WE have seen Christ on the Throne and the World under his feet and what he works as being Lord paramount of the earth Let us now raise our thoughts and hearts unto a farther consideration and behold the Turns of the World from Christ as King of Saints and that your thoughts may be more collected I shall represent you in this Chap. with twelve Sections Sect. I. Jesus Christ is King of Saints as well as King of the World God the Father glories in this that he hath set him his King upon his holy hill Psal 2. 6. Let the Kings set against him and seek to break his cords all their power and malice cannot in the least unsetle him Psal 110. 4. He sweares and will not repent God the Father is fully satisfied in the great glory put on Christ so as he will never have a recoyling thought concerning it It s the blessed burden of the Song of Moses and the Lamb Rev. 15. 3. Just and true are thy ways oh thou King of Saints And let wise and holy Daniel tell you what work this makes Dan. 2. 44. His Kingdome shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdomes and it shall be for ever Sect. II. Jesus Christ hath this high honour of being King of Saints upon his sufferings The 22. Psalm is a Psalm of Christ and his sufferings as appears from v. 1. to 22. The meek shall eate and be satisfied and the Kingdoms of the Nations shall worship yea the fat ones upon earth v. 25. shall eate and worship and the ground you have v. 28. The Kingdome is the Lords and he is Governour among the Nations Phil. 2. 7 8 9. He made himselfe of no reputation though he were in the forme of God yet he took on him the forme of a servant thus he humbled himselfe but God highly exalted him and upon this follows a Name above every Name the bowing of every knee to him and the confession of every tongue That he is Lord. It is a proper honour due unto him from these his sufferings that is such an honour as had not accrewed to him if he had not suffered Jesus Christ had experience of many Turnes in his sufferings Now his glory shall correspond with his sufferings and not be in one straine or streame but in diverse Turnes and alterations Sect. III. Jesus Christ puts forth His power he hath as King of the Nations for his people to whom he is King of Saints 1 Chron. 16. 20 21. When they went from Nation to Nation from one Kingdome to another People He suffered no man to do them wrong yea he reproved Kings for their sakes He must be King of the World that he may be their King that in their wanderings he might help them and if Kings oppose them he as King of Kings will reprove them Rev. 12. 16. The earth helps the woman The world helps the Church Christ makes the Goths and Vandales break the Arrian faction by which the Dragon sought to carry away the Church Isa 43. 14. Thus saith the Lord your Redeemer For your sakes I have sent to Babylon and have brought down all their Nobles Jehovah considered as the Redeemer and holy One of Israel puts forth his power as he is King of Nations and makes it subservient to that power he hath as he is the Redeemer of his people He sends to Babylon and brings down all their Nobles there he appears King of Kings but it s for their sakes for Israels sake there he appears the holy One and their Redeemer the Redeemer of his holy ones Sect. IV. Jesus Christ shall have more visible glory in this world then ever hitherto he hath had the glory of this relation of being King of Saints His Subjects appeare in this world as Saints they here shine as lights in a dark world and the world hates them because they are Saints holy ones because by their holinesse they convince and condemn the world and do they appeare for Christ and will not Christ appeare for them They appeare for him visibly upon earth before men and Christ will take to himselfe his great power and Dan. 7. 22. Time shall come when the Saints shall possesse the Kingdome He had a government over Israel so as he had not over other Nations and the Nations knew it Exod. 14. 25. Let us flee say the Egyptians from the face of Israel for the Lord fighteth for them Deut. 32. 31. Their Rock is not as our Rock even our enemies themselves being judges And surely Christ shall again appeare to have the government of Saints and Saints shall know it more and their enemies too when he shall be revealed from heaven to take vengeance on them that know not God and 2 Thes 1. 