The Cry and Revenge of Blood, Chapter 2
CHAP. 2.
Wherein first an entrance is made by way of Application vntounto the Particular sinne of Murther, being the proper subiect of this Treatise: where 2. The Progeny and heynousnesse of this sinne is discouered and enlarged. 3. The causes and occasions thereof in generall are explained. 4. The Dangerous Effects, and consequences thereof are detected. And so 5. Such seuerall vses are propounded as both tend to the preuenting of this sinne, as also for the wise suppressing and weeding out thereof.
FRom that which hitherto hath bene discoursed concerning the Prouidence of God in disposing of such multiplicity and encrease of sinne, in this glorious light of the Gospell, we may gather these Conclusions.
First, that the Gospell is not properly the cause of these euils, but onelyonly 1 the ignorance thereof, 2 peruerting the light, to the iustifying of sinne, or else our want of louelove, and so obedience thereunto.
2 That as Ignorance breeding Error, and so Disobedience to the truth, is the Mother of all that grosse wickednesse that is discouered thereby: So in that Popery is the chiefe and onelyonly Patron of ignorance, so it becomes also the very Chaos of all errors and delusions, and so proues the maine Broker to all grosse and desperate wickednesse.
3 That whereas the weapons of Popish warfare are only carnall and diuellish vsing these as her last refuge, when her Paper bolts, and enchantments will not preuaile, to roote out and destroy all her opposits: as being that Scarletcoloured Whore, whom nothing will secure and satisfie but the bloud of Saints, and all such as shall oppose her Tyranny: Therefore, howsoeuer all other sinnes are harbored in her bosome, as beeing ashamed to hauehave them knowne to the world: Yet this sinne of Murther is her cheife darling and glorious sinne, whereof she is so farre from being ashamed, as that she raignes only thereby, and triumphs therewith; not onelyonly vponupon her pretended power of the secular sword, whereby she arrogates supreme authority ouer life & death: But especially vponupon pretence of the Power of her Keyes, whereby presuming ouer the soules as well as the bodies of men, she thereby confirmes and iustifies this her vnsatiable thirst of bloud, as either seruing for the good of their soules, whose bodies she butchered, or else by cutting off such supposed Leapers, thereby securing the estates of others. Thus doth her Progeny declare the same, who is of her Father the Ioh. 8. 44.Diuell, that was a murtherer from the beginning. So her condition doth import no lesse, who being an harlot, hunts for the precious life of man: so her very Name doth portend, and glorie therein, as being that Apollyon, that Child of Perdition, ordained of God in his Justice for the plaguing of vnbeléeuers, and thereby to ripen her owne destruction: yea her very Habite proclaimes the same, as being Died bloud-red with the slaughter of the Saints, and her End also shall manifest the same, when she shall be made drunken with her owne bloud, and drowned therein, because she hath shed the bloud of the Saints.
Behold here these the generation of this bloudy sinne. Sathan, the Arch enemy of Mankind, enuying his happinesse, and that especially vnderunder the Time of the Gospell, that he might vtterly destroy him both roote and branches, head & taile, soule and body, to this end, abusing the security and Pride of the Times, begdt thereupon the Whore of Babylon, that great Enchantresse and deceiuer of the world. And that he might by this Bastard execute his malice more fully against the Saints, when she came to age & began to reuell in Pride and Soueraignty, then he begat on her this Monstrous and bloudy sinne: whereby as the Viper eateth out the bowels of her Mother, so the first aduentures of this Cruel brat were atchieued against it Damme, one Pope cruelly making away each other: And being thus throughly fleshed and imbrued in her owne bloud. Is it any maruaile if she spares not other? Is it not iust with God, that while she spares not her owne bloud, to take away the lines of the annointed of the Lord, that the Princes of the Earth should secure themselues in letting out her life bloud, and consuming her vtterly with fire, that so her Memoriall may perish from the earth. Behold the righteous doome of Iehoua against the Whore: And obserue we wisely herein, the Progeny of this bloudy sinne and issue thereof.
