Lawful Parliament require the Subjects to assist them in pursuing and punishing the Villains that have murdered their Gracious Sovereign if any draw back and and refuse their best assistance upon a scruple of Conscience I should much question their Morality as well as Christianity But have a little Patience and hear the Truth for what these Sheba's talk of is meer Sham and Trick The main Point is the Parliament are resolved to act Faithfully and Loyally and as the Words of their Association express defend His Majesty's Royal Person and Government but in case after all their Care and Vigilance he should fall by these incarnate Devils which God for Christ Jesus's sake forbid they will support and defend the Succession of the Crown according to an Act made in the first Year of the Reign of King William and the late Queen Mary intituled an Act declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and settling the Succession of the Crown This this is that which galls these Persons for they see if their present Plot should take effect that there would still be no hopes for the Abdicated King or the pretended Prince of Wales to come to the Crown That you may believe the thing is lawful to which that Heroick Example of the Parliament invites and I exhort you consider in the Days of Queen Elizabeth there was an occasion for an Association for Papists have ever mortally hated a true Protestant Prince Now the Words of that Association are these We will during our Lives pursue as well by Force of Arms as by all other means of Revenge any manner of Persons who shall attempt any thing that may harm Her Majesty's Royal Person and that we will never desist from all manner of forcible Pursuit against such Persons to the utter Extermination of them their Counsellors Aiders and Abettors Now who ever called in question the Piety of those renowned Patriots And yet the Words of their Association were by far severer than those of the present Christianity forbids Revenge to private Persons and the Reason is such have the Magistrate and the Laws to Defend Protect and Right them But when Kings are Assassinated and Kingdoms over-turned there is no Law left to right them and therefore in such Cases Force may and must be used Had this horrid Conspiracy been effected how should we have been righted The French Laws would not and the English should not have been regarded When therefore all Laws are thus silenced and trampled on there is no way to reduce Men to Reason but by making them suffer what is proper for unreasonable Persons In short the Papists and Jacobites once have cajol'd this Nation and by their blind Doctrine of Passive Obedience did prepare Men's Throats for the Knife and now they are detected and caught in a most savage and barbarous Plot they would tie up our hands upon the pretence Christianity allows not Revenge but I hope you will consider better than to let such pretences scare you from your Duty if ever you shall by a lawful Power be thereunto call'd I must give you one Caution farther to keep you in this good Mind to which I hope you are come viz. to face any Danger for God and your King and that is take heed of some sort of Doctrines I hear one of the Conspirators doth bewail his forwardness in taking up on Trust what some furious Sheba's trumpeted to him out of their Pulpits There are many pestilent Doctrines brought in to serve a turn You would do well to avoid them that you may keep your Consciences void of Offence I will name some of them 1. The Doctrine of Jure Divino and the Consequent thereof the Dispensing Power 2. The Doctrine of Passive Obedience and its Consequent Non-Resistance 3. The Doctrine that teacheth the Difference betwixt the Church of England and that of Rome is not great and its Consequence That a Papist is better than a Dissenter 4. And Lastly Take care of the Doctrine of a King de facto that the present King is only a King by Possession of the Crown whereas he is Rightful King according to the Laws of the Land Take the Apostle's Counsel 2 Tim. 2.16 17. Shun these profane and vain Bablers for they will increase unto more Vngodliness and their words will eat as doth a canker in the Greek a Gangreen that is If Men take not due care these pernicious Doctrines will poison their Minds after the same manner as a Gangreen does infect the Body which presently diffuses it self over-running all the Parts and seizes the Brain and pierces into the very Bones if it be not cured by speedily cutting off the Part infected So Persons led away with these Doctrines are restless going up and down compassing Sea and Land to draw others into the same Condition therefore avoid these that Communication with them corrupt not your Good Manners Though Men Know the Devil can transform himself into an