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GOD In the Mount.
Or, Englands Remembrancer.
Being a Panegyrick Piramides, erected to the everlaſting high honour of Englands God, In the moſt gratefull commemoration of al the miracuParliamentarie. Mercies wherein God hath been admiraſeen in the Mount of Deliverance, in the extreme depth of Englands deſigned Deſtruction, in her years of jubile, 1641. and 1642.
By the unworthie admirer of them, JOHN VICARS.
Jehova-jireh.
Geneſ. 22. 14.
I will praiſe thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, and wil ſhew forth all thy marvellous works.
Pſal. 9. 1.
Commit thy cauſe to God which doth great things and un
ſearchable, marvel lous things without number. Job 5. 8, 9.
Deut. 33. 29. Happie art thou, O
Iſrael,who is like untothee,OPeoſaved by theple, Lord!theſheildof thyhelp,and who is theſwordof thineexcellencie;Andthine enemiesſhall be foundlyersunto thee, and thou ſhalt tread ontheir high places.
Pſal. 111. 2, 3, 4. The
worksof theLordaregreat,ſought-out ofall themthat havepleaſure therin.Hisworksarehonourableandglorious,and hisrighendurethteouſneſſe for ever.He hath made hiswondrous worksto beremembred;theLordisgraciousandfullofcompaſſion.
LONDON: Printed by T. Paine, and M. Simmons for John Rothwell and Thomas 1642.
TO THE ETERNALL, ALMIGHTY, AND MOST GLORIOUS, WONDER-WORKING, INCOMPREHENSIBLE, AND INDIVISIBLEJ. V. HIS MOST
TO THE RIGHT Honourable, thrice Noble and illuſtrious Senatours of the Houſe of Peers in Parliament.
TO OUR Trulie Honourable and moſt renowned Patriots; the Houſe of Commons, in Parliament.
RIght Noble Lords and Englands Commons rare, (For, whom the Lord hath joyn'd, disjoyn who dare?)
Your humble Servant, Vowed—Votarie, Hath to Heav'ns-Honour And your—Memorie ☞
* Moſt humblie, this Pyramides—erected, Hopefull, by your juſt power to be protected
From ſturdieſt Stormes which Miſchiefs mightieſt blaſt May dare on It or your bleſt actions caſt,
By foule—aſperſions, Cauſeleſſe—Calumnies, To rob-both us and you Of our fair—prize, ☞
* Even, happy Halcyor daies, Which, God,—by you, Begins—to—bring To bleſſed Britains view.
Whoſe eyes and heart (late) full of frights and tears Your untyr'd Prudence, Providence re-chears
Courage—great Patriots God is on your—ſide Whiles you do to—his Goſpel—cloſe abide. ☞
* Go—on, like Davids Worthies,—valiantly, To curb—and cruſh Truths-foes-malignity.
Go on, I ſay, like Nehemiah's brave, Like Ezra's and Zorobabels moſt grave
To work—a pure, A perfect—Reformation, As men moſt—famous In your—generation. ☞
* Yea,—moſt renowned To—Poſteritie, As Faiths faſt—friends And—props of Veritie.
As wiſe Repairers of thoſe Breaches great, Which did both Church and State ſo ſorely threat.
Go on, though you great obſtacles endure; Sol ſhines moſt clear, though clouds It (oft) obſcure: Heav'n crown your Counſels (ſtill) with good ſucceſſe, And you and yours for all your labours bleſſe.
providence and direction (Right Worſhipfull and my moſt highly honoured good friends) undertaken a ſubject of Gratitude to our holy God in this ſucceeding hiſtoricall narration of all his wonder-ſtriking Parliamentarie-mercies to us of this Engliſh-Nation, in generall; I could not but reſerious thoughts on your Worſhips as moſt worthie objects alſo of my thankefull heart, for many ſingular favours and courteſies toward me, in particular. And ſomuch the rather beChryſoſtome, in his 51 Homilie on Geneſis, hath as ſweetly as ſuccinctly touched. Nihil tam gratum Deo & homini quam anima grata & gratias agens. Nothing in the world is ſo acceptable to God or man as a gratefull-heart and a thankefultongue. The due and deep conſideration whereof (I ſay) hath
moſt deſirous (as moſt bounden) to tender this
and plain-ſti
of Englands God in the Mount of Mercies,
Remembrancer of gratitude to God for all the Parliamentarie precious bleſſings moſt fully and freely conferred; or rapoured-down upon her within theſe 2 yeers laſt paſt, as a
of my moſt thankfull-heart to your good Worſhips for many both publike and private favours to me and mine. Which hiſtorie though I ingenuouſly acknowledge it might well have befitted a far more fluent and high-ſoaring rhetori
than my poor and plain unworthie-ſelf; yet ſince it hath pleaſed the Lord that my poor zeal for Gods glorie hath thus prevented them, I moſt humbly hope and heartily deſire candide and couracceptance of it and of my ſincere deſire and endeavour, mainly, to manifeſt my infinitely obliged gratefull-heart, firſt, to our ever-living and ever-loving wonder-working Lord God; next, to our moſt Pious Patriots, his precious Agents and inſtruments in theſe great and glorious works; and then to your worthie ſelves my much honoured friends: Which my endeavour herein, though ſhort (I ſay) of your judicious exp
and of the hiſtories due deſert, yet hoping it may remain as a pledge of my plighted humble ſervices and bounden gratitude, and as the beſt Barthol'mew-faring, which my poor abilitie was able to preſent to your good Worſhips, with the humble tender alſo of mheartieſt poor prayers to the throne of grace for all ſanctified ſublunarie bleſſings and celeſtiall ſoul-cheering graces on you and a
unſearchable wiſdom, unreſiſtible power, and moſt pure and inculpable righteouſneſſe, from all eternitie both fore-ſeen and pretwo eſpeciall and moſt glorious attributes of Mercie and Juſtice; Mercie on his elect and choice veſſels of honour, and juſtice on the forſaken veſſels of wrath, thoſe devoted vaſſals of the devill, and both theſe in that admirable Maſter-piece of his workmanſhip of the world, Man. Who, as the Prophet David ſaies of himſelf, was fearfully and wonderfully made: And, for this and and purpoſe having put this excellent creaMan, into a moſt pure and perfectly holy condition, placing him in Eden or Paradiſe, a place of moſt wonderfull delight, and admirable varietie of ſenſe-affecting contentSatan, that ſubtill and accurſed Serpent, and that arch-enemie of mans holineſſe and happineſſe, being by ſelf-pride and arroMankind, and therefore, to bring his mabelying of God to man ▪
tempts and at laſt deludes man, makes him fall into his ſin, pride and diſobedience, thus, prevails in his project, and thereby made man, unhappie man as miſerable as himſelf, by deprived and diveſted of his former fair rooes of beautie and holineſſe, and depraved and poyſoned in his whole ſoul and body with ſin and uncleanneſſe, and thus in himſelf a forlorn creature, perpetually liable to Gods wrath, and ſo conſequently to eternall damnation. But, now, God wiſdom and mercie found out a ranſome and mighty Redeemer for man (even ſo many as he had predeſtinathe Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the ſecond perſon in promiſed ſeed of the deceived woman, the Lord reſolved to repay and revenge Satans malice and miſchief to man; promiſing, that though Satan by mans fall had bruiſed the womans heel; yet her ſeed the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhould (by a ſtrange way) break his head, even by his death be Satans death and deſtruction. And herecombate and irreconcilible enmity between theſe two and their off-ſpring to the end of the world, namely, Chriſt, and the reſt of the holyſeed of the woman even all the ſucceeding Saints & choſen-children of God in Chriſt: And, the Devil and his angels, even all the deſperate profane-ones and craftie hypocrites of the world, who ſhould from time to time, in all ages, moſt maliciouſly harbor in their hearts a natural antipathie againſt the godly to hate and deſpiſe them, and therewith alſo take pleaſure and delight in plotting and practiſing all miſchief and villanie toward them, though (God in his wiſdom and mercy having ſo graciouſly ordered it) alwayes, for the moſt part, with illſucceſſe to themſelves in the iſſue: God, who is moſt faithfull and able to perform, having promiſed to be with his Church, combate decombatants alſo to maintain the warfare: whereMilitia (as the wicked do their Malitia againſt them) and to be alwaies armed, not onely with the whole armour of God, ſpoken of by the Apoſtle Epheſ. 6. but alſo with worldly weapons and humane power and prudence to defend themſelves and offend their enemies as God ſhall enable them. But if you ask me, now, the cauſe of their quarrell, the reaſon and ground of the grudge and clandeſtine hatred which the wicked of the world bear to the holy and humble Saints and ſervants of the Lord? Truly, the anſwer is eaſie and at hand, yea the Apoſtle hath made it Cain and Abel, Wherefore did Cain, who was of that wicked-one (the devill) kill his godly brother Abel? Becauſe (ſaies he) his own works were evill, and his brothers righteous. Religion, innocent-religion and true Holineſſe
eye-ſore to the ungodly, and therefore (as the ſaid Apoſtle in the ſame place, ver. 13.) marvell not that the world hates them.
This, then, I ſay, is the main-ground of the quarrell betwixt theſe two combitants; which hot combuſtion and contention, Papiſts or Romiſh Catholiques, as they Hugonets, in France, Lutherans and Calveniſts in Germanie, and Proteſtants in England, Scotland, and Ireland; and in brief, by the Romiſh Antichriſt, againſt the Reformed-Chriſtian in all parts. And the implacable rage of this arch-adverſarie of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath far tranſcended all the malice and miſchief of all former ages cruelties, both of the old Aſſyrians and Philiſtines to the ancient Iſra
or the laſt ten perſecuting heathen-Emperours to the Primitive-Chriſtians.
Satan, by his impious agents and wicked inſtruments, hath with inveterate vexations and extremeſt perſecutions mangled and maligned
Phenixes riſing and reviving out of their dead aſhes, fully confirming that old The blood of the Saints is the ſeed of the Church. This truth, in both its branches hath been alſo moſt copiouſly confirmed in theſe our more modern times, and chiefly (I may well ſay) in this our Kingdom of England, among all the Nations of Europe (Germany onely and Ireland excepted at this time focruelties but not for preſervations) which hath taſted the bitterdrafts of Romes wrath in a deep meaſure; and yet the more this Antichriſtian enemie hath raged againſt Chriſt and his faithfull ſervants againſt the Goſpel and its true profeſſors, the leſſe he hath prevailed; and the more they have encreaſed to the glory of God, and the terrour and amazement of the wicked of the world; Their divelliſh and deſperate aymes having been deceived in the iſſue (as was toucht before) and God having faithfully performed his good word and promiſe to his to be with them, and for them, to the end of
the world; And though he ſuffers them (oft-times) to be cloſely and ſtrictly hem'd in on all ſides with great ſtraits and diſtreſſes, yet their greateſt neceſſities have ever proved Gods faireſt and fitteſt opportunities to be ſeen in the Mount for their deliverance; even then (I ſay) when the enemie thought to have ſwallowed them up quick, without all humane hope of redemption and redreſſe, then, yea even then, hath our good God alwayes (for the moſt part) plucked the prey out of their devouring jaws, broke the cheeks and teeth of the ungodlyreſcued and recovered his darling (the Church) from the Lyons-den, their deſtinied demain ſcope and drift of our intentions, at this time, and in this Treatiſe ▪
even to make clear to the eyes and underſtanding of all the world that will not wilfully blind them, and obſtinately ſhut them up from beholding the evident ſun-ſhine of the truth, in the ſubſequent and moſt luculent deLand-mark of all his rich mercies, to the everlaſting glory of his great Name, and free grace unto us, a moſt ſinfull and undeſerving Nation, as we have been, and that in the midſt of ſuch means and miracles of mercies which he hath conferred on us, and
Now, herein, my purpoſe is (omitting many former mercies to our Land of high concernment, and moſt worthy of everHen. 8. King Edw. 6. Queen Elizabeth.
Antichriſtian ſhackles and yoke of Poperie, begun in the dayes of King Henry the eighth and his moſt bleſſed Son, King Edward the ſixth, but eſpecially in the happie halcyon-dayes of Queen Elizabeths reign, of ever moſt bleſſed memorie; Since whoſe moſt bleſſed dayes and times we have enjoyed the Goſpel of peace, and peace of the Goſpel, almoſt theſe hundred yeers (and now are not onely Proteſtants but moſt bleſſedly bereformed Proteſtants) notwithſtanding the many moſt nefarious and treacherous plots, againſt her ſacred perſon, happily Invincible Spaniſh Armado, in 1588Powder-plot, by thoſe Romiſh traytors, Garnet a grand-Jeſuite and his twelve impious apoſtles, in the yeer, 1605, by heavens vigilant eye of providence timely prevented, together with many private and pernicious conjurations or conſpiracies, not ſo much by force as by fraud clandeſtinely machinated, and by Gods mercie fruitinf
to magnifie Gods endleſſe praiſes) all which, I ſay, here, to omit, my purpoſe and main intention is, as I fore propatient and impartiall peruſall hereof) all the memorable and wonder-ſtriking Parliamentary
mercies effected for and afforded unto this our EngPapists and profane Atheists, Satans active and able agents) with inthe ſpace of leſſe than two yeers laſt paſt, 1641, and 1642.
And for the better and more exact ſetting forth of the moſt illuſtrious Contrarie juxta ſe poſi Dangers and Deliverances oppoſed ſhew the more gloluſtre and glorious beautie of theſe incomparable parliamentarie-pledges of Gods undoubted love and free favour tocloudy-Mountain
Straits, into which, the Lord had in his wiſdom and juſtice brought us, or rather ſuffered us to be drawn and driven into for our ſins and tranſgreſſions; and then the ſweet ſerene-Mountain of Mercies, wherein God was moſt gloritimely and happie deliverance. I mean, I ſay, to let the godly Reader ſee the deep diſtreſſe and danger whereinto we were plunged by the nefarious
Simeon and Levi.
multifarious plots and projects of Jeſuiticall-Prieſts and perfidious Prelates (for I may moſt juſtly couple and link them together, like Simeon and Levi, brothers in iniquitie) of theſe our late and worſt times, and other moſt diſloyall atheisticallagents in theſe deſperate deſignes, all of them faithleſſe factors for the See of Rome, all of them complotting and contriving to reduce us to the accurſed Romiſh religion, yea all of them combining and confederating to work and weave our three faBoth in his ſad and ſerious re-cogitations, may juſtly and ingenuouſly acknowledge, that, God was in the Mount, for our Deliverance.
Now, herein, for my better and more methodicall proceedfirſt Remonſtrance, (wherein all our Kingdoms heavie preſſures and opDavid, Truly,
Wherefore, now, to pretermit all further ambages and cirfabrick and comely ſtructure of a happie reformation of thoſe ſuperfluous and rank-grown evils, and of redintegrating and re-eſtabliſhing the ancient honour and ſecurity of this Crown and Nation, even by a Parliamentarie-power, the onely remedie left (under God ▪
to prop-up the tottering State, to force away our over-flowing fears, and to heal the mortall wounds and ſores of our diſtreſſed Land.
root and rice of all the plot was found to be a pernicious woven knot of malignant active ſpirits combining and confederating together for the ſupplanting and utter ſubverting of the fundamentall Laws and principles of government▪
on which the reliactors and promoters were fiJeſuited-Papiſts
perfidious and rotten-hearted Prelates and Arminian-pontificians, who mightily (and maliciouſly) cheriſhing Eecleſiaſticall-tyrannie and uſurpation. Thirdly, atheiſticall Courtiers, and Councellours of State, who for their own private and beggarly ends had engaged themſelves (as being, doubtleſſe, mercenarie penſioners) to forrein Princes, to the prejudice of their own natuagents were potent and politick: So, the common principles by which they moulded and managed their craftie counſels and actions were as pragmaticall as prejudiciall. As, fiRoyall-prerogative, and the people for the maintenance of their Priviledges and Liberties, that thus they might have the advantage by ſiding with the King againſt the Subject, and ſo to be counted his fasteſt friends and truſtie ſervants, and thereby engroſſe to themſelves and their factious confederates all places of greateſt truſ
and power in the Kingdom; that ſo they might the more ſafely fiſh
in troubled waters. Secondly, to ſuppreſſe and ſtifle the ſacred puritie and power of religion, and to curb and keep-under all of all degrees that were beſt affected to it, in profeſſion and practiſe, theſe being ſore pearls in their eyes, and the greateſt impediments to that change which their voracicus and eager appetites exlonged and laboured to introduce among us. Thirdly, countenance and encourage their own faſt faction, and on all colourable occaſions, to diſgrace, vilifie, and diſhearten all the opſlanders and falſe imputations to work the King to an utter-diſlike of Parliaments, and unjuſt and forcible wayes of ſupply, yet masking fair pretences of great and juſt advantage to his Mamore loſſe than gain to him, and great diſtreſſe and diſtractions to the whole Kingdom.
And thus have you ſummarily ſeen the Baſis or foundation of their building; now be pleaſed with as much brevitie as may be, to behold what a fair fabrick and ſtately ſtructure they raiſed
erected on it. And here by the way, take notice of this difſememting-materiall, or bracing-piece conglutinating or holding faſt the body of the whole enſuing frame; namely, that in all the compacted and conioyned ligaments of this omi
the Jeſuites craftie counſell, and as wicked as wittie
wilineſſe was inſtead of a prime architector or Maſter Builder of the whole edifice; and had they not all been (by Gods overJeſuiticall-Artificers would undoubtedly have over-builded the Prelaticall-Labourers, and inſtead of a new, have pul'd down an old-houſe on the heads of all the reſt of thoſe as credulous, as accurſed cooperating Carpinters or work-men with them, in this their Babell of confuſion.
Primo regis Caroli, o This plot wa The firſt Par Sad effects of the diſſolution of that firſt Parliament. Rochel loſt. Weſt Indie voyage divert C Peace with Spain without Parliaments conſent. The Palſ BillettedIames his dayes.their work berevived, and hotly to be ſet upon again. For, it is here to be conſidered that in the laſt yeer of King James his reign it had been ſomewhat dampt and qu
both by the breach with Spain, that yeer, as alſo by his Majeſties marriage with France, whoſe people were not ſo contrary unto, nor ſo hotly active againſt the good of Religion, and proſperitie of this Kingdom as thoſe of Spain; and beſides the Papiſts in England being more zealouſly addicted and affected (for matter of Religion) to Spain, than France; yet ſtill they retained a reſolution to weaken the Proteſtant-partie in all parts and places of Europe, yea, even in France ▪
thereby to make way for an intended change at home.
The firſt effect and evidence of which their Parliaments & Parliament Members mightily vili Quarto Caroli Knight-hood money. Tonnage and Poundage. Book of Rates. Forreſts en Coat & Con Traind-bands Arms taken away. Gun-powder engroſſ The Forreſt of Many Moth Reſtraint of habitations & trading. No l Iudges diſpla The Privie-Councill Tarecoverie of ſtrength was the diſſolution of the firſt Parliament at Oxford, afbad begi
or rather flowed and guſhed-out apace; as namely, the loſſe of Rochel Fleet, yea of Rochel it ſelf (a lamentable evill to the French-Proteſtants) by the unhappie help of our ſhips. The diverſion of a moſt facile and hopefull war from the W
to a moſt expenſive and ſucceſſeleſſe attempt on Cal
raweary of warre than proſpe
in it. The precipitate breach of peace with France. A peace concluded with Spain, without conſent of a Parliament, contrary to promiſe made by King James to both Houſes, whereby the Palatine c
by us. The Kingdom ſoon charged with billetted Souldiers, together with the concomitant project of Germane-horſes to enforce men by The diſſolution of a ſecond Parliament ▪
in the ſecond yeer of his Majeſties reign, after a declarative intention of grantCommiſſion of Loan ▪
Divers worthy gentlemen impriſoned for refuſing to pay it. Great ſummes of money extorted from ſubjects by Privie-Seals and Exciſe. The moſt Petition of Right blaſted in the bloſſome of it. A third Parliament called, and as quickly broken, and therein Parliamentari
Iohn Ell
a moſt worthy Member of the Houſe and pious patriot, died then in priſon.priviledges violated, by after ill-uſage of ſome of the beſt and worthi
thereof, who were claptcloſe-impriſonment, denied all ordinarie and extraordinarie comforts of this life, and preſervation of health, no not ſo much as their wives permitted to come unto them, yea deprived of ſpirituall conſolation for their ſouls, not ſuffering them to go to Gods Houſe for enjoyment of publike Ordinances, or godly Miſcandalous and opprobrious Declarations were publiſhed to aſperſe and beſmear their proceedings, and ſome of their wo
Members, unjuſtly to make them odious; and the better to colour their exorbitant violence exerciſed on them, Proclamations ſet out to thoſe effects, thereby alſo extremely diſheartning the Subjects, yea and forbidding them once ſo much as to ſpeak of any mo Parliaments, this being in the fourth yeer of the Kings reign. Then, injuſtice, violence and heavie oppreſſions, without all limits oKnighthood, under a fair colour of Law, but, iviolation of juſtice. Tonnage alſo and poundage rebook of Rat
inhanſed to an high proportion. A new and unheard of (yet Ship-money; Both theſe under a colour of guarding the Seas, by which there was charged on the Subject neer upon 700000Turkiſh-pirates, to the great loſDean.
Turkiſh-ſlaverie. The enlargement of Forreſts, contrary to Magna Charta. The exaction of Coat and Conduct-money. The forcible taking away of the Train'd-band Arms. The deſperate deſigne of Gunpowder engroſſed inTower of London, and not to be had thence, but at exceſſive rates and prices. The deſtruction of the Forreſt of Dean, that famous timber-Magazine or Store-houſe of the whole Kingdom, ſold to PaMonopolies of Sope, Salt, Wine, Leather, Sea-cole, and almoſt all things in the Kingdom of moſt neceſReſtraint of Subjects liberties in their habitations and trades, and other juſt intereſts; together with many other intolerable burthens which poore Iſachars ſhoulhappie deliverance from them) for refuſall of which fore-ſaid heavie preſſures, O what great numbers of his Majeſties loyall Sublong and languiſhing ſuits, ſome fined and confined to priſons, to the loſſe of health in many, of life in ſome; ſome having their houſes broke-open, and their goods ſeized on, ſome interrupted in their Sea voyages, and their ſhips taken in an hoſtile manner by Projectors, as by a common enemie. The Court of Star-Chamber having chiefly fomented and improvement of devouring Monopolies, and of divers other cauſes wherein hath been none or very ſmall offences, yea ſometimes for meer pretences and ſurmiſes without any proofs, yet puniſht as ſeverely as fouleſt malefactors, yea and that, in matters of Religion and ſpirituall caſes of conſcience, for which the good Subject hath been grieFines, Impriſonments, ſtigmatizings ▪ mutilations, whippings, pillories, gaggs, confinements, baniſhments, yea and that into perpetuall cloſe-impriſonments in the moſt deſolate remote (and as they hoped and intended
of the Kingdom, and that alſo, in ſuch rough and rigid manner, as
neer and dear friends, exerciſe of their profeſſions, comfort of books, uſe of poper or ink, but even violating that neereſt-union which God hath eſtabliſht twixt men and their wives by forced and conrefuſing to do ought againſt their oaths and conſciences, others ſo over-awed, that they durſt not do their duties. Lawyers checkt for faithfulneſſe to their Clients, and threatned, yea puniſhed for honeſtly following lawfull ſuits. The Privie Councill alſo a mightie maintainer and proſecuter of illegall-ſuits againſt the SubHonour, Chancery, Exchequer-Chamber, Court of Wards, and almoſt all other Engliſh-Courts have been exceeding grievous in their exceſſive iuriſdictions. Titles of Honour,
Judicature, Serieant-ſhips at Law, and other offices of truſt have been ſold for great ſummes of money; and they that buy muſt needs ſell. And thereby alſo occaſion hath been given too frequently, of brib
and partiality, it beplaces ill-gotten ſhould be welluſed. Theſe and ſuch like Land-devouring enormities, have been countenanced and practiſed in our long-languiſhing Com
Church alſo, O how many impieties and irregularities have we, there, long beheld abounding and ſurrounding us, to the high diſhonour of God, and diſgrace of true Religion! The Biſhops and the reſt of the Pontifician or rotten-hearted Clergie and Arminian-faction, under a pretence (forſooth) of peace, uniformitie
conformitie have like ſo many ſiCeſars triumchariots of their Spirituall Courts, by their ſuſpenſions, Excommunications, Deprivations, and Degradations of divers painfull, learned and pious Paſtors of our Church, and in the vexatious and grievous grinding oppreſſions of great numbers of high Commiſſion-Courts pragmaticall pranks have been unſufferable; the ſharpneſſe and ſeverity whereof grew to ſuch an unlimited monſtrous growth, heighth, and ſtrength, as was not much unlike, and very little inferiour to the Romiſh or Spaniſh-Inquiſition, yea and in many caſes, by the Archbiſhops ſuper-ſuperlative power it was made much heavier, it being (as often as they pleaſed)
aſſiſted and ſtrengthened both by the furious power and authoStar-Chamber and Councill-Table, when the wrath and rage of their own-Courts could not reach as high as their hatred extended to the utter wracking and worrying of the innocent and holy lambes of Chriſt, whom indeed the world was not Cities and countreys, extremevexing and perplexing thoſe of the meaner ſort, Tradeſmen and Artificers even to the deep impoveriſhing of many thouafflicting and troubling others with threats and expenſive ſuits, that great numbers, to avoid theſe miſeries and miſchievous moleſtations departed out of the Kingdom, ſome into Holland, ſome into New-England and other deſert and uninhabited parts of America, thereby expoſing themſelves, their wives, children and eſtates to the great danger of windes and waves by Sea, and many other inevitable hazards by Land. Thoſe fitteſt for preferments, at home, and obtained them ſooneſt who were moſt officious and ſedulous to promote and propagate idolatrie, ſuperſtition, innovations and profaneneſſe, and were moſt violent and virulent ſons of Belial in railing areviling godlineſſe and honeſtie.
publike and ſolemn ſermons at Court before the King, were nothing elſe, for the moſt part, but either to advance the Kings prerogative above Laws, and to beat-down the Subiects juſt propriety in their eſtate and goods, or full of ſuch like frothie kind of invectives, the onely way (in thoſe dayes) to get fat morſels, rich benefices, and Eccleſiaſticall preonely-prey they ſought after) And thus alſo laſecond main part of their play) to make thoſe men odious to the King and State, who conſcientiouſly ſought to maintain Religion, Laws and liberties of the Kingdom; and ſuch men were ſure (ſtill) to be wrung and wreſted out of their liMiniſters; And out of the Commiſſion of peace, if of the gentrie, and all other places of imployment and power in the government of the Common-wealth. Yea and thoſe few godly and religious Noble perſonages, which were of the privy-Councill, though Councellors in name, yet not in power or authority, onely uſed at the Councillemployed in any place of truſt and
neglected, diſcountenanced, and on all occaſions injured and oppreſſed by the reſt of the contrarie faction; which now was grown to that heighth and entireneſſe of power, that now they began to think-on the complete cataſtrophe and conſummating of the whole work, to their hearts dethree parts or pillars of confuſion.
Government muſt be arbitrarie, ſet free from all limits of Law, both concerning perſons and eſtates. Secondunion and conformitie between Papiſts
Proteſtants, both in doctrine, diſcipline and ceremonies, onely it muſt not (yet) be called or counted Poperie. Thirdly, Puritans
rooted out of the Realm, by force, or driven away by fear: And thus now at laſt we have the full dimenſions, every way, of this pe
And could they poſſibly have How they be Scotland atdigged deeper? or in humane apprehenſion and contrivement have founded it firmlier? Whatwit and wealth could do, whatſoever carnall craft, power and policie could effect was wholly for them with full and copious concurrence, they now ſeemed to carry all irrenothing was wanting fully to finiſh the work, no ſtone unturned, no Remora to be removed, onely one; In which, God gave them the lie to their teeth, according to that of the Pſalmiſt: Surely, men of low degree are vanity, and m
Such vanity, yea ſuch lying-vanity theſe great-ones in their ſupercilious highbuilt hopes and bigg-ſwoln timpanie of ambition, pride and perwiſdome and mercie of our good God. This one rub, I ſay, now to be remov'd, promain break-neck of their whole deſigne, and makes way mine alſo, which is, to let you and all the world ſee moſs cleerly how heaven made theſe impious plotters fall by their own folly and madneſſe, by their own creft creſt all their ſecret counſels and confederacies, and made their own invented miſchief
miſeries. According to that of the ſween Singer of Iſrael, moſt pertinent to this purpoſe. Behold he travelled
with iniquity, hath conceived miſchief, and brought forth falſehood. He made a pit, and delved it, and is fallen into the ditch, which he made for others, his miſchief ſhall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing ſhall fall upon his own pate; Whiles Gods dear Saints of England and Scotland eſcaped as birds out of the ſnare of thoſe Fowlers, and by Gods free grace and rich mercie found full and fair deliverance. Which, I ſay, is the main ſcope and principall aym of this our preſent hiſtory. For now, as they verily beleeved, they had made England their abſolute-aſſe to bear all their back, yea, ſoul-breaking burthens: So that they thought it moſt fit, now, in the laſt place, to reduce Scotland to ſuch Romiſh-harmonie and conformitie to embrace thoſe Popiſh ſuperſtitions and innovations as might make them apt to joyn with England in that great change which they intended; for, as for Ireland, they were ſure enough to prevail there at their pleabloody experience, which had been much more, had not God croſt their plot (there) alſo, and enabled us to help them.
