Land that want bread are numerous 3. Kingly Government is a kind of Scourge and at best an allay of the freedome of a people a sacred thing esteem'd of difficult accesse Idolatrously adored an occasion of great superfluity excesse and vanity unsuitable to this day that is upon us and lastly makes the Person too stour and haughty to fall under the reproofs of the poor mean servants of Christ that come to them onely in the name of the Lord and so exalts their hearts to their own destruction in the end and the people's smart in the mean time 4. The Kings of Judah were Types but Types are Ceased Kingship is now to be preserved in the Person of Christ He will administer it in Truth in the truth of his own righteous and royal spirit not in figure and shadow through pitiful poor base men servants of lusts The poorest Saint that Cobbles under a Stall hath more of true Majesty and is more a King then the greatest Prince among them that is under the power of lust in his own soul I might give many other Reasons as the Impolitiquenesse of it to make a Family-quarrel the unsafeness of it for the person or family we should so set up But I leave politiques to Statesmen I am chiefly exercised in the Conscience of the thing The like I say for Lords I am not against Lords simply But they are thrown out It concerns us to consider by what hand and on what grounds before we admit them again If they were unnecessary and hinderful of our Cause and proceedings either we have altered our Cause or they are so still It was not the Persons we animadverted against but the Power How unrighteous is it if our Judgments be altered of the Power to place it in New Persons when many of the Ancient Peers are yet living as deserving as the New Is not this the way to breed a quarrel between Peers and Peers as between King and King 2. Walk not in the way of the Gentiles The Judgment of God made Kings Kings made Lords They were onely to help the King to inslave the people What people that had their choice would set up either Lords without Lands can do no more service for God nor their Country then other men 3. I am not against a Distinction of Ranks of men Variety is the beauty of the universe and an exercise of Vertue Where would bounty and humility be if there were not Rich And where were patience and contentation of mind if there were not mean men I would have every one have their Rights no industrious men want all honest men free I would not affectedly set up mean men against the wealthy nor would Itye wisdome and understanding to men of Estate Liberal and generous Education is a good quality but let it not go alone in the choice of men to rule but look for the spirit of Government 4. It is far from me to Monopolize or ingrosse in my judgment the priviledges and advantages of that Righteous Kingdome which God is setting up over the Earth to Saints onely which shall be shared among all that submit to it and oppose it not so far as they are Capable much lesse do I reckon of Saintship by any form of words that men expresse themselves in And though I dare not abett all that are zealous for this Cause for Saints yet I must professe my faith is shaken concerning those that desert it and it is an argument of some more Noble if not divine thing in men through all Shocks of temptations on the one hand and the other to preserve their Integrity And this I am perswaded As many have bin already shaken off as untimely figgs so few or none will hold out with this good Cause to the end but those that are of an Incorruptible seed whom therefore I shall desire to know by their fruits and judge of them according to their works 5. And as I am not able to say but a spirit of righteous Government as to things between man and man may be found in some who are not Saints upon the Strictest account of regeneration who may therefore for ought I know have the exercise of their talent allowed them even in the Kingdom of Christ subjecting that Rule of theirs in due subserviency to the spirit Spiritual affaires so can I not on the other hand admitt that to be the proper Rule and Government of Christ be it exercised by whomsoever though the Highest Professors in Religion and on never so high an account that is contrary to the light of Scripture rightly understood or the light of incorrupt Reason in any sort of men The Demonstration of the spirit and the righteousness of that Kingdome justifying its self undeniably to the conscience of the natural man in things that are under his Judgment as well as to the spiritual Christian in things which are proper to his discerning So as there is no Arbitrariness here in this Kingdome but all by Rule and that Rule is so clear and undenyable as nothing can rise up against it in any mans conscience Lastly I desire I may be believed that I have not bin led by any prejudice against his present Highnesse in this Testimony which I bear who as He hath not by any Publique Act of his Government disobliged any that I know of so by his affability and Courtesie wins upon all if any private passages have not bin so to the Rule I would not mention them because I would not multiply them As the Place he is in sought him not he it so I desire He may lay it and himself at the feet of Christ to dispose of him and his Interest as may be most for his glory So is he sure not to be layd-by dishonourably if any could have a heart or stomach so to do Christ himself must give up the Kingdome to God and so must all Rulers and Potentates unto Christ else Wo be to them THE Cause of God AND Of these Nations CHAP. I. Of the deplorable Estate of the Nation at this day after so fair advantages as were put into our hands IT is a certain truth No man is made unhappy but by his own choice God hath not bin wanting to let us find that all the power of our enemies either at home or abroad could not destroy us while we had hearts and were watchfull to use the means to preserve our seivs confidence in men and distrust in God commonly go together and are much of like dangerous Issue and Consequence We have lost more in this seven years Peace by trusting too much to a friend then we did in all our twelve years war while we conflicted with hoasts of enemies inasmuch as we have been still losing our liberty by little and little which all the time of the wars we went on gaining more and more and if we get no more by losing him but resolution to take up our trust we shall be confiderable