Angel of Light yet they dare not therefore venture upon a Familiary with him so notwithstanding Rebels Conspirators and Assassines may wear the glorious Name of Protestants yet are they not therefore to be trusted for if ever their hoped time shall come they will unmask and to your utter Confusion you shall feel the Claws they now shut up To conclude Our Divisions upon the Score of the Revolution though they had no real foundation have been very odious and of dangerous consequence yet as hitherto the Government hath forbore harsh and severe Methods and hath so far abstain'd from Rigour that it hath not done Justice to it self nor Freinds it must be confess'd Mens black Crimes have both deserv'd and call'd for it and that the Rules of our Christianity would have Justify'd the inflicting thereof notwithstanding in lieu thereof we have heard of nothing but Mercy and Patience Mercy in most willingly giving Credit and Protection to all and great Favours to many that make the least true step of returning to themselves and their Duty Patience in waiting for such as were more obstinate to be converted but either the God of this World hath blinded Mens Understanding or his Instruments have so seared their Consciences that they despise these Pearls too rich for such Swine and as if the infernal Spirits were once again entered into the Herd nothing will serve but rending and tearing in pieces the gracious hands that offer them To hope by Preaching to correct those that have imbib'd such unsound Doctrines is more than I dare pretend to however I have now endeavour'd to preserve them of better Minds from receiving Infection by their Examples and Principles and that by modestly laying open some of those many Evils which occasion'd and drew on the great Revolution not that such a Subject is inviting especially to us who have the Comforts of the Change to admire and enjoy but that if I cannot Silence I may shame the querulous and uneasy if I cannot prevent Obloquy Slanders nor Conspiracies yet I may discover to the World the Unworthiness of them that so speak and act as also of such as take Pleasure in them God Save King WILLIAM and let all the People say Amen FINIS
SHEBA's CONSPIRACY AND AMASA's CONFEDERACY OR A Modest VINDICATION OF THE National Association Entred into by the Honorable House of Commons Feb. 25th 1695. BEING A SERMON Preach'd in the Parish-Church of St. James Clarkenwell March 29th By D. PEAD Chaplain to his Grace John Duke of New-Castle LONDON Printed for T. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside MDCXCVI To his Most Sacred Majesty William the III. OF England Scotland and Ireland by the Grace of God Rightful and Lawful King Defender of the Faith c. Most Gracious Sovereign VAlens the Emperor having incautelously entertain'd the pernicious Errors of Arius in a short time great part of Christendom became infected with the same Principles In those Days Aphrates the Monk leaving his Cell appeared in Publick striving by his Art and Wit to oppose that raging Torrent and to such as thought him too forward he offered no other Apology than that the Necessity of the Times forced him from his Retirement Our implacable Enemies of Rome who have for many Years laboured the Destruction of our Church and Nation finding their own Hands too feeble to effect their Enterprize have at last by a subtle Stratagem brought over too many of Ours to their Assistance for having cunningly inveigled with some to press the Doctrine of Passive Obedience in a time unseasonable and in a Cause not requiring Men's Affections became much alienate from the Truth they fear'd would expose 'em and having prevailed on others to invalidate your Majesty's Just and Legal Title to the Crown by introducing an uncouth Notion of a King de Facto by which Doctrine they have brought some to believe that Rebellion against a Prince no better qualified was necessary just and acceptable as well to God as Man in which Opinion some have already persisted unto Death At such a time to be silent is to be insensible not to reprove is to encourage and not to oppose such irreligious Principles and Practises is to want not only Loyalty but Religion The chief Designs of this Discourse now humbly laid at your Majesty's Feet are to confirm such as have hitherto kept themselves uncorrupted in Loyalty and Obedience to your Majesty to reclaim if possible some of the fallen as for the more froward and obstinate they must be left to your Majesty's Justice which I hope that God who hath so miraculously preserved and defended you will direct and enable you so to execute that it may be seen to the Comfort of the Loyal and the Terror of the Rebellious that your Majesty bears not the Sword in vain The Lord grant your Majesty a long Life that you may at