time for Sacrifice but rudely vijs modis vi armis with armed Souldiers to fall on them unarmed in the very act of Worship when Israel were not forward to use a Weapon now that had been crushed so before however they being met rather to repent and reform and serve God hear Samuel prophecy than to resist or rebel Yet such was their wrath to commit a Rape or Riot on these harmless feeble Worshipers and their God too and accordingly are served the Cannons of Heaven are discharged the Voice of the Lord speaks Psal 29.3 by the Clouds the God of glory thunders this superordinary Punishment gave indication of more then ordinary Guilt they disturb Prayer God perturbs the Army If God must not hear his People quietly they shall hear from Heaven terribly Willet in loc parallels it with Judg. 5.20 And that in Josh 10.10 11. God cast Stones even many Thunder-bolts on them the Lightening also suckt out their Spirits Josephus says The Earth quaked that made their Hearts shake They rebel God raises his posse comitatus above to quell them O admired force of pious Prayer O heroick Faith O mighty Hand Says one quae victoriae suae trophaea etiam in ipsis coeli orbibus figit that sets the Trophis of such Conquests in the Orbes above 't is a saying Nemo scelus geret in pectore non Nemesin in tergo All men carry Vengeance at Back that bear their Sin in their Breast such Revenge infers deep Guilt and it answered Hannah's Prophecy ch 2.10 The Adversarys of the Lord shall be broken to pieces How by Heavens thunder and that as a Pot-sheard Psal 2.9 So says Pt. Mart. shall Turk and Pope be as 't is Apoc. 16.18 21. they rose near together and so will fall for no greater Foes to Worship than they Bp. Hall in loc says God struck them in their Gods their Bodies and Lands the Princes escaped not God in his Wrath knows not Persons to excuse them makes no difference their Lords smart for it and a little after Samuel fought best on his Knees the Lord slew them secretly before now in open Field in revenge of his Ark. Presumption makes men Mad else they would not lift a Hand against God But on this I need not be large what Assaults and how many Injuries Gods Service lies exposed to who are the Agressor is done already in the 1st Doct. what is to be given in Caution that they who are in the act may without fear or distraction do their Duty and instances of Gods wrath may occur on the third point All that is needful at present is Demonstration that it is fearful and fatal Guilt to resist vex disturb and more to destroy Gods Worship or any Persons or Things imployed in it Scriptures and Reasons evince it 1. Scripture shows it I only urge that Instance of Ahaz 2 Chron. 28.20 25. King of Judah not only Introducer of false but Invader of true Worship which he did in seven things he 1st Vers 21 Robbed the Treasures of Gods House pillages God to serve an Idolater 2dly Antiquates Gods great Altar for preferring a forreign Form imposed 3dly Cuts off the Borders of the Bases puts on the Laver on Stone and removes from off the brazen Oxen the Sea the Vessels 4thly Takes away the Covent for the Sabboth Musach a Chair to read the Law in in the House made to render the Service more comfortable rest to Priests or People 5thly To please the Assyrian stops the Entry that he passed by to Gods House 6thly Shuts the Doors of Gods House Vers 24. 2 Kings 16.26 7thly Multiplies Altars all over Hos 8.11 But see how his Sin is aggravated in that First He is the degenerate Son of a good Father sins against his own Light abandons the God Religion and Worship he is educated in Secondly 'T is folly to serve two forreign Gods that could not save their own Servants Thirdly Daring Impudence to innovate on Gods Vessels and approach a false Altar in the place of Gods and in Gods House Fourthly Induration was in it so to do in his distress or as Ar. Montanus reads Tempore quo erat angustijs affectus when straights befell him on all Hands Yet Fifthly Presumption against God is mixed with a base slavish Fear to please the proud Assyrian Sixthly Idolatry offering to Edom's and Syria's Gods in all Cities Streets and High places Seventhly All this contrary to Gods Law and the royal Prophets caution as Isa 7.2 4. that comes with Sheerjashub to bring particular Incouragement to him before hand from God against his and the peoples Fears and once more it was he that made Judah low and naked Vers 19. low in Treasure poor as in manhood low The Beard is shaved off Isa 7.20 and naked i. e. Jehovae privaverat protectione Pareus as is said of Aaron Exod. 32.25 exposed to Gods wrath and Mens scorn to their shame Say once more they were under as deep and desperate a Plot and Confederacy at or about the time and that in part succesful as Isa 7.7 8. shews for the Son of Tabeal which cost a double Invasion of Judah yet now Ahaz violates and violents Worship This is that Ahaz Vers 22. of 2 Chron. 28. And take to all the rest that of acute Bp. Hall on that place Of all Judah 's Kings none so dreadful an example of Sin and Wrath as he yet a Son of good Jothan says he I abhor to think such a Monster should descend from the Loyns of so good a Father as Jotham and David from High-places that begun at last it ends in the blocking up Gods Temple and sacrificing of his Son Well branded for that Ahaz That is his Sin the Punishment is parallel Pekah slew 100 and 20000 of them in one day Maaseijah the King's Son is one another is burnt to Moloch Yet more 200 thousand are captived to Samaria Edom revolted carries more away the Philistims take six South Cities of Judah all aides are a burden 300 thousand out of two Tribes Judah and Benjamin Sure he made Judah low for he sinned sore against the Lord. And now by one instance see what fearful Guilt and fatal Wrath follows one though a King that forsakes his own and his Fathers God and injures Religion I conclude this with that note of Pareus on 2 Chron. 28.20 Populus sepae luit paenas principium Quicquid delirant Reges Plectuntur Achivi i. e. For Sins that Princes high commit the People oft of God are smit Other proof of this truth I might urge at large but in brief what became of Haman what of Daniel's and the three Children's Accusers that for the Law and Service of their God did run their Heads upon the same Rock and so split on that Death and Ruin they intended Gods people to suffer But all I purpose here is to demonstrate it 1st This is Wickedness against God to whom is all Worship due Internal of
yet further occur from History to prove ex abundanti the truth of it And so far is the 2d head in the Act of Duty how Gods defends his Worship 3dly Now let 's explain how God defends his Worshippers afterwards Tho it may be the Lot of the best to be exposed and God in his Wisdom for good and holy ends suffers the worst of Men to prevail over the best and to trample on the most sacred things and Persons most for his own times and ways he must take to perform his Word not ours yet after men have prospered a long time and Saints suffered with and for the Sanctuary a little while he comes a tergo unawares after the one with Vengeance and unto the Godly rides fast for their help and deliverance There is none like the God of Jeshurun said Moses Deut. 33.26 that is of Upright Ones that rides on the Heavens for thy help and in his Excellency on the Skies Note 1. God is titled by the stile of a General his Excellency for he excells in Might in Wisdom in Command ore all in chief 2. Though he delays and is long and far behind our hasty desires yet 't is but as a Captain that steps to the Rere to bring them safe off and he is not dismounted he rides still and on swift Steeds the Skies the Heavens which Spheres do naturally move wondrous quick so that he can soon overtake the foot of his Host and also the Horse of his Enenemies 'T is a Note of * Burr Lord of Hosts one that the old Wars of Israel were on their part still on foot though Pharaoh pursued with Chariots and Horses yet I am sure God rides with celerity has a running Army and all for onr help To be a little more particular in this third head How God defends his Worshipers after tho in the act of duty he may delay a little space of time to try both their courage and patience and perseverance in well doing and herein he helps them also not a little and that is also a token of their Salvation But now as the after-clap Thunder is loudest and that which brings the Bolt of Execution on the highest things So Does Gods fulminating Stroaks On Bashans highest sturdy Oaks And lofty Hills as Psal 81.7 feriunt summos fulmina montes That Psalm says of Israels Deliverance out of Pharaoh's Slavery He answered in the secret place of Thunder i.e. by sore and heavy Judgments on Aegypt Exod. 9.23 And this not the least for as the Thunder terrified them and the Hail and Fire mixt smote Grass Herbs and Trees so that v. 28. the King melts and thaws a while and at Moses's Prayer it was removed again but the Heart freezes as hard as before to inslave God's Children till the Red-Sea soakt it once for all Nor are extraordinary Examples of this wanting here when no ordinary obtain sometimes God's Cannons go off and the Report and Execution is done at some distance and heard of afterwards sometimes it is immediately and so here on that day v. 10. he discomfited them possibly sentence is not speedily as Eccl. 8.11 It may be at Night as in the Siege of Jerusalem prophesied Isai 17.14 performed ch 37.36 and that Night too as to the Host and v. 38. as to the King verified and even in the act of his own Worship it seems in the House of his false God his Sons perhaps in a Jealousie of being prevented in the Succession slew him and so he that did invade and besiege Gods City and Sanctuary is cut off in his own to read us his Crime in his own condemnation Polibius said of Antiochus he came to that ill end for attempting to spoil Apollo's Temple it was indeed for this assaulting of Gods For v. 34. is a Promise to defend that City as a Shield so the Word notes Herodotus says of this defeat * Tho misapplied to Setho Priest of Vulcan and death soon after that on his Tomb was found that Epitaph Look on me and beware By this it is plain God is in some Cases severe in expediting vengeance tho he is slow to anger yet if once angry he rides swiftly and though he forbears some other Sinners long as that Question implies 1 Kings 14.14 I will rise against the House of Jeroboam but what even now That notes either not yet or in a very few years and it was now in hand to be done by Baasha and partly begun in the death of Abijah his Son and fulfilled thereafter in two years or little more as Mayer observes But revenges for wrongs and ruines of the Lords Altar and Service may be observed to overtake some times Persons in particular and sometimes Cities and People in bulk For the former the Judgments of God have oft surprised none of the meanest men and that for the cause of Zion that is Liberty and Purity of Worship and its lovers see what followed Cain for guilt of Abel's blood that bloody Cut-throat as that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 denotes 1 John 3.12 not brooking a preciser Devotion than his Crit. Sacr. proprie est ferro fratrem jugulo adacto occidere butchers a poor Brother for Conscience but God setts a mark of visible terrour and secret horrour on him that followed him as a Blood-hound to the end the first quarrel was as one says circa media sacrificii A Curse followed it Gen. 4.11 and still does all that go in Cain's way of Persecution Judg. v. 11. and Balaam's the way of cursing 2 Peter 2.15 Like John Diazius that having killed his own Brother fled to Rome as Cain to Nod and there is cannonized but so dogged in his Soul that for want of a Gibbet he hanged himself at the neck of his Mule Sin it self is turned to a Plague As Tacitus flagitia tandem in supplicia vertuntur Pavor Palor are fit Gods for some that do as Tullus Hostilius did by Numas Zeal deride the Devotion of Predecessors It pulls on the Successors the Predecessors Curse to scorn and renounce the Progenitors Religion Pharaoh detains Gods Israel from Sacrifice yea brands them and it as Idle Exod. 5.17 drives Moses the Court now no Petitions to relax Grievances are allowed nay they are threatned with death if they see his face what follows Why now things ripen he for ruine they for redemption and the People fear them Moses is famous the Council divide and Courtiers plead for Israel to go As since Luthers Confessions sent to all the Electoral Princes obtaind respect To go on what came of Balaam's Curse that Balak will needs have to pass on God's Israel ' cause they dwelt alone Numb 23.8 9. and obey'd Laws distinct from all People even the Law of their God was their Crime as Dan. 6.5 a little after their Wiles had vex'd Israel they and he the Arch-Inchanter perish in war Chap. 25.17 31.2 8. For tho Balaam went to his place
