The great
Assyrian
mo narchy, so call'd from Ashur the son of Nimrod, who built Nineveh.
Rehearsal - v1 - 1750
IV.
N.
49.
fays, That in the Rehearsal, N.
50, is contained the high est treason, he names it not, therefore I look'd it over, and can sind nothing like treason in unless be making the Ohservator cuckoo, and as such, turning him oft", as unsit for civil converfation.
He tells us likewise of his being bound over, upon the complaint of the imperial envoy, for his rude and barbarous treatment of his imperial majesty and instead ofsubmit ting or asking pardon, he justifies what he has done, and
bullies and threatens what more he will do not sparing
her majesty, for entering into confederacy with popish allies, nor even the present ministry, they sufser him to be
profecuted, and for not prosecuting of others, with vin dication of the right of every commoner in England to in termeddle in state affairs both foreign and domestick, and to pass their verdiii in print for the information of the po
pulace
had not taken notice of this, but to shew the natural.
tffeSls of these commonwealth principles. They make men insolent and brutal, even in common conversation, for how can A? retain any respect for government, or any a'/A tinction of upon the earth, who looks upon himself as the original and fountain of all power and honour and that emperors, kings, and parliaments, are nothing else but hisservants, his deputies and representatives How
can any government be easy with men of such notions, or expect obedience from them
The Observator tells us, Vol. IV. N. 42. ofhis education and proficiency in the private academies of the dissenters amongst us; andifwemay guessatwhat's iNthem, what comes out of them, 'tis time to look after them Here's
pregnant instance what principles are learnt there, what manners, what reverence to govermnent, or regard to y«-
periors! And the performance of their Calamys,
Palmers, &c. are
a
I
!
!
by! ! a
!
if
!
;
a
it, it
380
The REHEARSAL.
&c. are not inferior, in all these respects, to their Obscr- vators ; especially in their treatment of the church : which must lie under the load of all their venom and jlan-
der till Go•/ shall think sit to deliver her.
And monarchy told us j for which he has been well rewarded.
From ,§at. Sept. 29, to Oct. 6, 1 705.
I. Ti? >f fatherly authority in Noah aster the Flood. z. 7he power of lise death in Noah. 3. 7j6< occa sion of the division of nations aster the Flood. 4. Tbe means by which it ivas brought to pass. 5. The divi
sion was into 70 nations, by the means of 70 langua ges. 6. The division of languages was all at one time. 7. The sons of Shem, Ham, and Japheth in Gen. x. were only the rulers of countries, none other
oftheir children are there namd. 8. The succession of some of them preserv'd to this day.
G>»». TT7'E are new come, master, to the times of
monwealths men.
R. Noah had a. wicked fin, as Adam had ; and we sind
Noah exercising authority over him, Gen. ix. 25. And he said, Cursed, be Canaan, a servant ofservants shall be be unto his brethren. And he blessed his dutiful and obedient
children, ver. 26, 27. And he, said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem ; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall
is join'd with episcopacy in their root and branch work ;
which Mr. Wisely (bred among them) has veryseasonably
N° 62.
VV
Noah after the Flood. . And the sirst point is, whether we can sind any marks of fatherly authority in Noah over his children f For that is deny'd by our com
and Canaan shall be his sirvant. And this curse upon Ham or Canaan was for his irreverence
to his father, in looking upon his nakedness. And the blessing upon the other two was for their awful respect to
enlarge Japheth,
their father, ver. 22, 23, 24. .
C. But
The RE HEARSAL,
381
C. But was not this prophetical?
R. Yes. And not of less authority for that ; but it
was grounded upon thefatherly authority ; and the curse and the blessing given with respect to that.
(«. ) C. The whzgs will allow, that Noah had a fatherly
authority. But they deny that it had any respect to go- tvernment, or did extend to life and death,
R. God fays to Noah, Gen. ix. 6. man's Hood, by man shall his blood be shed.
Whofo sheddetb
C. They fay, that this was spoke with respect to man kind in general; but did not place the authority in any one more than another. Not in Noah more than in any
one of his fins, or in them all together.
R. Then any aw of Noah's sons, and their fins after
them, had the power of life and death over Noah, as well as he over them ! And, by the fame rule, every man in the world had the power of life and death over every man in the world !
C. That wou'd make a strange iwr/•/ indeed ! there wou'd be nothing but killing and flaying at this rate ! there cou'd be no judge, because every man wou'd be
judge over his judge, and might put his judge to death, as well as the judge pass sentence upon him ! surely this can not be the meaning of that text !
R. It must be the meaning, unless the power of life and death was put in some particular hands exclusive of ethers.
C. In whose hands was it put ? That does not appear in this text.
R. There was no need of expressing it in this text ; because the fins of Noah were well appriz'd, that their father had the authority over them. This was efiablished
from the beginning, as well by the positive institution of God, as by the dictate of nature. All which we have be fore discours'd at large ; as likewise, that the authority which has no superior, must be absolute, and extend to every thing of authority. And therefore it being con
,
that Noah, as father, had autho rity over his font, but not they over him : it must follow,
sessedly acknowledg'd,
that
3*2
The REHEARSAL
that the command in this text was to be executed by Ncab over hisfins ; but not by them over
C. Why then was this command given to M«Æ and his fins ? for they are all join'd together, ver. I. ofarf Go•/ bleJsedNoah, and bis fins, andsaid unto them, &c.
R. It was a command of obedience to them, in respect of their father. But it was likewise a command that was to extend to all generations ofww» to the «rrf of the world. And did respect the fins of AkaÆ, when they came to be governors themselves, and to succeed in ihepoiver of Noah, their father ; whereas if it had been only spoke of Noah,
it might have been thought, that it was only a particular grant to him, and not to extend to any govermurs after him. Therefore it is put in general: by man shall his
bloodbe shed; that by such men, to the end of the tworld, who shall be justly Defied with this authority.
C. But you have faid before, that this power was Adam, and in the patriarchs before the Flood; and, by
your rule, that whatever power has no superior preme, must be so. What need then was there ofthis
new grant to Noah? looks as this were the first of and that this power had never been granted before.
