HAving by the providence of God Almightie, and in his presence, in obedience to the Order and au­thoritie of both Houses of Parliament, The Introducti­on. taken the Solemne League and Covenant, for Reformation and defence of Religion, the honour and happi­nesse of the King, and the Peace and safetie of the Kingdomes of England, Scotland, and Ireland, I have (since my first and second taking thereof) seriously, and severall times consi­dered my particular engagement thereby both to God and to men; and have therefore resolved to discharge my conscience and duty, to the uttermost of my abilitie, in so great and necessarie a Work. And to that end, at this time, I am bold in all humility to bring the generall cryes and complaints of the people to the eares of the sage Senators, and Patriots of these times, the great Steers-men and Pilots to the Common-Weale of the three Kingdomes.

We use to say of Kings, that they heare by other mens eares, see by other mens eyes, and act by other mens hands. The same (I conceive) may be said of great men and grand Councells: not that other men are wiser then they, to teach or to instruct them in dutie, but to informe them what men doe and act, and leave the rest to their wisedomes: For, in our proverb we use to say, The stander by sees more then the Gamster; Poore mens in­formation not to be despised. so the wandering eare and eye heares and sees more then the fixed actor: Paul had not knowne the wicked conspiracie of those Jewes, who bound themselves by an oath to kill him, if he had not received informati­on [Page 2] by a Young-man Act. 23. 16 his Sisters son: 2 King. [...]. 3▪ 4. Naaman the Syrian had not known the Prophet Elisha, if he had not been told of him by his servants, and they by a poore captive Maid; nor had vers. 13. Naaman beene cured of his Leprosie, if he had not hearkned to the voyce of his servants: my selfe, a free borne man; a subject to the King, and servant to the great Councell of the Kingdome, pre­sume (though uncalled) to discharge my conscience to God, and my dutie to men; resolving (as Ester 4. 16. Ester) If I perish I perish, I have alreadie cast in my two mites into the treasurie, and have yet one handfull of goats haire, which I freely bring to the building of Gods Tabernacle: Pilot nor Steers-man I am none, but ra­ther a despised one sitting on the top of the mast. If thence I may discover and prevent a danger, I have my end, acceptance is my reward; however, Eccle. 11. c. I shall not with-hold to sow my seed in the morn­ing and in the evening, but know not which shall prosper, this or that, or whether both shall be alike good.

I know that all things in everie course are guided by divine providence, God by provi­dence guideth all things. nor can any thing be altered by humane power or wisedome, Eccle. 3. 14. whatsoeevr God doth it shall be for ever; but I also know, that God hath appoynted the time and meanes, when, and how everie worke shall be established; and my endeavour shall not be wanting as a meanes, in my place and calling to accomplish Gods Worke; God had appoynted the Amorites to be destroyed, yet he had set a time, in which the measure of Gen. 15. 16. their iniquitie should be made full: he had appoynted that Israel should serve and be afflicted in Aegypt, but the time was set how long; and when that time was expired, Exod. 12. 14. even the selfe same day they were delive­red from their bondage: The meanes by which they were delive­red was also appoynted, and so ordered by the Almightie, and his ever-working providence, that their deliverance was so glorious, that manie Aegyptians, and of other nations then in Aegypt, see­ing the great and mightie workes of God in Aegypt, became Jewes, and joyned themselves with the people of God; and a mixt multitude, saith the text, Exod. 12. 38. went up with them out of Aegypt.

Now this mixt multitude did not joyne themselves with the Iewes, Man of the world joyne themselves with the godly for carnall re­spects. in zeale to their Religion, nor in love to their God Ieho­vah; but for carnall respects, they seeing the wonders that God had wrought in Aegypt for his peoples deliverance, joyned themselves [Page 3] with the Iewes, in hope of outward safetie and prosperitie: there­fore as soone as they came into the wildernesse, and were but a little proved by hard travell, through a barren desert, they grew discontented with their condition, and fell to murmur against God, and against Moses: The Numb. 11 4. mixt multitude (saith Moses) that were among the people fell a lusting; they lusted after carnall contents, & despaired of Gods power and promise, saying, who shal give us flesh to eate? As if they should have said, we shall dye, and be destroyed, and neither God, nor this Moses, can provide for us, either against hunger, or the enemie: Therefore they look back to Aegypt, and say, vers. 5. We remember the fish we did eate in Aegypt freely, the Cucumbers, the Melons, the Leekes, Onions, Garlicke, Evill exam­ples corrupt many. &c. Now by the example of this mixt multitude, these ingrate murmuters the Israelites were stirred up to murmur too, and joyned with this godlesse multitude to mutinie against Moses, and so procured a curse upon themselves in stead of a blessing.

Such mixt multitudes are joyned with the people of God at this day, and for the verie same ends and doe likewise cause murmu­ring & mutinie against God, and against the Parliament, and holy Assemblie; both which God hath called together, and established as he did Moses, and Aaron, for the deliverance of his people from bondage.

But the railings of these mungrell mixt companie are but as the railings of 2 Sam. 16. 6 7. Shimei, or like the murmurings of Numb. 26. 2. 3. Korah and his rebellious companie; nor is their condition much unlike his, Marke 5. 3. 4. whose dwelling is said to be among the tombs: for they, like him, are possessed with uncleane spirits, nor can any man tame them, they speake proud things, and Psal. 12. 3. will have no Lord to rule over them; to whom I say no more; Jud. 9. b [...]t the Lord rebuke them. These are in the gall of bitternesse, Act. 8. 2 [...]. they run in the way of Baal­am for reward and shall perish in the gain saying of Jud 11. [...] Korah.

But besides these wicked men, The cryes and complaints of all good m [...]n ought to be heard in all [...]ust causes. sons of Belial, there are other complainers, more grievous, and more considerable; and these have filled mine eares from all places and parts of the Kingdome with cryes against oppression, and hard task-mast [...]rs set over them, whether it ariseth from the evill example of those sons of Belial▪ or from their owne lusts, or out of any sensible feeling of their owne sense by unjust oppression; or whether [Page 4] from all these, I will not dispute: But the complainings are like, as in the daye [...] of Ely; when his sons were wicked, and caused the people to 1 Sam. 2. [...]. 17. abhorre the offerings of the Lord, and as in the time when the sons of good Samuel judged Israel, and were 2 Sam. 8. [...]. [...]. given to Lucre, and tooke bribes to pervert judgement, and caused the peo­ple to sinne in asking for a King; but that sin in the people was pardoned.

The Complainers in our times are of all rankes, Two sorts of men that com­plaine. callings, and degrees; I divide them all into two sorts: they are either carnall men, such as were Israelites by name Rom. 9. 8. according to the flesh; or regenerate men, sons Luk. 23. 5 [...]. according to promise, such as wait for the kingdom of God: For we know there have ever been two sorts of men in the Church of God, good and bad; there were true and false Israelites, there are regenerate and unregenerate; the ex­amples of all times prove it: In the first age, there was a Gen. 4. Cain, as well as an Abel; In the next there was a Gen. 9. Cham, as well as a Shem; and afterward there was an Gen. 22. Ismael, as well as an Isaack; and an Esau, as well as a Iacob; there was also a Saul, as well as a David; and among the Apostles, a Iudas, as wel as a Peter: & in the Primitive times there was a 2 Tim. [...]. Demas, and an Alexander, &c. Sacred Scripture tells us, that Rom. 9. 7. the seed of Abraham are not all children; our Saviour Christ compares the Church to Mat. 13. 30. 47. a net cast into the Sea, that gathereth of everie kind; and Mat. 13. 12. to a Field, in which growes Corne and Tares; to a threshing floore, in which is wheat and Chaffe: There have beene, there are, and there ever will be in the Church Militant, good and bad; some Joh. 2: 19. in the Church that are not of the Church: they are not all Rom. [...]. 6. Israel, saith the Apostle, that are of Israel.

Now these two sorts of men are of different aff [...]ctions, The different aimes and ends which men pro­pound to them­selves, cause differences. and have different Aymes, of what ranke soever they be: for some are rich, some poore; some Noble, some Ignoble; some command, some are commanded; some Divines, some Lay-men: yet both these two sorts of men looke for some enjoyment of the promise, onely they mis-apply the promise of God: the carnall man applies it to his carnall ends; the regenerate man to spirituall ends; the one seekes happinesse in this life, the other in the life to come; and drives at Gods glorie here, from whom he expects glorie hereafter: you shall see an example in Iacob and Esau; Esau, as a son, expected a blessing; but it was but a temporall blessing, and [Page 5] this he earnestly sought, for Heb. 12, 17. it cost him teares: It is evident he sought but this temporall blessing, because hee preferred his appetite to carnall things, above and before his birth-right, which was Sacred; and therefore is called Heb. 12. 16. prophane, for selling it; he counted the benefit of his birth-right to extend no further then to the things of this life: But Jacob waited for a future hap­pinesse, and accounted the promise to himselfe, and to his posteri­tie, in a spirituall sense: And therefore, when he had obtained the blessing, he forsooke all present rights, left all the temporall sub­stance of his fathers house to his brother Esau, and willingly cast himselfe upon Gods providence, resting upon the promise, that God would be his God.

