SAUL SMITTEN FOR NOT SMITING AMALEK ACCORDING To the severity of the Command: AND The Residue of the Spoil sentenced to Death, which SAUL preserved and spared alive, (to wit) Man, Woman, Infant, Suckling, Ox, Sheep, Camel and Ass. Being an Allegorical Allusion to the present passages of the Times, Delivered in a Sermon at , May 1. Upon the Dissolution of the late Parliament. ALSO, A great and notable blow is given at the Serpent, the ruin of the Whore and her Family determined; wherein is discovered what she was, and is, and the several Husbands that have married her, deceased from her, and been deceived by her; also the several Children which by her have been brought forth and nursed up, with a dissolution of all unjust Government, Laws, Rules and Worships exercised over men's Lives, Liberties and Estates, and the restoring of all Just Government, the People's Rights and Privileges by the Lord Jesus, into its perfect State. As apprehended by RICHARD COPPIN. For the Lord God will help me; therefore I shall not be confounded; therefore have I set my Face like a Flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. Behold the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? They all shall wax old like a Garment, the Moth shall eat them up. LONDON Printed, and are to be sold by William Larner at the Blackmores head at Fleet-bridge, and by Richard Moon at the Seven Stars near the North door of Paul's, 1653. The Contents. CHAP. I. THe People's great and last Captivity in the way as they came from Egypt by the Amalekites, and the Lord leading them forth, and carrying them on to the Land of rest, and how. fol. 1. Chap. 2. Concerning Amalek, and the many stumbling blocks that he lays in the way of the People, how, and what they are. 4 Chap. 3. Saul is commanded to smite Amalek and his whole household, with all that belongs to him; how he did it not, but David; what Amalek is, how in him is Man, Woman, Infant, Suckling, Ox, Sheep, Camel and Ass, and what they are. 7 Chap. 4. How, though the man be smitten, the woman and her children are living, and she like to marry again; of the several husbands she hath buried, and the end of her life determined; with a hint of the true woman and mother of us all succeeding. 10 Chap. 5. Of the satness of the children sucked in from their Parents, and they thereby made ready for the slaughter; that men are not to be slain but to their power and corrupt interests, with the manner how, and the time when. 12 Chap. 6. What is meant by the Kenites that were among the Amalekites; how they are, and aught to be spared. 14 Chap. 7. What's meant by Agag the King, the best of the sheep and of the oxen which Saul spared alive, and how they discovered themselves by Bleating and Lowing. 15 Chap. 8. Samuel reproving Saul for not obeying the voice of the Lord, who excuseth himself, and lays it upon the people that were with him, whom he obeyed more than God; how to obey is better than Sacrifice; what a true Sacrifice is, best accepted, and who offers it. 17 Chap. 9 Of the Amalekites unjust possessing the Earth, both of the Philistians, and of Judah, of their giving gifts one to another, and of what. 19 Chap. 10. How men entrusted with the Civil power of the Nation, ought not to be proud, and highminded, but humble and meek before God and man; that honour is the ready way to dishonour, and how. 20 Chap. 11. Of David's possessing saul's Kingdom, his recovering the spoil which Saul did not, and his equal dividing it among the people. 22 Chap. 12. Of some that desire to have the greater part of the spoil to themselves, and would not have it equally divided; who and what they are; with David's answer to them; and how it alludes to these times. 23 Chap. 13. A foresight of the People's oppression by the next power; how none ought to be forced or compelled to any Form or way of worship, but as they are persuaded in their own minds: That all Forms shall cease, and when. 26 Chap. 14. How men in power are not to act only for the freedom of themselves, or a few, but for the freedom of all, and to abase themselves to exalt others; wherein is manifested, Christ doing and receiving for us, as for himself. 27 Chap. 15. Christ the true Restorer and Establisher of the People's Rights, and not men; God shaking, overturning, and destroying men, and all things that are settling; how men have not power to settle any thing; and how we in all changes and turn are to eye the Lord, and rest only in him. 30 SAUL Smitten For not SMITING AMALEK ACCORDING To the severity of the Command. 1 SAM. 15.3. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not, but slay both Man and Woman, Infant and Suckling, Ox and Sheep, Camel and Ass. CHAP. I. The People's great and last Captivity io the way as they came from Egypt by the Amalekites, and the Lord leading them forth, and carrying them on to the land of Rest, and how. WE read in the first verse of this Chapter, of saul's being anointed King over Israel, and how he was to go forth and fight against Amalek; but in all things he was to hearken to the voice of the Lord, and to obey it in all things that he was commanded. Now in the 2 verse we read what Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way as he came up out of Egypt, and in the 3. verse, we find the Lord commanding Saul to smite Amalek for that which he had done against Israel; Zech. 9.8. I have seen, I have seen, with mine eyes saith the Lord, how the Egyptians have afflicted my people Israel in Egypt; and I remember also what the Amalekites have done to them in the way as they came up out of Egypt, but Pharaoh and all his host shall be plagued, and Amalek and all his shall be smitten, and I will execute my fierce wrath upon all the enemies of my people. The Lord sees the many enemies that rise up against his people, as they pass along out of Egypt and spiritual bondage through forms, ordinances, and outward observations, towards their rest, their heaven and happiness in the Lord Jesus, as against those who are passed through all things already, and come to their rest; all have enemies, and the Lord sees them, and beholds the opposition that's made against them, Exod. 22.21, 22, 23. the oppression that's laid upon them, and hears the cries that come up to him from them, even of all people that are, Psal. 12.5. and ever have been subjected to any power appearing besides himself, that he is now rising and coming forth with deliverance for them, 1 sal. 41.10, 11. and bids them not to fear or be discouraged; for saith he, as I beheld what the Egyptians did unto you in Egypt, and delivered you from thence; so I remember also what the Amalekites have done unto you, how they laid wait for you in the way as you came up out of Egypt; therefore my design is to bring them down and lay them low even to the ground, and so cause you peaceably and quietly to pass along, through, by, and over all the ways, Isa 5.9. ch. 24.10. Hag. 1.4. laws, forms, and religions of men, and not suffer you to stay or rest in any thing, to abide in any house or form, till you are come to that which is your rest indeed, even him who is the stay and staff of all men, where and at which time you shall rest in the Lord from all your labours, sorrows, troubles, and fears, and from all the hard bondage wherein you have been made to serve, Isa. 14 3. by the Egyptian taskmasters and the oppressive Amalekites. For no sooner are we brought out of Egypt, as out of that dark carnal ignorant state which we are in while under the Law, but we are ready to enter into the house of bondage, as into some Church-fellowship or other, where we are tied up to Forms and Ordinances, and are subject to the Amalekites, till the Lord takes us by the hand, leads us forth, Psal. 5.8. and carries us on. Now that most men in their several ways and forms say they are travelling, passing, and pressing forward toward something that is before, pretending they aim at God and his glory, Christ, Heaven and happiness, as that which is at a distance from them, and shall one day be attained by them, when they are gone out of this body, and not before, and cannot abide to hear of coming to it, and living in it while they are in this body, and many there are that endeavour to keep the people from the present enjoyment of this, and cry out against it as blasphemy, and count them blasphemers that shall decare it, and all to keep up a kingdom of their own in the place of Jesus Christ, and so to keep people still in Egypt, as in a in a dark, ignorant, troubled, oppressed, burdened state and condition, and not suffering them to go on comfortably, cheerfully and peaceably towards their rest and peace out of Egypt into the land of Canaan, as into a state of light, life and holiness in the Lord Jesus, a land flowing with milk and honey, who would bring us into that holy and good land, the land of rest which is himself, and who would now bring us from off all our own ways to the ways of God, from off all our own works to the works of God, Psal. 55.8. and so from off all our own thoughts and affections, Ephes. 