10. shall come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe Thus Rev. 15. when Christ sends his last plagues in which are filled up the the wrath of God on his Churches enemies then is Christ honoured v. 3. as King of Saints Sect. V. Bitternesse doth and shall mingle with all Governments among all Nations that so Christs Government may be rendred sweet Look on Governments by single Persons or by Councils in Kingdomes or in Common-wealths look on this or that form of Government whatsoever it be you will finde so much weaknesse and wickednesse so much corruption self-seeking and undue exaltation of themselves breaking forth as that men will be weary of it To maintaine their pride you will finde men apt to oppresse to maintaine their oppression you will finde them dextrous either to straine or new coyne Laws and so far from removing heavy burdens that they will lay more on Observe observe narrowly and you will meet with such undue biassings in them that rule to their friends kindred relations and interests that due deserving worth cannot mount to preferment Look on the right or left hand you will finde no helper oh how wellcome will Christ be in such a conjunction of affairs When he was to be borne into the world he stay'd till men had made void his Law till the Pharisees by their glosses and traditions had made the word of God of no effect and when he shall come to take the Kingdome to himselfe is shall be when men have corrupted and so inbittered all rule and government Israel must be under hard Task-masters that make them serve with rigour before Moses and Aaron can be hearkned unto Rev. 17. 13 14. The ten Hornes that is the ten Kings of Europe give their power and strength to the Beast and make war with the Lamb that is the condition of Governours before Christ come But the Lamb shall come and overcome them for he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and they that are with him as called and chosen and faithful Sect. VI. Christ pours out on his people a mighty spirit of prayer which he in his government as King
of Egypt which he did by dividing the red Sea v. 15. when he makes them a people distinct and separate from the Egyptians none in-bodyed with them he made â—hem eminently his Sion and people v. 16. This his work is expressed by two phrases Planting Heavens and laying the foundation of the Earth that is he will make them a Common-wealth a Kingdome a World Politique Isa 65. 17 18. When Jehovah erects Jerusalem a rejoycing and her people a joy which shall be in the latter age of the world it s said 17. Behold I create a new Heaven and a new Earth In like manner when the high or low things of a Nation are destroyed it is expressed by the destruction of the high or low things of the World Isa 34. 4. speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem he saith All the host of heaven shall be disolved that is all those high things of Jerusalem shall be laid low so the destruction of Samaria Hos 10. 8. and so here I will shake the Heavens that is I will sâ—ake the high things and persons of Kingdomes Nations and Common-wealths Note then Jesus Christ will shake the Kings Princes Nobles and glorious ones of the World Isa 34 5. When the sword comes down on the people of his curse to judgement it s said The Heavens shall be rowled together like a scrâ—wle that is the most high things or persons shall be contracted confused covered with shame discoloured scattered consumed as a leafe from the tree Daniel speaking of the Tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes and what he should do against the people of Israel Dan. 8. 10. its said It waxed great against the host of Heaven and it cast some of the host and the Stars to the ground So will Christ do with the high and mighty ones of the Earth He is the watcher and the holy One that numbers and weighs Kingdomes Dan. 4. 13. and 5. 26. They think themselves exempt from mans scrutiny are they therefore from Gods They make their nest in the Stars and say in their hearts Who shall plucke them down shall not Christ Let us see what grounds conclude us into this principle that Christ will thus deale with them These are the men that make the turns on Earth therefore Christ will shake them Let them be as Lucifer sons of the morning on the rising hand yet he will overturne them that make these turnes Isa 14. 12 13. It s spoken of Babylon How art thou cut down that didst weaken the Nations Verse 16. Is this the man that made the Earth to tremble that did shake kingdomes verse 17. That made the world as a Wildernesse and destroyed the Cities thereof that open'd not the house of his prisoner Take notice of five passages there 1. They change governments and Christ will change them They shake the Kingdomes v. 16. and Christ will shake them 2. They weaken the Nations v. 12. and Christ will weaken them 3. They destroy Cities and make the world as a Wildernesse v. 17. for their lust and pleasure and God will destroy them and leave their habitations desolate 4. They hold the people in a flavish feare They v. 16. make the earth to tremble Christ will amaze and terrifie them 5. They did not let the prisoner loose homeward v. 17. Christ will imprison them at home and make his people insult over them Is this the man or these the Kings that made the earth to tremble that did Tyrant it over my people that took them prisoners and kâ—pt them prisoners for their sakes I will arise They pretend to be exempt from mans power Mr. Hugh Broughton observes from Nebuchadnezzar his golden Image that Christ in profane eyes is a base stone and heathen Kings goodly mettal Who is the Lord was Pharaohs proud question that I should obey his voyce and it was as wicked a conclusion of his I know not the Lord neither will I let Israel go What infectious acclamation was that which flye-blowed Herod Acts 12. 