forth the Words of Truth and Soberness though it is hard to express the mad and foolish Actions of mankind to the very Life and Reality and not to be reputed so ones self All those that fear God and those that have known his Testimonies Psal 119. 79. can also judge of these things And though what I have more lately done in opposing the High and Universal Corruption of this present Time hath met with Strife and Contention Sâ—ubbornness and despising all kinds of Reproach and contrary Usage yet the Reason of all is because People are Contentions and do not obey the Truth but obey Vnrighteousness Rom. 2. 8. They have made void God's Law Psal 119. 126. and his Commandments of none effect Therefore the Law is slacked and Judgment doth never go forth for the Wicked doth compass about the Righteous therefore wrong Judgment proceedeth Hab. 1. 4. For they have indeed acted contrary to what the Law commands and requires Nevertheless all knowing People may yet judge of whatever I have here said or in the two forecited Treatises concerning our Great National Sin and Transgression by this certain and infallible Rule of the Prophet That we might turn from our Iniquities and understand thy Truth Dan. 9. 13. Then it will appear unto them as clear and evident as the most plain and simple proposition now doth If People will not do this but go on still with all deceiveableness of Unrighteousness there is no Remedy but they shall perish Because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved and for this cause God shall send them strong Delusions that they should believe a Lye That they all might be damned who believed not the Truth but had Pleasure in Vnrighteousness 2 Thes 2. 10 11 12. All which Words are observable and very terrible To unfold the Mystery of Iniquity a little and somewhat to lay open the working of Satan with all deceiveableness of Vnrighteousness It will be necessary to observe with what kind of words he tempted our Parent in the first Transgression and hath all along and doth yet continually set himself against God's ways to keep up the mist of Ignorance and Unbellef to hold people in their Perplexity and Confusion of Disobedience and Transgression and he doth use all means to hinder men from coming to Repentance and the Knowledge of the Truth And as God would accomplish that by right Words so he doth endeavour to imitate in like things by tempring Mankind to do after their own Thoughts and after the Imaginations of their own Evil and Corrupt Heart And also his Emissaries go about subverting People with false corrupt and deceitful Words which are and may be published with Licence and Authority But the Inhabitants of his Earth are ashamed or afraid to receive the Truth of him who is Lord and Governour of the World who filleth all Places and all Things with his presence Poor Creatures Your Hour will quickly be at an end and the Power of Darkness will be suddenly gone off and then ye shall remember and discern which Master it was better to have served God or the World As the Man of Sin doth so mightily beat off People from the Scriptures because his own Ways and Corruption are so much condemned therein So do others at this day for the very same Reason put an opprobrious term upon the Language of the holy Ghost or it is not so gentile and fashionable nor agreeable with the Humor of the Age. They cry it out for impertinent and foolish yea there are an hundred kind of Surmises and like sayings whereby the Word of the Lord is made a Reproach to me and a Derision daily Jer 20. 8. They reject and will have none of it But what saith the answer of God unto them Hear O Earth Behold I will bring Evil on this People even the Fruit of their own Thoughts because they have not hearkened to my Words nor to my Law but rejected it Jer 6. 19. All their other Religion is vain their Worship and Devotion is to no purpose for it doth not please God Your burnt-Offerings are not acceptable nor your Sacrifices sweet unto me Vers 20. He that turneth away his Ear from hearing the Law even his Prayer shall be abomination Prov. 28. 9. Even at this day and in this Nation The Wise Men are ashamed they are dismayed and taken Lo they have rejected the Word of the Lord and what Wisdom is in them Jer. 8. 9. It would be Nonsence and a Lye to say if one heard a Lawyer cite several express Acts of Parliament according to the very Sence and the plain and common Understanding of the same Words yet such an one did not argue to the Purpose for all is forreign and impertinent besides what is thence alledged And so our Great Lawmakers and Counsellors are very fond of theâ—â— own Constitutions to do all things exactly according to the form and direction thereof But they did not attend how in the late Revolution they did at once strike at all the Statute and common Laws of this Kingdom which are said to be vested in Scrinio Regis and also they did unhinge those very Laws which do give and adjust to themselves their own respective Honours and Estates and establish Property And therefore they should do well to lift the right Door again upon the Hinges This is Truth though is may seem a kind of Human Reasoning but yet doth shew how Judgment is turned away backward and Justice standeth afar off and Equity cannot enter If our Proud Men think themselves too good to be Subjects and Jer. 13. 