R. No more than what faid in the fame place, Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth. And the fear you, and the dread you shall be upon every beast
the field, and upon every fowl the air, {SV. which was the repeating or renewing the grant given at sirst to Adam. And the adding this of revenging blood, might
be for the murders had been committed, not only that of Abel, but we may suppose of many others afterwards
the compass of 1656 years. For That the earth was filled violence.
need of mentioning this particular
power to Adam before any blood had been shed. But there
was great occasion of impressing home upon Noah, and all after ages.
(3. ) C. But now, master, we are come to troublous times I'm afraid will puzzle you. For as ask'd be- sore, how went after Adam's death must now, how
faid, Gen. vi. 13. And there was no
branch of sovereign
su
it
of
it
;
it of if
so I
I
it
is
of
in
is
in
of
it,
It of
is,
is
The REHEARS AL.
383
how it went after Noah's ? Did his eldest son succeed in the
full right of the primogeniture, as universal monarch over all the world? Here the whigs do triumph! and think they have overthrown all the pretence of primogeniture ; For that in fact no such universal monarch did succeed Noah. And so all yourscheme falls to the ground.
R. This objection, when clear'd, will settle the notion
of government, and the succession of much more strong ly. This then was the fact: About oo years after the Flood, when men were multiply God did design to
separate them into divers colonies, and to people the earth with them. But great many of them did gather together, with an intent to keep themselves from being
separated,
and for that end to build great city, and
mighty high tower, to secure themselves against another
Deluge. And we may suppose to establish an universal
to continue after the death of Noah, who was still alive, and then their chiefgovernour, as common
father to them all.
This may be the meaning of the name they propos'd to make to themselves, Gen. xi. 4. Let us make us a
name, lest we scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. But God deseated that defign, as faid, ver.
9. And from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face all the earth. From thence, that from Ba bel or Babylon, which was the name of that city they had . built and sell to the share of Nimrod, and was the be ginning his kingdom, Gen. x. 10. which may be rea
son why he set up for more authority than others, and to subdue others under him he did do which does not appear, otherwise than his being call'd mighty hun ter before the Lord: which think does not inser and
capable of another construction. But that not our business now.
The thing we are concern'd for, to know by what means and method God did bring this divifion of nations to pass And we sind, that was no human means: But the most stupendous and astonishing mi
racle that ever the earth faw, and under which the world
monarchy,
(4. )
a
by ?
be
by
is,
is
is
it,
a
I
; if
; of
of
it a it
d,
it,
is
a it,
is
a so i
8, a
a
384
The REHEARSAL. "
world groans to this day ; that is, the divistott of tongues- For all of mankind, except one share, must in a moment, forget their mother tongue. Else they cou'd have under stood one another in that tongue, tho' they had others given them. And then all of asudden, in that fame mo ment of time, all the others, except that one /hare, had new languages inspir'd into them, all different from each
other ; else they cou'd still have understood one another.
(5. ) C. How many were these languages ?
R. They were 70. For into so many nations was the earth then divided, aster their tongues, in their lands, after their nations, Gen. x. 31. Their names are all set down in this chapter, after the names of the sons of Shem, Ham, and Japhcth, who go•verrid these several countries. Of these the sons of Japheth were 14; of Ham 30 ; of Shem 26, in all 70.
(6. ) C. How does it appear, that this diviston of tongues was done all at once ? We know tongues and lan
guages alter in process of time, as our English ; that in an 1 00 years time it is hardly the fame language it was be fore. Few now understand old Chaucer, who was call'd
the refiner of the English tongue ; and so I have heard it
is in other languages. So that new tongues may grow, in time out of old ones ; nay, in the fame country, and as
we may fay the fame language, there is such difference, and -variety of dialects introduc'djby custom, that in Lon don we hardly understand the north-country speech, nor
I the
they the west, and so forth. And so fancy variety
of languages in the world might have come.
R. It will be very hard to imagine, that all the quite difserent languages, and characlers of difserent languages
in the world among nations so distant, that have no cor~ respondence or intercourse with one another, cou'd come from this root.
But to put this out of all doubt, we sind, that this was
done all at one time, Gen. x. 25. where the name of Pe-
leg, which signisies divifion, was given to the son of E- ber, with this reason, for in his days was the earth di
vided.
Besides.
The REHEARSAL.
385
Besides, if the divifion of tongues had not been at that very time, it cou'd not have answer'd the defign of God to put a stop to the building of Babel, as it is faid, Gen. x. 7. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their lan guage, that they may not understand one another s speech — So they left off to build the city.
C. This I think is very plain, though I heard a learn
ed man put this very objection ; which made me put it to
you.
(7. ) But now, master, were these 70 sons os Shem,
Ham, and Japheth all princes and rulers of these several countries ? or is this only a catalogue of what children they had ?
R. It cou'd not be a catalogue of all their children ; for there are no daughters nam'd. Nor cou'd it be a list of all their sons ; for there were many more than 70 men then in the world. They must be many thousands to com
pose so many several nations ; and we must suppose more than 70 men at the building of that vast tower and city of Babel : and all the men then in the world were the offspring of these three sons of Noah. Therefore 70 of them being here only nam'd, must distinguish these 16, in
a very particular manner from all the rest.
Besides, we have the names of several countries call'd
from some of these 70. As the Canaanites so call'd from Canaan the son of Ham.
The great Assyrian mo narchy, so call'd from Ashur the son of Nimrod, who built Nineveh. And Babylon the beginning of Nimrod\ king dom, is known by that to this day. They built many other great cities, whose names we have lost, which are mention'd in the xth of Genefis. This mews they were great men, and rulers and governors, who had so many men at command, and from whom countries re- ceiv'd their names.
(8. ) But more :
In some of these countries, where hL
stories have been preserv'd, we have still remaining the names not only of the first prince, but of all who have
succeededhim from that time to this day. Thus from Nim rod, who in profane history is call'd Bchs, through the
Vol. I. S
Assyrian
386
The REHEARSAL.
Assyrian, Perfian,
Grecian and Roman monarchies, and
from the dwifitn of the last into the Eastern and Wrstern empires, we have the names of all the kings, who succeeded
one another, from Ximrod or Belus, to the present empe
ror of Germany, and the Sultan at Constantinople.
