am helped therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth and with my song will I praise him Quest But how may I clear my Interest in God Answer By these Evidences 1. Faith in Him 2. Love to Him 3. Conformity to his Wil revealed in his Word Faith unites the soul to God Union is the very Foundation of Interest and so a sufficient Evidence thereof Faith interests the soul in the Covenant of Grace and the †Mar. 16.16 Salvation therein promist Now 't is by vertue of the Covenant of Grace the soul comes to have an Interest in God The discovery therefore of the Grace of Faith is a sufficient Evidence of the souls Covenant-Interest in God Faith unites the soul to Christ Who dwels in the heart by Faith †Eph. 3.17 Now it is in and through Christ that Believers have an Interest in God Hence is the life of a Believer said to be hid with Christ in God * Col. 3.3 He then that is by Faith united to Christ is thereby interessed in God And as Faith is the Band of our Mystical so is Love the Band of our Moral Union with God and so it likewise evidences the souls Interest in Him Our Love to God springs from Gods Love to us For we love Him because he first loved us †Joh. 4.19 Now who are they that have an Interest in God but they that are beloved by him Now it s the Nature of both these Graces Faith and Love to work the soul wherein they are seated to a Conformity to the person upon which they are acted The Eye of Faith beholding the Beauty of Holiness in the Face of God transforms the soul into the same Image So the Apostle speaking of the Glory and Efficacy of the Evangelical Administration thus expresses himself †2 Cor. 3.18 For we all with open Face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. So likewise Love assimilates the person loving to the person beloved When Mettal is melted it bears the figure of the Mould into which it is cast Indeed in God the immutable Pattern of all Perfections Love is of a more transcendent Nature and Efficacy in all its operations God by loving us assimilates us to himself but we by loving God are assimilated to him For this Assimilating motion of Love springs from the Quickering Motive thereof which gives Life Vigour and Activity to Love Now the Motive of our Love to God is in him but the Motive of Gods Love to us is not in us but in himself 'T is a Flower that springs from the Root of free Grace But now this Conformity to God in the Beauty of Holiness being produc'd by the Efficacy of these excellent Graces Faith and Love must needs evidence the souls Interest in God 'T is Grace flowing from God to the soul which raises the soul up to a Conformity to God and his Will revealed in his Holy Word And Communication of Grace speaks the souls Interest in God If the Branch flourish by Virtue of sap derived from the Stock it is certainly ingraffed thereinto Now doth your soul rest upon God in a way of Believing Doth your Heart go out after God in a way of loving Do you express a Conformity to God and his Will revealed in his Word in a way of Holy Living Doth your Faith work by Love Doth your Love produce Likeness Doth this Likeness nourish your Love Doth this Love strengthen your Faith Do yon find your soul to move towards God by Faith and Love and to press after Conformity to God in Holiness of Heart and Life Then have you good and sure Evidences of your Interest in God The second Work ACT all the Powers of your soul upon God Let your Understanding eye him in his glorious Excellencies and All-sufficiency as infinite in Wisdom Power Goodness and Truth Let your Will choose him as the chiefest good and your highest Happiness and rest in him as your only Satisfaction and Security Let your Affections with full tide carry your soul to him as your only Rock and Refuge Let your Love be to him your Desires after him and your Delight in Him above all things in the world Stir up your self also to the lively Exercise of your most excellent Graces whereby your soul may be lifted up above Difficulties and dangers in the world and much advanc't and advantag'd in its nearest Approaches and Approximations to God Set your Faith Hope Trust on work Act your Faith on his Promise your Hope in his Mercy your Trust in his Power So shall you be ever near unto God as a Child under his Fathers Arm a Favorite in his Princes Bosom There is a sort of * Echini Fishes called by Cassiodore for their delicate Temper and curious Colour Croceae Deliciae divitis Maris The Saffron-colour'd Delights of the rich Sea These when a Storm arises gather to themselves little stones the same thing have some observed of the Bees to poise themselves in swimming thorough the boysterous waves as the Bees in flying thorough the blustering Winâ—s and so they make to some Rock as the Bees to their Hâ—ve as their Refuge from the tempestuous Fury of the sea So Believers who are Mundi Divitiae Deliciae Christi The Riches of the World and the Delights of Christ when any Storm or Tempest arises in the Church or State gathering to themselves the Pearls of Gospel-Promises to keep them in an even Poize in Perillous Times that they may not be driven away with every †Eph. 4.14 Wind of Doctrine nor discomposed by every Wave * Luk. 6.48 of Temptation should speedily make to Christ as a Hive of sweetness and a Rock of Strength for their Security and Peace Now this Application to him is made by the Believing souls Acting of Faith upon him in time of Trouble And thus must the Saints act the Powers of their souls upon God if they would be interessed in that Protection which pertains to the Saints by Divine Promise Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts Himself saith the Prophet †Isa 8.13 14 and let him be your Fear and let him be your Dread and he shall be for a Sanctuary Now what is it to sanctifie the Lord in our Hearts as the Apostle expresses it * 1 Pet. 3.15 but to present his glorious Excellencies and Perfections his infinite Power and Greatness before the view of our souls and to stir up our selves to those Actings which carry in them a suitableness and correspondency to such manifestations of God to us And what is this but to act all the powers of our souls upon him as a God who for his greatness is worthy to be feared and adored for his goodness is to be loved and desired for his Wisedome Mercy Power and Truth is to be trusted in and submitted to in all Things Now he
