integrity obedience more beautifying then a Crowne performed to Gods command in sincerity This will doe it even all the fore-mentioned And we are convinced hereof by a common light and naturall principles and can conclude therefrom when we are our selves that vve should give out our strength and be most active for the first and last thing in the PROTESTATION To maintaine RELIGION in it's purity and the BROTHER-HOOD in Sincerity for therein are contained the very strength and spirits of the Covenant as hath been said and cannot be to often thought upon But now vvhat blunts the edge of our indeavours and affections this way comes now seriously to be considered on ¶ 3. Our Priests who pretend to lead us mislead us destroying all that the Church doth for our building up to the subverting of our soules and the putting out of a common light by their common and unclean conversation The Church points us to a more excellent way VVE are naturally blind and cannot see farre off * 2 Pet. â— 9. We are not instructed to discretion not so discerning as to approove the things that are excellent much lesse to contend for them And a great cause hereof is we are naturally stupid and blind a spirit of infirmity naturally boweth dovvne but I say a chief cause is without us in our guides and leaders for the most part blind and yet they leade us Many of them preach once in a Yeare perhaps some of them once a Moneth and not a sound word of Doctrine then comes from them but their TEXT Their practise is as bad it corrupts like a canker We observe that and nothing else we see they oversee nothing amongst us with any care or diligence but their Easter-booke and their Tythes all the yeare after That hath been the complaint against Bishops from Dayes of old to this present Day a See Hist of the Councel of Trent 2. p. 252. p. 216. Non magis de paÌ„scenâ—o grege cogi tant quam sutor de arando Pastors now a dayes the werst part of the think no more of feeding the flock then a Cobler do's of the plough Cal Ins 4. cap. 5. Sect. 1â— 13. And if our SEERS doe so we think and are perswaded we may do so too mind Earth and do well enough for Heaven for they do so and yet they know better and see farther then wee can see for they are called Seers The Lord unscale their eyes and unvaile their hearts and deliver His people from these murderers because of whom the Churches soul is wearied b Ier 4. 31. The Lord stirre up your hearts to pitty the Countryes round about yet more For vve are in a sad condition if we saw it Our Teachers are as you heare and the People content to have it so Truly had not the Oppressor touched us in that we make our god outward profits and Priviledges vve should never have complained what violence the Priests had done to the Law of God to the House of God to His vvorship there we regarded not but what violence the Judges did to the Laws of Man that we regarded and then vve could howle Truly we mind not what bands you have broke nor what yoakes c Facile est quicquid in praesenti seculo nocet illud grave illud perniciosum quod in aeternitate iugulabit Salv dâ— Eccl. Cath. l 2. 410. you have taken off the necks of Ministers Nor that you have advanced the Scepter of the Lord Christ and that worship which is according to the Rule and mind of God these things we mind not No nor that you have troubled the troublers the Achans That you have searched their Tents and found out the Babilonish garments We regard these things no more then Gallio did the beating of Sosthenes for so we are instructed Our Prophets for the most part prophesie to us of wine and strong drinke which pleaseth the sense well and our walking is thereafter we regard only our Oyle and Wine And yet upon sadder thoughts vvhen we think as men we are halfe convinced That this our walking is not right That rivers of Oyle and wine i. e the marrovv and fatnesse and fullnesse of the world is but emptinesse and will â—ot satisfie All this reacheth but to the body no farther and vvill leave us or vve them on this side the grave We can consider sometimes that vve have a Spirit within us vvhich is called the soule a vast large and capacious thing It can measure and graspe all the fore-mentioned all the things in the world and when all is done find but an emptinesse in all We are able to consider That the vvorld cannot satisfie this soule no more then can the East-wind the stomach It is Heaven and the great things there which can satisfie this great capacity vvhich can vviden and stretch forth it selfe like the Heavens The soule may goe from creature to creature as the Bee from flower to flower and be as restlesse still and as unquiet in its motion as is the needle not pointed right and so must be till it be pointed stedfast to Heaven All this vve can consider and upon due consideration approove the things that are excellent But then we behold our Priests and are quite off againe seeing them vvalke like men nay many of them more like beâ—sts I would rather my tongue were silent in darknes then it should cast a note of contempt upon outward civility These have not so much but as beasts could they phancy happines would place it in fat pastures and sweet waters so do these droves and heards of men This is a mighty snare unto us lead not so much by rule as by example * Persuadeâ— lingua iubet vitae Athan. ad Monachos The Tongue perswades the life commands We consider not what ought to be done but what is done by our betters and thereafter we practise as our leaders do as if what they did vvere well done and as if outvvard things could inwardly satisfie This digression is necessary declaring how our minds stand Now I must shew That the Church is of another mind and so make vvay to the scope ¶ 4. The Church desires to prosper as her soul may prosper Contends for the advancing of Christs Kingdom prefers inward enlargements before outward priviledges ESaues ENOVGH a Gen. 33. 9. Gen. 6. will not content the Church though that be much or a great deale Iacobs ENOVGH b Gen. 33. 9 1â— only contents her which inwardly satisfies and fills up the vast capacity of the soule This God alone doth Who is Iacobs ENOVGH for HE is ALL. The Churches Sons and Dâ—ughters looke after those things which may further them in their way Heaven-ward such things as will make their soules to prosper are to their mind and heart They looke after spirituâ—ll enlargements they would have their Lord Christ to be highly â—dâ—anced in the world It would rejoyce them at the heart to see
they vvould have So he said What were these gods Stocks and Stones some of them Divels few did him a little good at somtime in conceit the most a great deal of hurt but he offered so liberally to all because he would please all that some might do him good others might doe him no hurt d Aust de civit l. 8 13. Placâ—ndi sunt Dij mali ne laedâ—nt boâ—â—i invocandi ut profiâ—â— Enquire now and so thou shalt understand His Will the better VVhat is thy God As we reade The God That made the Heaven and the Earth The Father of the Lord Jesus Christ the God before whom thou dost walk b Gen 49. 25. the God Who hath fed thee all thy life long unto this Day The God Almighty Who hath blessed us with the blessings of Heaven above blessings * Gen. 4. 15. of the deep that lieth under blessings of the brest and of the womb But when I have said God I have said all Mercy goodnesse wisdome power riches all only this was not said That He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Sonne c. What wilt thou do now for this God and His Christ Thou wilt understand what His will is first Thou dost well So thou shalt His will shall be cleared unto you as the Sunne beame This is His will even thy Sanctification c 1 Thes 4. 3. His will the very Law of His will but His will is His Law an holy Law and His will revealed is our Law that wee should sanctifie His Name aâ—d His Day heare His word aâ—d doe it that is His will walke as people in Covenant with Him as children of the light honestly d Rom. 13. 13. as in the Day soberly righteously and godly in this present world e Tit. 2. 12. not in rioting and drunkennesse not in strife and envying not as Arabians Sabeans and Chaldeans Papists and Atheists men without God in the world robbing spoyling pillaging not as the fishes in the Sea where the greater devoure the lesser a Hab. 1. 14. not as Devils b 1 Tim. 2. 12. slandring each other not as his eldest sonnes children of Beliall breaking yoakes and casting away bands and girdles under a pretence of being freed from fetters not so for this is after the lust of the Divell most contrary to the will of God which is as was said Holy just and good It is impossible we should be ignorant of it Why then Thou knowest what the will of thy God is and Thou seest Who steere their course thereafter by the helpâ— of God and the Law You see who doe contend for the Faith for Religion for thâ— Gospell call it what you will It is that whereto the Prophets and Apostles have sealed and so transmitted it to the generations following and from them it came streaming downe unto us in the blood of the Martyrs under the shadow whereof this Church hath enjoyed her Sabbaths rest and peace these foure-score yeares and upward So long have we set in peace under this coveâ—ing For this the Nobles have contended and are resolved to resist the opposers of it unto blood And is it not Gods will they should so doe Yes more cleared unto them then if it could have bin written with the Sunne beame And is it not their bounden duty so to doe No question to be made of that when it is clearly the will of God But I would rather their children shâ—uld answer here Certainly haâ— these Nobles failed at this point had they not given out their Male their strength in the managing thiâ— great businesse had they not contended here then had their Descendents put up a complaint against them doubled the same as we reade Bloody Fathers have ye bin to Exod. 4. 