Immanuel or God With Us — John Canne

Immanuel or God With Us · John Canne

EMANƲEL, OR, GOD WITH US. Wherein is ſet forth, Englands late great Victory over the SCOTS Armie in a Battle at Dunbarre, the third of September, 1650.

AS The Sun would ſhine in it's own brightneſſe, and glory, though all the world were blind, or did wilfully ſhut their eyes againſt it: So will the Lord, gloriouſly appeare in his mighty and wondrous works, howſoever man ſhuts his eyes, and aIſa. 26.10, 11.will not behold the majeſtie of the Lord, nor ſee w…n his hand is lifted up. I make no queſtion, had the Scots ob…ained the Victory (though not cloathed with halfe ſo many remarkable circumſtances of Gods preſence) they would have ſaid, (and their friends here likewiſe) in the words of the Prophet; bPſal. 9.4.Thou haſt maintained my right and my cauſe: Thou ſateſt in the throne judging right. And as Protogenes ſaid of the Painters line, cNon enim cadere in alium tam abſolutum opus. Plin. na. hiſt l. 35. cap. 9.none but Apelles could draw it. So would they peremptorily have concluded, had our Army been overthrown, a ſpeciall hand of God, remonſtrating a juſtifying of them, their Cauſe, their King and Kirk.

I hope without offence, what they would have done, (had our Cauſe been theirs) we may take the like liberty, and with reverence to the place ſay, dPſal. 41.11.By this I know that thou favoureſt me, becauſe mine enemy doth not triumph over me: Yea, and make it appeare in the eyes of all impartiall, and diſ-ingaged men, that the Lord was ſo with us, and for us in this great Victory, as doth ſtrongly prove, & make good our Armies marching into Scotland, and the Wars undertaken, and proſecuted againſt that Nation: to be (as the eDecl. of the Parl. of England upon the marching of the Army into Scotland.Parliament hath declared) upon Grounds of Juſtice and Neceſſity.

1. It is a ſign that the Lord maintains the Cauſe of a people when he ſeaſonably delivers them from an inſolēt & proud Enemy; from fPſal. 75.4.vain-glorious fools, Holelim, Mad-boaſting fools, vainly promiſing themſelves Victory, & brea…hing out threatnings. Thus the Aegyptians triumph gExod. 15.9.. The enemy ſaid, I will purſue, I will over come, I will divide the ſpoile: my luſt ſhall be ſatisfied upon them: I will draw my ſword, mine hand ſhall deſtr…y them. Behold, how they flattered them ſelves in their own eyes, hHab. 3.14.rejoycing to devour the poore in ſecret: But whilſt they were imagining a victory, and dividing the prey, iJudg. 5.30.the Lord ſtirred up himſelfe, and awaked to Iſraels judgment, even unto his Cauſe: and therein not only got himſelf a great name, but it is recorded as one kNeh. 9.10.of his ſignes and wonders ſhewed upon Pharaoh, a ſpecial deliverance, and that which carries the ſtamp and character of a divine providence and mercy towards his Church and People. No leſſe inſulted Benhadad, he will not be ſatisfied with l1 King. 20.5.Ahabs ſilver and his gold, and his wives, and his children: mVerſ. 6.But he will ſend his ſervants, and they ſhall ſearch his houſe, & the houſes of his ſervants, and it ſhall be, that whatſoever is pleaſant in his eyes, they ſhall take it away. Beſides, he takes his gods to witneſſe, nVerſ. 10.If the duſt of Samaria ſhall ſuffice for handfuls, for all the people that follow him. Here I may ſay with the Prophet, oPſal. 52.1.Why boaſteſt thou thy ſelfe in miſchiefe, O thou mighty man? How God deſtroyed the Army of that blood-boaſting Tyrant, and cloath'd him with ſhame, the Hiſtory ſhews, and with all, in that the Lord did ſo, it did evid…ly appeare, that Iſrael had the better Cauſe.

Other inſtances of the like kind might be produced, but we come now to the application. Touching the inſolency of the Scots, how proud and puft up they were, with an imaginary victory, it is almoſt incredible: They reproached us with that condition the Parliaments Army was in, when it made its hard conditions with the King in Cornwall: this, jeſtingly, they cal…d Eſſex his Pound, demanded of our men to yeeld up our Train, Carriages, and Fire-arms: They had diſpoſed of us, and of their buſineſſe, in ſufficient wrath and revenge towards our perſons, and had ſwallowed…p the poore Intereſt of England, believing that our Army lay at their mercy, and that they would ſuddenly with their new King at the head of their Army march up to London, without any oppoſition or interruption. David Leſley then Generall in the field, boaſted he would have our whole Armie dead or alive by ſeve… a clock the next morning.

Neither were the Miniſters leſſe inſolent and preſumptuous then the reſt; for as Pharaoh ſaid of the children of Iſrael, they are intangled in the land, the wilderneſſe hath ſhut them in: ſo theſe conceiving us to be in a trap, *Tantaene aenimis caeleſtibus irae. Virg. Eneid. l. 1.perſwaded their Commanders to draw up their Army between us and home, that none might eſcape, or drive us into the Sea, and ſo drown us.

It ſeems the Scots would have been like the Fig-tree to which Chriſt went for fruit, and found none: no Quarter, no Mercy, no Deliverance to be expected from them. It was the honour of the N…mon…ines, that they would make peace with Mancius a Roman Captain, when they might have had the killing of the whole Army to a man. But the Scots, although not Conquerours, but in conceit, will ſwallow up our whole Army, not ſpare a man, neither is there any one to deliver them out of their hands: But pExo. 18.11.in the thing wherin they dealt proudly, the Lord was above them. So that, what David prayed for, when his ememies inſulted, was a mercy here beſtowed upon our Army: qPſal. 35.26.Let them be aſhamed, and brought to confuſion together, that rejoyce at my hurt, let them be cloathed with ſhame and diſhonour that magnifie themſelves againſt me. And in this the Lord hath not left himſelf without witneſſe, in reference to the Juſtice of our Cauſe, by giving us ſo wonderful a victory and deliverance.

I ſhall conclude with this admonition to the Scots and their Adherents. rPſal 75. l, 5.I ſaid to the vain-glorious fools, be not vain-gloriouſly fooliſh, and to the wicked, lift not up the horn: Lift not up your horn on high, ſpeak not with a ſtiffe neck.

2. It argues Gods owning a people and their Cauſe, when he ſPſal. 136.23.remembers them in a low eſtate; app…ars for them, when humane helps and hopes in a manner faile, and gives them victory over an Enemy, ſtrong, tJudg. 3.29.laſty, and men of valour. In the Book of Judges, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, the people of God ſometimes have been ſo low, as they have not u2 Chron. 20.12.known what to doe, xDeut. 32.36.their power gone, their Generall y2 Sam. 21.15.fainted, a1 Sam. 30.10.half of their Army ſo feeble & ſore broken, as not able to march. In a word, they have been reduced to ſuch ſtreights, as if they had the ſentence of death in themſelves.

Now Gods appearing for them at ſuch a time, and giving them the victory in ſuch a caſe, not only ſhewed that it was the work of his own hands; but as if upon the Actings and Appearances of the Lord, it had been written in broad and vi…ble Characters, THIS IS GODS CAUSE.

How weake and low the condition of our Army was, thus it is related: We being thus humbled by the hand of God, and the menaces of mercileſſe men: Our Forces leſſened, our bodies enfeebled with fluxes, our ſtrength waſted with watchings, want of drinke, wet and cold being our continuall companions, much impaired our ſtrength and courage, and made above 2000. men altogether uſeleſſe, which were ſent away at ſeverall times to Berwick: His Excellency and his Officers finding their unfitneſſe for further delay, and being in and under ſuch ſtreights, and diſtreſſes, reſolved, by day breake, to breake through this Iſraelitiſh condition.

Mans extreamity is Gods opportunity: when we are bPſal. 107.28, 29.at our wits end, then maketh he the ſtorm a calm, and bringeth us to our deſired haven. And it is an uſual thing with God, thus to manifeſt his power in our weakneſſe, and by unworthy and unlikely inſtruments, contemptible in the eyes of men, to bring great things to paſſe, & to confound the things which are great and mighty, that it may appear: cEccl. 9.11.The race is not to the ſwift, nor the battle to the ſtrong, and therefore dJer. 9.23.the mighty man ſhould not glory in his might, but his glorying ſhould be in the holy one of Iſrael.

Again, the Lord very often, puts off the time of our deliverance, till we are at a loſt, and in the loweſt and weakeſt condition, that ſo the power and goodneſſe of God may the more ſhine forth, and the mercy it ſelf when it comes taſt the ſweeter. As the greater a mans hunger is, the ſweeter is the meat, and the more reliſh he hath in it.

That this victory may appeare to be of God, and not of man, and what a ſignall Teſtimony the Lord hath given in this particular, that the Battle and Cauſe was his: I deſire the Reader to obſerve; that eHeb. 11.34.out of weakneſſe our Army was made ſtrong. fIſa. 40.29.God gave power to the faint, and to them that had no might he encreaſed ſtrength. He that was gZec. 12.8.feeble among them at that day, was as David, and David as the Angel of the Lord before them. hEzek. 21.26.The Lord exalted him that was low, and abaſed him that was high: iJob 12.21.Powred contempt upon Princes, and weakned the ſtrength of the mighty. No ſooner had our men powred out their complaint before God, and ſhewed before him their trouble, ſaying, kPſal. 142.6.Attend unto my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my *Did not the Lord put his hook in their noſe, and his bridle in their lips, there would not be greater perſecutors in the world thē the Scots, eſpecially their Kirk-men.perſecutors, for they are ſtronger then I. But ſuddenly the Lord aroſe like a Gyant refreſhed with wine, wounded the hairy ſcalp of his …nemies, ſmote them upon the cheek-bone, and put them to a perpetual reproach. lPſalm. 97.8.Sion heard and was glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoyced, becauſe of thy judgments O Lord.

3. That the Lord hath given Teſtimonie to the Juſtice of our Cauſe, doth further appear by the great number of the enemies overthrown by a few.

Some report the Scots Army was thirty thouſand; but ſix thouſand horſe, and ſixteen thouſand foote at leaſt. Ours (to ſound men) were not above ſeven thouſand and five hundred foot, and three thouſand and five hundred horſe; theſe with the courage which the Lord was pleaſed to give them, in leſs than an hours diſpute, put the Enemies whole Army into confuſion, and it became a totall Rout, our men having the chaſe and execution of them near *Magna ea victoria, neque cruenta nobis ſuit: Quinta ab hora diej ad noctem caeſi hoſtes decem milia paſſuum cadaveribus atque armis opplevere. Tac. Anal. l. 2.8. miles: their foot in a manner all taken and ſlain, to the number of 15000. whereof a third part were computed to be killed: 200. Colours and more of Horſe and Foot were taken, 10. Colonels, 12. Lieutenant-Colonels, 9. Majors, 47. Captains, 72. Lieutenants, 80. Enſigns, beſides Cornets and Quarter-maſters: All their Train of Artillery, conſiſting of 22. field-guns, beſide ſmaller peeces: They left behind them all their Arms, no leſſe than 15000. their Tents, Bag, and Baggage. Thus the Lord mPſal. 68.30.rebuked the company of ſpear-men, the multitude of the buls, with the Calves of the people; and ſo let thine enemies periſh O God.

And that it may appear n2 Chron. 14.13.they were deſtroyed before the Lord; and the ſame God which to them was terrible, a conſuming fire, making his arrows drunk with the blood of the ſlain, and of the Captives, to our Army was their rock, their fortreſſe and deliverer, the horn of their ſalvation, who covered their head in the day of battle, and girded them with ſtrength.

Our ſlain & hurt were not many; I do not believe (ſaith his Excellency) we have loſt 20. men, not one Commiſſioned Officer ſlain that I can hear of, ſave one Cornet, and Major Rooksby, ſince dead of his wounds, and not many mortally wounded. Was not that promiſe here made good, even in the letter? oPſ. 91.7, 8.A thouſand ſhall fall at thy ſide, and ten thouſand at thy right hand, but at ſhall not come nigh thee: Only with thine eyes thou ſhalt behold, & ſee the reward of the wicked: He ſhall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings ſhalt thou be ſafe.

I have read of a *Antigonus.Generall, who finding his Souldiers diſmayed by the ſmalneſſe of their company, and the multitude of their enemies, asked them, how many (quoth he) do yee reckon me at, who am your Commander and I eader: If David were p1 Sam. 18.3.as ten thouſand of the people, what is David's Lord? Our Souldiers never thought as Caecina did, *Tacit. An. l. 1.unam in armis ſalutem; that their ſafety only conſiſted in their weapons; they are better principled, and therefore knew, that Salvation belongeth to the Lord: and making him their Refuge, even the moſt High their habitation, hee was with them in trouble, he delivered them, and honoured them, his right hand, and his holy arm got them the victory.

Heretofore, when the Lord had acted, and appeared for a people in this manner, it was always obſerved by the godly wiſe, as a ſure evidence and ſigne of his approving their Cauſe: as on the contrary, a righteous hand of divine puniſhment upon the deſtroyed party, for taking up Arms in defence of ſome thing unjuſt and ſinfull, either Perſon or Thing. And indeed, the promiſe runs ſo; qLev, 26.2.If yee walke in my ſtatutes, and keepe my commandements, and do them: rVerſ. 7.8.Ye ſhall chaſe your Enemies, and they ſhall fall before you by the ſword: and five of you ſhall chaſe a hundred, & an hundred of you ſhall put ten thouſand to flight: This promiſe is enlarged in ſCh. 23.10.Joſhuah, One of you ſhall chaſe a thouſand: *Nos quoque, ſi legem obſervemus, victorias conſequemur.So we alſo, (as Lavaret on the place) ſhall obtain victories if we keep the law. This thing afterward was notably performed in t1 Chr. 11.Davids Worthies, of whom ſome one u2 Sam. 23.18.lifted up his ſ…ear againſt eight hundred, and ſlew three hundred at one time. x1 Chron. 11.18.Three men brake through the hoſt of the Philiſtims; As Major-Generall Whalley's Regiment, charged through the Enemies whole Army, and back again, with little or no loſſe.

