which is to model and conforme the Civil affaires for Christs coming I meane more off of the fourth Monarchy and more on to the fifth therefore 1 Constitute none but honest faithfull men such as follow the Lambe into places of trust or offices of this Nation seeing none but the Saints of Christ shall be his Officers here in place and imployment for Christ and the Common-wealth in the fifth Monarchy that is now entring Dan. 7. 27. Rev. 17. 14. Psal. 72. 10. Isa. 1. 26. Rev. 19. 14. wherefore the suffering of Lawyers to live so by sin in Westminster Hall and in all Courts as they doe will be unexcusable in the day of his coming 1 King 20. 42. and give the visible brand of those Governours in Isa. 1. 23. Thy Princes are rebellious and companions of Theeves c. therefore vers 24. Ah! I will ease me of these my Adversaries as Rev. 2. 20. I have an action against thee for that thou sufferest that wicked woman Jezabel c. So may be said to you if that you suffer this monstrous society of open sinners that trade in it and live by it to continue Nehemiah would not give his owne brother Hananiah a Commission but because he was a man fearing God chap. 7. 2. and David does professe that his eyes should be upon none but the faithfull ones of the land Psal. 101. 6. and they that walke holily and not the wicked that he would countenance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but he even hates their wicked and wil not suffer them in his sight and it is noted of this man that he served his generation herein Act. 13. 36. certainly our Parliament wil serve their generation as wel as God most singularly to put downe these men of sinne from their trading in sinne So Psal. 101. 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I wil early in the morning of my Government the first thing I goe about sayes he shal be to throw downe the wicked O that our Parliament would eye and own Davia's practise herein betimes to begin this worke which wil make them glorious and as Gods in the eyes of the people if they wil not but yet wil spare these Amalekites they may then remember Saul how he was rejected for doing the Lords worke negligently and by halves or deceitfully and not rightly nor uprightly in that he spared some of those wicked people that God would not have spared therefore was he yea and his Houshold cut off with reproach and shame to scare us in after ages let him be your Sea-mark herein Secondly See that all the Lawes of this Nation are agreeing with the Word of God and those Lawes which are contrary to sound reason or religion whether in things Civil or Ecclesiastick that they may be abolished for ever that so our Governours may be the Ministers of God to us for good as Rom. 13. 2 4. so that those unjust cruel Lawes that proportion not the punishments to the offence that put to death innocent ones that delay Justice that rob and wrong the people may be all tried at the High Court of Justice and receive their sentence O what brave Bonfires on a Thanks-giving day will the Popish Decrees and tyrannicall oppressing Lawes that are yet extant make O how wel they would warme us And if our Governours would burne the Whores Flesh with fire Rev. 17. 16. then let them burne all those Acts Lawes and Ordinances Civil or Ecclesiasticall that keep her warme and livel◠yet amongst us For the Statutes of Omri are yet kept 〈◊〉 all the workes of Ahab and yee walk in your Counsels that I should make yee a desolation therefore yee shall beare the reproach of my people Micha 6. 16. Deut. 28. 33. their not throwing downe those sinfull Lawes offended God greatly Sauls disobedience was his consulting so much with his owne reason more then with Gods Word and this hath ruined hundreds and made them obstruct the worke of Christ in every Generation Jehu by Jeroboams reason of state winked at the Calves in Dan and Bethel although he bragged how little his Predecessor Ahab had done 2 King 10. 18. and how he would exceed him saying Come with me see my zeale for the Lord and yet ver 29. he departed not from Jeroboams Calves O this State policy and reasoning hath been ever the Publicke enemy but away with that in the worke which is to doe for Christ by burning the Images and pulling downe the Groves wherein so much sinne hath been committed so by burning those Lawes and pulling downe those Courts Termes and Lawyers yea and Tythes too which have occasioned such actions continual complaints and vexations to the people and wrongs to God and men good and bad Thirdly Improve your utmost for Jesus Christ and his Monarchy at home and abroad your Talents must not be hid in the earth i. e. minding earthly things for your worke is to set the oppressed free and as Mordecai said to Ester ch 4. 14. For if thou boldest thy peace at this time yet there shall enlargement and deliverance arise to the people from another place but you and your Fathers house shall be destroyed then and who knoweth whether you are come to the Kingdome for such a time as this Therefore looke to it now whiles you have a time to doe it and let me adde this to urge you that this Monarchy of Christ wil deliver us from slavery and tyranny and set up the Lawes of God in the stead of mens See Isa. 42. 21 22. The Lord is well pleased for his righteousnesse sake he will Magnifie the LAW and make it HONOVRABLE but as yet in the Fourth Monarchy this is a People robbed and spoyled as the Jewes were by the Romans so we by the Normans robbed of all our rights which we hope to be restored into yea they are all SNARED in holes and bid in PRISON-HOVSES they are for a PREY and none DELIVERETH O sad if it be said so of this Parliament too and for a SPOILE and none saith RESTORE my worke and word is to say RESTORE which if you that are in Power refuse to doe it yet deliverance shall come but woe be to you as to the taile of the Fourth Monarchy which is not as yet out of rule for God hath tried and trusted you with the HONOVR which else others shall take from you within few yeares for the Fifth MONARCHY must make worke amongst you and will make the LAW of God Great Glorious and Honourable The Law of God which is now slighted as imperfect whiles men set up their owne Notions and Formes in the stead and prefer Gratians or a Justinians Law and so make themselves as Heathens without the Law of God amongst them this Law lyes in Deut. 6. 1. These are the Commandements i. e. the Ten in two Tables given Moses on mount Sinai Exod. 20. the Statutes i. e. the severall Cases depending
