by Achabs crueltie Mat. 26.25 the coffers enriched by Iudas frecherie these be also bloudie sinnes and in euery of these is trespas of bloud The shops sorted with wares and the warehouse with store the tables with dainties the Cubbords with plate the Wardrobes with sutes and the granaries with corne Take héede my good brethren lest in these the bloud do also cleaue vnto your singers I graunt before men deuice may excuse it custome will smoth it and for the time silence can conceale it But when the Lorde shall visite Ierusalem with lanternes and search your corners with lights Zeph. 1.12 then bloud will burst foorth then bloud will appeare For there is nothing so secrete that shall not be disclosed Mat. 10.26 nor any thing hidden that shall not be knowen O take heed that many fare not hardly for thy superfluitie that many liue not in penurie for thy prodigalitie that many go not a begging for thy polling incroching and inclosing that many sit not mourning for thy mery making that manie go not full bare Iob. 35.9 for thy going so braue For thus and infinite wayes beside thou maist become guyltie of bloud Wo sayth Zephauie Zeph 3.1 and wo saith Nahum be to the bloudie and robbing citie Nah. 3.1 the one speaking of Ierusalem the other of Niniue and why bloudie I praye shee heard not the voice of the poore the prisoner perished in the dungeon the begger dyed at the gate for want of reliefe And therefore O bloudie Citie guiltie of their bloud and why a bloudie Citie shee receiued not correction faith Zephonie shee trusted not in the Lord shee drewe not neare vnto God therefore O bloudie Citie O bloudie countrey guiltie of thine owne bloud and therefore thine owne bloud be vpon thine owne head Draco his lawes were saide to be written with bloud they were so forced with cruelties heauie impositions Our lawes of England blessed be God are good and renowmed yet is it to be feared that for want of due execution they sometime become like Solons cobwebs and too often vnder pretext of iustice hard iniuries be vrged against the poore The Emperour Titus who deemed the day lost wherein he did not good desired and was inuested with the dignitie of Priesthood to the end to keepe him selfe from oppressions from cruelties and shedding of bloud A memorable and right honourable president for Iudges esperially and men of authoritie Yet is it to be feared wee haue fewe of Titus minde at this day in the laud. The Iewes made no conscience to shead innocent bloud they monyed Iudas to betray his master such was their crueltie But when with a wounded conscience he threw it backe vpon them their money might not come in their treasurie Mat. 27.8 no it was the price of bloud such was their hipocrisie therfore it came by no common consent to buy therewith the field for buriall but by speciall prouidence to discerne and name it the bloudie field or field of bloud euen to this daie Oh my beloued it is to be feared wee haue many such fieldes in England Bloudie fieldes bloudie vineyardes bloudie cities bloudie houses bloudie Maiestrates bloudie Ministers bloudie merchants bloudie Lawyers bloudie men and bloudie women bloudie handes and bloudie platters and the price of bloud within our walles â—ab 2.11 Lapis de pariete sayeth our owne Prophet a stone shall crye out of the wall and the Beame out of the timber shall make aunswere Woe be to him that buildeth a towne with bloud and his house with iniquitie And haue wee not iust cause Iudge I praye to feare that the lande full not of the praise of God but of cursing and bitternesse of crueltie and bloud shall taste of fearefull iudgementes for her contempt and to suspect that the sinnes of the lande Ier. 17.1 written with an Iron penne vppon the tables of our heart and grauen with a Dyamond poynt vppon the hornes Altar are growen to the qualitie and height of those crying sinnes which threaten vs with vtter destruction The Lorde of hoastes manaced of late to stretch the lyne of Samaria ouer the Realme of England and to sound our Cities and measure our families with the Plummet of the house of Ahab and not to leaue one to make water against a wall While the daunger was fresh wee were souddeinly daunted and began to curse the dayes spent in vanitie and wickednesse Iocl 1.15 which had brought the daye of destruction so neare vpon our heads Wherein our enemies came against vs as fierce as the Wolues in the euening or as the Eagles grée Zeph. 33 die of their praye with purpose had not the Lorde in mercie preuented them to haue taken awaye and trampled vnder féete the glorious Gospel of Christ and to haue erected superstition and idolatrie in all our land to haue bereft vs of our most lawfull and louing Soueraigne the Lordes annoynted Quéene and to haue