Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	absolute_a	counsel_n	great_a	51	3	2.1257	3	false

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

for them who shall be heirs of salvation And the b Psalmist exhorting us to the praise of God saith Who is like the Lord our God that hath his dwelling on high and yet abaseth himself to behold the things in the heaven and in the earth Psa. 113. 5 6. He so beholdeth all things as to order all things and all actions not only Men and Angels but the unreasonable creatures yea inanimate things by a providence As the Israelites were led through the wildernesse by a pillar of a cloud by day and by a pillar of fire by night So all creatures are guided by providence You know that when the cloud was taken up from the Tabernacle the Israelites journeyed and went forward so long as the pillar went before them but when the â—pillar staid they staid in that place where the cloud abode there they pitched their tents as is said Num. 9. 17. Again when the cloud was taken up whether by day or by night they journeyed and so long as it rested they remained in their Tents whether it was for a day or for daies for moneths or for years c God is the same to us that he was to Israel his providence is the same though altered in the dispensations c. God is eternal and he is unchangeable in all his waies he made himself known in times past by his wondrous works and special Revelations but now he maketh himself known by his word as well as by his works The visible things created which are but part of the works of God do set forth to the whole world his power and wisedom Psa. 19. and as the Psalmist saith The Lord is known by the judgements which he executeth Psa. 9. 16. But especially by his word he hath made himself known to his people his word is contained in the sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testament there he hath revealed himself in his Attributes Names Titles eternal essence and being and by his word we come to know what his works are they are revealed in Scripture to be Decree Creation and Providence Decree was the purpose of God before all time what should be in time and till time shall be no more Creation was the making of the worlds and all things in them of nothing and that was in the beginning of time Providence is the governing and disposing of all things by which God the Creator doth exercise his Kingly power for ever according to the decree and secret counsel of God effecting every purpose in the time place and by the means pre-ordained by God Now that there is such a ruling providence that ordereth all things and every thing in the world is necessary to be known and beleeved by all Therefore I shall endeavour to prove it by Scripture and experience and that nothing comes to passe by chance or meerly by nature nor can be effected and done by any devisings contrivings wisedom or power of men without the disposing of providence For if there be a God that made all things it must needs be that the same God governs all things and their Actions according to his will But God made all things that 's confessed why did God make the creature not for themselves nor to leave them to act and do as they list But God made all for himself for his own gloâ—y d yea he made the wicked for the day of wrath It was indeed a glorious work to make the worlds and all creatures but it is a more glorious work to govern the worlds and every creature by his most wise providence This providence he calleth the eyes of his glory e by it his glory is manifested in every thing and this glory he will not give unto any other f Providence is the absolute Soveraign power of God over the creatures exercising his eternal Decrees and secret counsell ordering things and actions according to his good pleasure after the counsell of his own will g Thus saith the Lord speaking of things done from the beginning of the world and things to be done my Counsell shall stand and I will do all my pleasure h Seek ye out of the Book of the Lord saith the Prophet and reade not one of these things shall fail nor ssiall misse one of another i All things shall come to passe and be so ordered and fitted unto another as the sword to the Scabbard or knife to the sheath I will speak the word and the word that I speak shall be done k The Lord of Hosts purposeth and who shall disanull it l he spake and it was done saith the Psalmist he commanded and it stood fast m There was a sore Famine in Samaria and the Prophet telleth them that the next day there should be great plenty but this seemed a thing impossible and was not beleeved the Assyrians being then with a mighty Army besieging Samaria n Now the Lord made the host of the Assyrians to hear a noyse of horses aad chariots and of a mighty host and for fear they all fled from their Tents and left their Tents and Camp even as it was with all provisions and fled for their lives o Now there were four lepers that were in distresse and ventured themselves to go to the Camp of the Assyrians where they found abundance of food and treasure and all the host was fled these bring tidings to Samaria And as the Lord had said by his Prophet so it came to passe p Here was no contrivance nor wisedom nor power of men in all this but the work of providence So you shall see that when two men go into the field to hew wood the head of the Axe sticth from the helve at unawares and killeth one of these men q This is the work of providence and in such a case God himself saith I have delivered such a man to the slayers hand r If God take care of a Sparrow he much more taketh care of a man But a Sparrow falleth not to the ground without the providence of God and a mani of more value then many Sparrows Å¿ Two men travell on the way the one is robbed of his purse the other is never assaulted this is providence in the one and in the other You know Ahab would needs go up to Ramoth-Gilead he was very confident of victory he takes much advice and counsell about it strengthens himself by the assistance of King Jehosaphaâ— and is encouraged by no lesse then four hundred false Prophets all say to him Go and prosper t Only Micâ—iah the Prophet of the Lord tels him from the mouth of God that he should not return in peace Ahab scorns the Prophets words and imprisons him and goes on with confidence of his design Now what crossed him in his design contrivements and power c. the Text tels you a certain man drew a bow at a venture â—nd shot an arrow He knew not Ahab nor

