are indeed the supreme power taken up into the throne of God living in the secret place of the most high That the most high God rules in you and gives his highest wisdome and justice to you And that you have a more exquisite sense of the good and evil of the Nation then any and more able to judge what is truly for their good and to resolve those questions and controversies which yet lie in doubt and darknesse amongst us And that you are in the power of God mighty to save them when men cannot being the people of GOD or qualified with a divine strength Though the Kingdome be miserably broken and those that have attempted to heal it through unskilfulnesse and unmercifulnesse have more abus'd the poor people yet there is hope in Israel concerning this thing There is balm in Gilead Though there be none in the waies of men yet there is amongst the people of God in Israel that is a prince with God and prevails over men Though the Sunne be turn'd into darknesse and the Moon to blond there is confusion shame and despair in and upon the greatest lights of the world Yet in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance as the LORD hath said and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call Joel 2.31 32 in the LORDS people a despis'd remnant is Englands salvation Therefore let them know that though through the floud of wickednesse that is broken forth amongst us religion be laid waste order and government in Church and Common-wealth be dissolved and the honour royalty greatnesse riches trade of the Nation be visibly lost yet there is a power with you that can recover all these into light and health againe to the satisfaction of all that desire to see good daies This al-creating al-restoring power is with us and wil not faile us in our worke Isay 58.11 12. The Lord shall guide thee continually c. Thou shalt be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters faile not Thou shalt build the old waste places thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations and thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach the restorer of paths to dwell in There is a fountain and spring of the spirit of God that shall run over the whole Kingdome and not faile in any worke you are upon be it never so high great and honourable and all that is excellent in the Kingdome though it be sunke into the foundations yet you wil restore and repaire them again Fourthly I present you to the Kingdome and so must you present your selves to them as the fruit of their own womb The son of God begotten by the Spirit of God of this Nation form'd and shaped by the divine wisdome out of the bowels of the people Or that little stone a precious stone being irradiated with the holy and divine nature cut out of the mountain or the Kingdome without hands There is in you the life and spirit of the Kingdome the vigour and strength of the Nation her first-born you are the staffe and strength of her age and although of all the children that she hath formerly brought forth by her elections laws customes there is none that can take her by the hand and guide her out of her distresse yet you will kindely put under your shoulders to carry her in your arms to a place of rest Cast away therefore that vail of a party of any particular interest and looke forth in your owne true face a childe and heir of the Kingdome our owne flesh and bloud of tender affection to us and pity of us we have given you lite and being by our purses prayers persons councels t is our life religion estate cause bloud that runs in your veines and therefore you owe to us your selves life strength paines labours watchings and ought to lay them all out freely for us purely in love and repayment of the debt you owe to us And coming upon these terms as the childe of our travels pangs and distresses the childe of our desires and prayers the issue of many consultations affections disbursments feares hopes the first borne of our owne Lord and Husband God and bearing his owne image upon you holinesse righteousnesse goodnesse we cannot but with joy embrace you after our sore travels and afflictions and though many people dying in feare and despaire as Rachel call you BEN-ONI The Son of my sorrow yet your Father who lives will call you BENJAMIN the Son of my right hand Let the Spirit of the Lord file off your roughnesse and un-evennesse and blow away that dust that covers your beauty and we shal see you a stone solid firme and stable that cannot be broken by any devices or force a precious stone that contains in it all the interests all that 's good or worthy in the Kingdome That you are as cut out so laid by the hand and art of God in Sion a tried stone a precious corner stone a sure foundation he that believeth maketh not haste You have beene tried and are found precious and a corner stone in which all our rights are laid and so squar'd by God with that exact justice as to be a rule and square to the whole Kingdome and a sure foundation of an everlasting peace such a foundation as hath the whole building in it and this will make men stay upon you and believe in you not hastening after any other helpe or Saviour You are being formed by God of that true and intrinsecall worth that you have the prise of the Nation in you and that in spirit and so in the purest and best union which is to us a ground and bottome of true peace But you neglect this true substantiall union and are making another an agreement of the people which shewes a grossenesse and filthinesse of spirit not able to discerne the union of God in you in one heart and minde and not onely amongst your selves but of the whole Kingdom in their true and right sense and therefore are framing a carnall and fleshly one according to the custome of the Heathen a worke below the Lord and a descending into the earth to doe that which God hath done already most excellently You are a living Altar and a lifting up a toole unto it doth polute it The Lord is building a house which is from heaven and you know the patterne is in the Mount and is thence brought forth the stone it made ready and there must not be beard while t is building neither hammer ax or any toole of iron in the house this sawing and cutting to make an outward literall agreement vexes and wounds your spirits and tends to dis-unite you from the Lord and from each other The Lord is with you in union he is one and gives you true unity one soule and spirit Therefore stand up and come forth in that entire forme that the Lord hath cast you into in that image that he stamps
