A Proclamation in the Name of the King of Kings, Part 1
A Proclamation In the Name of the King of Kings, To all the Inhabitants of the Iſles of Great Brittain: And eſpecially, to thoſe who have Hypocritically pretended to Juſtice, Mercy, Honeſty and Religion; (as alſo to them who have lived in open Prophaneſs and Impiety) ſummoning them to Repentance, by denouncing GOD's Judgements, and declaring his Mercy, offered in the Everlaſting Goſpel.
Warrantably Proclaimed, and Preached, by GEO. WITHER. Though not by any Humane Ordination.
Whereto are added, ſome FRAGMENTS Of the ſame Authors, omitted in the firſt Imprinting of the Book, Intituled, Scraps and Crums; and a few which were Collected ſince that Impreſſion, and during his Impriſonment.
LONDON, Printed in the year, 1662.
A PROCLAMATION In the Name of the King of Kings,
To the Inhabitants of the Iſles of Great Brittain; eſpecially to all thoſe who have Hypocritically pretended to Juſtice, Mercy, Honeſty and Religion; as alſo, to them, who live in open Prophaneſs and Impiety; ſummoning them to Repentance, by denouncing GOD'S Judgments; and thereto encouraging them, by declaring his Mercy, offered in the Everlaſting Goſpel.
ON the firſt day of the Week, the ſecond day of the firſt MonethMonth, in the ſecond Year of revived Monarchy in theſe Iſlands, and in the eighth MonethMonth of my Confinement, for diſcharging my Conſcience; My Conſort being then with me in the houſe of my Impriſonment, and intending to reade ſome parcel of holy Scripture for our inſtruction and refreſhment; The firſt place preſenting it ſelf to her view, and then read, was the ſeventh Chapter of the Prophecy of Jeremiah; the Contents whereof, and part of the next, ſeemed to my underſtanding, when I had heard them, to be ſo pertinent to theſe Nations in this Generation, that I was immediatly inſpired with a ſtrong perſwaſion, that the effect of thoſe words, heretofore dictated to Jeremiah by the LORD, was then ſpoken to me, by the Spirit of the ſame GOD; and, he having given me fifty years Experience of the Tranſactions between Himſelf and this People, ſince I came to years of diſcretion; and alſo called me to be a Prophet by that Ordinary Anointing, whereof every true Member of Jeſus Chriſt is partaker; I thereupon thought my ſelf as truly obliged in Conſcience, to proclaim it to all the Provinces, Counties, Towns, and Cities of theſe Iſlands, as the ſaid Prophet Jeremiah was to publiſh it in the Gate of the LORD's Houſe at Jeruſalem. Therefore, in obedience to that Internal Motion, I now declare and apply it in the ſame tearms, changing and adding only the names and prevarications therein mentioned, into thoſe which are proper to this Time and Place. The Effect of the ſaid Prophecy, is this which next follows paraphraſtically expreſſed; and in the Name and Fear of GOD, I thus proclaim it, Mutatis mutandis.
JEREMIAH, the 7th Chapter, and part of the 8th.
