14. The Earth shall be filled with the Knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea Therefore be sure O King thou have Thus saith the Word of the Lord for thy Warrant for God is a jealous God and will not be served with any thing but what is of his own And this did Hezekiah throughout all Jndah and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God and in every work that he began in the service of the House of God and in the Law and in the Commandments to seek his God he did it with all his heart and saith the Text He prospered Chap. 31. 20 21. Whence we may note That whilst Hezekiahs heart was upright to God God prospered him and thus we find in Holy Writ That whilst men with a perfect heart have a careful eye in all their undertakings to please God God hath a tender eye over them to prosper them And thus whilst Joseph is answering his lustful Mistris with a How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God Gen. 39. 9. Though Joseph by her revengeful malice be cast into Prison yet God is with him v. 21. And God gives him favour in the eyes of the Prison-Keeper insomuch that the Prison-keeper looked not after any thing that was under his hands and the Reason is added vers. 28. Because the Lord was with him and that which he did the Text saith The Lord made it it prosper And thus whilst Daniel in the Babylonish captivity is resolved in his heart not to defile himself with a portion of the Kings Idolatrous Meat nor of his wine God bringeth Daniel iuto Favour and tender Love with the Prince of the Eunuches Dan. 1. 3 9. Insomuch that the Eunuch will venture his head to the King his Master rather than Daniel shall want that food he desires V. 10 14. A good encouragemant for the People of God in the very worst of times even to take up a Resolution to eye God in what he would have them to do in all things and not at all to fear the faces of men though never so great for if Shadrach Meshach and Abednego will not bow to Nebuchadnezzars Image but keep themselves close to their God God will keep as close to them and one like the Son of Man shall walk with them in that seven times hot fiery Furnace to preserve them Dan. 3. 16 25. Will Daniel Petition no other but the true God though against the Decree of the King that God will send his Angel to shut the mouths of the Lyons that they shall not hurt him Daniel 6. 10. 22. Therefore suffer me to bespeak thee and thy People O King in the Language of Azariah the Son of Obed which he once uttered to King Asa 2 Chron. 15. 1. Hear thou me CHARLES and all England Scotland Ireland and in particular thou proud voluptuous and vain-glorious City of London the Lord is with you whilst you are with him if ye seek him he will be found of you but if ye forsake him he will forsake you And let not the King be angry if one that is counted a Fannatick speak once more to him not in his own Language but in the words of the Spirit of the Lord in the Prophet David to his Son 1 Chro. 28. 9. And thou Solomon my Son know thou the God of thy Fathers and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of thy thoughts if thou seek him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever Thou knowest O King thou hast had a casting off and that that casting off may not be for ever be perswaded to turn to thy God with all thy heart We usually say That he that would move another to weep must first cry himself he must first begin the passion thus God hath done God hath begun a Work God hath first troden a Path for thee O King to walk in God hath made a Return to thee most miraculously and far I presume beyond thine own Expectation or the Imagination of many others therefore O King Prepare to meet thy God have a care thou walk not in any By-Path but onely and alone in that Path of Returning which God hath troden for thee and as God hath been Miraculous in his Returning to thee O be thou as Eminent in thy returniug to him this is that which I am confident the Lord looketh for at thy hands for so saith the Lip of Truth it self Luke 12. 48. For unto whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required and the same voice hath the Spirit of the Lord in my Text But Hezekiah rendred not again according to the Benefits bestowed upon him therefore wrath fell upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem And that I may come to the handling the words themselves I shall briefly shew what God did for Hezekiah that caused him to look for so suitable a return from Hezekiah After these things and the establishment thereof Chap. 32. 1. That is After the Reformation that Hezekiah had made as I have in part laid down and as in the three foregoing Chapters is more particularly discovered After these things and the establishment thereof Sennacherib King of Assyria came and entered into Judah and Encamped against the fenced Cities and thought to win them to himself Whence we may note That though men walk never so close with God yet they cannot be exempted from the malicious endeavours of wicked men David we know is Recorded in holy Writ to be a man after Gods own heart who in the Confidence of his Soul sometimes can say The Lord is on his right hand he shall not be moved Psal. 16. 8. And anon in Psal. 17. 8. he begs of the Lord to hide him under the shadow of his Wings from the wicked that oppress him and from his deadly Enemies Now he will not fear what man can do unto him And anon he cryeth out That one day he shall fall by the hand of Saul Good men are at an uncertainty of quietness or tranquility on this side the grave If the Sons and Daughters of God had too much Happiness and Peace in this life they would then begin to settle upon the Lees and satisfie themselves with that which cannot profit God knows what is fitter for his than they do themselves and therefore it is that he suffers his dearest Children to undergo great Tryals and that for several Reasons First for the Tryal of their Faith according to that of Judg. 2. 21. I will not saith the Lord drive out any of the Nations which Joshua left when he died and the Reason is added That through them I may prove Israel whether they will keep the Way of the Lord to walk therein as their Fathers did keep it therefore saith the Text The Lord left
