A Beam of Light, Section 4
SECT. IV. The new Model brought forth in a needfull season, becomes wonderfull victorious. The King goes in a disguise to the Scotish Army. They deliver him up to the Parliaments Commissioners at New-Castle. Brought prisoner to Holmby-House: afterward the Army, upon Disgust given from the Parliament, take him into their custody, and treat upon terms. Afterward prisoner in the Isle of Wight: a second Warre. That is ended with successe also, to the Sectaries. At length it's resolved to bring the King to a Tryal for his life.
ALl on a sudden, while the Affaires of Parliament are so perplexed, and upon a Precipice, within a step of ruine, behold, there appeareth a New Model'd Army, The new Model.notwithstanding all the aforesaid Difficulties, Discouragements, and Disadvantages; but how doth it appear? A foolish thing, a weak thing, one of the despised things of this World. For now the Covenanters and the Cavaliers agreed against this unexpected appearance of Divine Providence on the behalf of the true seed; It's accounted, and called by Covenanters and Cavaliers, The new Noddle.they both call'd it in scorn, The new Noddle, the Common By-word of the Carnal seed, both in the Kings and Parliaments Quarters. The Sectaries own it a fruit of prayer.But many honest hearts, being perswaded that it was the product of Faith and Prayer, had joy and peace in believing (as was said even now) that the Lord would make use of it; and the rather, because, it was so exceedingly despised in the eyes of those that magnified the solemne League and Covenant; which after a short space of time, began apparently to abate of its Lordlinesse and Imposing Spirit, to the great ease of many good hearts, especially such, The Interest of the Kirk of Scotland, and the Interest of Christ, distinguished.as began betimes to distinguish, betwixt the Interest of the Kirk of Scotland, and the true Interest of Jesus Christ.
For while both the Covenanters and Cavaliers were scofsing at this new Model, and expecting a sudden destruction to overtake it, upon a distinct account; (these, by reason the old experienced Commanders were either layed aside, or had withdrawn themselves, except Major General Skippon, who (in this desperate Paroxysme) had been exceeding Instrumental in the forming this new Militia: those, because it was so full of Sectaries and Enemies to the solemne League and Covenant) behold, A glorious victory given to the new Model.a very glorious Victory did (suddenly and wonderfully) fall as it were into their laps, from the hand of the Lord of Hosts; which being seconded and followed, with a continued series of extraordinary successes, The Mockers amazed.to the Amazement of the mockers, now become more serious and sad; the solemne League and Covenant became at last, a very Cheap Thing, allover England, and was no longer adored as a Goddess, by the Parliament, The Covenant lamented by the Orthodox, & sleighted by the Sectaries. The new Model bears the Kings Forces every where.as aforetime; onelyonly, the Engaged, Orthodox Divines and their admirers, made great Lamentation over it, for a long season, even till the death of the late King, and some time after.
But to passe on: when all the Kings field-Forces were beaten, his Garisons surrendred for the most part, Oxford, his Head-Quarters (where was his personal Residence) beaten up; and the Controversie betwixt Cause and Cause, so farre decided, after so many solemne and bloudy Appeals on both sides; He disguises himself, The King gets out of Oxford by stealth. Goes to the Scots in bypaths. They deliver up the King at New-Castle, and are to receive 200000 pound.and with one or two in Company, conveyes himself through the dark, and in bypaths, to the Scots Covenanters at the Siege of Newwark; who, marching with him to New-Castle, make a very good Market of him, selling his Person, in effect, for 200000 pound, and for quitting England; the King delivered up, carried Captive, and Imprisoned in Holmby House, Northamptonstire. Any one may imagine now, that the Scots Covenanters were Odious and Abominable to the Cavaliers of the right stamp; calling them Judasses, onelyonly they sold, say they, their Master for a greater price then He did his, so long ago.
It may be easily conceived, The Lambs of Christ leap for joy.how all those Lambs of Christ, that before the War, had been worried by the Prelates, under the Countenance and protection of this unhappy Prince (now taken Captive) did leap and skip for joy, that the beasts of prey were thus subdued and recompenced before their eyes. Now was Joy in the Tabernacles of the Righteous; and how did they eat their meat with gladnesse and singlenesse of heart, Acts 2.46.praising God, and having favour with all the people, that did Cordially adhere to the Cause of Freedom and Righteousnesse, now so prosperous in the Nations! the certain knowledge and remembrance of those works of wonder, are very sweet at this day, to many hundreds.