none ought to corrupt invade or infringe and for that of four Horns it signified that from all four Winds God would have Reverence done to his Name Mal. 1.11 But the placing of Horns on the four Corners of the Altar seems to note its four-fold use as Authors conjecture Dr. A. Willet in Exod. p. 616. 1. For putting the Blood of Atonement on its Horns as Exod. 30.10 to note the Power and Efficacy of Christ's Plea for us 2. To bind the Sacrifice thereto with Cords that supposed a Reluctancy which was took inauspicious of which in that Psalm 118.27 3. To be a Sanctuary to flee to for the guilty as some Passages note see Exod. 11.14 so did Joab flee for shelter 1 Kings 2.28 to denote the need of Expiation when by Conscience of Sin Satan pursues us 4. Most to our use To show God's Power in defence of his Suppliants that desire to compass Psal 26.6 with penitent Hearts and powerful hands of Faith the two last ends are pertinent here the rest teaching This fourth is proper to our end to show God's Altar under the Law had by his order in it self a safe defensive Property or a strange but secret self-revenge and can push for its Attendants at all Assailers and its Sparks can burn the Nests of those that Eagle like sacrilegiously spoil the gift or steal from it what is Gods due and tho all the four Winds Mic. 5.5 Zech. 1. ult oft give it distress the four Horns make its Defence or four Carpenters seven Pastors eight principal Men do fray them away Zech. 9.13 15. Nay let the Sacrifice be consumed to Ashes and fall under the Altar Rev. 6.9 yet as sacred Urns the Souls under it cry howling and rest not till revenge is granted which will surely come at last It 's also worth our note That in two places of the Prophets the Title given to the Altar is the Lyon of God in the one the Hill of God Isa 29.1 Ezek. 43.15 what bolder stronger than a Lion higher than the Hill of Zion for security Thus the Types lay the first ground A second ground bears on the Properties of God together with the Promises made for it the first shows his prowess for its safety the second his propenseness to it his Nature and Attributes incline him his Promise obliges him so both leaving the time and way to his Wisdom are to our Faith confirmed by his Veracity Divine Properties harmonize with themselves Justice and Goodness tho to us they seem diversa in their Objects they be not opposita they end in eodem tertio i. e. conclude in the good of his own As all Lines meet in the Center so all acts of Justice Wrath Revenge on the evil on the one part and all the Efforts and Emanations of Mercy Grace Kindness on the other part to his amount to this and end in this point that what God is or does is for his Elect that which partakes of his own Nature must needs be under his careful Eye and Protection His Worship is stiled by his Name Exod. 20.24 so are his People and both are called Dan. 12.7 Holy and shall not the holy God defend them both so is his Word holy Isa 5.24 and will he not magnify it Psal 138.2 3. yea above all his Name so was that glorious Isa 64.11 and beautiful House stiled Holy all the Appurtenances of divine Worship borrowed the stile Holy of him and shall not that import divine Protection what Absurdities follow were not this true see Mr. St. Charnock of God's Power Char. p. 477 478. all things would fall into a deplorable Chaos This is ground for our Worshippers We admire Princes for their Power in subduing Foes and preserving their Peoples Peace how may we reverence God that rules so vast Empires by a word or beck we sense the Thunder and Storms and some Men as if they were God's what Reverence is due to infinite Power and Wisdom joyntly All Religion bears on two Pillars Power and Goodness without that no benefit by it without this no Entertainment could be Jews say Melech Hagnolam hundreds of times in their Prayers what Faith of success could we have if Power and Mercy could not retain us A little after he notes pag. 484. God is by one truly represented as a Jasper Rev. 4.3 on his Throne a Stone withstanding the greatest Force so is his Throne described by a fiery Throne Dan. 7.9 for what Stubble will stand before it so he And for Promises how many has he made how free rich full apt to all our Distresses for his Altar sake by Grace he first made and by Power will surely fulfil them to a tittle When all was lost but Jerusalem to Senacherib see what a Promise is given what a Royal Word I will defend this City for my own sake and my Servant David Isa 37.35 Two sweet grounds for Faith Oh had London this good hold says he I 'm concerned in my Glory and House for my Name is invocated there and I will not let this black-mouth'd Rayler win it to falsify my Promise and verify his prophane Blasphemies Nor is my Servant David a little concerned that first conquered this Mount Zion and brought my Ark to 't who had the Promise of a Lamp 1 Kings 8.37 9.3 Psal 132.17 to be here and his Son built this House to my name Therefore I will defend the City too tho they are unworthy for my own sake 2 Kings 19.34 Oh happy is that City that God covers as with a Shield as the Hebrew is Of the City of God it may be said nec fluctu nec flatu movetur as Venice Nor Winds nor Wave it moved have Or as Geneva when inviron'd with Foes and barr'd in from all help of Friends it had been undone but that it had so many Enemies rather so good and strong a God to defend it as one of this last Clause notes Haec Verba divinitus prolata sunt as A Lapid notes These words are as 't were spoke from Heaven to show that God minds the Name and Stock of all Kings that promote the Settlement of his Ark Presence and Service in a City and surely forgets not those that seek to extirpate them all For now was Rabshake and his Master near the top and fall 2 Chron. 32.15 loring the true God to nay below those stump Deities by him conquer'd What Mouth could open wider or bark louder But to end this with Ezra's Note and Text said to the King Ezr. 8.22 The hand of our God is on all them for good that seek him but his Power and his Wrath is against all them that forsake him and that Fast very much availed in Faith A third ground of this Defence rises from the Power of the Adversary that God suffers oft to swell high and climb up to Lucifer's Orb. The greatest Mercies and Deliverances rise out of the lowest Ebbs of his Cause and Lovers and on the other
Acts on so slippery a Precipice and no sins like Sanctuary Abuses are so bulky to fill up no Vengeance heavier than that of the Temple Jer. 50.28 But seeing I have objected 3 or 4 Instances I 'll touch them in particular before I proceed 1. For that of Eli's Time I yield it the Ark was took no outward Symbole of a Presence gives security from Violence if any Male Administration in Worship doth perturb the holy Gods abode among us all Titles Offices Church-Priviledges do make our guilt heavier rather than exempt us from Punishment and make our doom more heavy and hot to sink us as one drowned or burn in Armour which is the more terrible the Sin of Eli was both as a Judge and Father great to let the young Lads play the Tyrants and that for God's sake over the Men defile the Women at God's Doors 1 Sam. 2.22 23 27 29. ch 3.13 feed Luxury with the fat of the Lords Offerings insult with their three forked hook and by their Servants too i. e. Lust Ambition and Tyranny over the People kick at the Lords Offerings and despise Admonition too so causing the Lords People to transgress for they abhorred his Offerings and to be by the Old Man so gently chid with Nay my Sons and not frowned on v. 13. it was guilt with God unexpiable and by the punishment now threatned appears and some hundreds of years after by Solomon fulfilled So that when Rulers neglect their Duty are indulgent to near Sinners and Priests pervert sacred things to feed private Rapine and Lust No wonder if God abandons that Shiloh abhor the Altar and visit that Tent no more Psal 78.60 2. For that first Captivity in 2 Chron. 36. that Place it self pleads the Justice of that Punishment for the sinful Provocations of the People and Obstinacy against the Lords Forewarnings by his Prophets the reason of which is given 2 Chron. 36.15 and in that lies the Emphasis and force of all for he had compassion on his People and Dwelling Place that Place on which they had no pity but fill'd and defil'd it with Strangers and Babylonians came into the Bed of Love with them being all lovely and gay as Ezekiel says Ezek. 23.14 15. to 17. Nay they polluted it with the blood of the best Prophets Isaiah is sawn in sunder Zachariah stoned Jeremiah imprisoned c. Jer. 37.15 the Kings and High Priests consenting and so drove God out of his own House by setting up their Posts by his Ezek. 43.7 8 9. so they were drove all as Eli's Sons before from the Altar it cast off the House and City dismantled and and burnt up So Wrath without healing comes by the Caldees in three or four gradual Captivities to fulfil Jeremiah's Word that so the Land might enjoy her Sabbaths Liv. 26.34 which while they lived in it they never did Jer. 25.9.29.10 11. They gave God no rest nor his Prophets so the Land should rest without them who were a Curse and Burthen to it and to God a Provocation and why should he defend them or it being offended by them and the name of a Bethel only put on a Bethaven for that titular Sanctimony without real Sanctity is odious to God looses its end is simulata Sanctitas that is duplex Iniquitas 3. For that distress that befell them by that Little Horn of Antiochus and his Armies often toucht in the Prophesies of Daniel Dan. 7.19.25 ch 9.27 ch 8.9 10 12 23 24 25. so ch 11.31 four or five times at least I only say though the Prophesies are dark yet by the Characters decyphered in them this may be answered God for a few years 6 years three monthes 18 days gave him power for wise and holy ends newly hinted to forrage Judaea and scatter the holy People to prophane the Temple of Zerubbabel and prohibit the Sacrifices tread the Truth to the ground and prosper a while till Gods Decrees were fulfilled the Punishment of Iniquities mentioned in the latter three Prophets especially Malachi was fill'd up and his own time of Tyranny expired and then as the Histories Josephus Dr. Willet Dr. Mayer and Huit of those times tell us the Lord raised the Asmonians to give him many defeats in Fight and at last smote him by a Fall of his Chariot in the Persian Wars returning with torturing pains for which no help could be got so he came to his end Dan. 11. ult And if any incline to the parralleling of that with other Antichristian Tyrants I no way dislike that for a Quatenus ad omne valet consequentia since Dr. Mayer resembles that vile Person to others as Dan. 11.21 in 12 or 13 Heads at least and then concludes of him Mayor on Dan. 11. ult p. 582. That if Kings do as the Pope contrary to their Office and change Gods Laws prophane his Temple abuse their Power to Rapine and Cruelty against the Servants and House of God let them take themselves with Antiochus threatned with the same miserable end 4. I yield the like of the Roman Papal force This and all the Violences of Antiochus and ten more such will nor reach the measures of Rage and Fury though they are types that for 1200 years the Papal Tyrannies have long exercised on Christians and their Assemblies for how many in all Ages since he sat in that Chair of Pestilence has he murdered at it were for God's sake in Italy Bohemia Spain France Piedmont in Ireland Low-Countries and England too by Inquisitions Interims Impositions Laws Cannons c. It is both impossible and incredible to recount and what wrongs his armed Butchers have done to Assemblies and Places of holy Worship Histories report and tender eyes weep to read Lactantius 1300 years ago has a sad Prophesy of this cruelty says he Lactant. li. ult ch 11. p. 753. An Enemy to God and all Mankind Is justos Deo deditos 42 mensibus persequetur se coli jubebit qui non adoraverit exquisitis cruciatibus morietur Tunc Christus descender in Judicium condet sanctam Civitatem erit justrorum regnum 1000 Annis Rex Impius surget sct ultimis diebus Dec generi hominum Inimicus c. An impious King will arise and all that adore him not he 'l cruciate with exquisite torments to death two parts he will cut off a 3d. fled into Deserts he will pursue with an Host and beset the Mount fled to so they shall auxilium implorare Dei i. e. implore divine help and he will hear them and sent them a Saviour c. In Calabria an Assembly being of the thousands met an Army being sent beset the Place set Fire to it and slew all that sought to escape others were fetcht out as Sheep by the Butchers with the muffler and knife all gore in the Teeth and made to kneel down to cut their Throats so left weltring c. By which taste we see the cruelty of that Mother-Church
London such a Plague was once saith Speed pag. 694. that above 50000 were in one Parish of the Cistertians or Charterhouse buried A. D. 1350 In Edward the Third's time What has been since in 65 or may be yet in 84 or 5 God knows Our green Winters are ominous moe People moe Sins Id. ibid If this shut the shop door no musick now but doleful Knels no wares but Corpses Mansions turn Pesthouses Church-yards are the Congregations Death serves Executions No Spot is seen at night to morrow God's Tokens are on us or a Carbuncle burns our Flesh The Servant goes away with thy Gold thy Life is at the mercy of a Nurse This is Horror and Terrour round about and few attend the Hearse And for the Sword says he to Lond-still Pag. 220. Julian because the Christians of Alexandria would not turn Heathen to worship Mithra wounded ston'd strangled and slew nay crucified their near Friends So did Hunricus the Goth in all places banisht 50000 in Orders So ye that have searcht out others with severity shall then be pluckt out of Corners in rigor to bend the Knee with one Leg or Arm cut off your Veins must weep as well as your Eyes your Sides be watred as well as your Cheeks your Sins shall shut up all the City Conduits and Veins save the Liver Conduit Your Polititians and Lecturers cannot help you You must meet at the Congregation of the Shambles your Breasts try the poynts of Spears your Heads the weight of Pole-Axes c. Oh what a Crimson City Crimson Sins make And for Estates your Properties are lost now is the Enemy Landlord Purchases Leases all 's lost to the Sword your blouding of Widows skining Orphans will with the Indigent poor and a suffering Gospel cry Vengeance against you and their Sins have made them Bankrupts p. 223. 