25. us bloody Fathers ye are Yee contended not for Religion ye neglected that ye were carelesse thereof and so of the good estate of future times unnto which ye knew ye must transmit and commend-over us your dearest pledges bloody Fathers ye are so they had complained Blessed be God they knew the will of their Lord and their bounden dutie and have done thereafter they have contended for this Faith and they will contend what is their life to them oâ— what regard to a new bâ—rne son If ICHABOD where is the glory that is gone They will contend for the Glory they will keepe it they are resolved so so to contend even as for life Ob. What contend against their King Is that the will of God An. A sillie Objection I had almost said wicked They contend for the King for the maintaining his Crowne Peace and Dignitie They contend for the maintenance of Religion and that is like the maintaining a Ship in a Tempest a sillie willâ—ull man and let him perish if he be not a sleepe that will not put forth his hand to maintaine the Ship now in distresse of weather if that lives he lives if that drowns be drownes Truly I have said all I can saie They that contend to maintaine Religion doe as those who contend to save their ship save that and that will save them The Nobles doe contend to maintaine Religion that ship and in so doing they contend for their King his life and peace for his everlasting Crown for the peace and honour of his people for the safetie of his Kingdomes that they may be the head and not the tailâ— the most honourable of Kingdomes All this they doe contend for for they contend for Religion that ship which carries three Kingdomes in it at once peace safetie lives liberties and all And is it not the will of God they should so contend It were folly to answer for it is blasphemie to doubt Then what wilt thou doe to helpe them and their cause against the Mightie It is the greatest the most hopefull cause the best the plainest and clearest as cleare as the Sunne beame the most legible cause that ever was heard or read of in the world What wilt thou doe now to rescue thy King from out of the hands of Murtherers The Land from out of the hands of spoylers The Laws of God and man from sons of Belial who would make all void What wilt thâ—u doe to helpe the Lord against these Nimrods mightie huâ—ters What wilt thou doe I say to helpe God and the cause of Christ Neither of them both do need thee He Whose cause it is can manage it without thee But so He is pleased to honour His Servants by calling them forth to helpe Him against the mighty And what wilt thou doe for Hâ—m and His cause Who was made a curse for thee gave His blood for thee what wilt thou doe for Him It is His will and command both that thou shouldest give in thy helpe the Male of thy flocke thy strength and chiefe of thy substance to Him and thou hast heard what an Heathen will doe in such a case then thou wilt
is hers and She hath enough for He is all things All things in Heaven and in Earth worke for her good She looks abroad in the World and behold â—ercies before and behinde and on each hand Truly the Church cannot tell what to record next but much is to be recorded before She comes to that which is expected Indeed her good Lord blessed for ever hath dealt to her such a largesse of good things according to His rich bounty even in earthly matters under Moone comforts That She can resolve upon no other way but this being amidst a throng of Mercies which now presse in upon her even to Record Thanke and Praise the Lord for Hâ—s free grace towards her so abuâ—dantly shewed in this That He hath not charged upon her the dayes of her forgetfulnesse When She did not record and render backe according as She had received Her Lord hath forgiven much this way unto her and therefore She loveth much for how few of many Mercies are recorded and fewer yet had their full weight of Thanks and praise from her Mercies When She speaks of them She is confounded and as one in a maze Mercies cloathe her Mercies feed her Mercies uphold her every moment She lyeth downe with them riseth up with them Mercies privative Mercies positive Preventing Mercies Following Mercies Crowning Mercies Mercies to the outward man Mercies to the inward man How many Aske rather how many Sands there be and the number of the Starres But there is One for all A comprehensive Mercy indeed and the fountaine of all From Him that is from Christ All flow downe unto her and are a purchase of bloud And truly She saith heartily She is not thankfull for Christ not for that unspeakable gift not according as She hath received and that is her shame and trouble both It is her wonder and shame and sorrow all three That Mercies should be continually in her sence She sees them and tastes them and feeles them and yet so little in her mind O blessed be God Who hath not charged upon her the dayes of forgetfulnesse Recording Thanking Praising is the only Tribute Taxation or Impost which the Lord hath set upon all things He gives us richly to enjoy The Earth shall give in unto thee her fruitfulnesse not the least herbe there but is for thy meat or thy medicine So the Waters so the Ayre the variety of Inhabitants therein So the Heavens the Starres and influences there-from All shall give forth their strength besides their homage and Tribute to man their Lord But now he must remember this Tribute to God And yet how is that forgotten Heare what the Lord saith My flaxe and my Wooll all are His even the Beasts upon a thousand Mountaines are to cloathe thee My Oyle and my Wine to refresh Thee My Wheate and my Barley to be a stay and staffe unto Thee Only record these Mercies acknowledge the Giver and pay Him His Tribute Thanks and Praise Good Lord how short are we herein in rendring back Nay the Church doth say so and yet her Lord hath passed it over and in this way of loving kindnesse hath forgiven much She hath no more to say but this Therefore She loveth much And yet I must adde this for it is according to the mind of the Righteous They remember notonly Their forgetfulnesse of mercies but their unfruitfulnesse under them Their abuse of them Their security Yea and their rebellion also The more the Mercies were the more secure they were The fuller the Pasture was the more they kicked with the heele fighting sometimes against God with His own weapons But sith their God hath passed over all this Therefore they love much CHAP. III. Dayes of Affliction Dayes of blessing for so the Lord hath altered them and sweetned these to the Church SECT I. Afflictions must be reckoned among the Blessings ANd thus for Mercies which properly and in their owne Nature are so and sence can relish so Now the Church must record her afflictions and sorrowes for these She can call Mercies now Not so in their owne Nature but through the Mercy of her God so ordering her and them And this must be recorded for this She stands most bounden to Thanke and Praise She could surfeit on her sweets as we may with honey Her sorrowes allay'd the lushiousnesse thereof She expected an Heaven upon Earth her unquiet motions there told her it was not the place of her rest She had comforts upon the Earth and She would build Tabernacles upon them A Cloud overshadowed them and She feared She blesseth God for all this but more of this anon The Church then looks back and beholds Mercies and cals them so which the world cals evils Her God made them good to her and a blessing therefore must She blesse God for them in the first place accounting them fit matter to stir her up to Record and Thank Gall and Wormewood yeelded sweets to the Church She found Honey in the carkase of the Lyon Therefore She remembers the time when She said This is my death a Ps 77. 10. No indeed it was her mistake and she sees 〈…〉 â—â—r it was but her infirmity and wrought very effectually to thâ— stâ—engthning of her so that she can now glory in that she in her hâ—ste called her Death knowing that it wrought Patience and Patience Experience and Experience Hope b Rom. 5. 1 4. She recordeth the daies of her Widâ—w-hood She cannot leape over that time when she sate Desolate alone and as forsaken There she said well as forsaken for indeed there is but a sicut an as in all which she suffers and in all she enjoyes here below she weepes as though she wept not she rejoyceth as though she rejoyced not she possesseth as though she possessed not c 1 Cor. 7. 3. So also she knowes now by experience that there was but an as in her greatest sufferings as unkowne d 2 Cor. 6. 9 10. as dying as chastened as sorrowfull as poore as having nothing and so as forsaken but then God was with her working most powerfully for her establishment and most effectually for her comfort therefore she remembers that time even when she spake in griefe of heart as Iacob did All these things are against me e Gen. 42. 36. Ioseph is not and Simeon is not and yee will take my Benjamin also All these things are against me No indeed Iacob was deceived so hath the Church beene these ten times and now she sees her mistake and must record it that all these things were for her This deare child was snach'd away and this so sutable a comfort this staffe and this stay all gone and yet for all this as her long Captivity was all for her good f Ier. 24. 5. that the streame of her affections might runne the clearer to the Fountain That He Who alone is Worthy might have all all her Love and all her delight and all her joy as