Shall we now further way this sinne in the Ballance of The heynnusnesse and greatnesse of this sinne. By the Obiect.the Sanctuary, that thereby we may discerne the greatnesse thereof, & so be brought into greater detestation of ye same.
First, then let vsus measure it, by the obiect against which is committed: and heere consider wee these particulars. First the Murtherer, doth what lies in him to take a way the life of God himselfe, in that hee destroyes his Liuely Image in Man: not so much, that outward frame and substance of the Body, as if God were like vntounto man in his outward feature, as some carnal Capernaites hauehave dreamed: as those Acts of the Diuine soule, which it exercised in the bodie, these the boudy hands, do wholy abolish, whereby man in regard of his better part was made after the Image of God, yea hereby the life of God, his prouidence and other acts of his gouernment is in a manner extinguished in that creature who is thus by cruell hand cut off from that holie regiment.
2. The bloody minded man as he thirsts greedily after blood, so doth he lie in waite priuily for his pray, partlie fearing to attempt vponupon equall termes, as being through his Psal. 10.inward guilt a very dastard, and coward; and partly hoping hereby to make surer worke, when all meanes of preuention shalbe forestalled and frustrated. And doth he not hereby proue oftimes a murtherer of his brothers soule, taking him thus on the suddaine, and so preuenting Repentance. May we not consider herein the malice of Diasius the Lawyer, who in a deadly hatred to his brothers soule, first enforced him to deny his faith in Christ, and then instantly tooke away his life.
3 The Murther in destroying his Brother, destroyes himselfe, not only in that his brother wasis owne flesh, but in that he necessarily exposeth himselfe either to be his owne Butcher, though the horror of his conscience, as many hauehave done, or else iustly lies open to the sword of the Magistrate, who aboue all other sinnes will not suffer this vnreuenged.
Yea, doth not the Murtherer in sinning willingly, & plotting his cruelty with deliberation, and desperatenes, doth he not heerein commonly murther his owne soule, as excluding himselfe through this wilfulnes, the mercy of God.
What should I speake of those fearefull euents that hauehave followed the same? hath not the Father murthered the sonne comming home as a stranger, for lucre of his mony, & when he came to the notice thereof, did he not first murther his wife, that procured him thereto, and afterward layd violent hands vponupon himselfe? And did not this accident bring his onelyonly daughter to an vntimely end, and so the whole roote and branches were wholly cut off vtterly. And if here wee shall consider, that hereby many a wife hath beene depriued of her husband, many children made Orphanes, and so exposed to all extremitie, doth not the murtherer make faire worke for the Diuell.
And is not the common Parents hereby depriued of many a good member, doth not the common Mother hereby lament the losse of many a Nursing Father, and so is exposed to combustions and desolations.
Behold heere the haynousnesse of this sinne by the consideration of the Obiect, against which it was committed.
And may wee not hereby also guesse at it greatnesse, in regard of the subiect that committeth the same?
1 Is not the Murtherer a Traytor in the highest degree, both committing treason against God, whose Image hee thus defaceth, and beeing guilty of treason, against his Prince and Countrey, whom he depriueth of their guard and glory: Is not he a Traytor to his Brother, in surprizing him so cruelly? Is he not a Traytor against himselfe, in betraying his owne life and soule hereby to the graue and destruction.
Surely, if of all other the hypocrite shall be beaten with many stripes, then must the Murtherer looke for his ful payment, because hee crowcheth and boweth to onsnare his poore Brother, he kisseth and betrayeth, fawneth and stabbeth, saluteth and smiteth, speakes peaceably with his tongue, when his hand is ready to shed bloud: and all this with a breath, to take away breath, and triumph more securely in his masked wickednesse.
What should I say, the Murtherer is an Atheist? If he thought the eye of God were vponupon him, hee durst not thus wilfully deface the Image of God.
