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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nation_n	lord_n	people_n	zion_n	1,583	5	9.6197	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93347	Gods unchangeableness: or Gods continued providence, in preserving, governing, ordering and disposing of all creatures, men, actions, counsels and things, as at the beginning of the world, so to the end of the world, for ever, according to the counsel of his own will. From whence is gatherd six necessary inferences very applicable to the changes, alterations and vicissitude of these our present times. Wherein is clearly demonstrated and proved, that Oliver Cromwell is by the providence of God, Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland, &c. to whom the people owe obedience, as to him whom God hath set over them. Unto which is added, the causes of discontent, repining and murmurings of men: also, some serious advertisements, and seasonable admonitions to the discontented, and reprehensions to all impetuous, arrogant murmurers. Together with answers to some cheif objections made against the Lord Protector and his present government, endeavouring (if possible) satisfaction to all men. / Therefore written and published for publicke good, by George Smith, Gent.	Smith, George, 1602 or 3-1658.	1655 (1655)	Wing S4036; Thomason E824_4; ESTC R207687	84,417	65

wicked design by which he thought to establish himself became his ruine r See the like by the experiences of our time King James Father to our late King not thankful for Gods mercies to him bringing him from a mean Kingdom to a rich and plentifull Nation flowing with milk and honey grew wanton and like Jeshurn● kicked he came to strong Cities a fat Land houses filled with goods Wells digged Vineyards Olive-yards Fruits c as is expressed by Nehemiah Ch. 9. 25. but he like Israel rebelled against his God and cast his Law behinde his back and persecuted the Prophets and Ministers that testified against him exalting himself and prerogative to make his Son and Family like Nimrod What strange wickednesse did he act in his private chamber and openly gave away the lawful wives of men to others viz. the Lady Rich to the Lord Mount-joy the Countesse of Essex to Carre c. Did he not design to bring the people of this Nation under by laying heavy burdens upon their shoulders What else was Loan-money illegal Fines for Buildings and his fooling of Parliaments endeavouring to make them uselesse and himself a great Monarch preparing for a greater work which his Son was to act which design our late King endeavoured to exalt and in pursuance thereof followed the footsteps of his Father not in personal sins but in publike grievances Like Rehoboam to make one of his fingers heavier then his Fathers loins And like Jeroboam to set up Calves in Bethel and in Dan to ensnare the people to advance prerogative Did not he endeavour by his Prelats or his Prelats by him to bring in a compliance or neer Union between England and Rome and to effect their design they endeavoured to weaken the Nations of able religious men and of Arms why else was Rochel betraied under pretence of releeving it and many able and godly men slaughtered Why else was that mock-voyage to Cadis why else were our honourable Parliaments disgraced called only of necessity for money sake but not suffered to reform any evil nor to put them to any shame which were the Actors of abominable wickednesse but honourable members of Parliamennt for such things were imprisoned where many died others were banisht their houses into remote Countreys Prisoners and Exiles c. And for the advance of prerogative new waies were invented to get money without Parliaments or Law Loan-money Knighthood-money Ship-money Compositions for Cottages Compositions for New Buildings Moneys for Forrest Lands Woods Timber c. Monopolies upon all our necessary commodities Taxes upon Customs and gun-powder ingrossed and kept from the Subject their Arms seized Companies of Souldiers were billeted in most Market-Towns of the Nation and lest that should be too little to effect the Tyrannical design the Duke and his plotrers had provided to have 600 Flanders Horse brought into England with Swisser Riders No man is so silly I think as to ask why all this was done for the reason is plain to every reasonable man Nor was this all for all zealous and godly Ministers were weeded out of every Town and Countrey Bishop Wren can easily name you some scores if not hundreds that he drove from their Livings and Habitations besides them he procured to be imprisoned and banisht Arminianism was advanced and they were made Bishops that defended it Lectures were put down Afternoon Sermons on the Lords Day were forbidden Books were published to give way to prophane the Lords Day by sports and pastimes these Books were commanded to be read in all Churches to ingratiate the multitude and such Ministers as refused to reade these Books were suspended the morality of the Sabbath was denied preached against Sunday called no Sabbath the name Minister was changed to Priest the Table to an Altar on which Basons and Tapers were set there was very little wanting to plain Popery but the name Thus far the design was carried on smoothly Scotland only stood in the way as some rub that must be removed and to that end a Liturgy was sent down to them which they would not swallow Therefore they must be forced an Army to that purpose was prepared The Scots make opposition money grew wanting to manage that design to leavy more forces A Parliament was called to raise money which refusing to give were quickly dissolved The Scots grew enraged had encouragements make invasion which caused another Parliament to be called That Parliament would give no money except they might be established to sit till they had reformed abuses and things They were established by an Act to sit until both Houses consented to dissolve and also two Acts of grace was passed viz. to take away the High-Commission and Star-Chamber All this to please the people that they might assist in their further design of war as shortly after appeared wherein providence ordered their designs counsels aims and ends to Gods glory and to their own ruine Here take speciall notice of six severall peeces of providence 1. That the great pressures innovations and the designs apparent of bringing on greater oppression even to a perpetual slavery caused great fears in the people which could not be secured but by an established Parliament 2. That providence infatuated the late King and his counsell in passing an Act of unlimited time for establishment of that Parliament which was the giving away of one chief part of prerogative by which he might else have dissolved that Parliament after some years and saved his head Esau sold his birthright but he designed to have the blessing Providence had infatuated him that he considered not that the blessing was annexed to the birthright Our late King sold that part of his exercised prerogative with design to get it double not only to be King still but Tyrant too How Providence hath ordered those designs we know Thirdly That after the signing of the Act aforesaid the Soveraign Authority was in the Parliament which the late King by a wicked Councel and lying Clergy was seduced to take Arms against as Ahab was by his Councell and 400. lying Prophets to go up to Ramoth-Gilead to his own ruine and the ruine of his Family Fourthly That his heart was hardened and the hearts of his Councel and would not hearken to any offer of peace or reconciliation though many addresses were made to him from time to time by the whole house unanimously but his heart like Pharaohs was hard and the time of his peace was hid from him until it was too late when he desired it and might not have it Fifthly That Providence should make use of the Earl of Essex to be the Instrument to drive the late Kings wife from him whose Wife the late Kings Father gave to another man Sixthly That the late King by his refusal of all offers of reconciliation and his delaies entreaties providence over-ordering all things against his designs became his irrecoverable ruine of whom we may say as Sir Walter Rawleigh saith of Darius He was