turned our inheritance to heathenish strangers to haue inuaded our countrie with Edoms alarme and turned our flouds of peace into channels of bloud to haue murthered the honourable counsail our and graue Iudge the reuerend Bishop and venerable maiestrate Deur 32.25 the welthie Citizen and painfull craftsman the aged matrone and the chaste virgine the infant in the cradle and the crâ—ple at the gate without remorte or respect of sexe degree or age And for execution of these so heauie iudgementes the Lord threat eneth vs with a people and Nation Idolatrous and vncircumcised as the Philistins extremely cruell and tyrannous as the Scithians at chiuing their exploites not so much by martial prowesse as by dishonourable practise not so much by courage of their owne as by corruptng th' aduerse Captaines a thing whereof we haue had tod late experience of whome I trust I may speake a troth without scandale And as one said of the Macedonian king Phillips souldiers Proiustie iâ— rapinas caedes pro sobrie tarmebrie tatem colebant Theopompus Histor veritatem pactorum fidemsuperbe deridebant periuria imposturas ducebant laudes ingenii Euen so saye I of these the trouyes of Pupists souldiers the Popes vassales whether Spanish Frenth Italian or whencesoeuer if violation wilful conteÌ„pt of auncient lawes of Armes held so xsacted yet amoÌ„g the Heathens if breach of oathe and promise sealed vpon the conscience by Sacraments of holy Church if prophanation of leagues and truce taken still salued vpon their seared consciences with Fides non est seruanda cum Hereticis if weapons yet blundred and glutted in the bowels of Gods Saintes euen then when they déemed themselues most safe vnder the oath and warrant of a King in a worde if trecheries and treasons massacres murthers barbarous designemeÌ„ts and gréedie inquisitions for bloud be apparant testimonies of crueltie and infidelitie then Oh heauens where now the soules are most happie in the hand of the Lorde and Oh thou
earth where the bodies of so many and great states lie now full lowe murthered by flagitious trecheries O heauen and earth I saye beare witnes of the crueltie and infidelitie of these our enemies the slaughter-slaues of Antichrist whome it were easie to trace in bloud to apparant and ruthfull instances of most furious tragedies But Oh thou bloud thirstie baude thus foyled in bloud and stayned with indignities howsoeuer the Lord shall deale with Englande for her transgressions for surely it is a wicked Nation yet bloud shal be vpon thy head and bloud in thy hands bloud vpon thy conscience and bloud in barre against thee at the great day when the righteous God shall bring sorrowe vpon thy soule in reuenge of his seruants bloud poured vpon the face of the earth by thy tiranny But Oh how hath the oppressor ceased and the gold thirstie Babell béene infatuate Esa 14.4 her rodde broken and the Scepter departed The Lorde our God hath béene our generall by land our Admyralt by Sea He that maketh warres to cease in all the worlde hath knapped the speare in sunder â—sa 46.9 he hath broken the shippes of the Sea by the East winde and couered our head in the day of battaile and therefore shall euery good man sing of his praise without ceasing â—sa 30.13 O thou King of Nations and hope of Israel â—er 14.8 a good God hast thou béene vnto England â—u 22.17 when Balaam of Rome hath cursed yet hast thou blessed vs. When Balaac of Spaine hath practised mischiefe against vs then hast thou discouered and disapointed it â— Sam. 17 3 When Achitophell at home hath conspired â— Re. 1.5 â— 17 confusion hath caught him When Adoniah the wilie aspirer sought the Shunamite to wife and the kingdome withall the edge of Iustice cut him short â— Re. 11 1 When Athalia the murtheresse went about to raze the lyne of the bloud royall thy prouidence preuented her Psa 37.15 Yea their sworde as Dauid sayeth hath gone through their owne heart their gyrdles garters haue béene their halters their owne hands their own hangmen that lay in waite to murther thine annoynted 2. Sam. 21 17 and went about to quench the light in Israel This O Lorde was thy doing Psa 121.5 and it was meruailous in our eyes Thou hast béen our kéeper vpon our right hand Psa 118.23 the carefull watchman that hast not forsaken thy England in the daye of distresse When Prince and people yea so manye thousandes that knowe not the right hand from the lefte were designed to a blacke and bloudie daye of destruction Ionas 4.11 Psa 45.3 But the most mightie according to his worshippe and renowme hath gyrt his sword vpon his thigh and defended his owne glorie Gospell against their spite Psa 79 10 that would haue saide where is nowe their God The Lorde hath not withholden his helping hande