they come out of Babylon the kingdome of darknesse death and hell they will not observe neither indeed can they the works of God though they shine and are as cleare as the Sun at noone day We may not upon this occasion altogether forget our deare Brethren in Scotland Now a word is enough to the wise 1. We understand that this victory is not very welcome to them and no marvaile for it tends not to the advancement of their Interest here in England and they see whom they curse God blesses It hath been their endeavour a long time that our Magistrates should persecute Gods people Their lawes say they are divers from all people neither keepe they the Kings lawes therefore it is not for the Kings profit to suffer them And as Haman prevailed so far with Abasuerus as there was an Act made and published that the Church and people of God should be destroyed yet afterward by a mighty hand of providence were preserved and honoured so that Nation with others wrought with our State that something was don for the suppressing of many godly and faithfull Christians insomuch as they despaired of life liberty safety but God who abhorres the bloudy man frustrated their purposes The truth is our Governours have had so much experience of the fidelity trust and conscientiousnesse of such men whom they brand for Sectaries and of many victories and deliverances under God by them as they cannot hearken any more to their Antichristian and bloudy counsell neither will they be brought into a snare by their general humiliations so often talk'd of The Wolfe ordinarily washeth his mouth after he hath prey'd lest he should be discovered by the colour of his bloud It is worth the noting when the Scots have aspersed our Nation and urged the State to persecution immediatly they cry a fast a fast as if such innocent bloud were wip'd off by hypocriticall fasting 2. The modesty and patience of our State is much to be admir'd being so often provok'd and occasioned by the Scots that they say nothing in relation to the condition of that people For otherwise they might soon stop their mouthes and put them to shame and silence for ever They cry out against England because of Sectaries as Separatists Brownists Anabaptists c. But suppose there are such yet these Independents are not false not lyers dissemblers flatterers deceivers swearers drunkards whoremasters and irreligious and prophane persons as it is well knowne who are such for the generality and greater part of the Nation Now is it not better and more for the safety of a Common-wealth to have therein men known to be faithfull just true upright religious then a kinde of people who are neither honest nor godly neither make conscience of what they doe or say 3. This victory it may be will cause our brethren to keepe at home and meddle no more with us but leave our State to order thier own affaires An Asse will not goe by a pen or place where she once fell I know they have not forgotten the place where they fell I doe not say like Asses onely under favour I may say they will shew themselves little better if they come againe into the same place and case 4. But how comes it to passe that since this victory the Scots complain of great persecution in England and that their Presbyterian brethren here suffer exceedingly for the truth Some children will teare scratch their Mother in the face and then cry as if they had been beaten or abused whereas there is nothing don to them but onely they wronged their Mother The men for whom the Scots are now praying as under sad and heavy sufferings they revile the Magistrates despise their Government set at nought their lawful and just commands and stirre up the people to rebellion and then cry out Persecution ah how their mouths are stopt they cannot deliver the whole counsell of God their forefathers were never under the like Tyrants c. Whereas there was nothing in the world don to them but onely they abused the State Before I conclude a word or two to that noble Jones and the victorious Souldiers with him 1. There was a law among the Persians if any man were unmindfull of a benefit he might be cald to Law and found so was punished for it We are very sensible of the blessing which the Lord hath given us by your hands wee are thankfull to God mindfull of you and doe desire to Improve the mercy in the best way and manner we can The Jewes use to say of him that hath don any memorable thing for his Nation Zicrono libraca Blessed be his memory your memory amongst us is blessed your names precious and all well-affected people love and honour you Si omnes qui reip consulunt cari nobis esse debent certe inprimis imperatores quorum consilijs virtute periculis retinemus nostram salutem imperij dignitatem Cic. de Orat. lib. 2. If all those that care and have the charge of the Common-wealth ought to be deare unto us then especially ought our noble Captaines by whose counsell prowesse and perill we maintain the estate and honour of our Countrey 2. For the Generall imployed in that service it doth appeare he hath the parts and qualities of a right Commander 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diodor. Sicul. Captains in warre must look both forward and backward and every way whence any danger or advantage is towards They ought to know when to march and to fight with advantage where to imploy horsemen where shot and to understand the advantages of all sorts of grounds neither to be ignorant of any stratagem of warre Liv. 9. Now in these particulars and many more hath Jones shewed himselfe a worthy and gallant Souldier neither may it be said of him untruly or unfitly what is written of C. Caesar in his actions be was most considerate in hazard and danger most resolve in executions speedie oppressing his enemies many times before the coming of the newes were heard Sueton. in vita Caes So of Cato in watchings and labour he went beyond the