Little Benjamin OR Truth Discovering Error: Being a clear and full Answer unto the Letter, Subscribed by 47 Ministers of the Province of LONDON, And presented to his Excellency, January 18. 1648. To Inform the Ignorant of the concurrent proceedings To satisfy the desirous of the Parliament and Army. IN Taking away the life of Charles Stuart, late King of England, together with, &c. By a real lover of all those, who love peace and truth. Go in dethrone sin. Psal. 149. 9 Execute upon them, the Judgement written: this honour have all the Saints. Job 32. 22. I know not to give flattering titles: In so doing My Maker would soon take me away February 17. 1648. Imprimatur GIL. MABBOT. Printed at London, for George Whittington, at the blue Anchor in Cornhill, near the royal Exchange, 1648. The Epistle to the Reader. Courteous Reader, &c. I Doubt not but this, like Benjamin, although the least and last brought forth, May nevertheless be much desired, embraced, & have a portion with his Brethren, not to say a double one, he comes in a plain dress, and speaks in a home, clear, and genuine sense, with faithfulness to the matter in hand: with Arguments well grounded upon Scripture & reason; & all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable, comprehending all truth in the Letter of the written word, whereunto we do well to take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place (to wit, our understandings, darkened through the ignorance that is in us) until the day (of the light of the Lord) dawn, and the day star (of the spirit of life) arise in our hearts. Then shall we not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think, but think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man, the measure of faith, but for those whosoever they be, that will walk in their own way pretending truth, Judg. 12 1. &c. where none is, and like* proud Ephraim reproach, and provoke that supreme Authority, which God hath honoured, and the Nation chosen, let them take heed they no more pierce at their heart, through the sides of the general, and his council, who act by their authority. But let them fear, and remember that justice may, and must reach them, if they persist, as those Ephramites did, (which God forbid) and lost 42000 of that Tribe by so doing in that War. And now I recommend you to the ensuing Treatise, and to the spirit of truth, to discover and to guide us into all truth. And rest a hearty lover of every son of Truth. J. R. Truth discovering Error. FOr as much as divers Ministers of the gospel (as they style themselves) in the Province of London, in their Letter to the Lord general and his council, presented to his Excellency Febr. 18. 1648 did neglect the grace of truth and soberness, contrary to their duty, as appears in St. Paul, who when reproached by Festus, answered, I am not mad most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness; Therefore according to the gift of the Spirit, and measure of grace that is given to me, the weakest of Christians, I shall proceed to answer the untruths and manifest reproaches cast upon his Excellency and the general council therein. First, Minst. 1. therefore unto pag. 1. 2. whereas you acknowledge, You were invited, but did refuse any such meeting as was proposed unto you by the general council; and that you do give his Lordship and his council the reason of that refusal, &c. To this I answer, Answ. That the reasons of this your refusal are mere pretences, grounded upon your own wills, and upon a bare opinion of some of your brethren's dislike of their late actions, &c. you not considering that your Brethren are as fallible as yourselves: And that you have done contrary to the gospel practice, in refusing any such meeting as was proposed unto you; to inform and instruct them clearly by reason, well grounded upon Scripture truth; also by your carping at, and traducing their honest, just, and faithful proceedings, legally grounded upon their Commissions, and their Authority derived from the Parliament, for the welfare and safety of this Nation, besides your reproaches cast upon them; whereas you ought to have dealt with them in all humility and love, much more than * Act. 26. 24. &c. Paul did to F●st●●, (for that you were much more obliged unto them) also to King Agrippa and Bernice. And thus St. Luke presented his gospel unto most excellent Theophilus, * Luk. 1. 3, 4. which you have not done; and therefore it is evident that you have passed your own bounds, and acted beyond your sphere, the which you have most injuriously and unjustly applied unto them, not only in this, but in many other calumniations in the rest of your Letter, as shall be clearly proved. Therefore to proceed. Secondly, Minist. 