the Good of the King or the Benefit but of one Soul be thereby produced he hath his End who desireth according to the Ability received to remain Thy Faithful Friend in the Truths of Jesus HENRY ADIS. An After-Word to the READER READER I Knowing the temper of the spirits of the generality of the Sons and Daughters of men of this Nation in this juncture of time cannot but expect that thou shouldst be something unsatisfied with my plainness of speech and my Terms of Thy Thee Thou and O King in my Discourse to the King and also in that I afford him not those Titles that some men are pleased to put upon him and therein I am perswaded thou wilt be ready to judge me as one that am either peremptorily slighting or peevishly undervaluing the King because I do not say and do to and for him as thou haply canst and dost Or at the best for the plainness of my speech thou wilt conclude me to be one of those New-lighted men of our age commonly distinguished by the name of Quakers because that in their Speakings and Writings they generally use the same Terms and to say Truth if they did not speak the Language and wear the Cloathing of the Sheep of Christ they could not Wolf-like so easily deceive as generally they do Therefore Reader I do hereby assure thee that I am not of that Synagogue for through mercy I can groundedly and upon a good account let thee know that I walk by the direction of a more surer word of Prophesie to which I shall endeavour by the assistance of the Eternal Spirit to take good heed to and from which I shall warrant the soundness and manner of my Speech though it be in such plainness and without flattery to be of God And because these Notionists have some of Canaans Language in their mouths I shall therefore no more forbear the using of it than the Apostle Peter did the Confessing of Christ to be the Son of the living God Mat. 16. 16. Because the Devil in so many words acknowledged the same Mat. 8. 29. Mark 5. 7. Luke 8. 28. Neither shall I resolve to alter my Habit because these men being deceived run up and down in the sheeps cloathing deceiving but shall patiently wait upon God for a Manifestation of them and all others to be of the Synagogue of Satan who say they are Ieweâ—… and are not but do lie In the mean while Reader in Christian love I shall further endeavour thy satisfaction and in the singleness of my Soul I shall let thee know that I both do and shall Honour the King with that honour and respect that the Lord requireth I should as in this Discourse compared with my Declaration in the end of this Book folded is evident although as thou haply mayest Judge in my so speaking I rudely behave my self Therefore for thy farther satisfaction know That as I am a Servant to the Most High God and a Member of a Church of Christ So I look upon it to be my Duty to Regulate my Conversation as becometh the Gospel of Christ and to walk in the footsteps of the Flock of God gone before who though according to the Requirement of God they were obedient to Kings Rulers and Governours yet they gave them no other Language than in this my Discourse I give to King CHARLES witness that Discourse the Prophet Daniel had wiâ—…h that Head of Gold that King of Kings 〈◊〉 King of Babylon Daniel 2. 29. who said As for thee O King thy thoughts came into thy head and thou O King sawest c. And in ver. 31. And thou O King art King of Kings Ver. 37. And thou art this Head of Gold Verie 38. And in Dan. 4. 22. It is thou O King that art grown and become strong and thy greatness is grown and reacheth unto Heaven and thy Dominion unto the ends of the Earth yet they shall drive thée from men and thy dwelling shall be with the Beasts of the Field and they shall make thée to eat grass as Oxen and they shall wet thée with the dew of Heaven and seven times shall pass over thée till thou know that the Most High Ruleth in the Kingdom of men and giveth it to whom he will V. 25. Wherefore O King let my Counsel be acceptable to thée aâ—…d break off thy sins by Righteousness and thine iniquity by shewing Mercy to the Poor is it may be a lengthning out if thy Tranquility But lest any man should say that Nebuchadnezzar was a Heathen and therefore the Prophet gave him neither the Titles nor that due Respect that otherwise he would have done In Answer whereunto I shall lay before thee the Prophet David a King in Israel and a man after Gods own heart who if it had been his due by Gods Appointment could as well have become the Tiâ—…le of Sacred and Most Sacred Majesty as any He that I ever read or heard oâ—… either before or after him to this very day yet we read that when the Propheâ—… came to him in the case of Uriah the Hittite he said noâ—… May it please your Saâ—…red Majesty but Nathan said unto David 2 Sam. 12. 7. Thou art the Man And V. 9. Thou hast killed Uriah thâ—… Hittite with the Sword and taken his Wife to be thy Wife now theâ—…fore the Sword shall not depart from thy House Neither did â—…he Woman of Tâ—…koah in Absoloms case come with a May it please your â—…st Sacred Majesty for we may plainly understand what her Dialect was to King David 2 Sam. 14. 5. Even Help O King Then said she V. 11. I pray thée let the King Remember the Lord thy God that thou wouldest not suffer the Revenger of blood to destroy Many more Examples of this kind might be sufficiently multiplyed if needâ—…ul But to come nearer even to the dispensation we are now under Peter said unto the Lord Christ to Emanuel even to God with us Mat. 16. 16. Thou art Christ the Son of the living God And the Apostle Paul being a Prisoner and coming to make his defence Acts 26. 2 3. he said I think my self happy King Agrippa because I shall Answer for my self before thée this day for I know thée to be expert in all Customes and Questions among the Jews wherefore I beseech thée not your most Sacred Majesty but I beseech thée to hear me patiently And in V. 13. 14. At mid-day O King I saw a light from Heaven And a voyce speaking unto me Whereupon O King Agrippa I was not disobedient to the heavenly voice V. 19. And in V. 27. King Agrippa Believest thou the Prophets I know thou Beleevest And Paul said V. 29. I would to God that not onely thou but all that hear me this day were both almost and altogether such an one as I am except these Bonds Even so shall I say to thee O Reader I would to God that as to my Judgement thou wert even such an
