Animadversions upon a book entituled Inquisition for the blood of our late soveraign &c., and upon the offence taken at it wherein in order to peace the ground, reason, and end of our wars are discovered, the old cause stated and determined, the late insurrection animadverted, and a way of peace propounded / by William Sedgwicke.

SECT. V.

ANother objection against the Book, is, it is written much in Allegories; be∣cause the present state of things is there re∣presented in and by ancient Scriptures: I acknowledge this to be a fault: and possi∣bly it might arise from the first great error of delay: by keeping it in too long, it might be thus overgrown with hair, and get this dress: or at least, the same distrust that made me unwilling to write, might make me willing to shrowd my mind under those coverings of Scripture, wanting confidence to appear more open, or strength to go with∣out that help.

I might affirm, that the things written, are not meer allegories: if they be so, they are to me hatefull Idols: for I know nothing more abominable, then meer similitudes and forms of truth. I may affirm, that the same eternal spirit, that brought forth those works in Adam and Noah, of which you there read, doth for ever keep the living image of them in himself, and many ages after brought

them forth in Moses mind; and by Moses into writing: so that the works done, and the words writ, are one, and of one mind and spirit: The same eternal spirit having in himself the same eternal image, doth by it preserve the image written, or the words and history: The same eternal spirit, eternally works, and brings forth his own likness in all times, and in our age: and the same spi∣rit that did them, and writ them then, doth them now, and reveals them in that Book: He that is wise will understand these things.

But let them go for Allegories, and let me bear the blame of it: I am content it should go so; because I know we shall gain by all our miscarriages: grow wise by mistakes: For sin hath something of Physick in it; ma∣ny times, if not alwayes, it hath its own cure with it, because it hath its own destruction in it: yea not only its own, but of other evils also: Tis certainly true to the godly, Dan. 11.35. And some of them of under∣standing, shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white; And therefore I shall learn and get experience by this weak∣ness. I now see plainly, the Scripture may be and is a vail: in some it is made use of, to cover filthiness: others make use of it out of fear to hide the truth of

their hearts: It serves sometimes to reveal, and sometimes to conceal the mind: But withal I see there is no hiding place for me; I am necessitated to forsake my coverts, and come forth naked. Many have hid their poyson of error and enmity under Scri∣ptures, & by them conveyed their deceit & lyes neatly wrapped up in similitudes & allusions: and that to destroy: I would convey peace and truth by it, and it will not be end••••ed: I am beaten from these bushes, and necessita∣ted to all kind of openess and plainness: I was unwilling to come to it, I confess: but I see, I must say aside the Velvet scabbard, and draw the naked sword, or else must be content with such shamefull usage as no man can bear.

As sin, so shame hath its own cure, be∣cause its curse, with it; He that obscures himself for shame, or from it, and for fear of it is driven into a hole, must suffer double. And there is reason for it; because first he is weak, and then a coward; and so deserts himself, his name, his mind, his cause; and betrayes his life and, righteousness, if he have any in him: If a man be upright, he need not go into a corner; if he do, he can∣not stand upright in that hole and corner: holes are for Bats and Moles, for dark crea∣tures; the light is for truth, and the open

heavens for uprightness; I hope I shall find room and place abroad; I cannot hodestly abide any longer at home; sure the open heavens and earth are made for me, as well as others; why should not I enjoy them?

As I see a necessity, and my duty, to cast off all coverings; so I now experimentally find, how little you have of the Spirit of God, or of true reason: and that both these are exceeding low, in the minds of men at this time: If not quite slain, yet very feeble, weak, and ready to die; impri∣soned also and shut up, under false imagina∣tions and fancies of things: And therefore if we think to instruct men, it must be; not only by truth; but with that evidence and de∣monstration that may heal and recover, mens spirits arid understandings.