1â— Servants unto God yet whether they will or not they are his Creatures He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords There is no removing the Government off from his Shoulders nor getting themselves from under it as may and hath been done to the Son of Man And whosoever are so stout as not to mind Scripture God's revealed Law are at this time Transgressors against the same and shall be at the last day condemned by it This would be alike sensible if we had the same knowledge of him that is invisible and consideration of Futurity as we have now regard to our Kings and Governours after the Flesh and take care for the present time for as before intimated the Law of our God is written in a Book and may in like manner be understood as the Laws Customs and Manners of this or that Country we live in There are many Words in the World and none of them is without Signification for they have respect unto Things and what expresses things as they are the very Nature and Connexion of them together That is Truth Now because many of them are hidden afar off unseen and not heard it is the office of Reason to search them out and to bring them near by Probability and Witnesses So there may be many Words and a long course of Reasoning to bring
shall not err therein unless they run out of willing and set purpose Whereas heretofore we were disobedient and did not all things according to the Pattern shewed us we are to acknowledge our Iniquity and Transgression and from henceforth sorever we and our Children are to promise unto the Lord and keep it to do according as he hath said and commanded in his Word which we ought in like manner to obey as if we heard his Voice from Heaven As we daily Pray so we are likewise to do lest we be found Mockers and Dissemblers with God and have our portion with Hypocrites and Unbelievers his will on Earth Which again is not to be measured by what is acted on this stage of Sin and Confusion or publickly done in the place where Satan's Seat and Kingdom is but as it is clearly written and manifestly revealed by the Word and Spirit of God which came down from above and knoweth what is God's will And what is done in Heaven the fanie is expected here In the Mouth of two or three Witnesses every Word shall be established and we have three holy Men of God who were moved by the holy Ghost and give attestation and confirmation to the same thing He is the Rock his work is perfect for all his ways are Judgment a God of Truth and without Iniquity just and right is be Deut. 32. 4. The Works of his Hands are Verity and Judgment and all his Commandments are sure They stand fast forever and ever and are done in Truth and Vprightness Psal 111. 7 8. By this it appears that our late Revolution is none of God's work in which he is well pleased For I the Lord love Judgment I hate Robbery for burnt Offering and I will direct their work in Truth and I will make an Everlasting Covenant with them Isa 61. 8. So that if People would do the work of God and come to settlement and stability of Times they must only use such means all along as are good true just and lawful and none others These are to be known by God's Law only for as aforesaid that is the supream Rule of Good and Evil Truth and Falshood Right and Wrong And if thence it doth appear that this Nation hath trespassed against their God Isa 58. 2. and have forsaken and resisted his Ordinance by putting down that Power which is asserted Rom. 13. 1. to be of God though it was an Heathen at the very time If this be a Sin and Transgression then there is no hope to avoid the present Displeasure and escape the future Punishment of God otherwise than by making a Covenant with our God and by restoring the King to his right and henceforward to tremble at the Commandments of our God and lâ—t it be done according to his Law Ezra 10. 3. The Laws of God are to be set before People and they are to be exhorted to the Observance of them but still men have their Liberty and full Freedom of Action If they will not do so out of Conscience and Obedience to God they may let it alone Or to speak plainly deliberately and truly in the Gentile dialect choose and be damned according to what they have done and involved themselves in from Rom. 13. 2. It is at their own Peril and Danger The divine Promises and Threatnings are to be used only but no outward force and compulsion for the right Christian Religion doth not allow of any And here is a Threatning as true as Gospel which lies expresly against the Nation and People of England * Which I would not have against my own particular Person for ten thousand Kingdoms or the greatest Places of Honour and Profit and I would more fear it than to dye an hundred Temporal Deaths The Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Vnrighteousness of Men who hold the Truth in Vnrighteousness Rom. 1. 