according to the Tenour of the Covenant of Grace Ye shall be my people and I will be your God †Jer. 30 2â— Does thy heart say Amen to this Covenant-promise Be it so Lord Wilt thou give thy self unto me Wilt thou indeed be my God Then will I be thine and onely thine for ever Behold here am I O Lord do what thou wilt with me for to thee do I give my self body and soul for ever Canst thou indeed say thus Then is God thine Heaven is thine Speak What sayest thou to this This I can truly say If these things be so the Lord is surely my God For I do freely with my whole heart and soul give my self wholly unto him I desire in all things to be obedient to his will I would not willingly for the gain of the whole world do any thing that might offend or dishonour him I desire that he would enable me more and more by his Grace to serve him For I desire not to live a day longer then I may live to his Glory And I am not onely willing to take him for my onely happinesse and freely to leave all the sweetest and dearest Comforts I have in this world for the enjoyment of him but I should look upon it as the ground of my highest joy and of everlasting thankfulness that though he should take away all from me he would yet be pleased to give himself unto me to be my God and * Gen. 15.1 exceeding great reward Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift †2 Cor. 9 15. If thou canst indeed speak thus Happy art thou God is thine and thou art his and shalt be happy in him and with him for ever in Heaven Blessed be the Name of the Lord who hath magnifi'd his Mercie to me and hath had compassion on me the chiefest of sinners the least of Saints I am willing upon this ground of the New Covenant to believe his Love to look up to him as my God But how may I know that Christ is mine Why If God be thine Christ is thine also If he have given thee himself to be thy God he hath given thee his Sonne to be thy Saviour 'T is in Christ that he is thy God The Covenant of Grace wherein God becomes thy God is founded in Christ his Mediation and Satisfaction And Christ in all his * Col. 1.19 Fulnesse of Grace and Glory is that great †Joh. 4.10 GIFT OF GOD which is promised in the Covenant of Grace Now then if God be thine and thou art his according to the Tenour of the New Covenant he hath given his Sonne unto thee as a Jewel from his bosome for a pledge of his glorious everlasting love and hath given thee to his Son as a part of his richest Treasure in the World to redeeme sanctifie and save Thee And if Christ be thine and thou art his Heaven the Inheritance which he hath purchast for Believers with his blood is thine also For thus hath he said * Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the Foundation of the World Moreover further to cleare it up to thy soul that Christ is thine let me ask thee Hath God ever shew'd thee what a poor lost undone Creature thou art in thy self by reason of thy sinnes Hath he made known to thee the Fulnesse and All-sufficiency of Christ with thy absolute necessity of him to justifie sanctifie and save thee or thou must perish forever Hast thou in the Glasse of the Law seen thy own Deformity and the incomparable Beauty of Christ in the Glasse of the Gospel Hast thou seen thy own †Rev. 3.17 18. Nakednesse and apprehended thy need of the Righteousnesse of Christ as glorious clothing for thy naked soul Hast thou been made sensible of thy * Mat. 5.3 spiritual poverty and have the †Eph. 3.8 unsearchable riches of Christ been unfolded before thee in the Gospel How have these things wrought upon thy heart Hast thou felt thy heart stirred within thee hereupon Hast thou felt God * Joh. 6.44 drawing thy heart out in desires and longings after Christ Hast thou been made willing to take Christ upon his own termes to be thy Soveraigne as well as thy Saviour To rule over thee as well as to save thee To save thee from thy lusts and †Mat. 1.21 sinnes as well as to save thee from Wrath and Hell Hast thou beene made willing to take his †Yoke upon thee * Mat. 11.29 30. and to bear his Burden Hath Christ beene welcome to thee when he hath come with his †Luk. 9.23 Crosse to lay it upon thee as well as when he hath come with his Cordials to refresh and comfort thee Speak seriously canst thou account thy self more happy in the presence of Christ in Prisons and Perecutions then in the midst of all worldly Pleasures and Prosperities without him Tell me truly if thou mightest certainly have thy wish and desire granted what wouldst thou wish for whom wouldst thou desire Ah None but Christ None but Christ What doest thou trust to on whom dost thou rest for salvation On thy own righteousnesse in thy own strength Oh no None but Christ None but Christ Art thou indeed Vile in thine own eyes and are all things in the World but vile in thy esteeme in comparison of Christ And is Christ above all things unto thee exceeding precious Truly if I know mine own heart I esteeme all the Riches of the world to be but * Phil. 4.8 losse and dung in comparison of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. Well then thou art a Believer For unto them onely that believe is Christ precious †1 Pet. 2.7 And if thou art a Believer thou shalt certainly be saved thou shalt surely one day behold thy Saviour in Heaven and there live in the fruition of his glorious Loves unto all Eternity * Joh. 3.16 For God so loved the World that he gave his onely begotten Sonne that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life Now what sayst thou poore soule How does thy Heart eccho to these Questions Why through the Grace of God this I can say It hath plâ—â—â—ed the Lord so far to discover the emptynesse of self and sinfulness of sin unto me that sometimes when I look down upon my self I †Eze. 36 â—1 loath and * Job 42.6 abhor my self and cannot but wonder that ever the Lord should vouchsafe to look upon me and love me Yea I wonder he hath not thrown me into Hell And when the Lord first revealed Christ Jesus to me in his Gospel in his All-sufficiency and Readinesse to save me it even ovâ—rcame my Heart and my thoughts and reasonings were such as these Oh good
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A WORD in SEASON FOR A Warning to England OR A Prophecy of Perillous Times Open'd and Apply'd Wherein the Signes of Bad Times and the Means of making the Times Good are represented as the great Concernment of all good Christians in this present Age. First exhibited in a SERMON preached in the Abby at Westminster July 5. 1659. and since enlarged and Published By THOMAS VVILLES M. A. Minister of the Gospel in the City of London Seal not the Sayings of the Prophecy of this Book For the Time is at hand Rev. 22.10 How do ye say We are Wise and the Law of the LORD is with us Lo They have rejected the Word of the LORD and what Wisdom is in them Jer. 8.8 9. Tempora mutantur nos mutamur in illis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sIC transIt gLorIa MVnDI LONDON Printed by Tho. Ratcliff for Tho. Underhill at the Blew Anchor in Pauls Church-yard 1659. TO THE SENATORS SOULDIERS CITIZENS STRANGERS To whom This SERMON was As to its main SUBSTANCE EXHIBITED FROM THE PULPIT IT 'S NOW WITH MUCH ENLARGEMENT PRESENTED FROM THE PRESSE FOR THEIR SERIOUS PERUSAL By A MESSENGER from CHRIST A MINISTER of the GOSPEL THOMAS WILLES Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it Luk. 11.28 If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them Joh. 13.17 From the KING of SAINTS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST To his Faithful and Well-beloved Servants and Subjects that shall live in the latter Dayes TAke heed that no man deceive you For many shall come in my Name saying I am Christ and shall deceive many And ye shall hear of Warres and Rumours of Wars See that ye be not troubled For all these things must come to passe but the End is not yet For Nation shall rise against Nation and Kingdome against Kingdome and there shall be Famines and Pestilences and Earthquakes in divers Places All these are the Beginning of Sorrows Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you and ye shall be hated of all Nations for my Names sake And then shall many be offended and shall betray one another And many false Prophets shall rise and shall deceive many And because Iniquity shall abound the Love of