Thus it too ofen falleth out, The ground of emulations. that in Families, and Kingdomes, from these two different affections, and judgements, there ariseth differences and dissentions; and hence commeth great complaints, murmurings, and emulations among men, about the present dis­posing, and event of things: and because they have different aimes, they use different meanes, to attaine those ends; and ma­nie times indirect meanes are used by the one, and by the other, to accomplish their desire. Thus it was in Jacobs family (which was then the visible Church) Esau selleth his birth-right, Examples of both sorts. and all the priviledges belonging to it, to satisfie his present appetite; Iacob waited for the future, and expected the promise to be made good in due time, for faith makes not haste; but by Rebeccahs counsell he was drawne to use indirect meanes to get it, for which they both smarted; for it was the cause of affliction to him, [...]nd to his mo­ther Gen. 28. 5 Rebeccah, so much as banishment each from other, all the dayes of Rebeccahs life; yet divine providence ordered everie thing to the accomplishing of the promise, as God ordered the envie of Gen. 45. 7 Iosephs brethren to their future good, and preservati­on of their families.

You shall see, that as soone as Hazael heard the Prophet say, that [...]he should be King over Syria; 2 King. 8. 13. Hazael presently plots a­ny wicked meanes to attaine the Kingdome, and therefore mur­dered the King his master, that he might presently enjoy it: so to satifie the covetous desire of oppressing 1 King. 21 15. Ahab, by Iesabels counsell he possessed Naboths Vineyard by blood, and did it under pretence of holinesse, and justice: because men live more by sense then by faith, they rather seeke carnall things then spirituall, and [Page 6] use any indirect and wicked meanes to attaine their end. Hence it commeth that when God is breaking down what he hath built up, even this whole Land, and Kingdome; that now at this time, Jer, 45. 5. men seek great things for themselves, although they have no assu­rance to have so much as their life for a prey.

When Gods oppressings judgements are upon a Land and peo­ple for their oppression, To sinne against Judgement is fearefull. then for men to be oppressors argueth the verie height of obduracie; It is no other, but to Deut. 29. 20. adde drunkennesse to thirst: surely, the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoake against such men, and their names shall be blotted out from under heaven; But truely this is an evill prediction, and is a sad complaint in these times especially times of reformation, as wee all pretend to God; these complainers have cause to be pittied, and the complained have need to be punished, or Gods hand will be stretched out still.

Nor doe I say, All complainers are not to be hear [...]ed to, nor all requests granted. that all complainers in this kind are to be cheri­rished; for there are too many that complaine and murmur with­out just cause; like the Iraelites, they would have all the good that is promised, but would endure nothing for it, either in their per­sons or purses to procure the good they desire: they will be at no labour nor cost for Christ, but like the Luk. 8. 37. Gardarens will rather part with Christ, then their Swine; & like the rebellious Israelites, cry out against God, against Num. 14. 2. Moses and Aaron, and make themselves captaines to goe before them back into Aegypt, to a bondage under which they lately cryed: because they find a little difficultie in the way to the [...] Num. 13. 31. 32. Canaan, or because they re­ceive discouragement by some [...]eleeving Spyes that tell them of the sons of Anak, Gyants in the way, which cannot be over­come; and will not beleeve Num. 14. 10. Moses, Ioshua, nor Caleb, princes of the people, that God Almightie is both able and faithfull to make good his promise to them; but most inexorable the rebelli­ous people cry out, Stone them with stones: what a fearefull condi­tion is this? and yet such are some of our stubborne un-reforming English, in severall Counties of this Kingdome, who stand Neu­ters, will be for neither side, Unworthy acti­ons of Neuter Club-men. and suffer their hearts to lust after Aegypt, after Superstition and Idolatrie: unworthy men, stupid, insensible of Gods displeasure, or their owne miserie. Oh that men would consider what is written by Moses of the Israelites, what was the effect of such murmurings, and wilfull disobedience! [Page 7] Num. 14. 12. God smote them with Pestilence, and they were for ever dis-in­herited, Heb. 12. 11. God sware in his wrath that they should never enter into his rest.

God hath done great things for us; he hath by a mightie hand brought us out of Aegypt, from our heavie burthens, and from the Babyloinish Idolatrie: we are now in the wildernesse, happinesse and glorie is before us; God only proveth us by some little hard­ship by the way, What the dutie is of all inferior men. to humble us, that he may exalt us: Let us be thankfull to God, and let no murmuring be heard amonst us a­gainst men whom God hath made instruments for our good: If all things be not so well managed by men, as they should be, pray to God to amend it, and to remove evill or negligent men from all publike imployment: First, search whether there be not some sin in thy selfe, which thou cherishest, that is the cause of the thing for which thou complainest: and cast it from thee: then, Humbly Importune the Parliament to redresse the evils, and put things right; Judges know not who is wronged, till the complaint come before them; nor can they redresse the evill, till proved by two or three witnesses: If we thus doe, we shall have no cause of any murmuring complaints; for the Parliament will surely do justice: Rom. 13. 4. They are the Ministers of God to us, for our good, &c.

And know, God is now a­bout to set up Jesus Christ on his throns, and to establish the puritie of Reli­gion. that God is now about a greater worke for this Kingdome, and for the world of elect at this time, then only the setling of our temporall freedomes; for assuredly he will make Jesus Christ much more glorious to the world then ever before; and his ordinances shall be set up in their puritie, the truth of Re­ligion shall be established (not changed, as some simple Ignora­muses report) The Parliament is not about to change any thing in Religion, onely to purge out the dregs of Antichristian doctrine, that Christ may be worshipped in puritie, according to the will of God revealed in holy Scripture, and practised in the best refor­med Churches: Gre [...]t wo [...]es mett with great oppositions. The worke is great, and difficult; and we know, great workes have ever met with great oppositions, and much dif­ficulty; these are trying times; Heb. 11. 36 God proves us now, whether we will follow Christ or Antichrist; these are fyrie tryals, such as the Apostle Peter speaks of, which, he saith, 1 Pet. 4. 12 is to try you: When he hath tryed me, Job 23. 10. saith Job, I shall come forth as gold: Jam. 1. 12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tryed, he shall receive the crowne of Life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love [Page 8] him: If we will be blessed live must endure it, and endure it to the end; else there is no promise of blessednesse: he onely Math. 10. 22. that en­dureth to the end shall be saved.

Now give me leave to advise, A Caveat to take heed lest we mistake Christ. and beseech all men, of all ranks and degrees, to consider well, and to take heed that none of us doe now reject Christ as the Iewes did: They looked for the perfor­mance of the promise, that the Messiah should come: but because they were stupid, and fancied that he should come onely to restore their Joh. 6. 15. temporall Kingdome; they fayling of their expectation in that, rejected him when he came to establish the Gospel; & for that sin were rejected by Christ, as we know they yet are to this day.

It will be worth your consideration to consider, that because they so much sought their owne safetie, and doted upon a tempo­rall deliverance, Joh. 11. 50. Joh. 18. 14. God turned that verie meanes which they u­sed to secure themselves, to be their utter ruine: God forbid it should be so with England, yet surely our case is dangerous; for, Math. 12. 25. a kingdome divided against it selfe is brought to desolation.

That the Kingdome is divided, The dangerous Divisions that are in England. I need not tell you; all men see and feele it; the bloudy divisions between the King and his Parliament have already almost brought it to desolation; but there are yet more dangerous divisions then that: If we that are Protestants were but against the Papists, as the Papists are against us, such a divisi­on would make happie Union in the end: But we that are Prote­stants are divided among our selves, in our judgements, or rather fancies; we run after shadowes and leave the substance, we use our liberty to a liberty to sin, to invent & broach new errors, and spend our time to make Proselytes to our selves, & to compasse our own ends: some are Proud, some are Ignorant, some are Ambitious, some are Covetous, some are Prophane, some Treacherous, some Tyrannicall oppressors &c. all seeke their owne ends, but few seek Jesus Christ, nor the good of others: we seek the Goods of others, and our owne good by others ruine. Surely this is cause of com­plaint, and (I conceive) is some ground of those generall com­plaints, that have from everie Countrie come to mine eares.

Now I being bound in conscience, to the uttermost of my en­deavours, to seek the reformation of Religion, the peace & safetie of the Kingdom; I shall with sorow of heart, & in all humble sub­mission, present these 20 complaints of the people, to the view and consideration of the Inhabitants of the Cities and Counties of England, &c. (they are the peoples, not mine.)

[Page 9] 1 First, Twentie seve­rall Complaints common among all sorts of the people related. That the Government and Discipline of the Church is not setled, according to the rule of Gods word, in uniformitie of wor­ship, nor is there a restriction to Sectaries and Schismaticks, but they increase dayly, and grow numerous in all places of the King­dome, to the griefe of the godly and wel-affected; Minister prea­ching against Minister, and one Congregation separating from a­nother; as if Christ, the head of the Church, were divided; or as if there were more Christs then one: hereby the illiterate and un­stable people are either seduced or discouraged, not onely to the disquiet of the Church of God, but to the disturbance of the peace of the Kingdome; insomuch, that men rashly say, they know not what Religion shall be set up, &c.

2 Secondly, That the secret evill councells, that have (or have had) influence upon the Parliament, the Committee of both King­domes, and the Councells of Warre, which have retarded and crossed severall good designes, are not discovered nor questioned; (this I doe but name) it is a generall complaint.