one as my self that so thou mightest give to Caesar onely the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are Gods And Reader consider with thy self that if the Lord Christ reproved him that said to him good Master saying Why callest thou me good There is none good but One even God Luke 18. 19. Even so do I say to my self Why should I dare to call the greatest of Men most Sacred When it is an Attribâ—…te that properly and peculiarly belongs to God himself and was never given to Man by God and to me it seems to be one of those names of Blasphemy upon the seven Heads of the Beast Rev. 13. 2. and no better than a flattering Title The which with another of the Kings Titles had I but the priviledge of his Ear but one little pittance of time I question not but by Divine assistance I should so discover the unlawfulness thereof as that he would himself refuse to own them And for me to flatter him or any man else I dare not for these Reasons First Lest thereby I bring my self and mine under the Sin-revenging-hand of God And Secondly Lest I thereby ensnare others First Least I endanger my self and mine Because if Jobs words be true who saith That he knoweth not to give flattering Titles if I so do my Maker saith he would soon take me away Job 32. 21 22. And should I be found so doing God would no more excuse me thaâ—… him for saith the Prophet David Psa. 12. 3. The Lord will cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaketh proud things and also saith that upright man Job He that speaketh flattery to his Friend even the eyes of his Children shall fail Job 19. 5. So that as I tender the good of my self and mine I dare not do it And secondly I dare not do it lest I endanger others for a man that flattereth his Neighbour spreadeth a Net for his feet saith the wisest of men Prov 29. 5. for saith he A flattering mouth worketh ruine Prov. 26. 28. And this is that which was the destruction of King Herod Act. 12. 21. for saith the Text On a set day Herod arrayed in Royal apparel sate upon his Throne and made an Oration unto his Subjects who upon the hearing thereof began to flatter him for saith the Text The People gave a shout saying It is the voyce of a God and not of a Man and immediatly the Angel of the Lord smote him because he gave not God the Glory and he was eaten of Worms and gave up the Ghost had not his subjects given him that flattering Applause he had not robbed God of his Glory and so the Angel had not smitten him So that in this I question not but I shall evidence my love to the King more than they that so flatter him Therefore this shall be my Resolution the Lord assisting me to continue treading in the footsteps of the Flock of God gone before and shall conclude with my self and say with that Queen Hester 4. 16. And if therein I perish I perish for I had rather suffer by man in obedience to my God than by the Sin-revenging hand of God to be cut off in his displeasure And thus Reader having given thee an account of my manner of Speech to the King which is none other than what he Popple of God in former Ages used both under the Law and under this Gospel Dispensation I shall take my leave and desiring the Lord to set it home upon thy heart and that it may be satisfactory to thee that so thou mayest not have a prejudice in thy spirit against him who desireth to do nothing either in word or Action but what may tend to the Glory of God the good of his own Soul and the enlightning of those with whom he doth Converse who shall be ready in Christian love to give thee a Verbal satisfaction to any thing that in this Discourse may be thy dissatisfaction And to remain thy Friend therein to serve thee HENRY ADIS. A Fannaticks Mite Cast into the KINGS TREASURY 2 Chron. 32. 25. But Hezekiah rendred not again according to the benefits bestowed upon him but his heart was lifted up Therefore there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem THESE Words themselves have a Dependancy upon the Story going before and are no other but a Declaration or Manifestation of the Kings unthankfuluess to God for his Mercies bestowed and of the sad Consequences thereof But Hezekiah rendred not again according to the Benefits bestowed upon him but his heart was lifted up Therefore there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem Had this Discourse been spoken as it is now written to thee O King many distinctions might have been made and several and remarkable Observations hinted at which might have been very useful if diligently minded and as effectually put into practise some of which for brevity sake I shall here omit and shall first run over the Story that occasioned the Spirit of God to lay down these words and therein briefly hint at some things I shall judge useful and then in the strength of the same Spirit come to the handling of the woâ—…ds themselves Good Hezekiah after the death of his Father King Ahaz began his Reign as we may read 2 Chron. 28. 27. who had set his Son so 〈◊〉 a Copy that in truth he could not write after it without blotting And therefore he leaves the steps of his Father and walks in the pathes of David and some others of his Fore-fathers For Ahaz his Father Reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem but he did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord like David his Father Chap. 28. 1. for he walked in the wayes of the Kings of Israel which were the wayes of Jeroboam the Son of Nebat who made Israel to sin And also or over and above their abominations he made molten Images to Balaam v. 2. And burned Incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom and burned his Children in the fire after the manner of the Heathen v. 3. He Sacrificed also â—… and burned Incense in the high Places and under every green Tree v. 4. For which mis-actings 〈◊〉 God delivered him into the hands of the Kings of Syriahâ—…and into the hands of the Kings of Israel who smote him with great slaughter v. 5. Whence we may note That when Kings Rulers or Governours Act contrary to the mind of God God raiseth up Adversaries against them as once he did against Solomon 1 Kings 11. 14. And as Ahaz continues his mis-actings so God encreaseth his Adversaries for the Edomites also came and smote Judah and carried away Captives v. 17. Yet for all this Ahaz returned not to bim that smote him Therefore the Philistines also had invaded the Cities of the Low-Countreyes and had taken several Towns and Villages and came and dwelt in his Land vers. 18. Whereupon Ahaz sends out for help to suppress