C. This is a mighty confirmation indeed, if I cou'd be fatisfy 'd of it ; for I'm no scholar, and never read any
but a little of our English histories.
R. There are tables of chronology, wherein are all their
names ; and likewise of the kings of other countries, as far as any histories of them remain. Petarvius his Chro nological tables are put into English, and printed in Cam bridge, and fold in the booksellers shops at London : where, in two sheets of papers, printed on one side, and hung up like a picture, you may see all this at one view, as plain as all our kings since the Conqueror in an Almanack.
C. I am resolv'd to have one of them ; for this is what I knew not before. I have some more questions to afc concerning the matter we are now upon. But I'll re serve these till next time.
From &at. Oct. 6, to Cfiurs. Oct. n, 1705. N° 63.
The present subject interrupted for a play-day to the coun tryman, who tells of a dispute 'twixt a park-keeper and deer-stealer. 1. The decr-stealer woud not let the
park-keeper mend the pales ofhis park. 2. The deer- stealer pleads a title to the park, from some liberties had been allow d him in the park. 3 . Herw he managed a park he had seiz'd beyond Trent. 4. And how he treat ed a brother of the park-keeper'/ there. 5. He bullies the park-keeper ; and talks learnedly of laws, liberty, and levelling. 6. He will not suffer the park-keeper to look beyond Trent ; though he himself does. 7. And gives good reason for it. With the true meaning of law, right, aWjustice.
Ce«». T7'OU deal a little hardly by me, master, in J, keeping me, who am but a young convert, so long
The REHEARSAL.
387
long upon the stretch, wholly upon the serious, as you have done ; and I perceive it will be some time yet be- sore you have gone through that work you have cut out for yourself. And I must not intermix any of my foolish
fiories, when you are upon your serious discourse. It wou'd interrupt and break the links of your chain, and it wou'd be trouble to join them together again ; and great part might flip out of my mind, and I consess wou'd make it less useful to me.
Therefore I desire you wou'd give me a play-day now and then to refresh me, and bear a little with my fimple way ; and then I shall hearken afterwards more atten tively to your lectures.
R. For once, and not to make a custom of I'll gra tify you, countryman. For they fay, All work, and no piay, makes Jack a dull boy. Now this day yours, you shall have the whole discourse to yourself upon what subject you please, and will hear you patiently.
(i. ) C. I'll tell you dispute happen'd lately in our country betwixt park-keeper and deer-sealer. The case was this The wind had blown down some of the
pales of the park, and the park-keeper was about repairing them. No, faid the deer-sealer, you shan't do that for
'twill make quarrel. mews you suspect me, and that's
an affront! Besides, 'tis to no purpose; will only
tempt me to break your pales. But what reason have you for for, upon my word, have not stole deer out of your park these three days. shall do you less mischief when freely in my power, than you make more troublesome to me. You know, forhidding thing creates an appetite to it. Orchards are often robb'd but seldom the apples that grow on hedge-rows in the high-way.
However, to shew my moderation, I'll compoundw'ithyou
There yoarpales are lying, look ye. there they are: Now do not you touch them, and will not. Let them lie as they
are only do not put them up again, that's all ask.
Said park-keeper, not put them up
put them up. •
what do they signify to me, Sr
do My park lies open Therefore will
If
?
:
if
a
is
I if I
it,
;
it ?
I
a ;
a it
it
;
I
It II
a
:
it is
a
aI
:
The REHEARSAL.
338
If you will, faid deer-stealcr, I take all the world to
witness, that 'tis you make the quarrel! That you are an unreasonable man, and have no moderation in you ! nothing will serve you but to have the park all to your
self! Am not Ia man as well as you? and may not I have a hit, when you have full meals ? Come ! come ! he that wou'd engross all, may lose all! here are no neigh bourly dealings at all with you !
(2. ) Besides, I must tell you (since 'tis come to that) that 1 have as good a title to this park as yourself. Hey day! said the park-keeper, that's news indeed ! pray, how comes that to pass ?
Why ? Don't you remember, reply'd deer-stealer, (with a brisk air) that, some time ago, you, to make up the old difference betwixt us, and to settle a better correspon dence for the future, gave me the running of so many horses in your park, and likewise so many bucks every season ? Therefore I fay, and I infist upon it, that this liberty or toleration you have given me is an establishment. And that I have as much right to myshare of the park, as you have to yours ; and there is no difference, but that you have a larger share, and more deer to dispose of
than I have.
The park-keeper anfwer'd to this, that to give a man
the running of a horse in one's ground, was not to give him any title to the inheritance of the. ground ; and the
bucks I promis'd you (faid he) was my own free gift; and is this the return 1 have for to set up your title to the park man must have care how he grants anyfa
t/ours at this rate at least to whvm to men of your principles there no reason, no gratitude in you how
oft have catch you at deer-fi ealirig, in the very fact and, instead of telling my master of it, and having you prosecuted, wink'd at and made this agreement with you, in hopes to have reclaim you, at least to keep our
park fase from you.
At this the deer-fienler laugh'd aloud and faid, you're sine park-kerper indeed to take upon you to make bar
gains for your Lord's park without his
consent; (who' never
a
!
it,
a
d !
it, !
A I
I! Is
'd
!
?
?
?
The REHEARSAL.
389
never gave you any such commission ) and then trust to the truth, and honour and gratitude of a deer-stealer ! what account will you give of this one day ?
(3. ) Though I'm a deer-stealer here, I have a park of my own beyond Trent, where you never shall be keeper ; for I manage it at another guess rate. I suffer not one of your deer-stealers to set his nose within it ; for I know them all ; and will not sufser one of them to cut so much as a bunch ofrushes in it. I know what it is to use a deer-stealer to a park, upon whatever pretence ! To give him but an inch — he'll soon take an ell!
Therefore I have a deer-fiealcr for my keeper ; they are the best keepers ! they know all the tricks that belong to it, and no other deer-stealer dare come near it ; he'll
Jmell 'em at a mile's distance.
At this the park-keeper fetch'd a deep sigh, and faid,
you bring my old fins to remembrance ! You once upon a day ucheedTd and cajesd me to let some of my fins go
a deer-stealing with you into a neighbour's park ; then I gave you that toleration in my park you speak of ; for which I have dearly paid since, and am like to pay more
still !
if not, to lose my place !
