of Gods People as those do whom M. Marshall would have to be stirred up by this example to act the part of bloudy executioners in a word they were the Medes and Persians that were designed by the Almighty to be the executioners of his wrath upon Babilon raised up for that purpose to punish Babilon as Babilon had been before to punish others And indeed you shall seldome finde in Scripture God imploying his own people to be instruments of his wrath against the Heathen Nations unlesse only against such as were bound to live in obedience under them when they broke out into Rebellion for indeed those whom God intends to make vessells of mercye hereafter he imployes to be instruments of mercy before hand giving them hearts and spirits to delight only in the workes of mercy and so doth fit them for their future glory and these are call'd the men of Gods Heart for they lye there they are the men of his love of his bowels and being loved of him they come to be loving like him even to their Enemies mercifull as he is mercifull and kind to the unthankefull and to the Evill On the other side God doth imploy the wicked to be the Instruments of his wrath who are for this cause call'd Gods sword Psal. 17.13 as those Babilonians were while they were executioners of his judgements the men of his hand indeed he suffers them by this imployment to fit themselves to be vessells of wrath hereafter the Divell is Gods great Instrument in this kind and the wicked are his Members who delight to doe the work of their Father even as the Godly being Members of Christ that great Instrument and indeed fountain of mercy do delight to approve themselves like him And besides the work of Iudgement is calld in Scripture Gods strange worke not only because he and his true Children are not so naturally inclined to it as they are to Mercy but also because he imployes those in it who are strangers to him or rather suffers them to take the imployment for a season upon themselves 3. The Epethite here given unto them which as M. Marshall observes is the Title Blessed Blessed is the man that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us Blessed is the man that makes Babilon drink the same Cup which Babilon hath made Gods people to drinke But in that they are pronounced blessed t is not to be understood that by this fact they did declare themselves to be in the state of Blessednesse much lesse that thereby they should merit divine grace or life everlasting as those that kill us are promised to doe by some of the Ministers of M. Marshalls faction or that they should by this their doing the will of God in a speciall or peculiar manner please God for 't is well knowne that the Mâ—des and Persians had as little aime at Gods glory and as little respect or love to the people of God as such in the execution of this judgement upon their oppressors as the Babilonians had before in their punishing Moab they were driven to doe what they did only by their Ambition and desire of rule and greatnesse But because they did execute the punishment decreed of God they are promised a good successe and an happy event in their undertakings and many temporall blessings for the same which for a season they did enjoy Even as Iehu who by vocation extraordinary was imployed to punish the house of Ahab though he walked in the wayes of Ieroboam which were so abhominable in Gods eyes yet he enjoyed the Kingdom of Israell for a season and I doe not doubt but they who by an ordinary Providence for extraordinary vocations are out of date in these daies are appoynted to fulfill the will of God in this kind upon sinners may for a while enjoy the pleasures of sin and worldly greatnesse which in such undertakings is the only thing which they usually look after I call that an ordinary providence which doth not crosse a Morall precept as when a Nation or People by call and direction of their supreame Governour are stirred up to punish another Nation unto whom they are in no sort tied in subjection thus the Normans were stirred up to punish the sinnes of the former inhabitants of this land and had the Isle at their disposing for it so the Medes and Persians had the Empire of Babilon But 't is no lawfull Providence for Subjects without the command and expresse warrant of their Soveraign to take upon them to punish either their superiors or their fellow Subjects nor doe I know of any blessing so much as temporall that they have any warrant to promise to themselves for so doing yet I do not doubt but the Heads of this present bloudy faction inter nos do promise to themselves this kind of blessednesse by their undertaking if they can but kill slay and destroy the King with His Nobility and Gentâ—y they may make themselves possessors of their Land and Estates which like the Edomites of old they swallowed up long agoe in their expectations and of late as 't is reported have been so bold as to tender them to sale as if they were already at their sole disposing to the simple vulgar unto whom they may haply promise more then this too even the promises of the life to come also for a reward of this their bloudy cruelty which most blasphemously they nickname with the title of Godlinesse 4. The manner how this Execution is to be done with great severity even upon their very Children and sucking babes who should be dashed against the stones which M. Marshall himselfe confesseth to be so cruell an act as may make a very Souldiers heart to start yet doth he enlarge that cruelty further then the Scripture doth seeme to warrant for that neither commandeth nor declareth that the same should be done with deliberation nor yet approveth of the same if so done for in time of Warre and Battell what is done in heat may not be done deliberately without extremity of barbarousnesse and inhumanity which God did never allow of to be practiced by any upon the greatest Enemies of his Church and people Indeed the words are onely a Declaration of what Babilon did deserve for her cruelty against Israell whom God indeed had delivered into her hands to punish but with all expecting that in the execution she should have shewne some mercy as appeares Esay 47.6.7 I was wroth with my people saies the Lord and gave them into thine hand and thou didst shew them no mercy upon the Auntient thou didst very heavily lay the yoake yea 't is said 2. Chron. 37.17 when they tooke the City Ierusalem that they had no compassion on the young children on the maiden or on the old man on him that stooped for age Now the Lord for this had threatned by the Prophet Esay that Babilon should be repayed in her kind some others should doe unto her as she had done