4. For Papal Idolatry yet hear Jobs fourth Messenger You must Permute a God Conscience must be riffled and in fetters no conquest else You must be slave in Principles pour out Drink-offerings to other Sacrifices follow the Mistress of Witchcrafts learn Doctrines of Devils Corruption in Doctrine soon follows outward slavery Thus for outward respects men of no conscience shipwrack Faith and either with Nichodemus come to Christ by night or if with Daniel they open the Windows publickly to the Lyons Peter scarce is a Saint in the Judgement-Hall but for fear of a Damsel forswears his Master So far he Pag. 224. Thus I glide on into the second Effect of the Lords Recess from us and this City i.e. in Religious Respects Here I recur to the Threneticks of Jeremiah and without much diving we 'll there find matter de novo If God depart wo to us in five respects 1. Now is the City solitary her tone that of the Doves Lam. 1.1 Some tell of Jeremiahs Cave nigh to Acheldama Adrichom where in sight of that City he made this her Epitaph warbling out the doleful Dittay Oi na lanu chi chattanu Woe unto us that we have sinned Wo sure Lam. 5.16 For if God rests not on Zion in the Seat of his Worship he may try and visit the City Two removes he had at the House and so to the East-Gate his stay is not long tho he take the City in 's way for a third step Eze. 9.3.10.4 18 19 11.23 A fourth to the Mount top on the East side to stand and look back and drop a tear as the Lord did after Luke 19.42 43. But thence a fifth step quite away At each step off Judgement comes on says Mr. William Greenhil in loc Wo upon wo. Citys have their Achme's and Climaxes to rise to and after a many years that God numbers at the filling up of the Ephah their fatal Periods so had Jerusalem Capernaum Antioch Rome so Hippo Heydelberge c. And how long has Lo. been in the Declination Who can say Now its fatal time is come Seneca the Moralist observes it of one a second Author of another City in France Vna dies interest inter magnam nullam A City at Morn at night in Vrne As Trap in Lam. How sits this City late so Populous Thus solitary Like a Widow thus Empress of Nations Queen of Provinces She was but now she Tributary is But as the glory comes so it goes with God that lies in the power and kernel of Pyety which being lost as oft it is by divisions and formalities God has no long delight in the Shell Tent or outer Court and Shadow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apoc. 11.2 This is cast out so John is bid as no place fit for God but the heathen to tread in No Piety no Priviledge nor Presence 2. God leaves his own institutions and not without a sign of Wrath. If the sin of one good Woman Miriam Numb 12.9 caused the Cloud to depart and out breaks on her the Leprosie What may the provocation of all the Lords Sons and Daughters procure us Was the Temple of old or Shiloe dear or any other place ever so priviledged that God might not be provok't away Let all that now glory in our new built fair adorned Oratories a late purged by Fire fear to reincense Roman Flames for though it is pity Mass should be said in them yet if no Spirit be found in them how can we hope but that Roman Eagles Mat. 24.28 will soon prey on our Carcases that so gyres and hovers over us And it is observed Eagles use to hover about Armies joyning Battle our love to the small Fibres of Popery in Rites Shadows Festivals gives Rome hopes we begin to look that way If sacred things by us profaned cause God's Remove sure Execrations and Curses one against another for Circumstances will never invite his stay though we say Prayers in Latin If God go he is soon hid from us and then long may he be sought ere we find him again yea from Sea to Sea to seek the Word Amos 8.12 So Moab went to his Sanctuary but preveailed not Isai 16.12 So did the Priests but Vision failed no Answer from God Mic. 3.7 Nor is any covert from that Storm sacred Orders excuse not if the Persons be unsuitable to them If Men petition for Sanctuary as the Priests to Titus Vespatian his Answer is ours Viz. It is meet the Priests should suffer in and with the Temple so both were burnt Such Priviledges are no shelter but make death more terible God's Recesses are most seen afterwards 't is beter to retain him while present than as one says by the sad Rivers of Babel to mourn in remembrance of once sweet enjoy'd Zion 4. Lights go out with him and People being left in the Dark can foresee no stumbling block before them but dash uuawares on them Or as Ships at Sea in a storm dash or divide that is a sad Comnplaint the Anger of the Lord has divided them he regards them no more Lam. 4.16 No sadder sign of wrath than to be resigned up to
to buy above 12 d. purchase or to keep a Book that touches too near on Time-truths and Duties also no small hinderance it had by those that deal in Books and Eye-profit in the World more than propagating the Word Printers being also under hazard at home if found to impress unentred or nameless Pieces and such are still suspected and soon supprest the Tyde running back powerfully against all Books that look to our shore with light Then our Domestick Civil Hurreys and strong Hurricanoes give little time sedately to read and mind Differences and some do so strain and tenter Accusations that Schisme is Heresy Separation Sedition if not Truth Treason Religion Rebellion So that if we decline a little longer it may come to ervive in our Age three new Sects or Hereticks 1. The Nicodemites that did all by Night or stealth in Christ's Service 2. The Libellatici that purchased their Peace of the Heathens as some at Dr. Co. for money And at last the Traditores that in Dioclesian's days gave up by fear what parts of Scripture they had in their hands to be burnt by Persecutors all which God forbid to be in our day Now against these and more the like sad Difficulties preponderated by the former Motives I resolved to throw Pen and Paper after the Personal Wrack in Christ's Storm and rather than live idle and useless cast my Lines after John Frith's in hopes that Leviathan or the Panther's maw shall as the Codfish in Cambridge did his Book bring it up to Light Post Naufragium Tabula Niteris incassum Christi submergere Navem Fluctuat at nunquam mergitur illa ratis So Pius II. wrote to the Turk Angl. Thou seeks but all in vain to sink Christ's Ship 'T may toss but is not lost under the Deep And assured I am by him that has the Keys of Hell and Death that Christ's Witnesses shall live again and that to the terrour of all that see them far more of those that slew them and though in their Grave Cloaths they seem a terrour to their best Friends yet the Earth quake is an adjunct and sign of their Resurrection that will affright their worst Enemies For the Book it self I call it an Apology calculated for all Protestants in general that do pretend to be right Worshippers in Spirit and Truth but if any slight it or need not to it this fits your Meridian best till others come to feel that heat you do wherein the Suns Elevation is to that degree that you are scorcht and look't on as black for you is this Apology made I direct it not to the High and Great that would be deemed Presumption in one so low nor to the Regent Imperial Clergy their Autocratorical Majesties would at best but lay it by as Caesar that Note that did so much concern his Life and not read it Nor do I send it abroad being not able had I Language and Opportunity to bear that Charge nor will my Acquaintance reach For you it is designed to you dedicated if you are as fearful of your Purse as some a late of their Pulpits the Author can but loose his Cost and Pains but it is pity you should slight your Friends Apology far more if in the Cause of God Temptations that hence flow on poor Brethren are ill considered as some are judged too daring and ventrous others dare not do what is Duty to God and their Brethren but desert them in the common Cause of God as Herds do by the Hunted In pace Leones in prelio Cervi Lord send us nobler Spirits If the Scope be askt the two Verses at the front do well import it viz. That God still defends his Worship in all Ages in a way of ordinary Providence or that failing by some efforts of extraordinary power what Proofs I give and Instances of it I leave with the whole aim and manner of pleading to the Judicious If my reason be weak and reading short or parts too shallow for the Design I own all only the End is good and worthy the best of Persons and Parts to defend I only glory in the Breast-plate or Girdle of Sincerity all dare plead the Cause of beautiful Truths few plead for biting Truths All are settled in Doctrines hundreds of years old few there be that are establisht in present Truths as in 2 Pet. 1.12 Saints scattered ought to be If any deem the Plea too tart Passages too near and close I say none are named save those whose Case requires and that not injuriously or irreverently men that make themselves notorious by their astions now must not fret that their Names are left in record as infamous hereafter Salt was required in God's old Law which is penetrant and sharp yet savoury when Honey is forbid Sweets are less profitable than Bitters If the season suit not to the Fancies of some or Fears of others I cannot help that all such may let it alone 't is obtruded on none nor can a Paper of a single Author or Book alarm any save those that are guilty and such God 's Hornets will sting anon with fear though I were silent Did Jeremy forbear to write Or Baruch to publish God's Word though in time of wrath and of his own Confinement Jerem. 33.2.33.1 Or after burning the rowle by him that was most concernd did he not publish a second edition with addition Jer. 36. last though to Baruch's hazard and God brought them both off safe in time of sin and wrath is the most need of a faithfull witness that sin being lamented wrath may be prevented and that City now was besieged Jeremiah confin'd from God's house and it nigh a taking and shutting up all fatall circumstances actjunct with ruines on City and Temple shortly by Babylon and was it or is it a time now to be dumb Truely I fear by all the bad signes boding evill on any people before us sad events lye at the door by the flagitions crimes of men the fearfull curses of God due for them By the Course of the Orbes above and the Counsels of men below by the late Comets-portents and the consent of wilful men accessory to their own ruine that they may effect others by all the predictions of God and presumptions of ill men by the Conspiracies of Hell and the Confusions of Earth by the Deaths Divisions Declensions of the best and distractions of all the rest Sacred or Civil all things concenter to a tremendous Catastrophe So that if Bp. Ush Prophesy of the In-let of Popery or Dr. Th. T. on one hand may be heeded or the dying words of a pious Reverend Dr. Dr. S.W. on the other hand we may as he thrice cry out Oh dreadful Times Yet the same Dr. a little after crys out again thrice O glorious Times to the joy of all about him And so the Scene-Tragical at the Entrance proves a Joy Comedy in the Exit If any say This Author writes sceptically in pleading for
2dly When Persons are prohibited stopt in going to or passing from Worship Prophets and men of God prescribed and interdicted from such and such Places Cities and Towns corporate not to be live or come to stay there on Peril c. Or Assemblies terrified secluded and scattered or limited to four or five only that so no Seals or Censures may be The first sort of Injury is instanced in that Trencher-Chaplain Amaziah the Priest of Bethel his first accusing the Prophet Amos for Words Amos 7.8 9. Amos has said when the Lord said it he only reported the words I will arise against the House not Person of Jeroboam with the Sword making it Amos's not God's rising up this was the Conspiracy pretended Vers 10. Court-Pride and Priests Envy for Idols had swelled them so big that the Land could not because they would not bear a poor Herdsman words perhaps the King was wiser than to act on so slight a Pickthank's accusation we read not that he persecuted him yet thus his Ears are abused if Malice in a Priest may be heard a Prophet is soon made guilty and then who is innocent But the design is Ejectment his exile Amos must flee go into Judah Vers 12. Yes that is fittest for Noncon's Bethel's the King's Chapel there I am Chaplin in Ordinary there come no such poor rude illiterate Rusticks under-graduates you drain our Hearers but refuse to conform to Royal Placits So Elijahs called Troubler Jeremiah is Seditious Christ against Caesar Paul Factious A Trumpt of Rebellion Luther Tuba Rebellions Calvin a Devil Protestants and Contra-remonstrates and Anabaptists Antimagistratical c. All prohibited the places once possest As Rolock said Go to this or any place but not to Edenburough then Wo said he to Edenburough The fruit of such Inhibitions to the Amaziah's of our days may easily be fore-seen in Amos 7. Vers 16 17. True Prophecy says one Dum devitatur Impletur It s insolent in solem meire to Piss at the Sun More was added by Jeremiah of those threats burnt not detracted Jer. 36. ult Amos some say by Amaziah first was scourged but after wounded by Vzziah yet in the ishue as 't is Folly in any to extinguish that light that shews how to eviâ—e the Pit so 't is fatal to abuse Embassadours especially if of Peace and from God as is seen by Hanun's hard usage of David's Messengers of Love and what it did cost see 2 Sam. 10.14.19 what yet it has cost see Mat. 23.7 Jerusalem or London what is yet behind the Curtain of a Plot may be Lamentation Mourning and Wo Ezek. 2.10 or that flying Roul Zach. 5.2 How fully and aptly the Scripture instances the Injuries of this sort and what a malignant Influence it has to the debasement of the true advancement of false Worship and also what a connexion and influx it often obtains in Seccular Affairs half an Eye may see In Micah 2.6 A prohibition of Prophecy is given out by them that had power Vers 1. in their Hands to prevent taking shame and Light will shame Guilt Vers 7. The Query is asked Is the Spirit of the Lord straightned i.e. Shall man dare or is it possible to streighten God's Spirit Can the blow of a Hammer the heat of Fire the force of the Wind the course of the Tide or the light of the Sun be prevented And can the Spirit of the Lord that blows where it lists be shut up Are these God's doings No they are mens To cause Vision fail is to make People perish Prov. 29.18 In old Ely's day the Word was precious Why no open Vision as 1 Sam. 3.1 or rare seldom heard Ely too old could not see Samuel too young as yet Ely's two Sons scandalous and would not So what follows Ark and Shilo both lost That prohibition in Isa 30.10 11. do but see what a breach it brought in the Wall of their outward safty and civil defence This see fully 2 Chron. 15.3 when long without true God Priest or Law Now they have what some desire What 's next Why now there is no Peace in the State Vers 5. God vexes them with all Adversity if Priests neglect duty By Prophets God used of Old to repair his Altar and revive his Work so did Elijah a Restorer so Samuel here so Haggai and Zachariah did set up an Altar though without sub dio so 't is Ezra 3.3 though fear was upon them at that time and the Temple Vers 6. was not yet founded Now Worship suffers when Preachers suffer are cited and spited abused and abandoned exauctorate and exiled prescribed and prohibited deprived of Office and divested of Bread Jeroboam sent going all the Priests and Levites save Compliers in all the ten Tribes as 2 Chron. 11.14 15. Thus Rehoboam is strengthened by it things in Judah now went well Jeroboam is weakened now Judgment was towards Isarel Hos 5.1 Because they were Snares on Mispeh Nets on Tabor to them that kept to God's pure Worship at Jerusalem His Rites were as Snares and Nets says one Ritibus suis sicut retibus laqueis Some say the Priests turned Robbers as High-way-men went Snips for the Spoils as Chron. 6.8 9. And Gilead the good Levites being cast out was as a Pin-fold or a common slaughter-Slaughter-house as once London was to Bonner that common Cut-throat to Gods Sheep there is no escaping them and so Teachers turned Tyrants Pastors Impostors and that over their Brethren yea in Gilead that was as now London is a City of refuge to all and to the Priests Jeroboam askt the Jewish Doctors the meaning of it who answered that at Pascha and Penticost the People were way-laid going to the Temple by the Priests spoiled or slain usually them two as Twins are conate imposing impious Priesthood with coercive Superstition and a deposed suffering Ministry and all by Princes default and so are born two Twins more Idolatry and Slavery the rupture of all Bounds Hos 5.10 11. all Banks of Defence Law or Cash so in comes a Tide of beggary and misery from God and men King John said Postquam me ac mea regna proh dolor Romae subjeci Ecclesiae nulla mihi prospera omnia adversa venerunt After I subjected to the Roman Church all went ill c. Now was the Barons Wars loose Gospel Law goes too God knows which ever goes first pulls the other after it the City of God lost that is Zion now Jerusalem soon follows bounds being removed by Princes Religionis Regionis simul officij beneficij If Gods Promises fail to be preached a straw for mans Priviledge the Glory being gone our strength falls into the Enemies hands If Worship is injured the Crown and best Jewel in it is fallen now Wo Lamen 5.16 that we have sinned Thirdly Worship may be injured by practises oppuguant to or distructive thereof that is either by forgoing of Laws or Precepts or forming Plots and Projects against it and the