THe Word which came to the Prophet Jeremiah from the LORD, came to me, by the ſaid Prophet, ſaying; Stand in the Gate of this City, wherein the LORD hath yet his Houſe, there Proclaim this Word, and ſay; Hear the Word of the LORD, and ye Inhabitants of Great Britain, who pretend to worſhip the LORD. Thus ſaith the LORD, the LORD of Hoſts, the GOD of Iſrael, and your GOD: Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cauſe you to dwell in this place. Truſt ye not in lying words, (or, in your formal ſanctity and will-worſhip) ſaying, The Temple of the LORD, The Temple of the LORD, (nor ſay in boaſt, here is only his true reformed Church, and with us are his Ordinances) for know, The Temple of the LORD are theſe, even they that obey his Word; in them he dwells, and among them is his approved Worſhip. If you amend your wayes and your doings; If you thorowly execute Judgement between a man and his neighbour; If you oppreſs not the Stranger, the Fatherleſs, or the Widow, nor ſhed innocent Blood in this place, nor walk after other Gods in your heart, to your hurt, (nor worſhip the True GOD according, to the ſuperſtitious Inventions of men) then will I cauſe you to dwell in this place, which I gave unto your fathers, for ever. But, behold, ye truſt in lying words, that cannot profit: Will ye murder, commit Adultery, ſwear falſly, ſacrifice to falſe Gods, and walk after ſuch as ye know not, and then come and ſtand before me in my Houſe, or think in your hearts you were delivered from your late troubles, to do all theſe abominations? Is that Houſe which is called by my Name, become a Den of Robbers in your eyes? Behold, I have ſeen it, ſaith the LORD. Conſider now my Place which was in Shiloh, where I ſet my Name at the firſt: Conſider alſo the City of Jeruſalem, and my Temple therein: heed what I did to thoſe places for the wickedneſs of my People Iſrael: For, in regard ye have done ſuch works as they did, ſaith the LORD; and, foraſmuch as I ſpake unto you (as I did to them) riſing up early, yet was not heard, not anſwered when I called upon you; I will now do unto thoſe Temples upon which ye have impoſed my Name, and to that Superſtitious Worſhip, wherein ye truſt, as I have done to Shiloh and Jeruſalem: For I will caſt you out of my ſight, as I (long ago) caſt our Ephraim, (and as I lately cast out many of your brethren.) Therefore pray not for this people, that they may totally be delivered (from the temporary viſitation, which their wilful ſins have, as it were, conſtrained my Justice to bring upon them, leſt my Mercy ſhould be quite contemned) life not up thy prayer, nor make interceſſion on their behalf, for I will not hear thee to that purpoſe.
Seeſt thou not what they do in the Cities of theſe Iſles, and in the ſtreets of LONDON their chief City? (Obſerveſt thou not what Swearings and Forſwearings there are? what Diſſemblings? what Apoſtacies? and how few are now ſecure from the Spiritual and Temporal Oppreſſions of this Generation? (As they did in Jeremiahs dayes) the Children gathered wood, the fathers kindled the fire, the women kneaded the dough to bake cakes for the Queen of Heaven, and to pour out drink oblations to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger, ſaith the LORD: (So the Children, the Fathers, the Women, and the People of all ſorts and degrees, contribute toward their Superſtitions, according to their abilities, after the mode of theſe times; and pour out their drink Oblations of curſed healths, to thoſe Idols which they have ſet up and honour, to the provocation of GOD's wrath.) But do they provoke me to anger ſaith the LORD? do they not rather provoke themſelves to the confuſion of their own faces? Verily they do ſo: therefore, thus ſaith the LORD, Behold, my anger and my fury ſhall be poured out on this place, upon Man and Beaſt, upon the trees of the Field, upon the Fruits of the ground, and they ſhall conſume, as if they were burnt up with an unquenchable fire. Thus alſo, ſaith the LORD of hoſts, the GOD of Iſrael; (make your ſelves merry with your carnal delights, and Superſtitious vanities:) Put your burnt-offerings to your Sacrifices, and eat Fleſh; Add more of your formal Thanksgivings, to your formal Humiliations; Revive the late interrupted Traditions of men; Pleaſe your ſelves in them, and Gormundize upon the Profits you raiſe out of them, untill you are fat; yet know, GOD delights not in them. What I ſpake unto your Fathers, and unto your ſelves, in the dayes wherein I brought you out of Aegypt, (out of the bodily and ghoſtly ſervitude of that myſtical Aegypt, and out of that Babyloniſh Captivity, whereunto you are preparing to return) I commanded nothing concerning ſuch ſacrifices as you have offered, (nor gave I unto you any ſuch Ordinances, as are many of thoſe which ye impoſed as mine) But, this I commanded you, ſaying, obey my Voice, and I will be your GOD, and ye ſhall be my People: walk in the wayes that I have commanded, that, it may be well with you; nevertheleſs, ye have not hearkned nor inclined your ear, but walking after the evil Counſels of your own hearts, went backward and not forward. Ever ſince that day, wherein I delivered you from your Spiritual Thraldom, and in which I would have delivered you from your Corporeal ſlaveries; I have even from that time until this day, ſent unto you my ſervants the Prophets (of all ſorts, and with various diſpenſations) riſing early, and dayly ſending them, as I did heretofore to my People Iſrael; yet, you hearkned not unto me, nor Inclined your ear unto them; but, hardned your necks, and did worſe then your Fathers; (yea, worſe then other tranſgreſſors whom I formerly deſtroyed, and by whoſe fall, ye ought to have taken warning) Therefore thou ſhalt ſpeak unto them theſe words: Even thou into whoſe heart I have put it, to make application of what I heretofore ſpake by my Prophet Jeremiah, ſhalt Proclaim unto them theſe words, though they have not hearkned unto them; yea, thou ſhalt call again upon them though they will not anſwer thy expectation; And, thus thou ſhalt ſay unto them: This is a Nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their GOD, nor receive Inſtruction, notwithſtanding the Judgments whereby I have lately proved them many years together; and which, in part, yet lie upon them; for, Truth is periſhed, and cut off from their mouth.