I profess this, that the same eternal Spirit that wrought those things in Adam and Noah, and writ them by Moses, keeps that image in himself; and by it, contains and upholds the Scripture, the outward image of his eternal mind; and the same spirit work∣ing according to himself, produces the same works now, from the same foundation; and from the same light, gives forth a discovery of them: yet because the works were wrought long since, and in a remote part of

the earth from England, as in Paradise, in another world, and at Mount Ararat: there∣fore they are to us strange and forraign things, or at best, but allusions: Whereas to a spiritual man, all times and places are present, and all things in heaven, and earth, and under the earth, are gathered into one, even into Christ: In whose spiritual person we at once see and measure all things and ages: because they are all in him, and made by him.

I am sensible that there is as much short∣ness of reason in men, as want of the Spirit: For we are the natural children of Adam and Noah, and do as truly derive our na∣tures from them, as we do from our Fathers or Grandfathers; yea we derive our selves more from them, because they are heads, roots, and common or publick Fathers or Stocks of mankind: our immediate parents are but means, branches, or conveyances of life from those roots to us: And we are more certainly and infallibly the children of Adam and Noah, then of our later Ancestors: And do receive greater benefit from them; Moral, Natural, and Personal blessings from Adam: these renewed by Noah, and con∣veyed to us by him, with the addition of civil and politick blessings: And these given by

Covenant for ever, establisbed with him and his seed for perpetual generations, Gen. 9.11. Me thinks it shews great shortness, if not sensuality and slavery in mens minds, that will enquire after every foot of Land that was their Fathers and Grandfathers, and boast of their descent, if they have it from a Lordship in England, or a Mountain in Wales: and not enquire after their natural or moral properties, civil and religious pri∣viledges, which they do derive, and may challenge by descent from these Ancestors; yea not only not enquire and search for this royal and noble pedigree, but reject it when produced: as if they were beasts, not men; and rose out of the earth and Sea, as the beast in the Revelations; and as if we were sons of the earth, that came into the world in some by-way, and were of another case then that which God made in Adam, or saved and Covenanted with in Noah: For truly, if the same life be in us, that God made in Adam, and saved, blessed, and cove∣nanted with, in Noah; it will as naturally lead us to its outward and visible head, by a line of reason, as our spititual life leads us to Christ, by a line of faith: For all ages, times, and states of things, wrought in our nature, are the proper objects of our under∣standings

and reason; and we, if we were not captivated to foolish and brutish dark∣ness, and silly conceits, might as freely con∣verse with them, as with present sensible things: yea we cannot discern any present thing, if we know not the reason and prin∣ciples of it; and they are only to be seen in the first founding and forming of them: men are therefore drunk in fancies, and are not yet come to the exercise of reason, which fathoms and measures all the things of man, from the beginning to the end: indeed he is not truly a man, that compre∣hends not in some measure his own nature, in all ages: For the whole history of the world, and all the parts acted in it, are but the things of a man, and so pieces of our selves, if we are men: Every thing is beau∣tiful in his time; also he hath set the world in their heart, Eccles. 3.11. But saith he, I know that whatsoever God doth, it shall be for ever, ver. 14.

There is under these things which you call Allegories, real, substantial Truth: if you will not crack the shell to have the kernel, accept of my help: I will give forth that which is there writren, concerning your selves at least, in a few plain affirmations: I have and do affirm concerning that party,

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that acted against the life and power of the King, and are now faln.

1. They had many of them a work upon their spirits, and many gifts wherewith they were anointed.

2. These works and gifts were but flesh, but earthly, but man: after the image of the first Adam, which is of the earth, earthly; and not the second Adam, the Lord from Heaven; Not the Lord, nor from Hea∣ven.

3. As they were earthly and fleshly, so they were private and personal: servile and ministerial: not the Lord: no largeness to comprehend the whole: nor authority to subject the whole; nor wisdom to rule the whole; either the whole Nation, or their whole party.