World She could stand still waiting the salvation of her God though indeed she sâ—w plainly That she was in a wildernesse where she saw no path Then the Church remembred the Lord and was comforted He is wonderfull in all His Administrations but especially in these which He worketh in a wildernesse Now the Church could leane on her Beloved O how willingly did she reach forth her hand to Him who is given a Leader and Commander to the people a Isa 55. 4. Marke that He is a sure Leader to His Church Who The Lord Christ for He commands her The Church heares no other voice obeyes no other but as commanding from His mouth and leading unto Him This in passage But I say how willingly and confidently did the Church reach forth her hand to this Leader and Commander she did assure her heart a 1 Iohn 3. 13. He would leade her because He doth command her He could and is able to leade her because He maketh a way in the Sea and a path in the mighty waters He bringeth forth the Charet and the Horse the Army and the Power b Isa 43. 15 16. c. The Lord did the same thing now He made a way in the Wildernesse and Rivers in the Desart So He lead His people even those Ver. 19. that are commanded by Him The manner how commands our Marke He brought the blinde by a way He lead them in paths that they have not knowne He made darknesse light before them and crooked things straight These things He hath done unto them and not forsaken them c Isa 42. 16. Truly This Scripture is this day fulfilled in our eyes The Church commands us to observe it in these particulars wherein it will appeare That the Lords Thoughts Thoughts of Mercy and of Peace were as high above mine or yours nay above the Churches Thoughts as the Heavens are above the Earth It appeareth d Isa 55. 8. â— thus SECT III. What our Thoughts were how high the Lords thoughts were above the Churches thoughts ¶ 1. OUr eyes were in the Heavens as in such times it is our manner a Sol nisi cum de sicit speâ—tatorem non haâ— â— c. Sen. â—nd behold they were very darke and covered with thick clouds Our thoughts were and strait-way thus we said there will be a great storme So it was a Starme indeed haile-stones and coles of fire beating sore â—gainst all expectation upon the hairy scalpe of the wicked Man but a sweet shower to the City of God sweetely and seasonably refreshing them as the after-raine the parched ground We looked up againe to Heaven whether else should we looke for peace seem'd to be taken from the Earth but behold it was very red I purposely speake in the Almanack-Mâ—kers Dialect strait way we said for such our Thoughts were it will be wind and so it was against all expectation and that which was threatned b Ier. 4. 11. a wind indeed but not a dry wind for it did fan and cleanse even a fâ—ll wind â—gainst high places scattering the wicked as with the breath of Gods mouth and so they did flee as the chaffe before the vvind or as they fled from before the Earth-quake c Zach. 14. 5. So they did flee but hearken what the Lord such He that fleeth of them shall not flee away and he that escapeth oâ— them shall not be delivered d Am. 9. 1 2 3. Thus the Lord hâ—th said for after-time and thus He hath done now ever blessed be His Name ¶ 2. VVE heard of warres and nothing but rumors of warres preparation thereto on every side strait way we said for our thoughts were The Sword will be bathed in Heaven e Esa 34. 5. it will be made drunke vvith the bloud of the slaine And so it was in part but it was in the bloud of the Men of blouds that were to call forth to battle and to be leaders thereunto A wonder this also and wrought by Him Who spake of old and made it good now Behold they shall surely gather together but not by Me whosoever shall gather together against Thee shall fall for thy sake f â—sa 44. 15 16 17. c. ¶ 3. VVE beheld here a Troope and there a Troope straight-way we â—aid Lord these are called forth to destroy Thy Iudah and to curse Thy Israel And it was so in the intention of the Adversary and a â—â—kely choyce he had made for they were of that number and choyce ones for that purpose to vvhom their spirituall Fathers so they will be called because they savour so much of the Spirit gave an Advousion of liberty and choyce of sports cryed downe by the Heathen g Aug. de civ Dei cap. 31 32 33. vvhich they might take on the Lords-day Certainly said Dion h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dion Orat. 79. speaking of Liberty Hee made bad Lawes indeed he gave a wicked Liberty and writ grievousnesse who prescribed such Decrees and gave such a Liberty which could please none but the bad Such a Liberty was this on the Lords-day which the Bishops gave to the people And see the luck of it the Bishops grant was too large it gave the people more scope then in manners they would take on the Lords-day and so thus they requited their great Dons vvhen it vvas expected that these people vvho had such an Advousion of Liberty as this from the hands of their good Lords should now gratifie the said Lords in fulfilling the whole pleasure of their will they did cleane contrary for vvheras they were called out to curse even these in their manner blessed altogether i Num. 23. 11. and threw-out vvhat the Bishops had brought-in the Rails and Mock-gods there What this people did more needeth not my Relation â—t is vvell known every vvhere all the Land over and vvell observed it vvas even as a vvonder in the eyes and ears of all ¶ 4. VVE saw some of these Troopes hasting towards the North gathered into a mighty body there Instruments of cruelty prepared and sent downe All meanes used vvhich Achiâ—ophel could suggest vve remember vvhat his councell vvâ—s even to make an irreconcileable difference betweene Father and Sonne all to set Ephraim against Manasses and Manâ—sses against Ephraim both against THY IVDAH And so it vvas in the intention of the Adversary But to say so now as one hath done vvhen he praid too vvere a bold arrogant and impious speech if not blasphemous for behold to the admiration of the vvorld Angels and Men the Breach made up a peace concluded and so concluded That it is a Statute now and an Ordinance in Israel That Iudah must rejoyce and Israel must be right glad So they vvill and they vvill tell it to their children and so down-ward and not barely so and no more but they vvill speake thereof vvith rejoycing vvhat the Adversary intended how the Lord disappointed
His faithfulnesse to deâ—er no longer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys Tom. 4. Epist 1. I say in such an exigence God must helpe He stands bound to it You have protested to take Him for your God He hath protested to take you for his people You have sworne and by the good hand of God upon you you vvill stand to the Oath and He hath sworne by what By Himself by all that is in Himselfe and He is all You vvill stand to your Oath that 's supposed He vvill stand to His Oath that must not be doubted You rejoyced at the Oath He vvill rejoyce over you to do you good It must be so ye have strucke hands together Ye may say The Lord must remember me How with the favour He heareth unto His people d Ps 106. 4. He must visit me now with His Salvations that is with a great Salvation When I am at the pits brinke one shocke throwes me downe then vvith reverence be it spoken He must deliver me He must come-in at the fourth-watch when there is no helpe from Earth then the Arme of the Lord must be revealed from Heaven I am His and He my God a God in Covenant The OATH of GOD is betwixt us by His good hand upon me I will stand to it and then He must stand by me I am thine â— save Ps 7. 1. me It vvâ—s Davids argument and prevailed still SAVE me for I TRVST in THEE The Church saith it had beene a vvonder if God had not done for you even so for you are His sworne Servants The Church commands me now to proceed on in declaring this wonderfull worke vvhich the Lord so strangely and as graciously by your meanes brought about To bring your selves and the Nation into Covenant with Himselfe I shall not meddle vvith the severall heads or charges in the same vvhich vvould take up more roomth then herâ— can be allowed Religion is the chiefe head there are the spirits and a great binder it is it bindes a people to their God and God to the people I proceed herein in this order first 1. What this PROTESTATION is to you and all that stand to it 2. What a discovering note it is to your Adversaries 3. The Church will put-up a short prayer to her God 4. Then a Supplication to you In all this you shall have but an Abstract out of a large Volume or Theame rather nothing taken thence but an addition thereunto ¶ 1. A Rocke of DEFENCE to the Righteous THis PROTESTATION is to you and all that have taken it and will stand to it b 2 Chron. 34. 32. a SELA-HAMMAHLEKOTH c 1 Sam. 23. 28. a Rocke of Separation betwixt you and your Adversaries nothing shall be able to reach you to doe you hurt Should the Lord fill all the Inhabitants of the Land even the Kings and the Priests and the Prophets with drunkennesse so He hath done for the sinnes of a Nation as He threatneth d Ier. 13. 13. Should He dash them one against another even the Fathers and the sonnes together e ver 14. for so He threatens also in the same place Why yet you should be safe none of all these shall come neare you to hurt you Why so Because you are a people in covenant with your God and He with you Looke you to it how ye stand to it for this followes TROVBLED ye may be on every side f 2 Cor 4 8. no doubt of that and so you may say you shall say withall yet not DISTRESSED PERPLEXED ye may be not knowing what way to take or what to doe but not in DESPAIRE PERSECVTED yee shall bee but not FORSAKEN CAST-DOWN ye may be but not DESTROYED ye may be set as on fire round about ye shall not be consumed Why so The same answer and it answers all Arguments even the Jesuites their fire and sword the hardest words and most violent deeds ye are in covenant with your God nothing shall come unto you to doe you HVRT No Plague shall come to your dwelling as a plague Though great Letters are written upon your door yet the Plague is not there for all that God is with you even YOVR GOD He will save you even from that Destroyer it shall but reach your body at the furthest The time will come when you will say your head akes and your heart too nay it fainteth and yet heare what the Lord saith The Inhabitant shall not say I am SICKE g Esa 33 24 Why so The people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity h I beare any thing now my sins are pardoned Mâ—â— ad in vita Lutheri p. 168. â— â— Ps 73. 2â— Looke ye there My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever â— That stils and quiets all God at peace with me and all is peace God in Covenant with me in Christ reconciled to me if so I am not SICKE my sinnes are forgiven all is well with me for God is with me and HE is ALL health strength riches All. See how efficacious this Covenant is if we STAND to it nothing shall stand against us nothing shall come unto us to do us HVRT that is first ¶ 2. As Sibboleth to the Wicked It discoveres the Priests and their People It hampers the Malignant though like possessed Men No Cords will hold the Papists Their obstinacy in Gods house how to judge of the Legality of an Oath THis PROTESTATION or sacred covenant is a Destinguishing character Thereby you shall know who is a true English-man Who a Treacherous Priest Papist or Malignant person Give it to a right English-man a True Israelite in whom is no guile He goes cleare and smooth away with it He takes it with all his heart and stands to it rejoyceth at the Oath k 2 Chro. 15. 15. that is he pronounceth it right Give it to the Priests they will refuse it or fumble at it they cannot frame to pronounce it right â— Present it to the Papist you shall see vvhat he will doe anon This is to the Priests the two Armies of them to the Papists also as SIBBOLETH to the Ephraimites l Iud. 12. â— Now you shall know whose eyes are evill against you because your eye is good and you are resolved to doe the thing that good is Now yee shall see who they are that puffe at you deride you blow their nose at you b Luk 16. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Because you vvould have them protest to take God for their God and not their bellies to bind themselves in covenant with Him as the very word Religion imports But see how their mind and affection stands They protest to take God for their God! no not they Their belly ease profits pleasures are their gods these and other Lords have ruled over them and they shall rule by their meanes So now you know them their