Cut off therefore, your hair; lay aſide your Ornaments, and caſt them away; Forbear your Pride, your Luxury, your Oppreſſions, and the Trophies of your vanities, in this time at leaſt of penury and Afflictions; and take up a Lamenta…ion in the high Places, wherein ye have exalted your own Inventions: For, the L0RD hath rejected and forſaken the Generations of his wrath. The Children and Inhabitants of theſe Iſles, have done evil in my ſight, ſaith the LORD. They have ſet up their abominations in my houſe to pollute it, and in thoſe places whereupon they have impoſed my Name, inſtead of what I commanded. They have built high places, wherein are committed things as abominable as the ſacrificing of ſons heretofore in Tophet in the valley of the ſon of Hinnom. They have ſet up ſet wayes of worſhipping me, as were not commanded by me, nor ever entred into my heart: Therefore, the dayes will come ſaith the LORD; that thoſe Places ſhall not be called by their old names, but places of ſlaughter, and in them ſhall be Burials, until there be not roome to contain more. Then, the Carkaſſes of theſe Nations ſhall be meat for the Fowls of Heaven, and for the Beaſts of the Earth, and no man ſhall fright them away. Then, alſo, will I cauſe to ceaſe from the Cities of Great Brittain, and from the Streets even of her chief City, the voyce of mirth and gladneſs the duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page voyce of a cheerful Bridegroom and his Bride; and the ſound of thoſe Muſical Inſtruments wherein ye are now ſo delighted, with all the altar'd Relicks of Superſtition. Moreover, thus ſaith the LORD, a time will come wherein they ſhall take the bones of your Kings, and the bones of your Princes, (as it lately befell to others) and the bones of your Prieſts (and Prelates) and the bones of your Prophets who ſeduced you, and the bones of the Inhabitants of your chief City out of their Graves, and ſpread them before the Sun and Moon, and before the Hoaſt of Heaven, and before the face of thoſe falſe gods whom you have loved, ſerved, walked after, ſought and worſhipped, and they ſhall never be gathered together, nor buried, but be as dung upon the face of the Earth. And, death ſhall be rather choſen then life, of all thoſe who remain of this evil Family, whereſover they remain in the places whither I have driven them, ſaith the LORD of Hoaſts. Thou ſhalt ſay thus likewiſe unto them; Thus ſaith the LORD, ſhall they fall and not riſe? Shall they cauſe him ſo to turn away from them that he ſhall not return? If not, why then is this People ſlidden back by a perpetual backſliding? holding faſt their deceit, and refuſing to return? I hearkned and heard, but they ſpake not aright, no man repenteth himſelf perfectly of his wickedneſs, ſaying, what have I done? but every one runneth on in his courſe, as the Horſe ruſheth into the battel. They are more brutiſh than the brute Creatures; for, the Stork knoweth her appointed time; the Turtle, the Crane, and the Swallow know the time of their coming, but my People know not the Judgement of the Lord; yet, they ſay, We are wiſe, and the Law of the LORD is with us; yea, they boaſt as if they were the moſt glorious, and beſt reformed Church of Chriſt upon Earth.
The remainder of this Prophetical rebuke and Invitation to Repentance, I leave to be peruſed in the ſaid propheſie of Jeremiah, and applyed by every Reader as GOD ſhall give him underſtanding, that the Myſtical Balm of Gilead therein mentioned, may be timely ſought after; and that Phyſitian found, by whom our Maladies may be cured; To which purpoſe, I will proceed with what I have more to ſay, in order to the making you deſirous and capable of receiving benefit by that Univerſal Goſpel, which the Angel flying through the midſt of Heaven, was to Preach to every Nation, Kindred, Tongue and People throughout the World; and, after a more general reception thereof (it being that which will deſtroy the whole Myſtery of Iniquity, Root and Branch) the Angel next immediately following, will bring tidings, that Babylon is fallen.
