would beat most against pride and presse oftnest the duty of selfe deniall the most malitious would preach most against malice and perswade to the practice of love and charity the most covetous would inveigh most bitterly against worldly mindednesse and the most Rebellious as hath since appeared would be most fervent and zealous in Preaching for Passive obedience Now whether they did hereby think to hide from the publique their own dispositions and to gaine from the world an opinion of being farthest from those vices which indeed they were most guilty of and most addicted unto those vertues whereto they exhorted others or whether they did it to any better ends or purposes I leave it at this present to the Iudge of all secretâ— to determine So whether M. Marshall by his quoting this Scripture doth think to hide the conditions of his faction from the ignorant vulgar who are more apt to judge of the tree by the leaves then by the fruit and to think that if men speake and quote Scripture against Hardheartednesse Cruelty Injustice and wrong doing to Gods Church though themselves practice the same things yet they shall not be accounted transgressors of Gods word because it will rather be thought that they to whom these abuses are offered by these Scripture speaking men are none of Gods Church and people but of that race or ranke rather that the Cananites and Amorites were of whom God commanded his people to root out of their Habitations I say whether this was M. Marshalls intention or no when he alleadged that Scripture I leave to Godâ—nd his own Conscience to determine only withall if his Conscience chance to recoyle upon him I would have him remember that of the Apostle Rom. 2.1 Thou art inexcusable O man whosoever thou art that judgest another for offering those abuses or for shewing those neglects to the Church of God to be under the Curse for wherein thou judgest another thou condemnest thy selfe for thou that judgest doest the same things Yea but indeed some will say here lies the difficulty how shall we know in these distractions on which â—ide is the Church and People of God To resolve this question I shall note some passages wherein the conditions of Gods people are hinted to us from this Sermon of M. Marshall from whom I shall never willingly disâ—ent but only where he dissents from Gods truth and besides what is of his may be of more credit with some then what is proceeding from another man only first I think these few grounds will be granted by all 1. That all particulars on both sides are not of the Church and people of God 2. That God hath been wont to make use of wicked men to defend and assist his Church and people the earth helped the woman Rev. 12. they may have their ends and God hath his 3. That when God doth defend and restore his Church by the most notoriously wicked men or by the most unlikely means then is his own arme and hand more visibly apparent in the eyes of the righteous 4. That some in all Ages have boasted themselves most to be the Church and People of God and yet have been none of that true number witnesse the Pharises Arrians Donatists Papists Anabaptists and those that in Ieremies time cryed out the Temple of the Lord c. 5. That Hypocrites who have pretended most holinesse have of all enemies been the most cruell and deadly that ever the Church hath had as appeares by our Saviours continuall Preaching against them and laying them open and their bringing him to death 6. That Christs true Church and People are indued with his true spirit are conditioned like him and do walke in those wayes wherein himselfe did goâ— before them this M. Marshall witnesseth pag. 19. 7. That the way which Christ walked and which his true Church must and doe follow him in is set downe plainly in holy Scripture and not to be taken up from the Traditions or Opinions of men I hope no man can or will deny the truth of these particulars Now I shall give three or foure notes of the Church and people of God which M. Marshall himselfe doth seem at least to him unto us 1. The Church and people of God have most commonly been a distressed and an injured people a people that have needed help even of meat and drinke and cloathing a people that have been like Strangers excluded and thrust out of their owne possessions as the Lords Annoynted and many of His faithfull Nobles and Subjects at this time are a people that have been wont to be banished from their owne homes or cast into Prisons as the Ministers of the Gospell and other Christians at this time be by the Rebellious Faction they are a people so darkned with Afflictions and so obscured with slanders and reproaches that the very righteous themselves their owne Brethren whose study it is to doe all the good they can to the Saints shall not know when they have helped them as M. Marshall informes us in the 14 Page of his Sermon when saies he Christ shall say to them come ye blessed you fed me you cloathed me you visited me they shall Answer Lord when saw we thee hungry or thirsty or a strangâ—r or naked or sicke or in prison and administred unto thee M. Marshall alâ—o in the next Page doth tell us that the sâ—râ—â—nts of Christ are poor abjects such as are made the ofscouring of the world Clouts ragges or wispes to scowre withall as Ieremy Burroughs in his Book called the Glorious name of God c. Page 21. calls and reckons of those that take part with the King In a word the people of God are such who as they are thrust downe lower in the world then by right their place is so tâ—ey are more lowly in their thoughts then others be they doe not desire to greaten themselves with that which belongs to other men to get the Militia of Kingdomeâ— and the Navyes of Nations into their hands they doe not use to huâ—t Kings and Princes up and downe in their owne Kingdomes that they may kill them and destroy them they use rather to be those that are hunted and persecuted by others and thence are called the persecuted flock of Christ This I take to be one marke of the true Church and people of God and M. Marshall I hope unlesse he will eate his owne words cannot deny it 2. The Church and people of God as M. Marshall inferres Pag. 15. 16. as they account Gods cause theirs so like Iehosophat they betake themselves to prayer in the time of their distresses and seeke help from God they doe not as some of old did send to Aegypt for helpe nor as some of late have done send to Scotland for assistance use any indirect or unlawfull meâ—nes they dare noâ— play the Achitophells or Machivellians or Devills to raise up Combustions and Warres in all Nations to break Peace and unity among
