ENGLANDS APOLOGY for Its late CHANGE OR A SOBER PERSWASIVE Of all Disaffected or Dissenting persons to a Seasonable ENGAGEMENT for the Settlement of this COMMON-WEALTH Drawne from The Workings of Providence The State of Affaires The danger of Division LONDON Printed by M. S. for Livewel Chapman and are to be sold at the Crowne in Popes-head-Alley 1651. Impartiall Reader I Intend not to make a Preface that may swallow up this short Treatise Epistles are commonly but the clogges and burthens of Bookes and expresse little more then the Title page Others have spoke enough to the argumentative part of our Affaires and have proved by reason what God hath acted by providence this discourse is rather directed to the consciences then the fancies of men and may serve as a serious memoriall of what God hath done for us and an aviso to men in their rash and bitter censures that this state and change which though it be new that it may not seeme strange God hath ushered it in with the greatest ceremonies of providence and put extraordinary characters of his presence and glory in it I have no more to trouble thee with but the reading of it which yet may be profitable if not perswasive which is the end of the discourse ENGLANDS APOLOGY FOR ITS LATE CHANGE THough it is not probably to be expected that any argument or reason should be forcible to perswade the hearts of men when so many wonderfull providences and glorious appearances of God have made no impression or that words should prevaile where things are under valued Yet because every Christian ought to endeavour to make his owne heart and others sensible of publique miseries or mercies and seeing the intent of this discourse is to unite not divide and that it is high time to leave off quarrelling with persons and actions it is possible this paranetick may not be in vaine if either the miseries of a civill warre which hath almost ruin'd this Nation or the horror of dead carkasses lying alwayes in our way if the cry of bloud which hath been powred â—ut not from one but every veine of this Nation if the desolation of Townes and Cities the mournings of widdowes and Orphanes in every corner the mischiefe of factions and dâ—visions in our own families if lastly the effectuall workings of the very finger of the Almighty if all or any of these were fit to work on our affections to thirst after a settlement of this State and to perswade mâ—n to acquiesce in what God hath done for this Nation and to comply with the Parliament in securing this Common-wealth wee needed no paper-exhortation and this might well have been spared But it s to be feared and amented that Gods workes among us as his Word hath had different and sometimes contrary effect some are hardened under the dispensations others softned and that most of this Nation are under a judiciall blindnesse and stupidity which will hardly be remedied but by the ruine of this generation who have so highly provoked God in opposing his great designes in the latter dayes for though God hath walked up and downe in garments of bloud for this almost ten yeares and hath not spared the flesh of Princes and great-men and hath shewed himselfe directly against that royall party which at first began these miserable warres and shewed forth most eminently his indignation against that person and family with all that have adhered to them yet which is most sad not onely are their hearts hardned and their necks stiffe against the Lords work but in any who acted at first with vigour and vehemency against that party have turned their faces and have been of late the most dangerous opposers of this Parliament and Army and are become the hopes of the common enemy yea many lost in prejudices and discontent have wholly espoused others are courting that interest as if they would unravell all these lines of providence whereby wee have been blessedly led into a Common-wealth And like the children of Israel would rather turne back to eate Garlick and Onions under Pharoahs bondage then be led by providence under the conduct of Moses though to Canaan It is from these secret quarrells and murmurings and disaffections among godly men which have though they had their first rise from private animosities yet they have been formed and aggravated by close and subtile enemies from these are the foundations of our ruine and of our enemies designes and hopes who while wee are discontented among our selves for trifles are preparing engins to cut us off both at once many essays have been used to that end which had not God from heaven disappointed had tooke effect ere this and occasioned the sad repentance of the mistaken actors And doubtlesse among all the hardships this Parliament and Army hath gone through either in opposing the common enemy or working out their owne distempers they have met with nothing more sad and dangerous then the slightings and disrespects of these who were once and should be still friends who have but one and the same common enemy still how ever wee may subdivide into severall parties rather by the delusion of names then reality of difference But it s better to bewaile these distempers with our teares then expresse them my intent is not to open our wounds but to cast in some Balme to heale them wee have too long been petting and objecting while God hath been acting and doing us good without our observance or notice the great designe of this paper is but to minde us what God hath done for us to presse all honest hearts to an improvement of our mercies with sence of the worth of them And to perswade honest and inquiring men to a compliance in time with this Common-wealth least they come to unite