many shall wax cold But he that shall endure to the End the same shall be saved By the Hand of his Trusty Servant and Secretary * Chap. 24. v. 4 -13 MATTHEW Publicano-Christianus To the SACRED MAJESTY OF HEAVEN THE KING of KINGS AND LORD of LORDS The Supream Governour of the whole World The Humble Address and Representation of the Gratitude Requests of many Thousands of the Well-affected People of the Land who desire to approve themselves Faithful to the Cause of Christ and to be found walking in the Good Old way Most Mighty LORD WHereas it hath pleased thy glorious Majesty out of the exceeding riches of thy Free Grace and thy tender compassions in Jesus Christ to call us thy poore unworthy Servants out of the World to the Profession of thy truth and Gosspel and the Participation of thy saving Grace when out of thy infinite Sovereignty and Justice thou hast past by Millions of men and left them to perish everlastingly in their sinnes we humbly desire in a deep sense of our own utter Unworthiness to express our free and hearty Acknowledgement of that infinite Obligation which thou hast hereby laid upon our soules to perpetual Gratitude Love Honour and Obedience to thy Glorious Majesty for so invaluable a Mercy And we cannot but with sorrow of Heart confesse that we have by our unsuitable Walkings shew'd our selves very Unworthy of such rich Discoveries of thy Love unto us But we humbly implore thy Mercy in the forgiveness of our many Miscarriages and beseech thee to give us Leave with all Humility to present thy Majesty with these few Petitions to which we earnestly beg a Gracious Answer That it will please thee to grant preserve and establish a Righteous and Religious Magistracy a Faithful and painful Ministry in the Land with that Blessed GOVERNMENT which is most agreeable to thy holy Word and Will both in Church and State That it will please thee who hast the Hearts of all men in thy Hands to put it into the Hearts of our Counsellors and Governors to study and endeavour the Advancement of thy Glory and thy Churches Good by the suppression of Errour and Profanenesse and the Promotion of Truth and Holinesse in the Land That where thou seest those Persons in Places of Power and Trust who by their pernicious Principles and Practises make the Times Perillous thou wilt Graciously be pleased by thy Hand of Power to remove them and to set in their room men truly fearing Thee and hating Covetousness who may cordially seek and endeavour the Peace and Welfare of thine English Zion That thou wilt pour down on thy Servants a Spirit of Humiliation for the sins of the Land that thou wilt graciously pardon the Transgressions of thy People and purge the Land from its Abominations that thou mayest dwell amongst us That thou wilt break the wicked Designes and dissolve the cursed Conspiracies of those that under Pretences of thy Name Cause and Glory violently prosecute their Pernicious Purposes for the satisfaction of their Ambition and Covetousness and the Introduction of Errours Heresies and all manner of Licentiousness into the Land to the Hazard of many thousand souls and the dishonour of thy Glorious Name That it will please Thee to heal the Breaches of thy own People and to establish these three Nations England Scotland and Ireland in Peace and Love upon the sure Foundations of Religion and Righteousness and crown them all with thy Loving-kindnesse and tender Mercies And to this End that thou wilt awaken the spirits of thy Saints from their security in an unsettled and distracted condition to a serious minding of the great Concernments of thy Church and People their own Souls and this sinful Nation That thou wilt be graciously pleased speedily to change the Perillous Times that are or may come upon thy people according to the Predictions of thy holy Prophets into those Glorious Times which thou hast raised the hearts of many of thy Saints in Expectations of by thy Precious Promises However be pleased to preserve thy People in times of Peril and Persecution and to carry them as on Eagles Wings by thy Spirit of Grace through all Difficulties and Dangers till thou shalt receive them up into thy Kingdome of Glory So shall we thy poore unworthy Subjects and Suppliants as in Duty bound celebrate thy Glorious Name with everlasting Praises The Names of the Petitioners are written in Heaven A PROPHECY OF PERILLOUS TIMES Open'd and Apply'd 2 TIM 3.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This know also that in the last dayes perillous times shall come The Introduction THe knowledge of the Times and Seasons is very useful for all men Without
a one as so loves himself as that he despises others in comparison of himselfe and seeks his owne Praise in all things Thus do hypocrites under the cloke of Religion seek themselves their own Honour Praise Pompe and the like and this is a sinful self-love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 igitur sunt isti qui sibi vehementer placent suisque Commodis impensè student †Jodoc Vilich in loc Addo ex Bullingero * In locum aliorum rebus vel neglectis vel afflictis etiam Lovers of themselves therefore are such as extreamly please themselves and mainly study and pursue their own Interests yea not only with the neglect but to the Prejudice of others This is that sinful self-self-love which as a drop of Poyson extinguishes both Life and Heat banishes both Piety and Charity from the Heart Such men are their own Idols and their own Idolizers They set Self above God they set Self in the Throne and God at the Footstoole This Self-love is the Root of all Vitiousnesse It 's here set in the Van of a Troop of Vices Self-denial is the Foundation of all Christian Vertues But Self-love is the Groundwork of a Babel of sinne and Vice Vanity and Confusion Self-love occasions the souls losse and so becomes the ground of Self-destruction The second Character 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Qui nummos admirantur Tales sunt qui Religionem in Questum convertant †Aret. in loc 2. Covetous Silver-Lovers as the Word impo t s Such as are over-in-love with Money Such are they that take up Religion for Advantage * 1 Tim. 6.5 supposing that Gain is godlinesse These men are no better then Idolaters and †Mat. 6.24 Mammon is their God Sure we are * Col. 3.5 Covetousnesse is Idolatry And Idolatry cannot be consistent with true Piety Silver-Lovers what ever their pretences be cannot well be Saints The third Character 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Veritati opponitur est ejus Excessus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quaedam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hi praeterea fingunt honestas Causas ubi nullae sunt Tales in Religione perniciosi sunt Ad hos pertinent qui ob Flagitia pulsi Nomine Evangelii exulare se fingunt de Persecutionibus suis ac constantia gloriantur sine Ratione †Aret. in loc 3. Boasters Now Boasting according to the Import of the Word here used is a Vice whereby men speak of them selves and to their own Praise more then the Truth It 's a feigned shew as are the Colours of the Rainbowe without substance a flourishing Ostentation of some Excellency which is not in them These in Matters of Religion are very Pernicious Such are they who coine good Causes for the credit of bad Actions Such are they also who when banisht