the sword of Christs mouth which is the word of God is the only weapons ordained to destroy that nor should that be quite abolished from the earth as Learned Divines did hold till the comming of Christ himselfe they told me that all the true godly Divines in England amongst whom they named in speciall M. Marshall were of their opinion that Antichrist was here in England as well as at Rome and that the Bishops were Antichrist and all that did endeavour to support them were popishly affected Babilonish and Antichristian too yea many professed Papists were in our Armies who they said did fight against Christ and Protestant Religion and therefore they thought they were bound in Conscience to fight against them and us that took part with them and in so doing they did but help God against his Enemies I urged them to shew what call or warrant they had so to doe being not Authorised by the King they seemed to inferre a threefold call or Warrant 1. The Command of the Parliament 2. The Example of all Godly and powerfull Ministers leading encourageing and stirring them up thereunto And 3. The Motion of Gods spirit in all Gods people provoking them all with one minde to undertake the same businesse and to confirme all this they alleadged that place Iudg. 5. Curse ye Meroz Curse ye her inhabitants with a bitter Curse because they came not to help the Lord against the mighty And that place Ier. 48. Cursed be he that witholds his hand from bloud And that in Psa. 137. Blessed is he that dasheth the Children of Babilon against the stones And do not you think say they if the Papists prevaile but they will destroy all us do you think they fight for the Protestant Religion I answered no I did not beleeve they did nor did they pretend any such thing but onely to ayde their naturall Liege Lord the King against those that wronged him as in duty being his Subjects they were bound to doe I did not deny but they might secretly ayme at their owne ends too as the King of Ashur did when he was doing the worke of God Esay 10. But God who ruled the world and alwayes defended his true Church would not suffer them to pursue their owne ends any further then should make for his owne praise and his peoples good Then I endeavoured to shew them that those Scriptures which they alleadged were misapplyed by them and did rather make against them but they took me off from that discourse with Mr Marshalls application of them M. Marshall said they doth apply them as we doe in a Sermon Preach'd before the Parliament which we had at Brampton I told them that surely they were mistaken in M. Marshall for though some Weavers and Taylers and Tinkers and Pedlers and such like who were suffered to preach did abuse and pervert Gods word to their own purposes yet M. Marshall who was one whom my selfe knew better then they did I was perswaded had more wisedome learning and honesty then so to doe and much other discourse to this purpose we had togeather insomuch that at last they desired me that I would come againe unto them and pray with them but my occasions carryed me out of the Towne on the morrow that I could see them no more Now behold about the end of Iuly or beginning of August after I fortuned to be in a Booksellers shop in Ludlow where I chanced to see a Sermon of M. Marshalls upon that Text Iud. 5.23 Curse ye Meroz c. which I had either not seen before or not sufficiently observed wherefore reading the same that discourse which I had with the forementioned Prisoners came into my mind and I did conclude that this was the very Sermon which they had alleadged unto me in their owne defence wherefore having by experience seen in part what dammage thereby was already done to simple people and beleeving that others of the like ranke and quality in other places might be by the same as much misled I did apprehend my selfe in the accidentall meeting with this Sermon after such my forementioned discourse to be called by a speciall Providence to set pen to paper to vindicate the Scriptures of God and did thinke it my duty and that I was bound in Conscience being a Minister of God to warne all men of the danger and to discover the snare which is layd to catch and draw them into wayes of Bloud and murder It is true M. Marshall is my deare friend yet Gods truth is more deare unto me yea the least title of that I hope I shall ever esteem more precious then all the friends in the world opposed unto it And I know M. Marshall is an able man and my selfe weake in compare with him yet in the cause of God I am not affraid to take up the Buckler against him I have been bold once already even to provoke him into the publique lists for to justifie his new and most ungospellike way but his Conscience or his Courage would not serve him to answer my letter and therefore I hope that grace is not quite extinguished in him perhaps through Gods blessing if this ensuing discourse come to his hand he may see more of his errour and of the hurt he hath done thereby