They are pro An armie raiChurch-Canons and a new-minted Liturgie (not the very ſame which is uſed with us in England, which, with our veſtures, geſtures, and ſuperſtitious ſervice-ceremonies, had been abundantly enough to have vext them; but with moſt peſtilent Popiſh-additionals and unſufferable new inventions of the Arch-prelate of Canterbury, or ſome of his Romiſh-factors framing, put in, over and above ours ▪
to make them ſtarke mad, (as it were) muſt be ſent unto them, and moſt violently obBoth which, they inſtantly and ſtifly oppopillories in England (but the 30th. of June before; and this atoppoſing and writing againſt thoſe and ſuch like Romiſh fopperies; their women in Scotland being the firſt and forwardeſt ſtoutly to in his Aen.
impoſition on them. Where, by the way, let me deſire the godly Reader not to paſſe over this remarkable paſſage ſleightly, as a triviall thing. For, though this child of hope was, now, but in the embrio and unpoliſht conception, and as yet had no ſtrength at all to bring forth a perfect
birth of deliverance to them or us in the eye of the worldDeſpiſe not the day of ſmall things. For, they ſhall rejoyce, and ſhall ſee the plumet in the hand of Zerubbabel, with thoſe
ſeven eyes of the Lord which run to and fro through the whole earth. Now the wonew Engliſh-Romiſh Pope an Archbiſhop of Scotland appointed (as they called it) to men, between whom was a huge hubbub made in the Church at the bringing in of the new Liturgie or Service-book, which they, I ſay, thus utterly rejected and caſt out from amongſt them; and upon this firſt
ſmall riſing, like the cloud (at firſt) no broader than a hand,
bigge that the whole Land was over-ſpread with it, the Kingdom in generall being highly incenſed alſo foule calumnies and ſcoffs were caſt upon them in EngProclamation read in all Churches, calling and countRebels and Traytors for thus reſiſting our Prelats moſt injurious impoſitions on them; and an Armie was ſpeedily raiſed at the Prelates inſtigation to enforce them by fierce compulſi
to obedience, and to take that yoke on their necks; for the advanarmie, our Prelates with the rotten-hearted Clergie and Papiſts were moſt free and forward with libe
Scots were thereupon conſtraineto do the like, in their own juſt defence. But, when both Armies were metGod who hath the hearts of Kings in his hands, by the honeſt and wholeſome counNobility, ſo wrought on the heart of our King, that pr
of the malignant-partie, then, about him) a fair and friendly Pacification was ſpeedily agreed on, and the King returned to London with much honour to all, but thoſe that wiſht to have ruinated all. And now, tell me, did not God (here) begin to be ſeen in the Mount for our deliverance, in thus at the very f
of their devilliſh deſigne ſtopping the intended current of Chriſtan-bloodſhed. And as the holy Prophet David ſweetly, The Lord bringeth the counſell of the wicked to noug
reconciliation was, I ſay, moſt welcome and acceptable to all the Kingdom except the malignant partie, who like envious elves gnaſhed their teeth, and with malice gnawed rancorouſly on their own hearts, and therefore began again to ſpit yet more envie and ſpight out of their miſchievous mouthes againſt the Scots and this happie peace; eſpecially William Laud
Laud, and the Earl of StraEarl of Straford, the two monſtrous heads of their faithleſſe faction, who I ſay, began again mightily to maligne and bitterly to inveigh againſt the peace, and to aggravate matters and exaſperate the Kings wrath againſt the proceedings of thoſe Peers that promoved it, making his Majeſty beleeve that it was a very diſhonorable peace, and diſgracefull to the Kingdom, inſomuch that the King forthconfidence or rather immarbled impudence, that having (by all means fore-mentioned) corrupted and diſtempered (at leaſt as they thought) the whole frame and government of the Kingdom, they now alſo hoped to corrupt that f
which was the onely means (under God) to reſtore all to a right fram
and temper again, a Parliament; to which end, they perſwaded his Majeſtie to call one, but not to ſeek counſel
of them, but to draw countenance and ſupplie from them, and to engage the whole Kingdom in their wicked quarrell, and ſo to make the miſchief and miſ
too, Nationall. In which mean time they continulevies of money ▪
reſolving either to make the Parliament pliant to their will, and (as the Prophet ſaid of the to eſtabliſh miſchief by a law; or elſe to break it up again at their pleaſure, and to ſhift otherwiſecolourable violence (as formerly) to go-on to take what might not be had with conſent. Now the ground alledged for the iuſtification of this war was this, namely, the undutifull demands of the Scots in their Parliament, which they conceived was cauſe enough for his Majeſtie to war againſt them withonce hearing their iuſtification of thoſe their demands: and ſo thereupon a new Armie was muſtered and prepared againſt
ſhips were ſeized on in all Ports and parts of our Kingdom, and of Ireland alſo, their Petitions reiected, and their Commiſſioners refuſed audience: In ſumme, the whole Kingdom was thus miſerably diſtracted and diſtempered with leavies of money, and impriſonment of thoſe who denied to ſubmit and crouch to thoſe Leavies. In which interim, the Earl of Strafford poſted into Ireland, call'd a Parliament there, out of hand quickScots, and to grant foure Subſidies toward the warre, yea and to engage themſelves, their lives and fortunes for the proſecution of it to the utmoſt of their power, and to give direction for an Armie of 8000. foot, and 1000 horſe, to be immediately muſtered up, which were all O Ireland, Ireland, even this verie deed of thine (above all thy other high provocations of generall profaneneſſe, and eſpecially of complacencie with baſe idolatrous Papiſts all over thy Kingdom) in thus obliging thy Self in ſuch a moſt uniuſt warre againſt thine honeſt and harmleſſe Brethren of Scotland, hath, I am confidently perſwaded, moſt unhappily plunged thee into that moſt lamentable plight of blood and miſerie which now of late thou haſt grievouſly found and felt to thy unſpeakable and unparalell'd ſorrow and ſmart, and hath made thee ſuch a deplorable prey to their moſt barbarous mawes and bloody teeth of thoſe Popiſh-rebels, or rather, inhumane Caniballs and unnaturall Vipers, whom thou ſo lately ſo lovingly (yet moſt irrelegiouſly) didſt nouriſh and cheriſh, as
ſo many venemous Snakes in thy boſome (And I pray God this be not too frequent a fault among us in England, namely, to embrace in the armes of our fooliſh love, a Papiſt as equally as a Proteſtant) to this thy utter and inevitable deſtruction, had not the Lord in wonderfull free mercie and favour prevented it in preſerving Dublin.
The Earl of Straford having thus acted Sinons part in Ireland,
triumphing in his treacherie; with more haſte than good ſpeed, returned to England, where this moſt ſubtill Sinon, or rather ſcelerous Simeon, and and Levi.Laud, his lewd brother, Levi, right brothers in iniquitie, togeParliament in England, which began, April, 13th, 1640.) had ſo prevailed with his Maieſtie, that the ſaid Parliament was moſt urgently incited and ſtimulated to yeeld ſupply toward the maintenance of this war with Scotland, and that, before there was any proviſion
great preſſures and groaning grievances of the people, as have been fore-mentioned. But, by Gods overſwaying power and good providence (before any ſuch thing could be to the purpoſe debated or reſolved on) baſe fears and jealouſies
malignant partie, they ſuddenly and ſcelerouſly adviſed the King by all means to break-off thus Parliament alſo, and to return to their former wayes of waſte and confuſion, in which they hoped their own evill intentions proceed and proſper. But here, by the way, take along with thee, good Reader, this note or obſervation on theſe premiſes, namely, that, had our Parliament afforded the leaſt ſupply to that wicked war, yea though but one 6. d ▪
with Caſe in his 12. Arguments of comfort to England.conſent, they had made the quarrell Nationall, and thereEpid
Take this, then, O England, as no ſmall mercie from thy gracious God, who thus mercifully freed thee from ſuch a Land-devouring ſin and heinous provocation as Ireland does wo
Very ill uſage to ſome emi A ſcandalous Declaration publiſhed. A forced loan of money ur Aldermen im The ApprentiMay 5. 1640. Violent courthat Parliament thus fruitleſly ended, they again fell to their former tyrannicall practiſes and ſqueezing courſe of enforcing ſupplies out of the peoples eſtates, by the Kings own power and prerogative, at his own will, and without their conſent; yea the very next day after the diſſolution of that Parliament, ſome eminent Members of both Houſes had their Chambers and Studies, yea their Cabinets and very pockets of their wearing clothes ſearched for Letters and writings, another of them, not long after cloſe-impriſoned for not delivering to them ſome Peauthority of that Houſe in time of Parliament. A falſe and ſcandalous Declaration was then pubHouſe of Commons in the Kings name, which yet (by Gods mercie) took no effect in the hearts of the people, but contrariwiſe made the impudencie of the ſuſpected authors of it more odious to them. A forced loan of money was then atCity of London, to be made a preſident (if it prewhole Kingdom; but ſome Aldermen refuſing it, were ſorely thr
and committed to priſon. About which time there fell out a mighty and tumultuous riſing of Apprentiſ
and young-men in Southwark and Lambeth ſide, with clubs and other ſuch weapons, eſpecially at the Arch-prelates houſe
Lambeth, which put him into ſuch a fright and perplexitie, as made him hide his head and flie from place to place, from Lambeth to Croydon, and from Croydon to convey himſelf to ſome more private and remote hiding place for fear of their fu
So that we might have ſaid of him as the Prophet Jeremie did of Paſhur that falſe prophet, (Jer. 20. 3.) The Lord hath not called thy name Paſhur, but Magor-miſſabib; even fear, and terrour and trembling round about thee. Which (as 'twas probably beleeved) was the cauſe that the farther and more furious execution of their violent courſes to get money from the Subject Pharaoh's Magicians were ſo wiſe and honeſt, that at the ſight of the duſt of the earth turn'd into finger of God: yet this loftie Levite of Canterburies heart was as hard as Pharaoh's himremorſe or penitencie of ſpirit, acPharaoh, (I ſay) grew more and more out-rageous hereby. For, in he and the reſt of the Biſhops and Clergie contConvocation (though the Parliament was diſſolved) and by a new-Commiſſion, turn'd it into a Provinciall-Synod, in which they audaciouſly contrived new Canons containing maprerogative (which they ſo deceitfully pretend to uphold) the fundamentall Laws of the Realm, Parliament priviledges, and Subiects liberties, and maindangerous ſedition, upholding their uniuſt uſurpations, and as impudently as impiouſly juſtifying their Popiſh innovations, idolatries, and ſuperſtitious worſhip of God. Among Canons they had forged a new and ſtrange Oath for the eſtabliſhing of their Antichriſtian tyrannie, with a moſt prodigious and monſtrous Et caetera, in it, thereby to have deeply enſnared and groſly abuſed both Eccleſiaſticks and Laymen, as they diſtinguiſh them. Which Oath for its craft and labyrinthick intricacie, and no leſſe helliſh crueltie ſo to captivate mens conſciences, I have thought fit here to inſert.
I, A. B. do ſwear, that I approve the doctrine and diſcipline, or government eſtabliſhed in the Church of England, as containing all things neceſſarie to ſalvation; and that I will not endeavour, by my ſelf or any other, directly or indirectly to bring in any Popiſh doctrine,
contrary to that which is ſo eſtabliſhed: nor will I ever give my con ſent to alter the government of this Church by Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Deans, Arch-deacons, &c. as it ſtands now eſtabliſhed, and as by right it ought to ſtand, nor yet ever to ſubject it to the uſurpations and ſuperstition of the See of Rome. And all theſe things I do plainly and ſincerely acknowledge and ſwear, according to the plain and common ſenſe and underſtanding of the ſame words, without any equivocation or mentall evaſion or ſecret reſer vation whatſoever. And this I do heartily, willingly and truly upon the faith of a Chriſtian. So help me God in Jeſus Chriſt.
Oath, whoſoever refuſed to take muſt be moſt ſeverely puniſhed with ſuſpenſions, deprivations, and excommunications, or forced by other vexations to flie out of the Land, that ſo the Kingdom being cleared of theſe ſquemiſh and nice-conſcienced fellows, (as they call and count tender conſcienc'd men) a fairer and wider way might be made for the advancing of that grandReconciliation of our Engliſh Church to the Church of Rome.
Now, here (me thinks) I cannot pretermit to let the Reader Bellum Epiſ Praiers againſt the Scots as againſt rebels. The Papiſts did enjoy al Sir A Popes Nuncio.ſee and take notice, how properly this plot of theirs may be pathat of Pharaoh againſt the Iſraelites in Egypt, who thraldom and moſt heavie burthens; yet grew to ſuch a numerous multitude, that Pharaoh, being afraid of their number and ſtill-increaſing ſtrength,
thus to his Lords and Counſellours. Come-on, my Lords, let us deal wiſely, and endeavour timely to cure this growing Gangrene, let's keep the children of Iſrael under with vehement vexations, and deſtroy all their male children in their birth, leſt they grow too ſtrong for us, and either forcibly get from us, or joyn in battell with our enemies againſt us: But God croſſed this his craft and crueltie, and made this very plot of theirs the ground-work of the greateſt harm even to their whole land, by Moſes preſervation, whom God uſed as the main inſtrument of the Egyptians deſtruction. Thus, even thus, I ſay, it fared with our Prelates and Pontificians, who, by reaſon of our Scottiſh br
expulſion of their pernicious Prelates out of Scotland, not unjuſtly fearing that the Engliſh Puritans would endeavour the like ſupplantation of their Engliſh hierarchie, by the Scots example; Come,
Archbiſhop of Canterbury to his Pontifician crew) let us now deal wiſely, leſt too late we repent it, let us cur
which ſo hates our apoſtolicall-Prelacie, let us vex and perplex them with the heavie and hard loads of cer
and new-eaſt Canons with an &c. Oath (right muddie ▪bricks, ſtraw and ſtable of Romiſh Egypt) which, I hope ſhall prove the very Quinteſſence of all our former plots and projects, and the onely way to fix our ſelves faſt, and rivet our ſelves ſo firmly into the apoſ
of this Kingdom (by ſwearing the Puritans, both Clergie and Laicks to our Eccleſiaſticall iuriſdiction) as that no power either of Prince or Parliament ſhall ever be able to ſet us, hereafter, beſide the ſadle. But, ſee, I pray, how the Lords overpowring wiſdom and goodneſſe defeated their ſo high-built hopes, croſt this their deep craft, and made this Oath and book of Canons the ground of their greateſt overthrow. So that all that ſee with the right-eye of a true underſtanding, may juſtly ſay with Jethro,
Moſes father in law. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all (Romes idoll-) gods, for, in the (very) thing wherein they deal
For, after this, their courage began to quail (for this preſent Parliament was reſolved on, ſhortly after thoſe Canons and Oath were made) their proiects proſpered not, all their deviſ
were on the declining hand, Gods vindicative indignation continually proſecuting them to their ſhame and (I hope) to the utter ruine of their moſt inſoAntichriſtian tyrannie, as the ſequill ſhall manifeſtly make clear, in the deſcription of our deliverances, whereunto I mainly addreſſe my thoughts and intention. Now furthering of their moſt p
they (in that Synod) laid great taxations on the whole Cl
as namely, 6. Subſidies, beſides a bountifull contribution to forward the intended war againſt Scotland, to which, they all (of the pontifician and ſcandalous rout eſpecially) ſhewed themſelves, generally, very free and affectionate, and which war, ſome of them, in their mad and hair-braind zeal, were not aſham'd ſtile and entitle, the Biſhops War; yea, a ſolemn prayer was compoſed and enjoyned by the Biſhops, to be uſed in all ChurScots Rebels in it, thus, as much as in them lay, to embrew both Nations in blood, and to make the wrath and
furie between them irreconcilible. And here, now, the Reader Armie was now going forward for York; and therefore we may (here) not unfitly obdemonſtration of Gods beginning to croſſe & countercheck their malevolent machinations) how the ſouldiers, which were preſſed and now paſſing forward to York, did moſt ſtrangely and uncontroulably turn rude-reformers, as they marChurches, and there, irreſiſtibly, pulling-down altar-rails, turning altars into Communion-Table poſtures, making enquirie, in the Towns where they came, how the Miniſters carried themſelves in their paſtorall charges: if godly and diligent Preachers, they reverendly and reſpectively uſed them; but, if Romes Minions (I mean Arminians) ſuperſtitious lazie drones, rotten-hearted Baals prieſts, or covetous pluraliſts, where-ere they came and found ſuch, they vexed, derided, and moſt contemptuouſly uſed them, utterly diſdaining alſo and refuſing to popiſh-Leaders. Now although I do not, I may not juſtifie theſe their miſ-carriages, yet, who can denie a ſpeciall hand of divine providence taking moſt high diſPrelates and Pontificians former violent and furious practiſes, and beginning thus at the very firſt on-ſet in this their great deſigne, to blaſt their bloodie intentions. And, certainly, if prudent Deborah did curſe Meros,
iuſtly, and the inhabitants thereof, with bitter curſes, becauſe they went not out to help the Lord againſt the mightie: What bitter curaffectionately afforded ſtrong aid to mightie and moſt malicious Popiſh enemies, againſt the Lord and his dear ſaints and ſervants? Even ſo, O Lord, (as ſhe goes on) let all thine enemies periſh, but let thoſe that love thee, be as the bright and glorious ſun when he goeth forth in his reſplendent might. But, to go forward. At this time alſo Francis Windibank their great friend.Popiſh faction enjoyed ſuch exemptions and exceptions againſt the penall Laws of the Land, as amounted very neer to a full toleration of their religion; Beſides many other favours and Court-encouragements. They had a Secretarie of State, Sir Francis Windibank a powerfull ag
for the expediting of all the Papiſts deſires; a Popes Nuncio. reſiding here to act and govern them according to Romes influences, and to mediate for them,
concurrence of forrein Popiſh Princes. By this Nuncio's authority, the Papiſts of all ſorts, Nobilitie, Gentrie and Clergie
private Parliament, new Popiſh juriſdiction erected of Romiſh Archbiſhops, taxes leavied, a new government of State contrived independant to ours; yea contrarie to ours both in intereſt and affection, ſecretly corruptignorant or negligent profeſſors of our religion, and cloſely combining and uniting themſelves againſt ſuch as were ſound profeſſours, and in this poſture onely watching and waiting for an opportunity by force to deſtroy thoſe whom by fear or fraud they were hopeleſſe to ſeduce. For the full effecting whereof, they were ſtrongly ſtrengthened with all kind of war-like ammunition, encouraged by Popiſh prayers weekly enjoyned by their Nuncio; and ſuch power had they then procured at Court, that ſecretly a Commiſſion was iſſued out, intended for ſome great Ones of the Popiſh profeſſion both for leavying and martiall command
Souldiers according to thoſe private inſtructions. His Majetreaſure alſo was extremely exhauſted and conſumed, his revenews anticipated, his Servants and Officers compelled to lend him great ſummes of money, multitudes tyred with attendance on the Councill-Table for refuſall of illegall payments, priſons were filled with their commitments, and many Sheriffes ſummoned inStar-chamber, and ſome impriſoned for not being quick enough in leavying the Ship-money, and generally all the people, over the whole Kingdom, languiſhed twixt grief and fear of the iſſue of theſe ſtrong and ſtrange ſnares and entanglements, no viſible ſigne, nor hope of humane help being left us, but in dolour and deſperation.
Admirable comfort in deepeſt di MrEngland, now, brought into a Mount of ſtraits indeed? Could hell it ſelf or the fierceſt fiends and furies the rein have hatcht a more horrid and hideous contrivement, and that under a colourable pretence of law and right, forſooth, and royallprerogative? Were not theſe like to prove rare Common-wealthſmen and Stateſ-men, who, as the Prophet David complains, (and as toucht before) would eſtabliſh and ſet up wickedneſſe by Nimrod a mighty hunter.Law? Yea, theſe were truly, Thoſe many fiſhers, which the Lord threatens to ſend againſt his ſinning people to fiſh them, and many hunters to hunt them. Yea, I ſay, thoſe moſt nefarious Nimrods, thoſe mightie hunters, even moſt audaciouſly before the Lord, who,
raiſe-up and erect this their Babel of confuſion, hunted not beaſts, but the beſt of men, not for recreation, but for rapine and the utter ruine of true Religion. Wherefore, now at laſt, the Lord our great Jehovah, whoſe eyes run to and fro, through-out the
whole earth, to ſhew himſelf ſtrong in the behalf of them whoſe heart is perfect toward him; hearing the groanes and crying prayers of his poor afflicted people, to whoſe throne of grace and mercie they now made their onely earneſt addreſſes and preſſing approaches; who, I ſay, being a God hearing prayers, pardoning ſins and a preſent
help in greateſt ſtraits and diſtreſſes, gives them a gracious return, bids them be of good comfort, and fearleſſe, yea bids them ſtand ſtill and ſee the ſalvation of the Lord, which he will ſhew them. For, to me (ſaith the Lord) belongeth vengeance and recompence; your enemies foot ſhall ſlip, in due time▪ for the day of their calamitie is at hand, and the the things that ſhall come upon them do make haſte. For the Lord will judge his own people, and repent himſelf for his ſervants
Cala. Faſt-Ser.iniuries, when he ſeeth that their power is gone, and there is none elſe to help. I am therefore graciouſly reſolved (ſaies our God) to make England a School of mercies, and to ſet it in the higheſt form thereof, yea and to make it the captain of the School, and thereby intend to ſet him one-leſſon to get by heart, even a leſſon of true gratitude
and holy obedience, for the mercies which now I intend to ſhew and beſtow upon it. Such mercies indeed (good Reader) as thou ſhalt now ſee, and (to thy ſouls admiration and comfortable contemplation) behold, that had I as many tongues, hands and p
as I have hairs on my head, and exquiſite dexteritie fitly to manage and make uſe of them all, they would not ſuffice to ſet out the praiſes of our good God for them, being indeed ſuch
mercies, as none but God himſelf could (miraculouſly) conſer upmightie and admirably ſtrange overture and turn of things, which God now began to work by this Parliament, and all for the better, yea more and more admirable mercies to us within theſe two yeers than hath been beſtowed on others in many ages. Which now by Gods gracious aſſiſtance, I ſhall abunclear and conſpicuous, to the high honour and glory of God, and the unſpeakable conſolation and ioy of his ſaints and holy ones.
For, now, behold, the Lord began to The Kings royall Stan The Peers do petition the King. The Scots alſo were vexed as well as we The King en Sept. 24open the eyes and to touch the hearts of our Nobles, now at York, with the King, and
wearie of their too-long ſilence and patience (if I may ſo call it and to lay to heart the Kingdoms great diſtractions and deep diſtempers, to be thereupon impatient of any longer delayes, and very ſenſible of the dutie and truſt which belongs to them; ſome, therefore, of the moſt eminent of them adventured to petition the King (who being, now, at York, had there advanced
his royall Standard, and gathered thither the cream of the whole Kingdom) yea and at ſuch a time too, when as ill Counſellours were ſo powerfull and prevalent with his Majeſtie, that they had reaſon to expect more hazard to themſelves, than fair and facile redreſſes of thoſe palpable and publike evils for which they then interceded. At which time, alſo, of this Kingburning-fever or violently ſhaking-ague of inteſtine miſeries and oppr ſſions, the Scots having been long time reſtrained in their trades, impoveriſhed by loſſe of many of their ſhips and goods, bereaved of all poſſibilitie of ſatisfying his Majeſtie by any naked Supplication, wherein they had been long time tired, and even quite wearied-out, being as frequently as fruitleſly denied their deſires, and now at laſt (to ſhut-up quite all doors of hope from them an armie marching to the gates of their Kingdom to force ſlaviſh ſubiection and obedience. They, hereupon, reſolſwords (ſince words would not prevail) to make their own paſſage, for audience, to the King; with a ſtrong armie (as their last remedy) of Saints rather than Souldiers entred the Kingdom, and withhoſtile act or ſpoil in the countrey, as they paſſed ſave oneſome of the Kings armie) to force their paſſage over the Tyne at Newburn, neer Newcaſtle, and had a fair opportunitie to preſſe on further upon the Kings armie, out that dutie and reverence to his Majeſtie, and brotherly love and true Chriſtian affection to our Engliſh Nation (according to the Declaration, printed and diſperſed over the Kingdom, immediately upon their entring the Realm, intituled, The Scots mind and intention with their Armie; which gave great ſatisfaction therein) made them ſtay there, piouſly and patiently, as loving friends, not foes, voluntarily to wait and ſupplicate again to his Majeſtie at York, for iuſtice in their innocent cauſe againſt their wicked enemies: Whereby the King had the better leaſure to entertain better Counſell, according to
thoſe Noble Peers Petition alſo, fore-mentioned, wherein the ſo bleſſed him, that he ſummoned a great Councell of Peers▪
then at York, to meet together with him, on Sept. 24, 1640. The Scots hereupon, the firſt day of the great Councill preſented another moſt humble petition to his Majeſtie, whereupon a treatie was appointed at Rippon, in which, things ſo wiſely and worthily agitated by the Commiſſioners on both ſides, and in all that interim, a ſweet ceſſation of Arms
is and the Scots ſhould be rewiſdom and care of a Parliament declared to begin, Novemb. 3d, then next enſuing, as the ſole means (under heamaladies, and to recover the Kingheart ▪ſick diſeaſes and (otherwiſe incurable) mortall wounds, and to ſettle the State of things (which (otherwiſe) ſeemed inſuperable) into a right frame and poſture. For, as hath been abundantly manifeſted, all things were ſo out of joynt, the King and whole Kingdom brought to ſuch exigents and precipitating ſad and bad iſſues, that had not God thus timouſly ſtruck in, and thus neceſſitated this Parliament, England (undoubtedly) confuſed Chaos of confuſion, a gaſtly Golgotha, and a moſt foule field of Blood, and poſteritie might have ſighi
(not ſung) of it. Ah, England, England, once call'd Albion, for thy white rocks, now too juſtly mayeſt be call'd Olbion, for thy black deformitie of deſtruction and deſolation! O London, famous London, Englands (once) gloTroynovant, now become a deſolate wilderneſſe, the plowfallow-plains or vaſt fields of corn; or, as the Prophet Jeremie, by his Jeruſalem ▪
might moſt properly have painted thee out alſo, as in the 1thee, is now ſeen, yea, now, I ſay, if
ever in the Mount of Mercies for thy admirable deliverance from this moſt profound abyſs of deepeſt danger, in this mightie mercie of thnew-now poor gaſping-England, in that the Engliſh and Scottiſh-armies ſhould lie ſo neer each other in a martiall manner, and yet ſeem Both to ſhake hands together, ſhould onely look one another in the face, and not embrue their hands in the blood of each other, but ſit ſtill, reſt togepeace, and at length part (as they did) like good friends.
tranſcendent rapture of ioy and gratitude, break-out, with holy David, and ſay, or rather cheerfully
ſing; Aſcribe unto the Lord worſhip and honour, aſcribe unto the Lord the glory of his name. Sing unto God ye Kingdoms of the earth, O ſing praiſes unto our God. Who maketh wars to ceaſe unto the end of the earth, who breaks the bowe, and cuts the ſpear in ſunder, and
burns the chariots in the fire. Who daily loadeth us with his benefits,
and is the onely God of our ſalvation. Who infatuates the wiſdom of the wiſe and prudent, and makes the counſels of Princes to come to nought. But, now, to proceed where I left; A Parliament was (I ſay) appointed to begin, Novem. the third, a Parliament ſaid I? (ſtrange word) what? a Parliament? why, who durſt (once) whiſper his deſires of a Parliament? who (once) durſt mutter, much leſſe utter-out ſuch a word, A Parliament in England, again? Yet, thus it was, yea and thus timely too yea and ſuch a Parliament too, as this Kingdom never ſaw
for length and ſtrength of goodneſſe, for Church and State; to Gods due glorie and everlaſting praiſe be it ſpoken. Certainly (then) if ever, now was our God gloriouſly ſeen in the Mount of Merci s for Englands greateſt good and hoped happineſſe.
But now ſee againſerpentine-ſeed, Satans agents, muſt be ſtill working and plotting againſt all the ſpringing hopes and budding comforts of Gods people, if it were poſſible to blaſt them in the bloſſomes. For, ſecret ſorrow, a Parliament muſt needs be, & this omen alſo unavoidable, all their crafty pates were contriving and caſting about how to ſtifle this conception of comfort in the very wombe. For, the malignant partie ſpying well that they could not (as I ſaid) put off the Parliament, they therefore cunningly and cloſely endeavour by their Courtly agents to have ſuch Members of it choſen in every Corporation, City, and Shire as might onely advance their miſchievous Machinations
baſe deſignes in Parliament. They, therefore, proKings and Queens Letters to Counties and Shires, get Earls, Lords, Knights and Gentlemen to ride in perſon and rove up and down to all parts and places of the Kingdom to make parties for them in choice of ſuch as they ſhould nominate. Yet, ſee again, on the other ſide how the Lord counter-plotted and infatuated all their craft, care, and induſtrie therein; for, notwithcoſt and coyl, all their running and riding, God, impious expectation, in moſt places. The Lord, who holds the hearts of all men in his hands, cauſed the willing people from all parts, ſpontaneouſly to flock and aſſemble together like ſuch unheard of numerous ſwarmes of bees of all requiſite ſorts and qualities, with moſt unbended courage and irrefragable reſolutions to chuſe-out and ſelect, ſuch pious, prudent and every way accompliſht Worthies for this high and honourable work, as are moſt hopefull, by Gods gracious ſupport and aſſiſtance to ſtrike the ſtroke of a moſt bleſſed and long looked for, yea longed-for happie Reformation; yea, I ſay, making up ſuch a bleſſed Colledge of Phiſicians, as are likely (by Gods benediction on them and protection over them) to cure the (elſe) almoſt cureleſſe maladies and infirmities of Church and State, which were readie to ſink into the inevitable gulf of wo and wretchedneſſe, and to drink the laſt draft of deadly destruction.