if we ask according to our own will he will not hear him that is he wi●l not give him what he asketh And we must also ask in faith without wavering Jam. 1. 6. but how can we have faith in asking any thing for which we have not a promise for faith is grounded upon the promise Abraham beleeved the promise Rom. 4. 3. he staggered not at it he was fully perswaded that what God had promised he was able to perform and would do it q And without faith it is impossible to please God r what is not of faith is sin without faith God accepts no praier ſ and in the last place we must ask all that we pray for in the Name of Iesus Christ Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name he will give it you t See Joh. 14. 13. And in extraordinary cases we must adde spiritual ●●sting to our praier for there is a kinde of devil that goeth not out but by praier and fasting u humble your selves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up Jam. 4. 10. we must come with humbled hearts willing and desirous to bring our wils to Gods will but take beed of fasting and praying and making appeals to God w to bring Gods will to your will it is not safe to tempt God For our God is a consuming fire The next means is to get the love of God kindled in our hearts let us get burning zeal to the truth and receive the truth in the love of it contend for verity not for victory Advance the Gospel in the Ministry of it love the brotherhood honour all men fear God and honour the Supream Magistrate x whether King or Lord Protector this is Apostolical doctrine Let every soul be subject to the higher powers for there is no power but of God the powers that be are ordained of God y This is the Apostle Pauls doctrine and this is the Apostle Peters doctrine Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake z for so is the will of God a This is no new devised doctrine nor is it in the least Antichristian but the doctrine of the Law and the doctrine of the Gospel If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine that is that denieth this doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed b to deny this truth of the Gospel and teach for Gospel another thing is to bring in another Gospel But I am commanded by the Gospel that though men or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel then what the Apostles have preached not to beleeve it c The Gospel establisheth a standing Magistracy and a standing Ministry by them Liberty and Religion is maintained and preserved if well regulated Therefore it highly concerns Parliaments of which by Gods mercy and love to his people we are not wholly deprived nor by one for ever oppressed It is Gods mercy and his honour the Lord Protector I mean whom God hath made instrumental to call this Honourable Assembly in Parliament together I say it concerns them to consider whence we are fallen and whether we are going and by their authority to put bars against licenticusnesse and loose liberty and to be a wall of protection unto the truth that those Foxes may be taken that spoil the Vines for our Vines have tender grapes d Honourable Parliament if my Scribling Sheets ever come to your view take notice from them that God hath by his good providence called you together to make up the breach that finne hath made or rather God for sin upon us We have been perfidious to God and God hath removed justice and equity from us You must be both Phinchas and Aaron Phinchas to rise up with courage and zeal not only to do justice but to give life to the just Laws of the Nation that justice may be done by a Law against the transgressors of Gods Law e and Aaron to stand between the dead and the living that Gods anger may be appeased f You in behalf of the good people of these three Nations are to settle by Gods assistance these unsetled Nations what is possible for the present and with all possible care to look to the future the God Almighty be your strength and your Counsellor in the great work under your hands that you may be instruments in 〈◊〉 hand to establish a just and setled Magistracy and a holy religious Ministry That the glory of the Lord Jehovah may be advanced and the people of these Nations may again enjoy their Rights and Proprieties our sins cry to God for g●eate● judgements and the people cry under great pressures And God hath called you that are the great men of these Nations to prove and to try what you will do for him Jer. 5. 5. You have known the way of the Lord and the judgement of your God turn you not aside as others have done God seeks now as he did in Jerusalem to finde a man if there be any that executeth judgement and secketh the truth that he may spare poor England Jer. 5. 1. And let not the poor of these Nations be forgotten by you provide houses and stock to set them to work in all Cities Countreys and Towns that there may not be a beggar in our Israel g Debts ought to be paid but Publike Faith debts not paid is most dishonourable to the Nation I know as things have been managed it is no easie thing to pay them But to purge the University and Nurseries of Learning from their open pollutions and vicious practices and Schools of Learning to be purged of vitious Schoolmasters the poyson of youth and the bane of age and ages is a work acceptable to God a means to obtain blessings to posterities and it will cost no money to do it These and the like means diligently used really prosecuted freed from self-interest vain-glory or hypocrisie will assuredly multiply mercies on the Nations and prevent the judgements threatned and cause England to be the praise of the whole earth I pray give me leave to say what the Lord by the Prophet said in another case concerning Tythes then due by a Law of God leviticall only belonging to the Jews now due by no such right but they were unjustly withheld Therefore saith the Lord Prove me now therewith if I will not open to you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing h c. So I say Use such means as before I have briefly mentioned and prove the Lord if he will not double and redouble all sorts of blessings on this Common-wealth I blesse God that there hath been a beginning of a Reformation of some things by his Highnesse more then in some years past by others though much was promised And I blesse God that put into his Highnesses heart and this present Parliament to call for a general and

a signal testimony on the side of Moses and Aaron shewing who was the man that God did chuse by causing the rod of the Tribe of Levi to budd blossom and to bear Almons in the Tabernacle of witnesse c We are not to expect such miraculous signs in our time yet it cannot be denied our enemies themselves being witness but that God hath done wonderfull things by his Highnesse for us and against our enemies of which we have and may have a lasting benefit if we provoke not the Almighty by our murmurings and cause him to turn our blessings into a curse Faith makes not haste but staies Gods time and waits upon Providence But it appears we live more by sense then by faith We trust God so far as we see reason for it and no farther We say as the murmurers in the Wildernesse did to Moses Thou hast not brought us into a Land that floweth with milk and honey or given us inheritance of fields and Vineyards Wilt thou deceive us and make thy self a Prince over us and put on t the eyes of his people d Dost thou think they do not see thy falshood toward them These murmurings kept the people from the Land they looked for and brought a curse upon them which they looked not for and thus it may befall us if God be not more merciful to us Who is then the sinner and who shall posterity have cause to curse I beseech you My Brethren of England be not impatient take heed that you fight not against God murmure not at any Providence beleeve that God ruleth in the earth and governs all things and that all the turnings and overturnings and the changes which we have lately seen is of God And all these yea all things shall work together for good to them that love God e Let us trust God who is faithful in all that he hath said and will make good whatsoever he hath promised and that to us in our times if we provoke him not Let us therefore be followers of them that by faith and patience inherit the promise f Consider what our condition was before our last change and whether men were leading of us if Providence had not disappointed their design were we not hasting into that or worse condition that Israel was in at the beginning of Asa's government when they were without the true worship of God Without a Teaching Priest and without a Law and there was no peace to him that went out or to him that came in but great vexations were upon all the Inhabitants of the Countreys g If it were so with us then let us imitate those good people and do as they then did they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord their God and sought him and he was found of him 2 Chro. 15. 4. And at that time God stirred up the heart of Asa and he reformed all the evils and they were delivered God as I have said by strange providences evident to us hath stirred up his Highnesse and given him the honour to be Lord Protector of his people who knoweth what the Lord our God will do for us by him Let us seek God for him and daily pray that God will give him wisdome as to Solomon and courage as to Phinehas and zeal for the Lord of Hosts and for the religion of his God as to good Asa Hezechiah and others that God made instrnmentall for the glory of his Name and for the good of his people Such I hope his Highnesse will be to us not only in these three Nations but to the Church militant through the whole world take the Apostles rule and practise it Put up your praiers supplications intercessions and thanks-giving for all men but especially for all that are in authority and why that we may leade a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and holinesse h But if we will disobey such precepts as this and provoke such Providences as have led us thereunto and be obstinate in our own waies and wils as if we would build new Babels to our own fancies and say as those Builders said Let us make us a Name lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth i God will surely bring the evil upon us that we seek to prevent and we shall be scattered in our work Have we not some of us begun to lay the foundation of such a work why else are we thus confounded that we cannot understand one another One cals for mortar and another brings a mattock one cries out for brick and stone another brings a hammer and an axe One is building and another is breaking down One saies Christ Jesus is setting up Kings and chief Magistrates according to his own heart to be his Vicegerents on earth such as shall own the Lord Christ and acknowledge that they reign by him and for him according to that Prophesie of the Evangelicall Prophet Isa. 49. 