The Improvement of Mercy, Text
THE IMPROVEMENT OF MERCY: OR A ſhort Treatiſe, ſhewing how, and in what manner, Our RULERS and all well-affected to the preſent Government ſhould make a right and profitable uſe of the late great Victory in Ireland. Auguſt 2. 1649. ALSO Here are ſeverall things propounded to all ſuch as are diſ-affected and enemies to the State (whether Presbyterian, Royaliſt, or Papiſt, &c.) Beeing both uſefull and ſeaſonable upon this occaſion, of ſo wonderfull and glorious a Victorie.
BY JOHN CANNE.
Exod. 15.11.
Who is like unto thee, O Lord, amongst the Gods? Who is like thee? glorious in holineſſe, fearfull in praiſes, doing wonders!
Deu…. 32.31.
For their Rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themſelves being Judges.
Publiſhed by Authoritie.
LONDON; Printed by M. Simmons in Alderſgate-ſtreete. 1649.
THE IMPROVEMENT OF MERCY: OR A ſhort Treatiſe, ſhewing how, and in what manner, our Rulers and all well-affected to the preſent Government ſhould make a right and profitable uſe of the late great Victory in Ireland. Auguſt 2. 1649.
IT hath been the cuſtome of men in former time, as we finde it recorded, both in divine and humane Hiſtory: when the Lord had given them any remarkeable and ſpeciall victory, to erect ſome great Monument, whereby the Remembrance of ſuch a Mercy might continue from Generation to Generation.
As I conſider our late victory in Ireland, how wonderfull it was, and how ſeaſonably God gave that bleſſing to us, with other circumſtances; I finde my ſpirit much let out, to move and deſire, that ſome thing now may be done by this Nation (who enjoyes the fruit of that happie harveſt) to keep up the memory of it, that our Poſteritie hereafter may know, what the Lord did for us at ſuch a time, and may ſay, Wee have heard with our eares, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didſt in their dayes, in the times of old, Pſal. 44.1.
And I am the more encouraged to take this work in hand, and have the greater hope, that England will be an example to the whole world, of minding Gods providence, and improving this mercy, becauſe no Nation like England for many yeeres, hath had ſo large experience of GODS power and goodneſſe.
And that I may the better obtaine the thing ſo much deſired, I ſhall in an humble and ſubmiſſive way; firſt propound a few things to the State. My Lords, I need not tell you, how much you are concerned in this Victory: What an Intereſt you have in it; I know you doe obſerve how wonderfully herein God hath honoured you, owned your preſent Government, and don more for you, then was expected. But now what will yee render to the Lord for ſo great a benefit toward you? What Pillar or Monument of Praiſe will you erect to continue the memory of this Victory. I ſhall not take upon mee to preſcribe the particulare, nevertheleſſe, it cannot be thought either preſumption or boldneſſe in mee, if I deliver mine own opinion, and ſet down what I humbly conceive, will be a fit Monument; acceptable to God, honourable to you, and whereby your names ſhall be a bleſſing to poſteritie.
Firſt, Seeing the Lord hath ſo really appeared to enlarge and eſtabliſh your Common-wealth, is it not fit that you ſhould be as reall for him in advancing the glorious Kingdome of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. There have been ſeverall Petitions preſented to the Parliament, from many godly and well affected people, whoſe bowels doe earne to conſider, what multitudes of people ſit ſtill in darkneſſe, and have not the glorious Goſpel preached unto them. Thankes indeed they had, and faire promiſes: now wee know a man may draw a thouſand prints in water, but as ſoone as his finger is off, all is out. Sirs; our hope is, that you will now doe ſomething effectually towards the ſalvation of ſuch ignorant and poore ſoules.
Secondly, It will manifeſt both your acknowledgement and improvement of this mercy, if you honour ſuch, whom God hath ſo farre honoured, as by them to bring over ſeverall Victories to you. When tydings was brought to Philip of Macedon: 1. that Parmenio had got the victory over the enemies. 2. Alexander his Son was borne. 3. That his Chariots won the priz: at Olympus; and all in one day; he call'd for ſome croſſe, that theſe things might not make him forget himſelfe: howſoever, we wiſh you no croſſes, but increaſe of bleſſings, and all good things, yet withall wee deſire, that what ſucceſſe ſoever God gives you, you may not ſo farre forget your ſelves, as to forget your friends, ſuch as have ever been cordiall and faithfull to you, carried their lives in their hands for you, and thought nothing too deare for your ſake.
Thirdly, In this victory you may behold Gods diſpleaſure againſt Malignants, he will not take them by the hand, neither ſhould you into your boſome. Is the Lord pulling of them downe, be not you then ſetting of them up. If a ſpider can prevaile ſo much as come into the hive and weave a cobweb within it, he will kill all the bees, there is no remedy. We hope you will take care to keepe ſuch ſpiders out: to wit, of place and office in the Common-wealth. We would count him unwiſe, that would feed rats, miſe, and ſuch vermine, to deſtroy his bodily eſtate; but it is greater folly to nouriſh ſuch as ſeek to deſtroy the Nation.
Fourthly, Hath the Lord compaſſed you about with ſongs of deliverance, and filled your hearts with joy and gladneſſe; doe ſomething now for the people, I mean ſome remarkeable thing, that ſo by you they may be glad and rejoyce likewiſe. I need not tell you whoſe hearts are ſad, nor why, and what would comfort them: open but a dore to them, and heare what they would ſay, how many weeks and moneths ſome have waited, and can finde no way or paſſage to have their heavy condition and caſe come before you. It would therefore be a notable Monument to continue the memory of this Victorie, if ſome preſent courſe were taken, that the caſe of the poore and friendleſſe might be heard as ſoon as others; and people not ſuffer ſo extremely as they doe, in that their buſineſſes are not ſpeedier diſpatched. Auguſtus thought that day ill ſpent, in which he had not holpen ſome poore perſon: Mark that, (not himſelfe, not his brother or ſiſter, not ſuch a Lord or Lady, &c. but the poore who had no friends,) conſider hee was a Heathen, you are Chriſtians.