last behold and rejoice in the Travel of your Soul the Preservation Reformation and Prosperity of your Kingdoms And let all the People say Amen Which is the Constant Prayer of Your MAJESTY's most Loyal Most Obedient and Most Humble Subject Deuel Pead A VINDICATION OF THE National Association 2 Sam. XX. 1. And there hap'ned to be there a man of Belial whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri a Benjamite and he blew a trumpet and said we have no part in David neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse every man to his tents O Israel GOD whose only Prerogative it is ever hath been and shall be to dispose of Kingdoms was pleased to Appoint and Anoint David the Son of Jesse to wear Israel's Crown not that he delighted in Changes and Innovation but his Wisdom and Justice could not bear that such as reigned only by his Comimssion should dispute or refuse his Commands Wherefore Saul forgetting his Duty both to God and his People God saw it high time to remove him and made room for the Succession of a Prince who should prove more willing and obedient yet though this was apparently the Lord's Doings all were not then no more than they are now satisfy'd therewith Some turbulent Spirits lay upon the Catch watching the Opportunity of a Revolution these resolved that seeing God had translated the Diadem from the Tribe of Benjamin to that of Judah they would either bring it back or else convert the Monarchy into a Commonwealth of which number was Sheba who took Pett at the Honour the Tribe of Judah had done themselves in being so zealous after the Defeat of Absalom to conduct David from Mahanaim to Jerusalem for if you consult the 41 Verse of the preceding Chapter you will find the Ten Tribes sharply contesting with the Men of Judah and blaming them for their so great haste in transporting the King and his Houshold without calling them to the Consult that they also might have shared in the Honour of such a Loyal Action who hearing this would not have concluded David exceeding happy in the Affection of his Subjects But All is not Gold that glisters All are not therefore loyal because at this Juncture of Time upon the Discovery of so horrid a Plot they have set their Hands to an Association for even those Men who were so hot in the Contention pretending so much Loyalty of a sudden in the Rebellion of Absalom deserted David's Standard and within a few Minutes you will find them closing with Sheba's Traiterous Counsel And as saith the Verse following the Text they forsook David and I fear some who are now very forward in these Demonstrations of Loyalty had the Enemy landed would have held it their best Policy to have met him in an obsequious manner thereby to save their Estates It is pity such have any to save Sheba being among these discontented Persons and perceiving them in a Ferment closed with the Opportunity and to blow them up into a Flame he blew a Trumpet and said We have no part in David neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse every man to his tents O Israel I shall consider these Words after this Method I. I shall treat of the Person Sheba the son of Bichri a Benjamite and which we must not forget a Man of Belial II. His Action He blew a Trumpet III. His Speech And said we have no part in David neither have we Inheritance in the Son of Jesse every Man to his Tents O Israel These Things dispatch'd I shall conclude with better Counsel 1. The Person Of whom I shall not speak much and that for two Reasons the one because I find no Good to relate of him the other because the less we have to do with such Persons the better First By his Behaviour A Man of Belial i. e. a yokeless lawless Person a pestilent Fellow a Mover of Sedition a meer Salamander that would expire were it not for the Fire of Contention a very Child of the Devil One would think no wise Persons would come at such a ones Call or find leisure to hear his Speeches yet some have such itching Ears that they will listen to any Villain that knows how to speak Treason enough Secondly He is described by his Name Sheba which being interpreted implies