The Murtherer is an Idolater, in defacing the Image of God, and setting vp the Idoll of reuenge in his heart, which he adores aboue all that is called God, either Gods presence, the Magistrates sword, Gods Image in his brother, his life in himselfe.
In a word, as there is not any sinne wherein the Murtherer hath not a share, so herein is his case most fearefull, and desperate, that not sinning of infirmity but of malice, and digested hatred, as herein horesembles his father the Diuell, so hereby he casts himselfe desperately vponupon his malice, to indure vnquenchable torments, for the recompence of his vnsaciable malice.
Thus by the subiect of this grieuous sinne, wee may seeke some farther scantling of the haynousnesse thereof.Causes of murther.
Shall we now proceede to examine this sinne by the causes thereof, that so we may take a further view of the odiousnesse of the same?
Surely, if we looke vp to the first Murtherer that euer 1 Enuy.was, may we not obserue, that Enuy prouoked him therevnto, because his brothers was accepted, and his sacrifice was teiected, therefore did Cain (saith the Apostle) stay his brother Abell, that was more righteous then he: And was not the pride of his heart the occasion of this enuy, because 2 Pride.Caine was not respected according to the conceit of his owne worth; therefore he enuied his owne brother, that was better respected of God then himselfe, and so through enuy shed his innocent bloud. Was not Ioseph sold through enuy by his brethren: Consider we the next Murtherer, recorded in the booke of God: Was not Lamech an 3 Adultery.Adulterer, and thereupon a murtherer: either inflamed thereto by iealousie, which is the rage of a man, and therefore 4 Iealousie.he will not spare in the day of vengeance, or enraged thereto by lust, which will admit no partner therein. Did not Dauids adultery end in murther? 2. Sam. 11. Is not lust 5 Lust.the firebrand to contentions and murthers, Iam. 4. 1. 2. was not lust the cause of that treacherous murther of the Shechemites? Did not lust bring a whole Tribe in Israel to this end? And what caused Absolon to seeke his fathers 6 Ambition.life, was it not ambition and desire of soueraignty?
What mooued Ahab to take away Naboths life? was it not a couetous desire to enioy his Vineyard, was not Iudas blinded by couetousnesse, to betray his Master to the 7 Couetousnesse.death?
And may we not see all these causes concurring together in those cruell Iewes, that murthered the Lord of Life? To conclude.
Is not rage and furie vsually the spurre hereunto?
HaueHave not bitter words sometimes ended in bloudy 7 Rage: 9 Bitter speaking:broyles, and barbarous murthers?
And is not drunkennesse an ordinary harnenger to this sinne, not onelyonly murthering hereby it master suddenly, but also prouoking in his cuppes, to spill the blood of others; so iust is the Lord to meete with sinners in their kinde, that they which make no conscience to abuse and spill the good creatures of God, seruing for the encrease of bloud, and maintenance of life, but hauehave béene bretheren in such horrible sinnes, shall bee giuen vp to shed the bloud of each other, and so depriue themselues of that blessing which they hauehave abused.
These are some causes and occasions of this grieuous sinne, vntounto which, if we shall adde what may bee collected from the consideration of the subiect formerly deciphered, we may conclude, that as the want of Gods feare, is a speciall cause of falling into this sinne, so obstinacy and hardnesse of heart, proceeding there-from, doth much enflame and harden therein: yea, an enraged and guilty soule, doth oft-times prouoke hereunto, out of hellish despaire.
As touching the Effects of this grieuous sinne, let that suffice which hath beene spoken concerning the haynousnesse thereof, onelyonly giuegive mee leaue to adde some cautions herein.
That though it be a grieuous sinne to shed bloud: yet this neither doth debarre the Magistrate and his Instruments, Two Cautions.from executing of Iustice against Malefactors, because they are Deputies vntounto the Lord herein, and hauehave authority hereunto from his Word; neither doth it priuiledge any Priuate man vponupon any instinct whatsoeuer, to presume hereunto, though some inferiour calling in the Family hath beene wickedly thought by some to warrant the same, because the power of life & death, is in the hands of the Supreame Magistrate, and such as are immediately deputed from him thereunto.