Fiftly, Dublins Enlargement may ſerve to put you in minde of the poore priſoners for debt: I know you have ſpent ſome time about this buſineſſe, but I pray conſider with what celeritie and quickneſſe, God did that great work in Ireland for you: and therefore you ſhall doe well to follow God, as in matter, ſo in the manner of doing good. Say not unto thy neighbour, goe, and come againe, and to morrow I will give, when thou haſt it by thee, Pro. 3.28. Jam quando ſuppetit, quid probibet, quo mini…s liberaliter impertiare? Nonne inops adeſt? Nonne plena horrea? Nonne merces à domino parata? Nonne mandatum manifeſtum? Eſuriens fame abſumitur, nudus frigore rigeſcit, & tu eleemoſynam in craſtinum differs? Baſil. homil. 6. ex varijs.
Among ſuch as are well affected to this preſent Government, I have thought good to mention the Lord Major of the Citie of London, with the Court of Aldermen, and Common Councell. I know you are much affected with this Victory, judging it one of the greateſt Mercies, that ever God gave to his Church and people in this Nation. And it being ſo, I hope then we ſhall have ſome Monument erected by you for a memoriall of ſuch a remarkeable bleſſing, fit to be transferred to future poſterities. Wee ſee in nature when the Sunne ſhines upon thoſe inferior bodies, if ſolid bodies, when they reflect their beames, they caſt their light and heat upon other bodies that are neereſt about them: but if they are empty and hollow bodies, and ſuch as have no ſoliditie, they take all into themſelves, and reflect not. The Lord by this victory hath in a ſpeciall manner ſhined on your City, on your families, callings, eſtates; bleſt you in curſing the enemy. Now in charitie I am bound to beleeve, that you are men ſolid, ſincere: and as the Moone taking light from the Sunne above her, beſtoweth it upon the creatures here below, ſo you will make others partakers of the good bleſſings of God beſtowed upon you. And here I ſhall deſire with your leave and patience to propound a few things briefly to you, as the uſe of this victory in relation to your Citie.
1. As God hath been zealous for you, ſo be you zealous of his glory and name. 2. Let there not onelyonly be kept dayes of feaſting, and joy, and of ſending portions one to another, and gifts to the poore: but let ſomething now be don for the poore, and in ſuch a way, as the victory may be remembred in all ages hereafter. 3. Let the Army be ſtill deare and precious to you: for Gods preſence (you ſee) is amongſt them whereſoever they are: and whether they are Engliſh, Scots, or Iriſh, which come againſt them, they are bread for them, God ſcatters their enemies, and they fly before them. Who would be unwilling to give wages and large recompence unto ſervants who are faithfull, proſperous, profitable? 4. The conſideration of this victorie may encourage you, to hold your own, and ſtand faſt to the Parliament, Councell of State, and the preſent Government, and not to feare the ſecret plots and deſignes of the adverſary, neither their number nor forces. Let them aſſociate themſelves, and they ſhall be broken; take counſel together, and it ſhall come to nought; ſpeak the word, and it ſhall not ſtand: for God is with us. 5. Methinkes this Victory ſhould move you to be now very active in ſuppreſſing lewd and ſcandalous Pamphlets, and that roguiſh generation of Ballad ſingers, ſuch varlets were not ſuffered in many Heathen-Common-wealths, and truly it is much to be wiſhed, that more diligence and greater ſeveritie were uſed to remove from your Citie and ſuburbs, theſe baſe vermine, viler then the earth.
Sixtly, We ſhall expect now, as a proper improvement of this victory, that you will no longer ſuffer in your City Pulpit-Incendiaries, men who turn praying and preaching into rebellion. As for their aſperſing the wayes of God and his people, wee let it paſſe (as the fruit whereby they are known to be —) But to heare them revile the Rulers of the people, and to ſpeake trayterouſly againſt the preſent Government, it is unſufferable. A Magiſtrate (ſaith one) who hath diſcovered a Conſpiracie, and ſeemes fearfull to remedie it, is as faultie as the Conſpirator himſelfe. But here is no cauſe of feare, the thing now may be eaſily remedied without any danger, or difficultie. Wee ſee the bladder is puft up with a little winde, and if two or three beanes or peaſe be put into it, they make a mighty ſound or ratling, yet prick the ſame but with a pin, and inſtantly it falls flat, and comes to nought: I leave the application and uſe to your ſelves: onelyonly take notice, that in Chriſtian policie; Init…o ſeditionum, quamprimum apparuerint comprimantur. Clem. Templ. pol. lib. 4. c. 7. p. 424.
For the reſt of the Nation, who are well affected to the State, to the end they may make a profitable and good uſe of this great victory, I ſhall ſet down before them theſe obſervations.
1. About the time that the Lord ſcattered his enemies, they were boaſting what they would doe with the Round-heads and Sectaries: Into England they ſhould not goe: Ormond as he was playing at Tables ſwore, he would ſend them all into America: Another in his cups vowed, he would try if they could ſwim thither. The enemy ſaid, I will purſue, I will overtake, I will divide the ſpoile: my luſt ſhall be ſatisfied upon them: I will draw my ſword, mine hand ſhall deſtroy them. Now no ſooner were theſe words out of their mouth, but the wrath of God fell immediately upon them, and they were all, either ſlaine, taken, or put to flight. So let thine enemies periſh, O God.
2. If we conſider, the ſeverall advantages of the enemy, as their number, place, proviſion, and other circumſtances; and how notwithſtanding they were totally routed, it is matter ſufficient, to perſwade every rationall man, to believe, that God was an enemy to them, and to the cauſe they ſtood for, and that he owned the others, by an unheard of victory and deliverance.
3. In this victory we may behold a full victory over the enemy, both there, and here, and elſe where: For as ſoon as they heard of this thing, their hearts melted, & ſuch a terrour is fallen upon them, as they have no minde to engage againe, nor to proſecute any more their new plots and deſignes againſt this Common wealth.
