for ever and ever Rev. 11.15 which is likely to have part of its accomplishment in the next prevailing Independent Battle if not before which I looke at as the battles which were fought in Heaven by Michael and his Angels with the Dragon and his but the latter prevailed not neither was their place found any more Rev. 12.7,8 But this Warre ends not till the Church of Roome the beast with the false Prophet the Pope together with their Confederates be taken and slaine Revel 19. from 13. to the end Nevertheles Sir for as much as it is not improbable but that fresh Tumults and Insurrections may againe break forth Let me humbly earnestly request you to stirre up both Parl. and Army to use all good meanes to prevent a Serpent is with more facility crusht in the shell then after breaking forth witness Kent Colchester the Scots together with which furious Malignant was subtilty and secretly involved A most dangerous and fiery Presbyterian Serpent And Serpents in May will begin to looke forth Sir I question not your wisdomes inâ—…g with these I neither doe nor dare prescribe a way themselves 〈◊〉 concerning Independants or Opinionists as they call them would gladly have had the Parliament to have writ after New Englands Copy which if they should then would these men be banish'd the Kingdome for there was Mr. Wheelewright A man approved for piety integrity innocency and humulity and yet banish'd New England being farre lesse guilty then these men if at all which in conscience I neither 〈◊〉 nor would have mentioned save that it is so well known and I hope they would not doe the like againe And though I have many things to commend New England for as apprehending them to be the best govern'd people and to have the best government both of Civill and Church State that to my knowledge is extant in the world yet in this I commend them not for truth should not suffer with error and falsehood nor the innocent with the guilty which things I humbly referre to the honourable Magistrats wisdome and discretion The third and last sort are Malignants so called divers of whom I doubt not have been Civilly and Morrally educated and sundry of whom it is to be hoped may pertaine to the election of grace Yet if without offence I may expresse my selfe concerning some of this kind which I desire to doe with compassion as also with a desire of their Conversion if God so please Then I much feare that too many of this kind may be strongly suspected to be the very sonnes of Beliall and of Abaddonitish and destructive Spirits directly opposite to both the other especially to the first mentioned that instead of being divinely are diabolically principled acting to their own ends and lights And instead of fighting under Christs banner and appearing for Christ and his Church doe directly fight under the Banner of Satan and plainely stand up for the Devill and Antichrist There are three things which disturbe the Earth yea foure why it cannot be quiet viz. The superstitious and Idolatrous Bapist The grosse and profane Malignant The carnall and formall Presbyterian And the blasphemious Heretique SIR it s not improbable but that I shall passe under many Censures for what I have here exprest but I blesse God I weigh not mans day as having borne witnesse to the truth and against the contrary and that without prejudice or partialitie to any as in Gods sight Now from the Generation of superstitious Papists and prophane Malignants of fiery Presbyterians and blasphemous Hereticks The Lord deliver Zion as I believe he will and will also dash in peeces all earthly Monarchs powers that do oppose himself and Saints And in his due time will doubtless reign throughout the Kingdoms of the world I mean not personally for I by no meanes apprehend that though I highly honour some that are thought so to conceive but powerfully and spiritually in the hearts and lives of his Saints from one Generation to another Rev. 20.4.6 Against whom if your self the Army or Parliament should act against whom you would implicitly act if you should not as much as in you lies go through with that good and glorious work which the Lord hath now betrusted you with yea doubtlesse though it be against nationall Lawes having a word of God to bear you out Esther 4.16 2 of Kings 14.19 yea though you carry it all along by violence Ezra 4.3 5.2 Nehe. 4.13.14 against whom I say if you should act then doubtlesse would the God of Izrael blast you and your proceedings But on the contrary notwithstanding the uncharitable thoughts jealousies and apprehensions which others have of you in case you act As verily I hope through grace many of you do viz. For the glory of Christ the prosperity of Zion and publicke Interests in which doing you expresse your faithfulnesse to God to the Saints to the Kingdomes and also to the Covenant And cause the Citie of Shushan to rejoyce and be glad Ester 8.15 In which doing you will assuredly finde a blessing from the father of blessings and give the Generations to come cause also to call you blessed which is the desire of him who with Saints in sincerity blesses God for yours the Armies and Parliaments present activitie And desires to be in reallity a Servant to the Lord and his People F. L. Februarie 21. 1648-49 Imprimatur Theodore Jennings