to others and so maybe awakened to glorifie God and his truth by a self denying recantation my humble prayers are and shall be to God for him that he may so doe And I desire of you all Christian Readers that you would joyn with me in the same prayer for him and also that God would molliâ—ie and sanctifie the spirits of all those of M. Marshals faction who have brought these lamentable miseries upon this now most wofull Nation that they might at length smite their owne breasts and cry O what have we done And thou O great and mighty Majesty of Heaven and Earth who alone canst open the eares of the deafe and the eyes of the blinde cause thou these men to hear that cry of bloud in their owne soules which themselves have shed and to see those calamities with watry eyes which themselves have occasioned charge thou upon their Consciences that high disgrace which they have put upon the meek and loving Gospell of thy deare Sonne And thou O Sonne of God whose Gospell it is defend the honour of the same and make us all to behave our selves worthy the still enjoyment of it even for thine owne merit and mercy sake Amen Amen SCRIPTURE VINDICATED from the Misapprehensions Misinterpretations mis-applications of Mr Stephen Marshall in his Sermon Preached before the Commons House of PARLIAMENT Feb. 23. 1641. upon that Text in Iudges 5.23 Curse ye Meroz said the Angell of the Lord curse ye bitterly the Inhabitants thereof because they came not to the help of the Lord to the help of the Lord against the mighty THis Text as with Mr Marshall so with the rest of the Ministers of his party is of great use
of the Cavileeres that he can see none of these miscarriages in his owne party or are they no miscarriages because they do them surely M. Marshall hath not discharged himselfe in that particular for which he entred his Office if by the word he meanes Gods word or else he is lesse perswasive and powerfull in his teaching then he was wont to be indeed being so farre out of Christs way no marvaile if God refuse to smile upon his labours with a blessing as heretofore But how mildely and mercifully M. Marshall doth teach those of his Faction and how according to the word to behave themselves we shall see hereafter in this his Sermon and perhaps shall thinke from what we shall therein finde that to behave themselves according to the word in his sense is to justifie themselves in their wicked waies by perverting and abusing the word for that is the thing which by his example he teacheth in the same and herein I confesse he hath been too unhappily successefull upon the weake spirits of the vulgar people But I returne from his selfe to his Sermon Now by this digression we have seene from M. Marshalls own writeings what is the foundation of that good opinion which himselfe and these of his side have of themselves and of their cause tâ—e Parliament judgeth so which is also the reason why the King and all his friends who are eminent in Wisedome Strength Authority or Riches must be beleived to mannage the ill Cause against the Lord and against his Church the Parliament iudgeth so And therefore 't is every mans duty to speak evill of them to reproach them to call them Papists and doggs yea and to do any mischiefe to them in deed that can be wished in word to seize upon their estates and to slaughter their bodies for the Parliament judgeth so Nor must any one doubt but in so doing he helpeth the Lord against the mighty for the Parliament judgeth so And if the Ministers on that side shall please to say that they doe not enter upon their Office in the Army to fight or to meddle in the Councell of Warre and notwithstanding shall manibus pedibusque with tooth and naile and tongue too stir as much and more then any against Law it selfe yet it must be apprehended that they doe all things well and as they should doe for the Parliament judgeth so And if in stead of teaching men to behave themselves according to the word they shall teach them to pervert the word for the justification of themselves in wayes of wrong and blood why this also is well done if the Parliament judgeth so In a word telling of untruths breaking of oathes resisting and defaming the King shedding of innocent blood and such like things if these 〈◊〉 whom the Parliament judgeth Gods people do commit them to promote that which they call the Lords cause are no transgressions but acts of Religion and zeale for the Parliament judgeth so This is the great and undeniable evidence the Parliament judgeth so But let me tell all men that the judgement of God is greater then that of the Parliament and he knoweth all things and will judge all men with righteouâ— judgement even these Parliament men themselves whom ere long he shall fetch before his Barre of Iustice their Militia shall not hinder him therein as it doth at this present his vicegerent and to that great and dreadfull Lord God I leave them and returne to Mr Marshall whose Misinterpretation of his Text we have in part seen and the ground thereof to be a false opinion of the infallibility of judgement in the Parliament I shall still follow him When he had in his sence expounded his Text he doth note by the way some observations before he concludes upon his main doctrine all which he should have done well to have quite omitted or else in more full and cleare tearmes to have propounded them they are these in their order Although Gods people {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} must blesse and not curse yet in some cases they may forsake mount Gerazim and ascend mount Eball and there curse and cursâ— bitterly Mr Marshall should have done well in a few wordes to have noted what cases those are for people being naturally inclined rather to curse then blesse are apt to be mistaken in thinking that to be a case