4. Upon the Affaires of Ireland, the enemies to this State much depended: it was indeed as the great Wheel of the Clock: For many made full account to move here, if the Rebels there prevailed. But as its ſaid, Many of the people of the Land became Jewes, for the feare of the Jewes fell upon them: ſo this victory in all places where it comes, brings people over to the Parliament, as well knowing, it is their beſt and ſafeſt courſe.
5. That five thouſand men, ſhould take and kill ſeven thouſand, and put thirteen thouſand to flight, who ſees not that it is the immediate finger of God. And it is worth the obſerving, that ſince this later Army was raiſed, God hath given us many ſuch wonderfull victories: not onelyonly for the comfort and encouragement of the well-affected, but to let the enemy ſee, that God is againſt them, and that they ſhall never proſper in ſuch a way. When thy judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learne righteouſneſſe, Iſa. 26.9.
6. Here we may obſerve, Gods revenging hand upon Apoſtates; not to ſpeake of Inchequeen, that Grand turn-coat, there were in Ormonds Army many Souldiers who had baſely and treacherouſly a little before deſerted the Parliaments ſervice: but ſee how the Lord dealt with them for their perfidiouſneſſe: he delivers them up into the hand of Juſtice. A faire warning to others, to take heed, that they keep themſelves with that partie where they ſee God is, and ſtill crownes with victory, and not to joyn with a rebellious rout, who have not his preſence, but are forſaken of him, and prepared for the day of ſlaughter.
7. Whereas we heare of ſome unclean ſpirits, like frogs, going forth unto the Kings of the earth, to gather them to battle againſt this Common-wealth: there is ſo much of God to be ſeen in this victorie, as that no man needs to regard, whatſoever is reported concerning this thing. When other Nations ſhall heare how wonderfully the Lord goes along with us in the work of Reformation, it is probable they will keepe at home, and ſeeke to pull their necks out of the yoke of Tyrants, as we have don. But howſoever, we ſhall never hereafter be afraid of multitudes, the number ſhall not fright us: for we are confident, upon the experience of former victories, that God will ſtill make good that promiſe and bleſſing to us; Five of you ſhall chaſe an hundred: and an hundred of you ſhall put ten thouſand to flight; and your enemies ſhall fall before you by the ſword, Deut. 28.8.
From the well-affected to the State, I come now to the illaffected: and firſt to you of the Presbyterian partie: And here that I may not be miſtaken, I onelyonly intend ſuch men, as doe vilifie and reproach our preſent Government. And as for ſuch wee have thought good from the occaſion of this victory, to frame ſomething like a looking-Glaſſe, wherein they may ſee themſelves; ſpecially at ſuch times, when inſtead of preaching the doctrine of the Goſpel, and praying in the Spirit, they ſpeake falſe, ſcandalous, and ſeditious things, tending to a new warre, and hindering the reliefe of Ireland.
1. Conſider, England hath received a mercy, in ſpight of you: you may remember the other day in your talke (I dare not call it prayer) how you told the Lord you knew not into whoſe hands to pray Ireland: onelyonly you would not, that he ſhould give it up into the bands of the Independents. Beſides, wee are not ignorant, how proudly you contemnd Authoritie, and when others ſought the Lord for Ireland, you moſt prophanely and irreligiouſly, like Haman and the King ſate down to drink: you made it a time of feaſting, joy, and gladneſſe, when others by Commandement kept a day of publick faſt: not unlike to that in Iſa. 22.12, 13. Behold now, we have a returne of our prayers, our petition is granted, and the Lord hath look'd on our teares, and the Lord hath requited good for your curſing that day.
2. You have ſtrugled a long time to deſtroy this preſent Government, but doe yee not ſee now, how yee kick againſt the prick: As he that moves the weik of a burning Candle with his finger, blacks it, and burnes it, and cauſeth the light to ſhine the more cleare: So all your mutinous and ſeditious attempts, turne to the burning and blacking of your ſelves. As for the State, oppoſed by you, Loe it ſhines more and more in ſtrength, glory, and beautie.
3. But whither will ye run? doe you not ſee how you are already fallen? here is a victory, one of the greateſt mercies that ever God brought from Ireland over to this Nation; nevertheleſſe, you ſee it not; nor thought it worth thankeſgiving in your Churches the other day. Some report of the Manna, that at firſt it was ſweet and taſted well, but afterwards through the murmuring and unthankfulneſſe of the people, it was either bitter to them, or it had no ſavour. I believe the time was, when ſuch a publick bleſſing as this, (yea much inferior to this) was counted ſweet: you could raſte then how good God was to his people, in giving them victories; but now ſuch Mercies are either bitter, or you feel no ſavour in them: Sirs, you may thank your ſelves for this change: For the truth is, your great murmurings and unthankfulneſſe againſt God and man, hath brought you into this unhappie and ſad condition.
4. Methinkes in this victory you ſhould ſee the ſnare and pit before you. Milo Crotoniatas, whilſt he was tearing aſunder the ſtock of an Oke, his ſtrength ſayling him, the cleft ſuddenly cloſing, was ſo held faſt by the hands that he became a prey to the Beaſts of the feild. You have been a long time trying to teare aſunder this Common-wealth, and great hope you had, that Ormond with the Rebels there would work wonders for you, but you ſee that ſtrength now failes you, take heed then, leaſt the cleft cloſe, and you are held faſt by the neck.
5. This victory gives me an occaſion to remember that ſaying of Solomon; Who ſo rewardeth evill for good, evill ſhall not depart from his houſe, Pro. 17.13. Howſoever, theſe men will not acknowledge that they are beholding to the Parliament and Army, for their preſent peace, libertie, livelihood, yet the thing is ſo: yea more, under God, by their care and wiſdome, theſe raſh and headdy men, were kept from bondage and ſlavery, into which they (poore fooles) moſt willingly and greedily would have thruſt themſelves. It is reported of one Balthazar Gerard (who named himſelfe Francis Guyon) that with the money which the Prince of Orenge gave him for his reliefe, he bought piſtols, powder and ſhot, and therewith killed the Prince: The Presbyterians (I mean not the moderate and ſober ſort) would ſerve our Governours and Souldiers ſo, even murder them if they could, for purchaſing libertie and peace for them.
