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
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
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