gainers I am I confesse so much a Leveller that in this corrupt state of mens principles and minds corruptible at the best it is safer for Laws to govern than Men. Not but that that blessed day of the Lord 's own righteous Reign may be neerer the dawning upon us than perhaps the present dark and cloudy complexion of our thoughts and affairs would seem to hold forth Therefore I would not have the door of a lively expectation shut against our Lord's appearing as I would not that in the mean time though we knew He were to come to morrow we should throw away our Reason and put out our Lights as men and despise those liberties he hath given us as advantages for our serving of him The late violent turns and changes that have befallen this poor Commonwealth since our Arms rested from the common enemy have to my apprehension lookt more like the Trumpets in the Apocalypse that with gallantry and state brought in Corruption than the Vials that work it out These pour not forth themselves at once with observation but leisurely and secretly wast and consume long-rooted Usurpations And all that either the Civil or Military power hath to do is but to maintain us in peace and freedom that so we may attend unto that Light of God which according to the prophecies of Scripture is breaking forth which will certainly undermine and destroy the State Anti-christian as well as the Church Anti christian for there is both and both shall be destroyed with the Spirit of Christ's mouth and the brightnesse of his Appearing And without his appointment it will never be done by secular Sword or Arm. When I say The Powers are to maintain our peace and freedom I am aware what I say and that it implyes We were in the possession of them and indeed so we were and they were given us of God If it be demanded when we were so and wherein it appeared I answer When our Arms were victorious over all our enemies in the field which was not till after Worcester fight Then was there nothing in our way visibly but Mercy and Truth Righteousnesse and Peace might have embraced each other The Enemy was subdued in England before that but there was a remnant of him in Scotland and Ireland And then the Rent that was made among us by the taking off the King weakned the honest Interest much as the Action it self gave opportunity to the ambitious aspirings and designs of some when that place was empty to get into it at least wise such jealousies there were Perhaps when that action shall be reveiw'd by us in Cooler Spirits we may see Cause to acknowledge that the King was not so ripe for the Capital Justice of man in those passive Circumstances wherein he then stood as a Prisoner of War till he had forfeited the security we might have laid upon him I am sure our Eager policy in that Action for self-preservation hath little succeded or answered our desires However the sickle of Divine Justice cutting him down it was not adviseable for honest men when they had discharged their judgments and consciences in a saithful testimony to divide thereupon But notwithstanding this breach we were again as I said upon fair advantages after the Battle at Worcester when nothing was wanting but a Spirit and wisdome to manage so great an opportunity A time like that of Augustus Caesar When our Saviour was born all the World was quiet So was all our little world for the Saviour to be born into it the 2d time Tyrants both in Church and State expel'd their Armyes vanquisht The Nations like wax ready to receive any good and righteous impression yea the Parliament it self expecting what good thing would be required of them to do having power to refuse nothing should have bin demanded The Lawyers quaked the formal Clergy were down in the Mouth the Malignant trembled the loose Nobility and Gentry lookt pale All men were frighted into a fear and awe of God and the hearts and expectations of all good men were up exceedingly But wherefore is a price put into the hand of a fool when there is no heart Now was the time that God said unto us as once unto Israel Go up and possesse the Land which I have sworn that I would give you Go fill the Land with Righteousnesse plant my Name and my Truth there Drive out all profannesse unmercifulnesse injustice oppression ease the burdens break the yokes relieve the necessities of my people stamp my Image upon the Nation consecrate it to me whatever thing in your minds that is honest and just and good and merciful bring it forth and fear not for the Lord your God which goeth before you He shall fight for you according to all that He did for you in Egypt He that brought you up from under Regal Tyranny and Episcopal domination that hath vanquished the Enemy in the three Nations before you and all their formidable hosts He is with you 4. This was the possessing of the Land which the Lord called his people then unto Even to fill the seats of Judicature and all places and things with the presence of God not to satisfie our selves to possesse the King's and Bishops Lands and Deane and Chapters Lands or rather to be possessed by them All men must here needs understand that I charge the Army And indeed I do so though not them alone but many of the then Parliament who took a new scent of the Honors promotions and Advantages of those whom God had cast out before them and lost the scent of the Cause yea and many of the zealous people of the Nation too were taken off by these things These were the Moabitish snares that inveigled the Princes And what hath followed thereupon is sad to behold at this day We having lost in a manner all that we had got and being relapst deeper into bondage then heretofore in the Kings time He is not an Englishman that doth not bleed to see how since that Liberty is lost Property expos'd to Arbitrary Lust and Will The Publique Cause and Interest laid-by A Private Cause and Interest set up Men sworn to it Judged by it not only as to liberty and livelyhood Officers being Casher'd the Army and others put out of Places of Trust but some put to death for not preferring it before the publique Malignants countenanced and taken into favour occasion given to the formal yea the profane spirit to lift up its head while publique spirits and the precious of the Land were discouraged yea that very spirit whereby our Cause rose and obtain'd so far lookt upon as an Enemy and watcht over with a jealous eye Tryers set up to keep it out of the Pulpit good Justices removed and the old spirit of the Gentry brought in play again worldly greatnesse again affected by those that sometime seemed to set their face another way The burdensome pompe and vanity of a Court again revived
