againe they think it strange that we run not in the same excesse of riot with them and therefore speak they evil of us but let them know they shall give an account to him which is ready to jude the quick and dead 1 Pet. 4.3 4.5 Obj. But there are many Noble wise and prudent men in this Nation and most or all of the Kings and Princes of other Nations that take part with them and who dares say that they are such Answ. Most or all of the Kings Princes and nobles of the World are ignorant of the knowledge of God and of his great design and work that he hath to do upon the earth for had they known it saith Paul they would not have crucisied the Lord of glory 1 Cor. 22.8 And did those Princes and great men in our days know it they would not crucifie him in his members but as Christ saith These things will they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor me Joh. 16.2 3. And indeed the world by wisdom knew not God therefore saith Paul The wisdom of this world and of the Princes of the world comes all to nought 2 Cor. 2.6 But as for the wisdom of God that shall endure for ever he revealeth it to them that fear him and his Covenant is to give them understanding without respect of Persons Psal. 25.12.13 14 with James 1.5 And there is not many wise nor noble nor mighty that God hath chosen but he hath chosen the poor in this world rich in faith and heirs of his Kingdom James 2.5 and God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and weak thing of the world to confound the mighty and base things and things that are dispised hath God chosen to the end that no flesh should glory in his presence See 1 Cor. 1.26 27 28 29. Therefore saith Christ I thank thee Father Lord of heaven and earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight Luke 10.21 Thus having shown the reason why men salsly accuse us and speak evill of us as of evil doers I shall proceed to vindicate my self and others from the next reproach and slander namely that we are the false Prophets that shall arise in the last days and deceive many In answer to which I shall proceed in order thus First we will consider which are the last days in which they should arise Secondly how we may know a false Prophet from a true one And first I affirme that the last days in which the false Prophets should arise did begin in the time when Christ and his Apostles were upon the earth which is cleared by considering the world in its three Ages the first days of it being from the creation till the Flood and after till Moses by whom the Law was given the second days or middle age of the world being from Moses to Christ the last days from Christ to the end which days shall be shortned for the elects sake Now that the false Prophets did begin to arise when Christ was upon the earth and his Apostles is evident first from Mat. 24.4 5 where Christ warns his Disciples to take heed that no man deceive them 〈…〉 for many shall come in my name and say I am Christ and deceive many therefore those were the last days in which deceivers should come because he warned his Disciples then in the flesh not to be deceived Secondly that those were the last days in Scripture-Language appeareth Act. 2.16 17. in these words This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel that it should come to pass in the last days saith God I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh c. And this was then fulfilled Therefore these were the last days Thirdly the Apostle saith Heb. 1.1 2. God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake to our fathers by the prophets hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son c. Therefore those days in which Christ was in the flesh and spake to us the minde of his Father were the last days in which the false prophets should arise for saith Peter As there were false prophets among the people namely the people of Israel under Moses even so shall there be false teachers amongst you namely under the Gospel Fourthly that those were the last days in which false Prophets should arise and did arise is undeniable 1 Joh. 3.18 in these words where he speaks in the present time thus Little children it is the last time and as you have heard that Antichrist shall come even so now there are many Antichrists by which we know that it is the last time Therefore the false prophets and teachers did arise in those days and that out of the Church of Christ for saith the Apostle vers. 19. They went out from us and again saith Paul The mystery of iniquity doth already work 2 Thes. 2.7 And I know saith he that after my departure grievous wolves shall enter in among you not sparing the flock And of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them Acts 20.29 30. Thus we see when the last days began and when the false prophets did arise and ever since that they have continued and increased in the world And without question the Pope may from hence well plead his antiquity and so his succession for I believe they might be in times past in the true Church at Rome for we see that false prophets and teachers had their rise out of the Apostolike Church in the Primitive times But there is another Prophecie to be fulfilled in these last days of all namely that Christ will consume and destroy them with the spirit of his mouth and the brightness of his coming 2 Thes. 28. this compared with Micah 4.1 2 3 4 5. in these words In the last days it shall come to pass that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains and exalted above the hills and people shall flow unto it And many nations shall come and say Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of the God of Jacob and he shall teach us his ways and we will walk in his paths for the law shall go out of Zion c. And the Lord shall judge among many people and rebuke strong nations afar off and they shall break their swords into plough-shares and their spears into pruning-hooks nation shall not lift up a sword against nation neither shall they learn war any more But every man shall sit under his vine and under his fig-tree and none shall make them afraid For all people will walk every one in the name of his god and we will walk in the Name of the Lord our God for ever and ever These things shall come
NO KING But JESUS OR The walls of Tyrannie razed AND The foundation of unjust Monarchy discovered to the view of all that desire to see it Wherein is undeniably proved That no King is now the Lords Anointed but JESUS And the designe of God now upon the face of the earth is briefly laid open And the Rulers of the Nation with their present Power and Authority plainly proved to be of God and therefore ought to be honoured and obeyed by all men living under them Being considered in the following Particulars By Henry Haggar a servant of Christ and of the Commonwealth of England sometimes belonging to the Garison of Stafford Wo to the Crown of pride For the Lord of hosts hath purposed it to stain the pride of all glory and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth Isai. 28.1 with 23.9 And behold a King shall reign in righteousness and princes shall rule in judgement Isa. 32.1 London Printed for Giles Calvert at the signe of the black Spread-Eagle at the west-end of Pauls 1652. To the READER Courteous Reader WHosoever thou art that lovest either peace or happiness here or hereafter To thee in all love I commend these ensuing lines with an earnest desire that thou mayst profit by them And to that end let me intreat thee to read and consider them impartially trie and measure them by that true Touch-stone and infallible Rule which is the Word of God ask him for wisdom to discern between things which differ and the Lord give thee understanding in all things The mark I chiefly aim at is to unfold the fraud and deceit of the man of sin and to lay open that mystery of iniquity in which he worketh by his instruments with all deceivableness of unrighteousness to deceive the hearts of the simple and to shew what Rights and Titles he doth falsly claim in these evil days and how grosly men mistake in giving him what is proper to God both in Church and Commonwealth I know thou canst not be ignorant of the great Change that God hath wrought in this nation in a few yeers for which cause many men do gnaw their tongues for anger and are ready to blaspheme the God of heaven being not afraid to speak evil of dignities and powers which are set up and established by God who pulleth down one and setteth up another whom he pleaseth And for want of knowledge in these things men perish as in the gainsaying of Korah being found fighters against God and are brought into the pit of destruction unawares to the ruine of body soul and goods Which things having been by me considered in some measure according to the understanding the Lord hath given me I finde my self in conscience bound and by love and pity constrained to speak what I know and am sure of to others having learnt it chiefly out of the Scriptures and somewhat by considering the times and the conditions of men in these days of danger and peril in which so many make shipwrack of faith and a good conscience I therefore am bold to present these lines to the view both of friends and enemies by which I shall discharge my duty towards God and man in some good measure and shall be at peace in my self when I know I have not hid my talent in a napkin nor kept back any thing that might be profitable to my country-men acquaintance amongst whom I live But it may be some will say that it is too weighty a piece of work for me to meddle with I should have left it to some wise and learned men that are better able to distinguish between things which differ To which I answer What I have done well was not too hard for me to do Secondly it hinders none of the wise and prudent of the nation that fear God from doing more Thirdly these are the days in which God is pleased to chuse and make use of foolish and weak instruments in the worlds account to confound the wisdom of the wise and to bring down the strength of the mighty and to bring to nought the understanding of the prudent and if God make choice let Men take heed how they refuse Therefore courteous Reader let not the weakness of the instrument cause thee to slight any thing that may be profitable but what is agreeable to truth and sound Reason receive in love and what is contrary reject And thus with my unfeigned love to all that wish themselves happiness I rest being ready to serve them in all things lawful and convenient to the utmost of my power Henry Haggar The EPISTLE To the SAINTS in the order of the Gospel with all that truly fear God Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplyed to you through the knowledge of God and our Lord and Savlour Jesus Christ Dearly Beloved SEeing it is the portion of the Saints and children of God living in this generation especially in this our Nation of England to partake of such great mercies from God our Father and from our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ as to live under such Rulers and that the Lord hath set over us such in Authority as are for the praise of them that do well and for the punishment of evil doers so that under them we may live a quiet life in all godliness and honesty It is therefore expedient that we and all that truly fear God should labour to walk worthy of these mercies and to shâ—w forth our thankfulness by our obedience both tawards God and those men whom he hath set over us that so the Lord may still delight in us and rejoyce over us to do us good and to bless us with all manner of blessings both spiritual and temporal that we being thus delivered from all our enemies may serve him that hath wrought this great deliverance for us without fear in holiness and righteousness all our days walking as his children blameless and harmless without rebuke in the midst of a crocked and perverse Nation shining as lights in the world holding forth the pure word of life Therefore I exhort you and every of you professing godliness in sincerity in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ and by the mercies that we have received from him and by him from God our Father that we may with all diligence labour and exercise our selves as our beloved brother Paul hath given us an example Act. 24.15 16. to have always Consciences void of offence both towards God and towards man And for as much as we believe with him the resurrection of the just and unjust and the eternal judgement that shall be at the appearing of our Lord and Saviour Iesus christ Seeing we look for such things let us consider what manner of persons we ought to be in all holy conversation and godliness looking for and making hast unto the coming of the day of God knowing that we which patiently continue in well doing shall then receive the reward of righteousness which