on and arising out of each Command tending to establish and confirme each Command as Master Braine well observes in his New Earth pag. 9. and the Judgements i. e the sentence upon the breach of every Law how and what punishment must be Now this Law Statute-Booke and Judgement-seat of God must be set up and not mans in this Fifth Monarchy and then shall we be restored 1. To Gods Lowes 2. In our own Language 3. Read and expounded and made knowne to the people Deut. 30. 10. to 16. Job 7. 49. 4. At free-cost without charge 5. Justice wil be had at home then and Judges sit in all the Gates of the Cities Deut. 1. 6. And every man plead his own Cause by the Law of God then no need of Lawyers 7. Justice wil not then be delayed Eccles. 8. 11. but speedy 8. And executed without gaine-saying according to the Law set of God Hebr. 10. 28. Rom. 2. 2. Deut. 1. 7. and without respect of persons Levit. 24. 22. Deut. 1. 16 17. 1 Sam. 12. 3. Levit. 19. 15. 9. Then Iudges will be as at first and Iustice also Isa. 1. 26. in every City 2 Chron. 19. 5. Deut. 16. 18. and 10. Then the Lord wil be our only Law-giver Jam. 4. 13. and the Law abide for ever without alteration as there is now and ought to be in the formes of men wherefore if you bee the Men whom the Lord will own and honor in this worke up then and about it for the Body of Lawes lies ready before you in the Word of God O that you might bee used of God for Christ in this work of magnifying his Law in this Commonwealth of England I was ready to say of Israel but it is not so yet which should be to your Fame for ever The Lord Jesus awaken you with the noise of his Monarchy which is swift in motion and now nigh us least you be surprized Fourthly Avoid making of Parties and running into factions as the former Parliaments have done to carry on selfish sinfull or private designs such men as are spirited for the fifth Monarchy will be more unanimous then have been hitherto for Christ against Antichrist O what hot contests were between the two Parties in generall of Presbyterians and Independants besides particular factions in the Parliament before what waies they had thereby to advance and advantage themselves and friends was obvious to every eye and by this pretty Artifice they shared the Commonwealth almost amongst them besides private cheats what abundance of open ones by gifts rich Offices and Imployments in Committees and Treasuries they obtained and in pretence of serving the publick too they have shuffled the trumps into their own hands And how artificially have they confounded the Accompts by laying on numberlesse Taxes and Assessements whilst the multitude of mony ran through so many muddy channels Committees Officers and Collecting lick-fingers as it is impossible to make any publick account thereof So that notwithstanding all fair promises to the people no accounts are or ever will be given of those many millions of mony which were made by Kings Lands Bishops and Deans and Delinquents Estates arrears Excize Assessements and the like which some have licked up so handsomely into unsatiable tubs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. that they have bought great Mannors and Lordships of many hundreds a yeare whilst poor Publica fides is but Punica fides Thus by their Factions they had their several designes for themselves and interests of their owne and with their Hocus Pocasses could conjure up and carry their own for the publicke and in pretence of the publicke with honour and wealth enough they did gladly sacrifice the publick peace to their own private interest and when they had set all on fire as severall times they did in the Nation by troubles and wars they would with joy warme their own hands at those unhappy and unhallowed flames which themselves kindled witnesse Hollis Stapleton Massey Sir John Clotworthy and many others more lately whom I forbear But see thus the issue of Parties and Factions in the Parliament to the hindrance and hurt of the Publick And O how do honest mens hearts ake already to hear what Factions Schismes and Parties are in this Parliament Yea about the poor petty popish trash Trumpery of Tithes which shal tumble in due time when self-interest is more laid aside Christ is with more unanimous concurrence accepted of for the Whore shal be stripped as stark naked as ever she was born before it be long Though Babylon-birds lament it so But in the interim wee trust our good God will give these Governours a new Clue to lead them out of this Labyrinth And Fifthly Follow not Achitophels Counsell for it will come to nought nor yet Machiavils Prince or Principles which most States men have been Students in and Practitioners of ad unguem But the Monarchy which is coming will crush them to some tune Does it not relish like a Paradox that those Statesmen are most Machiavilian who give him the worst words But beleeve it some are amongst us now who study his Politicks and Tricks apace and least I should reflect upon the righteous sober honest-hearted States-man I must show you them to shun them and their cursed principles 1 Principle they hold is To have the shadow of Religion though they have none of the substance This they learned of Machiavel who notes it from Papirius how handsomely hee slighted the Pullarii with good words and was well rewarded whereas Appius Pulcher doing it bluntly and plainly was punished How many imitate Herods politicks who pretend to worship but intend to worry such dissemble Piety so neatly when they act against it most strenuously that in that very art and article of hidden impiety the poore deluded people may Saint them ipso sceleris molimine Tereus Creditur esse pius this is that which hallowes the most hellish enterprises which surprise honesty in an ambush surdo verbere But 1. Principle of Piety is to have the substance of Religion though without the shadowes and formet this is vinum in pectore and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And I pray God by this change our Governors change these principles of Policy for honest and faithfull Principles of Piety and prefer the substance above the shell that God and men may not be mocked so by our State-Politicians as they have been nor the poor People who are not able to unriddle them bee made a prey to such Sphinxes whiles like foolish Birds they follow the Kite in hope of a prey till they be made a prey 2 Principle of Policy is by the most insinuating applications to be popular looking unto their owne designes in a pretence as for Liberty Religion Reformation or the like Their motto is mel in ore fel in corde they varnish their vices
upon us and ruine us The Devils designe is to make the most able and eminent Instruments uselesse by idlenesse when the greatest worke is to doe as one sayes of the Crab that seeing the Oyster gape he throwes in a little stone which hinders it from shutting againe so am I and hundreds beside suspicious least Sathan should deale with them that now sit still and gape about as if they had nothing to do by throwing them some temptations or other to stay them here behinde in purchases preserments or pleasures and make them loose their work and opportunity O it is sad if it be so for the best Birds dum morantur in nidis doe moult and loose feathers But my Lord hark the Trumpet sounds and Christ is coming in great glory arise and to your worke It is not notions of Philosophy nor Principles of Policy which will give us to see this for in Philosophy what is so dark as light and the Sun which one would thinke most evident to be seen is hardest to be looked on and so is this glorious approach of Christ and his Fifth Monarchy But Eagles see better then Owles The Lord Jehovah then make you Eagle-eyed and Eagle-winged in this worke which you have to doe for Christ and this Common-weale Cicero expected extraordinary knowledge and practise from his Son because of his conversing and living with Cratippus no lesse doe wise men looke for from you my Lord for that you are so conversant with the Occurrences of these times and seasons and that so eminently too and live as we hope so much with Christ and for Christ yet we know a man may have good cards but loose the game by playing ill But my Lord I leave you to that Spirit which gave Daniel skill Dan. 9. 