(1) As often before, so especially more eminently, and frequently, since this Parliament began. Nov. 3. 1640. first in making way for it, yea in commanding it again even beyond our expectations, after it was once dissolved, and the Sun of our hopes as instrumentall seemed to be set, and in removing, what might impede the continuance of it for the future. Secondly, in preserving Parliament, City, and Kingdome, from utter ruine ever since: notwithstanding all the hostill power, Machiavilian policy, Achitophelian counsell abroad, and secret plots, and subtile and crafty under­minings at home. Look backe to the demanding of the five honourable Members after an hostile man­ner, &c. Jan. 4. 1641. The preserving of Hull, and that notwithstaning Sir John Hothams since proving treacherous, &c. The great victory at Edge-hill, Octob. 22. 1643. Nowberry, Nampwich, where Byron with that bloudy, barbarous, and cruell enemy, had a very great defeate, and was utterly touted, and where besides other remarkeable passages, there were taken an hundred and twenty Irish women with long Skeans. And so I might passe on, but for a more exact relation of these and others, see that List lately printed of the many victories under his Excellency the Earle of Essex, &c. and his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax.

(2) When God is rebuilding our houses, then we should hasten especially to build his house Hag. 1. 4. Those many and great victories vouchsafed of late call for, yea impose this charge on those espe­cially, it most concernes, so much the more to hasten the preparing and finishing his habitation, Ezra 1, 2. The more he doth for the Kingdome, the more should be done in and for his Church, &c.

(3) A man of warre, Hebr. ish milchama, vir belli, Nomen viri hic cum adjectione nihil, aliud sig­nificat quam praestantiam virtutis qua Deo tribuitur, & vicem habet adjectivi quasi, quis diceret, bellator fortis, animosus, praestantissimus aut magnanimus, a most excellent warriour.

(4) Fearefull in prayses, Hebr. Nora tehilloth, terribilis laudibus, terrible in prayses, Jun. re­verendus, quasi maxima reverentia landandus: we should feare when we prayse him, because we cannot prayse him as is meete, His glorious name is exalted above all prayse and blessing. Neh. 9. 5. or, who by thy excellent and famous workes causest thy selfe to be feared.

(5) Severall times, and in severall places, as at Edge-hill, Namptwich, Marston Moore neare Yorke, but especially at Naseby. Tolluntur in altum ut lapsu graviore cadant. And how suddenly did that blazing Comet in the North, which seemed to portend such direfull things, when at highest, fall down to the earth, and was troden under foot? I meane Montrosse and his Confederates, O how marvellous, how seasonable, how sudden, was that turn of things, Sept. 16. 1645. a time never to be forgotten, in which our Brethren had as it were a resurrection from the dead, Micah 7. 8. rejoyce not, &c. and ver. 10, &c.

(6) Vnto God the Lord belong the issues from death, or goings out from death. How often have our brethren in severall parts of this Kingdome of late been in the very valley of the shadow of death, and there seemed to be no issue, nor passage out, nor escaping, yet the God who keepes all the wayes and passages, that lead out from death, hath opened them, let them out thereat, and delivered them. We might see the truth of this wonderfully confirmed formely in 88, when the enemy had (as it were) environed this Island with (as they call'd it) an invincible Armado. In the fifth of Novem­ber remember, who could then have let us out of death, had not the Lord himself unto whom belong the issues from death, &c. So more lately and most especially, at the Towne of Lyme so long be­sieged, and as it were surrounded: and that by such a formidable Army, stormed twelve severall times, and much of the Towneburnt, and yet let out from death. So likewise at Taunton, Glocester, Marston Moore, &c. it was apparently seene, that unto God the Lord alone, and not to our ene­mies belong the issues from death.

(7) Neither power, nor policy, neither strength, nor stratagems, nor all the wisedome and craftinesse of man, can stand before the Wisedome, and Power of God, Prov. 21. 30. He breakes their power, and takes them in their craftinesse, yea he turnes their crafts and politique counsels a­gainst themselves; He destroyes them not only in their, counsels, but by their counsels; makes their own weapons wound them. This hath been a visible truth, and frequently obvious in these our dayes, so that he who runnes may read it in the Booke of Gods wonderfull providences of late. Thus the Lord comes to be knowne by the judgement which he executes, the wicked is snared in the worke of his owne hands, Higgaion Selah, rem meditandam summe, Jun: Marke and meditate, Psal. 9. 6.

