a refuge to Protestants should now occasion their weakening 4. Consider the little benefit that will accrew by bloudshed now if it want guilt In some waies and sufferings the losse of bloud may yeeld sweet fruit and we may expect increase by it Sanguinis Martyrum semen Ecclesiae Martyrs Bloud is the Churches Seed So in our Marian sufferings I am confident God hath blessed the Land with more faithfull Preachers and Professors by the Preaching of our Martyrs bloud who being dead yet speake then their labours would have procured had they lived out that ordinary time that in reason and nature they might but no such crop can be expected from the bloud now shed 5. The hazzard that must be run who knowes where victory will light and if it light on the side of those that are most averse to Peace by Treaty in what case will that Liberty and Religion c. be that they most tender It is not good to hazzard all when we may by Treaty obtaine that which we would and might heretofore have rested contented with and thankfull for 6. And what must become of poore Ireland Must we still complaine to God that it is called an out cast that no man seeketh after and yet not take courses that may hasten her reliefe which sure is likelier to be hastened by our closure by Treaty than expecting an end by the Sword 7. And me thinkes it should somewhat move moderate spirits to consider who they have been that have been most averse to an end by Treaty VVere not Papists used to cry out on the one hand that they were undone when hopes of Accommodation appeared while the most Hereticall Sectaries looked blacke on the other hand Are they not the most dangerous on both sides that would have no peace with a King or with a Parliament Sure then all that feare the dangers of extreames should close in their desires and endeavours for Peace by such a Treaty as might preserve both King and Parliament with the Royalties of the one and the Priviledges of the other 8. Nor should that be of least weight with us that is here hinted in the Text The Rider as our Gyffard saith on this red horse is the Devill his worke it is to take Peace from the earth that men might kill one another so that they that lay any Remora in the way of Peace they are but the devils Agents who doth either blow up their corruption as in those Persecutors who played the devill Rev. 2.10 Some of you shall Sathan cast into prison not immediately but by his Agents or else he doth abuse their simplicity as sometimes he did Peters to Christ when he thus rebuked him get thee behind me Sathan Mat. 16.23 But there is an Objection or two that needs solution Obj. 1 Some may thinke that if we have Peace with Treaty we shall not have all truth Ans 1 It is true that Truth and Holinesse are more precious than Peace and we must not let go either for outward Peace for that were to part with God for man Heaven for earth Inward for outward Peace which were a sinfull and foolish change but yet First I say by Treaty we may have publiquely all the Peace that it is lawfull for us to fight for which we have protested to maintaine that is all that is contained in the Doctrine of the Church of England established by Law Secondly I say If any errour be left we shall not be accessary to it having within our Spheare profest against it and endeavoured the eradication of it Thirdly We may for our owne particular hold all truth and purity that is a Legacy that Christ hath purchased for us that none can take away They may trouble and molest us for it but cannot without our owne consent dispoyle us of it Fourthly We may have publiquely more truth setled by Treaty than we are like to have by Victory on either side we have had experience on the one side already And I beleeve few of you doubt of my Assertion if Victory should fall on the other Obj. 2 But some may thinke that this is not a fit time to Treate till the Forces up against the Parliament be reduced but then it will be seasonable Ans To omit other things that might be answered to this Objection I answer briefly Though the oppositions that be now raised against the Parliament make it somewhat inconvenient to Treat in some respects yet in some other it makes it more necessary A Treaty I confesse is not so honourable when in any degree enforced and it is convenient that it should be done with the greatest tranquility and freedome but that opportunity being lost now the Force that is up doth necessitate it if we will prevent grievous and hazzardous slaughter And therefore for my part I cannot but wonder that any wise men though never so opposite to conjunction with other Forces risen should not think them a just occasion though not to precipitate yet to hasten a Treaty seeing else so great slaughter is like to be because now as it followes in the Text there is given to them a great Sword that may shed much precious bloud But something is requisite in us to promote Peace besides endeavouring Treaty for we must study every one of us to be fit for the returne of Peace God gives it and God takes it away and God waites to be gratious giving mercies to his people when they are fit for them Now we are fit for Peace first when we rightly prize it which want of it should and may teach us for Bona carendo c. Good things are best knowne in their value by our wanting them when we prize a blessing we will be thankefull for it Secondly when we are fitted to improve it when we are broken for and healed of all our abuses of it when we can looke upon it as a gracious opportunity to do more good and resolve by way of thankfulnesse so to improve it Thirdly when God hath done his whole good worke upon us by War Isa 10.7 12. when we are refined humbled and brought to repent of all those sins which have brought the judgement of War upon us 2 Chr. 12.6 7 8. 