the foure Kings after that rescued by Abraham and set in Statu quo Gen. 14 15 16. This Judgement doing little good they were smitten with blindnes Gen. 19. and when that did no good then came fire and Brimstone and consumed them from before the face of the Lord The Romans had their Fasces and their Securis first their Fasces came and then their Securis God hath his Fisces his Rods before his Securis his Axe if lesser judgements will prevail the Axe shall never come Hos. 5. 12. 14. there is mention of a moath rottennesse and a Lyon first the Moath a lesser fretting judgement then comes rottenesse a soarer judgement the word for rottenesse signifies a Worme also that eates into Trees and causeth rottenesse God would send such judgments as should eat into the heart of the Jewish State and after that he would be as a Lion tear in pieces and devoure them This shewes that God is not willing to cast off and destroy a people that have bin his Hos. 11. 6 7 8. How shall I give thee up Ephraim how shall I deliver thee Israel how shall I make thee as Admah how shall I set thee as Zeboim c. The Sword was to abide upon their Cities their goodly branches were to be lopped off they followed their owne Councells went backward from God they were call'd to by Prophets and Judgements to exalt God but would not yet saith God how shall I give thee up c. There was a contention between mercie and justice the one pleaded as much for them as the other against them Judgment is opus alienum Gods strange worke mercy comes out sweetly but judgement constrainedly as a sting from a Bee the Woman constrained the unjust Judge to doe her Justice so wicked men constraine God to destroy them If the Sodomites would have amended upon the first or second Judgement God would have stayed the Plague but ipsi extorserunt ut perirent they constrained God to destroy them Shall God be unwilling to destroy us and shall we destroy our selves Let not such a perverse spirit be in us God is loath to cast men into hell and yet they desire God to damne them and sweare themselves many miles into hell O horrible wickednesse many a man is ready to make away himselfe when God steps in and prevents the mischiefe God is willinger to keepe many out of Hell then they are themselves Fiftly God hath Soveraigne Authority over all Kingdomes Now is the Axe laid unto the Root of the Tree this axe was the Roman State this Tree was the Jewish State God hath the Authority of all in his hand hee sets one Kingdome against another Babylon must ruine Sion Titus and Vespatian are stir'd up by God to cut down and destroy the Jewish Nation God hath Soveraignty over all Kingdomes Psal. 103. 19. and can imply them to execute his judgements Senacherib was his axe Esa 10. 15. to cut downe Nations God makes one Kingdome an Axe to hew downe another hee makes one part of a State to hew downe another part of the same The Jewish Common-wealth was now under the Roman Empire it 's so in England at this day hath not God mingled a perverse Spirit amongst us Esa. 9. 21. Ephraim against Manasseth Manasseth against Ephraim and both against Iudah They sought each others destruction as we do at this day a perverse Spirit was mingled among them and among us Kingdomes depend upon God Dan. 4. 32. 2 Chap. 21. and where there is the greatest dependancy there is the greatest Soveraignty Now Kingdomes depend upon God quoad omnia for their beings upholdings and blessings and therefore he hath jus utendi he may do with his own what he list hee can and may dash one Family one Towne one Country and one Kingdom against another and that without controule Who shall say to him what doest thou What should this beget in us but to feare this God that hath Soveraign authority over all flesh over all Kingdoms let us feare this God Ier. 10. 7. Who would not feare thee O King of Nations for to thee doth it appertain Shall God be the King of Nations the King of all Kings and not be feared to the doth it appertaine not to men to be feared but to thee doth it appertain The great God must be feared Ye that are petty Kings on the Earth you that are Gods on the Earth you must know that this God hath Soveraigne Authority over Nations Persons lives consciences hee is the everlasting King or King of eternity Ier. 10. 10. Hee can will and must dispose of you ere long eternally in heaven or hell Iob 36. 8 9 10. When Families and Kingdomes are in fetters under the afflicting hand of God then Hee shewes them the excessivenesse of their sins and commands them to returne from iniquity Did not God command them before yes but then they slighted God being at ease and in prosperity His commands were not regarded but when God cast into streights fetters and afflicts Families or Kingdomes their eares are opened they harken to Discipline What they formerly contemned is now pretious and they see Authority and Majesty in the command of God Mic. 6. 9. The King of Nations is wroth with this Kingdome Hee hath it in fetters let us hearken to His commands and tremble at his Soveraignty Psal. 99. 1. The Lord Raigneth let the Earth tremble let all the Potentates and Inhabitants of it tremble and quake before him It 's for our advantage to do it Hab. 3. 16. when the Caldeans were to come up and besiege Jerusalem the Prophet apprehending it before-hand quivered and quaked and why was it that hee might rest in the day of trouble that soule which trembleth when judgement is in the Cloud when the Axe is at the root of the tree shall have rest in the day of trouble Isa. 66 2. To him will I looke that is of a contrite Spirit and trembleth at my word God will looke to him that the flood shall not drowne him nor the Axe cut him downe Lot is sav'd when the fire consum'd Soddom God was to him a Sanctuary he feared God and God was his defence Esa. 8 13 14. When we have frames of Spirit suitable to the Authority and Majesty of the great God that is Lord of Kingdomes that raises and ruines them at his pleasure then we sanctifie God in our hearts and he will be a Sanctuaary unto us and such a Sanctuary is needfull for these times Sixtly observe That after warning and waiting God will deale severely with Kingdomes and Persons Now the Axe is laid to the Root of the Tree I have warned you long and waited long and I see no good fruit now therefore I intend to cut down the Tree by the Root Isa. 42. 14 15. I have been silent a long time and held my peace and refrained and said nothing but now I will cry like a Woman