2. whereas you tax them of injustice, pag. 3. saying: But as if the justness of your way were already granted by us, we were only invited to contribute our assistance, in prosecution of what you had undertaken, which we conceive to be out of your sphere; and for us to have joined in any consultation of this nature, would have made us accessary unto them, and guilty of the evil which is in them, and even partakers of other men's sins, contrary to the Apostles rule, who bids us abstain, even from all appearance of evil, and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but reprove them rather. Answ. I answer: Friends, had you any reason to cast this odium upon them, except to exasperate the malignant spirits of the people to sedition, by persuading them, that the general and his council are the vilest of sinners? acting without their sphere, in the unfruitful works of darkness. And do you not in this make way to the malignant multitude to think that the general and his council are in as evil a capacity as themselves, in acting according to their own wills, for that you do persuade them, that they act without their sphere; and that their consultations and concurrence with the Parliament, in execution of justice upon the King and his adherents, might have been opposed by them; not considering with yourselves, that his Excellency and his council are authorized and impowered by their Commissions from the Parliament, for the defence of the People, from which they ought not to decline; and in which thing God hath helped them against all his and their enemies, in the greatest exigencies of distresses, from time to time, as much as any Army since the days of Gideon. And are they not also bound by their Covenant to bring Delinquents to condign punishment, of whom the King was chief? O that you had seen, and pulled the beam out of your own eye first, else how can you see clearly to cast the mote out of your brother's eye; but I spare, &c. only Judge not, that ye be not judged. Thirdly, Minist. 3. again, whereas you allege, It is already sufficiently known (besides all former miscarriages) what attempts have of late been put in practice against lawful Authority, especially by the late Remonstrance and Declaration published in opposition to the proceedings of Parliament, as also by seizing and imprisoning the King's Person without knowledge and consent of Parliament. I answer: Men who are authorized and entrusted by the Parliament, Answ. to act for the Nation in general, as the Lord general and his Officers are, may not be able at all times to stay for particular directions, and yet attempt nothing against lawful Authority, so long as they act only for the good and safety of the People, as they did, and therefore are now cleared by the Parliament for their so doing. You might also very well remind how they remonstrated to the Parliament, what they would do upon good grounds, long enough before they proceeded to action; all which time there was no Ordinance or Act of Parliament made to restrain them, as there is now made to justify them in all their proceedings. Fourthly, Minist. 4. and whereas you accuse them, of their late actions towards many of the Members of the Honourable House of Commons, forcibly hindering above one hundred of them for sitting in Parliament, and imprisoning many of their persons, calling it an unparalleled violence, many of them being known to be men of eminent worth and integrity, who have given most ample 〈…〉 of their real affections to the good of the Parliament. I answer: That if they did seclude so many, Answer. and imprison many of their persons, yet their worthiness, either as Members of the House, or men of eminency and integrity, who had given most ample testimony of their real affection to the good of the Kingdom, was not the cause thereof, as you say, but their persisting to do an unworthy act after they were admonished, pursuing their design in behalf of the King, against the safety of the People; and some other unworthy actions of some of them, preceding that one act. You have the like case in * As in 1 Kings 1. 52. & chap. 2. 12. &c. to ver. 35. is very apparent, and in the former part of the first Chapter. Ad 〈…〉 jah, Joab and Abiather, men of eminent worth, and two of them of great trust and integrity, who had suffered with David in all his afflictions, Joab exposing his life in all David's and the people's wars, for the safety of the kingdom all his days, save only in this last action, consulting with and helping Adoniiah, David's eldest son alive, and not yet declared against, as heir apparent to the kingdom: Nor had David then declared for Solomon, whom God had designed to be Ruler of his People; and yet upon this occasion, not only Joab must have his other personal transgressions put into the balance with this national one, and be put to death, but Abiather also; although the Lords anointed, having by this one offence forfeited his Authority, and deserved to die, must be thrust out of the High Priesthood, and be sent to Anothoth, to his own Lands, as a peculiar favour showed to him, in that his life was spared, because he bare the ark of the Lord before David; and yet his father and all his family, save only * For that Abiather escaped away. himself, were destroyed by Saul for David's sake, and abiathers' Sons, did also hazard their lives, to give David intelligence when he fled from Absolom. Fiftly, whereas you say, page 4. Remember the advice of Solomon, Minist. 5. fear thou the Lord and the King, and meddle not with them that are given to change, &c. And then say, The fear of God therefore (whose Ordinance is violated when Magistracy is opposed) makes us afraid of meddling with those who without any colour of legal Authority, merely upon presumption of strength, shall attempt such changes as these are, &c. I answer: That what you have peremptorily asserted, Answ. is not proved, and may be retorted; for St. Paul, Rom. 13. 