22. and Ioshua courage the same wisdome that tels us He that understands is of an excellent spirit tels us also That the Prince who wants understanding i. e. in the things of God according to the season of his government is also a great oppressor Wherefore my Lord I beseech you contemne not the Clock that tels you how the time passes a meane Herauld may goe on great errands and on this errand he is contented to be mean contemptible who is sent to you and prays unfainedly for you that you may never be set aside but be of singular use yet in this Generation and then and not till then rest from all your labours as David did Acts 13. 36. The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon together gets the loud suffrage of your suffering From my Study the 8th Month 20th day Tho. Apostles Yet your heartily humble Servant in the service of our Lord Iesus JOHN ROGERS To the Reader of any Faculty whatsoever in the Commonwealth of ENGLAND SIR WHat is your Profession Be what thou wilt I professe that this Treatise concernes thee and bids thee beware of a fall Hold fast especially if thou art any of the Supreame For he that ventures to fall from above with hopes to bee catched below may hap to be dead ere he come to ground this is sat sapienti a Word to the wise Therefore with humility and love to you 1. Are you a Parliament man mind your worke then and the Fifth Monarchy or else the stone Dan. 2. and the wheel Eze. 1. may hap to minde you and grind you too Righteous men know their work of the Generation they live in Gen. 4. 20 21. 22. Gen. 6. 9. Act. 13. 36. So did Abraham Noah Moses Aaron David Daniel Nehemiah and Ezra and all men whom the Lord annointed and appointed to govern And so will you if you be of God for good to this Generation Your worke so absolutely incumbent is obvious to every discerning eye the neglect of which if you be guilty I fear lest it should be more fat all to you then to the last Parliament if that be true in 1 Sam. 15. 26 28. and 16. 14. and may hap to throw you aside as well as your Predecessors and others in all ages that have through carnall Reason and Policy laid aside their worke and duty Now I doe declare to all that hear or read this Treatise and will if my life were on it that your worke is about the Lawes and Tithes to strip the Whore both of her outward Scarlet-array and to rend the flesh off of her bones by thorwing down the standing of Lawyers and Priests It is not enough to change some of these Lawes and so to reforme them as is intended by most of you according to the rule of the Fourth Monarchy which must all to peices O no! that wil be to poore purpose and is not your worke now which is to provide for the Fifth as chap. 5. by bringing in the Lawes of God given by Moses for Re-publique Lawes as well as the Lawes of God given by Christ which must in for Church Lawes Isa. 26. 13. Mark 10. 42. so that seeing the Law-booke of God which hath been lost so long is now found againe therefore like Josiah in 2 King 22. 12 13. Command that the Lord be sought to about it lest the wrath of God be kindled for not hearkening to the words in that Booke and cause these Lawes of God as chap. 23. 2 3. to be restored and read as he did in the eares of all the people that the people may be subject to those Lawes and then the Lord wil blesse you as he did Israel But if you doe it not I feare you wil be found to neglect your worke and opportunity for God and Christ. Why are there so many perplexable cares about the Lawes Hath not God given you a Booke of Lawes ready to your hand and can men make Lawes better then God then if Moses dare not set up any other Lawes but those given of God for the State or Politicke Government how dare you Now God hath brought you out of the house of Aegypt shal the Aegyptian or Norman Heathenish Lawes yet rule you O God forbid Wherefore seeing you have Gods Law-booke before you if you lay it aside and take up mens before it it wil not be well taken I promise you therefore the Lord open your eyes both as to the Lawes and Tithes and that you may looke before you leap It wil appeare this is your Generation-work 1 By the variety of Providences and Dispensations of God which declare it and have called you to doe it Micha 6. 9. The Lords voyce cryeth the voyce of the Lord from the City for all that common or corrupt Counsel-Petition put in for Tithes August last which was not the voyce of the Lord but the voyce of the Lady the Queen that sits on the Scarlet-coloured Beast full of Blaâ—phemies Rev. 17. 3. abusing the most precious Saints and Servants of Christ with a subtil insinuation of Jesuiâ—s and the like but it is wel knowne they were put on to it by the High Priests of this
quenched and if thou waitest for the word these Consumers in their flame may hap to have the mastery and do more mischiefe of a sudden then we are aware of Thus our Warrant is signed in the second place by the Law of Nations Thirdly The Law of God saies Luk. 10. 27. Love the Lord thy God c. and thy Neighbor as thy selfe Besides the Law of Nature and Nations the Law of God is unavoidably necessary ad ultimum finem Now this Law of God gives me Warrant as a Minister and as a Man to proclaime the injustice oppression lying cheating deceit and villanies of this wicked Tribe as Amos 4. 1. Hear the Law of the Lord O yee Kine of Bashan yee which oppresse the poor and crush the needy that is O yee Judges and Lawyers that are fed with the best and fattest things abounding in wealth and stores and they are such Kine whose bellies are filled for a day of slaughter which is signified by Bashan and they say to their Masters bring wine By the poor is meant the borrower but by the master is meant the creditor now these wretched Lawyers do not as they ought to doe justice for the reliefe of the poor Debters against hard hearted Usurers but rather they oppresse the poor and fulfill the desires of the rich misers to the wrong of others and then they say come your cause will carry it bring us wine a quart or pottle of wine to make merry with But God will confound this their carnality and covetousnesse Amos 5. 7. Hear O yee that turne judgement into wormwood and have made the Laws bitter to the poor and honest people and have made their remedies worse then their diseases and have managed the causes of the righteous with so much sin as have filled them with frequent sorrows and tears abhorring true reason and equity Vers. 11. For as much therefore as your treading is on the poor c. That is your greatest violence disdaine abuses and base injuries are done to them to screwze and grinde them under your filthy feet Ver. 12. I know your manifold transgressions and mighty sins in afflicting the just taking Bribes or Fees and turning aside the poor in the gate from their right i. e. when the poor have nothing to give them they get them into prisons to lie and rot there The Germans have a Proverb that the rich are hanged up by their purses and the poor by their necks Thus by injustice as the Prophet saies the Tyrannicall Tribe of Judges and Lawyers grow great get estates build stately houses have pleasant Gardens and ruffle it out in Angles of luxury and pride and whilst Angels protect them they behave themselves like Demi-gods But God will reward them in their kind Micah 2. 