O, who can Six Subſidies granted. Pole-money. Ship-money aboliſhed. Coat and Con Salt Many other Monopolies ſuppreſſed,paſſe-by ſuch a remarkable paſſage of Gods admirable providence, ſurpaſſing admiration in this ſpeciall piece of comfort to us! yea, I may juſtly ſay, this maſter-peece of the whole enſuing frame of all our ſucceeding parliamentarie-rejoycings? and not cry-out with moſt emphaticall cheerfulneſſe, with holy Moſes, Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is
like unto thee? glorious in holineſſe, fearfull in praiſes, doing wonders.
And with the ſweet Pſalmograph, holy David, The heavens ſhall praiſe thy wonders, O Lord, thy faithfulneſſe, alſo, in the aſſembly of Saints. For, who in heaven can be compared to the Lord? Who, among the ſons of the mightie can be likened to our God? Now, at the first ſitting and meeting of this bleſſed Parliament, though all oppoſitions ſeemed to vaniſh, the fore-mentioned miſchiefs of the malignant partie being ſo evident (which their accurſed counſels and co-operations produced) that no man durſt ſtand-up to defend them: yet, the whole work it ſelf afforded difficulty emultiplied evils and long-rooted corruptions of 16. yeers growth, powerfull delinquents who were, now, to be brought to judgement and reformation. Secondly, the Kings houſhold was to be provided for; for, they had brought him to that want that he could not ſupply his meer ordinarie and neceſſarie expenſes
aſſiſtance of his people. Thirdly, two armies were then to be paid, which amounted very neer to 80 thouſand pounds a moneth, and yet the people over the Kingdom muſt be tenderly charged, having been formerly miſerably exhausted
contra
they met with, in all theſe, were very incompatible, which yet in a great meaſure they calmly reconciled; theſe difficulties thereinvincible, yet by Gods good providence, and theſe moſt renowned Worthies indefatigable care and diligence,
Parliament, ſix Subſidies were freely granted, together with the paſſing of a Bill of Pole-money, for ſpeedie ſupply of preſent ocſix Subſidies. Yea, theſe prudent patriots contractarrere-of charges due to our faithfull brethren of Scotland, to 220 thouſand pounds. And notwithſtanding all theſe moſt urgent and inevitable charges and preſſing occaſions ▪
the Lord ſo bleſſed the proceedings of this precious Parliament, that the kingdom is for the preſent, and will be much more for the future, by Gods mercie, a great gainer by all thoſe charges, as will evidently appear by the ſubſequent cloud of witneſſes, the many remarkparliamentarie mercies, which our great Jehovah hath graſtrewed into our happie laps and boſomes by them. And ſtop the mouthes of thoſe repining envious elves of ingratitude, who notwithſo conſpicuous, and egregious reſtimonies of theſe ever to be honoured Worthies moſt impregnable pains and induſtrie, yet would fain faſten their fangs of calumnie and detraction on their moſt honourable actions and proceedings, which even their inf
her ſelf, cannot but (though contrarie to her nature) moſt juſtly commend. As, firſt, that uncouth and (till of late) unheard of heavie taxation of Ship-money, by this Parliament aboliſhed, which drained from the Kingdome above 200 thouſand pounds a yeer. Coat and Conduct-money taken away from unjuſtly troubling the Subject, which in many countreys amounted to little leſſe than Ship-money.
ſcouring project of New-ſope alſo overthrown which brought an hundreth thouſand pounds a yeer into priproiectors purſes. That ſoaking plot alſo on Wine, which
Leather, which rightly computed could not chuſe but exboth thoſe former, put together, this is alſo annihilated. Yea, that unſeaſonable (and indeed unreaſonable) patent for Salt puld out of their enhanſing hands, which could not but Leather Beſides many other Stateſtarving Monopolies, whereof ſome (as hath been ſeen in thoſe fore-mentioned) prejudiced the Kingdom above a Million of money yeerly; all quite ſuppreſt by this renowned Parliament, which formerly, like ſo many greedily gaping graves or unſatiable horſleaches were continually crying-out, Give, Give, and reſtleſly ſucking-out the vitall ſpirits of the State, and pitifully debilitanerves and ligaments of the whole Commonwealth.
viz. Arbitrary government.far more worth than all thoſe fore-ſaid great benefits, which, indeed was the very root and rice of all thoſe and ſuch like taxations and vexations, is alſo, by power of this Parliament, quite taken away, viz. the Arbitrarie power pretended to be in his Maieſtie to tax his ſubiects, and charge their estates at his pleaſure, without conſent of his Parliament, which great and grievous yoke which extremely wrung our wronged necks, for the preſent, and would have done much more for the future, to our posteritie) is now by this happie Parliament declared by Both-Houſ s to be againſt Law, and is alſo raAct of Parliament. And was not Elohim our God all-ſufficient, moſt gloriouſly ſeen here in the Mount for our large deliverance, from ſuch and ſo many pinching ſtraits and deep diſtreſſes as we were all brought ▪
yea plunged into, as have been formerly moſt evidently and undeniably ſhewn? And, therefore, have we great cauſe, with that ſweet ſinger of Iſrael to elevate his praiſes, herein, and to ſay, I will magnifie thee, O my
God and my King, and will bleſſe thy Name for ever and ever. Yea every day will I bleſſe thee, and praiſe thy Name for ever and ever. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praiſed, and his greatneſſe is altogether unſearchable.
Yea, and that which is very A ſpirit of prayer and hu Rich returns of our prayers. Our enemies plots proved their owngrea Iudg. 13. 23.remarkable, and no leſſe extraordinarie comfortable to Gods children; How did the Lord (before this Parliament began, and hitherto ever ſince) ſtir-up and enflame the fire of ſupplicating faith or faithfull ſupplication and
fervent zeal in private humiliation to ſeek the Lord in the face of Chriſt for mercie and reconcilement to our poor Land and Nation, ſo as the like was never ſeen in this Kingdom before. And, O, what faith-confirming and heart-cheering rich returns of prayers hath the Lord our good God caſt into our bleſſed boſomes, in both granting us the very things (yea and much more than) our hearts deſired; and croſſing ours and the Churches enemies both Papiſts and Prelates in their plots which we feared, yea and ſtill making their own deſperate deviſes to lite heavieſt on their own heads, and their own impious inventions occaſions to make them ſtill ſit-down by weeping-croſſe, and bear the greateſt damage and condigne detriment in themſelves. Whence we may very well Manoahs wife, Sampſons mother, againſt all falſe and faithleſſe fears and jealouſies (whereunto I perceive, even Gods own dear people are too-much addicted) That if the Lord were pleaſed or had a purpoſe to kill (or deſtroy) us, he would not have received an oblation or ſacrifice from us, neither would have ſhewed us all theſe things, nor would (as at this time) have done all theſe great things and much more yet following for us; But if God had had no delight in us, but purpoſed to deſtroy us, and to deliver-up our Land and lives into Papiſts hands, and to make a prey of us and ours to them, he would not (ſurely) have ſuffered us or given us hearts to ſeek him in prayer and importunate petitions, and yet at laſt, have fruſtrated all our hopes and expectations: But condeſtroy the children of Iſrael for their high provocations of the Lords irreconcilable wrath, he flatly forbad the Prophet to pray for them: whereas on the other ſide, I ſay, our gracious God hath freely poured on us the ſpirit of grace and ſupplication; hath not onely received ſacrifices from our (though ſinfull) hands, but in Chriſt Jeſus (his ever prevailing
meritorious bleſſed Son) hath ſmelt a ſweet ſavour in our ſacrifices, as hath been alreadie in part imparted to us, and made clearly obvious to our eyes and underſtanding, and comes now moſt copiouſly to be farther moſt fully demonſtrated to us.
And, here, me thinks, tis not improper or impertinent to put one remarkable mercie of the Lord unto us, which though it be not (I confeſſe) on all parts abſolutely concluded on; yet for my part, I confidently beleeve (theſe
plotting times and weightie circumſtances conſidered and put toone of the chief places and number of our moſt famous parliamentarie deliverances, though I ſay it was and hath been covered and couched under fair machi
of other intentions ▪
when they ſaw God had miraculouſly croſſed and defeated their former ſtrong expectation. For (unPopiſh and malignant partie had deeply perthis (eſpecialthis plot now to be mentioned) their deſpeprojects ſhould have been brought to a high pitch, and that ere this time we and Scotland ſhould have been deeply engaged in bloodie broils, and been pell-mell together by the ears in the Northern parts of the Kingdom. The ſly Fox of Spain therefore, muſt advantages on our home-bred and imbred diſtractions and uncivill-civill wars, thus to purchaſe to himſelf the long lookt-for ſpoils and moſt precious prey of three fair Crowns, at once; To which purpoſe, upon traiterous inſtigation and intelligence too, no doubt, from ſome of his penſioners in the Court of England ▪
he had made readie and ſet forth to Sea, a mightie Fleet of ſhips, a ſecond great armado, well fraught and furniſhed with men and ammunition, and other inſtruments of wrath and furie for our certain perdition and deſigned deſtruction. Thus unſuſpected and unexpected, they had ſmoothly and ſilently made their way into our narrow Seas, and lay hovering within ſight Dover, fearleſſe (it ſeem'd) of leaſt reſiſtance from us, if not hopefull of ample aſſiſtance to land their forces, and make our Land feel the furie of Spaines conquering arm. But, behold, as thus they lay about our coaſts, and we (as it were) lay fast a ſleep in this great danger, the God of our Engliſh-Iſrael, who neſlumbers nor ſleeps in the protection of his people, had his ever moſt vigilant and wakefull eye over us, even then, I ſay, when we were moſt ſupine and careleſſe or fearleſſe of any imminent diſaſter ſo neer us, the Lord our God fought for us, yet without us, ſtopt this (otherwiſe) over-flowing inundation of miſerie and deſtruction, croſt and cruſht their rotten-egge of windie hopes, by neighbours of Holland to confront them, though with but a very ſmall Fleet (at the firſt) which afterward quickly encreaſed, under the conduct and command of their heroicall and moſt magnanimous Admirall Martin
whoſe honour and high renown, the Martin Tromp Admirall of the Fleet. Tromp,trump of Fame ſhall moſt worthily ſound out to poſteritie, and crown his temples with never withering-wreathes of laurell-branches, who had no ſooner eſpied them, but moſt fiercely and furiouſly he ſet upon their whole formidable Spaniſh Fleet, gave them ſuch battering broad ſides, and ſuch Canon-thundring and powder-roaring ſalutations as quickly puld down their ſo late ſo lofty Spaniſh pride, and maugre all their eſpani
the utmoſt ſtrength of their ſtrongeſt veſſels was ſo batter'd and bruiſ'd, their falſly impenitrable ribs and big-ſwoln bellies ſo peir
and peſtred, that they quickly queld their courage, fir'd, ſunk and took many of their greateſt ſhips, and diſſipated and ſcatter'd the reſt from our coaſts, few of them eſcaping the heroick Hollanders martiall violence, to our great (though unſenſible yet unſpeakable) comfort and ſecurity, we our ſelves not having ſtrook one ſtreak in our own defence, nay tis well if we did not yeeld the Spaniards ſupplie of powder and other neceſſaries (that time) to our own deſtruction, had not God thus ſtrangely and ſtrongly withſtood it. Say, then (O England) did not Jehovah, our great Lord and God moſt apparently appear, now, in the Mount for thy mightie deliverance? did he not make good his word and promiſe
That no weapon forged againſt thee ſhall proſper, and every tongue that riſeth againſt thee in judgement thou ſhalt condemne. Certainly, if ever, at this time was this proexactly made good to England, and to our faithfull
brethren of Scotland. For, what ſharp and death-wounding weapons have been forged againſt us, both abroad and at home? what ſlanderous tongues, have riſen up in judgement, yea in moſt falſe iudgement againſt both us and them, calling and counting Gods beloved ones among us factious and ſeditious, and among our hobrethren of Scotland, traitors and rebels, as hath been forhigh honour of God and ioy of our hearts, that none of their weapons have proſper'd againſt us; yea their ſlanderous tongues, which ſo falſely iudged us and our beloved brethren, we have condemned to the clear eyes of all men, that wilfully look not a ſquint on all iuſt things.
For, hath not this our moſt noble and renowned Parliament, together with the Kings full content and conſent therein, proclaimed
our brethren of Scotland, the Kings moſt faithfull and Confirmed a fair and full Pacification and union of firm love and mutuall defence, twixt us and them and the Kingdom of Ireland with an Act of oblivion of all miſtakes and miſconceits on either ſide: all theſe, I ſay, ratified by a bleſſed Act of Parliament? Yea, and that which adds no ſmall luſtre to it, that it hath hereby freed us from civill-wars, which of all warres are moſt uncivill, from inteſtine wars, wars that would have eaten-out our own bowels; from wars, I ſay, of Chriſtians with Chriſtians, yea of Proteſtants with Proteſtants, which of all wars could not but have been moſt fell and fatall. O who, then, can ſee theſe things, theſe miracles of mercies, without deep admiration and holy adoration of our great God? Who can forbear to break-out into cordiall praiſes, to raiſe-up trophies of everlaſting fame and honour to our great and glorious Lord and King? Who can chuſe but ingenuouſly acknowledge with holy David, That we got not theſe good things into our poſſeſſion by
Good men made Officers of State. The Scaligers of our ruſtie times.remarkable mercie was it alſo, that the Lord put into the hearts of the renowned Scaligers of our corrupted times, for the better purifying not onely of the conduit-pipes of Juſtice, to begin (as about this time) to put pious and noble Peers into places of honour, truſt and power, that thus the ſtern of government may be the more happily ſteered with uprightneſſe and impartialitie. To which purpoſe (as a main help thereto) they have moſt happily taken away that State-ſtaggering Star-Chamber-Court;
diſſolved and diſſipated into ſmoke ▪
the cruſhing-Courts of the Preſident and Councell of the North ▪
and limited and co fined the unlimited bounds of buſineſſes at the Councell-Table; but alſo to ſcoure the muddie and even ſtinking channels of wrong and oppreſſion, by eaſing the Common-wealth of thoſe living-grievances
peace and tranquility of the State) I mean thoſe evill Counſellers and Officers of State, who had been principall actors of all our foreſaid miſcries and miſchiefs; making thereby (as it were) a plaſter to heal the deadly wounds of Church and State, and moſt hopefully to recover the almoſt incureable diſeaſes of the Kingdom, by a plaiſter, I ſay, of blood of that inſulting arch-traitor, the Earl of Straford, who as he had well-nigh ſtabd the State to the heart by his deep and moſt dangerous plots both abroad and at home: So the ſtroak of Juſtice retaliated with blood his moſt bold and bloodie deſignes maugre all his ſlyeſt ſhufflings and crafty jeerings of the Law to have eluded it, and thereby hoping to have prevented the ſaid juſt vengeance on him.
And here by the way, I deſire the Reader to take notice of equall and upright wayes and dealings, with wicked, ungodly, and blood-thirſtie men, how exactly he repayes the bloody Haman.
plots and purpoſes of all proud and ambitious Hamans in their own coyn; as, here, is moſt perſpicuouſly ſeen in this our Engliſh-Haman, who in his heart had vow'd the wrack ▪
and ruine of all Gods faithfull ones in England, Scotland and Ireland, at the leaſt. But we have happily ſeen this proud Haman, the firſt that felt the due ſtroke of justice, to the honour of God, and the terrour of all ſuch daring traytors. And as for the reſt of that rabble, I may David, How long will ye imagine miſchief againſt men, ye ſhall be ſlain all the pack of you; for, as a bowing or tottering-wall ſhall ye be, and as a rotten fence.
perfidious conſpiring Sh
and fear in time ſuch juſt retaliation. Certainly, There is none like unto thee, O Lord, thou art great, and thy Name is great in
might. Who would not fear thee, O King of Nations, for, to thee it doth, indeed, appertain (to do justice, and take revenge) for as much as among all the wiſe men of the world, and in all their Kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.
Iudge The ArchBartlet & other Iudges and Biſhops impeached of high treaſon and impriſoned Much content among men, upon the Earls beheading.this Remora thus happily (though very hardly) reclinging-clyver (I mean the foreſaid Earl of Straford) which was ready to over-top and choak the good corn of the Kingdom, thus bleſſedly eradicated; together with the impeachment and impriſonment of Judge Bartlet and divers other Judges and Biſhops, twas moſt ſtrange to ſay and ſee what a ſudden
ſerenitie and calmneſſe from late former fears and affrights ſhon upon the hearts and minds of moſt men a long time after, even all over the Kingdom. Eſpecially, alſo, when that Lamb-skin'd Woolf the Arch-prelate of Canterbury, who had ſo long and ſo craftily and cruelly woorry
Chriſts innocent lambs, was alſo impeached of high treaſon, and thereupon forthBlack-rod, and afterward lockt-up faſt in the Tower of London, for his ſuture ſafe forthhuge and hyperbolicall puffe of ayrie honour and falſe windie reputation among his clawing Pontificians, now at laſt tumbled into the duſt, yea beſmeard with the Elizabeths ſaying, touchdirt of due diſgrace, contempt, and ignominie. O then twas m
As it is recorded to be the ſpeech of that bleſQueen Elizabeth of ever-rareſt memorie, upon the Lords deuniuſt, great troubles, by the happie deceaſe of her fierie-Siſter, Queen Marie, when the Romiſh bloodie Biſhops of her time were clapt-up into priſon, in her ſtead, and ſhe delivered from their divill
Yea, then, I ſay, the former thick-clouds and foggi
of manifold fears began to be cleared, and the fair ſunſhine of chearfull hopes to ariſe in the hearts of Gods people: and conſtoniſhment and fear began to ſurpriſe the ſpirits of traiterous proiectors, eſpecially at Court. For, much about theſe times, or not long before and after alſo, Sir John Finch, Secretarie
Ioh. Finch, Secretary Windibank, &c. flie away for fear.Windibank, Mr. Jermin, and ſince of late alſo, the bold and waſpiſh young Lord Digbie, in the depth of the guilt of their conſciences, being impeached alſo of high treaſon, truſting more to their heels celerity, than their hearts ſinceritie, which, it ſeems, was none at all, poſted away in private like moſt unworthie fugitives, being thus ſpued-out (as I may ſay) of their own native countrey like nauſeous clods on the ſtomach of the State, which could not be at any eaſe or content till it had by ſome means diſgorged them. Or rather, as it is reported of that hatefull vermine Rats and Mice, who by inſtinct of nature, obſerold barn or rotten-houſe ready to fall or be puld-down,
skip and ſcud and creep away, apace, to ſome more remote and ſecure place, thus to ſave themſelves from that (otherwiſe) inevitable deſtruction: So, I ſay, did this traiterous vermine of
Kingdom, thoſe devouring rats of rapine and mice of miſchief, who would have gnawn and eaten into the bowels of Religion to the ruine of Church and State, finding the rotten-houſe of their long-plotted miſchiefs readie to fall on their own heads, to their unavoidable deſtruction, thought it now hskip and ſcud and run away for their lives, and to get themſelves far enough beyond Sea, out of the reach of Justice ſtrong and longreaching
at home. By which means, namely, juſtice, thus cone on ſome of them, and the ſaid ſtroke of justice, thus terrifying and affrighting others away out of the Kingdom; the Church and State are like, by Gods mercie, to reap this double benefit, to wit, eaſe and freedom from fears for the preſent time, and alſo moſt hopefull long preſervation for the time to come.
And was not here a rare parliamentarie mercie indeed, to the
Cateline ato be rid (any way) of ſuch Catelines of their CounAnd ought we not to be as thankfull to our God for his privative, as poſitive favours toward us, as well for the abſence of
as the preſent poſſeſſion of good things, as well to ſee Gods enemies flie before us, as to ſee his faithfull ſervants and dear ſaints returning-home unto us? Yes doubtleſſe; and to triumph in their terrour, and to laugh and reioyce when their fear comes upon them, yea, when it comes upon them like a fierce armedFor, ſo ſaies Solomon and the kingly Prophet David
Now, whereas for theſe Both Church and State ſick at the very heart. The Church ſick of a quo The State of a Conſumption by oppreſſive taxations.many yeers, heretofore, the diſcontinuance and unhappie diſſolution of Parliaments hath (moſt like the want of ſoveraign healing-ſalv
to dangerous ſores) occaſipreiudice by long f
and p
in Church and State, and mightily encouraged the audacious and ungracious workers of iniquitie through ſtrong hopes (thereby) of impunity: Our good God hath by this bleſſed
Parliament provided a cordiall preſervative and ſoveraign antidote againſt ſuch future peſtilentiall diſeaſes and mortiferous growing gangrenes, namely, in that our renowned Worthies have by a firm Act of Parliament, ſetled a Trienniall-Parliament, to be for the time to come duely called among us. And yet farther; ſince the frequent and abrupt diſſolution of Parliaments hath alſo been no ſmall ſupportation to the wicked intentions of traiterous active ſpirits among us: It hath pleaſed the Lord to put into the hearts of the King and Parliament with an unanimous conſent
continuation of this preſent Parliament, ſo as that it ſhall neither be diſſolved nor adiourned without the conſent of both Houſes. Which two Laws well and ſeriouſly conſidered, (eſpecially the laſt of the incomparable happineſſe whereof I am not able to relate for the preſent, but time to come may) may juſtly be thought more advantageous to the Kingdom than all the former, becauſe they ſecure a full operation of preſent remedie, like a conſtant courſe of wholſome phyſick to a very crazie bodie full of encreaſing and growing infirmities, affording, I ſay, a perpetuall ſpring of remedies to Church and Common-wealths future growing griefs and maladies. And, becauſe (according to that old adagie) a
threefold knot is not eaſily untied, or a three-fold cord, not eaſily broken; the more ſtrongly to corroborate all our hopes and enſuing comfort
and to make them as conſtant as cordiall; ſee, how, yet farther it pleaſed the Lord our good God to enlarge his hand of bountie and benignitie toward us, to leave no means unaſſayed that might conduce to a perfect cure; and therefore, I ſay, how he put into the hearts of our ever to be honoured Worthies in Parliaboth Peers and Commons, ſeriouſly to conſider how ſick at the very heart the Commonwealth was, both Church and State; Religion panting by many fearfull fainting-fits of a ſtrong and violent Quotidian-Ague of Poperie, Arminianiſme, and many Popiſh, apiſh innovations, mightily tending to idolatry, and ſuperſtition; and the State brought into a deep conſumption, almoſt hopeleſſe of remedie, by reaſon of thoſe many and miſchievous taxations and impoſitions moſt unjuſtly preſſing and oppreſſing its ſtrength and abilities, as hath been moſt abundantly ſet forth and ſhewn in our preceding deſcriptions of them. Therefore, I ſay, on judicious adviſe and premeditation of the condition of Both,
Colledge of expert Phyſitians, (by Gods good providence) timely thought on an Aurum-potabile, a precious potion,
ſelect electuari to recover its almoſt irrecoverable health and ſtrength, a moſt pious and prudent Proteſtation, to be taken (next to the heart) all over the Kingdom to revi
their formerly fainting ſpirits, like pure Aqua-vitae, or moſt ſoveraign ſtomack-water to help us all againſt the future chilling and killing qualms of Poperie and Oppreſſion.
Wedneſday, May, 5. 1641. I, A. B. do in the preſence of almightie God, vow and proteſt to maintain and defend, as far as lawfully I may, with my life, power, and eſtate▪ the true reformed Proteſtant Religion, expreſſed in the Doctrine of the Church of England, againſt all Popery and Popiſh innovations within this Realm, contrary to the ſame doctrine; and according to the dutie of my allegiance, his Majesties royall perſon, honour and eſtate; As alſo the power and priviledges of Parliament; the lawfull rights and liberties of the Subiect, and every perſon that maketh this Proteſtation▪ in whatſoever he ſhall do in the lawfull purſuance of the ſame. And to my power, and as far as lawfully I may, I will oppoſe, and by all good wayes and means endeavour to bring to condign puniſhment, all ſuch as ſhall either by force, practiſe, coun ſels, plots, conſpiracies, or otherwiſe, do any thing to the contrary of any thing in this preſent Protestation contained. And further, that I ſhall in all iust and honourable waies endeavour to preſerve the uni on and peace between the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland; and neither for hope, fear, or other reſpect, ſhall relirquiſh this promiſe, vow and Protestation.
A Proteſtation, I ſay, moſt worthie to be taken by all honeſthearted Engliſh Proteſtants, over the whole Kingdom; a Proteſtation,
none but hard'ned impious Papists, profane atheisticall Libertines, or groſſely ignorant aſſes, and carnall earth-worms onelygraceleſſe or elſe ſhameleſſe, either directly to refuſe or ſo much as diſſemblingly to defer or neglect on any colour of pretence whatſoeratified by the Worthies of our Parliament, I thought fit to give you here their own Vote thereon.
Friday, July, 30. 1641. Reſolved on the Queſtion.That this Houſe doth conceive that the Proteſtation made by them
is fit to be taken by every perſon that is well affected in Religion, and to the good of the Commonwealth; and therefore doth declare, that what perſon ſoever ſhall not take the Proteſtation is unfit to bear of fice in the Church or Commonwealth.
Now then (good Reader) put all theſe laſt recited admirable mercies together, and tell me whether thou doſt not moſt eviand mayeſt not moſt freely and faithfully ſay that our
great Jehovah hath moſt bleſſedly brought us out of the Mount of many mightie ſtraits and been ſeen for our most happie deliverfrom them all in the Mount of mercies? And ſeeing theſe ſo great and gracious mercies to ſo ſinfull and ſo undeſerving a Nation and provoking people as we are, ſo ungratefull, ſo unfruitO who can forbear to break-forth in holy exultation to the high exaltation, by praiſesof our good God, and with the pious Prophet David, that ſugred ſinger of Iſrael, ſay and ſing with
the
of a moſt gratefull heart, I will love thee, O Lord, my ſtrength, the Lord is my ſtonie-rock
Thus have we ſeen what wonders God hath wrought for us, in the Commonwealth; he pleaſed now therefore to lengthen-out and lend me thy Chriſtian patience, and I ſhall now alſo ſhew thee how the Lord hath been as gloriouſly ſeen (if not much more) in the Mount of parliamentarie-mercies to his poor afflicted
affrighted Church among us; which yet, the Reader muſt be pleaſed to take notice, were intermixedly performed tofirst of thoſe fore-mentioned in the Commonwealth, onely I have ranckt them together for mine own better and more methodicall handling of them.