is a Crown of righteousness and glory that in due time we shall reap if we faint not Therefore dear friends let not us be ignorant of Gods great work which he is now a working upon the face of the earth but let us that be children of the day be sober and watch knowing that these are the days of vengeance in which all things must be fulfilled that are written in the Prophets and the signes of the coming of the Lord are upon the face of the earth even distress of Nations and perplexity Kingdom against Kingdom and City against City and mens hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth but yet let us remember the promises Rom. 10.13 It shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved and again Heb. 13.5 6. he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee so that we may boldly say The Lord is our helper and we will not fear what man can do unto us therefore let us remember the words of our Lord Christ Luke 21.28 When these things begin to come to pass then look up and lift up your heads knowing that your Redemption draweth nigh Wherefore this is my humble advice to all that fear the Lord that we labour now to approve our Consciences before God by being to him that Redeemed us a peculiar people zealous of good works knowing that is the end of our Redemption and preservation Tit. 2.14 Let us therefore consider that Christ is that great Prophet by whom God hath spoken to us in these last days Heb. 1.12 And that we are commanded to hear him in all things whatsoever he shall say unto us Act. 3.22 23. And his sheep are they that hear his voice and follow him Joh. 10.27 and the voice of a stranger will they not follow vers. 5. and we are his friends if we do whatsoever he hath commanded us Joh. 15.14 and he that hath his commandments and keepeth them it is he that loveth him Joh. 14.21 for this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous 1 Joh. 5.3 But he that saith he loveth Christ or knoweth Christ and keepeth not his commandments is a lyer and the truth is not in him 1 Joh. 2.4 5. with Joh. 18.24 and whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God 2 Joh. 9. and if any shall come to you and preach any other doctrine then what is already preached receive him not ver. 10. yea if we or an Angel from Heaven shall preach any other Gospel then that which we have preached to you saith Paul let him be accursed as we said before so say I now again let him be accursed Gal. 1.9 10. for how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation as was first preached by the Lord himself and was confirmed to us by them that heard him God bearing them witness both with signes and wonders and divers gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his own will Heb. 2.3 4. Wherefore dear brethren and beloved in the Lord let us contend earnestly for the faith that was once delivered to the Saints Jude vers. 3 4. even as it was delivered at the first by the Lord himself and his holy Apostles For there are certain men crept in unawares which do turn this grace of our Lord Jesus Christ into wantonness and deny the Lord that bought them in their actions although they confess him in their words and do also think to make us forget and deny him by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour as the Lord saith Jer. 23.27 Let us therefore seeing we know these things before beware lest we also being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from our own stedfastness but let us grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ let us abide in his love by keeping his commandments Joh. 15.10 and continue his friends by doing whatsoever he hath commanded us ver. 14. so shall we have a good conscience void of offence towards God through our Lord Iesus Christ and boldness and access with confidence through faith in his blood unto that throne of grace where he ever liveth to make intercession for us To him be glory for ever Lastly we must exercise a good conscience towards man even by doing to all as we would they should do to us but in a special manner we ough to have respect unto the Magistrates whom God hath set over us to do to them even as we would they should do to us viz. If we would that they should protect and preserve us in well-doing we ought also to assist and aid them both with persons and estates without which they are not able to suppress wicked and ungodly men they being without us but private or particular persons Therefore I desire that all christians may be put in minde to be subject to principalities and powers and to obey magistrates to be ready to every good work and not to speak evil of any man to be no brawlers but gentle shewing all meekness to all men Tit. 3.1 2. We know also that there is no power but is of God for the powers that be are ordained of God and therefore he that resisteth them resisteth the ordinance of God especially when Rulers are not a terrour to good works but to the evil therefore we must needs be subject to such not onely for wrath but also for conscience sake let us consider them as the servants of God set over us for our good to take vengeance and execute wrath upon them that do evil Let us render to all their due tribute to whom tribute is due custom to whom custom fear to whom fear honour to whom honour belongeth see Rom. 13. But I know some will object that we ought indeed to pay tribute and custom to whom it is due and to give honour to whom honour belongeth but it belongs not to this present Power and Authority for the Scripture saith that we should Fear God and Honour the King and that we should be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake and to the King as supreme But these have rebelled and slain their King therefore neither honour obedience nor tribute belongs to them To which at present I answer That to the end this stumbling-block may be taken away and a right understanding may come in the place and a true affection to these present Rulers may be begotten in the hearts of those people that stumbled and a general reconciliation might speedily be brought forth amongst all men I have presumed to present these ensuing lines to their view knowing before that enemies will except against the most perfect Truth and soundest Reason witness their excepting against the Word of God but friends will bear with infirmities Wherefore I desire you that are
friends when you have read and considered what I have written and tried it by the Word of God if then you shall finde any thing too light or useless that you will impute it to that imperfect part which in some measure doth dwell in all men and remain fully assured that what I want in words and expressions is fully made up in my affection toward the State and Commonwealth in general Thus destring that what is according to Truth and sound Reason may be profitable to all I commit what is written to your serious consideration and impartial judgement and you into the hands of the Lord and remain to the utmost of my power Your faithful brother stedfast in the faith of the Gospel of Iesus Christ And his servant for your sakes HENRY HAGGAR The Particulars of the Book are in order at followeth I. THat it is God alone that ruleth in the Kingdoms of men and they have nothing to do to question him how whether it be by Kings as supreme Heads as in and after the days of Saul David and Solomon or by the Elders of the people to rule and judge them as before there was any King but God himself in Israel II. What it is to rule with God III. What was the original of Monarchy amongst men or whence it first came that a man should bear the name of King over the people of God IV. Who is of the Royal blood V. Who is now the Lords Anointed VI What is Gods desine against the Kings and Rulers of the Nations in these last days VII Wherfore he will destroy them VIII What they may or should do to escape the hand of God lifted up against them IX What the Saints and people fearing God should do in these days of vengeance X. Their duty to this Present Power acknowledged and they vindicated from the reproaches and slanders falsly cast upon them by wicked men Viz. That they are the false Prophets of the last times and those that cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine of Christ and the ignorant and unlearned that Peter speaks of which wrest the Scripture to their own destruction and despise Government and are not afraid to speak evil of dignities and will not obey Magistrates but have slain their King c. No King but JESVS c. ANd now according to the method propounded I shall proceed to shew first that it is God alone that ruleth and men have nothing to do to question how whether it be by Kings as supreme heads as in and after the days of Saul David and Solomon or by the Elders of the people to rule and judge them as before there was any King but God himself in Israel But now let me not be mistaken and abused as if I went headlong without wisdom or the fear of God to rail against kingly power or Kings like those that spake evil of things they know not for I approve of Kings and Rule by Kings as well as of ruling or judging the people by Elders but it must always be considered in all ages and generations of the world what Rule and Rulers God doth approve of for it is he that setteth up one and pulleth down another and he it is that ruleth in the kingdoms of men and giveth them to whomsoever he will yea and setteth over them the basest of men Dan. 4.17.25 And now let us consider if the God of heaven did in that age take away the Kingdom and Dominion of the whole earth from Nebuchadnezzar that head of gold and turn him out a grasing among the Oxen and give his kingdom to whomsoever he pleased then let not men in this generation think it strange though God Almighty hath taken away the kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland which are but a small part of the earth from Charles Stuart and given them to the honorable Parliament which were indeed at first confirmed by him before his evil Counsel had drawn him away from them therefore none can say they gathered together without him to conspire against him for they gathered together to him and were confirmed by him and with him and he with them and so were a lawful Assembly of Magistrates according to the Law of God and a lawful Parliament according to the Law of Nations and from this lawful Assembly and powers ordained of God he withdrew and by evil Councel rent himself from them and would come no more at them notwithstanding all the invitations they gave him in all humility as will yet appear by their Propositions and Remonstrances all which plainly sheweth the immediate hand of God against him and against his family his