3 Thirdly, That the Nationall Covenant (by the providence of God) Ordered to be taken in all the parts of the Kingdom (with­in the Parliaments power) hath beene much neglected by the Committees of Counties, and in the Universitie; which, besides Gods anger, is some Impediment to the peace of the Church and Kingdome, it being war [...]antable by example in Scripture to urge it, see 2 Chron. 15. 13. Ezra. 10. 5. 8.

4 Fourthly, That the Committees of severall Counties doe tyran­nize over the people, and contrarie to the Ordinances of Parlia­ment, and intention of the Houses, exact Taxations with much rigor and partialitie, to the great discouragement of the people, both Gentlemen and Yeomen, &c. even as in the dayes of Reho­boam, which put the people upon resolutions of setting up a third partie.

5 Fifthly, That manie men of meane qualitie, indigent, unfit, and unexperienced men, have crept into places of greatest com­mand and trust, in severall Counties and Committees; and seve­rall Gentlemen of qualitie, education, knowne abilities, and of undoubted fidelitie, are neglected and contemned, by, &c. it is a cause of division and contention, in Committees, Cities, and Counties.

[Page 10] 6 Sixthly, That men of suspected fidelitie, and of meane conditi­on, and broken fortunes, are authorised to be Solicitors and a­gents in matter of Sequestration; and hence it commeth, that either by their inabilitie to act, or through their corruption in ta­king bribes, a great matter is lost out of Sequestrations which might come into the Kingdoms treasurie, and so ease the Taxes of the well-affected.

7 Seventhly, That persons ill-affected to the Parliament, and in their practise Malignant, are connived at, and by friends or private gratuities, find much more favour in some Committees then the wel-affected, and reall-acting men for the Parliaments service: Some knowne Malignants not Sequestred at all, some have com­pounded at verie easie rates for their whole Estates, and keepe their grounds stockt, live securely, are free from Plunder by the Kings partie, as friends and servants, and from the Parliament by protection, at easie purchase; and yet pay lesse to the weekely Assessements then the Parliaments best friends, who are subject to Plunder by the Kings side, and to free quarter by the Parlia­ments Souldiers: besides severall other inconveniencies which manie of the ill-affected are freed from; to the great discourage­ment, and discontent of the better partie.

8 Eighthly, That too manie pettie Garrisons in some Counties are kept, to the great damage of the Countie, they serving for no other use but to maintaine themselves, which eates up the riches of the Countie, and are no defence at all: The Souldiers exact their full pay, notwithstanding the Enemie receive weekely Contribu­tion round about, even to the walls of the Garrisons, whereas the charge of keeping those Garrisons would maintaine the grand Garrisons much stronger then they are, and also a partie in them, to be spared to goe out upon all occasions of the Enemies incursi­ons to secure the Countrie: and if all those small Garrisons were demolished, the Counties say they might build them againe, at much easier charge then keep them.

9 Ninthly, That the Supernumerarie Officers in the Counties, and thin companies, devour much pay, and doe little service, the common Souldiers being too much neglected and dis-heartned.

10 Tenthly, That the Souldiers of Garrisons in some Counties, who receive constant pay from the County, wherein they Garrison, doe usually take free quarter of the Inhabitants within the same [Page 11] Counties, when they goe out upon any service, and no allowance is given to the oppressed for injuries done, though complaint be made to the Committees, which is a great burthen, and causeth distractions to the prejudice of the publique.

11 Eleventhly, Divers Souldiers being of the Committees, in se­verall Counties, are both parties and Judges, by which justice is obstructed, to the oppression of the people, and their much dis­heartning and discontent, as a thing against the Vote of the house of Commons.

12 Twelfthly, That by the want of Sheriffs in some Counties, and Justices of the peace, to execute their offices according to the law, debts cannot be recovered out of those hands that injuri­ously with-hold the right from the true owners, estates cannot be setled, childrens portions are hazarded, vice is not punished, wic­ked men goe free, and the godly are injured to their great prejudice.

13 Thirteenthl, y That the want of Knights and Burgesses for seve­rall Counties, there being none in the House to make true report to the house of the state and condition of those Counties, they are over-taxed, and severall wayes oppressed, and have no meanes to seeke for redresse, under which burthens they much complaine.

14 Fourteenthly, That Counties oppressed complaining (by the mis-information of some) are delayed in judgement, and by long attendance are put to great expences, and are not relieved, which causeth some men to grow inexorable.

15 Fifteenthly, That bad causes by great friends succeed well, and good causes without friends often miscarrie: This is a grievance, under which the Kingdnme hath groaned manie yeares, and is still a sad and generall complaint.

16 Sixteenthly, That notwithstanding God hath put into the Par­liaments heart, to Ordaine (and to that end, have by Ordinance appoynted) that all such, through whose hands the Kingdomes monyes have past, shall give a just and true accompt thereof what they have received, and to whom, and how they have payd it: and have with great wisedome established a grand Commit­tee of able and just men, and other Sub-Committees For severall Counties for the faithfull discharge of the said service, yet by the power and authoritie of men in place, Committees for Sequestra­tions and other Officers the worke is obstructed, and the Sub-Committees [Page 12] opposed, hindred, and dis-heartened; notwithstanding it is knowne, that great summes of Moneys are concealed, to the prejudice of the publique, which by due accompt might be brought out, to the great benefit of the Kingdome, and would adde much to the satisfaction of all the well affected. That just act and example of the Parliament, in the impartiall accompt given to the King­dome formerly, of all the Moneys received of the Kingdome, and expended for the publique, before this Warre actually began, was so acceptable to the people, that they were encouraged with willing chearefulnesse to put all their substance into the Parliaments trust, for the maintenance of Lawes, Religion, and Priviledges; but now with griefe complaine, that much of the publique Treasure is con­cealed by private men, and that inferiour men, guiltie of the same crime, shall obstruct such an accompt, as the Ordinance of Parlia­ment requires to be made, and justice should exact: those that are the refusers to give such accompt, speake guiltie, though they say nothing.

17 Seventeenthly, That the large summes allowed for salaries to particular men, for easie labours in the service of the publique, doe exhaust much of the Kingdomes Treasure, and conduce onely to private advantage.

18 Eighteenthly, That there is not a perfect purging of Committees, as (by Gods mercie and the wisdome of Parliament) there hath beene a new moulding of the Armies; which is no lesse needfull, and as much desired by all, except those that are parties, and doe oppose it for selfe-ends.

19 Nineteenthly, That men seek honours, and greatnesse, by great and honourable places; they use their places to serve themselves, but give not themselves to serve their places, and the Kingdome; onely so farre as serveth selfe-ends: which is dis-honour to places of honour, and ingratitude for favours and benefits received: so that indulgencie is tyrannized over, Mercie and Judgement is neglected, and the people grow desperate, &c.

20 Twentiethly, That many Souldiers, Commanders, and Officers discarded, both of Gentlemen and men of fortune, (who are clou­ded, as they say, by the aspersions of envie) and are gallant fighting men cordiall to the Parliaments service, and faithfull in their trust, are not lookt upon according (as they conceive) to their deserts: these complaine in discontent, and speake passionate words, to the [Page 13] prejudice of Parliament, and to the rejoycing of the malignant partie; it is my griefe, but their complaint.

Divers other complaints are made by the people, The Authors Impartia [...]ie in dutie. but these may comprehend all; all which I leave to the consideration of all those whom they chiefly concerne: My end is nothing but reconciliation, and reformation; it is but dutie, and I dare not omit it; if I be blamed, it is not because I am guiltie, but because I blame the guiltie: If any such accuse me, my integritie shall defend me; if not, I had rather suffer for dutie, or perish for loyaltie, then to be made great by concealing evill, or doing any unworthie act.

When Pompey was accused by the Romans for robbing the com­mon treasure, he cleared himselfe, by producing the author, and freely confessed how farre he was guiltie; was himselfe acquited of the crime, and was much honour'd by the people. Solon (though he was importuned by the people, refused to take upon him Soveraign authoritie, lest he should be suspected of tyrannie; yet he at that time commanded and ruled all, and afterward wrote these Verses:

Yet notwithstanding he reformed the State, and neither stooped for feare of the great, nor flattered to win the multitude, but sweet­ned all to all sorts, by the rules of reason, mixing sweet with everie soure, and force with justice, &c.

