CRY OF BLOO● AND OF A BROKEN COVENAN● 〈◊〉 out at first upon the sad Relation o● late sovereign's most treacherous an● inhuman murder. Most humbly dedicated, and (then) purposed to have been Published and Presented to the Kings most Excellent majesty, if so Providence had dispensed. And now, how late soever, 〈◊〉 all obstructions being removed adventured upon his majesty's gracious acceptance and favour of all herein concerned: To remain (at least) as a standing testimony to posterity, of the Authors conceived sense of duty, in Conscience to GOD, and allegiance to lawful sovereignty. By Sir WILLIAM Mock of Rowallane Knight. EDINBURGH, 〈◊〉 by the He●●●s of GEORGE A●●●RSON, 1650. TO THE royal majesty OF K. CHARLES THE II. KING of great Britain, France and Ireland, &c. FRee access (Sir) the Muses plead. Repute This boldness, as conceived to contribute By Strong desires, that while all eyes observe Your Motions, famished hopes no more may starve. God and your kingdoms Call. The set time's come For Christ, in your Dominions to make room. Beside our Violated marriage-band, Blood cries for vengeance, 'gainst the traitorous hand Of impious parricides. To plead the last, And act for proper intr●sts, Christ's o'erpast, Or judged but next in Order, (as a way Preposterous) your designs endanger may. Go to, Brave Prince; by heavens thy Heart be gained, Sealed for the Work, that (surety thus obtained) Thy hand attesting, Thine, in truth's defence Thy standard may attend, with confidence. This Solstice breeds amazement: How all eyes Wait till thou mount thy Coach and climb the skies, That Influence and virtue, issueing thence Inferior Bodies, brought again to sense, Long in the general death detained, may see Day once more dawn, renewed by light from Thee. Weigh with delays the consequences feared, Remembering, that attempts which scarce have dared Peep forth at first for their deformity, Have gained, upon acquaintance of the eye. And when to ripeness and full strength attained, Smiles have alike and frowns been entertained. THE CRY of BLOOD, AND OF A BROKEN COVENANT. WHat horrid Actings force unwilling ears With worst of news? do fancies and fond fears Mock troubled minds? or doth a real blow For preface pass to Albion's overthrow? Have parricides, professing brotherhood, The traitorous murder of late King, most justly to laid to heart, and duly scented. Put hand in CAESAR? shed his royal blood, Low in the dust this Islands Glory laid? And, at one stroke, her Children Orphans made? O Heavens! O Earth! here I must pause a space. Griefs tide flows higher, then, in this sad case, Can calmed be by expression: But, to speak, Allegiance pleads. Men soberest, mind● most meek, Most free of passion, cannot but resent This high Injustice; yea, in freedom vent Their Thoughts, and what a dialect to use, This bloody prelude speaks▪ Then freeborn Muse Treaties and parleys o● suspected, the parties bein● an unequal posture. Tell Britain, tell the World, that hence, in vain Words shall be heard of any milder strain Then martial eloquence. In trumpets sound Be Scotland's music henceforth deeply drowned Arms therefore necessary to be ordered and made use of, as the God of Arms shall call for, and employ. From heavens' th'alarm, attended Orders be, All doubts discussed, all judgements clear and free. Let Colours fly, Drums beat. Gird on your swords. 1 Sam. 25.28. 2 Chr. 20.15 arm Gallants, arm. The battle is the LORDS. For our Watchmen, the faithful MINISTRY. Dangers and duties to be laid forth and pressed from clear, just and convincing grounds. LIft up your voice, Cry watchmen, cry aloud. Religion suffers by Usurpers, proud, Of success insolent. Now, zions plea In dispute is, the Glorious Liberty From trampling on Religion. Of Sacred Truth restrained, its beauty marred; Prodigious Toleration boldly dared To be maintained. How men upon them take Despising of Dominion, ever●ing of lawful Government. The groundwork of just Government to shake, On Crowns to Trample, of due power deprive All powers, from them that power do not derive? From marring of God's work, ●nd shaming of the Covenant. How languisheth the Work of GOD? His Cause Discountenanced? Divine and human laws All violate? How a reproach become Our solemn Covenant, abroad, at home? What grounds for real fears? What snares contrived? From fears of further attempts ●nd proof of former snares; ●rom practices against Parliaments, and domineering over God's Inheritante. How are of Righteous privilege deprived The highest Justice Courts? The honest side, Exposed, as preys, to avarice and pride? Imprisoned, spoiled, effronted, put to flight, Of lives and fortunes not secure one night. Them whether fury's drive? at Christ's own Throne From displaying of 〈◊〉 against the Son of God, who● enemies are our enemies, an● with whose suffering member we are bound to sympathize. Strike not these Apostates? The Highest One Engaged is in our quarrel. We, of l●te, Conceived our losses and our sufferings great, While overawed by Arm's, till GOD arose, Made bare his arm, and