the bringing of all things in Earth to answer the minde of God as is done in Heaven A thing not done at once nor presently but by degrees nor to be perfected but by the appearance of Jesus Christ as he lets down the spiritual knowledge and revelation of himself unto us in the opening of the Scriptures We are to be preparing and occupying our Measures and Talents till he come and put the finishing hand to Crown his own work 3. To direct us in the Way of serving this Cause That we go not forth headily and rashly presumptuously and self-confidently in our own wit will wisdom or rage there hath been too much of this but humbly waiting upon God watching and looking up to him what door he opens what way he leads what means he puts into our hands and not to be troubled if we cannot see to the end of our way distinctly but from step to step If we be brought to an obedient following of him our way shall be as the encreasing light growing to perfect day This was the way God perswaded the Parliament unto at first we had never else taken down Bishops not being provided of a Discipline in their room but God carryed us over this Objection then And so this was the way the Army professed themselves to be lead in and they prospered wonderfully Those were the days of innocency and simplicity though much weakness and childishness and God may upbraid us with that time as once he did Israel Jer. 2. I remember thee the kindness of thy youth in the day of thy espousals when thou followedst me in a Land that was not sowed When thou knewest not how thou shouldst live but hadst every meal from Heaven Israel was holinesse to the Lord c. And this is a great thing we have Covenanted and engaged to the Lord. It is no new thing ye are exhorted to but the Vowes of God are upon us The Lord hath had livery and seizin of us we have lived upon him and he hath found us in a Desert Land and hath borne us upon Eagles wings and why should it not be so again To conclude let us consider what a Name and a Praise we began to be made in the Earth What people were like England a People saved by the Lord Shall we begin in the Spirit and seek to be made perfect in the flesh Shall we that have been assisted and carryed forth to assert the Cause of God against the corrupt usurpations of the World when they had so long prescription a King of ancient Descent that had such a fouundation of the National Constitution the Laws an Army to stand upon the Spirit of the world in its vigour to maintain and uphold them Shall we that did not then shrink but wrought our Cause through the fire and through Seas of blood shall we now after we have conquered all these real difficulties be afraid of a thing of nought of the shaddows of our own unbelieving fears that have no foundation or bottome of reason or righteousnesse or consent or constitution to urge themselves upon us Where is the King of whose frown ye should be afraid Where 's his Power Where 's his Army What is become of the Great men and Mighty men Who shall hurt you if ye be followers of that that is good If any be stept up into their places and shall offer to oppose the Canse of God ye need not wish for weaker Adversaries for they will be self-condemned They stand upon a Bogg which will swallow them up having no righteous foundation And for your Comfort let me add this one Word The World ye are to grapple with hath lost a great strength of late It s very Heart-strings are broke This I must say for Him that is gone It was He that bare up this old ruinous Frame which in likelihood had fallen before this if His Parts His Courage His Religion had not supported it Whether He did well or ill in it judge ye Indeed it broke him at length and he fainted under the weight of it but He was a strong Buttresse to it when it was sinking in the time of the little Assembly The Law and the Clergy had then crackt if he had not put thereto his shoulder I am not against the Honest Interest of the Ministery or Law if that Interest be publique if it be the Interest of Righteousnesse and of the Spirit I call them old and rotten in the corrupt State of them wherein at present they stand But I say while that Prop of them lasted there was no attempting against them for God had given him to be a prolonging of days unto them And as he that stood in the way did lett the revealing of the Man of sin till he was taken out of the way so the Spirit of God in his poor Witnesses had not full play against this old and corrupt State of things while that Great Spirit acted the Defence of them A Word to the Reader to remove Prejudice MY ayme is to give my witnesse against the Present Apostacy whether this Generation will hear or whether they will forbear I have believed therefore have I spoken These things are not ministred but with some Faith that God will appear and revive this Cause and his poor people and as I know not which way so I am not Solicitous I would be loath to blow the Coals of another Intestine War But better our Peace be interrupted then Truth perish which is more our Life than the blood that runs in our Veynes I know it must be not by Might nor Power but by the Spirit that our deliverance is wrought whether in War or Peace I should hope the present Vsurpations should be too much self-condemned in the Practisers of them to bear a quarrel and that if we knew once but how to Value our Cause and the ground we are upon our Opposites would quickly rebate their Courage seeing the day is so farre risen I am not against Monarchy as an unlawful Government we find it owned of God and honoured to be a Type of the Reign of Christ but I am upon this Dilemma withall the Promoters of it here Either we did well and were guided by a divine hand in taking it down or not If not why do we not ask the World mercy and restore the old Family again If we were directed by God to remove it let us see the same divine hand leading to the restoring it else What a scandal is it to our Cause to build again the things we destroyed That God leads us not to it appears 1. Because his people consent not in it and Governments for the forme of them are to be founded upon Consent The people that adhered and are yet faithful to this Cause have not onely their Interest among others but Paramount to the rest of the Nation 2. Our Condition calls not for unnecessary charge Taxes lye heavy on the Commoners The poor of the