with the common enemy who is yet acting in both Nations in one more visibly to ruine us by our divisions It s worthy consideration what wee have been doing all this while and why we are disquieted with the present State seeing these things have been brought forth among us which have not been the events of long contrived plots but of speciall administrations of Gods wisdome and respect to this Nation and meerely acted by God beyond the policy and engagements of the wisest men yea the whole series of workings in these affaires hath been demonstrative that it was not of men nor of their wills but of Gods And how ever particular observances may judge of things yet if the whole be viewed and the harmony of every part in this great worke all dissenters must needs have their consciences under conviction while their interests are unsatisfied Let us take a short account onely for to helpe our memories of our first principles and Gods actings to improve them and wee shall see that few of us have eyed what wee first undertooke or what God hath beyond our thoughts done for us Our first principle wee acted from and from which wee stated
Parliament which first began more remote in Wales that they might more insensibly supply the whole and the designe might be thought more barbarous and lesse considerable while stronger and more effectuall influence were operating nigher hand yet this poor Army must through all the Generall in Kent and Essex the Lieut. Generall in Wales and Major-Generall Lambert in the North having all their hands full and the Scots under Hamilton when the conjunction of Langdale and the old Malignants making up the harmony of malignancy though in a discord No sooner had our now worthy Generall ordered the affairs of Wales but new work was provided for him In the North Major General Lambert had long expected him and though he had by his wisdome and valour kept his own ground yet the Enemie who grew like a snow-ball by going got mighty advantages and taking their way through Lancashire a place they thought good Quarters for their Army as to find capable and zealous Subjects for their design but God who ever appears in the best opportunity to shew forth his continuall displeasure against any conjunction with the royall party upon what pretence sover brought up then Lieut. Generall Cromwell to joyne with the Major Generall who both with all their Forces could not make a third part of the Army they were to encounter withall but God so appeared that they routed that vast Army which carryed with them the highest designe and had more advantages of power and plea then any Army of such a mould that ever came into England What can be more immediatly from God then such overtures will God justifie the wicked so poâ—itively and perpetually against the godly and that by his owne power not only by permission Is there nothing in these affairs can take our hearts Doth God doe strange and unexpected things for to be dis-respected Let any Nation shew a parallell and not draw such conclusions as we now draw It 's true and it must be one cause of our daily humiliation that we have not answered God in our duties sutable to those manifestations but yet the neglect on our parts should not annihilate or darken the glory of God in his owne actings but rather shame us and heighten Gods goodnesse unto us who is so in love with Englands liberties that our unworthinesse unsutablenesse cannot stop him in his course of grace and mercy Let us if wee must needs take our prejudices and satisfie them as to all Gods actings in England yet when we look on Ireland and it 's sad condition before and how and when restored and by what instruments and then let malice act to the utmost if there be but a spark of honesty or any glance of a spirituall eye left and we must needs stand amazed though discontented at Gods goings with these whom we despise How have we cryed out against these bloudy rebells as wee had just cause for how many yeares were monethly publique fasts throughout the Nation kept for poore Ireland besides all the private unknowne bleeding of the soules of many Saints in corners and yet no fruit considerable that wee could call an Answer untill God appâ—ared by himselfe when this Army was on the Sea-side in readinesse to be transported and in what a manner and method of miracles God hath appeared there is not to be exprest at a distance God gave in the first wonder at Dublyn by that ever to be honoured Coll. Jones ere the Army came over that they might not have their flesh and bloud too much discouraged both at home and abroad and yet would have them ready ere he began that they might improve and finish it What of designe had the Parliament in this Expedition to divide their Army which was so small at home among so many enemies or what hopes could that part of the Army have to encourage them to leave their owne Nations without God had moved them when they lay at the water side ready for a winde to saile from their owne Nation where God had made them so prosperous against the common enemy and to leave all their friends and to arrive at a Nation wholly engaged and enraged against them and but two Townes Dublyn and Derry that were left as receptacles of them on earnests of hopes and these both besieged by farre more then the full Number of this Army could Muster and yet how willingly did they goe and how gloriously did God appeare making a whole Nation both of bloudy rebells and royall Malignants to be overthrowne by them not suffering them to give them one defeate though they had multitudes of advantages and in one yeare almost to reduce that Nation to a new obedience and were that