dost Thou take pleasure in those that hope in THY MERCIE f Ps 1â—7 11. for after times Good Lord what a good word is that Thou takest pleasure in those that HOPE in Thy Mercies This word is to Thy people sweeter then the Hony-combe They keepe it as a sweet Morsell under the tongue Sith it pleaseth Thee so well They will hope in thy Mercie that they vvill It is the manner of the Church I will looke unto the Lord I will wait for the God of my Salvation my God will heare me * Mic. 7. 7. It is the Churches confidence Thou wilt heare But if thou seemest to slumber she will waken Thee with Importunity she will give Thee no rest her Sonnes and Daughters vvill be Thy Remembrancers for they remember all that Thou hast done HITHERTO is That they might set their hope in Thee for after times g Ps 78. 7. They doe Lord they doe and they will give Thee no rest touching this thing even that Thou wouldst goe with thy Church yet farther even till the enemy be subdued and come no more into the coast of Israel to destroy there And they will trouble with their importunity those thou hast sent to heale us when we thought 2 Chro. 10. there was no remedy they shall have no rest neither Thou lovest an humble violence till they bring this people yet farther if but to that place where though there will be weeds many yet they shall not keepe downe the good Corne though Bryars there be yet they shall not choake it nay though Scorpions be there yet they shall not sting in Thy holy Mountaine Why Lord God as if this which Thou hast done were but a small thing Thou hast promised to goe with Thy people yet a great way farther for thou hast spoken good and comfortable words touching Thy Servants for a great while to come Thou art beginning we hope and Thou wilt not goe backe with us till thou hast finished we dare not make haste for some faith we have concerning this That Thou wilt hold the sanne in Thy Servants hand till the floore be throughly purged as becommeth a floore on Earth that Thou wilt root out them whom Thy right Hand never planted set Thy face against them who turned Their backes upon Thee walking so contrary That Thou wilt thrust out that which thou never commandedst nor ever came it into Thy heart ô Thy Servants thinke they have very strong arguments when they can plead the case before thee with Thy owne Thou hast said Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted Mat. 15. 13. up we know they have taken root but not by Thee and hâ—ld possession but not in right from Heaven Wilt not Thou judge them O Lord God and remove them from being Over-seers unto Thee Thou hast broken downe what Thou didst build and pluckt up vvhat thou didst plant k how much more those who h Ier. 45. have built themselves up with their owne hands and planted themselves upon their owne bottome Thou hast said Thou wilt be served in spirit for that service onely reacheth unto Thy bosome and that hath been the manner of all Thy Servants true worshippers Whom I serve in spirit saith Thy Servant i Rom. 1. 9. What hast thou to doe with a feare taught by the precepts of men Thou hast rejected them who did reject the commands of God that they might keepe their owne traditions k Mark 7. 9. Thou art the same jealous God stâ—ll Thou dost looke into Thy Temple still with the same eye and beholdest the abominations there both persons and services and we hope Thou wilt arise now and avenge Thy-selfe of Thy Adversaries who have made voyd Thy Law and the offering vile who have given Thy children stones for bread and foâ— a fish a Serpeâ—t Surely Thou wilt be avenged of such murderers Thou hast given Thy Servants a sure and gracious word of Promise Aske what you will and iâ— shall be done l Thy sâ—â—vants 〈…〉 aske nothing but according to Thy m will and it is thâ—â— confidence that Thou hearest them It is Thy will that we 〈◊〉 pray for the peace of Ierusalem Thy will that they should prosper that love it Thy will that the zeale of Thy House should consume Thy Servants and that the abominations there should vex their righteous soules for such are as smoake in Thy nose and a fire which burneth all the Day It is Thy wâ—ll Lord Thy Servants should pray Ease Thy selfe of Thine Aâ—versaries Thy Servants are assured they doe not aske amisse they aske according to Thy owne will Thy own command for Thine own glory that Thou mayest have a pure and cleane Sacrifice offered unto Thee that Thou mayest be the King in Thy Church and rule by Thine owne Lawes there they aske nothing in or for behalfe of their lusts but against them altogether that Thou wouldest be King in their hearts as well as in their Churches That Thou wouldest take all Thine and our enemies which would not have Thee for their King and slâ—y them before their eyes We doe not aske wickedly therefore we will never leave asking we will trouble Thee day and night with importunity and give Thee no rest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iam. 4. 3. till Thou shalt hearken and heare us and grant our request till Thou shalt perfect what Thou hast begun performe the word to Thy Servants wherein Thou hast caused them to trust till Thou shalt bring Thy Church THITHERTO to a safe place where Iacobs face shall waxe pale no more shall be troubled and tossed and vexed no more shall heare Thy Name blasphemed no more see Thy worship defiled no more Thy Day prophaned no more Anti christian Rights base beggarly Rudiments prevailing no more Thy Ministers villanously used no more Thy Servants thrust into corners no more and because of Aegyptian burdens and illegall pressures Thy people howling no more nor any breach betwixt Iudah and Israel any more where Ierusalem shall be a QVIET HABITATION where she shall looke from the top of AMANA from thâ— top of SHINAR Isa 29. 2â— â—o 33. 20. and HERMON from the LYONS DEN from the MOVNTAINS of the LEOPARDS then we shall â—â—ng the high praises Cant 4. 8. of our God Then Jacob shall rejoyce and Israel shall be right glad saying HALLELV-IAH Salvation and Glory and Honour and Power unto the Lord our God Amen HALLELV-IAH FINIS
and will contend for the Truth and yet not one Rev. 11. 7. Iesuited HEL-HOWND it is a Kings word contending with a Cardinall not one Catholicke murderer in our Hoste so hee hath bin accounted in all times and places making no more conscience to out his Kings throat then to cut a peece of bread These Irish Romish Catholiques universally bloody and monstrous Savages all the world over so brawned in cruelties are accounted now the only loyall Subjects ever since the Lord Christ hath taken to Himselfe great Power reigning more visibly upon the Earth demanding His Rights there And His faithfull Servants are resolved to give these Rights unto Him Whose they are not with-holding a hoofe nor dishonourably compounding His matters so forfeiting Truth for Peace but resolving to maintaine both with honour or an honourable warre ever since this contestation for Christ and His Truth Rebellion which is as the sinne of Witchcraft against God and His Christ hath been accounted obedience and loyall subjection And a true sense of Dutie to God and man and to doe thereafter even what God commands and will have done is accounted Rebellion and Treason both The comfort is Wisdome is justified of her children yes and in this point of all that are not unreasonable and wicked men The Truth is I could not beare this at such a time as this being to render a THANK-OFFERING in the Churches Name but I must Preface to it against such contradictions of Sinners and render the THANK-OFFERING free and the Churches Servants as cleared of these blackes as was the Snow in Salmon And what is wanting here shall be supplied else where for I will goe on from this Preface to another Treatise where by the helpe of God And His Law I shall cleare this very way wherin the Nobles have walked so spoken against now and blasphemed as a way of Rebellion and Treason to be the very way wherein all the Nobles that ever were in the world have walked who walked uprightly with God dealt faithfully with His people not treacherously and as Traitors to King and Kingdome and their owne souls for I have a most comprehensive mercy to treat on and enlarge upon which I may call the Abridgement of this last yeares wonders containing as in a most fruitfull wombe all nationall blessings which the Nobles and Worthies have hitherto or their children after them shall travell with and bring forth to the Nation And this they are compleating and in so excellent a way as that though we shall never say of it in this world the worke is done and compleated of that comprehension it is yet I say they have so orderly proceeded in it by that line and plummet afore-said of all the truly Noble that ever were on the Earth as that it is fully to the Mind of the Lord and the heart of the Nation And now let the Devill rage and his Servants roare for in that they glory though by a wofull prolepsis here in sport for hereafter in earnest when they and their King of the bottomlesse pit shall roare there to all eternity Let the Arabian Dukes with their companies of Sabeans let the noble Monsters of these dayes so they were called anciently who are Gentile and noble in the root but monstrously degenerate in the fruit of their conversation d Nequitiae sordibus imbuta Nobilia portenta Valer Max. l. 3. c. 5. let these doe their worst rob spoyle pillage shed bloud to their power yet by the helpe of God and the Law the worke shall be carried on and the work-men shall prosper and overcome by the bloud of the Lambe e Rev. 12. 11. But what is our worke now Worke and Pray or pray and worke no matter which is first so both goe together Worke with hand and mouth and heart and all We have a noble paterne before us of Work men who blessings be upon them both from above and beneath have offered themselves willingly to this worke and will very gladly spend and be spent for us in this worke though they may reade on the more abundantly they love us the lesse they are beloved f 2 Cor. 12. 15. But we have our patterne and we see our dutie worke we as men who can very gladly spend and be spent for this cause for it is His cause Who did say indeed and did as He said for Hâ—â— zeale eat Him up He was a whole burnt-offering I VVILL VERY GLADLY SPEND AND BE SPENT for you so it was indeed the cause of the Lord Iesus Christ Who was made for us a curse once That He might make us as He is blessed for ever having such an example before us and such a cause in our eye we will worke now or never VVorke we now as we are able and let the Lord worke as He pleaseth He will worke like Himself Truly He worketh wonderfully in all His peoples sight But if He wrought in the dark as sometimes He doth if His foot-steps are in the waters as M Bradford expresseth it a man can see no prints where His Hand is or which way His feet goe whither towards us or against us yet said that good man My hand and my spirit should worke after Him for I am sure I am in the way though I see it not my God goes right though I discerne not the path Worke we I say as we can and let the Lord worke as He will He doth worke gloriously and in sight worke wee and pray too else our worke is vaine and to no purpose worke we but say BLESSED BE GOD first Blessed be Thy Name for the Governours among the people and for them that offered themselves willingly It was because Thou commandest and so it is the North gives and the South keepes not backe Sea and Land comes in for Thy Churches helpe peace peace be to her helpers to deliver us from the Heathen that we may give thankes to Thy holy Name and glory in Thy praise Amen Now Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall still prosper that love her Pray in Prayer pray earnestly our children shall reape the fruit thereof if we doe not now for now we have reaped what our fore-fathers have sowne the fruit of the prayers of many Generations Pray we That the Lord would owne His owne cause certainly He will and so He doth but He must be sought unto for this and enquired after That His eyes would be for good upon His Children and servants all over the world for their eyes and hearts are set stedfast towards Him and His Jerusalem here below and there they fix waiting what God will doe at such a time as this and hearkning what God will speake now It is their confidence He will speake peace and doe according to His owne word give His Servants the opening of the mouth that the enemies may know HE IS THE LORDs The Churches all over the â— Ezek. â—â— 21. world are resolved now to