1. 2. Woe to them that devise iniquity that is in Hebr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lye vanity c. who do this like the Lawyers and when the morning is light they practise it So away they run to Westminster and there plead their lies V. 2. They covet fields and take them by violence and houses and take them away So they oppresse a man and his house even a man and his heritage But thus saith the Lord Vers. 3. Behold against this Family i. e. of Lawyers or these Inns of Courts do I devise an evill c. and Vers. 4. In that day shall one take up a parable and lament with a dâ—lefull lamentation and say wee be utterly spoiled Thus the Lord complaines and threatens them very speedily and to purpose as will appear ere I have done with them Now Gods Word gives me warrant all along to cry aloud and spare not Should Whoredome be suffered in the open streets without open reproofes or Drunkennesse or the like Why theâ— should oppression injustice lying perjury violence cheating and such like Knavery is not one sin as much sin in the sight oâ— God as another I apprehend my Commission to lead me as largely against the Lawyers who make a daily trade of sin aâ— lying swearing cozening oppressing and wronging the Fatherlesse and Widows and all this in open sun too hereby getting mony as it does against Drunkards Swearers Whoremongers whâ— every day live by their sins making a trade of them and getting mony by them O how bitterly God complaines Heaven Earth and Creatures groan at such a company of as vile wretcheâ— as the earth bears that live by sins and have no other trading and that they should be yet tolerated to have open practise Jeâ— 6. 29. The Founder melteth in vain for the wicked are nâ— plucked away I wish one day it appeare not all one with opeâ— toleration of Drunkennesse Whoredomes or the like But I am bound in conscience to bear testimony against it and say with thâ— Prophet behold the end is come the end is come â— watcheth for thee behold it is come Ezek. 7. 6 7. their timâ— is come their day of trouble is near these judgements are inculcated because the Lawyers will not beleeve it may be Ver. 8 Now will I shortly poure out my fury upon them Ver. 10 11 12. Behold the day behold t is come the morning is gone forth the rod hath blossomed violence is risen up into a rod of wickednesseâ— None of them shall remain Nor of their multitudes Neither shall there be wailing for them The time is come The day draweth nigh Gods Word to me is to declare against their Injustice and Tyranny Cheating and Lying and to warn them Whether they will hear or whether they will forbear Ezek. 2. 7. And if they will hear Ezek. 33. 12 15. Say Son of Man if the wicked will restore the pledge and give again what they have robbed and walk in my statutes without committing iniquity they shall live and not die Thus far the Law of God gives me power So Psal. 82. 2 3. How long will ye judge unjustly and accept the persons of the wicked But to come to the directive power of Gods Law see Judg. 5. 23. Curse ye Meroz curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof And that it is incumbent upon us by Gods Law to defend our Liberties against all Tyrants and Oppressors as I said before is without doubt Hos. 5. 11. 1 Cor. 7. 23. See what Mattathias said to his Brethren Come let us restore the decayed state of our people and let us fight for our people and for the Sanctuary So that it plainly appears we may do all we can for the decayed estate of this Commonwealth against the corrupt cruel and cursed innovations of the devouring Lawyers as well as other Tyrants that were Lords over us and for the restoration of our Primitive liberties and freedom of Justice as we shall show by and by at every mans door That righteousness may run down like a River in every street Isa. 48. 18. And be as common as the waters in
Lawyers having proved my warrant by the Law of Nature of Nations and of God Which Law of God is of all the necessary seeing that mens judgement especially in particular contingencies may be divided and produce divided and different effects till the divine law directs them for Psal. 19. 7. The law of the Lord is perfect the testimony of the Lord is sure the statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart c. From whence ere long all other Laws among men must fetch breath And then as the Psalmist says Psal. 147. 19 20. He sheweth his word to Jacob his statutes and judgements to Israel and he hath not dealt so with any other Nations as for his judgements they have not known them This will I trust be fulfilled in a short time as soon as ever the Lawyers once tumble In the mean time says the Lord Isa. 3. 20. Wo be to them that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter Vers. 23. Wo be to them that justifie the wicked for reward and take away the righteousnesse or righteous cause of the righteous from him c. And Isa. 1. 21. O! How is the faithful City become an Harlot c. Companions of Theeves Vers 23. Every one loveth gifts and follows after rewards they judge not for the fatherless norwidow c. Therefore saith the Lord Ah! I will ease me of my adversaries and will restore thy Judges as at first how that is we shall hear hereafter But wo be to these wicked ones The two Plagues of this Nation rose up both from the bottomless smoke and are the Priests and Lawyers both alike they keep up a corrupt carnal Antichristian interest the Priests would fill the cup of the Whore for the Nation to drink of and the Lawyers would cloath her with scarlet but wo be to us if either be suffered to trade for because thou hast let go them that I have appointed to utter destruction therefore thy life shall go for theirs and thy people for theirs 1 Kings 20. 42. They must fall together seeing ever since Edward the third his time in England they were advanced together i. e. as to their height in interest The Lawyers who are Tyrants and Oppressors of the Civil state may as well be compared to the locusts mentioned Rev. 8. 3 c. as the Priests the Tyrants and Oppressors of the Ecclesiastical state For 1. Out of the smoke which darkned the Air as well as the Sun Earth as well as Heaven and so out of that Antichristian darkness which arose upon the State civil as well as Ecclesiastick came these locusts Vers. 2 3. upon the Earth and Lawyers into this Kingdom as we shall shew afterward Vide Malmsbury in William the second his time they proceeded from the Romish Clergy 2. Locusts are unclean Creatures many times translated Grashoppers and the Midianites and Amalekites that came against Israel in Gideons days Judg. 7. 12. were said to be like Grashoppers which says Cooper signifies Bodily oppressors Egyptian plagues as Exod. 10. 