23. Kings shall be thy Nursing Fathers and Queens shall be thy Nursing Mothers they shall bow down to thee with their face to the earth and lick up the dust at thy feet and thou shalt know that I am the Lord c. that is as the Nurse feeds the childe and defends it from harm so Kings and Queens under the Gospel shall tender the Church of Christ to provide for it by providing holy Ministers and honourable maintenance for them that they may not serve Tables but wholly attend to the Ministry of the Word and Sacraments and be a wall of protection to keep them from harm and that corrupt doctrines break not into the Church and they shall bow down to thee with their faces to the earth that is they shall acknowledge the Lord Christ to be their head before whom they shall cast down their Crowns and acknowledge they are but his Vicegerents by him appointed to feed cherish and defend his faithful ones and to reverence the word of Christ c according to that of the Psalmist All Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him k Others say that Christ is Staining the pride of all glory and bringing into contempt all the honourable of the earth pulling down all Kings and kingly powers Isa. 23. 9. Others say that Christ is only pulling down all wicked Kings Tyrants and Persecutors and will stain the pride of all humane glory such as Babylon and Tyre against whom the Prophet Isaiah in the 23. Chapter before-mentioned denounceth judgement but not against all Kings yet deny not that the Lord Christ who is said to ride upon a white horse going forth conquering and to conquer Rev. 6. 2. shall conquer all Kings and Kingdoms that are his enemies all shall stoop before him Others say Christ only shall reign and shall be King of the Saints and shall be set up in his glory and Kingdom on earth by the Sword of his Saints in bloud alluding to that in Rev. 19. 13. He was

p. 7 8. Why Jehu was punished like Achab. p. 8. Admonition to those that God hath made punishers of others sins ib. Providence ordereth all actions and things to advance men and Nations as pleaseth him p. 9 10. Providence ordered Oliver Cromwell to be Lord Protector p. 11. Every mercy and every judgment is from God not from men but as instrumeuts in Gods hand p. 11 12. Inferences drawn from the Doctrine of Providence p. 13. All mercies to men or Nations are of Gods free grace and love ib. Particular mercies instanced p. 14 15. All Judgments are from God as recompence for sinne p. 16. Particular sinnes instanced and at ripeness in England ib. How Priviledges of Parliament were lost p. 17. A Memento of the Covenant ib. The wicked are taken in their own craftiness and fall by their own designs p. 18. Observations of some Actions and Designs of King James and of the late King p. 18 19. Six peeces of Providence very observable to the late King p. 20. Considerable Providences to the long Parliament p. 21. Six considerable Quaeries propounded p. 22. God hath set a time when he will give in mercies and when he will instict Judgements p. 22 23. And upon whom ib. And how much it shall be p. 24. But all those times and purposes in God are unknown to men p. 24 25. Mens boldness to foretell Gods times and purposes ib. Revelations and visions in these times but vain fancies p. 26. These are trying and shaking times p. 26 27. God shaketh Nations severall wayes ib. The word of God like fire shall consume all opposers p. 28. The greatest Reformation hath ever met with greatest opposition ib. Three things have long threatned Judgment to England ib. Men not able to bring any enterprise to pass by all their contrivings p. 29. The Lord Protector set up by Providence made successfull by Saints prayers ib. Although God hath set the time for every purpose which cannot be altred yet men are to be diligent in the use of all lawfull means p. 30 31. How God is said to repent or to be changed p. 32. No means must be used but lawfull means p. 33. We must not trust in means nor be too solicitous in the use of means without a particular Promise ib. Nor to use unwarrantable means to obtain lawfull things ib. Christs Kingdom is spiritual 34 He accepts not the use of the sword in the Saints hand to set up his Kingdom ib. Reasons why p. 35. The pressings in mens spirits not alwaies agreeable to the Spirit of God p. 35 36. The Spirit of God leadeth but to one truth ib. The right means to obtain Mercies and to avoid Judgments 36 37. What the Doctrine of Paul and Peter is concerning the civil Magistrate ib. The civil Magistrate hath authority to command the worship of God and to punish the contemners of it p. 38. When God hath manifested his will by the work of Providence we are to submit and not to murmur p. 39. Murmurers reproved ib. The effects of murmuring ib. The causes of mens murmurings p. 40. Severall sorts of murmurers noted p. 41 42. Order in discipline required by Christ in his Church ib. Men ascribers are God prescribers p. 43. The murmuring of Corah was against the Offices of Magistracy and Ministry p. 43 44. Advice to the people p. 44 45. Men are building new Babels ib. Kings nursing fathers to the Church under the Gospel ib. Christs enemies shall be slain miraculously by the sword that goeth out of his mouth p. 46. It was Israels sinne in asking a King before God gave him And it is a sinne in any people to reject a King when God gives him p. 47. Seditious persons like Sheba the sonne of Bichri ib. The bitterness of warre instanced in Abner and Joab ib. Five principall Objections made against the Lord Protestor Answered p. 48. The cause of our late warre what p. 49. The Lord Protector vindicated as to former promises p. 50. In his trust to the Parliament and Nation ib. In breach of Priviledges of Parliament p 51. That this is a free Parliament ib. Concerning the Militia p. 52. Concerning his Negative voice p. 53. Concerning Religion p. 54. Concerning making Laws and raising of Money p. 55. That he is no favourer of Cavaliers but as in justice he ought ib. Gods Vnchangeablenesse OR Gods continued Providence in preserving guiding ordering and disposing of all Creatures Men Actions Counsels and Things as at the beginning of the world so to the end of the world for ever According to the counsell of his own Will THat there is a God that hath created the world and all things we all acknowledge the Heathen confesse the same but know not the true God in his essence and being God hath hid himself from them farther then what is revealed to them by the works of creation therefore they frame gods to themselves according to their fancies and so make many gods We Christians do acknowledge one God and but one God distinguished by three persons Father Sonne and holy Ghost And that there is three Persons or three Hypostases and but one God is revealed to us by the Word of God contained in the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament where only this mystery of the Godhead is to be known therefore the wisest and most prudent of the Heathen cannot know this because they have not the sacred Scriptures made known to them But this we all prof●sse to know and to beleeve therefore it we●e in vain and lost labour to use Arguments to prove it But that this one God the God of Israel doth govern order and dispose all C●eatures Actions Things Men and Counsels according to the purpose of his own will is not so clearly acknowledged nor beleeved but contrary it is denied by some though by name they are Christians yet they go not in their practise in this particular beyond the old Sect of Stoick Philosophers who though heathen acknowledge a Deity yet leave the guidance and ordering of things to nature and so tye God to second causes Therefore it will not be unnecessary to prove that there is a secret and special providence of God that governeth and ordereth all things for indeed the want of the knowledge and practice of this is the cause of great complainings discontents and murmurings against God and against men We look at instrumental causes but see not the efficient cause the cause of all causes Jaco● did not only look to the foot of the ladder which he see in his vision but he 〈◊〉 at him who sate at the top of the Ladder a This Ladder doth literally set forth Gods Providence governing all things The steps or gradations of the Ladder are the divers means which God useth The Angels ascending and descending are the ministring spirits which God sendeth forth to execute his will as the Apostle tels us they are all ministring spirits sent forth to minister