Proudlings did oppose; But Rods of Children, reck●ning, here, and there, We, but the finger, they the loins do bear. Where now our fellow-feeling, former zeal? Shall in this exigent faith also fail? To you bold freedom fitly doth agree Joh. 8.32.33. Whom Truth in former trials hath set free. Take, take your watch-tower, thence, around you view As heavens give order, your Commission show, Men of God's counsel. God, drives on designs And last, from God's purposed destruction of obstina●● revolters against Truth an● lawful Authority, howev●● employed for our sins, as 〈◊〉 ●ods of his just indignation. (In which, his Justice and deep wisdom shines) By men, whose wills his hand leads on to act His holy will, and guilty of the fact Them holds, as having biased from his ends, By other motions turned than he intends, And all for their just ruin. Whence, to fire Shall Rods, when God's commission doth expire. What stick we then? shall not the Lord bring down Perfidious traitors to Christ Jesus Crown? As clouds evanish, as the morning dew, As chaff, and chimney smok driven hence we view, Shall not divine displeasure sweep away From off the earth, those swarms that dim our day? Shall public Prayer, and the secret moan Of Saints, unanswer'dly at Justice Throne? To you the times is given to understand; Show, if fit times do call, hand joined in hand That all for God,, true valour to improve, With Echoes of joint acclamations, move, Let Colours fly, Drums beat, gird on your Swords, Arm, Gallants, arm; the battle is the Lords. For the States of Parliament. The muse's freedom with the states of Parliament. God's worthies, in whose hand the helm to guide Of Government is given, set far aside Your private interests. Not to make you great, Proud, powerful, or Rich, the Trust of State On you conferred is: for the public Good, Not goods, your actings would be understood. On you are many eyes. Eyes, from above, Below, within, without, pry how ye move, How equally ye walk. But here I'll hold, ●heir pardon humbly pleaded. And begs your pardon, if I have been bold. Now, when our rent republics Ship is tosed, With growing storms; when things of greatest cost And highest value, by this Isle enjoyed, Endangered are. Our sovereign's life destroyed, Our sovereign's dearest life; his royal blood, (To usher in a shameful servitude) Poured forth; His sceptres to posterity, Discerned a trophy of proud Tyranny; These kingdom's Heir exiled (Our sovereign Lord) And almost all the Issue, at a word To be led forth to death (a sacrifice, In smoke whereof their glory to arise Unto its highest point, as safest mean By them, for their security foreseen,) What pause ye? Whence proceeds this silence deep? Silence not suitable to a time of so evident danger, to Church and State, waking only in the full ripeness and fit opportunity, for execution. Your enemies (Believe't) are not asleep. Shall men so desperately wicked, hold Their hand, the Father of three Nations, bold To put to death, and not with jealous eye Look on the Children, tied to ask them why? Where your Antcestors ready hands and hearts? The Gallantry of our Noble Antcestors proposed for encouragement to resolution. Associates look ye for, from foreign parts As troubled at our stroke, and by our wound Of Christian Kings the veins all opened found? Or, dare not JUDAH war with EDOM wage The history of K. Amaziah, 2 Chr. 25. for application. Till EPHRAIM, not at one with GOD, engage, Till ISRAEL arm; which, ordered to depart, (By this conjunction, Amaziahs' heart Made haughty, and lifted up,) turned discontent, And JUDAH'S Cities spoiling, as they went, Shed blood at will, and did no outrage spare That (Nowadays) the basest villains dare. But what? These gone, did EDOM gain the day? Was JUDAH'S King delivered, as a prey, For want of power? No. He, who stayed the Sun On Gibeon; and in Ajalon the moon, Till on his foes avenged; by JUDAH'S hand A victory most glorious did command For JUDAH'S host. But grief doth here arrest My trembling hand, appalled to write the rest. To Edom's idols didst thou turn aside Wretched JUDAH, while their spoils thou didst divide? O Yes; from Truth, there, shamefully thou fell, And justly turned thy back to Israel, Which, made thy Rod, thy ruin quickly wrought, Thy King to Perish, by the People, brought. GOD, only wise, your heart with counsel fill, That, quitting of yourselves like men of skill, Fast what ye have ye hold, lest all cast down Built heretofore, ye lose a glorious Crown. All ranks heartened to concurrence by the nearest ties of duty to GOD, KING and country. But leaving all on Him, in more and less, Whose eye must guide you. Now, our King's distress, The cry of blood, shed by a murdering hand, The infamy of a despised Land, The foulest of affronts; Call, yea conjure All ranks, by all the ties, known to secure Religion, public Interests, private Rights, 'Gainst open force, and undermining slights; If Piety, Compassion; if the sense Of deepest wrong, have weight or influence On loyal Scottish hearts, in sight of Heaven Your just