Croftons Appearance Before the Prelate-Justice of Peace, Letter
A Letter written by a Miniſter in London, in Anſwer to one ſent from a Member of the Long PARLIAMENT.
Honoured Sir,
YOurs of the 18th inſtant I received; whereby I diſcern your ſenſe of the ſad hand of God upon theſe Nations, in the many ſad Revolutions to which they have been ſubject. And now you ſeem ſtudious of the way of its recovery, in which I rejoyce. Though, Sir, your Enquiry doth a little amaze me; not ſo much for the matter, as that you ſhould preſs me to it in this juncture of time. You well know, Sir, I have not declined to let you know my thoughts of all the late tranſactions of thoſe who called themſelves, The Long Parliament. Did I not much preſume on your Faithfulneſs never to uſe it to my damage (however God deal with you) I might burn my pen and paper for fear of a Charge of Treaſon and High Court of Juſtice. But I will not fear to write at his requeſt to whom I have often ſpoken freely, and yet met with the fidelity of a Friend.
Sir, your Enquiry is ſerious and ſeaſonable, and calls for a better reſolution then I can render.
It is this.
Queſt. What is to be deſired by them that wiſh well to England?
I underſtand your Enquiry as grounded on the preſent ſad ſtate of the Nations affairs; and ſo my reſolution is, as of a Miniſter of God, that of Iſraels Repentance promiſed in Hoſea 3.5. Afterwards ſhall Iſrael return, and ſeek unto the Lord their God, and unto David their King, is the unum neceſſarium, one only thing to be deſired for England as her ſovereign Remedy againſt all her maladies by the hand of God inflicted on her.
On ſerious obſervation of England, I cannot but judge her the parallel of the ten Tribes in ſin and ſorrow, and wiſh ſhe may precede them in a ſerious and ſeaſonable Repentance. Methinks, Sir, the Prophet Hoſea his Prophetical Marriage of an Harlot, and leaving her a long time with this charge,Hoſ. 3.3. To abide for him, and not to play the Harlot, or be for any other, is a lively Emblem of Englands ſtate and duty.
England, Sir, as Iſrael, have gone in the way of Jeroboam, and have ſinfully, againſt all Natural, Civil and Religious bonds, caſt off and ſhut out their Lawful Governours and Eſtabliſhed Government left them by their Progenitors,Englands Diſeaſe. and under which ſhe long flouriſhed, unto the Enriching of her ſelf, Envy of her Neighbours, Nations, and Encouragement of the Reformed Churches: And that after many Declarations, Proteſtations, Vows, Oaths, and the SOLEMN LEAGƲE AND COVENANT for the defence and preſervation of the Kings Majeſties Perſon and Poſterity, the Priviledges of Parliament, and the Liberties of the Subject, and that Sworn in a day of Extremity, when they ſeem'd to be in danger, and men were Jealous (the ſubverſion ſince effected) was intended. Nay, and after a vaſt expence of Blood and Treaſure in the defence of them; and when under an Obligation inviolable and never to be diſpenſed withall, wherein we have ſworn to God, Not to ſuffer our ſelves by any comminations, perſwaſions or terrors whatſoever, directly or indirectly to turn aſide to the right hand or to the left, or to make defection from this Cauſe. Yet have our Nation, to the Scandal of Religion, Reproach of the Nation, and Blaſphemy of God, and Provocation of his Juſtice, with Iſrael, made defection from their Lawful & Natural Prince, yea and altered their unalterable Government at the Luſts of Men ſubverting very Foundations. Only, Sir, I muſt be free to let you know, that in two things Englands defection hath been more vile then that of Iſraels, in that it was made by a violent, baſe, unjuſt, extrajudicial, barbarous Regicide, with an hypocritical pretence of Juſtice. Secondly, In that Members of the Parliament have been to themſelves an Herod Aſcalonite to violently break up their own Sanhedrin; and Guido Faux, to blow up King, Lords