Some considerations proposed to this distracted nation of England concerning the present design and work of God therein, upon their submitting whereto doth their settlement alone depend, and not upon any form of government, or change of governors, as that spirit which seeketh their ruin, tempteth them to believe.
         Penington, Isaac, 1616-1679.
      
       
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             Some considerations proposed to this distracted nation of England concerning the present design and work of God therein, upon their submitting whereto doth their settlement alone depend, and not upon any form of government, or change of governors, as that spirit which seeketh their ruin, tempteth them to believe.
             Penington, Isaac, 1616-1679.
          
           1 sheet ([1] p.)
           
             s.n.],
             [London? :
             1659.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
             Broadside.
             Signed: Isaac Penington, the younger.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1649-1660.
           Broadsides
        
      
    
       A54055  R8190  (Wing P1191).  civilwar no Some considerations proposed to this distracted nation of England, concerning the present design and work of God therein, upon their submitt Penington, Isaac 1659    2215 2 0 0 0 0 0 9 B  The  rate of 9 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the B category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 
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           Some
           Considerations
           proposed
           
             to
             this
             distracted
             nation
             of
             England
             concerning
             the
             present
          
           design
           and
           work
           of
           God
           therein
           ,
           upon
           their
           submitting
           whereto
           doth
           their
           Settlement
           alone
           depend
           ,
           and
           not
           upon
           any
           form
           of
           Government
           ,
           or
           change
           of
           Governors
           ,
           as
           that
           Spirit
           which
           seeketh
           their
           ruin
           ,
           tempteth
           them
           to
           believe
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           THAT
           God
           in
           great
           mercy
           ,
           brake
           the
           bands
           of
           the
           Romish
           yoak
           ,
           which
           lay
           hard
           upon
           the
           neck
           of
           this
           Nation
           ,
           and
           was
           very
           weighty
           upon
           those
           consciences
           ,
           wherein
           the
           true
           reforming
           light
           did
           arise
           in
           any
           measure
           ;
           and
           who
           were
           in
           any
           measure
           true
           to
           that
           light
           ,
           which
           the
           Lord
           caused
           to
           break
           in
           upon
           them
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           the
           reformation
           out
           of
           Popery
           ,
           was
           not
           presently
           perfected
           (
           nay
           was
           never
           yet
           perfected
           )
           but
           was
           very
           weak
           and
           low
           ,
           many
           things
           therein
           savouring
           very
           much
           of
           Popery
           ,
           (
           the
           Nation
           being
           hardly
           able
           to
           bear
           at
           that
           time
           what
           was
           done
           ,
           )
           so
           that
           there
           were
           many
           things
           ,
           still
           continuing
           which
           could
           not
           but
           be
           burthensome
           to
           the
           upright-hearted
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           tender
           consciences
           ,
           as
           the
           light
           which
           began
           their
           reformation
           ,
           did
           grow
           and
           increase
           in
           them
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           That
           the
           Lord
           God
           (
           who
           in
           such
           great
           mercy
           had
           delivered
           this
           Nation
           from
           the
           yoak
           of
           Popery
           )
           could
           not
           but
           expect
           that
           the
           reformation
           should
           grow
           and
           increase
           ,
           until
           it
           were
           perfected
           ;
           even
           until
           nothing
           were
           left
           which
           arose
           from
           that
           spirit
           from
           whence
           Popery
           sprang
           ,
           and
           which
           might
           (
           in
           its
           proper
           tendency
           )
           be
           serviceable
           to
           that
           spirit
           ,
           but
           that
           all
           his
           people
           in
           this
           Nation
           ,
           might
           have
           free
           liberty
           at
           least
           (
           if
           not
           encouragement
           )
           to
           return
           to
           the
           pure
           worship
           of
           him
           in
           spirit
           and
           truth
           ,
           even
           as
           in
           the
           dayes
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           before
           the
           apostacy
           from
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           and
           from
           the
           truth
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           That
           the
           reformation
           out
           of
           Popery
           ,
           was
           not
           pursued
           as
           the
           Lord
           expected
           it
           should
           ,
           but
           a
           dark
           way
           of
           worship
           established
           in
           the
           land
           ,
           and
           a
           dark
           Church
           government
           (
           both
           very
           like
           that
           of
           