sins and the sins of his forefathers being now at the full And further let it be considered that God will have the living men to know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will yea and settetth over it the basest of men Dan. 4.17 Now if the Lord will take a Kingdom from a King and give it to the basest of men how can the most honourable of men help it They may gnaw their tongues for anger and blaspheme the God of Heaven yea they may be found fighters against God as many have been but they shall not prosper as we see they have not in our days consider it for it was not because they wanted the noble blood for they had the King himself and the greatest Nobles in the Land with them neither was it because they wanted stout men of resolved spirits for they had of the prime of the Nation as they themselves have oftentimes boasted and for the number of men they far exceeded and the affections of the Country were generally towards them therefore it was the immediate hand of God against them who in his time pulleth down one and setteth up another whom he pleaseth who at this time hath pulled down the King and Lords of this Nation and hath and will make the Elders thereof Rulers and Judges in their places and who can say to him What doest thou Be wise now therefore O ye kings and be instructed ye that are judge's of the earth Psal. 2.10 Be still and know that he is God learn to know that The Lord of hosts is with us and the the God of Jacob is our refuge Psal. 46.10 11. Again that God alone is King and ruleth the Nations how he pleaseth or by whom he pleaseth is evident by considering that in 1 Sam. 12.12 where the Lord by Samuel reproveth the children of Israel for chusing another King besides himself in these words And you said Nay but a king shall reign over us when the Lord your God was your king And again he saith When they said Give us a King they rejected the Lord that he should not reign over them 1 Sam. 8.7 Therefore the Lord lamenteth over them saying O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thine help I will be thy king for there
is now in any mans days now alive and we all know That Necessity hath no law Therefore if the Magistrate do require more then ordinary of us to supply our present wants and to deliver us out of such great dangers and troubles as otherwise would come upon us even to the destroying both of persons and estates of all that fear God we must not call this Oppression nor murmur against the Magistrate for in so doing we shall murmur against God for it is he that sendeth these wars and troubles upon us for our sins who then can give us peace It 's not in the Magistrates power until the Lord please As for example if the Lord please to send a famine of bread in the Land and make us buy our food at an extraordinary rate shall we therefore murmur at the Magistrate or will that do us any good until the Lord be pleased to send plenty So now also if the Lord be pleased to make us buy our peace at a dearer rate then ordinary let us not murmur against the Magistrates but rather let us consider our ways and labour to finde out the cause why the Lord doth thus chastise us and to remove it that so these evil effects may cease And truely if we consider well what the Lord hath done for us in giving food and raiment in such a plentiful manner and that England is yet a Nation inhabited by its own children notwithstanding those fierce and bitter wars that have been even in the bowels of it we shall have more cause to praise the Lord for his mercies then to murmur at his chastisements for he hath not dealt so with every nation How often hath he chastised his people Israel with sorer chastisements then we have yet felt praised be his Name as we may read in 2 Kings 6.25 when an asses head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver and the fourth part of a kab of doves dung for five pieces and when women boiled their children and eat them because of the siege and straitness thereof I suppose England hath not yet tasted so deep of this bitter cup Chap. 10. But there is a generation of murmurers and complainers as Jude saith that are not afraid to speak evil of dignities which remain still in the body of the Nation and disturb the peace thereof and will do until they be purged out the Lord is a doing of it for the head and the tail must go together Isai. 9.14 He hath already cut off the head which is the ancient and honorable the tail must follow which is the prophet that teacheth lyes and doth daub the Princes of the Nations with untempered mortar seeing vanity and divining lyes saying Thus saith the Lord when the Lord hath not spoken See Isa. 9.14 15. with Ezek. 22.27 28 29. You may know them by their fruits These are they which teach the people to murmur against the present Powers and to complain of the great Taxes and heavie burthens that are now in the Commonwealth when indeed they were the men that first caused them by stirring up the people crying out Curse ye Meroz curse bitterly the inhabitants thereof because they came not out to help the Lord against the mighty and Cursed be he that keepeth back his hand from shedding of blood And are still the onely continuers of these bitter wars which cause the Taxes to continue by stirring up sedition and causing division amongst the people Whereas if they would as much labour to make peace there would the sooner be an end of these troubles and a removing of the heavie burthens and Taxes necessitated thereby But these men it is to be feared have a further designe in hand then all men know for if it be observed they could in the beginning of the wars list up their voices like a trumpet cursing Meroz bitterly using the aforesaid words to stir up men to go and fight against the King And in those days they could pray heartily even with tears for the prosperity of the Parliaments Army and as heartily give thanks for the overthrow and destruction of the Kings party and teach others so to do let them deny it if they can And this zeal continued so long as they thought that if their forefathers the Bishops and the rest of that brood had perished with him that then they should have been heirs of their inheritance viz. of all their Lands and Revenues and so of all their honour pride and vain-glory and to have had the Scepter committed to them to rule and tyrannize over the consciences of men fearing God While this hope remained their zeal burnt hot as fire and all was well and the Parliament was a power ordained of God But when the honourable and prudent Rulers of this Nation denied them these things and especially that they might not tyrannize over the conscience to make all men be of their Religion to see with their eyes and go on their legs and believe as they believe even as they do at Rome when this is denied then they are the men that first complain of persecution because they themselves may not be the persecutors and now they cannot in conscience give thanks for shedding of blood but when the State desired those that feared God to give him thanks for that great deliverance and victory over the Scots at Dunbar there was scarcely one in five miles compass to be found and some of those that did meet by relation of some that are honest which were among them they told the people that they had more need to keep it as a day of Weeping Mourning and Humiliation then a day of Thanksgiving with many other scandalous words tending to the disaffecting and disengaging of the hearts of the people from the State Therefore let it be well considered who are they that despise dominion and are not afraid to spoak evil of dignitses These are they which in all ages had the praise of men generally therefore saith Christ Luke 6.26 Wo be to you when all men speak well of you for so did their fathers of the false prophets These were they in Ahab's days which deluded him and all Israel teaching them to forsake the Commandments of the Lord and to follow Baalim when Elijah that one Prophet of the Lord discovered the folly and deceit of four hundred and fifty of them at once 1 King 18.18 19 20 21 22 23 24. These are they which again in King Ahab's time deluded him and caused him to go up to Ramoth-gilead to fight when that one Prophet of the Lord Micaiah withstood four hundred of them to their faces and warned Ahab not to go up yet he believing the four hundred false Prophets rather then that one Prophet of the Lord went up and was slain Thus we see that through their lyes and delusions they bring even Kings and Princes to destruction both of body and soul These are they which in our age and in this Nation of England
have done the same to Charles deceased which their fore-fathers did to King Ahab in stirring of him up to war against his subjects especially against those that most feared God and so have brought him to destruction And these are still at this present time deluding his ignorant son calling of him Charles the second having his person in admiration because of advantage as Jude saith v. 16. and by this means they stir up him and his poor deceived supposed subjects to war against the Powers of this Nation of England so wonderfully set up and established by God himself and powerfully preserved and defended by his immediate hand against all enemies whatsoever which all that have but eyes open may easily see and yet these Seers are so blinde that they cannot see the hand of the Lord lifted up against them and that Kingly power as they call it which hath always joyned with them being deceived by them to persecute the Saints and children of God of whom God is now taking vengeance yet they are still leading their King whom they have chosen and his subjects whom they have deceived into the pit of destruction without remedy they themselves being certain to fall with them for if the blinde lead the blinde they shall both fall into the ditch Matth. 15.14 Therefore let the honourable Parliament of England beware of them let the noble and valiant Army take heed of them and watch them as the worst enemies they have For what Satan and his instruments cannot do by tyranny and strength that they will accomplish by treachery and deceit if possible Therefore let the Commonwealth of England in general with all the noble Governours and Officers and honest plain-hearted Country-men learn to watch them with a single eye lest they seduce you and cause you to divide and so bring you to destruction before you are aware Therefore dear Country-men take heed of being deluded by them again to war and bloodshed lest you provoke the Lord to anger and so the whole Nation be drowned in blood without remedy for then they that now complain of some Taxes necessitated by these present troubles stirred up first by them will have cause to complain for want of bread to eat and cloathes to put on Therefore having food and raiment let us be therewith content and serve the Lord our God with gladness and joyfulness of heart for the abundance of all things lest he give us up to serve our enemies which he shall send against us in hunger and in thirst and in nakedness and in want of all things and he put a yoke of iron upon our necks until he have destroyed us See Deut. 28.47 48. Thus have I in some measure discovered who are the instrumental causes of our unhappiness I shall proceed to the third particular viz. Whence the original of Monarchy did spring And in the clearing of that I shall not make use of the worst of people viz. the Nations of the world for they were enemies to God and given up to work all manner of wickedness with greediness although they had Kings as appeareth by their adulteries abusing themselves with mankinde and with beasts and causing of their children to pass thorow the fire to Molech allowed of by their Kings like the wicked Rulers of Sodom Levit. 