and idle persons therein entertained and maintained upon the charge of the poor exhausted Commoners justice as much delayed as before the Lawyers as Corrupt and Exorbitant Those Bawbles as once they were deem'd and styled and ridiculous formalities of State again introduced as vain and excessive Feastings and as superstitious and Idolatrous Funerals as in the darkest times in all these things as if we should professe to glory in our shame The election of Members to sit in Parliament as Corruptly negotiated and sollicited as in the Kings time Armies modelled and imployed not for maintaining of the Cause of God and the Nations save onely in name and title but indeed and in truth to maintain those that have Usurpt the Dispose of us and it and all our Liberties A Council receiving paye for work the Nation never set them upon When others would serve gratis Nehemiah did not so nor the former Council of State though they had their faults In a word all things running again in the old Channel and not onely King Lords and Bishops set up again under new appellations but even the old Names and Powers claym'd and contended for as to the two first The Negative Voyce and the Militia it self not excepted two main branches of the late Quarrel and if these succeed to the desire of some as if we look to humane probabilities there may be too much Cause of fear when we consider what attempts were made and what means were used the last Parliament to have made a King we must have Bishops too if the old Proverb which was no doubt the result of a deliberate consideration and inspection into the Nature of the two Interests No Bishop no King do hold good While these things have bin doing the hand of God hath bin upon our Bodies our Cattel our Trading What strange and New diseases have swept away whole Families and Townes almost of late years So as we could not avoid taking notice of an intimation of Divine Displeasure therein Unnatural and intemperate seasons a plague among our Horses wherein perhaps we have too much confided Our Merchants break and run away daily Our Ships lost and taken to incredible numbers Our Men the strength of our Nation sent to digg their graves with their swords in forreign Countries and disagreeing Climats whither they are prest forth against their Consent a thing that would not have bin put up formerly and the Poor of the Land increasing wonderfully upon us whole Families ready to starve for want of Trade and Imployment whilst that which would maintain many Thousands is lavisht I may say imbezeld to keep up the Port of a few new rais'd great Ones at an unnecessary height Where these things may End or whereto they are directed in the Intentions of many that drive them on the Lord alone knows but it is much and with too much ground or appearance of likelyhood suspected to be with an eye to bring-in the old Family assoon as they have made all things ready which by that time all is said that these Designers are able to alleadge of the Commodiousnesse thereof to put us out of fear of any more Warrs and Changes and to save the Charge of maintaining Armies to keep out that Title I fear the Nation may have too strong a Temptation unto And then what will become I say not of King's and Bishops Lands which many of the Gentry and Sould'ers have swallowed down it were the lesse matter if the disgorging of them were the worst consequence but what would become of the Estates and Libert'es not to say the Lives of all honest men that have adhered to this Cause Nay what would become of the Cause of God and Religion which we have bin contending for against Popery and profanenesse let every indifferent person Judge Though the truth is setting these consequences aside if there were a Necessity of a King again I must professe I should think it more righteous yea more honourable for our principles and our Cause to take a branch of the old Family that hath not forfeited his Right by actual hostility against us than to set up any other Family in that place so little grudge have I against that expulsed Family though I think whosoever pretends to be their Friend and should wish them restored to that Office and Dignity in this Day wherein God seems to be overthrowing designedly the throne of kingdoms consults neither theirs nor the Nations peace But which is the Misery of all the rest There are not wanting that endeavour to perswade us that though these symptomes of death are upon us yet we are well and upon an excellent constitution What would ye have May ye not be as good as ye will say they and that this is our Cause we fought for Which is so true as that the Calves were Israel's Gods that brought them up out of the land of Aegypt As if the setting up a few men that seemed sometime zealous for the Cause were the triumphing of the Cause when the body of the Adherents languish God knowes whether in this I do enviously detract from the Merits of any His late Highnesse or others that rose with him who deserved eminently in their day And None was more joy'd to see the power come into His hands then those that have since had so much cause to bewail the ill use of it But to take it ill of us that we cannot dance and sing in these circumstances is such an unreasonablenesse as is amazing Wonder not that men that have been free should think it irksom to be in bondage That those that have purchased their liberty at such a Rate should be willing to enjoy it That those Court Trinkets and Fopperies those chargeable Bawbles and Vanities being once cast out are not without regret and anguish received and taken in again No No we cannot so easily take upon us all the Blood that hath been shed in this Quarrell we cannot state the cause upon a Person or a Family or the individuall circumstances of Hic Nunc Tyranny is Tyranny and Oppression is Oppression be it excercised by whomsoever and superfluity and luxury are worse in this Generation than in the former daies A liberty there is I grant to say what you will against the old Court the High Commission the Star-Chamber the waies of the Bishops and former Tyrants and persecutors and to professe and practise any thing that touches not present Corruptions but shall we have liberty to witnesse against the same Evills in new dresses * May Sir Henry Vane freely propound a Healing Q. A. No If he do he must for an answer be sent to Carisbrook Castle May Col. Okey Lt. Gen. Ludlow and other faithful Officers in the Army freely remonstrate against incroaching Tyranny No they must then be cashier'd and sent to the Tower May Mr. Cardel freely preach against a formal Ministry and Worship No He must then leave his Benefice in Lumbard-street May Mr.