be destroyed Counsels hid in the dark discovered and a Breach made-up great as the Sea so as the Lord alone shall be exalted in that Day THe people that doe know that is doe feare and rely upon their God shall be strong and doe exploits So it was in dayes of old Dan. 11. 32. So it will be to the end of the World Please you we will remember a sacred Story and consider it with our whole heâ—rt and with our whole soule Time vvas vvhen our Grand-fathers dwelt in seiled houses while they let the house of God lye waste Every man ranne after that is was very earnest in his owne affaires but the affaires of the Church no man regarded much vvorke was done but no Temple-worke The Lord by His Prophet Haggai admonisheth and reproveth for this correcteth and punisheth too bids them consider the order and method they tooke whether things vvere done decently and in order all for themselves their private wealth nothing for God and the Common gâ—od and how they prospered in their contrary way vvhither God vvalk'd not contrary to them also Shame devoured their labors a Ier 3. 24. there was a SWORD and a DROVGHT b â—er â—â— 38. upon all they had and upon all they did They vvere in a deepe consumption They eat and they dranke and yet pined away c Hag. 1. 1â— â—er 6. They laboured but in the fire Wages they earned but they put it into a bagg with holes much they did but nothing prospered After many â—ore and sharpe stroakes for man vvill not be made vvise but by blowes they began to looke up and consider their vvay vvhich vvas not right yet they thought to prosper in it but it was not possible At last they considered and thought thus if God does all and gives all richly to enjoy if He be the best and highest Master and payes the best vvages The greatest reason in the vvorld His vvorke should be done first and so like wise and considering Men they fell to Gods worke ranne as fast to His House as before to their owne This the Lord tooke very kindly as His manner is and ordered it so that is His manner too for His vvrath is quickly appeased when He sees Men but look STEDFASTLY to Him and His House that their own house should not fare the vvorse they should sensibly see now a strange alteration in things as a SWORD and a DROVGHT before upon every thing so now a BLESSING a shewer of BLESSINGS Yes but they must wait for it No no waiting now Behold presently a shewer of blessings that Gods people may for after times lift up their feet in Gods way observe good order and method there still to begin vvith God and Temple-work call it vvhat you vvill Religion if you please From this Day that the Foundation of the Lords Temple was layed CONSIDER IT d Hag. 2 18. What must they consider It followes FROM THIS DAY WILL I BLESSE YOV from that moment of time when they minded Gods worke to doe it I WILL BLESSE YOU saith the LORD If ever GOD made good this Scripture to His people in after ages then now He hath fulfil'd it even in our days Every man can make application for from this Day the Lord hath blessed you you must prosper now and doe exploits for you goe on now in the strength of a COVENANT and in the strength of the prayers of all those that are in Covenant with you and that â—s an ALMIGHTIE strength Yâ—u have given forth your MALE the first Borne of your strergâ—h to manage the great things of HEAVEN assuredly from this Day the Lord hath blessed you You have found vvherein the strength and spirits of the businesse lyeth now these are contained in Religion very â—fficâ—ciâ—us in vvorking and a mighty binder as vvas said ye have bound yâ—ur selves to Gâ—d and God to you now ye shall gâ—e on as valiant men in the strength of God and with His increase and â—lâ—ssing Though you should heare in after time the multitude of many people a Esa 17. 12 13. vvhich make a noyse like the Seas and a reshing like the rushing of mighty waters Then shall ye see also that God vvill rebuke them and they shall flee faire off and shall be chased as the chaffe of the Mounâ—â—ins before the vvinde and like a rowling thing before the whirle-winde c. For it followes but I forbeare for I must keepe my selfe within the bounds of this WONDERFULL YEARE This is but to shew that you have chosen a way to walk-in and a rule to walke by called the WAY of HOLINESSE the Lord keepe you in it and to it it is a cleare an holy a sâ—â—e an uneâ—ring way The way faring men though FOOLES shall not erre therin b Esa 35. Ye may fall into the straits there as was said ye may be troubled on every side yet not distressed perplexed ye may be but not in despaire c 2 Cor 4 8. as you reade ye may meet vvith a Lyon in that way persecuted ye may be but ye shall not be forsaken The Lord whose ye are and whom ye serve and have engaged your hearts so to doe the greatest security that Earth or Heaven can give is yours now will carry you through all His NAME His GLORY is engaged too and make ye more than Conquerours at the last But for the present we are to Record yet farther what GOD hath wrought by you or vvhat you have wrought with GOD this Day vvhere you will see and take good notice what an easie passe or slide you had unto businesse as they have whom God will lead and prosper from this very Day the Lord did blesse you Take a short view of the works in the same order they were done so the Church will render you an account and an acknowledgement together very short in these particulars ¶ 8. Then from that Day ye marched valiantly ye trod down strength ye had Dominion over the Mighty d Iud. 5. ye troubled the Troublers and the Destroyer was destroyed Then no power of the adversary could with-stand you from that Day ¶ 9. Then from that Day ye found out the treacherous Priests and their Babylonish garments then you were to the poore Ministers as your good God before you you took off the yoake on their jaws and to the people you laid meat unto them h Hos 11. 4. Then you pursued your Adversaries to their strong-holds and you beat them there with their owne weapons Indeed their owne weapons weapons of unrighteousnesse were as Goliahs Sword to the Giants of the Earth as M. Dearing called them long agoe who searched the Scripture whether things were so and would take poyson from no mans hand Ye found these men overcome to your hand bound fast with the cords of their owne sinne as a wild Bull in a Net the Lord give them to feele it for their good full of
You that have God for your Pilot if Hee steere your course certaine enough He does what ever straits or rockes there be you shall not dash against them Yea but there is the Leviathan he takes his pass-time in this Sea A mighty and grievous Adversary we meane LEGION for he is Many They heare and see that the walls of Jerusalem are made up and the breaches begin to be stopped f Neh. 4. 7. They will be as then they were very wrath As then the Adversary reported faining out of his owne heart That Nehemiah was King in Judah and the Jewes thinke to rebell very likely he will say as much now for malice boyles as hot in his heart now as then Therefore such scumme must run over at his mouth You have tormented him casting him forth and so have cheared the hearts of the Righteous and gauled the wicked yea cut them to the heart you doe expect now they will gnash on you with their teeth k Act 7. 54. and bite yea swallow you up if they can for they will speake devouring l Ps 5â— 4. words their mouth being an open sepulchre m Ps 5. 9. and the poison of Aspes under their tongues But let malice draw her bow with full strength and shoote forth her arrowes yet she shall not be able to wound you or if she doe these considerations will yeeld you soveraigne balme whereby to cure the venome thereof or to turne it into balsome and that is better 1. It hath been the manner alwayes To take away the Righteousnesse of the Righteous from him m Isa 5. 23. A notorious wrong that A little consideration will serve here for there is but one way to turn now ye will TURN to the LORD our RIGHTEOUSNESSE n Jer. 23. 6. That is a garment which all the unclean spirits in the world cannot defile There is one Consideration 2. Here below things are miscalled now as in former time The greatest Idolatresse and Murderesse that ever was in the world She had killed all the seed Royall excepting one and he was wonderfully rescued and preserved in the ISLE of PROVIDENCE calls out TREASON TREASON what was the matter This and no more she heard a noise saying GOD SAVE THE KING singing and praysing for all the people of the Land rejoyced and the City was quiet This was Treason doubled from her 2 King 11. mouth TREASON TREASON So also True Piety a sense of Duty is called Rebellion This opprobry hath been cast like dyrt into the face of all the true Ministers of Christ with this addition that 7. times washing in Jordan shall not wash it off No what had the Ministers done They would not proclaime a liberty for sports * Siccine exprimitur puâ—licum gaâ—â—iam per pâ—â—lâ—cuâ— deâ—ecâ—â— c â—eâ—tul cap. 37. on the Lords day c. Well you have been judge in this case you have outed that blasphemer his places shall know him no more You have cast him out where the unsavoury salt is for he is not like unto it but the very same So let all thy Adversaries be cast out O Lord who blaspheme Thy Name daily calling good evill and evill good Thy servants by their OWNE d Exulem me de suo nomine vocat Cicer. Parad. Name and that is as bad as can be But now this is the point we have in hand how persons and things are miscalled here below Loyalty is called Treason and so backward Oppression is called Justice that which is truly Law is called Violence and Violence is called Law The vile person is called liberall and the churle bountifull e Isa 32. 