I know there is no reſtraint to the Lord to ſave by many or few, nothing is unpoſſible with him: Notwithſtanding, when by weakneſſe he overcomes ſtrength and power, by a few, many and multitudes: as aPſ. 11.7.the righteous Lord loves righteouſneſſe, ſo this ſhews, that he hath pleaded and maintained the righteous mans Cauſe; That God delivered divers Kings and all their hoſt into the hand of Iſrael; bIoſ. 11.4.8.much people, even as the ſand that is upon the ſhore in multitude, with horſes & charets, and by a few totally routed; the cJudg. 6.5. & 7.12.Midianites and the Amalekites, and all the children of the Eaſt, which lay a long encam…ped in the vallies like graſhoppers: Saved Iſrael by a very ſmall party, when the Philiſtims gathered themſelves againſt them, d1 Sam. 13.5.thirty thouſand Charets, and ſix thouſand Horſmen, and people as the ſand which is on the Sea-ſhore for multitude. Overthrew Zerah the Aethiopian, when he came againſt Aſ e2 Chron. 14.9.with a… hoſt of a thouſand thouſand, and three hundred Chario…s, and by a ſmall number in compariſon of his. What is to be learnt hence; what obſervation to be rais'd? what uſe to be made of ſuch glorious Vctories, ſuch great Actings and high Appearances of God? OnelyOnly that hee is fPſa. 24.8.mighty in battle, gExo. 15.3.a man of warre, hPſ. 77.14.a God that doth wonders, Great things and unſearchable, marvellous things, without number? What, nothing elſe? Yes ſurely, ſomething more; iJob 5.9.namely, that he owned their cauſe, and acknowledged them to be his Souldiers, and k2 Chron. 14.12.his hoſt, whom he delivered, & made Conquerours, with a ſtretched-out Arm, and with great judgments; the others he took for his enemies, and that their Cauſe was naught and wicked. They might ſee, by deſtroying them in ſuch a wonderful and ſtrange manner. lPſ. 92.5.A brutiſh man knoweth not, neither doth a fool underſtand this.

I have read of one Atabalipa, King of Cuſco, who being perſwaded by one Vincent a Fryar to become a Chriſtian, & upon this reaſon, that he ſhould ſerve the God that made Heaven and Earth: The Indian asked the Fryar how he knew it, he having a Bible in his hand, told him, he had learnt it there: The King takes the Book in his hand, opens it, ſmels to it, and lays it to his eare, and hearkens if it ſpake any thing; but perceiving he could have no ſatisfaction by his feeling, neither did the Book ſpeak to him, hee threw it away, and laughing at the Fryar, told him, that his Book and he were both fools.

Now ſuch there are at this day, and not a few; for all the world, like that Heathen King, becauſe God ſpeaks not to their dull and blind hearts, in their groſſe and fooliſh way, they profit not by the works of his hands, neither are his preſent Appearances, and Givings in to his people, (though the ſame with his former diſpenſations, all along held forth in holy Scripture) obſerved, at leaſt not acknowledged of them, and God glorified, as they ought and ſhould doe. But what of all this, yet mPſ. 10.16.the Lord is known by the judgements which he executeth.

4. I ſuppoſe it cannot be parallel'd (as his *In the 4 letters betweene him and the Miniſters.Excellency hath well obſerv'd) of the like ſolemn Appeales unto God, in reference to the Juſtice of a Cauſe, aDeut. 17.8.between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between ſtroke and ſtroke, being matters of Controverſie, as was done by ‖Solemn Appeales made by both parties to Almighty God. The Anſwer of the Parliament to the Scots Kings Declaration, page 36.both parties before the War began. The Scots not only took God to witneſſe, that they had clean hands, and pure hearts, were men (like Nathanael) in whom there is no guile, but *See pag. 23. in that Anſw.referred the Cauſe between Them and Us, to the unerring ſentence of the higheſt Judge, as he ſhould appear in his providence and mighty Actings either for us or them. It is true, they are a people preſumptuous and laviſh this way, as in all their Remonſtrances, Declarations, Petitions, Anſwers, &c. may be ſeen; evermore Appealing to the great and eternall God, the ſearcher of all hearts, and taking the Lord to record upon their ſoules, touching their integrity and clearneſſe in walking. But howſoever, ſeeing now bPſal. 102.19.God hath looked downe from the height of his Sanctuary, & hath cNeh. 9.28.heard from heaven, and d2 Sam. 22.14.from heaven uttered his voyce, and ePſ. 76.8.cauſed his judgment to be heard. Methinks they ſhould feare, and be ſtill, fJoſh. 7.19.give glory to the God of heaven, and make confeſſion to him: and the rather, becauſe they know, as he is a gTit. 1.2.God that cannot lie; a God that hPſ. 33.5.loveth righteouſneſſe and judgement, and iPſ. 45.7.hateth wickedneſſe: ſo it is kPſ. 85.11.righteouſneſſe that hath now looked down from heaven, and l1 K. 8.32.in heaven God hath heard and done, and judged his ſervants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and juſtifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousneſſe.

This Appealing unto God, is like the water which was given in tryall of Jealouſie: mNumb. 5.27.If the woman had done treſpaſſe againſt her Husband, the water would become bitter in her bowels, her belly ſwel, and her thigh rot: But if nVerſ. 28.clean, and not defiled, ſhee ſhould conceive ſeed, and be fruitful. So it is, when men call upon God to judge their Cauſe, and wil have a witneſſe in Heaven, and in his definitive ſentence pretend to ſtand. If they are Liers, Diſſemblers, Hypocrites, falſ-hearted, double-hearted, &c. no marvail if the Curſe enter into them, and that God by ſome viſible, ſenſible, remarkable hand, puniſh them for their great preſumption, and for ſuch impudent boldneſſe, and becauſe they did not oDeut. 28.58.feare this glorious and fearfull name, JEHOVAH THY GOD.

Again, on the other hand, if men appeal unto God, as David did in the Cauſe between him and Saul, p1 Sam. 24.12.the Lord judge between me and thee: and are upright before him, walke in their integrity, ſetting the Lord alwayes before them: The Lord will open to them his good treaſure, hee will make them the head, and not the taile; they ſhall be above only, and not beneath, and whereſoever they goe they ſhall proſper.

Neither did the Scots reſt in a bare appealing unto God, as to plead the Cauſe between us and them: but ſo confident they were, or rather foole-preſumptuous, of Gods being on their ſide; as if they had tyed him (as the *Alex. Gent. Dic. l. 6. c. 4.Tyryans did their god Hercules) with a golden chain to ſecure themſelves of his reſidence among them. And here ſome of their Miniſters play'd their pranks, telling the people, yea and God too, he could not be juſt and righteous, and like himſelfe, unleſſe he aſſiſted them to deſtroy the Sectarian Army, as they cal'd us: to ſuch an height of blindneſſe and madneſſe were they lifted up, making true the proverb, qProv. 26.28.a flattering mouth worketh ruine.

Henry the 2. hearing Menz his Citie to be taken, uſed this blaſphemous ſpeech; I ſhall never (quoth he) love God any more, that ſuffered a Citie ſo deare to me, to be taken from me. I am ſo far from wiſhing, that any of them ſhould be given up to ſuch gall of bitterneſſe, and power of darkneſſe, as to blaſpheme the God of Heaven, becauſe of their pains and their ſores, as I unfeignedly deſire (and my prayer to God for them ſo is) that they may ſee, how the Lord, to whom they have again and again appealed, is againſt them and their Cauſe, as being come to them to judgment, rMal. 3.5.a ſwift witneſſe againſt the ſorcerers againſt the adulterers, & againſt falſe ſwearers. And therefore they ſhall do well, to ſDeut. 17.13.heare and feare, and doe no more preſumptuouſly.

The Prophet David ſaith, tPſ. 77.19.Thy way is in the Sea, and thy path in the great waters. In a Sea-voyage, there are no lanes, no foot-paths, no print of wheels, no high Mercuries to direct the Marriners, all their direction muſt be fetched from the Pole and Stars, compared with the card and compaſſe, and touched needle. It were to be wiſhed, that ſome men (for their owne ſake, and the ſake of others) would look leſſe upon the rotten poſt of the Covenant, the humane Kirk, and the Lordly diſcipline, and ſee more of Gods footſteps and goings in his ſanctuary: how he bows the Heavens and comes down, and darkneſſe is under his feet, when he ariſes: how his Enemies are ſcattered, and the wicked periſh at the preſence of God. Are the unreaſonable creatures cal'd upon, uPſ. 96.11, 12, 13.heaven and earth, the ſea, the field, and all trees of the wood, to rejoyce and be glad, becauſe the Lord judgeth the world with righteouſneſſe, and the people with his truth? ſhould not man more abundantly utter the memory of his great goodneſſe, ſing of his righteouſneſſe, and talk of his power. Now, wherein is this great goodneſſe, righteouſneſſe, and power of God more ſeen, then when God hath his way in the Sea, ſpeaks from Heaven; that is, being appeal'd unto as the ſupreame Judge, and call'd upon to give ſentence in a Cauſe depending between two Nations; he ſpeaks out, and gives ſentence, yea ſo xJob 37.4.thundreth with the voyce of his Excellency, as our Enemies themſelves, being Judges, they muſt confeſſe, it is a Divine voyce, a God ſpeaking, the righteous judgment of the moſt high. yPſ. 107.4…Who ſo is wiſe, & will obſerve thoſe things, even they ſhall underſtand the loving kindneſſe of the Lord.

5. There is not a ſurer evidence of the Lords preſence with a people, and pleading their Cauſe, then when in the way of his providence he makes the unreaſonable creatures ſeaſonably ſerve for their comfortable deliverance and ſafety. When he aDan. 6.22.ſtopt the Lyons mouths, bDan. 3.27.reſtraind the violence of the fire, cPſ. 114.3.Cauſed the ſea to flie, & Jordan to run back. What was ſhewed here? That the Lord dPſ. 109.31.ſtands at the right hand of the poore, to ſave him from thoſe that condemn his ſoule. Again, when eNah. 1.3.the Lord hath his way in the ſtorm: When fJudg. 5.20.the ſtars in their courſes ſhall fight againſt Siſera, and gJoſh. 10.11.great ſtones from heaven ſhall be caſt downe upon the heads of the Canaanites: when the Lord viſiteth hIſa. 29.6.with thunder, and with earth-quake, and great noiſe; with ſtorm and tempeſt, and the flame of devouring fire: What is here ſignified? That he is angry with thoſe againſt whom he thus fighteth, takes them for his Enemies, and that they have a ſinfull and unrighteous cauſe.

What a cleare Character and ſign the Lord gave our Armie, of owning them and us, and the Cauſe for which they fought, Our poſterity after us ſhall have cauſe to remember, and to bleſſe God for it: Thus it was.

Ʋpon Saturday, Auguſt 30. we marched from Muſcleburgh to Heddington, where by that time we had got the Van brigade of our Horſe, and our Foot and Train into their Quarters, the Enemie was marched with that exceeding expedition, that they fell upon the Reed-forlorn of our Horſe, & put it in ſome diſorder: And indeed, had like to have engaged our Reer-brigade of Horſe, with the whole Army, had not the Lord by his providence put a cloud over the *Luna clariore paene coelo viſa langueſcere. Tac. Aon…. l. 1.Moon, thereby giving us opportunitie to draw off thoſe Horſe to the reſt of the Armie; So his Excellency. From ano…er ‖In a … tive … friend Col. Overton Governour of Hull.hand, thus; The Enemie (unknown to us) attended upon … right wing, and in the Evening drew up a ſtrong party upon our …cer guard, and might, probably, have ſpoiled them, if not provi…tially prevented by the over-ſhadowing clouds, which ſo eclipſed the Moone, as thereby a period was put to the Enemies motion, untill the Skie was cleared, &c.

A little before day, the darkeneſſe is greateſt: When our ſtreights and troubles are at the higheſt, then is our deliverance neareſt at hand. In ſick perſons we ſee it commeth to paſſe, that they think there is no hope of life; when the Phyſitians and ſtanders by ſee certaine and undoubted ſignes of health. When i1 Sam. 23.24.Saul and his men compaſſed David and his men round about to take them: here was little hope of life: what way now could a man imagine of ſafety to David? What probability, or poſſibility in mans underſtanding, that he ſhould eſcape? yet the Lord found out a way for him, and delivered him.

When the King of Syria ſent Horſes and Chariots, and a great hoſt to apprehend Eliſha, and they had k2 K. 6.14.compaſſed the Gitie about, in which he was: What hope of life here? what way was there, in human Reaſon, for the Prophet to eſcape? Yet the Lord (who knowes how to d…liver the godly out of temptations) had a doore open for him whereby to eſcape.

When the Scots Army ſuddenly and unexpectedly fell upon us, had many advantages; Our whole Army was like to be engaged, (not then in a capacity or poſture to fight, but rather as ſheep to be led to the ſlaughter:) what hope of life here? who can ſee any way of comming out? As a man upon a Rock in the Sea, ſees only waters round about him, no land: ſo is our preſent caſe, we ſee nothing, but either fight or flye: Coacta ſtabile ad praelium, we muſt fight, and are forced to it, even in this ſad and hard condition. But the Lord, who hath his preventing bleſſings of goodneſſe, commanded the Moone not to give her light, over-ſhadowed her with his thick clouds, ſo that the Scots are here left, like the Sodomites, in darkneſſe, groping for our men, as they did for Lot's houſe, whilſt the Angels of the Lord put forth their hands, and pulled us in, under the ſhadow of the Almighty.

Thus God was ſeene in the Mount, an act of ſpeciall providence, and ſufficient to convince any Adverſary, that the Lord was with us and with our Cauſe, unleſſe he be like unto him who ſaid, I will not be convinced, though I am convinced.

