were not under these Tithing-temptations but that the State had itâ—neranâ— preachers in all parts of the Kingdom by which you may reach most of the good ends for this State designed by you Let poore People first know there is a God and then teach them the way of Worship The Prophet sayes When the husbandman hath plowed harrowed and broken the clods then sow your timely seed when the face of the earth is made plain Indeed I think our work lies much among clods I wish the face of the earth were cavened I fear whilest we are striving for an Eldership clothed with authority we shall want five thousand Ministers to preach that if you get an Eldership in London and think you have done much you have neither Minister nor Elder to be had in half the Kingdom and so you do nothing a true Eldership is easier wished for than gotten I know not why the Parliament may not try and examine men and send them out to preach and take cognizance of the successe I wish that Committee for plundered Ministers to cast in their help I once read a story of a Chairman setting forth a Century of base Priests I wonder what is become of the second third and fourth Century I wish under the abuse of the Covenant they be not crept into their old dens for mischief If you shall preserve the Gospel the Gospel will preserve you It would not be amisse even in this City and other places to turn two or three Meetings to one and so there might be room in publick for those that are forced into corners and so suffer under the name of Schismaticks If this great work were attended abroad we should not need to be quarrelling at home I am not so fully acquainted with the use this great Councell hath for my Brethrens advice but surely I know the people are desperately ignorant and prophane abroad and from prophane Priests and ignorant people you know the other party have fomented this war and may begin it again if the Word prevent not the Sword Secondly I have something to beg for the bodies of men you have had strong cries from widowes and fatherlesse children whose husbands and fathers have spent their heart-bloud in this service you have many maiâ—ed men which puts me in minde of an expedient for them if improved I mean that famous royall Foundation of the Charter-House or Suttons Hospital they say worth 5 or 6000 l. per annum I humbly beseech your Lordships not to be offended if I put you in minde of the intentions of the Donor It is pitie that so gallant a work should prove a nest of unclean Birds methinks it was built for this time and God may be much honoured by turning the givers intentions into the right chanell many faithfull souls will blesse your care and tendernesse The streets also are swarming with poor which I refer to the Senators of this Citie that is glorious many wayes why should it be so beggarly in the matter of beggars I leave to your wisdome de mâ—do Yet let not my request dye I have lived in a Countrey where in seven years I never saw beggar nor heard an oath nor lookt upon a drunkard why should there be beggars in your Israel where there is so much work to do and if this designe were well minded and managed in the City there would be little place left for such Excentrick motions The third boon I beg is for mens estates Justice exalteth a Nation but sinne is a shame to any people I would beseech all sorts whom it concernes to speed justice it were better for a man to dye once then often You reverend Fathers of the Law put in some help here can there not yet be found a shorter way to further justice must that badge of conquest still lye upon us the Lawes I mean in French Can there not an expedient be found out in plain English whereby every one may soon come to his own Must such members of the most Heroick spirits be spending their brave heats and heights in Westminster-Hall was it not a project to in-gown our gentile English for feare they might be looking abroad to see how their interests lye may there not be two or three friend-makers set up in every Parish without whose labour and leave none should implead another I crave pardon There is one evill I have seen under the Sun a poor man kept in prison for debt whereby his spirit is debaucht and he utterly disabled to pay It is not so abroad Let those that lent you freely in this war and suffer now be first thought on I know many have adventured more then all for you your promise made good for the sale of Delinquents lands will doe it Fourthly and lastly I beg something for mens names and though I know no publique person but ought to carry a spare Handkerchief to wipe off dirt yet certainly blasting mens names in print is not the way to cleare a cause in dispute Yet I have learnt this of my noble Generall Let us look to our duty and the Lord will care for our reproaches but I leave it to your wisdomes I need not to tell you you have Heralds of Armes to keep up mens names that have done worthily though that spirit breath not in this Army But I shall shut up all with these Scriptures Phil. 2. 