John Goodwin try the Tryers No He must then be school'd for his pains and know that He that set them up will maintain them May Major Gen. Overton exercise his command freely without serving the lusts of great ones No He must then be banished to the Isle of Garnsey If not what liberty have we or indeed what liberty can be expected when those that take upon them to measure it out to us are themselves the great Object of Offence and have made themselves deservedly the very Butt against which all faithfull witnessing must be directed unlesse we will put out our eyes the light of our Reason and our Consciences and call Evil Good and Good Evill as too many have been corrupted or deceived to do in these daies CHAP. II. Enquires the Remedy in this case where the forwardness of the natural Man is rejected and it is shewed That by the first Covenant there is no recovery for us if God shew us not a better Covenant and bring not down our Spirits to the tearms thereof THe Case standing thus with us the Question will be What way of recovery is there for us The flesh and the naturall Man is forward and bold and would be undertaking presently like Israel of old who when they had offended the Lord with refusing to go up at his command thought to mend all again presently with changing their resolution But the Lord tells them It would not be accepted then Because they would not go up in his Time they should not go up in their own If they did they should fall before the Canaanites There is a season and an opportunity which if it be let slip is never to be recovered again as it was with Jerusalem O that thou hadst known at least in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace but now they are hid from thine eys Ye shall desire to see one of the daies of the Son of Man and shall not not see it The night cometh wherein no man can work 1. There is a day of grace wherein God makes offers and tenders of his presence and assistance which is meant by the daies of the Son of Man wherein the patience of God waits upon the world Persons and Nations not leaving himself without Witnesse that he is ready to do all on his part towards the saving and redeeming of them Thus the old World had their day during the preaching of Noah The Jews had theirs during the preaching of Christ All men have their day wherein God shews himself not willing of their death And thus England hath had its day as hath been shewed But if this be overslipped then follows 2. In the second place the day of Judgment Heb. 10.26 27. If we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledg of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the Adversaries That which grace will not do judgment shall There is an Order for the issuing out of all Gods Attributes though he have magnified his Word above all his Name and given it the first place yet he hath not ceased to be just and righteous he must make Rebels stoop to him else he had as good give up his Kingdom Therefore When the Master of the house is risen up and hath shut to the door and ye shall begin to stand without and knock c. then though Noah Daniel and Job stood before me my heart could not be towards this people In that age when the Jews were rejected they had many friends that were powerful with God the Apostles and others yet they could not prevail to bring back the heart of God to that people though Paul bids high and would have given his salvation for it No the fire must now work upon them Judgment must have its course the Decree is gone forth there is no arresting of it And though God will take up again and be reconciled at last yea and with more abundant kindness gather his people again yet it must be through a long tract of suffering a 1600 years rejection and no hopes given them till Jesus Christ be sent the second time in the glory of the Father to restore them Let this be considered for if this be our case that the door be shut and that we begin to stand without and knock as me-thinks it looks too like such a thing we have not that success and admission within that formerly we had we shall receive but cold answers without doors then deliverance must be wrought through the fire we must bear our iniquity before God be pacified towards us But we have been so dandled and playd with that like wanton children not used to be lasht we know not how to understand correction but are ready to think God is playing with us when he is laying the rod upon us Thus it was with us all the dayes of the late Protector we put all upon the account of jest and tryal All our losses abroad of ships and me splitting our Designs we understood them but as tryals And things running Counter at home to honest principles and expectation we thought they were but mists cast before our eys sure the day would clear up and things would go well at length Though some felt the rod to smart others call'd it play and sport therefore we had need to be awakened to know where we are that the rod is upon us and if we understand not Jezreel Loruhamah follows and if that speak not loud enough Loammi will You may observe in that first of Hosea the Prophet had three children The first he was appointed to call Jezreel that was as the first drops of the showr of vengeance now Israel look to thy self and remember the day of Jezreel what Jehu did serving himself when he pretended to serve me I will therefore visit saith God the blood of Jezreel on the house of Jehu There was the warning piece shot off which might have its usefulness to some tender-hearted Israelites to drive them into their Chambers till the indignation was over past Those that were not awakened by this hear next of Loruhamah I will no more have mercy And if this do not full execution Loammi follows Ye are not my people To apply this Our Mercy runs low already but when God shall declare against us as not his people we shall be sensible of his displeasure too late CHAP. III. A particular enquiry into the immediate Causes of this dangerous relapse of ours ENGLAND hath had many Physicians yet have I met with few that have hit upon the very Cause of this relapse of ours or that prescribe a proper and sufficient remedy though many pens are at work and many brave English Spirits give their Essay say much and very well as to the rescuing our too far gone liberty and more do sigh and mourn not able to utter and vent the grief of their hearts