1, 2. having laid down every Christians duty, to the end that they knowing these Higher Powers (when lawful) Kings, Rulers, &c. may not resist them; he sets them forth by their constitution (viz. that) Rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wherein he implies this Doctrine, That what Rulers soever, Kings or others, who decline their duty, and contrary to their constitution, become a terror to good works, and justify the evil (viz.) wilfully and publicly perverting the Law, and do ordinarily introduce an Arbitrary, tyrannical, and unjust course, acting against the public good and safety, to the ruin of the People, who have entrusted them; such do thereby lose their power, and cease to be Rulers, and aught to be declared * In this case the Tyrant Nero was by the Senate of Rome sentenced to be whipped thorough the City, and thrown down the Tarpeian Rock, so then even nature itself concurred with St. Paul in those very people to whom he had written &c. the Athe●ians and lacedaemonians were full of these examples, Act. 22. 4, 5. & 23. 3, 5. and proceeded against for such. For these Tyrants calling good evil, and evil good, are abomination to the Lord, and do forfeit their Authority thereby, by the testimony of the gospel. St. Paul, Acts 22. 45. appealing unto Annanias, as High Priest in the Jewish acceptation, and as he had esteemed of him, when he was a persecutor, and received Authority from him, being one of the Estates of the Elders of Jerusalem, St. Paul's saying, I persecuted this way (to wit which he now professed) unto the death, binding and delivering unto Prison both men and women, as also the High Priest doth bear me witness; but within a few days after he denieth his Authority and Rule, calling him the accident, whited wall, a colour that makes fair show, but hath no substance; for in truth Ananias had forfeited his Authority and Rule. And St. Paul gives the reason, saying, For sittest thou to judge me after the Law, and commandest me (to wit arbitrarily and tyrannically) to be smitten contrary to the Law. And therefore he affirmed, That he knew not that he was the High Priest, (although in the Jewish acceptation, he both knew and had appealed unto him as High Priest) and confirmeth it with Scripture, saying, It is written, thou shalt not speak evil of the Ruler of the People. This truth considered, how then could you charge his Excellency and the council▪ It have violated God's Ordinance, by opposing Magistracy, without any colour of legal Authority, seeing they have concurred with, and are justified by the Parliament in all their proceedings against the King; and for that he long since had forfeited his Power and Authority, much more than Ananias, detesting himself of all, and disobliging this Parliament, Army, and People, of their Allegiance to him, and also subjected himself unto the power of the Parliament, and Justice of the laws of this Land, for the following reasons: First, because the Kings of the Gentiles were always by human institution, entrusted for the safety of the People, and are no sacred anointed Types of Christ, King of the Church, as the Kings of Judah and Israel were, and received their institution to that end from God. Secondly, because our King hath been a terror to good works, and justified the evil, and evil doers, for many years before he raised war upon the Parliament and People) by forcing Ship-money and loans by his privy seal, and Monopolies of all kinds, oppressing and persecuting his Subjects in an Arbitrary way, by Star-chamber and council-board Censures, loss of member and blood, and stigmatizings, &c. Thirdly, Parliament Declaration 20 May, 1642. Persisting in full opposition to the Parliaments humble Suits and Declarations made unto him, showing that whensoever the King makes war upon the Parliament, it is a breach of the trust reposed in him by his People, contrary unto his Oath; and tends to the dissolution of this Government; which truth fully appears at this day. They further declared, that whosoever shall serve and assist him in such war, are traitors by the fundamental laws of the kingdom; ●…. Rich. ●. ●Hen. 4. and have been so adjudged by two Acts of Parliament, and aught to suffer as traitors. Fourthly, he afterwards did endeavour with a high hand utterly to subvert salus populi, and to destroy this Nation, by setting up his Standard, and waging open war upon the Parliament, and against all his good and loyal Subjects. Fiftly, by his prosecution of two wars, in destroying the precious lives of very many, together with the rapines and ruins of millions of people, in these three Nations. Sixthly, for that the King despising good and faithful counsel, when seasonably given him by the Parliament, of whom he ought to have received it; wholly adhered unto, animated and followed, perverse, foolish, slanderous, wicked, proud, malicious, haughty, deceitful, and murderous men's counsel, who endeavoured utterly to root out, extirpate, and extinguish the very name and being of all those who were the faithful of the Land, and endeavoured a thorough Reformation; of all wicked and unrighteous practices in the King, his family and kingdoms. Seventhly, by betraying his Subjects into the enemy's hands abroad (to wit) in the Isle of he, and in neglecting to relieve his Subjects in Ireland, against those most barbarous and bloody Enemies, and in bringing of them, and other foreigners from other * witness the Jermine Horse, Spanish Fleet, and the Scots invasion. nations in upon us. Eightly, for that the King with all his traitorous Forces, did continue to resist the Parliament and this Army raised by their Power and Authority, for the defence of this Nation, until they had subdued them, and made the King their conquered Prisoner, after which time he ceased not to persist in his former designs. Ninthly, by his transgressing transcendently, more than Saul did, for he only spared God's enemies, for which his kingdom was taken from him, Iosh. 15. and given unto David; but our Saul destroyed the Lord's dearest friends, Exod. 4. 