But in processe of time, The spirit of the solemne League displeased, and Plot the Disbanding of the Army. 1647.the Spirit of the League (aforesaid) did again bestirre it self so far in Scotland and England, particularly in the Houses of Parliament, and among the Orthordox Divines, that the Cause was exceedingly endangered the second time.
For the new Moddel should have been immediately disbanded, The new Moddel to be disbanded, are a ware of the Plot.upon pretence there was no visible Enemy, and so, no need of a standing Army: and another was to be formed of a Presbyterian make, to keep down the Royal party. Skippon was to draw a part into Ireland, &c. Colonel Graves, having private Orders to convey the King suddenly to the Parliament, to Head the Presbyterian party against the new Moddel: The King suddenly taken out of Holmby House, and brought into the Armies Quarters.but Cornet Joyce was an instrument at that time, to prevent that dreadfull Relapse into Bondage, under the solemne League-men; which was more feared and hated by the Children of the Free-woman, then death it self.
After the new Moddel had thus gotten the King into their possession, so that the solemne League-men both Scots and English were thus disappointed (as it were by a most wonderfull interposition from Heaven) they, according to that principle, which was held and owned by them, The King hath Liberty of Conscience granted him by the Army.were willing the King should have the Liberty of his Conscience; and thereupon permitted him to enjoy his own Chaplains, and some friends, the sight of his Children, &c. which he had not obtained before. This wrought in the King, an Apprehension that his state was better'd, by the late change. Insomuch that he had rather be a Prisoner to the new Moddel, then to the solemne League and Covenant, as finding fairer Quarter.
But now was the hour of temptation upon the new Moddel: for the King, An hour of temptation upon the Army, by the Kings company among them.with his friends about him, insinuating himself into some Leaders of the Army, had prevailed with them so far, that they began to Tamper and Trinkle with him about his Return and Restitution, in Freedom, safety and honour; so that the fears of some choice Christians were renewed, lest some mischief might befall the Cause and Them, by means of that carnal and worldly Compliance with such an Arch-enemy of Jesus Christ, guilty of so much bloud and persecutions: and thereupon made their prayers unto God, that their feet might not be taken in that snare.
The Issue of all which noise and danger, about the bringing home the King in the Freedom and pomp aforesaid, with his Queen and Children, was his sudden flight into the Isle of Wight: The King in the Isle of Wight. A second Warwhere he remaining firm to his own Regal Interest, did by degrees (though in prison) raise a second War exceeding dangerous, by Commission given to his Son the Prince; whereupon followed the Revolt of the Navy, the Revolt of Wales, the Insurrection in Kent, the Scotish Invasion under Duke Hamilton, &c. several Tumults and Risings in and about the City: all which happening, as it were at once, the Army had their hands full in all places: not to mention his Commission to Ormond, and the Irish, about the same time. Insomuch, that it is ascribed to the especial loving kindness of the Lord, that those of his People which continued faithful and unshaken in this day, had not been utterly overwhelmed by the King and Covenanters in Conjunction, King and Covenanters joyn in the second War.in this Juncture likewise.
And therefore let us now remember, with a mixture of Joy and wonder, that although the publick Cause after several considerable Advances, The publick Cause in danger again.and sometimes by fraud even ready to expire and breath its last; yet by unexpected and secret operations of Divine Counsel, it did as often revive, and regain its former (yea greater) strength and beauty, to the joyful observation of all its Advocates, and great indignation of its Adversaries. Which assertion was made evident, with a witness, in a short time, after the second War was happily waded through: for now the New Model, having been warned, by the mischief of their former tampering with the King; and having (before they had any courage to ingage in the second War aforesaid) humbled themselves before the Lord for three daies together, The Army humbled and ashamed for their tampering with the King. See St Albans Declaration. See Allen's Memorial. They resolve to bring him to Justice.waiting at his foot (before their march into the field) for counsel and blessing, did come at last to such a result, (Agreement & Ingagement) among themselves at Windsor-Castle, as that the Cause seemed now to be a New Cause, or, the Former raised in glory. For now, it is resolved that the King is a man of bloud, and therefore a Son of Death: that if ever the Lord condescend to go forth with their Armies, and prosper their enterprise, they would certainly endeavour to do Justice upon him, as a person, who, according to the Law of God, must die the Death.