3.1, 2. and desires, to the thoughts, affections, and desires of God, to be taken with the delight and embraces of himself in his own spirit, and no longer to be led by the spirit of the Devil and false Prophet, into bondage and captivity, but that we might be led by the Spirit and power of the Lord Jesus into peace and liberty, which is the Kingdom of the Lord. Rom. 8.14, 15, 16. And now the Lord to make all this good in us and to us, which is to bring ut into his kingdom, he first makes it good in and to himself for us, Rev. 15. Rom. 8.29, 32. joh. 17.13. as the first begotten of the Father among many brethrens, and so we come to enjoy all in him, to have it fulfilled in us, and enjoyed by us, at it is now fulfilled and enjoyed in him by the Father, to which he is now ascended. Now wherefore did our head, the Lord Jesus, thus ascend and glorify himself, Isa. 26.19. but that we as his body, might also ascend and be glorified together with him? and wherefore did he first descend into hell to us, Ephes. 2.6. but that he by his eternal power and strength might raise us up out of hell, and so ascend into heaven with us, and there lead Captivity captive for us? and thus doth he work out man's redemption to bring managain to his Primitive rest, wherein is man's salvation. CHAP. II. Concerning Amalek and the many stumbling blocks that he lays in the way of the people, how, and what they are. NOw concerning this oppressive Amalek which is here spoken of in the text, that doth thus oppress the people, and endeavour to hinder their coming up to their rest and salvation in the Lord Jesus, let us consider what and where he is; and if we truly examine ourselves, we shall find him to be within us, as well as without us, and we never come to have a true knowledge of him without us, till we have first had the knowledge of him within us; and those that have him inwardly, do act with him outwardly; but he first appears within us, and there discovers himself what he is; for as the spirit of a man is passing out of Egypt as out of bondage and captivity, towards its rest and centre in the Lord Jesus, we see the devil in us sometimes let lose for a season carrying our spirits, Rev. 22.7. our minds, wills and desires away captive at his will, into some restless unsatisfied condition or other, as from the Lord, where he hath darkened all the appearances of good things to us, 2 Cor. 4.4. blinded the minds of them that believe not, that they might not see the glory of God, and so lays many stumbling blocks in their way, to cause them to fall; but I remember it saith the Lord, and my design shall be to take them out of the way, Isa. 40.4. and to slay the devil that laid them, and all that belongs to him. Now those several stumbling blocks which appear to be laid in the way of a soul, which some stumble at, What's meant by stumbling blocks. and others go over, appears to be sin, sorrows, troubles, the fear of the Devil, death, hell, and damnation, together with all unjust Laws and Acts made by men contrary to the Law of God which is perfect Freedom; Psal. 19.7. all and whatsoever else that may appear to be laid in the way of a souls peace and freedom, are these stumbling blocks; and he that lays them is the devil, who is always seeking whom he may devour, 1 Pet. 5.8. and still waiting whom he may betray or catch in and with the snares and baits that he hath laid, and doth still lay to that purpose; and though men may appear in practice to do this, yet I know no other but the devil that is the chief Agent in this Work under God, that lays them to hinder poor souls from coming up to live in the pure and perfect enjoyment of their peace, rest, and freedom in the Lord Jesus, or Kingdom of Heaven; and he that is appointed to encounter with him, and that overcomes him, is the great Captain of our Salvation, Rev. 12.7, 8. Zech. 9.8. the Lord of Hosts, who is Captain General of all the forces that go forth in battle against Antichrist the man of sin, and all Armies whatsoever that come up against the Israel and People of God. Now some all along in all Ages have still appeared to War against Israel in the way as they have come up from Egypt, Luke 19.43. casting up trenches about them to keep them in on every side, made Laws and Acts against them contrary to the appearances of God in them, to subject their persons, spirits, and consciences to the Laws, ways, forms, and limitations of men, as we may see in the time of Christ and his Apostles, how Herod and Pontius Pilate acted against him to destroy him; for first of all as soon as Herod had heard that Christ was born, than he to destroy him, Mat. 2.7.8, 16 privily pretended to go and worship him, but being prevented of that, he sent and slew all the children that were about his age in that Country where he heard Christ was, that so he might slay him, but the Lord caused his mother to escape away from thence with him into another country where he was preserved. And how did the Jews, the Scribes and Pharisees, and all the chief of the people, Luk. 19.47, 48 Luk. 23.9, 10. under pretence of coming to hear him, seek to ensnare him in his own words, wait to catch something from his mouth, provoking him to speak of many things, that they might have something to accuse him; and was so it not with the Apostles and Saints afterwards? for how were they persecuted from place to place? and how are men still persecuted, and have been to this day, both by the Pope, Papists, Bishops, Prelates and Presbyterians, and now like to be by the Independents and Anabaptists, all like those oppressive Amalekites still acting against the appearance of the Lord Jesus in his People? for no sooner was there any appearance of Christ risen up in any age or generation, but presently Herod, as the wisdom of the flesh in some one or other, was acting against it, seeking to quench every spiritual appearance of Christ that was but like Christ, thereby to prevent his appearing, and would not suffer any thing to break forth but what did appear in their own way, form or likeness; and that they might still have something against those in whom Christ doth spiritually rise and appear, they will under pretence of coming to hear them (as Herod did to worship Christ, and others to hear him) wait to catch something from them that might come under their Law to accuse them; yea, Rev. 18.3. and all that God brings up into a higher and more spiritual discovery of himself to know the Lord, are by such that know not the Lord, and that serve the Whore, and receive her wages, cried out against for heretics, seducers and blasphemers; and thus we may see how they still lay wait for Christ and his People. The enemies of Christ which formerly sat in Authority have made and kept up divers Laws and Acts of divers sorts against the People to keep them in bondage and in subjection to themselves and their Laws, when they should be subject only to Christ and his Law whose Law is perfect Freedom; Psal. 19.7. and if any man act or speak any thing contrary to such a Law or Act made against such things called blasphemy by them, they presently go to apprehend them as blasphemers, accuse and condemn them, seek their lives, banishment or imprisonment, as Herod and others have done who get their living by the Whore; and all that thus act may be said to be Amalekites, laying wait for the People as they come up out of Egypt, or Spiritual darkness; But I remember, saith the Lord, what you have done, and I will assuredly reward you for it; you and all that you have shall be smitten. CHAP. III. Saul is commanded to smite Amalek and his whole household with all that belongs to him; how he did it not, but David; what Amalek is; how in him is man, woman, infant, suckling, ox, sheep, camel and ass, and what they are. ANd now thus saith the Lord, Go, and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. Here is the word of the Lord by Samuel to Saul, King of Israel, Go, and smite Amalek, etc. and this might be the word of the Lord to our General, Go smite the Parliament, etc. My beloved, this Scripture which I am now speaking from, is this day fulfilled to me, and in my apprehension, and I know not how soon it may be fulfilled to you, even this day for aught I know; therefore pray give me leave at this time to speak my mind freely and plainly to you, as it is made known to me for you. Those then who may sometime appear to have the power of the Nation in their hands, may appear to act like Saul, and to act like David, who came in the room of Saul; but I had rather they appeared to act as David, for he obeyed the voice of the Lord in all that he was commanded, and so enjoyed his Kingdom: and then if they so act, the power might the longer abide with them; but if they should act like Saul, than they may expect to have the power taken from them by the Lord, as it was from Saul; for the Lord is just, and will revenge for his people. Now Saul obeyed not the voice of the Lord, which was that he should utterly destroy the Amalekites and all that they had, but he did it