5. The Messengers of the Churches and the glory of Christ are miscalled blasphemed as we heare and reade Thus we call things and persons now It shall be otherwise here on earth towards the end of the world as it was in the beginning when every thing shall be called by it's proper name and according to it's nature The vile person shall be called as he is and the churle as he is And as it shall be done here below on earth so it is now done above in Heaven That consideration yeelded much comfort to the servants of God in ancient time and so it will do now f Quae hic mala putantur haec sunt in coelo bona Lact. 5. 15. 3. We reade of Petilians tongue as fiery a flying serpent as any is now in the world It stung Augustine exceedingly it scorched the Church as it could Augustine seems either not to feele it or not to care for it two strawes for using another Metaphor he sayes thus Petilian blowes hard but all his wind blowes away nothing but the chaffe Thanks be to God PETILIANS TONGUE IS NOT CODS Lingua Petiliani non est ventilabrum Dei FAN He will not loose one graine of wheate by all this blustering wind That was his consideration then and very comfortable it was then it is yours now and it is as comfortable now 4. Consider Dayes of old since man was created upon the earth and you will find the proverb true An unjust man is an abomination to the Just g Pro. 24. 21. and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the h Isa 32 5. wicked And so though you cannot ward off a blow from the tongue for it wounds suddenly and undiscerned and more deeply then any sword i Quovis gladio acutior calamnia c. Lips Orat. de Calum being as an arrow shot out k Jer. 9. 8. yet you know a Dogs tongue is healing if he be not mad and grant he be so and so goes about the City grinning yet these considerations yeeld you balme enough to cure the poison thereof You have but Anger 's first weapons l Prima semper irarum tela maleâ—â—cta sunt quicquid non possumus imbecilli optamus irati Salv de Gub. l. 3. pag. 81. yet Devouring words you must expect violent hands hard and ungodly deeds whole Armies against you while you are for Christ Troopes after Troopes from all quarters such a Muster or Combination rather as you reade of m Psal 83. for the Lord Almighty hath taken to Himselfe great power and hath reigned What then It followes And the Nations were angry n Rev. 11. 17 18. So they are now and for the same reason very angry and full of wrath Consider now the Lord Christ is King be the earth never so unquiet Yet he raigneth then most gloriously amidst His enemies o Ps 110. When they make a tumult and speake in their pride Zion shall be defiled and our eyes shall looke upon her p Mich. 4. 11. Consider now what that zealous Reformer said who set his face like a flint Be not afraid remember the LORD who is GREAT q Neh. 4. 16. great in power great in wisdome c. This answers all Great tumults great rage
give their Lord no rest till He shall give them rest The Lord hath given His people thâ— greatest mercies which they prayed not for ELECTION before time His SON in the fullnesse of time How can He with Him denie His people any thing They forsake not their confidence there ore they are importunate with their friends as they have beene in former yeares the day of Jacobs troubles and treading downe saying Pray pray pray Pray for the King That the Lord would deliver his soule from the snare of the Hunter And pray for the Parliament who have sought the peace of the King and his Kingdomes as their â—wne peace nay more then so they have preferred it before their owne And seeing 't is cleare to every man that will see that thus they have done They have sought and wrought effectually for the peace that containes all of their King or the Salvation a comprehensive blessing of King and his Kingdomes for maintaining this Ship RELIGION wherein our lives our liberties our estates our peace and the Churches all over the world and our Generations after us are bottomed and maintained seeing I say their Care Piety Zeale is manifest to all men in the maintaining this Ship And all this by the line of the Law the Plummet of right Reason the Rule of their Lords will Seeing we know it to be so and doe know also in all our hearts and soules That not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord hath spoken concerning His people Nor any of Iosh 24. 14. 1â— the evill things which He threatned against His enemies but all came to passe We will close with the word of the Lord which He hath spoken to the heart of all His faithfull Servants in all Generations I VVILL BLESSE THEM THAT BLESSE Gen. â—2 3. THEE and CURSE HIM THAT CURSETH THEE even so Lord let the curse they have called for fall upon the wicked but Thou hast promised this goodnesse unto Thy Servants Now therfore Let it please Thee to blesse the house of Thy Servants that they and their house may be before Thee for ever For Thou blessee 1 Châ— 17. 26 2â— O Lord and it shall be blessed for ever Amen and Amen THE CHVRCHES THANK-OFFERING To GOD Her KING and the PARLIAMENT CHAP. I. Recording thanking praising an high imployment who fit for it how great the engagement to it who the fountaine of mercies whence received thither returned SECT I. Thankes-giving and praise a sacred imployment THe old manner was that a certaine number were appointed to record to thanke and to praise the Lord God of Israel a 1 Chron. 16. â— These must bâ— Levites such as did minister before the Arke of the Lord. It was a sacred imployment a worke as some Psalmes are of Degrees To Record was the lowest and required little clevation of spirit To Thanke was an higher Degree and commanded more life of affection To Praiâ—e that it to sing the high praises of our God there comes in Selah a winding-up of the spirit to the highest It may be said What need all this Such a livelinesse of affection Such an activity of spirit to thank and to praise God It is as ordinary a thing and as easie a worke as is done in the world Kings of the Earth and all people Princes and all Iudges of the Earth both young-men and Maidens Old men and children b Ps 148. 11 12. All these doe as they are commanded they thanke the Lord and praise Him too if we could heare the afore-mentioned speaking one after another we should heare nothing but Thankes and Praise I am in health saith one I thanke God I am increased and prosper in the world saith another I praise God I have had many crosses and troubles in the world I blesse my God They have well spoken in all that they have said but ô that there were such an heart c Deut. 5. 29. All creatures praise God for so they are commanded Dragons and all deepes c. Beasts and all Cattell creeping things and flying soule all praise Him in their kind But man is a more excellent Creature he stands charged to doe it in a more excellent manner els as good not done he hath a tongue for that end and called his glory and yet the fewest of all doe praise God as they should and all because they thinke it so easie and ordinary a worke to praise Him whereas tongue and heart both must be well tuned for this work for it is the most heaven-like of all the services perform'd by Man here below As to Praise is comely so is it a clean pure heavenly lasting action None but the Righteous whose hearts are cleansed from sinne and emptied of Selfe they onely doe it the upright in heart d Ps 33. 1. Ps 119. 7 and what they doe now on Earth they shall doe hereafter in Heaven it is their worke to all Eternity SECT II. Who the Person is that is fit for this worke VVE must then find-out a fit person for this worke so high an imployment a person that can doe it to purpose decently and in order that ministers before the Lord continually they that walke with Him cleave to Him trust in Him the people of God such as feare Him onely serve Him onely so walking in his wayes These many are but one one House one Body so single they in conversation so usefull they in their communion each with other as members one of another And so I shall take them all under a single Notion as one person whom I shall properly call the Church The Church indeed e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having more then a name for that and no more is nothing She hath a Name that she lives and she doth live and this life is the more spiritfull and active because as light was brought out of the wombe of darknesse so her life from death She was dead but she is now alive and lives for ever her life being hid with Christ in God f Col. 3. 3. A very fit person for such a worke an heavenly worke an heavenly person who might she deliver her own words with her own mouth would doe it exactly well but howsoever she will doe it decently and in order after she hath told us her ingagement to the worke how she doth record it and to whom she payeth the tribute of praise and thankes SECT III. The Churches engagement to record to thanke to praise HItherto all fits very well the Person and the Worke. Now see the engagement thereunto that 's very strong and binding For behold how great the loving kindnesses are how rich the mercies how marvellous the workes which the Lord hath done for this Nation whereof in due place and conveyed to it through the hands of man It is God Who makes two of one mind in one house and the same God Who hath made two Houses one to goe together