Curae leves loquuntur ingentes stupent But few go to the Root of our distemper we must go lower yet Sure that which hath blasted all our hopes and made us return and sit down as men ashamed re infectâ must be discovered and this Light I am apt to think must come out of the Sanctuary Those that have travelled through the like passages in their own hearts and have known the depths of Satan the admirable shapes he transforms himself into and what an absolute Newness of life and frame of Spirit is requisite for the carrying on the work of the Kingdom of God steadily and without starting back they may tell us something of importance and siguificancy in our Case In searching out the Root of our Distemper we may profitably reflect upon many things which might be partly Causes of it and have a hand in bringing us thus low when we were in so hopeful a way as was hinted before Such as are a carnal Succumbency of Spirit lying down in the advantanges attained and so making the Kingdom of God a thing too outward consisting in worldly and outward ease honour and the like and neglecting it within 2. Making it too private and narrow contenting our selves with our own not travelling of others deliverance the poor remaining yet in streights in our own Land through want of justice to help them to their own and want of mercy to extend something of ours to them 3. Unwatchfulness of Spirit through which the enemy got an advantage to work in the night of our security and sloth to undo all again while we were sleeping and shorting in our private advantages And many such like Reasons might be assigned which if we should be exact to muster up we might be lost in them But they being infirmities of all Times common to all as Men they have their easier and more ordinary censure and pardon from the Lord and cannot be supposed to be so severely animadvered against by the hand of his justice as to cause him after such intimacy to turn his back upon a people And therefore we must search for some other blacker and fowler thing to charge this great Desertion and sorsaking of us upon And as Physitians use to inquire of their Patients the time when their diseases seized upon them and the Manner of its on-set how and where it found them where they had bin what they had bin doing what they had eaten or drank that day or what exercise they had bin at and such like Circumsiances so let us do We may remember that it was a constant observation which was again and again inculcated upon us both by the Lord himself and those that were wise observers of his providences and dispensations that when ever we began to consult with flesh and blood and to deal wisely to restrain or deal hardly with the true Israel of God The Lord did alwayes animadvert against us with some losse ill successe or disappointment in our publique affaires which was as that voice unto us Touch not mine annointed and do my Prophets no harme It is for their sakes that God doth all that he rebukes Kings He gives Nations for them and therefore not to discern this the Lords body whose good and deliverance is the scope and aime of all God's works and dispensations No wonder if it cast us into a sick and weak and languishing Estate By these we rose with these we thrived It may be remembred Our affaires never succeeded till they came to be managed by these hands in the Army and then we had not any considerable stop or Check that did dwell upon us till the salvation of the three Nations was wrought out and accomplished But when God had Vanquished our Enemies I dowell remember an evil spirit grew up against the people of God we grew jealous of them we were glad to be Saved by them but afraid they should Rule over us And therefore as their weaknesse unwatchfulnesse and unheedfulnesse to this spirit gave way those that should have prevented and forbid being otherwise privately taken up and employed or wanting such a sense and value of themselves in the Lord as was requisite to keep off the World from presuming and incroaching upon them by little and little they grew from jealousie to Emnity and to plant their Engines against that people and that spirit that had bin their Raepart and defence in all assaults that had bin made against their peace and safety Nay then sayes God if this be your Requital of me if you that have bin fellow Souldiers in one Cause fellow servants in one house know no better how to use your peace and liberty but fall a beating your fellow servants I will make one among you or I will send in One upon you that shall seize and secure things you so abuse not to be restored again till you know how to make a better use of them You love your Liberty you love your property you are not for Me nor will give my Saints their Liberty and free breathing among you if ye drive me away from you if I go up from you these go with me And as for those you Maligne I will be a little Sanctuary to them And there is this thing farther in it which is worthy our observation The spirit we were so jealous of was that growing light in the people of God which we knew not where it would end being a free born Creation that had no name nor form for that which was formed we could admit and grew pretty familiar with though at first we were shy of some of them as Independents Anabaptists c. But this namelesse thing this Virgin that was not espoused nor determined to or by any forme This spirit that owned no Father but God no Master but one and He in Heaven that was in a pure absolute and constant dependance on him that professed to follow the Lamb whithersoever he should go that had resigned its will its wisdome the Conduct of it self wholly to him This was the Offence Top and keep down this spirit let not this get the head of us if it do we are undone our Religion our Consistency is gone we shall be the most tossed wavering uncertain fluid ridiculous people in the World No Nation will value us none of the Potestant Churches will own us Let not this Man let not any men in this spirit Rule over us nor be suffered among us Now mark what God did He took one that was in no form neither Presbyterian Independent nor Anapatist and sets him up in despight of all this wit and contrivance to the contrary And so the very thing that generation so studiously avoyed fell unto them The thing they feared as Iob saies came unpon them and that very life they sought to save they assuredly lost This was the first thing But this is not all In the next place God committs into his hand a Rule not heavenly Divine and spiritual
