HAving understood, that you have of late been much con­versant in seeking the Lord, in this day of distress, and enquiring (as becomes you) into the causes of his dis­pleasure against us (which seems to wax hot) all which if perfor­med in a right sence, observing right rules and ends, may be of singular use to help in time of need. Yet knowing the aptness of my own with others hearts to miscarry in such duties, and thereby miss of the desired success, by either setting up the stum­bling-block of our iniquity before our eyes, or having any secret regard thereto in our hearts, the effect of which is to shut out prayer; I held it my duty to contribute my mite to this work of weight, by presenting you with a president once famous a­mongst us, by the success the Lord crown'd it with, and us in that path, in a day of very great distress round about: and desire that so far as you shall see this practise here presented, with the me­thod [Page 2]therein observed, to agree with the revealed will of God contained in the Scripture, relating to the duty of his people, in such a posture, that you will not be affraid to make it your pa­tern, since the Lord hath formerly born such a witness to it, and written such blessing upon it, as may well be set up as a Pillar of remembrance in the midst of us, to his praise, as well as our di­rection to, and in like duties in future streights.

In the year 47. you may remember, we in the Army were en­gaged in actions of a very high nature, leading us to very untro­den paths, both in our contests with the then Parliament, as also conferences with the King; in which great works wanting a spirit of faith, and the fear of the Lord, and also unduly surprized with the fear of man, which alwaies brings a snare; we, to make haste, as we thought, out of such perplexities, measuring our way by a wisdom of our own, fell into Treaties with the King and his party; which proved such a snare to us, and led into such labyrinths by the end of that year, that the very things we thought to avoid, by the means we used of our own devising, were all, with many more of a far worse and more per­plexing nature, brought back upon us, to the overwhelming our spirits, weakning our hands and hearts, filling us with divisions, confusions, tumults and every evil work, and thereby endangering the ruine of that blessed cause we had with such success been pro­spered in till this time: for now the King and his party, seeing us not answer their ends, began to provide for themselves, by a Treaty with the then Parliament, set on foot about the beginning of 48. The Parliament also was at the same time highly dis­pleased with us, for what we had done, both as to the King and themselves; the good people likewise, even our most cordial friends in the Nation, beholding our turning aside from that path of simplicity we had formerly walkt (and been blest) in, and thereby much endeared to their hearts, began now to fear and withdraw their affections from us in this politick path into which we had stept, and walkt in, to our hurt, the year before. And as a farther fruit of the waies of our own backsliding hearts, we were also filled with a spirit of great jealousie and divisions amongst our selves, having left that wisdom of the word, that is first pure, and then peaceable, that we were now fit for little but to tear and rend one another, and thereby prepare our selves, and the work in our hands, to be ruined by the common Enemy, as [Page 3]these that were ready to say, as many others of like spirit in this day, of the like sad occasions amongst us, Lo, this is the day, we looked for. The King and his party prepare accordingly to ruine all, by suddain insurrections in most parts of the Nation; the Scot concurring with the same designs, comes in with a potent Army under Duke Hamilton. We in the Army in a low, weak, divided, perplext condition in all respects, as aforesaid, some of us judging it a duty to lay down Arms, and quit our stations, putting our selves into the capacities of private men, since what we had done, or was yet in our hearts to do, tending as we judg­ed to the good of these poor Nations, was not accepted by them.

Some also encouraging themselves and us to such a thing, by urging for such a practice the example of our Lord Jesus, who when he had born an eminent Testimony, to the pleasure of his Father, in an active way, sealed to it at last by his sufferings; which was presented to us as our patern for imitation.

Others of us were different minded, thinking somthing of another nature might be farther yet our duty, and therefore were by joynt advice, by a good hand of the Lord led to this re­sult, viz. to go solemnly to search out (and humble our souls be­fore the Lord in the sence of) our iniquities, which we were perswaded had provoked the Lord against us, to bring such sad perplexities upon us, as at that day, out of which we saw no way else to extricate our selves.