common Souldiers Liv. 34. Monstrabat tolerare labores as Lucan reports of the younger Cato in that painful march thorow the deserts of Affrick he by his patience and example shewed what others were to doe As Valerius Corvinus used no other encouragement to his Souldiers then this Facta mea non dicta sequi volo nec disciplinam sed exemplum a me petere Liv. 7. So hath Jones alwayes encouraged his saying they should imitate not his words but his deeds and doe as they saw him to give them an example 3. For the rest whether Officers or private Souldiers In this victory you may behold how wonderfully the Lord hath honoured you for your fidelity to your Countrey and because you did not when yee were low and the enemy at the highest forsake the Parliament or your trust as others basely did who since have seen and felt the revenging hand of God upon them for it And no doubt this great deliverance will not a little encourage you and the rest of our English there to stand firme and fast together against the Irish Rebels not only to revenge the Protestant bloud which they have shed in a villanous and barbarous sort but also for the safety of your Countrey your families friends wives children kindred and what else may be thought precious and deare to you For the heads of the Rebels there as Rupert Ormond Inchiqueen c. intend further then our losse of Ireland they seek the ruine and overthrow of England even our persons estates yea and our soules too Dulce decorum est pro patrio mori It is a sweet and noble Gaine In Countreys quarrell to be slaine King Leonidas comforted himselfe and three hundred more of his servants who were killed at Theâ—mopilas fighting for the defence of his Countrey as appeareth by Simonides his Greek Epitaph turned into Latine by Tully thus Dic hospes Spartae nos te hic vidisse jacentes Dum sanctis patriae legibus obsequimur Lastly to close this Discourse As wee have shewed how this Mercy should be improved at home so we hope our Army there will use this victory to purpose and be carefull still to maintaine that which they winne Vincere scis Annibal victoria uti nescis as Maberbal said to Hannibal he was not so well able to make use of his victories as to obtaine them Caesar having obtain'd a great victory against the Helvetians ceased not to pursue the remainder so long untill all yeelded And afterward having foyled Vereingetorix in the feild and caused him to retyre with the rest of his Armie He did not leave him untill be bad forced him to take Alexia for his defence nor then neither untill such time he had the town and all within yeelded to his mercy Vanquishing Pompey in open field he would not suffer him to take Sanctuary in his campe but drove him thence and rested not untill he had taken his flight nor before the reliques of his Armie that fled to the hils neer by had yeelded being cut from water Three things ought to be don when an Army is victorious 1. Not to suffer the enemy to gather head but to scatter his forces 2. To befiege the chiefe Citie and to ceaze the Countrey into their hands not suffering the enemy in any place to rest 3. The Generals care ought to be how to take off the enemies subjects from them and to deprive them of the ayd of their Confederates A matter easily don if he proceed wisely in warre and justly after the victory For as good successe procureth the Conquerour friends so men are ready to abandon and forsake such as are overcome Now for the good will of him that dwelt in the Bush let the blessing be upon the head of our Army FINIS
neither buy nor sell but kild for hereticke In the writing of these things it makes me call to minde the condition of the people in the Low-Countries living in a Free State such there as are Papists among them will not have the King of Spaine to reigne againe over them but desire rather to be under the present Government yea though they are Papists I say and have not libertie granted them for the free exercise of their Religion yet by no meanes will heare of a King any more And no doubt the like ere long will be the case of the people of this Land when they have once tasted the sweetnesse of a Free State as I hope they will every day more and more and have their present grievances and taxes taken off every man enjoying his own without molestation and have justice speedily don them they will no more desire a King to Rule over them And to have it so the way is for every one to submit to the present Government live peaceably and doe what he can that all things may be effectually and well setled amongst us 4. And lastly it is not possible that this victory should doe you good or any counsell given you from the occasion of it so long as you make lyes your refuge yea delight to be encouraged and strengthened in falshood doe not many of you take pleasure in scurrilous and base Pamphlets and by reading the filthy and scandalous things in them are hardened in your dangerous and bad condition I have read some-where when the Souldiers of Avidius Cassius opened a Chest which they found in Apollo's Temple at Seleucia that there came forth such an infection as thereby they were all poysoned and kild If you will not be murdered then look not into their venemous and abhorred Libels for these villaines onely study how by lyes slander and calumniation to make you dis-affected to the State and act against it and so to be undon in body soule and estate They which hawk for birds doe of purpose make a stale of the Owl for whilest the sillie birds come flocking and staring about her unawares they are taken The Libeller against the State is the Devils Owl whilst the foolish and silly people are looking upon him and hearkning to him he takes them in his snare and holds them fast I shall say no more but thus A prudent man foreseeth the evill and bideth himselfe but the simple passe on and are punished Prov. 22.3 As for Papists it is to be