1 2 3. If there be therefore any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the spirit if any compassion and mercy Fulfill my joy that yee be like minded having the same love being of one accord and one judgement That nothing be done by contention or vain-glory c. Phil. 4. 8. Furthermore brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are worthy love whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue or if there be any praise think of these things These things do and the God of peace shall be with you Amen FINIS This fourty-fifth great yeer of wondrous worth Lord grant it may Great Brittain's peace bring forth Wollchius Gen. 18. â—1 Josh. 1. An Epist. to a Sermon After t 〈…〉 England hath long long enjoy'd you At length returne to him who here imploy'd you Gen. 37. 35. Esth. 3. 2 Sam. 19. 4. Lam. 3. 9. Psal. 38. Doct. Psal. 3. 8. Jer. 14. 8. Psal. 98. 1. Isa 26. 12. Psal. 107. 6. 19. Psal. 136. 23. Zach. 4. 6. Isa. 40. 30 31. Psal. 136. 15. Isa. 95. 6. Isa. 25. 4. Jonah 1. 17. Psal. 48. 12 13 14. Numb. 25. 23. Acts 25. 12. Kings 1. 19. Psal. 91. 1. 1 Sam. 23. 27. Gen. 18. 32. Gen. 19. 6. Isa. 26. 20. John 6 1â— Isai. 65. Gen. 12. 2 3. Rev 6 10. Isai 26. 21 Isa. 63. 18. 64. 2. Zach. 1â— 8. Acts 4. 12. Psal. 2. Gen. 15. 16. Ioel 3. 13. Ezek. 7. 23 Mat. 23. 23 Ier. 3. Ezek. 22. 6. Hosea 13. 2 3. 2 Tim. 3. 13. Ezek. 16. 43. Ier. 42. Ier. 3. 3. Zeph. 3. 5. Psal. 7. 9. Iudg. 〈◊〉 7. Psal. 57. 6 Psal. 7. 14. 15. Acts 25. Acts 9. Psal. 107. ult. Rochester Bridge Earl of Essex c. Sir Tho. Fairfax his Motto Ioh. 3. 16. Psal. 48. ult. Josh. 25. 12 13 14 15. Cant. 4. 9. 1 Cor. 13. Isa. 55. 2. Psal. 18. 1. Hos. 2. 21 22 23. Mr. Tho. Goodwin in a Sermon so called Amos 1. 2 3. Psal. 107. ult. Jer. 20. 1. Hos. 5. 1. Col. 1. 19. Psal. 2. Dan. 2. Psal. 65. 1. Job 30. Hos. 2. Isa. 2◠☞
work you could not have amended your choise rebus sic stantibus Heraldry did not miscarrie that hath this word for your Chief in his Coat of Honour Fare Fac Say Doe I might adde your Cromwel with many others and know not how to forget our deare Pickering who had as much worth in him as such a parcell of clay could well contain and never left his work till he was called to his account But I forbear Men The LORD hath preserved the faithfull and plenteously rewarded the proud doer And now it will be seasonable to improve what we have said These things are your Honour let not your Duty seem a burden O love the Lord ye his Saints and ye that feel mercy And so I passe in the last place to the first words of my text which will be the reverse or the other side of our present businesse As if the Lord should say Thus and thus I have done for you You have seen the glance of my eye you have seen the smiles of my face what could you desire more that I have not done for you You did but knock and it was opened you sought and found askt and had Go every stage of your latter pilgrimage and tell me if you may not set up a pillar and write upon it Thus far God hath helped us Are not the faithfull preserved and the proud doer rewarded have any of you lost your labour in trusting me and my providence have you not the fulfilling of many prophecies and might you not draw forth more had you more faith Is there any Nobleman here but hath been honorable by me or can he repent of his owning my truth 〈…〉 ath his faithfulnesse proved a burden to him Speak Parliament City Ministery have I not done well by You And me thinks I heare you ecchoing again Lord what would'st thou have from thy servants And I hope you stand as Samuel Lord speak thy servant beares or as Saul after Paul Lord what wouldest thou I should do Yea as he said Da quod jubes jube quid vis David lets you know Gods minde O love the Lord ye his Saints And truly it is one of the hardest skils in the world to use mercy well I remember the old spirit of the Jewes I wish we had never felt it In sad houres they would ever be making great promises and in prosperity they would soon make new gods Beloved I beseech you consider this short duty Love the Lord I will but use a few arguments and then open your duty in the duty and end all 1. I pray consider good Christians how the Lord hath loved you you could never hate him so much as he hath loved you He loved you enemies traitours He loved you unkind to him and cruell to your own soules nay so as he is willing to take the Devils leavingâ— when sin and satan had taken the use of your best strength and time yet he loves wooes and waits yea when you have been proud and scornfull when he had besieged and beleaguered you with love and were loth to hang out the white flag he offers propositions still O love the Lord 2. See if any God be like unto him of all the gods and can doe such wonders at he hath done You remember what Saul said to Davids men in his case If the