A Beam of Light, Section 6
SECT. VI. The Advance of the Cause after the Kings Death; prosperous success in Ireland, putting a fresh lustre upon it. New Confederacies against it, betwixt the Scots and young Charles Stuart. The war in Scotland. Victory at Dunbar: that Day Twelve-monethmonth, another at Worcester. Mr. Love beheaded: other Presbyterian Ministers Imprisoned. Addresses to the General, after his return home, without effect. Addresses to God, with good effect. The Sectaries begin to Differ among themselves, after these glorious salvations. The honest Sectary presseth forward. The selfish Sectary well satisfied with his present Attainments. The meeting at Alhallows, with its nature, and its consequences. The reviving of it (after its decay at Alhallows) at Blackfryers.
NOt long before that notable Act of the Army in secluding those Members, which were basely Bargaining with the King at Newport, for all the Bloud, Sweat, and Treasure expended in the first and second War, The Good old Cause (as it is commonly called) was become (through ill-management, and the prevarication of some pretenders) a very Pitiful, Dull, Dry, Lean, Barren, Ill-favoured Thing; in a deep Consumption, without Life and Spirit, beauty or comliness, ready even to give up the Ghost. But upon the Recovery of it afterward, when the great Adversary was removed, by that fatal stroke, it became and appeared on a sudden in the eyes of thousands, the most lovely, lively, growing, sparkling, prosperous Cause in all the earth.
For all its faithful friends and Advocates, The Relief of Ireland.cannot, must not forget (though others do) how the Lord went forth with our Armies into Ireland: what a sudden turn of Affairs there was at Dublin, by a most wonderful Defeat immediately before their Transportation, is most worthy of thankful remembrance at this day: That City being one of the two last Morsels of all their prey and spoyl in that Nation; how was it taken from between their teeth, as they were ready to swallow it whole? What WRITTEN VENGEANCE was executed at Drohedah, Justice at Drohedah, and Wexford.at Wexford, and at other places? The power and spirit of our Cause, was great and high after the Kings Death, more then at any time before. We looked upon the work of Justice in Ireland, as prospering under the Standard of the Interest of Christ, professedly displayed against the Interest of Antichrist and his adherents in that whole Expedition.
But whilst this Glorious Cause of Christ is thus pleaded with such wonderful success (now in Ireland, The War with the young Scotish King.as formerly in England) the Solemn Leaguemen, in England, Scotland, and Holland, are combining against the Sectaries, once more. After many Overtures, Treaties, and Proposals to and fro, betwixt young Charles and Them; the State of his Affairs constrains him to entertain their Terms, and to joyn with the Scotish Kirk, and their friends in England. The Royal Diadem being full in his eye, and they ingaging to put it upon his head, it's the less to be wondred at, that he should think meet to pretend a compliance with them. A STOOL OF REPENTANCE is made ready for the poor young man, wherein to counterfeit a kinde of sorrow for his own sins and the sins of his fathers house. Hereupon Arms are raised, another war is commenc'd, not now betwixt the King and Bishops, on the one part, and the Parliament with the Puritans of all sorts, on the other part; nor betwixt the Parliament and Duke Hamilton, as in the second War; but betwixt the most Orthodox Kirk of Scotland, with their new young King in the Head of them; and the Infamous Army of Sectaries sent thither, by the Parliament of England now ruling, without a King or House of Peers.
The common people of Scotland were possessed by the Kirk-men, that these Hereticks and Sectaries, The English Forces call'd an Army of Sectaries.were not like others of the children of men, but strange kinde of ugly Monsters, so deformed, that it was dangerous to look upon them, or come near them: That it was their duty to joyn as one Man, to cut them off from the face of the earth; with a thousand Instigations of like import. But the Issue at Dunbar was glorious on the Sectaries side. We carried the Cause, Dunbar Battel and Victory.in the strength of Christ, whose it was, against the whole power of Scotland in Kirk and State; blessed for ever be his glorious Name. But within the compass of one whole year, the Scots so bestir'd themselves, that they marcht with another Army into England, and were high in their hopes, that the most Orthodox, reformed Church in Europe, should carry it at length against a People that were King-killers, Blasphemers of Christ, enemies to his Kirk, &c. But the same Cause that prospered and prevailed Sept. 3. 1650. did likewise prevail Sept. 3. 1651. Worcester fight and Victory.It may easily be conceived, how the hearts and mouths of the Dissenting Brethren, and all their fellow Sectaries were fil'd with joy: Daies of great solemnity in blessing and praising the Lord, with Psalms, and Hymns, and spiritual Songs, being observed by several separated Congregations.