(8) How many hidden things of darkenesse in these few yeares hath the God of glory been plea­sed to bring to light, and those horrid designes which lay so low under ground, and were carried on in such a clandestine way, hath he discovered and made visible before the Sun, and manifest in the eyes of all: (To give you onely one hint) the discovery of the plot, contrived by Waller, Tompkins, Challener, &c. The surprizing that Cabinet of letters at Naseby, & many other letters intercepted both before & since. The Irish Cabinet taken in the carriages of the Archbishop of Tuam, &c. Job 12. 22. He discovereth deepe things out of darkenesse, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. Jun: rem abstrusissi­mam, That which is most secret and seemes to be buried in eternall ignorance, Hallelujah.

(*) Who shall let? This in a speciall manner appeared at Lyme; The Lord preserving that poore people there against Prince Maurice, and all that formidable Army, notwithstanding so long a siege, and storming the same at least 12. severall times and burning much of the town: yet after all they could doe, this potent and formidable Army being, mouldred (as it were) quite away was forced to raise their fiege, and to return with shame of face, as once Senacherib, 2 Chron. 32. 21. Here the bower of the mighty men were broken. And they that stumbled were girt with strength, 1 Sam. 2. 4. Halle lujah.

(9) In the glory of his power, goodnesse, and mercy in inabling such a poore people to withstand so many long Sieges, and fierce assaults of a potent enemy, and in sending them reliefe seve­rall times still so seasonably, and raising the siege wh [...]n in extremest distresse. How hath the Lord there, as also at Lyme, Glocester, Naseby, &c. shewed his people the power of his workes, He sent redemp­tion to his people: He hath made his wonderfull workes so honourable and glorious for ever to be remembred: The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, Hallelujah. Psal. 111. 4. 6. &c.

(10) Where after the surrendring of Bristol. His Majesty in Person with all his formidable Army drawne off from thence, and other garrisons, did lye in siege at least a moneth, and yet could not prevaile, but upon his Excellency the Earle of Essex with the City forces approach withdrew, and after had a very great defeate at Newberry never to be forgotten: where the City brigade did most honourable and gallant service. By strength shall no man prevaile: O for ever let it be remembred what our condition was at the surrendring of Bristoll, and how gloriously and graciously the Lord then wrought for us when no Army in the field. We have seene the goings, even the going, of thee our God, and our King: Thy wonderfull gracious providence in inabling that garrison so long to hold out at such a time abroade, and in preserving the City and other places at home. Digitus hic Dei. Hallelujah.

(11) See a List lately printed of the victories obtained under the Command of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, containing 120, besides a list before that of the victories obtained under the Com­mand of his Excellency the Earle of Essex containing 175. in all 295. These are most worthy our reading, due observing, as also ever reserving by us, Psal. 40. 5. Many are the wonderfull workes O Lord our God which thou hast done &c. Our meditation of thee shall be sweete, we will be glad in the Lord, Psal. 104. 34.

(12) Take onely one instance, and that long agoe, to omit later which are very many, which my selfe observed, when our forces lay in siege before Yorke, 1644 and Prince Ruperts, and the Mar­quesse of Newcastles Armies, with all the scumme of Lancashire, both Atheists and Papists, were combined and gathered together, and ready to engage with our forces. That weeke their was extraordi­nary seeking to God by fasting and prayer in the City. There were at least four dayes set apart in publique. And at the closure of the last, w [...]ich was kept in Milke-streete being Friday, came joyfull newes of that wonderfull overthrow given to that cruell and bloud-thirsty enemy at Maston Moore, which was so much the more welcome newes, because our hearts were sadded a little before at the report of our siege being raised before Yorke. But God turned all for the b [...]st: and indeede there were many remarkeable passages in that victory, (as there have been likewise in others) which deserve to be written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond, and to be graved upon the table of our hearts, and that one was none of the least remarkeable, that it being the counsell of many of their chiefe Commanders to have marcht into the associated Counties, it pleased the Lord (unto whom for ever be the prayse) to frustrate that counsell; because he had a purpose of bring evill upon that Popish Arm: there being slaine there of them on the place 4500. and taken 1500. 2 Sam. 17. 14. And Absolom and all the men of Israel said. The counsell of Hushai the A [...]chite is better then the counsell of A chi­rophell: for the Lord had appointed to defeate the good counsell of Achitophell, (wicked in it selfe) but good ( i. e. wise and effectuall for the attaining Absoloms end) to the intent that the Lord might bring evill upon Absolom. Psal. 65. 1, 2. Praise waiteth for thee O God in Sion, and unto thee shall the vow be performed. O thou that bearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. Exod. 17. 11. And it came to passe, that when Moses held up his hand that Israel prevailed.