18. It is only revealed and made known here but it is to be executed and felt in another Place So though We are in the true Reformed Religion yet We are not under the aforesaid Penalty to continue and practise any Unrighteousness towards our King who is a Member of a false superstitious and corrupted Church Thou that abborrest Idols dost thou commit Sacriledge So they should not commit any Injustice Wrong Sin or Evil. Thou that makâ—st thy boast of the Law through breaking of the Law Dishonourest thou God for the Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you In this National Corruption there have been no less than five Laws of the second Table expresly violated as by Dishonouring of and Disobedience to Parents Committing of Murder Theft bearing False Witness Coveting and taking possession of anothers Inheritance who was greater than Naboth and his inferiour did it Again if the solemn Oath hath been despised and the Covenant broken whereof God alone is to judge and determine of both sides then as sure as God is which is as evident as the Heavens He created and we see or that he laid the Foundations of the Earth which we tread on so certainly will He recompence it upon their own Head Unless all this is prevented by true and unfeigned Repentance in order to which it is necessary not only to be sorry or secretly to bewail but further to undo the Fault as much as it can be And as God was dishonoured publickly in like manner to regain his Favour They should publickly acknowledge their Iniquity to their God that they have transgressed against him by forsaking his Ordinance despising his Oath and breaking his Covenant To speak after the manner of men That God should have repair for his hurt Majesty which they offended and despised and also have Glory given unto him by confessing their own shame for we must do as much to reconcile our selves to an offended God as the Great Ones of the Earth require from all that displease them And this is the true design and end of Confession Those Things done in Private may be there acknowledged but in other Things the acknowledgment should be altogether as Publick as the sin was according to Lev. 26. 40. Josh 7. 19. Ezra 10. 2 3 10 11. Mark 1. 5. Acts 19. 18. And where any thing hath been taken away from any man by False Accusation He is to be restored to it again and the very Truth of all Things to be brought out and to be known openly before the World It might be so ordered and consented unto That They have Deputies faithful couragious and learned to implead one another before the Great Council of the Nation and Witnesses examined upon Oath of both sides Which would be a more Christian and Rational way than to lead forth Armies to push at and gore one another like a Multitude of Bulls and Calves of the People Psal 68. 30. Man was born more naked and unarmed than those dull Creatures but they have found Instruments of Death to knock down and butcher
out one single Truth And then opposite to Truth and Reason are Falshood and Imagination We may evidently perceive that all things are Gods and that his Word is perfect and true for that speaks of every thing according to its Nature either in express Words or just Consequence though this is many times hidden and not discernable which belong to mankind from the greatest to the least except what may be known from our selves and the most common observation So all is but vain and deceitful Words which do not spring up nor may be gathered from this ground of Truth This is left as a standing Rule to try the Doctrines whether they be of men or no. And we may further know Truth by the Understanding which is given us for Truth if it be clearly apprehended hath a full conviction over the Heart and Conscience Notwithstanding the shifts and tricks the disputing and crafty eluding â—et there doth remain a firm perswasion in the mind which cannot be â—â—t off When the Spirit of the mind suggests to the man This is the verâ— Truth it is exceeding dangerous to resist or do despite to that to be â—â—â—bborn against or despise it to forget or be willingly Ignorant And hence we may learn to take a judgment and estimation of the Wisdom of man's Words fine Flourishes smooth Language or of notional unnecessary things which may delight a little but perish in the Reading there is nothing in them and it is all blown away as Chaff But more especially are we to take heed of the Leaven of the Pharisees which they mingle amongst and thereby corrupt the Bread of Life viz. their several kind of Glosses Distinctions and their own Inventions meer human Expositions and Traditions Many ignorant People give more regard to the Opinions and Sayings of such a Rabbi or Teacher than to what Christ the Prophets and Apostles speak or even what God himself speaketh by them Indeed there was at first appointed a Peculiar and distinct Office of Men to turn his People away from Iniquity Mal. 2. 6. and to turn them to Righteousness Dan. 12. 3. But instead thereof They strengthen the Hands of Evil-doers that None doth return from his Wickedness Jer. 23. 14. And either conceal or flatter them in Unrighteousness and sooth them up in the committing of those things of which God hath said The Soul that sinneth it shall dye Ezek. 18. 4. They are rather Men-pleasers and yet that is a sad way of pleasing men to lead them blindly on to eternal Misery then the Servants of Christ for as he taxed the Pharisees of old time so do these now reject the Commandment of God that they may keep in favour with the chief Princes of this Nation For Moses said Honour Mâ—rke 7. 