18.19 20 21 22 23 24. and God in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways Act. 14 16. therefore they are no example for us to walk by But we shall look into the ways of the children of Israel God's peculiar people for I know that the people of England in general would gladly be counted the people of God and would be offended if we should deny them the name of Christians We shall therefore consider how there came to be a King in Israel at first over the people of God Whether it was by the commandment of God and so according to his pure minde or whether it did not spring from a corrupt principle in the people and was the pride and wickedness of their hearts and not the least but the greatest of all the sins they committed to chuse any other King to rule over them but God onely For the clearing of which I shall examine these following Scriptures 1 Sam. 8.4 5 6 7 8 9. we read that all the elders of Israel gathared themselves together and came to Samuel and said Behold thou art old and thy sons walk not in thy ways now make us a king to judge us like all the nations Here we see the pride and wickedness of their hearts in that they would have a King to judge them like all other nations whom God had given up to walk in their own ways and according to the lust of their own hearts Therefore observe what followed first it displeased Samuel the Prophet of the Lord secondly he prayed to the Lord and sought him about it thirdly the Lord answered saying Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they have said unto thee for they have not rejected thee but they have rejected me that I should not raign over them according to all the works which they have done since they came out of Egypt even to this day wherewith they have forsaken me and served other gods so do they also unto thee Now therefore hearken to their voice howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them Thus we see that though they pretended good in it namely that it was because Samuel's sons were wicked yet the Lord was angry with them and said that they rejected him in so doing notwithstanding he gave them their desire which was a King but it was in his anger and he took him away again in his wrath See Hos. 13.11 Again when Samuel had declared the manner of their King and told them that they should cry out in that day because of their King which they had chosen but the Lord would not hear them yet still they refused to obey the voice of Samuel and said Nay but we will have a king over us to judge us and go out before us and fight our battels that we may be like all the nations So Samuel rehearsed all these words again in the cars of the Lord by which he was provoked and said in his anger Give them a King And here 's the beginning of Kings amongst the people of God And thus have I shewed plainly that it was not at all of God but contrary to his holy will that any should have the name of a King over his people but himself and it did arise from the pride and corruption of the people as further appeareth in these words And Samuel called the children of Israel together unto the Lord to Mizâ—eh and said Thus saith the Lord God of Israel I brought up Israel out of Egypt and delivered you out of the hands of the Egyptians and out of the hands of all kingdoms and
of them that oppressed you and you have rejected your God who himself saved you out of all your adversities and tribulations and you have said to him Nay but give us a king Chap. 10.17 18 19. Surely I might now take up the complaint of Moses against them Deut. 32.6 O foolish people and unwise do ye thus requite the Lord Is he not thy Father that bought thee hath he not made thee and established thee Remember the days of old consider the yeers of many generations ask thy father and he will shew thee thy elders and they will tell thee c. I desire to apply it to England Dear Country-men consider it in time before you provoke the Lord to anger Hath not God himself now of late years done as great things for us Hath not he by his immediate hand delivered us out of all our troubles and out of the hands of all that hate us so as they do not rule over us Consider the condition the Nation hath been in within these few yeers and how the Lord hath remembred us in our low condition and changed it and beyond all expectation hath given us Peace and Plenty in stead of War and Famine in our Land Consider how he hath prospered all things under the hands of this present Authority both at home and abroad and all that rise up against them are confounded and brought to nothing and that by weak means which shews the immediate hand of God amongst us Let us therefore take heed that we do not requite the Lord evil for good like a foolish and unwise people by desiring a King to satisfie our own lust pride and vain-glory for the Lord is now our King and will be if we do not reject him and cast him off by chusing a Man in his stead to reign over us judge us and fight our battels And to that end let us again consider what a great wickedness it was in the people of Israel and how mightily the Lord was displeased with them for asking a King See 1 Sam. 12.16 17 18 19. in these words Now therefore stand still and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes Is it not wheat-harvest to day I will call unto the Lord saith Samuel and he shall send thunder and rain that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great which you have done in the sight of God in asking a king So Samuel called unto the Lord and the Lord sent thunder and rain and the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel And all the people said to Samuel Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God that we die not for we have added to all our sins this evil to ask us a king And his answer was vers. 23 24 25. God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you But I will teach you the good and right way which is onely to fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your hearts and consider what great things he hath done for you But if ye shall still do wickedly ye shall be consumed both ye and your king And thus we have considered from the beginning to the end what great sin and abominable wickedness it was for the people of God to chuse any other King but himself to rule over them judge them and fight their battels And it is considered to that end that we the people of England professing our selves to be the people of God in our generation amongst whom also the immediate hand of God hath been lifted up and his arm made bare for us I say that we run not headlong into such sin and wickedness as to ask us a king when the Lord hath taken away our King in his anger and is become our King himself Let us remember from what principle it did arise and from what root it did spring that a Man should be chosen King and bear the name of King over the people of God it was from the pride and corruption of their own hearts and of all their wickedness and sins that they had committed there was none like this that they should ask another King and reject God as is formerly proved by these Scriptures 1 Sam. 8.4 5 6 7 8 9. Vers 19 20. Chap. 10.17 18 19. Chap. 12.16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25. Therefore he gave them a King in his anger and took him away again in his wrath Hos. 13.11 And seeing they would have a King the Lord would have him of his own chusing and therefore he chose David his servant a man after his own heart and took him from the sheep-folds from following the ewes great with young he brought him forth to feed Jacob his people and Israel his inheritance Psal. 78.70 71. But I am afraid that if the Lord should now take a young shepherd from following the ewes great with young and set him over us to be our King even those that so much desire a King would be as much displeased then as they are now What shall the Lord do to please these people He must not reign over them himself although he have all power in heaven and earth in his hands and their own lives also but they reject him saying Nay but give us a king and he must not chuse a man after his own heart for them but he must be a man after their own corrupted hearts And who is that Truely one of the Blood Royal one that is by descent come out of the loyns of the Lords Anointed as they apprehend Therefore seeing it is such a hard thing to please these people that God himself cannot please them except he should let them walk in their own ways and give them up to their own hearts lusts as he did the Nations in times past which he destroyed Why then should I or any man under heaven think to please them by speaking the truth Yet notwithstanding I will perform my duty at this time to my country-men and acquaintance according to the flesh and would gladly make use of the talent or mite which God hath given me for their profit and his glory Therefore I shall speak a few words to these two things so stumbled at amongst men viz. the Royal Blood and the Lords Anointed It may be if these stumbling-blocks were taken away men would walk more uprightly and in less danger And first I shall speak of the Royal Blood I would gladly learn of any man from whence the Royal Blood came first Not that I deny that there is Royal blood or persons noble and honourable and to be honoured more then others but my question is How they came so whether by Generation or Exaltation If by generation and so must continue then I shall easily prove that all the men in the world are of the Royal blood and so have all right to be Kings and Princes one as well as another if that give them right And if
it do not why do men plead it But it is evident that the Noble blood comes not by Generation for God hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell upon the face of the earth Acts 17.26 Now if they were all made of one blood that was either Noble blood or Ignoble If it were noble then all men were noble for he made them all of one blood and so they continue and will continue until the end of ages Therefore it is by Exaltation namely when God exalteth men as the Prophet saith Psal. 113.7 8. out of the dust and lifteth them out of the dunghill to set them with princes even with the princes of his people then they are honorable and not before Again if the same God will cast down the same persons for their wickedness whom before he exalted and pour contempt and shame upon them and their posterity and bring them again to dishonour Who can give them honour It is not in the power of all the men of the earth to do it if they should stand up for one man for it is God that poureth contempt upon princes and causeth them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way Psal. 107.40 and it is God that changeth times and seasons and removeth kings and setteth up kings Dan. 2.21 And it is God that turned out the greatest King that ever reigned upon the face of the earth to grasing among the beasts and made him even that head of gold more contemptible then the bafest of men Dan. 2.38 with Chap. 4.25 And it is the same God that exalteth the needy out of the dust and taketh the poor out of the dunghill that he may set him with princes even with the princes of his people and then they are of the Royal blood if men will plead for it let them But yet I humbly conceive that it is the vertue of all the honorable of the earth to consider from whence they were taken and though they be called Gods Psal. 82.6 7. yet they must die like men and return to the dust and after that cometh Judgement that so when they shall come to give up their account to God at the Great Day they may be able to do it with joy for then cometh that everlasting honour and glory which shall not be taken away from them that shall once be counted worthy to be made partakers thereof And thus much concerning the Blood Royal who are of it and how they came so And now I shall come to speak of the Lords Anointed whose name we ought not to take into our mouthes but with reverence and godly fear But I know that Ignorance hath been the mother of Devotion in this thing also and men have put Light for Darkness and Darkness for Light and called Evil Good and Good Evil speaking evil of things they know not calling the Lord Bishops Anointed the Anointed of the Lord and have thrown down Christ the true Anointed and as much as in them lay have laboured to lay his honour in the dust reviling and persecuting him in his poor Saints wheresoever they found him even to the death not remembring the words of our glorious Lord Jesus Matth. 