not, but fled upon the spoil for himself, and so did evil in the sight of the Lord, 1 Sam. 15.19.28. for which the Kingdom was rend from him, and given to David. Now David who reigned in saul's stead, obeyed the voice of the Lord, and utterly destroyed and routed the Amalekites, and recovered again the rights and privileges, the freedom and liberties of the People, 1 Sam. 30.18, 19 which the Amalekites had carried away from them, and restored it equally into their hands again, that there was no want of any thing to any among them, wherein the voice of the Lord appeared to be obeyed by him, and his kingdom to stand with him. And now what saith the Lord? Go, and smite Amalek, dissolve him, take the power out of his hands, unbottom him of all his Laws and interests; Go, slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. Amalek here may be said to be a whole household or family with all that belongs to it, What is meant by Amalek, man and woman, infant and suckling. and may relate to King's houses, and houses of former Parliaments; and appears to me at this time to have been that household of the late Parliament dissolved with all that was in their hands and belonging to them; in which Parliament with others before them (as in Amalek) there may be said to be a man and a woman, or the husband and the wise. The man which is to be smitten, may be said to be the Parliament in power ruling corruptly, Rev. 2.20. Chap. 17. lately dissolved: the woman may be said to be the woman Jezabel, the mother of Harlots, and Whore of Babylon that sits upon many Waters, Gen. 6.11, 12. to wit, Peoples, Multitudes, Nations and Tongues, and is the corrupt Law and lust, that first grew up and appeared to live in the fleshly, Gen. 6.4. dark, earthly principle of man's fallen nature, out of which have sprung forth many children, infants and sucklings, said in Scripture to be the daughters of men, also brought forth many Laws Acts and Statutes, set up many particular interests of men's inventions as so many infants and sucklings, Eccles. 7.29. which may be known by the names of Priests, Lawyers, Sheriffs, Bailisss, Oppressive-Tythe-mongers, Committee-men, Excise-men, Common-Councel-men, and all sorts of Clerks, Courts and Offices, and whatsoever particulars else may appear to have been set up by men, that have in any way been oppressive and in opposition to the true peace and Freedom of the People's Rights and Privileges in the Lord Jesus, together with all that have ever been hanging upon the breast of this woman before mentioned, as the mother by which they were brought forth, and at whose side they have been nursed up, Isal. 3.12. and so have oppressed and ruled over the people together, but are now grown ancient and ready for the grave, also fat and ready for the slaughter, or in some measure to be slain to what they have been by another power, their father in Law, one of the ensuing husbands of this woman their mother; and so much for what is meant by man, woman, infant and suckling. Next, the store belonging to this house or family, to wit, What is meant by sheep and Oxen. sheep, oxen, camels and asses; and this may be said to be the People's Privileges, Lives, Liberties and Estates, with all the wealth, honour and riches of the Land, which men by their power they had taken into their hands to make themselves fat and rich, and which was carried captive by them from the right owners of it, which Saul here in the Text was commanded to slay as to them, and to restore again to the people (though he did not) even all, and not to spare any, but to recover it again out of the hands of the Amalekites, and no more to be found with them as in the hands of the merchants of the earth. So the like command might come from the Lord to our General, to smite the late Parliament, and to slay them to their oppressive power, laws and actions, rules and private interests, and to spare none as to them, that is, leave no more in their hands but what is and was their own before, and to recover all the rest, to wit, the people's interests, rights, and privileges which the late Parliament with others before them had taken away and withheld from them, and to restore the same again into the hands of those who are the right owners of it, wherein the voice of the Lord would appear to be obeyed, and the actions of David manifest. CHAP. IU. How though the man be smitten, the woman and her children are living, and she like to marry again; of the several husbands she hath buried, and the end of her life determined; with a hint of the true woman and mother of us all succeeding. WEll, this man we see is smitten; the Parliament is dissolved; but where is the woman and her children with all their store and treasure? why we see they with all they have are yet alive and remaining, and like to continue for a time; but I pray God another man or power as oppressive as the former, do not now appear to marry this woman, to live with her and get more children by her to be heirs with the rest; or if they should disinherit some of the former begotten by the other man so called, put down some men, laws and particular interests, and state others in their places as bad as them, it were all one; but sure some one or other will ere long be endued with power to marry this woman, or obtain so much favour as to live and act with her; for she hath many suitors which she hath drawn in and enticed, who will not suffer her to abide long unmarried or single while she is living, Prov. 7. for she would quickly die if she should abide long without a man of her own bringing forth; but there will come one at last that must slay her. Now observe, the man might be slain, and yet the woman preserved for another husband; the Parliament may be dissolved, A word of advice not to make choice of too many men for the government of this Nation, and to be careful what laws they set up. Rev. 17.4. and yet the Government may be put into the hands of some other for a time: but look to her, you that have her, and may marry her, keep her in subjection, suffer her not to play the Harlot with any, nor ramble too far into the hands of too many men; neither let them that marry her divide themselves into many bodies or parts; also be you careful what children she bringeth forth, and maintain her not in such pomp and state as before, but suffer her highness to be brought down, and her scatlet coloured robes to be stripped off: for they do but cause men to be in love with her, and desire after her, to marry her for gain, or follow after for the loaves; and why are her husbands so often slain, and men so often marry her, but that they are made rich by her, and for a time come to great honour and preferment through her means? but sure her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death; for all are dead that ever yet married her; Rev. 7.26, 27. Kings, Queens and Parliaments have deceased from her, and been deceived by her; and those that marry her next may not live long with her; nay she cannot be now long lived herself, neither any of her children; for doomsday is at hand for them all, and the hour of her Judgement is come, Rev. 18.7. though she saith she sits a Queen, is no widow, and shall see no sorrow; But he that sheds man's blood, Gen. 9.6. Rev. 10.23, 24. by man shall his blood be shed; but in her was found the blood of Prophets and of Saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth: therefore shall she be slain also, and her craftsmen with her; and in her shall appear no more the light of a candle, or of man's righteousness, the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride; none shall marry or trade with her; and her merchants were the great men of the earth, who shall wail, weep and lament for her, and well they may, for no man buyeth their merchandise any more, Rev 18.9, 10. and then will there be an end of the strange woman, and all that belong to her; and that woman which first brought us forth, Rev. 21.2, 3. and is the mother of us all, will come down, or appear among us as a bride adorned for her husband; and we shall enjoy both her and her husband the Lord himself; How we are to marry none but the Lord. therefore let us in all things, and at all times wait for the appearing of this Couple, the Lord and his Spouse, and be willing to die to any other appearance whatsoever beside the Lord, and to marry no other but the Lord, neither to give suck, preserve, or keep alive any children but what the Lord himself doth beget by his own Wife, and then shall we appear to live in, and act by the life and power of the Lord Jesus, which he hath begotten of his own will, and brought forth by his Spirit to live in us, and which makes us then appear to be the Wife of God, and mother of Jesus. CHAP. V Of the fatness of the children, sucked in from their Parents, and they thereby made ready for the slaughter; that men are not to be slain but to their power and corrupt interests, with the manner how, and the time when. NOw these children, infants & sucklings that were before begotten, upheld