KNowing that ye look on it as a duty to fight by military weapons in defence of your principle, yea to promote your Cauſe and your pretended Reformation by the power of the Sword, in which ye are confirmed by ſome of your Preachers, who are always labouring to perſwade you to this, as one evidence of your Zeal for God, and not to ſpare to hazard your Lives, Liberties and Eſtates in ſuch a glorious Cauſe, as they call it.

In reference to which, I have found freedom, out of that love I bear to the welfare of your Souls, the peace of our native Country, and that duty of obedience and ſubjection we owe to all that are ſet up in lawful Authority over us, as we are men and Chriſtians, (whether active or paſſive, wherein we cannot with a good conſcience give active obedience) to lay before you theſe following Conſiderations.

1. Conſider how ſhort ye are of that promiſe and Prophecy of Goſpel-times, (when Chriſtians ſhall be recovered out of the Apoſtacy, and come to the primitive Simplicity) which is mentioned Micah 4.2, 3, 4. and Iſa. 2.2, 3, 4. When many Nations ſhall ſay, Come, and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, and to the Houſe of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths, &c. And he will judge among many people, and rebuke ſtrong Nations afar off, and they ſhall beat their Swords into Plow-ſhares, and their Spears into Pruning-hooks: Nation ſhall not lift up Sword againſt. Nation, neither ſhall they learn War any more, but they ſhall ſit every man under his own Vine, and under his own Fig-tree, and none ſhall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord hath ſpoken it.

Where, firſt, this is obſervable, that this promiſe is to be accompliſhed when many Nations ſhall come to own the true God, which was not ſo under the Moſaical diſpenſation, till the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt was preached amongſt the Nations, and the Gentile World converted to Chriſtianity.

But it may be objected, That Wars were never more amongſt the Nations, then ſince the Nations became by outward profeſſion to own Chriſtianity, and ſo it continues unto this day; To which my ſecond Conſideration ſhall ſerve for Anſwer, thus:

Before the defection from the Simplicity of the Goſpel, in the firſt and pureſt times of Chriſtianity, it was not ſo, as is witneſſed by Doctor Cave's Primitive Chriſtianity, citing Teſtimonies out of Origens and Tertullians Apology, pag. 326. chap. 2. pag. 55. chap. 1. where he brings in Celſus objecting to Origen, that Chriſtians refuſed to help the Emperours in their Wars; Origen anſwers, That they did really aſſiſt and help him, and that rather with Divine than humane weapons, according to the command of the Apoſtle, I exhort, that first of all, ſupplication, prayers, interceſſions, &c. be made for all men, for Kings, and for all that are in Authority. And tells him, the more eminent any man is for Piety and Religion, he will be able to afford greater aſſiſtance to his Prince, then a great many Armed Souldiers that ſtand ready to fight for him, and to deſtroy his enemies.

But to clear this further, ſee that famous Letter of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus the Roman Emperour, to the Senate of Rome, which is recorded in the Works of Juſtin Martyr in Latine; Alſo in John Fox his Acts and Monuments, commonly called the Book of Martyrs, his firſt Tome, pag. 46. (who though he reports according to Euſebius, the Chriſtians to have been a Legion of the Emperours Army, yet the Letter it ſelf ſhews the contrary where the Emperour ſays, I cauſed to be ſent for theſe men who were called Chriſtians, who did their endeavour, but without either Weapons, Munition, Armour, or Trumpet, as men abhorring ſuch preparation and furniture, but only ſatiſfied in truſt of their God, whom they carry about with them in their Conſciences. And for your ſakes I ſhall ſet down the Letter at length.

According to Cluverius his Latine Epitome of the Hiſtory of the World, this Emperour began his Reign in the year 162. and died 180. which was about one hundred and twenty years before Hiſtory reports any thing of a Chriſtian Legion, which may bear this ſad and woful remark, (that though it was for a good cauſe in refuſing to worſhip falſe Gods) that whole Legion was cut off and periſhed by the Sword, after they had been twice decimated, at laſt they were all Maſsacred without the leaſt reſiſtance made by them, under Maximinianus, Collegue in the Empire to Diocleſian, who raiſed the tenth perſecution; which makes the words of our Lord good, Mat. 26.52. Put up thy Sword into his place, for all they that take the Sword, ſhall periſh with the Sword. However this Scripture may be applied here, I am ſure it may be a weighty warning to all private perſons, that are not in Authority, to take up Arms in defence of their opinions, let your Preachers plead the contrary as they will.