and Commons in Parliament aſſembled, to the everlaſting blemiſh of the Proteſtant Religion, and in the room thereof have been ſubjected to uſurpation and ſelf-created Governours, with whom moſt of the Nation have concurred, and to them conſented. And for the ſupport of this Ʋſurped Magiſtracy, Calves have been ſet up at Dan and Bethell, all falſhood in Religion Tolerated, the Miniſtry laid common, who will becomes a Prieſt unto the Lord. So that, Sir, Schiſm and Sedition, Rebellion unto Regicide, Perfidie and Perjury is become Englands Guilt, and impiety written in ſuch legible and indelible Characters, that all men muſt ſay, She is become an Harlot, and ſee repentance abſolutely neceſſary to prevent her ruine.England. Diſtempers. Sir, give me leave to tell you, Englands ſin (like Iſraels) hath been pointed out by her Sorrows; for ſhe having ſhamefully ſhaken off her Rightful Governour and Government, hath been proſtituted to the Luſts and Ambition of particular men, and proudly trampled on by Military inſolency, in ſo much that our very Bell-men can reproach us as we lie in our Beds. Shall I, Sir, make bold to inſert a Bell-mans ſound which I heard with my own ears. It was this,
Whilſt you ſecurely Sleep, I Ring my Bell,
Which lately hath rung out your Freedoms Knell.
Your Souldiers, now, your Sovereigns are become,
Your Laws and Liberties command by ſound of Drum.
Nor is it ſtrange, for they read no Commiſſion,
Regard no Bonds, but proſper by Tranſgreſſion.
By Pride and Perjury, theſe Saints moſt rude.
Have Cut off the King, and Parliament ſubdu'd.
Your eyes have ſeen't, vile Slaves, yet in this ſeaſon,
You are Rid like Aſſes, and not Rul'd by Reaſon.
Oh, Sir, how many ſad and ſhameful revolutions have paſſed upon us, and yet we are full far from Settlement? Authority, like a Tennis-Ball, hath been caſt up and down for him to catch that catch can, and hath been toſſed between a republican pack, and ſingle Perſon, whilſt both are plain and palpable Ʋſurpers; for indeed in nature, and by Gods juſt judgement, Revolution is the conſtant Attendant on Uſurpation; the Globe of Magiſtracy muſt roul up and down, whilſt off its Pin, and from its Center, it only reſteth in right Subjects; and now we are covered with confuſion, and left without King, any lawful, nay, without Prince, any unlawful Governours, without any eſtabliſhment in Church or State, Civil and Religious order, and this was the puniſhment of Iſraels, now is of Englands adultery: The eſtate of her widdowhood, the time of divine deſertion; for Civil Order is Gods preſence in the World, and Religious Order his preſence in the Church. The very Heathen conclude from the confuſions in the world, the Gods have forſaken the Earth; ſo that, Sir, he muſt have no Religion who ſeeth not in Englands caſe to conclude and cry out, Righteous art thou, O Lord, and juſt are all thy Judgements.
Now, Sir, I have ſhewed Englands diſeaſe and diſtemper; it remains that I direct the cure and remedy, and that I ſay is, Repentance, true and hearty,Englands Cure and Remedy. General and Ʋniverſal Repentance. Let the Miniſters of God lift up their voice, and cry, Repent, England, repent, repent; let all that wiſh well to England, pray that God would pour out a Spirit of Repentance, that from Dan to Beerſheba all Iſrael may return and ſeek unto the Lord, and to David their King.
Sir, Repentance is the end and errand of all Afflictions, Iſai. 27.11. Men cry out of doing the Work of God, nor doe I deny it in all our ſtrange revolutions; only I deſire it may be noted, it is Gods ſtrange work, ſpeaking his diſpleaſure, and ſummoning his Peoples Repentance: A relenting heart, a returning ſpirit ſhall no ſooner be effected, but theſe ſharp rods will be rejected. God will walk contrary to a ſtubborn People, untill their uncircumciſed heart be humbled,Levit. 26. but no longer, for, then his end is effected.