now to be covered all over with tares but God can gather in his good corn and weed out those tares at the day of his harvest he will manifest the blasphemers and reprove the horrid blasphemies strange self-opinions false christs false apostles and teachers seducers of mens souls evil angels in shape of Angels of light that under the notion of truth broach damnable heresies doctrines of devils All oâ—d herefles abominated by the primitive Church are all at this day revived at once and in disguised new dresses come like wolves in sheeps cloathing these are such as trouble the Church of God which the Apostle in his time wished to have been cut off Gal. 5. 12. And it is the duty of the Christian Magistrate to suppress them he is as Christs vicegerent and Lievetenant on earth not only to command observance of the first Table but also of the second If he that despised Moses Law died without mercy under two or three witnesses how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Sonne of God c. and done despight to the spirit of grace Heb. 10. 28 29. And the sword is not put into the Magistrates hand in vain We read in Deut. 17. from vers. 2 to vers. 7. if any had broken the covenant with God and worshipped false gods he was to be stoned to death yet I say not that every heresie under the Gospel should be punished by death but I say it is the duty of the supreme Magistrate to suppress all heresie and blasphemy by a Law Nor do I say that an erring Conscience is to be punished by the Law of the Magistrate if he keep his erring opinion within his own walls but if he seduce others and thereby stirre up sedition alienating mens judgments from due obedience I say such a one is liable to the wrath of the Civil Magistrate and those Magistrates that tolerate or connive at such things will be found to do the work of the Lord negligently those things I only hint at by the way and leave to the consideration of the judicious What I have said as to the matter of my following discourse which is Providence ordering all things it is the truth of God held forth in sacred Scripture from which I cannot retrograde what I have said as to the matter applicatory I only give my judgment and leave the even to that Providence which governs all things As to my vindication of the Lord Protector whom Providence hath exalted Providence will yet further order him and all his counsels and actions after the counsel of Gods will God hath a great work for him to do and it shall be done whether to be a nursing father to the Church of Christ and a skilfull Esculapius to heal the distempers of three sick and wounded Nations or whether for a contrary work I cannot assert God only knowes it to whom all secrets belong what is revealed belongs to us and it is our duty as we are men to own the Powers that be and as we are Christian men to pray for them therefore for him that God will make him a glorious instrument in his own hand for his glory and the peoples good We hope well but prayer is better then our hopes and is the means to accomplish our hope and God is alwayes better to his praying people then their prayers let us not sinne by withholding our prayers which thing hath sometimes caused blessings to be turned into curses Let us not limit the holy one of Israel nor give rules to Providence nor let us spend our time in devising and plotting nor as the Athenians make it our work to hear and to tell News but pray and endeavour for peace and truth and beleeve that God is a rewarder to them that diligently seek him There is yet balm in Gilead a dore of hope is opened to us The seed is yet in the barn as yet the Vine and the Figg-tree the Pomegranate and the Olive tree hath not brought forth saith the Prophet from this day I will blesse you Hag. 2. 19. It is God that prepareth the seed and the ground and gives the increase by his blessing Psal. 65. 9 10. Therefore let us pray unto God for our Governours for his Highness and for his Parliament for as God doth instruct the husbandman to discretion to break the clods of his ground and to cast in his seed in the appointed place and time as the Prophet speaketh so doth he instruct Princes and teacheth them discretion to rule and govern as he pleaseth for by him Princes raign and rule The husbandman waiteth for the fruit of the earth saith James and hath long patience for it untill he receive the early and the later rain and shall not we follow the footsteps of providence and patiently wait Gods time and means for giving us the blessings promised Let us cast off our own wayes wills and designs and be obedient to Providence and see what the Lord our God will do for us Courteous Reader read me with patience not with any prejudice try all truths oppose nothing that is truth good counsell is not to be slighted nor seasonable reproof to be scorned though it come from one of whom you could say as Achab said of Michaiah that you hate him and that he doth not speak good concerning you but evil I have written what God hath instructed me do you read and read all then judge as God shall put into your heart of him who is your servant in the Lord Jesus Christ that desires increase of grace to you and all the Israel of God George Smith The principall things touched upon in the following Discourse GOD the Creator doth govern all things by his secret Providence Page 1. The want of the true knowledge of Providence is cause of murmurings p. 2 12. Providence set forth by the Ladder that Jacob saw in his vision and by the Piller of cloud that guided Israel in the wilderness p. 2. Nothing comes to pass by chance or devisings of men or meerly by nature but by Providence ibid. Providence what it is ibid. p. 12. It is the eye of God p. 3. It ordereth all the actions of men ibid. The dayes and life of man p. 4. It ordereth the dispositions of men ib. It ordereth the wicked actions of wicked men ib. It ordereth the secrets of the heart and the answer of the tongue p. 5. It ordereth the least of things which men falsly say come by chance or fortune ib. All creatures animate and inanimate wait on God and obey and execute his command p. 6. Providence changeth the order that nature hath put into things ib. All the works of Providence are known and certain to God from eternity ib. But they are all contingent to men p. 7. The times of Families and Kingdoms are appointed by God their rise and their period is certainly set and the means thereto conducing