infinite in power and he is unchangeable in all his waies and works He is the King of Saints n He goes forth conquering and to conquer o all Kings and Nations that are his enemies and shall break them with a rod of Iron and dash them in peeces like a potters vessell p for he is also King of Nations q And for the seed of Jacobs sake he will break in peeces the Shepherd and his flock the Captain and the Rulers r Out of his mouth goeth a sharp Sword that with it he should smite the Nations ſ And he shall rule them with a rod of Iron for the Lord is high above Nations and his glory above the Heavens t To him the Nations are as the drop of a bucket and the small dust of the ballance All Nations are before him as nothing and are counted to him lesse then nothing and vanity u He hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and measured the Heavens with a span comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scaics and the hils in ballances * Such is the greatnesse of Gods power The daies of men the years of families and the ages of Kingdoms are all by him numbred and determined the time of their beginning the time that they shall continue the times and means of their encrease and of their diminution and the instruments to accomplish all Gods will in every particular All is known and appointed by God * till which time they shall stand and longer they cannot stand their period is certain determinated by God who is unchangeable But unto men they are altogether unknown therefore uncertain Secret things belong unto God yet these secrets God will reveal to his Saints in the time appointed when the time of the accomplishment is come and not before as we shall shew afterward in the proper place You know that Gideon was a good man and God stirred him up to be a deliverer of his people from the bondage of the Midianites the people would have made him their King and his poster●ty to rule after him which he refused Yet Gideon that he might leave a memorial of his acts and name asked of the people their earrings and their chains of gold which they had taken as their prey from the conquered enemy One thousand seven hundred shekels of gold besides other ornaments c. which they willingly gave him of which he made an Ephod and put it in his City And all Israel went a whoring after it that is they superstitiously worshiped it which thing became a snare to Gideon and to his house y This was the means to bring a period to Gideons Family for as soon as Gideon was dead Abimelech the Son of Gideon which he had by his Concubine a Shechemite together with the men of Shechem conspired against the Sons of Gideon which were threescore and ten and slew them all save Jotham who escaped Thus God made Abimelech the instrument to punish the sin of Gideon and Abimelech was made King and reigned 3. years Here was ambition treachery and murther in Abimelech and in the men of Shechem this puts a period to the life of Abimelech to the people of Shechem and to Abimelechs Kingdom for the Text saith God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem z So that Abimelech is the instrument to destroy the men of Schechem that joyned with him in his conspiracy and murther of his Brethren and set him up over them And when he had done that providence makes a silly woman the Instrument to destroy Abimelech a So you know Ahab sinned he sold himself to do wickedly and God by the Prophet foretelleth the destruction of him of his Family and of his Kingdom b Providence brings Jehu to be the Instrument to accomplish this work Iehu did it to the full and with great zeal seeming to the Lord of Hosts but Iehu's heart was not upright before God c Therefore the Prophet Hosea from the mouth of God denounceth judgement against the House of Iehu for the bloud of Ahabs house d Iehu did all that God had threatned against Ahabs house and he did but what was the will of God should be done yet Iehu must be no lesse punished then he had punished Ahab Calvin gives a good reason of this It was not saith he for any act done ro Iezabel or upon the children of Ahab for in all that the Lord himself testifieth he did well e but because Iehu's heart was not upright to God in that that he did and because Iehu did not depart from the sins of Ahab f Iehu sinning like Ahab must be punished like Ahab and it was made good accordingly at the time appointed g The Apostle tels us that these things are written for our adusonition h c. This is an admonition to them of our time whom God hath made Instruments to punish the sins and oppressions of others that they take heed that they be not guilty of the sinnes and oppression that they have punished in others It were a happinesse to this Nation if some were not as faulty as those that they have punished It is good that sin be punished but it will prove very ill to the punishers that walk in the practise of the same sinnes It was well done of Henry the eight in putting down the Popes Supremacy and demolishing Monasteries Nunneries Priories c. Let his end be what it will or what it was or the cause of doing it but it was very ill in Henry the 8. that he continued in the practise of the same superstition and persecution of Gods people It was a good act to cut off Tyranny but it is extream evil that the same hands should act high oppression God will stir up other hands to cut off them and their Families he hath already shewed his anger and will perfect it to their ruine if their repentance prevent it not for God is unchangeable in all his judgements and his dealings with men wherein a man sinneth therein he shall be punished as it was with Adonibezek if men notwithstanding all warnings admonitions and examples will go on in sin it is a sign that their period is nigh Thus it was with the Sons of Ely they were wicked and they were oppressive they caused the Sacrifices of God to be abhorred i and they were admonished by good old Ely but they would not hearken to his voice to be reformed and why because saith the Text The Lord would slay them k and providence ordereth the Philistins to be instrumental to accomplish it This was also the occasion of casting off Flies Family for ever By this we see how providence orders things Actions and Instruments to overturn and cut off Men and Families yea whole Kingdoms as we see in the mighty of Chaldea at the period of time

hard bondage The house of Israel was Gods Vineyard and the men of Judah his pleasant plants Whence God looked for judgement but behold oppression for righteousnesse but behold a cry b Religion and policy were with many but one and the same thing We fasted for strife and debate and smote with the hand of wickednesse but did not loose the bands of wickednesse to undoe the heavy burthens and let the oppressed go free c Providence dissolved that Parliament not yet that I know lamented by any And truly I conceive it was no lesse mercy from God that the succeeding Parliament was dissolved too Many members therein having a design to destroy our Laws and Religion to cut off the head of the two great Ordinances of God Magistracy and Ministery at one blow and so set open a floud-gate for loose licentious liberty to break in upon us to our confusion where then should we have found the true liberty and priviledge of the people so much talked of while we were under the oppression of an arbitrary power blessed be that providence that hath prevented those designs and freed us from that yoke giving us comfort in hopes of a setled peace and holy Reformation with the restoring us again to our Laws and true priviledges By that Illustrions and Noble Champion OLIVER Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland e. whom Providence hath made instrumental to hinder destruction to the Nation and provide that our Teachers are not driven into corners as the Lord hath promised they shall not be d Let no man mistake me to think that I am an enemy to Parliaments I am not God knows it but I am a lover and honourer of Parliaments and shall ever as my own life and the publike safety But I hate the sins of Parliaments covetousnesse self-seeking oppression schisms divisions factions and private interest these God hates and I cannot nor will love what God abhors though I be hated for it I do with much thankfulnesse acknowledge it as a free mercy from God that we have this present Parliament My Praier is that God will make them blessings to lasting posterities And surely it is free-love and mercy from God in setting up that authority and single person which hath called this Parliament And as great a mercy that Providence discovered that Plot and murtherous design hatched in France and to be executed upon his Person in England The same mercy and free-love was extended to this Nation for his Highnesse late escape from the danger of his presumptuous attempt in a recreation not becoming his dignity I pray it may be a monition to him not again to go out of his place and rank Providence having