Lancashires valley of Achor, is Englands doore of hope: set wide open, in a brief history, of the wise, good, and powerfull hand of divine providence, ordering and managing the militia of Lancashire; not onely to the preservation, but exaltation of a poor, and praying people, in two hundreds; against, and above a considerable armie, of popish, and ill-affected persons in foure hundreds: Wherein the strift [sic] of piety and providence, with impiety and humane strength, in the weaknesse of means, unto graduall, and compleate victory, is laid out; to advance gods praise, and advantage Englands faith. By a well-wisher to the peace of the land, and piety of the church.

Having thus led the Reader over the severall Beds of Flowers in this Garden of Providence, I will gather and binde up a Posie of select and fra∣grant Flowers, and sweetly conclude this com∣fortable Historie.

1. Our Nobles have been of our selves, and our Go∣vernours have proceeded out of the midst of us, Jer. 30.20. Some of them the subject of earnest Prayers, Pub∣like, Private, Ordinary, Extraordinary, for seven yeers space, if not for ten.

2. Our Commanders and Leaders have had unpara∣lelled preservation, we lost but one man of note, but one Captain in all our conflicts, and him, through extream crueltie; he asked quarter, but all was on fire in Lanca∣ster,

and they would give none, but sought rather cruelly to kill him; then to kill him, to kill him by many rather then by one: God covered their heads in the day of bat∣tell, Psal. 140.7. He gave them the shield of his salvation, Psal. 18.35.

3. Duties of humiliation and thanksgiving (which were cooped up in corners, as deeds of darknesse, by the Bi∣shops, were now by the countenance of authority brought in∣to the open assembly, as the onely way of successe and pro∣sperity, in our just defence and offence.

4. Evident undenyable answers of Prayers, some∣times at present, sometimes soon after.

5. Mercies denied at one time with strokes, have been granted at another time with full-handed favours.

6. God hath remembred us in our low estate, our highest Tide hath followed our lowest Ebbe, Gods power hath been perfected in our weaknesse, his beauty hath shi∣ned in our confusions.

7. God hath shared his imployments and successes in a kinde of proportion, amongst our Commanders and Souldiers, that all might have some, and none might have all, that all might be humbled, and none discouraged; Herein hath God wisely wrought for their unity, mutuall respects, assistance, encouragement and honour.

8. Mercies and afflictions have counter-poized one another; In all this way of providence mercies have been imbittered, and crosses sweetned; comfort and humilia∣tion have watched and waited on each other. Gods con∣stant project hath been, to nourish grace, and subdue corruption at the same time▪ a worke no lesse happy then hard.

ALL I would say more, is to the County; much hath beene said of it, and of GOD in it: Let me speake Samuels counsell, 1 Samuel 12.14. Onely feare the Lord, and serve him in truth, with all your heart, for consider how great things he hath done for you. Adde Joshua's warning, Josh. 24.20. If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then will he turne and doe you hurt, and consume you af∣ter he hath done you good. Which GOD forbid for his Christs sake.