Captivity or Bondage and this Man was really Vir sui nominis one that answered his Name to a Title for had Israel adher'd to his Advice they had as certainly been made Slaves to the Philistines as we to the French if we had all as some did lately deserted King William Thirdly He is describ'd by his Family or Tribe he was Son of Bichri a Benjamite i. e one that could not brook to see the Crown settled in the Tribe of of Judah Considering the many Provocations of the Jews it was a Mercy that God would permit them a King of their own Blood and Nation whereas in Justice he might have given way that such as hated them should have held them in Subjection yet instead of a grateful Acknowledgment of God's Loving Kindness we meet with a murmuring against his Providence and so dissatisfy'd are these Benjamites that if they may not have a King of their own Tribe they care for no King of like mind are the Papists and their wicked Complices if they cannot have a King of their own Persuasion and Temper no other shall live in Safety or Peace I pass from the Person to his Action 2. His Action He blew a Trumpet Some whisper Treason and are well satisfied in dark holes to plot bloody Mischiefs hoping no eye shall see them but here we have a Traitor in Grain that matters not who hears him nay takes care to be heard for lest he should not have Auditors enough he summons them with a Trumpet When Rebellion War and Blood was the Banquet a Trumpet was a fit Instrument to congregate the Guests Treason is bad enough when conceal'd and solitary when it is promoted in Cabals and transmitted by Cabalistical Letters but it is come to its heighth when it dare appear bare-fac'd when Sheba with his Trumpet and Tongue shall loudly and openly impudently and publickly proclaim himself a Traitor and invite others into the Conspiracy Too many among us have sounded such Trumpets nay they that ought to have known better and taught better have from their Pulpits trumpeted We have no part in David neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse Thirdly Let us observe though never believe his Speech We have no part in David nor inheritance in in the son of Jesse To your tents O Israel Here is a Speech made up of Lye Slander and Treason 1. The Lye in these Words We have no part in David Solomon's Observation is Prov. 10.18 Fools seek to hide their hatred with lying lips so that Sheba hath at once proclaim'd himself Lyar and Fool What no part in David Can he be a good Subject and have no Interest in a good King Out of thy own Mouth we will judge this wicked Wretch Did not he with the rest of the Tribes 2 Sam. 19.9 acknowledge their Interest in David Did they not prove it when they confess'd that he did deliver them out of the hands of their Enemies and out of the hand of the Philistines Had not David been heartily concern'd in your Safety and Welfare had you not had a near place in his Royal Heart would he for your sakes have courted Dangers have carried his life in his hand and have thrust himself amongst bloody and perfidious Enemies But how notorious will this Lye appear when we look upon the 43d Verse of this Chapter where it is said by these very Men We have ten parts in the King and have also more Right in David than you Some may be desirous to know what might be the Design of this loud Lye for few raise Lyes against their Sovereigns barely for lying sake but they have some farther wicked end to serve Sheba's Design was this He saw that he and his Tribe had put a bar in the way of their Preferment both by Rebelling against David and also in being tardy to bring the King back after that Rebellion was so happily appeased and thence he concluded it was vain for him or them to hope for any great Favours for if David had none of their hands it was unreasonable to expect they should have any of his Countenance Princes do not use to be so indifferent in the distribution of their Rewards as to heap Honours upon those that sought to prevent their just Rights or that impair their just Titles though in this Age this Rule hath been broke for the sake of some Being thus conscious of his own Demerits Sheba sought to embroil the Nation persuading to a general Defection instead of a National Association The next thing unseemly and worthy Reproof in this short Speech is the Slander and Contempt in these Words the Son of Jesse He upbraided David with his Descent and Family calling him the Son of Jesse whom he ought to have honoured with the Title of King This was done in scorn and thus some of our saucy irreverent Sheba's call him only Prince of Orange whom they ought to acknowledge as rightful King of England Scotland and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. St. Jude calls those that speak contemptuously of Dignities filthy Dreamers Persons whose Words declare that their Wits and Senses have been asleep while God hath brought about this Revolution Such another Son of Balial was Nabal but how shall Sheba or Nabal excuse themselves if ever it enters into their hearts to consider that he whom they speak thus contemptously off and set at naught is no less than the Lords Anointed He is a Traitor to his Prince who slanders and reviles him though not so great a Traitor as he that conspires against his Life Crown and Dignity The next Particular is the Treason Every man to his Tents O Israel The Consequence of which Words was to perswade the greatest part of the Kingdom to Sedition