of which hath made us we confess not to idoliz the Covenant as we fear too many do though we trust it will appear before God Angels and Men that we shall ever pursue its true and lawful ends according to the plain candid meaning thereof though we do not upon every occasion urge the Covenant as we see every party though as far different as light and darkness apt to do the Lord having by his Word and by his Spirit convinced us of our duty therein though there had been no such Covenant at all entred into But when we saw that under pretence of the Covenant a corrupt party in Parliament by their worldly policy after the War was ended in England and the late Kings party subdued with the loss of thousands of the lives of Saints whose death is precious in the sight of the Lord did endeavour to set up the King upon his own terms and with him to establish a National Church Government not in all things agreeable to the WORD OF GOD but is destructive to the just Liberties of the true Spiritual Church of Christ which he hath by his own most precious blood purchased for them and is now come forth to bestow upon them which did sufficiently demonstrate it self by the dealings of the then Master-builders with the Churches of Jesus Christ in and about London that were then threatned to be dissolved and Laws made to prevent the Communion of Saints with one another except only in that one publick Form then about to be established to the astonishment of many of us that had lifted up our hands to God and sworn to endeavour a Reformation according to the Word of God and therefore after much waiting upon God by prayer and examining our own hearts about the ends and sincerity thereof we were abundantly satisfied that it was not onely lawful but our duty to keep our Arms in our hands till the ends beforementioned should be accomplished and to that purpose the Army whereof we are a part did refuse to disband did march up to London to propose to the Parliament a way of Establishment that might be more for the carrying on of the ends of Religion and Liberty though therein we were not at that time successful yet most wonderfully and graciously preserved by the Lord and extraordinarily convinced after much seeking the Face of God that our failing was in endeavouring to set up the King upon any terms he being a man of so much blood that the Lord would have no peace with him nor any that should go about to establish him Whereupon after his own hard heart had hindred him from yeilding to any overtures that were made to him by the Parliament through whom all the Armies Proposals were to be tendered and a second War more dangerous then the former contrived by him and his Son now with you together with those in Scotland that â—…ated us of the Army of England under the name of Sectaries being by the unspeakable goodness and mighty power of God waded through and a second testimony given from Heaven to justifie the proceedings of his poor servants against that bloody Antichristian brood though with the loss of many precious Saints we were then powerfully convinced that the Lords purpose was to deal with the late King as a man of blood And being perswaded in our consciences That he and his Monarchy was one of the ten horns of the Beast spoken of Rev. 17.12,13,14,15 and being witnesses to so much of the innocent blood of the Saints that he had shed in supporting the Beast and considering the loud cries of the souls of the Saints under the Altar we were extraordinarily carryed forth to desire Justice upon the King that man of blood And to that purpose petitioned our Superiour Officers and the Parliament to bring him to Justice which accordingly by an high hand of Providence was brought to pass which Act we are confident the Lord will own in preserving the Commonwealth of England against all Kingdoms and Nations that shall adventure to meddle with them upon that account When God executes his judgements upon Malefactors let none go about to resist When he brings forth those his Enemies that will not suffer Jesus Christ to be King in the midst of his Saints and breaks them in pieces like a Potters vessel let not Scotland nor any other Nation say What dost thou We fear they have been too busie already the Lord that sees the secrets of all hearts knows the compliance of Scotland with the late Kings Issue now with you was in order to disturb the Peace of England for being Gods Executioners upon a bloody Tyrant and a supporter of the Throne of the Beast But blessed be the Lord the crafty are taken in their own suare England sits in peace whilst Scotland receives into their chief City their new King at the very hour wherein an Army had marched 300 miles is sacing them at the very gates We wish our Brethren of Scotland especially those that truly fear the Lord would consider these things and not slight the Providences of God so much as they do When Scotland chose new gods and would have a King out of a Family