Well consider we of it , God gave them a King in his wrath , &c. Note well what God saith , Deut. 28.47 , 48. Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness , and with a good heart , for the abundance of all things :

Therefore thou shalt serve thy enemies in hunger , and in thirst , and in nakedness , and in need of all things , and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck , &c.

Beloved friends , Let us not cast away our Reason , that noble faculty of our Souls : consider that both they and we have had a long and large experience of the difference between Judges and Kings .

Compare those Judges of Israel , before Kings were , with those Kings that were after them .

Consider this , That of , or amongst those Judges immediately appointed by God , from Moses to Samuel , there was not one of them but were blessed by God , his good Spirit helped them to judg righteously .

Secondly , God made them a blessing to the People ; they did not addict themselves to voluptuous pleasure , nor to build stately Palaces , not to idolatrous wives ; not to many wives , not to voluptuous diet , or much wine , not to multiplicity of attendants , not to Plays , Pastimes , Hawking and Hunting ; not to Oppression of their Brethren , not to idleness , not to swearing & profaneness . They did not nourish , and promote and put great Titles of Honor upon men , and keep company with such most familiarly , which openly and often blasphemed and despised God , the most high God , by swearing , revelling , whoring , and what not profaneness ? nor did those blessed Judges neglect the due administration of Justice and Judgment .

Quest. But what did these Judges then ? What manner of persons were they ?

Ans. First , Note that God sent them ; they came into the sheepfold by the door , by Gods appointment , they did not creep slighly in by beauty , friends , eloquence , mony , indiscreet Elections of the people , not by any unjust fraud or force .

Hence it came to pass , that God blessed them with a good portion of his good and blessed Spirit ; God owned them .

Hence it came to pass likewise , That the sheep owned them , and willingly obeyed their voyce , and followed them in the paths of righteousness .

These Judges likewise loved the People : see how Moses intercedes , and pleads with God , by prayer and supplication for them .

Oh , it is a precious benefit to people , to enjoy godly Governours .

These Judges were humble , meek , painfull , they did not swell with conceit that their veins were full of Royal bloud .

For they still acknowledg the people to be their brethren .

It 's said of Moses when Jethro came to see him , that he judged the people from morning to evening .

And afterwards his burthen , or charge , was not laid aside ( by Jethro's counsel only ) it was eased .

It is said of Samuel , That besides the pains he took ( where he dwelt ) in judging the people , he likewise went about and judged the people in other places , year by year .

Now dear friends , concerning the fruits that came by Kings , I appeal to God , to his sacred word , to the Records , to the Chronicles , to the experience both of our own and other Nations , whether Kings have been to be compared with those Judges : have not Kings been addicted to those vices , and very empty of such graces as were requisite for men in such eminent places ? For though some may cavil , and object , that some Kings were good , I shall ( if God permit and assist ) answer , I hope to satisfaction , both this , and all other objections that I have yet heard of , and can remember , that tend to confirm and strengthen the continuance , and beings of Kings amongst us .

Because I judge that from evident grounds plainly laid down in the sacred Scriptures , the word of God , the most true , and the most unerring rule to direct us .

Kings were neither the first , nor the best way of Government .

Consider likewise those precious promises of God , who hath not left us without hope , for the word of God seemeth to me , plainly to declare and shew , that in these last days ( which days and times ( I believe to be ) these verytimes , or times very near approaching , as by the opinion of many Godly and learned men ) in which God will destroy corrupt Government , and Governors , and will exalt his mountain in the top of the Mountains , and will give and restore to us , Judges , as at the first , and Counsellors , as at the beginning .

Afterwards thou shalt be called a City of righteousness , a faithful City , Isai. 1.25 , 26 , 27. & ch. 2.2 , 3 , 4.

Of this I purpose to speak more afterwards .

Dearly beloved friends , thus much I can and do affirm to you all in the presence of that all-seeing ●od , who will bring hidden things , deeds of darkness to light , even in the presence of that God who I do Love , Fear , Worship , who is my Hope , my Joy , from whom I received all the Good I have , from whom I expect my comfort for the time to come .

I have not ( so far as I know my own heart ) any prejudice nor respect of persons , nor any past , present , or future , by , or sinister respect , in the writing this little Treatise .

I have never received the value of one penny in recompence of my endeavors , and for the time to come , I am so far from thoughts that way , That I do expect rather that I shall receive injury hereby , and that this may be a great hinderance to me in wordly respects , only this is my comfort , That I know whom I have trusted .

And this further can I say likewise , That at the writing hereof I know not , nor did ever see , either those truly honourable Generals , the Lord Fairfax , nor the Lord Cromwel , nor any Captain or Souldier amongst them , except some few I lately saw in , or neer to London , as I passed by them , nor do I know any one of them if I see them again , so far as I conceive .

It is possible some of my acquaintance may be in the Army , but if it be so , I know it not .

And concerning those worthy men ( for so I esteem them to be ) that now sit in the Parliament , I never saw any one of them ( to my knowledg ) except one who I have seen , I think , three or four times , yet I know not certainly whether he be of the Parliament or no , only I think he is .

Whereas I affirm that I know not any of the Army , or of the Parliament , I intend that I know not the persons of the men , but by their fruits , I know much concerning them .

Some may judge this to be superfluous to mention , but I shall shew you what moveth me so to do .

In discoursing with divers men , I find , to my best apprehension , That there is such a crooked and perverse generation of men , that imagine mischief , that invent base , false , and slanderous reports against Parliament , Generals , Army , and indeed , against the most that truly fear God .

Blame me not therefore ( courteous Reader ) if I labour to prevent slanderous and lying Tongues .

And this likewise I affirm , That with due regard of Gods presence , in the fear of God , ( being much sensible of my own weakness , seriously considering of how great weight it is to write books and to present them to publique view ) I am very fearful to presume above what is meet : and this I say further , that my purpose is to propound the matters and causes I shall principally insist upon in this following Treatise .

I purpose likewise , according to the measure of light , grace , and opportunity that God shall give me , to prove and clear the matters propounded , and then having presented the cause , I shall earnestly desire of God to stir some persons ( who are more learned and better able then my self ) and to enable and direct them so , That they may more largely and clearly shew forth to publique view , the mind of God in these matters of Government , and Governors .

It is now a long season that the Nations have been so kept under by Corrupt Governors , above two thousand years ; during which time , where ( or who ) was the man that durst , or did punctually discover the Corruption of Governors , or of Government .

1. This is one reason that moveth me to present the cause to publike view , namely because I know not , or do not discern that any one writer , from Samuels days to this time ( the pens of the Scriptures excepted ) that hath punctually written upon this subject .

2. This is another moving cause , because now being a time of more Liberty , and considering that I , my children , and posterity are concerned in the case of Government , I conceive there is reason good why I should present this cause to publike consideration .

3. This is another motive , I look upon the great effusion of bloud that hath been shed about this matter , the cause ( for ought I know ) being not yet wholy determined , but is still so , that ( I conceive ) that our godly Governors are ready to prefer Gods glory and the common good , before their own interests , in those matters that they shall clearly see to be the mind and will of God .

4. This is another motive , seeing apparently our miserable condition , people being divided in judgment , and in affection , so that our condition is much like a ship in a Tempest . Therefore the end of my endeavors shall be ( so far as God shall assist ) that I may reconcile differences , and that Peace and Truth may meet together , as Moses and Aaron met together in the mount of God , and kissed each other . And as this is the end I propound to my self , so likewise I purpose it shall be the Title or Superscription .