not the sweet and candid Rule of Christ whom they refused in his heavenly appearance but an Earthly Lordly Rule puts an Iron Scepter into his hand to dash them in peices like a Potter's vessel and so answers these fools according to their folly yet answers them not Their spight was at the spiritual seed therefore they shall have the Children of the Earthly Jerusalem Reign over them for these were his Body or his Princes which he set over all the Earth Thus as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge or to entertain Christ in his meek large gentle heavenly appearance which knows how to give men their Rights as well as Christians and every one their food in due season The Lord gives them up to their own hearts lusts and desires and feeds them with flesh which they called for a fleshly Religion till it came out of their Nostrils and they are sick and vomit again and have enough of this Religious spirit insomuch that with all their hearts they would have had the power any where rather in this hand that in the name of God and Religion could do such things take away liberty and property destroy their Rights inslave their persons alter and change laws and times at his pleasure break Oaths and Engagagements without remorse Any spirit but this spirit Thus God filled them with their own ways and punisht them with their own Inventions Thus he brought fire out of Abimelech to devour the men of Shechem and fire out the men of Shechem to devour Abimelech for they were a plague to each other for they were of one spirit but thus wonderfully ordered to be each others Torment If you ask me now What spirit this was that made such work what was the spirit of that Generation and of Him that was in Judgment set over them though in mercy too I will grant you for God did make use of him as a Bulwark still against the Common enemy though we lost ground within doors Was it an evil spirit how then could any good come from it I answer It was not a profane spirit nor a spirit void of Religion there was much of Religion and Righteousness of one sort in it but if you would know what spirit it was It was the spirit of the first Covenant grafted indeed upon a new and living stock Christ and the Gospel but bearing its own sowre grape The spirit of the Law which you know makes nothing perfect though in a Gospel dresse the spirit of the first born after the flesh or the life of Christ's first appearance which is never safe and sure from starting back returning to corruption till it be made a sacrifice seasoned with salt and salted with the fire of the eternal Spirit through the offering up of the flesh And because this discovery is of so main importance and concern unto us therefore I shall discourse largely of it in the next Chapter and shew you How this is the Spirit in which our first life and Activity appears and how it ministers in the things of God that is in the first Court and where it is to give up and resigne which when it doth not it converts into Enmity against that better and latter spirit and so is justly rejected and throwen off by God And these things I shall as God assists discourse to you not as Notions barely but as things that have really operated and produced their fruits among us Which if the Lord give us to understand and make a right use of may make us wise to salvation to save our souls I am sure if not to save the Nation but I say to save the Nation also for This man shall be our peace when the Assyrian shall come into the Land and this wisdome and knowledge shall be the Stability of our times Though I cannot say whether we be yet humble and broken enough to receive it but may put the Lord to cast us again into the fire to make us Malleable to this Impression CHAP. IV. Shewing what manner of Spirit that was that miscarryed in this Cause I Am apt to believe that the Instruments which carryed on the work in this Nation generally were not mistaken in themselves but that they were sincere and upright with one sort of uprightnesse and did indeed intend the freeing and delivering of us yea I am apt to retain that charity of the late Protector that He intended no lesse when He dissolved the long Parliament and did those High Arbitrary things But it is not every spirit Nay it is not any spirit be it never so raised and anointed that can carry through to the end in case of some temptations but that spirit that is by extraction divine That that is of the Earth will seek and at last find its Center in the Earth though it may by strong Engines be carryed and kept aloft awhile But natural principles let them be never so much heightened will never hold out to the end of God's Works As the eye of the fleshly Israelite could not see to the End of those things that were to be Abolished And this is the great witnesse which God is minding to hold forth unto us in this day by all our Apostacy and backslidings even to distinguish between seed and seed Spirit and Spirit Then saith the Prophet ye shall returne and discern between the Righteous and the Wicked c. There is a Righteousnesse in the flesh which is Wickednesse before God not simply in it self but as it exalts and magnifies it self in a sense of its own self-sufficiency and in the excellency of its work opposing the work and way that is more excellent because it finds not its own strength adaequate to it as being that which Flesh and Blood cannot endure and yet cannot give way to Another no not to the Lord himself by the breaking and crucifying it in its Natural abilityes to do that which it cannot do This was the very Case in our Saviour's time The Jewes were pitifully at a losse and would faine have recovered their ancient splendor and glory but they mistook both their objest and their way to it expecting a Carnal when the designe of God was a Spirituall Kingdome and expecting to attain that by their own Righteousnesse which God discerning the insufficiency and weaknesse of the Law to assist them unto through the Flesh sent his own Son to do for them Rom. 8. And this is that alone that can unriddle and resolve our Case Therefore I said We must go into the Sanctuary to understand it To clear this up to those that are spirituall and can judge what I say I shall desire to make this Question Whether this Apostacy that is upon us be not a Judgment That is whether to be delivered up to such a Reprobate sense as we seeme to be both Rulers and people The one to act and the other to accept and submit to those very things which we destroyed be