people but Providence ordered him to use those those words That as he was High-Priest that year he prophefied that Christ should die for the Nation p So the Wiseman tels us Many seek the favour of the Ruler but every mans judgement is from the Lord As we know men usually seek the favour of a Judge before whom they have a matter to come but they consider not that the verdict shall be as providence shall order it Yea Providence extendeth to the least and smallest of things as well as to the greatest for God worketh all things after the counsell of his own will even those things that men corruptly call Chance or Fortune The very hairs of a mans head they are numbred q a Sparrow is one of the meanest of birds yet a Sparrow falleth not to the ground but by Providence r The grasse the corn the Trees the Plants and the Flowers of the Field grow and flourish by providence Å¿ yea the lot that is cast or drawn as we say by chance is ordered and disposed by providence Providence ordereth all and every thing And as God by Providence governs and orders all creatures and their Actions so all creatures readily obey his command they are all at his call at his beck they come and at his beck they go whatsoever he commandeth that they do Every creature in their kinde own him for their Creator and Preserver The eyes of all saith the Psalmist wait upon thee and thou givest them their meat in due season t God is the great master of the whole Universe the great Family of the world he sets every one in their station appoints every one their work and pays them all their wages Thy judgements saith the Prophet are a great deep thou preservest man and beast u The young Lions seek their meat of God w and God prepareth for the young Ravens their food x The Creatures are the Hosts and Armies of God at what time soever he is pleased to muster them together The contemptible grashoppers if God please to whistle them shall be a destroying Army y Poor despised Flies shall come in swarms to plague a whole Nation if God command them yea at Gods command Frogs and Lice shall be irresistible Armies And who can stand before them The Hail the Ice the Snow the Fire the Water the Windes all and every thing are at his command All things in heaven on the earth in the Seas and in hell are at his beck Angels Men Beasts Birds Fishes yea devils themselves are commanded by God and are his Instruments to punish overturn lay desolate and destroy the mightiest Monarchs Kingdoms or people as pleaseth him Yet further That order that nature hath set in the creatures or things when God pleaseth to command shall be altred and changed in extraordinary manner The Red Sea must part in sunder and stand as a wall on this side and on that side The proud streams of the River Jordan shall be altred and turned back even in the time of her highest pride and overflowings z The Sun which as the Bridegroom cometh out of his chamber and as a Giant rejoyceth to run his race a must at Gods command for execution of his Decree stand still upon Mount Gibeon b Again when God pleaseth it shall neither stand still nor go forward but it must go backward ten degrees c Let Jouah be cast into the Sea if God command the waters shall not drown d if Daniel must be cast into the Den of cruell hungring ravening Lions they shall not be able one of them against Gods command to open a mouth to hurt him e If the three Children must be cast into a double-heated fiery Furnace the fire shall not burn nor so much as scorch one hair of their head f When God will have Israel come out of Egypt in quiet not so much as a dog in all Egypt shall move his tongue at man or beast g And when God commands the very dogs of Jezabels own house shall tear and devour Jezabel h all things act or forbear to act as God pleaseth to command them they readily execute all his pleasure Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world i that is nothing is new unto God in all the works of providence he knows all and every thing from all eternity what shall be for ever There is no contingency in the Decrees of God they are certain and unchangeable nothing shall fail of all that he hath purposed but providence shall surely effect and accomplish every work in its appointed time and season and by the means appointed according to the pleasure of God but unto men the works and Decrees of God are unknown they are contingent both in respect of Actions and Events And hence it cometh to passe that great works and strange events that providence bringeth to passe in the world are wondred at because they are strange to us we never see such a thing such a change such an overturn c. nor looked not for any such thing As the Prophet speaks When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for when thou camest down the mountains flowed down me thy presence k that is when God appeareth in the world in acting any new and great work which we have not seen nor looked for whether it be in the delivering of the Church out of some great affliction or bringing calamities upon his Church for their sins Or whether it be in visiting the Nations Inhabitants of the earth for their long-born with iniquities their abominable murthers cruelties and oppression their contempt of God and persecution of his servants the Ministers c. When God I say shall come and unexpected by us unlooked for overturn overturn throw down the mighty lay waste and make desolate strong Cities fortified Nations and the greatest Monarchies Then the mountains shall melt or flow down as water at Gods presence all obstructions shall be cast out of the way the great men and most crafty counsellors that stood like mountains a little before seeming impossible to be removed these shall vanish and come to nothing Who art thou O great Mountain before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain l God will throw off Kings and corrupt irreligious oppressing Parliaments let them make their mountains never so strong they shall be cast down This is the absolute Soveraignty of God the exercise of his Kingly power his everlasting dominion Who is as the Apostle expresseth the blessed God and only Potentate m He who hath on his vesture and on his thigh a Name written KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS Rev. 19. 16. He changeth times and seasons removeth Kings and setteth up Kings c. He is a just and righteous God and hath no respect of persons keepeth Covenant and promises to his people will not fail nor can be hindred He is