which is not beside many true Godly people doe think that in no case they ought to curse in these daies because the Spirit of the Gospell is no cursing spirit nor are the times of the Gospell cursing times and the doctrine of the Gospell is blesse and curse not which they interpret in no case therefore I say M. Marshall should have done well to have set downe his cases which he would have excepted Although the Curse causelesse shall not come yet when Gods people according to Gods direction clave non errante doe curse their curse is like the flying rowle Zack 5.3 4. a consuming curse In this also Mr Marshall should have done well to have given some infallible Rules that people might know when they should curse according to Gods direction clave non errante for every man is ready to think himselfe a Pope and when ever he hath a provocation to curse to think that he hath that clavem non errantem in his possession though some Protestants question whether there be any such unerring Key committed to any upon earth or no The mighty doe frequently oppose the Lord it is no new thing to finde the mighty in strength the mighty in Authority the mighty in wealth the mighty in parts in Learning and Councell to ingage all against the Lord his Church and cause Here also M. Marshall might have done well to have distinguished upon the Mighty for those ignorant people that take M. Marshalls words for Scripture may perhaps misapply his meaning and from what they may learne in the next observation when they see any one of their own side grow mighty above others in â—uthority and wealth by meanes of those estates of other men which they hope shortly to enjoy they may take upon them to murder them and so some of the Worthy Members may chance to have their throats cut because in regard of their mightinesse they may be apprehended likely to oppose the Lord his Church and Cause for the mighty doe frequently do so saies M. Marshall Therefore had he said some of the mighty some of the wealthy do so it had been more safe and more advisedly spoken or had he used St Pauls modesty and saiâ—not many Noble not many Mighty not many Learned doe assist the Lord and his cause he had been lesse liable to misconstruction for not many doth not â—xclude all nor suggest a â—uspition of all but yeeldeth to Gods praise that some of eminent ranke in all Ages have been friends and defenders of the Church of God Indeed to that observation M. Marshall in some
worke of the Lord negligently or fraudulently or deceitfully as the word signifies Cursed is he that withholds his hand from bloud which notwithstanding I rather take to be a generall Declaration by way of Caveat of that displeasure which they shall feele from God who shall either not at all or in a carelesse and unfaithfull manner performe that worke or businesse which God shall imploy them about Or if it must be applyed in particulaâ— to the Chaldeans I should take it to be a prediction of that punishment which they should afterward tast for their ayming at themselves in their dealings with the Moabites as they weâ—e like the forementioned Assyrians in pursuing their owne purposes so should they be like them in reaping the fruit of their selfeish endeavours in the conclusion though unawares to themselves they had done the worke of the Lord too against the people of Moab in the meane while the words are in the present tense Cursed is He to note the certainty of it a forme of speaking most usuall in Scripture predictions But because M. Marshall will have it a charge let it so be but then we must suppose this charge was sent from the Lord by some Prophet to the Chaldeans who thereby were made to unsterstand as Saul was by Samuell in the businesse against Amaleck that the worke to punish Moab was Gods worke and that they the Chaldeans were inabled and sent of God as his instruments to performe the same and to revenge his quarrell for their churlishnesse in not relieving Gods people in distress and that if they shall either not doe the worke at all or whereas Gods will is that execution shall be done upon the Moabites if they shall onely make slaves of them as they had done of some other Nations or shall doe the worke carelesly without respect to God or his Church and cause or shall doe it deceitfully to by ends and purposes why they themselves shall come under the same condition and beare that curse or punishment which they were charged to inflict on others Thus it must be supposed if it be as M. Marshall will have it a charge and what then can be concluded from it but onely this 1. That they who know themselves to be particularly appoynted of God to put offenders to death if they shall neglect to performe their office in that way or manner as they are Commanded shall suffer the like punishment themselves 2. That they who undertake to doe the work of God being lawfully called or appoynted thereunto and shall doe it negligently or fraudulently in a carelesse way or deceitfull manner are liable to the Curse and displeasure of God For example Thâ—sâ— men whom God calls by their oath of Allegiance or by the Kings mandate oh Otheers or Souldiers in His Majesties Cause which I shall shew aâ—on is the right cause and the cauâ—e of God if they shâ—ll be negligent anâ— carelesse as too many of them are and shall be drinking or sleeping when they should be watching and studying to prevent the Enemy these men deserve the high disâ—leasure of the King and are undoubtedly under the Curse and wrath of God Or to come nearer to M. Marshall The Commons House or any Members of the same whom God calls by the Kings writ to consult about the Peace of the Kingdome which is the worke of God who is the God of Peace and to reforme abuses in Church and Common-wealth which also is the Lords worke if they or any of