Now having humbly related these generall complaints of the peo­ple, Satisfaction to the complai­ners. I desire (with submission to men of better judgment) to endevour some satisfaction (if possible) to all the complainers: not by giving answer to their particular complaints, for that I cannot doe; I may not either excuse nor accuse: It belongs to publique Justice to hear and to determine, (not to me;) onely by way of informa­tion, thus much I must say in vindication of the Parliament, that in such a time of trouble and distraction, as is at this time through all parts of the Kingdome, the Parliament being necessitated to use many instruments, as servants to them, and to appoynt many Com­mittees, and those Committees manie agents under them, in eve­rie Countie: It hath beene the care of the Parliament to appoynt p [...]ous and just men in all places. (of which there is a necessitie) that all men so imployed in the publique services, might be both pious, and just; It hath been the care and diligence of the Parliament, however it falleth out, that some or manie doe prove otherwise, for men cannot see into [Page 14] the hearts of men, (God onely is the searcher of all hearts) therefore it is possible yea probably true, that the Parliament may be, & are de­ceived in some men, and by some men; a Mat. 7. 15. Wolfe clothed in a sheeps clothing; may be taking to be an innocent sheepe, and by such in­ward Ravening wolves, injustice may be done, oppression, and un­just violence countenanced, and good men may be greatly injured, &c. It hath beene so in former times, and cannot be wholly preven­ted in such times as these, (as anon I shall shew you) though much may be done to stop the violent rage of such oppressors; oppressors are like Monsters with manie heads; if one be strucken off, another comes in his roome: And the Parliament cannot fore-see it in the faces of men, before they be implyed; no more then you the people & Commoners of England could see the hearts & intentions of many of those Knights and Burgesses, which you chose, and sent up to the Parliament; The peoples negligence and irreligious choyce in Knights and Burgesses, hath beene the grea­test cause of their misery & oppressions. who have violated their trust, and perfidiously revol­ted from God, and from their Countrie, to destroy both the Parli­ament, and the people: These have beene the strengthners of the hands of the Enemies, and are the chiefe cause of all oppressions; the originall of all the evils of which you complaine: for without their assistance, things had not come to this passe, the enemie had not been able to doe any thing; nor had the miserie of the Kingdome grown to so great a height, nor of so long continuance. These men whom you trusted, have declared themselves open oppressors, and Enemies to the Kingdome. Now we know what they are, and you see your own faults, which you must mend for the future; nor is it unpossible, nor unlikely, but some remaine yet undiscovered, and act their parts, and your miserie, in another Scene, under a contrarie notion, who knows (like Judas) how to betray with a kisse, and say, Haile Master: for our enemies are not fooles, they would not take all from amongst us, Secret Enemies hurt most. to give counsell against us at Oxford, but would leave some to betray, & pervert counsel in other places: If any such are left in Parliament, they are but there as Judas was among the Apostles: yet these do us the greatest mischief, and most advantage the enemy, (nor is this any new thing, for it is the policie of all States) especi­ally in Counsels, and Armies.

This advantage David made of Hushai's staying with Absolon; Example. 2 Sam. 15. 3 [...]. If thou returne to the Citie (saith hee) and say to Absolon, I will be thy servant, &c. then mayst thou for me defeat the counsell of Achitophel: nor was Hushai alone, for he had also vers. 36. Zadok and Abiachar, to consult with: And these had Ahimaze, and Jonathan, [Page 15] to carrie information to David: this is ordinarie in all States, and without question lawfull, in a just cause, as Davids was, and were in the Parliament to doe the like; but the Enemie is as vigilant as we are carelesse, to prevent it with us.

But that the Enemie hath such Counsellors, and such Intelligen­cers among us, is clearely manifest by the acting of some designes, and retarding others: And Aulicus may be in this evill occurrents a competent witnesse, who is not ashamed publikely to confesse, that they receive dayly intelligence at Oxford from Westminster, and London, and know what is done in their most secret counsells: I am sure they have no 2 King. [...]. 12. Elisha with them, nor have they any Oracle to enquire of.

Nor is it easie (though this be knowne) to have all these evills pre­sently reformed, especially these oppressing evils complained of: For, while War is in a Kingdome, injustice, oppression, violence, injurie, cannot be kept out: That verie Sword which is drawn really to de­fend & to maintain Law, will in some things, at some times breake Law, In the time of a civill Warre, oppression and violence [...] be prevented. such are the evill effects of War; else War were not so great a judgment in a Land: where War rageth, there Ambition is awaken'd, there covetousnes increaseth, there licenciousnes is set at liberty, and violence beareth sway; the yoake of obedience is cast off, the peasant would be a Peere; wicked men get the upper hand, and good men are oppressed and abused; Justice is troden under foot, &c. order is thrust out, and confusion filleth the Kingdome: it is the complaint of Zion▪ the City that God loved: Lam. 5. 1 [...]. 12. Women were ravished in Zion, & Maids in the Cities of Juda, Princes were hanged by the head, & the fa­ces of the Elders were not honoured, &c. Infinite are the miseries & ca­lamities of Warre, beyond my expression; they are dayly written in Characters of blood, and to whom shall we goe for helpe? of whom shall we complain? or where can we have redresse in all these things?

If we complain, we must complain either against God, or against something else: but to complain against God we cannot, for Psal. 145. 17. God is righteous in all his wayes, and holy in all his workes: wicked Phara [...]h acknowledgeth Exod. 9. 27. to Moses, the Lord is righteous: Lam. 3. 33 God doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men: Ezra 9. 13. and he punisheth lesse then our iniquities deserve: And to complaine against men, is but like the Dog, to be angrie at the stone that is throwne at him: For we know, (or should know) that men are but Gods instruments, whe­ther they doe us good or hurt: Shimei curst David, but David knew it was because 2 Sam. [...]. [...]. God had bid Shimei curse: Israel was afflicted by Ja­bin, [Page 16] by Midian, by the Philistims, &c. but it was because Judg. 3. 8. Judg. 3. 3. Judg. 6. 1. All affliction is from God, and for sinne. the Lord had sold them into their hands: they were never afflicted by any peo­ple, but God delivered them up to the enemie; nor were they ever afflicted by any men, or meanes, in their owne Land, but by the hand of God: and God afflicts no man, nor suffers any man to be afflicted, but for sinne; sinne onely is our destroying enemie.

And surely, We have no­thing to com­plaine against, [...]t our sinnes. we have nothing to complaine against, but sinne; if we complaine of wickednesse in men, it is but to complaine of other mens sinnes: if we complaine of their wicked actions, as they are hurtfull to us, they are but Gods ins [...]ruments, to punish us for our sinnes against God; G [...]d useth very wicked men as his instruments to punish the sinnes of his people. for God useth (and that u [...]ually) very wicked men to be his instruments, to afflict his people; he punisheth sinne by sinfull men; that is, when God will punish or afflict a people, or a man, he letteth wicked men loose, to act their owne w [...]ll in wicked­nesse, to imprison, to oppresse, to plunder, to burne Houses, Townes, and to kill and destroy, &c. That men erre in counsell, grow at va­riance, are robbed, wounded, killed, or are betrayed by those they trusted, or spoyled by those they should be preserved; it is all of God, and from God.

It is true, Divisions a­mong m [...]n▪ are just punish­ments of sinne. that divisions among men, in matters of judgement or practise, are occasions of Commotions and Warres &c. yet the effi­cient cause is from God; for, when by sinne men are divided from God, God puts divisions among men: so long as Adam stood re­conciled to God, all the creatures were at peace with him; but when Adam had sinned, the creatures were at variance with him, and a­mong themselves: while Solomon walked with God, God gave him peace with all men; but when Kin. 11. 9 Solomo [...]s heart was turned from God then God was angry with him; vers. 14. 23 and the Lord stirred up Hadad and Rezen to be adversaries to Solomon: you know, that Ashur, and Assyrian, are called Esa. 10. 5. the Rod of Gods anger; their malice, and their weapons, were but Gods indignation; they held the staffe, but God guided the hand: Esa. 45. 7. I the Lord doe all things; God stirred up the spirit of 1 Chro. 5. 26 Pull, and of Tilgath-Pilnesar, &c.

But for your fuller satisfaction, Whence the ground and cause of all di­vision is. give me leave to expatiate my self a little in this thing, that I may fully informe your judgments whence all divisions crosses, & afflictions come, and how they may be recon­ciled; and in this, I shall impart nothing but truth to you: for I meane not (nor is it my Genius) to use disguise, like the woman of 2 Sam. 14. [...]. Tek [...]ah, nor to speake by Tropes; Figures better set forth num­bers then men, or truths; nor can I tell you any thing by way of [Page 17] Prophesie, what shall be▪ or when your miserie shall end, as Elisha did of the Famine in 2 King, 9. 1. Samaria; nor as the Prophet, that told the people, that to morrow the Lord would deliver their enemies into their 1 Chron. 20. 15. hands; for God Almightie doth what he will, and when he will; Times and Seasons are in his owne Acts 1. 7. hands, and not for mortalls to know: but I will truly shew you what God hath done, and what he doth by his all-guiding providence every day; by which you may see and know, who, and what it is that hurteth you; and against that, you have cause onely to complaine: Affliction (saith holy Job 5. 6▪ Job) doth not spring from the dust; it is not from below, but from above. Let mens malice be never so great, their ends never so mischievous and their contrivance never so secret, God rules guides, and disposeth all that they doe: l [...] men purpose what they will, Pro. 16. 33. God disposeth of their purposes, to his owne end; who alwayes useth wicked men as instruments to worke his owne designe, and usually disappointeth them of their owne ayme, which chiefely they intended; for their end is quite contrarie to Gods end.