resentment and offence made even, As instruments of God join heart and hand To raise the Glory of this slighted Land Men calling to account, by whom is shed The blood, that brethren hath unbrothered. The carrying on of the work put over confidently on God, from proof of past mercies and former experiences of power and good will to His people. The task in hand, suppone the hazard great, Yet neither ease, nor cure are desperate. Faith to improve, the Oath of God you ties Whose proof of Mercies mercy yet implies Unto believers, fears who dare outface, And footsteps of preceding paths can trace. Your ways on him devolve (sure) he will do, To fight who taught your fingers hitherto. Frogs, flies, Dry bones, he, ere ye Armies want Shall for you arm, the arm of flesh to daunt. Let, Colours fly, Drums beat. Gird on your swords, Arm Gallants, arm. The battle is the Lords. For the Commanders in chief, and faithful soldiery. YE, Men of Valour, honourably bred At arms; Whose Glory, deeply registered Stands to succeeding Times, as men of Trust, Integrity, and tenderness, in Just Defence of Truth, King, Country, Covenant, The calling of our deserving Commanders, Officers in chief, and soldiery, evidenced, from proof of constant faithfulness in the Cause of God, as reserved for the ensueing work. GOD calls anew. Behold, he will not want Your Testimony. Never grounds more clear For Noble action, did then now appear. Have guarded been your hearts, your hands kept clean In Scotland's late Eclipse? how clear is seen From their witnessing against the unlawful engagement, choosing rather to be without charge, then to charge their consciences with a sinful compliance. In this God's special hand? While, not the least In quality and number, were possessed Of a Malignant Spirit, did ye stand Free of Compliance; Order, or Command Destructive to his Cause, and closely kept At your first Principles? The hand that heaped Upon them shame, did fix you in your sphere, That yet his standard, ye on high might rear. Their peace of mind arising from the sense of mercy, supported against the power of temptations from the Isle of Wight, and preserved from acting at Mauchlin-mure, the prelude of an unlucky Tragedy. How calm a Peace, what quietness of mind I ask, enjoy ye (if a tongue can find Words suitable) whom frown, nor favours smile, Nor Hopes, nor Honours, from the fatal Isle Whence were revived our woes, (Preferment, Place, And Pension proof) enduc't not, charge t'embrace Saints' blood to shed; while (Witness to their zeal) To some, death signed a pass; and some a seal Bare hence; best suit base Malignancy; Men, whom unsound diseased Times did try. Their concession to the late King's removal from Newcastle objected and answered, But hark! a voice, past whispering in the ear Calls for your vindication, how ye clear Your rendering in the power of Armed bands, Your rendered Prince, while power was in your hands? But, (as professed, protested, and declared, 1. As proceeding from Trust to these manifold professions, protestations, declarations, yea engagement of the public faith of the Kingdom, in order to a safe, free and honourable Treaty, pretended between the King and Parliament. 2. From the foreseen danger to the Work of Reformation, and breach of the peace of the Kingdoms, through his Ma. supposed purpose of address to Scotland, being firm in judgement, and profestly standing for grounds solemnly abjured by Us, and destructive to the Covenant. Yea public faith empaund,) who have not heard How, not a show pretended of intent, Save (for a Treaty with the Parliament) To serve his royal Person for a guard, Yet, of base acts they not the basest spared Could serve their ends? And, what the consequence Had (Here) produced, (if by your conduct hence He should have hither turned, while broils and blood, (Effects of factions and of tumults rude) The Land did fill,) who lay aright to heart? Yea, while his resolution not to part With principles (Expressed, by him, a Tye Which Life and crowns engaged,) for Prelacy And book of prayer, so solemnly abjured: While this His mind his majesty assured, Who could have (Here) complied? Who, save these men (Our Peace-disturbers) should have said Amen? How (both within, and from without, renewed) Had not a bloody dispute thence ensued? Us, Conscience of our League keep't firm. If they Prevaricating, wickedly did stray From Honour, Duty, Faith, than Grounds how Just Thus offer, how this doubt may be discussed? The ignoble carriage of those perfidious Impostors (betrayers of Trust) a just motive for men of honour, so foully failed to, to call to account the Authors and complices of this impudent Treachery. All degrees, sensible of Gods and the kingdom's dishonour, called to join with the King, (owning the Cause and Covenant) in charging home, upon wicked Covenant-breakers, this unexpiable injury. How best your candour and ingenuous way May as the Sun, appear at the noonday, Endeavouring (in due time) to Right a wrong, Which heavens, though men should pass, shall judge ere long. A broken