Repentance doth engage divine return; for he hath promiſed, that when ever he ſpeaks againſt a Nation, to pluck it up, or root it out, if that Nation repent, he will repent, Jer. 18.8. He ever meets relenting Ephraim with Repentance for inflicted judgements; his method is to give Repentance and Remiſſion of ſins: Jer. 31.18.The greateſt good intended for Iſrael is contracted into the promiſe of repentance; the Sun doth not more certainly follow the morning Star, then the return of Gods preſence doth attend repentance:
Nay, Sir, in this caſe repentance is an actuall re-enjoyment of bleſſing, not only a quality diſpoſing to it, but an act putting into the poſſeſſion of it; as your Armies late repentance for their back-ſliding, put your Members actually into the Houſe, to rule and govern, and their counter repentance put you out again, ſo the repentance of your pretended Parliament, and the People of England puts lawfull Governours into their proper places, and fixeth Authority in its right Center, which ſin un hingeth and expelleth. You may obſerve, Iſraels Repentance was an actual and ardent Conteſt to bring home the King. Repentance breaks open the Bar of Sedition and Rebellion which ſhutteth out lawful authority; will but God give Repentance, the Reſtitution of Englands Government will be very feaſable and ſpeedy. For this Repentance conſiſts in two parts.
1. To abide for rightfull Governours, however expelled, and at preſent excluded; and not to be for any other Magiſtrate, by any act of Allegiance, or acknowledgement of Loyalty; ſtrike not hands with, conſent not to any ſelf-created Governours, by Pride, Perfidy, and Rebellion, ſlipping into a Chair of State; play not the wanton with any ſelf-advancing Abſalom, be not ſeduced by every ſeditious Sheba: If proud men have power and profaneneſs to catch a Scepter, and ſtamp Authority upon themſelves, let men maintain their Chaſtity, deny their Allegiance, court them not as rightfull Governours: Mens giddy unconſtancy is the blood that nouriſheth Rebellion: reſolved chaſtity is the rebuke of adulterous attempts; if with Mephiboſheth, men cannot follow their exil'd David, let them abide in their widdowhood, and retain their Loyalty untill he return. According to Nature and Scripture a people may better be without any Prince, then ſtrike hands with a Uſurper, for in that is ſorrow, but in this is ſin: I ſhould, Sir, wiſh that fond and blind affection may not engage any to commit lewdneſs with any the Members of Englands late Husbands body; let not any the Members of our Collective Body (now beheaded, and bemangled,) cheat us with the claim of Allegiance by pretence of Relation, and cry of a Long Parliament; but rather let theſe Members be diſperſed throughout the Tribes of Iſrael as evidences of that unheard of violence, and unparallell'd cruelty which hath been acted on our Eſpouſed Lord. Englands Subſcription of ſinful Engagements and ſhamefull Addreſſes to unlawful Powers, hath been the breach of her chaſtity; let us abide for lawful Government, when we can doe no more, evidence our integrity, and aſſert our duty and relation, when we cannot enjoy our right.