Accordingly we did agree to meet at Windsore Castle, about the beginning of 48. and there spent one day together in Pray­er, inquiring into the causes of that sad dispensation. Coming to no farther result that day, but that it was still our duty to seek; and on the morrow we met again in the morning, where many spake from the Word, and Prayed; and the then Lieutenant-Ge­neral Cromwell did press very earnestly, on all there present, to a thorough consideration of our actions as an Army, as well as our waies particularly, as private Christians, to see if any iniquity could be found in them; and what it was, that if possible we might find out, and so remove the cause of such sad rebukes, as were upon us by reason of our iniquities, as we judged at that time. And the way more particularly the Lord led us to herein, was to look back, and consider what time it was that we could with joynt satisfaction, say to the best of our Judgements, the [Page 4]presence of the Lord was amongst us, and rebukes and judge­ments were not as then upon us. Which time the Lord led us joyntly to find out and agree in; and having done so, to proceed, as we then judged it our duty, to search into all our publick acti­ons as an Army; afterwards duly weighing (as the Lord helpt us) each of them, with their Grounds, Rules and Ends, as neer as we could; and so concluded this second day with agreeing to meet again on the morrow: which we accordingly did, upon the same occasion, reassuming the consideration of our debates the day be­fore, and reviewing our actions again; by which means we were by a gracious hand of the Lord led to find out the very steps (as we were then all joyntly convinc'd) by which we had departed from the Lord, & provoked him to depart from us; which we found to be those cursed carnal conferences, our own wisdom, fears, and want of faith, had prompted us the year before, to entertain with the King and his party. And at this time, and on this oc­casion, did the then Major Goff (as I remember was his title) make use of that good word, Prov. 1.23, Turn you at my re­proof, &c. which (we having found out our sin) he urged as our duty from those words, and the Lord so accompanied by his Spirit, that it had a kindly effect, like a word of his, upon most of our hearts that were then present; which begot in us great sence, shame, and loathing our selves for our iniquities, and justifying the Lord as righteous in his proceedings against us: and in this path the Lord led us not only to see our sin, but also our duty; and this so unanimously set with vveight upon each heart, that none vvas able hardly to speak a vvord to each other for bitter vveeping, partly in the sense and shame of our iniquities of unbe­lief, base fear of men, and carnal consultations, (as the fruit thereof) vvith our ovvn vvisdoms, and not vvith the vvord of the Lord, vvhich only is a vvay of vvisdom, strength and safety, and all besides it vvaies of snares: and yet vvere also helpt vvith fear and trembling, to rejoyce in the Lord, vvhose faithfulness and loving kindness vve vvere made to see yet fail'd us not; but re­membred us still, even in our lovv estate, because his mercy en­dures for ever. Who no sooner brought us to his feet, ac­knovvledging him in that vvay of his, viz. searching for, being ashamed of, and vvilling to turn from our iniquities, but he did di­rect our steps, and presently we vvere led, and helpt to a cleer a­greement amongst our selves, not any dissenting, that it vvas the [Page 5]duty of our day, with the forces we had, to go out and fight against those potent enemies, which that year in all places appeared a­gainst us, with an humble confidence in the name of the Lord only, that we should destroy them; also enabling us then, after se­rious seeking his face, to come to a very cleer and joynt resolu­tion, on many grounds at large then debated amongst us, that it was our duty, if ever the Lord brought us back again in peace, to call Charles Stuart, that man of bloud, to an account, for that bloud he had shed, and mischief he had done, to his utmost, against the Lords cause and people in these poor Nations: and how the Lord led and prospered us in all our undertakings this year, in this way, cutting his work short in righteousness, making it a year of mercy equal, if not transcendent to any since these Wars be­gan, and making it worthy of remembrance by every gracious soul, who was wife to observe the Lord and the operations of his hands; I wish may never beforgotten; bringing us together a­gain, from all parts shortly after, with admiration; each ones heart as it were filled with the wonders beheld, and occasion given to all to say each to other, Lo, what hath God wrought! the Kings Armies in all places broken, his strong holds most of them taken: he himself all that time treating with the then Parliament, and both of them desirous to conclude; yet by an over-ruling Providence hindred, and the King so infatuated, as he stands disputing Punctilio's till he loses all, and himself with it, and is fetcht away from his place of Treaty to a Prison, in order to execution, which suddenly followed accordingly; and all this done within less then three quarters of a year, even to asto­nishment of our selves, and other beholders both at home and abroad; yea our very enemies then were made to say, God was amongst us of a truth, and therefore they could not stand a­gainst us.