6. The backſlider (ſaith the Wiſeman) ſhall be filled with his own wayes, Pro. 14.14. What generation of men are more revolted then theſe, from their own grounds and former Principles: For have they not deſired, that Ireland might be relieved, and that the Proteſtant bloud ſhed there, might be revenged upon the barbarous Rebels? But behold their Apoſtacie, when they ſee this don, they vex and murmure at it; and are ſo much the Lord outragious and invective againſt the State, by how much the Lord bleſſeth our Forces there, and honours them with ſucceſſe and great victory. Tame foxes if they breake looſe, and turne wilde, do ten times more miſchiefe then thoſe, that were wilde from the beginning. It is very remarkeable, that none of the malignant Miniſters thorow-out the Land, who have from firſt to laſt held with the King, ſpeake ſo ſeditiouſly, or rayl ſo groſſely againſt the Parliament and Army as theſe men doe; theſe men, I ſay, who were once tame and ſtood for both, but are now broken looſe, and turnd wild.
7. Theſe great victories which God gives the Parliament, ſhould cauſe your hearts to ſmite you, to conſider how by your ſeditious doctrine many poore and ignorant people are brought to the ſlaughter, whoſe bloud one day will be required at your hande. The cruelties and infamies of Caligula are imputed to the Nurſe that gave him ſuck, which being cruell and barbarous of her ſelfe, rubbed the ends of her breſts with bloud, cauſing the childe, to whom ſhee gave milke, to ſuck them. Such cruell and inhumane nurſes are theſe men: inſtead of the ſincere milke of the Goſpel, they give their hearers the bloudy Tenents of Rebellion; ſo that the cruelties and infamies of the people, may be (at leſt in a great meaſure) imputed unto their Teachers: For no doubt the people would be willing to live a quiet and peaceable life under our preſent Government, but that theſe Sheba's, theſe ſons of Bieri, blow a Trumpet, to cauſe hurliburlies and commotions in the Land.
8. Seeing God hath made the Parliament ſo victorious, it would not be amiſſe (when you come to your ſelves) to conſider whether Chriſt or his Apoſtles have left you any precept or example to aſperſe that Government which is ſet over you. I cannot finde, either in Scripture, or other Hiſtory, that any Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt (for ſo you ſtile your ſelves) did ever before your time, meddle with civill Government, as to deny the lawfulneſſe of that Government under which they lived. The abuſes of Magiſtrates, and their miſcarriages in Government, we grant Gods Miniſters have ſpoken againſt, (yet ſo, as alwayes obſerving time, place, and other circumſtances, which you never doe) but the Government it ſelfe, whether Kingly, Ariſtocraticall, or Democraticall, they condemned not, neither medled with the change and alteration of ordinary Government, upon what ground or occaſion ſoever it was. So that there are two treaſonable crimes here charged upon you: firſt, that you are buſiebodies, as medling with things wherein you are not concern'd. Secondly, Falſe accuſers, in calling that State unlawfull, which is founded upon Scripture, Law, and Reaſon. Boyling liquor ſwelling above the brinks, fals into the fire, and comes to nothing: you are beſt beware, leaſt by riſing above your element you tumble down, and your names periſh.
9. It may be, upon the occaſion of this victory, you will be the more willing to take notice how the Malignants make uſe of you onelyonly as Journeymen to ſerve their turne. Some write of the Jaccal, as he purſues his prey, barking like a dog, the Lyon meeting with the noyſe, followes it; now the Jaccal having wearied the Beaſt he chaſed, the Lyon that followed by the cry comes in, when he is at a bay, and takes from the other, what he had before ſpent his time and labour about. Brethren, ſuppoſe by your bawling and barking at the preſent Government, you ſhould weary it, and bring it at a bay; doe yee thinke to have the prey? not in the leaſt; for the Royaliſts would take that from you, and not you, but the Prelates ſhould be eſtabliſhed, their Courts, Canons, Service-Booke, &c. It is true, you knew in this caſe how to help your ſelves, namely, faces about, turn-coats, and as you were before; and ſo indeed you would fare better then the Jaccal, have ſome of prey howſoever, with the Lion.
10. I would willingly know, when you are unpowring and ſpeaking evill of dignities, what people doe you thinke are pleaſed with ſuch vile and wicked ſtuffe. Methinkes you cannot be ignorant, that in doing ſo, you make ſad the hearts of the righteous, and are no other, then ſervants to the baſe luſts of unholy and prophane men. The Indians have a fruit which they call Yogma, it fattens ſwine, but men loath it: The Idolater, Adulterer, Swearer, Drunkard, Sabbath-breaker, Atheiſt, Papiſt, &c. delight to heare your rayling at the State; indeed they flock after you meerly for this Yogma: But I muſt tell you in the mean time, the godly of your own Congregations cannot abide it: ſo that by this meanes you looſe them, and are caſt out of their hearts and affections, though you ſeeme to gaine the favour and applauſe of ſome Malignants.
11. In this looking-glaſſe, you may ſee two faces under one hood: you thinke to pleaſe the Royaliſts, by crying up a King, a King: and your brethren the Scots by crying out, The Covenant, the Covenant: but doe not cozen your own ſoules, for you cannot any longer herein deceive rationall and knowing men: they perceive well enough your game and ayme: it is your outward pomp and worldly preferment that yee ſeeke after, under ſuch pretences. The Pope will have Kings and Princes to kiſſe his feet, and to draw them on, did uſe to have on his pantophile the Crucifixe or picture of Chriſt hanging on the Croſſe: that forſooth he would have reverence don unto. The truth is, you would faine be Popes, and have every man to kiſſe your feet; our Parliament, Councell of State, and the whole Nation bow down to you: and to draw them on, you tell ſome of a King, others of a Covenant, a meere cheat, for 'tis your feet you would have them kiſſe, ſubmit to your arbitrary power and lawleſſe will.