them shall deale deceitfully betraying the trust which the King hath imposed in them and pursue only their owne ends and sinister respects minde only their owne greatnesse and expose the King and Kingdome to Warre and ruine doe the divells worke for so is the work of strife these men deserve the Kings curse and are undoubtedly under the Curse of God this is all that can be inferred from the words and which they doe properly confirme unto us taking them in Mr Marshalls own apprehension as a Charge And now let us consider how this Scripture doth make for M. Marshalls turne His aimes are not as you may observe to shew that Moab was under this Curse for not helping and comforting the people of God in the day of their Calamity which indeed had been nearer to his purpose but to shew that the Chaldeans were liable to the Curse if they did not doe the work of the Lord against Moab for so himselfe saies He is a cursed man that with-holds his hands from powring out the blood of Men Women and Children like water in the streets when this is to done upon Moab the Enemy of Gods Church this being fore observed I doe conclude that if M. Marshall can evidence from Scripture these three particulars 1. That the Chaldeans or Babilonians were informed by some Prophet as Saul was by Samuell in the matter of Amalecke that they were to undertake the punishing of Moab as the Loâ—ds workâ— and to aime only at helping hâ—m and his Church thâ—reby 2. That those whom he would have now to act the Babilonians part have as good a warâ—ant from this place of Scripture to â—mbrew their hands in the blood of them that are not of their own faction as the Chaldeans had to shed the bloud of the Moabites 3. That the particular Charge for so he calls it which was here given against Heathenish Moab is applyâ—ble against a Christian people in these times and that those whom he would have to drink of Moabs cup are guilty of Moabs sinnes If M. Marshall I say can evidence these particulars then may this Scripture from Ier. 48.10 alleadged by him be in some sort suteable for his purpose But if he cannot prove all these nor perhaps any one of these particulars I wish my friend would take notice of this his impertinency and Misapplication of this Scripture And like a good Minister of Iesus Christ informe the seduced vulgar by way of a selfe-denying recantation that though the Chaldeans were charged under the penalty of a Curse to shed the blood of the Moabites yet 't is no good consequent to say that Gods people also have a like charge under a like penalty to shed the blood of their Christian Brethren and Countrey-men because they are not altogether of their opinion And the rather to induce M. Marshall to this let him by the way consider that if as the common people understand him the King and those that take part with him must needs be the Moabites and every of themselves liable to Gods curse if they forbeare to do the work of God upon them that is if they be not zealous to shed their blood why then those who think and call themselves Gods People must of necessity yeeld themselves to be Babilonians at least while they are in execution of this bloody businesse or else the Paralell neither is nor can be perfect I would have this particular remembred against we come to the next
Scripture But before I leave this let me aske my friend M. Marshall a question How if it should be prov'd that his own faction have acted Moabs part and been ill neighbourâ— to People in distresse and these not strangers as Israell was to Moab but of their own Nation and the Israell of God beside who being unjustly cast out of their dwellings not for their sinnes but for their Conscience sake have come to some of them their old acquaintance for shelter hoping to be hidden and covered by their means from the face of the spoyler but they contrary to all humanity have used them as Moab used Israell scorn'd and derided them and made themselves sport at the notice of their miseriâ—s yea have been so farre from hideing or keeping them secret that they have bewrayed and delivered them up into the hand of the Hunters nay what if it should be evidenced that 't is preach'd amongst them as a matter of Religion to betray and discover those that being driven from their naturall possessions do seek for a secret covert against them Nay farther yet suppose it should be evidenced thaâ— themselves have been the outcasters the spoylers the Theeves the Hunters of their Brethren and the murderers of them and so have acted both the part of the Chaldeans and the Moabites too against Israell both of barbarous Enemies and of treacherous neighbours sure it cannot be denyed if Moab for her part alone was justly called by M. Marshall the Enemy of Gods Church but they who exceed Moab so farre must of necessity be yeelded none of Gods friends of what account soever they are in their owne conceits But whether this may not be evidenced of M. Marshalls Faction I referre to the many thousands of banished persecuted â—nd imprisoned Englishmen of all degrees Reverend Fathers of the Church faithfull Ministers Honourable Nobles Worshipfull Gentlemen and Conscientious Christians to determine who within these three yeares last have had experience of their dealings And if it be so then let M. Marshalls owne Conscience conclude in secret who they are that deserve to have the vengeance and curse of God to be powred upon them and thus much for the first of M. Marshalls three Scriptures I now proceed to a second of them which he also alleadgeth in Confirmation of his doctrine his words thereof to his Auditory are these Another place you shall find in Psal. 137.8 9. The daughter of Babilon was there to be destroyed observe now the Epethite which God gives to the Executioners of his wrath against Babilon Blessed is