from his handmaide Elizabeth our good gracious Quéene in time of tryall a sheepe to the slaughter in time of gouernement a tender Nurse to the Church for whose sake he hath heaped so many blessings vpon our land The Lorde hath not shut his eares at the pitifull moane and crye of so manie widdowes and desolate Orphanes whose weake and wearie lymmes finde reliefe in our Almeshouses and hospitalles some monunients of pietie yet left in our land No no howsoeuer it be a good God is our God and louing vnto Israel Psa 73.1 euen to such as be of a pure heart And therefore it shall goe well with the godly as for our enimies Eccl. 8.12 he that dwelleth in the Heauens hath laught them to scorne yea the Lorde shall haue them in derision Therefore we will not be afraid though the earth be moued Psa 46.2 and though the foundations of the hilles be out of course For when the Seas do swell and rage horribly yet the Lorde God is mightier strong is his hand and mighty is his arme He hath thrust his hooke into the iawes of Sennacherib Esai 37.29 and the Seas haue swalowed the troope of Pharaos hoste Yea Moab shall be our washpot Exo. 14.27 and Edome shall kneele vnto our shooe Psa 60.8 Our footesteps shall be dipped in the bloud of our enimies Psa 68.23 and the tongues of the dogges shall be red with the same So that a man shall saye verily there is a rewarde layde vp for the righteous Psa 38.11 doubtles there is a God that iudgeth the earth But shall we nowe become secure and cast away care shall we saye pax â—er 8.11 pax and all is well Non veniet super nos malum Mich. 3.11 The Spanyardes come no more Will you steale and murther â—er 7.9.10 commit adulterie and sweare falsly and yet come and stande before me saith the Lord and say we are deliuered though we haue committed all these abhominations Amos 6.3 shall we come before the Lorde with bloudie hands and gyltie hearts put farre off the euill day and approche to the seate of iniquitie and yet thinke to escape the iudgements of God O beloued take heede is a faire thing and happie they that be made warefull by the barmes of others For the mastife is beaten that the Lyon might couche T is plaine but a true and patheticall distichon Non vtbs non regio non aetas vlla seueri Iuditii exemplis non domus vlla caret No towne no lande no age nor house that time of grace contemnd But heauie iudgements fell for payt and wofull was the end When threatenings would not serue nor th' old world could be warned Gen. 7.21 then came the floode When dangers were forgotten Gen. 19.24 and Sodome grewe secure 2. Re. 17 then came fire from heauen When Israel the mount of the Lords in heritance waxed wilfull despised the Prophets then came Asshur the rodde of Gods wrath 2. Re. 25 When Iuda the signet of the Lords right hand became indurate and would not be reclaymed then came Nabucadnessar with fire and sword When Ierusalem sored with the Egle Lam. 1.1 made her nest among the starres Oh sudden was her downfall to sorrowe and desolation When the Brittaines would be wantons derided Gildas warnings then came the Romanes and then came their woe For Propter auaritiam rapinam principum propter iniquitatem iniustitiam Iudicum propter desidiam dissidium Episcoporum propter luxuriam impietatem populi patriam perdiderunt Britanni Will you know what rooted out the ancient Brittaines out of this land and brought a most lamentable face of a comon wealth vpon the same It was the couetousnes and oppressions of the Nobles and Peeres the iniuries extortions of the Iudges and Lawyers the slouth and dissention among the Bishops clergie the rowte and riot of the people and commons These these my
wicked plowe deepe furrowes vpon her back who notwithstanding as Hillarie saith doeth vincere cum leditur emergere cum premitur Psa 129.3 De Trinit lib. 7. exaltari cum humiliatur Shall not Gods souldiers march on maugre the malice of men proceed with S. Paul by honor dishonor 2. Co. 6.8 by euill report and good report c. sith the dearest Iewels be farthest fetcht the purest mettals haue deepest mynes difficilia quae pulchra For as custome though otherwise ofteÌ„ the broker of falshod hath fitly drawen the Poets verse into a prouerb of proofe Commoditus omnis sua fert incoÌ„moda secum Euen so aduisedly truely said Diodorus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diodorus And verilie aged is that sawe seasoned with long experience Quaenocent docent For schola crucis schola lucis S. Augustine writing of the constancie of Martirs in the grieuous persecutions of the church De Ciuit. dei li. 22. ca. 6. Ligabantur includebantur caedebantur saith he yea trucidabantur torquebantur lauiebantur But quenching all this crueltie in a word Multiplicabantur quoth he noÌ„ pugnantes