but men l Psal 9. Vehementissimè agnoscant Iun. and therefore what they did was not by their owne strength It is a passage surely to be noted how brag Sampson was of what he had done What had he done With the jaw-bone of an Asse heaps upon heaps m Iudg. 15. 16 17. With the jaw of an Asse have I slaine a thousaâ—â— meâ— â—â— doubles it that the bâ—â—enesse of the instrument might adde to his praise and then he cast away the Instrument as a contemptiblâ— thâ—nâ— thâ—t the victory might be given wholly to his owne hand Next newes we heare Sampson is sore athirst Then he speaks more saâ—ly and wiâ—ely Thou hast given â—his deliverance into the hand of thy servant And then he loâ—ked toward the bone that he had cast away with scorne and behold water thereout whereby his spirit revived That he might know and be humbled the same hand which gave him drinke now gave him the victory befâ—re But such a proud spirit Man hath it will not downe till it be beaten downe he is seldome made wise but by stroakes The Church speaks as unto wise men who can juâ—ge what She saith and account it but a point of her zeale and wisedome to put in Caution here and to shew her care and feare least praise and applause should doe you hurt least having done so much and so worthily and being so famous in Israel you should not be able to looke through all aâ—l you have and all you are and all you have done through all to Christ and through Christ to God for indeed the Church finds it by experience to be an hard thing nay without a great measure of Grace impossiblâ— to doe as aforesaid That is To say as one did I have laboured more abundantly then they all and then to conclude heartily I have done nothing at all yet not I but the grace of God which was with me a 1 Cor. 15. 10. To say in wâ—y of glorying as a man hath done and as you may doe In nothing am I behinde the very chiefest that have formerly or now have sate in Consultation and theâ—â— in the close of the worke thinke truly as he saith though â—he nothing b â— Cor. 12. 11. A hard matter this to all that are made of one bloud c Acts 17 26. to that part we properly call flesh a great incroacher still upon Divine Right If God be pleased to honour flesh a little and to cast Hiâ— quickning Beames upon it then commonly flâ—sh will honour it selfe a great deale it will come in carve liberally to it selfe All the Glory Indeed if we doe not looke well unto it and with a strong hand command and charge it so flesh will doe it will Bishop like take a large sharâ— at leâ—st it will incroach far upon Gods peculiar Right And then it doth just as if the Wall should now the Sun-beames are upon it boast That the Beames were produced by some excellent vertue and power in the Mud wall â—nd not by the Sun d Perinde ac si partes radium se parâ—â—rire dicat Calv. Instit 3. Cap. 12. This is enough to shew the Churches engagement and to keep Man from incroaching upon Gods Right or from boasting in himselfe In God we may boast all the day long and spare not there is no danger there for in Him shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory * Isa 45. â—3 And this could not be well omitted here for in very deed the Church will Record very great things admirable works rich mercies mighty Deliverances strange Discoveries c. and She will enlarge her selfe very much in thanksgiving and praise for all this therefore the Caution was necessary SECT V. How the Church records Mercies Who the Fountaine to whom She payes Tribute THe Church records these things in her heart There she weigheth and ponders them She can be content there might be a Pillar raised and a perpetuall Remembrance written thereon of the worâ—s of her God and in great Charecters so as he that runs might reade them But neverthelesse She records them as was said and She writes upon them all Askt of God and the gift of God through Christ She Records them as the purchase of Blood and so streaming downe to her Which quickens her up very much and raiseth her Spirits high in the receiving and Recording of them And then She is fitted and well prepared for the high worke of Thanksgiviâ—g and of Praiâ—e O Sâ—e is abundant in Thanksgiving and in prâ—ise for Christ as the bottome-Mercy Which beareth up all The Foundation Whereon She is established mightily even with the strength of God and in that strength She holds up all her Mercies and Records them from the least to the greatest from the first to the last He is the Root That beareth all her sweets All her Fruits are in Him and some She gathers up and picks from the earth but the full Vintage all below is but as the first fruits and gleanings is where the Root is in Heaven He is the Sun to her little World If He hide His face She is in the Dark though all the other Starres shine upon her though there be an influence of all earthly Comforts towards her habitation Still His Presence makes the Day His Absence the Night The Church doth sometimes reflect upon her old Condition She would not be in it againe fâ—r a world for therein She can behold now the very utmost of misery What is that and without God in the World a Ephes 2. 12. It was sâ—id before as the Sun to the great World so the Creatour thereof to our little World If that be eclipsed but for an houre see how the Creatures droop and hang downe the head so it is with the Church Let her be without health if her God please without liberty without any thing in the world so She be not withâ—ut God in the World all is well for it is Day with her notwithstanding all her Nights of sorrow For He iâ— the fountaine of Light and of Life too All her fresh Springs the very being of life the joy and comforts of her life are in Him And if some of her Rivelets some one or more streames be cut off or tuâ—ned another way yet the Spring-head runs cleare The fountaine is the same and She is sure That is herâ— She hath an interest therein Therefore She can make her boast of God all the Day and all the Night of her sorrow also For in Him She is justified and will glory And for Him her heart would be enlarged as wide as are the two Poles one from the other such an enlargement She would find in Thanksgiving but She is a poore straitned hand-maid yet so She would be enlarged to her God For She hath all from Him Blood to justifie Water to sanctifie She can desire no more and all this She Records here for all this
there If we have our outward Liberties and Priviledges as free Subjects and Citizens here of the Ierusalem below then we are well and marvellously appayed Indeed we say a Gen. 33 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Esau said We have enough that is much or a great deale The Church not so give her the liberties of sonnes and daughters of Ierusalem above or else but that Christ liveth in her She will dye So unsatisfiable are All things here below to her everlasting soule But if She have her God though with Him captivity fire sword what other evils you can name if with these She hath her God She is well enough and with Iacob She hath enough for She hath All b Gen. 33. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ¶ 3 The Church referres all to the first Cause and thereon fixeth VVE must note That the Church beholdeth all the Workes wrought by Man not as Mans works but the works of Him Who only doth wonders She looks through them and through Man also unto God There She terminateth her sight Whence it is That whatsoever thing comes unto her through the hands and by the administration of Man She accepts with all thankfulnesse but She writeth upon it upon every thing what ever were the meanes of conveyance the Gift of God ¶ 4. The Righteous are calme and setled what ever the newes is or troubles are in the World and thankfull for all VVE should observe her quiet and calme deportment and carriage in all administrations of God for She looks upon them as His Administrations and She accounts all good nothing evill except sinne and by the good hand of God towards her even sinne shall worke for her Good God be thanked that ye were the servants of sinne All is well She saith and will end well Well What ever Rom. 6. 17. Newes She heares What ever Troubles and Tumults unquiet Motions there are yet the Church is not full of stirres not a tumultuous City c Isa 22. 2. for all that She is quiet notwithstanding all that can be said or done Her Sonnes and Daughters are as well contented with the Newes they heare as the honest Shepheard with the Weather his judgement was asked What weather it would be He answered It will be what weather it shall please me The Answer seemed darke and to containe a Riddle therefore he was courteously requested to explaine it which he did thus It shall be said he what weather pleaseth God and what weather pleaseth God pleaseth me Truly just so are the Righteous pleased with their Newes It shall be what pleaseth God and what pleaseth God pleaseth them If Newes this day be as we call it good They are cheered at it but not over-joyed they say It is well If the next Day such turnings there are and tydes of things the Newes be contrary they are the same they were the Day before for they know their God is the same He is not changed Therefore they conclude notwithstanding that crosse Newes It shall be well in the Morning perhaps before night They are not troubled about the fixed time it is not for them to know that they know it will be well Straitnings serve very much to widen the way for enlargements and stops towards the Spring-head make the waters rise the higher and anon will cause them to streame the faster Blockes in the way make them walke more warily and lift up their feet the higher It is so with the spirits of Men. But yet the Church lookes not to Man for He is full of Changes but her eyes are to her God who changeth not and according to the Counsell d Exod 14 13. Ne commoveamiâ—â— ac fluctuetis animo â—ed spe firmâ— opeâ— Dâ—mini expectaâ—e Iun. stands still waiting the salvation of her God and is not greatly moved e Psal 62 2. nor doth She faint in her mind She doth not float nor roule this way and that way but roules her selfe upon her God In firme hope her mind is anchored and fixt upon Everlasting strength and lapt up in a promise within Everlasting Armes expecting His Salvation which She is confident to see in the fittest time SECT II. We that have not fixed spirits feele unquiet Motions NOw let us observe our owne spirits ours of the Common-sort it is a thing worth our observâ—tion If we observe right we are in Deaths often not as Paul in reall Dangers but imaginary onely and in conceit for as often as crosse Newes comes we die In extreames still either all hope and no feare or all feare and no Hope We cannot cast away our confidence f Heb. 10. 3â— for wee have none unlesse it be in the Creature and iâ— that â—ailes us wee sinke and our spirits faile too A miserâ—ble condition this and a trembling posture to stand in Indeed we doe not stand wee totter like drunkards because we are so filled with the sweets of the Earth and so empty of the comforts of Heaven Wee are as weake as water carried and tâ—ssed as Câ—rke vvith the tide there Just so hurried are our spirits with winde and tide As the water riseth or falleth at the Parliament-staires just so doe our spirits at the hearing the Newes thence As the winde and gale of breath sits there so our mindes turne just like a weather-cocke If the newes thence be pleasing to sense then we rise high that 's well say we and then we are all Hope If the contrary That troubles are like to abide us then vve are downe the wind and make conclusions as men doe that have no Hope This is to have spirits as weake as water and a minde not standing-still but turning like a weather cocke SECT III. The Reason of the Churches settlement and of our unquiet Motions very necessary and considerable at this time VVE must note what causeth the Churches stability and our floating What is the reason that the Church standeth still quiet and calme in her spirit when trouble is on every side while we are at our wits end for expectation troubled and mooved As the Trees of the Wood are mooved with the winâ— g Esa 7. â— Wee must I say enquire into this thing and find out what is the reason hereof The Resolution must be this Because the Church stayeth her selfe on the Arme of God Therfore she standeth still is firme and stedfast Whatever changes are below vvhatever turnings and windings of things here vvith us yet there is no change in that Arme no diminution tall of that power It is the same yesterday to day and the same for ever h Esa 59. 1 2. -40. 27. 51. 9. Sinne causeth some change in us but there is no change in God The Churches eye is upon her God there shee fixeth she will not trust in charets nor in horses i Ps 20. because shee hath asked from one end of Heaven to the other she hath enqâ—ired of all â—ges vvhat became of
