To His Highness' Lord General Cromwell, Lord Protector, etc. The humble Cautionary Proposals of John Rogers, Minister of the Gospel according to the Dispensation of the Spirit (now) at Thomas Apostles London.  
MY LORD;  
IT is the great jehovah Nissi, or Lord Protector of his People, who hath awakened me morning by morning (who would not let me rest day nor night since you were Proclaimed Lord Protector) until his Spirit had set me upon my Feet in these following Proposals, with Cautions. Now, although I have no Encouragement from Man, and little hopes to be heard, who am so contemptible, and unfit for such a Message; Yet say not (saith the Lord) I am a Child, for thou shalt speak what I command thee, and be not afraid of their Faces, for I will deliver thee. Now because none else is up on this Errand (which is so eminently for Christ, and his Interest) and so many are up and jocund (already) for the interest of Antichrist; Therefore I can find no truce, nor peace within me till I become obedient to the Lord God, which hath opened mine ear, and I will not rebel; Therefore have I set my face like a flint, for I know that I shall not be ashamed.  
I. Proposal, Take heed of Protecting the Plantations of Antichrist, or the Towers of Babylon, which must fall (and with fury too) upon the Heads of their Protectors, as Isa. 31. 3. When the Lord shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth (or is their Protector) and he that is helped shall fall with him; To which purpose, is Psal. 146. 3. Trust not in (such) Princes in whom is no help, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or who are not able to Protect themselves or others in the Day of the Lords Controversy against Babylon; Therefore (My Lord) be set for the Defence of the Gospel, and encourage all you can the building up of Zion, and her Bulwarks, for in the midst of her, God will be a Refuge; And upon all her Glory he will be a Defence.  
II. Prop. Take heed of being guided or governed with the Old-State Principles, of Carnal Policy; for Antichrist works (now) more in a mystery of Iniquity then ever. And what the Beast could not do with his Horns here in England (by cruel pushing) which we hope are off, yet he hopes to do it with his Heads (by cunning plotting) which we fear are on. This Principle of Policy was fatal to Jehu; Achitophel's Counsel came to nothing: And Antiochus could not protect himself; although says Daniel, 8. 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He shall make his Design to prosper by his policy, and magnify himself; and although (by his Policy) he shall stand up against the Prince of Princes, (viz. Christ, the Head of all Principalities and Powers, Col. 2. 10.) yet he shall be broken (or destroyed miserably) without hands▪ So Isa. 17. 1. In that day Jehovah with his sore, and great and long sword will punish Leviathan (〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉) the piercing Serpent (Beriach i. e. in his Power) yea that crooked Serpent (Akal i. e in h●s Policy, which is most dangerous.) An enemy to Christ (2 Cor. 11. 3,) A friend in trust for Antichrist, and an evident Forerunner of Ruin to them that are ruled thereby). Wherefore (My Lord) set up Principles of Piety, with Ezra 7. 25, And thou after the wisdom of thy God set up Magistrates and judges which may judge all the people, etc. O Proclaim! Proclaim Christ alone the Head of your Wisdom, to whom the Lord hath given all power in heaven and earth. Consult with his word, Psal. 119. 24. lest you should be laid aside as not fit for his Work (which will make our souls mourn.) Luther was wont to say three things would be the Ruin of Religion, viz. Unthankfulness (to God) Security, and Carnal Polycie, and the last he feared most.  
