A Word in Season to a Distracted and Troubled People

p. 1A WORD In season to a distracted and troubled People.

MY Friends, you who do profess the name of the Lord, according to your apprehensions, in your several conditions, the consideration of the great discontents that are in and amongst some of you, even ready to break forth into a new flame and fire of War and blood, is that which much grieves my heart, and in a deep sence of this misery, have I undertaken to present these few ensuing grounds unto you, for prevention of those sad undertakings intended by some (as is manifestly declared) and I do beseech all that love and fear the Lord, not only to have their minds fixed on those (by them) supposed grounds of contention and division, but to read and weigh impartially what I have here presented, and I doubt not but that it will silence and quickly put a period to such intentions or undertakings, as I do perceive were in the minds of some; and in this I do appeal unto the Lord, that my end in presenting these lines, is not either fear or flattery of men, but as the discharge of p. 2my duty to the Lord, his people, and my Country, to whom I ow all that I have.

The first ground I shall present unto you, is, That the Name and honour of the Lord is concerned in it; which should be more pretious to his people than their lives and liberties: and it is the duty, and should be the practice of all the Saints in all their actions to do all to the glory of God (which I suppose will be easily granted) But the question may be, how it will appear that the intentions of some in the fomenting a new War, will be to the dishonor of God, seeing that the common right and freedom, and making good of promises and engagements, is the pretended cause of it, and the dishonor of God in the world, by the unfaithfulness of professing men, that are covenant breakers? To which I answer. 1. That the name of the Lord is much concerned in it. Have not the Wars of England, and the works of God done amongst us by it, been the worlds wonder? And have not the professing people been the instruments in the hand of God in the work, and have been taken notice of so to be by all, both amongst us and round about us? And would it not be a great advantage to the Enemy to reproach and blaspheme, after so long a contest, and such success from the Lord, at last to be sheathing our Swords in each others bowels? What will the World conclude from hence, but that there was no finger of the Lord at all with us, no Divine hand over-powring and over-ruling? or else at best, that for sin and iniquity God hath suffered you to destroy one another? Oh consider, that its the most eminent token of Gods displeasure against p. 3a people, when Friends, Companions, Brethren, shall be found lifting up the Sword each against other. Moses was tender of the honour of the Lord, and preferred it before his own interest, Numb. 14.13. when the Lord told him that he would destroy the children of Israel for their rebellion, and make of him a greater people than they, but Moses said, Then the Egyptians will hear, and the Nations will hear, and say, that the Lord was not able to bring his people into the Land of Canaan, therefore hath he destroyed them in the Wilderness. Oh think on this, what will become of the great name of the Lord, that hath been so eminently manifest amongst us, if now at last the fire of contention should consume us?

p. 32. I answer, that the Covenants and ingagements are not alltogether broken, but much we do enjoy, as to the substance of what was expected, though not in the formality of it.

3. If such a thing be in good earnest, as to particulars, yet the breach of promise will light upon him or them most principally concerned in it, and not upon every individual person; not upon those who cannot help it: and therefore it is not their duty to be meddling in a way of contesting wars; so the remedy they seem to take, will prove more dishonourable to God, and more destructive to themselves and others, than the disease, were it granted to be so bad as by some is supposed.

4. If the honor of the Lord doth consist, any part of it, in the free passage of the Gospel, and a freedom for his people to worship him according to his Will, he is as much, if not more, honored in this particular, p. 4than I could or can yet see in or under any other way of Government.

2. Consider, that as such a practice will be dishonourable to the Lord, so it will undoubtedly prove destructive to your selves and others. Oh be not found at last to be self-destroyers; you will destroy your selves, and families, and may shed the blood of others, and hazard the cause of God, and the Nation it self, if the Lord prevent you not in your Designs; truly the very thoughts of it is dreadful unto me, upon both these accounts, the dishonor of God, and the sad events that are like to follow; and that you who profess to know God, should desire to kindle such a fire; certainly if it be kindled then it will burn and consume.

3. There is no readier way can be imagined to accomplish the Enemies design than self-division; I am confident that there is no other way by which it can be accomplished, and therefore give not that away at last, by frowardness, contention, and division, that could nere be taken from you by violence, therin will you shew not only your want of wisdom, but your weakness if not your wickedness to the whole world; and it is the very high way to lose all.