22. & 19 5. his first borne, his peculiar Treasure and Jewels, most dear and tender unto him; Zach. 2. 8. he that toucheth them, toucheth the apple of his eye; Psal. 105. 14, 15. these are his truly anointed ones, he hath reproved Kings for their sakes; saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my Prophets no harm. Now, forasmuch as the Powers that be, are ordained (or ordered) of God, and God hath so ordered it, that this Army, contrary to the endeavours, strivings, and expectations of their Enemies multiplied plots and practices, openly perpetrated against them in all parts of England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland, &c. besides all the in-workings and secret plots in the Parliament and City, and in all other places against them, as also by many of them who call themselves Ministers of the gospel. I say, seeing God hath so ordered all, that this Army should prevail against all, and subdue all unto the Immediate supreme Power of the Parliament, and by their Authority and Commissions given to them. How is it then, that ye who are teachers of others yourselves, are not yet ashamed to violate God's Ordinance, by piercing and wounding of that Authority which God hath set up in the Parliament: through the sides of the general, his council, and this Army; you having presumed upon the fluid and vulgar opinion, of your Authority with the rude multitude of Malignants, to countercheck and control all, and with one breath to have cried up the King's life into safety, and to have freed his person from Justice, saying, The Lord hath said it, as those 400. Prophets said to Ahab. Zedekiah smiting Micaian on the cheek, 1 ●●…a. ch. 22. because he declared God's will for Ahab's death. Sixthly, whereas you say, We have not forgotten those declared grounds and principles, ●inist. upon which the Parliament at first took up Arms, and upon which we were induced to join with them, from which we have not hitherto declined, and we trust through God's grace never shall, &c. I answer to page 5, 6. That it is well known, Answ. the first grounds and principles of the Parliament were for Salus Populi; and it had been well if you yourselves, and every Member of the House also, had not declined, but acted upon that principle ever since: And although I grant you, The King's practices upon the Parliament was an high violation to their privileges, and an act so injurious and destructive to the good of the kingdom. Yet I answer: It was but while the Parliament, and those five Members were fixed for the public good and safety of the People, but since that, many of the Members declining that Principle, desired the King rather than the safety of the People, by whom they were entrusted for the good of this Nation. Therefore upon that occasion they were very justly secluded and imprisoned, without that, that the Army did act any violence upon the Parliament, or made any breach of their privileges, as you have inferred, and for that the foresaid members were not seized upon, when they were assembled in the house, but without doors, and for acting, against the safety of the people. And without that, that the Parliament is not now free, and full, and as really, as when the King would have seized on the five Members; for the Parliaments being free, and full, doth not consist in a multitude, who are contrary minded, Note 〈…〉. and principled, but the Parliament is free, and full, because they now do act unanimously for the safety of the people, and the good of the Nation, blessed be God for it, and blessed be the repairers of the breach, and the restorers of paths to dwell in. I say 58. 1●. And without that, that his Excellency or the council of war, are but private persons, in reference to the power of Magistracy, or have usurped an Authority over King and Parliament, or have meddled with affairs which belong not to them (as is suggested by you) but have only performed their duty, to that end for which they were entrusted, and authorized by the Parliament, in defence of this Nation: and therefore they could not have neglected what they have done; without breach, of public trust, reposed in them. And most repugnant, to the laws of God, nature, and Nations, together with the dictates of reason, and neglect of their Commission. Seventhly, And to pag. 7, 8● together with the rest of your Letter tending to that purpose. I answer, and retort the matter, falsely surmised by you, against the general and his council. That the King alone, did divest himself, and by his own doings subvert and overthrow the whole frame and fundamental constitution of the Government of the kingdom, according to the Parliaments forecited Declarations of May 20 1642. And therefore it was, and is now high time (after so long an interruption of enemies) for the Parliament and Army, concurrently, to appear to do their duty, not only by executing justice upon the person of the King, and his adherents, but also in new moddling and settling such a frame and fundamental constitution of Government in the kingdom, as God shall put into their hearts, to be most convenient, and useful, for the welfare and safety of the people. And for the maintenance of Religion, their privileges, laws, and Liberties, against all Malignant counsels and designs, for introducing of an arbitrary and tyrannical power, and against all irregular proceedings of private persons (tending to the subversion of the Parliament Army or people) whither pretended ministers of the gospel, or others, by what soever fallacious device presented, to delude; deceive, and pervert the people, by persuading them that his Excellency, the council, and the Army, have failed in performing of their duty to the * Here you wilfully forget that part of the Covenant viz. to bring delinquents to concligue punishment, and was not he the chief? King in the several oaths and Covenants generally taken, throughout the kingdom; and in the protestation of May 5. 