12. The voâ—ce of God and not of man and is it not now grown into a position Qui summum in civitate imperium habet quicquid is fecerit impune â—sse Whosoever hath the supreame power whatsoever he doth is not to be punished Now it s most proper for Christ to deale with them to shake them thorowly whom men either dare not cannot or will not meddle with Dealing with them is a compendious way of dealing with the Nations they relate unto the ready way to shake Nations is to shake their Kings They are the Shepherds and if you strike them the sheepe will be scattered when God was angry with Israel the ready way was to move David against them 2 Sam. 24. 1. Thou art worth ten thousand of us 2 Sam. 18. 5. Kings are the light of their people the way to darken them is to put out their light Lam. 4. 20. people breath much in their Kings stop his breath and you stop theirs They are decked with all worldly pompe and glory and therefore in the judgement of flesh and blood the fittest match for Christ Eccl. 2. 8. I gat me Silver and Gold the peculiar Treasures of Kings I gat me Men-singers and Maid-singers the delight of the sonnes of men Psal 82. 6. Ye are Gods and all of you the children of the most high Acts 25. 23. King Agrippa comes with great pompe and Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 5. 19. Whom he would he slew and whom he would he kept alive whom he would he set up or plucked down their excellent majesty dazles us poor low ones Dan. 4. 36. But it s not so with Christ who comes against these Goliahs these Champions and Cheiftains of the world and tumbles them down First will Christ shake Kings and Princes then let us see a meanesse in their majesty and lownesse in their highnesse They are above other men but under Christ others account to them and they must account to him Sensual men see nothing in them but pompe and power but men that live by faith and weigh them in the ballance of the Sanctuary see Christ shaking of them see them falling down and Christ mounting up Christ alone is Rex Catholicus the Catholique King to whom that King that assumes that name and all others must be accomptable 2. Learne also that management of particular places and powers must be reckoned for when Christ comes to shake them he shakes them not considered simply as Men but as men in Office as men dignified with place and power as Kings and Princes Oh! how great will that day and worke be when the Emperour must answer for his Provinces and the extreame cruelty and oppression of the Protestant party what a hideous cry of blood in so many years War will be heard against him when Germanies teares and desolations shall be turned into a vial of wrath upon him How much hath the King of Spain to answer for the blood of
CHAP. XII Opens the fifth Pos That Kings abuse their power for 1. They serve themselves more then others 2. They turne their power that should be for the good to the hurt of others 3. It was against Christ in his person 4. It is against Christ in his interest 5. It s given up to Christs enemie Vses WE have heard that Kings reign by Christ and that Government is set up for the good of men But now we come to shew the unhappy inversion of power againg Christ and of government against those for whose good it was intended Hence your fifth Position Kings and Princes have in all Ages grossly abused their power The first King we read of is Nimrod Gen. 10. 10. His Kingdome began at Babel but what was he v. 8. He was a mighty one that 's true Kings are mighty ones but where in the earth and for the earth for earthly and sensual things v. 9. He was a mighty one but a mighty Hunter not so much of beasts as of men Saul was the first King of Israel and what he was we all know Now that they have thus abused their power I shall shew these five wayes 1. They serve themselves more then others Government and Governours you heard was set up for others and their good and to turne it to one person or family is a palpable abuse How sad is it when their double portion of these outward things which should enâ—ble them to be more useful and beneficial to others is imploy'd and laid out mainly to gain friends and servants to their own lusts and interrsts Those who have been most popular pretending love to their Country how wickedly have they interwoven their self-interests when they have good successe in publick enterprises how do they sacrifice to their own nets applauding their own wisdome and power You shall finde them sometimes affable and courteous but is it not to inhaunce love and power to themselves by the repute of their wisdome birth and eloquence Iâ—geniosi sed nequam facundi sed malo publico witty but wicked eloquent but to publick damage and thus they abuse their power by their corrupt selfe-seeking 1 Sam. 8. 