shall gain the whole world and loose his own Soul Or what shall a man give in exchange for his Soul In this Reformation Hezekiah's speed equals his willingness and like a pair of Heisers accustomed to the yoak they draw both together for as it was his first work to have respect to the cleansing of his holy things so it was his care to do it in the first year of his Reign and not late in the year but in the first month of that first year for so saith the Text 2 Chron. 29. 3. He in the first year of his Reign in the first month opened the Doors c. And this is that which I am perswaded is well pleasing to God when men sleep not upon good Resolutions but puts them into present and effectuall practise for no man can call to morrow his Therefore the Counsel of the Spirit of God is good which he hath given by the Wise Man Eccles. 9. 10. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it wich thy might for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest Hezekiah began to Reign when he was five and twenty years old Cha. 29. 1. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord according to all that David his Father had doue v. 2. And as by Faith Moses when he came to years refused to be called the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter choosing rather to suffer Afflictions with the People of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt because he had respect to the recompence of reward Heb. 11. 24. So Hezekiah being five and twenty years old when he began to Reign refused to walk in the wayes of sin as Ahaz his Father had done but begins with discretion to consider what was well-pleasing to God and therefore he learns to write by a perfect Copy he takes a Man after Gods own heart to be his Pattern though they that hated him without a cause were more than the hairs of his head though his enemies were mighty Psal. 69. 4. though he became a Proverb to many verse 11. and though they that sate in the gates spake against him and though he became a Song to the Drunkards ver. 12. yet these and such reproaches as these shall not frighten him but Hezekiah will do according to all that David his Father had done David we see was no Allower of Drunkenness for the Drnnkards made Songs of him as they do now in this our dayes upon those that desire to walk in the integrity of their hearts before the Lord as David did David opened not a Door to any manner of licenciousness neither doth Hezekiah when he comes to Reign go to the house of laughter but to the house of God he runs not to Hawkings nor Huntings Revellings nor Dancings Riotings nor Banquetings he sets not up nor tollerates Stage-Playes May-games nor Pastimes but comes to a serious consideration what the mind of God was that so he might pleasâ—… him to the Eternal well-being both of himself and those that were under his charge therefere with spéed he opens the Doors of the Lords House and begins to put away the iniquity of his holy things Now know O King that Hezekiah was a good man and went on in his Reformation in Gods way let me therefore beg of thee as thou tenderest thy Souls good to Eternity take him for thy Pattern begin thy Reign as he did his look into thy holy things see what there is amiss there consider the Common-prayer whence it came and whither it tendeth weigh it with its appurtenances in the Ballance of the Sanctuary try it by the Touch-stone of Gods Word see whether it bâ—… not too light of what God would have it to be see also whether the Inventions of Men have not made it too heavy thou canst not be too exact therein for he that doth in his service to God more than what God Commands doth too much and is no better than a Will-worshipper he that doth less than God Commandeth him doth too little Consider also which is the Door of Gods House and open that for Christ himself saith That many false Prophets will arise and shall deceive many and therefore he requireth his Disciples not to go out to them Mat. 24. 24 26. Therefore the opening of any Door will not serve the turn Hezekiah opened the Door of the Lords House Therefore for the Lords sake Consider what thou doest take that Counsel from the Spirit of the Lord which is Recorded in 1 Thes. 5. 21 22. Prove all things and hold fast that which is good and abstain from all appearance of evil Take notice of the Dispensation thou art under and do thy Generation work in Gods way the Church of Christ under the Gospel is not National but Congregational Hezekiah was of the Race of the Jews and a King of Judah it was Hezekiahs work to open the Doors of the Material Temple scituate in Jerusalem where God had under that dispensation promised his presence 1 Kings 9. 3. So that if Hezekiah had opened any other Door he had been a sinner as well as his Father Ahaz who opened another when he shut those Material Doors where the Jews had a Right to Worship as they were in a National Church-Communion upon the due administration of that fleshly Ordinance of Circumcision peremtorily upon the eight day Gen. 17. 12. Under which he that neglected to Circumcise his Male Infant upon the eighth day did it too late and after Gods time and that Infant was to be cut off from the People V. 14. and he that did it before the eighth day did it too soon and before Gods time and so became a transgressor We usually say in our common Proverb that it is dangerous jesting with â—…ged tools so may I safely say it is a dangerous thing to cross the design of God it is a desperate design to undertake to open that which God hath shut or to shut that which God hath opened God hath shut the Doors of a National Church then let men fear to open it and God hath opened the Door of a Congregational Church let Souls tremble at the thought of shutting it for so saith the Lord Christ John 4. 21 22 23. Believe me saith he the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this Mountain nor yet in Jerusalem Worship the Father ye Worship ye know not what We know what we Worship for Salvation is of the Jewes but the hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall Worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth And saith Peter Now I perceive of a truth that God is no Respecter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh Righteousness is accepted of him Acts 10. 34 35. So that Church-fellowship and Son-ship with God is entailed upon persons under the Gospel not upon the account