Hitherto the Lord hath wonderfully helped the poor people, reproached under the name of Hereticks, Schismaticks, and Sectaries; not by the Prelats so much, as by the Presbyterian Brethren: but the Lord looked upon it, and required it.
General Cromwell (accounted the Head of these Sectaries) comes to Westminster in Triumph, O. Cromwell Returns home in Triumph.met and attended on by many thousands of people; and among others, by the New-Church-Regiments, raised and armed by Authority of Parliament, as a Reserve to the Army, when it was in Scotland. Which Brigade of London-Sectaries, was a Grievous Eye-sore to the Classical Ministers and people of the same City.
It is to be remembred, that many of the Presbyterian Ministers were, not long before the battel at Worcester, accused of High Treason, for holding correspondence with young Charles against the Infant-Commonwealth. Several eminent Ministers were Imprisoned; Mr. Love Beheaded a little before Worcester fight.Mr. Love, after Tryal and Condemnation was Beheaded. These passages were very strange, and Ominous to the declining Cause of the Scotish Covenant; but looked with a benign Aspect upon the Separate Congregations; where the Cause was kept alive in England at that day.
The Captain General a foresaid, coming home, thus laden with Lawrel, upon the Account of all his victorious successes first in England, O. Cromwell… congratulated by the Parliament.then in Ireland, and last of all in Scotland; was entertained by the Parliament, as a most worthy and prosperous Captain. All their Forces having been committed to his Trust and Command, (with confidence of his faithfulness and Integrity) he having made, from the beginning of the War, a great and high profession of Godliness. He was likewise entertained with congratulatory speeches by the Messengers of several Churches, And by the Churches.expressing their high esteem of him, as one of their Best Friends; and had accordingly, with great importunity, besought the Lord on his behalf, and of the whole Army, when venturing their lives in this glorious Cause.
Not long after his return, Some honest Sectaries desire him to prosecute the Cause of Christ.(the solemn Day of publick praise and thanksgiving being over) it came to pass, that divers Officers and Members of several Congregations meeting privately together, who by the free Grace of God, had been preserved from the snares and temptations of this day (we mean, the great preferments to honour, power, profit, and other pleasing Delights of this wicked old world, wherein many of the Sectaries had lately been taken and entangled) did verily beleeve, upon prayer, conference, and consideration, that it was their present work and Duty, to be stirring up the General and his great Commanders, to press forward in promoting that glorious Cause, (which they had declared for, before and after their march into Scotland) every where, and every way; and particularly, to quicken the Parliament to do some honest and honourable works, before they went off the publick stage: for now there was a general Rumour of their putting a Period to their own power, in some convenient time.
At the first, we found the General willing to hear us; Their hopes frustrated.desiring us to seek the Lord solemnly in a day of prayer; and he and his Officers would seek the Lord likewise by themselves: but not finding that acceptance afterward, which we hoped for, considering the many Promises, Ingagements, Letters, and other Papers which had come to our sight and hearing, concerning his and their readiness to serve the Lord and his People, if ever they should return in peace; we perceived, that Others about him, who had his ear, did instill and insinuate into his spirit, some principles and other matters of a tendency very different from our proposals. They cease their Applications.Whereupon, after two meetings with him at Suffolk-house, we left him, and made no further Application to him; finding that divers self-seeking Officers and Members of the Churches were willing to take up their rest, and pitch their Tents, where it was so good for them to be, in the midst of their new-gotten honour, power, and profitable places.