that God had rejected then was War in the Gates And though we do not think Providences alone a sufficient rule for Gods people to walk by yet we do know that the Lord speaks to his people by his Providence as well as by his Word and he is angry with his people that do not take notice thereof and promiseth blessing to those that do Psa 107. and the latter end And here give us leave not in a boasting spirit but in meekness and fear to tell you That we are perswaded we are poor unworthy instruments in Gods hand to break his Enemies and preserve his people You have acknowledged us in your own papers to be a rod of iron to dash in pieces the Malignants but withal say We must now be broken in pieces because we now set our selvs against the Lor of Gods inheritance Let us here speak for our selves yea the Lord speak for us who knows our hearts and all our ways we value the Churches of Jesus Christ who are the Lot of Gods inheritance ten thousand times above our own lives yea we do bless the Lord we are not onely a Rod of Iron to dash the common enemies in pieces but also a hedge though very unworthy about Christs Vineyard and if we know our own hearts where ever the Lot of Gods inheritance shall appear to be found in Scotland we shall think it our duty to the utmost hazard of our lives to preserve the same But if there be any that have taken counsel together against the Lord and against his Anoynted whom the Lord hath decreed to set upon his holy Hill of Zion we are perswaded the Lord hath brought us hither as instruments through which he will speak to them in his wrath and vex them in his sore
greater difficulties and to follow the LAMB more fully then ever We nave had a breathing time while our Brethren have been bringing forth the deliverance of IRELAND through sore pangs And now the Symptomes of travelling pain begin to take hold upon us and as that glorion birth hath been thus far brought forth in IRELAND through the Prayers of the Saints so we are encouraged to believe while we finde the spirit of Prayer crying earnestly for the accomplishment of CHRISTS designes thorow all these dark dispensations that the Close will be the bringing forth of Zions deliverance And to that end deat Friends we are hold in the Name of our Lord whom ye love to provoke you to fervent Prayer at this time for the clear manifestation of the presence of Christ with us in whatever service he shall call us unto We are now again alarm'd by him to come forth into the field but both our Work and the Issue is onely and wholly known to himself Pray for us that we may not â—ant that Pillar of five before us and the Cloud behind us and that we may be found faithful Servants waiting onely upon our Lords good pleasure and ler both you and us be instant in Prayer for the uniting of the hearts of all that fear the Lord in this and our Neighbour Nation of SCOTLAND that there may not be found any of the generation of the Just joyning Issue with those that support the Beast and oppose the advancement of the KINGDOM of our LORD JESUS CHRIST the King of Saints But that some special and signal discovery of the good Will of God to his people may now appear in separating the pretious from the vile both in their counsels and actions And it is most earnestly desired that â—ervent Supplication and Prayer be made for all such of us as shall be called to the management of Publick Affairs that the Lord would make his way plain before us That so in all our undertakings we may be subservient to the affairs of Jesus Christ and walk in love as becometh Saints towards all dissatisfied Brethren both in ENGLAND and SCOTLAND that our indeared affection to them as to the lot of Gods inheritance may appear in all our demeanors towards them and in theirs towards us That so the enemies of CHRIST may be disappointed and these Clouds of Division scattered to the abundant Glory and Praise of God and comfort of all his people Who knows but yet after the late too great Unchristian Differences between the Children of the same Father this may be the day wherein shall be begun the fulfilling of those glorious promises which God hath made to his people in the last days And I will give them one heart and one way Jer. 32.39 and That Ephraim shall not envie Judah and Judah shall not vex Ephraim Isa 11.12,13,14 And that we may be active and constant in the work of the Lord we farther provoke you to be earnest with him on the behalf of all the Saints and particularly for us that our hearts may be taken off from the poor low things of this world That we may not seek our selves nor great things for our selves but the glory and honour of JESUS CHRIST who hath so gratiouslâ— owned us and manifested his glorious presence with us through all the many temptations and tryals that we have been exercised under and the sore trouble our eyes have seen All which he hath done that he might humble us and that he might prove us to do us good in the latter end And for all these ends the Lord hath stirred up our hearts to set apart the Fifth day of the next week being the Thirtieth of this present Moneth May 30. 