About the beginning of this bleſſed Ier. 38. 7. Dr. Dr. Parliament, the Lord put into the hearts of our grave and godly parliamentarie Senators to act their firſt pious parts about reformation of Religion by
inquiſition and ſearch after oppreſſions and oppreſſours of the Church of God, and by their parliamentarie power to break and knock off the puſhing horns of thoſe fat buls of Baſhan, wherewith they had fiercely and furiouſly, yea and as it were even frantickly puſht at and almoſt goard to death the peopetitions of Mrs. Baſtwick and Mrs. Burton, the pious, but (then) moſt diſconſolate and too untimely widowed-wives of their thrice noble and heroick husbands, as alſo a petition exhibited in the behalf of moſt precious Mr. Prinne, that incomparable and rare pair-royall of moſt worthy witneſſes
Baſtwick, Mr. Burton, Mr. Prinne, freed from priſon.Laighton alſo, M. Smart, Mr Walker, Mr. Foxely, Mr. Lilborn, & many others ſet atruth; the pious Parliament, like noble Ebed-melech, redeemed thoſe juſt Jeremies of the Lord out of their (operpetually captivating moſt remote and deſolate dungeons▪
to the great joy and comfort of Gods dear Saints; together with religious Dr. Laighton, a long and lamentable Sufferer for the great cauſe of Religion; as alſo, reverend and religious Mr. Smart, Mr. Walker, Mr. Foxley, and that undaunted picus young gentleman Mr. John Lilborn, and many others, all of them, immediately ſet at libertie on the exhibiting of their petitions to the Parliament, who had moſt of them been moſt unjuſtly and moſt injuriouſly clapt up in cloſe impriſonment, ſome of them fast fetter'd in irons, all of them moſt grievouſly abuſed (by our fathers (forſooth) of the Church, as they will be moſt falſeſuffering-worthies, whom theſe perſecuting Prelates had even moſt barbarouſly, as it were, buried alive in moſt remote and remorſeleſſe (as they entended it) impriſonment from ſight, much leſſe ſociety of any friends, yea utterly debarring their wives from coming to them, clean contrary to the Laws of God and Man; This, I ſay (to their everlaſting ſhame and infamie) beterrible-Ones (indeed) mentionYea, thoſe proud ſcorners, who watched for iniquitie, to make a man an offender for a word, and laid ſnares for any that durſt reprove in the gate, and turned aſide the iuſt for a thing of nought. But, whom now the Lord our God hath conſumed and brought to nought, and by their own pernicious and craftie counſels, hath juſtly cut-off, and left in their own ſnare, which they had prepared for others, juſt according to that of wiſe Solomon, The righteous is delivered out of troubles, and the
wicked cometh in his ſtead. The Lord having moſt reſplendently cleared the honour and integritie of all thoſe his honourable ſuffering heroes, reſtoring them to comfort, credit, and high reputation, ever ſince their (as it were, princely and triumphant) return to London, and moſt ſumptuous entertainment to all Gods peoCeſars on horſAhaſueros cauſed to be proclaimed before good Mordecai, when he ſo highly honoured him in the very ſight and preſence of wicked Haman; Thus ſhall it be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour. As it is moſt worthily and punctually related, at large, in their own moſt famous hiſtorie of all their magnanimous ſufferings and even Princelike reſtauration and return from their captivity to former freedom, penPrinnes moſt excellent Hiſtory of all thoſe three faPrinne himſelf, my ever much honoured and moſt precious friend. And did not the Lord, here moſt ſtrongly and ſtrangely ſhew himſelf in the Mount for the redemption of all theſe his beloved Iſaac's from their unparalell'd thraldom, and threatned utter ruine, and cauſe his wrath to lay hold on thoſe Romiſh-Rams who were entangled in the buſhes of their Biſhoplyabuſes to Gods children, and ſo (by his admirable wiſe providence) to make them a prey to his juſt indignation inſtead of his innocent and tenderly affected Iſaac's his beloved lambs? As hereproper place we ſhall have more full and fit occaſion yet farther to make manifeſt to the eyes and underſtanding of all wiſe and impartiall Judges. We may therefore ſing and ſay with holy David: Be glad in the Lord, therefore, O ye righteous, who thus
taſte and trie his great love and truth unto you, and ſhout for ioy all ye
parliamentarie Gardiners ſtub and grub up thoſe noyſome trees and ſhamefull ſhrubs, whoſe ſpreading ſpight and unprofitable power did mightily overtop, and furiouſly infest the happie harveſt and fair and full crop and encreaſe of Gods bleſſedly fruitfull Orchard-trees, fruitfull I ſay, in holineſſe of life, and painfull and profitable adminiſtration of the Word and Ordinances in their power and purity. For, about this time, alſo,
expert State-Engineers, our Worthies in Parliament did moſt prudently countermine, and by their parliamentarie power blowout-works and Babel-batteries and miſchievous-mounts of our Prelaticall Canoneers, making their ſpureous Synod to be utmouthes of their accurſed Canons, on themſelves, making them (indeed) truly paper-Canons which could neither rend us, nor roar againſt us, but flaſh in their own faces, and ſpoil themſelves; damming them up, or rather damning them, as moſt Antichriſtian and illegall, by an unanimous Vote in Parliament. And as for that monstrous Et-Caetera-Oath, that hideous and prodigious Hydra, that bottomleſſe abyſſe, I ſay, and deep-devouring whirl-pool of Romiſh craft and ſubtiltie which ſhould have ſupt and ſwallowed-up into its wide-yawning iaws both Church and Common-wealth, this they alſo happily ſtifled in the Embrio of it, ere it could come to its birth, much leſſe any of its intended Romiſh deſtroying growth and maturitie. Then thoſe moſt prudent Senators for the better purifying of the Churches channels and Conduit-pipes of the Goſpel of grace, and, (by Gods bleſſing) to cauſe them to iſſue forth more wholeſome and pure ſtreams for Gods people to drink of; diſcovered and diſcountenanced too, a ſtinking heap of atheiſtical and Romane-rubbiſh,
rotten-rabble of ſcandalous priests and ſpurious baſtard-ſons of Beliall, who by their affected ignorance and lazieneſſ
their falſe ▪ doctrines and idolatrous and ſuperstitious practiſes in Gods worabhominable evill lives and converſation
Hophni and Phincas made the Lords Ordinances to be even abborred by the people, who to their hearts unexpreſſible grief having continually complained of their groſſe miſdemeanours to thoſe who would be counted the grave pi
(forChurch, but were, indeed, but Rom
in thus fostering ſuch fostering henbane of the Church, their functions infamie and the fouleſt ſtains of that holy calling; yet could find no redreſſe of thoſe evils; but contrariwiſe, ſcoffs and jeers and more hard encreaſed preſſures heaped on them (juſt like the children of Iſrael in their ſlaviſh brick ▪kils) yea and ſometimes puniſhed for complaining; Till, now, thoſe our moſt pious and prudent Reformers voted againſt them as moſt unfit to abide in the Miniſterie. Yea, then thoſe our parliamentarie Worthies, the better to help forward the moſt bleſſed work of
Church-reformation, unanimouſly voted againſt and diſcountenanced
too-rich and lazie Non-reſidents and ſoul-pining, if not ſoul-plaguing Pluralists, thoſe ſpirituall Polygamiſts, who (were the law of man as firmly exact and ſtrict for ſpirituall as it is for carnall Polygamie, or having two wives) we all know what their danger and juſt demerit ſhould be. With theſe alſo have they moſt worthily voted down, a ſweatleſſe ſwarm of droaniſh
Deans and unprofitable Prebends, and ſuch like Clergie-traſh, who lay lurking in the Bec-hives of the Church, and lurching-away the ſweet honey from the laborious Bees, painfull Preachers, yea infesting and moleſting them with their waſpiſh-ſtings of Antichriſtian tyrannie (juſt like the mustie Munches and lazie-Abbeylubbers of Rome, in times paſt, and which baſe and blockiſh condition, they (certainly) longed and laboured (ſecretly) to ſet up again, but I truſt their eyes and heart too, ſhall fail them ere they effect it) untill they had quite driven them out of their honeycombes, and kill'd or ſtarv'd-up them and theirs by priſons or exile; all theſe, I ſay, were by thoſe our bleſſed Maſter-builders in Parliament by their unanimous ſuffrages not onely voted againſt as a ſuperfluous and unprofitable burthen on Gods Church, but way was made plain, and wide-doores were ſet open for a bleſſed reſtauration and replantation of moſt faithfull and painfull Paſtours, and laborious Lecturers, choſen and ſet up with the peoples conſent and good liking, and not to have dumbdogs or ſoul-robbers and theeves which came not in at the doore, but through the windows of the Church, violently obtruded on them, whereby the Goſpel begins to thrive and flouriſh again, Sions young-converts to be graciouſly growing up among us, in the true judgement and knowledge of Chriſt Jeſus; whereas, formerly the Prelates and Pontificians durſt ſcoffe, fleer, and jeer familiarly at thoſe faithfull and painfull Lecturers, and moſt atheistically ask in deriſion, What kind of creatures thoſe Lecturers were, and moſt impiouſly and audaciouſly (even in the preſence of the great God of heaven) vow to worm them out
curst cows (or rather wilde buls of Baſhan) ſhort horns, and though they had gone-on in a great meaſure, and done much miſchief therein, yet they could not do the hurt which their hearts aymed at, ever bleſſed and praiſed be our good God for it. And now good
reflect thine eyes and review theſe rare mercies, and tell me then, was not Englands God, herein, alſo ſeen in the Mount of Mercies, by this ſo ſtrange an overture and alteration of interpoſed between ſuch eminent and imminent danger of utter loſſe of our bright and burning Candlesticks of the Goſpel, and fear of ſtinking ſnuffs of ignorance, errour and atheisticall profaneneſſe to be ſet up in their places, and little or no hope (at leaſt ithumane apprehenſion) of help by leſſe than ſuch miracles of mercies as God himſelf hath in theſe our happie dayes wrought and poured-down upon us, and ſuch indeed as none but a God could procure for us. O how ſweetly and ſuddenly hath God Captivitie into admirable freedom and libertie. And who can conſider theſe things without ſerious and deep admiration? and who can call them to remembrance without heart-raviſhing ioy and delight? yea who can chuſe but acknowledge in his moſt gratefull heart the great praiſes of the Lord? and with holy David, that harmonious chanter and muſicall inchanter of Iſrael, confeſſe Gods infinite free favour and love to England in encompaſſing and begirting us about with ſweet ſongs of ſuch deliverances.
But yet here's not all, for our bleſſed parliamentarie Worthies have alſo given us great hope (by Gods goodneſſe) of timely purging alſo the two famous Fountains of our Kingdom, Oxford and Cambridge from the much myre and mud of Romiſh innovations, which, ſetling there alſo hath made their ſtreams ſtink of Poperie; yea, I ſay, great hopes of happily healing the (once moſt clear-ſighted, but now and of long time) blear-eyes of our Nation, grown mightie ſore with Romiſh-redneſſe, by drinking in too much of the wine-lees of poyſoning Popiſh fopperies; in ſo much that Truths clear ſighted Servants eyes began to be mightily offended by but looking on them; and not without cauſe, for, If the eyes be evill, the whole bodie will be full of darkneſſe; and, if the light that is in a kingdom (and eſpecially which is to give light to a whole kingdom) be darkneſſe, O how great is that darkneſſe! and ſuch truly began to be our Kingdoms condition; but now we have, I ſay, great hopes, by Gods gracious aſſistance, that our Parliament will ſeaſonably proſoveraign Collyrium or eye-ſalve, ſome well-distilled eyebright of Reformation to purifie the ſight of theſe two, once moſt
lights in the whole Chriſtian world.
Yea, theſe our noble Nehemiahs, and grave and gracious Ezra's have taken moſt pious pains to ſee Gods Sabbaths more ſinſanctified than of late they have been, and the profane ſoil
trauelling Carriers, Taverns, Ale-houſes, and Tobacco-ſhops, and other looſe and irreligious Shop-keepers (who heretofore mightily polluted that day) moſt ſweetly ſwept away any cleanſed. A work of great concernment and high eſteem for the glorie
greater, a better cannot be undertaken, as being the very prop and promoter of all true Religion, and without the entire and ſincere ſanctification wheretrue religion would quickly decay, and be utterly loſt; yea, I ſay, a Nation-upholding Chriſtian dutie of richeſt valuation, as having more precious promiſes annexed to it than any other I know of in the whole book of God, and which hath more ennobled our Realm and made our Kingdom more illuſtrious (God alone who hath ſo graciouſly upheld it among us, have all the praiſe and glorie of it, and we onely the comfort) than all our reformed Neighbours about us; yea ſuch a bleſſed and holy duty as hath cauſed more mercies to fall, yea flow, upon our Engliſh-Nation than ever did on any people of the Chriſtian world. Yet our moſt iniurious Prelates, together with their profane Pontificks have moſt ſhameleſly ſtriven to viciate and defile this our Sabbaths precious honour (the main readie and road-way to have brought the curſe of God upon usruinated our whole Kingdom) by whoſe means it began in King James his dayes to deep died ſtain by that moſt wicked and accurſed book of tolerating vain ſports and profane recreations, forſooth, on the Lords day, which, ſince hath been avowed and advanced more highly by them, than, at the first; but now, ſince, in our preſent Soveraignes time more pertinaciouſly preſſed and pernicienforced on Gods dear Saints and ſervants in the miniſterie than formerly it had been, whoſe tender-conſciences could not just zeal for the Lords high honour therein, and ſincere love to true Religion tranſported above all fears and frowns) were moſt egregiouſly abuſed, vexed and puniſhed for refuſing to admit and read the ſaid wicked-book in their Churches: untill it moſt graciouſly pleaſed our good God by the bleſſed Parliament to prevent the moſt miſchievous
growth of this unexpreſſible abomination of our ſo holy Fathers of the Church together with the rotten rable of Pontifick-Arminians, Romes Minions indeed, by a particular Order from the Houſe of Commons in Parliament for the more ſtrict ſanctification of that day, which I have hereunto annexed.
Commonsfor the due ſanctication of the Sabbath or Lords day, April,10th. 1641.IT is
this day orderedby theHouſe of Commonsthat theAlderandmen Citizensthat ſerve for theCitieofLondon,ſhall intimate to the Lord Maior,fromthis Hou ethat theStatutesfor the due obſerving of theSabbathbe put in execution. And it is furtherordered,that the likeintimationfromthis Houſebe made to theJuſtices of Peacein all theCountiesofEnglandandWales.And theKnightsof theShireof the ſeverallCountiesare to take care thatcopiesofthis orderbe accordingly ſent to theJustices of Peacein the ſeverallCounties.
Printing-Preſſes ſet open again. The Sabbaths honour thereAnd alſo by ſetting our Printing-Preſſes open whereby a happie way was laid open again for Gods learned and loyall Serby their pious pens and elaborate labours to vindicate the Sabbaths moſt glorious lustre to the honour of godlineſſe and puof Religi n. And was not the Lord, herein, alſo, ſeen in the Mount of Mercies for Englands preſervation from the guilt of ſuch a wrath provoking ſin, of ſuch a Land-ſcourging ras this might have proved to out Kingdomhad it ſo continued, as by the
of out Prelates it was intended ▪
Sing praiſes, there
heroick Parliamentarie▪ Worthies have added to that former pious pains othis their godly care alſo, namely, to purifie the holy worſhip of our God from the filthie l
and dregs of Popiſh
Ceremonies, whereby the tender
or godly Miniſters are not ſo tyed to Romiſh trumper
of vestures ▪
and gestures,
crouchings and cringings, and Jeſu-worſhippings, and a multitude of ſuch like mimicall actions in Gods worſhip and ſervice, as fortyrannically preſſed and enforced to. Images, Crucifixes, and any pictures or repreſentations of any of the perſons of the Trinity, or of the Virgin Mary, quite dimoliſhed and extirpated out of Gods houſe; All corporall Jeſu-worſhip, I ſay, and altar-adoration (ſure and infallible ſignes of Popiſh ignorance, and of the Romiſh-Strumpets outward-paintings, but inward rottenneſſe, what ever fair (yet falſe) pretences fooliſh men and women would, like Jeroboam for his golden calves-worſhip,
prohibited, and Altar-rails pull'd-down, and Communion-Tables ſet in their proper postures; yea all high-ſteps and aſcents to their Altars (clean degrees comlevelled; burthens and conſcience-grievances, which neither we nor our fore-fathers that truly loved the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and were tenderly-affected to his pure worſhip, could poſſibly bear: But now they are moſt happily taken from our tyred necks, and almoſt broken-backs, as by an Order of Parliament may and doth moſt comfortably appear, which for the precious excellency and rare memory thereof, I have thought good here to inſert, exactly and verbatim as it came from the Parliament, to the everlasting glorie of our great and good God, the honour of our Worthies in Parliament, and the unexpreſſibly joy and conſolation of all Gods people that peruſe it.
VVHereas divers Innovations in or about the worſhip of God have been lately practiſed in this Kingdom, by enjoyning ſome things and prohibiting others without warrant of Law, to the great grievance and diſcontent of his Majesties Subiects; for the ſuppreſſing of ſuch Innovations, and for preſervation of the publike peace, it is this day ordered by the Commons in Parliament aſſembled, that the Church-wardens of every Pariſh and Chappell reſpectively, do forthwith remove the Communion-Table from the East end of the Church, Chappell, or Chancell, into ſome other convenient place; and that they take away the Rails, and levell the Chancels, as heretofore
they were, before the late innovations. That all crucifixes, ſcandalous pictures of any one or more perſons of the Trinitie, and all Images of the Virgin Mary ſhall be taken away and aboliſhed, and that all ta pers, candleſticks and baſons be removed from the Communion-Table. That all corporall bowing at the Name (Jeſus) or toward the East end of the Church, Chappell, or Chancell, or toward the Communi on-Table be henceforth forborn: That the Orders aforeſaid be ob ſerved in all the ſeverall Cathedrall Churches of this Kingdom, and all the Collegiate Churches or Chappels in the two Ʋ niverſities, or any other part of the Kingdom, and in the Temple-Church, and the Chappels of the other Innes of Court by the Deans of the ſaid Cathedrals, by the Vice-chancellours of the ſaid Ʋ niverſities, and by the Heads and Governors of the ſeverall Colledges and Halls aforeſaid, and by the Benchers and Readers in the ſaid Innes of Court re ſpectively. That the Lords day be duely obſerved and ſanctified all dancing and other ſports, either before or after Divine Service be forborn and reſtrained, and that the preaching of Gods Word be per mitted in the afternoon in the ſeverall Churches and Chappels of this Kingdom, and that Preachers and Ministers be encouraged there unto. That the Vice-chancellors of the Ʋ niverſities, Heads and Governours of Colledges, all Parſons, Vicars, and Church-warden ▪ do make certificates of the performance of theſe Orders: and if the ſame ſhall not be obſerved in any the places afore-mentioned, upon complaint thereof made to the two next Juſtices of Peace, Major, or Head-officers of Cities or Towns Corporate. It is ordered that the ſaid Juſtices, Major, or other Head-officers reſpectively, ſhall examine the truth of all ſuch complaints, and certifie by whoſe default the ſame are com mitted. All which Certificates are to be delivered in Parliament before the thirtieth of Octob. next. Reſolv'd upon the Question ▪ That this Order now read ſhall be an Order of it ſelf, without any addition for the preſent and that it ſhall be printed and publiſhed.
Nay, here's not all yet, for, our God whoſe hands are ſtill open to repleniſh and ſatisfie our ſouls with ioy and gladneſſe ▪
yea nouriſh and cheriſh our formerly ſad hearts with the failings of his over-flowing favours, hath taken from us our acterrours and restraints of free libertie to hear the ſweet ſound of Aarons b
eſpecially on the Lords ▪dayes. As is more fully ſeen and aſſiſted by a bleſſed Order from the Parliament to our unexpreſſible comfort, which Order I have thought fit to be here inſerted.
IT is this day ordered by the Houſe of Commons, now aſſembled in Parliament; That it ſhall be lawfull for the Pariſhioners of any Pariſh within the Kingdom of England and Wales, to ſet up a Le
Whereby no man (now) is enforced to The High-Commiſſion-Courts deſer See beer the extreame ma The Starr-Chamber Court voted downſtay at his own Church where there is no preaching to promote the honour of the day, and to feed hungrie ſouls with that heavenly manna, whereof (the Lord knows) many thouſand ſouls in citie and countrey ſtood in Prelates ſtood in the heighth of their quondam pride and crueltie) they muſt not have ſtir'd out of their own Pariſhes to ſeek it elſewhere, but their ſouls muſt have ſtarved and died for lack of it, or elſe have been poyſoned ▪
with baſe Arminian ſtuffe and dregs of Poperie, thereby to ſuffocate and choak poore ſouls and ſpirituall underſtanding, and to make them (like themſelves) fit fuell for the increaſe of the flames of hell; Suchſoul-killing crueltie and tyrannie. For why, in thoſe dayes of the ruffe of their pride, they had familiarly and moſt eaſily (yet with Romiſh craft and ſubtiltie) under a pretence (forſooth) of too-abſtruſe and profound and dangerous points not pulpits by ordinarie Preachers, but by their grave Biſhops, Doctors ▪ Deans▪
and ſuch-like rare ſeraphicall rhetoritians, Schoolmen, and maſters of (high-Commiſſion) Sentences, nor in all Churches, but in Cathedrals (forſooth) and that not at all times, but at Eaſter, and Whitſuntide; and ſuch like ſolemn Feſtivals, under theſe pretences. I ſay, they had by their exorbitant Eccleſiaſticall power and juriſdiction, eaſily, but impiouſly propure and powerfull preaching on deep points of o
as free juſtification by faith ▪ predeſtination, certainty of ſalvation, finall perſeverance ▪
and ſuch like; diſcountenancingpuniſhing all thoſe that thus preached or oppoſed their Popiſh-Arminian Doctrines, and advancing and preferring none but their own Arminian faction, rotten-hearted Prete
apt to be
wind of falſe-doctrine, meer temporizers, altar
fellows onely fit to make Romiſh-jades to carry Popiſh-packs to Lambeth Fair, and ſoul-cruſhing burthens on their baſebacks, and mercenarie ſhoulders. But, now, ſee (I ſay) (O, to heavens eternall praiſe and glorie be it ſpoken, and to our uncomfort) how our good God, by his bleſſed Parliament hath freed our Pulpits, Churches, and our conſciences too from the ſoul-devouring corruptions of theſe Clergie-caterpillars, no better than Romiſh-locuſts who are moſt bleſſedly blown away with the Eaſtern-wind of Gods vindicative indignation againſt them. And inſtead of theſe that did ſo beſmear, deface and defile Truths moſt amiable countenance and ſacred beautie, the Lords out-caſts (who had formerly been checkt and chid, and churliſhly forced out of the Kingdom (by our Prelates pride and inſolencie (more worth than thouſands of their Pontifick train) and conſtrained to expoſe their lives, their wives, children, and eſtates, to all the miſeries which Sea and Land could threaten or bring upon them, are now moſt happily call'd home again. O iniurious holy Fathers, thus unworthily to uſe, thus irreligiouſly to abuſe Gods ſo precious iewels, and to prize their beggarly Popiſh ceremonies before ſuch holy Saints of God, who ſhined ſo illuſtriouſly both in their lives and learning. By which ſo bleſſed change and overture for the beſt, Truth durſt now ſhew her fair face in every pulpit, and ſpeak plainly and home, and needed not (as formerly) to be ſhrouded under ſecret ſhelters, or creep into corners for fear of pernicious perſecutours: yet thus it was, thus it familiarly was practiſed by our Prelates (to their indelible ſhame and infamie be it ſpoken) witneſſe their hideous High-Commiſſion-Court, a Court of everlasting illſavour, which, indeed I may fitlier call a Spightfull rather than a Spirituall Court: which at the firſt (as a reverend and eminent divine well notes) was ordaineddogs in Romes capitoll,
fright and ſcare away Romiſh Jeſuiticall theeves and enemies of the Church; but hath all along, for the moſt paſorely bitten and barked againſt honeſt men onely (eſpecially in theſe our later dayes) and driven them from the Church. A Court, I ſay, which made no ſcruple familiarly to ſlay both the ſouls and bodies of Gods moſt dear and precious ſervants, not onely in thoſe hot Marian-flam
but even in theſe our more modern times, wherein our Prelates and their pragmaticall Pontifician Sycophants
crake & brag of their ſoft & ſmooth fatherly-government of the Church, O how many ſoules and bodies hath that accurſed Court ſhut up in dark dungeons ▪
or els made poor waveringmindes
Apoſtates for fear of their Harpeian-pawes to cruſh and ſqueez them out of their meanes and livelyhoods, to the utter undoing of them and theirs. The wickedneſs of which Court may more fully, yea more foully appear by our taking notice of the limmes and members of it, who from the very head to the foot of them, are a pack of irreligious, profane, and moſt looſe-lived
nominall Protestants at large, yea, generally, atheiſticall ſcoffers at ſinceritie in Religion and the power of godlineſs, which indeed was a paradox & meer mysterie to them, & wch they never were nor would be acquainted with. Certainly, all that rightly know them & know, how, piouſly to diſcern and to judge between light and darkneſs, can truely teſtifie with me this truth, that it is exdifficult (if not impoſſible) to finde one among them all that is truely and cordially pious, even the best of them aſcending onely to the happineſs of a meer civill-honeſt man, (in my beſt obwhat their happineſs therein is, (if it aſcend no higher) our bleſſed Saviour Chriſt himſelf will to their little comfort tell them namely, that righteouſneſs exceed not the righteouſneſs of the Scribes and Phariſees, they ſhall never enter into the Kingdome of heaven. But, now, bleſſed, for ever bleſſed and praiſed be our juſt and glorious God, this wicked Court, together with that other illegitimate
ſpurious off-ſpring of our Lordly Prelates, I mean, their Oath Ex Officio ▪
an elder bratt of the other Babyloniſh-brood, and no leſſe replete with accurſed Conſcience-torturing Snares than the other, to break the backes of mens and womens eſtates, conſciences, and earthly comforts, by racking the very Soules and wracking the bodies, by impriſonments, of both Sexes that were conſciencious, and would not obey their wicked injunctions. And in no ſmall meaſure alſo was this Court and Oath, together with their perjurious and vile Viſitation-Articles, a moſt miſerable vexation to poor Church-Wardens all over the Kingdome, who netts were entangled, and by their moſt unjuſt injunctions were made a prey to their p rnicious practiſes, and thereby alſo made forges and a
for the Prelates to hammer all their torturing taxations on Gods peoples
Conſciences. But, now, I ſay, both this wicked Court and thoſe their baſtard-bratts are (by Gods good providence and great mercie) condemned to return to their Stygian-Patrons, from whom they had their firſt rice and Originall. And, O, I could wiſh, with all my heart, that (in
were ſet on this Court, or that roome of Lambeth-Houſe where it was conſtantly kept, which is mentioned in the prophecie of Daniel, namely, that it might be made a jakes or dunghill, with this inſcription engraven in Marble with fair capitall letters.
This jakes was, once, the High-Commiſſion-Court. So hatefull and hurtfull, I ſay, was that Court and its accurſed effects to Gods people in this Kingdome, eſpecially being back
and
with the irreſistible wrongs and unavoidable oppreſſive cenſures of the Star-Chamber, whether godly men and women of all ranks and conditions that diſobeyed the High-Commiſſions unlawfull Comtheir own Eccleſiaſticall Power was not prevalent enough to puniſh and plague them ſo deeply as their malice and miſchief aymed at: Yea and the all-overtopping power of the Councill-Table was no ſmall aſſailant of the ſubjects and aſſiſtant to the Prelates wicked Deſignes; but, that tyrannizing Starr-Chamber Court is by our prudent Parliamentary Worthies voted down (as hath been formerly touched) to the unſpeakable comfort and freedome of the Kings beſt and moſt loyall Subjects; and the immoderate and exceſſive power of the Councell-Table is by the wiſdome of our moſt Worthy Senators ſo ordered and reſtrained, that we may well hope (by Gods mercie) ſuch things as were heert
frequently done to the intolerable prejudice of the Subjects libertie, will appear amongſt us in future times but onely in Stories, to give us and our poſteritie more juſt occaſion to bleſs our God for his Majeſties goodn ſs, and for the faithfull and indefatigable endeavours of this preſent Parliament.