him and put us into this state as he hath foretold Rev. 20. The camp of the Saints The Armies in heaven Thus have we brought you forth as the Virgin daughter of Zion a select and chosen Generation a lovely and pretious people But yet a femall a woman and so in flesh and weaknesse being subject to sin and suffering a state that must be tried and by temptations improved t is no sure nor stable condition being not in compleat and eternall union with God you have had the love of espousals many kinde favours from God a Father a Lord but have sind against them and him for which he hath caus'd you a while to wander in darke and troublesome waies and not admitted you to that state of rest and glory which he intends to you He hath taken the Crown and Diadem from off your head for your unbeliefe and departure from him and for that impurity which was in you he stript you of your beautifull garments of Praise and Honour that once clothed you and so expos'd you to wrath curses reproach and put you again into a new fire of trouble to purifie you to make you seeke the Lord. But he hath not dealt with you as he hath dealt with other people he hath refrained for his namesake that he might not make an utter end of you Because he will have a people that shall bear his name Hath he smiteen him as he smote those that smote him Or is he slain according to the slaughter of them that are flaine by him No In measlure when it shouteth forth thou wilt debate with it be stayeth his rough winde in the day of the east winde By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sin When he maketh all the stones of the alter as chalke stones that are beat asunder c. Isa 27 There is a a shouting forth of the righteous branch in you and therefore we must stay all rough windes and breath gentle gales upon you your iniquity being taken away we will present you holy to the Lord and marry you to the God of your salvation Know therefore that the Lord the most high God is in the midst of you is in you and with you in a glorious presence as you have professed The glorious God or the glory of God dwels with you or God in his highest glory rests upon you so that you are not only the People of England but the People of God sanctified by the holy mighty wise spirit of God and en lowed by the divine wisedome strength and justice and you are as an Army so the LORDS hoast or the Lord himselfe in his great majesty appearing amongst men in an hoast the whole hoast of heavenly and blessed men and Angels with all their various and innumerable excellencies and perfections gathered together and embodied upon the earth in you An earthly Army in union with the heavenly host or the Lord of hoasts in Mount Sion among his people gloriously This is your Righteousnesse the Lord Jehovah is your covering your garment of salvation and onely this can justifie you honest intentions aid good meanings are rotten rags and too narrow to cover your nakednesse we shall therefore open and unfold this glory unto you and bring forth this your righteousnesse First The Lord is with you in his highest and greatest majesty there is no power no glory of God but t is in you and with you and no power nor glory greater then that which dwels in you none besides none above none beyond it The Lord is here the most high God and with him all power in heaven and earth there is no wisedome or strength that you have not and all imaginations of a power absent from you either in heaven or earth is an injury or accusation to Gad and to you is theft and robbery stealing away the riches of God from you and from himselfe in you if you look upon the Kingdome of God the new creation new heavens and new earth as absent or to come you deny the holy one with you who is present in deed and power though under your weakenesse Secondly The Lord is with you in perfect union and communion you are what he is he is what you are whatever is in him t is communicated to you and whatever is in you is communicated to him Is there power or glory in God t is in you also Or is there weaknesse in you it lies upon him Or is there righteousnesse in God t is in you as it is in him to live in it act in it and by it to employ and bring forth And is there infirmity in you t is in him as t is in you a clogge a burden an enemy hated separated taken away c. Nothing now is spoken of God but may be spoken of you you being in union with him or nothing spoken or done to you but t is done to God with you you being one And t is the blasphemy of hell and divell to separate God from you or you from God Will men say you are Rebels Destroyers they say it of the Lord or will you or satan in you say you are weake and men and can't do such high things they are too great for us you and they will know you speak the same of God and so judge him as weak and unable to do them For in nothing you must be divided or if you think that is God's but this is our work you wrong God and your selves you must speak the words and doe the workes of God God is now God in the earth and you an Army in heaven 3. The Lord is with you in spirit and truth eternally inseparably in a kingdome that never shall be destroyed in an everlasting covenant that cannot be broken The kingdome is so with you the Lords people as it shall never be taken front you but shall endure for ever and all oppressing feares or dark doubts they are of the malicious one your enemy and the darknesse of hell that obscures the glory of God which is an everlasting light a Sun that will not set and all attempts of Satan or his instruments will be as waves against a rock dash'd in pieces and you shall grow from a little stone to a great mountain from a little branch to a great tree that shall spread it selfe and fill the earth with fruit Upon this mountain shall the hand of the Lord rest Having laid this foundation now shall thy light break forth as the morning and thine health shall spring forth speedily and thy righteousnesse shall go before thee and the glory of the Lord shall be thy rerc-ward you shall at once have light cleare light to walke by health to cure your diseases to make you strong and Righteouesse to justifie all that you doe For these cannot be separated when the Sun rises with light to direct he is a Sun of righteousnesse to