11. It s said He will appoint for himselfe He that is Saul and such as he was will appoint for themselves But David who was after Gods own heart in government as well as otheâ—wayes and those who be like David they they I say will not seek themselves but the good of others and now methinks I finde my hope enlarged for those who sit at the sterne of this Common-wealth that they being eminently and remarkably raised up by God will seeke the honour of him who thus raised them 2. They turn their power that should be for the good to the hurt of others God never intended power to oppresse power to crush the weake and innocent but to help and releive them But I would daily observation and experience both in this and former ages did not proclame the miserable abuse of power Read over your Chronicles and there you will finde that made good which was spoken by Cato Censâ—rius Reges omnes esse de genere bestiarum rapacium All Kings are akin to ravenous beasts who prey and devour they are great in power and powerful in oppression 1 Sam. 8. 13 14 15 16 17. They shall take your Daughters your Feilds your Seed your Servants your Sheep and what is this taking but unjust taking and unjust taking is oppression and oppression an abuse of power 3. The greatest powers were against Christ in his person while he was upon earth Acts 4. 26. The Kings of the earth stand up and the Rulers are gathered togegether against the Lord and against his Christ No sooner was Christ born but Herod seekes his life and he is faine to be carried into Egypt when he comes forth to preach and work miracles the Scribes and the Pharisees and the Rulers of the people set against him call him Bel zebub the Prince of Devils and though he professed his Kingdom not to be of this world but came in a low emptied condition yet he is held forth as an enemy to Caesar Joh. 19. 12. If thou let this man goe thou art not Caesars friend and so you know how he was condemned and abused by Herod and Pontius Pilate Thus was government turn'd against him who set it up 4. Kings and Princes have been bitter enemies against Christs interest and people When Gods Israel was in Egypt there arose a new King Exod. 1. 11. that set Task-masters to afflict them with heavy burdens that their souls served with rigour Burdens Taxes Masters Hardship Servitude is the best that Kings can afford the Israel of God When they come into Canaan Sihon King of the Amorites will not suffer them to passe thorow his border but gathers all his people to fight them The Kings of Jerusalem Hebron Jarmuth Lachish and Eglon made war with the Gibeonits because they made peace with Israel Josh 10. 3. It was Jeroboam the King the son of Nebat that sinned and made Israel to sin 1 Kings 14. 16. And against whom were all those bloody persecutions under the Heathenish Emperours but against the Christians the servants and worshippers of Christ If any evil befel them they make the Christians the cause of it and then Christianos ad Leones carry these Christians to the Lyons let them devour them it was enough to make a man guilty if he were a Christian Bonus vir Caius sed Christianus Caius was a good man but a Christian and thus is power inverted against Christ and his interest in his people 5. Kings and Princes give up their power to Christs enemie can there be a greater abuse Rev. 17. 17. The ten hornes the ten Kings of Europe they agree and give their kingdom to the Beast to receive laws from his lust and to serve his designes Rev. 16. 14. The froggs which are the spirits of Devils goe forth to the Kings of the earth and Rev. 17. 2. The Kings of the earth commit fornication and are drunk with the wine of the great whore and thus you see power abused 1. See here the foundation of turnes and changes upon kingdomes and governments they are departed far from their right ends become corrupt and abominable so that the Lord cannot â—uffer them Are these the powers that I set up saith God did I ever intend they should be against me and mine did I set them up to pride themselves in their lusts and to oppresse those that are better then themselves Surely no. I will now arise saith the Lord and overturn overturn overturn them 2. See how little they deserve the name of Sacred Majesty who were so profane and mindelâ—sse of holy things that keep up Religion not out of conscience but custome not that God may have his homage and men Gods blessing but out of State-policy to keep men in awe how grosse