1650 as a solemn time to seek his Face in and about this work Wherein hoping you will joyn with us we defire that both you and we may be humbled before the Lord for all our former and latter evils that we have commiâ—ted notwithstanding the multitude of his tender mercies towards us It may be since we have been at ease we have contracted rust the Lord make us every one sensible of the plague of his own heart and grant that this may be a cleansing day that he would both reprove and enable us to turn at his reproof that so what employment soever the Lord calleth us unto we may go to it leaving our sins behind us And let us with all fervency of spirit pray that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ would so pour out his Spirit upon us that thereby our hearts being purged from all filthiness of flesh and spirit our holy conversation may declare us to be the people of the Lord yea the Army of the LAMB who is King of kings and Lord of lords whose followers are called Chosen and saithful And since the Lord hath taught us that to hang down the head as a Bulrush for a day is not such a fast as he hath chosen we do further therefore lay it upon our own hearts and yours that if any either Officer or Souldier be guilty of any prosaneness to the scandal of the Gospel discovery thereof may be made and such course therein â—…ken as may be agreeable to the Gospel and Discipline of the Army Further that we use our utmost endeavours in our several places to reform those gross Enormities of Drunkenness Swearing open Prophanation of the Lords day and contempt of the Ordinances of Jesus Christ which are too much to be sound in the Army that so as much as in us lyeth we may purge out every accursed thing from amongst us Dear Brethren let us labour through the power of the Spirit of Christ to sanctifie our selves and the Camp for the LORD that is in the midst of us is a holy God let us not too much presume upon our former mercies but well consider what the Lord hath said to his own people that were as neerly related to him as we can be Josh 24.19 The Lord he is a holy and a jealous God he will not forgive your transgressions and your sins if you forsake the Lord and serve strange Gods then he will turn and consume you and do you hurt after that he hath done you good and again Josh 7.12 13. Read the words as also Isaiah 63.8,9,10 Read the words Oh let these Scriptures and others to the same purpose deeply â—ffect us that so whilst we are used as a Rod of iron in Christs hand to dash his enemies in pieces we our selves may serve him with fear and rejâ—yce with trembling All that now seem to be on Christ's side will not hold out unto the end Be we faithful unto death and Christ will give us a Crown of life Dear Friends we shall earnestly long to hear from you to the end we may know how the Lord is pleased to affect your hearts with these things and what impressions of his Spirit he shall through his Word set upon you after
you have sought his face with us about the same that so we may further know through you his will concerning us And we shall not fail in this and all other opportunities to seek the Lord for you that you may be preserved from every evil to his glorious Kingdom that you may be kept blameless and harmless the sons of God without rebuke And we beseech you in the spirit of love and meekness to stir up all that fear God amongst whom you converse yea though of different judgments as to the form of Church-government to seek the Lord with us in these things for sure it cannot but be the desire of every one that is a living member of Christs body that the work of Christ should prosper and that all that fear the Lord may be of one heart and one mind in the things that concern his great affairs in a time when his work is to establish his own Kingdom in the ruine of BABYLON as in the apprehension of many of his people it is this day Thus presenting our most indeared affection to you we heartily recommend you into the Bosome of Jesus Christ and rest Your Christian Friends and fellow Souldiers White-hall May 20. 