Conſider thirdly, let all people walk in uprightneſs and righteouſneſs towards God and all men, that they may in Faith fully rely upon the Arm of the Almighty, who hath ſaid he will Judge among many people, and rebuke ſtrong Nations afar off: if a perſon or a people knew the true exerciſe of Faith in this caſe, they would ſay with David, Pſal. 3.6. We will not be afraid of ten thouſands of people who have ſet themſelves against us round about.

O but this were a tempting of God, if the ordinary means ſhould not be uſed— Anſwer. In no ways, for this is but to beg the queſtion; if weapons and Arms be the true ordinary means in the Goſpel-times, when God hath ſaid, Swords are to be beaten into Plow-ſhares, and Spears into Pruning-hooks, &c. See alſo what the Lord hath ſaid, in confirmation of this truth, Hoſea 1.7. But I will have mercy upon the Houſe of. Judah, and will ſave them by the Lor • their God, and will not ſave them by Bow, nor by Sword, nor by Battel, by Horſes, nor by Horſe-men. So Hoſ. 2.18. When the Lords People have not only forſaken their Idols and Idolatry, ſo as not to have their names any more remembred, as verſ. 16, 17. Then verſ. 18. In that day I will make a Covenant for them, with the Beaſts of the Field, and with the Fowls of the Heaven, and with the creeping things of the Earth, and I will break the Bow and the Sword, and the Battel out of the Earth, and will make them lye down ſafely. The ſureſt ordinary means of defence, is true peace with God, grounded upon faith in him, and a good Conſcience.

Conſider that of Exod. 34.23, 24. Where the Lord ſaid, Thrice in the year ſhall all your male children appear before the Lord God, neither ſhall any man deſire thy Land, when thou ſhalt go up to appear before the Lord thy God thrice in the year. Now if Iſrael of old, that were engaged often even by the Lords allowance, to fight the Lords Battel by Military weapons againſt their enemies, (all which were but typical of the Spiritual Warfare which Chriſtians are to fight) if they at ſuch times were to forbear, and did forbear all outward defence by carnal weapons, at the Word of the Lord, ſaying, No man ſhall deſire your Land; How much more ſhould reformed Chriſtians truſt in the Lord, and lean to his defence, who hath ſaid, I will have mercy on the Houſe of Judah, and will ſave them by the Lord their God, and will not ſave them by Bow, nor by Sword, nor by Battel, by Horſes, nor by Horſe-men.

The Iſraelites had many malicious enemies round about them, as the Edomites, Ammonites, Moabites, Philistims, that of themſelves were ready to wait all opportunities to take advantage againſt them, eſpecially when all their males were gone up to Jeruſalem, and all their Land left deſtitute of men for defence; yet it was never found, that any Nation invaded their Land during the time of their Feaſts, till Titus Veſpaſian the Roman Emperour came with his Army whilſt they were in Jeruſalem, after they had cauſed the Lord of glory to be Crucified. But then their defence had forſaken them: So long then as the Lords people keeps his way and abides in his truth, and truſts alone in the living God, they need fear no enemy whatſoever: Such as return to the Primitive ſimplicity of the Goſpel in faith and practice, will find all theſe promiſes fulfilled, though others that are not come to that ſtate think fit to uſe Arms.

4. Conſider, if theſe Truths had been believed and received in this Iſland, there had much bloud been ſpared that hath been ſpilt theſe 30 or 40 years by gone, and the deſired Reformation carried on, in a more peaceable and proſperous way then it hath been, as may be ſeen, matters ſtanding as they do at this day. It is wonderful that your eyes are ſo blinded, that ye reflect not, nor look back upon your diſappointments and fruitleſs labour, by your Wars and Fighting, in pretence to ſet up Presbyterian Government, & in purſuance of Reformation by Arms. I do not queſtion but there have been many of ſeveral ranks, that were engaged ſo in a miſtaken zeal; for truly the way and manner was not approved by the Lord, compelling all by force and violence to comply with you, though contrary to their Judgment and Light. If you pretend a good intention, that will not juſtifie a bad Action, witneſs Ʋzziah his putting forth his hand to the Ark of the Lord, when the Oxen ſhook it, the Lords anger was kindled againſt him, and ſmote him till he died, 2 Sam. 6.7.