Indeed, ſome men are like Squint-eyes; if you ſet a booke direct before them, they cannot read a word, nor ſee a letter, though it be a large and faire print; but hold the booke ſide-way, then they can read very well, and ſee even the leaſt and ſmalleſt point. Such mercies and deliverances as are before their eyes, and wherein the power, goodneſſe, juſtice and faithfulneſſe of God moſt ſhine forth, and which look moſt fully and directly at his glory, thoſe, their ſquint-eyes cannot ſee. *Quid non mortalia pectoracoges? Auri ſacra fam…s. Virg. Eneid. 3.But for others which come in ſide-way, that is, advance their Intereſt, help to hold up their unſanctified places, and ſtandings; their pomp, pride, Lordlineſſe, bring them in Corn and Wine, &c. Theſe ſide-way bleſſings, whether Victories, or what elſe, they can ſee, and will read them, and in their Churches too, and keep dayes of publique Thanksgiving in remembrance of them, If the State command it, lIſa. 26.11.Lord, when thy hand is lifted up they will not ſee: but they ſhall ſee, and be aſhamed, for their envy towards thy people, yea the fire of thine enemies ſhall devoure them.

6. Not onelyonly hath the Lord given us this great Victory, but with it hath happily brought to light many remarkable things, whereby is diſcovered the groſſe hypocriſie, falſehood, and diſſimulation of the Scots, eſpecially ſome of their Church men, and that great Proſelyte, their King, which is another weighty Argument to prove Gods taking our part and Cauſe againſt them.

1. Since the Victory, ſome of their Officers and Souldiers have declared, that the hand of God was certainly againſt them, becauſe their King was conſtrained to take the Covenant, & to own their Declaration altogether againſt his conſcience: For, howſoever they well knew, that whatſoever he did in this particular, would be contrary to his mind: Nevertheleſſe, willing or not willing, do it he *As puppets are moved wholly at his direction and bent that extēds or ſlacks the ſtrings whereon they dance: And the blind Bayard ruſheth into the Battle, which way he ſhould goe he ſees not, ſave only his rider ſpurreth him: ſo is this mans caſe.muſt, and ſhall; howſoever (as was ſaid) they knew, that therein he would diſſemble, and play the hypocrite and themſelves alſo.

It may ſeeme ſtrange to all ſincere and conſcientious people, that men ſpeaking ſo much of religion, of the great Cauſe of God, of advancing the glorious name of Jeſus, &c. ſhould act ſo corruptly before God and men. Touching the hypocriſie and deep diſſimulation both of King & people, the *The Anſwer of the Parliament of England, to a paper entituled a Declaration of the Kings Majeſtie, &c. page 17.19.ſame in the Parliaments Anſwer excellently is obſerved.

In the ſpace almoſt of 24. hours to grow up in the full perſwaſion of the Juſtice and Equity of all the Heads and Articles contained in the Covenant, and to be able to declare that he hath not ſworn, nor ſubſcribed them upon any ſiniſter intention and crooked deſign, for attaining his own ends; and fixed a reſolution to perſiſt therein really, conſtantly and ſincerely all the dayes of his life.

Againe, He that can on the 15. of Auguſt, hug all his Malignants and Popiſh party in his boſome, and lodge them in the ſecret Reſerves of his favour and love as his beſt friends, can now on the 16. (the day following) from the fulneſſe of perſwaſion of the Juſtice and Equity of all the Heads and Articles of the Covenant, renounce and diſcard them in the ſight of God and the world, and vow never to have any more to doe with them. There needs nothing to be added, for the matter it ſelfe is like a filthy carkaſſe, which will rot and conſume away, though it be never toucht.

Among the Myconians it was no unſeemely thing to be bald, becauſe the people were naturally ſo; if their young King among other nations had thus diſſembled, it would have been judged a thing unſeemly, & moſt unchriſtian: but it ſeems among Scots, falſhood and hypocriſie is no deformity, no blemiſh or fault in nature, they being naturally ſo; I ſpeak not of all, but of the moſt part, lyars, and a ſeede of falſhood.

Phyſitians in ſome unſeemly convulſions, wiſh their Patients ſhould looke on themselves in a glaſſe, which will cauſe them to ſtrive the more when they ſhall ſee their owne deformity. If the Scots would but looke here upon themſelves, and behold this deformity, I ſhould thinke they would ſtrive the more againſt it; howſoever God ſees their halting and double-dealing, and hath already ſhewed his great indignation againſt them for it. Some of them ſay *In a letter to his Excellency.God hath hid his face for a while from the ſons of Jacob; but by your leave, Jacob's ſonnes are mIſa. 63.8.children that will not lye, they will not nIſa. 28.15.make lies their refuge, and under falſhood hide themſelves: they will not o1 Tim. 4.2.ſpeak lies in hypocriſie, but pZech. 8.16.every man the truth to his neighbour: qZech. 8.3.and Jeruſalem ſhall be called the City of truth. If men truſt in vanity, and ſpeak lies, conceive miſchiefe, and bring forth iniquity: if there be tranſgreſſion and lying againſt the Lord, and a departing away from our God, ſpeaking oppreſſion and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falſhood. If judgement be turned away backward, and juſtice ſtandeth afarre of: If truth be fallen in the ſtreet, and equity cannot enter, God indeed wil then rIſa. 59.2.hide his face from ſuch a people, as the Prophet hath it, yea though they boaſt of a Covenant, and a Temple, title themſelves the Sonnes of Jacob, and ſay ſIſa. 65.5.ſtand by thy ſelfe, come not neer to me, for I am more holie than thou.

2. Their diſſimulation each with other doth further appeare, and Gods judgment upon them likewiſe for it. No ſooner did the Scots King heare of the loſſe of their Army, bu he proteſted he was glad of it; and *This was affirmed conſidētly to the Lord Gen. by Major Gen. Straughams Trumpet.falling down on his knees, gave great thankes in the preſence of all about him, that they were ſo deſtroyed.

*Stat. Hiſt. l. 8. c. 25.Plyny writes of a people called Tentarites, when they have taken a Crocodile, they will ſo fright him with their words, and threats, as he is forct to caſt up, and vomit out the prey which before he had ſwallowed downe. If it ſhould be granted, the Scots by their thundring threats of rejection, depoſition, Sale, Excommunication, &c. had ſo terrified the young Crocodile (I ſpeake *It is uſuall in Scripture to reſemble Tyrants to Serpents, Dragons. Leviathan, Pſal. 74.13, 14. Ezek. 29.3. Iſa, 27.3.in Scripture language) having gotten him amongſt them, as he was forced to vomit up his owne ſins, and his Fathers, and Mothers ſins; all the idolatries, adulteries, witchcrafts, ſodomies, murthers, &c. of his Anceſtors, to William the Baſtard, as they make him ſay in his Declaration. Yet he knew how to lick up all againe, and to turne when occaſion ſhould be, to his former vomit, and wallowing in the mire.

Germanicus (howbeit a Heathen) was ſo affected to ſee his men caſt away, as that he ſaid *Se tanti exitij reum clamitaret, vix cohibuere amici, quo minus eodem mari opeteret, Tac. Annal. l. 2.he onelyonly was guilty of their death, and could hardly be ſtayed by his Friends from caſting himſelfe into the Sea. But their Kings happy Converſion, amounted not to ſo much humanity, ingenuity, pitty, fellow-feeling, &c. It ſeems by this, he was at moſt but a Phariſaicall Proſelite, of whome Chriſt ſayth tMat. 23.15.Yee *So did the Scots to make this man their Proſelite.compaſſe Sea and Land to make one Proſelite, and when he is made, ye make him two fold more the Child of Hell then your ſelves. Some give the ſence of the place thus: the Proſelite is two fold worſe, becauſe whatſoever he ſaw evill in the Phariſees, that he would learne and practiſe; but wherein they did well, and what was good, therein he followed them not. Such a Proſelite their King ſeems to be; he ſees them diſſemble, & ſeek to cozen the World, under glorious words of a holy Covenant, pure worſhip, a zeale of God againſt ſuperſtition, Hereſie, Prophaneneſſe, &c. This he learnes by heart, and ſpeaks it by rote, and lies, and diſſembles as faſt as they: but for other things which he ſees amongſt them, as are venerable, lovely, and of good report, we doe not underſtand he is this way inclined to follow their example.

3. Remarkeable it is (and another proofe of Gods witneſſing againſt their Cauſe) how the Scots Prophets uLam. 2.14.have ſeene vaine, and fooliſh things, falſe Burthens and cauſes of baniſhment. Theſe men, as our Generall hath well obſerved, have hindered the paſſage of good things to the hearts of the People: And when much love hath been offered them in the Bowells of Jeſus Chriſt, by good words, and faire Speeches, they have deceived the minds of the ſimple, whereby they have brought the juſt guilt of much blood upon their owne heads. And not onelyonly like xJer. 28.1, 2, 3, 4.Hananiah, have ſome of them ſought out falſe Viſions, Prophecying the deſtruction of an Army, promiſing ſafety, and Victory to theirs; but leaving the ſubject to which they were called, and taking to them the Inſtruments of fooliſh Shepheards, they would give Orders to the Souldiery where to March, when to Fight, Counſelling them contrary to the advice of their chiefe Officers, by which their raſh and heady preſumptions, many were overthrowne, and deſtroyed.

It is ſomewhere reported of the Indians, that if they ſnuffe up into their Noſtrills the powder of the Herb Cohabba, they will ſtreightwayes run mad, and are ready to doe any bad thing. We can ſhew it by experience, when Miniſters leave off to Preach Chriſt, and meddle in State Affairs, and Worldly polities, will determine of civill powers, aſperſe the Government under which they live, and not be ſubject to the higher Powers (for all their ſwelling words of being the Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt, ready to ſpeake in their Maſters ſervice, and will refuſe no ſuffering, ſo they may fullfill their Miniſtrey with joy.) Such as doe receive their Carnall Doctrines, are driven into a kind of fury, and madneſs, acting ſtrange things prejudiciall and deſtructive to the People amongſt whome they live. Philoſophers doe hold, if the inferiour ſpheres were not rul'd, & in a manner corrected by the higheſt, the ſwiftnes of their motion would quickly fire the World. There are no men ſo ſwift of motion, as ſome of our Coat, and did not the higher ſpheres wiſely rule them, and many times correct them too, they would ſoone ſet on fire both Church, and State. Scotland at preſent can ſay ſo by wofull experience, England would ſay no leſſe if her higher ſpheres were as low and dull as theirs.

4. This is to be added as a further manifeſtation of God juſt hand againſt their unrighteous Cauſe: To wit, wha… this Army was (I mean in their owne eyes) which the Lord by weakneſſe overthrew: All Covenanters, no *As Gideons Army was glorieous when it was ſeparate from all the Cowardly, & faint-hearted: So the Scots having outed, and routed all diſaffected to the Cauſe of the Kirk, and Covenant, it muſt needs be honourablē.Malignants, Sectaries, Papiſts, an Army in point of Covenant, Reformation (like the Spaniſh Armado in 88. INVINCIBLE:) An Army like Alberts, Duke of Saxony, called the Dye Groate Gaerde, the great Rod or Whip; ſo this ſhall be the Hammer of Hereticks, the Scourge of Schiſmaticks, and Sectaries. That is, being interpreted, the Arme of Fleſh, and inſtrumentall means to hinder the paſſage of the Goſpell, ſuppreſſe the wayes of Chriſt, and power of godlineſſe, and to advance humane inſtitutions, formallity, Tyranny, &c.

Indeed, ſuch glorying there was in this reformed Army, having none in it but Subſcribers to the Covenant, and the Prieſts of the Lord, the ſons of Aaron being likewiſe amongſt them: their enemies vaine men, & Children of Belial, with whom were the golden Calves which the Parliament had made, & whoſe leader was the great Antichriſt. As the fooliſh and ignorant people did fully beleive there would be little need for them to Fight, but ſtanding ſtill they ſhould ſee their Enemies fall before them. Being dealt withall here not much unlike one Tammoran a Jacobine Fryer, who perſwaded Joanillie, Anaſtros Boy, to kill the Prince of Orange, and for his encouragement gave him certaine Characters in paper, aſſuring him that he ſhould goe inviſibly, having the ſame about him: The Crue of the condition of this Army (having alſo the Kirks bleſſing with it) ſo tickled the ears of the people, as it was no other, then as a Chrame to bewitch them, cauſing them aJer. 29.31.to truſt in a lye, and for ſake their owne mercies.

Among the Scythians, when their Prieſts foretold an untruth, they were carried along upon hurdles, full of heath, & dry wood, drawne by Oxen, and manicled Hand and Foot, and burnt to death. My worſt wiſhes towards theſe men, is Repentance from dead works, and that God will make them ſee how extreamly they have deluded and abuſed the People. It was piouſly and Chriſtianly ſpoken of our Generall in his Letter to them, The Lord pitty you, ſayth he: Truly I pitty them with my heart, and my Bowells yearn for them; nevertheleſſe, being to ſpeake of their hypocriſies and deluſions, in ſo groſly diſſembling with God and his People (as the ſame Hand writes) I conceive it is my duty, having the Prophets, Apoſtles, and Chriſt himſelfe, for an example, to diſcover things in ſuch a way as is beſt, and profitableſt to undeceive the people bIſa. 29.16.Surely their turning of things upſidowne ſhall be eſteemed as the Potters Clay. Their filling of mens ears with the nauſeous noyſe of the Covenant, the cauſe of God, Reformation, the extirpation of Hereſie, Schiſme, Superſtition, is no otherwiſe (as they apply it) but hatching Cockatrice Eggs, and weaving the Spiders web: It is the very ſame which the Prophet calls cEzek. 13.15.Dawbing with untempered Morter. When a man dwells in a ruynous houſe, the Maſon comes and Plaiſters it over, and makes him beleive that all is well, then the houſe falls, and ſmothers him: So by their lyes they make ſad the hearts of the righteous whom the Lord makes not ſad; that is, dIſa. 59.15.he that departeth from evill, they brand him with the contemptible name of Sectary, Schiſmatick, Regicide, Rebell, and ſtrengthen the hand of the wicked that he ſhould not returne from his wicked way eHoſ. 7.3.They make their King glad with their wickedneſſe, and the Princes with their lyes. Hence the wrath of God riſeth againſt them, cuts off fIſa. 9.15.head and taile, Root and Branch, and there is no remedy, g2 Tim. 2.7.Conſider what I ſay, and the Lord give ye underſtanding in all things.