the Nation of the Iewes by the warre they made upon them by the famine attended that warre and the dispertion followed it they were utterly cut downe I will a little shew you the resemblances between them and an Axe Because Gods judgements are called Axes First an Axe is a sharpe and terrible thing so are Gods Judgements Psal. 45. 5 Thine arrowes are sharpe in the heart of the Kings enemies Gods Arrowes are not onely his truths but also his judgements and they are sharpe at distance but especially upon the entrance when they come into the hearts of Christs enemies they wound and that dreadfully Ier. 5â— 20 〈…〉 called Gods battell Axe and that you know 〈◊〉 a terrible Instrument God by Babylon did break and terrifie Kingdomes he dealt sharply and roundly with them and his Judgements executed by Babylon were very dreadfull Psal. 119. 120. My flesh trembleth for feare of thee and I am affraid of thy Judgements David that was not affraid of the Beare of the Lyon nor of Gâ—liah yet was affraid of Gods Judgements If the giving of the Law made Moses and the people quake Heb. 12. 20 21. surely Gods Judgements which are lexanimata the execution of the Law will make Kingdomes to tremble At the entrance of the law Mount Sâ—na did smoak and when God shall avenge the breach of the Law Mount Sion will burne Lament 4. 11. When Ananias and Saphira were smitten great feare fell upon all the Church and all others that heard of it insomuch that none of them durst joine themselves with them Acts 5. 11. 13. So you see Gods Judgements are sharpe and dreadfull Secondly an Axe as its terrible so its strong and weighty and Gods Judgments have strength and weight in them Psal. 90. 11. Who knowes the power of thine anger there is power and strength in the wrath of God let him use the least creature to execute his judgements and there is strength enough in that creature to ruine any the raine is a weake thing but if God will use raine as a Judgment it is strong enough to drown a world Job 37. 6. It is called the great raine of his strength God can put that strength into a cloud into a few drops of raine that they shall conquer any opposite power the worms eate up Herod Act. 12. A humor in the feet tumbles down Asa 2 Chron. 16. a disease in the bowells consumes Iehâ—ram 2 Chron. 21. And Stories tell us small things have overthrowne men of great renowne a grape stone a flye some petty thing God can arme the weakest creature with that strength that no man is able to stand against it not the Princes of the earth Psal. 76. 1â— Hee cuts off the spirit of Princes Hee deales with Princes as men deale with a Vine an Axe is too strong for a cluster of Grapes or a sprig of a Vine it easily cuts them off so God by a Judgement easily cuts off the spirit of Princes they are not able to stand against the least Judgement of God when he puts strength into raine wormes or any other creature they fall Thirdly an Axe is an instrument to hew with wood and stones they hewed with Axes Esa. 10. 15. Shall the axe boast it selfe against him that heweth therewith God by His Judgements hewes Nations and Kingdomes He hewed Israel by forraigne Nations when Israel was under the Judges the Philistimes and others were Gods Axe to hew them After they had chosen them a King the Lord also hewed them 2 King 10. 32. He cut Israel short in all their coasts the Hebrew word is to curtaile to cut off the ends Hazael was sent and smote them in all their coasts he took their coast Townes cut off the supplies and succors came from thence and much molested them Psal. 75. 10. The hornes of the wicked will I cut off the Lord will deale with them as men doe with Trees first loppe off one bow then another then a third and leave only the trunke so for wicked men God will loppe off their pride their strength their glory and leave them destitute Fourthly againe the Axe is destructive Trees are cut down by Axes and great woods The Lord by His Judgements cuts down Kingdomes and Princes Psal. 110. 5. In the day of thy wrath thou shalt smite through Kings God shall not only smite but he shall smite through Kings an Axe cuts and cuts through and Gods judgements cut through the greatest and throws them down Ezek. 14. 21. Gods Judgements are sore ones the Sword Famine Plague noysome Beast they are His sore Judgements to hew down People and Kingdomes hence it is that God is called a consuming fire not that He is so in his owne nature for he is nothing but love and delight but when He sends out his sore Judgements then GOD is fire and will be everlasting burning to the wicked The next thing to open in the words is what is meant by the Tree and the Root of it By Tree we are to understand the Jewish state principally they were called Gods pleasant plant Isa. 5. 7. God had digged dung'd watered and shined upon and done much for them they were a great and goodly Tree but now the Lord layes the Axe to the Root of this Tree and if God cut downe this Tree his pleasant Tree then no State no Family might ever after look to find Mercy that was in the condition of this Tree Every tree that bringeth not forth fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire For the Root of the Tree some make Man the Tree the life of Man the Root of it the Axe to be the sentence of Death and Death it selfe the cutting down of the Tree Others make the Root of the Tree to be whatever they built most upon and confided in they built upon their Temple Greatnesse Strength Chariots Horses and such things But I shall commend to you these 4. things wherin the Root of the Tree did mainly consist The First was that Covenant which they had with God they were the Lords People and he was their God and this was one Root which afforded much sap to this Tree God being theirs in Covenant He protected them provided for them and did wonderfull things among them Now the laying the Axe to the Root was the breaking His Covenant with them Zach. 11. 10. 14 v. there is the staffe of beauty and bands saith God I tooke my staffe Beauty and cut it asunder that I might breake my Covenant with all the people and when God had broken that it was not long before He brake that other staffe of Bands viz. the brotherhood between Israel and Iudah the ten Tribes were dispersed before but they had some communion with Iudah at Ierusalem but God would break the staffe of Bands he would disperse them at Ierusalem and so there should be no communion between Iudah and Israel for the future The Covenant being dissolv'd they were wounded
there was none of a publique Spirit that did execute Judgement in the broad places neither King Councellors Priests or Prophets did execute Judgement and therefore hee could not pardon when none appeare to cut down sin God will appeare to cut down sinners Isa. 5. 7. â— looked for judgement ludah was his pleasant plant he had hedg'd dig'd dung'd watered shined upon them and looked for Judgement but there was none therefore God would breake downe the hedge and lay them wast If God could have found 10 righteous persons in Soddom he would have spared it You may take the word righteous not onely for godly men but for men executing Judgement there were none such Lot could have no Justice from them and that inforc'd God to execute Justice on them 4. Blood oppression uncleannesse hatred of truth and such like which I put together because I cannot inlarge upon all particulars Hosea 4. 2. 3. By swearing lying killing stealing and committing adultery they breake out and blood toucheth blood Therefore shall the Land mourne God will destroy because of these sinnes Ezek. 36. 