called him to the care of the greatest affairs con●erning the Church of God in general and the welfare of the people of these three Nations A heavy burthen and requires the whole strength of body and minde And above all these mercies we must not forget to acknowledge it a mercy from God that we at this day do enjoy the Ordinances of God notwithstanding the mighty oppositions both on the left hand and on the right hand Superstition on one side and imprudent zeal on the other we have the word of Truth held out to us and may enjoy every Ordinance in its purity if we will or if we were not wanton for men may be as holy as they will or can be there is no restraint in that nor persecution for it I wish we did not too much counive at grosse apparent heresie and blasphemy For though the truth should be free heresie should have a bar God blames the Church of Pergamus and the Church of Thyatira for suffering them them that held the doctrine of Balaam and for suffering her that called her self a Prophetesse to teach and seduce e c. Dead flies saith Solomon cause the Ointment of the Apothecary to send forth a stinking savour f and corrupt doctrines suffered are dishonour to the Truth We come to the second Inference and that is That all Judgements and Afflictions are from God only and are the just recompence for sinne procured by our selves men or things afflicting being but secondary causes instruments in Gods hand This is very fully proved in the whole Book of God That all Iudgements and Afflictions are from God is sufficiently proved in our foregoing discourse And that they are the just recompence of sinne is as clear for God never punished but for sin and if there had been no sin there should never have been any punishments The Soul that sinneth shall die g The old world was destroyed by a deluge and why for Sinne God saw that the wickednesse of man was great upon the earth h c. And for sinne Sodom and Gomorrha was destroied by fire from heaven Nadah and Abihu for their sinne were devoured by fire and that for ought we know for a sinne of Ignorance i The wages of sinne is death k What else is warre pestilence and famine but the recompence of sin and so procured by by our selves All afflictions on the body in the minde on the estate or in our respective relations are just recompence for our sinnes from the hand of God l There hath been no alteration no overturnings iudgements and misery but for sin and is all procured by our selves We may say of England as Daniel said of Israel when they were under the captivity of Chaldea To us belongeth confusion of face to our Kings to our Princes to our Fathers and to all the people because of our transgressions m And as Ezra That God hath punished us lesse then our deservings n And as Jeremy It is of the Lords mercy we are not consumed o Our elder Sister is Samaria and our younger Sister is Sodom we have justifiedour Sisters in all the abominations which we have done p What shall we say to the pride of England even in the day of her calamity Oh the pride of apparel the pride of place of gifts of blessings received yea of graces and of our supposed or flattered humility What shall we say to the idlenesse and fulnesse of bread the drunkennesse swearing forswearing and the abominable blasphemies that England is guilty of And what shall we say of the murders adulteries mighty oppressions self-love and wicked Sorcery that is in England the dishonouring of the Lords day contempt of Gods worship and generall neglect of all duties of the first and second Table what lukewarmnesse is there in Religion more then ever was in Laodicea What hot contentions about fancies and ceremonies and coldnesse to the power of holinesse What unthankfulnesse under the enjoyment of multitude of mercies What security and self-promising of happy condition as if no evil could befall them like the men of Laish that dwelt carelesly and there was no Magistrate in the Land that might put them shame in any thing q Although our professed and

infatuated in all his Counsels and undertakings against Alexander ever following the worst counsell and using the unsafest means to preserve himself which sheweth plainly that God had purposed his destruction and the losse of his Kingdoms And that the disappointing him and his Counsell in all their Designs and overthrowing their bloudy and cruell Armies was the immediate work of providence for the accomplishing of the secret purpose of God If we continue not to imitate and act the same sins of oppression and innovation or the like as Jehu did If so we do Iehu's reward will be given for our God is an unchangeable God What he hath done to others before us he will as surely do still and for ever where the like sins are acted God sometimes gives a King in ●is anger and takes him away in his wrath Hos. 13. 11. They whether King Parliament or people that reject the Word of the Lord the Lord will reject them 1 Sam. 15. 23. Thus God did by Saul and thus he did by Rehoboam for in that the ten Tribes revolted God himself testifieth and saith This thing is done by me 1 Kin. 12. 24. Who is he saith the Prephet in the name of the Church that saith it cometh to passe when God commandeth it not Lam. 3. 37. Many other observable providences have offered the due consideration of them to us which I may not passe by with silence among many that have attended our late Parliaments both in their sitting and in their dissolution I shall minde you of these few the first shall be this That when things were not likely to succeed according to the Parliaments design or a great part in Parliament They devised to publish an Ordinance called the Self-denying Ordinance thereby calling all the members of both Houses from all offices and military affairs here was a specious pretence but by them that made it it was not intended to be observed for who left any place of profit to serve the publike It is true so far as the present design reached it took and made a great and a good change in the Army but providence ordered that Ordinance and that change pulling down and setting up to frustrate the future design of them that made it Providence by that Ordinance took off the Right Honourable his Excellency the Earl of Essex from being General when he had gone with courage and fidelity as far in that work as his principles could carry him providence made him instrumental to lay the foundation of that work Providence also by that Ordinance and that change Ordered That the Right Honourable and Noble Sir Thomas Fairfax should be set up in his room to raise the structure of that work and building upon the fonndation Essex had laid as fitter to effect Gods further purpose who built as far as his principle could carry him when providence had used Essex as far as God had purpose to use him in that work Providence also in Sir Thomas Fairfax his time put a perverse spirit amidst the Members of Parliament so as the contest was very great grew into factions and interests some designing the life of him whom others designed to die so as the power of the Sword was called to end the controversie and all to the accomplishment of Gods will his Excellency the Lord Fairfax having a farre larger Commission then ever the Parliament gave before having in his hand power the use of the whole Militia Castles Forts Towns c Providence ordered upon some scruple in his Excellency that he voluntarily and resolvedly laid down his Commission when earnestly sollicited both by Parliament and by the then L●eutenant General Cromwell to hold it up And providence still ordering things to effect the purpose of God Ordered that the then Lieutenant Generall should have the same Commission or larger without limit to be Captain Generall of all Forces by Sea and Land Castles Forts c. consequently of all the whole Militia This was providence That he might lay on the topstone of the structure and finish the work so farre And as Providence had stirred him up as a valiant Champion so next as a faithful Patriot to his Countrey to dissolve a sit still Parliament to whom God had given all opportunities to do their Nation good but they would not nor could give themselves to consider what was their duty to act for their private Interests some levelling the Earth for their own design others building of Castles in the Air for a Fifth Monarchy an unsafe practice and very unsound doctrine unwarrantable to be maintained in bloud If these be not clear providences what shall we call Providence These things we have seen gradually acted and ordered by a secret and wise providence turning the design of the Parliament in their Self-denying Ordinance and the Powers and Commissi●ns thereupon granted to their dissolution which they aimed should have been the means to have perpetuated their sitting These things premised I shall modesty offer six Queries to any impartiall man upright and unbyast in this case First Whether it was not of providence that the Parliament gave to his Excellency the Lord Cromwell that unlimited power for the safety of the Nation as it was of providence that the Late King and his Councel past an Act of unlimited time for the Parliament to sit to