to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God Pritnces Rulers Governors and Magistrates then are required to do tha work for which they are set up for they are Gods Vice-gerents set up by him for the due Administration of Justice and not to be a terrour to good works but to the evil and are continually to attend upon that very thing Rom. 13. 1 3 4 6. In that Antient History of the Succession oâ—… the Saxon Monarchs page 370. It is Recorded to the yet lasting fame of Edgar sometimes a King of this Island That he was so endowed with that Heaven-bred and most Heroick Principle of the due Administration of Justice as in his Circuits he took so strick an account of the due Execution of his Laws and of the Demeanour of his great Men and especially of his Judges as that he severely punished them as often as he found the Execution of their Places ballanced either with bribery or partiality So that saith the Story there was never less Robbery Deceit nor Oppression than in the Reign of this worthy King Therefore let me beg thee O King as thou tenderest thy own good both here and hereafter Rule with Diligence and with King Edgar let After-ages know to thy lasting Praise that thou hadst a delight to do thy Subjects good in seeking Judgement in Relieving the Oppressed in Judging the Fatherless and in Pleading for the Widow in being a terrour to Evil Works and in shewing thy self a 〈◊〉 of them that do well Measure thy Subjects Actions by a direct Rule And as thou art a King over three Kingdoms such as make much adâ—… about their Christianity see that their Actions be Christ-like for the assuming either the Title or Form of Christianity cannot do it for from such as have not the Power of Godliness there ought to he by the People of God a turning away 2 Tim. 3. 5. For every one that nameth the Name of Christ is to depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2. 19. And it ought to be their onely care to have their Conversation as becometh the Gospel of Christ striving together for the Faith of the Gospel Phil. 1. 27 Not for the Promotion of Stage-Playes Dancings May-games and Pastimes for Christians are to abstain from all appearance of evil 1 Thes. 5. 22. And as Pilgrims and Strangers they are to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the Soul 1 Pet. 2. 11. And the lust of the flesh the lust of the eye and the pride of life is not of the Father but of the World and must perish with the World 1 Joh. 2. 16. Be careful therefore I beseech thee O King of the Actions of thy Subjects it stands thee in hand so to do for a fruitful Land God turneth into barrenness for the wickedness of them that dwell therein Psal. 107. 34. Yea and thou maist fare the worse for it too For the Transgression of a Land many are the Princes thereof But by a man of understanding and Knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged saith the Wisest of the Sons of men Prov. 28 2. O then in the fear of him that accepteth not the person of Princes nor regardeth the rich more then the poor Job 34. 19. In the fear of him that leadeth Princes away spoiled and overthroweth the strength of the Mighty that poureth contempt upon Princes and weakneth the Mighty that taketh away the heart of the Chief of the People of the Earth and causeth them to wander in a Wilderness where there is no way Job 12. 19 21 24. In the fear of him that bringeth Princes to nothing and maketh the Judges of the Earth as vanity Isai. 40. 23. In the fear of that God that hath done such great things for thee be perswaded for thine own good to render to him according to his Mercy bestowed in seeing the due Administration of Justice without respect of persons that so thou mayest Relieve the poor oppressed of thy People that of a long time have groaned under the Administration of Male-Justice And know O King that as thou art to do justly so thou art required to love Mercy it is that which God accepteth before Sacrifice for so saith the Prophet Hos. 6. 6. For I desired Mercy and not Sacrifice and the knowledge of God more than Burnt-offerings for by Mercy and Truth Iniquity is purged and by the fear of God men depart from evil Prov. 16. 6. For Mercy and Truth preseve the King and his Throne is upholden by Mercy For he that followeth after Righteousness and Mercy findeth Life Righteousness and Honour Prov. 21. 21. A good man is Merciful and lendeth and his Seed shall be blessed Psal. 37. 26. Yea Blessed are the Merciful for they shall obtain Mercy Mat. 5. 7. But he shall have Iudgement without Mercy that hath shewed no Mercy And Mercy rejoyceth against Judgement James 2. 13. The neglect of shewing Mercy is that which caused the wrath of God to burn hot against Israel of old Zech. 7. 9. For thus spake the Lord of Hosts saying Execute true Judgement and shew Mercy and Compassion every man to his Brother and oppress not the Widow nor the Fatherless the stranger nor the Poor and let none of you imagine evil against his Brother in his heart But they refused to hearken and plucked away the shoulder and stopped their ears that they should not hear c. Therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of Hosts V. 12. Then be perswaded O King to shew Acts of Mercy thou hast Objects enough to exercise it upon and know That pure Religion and undesiled before God and the Father is this To visit the Fatherless and Widows in their Affliction James 1. 27. Not to make Fatherless and Widows to bring them to Affliction And in thy shewing Mercy take the Advice of the Spirit of God in Rom. 12. 8. To do it readily and with Cheerfulness Thou hast begun already to tread in this Way in thy Act of Oblivion let not the malicious endeavours of any though never so great pervert thy steps for it is one of Zions Paths A third thing that is required of thee O King is That as thou art to do Justly and to love mercy so also to walk humbly with thy God But here it may be demanded when a person may be said to walk humbly with God To this I Answer A man may then be properly said to walk humbly with his God when he goeth not before God or without God in his Actions but that in all his undertakings he doth that which is required of him by God in order to his humble obedience to God whether it be in the Worship and Service of God or in his Actings towards men Thus Enoch walked with God three hundred years Gen. 5. 22. And Enoch walking with God God was so well pleased therewith as that he exempted him from the Pangs of Death for so saith the Text V. 24. And Enoch walked