2. We must study to make our peace with God his Controversie with us is the root of all Controversies among our selves 3. We must not only petition men but God and that with such earnestnesse sincerity and importunity as such a mercy should be sought and then God will returne our peace as a river which the Lord vouchsafe Soli Deo gloria FINIS An Appendix holding forth the occasion of Preaching and the cause of publishing this plaine Sermon Christian Reader THou mayest understand that on Friday in the afternoone Iuly 14. an earnest suit was moved to me from Dr. Gouge and Dr. Burgesse to supply Dr. Burgesses place at Pauls the Lords day following and withall an offer made of sufficient supply for my charge that
accessary to that any way promote it or hinder it not Quod est causa causae est causa causa causati Now men may further and be accessary to VVar morally or Physically 1. Morally So such as are guilty of those sins that make God an enemy and provoke him to grant out a Commission as here for the taking away of peace Sin is the first moving cause of VVar The Master wheele that sets all other on worke and tampering with other things are usually frustrate till this be rectified And that is the apparant reason why so many attempts for accommodation among us have been uselesse whatever were the next cause sin unreformed was the remote and meritorious cause VVhat peace saith Iehu to Ioram so long as the whoredomes of thy mother Jezabell and her witchcrafts are so many 2 Kings 9.22 And therefore the VVars that have wasted the people of God have been usually charged on their sins that oppression by Iabin Iudges 4. is charged on their Idolatry Iudg. 5.8 They chose new Gods then was VVar in their Gates c. That Civill VVar made by Absalom 2 Sam. 15. was but the scourge of Davids scandall occasioning Blasphemy as the threatning shewes 2 Sam. 12.11 with 2 Sam. 16.22 Those Adversaries that molested Salomons peace 1 Kings 11.14 23. and Shishakes drawing the sword upon Rehoboam were but the punishment of their Apostacy as was that also by the Assyrians on Ioash 2 Chron. 12.1 2 3. 2 Chro. 24.24 VVhy was the latter end of Asaes raign molested with VVars but for his confiding in man and not resting on God 2 Chro. 16.7 9. VVhy were the Assyrians let in on the Israelites but for their hypocrisie and formality Isa 10.6 7. VVhy was that great desolation brought upon Israel by the Babylonians but for their sins chiefly for that of Oppression and Bloud Lam. 4.12 13. The Kings of the earth and all the Inhabitants of the world would not have thought that the adversary and enemy should have entered into the Gates of Jerusalem For the sins of her Prophets and the iniquities of her Priests that have shed the bloud of the just in the midst of her And what was the cause of this red Horse following the white but the contempt of the Gospell and persecution of it by the heathen Emperours and their Agents and Followers And therefore those that are guilty of these and the like sins we may say of them as Ieremiah to Zedekiah in case he followed not his counsell Ier. 38.23 And thou shalt cause this City to be burnt with fire So they by their sins and impenitency have ministred fuell to begin and prolong our civill flame which will be no small aggravation of their sin that this might awaken the sinners in Sion and help to breake them for and from their sins that have such an influence on this desolating stroake on their deare Country and Brethren 2. Physically as proper efficients or nourishing causes of it So some that count it their trade their harvest and therefore now others have begun it they will keep it up They know not how to live or maintaine their humour and lusts without it Others that in another kind advance their interest by it they know how to warme themselves by that fire which burnes others They have profitable offices can command and rule keep off accounts c. Some well affected to peace in the generall yet thinke this is not a fit time to endeavour peace by Treaty till all opposite force be laid whose objection we shall answer anon what ever the cause be that make men averse to Treaty and so willing to prolong Civill VVar it wants not guilt though the worse the cause the worse is the effect that flowes from it These will be accessar to the slaughter of men and judged cruell on whom the thought of destruction of their brethren hath no more working Can any tell on which side the slaughter will most fall On which side soever it fall are not the slaine the slaine of the daughter of our people And you know what a corrasive that was to Ieremiahs heart when the people of his time were as wicked as those of our time be O that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountaine of teares that I might weepe day and night for the slaine of the daughter of my