7. Neither was it without a ſpeciall providence of God that our WORD ſhould be the LORD OF HOSTS, theirs, THE COVENANT: Here now lay the great Cauſe betwixt us and them, They for the Covenant, we for The Lord of Hoſts, and as the Cauſe thus ſtood betwixt us, ſo the Lord by a mighty hand, gave a remarkable Witneſſe from Heaven, on whoſe ſide the truth and right was. For as ‖As the hand of God upon that Idol was ſufficient to convince the Philiſtims of the vanity of it, an their madneſſe: yet the were rather hardened in their Idolatry by it then reclaimed: So I feare will be the condition here of ſome.Dagon fell when the Ark came neare it, ſo fell the Covenant (as another D…gon) at the preſence of the Lord of Hoſts.

Since this great Victory, ſome of the Presbyterian Miniſters here, have openly declared, that there was an Achan in the Scots Army, it is true, there was ſo indeed, but what was that Achan? Seing they t…l… us not, I ſhall doe it for them; the Cherem, or Curſed thing (I …ake it) was the Covenant; this ſhould have beene deſtroy…d, and therefore ſeing their Cauſe was the Covenant, and the Covenant Anathema, no marvaile they fell in the day of Battail. Now that the Reader may be of the ſame Opinion with me, I ſhall lay downe many Reaſons for it. But before I ſpeake of them, I deſire that theſe things may be taken notice of.

1. I have *In a Booke entituled, The ſnare is broken.elſewhere clearly proved that the Covenant is ſick of Jehorams Diſeaſe, the Bowells of it are fallen out. It is a Covenant like Muſgrum, or Toad-ſtoole, though it grow, it hath no root; not a word or warrant in holy Scripture, for its juſtification, either in reference to the matter of it, or the manner, as it was given, and taken. It is an Oath indeed, but contrary to the definition of a religious & lawfull Oath, a Covenant it is, but againſt the properties, uſe, and end of a ſacred, or holy Covenant; theſe things we have fully manifeſted by the word of God, and reaſons, and have anſwered to whatſoever probablie may be ſaid in the defence thereof.

2. Howſoever they have ſet up Altars to THAT SHAMEFULL THING, and bow their knee before it; yet have not any of them to this day (and I deſire ‖I hope ſuch as feare God, and have by others been ſeduced and deluded about this Covenant, will now have their eyes open. It gives juſt cauſe to the buyer to ſuſpect his wares are nought, who is not willing to bring them forth to light for trial.all men in all places to obſerve it well) fairly appeared in the behalfe of it, as taking it part by part, and proving every part. I ſay it againe, (as yet) they never came ſo nigh the Covenant as …o prove, eyther the Ground-work, matter, or forme of it juſtifiable. That which they doe, is thus, they tell us, The Generall Aſſembly hath approved it: So the Reverend Synod of Divines in England, the Kirk allows it, Learned men of the reformed Churches beyond Sea conſent to it. But the Church of England (as ſome call it) Reſolveth that all Counſells, and Synods, whither Provinciall, Nationall, or Oecumenicall *Jer. 11.13.they may err, and have erred in things appertaining to God, and the ſame is profeſt by all Proteſtant Churches.

King Henry the 8. put out the name of the Pope, but allowed ſtill his Laws. I know ſome are well content that Popes and Prelates ſhould goe downe, howſoever they will walke in their ſteps, as to be Lords over Gods Heritage, and have dominion over the faith and Conſciences of men. Beza ſayth ‖De har. civil. mag. puniendis.that God never gave power to man for impoſing Laws upon the Conſcience, nor can indure that any beſides himſelfe, ſhould beare ſway, or dominion over the minds of men. Nevertheleſſe, when theſe men ſpeake great, and ſwelling words, the KIRR, the GENERALL ASSEMBLY, the REVEREND SYNOD OF DIVINES; they looke now that men ſhould *Cajetan the Cardinall was wont to ſay, had it not bin for Luther, the Pope would have made the Germans eat graſſe like Beaſts: Now were it not but that God raiſeth up, ſome inſtruments to diſcover theſe mens legerdemains, guiles, & deviſes, they would in time make people ſuch I dolls, & ſo bruitiſh, as to believe whatſoever they ſhould ſay, right or wrong.fall downe and worſhip them, yeild ſubjection and obedience in points of faith, to whatſoever is impoſed upon them, under theſe big names, and titles, howſoever they bring nothing (neither can they) from the word of God, for the cleare juſtification thereof.

But really, the Prieſts of Rome (in this particular) deale more plainly and truely, and are truer to their owne principles, then theſe men are. They ſay right out that the Pope, in things belonging to faith ‖Nullo caſu errare poteſt. Be jarm. de. juſt. l. 1. c. 7.he can by no poſſible means err. when he ſets forth a Decree *Divinitus illi praecu…ſa eſt omnis via. Th: Bozius. l. 12. …eſig. &c. c. 16.God ſtoppeth every way unto him which might bring him into errour, ſo that he never was, he never ſhall be able to doe ought againſt faith. Now grant this, then whatſoever he deviſeth, and impoſeth upon men, although there be not any Scripture brought to confirme it, yet there is no need to queſtion the ſame. The Miniſters of the Church of England, and Scotland, ſay, a Generall Aſſembly, and Synod of Divines may err, and have erred in things appertaining to God. Nevertheleſſe, Magiſterially, and Authoritatively, they will have their Acts and decrees received (as this Covenant …o be the Covenant of God) though nothing doe appeare, wherefore it ſhould be received, but ipſe dixit, their will, and bare word, and the great ſound of a Generall Aſſembly.

Thus Reader, I have thought good to mind thee of, to wit, howſoever the Presbyterian Miniſters, both here, and elſewhere, cry up the Covenant, and in their Pulpits make it halfe their work to ſpeake againſt Covenant-breakers, notwithſtanding they have not by the word of God ever ſhewed the ſame to be lawfull. I ſay more (and will abide to it) there is not one of them ſingle, ‖Nunqu…m va… it aut valebit facere contra fidem. Boz. …. 16. c. 8.nor the whole Colledge of them together, that can prove it to be the Covenant of God. iPro. 14 15.The ſimple beleiv…th every word, but the prudent man looketh well to his going. And now I come to the reaſons, the Covenant being the Scots Cauſe, could not but incenſe the Lord of Hoſts, to jealouſie and wrath againſt them, conſidering the foule, and groſſe abuſe thereof, and to what bad, and baſe uſes it is put: As,

1. This Covenant (as it wanders like Cain in the earth) is now made a common Strumpet, as the Prophet ſayth kEze. 16.15.openeth her feet to every one that paſſeth by. It's a cover for every pot, A Scotch Army is raiſed to invade England, and by the Covenant lawfull: and by the ſame Covenant is unlawfull, when the Kirk cannot prevaile to have what Generall they pleaſe.a Fidler for all Companies, a Cloak to any deſigne; it's like a Dutch-mans houſe, you may turne it up, or down, wear it which way or how you wil. As it wil fit a Preſbyterian, ſo it will ſerve a Cavaleer, or a Malignant likewiſe, and as well: their King and his party, by it, can as fairly carry on their intereſt of Tyranny, and Idolatry, as the other their way (which they falſly call) the cauſe of God. And why not? For may not the former, abounding in their owne ſence, and taking the liberty which the later doe, ſay, the Church of Rome is beſt reformed, according to the word of God, and by the Covenant: they are bound in their places to ſeek the extirpation of the Presbyterian-Church, Miniſtry, worſhip, & Government, as Hereticall, Factious, Schiſmatical. Coſmus Medicis, Duke of Tetruria, gave two Anchors for his impreſſion, with this word, Duabus, meaning it was good to have two holds. This Covenant carries the like device, or Coat-Arms, two holds, yea ten, and they may be uſed any way, put * forward, or backward, as men pleaſe, and Politicians know how to turne and wind them ſo.

2. That the Lord of Hoſts was againſt the Covenant, the Scots Cauſe, no marvaile, for if we will take the Presbyterian ſence of it, the Covenant enjoynes men to deſtroy the Churches and people of God, and to ſuppreſſe the gifts of God, and the Spirit of Chriſt in his Saints, and Servants. Yet ſo (Cauté ſi non caſté) as Nero cladded the Chriſtians in Bears skins, when he perceived the Maſtives otherwiſe would not devoure them: ſo this great wickedneſſe (in the ‖This is the Covenant Tongue. By this Covenant-Oath all Independents ought to be expelled from the houſe of Parliament: yea not to ſit in any Court of Judicatory, to heare votes, & to determin the weighty cauſes of Religion, & Church Reformation, but as offenſive Rubs, & Remoras to he removed, & onelyonly ſound Presbyters, Lords & Commons to Rule. The implety of Impunity pag. 12. It ſeems the Covenat in a Presbyterian ſence deſtroys a man in things outward, and temporall, as well as things ſpirituall, & inward.Covenant Tongue) muſt be called, the extirpation of Hereſie and Schiſme, and under that colour men may act the higheſt perſecution, and the Covenant will allow it. It is ſaid, that the comming up of the Preaching Fryars, was purpoſely to ſuppreſſe the Truth; and Tiberius made Caligulus his Succeſſor, that he might deſtroy theſe People. I will not ſay that it was in any mans heart when this Covenant was firſt deviſed, that it ſhould be a Snare, and a pit, whereby to deſtroy true Religion, and the faithfulſt Profeſſors thereof; but this I will ſay, as it is now interpreted (and ſome would have it executed) one maine thing to be found in it is, the blood of the Prophets, and of the Saints, and of the ſouls of the poore innocents, being like the Idolls of the Samoeds, whoſe mouths and eyes are all bloody: Or Hercules Image, which had a ſtring in his Tongue, and a Club in his hand, inficiet, or interficiet, perſwade, or kill. I have ſeldome heard of the like Covenant, unleſſe that of Charles the 5. who Vowed to make the Decrees of Trent, to be received by the Sword. When he maketh Inquiſition for blood lPſal. 9.12.he remembreth them, he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

3. This Covenant muſt needs be one of the things which God hates, and is an abomination to him, becauſe it is mProv. 6.19.a falſe witneſſe, that ſpeaketh lyes, and ſoweth diſcord among brethren. The uſe & end of a lawful oath (as Pareus ſaith) *Vt lites & controverſiae fimanter Comment. ad heb. c. 6.16.is that debates and controverſies may ceaſe. So the Apoſtle, nHeb. 6.16.An oath is the end of all ſtrife. *On the 3. Com: p. 75.The taking of an Oath (ſaith Mr. Elton) ſerves to further brotherly love, and to confirm lawfull peace and ſociety between party & party, Countrey & Countrey, Kingdome & Kingdome: And a little after, that Controverſies which hinder love, & Chriſtian charity, may be ended. So † Blakewel, word for word: What a Make-bate this Covenant is between man and man, Family and Family, Church and Church, Nation and Nation, I may ſpeak the leſſe, conſidering our preſent ſad experience ſhewes it abundantly. It is no oIſa. 54 10Covenant of peace, but an Iſhmaelite, whoſe hand is againſt every man. As flyes ſticking to a ſore hinder the healing; ſo this Covenant (as a noiſome flie) keeps open the differences and breaches between brethren and neighbours, obſtructing the recovery and cure thereof. Gideon's Altar and Enſigns did cary this motto: pJudg. 6.23. New Tranſla. marg.JEHOVAH SHALOM, that is, the Lord ſend peace: but on the Enſigns and Colours of the Covenant, is engraven the marke of the beaſt, WARRE AGAINST THE SAINTS, covered over with a ſpetious pretence, *See the Motto upon the Scots Colours hanging at WeſtminſterFor God and the King, for Religion, the Church, &c. As the Turks ſay, it is for Mahomet that they make war upon the Chriſtians? and the Popes plead it, in ordine ad deum, that they ſupreſſe the truth, and perſecute the profeſſors of it: ſo they make the Covenant to ſpeak lies in hypocriſie. Woe unto them that call evill good, that put darkneſſe for light, and bitter for ſweet.

4. That the Scots Covenant, and ſo their Cauſe was evill, and therefore the Lord of Hoſts fought againſt it; appears further thus: As it is a *Canem rabidum. Hier: Catalog. Script. Eccle.mad dog (as Julian was cal'd) biting where it ſhould not; ſo it is a dumb dog in the Presbyterian ſence, not barking or biting where it ſhould doe, and where there is juſt cauſe and reaſon for it. The Scripture ſayth pGen. 9.6.He that ſheddeth mans blood, by man ſhall his blood be ſhed. qNum. 35.31.Ye ſhall take no ſatisfaction for the life of a Murtherer which is guilty of death, but he ſhall ſurely be put to death. rDeut. 19.13.Thine eye ſhall not pitty him, &c. ſPro. 28.17.Let no man ſtay him from the Pit. Now, howſoever it be acknowledged by the Presbyterians, that the late King was a man of blood, and did moſt unnaturally murther, and kill many thouſands of his beſt Subjects, yet they ſay by the Covenant Oath, men were bound, (although clearly againſt the Law of God) to preſerve his perſon, and not to put him to death, notwithſtanding all the innocent blood which he had ſhed, and other high crimes committed. As his Excellency ſayth, away with the Covenant if this be ſo; a Heathen could ſay, †Nihil honeſtum eſſe poreſt quod juſticia vacet. Cicero. offic. lib. 3.Nothing can be honeſt which wants juſtice. And 'tis a Maxime in Law *Contractus vel pacta contra legem prohibitam, n…ùnt jure nulla. L. non dubinm. C. de 11. l. …bemujs nulli.Prohibited contracts, or Covenants againſt Law, are by right nothing.