4. That they had Commission, only to destroy, subdue and punish the Church and Kingdom, standing in darkness and corrupti∣on: There never was in that party, or peo∣ple, any union, strength, glory or suc∣cess, in any thing, but in fighting and killing: And therefore could never attain any Civil or Religious body, either to be a Church or Kingdom, but an Army to fight: And for this work they were anointed and sanctified. So was Cyrus and his Medes, Isa. 13.3. and

45.1. which is not only a Legal Ministry, but a heathenish and bloody one.

5. That when they had subdued and broken down, they had nothing to build: no new Law or Religion, either from hea∣ven or earth; either for themselves only; or for the whole Nation: No man, or sort of men, did ever so much as pretend, that they were Legislators; nor did ever tender to the Nation a Law, either from heaven or earth: but after they had cursed and rejected the old state, they dressed up the carkase of King, Lords and Commons; in a Protector, another House, and a Parliament; and had more stability in it, then in any of their in∣ventions beside: They never could produce any thing, like unto the wisdom and reason of a Law; but every bird would chatter its own note; such broken stuff and absurd confusion never was.

6. They never had a publick or healing spirit; talk they did of the common good of all men: But their spirit was not only narrow, but stood in opposition to the spirit of the Nation: They were alwayes bound up most firmly and strongly to a private, and so to a selfish spirit, and could never be perswaded to accept of any thing that was large: Those miserable principles, of

Interest, Self-preservation, and Necessity, began, carried on, and ended the War and Party.

7. Their gifts and work being fleshly and earthly, and having only figures and pro∣phesies of the heavenly Kingdom of God, ••nd not the nature and substance of that Kingdom with them, they could not ad∣minister it; but those prophesies and figures must cease and die, before the truth of the Kingdom can come forth.

8. Their gifts being only private and per∣sonal, and their work only to subdue and ••ull down, when they aspired beyond their ••bility and commission, to reign and to make ••ew Common-wealths, and new Churches; ••hey corrupted, into pride, enmity, op∣••ression, covetousness, self-seeking: greedily ••evouring the wealth, riches, pleasures, ho∣••ours and places, which they had cursed and condemned; and therein were more foul ••hen those that they cast out.

9. And from corruption they fell into divisions, jealousies, persecuting others and ••ne another, and so into destractions and confusions.

10. And by that, into their present re∣••ection, from all power, authority, riches, ••nd estates, into contempt; imprisonment,

poverty; plunged into a deep Baptism of afflictions and disappointment.

11. Into which if they can retire, with meekness, humility, and repentance, they will find rest, safety, and purifying: A con∣dition more sweet, and clean: and as to God and their souls, more comfortable and pro∣fitable, then their former greatness, though it be to the flesh grievous.

12. There, the Book would leave them in quietness, and cover them from the wrath of their enemies; justifying them in the exercise of their private and personal gifts, as honest men: And promising them a resur∣rection in a more large, pure, spiritual and durable state.

Ministries and Dispensations of a far more excellent glory then this, have pe∣rished; and why there should be such unwil∣lingness to bury this, I know not: It died to me, and in me long since; and hath been ever since, corrupting, rotting, reeling and staggering, till it fell in pieces: It hath had its time, done its work, fulfilled its Ministry, emptied and poured out all the wrath it had upon others, and when it had executed others, it was a torment and vexation to it self, wanting other matter to work upon: The Party it self was weary of it, com∣plained

of the vanity, corruption, and fil∣thyness of it, were ashamed of it, annoyed by it; it stunk so in the nostrils of every in∣genuous and enlightened spirit: none pleased at it, but for what they got and kept by it: none easie under it, but sick of it; and it self sick and hated, at last executed it self: to fulfill that word, He that taketh up the sword, shall perish by the sword; even by that sword they took up, and by that force they fomed. That Power, that Army they raised against the King; turns to the King, and against them that raised it: It was long dying, and every Party watched to have had it themselves, and were pulling and catching at it; some had it one while, and some another; whilest quarreling amongst your selves, it is faln into your Adversaries hands; and that I suppose is the great trouble: You would be content it should die, and you would execute it; but thought also, it belonged to the Executor, to have its riches, honours, power and success: But it seems there was an elder Brother, an heir alive, that you did not dream of: Though this work of yours, with its power, fall very contrary to your hopes, designs, purchases, and carnal confidences; yet not contrary to many hints of prophesies, in their own spi∣rits,