pro salute fed salutem contemnentes pro seruatore The cause standing thus perdie the pilgrime that will walke to heauenward must put on the minde to ouerstride manie a stumbling blocke in the way and vndertaking his course nec temere nec timide must heedefullie passe the straightes per saxa per ignes euen through purgatorie it self curragiouslie mainteyning the race from the houre of his first breath vntill the last periode of his mortall life Where as one saieth Lachrimae prius nobis deerunt quam causa dolendi â—encea De â—it bre And no maruaile at all for he that wil be crowned must not grudg to be crossed sith no conflict no conquest no conquest no victorie nay the fiercer th' encounter the more glorious the triumph to him that holdeth out to the end Otherwise to begin with courage and to faile in the course is to loose the Bravium th'apostle proposeth to the runners And to fight for a while faint in the liftes is to gaine the opprobrium wherewith the Romanes vpbroyd the Carthagiman Captaine â— Cor. 9.24 vincerescis Hanniball vti victoria nescis As for me I assure your good L. I neuer abounded with that humour nor euer yet lahoured of their disease whore fingers tickle Prurigine scribendi For albeit manie a time before this day I haue beene beset with request of sundrie both in profession and vocation of the best yet could I neuer be induced to dinul gate my studies in writing for causes needles here to repeate though otherwise Gods Church be my witnes I neuer was nice to hide or withhold the dimitalent committed to my trust when or wheresoeuer it might doe good Howbeit after I had vpon speciall request preached this sermon and was eftsones laboured with assiduall entreatie in zeale of Gods glorie I dare saie to gather and penne the same that vnworthie tho it might become imprinted and imparted with mani Importunitie at last ouercame me to condiscend and extorted my promise to set it downe which as memorie would serue I haue precisely here performed as the learned of my coate with the other godly auditors of that presence where it was deliuered I thinke will auerre But yet with condition endorsed that your L. graue censure first confirming it to the prefle or commaunding it to sylence I would accordingly answere expectation with yea or naye Lo reuerend father how bluntly this my Rudis indigestaque moles presseth now vpon your charitable patience whose grauitie trial assureth mee is nothing delighted with the emptie soundes of hollowe eloquence but better contented with the frutefull forme of the wholesome documents Wherein how soeuer my iarrie stile go lymping lame and vnpleasant the matter I hope is both profitable and currant And that sufficeth me if the Lord shall sanctifie my sillie labour to some vse or other though to serue in the vtmost courtes of the temple For the poore widdowes mite where God is made vmpire shall alwayes ouer-ballance the superfluities of that sort who stande vpon their painted shea the to drawe a leaden dagger out of an Iverie scabberd Mar. 12.44 Luk. 21.2 And good father Latimers Newe yeares gyft to King Henrie the eight who when other Bishops sent rare and riche Iewels of golde and plate presented a faire newe Testament with a Hand-karcher wrought about the borders with this inscription and poesie Fornicatores adulteros iudicabit Deus â—eb 13.4 was for waight worth more valued in Gods accompt than those other rufling treasures that abounded in the Court. To conclude if in this my discourse hetherto subiect to the eare alone not the soundest witnesse among the sences but nowe to be stript to the eye it selfe the subtilest searcher of all the rest I haue erred in matter humanum est errare my L. but my amisse once discouered by the kenne of the learned Peccaui shall be my plea for hereticum esse nolo If otherwise by friuolous digression I haue vndiscreetly ranged without the ring of my compasse belike the man lost his waie ere he wist for that course was farre from my purpose and neuer in my custome as the best acquainted with my fashion can best tell But if anie thing here in be well or in any measure commen dable let the praise he the Lords the paine the authors and the profit the Readers that God which is all in all may haue all the glorie It only remaineth then that your good L. according to your wonted curresie woulde accept this at my hande as an infallible pledge of my obsequious minde and eftsones vouchsafe my feeble pilgrime to take vp his crutch and to wander as a stranger in the worlde vnder the couerture of your fauourable protection that so he may finde some harbor against the sturdie blastes and scornefull spite of malice malignitie The God of mercie and all consolation blesse your L. in your godlie cares for