History of Ireland well printed how farre would it exceed all the Relations of its first Conquest by this Nation when little else save ambition of domination and of enlarging our power not to execute Gods righteous judgements against bloud-thirsty men did put them upon endeavouring the Conquest of that Nation What of flesh and bloud can be demonstrated to be predominant in these transactions but love and zeale in the instruments to free the Protestant party from further cruell miseries by the Popish and royall party there who became soone one power from God to back these undertakings Are wee sorry because God imployes not these instruments that suite with our particular humors and stated interests is the worke of God the lesse to be eyed because he useth despicable and poore instruments or moves beyond our Modell the generations to come will remember these things and take them in though we thorough the clouds made by the vapours of our owne engagements and factions see little in them Irelands Protestants will doubtlesse keepe a Chronicle of these acts and blesse God for the instruments when they are entombed in the bloud of the enemies of the Gospel and who knowes but Ireland who hath never yet solid the Gospel but have been under the sad persecutions for the little light they had in it and have not yet extracted factions and divisions out of Gods mercies to advantage the common and watchfull enemy If Irelands wonders will not make you in love with Gods actings which was nothing else but the prosecution of the same cause beyond the Sea yet let the harmony and continuance of Gods appearances to owne this cause and thâ—s Parliament in the three Nations the motions in each deserve a particular History let the universall proportion of divine actings for I dare not call them otherwise pardoning mens infirmities be a confirmation of each other for what ever the pretences and pleas have been either civill or sacred in England Ireland or Scotland yet God hath drawne one line of providence thorough all and given an equall and astonishing successe against every party in each which have but appeared against them If wee passe by all the rest and come into Scotland a priviledged place and one would thinke holy ground yet when once
our Cause from which wee had then no dissenterâ— but Malignants was to bring Delinquents to condigne punishment who had abused this State by the Royall Consent and Authoritie and to oppose the tyranny of the King and flattery of the Courtiers A principle large enough to worke on and to take in by consequences of affaires the utmost improvement upon this ground all the Parliamentary party acted together not being able to see or hope for any thing more then a reformation and that of the grossenesse of actings and so firme were wee in this that wee never changed our thoughts untill the delayes in warre and the influences of the Court together with wearied and neutrall friends and the thoughts of places and preferments made men to study new wayes of compliances and to leave the first principle for the present enjoyments But God who overruleth the counsells of men and had a further designe will not suffer so good a beginning to make a fatall end And according to his usuall way from small beginnings brings forth his greatest glory acting things beyond our first thoughts or designes The King was first opposed universally in his personall capacity and reserv'd in his publique in these who fought against him this went downe currant and without any demurre among us and upon this wee waged warre but God who still meant to carry on a higher designe keepes us equall and faire for a long while together now giving the advantage to us now to him still making drawne battailes while there was a lesser piece of royalty opposing a greater owning the Cause so farre as not to discountenance that side he meant to honour at the last but no effectuall worke was done but honourable retreats and dayes of thanksgiving for non-routing and security rather then for any victory wee ever had over the Kings party except especially that of Marston-Moore wherein the chiefe instruments of the new modell were agents which was soone recruited and ballanst by our own parties negligence in the South and their diligence over their affaires God kept all this while a kinde of equalitie persons were engaged of different tempers not of different principles and it had been well for all our reports then at London that wee kept our ground into such straits wee were thâ—n brought though wee seemed to have a great and potent Army that nothing could serve in the view of the whole Parliament but a wise disbanding that Army and framing a new Modell which was a cause of strange necessitie at that time and a hopefull way of our ruine by many even in Parliament who gave their votes for it out of another end who are since discovered but it hath since proved the ordinance of God This is the poore Army that the great repinings and discontents are made from This Army which hath been preserved by Gods right hand who have done that work which is wonderfull to relate against this Army all the arrowes of malice and designe are shot to wound either their persons or names It 's sad to think that our eyes should be evill because Gods is good that wee should repine at instruments when God doth the work let us as men that would faine see into Gods wayes consider what hath been done since that change what a continued continuation of providences I might say miracles if they had not some meanes to produce them have wee had since that despised modell The thoughts of these things are only repeated for our conviction