themselves slaine as Zebah and Zalmanah were let such Newters marke that and give their timely assistance to their Soveraigne 2. Some are Newters out of sloathfulnesse and carelessenesse who are indifferent as he saies whether the Beare bite the Dogge or the Dogge bite the Beare and these he resembles to the men of Iabesh Gilead who when all the Tribes had bound themselves by oath against Benjamin would not enter into the Association with the rest for which as he notes it cost them deare even their owne Heart bloud in the Conclusion But here it must be remembred by the way that that Association was not against any Soveraigne King to whom they had sworne Allegiance nor against the minde or without the Consent of any such a one for indeed as yet they had none set over them but their prime Governours whom they were to obey did call them unto it and therefore the case and condition of any amongst us cannot hold Paralell with theirs as haply Master Marshall would insinuate nor can they justly be terrified thereunto with that example Then Master Marshall comes to his second use which is for Exhortation to give up our selves to the service of the Church his motives thereunto are three from Gods Honour from our relation unto the Church and the Churches gaine and from our owne good both inward and outward all which motives may well serve to stirre us to give up our selves to the service of Gods Church and cause now managed and maintained by the King our Soveraigne 1. The Honour of God commands us for hereby we shall ingage our selves to maintaine the Act of Gods wisedome who hath placed the King of all other men in the world to be his Anointed and Vicegerent over us 2. Our relation to the Church requires it for as we are members of the body our care must be to defend the Head and uphold the Body it selfe which the Enemies endeavour also to dissolve Master Marshall tells us from the observation of Politicians that Common-wealths usually thrive when private Subjects are Common-wealths men He saies indeed but usually not alwaies for I am sure our Common-wealth was never so weakened and broken as it hath beene of late since private wealths men have taken upon them to be Common-wealths men But I dare say that the Church hath alwaies best thrived when private men in their proper spheare have proved themselves good Church men and had those amongst us done so they had doubtlesse prooved better Common-wealths men too then they are however they doe conceit of themselves both Church and Common Wealth had fared better had they in publique matters beene lesse busie 3. Our owne good perâ—wades us to give up our selves to the service of the Church we shall gaine three things by it inward peace outward Honours and a great reward saies Master Marshall 1. Inward peace which alwaies is then greatest when we have done any thing for the benefit of the publique 2. Honour before God and man for to have an influence as Master Marshall saies well into the welfare of many is not onely noble but also Angelicall yea divine 't is to imitate God himselfe who above all things minds the good of Sion that is the peace of his Church Saint Paul Rom. 16. commends many that they laboured much in the Lord i.e. in the waies and workes of the Lord which are waies of obedience and workes of mercy not of rebellion strife and cruelty And Saint Paul gloryed as Master Marshall notes in this that he laboured more aboundantly then others viz. to make peace among men and to plant the doctrine of faith and patience in men and he saies he became all things to all men that he might save some not destroy some no he wished in another place that they were cut oâ—f that did so cut off not by Master Marshall's bloudy sword but by Excommunication 3. A great reward we shall gaine to our selves in this life Houses and lands an 100 fold for what we loose saies Master Marshall perhaps he meanes out of the estates of others and everlasting life beside But I dare assure everlasting life if we endeavour in Gods way and suâ—ficiency here at least contentednesse which is equivalent and thus much breifely for the motives After these Master Marshall laies downe directions how we may be able to doe this service for the Church and first he shews what is requisite to fit and prepare us to doe the Church service and the meanes he laies downe are three Godlinesse selfe-deniall and Love 1. Men must be Godly And O that we Ministers on the Kings side could be meanes to worke this Condition in the hearts and lives of all His Majesties Souldiers I dare say the service would be better done and their endeavours would in many places be more speeded with a blessing 2. Men must deny themselves not seeke their owne ends nor proceed in their owne wayes when once they appeare sinfull in themselves or to others detrimentall I wish Master Marshall if he had beene in earnest had beene so happy as to have perswaded all and every of his Honourable Auditory to the practise of this point which as himselfe affirmeth rightly