the Church and enlarge his graces vpon your heart chearing vp your aged daies with the gladsome presence of his blessed spirit to the aduauncement of his glorie and the auaile of his Zion Your L. much bounden in the Lorde to commaund Rob. Humston A Godlie Sermon preached at Reyfham Habakkuk Cap. 3. vers 3. God commeth from Teman and the holie one from mount Paran Selah His glorie couereth the Heauens and the earth is full of his praise THe Lord vouchsafing a long and most louing visitation to the people of Iuda and Ierusalem men and brethron in the Lord beloued and therein a franke gratious tender of mercie and sauing health by the mynisterie of the Prophets Such notwithstanding was their ingratitude and stubbornes that no Caueat coulde warne nor admonition pearse them no lenitie could bende nor seueritie breake them But wretchedly they would enter into opposicion against their
God and wilfully runne headlong vpon the pykes of his displeasure Whereupon he is constrained to procéede to execution of iustice against their rebellion and to this end as an instrument for the nonce stirreth vp Nabucadnesser the great king of Babell who in rage and furie with his Caldean armie inuading their countrie most lamentably sacketh spoileth the land of Iudea with fire and sworde and marching on with his cruell band towarde the holie Citie when by length of siege he had filled her families with famine and hunger her streetes with howling wringing of hands at the head of euery corner Ier. 19.9 at length he razeth her walles entreth the Citie with a fearefull alarme fiereth her pallaces spoyleth the temple maketh Ierusalem an heape of stones 2. Re. 25.7 and after sundrie presidents of other fearfull cruelties carrieth away both Prince and people captiues to Babilon All which desolations to befall the Church and to ouerwhelme Gods children our Habacuk foreseeing in the spirite of a Prophet to his no small greefe God wot and obseruing withall the flourishing estate and wished successe of the Chaldeans that godlesse and cursed nation thus insulting and triumphing ouer Gods people a thing to his seeming no lesse wonderfull and strange in this wofull instance of the vnequall lot of the godly and the wicked in this worlde Iob. 21.7 the godlye commonly languishing in myserie Ier. 12.1 the godlesse contrarily flourishing in felicitie Psa 73.3 he goeth about to tread the Laberinth and assayeth by reason to found the depth of Gods councels in this so harde a case But when the helpes of Nature will not reach the height of these iudgements at last as a â—an at his wittes ende he resolueth to stande vpon his watch to listen to the Lord alone Hab. 2.1 and to heare what he would saye to the matter and eftsones receiuing aunswere that howsoeuer the workes and wayes of God to the leuell of mans vnderstanding seeme confused and out of ioynt for his wayes are not our wayes nor his thoughtes our thoughtes Esai 55.8.9 yet for all that there is no Iudge more iust then God as Esdras saide nor any more wise then the most highest 2. Esd 7.17 Who standeth not bound to render a reason of his proceedings vnto men for who hath knowen the Lordes minde Ro. 11.34 or who hath he made of his counsaile Our Prophet nowe blushing at his former blindnes breaketh out in this Chapter into a Psalme of praise with earnest prayer for his so great ouersight and implying the ignorances of the people withall becommeth an humble suter in the Churches behalfe that sith remedilesse shee must into Babylon the Lorde woulde not yet so forsake her but when in depth of griefe and bottome of distresse her De profundis and prayer shoulde arise Psa 130. and as the incense ascend into his presence that then in wrath hee woulde remember mercie euen for his owne promise and names sake And grounding altogether vpon grace he falleth to enumeration and reckoning vp of the marueilous workes brought to passe in former time in the behalfe of this Nation And drawing an argument from the free loue of God in the wonderfull vocation and preseruation of this people he seemeth in great confidence to reason with the Lorde and to frame his demonstration after this manner It is vnlike nay vnpossible O Lorde that thou who in mercie hast numbred the haires of our heades shouldest once forgeat or forsake that people Mat. 10.2 towardes whome thy speciall mercies haue beene so often manifested of olde But this Nation of the Iewes is that people for whose sake thou hast wrought manye and marueylons thinges in tyme past Num. 21.34 stricken manie a fierce battaile vanquisht manye a mightie King Fed with Manna from heauen Iosua 12.9 Exo. 16.15 Exo. 44.22 Iosua 1. Led by wonder through the Sea and brought safe to the lande Therefore vnlike Oh Lorde nay