could any know him for he had disguised himself Ahab wanted not for any contrivance policy counsell nor strength to preserve himself yet maugre all policy the arrow thus shot at a venture findes out Ahab and although Ahab was armed it is by providence guided to the joynts of his armour where it enters and hits Ahab so that he died u Here providence executeth the decree of God upon Ahab You know the King of Assyria sent a mighty and invincible Army against Hezechiah King of Judah confident of successe Hezechiah unable to make opposition by any equality of strength yet this invincible host is destroyed not by any art wisedome counsell or strength of men all was wanting But an Angell of the Lord went out and smote the Camp of the Assyrians in one nighâ—One hundred fourscore and five thousand w This is also the work of Providence As the Actions of men so their daies and life are ordered and appointed by God therefore saith holy Job the daies of every man are appointed by God and all those daies are ordered by providence though men know them not nor how they are secretly ordered and every hour preserved till the appointed time be come for saith Job Thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot passe x therefore saith he I will wait till my change come y So the Pro David My times saith he are in thy hands z And as Providence ordereth the Actions and Lives of men so it doth reach to the orderings of the disposition and naturall affections of men either to love or hatred to kindnesse or to churâ—ishnesse what else changed the disposition and affection of Esau from bloudy wrath to loving kindenesse when he came out against Jacob with hatred and when he meeteth him he embraceth him with loving-kindenesse and brotherly affection a So you shall see Laban pursuing Jacob in great anger and when he is on the way his disposition and anger is changed b You may see the Midianites that came out against Israel all in love one with the other and hatred against Israel fall one upon another and destroy one another providence ordereth that every one set his sword against his fellow c The like you may see in the Army of the Philistims d Yea more It is evident from sacred Scriptures That all the wicked Actions of wicked men are ordered by providence God ruleth them and orders them for the accomplishment of his secret counsel and by the ordering of those Actions God hath glory I say they are ordered by providence not as wicked men intend or act them they intend and act out of a wicked principle to a wicked end but God orders them otherwise to effect something of his own decree and turns it to good in the doing his will The action and the sin in the action is their own but the ordering of the action is of God All wicked actions of wicked obdurated Pharaoh providence ordered to the glory of God St Paul hath this expression For the Scripture saith of Pharaoh even for this cause have I raised thee up that I might shew my power in thee and that my Name might be declared throughout all the earth e Rom. 9. 17. His cruelty in destroying all the male-children of the Hebrews Moses being cast into the River the repulse that Pharaoh gave to Moses message from God his encrease of the burthens and labours on the Hebrews and his oft refusing to let the people go c. Providence ordered all these things to the advancement of Gods glory So it is said of Sihon King of Heshbon that God hardened his heart and why that Sihon King of Heshbon out of the bitternesse and envy of his own heart against Israel should refuse to suffer them to passe peaceably through his Countrey to the end that Israel might have a just cause to engage warre with them and destroy them f Was there ever so great an Act of wickednesse acted in the world or invented as that horrid conspiracy of Herod Pontius Pilate Judas the Gentiles and the people of the Jews against the Lord Christ yet providence ordered all this and brought the greatest good out of that most horrid act The Scripture saith plainly that all this was no more but what was before-determined should be done g St John speaking of the unbelieving Jews from that place Isa. 6. 10. saith God hath blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts h and Esay saith the Lord hath powred upon them the spirit of deep sleep and hath chosed their eyes The Prophets Rulers and Seers hath he covered i God is not only a bare permitter of evil actions in men but he is a powerful agent ordering of those evil Actions by his wise and secret providence to serve to the purpose of his own will the sinne is their own but the guidance of the Action is Gods ordered to his own glory Job tels us that the deceiver and the deceived are both his k he ordereth both If a Prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing I the Lord have deceived him l that is such Prophets as Ahabs four hundred Prophets were whom Satan could not deceive till he was bid to go and prevail All the actions of the devil are ordered by providence and there is not nor cannot be any action of the devil but what is extreamly wicked Remarkable is that place of St John Rev. 17. 13. speaking of that foul apostacy of Papacy he saith They shall give their power and strength to the beast He saith not they will give but they shall give as a thing that God had pre-ordained to be much more may be said this I hope may suffice to prove this Truth Yet furrhermore you shall see that as God orders by his providence all Men and all Actions of all sorts their times their dispositions c. so he ordereth the very secrets of the heart and the answer of the tongue The Wiseman tels us The Kings heart is in the hand of God be turns it as the Rivers of waters whithersoever he will m And the answer of the tongue is from the Lord n to this effect is that saying of Christ to his Disciples take no thought what you shall speak for it shall be given to you what to speak at the same hour o The man thar shall consult within himself and debate in his own thoughts and come to a full resolurion what he will answer or speak to this or that thing so as that he thinks nothing shall alter him yet that man when he comes to put his resolves into action shall speak or do as providence shall order and direct it may be quite contrary to what he resolved something will come in between the preparation and the action Caiaphas the High Priest doubtlesse spake not those words of himself when he said It was expedient that one man should die for the

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