the fury of the LORD the Rebuke of Thy GOD i Esa 51. 10. Then from that Day ye proceeded against them and their Courts so that the Church may reade her Deliverance now in that vvhich the Lord wrought for her people in dayes of old So the terrible one is brought to naught k Esa 29. and the Scorner is consumed and all that watch for iniquity and they that made a man an offender for a word and laid a snare for him that reproveth in the Gate and turned aside the just for a thing of nought all these are cut-off for where is the fury of the oppressours and the jurisdiction of their Courts Where is it She remembers this with all thankfulnesse and she remembers you in all earnestnesse before the high Throne as was said before for she can reade on Now l Esa 29. 19. the meeke shall encrease their joy in the Lord and the poore among men shall rejoyce in the Holy One of Israël for how you eased the Churches shoulders and cheared her heart when you tooke off those yoakes the two insnaring Oaths and bloudy Courts she and you know very well and she accepts vvith all thankfulnesse but she gives glory to her God ¶ 10. Then from that Day you could trace the footings in the dark the turnings and windings of the crooked Serpent in his crooked pathes Then the Lord made darknesse light before you and crooked things strait Then you had discoveries upon discoveries for what a discovering God have you How easily did He defeate His enemies Their turning of things upside downe He esteemes as the Potters clay for He turned them and their vvorke upside downe as easily as the Maid doth the Dish which she vvipes or the Potter the clay vessell he frames m Esa â—9 16. Vid. Cal. in loc ¶ 11. Then you quenched the SONNES of the COALE and though they sparkled in your face yet they could not kindle notwithstanding the wrestling of the Adversary you held and maintained the staffe of BEAVTY and of BANDS n Zach. 11. and so made firme the Brotherhood betweene Iacob and Israel And it was like the making of twaine one so making peace a Ephes 2. 15. as the causing the envy of EPHRAIM to cease and the cutting-off the Adversaries of IVDAH b Esa 11. Ephraim shall not envy Judah and Judah shall not vex Ephraim but they shall be as one sticke in the hand c Ezek. 37. 19. that so with united force they may fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines I will say no more of it here for it fills a volume But according to this time it shall he said of Jacob and of Israel WHAT HATH GOD WROVGHT Num. 23. â—3 In all this last mentioned the Church turnes to her God renders praise and glory to Him for he only workes wonders She will ascribe all to her God so the Church may doe and yet make all due acknowledgement to man whom the Lord is pleased to honour as an instrument Man stood in the GAP and he shall be called The REPAIRER OF THE BREACH but God made it up even Esa â—8 12. by His owne Right-hand for it was great as the Sea Hee did it who hath taken the wicked in their owne Snare consumed them with their owne breath swallowed them up with their owne lips fallen upon them with their owne tongues bound them fast with their owne cords HIGGAION SELAH d Ps 9. 16. Rem meditandam summè a matter HIGHLY to be considered on Therefore with your good leave the Church ascribes all to her good God Blessing Honour Power Wisdome Thanks all the glory unto Him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lambe for ever and ever And the Church makes account that so yee will doe also yee doe call this yeare and your Court BAAL-PERAZIM for at this time the Lord smote His enemies there and hath broken forth upon them before you as the BREACH of WATERS Therefore ye call this yeare and that place BAAL-PERAZIM e 2 Sam. 5. 20. giving glory to the Lord for HE IS WORTHY ¶ A Transition to the next Section THus I have made as short a collection and given-in as briefe a Catalogue as I could of Gods dealings His wonderfull Administrations His strange dispensations of Wisdome and Providence towards His Church this yeare so full of Grace and Power all these contracted here into as narrow a roome as possibly might be considering how comprehensive some of the Heads were else where I have given them more enlargement but I looke and heartily expect that my paines will be prevented by some others pen that hath more leisure and a larger portion of gifts and abilities for the compleating such a History which so much advanceth the Name of God and the hope of Israel in the time of His distractions The Remembrance of what God hath wrought this former yeare vvill be to the Church in after times and in all her fainting fits as vve reade a Deut. 7. 18. for the consolation is the same and the grâ—und thereof the same Thou shalt not be affraid of them Tâ—ou shalt WELL remâ—mber what the LORD thy GOD did unto PHARAOH the Pope and unto all his helpers The c Another great Worke you have vvrought in the close of the yeare concerning Gods immediate worship and service which must be recorded in order with reverence to the time when these workes were done I say workâ—â— for it is plurall a comprehensive worke and containes mâ—ch Thouâ—h it may suffice very well that the Lord hath registred them and will reward them A Cup of cold water b Mat. 10 4â— given to His Church He will thinke upon and reward for that is His manner He will not be in arere with any man much lesse with His faithfull Servants if He seemes to delay the time or to forget it is for your advantage and that he may remember you in the fittest time as in the case of Mordecai A Cup of Water shall be remembred how much more your labour of love patience of hope your workes of Faith such vvorkes vvhich you have done and are written in the records of Heaven and Earth both for they concerne His pleasant Sacrifices vvhich He hath commanded such as were in the dayes of old and as in former years * Mal. 3. 4. But before the Church can record all this she must record with all thankfullnessâ— what you have done for her Land her people there breaking our bands and taking-off our yoaks also and rescuing us from cruell Taske-masters This the Church accepts alwayes in all thankfullnesse But we account this rescuing us and the Law from out of the hand of cruell Lords the chiefest among your many worthy deeds being most taken with outward priviledges and so vve may prosper in the vvorld we care not how our soules prosper such our teaching is and so blind our guides are for
the most part vvhich vvill be considered as vve passe-on For after vve have rendred our heartiest thankes to you for rescuing us from under those hands The Church will reason out the case with the Iudges will point to the root of our evils then she will show â—s a more excellent way SECT V. No oppression to the oppression of a Ruler or Judge offering violence to the Law we howled under that oppression The Lord remembred us in our bondage and sent us Saviours who disburthened our Shoulder of our grievous pressures and oppressours THen from that Day you rescued a poore peeled people from those that are as EVENING WOLVES c Zeph. 3. 3. Who are they The Prophet meanes by an ordinary figure IVDGES and we meane not the like but the same for they ravened the prey they gnawed the very bones they devoured and consumed the COMMON-WEALTH but to heighten their vvickednesâ—e they first KISSED her LIPS pretending the PVBLIQVE GOOD These men of the Earth denyed to free Subjects their Catholicoâ— that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 1. 19. vvhich is every free-mans birth-right 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which the child receives from his Father though be â—â—â—he youngest and his Father the poorest The Judges denied us this our proper inheritance they imprisoned the freest thing that is in all the vvorld and that which is most innocent As the Bishops Lorded it over the King of the Church offering violence to His Lawes So these Lorded it over the Catholicke Rule of the Common wealth I had almost said the most Catholicke King in the world but we â—ubmit here for we are not learned we thinke that the sacred Scripture saith as much That the Law is the highest power on earth And we remember well that Rom. 13. a mighty Emperour tels us that the LAW was his MASTER The LAW IS EVERY MANS MASTER d Mar Aurel An. l 10. Mediâ— 25. Pag. 71. said he then he could not exempt himselfe from out of that universality it was his MASTER too This Catholique Master was trod under foot by it's Servants e Servientes ad legem fortiscue so we thinke Judges are called And then all fals to the ground and is trod under foot when the Master is under f Nihil sequens stat cum principale non steverit Salv. when the Servant is on Horse-backe and rideth his Master then he oppresseth very sore as we reade He oppresseth the poore like a sweepiâ—g raine that leaveth no food g Pro 28. 3. 1 Sam. 14 1â— Then we lay like the Hebrewes oppressed by the Philistines in our holes brought very low downe to the ground and our speech scarce whispered out of the dust Complaints were vaine and to no purpose or made our burthen heavier for the Servant was the Master and what pleased him was the Law So they turned judgement into gall and the fruit of Righteousnesse into Hemlock h Amo. 6. 1â— Then we were afflicted indeed fleeced and peeled the flesh was torne from the bone and then we howled Nay the oppression was so heavy that some of us vvere madd oppression makes wise men so g Eccles 7. 7. and we spake as madd men so unadvisedly with our lips accounting the proud happy for they that vvorke wickednesse were set-up and they that tempted Goâ— were even delivered h Mal. 3. 15. and we were made as the little fishes as the creeping things that have no RVLER over them i Hab. 1. 14. But notwithstanding vve provoked Him so the Lord looked downe from Heaven saw our burthens and that they were very sore sent Saviours unto us blessed be His Name and blessed be ye in the Name of the Lord. We might complain now and be heard and complaine we did as an oppressed people before us k Neh. 5. 5. Our flesh is as the flesh of our Judges and Rulers just the same their 's no better ours no worse Our children as their children not so gay but as good and as free borne as theirs And we are brought into bondage our sonnes and our daughters to be servants to them who professe themselves to be Servants to the Law But these Servants over-ruled their MASTER and so enthralled us And when you heard this cry and these words you were very angry for the whole body was pinched where there vvas quicke flesh Then you consulted vvith your selves and rebuked the Judges and the Rulers who dealt so treacherously so like evening Wolves ravening the prey And you disburdened the Common-wealth of her pressures too many to reckon and grievous oppressours as the Squire of the Body still attending such Judges a company of sharks proging fellowes pests vipers grievous vermine vvorse then the Aegyptian froggs which devoured every greene thing You eased the Land of those Adversaries abominable filth is cast into their faces their names â—ot and their arme is withered And this is all which ye have done terrible things vvhich vve looked not for We doe not diminish one grain vve thinke it very much vvhich you have done though vve out-runne you in our expectation But vve must give great bodies leave to move slowly they meet vvith many rubbs in the vvay to deliberate long upon the case where it reacheth to the precious life of a man vvhen that thred is cut life runnes out from a bottome that hath no end Wee are pretty vvell satisfied in this that vve are rescued and taken as a prey out of their teeth We vvould have the Iaw-bone broken too vvee vvish sometimes and not in our haste that they vvho so troubled us offered such violence to the Lawes of God and man vvere cut-off Indeed vve cannot thinke our selves secure vvhile they are and are not made examples though one is fled and another is fast by the heeles and all are put to shame being pointed at vvith the finger These are they more unrighteous then was the unjust Iudge For though he feared not God nor regarded man yet he was gained with importunity to doe right These not so The HOWLING of the widdow and TEARES of her Orphanes These they regard not no not these the Lord grant they may knovv all this for their good and be confounded and turne unto the Lord before the first borne of Death d Iob 18. 1â— some strange judgement consumes their strength and the curse that is written fall upon themd. ¶ 1. The Church argueth the case with the Iudges bids them marke the old way which wicked men have trodden adviseth them to an humble confession of their fault and to leave proud Apologies for there the Law leaves them and is cleare against them ZOphar spake well though he applyed it ill Knowest thou not this of old since man was placed upon Earth that THE TRIVMPHING OF THE WICKED IS SHORT e Iob 20. 4 5. So Elephas a little after f 22. 15 16. Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden
