Immanuel or God With Us, Title page – Dedication
EMANUEL, OR, GOD WITH US. Wherein is ſet forth Englands late great Victory over the Scots Armie, in a Battle at Dunbar, Septemb. 3. 1650.
And by many Particulars of Gods Acting and Appearing then for us, it is certaine (and ſo much is cle…rly proved) that our Armies marching into Scotland, and the Wars undertaken and proſecuted againſt that Nation, to be upon Grounds of Juſtice and Neceſſity, as the PARLIAMENT of ENGLAND hath declared.
Alſo here is ſhewed, how groſly the Covenant is abus'd, and what an Idoll it is now made. With the fraud and falſhood of the Scots, and their Kings hypocriſie and diſſimulation.
Moreover ſuch Objections are anſwered, as ſeeme to have any thing in them, againſt the point here Aſſerted.
By JOHN CANNE.
The Firſt Part, publiſhed by Authority.
Pſal. 41.11. By this I know that thou favoureſt me, becauſe mine Enemie doth not triumph over me.
Iſa. 26.11. Lord, when thy hand is lifted up they will not ſee.
London, printed by Matthew Simmons next doore to the Goden Lyon in Alderſgate ſtreet, 1650.
To the Right Honourable, the Supreame Authority of this Nation, the Parliament of ENGLAND.
SIRS,
MANY men have written well, and effectually in the defenc of your Cauſe, and have ſufficiently proved it, to be a righteous and glorious Cauſe. Nevertheles, as the Philiſtims ſtop'd the Wels which Abraham had dig'd, and filled them with earth: ſo it hath been the conſtant endeavour of ſome men, by fraud and falſhood, to darken the cleare and evident truth which hath been opened, to the end, people might not have the benefit of ſuch wholſome and ſweet water: But the Lord of Hoſts (whoſe Cauſe yours is) hath (like Iſaac) digged again the wels of water; & what was ſtop'd by others, he hath opened: He (I ſay) now is a Writer for you: ſo that were there no Bookes extent, pleading your Cauſe, Gods owne hand were enough; the late booke written (as it were) with pen and inke of divine providence were ſufficient. As the unbeleeving Jewes could not keep Chriſt in the grave, though they rol'd a great ſtone before the doore of the Sepulcre, but hee gloriouſly aſcended: ſo this righteous Cauſe (which God hath put into your hands) ſhall riſe, and ſhine as the Sun, far and neere amongſt the Nations of the earth: In ſpight of enemies, let them uſe all the the wiles, wit, and wayes they can to keep it under.
Ariſtotle ſaith, omne inconſuetum eſt obſcurum. I confeſſe the way which I here take, to juſtifie your Cauſe againſt all Adverſaries (of what name or title ſoever) may at firſt ſeeme obſcure, being hitherto by few walked in. Scire per cauſam, is the common rode; but when it ſhall be conſidered what light I have …nd whoſe hand (as a Guide) I here follow. I queſtion not, but it will be acknowledged, that a more certain way cannot be choſen, to give a clear and full ſatisfaction to all men deſirous to know, on whoſe ſide the Truth and Right is, between you and your Enemies.
I doe obſerve, that there are two ſorts of men unfruitfull, Beholders of Gods marvellous and great works.
1. The bruitiſh man (as David calls him) he never conſiders of them, nor ſees any thing of providence therein: As Nicomacus in Plutarch fitly anſwered an Ide…t, that could ſee no beauty in the famous Helena, painted by Zeuxis; take my eyes (quoth he) and you ſhall think her to be a Goddeſſe. Even ſo, had theſe men other mens eyes, any ſpirituall diſcerning: they would ſee in Gods diſpenſations ſo much of his power, goodneſſe, juſtice, &c. as they would ſay, Jehovah, there is none like unto thee; who ſhall not feare thee, O Lord, and glorifie thy name.
Another ſort there are, who will ſpeak of divine providence, and confeſſe that all things are gov…rned by Gods counſell, and nothing comes to paſſe but according to his will and pleaſure: notwithſtanding, they will not ſee his hand when it is lifted up, nor make any profitable and good uſe thereof. As the Papiſt, though in words they acknowledge the Scriptures, yet by their corrupt interpretation, in a manner deny them: So theſe men; though they confeſſe a providence, yet by their unſound application thereof, doe in effect deny it, deſtroying with one hand what they build with the other. And with this later ſort I ſpecially here deale.
I ſhall not trouble your Honours with a large Epiſtle: Only thus, as God by his Acting for you hath made it evident (and you many times in your Declarations humbly confeſſe it) that he is on your ſide, takes your part, juſtifies and ownes your Cauſe; ſo let it appeare …o the world, by your Actings, that you are (not for your Selves and your own Intereſts, but) for God, as owning his Cauſe, which is Truth & Righteouſneſs.
Now the Lord, who alone hath power to make you able to Act & Appeare for him and his Cauſe (as he hath Acted and Appeared for you and your Cauſe) give you both hearts and hands ſo to doe. And thus ſhall hee ever pray, who is
Yours moſt humble and faithful Servant, JOHN CANNE.