gave him a pillar of a cloud by day and of fire by night to go before them and the Ark of the Lord went before to finde out a resting-place w for where the Ark rested they staied and as long as the Cloud rested upon the Ark they rested in their Tents x This was providence guiding the people to convenâ—ent places for water and rest yet Moses the Servant of God is very inquisitive with his Father in Law whom Providence had brought to him and who was acquainted with the waies of the wildernesse and places where was Springs of water to instruct him in the way and be a guide unto him y he would not be wanting in the use of any lawful means When the Prophet Nathan sent from God tels David that his childe should surely die David notwithstanding sets himself to the use of means to preserve the childes life z yet David did not therein oppose himself against Gods will for David knew that the use of lawful means was no way crossing of Gods purpose He well knew that Gods comminations are sometimes conditional and sometimes absolute as indeed they are and so are the promises of mercies Gods threatning of judgement against Nineveh was conditional Yet forty daies and Ninevth shall be destroied that is if Nineveh do not repent but Niâ—eveh repented and was spared a The Text saith God saw they turned from their evil waies and repented of the evil he said he would do to them Not that God indeed repented or can repent or be changed the word repent we finde several times in Scripture 1 Sam. 15. 35. The Lord repented that he made Saul King and Gen. 6. 6. It repented the Lord that he had made man So in Ioel 2. 13. God is slow to anger and of great kindenesse and repenteth of the evil and in ver. 14. who knoweth if he will repent and leave a blessing behinde him These and other the like Scriptures are by some objected against the absolute decrees and purpose of God as if God did not absolutely determine what he would do but as if there were a contingency in God and that he upon occasion changeth his decree and purpose To this I answer That the word repent or repentings is but an expression which the holy Ghost useth after the manner of the speech of men whereby the pity and compassion of God is set forth unto us and how unwilling he is to punish his creatures as in Lam. 3. 33. He doth not afflict willingly that is he delighteth not to punish to afflict or to grieve the â—hildren of men but as he is provoked by their sins which he hateth and he hateth nothing but sin or for sin but God is said to delight in mercy Mic. 7. 18. We are not to search into the secret decrees of God which is absolute nor which is conditional but we know God is unchangeable in all his purposes and varieth not The strength of Israel saith the Prophet will not lie nor repent for he is not a man that he should repent b Therefore repentance in God is nothing else but his unchangeable ordering and disposing of changeable things God is not changed in any thing but things change and alter Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world c and what he hath purposed shall be done nothing can alter it as is shewed in our former discourse God is immutable he changeth not In him iâ— no variablenesse nor shadow of turning d But God is said to change when they whom God loveth and taketh care of are changed then God changeth the course of things so as it is for their good God unchangeably forgiveth them that repent as he did Nineveh and unchangeably punisheth them that go on in their wicked waies as he did Saul All comminations of God are means to repentance and to reformation and repentance with reformation is the means to prevent the judgements threatned except where the Decree is absolute as in the case of Esau Heb. 12. 17. and with Cain or Iudas c. and in case of resisting the means and motions of repentance as the stiff-necked Israelites Heb. 3. 11. to whom there is no place for repentings But this is the secret counsell of God and belongs not to us to search into farther then it is revealed in Scripture and the Revealed will of God is our rule we are to look no further but practise according to what it holds forth to us whether the threatning of judgements be absolute or conditionall it is not for us to enquire into it but we are to use all lawful means to prevent it as to obtain any mercy promised For all comminations of God are either for our repentance that we may prevent the evil or to our obduration that we may be without all excuse therefore God saith At what instant he shall speak concerning a Nation or concerning a Kingdom to pluck up and to pull down and to destroy it If that Nation turn from their evil I will repent of the evil I thought to do unto them and at what instant he shall speak concerning a Nation or Kingdom to build and to plant it if it do evil in his sight he will repent of the good wherewith he said he would benefit them e God is pleased to give encouragement to all and the Covenants which God hath made between himself and mankinde are conditional The Covenant with Adam was upon exact obedience on mans part Do this and live The Covenant in Christ is not of works but of grace established upon better promises as the Apostle reacheth f given by the hand of a Mediator ties us by the condition to beleeve and repent the fiâ—st Covenant under the Law sheweth what we should do but cannot The second Covenant under the Gospel teacheth us how all is done for us if we beleeve and repent The promises of the Law are to the exact workers and doers of the Law g The promises of the Gospel are to him that worketh not but beleeveth in him that justifieth the ungodly h c. Now if we break the condition on our part God is no way bound to us for if we beleeve not we shall be condemned i if we repent not we shall perish k Thus it was to the Nation of the Jews wrath came on them to the utmost because of their Impenitency and Unbelief how much more shall it be so to all other Nations and so it is to England Great blessings are promised and destroying udgements aâ—e threatned But God will surely withhold our mercies will pluck up what he planted and will hasten destroying judgements if we do not beleeve and repent Therefore it is Englands duty to be diligent in the use of all lawfull means to obtain mercies and to avoid Judgements Here let me give caution in two things 1. That we use no means but such as is lawful

if we ask according to our own will he will not hear him that is he wiâ—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 Å¿ 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 â—â—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 ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ 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 gâ—eateâ— 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