in their Duty but the opener that Gospel-worship is the better though in Perils To cure Ministers Fears the Story of one Mr. James Faber of Piccardy is very pregnant who being fled for the Gospel at a Dinner with some of note Scripture fulfilled p. 460. weeping suddenly gives this reason That his sin was great that being 100 years old and had so long preacht the Gospel to others who had suffered for it he as an unconstant Doctor should now flee and shed many tears a little after said the Master called for him made his Will instantly and shortly laid him asleep and died Now to end this head let us only note the care that in particular God shows of his Worship partly securing his Witnesses partly the Assemblies For the 1st as Scriptures give Instances in Jeremy so in Paul Acts 19. 30. Here Paul devoted a Martyr is by Disciples preserved from the Theatre I note they using Gods means did well for Paul's safety 't is laudable in the Godly to be cary of the Lifes and Uses of God's Witnesses and so he escap't also Aretas his fury in Damascus by a Basket they letting him down over the Wall as 2 Cor. 11.33 There his Conversion and Ministry began there Acts. 9.20 23. the Jews lay wait to kill him to escape the Assassinates and Souldiers he flees All flight is not sinful and God had work for him abroad they were his Rescuers A Senator of Hala gave Brentius advice that some conspired his death and bids Fuge fuge Brenti cito c. O Brent flee go quickly So an Angel in an Old Man's Form came to an Inn where several were in Company and gave notice of the Emperours Order at hand to secure one Gryneus he is no sooner gone but in comes the Officer but found him not So Mr. T. H. of N. E. coming down as the Officer came up askt him if Mr. H. be above said H. yes he was but now in that Room so God blinds Malice often and hides his own in the hollow of his hand as 't is Isai 51.16 and so will it ever be with us as with our Lord till our hour appointed of God as Christ was still preserved so are his Witnesses till as Lambs they be fit for the Altar 2dly Nor less care shows the Lord in a Covert spread on Assemblies 'T is next to a wonder in nature that Lions Wolves Foxes are so few and yet bring forth Cubbs by 4 or 5 at once but Sheep that breed only at Spring and seldom above one or two are increast dayly by Flocks though cut off for Sacrifices often and Food dayly quartered fleeced flayed on every Shambles And yet 't is a far greater wonder that Wolvish Men and their Puppets more ten to one especially on persecuting days than be the Saints should not long ago have utterly extirpated all the Seed of God but still to increase the wonder the Race of Gods Seekers the Affections and Assemblies both are dayly increased even in Times and Places of the greatest Rage and Voracity What higher reason is to be rendred than the sure Promise of God made to Assemblies Isaiah 4.4 5. on Mount Zion Read it and note 1. The subject of the Promise to whom made 2. The Circumstances how it is performed 1. I confess it is not made to all as some need not to Gods covert so others as little care for it having Law and Force on their Part all Power Civil Military Ministerial backing and beating in all their Placits tam verbis quam verberibus with Temples railed Altars and Ornatures in grandeur and state alamode but those to whom this is promised JADIACH 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. cum abluerit sordes are the Purged when v. 4. The Filth of the Daughter of Zion is purged eth zoath the Ordure in the Hebr. i.e. when the Excrements of man's wanton brain is washt out of her holy Garments and her Dung is swept out of God's House and when Fire has burnt out the spots that all the waters of Affliction could not rinse or rubb out then it follows he will defend every dwelling-Place that very House of Obed-Edom shall be blest and preserved as his was that when the City was sadly ruined by Earthquake that part where a poor man was praying was preserved and every calling together or Meeting as the word Miqraejah from a root that signifies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 to call 2 to meet together 3 to Preach 4 or to read This is the end or design of the two first On the holy Meetings erit Protectio a Covert or Defence shall be Kabod-Chuppah such a Covert or Canopy as the Jews had by which two that were espoused were covered in Honour Quo Sponsus cum Sponsu abdebat and then came out to view to note Assemblies are the Lords espousing Times 2. The Manner or Circumstances how this is done Bara he 'll create it i. e ex nihilo without any assistance humane or perexsisting matter yea maugre all resistance he 'll create a defence and it is done by Judgment and a Spirit of burning the Nature of fire being to sever dross from and so make pure metal this is of a word that Taberah comes from it is a Spirit that is spiritual burning or of God's Spirit kindling the fire of true zeal to consume all Dross and Tinn in holy Duties the mode of this Shelter is exprest by allusion to that Pillar of Cloud that from Aegypt to Canaan bespread bedewed and guided yea guarded them through the Desert to that Rest which was 1. A Blind to Aegypt that pursued them close 2. A Flame for Light and leading in the Dark 3. A terrour to Lions and Beasts that fear Fire 4. A Baptisme or cool misty Cloud by day to cover from heat as v. 6. of the Sun 5. A sheltering Cloud to secure in Perils and I presume not without Mannah and Water too One illustrates it by that in Zach. 2.5 called a Wall of Fire and I add ch 9.8 wher 's it is stiled a Camp about God's House of which in the Use In Deut. 33.12 note of Benjamin this was his Blessing The Beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him i.e. Judah and Benjamin shall divide the Glory and Temple by a Righ-line betwixt them Weemes H. Ainsworth and others as some note the Line divided the Temple Sanctum Sanctorum and the very two Cherubs where the Shechina or Divine Majesty and Oracle sate and spake and he shall dwell betwixt his Shoulders col hajom all the day Now all I urge hence is to prove that God is the Safety of Assemblies in worship of his Name and though Objections may be made and answered in the Sequel yet if God be as good as his word as oft he is better and if yet any remain of Zions Daughters he is the same defence yesterday to day and for ever as Heb. 13.8 Modern Instances will
he return'd to Midian for 's Fees of Divination after as Chazcuni says and with them perish'd What Preferment got Haman by slander of Israel for the Law of God virtus pro vitio sepe habetur Virtue often is deem'd a Vice as Ester 3.8 a little Honour at Court and Mordecai's Gibbet Nec Lex est justior ulla Quam necis artifices arte perire suâ It s just to reap ruine by our own Arts. What a Wound got Cambyses that letted the Temple-work and Worship by sown Sword mounting on Horse-back which falling out pierc'd his Thigh and by that he died In a word what Peace got Judas that in that Garden which he knew was the place of Christ's retirement for Prayer and then he was at Prayer there assaults him and after a convincing Glimpse of divine awful Majesty stunning and smiting him and them back for all their Staves and Swords Yet him they seize now his hour being come scatter the poor Disciples and silence 12 at once the Master and all the Eleven But what Peace had he after it that as Zimri betray'd slew his Master so was he guide to them that took Jesus Acts 1.16 Sure he died a double Death as least For 1. This Doeg-like Informer goes to the chief Priests his participes Criminis Fellow Criminals yet got of 'em but cold Comfort unto his Horrour the Silver melts in 's Conscience and all they say is what 's that to us see thou to t blowing up the Sparks of Hell in 's Breast that scalded his Soul more than the Silver and so being dead in sinful Induration choak'd by that Sop and Threat that Christ gave and as half dead before becomes his own Hangman so the Evangelists agree but in Acts 1.18 he burst 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as with a Crack And now his Bowels burst out that had so few to Christ and others his Brethren and Betters Trap in locum Parallels him by one Foxford the Bishop of London's Pinfold that * Mr. Fox's Act. Mon. pag. 1055. He was troubler of all London Diocess in H. 8. days Chancellor that died as Arrius his Guts all burst out And also cites Papias in Eusebus that said the Rope broke and a Cart run over him but praecipitatus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suspensus He was say some hoist up and out of the Air thrown head-long and so burst by the Devil But others say as Augustine and Dr. Mayer that having with violence cast himself in the Haltar he fell and burst and just that the knot of that Cord should strangle the Throat that betray'd his Master He fell said another from an Apostle to Apostate and so died void of Bowels to all Piety like one of Rome Bellarmin de arte moriendi that had nothing to say to God for himself save for his Wife Ego enim ad Inferos propero c. I hasten to Hell which is called his own place and Hell and Gibbet groan for such Other Examples since have occurred often what Subject more copiously treated in all Ancient Historians Eusebius Tertullian's Lives of the Fathers Melcher Adam Magdeburg Cent. and in many late Authors since Mr. Fox Joh. Knox Mr. Clark c. So that 't were needless to recite them here having along in this Head interlin'd them I 'le only cite the last Herod that like the other of that name vexed the Church killed James Acts 12.1 2. put Peter in Prison design'd for Martyr but being dazled with popular applause arrogates by adulation a sort of Deity to himself and to confute his Folly not long after being smitten of an Angel vers 23. he 's eaten of Lice and Worms and so dies And so did his Grandfather before as also Maximinus after that sought to abolish the name of Christ and Religion So did Diagoras that Atheist denier of a Diety So Philip the 2d of Spain and Charles the 9th of France that died in Gore of all which 't may be said as of Arrius it was Precationis opus non morbi that work was done by Prayer not Sickness 2dly For People and Cities tho God's Patience has staid long yet has forbearance been no acquitting the Guilty his Memory never slips Payment Vengeance comes on a leaden Foot but after a hundred two or three hundred years as in Eli's case pays the old Threat quite forgot with Interest and double Encrease and of the time or measure no account can be given at all save the Will and Arbitrary Pleasure of God perhaps that year some are pay'd off others in their Successors as Jeroboam in Baasha Eli in 's House as the second Command says Exod. 20.5 Visiting the Sins of Parents on Children to the third or fourth Age as the now disperst Jewish-Race find that continue in the same unbelief So doleful a Curse it is to succeed unto a bloody Idolatrous Throne or curst Race Job 21.19 Let us trace Antiquity and read in the first and most sacred Histories what became of Violaters and Violenters of sacred Men and Things Cain Enoch Noah Abraham a Prophet Gen. 20.7 after Lot in Sodom Gen. 19. who is sav'd and that City burnt at once But I pass to Egypt what Broad-sides gave the Lord to it for suppressing and stopping God's Service What became of 'em why in 30 or 40 days says Vsher in his Annales 1. Vol. those ten Plagues nigh sunk 'em with Pharaoh But Amalek is stiled first of the Nations Exod. 17.14 Numb 24.20 i.e. that assaulted God's Israel H. Ainsworth in locum in the way to his Worship and what came on 't 1. God proclaims a truceless War with ' em Exod. 17. ult gives it a recital Deut. 25.19 1 Sam. 15.1 after Saul was bid execute it and did it in part David more fully Simeon yet more in the days of Hezekiah 1 Chron. 4.42 43. and so in Esther So that what is to do yet takes place in Christ's Kingdom when he sits on that Throne the Father's Hand was laid on to defend Nor were the Jews excused after the rejection of Christ and the Gospel the Romans came and laid waste the Nation And what 's become of the seven Asian Churches and now the Greeks all under the Curse intailed on this Crime Nor fared the Britains better as Gildas that mournful Prophet said and felt but his Injuries were paid dear for soon after As our Speed pag. 190. and others observe who says those times lasted 40 years So he cites Gildas words too long to insert here After pag. 192. Vortigern sent for the Saxons that instead of hoped Friends proved try'd Enemies for 300 years through the Tyranny of that Vortigern They did all contrary to themselves that Medicine of the truest Physician to them was needless that 's the Salvation of the Gospel Nor was the Lord's Flock or their Sheepherds better They swell'd with Pride and griping Envy yea Contempt was poured on their Princes nay as mad Horses they ran with the Bit and their