Now, then, put all theſe laſt fore-mentioned Parliamentary-Mercies together into one account, and then tell me whether
they do not ariſe to a mightie and deep debt of
to our ſo bountifull and
a God to us ſo und ſerving, and rather wrath-provoking a people, in thus conferring ſuch ſuch incomparable free kindneſſes on England ſuch a ſinfull naugYea, tell mee (good Reader) on ſerious recoand recogitation of
theſe moſt bounteous bl ſſings, whether the Lord Jehovah hath not been ſeen moſt conſpicuouſly to England above all Nations round about it, On the Mount of matchleſs Mercies (to the ineffable
and rejoycing of our Soules) in the deepeſt gulfes of our ſtinging-Staites. Whether our God hath not with admirable patiThus, O even thus hath our gracious God directly dealt with us, thus hath our Engliſh-Iſraels Shof his late poor deſpiſed ſtock kept a careover us, who had been els made the Prelates perpetuEngland like to have been Romes perpeto bear all their Romiſh and ſlaviſh burthens. Wherefore with holy David, we may juſtly and ingenuouſly acknowledge; Thy righteouſnes, O God, is very high, who haſt done great things for us, O God who is like unto thee? Thou who haſt ſhown us great and ſore troubles, yet haſt quickned us again and brought us up from the depth of the grave. Our lips ſhall greatly rejoyce when we ſing unto thee, and our hearts and ſoules which And thus have we all moſt perſpicuouſly
and obſerved how gracious and propitious the Lord hath been to his late moſt tottering Churchcroſſing her
deepeſt deſignes & moſt ſublime imaginations, leaving them ſtill in the lurch and loſs when they ſeemed to ſwell with higheſt concof cruell and accurſed conqueſts over their harmleſs breletting them ſee (if they wilfully blind not their eyes) their big-ſwoln tympanie of unſufferable pride and arrogancie to be turned
fatuus ointo a flaſhie ignis fatuus of ſelf-deceiving ſubtiltie; and changing all their vaporousof groſs impiety into folly and mad
But, now let us proceed to Compelling of the Subject to take the Order of Knight Stannary-Courts and Clerkes of Markets recti Parkes and Forreſts alſo rightly or Prieſts and Ieſuites ba Sommerſett-Houſe, that cage of un A moſt happie union between all the three Kingdomes of England, Scot An act alſo of oblivion therenlarge our moſt ſerious obſervations on what remains ſtill in a moſt admirable meaſure heerin, and
neverweary of well-doing▪
nay who takes delight and great pleaſure to pleaſure his freely beloved Ones with his plenteous benefits; Of whom we cannot ſay as Eſau to his Father Iſaac; Haſt thou but one bleſſing, my Father? but a God who the more he gives the more he hath to give, being indeed, an unexhauſtible ſpring and never to be dryed but ever-overflowing fountain of all goodnes whatthis note by the way with thee, good Reader, that as before, ſo now eſpecially in theſe enſuing remarkable mercies thou ſhalt ſee the rage and malice of the malignant partie, marveilouſly interpoſing their wicked plotts to croſs and utterly to fruſtrate, as much as in them lay, all the wayes and means of Gods intended, yea and miraculouſly performed mercies to us, but yet all their plotts and deſperate deſignes by Gods good providence, were ſtill ſtrangely thwarted and timely diſcovered and diſappointed, to our comfort and their ſhame and helpleſs vexation. Let us now then, I ſay, goe-on to ſee how our glorious Lord and King perſiſts to make us (of our ſelves, I confeſſe, and in reſpect of our Capernaum-like means of grace ſo unimproved, the moſtinfull and undeſerving Nation under heaven) the moſt beloved and happieſt Nation in the world. See therefore how our renowned Parliamentary-Worthies freed the Kingdome from that former illegall compelling of the Subject to receive the order of Knighthood againſt their will; from the encroachments and oppreſſion of the Stannary-Courts and Extortions by Clerkes of Markets, from vile vexations alſo by Parkes and Forreſts, which were now by a Law reduced into their right bounds and limits. Yea how they moved and prevailed with the King to ſet forth his Proclamation for baniſhing all the Romiſh Prieſts and Jeſuites out of the Kingdome on pain of death upon their after-apprehenſion in the Land: Together with an Act of Parliament for diſarming of all Popiſh-Recuſants over the whole Kingdome, to the great comfort and ſecuritie of Gods people, who before were in continuall feare of their miſchievous inſurrections, as being well acquainted with their rebellious Spirits on all advantages ▪
it alſo being a Principle of their Religion, for the advancement of the Catholick-Cauſe, not to keep any plighted faith with Heretickes; for ſuch they account all that are not of their Romiſh (not faith, but) faction. Yea that cage of moſt unclean birds, Sommerſet-Houſe, I mean, in the
Strand, cleanſed in good meaſure of thoſe Egyptian croaking Froggs, the Filthy Capuchin-Fryers and Priests, who lay lurking there too long, like ſo many muzled Wolves and Tygers: all theſe or the moſt of them baniſhed and tranſported over-Sea from us: And the Queen-Mother of France, (the more to free our hearts feares and diſcontents) happily alſo tranſported beyond Sea from us. About which time alſo to ſettle our hearts with yet more ſolid comfort, and the more firmly to conſolidate our future hoped happines, it pleaſed the Lord to put into the hearts of our moſt noble Parliamentary Patriots, to unite and knit all the three Kingdomes of England, Scotland, and Ireland, in-a moſt firme League and Conjunction of perpetuall love and amitie, and of mutuall defence againſt all malignant Adverſaries either domeſtick or forrein: and to confirm all this by a particular act of Parliament, ratified by a full conſent of the King and both Houſes, together with an act of abſolute oblivion of all exceptions and differences whatſoever formerly intervening twixt Prince and people. Upboth Armies of Engliſh and Scottiſh Souldiers were ſhortly after moſt happily & peaceably diſmiſſed and disbanded, to the high hononr of our wonder-working God, and the unexpreſſible joy and comfort of both Nations, thus moſt lovingly and ſweetly ſhaking hands of true friendſhip at their peaceable departure.
And for the farther confirmation of this our happines and due retribution of praiſe and glory to the Lord our God the authour of it, there was an Ordinance of Parliament for a day of publick and ſolemn thankeſgiving for this peace ſo happily concluded beEngland and Scotland, which for the glorie of God and honour of our King and Worthies in Parliament, I have thought fit here to inſert verbatîm as it was publiſhed.
giving for the peace concluded between EnglandandScotland.
Auguſt the 27. 1641. VVHereas it hath pleaſed almightie God to give a happie cloſe to the treatie of peace, between the two Nations of England and Scotland, by his wiſe providence defeating the evill hopes of the ſubtill adverſaries of both Kingdomes; for which great mercy, it was by the Kings most excellent Majestie, the Lords and Commons in this preſent Parliament enacted, that there ſhould be a publick thanksgiving in all the Pariſh-Churches of his Majesties Dominions: It is now or dered and declared by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, that the time for the celebration of that publick thanks to almightie God for ſo great and publick a bleſſing, ſhall be on tueſday the 7ofthSept.by prayers, reading and preaching of the Word in all Churches and Chappels of this Kingdome, whereof we require a carefull and due obſervance; that we may joyne in giving thanks, as we partake of the bleſſing with our brethren of Scotland, who have deſigned the ſame day for that dutie.
According to the act of this preſent Parliament, for confirmation of the Treatie of Pacification between the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland, whereas it was deſired by the Commiſſioners of Scotland, 7 th
day of Sept.
Thoſe ſlande I The Prince alſo and the Earl of New The French alſo were to aſſiſt in it. The hot zeale of our holy Bi The moſt bloodie and barbarous re The great danger of the utter loſſe of Ireland.gloriouſly heer ſeen in the Mount of admirable mercie and deliverance to England and Scotland after ſuch a marveilous manner as never any Nation could produce the like parallell of gracious providence? And may we not therefore with holy David ▪
Iſraels ſweet ſinger confeſs we have found the
Lord (according to his word) a ſure defence for the oppreſſed, even a refuge in time of trouble. And therefore they that know thy name will put their truſt in thee, for thou Lord haſt not forſaken them that
have ſeriouſly ſought thee. Yea, he that is our God is the God of ſalvation, and unto this God and mightie Lord belong the iſſues from death▪
Heer alſo ere I have done with this mercie, let me deſire the Reader to take notice of the admirable wiſdome and juſtice of God in thus clearing the innocencie and integritie of his children ▪
O, what bitter aſperſions did the Prelates, Arminians, and malignant partie caſt on our brethren of Scotland at the firſt, nothing but traytors and rebells could be heard out of their ſlanderous
mouths: But, now ſee, I ſay, how Gods wiſdome and justice ordethoſe tongues that had ſo taunted them ▪
yea and in their pulpits too, ſhould now be forced even in the face of their Congregations to give themſelves the lye. That of Job being heerin moſt clearly ratifiedThe poore hath hope and iniquitie ſtoppeth her mouth: and that alſo of the holy Prophet David, which is full to our purpoſe, That the King and all good men ſhall exceedingly rejoyce and glorie in God; but the mouth of them that ſpeake lyes ſhall be ſtopped. And now alſo, let me tell thee, couryet more glorious to the praiſe of our God) that in the interim that thoſe two Armies lay ſo together in the North, the peſtilent Spirits of the Malignant partie lay not ſtill, but were moſt maliciouſly working by their agents and inſtruments (the Popiſh Lords and pernicious Prelates being alſo maine ſticklers in all theſe miſchievous deſignes) to diſaffect
diſcontent his Majeſties Armie by ſcandalous and moſt falſe accuſations and imputations on the Parliament, thus to enmaintenance of their moſt wicked deſignes of keeping-up the Biſhops in their votes & Lordly honours and functions, and by force to compell the Parliament to order limit and diſpoſe their parliamentarie proceedings in ſuch a manner as might best concurre with the intentions of their dangerous and potent faction. Now this plot of bringing the Engliſh - Armie from the North Southward to London againſt the Parliament for the cauſes aforeſaid, having been particularly enquired into and examined both by that noble and vertuous Gentleman Mr
Fynes and Sir Philip Stapleton, with others, they made report thereof to the Houſe of Commons about June 17. 1641. That they found, that for the advancing of the ſaid plott, the Earl of Strafford had atStraford atTower, and to effect it the better, had promiſed that worthy Gentleman Sir William Belfore, then Leifetenant of the Towre 20000 li. and to marry his Sonne to his Daughter, and to make it one of the greateſt Matches in the Kingdome; but Sir Williams loyaltie was ſuch as not to be corBillingſl
was inviJohn Suckling, (a ſuckling, indeed, in honeſtie, but not Iohn Suckling a partie in this plott.treacherie,) to have employment in this pernicious project; and that one Captain Chidley brought down many inſtructions to the Armie. That Colonell Goring ſhould have been Leivetenant-generall
Prince and the Lord of Newcaſtle were to meet them in Nottinghamſhire with a thour
Jermine and were diſperſed and made known by Serjeant Major Wallis and Captain Chidley. The ſaid Wallis having confeſſed alſo that the French would aſſiſt them in this their Deſign; and that our holy (or rather hollow-hearted) Clergie of England, whereof the reBiſhops were the ringleaders, would at their own charge ſet forth and maintain a thouſand horſe; farr more than ever they yet proffered (by a thouſand) to aſſiſt againſt the barbarous and bloudy Popiſh Rebells of Ireland: To the addition of their everlaſting ſhame and ignominie be it ſpoken. Iermines Letter intercepted.r
Jermines to Mr
Mountague imported, that they expected the Earl of Straford with them in the North (but bleſſed be the Lord, their wicked hope was fruſtrated as aforeſaid) and that for the better completing accurſed deſignes, Jermine much endeavoured to get Portſmouth into their hands (as one Mr
Bland confeſſed) but could not compaſs it. Theſe and ſuch like plotted deſignes, for the ends afore-mentioned, being farther diſcovered and witneſſed by ſeverall depoſitions of diverſe examinates, as the Reader may more fully ſee in the late Remonſtrance of Ireland, publiſhed by authoritie of the Parliament. But when this miſcheivous asſigne and attempt of theirs, thus to bring on that Armie againſt the Parliament and Citie of London (which they well knew was all along a main and ſtrong fast friend to the Parliament) had been by Gods great mercie timely diſcovered, and thereby utterly fruſtrated and prevented, they preſently undertook and attempted another deſign of the ſame damnable nature, with this addition to it, namely, to make the Scottiſh Armie neutrall, and ſo to ſit ſtill and let them alone whilſt the Engliſh Armie (which they had laboured to corrupt and invenome againſt the Parliament and CiLondon by falſe and ſlanderous ſuggestions) ſhould execute their malice to the ſubverſion of our Religion, and the diſſolution of our long happie government. Thus, I ſay, did they plott and continually practiſe to diſturb our peace and to deſtroy all the Kings Dominions: And for that cauſe had employed moſt induſtriouſly their Emiſſares and agents in them all for the promotheſe their devilliſh deſignes. But by Gods infinite mercie,
vigilancie of ſuch as were honeſt and well-affected to religion,
peace, and the proſperity of the Parliament, they were all, I ſay, ſtill (timely) diſcovered and defeated, before they could be ripe enough for execution among us in England and Scotland. Onely in Ireland which was farther-off, and full of Papists, Jeſuites and Priests, they had time to mould and prepare their wicked work, and had brought it to much pernicious perfection. For, not long after, the moſt bold and bloodie rebellion in Ireland
timely revealed and prevented by Gods great mercie and good providence in the preſervation of the Caſtle of Dublin, but the very Eave before it ſhould have been taken by the rebels; the whole Kingdom had been fully poſſeſſed by them, the government of it totally ſubtrue Religion had been quite extirpated and rooted out, and all the Proteſtants whom the conſcience of their dutie to God, their King and countrey would not have permitted to joyn with them, had been utterly deſtroyed, as in a moſt lamentable manner very many thouſands of them (poore ſouls) have alreadie been, as is moſt fully and fearfully to be ſeen (to the terrour and amazement of all Chriſtian hearts that read the ſame) both in Irelands-Tears, and the Iriſh-Remonſtrance. And, indeed, they have, therby, kindled ſuch a fire, there, and blown it into ſuch an over-ſpreading flame, as nothing but Gods extraordinarie bleſſing upon the wiſdom and endeavours of this State will be able to quench it. And certainly had not God in his great mercie to our Land and Nation diſcovered and confounded their firſt deſigne, for the grand-plot of all on England and Scotland, we all in England had certainly been the prologue to this wofull tragedie in Ireland, and had by this time (and before them) been the moſt deplorable ſpectacle of lamentation and wo, ruine and confuſion to all Europe that ever the Sun beheld. And therefore here, me thinks, we may moſt fitly take up that of holy David, with a little inverſion of the words to our ſelves. If the Lord had not been on our ſide, now may England
ſay (and that moſt justly) if the Lord had not been on our ſide, when men roſe up againſt us; Then had they ſwallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us. Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the proud waves and raging billows had gone over our ſouls. But bleſſed, O, for ever bleſſed be God, that hath not given us over
as a prey to their devouring teeth.
Now about this time, it pleaſed the Lord to permit the malignant
Wil. Belfore put out of his Lieutepartie ſo far to prevail with the King, (and among them the Lord Cottington, a Popiſh Lord, and ſtrongly ſuſpected to be one of the prime projecting heads of that faction) that Sir William Belfore, a worthy and noble gentleman then Lieftenant of the Tower of London was diſplaced from that office of ſo great truſt, Cottington made ConſtaLord Cottington made Conſtable of the Tower, who preſently kept a great pudder in the Tower, placing and diſplacing things therein, planting Ord
on the wals thereof, with their mouths toward the Citie, entertaining Souldiers to guard and keep it of very ill-condition, and ſuſpected for Poperie; all theſe to the great terrour and amazement of the vigilant Citizens of London, who had ſtill extraordinarie jealous eyes on him and all his actions and carriages, and thereupon complain'd and petitioned the Parliament againſt him, and his demeanour in the Tower, and the Parliament moved the King moſt inſtantly about it; who on their long and urgent importunitie at laſt ſo far prevailed with Cottington diſplaced.Majeſtie, that he put the Lord Cottington from being Conſtable of the Tower, and choſe-in one Collonel Lunsford to be Lunsford made LeifteLeiftenant thereof; a man of an ill name and condition of life, and whom I my ſelf knew a priſoner in Newgate, not very long before, for a great abuſe offered by him to Sir Thomas Pelham, now a worthie Knight of Suſſex, and at which time of his impriſonment, there, it was generally and credibly reported, that upon an abuſe done by him alſo to one of the Officers of Newgate (who had been his very good friend in the time of his impriſonment) he brake priſon, or ſtole away, and left the poore Clerk of Newgate in great diſtreſſe and danger thereby; and a man, indeed, moſt iustly excepted againſt by our grave parliamentarie Senators, as moſt unfit to have ſuch a truſt and power entruſted to him, eſpecially in times of ſuch great and conſtant fears and diſtractions of the State and City of London. Wherethis man alſo was much and long petitioned againſt, both by the Citizens of London, to the Parliament, and by the Parliament to the King, to have him remov'd, and a man of known
Lunsford alſo diſplaced.approved integritie, on whom they might ſafely confide, to be choſen into the place, and to have the ſafe cuſtodie thereof committed to him. Whoſe removeall was alſo, at length with
much adoe condeſcended unto, by his Maisſtio, and the ſaid Collonel Lunsford put out, the King putting in one Sir John Byron,
Iohn Byron made Leifteill-ſavour of life as the former, yet not anſwerable to the deſires of our prudent Worthies in Parliament, whoſe wiſdom and circumſpection fore-ſaw that to be amiſſe in the choice, likewiſe, which much diſcontented them; and his Maieſtie for his removeall alſo, as it was the joynt deſire likewiſe of Citie and Countrey. Here theregoodneſſe of our God, in thus wiſely diſpoſing and ordering things; that though the malignant partie ſeemed ſo far to prevail, and get advantages againſt Gods people, yet even in theſe alſo the Lord ſtill croſt them and their devilliſh ▪deſignes, and regarded the deſires, and cleared the fears of his ſervants for his own Names ſake. Much about which time, a moſt impious and malicious-hearted fellow audaciouſly ſent a letter to the Parliament, directed and endorſed to that ever moſt Pim.
honoured Member of the Houſe of Commons, Mr. Pim, a moſt pious patriot of his countrey, and in it a filthie freſh plaſter taken from a plague-ſore, expreſſing in the letter what it was, and why twas ſent, namely, in hope, that the very ſudden ſight and thought on it (he being, thenParliament Houſe) might and would damp and dead his heart with fear, and ſo have infected the worthie gentleman to death, with it. A copie of which letter I have thought fit here to inſert, that the Rea
MAſter Pim, do not think that a guard of men can protect you, if you perſiſt in your traiterous courſes, and wicked deſignes. I have ſent a paper-meſſenger to you, and if this do not touch your heart, a Dagger ſhall, ſo ſoon as I am recover
Which letter was delivered, I ſay, as Mr. Pim went into the Parliament. But contrary to the wicked intention of the maſave or ſlay, as he pleaſeth, as was remarkably evident, in that fiery fornace ſeven times hotter than ordinarily, yet not able ſo much as to ſinge the hair or clothes of that pair royall of God-adoring Hebrews caſt thereinto) preſerved this Noble Gentleman from the intended evill thereof. For, this undaunted and conſcience-unſpotted couragious Worthie (like that magnanimous Romane
Camillus a rePlutarch in his Lives.Camillus of whom Plutarch in his Lives, makes mention, who whiles he was delivering his Embaſſage to the heathen Prince to whom he was ſent by the Senators of Rome, and with whom the Romans, that time, waged war, this Princes Nobles had ſuddenly and unknown to Camillus, ſet a mightie Elephant cloſe beſuddenly and extremly to roar, therby thinking to have ſtartled and frighted this famous Romane, but he was nothing moved therewith, but went-on ſmoothly and undauntedly with his Embaſſage, to the wonder and amazement of this Prince and his Nobles, who were mightily taken with the Pims moſt undaunted ſpiunbended reſolution of this couragious Romane) ſo, I ſay, this pivalourous-hearted gentleman, Mr Pim, was nothing at all diſ-heartned or diſtempered at the ſight of the plaiſture, nor with the wicked threats which that atheiſticall wretch ſent beſides in the letter to ſtab him with his Dagger if that plaſture failed, God Pims due praiſe.loyall ſubject to his Soveraign, and a moſt prudent and painfull promoter
beſt good in Church and Common-wealth. And alprivate or particular paſſage, and therefore not ſo pertinent to our purpoſe: yet conſidering the eminencie of the perſon, and his employments and uſe in Parliament for the publike good, and the tranſcendent malice and envie of that malignant perſon whoever he was, ayming at a publike miſchief therein, I could not conimpertinent to the preſent occaſion, but very worthy our obſervation and gratification to God for it. Much about this time alſo it pleaſed the Lord to put into the hearts of the worthy Citizens of London, to take into their ſerious conſideration the great retarding and delaying of the weightie affairs of the Kingdom, and the unhappie protraction of puniſhing Delinquents, toreluctancies and diſunion beboth the Houſes, and all this by reaſon of an ill-affected
deſtructive partie, eſpecially in the Houſe of Lords, by Prelates and Popiſh-Lords, ſtriving and contriving to hinder or quite make void all good Votes among them, and to advance all evill. Therefore, I ſay, the moſt and beſt-affected and pious-hearted Citizens of London unanimouſly petitioned Both Houſes of Parliament touching thoſe and ſuch like ſerious and important matters, being, I ſay, moſt of them, men of the beſt note and qualitie of the whole Citie both for piety and ability. Who went with their Petition to the Parliament, in a moſt grave and ſubſtantiall equipage, in fiftie or ſixtie Coaches at the leaſt, and were there moſt graciouſly and gratefully entertainLords and Commons, and received a moſt cordiall
comfortable anſwer to their Petitions; which act of theirs (they being the ſamplar and pattern even of the whole Kingdom, and upon whom the eyes of the whole Land were caſt, to be by them encouraged and directed) begat ſuch an honeſt and happie emulation in all the Counties of the Kingdom, as by Gods great mercie produced moſt bleſſed effects to us all, as ſhall be more particularly and punctually declared in its proper place.
Not long after alſo, the honeſt Apprentiſes of the ſaid Citie of London being very ſenſible of their Maſters ſufferings by diſtractions in the Common-wealth, and the generall decay of trading, and thereby alſo of their own preſent and future great diſcouragements in their hope of comfortable ſubſiſtence and livelyhood when they were to be free-men of the Citie, if theſe inconveniences continued: They alſo hereupon took the courage and reſolution to exhibite their Petition to the Parliament for ſpeedy and timely redreſſe of theſe encroaching and growing evils. Which act of theirs was ſo modeſtly and orderly managed by them, that the Parliament received their petition moſt courteouſly, and refair and favourable anſwer, in brief, for the preſent, with promiſe of a more full and ſatisfactorie anſwer in convenient time. After whom alſo, the Porters of London,
decay of trading, were thereby neceſſitated, and by Gods providence thouſands of them ſtirred up and ſtimulated to petition the Parliament for ſpeedie redreſſe of their preſent preſſures, whoſe Petition allovingly received by the Parliament, and they rewell-pleaſing replie for the preſent. Now what an admirable
rare effect theſe Petitions produced, to adde moſt juſtly to this catalogue of our parliamentarie mercies, this ſubſeviz. Not long after a certain convenient number of Apprentiſes being very modeſt in carriage, and well-ſpoken young men, went very civilly and peaceably to Weſtminſter to the Parliament for a further ſatisfactorie anſwer to their Petition, as was promiſed to them. But it pleaſed the Lord it ſo fell out, that that deſperate and furious, Collonel Lunsford, and very many ruffian-like fellows with him, being at that time in Weſtminſter-hall, and there walking up and down, at laſt took occaſion by uncivill and provoking
words to the ſaid Apprentiſes and Citizens at that time alſo walking there, to make a great diſturbance and hubbub among them, and from mocking and jeering of them, and quarreling
Biſhops (whom the Apprentiſes and Citizens had, indeed, petitioned againſt in all their Petitions) threatning thoſe that durſt once ſpeak againſt their reverend Biſhops, at laſt they drewſwords ▪
and the ſaid Collonel Lunsford and his quarrelling comrades flew in the faces of the Citizens, and furiouſly beat them out of Weſtminſter-hall before them, being unweaponed, and coming onely in a fair and unoffenſive manner (as aforeſaid) to receive an anſwer to their petition; and as they departed home from Weſtminſter by Whitehall, they were there again moſt groſly abuſed and beaten by the Courtiers, and ſuch like, ſo that divers of them were ſorely wounded, and ſome killed by them. Whereupon, the next day (theſe things falling-out about Newyeers-tyde, or in Christmaſ-holydayes) very many Citizens and apprentiſes went again to Weſtday before, for ſuch affronts, if any were offered to them. But now ſee how it pleaApprentiſes
Citizens were again affronted about Westminſter-Abbey, and a great noiſe and hubbub fell out thereabouts, otherſome of them watched (as it ſeems by the ſequell) the Biſhops coming to the Parliament, who conſidering the great noiſe and diſquiet which was by land all about Westminster, durſt not come to the Parliament that way for fear of the Apprentiſes, and therefore intended to have come to the Parliament by water in barges; but the apprentiſes watched them that way alſo, and as they
land were ſo pelted with ſtones, and frighted at the ſight of ſuch a company of them, that they durſt not land, but were rowed back and went away to their places. Now, ſee herein, good Reader, a moſt notable over-powering impreſſion of divine providence on this buſineſſe, and learn hence ſo much wiſdom as not to deſpiſe ſeeming contemptible things and ſmall beginnings, as I have formerly touched on a like oclordly and loftie Prelates, (among whom, and a prime one too, it ſeemed, was that ſupercilious Arch-prelate of York, Biſhop Williams) took foul ſcorn and high indignation at this affront by Boyes and prentiſes, thus to be debarred from the Parliament, eſpecially fearing leſt any thing might paſſe in the Houſe againſt them, touching their lordly dignities by their abſence, on which they had great cauſe to keep continuall jealouseyes and vigilant watch, they now ſtanding on very tickliſh terms
State, and being ſo perpetually and univerſally petitionall parts of the Kingdom, as a prime branch of the malignant partie, and ſpeciall perturbers of all good for Church or Common-wealth; therefore, I ſay, being ve xt to the heart, and deeply ſtung with diſcontent, they vowed revenge: and thereſecret Conclave full fraught with Stygian-rancour and rage, and aſſiſted, no doubt, with ſome Jeſuiticall influence of Romiſh ſpirits, they contrived and contracted
peice of miſchief or miſchievous petition to the King and Houſe of Peers, which they wholly intended againſt the happy and ſucceſſefull proceedings of the Parliament, but our good God diverted it to their own further ruine and destruction. Now that you may ſee their own act and deed attested and avouched under their own hands, I have thought fit here to inſert it, verbatim, as they themſelves penned and exhibited it to the King.
The humble Petition and Proteſtation of all the Biſhops and Prelates now called by His Majesties Writs to attend the Parlia To the Kings moſt excellent Majeſty, and the Lords and Peers now aſſembled in Parliament. ment and preſent about London and Weſtminſter for that Service. THat whereas the Petitioners are called-up by ſeverall and reſpe
ctive Writs, and under great penalties to attend the Parliament, and have a clear and indubitable right to vote in Bils, and other mat ters whatſoever debateable in Parliament, by the ancient cuſtomes, Laws and Statutes of this Realm, and ought to be protected by your Majestie, quietly to attend and proſecute that great Service. They The Biſhops Petition and Proteſtation to the King and Peers. humbly remonſtrate and protest before God, your Majeſtie, and the noble Lords and Peers now aſſembled in Parliament, that as they have an indubitate right to ſit and vote in the Houſe of the Lords; ſo are they, if they may be protected from force and violence, moſt ready and willing to perform their duties accordingly. And that they do abhominate all actions or opinions tending to Poperie, and the maintenance thereof; as alſo all propenſion and inclination to any malignant partie, or any other ſide or partie whatſoever to the which their own reaſons and conſcience ſhall not move them to adhere. But, whereas they have been at ſeverall times violently menaced, affronted and aſſaulted by multitudes of people in their coming to perform their ſervices in that Honourable Houſe, and lately chaſed away and put in danger of their lives, and can find no redreſſe or protection, upon ſundrie complaints made to both Houſes in theſe particulars. They likewiſe humbly pro test before your Majestie, and the noble Houſe of Peers, that ſaving unto themſelves all their rights and intereſts of ſitting and voting in that Houſe at other times, they dare not ſit or vote in the Houſe of Peers untill your Majeſtie ſhall further ſecure them from all affronts, indignities and dangers in the premiſes. Laſtly, whereas their fears are not built upon phantaſies and conceits, but upon ſuch grounds and objects as may well terrifie men of good reſolutions, and much con ſtancie. They do in all dutie and humilitie proteſt before your Ma jestie and the Peers of that moſt honorable Houſe of Parliament, againſt all Laws, Orders, Votes, reſolutions, and determinations, as in themſelves null, and of none effect, which in their abſence, ſince the 27of this instant moneth of December,th.1641.have already paſſed; as likewiſe againſt all ſuch as ſhall hereafter paſſe in that moſt honorable Houſe, during the time of this their forced and violent abſence from the ſaid moſt honorable Houſe; not denying, but if their abſent ing of themſelves were wilfull and voluntarie, that moſt honourable Houſe might proceed in all their premiſes, their abſence or this pro teſtation notwithſtanding. And humbly beſeeching your moſt excel lent Majeſtie to command the Clerk of that Houſe of Peers to enter this their petition and proteſtation among his Records. They will ever pray to God to bleſſe, &c.
Jo. Eborac. Tho. Dureſme. Rob. Co. Lich. Joſ. Norw. Jo. Aſa. Guli. Ba. & Wells. Geo. Heref. Rob. Oxon. Ma. Ely. Godfr. Glouc. Jo. Peterburg. Morris Landaff.
This petition and proteſtation being thus exhibited to his Majeſtie, the King was pleaſed to ſend it immediately to the Houſe of Peers, who having ſeen and peruſed it, were forthwith highly offended with it, and ſo ſent it immediately to the Houſe of Commons; whereupon both Houſes met in the painted Chamber, at a thoſe 12. Biſhops of high treaſon, for endeavouring to ſubvert the fundamentall Laws of the Realm, and the very being of Parliaments; whereupon they were by the Lords ſequeſtred from the Parliament, and impriſoned, ten of them in the Tower, and (for their age ſake) two of them committed to cuſtodie to the Black-Rod. Thus was the Parliament moſt happily freed of 12. of them at one clap: And thus, I ſay (ever bleſſed be the Lord our God for it) that which the Parliament long deſired, and the well-affected people over the whole Kingdom ſo long and ſo unanimouſly petitioned for extirpation of the Biſhops out of the Parliament) but could not well tell how to accompliſh it, God hath made themſelves agents and actors of to their own juſt ſhame and ſorrow, but to the high content and rejoycing of all Gods faithfull children and ſervants. And, certainly, if ever, here was a moſt viſible print of Gods over-powring providence croſſing theſe Prelates craft, paying them in their own coyn, and moſt clearly manifeſtto behold all the high things of the earth, and that he onely is King over all the children of pride.