son of Jesse can give you orchards and vineyards as I can do then follow him If all the Gods of the world can do for you what he hath done can pardon sinne by giving his Son can heale your soules and save them after all Follow them Joshua struck home in that last speech of his I have delivered the Ammonites Hitâ—ites c. into your hand I have sent a hornes before you which drave them out before you even the two Kings of the Ammoni 〈…〉 s c. I have given you a hand for which you did not lab 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Now therefore feare the Lord and serve him in sincerity and truth and put away the Gods your fathers served on the other side the flood and serve ye the Lord And if it seem evill to serve the Lord then chuse whether you will serve the gods on the other side the flood or the Gods of the Ammonites but as for me and my house I will serve the Lord Apply it to your selves and give me leave again to say therefore O love the Lord ye that feel mercy 3. You may be assured without love neither what you are nor what you do shall please him nay this whole dayes work will prove but a mockage Love will carry all home to heaven and gain acceptance Heare what Christ sayes Thou hast ravished me my sister my spouse with one of thy eyes and that was the eye of love I have many times thought of that of the Apostle giving so much to love even putting all upon love Yea though I gave my body to be burnt and had not love c. yea preferring it in some cases to faith truly it is worth your noting the summe of all is Nothing will passe without Love it is your ticket to passe into Heaven by They cry Wepreacht in thy name But wher 's your Passe did you do it in love to me We cast out Divels but was it in love c. Ah my beloved and honoured in the Lord we have prayed wept fasted feasted fought counselled c. but were all these in love to the Lord Jesus I am bold to say to my learned brethren that they shall find it the distinguishing character in their soule-trade I have seen this yeare some of the Enemy before a Councel of war and some of our own Officers upon some offence I have known both pardoned but here lies the difference the enemy pardoned is gone his pardon was all he lookt for but the other mourning what will this pardon do me good if I should leave this Army from which I know not how to live cheerfully It matters not for my lands saies poor Mephibosheth but I shall live in Davids presence and see his face Love makes way to the bosome of Christ incontinently and layes the soule in a bed of roses It is in all the world like Benjamin to Joseph if you bring Benjamin come and welcome I else look upon you but as Spies If this day all your graces were met to make a glorious flame that might reach heaven you shall find Love must doe two things it must put beauty upon all and perfume all Therefore O love the Lord ye his Saints 4. Let this prevaile that mountains of gold and silver are not desired nor fat bullocks and rams but only an affection Love the Lord If he had desired some greater thing of you as Naamans servants said would you not have done it Indeed you cannot bestow it better nor is there any object you call good can so justly claim it bestow this where you will else you shall find the
for their and your patience towards my selfe in hearing what I now present for which I humbly crave favour of them and you for some inlargements being then pent into much narrownesse in regard of the time and the rather because I strove to sute your expressions of respect and love to them who deserve so much from your selves and the Christian World How I have been represented unto you and others by printings or otherwise shall not fill up this paper I must reserve to some other way which shortly I shall doe God willing but in the mean time and ever doe professe my constant respect to and esteem of this Citie from your first compliance to the great Counsel of this Kingdome that I have left remembrances of you in forren parts and without flattery do think this City one of the best peeces of ground in the World I am sorry I caus'd any unexpected smiles in my zeal for your further conjunction with the Head and Heart of this Nation If I commended you as a good portion he did not well that thought it ridiculous nor do I think you too good a portion for those I wooed you unto You know me and your wisdoms know how to make allowance to my zeal They have a strong appetite to quarrel that are offended at expedients presented against future quarrelling My sighs to God for you are these That you may still move with faithfulnesse in your own Orbe That you remember you and yours live in a Parliament That you are made wealthy for others not your selves alone That you would not make Opinions your Interest which are changeable but Godlinesse and Faithfulnesse That you would rather punish known sins shew mercy to the poor a known duty maintain