(4. ) But I remember full well, that you then gave
me your promise, that my brother, who once had a. park near yours beyond Trent, shou'd have the fame liberty
there that I allow'd you here. And your
deer-stealer, whom you persuaded him to make keeper of his park too, did faithfully premise, and gave it under his hand, which
I have still ready to produce, that he wou'd take all pos sible cart of the park, and not remove any of the under-
and yet he turn'd every one of them out ; and which is more, pull'd down all the pales of the park, he left not one standing ; and let out the park in tenements
to his own crew of deer-stealers thereabouts.
That was because he understood his bufiness ! reply 'd
keepers,
the deer-stealer, with a scornful simile I and you may talk of him what you will , But I'm sure he was true and faithful to me, and shall have my good word the longest day I have to live !
S3
And
390
The REHEARSAL.
And had he stay'd with me a little longer, (but Iris lecsc was out, and he was forc'd to remove to another place! ) your park h=d been, by this time, in the fame condition as your brothers ; though I'm not out of hopes of it yet ; a little comprehenfion w ill do the bufiness ! Let but some of my deer-stealers into your park, you'll see what work they'll make !
(5. ) Nay, I'll tell you more: Mr. Park-keeper, you
dare not refuse it when I please to ask it !
der my feet ! you dare not fay your fours your own f you dcre not stretch out one snger towards setting up your corporation and test pales, which I have blown down with one occasional breach ! there they are lying: Keep them to s:ir your pottage ! that's all they're now
goodfor! butifyouofsertosxoneoftheminthe
I have un you
ground again ; or fay, that they were ever meant to keep me out of your park — I'll break all the bones in yourskin!
I'll raise up the magazine of original power upon you, and deliver you to the discretion of our sovereign lord the mob ! I'll have you tore in pieces for a bloody persecutor! who has a defign upon my life ! for he that wou'd take the bread out of my mouth, wou'd not he destroy me ? I live by my imployment! I'm an honest dear sealer ! and I have thriven well upon it ! And he that wou'd take my office from me, takes away my subfistence, and w ou'd
starve me and my family. I have bred up mysons to
the fame trade ! We have private academies for that up
and down the kingdom; and are taught how to elude ah
your forest-laws! those badges of stavery ! and disturb ers of original freedom! That if a man be never so hun
giy, he dare not steal a dW, or shoot a for sear of spoiling of my Lord's game forsooth! and I must starve to make him sport ! What do ye tell me of old stories of tyrants? Never any thing was like this! every manor, every park is downright tyranny! what is it else? and sets up a tyrant within every three or four miles ! that one cannot travel the road for them ! nor go out of a fough, tho' his cart should break, for sear of trespassing upon
his worship's land ! pretty ! pretty I
The REHEARSAL.
And these tyrants engross what God created for the common benesit of all mankind, that is, the imld beasti of the earth, and the wildsowls of the air, and the
sishes of the sea. They are ours! ihepeople! every bo dy's ! And these great men wou'd keep them all to tbe? n-
selvts ! they steal our deer to put into their parks I they are the true deer-stealers I and we must be hanged for seeking after a little of our own ! They steal ou r fish out of the rivers, and put them into their ponds ! and1 will not let us take any that is left even in the rivers! That is my Lord's or his Worship's river! they'll take away our fishing-rods, and hind us over, and plague us at law ! and they call this liberty and property ! Ay marry ! 'tis a good liberty to them ! that is, to a very few of the
who lord it over the rest ; over ten thousands more
people,
than themselves ! But 'tis downright oppression and tyranny over the far greatest /ar/ of the people, who are the wz- ;;»/z/ of government ; but have the least share in the
vantages of it.
Don't tell me of law ! (then cry'd he out in a
ston! ) A legal tyranny is the worst tyranny ! because it is hardest to be refisted, and fivry io^i is against one! A man may in any river in Turkey, or Morocco, and rar a Æos or an elephant, if he can c«fr£ him ; they have no parks or inclosures. That looks like a. face of liberty ! wild beasts, fijh and ,/o-w/ are left common to all, as nature left them. You may talk of /«•w/ what you will ( faid he) but if it were not for the name of liberty, one had as good be without them ! As a man faid, that was gallop ing upon a hobby-horse, if it had not been for the name of riding, he had as good have gone a foot.
For my part (faid he) I'm ter levelling, without that
there's no liberty. Laws and liberty are whig and tory,
high-church and low-church, persect oppofites, the one can not subfist without the destruction of the other. The laiv is a pair of with which the rich and the great take the /oar by the nose, and hold it to the grind-stone, as St. Dunstan serv'd the devil. A poor man cannot go to law , and if he does, he's sure to be undone, whether he
S4
gain
39a
The REHEARSAL.
gain or lose the cause. And after the sirst or second term must sue in forma pauperis ; which is a blessed state !
(6. ) The very state (faid park-keeper ) to which you have reduc'd my poor brother t'other side of Trent, con
trary to your faith and promise solemnly given !
What's your brother to you, reply'd deer-sealer ? If you thought him wrong'd, why did you not complain ?
You have not dar'd to this day so much as to petition for him ! He has a sine brother of you indeed ! No, nor you dare not complain of your own wror. gs ! nor fay that you
are v. rcng'd, or in the least danger, though I have pull'd down your pales before your face ! And therefore I plead as my defence, that you are not wrong' or in
any danger, because you are so tame and who shall
fay you are in any danger, you dare not do your self?
have turn'd your brother out of house and home, and intend to serve you in little time and
not the frfi time you know yet you dare not fay nord on't What then shou'd hinder me O, love these passive, enemies who, when am breaking o-
the doors of their defenfive laws, have not the
pen
courage much as to suspect me of any evil defign or dare not fay so, for sear of raising hubbub, and di
sturhing the neighbourhood though you faw me last night breaking open your brother's doors upon the fame
pretence, and when had got in, turn'd him and his fa
mily
And you know since that, fospccted your brother
of some desgns to nab me, and steal into his owa
house again. And brought the cause to London, and had try V here and laid you by the heels too, as not doubting butjob were in the fame plot and, had not
drift.
should have had more of your friends in limbo, and made as good plot
on't here as there Thus may look beyond Trent but you must not. What have we to do with Trent,
fey when you complain of the doings of any of my friends
miscarryd by being
discover
it I,
it a
I
it,
; !