vnpossible it is that thou shouldest nowe forget or forsake this people or suffer them to be swallowed vp with sorrowes in Babylon The Prophet hauing thus handle this argument before commeth nowe to prooue the Minor or latter proposition by sounde demonstrations drawen from the seuerall workes wonderfully brought to passe in fauour of this Nation And as the worthiest and for the excellencie thereof hee firste of all propoundeth the giuing of the Lawe in the texte which I haue taken which may be reduced to this forme That people to whome the Lorde vouchsafed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the giuing of the Lawe with an absolute abridgement of his owne blessed will so precisely written with his owne hande and so solemply promulgate in his owne presence when his glorie couered the heauens and the earth was full of his praise The same doubtles is the chosen inheritance and peculier people of God But in fauour of this people of the Iewes God commeth from Teman and the holie one from mount Paran where in thunder and wonder the Decalogue Law of Commandements was first promulgate and deliuered Therefore doubtles this people is the chosen inheritance and peculier people of God whom by consequent he will neuer forget nor forsake in their afflictions sith in their fauour and for this peoples sake God commeth from Teman and the holie one from mount Paran c. Which wordes my thought do imparte a secret but verie sweete allusion vnto Moses speach in affection iumping right and in phrase somewhat neare with our Prophet when vpon his death bed and in his last farewell to the people reisysing in his soule at the remembrance of Gods mercies so bountifully extended towards this nation ayming herein especially at the giuing of the Law saith he The Lorde came from Smay and rose vp from Seir vnto them he appeared clearely from mount Paran and came with ten thousands of Angels Deut. 33.2 and a fierie lawe at his right hand Where first the occasion of the words in mâ— vnderstanding offereth two things for our bâ—â—rning in Habacuk his example before we come to handle the text it selfe The first is his great and tender care for and in the Churches behalfe expressed by his ardent affection in bemoning her calamitie onus a burthen vpon his heart Hab. 1.1 for so he beginneth his Prophesie and withall by his earnest intreating for her reliefe The second his confidence relying in Gods free mercie for her deliuerie manifested also by his assured depending vpon Gods fauour the verie life of his hope established vpon the strength of the couenant Of both which I would speake some what by way of obseruation but verie briefely and so passe to my texte And first the Prophets sweete affection towardes the Church and people of God a speciall good part alwayes in a good Pastor teacheth mynisters of the worde whatsoeuer they beare not alone to be instant in season and out of season
still voyce that cheareth the conscience And thus are we come from Taeman vnto Canaan from Paran vnto Sion from a condemning law to a reconciling Gospell from a fearfull Iudge to a mercifull Sauiour and thus at last we are come home from the lande and people of Iudaea to the realme and people of England Mat. 11.31 And nowe will I deale with the last circumstance to wit the ende and vse of Gods comming in these wordes The earth is full of his praise Wherein I will be short and conclude with an application of the matter of this my tedious discourse to the time and state wherin we liue and so will I bequeath you to the Lorde Where first the point I touched in a worde at my entrance if ye remember to wit the excellencie of this worke and mercie of God towardes the Nation and people of the Iewes in gining them the Lawe commeth nowe to a further consideration and calleth vs except we will be like Horse and Moyle that haue no vnderstanding Psa 32.9 to a more deepe and serious meditation and examination of the inspeakable mercie of the Lord our God towardes our Nation and people of England in vouchsafing vs the Gospell and in continuing the same now full thirtie yeares expired with diligence preached in our coastes For this Gospels sake blessing vs still by all this space aboue other Nations with happie peace a blessed Queene a renowmed gouernement a reuerende mynisterie a godly maiestracie and what not besides to our good This Gospel hath beene the fame and renowme the defence and glorie 2. Re. 2.11 the chariots and horsemen of England to this present day hour This Gospell hath posted through citie countrie without ceasing to teach and to instruct to correct and to comfort 2. Ty. 3 1â— to call sinners vnto repentance to gather the dispersed to heale the broken hearted Esa 61.1.2 to preach the acceptable daye