1650. To all our dear Friends and fellow-Souldiers that fear the Lord. Will. Constable William Roe Rich. Saâ—key Griffith Lloyd T. Harrison He. Haynes Will. Style Stephen White Nath. Rich W. Stane Tobias Bridge Nic. Lockier Edw Whalley Will. Goffe Jo. Merreman Thomas Hancock Charles Fleetwood Azariah Husbands Will. Gough George Joyce Tho. Pride John Blackwel Edw. Orpin Tho. Else Math. Tomlinson Jo. Mason Robert Barrow Tho. Bayley John Okey Jenkin Lloyd Samson Larke Isaac Knight Paul Sismey We desire that what Return you make hereof be directed to Colonel Barkestead at White-Hall to be by him communicated to the Officers at the Head-quarters A DECLARATION OF The English ARMY now in SCOTLAND TO The people of SCOTLAND especially those a mong them that know and fear the LORD We the Officers and Souldiers of the English Army do send Greeting AT the beginning of the great and wonderful workings of GOD in these two Nations of England and Scotland we the Under-Officers and Souldiers of the English Army now in Scotland were most of us if not all men of private Callings and not at all interested in matters of Publick and State-affairs but yet very many of us in whom the Lord had begun to reveal himself in the Face of Jesus Christ were sensible of the ANTICHRISTIAN Tyranny that was exercised by the late King and his Prelates over the Coxsciences Bodies and Estates of the true Spiritual Church of Jesus Christ namely those that were born again and united to him hy his Spirit who were then by that Antichristian crew termed Puritans Sectaries Schismaticks c. and for not conforming to all the Canons and Ordinances of their Nation-Church were frequently imprisoned banished and otherwise grievously molested at the pleasure of those that then ruled amongst us Under these sad sufferings of the people of God our souls mourned and understanding by the manifold gracious promises in the Word of God that a time of deliverance was to be expected to the Church of CHRIST and destruction and ruine to BABYLON Our hearts together with all truly godly in England were exceedingly stirred up to pray to the Lord even day and night that he would Arise to dectroy ANTICHRIST and to save his people Whilst this Spirit of Prayer was poured forth upon Gods people in England attempts are made upon Scotland to bring them to a conformity in religious Worship by endeavouring to impose upon them a Popish Service-Book which was through the great goodness of God by his people in Scotland rejected which made the wrath of the late King and his Prelates wax so hot against them so as Scotland had no other way to preserve it self but by coming into England with an Army which the godly in England did not then count an Invasion to destroy England no more then they do this our present march for the ruine of Scotland but rejoyced to see some appearing against that ANTICHRISTIAN power that had persecuted the Saints and were assured That the LORD was come forth to answer the many Prayers and Tears that were then poured and pouring forth for that purpose and therefore so far as we had any opportunity farthered the designs of that Army some of us hazzarding our lives by spreading their Book intituled The SCOTS INTENTIONS and pleading for the justness of their Proceedings Let us remember how the Lord was pleased gratiously to answer the prayers of his people at that time in their deliverance from the Army raised by the late King and his Prelates for the destruction of all the people of God in England and Scotland insomuch That soon after Scotland sits in Peace enjoying their former Liberties without being imposed upon by the Antichristian Prelacy in England and England obtains a Parliament to whom they have opportunity to complain of their grievances and through the great goodness of God so constituted that grievances are heard and overtures made to the late King for their redress which was so irksome to his Oppressing Tyrannical and Bloody Spirit that he again betook himself to overthrew the Parliament by force and to that end entertains the Officers of the Army that had gone forth against our Brethren of Scotland and withdrawing himself from his Parliament an appearance of a Civil War begins which being made known to us the inseriout Officers and Souldiers of this Army then in our private Callings we found our hearts extraordinarily stirred up by the LORD to assist the Parliament against the King being abundantly satisfied in our judgments and consciences that we were called forth by the Lord to be instrumental to bring about that which was our continual prayer to God viz. The DESTRUCTION of ANTICHRIST and the deliverance of his CHURCH and PEOPLE And upon this simple accompt we engaged not knowing the deep policies of worldly Statesmen and have ever since hazarded our lives in the high places of the field where we have seen the wonders of the Lord against all the opposers of this work of Jesus Christ whom we have all along seen going with us and making our way plain before us And having these things singly in our eye namely the destrustion of Antichrist the advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ the Deliverance and Reiormation of his Church in the Establishment of his Ordinances amongst them in purity according to his Word and the just civil Liberties of Englishmen we did many of us rejoyce at the Covenant because we found in it a strain towards these ends although some being more enlightned did apprehend it to be so mixt with worldly interest that they justly feared the interest of JESUS CHRIST would be onely pretended to and the interests of this world yea of ANTICHRIST himself carried under a vizard as we have since had abundant experience