not onely because they doe set their faces unto Thee to seeke by Prayer and Fasting c Dan. 9. 3. a great and good signe that Deliverance is comming-on that Thou art appearing in Thy glory d Ps 102. 16 17. because the Fatherlesse the Destitute pray unto Thee for this thing and are resolved to give Thee no rest But there are other Reasons why we should set our hope in Thee and that it is Thy meaning we should so doe which we shall speake of before Thee now and if it could be in the eares of all the Christian world for they are legible in all the peoples sight and most commanding we thinke to draw in others that are not willingly ignorant and to make them fall downe kisse Thy Sonne and trust in Him 1. We humbly conceive that Thine Adversary and Enemy shall proceed no farther Surely we say that is Thy meaning and purpose of Thy Heart because His folly is manifest unto all men e 2 Tim. 3. 9. 2. We conceive that Thy Adversary a Legion hath beene at the highest his verticall point and we see he is fallen thence Truth Lord he fals slowly now when his fall is like a milstone f Rev. 18. 21. with violence then it shall be mighty quicke and irrecoverable there is that in his fall now which in our haste we call slacknesse and we say in the same haste we may fall before him If so yet so as we shall rise with more strength and in more glory but he never to rise againe to that same point We conclude so for so Thy manner hath beene when the Adversary begins to fall he shall fall yet lower g Est 6. 13. when he ascends againe if he falls not low in humiliations it is up the Gallows h 7. 9. 3. The Adversary hath been proud as Moab VERT PROVD i Esa 16. 6. exceeding proud k Iâ—r 48. 29. as proud waters which went over the heads of the righteous We humbly conceive now they must be brought LOW VERIE LOW now they must be made Base EXCEEDING BASE even now 4. Prayer hath commanded wee looke above all meanes to Thy glorious Right-hand as strange a standing still of the starres in one place of the HEAVEN as was the standing still of the Sunne upon Gibeon and the Moone in the valley of Aialon l Iosh 10. 12. We humbly conceive Thy meaning thereby is and Thou wilt have it published to the whole Christian world That the great Court of Nobles and Worthies shall not arise from their place till Thou dost arise in all Thy peoples sight to avenge Thy selfe upon Thy Adversaries for all the dishonours they have done to Thy House Thy Day Thy Servants Thy Service c. Come Lord Jesu Thy Servants wait Thy comming Praise waiteth for Thee in Sion The souls under the Altar say COME multitudes we cannot number thousand thousand souls on the Earth wearied out because of these Murderers * Jer. 4. 31. all these say come The sighing of the needy and the oppression of the poore saith come Thy Day so prophaned saith come The spirit so grieved saith come Thy Spouse so often forced before Thy face saith come and because of the present feeling she doubles it Come Lord Jesus come quickly ease Thy selfe and Thy poore flocke of those Adversaries who have fed themselves and fleeced Thy Sheepe have made void Thy Law have taken peace from the Earth have valued precious soules no more then they doe old shooes * Am. 26. Come Lord Jesus come quickly and worke so that a man shall say verily there is a reward for the Righteous verily He is a God That iudgeth in the Earth Ps 58. 11. Thy Servant hath spoken doe Thou according to the greatnesse of Thy power and mercy for Thy words sake Thine owne sake Thy Names sake Thy Christ His sake Thy Churches sake His deare one the price of His blood His neare one as the Apple of His eye His only one His beloved one the Crowne of His sufferings the Glory of His shame and then will the Church ascribe power riches wisdome strength honour glory blessing to Him Who is worthy to receive all this for of Him and through Him and to Him are all things to Whom be glory for ever Amen TO THE HIGH COVRT OF PARLIAMENT The LORDS and COMMONS there assembled NOw the Church hath tendred Homage to her Lord you will give me leave to be her mouth to you and to neglect Titles when your workes render you truly Noble and Right Honourable so praising you in the Gates I know not how to give flattering Titles said Job a Iob 32. 27. for in so doing my Maker would soone take me away Since Thou wast precious in mine eyes Thou wast honourable b Esa 43. 4. saith the Lord and you will beleeve Him I cannot crave your Honourable Patience neither to heare me out let that be as your leasure serves I must doe my duty and being the mouth of the Church whose heart is full and thoughts not so composed I cannot so contract as I would others may reade who need information and receive benefit there-from while you worke Follow on your worke in Gods Name you worke for a good Master whose wages are sure and like Himselfe He gave an Heathen King for serving a great service no lesse then a great Kingdome the wages for his worke c Ezek. 29. â—8 You have done a greater service you may expect greater wages A Kingdome that cannot be shaken for so God will honour you We say surely you have honoured Him so blasphemed in the world so sleighted and dis-regarded there You have got your selves a Name Verily we conclude you have wrought singly and purely to advance the Glory and to get Christ a Name in the world which as it is the end so should it be the worke of the whole life Worke-on You shall prosper yet more though you have prospered already to a miracle and know for encouragement if you needed any That while You are so working not Man only but God also is Recording whose Records are never laid aside being ever in His eye While you are giving out for the publike Good all good people are giving in to you PRAYERS and THANKS great matters both The one turnes and wheeles about things to Admiration being the strongest engine in the world and the greatest stocke you have upon Earth alwayes gaining because always trading Heaven-ward Certainely the PRAYERS of the Church of all her Sons and Daughters all the world over are for you a mighty consideration these onely make Prayers the other party speake onely or curse rather they doe not pray And all their BLESSINGS as mighty and prevailing now as were the BLESSINGS of the Tribes that stood upon Mount Gerizzim are upon your heads and endeavours a Deut. 27. 12. shower of blessings Much may be gathered touching the strength and noblenesse of
vengeance against those treacherous Priests and light Prophets now He will recompence upon them all their abominatiâ—ns which they have committed in His house before His face Now He will raise up Carpenters which shall strike off those hornes that have pushed and goard and scattered the servants of the Lord m Zach. 1. 20. And surely all the undertakings of that High Court have gone ouâ— all along with God in His way And have the very stampe and seale of His Hand upon theirs to make Hâ—s worship truly spirituall according to His will and not clogged and mixed with humane Inventions Ecclesiasticall and Civill charges And he that shall looke upon them the actions I meane of the High Court with an impartiall eye that shall be but willing to understand them the meaning and tendencie thereof hee will be forced to beleeve as was â—aid in a higher case n Qui studuerit intelligere cogetur ei credere â—ertul de Deo cap. 17. That all this hath beene suggested to them by God and managed by His right-hand They have beene but as noble instruments bent unto His purpoâ—e and as the bow and sword in His Hand But remember this with it which was intimated before He hath brought upon them their owne iniquity o Ps 94. 13. and so hath cut them off Their owne wickednesse hath helped forward this great worke the casting out of these Church-men nursing Fathers in Name and no more for they starved their children They helped forward p Zach. 1. 15. the wrath for the slaying a whole Nation Now His own wrath killeth the foolish man and envy slayeth the silly one q Iob 5. 2. So as we may say in allusion thereunto and conclude as of old These Church-mens iniquity makes full proof of the Justice and innocency of that High Court r Probatio est nostra innocentiae impietas vestra Tert. cap. 48. If you will aske me now in the close what I can say against the office My answer is ready but yet I will say no more here but as St. Paul saith touching the LAW vve know the Law is good if a man use it LAWFULLY * 1 Tim. 1. 8. The next Objection scorcheth for it is from a tongue set on fire of hell Ob. That now they have cast forth Church men they will cast forth their King too out of the inheritance of the Lord They will rise up in battâ—ll against their King and can they expect that we should tender them a Thank-offering for that An. No sure the Axe rather or a rope let one or both be tendred to such Philistines who deale vilely with their King as if he were not anoynted vvith oyle a 2 Sam. 1. 21. and then shall these servants of the Lord be free for they can call God to record upon their soules that they rise up for their King against spoylers for their Religion against Papists for their lives and liberties against murtherers for their Church and Nation against them that would make fenced Cities ruined heapes and bring utter desolation to the King and Kingdome Church and Common-wealth and all The contrary is suggested to his sacred Majesty and so forced that he dares protest see how wicked Counsell may prevaile in the face of Heaven and Earth that they who seeme to be on his side and with him shall maintaine the Lawes just Liberties and Rights of the Church and Common-wealth Marke Reader Sons of Belial so much malice hath suggested and so far prevailed shall maintain the Lawes and Papists the true Reformed Religion men of bloods like Irish Villaines nay the very same shall safeguard your lives Reade on Those that are gone out to battell against these enemies vvhither soever the LORD shall send them VVhat are these men 1 Kin. 8. 44. Ob. Malice hath suggested but shee vvas foully out That most of them are ANABAPTISTS Ans Nay not one I say againe not one Malice may suggest That some one or two there is a Samaritan and hath a Divell for that has bin suggested against the Captaine of the Host b Ioh. â— 48. but that there are ANABAPTISTS there that is false sure because they are gone forth to vvarre and vvill maintaine it to the Death No ANABAPTIST then No nor Rebels nor Traitors neither though suggested so Like the dirt of Oysters it will not staine the righteous have bin slandered so of old but never has beene heard or seene such contradictions of sinners such contrarieties of Tongues and Wills as now a daies They can reade much written in commendation of folly and to some purpose They can reade also some sheets blotted in the commendation of the Ague the Feaver and the Gout Yea and one whole sheet in the praise of a Louse and three sheets in the praise of the vilest person but he was an Emperour that ever went upon two Leggs All this they may finde and reade in Bookes but they never heard or read till of late nor their Fathers before them That an Army most of Papists and the other looking stedfastly towards Rome in the same Kingdom haue bin commended for loyall Subjects to a Protestant King And an Army of Protestants charged with Treason and Rebellion against the same King But the Righteous are not carefull they can turne as afore-said to the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESSE and seeing there is no vvrong in their Hands They can say as David so persecuted before them The God of their Fathers looke theron and rebuke it c 2 Chr. 12. 17. This has beene the good mans comfort evermore when he hath been smitten at with the tongue My Adversaries can say much against me for he thinkes his tongue his owne but he cannot say I HAVE FORSAKEN THE LAW OF MY GOD So now malice may suggest that there be Traitors in Gods Hoste and most of them Brownists and Atheists she is not so shamelesse to suggest that most or any of them are Papists no Anabaptists If so be malice could have suggested that and have made the charge good where had our Hope beene Certainly had this Hoste consisted most of Papists it had gone out under the guilt of all the righteous blood shed upon the earth from the blood of righteous Abell unto the blood of Zacharias and so downe ward unto this Day d Mat. 23. 35. but not one PAPIST no not one in the Hoast of God the enemies themselves being Iudges the Papists are all on their side all the world over And that it is so is â—n cleare as the Sunne when he shines in his strength All the Papists are on the other side and not one with the Host of God Surely here is matter for high praise to our God Blessed be the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost that Satan the accuser of the Brethren hath condemned his owne cause and justified theirs for behold all this is granted that all the Papists in the Land nay all the world over are on that