the man that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us Blessed is the man that makes Babilon drinke the same cup which Babilon hath made Gods people drinke now he that reads the booke of the Lamentations may find how Babilon had used the Church of God they had broken their bones as a Lion breakes the bones of a Lambe brought their necks under persecution made their skin black like an oven hang'd up their Princes by the hand and which is most of all cruell had dash't their Children against the stones now saith the Spirit of God Blessed is the man that thus rewardeth Babilon yea blessed is the man that takes their little ones and dashes them against the stones what Souldiers heart would not start at this not only when he is in hot blood to cut downe armed Enemies in the field but afterward deliberately to come into a subdued City and take the little ones upon the speares poynt or take them by the heeles and beat out their braines against the Walls what inhumanity and Barbarousnesse would this be thought yet if the work be to revenge God's Church against Babilon He is a blessed man that takes and dashes the little ones against the stones These are M. Marshalls own words concerning his 2d Scripture in which is offered to our considerations these particulars 1. The People to be destroyed 2. The Executioners of this destruction 3. The Epethite given unto them 4. The manner how the same is to be done Of all these briefly and then we will search out that Anguem in Herbâ that quoddam latens or misticall doctrine which is found in this example by those only of that faction and so we shall see how suteable this Scripture is thought not to the text yet to the purpose though not to the doctrine in hand yet to the cause in hand to that great designe which at this time shakes the whole Kingdome unto which Scripture it selfe must be forced to contribute and to afford at least some colourable assistance 1. The people to be destroyed was the daughter of Babilon the Chaldeans of whom we had mention before that ere while were the rod of God's Anger to punish others are now become the objects of his indignation and must themselves be cast into the fire and therefore in their right order M. Marshall did allâ—adge his two Scriptures Every sinner we see hath his time of night as well as of day in this World one after another the Sun did not alway shine upon the Chaldeans it went downe at last and rose no more and such will be the condition of those that have now got the strength and Militia of this Kingdome into their Hands and use it only to the undoing and destruction of their Brethren they will have their turne too when they have finished Gods will upon us who have been and are great sinners against the most High even as Israell of old were and have we confesse deserved more misery at his hand then we can feel from theirs but our deserts in this kind they doe no more ayme to repâ—y in their plagueing of us then their Paralell the Babilonians did in their dealings with Israell it is our conscionable obedience to Gods word and our Loyalty to our Soveraigne which they hâ—te us for if we are for God and the King then Reproach us Plunder us Kill us cannot doe mischiefe enough unto us but if we will be for them though for the Divell also then will they make much of us I will not deny but some of the seduced ignorant vulgar may haply think they doe God service in killing us for so M Marshall and other their Ministers teach them to believe by whose black mouths we also are made more black to their apprehensions then sin or Satan hath yet made us But as I â—aid there will come a time when God will remember them and as he here did Babilon set others to reward them as they have served us 2. The executioners of this destruction were not oppressed Israell who hath been thus dealt withall by the Babilonians no their work whereto they were appoynted by the Lord was to pray for the Babilonians Ier. 29.7 and to seek their prosperity not to dash their Childrens brains against the stones in requitall of the wrongs received by them nor indeed were they any people that had the denomination or took to themselves the name
Christians to the end that their own designes may succeed the better at home they dare not doe any evill to others that good may come thereby unto themselves nor doe they in any sort allow of that distinction which one of M. Marshalls Auditory did make with the approbation doubtlesse of some fellow Members that though evill may not be done to further the private good of any man yet to further the publique Cause it may No the People of God dare not be so wise as to use any meanes but what they may with confidence from the word expect Gods blessing upon for Gods People rest chiefly upon God for helpe they live by saith accounting as M. Marshall saies the Battaile not theirs but Gods whose cause is united to the cause of his people when Asaph saies M. Marshall had laid downe the Churches sufferings Psal. 74. the pulling down of their Synagogues the wasting of their Country the reproach and scorne cast upon them by their enemies he doth v. 22. 