This foregoing Branch of the Prophet Jeremies Commiſſion; being, (as it were by way of Exemplification) delivered out to me upon the occaſion aforeſaid, I was internally moved to publiſh it to theſe Nations in this my Generation, as I have now done this day; And I have performed it warrantably, with a good Conſcience, becauſe, I am infallibly aſſured, that, it was recorded for all Nations and Generations to the end of the World, as well as intended for the Inhabitants of Judah in Jeremiahs dayes; and that it ought to be applyed to all thoſe who are found guiltie of the ſame, or of the like Prevarications; and this I believe, in regard he who doth nothing in vain, would not have preſerved, during ſo many Ages, this Record of his Judgements, and of the particular paſſages between him and his People; and cauſed it to have been ſo diſperſed throughout the Earth, had it not concerned all his People in all Times and Places. Therefore, it evidently appearing unto me, that GOD moved me to apply it to theſe Nations, I have accordingly made Application, in this manner; conceiving it will operate the more effectually, by being expreſſed in the Prophets own powerful words & ſenſe; and much better heeded and regarded then in mine onelyonly; or if it had been undertaken by my own Premeditated Deſign, though I have ſeen enough to warrant the juſtneſs and neceſſity of making ſuch an Addreſſe upon a morral account. I have not hereby charged upon theſe Nations any tranſgreſſion which was charged upon the Inhabitants of Judea and Jeruſalem by the Prophet Jeremiah, (nor any Prevarications reſembling their ſins or to them equivolent) but, ſuch as GOD, my own Conscience, and moſt men know (or may know) theſe Nations are guilty of; nor do I exclude my ſelf out of that number which needs Repentance, but, have performed my duty faithfully without reſpect or diſreſpect of Perſons according to my underſtanding. And, being conſcious that it is my duty ſo to do, I will now, by the Authority of thoſe Credentials, which GOD hath written in my heart (and which are in part, publickly ſhown) make uſe of them in ſuch Immergencies and Contingencies as occur, faithfully adding what I believe he hath further Commiſſioned me to declare, ſo far forth as my Experience and his known Inſtructions, joyntly conſidered, ſhall indubitably warrant. And that is, at this time to ſend out among you an Exhortation to be wary, that you ſtill harden not your hearts as in thoſe former dayes of Temptation and Provocation, wherein ye provoked GOD's wrath: but, that you hearken unto his Voice whilſt the day of Grace laſteth. But, alas! I am between hope and fear, it is almoſt too late with many; For, they who are worſt, have ſo high a conceit of themſelves, that there is more hope of meer fooles then of them. They think themſelves to be ſafe & clear-ſighted, when they are indeed, miſerable, poor, blind, and naked; they ſuppoſe they are ſetled upon the hill of Sion, whereas, they are yet but as it were upon the mount Gilboa, even in ſlippery places, where they cannot long ſtand faſt; For, we have almoſt ſo generally indulged Oppreſſions, Injuſtice, and Vanities, that they ſeem to be the principal ſupporters of our Safety, Power, and Honour; yea to be eſſential to our Lawes and legal Cuſtoms, as alſo ſo great a part of our Revenues, & the means of our Subſiſtance, that, we can hardly live without them. Verily break off in due time from your ſins, and from all the occaſions of tranſgreſſing; Hear, repent and turn ſpeedily to the LORD our GOD, not preſuming nor deſpairing.
