A Good Soldier Maintaining His Militia, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. A Nationall Covenant mighty to eſtabliſh and fortiſie a Kingdome.
There are objections againſt it, ſpecially two charges. 1. That it engageth to maintaine Religion by the ſword. 2. That it is as a body without an head. There is a ſcruple concerning our undertaking the Defence of the Kings Perſon reſolved: And objection… againſt the proſperity of the Covenant anſwered.
WE have ſeen with our eyes, that the ſervants of the Lord working with God this Day have wrought as great a Salvation for the Kingdomes, as Jonathan for Iſrael: We have obſerved the way (it is but one and the ſame) they went-in, the very ſteps and degrees of their happy proceedings. And now we are come to the higheſt ſtep, the entring Covenant with the high God, which containes much, nay, all the forementioned, for all that went before, has a direct tendencie hereunto, as to its end, next to the glory of GOD; The engaging the heart of a Kingdome as one man, unto one God; The intereſting, intitling Him to the kingdome, the giving-up the Government of it into Gods Hands, which is the way to make a Kingdome ſo ſtrong, ſo well fortified, that all the devils in hell, with thoſe in the Ayre, and all their ſworn ſervants on earth can have no power againſt this Kingdome now to doe it hurt; though they rage againſt it, and, to their power given unto them, doe ſtorme it, yet they cannot hurt it: for the kingdome is brought-up to God; the Government yeelded-up into His hands; He will looke to His owne. But I was ſaying, as this covenanting with God was the End, and tendency of all that went before, ſo this containes the meanes, and perfects them; I meane thus, The firſt ſtep towards this work was the caſting forth the accurſed Perſons and things; theſe will returne againe; the heart of the kingdome will deale with theſe, as Iſrael of old dealt Jer. 34. 11.with their ſervants when the ſiege was removed, they will take them-in again: But now the Kingdome has covenanted againſt theſe, they have ſworne to maintaine war againſt them, and their encroachings, they will never ſerve dumb idols any more, thus they have covenanted; No peace with themſelves any more, ſo far as ſelfe is its ſelfe; no peace with Rome any more, or her idols, no peace with any thing that makes roomth for ſuperſtition, hereſie, prophaneneſſe; no peace with any of theſe any more, as a Kingdome lookes to maintaine their ſtanding, and peace with God …vermore. And becauſe the Kingdome has found how prevailing faſting, and praying, and praiſing, and preaching is, to advance this worke, and to compleat the buſineſſe; They have covenanted with their GOD to maintaine all that, which has brought them-up to Him into that ſacred Band, viz. to be in faſtings often, to pray continually, to praiſe the Lord while they have any being, to holdout the Goſpel what they can unto the whole land. Wal…s ſhall be viſit…d; The places of the earth ſo full of cru…lty; lights ſhall be ſent downe thither; choiſe Miniſters ſhall be appointed for that great …nd, who know the terrour of the Lord, and will perſwade men to underſtand the will of their Father, and will declare it; doe conſider how Holy the Lords Day is, and will have it ſo obſerved; Doe feele the weight of the charge of ſouls, and by the grace of God will quit themſelves like men of God, in the diſcharge of their Dutie. So I have recalled the ſum of that which went before, and given a taſte of that which ſhould follow. I ſhould now demonſtrate and make cleare to the Reader, how mighty a Nationall Covenant is to eſtabliſh and ſecure Kingdomes; That indeed a Covenant is the One thing neceſſary for that great purpoſe: But I am Mr Caryl. Mr Coleman. Mr Caſe.happily prevented herein by the labours of excellent men: many very excellent Sermons, full ſpeeches, and Treatiſes not a few, are extant touching this great buſineſſe: I will ſay no more …r it, unleſſe by way of anſwer to that which is ſaid against it; many cavill againſt it, and ſome queſtion the lawfulneſſe of the Covenant; That I may ſet it free from theſe cavils, and put the Covenant out of all queſtion, I will diſſolve my ſpeech continued hitherto into a ſhort Dialogue.
A. There is a Covenant talked-off, and entred-into by ſome few, which ſeemes to engage three nations: But not the one nation have taken it, no not Scotland; and not above a third part of our owne Nation.
B. True, and I will give you a mighty reaſon for that anon.
A. You can never give me a Reaſon, why ye ſhould all enter into covenant as one man, To maintaine Religion by the ſword. Chriſtians muſt be ſufferers, as meeke as ſheep before the ſhearers, as their great Maſter was, from whom they have their names. Can you give me any one example of any in any ages of the world, that ſtood-up with their ſwords in their hands to maintaine their Religion?
B. Verily I could, though a man of ſmall reading, give you twentie examples ancient and moderne both; whole Kingdomes, particular cities, that theſe have all in all ages, as matters did require, ſtood up with their ſwords in their hands to maintain their Religion, Lawes, and Liberties; But I will confine my ſelfe to a beggarly The leſſe of man, the more of God; The weaker the men, the ſtronger their God.example (as the adverſary cals it:) Ile inſtance in thoſe beggarly poore peeled people (ſo their lords made them, and ſo they eſteemed them; ſo the Maſtives of the world touſed theſe ſheep of Gods paſture,) the Waldenſes inhabitants of Angrogne and Luſerne in the County of Pied mont. Theſe poore people (ſo rich in faith) were perſecuted from place to place, as David by Saul, like Booke of Martyrs, p. 871.a Partridge on the mountaines by the Nimrods the Maſtives of thoſe Dayes. They parlied upon the buſineſſe with their Miniſters, Whether they ſhould take the ſword into their hands for their defence or not? It was reſolved at firſt, No: They might not, though their bloud was ſhed, yet they muſt in any caſe take heed of bloudſhed: ſo away the poore people ran, and their Miniſters with them, whether they could, like a chaſed-bird to that mountaine, and to that rock; and that did but enrage the enemies (the popiſh lords) the more. Then ſome other Miniſters in the places adjoyning tell the poore people, that their Miniſters were quite miſtaken, they aſſure them that all the lawes of God and man, the law of Nature and of Nations doe allow them their ſword, wherewith to fence their throats, and maintaine their lives; and, if to maintaine life, then much more to maintaine their Religion, which is more than life: ſo the poore people were reſolved. But they would, as before they had done, deale with their Lord of Trinity (it is not pertinent to give you the reaſon of the name) by petitions, and ſupplications, deſiring only that they might hold-faſt their God, and keep faſt to their Religion: for that is the way to keepe God with them: It would not be granted, no anſwer could they heare: but, To the fire with them *They could gain nothing of their adverſaries hands by intreatie, but knocks.; to the fire: Then they fell to praying, and fasting, their beſt weapons.
A. We allow that, and Teares too, the Churches weapons, but no ſword.
B. You ſhould not interrupt me, I was ſaying, they prayed fervently, they ſpent, as a great commander did, rAnte bellum in oratione jacuit, Sal. de Gub. li, 7. p. 251.a whole night in prayer, being to goe into the field next morning: ſo theſe prayed in prayer, were earneſt with the Lord God of Hoſts, and in His ſtrength they marched into the field the next day, ſo ſoon as it was light: for ſayes the ſtorie, The Lord would make His people know, that they ought to defend their life, that pretious thing, and their Religion (their crown) with the ſword: And how ſpiritfull they were; how well they quitted themſelves; how an old-man dealt with his potent Adverſary; how a young-man 18. yeares of age dealt with his mighty enemie: how foure chaſed fourty, and fourty put an hundred to flight, this is marvellous to conſider, which I leave to the Reader. Only this Ile tell him, that the adverſaries and enemies ſaid openly, that the Waldenſes had bewitched and charmed their weapons: Indeed ſo they had done; but it was with prayers, and ſtrong cries to their God. O how omnipotent Prayer is! for the ſtrength of GOD is in it. But I muſt paſſe it over and proceed: When this poore people had worſted their adverſary, he would parley with them then; and they were willing to yeeld to any thing, ſo they might keep their God, and to His Faith. But notable it is, whenſoever they ſounded to a parley, then the Waldenſes were at a loſſe: for their adverſaries were treacherous, tooke advantage againſt them ſtill when they met to treat of peace: Whereby the LORD GOD would aſſure His ſervants ſtill, That they muſt not treat with idolaters: And ſo they left treating, and fell to fighting again, and proſpered in their battles to a wonder; for they brought downe God to their ſide: The ſword of the Lord and of Gideon; We know what that has done, and we are as confident for the after time.
A. You have told me a moderne hiſtory, not an hundred yeares old, ſure I am the Primitive Christians were ſufferers all, in all times.
