in the like case When the wicked Sons of Eli did rule which lost their own lives and the Ark of God and thirty thousand men in the field 1 Sam. 2. 12 22. 1 Sam. 5. And now they must go to war for Nahash King of the Amonites came against them and would not receive them to be his servants except they would suffer him to thrust out the right eye of every one of them lay it for a reproach upon all Israel 1 Sam 11. 1 2. and Samuel was old his Sons were wicked they must needs have a King to lead them out against this proud Nahash and you see King Saul under God ordered it so that Nahash lost the day and Saul was Victour but yet after this Samuel was displeased with the people and bids them tell him wherein he had wronged them and tells them a story of the excellency of their former Judges and that they had highly sinned in asking a King and threatneth them to the purpose but for all that they were for King-ship saying to Samuel who is he that saith Saul shall not reign bring him forth that we may put him to death 1 Sam. 11 12. 1 Sam. 12. then seeing that Samuel is angry with Saul that be could not please him at all and whatsoever Saul did he found fault with it and he laid snares for him about the sacrifice though indeed it seems Samuel was in the fault for he came not according to his promise yet he came as soon as Saul had sacrificed and then he tells him that he had broke the Commandement and that God would have another to be King 1 Sam. 13. after that Samuel send Saul against Amalek and commanded him to do such a thing that Saul could not do and then he Pronounceth judgement against Saul and came no more at him 1 Sam. 15. but went and anointed David to be King of Israel 1 Sam. 16. and after Samuel died his Ghost rose from the Earth to discourage Saul by telling him of his death and of his
the weaker was above the stronger so that the stronger obeyed the weaker which thing was a type of Christ's Kingdome for King David being old and weak caused Solomon to be made King long before he died and King Solomon sat on the Throne but he obeyed King David all the time and is it not so with the Pope and the Emperor Here was two Kings at one time the Father and the Son yet no striving as you see 1 Chro. 28. 1 Chron. 29. But Christs intention is that King Charls which suffered shall not only Reign in his seed according as our former Kings did but shall also Reign above his Seed he being raised in Name Spirit and Power to Reign as chief having a perfect body prepared and chosen of God for him that personally from time to time hereafter he might be above our Kings to controule them instead of a high Constable of England and to be a King of Kings for ever to keep the peace between the King and people The Gods of the Gentiles to gratifie their worshippers would fain have done such a thing that is to immortalize them and make them to have a name and power on Earth for ever so that from Iulius Cesar all the Emperours were called Cesars for a long time and so the Pharao's and others had such promise of their Gods but alas none of their Gods were able to do it their Gods knew such a thing was to 〈◊〉 but they knew not the way to do it it is the 〈◊〉 of Heaven Earth and Sea even Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 do it and none else Again the Royal party cannot abide to hear of a poor Almes-man to be King and that he should have but two hundred a year they thinking I would have young King Charls Stuart to have no more and therein is their great mistake for I would have young Charls and his Seed after him to have all that belongs to the Crown and that he which personates old King Charls should have but two hundred a year the reasons why he should be first a poor man and after his installment should have no more means is because old King Charls was made poor in this world before he suffered and most rich in Faith having no Money save a bare allowance to subsist though he was the supream Lord Therefore he that personates him in whom he is to live again must be like unto him in Graces and outward state having but smal allowance yet enough to live for I believe old King Charls was never better satisfied in this World then he was when God took from him his temporal Pomp and Glory and gave him a view by Contemplation of his immortal Glory in the World to come so that I say such a body fitted and chosen of God and made so as he himself was made at last is most meet for him and is most profitable for the King his Son and for the Nation to stand in the gap and stop the bloody Issue a disease that England is too much subject too The want of this Government of Christ for so I call it in my book brought this Kingdome many times into desolation for when the Court grew corrupt yet so insolent and prove that it thought none could or durst Controul it then starts up one great popular Earl or other that watcheth for an opportunity and under the notion of a high Constable of England he heads the people and Wars against the Court so that the cure proved alwaies worse then the disease because it was done by the Sword and as Christ saith Matth. 26. 52. They that take the Sword shall perish with the Sword therefore in Christs Kingdome every one must observe his rule there must be a law for the Kings to walk by as well as for the people and they that are weakest lowest and least in the worlds account Luke 16. 15. James 2. 5 1 Cor. 6. 4. hath Christ chosen to be the supream Judges thereof yea to personate old KING Charls and to be over the Kings of the world as ye have it more at large set out in the abovesaid book called a rule from Heaven And there must be in Christs Kingdome a perfect Law made for all occasion and according to the Gospel a Law that needeth not to be altered every foot but it must be such a Law as nothing shall be added to it or taken from it that every one may know his rule and the punishment of his errour and the said Law must be truly and speedily executed upon the offenders else it profiteth nothing for so long as our Law is imperfect and that our Parliaments are alwaies making and nulling Laws we shall never be quiet or come to rest according to Gods promise which saith Heb. 4. 9. there is a rest for the people of God and the Lord is well pleased for his righteousnesse Lands and states in rich mens hands and they could not deny it but told them in a bravado they would spend in law thousands before they should get it and the poor knowing aforehand the course of the law was content to loose their Right and it was wisdome in them so to do seeing their going to law will not relieve them being sure it will make their condition worse what a sad thing is it for men to live under such a law let all good just reasonable men judge such doings are not to be in Christs Kingdome Again a man steals a Horse and by the laws of England he must die for it what reason is for that is a mans life for whom Christ died of less value with you then a Horse or some wordly Lomber which perisheth with the using and weighs such as set their hearts upon them down to hell I must tell you and that from the word of God that all the thieves that have been put to death for only thieving except they were men stealers have been murthered and that their Blood lyeth heavily upon this Nation and specially upon the Royal Family as one of the greatest cause of Gods wrath against them I remember that one told me five and twenty years ago that a thief being to be executed desired before his death to have Psalm 43. Sung which begun thus Judge and revenge my cause O Lord but the Minister no doubt knowing that by Gods law Exo. 22. 1 2 3 4 that he ought not to have died for his theft would not suffer him to sing that Psalm yet alas how sore hath God Judged the thieves Cause upon this Nation and specially the King and Nobles it is too evidently written in Characters of Blood and verily it is right that God should do it for it is a great contempt against God and his law for men to attempt and to leave Gods law and to make a bloody law for thieves contrary to Gods law seeing they have the law of God extant to judge thieves what is it but that men would have themselves seen