18. When the Brittains called in the Saxons to helpe them against the Scots and Picts God who hath power over Kingdomes and people made them his Axe to how and destroy the Brittains for they soone joyned with their adversaries and picked quarrels against the Britains and God so stirred up their Spirit against the Brittains that they spoyled them in many places drove them into corners of the Land made them flee into forraine parts and destroyed the Country with fire and Sword The a sinnes then observable were such as were not among the Gentiles hatred of the truth and the patrons of it drunkennesse contention crueltie uncleannesse countenancing of lies and the forgers of them respect to lewdnesse more then goodnesse the better things wrought most discontent all vice was in the Clergie and people Princes were Tyrannicall Murtherers Adulterers Soddomiticall and the last of the b Brittish Kings flying into France said woe to us for our great iniquities we had time to repent but did it not therefore justly now the wrath of Godrootes us out When the c Danes conquered England the Land was guilty of blood and uncleanesse it was in d â—theldreds time whose wayes were cruell miserable and shamefull his eares were open to accusers to calumniations and no mans life was in security When Roderick King of Spaine deflowred the Daughter of Count Iulian who in revenge stir'd up the Moores shewed them the way to get Spaine which they conquered and possest above 600. yeares At the Conquest by the Normans the sinnes were prophanesse ignorance uncleannesse neglect of Justice and Religion the people were a prey to the Nobles which made Edw the Confessor say before his death that England should be given into the hands of Divills and wicked Spirits You see what sins made the great changes in this Kingdome sins not unlike the Amorites which from Levit. 18. Deut. 2 12. are conceived to be Idolatry oppression and filthinesse which are destructive of Religion Justice and holynesse of life the onely bands of humane Societies and when these sinnes of theirs were full God cuts them off for when sinnes become destructive to Societies they whet Gods Axe and hasten it to the root and now you have heard what are the sinnes bring the Axe thither It followes that I shew you the third thing sets out the severitie of God and that is Thirdly the impartialnesse of God in the worke Every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire let it be an Olive Tree or a Bramble a Fig tree or a Vine no exception excuse evasion pretence or priviledge or plea is admitted but the axe is laid to the root of every one it referres to that in Deut. 20. 20. The trees thou knowest be not for meat thou shalt destroy such trees must not be spared though great and goodly In particulars you may see this truth more cleerly Looke at Kings they are tall Cedars Dan. 4. 14. Hew downe the Tree Nebuchadnezzar himselfe must downe Herod Pharaoh Belshazzer were cut off by the root Gods axe neither feares nor spares the proudest Psal. 76. 12. Not Prophets Balaam is slaine by the Sword Num. 31. 8. Not Priests 1 Kin. 18. Not Nobles Zimri and Cozbi are runne through Num. 25. Not Apostles Iudas falls headlong and bursts in pieces Act. 1. 18. Not Statists and great Counsellors Ahitophel is smitten a Sam. 17. Not Tribes Iudg. 21. 3. A Tribe was lacking in Israel afterwards ten were wanting Not Cities Sodom Ierusalem Babylon are layd wast Not a World 1 Pet. 3. 20. That is drown'd no priviledge will advantage Abrahams seed Children of the Kingdome are cast out Mark 8. 12. No place secures Ioab is taken at the hornes of the Altar Angels in heaven are thrown down 2 Pet. 2. 4. the Figtree in the Garden is not spared Luke 13. 6 That of Coniah is most observable Ierem. 22. 24. Though Coniah be as the signet on my right hand yet would I pluck him thence though he be much esteemed and very deare as Signets on Princes hands are yet it shall not priviledge him you may thinke his nearnesse and my affection to him may preserve him in his place but be not deceived as I live saith the Lord I will pluck him thence Thus you see the severity of God in his impartiallnesse towards every tree Now I come to make application of the point I might here first shew you that all Kingdomes have their Periods and learned writers tell us that there are no Kingdomes so great so glorious so powerfull that extend their duration above 500. or 600. yeares at most but are either ruinated and fall to ashes or else suffer some great change The Jewish State from Egypt to the Temple was 480. yeares from Saul their first King to Zedektah the last of Judah were 480. yeares and then they were led into Captivitie and after their returne within 500. yeares they were cut off by Vespasian and Titus the Axe in my Text and are not a Tree to this day And the ten Tribes after their division 260 yeares were carried away the Assyrian Persian Grecian and Roman Monarchies had their Periods and were cut downe by one Judgement or another the Britaines after 500 years were quit of the Romans tyranny in England and Athens from the time of its Monarchy to the time of its Democracy had 490. yeares The Lacedemonians flourished 491. yeares The Saxons had to do here 469. years The Danes 242. And then there was an end of them and it is known to all of you how long we have been since the conquest but I doe not desire to prophesie and foretell things to come all seasons are in the hand of God but its thought we are upon the Tropicks if we be not ruined altogether certainely there will be some great alteration
may e runne downe and runne over the Sonnes of Bâ—â—â—al will not be taken away our guilt and spot will not be purged nor our Land secured You are the Supreme Court of Justice let the Sunne be darke and the Sea dry before your streams doe cease flowing In Moses dayes men wondred at the drynesse of the Red Sea In Christs dayes they wondred at the darkning of the Sunne but let none wonder for want of Justice Open your Sluces and let the floods of Justice carry down the floods of Iniquity f Lewes one of the Kings of France having spared upon intreaty a man deserved death and reading that in the 106. Psa me 3. Blessed are they that keep Iudgement and he that doth righteousnesse at all times this doing righteousnesse at all times so wrought upon him that presently he reversed what he had granted and said He that hath power to punish sin and doth it not becommeth a Patron of it and is as guilty before God as if himselfe had committed it and that its Piety not Cruelty to execute Justice If the spirit of this Prince were in all the Princes and Magistrates of the Christian world what a sudden change should we see The Lenitie many propound and plead for proves cruelty to particulars to whole Estates It made g Cato say that those powers did not punish Delinquents were not onely to be rejected but to be ston'd least their indulgence might damnifie the State He saw neglect of Justice did prejudice Kingdomes and wee see the want of it hinders much if not all our good I speak not this from mine own head but I will give you the warrant of a Prophet for it Ierem. 6. 29. The founder melts in vaine for the wicked are not pluckt away Ministers are Founders they are to melt make men fit for a spirituall estate you are Founders are melting and making men fit for a Politique condition but both you and we melt in vaine and the reason is given the wicked are not pluckt away while they stand the labour is in vaine and what can an Army do if Justice march not with them Achan will sooner overthrow Israel then take At but when Justice was executed and he ston'd At was easie to take God was then with Israel and fild them with spirit to do exploits It s thought by men of wisdome that if your power had acted more and penlesse we had bin in a safer condition and God more propitious Justice pacifies wrath when neglect thereof provokes it Some fear execution of Justice will kindle a fire and make stirres in Kingdomes but Fiat justuâ—a ruat munâ—as Gods way will never destroy Gods worke let Justice be done and God will looke to the world and Kingdomes of it Further see how crosse mens thoughts are to divine Phâ—â—chas executes justice upon great ones and what followed a Commotion no Gods wrath was turned away and a Covenant of peace made Numb. 25. 