Againe, ‖Conditio turpis vel impoſſibilis vitiat actum. de Verb. Obligat.A condition evill, or impoſſible, makes the Action voyd. Our Divines alſo affirme the like *Si factum. ſit juramentum de rebus quae non ſunt noſtrae pocetatis ill…t…: Alſted: Ca…: c. 15. p. 288.An Oath is unlawfull, being taken concerning things which are not in our power. †Nihil honeſtum eſſe poreſt quod juſticia vacet. Cicero. offic. lib. 3.It is Tyranny (ſayth another) to oblige others unto impoſſible things. So Rivel, ‖Tyrannicum eſt ad res non poſſibiles ali…s ad ſtringere. Pareus Com. in Gen. 24. v. 8No man ought to be conſtrained by Oath to act any thing that is unjuſt. His Reaſon is, Becauſe obedience to Gods Commandements (which never diſagree among themſelves) is to be preferred before all things. That it is not in mans power to preſerve the life of a Murtherer (whither King or Subject) the word of God clearly holds it forth (and ſo much I have in another place proved,) and therefore it is Tyranny in the Covenant to force men to do that which is not in their power, neither can they do it poſſibly: Or if they ſhould, *Nemo juramento cogi debet ad aliquid inique perpetrā dum: Quia obedientia erga divina mandata (quae inter ſe nunquam pugnant) Omnibus eſt praeferenda. Explicat. de Catalog. 3. prae. p. 90.it were then a ſinfull and moſt unjuſt thing. ‖Non tantum non obligat: ſed ſi obſervetur, auget reatum. Ames. cont. l. 4. c. 22.Ameſius goes further; If a man (ſaith he) ſhould ſweare that hee would not doe his duty and office, he is ſo far in ſuch a caſe from keeping his oath, that keeping it, he encreaſeth his ſin. So then, by this it appears, if men by the Covenant did bind themſelves not to doe what God required of them, and what their duty and office was to doe, (namely not to put a Murtherer and Tyrant to death) yet they ought not to keep ſuch an unlawfull Oath or Covenant; but rather repenting of it, fulfill the Commandement and will of God: tPro. 13.14.The law of the wiſe is a fountaine of life to depart from the ſnares of death.

5. Howſoever the Scots and ſome here cry up the Covenant, as they did the Image which fell down from Jupiter; Great is Diana of the Epheſians: Nevertheleſſe (and let it be well minded) what the Covenant is, it is not yet known; not the Negative or Affirmative parts of it: neither can the Takers of it agree among themſelves about the particulars contained therin. Some think it was in taking, like the Jewiſh Manna in eating, of w^ch a report goes, that it taſted as every one would have it: ſo it is ſuppoſed, that the Covenant might be applyed every way, and to any thing, as men did deſire to pleaſe their pallat. But here was not that way which David deſired the Lord to lead him in, uPſal. 27.11. Margent.A way of plainneſſe; here would be no xJer. 4.2. Juramentum licitum eſt, de rebus veriscerto cognitis Polā. Syntag. l. 9. c. 23. p. 628.ſwearing in judgment, that is, conſideratly, knowingly, and underſtanding what they did. But here rather, the doctrine of blind obedience, and the Colliars faith was countenanced: and what *Hoſ: Confut. Petti. c. 14. p. 18.Hoſius ſaith, ignorance in moſt things is beſt of all: to know nothing is to know all things. And Cuſan; ‖Obedientia irrationalis, eſt conſummata & perfectiſſima, ſcilicet, quando obeditur, ſine inquiſitione rationis: ſicut jumentum obedit domino ſuo. Cuſan. Exercit. l. 6.Irrationall obedience is the fulleſt and perfecteſt; that is, when obedience is ſhewed, without enquiry or asking any reaſon as a beaſt obeys his Maſter.

This blind obedience in taking the Covenant I much pitty, and howſoever the time of this ignorance God winked at; nevertheleſſe let men take heed of preſumptuous ſins, as not to plead for Baal againſt knowledg and conſcience: the Lord of Hoſt hath begun to caſt dung in the face of it, & he will every yRom. 1.18.day more and more yRom. 1.18.declare his wrath from heaven againſt all ungodlineſſe and unrighteouſneſſe of men, who hold the truth in unrighteouſneſſe.

6. That the Covenant, the Scots Cauſe, was the Achan, who will not think ſo, if he duly conſider, how after a Scots trick, it ſerves to make men hypocrites and lyars: Of their King, made to *Qui neſcit diſſimulare, neſcit imperare.diſſemble before God and the world, and that by the Covenant. I ſhall ſpeak no more, only it is worthy of note, as one ſaith of Traytors, ‖Proditores, etiam ijs quos anteponunt, inviſi ſunt. Tacit. Annal. lib. 1.they are odius to thoſe, even whoſe inſtruments they are: So many men, although they make uſe of the Covenant (as a Traitor to further their deſign) yet is the ſame deteſted, and hated by them: The Covenant uſually hath been taken, as men do phyſick, in extremity, and for neceſſity ſake; not but the purge is bitter and loathſom to them: ſo in extremity to prevent ſequeſtration and the Kinks curſe, they have ſwallowed it, but ſore againſt their wills. Neither would they have done ſo, if neceſſity had not been: As a monſter occaſioneth griefe to thoſe that bred it; even ſo, my mind gives me, the Covenant is now matter of ſhame and ſorrow to ſome, who had a chiefe hand in the firſt promoting of it.

7. Neither in the laſt place may it be forgotten, as another cauſe, wherefore the Covenant could not ſtand before the Lord of Hoſts: Namely, becauſe (as it is uſed) it ſerves to heighten and ſtrengthen formality, prophaneſſe, and looſeneſſe of life: What an enemy it is unto Goſpel-truths, and the power of godlineſſe, I have ſhewed before: this only here may be added, how it leads men unto humane Formes, and builds them in a careleſſe, ſpiritleſſe, and fruitleſſe worſhip. The Spanyards ſay of Aquinas, he that knows not him, knows not any thing; and he that knowes him, knows all things. The Covenant is the Scots Aquinas; he that takes it is no Malignant, no Sectary or Schiſmatick, but *Vox pietatis, excuſatio iniquitatis. Aug. in Pſal. 38.a geud Chriſtian: whoſoever refuſeth it, is an enemie to the Kirk, the work of Reformation, and the great cauſe of God: ſo that the Covenant is lifted up above faith, and the grace of God in Chriſt; as if it were that man of ſinne, oppoſing and exalting it ſelfe above all that is called God. The Turk keeps a lock on the crown of his head, thinking he ſhall be drawn up into heaven by it: ſuch is the vanity and madneſſe of ſome, as they think God loves them, and that they ſhall be ſaved, and upon this account, becauſe they are Covenanters, not having beſides, any appearance of piety, or fear of God before their eyes. aJer. 50.38.It is a land of graven Images, and they are mad upon their idolls. bJoſh. 7.12.I will not be with you any more, except ye deſtroy the accurſed from among you.

Having thus ſhewed, that the Lord of Hoſts was above the Covenant, and why againſt it: I ſhall now in the Cloſe, humbly propound ſomething to the conſideration of our State. The cNumb. 21.8.brazen S…rpent, howſoever ſet up by Gods appointment, yet afterward was d2 King. 18.4.broken in pieces, being abuſed to Idolatry. If this Covenant had been of God (which never was but ‖So the Temple, howſoever built by Gods commā dement; yet being abus'd, and made an idoll (as this Covenant is) the Lord would have it to be deſtroyed.Nehuſhtan, bras at firſt) it being now made an Idol, & like eJudg. 8.27.Gideons ephod, a ſnare to Iſrael, England I mean; whether it be not fit (following the good example of that great Reformer Hezekiah) that it ſhould be put downe by publique Authority: Methinks there ſhould not any relick or monument of it remain in the Land, but what hangs up in Weſtminſter-Hall: and the rather, ſeeing the Lord of Hoſts hath gone before us, and caſt the firſt ſtone at the Hulalah.

The manna which the Lord gave Iſrael, when it fExo. 16.20.ſtanke and bred wormes (they having kept it againſt the word of the Lord) they threw it away. Flowers, though they pleas'd us wel when they were freſh; yet when the ſweetneſſs of them is loſt, when they ſtink, and are offenſive, wee caſt them off: Had this Covenant (like Manna) been good at firſt, a lovely and ſweet flower, (which never was:) Nevertheleſſe, ſeeing it is now a worm in our bowels, & moſt offenſive, ſomething ſhould be done in a publique way, to ſhew our diſowning and rejection of it. I know that maxime in Logick, *Ariſt. 2 Pol.tollatur abuſus, maneat uſus ſeu ſubſtantia: but that rule cannot be applyed here, becauſe this Covenant was ſinful and unlawful in the very matter and ſubſtance of it. gIſa. 57.14.Caſt ye up, caſt ye up, prepare the way, take up the ſtumbling-block out of the way of my people.

8. Concerning this Victory, it is further related, thus: They ſtaid only two ſhocks, and ſoone left their Train; their Foote threw downe their Armes, and both Horſe and Foot ran ſeverall wayes.

I have read of a certain mercenary Souldier, who would with many diſgracefull ſpeeches exclaim againſt great Alexander: Memmon the General of Darius Army lent him a blow with his lance, ſaying, that he had hired him to fight againſt Alexander, and not to raile at him. It is not credible, how the Scots Souldiers aſperſed his Excellency with their bold and baſe reproaches: but in Battle were like the Satyr, that winded his horn, and ran away from the ſound of it; fulfilling that ſaying in the Prophet, hIſa. 33.14.fearfulneſſe hath ſurprized the hypocrites. And here was another clear demonſtration, that the Lord tooke our part; and by his acting and appearing in this manner againſt them, manifeſted himſelfe an Enemie to them and their Cauſe.

It is uſually Gods manner, when he comes to viſit iIſa. 10.6.an hypocriticall Nation, and purpoſeth to tread them downe like the mire of the ſtreet, for maintaining an unjuſt Cauſe, to ſend kLevit. 26.36.a faintneſſe into their hearts, and lJer. 49.5.bring a feare upon them, mVerſ. 29.a feare on every ſide, and nEze. 7.18.horrour ſhall cover them: then oJob 12.5.he will take away the heart of the chiefeſt of them, pJer. 51.30.their might ſhall faile, qPſa. 76.5.their ſtout-hearted be ſpoiled, and none of the men of might ſhall find their hands: their men (at ſuch a time) ſhall be as women, and rIſa. 30.7.their ſtrength to ſit ſtill. ſIſa. 13.7, 8All hands ſhall be faint, and every mans heart ſhall melt, and they ſhall be affraid: Pangs and ſorrowes ſhall take hold of them, they ſhall be in paine as a woman that travelleth; they ſhall be amazed one at another, their faces ſhall be as flames.

How this tJob 5.21.dreadfull ſound comes in their ear, and uPſ. 48.5, 6.through feare they haſt away: It is

1. Becauſe xJob 37.22.with God is terrible Majeſtie. Now y2 Chr. 14.14.the feare of him comes upon them, and aEx. 15.16.by the greatneſſe of his arme they are ſtill, and bMic. 7.17.affraid: When they heare, cJudg. 7.20, 21.the ſword of the Lord and of Gideon, all the hoſt runs, flyes, cryes d1 Sam.woe unto us, who ſhall deliver us out of the hand of this mighty God? eRev. 6.16.or hide us from the face of him that ſitteth upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb? Why are thy valiant men ſwept away? they ſtood not, becauſe the Lord did drive them, Jer. 46.15.

2. Trembling and anguiſh ſeizeth on them, becauſe their enemies are Gods friends. And howſoever at other times they ſcoffe the people of God, and ſet light by them; yet in Battle, their appearance and preſence is terrible and dreadfull to them. fEzek. 32.I will make many people amazed at thee, and their Kings ſhall be horribly affraid of thee. gDeu. 2.25. & 11.25.I will put the dread of thee, and the feare of thee upon Nations, who ſhall heare report of thee, and ſhall tremble. hJoſ. 2.9.Your terrour is fallen upon us, that all the Inhabitants of the land faint becauſe of you. iJoſ. 5.1.Their hearts melted, neither was their ſpirit in them any more becauſe of the children of Iſrael. Thus kJob 17.8the innocent ſhall ſtirre himſelfe up againſt the hypocrite: and howſoever behind their backs they ſhall be called a Sectarian Army, and Anti-chriſts ſouldiers: yet when they come face to face, they are a dread and a terror, and a great feare unto them: and no marvail, mark the reaſon lPſ. 14.5.for God is in the congregation of the righteous, and breaketh the bow, and cutteth the ſpear in ſunder, and the Chariot he burneth with fire.

No marvail they throw away their Arms, and flie, Horſe and Foot, when God ſtriketh their hearts with inward ſtinging terrours: this was ſignified by the mExo. 23.20. Deut. 7.20. Joſh. 24.12.hornets. nDeut. 32.25.The ſword without, and terrour within ſhall deſtroy. As a Theif flies before the purſuer, and dares not …ight or look back, knowing what he hath done, and how his condition is: ſo men being conſcious to the falſhood and injuſtice of their Cauſe, have no courage in Battle; but through the horrour and dread of a guilty Conſcience, with ſorrow and ſhame flye before their enemies.