23. interest God in all this From which quotation of M. Marshalls we may also note for our purpose by the way that the pullers downe of Churches the wasters of their Country the casters of reproach and scorne upon their betters are the Enemies of Gods Church and people and so also of himselfe indeed the Psalmist in plain words calls them Gods adversaries Thine Adversaries roare in the midst oâ— the Congregations they set up their Banners for tokens they breake downe the carved worke in thy Temples with Axes and Hammers they have set fire upon thine Holy places and have defiled by casting downe the dwelling place of thy Name yea they have said let us destroy kill slay and destroy them altogether thus have they burnt up the Synagogues of God in the Land Now from this place of Scripture so happily quoted by M. Marshall we learne that the Authors of such actions or expressions may be concluded to be the Enemieâ— of Gods Church and people yea M. Marshall helpes us in this Collection too Pag. 18. of his Sermon where he pronounceth this sentâ—nce They must needs be blessed that serve the Church and he must needs be cursed that deprives it of its dues And who these are that doe so I leave to every mans owne observation to determine 3. The Church and people of God as M. Marshall Pag. 16. inferres unto us are they that maintains the good cause and saies 〈◊〉 when Davids cause was good his adversaries must needs be evill and then he could foretell that they should be ashamed and brought to confusion cloathed with reproach and dishonour who opposed themselves against him which indeed fell out accordingly upon all that pack of Rebells and Traitors that conspired against the Lords Annoynted to pull him from that honour whereto God had advanced him Achitophell hang'd himselfe and a Tree hang'd Absolom and twenty thousand of their followers that did associate with them were slaine in a day And Sheba afterward who trod in their rebelliouâ— steppes against the King had his head severed from his shoulders and therefore M. Marshall was in the right also for that particular And then that we might the better know the good Cause he gives us two markes of it which also may be allowed of the good Cause saies he which is Gods Cause is a noble Cause and a successefull Cause and therein he speakes right for the King For The Kings cause is a noble cause not onely in respect of his Royall selfe whose cause it is and in respect of those Noble Personages that are agents in it but also because it is not for a trifle or a thing of no great Consequent but even for a Crowne which according to Master Marshall's judgement in that place doth enoble the cause the Kings cause sure is for no lesse then for a Crowne and for to keepe the Dominion of three Kingdomes which the Lord of Heaven and Earth hath intrusted him withall He would still hold his Soveraignty onely and immediately from the Lord but they would have him acknowledge his dependance upon themselves and if he would but so farre deny God and debase himselfe as in that manner to worship them they tell him as one did once our Saviour all theâ—e will we give thee or wee 'l make you the most glorious Prince in Christendome but the King like a good Tenant maintaines the right of his true and old Landlord the glorious Lord God therefore his cause is a noble cause 't is Gods Cause and saies Master Marshall 2. Gods cause is a successefull cause in the end or finall issue it will prove so for a while the malignant Church may prevaile against the good and an ill cause may have the better and then that shall be called good falix prosperum scelus virtus vocaâ—ur and the good cause failing in the execution will have the denomination of bad and therefore I beleeve their great Major Crommell was in the right when he said if we prevayle our opposers will be acounted the grandest Traitors to the state that ever were and be used accordingly but if the King prevaile our undertaking will be judged the most horrid and blacke Rebellion that ever the sunne saw If therefore we will judge by the event we must suspend our sentence till all be done the good cause like good men growes illustrious by degrees as the sunne shines more and more bright toward the perfect dayâ— as the waters of Siloe run so doth Gods helpe often come to his people slowly but surely and though successe of late hath in some places favoured the Kings Enemies for the sins sake of us his followers yet I thinke Master Marshall cannot deny if he doth but remember that the King hath thriven somewhat since himselfe went downe with the Army towards Nottingham with this opinion in his heart and these words in his mouth for the incouragement of his Companions that the King might fly from place to place for a little while but there is no remedy he must yeeld and come in at last he cannot possibly withstand our great forces And I doubt not through the the mercy of our stong our just and holy God but in the end Master Marshalls quotation in his 17 pag. from Esa. 44.17 will be evidenced to be true no weapon can prosper that is formed against it the Kings cause and every tongue that rises up in judgement against it shall be condemned Fourthly and lastly we gather from Master Marshall pag. 18. that those who be of the Dragons Army of the Church malignant that have as in pag. 20. their names in the Dragons muster booke are none of the Church or people of God And herein he speaks most truly also But how shall we know who they are Master Marshall like a freind helps us in this too in the same place viz. the later end of the 18 pag. by his quotation of a Scriptures The first is Prov. 30.17 the eye