give their Lord no rest till He shall give them rest The Lord hath given His people thâ— greatest mercies which they prayed not for ELECTION before time His SON in the fullnesse of time How can He with Him denie His people any thing They forsake not their confidence there ore they are importunate with their friends as they have beene in former yeares the day of Jacobs troubles and treading downe saying Pray pray pray Pray for the King That the Lord would deliver his soule from the snare of the Hunter And pray for the Parliament who have sought the peace of the King and his Kingdomes as their â—wne peace nay more then so they have preferred it before their owne And seeing 't is cleare to every man that will see that thus they have done They have sought and wrought effectually for the peace that containes all of their King or the Salvation a comprehensive blessing of King and his Kingdomes for maintaining this Ship RELIGION wherein our lives our liberties our estates our peace and the Churches all over the world and our Generations after us are bottomed and maintained seeing I say their Care Piety Zeale is manifest to all men in the maintaining this Ship And all this by the line of the Law the Plummet of right Reason the Rule of their Lords will Seeing we know it to be so and doe know also in all our hearts and soules That not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord hath spoken concerning His people Nor any of Iosh 24. 14. 1â— the evill things which He threatned against His enemies but all came to passe We will close with the word of the Lord which He hath spoken to the heart of all His faithfull Servants in all Generations I VVILL BLESSE THEM THAT BLESSE Gen. â—2 3. THEE and CURSE HIM THAT CURSETH THEE even so Lord let the curse they have called for fall upon the wicked but Thou hast promised this goodnesse unto Thy Servants Now therfore Let it please Thee to blesse the house of Thy Servants that they and their house may be before Thee for ever For Thou blessee 1 Châ— 17. 26 2â— O Lord and it shall be blessed for ever Amen and Amen THE CHVRCHES THANK-OFFERING To GOD Her KING and the PARLIAMENT CHAP. I. Recording thanking praising an high imployment who fit for it how great the engagement to it who the fountaine of mercies whence received thither returned SECT I. Thankes-giving and praise a sacred imployment THe old manner was that a certaine number were appointed to record to thanke and to praise the Lord God of Israel a 1 Chron. 16. â— These must bâ— Levites such as did minister before the Arke of the Lord. It was a sacred imployment a worke as some Psalmes are of Degrees To Record was the lowest and required little clevation of spirit To Thanke was an higher Degree and commanded more life of affection To Praiâ—e that it to sing the high praises of our God there comes in Selah a winding-up of the spirit to the highest It may be said What need all this Such a livelinesse of affection Such an activity of spirit to thank and to praise God It is as ordinary a thing and as easie a worke as is done in the world Kings of the Earth and all people Princes and all Iudges of the Earth both young-men and Maidens Old men and children b Ps 148. 11 12. All these doe as they are commanded they thanke the Lord and praise Him too if we could heare the afore-mentioned speaking one after another we should heare nothing but Thankes and Praise I am in health saith one I thanke God I am increased and prosper in the world saith another I praise God I have had many crosses and troubles in the world I blesse my God They have well spoken in all that they have said but ô that there were such an heart c Deut. 5. 29. All creatures praise God for so they are commanded Dragons and all deepes c. Beasts and all Cattell creeping things and flying soule all praise Him in their kind But man is a more excellent Creature he stands charged to doe it in a more excellent manner els as good not done he hath a tongue for that end and called his glory and yet the fewest of all doe praise God as they should and all because they thinke it so easie and ordinary a worke to praise Him whereas tongue and heart both must be well tuned for this work for it is the most heaven-like of all the services perform'd by Man here below As to Praise is comely so is it a clean pure heavenly lasting action None but the Righteous whose hearts are cleansed from sinne and emptied of Selfe they onely doe it the upright in heart d Ps 33. 1. Ps 119. 7 and what they doe now on Earth they shall doe hereafter in Heaven it is their worke to all Eternity SECT II. Who the Person is that is fit for this worke VVE must then find-out a fit person for this worke so high an imployment a person that can doe it to purpose decently and in order that ministers before the Lord continually they that walke with Him cleave to Him trust in Him the people of God such as feare Him onely serve Him onely so walking in his wayes These many are but one one House one Body so single they in conversation so usefull they in their communion each with other as members one of another And so I shall take them all under a single Notion as one person whom I shall properly call the Church The Church indeed e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having more then a name for that and no more is nothing She hath a Name that she lives and she doth live and this life is the more spiritfull and active because as light was brought out of the wombe of darknesse so her life from death She was dead but she is now alive and lives for ever her life being hid with Christ in God f Col. 3. 3. A very fit person for such a worke an heavenly worke an heavenly person who might she deliver her own words with her own mouth would doe it exactly well but howsoever she will doe it decently and in order after she hath told us her ingagement to the worke how she doth record it and to whom she payeth the tribute of praise and thankes SECT III. The Churches engagement to record to thanke to praise HItherto all fits very well the Person and the Worke. Now see the engagement thereunto that 's very strong and binding For behold how great the loving kindnesses are how rich the mercies how marvellous the workes which the Lord hath done for this Nation whereof in due place and conveyed to it through the hands of man It is God Who makes two of one mind in one house and the same God Who hath made two Houses one to goe together
neare as can be in this world That her Lord and Christ may be if not All in All yet above all Beloveds the chiefest of ten thousand Why then all those things She thought against her were for her promoting her good very much Therefore Shee doth record that time and speaks of it with rejoycing finding by many good experiences That there is no Condition how uncomfortable soever but what is ordered according to Righteousnesse and faithfulnesse This ceâ—tains much we will then proceed in it SECT II. As the Righteous now doe so have all done before them They have recorded Dayes of Trouble for that was a meanes to settle them the faster on their Rocke and have been thankefull for their Hell here for that made them looke for Heaven where it is THe Church must remember the former yeares when they called her Marah because the Almighty had dealt very bitterly with her d Ruth 1. 20. She cannot passe-over that Time as if a Time let forth like water to waste Plowing and harrowing time is as seasonable for the Church as it is for the fallow-ground and she doth record that time thankfully and with an heart full of Praises for the deeper the furrowes are and the longer the fuller the Sheaves will bee at the Harvest Chrysostomes words are remarkably notable Evermore in your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys Hom. 10. Col. 3. See â—hil 4. 6. prayers give thankes for knowne and unknowne mercies for mercies which appeare to you so to be and such which appeare not for mercies you received with a willing mind and for those which God did for you against your will be exceeding thankfull for them For your good things your comforts your refreshments your strange Deliverances your rich mercies yea and for your lucida intervalla for your well nights and your good daies Yes who would not be thankfull for all this All are not nay the fewest of many But the Father hath not rais'd up his children to the height of thankfulnesse yet You must be thankfull for your turbida intervalla sicke dayes and wearisome Nights for your aches and your paines for your troubles in and to the flesh the knotty racking Gout the tormenting Stone the bloudy torturing Strangury the burning Fever In a word you must be thankfull for your Hell here For Hell who can be thankfull for that they that are of another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Humb. 14. 24. spirit Their Hell here made them not to looke for Heaven here vvhich else they had done though they have their Lords expresse word for it In the world yee shall have tribulation in Mee peace e Ioh. 16. 33. Their Hell here made them to lift up their heads and stretch forth their necks * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8. 19. and to stand as it were on tip-toes so earnestly looking after things which are not seene And this earnest expectation of glory hereafter even to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the Land of the living this assurance of hope caused their very Hell here to seeme a very light affliction and its continuance very short but for a night an houre nay but for a moment a little small moment â— Cor. 4. 17. To conclude Their Hell here made them flee from the vvrath to come and that is hell indeed and the sense thereof raised up their thoughts and endeared Christ unto them the chiefest now of ten thousand O how precious are their thoughts concerning Chrâ—st A drop of vvrath burnt their flesh and vvas sore upon them though but for a night how are their heâ—rts enlarged after Christ vvho redeemed their soule out of all adversity and from the vvrath to come I have added a short paraphrase on Chrysostomes vvords he goes o◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Châ—yâ— Tâ—m 6. â—e 〈◊〉 judic and gives us an example I knew a man said hâ— a very pious Man he vvas vvho prayed thus as vve have heard and the first vvord vvas Thankes and that he first thanked his good God for vvas for his afflictions his Hell here So vve have that vve come for so fitted to this place vvhich is They put afflictions into the Catalogue or Register of Gods mercies and in the first pâ—â—ce Indeed it is no haâ—d matter to open the mouth in vvay of Thankefullnesse for the gooâ— things of this life as vve call them but to be thankefull for the â—vils that is an hard taske but yet the daily vvorke of a true Christian SECT III. The Church recordeth her evill Dayes when Shee saw Affliction HEnce we also may learne our Duty and see our patterne for according thereunto the Church Records and Thankes her Lord for her afflictions her pressures her tribulations her anguish her sorrows She gives thanks for her nights of mourning as wel as for her morning joy for her Aegypt in this life as well as for her Goshen here She thankes her God for her treading downe by the foot of Pride for that made her rise more victoriously for the blood vvas drawne from her because that vvatered her and made her more fruitfull She thankes her God for the Courts of Inquisition though bloudy Courts and all the Purgatory she lookes for because the oppression she felt therein and the violent perverting of Iudgement and Iustice pointed her eyes and set them stedfast towards Him Who is higher then the highest and made her to stay fixe and settle her selfe at that high Throne before vvhich the Judges must be judged and from which there is no appeale She gives thankes for her mockings Eccl. 5. 8. scornings revilings buffetings for all the hard vvords and deeds she heard and felt there O hovv thankefull is shee for all that thereby shee vvas made conformable to Her Lord and Head so Hee was dealt withall O how did She rejoyce at all this though perhaps not at that present all this makes their Crowne the more massy â—â—d weighty It added mucâ— to their consolations which â— 2 Cor. 15 7. are ever â—fter the meâ—sure and is their sufferings are The Righteous doe conclude thus That after the rate of their sorrowes and sufferings shall their comforts and consolations be And by the measure of their shame and reproach for Christ here shall their Robe oâ— Glory be cut out hereafter wherewith they shall be vested in Hâ—aven Therefore The Church thanks her God for her weakenesses and many infirmities They made her leane more stâ—adily upoâ— her Beloved That strong Arme For her slâ—ps and fals too they made her stand â— Thes 1. 10. more strong in her God and in the power of His Might For her feares they pointed her to her rocke that is higher then her above all For her troubles without and her terrours within For now She can admire her Saviour the mighty God of her strength For her anguish of spirit and paines in soule when She travelled with her Christ first and now with her