4. Feare and faintneſſe is upon them, becauſe now they begin to conſider the great things which the Lord hath done for their enemies: What remarkable deliverances and victories they have formerly had, how hee hath evermore bleſt the labours of their hands, and made them ſucceſſefull and proſperous whereſoever they come: This coming to their mind (with thoughts of Gods revenging hand formerly upon them forth i…deceit and hypocriſie, in acting the ſame thing which now they doe) it convinceth them that the others have a rightful cauſe: they, foreign, haters of God, and fighters againſt God and Chriſt. ‖Jer. 33.9.When the nations of the earth ſhall heare all the good that I doe …nto thee, they ſhall feare and tremble, for all the goodneſſe, and for all the proſperity that I procure unto thee. Saul ſeeing the Lord was with David, o1 Sam. 18.28, 29.he was the more affraid of him: howſoever ſome men make no profitable and good uſe, in beholding Gods mighty Actings for his people; nevertheleſſe, affraid they are of ſuch with whom they ſee Gods preſence, and appearance thus to be: As the Lord ſaid of Noah and his ſons, pGen. 9.2.the feare of you, and the dread of you ſhall be upon every beaſt of the earth: ſo there fals and lies a dread and fear upon theſe men, although (as Saul did David) they hate them, and are enemies to them continually.

5. And in a word, they are affraid qPſal. 65.8.at Gods tokens, what deſolations he hath made in the earth. Who knows the power of thine anger; whilſt they conſider what others have ſuffered, for hyporiſie, falſhood, cruelty, and other miſdemeanors, they cannot but quake and tremble to think how the like wrath is powring out now upon them; yea greater, deeper, heavier, being for hypocriſie and prophaneneſſe of life, far worſe and viler than many Nations whom the Lord hath ſcattered and deſtroyed for ſuch ſins. rPſal. 66.5.Come and ſee the works of God, he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men. ſIſa. 42.18.Heare ye deafe, and looke ye blind that ye may ſee.

Again, on the other hand, if they are the people, and it be the cauſe which the Lord loves and likes, and wil defend, he will in Battle put courage and ſtrength into them, tLev. 26.6.None ſhall make them affraid, uPſal. 112.8.their heart is eſtabliſhed, and they ſhall not be affraid untill they ſee their deſire upon their enemies: And no marvell, for xIſa. 12.2.the Lord JEHOVAH is their ſtrength, yDeut. 7.21.a mighty and terrible God among them, aPſal. 74.12.working ſalvation in the mids of the earth. As one ſet on a high rock, or ſtanding upon a ſure and invincible Tower may looke and laugh at all his enemies below, not caring what they can do poſſibly againſt him, how fiercely and furiouſly ſoever they aſſault him: ſo they, who have God for their rock and tower, though they bPſal. 23.4.walk in the valley of the ſhadow of death; though their enemies are two to one, yea ten to one, and have all the conveniencies, accommodations, and advantages that their hearts can wiſh: yet they need feare no evill; for he cPſal. 118.7.that takes their part with them that helps them, wil let them ſee their deſire upon them that hate them. dIſa. 28.29.This alſo commeth from THE LORD OF HOST which is wonderfull in Counſell, and excellent in working.

9. If by the return of prayer we may learn any thing of the mind of God: in this likewiſe we have a full and cleare teſtimony given us, that the Lord loved us, and approved our Cauſe.

This thing his Excellency hath well obſerved: *In his letter to the Miniſters in Edenburgh Caſtle.Did not you (ſaith hee) ſolemnly appeale and pray? did not we ſo? and ſhall we after all theſe our prayers, faſtings, teares, expectations and ſolemn Appeals, call theſe bare Events? The Lord pitty you.

Some men are like little children, who cannot read unleſſe it be in their owne Booke: what gracious Anſwers and ſpeciall returns of prayer the Lord vouchſafes unto others; here they can ſee nothing of God, nothing of his power, goodneſſe, juſtice, and faithfulneſſe; nothing of his juſtifying and owning a righteous Cauſe, and his juſt diſpleaſure againſt lying and falſhood: It is only a bare Event which they behold, and nothing elſe; to ſuch groſſe darkeneſſe of heart are they given up, and delivered over.

It was a law among the Aſſyrians, that if any did fall ſick, he ſhould ask counſell of thoſe, that had been viſited with the like ſickneſſe, by what meanes and way they were recovered. If you ask of dExo. 17.11.Moſes, ePſal. 56.9.David, f2 Chron. 14.Aſa, g2 Chron. 20.Jehoſaphat, h2 King. 19.Hezekiah, when they fought againſt their Enemies (who were more in number, and mightier then they) how out of weakneſſe were made ſtrong, waxed valiant in fight, ſubdued Kingdoms, and turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens: They would ſay, The Lord i1 Chr. 5.20.helped them, and delivered the enemies into their hands, becauſe they made their ſupplications and prayers unto him.

When God purpoſeth to beſtow any ſpeciall favour upon his People, he moves their hearts before hand to pray for it: How the Lord prepared the heart, even filled the ſouls of many thouſand pretious people with the Spirit of Supplication, it is well knowne, and our Army found the ſtrength, and fruit thereof, in the day of Battaile. When we ſee Clouds over our heads, loden, and full with raine, we think it will not be long before the Earth receive the bleſ ſing of it from God. He that had ſeen what fullneſſe of God, what enlargment of the Spirit there was in Prayer for our Army, might through faith, have foreſeen the Victory, and ſaid, God will ſend lEzek. 34.26.SHOWRES OF BLESSING, mPſal. 68.9.a PLENTIFULL RAINE, Raine of Liberallities (as the Hebrew is) in giving Salvation to England. Men at Sea labour to bring themſelves upon ſuch Points, or Ports, as they may receive good Wind to bring them home. We know nPſal. 33.16, 17.there is no King ſaved by the multitude of an Hoſt, a mighty man is not delivered by much ſtrength, an Horſe is a vaine thing for ſafety. The Battell is not mans, but Gods; his right hand, and holy Arme, is the wind which brings us home, gets the Victory for us. And knowing this, our labour was, to bring our Army by Prayer, upon that Port, or Point, where we might ſee Jehovah riding upon the Wings of the Wind, girding our Army with ſtrength in the day of Battail, and the Enemies as Chaffe which the WIND driveth away.

*Fulmen adverſus hoſtes, imbrem ad refocillandum exercitum. Euſe. Hiſt Ec., d. 3. c. 9.Euſebius reports, that the Chriſtians by prayer obtained lightning againſt their Enemies, and raine to refreſh the Army. What leſſe by Prayer obtained we, but on our part Victory, and great deliverance? Againſt the Enemy he ſent out his Arrows, and ſcattered them; he ſhot out lightnings, and diſcomfited them. oPſal. 56.9.When I cry unto thee, then ſhall mine Enemies turne back, this I know, for God is for me pPſal. 66.20.Bleſſed be God, which hath not turned away my Prayer, nor his mercy from me.

It is a rule in Art, and daily experience ſhews it, contraries placed together doe mutually illuſtrate each other. That there was Prayer made for the ſucceſſe, and wellfare of the Scots Army, qEzek. 3.21.Weeping and Supplications, upon the high places. rMal. 2.13A covering the Altar with Tears, with weeping, and with crying. I ſay, for their proſperity, and our overthrow, who knows it not. ſEzek. 8.14.Women weeping for Tammuz, the Covenant I ſhould have ſaid. Now ſeeing the Lord, when they did cry, and ſhout, did ſhut out their Prayer, covered himſelfe with a cloud, that their Prayer ſhould not paſſe through: What ſhould this ſignifie? I ſhall forbeare to give them mine owne Opinion I deſire they would lay their hands on their hearts, and ſpeake truely, whither hence they have not juſt cauſe to think: that tPſ. 10.97.their Prayer became ſin, or uPro. 289.an abomination; or that the Lord xPſ. 8.4.was angry againſt it, or, he heard them not, becauſe *Iſa. 1.15.their hands were full of blood, and ‖1 TIm. 2.8.wrath, or ‖† Pſ. 66.18.regarded iniquity in their hearts, or, as it is ſaid of the *Job. 27.9.Hypocrite, Will God heare his cry when trouble commeth upon him? It is true, of ſome God ſpeaks, ‖Jer. 11.Though they cry to him ( *Ezek. 7.18.cry in his ears with a loud voice) he will not hearken to them. Though they ‖† Pro. 1.28ſeeke him early, with much faſting, and ‖Jer. 14.1…ſpread forth their hands, he will *Iſa. 1.15.hide his face from them. But who are theſe? not a nationall Church ſtanding for the Holy Covenant, for the great cauſe of God, and Reformation, not men zealouſlie earneſt for the purity of divine worſhip, and Enemies to Idolatry, ſuperſtition, hereſie, Schiſme, prophaneneſſe: No, the Prophets tell us otherwiſe: theſe were ‖† Iſa. 1.4.A ſinfull Nation, a people laden with iniquity, ‖Mic. 3.4.a ſeed of evill doers, Rulers of Sodome, *Ver. 23.rebellious Princes, and Companions of theevs ‖Mic. 2.3.who hated the good, and loved the evill. Whoſe ‖† Jer. 14.14.Prophets Prophecyed lyes, the Lord ſent them not, neither ſpake unto them: They Prophecyed to the people a falſe Viſion and divination, a thing of nought, and the deceit of their own heart.

Theſe people whoſe prayers God would not heare, and from whom he had hid his face, were an HYPOCRITICALL Nation, *Iſa. 10.diſſemblers in their heart. ‖Jer. 4.2.AN ASSEMBLY OF TREACHEROUS MEN, ‖† Jer. 15.17.OF MOCKERS, ſuch as would deceive every man his Neighbour, & would not ſpeak the truth, but teach their Tongues to ſpeake lyes, and wearied themſelves to commit iniquity. Sons, not of Jacob, but *Jer. 42.20.of the Sorcereſſe, Children of Tranſgreſſion, a ſeed of falſhood, of the Adulterer, and of the Whore.

It is true, ſuch a Nation the Lord would not heare, neither would his eye pitty them; but did appoint them for Famine, Peſtilence, Captivity, and the fearfull Sword of War: But what then? Can it be ſhewed in holy Scripture, that a pure Kirk, holding faſt the Covenant of God, and having under hand the great work of Reformation, ſeeking God by faſting and Prayer, in a righteous and juſt cauſe, were not onelyonly denyed of his preſence and pretection, but left to the Sword of Hereticks, and cruell perſecutors to be devoured?

I remember I have read ſomwhere, that whilſt Pompey proſpered, and Rome flouriſhed, Cato ſtoutly held and defended a divine providence; but when he ſaw Pompey overthrowne by Caeſar, his body caſt upon the ſhore, without honour of Buriall, and himſelfe expoſed to danger of Caeſars Army, he changed his Opinion, denying that there was any Divine providence, but all things ſet out by chance. The time was, when the Presbyterians, Scots, and Engliſh, ſpake much of Divine providence. In Victories and deliverances they could ſee much of God, I meane, when the Prelats were going downe, and they thought to have had as great power to perſecute; when like proud Haman, they thought that the ſeducing the men whom the Parliament would honour, and Mordecai and his people ſhould be all deſtroyed, then indeed every victory and deliverance againſt the Kings party (in Books and Sermons) muſt have a divine mark, and Character of Gods preſence; then it was the War of God, the Cauſe of God, yea, and confirmed to be ſo, by Gods Actings, and appearances for us. But ſe…ng now their way (like Baal) is like to plead for it ſelfe, ſits upon a wooden horſe, and muſt ſtand of it ſelfe, (as it will) if it be of God, with Cato they have ‖Some report that Manna at firſt was in eating very ſweet, and did reliſh wel, but afterward, through the murmuring, & unthankfullneſſe of the people, it had no ſavour, or good taſt. That theſe men ſee not ſo much of God in his Diſpenſations, have loſt that reliſh & ſweet taſt of them which formerly they had, they may thanke themſēlves, this is of their ingratitude, & murmuring againſt God, & Moſes.changed their Opinion, nothing now but bare events, ſucceſſe proves nothing, all things come alike, &c. Howſoever the Victories, and deliverances which they ſo cried up, as to have on them the viſible ſtamp, and Character of Gods owning the Cauſe, were not by many degrees in ſeverall particulars, ſo eminent, and remarkable, as theſe are of whom we ſpeake.

Now who can but pitty the people thus deluded, and abuſed by theſe men? And what hath been the *Hoſ. 15.1.Snare on Mizpah, and the Net ſpread upon Tabor, the ‖Zech. 13.4.rough Garment whereby they have deceived the ſimple; but chiefly their long Prayers, frequent Faſtings for the proſperity of the Scots Army, bitter exclamations, and invectives againſt the preſent Government. Thoſe who hawk for Birds, make a ſtale of the Owle, and ſo the ſilly Birds, whilſt they are ſtaring about her, are taken. For what ſerves ſome mens ſowre faces, bowing downe the head as a Bulruſh, covering the Altar with tears, with weeping, and with cryings, throwing all the curſes of the Law at Magiſtrates: but as a bait to catch ſilly Birds, ſimple people; for whilſt they ſtand gazing, on theſe men, as at ſome ſtrange Creature (a wonder to ſee ſo much rebellion, malice, hypocriſie, covered under the cloak of a holy Covenant, the cauſe of God, extirpation of Hereſie, Schiſme, prophaneneſſe) they fall into the Net of deſtroying, and undoing themſelves. xIſa. 58.34.Wherefore have we faſted, ſay they, and thou ſeeſt not? Why have we afflicted our ſouls, and thou takeſt no notice? Behold ye faſt for ſtrife and debate, and to ſmite with the fiſt of wickedneſſe. yIſa. 59.1, 2.Behold the Lords hand is not ſhortened that it cannot ſave, neither his ear heavy that it cannot heare, but your iniquities have ſeperated between you, and your God, and your ſins have hid his face from you that he will not heare.

10. How exceedingly the Lord at this time appeared for us, and gave witneſſe to the Juſtice of our Cauſe, will be the more perſpicuous and cleare, if former Victories, and deliverances be duely conſidered: that is, what God hath done for us in England, and Ireland, and how he hath all along gone forth with this Army, ſince it was firſt raiſed, ſtill upholding the ſame cauſe which, by the Scots (to their ſhame, and loſſe) is now oppoſed.