In the firſt place, I do humbly (though I might do it Magiſterially) beſeech you my dear brethren (who ſeeming to be Profeſſors of the Goſpel, have diſſembled or Apoſtatized, or any way given occaſion of Scandal) be exemplary to others in a ſignal Repentance: For, nor your formal, nor your former Righteouſneſs, will avail, if you have Apoſtatized from it. Though not in reſpect to my words, yet for the Honour of GOD, whoſe ſervants you are thought to be, and for your own ſafety ſake, repent and turn to the LORD unfeignedly, all ye, who have hitherto taken the Name of Chriſt in vain, and prophaned it, by not living the Life of Chriſt according to thoſe Doctrines of his, which ye have profeſſed; nor acting, nor ſuffering conſtantly according to that honeſty, and Piety, whereof ye made fair outward ſhewes: For, many of you have made ſordid Gain by a pretended Godlineſs; and like the Religious Whore, of whom Solomon ſpeaketh, have made your ſeeming holineſs, and formal Devotions and Conformities, to be Preambles and Brokers to your Avarice and uncleanneſs. There have been very great failings of late in that kind among the beſt of us; ſo much ſelf-ſeeking, diſſembling and Apoſtatizing, that, there was little truth in our words, or deeds; and very great and ſevere are thoſe chaſtiſements which GOD hath already laid upon us for our tranſgreſſions, and greater are yet to come, if we more heartily repent not. All GOD's Judgements afore-mentioned, and threatned againſt Judah, by the Prophet Jeremiah, might have been prevented by timely Penitence; and ſo may thoſe wherewith we are threatned, and theſe alſo be quite removed, which yet continue. But, neither our Righteouſneſs in time paſt, from which we have Apoſtatized, ſhall profit us; nor ſhall our ſins which we have heretofore committed damnifie us, if we reform our wayes: For, GOD hath not onelyonly ſaid it, but ſworn it alſo by his own Life, Ezek. 33. 11, 12. &c. As I live ſaith the LORD, I have no pleaſure in the death of the wicked, but rather, that he may turn from his wickedneſs and live; The Righteouſneſs of the Righteous ſhall not deliver him in the day of his Tranſgreſſion, nor ſhall the wicked fall by his wickedneſs in the day that he turneth from it: neither the Righteouſneſs of the Righteous ſhall be remembred when he committeth Sin, without Repentance; nor the wickedneſs of the wicked be mentioned, when he forſaketh his Sin; but he ſhall ſurely live, though I formerly ſaid unto him, thou ſhalt ſurely die. GOD, who will not be mocked, hath begun to execute Judgements at his own Houſe, and we prolong and increaſe them, by continuing and encreaſing our Trangreſſions; yea, and not onelyonly by our little awe of his Judgements, but by not rightly conſidering his Love, and by defect of that mutual and hearty love to each other which moſt eſſentially denominats us to be Chriſts Diſciples; for, we have thereby multiplyed our ſorrows and Troubles, more then all our Adverſaries could elſe have done; And, though we had no other Oppreſſors or Perſecutors, that alone is ſuffcient (if it continue) to make us utterly deſtroy our ſelves. Conſider this, my dear brethren, with what it hath already brought upon us, that ye may ſpeedily repent: GOD vouchſafe his Grace to aſſiſt you therein, and to me Perſeverance alſo, in unfeigned Repentance and Amendment.
Repent likewiſe, all ye, who ſay in your hearts, There is no GOD, and ſport away your Salvation, by ſuch horrible Imprecations, as GOD damn me; For, though you not onelyonly think, but ſpeak and act alſo, as if indeed there was no GOD, you will one day find there is one, and that he hath ſeveral wayes manifeſted himſelf unto you, both openly and in ſecret (by his Judgements and Mercies upon your ſelves, and others for your example) though you will not yet acknowledge it, but run on impudently, into all manner of impietie and prophaneſs, promiſing unto your ſelves Peace, when deſtruction hangs over your heads. For, as the Prophet ſaith, Jerem. 49. 12. and 25. 29. Behold, ſaith the LORD, they whoſe Judgment was not to drink of the Cup, have already drunk thereof; and ſhall you go unpuniſhed? you ſhall not go unpuniſhed, but ſhall ſurely drink it. I have begun to bring evil upon thoſe who are called by my Name, and ſhall you utterly eſcape puniſhment? you ſhall not eſcape; for I will bring a ſword upon all the Inhabitants of the Earth, ſaith the LORD.