Civil peace look to your City-priviledges rather then lose your selves in doubtful questions I must remember you that I have heard many of you wish for such a Parliament and such an Army Own your own desires and be assured your constant concurrence with our great Counsel will not onely be your present safety but strength to posterity Beleeve it a now suspected party in the Kingdom have no further designe then your and the Liberty of the Nation from Bondage who deserve your love not your displeasure The God of all grace be with your spirits and help you to love him who hath kept you in the midst of your relations and comforts whilest so many thousands have fallen on the one hand and the other of you May your souls prosper under the abundance of rich means you enjoy May your examples for wisdom piety faithfulnesse love to the Lord Jesus and his Saints provoke the next Generation to glorious things These are the desires and heartie breathings of My Lord and Gentlemen Yours in any service for Christ Hu. PETER To my truly Honorable and Faithful General Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX SIR ONe of the greatest comforts I have bad in this world next to the grace of God in Christ to my poor soul hath been to be a Member of your Army and a Spectator of his presence with you and it What others doe I know not but it is my duty to return to my work and to meet you again which I am bold to doe with this simple present I know your minde who must not will not be flatter'd nor am I skilful in that mystery I have seen you upon Earth and doubt not but to meet you triumphing in Heaven I onely must crave leave to speak your own words That your great experiences of Gods power and mercy have made strong obligation upon you to love him and the Saints which I have seen you doe impartially you have made it your interest and now finde you are not deceived The God of all your unparallel'd mercy dwell in that thriving soul of yours strengthen you throughout to the compleating of this great Work yea Serus in coelum redeas diuque Laetus intersis populo Britanno For my self if it be worth your acceptance I am resolved to live and die in your and the Kingdoms service and as you have obliged three Kingdomes to you and many thousands of Saints so none of them more to honour you then SIR Your ever faithful servant in Christ HUGH PETERS A Sermon preached before the Honourable Houses of PARLIAMENT the LORD MAIOR and ALDERMEN of the City of London and the Assembly for the glorious Successe it pleased God to give our Army in dissolving 5000 of the Kings Horse and reducing Cornwal and neer all the West PSAL. 31. 23. Love the Lord all ye his Saints for the Lord preserveth the faithful and plenteously rewardeth the proud doer THe little time left for this Work must be improved to the best advantage and therefore though we must be beholden to the Neighbourhood of the words before and after the Text yet we shall forbear to speak any thing at all of the whole Book of Psalms and no more then neds of this It is easily agreed that this Psalm is 1. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 2. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 3. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 1. His Prayer you have to the twentieth Verse and therein 1. His desires for his own safety to the 18. 2. His request tending to the ruine of his enemies in the two following Verses 2. His Praises in the 21 and 22 Verses which are 1. Either {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} for all 2. Or {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} for himself in special 3. A hortatory Conclusion in the two last Versea O love the Lord all yee his Saints c. In the Text briefly thâ—se two things fall under consideration 1. The Duty Love the Lord and that set out divers wayes By intensivenesse in the Exclamation By the Object and by the universality of those engaged c. But time checks me these with others I can hardly name 2. The Arguments carrying on the Duty 1. Because be preserveth the faithful 2. Because be plenteously rewardeth the proud doer Thus much onely of the Logick of the Text something of the Grammar of it and then shortly to the Divinity and those profitable and seasonable Truths it will afford Some few words are to be attended in the clearing the sense Saints here in the text is or may be read Ye that feel mercies Faithful the word is sometimes taken for persons sometimes things and so the Lord is said to preserve True men and Truths Faithfull men and Faithfulnesses He plenteously rewardeth the proud doer or the Lord rewardeth plenteously The Lord who doth wonderful things Plenteously is either in cumulum abundè or in nepotes as some would have it But I would rather commend then goe about to amend Translations though I could wish some of my learned Brethrens quarrelling hours were rather spent upon clearing the Originals and so conveying 〈◊〉 pure Scripture to posterity then in scratching others with their sharpned