his own ruine and casting off his posterity 1. Whether his Excellency were not bound in conscience for publike safety being a publike person in trust to make use of the one as well as the Parliament made use of the other and by that authority to dissolve an undoing Parliament as well as to suppresse a destroying Enemy both conducing to publike safety Thirdly whether the dissolving of that Parliament were any greater breach of priviledge then the taking out of one half of the members by force of which he had before of late a President in the time of the Lord Fairfax and well approved of by the dissolved Parliament Fourthly whether as Providence served our necessity by the late Kings Act for the Parliaments sitting for a long time It did not after severall admonitions as much serve our necessity after their too long fitting to dissolve that Parliament by the power of their own Commission Fifthly whether it were not evidently a providence That the succeeding Parliament not appointed by his Excellency but chosen by the Souldiery Many of them promoting except in giving away the publike treasure the like destructive waies to the taking away our Fundamental Laws and bringing in as it were another Gospel pulling down and overthrowing all but set up nothing except a floudgate to confusion should of themselves that is the major part to prevent those almost executed designs dissolve that Parliament and resign their authority into his Excellencies hand Sixthly whether providence did not wonderfully order things in that time of distraction discontent and division among the people at home and a bloudy warre abroad That his Excellency calling

speak it And do apprehend that his purposes tend thereunto As also to the honour safety and benefit of the Common-wealth manifested by his ordering affairs abroad in making honourable peace thereby stopping more and greater effusion of bloud and exhausting of treasure As also his Highnesses care for proving Ministers to eject those that are scandalous and unsound in which I yet hope his Highnesse and present Parliament will make better and further progresse that known Heresies apparent Blasphemies and open prophanesse may be extirpate and ●ast out of these three Nations which that they may do shall be my constant praier And that as God hath added to his Highness encrease of worldly honour he will also double and redouble to him spiritual humility wisedom holinesse with all other graces And let this be the praier of Zions Saints that Peace and Truth may be established Jesus Christ set up in ou● hearts and sincerely worshiped in his own Ordinances that the purity of Ordinances may stand like the Ark of God before which all heresies seducements and doctrines of devils may fall like Dagon to the earth so that if it be possible Eugland may be the Beloved Nation and the praise of the whole Earth for the which let us all pray and endeavour and this brings us to our fifth Inference The fifth Inference is that although God have set a time for the giving in of mercies and for inflicting of Judgements which shall certainly be a●complished in their time yet men are to be diligent in the use of all lawful means for the enjoying of the one and the avoyding of the other This was ever the practice of holy men in all ages the Prophet Daniel notwithstanding he was well assured of the performance of Gods promise for the deliverance of his people after the set time of seventy years was expired yet he praieth with his face toward Ierusalem g yea when he knew the time was at hand he yet praieth for the accomplishment of it and confessed his own sins and the sins of the people h nor did he think it sufficient to pray for a spurt but he praied from the morning until the time of the evening Sacrifice i Thus Zion her self complaineth unto God and praieth for deliverance k and Nehemiab when the time was come mourned fasted and praied and used all lawful endeavours l He looked sad in the presence of the King sig●●●●ing the sorrow of his heart for the ruines of Ierusalem and this was a●●●●ns by which he obtained favour to make his R●quest to the King yea ●●●lest his tongue was speaking to the King his heart praied to the God of h●aven m and God gave him his desires not only to build the Temple at Ierusalem but to have all materials necessary for the wo●k The reason why all lawful means must be used is Because whatsoever God in his secret counsel hath determined to be done he hath also determined and appointed the means how it shall be done As he hath decreed the end he also hath decreed the means conducing to that end So it was in the things of rebu●lding the City and Temple God had determined it should be built again promised it by his Prophets And he had also determined and appointed that ●yrus should be the means or secondary cause of it Therefore he cals Cyrus his Shepherd He that shall perform all his pleasure even saying to Ierusalem Thou shalt be built and to the Temple ●by foundation shall be laid n and he shall let go my captives o And this was at the time appointed made good as you may see Ezr. 1. 1. and herein Gods purpose and secondary causes work together God worketh by such men and endeavours as he hath appointed and such means men are to use You know God promised to Israel many blessings both temporall and spiritual he promiseth the downfal of their enemies and great encrease of all things multiplicity of blessings in all outward comforts p so he promiseth to them and in them to us Christrans all spirituall blessings freely given for his own Name sake he promiseth to sprinkle clean water on us to clense us from all our filthinesse and from our Idols He will give us a new heart and put his Spirit into us and cause us to walk in his Statutes q signifying thereby the merits and bloud of Jesus Christ which cleanseth us from all iniquity c. yet saith the Lord notwi●hstanding he will surely give all these blessings freely I will be sought unto I will be enquired of by the house of Israel to doe it for them r so you shall see God sends the Prophet to Hezekiah to te●l him he should su●ely die of the disease of which he was sick Hezekiah notwithstanding makes his addresses by praier unto God unto God to spare his life and obtains his desire God addes fifteen years ſ praier obtains the mercy desired that 's one means yet there must be another means added Hezekiah must take a bunch of figs and apply to the mortall sore and he shall recover t when God alloweth nay requireth that we shall use all lawful means for us to neglect to use the means or obstinately reject the means we are self-enemies and it is just with God to withhold the mercy we desire or to bring the judgements upon us we would avoid to neglect slieght or contomn any lawfull means is a tempting of God that man that shall cast off all means and say he will rest upon providence neither beleeves there is indeed an over-ruling providence nor can rest upon providence upon any Scripture ground He that will rest upon providence must follow the dictate and waies of providence else he deceives himself The Physician in cases of any necessity is the means for health the Chirurgion is a means for cure of a fretting wound ulcer or gangrene The Lawyer to clear a questioned Title or to pleade a doubtful cause before the Judge he that shall in such or the like cases neglect or reject such means providence offering it to him shall be justly condemned of folly by any wise man so it is in all things between God and us to obtain mercies or to avoid judgements we are to search out and to use all lawfull means But in the use of any means though never so lawfull we must take heed that we trust not to the means for that is sinful and the way to deprive our selves of what we do expect or most desire and to involve our selves in these troubles and miseries we would avoid and most fear This was the si● of that good King Asa in his disease he sought not to the Lord but to the Physicians u We must be diligent in means but trust in God as much as if we had no means to use You shall see that when Moses was to leade the people of Israel through a vast and barren wildernesse God