displeasure VVe desire it may be known to you our Brethren of Scotland that we are not Souldiers of Fortune we are not meerly the servants of men we have not onely proclaimed Jesus Christ the King of Saints to be our King by Profession but desire to submit to him upon his own terms and to admit him to the exercise of his Royal Authority in our hearts and to follow him whithersoever he goeth he having of his own good will entred into a Covenant of Grace with his poor Saints and be assured it is he that leadeth us into Scotland as he hath done in England and Ireland And therefore we do in the spirit of brotherly love and of the fear of the Lord beseech you to look about you for our Lord Jesus is coming amongst you as a refiners fire and as Fullers sope and blessed are those in whom the least dram of sincerity shall be found VVe have a Paper directed to us from the people of Scotland it having been publickly made known to us at the head of our Regiments wherein we are first desired to consider the lawfulness of our marching into Scotland We bless God we did that before we came and are abundantly satisfied that we are brought hither by the Lord nay many of us lying under temptations of flesh and blood and going about to frame excuses to take us from this march found that to have staid behind had been to have turned our backs upon Jesus Christ and to have deprived our selves of much sweet communion with God that now through his goodness we do enjoy VVe have also considered the Arguments by which you go about to weaken the grounds of the Parliaments and our Superiour Officers leading us into Scotland and must needs give you this Return That we are still abundantly established in this belief that what the Parliament of England hath done in sending us into Scotland hath been of absolute necessity to preserve themselves from being destroyed in their Religion and Liberties which they have been at so much cost both of Blood and Treasure to purchase and preserve and therefore by the way we must needs tell you that we cannot endure to hear them called A pretended Parliament which we desire you to take notice of that if you write to us again you would speak more reverently of the Authority of our Nation or else we shall easily think you will upon every occasion be ready to invade England that you may set up an Authority which you may call lawful And let us as in the prefence of the Lord further assure you That we have already examined our consciences as before the Lord have a clear assurance in our hearts That he will countenance us in this action and that we do not break any Covenant which we have sworn before God Angels and Men but could be contented should we not thereby idolize the Covenant to march to any Engagement with you if called thereunto by the Lord with the Covenant on the tops of our Pikes and let the Lord judge who hath observed the Ends of the Covenant best you or we Yet we do acknowledge we have not been the exact Performers though not the wilful breakers thereof our consciences also bear us record we do above any thing in the world desire the Union of the two Nations and it is our prayer dayly That those that fear the Lord in England and Scotland may become one in the hand of the Lord and joyn together in the advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and throwing down and trampling upon the Seat of the Beast VVhy should not Scotland as well as England rejoyce to see the horns of the Beast cut off that we may joyn together to hate the VVhore and to burn her flesh with fire The Lord is our witness whom we fear we come not to oppress you or shed your blood we have cryed to the Lord again and again to prevent it we have sent you our Declaration of Love to the People of God in Scotland which some amongst you though they pretended to answer yet do most injuriously and unchristianly keep from their sight nay most falsly mis-representing us as a people come with intentions to destroy the poor inhabitants and that we are left of our God to be destroyed but we have made our prayer to the Lord and made known before him their sayings who have told the people of Scotland that God hath forsaken us and therefore bid them persecute and take us for now the Sectaries day is come c. But the Lord is still with us he is our Refuge and a present help in trouble ready to be found we do believe the cry of the oppressed in Scotland will be heard and wo to those that are the Cause thereof Our Quarrel is still against Malignants the Root whereof is now through the evil policy of some Statesmen become the head of Scotland VVe dare not quarrel with those whose hearts are upright with Jesus Christ and faithful and loving to England but with those who are most treacherous and false to both and therefore we daie not any of us though tempted thereto by your papers be so carnally wise as to desert the Cause and VVork