1641. I further answer. You have not considered that the King did since that time refuse all the good and faithful council, of the Parliament, and by setting up his standard, waging and persisting to wage an open war upon them, and against all his good and faithful Subjects, whereby he did head all the heads of the Malignants, and became the chiefest, and did thereby divest himself of all royal majesty, splendour, power authority, honour, and estate, and did disoblige the Parliament, Army and people of their protestations, oaths; vows, and Covenants made in his behalf, by his said wilful opposing & rejecting of them, when seasonably offered unto him, without that, that (as you have alleged in pag. 9) there was any similitude of agreement in their Oath, and Covenant taken, towards the King, and that which the people made with Zedekiah, or that the Army did despise, or break any such Oath and Covenant, and thereby violated God's word, and more righteous Oath, to provoke the wrath of the Lord against them, at is untruly suggested; therefore to use your own words of reproof. It is not high time that you would commune with your own hearts, consider the evil of your own ways, and turn from them? and have you not done to the general and his council, as the Prophet Shemiah, and the Prophet N●adia, and the rest of the Prophets did unto Nehemiah, when he inquired of them, to put them in fear? and have you not feigned these things out of your own heart, to weaken their hands from the work (of the Lord) that it might nor have been done? and is not this a strong motive to the general, and every one of his council, and Army, who love the Lord with all their heart, to be very courageous, and to pray as Nehemiah did, now therefore, O God strengthen my hands? And for Instruction, I shall take your own words, entreating you to remember from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do your first works, &c. and also how hath the Parliament (and Army) which sustained the force, and opposition of professed enemies for many years, been made contemptible, and torn in pieces, by (you their) professed friends in one day? how is the golden cord of Government broken in sunder, and the honour and the authority of Magistrates laid in the dust? by your misapplications in this one letter, as if you were ignorant, that the supreme power is in the Parliament, and that the Army, have their power from them, and do act together with them, for the safety of the people. And was not this a declared ground, and chief principle, upon which, the Parliament first raised arms, and upon which we were induced, to join with them, and from which the now Members, and those who adhere to them, have not declined from the beginning. And Oh, that you had not brought against them a exyling accusation, whereby you speak evil of those things, you seem not to know, but what you only seem to know by natural brutish reason, grounded upon outward honour and profit, Jude. like those filthy dreamers, whom Jude speaketh of (who taking their own opinion for the Oracle of God, do spiritually) defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities, woe unto them for they have gone in the way of Cain (swelling against their brethren whom God hath preferred, and accepted,) (and to obtain corruptible, honour, riches, and greatness of the world have) ran greedily, after the error of Balaam, for reward, And (swallowed up with earthly-mindedness, have) perished in the gainsaying of Core. You like these are murderers, complainers, walking (not after God's written truth, even as they also— dreamed, but) after your own lust, your mouth speaking great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration, because of advantage, the Parliament and general with this Army, even those Moseses, or Moses, whom ye have refused, saying who made * To wit, the Parliament and his Excellency. you a Ruler, and a Judge, the same did God send, to be our Rulers, and deliverer. Take heed therefore of levelling yourselves with them, * Their own words retorted saying, you take too much upon you; nor be not mutineers like Corah, Dethan, and Abiram; Lest a more spiritual judgement do consume you, and your names be written in the Earth, whilst ye yourselves call justice and righteousness, murder, in those who did proceed to execute judgement upon those against whom they were bound to do it by the Covenant. And whereas you do affirm, That the * O most shameful presumption and pride, for they are all quite contrary to you, t. c. Alstedius, &c. remember the Scribes and Pharises, 10. 7. 