fear'd they will make no good use of this great victory but as a furious mastiff is the madder for his chaine and iron hardens under the hammer so the Angel of God now powring out his Viall upon the seat of the Beast and his Kingdome will cause them the more to blaspheme the name of God his tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven Neither indeed may wee wonder that such wofull blindnesse hath overtaken them considering they are given up by divine justice to the lusts of their own hearts and to strong delusions Besides the damnable doctrines which they embrace puts them forward to destruction Neverthelesse upon this occasion something we will say concerning them leaving the issue to God 1. They may clearly see the Lord is now making inquisition for bloud the day of recompence is at hand They have shed the bloud of Saints of Prophets thou hast given them bloud to drink for they are worthy Green wood which is long in kindling continues longer then the dry if it have once taken fire The Lord hath a while forborne to revenge the horrid cruelties of that barbarous and savage Nation but now he is fallen in amongst them and woe woe woe to the Inhabitants As the Galli-Senones after they had laid Rome wast were so overthrown that their name was not left in the world So it may be that the memory of such an inhumane and cruell Nation shall be bloued out from under heaven Wolves and Foxes make many turnings forward and backward run into brakes and briers hide under bushes fly from one starting hole to another but all will not serve the turne the dogs follow incessantly and never give over till they overtake them and devoure them So evill pursueth sinners even the Irish-sinners those Rebels murderers monsters monstrous Monsters I know not what to terme them the Lord I say hath now set his judgements after those Wolves and it is not their bogs or woods that shall save them from the wrath of the Lamb but they shall become as dung for the earth and their hope as the giving up of the Ghost 2. Neither let them expect reliefe from other places as for their new King and his adherents they shall stand either a farre off for feare of their torments saying alas alas or what assistance and ayd soever they have it shall but adde to their plagues and further their destruction As a wee sack wherein a naked man is covered is so far from defending him against the cold as it increaseth his shivering so their helpe from others will prove their greater ruine Ormond and Inchiqueen the two Apostates may shortly expect the just reward of perfidious traytors Raro antecedentem scelestum Deseruit pede poena claudo Seldome Revenge though slow of pace Leaves ill foregoing men to trace As the Egyptians going after the Israelites as they passed thorow the Red-sea could not but behold their death before them So these men in lifting up their hands against this State may see if they were not stupid and sencelesse they are dead man and that God will put them to shame and confound them for ever 3. What men unlesse given over to a reprobate sence would not plainly apprehend that the Lord hath a quarrell against them hates their persons their course and cause to consider the time when they were scattered namely when they were grown into a numerous body by uniting the false Scots and Renegado English with the Irish When all Munster was theirs all Connaught lost and all Vlster except Derry and Lempster even to Dublin When all the English Interest in Ireland was reduced and shut up in those two townes and the latter streightly befieged by 19000 men according to their own accounts Then the Lord looked down from beaven as the Parliament in their Declaration have piously exprest the habitation of his holinesse and his glory and defeated them Then he sent forth his wrath and consumed them as stubble or as chaffe before the winde And here I chalenge all Papists Royalists and Malignants to produce if they can the like example where and when Jebovob Iireh God was ever so seen in the Mount for them and appeared even so miraculously since the warres began Who so is wise will observe these things But A brutish man knoweth not neither doth a foole understand this As he that will not goe out of darknesse cannot see the shining light of the Sunne So the Papists unlesse
The cruelties and infamies of Caligula are imputed to the Nurse that gave him suck which being cruell and barbarous of her selfe rubbed the ends of her brests with bloud causing the childe to whom shee gave milke to suck them Such cruell and inhumane nurses are these men instead of the sincere milke of the Gospel they give their hearers the bloudy Tenents of Rebellion so that the cruelties and infamies of the people may be at lest in a great measure imputed unto their Teachers For no doubt the people would be willing to live a quiet and peaceable life under our present Government but that these Sheba's these sons of Bieri blow a Trumpet to cause hurliburlies and commotions in the Land 8. Seeing God hath made the Parliament so victorious it would not be amisse when you come to your selves to consider whether Christ or his Apostles have left you any precept or example to asperse that Government which is set over you I cannot finde either in Scripture or other History that any Ministers of Jesus Christ for so you stile your selves did ever before your time meddle with civill Government as to deny the lawfulnesse of that Government under which they lived The abuses of Magistrates and their miscarriages in Government we grant Gods Ministers have spoken against yet so as alwayes observing time place and other circumstances which you never doe but the Government it selfe whether Kingly Aristocraticall or Democraticall they condemned not neither medled with the change and alteration of ordinary Government upon what ground or occasion soever it was So that there are two