B. Yes, you may be ſure of that, while Ethnick Rome (the Dragon) raged: and Anti-chriſtian Rome (the Beast) raigned, all this while the ſervants of God muſt be ſufferers: where-ever that ravenous beaſt ſet her foot, there muſt follow a treading downe, as in our dayes.
A. But my meaning is, The Chriſtians never reſiſted, they ſuffered and indured patiently.
B. True, they did endure patiently the wrath of GOD: but they did not expoſe their throats to the wrath of man; they were fighters too, as they had power in their hand, and law on their ſide: and they were as glorious in fighting for Chriſt, as in ſuffering for Him: and they did it by the ſame Faith, By Faith they put to ſlight the Armies of Aliens. The ſervants of the Lord Chriſt have been ſufferers Heb. 11. 34.a great while; they have ſuffered in Germany, ſuffered in France, in Ireland they have ſuffered, what ſhall I ſay? the ſpoiling of their goods and of their lives? yes and more, they have ſuffered heavie things, even what the rage of the enemies wrath could inflict upon his poore people, I cannot expreſſe what ſuff… rers they are in Ireland; nor what ſufferers they are in England. I ſay no more. But the ſcene ſhall turne ſhortly. The ſufferers all this while are fighters now, and ſhall be more than conquerours anon. The ſervants of the Lord ſhall be delivered, and their adverſaries ſhall come into their roome. Certainly though the enemie and adverſarie thinks he has prevailed over the Church of God; he has brought her low, even to the duſt of death, in ſome places to a dry-Bone, yet Spirit and life ſhall come-into theſe Bones againe, and the Lords warriours ſhall not ſit downe, till they ſhall execute the wrath of the Lord upon that bloody citie, rewarding her even as ſhe rewarded them: and doubling unto her double according to her workes: for this is the charge of the Lord; In the cup which Rev. 18. 6, 7.ſhe has filled fill to her double. They, who are engaged upon this ſervice muſt execute the vengeance, then theſe are fighters ſure: Therefore the ſervants of the Lord may fight, nay muſt fight, and will fight: It is their ſword which muſt eat the whores fleſh, and drinke her bloud: And this is not done by prayer, though Prayer has a great ſtroake in it; but by fighting with the ſword: Therefore I conclude yet again, The ſervants of the LORD may uſe the ſword: It is their charge from the Lord. But that you may be more fully and clearely reſolved at this point, That Chriſtians may uſe the ſword, Ile now aske you one queſtion, and you ſhall reſolve it your ſelfe.
B. Has the Lord Chriſt had any battles fought in the world: or are His battles fighting now?
A. Yes ſure, for there is large mention of the Lords battles in the ſacred records every-where: and of a levying war againſt the Lamb (that is) againſt the Lord Chriſt: I cannot doubt of this.
B. Who are thoſe that have fought the Battles of the LORD in all ages of the world?
A. I cannot tell their names, but ſure I am, they have been the faithfull ſervants of the Lord in all ages.
B. Very well, then the ſervants of the Lord may fight.
A. Yes, the Battles of the Lord.
B. You are ſure the ſervants of the Lord will fight no other battles, only war againſt them, who war againſt the Lamb.
B. One queſtion more, who do fight the Lords battles at this day?
A. The Lords ſervants ſure, The King and his Armies.
B. You conſidered not what you have ſaid, you muſt recall it againe: I ſhall aſſure you now, that your anſwer is not ſhort of blaſphemy; It reacheth even to that height, even to a ſinne, that ſhall not be forgiven to men: For your own ſake hearken; The LORD CHRIST had wrought an amazing worke for His poore Mat. 12. 23.creature, man, whom the Devill had poſſeſſed, made him blind and dumb, he could neither ſee, nor ſpeake, nor heare; The Lord Chriſt throwes-out the Devill, and ſo torments the tormentour. The people, beholding this amazing worke, ſaid, Is this the ſonne of ver. 23.David? (that is) Is this the worke of a meere man? Yes, ſaid the Phareſies, a meere man, and no more, has done this: And for that, he has done above the ſtrength of a man, he has done by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils. The Lord Chriſt heard all this, and ver. 24.knew their thoughts, ſayes the Text, (i. e.) he knew that their thoughts had more malice, more of Hell in them than their words ſhewed forth, yet their words were abominable, contrary to a cleare light; And put words and thoughts together, they reached to a blasphemy againſt the HOLY GHOST *foreign, &c. L…g Baſil. Reg. Brev. 273.: So ſaid the Lord Christ, and proves it: For, ſayes He, the Devill will not putforth his ſtrength againſt himſelfe, to ſpoile his own houſe, to breake-in pieces his own kingdome; Men may ſay ſo, that the Devill will doe ſo, fight againſt himſelfe, that ſo they may darken that, which will be more cleared than is the Sun-beame; but no man thinks ſo: and the LORD knowes the thoughts. You will conſider this, and then you will not dare to ſay, what, you are not ſuch a foole, to thinke, That the King and his Armies, (Atheiſts and Papiſts all) will pluck down their own houſe of gods; throw-out their own Idols, deſtroy their own kingdome; fight againſt their god, the Pope; you cannot think they will doe to: Then I pray you doe not ſay ſo; for you heare it proved from the LORDS own mouth, it is blaſphemy ſo to speake.
A. I ſpeake not my own words, therefore they muſt not be charged upon me. The King has proteſted, you and all men know what, and we all know how often: And the prime Biſhop Primate of the world undertakes, I heare, to ſatisfie every man touching that matter; he is the oracle in Oxford, no man departs from him, but he is fully reſolved in his heart touching the lawfulneſſe of the Kings way, and warre: and ſo they clap their hands upon their breaſt ſaying, The voice of God and not of man, he has cleared the point of Reſiſtance, how fully! Let me adde one thing more, That the Biſhop is ſaid (but indeed I doe not beleeve heare-ſay) to caſt an odium upon your praying and faſting people in London, Miniſters and others, that they faſt to debate and ſtrife, and how they may take away their Kings Crown and life.
B. To quit you and ſet you cleare of this Biſhop firſt, though it ſhould be laſt. The Primate is a well known man, of more reading than ordinary, and of leſſe judgement than is conceiveable; It is certaine, God has not given him a diſcerning ſpirit; he is very credulous; It is verily conceived, that if a man will ſweare that ſnow is black, or your kitchin fire will not burne, or that evill is good, he will beleeve him; A very good natur'd man, if that be good. Nay ſome doe beleeve, That, if the Devill ſhould come to the Primate, proteſt and ſweare unto him, that he (and his angels) love Gods people, ſeekes their preſervation, he will be a wall about them and their houſes night and day; if the Devill ſhould vow and proteſt ſo much, the Biſhop would beleeve the Devill alſo, that he will not ſweare and lye. No credit to be given to what the Biſhop ſayes, but yet, I wiſh from my heart he had ſaid nothing: for what ever he ſayes, though, That Papists will fight for the Proteſtant Religion, there be fooles enough in the world will beleeve him: The Lord pardon what the man hath ſpoken, if he has ſpoken as it is reported: howſoever he has need of the largeſt indulgence from the Lord. But for your part, you will beleeve your own eares: for you heare and ſee both what is ſaid and done at London, upon our publike Faſt-dayes: doe our Miniſters there, doe the people A King muſt protect …is people, their King will doe it, f…r it is the office of a King.there, faſt to debate and ſtrife? doe the Miniſters there ſpeake good for their King, [ſo they doe acknowledge him at this day, though he has caſt-off the care and protection over His people] doe they ſpeake good for him before the Lord? Speake; doe they or doe they not?
A. They doe, God is witneſſe, their ſoules are witneſſe, our eares alſo, that the Miniſters of the Lord wraſtle with the Lord night and day for their King, that his heart may be brought-up to GOD, and his Perſon to the Parliament.
B. I will adde what cannot be contradicted, no not by the Devill himſelfe; That the King (though he has not ſhewed himſelfe a King to his poore people) yet is he in their hearts, and a King of prayers in their mouthes: O! how doe the ſervants of the Lord deſire, how importunate are they that he may be a King of prayſes; And let the ſervants of the Lord pray without ceaſing; though Samuels mourning, was not heard for Saul, yet it was heard for 1 Sam. 15. 35. 16. 1.David, whom God gave to His people, a King after His own heart. Prayer is no vaine worke, it ſhall have a returne, if not what we would, yet what is better; And what hinders the returne of prayers, the Lord, that knowes the Kings thoughts, knowes, it is his ſinne, that lieth in the way, that ſin of—and ſo I come to his proteſtations; You ſay he has proteſted three times, That he and his Armies, will maintaine the true Proteſtant Religion: That he fights the battles of the Lord, ſo you ſay.