God O! what an exceeding mercy is this at such a time as this vvhen she thought verily she should be termed also forsaken and her Land Desolate Her Lord said no But thou shalt be called Hephzi-bath and thy land Beulah e Esa 62. 4. Deliciae meae oblectatio mea for the Lord delighteth in thee and thy land shall be married What loving kindnesses are these how wonderfull how unutterable Againe The Church lookes over the land and Nation where we live and behold corruptions in Doctrines and manners have leavened the land from corner to corner and have eat and consumed the heart thereof as doth a canker whence it is that wee see strange vanities horrible impieties abominable Idolatries vile Priests and almost as uncleane a people All setting themselves and taking councell together against the Lord and against His annoynted saying let us breake their hands asunder and cast away their cords from us And yet see the exceeding goodnesse of the Lord they prevaile not with their number nor with their strength they assemble themselves and are broken they take councell and God turnes it into foolishnesse and their recompences upon their own head f Ioel â— 7. Thus the weake overcome the strong and the fewest in number prevaile We know not how but so it is the Lord hath set His King upon His holy Hill and if the Lord the Captaine of His Hoast march out before it matters not whether few or many of Gideons souldier march after but the fewer they are the more is the strong arme of the Lord exalted And vvhat cause hath this Church to speake good of the Name of the Lord and to exalt His Arme Who hath made her to stand upright and above her Adversaries with a Catalogue in her hand wriâ—â—eâ— vvithin and vvithout as afore-said and vvhich hightens the mercies at such a time as this vvhen her other sisters are recording their dayes of trouble she is recording the loving kindnesses of her God The Church here must stand still a little to behold the severity and goodnesse of God a Rom. 11. 22. towards her sister Churches severity towards her people Goodnesse And that the may the more magnifie free Grace exalt the Riches therof the goâ—dnesse and exceeding patience of God All His excellencies the Church reasoneth out the case and asketh vvhy is it so vvhy such severity towards her sister-Churches And yet towards her people such goodnesse Did Thy vvrath burn-out against them because Thy Sabbaths vvere profaned there Here they vvere profaned too and more by a Law and Statute in Israel notvvithstanding a fire did not kindle in our gates nor devoure our palaces b Icr. 17. â—7 Was it because the people there turned Grace into vvantonnesse they slighted the offer and means of Grace they would have none of Thee they turned their backs upon Thee and the Gospell vvas it for this Heere vve sit downe astonished for here vve have done so too Was it because of their unfruitfulnesse under the meanes of Grace Hâ—re vve stand astonished considering hovv higâ— vve have bin lifted-up in respect of the meanes no Nation under the Sunne like to us and then thinking of our casting downe how lovv that vvill bee Was it because of their unthankfulnesse for and abuse of mercies Here also our Tables are full of vomit and filthinesse so that there is no place cleane c Esa 28 8. And vve reele and fall dovvne in the Streets at Noon-day Was it because the Messengers of the Churches and Glory of Christ d 2 Cor. 8. 23. Thy faithfull Ministers there vvere villanously used We heare of no such matter they vvere contemned in deed and of no account vvith them but vvith us they have beene used vvorse then Davids Messengers Their Beards and Garments were cut by halves * 2 Sam. 10 4. But here they vvere smit on the cheeks and as Svvine lug'd by the eares Were they bruitish Pastors f Esa 56 9. Ier. â—0 2â— 12. â— vvho broke dovvne the Hedge and laid open gaps vvhereat men after the manner of Beasts skillfull to destroy might enter in The same Pastors are with us vain men treacherous Prophets light Priests Was it because violence was done to the Law g Zeph. 3. 4. Because they did as they could to their power to shed bloud h Eze. 2â— 6. Because their Judges vvere as Evening i Nic 3. 11 12. Walves ravening the prey so it vvas here such judg'd here Why then is not our Zion plowed like a Field k Esa 9. 5 Why are not our garments rolled in bloud l Why are vve not long before this time dashed to peeces one against the other Brother against his Brother and Neighbour against his Neighbour in all our Cities and Countries in all places and corners of the Land Why is it not so She knowes the answer must be because is pleaseth the Lord it shall not be so * Amos 7. 2. â—aith the Lord It is His good pleasure so He loves the Land because He loves it He vvill rejoyce in shewing mercy and it may be will overcome us and lead us captive with loving kindnesses and give gifts to the Rebellious Be it so good Lord because it pleaseth Thee Amen Thiâ— is all the Church can say to all this SECT II. Some light Obiections blown away and a grave Obiection cleared BUt now there is something said against the Church that she need not be so bâ—ag of her mercies her tranquillity and peace for she may now looke to the end thereof her peace is taking from her she is sinking now downe downe downe she goes so her adversary boasteth so he puffeth at the Righteous g Ps 10. 5. The Church answers hereto in order and blows away this as you will a dust from your sleeve The Adversary saith first Ob. The Church may see now to the end of her mercies An. No but she cannot her mercies are the mercies of a God and they have no end 2. He saith Her peace is taken from her No that it is not â— her peace cannot be taken away it shall flow in like the Rivers and come-in unto her as the waves of the Sea h Esa 4818. Though the Assyrian should come in to her Land and tread in her Pallaces i Mic. 5 5. yet he cannot take away her peace When the enemie shall come in like a 〈◊〉 the Spirit of the Lord shall lift-up a standard against him k Esa 59. 19. 3. The Adversary saith That the Church is falling No The Adversaries flesh shall consume away first and his eyes consume away in their holes and his tongue consume away in his mouth l Zach 14 1â— but the Church shall not sinke nor fall away she is well under laid as well this present yeare as the last yesterday and to day and for ever The eternall God is her Refuge and underneath her are the everlasting Armes m
affected now as that Queen was at that time For behold a greater then Salomon is here and a greater Glory is put forth in His works now then could be seen in Salomons Court She must be in an amaze when she beholds the admirable strange and unsearchable wayes of Providence towards her this last yeare He made a path for her in a wildernesse turned the drought of her Summer into fresh Springs A poore blind b Isa 42. 16. Handmaiden She her Lord leads her in paths she could never have discerned never have spyed out with all her search by a way she knew not never thought of No as hid from her eyes as were the unsearchable wayes of her first Redemption Her Adversary led her more then once as they did her Lord to the brow of the Hill c Luk 4. 29. thinking verily to cast her downe headlong But her Lord wrought gloriously for her escape For as her Lord then so She now passed through the midst of them and went away She wondred how she escap't and was at that time as one in a dreame but being well awakened and comming to her selfe she remembred her Lord whose she is and whom she serves He upheld her with His hand But what thanks and praise are due to her God Who let out the wrath of man and gave it the more Scope so as the more it was let out the more it might praise Him Who so ordered the worke of an imperious whorish woman d Ezek. 16. 30. such was the Church in name so and her works such for she wâ—s impudently bold and past all shame whom they commonly called the Church to worke thereout good to his people To cause the summoning of a Parliament To make it hold and that a caution was put in for after-times What a confluence of mercies is in all this What abundant matter of praise And that when the Priests for the most part were brutish and the people but a little more reasonable as froward as that Israelite who coâ—nted reforming a killing * Exod. 2. 4. Yâ—t such a Parliament notwithstanding Who have layd a foundation of mercy for themselves and their posterity even for all the generations to come But I must not huddle up things so nor throng them together remembring That the greatest wonder which most engageth the hearts of the Righteous was wrought before the Parliament sate Therefore I shall take leave to begin according to my proposed Method and to set downe two Moneths which are not in our late Kalenders and then the Churches collections there-out in the same order Surely September there I shall begin it shall be to us the first beginning of Months the first Moneth of our Iubile to us For in that Moneth the Lord began to bring His Church out of Egypt with a mighty hand and to set His face against His Adversaries and toward His people And because He proceeded on toward the accomplishment of what He had begun and to make Himselfe knowne and to get a Name and everlasting praise all the Moneths after in allusion to the Spirits words touching Moses I will say of this yeare There hath not been a yeare since the Redemption like unto this yeare in all the signes and the wonders which the Lord hath done in the Land of Egypt To the Pope and to all his servants and to all his Land And in all that mighty hand and in all the great terrour which the Lord shewed in the sight of all Israel * Deuâ— ult â— CHAP. VI. September 1641. The Product thereof The Overtures and strange turnings of things therein SECT I. September The Product thereof AFter a strong commotion the waters will be sometimes swell'd and unquiet so likewise in our Sea This Moneth came in boysterously partaking very much in the malignancy of the Constellation then raigning The Souldiers for we must speak plaine English in the Countrey-mans eare busled after their manner but against all expectation The Priests high and low did more hurt good I should say yet no thanke to them for the good God ordered â—t so and produced it as He did the light out of darknesse for thâ—y were more cordiall then the souldiers they prayed against the Scots heartily and would set their people a praying too They would force the people to impossibilities To blesse God and curse Man perhaps because the Priests could skill in it Blesse with their mouth and curse inwardly * Psal 62. 4. But so the Bishops ordered it and so there was praying on both sides one side prayed in paper the other in prayer d Iam. 5. 17. And that the contrary side might pray in more faith the Scots were written Rebels upon every Post and Pillar by the Secretary himselfe It was time to rage and pray too for he had but a short time But when the cry against the Scots was great and the clamour against them very grievous it pleased the Lord to come downe and see whether they had done according to the cry and behold they had not But the oppression violence and wrong done against them was according to the cry So He stirred up the hearts of the Nobles and Commons both to fall upon their knees and petition God and their King That matters might be heard and a way thought on to stop the great wrath that was pressing in like a floud Then the Nobles went towards the North there the Clouds of bloud gathered and there the Heavens were darkest with a select company of the Commons And by the good hand of God upon the King and his good people a Parliament was resolved upon and newes thereof spread apace and came posted to London the 23d. of this Moneth About this time there were many meetings of Ministers every where and grave consultations about a new Oath and damn'd it was by every mouth to the very pit whence the Bishops with their c. digged it for there was a digging to Hell to hide their counsell c. At this time also the Bishop visited by his Chancellour and the new Oath was so corrupt that it made the old one very unsavoury So the businesse was carried in a great deale of heate and hurrey just as it is when two sturdy Rogues fall a swearing that which comes next to hand is their weapon and then no wise man Will come neare them Then the Chancellor with c. turned their backs and shifted Here began the troubles which shrowdly shaked the Hierarchy with c. Thus we have the product of this Moneth as it were in the grosse summe and how the end tended to a calme with them who heartily prayed for faire weather SECT II. The Churches Collections hence yeelding matter of praise and wonder in the strange Overtures and turning of things upside downe VVE were now full of stirres a tumultuous Nation indeed but the Church a quiet habitation still Notwithstanding the contrariety of wils and motions in the