             Rome
          
           )
           whereby
           those
           that
           were
           truly
           conscientious
           ,
           and
           in
           whom
           the
           reformed
           light
           did
           further
           and
           further
           arise
           ,
           were
           reproached
           ,
           nick-named
           ,
           hated
           ,
           persecuted
           ,
           &c.
           insomuch
           as
           that
           there
           was
           a
           bar
           set
           up
           against
           the
           proceeding
           of
           the
           reformation
           any
           further
           ,
           and
           a
           formal
           way
           of
           Church-government
           and
           worship
           erected
           ,
           which
           was
           pleasing
           to
           the
           loose
           and
           carnal
           Spirit
           ,
           but
           sharp
           ,
           cruel
           ,
           and
           burthensome
           to
           the
           stricter
           sort
           ,
           and
           to
           such
           as
           were
           tender-hearted
           towards
           God
        
         
           5.
           
           That
           under
           this
           Church-government
           ,
           and
           way
           of
           worship
           ,
           there
           was
           a
           go●ng
           backwards
           towards
           Popery
           again
           ,
           instead
           of
           going
           further
           from
           it
           .
           Things
           grew
           e●ery
           day
           worse
           and
           worse
           ,
           ceremonies
           dayly
           abounding
           ,
           and
           were
           more
           and
           more
           strictly
           injoyned
           ,
           wearing
           of
           Surplices
           ,
           bowing
           at
           the
           name
           of
           Jesus
           ,
           railing
           of
           the
           Communion
           tables
           ,
           and
           making
           steps
           up
           to
           it
           ,
           calling
           them
           high
           Altars
           ,
           (
           bowing
           thrice
           at
           their
           approach
           to
           them
           )
           having
           corporasses
           over
           the
           bread
           ,
           saying
           second
           service
           ,
           &c.
           
           And
           the
           chief
           end
           of
           their
           visitations
           ,
           was
           to
           establish
           such
           things
           as
           these
           ,
           and
           to
           suppress
           Lecturers
           and
           conscientious
           Preachers
           (
           among
           whom
           some
           fresh
           life
           did
           spring
           up
           ,
           for
           the
           relief
           of
           the
           needy
           and
           desolate
           )
           and
           to
           curtal
           preaching
           (
           and
           praying
           before
           and
           after
           Sermons
           )
           yea
           and
           catechising
           too
           ,
           which
           by
           authority
           was
           appointed
           in
           the
           place
           of
           the
           after-noon
           Sermons
           ,
           when
           they
           found
           it
           exceed
           the
           limits
           they
           intended
           .
           And
           this
           proceeded
           so
           far
           ,
           that
           there
           was
           very
           little
           difference
           betwen
           us
           and
           the
           Papists
           ,
           save
           only
           the
           name
           ;
           the
           worship
           in
           both
           becoming
           dead
           ,
           and
           formal
           ,
           and
           pleasing
           to
           the
           fleshly
           part
           ,
           but
           empty
           of
           that
           which
           should
           feed
           and
           refresh
           the
           Spirit
           .
           Only
           the
           Lord
           had
           reserved
           to
           himself
           a
           remnant
           ,
           who
           could
           not
           bow
           to
           these
           things
           ,
           but
           groaned
           under
           them
           ,
           &
           witnessed
           against
           them
           ,
           mourning
           bitterly
           to
           the
           Lord
           under
           the
           load
           and
           weight
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           6.
           
           That
           when
           the
           wrath
           of
           the
           Lord
           arose
           against
           this
           form
           of
           Church-government
           ,
           &
           worship
           (
           as
           indeed
           it
           was
           high
           time
           for
           the
           Lord
           to
           appear
           ,
           for
           the
           power
           and
           life
           of
           Religion
           was
           even
           expiring
           )
           and
           he
           brake
           down
           all
           that
           stood
           up
           in
           the
           defence
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           gave
           much
           liberty
           to
           the
           oppressed
           spirits
           and
           consciences
           of
           his
           people
           ,
           yet
           this
           was
           not
           pleasing
           to
           the
           Nation
           ,
           but
           fain
           would
           they
           have
           had
           either
           the
           same
           form
           up
           again
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           some
           other
           such
           like
           in
           the
           stead
           of
           it
           ;
           whereby
           the
           loose
           spirit
           of
           the
           Nation
           ,
           might
           be
           setled
           in
           some
           way
           of
           formal
           worship
           ,
           and
           the
           growing
           reforming
           light
           snibbed
           in
           the
           spirits
           of
           the
           tender-hearted
           towards
           God
           .
        