The ſecond Act of Repentance to be done,Second part of Repentance. is to return unto the Lord, and to David their King. Return to God, is the formall act of true Repentance; Sin and Repentance have the ſame object, though ſome ſin is more immediately againſt God, yet all ſin is a tranſgreſſion of his Law: The ſame God that ſaid, Thou ſhalt have none other Gods before my face, ſaid alſo, Thou ſhalt honour thy Father and thy Mother; and, Thou ſhalt not commit adultery: Iſraels Rejection of Samuel, was a Rejection of the Lord; as light as men make of Civil Right and Order, it is Gods direction in the ſecond Table of his Law: The complaint of the Penitent for any ſin, is unto God, Againſt thee, thee only have I ſinned; ſeeking to the Lord, will ſpur a ſeeking unto David their King; ſence of God offended, engageth a return from all ſin, not only from laſt, but firſt acts of violence done unto Authority; not only the interruptions made on you in 1653. but thoſe chiefly made by you in 1648. and that with fulneſs of Reſolution to back-ſlide no more; a return to God will awe the conſcience, and obviate all the difficulties and diſcouragements of Repentance; danger ſinfully created by rebellion ſhall not deter repentance, becauſe it is a return to God, ready to forgive; let me ſay to England as God to Iſrael, Jer. 4.1.If thou wilt return, return unto the Lord, who enjoyned your duty; whoſe Law hath been violated by your impiety; unto the Lord, to whom you ſware in the day of your diſtreſſe; who is a God of jealouſie, and will avenge the quarrel of the Covenant; ſad is the Repentance which is but an exchange of ſin, or of ſins object; a bewailing of one rebellious act, but maintaining and proceeding in a ſeries of Rebellion, violence, and ſedition. Sir, whatever Souldiers doe, Saints muſt not thus return.
Iſraels return to God muſt be with a return to David their King; by David is generally underſtood the Meſſiah the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, nor doe I deny it, only Sir, I wiſh it may be noted, the Meſſiah is called David for Relation and Succeſſion ſake, becauſe the ſame ſeed and rightful Succeſſour of David, as the Pharaohs of Egypt, and Caeſars of Rome; he is their King, not only as the Meſſiah, but by a lineall diſcent from, and lawful ſucceſſion to the Crown of Iſrael; ſo that a return to David their King is mentioned with an alluſion unto their Apoſtacy from, and Rebellion againſt the Houſe of David, which muſt be repented in their return; for they muſt embrace the Lord Jeſus, not only as the Meſſiah, but alſo as their naturall Prince and lawfull Sovereign; and therefore Calvin cryeth out, Aliter vere & ex animo Deum quaerere non potuit, quin ſe etiam ſubjiceret Legitimo imperio cui aſtrictus erat; they could no way ſeek the Lord in truth, but by becoming Subject to their lawfull Soveraign.
Englands repentance muſt be according to this, they muſt ſeek the Lord, through Chriſt, by ſubjection to their lawfull Government and Governours, from which they have revolted; the formality of Repentance from Rebellion is a return to Loyalty. Sir, Reſtitution is an eſſentiall act of Repentance; the only reſtitution made for repented of Rebellion, is a re-eſtabliſhment of Authority, and a return to Loyalty, becoming ſubject for conſcience ſake: Iſrael repenting the Rebellion into which they run after ſelf-advancing Abſalom; 2 Sam. 19.they fell to ſtrife among themſelves about fetching home their King: Nay, Shimei's Character of repentance is this, Thy ſervant doth know that I have ſinned, therefore behold I am come down the firſt of all the Houſe of Joſeph to meet my Lord the King; if God will doe England good, he will give them hearts to give God the things that are Gods, and Caeſar the things that are Caeſars, which have been too long held back with violence.