is the A. B. C. in Christs Schoole But alas the whole nation feeleth to its smart that he hath beene as unsuccessefull in teaching this first Lesson as my selfe and others have beene in pressing of the former which is a doctrine of an higher forme and of farther proficiency 3. Men must love the Church indeed love will make men labour and the labour of love is the best labour and most pleasing unto God But though our speciall love must be unto the Church yet we must love others too even those that yet are enemies to us and of a differing opinion from us yea though yet out of the state of grace it selfe and so love them as we may allure them we must not be bloudy or Cruell to them Master Marshall I observe speaks 2 or 3 times of love in his Sermon but it is only of love to the brethren that is as may without breach of Charity be supposed to those of his owne side and faction as for other men though of the same Nation perhaps Nature brethern of the same Parents they may be set at odds and tempted to hate or kill each other for such hath beene the practise of some of them that talke much of love to the brethren But I affirmâ— from Gods word that our hearts must be seasoned with love unto our enemies insomuch that we must after the example of our Saviour and our Soveraigne both truly desire and by our gentlenesse endeavour their good and this love as proceeding from a selfe-denying spirit is of all most acceptable to God and most serviceable to his Church After this Master Marshall proceeds in his method to shew what the freinds of the Church thus prepared must do He saies They must first informe themselves what the wants of
and estimation I beleeve scarce any of them but have Preached upon it at least have often quoted it or rather misconstrued it to their own purposes but how improper a Theame it is for their cause for these times and specially for a Fast day when Mr Marshall discoursed upon it shall in part be discovered in these following lines The God of all grace and truth guide my heart and pen by his holy spirit that I may write with that meeknesse as becomes a Minister of Christ to use in dealing with a lapsed Brother and with that fervor also as beseemeth him that is zealous for Gods Word and Honour that the seduced may be reclaimed from erroneous paths and the upright strengthned in their Loyall way to the Gospells glory and the salvation of Soules and thaâ— for my deare Lord and Masters sake Iesus Christ our Saviour Amen SECTION I. Wherein are discovered Mr Marshalls Mis-apprehensions WHen Mr Marshall by way of introduction hath discovered the scope of the Chapter and in speciall of this verse he comes to shew first how suteable to his apprehension the text is to his present occasion then he devides and after his manner interprets the same and lastly he raises or concludes upon his main doctrine I shall follow him throughout in his own method and way First for the sutablenesse he saies the Text or Theame is suteable and exceeding seasonable in respect 1 Of the times wherein we live 2 Of the temper of most people 3 Of the occasion of that daies meeting 4ly and specially in respect of that Honourable Assembly I shall be bold to shew how M. Marshall is mistaken in all these particulars 1. It is seasonable saies he to the times wherein we live when abundance of mighty Enemies rise up against the Lord and against his Church Now in this I suppose M. Marshall forgat himselfe for these times wherein we live are times of the Gospell and therefore are or should be times of blessing whereas the Text is a Text of the old time a Text of cursing And indeed although abundance of mighty enemies doe rise up against the Lord and against his Church yet Christ in the Gospell did not leave his Church either precept or example to curse her enemies no nor the enemies of the Lord himselfe but he hath left both precept and example directly to the contrary 1. Precept Mat. 5.43 44 45. c. He speakes not only to them there present but to his whole Church and what he then spake was to endure for ever and to be a rule to her throughout all ages in cases of this nature His command is that she should blesse and not curse yea that she should blesse them that curse her the words are these you have heard that it hath been said namely in old time thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy but I say unto you saies Christ love your enemies blesse them that curse you doe good to them that hate you pray for them that despightfully use you and persecute you that you may be or may approve your selves to be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven for he deales thus with those that be his enemies he makes the Sun to shine and his raine to fall both upon the evill and upon the good if you love them only that love you or salute your brethren only those of your own opinion of your own side or faction what doe you more then the Publicans or Heathens doe who have no acquaintance with God with Christ or with his Gospell be you therefore perfect as your heavenly father is perfect as if he had said it becomes you that professe your selves to be mine to endeavour after more then an Heathenish perfection it is an Heavenly perfection which you must strive for and to obtaine this you must leave the practices of old time which were to hate and curse your Enemies and you must practice the cleane contrary And for the better understanding of this let me here by the way minde the World again of what I have already informed her in my Treatise of The right nature and temper of the spirit of the Gospell viz. that there is a great difference between the Ancient times those before Christ and those since his coming not in respect of time it selfe for that is alwaies the same but in respect of the coming of Christ who brought with him a new spirit which