A85486:220
The right wayThe right vvay
The right way: or A direction for obtaining good success in a weighty enterprise. Set out in a sermon preached on the 12th of September, 1648. before the Lords on a day of humiliation for a blessing on a treaty between His Majesties and the Parliaments commissioners. / By W. Gouge.The right vvay: or A direction for obtaining good successe in a weighty enterprise. Set out in a sermon preached on the 12th of September, 1648. before the Lords on a day of humiliation for a blessing on a treaty between His Majesties and the Parliaments commissioners. / By W. Gouge.
London: printed by A. Miller for Joshua Kirton, 1648London: printed by A. Miller for Ioshua Kirton, 1648
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. Such have been the evils of this civil war (whereof a taste was given before) and many of them do so continue to increase more and more,1 as there is a kind of necessity of a good accommodation for composing our differences: and for settling a safe and well-grounded Peace: which cannot better be effected then by a Treaty. Such divisions, such contentions, such confusions there are in this Kingdom, as it is in danger to be utterly ruined, if some speedy course be not taken to repair, close up and heal the breaches thereof. It was in the case of a civill war, that the chief Commander on the one side, said to the other, Shall the sword devour for ever? Knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the later ⟨p. 34⟩end, 2 Sam. 2. 26. Bitterness there must needs be in such a kind of war, because on which side soever the victory falleth, Israelites, members of the Church, Professors of the faith are destroyed. Though the conquered did press that bitterness, yet the Conqueror gave over thereupon. O that they who through the divine providence have been kept from the extremity of this war, would lay to heart the condition of them that have felt it: not of them only who have been on the other side: but of many also who have been on our own side! They would then see a necessity of a fair composing our differences, and of yielding to an accommodation, usque ad aras, so far as may stand with the truth and purity of Religion.
1. Such have been the evils of this civil war (whereof a taste was given before) and many of them do so continue to increase more and more,1 as there is a kinde of necessity of a good accommodation for composing our differences: and for setling a safe and well-grounded Peace: which cannot better be effected then by a Treaty. Such divisions, such contentions, such confusions there are in this Kingdome, as it is in danger to be utterly ruined, if some speedy course be not taken to repair, close up and heal the breaches thereof. It was in the case of a civill warre, that the chief Commander on the one side, said to the other, Shall the sword devour for ever? Knowest thou not that it will be bitternesse in the later ⟨p. 34⟩