Nâ—w every considerate man was very jealous of the Clergy of England as corrupt then every whit as once it was in the Iewish Church vvhen head and heart all vvas sicke and faint from the sole of the foot â—ven uâ—to the head there vvas no soundnesse in â—t but vvounds and bâ—uâ—ses and putrified sores So it was in the Church a Esa 1. 5. No better in the Common wealth for where Gods Law is insulted over Mans law will be trodden under such a confusion there vvas in the Kingdome The Pillars were so wrested out of place Prerogative so strayned Priviledges so broken and underfoot such vexations there vvere on every hand such breaches in the great house such clefts in the little house b Am. 6. 11. such a howling for vâ—xation and oppression That it had beene a wonder if a Parliament had not beene summoned Ai but to see two Parliaments in one yeare and to see one hold so long and to give Cautiâ—n against so long a vacation to that High-Court is a wonder sure No none of all this time was when a Parliament was called twice a yeare and oftner as the affâ—ires of the Kingdome might require So I remember a great Sage of the Law râ—pâ—rts Therefore I have no warrant from the Church to call this a wonder the having two Parliaments in one yeare or the having â—ne every third yeare it is rare with us but every thing that is rare is not a Wonder Naturall causes can produce and so did all this The breaking of the one Naturally and Rationally work'd for the producing of another and to make it hold and to put in Caution for after-time We never exclude the first cause That we suppose goes along with us still as the Needle before the Threed and then no wonder is all this but a very great Mercy as we heard and shall heare And all this we have heard is but to prepare the eare to let in the Wonder and that it may not stay there but linke downe into the heart SECT IIII. Gods marvellous workes for the Church and with the PARLIAMENT That it wrought for her Liberties and enlargement every way YEs that is the marvellous worke indeed not that she hath a Parliament and that continued c. But that the Church hath received so much good from a Parliament the finger of God is there most remarkably there The Church hath as much cause to complaine of Parliaments as to speake good of them though she can blesse God for all She was never trod downe never set under-foot till a Parliment had set their foot upon her You may beleeve her the Church did tremble and had fainted but that the Lord was her staffe and stay when she heard newes of a Parliament Therefore she bestirred her self and used her weapons to purpose Prayers and Teares and so became Israel a prevailer with God The Church doth acknowledge That she never received such enlargements from any meanes here below of humane institution as from the hands of a Parliament nor ever cast into such straits and bondage as by the same hand That Court ever made her happy or miserable it laid the foundation ever either for the greatest blessing or the sorest curse either it lifts up a Nation making it honourable or sinkes a Nation making it the basest of Kingdomes That this Parliament did not doe the later make her Desolate and leave her as forsaken That will be the Wonder the marvellous working of a God towards His People if wee consider I might say first the Trust and Confidence we put in that High-Court We rested-upon it more then upon God we waited for it as for the raine and opened the mouth wide as the parched ground for the latter raine So we did well but our eyes which should be single to God only were single b Iob 29. 23. towards it as the only means that could doe us good and recover our sicke and languishing State And this our vaine Confidence might have spoyled all for as God doth curse bold and daring Attempts so he doth shrinke-up and wither the Arme of flesh when man will make it his arme depend and rest upon it for then his heart departeth from the Lord c Ier. 17 5. There is but one thing wherein is assurance and strength strong confidence d Pro. 14. 26. and the Lord doth commonly reject all other confidences so as man shall not prosper in them e Iet â— 37. But I passe this for the Lord hath passed it over not charging upon His servants their vaine Confidences ¶ 1. THis we must chiefly consider That it was the great Designe of the Adversary This they plotted and contrived for this they spent their pretious spirits that such might be chosen who might draw to their side and establish their wicked and mischievous Devices by a Law wherein the HEAD and TAYLE both work'd together the HEAD contrived the TAYLE put forth it is sting and therewith did much hurt All conteâ—â—ed and contended and altogether not only to make the hope of the righteous Null as they call it invalid and of no force but to take them away from the Earth Root and Branch that they might be no more a people or if so then the most despicable and peeled people on the face of the Earth Thus HEAD and TAYLE contrived and contended Who are they I thanke the Reader that he will not conster my words before I have explained them By the Head I doe not meane the Ruler of the People but him that presumes to rule the Nations and that with a Rod of Iron which he cals seeding f Rom. 2. 27. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not him that beareth the Sword but him that challengeth two Swords and hath right to neither I meane him that is the Head of Heads and Lord of Lords the POPE I meane I confesse I never heard him speake but I have heard some of his flatterers say That a Priest is so much above a King as a Man iâ— above a Beast Tantum Sacerdes praestat Regi quantum homo praestat Bestiae quantum Deus praestas Sacerdâ—ti tantum Sacerdoâ— praest as Râ—gi Qui Regem anteponiâ— Sacerdoâ—â— is anteponis Creatu ram â—reatoâ—â— Stanu laus Ovichovius I find it in M Iuâ—ls Apol. 4 par as much as God is better then the Priest so muâ—h is the Priest better then the King He that setteth the King be ore a Priest setteth the Creature before the Creator Then how farre thinke you doth a Pope exceed Kings and Emperours How much then is that Head above other Heads It is answered wâ—th liberty enough for they take leave to pen â—heir owne Châ—rter He is as much higher above Kings as the Sunne is above the Moone He sits iâ— the very ZENITH of the Church in the highest place there as hiâ—h above your Head as you can looke with your eyes There 's a tall Man indeed True but he
and hard Deeds levell unto Looke which way is the Malignants aime and that will point your eye directly to the Righteous Man Whom do they hurry and drag unto the Brow of the Hill The righteous evermore and because they do the thing that is right therfore doth that Head that monstrous Head and Tayle that Serpentine generation and those multitudes with the King over them bend all their councells policies and strength against theese people because they see the thing that good is So it hath beene from the beginning so it will be to the end of the world And so vve conclude from the sacred Writ and from the present times where are cleare and manifest proofes That the Church must be tryed as Silver and Gold is tryed That Legions of Adversaries doe seeke and vvait her destruction that whole Armies of troubles afflictions and sorrowes doe abide her but Her God vvill deliver her from and out of all that 's her comfort The Gates of Hell are against her but shall not prevaile that is her conclusion We proceed on to give hints of things that vve may magnifie the arme of the Lord and raise our spirits in the high praises of the Churches God ¶ 3. When vve have made full enquâ—ry into these present and last Times let us search the Records of all times and enquite there Who it is over vvhom the fire hath no power Who it is that God doth rescue out of the Mouth of the Lyon Whom doth He suffer to be carried to the brow of the Hill and then makes way for escape Whom doth He bring to the mountaine of streights and there is gloriously seene in their Salvations For vvhom doth He divide the Sea and makes paths in the great vvaters For His enemies you wilâ— say Yes that they may pursue then fall and sinke like a stone and rise no more But for whom doth He open a way that they may goe over It must be answered He doth this for His Church His Israel His ransomed ones The redeemed of the Lord vvill say so He delivers them so such Salvations He vvorketh for them and them onely He delivers them after THIS SORT l Dan. 3. 29. What sort None delivered as are these after such a strange vvonderfull and miraculous way after THIS SORT The fire had no power over them But for their enemies the flame of the fire slew them and for those enemies that are suffered to goe on in their furious March He takes off their Charet-wheeles makes them drive heavily then When When they are upon the very heele of the righteous then the vvaters over-whelme them and they are made as still as a stone m Exod. 15. 16. The Conclusion is the Lord never made His Arme bare of flesh He never appeared in the Mount of straits but for His Church and against His Adversaries but so He hath appeared this day ¶ 4. Who are they vvhom we see guarded fenced hedged about â— what more There needs no more and yet to assure their security and that there is not a chinke open whereat danger shall enter to doe them hurt there is more added and on every side n Iob 1. 10. See their security Whose security the Churches the Righteous mans security ever-more They are hedged about and on every side not a cranny hole left open whereat danger can come-in to doe them hurt No no. Object This carries not the face of Truth you will say See we not these sort of men hurried and spoyled and peeled exposed to all danger from the tongues and hands of violent and bloody men Are they then hedged about and on every side when dangers come in upon them at every turne and they are made now Magor-missabib o Ier. 20. 3. beleaguered-about and terrour on every side Answ Yes and yet notwithstanding all this they are so hedged as was said and nothing shall come unto them for their hurt They may be hurried and peeled and spoyled and killed too and yet all for their good Reader this will not seeme strange unto thee if thou readest and considerest with all thy heart that seventy yeares Captivity was for their good p Ier. 24. 5. Therefore we must set a marke upon these words No cranny is left open whereat danger can enter to doe this people hurt They are a protected people still hedged about still and on every side God keepes their persons from troubles or He delivers them by troubles or supports them in troubles as He did Iob a miracle of patience never any man so tryed as he never any man so supported as he or opens a dore and passage through dangers so bringing His Servants to the place where they vvould be The Divell spake good Divinity the Servants of the Lord will say so Thou hast made a hedge about him and about his house and about all that he hath on every side This then is the conclusion Surely there is no inchantment against Jâ—cob neither is there any divination against Israel according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel what hath God wrought q Numb 13. 2â— SECT II. From what God hath done The Church gets assured confidence for time to come SEe againe for we have observed the premises here was an Head against the Church that monstrous Head the Tayle against Her That serpentine Tayle that bulky-body as the sand for multitude all these against Her with their King over them yet could doe Her no hurt Behold I give unto you power to tread on Serpents and Scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any meanes hurt you q Luk. 10. 19. These are good words and comfortable and now are they fulfilled in our eyes All these enemies did what they could to sting and poyson the Church but they were not able All these blowed hard to quench the light of Israel yet could not doe it the Lord kept His Church alive as a sparke which is said of Noah r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys Tom. 5. Ser. 6. in the midst of the roaring Ocean Who would not feare this God Who would not serve Him None but a God can deliver after this sort That was the conclusion and none are so delivered but His Church He reprooveth Kings nay Hee breaketh the Head of the Leviathan in peeces for His Churches sake And this is the Churches confidence for ever from all these things which her God hath done they can assure their hearts for the time to come That when they shall be brought againe to the Brow of the Hill to her mountaine of straits their God will appeare there He that brake the Heads of the Leviathan to peeces Pharaoh and his great Hoast Å¿ Ps â—9 14. Annona fuit huâ—â— reposita qua vesceretur populus Cal. in loc gave that deliverance for meat to His people inhabiting a wildernesse i. e that when they should be in straights then