for their Wickedness pretend they suffer for the Gospel and so without any Cause at all glory of their Persecutions and Constancy in their sufferings They are * Elati Ver. lifted up with a high Conceit of their own Excellencies wherein they †Gloriosi Bez. Syr. glory Such are they Qui plura sibi arrogant quà m revera possident * Keck Ethic Vel Plura promittunt quà m praestare possunt †Ulpianus Who arrogate more to themselves then they do indeed possesse and promise more to others then they can performe The word here used * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the proper Epithete of a Peacock Such have a glorious traine but foule feet Their Lives proclaim their Pollutions while their Lips boast of their Perfections Boasting is ever a signe of Emptynesse Empty vessels give the greatest sound The fourth Character 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comes est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isti enim se in omnibus quaerunt arrogantes sunt animo elati †Aret. in loc 4. Proud This Pride is the Daughter of Self-love the Sister of Covetousnesse and Mother of Boasting 'T is near akin to the former Vices and the Venome of them runnes in the Veines of this For such men seek themselves in all things arrogate to themselves more then they ought and are lifted up with high conceits of themselves Pride is the Companion of every Vice and the Ring-leader in every Faction Proud Persons gild themselves with an outward glory while they are utterly empty of real worth They spread a great Saile upon an empty Bark They are painted Bubbles shining Meteors gilded Nothings lying Vanities The fifth Character 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Maledici * Bez. Syr. 5. Blasphemers Evil-speakers †Died. Slanderers and Defamers This is a Vice of the Tongue as the former were Vices of the Heart The Tongue is a Conduit-pipe by which the evil of the Heart flows out and this is that which defiles a man * Mat. 15.18 Herewith they blaspheme God and defame men the word here used imports both reviling both Magistrates and Ministers Obtrectantes fidelibus Doctoribus Deum ipsum traducunt †Pareus in loc They are such who not onely defame their faithful Ministers but presume to traduce the Name of God himself Whither will not desperate Atheisme and unbridled Impiety carry men Thus is the Word used in the Scripture as when it s said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Rev. 16.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †Jude 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Rom. 3.8 They blasphemed God They spake evil of Dignities As we are slanderously reported The Hebrew word †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used to blaspheme or curse * Num. 23.13 signifies also to strike or pierce thorough †Hab. 3.14 Blasphemies are impoyson'd Arrows which wicked men shoot at God Almighty's Face slanders are venemous Darts wherewith they transfix the Names of his children The sixth Character 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Qui hominibus suis i. e. iis qui presunt sibi non obtemperant * Syr. Interp Trem. 6. Disobedient to Parents Who are not subject to them that according to Gods order are set over them By Parents according to the Hebrew Idiome †Exod. 20.12 we are to understand all Superiours Rulers Governours whether Domestical Civil or Ecclesiastical There are Natural Spiritual Political Parents The first are properly called Father and Mother the two last are Ministers and Magistrates the word then in the latitude of its signification denotes such persons as being children are refractory towards their Parents such People as are regardlesse of their Pastor such Subjects as are rebellious against their Prince It imports that sin which stands in the Violation of the fifth Commandment Such are the persons here describ'd as cast off the Golden Yoke of Government and break the silken bands of wholesome Laws whether founded in a Natural Moral or Civil Interest The seventh Character 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ingrati * Beza Negantes Beneficium †Syr. Interp Trem.
7. Vnthankfull Such as never acknowledg any benefits These are such as make no acknowledgement of their greatest Obligations to God or Man Who are the living Sepulchres of Gods Blessings and Mans Benefits Such as disdainfully trample upon those staires by which they rise and ascend to their Greatness Of such David complains * Psal 41.9 Yea mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted which did eat of my Bread hath lift up his heele against me Such are like that Fowle which bites off the Head of the Dam that feeds it Thus the frozen Serpent hisses and stings him that cherishes and fosters it in his Bosome Ingratitude is a devouring Monster which though continually fed is nothing the fatter Such is the †Heb. 6.7 8. Ground which drinks in the Raine but brings forth nothing but Briars and Thorns This is near to Cursing and its End is to be burnt Ingratum si dixeris omnia dixeris Ingratitude is a comprehensive sin a complicated evil a brief Abridgement and Compendium of all Vices The Eighth Character 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Scelesti * Vetus Interpr Impuri i. e. quibus nullum jus est nec fas †Beza in loc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod tum de moribus tum de dogmatibus Doctrinae potest intelligi * Aret. in loc 8. Unholy Wicked men Impure Persons such whose Lusts are their Laws otherwise making no reckoning of Right or Wrong The word here used notes that which varies from the Divine Standard that holy Law which is the Rule and Measure of that which is Right and Good whether it be in opinion or Practice And indeed when the minde is corrupted by Erroneous Opinions we cannot expect a Conformity in the Life to the Rules of Holiness It denotes such as having quench't every spark of Goodnâ—sse and banish't every motion of Godlinesse have given themselves over to all Licentiousnesse and Lasciviousnesse †Jude v. 4 8. to commit all manner of wickedness and uncleanness with Greedinesse * Ephes 4.19 Such who though they put a tincture of Holinesse upon their Actions have no Truth of Grace in their Hearts Who draw not the Lines of their Lives by the golden Rule of Gods Law nor centre their thoughts in his Glory The ninth Character 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est Affectus seu Amor Naturalis qualis est Parentum erga Liberos Hinc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nomen Patris apud Hebraeos fit ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Voluit q. Benevolus dictus a propensâ erga liberos Voluntate †Buxt et alii 9. Without natural Affection The Word denotes the want of such a Natural affection or love as is in the hearts of Natural Parents towards their Children Hence we esteem and call such Parents as love not their children Unnatural Parents Such are like to the Ostrich of which it is said * Job 39.16 She is hardned against her young ones as though they were not hers But can this Hardnesse be found in the Hearts of the Sonnes and Daughters of Adam Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have Compassion on the son of her womb Yea they may forget †Isa 49.15 This want of Natural Affection is the punishment of Vnnatural Lusts * Rom. 1.26 27 31. The Bruit-beasts by