There are two things very remarkable in these affaires since our first engaging against the late King each of which shall have their due consideration First That all our affairs were hardly kept in aequilibriâ— in a faire and right correspondency untill this new Modell but that the King goâ— more ground by his influence then we by our Armies the Armie under the Lord of Essex being a petty Royall Armie made up of all sorts of humours and Confederates of either side rather kept the Parliaments credite then gave them any use for theâ—r money and we never had a battle fought by him but we came off and that barely and with losse as well as the King 2. That never since this poore at first despised though now envied Army was modell'd we never either received a considerable losse or check in our proceedings though the action of this Army hath been in three Nations and accompanyed with miserable discouragements from all parties and difficulties that other Nations would have thought insuperable and so acted that nothing but God hath visibly appeared It cannot it must not be forgotten it will be written in marble if not in our hearts and the place it selfe will be made immortall to all posterity the first testimony of God to the first action of this Army at Naseby when all Politicians were securing of themselves and our wisest friends fearing what the issue would be and the royall power at the greatest height and going on in the fullest carrero what a glorious turne was there given to the designes of the Enemie and reviving to the hopes of this Nation God never before so peculiarly and in our low condition owning his poor people and ever since God set up his Standard there he hath made bare his arme and never suffered one eminent nay hardly any defeat to be given to this Army making that the earnest of the Conquest of Gods Enâ—mies in these three Nations whereas in all our former Battails we could never say we had a victory except some speciall formerly named which had their recruits very soone from this time I say as if God had the idea of this Armie in his eye and had with his owne hands framed the modell of it and culling out the Army he meant to blesse hee hath ever uninterruptedly afforded his presence though the difficultyes and multitude of Enemies have been more then could be expected or then ever Armie under-went who served a State in such transactions What eye cannot see the plots and contrivances both of the common and secret Enemies how many wayes have been used to overthrow this Parliament and Army and what humours have been predominant among themselves to ruine that body yet how strangly and beyond all mens thoughts have they been carryed through if we were delighted in viewing divine actings or had a designe to make a History to astonish all the world Let us follow the Army from Naseby up and down England at home from thence after two Warres the second more dangerous then the first being upon more cunning pretences and made out of our divisions among our selves and especially levelled against the Parliament and Armie a war that divided the Armie as well as the first confiding instruments yet with what wonder of glory did God break forth their deliverance for after God had helped them to drive the K. into the Scots Armie a presage of his sons reserve new Insurrections are in the most speciall Counties round about the
with those whom God ownes Shall all these things be forgotten and spilt as water on the ground is there nothing of glory sparkling out through these manifestations that may convince us of our opposition and disaffection to these proceedings It cannot be but some men conquer their convictions as the Army hath done malignant persons who yet hate them because of their owne interests But to goe on how gloriously hath God appeared ever since while the enemy beyond the water have been studying with what solemnity to Crowne their King God hath crowned our cause with many Diadems of his glory and mercy for after that Battel at Dunbar and the strangenesse of the issue contrary to all their faith and assurances and many who were accounted the honest party began to reflect on their former principles and carriages and having rallyed in the West by their friends adde more strength and remonstrate against the State for their tampering so much with the King and their juglings among themselves which they have largely exprest in print whereby they show some sence of Gods hand against them yet neverthelesse what ever thought they had of their owne party at home they continued their enmity against us and notwithstanding all overtures made to supple their spirits and improve these convictions which if truly weighed are from the same principles with ours and no more difference then of a Scots and English interpretation of the same thing notwithstanding all these faire and cordiall affections we to the utmost exprest to them yet they cunningly watched their opportunities First to slip into England of which they were prevented and then Secondly to fall upon a part of our Army in their quarters where God appeared againe and both took their chiefe Leaders and â—cattered their whole party this great and further appearance of God wants not its circumstances to make it an eminent mercy and to strike deep into our spirits for First they were the Army which had most of the hearts of the godly with them as being separated from the grossnesse of the royal principles protesting with more zeale and honesty for the Kirkes interest and so would have gained more then ordinary on mens spirits and againe they had the great command in the West whereby they did great damage to our