and maintained, by the late deceased Parliament, to wit, Priests, Lawyers, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, Tythe-mongers, Committee-men, Excise-men, Common-councel-men, Rev. 18.3. and all Clerks whatsoever that have long time been nursed up at the side of this man and woman, eating meat at their table, fed upon their dainties, hanged upon their breasts, sucked so much sweetness, riches, honour and pleasure from them, being authorized to live by the labour and oppression of other people, that now they are become rich, made fat, and so both father, mother and children, are all made ready for the slaughter; Rev 2.20, 21, 22, 23. therefore now thus saith the Lord, Go slay them all, and spare none, Slay both man, woman, infant and suckling, or suffer them not to remain in that condition so to oppress my people and live upon them as formerly they have done; but as to all unrighteousness smite them, Isa. 26.19. lay them low, even to the ground, Heb. 9.27. yet suffer them to rise again in a new life and resurrection with Christ; for as all men have sinned, so, It is appointed unto all men once to die, and so to be judged; that is, die to what they have been, as living to any thing besides God, or acting for any but God, and so come to live up wholly in God in all their ways and actions. And now thus faith the Lord, I remember how men have lived to themselves, and not to me, acted for themselves and not for me, and how they have tyrannised over my people by their unlawful dealing, exacting upon them, their persons, goods, labours and purses, by their unjust Laws and Statutes in their unlawful Offices, Courts, and Counsels, making preys of them, serving themselves by them; and if any that are oppressed by them complain of their oppression, they will plead the Authority of Parliament for what they do, as that by which they were brought forth, upheld and maintained, and say they have a law for what they do, and a power that maintains them in it; but sure they abuse their law and also their power, stretching it beyond its bounds, for which it is just with God to take it from them, who ere long will take all into his own hands, and leave them nothing, and so slay all, both man and woman, infant and suckling, the great whore and her children, Isa. 3.12. which have been the oppressors of the people. I need not stand to instance the names of all the children that belonged to this man and woman; for you yourselves know of them; but this I will say, that all whosoever or whatsoever hath at any time been brought forth, upheld, and maintained by late Kings and Parliaments, may be said to be their children, also that have had any reliance or dependence in and upon them, and been supported by them in their oppressive ways and actions, are their children, or being not lawfully begotten may be said to be bastards, and aught all to be slain or taken out of the way, and not any to be spared or left remaining as before, to rule in any power or sit in the place of justice; Deut. 23.2. for a bastard is not to enter into the Congregation of the Lord. But though they appear not as yet to be slain or ended, which they do not so long as all laws and acts whatsoever formerly made and kept up are still to remain in force, as they did while the late Parliament the last husband of this woman was living, though I know not how soon the Lord may come and make good this word and command of his to the rulers of the people, whom he may set up as instruments to do this work, and cause them to whom he speaks to obey his voice in slaying all and sparing none; but I do not speak of taking away men's lives, as formerly they have done by their law, How we are not to take away men's lives. but of taking away that oppressive power, law, rule, and authority out of the hands of cruel men by which they have lorded over men's lives, liberties and estates, and to have it to be reduced again into the hands of God, whose right it is, and not to man's, and who is able to rule all men in righteousness, joy and peace according to his mighty power whereby he is able to subdue all all things to himself, 1 Cor. 15.28. that himself may be all in all. Now for the time when this great work of Reformation shall be done, it is known only to the Lord, whose time is the best time, and who will do all his pleasure, and not all to all at once or in one age, Ecles. 3.1. but to every thing there is a season for all things under the Sun, wherein all things shall be done, that God in the end may appear to all to be all in all, which he doth not so long as man appears to be any thing, or that any thing of man remains; therefore no particular private interest or opinion of man is to be kept up, neither the good of some particular men only to be sought for, but the good of all in general; and all this being done, it would appear to be according to the Word, will and mind of God: but if any should say they have no such command to do as is here spoken, then answer they may that have it as to apprehend it in themselves; yet it is a command of the Lord that this work of justice should be done; and who should we expect to have it done by but by those that have the power in their hands, and that appear in the place of those that profess to do it? CHAP. VI What is meant by the Kenites that were among the Israelites, how they are and aught to be spared. THere is another thing which to me is signified by these Amalekites, for which they are thus to be slain, and that is a malicious people; for they did maliciously set themselves against Israel to betray them; but among those Amalekites there were some that were called Kenites which were to be spared from that slaughter, and they signify to me a kind people; 1 Sam. 15.16. For they shown kindness to all the children of Israel in the way as they came up out of Egypt; so in like manner I observed in this Parliament dissolved, that though some were malicious against the people of God, yet there were some among them that shown kindness, and that to their power stood for the freedom and liberties of the people, though others were against it, and such were to be spared, and not altogether so smitten as the others were; and as Saul privately gave notice to the Kenites, which were among the Amalekites, what he intended as touching the Amalekites that they might departed and escape; so it it is probable that those that were found to be honest among the Parliament were made acquainted of what was intended touching their dissolution, that they might be ware of it: for some which were of the Parliament did assist in the dissolution of the rest; and these may be said to be Kenites, for that they shown kindness to the people of God, and for which they were spared: for that power which appears to act in any people for the good of all people, is to be spared and permitted to act, for that appears to be the power of God which will suppress all that appears to act contrary to it, in the time of its manifesting forth itself. CHAP. VII. What's meant by Agag the King, the best of the sheep and of the oxen, which Saul spared alive, and how they discovered themselves by bleating and lowing. BUt now Saul did not only spare the Kenites which he should have done, What is meant by Agag the best of the sheep and of the oxen, and how they are, yet ought not to be spared. 1 Sam. 15.9. vers. 15. but he also spared Agag the King of the Amalekites alive, and the best of the sheep and of the oxen, and of the fatlings and of the lambs, and all that he thought was good, which he should not have done, and would not utterly destroy them, but every thing that he thought was vile and refuse, that he destroyed utterly; but the rest he reserved for himself, and said it was to sacrifice to the Lord. Now Saul spared Agag the King, and we may spare him also, which is more than we ought to do, who is the chief of the Amalekites & head of that oppressive power ruling in and by men, or of that man the husband of this woman before mentioned, which first brought him forth as her son, and afterwards became her husband; for indeed her sons in time come to marry her: but this Agag being once slain by the Lord, 1 Sam. 15.33. as the other was by Samuel, than this woman Agags mother, and also wife, becomes childless and husbandless to all but the Lord; so much for Agag which Saul spared alive. Next he spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, the fattest and wel-favouredst of the but flew the worst, the poorest, and il-favouredst of them; which alludes to this in our times, even the sparing of the best of men, Great men, Rich men, Church-members, or the best of their forms, ordinances, ways and worships, together with the best of men's Honours, Laws and Interests, and the slaying of the worst so called, to wit, Cavaliers and Prelates or Presbyterian forms, which should all be slain as to man, and remain living to none but to God, and no one of all accounted better than another, but the best as the worst, and the worst as the best; he that is great should be slain to his