markes upon it for it clears forth unto us as the Morning light no such demonstration as this vvho are the Church indeed who but in name so and that the MALIGNANT Church It cleares the Churches innocency also as the Sunne beame and cleares our duty to walke exactly as a peculiar people if we looke to be delivered how So miraculously after THAT SORT that all must say The Right-hand of the Lord did This. †2. The Reader may consider that in the following Month I met with that ROOT the PARLIAMENT I mean which beares all our sweets here below our Religion our Lawes our Liberties our Lives by the good hand of God upon that High Court the KING and PARLIAMENT accursed be they that divide them and accursed be they also that strike at that Root we gather all the fore-mentioned for our selves and our children after us even all that blessed fruit for there it is as in a common root Therfore I staid the longer upon that fundamentall blessing Now I can goe on apace for I am but to bring in these after fruits as they did the Grapes all in a cluster but we must view over the lessons vvee tooke forth last and make a short collection thereof 1 The Lord hath triumphed gloriously Hâ—s right Hand hath dashed to peeces the enemy In the greatnesse of His excellency He hath over-thrown them that rose up against Him 2. We have seene the Salvations of God great Salvations therefore the Israel of God is here amongst Exod. 15. 7. us a people greatly beloved Saved by the Lord for whose helpe Herideth upon the Heaven and in His excellency on the Sky Deut. 33. 26. Lastly Would vve be so saved then vve must be guided as the Church is according to her Lords WILL and so commanded by Him if we would be carried as upon the wings of Eagles then we must bee found walking in His way Thus we have seene the strange Overtures and turnings of things in these two Moneths and vvee have observed the certaine Uses and Conclusions there-from Now vve goe on to set downe the Heads of the after proceedings ¶ A Transition to the next Chapter Hitherto vve have observed vvhat God hath vvrought vvorking alone and by His own Arme bringing Salvations Now vve must observe vvith the same observation vvhat Salvations Man hath wrought with God the following Months as strange as vvas that Salvation vvhich Ionathan vvrought for Israel a 1 Sam. 14. 45. I have treated thereon severally not according to the excellency thereof but after my measure as I vvas inabled and am resolved not to mutilate or maim that continued Story by taking any part thence But which is more sutable to this place and my scope to set downe the Heads therof in as narrow a compasse as may be and as the matter can be contracted to give an abstract only leaving the specification of the set time vvhen the Salvations were vvrought the Month and the day to those Diurnals vvhich are vvritten before me vvhere also I blotted a few sheets of paper but specially to the vvorthy pains of good M Vicars vvorthy all acceptation So I proceed CHAP. IX The Heads of proceeding the following Months to the end of the first Jubile holding forth the wrath of God fury to His Adversaries His marvellous workes of Grace to His people breaking bands and taking off yoakes and bringing them into the band of a Covenant engaging His Church for ever to Record to Thanke to Praise SECT I. The Church blesseth God for you That you did not ioyne your selves with the Men of the Earth nor after the manner of Men forsake her in her low estate That you did not establish iniquity by a Law that yee read her petitions and heard her complaints that you opened her prisons and mouthes of the Ministers And had Dominion over the Mighty NOVEMBER a Month specially to be observed The third Day the High Court assembled things vvere done after the Manner c. At this point others begin and here I shall not breake off but dissolve a well continued Story into some chiefe Heads vvhich vvill containe the chiefe workes of wonder and so yeeld us matter enough of praise to God and thanks to Man The Lord tune our spirits to the setting forth the high praises of the Lord. The first Head will lead-in all the test for it containes much a Ezek. 23. 32. therefore that we may begin right the Church would have us consider That her enemy and adversary the Head and the Tayle who these are is now fully manifested and declared before had wrought effectually in the children of disobedience They had carried all before them levell to their owne mark They had levened the Land they thought from corner to corner with most impure Doctrines and as uncleane practises Indeed as was said they had vvrought very effectually as appeareth this day They had prepared their owne way made it so strait plaine and levell so as they thought verily they could find no rubb no opposition none at all they might goe on smooth away the Angell of the Lord could not meet with them at least could not stop controll nor crosse them in the way no not with the Sword in the hand They had now set the BVSH on fire round about I meane the Church a flaming Bush was her Embleme once and it must be her Embleme there you see the Church to the Worlds end They had set the Church all on a flame and thought verily if Gods dwelling were there which they thought not of they could if not thrust Him out of His House yet they could fire Him out for they looked wistly when His House would sinke downe and fall into ashes Indeed this is notable by the way and engageth the Church mightily That God dwelleth vvith her when she is all on a flame in the fornace of afflictions then He DWELS in the BVSH therefore it consumes not But the Adversary and enemy thought not of this they looked when the House should fall as aforesaid and hastened vvhat they could the Ruine thereof They would put to more wood and make the burning yet greater This then is the first Head for this the Church blesseth God and thanks you ¶ 1. That you did not joyne with the stronger side I meane in appearance That you did not joyne strength to strength and adde more fuell also to make the flame the more fierce and raging for this is the manner of men To oppresse the oppressed to add to the affliction and like Mice as to runne out vvhen the House is on fire So to judge of Gods workes before they bee ripe I meane before the FIFT ACT and that is against the Rule b De operiâ—us Dei 〈◊〉 quintum actuÌ„ 〈…〉 If a storme lye upon the Ship of the Church and she be tossed with tempests men will not waite till the fourth watch commonly so long the Lord deferrs His comming but
then He comes That you did now as wise-men strike in to helpe to quench the burning to helpe the Lord against the mighty that you did regard the Church now as the Lord regarded you once in a very low estate for this she blesseth God and thanketh you To speake in plainer English for this she blesseth God and you That having but one Priest one Altar one Sacrifice you did not defile all this at this time making many Priests setting-up many Altars commanding many Sacrifices all this as the statutes of Omri by a Law That when many Altars the same of other provocations were made to Sinne Altars were not made by you unto the whole Nation to Sinne c Hos 8. 15. That when the ROD of the wicked lay heavy upon the backe of the Righteous you did not turne it into a Scorpion and when bloud was upon the Earth upon the Church falsly so called you did not FEOFFE it upon HEAVEN the true Church So you might have done and have left the Church as a Widow forsaken in the Earth and comfortlesse there That all this was not done but the contrary she accepts in all thankfulnesse alwayes and blesseth God Who kept you from the pathes of the destroyer d Ps 17. 4. If this be not plaine enough this vvhich followes will make it as plaine as can be Ireland did contribute mony toward the WARRE What warre A Warre that vvould have ruined Scotland a Warre that would have sheathed a Brothers Sword in the heart of a Brother Ireland contributed mony toward such a WARRE Behold now The Sword is hathed in that HEAVEN it is drunke with the bloud of those slaine who contributed money to maintaine that WARRE Their Land is now full of the fury of the LORD the Rebuke of Thy GOD. You would not contribute therto no not 20â— for it had bin too heavy upon the loynes of the Church by a pound weight Behold now this Kingdom hath weathered-out the storme lies at Anker cast upward and is the very miracle of Gods patience to all the world I have heard that some say for some vvill be vvillingly ignorannt What great matter have you done I thinke verily no man is so foolish so forsaken of all his wits but he may receive satisfaction herein anon I will answer but this now What ye have not done Ye have not engaged the Kingdome in that Warre vvhich vvould have dashed the people one against another even the Father and the sonnes together a Ier. 13. 14. Blessed be your Councell and your Wisedome and blessed be you of the Lord for what ye have not done for it hath cast a sweet savour over all the Churches in the world But vvith your good leave I vvould rather ascribe all to your good God glorious in holinesse fearefull in praises doing wonders b Exod. 15. 11 He councelled you His right Hand vvas upon you therefore your feet were kept from the path of the DESTROYER The Church vvould make her acknowledgement very full at this point That though there are strange vanities c. as was said yet not countenanced by law Though the Tayle-Prophets as they are and the Priests as they will be called both high and low are most vile and have made themselves and the people so having leavened the whole Land from corner to corner with poysonous and cursed corruptions in their Doctrines and practises though so yet there are no Statutes for all this but Orders against it Praise be to her good God for all this and all due thanks to you So also ¶ 2. That you received the Petitions from all Quarters of the Land heard the groanes of the oppressed made to serve under cruell Taske-Masters that you rebuked their Lordships tooke off their yoake from off the jawes of the Ministers and People that you opened the prison doores and mouths of the Ministers This the Church could record with more words but not vvith more thankfulnesse yet you shall heare more of it anon ¶ 3. That by your Wisdome and Providence the Church had such freedome the last yeare and such communion and fellowship with Iesus and His Disciples more the last yeare then 20 years before Time was and but as yesterday when they that feared the Lord spake often one to another but so as their voyce might not be heard for it was an evill time The Messenger of Satan was abroad buffering the Servants of the Lord in every place his eare was under their window Mal. 3. 16. and his foot at the doore and the sound of his Masters feet behind him So as it vvas the hardest thing to serve God without feare for it was a crime to be godly * Si fuerit sublimis fiâ—despicabilis si fuerit splendidissimus fit vilissimus si fuerit totus honoris fit totus iniuria Sal. de gub lib. 4. p. 113. Vnder whom it was alwayes unsafe to d ee well Tâ—â—it sup This the Church acknowledgeth with all thankfulnesse and behold the benefit you have commanded Prayer Prayer shall command for you for now this followes which the Church recordeth with all thankfulnesse and some wonder ¶ 4. That the mountaines have flowne downe before you and the Hils did melt and tremble My intent was but to name things yet the Church commands us to stay a little here and behold the great high lofty ones they are Mountaines and Hils fast upon their bottome behold the Lord hath shaken them given power to His Servants to over-top them to have Dominion over the mighty and to tread downe strength f Iudg. 5. 13 21. I say the Church commands us to observe all the peeces of the Lords providence here looke upon them apart then put them together She saith and is confident That this being done you shall see the most admirable worke that ever was wrought since the Creation and that AMAZING worke of REDEMPTION Next place to these two works this worke will take and in every good order for it is most fruitfull and big with mercies and brings forth every Day Had You not over-topt the Mountaines and the Hils and over-shadowed them You began well You shall goe on and prosper You could never have refreshed the vveary and parched vallies for those high places kept off Raine and Dew and Sunne-shine altogether But now that these are taken downe behold a shower of blessings upon the Land by your care conscience and vigilancy all this followes first SECT II. The Lords Day a comprehensive blessing to a Nation Indignation and wrath from the Lord against the prophaners of it And yet the Priests most notorious this way Your Zeale for it how necessary it should be fervent ¶ 5. 1. THe Church records and thankes That ye rouled away the reproach of Egypt and restored to her sons and daughters their Lords Day That she sees That Day againe in it's beauty and in honourable account from which the wicked hid their eyes and she her