25.40 considered with 45. by which words we understand that what is done to his Saints is done to himself be it good or evil according to his words to Paul Acts 9.4 Saul Saul why persecutest thou me which was his Saints holy people which contended earnestly for that faith once delivered by himself And thus have the kings of the earth stood up and the Rulers have taken counsel together against the Lord and against his Anointed as it is written Act. 4.26 Therefore now the Lord that sitteth in heaven is laughing of them to scorn and hath them in derision and is vexing of them in his fore displeasure Psal. 2.1 2 3 4 5. staining the pride of all their glory and is bringing into contempt all the honourable of the earth and thus the poureth contempt upon Princes by casting down and destroying of them even by men that have been and are base and contemptible in their eyes And thus the Lord is vexing of them and will vex them in his sore displeasure until he have destroyed them from off the earth because they have vexed persecuted and shed the blood of his Saints therefore he will give them blood to drink for they are worthy And thus will God the Lord let his King upon his holy hill of Ston and learn all men to know who is the Lords Anointed For the clearing of which I would gladly be answered this Question if any will or can namely How King Charles or any of the Kings of the Nations became the Lords Anointed or when or what day was it What was done to them by which they were made the Lords Anointed But this I confess that when the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury anointed Charles the first deceased to be King of England that then he became the Lord Bishop of Canterbury's Anointed but no other Lords Anointed that I know of and therefore we may observe that when that Lord that anointed him lost his head he that was anointed by him could not keep his long And so their old Proverb was verified No Bishop no King But I much wonder what Lord 's anointed Charles the second is seeing there was no Lord Bishop in Scotland to anoint him Surely the highest Title he can claim is but Sir John Presbyter's Anointed But for the further clearing of this thing I deny that any King whatsoever he were since the Lords Anointed Christ came in the flesh was ever called the Lords Anointed See Acts 10.36 37 38. with Chap. 4.25 26 27. And let any of the most wise and zealous people in the Land for that thing prove it if they can and if they cannot let them confess that they have been zealous but not according to knowledge Another Question is Where ever any were called the Lords Anointed before Christ came in the flesh but onely those that had the rule and dominion over the Jews which were the people of God and Abraham's seed according to the flesh of whom as Paul saith Christ or the Lords Anointed came See Rom. 9.4.5 And therefore they were called so in the type as they were figures of Christ the true Anointed that was to come and be born of the Jews Matth. 2.2 If any shall object and say that Cyrus was called the Lords Anointed Isai. 45.1 I answer That is the same which I said before for he was at that time King and had rule and dominion over the people of God Abraham's seed and the Lord telleth us in vers 4. wherefore he calleth him so in these words For Jacob my servants sake and Israel mine elect I have even called thee by name and surnamed thee though thou hast not known me And thus the Lord himself hath fully answered that Objection and it 's clearly proved that none before the
coming of Christ did ever bear the name of the Lords Anointed so much as in the type but onely those that were Kings and had rule over Gods own peculiar people Abrahams seed which teacheth us thus much That none are now the Lords Anointed but he onely he that is Lord and King over the house of Israel Abrahams seed which in Christ the Lord that was borne King of the Jews Mat. 22. whom God hath Anointed himself not with oyle-olive sweetly perfumed but with the oyle of gladness above his fellows Heb. 1.9 even with the Holy Spirit of wisdome and understanding and of Counsel and might and of knowledge and the fear of the Lord See Act. 10.30 with Isa. 11.2 5. he is the Lords Anointed to whom God hath given a name above every name and him hath God highly exalted and set him at the right hand of his Majesty on high far above all Principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not onely in this world but also in that which is to come Psa. 2.9 10 11. with Eph. 1.20 21 22. And to him hath God committed all power in Heaven and in Earth Mat. 28.10 to give commandments to the sons of men for whom he hath dyed Act. 3.22 23 24. and also to reward them that observe and do them with the things promised which is to partake of the same eternall life and glory with himself that the Father hath given him according to these Scriptures Psal. 103.17 18. Rom. 2.6 7. chap. 8.17.1 Pet. 1.3 4 Rev. 2.26.27 chap. 3.21 22 chap. 22.14 and to reward those that know him not and obey not his holy Gospel according to their works Rom. 2.8 9. To those that are contentious and obey not the truth but obey unrighteousness he will render indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil whether Jew or Gentile and will destroy them with an everlasting destruction from the presence of God and the glory of his power And this honour and glory he received from God the Father in the holy mount when Peter James John were eye-witnesses of his Majesty and that voyce they heard that came from the excellent glory saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased 2 Pet. 1.16 17 18. This is the Lords Anointed who is the onely King of Kings and Lord of Lords by whom Kings raigne and Princes decree Justice even all the Judges of the earth Counsel is his and sound wisdome he is understanding and he hath strength Prov. 8.14 15 16. he loves them that love him and those that seek him early shall find him But those his enemies that will not that he should Reigne over them shall be brought and slaine before him Luke 19.27 And thus have I shown and clearly proved by the Scriptures that Christ is the Lords anointed King onely and alone and none of the Kings of the Nations can have any right to such a title any otherways then the Saints and all that fear God in generall have which is by partaking of the same anointing Spirit through believing as it is written The anointing that ye have received of him abideth in you and you need not that any man teach you but as that anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth 1 John 2.27 And againe he saith We have an unction from the holy One vers. 20. and he that stablisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us is God who hath also sealed us and given us the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts 2 Cor. 1.21 22. and this anointing is as proper to a Begger as to a King if he be a believer and if a King be an unbeliever he hath no Right at all to it for there is no respect of persons with God but he hath chosen the poor in this world rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdome prepared for them that love him James 2.5 And he hath revealed his Truth to Babes and Sucklings and hid it from the wise and prudent Insomuch that Paul saith that none of the Princes of this world knew it For had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory 1 Cor. 2.7 8. Therefore saith James 1.9 10. Let the Brother of low degree rejoyce in that he is exalted but the Rich in that he is made low For God will raise them both up to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus Eph. 2.6 And he will make them partakers of his fulness and members of his Body of his flesh and of his Bones Chap. 5.30 Therefore let the Kings Princes and Rulers of the Nations be wise and learn to know what the Lord meaneth when he faith Touch not mine Anointed and do my Prophets no harm For he that once reproved Kings for their sakes and slew great and Famous ones for them Psal. 105.14.15 with 136.17 18. is now about to reprove all the Kings upon the face of the Earth for their sakes as I shall now make it appear by shewing Gods dedesigne against them in these last days And first The designe of God and his purpose is in this last age of the world to staine the pride of all their Glory and to bring into contempt all the honorable of the Earth Isa. 23.9 and to pour contempt upon Princes and to cause them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way and to set the poor on high from affliction and to make him families like a flock Psa. 107.40 41. Again the purpose of the Lord is to sacrifice the flesh of Kings and mighty men and the Chiefe of the Earth and to give their flesh to be meat to the fowls of Heaven Rev. 19.17 18. with Ezek. 19.17 18. where he saith They shall eat the flesh of the mighty and dâ—ink the blood of the Princes of the earth Now if the Lord will do these things to the great and mighty Kings and Princes of the earth who then can give them honour and deliver them in the day of his wrath And that the Lord will do it consider further what is written Jer. 25.31 32. A noise shall come from the ends of the Earth for the Lord hath a controversie with the Nations he will plead with all flesh he will give them that are wicked to the sword Thus saith the Lord of hosts Behold evil shall go forth from Nation to Nation This the Lord will do untill he have stained the pride of all their glory viz. untill he have taken away their Kings wherein they glory and of whom they so much boast That this is so consider the fore-going words They shall eat the flesh of Kings and Princes and mighty men and chief Captaines and of all that stand up with them against the Lord And for further confirmation of these words consider what is written Ier. 25.15 Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel to me Take the wine-cup of this fury