nor contrary to common justice and reason: For first, it hath been often said to you, and in you, Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit: That an Army is a harsh, cruel, worldly, brutish, self-seeking power; and that while it stood it was a burden to all, but them that received pay in it or by it: And secondly, if it doth fall, as you thought and desired, what must necessarily follow? The antient Government of the Nation was suppressed by force; if it had been by Light and Reason, that Light that removed one, would have shewed us a better; but that we could never see: The old one, being sup∣pressed, (and only suppressed, for all you could do, could not root it out) and no other prepared; if that force that sup∣presseth it, be weary, sick, forsaken, and spent, whether should it go, but to its center, to the standing foundation? If the force ceales that suppressed, what can be expected but that the old suppressed Government should rise?

When therefore either the purity or truth of your spirits, or the power of your rea∣son, shall prevail over your passions and losses, you will rest satisfied.

That you still arc chafing and rubbing this dead body, to keep or recover life in

it, or are so lamentably angry for the loss of it, I would have that charity to hope, that it is, because you think: that holiness and godliness will be suppressed, and pro∣phaness and wickedness will get up.

To satisfie you, know this assuredly: 1. Ini∣quity & unrighteousness had got a Sanctuary in and amongst you: and was lodged more secure in your professions and gifts, then in any company or state of men in the earth: and therefore 2. It is a most holy and righte∣ous God that hath pulled down, or is pul∣ling down that strong hold, that spiritual wickedness in high places: And 3. As God will not suffer iniquity to harbour under his own name, and cause: so he will not suf∣fer it to rest upon the earth: for the earth is the Lords, and the creation is his. 4. Sin and ungodliness got ground of you, in your greatness and riches; you know it did: And while you thought to reform the world, you were deformed by it; and that the spi∣rit that engaged for righteousness against the world, betrayed that cause; and fell into the unrighteousness and filth that it op∣posed: The Lord rejects this pretender, in great jealousie: know assuredly, God in this act is gone forth with vengeance against un∣holiness, and will manifest himself in such

holiness as you will not bear, if you were not plunged into suffering. 5. Know, God hath set his holy Son upon his holy hill of Zion: The Lord reigns in righteousness: and in righteousness hath brought you down for your unholiness: and if you have any true love to holiness: but a spark of the truth, of what you profess, you will re∣joyce more in these fires, while they consume you, and your dross, then ever you did in your success and greatness: because God is now avenging himself of his wicked enemies, that lurked in the prayers, preach∣ings, gifts, prophecying of his kingdom; and for the world, trouble not your self with that: he hath laid you aside as unworthy of, and false to the work of reformati∣on, which you professed; he that refuses that spirit, because it was unholy and base, hath a more excellent spirit, which he will mani∣fest to the purging of all things and all men: I cannot without some indignation pass this point: that men so palpably corrupt, and unclean, when under rebuke and judgement, and that for their impurity, yet should think, that they are the only Champions of holi∣ness: as if the cause of holiness did die or fall with them! No, it is iniquity and hypocrisie that falls: There is an incorruptible holi∣ness

that is mighty, and will throughly purge away yours and others dross, and cleanse the whole earth.

As to the things that I write in my Book concerning his Majestie, and those princi∣ples of rest and grace, laid in Noah, and in that Covenant, which God made with him and his seed for perpetual generations; which I affirm to be the firm foundations of all the Kingdoms of the world: that tried stone, tried first in all Nations, and then laid in Zion, and is now the root of his Maje∣sties restoration, after his long sufferings: I confess the things are deep, and remote from common understandings: What I feared and writ concerning these principles, I find true: that they are little understood, being yet low and under a vail, and therefore might appear remote and strange, both to his Majestie and the Nation, which way prolong our trouble, &c. They are so indeed, un∣derstood neither by one side nor other; Let them lie and sleep a while; foundations must do so: when shaking and troubles make us need them, they will be enquired after: if any do, there they are.