A. I told you indeed, that the King ſaid ſo, and you know, and all the Chriſtian world knowes, that ſo he has ſaid, and proteſted ſeven times.
B. Truly I doe not know it, for I never heard him ſay it; I have read his Proteſtations, and they are penned by I know not whom: and indeed I am content to be a ſceptick in theſe dayes, not to credit, over-ſoone what I ſee or heare; and yet I will never deny what I underſtand. If the King has pro…eſted, that he will maintaine by his Iriſh and Engliſh Papiſts the lives of his poore people, and the life of Religion, as I underſtand he has proteſted once and againe, then—The Lord has heard his wor…s, and knowes his thoughts, and there I leave the matter: for how high this ſin rea…heth, the Lord Chriſt has ſaid. This only …le adde, it ſhall be eaſier for his Queene, in the day of judgement, than for him; for firſt, ſhe came indeed into a Land of viſions, but where her Seers (our Biſhops) were blind. It is affirmed, that not long after her comming over hither, the now Arch-biſhop yet in name, was asked whether the Proteſtant and Papist had not one and the ſame way to Heaven? He anſwered, yes, both one and the ſame way: That is true enough, if both would take the ſame way. But this was the Biſhops meaning, That the way was as paſſible, and the doore to Heaven ſet as wide-open to all commers by the interceſſion of the Virgin Mary, as by the Mediation of the LORD JESƲS CHRIST; And now it is all one to her, whether ſhe embraceth the Lord Chriſt, or an Image (ſhe ſayes) in His likeneſſe; And ſo ſhe can with more boldneſſe perſecute the LORD CHRIST in His members, and thinks ſhe does the Lord good ſervice: becauſe the ſervants of the Lord do ſerve their Lord and Him only, and doe abominate Idols: But this is the point, what ſhe does ſhe does profeſſedly, ſhe fights for her (holy) Fathers houſe, and the houſe of her gods: and therefore ſhe has prepared an Army, and inſtruments of death in aboundance, for that purpoſe; and ſhe does not ſay now, much leſſe proteſt, that ſhe has hired theſe men, and prepared theſe inſtruments; pawned the Jewels of the Kingdome; been at all this coſt to eſtabliſh the Religion truly Proteſtant; her doings, her ſayings, her thoughts, (though all abominable this way) yet they doe all agree: I conclude, It ſhall be eaſier for her in the day of judgement than for, &c. And now I have gained my ſcope, the end I did drive to, and you muſt be brought-up to it whether you will or no, and conclude with me;
1. That the Lord God has had His battles alwayes in the world, ever ſince there was a kingdome in the world ſet-up againſt His Kingdome, which is not of the world: He has had His warriours alſo to fight His battles: for theſe words relate one unto the other. I conclude.
2, That theſe battles of the Lamb againſt the Beaſt, and of the Beaſt againſt the Lamb, will now in theſe our times, riſe to the greateſt height of oppoſition: becauſe now the prophecy muſt be fulfilled, and the judgement upon the Beaſt muſt be executed; Reward double unto her: In the cup, which ſhe hath filled, fill to her double: I conclude.
3. That theſe are the ſervants of the Lord, who fight theſe battles now; and to ſay contrary, is to ſay that the Beaſt will wound her ſelfe, will powre down a violl of wrath upon her own head; that the bloody City will ſhed her own blood with her own hand; that the Devill will be devided againſt himſelfe, and oppoſe, yea deſtroy his own kingdome: To ſay ſo, for ſo we cannot think, is blasphemy againſt the Holy Ghoſt. In the laſt place, we muſt conclude;
4. That theſe warriours, who now fight the Lords battles, are not come forth into the field, as a great Commander, to ſhew the abſoluteneſſe of his command, brought-forth a great Army, to pick Cockle ſhelts. No; They fight for their Lord Chriſt, to maintaine His Cauſe, His Crown, His Scepter, the Diadem of three Kingdomes, (the Goſpell) and the Crown of their rejoycing now, and in that Day of the Lord, the day of His appearing, when His warriours ſhall be made more than conquerours, receive their palmes into their hands, and their crowne (ſet) upon their heads: Therefore they are reſolved to ſtand to it, to quit themſelves like men, to be vahaut for their God, for His Chriſt, for His cauſe *I heard a man ſay, who had loſt an eye in Br…inſord fight, That had he had a 1000 eyes and as many lives, he would be content to ſacrifice them all to this Cauſe., and City of God; and this is matter of high praiſe; that the Lord has continued them to theſe dayes; their lives, liberties, livelihoods, that they may expend all, livelihood, liberty, life and all, to teſtifi… the Goſpell of the grace of God. Bleſſed be the Lord, who has given ſuch gracious ſpirits, unto the ſons of men.
A. You have cleared your Covenant at that high point, The lawfulneſſe of bearing Armes for defence of Religion; But you ſweare alſo, to defend your Kings Perſon.
B. No, but we doe not. What man dares ſweare, that he will defend His Perſon, who ruſheth upon the Angels ſword every day, as blindfolded as Balaam did. As the King is a publike perſon, and walks in Gods high way, we ſweare to defend him: yea if we ſhould ſweare the contrary, which never any but Gods enemies have done, unto whom his loule too much cleaveth, yet the Lawes would defend the Kings perſon and Crown both: But while he walks as a private perſon, and as his will leades him, in his own way without GOD, and without the law, we cannot undertake for him: We will pray for him, and ſeeke to reſcue him out of his own hands, and the hands of them, who hate his ſoule: But we cannot ſweare, nor doe we ſweare, to preſerve his Perſon and Authority, unleſſe in the preſervation and defence of the true Religion, and liberties of the Kingdomes. The Lord God has made a covenant with His poore ſervants, that He will defend them, that He will. Lord! what is man that Thou ſhouldſt regard him? but that Thou ſhouldſt ſet Thine own guard about him, what a wonderfull mercy! Yet ſo the Lord does; He will ſet a guard of Angels about His ſervants bed, and about his path, and about all his ways: A wonderfull grace … And we reade, that theſe miniſtring spirits, are never more readily employed, than in their diſpatches and workings for the ſalvation of man: I ſay againe, A wonderfull grace … But now the man muſt be gracious; he muſt looke to his way; he muſt keep in Gods way; If he ſtr…ggle-out, walking in by-paths of his own chooſing, he forfets this great priviledge, and charter of preſervation; he walks as one out-lawd, a man from whom the defence is gone: If the man walks in the way of Caine, he has no Letter patent for ſafety now, no more than Caine had; A man walking in his own way, a way of ſinne and death, goes-out from the preſence of the Lord, and from under His protection, The concluſion is; We, ſwearing to defend the Kings Perſon, doe undertake to doe our utmoſt that way in the Preſervation, &c. And this is as much as God. Himſelfe undertakes; which may ſuffice to cleare that ſcruple, if any ſuch there be.
A. But ſurely if your Covenant were of God, it would have a freer paſſe through the Land, whereas this meets with a mighty oppoſition.
B. The beſt ſigne, that it is of God: for the more of God is either in a Perſon or in a Thing, the more the Devill and his angels, will bend their force and fraud againſt it: I told you at the firſt, I would give you mighty reaſon, why there are ſo mighty obſtructions, why Hell gates have ſtood and doe ſtand wide open againſt the holy Covenant; The reaſon is; Becauſe it is holy, therefore the Abomination of deſolation, the Kings Army, ſpread-over the whole Land by the Kings command, has indignation againſt the holy Covenant; and therefore the heart of the King is againſt it alſo.
A. Now you are at the top and head of the buſineſſe, and there you muſt reſolve me, that I may reſolve others, who doe much queſtion the lawfulneſſe of your Covenant, becauſe it is as a body without a head a headleſſe Covenant.
B. It is an headleſſe objection; he has but little braine, as the ſaying is, a man of no underſtanding, who makes this objection. That Covenant wants not an head, which has the Lord Chriſt, the Head of His Church, chiefe in it, and all the concernements of His Church contained therein, which is aboundantly ſufficient, to render this Covenant moſt ſolemne and ſacred.
B. But you have not the Principall verbe, the King in your Covenant.
B. Yes that we have, and there is an undertaking there to preſerve his Perſon, and his Crown; and if that way does not take, neither his Perſon nor his Crown can be preſerved.