natural Instinct are very tender over their young Sinne not onely degrades Man to a Beast as drunkennesse but makes him worse then a Bruit for Unnaturalnesse Such sinners despise Grace strangle Nature and destroy their own souls The tenth Character 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nescii Foederis †Beza sine Pace * Vetus Foedifragi †Castalio Irreconciliabiles * Scultetus Ab α privitivâ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 libo sacrifico 10. Truce-breakers Covenant-breakers such as are altogether regardlesse of Oaths and Covenants or who being once provok't and become Enemies are Implacable Irreconcilable For the Word is taken from the use of Sacrifices Now Sacrifices were used by the Heathens to pacifie as they thought an angry Deity Hence it signifies as some render it Implacable So a cruel and continual War which admits of no Truce they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †Sic. Demosth Aeschin An irreconcilable VVarre And Sacrifices also were used in making of Truces and for the confirmation of Covenants Hence it signifies Truce-breakers and Covenant-breakers The Persons therefore here describ'd are such as are furious and implacable when provok't false and perfidious when engag'd though by the most sacred Oaths and Covenants Such in whom there is no truth or trust who of feigned Friends pretended Lovers will soon become real Foes professed Enemies The eleventh Character 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Calumniatores †Beza Graecis Philosophis dicitur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod cum Satan propriè possit faciat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Graecis rectè dictus est * Aret. in loc 11. False-Accusers Slanderers Calumniators Make-bates Devils as the Greek word imports And with the Greekes it signifies such a one as by raising slanderous reports and false accusations cannot onely set men at a distance from and at variance with one another but also which is the Property of the Devil and from hence amongst them he hath his Name can by this means make very friends to become deadly Enemies These are the nearest kinsmen to the Prince of darknesse who is stil'd †Rev. 12.20 the Accuser of the Brethrâ—n Calumny is one of the Master-Engines of the Devils Kingdome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a trajâ—ciendo nomen habet Slander hath its Name in Greek from thrusting thorough Slanders are those * Ps 120.3 sharp Arrows of the Mighty which are discharg'd against the white of Innocency those deadly Darts with which dipt in the Poyson of malice and revenge Wicked men transfix the Names and sometimes the hearts of the Saints Of such doth holy David complain †Psal 35.11 12. False-witnesses did rise up they laid to my charge things that I knew not They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul By * Mat. 26.59 60 61. such was our Saviours Name crucified before his Body This is a kinde of †Matth. 5.11 Persecution of the tongue under which the Saints have suffer'd in all Ages Such are they who first take away a mans good Name by a false Accusation and then his life by an unjust sentence Just thus they dealt with Christ and then no wonder though Satans Agents practise the same Devilish Policy upon the best of Christians These are indeed as the Word imports Devils incarnate who cannot taste so much sweetness in any thing as in Innocent Blood The Greeks use the Word * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to denote Persons that are extreamly Impâ—ous and even
Ardour and Forwardness to promote this or that way of Government or Worship in opposition to all the rest which yet may be found in a man that hath never experimented the Power of Religion or Work of Sanctification upon his own soul Thus some are Zealous for the Episcopal others for the Presbyterial and others for the Congregational and not a few for the Anabaptistical way and herein lies the Main of their Religion Whereas the Life of Religion the soul of true Godliness lies in the Spiritual Worship of God †Joh. 4.24 It 's good indeed to be zealously affected alwayes in a good matter * Gal. 4.18 but it s neither good nor safe to rest in a superficial Form a meer empty out-side of Religion though never so splendid and glorious But alas what do these men do that so earnestly contend for that way of Worship which is most agreeable to their own Fancies and censure all others as no Christians no Saints that are not moulded after the same Model what do they but promote the Distractions encrease the Divisions and widen the Differences of the Church of God which every good Christian should studiously endeavour to compose and heal Surely the setting up of and the Adhering to this and the other Party is not the way to promote the Interests of the Kingdom of Christ He is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †MELCHIZEDECK King of SALEM Rex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Justitiae He is King of Righteousness and King of Peace †Heb. 7.1 2 And his Kingdom stands not in meat and drink but Righteousnesse and Peace and which results from them both Joy in the Holy Ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rex Pacis When such Religious Factions prevail they sadly portend the Ruine of the Church Rom. 14.17 And â—hen are not such perillous times In the Primitive Tiâ—es which were Times of Pâ—rsecution how zealous were Christians in the things of God and how fervently did they love one another Those Times were surely less perillous then these wherein the Hâ—aâ— of Persecution is not more abated then Zeal for God and Love to one another amongst Christians But when P ofessors are generally Formall in the performance of the Duties of Religion very Perfunctory and Superficial in the service of God it s a sad Symptom of perillous Times When a man having tipt his Tongue with the Silver of the Sanctuary and so is able to speak well of the things of God to discourse well of the Matters of Religion shall for this only Reason be esteemed very Religious Whereas as the Apostle speaks †1 Cor. 4.20 The Kingdom of God is not in Word but in Power When there is indeed much Preaching much Hearing frequent Receiving of Sacraments but alas little Life in Preaching less in Hearing little or no Affectionateness in Receiving and least of all of Conformity to these Gospel-Ordinances in the Life and Conversation Time was when Ministers preached with Plainness Life and Power so that their earnest * Rom. 10.1 desire of saving souls was apparent in their Preaching and Christians that feared God †Acts 17.11 Received the Word with all readiness of Mind entertained the * 2 Thes 2.10 Truth in the Love of it and had their Hearts much stirred and moved by every Sermon They not only heard the Preacher with their Ears but felt him in their Hearts and Consciences and were very much affected with all the Discoveries of the Will of God to them They took pains to work the Word upon their own Hearts They met together to whet it upon one another to exhort encourage and comfort one another in the wayes of God Oh! The Word of the Lord was precious in those days †1 Sam. 3.1 How beautifull in those dayes were the Feet of them that preached the Gospel of Peace and brought glad Tidings of good Things * Rom. 10.15 The Ministers of the Gospel now so