10 11 12 13. thy Father and thy Mother and whosoever curseth Father or Mother let him dye the Death But ye will excuse and vindicate and justifie if the Children shall not only take away the Right and Inheritance of the Father but after they have taken Possession they proceed to Kill and Murder as carrying on unjust Wars is intentional Murder all along And this is that they may be profitted though the outward pretence is for the Protestant Religion against Popery Whereas if it were really so yet if ye had a right knowledge of the Glory and Work of the Lord The One is not to be advanced nor the other carried on by sinful means It is a wrong and contrary Method to build up Zion with Blood and Jerusalem with Iniquity Micah 3. 10. But our Priests and Prophets do not exhort them to do Right and Equity to their Father Making the Word of God of none effect through your own Expositions which ye have delivered and many such like things doye God is my Witness whom I serve in â—he Gospel of his Son and as I hope for any Mercy at his Hand I do here declare That what I have already and do now hereâ—â— is also out of a greater Zeal and Emulation for the Truth and â—xcellency of the pure Reformed Religiâ—â— which at this day â—eâ— under much Scandal and Reproach by falsification of an Oath and manifest Unrighteousness This Zeal of mine is according to Knowledge and the certain direction of God's written Word both of the Old and New Testament For we are not to use Oppression nor exercise Robbery nor oppress the Stranger wrongfully Ezek. 22. 29. See the next Verse I will be a swift Witness against the Strangers and against those that Oppress the Fatherless and that turn aside the Stranger from his Right Mal. 3. 5. We ought to give no occasion that the Way of Truth be evil spoken of We are to have our Conversation honest amongst the Gentiles and to walk as the Children of God without rebuke Recompence to no man Evil for Evil Be not overcome of Evil but overcome Evil with Good Rom. 12. 17. 21. as such is the design of the Law and the Prophets Christ and his Apostles If our Ways and our Doings are contrary God sees it and it displeased him that there was no judgment Isa 59. 15. And some one or more should appear forth publickly to testifie against this National Sin and Corruption What I have done herein was to clear a great point which is to manifest the Most perfect Holiness and Vprightness of God who doth not allow to do Evil that Good may come As God is Righteous in all his Ways and Holy in all his Works so according to his certain promise Judgment shall return unto Righteousness and all the Vpright in Heart shall follow it Psal 94. 15. So that it is not a matter of Indifferency what any one thinks or speaks or doth herein but we are to side with the King Immortal Invisible and only Wise God against this Transitory World the Folly Falshood and Corruption which are seen therein We ought to search and enquire diligently what is written and to speak and do as We that shall be judged by the Law of God in Scripture Not giving so much heed to them whom the Word saith and Experience confirmeth But ye are dâ—parted out of the way ye have caused many to stumble at the Law ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi saith the Lords of Hosts Mal. 2. 8. whose assertion may soâ—â—er be believed than their own Vindication They may be more properly stiled followers of Mahomet than of Moses or Christ for these were faithful in all their House But they according to the Impostors Doctrine will call such a thing an especial Providence and Immediate Deliverance sent by God though the means by which it came to pass are against his express Word and written Revelation But what if some that handle the Law know not God shall this diminish from the Righteousness of God or take away from the Purity and Uprightness of his Law God forbid yea let God be true and every man a Lyar as it is written That thou
they shall justly suffer as Evil-doers Then they will wish they had done otherwise when it is too late for such Repentance is the same with that of Judas or Esau and the damned in Hell who when they come to be fully sensible of what they have lost and are to suffer then only they would have done otherwise when before they were proved the same thing but did it not It would be looked upon as vain Arrogancy and Proud Boasting if I should repeat at length and apply what is written and afferted thrice Psal 119. 98 99 100. Yet it is thankfulness to God the given to speak out and acknowledge the same and also it is a benefit and instruction Eccles 9. 15. 16. to others to assign the very reason how such an one came to that Wisdom and Understanding And likewise great heed is to be taken all along that this is confined within the bounds of God's Law I am doubtful whether I shall not Transgress my Commission to insert one Human saying Inter detiria senum et prejudicia juvenum cadit Respublica but sometimes we are allowed to speak the words of Man's Wisdom 1 Kings 12. 8. and common observation And notwithstanding the contempt prejudice and disdain which may arise against me because of my Youth 1 Sam. 17. 28 29. 1. Tim. 4. 