of Jesus Christ in which we have hitherto been so long and so miraculously carried on Do you think we are men so weakly principled as to be perswaded without the least strength of Argument to desert the interest of out own Nation and expose thousands of the precious Saints of Jesus Christ to be trampled upon as the dirt in the streets when the Lord is about to put on their beautiful garments and to make them a praise in the earth Or can we think you betray our superiour Officers in whom we see so much of the sweet Spirit of Jesus Christ into your hands whose mouths are opened wide to devour them VVe pray you not to wait for such a thing The Lord hath brought us hither by his Providence and upon him we shall with confidence depend till we see a glorious Issue which we humbly and heartily desire may be without the effusion of any more blood and if it be the Will of God both speedy and comfortable to you and us that we may return with joy into England and leave Scotland rejoycing that an English Army hath been amongst them which possibly may be the sooner effected were you and we suffered to confer and open our hearts one to another we do believe much of the bitterness of spirit would be allayed in our Brethren of Scotland did they know how exceedingly we are slandered by the pens and tongues of many of your Kirk-men concerning our Religion and faith towards God which though we may not vainly boast of yet according to the Apostles direction we are ready to give an answer to the meanest Christian in Scotland that shall ask a reason of the faith and hope that is in us with meekness and fear And
lead a life in godliness and honesty let him be protected I think I need as little advise you concerning the propagation of the Gospel and incouraging such Ministers and such a Ministry as be faithful in the Land upon whom the true character is Men that have truly received the spirit for such a use which Christians will be well able to discern and do men that have received Gifts from him that ascended on high and led Captivity Captive for the work before mentioned and truly the Apostle Romans 12. when he had summoned up all the Mercies of God and the goodness of God and hath discoursed of the foundations of the Gospel and of the several things that are the subject of his discourse in the 11 first Chapters after he hath besonght them to offer up their Souls and Bodies a living sacrifice to God Rom. 12. he beseecheth not to esteem more highly of themselves then they ought but that they would be humble and sober minded and not stretch themselves beyond their line but they would have a care to those that had received Gifts to these uses there mentioned I speak not it is far from my heart for a Ministry deriving it self through the Papacy and pretending to that which is so much insisted upon to be succession the true succession is through the Spirit given in that measure that the Spirit is given and that is a right succession but I need not discourse of these things to you I am perswaded you are taught of God in a greater measure then my self in these things indeed I have but one word more to say and that is though in that perhaps I shall shew my weakness it is by way of encouragement to you to go on in this work And give me leave to begin thus I confess I never looked to see such a day as this it may be nor you Owning Christ in accepting the Call when Jesus Christ shall be owned as he is this day and in this world Jesus Christ is owned this day by you all and you own him by your willingness in appearing here and you manifest this as far as poor creatures can to be a day of the power of Christ by your willingness Psa 110.1 I know you remember that Scripture in Psalm 110.3 The people shall be willing in the day of thy Power God doth manifest it to be a day of the power of Jesus Christ Having through so much blood and so much trials as have been upon these Nations made this to be one of the great issues thereof The Saints called to Rule to have a people called to the Supreme Authority upon such an avowed account God hath owned his Son by this and you by your willingness do own Jesus Christ and therefore for my part I confess I did never look to see such a sight perhaps you are not known by face one to another but we must tell you this that indeed we have not allowed our selves in the choyce of one person in whom we had not this good hope that there was Faith in Jesus Christ and love unto all his Saints and People And thus God hath owned you in the face and eyes of the world and thus by your coming hither have you owned him as it is in Isaiah 43.21 It is an high expression and look to your own hearts whether now or hereafter God shall apply it to you Esa 43.21 This people saith he I have formed for my self that they might shew forth my praise It is a memorable place and I hope not unfitly applyed God apply it to each of your hearts Why these called of God 7. Reasons I shall not