5 It were worth your ſerious Conſideration, that if theſe Preachers continue to ſtir you up to riſe in Arms, they have not much of ſelf-intereſt in their eye, they being now ſecluded from their places, and that Power and Authority they and their Brethren had, (during our late ſad troubles and Wars in this Kingdom) taken from them, whether therefore they ſeek not to imbroil the Nations in new Wars, rather then ſtill to be thus deprived?

But I conceive it were more ſuitable for them to evidence as much care and zeal, in exciting all perſons and people whom they could influence, to ſearch and try their ways, and to turn unto the Lord God with their whole hearts, and ſeek more after a perſonal Reformation, and after a new Creation in their inward man, then to delude people by ſtirring up a carnal zeal for outward Reformation, when there is no true zeal for real conformity to the Spirit of Jeſus in the heart.

6. Conſider, if the way of Fighting and Arms was a means to ſpread the Goſpel at firſt among the Nations: Chriſt ſent forth his Diſciples as Lambs and Sheep among Wolves, and they by pains, and labour, and ſufferings, did propagate the Goſpel, and will ye imagine to carry on any true Goſpel-work another way? They ſuffered impriſonments, beatings, ſcourgings, ſtonings, and all manner of evil, and will ye by reſiſting evil with force and violence, apprehend to promote the Kingdom of Chriſt in theſe Lands? The beſt Arms the Primitive Chriſtians uſed, were preces & lachrymae, prayers and tears; and ſo long as ye make uſe of Swords and Guns, can ye upon any juſt ground lay claim to be their Succeſſors? Remember that the Lords Houſe after the Captivity (which our Babyloniſh Captivity under Popery reſembled) was not built by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord, Zach. 4.6. Even ſo our Reformation from Antichriſtian Idolatry and Superſtition, whether Root or Branch, is not to be by Sword or Spear; but the Lord is to conſume it by the Spirit of his Mouth, and ſhall deſtroy him by the brightneſs of his coming, 2 Theſ. 2.8. O that ye knew the vertue and power of the Spirit of life and truth, ye would ſoon perceive the folly and vanity of your carnal weapons, and of the Arm of fleſh! wherefore let Chriſt who is the head of the true Church, be the ſole defender of his Faith, which he hath wrought in all the true members thereof, elſe acknowledge your Faith and work of Reformation ye pretend too, to be none of Chriſts, but meerly humane, and therefore muſt be upholden by the Arm of man.

7. Conſider, this your way is liker the Children of Antichriſt, then the Diſciples of Holy Jeſus, who when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he ſuffered, he threatned not, but committed himſelf to him that judgeth righteouſly, 1 Pet. 2.23. So his Diſciples behaved themſelves, 1 Cor. 4.12, 13. Being reviled (ſays Paul) we bleſs; being perſecuted we ſuffer it; being defamed we entreat; we are made as the filth of the World, and are counted as the off-ſcouring of all things unto this day. Thus we may ſee the frame of that Spirit that was in the Chriſtians of old; They were far from rendring evil for evil, or repelling force with force, the weapons of their warfare were not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of ſtrong holds, 2 Cor. 10.4.

Whereas it is the Spirit of Antichriſt to make uſe of carnal weapons in defence of falſe worſhip, it was given to him to make war with the Saints, yea to overcome them, Rev. 13.7. yet nevertheleſs verſ. 19. He that killeth with the Sword, must be kill'd with the Sword. This is a retribution threatned and promiſed to come upon Antichriſt, and all that walk in his ſteps: ſee his lording way in his forcible impoſitions, verſ. 16, 17. He cauſeth all ranks to bow to him, and receive marks of conformity to him, yea not to have the liberty to buy or ſell, or the common priviledge of Subjects, except they be ſuch.

Now if ye be ſo dealt with in any degree at ſuch a time as this, ye ſhould reflect upon your ſelves, how much this was your own way when power was in your hands, and had the Authority of the Civil Magiſtrate upon your ſide; But I wiſh ye and all others, that imploy'd your power to ſtir up the Magiſtrate to perſecute others for matters purely conſcientious, to conſider how far ye are from any juſt right to lay claim to the Holy Mountain of the Lord, which is his Church in Goſpel-times, as is Propheſied Iſai. 11.9. They ſhall not hurt nor deſtroy in all my Holy Mountain. Conſider how far this excludes force and Arms from being inſtruments to defend the Faith of the Goſpel, or to promote it, as now the moſt part of theſe called Chriſtians uſe to do, theſe weapons and means never having been uſed, till the ſimplicity of Chriſtianity began to be loſt, and the Apoſtacy began to creep in. It was the pride and ambition of the Biſhop of Rome and his Clergy, and Arrians, and Neſtorians, that would needs have all men to bow to them, and to conform to their impoſitions, that firſt ſtirred up the Kings and Princes of the Earth to perſecute all whoſe Conſciences could not comply with them; And ſhall ye, who think your ſelves a part of the Reformed Churches, tread their ſteps?

