me an empty vessel he hath swallowed me up like a Dragon he hath filled his belly with my delicates he hath cast me out It is said that the Roman Tyrants in the first Persecutions did destroy twenty seven millions of people and that with such cruelties as were never heard of before One mentions a cruel Tyrant who to get monies of his miserable Subjects used to send for them first to the Court as Charls ultimus Angliae did use to send for the Citizens of London and others that refused to pay Ship monies c. and if they did deny to pay according to his pleasure he would first knock out one of their tâ—eth and then another until they did yield to pay the same as Charls aforesaid by himself or Agâ—nts did send persons that would not pay his illegal and unjust demands to New-gate 2. A Tyrants Regiment is without Righteousnesâ— he lives by Robbery with Authority making his Will his Warrant and his Lust his Law He is not a Magistrate but a Malefactor not a Preserver but a Persecutor of Law and Equity Righteousness is a raâ—iâ—y in the Court of Tyrants except unconcerned in their own interest where golden Angels especially if their name be Legion are their sacred Oracles from whose mouth they receive and so give sentence accordingly be it right or wrong to the wresting of Judgment the Bribe prospereth which way soever it turneth making even wise men mad by their unrighteous sentence Their right hand is full of bribes Psal. 26. 10. Solomon saith such personâ—trouble their own houses Prov. 15. 27. fire their nests while they think to feather them Fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery Job 15. 34. It was an Oath taken by the very Heathen Judges Audiam accusatorem reum sine affâ—ctibus personarum respectione I will hear the Plaintiff and Difendant with an equal mind without affâ—ction or respect of persons It is â—â—corded that Olanes sat upon the fleyd skin of his father Sâ—lanes naâ—led by Chambises on the Tribunal There are more thâ—n whispers of very sad stories of the bribery and baseness of our laâ—e English Court and the greatest therein taking mony on both sides and doing Justâ—ce on neither side but as I said before â—iâ—e consumes the tabernacles of bribery wiâ—ness the woful desolations of that wretched Family the Husband hunted out of the world by the hand of Justice and driven from light to darkness the Wife banished from the Land of her pleasures the Children in their several dispersions in several places unwelcome to all being a burthen to all The Word of the Lord is tryed The house of the wicked shall be overthrown Prov. 14 11. Brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation Job 18. 15. 3. He carries death at his tongues end the peoples welfare is at his mâ—er pleasure where his word is there is power and be his doings right or wrong who dares say unto him What dost thou Hiâ— heart is hard his hands are heavy and wo be to him thaâ—â—eels their stroke He hath long arms and can strike at a distance he wants not a heart to conceive a head to conâ—â—ive nor hands to execute his bloody Commands It is said that Methridates with one Letter did slay fourscore thousand Citizens of Rome none must cross them in their devilish cruelty except he will take a Bear by the tooth or a Lyon by the beard I dare not dispute said a Philosopher to Adrian the Emperor with him that hath thirty Legions at his command neque in eum scribere qui potest proscribere nor write against him that can easily undo me Against his word there must be no rising up Prov 30. 31. They will ride without reins until unhors'd with Haman and their honour of all becomes the hatred and scorn of all His wrath is as a roaring Lyon Prov. 19. 12. amazing al that are about them as a late King of England who though he had more of the nature of a Fox then a Lâ—on yet would make hâ— Courtiers tremble with his sparkling countenance fierce fiery furious and phâ—enzylike cursing and swearing Nebuchadnâ—zzars rage against those three Worthies in Daniel was hotâ—er then his Oven for he had destroyed them in his heart when his Oven could not hurt them for refusing to obey his idolatrous Commands and Herod by the word of his mouâ—h hath bloody Executioners to murther poor innocent childâ—en in a barbarous manner Now cursed be the anger ofâ—yrants for it is fierce and their wrath for it is cruel by means whereof they live undesired they dye unlamented as Nerva Valentinian yea their ruine is the rejoycing of the people as was that of Nero Cum mors crudelem rapuissâ—t saeva Neronem Credibile est mulâ—os Romam agitasse jocos When the wicked perish the City shouts for joy Prov. 11. 