greatness, and he that is holy in himself or any thing but the Lord, should be slain to that holiness, and no man should be great, neither holy in themselves, but all in the Lord, with whom there is no respect of persons or of things, 2 Sam. 14.14. jam. 2.1. Psal. 139.12. but all are alike to him; for to him light and darkness, (the rich and to the poor, the Saint and the Sinner) are both one, and should be so to us; but this privilege we have lost for a time. Now as the sheep and the oxen which Saul spared, discovered themselves by bleating and lowing, so do some called Independents and Anabaptists now begin to discover themselves of their intents and purposes, by lifting up their voice in their meetings of preaching and praying, which I have heard with my own ears, crying down all men and forms besides themselves, but crying up themselves as the only men that should rule and reign next, and have the power of Government in their hands, and that their forms, ways, worships and opinions might still be kept up, as that which (they suppose) is best accepted with God, all which may be said to be but the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of oxen, as the fruit of the best and fairest, the fattest and wel-favouredst cattle which feed upon many hills, Psal. 50.9, 10, 11. that is many Forms and Ordinances, the New Moons and Sabbaths, their calling of Assemblies, solemn meetings, and their appointed Feasts, which the Lord saith he hath no delight in, neither any need of, but is weary of them, and saith that when they spread their hands, or preach, he will hid his eyes; when they make many prayers, Isa. 1.11, 12, 13, 14, 15. he will not hear; for their hands are full of blood, as sin, uncleanness, cruelty, and covetousness, and in all that they do they do but discover themselves what they are and would be, and that their design is to be great and eminent in the world among men; but though men may spare one another, yet the Lord will not spare them, but will bring them down together, with all their laws, works, ways and religious forms, that they have set up in opposition to the Lord Jesus; all shall fall, even to the ground, and men shall go over them, pass by them, and live above them in the Lord. CHAP. VIII. Samuel reproving Saul for not obeying the voice of the Lord, who excuseth himself, and lays it upon the people that were with him, whom he obeyed more than God; how to obey is better than Sacrifice; what a true Sacrifice is, best accepted, and who offers it. NOw when the Lord saw that Saul had not obeyed his command, but had reserved part of the spoil to himself, he acquainted Samuel with it, who was grieved at it, and came to meet Saul, who presently began to justify himself, and Saul said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, 1 Sam. 15.13, 14. I have performed his command; then said Samuel, what meaneth then the bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? as if he might say, me thinks I see something still reserved which should not have been; then Saul to excuse himself, said that the people (which were with him) spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice; he did not; so now in these times, vers. 15. if any man, law, act, form, way, worship, or opinion which was formerly made, set up, and maintained by any to keep the people in bondage, be still preserved, kept up, and maintained (to please any one sort of people) which the Lord would have put down, and then the Lord do acquaint any of his servants with this, and they do acquaint him or them which should have put it down, then may he or they excuse themselves, and say as Saul did, that the people or those that were with us spared it themselves, or desired it of us, and therefore was it spared, supposing in it to have done well, they who desired it appearing to us a people walking in the ways of God, etc. But let me tell any that should so do, that this were still but to act like Saul, and to keep something of an old rotten interest, and to advance the Kingdom of the World, wherein is hypocrisy, oppression and tribulation; & this kingdom being still kept up and exalted in form and formality, where then is the exaltation of Christ and his kingdom in Spirit and Power in the hearts of his people, which is the Kingdom that ought to be set up, and will be set up by the Lord of Lords in opposition to all other? and where is the work of righteousness, peace, joy and freedom among men, while this work of oppression and cruelty is carried on? therefore so long we may conclude, that in them the work is not yet done; to them the Kingdom of Christ is not yet come; by them the voice of the Lord is not yet obeyed, and with them the Kingdom of Antichrist not yet destroyed. But though Saul did thus neglect the command of the Lord, and please the people, and then to excuse himself lay it upon the people; yet let it not be so with us; let not us seek to please men, who would desire to have any thing spared or reserved that should be destroyed; but in all things let us seek to please the Lord and to obey his voice, and what his word of commands bids us to do, that let us do, which is, that no oppressor or tyrant be lest in the land, that there may be no more complaining in our streets, Isa. 33.24. or that the Inhabitant there may not say he is sick. Again, Saul farther to excuse himself, saith, that what was kept, 1 Sam. 15.21, 22. it was to sacrifice to the Lord: then said Samuel, hath the Lord as great delight in offerings and sacrifices as in obeying his voice? behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, Isai. 1. and to hearken then the fat of Rams; and who hath required this at your hands saith the Lord, that you should reserve any thing for me, who am full and need nothing? Psal. 50.9, 10, 11, 12. and what should the Lord now require of us who he knows hath nothing, but to offer unto him the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving? Isa. 51.16. and that is not ours neither, but his; nor offered by us, but by him; 'tis not we, nor all our fasts, prayers, forms and worships that he accepts of, but a sacrifice of righteousness, the Lord Jesus, who hath already offered up himself once for all; Heb. 9.28. and all that he looks for from us, and which he will make us to be, is to be a still silent passive people, Psal. 46.10. and to know that he only is active, who will do all things himself, and cause us to be silent; for a silent passive subjected condition to the Lord in all men, is that which the Lord accepteth of, and is the only sacrifice that can be offered up unto him, whose design now is to subject all men and things to himself, and he only appear and be made manifest in all, which is the Kingdom of the Lord, where nothing of man is to be seen in any thing, but all of the Lord; and this is the pure and perfect obedience and only sacrifice the Lord calls for in us, and which in his own time he by his mighty power will bring to pass with us. CHAP. IX. Of the Amalekites unjust possessing the Earth, both of the Philistians, and of Judah, of their giving gifts one to another, and of what. WE read in the 30 chapter of this Book of Samuel, vers. 16. how the Amalekites had spread themselves over all the Earth, eating, drinking, dancing, sporting and delighting themselves, because of the great spoil that they had taken from the people, both out of the land of the Philistians and out of the land of Judah. And were not the Governors of this land, together with their authority and family, their infants and sucklings, so spread over this land and Nation, eating and devouring the fat of the land, both of Cavaliers and Roundheads (so called) enemy and friends, or all men of what judgement or opinion soever? all were subjected to them, and they had the spoil of all in their hands, or at their command to dispose of as they pleased, even their wealth, riches, honour, peace, freedom, and all privileges whatsoever; they were Lords over it, and could and did command it at their own will and pleasure. And have we not seen for many ages, how they of this and other lands, have continued eating, drinking, dancing, feasting, feeding and refreshing themselves, making themselves rich and fat and merry by the people's rights, sending and giving gifts one to another of that which they had taken from the people, Rev. 11.10. rejoicing and delighting themselves in it, that they had made all men subject to them and their ways, and had the spoil and command of all in their hands to do with it as they would? this was the merriment of the Amalakites in their cruelty towards the people of the Philistians and of Judah, whose spoil they had got into their hands, and which Saul was commanded to recover from them, and restore to the people again, but did not. CHAP. X. How men entrusted with the Civil power of the Nation, ought not to be proud, and highminded, but humble and meek before God and man; that honour is the ready way to dishonour, and how. NOw observe, because Saul did not do the work he should, 1 Sam. 15.18, 19 but did evil in the sight of the Lord, in that he spared any of that which he should have destroyed, and recovered not the people, but suffered this oppression still to abide upon the people, therefore his kingdom was divided from him, vers. 28. and given to another that was better than he. A good caution for any who have the like power in their hands, not to act like Saul; for if they do, they may expect the power to be again taken from them and given to another, even to David, as saul's was. While Saul was humble, meek, and lowly in his own sight, and before all men, he appeared to follow the Lords steps, Mat 5.5.11.29. 