That God useth all the counsailes and actions of men to his owne purpose, All counsailes▪ are ordered by God. you shall see; God complaineth, that the Ezek 11. 2 Examples. Princes of Israel devised mischiefe, and gave wicked counsaile: God complaineth of the wickednesse of their hearts; but you may see, God makes his owne use of it, and makes that to be a meanes to Verse [...]. bring the sword upon them, which was the thing they feared: againe, you shall see that Is­rael is threatned with the sword, That it shall abide on their Cities and devoure them, because of their owne counsailes; yet God saith of him­selfe, Ier. 19. 7. I will make void the counsailes of Iudah, and Ierusalem, and will cause them to fall by the sword: God complaineth, that the Princes of Zoan are become fooles, and the Princes of Noph are deceived and they seduced others; but (the Text saith) the Esay 19. 13, 14. Lord mingled a perverse spirit in the midst of them: That Rehoboam forsooke the good counsaile of the grave, ancient Counsellor of his father, and fol­lowed 1 King. 12. 13. the counsaile of young men, to oppresse, and tyrannize over his people; it was not by chance: the young men shewed the wic­kednesse of their hearts, and Rehoboams corruption was discovered by it; but God turned it to his owne purpose, as he had before threatned; for the sinne of Solomon, [...] King. 11. 31. to rend the Kingdome out of his hand, and give ten Tribes to Ieroboam: therefore, whatsoever Re­hoboam or his young counsaile intended, God himselfe saith, 1 King. 12 24. This thing is done of me, (or all this is from me.)

But to come more neere to our present businesse, let us apply all [Page 18] this to our selves, The application of things to [...]hese present times. and to these times of trouble, and miserie, and con­sider from whom they are, and why they are come upon us: First, consider they are not from evill Counsailes, from the Bishops, from the Queene, Papists, nor from Rome, nor the Devill, but as they are ordered by God, The Devill is the chiefe in­strument, all [...]icked men are his Agents. for from him they are: It is true, the Devill hath a chiefe hand, as an instrument, but not as a cause; and all wicked men, Papists, and licentious, covetous, cruell, oppressing men, are pettie instruments under the Devill, but all are ordered by God, though their ayme, and end, is quite contrarie to Gods: they ayme at destruction of Protestants, and Protestant Religion; God turnes their wicked ayme to the preservation of both, and to the destructi­on of themselves: their ayme is, to make themselves Monarchs, and the people slaves; God turnes it to the rending of Kingdomes and power out of their hands, and to establish the freedome of his people. Examples. We know, that Labans end, in pursuing of Iacob, was for hurt to Iacob; but God so ordered him, that it was for Gen. 3 [...]. Iacobs good: Esau had his end, in comming out against Iacob; but God orders him to his owne purpose. The Brethren of Ioseph had their end in selling Joseph; they hated him, and sought his destruction: but God turned it Gen. 37. 4. & Gen. 45. 5. to the preservation of Ioseph, and of all Israel. Haman had his end, in setting up a Gallowes; but God turned it to his owne purpose, quite contrarie to Ester 7. 9. Hamans end and intent.

Consider the evill Counsellors of the King; God disappoyn­teth the ends of wicked men. Bishops, Jesuites, Pa­pists, &c. they propounded their end; in all which, God suffered them to goe farre, till they thought they could not be hindred; their Plots were carryed on by degrees, & gradations for at least twenty yeares, visible to our sense; we saw it, and we felt it: but at the period of time, when they thought to have effected all, and were as confident as Ha­man was of his designe against Mordecai, and against the Iewes, then God put a turne to all. Looke back but to these five yeares past, and consider, and you shall see Providence hath wonderfully ordered things against their designe, and for our deliverance, beyond the counsaile or power of men. Was it lesse then a wonder, that God should so order things, that by their preparations into the North with an Armie, we should have a Parliament? It was contrarie to their end: Was it not miraculous, that God so infatuated their counsailes, that they established that Parliament, which now they cannot breake, though many of them have lost their lives in at­tempting it? When Pharoah had let the people goe out from bon­dage, he repented, and pursued with an Armie, to bring them back; [Page 19] but God turned it to his destruction. We have seene what our ene­mies have done against us, and what God hath done for us; what God will doe more at the Red Sea, we know not.

Secondly, [...] Gods end i [...] in afflicting his people, and what is the end w [...]c [...]ed men propound to themselves. Consider why these things are; I have alreadie shewed you, that all differences, all afflictions and troubles, are for sinne: but God, though he use wicked men to b [...] instruments to punish sinfull men and Nations, hath these two ends why he doth it; and that is, to destroy wicked men in their owne wayes, and to humble his people, that they may be delivered by Gods mercie. Wicked men hate the godly, because they are not so wicked, so prophane, and un­godly as they would have them; God afflicts the godly, because they are not so good, so zealous, and so holy, as God commandeth: God chastiseth to humble men, to bring them to repentance and refor­mation; and at this day doth therefore bring all these evils of pu­nishment upon us, because we are an idolatrous, superstitious, luke­warme people; prophane, stiffe-necked and rebellious against God: That by these punishments and chastisements we may be humbled, turne to God, forsake our evill wayes, pray to him, and seek his face; that he may doe us good, destroy our enemies, establish our Religi­on, our Lawes, our Freedomes &c. and make us the happiest people under Heaven, to all posterities.

If so (for this is a truth) then why doe we complaine? There is no cause [...]hy men should com­plaine. Lam. 3. 3 [...]. [...]0. Where­fore shall a living man complaine? shall a man complaine for the pu­nishment of his sinne: no, but Deut. 10. 1 [...]. Let us search and try our wayes, and turne againe to the Lord: This God looketh for▪ this is all he requi­reth of us, for all that he hath done for us▪ and for all that he will doe for us, yet we murmur in all our afflictions, Esay 9. 3. And turne not to the Lord that smiteth us, neither doe we seeke the Lord of hosts.

To this will be objected (for I have heard this objection often) we murmur not against God, Objection. nor for the punishment of our sinnes, nor against the common Enemie, against whom we are willing to ha­zard our lives and fortunes in this just cause; nor doe we complaine against the Parliament, for it is our life and safetie: but we com­plaine of partialitie, injustice, and oppression in particular men, from whom we lookt for justice, and by whom we hoped to be relieved from oppressors hands: these selfe-seeking men make a prey of us, they devoure our estates, (which we freely give in this cause to God, and for our Countrie) to enrich themselves: Amos [...]. 6. They sell the righteous for silver▪ and the poore for a paire of shooes; this is our complaint, and our discouragement.

[Page 20] For fuller satisfaction, Th [...] deliverance out of Aegypt was but a type of the spirituall deliverance by Christ, from sinne & Idola­trie. and information of our judgement, consi­der, (as I said before) God is working a great and new worke in the world, greater then that of the bringing of Israel out of Aegypt, whereof that was but a type or figure; that was temporall, this is spirituall, and is farre transcendent; Ier. 23. 7: So as ye shall no more say, the Lord liveth that brought up the children of Israel out of Aegypt, but the Lord liveth which brought up, and led the seed of the house of Israel out of the North, and from all Countries, &c. the greatest works have ever met with the greatest opposition.

God is now about no lesse worke then to set up Jesus Christ on his Throne, and to pull downe Antichrist from his Stage: Now as God hath his instruments to build, the Devill hath his instruments to breake downe; and as God pulls downe the Stage of Antichrist (on which he acts his Idolatrous Scene) the Devill endeavours to keepe it up: and to that end, sends forth his Agents into the world, 2 Chron. 18, 20. Ezek. 2 [...]. 3. Rev. 16, 13. uncleane and evill spirits to seduce men, to make them his instruments, 1 Tim. 4. 1 who depart from the faith of Christ, and follow after doctrines of Devills; set up Idols in their hearts, and forsake justice and humanitie to imbrace devilish lusts: Now because God will cut Zach. 13. 8 off the name of Idols out of the Land, and cause those evils spirits to passe out from among us; they are so much the more enraged, and bestirre themselves, to hinder Gods worke: as Iannes and Iambres 2 Tim. 3. 8 withstood Moses, so doe these resist the truth, being men of cor­rupt minds.

Thus it is at this day; The Devils malice joyned with the Anti­christian brood. the Devill and his Antichristian brood (as it were) losing their wonted Jurisdiction, readie to be tumbled downe into the place of correction, storme, and stirre up all their Agents, of all sorts, for they have agents for all places; hence it commeth, that our best societies are troubled: Agents of all sorts. they have Agents in the Church, and Agents in the Common-wealth; great Agents for great Coun­sels, to hinder good designes; learned Agents for learned Assem­blyes, to trouble Religious Disputes; Militarie Agents for Militia Consultations, to impoverish the Common-wealth; acting Agents in fighting Armies, to betray Designes; Committee Agents, finely fitted, and inter-weaved into Committees of all Counties, to breed dissention, and to tyrannize; besides numbers of insinuating Agents to pervert, and these have potent Armies to compell.

Now to every one of these (and to many more) the Devill pro­poundeth severall rewards, The Devill hath many baits to deceive and catch men. sutable to every ones naturall disposition and inclination, as baits and incitations to act their parts with dili­gence, [Page 21] which they make their maine end: As for example, to the en­vious man he promiseth revenge, and he makes that his end: to the proud man he promiseth applause and prayse of men, and that's his end: to the voluptuous Libertine he promiseth pleasure, that's his end: to the base and servile he promiseth libertie, and that he makes his end: to the ambitious he promiseth honour and high place, and that's his end: to the covetous man (and he carries the great [...]s [...] stroake) he promiseth profit and riches, and that he seekes after as his chiefe end: and so for others; for the Devill hath a bait to suit with everie [...]ust: for me to take upon me to name them all to you, were beyond my skill, as farre as to number the motes in the Sun, or to measure the wind: It may suffice for your information, and this short Tract; to hint out the truth of things, to shew you the ground and cause of your complaint, Mens [...]usts [...] hyp [...]cris [...]e. which ariseth thus: Evill men thus induced, and drawne by the Devill and their owne lusts, dis­guised under the masque of Hypocrisie, in pretence of zeale to God, and love to the Common-Weale; crowd in among the multitude into the publique service, and fish in troubled waters, to accomplish their severall ends, especially the reward of gaine, which they ex­pect either from the enemie for some acts of Treacherie, in betray­ing us into their hands; or from the Parliament, for some seeming fidelitie and out-side service, or to get it by the spoyle of others, as a thiefe that crowds into a house set on fire, pretending to save that which he intends to steale: from these evills, as from bitter foun­taines, doe flow the great causes of all your complaints.