A. My meaning is; ye have made a Covenant without the King, which makes it queſtionable to me and many others, whether your Covenant be lawfull? Tell me; Was it ever knowne, That Princes and Worthies brought their King and people into Covenant? No never; The King evermore brought his people into Covenant with their God: and indeed there is no decency in it, if it be otherwiſe, nor is there order: It is a plaine guiding and leading that, which ſhould leade, the head I meane.
B. You have asked me a Queſtion, and you have anſwered it your ſelfe: you ſhall correct your queſtion, and ile correct your anſwer; Was it ever knowne that Princes and people brought their King into Covenant? No, ſay you. Yes, ſay I: Princes and people have brought their King-up into Covenant: But what if we had no example, nor preſident from former times: It will not therefore follow, that Princes and Nobles may not enter Covenant with their God; to take Him for their God; His Chriſt for their King; His Goſpell to be ſubject to it, without their King; If he be a child and cannot; ignorant, in ſuch an high matter, and cares not; conceited, and beleeves not; or wilfull, and will not be drawne to enter Covenant with his God. We ſay of a Parliament (the higheſt Houſe in the Kingdome) They cannot alwayes walke and worke by preſidents: but if their …athers have ot done that, which may be a preſident now unto them; then may they, as matters may require, doe that, which may be a preſident to their children. They, who make Covenant with their God, have a preſident for ſo doing, you may be ſure, more antient than the world is, but let that goe. The ſafeſt, the ſureſt, the only way to fortifie, and ſtrengthen a Kingdome, is, to bring a Kingdome-up, and into Covenant with their God, To ſerve, to ſerve (it is twice repeated) the LORD their GOD. If the only ſure … Chr…. 34. 33.way to ſecure a Kingdome, then it muſt be done; The Princes, and Nobles, and Worthies muſt bring themſelves, their King too (if they can) the people alſo (if they will) up into Covenant with their God; They muſt do it; they ſtand bound to doe it, though they had no preſident for it: What if there be no preſident fo. it, yet the Cauſe, th' extremity, never the like: Therefore the Worthies muſt doe it, as they love themſelves and the Kingdomes, and their children after them, they muſt doe it, and ſo be a preſident to their children. And bleſſed be God ſo they have done, and they have an example, a preſident for ſo doing; Jehojada a Prieſt, he poſtureth the Kingdome, orders the Militia, and which is the chiefe work, Jehojada made a Covenant between (Him) GOD and between all the people: and between the King, that they ſhould be the Lords people. There is a preſident.
A. True, Jeho…ada did it, but he was a chiefe man, the Government was upon his ſhoulders.
B. True, ſay I too, And will you not give the ſame power to all the Princes and Nobles, all the Worthies, all the Faithfull in all three Kingdomes, which you give to one Prince in Iſraell?
A. Yes, God forbid elſe; But I conceive there is a wide difference betwixt what Jehojada did, and what the Parliament have done; Jehojada might doe what he did, for it was his place, and he might governe the King being a child, in his non-age, but ſeven yeares old, The Parliament may not doe as they have done [I reaſon as a man according to my ignorance and little underſtanding in theſe matters] their K…ng is ſix times ſeven yeares old, of that age, which the Latine call a conſtant age.
B. I am preſſed to it: Curſed is he, that flattereth with his mouth, when he is to ſpeake for his King and Kingdome: In dread of that Curſe, I anſwer; That there is a greater engagement upon the Worthies now to doe as they have done (which is the ſame, which Jehojada did) than was upon Jehojada: he had to doe with a child-King in his non-age, yet he made the Bond ſtrong between God and the King: and the King and the people; a ſtrong bond, that he ſhould be King to rule for the Lord, the Lords King… and the people the Lords people. The Worthies now, have to doe with a Man-King, in his dotage. Dotage! It is more than ſo, he has given-up his power into his enemies hands; himſelfe and his Kingdome into the hands of them, that hate him, and his good people: The Worthies now muſt make the Bond ſtronger than ever, if ſtronger can be, for theſe have to doe with a King, who does walke moſt con…rary to what a King ſhould doe; A King is Gods Deputy, ruling for God; he puts-forth all his power againſt. Go… A King muſt protect, guard, defend his poore people, (therefore made He thee King,) to maintaine the Defence, and to keep-out the wilde Beaſts; he takes-away the defence, breaks-up the hedges, lets-in grievous wolves to deſtroy his poore people. A King rules over men, he muſt be iuſt; This King breakes Gods people … Sam. 23. 3. Pſal. …2.to pieces, he is ſo unjuſt. A King muſt judge the poore of the peopl… and breake in pieces the oppreſſour; he condemnes the poore, and needy men, grinds their faces, and breakes in pieces the oppreſſed. A King muſt build-up the houſe of his Kingdome, and Gods houſe there; he pluckes all downe, and if he had power in his hand, he would raigne downe fire and brimſtone upon it: Mighty reaſon… all theſe, why the Worthies ſhould make their Bond-ſtrong, like a treble cord, which cannot be broken; Jehoiada brings-up all Judah into covenant with their God; A ſtrong bond: the bond is ſtronger now, Scotland and England, and Ireland are come up to their God, there is a three-fold cord. God be praiſed.
A. But Jehoiada did all he did to eſtabliſh the King in his throne.
B. Very true, and this is as true, that the Princes now in Parliament have taken the ſame way to eſtabliſh the Kings Throne, which can be done by no other meanes but this, By making a Covenant between Him (God) and between all the people: and between … Chro. 2…. 16.the King, that they ſhould be the Lords people; Wicked men, vile Prieſts, brutiſh Paſtours, fooles, to whom it is an abomination to depart from evill, theſe fooles will make cavils here, and exceptions againſt this; what? making a covenant between God &c.
A. The King would have no ſuch covenant made, nor will he enter into it.
B. We know that well enough, his heart is againſt it, yea he has indignation againſt it: but in ſo doing he ſets his heart alſo firme as the Leviathans heart againſt his own peace, and the peace of the Kingdome, for aske from one end of heaven to the other, and enquire concerning this matter, Whether there be any other way to ſave a King and Kingdome but this, To make a Covenant between God and between all the people: and between the King that they ſhould be the LORDS people: Therefore we conclude, if the King will have nothing to doe with the Covenant, if he will deſpiſe that Oath of GOD, then he ſhall have nothing to do with the Bl…ſſing, he rejects that alſo againſt his own ſoul. But yet he may live to ſee his people proſper, as certainly they ſhall, being made the Lords, being entred into covenant with their God, and made the LORDS people: The King may live to ſee this, he may behold it with his eyes, even peace upon Iſrael, but he ſhall not partake of that Bleſſing, being out of Covenant with his God.
A. Why, but the King is not involved within the Covenant, therefore, though he does deſpiſe it, he cannot be involved in the curſe.
B. A bold ſpeech, and as bold an inference, the King not involved in the Covenant! The Princes have made a Covenant between GOD, and between all the people (and between the King too) That they ſhould be the LORDS people; And the King not involved, not concerned in it? The King is concerned, he is involved in it; All his deare pledges are there; All his concernments, All his good people, and all the bad, all the Malignants too, All this and all theſe are involved therein, in this Covenant, as much as Joaſh was, and all the people were concerned in that Covenant, which Jeho…ada had made. Joaſh was but a childe ſeven yeares old, and he underſtood like a child; And for the people, you cannot conceive that they could be all gathered together at Jeruſalem; There was a Congregation, which we now call a Parliament, the Captaines of hundreds, and the Chiefe of the Fathers; and when they had ſlain that vile perſon, that murdreſſe, then Jehoiada makes a Covenant which involved all the people, even to the utmoſt parts of Judah; There is no doubt but Athaliah that wicked woman had her favourites at court, and ſome in the citie, and countries too, as vile, as wicked and idolatrous almoſt as ſhe her ſelfe was, who ſecretly, if not openly, as that curſed woman did, called out Treaſon, Treaſon. But where-ever they were, though as far remote from Jeruſalem as Wales is from us, yet were they involved within that Covenant at that time: And ſo are they involved in this Covenant at this time, which the Princes in the two houſes of Parliament, (I meane by two houſes, Scotland and England, and God be praiſed they are made one alſo) have now entred into. I know, for all the Chriſtian world knowes, that there are ſome who murmur… now, and ſome mocke, and ſome call out, Treaſon, Treaſon, calling others by their owne name; But yet, they are involved in this Covenant they and all their families, they and their wives, their children and ſervants. I will give you one inſtance for all this, it will ſuffice to ſatisfie any reaſonable man; The Princes of Iſrael had made a league with the Gibeonites. The children of Iſrael journ…yed and Joſh. 9. 17.came to Gibeon, and they would ſmite it with the ſword. No, but they muſt not. No? Had the people made any league with Gibeon? Yes, that they had, for the Princes had made a league with them, and what the Princes have done, the people have done; and they muſt ſtand to it. Then all the Congregation murmured at the Verſ. ….Princes. That was not well that the people would murmure againſt the Princes. But yet their murmuring would not ſerve their turnes, We have ſworne unto them by the LORD GOD of Iſrael, now therefore we may not touch them. We may not! That is true, and all Reaſon for that, for We Princes have made a league with Gibeon, ſo it may be objected. But the words are miſtaken; We includes Princes and people, we have made a league with the Gibeonites, and with us the people, now therefore we may not touch them. What the Princes have done, the people have done; We Princes have made a Covenant, We and You muſt ſtand to it; can it be imagined that the Princes can be bound, and the people looſe? now therefore not WE (that is, neither we nor you) may touch them: Princes make a Covenant as they make a Law, not for men aſleep but for men awakened; that all may take notice of it, none pleade ignorance, &c. Indeed I thought to have proceeded, But I underſtand very well that this one Scripture is ſufficient to ſtop *Contradictions of ſinners will n…t ceaſe, till th…y ceaſe to be.the mouthes of all the Malignants in London, and brutiſh Paſtours in Wales, where they roare and ſtorme, and open their mouthes now againſt the Covenant, I will ſay no mo…e to that.