Wife into his House for so saith the Text v. 18. For Pharaoh called Abraham and said What is this that thou hast done unto me Why didst thou not tell me she was thy Wife Why saidst thou she is my Sister So I might have taken her to me to Wife Though Pharaoh sins I say and that ignorantly too as it is clear he did yet his House must be plagued with great Plagues Whence by the way I would have all to take notice That it is not ignorance that will excuse or shroud neither the meanest nor the greatest of men from the sin-revenging hand of God And secondly That God takes special care for his faithful ones so as that he will not respect persons when they evilly entreat them for so saith the Prophet Psal. 115. 14 15. He suffered no man to do them wrong yea he reproved Kings for their sake saying Touch not mine Anointed and do my Prophets no harm And thus as Abraham was travelling towards the South Countrey whilst he so journed in Gerar the Lord reproved Abimelech also King of Gerar for his sake Gen. 20. For Abraham again said of Sarah his Wife she is my Sister and Abimelech King of Gerar sent and took Sarah v. 2. But God came to Abimelech in a Dreame by night and said unto him Thou art but a dead man a sharp Reproof indeed And he gives him a Reason for his so saying For the Woman saith he which thon hast taken is a mans Wife v. 3. Yet saith the Text Abimelech had not come near her v. 4. And Abimelech said Lord wilt thou stay also a Righteous Nation Said he not she is my Sister and she even she her self said He is my Brother in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this v. 5. And God said unto him in a Dream yea I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart for I also withheld thee from sinning against me therefore suffered I thee not to touch her v. 6. Whence I would note also by the way First That he who is the Searcher of the heart and Tryer of the reins takes a perfect account of the bent of the spirits of the Sons and Daughters of Men And secondly That accordingly he either restrains Souls from sinning against him or else gives persons up to commit sin with greediness for so saith the Text And as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge therefore God gave them up to a reprobate mind Rom. 1. 28. But this is that in the seventh verse that makes the Assertion good Now therefore saith the Lord restore the Man his Wife for he is a Prophet and he shall pray for thee and thou shalt live and if thou restore her not know thou that thou shalt surely die thou and all that thou hast The like we may see made good in Achans Family Josh. 7. That when Achan had taken of the accursed things that goodly Babylonish Garment the Silver and the Wedge of Gold the Judgement extended not onely to the punishment of himself but also to his whole Family and all that was his for so saith the Text Josh. 7. 24. And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the Son of Zerah and the Silver and the Garment and the Wedge of Gold and his Sons and his Daughters and his Oxen and his Asses and his Sheep and his Tent and all that he had And v. 25. They burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones Now the Lord Christ saith Mat. 18. 16. That in the mouth of two or three witnesses every Truth shall be established and I having proved each Particular in the Assertion by two witnesses at the least That God many times punisheth a People for the misactings of their Governours whether in Church State or particular Families And now lest I make my lines too numerous I shall forbear to lay down any Reasons of the Point but shall proceed to some Uses that may be for our present benefit And seeing it is so That God many times punisheth a People for the misactings of their Governours whether in Church State or particular Families This then may serve for a Use of Exhortation to thee O King to thee and to all Kings Princes and Governours of Nations Pastors and Elders of Congregations and Masters of Families as they tender their own good and the good of those that are under them that they walk before the Lord and go in and out before their People in singleness of heart and in the sincerity of their Souls as in the sight of God having a single-eye to the Glory of God and the good of the Souls that are under their charge carefully watching over all their thoughts words and actions so as that they bring not the Judgements of God upon their people by their misactings and to be often with the Lord in Prayer that so they may have his Direction and Protection in all their Enterprises and Undertakings to the comfort of their own Souls and the Peace Benefit and Well-being of those that are under them And secondly This may also serve for a Uâ—… of Exhortation to all Subjects though they be Pastors or Elders of Congregations and Masters of Families as well as Members of Churches or Children or Servants in particular Families that they be often at the Throne of Grace in the behalf of their Kings Princes and Governours and in special that Englands Subjects be often with the Lord in the behalf of their KING who from his long Exile and Restraint is brought again into this Land of his Nativity which is so full of Licentiousnes Luxury and Lasciviousness Revilings Rendings and Tearings Roarings Rantings and Swearings with those Abominations of Stage-Playes May-games and Pastimes Pride and Prodigality that God in Mercy would be pleased to direct his Heart so as that he be not won either to own or allow of them but to disown diswade and discountenance them And that God would farther strengthen both his Heart and Hand to prosecute that lovely laudable prudent pious Conscientious and Christian that truly Noble and most Heroick Princely PROCLAMATION by Him issued forth at his first coming amongst us again and since by him seconded by another that so England though now even a sink of Abominations may by the good hand of God upon us by his industry become as it shall be once said of Jerusalem to be a Praise of the whole Earth And that God would direct him so to consider of his Holy Things as that he present nothing to God but what is Commanded by God that so God may not only Crown him with a Crown of Gold here but also with that Crown of Glory which shall never fade away And that he be thus found Rendring to the Lord considering the danger of the neglect thereof For Hezekiah rendered not again according to the Benefits bestowed upon him but his heart was lifted up therefore wrath was