13 14. Grievous Such are the Lawyers all over the Nations and they never are in such multitudes but they are most grievous plagues as can befal a Nation we had need to seek in hast to our Moses's and Aarons by whose means I am perswaded they will be swept away of a sudden into the Red Sea 3. Locusts have their strength in their multitude O what heaps of this noysome Vermine may you see at a time in the Temple or Westminster-hal Nullum unquam fuisse humanâ— ordinis institutum quod magis brevi tempore crevit c. These do make up the numerous Army of Antichrist in this State against Christ and are to torment men Rev. 9. 3 5 7 c. and so Exod. 10. 14. they cover the Earth 4. Locusts have their variety of orders and ye may see them noted in their several colours and marks Thus have Antichrists Lâ—ity I mean Lawyers as well as Antichrists Clergy I mean the Priests It were but lost labor to enter into this number of his name of to reckon up the variety of orders and degrees of this brood of the Beast distinguished by several Forms Sects and Habits of divers Fashions 5. Locusts are of earthly dispositions greedy devourers insatiable for covetousness always desiring but never delighting to work sow labor nor plough but to eat up the fruits of other mens labors and to fall on cease upon and take possession of the best Meadows Valleys and pleasant places of the Land now the Lawyers as well as Priests are such a plague of Locusts For what fertile or fruitful Soyl in England that they have not ceased upon and eat out and with ravenous fees bought out the best estates in the Land What have these Lawyers like the Locusts but a mouth and a helly a huge mouth at the Bar to bite off and as big a belly to take in A mouth to gape for it and a belly to get it a mouth to plead for it and a belly to feed on it a mouth to serve a belly to consume but all this while no hands to do good or deal out to the poor and oppressed 6. Locusts have a leap like Grashoppers and so have the Lawyers for like the Leopards they get their prey Saliâ—ndo by leaps which are sometimes very large and as to the things of God or Religious Exercises we shall finde few of them frequent them unless by leaps now and then so by fits and jerks they will seem may hap serious as if they set for Heaven and may promise much But I always except such as were Lawyers and are converted or it may be some that are yet so accounted who are godly and conscientious and cannot close with the common sort or ordinary practise of greedy griping selfish oppressing Lawyers but such are not very many And I must needs say I cannot see how an honest man of a tender conscience can continue a Common Lawyer with them in pleading and practising as they do for doubtless he will lie under very desperate and daily temptations to trade with sin But as to the sect of them in general excepting some particular rare ones such Zeno's as are honest and godly amongst them these Locusts may leap to a little honesty it may be on Sundays but all the days after they follow their old trade of lying and oppressing and eating up the greens of the Land Subitos dant saltus sed protinus in terram cadunt Their ordinary going is but higgle-haggle here and there this way and that on this side and on that too for any Cause or Client so they meet but with an Angel in the way 7. These Locusts that help to make up the Army of Antichrist had a power like to Scorpions given them Revel 9. 3. and so have the Lawyers 1. Scorpio est
folly upon a hill to lose this â—r virginity if it be possible to save it and never was more â—pes of help then now the people being Conquerors to get â—m under this Norman tyranny if we cry aloud and complain God and men and in our applications to the Lord General â—d the Parliament we declare our wrongs and call aloud and inâ—ssantly for justice upon those villainous Laws that have ravished â—d robbed us of all our rights ere-long then it may be all the â— to question and sentence those Laws Let us consider but â—at William the Conqueror hath robbed us of and then we â—all know what Oliver the Conqueror ought to restore us to â—d re-invest us with as our own as 1. Whereas the Laws the free-born people that were rational â—d in a capacity were the Institutors of by their Deputies or â—resentatives William the Conqueror usurps that power and eates all Laws in his name and so ever since they have run in â—e Kings name as in an orbe above the people on purpose to â—rannize over the people Hence sayes Philip Honor Cum à â—ulielmo Conquestore quod perinde est ac Tyrannus instituâ—â—iâ—t leges Angliae admirandum non est quod solam princiâ—is utilitatem respiciant subditorum vero bonum desertum esse â—idâ—â—tur Seeing the Laws of England have been made by â—illâ—am the Conqueror and from thence the Tyrant it is not to â—e wondered at that they onely regard the Interest and Prerogaâ—ive of the King and seem to relinquish the right and liberties â— the people and so not at all to favor or be-friend the freedom â—f the people But this must be amended for the interest of great â—es will byass the Law till the people be reinfranchised and â—ll there be no Laws but such as arise from the peoples voice 2. Williams Conquest brought in Laws with the Norman â—anguage and French Tongue and least any Law should remain of the people that would not fetch and carry for him he comâ—ands them all to speak Barbarism to them in his own barbarous â—guage of broken French i. e. not to be so much as understood â— the poor people So that ever since the people have been under â—aws they understood not which is a grievous yoke and curse as â—â—ut 28. 49 50 51. appears The Lord shall bring a nation against thee as swift as the eagle that flieth a nation 〈◊〉 tongue thou shalt not understand a nation of a fierce co 〈…〉 nance which shall not regard the old nor shew favor to the yo 〈…〉 he shall eat the fruits of thy cattle and the fruits of thy land 〈…〉 til thou be destroyed Thus William the Conqueror gave the Normans the chi 〈…〉 possessions of the Lands and he changed all the temporal Law 〈…〉 the Realm and ever since the Norman Lawyers pleaded caus 〈…〉 an unknown tongue this is contrary to the Laws of God and 〈…〉 ture as appears Deut. 30. 11 12 13. This Law which I 〈…〉 mand is not hid from thine eyes neither is it far off It 〈…〉 in Heaven that thou shalt say who shall bring it to us ne 〈…〉 is it beyond the Seas but it is near thee Gods Laws to his 〈…〉 ple were to be known yea the Politick Laws were to be 〈…〉 their own tongue that none might say we have not heard t 〈…〉 nor known them Rom. 1. 20. But they had it at the hand of M 〈…〉 Deut. 6. 7. and were to teach it to their children and talk of t 〈…〉 at home and abroad when they walked by the way and 〈…〉 they rose up and lay down yea the Heathen abhorred such 〈…〉 ness and brutishness as to enslave the people under unknown 〈…〉 guages Esther 8. 