Mr. Baxter in his Five Disputations of Church∣Government and Worship, in the Epistle De∣dicatory to Richard Cromwel, He delivers the sense of his Party in these words.
MAny are perswaded you have been strangely kept* 1.1 from participating in any of our late bloody Con∣tentions, that God might make you a Healer of our Breaches, and imploy you in that Temple-work, which David Himself might not be Honour'd with. And he adds—This would be the way to lift you highest in the Esteem and love of all Your people, and make them see that You are appointed by God to be an Healer and Restorer, and to glory in You, and to bless God for you as the Instrument of our chiefest good.—My earnest Prayers for your Higness shall be, that you may rule us as One that is ruled by God, &c.
The same Mr. Baxter in his Holy Common-wealth, in the Epistle Dedi∣catory or Preface to the Army, (pag. 6.) He call'd those Usurping Powers, that were then laid by, The best Governours in all the world, that have the Supremacy, whom to Resist or Depose is forbidden to Subjects on pain of Damnation, and pag. 8. He crys out, shall the best of Governours, the greatest of mercies seem intolerable? O how happy would the best of ohe Nations under heaven be, if they had the Rulers that our Ingratitude hath cast off. And pag. 484. speaking of the Usurpers (whomsoever he meant) he saith, He is bound to submit to the present Government, as set over us by God, and to obey for Conscience, and to behave himself as a loyal Subject to∣wards them.