Nor doth the Devill at one bring men to this height of wicked­nesse, The Devill makes men, wicked by de­grees. for he cannot force any mans will, but workes upon his lusts and bribes with promises, and so carries him on by gradations: as the cowardly Souldier is hardned by degrees; at first comming in­to the field he trembles and shakes at the report of everie Musquet, but after he hath past through a battell or two, and seene a Victory, he is hardned so, as to accompt the bullets whistlings about his eares fine musicke, and dares encounter death at halfe-pike. We know that Solomon at first tooke but one strange wife▪ then two, then more, at last hundreds, or thousands: let the Devill but make one breach in the conscience, hee'l come in like mightie waters, irresi­stable, till he over-flow and drowne both conscience and reason; we say in our proverb, over shooes over bootes, and then, over-head and eares, and all. It is likely, that manie of those men justly com­plained of, intended not so much injustice and oppression (as since [Page 22] they are guiltie of.) When they first entred into the places of Col­lectors, Receivers, Auditors, Committees, Colonels, Captaines, &c. but the love of money, (which the Apostle calls the 1 [...]im 6, 10. root of all evill) which while some coveted after, have carried them violently unto all in­justice: for (saith Solomon) Eccles. 5. [...]0. He that loveth silver shall not be sa­tisfied therewith▪ The oppressed may complaine of his losse▪ but the oppressor will never say he hath enough; the covetous man rusheth into temptations, and snares, and huttfull lusts, 1 Tim. 6. 9. which drowne him in destruction and perdition: the love of money made Numb. [...]. 17. Balaam go to curse the people of God; it made 1 Sam. 22 9. Doeg flatter Saul, and ac­cuse David; for a Kingdome Sam. 15 Absolon will seeke his fathers life) and the hope of the Crowne made Judg. [...]. 2. Abimelech embrew his hands in the blood of threescore and ten of his brethren: and for money Math. 26. 16. Judas will betray his master. What villanie is there in the world to be committed that for the love of mony some men will not rea­dily act? The covetous desire after gaine depraves a man of reason, puts out the light of judgement and understanding.

But most lamentable and dangerous of all is it, to see that the Devill should by this bait induce men, that have taken upon them the profession of Religion, to make shipwrack of faith and good consci­ence 1 Tim. 1. 20., like Hymeneus and Alexander and like 2 Tim. 4. 10. Demas, to love this present world. As there is nothing in the world more excellent then Religion, so no man is so honourable as he that is truely Religious. But there is no evill, No man so vile as an hypocrite either to God or men. so evill and vile as Hypocrisie; nor no man so dishonourable, as he that takes upon him the profession of Religion for by-ends, and for advantage sake; such men are lyers to the ho­ly Ghost, they dishonour God above all sinners, they are a staine to the puritie of Religion, a griefe to all the godly, a stumbling-blocke to the weake, a hardning to ungodly men, and a rejoycing to the e­vill angels: an hypocrite Job 1 [...]. 16. shall not see God; the sentence of wrath upon the worst of sinners, is but Math. 24. [...]1. to have their portion with hy­pocrites: If any man draw back (saith the Apostle) Heb. 10. 38. my soule shall have no pleasure in him: 1 John 2. 1 [...]. They went out from us, but they were not of us, if they had beene of us, they would have continued with us: Math. 13. 2 The thornie ground becomes unfruitfull, and why? because the de­cenfullnesse of riches choake the seed of the word: our Saviour saith, it is a hard thing Math. 19. 20. for a rich man to enter into the Kingdome of bea­v [...]n; but surely it is a harder thing for a covetous rich man to en­ter into the Kingdome of heaven. Many Patriarchs and holy men, were rich men; and divers of them had their slips, saylings, and [Page 23] sins, which in Scripture are recorded for our admonitions; but (that I can find in all the Scripture) there is not one example of one holyman that was an oppressor or a covetous man. Certainly the Devil cannot do so great a mischiefe in the world as to procure a wicked worldling to take upon him to be a profess [...]r of Religion; The Devill [...] greater mis­chiefe then to make a wicked worldling to be a professor of Religion. for (besides all other evills▪ he calls reproach upon God, and upon Religion by his god­lesse actions, more then all Devils or wicked men can doe. God saith of 2 Sam. 12. 14. David, for one sinne committed by him, that he had gi­ven occasion to the enemies of God to blaspheme: and the Apostle Paul saith of such men, that Rom. 2. 24 boasted of the Law, and yet by breaking of the law dishonoured God; that the name of God is blasphemed of the Gentiles through them.

Neither is any of all this without God, Gods hand is in all: Amos 3. 6. Shall there be evill in the Citie, and I have not done it? there is no evill of punishment befalls any man, but it is from God; but all the evill of sinne is from the actor of it, and from the Devill, whose agents wic­ked men are: it is true, that God useth wicked men to afflict his people, Wicked man act for the Devill. but they act for Satan and their wicked ends, in all the sinne they commit; onely God maketh use of them to afflict his people, for chastisements of sinne sometimes, and sometimes for tryalls of their faith: Zach. 13. [...] There is a refining fire through which a third part must passe; and in the end God will destroy wicked men, for that in which they have afflicted his people, They are simi­ted by God. and will blast all their designes, let them have never so great hopes for the effecting of them; for Job [...]. 14. God will cut off the hope of wicked men, their trust shall be as a Spiders Web: Gods will and purpose is unchangeable; Pro. 19. [...] Esay [...]. There are many devices in mans heart (saith Solomon) neverthelesse the counsaile of the Lord, that shall stand. Our Saviour Christ tells Pilot, that hee Joh. 19. 11 could have no power, except it were given him from above: Nor did the Acts 4. 2 [...] Rulers of the people, Jewes nor Gentiles, any thing [...] all that they did against Christ, but what was appoyted by the determinate counsaile of God. Therefore there is no cause why any (man staring God) should be discouraged at any thing that befalleth them, to their persons or estates, Between [...] seed of the bond woman and the seed of the free woman, there will ever be contentions. while they walke in the wayes of godlinesse and honestie: for, where there is a Iacob and an Esan there will be strivings, and while their seed remaines upon the earth there will be emulations and injuries; one will be for God, and another for the world: and hence it is, if you observe, and consider well, that there was never any Reformation in the world, by turning to God [Page 24] from sinne and Idolatrie, but it met with great oppositions, and bloud.

Consider, No reformation without blood. the very Covenant with Abraham was signed with bloud; the Israelites came not out of Aegypt, without bloud; Ido­latrie was at no time ejected, in the times of all the Judges of Israel, but by bloud. Examples. When Hezekiah had destroyed Idolatrie, presently Senacherib sought to destroy him and his people: when Asa made a Covenant to seeke God and reformed his Kingdome, Baasha King of Israel made warre against him. The great reformation, after the 70 yeares Captivitie, was mightily opposed, from the first beginning of it till it was wholly finished, and continually hindred by false Ac­cufations, by subtill Counsels, and pretended Treaties, and by open Violence. The promulgation of the Gospel was opposed from the beginning, and continued all the Primitive times, with bloudie Per­fecutions. The Reformation from the darknesse of Poperie, in Luthers time, was opposed by bloudie disturbance to all Christian Churches. The Reformation that was begun by King Edward, was opposed with fire and sword: and in the Reigne of Queene Elizabeth (of blessed memorie) it was opposed by continued Conspiracies, and open Hostilitie, with effusion of much bloud, especially in Ireland; and can it be expected, that it should be now finished without bloud?

If the beginning of this Reformation by King Edward and Queene Elizabeth cost much bloud, it must needs be expected, that the per­fecting of that Reformation now, The Antichri­stian br [...]d have been many yeares plotting against us. must cost much more bloud; if we will but consider the Devils malice, the potencie of our enemies, their long time in plotting against us, the combination of all sorts of wicked men, united in One against Reformation, Iesuites, Papists, Atheists, Libertines, &c. Hell and Earth have made a Confederacie, and raysed all their Powers, at home and from abroad, to binder it, and to destroy us, by fained authoritie, and by the power of their Sword; besides, the Devill hath secret agents, like himselfe, temp­ters, that are undiscoveted among us who infuse Poyson, and hinder Antidotes: And thus God will have it for a time, and then wee shall call upon his Name, Zach. 13. 9. and he will heare us, and will say, You are my people, and wee shall say, the Lord is our God; but wee are not yet readie for such a Blessing.