Army and had advantages of stealing into England both to withdraw part of our Army from them and stirring up new fires among us which would too soone have been effected by their Covenant pretences besides the manner of their overthrow is as remarkeable God striving in all this war to leave signal characters of his own hand in every of our mercies for when the General had marched a great way from Edenborough towards the West and sent expresse orders to the Major General to meet him without fail at such a time in such a place where the General came according to his appointment with a great body of Horse and foot they could not hear any newes of the Major Generals approach the weather being so bad and provisions so seanty both for horse and man his Excellency was forced to march back with all his forces and frustrate his own intentions the Countrey people hearing of the Generals retreat run to Kerr and his party tell them of the estate of things and how his Excellency was returned to Edenburgh and that Major Generall was left alone Kerr seeing his advantage which he had long waited for presently fals on his Quarters promising himselfe a full defeat of that party But they being in readinesse received them valiantly with some few Troops and quite routed him and pursued and tock and shattered all his confidents whereby we may see how every deliverance and victory is circumstantiated with some beame of peculiar glory and providence And if the delivery of Edenborough Castle that impregnable Fortresse were added and the manner of obtaining it it would bring forth a new matter both for praise and conviction but I intend not this for an exact history Thus it hath been from first to last and every victory like one star that differs from another in glory and however there may be a difference between persons and parties in respect of profession or hol nesse as there was between the Army under Kerr and that under Lieut. General Leslye the former being more purged and professing of principles with more zeale and indeed we may justly call them a Sectarian Army opposing and divided from the publique proceedings of Kirke and State yet they are all one looked on by God as to helpe and prosperity when they either with others or by themselves have lifted up their hands against this cause a consideration which is not slightly to be rejected and which may well make men wary of second actings against them God hath yet made that good in these Nations to this Common-wealth and Army so farre as they have had sincere intentions in the management of this warre which he did once to Israel No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper though carved and whetted by the fairest glosses and religious instruments Wee have hitherto in summe and as in transitu given the Reader an account of the series of Gods workings for us since he thought fit to make use of this Army against the common enemy Let us now reflect with wonder and astonishment at the dulnesse of our apprehensions and strangenesse of the opposition and inward murmurings of many otherwise observant and godly against this Common-wealth and Army for which God give us leave a little to expostulate with their spirits with whom are you angry who hath done all these things is there nothing of the image of Gods mercy power and wisdome written on any of these victories could so small a bulke of flesh and bloud destroy such potent Armies storme such brasen walls clime such high places with so little losse if the Almightie had not seconded and engaged his right hand with them These are farre from Rhetoricall but they are reall expostulations Are wee angry that God hath heard our prayers which wee so long time put up to him for subduing the common enemy in the three Nations or that he hath done his own worke without our mediums What shall be said shall all these actions of Gods power in and so much goodnesse be buryed in a discontented humour and the glory of them blasted by a designed prejudice God forbid the ages to come shall remember our insensiblenesse with teares of bloud and owne themselves to be our children as high raised up-starts doe their poore parents who blush when they are named But if any spirit be so sleight as to say all these are but events and no proper declarations of the truth of a good principle they being oftentimes occasionall and permissive by God to a bad as a good cause I answer in generall that its true that commonly and ordinarily God keepes such an even course in the universe that all things fall alike
of them and that only for time which would of it self pass away and which he meant by all designs to cut as short as he could the best-advantage that ever we could have hoped to have by that persons life was but a cessation of our miseries until he had recruited and perfected his designes and patcht a peace with the utter loss both of the sense and fruit of the first undertakings and here let us make a stop and pause with sad and mournful hearts on the condition of poor Germany who after all their powerful wrestings with tyranny in a long and horrid war have got nothing but a miserable peace and the protestant interest left to shift for it self and straâ—gers that came first to help them have made up their own gaines with their utter ruine let Bohemia especially speak where the Protestant hath â—ardly an article for their prosperity but what is general of little advantage and the Emperour and Sweâ—ds like the Sâ—oâ—s and their King divide all among themselves the Papists and great men mâ—st fellowed the Emperour and the Protestants the Swede for friendly assistance and brotherly pretence and now they