face for griefe of heart because she saw it's visage marred spit upon vilified trampled on more then any Day Oh it joyed her heart That you who next to God maintaine her spirits and life you accounted her Lords day honourable that was because you honoured the Lord of the Day And indeed how could you not For He is worthy and you looke to be honoured The Church will looke upon this mercy againe and againe and reckon the restoring to her the Sabbath among the chiefest and choisest of your good deeds which by Gods good hand upon you you have done Had the Adversary taken away the Sabbath as he had almost done tantum non he hâ—d taken away all The Word the Sacraments God and all All goeth when the Sabbaths are gone as you may see in our sister Churches What is left them now Lamentation and Mourning and Woe What heare they in their Temples now Howlings instead of Songs What are their Townes and Cities now Ruined heapes a Golgotha a place of dead Mens sculls or to speake as Salvian doth in the like Desolation d Omnis Civitaâ—â—ustum c. Sal. l. 7 210. Their Townes are like our new Church-yards scarce large enough to bury in The Lord hath stretched out upon the Land the like of confusion and stones of emptinesse They shall call the Nobles thereof to the Kingdome but none shall be there And all her Princes shall be nothing e Isa 34. 11 12. Wherefore hath the Wrath of the Lord burnt out against that people so fiercely Surely because the Land had greatly provoked the Lord of the same Where great Desolations are there are great provocations so we may conclude though Gods Judgements are as the great deepe And this we may say more That our English Commanders noted this still and it was to be noted with all observation That still on the Lords Day the Enemy got much ground And that which opened the floud-gate to all their misery fell out thrice upon the Sabbath Day The Lord pointing as with the finger to that sinne The prophanation of the Lords Day as to the Source whence all their Evills have issued I will take leave now for I must not passe over this lightly to note two things 1. The Priests Villany 2. Your Piety That they may remember and be confounded because of their shame And that you may goe on and doe exploits †1. The Priests Villany Is not that too heavy a word No It is the word of the Lord. The Priests heart hath wrought iniquity to practise Hypocrysie and to utter errour against the Lord to make empty the soule of the hungry and to cause the drink of the thirsty to faile h Esa 3â— 6. This is villany and they have spoken it before the Lord in His house where He hath said He will be sanctified and they have compelled others to speake it too even to utter errour against the Lord there in His House where they stand charged to deale faithfully To utter Truth To speake as the oracles of God They have committed villany in Israel a greater villany than they committed whom the King of Babel roasted in the fire i Ier. 29. 2â— They have not only committed Adultery vvith stocks and stones k but they have spoken lying words in Gods Name I KNOW AND AM A WITNESSE saith the Lord l Ier. 29. 23 Many villanies have been committed in Israel but none like this which the Priests have committed The giving liberty to prophane the Lords Day BY A LAW Nay a forcing thereunto Every Word of God shall meet with some who will turne head against it looke how many kinds of Precepts there are so many adversaries there are m Omnis sermo divinus habit amâ—los suos quoâ— genera praeceptorum sunt â—â—t adversariorâ—â— Salv. ad Ecc. Cath. l. 4. p 486. But let the superstitious Papists turne head against the second WORD Let the Licentiously Prophane oppose the fourth WORD Let the Athyst the Pagan who knowes not God blot out the first and the third WORD Take away all but let not the Priests doe it let not them oppose so holy so just so reasonable a command They know the Lord They minister before him But they did it even the Priests And for a Priest to turne this good Word out of Gods house and the Ministers after it if they would not speake errour against the Lord for him to blot out the Hard writing there this was villany sure never the like committed in Israel it exceeded the boldnesse of that Pagan King n Dan. 5. The Time must be enquired into When did the Priests commit this wickednesse Then At that time when the Lord called to mourning they called to Dancing * Nigra est incendio civitas in vultâ—â— festâ—vitâ—â—â— usurpaâ— Lugent cuâ—cta tu latus et Sal. de gub l. 5. p. p. 22â— To allude to that place Then the Priests proclaymed a liberty for sports on the Lords Day when the Lord proclaimed a Liberty in the Neighbours Church to the Sword to the Pestilence to the Famine m Ier. â—4 17. Salvian would expresse this a great deale better Then they consulted all this against the LORDS DAY when they saw Cities wasted and two Kings slaine if not in battell yet they were slaine The Priest did just like Ahaz they saw as hee a miserable destruction before their eyes yet they brought a patterne of that abomination which caused that desolation and as Vriah did set it up here by a Law * 2 King 16. The time must be noted and that our spirits may be raised high in praise the exceeding 2 Chro. 28. patience of a God must be noted also we did patterne after them vve vvere like them nay we exceeded in that prophanation yet the Lord did not patterne us He did not make us like them in desolations O exceeding patience that The patience of a God Truly when the Church heard this she was perswaded in her heart That the Lord would strip her people naked set them as in the day they were borne make them as a Wildernesse like a dry Land and slay them with thirst n Hos 2 3. Nay her sad thoughts rose higher she verily thought that the Lord would put a Cup of deadly wine into her peoples hand a Cup of pure wrath That is she thought her Lord would not have mercy upon her children And that is a Cup of deadly Wine â—ndeed of pure vvrath wherein there is no mixture of Mercy A people may be stript naked c. and yet there may be mercy in all that Truly the Church thought thus now the Lord will not have mercy He will turne His backe upon her people now for He beheld abominations in His House which His soule hateth and His Day was prophaned by a Law But see now That we may set our hope and our hearts upon the Lord and set-up a pillar an everlasting Monument
performe according to the PROTESTATION even the Lord shake him out and emptie him c Neh. 5. 1â— The Lord grant thesâ— Malignants thâ—se sonnes or Bâ—liall these troublers of Israel vvho will be bound by no other cord but by the cords of their owne sinnes may be cut off even all cut-off that trouble the Church those that love peace and pursue it These sonnes of Beliall cannot frame to pronounce an holy just and good Commandment ô that they vvere dealt vvith now as those persons vvere vve reade of in the Text Then they tooke him and slâ—w him at the passages of Jordan d Iud. 12. 6. The Church knowes that there vvould be a greater slaughter then was that vve reade of and there fell at that time of the Ephramites fourty and two thousand Heere comes in a doubt and it will bee easily resolved The Objâ—ction â—s Ob. The Church is a peaceable Mother in Israel her Father is the God of peace her Lord the Prince of peace her servants the children of peace then sure the Church doth not know vvhat spirit shee is of that prayes for Fire and Sword to come downe from Heaven Answ Yes the Church knows she hath the Spirit of God dwelling in her and by that Spirit she can and doth pray as afore-said â—nd will fight anon and be a peaceable vvoman for all this and a true Mother in Israel and follow the Lambe here also for in some cases and none riseth higher then this He even the Lambe hath wrath and that must be executed by her Sword Nay more as she prayeth for this thing so she can rejoyce to see this vengeance and to wash her feet c Ps â—8 10. in the bloud of the wicked and the whole City with her yea and to shout for joy d Prov. 11. 10. These are wicked persons professed enemies to God and His Christ Without naturall affection truce breakers false accusers incontiâ—câ—t fierce despisers of those that are good Traitors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God not having so much as a forme of Godlinesse e 2 Tim. 3. 3 4 5. Pitty these vvicked Malignant persons and you destroy the Good shew mercy here you are cruell to the Church spare such and they will make havocke of Gods Servants as you see they doe and have done in all ages Wicked persons they and desperately bold and daring They would turne the Songs of the Temple into howlings f Amos 8. 3. She can rejoyce to see the vengeance yea and to wash her feet in the blood of these slaine And till this be done she never looks to have peace on the Earth for these are they who have taken peace from her Therefore she is resolved upon it now she vvill not onely pray but use her WEAPONS too Yes you will say PRAYERS and TEARES True for these are the Churches weapons and very prevailing nay commanding they are Prayers command God He is pleased to say so much and to yeeld g Esa 45. 11. so farre but the Church said she will fight too in a case wherein her Prince His State Crowne and Dignity is concerned for in all this the Church is concerned her Lawes Liberties Religion Life In such cases He vvill fight Let it goe it is good construction to apply a Masculine vvord to so Heroicke a spirit as I reade Queen Elizabeth did not well digest that Grammaticall nicety to be prayed for by the Title of DEFENDRESSE of the Faith DEFENDER vvas better concord in her Eares And indeed never any man Answered the Title better I was saying the Church hath another weapon which vvee call the Sword and she will make it drunke in the bloud of these Adversaries and yet doe no more then what she hath done in all Ages from the Primitive time downe-ward For though Prayers and Teares and these onely are her Sonnes and Daughters vveapons as they are private persons Yet as they are publike persons That alters the case and exalted in the Earth the Sword belongs unto them as their proper right and they stand bound to use it though then also They STVDIE TO BE QVIET h 1 Thes 4. 11. and know themselves CALLED VNTO PEACE so they may have TRVTH too i 1 Cor. 7. 15. The Church hath her Ioshaah's and they must not lye upon the face * Iosh 7. 10. wishing those even cut-off that trouble us k Gal. 5. 12. He must rise and cut-off those TROVBLERS it is his office so to doe The Church hath her Nehemiah's they may build with one hand and hold the Sword in another Shee hath her Davids the truest Subjects in the world as then hee was and yet their Hâ—ast may be as his was as the HOAST OF GOD l and all for their owne safety and to maintaine as â— Chrâ— 12. â—2 David did their Masters peace The Church hath her Princes and her Nobles and her Worthies blessed be God for them all to whom the Sword belongs and they are charged to use it for the cutting off those that trouble her and are enemies to her Lords Crowne and Dignity They are charged to be of good courage and to play the men for their King and His people and the Cities of their God and the Lord doe that which seemeth Him good d 2 Sam. 10. 12. Then in the last place ¶ 4. Private Persons must make Supplications THe Church makes her Supplication to you That you would rise up and be doing that you would avenge her of these Adversaries who have done what they can to take peace from the Earth All is contained in your Covenant every whit Remember that and you remember all and the Lord remember His Covenant with you for the darke places of the Earth are full of cruelty e Ps 74. Doubtlesse the Lord Who keepeth Covenant and mercy for ever will not breake with you now Remember f Deut. 7. 18. WELL what the Lord your God hath done for you That will give you assured confidence for the time to come Onely deale couragiously g 2 Chron. 19. 11. stand to what you have said and what in you lyeth cause the Covenant to passe through the Land and doe as the good King did vvhat you can to make the people stand to it h 2 Chron. 34. 32. and the Lord shall be with the good i 2 Chron. 19. 11. Amen for they will make their prayer to Him which cannot be in vain k Esa 45. 19. being one of the most prevailing things in Heaven or Earth but it is reserved for the time when ye as Esther l Est 4 16. commanded Prayer then it will appeare how prayer commanded for you SECT IV. The engaging the heart to God engageth God to our Businesse then they slide-on the loftinesse of Man shall be bowed downe and the â—aughtinesse of Men shall be made low Idols and Idol-men and Idoll-garments and bloody Courts shall