yet God hath scattered and suppressed them Blessed for ever blessed be his Name Oh! that all high and low Governours and governed would follow after righteousness and judgement That that would be the stability of their rule and peace Fiat justitia ne ruat Mundus Let justice run down like a streame and righteousness like a mighty torrent then shall our peace be abundant and our prosperity be increased Who ever lost by doing well or gained by evil doing Gaine is what remaines to a man omni damno deducto when all his loss is computed Righteousness may suffer for the present but it will greatly advantage in the end CHAP. XVI Opens the ninth Position That Civil VVars cause fatal Turnes which appears in that 1. Government is destroyed 2. Laws are not heard 3. Religion is slaine 4. Learning and Trading are dead 5. A rich people are made poor 6. No safety to any 7. Plantations are nipt in the bud 8. The victory is to be lamented Vses COncord and agreement is the health of a State and when a State is in health their little yea their least things grow and grow prosperously Concordia parvae res cresunt their little number and learning their little estate and traffick yea their religion and good manners all grow But sedition is the sicknesse that infeebles their strength so that no person in his place can well performe his duty it pines away their comfort and convulsions them into an irregular motion sedition doth so much I but Civil War is a sicknesse unto death yea the death it selfe of a Common-wealth Hence your ninth Position Civil Wars produce ruinous fatal Turnes and changes Farewel all publick life activity and comfort when Civil wars prevaile A State may live and live gallantly in a war-faring condition as in Holland l but it is the States of the Vnited Provinces Their arrows must be tyed together among themselves though headed to wound their adversaries A Kingdome divided against it selfe cannot stand See this in these eight passages ensuing 1. Civil war destroyes government That which you heard was set up by Christ and so much for the good of the World is here taken away We may justly take up a bitter lamentation to see the Magistrate and Officers of justice and peace to be despised Lam. 2. 6. In the indignation of his anger he hath despised the King here here is that sad state of Bâ—llum omnium contra omnes a war of all against all as it s spoken of Ishmael Gen. 16. 12. His hand against every man and every mans hand against him so here but most deplorable it is to see those who beare the sword of justice slighted put down abused The honour of Citizens and people is collected into their Magistrates Judges and Justices of the Peace but here in Civil wars it is buried laid in the dust 2. Equity and Laws are not heard in Civil wars Those Laws that guide men to their edification and peace are not regarded Silent leges inter arma The Laws are silent when weapons speak Barbarus Hostis Vt fera plus valeant legibus arma facit The barbarous souldier makes weapons more prevaile then Law Let the law speak never so much reason peace and profit yet they slight it Now will and lust is law lawlesse law We pitty men in Bedlam in their frensy fits deprived of reason acting more like beasts then men In Civil wars insaniunt omnes all men are mad cutting their own throats slaying the life of all their comforts at once Laws are Gods wisdome found and held out by men for our good but how little is God or man their wisdome or our own good regarded here Nothing but oppression and unjustice pillaging and plundering is looked after Terras Astraea reliquit Judgement is turned away backward and justice standeth afar off for truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter 3. Civil wars slayes Religion and Devotion Victa jacet pietas You shall meet with oathes cursing raging railing but no prayer they fight and destroy but call not upon God Fugêre pudor verumque fidesque In quorum subiere locum fraudesque dolique Insidiaeque vis Amor sceleratus habendi Modesty truth and faithfulnesse are fled away and cozenage and deceit are come in their place Let the faithful servants of Christ cry aloud and not spare tell them again and again of their sins and transgressions yet who believeth their report Let me allude to that in Lam. 2. 