Though aboue all other murthers, that of our selues is most vnnaturall and monstrous: therefore, as wee may not iustifie any such particular sinnes, by any example of Sampson, or particular instinct. So wee must bee meruailous chary and tender in condemning absolutely their estates, that through violence of Tentation, or such like distempers, hauehave made away themselues, because either they were not themselues in that distemper, and so it shall not be imputed vntounto them, or it was done, not without some reluctation, and so the Lord may hauehave mercy vponupon them: onelyonly let vsus be carefull not to imitate them herein, and so leaue them to the Lord, to whom they fall or stand.
Thus of the Effects and Iudgement of this sinne.
Proceed we now in the last place to consider such Antidotes Antidotes to preuent murther.as may preuent the same.
The principall whereof is to maintaine peace with our God: because, if our wayes do please him, he will not only To mainetain peace with God.make our enemies to be at peace with vsus, that we may not feare to be prouoked, either by bridling their corruptions, as he did sometimes Labans & Esaus, or turning their hearts towards vsus, as he hath done the hearts of many persecutors. But will also incline our hearts to be at peace with our enemies, either by giuing vsus wisedome to ouercome their euill with good, or affording vsus Patience to beare with our enemies; or sustaining vsus with meeknesse, neither to prouoke, nor be prouoked by them.
Now we shall wisely Maintaine peace with God. How,
1 If we walke closely with him according to his will, with all power and diligence, not leaning to our owne Wisedome, but relying on his reuealed word, and not presuming of ought either beyond, or short thereof.
2 If, though we faile and slip daily (as who can cleare himselfe therein) yet we shall daily iudge our selues, and by repentance renue our couenant with the Lord, warring daily with our corruptions, and maintaining the spirituall combat, hereby we may preserue our Peace with God.
3 If, séeing our best workes are mixed with such corruption, that if the Lord should be seuere to marke what is done amisse, euen when we doe our best, we shall neuer be able to abide it, we shall therefore daily deny our best righteousnesse, and labour to be found in Christ, renuing our right in him: hereby we shall renue and Maintaine our Peace with God.
4 And yet seeing the grace of God shalbe sufficient for vsus, in what soeuer wants or extreamities may befall, if now we can in patience possesse our soules, not repining at the dispensation of our God, but being contented therewith in all occasions, we shall so hunger after what wee want, as that we can be thankfull for that which we hauehave, and so husband the same with all vprightnes and diligence to the glory of our God, and the generall good: this is an excellent meanes to maintaine Peace with God, Lastly, that we may maintaine Peace with God, let vsus still nourish enmity against the world: because the Amity of the World is Enmity against God: so vsing the good therein, that we hate the euill thereof, and so vsing the good that we trust not therein, so enioying the things thereof, as that we are still ready to part with them at the Pleasure of the giuer: accounting all things as doing, that we may win Christ, and yet by our wise husbandrie, laying vp a good foundation by them, against the day of Christ.
Thus may we maintaine peace with God.
A second preseruatiue against this bloody sinne is to maintaine peace with Men, I say so farre, as possible we may to hauehave peace with all men.
This we shall do,
If we be carefull to giuegive vntounto each his due, according to their callings and occasions, as comfort to whom comfort belongs, tribute to whom tribute. &c.
2 If we can in all wrongs, looke vp to God, and so leaue vengeance vntounto him, as considering wee hauehave deserued in his Justice a thousand fold more.
4 If we be quicke in prouoking to goodnesse, and recompensing the same, and slow to wrath or any such occasions as may breed discord, and such consequences, as follow thereupon.
5 Being wise, not to further them in sinne, or smother the same, vnlesse it be of infirmity, where there is some signe of repentance, as knowing that brethren in euill will proue whippes to each other. They hauehave not loued so dearely, till their turnes be serued, as when they hauehave their will, they wil hate most deadly. Witnes Ammon his dealing with Thamar his sister.