Covenant, base perjury, All, with their sin who stick not to comply, Call to make ready, and for God to rise, For King and Country, looked on as a prize By men of bloods. Thus, shall fowl mouths be closed Your straight proceedings to reproach disposed, Thus Scotland's glory grow, and thus made known That Gedeons' hundreds here, our God will own, Lead forth, and fit, when he the word shall give For him to Act; dead hearts who can revive, Even prompt your hands and Spirits for these ends On which the general happiness depends, The Prince and People acting (one in heart In Will and counsel) each, a gallant part, Engaged in God; on which condition closed Our Noble undertakings are supposed, That all o●structions from the way removed By uniform consent may be approved Let Colours fly, Drums beat. Gird on your swords, Arm, Gallants, arm. The battle is the Lords. For the People and Commonalty. God's precious People, Commons of the Land, The People; owning their interest in the Promises, by reason of Christ's donation with the Isles and ends of the e●●th, Psal. 2. the prime motive of their entering in Covenant, and acting for Christ. Religions forward friends with Life in hand, For Christ who have adventred, merely driven By reason of his Right and Title given To earth's remotest ends; by whom inclined This Generation, seriously did mind Their interest in the Promises to own By gospel Light made to believers known, Held forth unto the Church: from whence to heart Was laid, (in special duty on our part) For Christ, King, Country, into Covenant To enter, and rich success ne'er did want While honestly, in Men and Angels view We jointly moving, did joint ends pursue. The work of Reformation being far advanced, and great difficulties overcome, GOD hath permitted men, for our sins, yet for a season, to obstruct the way. And now, while after so much blood's expense, Cost, Paines, and Prayers (in our Just Defence) Our hopes were far advanced, Behold, the way Obstructed is anew. Ludibrious Clay Dare crawl on borrowed leggs, and Heaven defy, The Son of God take on its top, and try His work to overturn, Himself dethrone, And, in the hand of his Anointed One, The sceptre break. What honest heart not bleeds, What spirit's not on edge, at these misdeeds, These unexampled Acts, that dim the glory To these, and aftertimes, of Christian story? God's people encouraged upon solid grounds to stand to their duty. But face they hitherward in Arms? what then? Choose slaves to darkness, servants unto men, To yield yourselves or venture? yet a day Doth Christ (Here) call for, on His royal way Of noble conquest, can it suit your mind, Your spirits, by a Covenant refined Not to attend His Orders, who in vain You kept not hitherto, that ye remain Till now unvanquished? set before your eyes What, even what not, at stake in hazard lies, And gathering from past practice, how have been All your attempts for Christ successful seen, Set forward stoutly, in his strength stand to it, Not bow nor shield, the Lord's Right Hand must do it, Who, if our King He instrumental make, The Kings owning the work (when stirred up for that end by the Lord) to be held for a token of good. As Orderer of the Play, the stage to take (In answer to our earnest desires,) by all, Be held a presage most auspicious shall, For which we pray, yea hope; that grounds to none Occur, of controversy 'gainst the Throne; As of his Diadems the royal Right He would establish (in his foe's despite) To Christ committed, every way beside God's Way disclaimed; As on His part to fide, Engage He would the powers of Earth and Heaven, And, by His Order, may (for word) be given Let Colours fly, Drums beat. Gird on your swords. Arm, Gallants, arm. The battle is the LORDS. For the KING. The King honoured by God above other Kings, as having committed to him the sceptre of Government over lands gifted to Christ in special manner. GReat Prince, whose honour doth the honour stain Of greatest Princes, Righteous sovereign The sceptre over Kingdoms set to sway, That gifted are to Christ, in special way, Where, while He Lawes for Government doth give, And takes the Throne, hath maded Thy lot to live. Three Crowns of Him thou hold'st, by long descent, The improving of just power for the advantage of Christ's Interests, the surest pillar ●or supporting of the King's Thrones. These, for advantage of the just extent Of His prerogative, so Thou improve, Thy thrones-establishments-best mean shall prove. Christ to be acknowledged in His royal Prerogative, and to be made use of in all his Offices, as one by whom King's reign, Prov. 8.15. and who removeth and setteth up Kings, Dan. 2.21. at his pleasure. Him to acknowledge Heavens thy heart incline In all His Offices; thy duties line That not transgressing, as engaged, He may Employ for thee His power, May in the day Of danger make thy peace, and wisdom give Thy people's dying hearts how to revive, For bow before Him, as the meanest, must The Most, and Mightiest of created dust. His threefold sceptre can no Rule admit, regal Power