But, I will conclude with an Evangelical Conſolation; and that which I ſhall declare unto you is an Epitome of the Everlaſting Goſpel, which aſcertaineth that Jeſus Chriſt is the Eternal Mercy of GOD, and the Redeemer of all mankinde according to the Covenant of Grace, the ſame to day, yeſterday, and for ever. This, I am authorized to Preach unto you by an unqueſtionable Ordination and Commiſſion; For, I declare it according to that Original Commiſſion, which was given to all who were or ſhould be the Miniſterial Diſciples of Jeſus Chriſt, thereto qualified by the Gifts given to men from above, though not Ordained by men: For, I declare it not by that Light alone which the Son of GOD potentially ſet up in me when he aſſumed the Humane Nature, (and wherwith he enlightens in ſome degree every one who comes into the World, for the Salvation of his own Soul) but, by having his Goſpel declared and witneſſed alſo unto me by that Light in the Lanthorn of his Word, which ought to be a guide to every mans feet, and the direction of all men in their wayes, left the other Light, being but like that, which the Moon receiveth by reflection from the Sun, may be darkned by the interpoſitions of the Fleſh and the World, or by the deluſions of the Devil. GOD's Threatnings, Mercies, and Promiſes, are all, or for the moſt part, conditional; and may be, or may not be, according as we demean our ſelves, when he calleth & offereth his preventing and aſſiſting Grace; wherein he is never wanting to perform his part of the Covenant made with mankinde in Chriſt Jeſus. He is long-ſuffering, ſlow to Anger, would all men ſhould be ſaved, and deſireth not the death of any ſinner. There is no end of his Mercy, unleſs to them onelyonly, who wilfully forſake him firſt (after he ſo ſufficiently rewards the Will) when he ſaith, Give me thy heart, which he may give up unto him, by vertue of the Talent which he hath received; And, even to them who then reſiſt his gracious offer, he is not extreamly ſevere, until they do (as it were) compell his Juſtice to limit his Compaſſion, by juſtly hardening them into a final Impenitency, that his Mercy may not be made contemptible, to the diſadvantage of others, by their yeilding to the Fleſh, which by his ayd they might have ſubdued; and by their ungratefully adhering to, and believing his, and their greateſt Enemy, rather then truſting to his Word, who placed them in a happy Condition; and, when they forfeited it by their own default, had ſo much compaſſion on them (even whilſt they were his Enemies) as to give his onelyonly begotten and dearly beloved Son, …o be diſgracefully Crucified to death for their Redemption. This Love being well conſidered, …s ſo ſtrong a Motive to Repentance, that, they with whom it prevailes not, will be little moved with Preaching Everlaſting Damnation in Hell Fire.
If ye be not ſenſible of this unſpeakable Mercy, nor of Spiritual Judgments, let the ſenſe ye yet have of thoſe that be Temporary, and Corporeal, make entrance for the former into your ſerious and timely conſideration. Beſide many other Plagues that now lie upon you, GOD hath lately threatned to deprive us of the Fruits of the Earth for our Trangreſſions; we fear a Famine; and it having already begun to pinch us, we pretended a General Humiliation here in England, that our fear might be removed: But, what follows? we continue ſtill in our unrighteouſneſs and unmercifulneſs, proſecuting our former courſes, rather with more then leſſe violence. The Oppreſſed are not eaſed, but more oppreſſed. Priſoners are not ſet free, to whom the Lawes allow Freedom; but, Jayls are daily repleniſhed with new gueſts, barbarouſly treated, Even harmleſs men and women ſuffer meerly for their Conſciences in relation to GOD, or upon miſinformations and miſpriſions only, unheard, and uncondemned by a legal conviction. Which proceedings are contrary to the Laws of GOD, of Nature, and likewiſe of theſe Nations, if they have any in force. For, if the Complainants ſad cryes, which I hear (and hear of) be as creditable, as they are lamentable, many honeſt Families are (and will be) expoſed to beggary, and even rich men will probably be made beggars alſo. They are ſhut up from their deareſt Relations; and they themſelves being deſpoiled of all their livelihoods, and of means to ſupply neceſſaries by their labours, are deſtitute of all accommodations. They are lodged worſe than doggs, thronged up together in ſickneſs and in health, nothing left or provided for them to feed on (except they will eat their own fleſh) but what GOD providentially conveyes unto them, by the charity of his Servants; of which charity they are ſometimes defrauded by their hard-hearted Keepers, and that which comes to hand, is handed-in alſo with much difficulty. Theſe cruelties are aggravated with many other oppreſſive concommitants, which make them almoſt inexpreſſable and unſufferable; yea the more unſufferable, in regard, that during the Seſſions of Parliaments and Courts of Justice, which were wont to be their ordinary Refuge, the Oppreſſed can have no Relief; and theſe Grievances are kept alſo from the King's ear, who is their laſt hope next under GOD.