that mocketh at his father and the King is Pater Patriae a common or publique father or despiseth to obey his Mother the Church of England is our mother that hath brought us forth to God the Ravens of the valley shall picke it out that is as if he had said such a one is heire of the curse as being one of the Church malignant and none of Gods people The second Scripture is Rom. 9.2 3. Paul saies Master Marshall thought it no more then his duty when he had great heavinesse and continuall sorrow in his heart and could wish himselfe accursed from Christ for the good of his brethren his Kinsmen who were Israelites whence we gather that they who are so farre from thinking iâ— their duty to be so affected as Saint Paul was for the welfare of their brethren and Countrimen that they thinke it their duty rather and make it their endeavour to destroy the same are directly of the Dragons Army And these are they who have set their Countrimen and Brethren in a most bloudy Combustion against each other and have forced upon them most accursed oathes to the ruine of their soules for ever For I verily beleeve that let iâ— be well considered it well be yeilded that their Horrid Covenant which they have inforced and as they say now made it death to fall from is virtually as true and as perfect a God damne me as ever proceâ—ded verbally from the mouth of the most dissolute Cavaliâ—r But againe Master Marshall be freinds us farther by hinting to us another marke of one that belongs to the Dragons Army pag. 19. towards the end thereof where he saies that Gods spirit dwelling in all his Saints i.e. in all that belong to Christs Army works the same spirituall disposition in them namely as was in Christ their Captaine and that was a meeke milde mercifull an obedient patient and peaceable disposition from which speech of Master Marshall it may be inferred by the rule of Contraries that the Dragons spirit dwelling in all that belong to his Army doth worke them to be of his disposition and that is to be bloudy cruell barbarous contentious rebellious hating peace delighting in killing slaying and destroying yea of infants and â—ucking babeâ—â— therefore when we see or discerne these conditions in any men we may conclude them to be of those that have their names in the Dragons muster booke And indeed beside these helpes which Master Marshall hath afforded to us for the discovery of the members of the Church malignant the Dragons souldiers himselfe in his first use pap 21. very honestly out of Scripture deciphers them unto us I 'le give you his very words He saies 1. They are such as set themselves and take councell against the Lord his Church and against his Anointed his King digging as deepe as Hell for Counsell to doe all the mischeife they can 2. They are such as with Balaam doe what in them lies to Curse for reward the Children of the most High those of whom God hath said ye are Gods and for very malice to raile upon them and revile them 3. They are such as with Edom looke upon the Affliction of Israel rejoycing over them in the day of their destruction speaking proudly in the day of their distresse crying out against Jerusalem or the places of Gods worship downe with it downe with it even to the Ground 4. They are such as with Amelecke smite the Hindmost of Gods Church all who are weake and feeble not sparing sucking babes or harmelesse infants when they are faint and and weary loaden already with afflictions adding sorrowes to their burden as those who turne women and Children out of doores when they have taken away their maintenance and banished or imprisoned the masters of the family 5. They are such as with Sanballat and Tobiah are greeved when any are found to doe good or to be faithfull in Israel whom they will punish more then they will an Hundred Knaves because they are more serviceable to God and prejudiciall to them then so many and thus they endeavour saies Master Marshall to hinder the building of Sion or of peace and to further the repairing of the walls of Babylon or of Confusion Now all these sorts of men Master Marshall most truly calls {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} fighters against God and saies 't is the fittest appellation that he knowes for them And thus Master Marshall hath helped us with markes and tokens to know both the people of God and the Dragons Army by And I wish that all people in their secret thoughts would consider of this matter and of what hath beene noted from Master Marshall's Sermon and it will easily be suspected on which side those that he pleads for doe militare And so I end my third Section SECTION IV. In which is breifely expressed the rest of Master Marshall's Sermon with the explication and rectification of some particular passages therein ANd now I have done what at first I undertooke viz. to vindicate the Scriptures of God those three in speciall Iud. 5.23 Ier. 48.10 and Psal. 136.8 9. from the misapprehensions misinterpretations and misapplications of Master Stephen Marshalls the rest of his Sermon which is in way of use and indeed for the most part more suteable to the duty of the day then the text it selfe was being chiefely an exhortation to helpe the Church of God and to pray I shall but breifely pasâ—e over for I confesse taking the Church in the right sence his words are much unto the purpose I 'le note onely his Method tell you summarily what he saies and here and there put in a word for explication or rectification and so conclude with Master Marshall First He reproves Newters pag. 22. whom he likens unto the Samaritanes that feared the Lord and served their Idols as indeed is the fashion of too many amongst us feare the King at least say they doe and serve the Parliament as they call it But as he saies God will one day say of these they love not the Lord so may the King say one day of such they loved not him Now Mr Marshall notes well that his text doth Curse all them who came not out to helpe him as well as those who came to fight against him And our Saviour at the last day will as well denounce Goe ye Cursed against them who gave them not bread when they were hungry as against them who plucked their bread away from them for in this case 't is a certaine rule He that is not with me is against me These Newters pag. 23. he devides into two sorts and sayes 1. Some are Newters out of policy whom he compares to Zebah and Zalmanah that would first see what would be the event of the warre before they discovered themselves and to these he hinteth that if his side prevaile which God forbid they shall be rent with Bryers and Thornes have their houses beaten downe and