         
           Look
           back
           with
           a
           single
           and
           honest
           eye
           ,
           Hath
           it
           not
           been
           thus
           ?
           Hath
           there
           not
           been
           a
           sharp
           contention
           ,
           between
           God
           and
           this
           Nation
           concerning
           this
           thing
           ?
           The
           Lord
           hath
           risen
           to
           remove
           the
           yoak
           from
           off
           the
           oppressed
           ,
           that
           he
           might
           cause
           the
           Powers
           of
           this
           Nation
           ,
           to
           let
           the
           oppressed
           conscience
           go
           free
           ,
           but
           the
           Nation
           would
           have
           them
           bound
           .
           It
           is
           still
           crying
           to
           the
           powers
           and
           authorities
           in
           being
           ,
           to
           lay
           the
           yoak
           on
           again
           ;
           When
           one
           power
           is
           broken
           down
           (
           because
           it
           is
           not
           faithful
           in
           the
           Lords
           hand
           ,
           but
           starts
           aside
           from
           the
           Lords
           work
           ,
           for
           which
           it
           was
           chosen
           ,
           to
           another
           of
           its
           own
           chusing
           )
           it
           seeks
           to
           have
           another
           harder
           power
           set
           up
           ,
           (
           I
           mean
           harder
           to
           the
           tender
           conscience
           )
           yet
           God
           overturns
           that
           also
           ,
           and
           what
           can
           stand
           before
           him
           ,
           who
           is
           risen
           to
           shake
           terribly
           the
           earth
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           the
           Oakes
           ,
           and
           Cedars
           thereof
           to
           fail
           ,
           totter
           ,
           and
           fall
           ?
           O
           
             England
          
           !
           Will
           nothing
           serve
           thy
           turn
           ,
           but
           the
           enslaving
           of
           Gods
           heritage
           ?
           That
           tenderness
           of
           conscience
           ,
           〈◊〉
           God
           hath
           begotten
           in
           his
           people
           ,
           is
           his
           own
           ,
           is
           that
           which
           he
           will
           inherit
           .
           It
           is
           that
           which
           he
           brought
           out
           of
           the
           
             Egyptian
          
           darkness
           of
           Popery
           ,
           and
           which
           he
           is
           now
           redeeming
           ,
           and
           delivering
           from
           the
           relicks
           thereof
           :
           and
           if
           these
           three
           Nations
           should
           for
           the
           generality
           ,
           joyn
           together
           as
           one
           man
           ,
           yea
           ,
           and
           though
           other
           Nations
           should
           joyn
           with
           them
           ,
           yet
           wil
           they
           fall
           short
           of
           power
           and
           wisdome
           to
           prevent
           the
           Lord
           of
           bringing
           to
           pass
           his
           intended
           work
           .
        
         
           Was
           it
           the
           generality
           of
           the
           Nations
           God
           redeemed
           out
           of
           Popery
           ,
           or
           was
           it
           a
           poor
           persecuted
           remnant
           for
           whose
           sakes
           he
           did
           it
           ,
           and
           whom
           he
           chiefly
           had
           respect
           unto
           ?
           And
           is
           not
           the
           Lord
           able
           to
           carry
           on
           this
           work
           ,
           further
           and
           further
           ?
           Did
           he
           suffer
           them
           alwaies
           to
           be
           stopped
           in
           their
           progresse
           ,
           and
           held
           in
           bondage
           by
           Episcopacy
           ?
           Nay
           ,
           did
           he
           not
           at
           length
           break
           it
           down
           at
           their
           cries
           ,
           and
           for
           their
           sakes
           ?
           And
           do
           ye
           think
           he
           will
           now
           suffer
           the
           line
           of
           
             Presbytery
          
           to
           be
           stretched
           over
           them
           ,
           to
           keep
           them
           down
           from
           rising
           up
           any
           further
           in
           obedience
           to
           the
           pure
           Law
           of
           life
           in
           their
           Spirits
           ?
           