6 Lastly, that wee may keepe peace with men, bee wee very wise in ruling our tongues, auoyding rash censuring, vpbraiding, taunting, &c, whereby anger is kindled, and reuenge prouoked.
Thus may we maintaine peace with men.
A third Preseruatiue against this Monstrous sin, is wisedome to auoyd the occasions thereof.
Which are those before touched.
As Pride, Enuie, Lust, Ielousie, Ambition, Couetousnes, Rage, Bitter speaking, Drunkennes, and the like.
Unto which we may adde these that follow.
1. Euill company as being a speciall firebrand as to all other sins, so this: how many murthers hauehave bene hatched and atchiued by the Oportunity and Benefit hereof.
2 Discontent whereby the mind being inwardly at war with it selfe, cannot be at peace with any other, but hath this onelyonly desperate remedie to ease it owne feuer, euen to fall vponupon any that stands in it way, friend nor foe, nothing comes amisse.
3 Superstition as bewitching the heart with such vnsatiable louelove, that it thinkes no cost to deare, no losse to great for the satisfying of it will worshippe, no though it were to cause their children to passe through the Fire, though it were to launch themselues with kniues, and offer vp their bodies for the sinne of their soules. Math. 6. 5. 6.
4 Vnlawfull recreation or abuse and excesse in lawfull.
Thus may we preuent this bloody sinne.
Lastly, also take we some good directions how to weede it out. and here there are.
Some instructions for the Magistrate, that seeing the sword is put in his hands, therefore he beware how hee suffer the Murtherer to escape, least he heare that sentence, because thou hast suffered a man to escape that was appoynted to death, therefore thy life shall go for his life, thy people for his people.
2 Whereas there hath bene of antient time (when trialls of titles depended rather vponupon valour then truth) an ordinary manner of disciding great differences, by single combate betweene two parties, this as it is vtterly vnlawfull, and so no better then murther, because they are not equall meanes to discide controuersies. And 2. It falleth out that he is Conquerour before men, who is guilty before God: therefore the Magistrate must in no wise giuegive way to these, lest he be guilty of the blood that is spilt hereby.
3 Much lesse may he tollerate those single combates, that rise vponupon quarrels, and vaine pleas of reputation, Valour, disgracefull speeches, &c. because they hauehave neither any sound warrant from the Word; no, not in any reason, or equity may be endured.
4 As for Sanctuaries and Popish Receptacles, for Murtherers, neither may the Magistrate allow of these, because the Lord hath expresly commanded, That such an one shall be taked from his Alter and die, Exod. 21. 14. according as Ioab was serued in the like case, 1. Kings 2. 24.
5 Seeing populous assemblies, vnderunder pretence of Recreations, are vsually occasions of Quarrels, and so of murthers: therefore the Magistrate must be meruailous wise, in giuing an Inch, lest the People take an Ell, rather studying to restrains the vnbridled corruption of the people, with such as may humble the flesh, then to yeeld them any occasion, to turne their liberty into wantonnesse, remembring that the pretence of such liberty, hath beene the colour to draw vnlawfull assemblies together, and so prouoke to Rebellion, and great blood shed. Consider the blood that was spilt in iest, when Ioab and Abner met together with their companies, and tell me whether that iest were not in earnest, that merriment, madnesse.
Thus for the Magistrate.
For Priuate men, let them wisely obserue those rules, deliuered formerly for preuention of this sinne, and the same will also enable them to wéede it out.
And thus hitherto of this bloody sinne, together with the Nature, Haynousnesse, Causes and Meanes to preuent the same.
It followeth now that wee make some particular application hereof vntounto the instance in hand, that so wee may discerne the truth of this Description, confirmed in this example: And therein wonder at the wisedome and prouidence of God, in permitting so horrible a wickednesse, and after so long concealing thereof, in due season discouering the same.