Consider, that our long continuance in sinnes for many yeares, notwithstanding many warnings, hath provoked God to lay long [Page 25] afflictions upon us; The former sins of this King­dome, and our present impent­tencie, cause our long afflictions. and our present impenitencie, and continuance in personall sinnes, doe still encrease Gods anger against us We [...] make peace with our sinnes, and fall out one with another; writ God be at peace with us, while we are divided one against another; God is a God of Peace, 1 Joh. 4. 16. not of divisions▪ God is a God of Love, not of 1 Cor, 14. 33. confusion: if we love not one another God will nor love us, nor can wee be Joh, 13 35 Joh. 14. 47. the Disciples of Christ. Doe wee now seeke to make our selves a Name on Earth, and to get great Jer. 45. 5. things to our selves, while God is plucking up, and breaking downe what hee hath planted, and built up? Is this to build God an House, and a Sanctuarie of Holinesse? God now calls us to Esay 22. 12. 13. mourning, to weeping, and to girding with sack-cloth, and shall we now be proud, and ambitious, and covetous, and oppressors; and voluptuous? &c. God forbid: this is the way and meanes, to be Esay 9. 14. cut off head and tayle branch and rush, in one day.

When God by Moses commanded to build the Tabernacle, The builders of Gods house have ever been of one mind. the Exod. 3 [...]. &c. people were all willing hearted, of one mind, aymed at one end, all were pleased with the fashion that Moses had prescribed; so, when [...] King. [...]. Solomon built the first Temple, and when Nehe [...] 18 Nehemiah built the second Temple; but when the people would build a Babel, they were divided, and they were scattered; Gen. [...]1 4 Let us build, say they, lest we be scattered, &c. vers. 7. 8. Let us goe downe (saith Iehovah) that they may be scattered, &c. Gods thoughts are not as our thoughts; when wee seeke safetie in our selves God will bring confusion. The Builders of Babel were confounded in their Lan­guage, and so scattered▪ wee are confounded in our ends, our de­vices, and fashions of the Building; one thus another thus▪ a third after another fancie; all would be pleased but none will be satisfied: she that contends 1 King. [...]. 16. to divide the Child, is no true Mother: if we seeke to divide Christ, we are not 1 Cor. 1. [...] 12. members; if we be divided a­mong our selves, Christ is not our Ephes, [...]. 15. 16. Head.

Consider all ye, the inhabitants of England, Have we not all One Father, Joh. [...]. [...]. God? Have we not One Mediator; 1 Tim 2. 5 Christ? And is not Christ and the Father Joh. 8. [...] One? Must there not be One Sheepfold and One Joh. 10. [...] Shepheard? Hath not Christ prayed, to the Father, that we may be One, as they are One, Joh. [...] 2. that the world might beleeve? And yet shall wee divide our selves? Wee are not our owne, but Christs; 1 Cor. 6. 20. He hath bought us with a price. And shall wee thus Deut [...]. 6. requite the Lord?.

[Page 26] Besides, We should con­sider what great things God hath done for us by this Parlia­ment? Consider what God hath done for us▪ wee were sold to our enemies, to be destroyed, but God hath saved us; wee were in extreme bondage, but God delivered us: wee cryed for a Par­liament, and God hath given us a Parliament, and not onely a Parliament (as our enemies plotted and hoped) to destroy us, but a delivering Parliament, a Religious Reforming Parliament; for (so indeed it is) the bent and sense of this Parliament, is to set us free, and to reforme things amisse both in the Church and in the Common-wealth: God hath given us a Parliament miraculously, like Moses, to give us good Lawes; and God hath given to them as to Moses, a holy Assembly, like an Maron, to helpe forward the worke of God. What could wee have asked of God, that God hath not given unto us? Wee cryed out against the encrease and growth of Idolatrie among us, and God hath taken it away: wee cryed out against Superstition, and a Popish Liturgie, and God hath freed us of all: wee cryed for freedome in the use of holy Ordinances, and God gave it us.

Many other burthens and pressures, under which wee lay, God hath freed us from, It is our owne fault that we want any thing. by this Parliament; if yet wee lye under any pressure, it is our owne faults, because wee are un­thankfull to God for all hee hath done, and remaine still im­penitent, under such personall sinnes for which God was, and is still angry with us: so that indeed, and in truth, wee have nothing to complaine of, but of our sinnes, Jer. 5. 25. which have with-holden good things from us; and trouble the Parliament in the progresse of the worke, of our full deliverance. Wee all desire peace, to enjoy the blessings wee have, and yet wee contend and warre one against another; but wee seeke not for gracious hearts, to be humble, and thankfull to God for what hee hath done for us: but wee, like Jesurum, Deut. 32. 15. wax fat, and kick. God hath given us more then wee could aske, and wee grow wanton; wee loath the food of Angels, the Psal. 78. 2 [...]. Manna that i [...] given us from Heaven, and lightly esteeme of (Christ) the Exod. 6. 14. Rock of our Sal­vation.

With how much lesse would wee have beene contented within the space of seven yeares past, then wee now enjoy? (except the Warres, which our sinnes hold up) and yet wee are lesse contented now, then when wee had not the twentieth part of that wee now enjoy; and might have yet more, if wee would humbly aske it of [Page 27] God, or accept it from God: but wee will doe neither, so ingrate and evill wee are. Wee complaine of oppression, and yet wee en­crease it, by our contention and quarrels: wee would have peace, but wee encrease strife: wee would have the worship of God setled, but wee oppose God in the way and meanes that hee hath appointed to settle it: wee will not have Moses nor Aaron to be any Rule to us, wee say, they take too much upon them, Num. 16. 3. and all the Lords people are holy, &c.

Nothing will content us, We seek to bring Gods word to our fancies, not to have our judgements guided by Gods word. but what wee our selves (or rather our fancies) shall choose; wee will wear [...] no Coat but what is shap'd by our selves, nor will wee forsake any sinne, but what wee our selves will call sinne: every one will have his owne way, to worship God; and every one will have his owne sinne, to dishonour God; what is this but confusion? shall we call this a building of God a house? when one calls for a Stone, another brings him a Mattock; when another wants Mortar, a Maule is put into his hand; one cals for Bricks, and an Axe is given to him; one builds▪ and another beats downe; but Jer. 8. 6. no man repents of his wickednesse, saying what have I done? We strive one to goe before another in places of honour, but we will neither goe before, nor follow after in the way of honourable humiliation: All sinnes doe raigne in some men at this day and are increa­sed. where is one man among a thousand through all the Families of England, that is a reall truely reformed man? Is not the proud as proud as ever? witnesse gay clothes, rich attire, strange fashions, patcht faces, curld haire, loftie carriage, &c. Is the covetous man lesse covetous? doth he not adore his bags as much as ever? over-reach in bargai­ning, spare more then is right, and everie way Jer. 15. 5. seeke great things for himself: Is not the ambitious man as greedie of honours as ever he was? doth he not seek honours and greatnesse by vitious wayes? and despise him that shall be said to be his equall? I would [...] God it were not thus; Consider it, Is the oppressor lesse cruell? or is he not more violent in oppressing then ever? doe not oppressors every where, in everie place, of all degrees, Esay 3. 15. grinde the faces of the poore without mercie, and beat the people to peeces? I know it hath beene said by some▪ get their money, and let them starve or hang, &c. I wish men could prove me a lyer in this thing, and that there were no such, oppressor: Is the voluptuous man lesse given to his appe­tite, and to all sinfull pleasures, or lesse profuse in unnecessarie va­nities? What pleasure is there that he forbeareth, that he is able to [Page 26] [...] [Page 27] [...] [Page 28] compasse? wherein doth he restraine himselfe (except for want of money?) doth he not seeke after all varieties, after everie kick­shaw, and toy, and the ver [...]e fulnesse of Sodome? In like manner, doth the drunkard drinke fewer hea [...]ths? goe more nights sober to bed? doth he sweare fewer Oathes? or use lesse obscenitie then he was wont? Nor is the luke-warme Formalist more zealous, but still the same that he ever was, except such zeale as is by the Apostle condemned, Rom. 10. 1. that is not according to knowledge; or rather, are not men of knowledge, such as have formerly been zealous for God in a right way, Rev. 2. 4. Fallen from their first love? Are there not many such, that seeke to bring in new and strange doctrines into the Church? like the doctrine of Rev. 2. 14. 15. Balaam, and the Nicholaitans, and are a stumbling block to Gods people; and say of themselves; like some in the Prophet Esay's time, Esay 65. 5 Come not neere to me, for I am holier then thou.

It is true, everie one will say sinne aboundeth, and it is for sinne that God hath layd all this upon us; but we looke at other mens sinnes, Men looke at the sinnes of others, not at their owne. not our owne: either spirituall pride or carnall securitie hath blinded the eyes of the most of all English people, so that few lay his owne sinne to heart, or at least afflict his soule, because by his sinne he hath dishonoured God: but my Christian brethren, if we would have all cleane, we must everie one sweep his owne door, everic one must cleanse his owne heart.

Then be exhorted, everie one of all degrees, from the Prince to the Peasant; Exhortation to repentance, and to refor­mation. high and low, rich and poore, & If you love your lives, if you desire Gods favour, and blessings to your selves; If you love your Families, if you love your children, if you have any love to the Kingdome, or to the Church of God; yea, if you love your owne soules, or love Jesus Christ, that hath bought you by his owne blood, Lam. 3. 40 Search and try your wayes; 2 Cor. 13. 5. examine your owne sins, and turn with all your heart unto God: Resolve everie one for himself, and for his Family, as good Joshuah did; Iosh. 24. 15. Chuse ye (saith he) whom yee will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord: Except we thus doe, and everie one of us mend one, we may all perish as the Israelites did; and God will fayse a people to himselfe out of our dust: let no man looke who shall be­ginne, but rather everie man strive who shall be first, that he may bee an example to others, and hee shall have greatest honour.

