A Beam of Light, Section 1
SECT. I. A Preface or Introduction, toward the stating of the Cause; the low condition of the Puritans, a little before the Troubles in Scotland; the Insolency of the persecuting Party in Church and State; the Short Parliament, April the 13. 1640. Long Parliament, Novemb. 3. 1640.
ALthough we are most unworthy of so rich a mercy; yet having found favour in the eyes of our Dear Lord Jesus, to be kept (even by himself) from this hour of temptation which is come upon all the world, Rev. 3.10. The Lord Jesus is wont to keep them in all ages, that keep the word of His Patience.to try them that dwell upon the Earth: we cannot be altogether silent in such a time as this; but desiring to come forth, in the Name and fear of the Lord, to plead that publick Cause, which by the Army, and their late General, was once frequently dignified with the title of Honourable, Blessed, and Glorious; we do hope for some measure of Divine Assistance in our stating, asserting, and pleading for it, as the most noble and excellent Cause, extant in the world at this day: for it is worthy of no less Appellation, then the Cause of God, of Christ, of his People, and of the Inslaved groaning Creatures, Rom. 8.19.waiting for the manifestation of the Sons of God.
And, that we may, with best advantage to that Cause, bring forth what the Lord hath been giving in unto us from year to year, Retrospection and consideration, very useful toward the stating of the Good old Cause.from Revolution to Revolution, we must (in the Spirit of our minds) look back and consider the wonderful things which have been done under the Sun, in the sight of this and the neighbour-Nations, this last twenty years, or thereabouts. And for our encouragement herein, Psal. 111.2.we are told in a certain place, that the WORKS OF THE LORD are GREAT, sought out of all those that have pleasure therein: and again, he saith, HIS WORKS ARE HONOURABLE AND GLORIOUS, He hath made his WONDERFUL WORKS to be remembred: and again, He hath shewed his people the POWER OF HIS WORKS, that he may give them the Heritage of the Heathen. Wherefore, let all the Children of the Free-woman, who, by reason of use, have had their senses exercised, in observing those Things which have come to passe in these daies, Call to minde that state of bondage and oppression, Bondage and oppression very heavy at the beginning of the Scotish War.under which the Lords Remnant groaned in the year 1640. crying mightily unto their God for a glorious full Redemption: which sad Condition of the true spiritual Church of Jesus Christ, termed (by the Court, the Prelates and their party,) Puritans, Sectaries, Schismaticks, and Brownists, is set forth fully, though briefly, by the under-Officers and Souldiers of the English Army, Declarat. of Muscleb. Aug. 1. 1650.in their Answer to the Scotish Papers; to which we refer the Reader, as to a very choice piece, for his better Information. Indeed, Earnest & uncessant Prayer made by the true spiritual seed, for Deliverance.most earnest and uncessant prayers were made unto the Lord, for Deliverance from under that Antichristian tyranny and persecution, which was then managed with a very high hand, and very presumptuously, by the late King and his Prelates (particularly by Laud and Wren) by Pillories, scourgings, imprisonments, &c. while Jesuites, Priests, Drunken debauched Parsons, This is a known Truth.Vicars and Curates, were connived at, tolerated, yea countenanced at a very high rate.
It is of very great concernment also, to call to minde the lively and couragious Spirit that this persecuted and reproached people were filled withall, in beleeving, A sparkling Spirit of cheerfulness, (through Faith) a little before Deliverance.notwithstanding all the endeavours used by their proud and potent Adversaries, to weary them out, and to rid the land of them, if it had been possible.
And, The first stirring of the best Scots, increased the Saints hopes in England.when the best Ministers and people in Scocland, did suddenly betake themselves to Arms, upon occasion of the new Service-Book and Prelacy, imposed upon them, from the King and his Lord Bishops in England; oh how did the Faithfull Remnant here, begin to look up, and to lift up their heads, Luk. 21.8.with hope that their Redemption was drawing very neer!
And therefore, The Convocation House sit after the Parliament is dissolved: this was murmured at by all well-affected people.although the King permitted the Convocation-house (after the short Parliament was Dissolved by him in 1640.) to sit and make new Canons; and amongst others, the Oath &c. with an intent thereby to engage all leading men in the Nation, never to endeavour, or give their consent, directly, or indirectly, for the abolishing of Episcopacy, Episcopacy begins to stink in all mens nostrils, (except interessed men).and its train of Archdeacons, Deans and Chapters, Rural Deans, &c. Nevertheless, they were so far from obtaining their end in the establishment of their Prelatical Government and power; as that now the generality of the vulgar people began to abhor them and their Domination; The vulgar people begin to shew rage against the proud Lord Bishops.yea, the very rude Souldiers, which were levied by the King and the Bishops, to settle their Power and Service-Book in Scotland; fell foul upon their high Altars, and affronted the Pontifical Clergy, The rude Souldiers also.in many places, as they marched towards their Rendezvous; which still wonderfully rejoyced the Puritans, The praying Puritans rejoyce.Brownists, and Sectaries, as they were still called by the Prelates and their Abettors.
We who do well know and remember these things, Bless the Lord for such a day.do declare to the Glory of our God, at this day, that our hearts and spirits were unspeakably refreshed and comforted, in the observations of the footsteps of his Providence, towards his own people, and against his and their enraged Adversaries, the hour of whose visitation (and utter dissolution) did make more then ordinary hast upon them. For, The Bishops going about to remedy these mischiefs threatning their Kingdom, are confounded in all their Counsels.notwithstanding all the politick plotting and combinations of the Court-party, and the Prelats, (who were professed States-men, and ruled the Nation under their Master, by a most Arbitrary power, managed by a most insolent and imperious spirit, intending to suppress the Puritans, and indeed all others that were engaged for the publick good in all the Kings Dominions): The Lord so ordered it, that they were confounded in all their Counsels; and the King their Master, compelled to call another Parliament, about the space of six moneths after he had so hastily dissolved that before mentioned. Which, The Long Parliament is called about half a year after the other was dissolvedbecause they could not be legally dissolved without their own consent, and continuing their Sessions above 12. years, (the Lord having much work to do by them as Instruments in his hand) are for Distinction sake from others, still called the LONG PARLIAMENT.
This Assembly, being thus called together, in such a juncture of Affairs, Not such a time for Armies and high spirits since Q. Maries time, that I can call to minde.as the like had not been (in several respects) in an hundred years before; were surrounded with very great difficulties, at their first sitting down, the 3. Novemb. 1640.
The Kirk and Kingdom of Scotland in high discontent with the King and the English Bishops, because of the late violent Proceedings against them.
A great Scotish Army to be paid off; a chargeable English Army to be paid and disbanded, which quartered in the Northern parts of England.
The proud Prelates both of England and Scotland full of the desperate spirit of revenge for the Affronts put upon them every where; bearing themselves high and bold upon the Authority of the King. The Earl of Strafford a great support to Monarchy and Prelacy.Dangerous Counsels and preparations in Ireland, under the Government of the Earl of Strafford, a great Assertor of Arbitrary power, and subverter of those lawes which were the Subjects Buckler and bulwark against Tyranny and oppression; partly by his power, as Lord Deputy of Ireland; partly by his policy, being a Privy Counsellor. Nevertheless the better part of the House of Commons, with some few in the House of Peers, The Long Parliament have a glorious Anointing upon them.having an Anointing upon them from the Lord, and couragiously encountring, in the power of that Anointing, with all these, and many other Difficulties, judged almost insuperable, they overcame them all at length, to the amazement of their friends and foes in all parts.