and Rebellion which once effected he hoped that the Tribe of Judah for fear or shame would have come over to them and then peradventure he himself might get into the Throne as being of Saul's Family or otherwise a Commonwealth might follow thereupon wherein it was more easie for him to put in for a share in the Government For this you may observe that there are but few Plotters or Conspirators but what are Necessitous or Ambitious This was a Speech indeed and very ill becoming the mouth of a Jew yet I could match it and out do it with one spoken by a reputed Christian who may well hide his Head as he now doth had he nothing more than a Black-mouth to answer for But blessed be God the Lot is fallen to us very pleasantly and we have a goodly Inheritance in our David a large Inheritance of Piety Wisdom Justice Goodness and Valour God give us the grace unanimously to defend this our Inheritance This Speech thus taken in peices expos'd and confuted I will now shew you how unreasonable this Benjamite was in this Invective against David and that he really had no cause to quarrel with that Revolution which Providence had made in
Slaves and Vassals than like a Free People or God's Heritage That this was foretold of Saul the 18 Ver. makes appear where it is said Ye shall cry out in that day because of your King which ye shall have chosen What Fancy or Good will could these People have for a King of whom they had received so terrible an Account by God's holy Prophet yet read Ver. 19. all this moved them not but they persisted saying but we will have a King Who could have thought the Jews to be so stupid and senseless Yet we have heard others that match them crying out we will have a King we will have the Crown descend in the Right Line notwithstanding more dangerous Circumstances than these foretold of Saul were notoriously apparent in the Successour But what shall we say some are yet madder than Jews and they are such who once groaned under Saul's Persecution and yet when God who had punished them by granting their desire was pleased to relieve them for he did as is said Hosea 13.11 gave them a King in his anger and took him away in his wrath Instead of saying the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away and blessed be the name of the Lord we hear them blowing their Trumpets with Traitor Sheba and saying we have no part in David nor inheritance in the Son of Jesse Thus much of the Person Rejected turn we now our Eyes to the Person Elected His Name was David or Beloved he was indeed endowed with such wonderful Abilities and Perfections as were sufficient to conciliate the Love of all but Monsters Much I need not speak for the Scripture is every where so plentiful in his Commendation however you may take notice that you may the better judge of Sheba's unworthy Desertion 1. That this King David of whom Sheba and his wicked Crew was so weary was a King of God's chusing The People chose Saul as you read 1 Sam. 8.18 for have Saul they would though forewarn'd of his ill Qualities but God chose David 1 Sam. 16.12 When David appeared the Lord said unto Samuel arise anoint him for this is he Whoso readeth the first Verse of that Chapter will find Samuel something loth to go upon the Employment of Anointing a new King but he was not so backward but God was as urgent asking him How long wilt thou mourn for Saul Samuel mourned not for Saul's Deposition but Impenitence otherwise he had shewed himself discontented with what God had done which be it far from us to imagine however we may see God likes not too much Lamenting the Person he had Rejected how then would he have taken it if Samuel had made any Attempts to restore such an one I should have thought if the Troop of Non-Jurors had drawn up against this Text they would have been utterly routed but they never discover'd this Enemy We cannot now expect that God should give such plain and positive Directions as formerly in the Elections of Kings yet are we not left without all Rule for surely when we see unconceivable Hindrances remov'd when we see that all that Force Wit and Power can do miraculously disappointed and that the way to the Throne as inaccessible as it was thought made smooth and easie without Blood Treachery or Cruelty what can we say less than that God hath done all this in favour of his Chosen In plain terms we are taught by our Religion to ascribe all good Things to God because every good Gift cometh from him Who then dare say this is not a good and a great Gift that God hath given us viz. a Wise and Valiant Prince and with him a new Lease and I hope a very long one of our Religion Laws and Liberties 2. Another Particular manifesting Sheba's Complaint to be unjust and the alienating Israel's Hearts from David to be traiterous is