A. You are very brag now; you boaſt much of your Covenant.
B. You are miſtaken, We boaſt in the LORD all the day long: Who has inſtructed His people to diſcretion, and, by His Almighty Arme has brought them into covenant.
A. And what great matters have you done now, ſince you entred into covenant?
B. No great matters we, but the GREAT GOD that delights to uſe ſmall things has done great things by little meanes. Indeed I could be large here, I could goe from North to South, and tell what great things he has done, Indeed I could. The ſumme would be this, Little meanes and a great GOD has effected great things, wherein we rejoyce; Ever ſince the LORD has brought His people into covenant, He has wrought for them, and with them, and in them, like a God; He has proſpered His people wonderfully; delivered them miraculouſly, marvellouſly ſeparated betwixt His people and the Egyptians, here and there the Lord has, &c. but I ſee the booke ſwels bigger then I would have it, I muſt forbeare.
A. What has the Lord done, the malignants, as you call them, obſerve no ſuch matter.
B. Doe they not? Whether they obſerve or not obſerve, no matter, Gods people muſt obſerve the works of God and the operations of His hands; ſo muſt all, whom the God of this world has not blinded, obſerve what the God of heaven has done for His friends, and againſt His enemies ever ſince the taking of Briſtoll, and entring Covenant with their GOD; They muſt obſerve how the proud men have fallen; how the Lord has puniſhed the hoſt of the Iſai. 24. 21.high ones, that were on high; How He has brought them downe, &c. But the wicked will not obſerve it, thoſe wilde Aſſes will traverſe their way ſtill, till their month come, then they ſhall be big Jer. 2.with ſorrowes, and then they ſhall be found: When paines are upon them, when the LORD ſhall teare them to pieces, as a lion teareth the caul of the heart, and goes away, leaving them in a torne Hoſ. 5. 10.and helpleſſe condition; when He ſhall put them into the fire of Ezek. 2…. 20.His wrath, and leave them there (the utmoſt of judgements) then they ſhall obſerve.
A. Well: leave that unto your LORD GOD, and let us come to your Deare brethren the Scots, as you call them; Long looked for are come at laſt.
B. Yes, that they are, bleſſed be God, who has put ſuch a zeal into them, ſuch a love, as ſtrong as death, much water could not quench it. They came out in the coldeſt ſeaſon, in their zeal to GODS houſe are they come forth, for their vowes are upon them; And the Lord is with them, and with their families, whence they came-out: The Lord will not leave them, who are engaged upon His ſervice; the Lord will goe before them ſtill, and be a …re-ward unto them; He will be to them a ſun and a ſhield; He will be all to th…m, who are All for Him, He will be all which their families ſhall need, or what their ſoules, and Gods Cauſe ſhall require, Amen.
A. But what have they done, the Scots, I meane.
B. I cannot tell; But ſure I am, the Hoſt of God, a people in Covenant with their God ſhall doe aDan. 11. 32.; it is not expreſſed what, but great things we are ſure.
A. Shall doe! Boaſt not of that, the Armour is but girding on yet, it is not put off: Tell me, for we heard you ſay, If the Scots were come, all were done; they would carry all before them; New-Castle and all: Is your expectation anſwered?
B. Yes, the expectation of the Righteous, for they expect no more from the creature than what the creature can doe; And that is nothing, unleſſe the Lord ſhall be pleaſed to worke with it, and then the creature ſhall doe great things: our expectation indeed, who have little or no faith in God, but all in the creature, our expectation is not ſatisfied: And it is well it is not. It may learne us alſo, weake creatures, as weake as water, ebbing and flowing, as the Newes is from the North, up-and downe; as the meanes are in ſight or as the Arme of fleſh is before us, ſo we riſe or fall; It may learn us after ſo many experiences of the commings-in of God unto us, to do dontrary to what we have done, to put little or no faith in the creature, all in God. Bleſſed be God, who does check our vain hopes for excellent purpoſes, to wind-up our hearts to Him; Indeed we doe, what in us lies, to break our own Arme to pieces, by laying ſtrength upon it, which it cannot bear, and not upon Him, who is Mightie: while we are ſo conceited of the Creature, that it can doe ſo much, God can doe nothing; But the Lord we hope has taught us now to look-up to Him, and there to reſt, in expectation of all from Him; And now that we can doe ſo, we can aſſure our ſelves, that the LORD will uſe His pretious ſervants in the North, and every where, and doe great things (exploits) by their hands, for which His ſervants will give Him the glory; they know the cauſe is His, the Kingdomes His, the People His by Covenant; the Lord will work like a God now, as alwayes He has done, for a people in covenant with Him. Amen.
A. I know not what God will doe in future times, what has He done at this Day? here you have made a long diſcourſe concerning this and that, a third meanes, and a fourth, all tending to ſtrengthen, and fortifie a Nation, and a Perſon, and to render them as a well of braſſe: See your ſelfe ſpeak! Are the Kingdomes ſtrengthened? The one Kingdome is not, the other, this Kingdome, is torne to Hoſ. 5. 10.pieces: God tears it like a lion, and ſeemes to goe His way; And Scotland ſcarce able to defend its ſelfe.
B. O what love then have our brethren, deare indeed, ſhowne to us! To put their lives in their hands, that they might …ave our lives; To come forth in ſuch a ſeaſon, that they might helpe us to quench the fire in our houſes, when they have ſo much to doe to defend their own houſes! what love is this! But they are a people in Covenant with their God, and with His people: It is enough. But the Lord who returnes a Diſh of cold water, will returne this love ſure ſeven-fold into their boſomes, to them and to theirs, He will undertake for their Land too, Amen. To anſwer you now;
1. I have indeed ſpoken, as I could, touching this and that, the third and the fourth meanes, mighty to poſture and fortifie Kingdomes, whether you reſpect the People or a Man only; Theſe are mighty means and ſufficient, God working with them, to bring to paſſe this glorious end: You cannot blame the meanes; how they are uſed, that is the queſtion, which I will not reſolve here. As was ſaid of Scanderberges ſword, It had done and would doe great matters, but then Scanderberges Arme muſt ſet it on: So theſe things I have treated on will doe great matters, but they muſt be well managed, and an Almighty Arme muſt accompany them; And this I will ſay more, that
2. This poſturing work, whether you reſpect a Nation or a man only, is a glorious work: See now, I pray you, what hinders and recards foreign. Niz. Ep. 100.this work! We expect Great and Glorious things, but not from the Great and Glorious God; we ſtand gazing upon the creatures-arme, and doe depart from God Almighty; If the creature be weak, we are weak; if meanes are ſmall, we are men of ſmall hope; yet the Lord does weaken meanes, and check them, that men may know they are but men, not God; their horſes fleſh and not ſpirit: He does make the meanes of ſmall and of no account in our eyes, that He might greaten and heighten himſelfe in all the peoples ſight; and yet (ah Lord!) how weak is our faith! we cannot get-up our dependance, to place it above, though there it never failed, was never diſappointed.