6. They violently take away the Tabernacle and destroy the places of the Assembly and cause the solemne Feasts and Sabbaths to be forgotten in Sion and no remembrance of any thing but of their Abominations 4. Down fall Learning and Trading which maintaine the glory of a Nation alas they are now quite dead Study of Tongues and Arts Philosophy Divinity the Secrets of Nature the Mysteries of the Gospel are now laid aside The Methods of training up Children to be serviceable in Church or State are undervalued How extensive is this evil that reacheth the child unborn who hath cause to curse it in that it shall want good education Men now had rather have bare shops then shops well furnished their shops empty rather then full for an enemy The Husbandman will not plow when he hath not hopes to reape or sow those feilds which he thinkes Horse or Foot will trample or eate up Non ullus aratro Dignus honor squallent abductis arva colonis Et curvae rigidum falces conflantur in ensem There is now no respect to the Plough the feilds lie fallow because the husbandmen are taken away and crooked sickles are turned into cruel swords Merchants are now embargoed they cannot receive their returns because they are surprized by the way and they are unwilling to send forth least they should adde to their surprizers 5. Civil wars make a rich people poor and a strong people weake Divitiae sanguis reipublicae Riches are the blood of the Common-wealth but these wars strick so in that veine that the Common-wealth even bleeds to death Trading being stopped hinders the coming in of wealth and Souldiers will take care to ease you of what you have It s not any good cause but money that many fight for Souldiers of fortune or rather without fortune would not care if both sides were beaten and undone so they might have to swill and pipe to hunt and whore withal Mistake me not I abhor to reflect on honest Commanders or souldiers I believe our Nation can produce the most and best of them in the World and which is a wonder souldiers being used to take away what is precious God hath engaged us to that rank of men for all the precious things we do enjoy But yet we know all are not so and that many Families can speak by sad experience 6. No safety to any in war Nulla salus bello so much is
that great Law inverted that now Destructio populi suprema Lex Not the safety but the destruction of the people is the great Law Their work and businesse is to slay and burne pluck up and pull down ruine and destroy How many Countries Towns Villages Families and Persons have we known desolate and without inhabitant How many stately Edifices the seats of Noble Families have we seen levelled with the ground and the owners know them no more Behold the justice of an avenging God do not some of the members of the greatest Family that was in our Nation wander like Vagabonds from one Country to another being burdensome where ever they become and enjoy nothing of all that their Ancestors possessed but possessed their wickednesse How many of both sides complain that they are undone some by their enemies others by their friends I know my selfe where a good Gentleman suffered more in one night by some of his own party then some of his neighbours paid in some years Cesses 7. Good Plantations which are the children of the Common-wealth that swarme out from them and hive in a forreigne Country how are they nipt in the bud by Civil wars They are gone from you but so as they cannot live well without you Methinks I hear those many thousands of precious souls in New England complaine that they are forced to goe too like the Natives almost naked and all because they cannot have cloaths from their friends who were wont to send to their refreshment and now they here need what formerly they spared them Harke harke the cry of Virginia Barbados and other places who say God is good to us in giving us Commodities but we have no Market for them your wars obstruct our returns If you will not regard the cry among your selves yet let the cry of many thousands of us so many leagues off ring a peale in your eares Oh for Gods sake for truth sake for yonr enemies sake agree agree Will you at once destroy your selves and kill us at this distance The Lord awaken your hearts and soften them to a speedy setled composure 8. Lastly even the victories of Civil wars are much to be lamented In other victories men use to ride in Triumph but sad sad is the Triumph here whom have you overcome not strangers or forreigners but your Brethren such whom formerly you lived and rejoyced with bought and sold with nay it may be fasted and prayed with and now these you have cut off How little did the Children of Israel Triumph Judg. 21. 6 They repented them for Benjamin their Brother and said There is a Tribe cut off from Israel this day so true is that saying In bellis civilibus nihil miserius quamipsa Victoria In Civil wars nothing more miserable then the Victory it selfe 1. Learne hence to admire the exceeding goodnesse of Gods gracious providence that we who have been so many years under such severe wars are yet a Nation after so many seiges pitched battles daily fightings and skirmishes in one in another County nay almost in all Counties of the Nation and in one Nation after another In Ireland Scotland and England by Sea and by Land that we are yet a live Nation and a Nation enjoying much more Peace Plenty and Liberty too I say more then other Nations liberty of person state and which is most of all of Conscience Oh blessed for ever blessed be our gracious God that although we have had this woful division as yet he hath not given us up to the desolation to a wilderness state as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Math. 12. 