1 Sam. 15.17. and was blessed, and then was this power given to him; but when he began to exalt himself, and to become great and high, both in himself and before men, that he was turned back from following the Lord to do as he commanded him, than was his Kingdom rend from him. And how should this teach Rulers and Governors now in these times, who sit in Authority, to be humble, lowly and meek, both in themselves and before men, and not to Lord it over the rest of their fellow-brethrens, farther than it shall be for their brethren's liberty, peace and freedom, whom they are to protect in all good things? but there is so much of man, flesh and self remaining in all men, that no sooner is any power put into their hands, but they are presently puffed up, filled with pride and haughtiness of spirit, setting up themselves above their fellow-Creatures, looking for honour from them, which immediately proves their ruin, downfall and destruction, according as it is written, Psal. 49.12. Psal. 37.11. Man being in honour abideth not, he is like the beasts that perish: but the meek shall inherit the Earth, and delight themselves in the abundance of Peace. Then, O that the Lord would be pleased to give such a power of himself into our hearts and spirits that would make us to be silent, humble and meek before him, and towards all men, that we might inherit this abundance of peace, and not to exalt ourselves above what we are or aught to be, Psal. 147.6. but to become one with all and to all in the Lord, and then should we stand and not fall, be most exalted when we are most huble: yet we find that the way which the Lord doth take to bring down the haughtiness of a People's power or interest, Amos 9.2. is first to set it up, or suffer it to be set up above what it ought to be, and then bring it down with a vengeance, as he will all men that are exalted in themselves, and not in the Lord; and there can be no greater exaltation in the Lord, then for a man to be humble in himself. When thou wast little in thine own eyes said Samuel to Saul, 1 Sam. 15.17. wast thou not then made King over Israel? But when thou begannest to be lifted up in thyself, and to reject the word of the Lord, Ver. 26, 27, 28 than the Lord rejected thee from being King, rend thy kingdom from thee, took the power out of thy hands, and gave it to David. CHAP. XI. Of David's possessing saul's Kingdom, his recovering the spoil which Saul did not, and his equal dividing it among the people. ANd now David comes, takes the Kingdom, possesses it, and doth the work that God commanded, he smites the Amalekites, and recovers all the spoil, the rights and privileges of the people, which they had carried away, and restores it again into their hands, That there was nothing wanting among them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, 1 Sam. 30.18, 19, 20. goods nor any thing that they had taken away; David recovered all, both of the flocks, herds, lands, goods and cattles, it all became David's spoil. And now it may please the Lord to put it into the hearts of those who are to act for the Civil Right of the Nation, to act like David in this thing, to recover all that the People have lost, and restore it again into their hands as David did, that none might complain of any want, or lie under any oppression any longer, neither say, One hath too much, and another too little of any kind whatsoever; but that every one may have that which is convenient for him, Prov. 30.8, 9 to his own satisfaction and content, which is the Kingdom of the Lord. And O what a pure, joyful, peaceable Kingdom should we then have, Isa. 9.6, 7. when Christ shall thus take the Kingdom to himself, and reign in the place of man, as David did in the place of Saul, and so restore the people unto their rights again as in the beginning, where all men shall have an equal proportion of satisfaction, and where he that hath lest shall know no want, and he that hath much shall have nothing over, but every one shall enjoy himself in all things that himself hath, and doth possess in the Lord! This will be the Kingdom that Christ (David's Lord) will take to himself, and for the People to establish them in, and this will be a joyful Kingdom, it will be the Lords Kingdom. And now if the Lord will yet be pleased in and by this power to work righteousness, do Justice, and to show mercy, he is to recover us all our rights & privileges from the hands of our enemies who have detained it from us; he is to recover all that ever we have lost, and which those that have been our Rulers have taken from us, and restore it again unto us, and not suffer them to go away with any thing but what is their own, and was before given them by the Lord, as to us; nothing of what was the People's (whose interest was as great as theirs in any thing that is the Lords) are they to carry with them, but to leave it behind them, and the people again to possess and enjoy it as their own right and privilege. CHAP. XII. Of some that desire to have the greater part of the spoil to themselves, and would not have it equally divided, who and what they are, with David's answer to them, and how it alludes to these times. NOw when David had done this work upon the Amalekites, and recovered the spoil of all into his hands, then before such time that he had given it the people, those that were with him at the doing of it, 1 Sam. 30.22. wicked men of Belial desired the whole spoil to be divided among them, and not that others who tarried at home by the stuff, and went not to the battle, should have any part, save every man his wife and his children; and so may some called Independents and Anabaptists desire now, who did most assist the General in the dissolution of this late Parliament; they may like those wicked men of Belial, desire to have the power, the freedom and liberty of the Nation to themselves, and not that others who assisted not and are not the same with them, should have any part of it save only their wives and children, which they indeed would not be troubled with, though they would be content to keep that which should maintain them, and the freedom which they should walk in, when all people should have the same liberty and freedom together with themselves, and be masters of their own rights and privileges, the one as the other; and not for some to say that because we have assisted and taken more pains and care in the recovering of it than others have done, that therefore the spoil shall be ours, and the Nation shall now be governed wholly by us, and according to our wills, without the free choice and election of the free People; this were but a wicked saying, and all wicked men of Belial that should desire it; but though others might not personally appear to act with them in this work, Ephes. 4.4, 5, 6. yet the same spirit, life, and operating power which lived in others, acted itself by them for that work being the same in all men; and they without that spirit, life and power, (all without God) could not do it; therefore it is meet that the same spirit and life in what form or body soever it be, should have the same freedom granted it as others in the same work with others. But now those who do not rightly know God, that would be all themselves, and have all to themselves, and that do not love their neighbours as themselves, Levit. 