3. You ſay, Ireland is not (that is) it is wholly deſolate aJer. 50. 13.; Grant that, yet God is juſt, for Ireland was …holly oppreſſion bJer. 6. 6.: There are great deſolations, there were great abominations cLev. 26.amongſt His own people there, it is Tabarah dNumb. 11. 3.; The fire of the Lord burns there; Much ſcum is in the pot, very much droſſe there. But yet, I doe not grant, that it is wholly deſolate; there is a remnant there, and God is good unto them yet, even to the pure in heart; the LORD has indeed wounded Ireland with the wound of an enemie, with the …haſtiſement of a cruell eJer. 30. 14.one: and for the multitude of their iniquities has the LORD done this, becauſe their ſins were encreaſed: And yet the Lord ſayes in the very ſame caſe; All this, the Lord has done to Ireland; is but a correction and in meaſure; He will not make a full end of His People: but He will make a full end of His adverſaries (i. e.) He will deſtroy them utterly, they ſhall be wholly deſolate. The Lord is refining Ireland now, and, which is very comfortable, He ſits as a Refi…er fMal. 3. 3., that is, He ſits by His peoples fornace (of affliction) while they melt there, and will ſee to it, that their droſſe ſhall be conſumed only, and not His people, they ſhall be purified; ſo then, Ireland is, and though ſhe is but ſmall and low, yet the great GOD that raiſeth from the dead, can raiſe them again: It is a wilderneſſe: Eden before, a wilderneſſe now: Now I will up; ſayes the LORD. They are as dryed bones, can they live? We muſt not queſtion it, life and ſpirit ſhall come-in by the very ſame means, which the adverſary and enemy has uſed for the driving-of all life and ſpirit out; By the ceſſation of Armes there, and calling-over thoſe murtherers bither; By theſe very meanes ſhall that people live: for never was it knowne from the beginning of dayes to this day, That mans very ſhort Arme could out-reach the ALMIGHTIES ARME. And let me give you an account of my Faith touching this bleeding countrey of Ireland; I verily beleeve, that the Reſerve, the Remnant of the LORD there, ſhall help to fulfill the prophecie, they ſhall help to reward her enemies double according Rev. 18. 6.to their works. And the ground of my Faith is GODS Promiſe, They ſhall take them captives, whoſe Captives they were: Iſai. 14. 2, 3. 4, 5.and they ſhall rule over their oppreſſours. And it ſhall come to paſſe, &c. I pray you read it out, it is as comfortable for England brought to that condition now, that her people need comfort; now therefore they muſt read and confider ſuch promiſes, which will be ſweeter than Sugar kept under the tongue. To make anſwer now, as it relates to England.
1. It is a torne Land indeed; Is that a wonder? No, This is the wonder, that there is any whole part in all the Land.
2. It is a torne Land, and the LORD has torne it; He teares, but Hoſe. 5. 14.He does not goe away; He ſtands by His torne pieces, they ſhall come together againe, for the LORD will gather-them, and unite them ſo, as they ſhall ſtand the firmer, and faſter together for ever. The Lords fire is in Zion, His fornace is in Jeruſalem: The Lord will not leave His people there, He will ſtand by them, while they melt, nothing but the ſcumme and droſſe ſhall goe-out; He is winnowing, cleanſing His Church now, not the leaſt graine ſhall Amos 9. ….be loſt.
3. It is a torne Kingdome indeed, pillaged, peeled, robbed, ſpoiled; Woe, woe, woe to him (he is many, a legion) that has done this, has torne, robbed, ſpoiled his own Land; Heare what the Lord ſayes, Thou ſhalt be cast-out like an abominable branch, Thou ſhalt not be joyned with thy fathers in buriall; becauſe thou haſt Iſa. 14. 10.destroyed thy Land, and ſlaine thy people. The ſeed of evill doers ſhall never be renowned: O terrible! I proceed;
4. All theſe tearers, and spoilers, and Robbers in the Kingdome, their ſtrength and their power in themſelves, and in their ſtrongholds, does but argue the difficulty of this poſturing worke; it does argue no more; And that is nothing, to diſhonour, or diſcourage the worke, but to honour the worke very much, and to enliven and quicken the workers. Hell-gates ſtand wide-open now againſt this worke; a cleare argument that the work is of God, and the godly will proceed in it with the more courage and reſolution; The Devill roates now, his ſervants rage, what will you conclude from thence? The aGaudeo ſic Satanam indignari & blaſphemari quoties a me tangitur, Luther, 2 Epiſt. ad. Am….Devils are pinched now, his ſervants are aGaudeo ſic Satanam indignari & blaſphemari quoties a me tangitur, Luther, 2 Epiſt. ad. Am….pricked at the heart bQuod ſignum miſorie gloriae eſt omnes haeretici deteſtantur, Hier. Iſa. 41. 10., they gnaw their tongues now, becauſe they ſee the breaches in Jeruſalems walls are making-up, the worke muſt proſper; A wide dore is opened, (that is,) the paſſage for the Goſpell is widened more; you muſt expect as Paul ſaid, many Adverſaries, all the Devils in Hell, and in the ayre, and all his ſervants on earth. The difficulties in a worke cleare it to be of God; honours the worke, and the work-men: I ſhall contribute more to this anon. I would conclude now with a word of comfort from Gods mouth to His people in England, the City of God there, Feare not, feare not, [I know not how often it is repeated, for the ſecuring and eſtabliſhing of the Church.] O thou afflicted, toſſed with tempeſts, and not comforted ſhall I ſay? No, The Lord has comforted thee in thy greateſt diſcomforts, in thy greateſt agony He has ſtrengthened and helped thee; thy puniſhment has been leſſe, indeed, than thy ſin; thy puniſhment is but a correction, indeed, and in meaſure: The Lord ſits as a Refiuer over thy fornace; lift up thy head now, thy redemption drawes neare, it is at hand, when the prey of the terrible ones ſhall be delivered, Iſa. 49. 25, 26.when thy mourners ſhall be comforted, when thou ſhalt ſee thy deſire upon thine enemies, when the LORD ſhall give thee an EXPECTED END; A gratious promiſe. What end is that? Jer. 19. 11.A GLORIOVS END; His ſervants, who keepe their watch, and to their worke, have heard and known what end their LORD makes, cannot expect any other end, than glorious, from a GOD, ſo full of mercy and of glory. Certainly, the Lord will make a full end with His Adverſaries now, His people ſhall ſee ſuch a deſtruction all over the Kings Army, as has not beene yet ſeene, nor ſhall be the like unto it, till Gog and Magog be ſlaine, the laſt enemies Eceeh. 35.the Church ſhall meet with upon earth; and no ſooner ſhe meets with them, but ſhe ſhall overcome them; preſently upon ſight of them, they ſhall ſee their carkaſſes fall on the ground, not by the ſword of a mighty man. The Church expects now the like confuſion ver. 3. 4.upon her adverſaries, now her Lords men of warre ſhall render their adverſaries double. It will be a glorious end to His people, who waight for Him; an end farre exceeding expectation, for the ſervants of the Lord will conſider the way their LORD has walked-in before them all this while; His goings-out againſt their adverſaries; His commings-in towards His friends, theſe have exceeded all expectation. Certainely the end will exceed much more; This is much to be conſidered on.
1. The LORD has ſuffered the adverſary and enemy to plow upon the backs of the righteous, and to make long furrowes. True, but His people ſee with open face all this has been greatly conducing to a glorious end, the making fruitfull the field of the Church. Our taskmaſters have beene many, their burdens and yoakes grievous. Theſe have been but outward, upon the body; the Lord has taken-off ſpirituall yoakes, burdens of conſcience, grievous to be borne, not a few: A mighty conſideration, to aſſure His people, they ſhall have an Expected end.
2. The Lord has indeed given His people the bread of adverſity, and the waters bIſa. 30. 20.of affliction: All this is grievous, yet not ſo grievous as this is comfortable, Thy teachers ſhall be removed into a corner no more: thine eyes ſhall ſee thy teachers. (Ile adde,) and thy murderers, vile Prophets and Prieſts caſt-out. An unſpeakeable mercy, Amen.