as we have made it If we set up an earthly and fleshly form it will corrupt and turn enemy to us that exalt it except we set up God and set up in all the powder of God and all in the power of God or all quickned with the Spirit of God And being the hoast of God and having all fulnes of the Spirit or being attended with al the divine perfections we can and shall spread forth in the fruits of righteousnes And establish righteousnes in persons and things living righteousnes This is your true state and the first and least of it and lesse then this is not your righteousnes I cant speak or think lesse of you he that thinks or speaks less then this or contrary to this be it Satan in you or others blasphemes the tabernacle of God them that dwel in heaven This is your own life and all below it are fancies dreams and lies Babylon and confusion keeping holding Zion from her glory T is a blessed face of God and the light of his countenance shining upon you and I know there is another face which is the same in you that answers to this and though it hath bin vaild awhile the brightnes and power of this will scatter that mist and call forth its own self and likenes in you to imbrace this Righteousnes looks down from heaven here upon you we might question whether it would be received or no whether it would not be judged a fancy a conceit but that we know also Truth springs out of the earth the same spirit hath been acting a long while in you though under and in the earth buried under flesh but now wil come forth and answer to this or say t is â—râ—th and make it truth in the performance You wil not say this is righteous in God he may do al this it is proper for him but not for us No righteousnes and peace have kissed each other you are râ—conciled to this righteousnes the partition wall is broken down of two made one new man and so you cannot but receive and rejoyce in it mercy here meets with truth in your brests The heavens powr down righteousnes and the earth opens and salvation springs forth together The Lord is come down yea the heavens all the host of them al the stars of righteousnes and the same truth arises out of you and these together are salvation God out of you works but in weaknes in trouble so do you out of God both together bring forth salvation I shall I know meet with this objection from your selves and others that this will be true but not yet and that it is farre otherwise with you for the present t is that you expect but t is not yet manifested To this I answer That this truth is eternall and there is no moment wherein you can say t is not t is he that was is and is to come That therefore it is darknes that denies it or that 's a deepe pit that saies t is not here doe not abide in such darknesse of hel where eternall truth will not be admitted That as it alwayes hath been so it now is brought forth borne into the world the childe is born I have been long travelling for him and now lay him amongst you it is true it is in the Stable amongst beasts Swadled and lying in a Manger in a very meane and contemptible condition but I shall own him and nurse him and so will you I hope it is your own God and Saviour though wrapped up in flesh and in the midst of a beastly crue yet smiling in your face offered to you yea arising up in you And he whom you have sought for is now come into his Temple you have long conceiv'd him and travelled too to bring him forth and now Behold thy King cometh riding upon an asse receive him and say This is the Lord we have waited for him If you can yet say these things are brought forth in you but not in us we cannot owne them in power you may we are yet in the flesh t is your light not ours we live not in this glory nor can act in it we must goe our way No t is yours as well as mine and not mine as distinct from you but mine in you and with you for we have but one life one spirit and if it breake forth first in me t is for your sakes T is not a personall or private spirit but the Spirit of God and of all the Saints t is the life and soule of the Army and therefore you cannot be strangers to it sure so soone as you see it you will say this is our portion our rock our strength But if you are in the flesh and this glory be not suffered to act in you What 's the reason of it Who lets Is it not the man of sin If it be so then you confesse your selves guilty of what I have formerly written for this man of sinne is not a limb or member but a compleat man and so hath all sinne in him where flesh is it is a body of sinne having all iniquity weav'd together into one vail pride hypocrisy self-seeking enmity against God and all in the highest way of sinne whose coming it after the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders and with all deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse T is no lesse then Satan though with all power and signes of praying seeking God justice and lying wonders wonderfull great things but lying because separated from the eternall truth with all deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse I know none righteous but God and all waies beside are to deceive And if this spirit be in you it is not idle it comes forth this bloud runs in the veines of al your actions the Lord said it of you long ago Ezech. 21.24 Yee have made your iniquity to be remembred in that your transgressions are discovered so that in all your doings your sins doe appeare And thou prophane wicked Prince of Israel whose day is come when iniquity shall have an end This filth lies not still but comes forth in all your actions and fils them with darknesse weaknesse confusion instability but an end it come of sinne and that wicked Prince is cast out I am pacified towards you fury is not in me I have no more to accuse you of If you now object as I doubt you will your being in the flesh your weaknesse inability to manage these high and great waies the sense of your unworthinesse and sinfulnesse obscuring this glory Observe this 1. You now are the accusers I have done I have nothing to say against you I appear'd in fury and jealousie against you and by that fire have purified you and burnt up that drosse that was in you it s all cast into the bottome of the sea I remember it no more it s under my feet I am above it and now I am justifying and you are accusing