people Ier. 9.1 Surely such a temper would never have produced an impediment to the closing of our breach by Treaty I may therefore leave a blacke note on those that retard the restoring of Peace though with some distinction of bad or worse accordingly as there is weakenesse or pravity in the cause from which it flowes Use 3 Thirdly And last may be to quicken us all to study the recovery of peace because without peace nothing is seen or can be expected but mutuall slaughter and this slaughter will not want bitternesse nor guilt while we move not every stone for a well grounded peace All are for peace but some would have it by the Sword their word is Ense pacem petimus Others would have it by Treaty Now here is an argument to encline to seeke Peace by Treaty because till Peace is recovered men will kill one another And to this we may adde these following considerations Motive 1 1. We have had experience of conquest on one side already and have found that the Sword prevailing on one side will not make lasting Peace neither is this apparant in moderne experience only but in ancient also It was neither the vanquishing of Richard the Second or Henry the Sixth No nor the death of either that did or could settle this Kingdome in a firme Peace nor any thing else but an accommodation in the union of the Roses in Henry the Seventh Heire of the House of Lancaster matching with the Daughter and Heyresse of the House of York This was the only cure under God of our longest Civill VVars it may be the Sword on the other side may make Peace but with danger of that slavery that I beleeve you are sufficiently apprehensive of but on the other part the Sword is not like to make a setled Peace without Treaty and Accomodation 2. Consider our War is a Civill War wherein the Land bleeds and is weakened on both sides and loseth those many times that may stand her in stead both in Peace and Forraign VVars which consideration would be the more weighty if we would remember that witty Observation of the Duke of Rohan England is a great Animall that cannot dye unlesse it kill it selfe being so warned shall we hold up the only course for selfe destruction 3. Consider the dependance that one Church hath upon another that in the strength or weakenesse of one all other are weakened or strengthened So that in Englands wounds all Protestant Churches suffer and will easilier be a prey to any of the Limbes of Antichrist and what a sad thing were it that England that hath been
afternoone This sute being so prest being so small for but the exchange of a Sermon and by such Persons I could not be so uncivill as to reject Prov. 18.24 He that hath friends must shew himselfe friendly The next day when I was to make my preparation I fell into a distemper with a cold affecting one side of my head and face which unfitting me in a great degree for study I was forced to make use of old store And casting in my thoughts what subject to pitch upon at length I determined on this Subject Rev. 6.4 For though I have alwaies thought it basenesse below a Christian to serve the times yet I have thought it wisdome requisite in a Minister to sute the times with a fit Subject yea part of that prudence whereby he is to shew himselfe a workman that needs not to be ashamed dividing the word of Truth aright Now at that time the City was intent upon Peace to be procured by Treaty which worke though generally well accepted yet finding some discouragement I thought by the mischiefe of War to take occasion to incourage them in the pursute of Peace in that way that might soonest end and best prevent the sad consequences of our unnaturall war being thus called to this Pulpit and inclined to this Subject I preacht this Sermon in a great and very attentive Auditory and then thought that worke had been at an end But contrary to mine expectation not long after I heard of a rumour spread not in the City only but even in the Country of a notorious malignant Sermon preacht by me at Pauls And this brought to me by and from persons not to be contemned This I confesse moved me for true Malignancy is of that nature and even reputed Malignancy of that evill consequence that as Ierome saith of Heresie it is an accusation that a man should not be patient under patient in regard of murmuring fretting revenging we should be under all crosses but patient in regard of neglecting just and vigorous vindication we should not be in such calumnies as this of Malignancy For a Malignant notes out such an one as hath evill will at and doth set himselfe to hinder the publique weale of Church or State I know the tearme is usually cast by men in all times of difference on those that side not with any Party in those waies that they deeme for publique weale though in themselves never so destructive So Eliah was counted a Malignant by Ahab 1 King 18.17 And Ieremy too in his time for perswading submission to the King of Babylon as weakening the hands of the men of War c. Ier. 38.4 But true Malignity is enmity to weale publique and by that imputation men intend to blast all those that dance not after their Pipe And he that is guilty of such Malignity is a pest or viper in that Church or State which he malignes Yet a while I contented my selfe with that brazen wall of a good conscience Murus aheneus esto nil conscire