But my friends, let us reason a little to∣gether, and lay aside all allusions, and all passions, and soberly consider what evil was

offered to you in that book; After the case of the prisoners, and so of the partie, was represented (I still think to their advantage, more then ever I yet met with elsewhere) the desire was, to wave that tryal, and pro∣cure another Court, that should try prin∣ciples, that might at least supersede or suc∣ceed that. What the issue of that Court and tryal is, we now see, and had reason to foresee. Supposing his Majesty and the Law of the Nation, to be offended, and pro∣voked against them that took away the life of the late King: what probable or rational way was left, to save the Prisoners; but by moving that they and their principles, and so the principles of the whole party, should be tried in a higher and more spiritual Court: A trial must be; the common Law, and ordinary way certainly destroyes both life, liberty, and estate: To avoid that, ano∣ther must be proposed: What rests to be tryed, but opinions and principles? And how can that be done humanely, but by such a Court, and by such a Law, as is there propounded? If those principles are good, they may not only be justified, but prevail to rule: if they be not found so, then their deceit will be discovered, your judge∣ments delivered from them, and the pri∣soners

and Party in a fair way to be pardon∣ed by, and reconciled to the present power: Or else a third and middle state would have appeared: A large, righteous, and merciful Law might have been produced, that might have united, comprehended, and saved both Parties: I confess freely, I do believe and know, it is to be had, and will come forth, whenever the righteous and good Law of God, may obtain among men, and right rea∣son may be heard.

I confess to obtain this, I did declare to his Majestie, my sense and judgement of your principles; which I have long had, and do still retain, upon a judgement made by many and great trials in my spirit; and con∣firmed by constant experience, much exami∣nation and deliberation: And being many years fully convinced of, humbled, and sore afflicted for that prophane, carnal, cruel, and selfish spirit, in which this work was begun and carried on, I did and do still offer them up to trial; and was and am still willing, that his Majestie and the Nation might see, that they need not seek the lives of men, seeing they might have the prin∣ciples, which is the best satisfaction can be given.

It is that which I have long desired, even

of this Party, when they were up, That we might have a Bar of Religion, and Reason, where the right of all parties in the Nation may be fairly argued and heard; but could never obtain it: I do judge it the true and only Christian, and humane way, to come to Peace; and therfore I shall and do earnestly desire it: There is nothing in the earth that I do seek more then this, That my mind and judgement may be tried by the Reason and Re∣ligion of the Nation; or the Reason and Religion of the Nation, tryed by my Judge∣ment.

Had it been a known enemy, that had propounded such a thing to you, why should you be angry at it? or why not em∣brace and seek it? For a people that pro∣fess themselves Spiritual and Saints, to en∣gage in a war, to the expence of so much blood for their Religion, and at last wave an argument for it; it is strange: you will sure in time examine the reason, why it should be so; And consider whether that cause be truly Christian, that avoids a Chri∣stian trial; that shrinks from reason, and will not appear against its enemy, but in arms, with a rude and tumultuous rable: Truth and integrity, cannot but rejoyce in a combate of Reason: and it is gross guilt

and carnality, either in the cause or persons, that declines argument, and flyes to brutish force.