at mine hand and cause all the Nations to whom I send thee to drink it Consider what Nations ver. 18.19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26. First Jerusalem and the Cities of Judah and the kings and Princes thereof to make them a desolution an astonishments and hissing and a curse as it is at this day We are sure this is true that they are a hissing and a curse at this day why then should the other be so incredible namely that he will destroy all the Kings of the Nations with their honorable Princes if they stand up against him and against his Anointed as followeth Pharoah King of Egypt and his Servants and his Princes and all his people and all the mingled people and all the Kings of the Land of Vz and all the Kings of the Land of the Philistines and Ashkolon and Azzah and Ekron and the remnant of Ashdod Edom and Moab and the children of Ammon and all the Kings of Tyrus and all the Kings of Zidon and the Kings of the isles beyond the sea Dedan and Tema and Buz and all that are in the utmost corners the Lord will find them out and all the Kings of Arabia and all the Kings of the mingled people that dwel in the desert and all the Kings of Zimri and all the Kings of Elam and all the Kings of the Medes and all the Kings of the north far and near one with another and all the Kingdoms of the world that are upon the face of the earth c. To all these was the Prophet sent to declare to them the words of the Lord of hosts the God of Israel namely that they should drink and be drunken and spue and fall and rise no more because of the sword which I will send among them The certainty of it doth further appear in the 28 29 verses where he saith If they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drinke then shalt thou say to them Thus saith the Lord of hosts Ye shall certainly drink for lo I begin to bring evil upon the City which is called by my name viz. Jerusalem and shall ye be utterly unpunished Ye shall not be unpunished for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth saith the Lord of hosts Thus is the designe of the Lord of hosts made plain by the Holy Scriptures of truth and not by any cunning devised fables or fancies of my own brain These sayings are faithfull and true therefore they will come to pass in their appointed times And that they are not yet come to pass is plaine to all that do understand for most of the Kings of the nations are yet in their pompe and glory and are enemies to the Lords Anointed therefore he will avenge himself upon them speedily for these be the days of vengence in which all things that are written in the Prophets against the enemies of Christ must be fulfilled Luke 21.22 And now in the earth is distress of nations and perplexity and mens hearts failing them for feare and for looking after the things that are coming on the earth For the signes of the coming of the Lord are now amongst us even here in England and the beginning of sorrows is in the nation the Lord hath now begun to make us drink of this bitter cup and it will be great mercy if we drink no deeper notwithstanding some murmur and complain it is because their eyes are not open to see God's designe now upon the face of the earth if they did they would see more cause to give thanks to the Lord for his mercies then to murmur against him for his favourable and gentle chastisements he hath not dealt so with every nation and if England escape thus it will be very strange to me and so I beleive it will be to all that rightly understand what God is now doing and his work which he will accomplish upon the face of the earth yet before the end for he hath not yet made a man more precious then fine gold even a man then the golding wedge of Ophir Isa. 13.11 12. neither hath he made the earth empty and laid it waste and scattered the inhabitants thereof Is 24.1 2 3. but when it shall thus be in the midest of the land among the peoples there shall be as the shaking of an olive-tree and as the gleaning of the grapes when the vintage is ended they shall lift up their voice and sing for the majesty of the Lord ver. 13.14 Therefore let the wicked and ungodly men that know not Christ and obey not his holy Gospel but are enemies and will not that he should reigne over them let them howl for sorrow of heart for their sorrows are begun and the day of the Lord is at hand and it shall come as a destuction from the Almighty then shall all their hands be faint and every mans heart shall melt and they shall be afraid pangs of sorrow shall take hold of them they shall be in pain as a woman in travel they shall be amazed one at another and their face shall be as flames Isa. 13.6 7 8. But let those that feare the Lord and keep his commandements rejoyce and lift up their heads for the day of their Redemption draweth nigh For it shall come to pass even in those days that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved Luk. 21.28 Act. 2.21 The next thing in order to be observed is wherefore God will destroy them Answ. Because in all ages they have been his enemies and the persecuters of him and his Saints Those they were that in the time of the Law being deluded and blinded by the false prophets did persecute and kill the prophets of the Lord as in Ahabs days Zedekiahs days and Jehoiakims days Ier. 26.29 chap. 37.12 13 14 15. with 1 King 9.9 10. and chap. 24.25 26 27. They also were the men in Christs days which by wicked hands brought him to his end as it is written Act. 4.26 The Kings of the earth stood up and the Rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ for of a truth against thy holy child Jesus whom thou hast anoninted both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and people of Israel are gathered together c. This is the generation the Lord speaks of Mat. 23. calling of of them Serpents and generation of vipers saying to them How can you escape the damnation of hell because they had slain the Prophets and righteous men that lived in their days and in the days of their forefathers This is that wicked spirit of persecution which all along from Cain to the end of the world hath reigned and will reigne in the hearts of all ungodly men and women to persecute and kill the Saints Therefore saith Paul Gal. 4.29 As then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit even so it is now and Christ
saith The time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think he doth God good service And these things will they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor me Joh. 16.2.3 And indeed who have been the chiefest actors in it but the Kings and Princes of the nations which as Paul saith knew not God nor the hidden wisdom of God for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory 1 Cor. 2.7 8. and the reason why they did not know it was because they suffered the wicked priests and false prophets of the times to blind the eyes of their minds lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine into their souls 2 Cor. 4.3 4. And this they effected by handling the word of God deceitfully changing the truth into a lye teaching for doctrines the commandments of men in stead of the commands of God given us by Christ So walking in cratiness smoothing over their deceits with a company of good words and false speeches thereby deceiving the hearts of the simple and through covetousness and sained words have made merchandise of their souls Rom. 16 17 18 with 2 Pet. 2.2 3. and indeed it 's no marvell though it be thus for it is the policy of Satan to gain the Kings and rulers of the nations to him self for by that meanes he can easily suppress the people of God living under them and also delude and deceive those that have not the knowledg of God amongst them by the examples of them in authority for look what religion the Kings and rulers of the nations are of the same generally the people are as for example The Kings of Israel and the rulers there of if they were good the people were the better but if they were evill the people were generally wicked and therefore it is said 1 King 14.15 16. The Lord shall smite Israel as a reed is shaken in the water and he shall root up Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers and he shall give up Israel because of the sins of Jereboans who did sin and who made Israel to sin We may likewise observe the same in Judah in the days of Rehoboam the son of Solomon 1 King 14.21 22 23 24. in these words And Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord and provoked him to jealousie with their sins which they had committed above all that their fathers had done c. The same things may be observed by us of late days here in England for in the days of Edward the sixth the people were Protestants but in Queen Marys days they were Papists for shee and the Rulers were soland in Queen Elizabeths days again Protestants for she and the rulers were so Thus we see it is the fashion of the nations and of our nation of England also to be of that Religion that their Kings Nobles and Rulers were and great reason for first its praise-worthy and highly commendable in the sight of men to be so secondly it is the way to live in peace and to escape the crose of Christ But let us remember that what is highly esteemed in the sight of men is abomination in the sight of God Luk. 16.16 Again the Lord will avengâ— himself upon them because they have persecuted his Saints without a cause as is written Psal. 119.161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause because they have given their power to the beast and suffered that serpentine and viperous generation of false prophets and deceivers to make use of them to persecute and destroy the Saints and Children of the most high God notwithstanding he hath said Psa. 116.15 Right dear and precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints and that he will require it at the hands of this generation Mat. 23.33 34 35 36. with Rev. 18.24 where he saith that in her was found the blood of all the Saints and Prophets and all that are slain upon the earth Eightly It is to be considered what the Kings and rulers of the nations may or should do to escape the hand of God lifted up against them for although there be a generall distruction pronounced against the Kings and Princes of the nations their sins and the sins of their fore-fathers being at the full without respect of persons yet it is not without respect of their conditions but except they repent as Christ saith they shall all perish Luke 13.5 as we also see in Jon. 3.4 When the Lord by the Prophet had pronounced destruction to Nineveh within fourty days yet we see when they acknowledged their sins and humbled themselves before the Lord he was pleased to forgive them and spare their King and their City according to his gratious promise as we may read Ier. 18.6.7 8.9 10. in these words At what instant I shall speak concerning a Nation on a Kingdom to pluck up or to pull down and destroy it if that Nation against whom I have pronounced turn from their evil I will repent of the evil I thought to do unto them And at what instant I speak concerning a nation and a Kingdom to build and plaint it if that nation do evil in my sight that it obey not my voice then will I repent of the good wherewith I said I would benefit them Thus we see the Lord hath gratiously left open a door of repentance for them to escape thorow although it s to be feared that very few will make use of it notwithstanding my humble advice is to all in generall that they will let the counsell of the Lord be acceptable unto them which in these words is expressed Be wise now therefore ye Kings and be instructed ye that are Judges of the earth Serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling Psa. 2.10 11. Break of your sins by righteousness and your iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor if it may be a lengthening of your tranquility Dan. 4.27 for who can tell whether God will turn and repent and turne away from his fierce anger that they perish not Seeing also he hath said Jer. 18.8 If that nation against whom I have spoken turne from their evil I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them But more particularly I shall apply my self to the honourable Rulers of this nation whose happiness with the prosperity of the whole nation I much long after and dayly pray for the continuing and perfecting of and to that end I shall make bold to put your Honors in mind of these following particulars not as one proudly taking in hand to teach you but humbly and in the fear of God to advise you as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord First That you will fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your hearts and consider what great things he hath done for you for if you and the nation shall still do wickedly we shall be consumed 1 Sam.