8. 11 12. Seeing hee hath executed justice and honour'd me saith God behold I give unto him my Covenant of peace and will honour him In publique calamities the h Sacrifice of a wicked man is a Peace Offering and may prevent great wrath If Powers will winke at wickednesse they may remedy the time may quickly come they shall smart for judgements they cannot prevent It's injustice and want of justice that disturbs Kingdomes and Cities doth not that treacherous plot of Bristoll justifie what is said Doth it not cry alowd for justice and shall it be forgotten Let the waters of justice flow and they will refresh It was the River in Eden that made Paradise so sweet and flourishing and streames of Justice may make us a Paradise once againe being almost a Wildernesse When Ioab Shâ—mei and Adonâ—jah were cut down by Solomons axe then was the Kingdom established 1 Kings 2. 46. If Justice be at a stand and cannot take hold of living Delinquents to keepe the Axe from rust let Justice be exeuted upon livelesse Delinquents Are there no Altars no high places no Crucifixes no Crosses in the open streets that are bow'd unto and Idoliz'd lay your Axe to their rootes and hew them downe In Ezek. God threatens the destruction of their Cities because they spared their Altars Idols Images and owne works chap. 6. 6. Let us secure our Cities and save God that labour down with all is suspitious scandalous and superstitious Thus have I done my first motion The second is that the Axe of God being layd to the roote of our Kingdome you would have a speciall care of the root while that is safe there is hope Job 14 7. 1. Do your utmost to keepe God with us yet he is in the midst of us Ier. 14. we are his people hee is our God yet we have no Bill of Divorce and Lâ—â—â—mmâ— is not written over our Gates do what lies in you to keepe off such a mischiefe If God should depart and disanull his Covenant with us most dreadfull things would betide us Hos. 9. 12. Woe to them when I depart from them all evills presently step croud in upon a people left of God then publique enterprises prosper not â—Chron 24. 20. 24. then Counsell failes 1 Sam. 28. 15. Then protection ends Esa 50. 5. Then peace loving kindnesse and mercy goe Ierem. 16. 5. And such Judgements are as taking the Sunne out of the firmament and the Soule out of the Body Popery is the thing produceth such effects it 's like 〈…〉 Chambers full of abhominations and hath that malignity in it as to drive God from his people You have bin prest to the i extirpation of it had thoughts to effect it Let them not die in you but come to perfection and ingage us yet in a more firme Covenant to the Lord that we may for ever be the Lords and the Lord ours according to what you heard out of k Ier. 50. 5. 2. Looke to the Civill power let not that be rested out of your hands your Magna Charta the Position of Right your Parliament â—riviledgeâ— what have bin taken from you recover what have layen dormant and tend to publique good revive what obtrusions and bonds have bin put upon you adâ—â—beâ—e securim imputate You are a free Parliament preserve your freedome our Laws and Liberties are in your hands let them not suffer The being and lively-hood of the Kingdome depends much thereon Loges terra Statuta â—egnâ— are the Sinewes and Bonâ—s of the body politick wound them and the Kingdome bleeds loose them and the life of it 's gone Arbitrary Government is a dangerous thing a Comet that threatens destruction to the Country it 's over you tell us l That acts of will and Tyranny are the ingredients into it that neither Parliament nor Kingdome can â—e safe with it Let your convictions cause prevention improve your power let not Eng become a house of bondage a 2d Aegypt 3.
Let Religion and truth be pretious in your eyes they are of m such consequence as that without them is little peace or safety to Kingdomes That state preserves truth will the God of truth preserve When Ieroboam gave way to plausible inventions he layd the foundation for his own and the Kingdomes ruine 1 King 14. The Church of Philadelphia had a speciall care of Gods word Rev. 3. 10. and found the fruit of it because thou hast kept the word of my patience not onely in their hearts in their practise but also because n they had kept it from being taken away from corruption therefore God would keepe them from the houre of temptation Gods word is in danger oft by Haeresies Schismes Persecutions if we will ingage our selves for it GOD will ingage himselfe for us but if we desert the truth both God and truth will be against us * The Danish Prelats stood not for pure Religion but chiefly for that was their own and therefore were cast out by Prince and people in the yeare 1537 God priseth his truth at a high rate he will destroy Nations for the safety of his people Es. 43. 3. and he will destroy heaven and earth for the safety of his truth Mat. 5. 18. that he Magnfies above all his name Psal. 148. 2. This whole Creation this visible name of GOD is little to his eternall Truths Let truth therefore be gracious with you and contend with all your might for the faith that it be not pul'd from us The onely wise God bids you by the wisest of men to buy the Truth and not to â—ell it Proverbs 23. 23. it 's worth all mens labours liberties and lives it cannot be over bought loose Religion and Truth and we have lost all that is considerable where these go the Blessing goes Ier. 31. 23. The Lord blesse thee O habitation of Iustice and Mountaine of Holynesse Where the Laws are executed and pure Religion is maintained there is a habitation of Justice a Mountain of Holynesse and the blessing of God upon them both If you love blessings and would avoyd curses keep Religion in it's own lustre and rather let Men and Kingdomes then Truth fall to the Earth yet the way to make earthly Kingdoms happie is to uphold the Kingdom of heaven Fourthly The godly in the Kingdome Magistrates Ministers and people let them be preserved they are the root of a Kingdome it was Ioseph preserved Egypt and the Kingdome of the Egyptians when the Israelites were driven out of Egypt the Egyptians were quickly destroyed and their Kingdome ruined for Pauls sake all the soules in the Ship were kept alive Act. 27. Moses kept Gods hand in Heaven that he did not destroy his people on earth Exod. 32. 10. A godly man is of great worth Elijah did more good by his fasting and Prayer by opposing Ahab and destroying Baals Priests then the Chariots and Horsemen of Israel The godly are the Forts and Magazines of a Kingdome It was Lot upheld Sodome when he was gone the brimstone came and the City was turned into ashes the place is very remarkable Gen. 19. 