both must and doth manifest it selfe in all his true servants The former times might haply be times for cursing and revenge times of death and terrour Gods name then by which he was known and called was Deus ultionum the God of Revenge for as such a one he was pleased then oft-times to discover himselfe Adam having sinned was presently cast out of Paradise Corah and his companions having Rebelled vengeance speedily laid hold upon them Meroz having faulted was presently Cursed but by the coming of Christ the times were changed to be times of mercy and favour times of grace and pitty of patience and forbearance of life and Salvation and God from thence forth was called by a new name scil. Pater misericordiarum and Deus consolationum the Father of mercies and God of consolation and as such a one he declares himselfe he dealt more forbearingly with Corazin and Bethsaida then formerly he had done with Sodome and Gomorrah and Paul then Saul went breathing out threatnings against Gods Saints yet mercy reached him Mary Magdalen and the Theefe were great sinners yet vengeance did not overwhelme them yea many of those that crucified Christ were not taken away as they deserved but being afterwards converted by Peters Sermon Act. 2. tasted mercy Had Meroz been standing in the daies of the Gospell in Christs time and had failed in her duty as she here did she should not presently have been loaden with a Curse but rather reprooved and admonished of her Errour and had time granted her to repent in and therefore though this Text of M. Marshall might haply have been seasonable for the old times to be preached to the Captaines and Leaders of the Lords Hosts as he calls those that he preached it unto yet it doth not follow that 't is a like seasonable now For by the comming of Christ I say there was a change made in the times and so ought there to be in men in their thoughts words and carriages yea and in their preaching too in which there must Consideration be had to times and seasons But I returne and will second that Precept of our Saviour with the Testimony of his two great Apostles St Peter and S. Paul both Preachers in the time of the Gospell and both indued with the Spirit and minde of Christ first S. Peter 1. Pet. 3.9 render not evill for evill or railing for railing but contrariwise blessing knowing that you are thereunto called that you should inherit the blessing whence we learne that men
So in another place 't is said that the Servant of God who would win others to mind the things of God must not strive much lesse curse but be gentle unto all men apt to teach patient in meeknesse instructing them that be contrary minded and that oppose themselves trying if God will as peradventure that way he will give them repentance to acknowledge the truth and so be recovered out of the Devills snare wherein doublesse all they are intangled that mind their owne things more then the things of Christ In those purer times this was the onely way which Gods Ministers tooke to alter mens mindes and tempers we beseech you saies the Apostle to be reconciled to God nay God by us beseecheth you God himselfe the person offended seeketh and prayeth to be reconciled with his Enemies even as our gratious King hath done to be at peace with them that have so highly abused him The Prophet Hosea forespeaking of these times tells us that God would draw people to himselfe with the Chaines of Love he would take them aside and speake friendly to them pardon their iniquity cover their sinnes and so allure them in a gentle way to mind him more and themselves lesse And shall any pretender for God or Christ thinke harshnesse and cursing a better way or meane to effect the same thing 2. Naturall Reason perswades the contrary He that knowes whereof man is made and what is in man and is the searcher of his Heart yea and the changer of it too Reason saies can best of all direct in the way to alter the same Besides if it be true which the Apostle saies that the preaching of the Law doth put us out of frame and temper by meanes of sinne that dwelleth in us which becomes thereby more outragious then Reason suggests that much more will the preaching of Curses doe the same thing Againe that course which is not availeable to draw one man to another betweene whom there is a lesser distance can never be Effectuall to draw men to God betweene whom the distance is farre greater That which cannot provoke us to love our Neighbours as our selves or to mind his things as our owne can never prevaile to stirre us up to love God better then our selves and to mind the things of Christ above our owne Reason teacheth all this I confesse these harsh Themes or Texts may be suteable enough as they may be handled to drive people out of themselves and to make them mind their owne affaires but little but how they should drive any nearer unto God unlesse by accident or cause them to set their affections on things above my Reason cannot apprehend our blessed Saviour would not goe in Mr Marshalls way when he dealt with Iudas the Traitor for when that Apostate desciple for his worldly advantage sake went as a Chaplaine with the Souldiers to apprehend his Lord and Soveraigne Christ did not at that time fall to curse him for minding his mony more then his Master his gaine more then his Conscience but with a mild Compellation doth insinuate unto him how he covered a most foule Treason under a faire pretence friend saies he betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kisse which very manner of speech without all question did so worke upon the Spirit of the Traitor afterward that he never joyed in his mony more but ere long brings it back to the Close Committee and there he leaves it confessing that he had betrayed Innocent Bloud now surely by the consent even of Reason this course which Christ tooke is most seasonable to the temper of those people that mind their owne things most if we would worke in them a sight of their Errour and not that which M. Marshall seemes to fancy Which also 3. Experience it selfe contradicteth M. Marshall teacheth us in the 6th Page of his Sermon that to Curse is maledicere verbo malefacere re to speake evill to revile to reproach to wish mischiefe unto to doe any evill against a man to execute indeed to the utmost of power what one would wish in word in briefe 't is to deale with a man as M. Marshalls Faction have â—ince dealt with the King and with the Queene But did ever any one read or heare or by experience see any man that was yet a stranger to God or to Religion converted by these meanes How this Generation of New Reformers are like to prevaile for Christ in this their way let all men judge according to observation It is most true they have not failed in any one of M. Marshalls particulars in their endeavours with the Queene they have spoken evill of her reviled her reproached her slandered her robbed her spoyled her shot at her persecuted and hunted her out of the Kingdome done her all the mischiefe both in word and deed which was in their power to doe and sorry they were that their power was not answerable to their will to have proceeded farther in their evills against her and all this was to bring her into love with the Protestant Religion which they most scandalously and falsely say themselves are of though indeed of all Religions in the world the true Protestant Religion doth most of all oppose and contradict such wayes and courses and they are the greatest Enemies that ever the Protestant Religion had thus to slander and disgrace the same yea they have occasioned hereby many unhallowed men and women to blaspheme our holy Profession and to commend of that of the Adversaries of Rome the Pope had never such an Harvest in England this foureskore yeares put altogether as he hath had in these foure yeares last past or since these men have managed the Militia This experience doth teach us and on the other side the same Mistrisse doth assure us that the onely way to worke an Evangelicall temper in those that differ from us is to make unto them a presentation of Christs Example in our teaching to discover his Conditions in our behaviours to manifest his meeknesse and affability in our speeches which course indeed doth mightily calme the rage of sinne and extinguish the heat of it yea it tames the heart of a sinner captivates his spirit and after a manner inforceth him to mind his owne things lesse and the things of Christ more O had our New Reformers but gone this way to worke I dare boldly say they might have done God much service but their pleading for the Militia was a plaine disclaiming of this way of Christ And thus we see from Scripture Reason and Experience that M. Marshall is as much mistaken in the seasonablenesse of his Text in the second respect as in the former and I suppose the ground of his mistake is this he did not sufficiently consider of peoples tempers and dispositions 3ly Mr Marshall saies His Text is seasonable to the occasion of this dayes meeting which is purposely for the helpe of the Lord and his cause and people
beginning of his Epistle Dedicatory before his Sermon doth prove it It is fit saies he my obedience should last as long as your Commands which therefore are supposed to be never errant for so I have alwayes interpreted your requests and desires to be we can say no otherwise to God himselfe and no question but M. Marshall would have all men of his mind ergo 2. That all men should beleeve and take their cause to be Gods c. is evident in that he saies they are all called to be Leaders and Captaines of the Lords Host called that is immediately by the Lord himselfe as Deborah Barack and the Iudges of old were by some speciall instinct and inspiration no other kind of call can he challenge for them for the King by whom God ordinarily calls and makes Captaines and Leaders of his Host I am sure M. Marshall himselfe will not say did call them together to doe as they doe to set his Kingdomes in a Combustion but rather to confirme and establish them in a further Peace not to raise Armies against his owne Person and expresse Commands but to consult together for the tranquillity and safety of his people Now if they be such as M. Marshall intitles them and so called as he without any proofe supposeth them then it must needs follow that they who helpe them helpe the Lord and their cause must be the cause of the Lord 3. That all who doe not helpe them and their cause are to be accursed accounted of and dealt withall as was expressed the tenour of M. Marshalls discourse upon his Text in the proofe of his doctrine doth sufficiâ—ntly declare as I shall shew when I come to note his Misapplications But further that M. Marshalls meaning is the same as was expressed I doe appeale to the people whose Evidence is as sufficient in this case as M. Marshalls owne They will witnesse with me that they doe thus interpret and understand him as was apparent not onely by the Prisoners that were taken at Brampton-Bryan Castle of whom is mention in the Preface to this discourse but also by that extract of them those miserable wretches that were slaine at Hopton Castle for they while they maintained the same against the Kings Souldiers amongst other revileing and blasphemous expressions some of them would cry out O you Rogues you doggs will you fight against the Lord against your redeemer which plainly infers that 't is a generall position infused into them all by their teachers that their cause is the cause of God and they that oppose them oppose the Lord which blasphemous expression occasioned others as vile from some of the prophaner sort of our men which indeed I tremble to expresse