Let us take heed how we fall into the hands of the living GOD, when his Wrath is kindled, leſt he utterly & ſuddenly conſume us, as he did Sodom and Gomorrah, for ſhewing ſo little mercy to others, who have lately received ſuch extraordinary mercies from him. Learn by Examples, though ye have neglected Precepts, ſeeing what hath been heretofore, may be ſo again hereafter, and in regard Caſes that have a reſemblance, will bring down the like Judgments. When Jeremiah the Prophet was a Priſoner for diſcharging his Conſcience (as I, and many others are at this day) the Famine ſo encreaſed, that there was no Bread then left in the ſtreet of the Bakers at Jeruſalem. It will therefore concern us that we be wary we continue not in the like ſins, leſt ere long, there be little Meal in our Markets, and a greater ſcarcity of Bread in the ſhops of our Bakers at London: For, as there are among us very great failings, ſo there are very great appearances of GOD's high diſpleaſure; who hath more dreadful plagues ready to execute his Commands, than Famine, Peſtilence and raging War, joyned all together; and he will here inflict that whereof we are moſt ſenſible, and thoſe hereafter, if we repent not. Conſider this all ye who forget GOD, and return: for, he is at all times ready to meet every one in mercy (without excepting any) who returns unto him by hearty repentance: yea, he takes all opportunities whereby he may ſhew Compaſſion, with preſervation of his Juſtice; and is ſo inclinable to Mercy, that he oft withholds his Judgments from wicked perſons and places, for the ſakes of a few Righteous men among them, though they perſecute and ſeek to deſtroy them for whoſe ſakes they are preſerved; and vouchſafes temporal Bleſſings (as he did to Ahab) for outſide Humiliations. He is not, as his Enemies do ſcandalouſly report of him, a hard Maſter, who looks to reap where he ſowed not, and to gather where he ſtrewed not; but ſo juſt, that he will require no more at any mans hands, but according to what he hath given; nor puniſh any one for the ſin of another. There is no better means for us who are Subjects, to live ſafely in Holineſs and Righteouſneſs without fear, than to adhere conſtantly to GOD's Commands without dread of men, and to obey our Superiours in obedience to the LORD: Nor any ſurer way for Kings to poſſeſs the Thrones of their Kingdoms upon Earth, in honour and ſafety, without jealouſies, than to provide, as much as in then lieth, that GOD may poſſeſs his Throne in the Hearts and Conſciences of Men without Rivals; and to endeavour to be juſt, as he is juſt; and to be merciful, as he is merciful, acording to their meaſure: For, whatſoever the Paraſitical Flatterers of Kings would make them believe, they may be more ſecure from dangers at home & abroad, by thoſe poor conſciencious men who are deſpiſed, than with twenty times ſo many Ruffians and God-damn-me's; though aſſiſted alſo by the formal devotions, and fained ſanctity of ſuperſtitious worſhippers, who ſeem glorious and powerful in outward appearances. I have obſerved, by what Hiſtories teſtifie, that thoſe great Kings and Conquerors of the world, to whom GOD heretofore tranſlated the Kingdoms of men, from their former poſſeſſors (when he changed Governors and Governments) enjoyed them in peace and honour, ſo long, and ſo far forth, as they tolerated the Servants of GOD to worſhip Him according to their Conſciences, though they themſelves were Heathens and falſe worſhippers.