Rivers the Flooâ—s the Brookes of Hony and Butter f Iob 20 17. he shall see the contrary that which shall amaze and astonish him if his heart be not as a stone vvithin him Heaven above him shut against him the grave open to receive him His soule lanching forth into the Ocean of Aeternity vvhere he must vvallow in the streames of brimstone and flames of fire how long The answer thereto sinkes the spirit for it is the very Hell of Hell FOR EVER and EVER We have not a thought that can â—each halfe way to the bottome of that Ocean But this thought of perishing FOR EVER of everlasting burnings shall drinke up the spirits of a Man and be within his bowels as the gall of Aspes But the serious thoughts thereof now now this present time the acceptable time and day of Salvation mâ—y be very effectuall to awaken him that lyeth downe NOW as in the midst of the Sea or as he that sleepeth upon the top of a Mast g Pro. 23. â—4 To stirre him up to arise and call upon his God if so be that God will thinke upon him that he perish not h Iona. 1. 6. FOR EVER punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the LORD and from the glory of His power i 2 Thes 1. 9. The Conclusion is if a Man vvould fly from the wrath to come if he would assure his heart that everlasting consolation shall be given unto him if he vvould have peace now vvhich all the Malignants in the vvorld cannot take from him if he vvould have a defence a shield over his head now vvhich the most fiery darts cannot pierce through if he vvould have assured confidence of all this if he be in earnest and will have it indeed He will get assurance that he shall stand now and hereafter as the everlasting Hils and perpetuall Mountains if this be his will indeed if this be the very purpose and resolution of his heart then he will give all diligence to the full assurance of Hope * Heb. 6. 11 12. that proves his will whether true or not to do as the Church doth to obey heartily to trust perfectly to be guided by Him to walke before Him and to be perfect So the Church doth doe and if we doe as she doth vve shall be as she is though the Raine desceâ—d and the floods come and the winds blow and beat upon her house yet a QVIET HABITATION notwithstanding SECT V. We cannot expect to be delivered AFTER THIS SORT unlesse we walke in THIS WAY the way of Gods Commandements LAstly learne we from hence to keepe our selves in Gods way there is safety in those pathes the Angels carry us we cannot dash the foot therein We are sure of protection so farre as wee keepe our selves in that path though it seemes over-clouded with the shadow of death In that darke path the Church can walke on boldly and considently though through fire and water for she walkes under the shadow of the Almighty and in the feare of God all the Day long a Pro. 23. 17. Therefore she finds comfort even where she sees no light But if she doth find comfort and light both yet then she feares the Lord and His goodnesse b Hos 3. 5. She feares at all times she presumes at no time she walkes boldly but humbly shee doth not lead her selfe into temptation no she is lead to the Brow of the Hill or forced rather but then she is sure the Adversary cannot force her downe We may note this by the way it is one thing when a man is driven upon straits and another thing when he drives himselfe upon straits It is one thing to be brought to the brow of an hill and another thing for a man to bring himselfe to such a precepice I may be câ—st into the armes of God and be assured to be held up by them but if I presumptuously rush-in upon them I shall not find those arms underneath I shall not be held up by them To presume that God will keepe me when I walk not in His way is as if a man should hang himselfe in hope that one would come and cut the halter To close up all We find safety no where but in Gods way for therin with Iacob we find a Command and a Promise both these are still together The Lord which said unto me Returne unto thy country and Gen 32. 9. to thy kindred and I will deale well with thee The Conclusion then is if in this way Esau a bloudy persecutor will come out against the Church he shall not be able to do them hurt though his wrath should not abate but â—t may be the Lord wâ—ll so over-power his spirit that he shall not dash against the Church but meet them as becommeth a Brother with embracings SECT VI. An Apology for this digression if it seemes so And a short view or recollection of what was last said I May seeme here to have digressed not a little in discontinuing the Calender by these Uses or Conclusions so largely insisted upon If so it seemeth to the Reader I would desire him to consider this and then if he thinks it a digression he will think it necessary also first †1. Thaâ— which was intimated before God wrought then like Himselfe 〈◊〉 wonderfully before man was called forth to helpe Him against the Mighty He alone doth wonders but they are not wonders in our eyes unlesse He workes alone Though we have not many to worke with Him though but a few yet these few take off much from the wonderfulnesse of His workes * Miramâ—r si nobis coelestis manus aliquâ— non prastet cui quicquid prastiâ— terit derog 〈◊〉 Sal. de gub l. 7. p. â—47 such a regard we have to the arme of flesh though a weake arme and often broken in all the peoples sight But I say before the Parliament was summoned He wrought alone and then vvas the Adversary confounded his snares broken then vvas the Church pluck'd three Kingdomes at once as a brand out of the fire a Zach. 3. â— then at that time the Church passed from the brow of the Hill through the middest of her Adversaries and went her way The Lord knowes how she escaped for she knows Luk. 4. 30. not but she passed through the middest of them and went her way A flaming Bush then as once she was But see this great sight The Bush burned with fire and was not consumed Then came helpe from Heaven vvhen there vvas none from the Earth Then rowled-in streames of consolation floods of hony and butter when the enemy and adversary had stopt and dam'd up all her fresh springs below Then came in the spring-tide of Deliverance when she vvas brought to the lowest ebbe of Distresse See the vvorkings of a God * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys Tom. 4. ep 1. I could not passe-over this and not set
then He comes That you did now as wise-men strike in to helpe to quench the burning to helpe the Lord against the mighty that you did regard the Church now as the Lord regarded you once in a very low estate for this she blesseth God and thanketh you To speake in plainer English for this she blesseth God and you That having but one Priest one Altar one Sacrifice you did not defile all this at this time making many Priests setting-up many Altars commanding many Sacrifices all this as the statutes of Omri by a Law That when many Altars the same of other provocations were made to Sinne Altars were not made by you unto the whole Nation to Sinne c Hos 8. 15. That when the ROD of the wicked lay heavy upon the backe of the Righteous you did not turne it into a Scorpion and when bloud was upon the Earth upon the Church falsly so called you did not FEOFFE it upon HEAVEN the true Church So you might have done and have left the Church as a Widow forsaken in the Earth and comfortlesse there That all this was not done but the contrary she accepts in all thankfulnesse alwayes and blesseth God Who kept you from the pathes of the destroyer d Ps 17. 4. If this be not plaine enough this vvhich followes will make it as plaine as can be Ireland did contribute mony toward the WARRE What warre A Warre that vvould have ruined Scotland a Warre that would have sheathed a Brothers Sword in the heart of a Brother Ireland contributed mony toward such a WARRE Behold now The Sword is hathed in that HEAVEN it is drunke with the bloud of those slaine who contributed money to maintaine that WARRE Their Land is now full of the fury of the LORD the Rebuke of Thy GOD. You would not contribute therto no not 20â— for it had bin too heavy upon the loynes of the Church by a pound weight Behold now this Kingdom hath weathered-out the storme lies at Anker cast upward and is the very miracle of Gods patience to all the world I have heard that some say for some vvill be vvillingly ignorannt What great matter have you done I thinke verily no man is so foolish so forsaken of all his wits but he may receive satisfaction herein anon I will answer but this now What ye have not done Ye have not engaged the Kingdome in that Warre vvhich vvould have dashed the people one against another even the Father and the sonnes together a Ier. 13. 14. Blessed be your Councell and your Wisedome and blessed be you of the Lord for what ye have not done for it hath cast a sweet savour over all the Churches in the world But vvith your good leave I vvould rather ascribe all to your good God glorious in holinesse fearefull in praises doing wonders b Exod. 15. 