David was not only chosen of God but he was the better of the two 1 Sam. 15.28 Samuel told Saul that God had not only rent the Kingdom from him but that he had given it to a Neighbour of his who was better than him I cannot but take notice of this pious Courage in God's Priest he was neither Son of Fear nor Slave of Flattery he could not call a wicked Saul a most gracious and Religious King but he told him that God had chosen a better not that David was so much Saul's Better by Nature as Grace for God had given him a better Spirit more obedient and ready to do the Will of God and set forth his Glory in Governing of the People committed to his charge in Godliness Peace and Wealth So much did David excell Saul that he is said to be a man after Gods own Heart 1 Sam. 13.14 and as St. Paul in his Sermon at Antioch 13. Acts 22. adds which shall fulfill all thy Will Hence it is easie to know who is the King of God's Election or the King after God's own Heart namely he that delighteth in doing the Will of God he that upholdeth true Religion Justice and Honesty in his Dominions which are agreeable to the Will of God David was really much better than Saul not so much in regard of his extraordinary Endowments as his gracious Performances we find 78 Psal 72. he fed God's People according to the Integrity of his heart he gave them not Stones for Bread he guided them by the skilfulness of his hands he provided faithfully for his Subjects he guided them by the best of Counsel and defended them by the utmost of his Power he neither sold nor betray'd them he neither enslav'd nor impoverish'd them 2 Sam. 8.15 he executed Judgment and Justice unto all his People so that there was no crying out nor complaining for want of Justice in the Streets of Jerusalem Before David's time Religion was unsettled the Ark was always shifting from place to place but by David it was settled at Jerusalem Surely it is a remarkable Happiness and such as may render a Government blessed and acceptable to have Religion settled that we halt not between two Opinions being in some places permitted to worship God and in others called to adore Jeroboam's Calves We read indeed Ezek. 11.11 of some Princes that accounted their chief Cities as Cauldrons and their People as Flesh to be sod therein Unhappy the People that are in such a Case and yet the time was our City was a Furnace and heated sufficiently to consume the Inhabitants as well as their Goods and Houses Jezabel had no other Opinion of Kingly Power than that it gave the Possessor a free liberty of doing what he would right or wrong and therefore when Ahab made a Conscience of taking away Nabal's Vineyard she accosted him saying 1 Kings 21.7 Dost thou now govern the Kingdom of Israel I fear she was not the last Queen that tempted a King to the Abuse of his Power Who can believe that God will ever permit his Power to be turned upon himself and such Princes
as will by force turn out the True Religion to set up Idolatry do nothing less than by their pretended Jure Divino abrogate God's Jura Divina they make use of the Ordinance of God to beat down the Worship of God David far surpassed Saul in that he Ruled well and in the Fear of God for the Word saith 1 Tim. 5.19 that such are worthy of double Honour And lest some should say the People take too much upon them when they presume to judge whether their Kings and Princes Rule well to this it may be answered Let the Laws of God and the Laws of the Land determine this Point If they approve the manner of Governing it is well let the People say what they will but if they condemn it it it ill let Flatterers say what they please or can 3. Sheba's Uneasiness under David's Government and his Plotting and Conspiring against him is more unreasonable in that David had the Blessing of God upon his Reign 2 Sam. 8.14 The Lord prospered David whithersoever he went He gave him a strong and courageous Heart to fear no Dangers he gave him Skill and Strength of Arms to extricate himself out of them God taught his Fingers to fight and gave him Ability to break a Bow of Steel to break the greatest Strength of his Enemies his Enemies either fled before him or humbly crouched down to him the Lord's hand was with him and made whatever he did to prosper God breathed upon his pious Undertakings all things went on successfully Victory waited on his Sword and Safety on his Counsel If his Enemies engag'd they were disheart'ned if they Plotted and Conspired they were by wonderful Providences detected and defeated God blessed him at home making his People willing and obedient he blessed him abroad in giving him Honour among his Allies and wonderfully covering his Head in the Day of Battel Whether he went through the Water or through the Fire God went with him In short he taught him to do such wonderful things as the Kings of the Earth were astonished to behold it was easier with him to do them than with them to understand them To apply what hath been spoken If I were now to speak to you in the Words of the High-Priest Matth. 