and Authority consistent with the absoluteness of Christ's sovereignty. But such as doth his absoluteness fit Of sovereignty, which most consistent stands With regal power, by Him put in thy hands, For, who Himself the Lord JEHOVAH show, Hath said, to Caesar give what's Caesar's due. Learn to submit, to Him betimes to flee, The King's heart a sit blank to put in Christ's hand to fill up, and in proof of the reality of the offer the signing of the Covenant, in securing of Religion, necessary. That lifted up by Him thy head may be; A blank put in His Hand; upon thy heart The heads that he may fill, for either part, Of an eternal League; In which to deal Ingenuously that thou intends, thy Seal Set to the holy Band, (A privilege To every King not Common) for a pledge Of faith engaged shall serve, and clear thy way Of great obstructions, in thy Rising day. Far-far be from thee, as thy judgements stroke, To ●alk in the counsel of the wic●●d, and join in the yock of bad association, to be guarded against by the King, in his tender years, as against a sure stroke of judgement. To join thy shoulder in unequal yoke Of bad associations, or to call Unto thy counsel men of Belial, Who, in thy tender bosom, to infuse The poison of bad principles will choose. Grief fills our hearts so soon to see thy reign; Scotland's grief, and Scotland● joy. Yet joy we ever, Sacred sovereign, That from thy father's loins, who ruled of late, Succeedeth One, to fill the chair of State, From Race to Race, all whose Dominions may Thy just commands most loyally obey. Spare, Spare (we pray) to give thy Scotland ground More deep and deadly, that may make her wound The prejudice of entertained jealousies between the King and His Subjects. By harboring, in a jealous heart, mistakes, Of which the thought the very groundwork shakes Of mutual confidence. O deign to hear Their just desires, with thee who burden bear, To stand and fall, to live and die with thee In God, whose bands Inviolable be. Thy judgement Heavens inform, and clear what tie On Christian Subjects doth convincing lie Attempts to own, for which those men do move, Who most unjustly thy just power improve, And pleading for all crimes commission, stain The tender honour of a sovereign, The duty of loyal Subjects as relating to Christ's absolute sovereignty. As tyrant turned. We humbly do deny, These practices may pass for loyalty To God, and thee in Him, our duties bound To sovereignty supreme relating found, So that on us restraining bonds are laid, Till surety for Religion be made, Till Solemn League and Covenant be owned By Thee, for CHRIST, in truth's defence, enthroned, To which, while in suspense of thy consent, Our hands are feeble, and our spirits faint. These minding come, and put in exercise Thy regal power; of all Thine enemies The necks be given Thee▪ to be trampled on, Religion, Government, Christ's and Thy Throne Who dare oppose. O that thou mayst lay hold And fasten grips upon these locks of Gold Found on time's forehead, and from events learn Of lingering Resolutions to discern Sad successes. Thus Heavens Thy counsels bless, And make Thy Throne a Throne of righteousness. As Monarch of thy Subjects hearts, for Thee Thus many to the Throne of Grace shall flee, And plead Thy cause, for whose just interests, all Shall cordially cry, when GOD doth call, Let Colours fly, Drums beat. Gird on your swords, Arm, Gallants, arm. The battle is the LORDS. Grounds of Hope for believers. BUt smiles the Sectary? how with disdain, Heard is the freedom of the muse's strain? Us Adversaries brave on either hand, Dangers and difficulties arising on all hands, grounds of confidence offered from the wor● of truth in the subsequent propositions. These, on successful fates smooth conduct stand. Grown desperate are others, whose disgrace Through failing of attempts, leaves shame of face. Both at advantagely. Shall this breed fear? When-and-wheresoever the mystery of Christ is broken up, and Reformation advanced, then and there shall the the Church the ruin of many enemies, Zech. 13.1, 2, 3, &c. compared with Zech. 12.3. Revel. 3.10. A people solemnly owned by God before the world, and sought out by his standard, need not fear their false brethren when God begins to appear, in strength and fury, like himself, against them, Isa. 62.10 11, 12. compared with Isa. 63.1, 2, 3, 4. When Antichrist shall be fully revealed the Lord shall consume him, 2 Thess. 2.7.8. When Christ takes arms for his church, although the enemy should overflow, he shall lift up his standard in vengeance against him. Isaiah. 