III. Prop. Take heed of Carnal Councillors (I mean such men as seek themselves more than Christ) Darius, had such Counsellors who flattered him to his face, Dan 6. 6, 7. etc. but they were enemies to Daniel the true Prophet (who had an Excellent Spirit) and therefore (in hatred to him) they persuaded Darius to sign the Decree, who did it Accordingly, and set up Idolatry (by their Malignant Council) but could not for all that hinder daniel's Spirit of Prayer. Thus the Rulers complying with the Carnal Council of the Chief Priests crucified Christ in the Flesh, persecuted his Apostles and Disciples af●er him. This will be the fruit of such Counsels and Counsellors. Therefore (My Lord) let them give you Counsel that are conversant with the Secrets of God, and the Visions of these days. Belshazzar did send for Daniel to open the Vision to him that concerned him: So when you find (My Lord) all the Wise men (of the world) to fail you in the Visions of these times and seasons (by their liberal Arts and Sciences, Philosophical Notions, or Rules) then send for the daniel's (of an Excellent Spirit) to confer with upon the Prophecies, such as have their Wisdom and understanding by the Spirit of God; For if the false Prophets may prevail with you, no daniel's (by their good wills) shall be left alive, but all be thrown into the Den (ere long) through their subtlety. Besides (My Lord) it concerns you (you will find one day) to have a high esteem of those most Honourable Members of the last Parliament that proved faithful to Christ against Antichrist, and his cause.  
IV. Prop. Take heed of meddling with the Protection of men's Carnal, Cruel, Heathenish laws, guilty of Tyranny, Oppression, Perjury, Cheating, Injustice, Persecution, and much innocent blood, and moft of them contrary to the Laws of God, whose Laws are to be restored, and made Republic Laws in these latter days, as Isa. 42. 21, 22. For his righteous esse sake he will magnify the Law, and make it HONOURABLE. His are the best in all cases that ever were made, which must be known to all Deut. 30. 10, to 16. Job. 7. 49, than Justice will be easily had, and Judges sit in every City-gate, 2 Chron. 19 5. Deut. 16. 18. without respect of persons, and which none dare gainsay, Heb. 10. 28. Rom. 2, 2. Deut. 1. 17. Leu. 14 22. 1. Sam. 12. 3. Leu. 29. 15. Yea, then will Judges be as at first, and the Lord our Lawgiver, Jam. 4 13. Isa. 1. 26. and this Law (or Body of Law which is Gods will abide for ever: Therefore (My Lord) about the Lords Laws, above the Lands Laws, the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mizuoth de ora ita, or rather the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Torah Shebicthab, and not of the Carnal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Minhagbim, Customs, peevish Lusts, or partial laws of men. Away! away! with our Egyptian (Norman) Laws (now) and with good Josiah, 2 King. 22. 12, 13. having found the Book of God's Laws, let that be Read and Restored; And as Ezra 7. 25. to judge such as know the Laws of our God, and teach thou them that do not. Mal. 4 4▪ Remember the LAW of MOSES my Servant, which I commanded (for the Commonwealth) with the STATUTES and the JUDGEMENTS, which if you do not, the Lamentation in Dan. 9 11. will be ours. O! all (England) have sinned in wanting (the word is, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or being without) thy Laws, O Lord! And therefore the curse is poured upon us! and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of the Lord, Leu. 26. 14, 15, 16. etc. Dent. 28. 15, 16, etc.  
V Prop. Take heed of Protecting the Carnal, National Antichristian Clergy (though they come in the name of Orthodox or Learned, for so did the Scribes and Pharisees.) Zedekiah's indulgence to the Priests and false Prophets of the Nation, emboldened Hananiah in his lies, jere. 28. 1, etc. Which (Zedekiah believing) persecuted the true Prophets, and brought dreadful destruction upon his own head. So Ahab (a notable Politician) did protect his National Clergy, or Prophets (who were his, not the Lords, 2 Chro. 18. 5.) and by their suggestion, hated and persecuted the true Prophet Micaiah, which proved his ruin. Thus the Rulers that were led by the Priests, proved Tyrants to the true Ministers of the New Testament, Acts 4. 16, 17. And whiles they would defend them, they destroyed themselves. Thus the worldly Clergy do ever fly to worldly Powers for Protection (having none from God,) and for this end it is, they flatter great men, to engage them to their Ruin; so do Antichrists, now they are near falling, and (without the Lord hear prayers for you, and deliver you from this fearful danger) they will ensnare you, and cast you a sleep with their enchantments, and render you unfit to follow Christ any further, but (under the name of the Ministry) most miserably entangle and subtly seduce you into Antichrists cause: Which if they do, will be your utter Ruin, as Revel. 