25. Erect monuments of his mercy and let your children know how great things God hath done in your dayes for them and you 2. Consider how much you are engaged to those in present power by whose care and counsel as instruments in Gods hand it comes to passe that these wars break not forth again We that live on the Sea Coast observe that though the winde be laid and the storme over yet there is an unquietnesse in the waves for some time after a storme God that rideth on the heavens for our help and in his excellency on the skie hath calmed our storme yet alas how many spirits still boyle unduely how ready are men to renew another Civil war and are we not beholding to their wisdome and power that prevents such sad returns Oh be still be still let not God heare your murmurings and repinings and sad not those whom God makes means of your safety and preservation 3. We should look on some inconveniences as eligible when they be in a way to prevent what is fatally ruinous T is true Excise is heavy and Taxes burdensome but is not Civil war worse It s impossible to conceive the management of publick affairs without publick expense and is it not great weaknesse to grumble at that which is so just and necessary But it may be you complain you are over-cessed dealt unequally withal suppose that but is that so bad as to have all taken and nothing left you I but this was not so in former times nay it is worse now then it was then we grumbled at a little Ship-money at Court and Conduct-money alas that is but a flea-biting to what we feele now But do you not feele enough but would you feele more who brought you into this condition had not your selves the greatest hand in it and will you complain for what your selves have brought on your selves It would refresh the hearts of those in place to finde you in such a condition of safety as that these charges might be spared but till that time come they should not be faithful to you to take them off nor will you doe your selves right except you beare them 4. It should be far from us to begin promote or abet any Civil war It shews the highth of the wickednesse of our quarrelsome spirits that rather then you will not be fighting you will devour one another Saevis inter se convenit Vrsis feirce Beares agree among themselves Far be it from you to make or take up causes of breaches among your selves doubt not you will finde more then enough abroad why will you sad the heart of your friends and rejoyce your enemies Oh tell it not in Gath and publish it not in the streets of Askalon lest those that hate you hear it and rejoyce Surely the divisions of Ruben cause great thoughts of heart How good and pleasant were it for Brethren to dwell together in unity that would be as the precious diffused oyntment a refreshing dew which hath a commanding blessing yea life in it What What evil have good and wholesome Laws done you that you take a course to break them is that the requital for all the provision and protection you have had by them will you pluck up your fences and lay your inclosures common Magistrates as well as Ministers are
called Shepherds and both watch over you one for your spiritual the other for your civil good and will you damp and discourage them will you tempt them to fling off all or if they hold their charge must it be with a burdened minde Call to minde your Religion your Religion is that nothing to you can you think to have a religious being when it s in dispute whether you shall have a being or no can you finde your Oratories in the Campe or your Christian sweet Christian meetings in their courts of Guard Will the swearing and cursing there teach you to pray and praise Can ambition lust impudence coveteousnesse luxury revenge cruelty envy violation of covenants feare sorrow please you Is not the voyce of your sweet singer of Israel better then the roaring of Canons and beating of Drums and sounds of Trumpets is not the still voyce of the Bridegroome more pleasant then Arme Arme Horse Horse away away they come they come fall on fall on How do you like your thin Markets and Shops and your Ships to be laid up and the tidings that your Vessels abroad came within sight of land and yet were surprized or sunk by the enemy and so never came home Should it not greive you to be made poor to make your enemies rich that Shops and Ships Chests and Bags should be emptied for them that will never give you thanks But why do I mention these things What is estate to life and the losse of your goods to the continual feare and sorrow that you were in night and day When you are at home every