Wonders and answer them by terrible things or in the secret place of Thunder Psal 81.7 65.5 Rev. 8.5 Then let their Enemies prevail But observe further whence he got an Ear vers 6. out of his Temple that was the Sanctuary he fled to his last Anchora sacra tho yet no Temple was and thence he got help and the end of all was as Moses to draw him out of many Waters ver 16. 8. One more fulminating Effort of Vengeance is reported on the Assyrian-siege of City and Sanctuary Isa 29.6 Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of Hosts with Thunder Earthquake Flame and Tempest c. i.e. God will defend his Altar from Asher by his Angels causing a Blast Tempest Clouds and all Elements to joyn Battel and salley out on the Besiegers and so send them home with a vengeance By all these it 's plain God did miraculously defend his Altar of Old and New Testament is not without some Instances of Thunder in witness to his Name and Service One is that glorious Voice answering Christ's Prayer in John Joh. 12.28 29. a little ere Christ's Passion when God gave so loud an Instance of his Love and Audience to Christ regard to his own Name and the Evincement of our Lord 's Mission and so loud and audible that it 's call'd Thunder or an Angel that spake God will give loud Answers to his at times that shall convince Nor is the last Prophesy void of Evidence to so great a Truth for the Gospel-times have found greatest Opposition to its Truths and Worship so that Prudence has not in a successive way been wanting thus to exemplify the Promise Apoc. 4.5 6.1 5.8 11.19 14.2 19.6 six times in the Revelations is Thunder foretold all which is not yet totally fulfill'd and tho Thunder in that Prophesy may intend a mystical or metaphorical Expression of God's terrible Judgments yet Experience in after-Ages shows it was verified in the letter also As Fr. Mirand said Non ignota cano In Marcus Aurelius's days Anno 181. a Battel was fought with the Quads and Northern Nations and at last Victory gain'd at the Prayers of Christians desired by him thus recorded Dio in vitâ M. Anto. Philos. Christiani flexis genibus Deum obsecrantes audivit c. subitò contra omnium spem largissimis imbribus profusis exercitus sitim orando fedatam Hostes fulminibus crebris caelitus prolapsis ignibus effugatos obtinent i.e. As the Ancients say Apollinar Tertul. Apol. Iren. the Christians by Prayer obtain'd great Showers to allay their Thirst and Fire with Thunder that so scorcht the Enemy that they were glad to let out Blood to quench it Euseb pag. 110. cap. 5. So the Romans by Prayer were both fed and sav'd What a two-edg'd Sword is Prayer and hence it was as after we may read that the Emperour to the Senate wrote for the Christians Liberty The like is recorded of two brave Romans duo fulmina Belli as the Poet Lucan So Ecclesiastical History tells us of Theodosius against Eugenius Euseb p. 261. that thus pray'd Tu nosti Omnipotens c. Lord thou knowest that in Christ's Name I took up this War in revenging thee of thine Enemies if not revenge it on me so reach out thy hand lest they say where is your God on which they fell to the Slaughter Agmina Hostium perrumpunt kill'd heaps of the Enemy incredible 't is that after that Prayer Ventus ita vehemens exortus est ut tela hostium retorqueret so vehement a Wind rose that it repell'd the Darts of the Enemies back on themselves they from Heaven Divinitus repulsis being beat and defeated Eugenius is took so ends his Life and Fight Other Examples of this with other kinds of Judgments in a miraculous way might be given to show the miraculous Defence that God has made for the Lovers of his Name but being so large in this I will not further add So this suffices to show the way and manner of God's wise and wonderful Defence of his Worshippers and therein of his Truth Name and Cause the Reasons briefly are as follow Now that it is so and how is plain why so is the thing next to be proved by five Arguments 1. From the glorious Dispensation of the Law which tho in Glory inferiour to the Gospel yet had its Defence then from that I argue from the less to the greater It was then so it must be now much more God is the same changes not in care and defence of his own Appointments of Matter or Forms some Change 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 7.12 12.27 may be Rei non Dei mutatio not of God's nature and that Change he makes is ever for better to a greater Glory 2 Cor. 3.9 10. but in his Essence Attributes moral Precepts Promises Protection of his People he 's immutable Mal. 3.6 and hence are we not consumed and yet live as a burning Bush not spent after thousands of Years in Men's Furnace see the wonder and this is the reason form it briefly so If the legal and less glorious Dispensation had a typical Defence so much more has the Evangelical in the truth of it but true is the former so then is the latter The Assumption is argued from Experience of all Ages the Consequence bears on God's Unchangeableness The Proposition I prove by the Types of the Law which was to them Gospel vail'd as it is to us now revealed For after the Church grew from Domestick to National and God had adopted Israel in Egypt and by 's Arm brought them out to dwell alone Num. 23.9 under his Wing and had delivered Laws of three sorts to them 1. Moral in ten words perpetually to rule Life 2. Judicial to order the State 3. Ceremonial to direct in Worship that Church while it was National he did in each especially the last sort put certain Rites and Forms of his own Will upon the moving Tent and after on the fixt Temple by which this Truth was typed out and resembled I instance in that over the Tent a glorious Type of our Safety now during our long wandring with the Woman in the Wilderness yet under God's Care and Conduct mixt with much Darkness to which Isa 4 5 6. and other places allude Also in the Doors of the Temple after to be of Brass so strong and massy that twenty four Men could but open them and again in those Cherubs and Palms on the Door Curtains and Vails and also in the two Cherubims with Wings over the Ark and Mercy-seat Types of God's Protection by Angels over all true Ministry and holy Mysteries of the Gospel But I confine the Proof to that of the Horns of the Altars both that of Incense at the Vail that of Brass for the Sacrifice and that Ezek. 43.15 all had their Horns and about them a Crown so had the Shew-bread-Table denoting in all the divine Authority put on God's Service that
whom one gave a Ring thus insculpt Drink and Dye and not long after he did so Belshazzar is slain that same night Dan. 5.29 It 's said the King Esth 3.15 and Haman sate down to drink in a time of Sushan's Perplexity It is observable that Babel and Edom should both fall in their Cups Dr. Mayor on Dan. .5 p. 535. Hodie in Perside occiditur Julianus and one cites for the former as an Instance Zonaras that in Antioch a Judge saw by the Stars so plac't this Doom of Julian This day is he slain in Persia and that so fell out exactly And he cites the like of Michael Paleologus So did Knox of Qu. Ma. that day she dyed And for the other that is Edom Authors do cite it and concurr in it That as the Edomites gave an unbrotherly Cup to Jerusalem and on Gods Mount Obad. 16. drank to the Confusion of Zions Sons so he should drink to his own Woe and Abolition And so came it to pass for after the Sons of Judas had ended their Exploits Edom is utterly extinct as a Nation as all agree and Herod was the last in whom that Stock expired and though as it is Dan. 11.41 said the Edomite escaped so for a time the false-Christian-Brother may evite Persecution by prophane compliance till the Upright are refin'd yet will not that prevent the Wrath decreed So surely God pleads the Cause of his Zion executes the Vengeance fore-writ of his Temple and so defends his House Son Name Service and pure Worshippers So is the Grace promis't under the Law such is his Nature Power Goodness and Truth that his Promises depend upon the power of the Enemy also challenges it the Prayers of his own cry for it nay the Lord seeks for and prizes his own counts them as the Apple of his Eye Zac. 2.8 and all that devour them offend him Evil will befall them and Experience seals also to it Jer. 2.3 It was a Saying of that Pacifick King * So is King James called when a Fly got in his Eye Ar't not content to range in my Dominions but must assault my Eye So are not men content with all the World but they will be at the Pupils of God's Eye his Glory How can he but resent it most heavily One Objection remov'd we 'l come to Uses Will this hold ever true in 1 Sam. 4. Was not God's Ark took in fight and tost like Noah's on the floods from City to City seven Months Were not some Youths slain in the Temple Possibly flying to the Altans Horns at the first taking of the City and Sanctuary 1 Chron. 36.17 And what havock made the Romans by Pompey Titus Vespatian Adrian as our Lord Prophesied Mat. 24.15 successively on them both And afore that Antiochus Epiphanius of which History is full and Heb. 11. recites their Sufferings And that Antichrist is said to sit in the Temple 2 Thes 2.4 and tread it down wear out the Saints change Laws blaspheme his Name Tabernacle and Saints Rev. 13.15.17 that none must buy or sell that bow not To all which I answer two ways 1. By way of Concession 2. By way of Conclusion In both what is to be granted and with what Limits is considered 1. I freely grant in general that no external Form of Worship no Profession or sort of Professors distinguisht by what Name soever can nor ever could by any Promise of Gods or Practice of theirs expect Immunity from the Cross of our Lord nay the purest and best share in it most though some arrogate prelation over others of the same Christian Name or Protestant Profession while the Wheel of Providence favours them yet let him that Presides give the Wheel but half a turn and they also decline to that misery into which they threw others and perhaps insulted to see them put under All Ranks must suffer the worst of Christians may for their Hypocrisy yea the best must for the tryal of Sincerity All that will live godly in Christ Jesus or as the Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 3.12 qui probe bene Deum colit that well and rightly worship God i. e. honesty and according to his Will they must expect the genius of the Gospel that is Persecution to dog them and pass to their Kingdom through many Tribulations Acts 14 22. I also yield that wicked Men by the Wisdom of God are suffered to rise high and go far in a wicked way for reasons known best to God mostly hid from us and tho he is used and concerned to be still most tender of his Sanctuary and the Sacra Jura Regalia the Royal Sacred Rights of his Throne Spouse and Altar yet he sees good to expose them all As 1. His Name to be degraded Blasphemed 2. His Throne to be Invaded and Usurped 3. His Son and Spirit to be dispited too 4. His Truth to fail and fall in the Streets 5. His Church to be forc't and scattered 6. His Worship and Altar to be left cast off 7. His Prophets to be Exiled Witnesses killed 8. And all his People to be captivated nay the best to go first off as Jeremiah's Figs Jer. 24.5 or if more can be reckoned all that was or is desirable to the best Ezek. 7.20 the pleasantest things may be for sometime exposed Why 1. To put forth an Act of Grace and Power as with both hands to lift us up again Moses said Vnderneath were everlasting Arms both Deut. 33.27 And the Spouse said His Left Hand is under my Head and his Right hand embraceth me Cant. 2.6 Surely to be held up and preserved when our best Cordials below fail is an Act of Power To be trod in the Mire and yet have God's bared Arm to lye under is a sweet stay and will be after a lift for us 2. To prove his own in the Furnace of Man's Fury Dan. 11.35 to try purge make white try our Love to trampled Truth and Worship make white and rinse out the Spots and Errours in Devotion and purge away all our Tin Dross and Diseases that cleave to and defile our Devotion provoking God to leave us to Robbers and let his holy Matters be prophaned But 3dly To prepare the Wicked for the day of Vengeance Prov. 1.32 by prospering them in all they attemnpt that destroys them pulls them being fatted out as to the Slaughter Jer. 12.2.3 Calls out all their rage and fury before hid boyls their Galls up till they burst fills their Cup with sweetest bloods and so they drink themselves dead and in the wise dispensation of Justice no means used before mollifying and is perverted to the contrary as the Anvil by many blows is hardened the more and what the warm Sun-beams emolliate not grows the harder thereby so these indurate with often heats of Wrath are as Job speaks prepared for ruine Job 21.29.30 by Tokens and Brands as in the Forehead to read their Fall by the portervousness of their