9. Then were the Kings Scribes called i 〈…〉 third moneth Sivan on the twenty third day thereof and 〈…〉 Law was written to every Province and to every people 〈…〉 their Language and to the Jews according to their Wri 〈…〉 and their Language The very Heathen had so much equity 〈…〉 reason therefore in Edward the third his time the Laws 〈…〉 commanded to be Englished and no more Pleas to be in Fr 〈…〉 or Latin And honest Vespasian as soon as he was Emperor 〈…〉 sently commanded all the Laws to be written legâ—bly in B 〈…〉 that none might plead ignorance in any one of them but that 〈…〉 people might all understand their Liberties and Laws and 〈…〉 fore it hath been ever the policy of Usurpers and Tyrants to 〈…〉 people ignorant of their Laws and Freedoms But are we not 〈…〉 delivered beleeve it the people cannot do less then expect 〈…〉 their Laws to be abbreviated and Englished and not one 〈…〉 Plea or Proces to be but in English and that not like Calig 〈…〉 who upon the peoples out-cry of this tyranny caused the La 〈…〉 be brought openly and set up for all people to know it but 〈…〉 â—â—r his own Interest to keep the people in ignorance and to enâ—â—â—re them under tyranny out of policy he appoints it to be writ in so small a letter as few could read it and to be set up so high as few could reach it This policy appeared in the late Parliamentâ— ordering of the Law to be Englished but yet in a mystery too This policy must be questioned and condemned to death for the peoples Laws are to be open and known by all and this right they hope to be restored unto by my Lord Cromwel as the peoples Conqueror not as the Norman did to divide the best Lands and Mansions and Mannors of the Nation to his Natives and Souldiers which was an undeniable argument of self-seeking and of an interest that will be broken apeeces in due time but to deliver up the peoples Laws and Liberties in their own Language This God and Nature requires else it will prove destructive to the welfare of this Commonwealth 1. That the Free Commoners be kept blinded and ignorant 〈◊〉 to their own Interests and Priviledges which are theirs by free birth-right 2. To be constrained from all parts round the Nation to come to Westminster for justice or right by Law 3. To be â—orced to put out their Causes to corrupt Lawyers to plead and censure them and to make merchandize of them and of the Law 4. To wait there for justice four five six eight or ten years in Law till the Norman Lawyers have made themselves rich by removing suits out of one Court into another and by retarding of justice to the ruine of the Client Now certainly God will in due time deliver his people out of this tyranny and slavery and proclaim Liberty to the Captives that are kept in darkness and misery under the ignorance of their own rights and priviledges which is a grievous curse to us as appears Deut. 28. 49 50 51 52. Jer. 5. 15 16 17. And if the Lord
Clients and sought counsell else he would be dumb Is it not so with us Doe not the Norman Lawyers the like Let the Lawyer be greatly retained or the Law shall be greatly detained And what will retain them as much as they can take out of their Clients hand at once no! For one that is eminent and belongs to the Councell of State told me he had it from a Gentleman of four thousand pound per annum that upon a motion to be made to the Lords Commissioners he retained his Counsell for one word to them and put five peeces into his hands but the Lords sat not that day The next morning the Gentleman made a fresh sally and gave a fresh salute to his great Counsell with gracious Angels and filled his pawes againe with two golden peeces for he was as hungry as ever since yesterday but the Lords sat not that day neither But the next day the Lords sat for certain so he comes to his Counsellor or Concealer Mr. M. Sir saies he be mindfull of my businesse I pray it is but one word to make but one motion to them this morning Sir saies the Lawyer I have nothing to doe with it no! says the Gentleman I hope you will Sir speake but one word Sir says the Laweer what doe you tell me of your motion I le not meddle with it for I am not retained to it Now it seems the seven peeces had not power enough to hold him three mornings but to make one motion Mr. M. was as hungry againe as ever he must have more or else be dumb So that the Gentleman was glad to run and borrow two peeces more having not so much about him to retaine or keep his Counsell close to it to speake one word to the Lords Commissioners for him Is not this a most unsufferable cheating of the free-born English-man and are not these crys of oppression and Norman Tyranny very loud and lamentable And is not the Law and Justice to be sold at so high a rate so as causes many an honest heart and poor man to sit sigh and complain and loose his Right for want of mony seeing eight or nine pounds can pay and pray but for one word Tully tels us that the mouth of the Lawyer is an Oracle for the whole City but if in this mouth there be a gilded tongue it will prove like the Oracle â—f Delphos which Demosthenes complained of in his time that it would speak nothing but what Phillip would have it say by giving it a double Fee So full Fees finde full mouths and can create in the Lawyers any likenesse or mouthfuls of Plea's upon any account right or wrong As Demosthenes who pleaded vehemently against the Milesian Ambassadors the first day but in the second day appeared in another likenesse and pretending he was not well would not plead against them at all but his neck being wrapped up and his face muffled about he pretended hee got the Quinzee and could not plead against them but the people perceiving the occasion of it was a secret bribe given him by the aforesaid Ambassadors they termed his Malady I was going to say melody for such tricks are the Lawyers mirth they termed it Argentangina not the QUINSIE but the COINZIE or silver-mumps such cheating tricks they have to get Gold their God I was informed within few dayes by an Honorable Religious Lady of Rowles cut out for coine and five hundred pound per annum lost thereby and of one that offered for twenty peeces to put other Deeds into the Rowles which may one day be knowne So that of all men alive it is the worst medling with these men who mind nothing but to feather their own nests fill their own purses and feed their own paunches Like a Capon that is cold and naked who in the absence of the Hen will run to her nest not out of any love to the Chickens but to warme his own sides they regard neither Cause nor Client Justice nor Law but how to get like Pettifoggers Orphans Widows or poor oppressed mens Estates and to eate men out in Fees and Extortions Therefore as a Lacedemonian answered a Physitian once who asked how he did the better said he for that I meddle not with you and take none of your physick So may we say to the Lawyers for none are well that are tampering with them And I confesse that I am one of them that had rather loose my right than run into their hands and yet I am beholding to one of our new Committees that would turn out as honest a just Cause as ever came before them and they confesse it and all men know it that have but heard of it yet to the amazement of 〈◊〉 honest men who had better hopes of them they would turn it over â—o these Tyrants notwithstanding they acknowledged that the remedy would then be worse then the disease O when shall Justice and 〈…〉 run downe like a mighty streame in our streets this promise wee wait for and then Justice will be easier and cheaper to come by and men be more honest then they are now We read of one Verconius in the time of Alexander Seveâ—â—s how he abused many in taking mony and Fees for preferring their Suits and doing them little or no good which cheating in those