And upon this Advance of the Cause, The Covenanters Generally discontented at the noise of trying the King for his life. The Solemn League dismembred, when the King was dismembred.we doe reckon the Generality of the Covenanters fell off, and were left behinde: for then there was a principal Clause in the Solemn League and Covenant torn in pieces; The honour and power of the King, being utterly and for ever Abolished and Disannulled: see it pleaded in the Armies Remonstrance from St Albans, in these words, Proposal the first: That that Capital and grand Author of our troubles, the person of the late King, by whose Commissions, Commands, or procurement; and in whose behalf, and from whose interest (only) of will and power, all our wars and troubles have been, (with all the miseries attending them) may be speedily brought to Justice, for the Treasons, bloud and mischief, he is therein guilty of.
It is to be remembred, The personal Treaty dangerous to the whole Cause.that at this very time, the Parliament was treating with the King at the Isle of Wight, by their Commissioners, for his return in safety, freedom and honour: and had not the Army seconded their Proposition aforesaid, The March to Westminster for secluding the corrupt Members.by an immediate and swift March from St. Albans to Westminster, the whole Cause in humane probability had been again lost; which the new Moddel had now twice rescued and recovered for themselves and the best-affected people to the Cause of Christ, out of the hands of the Cavaliers and Covenanters, Hosea 14.9.with wonderful success. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things; prudent, and he shall know them? for the waies of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein. The Scotish and English Covenanted, troubled for the King.The angry Spirit of high Presbytery stirs again; for now the publick Cause prospering and prevailing above and beyond the Scotish Interest in this Nation, the Solemn League-Men are become now again, a very peevish Generation, not enduring the product of their own Sermons and Papers: for how many hundreds, yea, thousands of ear and eyewitnesses are there, that can testifie how bitterly Meroz was cursed by them, Judg. 5.23.for not coming to the help of the Lord, The Presbyters Text turned upon them, for turning head upon it, after they had stir'd up the people by it, against their King.to the help of the Lord against the Mighty? and now that the Lord was helped against the Mighty, (the high and mighty being brought down from their Seats) what frowardness of Spirit did break forth from those principal Preachers, which in the beginning of the war, stirred up the people to fight against the King! But the sentence against the evil work, and the evil worker is executed, at length, the Solemn League and Covenant notwithstanding, and notwithstanding all their prayers, now all too late, and all too weak, to save him whom they had formerly prayed against: (for many mens prayers alter with their worldly Interest, and so do their preachings also, whereby they undermine the reputation of their own doctrines & Integrity, Rom. 3.4. Monarchy laid aside.and Consult shame to their own Ministry) but let God be glorified, and every man a lyar. This unhappy King, being so cut off, as appears by the Judgment, Triall, Sentence and Execution upon Record, for this and the next Generation to gaze upon, A Republick introduced.with passions sutable to their different principles) the Government is changed from Monarchy to a Commonwealth; and an Ingagement imposed upon all, to submit to the present Power, who expect protection by it: fair promises were made, by the remaining part of the Long-Parliament, how happy a people we should appear to be, under them and the Keepers of the Liberties of England; as may be seen in their publick Papers at that day.
But verily, if poor men be vanity, Psal. 62.9.we are sure great men are a lye: and they themselves (if Ingenuity be permitted to speak freely in their Breasts) will confess, But not promoted in any proportion to promises and expectations.they answered not the minde of the Lord in any proportion to all those signs and wonders which they were witnesses unto, during the bloudy contest betwixt their inraged Adversaries and themselves. There were, indeed, a Generation of Ransomed and Redeemed people, for whose sakes principally the Lord reproved the King and Bishops; and after them, the carnal Covenanters, who NOW began to state the Cause according to its proper worth and excellency; for they being after so great experience, made wise with the wisdom of God in some measure, now proceed in a more distinct manner to try the things that differ, and to approve the things that are most excellent, as the Apostle exhorts the Saints at Philippi, Phil. 1.10.with the Bishops and Deacons: and therefore, for the more particular and effectual pleading that which we call the Glorious Cause, &c. we must Recapitulate some precedent passages.