treasonable crimes here charged upon you first that you are busie-bodies as medling with things wherein you are not concern'd Secondly False accusers in calling that State unlawfull which is founded upon Scripture Law and Reason Boyling liquor swelling above the brinks fals into the fire and comes to nothing you are best beware least by rising above your element you tumble down and your names perish 9. It may be upon the occasion of this victory you will be the more willing to take notice how the Malignants make use of you onely as Journeymen to serve their turne Some write of the Jaccal as he pursues his prey barking like a dog the Lyon meeting with the noyse followes it now the Jaccal having wearied the Beast he chased the Lyon that followed by the cry comes in when he is at a bay and takes from the other what he had before spent his time and labour about Brethren suppose by your bawling and barking at the present Government you should weary it and bring it at a bay doe yee thinke to have the prey not in the least for the Royalists would take that from you and not you but the Prelates should be established their Courts Canons Service-Booke c. It is true you knew in this case how to help your selves namely faces about turn-coats and as you were before and so indeed you would fare better then the Jaccal have some of prey howsoever with the Lion 10. I would willingly know when you are unpowring and speaking evill of dignities what people doe you thinke are pleased with such vile and wicked stuffe Methinkes you cannot be ignorant that in doing so you make sad the hearts of the righteous and are no other then servants to the base lusts of unholy and prophane men The Indians have a fruit which they call Yogma it fattens swine but men loath it The Idolater Adulterer Swearer Drunkard Sabbath-breaker Atheist Papist c. delight to heare your rayling at the State indeed they flock after you meerly for this Yogma But I must tell you in the mean time the godly of your own Congregations cannot abide it so that by this meanes you loose them and are cast out of their hearts and affections though you seeme to gaine the favour and applause of some Malignants 11. In this looking-glasse you may see two faces under one hood you thinke to please the Royalists by crying up a King a King and your brethren the Scots by crying out The Covenant the Covenant but doe not cozen your own soules for you cannot any longer herein deceive rationall and knowing men they perceive well enough your game and ayme it is your outward pomp and worldly preferment that yee seeke after under such pretences The Pope will have Kings and Princes to kisse his feet and to draw them on did use to have on his pantophile the Crucifixe or picture of Christ hanging on the Crosse that forsooth he would have reverence don unto The truth is you would faine be Popes and have every man to kisse your feet our Parliament Councell of State and the whole Nation bow down to you and to draw them on you tell some of a King others of a Covenant a meere cheat for 't is your feet you would have them kisse submit to your arbitrary power and lawlesse will 12. This seditious course of yours hath brought you already into a great streight And I believe it will require some meetings at your Synon-house to resolve what to doe upon the Thankesgiving day neere at hand If you obey the Parliaments Order and keep the day you know what the Cavaliers and Royalists will say of you Neque fidei constans neque strenuus in perfidia as it was said of Claudius Apollinaris A man that neither constantly kept his promise as you have not yours to the Parliament nor stoutly maintained his treason as you not yours if yee keep that day Againe if not you know there is great danger in that For howsoever upon the fast day for Ireland you proudly contemned the Magistrate and made it a day of recreation yet I would not wish you to presume now upon the like impunitie or indulgence And if you fall into the hand of Justice and so suffer consider before hand what comfort you can take in such suffering Now it followes that I speake something as occasioned by this victory to Royalists and Cavaliers Wee see by daily experience if the coyn be good men are contented to receive it from any hand I shall not propound any thing to these men but what is profitable and good for them if the Lord be pleased to give them understanding hearts to embrace it and make a right use thereof Thunder they say falling upon a Serpent takes not away the life but her venome The searcher of all hearts doth know my desire is so to apply this thundering-victory as their malignity obstinacy blindnesse c. may be removed and they live happily and in a comfortable and prosperous condition 1. Consider how such as have engaged and have been most active in the cause you stand for have in the end as the just recompence of such service undon themselves and brought ruine and misery upon their wives and children There is no Pilot in his right wits when he sees Sea-markes purposely set up to give warning of rocks sands or shelves will thereby