8. Wherefore conſider that place of the Apoſtle, James 4.1. From whence come wars and fightings amongſt you? Come they not hence, even from your lusts that war in your members? Is it not evident that all the Wars that have been in the World, have proceeded from no other ground, but either from Pride, Covetouſneſs, Ambition, or Revenge? And if ye ſhall pretend that your fighting is for the cauſe of God, the Apoſtle ſays in plain terms it is not ſo, but from your luſts, even Pride, and Ambition, to have the Preheminence in the Earth, and Revenge againſt them that are your oppoſers; and theſe that pretend to be the Diſciples of Jeſus Chriſt, or people of God, ſhould be aſhamed to be acted by ſuch principles.

9. Conſider whether it be not the ſence of this fighting diſpoſition in you, that has occaſioned the ſeverity of ſuch Acts of Parliament againſt your Meetings for worſhip, whereby not only ye, but thoſe who are Innocent, and altogether abhorrent from ſuch principles of fighting, are made to be ſufferers, by frequent and long Impriſonments, and to undergo Fines and poindings: whereas if ye had been as peaceably diſpoſed, as others are under theſe ſufferings, it might have pleaſed the Lord to have moved the hearts of our Superiours to have reſented from theſe ſeverities; And though ye had remained under ſad ſufferings when Innocent, ye ſhould have had a ſhare of that peace and comfort with others, that it was purely for the Teſtimony of a good Conſcience, that wiſheth no Evil to any man.

Wherefore as ye would ſhew your ſelves to be a people anſwering the Propheſies and Promiſes of Goſpel times, Micah 4.2, 3, 4. Iſa. 2.2, 3, 4. Iſa. 11.9. and 65.25. As ye would approve your ſelves Chriſtians according to the Innocency thereof in primitive times, and to be their true and real Succeſſors; As ye would evidence your ſelves to be a righteous people, that can truſt and rely upon the Lord God alone, for the preſervation of the whole Intereſt of the Kingdom of Chriſt, and of your own perſonal intereſts in time and Eternity: As ye would not wiſh theſe Nations to be again involved in blood and confuſion: As ye bear a love to the peace of your native Country; as ye would be free from that imputation of building up Sion with blood, (which was never juſtly imputed to the true Diſciples of Chriſt, nor primitive Chriſtians, though under greateſt ſufferings, and though for their power, able ſufficiently to defend themſelves;) As ye would wiſh not to manifeſt your ſelves to be the brats of the Antichriſtian Whore, who is ſtill drunk with blood, yea with the blood of the Saints, by her not ceaſing to ſtir up the powers of the Earth, to perſecute all who will not come under her mark and name: And as ye would not wiſh to be acted by a ſpirit of luſt, pride and revenge, lay aſide your Arms and fighting principles, and commit God's work to his own Government, and follow peace with all men, and holineſs, without which none ſhall ſee the Lord; and commit your cauſe unto God, and let them that ſuffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their Souls to Him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator, 1 Pet. 4.19. And in this only will be your ſtrength and peace.

Remember David was not permitted to build a Houſe unto the Lord, becauſe he had ſhed much blood upon the Earth; that work was reſerved for Solomon, who was a man of peace, 2 Sam. 22.8, 9. Wherefore do not dream, neither be perſwaded by men, that ever the Lord will honour Men of War and Blood, to pr ••• 〈◊〉 the Goſpel of peace.

Take this from one, who with many of his 〈…〉 hath been a ſufferer for his Conſcience theſe divers y … bygone, with whom theſe bleſſed Promiſes and Propheſies abovementioned, are begun to be accompliſhed, both in our principle and practice; Though we are a people againſt whom ye have much cauſleſs prejudice and malice, through the many groſs miſrepreſentations of our oppoſers; yet I am, and hope ever to remain,