47, 48, 49. Tenure of the Scriptures, constant judgement, and Doctrine of Protestant Divines, both at home and abroad, do fully concur in their judgements with you. How can that be, when as there was never like example of any King before this, who did so wilfully diminish, and totally divest himself of all his majesty, just Power, and greatness, by adulterating himself and spending his strength with strangers, against his cordial, faithful, and espoused People? was it not then high time for his Espousals to have a Bill of divorce? And did not this grand pretended father of this Nation, destroy a multitude of his best children? And would he not gladly have slain all the rest, upon further opportunity? was it not then high time the Parliament should execute judgement upon him? that God and all the world may be witnesses, they would give him no further opportunity or means, either by cohabitation or communion to destroy them? and did not the people's spirits groan in them, and their backs bow under the burden of their irreparable loss, until they were in some measure eased? Therefore Examine your own hearts as in the sight of God (to retort your own words) and make the case your own, as Nathan made the parable David's, in that you have Jesuitically, under pretence of Religion and conscience, raised false and reproachful imputations upon the general and his council, traducing and aspercing them with evil, that you may the more easily divide the people's affections from them, and sowing sedition in their hearts, beget in them an evil opinion of Authority, and make them ready to rise up in rebellion against the Parliament and Army, upon any opportunity from the Enemies at home, or from abroad? Are not these your own New * Retorted. modelized dividing, destructive Principles, contrived against the safety of the People, and tending to the dissolution of the Parliament and Army? making way to all kind of ignorance, error, superstition, and licentiousness. By wedding the People to your own dreams instead of God's lively Oracles, and the plain, free, and powerful dispensation of the Scriptures, which is the way of God's Spirit, Gal. 6. to guide his People into all truth; be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap; God will render to every man according to his works, for there is no respect of persons with him. Eighthly, Minist. 8. whereas you say to the general and his council: We desire you would not be too confident in your former successes, if God have made you prosper while you were in his way, this can be no warrant for you to walk in ways of your own. &c. I answer, This is one of your former pretences, Answer. multiplied by supposition, and cannot be proved by truth of Scripture, and reason well grounded thereon, and therefore to this, with the rest of your general charge, in the last part of this your Letter, I shall by Scripture and reason, prove, that the general and his council are now in God's way, as much as ever, and may expect success, and a blessing from God therein. First, because the general and his council, do, and have performed their duty, in all their proceedings, concurring with the Parliament, to execute justice upon the grand Delinquent, and also upon some of the chief of his * styled Parliam. Decl. 20 May, 1642. wicked Counsellors and adherents Secondly, for that the King, their conquered and captivated Prisoner, by the rule, Lex talionis, aught to be done unto as he did unto others; Iudg. 5. 6, 7. and this Adoni-bezek, a Heathen King, acknowledged, saying, As I have done, so God hath done unto me; and they brought him to Jerusalem (the place of public Justice) and there he died; and although Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past, Sam. 15. 32, 33 yet Samuel in this very case said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women; and Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgall. Thirdly, in that the King with all his Heathen Adherents, took counsel together against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Psal. 2. Let us break their bonds in sunder, and cast their cords from us; Rev. 20. 9 and making war upon them, they compassed the camp of the Saints about, even the beloved City Mount Si●● where the Saints receive their Commission from the great King, King of Kings; to have a two edged Sword in the●● hands, to execute judgement upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people, to bind their Kings with chains, and their Nobles with fetters of Iron, to execute upon them the Judgement written, Psal. 149. this honour have all the Saints. Is there not then a strong tye of holy writ, upon our Parliament and Army to prosecute, and execute Judgement, not only upon the head Malignant, the King, but also upon others, the heads of his wicked adherents, although none others, have been so exemplary before them? Fourthly for that the King did use false dealing, in pretending the kingdom's welfare and safety, sealed with most solemn abjurations, and execrations * In some of his Declarations praying God to deal with him and his, according to his integrity, when he disquiet contrary to what he had avowed. against himself, his Throne, and Posterity, thereby to hide his iniquity from the eyes of the people, that he might the more easily seduce them to belief, and to join with him? and was not this the highest cruelty, and means that could be, to bring God's heavy wrath upon his * Which God hath already fulfilled, Prov. 28. 15. own head, and to dethrone his posterity? for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. * Yet he was an anointed type of Christ, as all the Kings of Israel were. 2 kin. 24. 