12. This ſeditious courſe of yours hath brought you already into a great ſtreight: And I believe, it will require ſome meetings at your Synon-houſe, to reſolve what to doe upon the Thankeſgiving day neere at hand: If you obey the Parliaments Order, and keep the day, you know what the Cavaliers and Royaliſts will ſay of you: Neque fidei conſtans, neque ſtrenuus in perfidia: as it was ſaid of Claudius Apollinaris, A man that neither conſtantly kept his promiſe, (as you have not yours to the Parliament) nor ſtoutly maintained his treaſon, (as you not yours, if yee keep that day). Againe, if not, you know there is great danger in that. For howſoever upon the faſt day, for Ireland, you proudly contemned the Magiſtrate, and made it a day of recreation, yet I would not wiſh you to preſume now upon the like impunitie or indulgence. And if you fall into the hand of Juſtice, and ſo ſuffer, conſider before hand, what comfort you can take in ſuch ſuffering.
Now it followes, that I ſpeake ſomething (as occaſioned by this victory) to Royaliſts and Cavaliers. Wee ſee by daily experience, if the coyn be good, men are contented to receive it from any hand: I ſhall not propound any thing to theſe men, but what is profitable and good for them, if the Lord be pleaſed to give them underſtanding hearts to embrace it, and make a right uſe thereof. Thunder (they ſay) falling upon a Serpent, takes not away the life, but her venome: The ſearcher of all hearts doth know my deſire is, ſo to apply this thundering-victory, as their malignity, obſtinacy, blindneſſe, &c. may be removed, and they live happily, and in a comfortable and proſperous condition.
1. Conſider how ſuch as have engaged, and have been moſt active in the cauſe you ſtand for, have in the end (as the juſt recompence of ſuch ſervice) undon themſelves, and brought ruine and miſery upon their wives and children. There is no Pilot in his right wits, when he ſees Sea-markes purpoſely ſet up to give warning of rocks, ſands, or ſhelves, will thereby take occaſion to run his veſſell upon them, but rather will imploy all his care and skill, that by avoyding them, he may eſcape the danger. To what end hath the Lord ſet before your eyes, the deſolation of many honorable and great families, the precious bloud of ſeverall thouſands ſhed on a day; but to be a warning and caveat unto you, to keepe off from ſuch dangerous and deſtroying rocks, and not to run your ſelves vainly and fooliſhly, as they have don, into a way and courſe, which is neither honourable nor profitable for you. The bird will not fly into the net, or light on the limebuſh, or run into the ſnare, when he ſees another bird flutter before her: The horſe as you are travelling will not follow the track of another horſe that ſticks faſt before you: you are men, and ſhould be rationall: Will yee then ſeeing others before you in the pit, fall likewiſe into the ſame? if you doe, you are the more to blame, and the leſſe to be excuſed. You know that leſſon; Foelix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum.
2. Methinkes by this time you ſhould perceive, that the matter you ſtand for, is not good, and ſo much the Lord from time to time hath made knowne unto you by many cleare and plain demonſtrations. Take notice of the late King, how apparently God was againſt him; fought againſt him, curſt his bleſſings, ſcattered his counſels, ſo that nothing indeed proſpered under his hand. How dare yee then carry on the ſame worke, and his deſigne, knowing by former experience, in doing ſo the Lord will not proſper you. I cannot more fitly liken this generation of men, then to Bowlers, who having delivered their Bowl, uſe to follow it with bowing their body, to have it fall in towards the jack, but it keeps her bias, goes off, and runs another way. Much ſtrugling and ſtriving there hath been to bring the conqueſt in, on the Kings ſide, no plots or deviſes have been wanting, what ſea and land could doe hath been don: but providence ſtill carried it another way, and this they ſaw, and could not but acknowledge that the Lord was not with them, although they parſiſted, and ſtill doe in their froward and crooked courſes.
3. This victory gives me occaſion to put you in minde, how your principles and grounds are falſe, concerning formes of civill Government. The Iſraelites living poorely in Egypt, thought no kinde of food better then Garlick and Onions: ſo you, having liv'd long under hingly Government, and not acquainted with a free State or Common-wealth, conceive Monarchie to be the beſt kinde of Government, which undoubtedly is the worſt: and my Reaſons for it are theſe.
1. The great Revenues which are waſted to maintaine this King ſhip, unuſefull Creature, a thing which the Land hath no need of, but can doe much better without it, (as Courts, Pallaces, Caſtles, Mannours, Parks, Forreſts, &c.) if converted to a publick uſe, will be for the great profit and generall good of the whole Nation, poore and rich; whereas formerly, as imployed, did little ſervice, but fed Locuſts and Caterpillers, who deſtroyed the people.
2. How chargeable to a Kingdome are Kings children, through their pride, pompe, and exceſſive riot? and what is expected from them for all this? truly, if they be not a curſe and plague to the Nation, men thinke it a mercy, as for comfort and profit they expect none. Now how many Orphans and poore children by ſuch charges might be charitably and largely relieved, and would bleſſe God for it; whereas the others devoure all, without ſaying, Sirs, we thanke you: as if they were not at all beholding unto the people for the ſame.
3. When corruptions and abuſes break forth, they are eaſier and ſooner ſuppreſt in a free State, then in the other. For 1. As they have their originall and riſe uſually from the Court, ſo the King (as we have had experience) will ſeek to defend the ſame. 2. Put caſe, the King hath no hand in ſuch abuſes (which would be a ſtrange thing) nevertheleſſe, conſidering he ſees and heares with other mens eyes and eares, they are not eaſily or thorowly reformed. But in a Common-wealth well ſetled, it cannot be ſo.
4. It is ſeldome ſeen in a Monarchie, but the Officers and Miniſters of State, are corrupt men, choſen by Princes, not for the publick good, but to ſerve their turne and intereſt. Whereas in a Common-wealth, the people chooſing their own Magiſtrates, are carefull to chooſe ſuch as ſhall doe juſt and right things for them. Beſides, If Magiſtrates be corrupt, the people can ſooner helpe themſelves by removing them, and chooſing better, in a free State, then under Kings.