26.65 You have heard the whole Matter you have heard Sheba's double Blasphemy blaspheming God and the King for he that speaketh against the Person chosen speaketh against him that chose him likewise now what think you I am perswaded you would forthwith answer in the Words you find Ver. 66. He is verily guilty of Death It is therefore now time to tell you the Case we are speaking off is nearer you than the Land of Judea it is come home to your own doors Divers Sheba's several Jacobites have long reviled and despised our Gracious Soveraign King William and not fatisfied herewith they are come to that height of Impudence Blush oh ye Heavens Tremble O Earth at the monstrous Cowardice and Baseness encouraged by the Late King James and the French King to attempt his Life which God defend Weigh what you have heard and see if such Conspirators are fitting to live or their Abettors to wear a Crown Take therefore I advise you the wholsome and the expedient Counsel of Amasa And God grant that all of you may from the bottom of your Hearts Religiously promise to our King what he did to David 1 Chron. 12.18 Thine are we David and on thy side thou son of Jesse Peace Peace be unto thee and Peace be to thy helpers for thy God helpeth thee I needed not to have set before you this Association of the Worthies of Israel because you have so lately had the pious glorious and loyal Example of the Parliament of England however you may hereby reap this Advantage you see what these Honourable Persons have now done is no more than what God's Servants of old were wont to do when God blessed them with a good King To wit to stand by him own him assist him and defend him against all Pretenders Usurpers Traitors Conspirators and Invaders whatsoever Now if neither of both these confirm you in true Loyalty and Allegiance how unpardonable will your Neutrality or Revolt be But I will speak of no such thing because I am satisfied you have been better taught Yet I will take the liberty to sound in your Ears a short Alarum if you are not in this juncture of time stanch faithful true trusty and loyal what will your Enemies conclude otherwise of you than that your denying to stand by your King is a giving them your Consent and leave to extirpate your Religion And can you call your selves Christians and give them the least occasion to think so If you will not Associate and Join in the Defence of your King your refusal is a sounding of Sheba's Trumpet and a calling the Enemy on to bind your gracious King with Chains and your Princes and Nobles with Links of Iron nay to assassinate the one and to murder the other and can you with patience behold such dreadful Spectacles If you draw back and will not Associate your Laws will be subverted and what Pretender to Honesty would live to see that Day Your Liberties will be enslav'd and can an English Spirit brook this Your Country a happy rich pleasant and fertile Soil will be harrassed with Fire and Sword what Heathen would endure it Your Wives and Children must be abused rifled ravished and after all murdered and who can live when all these things come to pass Let therefore these Considerations unite confirm and establish you in standing by your gracious Sovereign King William Now a Word farther because I hear some raising an Objection against this my Counsel by pretending it goes against their Conscience to join in the present Association for the Word Revenge is in it and this they sear is inconsistent with Christianity I read indeed that wicked Joab fled for Sanctuary to the Horns of the Altar but that Place was too holy to protect a Wretch so bloody and so infamous and pray what Right have these Ruffians of the most Christian King falsly so call'd to appeal to Christianity when they practice so little of it However I readily agree that the Christian Religion is irreconcileable to Revenge but how as it is the effect of Malice and Passion but not as it is the Act of Justice for did not our Religion allow of pursuing and executing lawful Vengeance on bloody Villains and Assassines it would rather prove a Refuge for all manner of Wickedness than a Rule for Piety and Justice However let us consider the Words of the Association at which some seem to stumble They are these as I am inform'd We do hereby farther freely and unanimously oblige our selves to Vnite Associate and stand by each other in Revenging His Majesty's violent untimely Death upon His Majesty's Enemies and their Adherents I see nothing here that can amuse any Man for when a