But alas, who would have thought that so few years would have worn out the memory of such a not-to-be-forgotten mercy, or that any of those that then saw his works, and sang his praise, should so soon forget what their eyes had seen, as not to wait for his faithful counsel in future streights! Yet behold, how some di­rectly, and others consequentially are now saying, All these things were but the product of a potent politick partie flusht with success; and others, though more modest & moderate, yet it's to be feared, in too eager a pursuit of falling in with, or fear of [Page 6]being hurt by what is uppermost, if not timely complying, at once in the lump adventure to cry up absolute obedience to the powers that are, though thereby they condemn themselves and others, as transgressors and rebels for opposing those that were; together with the whole series of action made glorious by Gods appearances with us, beyond parallel of any late years: and thus doth the name and works of the Lord suffer (as Christ of old) between these two, who almost equally, though not alike intentionally, rob the Lord of his glory, and give great occasion to the worst of our enemies the more to blaspheme.

This is the brief, yet true account of this matter, with the blessed effects of it, as a manifestation of the Lords inclination & disposition to poor returners; who is still the same, because he hath said, and will perform it, as in Jer. 29.12, 13. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me and finde me, when ye shall search for me with all your hearts. And I have a little hope that this precious patern, thus presented, may not be with­out some use to you in this day, if the Lord lead your hearts rightly to consider it. That vve are a poor broken, divided, intan­gled, bevvildered people in our publick affairs; none but they that are very great strangers in our Israel can be ignorant: for vvho hath known and observed former daies, when the Candle of the Lord shin'd on our Tabernacles, by the light of which we walkt thorough darkness, and shall compare those daies with these four or five years past, can look upon them without a heart deeply affected, to think vvhat once we vvere (vvhen vve fol­lovved the Lord, though in a land that vvas not sovvn, vvhen vve vvere a more plain simple-hearted people, yet prospered by the Lord to the terrour of enemies abroad and at home, through an eminent presence of God vvith us) and vvhat novv vve are, since we have turned aside into the carnal, empty, formal shews of the Nations, admiring, (and acting by) their Policies, and say­ing a confederacy with them, fearing their fear, and not sancti­fying the Lord in a way of believing: how are we become the tail, and not the head, a hissing, yea, a scorn to the basest of Nati­ons! what rebukes at Sea, at Land! what disappointments of enterprizes! what stroaks on many formerly eminent publick in­struments! what impoverishing of these poors Nations, by decay of Trade in all parts, to the ruine of many! what sore visi­tations, [Page 7]and of long continuance on the Nations thoroughout, by deaths, and lingering pining diseases! Yea, what heart-di­vidings are amongst those that have been as one stick together, used in the hand of the Lord, in his works of wonder in the midst of us, and thereby endangering the whole interest we have fought for, into the hands of such as are known enemies, or at best have been but faint friends to it and us, in daies of distress? And are not all these things worth considering and en­quiring into, by every gracious heart, with the causes of them? for sure the Lord afflicts not without cause, nor grieves not the sons of men willingly.

And would you inquire aright, pursue the method laid down in the Case presented; inquire when could you with joynt sa­tisfaction, say, At such a time the presence of the Lord was with you; and these sore hands of displeasure that have of late years attended you, were not upon you, nor works in your hands as now. And if you can but find that, let me advise and beseech you, as you tender the delivery of your own souls, and good of these Nations, weigh action by action since, and see where you have gone out of that prosperous path you were formerly in, and fear not to look into any action you are or may be concer­ned to look into, in which you think evil may be at the botom; for that remaining, will cause greater shakings then the most strict enquiry you make can do: and consider what as an Army you have done, with the grounds of it, and what you have en­gaged before God, Angels and Men to do; and either, if it be your sin, make your repentance as publick as your evil hath been, and so clear your selves; or else up and be doing, what­ever you judge your duty, in the face of whatever difficulties you meet with; and in that path doubt not of Gods being with you, while you are with him: but if you will neither pursue your duties in one respect or other, know of a certain, the Lord who is a jealous God, will not be mockt by any that is not stronger then he, but will be above men, and make them know, he will be so in those things in which they deal most proudly, and deliverance shall arise some other way, with sore rebuke to you, for your shameful neglects of duty in such a work of weight which you have been entrusted with, and must ere long be called to an account how you have discharged it.