descant upon the words they are plain you are as like the forming of God as ever people were 1. Their not seeking to come into Power if any man should ask you one by one and should tender a Book to you you would date to swear that neither directly nor indirectly did you seek to come hither you have been passive in coming hither in being called hither and that is an active word This people I have formed Consider the Circumstances by which you are called together through what dissiculties through what strivings through what blood you are come hither Neither you nor I nor no man living three moneths ago had a thought to have seen such a company taking upon them or rather being called to the supreme Authority and therefore own your call Indeed I think as it may be truly said that never was a supreme Authority consisting of so numerous a Body as you are which I believe are above 140 were never in the supreme Authority under such a Notion in such a way of owning of God and being owned by him and therefore I say also never a people formed for such a purpose so called if it were time to compare your standing with those that have been called by the suffrages of the people who can tell how soon God may fit the People for such a thing and who would defire any thing more in the world but that it might be so I would all the Lords people were Prophets I would they were fit to be called and fit to call The Reason why the Nation is not fit to chuse because not owning Christs interest and it is the longing of our hearts to see them once own the INTEREST OF JESUS CHRIST and give me leave to say if I know any thing in the world what is there more like to win the people to the Interest and love of God Nay what a duty will lye upon you to have your conversation such as that they may love you that they may see you lay out your time and spirits for them Is not this the most likely way to bring them to their Liberties and do you not by this put it upon God to finde the time and the season for it by powring forth his Spirit at least by convincing them Regal power thraldom bondage that as men fearing God have fought them out of their thraldome and bondage under the Regal Power so men fearing God rule them in the fear of God and take care to administer good unto them but this is some digression I say own your call for indeed it is marvellous and it is of God 2. Reason unthought of unprojected by them and it hath been unprojected unthought of by you and us and that hath been the way God hath dealt with us all along to keep things from our eyes that what we have acted we have seen nothing before us which also is a witness in some measure to our integrity I say you are called with a high Call and why should we be afraid to say or think 3. Because agreeable to the Word of Promise that this way may be the door to usher in things that God hath promised and prophesied of and to set the hearts of his people to wait for and
did not reject Samuel but the Lord from raigning over them 1 Sam. 8.7 And Gideen said unto them I will not rule over you neither shall my Son the Lord shall rule over them Why therefore should it be thought strange that Christ Jesus should be admitted to his regal Authority though in Heaven to whom the Father hath given all power in Heaven and Earth And why may not Christ be owned Head of the State as of the Church there being hundreds of Congregations through grace in these Nations that admit of no other Head or Law-giver in the Church And why may he not as well Rule over and amongst us as suffer with us all the time of Antichrists Reign all that is done to his being done unto himself And these things are asserted in the Covenant but more fully by the General and Officers of the Army in their fore-mentioned Letters and Declarations 2. In reference to Laws That the Laws of this great King as they are recorded in the Old and New Testament remaining in force since his death be the declared Laws of this Nation in opposition to the Heathenish Tyrannous and Popish Laws yet in force amongst us Isai 8.19 Should not a people seek unto their god to the Laws to the Testimonies Isa 23.22 The Lord is our Law-giver he is our King he will save us Jam. 4.12 There is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy Deut. 4.8 What Nation so great as hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this Law set before you Keep therefore and do them for this is your wisdome and understanding in the sight of the Nations which shall hear all these statutes and say Surely this generation is a wise and understanding people Deut. 17.18,19,20 And it shall be when he sitteth upon the Throne of his Kingdom that he shall write him a copy of this Law in a book and it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren It 's a Maxime in the Law asserted by Finch the great Lawyer Cook and others that no Act of Parliament or Law repugnant to the Law of God is of any force but how well our