Race of cruel Haters to Israel And so Amalek bears up the Name witness his dogging the feeble among them in the Rear Exod. 17. ult And of that Stock was Agag how high his Kingly Throne was let Balaam say Numb 24.7 Doeg comes in next a Masquerade Worshipper he was before the Lord indeed but detain'd hid incluserat se in Tabernaculo not of good-will to Devotion but as you come to our Meetings to serve a Job for the Devil nor yet for Saul so much as Self and being his Herdsman if you will Butcher learn'd to be bloody Nob a whole City Women Infants with 85 Priests of the Lord he kill'd and ruin'd 1 Sam. 22.18 19. Josephus says he razed and burnt it and killed 385 Persons And which was sad tho Saul was anointed of God yet being annoy'd with that evil Spirit he by commanding it owns the Guilt tho his Footmen declin'd Obedience to that Command but this Dog obeyed quickly which they or he were better Subjects let Sense judg Rabbins say after he was that Armour-bearer that being too near Saul's Person found a Season to kill him after the Battel Others call him a Pastor to Saul's Flocks and some also a Judg Dr. Mayor but commission'd now for this Job as a chief of Saul's Servants 1 Sam. 23.9 His Successor is Haman the Agagite that struck in Esther at all the Race of Israel Esth 3.8 And the Line runs to Herod who slew 14000 Infants for Christ Nay to Judas of whom Mayor says Vol. 2. p. 316. Doeg was a Type so all are that intend Envy under the Mask of Piety To end this of the Rise of them I remind my Reader that some eight Years since Anno 1675. there came a stitcht Book to hand stil'd A Rebuke to our Informers in which the sober Author after the Perface first convicts them of their Sin secondly answers Objections thirdly makes some Inferences in all handles the Matter so gravely truly and strenuously that I judg that Piece of 84 Pages not only meet for a vicious Informer but any rigid Priest or Person that loves sober Truth But to follow my purpose I say it is no shame to us to suffer what Christ our Lord did nor any credit to our Accusers to do what Judas did the Top of all whose Kin is the Devil Secondly For the Course you run 't is pernicious and vile and that 1. To the King It is so far from serving his Interest that it loosens the Bands of Union and tempts the People to a Jealousy as if he meant to resign the Rule and Reins of a Prince to such petty Tyrants You diminish the Number and discourage the Trade of the Sedulous and so can never countervail the King's Damage Esth 7.4 as Haman pretends Esther denies If Solomon reason right Prov. 20.38 By Mercy and Truth is the King preserv'd his Throne is upheld by Mercy Mercy shew'd the Poor Dan. 4.27 Truth preach'd to the Erring so his Person or Power is upheld Then Cruelty Exactions and Falshood in Oaths weaken both You hurt him by his own Weapon in pretending Law 2. You injure Protestants in weakning them by Fines deterring them from their Religious Duties and the Exercise of their Gifts and Graces for others Good You propagate the Plot and serve the Papists in turning the Force of Laws in the harshest Sence to the disquiet of the Peaceable in the Land Psal 55.20 And so Protestants are set to vex each other Papists in the Interim divide all Divide Impera to serve your Rapine 3. You accuse Men that are innocent falsly as if Rebels to the King for obeying God's Command of Hereticks in the Church for adhering to Truth or seditious and factious to the State while you by Slanders are the Seeds-men of those Tares Schismaticks for dividing from Babel when our Bishop's Plea was No Peace with Rome Bishop Hall Nor know you Zealots well that so pursue our Conventicles what to define them If Minshew's Word may pass in the ill Sence a Conventicle is Conventus seditiosorum sceleratorum a Meeting of seditious and wicked Men. If Bishop Bridgman's be right reported to me 't is a little Meeting of Men out of several Precincts to consult on State-Affairs and the Doors shut for Secrecy Ours are not such 4. How many Towns Cities Families are endanger'd by you Some imprison'd or begger'd some forc'd out pious Ministers exposed to flee from their Families to escape your Raven for 100 l. Fine and sober Gentlemen hector'd by you that would not vex their honest Neighbours Tenants and Friends and Officers of Peace and whole Towns fermented divided and perturbed 5. Lo what Guilt you incur by afflicting the Just offending Christ's little Ones that believe in him prohibiting the publication of the Word of Life profaning the Sabbath your selves by hindring others coveting to take the Spoil and Goods of the Poor taking Oaths and telling Lies and Tales for Gain smiting Fellow-servants Mat. 24.49 and Subjects by the Tongue serving the Devil in casting Men in Prison Rev. 2.10 6. This has been the Sin and has brought Misery on the Heads of others Marshal and Stroud in London of late you took no warning Obstinacy and Obduration is now aggerated on your Guilt you approach the Sin unto Death 1 John 5.16 that is not to be forgiven You dread not the Marks of Cain Doeg Judas Beware you feel not the Horror of a despairing Conscience like Spira Latomus Eccebolus that said Calcate me salem insipidum Porphyry c. That 's a Worm immortal 7. The Course you run is not like to obtain the Means answer not the End you attempt Impossibilities Can you stop the Tide hedg in the Birds imprison the Wind stay the Sun or bind Arcturus and loosen the Bands of Orion Nor can you damme or restrain the strong Stream of the Spirit extinguish Sun-Light or bind up the Gales of that Wind of the Word John 3.8 but in spite and sight of you and all your Persecutions the Gospel shall prosper and that by your very Opposition Quo magis furunt eò amplius procedo The more they rage the more I go on said Luther Thirdly Look to the End of your Course What is it but Hatred of God and Man Perhaps they that employ you may desert you to the Justice of the Vulgar and give you a Reprimand like that the Council and Priests gave Judas Mat. 27.34 What 's that to us see thou to that So will the Wages of Unrighteousness 2 Pet. 2.15 melt in your Consciences and make Hell-Fire sparkle and flash in your Eyes and be too hot to hold You have rid like Balaam and the Asses you bestride shall crush your Foot and cut your Consciences with the Rebukes that he had And the Gain you hunt shall fail you your Neighbours shall dread and decline you as Pests to Society you shall be driven from Light to Darkness and chased out of the World Job 18.18 As
you have abused Religion so its Comforts shall abandon you The Hornet of Cain's Horror shall sting you the Heavens shall reveal your Iniquity and the Earth rise up against you Job 20.27 And happy is that Man that God and better Times favour with Repentance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or After-Wit this is your best Game tho rare One tells Conformists Plea 4th Part but of a single Instance of this and blessed he that so comes off saying to and of his guilty Soul I have sinn'd in betraying the Innocent accusing Vertue for a Vice and Religion as Rebellion come you to pray for me that I wrong'd and I promise not to do the like And if the Sorrow be right such is the Peace that follows it O blessed Issue If not it is an Earnest of full Payment and but a drop of that Sea of Hell a Taste of that unmix'd Cup of pure Vengeance and the River of Brimstone that you are lanch'd into And as you ride ore the Bridg of your Life your Horse as one did of old may tkae a leap and you cry desperately Horse and Man and all to the Devil Now to put you all together I beseech you for Lenity Put on Spectacles the Night is dark you soon may run on the dark Mountains and repent too late Had I the Wealth of Dionyius or Croesus the Glory of the Hill Amara all the Cash and Mines of both the Indies I would in Humility deposit it for our quiet Sabbaths and the Freedom of Religion and a good Conscience and for my Brethren and Companions sake would say and so should you that desire to be Zion's Sons Let Peace be to her Psal 122.8 As therefore you love God pity Religion tender the Weal of Princes or People favour a woful sinning sinking Kingdom and the Glory of your new built Church and City go not on the Pikes of Peril ride not o're your own Fields and Franchises to your undoing drive not your Head as if you were blind to precipitant Courses He may understand his own Affairs better than most think yet as wise as Solomon or Solon may as he cry out too late O Solon Solon You drive at antiquating Parliaments and municipal Bounds and so French Laws all of one that 's no Religion that you 'll never get Or if by Disuse and long Suspense of Parliaments you make them frightful and uneasy the Remedy if it comes that way will be the painfuller to bear in the effect So you prove but Servants and Guides to your Master as they that led Henry of Luxenburgh Emperor of Germany who hearing that Charles of Bohemia and Philip of Valois the French King were joining Battel against the English and being unfit for War because blind would take part with the French and so commands his Men of War to mount him and guide him into the Fight to give one blind Blow to the English they far blinder than he fearing to cross his Will and yet to lose him in the Preass tie him fast to the Reins of their Bridles so as they meant all to perish together and so 't was they coupled him so that they all were found dead and fast bound Horse and Man the Battel lost at Cressy the French King lost 15 Princes of the Blood 80 Colours 1200 Knights and 30000 Men. Dr. Beard out of Froishart Vol. 1. cap. 30. If you will perish alone be not so blind Guides to fall under the Ruines of others Yet if all this avail not to Moderation but you abhorr't as the Mark of a Trimmer and chuse rather to sink than trim the Boat then look what follows The Prayers you persecute you now help to fulfill and the Prophets you detrude you now verify The Cries of the Souls under the Altar like Symmachus's Head stare in your face and ascend for Vengeance And tho you fear it not as wise as you did Marcus Aurelius tho a Painim being sensible of the Power of Christian prayers in obtaining Rain said to the Senate on their behalf as follows Rom aggressi sunt sine telis armisque c. They did the thing without Darts or Weapons but as content with God in their Conscience they had a Fort in their Breast he would have no Persecution of them as for the good Service their Prayers had done so in fear lest some such Weapons were used against himself being procured by Prayer Jer. Dyke Ne fortè tale quodpiam telum contra nos postulando impetrent Magdeb. 2 Cent. cap. 3. Yea and John Knox's Prayers were fear'd too above Twenty Thousand Men in Arms. If a poor Widow's blunt Suit Luke 18.7 beat an unjust Judg to a Grant of Vengeance may not many just Ones hope to obtain with Protestants or at least with him that by Promise is the Hearer of Prayers But next I address my Supplication to this City and those that rule it and crave of them what God commands unto the Princes of Israel in a Vision relating to our Gospel-Times and to a Temple and Service yet expected as some hold Remove Violence and Spoil take away Exactions or Expulsions and execute Judgment and Justice Ezek. 45.9 And after it 's said The Prince shall not take the Peoples Possession to inherit that my People be not scatter'd chap. 46.18 Two Notes are here obvious 1. The Portion of Rulers was on the outside of the holy Portion to shew that Rulers ought to defend and hedg in all the Parts of Worship and not invade it 2. That the Lot or Portion that People have in Religious Matters is an Inheritance of God's Donation not Man's as Naboth's Vineyard not to be alienated at the pleasure of Man This made David's Complaint and Curse so just 1 Sam. 16.29 If the Sons of Men cursed be they of the Lord for they have driven me out from the Lord's Inheritance i.e. the Holy Land and God's Tabernacle So 't was a double Wrong Now this we ask of your city and plead our Right to as justly as you plead for your Charter That only secures your Civil Franchises to you this secures our God Faith and Salvation to us That was yours by Custom immemorial free long Prescription this is ours by divine and unforfeitable Gift that none ought to tkae If you let in Boars and Foxes Psal 80.13 16. into this our rather God's Vineyard take heed God do not let loose Leopards to watch over your Cities and Evening-Wolves to tear you Jer. 5.6 Hos 13.7 Zeph. 3.5 Shall whore-Whore-houses be guarded and grave pious Men hunted Is an haunted House so dreaded and not a City haunted by Spirits of Devils as those croaking Romish Frogs are call'd Apoc. 16.13 I confess I see many of those at the Helm inclined to Lenity they mind how infamously some have gone off the Stage for their Severity they find it hard to persecute for Conscience sake they remember some Men now struck at to have been twenty or forty Years Ministers and ancient Citizens
in London of Note one for Piety the other for Trade They see it a Work not easy to crush those that have grown by Opposition as Camomel And that the lower Officers of Peace some of them decline Rigor and rather run the hazard of Fines Imprisonments or what Fury imposes on them than to impose Exactions of Law on those that love the Gospel or starve the Poor to feed their Raven that hate both for ruine the rich Fanaticks and you pine the Poor that you cannot feed your sevles alone and help us all into the Nooze of Popery And all may see the Matter is impracticable The People study honest Shifts and cleave the Hair not ruffling with the Constables to provoke on one hand nor deserting their Duty to God and Souls on the other but change their Times the Day for the Night as Caligula's Decree once forced Rome to do inverting the Works of Day and Night across and one Hour Place or Preacher for another that so Disturbance and Informers are much prevented and God's Worship is preserv'd In Places publick also Avenues are fix'd for go-by's to carry off Ministers out from the rude Rabble and evite the Rage of Tygers not to be blam'd to do as the Disciples that sav'd Paul ready to expose himself in the Theatre for better future Use Acts 19.30 2 Cor. 11.21 they also being set to defend the Gospel hi Phil. 1.17 to receive all the Shot against it and are Twenty Pound deep for each Offence that costs Hearers but five Shillings a-piece Also the Opinion of many jumps with the Votes of the late Commons as to this and obtains vast Merit and Veneration that House in some Passages and in that Vote being deeply prophetick and very plain in the event namely That to prosecute the Penal Laws now is noxious to the King publick Peace the Protestant Religion and promotes the Plot for Popery This all that will not see may feel What ill Work had followed since what woful and lawless Spoils and Expilations what Executions like Bonner what ragged Coats empty Purses abhorr'd Names hard Prisons their Dilapidations on others has well awarded them in this Life And what is like to follow in the other Life if Repentance be abhorr'd let Judas tell them in what he said ere he went to his place Mat. 27.3 Acts 1.16 25. And were not Prayer abhorr'd well may the Informers wish that Religion up again that credits Purgatory and a buying out of it but that the Paper Wall 'twixt it and Hell is long since burnt by the Heat of that Fire and God's Fury out of which there is no Redemption O then take advice from that wise Gamaliel Acts 5.38 for your Peace and the City's Good and let Counsels of Lenity obtain But on the other hand where Moderation is branded and Men are both warranted and willing to act lo what Work they do What tearing of carv'd Work scattering of pious Assemblies what Breaking of Doors and Dwellings what Distress on Goods what vast Fines on Estates by which some are quite crush'd What snapping Men up by one Law and punishing them by another to perpetuate their Prisons What harsh Taunts and hard Speeches are given to make the Afflicted more loaden If a Smith