4. 9, 10. If any worship the Beast, or his Image, and receive his mark in his Forehead, or in his Head, or in his Hand, the same shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God, etc. Revel. 19 20. And the Beast was taken, and with him the false Prophets, with whom he deceived them that received the Mark of the Beast, and them that worshipped the Beast; these were cast alive into a lake burning with brimstone. Therefore (my Lord) if a word from jehovah on high, may (as yet) be received, look about you! and before you! with an ocule irretorto! Make haste, my Lord, for Christ's Protection! against the Plagues that are (as sure as God is Righteous) coming upon Babylon, and all that will cleave to her interest. Luther was not too bold (in the name of the Lord) to tell his Lord Protector, the Elector of Saxony, Judico celeitud. vest. plus à me praesidii & tutelae habituram esse quam mihi praestare: Huic causae nullus gladius consul●re aut opem ferre potest, etc. That by his Prayers he had gained him more safety and protection, than he had received from him; and that the cause of Christ needed not his Protection, but he needed that's Protection. The power of man (indeed) protects Antichrists cause, but it is the power of God (set a work by Faith and Prayer) that protects Christ's. And Sive id credat. C. V Sive non credat, (says he) Whether you will believe it, or no, yet this Way I will undertake to secure and protect your Highness' Soul, Body, Estate, and all, (viz. By Faith and Prayer) if you engage freely in the cause of Christ against Antichrist. So say I (my Lord) in that Name which sent me (which fills me with courage and confidence) that if you will freely oblige for Christ and his Interest, the Faith and Prayers of the Saints (which were never higher than now) shall protect you sufficiently in all emergencies; but if you will engage for Antichrist and his Interest, the loud crying Faith, and incessant high-spirited Prayers of the Saints, will all engage against you, and never give Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord our Protector rest, till the excellency of Jacob have prevailed, 2 Chron. 19 6. Take heed what you do!  
Thus the Lord hath stirred me up by an  and restless power (once more) to lay his work before you; for that he hath used you as a most glorious Instrument in the Three Nations (by the Faith and Prayers of his people) to make way for this work; which if you reject, will reject you, and be the infallible forerunner of your fall: Which that God may prevent, is the fervent prayers of the faithful people night and day, whose souls mourn in secret for you, whose hearts ache and bleed abundantly on your behalf; as for a man (most dear in their souls▪ but) under most desperate temptations and dangers.  
I have freely exposed myself (in this my Master's service) by whose spirit I am (I hope) full of power to all the sharp censures, reproaches, revile, and hard measures that I can meet with, from Men or Devils, choosing rather to have my peace within me, then without me, and to suffer with his afflicted Saints, then to sin with the World. Ruere cum Christo quam regnare cum Caesare: It may be men will judge me proud or selfseeking, as they thought of Luther, if so, I say also, Inveniar sanè superbus, etc. Modo impii silentii non arguar, dum Christus patitur. Be it so, yet I had rather men think so, than I sit silent, whilst Christ suffers: Yea, Prorsus Satan est Lutherus dum Christin vivit & regnat, Amen. Though I be accounted a Devil, or any thing, I care not (be it so) so Christ may but reign. But, in these Proposals, I am sure, I have kept my sphere, and followed the strong impulse of Gods own Spirit in me, and many others; however it be taken. Wherefore the great God awake you to his work! else the time will come when God will say, Let him alone; he is joined to Idols, Hos. 4. 17.  
Now that the Hand of the Lord may be with you, see what these five fingers point at, to you; which if you practise, will be able to protect you, as well as direct you in this dreadful day of the Lords controversy for Zion: They concern you (my Lord) more than Caesar's Paper did him. Now that they may not prove a Hand Writing against you (and a Cup of trembling put into your hands) they are strengthened with a Divine generosity, and shall struggle with you in the Faith, Tears, and Prayers of many, who pray and mourn for you, and amongst other,  
Your (afflicted) faithful Servant, for the Interest of our Lord jesus, JOHN ROGERS. From my Study, the 21 day of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tebeth, or the Tenth Month.