the heathen and wicked men of the world to prepare for the work of the spiritual Temple they shall be his drudges to do that bloudy work to hew the Nations and Kingdoms as pleaseth him they shall be his Instruments to cut down dig up and hew one another and cast down the mig●ty Mountains till they be made Plains they shall doe it in wrath and revenge one to another but God will work by them after the counsell of his own will And then as in the Reformation in the d●ies of Hezechiah God will prepare the hearts of his own people and the thing shall be done suddenly x they shall be a willing people in the day of his power this it consonant to holy Scriptures and hath been the manner of Gods doings Not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of the Lord of Hosts y Besides David in his Reign was a Type of the Churches troubles and war es Solomon was a Type of the Churches peace and flourishing condition Bus I finde not that David nor Solomon ever made an offensive war against any Nation but it was ever defensive except by command from God or a providence leading to it as in the case of the Ammonit●s when they had abused Davids Embastadors and his friendly courtesie and disgraced them that were his Messengers And the Assyrians who joyned with them z but for them to attempt things for which they have neither command nor any leading providence but upon their own wils fancies or as some say by the direction and guidance of the spirit to these men not I but the Lord Christ saith unto them as to James and John when they would have had him to command fire to come down from heaven upon the Sama●itans Ye know not what manner of spirit of spirit ye are of a The Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them These men have spirits of infirmies croo●ed spirits like that woman whom the Lord Christ healed b the Lord in mercy cure thew We are commanded not to beleeve every spirit c in Rev. 16. 13. there were three unclean spirits went out of the Dragon and out of the mouth of the Beast and cut of the mouth of the false Prophet What were these spirits these were the spirits of devils working miracles and what else they go to the Kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battle of the great day of God Almighty ver. 14. The Spirit of God saith expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the saith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils d Hence is that precept of the Apostle to try the spirits whether they are of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the world 1 Joh. 4. 1. I know many good men are seduced and do seduce at this day And it is grievous to them and unsufferable to them to bear it to be told they are seduced because they have a zeal to God and to holinesse Surely so had Paul when he was in a great errour and so was David full of holy and right zeal to God yet his spirit erred his spirit was prest to build God an house so as he vowed to do it Psa. 132 2. And he consulted with the Prophet Nathan about it and Nathans spirit closed with his spirit and said Go do all that is in thine heart for the Lord is with thee e But the spirit of holy David and the Spirit of the Prophet Nathan were both con●rary to Gods spirit in that work for the word of the Lord to Nathan forbad it afterward Give me le●ve I beseech you in the mercies of God to say unto you that are Fifth Monarch men as St James saith to the whole Church and Sa●n●s Do not ●rre my beloved Brethren f it is most true that violent ungrou●ded affections are violent temp●ations and will bring violent and certain affl●ctions upon men and Nations Obedience is better then Sacrifice blinde Sacrifices nor uncommanded service by God were never accep●e● Who hath required this at your hand Let us therefore walk humbly with God ●eny our selves our own spirits our own righteousnesse and ●et up the Lord Christ in our hearts that he may spiritually rule over us and in us by mortifying our corruptions subduing our carnall reason and our unbridled lusts this is i● the Lord Jehovah hath promised and this is it we are taught to pray for Thy Kingdom come And for this as for all other mercies thereon attending let us be ever diligent in the use of all lawful means in behalf of our selves or Nation and the whole Church of God with submission to Gods will And truly he that will impartially and strictly examine his own heart and be sure it deceive him not shall finde that all his endeavours will be too little to bring his will to the will of God in every thing but the heart is deceitfull above all thing and desperately wicked who can know it g and from the deceit of our own hea●●s together Satans instigations we labour to bring Gods will to our will and hence ariseth great evils and distractions even among Christians at this day All boast of the Spirit and yet walk contrary to the ●pirit for the Spirit is one and is not divided the Spirit leads into the way of one truth not many truths give me leave to put the question which Paul in the like case Are ye not carnal h yet these Corinth●aus to whom Paul speaks were beleevers Sain●s in the Apostles esteem for he gives them the right hand of brotherhood though in this respect carnall in their divisions concerning spirituall things and those things if not prevented will bring sore judgements and prevent the mercies by us exp●cted and t● the Church promised The lawfull means to prevent the one and to possesse the other are of two sorts spiritual and civil which for brevity I shall but name for I intend not p●olixity in this discou●se The first and chief means is praier Pray continually , that 's the rule given i and pray earnestly k and fervently l But we must come to pray with humble hearts else God will not hear our prayers He giveth grace to the humble m bu● he resisteth the proud God heareth the desire of the humble and will prepare their heart and incline his heart to hear n he dwelleth with the humble and will revive the spirit of the humble and contrite ones Isa 57. 15. and we must pray for such things as are according to Gods will such things as are according to Gods will such things as we have p●omise for not according to our own wils You ask and receive not and why because ye ask a●●sse o This is the considence we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will h●heareth us p but

ourdiscourse which may satisfie humble men But saith the wisest of men The foolish man perverteth his way a and his heart fretteth against the Lord This is a carnal heart for a spiritual man sees God in all and bears all things with patience and waits by praier for guidance by providence but never praies against a manifest providence except to be delivered from the evil that may in some cases be feared for providences lead the people of God into straights and afflictions for sin as well as it delivereth them from afflictions when they are humbled and this the Church was well acquainted with therefore say It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord b then by the rule of contrary it must needs be evil to repine and murmure It is very observable that Moses mentioneth a mixed multitude that came with Israel out of Egypt Exo. 12. 38. these were of other Nations probably Servants that kept their cattle c And they seeing the mighty wonders that God did for his people in Egypt joyned with them and would go out with them As the multitude that followed Christ for the loaves c but being crossed in their expectation they grow discontent and murmure lusting after the fleshpots of Egypt d and bred a generall discontent among the people such a mixed multitude was among the people of Israel after they were delivered from their seventy years captivity which good Nebemiah separated from Israel e Such a mixed multitude are at this day in England some of other Nations some of contrary Religions Priests and Jesuites and others that have by all subtle waies insinuated themselves and these have set the people into discontents and murmurings and are enemies to the advance of the Gospel and to the building of the spirituall Temple no lesse then those adversaries of Iudah and Benjamin that would have insinuated themselves under pretence of helping to build the Temple saying they sought the God of Israel as the Israelites did and did sacrifice to him f when indeed they were enemies and endeavour to hinder their work but Zerubbabel and the chief of the Fathers cast them off then they send to have conference with Nehemiah to betray him but he would not own their message g and the work in his hand prospered But our Fathers of England have hearkened to these our mixt multitude and Gods work hath been hindred and themselves lost their honour The mixed multitude among us are grown numerous and incorrigible they do not only murmure but they some of them threaten and resolve not to be satisfied for if one sort have what he desires another will dislike it and that which is accepted this year shall be cried down next year nay sometimes next day for they that seek they know not what cannot tell when to be pleased at every thing that is done some cry out against it and against the Instruments doing it without regard to Providence or publike interest and these cause murmurings among the people who would not murmure but for them These are those that have tasted of the heavenly mauna but grew wanton lusting after other food many of these came into our hosts because they saw the great thing the Lord did for us but they came not in with the first nor did they bear the brunt of the day and being enticed by their own lusts they murmure and grow impatient at every providence that crosseth their desires They murmured against our first Parliament called Anno Dom 1640. and rejoyced when it was dissolved endeavouring to carry on their designs by the next Parliament but providence crossed them and they were dissolved too And Providence hath ordered all actions counsels and things to set up another way of government which for private interest was cried down Now Oliver by the Providence of God is set up and made Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland c. the great and