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THe supernaturall interest ap∣pears in those many great and eminent mercies since the first opening of Heaven upon this Nation (I reckon now from our own late epoche of Reformation.)
And first in that designe of calling a Parliament, and engaging them against the Kingdome of Scotland, and so to have turned back the Re∣formation in its first advancing, a de∣signe not unlike that of Herods, of
killing Christ in the cradle; and here God let in some glimpses, and cast in some jealousies into that great Coun∣sel, which rescued it from such an in∣gagement, and for all the State Ar∣tifice of Court Declarations, and pre∣tences; suspitions sprang up in the hearts of people, and though armies are levied by prerogative, and carri∣ed down, yet God takes off their spi∣rits and successe, both in their advan∣cings and skirmishings with Scotland, and this is made by Providence, a ne∣cessity of calling a Parliament again, so as this inter designe of the ene∣mies, served onely to land us upon clearer discoveries.
This Parliament is summoned, and excellent Members elected by a cor∣rupt commonalty,* 1.1 So as the voice of the Lord is upon the Waters.
And now all things worke and turn upon heavenly engines, and the long design of keeping of Parliaments, is turned into a necessity of a Trien∣••••all one, and further, to that of an everlasting one, by an act of conti∣nuation: and God hath fastened it as
a raile in a sur•• place, and now Re∣formation moves some degrees on.
Votes and suffrages begin to disin∣teresse Properie and Prelacie, Gods voice is upon the waters again, Peti∣tions upon Petitions from City and Countries for Reformation, a migh∣ty over-powring still in the voices and votes for Reformation, both in the house, and elsewhere, Papists and popish cast out of Interest, and place in the great Counsell, the Preroga∣tive losing many State-advanta∣ges, and the Prelacy many Ecclesia∣stical.
The contrary designes of Jesuites and Prelates disappointed, and all turned into designes for Religion and Liberty, and Vnity with Scotland.
The severall plots defeated and discovered, which were still counter∣mining.
That of bringing up the Army from the North at first.
That of bringing the Cavaliers to the doors of the Parliament.
That of betraying the Militia of City and Parliament, and surprizing all.
The several endeavours of betray∣ing Cities, Towns Ar••i••s.
The corrupting Parliament Agents, and getting interests in their severall counsels and forces.
The attempts of unclasping us in∣to several parties.
The restoring a Parliament from the day of small things, in the generall defeatures, not long since.
The preserving the most famous City of London, which hath been like Ezekiels potters house, the place where all the wheels of Reformation moved.
And to all these, an assembly of many godly and eminent men for re∣pairing the Temple, voting out Pre∣lacy and Superstition in the places where they sate voting not long since to establish it, with Oathes and Lawes.
The severall successe of Battels at Keinton, Newbery, York, &c.
The Protestations and Covenants, like heavenly cordage to fasten both Parliament and Kingdomes, and make them the more stedfast and un∣moveable
in the work of the Lord.
The many severall preservations and successes of late, as that of New∣castle.
Thus the supernaturall interest hath wrought, and things have been as it were created and supported, by that naked power, and wisdome of God in Christ, which carried on his Church with signes and wonders, in the times of its first rising.
THe next interest I finde Reforma∣tion to have in this Kingdome is spirituall.
And first the many interrupted assayes formerly by godly Divines and others in the reign both Qu. Elizabeth, and King James, by Pe∣tition, Treatises, Dayes of prayer and seeking God, the seed time of which light we now enjoy, light is sown f•••• the righteous.
The many assemblings of private
Christians, in latter times, their spi∣rituall contributions then of prayer and humiliation.
And now the means of grace pow∣red out so effectually in Preaching, and prophes••ing, and prayer amongst us.
The effectual door which is opened of late, and a seeking to Sion with our faces thitherward.
The return of the banished, persecu∣ted, godly.
The daily seekings to heaven, in solemn humiliations.
The Gospel lightning from many Treatises, Discourses, Expositions.
The sending out labourers into the harvest, the springing up of many young Prophets, as if this generation were the Seminary for the next: and to these spirituall subsidiaries in our own Kingdome, the prayers, and ho∣ly contributions of all other Refor∣med Churches of Germany, Geneva, New-England, the Netherlands, with the Churches in France, and Scotland, and low Ireland, these all fall in with us into the spirituall de∣signe
of Reformation, we are engaged in.
This spirituall interest reaches to every Ordinance of God, to every minist••ation, to every grace, to every spirituall facultie, or power that makes towards Heaven or God, in this Kingdome, or other reformed States.
This Interest is yet stronger in the Propheticall part of it, the fifth An∣gel now pouring out his violl on the seat of the beast: and here I dare fol∣low Expositors to this, That Babylon is falling in the near parts of it; and for the time of the totall ruine, the Prophesie runs strongly, and the In∣terpreters too, that is not much above six years.
To these, the meltings and dissol∣vings of customes,* 1.2 traditions, supersti∣tions, for the day breaks and the sha∣dowes fly away.
The enemies filling up the measure, and Ephah, by their daily sinnes, ido∣latries, and provocations.
The work of God upon Sion and Jerusalem, or his people, in the pre∣sent
wa••s or tribulation.
The st••nding spirituall remedy of many godly Divines, in the conjun∣cture of an Assembly who like Aaron and Hur, hold up the hands of Mo∣ses.
THe power and acting of the King or Supreme, in a Kingdome Mo∣narchically constituted, as this would soon give the Reformation a power∣full and spreading Interest, as we see in one Cyrus, and Artaxerxes, and Constantine, and an Edward, and Elizabeth; therefore Princes are cal∣led nursing Fathers, and nursing Mo∣thers, to the Churches of Christ: yet though we want this Interest for the present, and the personall actings of a King, yet wee have in the meane time a supplement, a Parliamentary regall power of two Kingdomes: A strong fundamentall in the work of Reformation, and a power very agree∣able
to the constitution of both, and very naturall, for the propagating Reformation in this Kingdom, and this improved by Associations, and Covenants.
The present power, armies, and successe in most of the parts in this Kingdome, but the West; and yet some strong Interests there to.
The consideration with other Pro∣testant States and Churches, (though I could wish it more) the commoti∣ons and troubles abroad, in Den∣mark, in States of Italie, Germanie, Spain, Franc••, whose engagements gives them not time, to apply them∣selves to our disadvantages & distra∣ctions; God making them to hear a rumour of war in their own land.
Psal. 29.3.
Cant. 2.17