publike day of Humiliation for emergent causes named which God will doubtlesse accept of as of late he did by a signet of his favour when we by his Highnesse order sought God for Rain in our great necessity Although some who stile themselves Saints not only refused to joyn in our Petitions but used unchristian speeches to Gods dishonour and contempt of the duty And truly it was sad to observe the general neglect of our late Solemn Fast that only Shops should be shut and places for recreation full as I was informed but Churches shut or empty in respect of the numbers of Inhabitants many omitting the duty out of carnal respects and many out of will because it was commanded and because the end crossed their self-interests I do affirm that it is no lesse a duty in the Christian Magistrate to command the duties and performance of duties for the true worship of God then it was duty to the Magistrate under the Law but the Magistrate under the Law did command such duties as Asa Jehosaphat Jehojada Hezckiah and others We know that Asa did not only command Reformation of Gods worship bur annexed to his command a great punishment i And Ezra did the like k And the Apostle Paul diminisheth nothing of the Magistrates Authority under the Gospel nor is there any Scripture that offers the least doubt of that their authority but rather makes it greater Heb. 10. 28. therefore I say that the neglect or rather contempt of such duties and the suffering of it uncontrolled by the Magistrate will in stead of a blessing bring a curse as is threatned by the Prophet Jer 48. 10. but the due observance of the holy and spiritual worship of God held forth by the Magistrate and practised by the Minister and People is the chief means to divert the judgements we fear and procure the blessings we want I come now to the sixth and last Inference and that is That when God hath effected and done his will in any thing visibly made known to us by the work of providenee 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 This hath been the practice of the godly in all ages k Thus holy David did while his childe was yet alive he used all lawful means for the life of it But when God had done his will and the childe was dead he left off to mourn and murmured not but patiently bear the affliction Thus did just and righteous Job he feared his Sons might sinne and procure Gods displeasure he therefore used the right means to prevent it m but when Providence had brought that to passe which he feared and God had visibly manifested his pleasure Job was patient he murmured not neither against providence nor instruments but blessed the Name of the Lord n The Church under her great affliction murmured not they acknowledged Gods hand and complained of their sins the cause of all o and waited patiently for their deliverance It is good saith the Prophet that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord p Surely saith Job it is meet to be said unto God I have born chastisement I will not offend any more q And the Apostle exhorts that we be followers of them that by faith and patience inherit the promise r But to murmure against providence is wickednesse and the effects of murmuring and discontents is very dangerous Dangerous to a mans self and bringeth others into dangers too You know what became of the murmuring Israelites in the wildernesse from time to time as is recorded in the Books of Exodus and Numbers Consider the case of murmuring Korah and all his murmuring company the earth opened and swallowed them up Å¿ This was the immediate hand of God not Moses nor Aaron yet such was the rebellious hearts of the people that the next day they all fall to murmuring against Moses and against Aaron and accused them that they had killed tho Lords people t And for this there died presently of them fourteen thousand and seven hundred by a sudden plague u You know that for this sin of murmuring all the people that came out of Egypt from twenty years old and upward were excluded from the promise except Caleb and Ioshua w Hence the Apostle exhorts us Christians not to tempt God as they tempted him nor to murmure as they murmured and were destroied for saith he All these things happened unto them for our examples x God is the same to us that he was to them only he hath divers dispensations of his judgements he is an unchangeable God for evert If we sin like them that went before us we shall be as greatly punished as they were yea greater Though God do not so usually strike men suddenly for sin as formerly yet there is greater wrath to come Let us a little consider the cause of mens murmuring and see if it do not arise from a carnal heart a carnal man propounds ends to himself as the Merchants St Iames speaks of that say they will go to such a City or such a Countrey and buy and sell and get gain but say not if God will so it is with men that seek their own ends in any thing they propound this or that but God is not in their thoughts they say noâ— if God will but we will do this or that thing or would have this or that done c. It may be nay it is common with these men that they will have the Name of God in their mouths but as the Psalmist speaks God is not in all their thoughts And therefore when their wils and designs are crossed they are angry and repine against God and men Thus the people of Israel did in the wildernesse they met with crosse providences which they looked not for and they could not bear it but cry out against Moses saying because there were no graves in Egypt Hast thou brought us to die in the wildernesse y and again wherefore hast thou brought us out of Egypt to kill us in the wildernesse our children and our cattel z Thus at this day we have seen many strange Providences such as we looked not for and men have had many and diverse designs aims and ends but meet with crosse Providences which they cannot bear nay resolve they will not bear they complain and cry out against this and that thing but specially they murmure against God and own not his providence in governing the world Therefore they also murmure at the thing done and against the Instruments doing it this is I say against God himself for he alone orders every thing and every Action as is proved in the beginning of this

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 vesâ—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 trâ—d the wiâ—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 Å¿ 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