I
I ! so !
He tells us likewise of his being bound over, upon the complaint of the imperial envoy, for his rude and barbarous treatment of his imperial majesty and instead ofsubmit ting or asking pardon, he justifies what he has done, and
bullies and threatens what more he will do not sparing
her majesty, for entering into confederacy with popish allies, nor even the present ministry, they sufser him to be
profecuted, and for not prosecuting of others, with vin dication of the right of every commoner in England to in termeddle in state affairs both foreign and domestick, and to pass their verdiii in print for the information of the po
pulace
had not taken notice of this, but to shew the natural.
tffeSls of these commonwealth principles. They make men insolent and brutal, even in common conversation, for how can A? retain any respect for government, or any a'/A tinction of upon the earth, who looks upon himself as the original and fountain of all power and honour and that emperors, kings, and parliaments, are nothing else but hisservants, his deputies and representatives How
can any government be easy with men of such notions, or expect obedience from them
The Observator tells us, Vol. IV. N. 42. ofhis education and proficiency in the private academies of the dissenters amongst us; andifwemay guessatwhat's iNthem, what comes out of them, 'tis time to look after them Here's
pregnant instance what principles are learnt there, what manners, what reverence to govermnent, or regard to y«-
periors! And the performance of their Calamys,
Palmers, &c. are
a
I
!
!
by! ! a
!
if
!
;
a
it, it
380
The REHEARSAL.
&c. are not inferior, in all these respects, to their Obscr- vators ; especially in their treatment of the church : which must lie under the load of all their venom and jlan-
der till Go•/ shall think sit to deliver her.
And monarchy told us j for which he has been well rewarded.
From ,§at. Sept. 29, to Oct. 6, 1 705.
I. Ti? >f fatherly authority in Noah aster the Flood. z. 7he power of lise death in Noah. 3. 7j6< occa sion of the division of nations aster the Flood. 4. Tbe means by which it ivas brought to pass. 5. The divi
sion was into 70 nations, by the means of 70 langua ges. 6. The division of languages was all at one time. 7. The sons of Shem, Ham, and Japheth in Gen. x. were only the rulers of countries, none other
oftheir children are there namd. 8. The succession of some of them preserv'd to this day.
G>»». TT7'E are new come, master, to the times of
monwealths men.
R. Noah had a. wicked fin, as Adam had ; and we sind
Noah exercising authority over him, Gen. ix. 25. And he said, Cursed, be Canaan, a servant ofservants shall be be unto his brethren. And he blessed his dutiful and obedient
children, ver. 26, 27. And he, said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem ; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall
is join'd with episcopacy in their root and branch work ;
which Mr. Wisely (bred among them) has veryseasonably
N° 62.
VV
Noah after the Flood. . And the sirst point is, whether we can sind any marks of fatherly authority in Noah over his children f For that is deny'd by our com
and Canaan shall be his sirvant. And this curse upon Ham or Canaan was for his irreverence
to his father, in looking upon his nakedness. And the blessing upon the other two was for their awful respect to
enlarge Japheth,
their father, ver. 22, 23, 24. .
C. But
The RE HEARSAL,
381
C. But was not this prophetical?
R. Yes. And not of less authority for that ; but it
was grounded upon thefatherly authority ; and the curse and the blessing given with respect to that.
(«. ) C. The whzgs will allow, that Noah had a fatherly
authority. But they deny that it had any respect to go- tvernment, or did extend to life and death,
R. God fays to Noah, Gen. ix. 6. man's Hood, by man shall his blood be shed.
Whofo sheddetb
C. They fay, that this was spoke with respect to man kind in general; but did not place the authority in any one more than another. Not in Noah more than in any
one of his fins, or in them all together.
R. Then any aw of Noah's sons, and their fins after
them, had the power of life and death over Noah, as well as he over them ! And, by the fame rule, every man in the world had the power of life and death over every man in the world !
C. That wou'd make a strange iwr/•/ indeed ! there wou'd be nothing but killing and flaying at this rate ! there cou'd be no judge, because every man wou'd be
judge over his judge, and might put his judge to death, as well as the judge pass sentence upon him ! surely this can not be the meaning of that text !
R. It must be the meaning, unless the power of life and death was put in some particular hands exclusive of ethers.
C. In whose hands was it put ? That does not appear in this text.
R. There was no need of expressing it in this text ; because the fins of Noah were well appriz'd, that their father had the authority over them. This was efiablished
from the beginning, as well by the positive institution of God, as by the dictate of nature. All which we have be fore discours'd at large ; as likewise, that the authority which has no superior, must be absolute, and extend to every thing of authority. And therefore it being con
,
that Noah, as father, had autho rity over his font, but not they over him : it must follow,
sessedly acknowledg'd,
that
3*2
The REHEARSAL
that the command in this text was to be executed by Ncab over hisfins ; but not by them over
C. Why then was this command given to M«Æ and his fins ? for they are all join'd together, ver. I. ofarf Go•/ bleJsedNoah, and bis fins, andsaid unto them, &c.
R. It was a command of obedience to them, in respect of their father. But it was likewise a command that was to extend to all generations ofww» to the «rrf of the world. And did respect the fins of AkaÆ, when they came to be governors themselves, and to succeed in ihepoiver of Noah, their father ; whereas if it had been only spoke of Noah,
it might have been thought, that it was only a particular grant to him, and not to extend to any govermurs after him. Therefore it is put in general: by man shall his
bloodbe shed; that by such men, to the end of the tworld, who shall be justly Defied with this authority.
C. But you have faid before, that this power was Adam, and in the patriarchs before the Flood; and, by
your rule, that whatever power has no superior preme, must be so. What need then was there ofthis
new grant to Noah? looks as this were the first of and that this power had never been granted before.
R. No more than what faid in the fame place, Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth. And the fear you, and the dread you shall be upon every beast
the field, and upon every fowl the air, {SV. which was the repeating or renewing the grant given at sirst to Adam. And the adding this of revenging blood, might
be for the murders had been committed, not only that of Abel, but we may suppose of many others afterwards
the compass of 1656 years. For That the earth was filled violence.
need of mentioning this particular
power to Adam before any blood had been shed. But there
was great occasion of impressing home upon Noah, and all after ages.
(3. ) C. But now, master, we are come to troublous times I'm afraid will puzzle you. For as ask'd be- sore, how went after Adam's death must now, how
faid, Gen. vi. 13. And there was no
branch of sovereign
su
it
of
it
;
it of if
so I
I
it
is
of
in
is
in
of
it,
It of
is,
is
The REHEARS AL.
383
how it went after Noah's ? Did his eldest son succeed in the
full right of the primogeniture, as universal monarch over all the world? Here the whigs do triumph! and think they have overthrown all the pretence of primogeniture ; For that in fact no such universal monarch did succeed Noah. And so all yourscheme falls to the ground.
R. This objection, when clear'd, will settle the notion
of government, and the succession of much more strong ly. This then was the fact: About oo years after the Flood, when men were multiply God did design to
separate them into divers colonies, and to people the earth with them. But great many of them did gather together, with an intent to keep themselves from being
separated,
and for that end to build great city, and
mighty high tower, to secure themselves against another
Deluge. And we may suppose to establish an universal
to continue after the death of Noah, who was still alive, and then their chiefgovernour, as common
father to them all.
This may be the meaning of the name they propos'd to make to themselves, Gen. xi. 4. Let us make us a
name, lest we scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. But God deseated that defign, as faid, ver.
9. And from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face all the earth. From thence, that from Ba bel or Babylon, which was the name of that city they had . built and sell to the share of Nimrod, and was the be ginning his kingdom, Gen. x. 10. which may be rea
son why he set up for more authority than others, and to subdue others under him he did do which does not appear, otherwise than his being call'd mighty hun ter before the Lord: which think does not inser and
capable of another construction. But that not our business now.
The thing we are concern'd for, to know by what means and method God did bring this divifion of nations to pass And we sind, that was no human means: But the most stupendous and astonishing mi
racle that ever the earth faw, and under which the world
monarchy,
(4. )
a
by ?
be
by
is,
is
is
it,
a
I
; if
; of
of
it a it
d,
it,
is
a it,
is
a so i
8, a
a
384
The REHEARSAL. "
world groans to this day ; that is, the divistott of tongues- For all of mankind, except one share, must in a moment, forget their mother tongue. Else they cou'd have under stood one another in that tongue, tho' they had others given them. And then all of asudden, in that fame mo ment of time, all the others, except that one /hare, had new languages inspir'd into them, all different from each
other ; else they cou'd still have understood one another.
(5. ) C. How many were these languages ?
R. They were 70. For into so many nations was the earth then divided, aster their tongues, in their lands, after their nations, Gen. x. 31. Their names are all set down in this chapter, after the names of the sons of Shem, Ham, and Japhcth, who go•verrid these several countries. Of these the sons of Japheth were 14; of Ham 30 ; of Shem 26, in all 70.
(6. ) C. How does it appear, that this diviston of tongues was done all at once ? We know tongues and lan
guages alter in process of time, as our English ; that in an 1 00 years time it is hardly the fame language it was be fore. Few now understand old Chaucer, who was call'd
the refiner of the English tongue ; and so I have heard it
is in other languages. So that new tongues may grow, in time out of old ones ; nay, in the fame country, and as
we may fay the fame language, there is such difference, and -variety of dialects introduc'djby custom, that in Lon don we hardly understand the north-country speech, nor
I the
they the west, and so forth. And so fancy variety
of languages in the world might have come.
R. It will be very hard to imagine, that all the quite difserent languages, and characlers of difserent languages
in the world among nations so distant, that have no cor~ respondence or intercourse with one another, cou'd come from this root.
But to put this out of all doubt, we sind, that this was
done all at one time, Gen. x. 25. where the name of Pe-
leg, which signisies divifion, was given to the son of E- ber, with this reason, for in his days was the earth di
vided.
Besides.
The REHEARSAL.
385
Besides, if the divifion of tongues had not been at that very time, it cou'd not have answer'd the defign of God to put a stop to the building of Babel, as it is faid, Gen. x. 7. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their lan guage, that they may not understand one another s speech — So they left off to build the city.
C. This I think is very plain, though I heard a learn
ed man put this very objection ; which made me put it to
you.
(7. ) But now, master, were these 70 sons os Shem,
Ham, and Japheth all princes and rulers of these several countries ? or is this only a catalogue of what children they had ?
R. It cou'd not be a catalogue of all their children ; for there are no daughters nam'd. Nor cou'd it be a list of all their sons ; for there were many more than 70 men then in the world. They must be many thousands to com
pose so many several nations ; and we must suppose more than 70 men at the building of that vast tower and city of Babel : and all the men then in the world were the offspring of these three sons of Noah. Therefore 70 of them being here only nam'd, must distinguish these 16, in
a very particular manner from all the rest.
Besides, we have the names of several countries call'd
from some of these 70. As the Canaanites so call'd from Canaan the son of Ham.
The great Assyrian mo narchy, so call'd from Ashur the son of Nimrod, who built Nineveh. And Babylon the beginning of Nimrod\ king dom, is known by that to this day. They built many other great cities, whose names we have lost, which are mention'd in the xth of Genefis. This mews they were great men, and rulers and governors, who had so many men at command, and from whom countries re- ceiv'd their names.
(8. ) But more :
In some of these countries, where hL
stories have been preserv'd, we have still remaining the names not only of the first prince, but of all who have
succeededhim from that time to this day. Thus from Nim rod, who in profane history is call'd Bchs, through the
Vol. I. S
Assyrian
386
The REHEARSAL.
Assyrian, Perfian,
Grecian and Roman monarchies, and
from the dwifitn of the last into the Eastern and Wrstern empires, we have the names of all the kings, who succeeded
one another, from Ximrod or Belus, to the present empe
ror of Germany, and the Sultan at Constantinople.
C. This is a mighty confirmation indeed, if I cou'd be fatisfy 'd of it ; for I'm no scholar, and never read any
but a little of our English histories.