12.24 25. consider therefore how he remembred you in your low condition and when you were little in your own eyes he chose you and made you the heads of the nation 1 Sam. 15.17 and ever since hath gone before you and fought your battels and given you the victories and now at present he hath given you rest and a breathing-time to sit down and consider how he hath wonderfully delivered you out of the hands of your enemies so that they which hate you do not rule over you but he hath delivered them into your hands and you rule over them which is a double mercy Now therefore in the fear of God while you have time sit down and seriously consider how the Lord hath digged and planted you and how he hath fenced you and made an hedge about you and what could men fearing God desire more for a temporall safety and deliverance that he hath not done as he said once to Israel Isa. 5.2 3 4. now therefore is the time that the Lord looks for fruit and now is the time that the Rulers of the Nation and the Judges of the people ought to be instructed and to learn wisdom to serve the Lord that hath thus delivered them in fear and to rejoyce before him with trembling Secondly take heed therefore lest now when the Lord looks for judgement he behold oppression and for righteousness he hear a cry which may justly cause him to take away the hedge and pull down the wall that he hath built about us and lay us waste as he did his people Israel Isa. 5.5 6. I speak not these things to accuse any but to warn all in time to take heed for as Paul saith in another case Rom. 11. If God spared not his people Israel the naturall branches let us take heed lest he also spare not us and it is for you that are the heads of the people and Princes of the nation I say it is for you to know Judgment and of you that the Lord requireth these things Mic. 3.1 Therefore let all that are in authority in the nation Consider their ways And wash you and make you clean put away the evill of your doings from before the eyes of the Lord cease to do evil learn to do well seek Judgement relieve the oppressed judge the fatherless plead for the widow then you may have boldness to draw near and to come and reason together with the Lord and though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow if you will be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good things of the Land but if you refuse and rebel you shall yet be dovoured with the sword for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Isa. 1.16 17 18 19 20. You may do all this now you have time enough no enemies to trouble you In time of distress you promised well the people hoped you would performe and therefore were willing to put to their hand to help in time of need and now the storme is over the eyes of all your friends in the nation are upon you expecting these things from you which the Lord requireth of you and his people do beleive you will perform although we thus speak to stir up your minds by way of remembrance Thirdly and you Honourable Noble and valiant men of the Army whom God hath crowned with so many Victories you that have seen the works of God and his wonders in delivering you in most eminent dangers and covering your heads in the day of battel and made your hearts and hands strong and your faces bold to look upon your enemies in the height of all their pride and gave them into your hands when you were in your lowest condition remember Dunbar be not now faint-hearted but remember and forget not to look your friends whom you have fought for in the faces and petition to them and plead with them for just judgement and equity that the Nation may be established in righteousness then may you sit down in peace and injoy the fruits of your labour and hazards But think not that the work is already done because you for present have done fighting its true the Lord hath delivered you and all the Magistrates in the Land out of the hands of your enemies but it now remaineth that both you and they strive together and that while you have time to deliver the oppressed from oppression and the poor needy out of trouble for God hath delivered you to that end that you as instruments in his hands may deliver them and he hath prepared yet another blessing for you against you have done that work as you may see Psal. 41.1 2 3. in these words Blessed is he that considereth the poor and neeby the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble the Lord will preserve him and keep him alive and he shall be blessed upon the earth and the Lord will not deliver him into the hands of his enemies but the Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing yea he will make his bed in all his sickness Thus we see how good and acceptable a work it is in the sight of God and what the Lord hath promised to those that faithfully labour in it therefore they that are already about it let them not be weary of well-doing for in due time they shall reap if they faint not And those that are not about it let them up and be doing and Lord that hath promised to be with them Therefore let none say The former Lawes and Statutes of the nation do hinder them in this work for if they be corrupt why are they not taken away who hinders you or can hinder you Is not the Lord with you while you are with him doing of his will and work and hath he not given the power into your own hands Be sure therefore he will require these things at your hands that are in authority and have the power in possession But men are very prone in these things to frame their work according to the politick Law of Nations rather then to measure it by the perfect Law of God therefore my humble advice in the next place is that your honours will Fifthly be pleased to consider David that man after Gods own heart who ruled the people prudently with all his power consider I say how he meditated in the Law of the Lord day and night Psal. 1.2 and how he sought him with his whole heart that he might not wander from his commandments Psal. 119.10 for by them he was made wiser then all his enemies and had more understanding then all his teachers because he meditated upon the testimonies of the Lord and because he kept his precepts he came to understanding more then the ancients verse 97.98 99 100. And these things are written and left upon record for our instruction upon whom the ends of the world are come therefore let us be instructed by them and especially you
that are in high places for the God Israel hath said They which rule over men must be just ruling in the fear of God and as the light of the morning when the Sun ariseth in a morning without clouds and as the tender grass springing out of the earth by the clear shining after raine 2 Sam. 23.3 4. And truly there hath bin a great shower upon the nation these many yeers but now it is ended therefore the Lord grant that after you may so spring up and grow in works of Justice and mercy and righteousness that by them you may shine forth in the nation So as both your selves and they which do behold you may have cause to rejoyce and glorifie God Otherwise I for my part am very Confident that Englands miseries are not yet done but the Lord will again chastise us with chastisements seven times worse then before but I hope for better things although I thus speak Sixthly The example of Solomon is worthy of serious consideration who when the Lord had made him ruler over his people he then besought him for an understanding heart that he might discern between good and bad and that he might know how to judge righteously between man and man and how to go out and in before so great a people and this thing pleased the Lord so that he did not onely grant him his request but also gave him riches and honour which he did not aske nor cover after and promised him further that if he would walk in his ways and keep his statutes and commandments as his father David did he would also lengthen his days 1 King 3.5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. Now would the honorable Rulers of this nation know how to discern between good and bad and to judge righteously between man and man and how to go out and in before this great people which the Lord hath set them over Would you have honour and riches here and true happiness hereafter with God in glory Then ask it of the Lord as David and Solomon did meditate in his law and exercise your selves therein day and night learn out of that what is Justice and Judgement and equity and the Lord will be with you and give you wisdome and understanding in all things for he is no respecter of persons but giveth to all that ask in faith freely and upbraideth not James 1.5 Therefore Right Honorable dispise not these sayings because of the weakness of the instrument who at this time puts you in mind of them but let the counsell of the Lord be acceptable to you it may be as Daniel saith a lengthening of your tranquillity Chap. 4.27 therefore let all that are in authority labour to be such as they ought to be namely men fearing God and hating covetousness for if any be otherwise minded let them know the Lord will have such to rule before he hath done and aske the Lord for wisdome even that hidden wisdome which few or none of the Princes of this world have attaind unto 1 Cor. 2.8 that so you may wise and understanding hearts to judge the people righteously for without this wisdome who is able to go out and in before so great a people as God hath set you over especially when the eyes of most of them are upon the Rulers for evill and do watch for their haltings Be wise now therefore you that are the Rulers of the Nation and be instructed yee that are the Judges of the people and remember