12. and seeming forwardness I will add this yet further and do here take Liberty to make a publick and solemn Protestation that according to the Grace Knowledge God shall be pleased to continue and further endue me withal I will as soon stand in the gap to prevent the coming in and overflowing of Popery with my Life Liberty and younger Brothers Portion as now I expose them all against falshood and unrighteousness If at any time either now or hereafter I should recede and draw back from this deliberate Resolution of mine here made then let me be made an object of the utmost fury of the Multitude I would undergo all Ravilliacs Torments and quietly submit to the most cruel and lingring death that ever yet man endured since the World began This is here published and recordâ—â— to stand against and be executed upon me and that it may be done with me according to mine own words I am as it were necessitated to use this confidence of Boasting for it hath been surmised against me as if I plead for Baal and his false Worshippers that I have displayed a banner for Antichrist in this Kingdom and that I am a Minister of Satan transformed into a Minister of Righteousness which last is more supposed of me because I do discover Iniquity to turn away our Captivity Lam. 2. 14. and that other threatning manifested under the Gospel And also in order to turn away Iniquity from Jacob it is necessary to lay open the full aggravation and sinfulness of Sin and also to cite the Scriptures but for doing these things I am thought to be like him that accuses our Brethren before God day and night Rom. 11. 2. 3. But then this charge must also fall upon Elias and the Prophets Christ and the Apostles and all faithful Teachers down ever since and at this day for they according to their Duty and Office did the very same We cannot inform God of any thing nor make the Sins of Men known unto him nor recorded before him for he knows much more himself The Sin of Judah is written with a Pen of Iron and Graven with a point of a Diamond though no mortal Man did in the least Speak or Write thereof But our God commands that they be shewed and told thereof in order to which it is necessary to do both We have no way to convince of Sin and turn unto Righteousness but by the Scriptures And when the Devil quotes them as we read that once he did he leaves out the material Words To keep thee in all thy Wayes which is in Psal 91. 11. but quite omitted Mat. 4. 6. and in Luke 4. 10. to keep thee is added but the last Words are again omitted So that the Allegation is the more subtle and fallacious But our Lord did confront Scripture to Scripture and let this be shewed and done by my Adversaries and not think it sufficient barely to object the same against me Let the Learned but Vnstable of our days shew where the Scriptures have been any where wrested for there have been cited those places which are easie to be understood according to the plain and common signification But when there is a Comment added to hinder from coming into the way of Righteousness then this Imputation will truly fall back upon themselves as God will judge and determine at last the now they justifie themselves before Men and have the fashion and multitude on their side If Satan doth once cite Scripture not in generals or by halfs but particularly and fully to turn People from Iniquity unto Righteousness then He doth rise up against himself and is divided He cannot stand and hath an end And if my self have done that under all as I can think of the principal heads of â—ood and Evil as may be seen in the Book of Happiness c. to which I have prefixed my Name then it may be judged whether I am a true Minister of Righteousness tho' by the Impositions and Restraints of Men I am as yet debarred from the publick and outward Administration of that Office by reason of contradictory Oaths and to me doubtful Subscriptions And if my self have wrote against Popery more than my Equals as may be seen in the above-cited Book page 75 120 121 160 190 212 243 253 411 460 461 462 487 586 618 691 700. And yet am a Papist then also Popery is divided against it self and that hath an end and cannot stand I shall never be able to do any thing to advance the Cause but subject my self to present shame eternal confusion If I do once speak or act contradictory to mine own printed words in the least considerable instance then I am a Lyar Deceiver false Prophet Traytour heady and high-minded and then I may be justly and safely proceeded against as such That Book was indeed compiled in the late King's Reign but came out of the Press after his departure And there is one single page therein viz. the hundred sixty second which if he had been put in mind of and throughly observed the Truth contained therein would have preserved him in his Throne to this day and the enemies of our reformed Church had got no advantage over us And also that Sin Disturbance Confusion the bloody doubful events of War might have been prevented which we have been since involved in If I have spoken the Truth it ought to be believed and received if I am all along consonant and agreeable to my self which others may examine as strictly as they will then it is Truth And if my only drift and design is to teach transgressors thy