22. Hast thee escaped to Zoar I cannot doe any thing till thou comest thither what the righteousnesse of one Lot to preponderate the Iniquities of all Sodom where were thousands O wonder O the weight of one Saint away Lot escape to Soar I cannot doe any thing till thou comest thither but were not their sins great and many be it so yet I cannot doe any thing till thou comest thither but were not their sins full Yes they were yet I cannot doe any thing till thou come to Zoar. I but Lord art thou not come downe to execute Judgement without mercy Its truth yet I cannot do it till hou come to Zoar my hands are tyed fire and brimstone will not come downe from Heaven while Lot's in Sodome Thou art the man that hinders all Bee gone hast to Zoar but Lot lingers and will not make hast then I must linger also saith God if he stick my Judgements must sticke till he be gone I cannot doe any thing Here 's the worth and excellencie of a righteous man he keepes off Judgements even brimstone Judgements from a City and a Kingdome Great things will God doe for a good mans sake 2 King 2â— 6. I will defend this City for mine owne sake and for my servant Davids sake God joynes David with himselfe and puts great honour upon him it s â—swell for his sake as for Gods that Ierusalem is defended The Saints are deare to God he doth much for them and for their sakes and shall they not be deare to you there is a choice Prophecy in 1 Zach. 12. 5. the Governours of Iudah shall say in their hearts the Inhabitants of Ierusalem my strength in the Lord of Hosts their God they were newly come out of Babylon their enemies that opposed them in the worke of the Temple and Reformation were many the number of the godly was few yet their eyes were upon them The Governours of Iuaah said in their heart the Inhabitants of Jerusalem my strength in the Lord of Hosts their God every Governour looked at all the godly in Ierusalem and account of them as his strength in particular and they look't not at the godly in themselves as poore few weake and despicable but they looked at them in the Lord of Hosts their God They saw that those persons had interest in the Lord of Hosts that he was their strength and defence Whereupon they own'd them clos'd with them and countenanc'd them knowing that these men and their God would bee assured strength and sufficient defence unto them You that are the Governours of our Iudah cast your eyes upon the godly and say in your hearts these are our strength in the Lord of Hosts their God these have bin faithfull unto us and wee will be shields unto them for so the word Ruler signifies Hos. 4. 18. * Victor Vicensis tells of one that had a vision of a Tree that reached up to Heaven and spread its branches farre so that all delighted in the greatnes and beauty of it but suddenly there came a wild beast and rub'd at the root of it and overthrew the same This Tree was the Church which spread through all Affrica Hunnerick an Aâ—riaâ— Prince was the wild Beast who banished and martyred the Orthodox amongst them and laid all waste where the Godly are driven out there Judgements are drawn in if mens Axes cut downe the trees are green Gods Axes must and will cut down the Trees are dry Thirdly The next thing I humbly desired of you is that seeing God layes his Axe to the root of the Tree that there may be a through Reformation of all evills in the Kingdome but especially in the worship of God partiall reformation makes way for a future desolation Our Reformation was conceived heretofore in sinne and now hath brought forth Iniquity if it
had bin formed according to the mind of God we should not have had such stirs and troubles in these daies if any therefore have built up Hay Straw and Stubble let your fire burne up such combustible matter if bryars and thornes do grow in the Sanctuarie let your Axe cut them downe 2 Chron. 14. 3. 5. When Asa tooke away Altars high places brake the Images cut downe the Groves then had the Kingdome quiet before him it s such trash as Altars Images Ceremonies and inventions of men which do disquiet Kingdomes Churches Consciences Mens thoughts are that removall of them will breed disturbance it s their standing not their taking away doth it When we go in Gods way breaking and banishing out of Gods worship the needlesse scandalous and accursed things God overules spirits which are opposite and a Kingdome is at rest Asa tooke the Images and high places out of all the Cities of Judah and yet the Kingdome was quiet the more exact in the things of God the better successe God would not have the names of Idols and superstitious things left amongst us Hos. 2. 16 17 18. Thou shalt call mee no more Baali Baalim must be no more in their minds or memories It was a good p name but because abus'd to Idolatry God would not endure it A great name is no great matter in mans judgement it was much in Gods and hee would have a perfect Reformation not tollerate the least evill and thereupon he makes a Covenant with all creatures for them and promises to breake the bow sword battle out of the earth and to make them lye down safely You see a through reformation is the readiest way to greatest security The q Papists hope by names and termes of theirs to worke in their faith amongst us they call our words novitaâ—es vocum and keep the old termes Penance Priest Masse Altar Sacrifice c. These words say they will bring us to the faith of our first Apostles I beseech you therefore to dash their hopes take away these names and dayes they so confide in Neast-eggs yea cockatrice eggs they are and may r breed Serpents tread them under your feet shew your selves children of that Father who hates superstitious names times things and loves a perfect worke Esa. 1. 25. I will turne my hand upon thee and purely purge away thy drosse and take way all thy sinne God will not endure drosse and sinne in the Shekells of the Sanctuarie those things dim the glorie and imbase the substance they must out and because there be many adversities and great opposition to works of Reformation therefore saith God in the vers. before I will ease mee of mine adversaries doe they hinder so needfull so good so great and so glorious a worke ah I will ease my selfe of such adversaries and if men will not do the worke my hand shall do it and do it throughly It's mans wisdome to do that aforehand which God will doe by his judgements In this 3 of Math 12. Christ is presented with his Fanne in his hand and resolution to purge it to purpose The Jewes would not part with their Mosaicall Worship they stuck to the Ceremonies and Rites of the Temple but because they would not purge out the corruptions crept in nor part with the shaddow for the substance now come therefore Christ fann'd them by a terrible judgment destroy'd them their Temple and all the Formalities of it setting up pure and Spirituall Worship which had they admitted their destruction might have bin prevented Luke 13. 33. 34. What corruptions are got into the worship of God is not unknowne to you the Worthies of our Israel turne your hand upon us and purely purge out all the drosse is there If things be not evident to you make an exact scrutinie and whatever you finde without Christs superscription is adulterate he will not owne nor blesse it Ius divinum is his stampe and what hath that Christ will owne O suffer nothing to be in his House which hath not a divine impression upon it which is not after Christ Col. 2 8. and for the future let nothing be brought in which is after men and not after Christ let no worldly rudiments approach his presence when Nadab and Abihu brought strange fire into the worship of God fire went out from the Lord and made them a Sacrifice there was nothing against their fire but this was it they had no Warrant for it God commanded it not Levit. 