R. There are tables of chronology, wherein are all their
names ; and likewise of the kings of other countries, as far as any histories of them remain. Petarvius his Chro nological tables are put into English, and printed in Cam bridge, and fold in the booksellers shops at London : where, in two sheets of papers, printed on one side, and hung up like a picture, you may see all this at one view, as plain as all our kings since the Conqueror in an Almanack.
C. I am resolv'd to have one of them ; for this is what I knew not before. I have some more questions to afc concerning the matter we are now upon. But I'll re serve these till next time.
From &at. Oct. 6, to Cfiurs. Oct. n, 1705. N° 63.
The present subject interrupted for a play-day to the coun tryman, who tells of a dispute 'twixt a park-keeper and deer-stealer. 1. The decr-stealer woud not let the
park-keeper mend the pales ofhis park. 2. The deer- stealer pleads a title to the park, from some liberties had been allow d him in the park. 3 . Herw he managed a park he had seiz'd beyond Trent. 4. And how he treat ed a brother of the park-keeper'/ there. 5. He bullies the park-keeper ; and talks learnedly of laws, liberty, and levelling. 6. He will not suffer the park-keeper to look beyond Trent ; though he himself does. 7. And gives good reason for it. With the true meaning of law, right, aWjustice.
Ce«». T7'OU deal a little hardly by me, master, in J, keeping me, who am but a young convert, so long
The REHEARSAL.
387
long upon the stretch, wholly upon the serious, as you have done ; and I perceive it will be some time yet be- sore you have gone through that work you have cut out for yourself. And I must not intermix any of my foolish
fiories, when you are upon your serious discourse. It wou'd interrupt and break the links of your chain, and it wou'd be trouble to join them together again ; and great part might flip out of my mind, and I consess wou'd make it less useful to me.
Therefore I desire you wou'd give me a play-day now and then to refresh me, and bear a little with my fimple way ; and then I shall hearken afterwards more atten tively to your lectures.
R. For once, and not to make a custom of I'll gra tify you, countryman. For they fay, All work, and no piay, makes Jack a dull boy. Now this day yours, you shall have the whole discourse to yourself upon what subject you please, and will hear you patiently.
(i. ) C. I'll tell you dispute happen'd lately in our country betwixt park-keeper and deer-sealer. The case was this The wind had blown down some of the
pales of the park, and the park-keeper was about repairing them. No, faid the deer-sealer, you shan't do that for
'twill make quarrel. mews you suspect me, and that's
an affront! Besides, 'tis to no purpose; will only
tempt me to break your pales. But what reason have you for for, upon my word, have not stole deer out of your park these three days. shall do you less mischief when freely in my power, than you make more troublesome to me. You know, forhidding thing creates an appetite to it. Orchards are often robb'd but seldom the apples that grow on hedge-rows in the high-way.
However, to shew my moderation, I'll compoundw'ithyou
There yoarpales are lying, look ye. there they are: Now do not you touch them, and will not. Let them lie as they
are only do not put them up again, that's all ask.
Said park-keeper, not put them up
put them up. •
what do they signify to me, Sr
do My park lies open Therefore will
If
?
:
if
a
is
I if I
it,
;
it ?
I
a ;
a it
it
;
I
It II
a
:
it is
a
aI
:
The REHEARSAL.
338
If you will, faid deer-stealcr, I take all the world to
witness, that 'tis you make the quarrel! That you are an unreasonable man, and have no moderation in you ! nothing will serve you but to have the park all to your
self! Am not Ia man as well as you? and may not I have a hit, when you have full meals ? Come ! come ! he that wou'd engross all, may lose all! here are no neigh bourly dealings at all with you !
(2. ) Besides, I must tell you (since 'tis come to that) that 1 have as good a title to this park as yourself. Hey day! said the park-keeper, that's news indeed ! pray, how comes that to pass ?
Why ? Don't you remember, reply'd deer-stealer, (with a brisk air) that, some time ago, you, to make up the old difference betwixt us, and to settle a better correspon dence for the future, gave me the running of so many horses in your park, and likewise so many bucks every season ? Therefore I fay, and I infist upon it, that this liberty or toleration you have given me is an establishment. And that I have as much right to myshare of the park, as you have to yours ; and there is no difference, but that you have a larger share, and more deer to dispose of
than I have.
The park-keeper anfwer'd to this, that to give a man
the running of a horse in one's ground, was not to give him any title to the inheritance of the. ground ; and the
bucks I promis'd you (faid he) was my own free gift; and is this the return 1 have for to set up your title to the park man must have care how he grants anyfa
t/ours at this rate at least to whvm to men of your principles there no reason, no gratitude in you how
oft have catch you at deer-fi ealirig, in the very fact and, instead of telling my master of it, and having you prosecuted, wink'd at and made this agreement with you, in hopes to have reclaim you, at least to keep our
park fase from you.
At this the deer-fienler laugh'd aloud and faid, you're sine park-kerper indeed to take upon you to make bar
gains for your Lord's park without his
consent; (who' never
a
!
it,
a
d !
it, !
A I
I! Is
'd
!
?
?
?
The REHEARSAL.
389
never gave you any such commission ) and then trust to the truth, and honour and gratitude of a deer-stealer ! what account will you give of this one day ?
(3. ) Though I'm a deer-stealer here, I have a park of my own beyond Trent, where you never shall be keeper ; for I manage it at another guess rate. I suffer not one of your deer-stealers to set his nose within it ; for I know them all ; and will not sufser one of them to cut so much as a bunch ofrushes in it. I know what it is to use a deer-stealer to a park, upon whatever pretence ! To give him but an inch — he'll soon take an ell!
Therefore I have a deer-fiealcr for my keeper ; they are the best keepers ! they know all the tricks that belong to it, and no other deer-stealer dare come near it ; he'll
Jmell 'em at a mile's distance.
At this the park-keeper fetch'd a deep sigh, and faid,
you bring my old fins to remembrance ! You once upon a day ucheedTd and cajesd me to let some of my fins go
a deer-stealing with you into a neighbour's park ; then I gave you that toleration in my park you speak of ; for which I have dearly paid since, and am like to pay more
still !
if not, to lose my place !