59.17.18, 19 Psal. 18. No: We a Chi●tain follow, who shall clear Our way, and (in this sad temptations hour, On travel, in the greatness of his power, As gifted with earth's ends and Isles, where we, Ruled by His sceptre, live) shall, the decree Past in his favours erst (even Ours, by right Of promise) see, for us fulfilled, in spite Of opposition, on his word who rest, Whose times, and ways of working are the best. However (often) persecuting foes Saints blood have shed, yet (while this tempest blows) Who not discern (unto its greatest height The throne of Antichrist attained, the light Of many Gospel Truths begun to shine) That, dressed in arms for warfare (to refine His Gold, and purge away the object Ore) Christ is marchd forth (flames ushering him before) In bloody Garments, through destruction died Of truth's opposers, who shall prosperous ride Christ having risen, after long silence and suffering, will so much the more be active against his enemies. Isa: 42.13.14. In Triumph, minding (hence) an active way Before as silent, in his suffering day? For (Merely) civil things did we contend (As, in this case, Lands a Religious end Professing, (nothing so,) deseru'dly, have Been trampled on,) us might our hopes deceive. But formally for Christ, in terms direct We for his title stand, (all due respect Had to our sovereign's interests, in the right Of all his crowns.) Will CHRIST his quarrel slight, Whoever assay to make void Christ's established yoke, Them shall Christ vex. Psal. 2.1.2, 3, 4, 5. Where God hath a vineyard of red wine settled, he will keep it lest any hurt it. Isa. 27.2.3. What God hath done at the expense of his Saints blood, he will not easily forgo. Psal. 116.13. Not vindicate His Honour? not maintain The settled Order of his house, in vain Else here (alone) established by his hand At such expense of Means, throughout the Land, Yea of his people's blood, dear in his sight? Which Order (hitherto) 'gainst hellish slight And brutish force, so tendered Providence, That, not one dyat of his Church, hath (thence) Been marred from meeting; neither any part If they have not gained ground, they shall not gain ground. Psal. 129.2.5 so Calvin. Of all his work foes suffered to evert. The choice place, where to dwell he doth incline, In beauty where his Ordinances shine, Will he not care for, cover with his wing, Bloody Covenant breakers▪ having had great success, shall not live long Ps. 55.19, 20, 23 And guard against those men, a meaner thing Who counted have the Oath of GOD, and passed So lightly, from proud necks, his yoke to cast? Profaners of the oath of God shall not prosper or escape. Ezek. 17.15, 18, 19 evident in Uladistaus K. of Hungary beaten at Varna by Amurath the 6. Will He, avenged who violated faith In heathens favours, on his People hath, In favours of his People, from on high, Let pass unplagued heathenish perfidy? While some design, Christ next a King to place; Or (thus disguised) are found upon the chase Of self-advantages, a cloak to draw Of zeal, of duty of supremest Law. Yea, while with Christ, denied to reign alone, Their Dagon Others, his divided Throne To share do offer, and with Christ to dwell Have privileged all the powers of hell. Christ purposeth to hold house where he purgeth the sons of Levi, and there to come near to judgement for his people. Mal. 3. 1-3, 4, 5. It is a Gospel-and-peaceable time, and a Token for good to his people when God sends forth faithful and honest Ministers. Ier. 3.15, 18. When the barren is made the mother of many children, and gets God for her husband, there is large peace and privileges promised. Isa. 54.1.2.4.5.13, 14, 15, 17. While a people do cleave to God, he is engaged to own them and do for them. 2 Chron. 15.2. God would reveal it to his servants if he purposed to destroy, who in this case would not promise good. Amos. 3.7. Christian walkers with God would not be altogether strangers to God's purpose, if he intended to destroy Iob. 15, 15▪ Psal. 25.14. The hope of his people shall not make them a shamed having to do with transgressors without a cause. When God's people are laid▪ low, he must recover them Deut. 32.36. Is Christ, his house of purging at the pains And planting men, by whom his kingdom gains (A ministry according to his heart) That bloody hands the gospel's spoils should part? Or hath our Lord a tender brood begot Of children here, his weaklings to devote To bloody hands, his youth; whose chiefest thing Desirable, is to detain the King; Yea, while on life and death resolved they have Close to his Truth and Covenant to cleave? In mouths of all the Prophets, whence arise Our joys of success, speaks the Sprite of lies? Or shall the Saints, to whom he doth declare His counsel, (friends, who on his secrets are) With what he doth acquainted, in this case, (This case alone) for hopes have shame of face? Brought low (indeed deseru'dly) we have been And yet may low be laid, that every mean In which we might conceit, abased may be, Even all our Glories pride stained we may see. But, when in us all strength is spent and gone, turn and Repent him shall that Holy One; The work which the Lord hath begun and far prosecute, he will perfect. Deut. 32.4. The rods of his people, tending to bring them under the bond of the Covenant, will be the ruin of rebels. Ezek. 20.37.38. God will always mind● his Covenant, while his people stick by it. Psal. 111.5. The Throne of iniquity set up without God and maintained without him decreeing mischief against God & godliness, shall not have standing before him. Psal. 94.20.21. When the child is come to the birth, and all done to a little, it were a day of blasphemy if it were not brought forth. 