The Mercy of GOD leadeth to Repentance, and extendeth to and over all his Works. This I am warranted to proclaim by vertue of his grand Charter, and by his Commiſſions, heretofore iſſued-out for the comfort and encouragement of every true penitent Believer in the days of his fierceſt Indignation. Theſe are the glad Tydings of the Univerſal Gospel, which cauſed the Angels to rejoyce and ſing at the birth of Jeſus Chriſt, this ſong; Glory be to GOD on High, On Earth peace, good will towards men. Let us joyn with that celeſtial Quire in magnifying of this great Mercy which ſo much concerns us; for it is our nobleſt Intereſt, and that which moſt advanceth GoD's Glory: Let our Burthen to that Song be, Amen, Hallelujah, Praiſe the LORD: Let us be zealous in defending this Univerſal Charter, and not be ſeduced by thoſe who ſeek to abridg itto ſuch a narrowneſs, and to ſuch an uncertainty, that if they ſhould be believed, we had more cauſe to howl and lament than to ſing: This Gospel is the ſum and ſcope of that Teſtimony, which was, and is given by thoſe two Witneſſes, the two Olive Branches, and two Candlesticks, which ſtand before the God of the Earth, bearing witneſs againſt the Beaſt riſing out of the bottomleſs-Pit, who was to war upon them, and ſlay them, and leave their Bodies (as a dead Letter) unburied three dayes and an half in the Streets of the great City, until the Spirit of Life from GOD ſhould enter into them and make them aſcend up into Heaven, in the ſight, and to the amazement and vexation of their Enemies.
Therefore they, whoſoever they be (though pretending to be of GOD's Counſel, and to be acquainted with his Eternal Decrees) ſhall preach contraty hereto, and think they honour GOD by bounding His univerſal and infinit Mercy, deal with Mankind, concerning His Charter of General Redemption, as many among us now do concerning the Kings late Act of Indempnity and general Pardon, pretending thereby to do him honour, where… intends both to his diſhonour and diſſervice. It is this miſ-underſtanding, and limiting the infinit Love of GOD, which hath been the chief occaſion of the narrowneſs of mens love to each other; and of much of that diſcord and bloodſhed which hath been in the world: For, ſuch as men make their Gods to be, ſuch will they themſelves be; in regard, as David ſaith, They who make them are like unto them. This I adde, not impertinently, nor by the ſuggeſtion of a contentious ſpirit, in oppoſition to the judgment of others; or with an uncharitable cenſure of thoſe who do yet think otherwiſe; But I have thus in my mode preached it, in zeal to GOD's Truth and Glory; who ſees my heart, and will puniſh me for it, if it proceed from any other cauſe. He is perfectly merciful; ſo merciful in his Juſtice, and ſo juſt in his Mercy, that neither of them infringes the other; and hath left us upon record two unqueſtionable exemplary Evidences, which manifeſt that his Mercy is ſincerely intended to every true penitent, to be his Conſolation when Judgements are epidemical and univerſal: For, though he ſpared not the old world, but brought a general flood upon all the ungodly, yet, he even then ſpared Noah and his family; and when he made the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah an example to wilfull tranſgreſſors, he then alſo ſpared Lot who lived among them, and whoſe righteous ſoul they had vexed with their filthy and wicked converſation. Thus will he likewiſe deal with all thoſe, in all times, who have an upright and contrite heart (though they have been grievous offenders) ſo far forth as it ſhall be for his Glory, and their eternal happineſs.
Hear, and heed this Proclamation; for it is of GOD, who is pleaſed in theſe dayes to preach Mercy by his moſt contemned Servants; and cauſe them otherwhile to act in ſuch Modes, and by ſuch Dispenſations, as to the world ſeem ridiculous; and as probably he did (in moſt mens eyes) when his beloved Son rode meekly through Jerusalem, on the foal of an Aſs, at the time wherein he firſt came to take a viſible poſſeſſion of his Kingdom upon Earth: which humble deportment his now pretended General Vicar, and the proud Kings of the Earth, would have ſcorned upon the dayes of their Inauguration. Which the Prelats, though raiſed out of the loweſt of the people (as Jeroboams prieſts were) and though pretending to be the ſucceſſors of Chriſts humble Apoſtles, would have diſdained to be carried in that meek manner to their Inſtalments. But many other things appearing contemptible to fleſh and blood, will be permitted ere long to make preparation for the coming of King JESUS, whom they ſcoff at, who ſit in the Chair of the Scornfull. It hath pleaſed GOD in this unuſual manner, to make me (though unworthy) to be his Herald in publiſhing this Proclamation; who having been many years your Despiſed REMEMBRANCER, liveth yet, to ſerve GOD and his Generation; known to the World by this Name,
Given forth at Newgate, one of the moſt eminent Gates of your chief City, in the 8. month of my Impriſonment there. GEO. WITHER.