And yet (give me leave, good Reader, to give thee this Laodicean ſe Iudges 5. Bp. 2 Kin. 9. 22. Bp one note by the way, of no ſmall conſequence and concernment, touchpreſent Prelates of England) notwithſtanding all manifeſtations of Gods arrows of wrath and high diſpleaſure ſhot againſt them all, partly for craft and crueltie exerciſed againſt Gods faithfull-ones, and partly for the Laodicean-temporizing coldneſſe and ſecurity even of the very beſt and moſt moderate of them all, without excepany one, who have rather choſen (like the accurſed, yea bitterly accurſed rulers of Meros) to lie ſtill, to ſleep in a whole skin, enjoy quietly their fat Biſhopricks, and lordly dignities and eaſe
Heſter in her zeal and courage for God and his Saints!Queen Hester, who, in the cauſe of her afflicted people the Jews, reſolved (in a far more certain danger, every way, than they could have been liable to) to hazard her life and honours, with an, If I periſh, I periſh, (ah ſhame, unexpreſſible ſhame to them all, that a weak-woman ſhould out-ſtrip them all in a maſculine heroick ſpirit for her religion and people) than like her, I ſay, to expoſe their rich revenews, much leſſe their very lives as ſhe did hers (tell me, I ſay, of one among them all, that did thus) to danger or loſſe, to adventure the ſafeguard and welfare of the Church and children of God, which they ſaw daily ſo overtop't by rank over-growing poperie and atheiſme. Which lazineſſe and coldneſſe of theirs, though they ſleightly paſſe it over as a ſmall ſin or no ſin at all; yet Chriſt himſelf our bleſſed Saviour tells them, they are no leſſe than down ▪right Antichriſts, even flat and falſe enemies of the Lord Chriſt, as is clear, (Matth. 12. 30.) by our Saviours own words. He that is not with me, is againſt me. Which being ſo, let them all (even the best and moſt moderate among them) take heed of that fearfull ſentence of the Apoſtle. If any man love not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, let him be Anathema Maran-atha. Even, accurſed with a moſt bitter curſe. And how can theſe Prelates ſay, truly, that they love the Lord Chriſt, when they either ſo palpably perſecute him in his beloved members, or at leaſt, egregiouſly ſlight and diſreſpect him, in ſuffering his holy cauſe and faithfull ſervants to be ſo diſcountenanced and trampled upon, as they have been theſe many yeers, eſpecially of late. And yet, I ſay, in all this ſo dandouble-guilt and deep-die of groſſe impietie in them (which indeed is the note I aym at, and is the wonder and admiration, mixt with grief of my ſoul, to ſee and conſider) that even the very best of them hath not to this very day given us the leaſt print or expreſſion of true repentance and godly remorſe of ſoul and ſpirit, for theſe ſo great and grievous ſins of theirs of crueltie and ſecurity, or careleſneſſe of Gods people and their religion; but even the beſt of them ſtill, I ſay, ſuffering the Goſpel of grace and truth to ſink or ſwim, what car'd they, ſo they may be quiet, and be thought great Clerks, rare diſputants againſt Popery in words and writings onely (yet oft jugling with us therein too) and the wiſe and moderate men (forſooth) of the world. Yea, I ſay, ſo far are ſome of them from cordiall remorſe and penitencie for
accurſed abhominations aforeſaid, that Hall (a moſt fierce, but fruitleſſe ſtickHalls Peace of Rome.one of their moſt moderate, wiſe men of peace, ſince his being in priſon in the Tower, hath not been aſham'd with his accuſtomed rhetorically-glorious and ſmoothly painted phraſes to daub over his great-guilt of conſcience, eſpecially in point of ſecurity and careleſneſſe of Gods truth forementioned by me. O theſe men of peace (forſooth) how have they forgotten even hypocriticall Jehu's aſſeveration, What peace, ſo long as the whoredoms of that Romiſh Jezebel are ſo many and ſo miſchievous amongst us? Yea I ſay again to him in particular, he ſhould have had no peace with Rome, as well as he wrote of, the no peace of Rome. But thus, I ſay, theſe our holy Fathers of our Church ▪
forſooth, theſe our lordly Prelates, who with Biſhop White, muſt be counted Princes too, have carried themſelves in thoſe their great evils; The Lord in mercie timely take from them their ſuch a heart of ſtone, and give them a heart of fleſh, and clear the eyes of their underſtanding ſo wilfully blinded, that they may with thoſe two honeſt ſelf-denying and humble-hearted Biſhops in Scotland, (Biſhop Hall ſcoft and jeer'd at for it) with ſelf-denying ſhame and ſorrow repent their horrible impietie to God and his Church, and abhor ſuch a princely p
(never of Chriſts inſtitution) as (even inevitably, for ought I can yet ſee to the contrary) occaſions ſuch faction and defection
ſincerity and truth. Which, if they labour not timely and truly to expreſſe, they muſt pardon me if I beleeve it were most just with our God, if he ſhould raiſe up againſt them in their impenitencie, ſuch a juſt judge as godly Ezra records, even that heathen yet (ſurely) honeſt-hearted King Darius to have been, in that noble and renowned ſentence of his, whoſe words are theſe. I have made a Decree, that whoſoever ſhall alter this word (namely of re-erecting and building-up again the old
materiall-Temple at Jeruſalem) let timber be pull'd down from his houſe, and being ſet up as a jibbet) let him be hanged thereon; and let his houſe be made a dunghill (or jakes) for this. See herefor This, onely for This. What This? Why onely for daring ſo much as to alter the Kings honeſt reſolution, as aforeſaid. But he goes on in the 12. verſe. And the God that hath cauſed his name to dwell there, deſtroy all Kings and people (note this emphaticall expreſſion of this honest King) that ſhall put to their hand to alter or deſtroy this Houſe of God (ah ſhame to our guilty Prelates herein) which is at Jeruſalem;
Houſe of Commons, wherein you ſhall find the true and genuine deſcription of it to the full, which is this.
A Declaration of the Houſe of Commons, touching a late breach of their Priviledges, ſet forth by themſelves. Januarie, 17being Munday,th,1641.VVHereas the Chambers, Studies, and Truncks of Mr
Denzill Hollis,SirArthur Haſlerigg,MrJohn Pim,MrJohnThe great de ſigne of Ian. 4. 1641. exactly deſcribed. Hampden,and MrWilliam Strode,Eſquires, Members of the Houſe of Commons, upon Munday, the third of Januarie,1641.by colour of his Majeſties Warrant, have been ſealed-up by SirWilliam Killigrew,and SirWilliam Flemen,and others, which is not onely against the priviledge of Parliament, but the common liberty of everyA Serjeant at Arms ſent from the King to apprehend the five Gen Subject. Which ſaid Members, afterward, the ſame day, were, untlemen accuſed of high trea ſon. der the like colour, by Serjeant Francis,one of his Majesties Serjeants at Arms, contrary to all former preſidents, demanded of the Speaker, ſitting in the Houſe of Commons, to be delivered to him that he might arrest them of high Treaſon. And whereas, afterward, the next day (being the 4of Januar.th1641.)his Majestie in his royall perſon came to the ſaid Houſe, attended with a great multitude of armed The King himſelf went to the Parlia men in war-like manner, to the number of about five hundred, both Souldiers, Papists and others, all of them armed, with ſwords, and Piſtols, and other weapons, who all came up to the very doore of the Houſe, and placed themſelves there, and in other parts and paſſages neer to the ſaid Houſe, and divers of them preſſing to the doore of the ſaid Houſe, thrust away the doore-keepers, and placed themſelves bement with 500 attendants Pa piſts & others. tween the ſaid doore and the ordinarie attendants of his Majestie, The Souldiers demeanour about the Par holding up their ſwords, and ſome holding up their piſtols ready cock'd, neer the ſaid doore, and ſaying, I am a good marks-man, I can hit right I warrant you, and they not ſuffering the ſaid doore (according to the custome of Parliament) to be ſhut, but ſaid they would have the doore open; and if any oppoſition were against them, they made no question, but they ſhould make their partie good, and that they would maintain their partie; And, whenſoever any Members of the Houſe of Commons were coming into the Houſe, their attendants deſiring that room might be made for them, ſome of the ſaid Souldiers anſwerliament-door. ed, A Pox of God confound them: and others ſaid, A Pox take the The Souldiers moſt audacious and accurſed ſpeeches. Houſe of Commons, let them come and be hang'd, What adoe is here with the Houſe of Commons. And ſome of the ſaid Souldiers did likewiſe violently aſſault, and by force diſarm, ſome of the attendants and ſervants of the Members of the Houſe of Commons, waiting inThe Parlia the room, next the ſaid door, and upon the Kings return out of the ſaid Houſe, many of them by wicked oaths, and otherwiſe, expreſſed much diſcontent that thoſe Members of the Houſe (for whom they came) were not there; And others of them ſaid, When comes the word? but no word was yet given. As they thus ſtood without, at the door, to the great terrour and disturbance of all the Members then ſitting, and according to their dutie in a peaceable and orderly manner treatment atten dants and Ser vants about the doore diſarmed by force. ing of the great affairs of England and Ireland, and his Majestie ha ving The King pla placed himſelf in the Speakers chair, he demanded of them the perſons of the ſaid Members to be delivered unto him, which is a high breach of the rights and priviledges of Parliament, and inconſistent with the liberties and freedom thereof. But the King not finding thoſe foreſaid Members, whom he came for, in the Houſe (for theyced himſelf in the Speaker of the Parlia ments chair. The plot bleſ were purpoſely abſent, with the conſent of the Houſe on ſtrong ſuſpiſedly croſt by the abſence of the gentlemen. tion of the ſaid intended event) as he expected; thereupon, he roſe out of the Speakers chair, and departed from them without any farther The King de molestation; whereupon, the Souldiers and Cavaliers at the door, ſeeing the King coming forth, cried out, a lane, a lane, and ſo went all away. After which, ſome of them being demanded what they thought the ſaid companie intended to have done; anſwered, That, questionparted out of the Parliament leſſe, The main in in the posture they were ſet, if the word had been given, they ſhould have fallen upon the Houſe of Commons and have cut all their throatstention of this great & grie vous deſigne. (horreſco referens; Quis enim talia fando, temperet à lachrimis.)All this being fully proved to be most true, upon ſeverall examinations taken the ſame Januarie the7before a Committee, then appointed by the Houſe of Commons to ſit in London. In whichth,A Proclamati interim, a printed paper, in the form of a Proclamation, bearing date, theon publiſhed at Weſtm. againſt thoſe Parliament-Worthies. 6of Jan.th1641.iſſued out, at Weſtminster, or Whitehall; for the apprehending and impriſoning of them, therein ſuggesting that through the conſcience of their own guilt, they were abſent and fled; not willing to ſubmit themſelves to justice. The Parliament did therefore declare, that the ſaid printed paper is falſe, ſcandalous andVoted to be a ſcandalous & illegall paper. illegall, and that notwithſtanding the ſaid printed paper, or any Warrant iſſued out, or any other matter yet appearing againſt them, or any of them, they may and ought to attend the ſervice of the ſaid Thoſe worthy gentlemen ju Houſe of Commons, and the ſeverall Committees now on foot. And we do further declare, that the publiſhing of ſeverall Articles purſtified by the Parliament. pourting a form of a charge of high treaſon againſt the Lord Kimbolone of the Members of the Lords Houſe, and against the ſaid Mrton, Hollis,SirAr. Haſlerigg,MrPym,MrHampden,and MrStrode,by SirWill. Killigrew,SirWill. Flemen,and others in the Innes of Court and elſe-where, in the Kings name, was a high breach of the priviledge of Parliament, a great ſcandall to his Majestie and his government, a ſeditious act manifestly tending to the ſubverſion of the peace of the Kingdom, and an injurie and diſhonour to the ſaid Members, there being no legall charge or accuſation against them.
Recollect now then (good Chriſtian Reader) thy ſad and ſerious thoughts, and muſter-up thy moſt exquiſite meditations on this ſo ponderous and weightie a paſſage of Gods admirable proand protection of his own parliamentarie-Worthies (for ſo, me thinks, I may fitly call and count them) and tell me whether God was not wonderfully ſeen here in the Mount of ſtraits, to turn it (in a moment) to a Mount of deliverance to his faithfull Seryea, and in them, to the whole Kingdom? whoſe weal or woe (as we all are or ought to be moſt ſenſible) was wrapt-up in them, being the repreſentative Bodie thereof; And when thou haſt fully and feelingly recogitated and ruminated on this exuberant parliamentarie-mercie, tell me, I pray thee, whether thou and I and all true Engliſh-hearts have not moſt redundanand copious occaſion with bleſſed Moſes, a little before his death (and dying mens words ought to make deep impreſſion of crein our hearts) to confeſſe and acknowledge, That there is none like unto the God of Jeſurum, who rideth upon the heavens in the help of his beloved-ones, and in his excellencie on the skie. The eternall God is their refuge, and underneath them are his everlasting armes, Yea, I ſay, again, now, if ever, thoſe noble and renowned parliamentarie-Worthies
found that of Solomon moſt true. That the Name of the Lord is a ſtrong towre: the righteous run into it, and are ſafe. To conclude this, therefore, let the gratefull and gracious conſideraof this ſo great a deliverance cauſe me and thee, and them all whom it ſo neerly and peculiarly concerns, to break-out, with holy David, that ſacred and ſugred Singer of Iſrael, and to ſay, O give thanks unto the Lord, and call continually upon his Name. Sing
terrible affront and diſturbant affright to the Parliament, it pleaſed thoſe pious and prudent Worthies of both Houſes for a ſpace to adjourn their ſitting at Westminster, and to turn Both-Houſes into a grand Committee, and for their greater ſafetie and aſſurance from Popiſh-plots and combinations, to ſit in the Citie of London, in the Grocers-Hall. Where, by Gods mercie and moſt ſafe protection they were moſt cheerfully guarded every day by the train'd-Bands of the Citie, and extraordinarie lovingly entertained, and moſt reſpectively uſed according to the high merit of their worth and work, and unto theirs and our high content and ſingular comfort.
London, very many of the well-affected and faithfull Ministers of London unanimouſly peParliament, both for choice of an Aſſembly for ſetling Church-diſcipline, and for the ordering of a Monethly faſt throughout the whole Kingdom, untill the diſtreſſes of Ireland and the diſtractions of England were by Gods mercie graciouſly quieted and compoſed. Which petition of theirs in both thoſe materiall branches thereof, was moſt favourably entertained by the Parliament, and received a deſired anſwer; the Aſſembly of Divines being now by vote in Parliament fully reſolved on, and all Counties throughout the Kingdom for their adviſe to the Parliament for ſetling and ordering the pure worſhip of our God, and true Apoſtolicall diſcipline; Wherein, the Lord grant they may all be as meek-hearted ▪
graholy Moſes was, to do nothing therein (no not in the leaſt particular thereof, eſpecially in Gods worſhip) but moſt punctually according to the pattern of the Apoſtles practiſe and precepts, no queſtion fully and ſufficiently to be
Word. The Monethly faſt alſo was ſpeedily put in practiſe all over the Kingdom, which being as it were a ſpirituall Militia (as a reverend and learned Divine of our Citie calls it, moſt properly) puts the Kingdom into a ſpirituall posture of a God-pleaſing holy warfare (if religiouſly kept both for ſin and from ſin) that we may, as it were, even fight and contend with God by prayers and tears, by ſighs and groans, as good Jacob was ſaid thus to wrastle with God, yea and may be prevailers with God for a bleſſing on our Land, our King and Parliament, Church and State, and thus alſo at length, may prevail with men, even againſt all the enemies of our peace and proſperitie both domeſtick and forrein. Domeſtick, I mean our imbred ſins, baſe luſts, and corruptions; Forrein, that is, treacherous projectors, and clandestine malignant emulatours of our happineſſe both at home and abroad. And are not here two parliamentarie-mercies more of moſt high concernment; and ſuch as give us ſtrong and irrefragable
aſſurance that God is with us, and will be with us (if they be rightly and religiouſly managed) and then we need not fear who is
against us. Yea, then (as the Prophet ſaid) They are moe that are with us than thoſe that be for our enemies. Yea, even the Lords legions of chariots and horſemen of fire round about us, to defend us, and to conſume them. Whereby we may even alreadie triumph and exult with pious Paul, and truly ſay, Thanks be unto God who
hath given us victory; yea and made us more than conquerors through Christ, in whom he hath freely loved us. But to proceed.
In this time alſo of the Parliaments ſitting in London by a grand-Committee of both Houſes, the ſtout-hearted and well-minded Ship-maſters and Marriners to ſhew their love and loyaltie to the King and Parliament, exhibited their Petition to the grand
Committee, and therewith alſo their votes and deſires full of courage and candor to ſerve his Majestie and the Parliament to the utmoſt of their power; which their readineſſe and cheerfulneſſe, therein, was moſt lovingly regarded, both by the Lords and Commons, and ſhortly after a fair and fit occaſion was offered to make uſe of their love and ſervice therein, which they moſt really manifeſted to the full, as now you ſhall hear.
The time being now expired, and the laſt day of the Parliaments
adjourning from Westminster being now come, Jan. the 11. 1641. being Teuſday, and their just jealouſies and fears being
many and great, eſpecially by that ſo late high breach of priviledges of Parliament, mentioned, Jan. the 4rh, and our Worthies, now, of neceſſity to return to Westminster, the noble and renowned City of London moſt cheerfully and voluntarily proffered their beſt ſervice and abilities to attend and guard them by land to the Parliament at Weſtminster, and by Gods aſſiſtance to ſedanger all the way by land, to which purpoſe the City Captains had commanded their train'd-bands and Officers
armes to prepare themſelves thereunto, and their Muſketteirs with powder and bullets, and pikemen with gliſtering arms, which was performed in a most gallant and martiall manner; and thus our parliamentarie noble, grave Senatours both Lords and Commons were in their coaches ſafely (by Gods mercie) conducted and attended to the Parliament by land. By water alſo the ſtout and couragious Ship-maſters and Marriners had ſuddenly and moſt bravely made ready a great number of long-boats and ſuch like veſſels furniſhed with peices of Ordnance, Muskets, and other Sea war-like inſtruments, their veſſels alſo flags and ſtreamers, together with Martiall-muſick, Drums and Trumpets; ſo as it was a moſt admirable rare ſight to ſee and hear their carriage all along, and when they came to Whitehall and the Parliament Houſes, and underſtood that the parliament-Worthies were ſafely there arrived. O how bravely did the train'd-bands by land, make their thick and quick volleys of ſhot eccho in the ayre, and the valiant Sea-men let flie their thund'ring ſhot both great and ſmall by water, their trumpets ſounding, and their Drums beating in ſuch a triumphant and congratulating manner, as could not poſſibly, but ſtrike-dead with terrour, amazement, and vexation the hearts of the Popiſh, prelaticall
malignant partie, that either ſaw or heard it, or heard of it, but contrariwiſe, as muſt needs extraordinarily exhilarate and rejoyce all the loyall and honeſt hearts of Gods people that beheld it, or heard of it. And as this was a ſingular teſtimonie of the cordiall affections of the Citie and Sea-men, and highly advancing the glory of God, who thus put into their hearts to expreſſe their faithfulneſſe and thankfulneſſe to God, our King, and the Parliament,
Goſpel of peace and peace of the Goſpel, in ſuch rare and fair tranquillitie and ſerenitie above all Nations in the world. And for the ratification
warrantable and legall to be done; I have thought fit here to inſert the Vote of the Parliament publiſhed by their authority.
Ian. 8 th, 1641.At the Committee of the Houſe of Commons appointed to ſit in London to conſider of the ſafety of the King
dom and Citie of London, and of vindicating the priviledges of Parliament. Reſolved upon the Queſtion.
THat the actions of the Citizens of London, or of any other perſon whatſoever, for the defence of the Parliament, or of the priviledges thereof, or the preſervation of the Members thereof, are according to their dutie, and to their late Proteſtation and the Laws of this King
dom. And if any perſon ſhall arrest or trouble any of them for ſo do ing, he is declared to be a publike enemie of the Common-wealth. Reſolved upon the Question.
That this Vote ſhall be made known to the Common-Councill of the City of London.
Nay, yet to make the beautie and brightneſſe of that foreſaid Tewſdayes ſunſhine of comfort, yet more glorious to our eyes and hearts; That very ſame 11th
of Jan. I ſay, being Tewſday, came a numerous multitude of Buckinghamſhire men, both Gentleman, Ministers, and others of that County, on horſ-back, in very fair and orderly manner with the Protestation in their hats and hands, partly in the behalf of the moſt worthie Knight of their Shire in Parliament, Mr Hampden, but eſpecially to petition the Parliament for the reformation of evils in Church and State, the juſt puniſhment of Delinquents, the timely relief of Ireland, the ſweet and harmonious concurrence of both Houſes againſt ſiniſter obstructions, and the expulſion of Prelates and Popiſh ▪Lords out of the Parliament, and to aſſure their beſt ſervices and aſſiſtance to the King and Parliament, on all juſt occaſions. And ſince which time, even immediately after, mightie multitudes out of Eſſex, divers thouſands out of Hartford-ſhire, Barkshire, Surrey, and other Counties of the Kingdom; in brief, from all Shires and Counties of the whole Realm, came ſtill one after anLondon, to exhibite their petitions to the Parliament in the cauſes aforeſaid, from all parts ſwimming in one ſtream of affections and petitions, all having one deſire, all, I ſay, as one man unanimouſly conſenting in this one thing, namely, a ſerious and ſetled reſolution to petition and pray a ſpeedie refining and reforming of perſons and things amiſſe among us.
Non-ſubſcrip Prov. 5. 22.Jehovah ſeen in this rare Mount of Meries alſo? Thus to knit the hearts of the people together ſo far diſtant in habitations from one another, according to that faithfull promiſe of his mentioned by the Prophet. I will give
them one heart, and one way, ſaith the Lord, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them and of their children after them. And now, good Reader, take thankfull notice and cognizance, to the everlaſting praiſe and glorie of the Lord, the onely God that hears prayers, and grants gracious returns unto them in his due confluences of unanimous deſires of the Kingdom from all parts thereof the Biſhops were voted againſt from having any intermedling with temporall affairs and dignities, and ſo uncapable of votes in Parliament, it having pleaſed the Lord our moſt wiſe God, firſt to catch them in their own nooz, to entangle them in their own ſnare whereby their perſons were (even by themſelves) firſt ſequeſtred from the Parliapriſon in the Tower ▪
For, on Febr. 5. 1641. the noble Houſe of Commons paſt a Bill (nemine contradicenti) againſt their having any vote in ParliaHouſe of Lords ▪
thoſe prudent Peers mended the ſaid Bill and added, that they ſhould ſeat or place neither, as well as no voice or ſuffrage among thm, which was moſt gratefully entertained by the Commons with particular thanks to the Lords for their wiſdom and love therein to the Common-wealth; and ſo it paſt again moſt currently with them, and being now return'd to the Lords, it paſt clearly among them alſo immediately. And thus on that happie fifth of February, was the Church of God moſt mercifully freed of that peſtilentiall diſeaſe wherewith it had long been infected and infested, namely, the Antichriſtian tyranny of our Engliſh Prelates by reaſon of their princely pomp and lordly dignities, and familiar intermedling and tampering in temporall affairs to the continuall provocation of the wrath of
derogatorie diſhonour of Chriſts will and preſcript pleaſure in their miniſteriall function. It ſhall not be ſo with you.
equitie and juſtice of our wiſe and moſt holy God, meettheir own wayes and works. They, who being Lords and Barons (forſooth) in that high Court of Parliament, yet could ſeldome or never find a heart or voice for Chriſt and religion, but freqently againſt Chriſt in his holy members, and againſt the power and purity of religion; have, now (moſt juſtvoice or place in Parliament to help themſelves, but are thruſt out, as men not deſired, like that wicked King Jehoram, who departed this life, without being deſired. And take this note alſo, by the way, before we leave them; That, they, who in themſelves and predeceſſors (ever ſince the time of glimmering reformation
Elizabeths dayes of ever bleſſed methis very time, all along, without intermiſſion) had ſilenced, ſuſpended, impriſoned, and impoveriſhed many hundreds, if not thouſands, of holy, painfull and profitable Preachers for Non-ſubſcription; have now, by an act of ſubſcription, impriTower of London, and almoſt quite dePrelaticall arrogated ſuperioritie over their fellow-Ministers. Thus God hath taken them by their own iniquities, and hath held them with the cords of their own ſin. Thus Goliah is ſlain with his own ſword, and Haman is hanged upon his own gallows. And thus was their former furious and moſt injurious carriage and courſe a juſt preſage and omen of their totall ruine and downfall, which, in ſubſtance, is now bleſſedly come to paſſe, in this their denudation, ſtripping and whipping from their lordly dignities, haughtie honours, and buſie intermedling in ſecular affairs, the reſt I hope and pray will perfectly be effected in Gods due time.
Now, then, ſee here and obſerve (good Reader) with a wiſe and moſt gratefull heart (both in regard of the thing it ſelf, and alſo of thoſe two materiall circumstances, ſo obſervable, therein)
whether the Lord was not admirably ſeen in the Mount of Mercieto his poore Church, in this ſo rare and ſingular freeof it from future fear of Prelaticall tyrannie. And give me
leave to uſe the Prophets own words, by way of exulting grato the Lord our God. Hearken unto me (dear Christians)
good hand of God to direct the hearts of our prudent and provident parliamentarie-Worthies to take notice of the moſt dangerous diſtractions of the kingdom, and as juſt as great fears of inteſtine turmoiles which might ariſe among us by the Papists and malignant-partie, if not timely prejoynt deſires of the Subject in all their petitions exhibited in Parliament to ſettle a Militia by Act of Parliament, for a certain time, namedifferences, and to put a bleſſed end to our domeſtick and forrein fears, that thus by putting the Kingdom into a poſture of defence, we might by Gods mercie be the better ſecured both from Iohn Byron, Leiftehomebred treacheries and tranſmarine invaſions. For, which purSir John Byron from his Lieutenantſhip of the Tower of London, and to put in Sir John Connyers, a man, in whom they had good aſſurance, they might confide, both for his fidelity and martiall abilities;
Iohn Conniers made Leiftenant by the ParliamentMajestie, to theirs and the Cities full content in that par
And for the better putting of life into the ſad and bad affairs of Ireland, and the more ſpeedie and certain ſubduing (by Gods Rebels and accurſed idolaters of Rome; It pleaſed our moſt wiſe God to infair and famous project into the hearts of divers heroick and worthie Citizens of London, firſt to proffer, themſelves, by way of ſubſcription of certain ſummes of money, to be paid in at ſeverall payments, by them and other well-affected Subjects
Citie and Countrey: Whereunto (the thing being moLords and Commons in both Houſes gave admirable encouragefree and forward ſubſcription of great ſummes, and all their moneys ſo laid out to be repaid and ſatisfied out of the Rebels lands, when by Gods aid and aſſiſtance they ſhould totally ſuppreſſed and deſtroyed, and not before, nor by any other wayes or means. And, ſince that (by reaſon of the moſt a
and unparralleld cruelties of thoſe Romiſh-rebels in Ireland) very many of the diſtreſſed and beſpoiled Engliſh-Proteſtant inhabitants, eſpecially women and children, who were neDublin, and ſo over-Sea into divers parts of this Kingdom, being thereby plunged into deplorable povertie and miſerie) It was, I ſay, further ordered by our truly charitable and pious Parliament, that there ſhould be a generall collection or contribution over the whole Kingdom, for and toward the preſent relief and ſupplie of ſuch diſtreſſed men, women and children, as could hardly ſubſiſt without preſent help and relief. Which ſaid collection was ſo fully and freely advanCity of London, that at one Church therein, viz ▪ Aldermanburie, under reverend and reliMr Calamies fruitfull Miniſterie, upon his pious and patheticall motion and inſtigation to his willing people, a Collection was made and gathered, at the Church-doores and pariſhioners houſes, which amounted unto between 600 and 700
Toward the latter end of Februarie alſo, 1641. It pleaſed the Lord to blow-off all clouds of diſpleaſure from the Kings royall heart, and to cauſe his countenance to ſhine ſo ſerenely on the Parliaments proceedings, that he ſent the Houſe of Lords a moſt gracious and comfortable anſwer, intimating his royall concurrence and deſire of correſpondencie with both Houſes, both in paſLiturgie and Church-Government to the wiſdom and pietie of the Parliament to ſettle and reſolve on.
And, here, again (good Reader) let us reflect our eyes and ſerious thoughts, and ſee whether the Lord does not ſtill carryon
works of mercie to us, by his own ſtrong-arm, and alpower and providence; that thus we ſhould now have ſuch ſtrong and heart-chearing hope of a happie and long deſired rectifying and reformation of our Liturgie and Diſcipline, two tickliſh peices to be tampered with, on pain of higheſt indignation and diſpleaſure in by-paſt times, but now you ſee and hear of talk yea reſolution of reforming them. Hereby ratifying and confirming his moſt righteous word and promiſe, by the Proa moſt reſplendent
glory in the midſt of us. Making good alſo that old promiſe of his to his ancient people of Iſrael, namely, I will turn my hand upon thee, and will purely purge away all thy droſſe, and take away all thy tinne. O that we therefore in the way of thankefulneſſ
would ſincerely perform his holy and just deſire of us, namely, in deed and in truth to obey his voice, and cheerfully to do all that he hath commanded us!