generally slighted and despised were then received by all good Christians as Angels of God yea even as Christ â—esus †Gal. 4.14 And then did Religion flourish in the Church and Christians manifested their experimental acquaintance with the Power of Godlinesse But when Preaching is become for the most part Notional and accommodated rather to the pleasing of the Fancy then informing the judgement convincing the conscience and affecting the Heart when Sermons are stuft with affected phrases and exquisitely embroyder'd with Artificial Ornaments and so deliver'd by the Preacher without one spark of Life or Zeale with such a singular care to observe the Emphasis and Elegancy of his study'd Expressions such a wary fear of rumpling his fine smooth forms of speech as if he was come thither to play the part of an idle Orator rather then to do the duty of a Gospel-Preacher who is to treate with men in the Name of Christ about the great affaires of their precious soules for their eternal Salvation this is a sad change seriously to be laid to heart and sadly to be lamented When People forsake and regard not sound solid Preachers of the Gospel but follow and flock after those that suit with their Humours and with such like quaint and curious notions please and delight their Fancies it argues a great Decay in Religion and speaks men to be great strangers to the Power of Godlinesse Nay when those that are indeed good Christians and sound in the Maine shall become very Formal Overly Superficial in the discharge of Religious Duties in their attendance upon Gospel-Ordinances When they shall take no paines to prepare themselves for Sabbaths and Sacraments when they shall be little or nothing at all affected with the Preaching of the Gospel when they seldome or never stirre up themselves to the Exercise of the Graces of the Spirit in the duties of Religion when they take no Paines to work upon their Hearts by Meditation and Prayer the truths which are delivered unto them nor study to expresse in their lives a restâ—onsiblenesse to the Doctrines of the Gospel when they thus rest in the Forme and presse not after the Power of Godlinesse it s a Symptome of an Evill Age a Presage of Periâ—lous Times We finde God nothing regarded the outward Performances of the People of Israel when they were utterly deficient in those Duties wherein consisted the Life of Religion * Isa 1 11-15 To what Purpose is the multitude of your Sacrifices unto me saith the LORD I am full of the Burnt-offerings of Rams and the Fat of fed Beasts and I delight not in the Blood of Bullocks or of Lambs or of He-goats And when ye come to appear before me who hath required this at your hand to tread my Courts Bring no more vain oblations Incense is an abomination unto me the New Moons and Sabbaths the Calling of Assemblies I cannot away with it is iniquity even the solemn
God! And hast thou given thy dearest Son to suffer such a cursed and cruel dâ—ath for such a vile sinner as I am O sweetest Mercy O infinite goodnesse O glorious Love Then me thought I first felt my Heart that before was like a †Eze. 36.26 stone within me to melt and sensibly dissolve at once into sorrow and joy †Zac. 12.10 * Sorrow that ever I had sinned against such a good God †Luk. 2.10 Joy that ever Mercy and Salvation should be tendered to such a vile sinner And then when I cast up my Eyes to Christ and beheld him sometimes as crucifi'd on Earth sometimes as glorifi'd in heaven my heart sure spake within me much to this purpose O deare Jesus And hast thou endured such grievous sufferings for the salvation of such a miserable sinner as I am What wouldest thou leave thy Fathers * Joh. 1.18 Bosome and glory to live here on Earth and die on the †Phil. 2.8 Crosse to save the Life of a crawling Worme Hast thou poured out thy * Joh. 19 34. Hearts blood to queâ—â—â— thy Fathers dreadful wrath and to â—â—â—chase his glorious Love to a poysonous Toad Is it possible Can it be believed for Truth that the Sonne of God should come to save such a sinful wretch as I am Yea He hath said it and I believe it †1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the World to save sinners of whom I am chiefe Hereupon I found my heart carried out in a restlesse and insatiable longing desire after Christ yea and indeed inseparably cleaving to Christ thus manifesting himself to me in the Gospel For then I not onely saw the sinfulnesse of my sinnes but I lookt upon all my * Isa 64.6 Righteousnesses as filthy rags and so humbling my self for my sinnes and renouncing utterly my own righteousnesse I cast my self wholly upon my Saviour and resolved †Job 13.15 though he should slay me I would trust in him And now though since I have not often found such sweet and powerful workings upon my Heart yet this is the state wherein I stand I have solemnly resigned my self wholly up into the hands of Christ as my Soveraigne and Saviour to be done with and disposed of in every thing as seemes best unto him and on him only do I rest for Righteousness and Life Eternal Happy soul God hath magnified his Mercy to thee and done more for thee then for thousands God hath drawn thee tâ— Christ and united thy soul to him by â—â—â—h a Band indissoluble For thou hast in this Declaration of Gods dealings with thee laid open the very Mysterie of Faith and manifested how the Holy Ghost hath by this Heavenly Band inseparably knit thy soul unto thy Saviour Rejoyce then in thy God For thy soul is safely lockt up in the Everlasting Blessed Embraces of thy Redeemer Yea thou shalt be for ever worn as a Jewel in his bosom Fear not For in the day that God makes up his Jewels * Mal. 3.17 he will remember thy soul And though thy Faith be weak be not discouraged Thou standest not in thy own strength but in the strength of Christ who is †Isa 63.1 Mighty to save The safety of the Child in the Mothers Bosome lies not in the strength of its own weak Arms wherewith it clings about her but in the strength of the Mothers Arm and the Affectionate Tenderness of her heart towards it What though thy Faith be weak thy strength be small and thy Enemies strong thou art kept by the Power of God through Faith unto salvation * 1 Pet. 1.5 Christ is thine and so Heaven and Happiness is thine also The Lord grant I may live to his Praise that hath shewed Mercy on me For the Glory of God is I know the end of these Dispensations of his Grace For thus it is written †Eph. 1.12 13 14. That we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ In whom saith the Apostle ye also trusted after that ye heard the Word of Truth the Gospel of your salvation in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise which is the Earnest of our Inheritance untill the Redemption of the purchased Possession unto the praise of his Glory But how may I know that God hath given me this Earnest of my Inheritance that I am sealed with his Holy Spirit or that he hath given his Holy Spirit to me If God hath given you Faith in Jesus Christ he hath certainly sealed you with his Holy Spirit and so given you the Earnest of your heavenly Inheritance For it is the Spirit of God which is the Spirit of Grace by which that Faith was wrought in your Heart by which you have been united to Jesus Christ The Graces of Sanctification Repentance Faith Hope Love to God Charity c. are the prints of this Privy Seal wherewith