answer from him than a Proclamation of our Worship to be a vain Worship as once he declared against the Jews Matth. 15. 9. And therefore if miscarriages rise amongst us we are to bring such miscarriages to the the touch-stone of Gods word and so weigh them in the ballance of the Sanctuary and finding them either too heavy or too light that is either adding or diminishing from or to the mind of Christ we are theâ—… to repair to those wholsome Lawes left us in Scripture record for the regulating of such miscarriages according to the 〈◊〉 of them as they are private or publick or more or less in their several agravations and as they are committed by persons standing in such oâ—… such relations We say the more of this because most persons think and many do not stick to say that we live and act in things Ecclesiastical as Libertines and without Church-Government because we withdraw our selves from the publick Assemblies But did such persons rightly consider what the Discipline of the Ministry of the Nation is in their Parochial Assemblies who professe themselves to be the true Spouse and Church of Christ and compare it with the mind of Christ revealed in the Scriptures of Truth who gives Lawâ—… to his Church which is that body of which he himself is the head Ephes. 4. 15. 21. 22. Col. 1. 18. 2. 19. They would then finde themselves to be the Libertines and not we and therefore we shall earnestly desire all that are unacquainted with the true Discipline of the Church of Christ well to weigh and seriously to consider these Statute Laws of Christ in that case provided 2 Tim. 3. 16. 2 Tim. 4. 1 2. Ephes. 5. 11. Matth. 18. 15. 1 Tim. 5. 12 19 20. 1 Tim. 6. 5. 1 Tim. 1. 20. Tit. 3. 10. 2 Thes. 2. 15. 2 Thes. 3. 10. 1 Cor. 5. 4 9 11. The which as we will answer the contrary at the great Day of account we dare not in the least wilfully violate or neglect But if by miscarriageâ—… in things Ecclesiastical they mean that we endeavour a Tolleration of all miscarriages amongst them in their Assemblies we shall in the presence of God clear our selves and say we have nothing at all to do with them in such matters for we say they are without as to us 1 Cor. 5. 12 13. And so we look upon our selves to be as to them And if any one shall seem to be troubled at this term Without and object and say that we are all the Creation of God and what need these expressions of Stand at a distance I am more holy than you To such â—…e shall answer in the Spirit of Love and Meeknesse and God is our Witnesse without OSTENTATION that it is true all the Sons and Daughters of Adam are the Sons and Daughters of God by Creation but few by Regeneration and Adoption for Many are called but few are chosen Matth 20. 16. for not the hearâ—…rs of the Law but the doors shall be justified Rom. 2. 13. And not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven but he that doth the will of the Father Matth. 7. 21. We well know that many will say these are hard sayings and cannot well bear them But to such we shall give a direction in our Post-sâ—…ript where from one of us they may expect and we hope also find good satisfaction as to the tearm Without That we own Liberty of Conscience we confesse but under that or any other pretence to endeavour a Toleration of any Miscarriages either in things Ecclesiastical or Civil we have given we hope full satisfaction for seeing it is the will of our Master to have the Tares and the Wheat grow together till the Harvest Matth. 13. 30. And that our Heavenly Father doth exercise his long-suffering to the whole bulk of man-kind not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance 2 Pet. 3. 9. We look upon it to be our Duty to follow God as Dear Children and thus to walk in love Ephes. 5. 1 2. and therefore are like-minded having the same love Phil. 2. 2. And therefore do further declare that we are as free that all others should enjoy their Liberties as we our selves of what Judgment soever they be we well knowing that some are called at the eleveâ—…th hour as well as at the first and third Matth. 20. 1 6. And had the Apostle Paul been plucked up whilst he was a Tare a Persecutor a Blasphemer 1 Tim. 1. 13. and the chief of sinners v. 15 he had never been such choyce Wheat to Satisfie Refresh Enable Enliven Inlighten Encourage build up and Instruct Correct and Reprove the Building of God 1 Cor. 3. 9. the House of God Heb 3. 6. the Houshold of God Ephes. 2. 19. the Sons and Daughters of God 2 Cor. 6. 18. Nor that body of which Christ is the head Col. 1. 18. and therefore we cannot but say again that we are as free that all others should enjoy their Liberties in the things of God as we our selves We well knowing that every one must give an account of himself to God Rom. 14. 12. for every one shall receive the things done in the body according to what they have done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5. 10. Matth. 25. 34 41. But either to procure or maintain our own or others Liberties by force of Armes or the least violence we can find no warrant from the Scriptures of truth in the least which is that only and alone Rule that we walk by for all the remedy that we find there recorded is that if they persecute us in one City we may flee into another and this we see acted by our Saviour himself John 7. 1. and by his Parents Matth. 2. 14. and the Apostle Peter Acts 12. 17. and Saint Paul Acts 9. 25 26. 1 Cor. 11. 33. And to follow our Master and to tread in the footsteps of the Flock of God gone before us we judge it very safe but to resist by force of Armes or use the least violence we judge unwarrantable To the fift and last particular That we would murther and destroy those that differ from us in Matters of Religion To this we cannot but answer that so to do we judge were not so much as common Humanity much less Religion or Christianity but our Religion is pure and undefiled before God and our Father which is to visit the Fatherless and widdows not to make fatherless widdows and to visit them in their afflictions not to murther and destroy their Relations to bring them under Afflictions But to this we further answer that this and the 4th Particular we judg seem to contradict one another for murthering and destroying for difference in matters of Religion and Liberty of Conscience cannot stand together nor in the eye of Reason can they be charged against one and the same persons for murthering and destroying