Yet, ſee, the (ſtill)
Sir A Replie to the ſaid Con Wittie, but irinvincible and inveterate malice of the malignant partie, who notwithſtanding that they cannot but evidently ſee the hand of God againſt them croſſing all their counſels, turning their perniciouſly boiling obstrisctions to their deſtruction in the iſſue: yet ſtill, I ſay, they manifeſt (right Pharaoh-like) more flintineſſe and hardneſſe of heart, preſumptuover powering proceedings againſt them; thereby moſt cleartreaſuring-up wrath and confuſion unto themſelves againſt the day of Gods vengeance and heaping up coals of calamity on their own heads againſt the day of the Lords burning jealouſie.
grey-headed but not grave-hearted Citizens of London, which was boldly preſedition, and the overthrow of the Parliaments proceedings, eſpecially concerning the Militia of the Citie, ayming therein at the overthrow of the ſaid Militia, and the ſure deſeditious plot and devilliſh deſign of theirs, though many of no ſmall or mean rank and qualitie in the Citie, yea and ſome of the higheſt degree thereof had deep hands and ſpotted hearts to
one or two moſt pragmaticall ſpirits among them, were chief agents and active inſtruments openly and audaciouſly appearing and perBinion a mainone Mr Binion, a Silkman in Cheapſide, who carried himſelf moſt proudly and inſolently therein from firſt to the laſt. But the truly godly, grave and loyally-affected Citizens of London underſtanding thereof, diſavowed it, immediateanother moſt honeſt, fit and fair
Petition clean contrary to that other, exhibited the ſame in Parliament, deſired the justice of the Parliament againſt other, which was received with ſingular approbation of both Houſes. Whereupon, the other was not long after caſt out of Houſe, condemned to be burnt by the hangman, as a moſt ſcandalous and ſeditious paper; and the foreſaid Mr Binion himmisbehaviour, was made an example of terrour to the reſt (who more wiſely ſhrunk-in their heads, and recanted their former overſight) being Binions cenſure:inſolencies and miſdemeanours fined 3000. l. diſimmunities of the Citie, made uncapable of ever bearing any office in the Common-wealth, and impriſoned for two yeers in the Caſtle of Colcheſter. And yet, again, notwithfreſh and modern admonition (as a man might have thought) to thoſe malignant ſpirits;
brake out again into a like miſdemeanour in the Countie of Kent, by the main inſtigation (as it is conceived) of Sir Edward Deering ▪
late a Member of the Houſe of Commons,
Sir Edw. DeeEdw. Deerings book of his Speeches printed.well reputed and reported of, but at laſt brake-out into a moſt violent and virulent oppoſition of the honourable and pious proceedings of the Parliament, which he further moſt undiſcreetly proſecuted by printing and publiſhing a book of all his former and later Speeches in Parliament, and one, eſpecially not ſpoken, Sir E. Deering was call'd to the Bar, ſent priſoner to the Tower, caſt out of the Houſe from being any longer a Member among them, & his ſaid book condemned to be burnt ▪
Schollar, and wittie acute r
yet was full fraught with palpable expreſſions of an illaffected
heart not onely to the moſt wiſe, worthie and untainted negotiations of the Honourable Parliament, but even to religion and the power of godlines. A gentleman he was, whom I muſt acall-over, as adviſedly and impartially as God enportall or introduction to the matter of it and ſo along, ſuch an unjuſt and immeritorious eulogie or elogie and hyperbolicall praiſe of the Archprelate
Fiſher a Ieof Canterbury in generall, and of his book (if his) of his conference with Fiſher the Jeſuite, in ſpeciall: A book moſt full of pregnant expreſſions (yet cloudily couched) of the ſaid Prelates Popiſh rotten-heartedneſſe, as a moſt ſound and learned Replie to it, Eds. book.judicious and imSchollars that have read it) together with his affected wittie je
and ſcoffing at true pietie in ſome places, and irreligious ſublime juſtification of groſſe Popiſh ſuperſtition in other ſome; I could not, hereupon, I ſay, (God knows my heart) but greatly grieve for his ſake, thereby ſo diſhonoured, and bluſh at mine own ſo clear miſtake, who had willingly harboured ſo good opinions of him before. But to leave him to his great Lord and Maſter to whom he muſt either ſtand or fall, with my heartie prayers for his true and timely retractation, I return to my purdigreſſed, but I hope not much tranſgreſſed therein.
Mallet.
ſeditious Petition (I ſay) was hatched and contrived in Kent, wherein (I ſay) tis more than conceived that Sir Edward Deering had a deep hand, which contained matter much to the ſame effect with the former of London; Which alſo it ſeems was much countenanced and encouraged by the Earl of Briſtow and judge Mallet, and for which they were both ſent priſoners to the Tower of London; which Petition being on the 29th
of April, 1642. brought to the Parliament by ſome of the prime
malignant-ones (the reſt of that rout being ſome certain thouBlackheath for an anſwer, but were fain to depart with a flea in their cares) they received moſt foul (but moſt juſt) diſgraces at their entrance into the Citie, the gate at Bridge-foot was ſhut againſt them, they themſelves were diſarmed, their weapons being there taken from them, two of
prime leaders, having exhibited their Petition in Parliahigh contempt and arrogancie.
religious, honest, and well-affected partie of the ſaid County of Kent unanimouſly alſo united themſelves in an honeſt and loyall Petition, therein utterly diſavowing and protesting against that other ſeditious and ſcandalous one, who were all, together with their Petition moſt courteouſly and lovingly entertained, and diſmiſſed with great thanks from the Parliament, for that their ſo honest and peaceable demeanour.
And was not the Lord Jehovah ſeen here in the Mount of
Mercie, in thus both timely diſcovering and diſcountenancing theſe very dangerous deſignes of theirs (as much as in them blend and diſgrace the just, fair and faithfull proceedings of the Parliament; and though they moſt ſecretly and ſubtilly carried and contrived their deſignes therein, yet the Lord graciouſly cauſed them to be ſtifled in their birth.
Paul, who ſpeaking of the perillous times that ſhould come in the last dayes, after a recitall of a ragged-regiment of malignant and illaffected perſons, brings in Jannes and Jambres (two audacious and arrogant companions) who obſtinately and proudly withſtood Moſes, reviling and ſpeaking evill of the truth; men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they ſhall not proceed (ſaies the Apostle) for, their folly ſhall be manifested to all men. As tis now with ours, bleſſed be the Lord our moſt wiſe God for it, and all their malice and miſchief is fallen ſtill upon their own hoads.
David, moſt gratefully acknowledge, Not unto us, Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name be all the glory given, for thy mercie and for thy truths ſake ▪ Who hast not ſuffered the heathen (or wicked) to ſay, where is now their God? But our God is in heaven, and hath done whatſoever he pleaſed.
King having preſt the Parliadivers Meſſages in his unhappie departure and diſtance from it (as by and by ſhall be more fully and particularly ſet forth) and thereby conſtrained our prudent Worthies in Parliaintegritie to his Majestie, and the whole
Kingdom, yea and to the whole world alſo, if occaſion were ofMajestie, and afterward ſet forth in print divers Declarations, Remonſtrances, and Meſſages from both
Houſes of Parliament, all of them written and penn'd with ſuch prudence, pi
and humilitie toward his Majestie, as moſt apparently evidenced their great and godly care for the preſervation of his Honour and the Kingdoms welfare, to the great and unexpreſſible comfort and content of all Gods people, eſpecially in the moſt ſweet continued ſymphonie and harmonious concurrence of Both Houſes which now began to be more and more ſtrongmountan
and terrible diſtractions of the times mightily moleſting and retarding their moſt important and weightie affairs, ouprudent and pious Peers ſtill ſhewing themſelves (as was more forward, if poſſi
it might be, in all good motions than the Houſe of Commons. A mercie, which (things and times conſidered) we are not able ſufficiently to prize and praiſe the Lord for, it being that bleſſing of the Kingdom which was ſo long and ſo earnestly deſired by the univerſall confluence of the Petitions of the whole Kingdom; yea that great bleſſing, I ſay, which the Apoſtle Paul ſo heartily and vehemently deſires Corinthians, That they might all ſpeak the ſame
thing, and that there might be no diviſion among them, but that they may be perfectly joyned together in the ſame mind, and in the ſame judgement. Yea that rare bleſſing which the Prophet David cannot ſet out ſufficiently without a note of admiration, in the excellencies of it, when he ſaidBehold how good and joyfull a thing
it is brethren to dwell together in unity. Yea (ſayes he) tis like the precious oyntment upon Aarons head, diſtilling thence to his beard and running down to the skirts of his garment. Such a pr
may I truly ſay, is this unity and concord in theſe two
honourable Houſes of Parliament, poured on the head of our Soveraign, diſtilling thence on the comely beard of his Kingdom, this renowned Parliament, and ſweetly ſtreaming thence down to the skirts or garments of the Land the people and inhabitants thereof. And now ſee, I pray, the bleſſed effects of this happy union and precious complacencie between the King and Both Houſes of Parliament, at this time. For about the 9th of April, the Lords and Commons in Parliament reſolved to ſet upon the
reformation of the Liturgie and government of the Church, wherworſhip and ſervice ſhould be more purely performed than formerly it had been, and diſcipline more piouſly adminiſtred. And for this purpoſe they paſſed Votes in Both Houſes, and moſt prudently pitched upon certain eminent godly, grave and learned Divines out of every Shire and Corporation of the Kingdom, who ſhould meet together at a time appointed to diſcuſſe and conſult among themſelves what ſhould be moſt apost
and neereſt to the truth of Gods word, and ſo to adviſe the Parliament for the ſetling of the ſame, as by their order printed and publiſhed by their authority may and doth more fully appear, which here I have thought fit to inſert and mention to thee.
9. 1642.THe Lords and Commons do declare that they intend a due and ne
ceſſary reformation of the government and Liturgy of the Church, and to take away nothing in the one or other but what ſhall be evill and justly off nſive, or at the leaſt unneceſſarie and burthenſome. And for the better effecting thereof, ſpeedily to have conſultation with g •• ly and learned Divines. And becauſe this will never of it ſelf obtain the end ſought therein; they will therefore uſe their utmoſt endeavour to eſtabliſh learned and preaching Ministers with a good and ſuffici ent maintenance throughout the whole Kingdom, wherein many dark corners are miſerably destitute of the means of ſalvation, and many poore Ministers want neceſſarie proviſion.
Now then tell me (good Reader) whether the Lord appear The King comes into the North.
But prevente The K: came to On refuſall thereof was declared to be a traitor. Propoſitions made to the Gentrie of Swords draw The King re Freeholders of Yorkſhire diſ The Militia interdicted (to be exerciſed) by the King. The K: ſends to the Lord Keeper to re The L. Keeper and divers other Lords leave the Par Gods over-powring wiſ Inſtrumentally by the pious & prudent de The Lords & gentry of Ire So do others.Mount of Mercie, in this ſo unexpectible an act of long deſired reformation in this kind? In theſe two ſo extremly deified
Diana's of our Engliſh Epheſus, ſo long ſetled upon their olPontifician and other ignorant and malignant partie of our land, ſo as it was thought a thing almoſt impoſſible to be effected. Yet ſee, I ſay, what oumountains of difficulties and diſturbances he is remove, when he, once, reſolves it according to that of the Prophet: I have ſpoken it, (ſaith the Lord) I will alſo bring
it to paſſe, I have purpoſ'd it, I will alſo do it. Hearken unto this ye ſtout-hearted that are far from righteouſneſſe. I will bring neer my righteouſneſſe, it ſhall not be ſo far off, and my ſalvation ſhall not carry, and I will place ſalvation in Sion for Iſrael, my glorie. Yet, ſee, ſtill, the malignancie of the ſerpentine-brood, breeding and breathing more and more threats and vexations to the ſacredſeed of the woman. For, not long after, that aforeſaid hopefull amiable ſymphonic of ſweet accord between the King and his Parliament began to be beſmeard with the black-coal of evil counſell, and his Majesties affections to be ſo alienated and estranged from his grand and grave Councell of Parliament, that in diſcontent he moſt unhappily ſequeſtred his perſon from it, almoſt as far as his affection, even from the Southern toward the Northern parts Kingdom, to the univerſall and great grief of his loyall Subjects who made their earnest deſires poſte as faſt after him by their humble Petitions to return to his Parliament, but alas, all in vain, for in deep diſcontent his Majeſtie goes on in his journey, Prince along with him, was accompanied or attendfurious Cavaliers, who ſhewed themhoſtile manner about Hampton Court and Kingstone upon Thames, paſt on thence to New-market, and ſo into the Hull attempteJohn Hotham.
Hull and required it to be delivered up to him.York.
North, where an attempt was made by the Earl of Newcastle to have taken in Hull, and the full fraught Magazine thereof, vamartiall ammunition, for the Kings uſe, but he was preSir John Hotham a worthie Member of the Houſe of Commons was put in poſſeſſion thereof, for the uſe of his Mawhole Kingdom. Not long after the King went himſelf in perſon to Hull, requiring the rendition of the Town and Magazine into his Majeſties hands, but Sir John Hotham having order to the contrary from the Parliament, retraitor. Propoſitions were made to the Gentrie of York to aſſiſt his Majeſties proceedings againſt Sir John Hotham for the taking in of Hull into his Majeſties poſſeſſion by compulſion, ſince he could not obtain it of him by perſwaſion. About which timeSir Francis Worthly and divers others ſiding together, and pretending themſelves to be for the King, with their ſwords drawn in an unaccuſtomed and unexpected manner, demandſerpentine-ſeed, and therein imitating their father the devill, that grand ſeedſman of all ſedition, whoſe main plot divide and ſeparate what God hath united. Making a falſe and fooliſh diſcrepancie and difference, firſt between King and the Parliament, which ought not to be; and ſecondParliament and the people, which cannot be. For what is the Parliament but a repreſentative-Bodie of all the people in the whole Kingdom; and therefore to make men beleeve that the Parliament intends to wrong the people, by bringing in an arbitrarie government (the thing which they mainly hate and labour against) is to make men mad with diſcretion, to make us think the Parliament labours to undo themſelves with us, and to madly to ruſh on them to our own certain ruin. To ask a man therefore whether he be for the King or the Parliament▪
is to ask him whether he be for the King or for himſelf ▪
See then (diſcreet Reader) the drift of this devilliſh deſign and falſe diſtinction, which is meerly to make men fall together by ſheath their ſwords in one anothers bowels. But now the King receiving no content in this their fruitleſſe meetGe
(but not Free-holders, which was taken ill) were again ſummoned to aſſemble together before the King, May the 23th being Friday, to reſolve upon a guard of horſe and foot to ſafeguard his perſon; this alſo was a long time fruitleſly
which time or not long before, his Majeſtie publiſhed his reſolution to go in perſon to Ireland to ſubdue the Rebels, which was utterly diſliked by the Parliament as a buſineſſe of very dangerous conſequence. The Gentrie, Yeomen and Free-holders of York again are ſummoned together to York, but the honeſt yeomen were diſcourteouſly and uncivilly uſed by many of the Cavaliers or attendants about his Majeſtie; complaints were made thereof to the King, but not anſwered to their deſire. His Majeſtie much about this time alſo forbade the exerciſe of the Militia, contrarie to the Parliaments conſtitution over the Kingdom, and about the 15. or 16. of May, 1642. directed his Letter to Captain Philip Skippon, Sergeant Major Phillip Skippon ſumMilitia of the Citie of London, a brave and exSouldier and Commander in Arms, and a moſt pious and vertuous Gentleman, requiring his perſonall attendance at York, all excuſes ſet apart, and that there he ſhould know his
Skippon by the authority of Both Houſes of Parliament, as is afterward more fully declared. After this, about May the 26th, the King ſending a letter to the Lord Keeper to remove Midſommer Term from London to York: this alſo was oppoſed by the Parliament, as ſhall alſo be farther declared in its proper place. Much about this time alſo or not long after this, the ſaid Lord Keeper and ſeven or eight other Lords left the Parliament on a ſudden, and without the conſent thereof, and departed from London to York, to the King. In all which time, the Parliament ſending many ſubmiſſe Meſſages and humble Petitions to his Majeſtie at York, all of them full of wiſdom, pietie and patience, yet receive auſtere and unpleaſing replies, even as his Majeſtie found unſatisfactorie returns to his expectation and deſires in all or moſt of his negotiations in thoſe Northern parts ever ſince his unhappie aboad there. But parliamentarie mercies to be manifeſted to us? I anſwer, this fore-paſt brief diſcourſe ſerves greatly to ſhew us, in the first place ▪
a mightie fume and ſmoak now readie to break out into a moſt combuſtuous and furious flame, by the perverſe and moſt pernicious counſell of the malignant partie about the King (as the Parliament had often enformed his Majeſtie in ſeverall Meſſages) if the Lords over-powering providence had not caſt on the water of op
and timely quenching of the ſame, by the admirable wiſdom and ſingular moderation of this pious and prudent Parliament, hindring the boyſterous breaking-out thereof, both by their modeſt, grave and gracious Declarations, their moſt humble Petitions, their prudent and provident Votes and Orders, and their patient and moſt ſubmiſſe Meſſages to his Majeſtie at York; eſpecially by thoſe two Declarations or Remonſtrances of Both Houſes, March, 12. and March, 23. their moſt humble, wiſe and moderate Petition March, 26. About which time alſo it pleaſed the Lord to ſtir up the hearts of the Nobles and gentrie eſtated in Ireland, but then reſiding in London▪
to petition his Majeſties return to London, and gracious agreement with his great and higheſt ▪ Court of Parliament. ToGentrie and Commons of the County of Lincoln, Staffordſhire, and Munmouth in Wales; as alſo a moſt excellent
patheticall Petition from thoſe of Cheſhire, and another cut of Lancaſhire; all of them with an unanimous concurrence of Votes and ſuffrages, beſeeching and imploring his Majeſties Scotland alſo meſpeedie and propitious affection and return to his Parliament. Yea our ever to be honoured, and intimately to be loved Brethren of Scotland alſo were not wanting in their love and loyaltie to ſend their faithfull Commiſſioners, and among them the noble and renowned pious and prudent Lord Louthen to adviſe and beſeech his Majeſtie to return and liſten to his loyall and faithfull
Subjects in Parliament. The Gentrie alſo and Commons of the County of York moſt humbly and earneſtly beſought and petiApril the 30th, to reflect his favourable and princely affections on his great Councell at London, and to cohere and adhere to their wholeſome and honourable adviſe for his Mahonour and welfare: Together with the Knights, Gentlemen and others of the County of Yorks wiſe and modeſt anſwer to his Majeſties demands of them, not long after, in theſe words.
Sir The Magazine brought to the Tower of London. The Popiſh & pernicious plot againſt The exerciſe of the Militia ratified by the Parliament in York, Lancaſ. &c. Serjeant Major full and fair Declaration or Remonſtrance was ſent to his Majeſtie from Both Houſes of Parliament, and to the whole Kingdom, bearing date, May, the 19th, wherein were expreſſed the ſeverall Depoſitions of divers, about the bringing in of the Armie (formerly in the North, and then intended againſt ouScotland) to London againſt this Parliament. And ſince that, another Declaration or Remonſtrance, bearing date th, 1642, in anſwer to one under his Majeſties name, concerning the buſineſſe of Hull, ſent in a meſſage to Both Houſes of Parliament, May 21. In which Remonſtrance was fully
Kings of Englands deep tye of regall ſtipulation to rule the Kingdom according to the fundamentall Laws made by the Commons thereof or people of the Kingdom, and ratifying and maintaining the Subjects immunities and freedoms, to the reciprocall and harmonious happineſſe of King and Subject. ThereIo Hotham cleared from the imputation of treaſon laid on him.Hull timely diſcoSir John Hotham from the imHull to his Majeſties and the Kingdoms juſt uſe and welfare. The ſafe tranſportation and removall of that great Magazine of warlike amHull to London, notwithſtanding the Kings intimely and happie diſcoverie of that dangerous plot againſt Hull by one Thomas Beckwith, gentleman, a Popiſh-recuſant, and an inhabitant of Beverly in Yorkeſhire and others his confederates, ſignified moſt fully and exactly by Sir John Hothams own letter to a worthy Member of the Houſe of Commons, and publiſhed in print, June 3, 1642. Both Houſes of Parliament ratifying and confirming by their Orders unto Skippon clearYork, Lancaſ. and all the whole Kingdom, the exerciſe of the Militia, for the better ſecuritie and ſafeguard thereof both againſt homebred conſpiring Popiſh recuſants, and forrein confeRomiſh invaders of the land. The Parliaments clearing of that moſt worthie and pious gentleman Captain Phillip Skippon from any legall diſobedience to his Majeſties command, in not tender ng his perſonall attendance on him at York; which was confirmed by 3. ſeverall Votes in Parliament, which for the Readers more full ſatisfaction I have here inſerted.
May17th, 1642.
Parliamentarie Votes clearing Serjeant Major Skippon.1.THat this command of his Majeſtie to call CaptainPhillip Skippon,Serjeant Major generall of the Forces of London, to attend his Majesties perſon at York, is againſt the Law of the Land, and the liberties of the Subject.
2.That this command of his Majeſtie to call CaptainPhillip Skippon,Serjeant Major generall of the Forces of London, to attend his Majesties perſon, being employed by Both Houſes to attend their ſervice, without their conſent, is against the priviledge of Par liament.
3.That CaptainPhillip Skippon,Serjeant Major generall ofthe Forces of London, ſhall continue to attend the ſervice of Both Houſes according to their former commands.
The ſame day alſo, which was, May, 17, 1642. It having been rumoured that Midſommer-Term ſhould be adjourned to York, and the Parliament underſtanding thereof, the Lord Keeper was required to declare whether he had command from his Majeſtie to that purpoſe, which being anLords, that he had ſuch a command, and the Lords conceiving how inconſiſtent the ſame was to a Parliament ſitting at Westminster (not to be diſſolved or adjourned without their conſent) the Records being carried to York, whereof Both Houſes were to have daily uſe; and that the Judges (whoſe adviſe and aſſiſtance the Houſe of Peers daily required) ſhould be ſo remote from them. They therefore voted.
the 20. or 21. of May, 1642. a Committee of Both Houſes was nominated to conſider how they ſhould bring to con dign puniſhment, thoſe parties who are Delinquents and yet Houſe took into conſideration his Majeſties ſumof May, commanding the gentrie to appear before him in their equipage ▪ And thereupon voted;
1. That it appeared that his Majestie ſeduced by wicked Counſe
3. That whenſoever the King maketh war upon the Parliament
Ric. 2. & Hen. 4. proving ſuch proceedings to be flat treaſon.That whoſoever ſhall ſerve or aſſiſt him in ſuch wars are traitors to the fundamentall Laws of this Kingdom, and have been ſo adjudged in two Acts of Parliament, namely, 11 of Ric. 2. and 1 of Hen. 4. and ought to ſuffer as traitors. Which ſaid two Acts, taken out o
treaſon then exhibited in the Parliament, againſt the Archbiſhop of York. Michael de la Pool and others, in the time of Ric. 2. most exquiſitely and punctually depainting the preſent ſtate of things with us now, were by Both Houſes of Parliament voted to be printed and publiſhed in French, Engliſh and Latine on May, 26, 1642. Since this, about May, the 25diſpatch was made from the Parliament, to their Committee at York, with an Ordinance of Parliament, to be publiſhed in all Market-towns over that whole Countie, declaring that the Train'd-bands ought not to be raiſed by his Majeſties perſonall command, as the affairs of the Kingdom now ſtand. And on May, 27. and 28. two Orders from both Houſes were printed and publiſhed. The one to all high Sheriffs and all other Officers within the Countie of Lancaſter, and in generall to all the Counties of England and dominion of Wales; Both of them, to this effect, that, In regard of their juſt jealouſies and grounded-fears, that his Majestie ſeduced by wicked Counſell intended to make war againſt the Parliament, therefore, no Arms and Ammunition ſhould be conveyed toward York. And for
keeping a ſtrict watch within their ſeverall limits and juriſdictions, and to ſearch for and ſeize on all ſuch arms and ammunition, and to apprehend all ſuch perſons going to York with any ſuch; and to ſuppreſſe and hinder the raiſing and coming together of any Souldiers, horſe or foot, by any Warrant or Commiſſion from his Majeſtie alone, without the adviſe and conſent of his Parliament. By this and all other fore-mentioned means to ſtop and hinder the breaking out of civill broils and diſſentions in the Kingdom, and to maintain and propagate the bleſſed and happie peace thereof; yea the care and providence of this Parliament continually contriving and casting about for the welfare of the King and Kingdom, gave order that the ſeverall Societies of Sadlers, A
and Gun-ſmiths ſhould forthwith certifie to the Houſes of Parliament ▪
what numbers of Arms and Sadles they were to provide weekly, and for whom. And have been moſt vigilant and circumſpect to cauſe their Ordinance for the Militia of the Kingdom (for the better ſtrengthening of it) to be put into execution in Lincolnſhire, which his Majeſtie had oppoſed by a Proclamation, which Ordinance
obſerved and exerciſed, in Buckinghamſhire ▪ Middleſex, Eſſex, Leiceſterſhire, and other Counties. And about the 29. or 30. of
Ioh. Hothams impriMay, 1642. It having been enformed to the Parliament that an Ancient of Sir John Hothams was apprehended and impriYork; the Parliament preſently ſent to the Committee there to know the ground of his detenor, and if for being in the ſervice of both Houſes then they hold it an act of hoſtilitie againſt the Parliament, and are likewiſe to return the names of all ſuch Members of the Houſe as are at York, their preſence there, tendcountenance the war intended againſt the Parliament. And June the ſecond, this moſt pious and prudent Parliament ſent a moſt ſubmiſſive Petition, with 19 Propoſitions from Both Houſes of Parliament, all of them containing matters of high concernment for the ſingular good (as they providently conceiChurch and Common-wealth, which in their moſt religious and prudent aymes might extraordinarily tend to a moſt bleſſed, happie and deeply deſired accommodation and reconciliation of differences and miſunderſtandings betwixt his Majestie and them, proteſting and ſeriouſly aſſuring his Majeſtie that if he would vouchſafe to grant thoſe their moſt humble and behoofefull requeſts, they would with all alacrity of mind and celerity of endeavour apply themſelves ſo to regulate his Majeſties revenues, and to ſettle ſuch an extraordinarie and conſtant increaſe of it, as ſhould be abundantly ſufficient to ſupport his royall dignitie in majeſticall honour and princely plentie, beyond predeceſſours. But this ſo humble ſubmiſſion, theſe fair propoſitions, and this ſo loyall a proteſtation of fidelity and integritie toward his Majeſtie conceived and brought forth ſhortly afharſh and unpleaſing replie unto them, to theirs and our no ſmall ſorrow and continued, yea and aggravated grief and diſcontent.
ſumme of all theſe premiſed particulars ſo ſummarily mentioned together comes to thus much; that all theſe many weightie and various premiſes ſeriouſly conſidered, and impartially preponderated, cannot but moſt copiouſly diſcover and lay open to the eyes of all that are not wilfully and obſtinately blind and too extremly incredulous (even againſt cleareſt ſight, ſenſe, and moſt reſplendent demonſtrations) on the one ſide, the moſt ſturdie and untyred (though, hitherto, bleſſed be the Lord, moſt fruitleſſe) projects, plots and craftie contrivements of the malignant
partie, under a ſpecious colour and pernicious pretence of adregall authority, prerogative, and the Kings proſperitie, and yet all of theſe (by them) moſt egregiouſly injured and abuſubverſion of both King and Kingdom. Firſt (as a moſt eminent, worthie and pious Member of the Houſe of Commons lately related it moſt pithily and pertinently) by weakning
Denzell Holles, in his moſt excellent Speech to the Lords. June 15. 1642.invalidating the proceedings and power of the Parliament, and making way for the utter ſubverſion of it. Secondly, for this end, by gathering forces together at York ▪
under a pretence of a guard for his Majeſties perſon, but purpoſely to make oppoſition againſt the Parliament ▪
and thereby alſo to ſupport Delinquents, to ſlight and ſcorn the power and orders of the Parliament,
eſteem or reputation. Thirdly, to ſend out bitter invectives, and unjuſt aſperſions, in his Majeſties
name as Declarations and meſſages from him, onely to perplex the Parliament with expenſe of their precious time to anſwer them, and thereby alſo by falſe colours and gloſſes to make the people diſaffect the Parliament, yea (and if poſſibly) to ſtir them up to deſtroy it (and all Parliaments for ever) and with it, themſelves, their wives and children. Fourthly and laſtly, to draw the Members of both Houſes away from their dutie and attendance on them, and to go down to York ▪
thereby to make the Parliament, as it were, bleed to death, and moulder to nothing, and thus to blemiſh the actions of Both Houſes of Parliament, as done by a few and inconſiderable number, and rather a partie than a Parliament, and perhaps to ſet-up an Anti-parliament at York. A deſpeall in vain, I truſt in the Lord, as hitherto, we have happily ſeen, in all their deſignes, for ever bleſſed be the Lord our God for it.
on the other ſide, we may moſt apparently perceive, and clearly behold by all thoſe fore-mentioned particulars on the Parliaments part, the moſt admirable and even onely-heaven-inſpired wiſdom, moderation, prudence, pietie, patience and indefatigable vigilancie of our ever to be honoured, and everlaſting rePeers and Commons in Parliament, moſt humbly demeawiſely and courageouſly againſt the malignant partie, moſt religiouſly and faithfully to Church and State in generall, and moſt graciouſly, tenderly and affectionately, as ſo many fathers of their Countrey
petitions and petitioners deſiring their aid and aſfair and fitting way for the good of Church and State; which was moſt undeniably evident by the moſt ſweet reciprocall reſulta
and concurrent confluence of hearts and affections of all in City and Countrey, over all the whole three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, that had any ſpark or glimpſe of true grace, yea of but meer common-grace and goodneſſe, to the infinite praiſe and glorie of the Lord our God, be it unexpreſſible joy of our ſouls, even of the ſouls of all thoſe that cordially love and deſire to live to ſee the glorieſpouſals and never-again-to be-ſequ
and marriage twixt Peace and Truth, the grand and graHez
the main, if not onely ayme and
of this prudent Parliament; and which ought to be alſo of every true godly Christian with them.