God seals Believers as his own Peculiar which in whatsoever soul they are found to that soul is the Spirit of God given as an Earnest of an eternal Inheritance in Heaven And where there is one Grace of the Spirit as that of Faith which hath already been evidenc't there are all the rest though not equally visible Though sometimes but one Star do appear in the Heavens yet we are sure all the rest are fixed there though they are clouded from our sight Moreover the Spirit of God where ever it is is a Spirit of Holiness Prayer and Comfort Now do you desire to know whether the Spirit of God be given to you and do indeed dwell in you Then search your Heart and tell me what you discover upon these Enquiries Do you find sin to be a Burden to you and are you weary of it Do you indeed hate your sweetest sins and love the strictest wayes of Holiness Do you maintain a constant Conflict against your Corruptions Can you truly say with the Apostle †Rom. 7.19 The good that I would I do not but the evil which I would not that I do For * v. 21. I find a Law that when I would do good evil is present with me Yet I delight in the Law of God after the inward man Oh do you not extremely long to be freed from this Bondage of Corruption that in the duties of Holiness you might enjoy a more glorious Freedom of Communion with God What is it which chiefly makes the world uncomfortable to you Is it Sin or Suffering Which of these two is it which you most constantly fear and most carefully decline Can you heartily bless God for Affliction when it becomes a Means to promote in your Heart the work of Grace and Holiness Is not your heart grieved for the Sin that cleaves unto you in your best performances Do you not find your heart endeared to the
Children of God more then to any others in the world Doe you know what it is that thus engages your Affections to them Is it not the Beauties of Holiness If it be thus with you then surely doth the Spirit of Holiness dwell in you Furthermore Do not you find your Heart drawn out in holy Breathings after God Are you not wont to pour it out dayly in †Mat. 6.6 Secret into the Bosome of your Heavenly Father If any thing afflict you or oppress your Spirit are you not wont to goe and make your mone unto God * Ps 142.2 When you want any choice Blessing are you not wont to go and ask it of God Do you not esteem it a singular Priviledge that you may freely go upon all Occasions and open your Heart unto your Heavenly Father And do you not find sometimes when you go unto God under great Discouragements many sweet Enlargements in Prayer Do you not find your heart inflamed with Love to God when you perceive he is pleased to hear your Prayers and answer your Requests But is not your Spirit much †Psal 30.6 troubled when he hides his Face from you Do you not account those sad Daies wherein you find such a Deadness in your Heart such a Dulness upon your Spirit that you cannot find that Refreshment in prayer which you was wont to receive even in your sorest Afflictions But are not those daies festival with your soul wherein God inlarges your Heart in Prayer and in Returns thereof inlarges his Hand with Blessings Is it thus with you Then surely the Spirit of God is given to you and * 2 Tim. 1.14 dwels in you For the †Zec. 12.10 Spirit of Grace is a Spirit of Supplication For when of Sinners God makes us Sons he sends the Spirit of Adoption into our Hearts whereby we cry Abba Father * Rom. 8.14 15. Such then are the Children of God and Heirs of the Kingdom †Rom. 8.17 joint Heirs with Christ of the Kingdom of Glory To conclude Hath your soul ever tasted the sweet Comforts of Communion with God Have you been sensible of the refreshing Influences of his Holy Spirit when sometimes his Face hath shone upon your soul in Duties or Ordinances Do you prize these Comforts above all earthly Delights Have you felt your Heart sometimes melting under the glorious Sun-shine of Gods ravishing Face Have you felt your Heart dissolved as a Lump of Sugar in a Bowl of Wine into Holy Joy under the Pourings forth of the Love of God Then you may indeed * Rom. 5.2 Rejoyce in the Hope of the Glory of God and your †Rom. 5.5 Hope shall not make you ashamed because the Love of God is shed abroad in your Heart by the Holy Ghost which is given unto you Behold then O gracious believing soul what ground thou hast to long for Heaven seeing if it be thus with thee thou hast a clear undoubted Title to it as thine Eternal Inheritance For canst thou not by the foregoing Evidences dear up thy Receipt of the Earnest thereof the Holy Spirit of God What sayst thou Truly I dare not deny what great Things God hath graciously done for me This then I can truly say though I am a poor sinfull Creature I do heartily desire that God would sanctifie me throughout by his Holy Spirit and make me holy Though sin be in my heart yet my heart is not towards my sin but against it I know by sad experience my Infirmities are so many my Corruptions so strong that I daily sin against God but yet if my Heart deceive me not I would rather choose to undergo the greatest suffering then willingly to commit the least sin against my good God I have had experience of many Troubles and Afflictions of one kind or another but this I am sure of that none of them have been such a Hearts-grief unto me as this that I have offended and dishonoured God by my sins And 't is my daily Request unto him that he would vouchsafe to give me such a Measure of his Grace that for the Time to come I might live only to his Glory I find my Heart I do confess many Times much straightened in Prayer but yet still the bent of my soul is towards God And I find that when I have been most enlarged in Prayer my heart is most apt to be lifted up in Spiritual Pride and when most straightened to be most cast down in Self-Abasement And yet I bless God I do not in these Enlargements forget my own Vileness nor in these Abasements forget Gods Goodness And thus I do perceive that it pleases God to do my soul good by his different Dispensations But Oh how sweet how ravishing how glorious are the Incomes of God to my soul sometimes in Prayer O me thinks I am lifted up above all the worlds Vanities above its Riches and Glory in so much that if the whole world was a Globe of Gold I should no more regard it then a Heap of Dung in comparison of the glorious soul-ravishing Joy I feel in Communion with God Oh me thinks my soul is walking with God in Paradise its soaring with the sacred Seraphims about the Throne of God it s bathing it self deliciously in the * Psal 36.9 Fountains of Life and Rivers of Pleasures that are at Gods right hand †Ps 16.11 it 's even drencht in the glorious Joyes of Eternity O then mâ—thinks it grieves me to come out of such a Paradise to come down from such a Heaven to turn mine eyes from beholding so much Beauty and Glory as my soul then sees in the Face of God or that the worlds Vanities interposing should again rob me of such a beatifical Vision But alas 't is but seldome I experiment such pretious Enjoyments My heart alas oft for a long while together is as an Instrument unstring'd and utterly out of Tune upon which I can make no Musick no Melody at all I am in a dead flat dull Temper and can hardly tell how to bring out a Word in Prayer or put up one petition to God with any Fervour But yet even in this Condition I can a little refresh my self with Reviews of the Lords former loving Kindnesses to my soul For I have sometimes felt my heart marvellously refresht with his gracious Comforts and my soul hath been sometimes sprinkled with glorious Joyes If these then be the fruits and flowrings forth of the * 1 Joh. 3.9 Seed of God in me if these be the Productions of the Spirit of Holiness and Evidences of its In-being in the heart then I hope I may comfortably conclude that God hath been pleased to give unto me his Holy Spirit Blessed be thou O Believer for thou hast unlockt unto me Christs Garden of Spices and hast refresht my Spirit by leading me up and down in flowry walks while thou hast laid open before me thy Experiences