10. 1 2. Let some fiery law go forth from you that may scorch all such as shall hereafter dare to joine their posts with Gods and mingle their chaffe with his Wheate and let not any lawes be of force that may countenance such evills uphold suspected things or prejudice the liberty of tender consciences yea wayes of worship which may prove snares to you or your Posterity put the Axe of your power unto them and hew them down There is another thing yet and very desirable you have been faithfull to the Kingdome hitherto go on still to be faithfull you are Ambassadours of the greatest King the great things of heaven and earth are committed to your care the glory of Iehovah the Gospel of Christ the welfare of Churches the good of Kingdomes and in some respect of the whole Christian world is in your hands Olives and Figgetrees will not let go their fatnesse and sweetnesse do not you let goe your faithfullnesse put forth your selves and do what you can for the glory of God the Gospel the Churches the Kingdome the world All these waite and expect much at your hands Prov. 13. 17. A wicked messenger falleth into mischief but a faithfull Ambassadour is health Messengers of a State have power to doe great things if men will be byassed with feare promises and selvish respects importunities of friends and the like they shall fall into mischief God hath said it and well it shall not be with them but a faithfull * Ambassadour he is health health to his own conseience he is health to a Kingdome health to the Churches health to all God calls to you to help Him against the mighty the Churches call to you to help them against corruptions Innovations impositions this Kingdome Ireland cryes to you for help against distractions oppressions bloud ruine now shew your selves Helpers and Healers In Prov. 25. 12. it 's said A faithfull messenger refresheth the soule of them that send him It 's not the head but the soule the heart is refreshed by such a man the Hebrew is He causeth the soule of his Lord to returne and we may truly say to your comfort and honour that the soule Religion and the Kingdome hath you have caused it under God to returne We were dying Religion and Kingdome were dying and you have given us a little reviving the Lord reward you fully for it go on and shew your faithfullnesse bring it to perfection Esa. 11 5. faithfullnesse is
at the Root and were no longer Gods people Secondly by Root is meant the true Religion and worship that the Jewes had these are the root of a Kingdome A Kingdome then lives and prospers when Religion and the Pure worship of God are maintained this the a Heathens themselves did know that Religion and worship of their Gods was the onely way to make a Kingdome flourish Tullie in his Booke de natura deâ—rum attributes the felicitie Empire and Tryumph of the Romans Religioni They saw all things to be rul'd by the Gods and as we saith he excelled all Nations pâ—etate Religione so we excelled them all in plenty and when the b Romans went out to Warre they first took care to call the Gods out of that City and Towâ— which they went against and promised them better entertainment at Rome then at any other place intimating to us that while they kept their Gods they could not be overcome and they conceited Rome invincible while they had their Palladium but to leave them and to look to Gods word c Hosea 13. 1. When Ephraim spake trembling he exalted himselfe in Israel When Ieroboam set up Calves at Dan and Bethel and will'd the people to worship there pretending it was too farre to goe to Ierusalem these were shorter journeyes and the worship as warrantable they spake trembling What shall we leave our God shall we give way to Idolatry and worship we know not what When they spake trembling they exalted themselves but when he offended in Baal then he died when Ieroboam prevailed by his poslicie and power and brought them to it then they dyed as the worship of God preserved or corrupted so Kingdomes flourish or wither 1 Chron 22. 13. 1 Kings 11. 11. 2 Chron 17. 3. Thirdly the root of a Kingdome consists in Civill Power when that is upheld in a Kingdome it flourisheth but when that is wounded or destroy'd the Kingdome is blasted and withers at the root Gen. 49. 10. the Promise was that the Scepter should not depart from Iudah till Shiloh come till Christs comming the Civil Power should not be remov'd There is a Questionl among great ones how this can be made good But I will not dispute that only take it thus unto the day of Augustus Caesar the power remained in the State of the Jewes he then with the Senate took the power from them placed it in Herod Ascalonita and set him up and then the Scepter departed from Iudah d The Sanedrim were most if not all of the Tribe of Iudah and had the supreme Authority they called Herod to Question for his contumacie and had almost taken away his life which Herod taking to heart rooted out the Sanedrim reigned absolutely over the Jewes and did what he listed against them and onely fear'd to displease the Romans here was the Axe at the root their Civill Power was taken away Fourthly the Root was the Godly partie among the Jewes They whether Magistrates Ministers or People are the strength of a Kingdome Elishah and Elisah were the Chariots and Horsmen of Israel they were the Militia of that Kingdome Psal. 75. 3. saith David I beare up the Pillars of the earth he maintain'd Religion their Lawes and the faithfull these were the Pillars of the Earth and his eye was upon the faithfull Psal. 101. 6. they should dwell with him he knew they were strong props of the Kingdome That place is observable Esa. 6. 13. As an Oake whose substance is in it when it casts the leaves so the holy Seed shal be the substance therof When the wind raine and thunder blow off the leavs break off the branches yet the life and substance remaines so here the holy seed shal be the substance of it Let Nebuchadnezzar come blow and break off the leaves and branches of this Vine throw them into the furnace of Babylon and make Israel as a dead saplesse thing yet the holy seed shal be the substance therof and when they returne againe it shall spread in the Kingdome and be a great Tree and the toppe reach to heaven and over all the borders of the Land the holy seed being the substance and root would grow and multiply when godly Ministers Magistrates and People be struck in a Kingdome then the Axe is laid to the Root of the Tree Now they were persecuted and thrust from their place Herod put by the a Asamonaeans and suffered none of them to enjoy the Priesthood Annas was set up and b Caiphas who according to his name vomited out malice against Christ and before their full cutting down the voice was heard Ite pellam goe to Pella the godly were removed and then they were destroyed Question Was not the Axe laid to the root of the Tree before this time was it not at the Root when the ten Tribes were cut off Why then is it said Now is the Axe laid to the root of the Tree The Answer is it 's true the Lord did lay the Axe to the root of it before this time and that heavily in the dispersing of the ten Tribes therfore its said Now also but he did not so lay the Axe unto the root of the tree as that it was wholly destroyed often times they were hewed with the Judgements of God yet alwayes there was semen a seed left and when they came out of Babylon there was a glorious Church and God delighted in them but now the Axe was so layd to the Root that they b were utterly cut down and made no People Now the Lord did unconvenant them unchurch them unpower them unsaint them now the Lord cast them off they had no Root left no god for their God but were made a reproach and curse among all Nations Secondly Now the Axe is laid because the Lord hath another People to graft in before he took no care of the Gentiles but left them to perish in their way now he would take this wild Olive and graft it into the Root therfore saith Christ Iohn 9. 