5. In no Common-wealth is there ſuch ſufferings of good men, innocent bloud ſpilt, unlawfull and unneceſſary warres raiſed, intolerable taxes impoſed, undue and illegall courſes taken, as where Kings doe reigne.
6. That muſt be beſt, which is a mean between two extreames, and thus is a free State, between Monarchy and Anarchy: that one ſhould rule alone, is againſt the common Maxime; Plus vident oculi quum oculus; two eyes ſee more then one. Againe, that none ſhould governe, or all, is abſurd and ſenceleſſe.
7. It is rightly obſerved by Bodin; Wee commonly ſee (ſaith he) in the changing of Princes, new deſignes, new lawes, new Officers, new friends, new enemies, new habits, and a new forme of living: For Princes take delight to change and alter all things, that they may be ſpoken of, which doth many times cauſe great inconveniences, not onelyonly to the Subjects in particular, but alſo to the whole body of the State. De Rep. l. 6. cap. 4. But no ſuch prejudice or perill is incident to a Common-wealth, if any thing be publickly altered, it is maturely don, and upon good ground, and for the generall profit and ſafety of the people.
8. In a well governed Common-wealth, great men as well as others, are encouraged unto the ſtudy of vertue, wiſdome, Juſtice, becauſe there, not titles or birth-right, but abilities and good parts make them capable of preferment: in ſuch a State there is no door open to come into places of authoritie, by bribery, flattery, friendſhip, but as men are fitted and gifted. Whereas in Kingdomes men come to have Offices and preferment by ſucceſſion; a foole, or a knave, will challenge authoritie by being the Kings coſin.
9. We know by experience, that in all ages the Goſpel and way of Chriſt hath been moſt withſtood and oppoſed under Kings. As on the contrary, in Common-wealths the ſame hath found greateſt favour, furtherance, and enfargement: And hence it is, that our Pulpit-Incendiaries, with their brethren the Scots, cry out ſo much for a King; they well know ſuch a forme of Government, is fitteſt for them, and will beſt ſerve their turne, whereby to ſuppreſſe the truth, perſecute the Saints, under the name of Sectaries, and to erect a forme of will-worſhip, forcing all both ſmall and great, rich and poore, free and bond, to fall down and worſhip their Image, if not, neither buy nor ſell, but kild for hereticke.
In the writing of theſe things, it makes me call to minde the condition of the people in the Low-Countries, living in a Free State, ſuch there, as are Papiſts among them, will not have the King of Spaine, to reigne againe over them, but deſire rather to be under the preſent Government: yea though they are Papiſts (I ſay) and have not libertie granted them for the free exerciſe of their Religion, yet by no meanes will heare of a King any more. And no doubt the like ere long will be the caſe of the people of this Land, when they have once taſted the ſweetneſſe of a Free State (as I hope they will every day more and more) and have their preſent grievances and taxes taken off, every man enjoying his own without moleſtation, and have juſtice ſpeedily don them, they will no more deſire a King to Rule over them. And to have it ſo, the way is, for every one to ſubmit to the preſent Government, live peaceably, and doe what he can, that all things may be effectually and well ſetled amongſt us.
4. And laſtly; it is not poſſible that this victory ſhould doe you good, or any counſell given you from the occaſion of it, ſo long as you make lyes your refuge, yea delight to be encouraged and ſtrengthened in falſhood: doe not many of you, take pleaſure in ſcurrilous and baſe Pamphlets, and by reading the filthy and ſcandalous things in them, are hardened in your dangerous and bad condition? I have read ſome-where, when the Souldiers of Avidius Caſſius opened a Cheſt, which they found in Apollo's Temple at Seleucia, that there came forth ſuch an infection, as thereby they were all poyſoned and kild. If you will not be murdered, then look not into their venemous and abhorred Libels, for theſe villaines onelyonly ſtudy, how by lyes, ſlander, and calumniation, to make you diſ-affected to the State, and act againſt it, and ſo to be undon in body, ſoule, and eſtate. They which hawk for birds, doe of purpoſe make a ſtale of the Owl, for whileſt the ſillie birds come flocking and ſtaring about her, unawares they are taken: The Libeller againſt the State, is the Devils Owl, whilſt the fooliſh and ſilly people are looking upon him, and hearkning to him, he takes them in his ſnare, and holds them faſt. I ſhall ſay no more but thus; A prudent man foreſeeth the evill, and bideth himſelfe: but the ſimple paſſe on, and are puniſhed, Prov. 22.3.
As for Papiſts, it is to be fear'd, they will make no good uſe of this great victory: but as a furious maſtiff is the madder for his chaine: and iron hardens under the hammer: ſo the Angel of God, now powring out his Viall upon the ſeat of the Beaſt and his Kingdome, will cauſe them the more to blaſpheme the name of God, his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. Neither indeed may wee wonder, that ſuch wofull blindneſſe hath overtaken them, conſidering they are given up, by divine juſtice to the luſts of their own hearts, and to ſtrong deluſions. Beſides, the damnable doctrines which they embrace, puts them forward to deſtruction. Nevertheleſſe, upon this occaſion, ſomething we will ſay, concerning them; leaving the iſſue to God.
1. They may clearly ſee, the Lord is now making inquiſition for bloud, & the day of recompence is at hand; They have ſhed the bloud of Saints, & of Prophets, & thou haſt given them bloud to drink, for they are worthy. Green wood which is long in kindling, continues longer then the dry, if it have once taken fire: The Lord hath a while forborne to revenge the horrid cruelties of that barbarous and ſavage Nation, but now he is fallen in amongſt them, and woe, woe, woe, to the Inhabitants. As the Galli-Senones, after they had laid Rome waſt, were ſo overthrown, that their name was not left in the world: So it may be, that the memory of ſuch an inhumane and cruell Nation ſhall be bloued out from under heaven. Wolves and Foxes make many turnings forward and backward, run into brakes and briers, hide under buſhes, fly from one ſtarting hole to another: but all will not ſerve the turne, the dogs follow inceſſantly, and never give over till they overtake them, and devoure them: So evill purſueth, ſinners, even the Iriſh-ſinners, thoſe Rebels, murderers, monſters, monſtrous Monſters, I know not what to terme them; the Lord (I ſay) hath now ſet his judgements after thoſe Wolves, and it is not their bogs or woods that ſhall ſave them from the wrath of the Lamb, but they ſhall become as dung for the earth, and their hope as the giving up of the Ghoſt.