3. The Lord has emptied our purſes, taken from us (our ſuperfluities, things that may be ſpared very well, ſnares unto us) our ſilver and our gold, He has leſſened and cut-ſhorter our proviſions we had made for the fleſh: Well, and what if we never have ſuch proviſions any more, ſuch full tables, ſuch fine cloathes, &c. Surely the ſoule will be no looſer by that; and we ſhould count nothing a loſſe, whereby the ſoul is no looſer: and nothing a proſperity, whereby the ſoule does not proſper. But what proviſions has the LORD made for our ſoules? that is to be conſidered on, as matter of high praiſe. What if the LORD will bring famine upon the ſword, which, when we looke upon our ſins, we may expect? What if He bring us to a morſell of bread, to make us looke to our crumbs, which, in plenty we would not doe; nor regard His example, Who could have multiplied every crumb into a loafe, yet would have the fràgments gathered-up, that nothing be lost: What if they, who fare deliciouſly every day, be brought to *The pooreſt mercies have the richeſt thanks.barley loaves, and two ſmall fiſhes; This was the LORD CHRISTS fare, and there is no mention of drinke, ſayes one, *Baſil. Reg. tub. 18.likely that was water; yet for this poor fare, in our account, the LORD of the creatures gave thanks: Why ſhould the ſervant looke to fare better than his Maſter; its enough for him to fare as his Maſter, though his fare be courſe. So now, if the LORD ſhould cut ſhort our proviſions, yet if we can remember, and be humbled, that in the dayes of plenty, we forgat the giver of all bleſſings, then we may ſee cauſe enough, to be thankfull for our barley bread; and matter of aboundant praiſe, that we are like to have plenty of the word of God; Want of bread makes a famine, as the ſaying is: But the ſcarceneſſe of the word of GOD is the famine indeed. Browne bread and the Gospell is dainty fare, ſaid he, who could prize that uneſtimable gift. Gods people have the Goſpell, and like to have it in aboundance, and they have enough.
4. And ſo to conclude, the wayes of God have beene mercy and truth towards thoſe that feare Him; His ſervants may ſay, nay they doe ſay, Whatever their Lord has taken from them of the earth, (of that, which is earthly) He has recompenced with Heaven, with that which is heavenly. A good exchange. Verily they can ſay, not a ſtroake the Lord has given, but it has been healing; not a wound He has made, but in mercy, and in meaſure: and if it has ſeemed deepe, and wide open, it has been to ſearch it to the bottome, and to expedite a perfect cure. Truly, the conſideration is admirable; If the frownes from the Lord be comfortable, what will His ſmiles be? If the ſtroakes from His hand be healing, what will the kiſſes from His mouth be! If His wounds be but a correction, and that in meaſure, what will the binding-up the breach be, and the healing of his ſtroake? how overſlowing will be the cup of His conſolation! If the way He has gone-in here before His people, be ſo full of grace; If the meanes He has uſed for the reſtauration of His Church, be ſo full of glory, what will the end be? An expected end ſure (that is) a glorious end, which the glorious God will make. No more is to be done now, by His poore ſervants, but doe their duty, and their worke, heartily, earneſtly, ſervently; waite for GOD patiently, depend on Him faithfully, ſix upon Him stedfaſtly, keepe cloſe to Him, and to the Covenant reſolvedly: Remember the LORD, Who is great and terrible; Neh 4. 14.and fight for your bretheren, your ſonnes and your daughters, your wives, and your houſes, We have entred into Covenant to doe ſo, to ſtand-up for God, and to ſtand to our Covenant, that is all we have to doe. I leave the Nation now, and come to the Man.
§ VI. Entring into Covenant with God, a mighty meanes to posture a mans ſelfe;
And to render him mighty, able to prevaile with God, and over men: he walketh as a man in Covenant with his God, both …ome and abroad, above himſelfe and the world; he is of much uſe to his private wealth, but of more uſe to the publike.
HE takes the ſame way ſtill to poſture himſelfe, which the Worthies have taken in poſturing the Kingdomes, he enters into Covenant too; But as hardly brought-up to it as the Kingdome was, with much adoe, yet at length it is done; he had faſted, he had prayed, he had praiſed too, and the good word of GOOD was as a ſword in his hand to ſlay thoſe enemies, which would not have his Lord rule him: but till he had prayed and praiſed, I may adde and preached himſelf into Covenant with his God, his enemies, ſelf, ſelf-will, ſelf-reaſon, ſelf-ſeeking, ſelf-pleaſing, that accurſed perſon, and things returned upon him ſtill, would force a reentry: Thus I ſay it was untill he came-up to God fully and indeed, to enter Covenant with Him, & to keep unto Him, fully reſolved with full purpoſe of heart to amend his ways, and cleave unto God: til he was reſolved Acts 11. 23.as Joſhua was, who made his own heart the center of Reformation, till he had ſo done, he had done nothing to purpoſe. I cannot ſet down here how often this man aſſayed at this Covenanting-work, nor the warpings of his ſpirit; as I cannot ſet down his failings and fallings down, and up againe: So, nor can I ſet-down the mournings of his ſpirit, for all this, and more than I can name; We ſhall heare of this anon; This is to benoted hence; that this Covenanting work is not a work of a day or two, nor an eaſie work. We ſuppoſe now the work is done, he is in Covenant with his God, and reſolved with full purpoſe of heart to ſtand to it; he has laid his ſoule under ſacred bands: and becauſe his heart would ſtartle-aſide and draw-back, like an unruly heifer, he binds himſelf, as were the ſacrifices, to the horns of the Altar, with ſacred coards, faſter and faſter, with ſtrong purpoſes and reſolutions to hold faſt to his rule and cloſe to his God.
A. But is all peace with this man now; finds he no moleſtation or trouble from his adverlaries, the Devill, world or fleſh.
B. Never more than now; As it fares with the Kingdome now, now it is entred Covenant with God, now the Devill roares, and his angels rage, they proclaime war with it now, and vow to ſtorme it every houre: So the Devill, world and fleſh deale with this man now in Covenant with God, now Hell-gates are ſet wide open upon him: but through God, he ſhall be delivered from them all; his enemies would storme him and ſome ground they get upon him ſometimes, and downe he is, and when he getsup he is toſſed like a locust, rather like a Ship in a tempeſt; but this is his confidence, his Head is above, his Lord Chriſt is riſen, therefore though he be ſtricken into the place of dragons, yet, when he is himſelfe, and can conſider wiſely of Gods doings, he aſſureth himſelfe, he ſhall riſe the higher, the lower he is fallen; and ſo we will behold the ſafety, the ſecurity, the peace of this man; peace, peace, perfect peace, In warre peace, in neceſſities and perſecutions, peace; in ſickneſſe peace, in death peace, peace; But of this anon: he is as a die, a cube, a ſquare body, throw him whether you will, into the place of dragons, if you can, you cannot-overthrow him, he ſtands ſtill, firme in his faith, and ſtrong in his God; This is he, that is as the chariots of Iſraell, and horſemen thereof; the chiefe Ammunition, the better part of a Kingdomes Artillery. This is he, that has chaſed a thouſand, nay he has put ten thouſand to flight, legions of Devils, all the Princes of darkneſſe, Principalities and powers, the Prince that ruleth in the ayre, and mightily in the children of diſobedience: All the fiery darts, from thoſe adverſaries, he has quenched; all that power, he has overpowred, in His ſtrength, through Whom, he can doe all things; And now for the world, he is at a point; the pleaſures and profits there, doe not take him, nor inſnare him; the changes of ſorrowes there, doe not greatly move him, not ſo as to put him off from his bottome; He is rooted and ſtabliſhed in Chriſt, nothing now can doe him hurt, nothing falls out unto him as a plague; the hurt from the ſword, the evill of the ſickneſſe, is taken away from him, he feeles it not; And for the furious rage of his adverſaries, he laughs at it, as he may doe, who maintaines his peace with God: They would ſtorme him every day, but they cannot; he has chambers to enter-into where he is ſafe till the indignation be over; The adverſary would cut off all ſuccours from him from all quarter̄s; he mocks at them, and rejoyceth in the Lord, the God of his ſalvation; he has done his duty, which is his worke, and is reſolved ſtill ſo to doe; for the reſt he is not carefull, he commits all to God, ſoule and all, in well-doing; and now can ſtand ſtill, waiting the ſalvation of God, with whom he is in covenant, to whom he has lifted-up the hand, and ſubſcribed his name: And for whom, the Lord now has lifted-up His hand, that He will make-out unto this man, all Himſelfe, (and all is in God) His Power for him, His Wiſedome for him, all for him; Gods Attributes all ſhall be laid-out for him, who will lay-out himſelfe, all he has, and all he is; his eſtate, and his life, for God: All in God, and all is God, ſhall be laid out for this man, that will expend himſelfe and be ſpent for God: the Angels alſo, theſe ſhall be his guard; all the creatures for his uſe and ſervice; and for his head, an helmet of ſalvation now, and a crown of glory at the laſt; But this is reſerved till the laſt.