25, 26. As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear, so is a wicked Ruler over his people, And are not such destructive beasts to be taken and destroyed. Also it is written, a man that doth violence to the blood of any person, shall fly to the pit, let no man stay him, God makes no distinction of King or beggar, he is no respecter of persons, but the soul that furneth it shall die, no man ought to stay him from it. King * And was not the first blood shed in, ●r near the Place, where the King died, countenanced by himsel●e 〈◊〉 his own 〈…〉 ement? Ahab and Queen Jezabell must die, because Nabeth is unjustly cut off, and his Vineyard taken from him. Moreover, the dogs must eat her flesh, and lick up his blood, and also, his Son King Joram being slain, must be cast* into the very same plat of ground. And was not the King the occasion and contriver, of the first bloodshed? And did he not persist to destroy multitudes of his most faithful people's lives and estates, many years together? and can we think God hath forgot to be just? Ahab and Jezabels sin, was covered over, with as much piety as might be, but God will not he mocked, for whatsoever a mansoweth, that shall he also reap. God will 〈◊〉 through Kings in the day of his wrath. Fifthly, for that it was the Parliament and Armies duty, when God had delivered the King into their hands, and left him at their dispose, * Psa. 14. 9 to execute judgement upon him, and to secure themselves and the People, who have always stuck close unto them, in their greatest distresses? hath not the King been a corrupt fountain, poisoning every stream and rivulet he had access unto? and would he not have done so still, if he had not been cut off? and is not justice executed, a good means to establish the faithful of the Land, in rest and peace, with their lives, Estates, laws, Liberties, and privileges, anciently and inherently in themselves? and have they not with much expense of blood, loss of friends, and hardship, now through God's singular goodness regained all, upon a * Note this well good, just cause, and title, by right of conquest? is it not then their duty to keep their own, Iudg. 11. 19, 20. which God hath possessed them of? did not Jephthah and Israel do so, with that which was the Amorites by original right? they only won it by the sword, and did wear it. Sixthly, did not the eminency of the King's person, aggravate his sin and judgement, Ier. 22. 24. 30. and make him successeless? and was it not Coniah King of Judah's case? As I live saith the Lord, though Coniah the Son of Je●●●akim King of Judah, were the Signet upon my right hand, yet will I pluck him thence. And again, Write ye this man childless, * To within respect of Kingly Government, else not. a man that shall not prosper in his days; for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah. Wisdom is better than weapons of War, but one sinner destroyeth much good. And is it not great wisdom, that they have executed speedy judgement upon the King and his adherents; and thereby endeavoured, as much as may be, to preserve the kingdom from further war? Seventhly, hath not the Parliament the Power and Authority for making, and executing Law? and is it not most righteous and just for the reasons foregoing, that the King, and other the heads of his adherents, should be subject unto the Power, Authority, and unto Law and Justice▪ Now upon all the foregoing considerations, Conclusion. and conclusions of Scripture and reason, is it not abundantly prov●● that the general and his council, are now in God's way, and may expect success, and a blessing from God, and are safely guided by the Spirit of truth? that the means they ●●e are justifiable, with in their sphere, charge, and duty, agreeable to the laws of God, nature, and Nations, together with the dictates of reason. But as for you, you have murmured, reproached, and traduced them very much, in this your Letter, and have most highly provoked the Lord's wrath against yourselves, by opposing of those unto whom the Lord hath manifested his own power, love, and goodness, and therefore you have added this evil unto all your sins, to ask you such a King to rule over you, one who was corrupted, stained, and rejected of God, in point of Government, and not without blemish, as Saul was, when desired by the people, And yet God saith, in so doing, they had rejected him. And the people did very sensibly confess the Lord's Justice, and wrath against them, for that they had added this evil (of asking them a King) unto all their sins: In creating Samuel to pray unto the Lord for them, that they die not. O that you and all the people in this Nation who are guilty in this kind, were but as sensible of God's wrath against you all, and that you would confess and forsake your sin, that ye may find mercy but if ye will not walk in God's way and counsel, according to the truth, ● Sam. 12. ult. plainly and sincerely set forth unto you, If ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall he consumed, both ye and your King, but I hope better things of you for the future, and that you will keep yourselves within your own sphere, preach wholesome doctrine, and not meddle injuriously with State-matters, but if at any time you are thereunto called or invited, I beseech you to speak and publish nothing, but the words of sobernels and truth. FINIS. Febr. 17, 1648. Imprimatur Gilbert Mabbot.