and afterward when that Castle was taken that blasphemy of theirs together with other opprobrious and reviling speeches did stir up that rage in the mercilesse Souldiers which occasioned that barbarous and inhumane slaughter of those miserable men for which my heart hath often bled in secret as God knowes it being an Act however deserved on the sufferers part yet too too cruelly inflicted by the Kings men most contradicting His Majesties meeke and gratious Spirit of much disparage among vulgar people to His righteous Cause and most unbeseeming Christian Souldiers insomuch that my prayer is and shall ever be good Lord smite the hearts of the Actors in and Consenters unto that bloody Tragoedy with true remorse for that their barbarous cruelty But here by the way I would have all men note the originall cause of that and such like deeds of barbarousnesse and inhumanity the Preachers of that side infuse by their doctrines such blasphemous and bloody Principles into their men who being of the common sort doe think it part of their zeale to discover the same in words as well as when they have power to performe it in deeds and thereby doe exasperate the opposite party to pay them home in their own Coyne for they think they have as good grounds to reckon themselves to be for the Lord as the others have and if to be bloody and cruell be the way to shew it they can be as bloody as they though I am sure our men have not so learned Christ from their teachers but alas the examples of others though deadly Enemies will prevaile more in matters of evill then the precepts of any though of neerest friends in matters of good And thus have we seen M. Marshalls mistakes in the seasonablenesse of his Text insomuch that I suppose it may be concluded contrary to what he fancyeth that his Text was most unseasonable 1. In respect of the times being times of the Gospell and so times of Blessing and not of Cursing of returning good for evill and not on the contrary of overcoming both ours and Gods Enemies with our benefits and Prayers 2. In respect of the temper of most People who in these last and worst dayes do generally mind their own things and not the things of Iesus Christ to please their own humours their own corruptions which are rather to curse and wish hurt to others then to dislike of such curses the things of Christ his precepts his commands are contrary to our selfish inclinations 3. In respect to the occasion of the dayes meeting which was being a Fast day to humble themselves for their former uncharitablenesse towards their Brethren to get their spirits meekned by Gods word and so fitted to serve the Lord in their callings and to be assistant to his cause and people by their Prayers which must proceed from hearts and mouths seasoned with Charity and not with Cursing 4. But specially it seems to be a Text most unseasonable to the Honourable Assembly of Parliament who all should be as the Lord dealing out blessings to this Nation as the Lord doth and the rather because they were call'd together for that purpose and not to be a Curse unto us they are called saies M. Marshall to be Captains and Leaders of the Lords Host I suppose he means or should meane under the Captain Generall Christ Iesus and therefore 't is fit they should be conformable to his Orders and to his Example in all their wayes and Carriages He was mercifull peaceable and indulgent to his inferiors and so should these have been provoked by him to be whereas to Preach of Cursing to them and so to imbittor their spirits must needs be most improper and unseasonable and the only way to make them unlike the Lord whose Leaders and Captains over us they ought to be I am sure it hath been a meane to breed extreame disorders and confusions And thus I have discovered M. Marshalls Misapprehensions in the Choice of his Text and so I end the first Section SECTION II. Wherein are discovered Mr Marshall's Misinterpretations I Shall now take a view also of his Interpretation of his Text which followes after his division of it which is this In this Text saies he which I call the doom of
Marshalls meaning 2. The Persons to whom this doctrine was first preach'd and afterward being put in print dispersed had it been preach'd to the English Army in Ireland or after it was printed had the Copies been sent over by M. Marshall to the Souldiers thither it might probably have been conjectured that by the Babilonians he had intended those Irish Papists who extreamly had butcheâ—ed and slaughtered the English Protestants in that Kingdome and that his aymes had been to have our Souldiers there to revenge the bloud of their Nation and Brethren But this doctrine and example was urged upon the House of Commons at Westminster who never intended if themselves could helpe to leave their fortresse and strong hold of London to looke into Ireland and after its publication it was sent to Brampton-Bryan-Castle in Hereford-shire and to Coventry and Northampton and to Namptwitch in Cheshire and to Gloster and other such like places in England whose inhabitants and fighting men were never intended should be sent into Ireland to punish the Babilonians there for there was a new Babell in making at home themselves did create and denominate a daughter of Babilon whom they destined also to be destroyed and this Sermon as a speciall peece was sent about the Countreys to awaken mens spirits to the execution as have many others of the like nature since that time And what can be imagined to be the intention of that White Member who hath been so bold with the Black Divell as publikely to take his Office out of his hand of flandering and accusing the Brethren I mean Him who hath endeavoured in Print to scandalize and defame by Centuries or Hundreds those Ministers of Iesus whom himselfe and his fellowes have persecuted what