general murmuring is against him He is a man of honour and integrity the instrument in Gods hand to do great and mighty things for us And as I have said before he is the man of the Saints prayers and by their praiers God hath made him prosperous and successeful in all his undertakings we yea many of the chief murmurers have acknowledged it and owned him as our Ioshua What hath he done to the prejudice of the people or Nation that we now murmure against him why he hath by Gods providence frustrate the designs and aims of the mixed multitude therefore they all murmure The Antichristian and prelatical parties and all the Hierarchy are angry and seek his life the Levelling party and the men of the Fifth Monarchy they are angry and combine together by plotting against him and as the Prophet saith of himself so I may say of his Highnesse They watch for his halting saying peradventure he will be enticed and we shall prevail against him and take our revenge upon him h Besides these there is another sort of this mixed multitude that murmure and they are pecuniaries either oppressors or mercenaries Because it is conceived his Highnesse will look after the publike treasuries and manage the publike treasure to publike advantage These were afraid of a day of account in this life that were not afraid of a judgement day in the life to come therefore they are angry There is another sort that are ambitious to have the honour and command that Providence hath cast upon his Highnesse therefore they are angry for ambitious men cannot endure any superiour Good men without holy watchfulnesse may fall into the evil of ambition We finde that Aaron and his Sister Miriam a Prophetesse grew ambitious against Moses they quarrell with him about the Ethiopian woman which he had married that 's their pretence but then they plainly tell Moses that God had not only spoken by him but by them also You know how God took it at their hands if good men sin God will not spare them but more severely punish them some other there be that murmure against his Highnesse as Ioab did against good David in the case of Abner because he made peace with him and with the house of Saul k Others murmure because they conceive more honour greater esteem and better reward is given to some then to themselves like those that were hired into the Vineyard l you know what answer Christ gives to such This kinde of evil began to enter into the hearts of the Disciples but Christ taught them a better lesson m of some of these sorts are all the great murmurers of which the Apostle Iude saith plainly these are they that walk after their lusts and their mouth speaketh swelling words n These strive for masteries they would all command but they cannot endure to obey and would perswade the people that all their oppressions injustice and cruelty is righteousnesse and that the justice

cloathed in a ves●ure dipt in bloud And as in Psa. 58. 10. The Saints shall wash their feet in the bloud of the wicked and in Psa. 68. 23. That thy foot may be dipped in the bloud of thine enemies c. The meaning of these places is plain to be no more but the suddain destruction which the Lord Jehovah should bring upon the wicked such as are enemies to the Church as in the words going before in Psa. 58. 8 9. As a Snail that melteth they shall passe away and before the pots can feel the thorns he shall take them away as with a whirlwinde He shall who is that he It is God Jehovah he shall do it not the Saints the Lord Christ to whom all power and dominion is given and was given to him from the time of his Incarnation as he himself witnesseth Mat. 28. 18. All power is given to me c. he doth not say It shall be given me but in the present tense It is given unto me Hence is that of Isa. 63. 3. I have tr●d the wi●epresse alone and of the people our Saints there was none with me for I will tread them in mine anger and trample them in my fury See Rev 14. 20. and Rev. 19 17 18. by which it is evident that the destruction of Christs Enemies shall not be by the sword in the hand of the Saints but by some miraculous way from heaven like that expressed in Rev. 20. 9. Fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them It is doubtlesse true that Satan is let loose out of prison and God useth him instrumentally to deceive the Nations we see it and the Lord Jehovah doth cause them by Satans deceits to destroy and consume one another but the great destruction must come by some great and miraculous way from the hand of God and thus Christ is said to be King of Nations and he is King of Saints in a peculiar manner he is the protector and safe preserver of the Saints on earth and he ruleth in them spiritually notwithstanding M. Spittlehouse be of an erring opinion as he expresseth in a late Paper published in print I shall esteem and strive to imitate him in any vertue but I must dissent from his errours Of this I have spoken in our fifth Inference to which I referre the Reader for further satisfaction We that make Scripture our rule say and shall ever aver that the Kingdom of Christ is set up by praier and that is the power of the Spirit of God within us he shall rule in the hearts of the Saints and by his Kingly power shall and will subdue our lusts or fantasies and self-waies mortifie the flesh and the affections thereof that we may be fit Temples for him to dwell in that he alone may rule and reign there l Others there be that will have none to rule over them but Caesar Caesar must be their King they will neither have Christ nor his vicegerent to be their King but they say stoutly as the unbeleeving Jews Away with him away with him we have no King but Caesar m Such are the great Disciples of M. Evans who hath a notable Art to abuse Texts of Scripture Many other such Babel practices we have to work confusion in a poor shattered Common-wealth but God in his appointed time will prove our buildings and what they are whether we have built upon the sands or upon the rock n I shall at this time omit to numerate mens self-waies and shall with the Apostle Paul give this caution to all he saith of himself according to the grace of God which was given to him as a wise Master Builder he had laid the foundation and another buildeth thereon but let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon for the fire shall try every mans building what it is 1 Cor. 3. 10 13. Let not any that professe to be Christians contend for victory but seek verity for strife and division are fleshly and carnal as the Apostle expresseth in the Chapter last mentioned The Lord Christ exhorts us to peace the Apostles all exhort to peace love and concord and Saint Paul tels us If we bite and devour one another we shall be consumed one of another o And the Lord Christ by a convincing Argument saith that If a Nation be divided against it self it cannot stand p Consider how great things God hath done for you q therefore serve the Lord with all your heart But if you will murmure against God and do wickedly ye shall be consumed both ye and your King these are the words of Samuel to the people when they bad sinned in asking a King not simply in asking a King but violently desiring it before Gods time came that he would give them a King for David was from the beginning ordained to be their King although they had not asked a King as is evident Gen. 49. 10. and Kings are Gods Lieutenants on earth It is no lesse sinful to refuse a King when God gives him then it was sinful to ask a King before Gods time was come wherein he would give them a King Let not this be Englands sin it will not be unpunished we have seen the work of Providence all along in setting up our Lord Protector all the plottings and devices and counsels of men could never have effected such a thing in such a way it is evident that God hath done it we have seen the working of the wheels and the living creatures by the wheels spoken of by the Prophet Ezechiel in Chap. 1. 15 16 17. c. and in Chap. 10. 13. c. And a wheel in the middle of a wheel r It is hard to kick against pricks and it is a dangerous thing to provoke providence I have seen a seditious Paper sent abroad by some that stile themselves sober Christians intitled Some Memento's to the Army I hope they are as they stile themselves But I am sure Christians have neither precept nor example of such practice to stir up rebellion There was one Sheba the son of Bichri a very seditious man upon Scripture record a Son of Belial of whom it is said He blew a Trumpet and said We have no part in David every man to his Tent O Israel ſ Bichri prepared as he intended for a new war against David What his reward was from the hand of a just God you shall see 2 Sam. 20. 22. he lost his head by the hands and consent of his associats Scatter thou the people saith the Psalmist that delight in war t You may know that warre is every where in Scripture threatned as one of Gods sorest judgements and peace is promised as a singular mercy to a Nation it was so to the Nation of the Jews and is especially promised to the Church under the Reign of Christ Kingdom when they shall beat their swords into plow shares and their spears into pruning books