of the people of God But blessed be God there have been sundry Doves come over some of whom have returned with Olive branches in their mouths And others remaining in Parliament Army City and else where who have Dove like behaved themselves and have been of speciall use since hither they came viz. Sir Henry Vaine Mr. Phenix Col. Humphrey Mr. Wiâ—… Mr. Peters Mr. Richard Huchinson Janice c. Whom I hope will excuse me for mentioning of them And I doubt not but by Gods grace and assistance will prove blessings to the Kingdom whiles here they remaine And as for New-England it self though too many Legalists amongst them yet to my knowledge there are divers who blessed be God are exceeding wise spirituall and some of these divers years since have often prophecied of these times frequently and fervently prayed for them and I doubt not but will blesse God also when they heare of the succesfull victories God hath given to his people all which plainly argues their harmony and congruity and not their disapprovement and enmity Nor will I affirme least I should mistake what I have heard that eminently learned and pious teacher Mr. John Cotten expresse But this I remember though divers years since that as he said God would bring a sword upon England and certainly powre his wrath upon the Court of England which things are eminently come to passe So he likewise hath prophecied of a sword that would fall upon Scotland I pray God the ministers of that Kingdom would be no cause of it And though I judge not Mr. Cotten to be infallable yet in my observation things have generally succeeded according to the Counsell of God declared by him And it s much desired did the honourable Parliament see it so good he might be sent for it would be looked at both by Presbyterian and Independent as an extraordinary advantage and blessing to the Kingdom But what if all New-England wanted light to see into the equity and necessity of their proceedings doth that upon necessity argue the illegality thereof they are not only to walk up to the light of New-England though that light doth as farre exceed the Presbyterian light in Scotland as theirs doth the Popish but to the light of the new Jerusalem which is according to the word of God and the first Article of the Covenant Object 8. The great and grand objection is That this Parliament and Army is for a Tolleration and Liberty of Conscience and that will undoe all Answ I answer first by the way there be three things which sundry eminent Christians could never to this day well digest viz. First that reproachfull word Independent cast upon the purest Saints The truth is they are dependant depending upon the Lord Jesus for all their Lawes Ordinances Statutes and Institutions And whilst they walk according to God therein they are a Non-such in the world and the Scotch enemies or any other in this case had better eate fire 〈…〉 The Second is the Covenant which was ever feared would proves share to the Saints and Kingdom The third is a tolleration and Liberty of Conscience which I 〈◊〉 because of their affinity Now for to desire a Tolleration of any thing that is corrupt whether in opinion or practice seemes under favour to be but a corrupt desire And to desire a Tolleration of the Truth or of Gods pure Worship seems to reflect dishonour upon Christ For the Truth should be practised and God purely worshiped in despight of all gain-sayers and opposers whether men or Divells I hope I need not desire my boldnesse to be excused it is for Christ And as for Liberty of Conscience the tearm it self seems not to be according to the pattern of wholsome words but if it may passe then may it admit of a double construction viz. First Liberty of Conscience to sinne which implyes rather a captivity then Liberty for men to professe and practice what they list If this be desired and granted it is that which God and all that are born of him abhort and this indeed would undo all But their is a Liberty of Conscience in pure worshiping of God and keeping close to his Lawes and Truth and the more strictly the conscience is bound in this case the more by far is it's liberty and inlargment Iames 1.25 And this is the Liberty that I hope and am confident the Parliament and divers of the Army stands for that so the godly and unimbittered Presbyterian with the sincere and sound hearted Independant might purely Worship and wâ—… with their God without persecution or molestation and this Liberty will not undo and destroy but restore and preserve all Ah when will these dayes be Hasten the time O God wherein the holy people of God howsoever called or distinguished may unanimously meete together sweetly and harmoniously to imbrace each other Object 9. Their be sundry other Objections which scarce deserve the mentioning viz. That the Army hath many wicked men sundry Jesuits and 〈◊〉 their astions aime at themselves Answ That there are too many wicked men in the Army I feare is too true and were it possible I could wish there were none but that theâ—… is said to be so many Jesuits I beleive it not but if both be true it doth no more argue the Armies dishonesty and illegallity then the being of stone in a Christian mans heart argues his non-sincerity and are as 〈◊〉 tollerated by the godly Paâ—…y in the Army as Drunkards and Adulterers are in Presbyterian Congregations and as for their aiming at themselves in their Actions I Answer First their Actions face towards a generall good and we are not to become Judgers of evill thoughts nor to receive evil Jealousies where there is contrary appearances but it rather argues too much selfe and iniquity in our selves that we would not have these who are Instruments of a common and generall good so much as to have any share therein who indeed deserve the best and whose particular good must upon necessity be involved in the generall Now then I doe by no meanes beleeve its lawfull to raise a new War or rise in Rebellion against this Parliament and Army Though some Presbyterians Prayers Preachings Printings practises tend thereto Answ The sword hath already divided betwixt the Independent and Malignant and if I know my heart could freely sacrifice my life it might proceed no further But if it must likewise divide betwixt the Presbyterian and Independent the good will of God be done As I have but one life had I ten times ten thousand and as many soules by the help of Christ I should freely adventure them all in the Cause as being confident the Independent in his Cause will first or last prevaile and never fall more for I find in the sounding of the seventh Angel that there were great voyces in Heaven saying the Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and he shall reigne