have made a peace both for themselves and thus would it have been with us if God had not raised up some instrument to have no respect of persons let Germanies example be an occasion to us to think on the King and the Scots while we slight the mention of a Common-wealth which God hath given us all advantages to make not only sure but the freest and choisest in Europe And if any be affrightâ—d at the â—haâ—ge aâ— that which seems to be dangerous and unlawfull and putting by the heire of the Crowne I hope they are not ignorant how many changes have been in England by the tyranny and usurpations of Kings and of forraigne powers over us but never yet had we the happinesse to change into a Common-wealth although our best histories tell us that the first of this Nation when they were most free was without Kings but we need not be so stumbled at this change seeing the necessity and conveniensie of it and that it is only change of persons and not of the Lawes and priviledges by which we are governed which were long since and yet at divers times purchased by the blood of our auncestors rather then the goodnesse of our Princes and if we look warily we must needs see all the series of Gods actings have directly led us to this change which we have been prest unto by the necessity of our owne affaires and the continual dictates of Gods providences and who hath resisted his will we see by experience that God changes all mens states as they oppose or fall in with it But yet if the thoughts of the Covenant be brought in as the main objection why many cannot so freely joyn in with the Common wealth I must commend the tendernesse of their consciences but not their wisedome and understanding in making a difference between things and persons and judging of the nature of obligations No former covenant can hinder me from obedience to a present duty and serving my generation according to speciall opportunities obedience to â—ivill powers is a duty at pre-present and must not be superseded by any former engagement without I make two sins instead of one a sin in omitting my duty and a sin in covenanting not to doe it As for that clause in the Covenant of maintaining the Kings Person it s sufficiently explained and limited in the next words in the preservation of Religion and liberties both which have been publickly Voted inconsistent and the one positively necessary for preservation And when we Covevenant to maintain his person we suppose to find in it such a capacity as not opposite to Religion or liberties nor to be found in the lest Article among delinquents against the State which we have covenanted to endeavour to bring to condigne punishment under which capacity the Parliament have found the late King and his Son CHARLES STVART and under that account prosecuted him and kept the Covenant as every honest Christian must doe in all the rest of the Articles that seem to be dark without they be made the interpreters one of another and however we may gnaw on the Covenant and rifle it to maintain our prejudices yet we may better take the Engagement to this Common-wealth notwithstanding the Covenant then take up Armes against the King notwithstanding the Oath of Allegiance for that Oath did absolutely without any limitation as is fully exprest in the Covenant bind us to the maintainance of the Kings Person and Heires yet when our dissenting friends came to perswade the people to helpe the Parliament against the King they could make little of that Oath yea could goe quite against the letter of it to prevent a mischiâ—fe and raise a necessary war against his person while they kept their Oath to defend his person and is that lawfull and honest to take up Armes and raise a dreadfull war against his personall capacity notwithstanding a solemne Oath in such distinguishing termes onely out of pretence to preserve his publique capacity which is greater that is the state and is it not the same and may it not be done with as good conscience to remove his person to preserve Religion and liberties both which if they were not in eminent danger let all men judge in a word no more doth the Covenant hinder me from taking the Engagement then the Protestation did men from taking the Covenant though there were many other words of a different dialect inserted into it Had the Parliament imposed on the consciences of godly and honest spirits any new Articles of the Greed or an Ecclesiastical government without any tendernesse to godly consciences or drawne a new Model of Religion and required obedience of all unto it this great piece of intolerable Tyranny could have no more raised the spirits of some or exasperated mens passions then the imposing an Engagement to a Civil government which hath nothing of sin in it to reflect any guilt upon the consciences of any seing all Civil Governments are alike lawful in themselves the conveniency of them and good use makes them profitable yet disobedience to them is sinful it being a resistance of an Ordinance of God And therefore it cannot but be worthy of much blame though to be lamented also that Ministers of the Gospel those that should be the blessed Messengers of peace and joy should make their Pulpits Stages of bitternesse and Satyrs against the present Authority this hath hapned much among us of late through the pride of mens hearts and instigations of subtile enemies that these good Ministers who in other things have had the Vrin and Thummim shining with much brightnesse on their breasts yet have made their Sermons like the malignant sort of Diurnals that when poore soules come hungring and thirsting to heare something of the Lord Jesus to refresh their sad