             O
             England
             ,
          
           in
           the
           zeal
           of
           the
           Lord
           of
           Hosts
           ,
           I
           could
           bid
           defiance
           to
           all
           thy
           councils
           and
           strength
           ,
           though
           I
           should
           see
           thee
           encompasse
           round
           his
           poor
           suffering
           seed
           (
           who
           are
           very
           weake
           and
           foolish
           ,
           as
           to
           that
           kind
           of
           strength
           and
           wisedome
           )
           because
           mine
           eye
           seeth
           the
           Almighty
           one
           (
           before
           whom
           in
           thy
           greatest
           strength
           ,
           and
           height
           of
           confidence
           ,
           thou
           art
           as
           nothing
           )
           engaged
           against
           thee
           :
           but
           I
           rather
           chuse
           to
           mourn
           over
           thee
           ,
           and
           to
           wait
           for
           the
           opening
           of
           thine
           eyes
           ,
           by
           the
           anointing
           of
           the
           true
           eye-salve
           ,
           which
           alone
           can
           unbewitch
           the
           Nations
           ?
           Yea
           in
           bowels
           of
           tender
           love
           and
           pity
           to
           thee
           ,
           I
           do
           beseech
           thee
           ,
           
             O
             England
          
           consider
           thy self
           ,
           do
           not
           undo
           thy
           happiness
           and
           prosperity
           ,
           fight
           not
           against
           the
           holy
           one
           ,
           the
           mighty
           one
           of
           despised
           ,
           distressed
           
             Israel
             :
          
           be
           not
           tempted
           to
           follow
           
             Israel
          
           into
           the
           wilderness
           ,
           (
           where
           they
           now
           are
           ,
           and
           whither
           the
           hand
           of
           the
           Lord
           hath
           led
           them
           )
           to
           bring
           them
           back
           again
           into
           bondage
           ,
           because
           thou
           seest
           them
           entangled
           in
           the
           straits
           ,
           and
           nothing
           appears
           able
           to
           deliver
           them
           out
           of
           thy
           hand
           .
           Remember
           what
           befel
           
             Pharoah
          
           and
           his
           hoast
           .
           This
           
             Israel
          
           whom
           thou
           huntest
           ,
           is
           dearer
           to
           the
           Lord
           then
           ever
           that
           