Bayliff Buck come but to the Arrest or a Sir John what Door Wall or Shelter stands against the Hammer and Staff of the one or the Horns of the other It was the Lord Bacon's Maxim The worst Tyranny is Law on the Rack Advancement lib. 6. p. 212. Alas Things not to be justified by Law are acted ro abetted and a Mouth found to defend and the Priests bear Rule by their means and what will you do in the end thereof Jer. 5.31 But since we find Rigor is limited not executed on all to Extremity and in all places Some Showers have fallen by Planets here and not there some not all catch'd and confin'd Places that had but one or two Meetings earst have three or four now the more numerous Lectures scatter'd out of one Ward into another And so you have a Go-by no Victory and we a Retreat no Rout and for one Assembly of many hundreds routed you make them four or five in Houses by Scores and so multiply them you disperse and that argues the Work impracticable But after all if Rigor proceed to the extremity and Power fall in the hands successively that favour Papists and fall on Dissenters I deny not but far more Execution is possible as Men are spirited and vested with power to proseute Penal Laws But then O London read the Issue Learn by the sad Example of other Cities in time to fear the like Wickedness and Wo. Out of many let three Instances be recited Dr. Beard p. 408. Carthage Lady of Africa was Paragon of Rome that stood it out with her till its intestine Jars betray'd it to her now delenda est Carthago Ruine comes on She not able to defend was at last forc'd to yield to Mercy and first 25000 Women next 30000 Men came all out and were sold Slaves the City fired in seventeen days to Urns and tho re-edified after yet ere long it was again ruin'd and so lies as Troy extinct Jam seges est ubi Troja fuit Lo now grows Corn and Grass Where famous Troy once was Dr. Beard cites Sabell Theatre pag. 369. In the Emperor Otho's Time Pet. Caudan Duke of Venice usurping on that Segniory and making himself by Threats terrible rather than by Love acceptable in 's Age increast his Insolence fortifies his Palace strong against them and so at last appearing in 's Colours the People tendering their lost Liberties rise to beat down his hign Mind and drove him out of his Fortress by firing his House he shifting for Flight they seize him with his Son kill them both and gave their Corps to Dogs One more I cite out of Reeves on Jonah p. 166. he from Atheneus of one Telegoras who being a Man fam'd well for Vertue and good Repute and so envied by his Equals in Wealth not in Worth they on a provocation assaulted his House abused his Daughters and his person and laid so great a Feud in the City by the two Parties that gave Lygdamis the Opportunity to make both Parties his Slaves May this Naxian Fate never be yours O Londoners Discord is the Wit-foundering of a City The Salamander appearing a Storm is nigh When Men that love to live in the Fire and contend to have the preheminence are made the Seed-sowers of all Dissention no doubt Sparks will flie that insensibly will scorch the Hopes of Union and a City divided cannot stand long Were it not then better to sue to God for Peace then cannot Men hurt you rather than as Demades told the Athenians to sue for 't in your Mourning-Gowns for if once your Grandeur suffer Eclipse you will be as the Sporades little Asterisms rarely seen O then ye Londoners had you need to shut out Prayer
when your Case is so Climacterical Is it a time as Dan. 5.1 to feast when Wrath besiegeth you round Shall you hide your Eyes voluntarily from the things of your Peace Luke 19.42 Does praying for you become offensive to you Is it not an ill Omen when the Physick that is a means of Life and Health irritates more Dubartas says speaking of Blazing-Stars That they presage both Famine Plague and Wars To Princes Deaths to People hopeless Seasons To Saylors Storms to Cities Civil Treasons I conclude with the Lord Bacon's Note of Nations and great Bodies Advancement of Learning p. 131. lib. 4. While States are in their Rise and Growth Arts Military flourish when at height and setled Arts Liberal and at their Declension and Ruine Arts Voluptuary To these says he it is to be feared our Age inclines being on the Descent of the Wheel And about sixty Years ago Anno 1626 so to say then is like a sage State-Prediction far more now when we approach to a meer decrepid Dotage not able to see what conduces to our Good or Hurt So I pass from the first part of our Advice It rests to give Counsel to the Friends of Holy Worship to guide them in their Duties whether it is opposed or no. If God preserve you in Peace and give you rest in your Duty and you can in a time of Distress wait on him without outward Distraction no roaring Lions or Bears tear in upon you your Officers are Peace and Exactors Justice Isa 60.17 know 't is a peculiar Case an over-ruling hand of Providence O where is your Lot cast Are you in an Egyptian World Are you in the midst of Mesheck Psal 120.5 and yet enjoy a Goshen of Light Exod. 10.23 a Valley of Vision Isa 22.1 O see what distinguishing Favour you have and what peculiar Duty it calls for upon it Think not your Worth greater than your Brethrens In general Calamities often the best fall and go captive first as did Jeremiah's Basket of best Figs Jer. 24.5 6. and these the Lord promised to acknowledg and shall not you own them Your Flesh is as the Flesh of your Brethren Nehem. 5.5 and Sympathy argues living Membership that Member is dead that feels nothing of the Body's Pain and Dolour Lay your Ears to the Key-holes of some Closets and in some Recluses you may hear Complaints Lord why am I the first the Boar is let loose on What is the cause of letting loose the Reins to afflict us Job 30.11 And being pick'd out of the Herd that now all the Flock push at us and thrust with the Horn Time was when we had place for our Brethrens Souls as our own and then we thought it a Duty to stand or fall all together but the same Mind is not in all alike Some are jealous our Testimony or Spirit is too tart our Talk too loud and receive us not as Christ has freely to the Glory of God Rom. 15.7 Christ forbad not others Mark 9.39 tho not following him Why we are look'd shie on and Brethren should do that to us that our Enemies have done to some and would do to us all we know not Are they Ministers so are we 2 Cor. 11.23 do Souls flock in love to Christ after them ours have the same Love Surely the Carriage of some to each other is morose supercilious unkind and very partial To crave an Hours Room or two for Christ's sake and neither Petition nor Petitioner to have access is hard tho the same is granted to others Of this I 'm glad yet see no cause for the other Some have more cause to mourn than others to be denied the Use of Places six or eight times over in publick now when Houses are so hard to gain so inconvenient and so hazardous Consider it is for Christ's sake that you have more Room better Places civiller Officers longer Quiet than others and perhaps the Lord says you shall not fare worse or fall sooner in the least for your kindness to any for his sake Or however if you do it shall turn to you for a Testimony and Christ will award the Blow of Fury from you or reward your Loss the more Consider what Argument God urges on Moab to receive and hide God's Outcasts by Isa 16.4 5. For Extortioners cease and the Spoiler is at an end and Oppressors are consum'd out of the Land and in Mercy the Throne shall be establish'd A blessed Sight even to a Moabite far better to an Israelite and to us that Duty is more binding that Motive being the Spring of all our Courage and Comforts Consider how sad 't is to offend one of Christ's little Ones that believe in him or add Grief to the Wounded bruise a crush'd Reed and quench smoaking Flax or put under a Bed or Buthel a Light of Christ's setting up It 's sad enough that Men silence a Prophet far sadder that Saints keep them so and bind a Necessity of continuing so scatter'd two or three Months together Consider your hir'd Houses like Paul's at Rome Acts 28.30 a Prisoner are for Christ's sake yours and is' t not his Praise in the Gospel and so were it yours to receive all that come to him And if you argue that your Place is the Tenure of such and such and 't is not reasonable to hazard your own Peace and Liberty to gratify others This savours of a narrow private Spirit I grant yet Religion is a Peg higher than Reason and Charity in suffering Times is above Self-property God forbid any should tread your Places or Thresholds to your detriment yet if one comes to you for Christ's sake and a Petition is denied by you for an hour or once a month Does it not savour of self so to argue And is it not to help to gratify the Adversary weaken the same Testimony make the Travels easier in suppressing you and rejoyce the Men that seek our Hurt For say they they grow shie of one another let us alone with the rest Consider lastly the legal Care that God shew'd of his Levites of old in case of Exile Deut. 18.6 7. If a Levite came with all the desire of his Mind to the Place that God chuses he must minister as his Brethren do before the Lord and eat of the same Portions Now if some Things were Levitical and so bind us not to Persons Orders Race or Place yet 't is of moral and perpetual Obligation to keep up the Freedom of Prophecy 1 Cor. 14.24 with the Sons of the Prophets and for them to say if you have a Word of Exhortation say on Acts 13.15 and not to ingross Office Place and Profits to one Christ sent out by two Pastors and Teachers Mark 6.7 Eph. 4.11 Let it not then suffice us to have our own Peace and Liberty without our Brethren and Companions For my own part I wish my self the only silenc'd Preacher in the Land not that I 'm weary of my Master's Work which I
say Christ can find to your Shame some better and bolder Witnesses even in Newgate than you are at present 4. It looks in Sense as tho you said you meant to evite a Prison by being ashamed of Christ and his Words in such a vile Age Mark 8.38 or were resolv'd only to tread out the Corn Hos 10.11 or do that Service of Christ that has Meat or Maintenance annex't to it but not to break the hard Clods of Babel As if you never meant Christ should ride his Fathers Embassy on you has not your Master cause to complain of you as useless and unkind may he not lay you quite aside 5. Is Scandal of no weight with you to stop your course of Defection is' t nothing to you to grieve them Christ would not have so Ezek. 13.22 or wound a poor Brother for whom Christ died 1 Cor. 8.12 If you say 't is their weakness not to do so then you that are strong should bear with their Infirmities Rom. 15.1 and not to please or ease your self to load them with Grief that have seen you practise the contrary and would still do it if the Terror of Loss or Pain were off Who answers for the Souls that by your ill Example are tempted to do what Conscience after checks for and gives no place in to cast a Scandal 'fore God's Israel was Balaam's Sin but it ill becomes you that came with us out of Egypt Rom. 14 13. Rev. 2.14 6. How dare you venture your Souls to sit under Means that he says shall not profit Jer. 23.32 and which is worse lies under his Curse Mal. 1.14 it 's the Lord's Word-commanding his Presence and Blessing succeeding a mean that makes it tend to our Good If these be away it 's good for us to be absent the Curse of a dwindling Soul is no small Curse As he comes not in the Harlots House himself so he bids us avoid the Door Prov. 5.8 Oh where is that pure Heart that tenderness of Conscience that Abstinence from Evils even in show 1 Thess 5.22 that was wont to be the Glory of the old Apostolick Albigenses of those call'd Catharists or Puritans of them Samosetanians of the Electoral Princes that left the Emperor at Door going in to Mass and durst go in no farther The least Truth or Duty if it be Christ's is of value above all our Interests and a Call to a noble Suffering the less it is if the Cause be Christ's the more glorious is our Passion and as one says we are unthrifty Bankrupts to pawn or spend in 20 years what others in one or 200 years have purchas'd and convey'd to us at so dear an Expence both of Prayers and Tears Passions and Treasures and if we part so easily with God's Gospel aad Truth a better Inheritance cannot be from our Seed God will not spare the Civil Rights all the Charters on Earth are not of a Straws value unto it 7. And no more If a course of Defection spring from the love of Worldly Ease Safety or Honour it 's just with God to let in a Barbarian Spirit to rob you of that and Truth too As on the contrary oft to lose all is Christ's way to save all and Life Eternal too Mark 8.35 'T is a Story worthy Letters of Gold that of a holy Bishop of Nola Paulinus being very rich yet his Heart set on the true Treasure he was by the Goths with that whole City Nola spoil'd of all at once and made a Prisoner And now the pious Soul thus prays to God Sic in corde suo precabatur Domine non excrucier propter aurum argentum Vbi enim sunt omnia mea tu scis Aug. de Civ Dei lib. 1. cap. 9. Lord let me not be much troubled for Silver and Gold thou knowest where my All was stored at thy command Thou told us afore that for our Sins these Goths would spoil us and so I took warning where to lay my Wealth Others were not so wise and learn'd Wit consequente experientiâ d dicerunt by after Experience but hid their Treasure from Robbers which cost them extream Tortures to discover it and some dyed that refused losing both their Life and Treasure to show them Quanta essent sustinenda pro Christo qui tanta patiebantur pro auro Ibid. what they should have suffered for Christ's sake that would endure such things for Gold And in the Issue my Author observes Nemo Christum confitendum amisit none lost by confessing of Christ Nemo aurum nisi negando servavit and none kept his Gold but by denying it O had we that brave Self-denial what a true Glory would it put on our Profession Ludov. Vives in 's Notes cites Paulus Diaconus and Greg. Dialog and gives a full Witness to this holy Man's noble Self-denial in spending all he had to redeem Captives And after being moved at the Tears of a sad Widow for her Son crost into Africa with her to seek him gave his Person to be Captive for him and so restor'd the Son free to the Widow So growing famous with the Barbarians by that means he got also all his Citizens set free from Captivity In all this I gain a twofold Observation That Lenity in any Episcopal Order and Self-denial is the noblest and truest way to get Repute That concerns the trapper'd Dons of our Day And secondly Shuffling and save-Skin Doctrine may hold a while but with a barbarous Tory will at last hazard both Truth and Peace Now were our Dons and Doctors and Pious Men as skill'd in the straight Rule of Scripture as in the Erastian Politicks the Light on our little Hills would soon descend to the lower Grounds of the Vulgar for alas the rigid Conformist urg'd as one told me of late R. B.'s Holiness for an Argument to conform And if that be the genus summum of their Topicks I think it will screw in Salt Spittle and Cream to conform us to Rome also But alas the poor People by this Means are left indifferent and unstable as Water Those of the like Latitude which is the most dance as these pipe and as Barnabas was by Peter Gal. 2.14 are carried away with that Dissimulation The rest being fewest grieved in Heart and weary'd by many Threats of the Sessions and Elizabeth's Laws on the one hand and by the Doctors-Commons and Episcopal Canons on the other every Pedantick Priest with his Thrasonick Threats playing the Tyrant by lawless Excommunications to vex and undo them so that it would move an Heart of Stone to see how many Families and Persons are turn'd out of Church House Trade and Shop in all Places Cities and Corporations the Number of which is not easy to compute 2. Now to support these latter and call on the former I shall here only cite that Call in John Rev. 18.4 to come out of Babylon where I observe two Notes and two Arguments in the Text. 1. God's People are apt to