of the Lorde And all this my brethren hath beene the time yea the long and blessed time of our planting dressing and springing Esa 5.1 the Lorde hath long expected and euen to this houre looketh to gather and reap the grapes of our vine the fruites of our figg tree and the haruest of our so long and pleasant spring Luk. 13 6 The Lord looketh for the sheaues of our obedience Mat. â— 37 repentance faith mercie and the feare of his name with conscience to walke before him in holines and righteousnes all the dayes of our life The end of all is Psa 76.1 that God might be well knowen in Iudaea and that his name might be great in Israel that his feare might dwell in our lande and saith my text that the earth may be full of his praise But alas and thrise alas therefore the Lord hath a quarrell yea a double quarrel against our lande the trespas yea trespas vpon trespas is committed in Citie and Countren and at the corners of each streete the Indictment is drawen against vs and the declaration put vpon the file by the Prophet Hoseah as the Lordes actuarie in this sort Ho. 4.12 There is no trueth nor mercie nor knowledge of God in the lande The euidence followeth and is giuen by him that will be accuser witnesse and Iudge against vs and this it is Swearing and lying killing and stealing and whooring Inundauerunt haue broken all woonted boundes and ouerflowed the face of the earth and what more Sanguis sanguinem tetigit Bloud hath touched bloude One sinne ingendreth another The cruelties committed in the extreame partes of the lande from the East and from the West from the North and from the South haue met together mingled themselues in the bulke and middest of the lande and Sanguis sanguinem tetigit A gréenous accusation you will saye but not fit for this presence A fearfull controuersie of the Lordes but not well applyed to this people Well if you will pardon mee to saye as Ambrose did vnto Theodosius Amb. Epist â—9 li. 5 Neque Imperiale est dicendi libertateÌ„ negare Neque sacerdotale quod sentiat non dicere Neither becommeth it the Emperour to forbidde free speach Nor beseemeth it the preacher to forbeare the presence I shall be content to ouerpasse the grosse enormities whereof the Holye Ghost doeth fare the multitude in the wordes of the Prophet Which palpable offences be daily whipped out of our streetes and commonly condemned at open Barre And I wil come to lurking and lurching sinnes euen to trespas of bloud not so easely discerned nor so seuerely punished and yet by your leaue more accustoniably committed and dailye perpetrated amongest vs. For howsoeuer men can washe with Pilate and ouerweene to haue cleane handes and cleare hearts from this accusation of bloud Mat. 27.24 yet must I laye it somewhet nearer the conscience For it is Gods cause and therefore to be handled indifferently without respect of honour or office degree or dignitie sith sinne is the same and sauoureth of the soile though enbalmed with perfumes though clad vpon with veluet or sattin or yet cloaked with scarlet or purple Then sith plaine dealing best pleaseth God and good men enter I pray into your selues common with your owne hearts and be still But tell me tell me can you be perswaded there be none among vs that kéepe iudgement from the poore Zeph. 33 make widdowes their praye Esai 10.2 and the fatherles their spoyle Exo. 22.22 Be there but a fewe trowe ye that by vsuries cruell trade deuour the needie Exo. 22.25 and féede vpon the flesh of those that fall into their nettes Deu. 23.19 Be there no oppressours of their brethren Pro. 28.8 that quenche their daily thirst with the teares of women and children Zach. 7.10 making breache of bands better than their landes and grinding the faces of such as are taken in their snares Be there no carrie tales that giue Ioabs stabbe with Iudas kisse Leu. 19.16 no byting slaunderers that make lying their custome Psal 15.3 and delight to dye their tongues in the bloud of their brethren as Chrisostome speaketh Pro. 26.20 Be there think you no secrete lurchers that store vp violence in the counting house Pro. 22.22 and robb the poore of their contributions for their owne aduantage Amos 8.4 I praye God the false witnes and the suborner Deu. 19.19 the corrupt questman and extorcioner bee not founde with the rest Mich. 3.11 in our Counties and at our Sessions in our Cities and euen at our sermons And if they be God geue them eares to heare and hearts to repent in time to iudge themselues lest they be condemned of the Lord for all these be bloudie sinnes and all such persons bloudsuckers indicted of the blond of Gods people Againe Exod. 22 26 27 the poore mans pledge wrongfully withholden the labourers hire kept backe till the morning the buildings enlarged