11. Absolute Power tickâ—es Tyrants to destroy with a word a nod this is their glory Caesar told Metâ—llus he could as easily destroy him as bid it to be done And Caligula speaking to his Consuls I laugh said he to think that I can kill you with a nod of my head and that this fair throat of my Wives shall be presently cut if I but speak the word To have power to crucifie and power to save was Pilates pleasure and delight 4. He makes his people tremble before him he kills and saves puts down and sets up in the haughtiness of his heart and pride of his power persons and principles at his meer discretion It is said of Nebuchadnezzar that having a Kingdom Majesty glory and honour in so much that all people Nations and Languages feared and trembled before him his heart was lifted up and his mind hardened in pride that whom he would he slew and whom he would he kept alive and whom he would he set up and whom he would he put down You may judg of their disposition by his own and of his by his cruel decree against Daniel who did him no wrong like King like Courtiers like Prince like Priest for whom will they advance but either those that are their likes or whom they hope to make their likes When Princes are roaring Lions Zeph. 3. 3. they that are advanced Judges are evening Wolves vers. 3. The Prophets are light and treacherous and the Priests do violence to the Law vers. 4. What a cursed crew is here He doth not scatter but gather the wicked about him for they love their image Regis ad exemplum c. Hence it is that Kings Courts in Cities and Countries as they remove from place to place are little other ways then a moving Hell on Earth where the Elect of Satan the most cursing swearing blaspheming lascivious proud wanton effeminate base and beastly persons are gathered together from all the Nation people and families of the whole Country infecting all places where ever they come rendring them as it were the very suburbs of Hell Hence it was that
justice in a publick manner and himself and accomplices were rendred acceptable spectacles of justice unto the people When Rehoboam shall tread in the steps of his fathers unjust exactions and upon the complaint and petition of his people for their just rights and priviledges he shall refuse to hear them to ease them but tells them I will add to my Fathers yoke he chasâ—ised you with whips but I will chastise you with Scorpions Ten parts of 12. of his people cast him off made war against him What said they if this be the case that we must be whipt and slasht by this proud Tyrant and at his will and the will of his cursed Courtiers and his green-headed Grandees Away with him what portion have we in this Tyrant To your tents O Israel Arm arm let him now look to himself 1 King 12. from the first to the twenty one ver. his grave Councellors told him plainly Vers 7. If thou wilt be a Servant unto this people and serve them and speak good words to them treat them kindly they will be thy servants for ever Where you may see i. that the King was made so to be their Servant and not to Lord it over them And secondly That when Kings are Servants to the people the people are thâ—iâ— ready and free and willing servants yea vassels unto them Love will compel them But when they perceive that they have no portion in him he shall have as little in them By how much the greater the person is that offâ—nds by so much the greater is his fault by so much the greater his punishment ought to be And I believe that that late exemplary piece of justice at Whitehall Gate upon the late Tyrant was one of the â—attest richest and most acceptable Sacrifice that hath been offered up unto the most righteous God that loveth righteousness in this Nation before that day And that the zeal of our Judges in executing petty thieves robbers and murtherers at Tyburn was but as the tything of Mint and Cummin in comparison of that great thing of the Law then done 16. His light shall be put out his sparks shall not shine Terrors shall make him afraid on every side his own Counsel shall cast him down his roots shall be dried up beneatlh and above shall his branches be cut off His remembrance shall perish from the Earth and he shall have no name in the Street His triumph is but short and his joy but for a moment though his Excellency mount up unto the Heavens and his Head reaches unto the Clouds yet shall he perish for ever like his own dung he shall flye away as a dream and be chased as a vision of the night the eye which saw him shall see him no more neither shall his place any more behold him Solomon saith That a violent bloody Tyrant shall flee to the pit let no man slay him Prov. 28. 17. Let no man mediate for him lest he pay down as Ahab did life for life people for people 1 King 20. 42. When Tyrants perish the righteous increase Prov. 28. 