daies was so detestable that he was adjudged to be hanged up in a Chimney and so to be choaked with smoake for that he sold smoake to the people And it is not strange that in these daies this decei and design of the Lawyers to sell smoake and cozen the Commonweale should be countenanced How can the peoples expectation be answered not only in the continuing and keeping up this accursed Crew but in Committees throwing out honest Causes into their dishonest hands Wee are afraid too many of the Norman race are now in Government and their love to Tith-mongers and to the Lawyers and turning ore honest Causes to those Locusts of the Commonwealth makes our hearts ake for them as well as for ourselves I cannot but speake for a very Dog runs on with a courage when he is maintained by a more noble nature then his owne as when a man puts him on â— Beleeve it I say for I must speake it to deale so mildly with the corrupt Laws and Lawyers as only to regulate or better moddel them is a pretext which will bring us but into new bondage and they had better tell the honest people they 'le hang them all up at their own doores then not deliver them now their expectations are so high from this Norman tyranny wherein the people are robbed of their Laws and Liberties or then not throw downe Termes to set up Justice at our own doores and not to throw down this selfish arbitrary contentious Interest of the Lawyers which arose out of the corruptions and contentions of the worst of men and is
high Treason to be but faithfull and honest to the peoples Interest I pray God this be not the thing that keeps up the Lawyers amongst us now viz. to keep up the Interest of the Great ones and keep down the peoples Right and Liberties That like Popiclus of Polonia they might by murthers and oppressions over awe the people so as that they should not dare to demand their Rights and then make themselves absolute and hereditary Thus I might go on all day to show how many ways they are guilty of the most grievous murthers and of as able men as ever the Earth bare and to fast from blood hath been Lent-time to some But I conclude the Catalogue with this trick to make up their measure to get yea honest men into prisons and many times upon meer cheats as we heard before in Pag. 55. and then to keep them there purposely till they be starved to death and â—â—t up with lice and die worse then dogs Let a man but take a view of one place amongst many others i. e. the Upper Bench how many hundreds have they most miserably worse then Turks tormented and starved to death O England England does blood precious blood bid thee call for Justice upon these Intruders or Lawyers and shall we sit still Hark! Jere. 4. 31. I have heard a voice of the daughter of Zoin that bewaileth her self in anguish that spreadeth her hands and saith Wo is me now for my soul is wearied because of murtherers They murther the innocent Psal. 10. 8. and the fatherless Psal. 94 6. and poor yea they are polluted with blood Hos. 6. 8 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as troops of robbers they wait for men sayes the Prophet to murther them by consent it is in our Translation I know not how it was thrust in but the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shechem the shoulder which signifies either that they do it with one shoulder or else which I like best they murther the shoulder i. e. such as are most eminent high able and the worthies So that thus saith the Lord Hosea 4. 1 2. the Lord hath a controversie with the inhabitants of the land for that by swearing lying and killing and stealing and committing adultery they break out and blood toucheth blood This is one ground more of the great complaint the free Commoners have against these Norman Tyrants or Lawyers which is as hideous to the honest Englishman that fears God as Julius Caesars Robe was to the Senate-house that saw it stabbed through with so many holes and bloodied in so many places Thus are the Laws and Liberties of this poor Nation lost which makes us groan to God and men 4. As men are religious they rally up against these ungodly Lawyers for their open Robberies and Cheats which speaking too before I shall adde little to having told you of their tricks and arts which their Inns of Court bring them up in to get mony and abuse the oppressed people by Feâ—s and Bribes but Trop donne soyt repele There will come a day of reckoning for them and all that they have knit up by their rapine will be unravelled again with a witness ere long and these Powder-masters will be blown up with their own provision then Shall I count them pure with their bag of deceitful weights saith the Lord Miâ— 6. 11 12. For the rich are full of violence the inhabitants have pleaded lies and their tongue is deceitful in their mouths Vers. 16. For according to their Norman customs the statutes of Omri are yet kept that I should make thee a desolation Trust not in your robberies nor lies saith the Lord Jere. 7. So saith David Psal. 94. They frame mischeif for a Law and gather themselves against the soul of the righteous and condemn the Innocent God will recompence them in their own malice the Lord our God will destroy them They judge for rewards and hire and build up with blood Micah 3. 10 11. They are brass and iron they are revolters Jere. 6. 28. Every one loveth gifts and fees and judge for rewards they judge not the fatherless neither doth the cause of the widow come to them O! I will ease me of these my adversaries Isai. 1. 23 24. What are their Inns of Court but as Job saith Chap. 12. 6. Tabernacles of robbers which prosper And as Solomon sayes Prov. 21. 7. The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them because they refuse to do judgement The Searchers of God shall be sent out to seek out all their ill-gotten goods for which they will be arrested with a vengeance as the veriest Fellons that are though it is true as yet we have robbery for right and oppression for judgment Small theeves are condemned to die for it whiles great National ones ride rattling in Coaches I warrant you the poor sneaking Solicitors and Clerks yea the Bum-bailiffs and Serjeants that abuse men and beat women great with childe as one J. Turvy did a Gentlewoman the other day and yet not punished I say such as these say it is good gleaning after them that run away with whole sheaves and whose robberies are accounted rights because countenanced connived at and priviledged forsooth O sad are we such slaves yet As the same River that runs through divers regions hath divers names and yet it is the same River so theft hath divers names in Souldiers it is called spoil and plunder in Governors called Cessments tribute c. In Lawyers called Fees in others Gifts and Bribes in Church they call it Sacriledge and Simony in State Oppression and Tyranny in Law Corruption and Bribery and when this one River rises up into a Spring-tide or swells up to the bank then it is called Usury But in a poor naked man it is called Theft and Fellony without any other fine minced words which were coyned to cover great mens knavery and such a one must be murthered for it without mercy or clergy as they call it Dalton fol. 226. Although in truth it is the same River that runs and the same thing though new in name in all these but the same Cob-web which some Spiders can dwell in shall hang others As among the old Lacedemonians theft amongst them was never punished where it was carried cunningly and secretly but he that was discovered for stealing and did it not neatly he was punished not so much for stealing as for behaving himself no more covertly and cunningly in it So whiles poor men suffer mulct for a little matter because it is open plain theft these rich ravenous Robbers do it with art and cunning and have coyned a new name for it too to guild it over and so scape scot-free though they rob us daily of a thousand times more then all the Theeves in England besides But their Dooms day Book will be brought out ere-long where it is set down to a tittle what they ow to this