2. Neither let them expect reliefe from other places; as for their new King, and his adherents, they ſhall ſtand either a farre off, for feare of their torments, ſaying, alas, alas; or what aſſiſtance and ayd ſoever they have, it ſhall but adde to their plagues, and further their deſtruction. As a wee ſack, wherein a naked man is covered, is ſo far from defending him againſt the cold, as it increaſeth his ſhivering; ſo their helpe from others will prove their greater ruine. Ormond and Inchiqueen, the two Apoſtates, may ſhortly expect the juſt reward of perfidious traytors.
—Raro antecedentem ſceleſtum
Deſeruit pede poena claudo.
Seldome Revenge, though ſlow of pace,
Leaves ill foregoing men to trace.
As the Egyptians going after the Iſraelites, as they paſſed thorow the Red-ſea, could not but behold their death before them: So theſe men in lifting up their hands againſt this State, may ſee (if they were not ſtupid and ſenceleſſe) they are dead man, and that God will put them to ſhame, and confound them for ever.
3. What men (unleſſe given over to a reprobate ſence) would not plainly apprehend, that the Lord hath a quarrell againſt them, hates their perſons, their courſe and cauſe; to conſider the time, when they were ſcattered: namely, when they were grown into a numerous body, by uniting the falſe Scots, and Renegado Engliſh, with the Iriſh. When all Munſter was theirs, all Connaught loſt, and all Ʋlſter, except Derry, and Lempſter, even to Dublin. When all the Engliſh Intereſt in Ireland was reduced and ſhut up in thoſe two townes, and the latter ſtreightly befieged by 19000 men, according to their own accounts. Then the Lord looked down from beaven (as the Parliament in their Declaration have piouſly expreſt) the habitation of his holineſſe, and his glory, and defeated them; Then he ſent forth his wrath and conſumed them as ſtubble or as chaffe before the winde. And here I chalenge, all Papiſts, Royaliſts, and Malignants, to produce, if they can, the like example, where and when, Jebovob Iireh, God was ever ſo ſeen in the Mount for them, and appeared even ſo miraculouſly, ſince the warres began. Who ſo is wiſe will obſerve theſe things: But, A brutiſh man knoweth not, neither doth a foole underſtand this. As he that will not goe out of darkneſſe cannot ſee the ſhining light of the Sunne: So the Papiſts, unleſſe they come out of Babylon, the kingdome of darkneſſe, death, and hell, they will not obſerve, neither indeed can they, the works of God, though they ſhine and are as cleare as the Sun at noone day.
We may not (upon this occaſion) altogether forget our deare Brethren in Scotland; Now a word is enough to the wiſe.
1. We underſtand that this victory is not very welcome to them, and no marvaile, for it tends not to the advancement of their Intereſt here in England, and they ſee, whom they curſe, God bleſſes. It hath been their endeavour a long time, that our Magiſtrates ſhould perſecute Gods people. Their lawes (ſay they,) are divers from all people; neither keepe they the Kings lawes, therefore it is not for the Kings profit to ſuffer them. And as Haman prevailed ſo far with Abaſuerus, as there was an Act made and publiſhed, that the Church and people of God ſhould be deſtroyed; yet afterward by a mighty hand of providence were preſerved and honoured; ſo that Nation (with others) wrought with our State, that ſomething was don, for the ſuppreſſing of many godly and faithfull Chriſtians: inſomuch, as they deſpaired of life, liberty, ſafety: but God (who abhorres the bloudy man) fruſtrated their purpoſes. The truth is, our Governours have had ſo much experience, of the fidelity, truſt, and conſcientiouſneſſe of ſuch men, whom they brand for Sectaries, and of many victories and deliverances under God by them, as they cannot hearken any more to their Antichriſtian and bloudy counſell: neither will they be brought into a ſnare by their general humiliations ſo often talk'd of. The Wolfe ordinarily waſheth his mouth after he hath prey'd, leſt he ſhould be diſcovered by the colour of his bloud: It is worth the noting, when the Scots have aſperſed our Nation, and urged the State to perſecution, immediatly they cry, a faſt, a faſt, as if ſuch innocent bloud were wip'd off by hypocriticall faſting.
2. The modeſty and patience of our State, is much to be admir'd; being ſo often provok'd and occaſioned by the Scots, that they ſay nothing in relation to the condition of that people. For otherwiſe they might ſoon ſtop their mouthes, and put them to ſhame and ſilence for ever. They cry out againſt England, becauſe of Sectaries, as Separatiſts, Browniſts, Anabaptiſts, &c. But ſuppoſe there are ſuch, yet theſe Independents, are not falſe, not lyers, diſſemblers, flatterers, deceivers, ſwearers, drunkards, whoremaſters, and irreligious and prophane perſons, as it is well knowne who are ſuch, for the generality and greater part of the Nation. Now is it not better and more for the ſafety of a Common-wealth, to have therein, men, known to be faithfull, juſt, true, upright, religious: then a kinde of people who are neither honeſt nor godly, neither make conſcience of what they doe or ſay?
3. This victory, it may be, will cauſe our brethren to keepe at home, and meddle no more with us; but leave our State to order thier own affaires. An Aſſe will not goe by a pen or place where ſhe once fell: I know they have not forgotten the place where they fell: I doe not ſay like Aſſes: onelyonly under favour I may ſay, they will ſhew themſelves little better, if they come againe into the ſame place and caſe.