             Israel
          
           was
           :
           for
           that
           was
           but
           a
           shadow
           of
           the
           true
           seed
           ,
           but
           the
           true
           life
           it self
           is
           begotten
           ,
           and
           brought
           forth
           in
           many
           of
           these
           ,
           and
           the
           power
           ,
           and
           presence
           of
           the
           Lord
           is
           mightily
           with
           them
           and
           amongst
           them
           ,
           though
           thou
           in
           the
           unbeliefe
           canst
           not
           see
           it
           .
           There
           is
           now
           an
           hour
           of
           temptation
           upon
           thee
           ,
           there
           appears
           a
           fair
           opportunity
           to
           thee
           to
           be
           revenged
           on
           them
           ,
           and
           to
           bring
           them
           under
           :
           take
           heed
           what
           thou
           dost
           ,
           lest
           he
           who
           hath
           the
           power
           over
           all
           ,
           bring
           thee
           under
           ,
           and
           set
           them
           on
           top
           ;
           seek
           righteousness
           ,
           seek
           the
           good
           of
           all
           ,
           seek
           true
           reformation
           ,
           and
           the
           Lord
           will
           blesse
           thee
           ;
           but
           if
           thou
           think
           to
           obtain
           the
           setting
           up
           of
           old
           forms
           ,
           and
           waies
           of
           worship
           and
           Government
           ,
           or
           any
           new
           ones
           like
           to
           the
           old
           ,
           under
           which
           the
           righteous
           cannot
           but
           groan
           (
           though
           the
           wicked
           ,
           and
           loose
           spirit
           way
           rejoyce
           )
           thou
           wilt
           be
           deceived
           ,
           and
           thy
           mistake
           may
           prove
           very
           dangerous
           and
           bitter
           to
           thee
           .
           Our
           earnest
           desires
           to
           the
           Lord
           for
           thee
           are
           ,
           that
           thou
           maist
           be
           spared
           as
           much
           as
           is
           possible
           (
           and
           that
           the
           sufferings
           of
           Gods
           People
           from
           thee
           ,
           from
           the
           very
           first
           rent
           from
           Popery
           till
           this
           day
           ,
           may
           not
           be
           laid
           to
           thy
           charge
           )
           but
           iniquity
           is
           so
           twisted
           into
           thy
           bowels
           ,
           that
           without
           much
           tearing
           ,
           which
           will
           cause
           great
           pain
           to
           thee
           ,
           it
           can
           hardly
           be
           separated
           from
           thee
           .
           Thou
           art
           too
           wise
           and
           wilfull
           ,
           this
           is
           the
           cause
           of
           thy
           sorrow
           .
           If
           thou
           couldst
           fear
           before
           the
           Lord
           ,
           and
           patiently
           wait
           for
           the
           revealing
           of
           his
           will
           ,
           and
           of
           his
           guiding
           thee
           by
           his
           wisdome
           ,
           and
           not
           be
           so
           enraged
           against
           instruments
           ,
           but
           see
           through
           them
           to
           his
           hand
           (
           who
           hath
           afflicted
           thee
           ,
           )
           and
           humble
           thy self
           before
           that
           ,
           how
           sweetly
           and
           easily
           might
           his
           work
           go
           on
           in
           thee
           !
           But
           alas
           ,
           hast
           thou
           not
           set
           thy self
           against
           it
           from
           the
           very
           first
           ?
           And
           now
           thou
           art
           much
           pleased
           with
           a
           seeming
           probability
           of
           turning
           it
           backward
           .
           Ah
           poor
           land
           ,
           what
           will
           this
           stiffe
           spirit
           ,
           (
           which
           hath
           all
           along
           these
           times
           of
           trouble
           ,
           repined
           at
           ,
           and
           opposed
           the
           work
           of
           the
           Lord
           )
           bring
           thee
           to
           ?
        
         
           The
           time
           of
           reformation
           is
           come
           ,
           the
           work
           of
           reformation
           is
           begun
           by
           that
           power
           ,
           which
           is
           able
           to
           carry
           it
           on
           ,
           and
           that
           which
           now
           standeth
           in
           the
           way
           thereof
           ,
           (
           how
           high
           ,
           and
           mighty
           soever
           )
           will
           be
           overturned
           .
           And
           although
           (
           as
           to
           what
           men
           have
           done
           )
           the
           cause
           and
           work
           of
           reformation
           may
           justly
           become
           a
           reproach
           ,
           yet
           the
           foundation
           of
           reformation
           which
           God
           hath
           laid
           ,
           is
           glorious
           :
           and
           in
           these
           troublesome
           times
           ,
           is
           he
           rearing
           up
           the
           building
           of
           his
           new
           
             Jerusalem
             ,
          
           which
           when
           he
           hath
           finished
           and
           brought
           forth
           ,
           will
           dazle
           the
           eyes
           of
           the
           whole
           Earth
           .
           
             O
             England
          
           be
           not
           high
           minded
           ,
           run
           not
           out
           into
           parties
           ,
           and
           breaches
           in
           the
           heady
           will
           ,
           but
           fear
           before
           him
           whose
           power
           is
           over
           thee
           ,
           (
           who
           comprehends
           all
           thy
           councels
           ,
           strength
           ,
           designs
           ,
           and
           hopes
           ,
           as
           with
           a
           span
           ;
           and
           when
           they
           are
           at
           the
           height
           ,
           can
           moulder
           them
           to
           nothing
           ,
           with
           the
           touch
           of
           his
           finger
           )
           for
           his
           will
           must
           stand
           ,
           not
           thine
           .
        
         
           
             Written
             
               the
               19th
               .
               of
               the
               11th
               .
               month
               ,
               1659.
               
            
          
           
             This
             is
             from
             him
             ,
             whom
             in
             the
             day
             of
             thy
             distresse
             ,
             and
             bitter
             calamity
             (
             which
             thy
             present
             courses
             lead
             apace
             unto
             )
             thou
             wilt
             confesse
             to
             have
             been
             thy
             true
             friend
             .
             
               Isaac
               Penington
               ,
            
             the
             Younger
             .