39. I am come for Judgement to cut off the Jewes by the Root and to graft in the Gentiles that I may try them and see whether they will beare better fruit then the Jewes have done Acts opening of the words Now I come to give you those Observations which doe naturally flow from the word And first observe that God beares long with a sinfull people Now is the axe layd to the root of the tree I have borne a long time been patient but now I come with the axe and doe lay it to the root of the tree God is a patient God toward his people and toward the world a God that beares with sin and sinners beyond our expectation three yeares God bore with the Fig-tree Luk 13. 7. I came these three yeares and have found no fruit Fourty yeares God bare with them in the Wildernesse Heb 3. 9. a hundred yeares God bare with a
it will be an Argument of your wickednesse but if you hew them in pieces and make a generall slaughter of them it will be an Argument of your righteousnes and may produce the good and safety of the whole Kingdome I beseech you therefore in the name of Christ spare not one Achan one lust that one may be the ruine of all one sinner destroyes much good Eccles. 9. 18. and any sinne may hinder much mercy Ier 18. 10. Now the Axe is laid to the root of every Tree we must therefore lay it to the root of every sinne sinnes of constitution sinnes of custome sinnes against heaven and earth God and man the least the greatest let them all feele the sharpnesse and strength of the Axe He that spares any sinne doth what lyeth in him to ruine Parliament Army Citie Kingdome King and all Ion. 3. 8. 10. When every one turned from his evill way so that there was no way of wickednesse left unturn'd from then God turn'd away his fierce anger and spared their Citie if we turne every man from his evill wayes and all those wayes we may certainly and suddenly expect Gods turning from his fierce wrath and his walking in wayes of peace and mercy with us Peace is a desirable thing yet not that peace will whet the Axe sharper and make it cut deeper such peace we desire as will keep the God of peace with us we take the wrong course for peace if we go on in our sinnes Es. 57. 21. Ps. 68. 21. He that cries for peace with his lips and destroyes it with his life he maintaines the Warrs divides betweenethe King and Parliament and widens the breaches of the Kingdome If we will fast and goe on in sinfull wayes we may have a dubious and dangerous peace with men but it 's impossible we should have any with God I shall shut up this point with that of Samuel to the people 1 Sam. 12. 24 25. Onely feare the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart for he hath don great things for you but if you shall still do wickedly yee shall be consumed both yee and your King progresse in wickednesse produceth not peace The true product of it is destruction to people Parliament King and Kingdome If we would therefore have all safe peace be in our Borders and the God of peace be propitious to us let us depart from all iniquitie Hitherto I have spoken to all give me leave now Honourable and worthy Senators to commend some things to your considerations My first and humble request is that the Axe of your power may not ly still but that Justice may be done God is a God of Justice he makes it knowne to all the world he layes his Axe to the root of the Tree shew your selves a Parliament of Justice let the world know it lay the Axe to the root of Delinquencie Neglect of Justice as you heard before indangers a Kingdome Iudah was layd wast because there was no Judgement executed Es. 5. 67. Suffer not a Kingdome to perish upon that ground It brings your Authority into contempt and renders you despicable in the eyes of many whereas if justice were done Authority would be more dreadfull and your persons more Honourable 1 Kings 3. 28. when Judgement was given between the two Harlots its said all Israel heard and feared that act struck feare into a whole Kingdom We do not read what became of the Harlot which took away the Child from the true mother but it is conceived and very probably that she died for it according to the Plagiarian Law of which you may read Exod. 21. 16. Deut. 24. 7. It a man did steale an Israelite or the Son of an Israelite any soule and the party were found in his hand he was surely to be put to death whence we may conclude the Harlot suffered the whole Kingdom feared and Solomon was honoured for that act of Justice it's execution of justice makes Authority to be regarded and a Kingdome to feare when your justice fell upon that great Cedar above a yeare and halfe agoe did not England tremble did not it make many feare and flie Justice secures a Kingdome but neglect of it makes Courts contemptible and Kingdomes hazardable Againe the neglect of Justice enboldens men to goe on in wicked practises Eccles. 8 11. because sentence against an evill worke is not executed speedily therefore the hearts of the Sonnes of men is fully set in them to doe evill they are void of all feare saith one a Translation b fild with boldnes saith another and the c French is fild to doe evil Impunity fills the sailes of wicked men and drives them against Parliaments Kingdomes and Heaven it selfe When great Delinquents go unpunished d divine providence is brought to the Bar and questioned men upon it become Atheisticall heady outragious dissolute Who knowes it not saith e Tullie that impunity is the greatest incouragement to impiety The Heathen with his dark Lanthorne could see the truth of this and shall wee Christians that have the light of life Iohn 8. 12. not see it f Augustine long since saw it and said take away Justice and what are Kingdomes but Dens of theeves and places for plunder wee find and feele the realty of this truth at this day and are like to lye under guilt till Justice be done Lastly want of justice increases the number of Delinquents Iudg. 17. 6. there was no Justice and now they were all delinquents every man did what he list The words are there was no King in Israel and yet they were all Kings in Israel They had not then had any King in a a stricke sence Judges were their Governours and because they did rule and execute Justice they are stiled Kings and now they had no Judge no King and yet they were all Judges all Kings their lusts were their Lawes and b every man did what was right in his owne eyes Nature is corrupt nothing sweeter to it then liberty and where Justice is suspended there is a c Commission to be wicked but where is most Justice there are fewest Malefactors and least mischiefe The d Turkes are severe and speedy in their Justice which prevents increase of Delinquents and danger Those Nations are remisse in Justice besides the sadding of those are innocent they abound in Delinquents and dangers it s our case at this present Englands dangers are many because Englands Delinquens are not a few and it s not like to be better with us till the justice of a Parliament be so feared that no Delinquent may expect safety in any part of our Kingdome Let Justice therefore O you heads of Israel run down as waters and righteousnesse as a mighty streame we have mighty sinnes and mighty sinners which make mightie dangers and if there be not * torâ—ens iustitia a streame of Justice yea a mighty streame that