4. But how comes it to paſſe, that ſince this victory, the Scots complain of great perſecution in England: and that their Preſbyterian brethren here ſuffer exceedingly for the truth. Some children will teare & ſcratch their Mother in the face, and then cry, as if they had been beaten or abuſed; whereas there is nothing don to them, but onelyonly they wronged their Mother. The men for whom the Scots are now praying, as under ſad and heavy ſufferings, they revile the Magiſtrates, deſpiſe their Government, ſet at nought their lawful and juſt commands, and ſtirre up the people to rebellion: and then cry out, Perſecution; ah how their mouths are ſtopt, they cannot deliver the whole counſell of God, their forefathers were never under the like Tyrants, &c. Whereas there was nothing in the world don to them, but onelyonly they abuſed the State.
Before I conclude, a word or two, to that noble Jones, and the victorious Souldiers with him.
1. There was a law among the Perſians, if any man were unmindfull of a benefit, he might be cald to Law, and found ſo, was puniſhed for it: We are very ſenſible of the bleſſing which the Lord hath given us by your hands; wee are thankfull to God, mindfull of you, and doe deſire to Improve the mercy in the beſt way and manner we can. The Jewes uſe to ſay, of him that hath don any memorable thing for his Nation; Zicrono libraca; Bleſſed be his memory: your memory amongſt us is bleſſed, your names precious, and all well-affected people love and honour you. Si omnes qui reip: conſulunt, cari nobis eſſe debent: certe inprimis imperatores, quorum conſilijs, virtute, periculis, retinemus & noſtram ſalutem & imperij dignitatem. Cic. de Orat. lib. 2. If all thoſe that care and have the charge of the Common-wealth, ought to be deare unto us; then eſpecially ought our noble Captaines, by whoſe counſell, proweſſe, and perill, we maintain the eſtate and honour of our Countrey.
2. For the Generall, imployed in that ſervice, it doth appeare, he hath the parts and qualities of a right Commander. foreign. Diodor. Sicul. Captains in warre muſt look both forward and backward, and every way whence any danger or advantage is towards. They ought to know when to march, and to fight with advantage; where to imploy horſemen, where ſhot, and to underſtand the advantages of all ſorts of grounds; neither to be ignorant of any ſtratagem of warre. Liv. 9. Now in theſe particulars, and many more, hath Jones ſhewed himſelfe a worthy and gallant Souldier; neither may it be ſaid of him untruly or unfitly, what is written of C. Caeſar, in his actions be was moſt conſiderate, in hazard and danger moſt reſolve, in executions ſpeedie, oppreſſing his enemies many times before the coming of the newes were heard. Sueton. in vita Caeſ. So of Cato, in watchings and labour he went beyond the common Souldiers. Liv. 34. Monſtrabat tolerare labores, as Lucan reports of the younger Cato in that painful march thorow the deſerts of Affrick, he by his patience and example ſhewed what others were to doe. As Valerius Corvinus uſed no other encouragement to his Souldiers then this; Facta mea non dicta ſequi volo, nec diſciplinam ſed exemplum a me petere. Liv. 7. So hath Jones alwayes encouraged his, ſaying, they ſhould imitate not his words but his deeds, and doe as they ſaw him to give them an example.
3. For the reſt, whether Officers or private Souldiers: In this victory you may behold, how wonderfully the Lord hath honoured you for your fidelity to your Countrey: and becauſe you did not, when yee were low, and the enemy at the higheſt, forſake the Parliament, or your truſt, as others baſely did, who ſince have ſeen and felt the revenging hand of God upon them for it. And no doubt, this great deliverance will not a little encourage you, and the reſt of our Engliſh there, to ſtand firme and faſt together againſt the Iriſh Rebels, not only to revenge the Proteſtant bloud, which they have ſhed in a villanous and barbarous ſort: but alſo for the ſafety of your Countrey, your families, friends, wives, children, kindred, and what elſe may be thought precious and deare to you. For the heads of the Rebels there, as Rupert, Ormond, Inchiqueen, &c. intend further then our loſſe of Ireland, they ſeek the ruine and overthrow of England, even our perſons, eſtates, yea and our ſoules too. Dulce & decorum eſt pro patrio mori.
It is a ſweet and noble Gaine,
In Countreys quarrell to be ſlaine.
King Leonidas comforted himſelfe and three hundred more of his ſervants, who were killed at The…mopilas, fighting for the defence of his Countrey, as appeareth by Simonides his Greek Epitaph, turned into Latine by Tully, thus.
Dic hoſpes Spartae, nos te hic vidiſſe jacentes,
Dum ſanctis patriae legibus obſequimur.
Laſtly, to cloſe this Diſcourſe: As wee have ſhewed how this Mercy ſhould be improved at home, ſo we hope our Army there, will uſe this victory to purpoſe, and be carefull ſtill to maintaine that which they winne. Vincere ſcis Annibal, victoria uti neſcis; as Maberbal ſaid to Hannibal, he was not ſo well able to make uſe of his victories, as to obtaine them. Caeſar having obtain'd a great victory againſt the Helvetians, ceaſed not to purſue the remainder ſo long, untill all yeelded. And afterward having foyled Vereingetorix in the feild, and cauſed him to retyre with the reſt of his Armie, He did not leave him untill be bad forced him to take Alexia for his defence: nor then neither, untill ſuch time he had the town, and all within yeelded to his mercy. Vanquiſhing Pompey in open field, he would not ſuffer him to take Sanctuary in his campe, but drove him thence, and reſted not, untill he had taken his flight, nor before the reliques of his Armie that fled to the hils neer by, had yeelded, being cut from water. Three things ought to be don when an Army is victorious. 1. Not to ſuffer the enemy to gather head, but to ſcatter his forces. 2. To befiege the chiefe Citie, and to ceaze the Countrey into their hands, not ſuffering the enemy in any place to reſt. 3. The Generals care ought to be, how to take off the enemies ſubjects from them, and to deprive them of the ayd of their Confederates. A matter eaſily don, if he proceed wiſely in warre and juſtly after the victory. For as good ſucceſſe procureth the Conquerour friends: ſo men are ready to abandon and forſake ſuch as are overcome. Now for the good will of him that dwelt in the Buſh, let the bleſſing be upon the head of our Army.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Canne, The Improvement of Mercy (1649)