28. They swarm like Bâ—es in a Sun-shine day When the wicked rise good men skulk and hide their heads as Moses fled from Pharaoh David from Saul Eliah from Ahab Obadiah's Clients from Jezabel Jeremiah from Jehoiakim Joseph and the Child Jesus from Herod c. But wherein they dealproudly God is above them He seeth their day is coming He sits in Heaven and scorneth these scorners The Most High cuts off the Spirit of Princes he is terrible unto these tyrannical Kings of the Earth those scourges of the World God so subdued Senacherib as the Egyptians in memory of it did set up his Statue in the Temple of Vulcan with this inscription Let all that behold me learn to fear God Tyrants shall be sure sooner or later to meet with their match The blood-thirsty man shall not live out half his dayes God will at last appear to their fearful destruction to be glorious in holiness fearful in praises doing wonders of wrath and ruine upon bloody Pharaohs he will tear out those bowels that are fill'd and stuft with the blood of the poor and make inquisition for their blood then will he remember and not forget the complaint of the poor hâ—e hath fulfill'd his threatnings against Tyrants in our eyes and â—â—â—ed our Nation from those men of blood that they may fall and fall in all the parts of the world and never rise up again especially in our English Nation That God would melt all Crowns and Sâ—epters of the Potentates of the Earth into a Crown Sâ—epter for the Head and hand of Jesus Christ putting all Powâ—rs and Authorities under his feet making our Government peace and Exactors Righteousness that violence be no more heard of in our Land nor desolation nor destruction within ouâ— Borders Let all the people CRI IN HOPE AMEN A Protector OR Homo Homini Deus JUst Government is Gods Ordinance for mans good the form thereof mans appointment with Gods approbation the end thereof mans felicity and Gods glory and a just Governor is a Protector of both The Institution of Government is of God the Constitution of man the Governors themselves of both viz. Gods permission and mans election JVST GOVERNMENT IS GODS ORDINANCE The Powers that be are ordained of God Rom. 13. 1. Mans sin was the cause of his subjection to all mortals but Gods mercy did institute the same to preserve him from ruine by his own wickedness had not man sinned there had been a priorâ—ty but not a soveraignty there had been a reverence in the child to the father as the instrument of his production but no subjection because no justiciating power had been stablished there being no need of it the eternal Law written in every mans heart would have been every mans guide had it not been for sin sin ushered in subjection as a curse at the heels of it Gen. 3. 16. Thy desire shall be to thy husband he shall rule over thee her disobedience expos'd her to subjection by Gods Ordinance Soveraignty and subjection are Gods appointment FOR MANS GOOD He is the minister of God to thee for good Rom. 134 Sociableness or appetitus convivendi is the impress of Nature and the reason thereof mutual preservation and accommodation which cannot be without Government Sin hath brought sorrow upon the world Sin entered into the world in the van of a black and bloody Regiment sorrows pains aches hunger thirâ—t shame c. with death through sin in the rear Conscience of guilt brings fear of death hence one end of society is preservation and because men need security from misery and ruine by one another therefore hath God appointed Government and Governors among themselves for the good of all the form of which Government is leâ—t by God to their own discretion who hath only confin'd them within the limits of this general rule His GLORY and THEIR FELICITY Forms
his ways please the Lord he need not fear his friends or foes that the Throne is established by righteousnesse ruined by wrongs that though wickedness may build his house for a time yet a wo from God will destroy the foundation Ier. 22. 13. That Heavens friendship is his greatest security that true piety is the best policy to attain and maintain his power and dignity The Saints just liberty is his study and men of persecuting principles he cannot bear Men that judg themselves bound in conscience to punish others that are not of their judgment and conscience men that are not very ambitious that others should know as much as themselves and yet very zealous to have them punished because they know not as much as themselves iron-hearted men like that Tyrant that would cast the men of his displeasure upon an Iron bed and if any were longer then the bed he would have them cut off by so much the shorter and if any were shorter he should be stretcht out unto that length These persons had rather that people should dissemble their opinions then own their own The men of my meaning are very discernable they are such as pretend themselves Embassadors for Christ and that with great majesty and authority imposing upon all men in the name of the Lord and yet in the face of all men neglecting nay despising his great Commandment of Loving the Brethren It is known to God and my conscience and all men that know me know that I am no adversary to the publique Ministry but a cordial Assertor of their sacred Office according to the utmost of my poor abilities against Opposers well considering that though they may differ amongst themselves in the explication of some of the terms of their Embassy as also that though they work not Miracles as the Apostles did to confirm their doctrine which two particulars are the greatest pretended Arguments impleading their Function yet they agree