Alas, may we not say, & shall we be afraid to say, We, our Rulers, [Page 8]Prophets, Armies, People have sin'd; yea, have grievously depar­ted from the Lord, and help nor healing is not to be had, but in re­turning from what evil soever is in our hands or hearts? It is not Power, nor Policy, nor Forraign confederacies; 'tis not Pray­ers, though frequent, or seemingly fervent, no, though attended with tears and confessions, without thorough forsakings, will be a path of safety for us, Isa. 58. No, the voice of the Lord is plain to Rulers, Armies, People, Thus saith the Lord, Consider your waies: Why do we labour in the fire for very vanity? Why is wisdom hid from the Prudent? Why do we sow much in pray­ers, tears, confessions and hazardous undertakings at home and abroad, and bring in little, and what we get is as it were put in­to a bag with holes, and the Lord in a way of rebuke seems to blow upon it? is it not that we should consider our waies! Oh search and try, yea call in the help of God and good men in this, to see if there be any way of iniquity in your hearts or hands, and clear your selves of it, with manifesting most indignati­on against it. And for your help herein, if it may be, let me humbly caution you to take heed of advising only with such that may be most pleasing to you; self-love is apt in such cases to blind much: yea, or with such only or chiefly, that are or may be un­der the influencing power of profitable imployments, steer'd by the favours, or fear of the frowns of Rulers; but rather with such who have been persons of known integrity, and ancient constant friends to the good old cause of God, and their Country, in all its vicissitudes and lowest ebbs; not Shimei-like cursing and deser­ting in a day of distress, and changing their Languages when it tended to the change of their conditions, for outward advan­tage; but such as have not been pleased with their highest, most profitablest promotions and preferments, when they could not see the cause of God and their Country promoted also; and let not those names of odium, of dissatisfied, &c. (that they have been clothed with, the better to answer the evil designs of some) affright you in this matter: and if you dare thus pursue duty in this path of simplicity presented to you, without setting up the stumbling-block of any your iniquities before you, I am perswa­ded (not without many demonstrable grounds producible from the word) you will find it a path of peace, through the Lords blessing it; and you, in the sincere applying to it, will be directed and led to grounds more cleerly laid, for an unanimous, vigorous [Page 9]prosecution of the old dying cause, by its best and truest friends, then hitherto you have found; or at least will find it effectual to the rescue of your own souls out of paths of danger, which for want of pondering according to the Word, you may be walking in to your great hurt. And therefore, let me beseech you in all sincerity, as you tender your own, and these poor Nations wel­fare, apply to it with speed. For your betaking your selves to any other courses, will prove fruitless as aforesaid; for the Lord hath smitten, and only can heal; and if ever he do, he will do it in this way, Hos. 5. If what I have proposed, prove any way advantagious to the ends for which it is offer'd, viz. to cause you to search, try, and turn from the evil of your ways; I have my end, and let the Lord have glory: but if this poor means, in much faithfulness and tenderness presented to you, be rejected or slighted by you; I shall, I hope, be inabled to mourn in secret for you before the Lord: and shall have this sa­tisfaction, when I shall come to lye down in the dust, which how soon it maybe I know not, that I have in some measure de­livered my own soul, and endeavour'd the like for yours; and shall earnestly entreat the Lord, that this poor word of warning amongst many others in this day presented to you, may not one day meet you, as a witness against you, for not regarding it: for I am well assured it shall live, speak, and have its fruit, when you and I shall cease to be.