Now, therefore, friendly Reader, I ſay all thoſe fore-mentioned particulars conglomerated into one bodie of ſerious animadverſion, thoſe clouds of witneſſes atteſting this truth, ſay, was wonder-working God, the Lord Jehovah moſt admirably, moſt gloriouſly, even far beyond all humane apprehenſion or expreſſion, ſeen in the Mount of mercies for Englands mightie Deliverance? Tell me, good Reader, ſpeak thy conſcience freely, hath not England found, yea hath not this bleſſed Parliament
one Eliſha or other to reveal, and timely to diſcover all the wicked plots and deviſes of the malignant partie, (even now and of late, and indeed all-along) againſt the happie hope-breathing condition of our greatly envied Church and State? So that we may ſay of England, (now adayes, eſpecially within this yeer and a half) as Balaam, once, ſaid of the children of Iſrael. Surely, there is no enchantment againſt Jacob, neither is there any divination againſt Iſrael: for, according to this time, it ſhall be ſaid of Jacob and of Iſrael, What hath God wrought? So, certainvery adverſe and malignant partie
enchantment againſt England and Scotland, nor is there any divination of the wicked that can proſper againſt the Houſes of Parliament for, according to theſe times of our wonderfull deliverances, It ſhall be ſaid to ſucceeding posteritie of England and of Scotland; O what hath our moſt gracious God freely wrought for us? Nay, let me ſpeak in particular to thoſe of the malignant faction, or let me
ſing it out with moſt emphaticall joy, as Moſes did in his ſweet ſong of Gods high praiſes, and let them denie it if they can. Their Rock is not as our Rock, even they our enemies themſelves being
judges. For, had their rock, or rather Egyptian-reed been able over-powred our celeſtiall-Rock, we had (undoubtedly) long ere this, been made moſt wofull ſpectacles, to them and theirs, of ineffable ruine and implacable wrath; whereas we are, now, moſt hopefully happie ſpectators of their moſt black ſhame, ſorrow and precipitating confuſion. Even ſo, Amen, Lord Jeſus haſten it for thine elects ſake.
Now then theſe things being thus, how can we but with holy David, break out into over-flowing cordiall-gratitude, and ſay with his heart and tongue. What ſhall we render to the Lord for all his bleſſed benefits toward us? We will take the cup of ſalvation and call on the Name of the Lord. We will pay our vows (of univerYea, I ſay, how can we forbear to break-forth into pious King Davids excitation and ſtimulation of our hearts to infinitely obliged thankfulneſſe, but with ſincere rouzed-up ſouls to ſing. Bleſſe the Lord, O my ſoul, and all that is within me bleſſe his holy
The ſumme of all. A fourfold Vſe or Obſerva
Ezek. 36. 22, 23.wind-up all briefly, let me beſeech thee, good Chriſtian Reader, to make this four-fold holy uſe and obſervation of all theſe premiſes, theſe remarkable and unpaparliamentarie-mercies to England, to unworthie, ſinfull England. Firſt, to admire and adore the infinite and free mercie of our good God, who hath done all theſe great things for thee, Obſervation. To admire & adore Gods free grace and mercie.wonderworking attribute of free-grace and merci? pleaſeth him best of all. Know O England, that it was not for thine own ſake, that God hath done all theſe things for thee, but for his holy Names ſake, which (alas) thou hadſt moſt extremly profaned. But thy God was willing to ſanctifie his own great Name, which thou, I ſay, hadſt profaned, and becauſe he would make the wi
us. Let us not therfore (my dear Chriſtian Engliſh brethren and friends) ſo much look on our ſins as to dead our hearts, or to damp our faith, by ſaying one to another; O, but our ſins are greater than other Nations, and therefore, ſurely, the Lord will not (yet) ſave and deliver us, till we are fitted for mercie. Alas, alas, if God ſhould not be mercifull to us till we are fit for mercie, never be mercifull to us. But, here we ſee, and Moſes confirms it farther to us, that oftentimes) God ſhews not mercie to a people becauſe they are greater in number, or better in condition ▪
or fitter for his mercie than another people, but befreely loved us above or before all others ouneighbour Nations round about us, and that he might keep his word and promiſe made of old, to ſave his people when they called on him in the day of their trouble, that ſo they might glorifie him. And moſt undoubtedly for this very end the Lord hath England (within theſe two or three yeers) an extraordinarie ſpirit of grace and prayer or ſupplication, in theſe dayes of their diſtreſſe and great calamitie; yea and notably manifeſted by all theſe fore-mentioned returns of prayer, even far beyond their hopes and deſires, that he is a God hearing prayers ▪
and ſo hath encouraged his people (notwithſtanding their ſins) to come unto him, and hath clearly let them ſee that tis not in vain to call on our God, and to wait till he have mercie. Hence, therefore, I ſay, let us learn to admire and adore the bounteous and open-hand and enlarged bowels of love and compaſſion of our good God and indulgent Father, who hath done all theſe ſo great and ſo good things for us, even of his own meer mercie
free favour, and becauſe mercie pleaſeth him. Since, then, unqueſtionable, that God hath not ſo dealt
every Nation, nay I may juſtly ſay, not with any Nation, as he hath with us of England: O let us all ſeriouſly endeavour to out-ſtrip every Nation round about Thankfulneſſe and Obedience, which is the ſecond Obſervation I deſire to make of theſe remarkable parliamentarie mercies to us. Thankfulnes, I ſay,
author and fountain of all theſe full and fairly over-flowing mercies
bleſſed where the enemie hath curſed.
plots and deviſes of our adverſaries, the main means of their own ſhame and ſmart, of their own certain ruin and deſtruction. Yea who hath thus firmly and faithfully performed all his good word and will unto us hitherto, and David to cry out and ſay, Not unto us, Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name give all the glory, for thy mercie and for thy truths ſake. Yea to raiſe and rouze-up our ſouls to the highest peg and pitch of holy extaſies of praiſe and thankſgiving to our God, and to break-out as the ſame holy David did. My
heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed, I will ſing and give praiſe, even with my glorie. Awake pſalterie and harp (yea, awake ſoul and heart) I my ſelf will awake right early, yea and right earnestly. I will praiſe thee, O Lord, among the people, and I will ſing praiſes unto thee among the Nations. For, thy mercies are great above the heavens, and thy glorie above all the earth. Set up thy ſelf (therefore) O our God, more and more, above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth. And let not this our thankfulneſſe be meerly lip-labour; but let it alſo (yea eſpecially) produce an effectuall work of life-labour ▪
of true obedience, which, indeed, is better than ſacrifice. Obedience, I ſay, to all Gods commanduniverſall-ſubmiſſion to the whole will of God. Which is mainly ſeen in breaking-off from our ſins (thoſe great blocks) that ſtand in the way, and hinder Gods good things from us; accurſin, I ſay, which locks up all the gates of Gods goodneſſe and ſweetneſſe from us) by true and cordiall repentance, by hating and forſaking our cloſeſt and ſ
inſinuating darling ſins our boſome-Dal
which is the onely-golden-key to open the doores, toflood-gates of all Gods rich treaſury of grace and over-flowing favours and mercies to us.
Objection. But, here, I may demand (and not impertinently I hope) May we not alſo give thanks and due commendations to our noble and renowned Worthies in Parliament, who have ſo cheerfully and ſo indefatigably ſpent themſelves and their precious time for us and the Kingdoms good?
To our re Mr Anſwer. Yes undoubtedly, and that moſt duely; but in the firſt and moſt, and beſt place, to the Lord our God, who is the author and fountain
next place, as the Calamie in his Faſt Serp. 1channels or conduit-pipes by and through whom God is pleaſed to convey theſe comforts to us. And, as a grave, godly and learned Divine of our Citie fitly obſerved; It is not onely decent and comely to give them thanks, even as we would, if a Lord or great friend ſhould ſend us ſome extraordinarie gift by his ſervant; we would firſt give condign thanks to the Lord or friend that ſends it, and alſo gratifie the ſervant or meſſenger by whom twas ſent, with ſome reall expreſſion both of our high eſteem of the donor, and alſo of our gratefull hearts to the meſſenger for his pains in bringing it to us: So, without all queſtion it is not onely decent (as I ſaid before) but due and equall that we ſhould heartie thanks to theſe honourable and happie Meſſengers of our great Lord and gracious God, who hath, by them, conferred upon us ſuch and ſo many indelible monuments of mercies and admirable Deliverances; eſpecially when we conſider, I ſay, with what invincible patience and pains, what admired wiſdom and untyred ſweetneſſe of ſpirit, both Lords and Commons, have for us and our good neglected their own lives and livelyhood, their own private and perſonall affairs and juſt delights, (otherwiſe) befitting ſuch perſons and perſonages even beyond the ſlender and lanck expreſſion of my poore pen, yea of the moſt eminent parallel of any by-paſt times ▪
And therepraiſe and prize them, and pray for them too, that our God would repay into the boſomes of them and their poſterity all the ſweetneſſe of their love and loyaltie to God their King and Countrey, which we all have found and felt to our unſpeakable joy and comfort.
ſo, as moſt certain ſo it is. Ah foule ſhame for ſuch as moſt injuriouſly endeavour to traduce and blemiſh (as much as in their foule mouthes and falſe hearts is) the moſt honame and unſpotted reputation of ſo renowned prudent Peers and pious Patriots, whoſe equals (for pietie, prudence, paKingdom
Nation, never, ſince it had a being beheld. Yet ſome, I ſay, have not bluſhed nor been aſham'd to manifeſt ſuch foule effects of black and ignominious ingratitude (and therein moſt palpable impietie) as cannot chuſe but be moſt exceeding irksome and odious both to God and man. Some, ſaying they ſee little or
nothing done (as yet) others convinc'd in their conſciences of what is already done, yet extremly extenuate and under-value the ſame, ſaying, what have they done in ſo long time, what is yet reformed by them that was amiſſe before? Nay are not things (ſay ſome ſpurious imps of Envie) worſe than they were ſo they count the works of reformation alreadie wrought, and farther endeavours of pure ordinances in Religion, right rules of justice which indeed is the main thing that vexeth them, and which, they extremly fear leſt it cut them ſhort of the former libertie of their baſe luſts) This, I ſay, and much more dares black-mouth'd malignitie belch out againſt theſe our neverſufficiently to be praiſed and prized Heroes, notwithſtanding all thoſe moſt admirable and amiable white-clouds of witneſſes of their mightie and bleſſed pains and pietie, as have been by me abundantly made known in all thoſe fore-mentioned parliamentarie-mercies, wherein, as, I have fully and fairly (I think) told my Readers what they have done: So, I could yet farther tell them what more they would have done, had not the moſt notoenvie and malice of impious and irreligious oppoſers the malignant Elymaſſes of our times, and enemies of all righteouſmoleſted and perniciouſly oppoſed their pious purpoſes and religious reſolutions therein. As namely, a full removeall of the inordinate power, vexation and uſurpation of Biſhops, the reformation of the pride and idleneſſe of many others of the Clergie, the caſing of the peoples conſciences from unneceſſarie ceremonies in Gods worſhip, the cenſuring and removing of unworthie and unprofitable Ministers, and conmaintaining and ſetting-up of godly and diligent Preachers through the whole Kingdom; together with many other things of great importance for the ſingular good of the Kingdom, which long have been in propoſition and agitation in Parliament (which the Reader may ſee moſt particularly ſet forth by our Parliamentarie-Worthies themſelves) but, which have been extremly and neceſſitouſly retarded and hindred by plots and projects of the malignant partie; but, which God (I truſt) will in his own good time ripen and bring to maturity of a through reformation, to the praiſe of his grace and wonder-working glorie.
The third ſerious To make' us more faithfull and leſſe fear King Pſal. 44. 1.conſideration and obſervation of all theſe rich and rare Parliamentarie-mercies, incomparable mercies and deliverances of ouland and Nation, ſo deeply deſigned
Davids encouragedeſtruction, but ſo admirably pluckt (as a brand) out of the fire of confuſion, ſhould, moſt juſtly, make us more faithfull and leſſe fearfull. The Prophet David made it a ground of comfort and encouragement to him, to conſider what God had done for his Church and children in former times. We have heard (ſaies he) with our eares, O God, and our fathers have told us what works thou didst in their dayes, and in the times of old. But what a ground of comfort and heart-ſtabliſhing encouragement may it be to us, who heard our fathers tell us of Gods former wonders, but have viſibly ſeen with our own eyes, and found by our own preſent experience, how our God hath with his mightie hand and ſtretched-out arm ſupplanted our enemies, and bleſſedly begun to plant us. How the Lords right hand and mightie arm, and the light of his countenance (becauſe he had a favour to us) hath put us into much preſent poſſeſſion of our hearts deſires, and gloriouſly commanded great deliverances for us. It was alſo (and that moſt juſtly) a ſtrong ſtrengthening ſupp rtation to loyall-hearted and royally-affectionated
Davids expeDavid, to aſſure himſelf of an undoubted conqueſt over that ſeeming unconquerable uncircumciſed Philistine, great Goliah, namely, the ſweet heart-fortifying experience he had had of Gods aſſisting power and preſervation againſt the paw of the Lion, and the paw of the Bear. And ſhall not theſe our ſo many and ſo marvellous great deliverances and ſo ſweetly and ſo freſhly ▪tasting-merci s cauſe us to be confident, that our God will deliGoliah-like and Philistine fears of future moſt dangerous deſignes by our moſt private and pernienemies? O foule ſhame if they ſhould not! Cerexperimentall faith muſt needs be an unmoveable, an impregnable rock, not to be daſht out of countenance, or driven from its ſo faſt hold by baſe and ſlaviſh fears,
couragious and noble Nehemiah) ſhall ſuch a man as I am flie for fear
enemies? So may I ſay to thee (good Reader) and to all my Chriſtian brethren of England, ſhall men of ſo many mercies, ſo many rare pledges of farther purpoſed deliverances, all readie put into our hands, faint and be afraid? Shall we damp and dead our hearts with baſe ſervile fear, and ſlaviſh doubts of infidelity, and, thereby, extremly diſcountenance our glorious cauſe, and mightily encourage our inſulting enemies, who would gladly triumph in our puſillanimous terrours and effeminate faintings? Ouſadly and ſeriouſly to our hearts (for tis a moſt certain and undeniable truth)
nothing did ſo cut ſhort the children of Iſrael from entring Canaan, fruitfull Canaan, the deſire of their ſouls (becauſe the promiſed land of peace and plentie) as godleſſe infidelity ſtill queſtioning and as it were catechiſing Gods power and faithfulnes. O, ſo, let us take great heed that infidelitie and falſe-fears cut us not ſhort of our hopes of a pure reformation (the deſire of our ſouls) and of a perfect deliverance from enſuing dangers, the proheart-chearing happineſſe of us and our posterity. But here I deſire I may not be miſtaken; I have not ſo preſt this dutie of repoſe in God, out of former happie experiments as to caſt any of Gods children into a lethargi of ſupine ſecuritie, or improvident careleſneſſe. No, God forbid this alſo. For, I hereby forbid not all fear, but do deſire we may ſtill and over retain that godly fear which may graciouſly keep our hearts in ſuch an humble posture and diſpoſition as may preſerve us from carnall ſecuritie, as may make us fear the Lord, tremble at his judgements,
not dare to ſin againſt him; fear thus (ſtill) on Gods name, and ſpare not, for, doubtleſſe, bleſſed is the man that (thus) fears alwayes. But, I, hereby, deſire onely to beat down and keep-under that ſlaviſh f ar and cowardly fainting of ſpirit, which I obſerve dearest children, to the diſhonour of our gracious and bountifull God, and the wonderfull weakning and wounding of ſo glorious a cauſe as we are intereſſed in, (and bleſſed be our God that ever we had a part in it) eſpecially haGod on our ſide, and his ſure word of promiſe to ſupport us to back and bear us up in our ſtricteſt ſtraits. Wherefore, my Brethren, let us ſeriouſly and ſincerely often check and controul ſuch unſound and unwarrantable fears, with that fair and favourable reproof from the Lord himſelf of ſuch falſe and faithleſſe fears in his childrenHearken unto me, ye that know righteouſneſſe, the people in whoſe heart is my Law. Fear ye not the reproaches of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings ▪ For, the moth ſhall eat them up like a garment, and the worm ſhall eat them like wooll▪ but my righteouſneſſe
ſhall be for ever, and my ſalvation from generation to generation. And that eſpecially in the 12 and 13 verſes of the ſame chapter. I, even I am he that comforteth you, who art thou that thou ſhouldſt be afraid of a man that ſhall die, and of the ſon of man which ſhall be made as graſſe ▪ and forgetteſt the Lord thy maker, that hath ſtretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundation of the earth▪ and haſt feared continually every day, becauſe of the furie of the oppreſſour, as if he were readie to deſtroy, and where is the furie of the
oppreſſour? Certainly, good Reader, here's a moſt exact deſcription of the condition of very many of Gods children, even at this very day; O what fear of the force or fraud is there of men, yea of wicked men, who ſhall undoubtedly periſh together with their moſt deſperate deſignes and profoundeſt policie? What ſtartbaſe weak project of theirs, though our eyes have ſeen them vaniſh like a vapour and come to nought? What frights and fears are in the hearts of Gods people, even every day (as the Lord ſaies) becauſe of their ſeeming furie, but certain frenzie and madneſſe; which yet, our God hath cruſht and confounded in its higheſt ruff and deepeſt danger-threatning bluſter ▪
For ſhame, therefore, for ſhame, let us labour againſt ſuch groundleſſe, ſuch cauſeleſſe fears ▪
and put on godly reſolution and invincible courage, ſince the Lord is our God, and is good, and does good, and who hath done all this great good for us; Which brings us to my fourth and last Obſervation on theſe fore-mentioned
pa liamentarie mercies, namely, That the Lord onely is our Obſervation. God onely is our ſalvation, therefore to wait on him for deliverance Pſal. 3. 8. Iſa. 36. 6.ſalvation, and hath engaged himſelf and his own great Name to deliver us, by his faithfull word and promiſe, and that therefore we ſhould patiently, wiſely, and zealouſly depend on him for deliverance. Since, I ſay, the Lord onely is our ſtrength, and not the failing arm of fleſh which we know is an accurſed prop, and will deceive like the broken reeds of Egypt; let us therefore ofJehoſaphat, which indeed, I deſire may be a conſtant and cordiall memento to us all to ſtabliſh and ſtrengthen our hearts piouſly and patiently to wait on the Hear me (ſaies that good King) O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jeruſalem, beleeve the Lord your God, ſo ſhall ye be eſtabliſhed, beleeve his Prophets (and promiſes) ſo ſhall ye proſper. Even ſo I ſay to thee, O England, and ye noble and renowned inhabitants of London, famous over the whole Chriſtian world for the glory of God among you, beleeve the many and moſt ſweet and precious-promiſes which God in Chriſt hath made unto you, ſo ſhall ye certainly prevail and proſper; lay hold on the promiſes, yea, rest and roul your ſelves, and even live upon the promiſes, ſo ſhall it undoubtedly go well with thee. Now, we have a ſure word of promiſe, that Babylon ſhall fall, yea ſaies the certainty of it) Babylon is fallen, is fallen, (with an ingemination, which implies, matter of and all the graven images of her gods, the Lord hath broken to the ground. Yea ſaies the Prophet Jeremie, Babylon is ſuddenly
fallen and deſtroyed. Now then, I ſay, good Reader, haſure word of promiſe (even from the fountain of Truth, yea Truth it ſelf) let us with Chriſtian courage, by faith lay faſt hold on it and infallibly beleeve it, for Truth hath ſpoken it; and certainly heaven and earth ſhall ſooner periſh than one jot or tittle of his precious word and promiſe ſhall not be performed. Haſt thou, I ſay, (as a reverend and learned Divine, once ſweetly Carall Paſure word of promiſe, abide cloſe by it, for, certainly, whatſoever the work of Gods providence may be (which ofttimes, I confeſſe, ſeems, even point-blank to croſſe and contradict our hopes, mainly for triall of our faith and patience) yet, ſtick-faſt to the word of promiſe, reſt and relye on it, wait with the patience of the Saints for the performing of it: For, as the Lord ſaid to the Prophet, Write the viſion, and make it plain upon tables that he may
run that readeth it. For, the viſion is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it ſhall ſpeak and not lie, though it tarrie, wait for it, becauſe it will ſurely come, and it will not tarry. See here, good Reader, what ſound and ſolid grounds of Chriſtian courage, comfort and confidence is here? Who then would be afraid? Who would not ſtrongly and immoveably relie on the Lord his ſo mightie, ſo ſure foundation? See, I ſay, what an abundant Cornucopia of ſweet refection is here for the moſt drooping heart that may be, who then would Tantalize in the midſt of ſuch & ſo fair heartupholding ſtore? Alas, alas, good Reader, if, under ſuch props and ſupportations our hearts ſhould flag, and faint, and ſink, by fear and infidelity (which indeed is the bitter root of ſlaviſh fear) might not the Lord too juſtly upbraid us, as, once, he did the murmuring children of Iſrael, the ſinfull and rebellious Iſraelites? Since the Lord onely is our faſt and firmly-rooted Rock, and his
works are perfect, and all his wayes judgement, a God of truth, and without iniquitie, most just and right. If we thus corrupt our ſelves (with ſinfull infidelity) our ſpot is not then the ſpot of his children, but we being thus a perverſe and crooked generation, may not the Lord, then, I ſay, moſt justly upbraid us, and ſay, Do ye thus requite the Lord, O fooliſh people and unwiſe? Is not God your Father that hath bought you and eſtabliſht you? O remember the dayes of old (of thy old ſlaverie and bondage of Romiſh-Egypt, the black and palpable fogs of Popiſh idolatrie and ſuperſtition) conſider the yeers of many paſt generations, ask your fathers and they can ſhew you, your elders and they can tell you. And certainly, as good Ezra ſaid in ſuch a like caſe: If after theſe great mercies and deliverances which God
wrought for us, and wherwith he hath ſo graciouſly crowned
us, we ſhould yet again break our covenant with God, we ſhould violate his righteous commandments, turn his ſo ſweet and precious grace into wantonneſſe, and make this his patience and goodneſſe to us a ground of our licentiouſneſſe, and looſſe living, would not the Lord (and that moſt juſtly) be angrie with us, untill he had utterly conſumed us? Yes certainly he would. For, though tis moſt true that the Lord hath proclaimed himſelf to the whole world, and all generations have found him to be, The
Lord, the Lord, mercifull and gracious, long-ſuffering, and abundant in goodneſſe and truth, keeping mercie for thouſands, forgiving iniquiti
Wherefore, I ſay, let our onely fear be to off
this God, as loving and obedient children; to diſobey ſo loving ▪
ſo gracious and indulgent a Father of mercies, and God of ſo many comforts and conſolations; yea to provoke ſo patient a God, ſo loath to ſtrike when ſtirred, yea conſtrained thereunto by our unſufferable ſins; ſo ready to help and heal what ſin hath wounded. Let us, then, be ſeriouſly adviſed, ſince ſuch free favour is ſhown unto us, to behold
the majeſtie of the Lord, and to learn righteouſneſſe, and not to do unjuſtly in the land of uprightneſſe; leſt whiles we will not learn righteouſneſſe by the hiſtorical miſeries of others (I mean Germanie and Ireland) God make us a hiſtorie of wo and wretchedneſſe
Calamie in his Sermon on the Faſt.others round about us. Yea, I ſay, let us contrariwiſe be co
cordially to love ſuch a God of love who ſo d
to load
with his love in ſuch unparralleld & unpattern'd meaſure as never any Nation could produce the like preſidents. But let this our love be free and filiall ▪
not mercenarie, and ſo (as reverend MCalamie before mentioned in his ſaid Fast-Sermon) meretricious love, onely, or elſe mainly for love of reward or fear of puniſhment, but let it be pure and ſincere, and out of an honest heart and good conſcience, as unto the Lord, the onely ſearcher of the heart and reins, and who is onely pleaſed with ſinceritie and integrity of heart, truth in the inner-parts. And, now, to wind-up all and to conclude ▪
leholy love ▪
I ſay, and perf
be the precious r
of all theſe rare and ſingular mercies of our bountifull God unto us; unto us, I ſay, a Nation ſo i
ſuch an ove
a Nation ſo well-deſerving an direst deſtruction; a Nation ſo freely, ſo extraordinarily beloved, a Nation ſo meretoriouſly deſerving to be extremly hated; a Natifill'd and fraught and beautifide with bleſſings, and yet a Nation and people ſo defiled and ſtained with ſi
and tranſgreſſions of deepeſt dies. In ſad and moſt ſerious conſideration whereSamuel preſt on the people of Iſrael might take deep impreſſion on mine own and all my conſcionable and Chriſtian Readers hearts, Though (O England) thou be a ſinfull Nation, yet fear not, turn not aſide from following the Lord, but ſerve him (now) with all your heart. And turn not aſide
diſloyall apoſtacie to baſe and bloodie and blaſphemous Rome, or any of her Romiſh innovations and Nation-confounding high provocations) for then ſhould ye go after vain things which cannot profit or deliver you in the day of your diſtreſſe, for they are vain. But cleave and adhere faſt to the Lord (and to his pure and holy worſhip) for the Lord will not forſake his people, for his own great Names ſake, becauſe it hath pleaſed the Lord to make us his people above all Nations round about. And as for me your poore and unworthie brother (that I may uſe the ſaid holy Prophets own words) God forbid, that I ſhould ſin againſt the Lord, in ceaſing to pray continually for my land and nation. But I deſire (by this Prophets bleſſed direction) to admoniſh and ſhew you the good and right way, to conſerve and increaſe all theſe many and moſt rich mercies and deliverances to you and your ſpringing poſterity. Onely fear the Lord, and ſerve him in truth, with all your heart; for, conſider how great things he hath done for you. And now for a full and finall cloſe and concluſion of all, give me leave (good Reader) to uſe my moſt dear and even bleſſed Saviours holy and wholeſome exhortation to that diſp
in the Goſpel, on whom he Go home to thy friends (ſaith our Saviour) and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compaſſion on thee. So, I to my ſelf and all my godly Readers, Let us go home to our own hearts, to our own houſes, yea and to Gods houſe too, and tell our own ſouls, our wives, children
friends, yea and teach our children to tell their posterity after us, how great and how good things the Lord our God hath done for us, for England, Scotland and Ireland, three moſt ſinfull Nations; and how he hath had compaſſion on us, meerly for his own free mercies ſake, and becauſe mercie beſt pleaſed him. And, then, and therewithall, let us again and again ruminate and recogitate,
practiſe and perform that pregnant precept of our great Lord and Maſter Chriſt Jeſus to that poore and infirm man, who had for many yeers together been a poore lame creeple (juſt our caſe in the ſpirituall ſenſe) and whom our Saviour had wonderfully
cured. Behold thou art made whole, ſin no more (ſaies our Saviour) leſt a worſe thing come unto thee: So let us all ſay to our own ſouls
particular, and to our land and Nation in generall, behold we are all (hitherto) ſtrangely ſaved and delivered out of the hands of our malicious and malignant enemies; O let us take heed and labour (by the help of Gods Spirit) that we ſin no more (eſpecirealm ruinating ſin of back-ſliding to Romiſh idolatrie and Popiſh ſuperſtition) leſt a worſe thing come unto us. For, certainwiſe husband will diſcreetly bear with many failings, yea and main faults and infirmities too in his wife whom he loves; but ionce defile his marriage-bed by adulterie, O he can by no means endure that indignity and diſgrace: So undoubtedly it is with the Lord our God, who hath married his Church and children to himſelf, who will (as we all have deep & daily experience, and as was moſt remarkably evident in King David) bear with many groſſe and foul faults, and failings in them, but if once they marriage-bed (as I may ſo call it) violate their faith (not that I think or beleeve tis * poſſible for his truly elected-ones and effectually-called-ones to fall away totally or finally from true faith, or ſoul-ſaving grace) and pure profeſſion or religion, by commiidolatrie (ſpirituall adulterie) and fooliſh and faithleſſe ſuperstition, he will by no means put-up or endure this heinous, yea this hideous and moſt hatefull ſin, this infallibly puniſhment-provoking ſin, eſpecially, I ſay, if it be ſtubbornly and ſtiffely perſiſted in, but (as was notably manifeſted in King Solomon) will uninſufferable diſloyaltie, and the fire of his conjugall jealouſie will moſt infallibly break-out upon us to our utter deſtruction without remedie. From which ſo high and dangerous an indignitie to our good God, the Lord for Chriſts ſake, by the irreſiſtible power of his good Spirit, preEngland, Scotland and Ireland, and all thagracious power and good providence, ſhaken-off and broken in pieces that heavy, yea that helliſh yoke of Romes Anti-Chriſtian tyrannie.