knock at your door renews your fears that others are come to take away that which the former company left Deare loving Wives have you forgot the feares you were in for your careful Husbands Parents surely you will remember your sorrows for your sons of whose death you daily expected tidings and the feare for your daughters is not yet off you feared least they should be abused to the lust of a wicked villaine I should offer violence to your ingenuous resolutions to urge more arguments you are sufficiently instructed in the evil of these wars I onely beseech you to remember what you have seen and felt And now one word to you who are the Saints of the most High You have a God to goe unto a Throne of grace open he that is King of the World and Lord of peace and war is your Saviour oh to your weapons you prayers and teares that peace and truth may be in your dayes and in your childrens after you Oh let not your hearts be at a distance one from another or from this praying work Beset the Throne of grace ring a peale of prayers in the eares of the Almighty lay hold upon him and wrastle with him give him not over till you prevaile It s of great concernment what you come to him for it s his interest as well as yours it s not the good of some but the good of all you come for Oh then make haste make haste prostrate your selves humbly before him for you will God accept and your voyce will be pleasant and your countenance comely before him CHAP. XVII Handles the tenth Position That Neighbour Princes fall off from us or come forth against us when we are imbroyled in Civil Wars This is explained in shewing 1. That God hath bounded all Nations 2. Confederacy is needful for a Nation 3. It s of great concernment with whom you confederate 4. Islanders have more liberty therein then others 5. We may break with our confederates 6. They may breake from us 7. They may be destroyed 8. VVe may break at home though we have peace abroad 9. Our distractions tempt our confederates to fall from us 10. And opportunes our enemies to invade upon us Vses CIvil Wars do not onely cause turnings but overturnings and of that which is nearest and dearest amongst us It sets the father against the son and son against the father one brother and friend against another but that is not all it extends likewise to incite Neighbour Nations against us and this leads us to consider the tenth Position That Neighbour Princes fall off from us or come forth against us when we are imbroyled in Civil wars We cannot open the many and wasting evils which attend Civil wars one and not the least is the unfaithfulnesse of Neighbour Nations which that you may the better conceive we shall thus explaine 1. That God hath bounded and limited Nations in their territories as well as particular persons in their possesâ—ions Acts 17. 26. God who hath made of one blood all Nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation Out of which place I observe four things 1. That God makes Nations of men as well as men that is that he continueth so many Families and Persons together as make a Nation 2. Hemakes them to dwell on the face of the earth that is makes them to reside work and continue in one place and not to be shifting and wandring up and down Habitare est plus quam morari To â—well is more then to stay in a place for it s to stay so as to lay forth a mans selfe in a setled constant way 3. That he appoints their dwelling that is that Nation for this place and another Nation for another place and a third Nation for another place this is plain from Deut. 2. 5. Meddle not with the children of Esau for I will not give you of their Land no not so much as a footbreath because I have given Mount Seir unto Esau for a possession 4. God bounds their habitations hitherto they must come and no farther thus much they must have and no more The children of Israel must have so much and no more and the children of Esau so much and no more and what Israel hath Esau must not meddle with and what Esau hath Israel must not meddle with and thus one Nation borders on another and one Island is neere another 2. Confederacy is as needful for a Nation or Kingdome as for a Family or person Vae Soli wo to him that is alone is extendible to a Nation wo to a Nation that is alone Tyre and Sidon was nourished by Herods Country Acts 12. 20. and therefore they conclude a Peace with him As in Gods dealing with men he hath given some of his gifts to all men all to none So in Countries God giveth to one that which another wanteth Thus Spain hath Wine and Fruits England Wool and Cloth that so there may be mutnal intercourse between Nation and Nation Thus their was a League between Solomon and Hiram 1 Kings 5. 12. and between Asa King of Judah and Ben-hadad King of Syria 1 Kings 15. 8 9. 3. It s of great concernment what and with whom confederacy is concluded Judg. 2. 2. Ye