could his aymes therein be but only to make them to be thought Babilonians and to exasperate the vulgar People and Souldiers to rob them of their lives even as himselfe and the rest before had done of their Lively hoods and maintainance indeed as their fore-fatherâ— the Heathen persecutors did deale with the Christians of those times they wrapped them up in beasts skins that so the doggs might be provoked ignorantly to rend and teare them which otherwise would not have fastned upon them so doe they now endeavour by beastly vices and false reports to obscure the office and graces of Christs Ambassadours that so the misled and seduced vulgar might be exasperated and encouraged to murder and destroy them But O our God we will wait for thy salvation for unto thee we have referred our cause 3. Consider the Effect which this doctrine of M. Marshall and those examples by him alleadged to confirme the same hath wrought in the persons to whom it was preached and sent Have the men of Westminster or the Faction there done any thing ever since but studied to make good that interpretation before expressed of M. Marshalls mind and like obedient Auditors to regulate their practice according to it and those of the common sort when they have been urged to shew a warrant for their bloudy and rebelliouâ— way they have onely alleadged those two Scriptures and M. Marshalls interpretation of them in that sence expressed which shews plainly they did so understand them from whence they have learned to account us as they call us Popish doggs Brats of Babell friends of Rome and Lims of Anti-Christ yea every one that is not for the Parliament as they call it they look upon as on a daughter of Babilon made to be destroyed and conceit of themselves that they should be accurâ—ed of God if they should do the work of the Lord negligently that is if they should not behave themselves cruelly towards us whereas they doubt not of a blessing if they shall but deale with us as the Babilonians are to be dealt withall stock us up both root and branch that our names may be no longer had in remembrance yea they are perswaded many of them that they doe God most acceptable service in killing any of us under that notion I could give instances of some who have stollen into the Chamber where some whom they have taken to be Cavaliers have been asleep and shot them dead and then gloryed in it as in a work most acceptable to God as also I could instance in some of that party who being poysoned with such like doctrines as this of M. Marshall have held that they ought not in Conscience to give Quarter to any of the Kings side nor to take any Quarter from them Yea farther yet I could name the partyes some of whom have been men of note too and trust among them who I am sure do know M. Marshall and are known of him and have well perused this his Sermon and have his full sence thereof who have said and protested that in this their cause viz. to promote the same they would cut the throate of their own Father and Mother These three particulars of time persons and effects being thought upon will sufficiently evidence to any mans heart M. Marshalls meaning to be as was expressed But perhaps some will say what bloudy actions have yet been done by any of that side which have not been out done by the Cavaliers and where can it be shewn that they have exercised that cruelty upon little Children I answere to the first that my particular undertakeing is not to enumerate their particular bloudy Actions 't is too big a task for one man yet Mercurius Rusticus hath spoken somewhat to that purpose with particular intimation of persons times and places and more I beleeve the world shall understand hereafter Nor will I take upon me to justifie all the Cavaleers to be free from cruelty the God of Heaven knowes my heart hath bled in secret to hearâ— of some of their carriages in this kind so contrary to the spirit of Christ and oâ— the Gospell and to the mind and disposition of our gratious King But this I dare say they are not by their Ministers so taught as M. Marshall and his fellowes teach their Auditors and the truth is the Cavaleers learne much of their cruelty from them for they heare and read how M. Marshall and the rest doe stirre up those on their side to esteeme of them and to deale with them And they thinke they have as good authority to account in like sort oâ— them and to deale accordingly with them even to reckon of them as of Babilonians too and Enemies of Gods Church specially because they do so vilifie the Religion of Christ established amongst us abusing and destroying the places of Gods worship And so betwixt the one side and the other the whole Land if this unnaturall Warre continues is like to be unpeopled ere long and to be even drowned with the bloud of her owne natives let M. Marshall and those of his side aske their owne Consciences who is like to answer for it at Gods Tribunall But further I say the cruelty of the Cavaleers is not