take occasion to run his vessell upon them but rather will imploy all his care and skill that by avoyding them he may escape the danger To what end hath the Lord set before your eyes the desolation of many honorable and great families the precious bloud of severall thousands shed on a day but to be a warning and caveat unto you to keepe off from such dangerous and destroying rocks and not to run your selves vainly and foolishly as they have don into a way and course which is neither honourable nor profitable for you The bird will not fly into the net or light on the lime-bush or run into the snare when he sees another bird flutter before her The horse as you are travelling will not follow the track of another horse that sticks fast before you you are men and should be rationall Will yee then seeing others before you in the pit fall likewise into the same if you doe you are the more to blame and the lesse to be excused You know that lesson Foelix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum 2. Methinkes by this time you should perceive that the matter you stand for is not good and so much the Lord from time to time hath made knowne unto you by many cleare and plain demonstrations Take notice of the late King how apparently God was against him fought against him curst his blessings scattered his counsels so that nothing indeed prospered under his hand How dare yee then carry on the same worke and his designe knowing by former experience in doing so the Lord will not prosper you I cannot more fitly liken this generation of men then to Bowlers who having delivered their Bowl use to follow it with bowing their body to have it fall in towards the jack but it keeps her bias goes off and runs another way Much strugling and striving there hath been to bring the conquest in on the Kings side no plots or devises have been wanting what sea and land could doe hath been don but providence still carried it another way and this they saw and could not but acknowledge that the Lord was not with them although they parsisted and still doe in their froward and crooked courses 3. This victory gives me occasion to put you in minde how your principles and grounds are false concerning formes of civill Government The Israelites living poorely in Egypt thought no kinde of food better then Garlick and Onions so you having liv'd long under hingly Government and not acquainted with a free State or Common-wealth conceive Monarchie to be the best kinde of Government which undoubtedly is the worst and my Reasons for it are these 1. The great Revenues which are wasted to maintaine this King ship unusefull Creature a thing which the Land hath no need of but can doe much better without it as Courts Pallaces Castles Mannours Parks Forrests c. if converted to a publick use will be for the great profit and generall good of the whole Nation poore and rich whereas formerly as imployed did little service but fed Locusts and Caterpillers who destroyed the people 2. How chargeable to a Kingdome are Kings children through their pride pompe and excessive riot and what is expected from them for all this truly if they be not a curse and plague to the Nation men thinke it a mercy as for comfort and profit they expect none Now how many Orphans and poore children by such charges might be charitably and largely relieved and would blesse God for it whereas the others devoure all without saying Sirs we thanke you as if they were not at all beholding unto the people for the same 3. When corruptions and abuses break forth they are easier and sooner supprest in a free State then in the other For 1. As they have their originall and rise usually from the Court so the King as we have had experience will seek to defend the same 2. Put case the King hath no hand in such abuses which would be a strange thing neverthelesse considering he sees and heares with other mens eyes and eares they are not easily or thorowly reformed But in a Common-wealth well setled it cannot be so 4. It is seldome seen in a Monarchie but the Officers and Ministers of State are corrupt men chosen by Princes not for the publick good but to serve their turne and interest Whereas in a Common-wealth the people choosing their own Magistrates are carefull to choose such as shall doe just and right things for them Besides If Magistrates be corrupt the people can sooner helpe themselves by removing them and choosing better in a free State then under Kings 5. In no Common-wealth is there such sufferings of good men innocent bloud spilt unlawfull and unnecessary warres raised intolerable taxes imposed undue and illegall courses taken as where Kings doe reigne 6. That must be best which is a mean between two extreames and thus is a free State between Monarchy and Anarchy that one should rule alone is against the common Maxime Plus vident oculi quum oculus two eyes see more then one Againe that none should governe or all is absurd and sencelesse 7. It is rightly observed by Bodin Wee commonly see saith he in the changing of Princes new designes new lawes new Officers new friends new enemies new habits and a new forme of living For Princes take delight to change and alter all things that they may be spoken of which doth many times cause great inconveniences not onely to the Subjects in particular but also to the whole body of the State De Rep. l. 6. cap. 4. But no such prejudice or perill is incident to a Common-wealth if any thing be publickly altered it is maturely don and upon good ground and for the generall profit and safety of the people 8. In a well governed Common-wealth great men as well as others are encouraged unto the study of vertue wisdome Justice because there not titles or birth-right but abilities and good parts make them capable of preferment in such a State there is no door open to come into places of authoritie by bribery flattery friendship but as men are fitted and gifted Whereas in Kingdomes men come to have Offices and preferment by succession a foole or a knave will challenge authoritie by being the Kings cosin 9. We know by experience that in all ages the Gospel and way of Christ hath been most withstood and opposed under Kings As on the contrary in Common-wealths the same hath found greatest favour furtherance and enfargement And hence it is that our Pulpit-Incendiaries with their brethren the Scots cry out so much for a King they well know such a forme of Government is fittest for them and will best serve their turne whereby to suppresse the truth persecute the Saints under the name of Sectaries and to erect a forme of will-worship forcing all both small and great rich and poore free and bond to fall down and worship their Image if not