that is committed to the people it s the power of the sword and that in a military way If I give a man my sword I make him my Lord and give him my life so did the Parliamâ—nt in committing the sword to the people submitted themselves to them And with it they have declared that they would live and dye with those they have so entrusted T is as much as to say we give our lives to your command our prosperity and being is onely in you we must live only upon you Now t is reason that those that give life should give lawes too and them upon whom we depend for our being we must depend upon them likewise for out rule so that the Parliament have made the Army the Lords protectours of themselves and of the right and interest of England which while it stands is the chiefe power What makes a publique person above a private but that he hath the civill sword in his hand to administer justice Now the military sword is sharper it s a trust more absolute and independent more exercisd by will and lesse subject so the formes of law and therefore they that have it are much more Lords over those that are subject to it and so the Army more superiour to the Parliament then they to others This I know will seeme strange to many and is not cleare to the Army it selfe that the Parliament should become a subordinate and inferiour and they a higher and supreme power But God hath made it so and that as you see according to the reason and actions of men And let men consider but the actings of Parliament and Army they shall finde the same thing expressed in deeds which is a sensible and experimentall discovery of truth Since these warres we know the maine businesse of the Parliament hath beene to serve the Army to gather borrow and assesse monies for them and to provide them necessaries some things of government have passed from them but in a low weake in considerable way and in them they have beene up and down high and low this way and that way as they received impression from the Army It s true this hath not been spoken expresly but implicitly and darkely it hath and the Parliament have felt it really therefore you must be content to beare this yoke You have endeavoured to acquit your selves of it but cannot You have already lost your authority when you turnd England into a camp and set up martiall power when God leades them to restore it as he did you to give it you shall have it and not till then Fourthly This Army are truly the people of England and have the nature and power of the whole in them 1. They are of a popular stature men of the common and ordinary rank of people most of them of trades and husbandry with a small mixture of the Gentry which are the body and strength of the Kingdome and in whom the common interest most lies 2. They are the heart and life of the people men in whom appeares strong and lively affections for publique good manifested in their great labours and hazarding their lives so often for the Kingdome by which they have merited the honour to be accounted the very breast and strength of England and to have in them the soule and life of the nation 3. They did accept the appeale of the Parliament and answer their call of the people to judge and accepting of it its reason they should have it if others either are senselesse and cannot judge or sluggish and cowardly and will not through feare adventure or entangled with principles of slavery or engaged by particular and self-respects to a malignant party and so oppose them yet they seeing and apprehending the danger of the Common-wealth hearing the call of the Parliament and being valiant for the truth to steppe up upon this throne of judicature offered to them they are unquestionably to be entitled the people of England 4. To this may be added the concurrence of the affections prayers councels pens and purses of the honest spirits in the Kingdome who have at some time or other seald to them and contributed their best helpe to them Although it may be since many through darknesse weaknesse temptations divisions petty and inferiour factions have been distasted at them and withdrawn themselves from them But these earthly and carnall distractions arising partly from the Armies miscarriages and weaknesse partly from others passions cannot obliterate and blot out the many subscriptions of their names in heaven to and for the Army in their prayers and speakings especially in their distresse And after these mists are blowne away God will leade people backe to their owne hearty and earnest desires of a blessing upon the Army as on those in whom their lives and the life and safety of religion and liberty lay which are enrolled in heaven and so shew them though they are divided below they are one in the highest best and most generall actings of their spirits 5. This Army in their generall carriage towards the people have by their tendernesse of them care of preserving them forbearing to plunder and spoile them though absolutely in their power have shewd that they have a publique spirit and that the peace and good of the nation lives in them And although they be not so absolute and perfect in this but that there be some sad examples of violence and wrong by many ill members amongst them yet they have generally through the excellency of comand and the good spirit of God guiding of them so behaved themselves that the people every where have witnessed their great approbation of them as saviours or preservers of them by joy in their presence and teares at their departure T is true the Army hath of late for their iniquities by the judgement of God upon their miscarriage layne under the curse of many people and under a blacke and thicke cloud of wrath But former kindnesse will be remembred and God will give them greater honour and acceptance and let us know they are our selves and as we have said the people of England having publique spirits and minding the good of every person in England as their owne So that they are rightly and truly the people not in a grosse heape or in a heavy dull body but in a selected choice way They are the people in virtue spirit and power gatherd up into heart and union and so most able and fit for the worke they have in hand The people in grosse being a monster an unweildy rude bulke of no use but here they are gathered together into one pure excellent life and so usefull and active for their good and safety The cleare understanding of this will be a great meanes to compose the dis-affections of people to them and to draw their hearts to them in love being themselves formd by God into this body and that now their interest lies as truly in the Army as