is the choice love of God the precious bloud of the Sonne of God in it is the Spirit of grace and glory the exceeding great and precious promises all spirituall excellencies and eternall life if you refuse these you provoke God to lay the axe unto the root of the tree you provoke Christ to say Bring him and them hither and slay them before me that would not have me to reigne over them The Gadarenes preferred their Swine the Capernaites their Loaves the Jewes Barabbas before Christ but it cost them all deare when the axe came Let not a Gadarenish a Capernaiticall a Jewish spirit be found amongst us let us say Pereant porci pereant panes pereat Barabbas regnet Christus let all goe so Christ may reigne The Jewes stucke so to Moses and Mosaicall things so to the Temple and the Rites of it so to superstitions and the traditions of their Fathers that they would not receive Christ and the truths of the time present and therefore God dealt so severely with them as to cut them downe by the Romish axe There be truths of Christ reserved for some times and when those truths are discovered wee should examine them and labour to bee established in present truths 2 Pet. 1. 12. as the Apostle speakes Are there not truths now on foot concerning Christs Kingly Office and his government in the Church hath hee not powred out his Spirit upon men eminently and brought light out of darknesse Shall wee reject truth and light it 's feared we stick too much to Mosaicalls Prelaticalls and Trditionalls Let us prove all things and hold fast that is good let us receive the truth with the love of it lest we be given up to strong delusions 2 Thes. 2 10. 11. and strange judgements Acts 2. 13. 17. 28. when the Spirit was given choice truths presented and they not received there is mention of turning the Sunne into darknesse and the Moone into bloud which notes some dreadfull judgements that should darken and imbitter their best comforts The like may we feare if we refuse any truths of Christ Thirdly observe that God doth premonish before he doth punish Now the Axe is laid to the root of the Tree Iohn tells them there was an Axe laid the newes of the Axes comming was heard before the noise of its cutting The Lord tells Delinquents before he strikes them Yet forty dayes and Nineveh shall be destroyed Men are close their designes are underneath they oft storme surprize and plunder Towns without giving the least notice but when God intends judgements he sends his Heralds to warne Kingdomes and Nations Hath not God given warning to all Nations hath he not within these hundred yeares given us 100. warnings have not the Heavens seemed on fire have not there bin foure or five blazing Stars Herlicius Stargardensis held that the influence of the Comet 1618. upon the christian world would last to between 20 30 yeares which is already verified at last is blaz'd over England and expired intimating that England should take warning by it Besides these have we not had Earth-quakes great frosts deep snowes unseasonable weather and is it not fresh in your memorie how God had a quarel with your Steeples and Churches for the corruptions and Innovations in them when divers of theâ— were smitten broken and burnt by thunder and lightning not onely by prodigies hath God warned us but by his Prophets also Ezek. 33. 3. they have bin telling you of a stroak that would come Elishahs sword hath bin drawne and brandished before us and because we would not take warning by that Iehnes and Hazaels swords are in the midst of us It s undeniable the cocks have crowed and told us of this storme of bloud above this thirty yeares all exceptions are taken away none can quarrell with God he hath warned us he is just and will overcome in Judgement he hewed Ierusalem by his Prophets before he cut it downe by his Axes Ier. 1. 10 The Prophet did root up by his Prophecy after that Nebuchad cuts down by the sword Further God hath warned us by his judgements on others Germany these 20. years hath bin a Beacon to us Scotland was lately a Land of darkenesse and Ireland is still a Land of wrath and must England be secure Awake awake O England there be Armies within thy bowells Parliament Citie Kingdome are all in danger God hath long threatned and is now upon execution Use of the point Amos 4. 12. Thus will I doe unto thee and because I will doe this prepare to meet thy God It s dreadfull to heare God is in a way of Judgement especially when we are not in a way of repentance If I whet my glittering Sword and my hand takes hold of Iudgment I will render vengeance to mine enemies and will make mine Arrowes drunke with bloud and my Sword shall devoure flesh c. Deut. 32. 41 42. When God whets his Sword and shoots his arrowes he will make them eate flesh and drinke blood yea be fild with blood and grow fat with fatnes Esa. 34. 6. Now God hath given a Commission to the Sword to eate English flesh and drinke English blood and I feare the Sword having bin starved a long time will now eate to purpose it comes hungry and is like to eate much flesh it comes dry and is like to drinke much blood before it be put up again Let us therefore meet God in this way with sighs and teares let us take warning in time praemoniti prâ—muniâ—i men that are forewarned should be fore-armed In these times men are arm'd to goe to battle with men but are you arm'd to meet God have you on the girdle of veritie the Breastplate of righteousnesse are you shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace is the helmet of salvation on your heads is the shield of Faith on your hearts and the sword of the spirit in your mouthes If you be thus arm'd you may meet God marching in flames of fire and that without prejudice The Lord of Hosts is come if we bee not prepared wee cannot stand in the evill day read Ezek. 22. 14 but the soul that takes warning shall deliver it selfe Ezek. 33. 5. Let us all then lay it to heart that the sword is drawn hath dranke the blood of our friends and may drinke ours The Axe is laid to the root of the tree and threatens the downfall of Church and State if we do take warning and meet God the right way we may deliver our owne souls the souls of those that belong unto us and probably the whole Land Fourthly God begins with lesser judgements and afterward with greater Now the Axe is laid to the root of the Tree First there was Culter potaâ—orius the pruning hooke and when that would do no good then comes the Axe Gods Judgements are graduall not superlative at the first upon Kingdomes and families Sodom was first plundered by