sibi as thinking it sufficient defence against those arrowes of the tongue but they encreasing and considering that observation of the wise Historian Periculosum est solâ innocentiâ vivere Livy In distempered times especially it is dangerous to have no other guard but innocency I thought some necessity layd upon me to vindicate my reputatition from such a crime And resolving upon defence I knew no better nor no other than a naked representation of that Sermon to the eyes of all that was so severally relisht by the eares in hearing And to this I was the easilier induced because at the earnest desires of some that approved it I had engaged my selfe to draw out a faire copy of it I remember a Story of Sophocles Who being accused by his Sons for dotage that by the opinion of the Iudges they might enter on his Estate in this hazzard having in his hands the Comedy Oedipus Colonaeus which he had last composed is said to have recited that to the Iudges and demanded of them whether they thought that those were the verses of a doter Whereupon Sententiis judicium liberatus est Cicero de senectute The Iudges freed him from the accusation In like manner my Sermon being accused for Malignancy I knew no better way of defence than a publication of it as neere as I could verbatim especially in Points whereat exceptions were taken with this appeale to the conscience of the Reader Num verba haec maligni videantur whether these seem to be the words of a Malignant Is it Malignancy to charge sin as the greatest breaker of our peace and sinners as the greatest troublers of Israel To presse them by repentance to deliver England out of the hand of the Lord Is it Malignancy to set out the sin and danger of Warre to incline the hearts of men to embrace and to quicken the endeavours of men to pursue Peace Is it Malignancy when God hath put into the hands of each side a great Sword and the Land is dayly wounding dismembring and so disgracing weakening indangering it selfe to perswade to seeke peace by Treaty and that speedily seeing we perish dayly If this be Malignancy I confesse there was store in the Sermon but Scriptures must be made Apocrypha and the nature of things inverted before such lessons as these can be noxious to Church or State All pretend to Peace nor will many be seene to be against the way of Peace by Treaty I have read an Expression in an Answer to a Petition of the Seamen wherein the House of Commons is said to take notice of their approbation of the Votes touching a Treaty for the matter being for Peace no good man but desires it If peace be the desire of all good men and a Treaty be the readiest way to effect it It is the most irrationall thing in the world to traduce a Sermon for Malignancy wherein that is chiefly aymed at that all good men desire But when men are earnest for Peace those whose guilt or interest drawes them another way to burthen them with prejudice cry out they would have Peace on any termes They would have Peace without Truth But how untruly and irrationally is this objected against them that now plead for Peace by Treaty Being so many and great things have been often offered by the King to draw on Treaty in other things which the pressers for Peace do generally take for granted that the King will still make good if Treaty on those Offers be granted but if it still be denyed and inconveniences follow I am sure the pressers for Treaty would be most innocent of those evill consequences that the Land is like to be endangered with for want of it And for truth or purity I know not what cause any man hath to suspect the sincerity or measure of my respect to either it being no great secret that I have for respect to them neglected my owne private interest above this 20. yeares being continually if not under a storme yet under a cloud for adherency to truth and purity And me thinkes any man may very well perceive now that without Peace we are like to have neither truth nor holinesse Nothing being a greater blasting to either than a continued Civill War Who knowes not that Religion hath ever gained by suffering Sanguis Martyrum semen Ecclesiae Martyrs Bloud was the Churches Seed But who can tell where it gained by warring Our experience tells us that when Ministers in England were bound the Word of God was not bound never were more converted from nature to Grace nor was there ever a more sensible encrease of the power of Godlinesse but since the Ministers have been at large hath not the Word of God been bound The complaint being generally of the barrennesse of the Ministry and but few converted in comparison of those who are scandalized perverted And therfore I speak the truth in Christ The main groūd that hath moved me to that earnestnesse for Accommodation which I have expressed formerly as well as of late hath been my tender respect to the honour power and truth of Religion which never suffered more by any accident than by this unnaturall War And if there be not the sooner an honourable Peace I am affraid Conclamatum est we may hang up our harpes for the exile of Piety and sit downe and weepe bitterly when we remember our Sion Therfore if pursute of Peace be deemed Malignancy I shall not only dye in it but if need be I hope dye for it but other Malignancy that is truly such I renownce Farewell FINIS