It is true, the cauſe of God (this publick righteous Cauſe which is now held forth by the Parliament of England) hath found Enemies of ſeverall kinds, of all ſorts, and ſice: As the Trent Fathers, howſoever among themſelves they could not agree, yet to oppoſe, and perſecute Luther, therein, unanimouſly accorded together: So the Enemies of this Commonwealth, although there be among them ſome difference, (and that not a little, as being ſome Papiſticall, others prelaticall, ſome Presbyteriall) yet here they all center: and are one in malice, and revenge, in their deſigne, and plot all one; as ſeeking every one of them, the overthrow of this preſent Government.

A Painter being Commanded by the Turk to paint every Nation in his habite, Painted the Germain naked; and being asked the Cauſe, Anſwered, he could not preſcribe him a particular kind of habit, he was ſo delighted with Novelties. If it were my task to ſet out here, to the life, what the deſigne, and plot is, of the Enemy (I mean) wherein they agree altogether againſt us: I could not doe better (to have it truely underſtood) then to compare it to the naked Germain; for one while it hath upon it, Scarlet, or Royall aRev. 12.3Red, other while an Iriſh bPro. 7.9.black; ſometimes a Scotch cEzek. 23.56.Blew; thus there is a changing, and ſhifting of Colours (from Red to Black, from Black to Blew) as they ſee occaſion of advantage; yet ſo, as but one body, the plot, and deſigne ſtill the ſame.

In this combination (ſayth the Parliament) the Popiſh, *An Act of Thankſgiving for ſetting a part Tueſday, Octob. 8. 1650.Prelaticall, Prophane, and Malignant Parties, ſtand behind the Curtaine, and ſeemed for a ſeaſon to be quite laid aſide; that the cauſe of God, the Covenant, and work of Reformation, might beare the name.

It is true, they did ſo, here now was laid aſide (in Appearance) Red, and Black, and the naked Germain comes forth all in Blew: having on his forehead, RELIGION: and under the name of Religion, the extirpation of our Religion, Laws, and Liberty, is intended. But the Lord of Hoſt, who had before delivered our Army (and us with it) out of the Paw of the Lion, and the Beare (Royaliſts and Iriſh) the ſame God, by weake means delivered us from that inſulting Enemie, who had defied the Army of the living God. If we heare one Cock Crow, and no more, there is ſome hope, and probability the day is breaking; but if all, it is taken for certaine, and out of doubt. In many Victories which the Lord hath given us, ſo much hath appeared (being lookt on, ſingle, and a part) as we might hopefully ſay, Englands great day of deliverance from the Tyranny of Kings, and Prieſts is at hand. But when we conſider ſucceſſes, and victories, every where (in England, in Ireland, in Scotland,) ſo ſeaſonable, and wonderfull, as no other Nation almoſt hath ever heard, or been made partaker of: we ſhould not glorifie God in thoſe great things which he doth for us, unleſſe (beleiving his works) we did ſay, The Lord is creating England a rejoycing, and her people a joy.

dJudg. 13.23.If the Lord meant to …ill us, he would not have ſhewed us all theſe things. That eDeut. 23.14.Jehovah walks in the midſt of our C…mp, to deliver them, and to give up the Enemies before them, makes one Army a bleſſing in the Earth; no Weapon that is formed againſt it doth proſper: And for the Machavilion Councells, traiterous deviſes, and all endeavours of the Enemy, here and every where (whither Popiſh, prelaticall, Iriſh, Scotiſh) we ſee ſtill, like Arrows they fall on their owne heads; are not theſe things ſufficient evidences, and demonſtrations that the Lord takes our part? is, Emanuel, God with us, and with our cauſe? Surely let the Enemy, (like another Pharaoh) harden himſelfe, and in the time of his diſtreſſe, treſpaſſe yet more againſt the Lord, as Ahaz did: Yet we for our parts, ſhall not be unbeleiving, but beleive, yea, and further be aſſured, from theſe preſent actings and appearances of God for us: that he will mainetaine this Cauſe of ours, againſt all Enemies, in ſpight of all their falſhoods, lies, Hypocriſies, never ſo artificially, and deceitfully cloaked, and covered over, with the cauſe of God, the Covenant, Reformation, Praying, Faſting.

When Balak, and Balaam (King and Prophet) had done what they could, turned every ſtone, and tryed every way (from place to place) what they could doe againſt Iſrael, by their Sorceries and Enchantments; and perceiving all to be in vaine, it is ſaid, fNumb. 24.25.Balaam roſe up, and went, and returned to his place, and Balak alſo went his way; doubtleſs as convinc'd that the Lord was ſo with Iſrael, as they ſhould not proſper in that way and courſe which they had taken up againſt him. Will the Enemies of this Common-wealth be worſe and more blind then they? What blinder then Balak, and Balaam? It ſeems they are, for howſoever they have gone as far in eſſayes, and trialls, and found no better ſucceſſe, yet have they not the underſtanding the others had, that is, to give over, and ceaſe, as they did, and goe every one to his owne home.

Balak brought Balaam up to the high places of Baal; ſo hath the Enemies deſigne been *Namely by the late King and his wife, who made it their Maſterpiece, and ground-worke, to have in the firſt place the Prieſts of Rome, and England, for their aſiſtants. Of her it may be ſaid, as Livia, gravis in Remp. mater. Tac. An. l. 1.brought unto the Houſe of Baal. The Prieſts of Roome have built Altars, offered Sacrifices, ‖In the Popiſh Synagogues beyond Sea, the late King was every where prayed for, that he might prevaile againſt the Parliament.and called upon their Gods, their He Saints, and She Saints, for aid and aſſiſtance; and the Parliament of England by them hath beene curſed with Bell, Booke, and Candle. But there was no voyce, nor any that anſwered. The Lord who gPſal. 20.2.ſendeth his people help (not from the high places of Baal) but from his Sanctuary, and ſupporteth them out of Sion, turned that curſe, into a bleſſing, unto us. Beſides, whatſoever the Baalimites could otherwiſe doe (as the Pope, Cardinals, Jeſuites, Monks, Fryars, with the Engliſh Arch-Biſhops, Biſhops, Deans, Cannons, & the reſt of that Viperous brood:) either by their counſells, Policies, *There have bin many great Collections among the Papiſts (as voluntary gifts) in all Popiſh Countreys, for to furniſh the late King with monies in his war againſt the Parliament, beſides the great ſums he had from them other wayes.Purſes, or what way elſe they have contributed, from time to time, all the furtherance, and help they could. But as a wet Sack wherewith a naked man is covered, is ſo far from arming him againſt the cold, that it doth increaſe his ſhivering: So this Enemies Deſigne hereby, was ſo far from being holpen, or effected, as this prov'd a means (the Lords good hand ſo ordering it) of its greater fall and ruine. Truly in vaine is Salvation hoped for from the Hills, and from the multitude of Mountaines; truely in the Lord our God, is the Salvation of Iſrael, Iſa. 3.23.

2. As Balak brought Balaam hNum. 32.14.into the Field of Zophim, that is, of the *So is the word by the Learned Interpreted.Spies, or Scowt-watches: So the Enemies great cauſe, or deſigne hath been here likewiſe witneſſe; the Popiſh, prelatical, and Malignant party, who have watcht all opportunities to raiſe Hurliburleys, and Commotion, both in England, and Ireland, and where ever they have ſpied any advantage, or imagined the leaſt help of ſucceſſe, multitudes have made themſelves ready to engage againſt the Parliament. What iIſa. 29.20.watching there hath beene for iniquity, kPſal. 37.32.to ſlay the righteous; pretended to be for the Proteſtant Religion, Priviledges of Parliament, and the liberty of the Subjects, now for the Covenant, and reformation, it is well knowne by what the blood-thirſty Iriſh, and deſperate Engliſh Cavaleers, have often attempted; but he that ſits in Heaven laughed them to ſcorne, ſo as their taking Counſells together their Aſſociations, conſpiracies, and inſurrections, in City, and Countrey, was to them no otherwiſe then a Quagmire, or Iriſh-bog, the more they ſtir'd, the deeper they ſanke, and faſter they were. lIſa. 47.11.Miſchiefe did fall upon them, and they were not able to put it off, and ſuddain deſolation which they did not know. Our Army mPſal. 18.42.Beating them ſmall as the duſt before the wind, caſting them out as the dirt in the ſtreet.

3. As Balak when he ſaw he could not attaine his end by carrying Balaam unto the two former places, he brings him then nNum. 23.28.unto the top of Peor, to oDeut. 3.2…Beth-Peor, the Houſe, or Temple of his God, the Kirk in which his Idoll was, the enemies deſigne, their great cauſe (after they have pEzek. 9.5wearied themſelves to commit iniquity, and with their lyes) at length is brought to the holy place where (under colour of Religion, and reformation) it may be the more ſtrengthened, and better carried forth. But as Solomon ſayth qEzek. 24.1….The Sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, how much more when he bringeth it with a wicked mind. As the Lord here ſaw *Si mulata aequitasnon eſt aequitas ſed ini qua duplex; quia iniquitas eſt ſimulatio, Aug. Super. Pſ. 63.more diſſimulation, Hypocriſie, falſhood, then on the high places of Baal, or Field of Zaphim, ſo doth the power of his anger the more appeare; here the Lord will ſhew himſelfe that he hath not pleaſure in wickedneſſe, is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity. And howſoever (perhaps) they might flatter themſelves, and think, He would hide his face, and never ſee it, or ſay, How doth he know? Can he judge through the dark Clouds? Nevertheleſſe he did ſee their falſhood, and jugling (how cunningly ſoever covered) and hath left them (as Lots Wife) to be a Pillar of Salt, a memorable example unto poſterity, not to provoke the Almighty, and terrible God in ſuch ſort; for as Eliphaz ſayth in Job, The Congregations of Hypocrites ſhall be deſolate. My fleſh trembleth for feare of thee, ‖Job. 15.43.and rPro. 21.27I am afraid of thy Judgements.

Two things I find more acted at Beth-Peor.

Firſt, Balaams wicked Doctrine, who Counnſelled Balak to lay a Stumbling-block before the Children of Iſrael, whereby they might be occaſioned to rebell againſt the Lord, and ſo deſtroyed.

2 Balaks putting off his Prophet without any reward; when he ſaw he had received no profit by him, and that all his juggling, and Hocus-Pocus, helpt him not. O Lord how manifold are thy works, in wiſdome thou haſt made them all. What was that Declaration which the Scots lately counſelled their King to ſet forth, but *It carries the look & face of their Kirk.Balaams Doctrine, a ſtumbling block, a ſnare, a pit? For what was the maine drift, and ſcope thereof: but rebellion againſt God, and man; namely to have the Engliſh riſe up in Armes againſt the Magiſtrate, that ſo they might be cut off. I ſay themſelves, their Families, Wives, and Children utterly undone: and then the Scots to come in for our Gued, or Goods.

As for the other particular, their King perceiving now that he cannot carry on his deſigne by their Wiles, wherewith they thought to have beguiled England. (No more then Balaam helped Balak by his Enchantments, and Sorceries,) he is ſo far from having any thoughts to reward them; as that he is upon the point to caſt them off, and to cloth the naked Germaine againe with Red, and Black: as making uſe no more of the Blew: for he ſees the Covenant ſo ominous, and unhappy, as no deſigne or plot ever proſpers that goes forth under the name of it. As if God had ſpoken of it. Curſed ſhalt thou be in the City, and curſed ſhalt thou be in the Field; curſed ſhalt thou be when thou commeſt in, and curſed ſhalt thou be when thou goeſt out. And thus much of Balak and Balaam, or the pararell between them, and the Enemies of this Common-wealth, ‖Iſa. 44.11.in acting their Deſignes, or cauſe alike. Let them all be gathered together, let them ſtand up, yet they ſhall feare, and be aſhamed together.

I ſhould now ſpeake ſomething in Anſwer to ſuch objections as might be made againſt the thing here ſtood for: ſomething I ſhall write, although a larger diſcourſe the Reader ſhall have in the Second part.

Object. 1. Solomon ſayth, aEccl. 9.1, 2 Judicium carnis de adminiſtratione dei erga perſonas ipſas. Junius in Loc. Eſt autem hic. deſcrip…io elegantiſſima totius judicj carnalis. ibid. Sententia carnis de adminiſtratione dej in mundo. Gartw. in Loc.No man knoweth either love or hatred, by all that is before him: All things come alike to all, there is one event to the wicked, and to the righteous. Hence it follows, that nothing can be concluded from Succeſſes, Victories, or outward deliverances, as if thereby it might be proved, that God ſhould owne and juſtifie one mans cauſe, more then another.