Nevertheless, The meeting for Treating with the Army, dissolved. New considerations and counsels, how to plead the glorious cause of Jesus Christ.after we had dissolved our first private Meeting, taken up as aforesaid, Two or three of us did, within a short space of time, consider what was meet for us and others, yet further to do, for the effectual prosecution of our blessed Cause, and the further service of our Lord Jesus Christ, in such a Day of mercy as this was. The Result was, that although our best friends, in whose hand there was power, did turn the deaf ear to our Proposals, yet there could be no ground to fear, that we should be so dismissed from the Throne of Grace, if we would make our prayers unto God, for the bringing forth of those blessed and excellent good things, which we had been lately labouring after, at the Head-quarters, and Suffolk-house, in vain, and without effect. It was accordingly agreed by those two or three, that, having no incouragement given from any Man or Men on earth (now that the General had thus frustrated all our hopes, so soon after Worcester-Fight) we would proceed in our intended course, and joyning with those of the same minde, would make earnest and uncessant Prayer unto our God and Father, for a gracious Answer in those particulars, which we had spread before the General, and all to no purpose.
Immediately hereupon, Another meeting is set on foot publickly at Alhallows.there was another Meeting of divers Officers and Members of Churches, among whom some were Souldiers; & in the close of a day of solemn seeking the face of God for Wisdome, Counsel, and Direction to our present Duty, (considering how hard it was like to go with the Cause of Christ) we did, in less then half an hours time, agree upon Six General Heads of Prayer, The Cause is pleaded before the Lord in six Heads of Prayer.of common concernment to the friends of that our present Cause; and to which Petitions, they could not but heartily say, Amen.
They are these which follow; we mean, in respect of the spirit and substance of them.
First, That the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ may be exalted speedily in these Nations, and also in all the earth; and that whatsoever stood in the way of it, might be utterly pulled down, and brought to nothing.
That all Corrupt, Wicked, and ungodly Magistrates might be removed, and put out of place and power; and that a Righteous generation of Rulers might be set up in their stead.
That the Idle, Ignorant and scandalous Ministry might be laid aside, and put out of their respective Parishes; And that in their stead, the Lord would anoint and send forth Pastors according to his own heart, such as might feed his people with knowledge and understanding.
That that spirit of Division and Animosity which was found among his own People, might be destroyed, that so we might all serve him with one consent.
That the Lord would effectually stir up the Parliament, the Army, and the Churches, to remember and perform all those just and good Promises, Ingagements, and Declarations, wherein they were openly and solemnly ingaged, in the dayes of their Distress.
That, whereas there were Ambassadors coming from Holland, to Treat with the Parliament about some growing Differences and Discontents betwixt us and them; the Lord himself would so interpose by his special Providence, that no terms nor propositions might take place, which were in the least Derogatory or prejudicial to the Cause of Christ, and his Kingdom, now carrying on in these Nations.
We, A sweet Harmony among Saints of different forms and perswasions.who were present, must not bury in Oblivion, what onenesse of heart there was in this matter, and what rejoycing, to observe of what consequence this might be in processe of time, if a proportionable measure of the Holy Unction should be given forth, for the promoting of this Gospel-DESIGN so dangerous to all the Kingdomes; wicked Rulers, and ungodly Ministers, in all the world.
Accordingly, by the grace of God, A lively Spirit at the first coming together.with some light and livelinesse of spirit, the first meeting was at All-hallows, Thamestreet London; The latter end of December 1651.
This new thing in the Nation, gave an Alarm to Parliament, Army, and those Churches and Officers which had very far forsaken the Cause contended for, and had loved this present world. It was very offensive to all those selfish Sectaries, which had begun, and were going on, to inrich themselves, out of the publick Ruines. Those, who carried on this work, could not through grace be charged with those common Evils of covetousness, ambition, and screwing themselves into great places of profit, though it was endeavoured; and therefore, were the more bold to speak the word, without fear of such imputations. Very many honest hearts, that frequented the meeting, did confess they found the presence, and spirit, and power of God more here then elsewhere, it being Generation-work, and the proper business of that Day.
We gave an account of these things to divers at Somerset-house, We give an Account to Dissatisfied Brethren.who were much offended at this sudden and loud Alarm to the Selfish part of the Redeemed people: and in conclusion, having in a brotherly way, rehearsed the Matter unto them from the beginning, we told them, that by the Grace of God, we were resolved to follow the Lord in this matter.
To this very day, many of us cannot tell where our blessed Cause was witnessed unto, so openly at that time, as it was in that Assembly.
Yet afterward, A Death overtakes this work also.upon some particular emergent occasions, divers Leading men fell off, who at the first rejoyced and joyned in it: but the Truth is, it was plain afterward, that the spirit of the world carried some of them away: others, by the scruples of their friends, did receive impressions of Discouragement, and so gave over. Insomuch that within the space of a year, or thereabout, there was a very sensible decay of Spirit in that meeting, to the grief of divers faithful friends.