u there is a time of warre and there is a time of peace w We had our time of war and tasted of the bitternesse of it God now in great mercy offereth us our time of peace if we will not accept of it but provoke God by our murmuting we may fear the event Christians and Englishmen I pray consider that saying of Ahner to Joab Shall the sword devour for ever will it not be bitternesse in the latter end x You know how it proved bitter both to Abuer and to Joab Discontents Ambiand false Interest procured the sword to eat the flesh of them by the just hand of God As Abuer had shed the bloud of many in Israel in an evil cause his bloud was shed by Joab wickedly y And Joab because beshed the bloud of war in the time of peace z he was slain by the sword at the horns of thâ— ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ a God hath manifested his will to us by clear providences Let us as men thaâ— feaâ— God and own his providence submit unto it and not murmure nor repine but with patience wait to see what God will yet do for us He hath multitudes of blessings to the obedient and as many curses and scourges to the murmurers If it he as the Psalmist saith a good and pleasant thing for brethren to dwell together in unity b Then it must needs be an evil and unpleasant thing for Brethren to dwell together in discord dissention strife and variance all disunited and disjointed in affections Consider what I have said and the Lord give every one a good and right understanding in all things If that I have said being well weighed be not found to be truth beleeve it not But if it be the truth follow it practise it or this that I say shall one day be a witnesse against him that readeth and slieghteth it and give me leave to adde this to the rest and tell you that those that are contemners and murmurers against the government of a Common-wealth in the Infancy of it they are he greatest enemies to that Common-wealth not hurtful only to themselves but to the whole Nation the evil example of one murmurer draws more to the imitation of that sin then the perswasion and good counsell of many can divert and so all or multitudes oft perish together As we see in the men that were sent to spy out the Land of Canaan they murmured and brought an evil report of that good Land which caused all the people to weep and murmure and cry out against Moses and Aaron c for which their murmuring they were excluded from that good Land and promise And not only so but they even those men that brought up the evil report were destroied before the Lord by a plague d Consider what God hath done he will do still For God is unchangeable It is one of his Attributes which he takes only to himself I am the Lord I change not e In him is no variablenesse neither shadow of change f Therefore it must of necessity follow from Gods unchangeablenesse that whatsoever he hath done in former times he will do the same for he is the same what judgements he hath inflicted for any sin or that he hath threatned to inflict he will still do the same therefore the Apostle tels even us Christians that whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our Learning g c. I confesse my Brerhren when I took my pen in hand to write upon this subject Discourse I intended not above three sheets of paper but the matter is encreased before me and I could not expresse my self with more brevity I would yet for further satisfaction modestly give Answers to some Objections made by some sorts of men against his Highnesse the Lord Protector which I will do in as few lines as I can possibly Object It is Objected That the cause of our war which hath cost so much bloud and treasure was To defend our Rights and Freedoms against the Tyranny of Kings to be governed under a Parliament as free People by just Laws c. But the Lord Protector assumes to himself the Authority of a King by exercising a greater Tyranny over the people then the King did to give Laws c. Answ I answer the cause of our warre as instrumental was To defend the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament the Freedom and liberty of the People and the defence of the true Religion against incroaching Tyranny and innovations subtlely insinuated by the late King and his evil Counsel But that our Warre intentionally was against the lawful Authority of Kings or against the Person of the Late King as he was King or against his just prerogative I deny Only against his evil Councel the War was raised that the Priviledges of Parliament the Liberty of the People and the truth of Religion might be defended and established This will appear by severall Parliament Declarations Protestations and solemn Covenant wherein the Parliament do declare protest and covenant as their own priviledge freedom and liberty c. to defend and preserve the Kings person his just Rights and Prerogatives so far as it might stand with the preservation of Religion and the peoples Rights But the late King standing in strong opposition to the Parliament and Liberty of the people and his Rights and Prerogatives coming in competition with or against the preservation of Religion and Priviledges of Parliament and the peoples Right He defending and taking upon himself all the evil Actions and wicked devices of his evil Councell miscarried for so providence had ordered it should be And the people as providence led them submitted to a Parliament to govern them as a free People they expected much ease and great Reformation but enjoyed Now I would ask the Objectors these two short Questions 1. If a Parliament should become more tyrannicall then a King and lay heavy burthens upon them reaching to their persons lives and estates by an unknown Law or arbitrary power and suffer Innovations to come in on every side to the contempt of Religion and adulterating every truth turning Religion into every shape to metamorphise truth whether in this case if such should be the people might not as justly cry out and take up Arms against such a Parliament as against a King 2. If all these evils could be found and sensibly felt by the people whether it were justice to themselves acceptable to God or benefit to their posterity to cast off and to abandon for ever the authority and use of Parliaments I think they would give their negative except such as would live without all order or command which is to be worse then devils Nor is the office nor just power of a King to be for ever rejected because there have been Tyrannical oppressing superstitious or idolatrous Kings for the office of a King is the Ordinance of Jehovah and cannot be made null by man To this