Curse Clave non errante 1 Cor. 5.5 and persons may demerit it that yet do repent ch 16.22 I confess caution is to be used in the practice and applying of this Curse I need not better to distinguish than a grave Writer doth Mr. Ed. Gee of Prayer p. 113. in such Cases of Prayer Some Imprecations are against ill Councils and Practices as Davids against Achitopel 2 Sam. 15.31 Some against persons which are of two sorts 1. For men's Conviction 2. Or Confusion The 1. are less doubtful the latter he ranks under three heads 1 As against God Or 2. As against the Churches Enemies Or else 3. Against our own Adversaries Here the doubt lies 1. If they did well 2. If we may do the like Now the first being granted yet of this they say Prestat admirari quam imitari It is far better to admire than imitate them And they are rather denunciations predicted than Desires pressed in Prayer But all I would provoke to is to reassume the old Spirit of Prayer that Christ's Sufferers and Worthies had of old in the Cause of God To which 1. A pure Zeal of God may be one motive this moved Phinehas to act and Elijah to intercede against Israel Rom. 11.4 If this be not the motive it is false fire 2. Some are slated Enemies to the House of God as Antichrist is to his City and any Wall of Defence they ought to have are of Sanballat's pernitious Spirit would have that Wall and Work to cease and scorn the Builders Nehe. 4.4 Such despite is to be appealed against to God and speedy Vengeance call'd for 3. If Repentance doth restore the man our Cry Appeal or Imprecation may obtain the filling of the Face with shame Psal 83.16 And the seeking of God's Name is a very holy end this holy Curse is the happy way to a true Blessing and a good End 4. God's Predictions are part of his Word and matter for our Prayers 2 Pet. 2.14 Now these are Predictions of what is to befall Persons so and so qualified and speak a part of his Will which is to be done 5. Scripture prescribes such Formula's for Prayer and why doth the Liturgy prescribe and imitate it if some were not so to be imprecated as Cursed is he that takes Bribes or lyes with Neighbours Wives Deut. 27.25 And if that be accurst and deservedly how far are some under it 6. If the Wife of Lapidoth was too tart saying So let all thine Enemies perish yet the Angels word Curse ye Meroz Judg. 5.23 is in our Cannon and Directory Now Rules to apply it to our Practice are seven 1. Mind Scripture Precepts and Presidents take not all things for Rules of Practice and Imitation in bulk 2. Crave much of God's holy Spirit many a Prayer is lost that savours of self none of those miscarry the Spirit dictates It requires not a common Vnction to pray as that thundring Legion did so called in Aurelians days 3. Watch repress and mortifie your own Spirits We know not what Spirit we are of Luk. 9.55 Our own Spirit savours of Sin self Revenge Passion false Zeal as the Disciples it is better such be denyed than gratifyed 4. Begin as Christ did Mat. 5.4 and Paul bids Rom. 12.14 20. 1st with Blessing and try that way and curse not and that has a grant virtually of your Wish for you heap Coals on the head of Enemies so to consume or convince them that is better 5. Use strong cryes of Faith Great is the power of Faith Heb. 5.7 She that feared Knox's Prayers more than 20000 shows the force of Faith in her Fear that had no love for it Josh 10.12 I cry then my Enemy turns back Psal 56.3 9. 6. Fly to the sucking Lamb rest not in your own power this avails when all our Weapons are beat back If his Incense go not up first our Prayers will never descend in fiery Judgment and Thundrings on the Enemy Apoc. 8.35 c. 6.9 10. 7. Wait in Submission for what Answer and when God will say Let him Shimei Curse or carry back the Ark. 2 Sam. 15.25 This Spirit obtains and it is impossible the wrongs of Ariel should not pull down just Revenges for the Patient and Thunders on Adversaries as Hannah believed 1 Sam. 4.10 I hear of many blasted by this holy Zeal Now for the second Branch let us having Pray'd rest and confide not in it but in God Prayer and Faith should mutually subserve the other Prayer exonerates the heart of the Burthen Faith puts it wholly on the Lord 1 Sam. 1.18 So one is no more sad all Acts of Devotion if right relieve Prayer flaps the Wing acts Life and the Office of Faith is to crow in the dark and cry Day or the Morning cometh on the Godly and the Night also on the Wicked Isai 21.12 But now when all is run down the Assyrians Wings over-spread Emanuel's Land Isai 8.8 the City of God and all Religion the Temple Assemblies Altar Service Priesthood Prophesy and all lye exposed to a Siege and Overthrow Now to rest on God's Word and have promise of Safety is as quieting to do as sweet to hear on God promised to deliver the City told so to Isaiah Isai 37.35 he to the good King Hezekiah v. 6-21 and the King to the People who rested on it 2 Chron. 32.7 8. Let the Godly in our day consider the Parity of their Present with previous Distresses and then preponderate the Promise with the Peril and see if there be not rest for a weary Mind recur to the nature Attributes of God His Name is a strong Tower the Righteous run into it and are safe Prov. 18.10 or set on high 't is low with us if we cannot trust if Foes make weary and Faith gives no true rest we are soon gone Doth God bid us request him and will he deny us Rest Or flee to him and will he fail our Hope Though God never had any without distress yet never was his People distrest without Deliverance had we good hold of Christ's hand the very Waves would bear us up not sink us Mat. 14.30 31. Are meanes of Defence invisible or say yet more not in Being he can create them soon God alone and nothing else as I said is as much as God and all besides Vbi Supra p. 113. What is in man is placed there by Him his Word gives both its Being and Blessing When we use a mean as duty is and have it we are to depend on him and if he deny it still we can but depend and that we ought if we long wait for his Defence Two Ishues do still faelicitate Saints Expectations the one relating to themselves the other to Enemies 1. They are of God Blessed all humane hope and help the more it is rested on the worse it proves Jer. 17.7 8. The more it pierceth the Hand and so it intails a Curse and rends the Shoulder-blade Ezek. 29.6 7.
Angels descend it makes up both want of Number and Strength for the Angels attend holy Assemblies as this place and other Scriptures say Eccl. 5.1 6. 1 Cor. 11.10 And the Angel of the Lord encamps about them that Fear or Worship Him Psal 34.7 What for To deliver them o and all are to Minister Heb. 1.14 so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Service Obsequium signifies to attend obsequiously in the Assemblies about the Heirs of Salvation Eph. 3.10 Now how they perform is too large here to treat it suffices if I glean an Instance or two not so much of the evil Angels that are oft over ruled as Instruments of Wrath. So a voice said to Bruno Bishop of Herbipolis Ho Ho! thou Bishop I am thy Malus Genius thou art mine go where thou wilt though I am not now to hurt thee I shall soon see thee again Dr Beard p. 432. And so it fell out soon after he being in a Room with others that part of the Room fell over him he dies and the rest escap't unhurt But the Service of the Good and for the Good is that I aim at That Author Dr. Beard after some seventeen Examples of Scripture cites twenty two Stories of later days of which I recite two or three 1. Out of Socrates p. 439. Sozomen lib. 8. c. 4. Of Gainas an Arrian by Arcadius sent to Constantinople who in Enmity to Chrysostome came on that City in the night to spoil it and two Nights was well resisted by an Army of tall and lusty men the Tyrant being apt to believe it was a Fable came the third time in person found it true and with the terrour fled to Thracia and so was there miserably slain I gather hence their way must be dark and slippery if the Angel of Jehovah chase them Psal 35.5 6. A second is of Antioch Anno 585. Out of one Sigbertus in the time of Mauritius where was a pious and hospitable man that would not Dine or Supp without some poor Man and coming into the Market-Place meets a grave old Man all in white and two with him whom he intreats to Supp with him but the Old Man answers he had more need to pray against the Destruction of the City so instantly shook his Handkerchief towards two parts of the City but for the third part was intreated to forbear and speedily those two parts fell by a Earth-quake in which thousands were slain the hospitable Man spared and so the three Angels vanisht Angels have Commission both to shake Cities and to secure the Pious therein Lord grant London be not nigh such a shake A third is one Tiburtius From Marullus Spalatens a Heathen Ruler of Areciam prohibits Pergentinus and Laurentinus to preach Christ and not obtaining by Flatteries he caused them to be beat by Clubs but the Arms of those that beat them so withered they could not strike after he would fain have starved them in Prison but an Angel fed them there after he caused them to go on burning Coals but no sense of hurt next Jupiters Image is brought to Worship which resolv'd to dust they calling on the Name of Jesus and mark the issue for hence many of the Heathens forsook their Idols for the Faith of Christ Which teaches that Christ preserves faithfull Witnesses by making Idols vanish and fall before his Name and gains ground for Truth by the very fury of Idolaters and what will it bring when all Idols are abolisht utterly and famish't and the Lord alone exalted Isai 2.18 Zeph. 2.11 A fourth out of the Lives of the Fathers In Julian the Apostate's days a Christian cast in Prison by his Souldiers being visited by Apolonus they detained both setting a Watch least they escap't but that Night an Angel most clear came opened the Door frighted the Watch and the Centurion slew some of his Servants the Keeper came in trembling and delivered the two Christians free as Peter was Acts 12. and Acts 16. But this being more than sufficient to our end I draw to a Conclusion and in the last place will only observe with Mr. Fox Acts and Monuments Anno 1558. pag. 2031. the more than ordinary Preservations that God gave that one Faithfull separated Congregation in Queen Mary's days towards her end in London Of which he writes this strange Providential Vision in a Dream that Mr. Rough had a little ere he was taken of Cuthbert Simson and that twice that he saw the Guard lead him Prisoner and the Book of all the Names and Accounts of the Congregation in his Pocket and as he is making ready to go to him as God would have it in comes Cuthbert Simson to whom he told his Dream willing him to lay the Book away and not to carry it about which he being unwilling to do taking Dreams for Phantasies Mr. Rough charged him in the Lord's Name to do it so he left it with Mr. Rough which had it been took with him as soon after he was it had detected two or three hundred to the Enemies by Name and fed the Malice and Popish Flames of those common Cut-Throats with them all at once and so no visible Remnant had been left A little after pag. 2074. the Author observes of this saithful Congregation that it was continued all the Reign of Queen Mary that was five years mauger the Malice and Inquisition of Men and strictness of Laws to the contrary and all by the usual good Hand of God on them Of which many Instances are notified 1. At the House of Sir Thomas Cardens the Mischief laid for them was Prevented 2. About Algate Spies Way-laid them and by T. Simson Deacon discovered so he disperst them after that the Constables came but a Woman told them some good Fellows were there now gone a Maying A third Escape was in an Alley by the Conduit Jo. Avails saw them sent for the Sheriffs but ere they came the People were gone A fourth was in a Ship at Billings gate in the open view of all they met and yet escap't all A fifth was on board of Ship called the Jesus betwixt Ratcliff and Redriff and had Prayers Sermon and Sacrament and yet escap't though not unseen untaken A sixth time at a Coopers in Pudding-Lane being met Jo. Availes came and talkt with the Cooper but either had no knowledge or no power to act so they escap't A seventh narrow escape in Thames-street was in the Night the House beset but a Mariner swims to a Boar and with his Shoes for Oars sculls them over water so all are saved Eigthly once one comes in to take their Names but is convinc't and crys them mercy A ninth the escape was great in the taking Mr. Rough and Cuth Simson in that the Book of all their Names was not also taken Nay their Number increased at the end of Q. M's Time under all the Papal Fury for after four Preachers they had a fifth one Mr. Bentham who with all the People came to the