Law-makers have lived up hereto read Mr. Boon's Examen legum Angliae who comparing our Laws with the Scriptures finds 68 Laws expresly contrary to the Scriptures Read that excellent Letter of Eleutherius to King Lucius page 8. what light herein was declared for in that day 3. In reference to the Administrators That the people most read and best practicers of this excellent and perfect Law be chosen out to the Administration thereof under Christ in opposition to the ignorant prophane and scandalous and all both old and new Malignants that have visibly opposed him in his Word and Works and not given some suitable testimony of repentance Exod. 18.21 Num. 11.16 Deut. 1.13 Thoushalt provide of all the people able men such as fear God men of truth hating covetousness and place such over them to be Rulers 2 Sam. 23.2,3,4 The Spirit of the Lord spake and the Rock of Israel said He that rules over men must be just ruling in the fear of God Isai 1.26 And I will restore thy Judges as at the first and thy Counsellors as at the beginning Which principle is further asserted 1. By the Armies Petition 13 August 1652. who pray that only men fearing God and hating covetousness should be put into places of Authority and Trust and that all prophane scandalous and disaffected persons should be outed and the neglect hereof given as one of the grounds of the Parliaments dissolution 2. By the present Assembly at Westminster in their Declaration May 9. 1659. That all such as shall be in any place of Trust and Power within this Commonwealth be able for the discharge of such Trust and that they be persons fearing God that have given testimony of their true love to all the people of God and of their faithfuiness to the cause of this Commonwealth according to their Declaration of the seventh of May 1659. in which Declaration they further say That they shall vigorously endeavour the carrying on of Reformation so much desired and so often declared for to the end there may be a godly and faithful Magistracy and Ministry upheld in these Nations to the glory and praise of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the reviving and making glad the hearts of the upright in the Land But how well these good words are put in practice look within their own walls and may you not finde divers of the late Tyrants Council that persecuted and imprisoned so many of Gods people for their faithful witness to the Cause Is not their Speaker one of the new upstart Lords and are there not many others of the same stamp that sate in the Other House How many are there that swore Allegiance and fidelity both to the deceased and late deposed Protector How many scandalous persons How many unworthy Mercenary Lawyers And will these men pass for men fearing God true Lovers of Gods people and faithful to the Cause Are such like to carry on a vigorous and thorow Reformation so much desired to the glory and praise of our Lord Jesus Christ and making glad the hearts of the upright 4. In reference to the Ecclesiastical State 1. That a thorow Reformation be prest after according as is exprest in the Covenant agreeable to the Word of God and best reformed Churches 2. That such a Ministry may without restraint go forth as are faithful and have received the Spirit and gifts from on high for such a work and that are made able Ministers of the New Testament accepting Christs work out of love to souls together with such wages as he hath left in his word 3. That all Ecclesiastical Officers and Offices so called depending upon the Hierarchy may be extirpated root and branch whether Parsons Vicars Curates Patrons c. with their Maintenance Tythes Offerings Oblations Obventions Tenths First-Fruits as deriving their Rise and Authority from Antichrist supported by the Beast and for which there is not the least footing in the Word of God 4. That the Magistrate intermeddle not in the matters of Christs Church or Spiritual concernment imposing either Ministry maintenance or forms of worship suited to his interest which hath been the ground of all body and soul-oppression These being faithfully observed will administer equal and impartial justice to every one and tend to the recovery of the primitive and prophesied to be restored Ordinance of Magistracy making it a terrour to evil doers and a praise to them that do well so that none in well-doing of what perswasion soever can have cause to doubt of being protected in their persons and proprieties from such as shall attempt upon any pretence whatsoever to invade the same or of being in an equal capacity with others qualified for electing or being elected to a participation of Rule as any ability for the same may be given to them Page 23. line 35. for politick read publick Page 25. line 16. for thereby read then by Page 33. line 8. for petitioned for read pretended to There are other lesser faults but these needfully require amendment with the Pen or mention of them in an Errata FINIS