in all respects so high as that of their Enemies for I beleeve no reasonable man but will confesse that 't is better to be killd out right then to be hackt and hewne about the head and face and to have their hands cut off or at least the sinewes of their right armes all cut in peices deliberately after Quarter promised to the end they may never be able to fight for their King and Country more nor get their â—ivings but live most miserable Cripples all their dayes which is the practice of these cruell and mercilesse men And whereas 't is said where hath there been such cruelty acted yet upon Women and Children I answer that I could name where in a most savage manner they have trampled both Women and Children to death under their Horses feet Perhaps they have not dealt so barborously yet in places neare to their owne associate Counties for feare the spirits of those amongst them who have not yet quite put of all bowells should rise against them and fall off from them And M. Marshall doth well inferre unto us that the determinate time of the slaughter of Infants is not till the Cities and Counties be quite subdued but when they shall afterwards come and with deliberation look into the places themselves have conquered then O then must the massacre of our tender Infants be then must they be pricked upon the swords poynt to speake in M. Marshalls phrase or else have their braines dashed out against the walls Indeed should this extreame barbarousnesse be acted sooner it might be greatly to the weakning of their cause and therefore M. Marshall I beleeve is in the right in setting downe the appoynted time which doubtlesse did fall from his pen unawares to himselfe God did suffer him a knowing man in secrets of that nature to hint unto the Kings friends and Loyall Subjects what they must expect shall be the portion of them and their posterity if these men prevaile that so they might timely beware of them and prepare to defend themselves against them God give us hearts to take a right notice Amen But I returne This being evidently M. Marshalls meaning that all we who are not of their Faction must be understood to be Babilon and therefore to be destroyed root and branch our selves and Children Then also on the other side if the Paralell be perfect M. Marshall yeelds his side who must doe Execution upon us and upon our Infants to be the Heathenish Medes and Persians who shed bloud onely to inrich themselves to enlarge their Territories and to domineere over others they are not the Church or people of God for the Church which had been so evilly handled in Babilon did not undertake to punish her the Psalme tells us that her part was onely to weep and mourne under her burden nor indeed as was noted before did God ever imploy her to revenge her selfe Israell was to live in subjection quietly in Babilon and to pray for the Peace of the Country This I say is in speciall to be noted from M. Marshalls Paralell whom he yeelds his Faction to be if we be Babilon And then also let us heare call to mind what we were bid before to remember Namely that ere while when Babilon was on the rising hand and to shed the bloud of Moab then these men must be Babilon themselves and they thought they should be under the Curse if they did not act her part but now Babilons time is come that her bloud must be let out we must be Babilon another while for they will be in her Coat no longer they must still act the part of Executioners Good God what Tigers bloud did these men suck Well but since we must be Babilon and drinke of her cup yet according to the Scripture alleadged our punishment ought to be but answerable to our sinne we should be rewarded but as we have served Gods people Now therefore let M. Marshall shew when and where our gratious King His Nobles Gentry His Reverend Bishops and Learned Clergy have acted any such bloudy cruelties against the people Church of God that should merit such a retaliation as M. Marshall hath proportioned out for them whose bones have they broken whose Children have they murdered what barbarousnesse or inhumanity in this kind have they at any time perpetrated nay which of them as M. Marshall himselfe hath here done did ever stirre up to the acting of such things Hath not this Kingdome been the Asylum to the persecuted flock of Christ when they have fled out of all the neighbour Nations hath not the Bosome of our Religious Soveraigne been alwayes open to receive them hath not the wing of his Protection been spread to shelter them And hath not our envied Nobility and Gentry our hated Bishops and now despised Clergy manifested the tendernesse of their Bowells in affording reliefe to Forreigners and Strangers whom they saw in misery hath not the blessing of those that were ready to perish came frequently upon them I referr these things to the testimonies of those thankefull and humble people whose spirits have been refreshed with our English Bounty And O thou God of Heaven who knowest the secrets of all hearts and wayes though thy servants who are now persecuted under the Notion of Babilonians and turned out of those their possessions wherein thy hand did place them have done nothing for thine afflicted Church and people but what thine owne mercifull and loving spirit did provoke them unto nor did they give them any other reliefe then what thy selfe didst first give them to bestow so that of thine owne hand they did receive what they have distributed to thy people yet be thou witnesse for them against their Enemies remember them concerning these things and wipe not out the good deeds which they have done for the House of God But perhaps I shall be answered as I have often heard some of that side say that the bloud which was shed by the Popish Bishops in Queene Maries dayes with the approbation of them that sate in the Throne and of the Nobility and Gentry is not yet expiated and the guilt thereof still runs in the veines of their Posterity specially in the Hyerarchy which together with Monarchy upholding the same doth make up the perfect body of Antichrist now these whom wâ— oppose being the supporters of and welwillers to the same are all Antichristian Babilonians and therefore all the bloud which their Fore-fathers have shed is to come upon the Heads of this present Generation and must be required of the same this is the Answer to which I thus reply Our New state-men for want of matter to quarrell at neare at hand can fetch it a great way off So one of their Learned Ministry an Essex man arguing against my selfe maintaining as my duty was the innocency of my Soveraigne and the uprightnesse of his cause told me that he thought and his thought though it was simply his yet not