birth it should not have gone back again For when God will work who can lett therefore sure that was not the time and therefore we are guilty of no such A postacy as you charge us nor his late Highnesse of turrning his back upon the Designs of Heaven Ans The Kingdom of God was not onely at the Door and come to the Birth but it is born into the World and is among us though as a Kingdome of Patience Know ye not what our Saviour said of himself and of his Kingdom Luk. 17.25 It shall indeed come as irresistably as the light and as generally and it shall be as evident and conspicuous as the light but first must he suffer many things and be rejected of this Generation It is no Argument that the time is not because men reject the Kingdom The Kingdom hath its time to suffer as well as triumph to suffer before it triumph The Son of Man must be betrayed before he be inthroned but woe unto that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed though it be the fulfilling of the Counsell of God So the Kingdom must be rejected of this Generation What Generation why mark who put the Question unto our Saviour vers 20. The Pharisees the strictest Sect of Religious persons among the Jews the Generation we have been describing in the foregoing Discourse The Kingdom of God could not be rejected if it did not make its appearance All men court Christ at a distance and court the Kingdom of God in the Notion in the Prophecy of it they do not reject it there but when it comes not coming in their way with observation and outward shew they reject it coming not in the wise in the mighty in the noble in the learned but Christ riding on an Asse coming in Fishermen in the people that knew not the Law this was the Offence and is the Offence at this day I have heard with my ears in the time of the little Assembly some of that Assembly say into whose hands perhaps this may come I pray the Lord they may consider it and repent for they are now of another mind That if they did not think and believe there were some better and greater thing at the bottom in the design of Providence calling them together then meerly to go upon an outward settlement they would not continue at that work a day longer such convictions and awakenings of the Kingdom of God its being at hand were upon some Spirits that do now steer another Course But to return To what uncomfortable and dangerous waies and policies this disobedience did subject his late Highnesse is lamentable to consider sometimes to court this party sometimes that now with the Cavaliers then with the Presbyterians Then when they galled him turn to his old friends and speak kindly to tender consciences living upon the wrack all his daies which made him in all probability seek his peace in forreign designs with the noise and reputation thereof to drown the noise of Conscience at home which was still gnawing at the Root Then Anti-Christ must be conquered and the Spanish power that upholds him Until at last these continuall strivings and fightings within brought him down into his Grave The Lord knows I mention not this to bring up a blot upon his Memory nor to insult over his Ashes He that shall do so considers not that He was set forth unto us as a Mirrour of humane frailty Therefore be not high minded but fear and that it was not his personall ambition or other Evils but our sins in association together that both gave him up to that temptation and us to that subjection wherein certainly he was equally unhappy with us to be the Person that should take away that liberty that He had been imployed to purchase for us and to have all this ruine befall us under his hand As for his sin it is to God but the use of these things is to us and upon no other account do I repeat them CHAP. VI. A farther and more full Character of that Spirit in many great Pretenders that knew not our Cause nor indeed served it but serv'd themselvs of it And a witnesse against them BUt why do I speak of the Cause of God when most of us are ignorant of it and far from righteousnesse as the Prophet speaks The Cause of God is a divine thing and as the day of God Who may abide it Is it our ease our peace our liberty our promotion our pleasures our Interests Nothing lesse The Cause of God is that which searches and tryes and burns up all these is an enemy to all these in that carnall and dark way of understanding possessing and injoying of them which men imagine The Cause of God is that indeed which hath health pleasure deliverance and salvation in it for every Creature rightly understood and truly advanced and subjected unto but of all that we have done God may justly say Did ye it at all to Me Did ye take away the Bishops at all to me No ye did it to your selves and ye have feasted your selves with their flesh their lands their revenues Yea their power and Jurisdiction so far as for shame ye may ye do joyfully exercise over your Brethren When ye took off the King's head did ye do it at all to me No It was to your selves that ye might be absolute and supream your selves And hath not the Event shewed it When ye abolished the House of Lords did ye it at all to me Are ye not mad to set it up again So that why do we inquire after particulars wherein we have gone astray when we have gone astray from the womb from our first birth and setting forth in this Cause we have acted from a gentile principle from self preservation for self ends and advantages from stomach and revenge because we suffered and were eclipsed by the former powers Now the Wrath of man works not the Righteousnesse of God the Apostle tels us we were never subjected to God in those Rods that were upon us we could not lay down our lives and take them up again as Christ we fullfil'd our own lust and were set to save our own lives in all we did This is far from the righteousnesse of God And this may be infer'd not only from the State we wrought in which was dark and legal and fleshly as that of old Israel but from those Characters of wavering uneavennesse and uncertainty which accompanied all our Actings Hence we were for the King and against the King for treating and then for breaking off for carrying on the Cause and now for carrying it back thus bringing upon our selves all the blood that hath bin shed in the Land both on the one side and one the other whereas the righteousnesse of God is a steady thing is not yea and nay puls not down to set up the same again The righteousness of God judges things in their root and principle be