2. Kings. 29.3. compared with Is. 66.9. Though sin do abound God will not forsake his people, yea the holy seed shall be the substance of the land. Ier. 51.5. Isa: 6.13. If God smite a growing vine, he must debate with it in measure, suitable to its being and well-being. Isa. 27.3, 6, 7, 8. He, all whose ways his searchlesse wisdom suit, And for his Works perfection contribute Shall purge the Land, and Rebels plots supplant, Unmindful never of his Covenant: Else with that Throne of sin should Christ partake For framing mischief, which a Law doth make. May never dawn to us that horrid day, (Day of rebuke and blasphemy,) on way While brought the Child is to the place of birth, That from the womb strength faileth to bring forth. For say, all means should fail, how great our shame To doubt that Christ shall magnify His Name. How ever here iniquity abound, Yea sin on foot, to fill the Land be found, Yet he, his People who doth not foresake, The Holy Seed shall for its substance take, And with his vine (provockt) if he debate, The stroke in measure he shall moderate. Then show we faces, foes let us defy, While Jesus Christ his Standard rears on high. Fall may who ripe are to receive the Crown, Or rotten branches, fit for hewing down, But fall who will, the Cause shall never fall, While stick to him a seed, a Remnant shall. For he, who comes in judgement, Lands to sift, When God-comes near to Judgement against sorcerers, then will he swiftly judge false swearers. Mal. 3.5. Against the sorcerers, a witness swift, Shall, clothed with vengeance, power contempt and shame Upon falseswearers, by His Holy Name Then Colours fly, Drums beat. Gird on your Swords. Arm, Gallants, arm. The battle is the Lords. Grounds of Comfort and Encouragement for the Secret Mourners of England (and else where) resolving steadfastness in the COVENANT. BUt tymest Thou, with deep sighs thy Song? do tears The lands called to mourning and humiliation, in day of the Lords deep displeasure, Ezek. 9 Their fountains force, sad Muse, while Britain hears No language but alarms, no milder sounds Then of engadgements, Tumults, Death and Wounds? Weep, justly weep. Tears suit the season. This, A day, in which God calls for mourning, is. A gloomy day, in which the child of Light Of our darkness, Isa. 50.10. Sits in the shades of darkness, short of sight. The day of Joseph's straits; of deep distress To many a precious soul, chaisde (for redress) Of Joseph's affliction and zions trial in England and Ireland, under pressure of sectarian power. Amos. 6.6. Heb. 6.18. Psal. 90.19. To him who's Mighty, on whom help is laid, His suffering Members, by his arm to aid, (His arm, that erst proud Rahab, and the snaike In pieces cut, and way through waves did make) That, yet made bare, it may awake, to wound The dragon's Seed from principles unsound Which poison spreading and dispersing snares The lively delineation of whose tenets and course (drawn by the Holy Ghost) may be seen, in the 2 of the 2 Epistle of Peter and in the Epistle of Iud. The simpler to surprise, by fraud or fears Unstable souls seduce; from whence (the way Of Truth blasphemed) are vexed, from day to day, The souls of Saints; while men, who mischief frame, Like raging waves, foam forth their filth and shame. These the public enemy of England, and the rod upon the lot of the Righteous, there. The public foe be These, O ENGLAND, These Shall Tasks enjoin, and straighten (as they please) The cords of thy Captivity, at best These, the covert enemy of Scotland, lying at advantage against the Lord's Inheritance, here. The Rods are, on the Righteous-lot that rest. However bound in Conscience to resent Their practices, whence doth arise our Rent, To you, for War, do not our Trumpets sound. No message but of Peace to Christ's suffering members there. Unanimity and Brotherly association to be entertained with them in order to the League & Covenant, and prosecution of the ends thereof. No. Your sad posture doth our spirit's wound, In order unto which resolved we have With you, and for you, to our League to cleave, With Charity to All, who pure and clean To keep their Garments, upon guard have been, And waiting are, God's Way and Time to take, The Yock of bondage from thralled necks to shake, That both here and there, God may be feared and the King honoured. 1 Pet. 2.17. That, (as sweet fruits from these effects) may spring The Fear of God, and Honour of the King. In pursuence of these ends, England (in God's opportunity) upon clear grounds encouraged to duties. Awake to duties then; Your eyes be fixed Upon these ends. Become shall Ephraim (Mixed Among the the People) like an unturned Cake, Or heartless Dove, discouraged, faint, and weak? GOD (Doubtless) for himself, airled (Erst) in Thee 1. As a Land long ago arled and owned by Christ, so many faithful martyrs having laid down their lives for him, there. 