Anſw. 1. It is a great Queſtion whither theſe are the words of Solomon, ſome ſay not, but the Atheiſt, or carnall reaſon, is here brought in, denying Gods providence, and framing an Objection thus. If things here below were ordered and adminiſtred by a juſt, and wiſe God, ſome diſtinction then, would be ſeene between men, and men, in order to their condition, and events of things; but wicked men, and ſuch whoſe cauſe is ſinfull, and unjuſt proſper, and have as great ſucceſſe as the righteous, and thoſe whoſe cauſe is right and good. Ergo. An Argument like Catos, after Pompey was beaten by Caeſar: and the ſame in effect which the Scots, and Engliſh Presbyters, now maintaine, to darken the glory of God, ſhining forth in his works. But,

2. Admit another interpretation, nevertheleſſe, by theſe words, All things come alike to all, &c. It cannot be meant, as if nothing could be gathered from Gods diſpenſations in the World, or that Events, and ſucceſſes prove nothing: for ſuch a ſence is a plaine contradiction unto other Scriptures. bPſal. 34.15.16.The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, his face is againſt them that doe evill, to cut off the remembrance of them from the Earth. When he ſaved Noah, and his Family from drowning, and left the reſt to periſh in the great waters: delivered Lot out of Sodome, and gave up the Sodomites to be burnt with fire, and brimſtone: brought Iſrael ſafe through the red Sea, and left the Aegyptians there to be overwhelmed, and deſtroyed. Here all things are not alike, neither is there one event to the wicked and to the righteous. Beſides, by the deliverance, and good ſucceſſe, which the Lord gave Noah, Lot, and the Iſraelites, it did appeare (and had there been nothing elſe, that ſame thing was enough to prove) their way and cauſe to be better then the others. It is therefore moſt true, as one ſaith *Jermin upon Eccleſ. 9.3. p. 312.As God beholdeth men who are not alike, ſo he beholdeth them in a manner not alike. And much to the ſame purpoſe are Salvians words, ‖Intelligis generalem quidem eſſe in omnes domini viſ… onem, ſed meritorum fieri diſparilitate di… verſum, boni quippe aſpi…iun tur ut conſerventur, mali ut diſperdantur. Salvian de Gub: dej. l. 2.Thou underſtandeſt the ſight of God to be generall upon all, but to be made different by diverſity of their deſerts, for the good are beheld that they may be preſerved, the wicked, that they may be deſtroyed: ſo he,

3. Should the place be underſtood that nothing can be proved by Events, and Succeſſes, there would then little uſe many times be made of Gods pow er, juſtice, goodneſſe: or any cauſe to aſcribe glory and praiſe unto him, for his great and marvelous works: for ſuppoſe he have ſaved a people by a ſpeciall, and mighty hand, and deſtroyed their enemies in an unwonted and extraordinary ſort; and all this, after both have ſolemnly, and often appealed unto Heaven, that the Lord would judge the cauſe betwixt them; yet muſt not any man (beholding theſe things) ſay, that God in all this, either gave any ſigne or token to the Conquerors of approving their Action, or that they ſubdued, had not a juſt and righteous cauſe.

Now what place is there here (if ſuch Events, and ſucceſſes ſpeake nothing) to ſing the Song of Moſes: Great and marvellous are thy works O Lord God Almighty, juſt and true are thy ways, thou King of Saints. As for the grounds of the War between them, it is poſſible many may be ignorant thereof, & therefore if they may neither ſay, nor think of the cauſe by the events, be they whatſoever: here then they muſt either hold their peace, or offer the Sacrifice of fools. It is a rule in Ariſtotle, Ex vero ſemper ſequitur verum: but this Doctrine that Events prove nothing, cannot be Sound, becauſe ſuch an abſurdity, and untruth follows thereupon.

4. Had theſe men been living (who teach that nothing can be concluded from ſucceſſe, or event) when the ‖† There is a… much now in a ſolemn appealing unto God, as there was in caſting a Lot; ſo that if men (being at difference) doe appeale, and that before the World, unto God, that he ſhould judge the cauſe between them. No queſtion but the Lord now upon this appealing to him, will doe, as formerly he did in the Lot: give a moſt righteous ſentence by his ordering hand of providence. And therefore it ſeems to me, that had a Scot, and others of his mind, bin found out by a Lot, as Achan was, they would not have allow'd it, or ſtood to it; but have ſaid, One event to all.Lot fell to Achan, Jonathan Jonas, and others: they could eaſily have evaded it, had it been their caſe; as for example, they would have pleaded, all things come alike to all, there is one event to the wicked, and to the righteous: And therefore whatſoever the ſucceſſe or event be of the lot, nothing thence can be inferred, as to prove a man guilty, or that any diſtinction or difference ſhould be put betweene perſon and perſon, Cauſe and Cauſe. But what cannot men doe (foreign) by wit and art, as to make the works of God and his Adminiſtrations (ſought out of all that have pleaſure therein) to be of no effect, and to teach men ſo to doe, when, and as they pleaſe. I have read of Antonius, when he angled, ſome dived under water, & put fiſhes upon his hook, the which he caſt up at his pleaſure one after another: hee that would learn to wreſt the Scripture, needs not ſeeke any further Counſel then here; for if he caſt in his hooke where theſe Divers are, hee may be ſure they will fit him with fiſh to the purpoſe, a ſubtle device and trick whereby to mock God, and deſtroy his owne ſoule.

5. Sometime the event or ſucceſſe of a thing, is ſo far from being Null, or ſtanding as as a Cipher: as the equity and truth of the Cauſe is thereby confirmed, and no other way. Put a ſtaffe in the water, and it will ſeeme crooked, not that it is ſo, but we cannot ſee it right for the water. Even ſo a Cauſe, howſoever right and juſt; yet through the cunning of men, by the water of their calumniation and ſlander, it may ſeem otherwiſe, and by many otherwiſe believed. As on the contrary, a filthy dunghill may be covered with ſnow, a viper hid under a roſe; an a2 Sam. 15.8.11.an unrighteous Cauſe ſo coloured and cloak'd, with ſuch titles of Truth, piety, Religion, Gods worſhip, &c. as ſome (deceiv'd thereby) may think the ſame to be juſt and good.

When Jannes and Jambres, (two Aegyptian Sorcerers) withſtood Moſes: and five hundred falſe Prophets of Baal contended with Elias: Here was Cauſe againſt Cauſe, Plea againſt Plea (as it is now between us and the Scots:) But how was the truth here diſcovered, and made to appeare? and thoſe ſatiſfied or convinced which were concern'd therein? Truly by the Event or Suc…ſſe; that is, he Lord making them Conquerours, and giving them the victory who had the juſt and rightfull Cauſe. That …aul by his calumniations, lyes, flatteries, and other deceitfull practiſes, had ſo clouded David's Cauſe, as many thought that his carriage & dealing toward his Father in law was not good, and that Saul had ſome reaſon and ground for what he did: ſo much is very cleare, by many paſſages and expreſſions of David in the Pſalms. But the Succeſſe and Event cleared David, and juſtified his Cauſe: as how? to wit, by the many wonderfull and ſeaſonable deliverances which David had by the Lords mighty appearing, and working ſalvation for him with an high hand: On the contrary (is not deſtruction to the wicked, Job 31.3.and a ſtrange puniſhment to the workers of iniquity?) that Divine Juſtice that followed Saul all along in life and death, was ſuch an Event, as did prove with a witneſſe, what for a man he was, and how un… righteouſly he had dealt with David.

It is true, (and I know it to be ſo) that the Parliament of Englands Cauſe, in reference to the publique Enemies of this Common-wealth (by what name or title ſoever) hath beene proved ſufficiently to be a Juſt Cauſe, even th… Cauſe of GOD, both by the law of God, of Nature, and Nations: As for inſtance, *See a booke Intituled, the golden Rule, or Juſtice advanced.The putting to death the late KING, the laying aſide the Houſe of LORDS, the Conſtitution of England a COMMON-WEALTH, the preſent Parliament a true REPRESENTATIVE, and Supreame Authority of the Nation. The marching of our Army into Scotland upon grounds of Juſtice and Neceſſity. All theſe things have been proved over and over: nevertheleſſe, ſome envying the good we have, becauſe it came not to us by them: Others perceiving that their private profits and intereſts muſt goe downe, and lye in the duſt, if publique Good be ſet up, and proſper; hereupon, they conſult together, and are Confederates: and what can be done by fraud, or falſhood, or any way, they ſeeke to attempt. Yea, ſuch are the depths of Satan, and myſtery of iniquity, now working to deceive every where, and every one; as that the juſt and righteous Cauſe of the Parliament, is queſtioned by ſome, denyed by others, and all this through the deceit and craft of ſuch men, who either are diſcontented, becauſe others under God did the good work, and not they; or who finde themſelves now ſhut out from the *Act 10.25. … know th… by this … we have … wealth. A … reaſō …e…ore … ſhould … …ccupation.g…infull trade formerly they had, and unwarranble ways to deceive and … the people in ſoule, purſe, and perſon.

But the Lord, whoſe wayes and judgements are all … teous; he I ſay, who juſtifies the righteous, and condemns … wicked, ſeeing them to caſt ſuch a cloud over his Cauſe, and to make it contemptible before men, by aſpe…ng … with Treaſon, Ʋſurpation, Oppreſſion, Fraud, &c. comes forth in behalfe of it: and as hee did for Moſes againſt the Magicians, for Elias againſt Baals Prophets, and for David againſt Saul: ſo doth hee for us, (or rather for his great name) gives ſuch ſuch glorious Succeſſes, and moſt remarkable Events to this Cauſe every where, that unleſſe men did wilfully ſhut their eyes, or made themſelves blind through malice, pride, covetouſneſſe, &c. they might ſee *Quid faciun video, nec me ignorantia veri de…ipiet, ſed amor.as clearly as they doe the ſunne ſhining at noone day, to be a RIGHTEOUS AND GOOD CAUSE, the which the Lord hath, doth, and will ſtill defend.

Object. 2. The Iſraelites in two Battles were overcome by the Benjamites, but they had a good Cauſe, the which the others had not: Therefore Succeſſes or Events in Warre prove nothing in reſpect of the Cauſe, whether it be juſt or unjuſt.

Anſw. 1. Some mens tongues are like a mill that is looſe hung, keepes a mighty crackling, but grinds no corne. This example of the Benjamites I heare is much talked of; and as David ſaid of Goliah's ſword, there is none like that: So ſome ſay, there is none to this, it cannot be anſwered. But how farre this is from that rule, ſimpliciter ad ſimpliciter, inconſiſtent to the matter they bring it for; and to what they apply it, will appeare, by putting it into forme; for thus it muſt be, if it be any thing. If GOD ſometimes (for reaſons known to himſelfe) ſuffer wicked men to proſper in a bad Cauſe, as to have a Victory once or twice, being fewer in number then their Enemies: It will neceſſarily follow, that what ſoever aſſiſtance he gives a people in Battle, what Victory and Deliverance ſoever they have: in what manner or way ſoever he appeares for them, and againſt their Enemies: Nothing by the Succeſſe or Event can be gathered, concerning the juſtice of the Cauſe, on whoſe ſide it is.

A ſimple Reader, without helpe of Schoole-learning, may eaſily ſee the vanity and abſurdity of ſuch reaſoning. Suppoſe I would argue thus; there is not any light that ſhewes a diſtinction or difference betweene day and night; and to prove this aſſertion: I inſtance, that neither the Moon-light, Star-light, or Candle-light doth it, or can doe it: But thou wilt ſay, by the ſhining light of the Sunne, the day is known from the night. Canſt thou finde out the depth and ſubtlety of this argument? looke over then upon the other, it's the very ſame in Mood and Figure: becauſe that Light or Appearance of God which is like Moon-light, proves not the day or Cauſe; therefore the greater light will not doe it: not the ſunne, not the higheſt and moſt glorious ſhinings of God.

2. That the Benjamites had an ill Cauſe, and yet in Battle overthrew the Iſraelites two ſeverall times, we grant: which might be to humble the one, and harden the other; but here the main and eſſentiall part, to make the compariſon hold between this Example, and the thing whereto they apply it, is altogether wanting. We do not ſay that Victories and Succeſſes (barely conſidered) prove a good Cauſe; but this we ſay, ſuch may be the Actings and Appearances of God for a People, ſo wonderfull may be their Victories and Deliverances, as thereby it doth infallibly appeare, the LORD his owning and juſtifying their Cauſe.

For the Victories which the Benjamites had, there is nothing appeares in them, of any ſpeciall divine preſence; no remarkeable foot-ſteps of Gods walking in their Camp: not one thing in the Hiſtory, witneſſing a ſingular and tranſcendent love of God towards them. Whereas our Victories all along, in England, Ireland, and Scotland, have had moſt apparent evidences of Gods eſpeciall preſence with us: we have ſeen his Goings in our Army before us, and our ſalvation hath been wrought for us, by an extraordinary powerfull hand: and therefore unleſſe they ſhew us, that the LORD was with the Benjamites, in the ſame manner hee was with us, *where doe they read that Iſrael & Benjamin before they ſought, did both parties ſolemnly appeal to God: and after they had referred the Cauſe betweē them to Gods tribunall ſeat, Iſrael loſt the Battle.and gave them the like victory, in the circumſtances and ſeverall particulars, which we had over the Scots. In mentioning this example, as they ſhew their great perverſneſſe againſt the works of God, and implacable malice to us; ſo it only ſerves (and we cannot imagine for what other uſe and end they bring it) then to darken the glory of God, and deceive ſimple people.

Object. 3. Many have been great Conquerours (as the Caldeans, Aſſyrians, Romanes) howbeit wicked men, and their Cauſe ſinfull and unjuſt: Ergo, Victories and Succeſſes in War prove nothing.

Anſw. That this Objection may be capable of anſwer, there are 3. things to be cleared.

1. Whether men, howſoever wicked, may not have juſt cauſe to fight, and therein the Lord to take their part.

2. How it doth appear, that when their Cauſe was unjuſt, that the Lord then gave them good ſucceſſe.

3. But if ſo, then where is it recorded that wicked men in ſinfull and unrighteous Cauſes have had the aſſiſtance and help of GOD, in as full and large manner, and way, as we have had.

I have now done for this time; and as I am upon cloſing, I remember how the Clown ſerved Ariſtides; who giving his voyce to the baniſhing of Ariſtides, and being asked of him unknown, *Plutarch in Apo.whether he knew him againſt whom he had given his voyce, anſwered that he knew him not, but it was trouble to him to heare him termed a juſt man.

It may well be, that ſome (who know mee not) will give their voyce againſt me, for what I have now done, but they muſt be ſuch then, as are troubled to hear of juſtice, of an honourable and righteous Cauſe. This juſt Cauſe I have indeed here pleaded, and in the Second Part (by the good hand of God aſſiſting me) will plead it more: to the ſatisfaction of all ſuch as love the preſent Government, and deſire the proſperity and peace of this Common-wealth.

FINIS.

End of the text · John Canne, Immanuel or God With Us (1650)

Immanuel or God With Us, Sermon

p. 1EMANƲEL, OR, GOD WITH US. Wherein is ſet forth, Englands late great Victory over the SCOTS Armie in a Battle at Dunbarre, the third of September, 1650.

EMANƲEL, OR, GOD WITH US. Wherein is ſet forth, Englands late great Victory over the SCOTS Armie in a Battle at Dunbarre, the third of September, 1650.