[Page 29] Besides, Exhortation to liberall contri­bution God loo [...] [...]. let every man with all diligence helpe forward Gods work by liberal & large contribution, according as God hath made him able: the enemy; wicked men have drawn their sword to star the righ­teous, P [...]a. 7. 1. and have taken counsell together against the Lord Christ: Psal. 2. 2. Now God requireth a help with hand and estate: Mero [...] was cursed because they helped not. Iudg. [...] He that is not now for Christ, must expect the same reward with them that are against Christ: Math. [...]2. [...]0. be not di [...]con [...]ged at any miscarriages, it is God that doth all: doe thou what God would have thee, and leave the issue to God: give freely, for that onely is acceptable: God delighteth in a cheer [...]f [...]ll give [...], 2 Cor. 9. 7. but God accepteth no forced duty▪ obedience is more acceptable the [...] Sa [...]rifice, 1 Sam. 15. 22. Consider, that when those sons of Bel [...]al of the tribe of Ben [...]am [...], that wrought villany in Israel, were refused to be given up to the ustice of the Law, the other tribes of Israel made war against Benjamin (and by Gods own appointment, as you may fee in the story, Iudg. 19. & Iudg 20. &c. all the tribe of Rev [...]mine defended those wicked men and came ont to batted, gave their brethren two great defeats: but at the third, they were wholly destroyed. And you shall see that after the Tribes of Israel returned from the battel, they made en­quiry who of all the Tribes were not there to assist them, and they found that none of Iabish, Giliad were there, and for that neglect sent and destroyed them all. Iudg. 20. 9, 10. Also you shall see that for this ve­ry neglect in Nabal, Read the story. refusing to rel [...]eve David (in the same case that ours is at this day) he was by the hand of God struck with death, & God gave to David his Wife and all his substance. Sam. 25. 3 [...], 3 [...].

And as every one must give freely, so let all those that are Colle­ctors and receivers of moneyes, take heed that they deale truly and justly, He that keepes any thing that is given, is a r [...]bber of God. without fraud, and keep nothing backe, for it is the Lords offering; will a man rob God? yet ye have robbed me in offering, [...] the Lord: Mal. [...]. 8. but consider what followeth? ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have robbed me, even this whole Nation. Verse [...]. Annanias & Sa­phirah were both stricken dead for keeping backe but part of that which themselves intended to give: Acts 5. 3. and shall it not faire much worse with them that keep back that which others give to God and the Kingdome. Let the covetous man also leave his covetousnesse and become liberall, and give to them that want: Let the oppressor take heed that he oppresse not: especially oppresse not the affl [...]cted in the gate, for God will plead their cause, and spoyle the soule of those that spoyled them. Prov. 22. 23. Oppression is a crying sin, and God will heare it. Iam. 5. 4. Oppression (saith the wise man) maketh a wise man mad, Eccl. 7. 7. it drives [Page 28] [...] [Page 29] [...] [Page 30] him violently to a damning sinne, and then it torments the wound is most intollerable, where the sense is most perfect, therefore let every wise man abhor it. A wise man that will be an oppressor, destroy­eth his wisedome and himselfe: Nor let the ambitious man seek af­ter honour, but strive to be humble, seeke God and his glory, and God will make him honourable. 1 Sam. 2. 30. Let all those that are souldiers be carefull to follow the precept given them by Iesus Christ. Do vio­lence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wa­ges. Lu. 3. 14 In like manner let them that are seduced in judgment seek peace and unity, and follow the exhortation of the Apostle: Speake all the same thing, that there may be no division among you, but that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same minde and in the same judgment 1 Cor. 1. 10. And let all that are injured or oppressed, consider the necessity of the times, and multiplicity of great businesses, and patiently bear all that God layeth upon them, and commit the revenge of every injury done by men to God Deut. 32. 35. who will not despise us: Only let the injured or oppressed complain in righteousnesse, & justly to the Parliament, Those that are unjustly injured may and ought to complain to the Parlia­ment. of those that unjustly injure them (and no doubt) the Parliament wil right them, for they are appointed by God to punish all injustice, & will assuredly in due time, both chastise the oppres­sor, and relieve the oppressed: Therefore murmur not, nor (as ma­ny doe) repine that the Parliament doth no more, and that things go on so slowly, but rather admire (for so indeed we may all) that so muth is done as is at this day, and that so great a progresse is made to Reformation, and blesse God for it. Consider the mighty and many oppositions they every day meete with, both open and secret.

Now in the last place, Exhortation to keep the Cove­nant, else wee shal provoke God to more & greater wrath. let me entreat (or rather beseech) all you my Brethren, that have entered into the League and Covenant in the presence of God, with your hands lift up to heaven, that you will seriously looke over your Covenant often, and consider to what you have bound your selves, and take heed lest you neglect any duty promised, or doe any act contrary to the Covenant. For God, who is faithfull in all his Covenants, expects faithfull performance from us: Examples. God is as just as he is mercifull, if he have not performance, hee will take the forfiture. Solomon by the breach of his Covenant with God, lost ten Tribes, which God rent from his Kingdome. 1 Ki. 10. 1 [...]. Saul brake Covenant with the Gibeonites, and God sent a Famine in the Land for that sin. 2 Sam. 21. 1. Cursed (saith the Lord) be the man that obey­eth not the voyce of this Covenant: Ier. 11. 3. Those that sweare falsely in [Page 31] making a Covenant do cause jvdgment to spring up as Hem. locke in the surrows of the field. Hos. 10. 4. God hath threatned to send the sword to a­venge the quarrel of his Covenant, & to send pestilence and famine. Levit. 26. 25, 26.

Consider, wee have entered into a brotherly Covenant with our neighbouring Kingdom of Scotland, and they with us, and wee are now become Brethren; not enemies, (as in times past) this is a great mercy from heaven: We have cause to blesse God for them, & they to blesse God for us: And if we keepe our Covenant one with the o­ther, God will blesse both us and them to all posterities: But if wee remember not our brotherly Covenant, God will kindle a fire among us, Amos 1. and bring judgments upon us to devour us; therefore take heed of harkning to (much lesse believing) any false calumnious reports, (raised by a self-seeking faction) against our Brethren of that King­dome; we know there is a Hereditary, or inherent emulation be­tween some Counties of England, and the Scottish Nation, who are yet ignorant of the blessing by so happy a union: and wee know there are particular contentious men for self ends, are uncharitable in their judgment and censures of them (our Brethren) & of their actions: They seek to stir up strife; Let their sin lye upon their owne heads, but let not us partake with them in their sinne, but as Chri­stians admonish them and reprove them with meekenesse. A wrath­full man (saith Solomon) stirreth up strife. Pro. 15. 18. And as coales are to bur­ning coales, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife. Prov. 26. 21. That saying of Solomon is worth consideration: A froward man (saith he) soweth strife and division: That is, he plotteth to make it grow to a crop; in seeming to cast it away, he maketh it increase seven times more and greater: And a whisperer, saith he, seperateth chiefe friends. It is a dangerous sin to break a Covenant with a hea­then man, much greater to breake with a Brother; Read for this purpose, Ier. 34. 18, 19, 20. verses. And I will give those men that have broken my Covenant, and have not kept the words of the Covenant, which they had made before me, when they cut the Calfe in twaine, and passed between the parts thereof: The Princes of Iudah and the Princes of Ierusalem, the Euruches, and the Priests, and all the people of the Land, which passed between the parts of the Calfe: I will even give them into the hands of their enemies and into the hands of them that seek their l [...]fe: and their dead bodies shall be for meate unto the foules of the hea­ven and to the beasts of the earth.

And to them that have not yet entered into Covenant, I say it is our duty to doe it: God and the Kingdome [...]all upon you to doe it, [Page 32] [...] [Page 32] it is your danger that you do it not, and may prove your ruine that you stand against it. Therefore (as I love your soules) I exhort you to come in specility: that God requireth it of you; stead Deut. Chap. 26. verse 10. 11. 12, &c. I [...] you with [...]ly [...] to joyne your selves with the s [...]ed of Iacob, shame shall cover you, and you are in danger to be out off for ever; Read, Chadiah, 10, 11, 12, 13. verses.

Consider what I have said and the Lord give every m [...]n understan­ding in all things, 2 Tim. 2. And incline their hearts to walke humbly, and with perfect hearts before God, not seeking their own ends, nor doing their own works: but that we may all seeke Gods glory, and doe the work of God, as faithful servants to him, submitting to his will against our own [...]udgments, and deying our selves, that wee may give all to God, from whom we have all, and wait with pati­ence Gods time. If thus we do, let me perish if God destroy not all our enemies, and make the deliverance of this Kingdom most glori­ous, and us of one minde and one heart: That wee the Brethren of both Kingdomes shall be one, as we have Covenanted one with a­nother. And as the Lord Iehovah hath promised: I will give them one heart and one way that they may feare me for euer, for the good of them, and for their Childr [...]n after them: And I will make an everla­sting Covenant with them, &c. Which the Lord grant, for the Lord Christ his sake. Ier. 32. 9▪ 10.