2. As a Land which hath revived the Bargan afresh with Christ, having sworn his Covenant and sealed it with so many lives, sacrificed for it, there. A Church O England, set from darkness free, While at the stake, thy faithful Martyrs stood A good Confession, sealing with their blood. Yea, God the Bargan (yet again) renewed When that espoused Land, with love pursud, His Covenant did swear, and at low rate Did value lives, that Jesus might be great. Lo! God hath wisely, and to purpose, brought God hath in wisdom made the enemy in that land be seen in their colours, hath gathered together with arms in their hands and permitted to stir (as he hath set the bounds) for manifesting his own Glory in his church's deliverance, by their more speedy overthrow, and his fuller execution of fury upon them. God to be waited upon, as One who shall surely gather, and rejoice the sad hearts of the scattered Remnants of that land, and else where, to whom the reproach of his house is a burden, Zeph: 3.14, 15, 16, 17, 18. However God hath established there, for a season a prevailing enemy, for Judgement, (even the ruin of that Malingant party that first took the sword against him,) as also for our correction, Hab. 1.12. yet shall the vision speak, and be heard in its appointed time. ibid. 2.3. Friends, enemies, the work, God's glory, as also conditional promiess (as Levit. 26.41. 1 Kings 8.38) having all their appointed times, of advantage, disadvantage, advancement, manifestation and accomplishment, till the times of all the forsaids meet, none may grudge or complain of God's delays. It may suffice, that in his hands are the times of his elect, Psal. 31.15. who keeps the best time, and will help right early. Psal. 46.5. His foes together, armed, for arms who sought, And let them out a link, that stir they may, Yet so as nowhere, but as He gives way, Thus shall He in one hour, or day, decide What else some ages dispute might abide. Wait on ye then, whose weight is zions case; Wait on that Holy One who hides his face From Jacob's house; sure, He you gather shall, And tenderly deal with his remnants small. For our correction, and their overthrow Who 'gainst him first engaged, hath God this foe Raised up, but heard shall in its season be The vision. Issued forth is the decree. But friends their fit time, foes their fatal hour, its time God's Glory (from His acts of power) Their times yea promises conditional Have for accomplishment. The work withal Its time of best advantage hath. Assigned To each the proper time is. Till we find All in one point to meet, none may complain, Nor of delays a jealous thought retain. Let this suffice, your times are in his hand, Who from the fire can pluck a kindled brand, And like a mighty man, roused up from sleep, Shall help right early, and the best time keep. His reckoning from Eternity he laid, And times, and ways, and means harmonious made To bring to pass His Ends; and did foresee Delays, which arbitrary were and free, To his deep wisdom, gainful. So though (now) Ye know not what he doth, erelong to you His Face he shall unveil. Then make no haste, Ye, who by faith, on promises can feast, But patience show, till God shall give the word, Which Heaven and Earth to publish shall accord, Let Colours fly, Drums beat. Gird on your Swords, Arm, Gallants arm. The battle is the LORDS. Close. BUt duties to enforce, sith words are weak, And grounds of hops, men's confidence to take, Till God put to his hand; GREAT KING of Saints, In whom for THINE nor power nor wisdom wants, On Thee alone is left, That light divine May by thy Spirit, to our watchmen shine, Kept free and faithful, Taught the times to know, By them, that counsel (seasonably) may flow. May all our Rulers, singly seek the ends, Proposed in Covenant with Thee; what tends To truth's advantage (in their heart acquaint With Christ,) to prosecute be their intent, That (Self-denied) all grounds of jealousies May perish, (private ends far from their eyes) And shoulders joining, unto duties prone, The work may equally be carried on. Be soldiers like the Cause, and Spirit given By God, unto their undertakings even. Profaneness and oppression both be far From all engaging in this holy War. Know may aright all Ranks the quarrels spring, Before him, in their Spirits flourishing, Not shrinking at supplies, while all is laid, And in decision, as the game is played. May light break in upon our sovereign's soul All counsel, not for good, that may control, To lead him in this Maze, discovering snares, That grounds are of his danger, of our fears. That join he may, in heart, for God, and glad The Land, our blessing, and our glory made. Foes be reclaimed, for whom is purposed good, Who Peace lay hold on purchased by blood, But perish all, who principled from hell, Hold on their way and proudly means repel. O let thy people's hearts, (Confirmed in faith Of much goodwill) rest cheerful underneath Thy exercising hand, in confidence Pursuing duties, that due glory thence To Thee may rise, to whom all knees shall bow, And wait with praises, to perform the Vow▪ FINIS.