19.18. will not agree that their neighbours (with them) shall have the same equal share and proportion of the spoil which they have gained, that is their freedom and liberty, but will deny them of it, and say, it is ours, we have gained it, sought for it, and will have it; but I say, this were still but to set up (and act like) another Power of Flesh, or more fleshy than ever, also to marry another Woman, and so to beget more children which must also be slain with the rest when ever they appear to be brought forth or set up. But now see David's answer to these men of Belial that thus desired the spoil, and would not yield to have it equally divided, Ye shall not do so (said he) with that which the Lord hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hands; 1 Sam. 30.23, 24. for who will hearken to you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff, they shall part alike. And now this answer may our General (if the Lord shall please to put it into his heart) give to those of any one party, faction, or opinion, that should desire to have all the power, rule and authority put into their hands, and they only to have the greatest liberty and freedom to themselves, as now some have done, and declared for in their Meetings of Preaching, Praying, etc. No, You shall not do so my brethren with that which the Lord hath given us, who hath hitherto preserved us, and delivered all that ever came against us, into our hands; for who will hearken to you in this thing? but as his part is that acted with us in person, is of the Army, and doth desire it; so shall his part be that acted not with us in person, is not of the Army, neither doth desire it; they shall part alike, have their equal share in true freedom and liberty; for hath the Lord been pleased to give the rights and freedoms of the People into our hands, for us with others to give it to them whose right it is as well as ours, and that deserve as much of it in equity and reason as we do, and shall we withhold it from them? no, we will not, but they shall all have their equal share in it to use at their own wills and pleasures; every one shall have his freedom in things that are not hurtful to the Peace, Liberty and Freedom one of another; for it is theirs, and belongs to them as well as to us; and therefore who will hearken to you in this thing that you should keep it from them? surely none but such as are of your own party, and that would maintain the same interest with you; and this answer being given, it would be as an answer from the Lord. CHAP. XIII. A foresight of the people's oppression by the next Power; how none ought to be forced or compelled to any form or way of Worship, but as they are persuaded in their own minds; that all Forms shall cease, and when. ANd now should a number of men, either Independents or Anabaptists, or both, be now chosen, and have the power of the Nation put into their hands, as I believe they will, by whom I should he glad to see good things done; yet I apprehend in myself that we shall find some of them in devouring to set up themselves, and to subject all to themselves, their forms, ways, and opinions, and to keep up an Interest of their own as others have done before, and be as bitter and cruel in their spirits towards others as some ever were exercising the same authority over those that are of a contrary judgement to them, as ever Prelates or Presbyterians have been, and covet as much after riches and honour as others have done: all which things have been signified already to me by some of those parties in the several meetings both at Blackfriars in London and elsewhere; and those things by them practised I fear will at last prove their ruin and destruction, as it hath done to others before them, and will to all that shall in like manner be set up, and so act. And now that I would have none in point of Religion to be subjected, tied and brought to any form of Religion by men, contrary to their wills, but as the Lord shall bring them; for what ever their judgement be in the Worship of God, so far as they do not injure others, let them enjoy a freedom and liberty in it, and use their conscience in that way they are best persuaded of in God for the peace of their own souls; Rom. 14.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. let every one be persuaded in his own mind (saith Paul) and let us not use force and violence to turn any out of the way he walks in, wherein he is persuaded he sees any thing of God, 1 Cor. 7.24. Luk. 3.14. Cant. 3.5. but let every one abide where he is, and be content with the wages he hath given him, and not stir or awake his beloved till he shall please to come and manifest himself to him in a higher and brighter discovery of himself, and so give him more of the knowledge of him: for it is not a laying any outward restraint upon the people by the laws of men that can bring them in to believe the Truth; 1 Tit. 2.11, 12. Psal. 31.12. but the Lord with his love must constrain them, and by his Spirit must direct them; Uphold me with thy Spirit, saith David; and as we use to say, better stay at home then be forced to go to Church; so for a man to preach, pray, read, hear, or any other thing of that nature, and not to do it but in submission to the laws of men, he hath no peace or comfort in it, and then better left undone; therefore let all men act their freedom in point of Worship towards God which way they please, and also in other things so far as it is not against the peace and well-being one of another, and that which is not hurtful to body, goods, and good name; he that will worship God in this or the other way may; he that will have the Sacrament and be baptised, may; or he whose spirit is not drawn forth to do any of all these, may choose, 1 Pet. 5.2, 3. Rom. 14. Gal. 6.1. and let no man whatsoever be restrained from or to any Form of Worship that he is not in himself persuaded in conscience to, but in things that may be hurtful one to another; and such a one restore with the spirit of meekness, though all Forms of Worship and outward External Ordinances shall cease, perish, and come to nothing with the using of them, Col. 2.21. as God shall please to give men a sight of the emptiness that is in them; and in the mean time let all men have their freedom to use them, and not to use them; and let not one man think that he should enjoy his right, liberty and freedom in the way and things that seem best to him, and not that others should also; No, it shall not be so with you; but every one shall have the like freedom and liberty in all things that the Lord hath made him free in, according as I have said before. CHAP. XIV. How men in Power are not to act only for the freedom of themselves or a few, but for the freedom of all, and to abase themselves to exalt others; wherein is manifested Christ doing and receiving for us as for himself. ANd now let not those who are to act for the good of the People, and to settle them again in their own rights and privileges, now appear to act for themselves more then for the people, Mat. 23. from the 1 verse to the 12. whose servants they ought to be, and not their masters; for let all men serve one another in love (saith Christ) and he that would be great, Gal. 5.13. let him become your servant; and let them not endeavour to keep or reserve any thing to themselves of that which is the peoples, but let them restore to every man his own house, wealth, land, riches, honour, freedom and liberty, their Sheep, and their Oxen, their Camels and Asses; Psal. 115.16. or give them freedom in all that is the Lords, and which the Lord hath given to them, to wit, the whole Earth, and all things therein; and if this be not done according to the severity of the Lords command, than you of the Nations that dwell upon the face of the Earth, whose right and privilege all things are in the Lord Jesus, demand it, call for it, and suffer not them in whose hands the Power is, to rest till you have it, are settled in it, and possessed with it; Psal. 2.8. for it is your own inheritance, and you with that are all the Lords. And this would be the peaceable and joyful kingdom of Jesus Christ, when we are made to act all for the good one of another, and not only for ourselves and our own interests, maliciously endeavouring to set up ourselves one above another; but that we should love one another, continue saying & doing as Christ our Elder Brother said and did before us, Luk. 2.14. Glory be to God in the highest, Peace and good will towards men on Earth, and let all men do to others as they would others should do to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets, and the rule of Christ and his Apostles, Love your Neighbour as yourself. And now hath the Lord been pleased to give the Power of the Nation into the hands of one, or some men? and hath he or they recovered (as to themselves) all that the people had lost, which was their Native rights and privileges, also their freedom in spiritual things, a Kingdom of righteousness, joy and peace? O then that they would endeavour to act for the good of all people, to settle them again in that which is their own, the establishment of this Kingdom in all its Fundamental Laws, Rights, and Liberties, and that no man may be suffered to act for the setting up of himself, or any particular private interest, to enslave the People; but rather let them abase themselves one for another, and do as they have the Lord for an example, who was sent to redeem the People; and what would he not undergo for them that he might redeem them? Isa. 10. Phil. 2.7, 8, 9 He humbled himself and became obedient unto the death of the Cross, turned not away his face from shame and spitting; he became of no reputation with men, but cast himself down to them, that they might be exalted with him to God, and whatsoever the Father gave him, he freely gave it them; Joh. 17.21, 22 so should you do who now appear to be sent to redeem the people from all outward oppression and tyranny, to their former rights and privileges; The same mind should be in you as was in Christ Jesus; Phil. 2.5. and what should you not undergo for them? you should be cast down, abased