But it pleased the Lord to stir up two or three, Another-Essay by Messengers of Churches to plead the Cause.to consider again what the true remnant of Jacob were capable to do for the Name and Cause of our Lord, so little spoken of and pleaded for at that time: for it is to be remembred, that the Great, and other Commanders of the Army, were for the most of them so imployed in setling and securing their Arrears, Great Officers otherwise imployed.in parting and dividing their Parks, and their great Houses, that they had no leisure to appear in the work of Christ. And indeed, what could they do more, as Souldiers? considering there was no open potent Enemy to oppose them.
Wherefore, it was a very difficult matter to understand where the Lord did delight to manifest his presence, War with the Dutch.at that time, until the war with Holland was brought upon us by an irresistible Dispensation: for by the Generality of the Parliament, it was avoided by all means. But there were some who did verily beleeve, that the Lord would reckon with that people, for the Bloud of his Saints, which had been shed by those weapons that had been bought of them by the Queen of England: for if they had not furnished the King with weapons and Instruments of Death, it had been very Difficult, if not impossible for him to have destroyed the lives of so many of his Best Subjects.
Those very few above mentioned, invited six several Congregations, who were least leavened with the spirit of self-seeking, and most affected to the work of the day, to agree, and send each of them some of their number; who having most spirit and light, might appear as the Messengers of the Churches, and the Glory of Christ, in a publick way.
Accordingly, The fast friends to the Cause come together with a fresh Spirit.after once or twice meeting at London-house, and afterward at Blackfryers, We found some of the true Seed flocking together afresh, in a way of waiting upon the Lord, partly to hear those Scriptures opened, which concerned the blessed Interest of Jesus Christ; and partly to wrestle with the Lord again (after our former neglect) for the fulfilling of his Word, in the Destruction of Babylon, and advancement of the Kingdom of his dear Son. With other Petitions of General concernment to the Cause of God in these Nations, and beyond the Seas: for now, or about this time, the War with Holland was begun; whereupon, some of us, Girded up the loyns of our minds, and thanked God, and took Courage, (as Paul did when the Brethren met him, Act: 28.15.before he came at Rome).
The proper work of these Messengers of the Churches aforesaid, The Work of the Meeting at Blackfryers.was publickly to own, and plead that glorious Cause of Christs Kingdom and Interest in the Nations, which had been declared for by the whole Army in the day of their straits, with great power and spirit; but now was very little considered and prosecuted, in comparison of their former forwardness and affection.
Accordingly, There was a loud Testimony given, by the Assistance of the Spirit, unto the Work of the day; although withall, we must confess, that the Gospel of the Kingdom was published with a great mixture of humane frailty, Gal. 4.13.(or the infirmity of the stesh, as the Apostle speaks). It may be the Lord so ordered it, that it might be for judgement to those poor wretches whose hearts began to wax dull and hard, and were become weary of the spiritual worth of that Truth and work, which God was then, and is still, lifting up, and bringing forth in the sight of all the Nations.
The Spirit which prevail'd at the Head-quarters, The General vexed at the Testimony managed at Blackfryers.and elsewhere, was wonderfully displeased with us, for so publickly witnessing against those palpable self-seeking practises which were pursued with great eagerness in the Army, the Parliament, and the Churches, to the great dishonour of that blessed Cause, which yet they pretended to love with all their Hearts. Oh the Lukewarmness of that time, compared with former life and warmth! Oh the covetous practises in all Committees, Courts, Offices! how did the Speaker upbraid and reproach the gathered Churches, when he told some of us to our faces, that the Parliament had bestowed upon divers of the Members of the Churches aforesaid (and the Best of them too, that they could hear of) several places of Trust, of great trust in the Commonwealth, and yet within a little time they were found as Arbitrary, and oppressive, and self-seeking, as any other! and we knowing it to be too true, that divers made more haste to be rich, then to do Justice, were ashamed, and could not plead their Cause; but were constrained to bear our publick Testimony against such publick unworthy Miscarriages of our Brethren, so very like those unworthy Jewes, who began to oppresse the people assoon as they were come out of the House of Bondage: see Nehem. 5. But observe the Issue.