(4. ) But I remember full well, that you then gave
me your promise, that my brother, who once had a. park near yours beyond Trent, shou'd have the fame liberty
there that I allow'd you here. And your
deer-stealer, whom you persuaded him to make keeper of his park too, did faithfully premise, and gave it under his hand, which
I have still ready to produce, that he wou'd take all pos sible cart of the park, and not remove any of the under-
and yet he turn'd every one of them out ; and which is more, pull'd down all the pales of the park, he left not one standing ; and let out the park in tenements
to his own crew of deer-stealers thereabouts.
That was because he understood his bufiness ! reply 'd
keepers,
the deer-stealer, with a scornful simile I and you may talk of him what you will , But I'm sure he was true and faithful to me, and shall have my good word the longest day I have to live !
S3
And
390
The REHEARSAL.
And had he stay'd with me a little longer, (but Iris lecsc was out, and he was forc'd to remove to another place! ) your park h=d been, by this time, in the fame condition as your brothers ; though I'm not out of hopes of it yet ; a little comprehenfion w ill do the bufiness ! Let but some of my deer-stealers into your park, you'll see what work they'll make !
(5. ) Nay, I'll tell you more: Mr. Park-keeper, you
dare not refuse it when I please to ask it !
der my feet ! you dare not fay your fours your own f you dcre not stretch out one snger towards setting up your corporation and test pales, which I have blown down with one occasional breach ! there they are lying: Keep them to s:ir your pottage ! that's all they're now
goodfor! butifyouofsertosxoneoftheminthe
I have un you
ground again ; or fay, that they were ever meant to keep me out of your park — I'll break all the bones in yourskin!
I'll raise up the magazine of original power upon you, and deliver you to the discretion of our sovereign lord the mob ! I'll have you tore in pieces for a bloody persecutor! who has a defign upon my life ! for he that wou'd take the bread out of my mouth, wou'd not he destroy me ? I live by my imployment! I'm an honest dear sealer ! and I have thriven well upon it ! And he that wou'd take my office from me, takes away my subfistence, and w ou'd
starve me and my family. I have bred up mysons to
the fame trade ! We have private academies for that up
and down the kingdom; and are taught how to elude ah
your forest-laws! those badges of stavery ! and disturb ers of original freedom! That if a man be never so hun
giy, he dare not steal a dW, or shoot a for sear of spoiling of my Lord's game forsooth! and I must starve to make him sport ! What do ye tell me of old stories of tyrants? Never any thing was like this! every manor, every park is downright tyranny! what is it else? and sets up a tyrant within every three or four miles ! that one cannot travel the road for them ! nor go out of a fough, tho' his cart should break, for sear of trespassing upon
his worship's land ! pretty ! pretty I
The REHEARSAL.
And these tyrants engross what God created for the common benesit of all mankind, that is, the imld beasti of the earth, and the wildsowls of the air, and the
sishes of the sea. They are ours! ihepeople! every bo dy's ! And these great men wou'd keep them all to tbe? n-
selvts ! they steal our deer to put into their parks I they are the true deer-stealers I and we must be hanged for seeking after a little of our own ! They steal ou r fish out of the rivers, and put them into their ponds ! and1 will not let us take any that is left even in the rivers! That is my Lord's or his Worship's river! they'll take away our fishing-rods, and hind us over, and plague us at law ! and they call this liberty and property ! Ay marry ! 'tis a good liberty to them ! that is, to a very few of the
who lord it over the rest ; over ten thousands more
people,
than themselves ! But 'tis downright oppression and tyranny over the far greatest /ar/ of the people, who are the wz- ;;»/z/ of government ; but have the least share in the
vantages of it.
Don't tell me of law ! (then cry'd he out in a
ston! ) A legal tyranny is the worst tyranny ! because it is hardest to be refisted, and fivry io^i is against one! A man may in any river in Turkey, or Morocco, and rar a Æos or an elephant, if he can c«fr£ him ; they have no parks or inclosures. That looks like a. face of liberty ! wild beasts, fijh and ,/o-w/ are left common to all, as nature left them. You may talk of /«•w/ what you will ( faid he) but if it were not for the name of liberty, one had as good be without them ! As a man faid, that was gallop ing upon a hobby-horse, if it had not been for the name of riding, he had as good have gone a foot.
For my part (faid he) I'm ter levelling, without that
there's no liberty. Laws and liberty are whig and tory,
high-church and low-church, persect oppofites, the one can not subfist without the destruction of the other. The laiv is a pair of with which the rich and the great take the /oar by the nose, and hold it to the grind-stone, as St. Dunstan serv'd the devil. A poor man cannot go to law , and if he does, he's sure to be undone, whether he
S4
gain
39a
The REHEARSAL.
gain or lose the cause. And after the sirst or second term must sue in forma pauperis ; which is a blessed state !
(6. ) The very state (faid park-keeper ) to which you have reduc'd my poor brother t'other side of Trent, con
trary to your faith and promise solemnly given !
What's your brother to you, reply'd deer-sealer ? If you thought him wrong'd, why did you not complain ?
You have not dar'd to this day so much as to petition for him ! He has a sine brother of you indeed ! No, nor you dare not complain of your own wror. gs ! nor fay that you
are v. rcng'd, or in the least danger, though I have pull'd down your pales before your face ! And therefore I plead as my defence, that you are not wrong' or in
any danger, because you are so tame and who shall
fay you are in any danger, you dare not do your self?
have turn'd your brother out of house and home, and intend to serve you in little time and
not the frfi time you know yet you dare not fay nord on't What then shou'd hinder me O, love these passive, enemies who, when am breaking o-
the doors of their defenfive laws, have not the
pen
courage much as to suspect me of any evil defign or dare not fay so, for sear of raising hubbub, and di
sturhing the neighbourhood though you faw me last night breaking open your brother's doors upon the fame
pretence, and when had got in, turn'd him and his fa
mily
And you know since that, fospccted your brother
of some desgns to nab me, and steal into his owa
house again. And brought the cause to London, and had try V here and laid you by the heels too, as not doubting butjob were in the fame plot and, had not
drift.
should have had more of your friends in limbo, and made as good plot
on't here as there Thus may look beyond Trent but you must not. What have we to do with Trent,
fey when you complain of the doings of any of my friends
miscarryd by being
discover
it I,
it a
I
it,
; !
I
I ! so !