lust and have not then they kill and desire to have James 4. 1 2. and when the People of God shall act thus the Spirit of God brands them with those Ignominious Names of Adulterers and Adulteresses informing them that what they are fighting for is enmity against God and that if they obtain it they are enemies to God James 4. 4. and we well knowing that whilest we are Friends to the world we are Enemies to God dare not in the least have to do in the world so as to set up our selves or to side with any either in setting up or pulling down And how can a mans love to the world be evidenced more than in venturing his life for it according to that saying of our Saviour John 15. 13. And we further Declare That as we are to be a peaceable People upon the account of Action so we look upon it to be our Duty to keep our selves from Oaths Engagements and Covenants either For or Against this or that Person Government or Persons whatsoever For because of SWEAPING the Land mourneth Jerem. 23. 10. For the Lord hath a Controversie with the Inhabitants of the Land because there is no Truth nor Mercy nor Knowledge of God in the Land for by SWEARING and Lying and Killing and Stealling and committing Adultery they break forth and bloud toucheth bloud saith the Prophet Hos. 4. 1 2 3. And saith the same Prophet Hos. 10. 3 4. They have spoken words SWEARING falsly in making a Covenant THUS Judgement springeth up as Hemlock in the furrows of the field and we not knowing what the Cabinet Counsel of God is in this our day upon the account of Government dare not in the least have so much as a thought to Engage in any such thing lest we be found Fighters against God according to the saying of Gamaliel though in another case Acts. 5. 39. And therefore do Declare our Resolution herein That we shall not God assisting us enter into any Engagement whatsoever upon any such account Yet shall this say again That we shall not violently resist the Imposers of any such Engagements but shall patiently suffer the penalty of our non-obedience as aforesaid And we further Declare as in the presence of God who is the searcher of all hearts That as it hath been some of our great trouble for a long time to see some of those that are in the same Faith and Order with us so acting so it is now become even an overwhelming burthen upon our Souls to see them generally running such a precipitant course by which actings of theirs the mouths almost of all men are opened against them and that Truth they profess most ignominiously branded and reproached And therefore we further Declare That in the sight of God Angels and Men that we bear our Testimony against them in their present actings and cannot stand by them nor have Communion with them therein nor with those that strengthen their hands in standing by them and must tell them in the words of our Savior Luke 9. 55. That they know not what Spirit they are of for the Son of Man their Master came not to destroy mens lives but to save them The Premises considered we shall Appeal to the Judgement of all Rational men whether we are guilty of what we are Charged withal or not Yet if they shall still go on notwithstanding to use us Reproachfully for the Name of Christ we shall be so far from Endeavouring or Desiring a Revenge as that in the words of Christ we shall in our Requests at the Throne of Grace cry out and say Father Forgive them they know not what they do POST-SCRIPT FOrasmuch as the said Declarers in their Answer to the First Particular in their Declaration do call the Independants and Presbyterians their Christian Friends the which however it is they so complement with them yet in reality we judge they cannot own them as such upon a Scripture account as also because one Mr. William Alleyn in a Book lately by him Published Intituled A Retractation to Separation In which Book in the whole currant of it all the Scriptures that he brings which were written by the immediate directions and Incomes of the Holy Spirit of God to the Churches as they were in the Faith and Order of the Gospel he applyeth to and also for and in the behalf of Episcopals Independants and Presbyterians who are opposite both to the Doctrine and Discipline of those Churches he intending thereby to perswade us if possible to a Belief That they are the true and visible Members of that Body of which Christ is the Head the which Book by Gods assistance is intended suddenly to be Answered by one of our Society who Resolveth to entitle it The Retractators Work Scaned Or the Conceptions and Supposals of Mr. W. Alleyn regulated by Scripture Record in which with other things a Gospel-Believer or a true Church of Christ upon a Gospel account is intended to be stated the which is hoped will be so plain that it may prove Instrumental to the Undeceiving of some that are under a Deceipt by means of that and such deceitful Discourses as that is In which Answer it is farther hoped That those that are unsatisfied with our tearm Without in our Answer in our Declaration to the Fourth Particular may receive also good satisfaction and in the mean time we desire all to take notice That though we thus speak yet we have good thoughts of those Friends that go under those Denominations and do own them and all others of all other Opinions whatsoever in Union so far as they own God Christ and their Truths but to own the best of men to be Members of that Body of which Christ is the Head and so to have Communion with them either to make them our mouth in Prayer to God for us or Gods mouth in speaking forth his Truths to us or in Breaking of Bread at the Table of the Lord we cannot own them in the least Our Reasons we hope will be fully laid down in the Answer to the said Book Henry Adis Richard Pilgrim Abel Hutchins William Cox In behalf of themselves and those that walk with them LONDON Re-printed by S. Dover in Christophers Alley in Martins near Aldersgate 1660. And formerly Printed the 12th Day of the 11th Month Heathenishly called in Honour to their god Janus January 1659.