in the grand import of their Masters message viz. the grace of God bringing Salvation by Jesus Christ and teaching men to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live godly righteously and soberly in this present evil world which is the sum of the Gospel and that this having been already confirmed by Miracles from Heaven in the first establishment thereof in the world needs no more Miracles for its confirmation those doctrines only wanting Miracles for their credit that are extra-Scriptural pretended revelations strong perswasions and impressions upon mens hearts having no greater authority then their own fancies visions born in their own brain carryed on with fury violence pride and passion and most importunely prest upon the consciences of men in the Name of the Lord without any Scripture I say these considered with the like I am no enemy to the publâ—que Ministry and do heartily congratulate good Magistrates favour towards godly Ministers and the present course and hopeful endeavors of our present Rulers in seeking ouâ— able and fit men to preach the Gospel in the Commonwealth I wish them prosperity in the name of the Lord But the men of my meaning in my humble Caution are easily known by some or all of these Characters First Men that will be of the Kings Religion be he of what Religion he will and are clamorous against all that cannot weather-cock it like themselves men that are not Okes but Oâ—â—â—rs warping and winding this way or that way as the hand of their bountiful Patrons and Benefactors will wreath them as of old like Prince like Priest Ezek. 22. 27. Men may easily discern their dawbing with untempered morter The Court in former days never wanted these black Parasites they are known by their flattering titles they give trying if they can trade by exchanging flatteries for favours 2. They mind earthly things Watch them you will see the center of their circumference be the circle never so great will be themselves and families places profits preferments gratuities these are sweet Venison after hunting pluralities non-residence neglecting Gods flock by other persons are little better then the unpardonable sins but plusquam pluralities can down with themselves without straining and the silver bell that hath the greatest sound is the fairest call for their so doing and the still voyce of God speaking to their consciences is not heard through the noise thereof their happiness is not so much to be envyed as their unhappiness to be pitied neither is the seasonable attendance of good men of this tribe about our present Rulers and families in the least impleaded in these lines nor their bounty or favour towards them provided their attendance be not with the great neglect of those grand duties incumbent upon them by the Word of God by Covenant and Conscience and that they improve their interest opportunities and advantages with them for the Common Peace of all their Brethren in the faith however differing in opinion from themselves Thirdly The men of my meaning of persecuting of principles for conscience sake are always found defaming vilifying and reproaching their dissenting brethren unto the Rulers by cloathing their opinions with ugly names as dangerous dismal and dreadful things taking advantage from their impossibility through their much business to examine the truth and to make their own eyes their judges in the case to save them a labour by telling them in their own manner what men hold and how dangerous those things be never informing either through their own ignorance or malice in what sence with what cautions limitations and restrictions they maintain or deny and upon what grounds and arguments they assert their judgements it is no hard thought to suppose for there is reason enough that there are men of worth learning excellency and holiness whose names and reputations suffer shipwrack by the men of this Charactâ—r when any knotty painful and laborious business pertinent to their function in times of straits appear necessary to be done the men of their quarrel are then in esteem but when the cloud is over and the work is done and the Sun shines again they have then done with them they are shut up again in darkness under their black reproaches and scandals and if they have but the liberty of their private Confines Societies and Companies it is reward sufficient if not too much for all their labours like the subtle Ape that took the Spaniels foot to reach the chesnut out of the fiâ—e and then eats the kernel and gâ—ts him gone leaving the burnt Spaniel to seek out a plaister Well the other world will make up all A wise Prince cannot but judge such disingenuity much unworthy their function and hâ—s favour Fourthly Men of persecuting principles for conscience sake are frequently known by this charactar viz. They bring their opinions to the Scriptures and fetch them not thence and prefer their id est before the Scriptum est their interpretation before the Text Men that Caedem Scripturarum faciuut as one saith that