11 He councelled you His right Hand vvas upon you therefore your feet were kept from the path of the DESTROYER The Church vvould make her acknowledgement very full at this point That though there are strange vanities c. as was said yet not countenanced by law Though the Tayle-Prophets as they are and the Priests as they will be called both high and low are most vile and have made themselves and the people so having leavened the whole Land from corner to corner with poysonous and cursed corruptions in their Doctrines and practises though so yet there are no Statutes for all this but Orders against it Praise be to her good God for all this and all due thanks to you So also ¶ 2. That you received the Petitions from all Quarters of the Land heard the groanes of the oppressed made to serve under cruell Taske-Masters that you rebuked their Lordships tooke off their yoake from off the jawes of the Ministers and People that you opened the prison doores and mouths of the Ministers This the Church could record with more words but not vvith more thankfulnesse yet you shall heare more of it anon ¶ 3. That by your Wisdome and Providence the Church had such freedome the last yeare and such communion and fellowship with Iesus and His Disciples more the last yeare then 20 years before Time was and but as yesterday when they that feared the Lord spake often one to another but so as their voyce might not be heard for it was an evill time The Messenger of Satan was abroad buffering the Servants of the Lord in every place his eare was under their window Mal. 3. 16. and his foot at the doore and the sound of his Masters feet behind him So as it vvas the hardest thing to serve God without feare for it was a crime to be godly * Si fuerit sublimis fiâ—despicabilis si fuerit splendidissimus fit vilissimus si fuerit totus honoris fit totus iniuria Sal. de gub lib. 4. p. 113. Vnder whom it was alwayes unsafe to d ee well Tâ—â—it sup This the Church acknowledgeth with all thankfulnesse and behold the benefit you have commanded Prayer Prayer shall command for you for now this followes which the Church recordeth with all thankfulnesse and some wonder ¶ 4. That the mountaines have flowne downe before you and the Hils did melt and tremble My intent was but to name things yet the Church commands us to stay a little here and behold the great high lofty ones they are Mountaines and Hils fast upon their bottome behold the Lord hath shaken them given power to His Servants to over-top them to have Dominion over the mighty and to tread downe strength f Iudg. 5. 13 21. I say the Church commands us to observe all the peeces of the Lords providence here looke upon them apart then put them together She saith and is confident That this being done you shall see the most admirable worke that ever was wrought since the Creation and that AMAZING worke of REDEMPTION Next place to these two works this worke will take and in every good order for it is most fruitfull and big with mercies and brings forth every Day Had You not over-topt the Mountaines and the Hils and over-shadowed them You began well You shall goe on and prosper You could never have refreshed the vveary and parched vallies for those high places kept off Raine and Dew and Sunne-shine altogether But now that these are taken downe behold a shower of blessings upon the Land by your care conscience and vigilancy all this followes first SECT II. The Lords Day a comprehensive blessing to a Nation Indignation and wrath from the Lord against the prophaners of it And yet the Priests most notorious this way Your Zeale for it how necessary it should be fervent ¶ 5. 1. THe Church records and thankes That ye rouled away the reproach of Egypt and restored to her sons and daughters their Lords Day That she sees That Day againe in it's beauty and in honourable account from which the wicked hid their eyes and she her
breath of her nostrills and the life of her soule She doth professe unto you in the presence of her God that she hath but one meanes in her absence from Him whereby to seeke His face To know His mind concerning her and her conversation here below But one means to carry up all her wants and to bring down all her blessings for she accounts nothing a blessing which is not gained by Prayer and shee writes upon every thing she receives ASKT OF GOD But one meanes to hide her selfe in the clifts of the rock till the indignation be over For when the Lord shâ—ll shut the Heaven and open His Armory against the earth a Ier. 50 25. bringing forth all the weapons of His indignation Then hath she but one meanes one shift but as one said its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a greate one and a sure one HE ARE THOV IN HEAVEN THY DWELLING PLACE AND FORGIVE AND DOE This is all her refuge SVPPLICATIONS TO HER GOD. The Church hath much to say at this point But she humbly thankes you that you did not thinke it fit to bind her strictly in her Publike Assemblies to formes of others making Alas they cannot reach her wants nor the boosome of her God The heart knowes its own bitternesse and can best indite her own sorrowes and make them known unto her God But yet the Church will not prescribe heere only she hopes you vvill consider how shee hath been dealt with very lately when a stout Prelate was so daring as to prescribe her a prayer and then cheate the world with her Name The Churches Prayer when indeed it was Lincolns Prayer so the prayers have been all this Time some private mens devotions and then called the Prayers of the Church But had this beene all she had held her peace Behold how her Adversary like an imperious WHO RISH WOMAN hath dealt with her these lâ—st yeares which surely her Lord will take as a FORCING His QVEENE before His Face It is notoriously known that the Adversary hath by his prescribed formes compâ—â—led her to blaspheme the Name of her God and her own Name to curse her best friends and to blâ—sse her worst enemies In consideration of the premises she conceives great hope that if you allow not her children to choose their speakers yet to allow of your choise such an one who is sincerely honest understands their case the weight of his office and is sufficient to be their mouth to their LORD and to make knowne His meaning to them The Church is confident that if you shall well consider her Negotiations you will find them weigh more upon the ballance then those concerning the greatest Prince in the world and yet she will take the grant of this her request as a speciall favour and grace from you though not only a Prince but inferiour persons will challenge so much as their proper Right But she referres her suites to the Closet she is now giving in the tribute of thankes and praise and she blesseth God and thankes you with all her heart for all the labour of Love worke of Faith Patience of Hope towards her Sonnes and Daughters that you have brought them so farre even HITHERTO she sets a marke upon it for it requires speciall observation SECT III. The ninth of September a notable Day to be written and to be named both written because on that Day an unrighteous Decree To establish a Service odious to God one of their own being Judge was made Null and of none effect Named as in Dayes of old forthe same Reason HEre I have concluded the yeare almost in the middest of a Month I could not else have given up the full tale of wonders It was necessary I should goe to the ninth of that Moneth so farre that it might the more fully appeare how farre the Lord hath brought His Church working wonderfully for His people That Day the Worthies adjourned their Court for five weekes that so they might look over their private interests and then returne againe well refreshed for the Common-weale and Gods worke vvhich that Day late at evening had a notable close The Church seemes to heare a voyce now as one of her sonnes once did comming to her eares with a double charge Sonne of man write the name of the Day even of THIS SAME DAY * Ezek. 24. â— And the spirit suggests unto her the same Reason in effect which He did to the Prophet for so doing She remembreth well some there were who that same Day vvould have established the Liturgiâ— as now it is with all it's faults which all indifferent men doe find there not a few and acknowledge it to bâ— a Service which God never commanded neither ever caâ—e it into His Heart He that pleads so hard for the Liturgy as now it is for that must be remembred still the continuance and estâ—blishment of it in the Church even the same man tâ—ls us it is a Sâ—RVICE ODIOVS TO HEAVEN Doth he so Truly I thâ—nke so but jâ—dge you No that you wâ—ll not you will say for you are not a judge let the learned give judgement in these matters and let my spirit be subjâ—ct thereunto I confesse this is a point of wâ—sdome and of modesty both But I take judgement here in a vulgar construction and so we may judge for the eare can try words as the Mouth can taste Meat * Iob 12. 11. I will then give you out his worâ—s by tale for we find a pretty parcell of them together Thus he saith first GOD WILL HAVE NO WORSHIP OF OUR D. Hals Com. l. 2 p. 138. DEVISING Then God will not allow of all our Liturgy for sure there is something of mans devising therein as no man vvill deny that is not all fore-head and dares deny that Snow is white or fire will burne 2. WE MAY ONLY DOE WHAT HE BIDS US Then we must worship the Father in SPIRIT and in TRVTH for the FATHER SEEKETH such to worship HIM 3. NOT BID WHAT HE COMMANDS NOT. Ioh 4. 23. Then the Curate must not bid Saints dayes to be kept holy for God commands them not He commands His Day to be kept holy which the bold Priest hath countâ—rmanded and such dayes vvhich are to the Church now as dayes of PVRIM vvere to the Church of old Dayes turned unto them from sorrow to joy and from mourning into a good Day b Est 9. â—â— So also dayes of Atonement Fasting Dayes called also Sabbath Dayes 2. The Bishop must not bid his Curate reade all the Liturgy for then he will reade Arch-Angels which he ought not to doe for God commands him not to reade a lye we never heard or read of that word plurall but in the Liturgie 4 NEVER DID ANY TRUE PIETY ARISE OUT OF THE CORRUPT PUDDLE OF MANS BRAINE We believe it and withall that all is not true Piety that is contained in the Liturgy for the worst part of it