I wiſh, Sir, that none may pretend an inconſiſtency between this act of Repentance, and the Good Old Cauſe of God and his People, for whoever ſhall ſo doe, muſt ſell themſelves unto poſitive blaſphemy, and perpetuall profaneneſſe; pretending that to be the Cauſe of God which is expreſly repugnant to his revealed Will, and reſolving Rebellion is the honour of Religion, and only work of Saints; and wilfully ſhut their eyes, that they may cozen their Conſciences: For, Sir, is not the Kings Preſervation, Honour and Happineſſe, the Priviledges of Parliament, the Liberty of the Subject, and defence of the Government by King, Lords and Commons, written in ſuch Legible Characters in the Parliaments, Cities, and Armies Declarations, Remonſtrances, and Proteſtation; in all our Vows, Oaths, and Covenants, as the Good Old Cauſe for which ſo much bloud and treaſure was expended, that none but the wilfull impenitent can chuſe but run and read it; I ſhall for more full conviction refer you to Mr. Prynns Good Old Cauſe truly ſtated, which I know you have ſeen,
Neither, Sir, would I have the hazard of any mans life or eſtate, threatned by this repentance, be any bar unto it; for, Sir, this hazard is ſelf-created, and ſinfully procured; which, ſhould it be inflicted, were but the proper effect of Juſtice, better to be undergone here then hereafter unto eternity; happy may be the ſtroke of Juſtice which may ſave a Soul from Hell; the ſinful eſcapes of humane Juſtice will one day be found exceeding ſad: Running away from the rod of correction, is an heightning rebellion, and note of a Reprobate; and whither will ſuch flie from Gods all-ſeeing eye? Or will it boot any to contend with God for impunity? Oh no, it will not.
But Sir, ſuch men may be worſe feared then hurt; Repentance is the ſpunge of Guilt in the ſight of men, as well as in the ſight of God: God who hath the hearts of Kings in his hand, and turns them as the rivers of water, relents towards a repenting Ephraim, and maketh David relent towards a rebellious Abſalon; Royall Clemency never ſhines brighter then in returns from violent exile; Shall any be put to death this day in Iſrael? for doe I not know that I am this day King in Iſrael? Is Davids anſwer to the ſon of Zerviah provoking againſt Shimei, who had full well deſerved it? Any indifferent Politician can give aſſurance of indempnity for generall delinquency, eſpecially, when true repentance is the ſpring that doth enforce it.
Laſtly, Sir, let none ſtand up againſt this act of Repentance, and cry, It is dangerous to Religion, a Free Parliament will call home the King, and he is rude and prophane, and converſeth among Papiſts, and will bring Popery into the Land with him. To ſuch I ſay in ſhort, How came they into Gods Chair to become ſolicitous of Event? is uncertain fear of an iſſue any ground of bar to duty? Where is our Faith ſhould carry us on in duty againſt all dread? Needs God our Sin to preſerve the Sanctitie of his holy Name? Will not this prove a ſad ſupport unto Religion? But is not this fear groundleſſe? Is not the King a Proteſtant born and brought up? bound in the ſame Solemn League and Covenant with our ſelves? Hath not our ſin ſubjected him to the ſaddeſt temptation to turn Papiſt that ever poor Prince underwent? Doth not Mr. Prynn tell us plainly and upon good demonſtration, That his exile is the great propagation of the Catholick Cauſe, and high courteſie to Rome? Sir, theſe obſtructions are all frivolous, and ſo will appear, if ever God pour on the Nation a Spirit of Repentance.
Worthy Sir, I have with the plainneſſe of a Miniſter, and freedome of a Friend, given my thoughts on your Enquirie, and that not Raſhly, but as having conſulted the Oracles of God. And I cannot but beg that you perſiſt no longer in your way of ſin: Oh that God would give you and your fellow-Members hearts to give him Glory, and after your ſucceſſe, to take to your ſelves ſhame for your ſinfull ſubverſion of an Eſtabliſhed Government, and that with pretence of Law, calling your ſelves a Parliament, when your own Conſciences tell you, you are no ſuch thing. Sir, England is inclining to repent, if your Houſe prove not a Sheba to ſound again the Trumpet of Rebellion. However, my advice is, Let the Miniſters of God cry out, Repent, England, Repent, Repent; and let all the people of God pray, That England may return and ſeek unto the Lord, and to David their King: Then ſhall we be eſtabliſhed enjoying our Princes as at the firſt, and our Rulers as at the beginning. I have no more, ſave with the Prophet Ezekiel, They, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, for they are a Rebellious Houſe, yet ſhall know there hath been a Prophet among them, Ezek. 2.5.
FINIS.