It may be ſaid, theſe are but words, talke only and no more; We muſt ſee this man ſpeake; he has lifted up his hand to the HIGH GOD we muſt ſee how he acteth with his hand; He hath ſpoken with his mouth, let us ſee how he fulfils with his hand; The meaning is, we muſt ſee how he lives: how lives he? Exactly according to Gods rule; the word of God, that is his rule, and he driveson mainly in all he does to the glory of God, that His God may be glorified, that is his end; he is not a talkative man, he is practicall; he is not for words but for power a1 Cor. 4. 19, 20.he ponders his ſtepps, then he walkes-on boldly, confidently, bprov. 10. 9. foreign It ſignifieth both the confidence or boldneſſe, which men have, truſting in God and walking in his wayes: and the ſafe and ſecure eſtate, wherein God ſetteth them from danger of evill. Mr. Ley.for he walkes uprightly, and does all things decently and in order: he ſpies narrowly into a Church way, for that is an holy way, and waites wiſely their determination, whom, he himſelfe amongſt others, have choſen, and appointed to conſult about that way: In the meane time he prayes, heartily, and does his worke earneſtly, and ſpieth narrowly into the way of his own ſpirit, how ſutable His ſpirit is to a Church-way, that holy way, and how becomming a Chriſtian: and ſo his maine worke is, while others are about the publike, with and about his own heart, that, it may be kept as the Temple of God, the Holy of Holies there; And about his own houſe, the ordering and ſetling of that in a Church way, that his houſe may be the Church there, which was the praiſe of them, whoſe praiſe is in the Goſpell. And now he is in a Church way indeed; and if none will goe along with him, he will goe alone, for he knowes he is in the right touching the ordering his own heart, and his own houſe in a Church way ſure, for he centers all, he has lifted-up his *There is the neglect, the Lord diſcover it to Cities and Countries all the Land over.hand unto, in his own heart, which he makes the center of Reformation, and ſo goes on orderly, he with his houſhold, and then to the houſe of GOD, where, doubtleſſe, he can order things if he be called to it, even in a Church way as in his own houſe, decently and in order: but we looke upon him in his own houſe, where he is a chiefe Parliament man, the chiefe Ruler and Speaker therein; His care is to walke in a Church way there, he walks after inward gratious principles, he ſtrives not after outward priviledges: and ſo his example reproves many in theſe dayes, who neglect their owne houſes altogether, and yet contend for a Church way; A notorious failing, and the leſſe excuſable, becauſe they are ſo forward for a Church way, and goe croſſe to it in their own houſes. This man not ſo he is preciſe and exact in his walking amidſt his houſe, as becommeth a man whoſe vowes are upon him; he fals to his work, and to his proper work, he hath an offic… and he waits upon it: hee knowes his ſtation, and keeps to it; his Relation, and he anſwers it (a man is not good who is not good in his Relation) he walkes in 3 Joh 4.Truth, and he doth faithfully whatever he doth to them within, or thoſe without, to brethren or to ſtrangers; If he ruleth, he doth it ver. 5.with diligence, and with tenderneſſe, reſpecting not his but their good, whom he is ſet over, not yours but you, his ſtanding Rule. Rom. 12. 8.Whatever his relation is, he ſtands bowing himſelfe to it, and to anſwer it fully; if a Father, a faithfull father; if a maſter, a faithfull maſter; if a ſervant, as ſure enough he is, how high ſoever he is in the world, a faithfull ſervant; he giveth all diligence, he uſeth all faithfulneſſe; The ſumme is, he ſeeks not his own (as all doe, and ſo all goes to ruine) but the things, which are JESƲS CHRISTS cPhil. 2. 22.he ſtands like a ſtock holding the ballance, which way the publike. weigheth he goes; his thoughts cannot ſtoope any other way; he is in his houſe as the ſhip Admirall to the other ſhips, he carries the lanthorno, he ſhines before his children, and ſervants, converſing gratiouſly with, and before them, holding out a light unto them by his converſation amidſt of them.
But what ſervice does he for the publike? A great deale; no one man in the world more than he, becauſe he is ſo much at home, and where ever he is, communing ſtill with his own heart; he is a great enemie to GODS enemies, the rebels now in the Land: But a greater enemie, if greater may be, to the Rebellion in his own heart, or that he meets with from thoſe God has made him Ruler over, and chiefe Over-ſeer; The Rebellion there vexeth him moſt, for that, he knowes, grieveth the Spirit of his God moſt of all. Therfore his chiefe care is now to ſearch his owne tent, his heart, his houſe; knowing very well, that if there he any ſtop in the Churches victories, the cauſe is, ſome accurſed things not diſcovered in the Churches Tents. And this he would have wiſely conſidered-on by the Commanders in chiefe and Leaders after them, and by every common ſouldier that followes them. That their chiefe enmitie might be exerciſed againſt that enmity which is in their own hearts and tents, againſt God and His pure Worſhip: That they would contend moſt eagerly againſt the Rebellions there, for this will give the cleareſt teſtimony, whether their hatred of Rebels, and this (higheſt) Rebellion now in the land, be a right hatred; and whether the deſire of having the land purged of them be a right deſire. If a Mans ſpirit be not moſt lifted-up with indignation againſt the Rebellions in his own heart, whether thoughts or idols there; his boaſtings are vaine, and his attempts likely to be as vaine, touching the caſting-forth the Rebels out of the land. This is the way this good Souldier takes, his complaints are moſt againſt the rebellions within doores; and as his chiefe hatred is againſt them, ſo alſo his chiefe hatred, and firſt-borne of his ſtrength is againſt this or that, which is an offence to his GOD, and to caſt that out, and ſo he becomes a very publike perſon, a good part of the Kingdomes Militia, as the Chariots of Iſrael and the horſemen thereof, as was ſaid. Indeed he is all for the Publike, and no body for himſelfe; but yet, that it may fare well with the Publike, he deales and communes moſt with himſelfe, and his own heart, the rebellions there troubles him moſt; and if there be a diſcomfiture given to the Armies of the Lamb, or a check to the proceedings in the Church-affaires, and her concernments, he thinkes verily the rebellions within cauſed all this, Iſraels tents were not well ſearched, the accurſed thing is not found out, therefore this man prieth and ſpyeth moſt at home; and is not ſo deſirous to have the plagues removed (the ſword, famine, pestilence, Ezek. 14. 21.noyſome beaſts) as thoſe ſins removed, which fourbiſhed the ſword of God and Man, let looſe thoſe beaſts, gave them a commiſſion, and bade them ſlay and not ſpare, [Sa…bath-breaking, ſtrange vanities before the eyes, idols in the heart, daughters of a ſtrange god, the bloud of the innocent ſhed; and not required, bearing with thoſe that are evill, which a good Church cannot doe bRev. 2. ….;] theſe he would have removed. A wofull mercy to have a judgement removed from a land, and the ſin that brought it in to continue upon it. It is not a remove, it is but an exchange of a lighter judgement for an heavier; as it was with Sodome, the Sword was removed, Abraham delivered them from that, but fire from Heaven conſumed them after-wards, becauſe (that ſin) continued and encreaſed in them to a greater ſlame, ſo as they were conſumed in a proportionable puniſhment, fire from Heaven conſumed them, and their citie, who were conſumed in the fire of their own luſts: If ſin, which cauſeth the judgement be not removed, there can be no remove of a Judgement, but an exchange only, and for the worſe ever, and more grievous to the body; or which is worſt of all, the judgement may be taken off from the body, and layed upon the heart and ſoule, and that is a judgement indeed, the neareſt on earth to the ſuburbs of hell; blindneſſe of mind, hardneſſe of heart: ſo as men commit ſin with greedineſſe, and are paſt feeling, can pretend a care of grieved conſciences, when their own are ſeared with an hot iron, and as hard as the nether Milſtone. I conclude, This man prayeth, Remove the judgement, good LORD, from off the Nation: but in mercy, remove our ſins firſt, elſe a worſe thing followes, which GOD forbid. We have ſeene what this man is at home in his Cloſet, and amidſt his houſhold; what abroad in the world; what in his private houſe; what in the houſe of God; what he is for his private wealth, what for the Common; he is good at all times, in all places; doe's good to all, what he can doe, hurt to none, though in the power of his hand ſo to doe: he proſpers in all things, for his ſoul proſpen, and ſo he would have all to proſper. Amen.