office though not by the Name or Title of a King God by his providence hath exalted the Lord Protector And he that resists his just Authority and Government resists the Ordinance of God It is evident he hath not assumed to himself that authority he that objects that I beleeve speaks against the dictates of his own conscience except his conscience be cauterized and that he hath exercised any Tyranny or oppression over the people it is false and malicious calumniation or that he will ever do any such thing is but envies suspicion therein measuring his Corn by their own Bushell He hath been the instrument in Gods hand to withhold greater oppressions from the people and what at this day lies upon their shoulders were laid on by others not by him from which he is endeavouring to free us Let us not therefore whilest he is easing of us cry out against him and say he hurts us like the dogge that bites him that saves him from the tree And for Laws he hath given none of himself for he refers that to the Honourable Parliament now sitting and successors That which he did by advice of his Councel in the regulating of the Chancery and ejecting scandalous Ministers and bringing all treasuries into one c. were I think very acceptable things and beneficial to the Nation such as were long looked for from but they came not Object 2 Obj. I but he hath protested engaged and promised before God and men against the government to be by one person and that the government should be by succeeding Parliaments c. I answer not contesting whether he made any such particular engagement and promise or not but grant he did such a thing I hope the Objector will grant for it cannot be denied that in every promise or engagement there is some condition the condition not kept the promise or engagement is void Whether it were between man and man in private contract or whether it were between a publike person of trust and a Nation or to other persons of publike concernment if in any thing of private contract doubtlesse although the promiser were a looser by it he is in strictnesse of conscience tyed to perform what he promised But if to publike concernment the conditions failing in the least he is not bound to perform what he promised and intended for that were the highest breach of trust possibly his Highness might by perswasion and conditions promised engage against the government by Kings and to be governed by Parliaments beleeving such or such conditions being performed it might be most for the Peoples Freedom and Liberty but when he found the conditions waved and that the Freedom and Rights of the people was monopolized and their liberty turned into licentiousness he might change his minde and purpose A good Father that promiseth to his childe such or such an Inherinance and really intends to do it yet if he be fully and experimentally convinced that his childe will abuse that donation he revokes his promise alters his intention and gives it to any other and that justly I am unwilling to speak all the truth in this case because I would not cast dirt c. But the question is whether his Highness was not bound rather to wave such a promise to preserve posterity then to keep it to enslave a Nation he being a chief and principal man in trust For as I said just now in every promise there is some condition as when it was imposed by supream authority on all the people of the Nation to engage to be true and faithful to that government then without King or House of Lords The condition was implied that the people must have honest and just protection under that government And the end of all promises and engagements ought to be to Gods glory and publike good Now if after such promise or engagement made by his Highnesse if either the condition or the end did not concurre or answer the intention as we know it did not his Highness is absolutely freed from his promise or engagement and no way tied unto such a promise Object 3 It is further objected That he was the Commenwealths Servant trusted by Parliament to maintain the Priviledges of Parliament and was paid for what he did But for him to dissolve Parliaments break their Priviledges and set up himself to rule and govern as he please is not just Answ Let it be granted he was the Common-wealths servant he ever acknowledged it so was the Parliament too but became Lords over the people at their own will and although he were trusted by the Parliament yet he was not a servant to the Parliament farther then the Parliament was Servant to the Commonwealth for publike benefit he himself as a member had equal voice in Parliament and had greater trust imposed on him then all even by the authority of Parliament for their lives and liberty and the well-being of the three Nations lay in his trust and faithfulnesse who never failed in the least of any performance in which by the blessing of God upon his industry providence made him instrumental of â—heir preservation and of the nations He was as a Souldier well contented with his pay he repined not nor sought for more only endeavoured that the fruits of Gods blessing given in by God to the Nations by his industry and faithfulnesse might be distributed to the people in all justice which was not done but the contraty Therefore I say he being established the chief person in trust was bound to discharge that trust in all things for publike good especially providence leading him by gradations step by step to what he did which if he had neglected or shall hereafter neglect God will raise up some other but if he had been unfaithful in this then what should he do as Job speaketh when God shall arise up and when God visiteth what should be answer him Nor did he break the priviledge of Parliament though he dissolved that Parliament for the priviledges of Parliament were broken but not by him long before their dissolution by whom and upon what design the whole people of the Nation knew and I willingly omit to repeat If the attempting to take out five Members was a breach as surely it was then the taking out or driving away of more then half five hundred was a greater breach and as much as a whole dissolution which priviledge could not well be restored without a dissolution for if that Parliament as was in design by some had been perpetuated or if as was by some others designed there had been another force upon the house or as they called it another purge where had been the priviledges of the people What would have become of the fundamental Laws of the Nation and amongst how many heresies and corrupt new formed Religions must we have searcht to finde truth and who should have known his right or enjoyed his propriety in any thing Nor did his Highnesse

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