Charity to his dear Brethren that they may cover the Infirmities of their poor weak Brother in Love and not seek to hurt him by that whereby he desires to do others Good Oh that thou wouldest be pleased to put it into their Hearts from the discoveries of thy poor servants Weaknesses to take an occasion to adore the Riches of thy free Grace and to exalt thy Name with Praises for that thou hast been pleased to intrust them with more excellent Abilities for thy service So shall thy servant have cause to glory in his Infirmities when thereby some Glory shall redound to thy Name But as for the Proud who make it their Glory to oppresse the Poor keep thy servant ever in that Resolution to which by thy grace thou hast raised his heart rather to perish by their Power then by any unworthy Compliance to seek his own Preservation or Advantage to thy Dishonour Fill his Heart and the Hearts of all thy faithful servants with a holy Contempt and Scorne of their Favour whose Friendship is flat Enmity with God Make thy servant one of them in whose Eyes a vile Person is contemned how Great or Glorious soever he be in the World's eye but let him ever honour them that feare the LORD Let not thy servant think it strange if he suffer Reproach from them that cast Dishonour upon Thee but rather rejoyce in their Reproaches as the Badges of his Faithfulnesse and weare them as his Crown and Glory Let him not study to please men lest he loose the Honour of being the servant of Christ Oh let thy servant behold Smiles in thy pleased Face and tast the sweetnesse of thy precious Promises and so shall he not fear the Frownes nor regard the Threats of Proud Perfidious and Presumptuous sinners Let him never desire to have them for his Friends who by their horrid Enormities have made God their Enemy Let him never seek to be esteemed by them whose Insolencies proclaime to the world that they contemne God Yet Oh that thou wouldest open their Eyes to see their sins before thou tumble them from their Earthly Glory into Hell Oh that in stead of accounting thy servant their Enemy for telling them the Truth they might see and consider that it is the highest act of Friendship to shew them their Danger before it be too late Oh that it would please thee by thy Spirit to convince them of those sins and fearful abominations which thy servant hath endeavour'd herein to represent as in a Glasse before their faces Oh give them to repent of their wicked Deeds and to humble themselves for their insolent Actings However Lord by thy powerful Providence restrain them in their wayes of wickednesse whose Ambitious and aspiring spirits prompt them to the most Audacious and illegal Actings for the securing of their own Interests and the Establishment of their own Glory and Greatnesse upon the Ruines of the Church and Common-wealth restrain them O Lord lost they pluck down Judgements not onely upon their own heads but also on the too guilty Nation And vouchsafe O God to look down from thy high and holy habitation upon this sinful Land but not with an Eye of Fury and Revenge but with an Eye of Mercy and Love Thou seest what fearful Abominations are committed amongst us Thou knowest what perillous Times are come upon us Thou seest how cruel enemies do rend the body of thy dear sonne the CHURCH which he hath redeemed with his own blood Thou hearest with what hellish Oaths and Blasphemies vile Creatures daily teare thy sacred and glorious Name Oh! If thou wast not infinite in Mercy and Patience thou hadst long ago rain'd down Fire and Brimstone upon our heads or involv'd the whole Land in Confusion and Blood It is of the Lords mercies we are not consumed because his compassions fail not But now O Lord hear O Lord have Mercy O Lord forgive the many and great sins and Provocations of this Land and do not forsake us utterly nor irresistibly destroy us as we have deserved We must needs confesse that we and our Princes have greatly sinned against thee and fearfully provoked the pure Eyes of thy Glory Lord humble us from the highest to the lowest give us a true Repentance for all our sins and Grace to turne to thee our God with our whole hearts and so spare us and heale our Land Oh stirre thy people up to those special Duties which are at this Time in a special manner incumbent on them Let this Warning and Call which thou givest them by the hand of thy servant become through thy Blessing effectual for the Awakening of thy servants out of their Security and the Engaging of them to those Duties whereby thy Wrath and Judgements may be prevented and a wide Door may be opened whereby thy Blessings may flow in abundantly upon us O Good God punish not this Land with a Famine of thy VVord Oh take not thy Gospel Ordinances from us Remove not thy golden Candlestick Oh never let it be said The Glory is departed from England It were better for us to see our streets runne downe with the Blood of the slaine and to behold the Bodies of thy Saints burnt in flames then to live in peace and grow cold in our love to thy Truth till we have utterly lost the Gospel Prayers put up in Flames and Blood might recall it againe when a general sloth and security in sinne may forfeit it for ever But O Lord continue thy Gospel preserve thy People and blesse thine Inheritance in the Land But if for our sinnes thou shalt suffer those stormes to arise whereby thy Church shall suffer Shipwrack Oh let this poor Plank cast out by the hand of thy unworthy servant be a Meanes to save some Soules Oh let this small Light direct some soules in the right Path for their eternal Salvation to the Glory of thy free Grace through the Lord Jesus our onely Mediator and Redeemer Amen FINIS Errata Typographica Some small Mistakes have escap't the Press whereof some few are amended with the Pen. Some few Mispellings Mispointings crave their Pardon of course as Things of such ordinary Incidency in Printing that the greatest Diligence can hardly prevent them Some of the most material Mistakes which offer'd themselves to Notice upon a swift Review are these that follow Errata Correcta Pag. Lin. intended extended 13 29 Premuniti Praemuniti 14 24 overcome overtake 16 20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 37 19 Vial Viol 48 6 Frevalency Prevalency 54 5 Excess Excess 93 13 he the 93 14 Octavious Octavius 94 16 victus vinctus 97 marg scatter'd shatter'd 150 22 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 141 marg Corne Corke 257 5 thus there 263 11 Diabolos Diabolus 275 1 Name Doctrine 275 5 Baits Balls 287 23 Baldwin de Cas Conse Balduin de Cas Consc 289 marg he was proceeded against he was to be proceeded