terrifie the wicked Grandees indeed and no bribes would then doe them good or hide them in their iniquity under golden coverings from the keen and quicke eye of Justice 11. Another Principle of Policy I perceive much amongst them is to show friendship to their enemies and courtesie to Malignants thereby to oblige them and make them their owne whiles others it may be more honest and heartily their true friends find not such fair and affable respect from them because they are sure of them they think already as such whose Principles and Consciences make them friends this was Caesars policy too but this is but policy 11. Principle of Piety is to make such a difference betwixt friends and foes Honest men and Cavaleirs that the faithful may be incouraged and countenanced and the enemies disabled and broken It is ever deemed most sordid horrid ingratitude to gratifie foes with friends rights and what do they lesse that give their enemies good looks and their friends frowns this may up to prove miserable policy Ingrata Patria ne ossa quiâ—â—m said Scipio Africanns O my Countrymen have I gotten many Victories and Triumphs for you and must not my bones 〈…〉 much as lye among 〈…〉 ou but must I be banished and your 〈…〉 bosomed O ingrata Patria 12. Principle of Policy is to put others upon the hazard and Forelorne-Hope to fetch out their designe especially if it be dangerous and hot work to have it and never to give it over once begun till it be attained though they passe through the red Sea of blood to it Like the Ape that sees a Châ—sâ—ut in the fire and not knowing how to get it out snatches up the Sâ—aâ—niâ—ls foot that lies by to fetch it out of the fire and then he falls to it and caâ—es not how the Dogs foot is scorched for it So the thing be had some care not how men lye wounded and their Wives be widowed to fetch it for them 12. Principle of Piety is to put none upon a design that is too bad for our own bodyes or estates to engage in and to take heed of eating and drinking the blood of our Brethren I mean by ingaging their Lives Limbs and Liberties for our Interests or self-ends See why David would not drink of the water of the Well of Bethlehem which he had so longed for in 1 Chron 11. 19. saying My God forbid it me shall I drinke the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy for with the jeopardy of their lives have they brought it me no! but in ver 18. he poured it out to the Lord So the price of blood is not for us nor poured out to pitch us in Estates or Mannors but must be given to God Woe be to us if our money means mansions or the like be the price of blood God forbid but let that designe be all Gods for which blood hath been so abundantly shed And some blessed be God in Parliament and Army are actuated by this Principle of Piety into such a solemn profession for Christ that they say as Mephibosheth said 2 Sam. 19. 30. when the King said thou and Ziba goe divide the Lands amongst you Nay saies he let him take all and he will for as much as my Lord the King is come home again in peace So let who will take and divide the Lands whiles the Lord Jesus Christ is coming to reign for God forbid but this blood should be poured out to him In these and many other Principles of Policy which I might easily mention were our former Governing men most unchristianly conversant to the contradiction of the honest and true Principles oâ— Piety which I beseech the Lord our Jehovah that this Parliâ—ment may more abundantly professe and decline those 〈…〉 villian and Jesuitick tricks and arts which will deceiâ—e the 〈…〉 of them to the purpose at last We hear of many Jesuites sent abroad to drive on designs and doubtlesse they will be tampering with Churches and States as much as may be and poore England I fear hath been palpably cheated with them under the guise of Politicians for as Rhetoricke is like the hand open and Logick like the hand shut so is the Jesuite an open Politician and the Machivillian Politician a close Jesuite One machi-villanously principled is subtle and politick in his Divinity and Religion and one Jesuitickly principled is divine and religious in his Subtleties and Policies so that as we say of Simnels it is but bread upon bread Such Politicians and Statists are but Jesuites on Jesuites But thus far for a Word and Warning to them which now sit at Stern to steere aright for Christ and the Commonwealth and to doe much in a little time least they loose their opportunity and honor together for ever after and be rejected like Saul for doing the Lords worke negligently and but by halves 1 Sam. 15. 26 28. and 16. 13 1â— Lastly My 〈…〉 to the People is this First to be wise in Gods wayes and in 〈…〉 of this Generation this the people practised in primitivâ— times and Issachar is much commended for understanding the times whereby he knew what Israel had to doe says the Tâ—â—t 1 Chron. 12. 32. There be none that now know what England hath to do but such as understand the times we live in how near to Christs comming the fifth Monarchy What left the poor people in blindnesse and gave them up to destruction or drowning in Noahs dayes but want of understanding of the times And so will be the coming of the Son of Man Matth. 24. 37. What left the Pharisees and Jews in blindnesse as to Christ and gave them up to hardnesse of heart and the curse but their ignorance in all ages ignorance of the times and seasons hath been fatall to the Inhabitants Obj. But in Deut. 14. 10. 18. God prohibits such a practise of observing times and makes it a curse c. Answ. True it is a very great curse and contrary to the command of God to observe the times in that sence i. e. by Planets and Stars as Astrologers and Southsayers and such kind of Diâ—iners for so Mecash-sheph signifies and so Menachesh and Kosem this is positively forbidden Levit. 19. 26. Exod. 22. 18. and God will not have it in Israel among his People 2 Chron. 33. 6. Jer. 27. 9. Mal. 3. 5. but threatens judgements upon it and upon the Nation where it is professed Wherefore let Lilly and such unwholesome and ominous fellows look to it For this divination a Divis takes men off of God and his Word and leads them by an imperfect and lurking light into dangers and depths of misery This makes that eminent Astrologo-mastix I meane Mirandula with indignation to conclude that this blazing and gazing Art of theirs is but vanity of vanities and vexation of the spirits Therefore how often doth God