that although you be called Gods yet you must die like men and after that cometh the righteous and impartiall Judgement of God to whom you must give account at the great day of all your actions Therefore take heed ye be not conformable to their Image which God hath cast downe by you and do not tread in the footsteps of them whom God hath destroyed by your hands for their pride vaine-glory covetousness and oppression which wickedness in them was now come to the full But especiaily take heed of persecuting the Saints and men fearing God for conscience sake in the things of God the which they were deluded and led into by those wicked Antichristian Ministers which attended upon them in the Bishops days a great part of whom is left amongst us to this day and some of them so transformed into Ministers of righteousness that they will hardly be discerned from them but this need be no wonder for Paul saith the Devill himself is transformed into an angel of light 2 Cor. 11.14 15. but by their works they may be known Therefore if there be any secretly inticing your Honours to persecute men fearing God which make the holy Scripture a rule both for their faith and obedience you may be sure they are of that old generation the Lord Christ speaketh of you may read their genealogie and see whose children they are Mat. 23.27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37. compared with John 8.44 But I know by wofull experience they have so much of the wisdom from beneath as to call us Hereticks and pestilent fellows and movers of sedition and ring leaders of sects for after the same manner they accused Paul Act. 24.5 But his answer is sufficient for all those which tread in his footsteps and contend earnestly for that faith which was once delivered to the Saints in Pauls days which answer is written Act. 2.4.13 14 15 16. in these words They cannot prove the things whereof they accuse me but this he confessed to Felix that after the way which they call Heresie so worship I the God of my fathers beleiving all things that are written in the Law and the Prophets and have hope towards God which they themselves allow that there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust And herein do I exercise my self always to have a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man From which words of Paul I observe these things 1. That they which persecuted him did themselves allow that it was lawfull for him to beleive all things written in the Law and the Prophets and yet they accused him for an heretick even so do men in these days they will allow us to beleive all things written in the Law and the Prophets and all the gratious words of Christ and his Apostles but if we practise them they will accuse us for hereticks 2. Those which do believe all things written in the holy Scriptures and acknowledge the resurrection of the just and unjust and labour to keep good Consciences void of offence towards God and towards man they are no Hereticks let them believe and do what they will if it be no more then is written in the word of God to believe and obey Therefore let all men take heed how they persecute any for believing or practising any thing written therein although it be never so contrary to their judgement 3. If any be Hereticks it must needs be they which
is none other that may save thee in all thy Cities Hol. 13.9 10. Again the people of the Nation of England need not so much to wonder and be disturbed at what the Lord hath done for it was always Gods way and work if any King displeased him he would pull him down and set up another whom he pleased yea even the basest of men therefore saith Dan. 2.21 He changeth the times and seasons he removeth kings Witness also his dealing with the Kings of Israel First his rejecting of Saul from being King and rending the kingdom from him and giving of it to his neighbour 1 Sam. 15.23 28. Secondly The Lord rent the kingdom again from David's house for Solomons Idolatry 1 King 11.11 and gave it to Jeroboam his servant which came to pass ver. 30 31. Thirdly The Lord took away the kingdom from his house in the days of his son Nadab and gave it Baasha the son of Ahijah 1 King 15.25 26 27 28. Fourthly He took it away from him and gave it to Zimri his servant See 1 King 16.2 3 15. And for his wickedness he gave it to Omri ch. 16.22 23. Again The Lord took away the kingdom from the house of Omri in Ahabs days it was prophesied and accomplished in the days of Joram See King 9.6 7 8 9. to the end Thus it is cleerly proved that God alone ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he pleaseth But it will be Objected That God did this to them for their wickedness but who can say King Charles was so wicked Answ. As for his wickedness it 's possible to make it appear he had some but I shall leave that to God to judge of onely this I dare assirm that some of the fore-named Kings were as good and as holy men as King Charles and did as many good things for the honour and glory of God in their generation as ever he did and had as much of the knowledge of God in them and more then ever he had as it appeareth by Saul 1 Sam. 10.9 10 11 12 13. David and Solomon Therefore for shame let not that be pleaded for if Saul onely for sparing the sheep and oxen with a good intent to offer sacrifice to God with them and for shewing mercy to Agag King of the Amalekites must have his Kingdom rent from him 1 Sam. 15.19 20 21 22. because he had left undone the commandment of God surely then it may be proved by the things already declared against Charles Stuart in print to the view of all men to which I refer you that he was so great a sinner that the great God that searcheth the hearts and is a true beholder of the inward parts of man hath seen so much evil in him as might in justice move him to take away his Kingdom and Dominion from him and lay his honour in the dust and will without question at the great day make it appear to the faces of all them that do oppose him to whom I leave it with what is written and proceed to the second which is to consider what it is to rule with God We read Hos. 11.12 the words of the Lord by the Prophet are these Ephraim compasseth me about with lyes and the house of Israel with deceit but Judah yet ruleth with God and is faithful with the Saints From whence I thus reason That that power which is faithful with the Saints or to the Saints to protect them in well-doing that Power doth rule with God Secondly those people that do the good and acceptable will of God by keeping the holy and righteous commands of God given by Jesus Christ in these last days Heb. 1.1 2. with Act. 3.22 23. they are the righteous and holy people and the Saints of God and that Power and Authority that protects and preserves such a people in so doing doth protect and preserve the Saints But the present power and Authority of this Nation of England do protect such a people in so well doing Therefore they rule with God and are faithful to the Saints and do hereby honour God by having respect to his children and them that fear him And they which honour me I will honour saith the Lord but they which despise me shall be lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 2.50 And such a Power we must needs be subject to not onely for fear of wrath but also for conscience sake for they are not a terrour to good works but to the evil Again those Rulers that are a terrour to good works do not rule with God for Rulers And Powers ordained of God are not a terrour to good works but to evil See Rom. 13.1 2 3. Therefore saith the Lord Prov. 29.2 When the righteous are in authority the people rejoyce but when the wicked bear rule the people mourn And the truth is were it not to suppress the wicked that would destroy the Saints as Cain slew his brother Abel there should need no Power nor Law amongst men but the law of Love for the law was not made for the righteous man but for the lawless and disobedient c. And the powers that are ordained of God were not ordained to be revengers of wrath upon good men that keep the Commandments of God but upon evil men that break them And thus it is plain that those Magistrates and Rulers which are faithful with the Saints to preserve and keep them in well-doing That Power is of God and ruleth with God and it shall stand against all opposers And we may safely conclude That that Power which is used to vex persecute and destroy the Saints and honest men searing God is not of God and therefore it shall not stand But the Power in King Charles his days was so used as many honest conscientious men can testifie by woful experience therefore it was not of God and is thrown down But it will be objected that now since the King is gone there is as great persecution taxing and oppressing of men as ever To which I abswer I positively deny that honest conscientious men that fear God and desire to live in peace are persecuted as before But indeed if any conspire and rebel against this present power of the Nation of England so wonderfully set up and preserved by God himself it is their policie and good wisdom to suppress such malignant spirits by confining their persons to such places as they may do least hurt in and by sequestring their estates to make use of them for the best advantage of the Commonwealth And indeed to that end they are a power ordained of God even to take vengeance and execute wrath upon them that do evil Therefore if any man would not fear the present Power let him do that which is good and he shall have praise of the same See Rom. 13.2 3 4. Secondly whereas many complain of Taxes and oppression by Taxes more then ever I answer There was never such occasion for Taxes as