If you fear treachery, that your principles might have been drawn out, and so your persons exposed to danger: That wisdom that makes you suspect, would enable to pre∣vent such danger: freedom of discourse, is commonly granted in time of arbitration; with security against taking advantage by such discourses: But alas, neither you, nor any other, no not your enemies, can possibly bring forth your principles so ill-favoured, as they have appeared in action: I dare say, there is no man in this Nation, but his Reason or Religion will teach him a better state of things, then hath been acted in the Nation, since these wars begun; that no mans mind or reason is so crooked and ab∣surd as the series of actions have been: It will be found that poor men, have been hurried and thrust into many things, either by company, incogitancy, the influences of the stars, or rather the predominancie of evil spirits, by the irresistible fate of times, or some superiour over-ruling determinati∣ons of Providence: Few men have exer∣cised judgement in these wars; either hu∣mane or Christian, but have been tossed

about, by the earth-quakes, and violent commotions of greater powers: And if we could come but to look into mens minds, when passions and furies are over, we shall see that men are better things, then they have appeared in this Scene of War: And that at bottom there is but one man, one nature, one religion, and that a good one: Therefore I know I am a friend to you and to mankind, in seeking to draw forth the reason of men, to sift and trie principles and opinions. But there is so much jealousie and accusation in the world, that men are not only jealous of all others, but of them∣selves also. If men misjudge mankind, they must needs misjudge themselves: the first they do, it is too manifest: and therefore cannot be wholly free from the second: It is sure your too hard thoughts of your selves, and suspition of your principles, that makes you afraid to appear in them: I know there is a strong passion of fear upon you; a great dread of sufferings in your minds: And all your thoughts are, how to bear the evil of this day; so drowned in a sense of it, that you can hardly think a thought of any thing else, nor admit of a proposition of peace and safety to your selves.

It is true and evident, that the way and

course of your actions, have been directly against the antient power, authority, and Law of the Nation: And you are unhap∣pily set in an opposite and contrary spirit to them: and have done as much against them, as you could: You thought you had laid them all low enough, and had buried them so deep, that they could never rise again: And that you had gotten into a heaven, into the Kingdom of Christ, or so near it, that all danger of suffering had been quite past:

But now you see, that all the weight and strength of your Prayers, Gifts and Know∣ledge, together with your Armies, cannot keep down the things that you opposed, nor uphold you against them: But contrary to all your thoughts, when you were strongest they rose up against you. A state, law, and power of a Nation, is a mighty thing; and to rise up from death and the curse, (whe∣ther you had sent it) provoked against you by so many and great injuries, must needs be very terrible to you: It would scare a man to see his enemy alive, that he thought he had slain, were it but a single person: But to find the whole Magistracie and Mini∣stry of the Nation, the King, Nobility, and Gentrie, with many thousands of oppressed people, rise up against you, in all the power

and strength of the Nation, Civil and Mili∣tary (all which have suffered from you) I know it must needs astonish and amaze you; coming upon you so much contrary to the assurance you had (as you thought from God) of a better state: I do not wonder when I consider it, that you are overwhelm∣ed with fears, and despair of receiving any good from them, that rise from that pit of destruction, into which you had doomed them for ever: looking upon them as you do, as Antichristian, enemies to God, and for in rejected, you cannot expect good from them.

You are so oppressed with the evil that is upon you, that you sink into resolutions of suffering, and judge your selves lost for the present; and your thoughts are only to bear the indignation that is upon you: You could not forgive your selves, nor your enemies; neither could your enemies forgive you: I do forgive them, and you; and so shall, do the worst you can: For my love is absolute, without condition, and therefore without repentance: In love to you, I proposed a sacrifice, and an atonement: Which is not your honesty or godliness: but these things which we call principles, (I care not to call them so any longer) I mean opinions or te∣nents,

which I say, are delusions, deceits, or at best broken, imperfect, and short apprehen∣sions, or mis-apprehensions of things, that have misled you in all your business, into such crooked pathes; that perverted your Counsels, corrupted your spirits, and made you a vexation to your selves and friends, a burden and scourge to the Nation: These would I have found out, and sacrificed, that not only your honesty and uprightness may be discovered, which is certainly another thing from them, but that your lives and li∣berties may be preserved also.

But neither side, would regard what was offered: You would not part with your opinions, called principles, no nor offer them to tryal Neither would the Law, and authority of the Nation accept of any such sacrifice: but being of a more outward and earthly nature, hath required outward and bodily satisfaction: What could not be re∣sisted, we must be content patiently to en∣dure.