and humbled in yourselves, become of no reputation, and then with the people you should rise again, be exalted and made honourable, and so come to enjoy your rights together, one as far forth as another, and you freely to give to the people that which now is given to you without partiality, which is for every man to enjoy his freedom in all things that belong to him in the Lord, and this would be to act like Jesus Christ, and to follow his steps, 1 Pet. 2.21. which most men profess they do, but do not. Jesus Christ suffered all men in their several ways and opinions, and forced no man to any way, form or opinion of things, by any outward Law, Rule, or Enforcement, but by the operation or working of his own and mighty power within them, Hos. 11.4. Joh. 6.44. Rev. 19.11. he drew them to him and after him, who is the King and Captain of our salvation, who is gone forth upon a white Horse, conquering and to conquer, to redeem his people Israel out of darkness and ignorance, from men, sin, death, hell, and the devil, and to recover all freedom, liberty, peace and eternal salvation for them; and he will not receive or do any thing for himself distinctly from us, but what he hath he freely gives unto us, he himself being the same with us: 1 John 4.17. John 17.22. For as he is, so are we in this world; and the glory that thou hast given me (saith Christ) I have given them, that they may be one as we are one; and all that is mine is theirs, and they with all that they have are mine, being members of my body, of my flesh, and of my bones; Eph. 5.30. Rom. 8.17. bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh, and so joint-heirs with me in all things that I am heir to in the Father; and then as Christ and we are fellow-heirs, so in like manner let us be fellow-heirs one with another in all things that each other do possess and enjoy in the Lord, being all brethren of one and the same family, and members of one and the same body; for we are members one of another. Eph. 4.25. Christ saith, that the Father hath given him power, glory, peace, freedom liberty, life, light and salvation, yea, Rom. 8.29. John 17.21, 22, 23, 24. all that the Father was, is, and had, that he should give it all unto us his people; and we come to enjoy it all in him, as the same with him; then when the Lord Jesus hath given unto us and to our knowledge all that the Father hath given him, then as the Father was free to give unto Christ, and as Christ was free to give unto us, 1 Cor. 7.21, 22. so shall we be then free to give one unto another, being all the Lords Freemen. And now, hath the Lord Jesus made any of us free, in this pure and perfect freedom of his love and freedom? then let us not use it to the satisfying of the flesh, as of ourselves or any other in particular, to the prejudice of others, but for the good and safety, the preservation and well-being of ourselves and all men whatsoever; Let us in love serve one another, and then it will appear to be perfect freedom, 1 Cor. 7.22. the freedom of the Lord, and we the Lords Freemen; but if we should appear to act otherways then this, we act not like Christ, john 8.36. or as such that are made free by Christ, but still as bondmen and not freemen, when we withhold from any people or thing, any thing that is the Lords, and given to us for them by the Lord. And now, hath the Lord given into our hands the Liberty, Peace, Freedom and whole trust of the Nation at this time? O then let us be just in our places, to restore it to the rest of our fellow-brethrens whose it is, and unto whom it belongs, and let us not so act as to keep it in our own hands, or to lock it up in a chest, or under a Law from them, and they not to enjoy it, but let them have it and be possessed with it, and in all things let us see the Lord acting by, in, and to himself in us, for the good of all people. CHAP. XV. Christ the true Restorer and Establisher of the People's Rights, and not men; God shaking, overturning and destroying men, and all things that are settling; how men have not power to settle any thing; and how we in all changes and turn, are to eye the Lord, and rest only in him. IEsus Christ is he that must recover again all that is lost, Ezek. 34.16. and bring back all that is driven away, and restore into our hands again all our Freedoms, Liberties and Estates, both temporal and spiritual; all shall be brought home to us by the Captain of our salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ; and in whatsoever person or persons he may act in or by for the accomplishment of this work, as also in all that is acted, let us behold the Lord in it, and say it is he who works all things according to the Counsel of his own Will, whose Counsel shall stand, and who will do all his pleasure; Isa 46.10. Exod. 14.3. and let our eyes be upon the Lord continually to behold his salvation, and then shall we appear to have all, peace, content and satisfaction, in all things that are acted and done by the Lord, and so see all things whatsoever freely to be bestowed upon us of the Lord; and though there may be a people or party of any one Faction whatsoever that would endeavour to keep the rights of the people in their own hands, Psal. 18.46. yet let us wait upon the Lord, trust only in him who is the God of our salvation; and though we may for a time see it to be withheld from us, yet let us peaceably and quietly wait upon the Lord for the restoring of it to us; Heb. 10.37. for certainly the time is at hand wherein he that shall come will come, and restore the Kingdom to Israel, and will not tarry or neglect the doing of it, but a short and a quick work will he make upon the earth, he will cut it short in righteousness, and so take the Kingdom to himself, and himself will rule and ragin in his own Kingdom, which consists not in meats and drinks, in observing times, Rom. 14.17, 18. places, forms, ordinances, ways and worships, but in righteousness, joy and peace in the holy Spirit; and this is the Kingdom of the Father which we all wait for, expect and pray for, when we say Thy Kingdom come. Matth. 6.10. But if there be a time wherein men or the enemies of Christ must yet reign with their Kingdom in opposition to the Lord and his Kingdom, let us be content with it, and patiently undergo the suffering of it; only let us tell them, that it is no continuing city for them wherein they shall abide or reign ever; for it is now even the last time, and the higher we see them to be advanced in themselves, the nearer is the time of their dissolution, or coming down; for a short and a quick work will the Lord now make with all flesh; and every one that is appointed to have his time, his turn, and his overturn, his beginning and his end, shall have it, which many we see have already had. And no party that now appears to be set up and endued with power below God shall stand long, no not long enough to settle or accomplish any thing but their own shame, Phil. 3.19. Psal. 83.16, 17, 18. Heb. 12.27. which shall befall all men that now go about to settle any thing when the Lord is shaking all things that may be shaken, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain; and all things besides himself are in a mutiny, a movable and unsettled condition, still rolling about, like so many clouds from East to West, or from one interest to another, that it will settle no more till it settles and centres in the Lord, where it can move no more. And then shall we say, Luke 1.68. Isai. 3.12, 13. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who hath visited and redeemed his people from out of the hands of cruel men, Children that have been their oppressors, and women that have ruled over them and caused them to err; and so brings all men forth of captivity and bondage, ignorance and darkness, out of all mutable, changeable and unsettled conditions that we have been in and under; and so leads captivity captive for us, Eph. 4.8. and gives gifts to us, which is perfect freedom, love, joy, peace, satisfaction and content in all things with the Lord Jesus, which is the Kingdom of the Lord, and will be also our Kingdom when it is thus brought home to us, and made manifest in us by the Lord. In the mean time it matters not much how variously soever we see men act in darkness, seeing it is not long before the Lord will appear to act all things himself in light, and we shall then appear to act all things with him in the same light, and so have joy, peace and comfort in all things with him: till the accomplishment of which work, John. 15.1. let every one patiently sit down under his own Vine, the Lord Jesus, till the grapes be through ripe, and then wait upon the Lord for the bringing in of his own Kingdom, to restore to us the full fruition of those graces of righteousness, Rom. 14. peace, and joy in the holy Spirit, which is the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus. Thus I could not but declare my apprehensions in these words at this time to you, as they are and were comprehended in me, and made known to me for you. FINIS.