Pens and making Cockpits of Pulpits I make all haste to the work of the day and the Verse before the Text will be like a going down into a deep Well where we may discover Stars at noon Mercies are best observed from depths of Misery and set them off like Foyles the Diamonds I said in my haste I am cut off from before thine eyes or I said in my hastening 1 Sam. 23. David was in a running posture The Greek translates it in a trance or extasie and truly this is worth our thoughts this very day we have had our hasty times and trances when we thought we had been all cut off who are now left living monuments of rich mercy Many of us here were even upon the wing imbanking our Money and hastning after it And if you shal enquire after the rise of this temper or distemper of Spirit how David and other Saints prove so succumbent and sâ—attered I answer It hath three springs 1. From the Lord afflicting who puts more weight into the Scale then we minde and often makes a small affliction heavie yea they that could goe over a mountain at other times stick at a mole-hill as Jacob will not be comforted about a son as if he had neither a childe left nor a God 2. From the party afflicted and that in three cases First from a natural sense of pain more then of comfort Haman is more pinched with one crosse in Mordecay then pleased with all the contents in Court though you know few favourites fared better for a time and it is but a short time the best of that generation have poor Sun-dyals that are never minded in foggie and cloudy dayes Secondly from the over-weening some contents which causeth faintings to us in the losing them My son Absalon O my son my son cries David as if heaven and earth hed been wrapt up in his weighty locks Thirdly through inconsideratenesse and not searching the end of things for the Church came down wonderfully 3. From the pressures and afflictions themselves and that First from the multitude of them what one will not cannot do many may This Prophet at one time was the scorn of drunkards suspected by the godly abused by his own son betrayed by his friend Secondly from the greatnesse of them and that especially when they either fall upon an unsound part when Job was remembred of the sin of his youth not quite healed or upon a noble part the soul and conscience we know the brain heart and liver being toucht will soon complain Thirdly from the continuance of them The Church complains I was afflicted from my youth up To lie so long at Bethesda and to be bowed down eighteen yeers as the poor woman in the Gospel was will put the soul upon hastening as Davids but all these gusts are over-blown and the Lord shines in upon him as you see in the close of the Verse before the Text upon which smiles of Gods face he cries out as you here see O love the Lord all yee his Saints c. In which words there are many divine Conclusions but in these narrow limits of time I shall confine my self to One main Truth which I conceive will be the principal Work of this day and that will take up both Arguments used here by the Prophet to enforce the duty and in the end I shall make bold to take up the duty to enforce my designe And therefore to lay much in a little room this is that the Spirit of God commends unto you The faithfull have God for their preserver whilst the proud doer by the same hand receives wages proportionable to his work A witnesse or two will cast the cause Salvation belongeth to the Lord and thy blessing is upon thy people Selab O thou hope of Israel the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble O sing unto the Lora a new song for he hath done marvellous things his right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory To which Isaiah addes Lord thou wilt ordain peace for us for thou also hast wrought all our works in us From Genesis to the Apocalypse the Scripture gives in a general testimony to this Truth to which we may let in some more light by opening these three Casements 1. Quere When the Lord doth thus appear preserving the faithful 2. How he doth it 3. Why he doth it To the first I answer His preservation looks cut and discovers it self specially in five cases 1. When he intends to advance his own wisedom he then befools all the counsels of the sons of men and his Saints shall onely be engaged to him for counsel and thus the poor man shall save the City and thus Paphnutius shall save the Councel at Ephesus by the counsel of God whose singer writ folly upon that learned Age 2. When he intends to exalt his own power he comes in more immediately for the Saints preserving and proclaims to the world its own feeblenesse and weaknesse and then Jâ—el shall do more against Sisera then an Army of men 3. When he glorifies his mercy he leaves the Saints to extremities to reach an opportunity to lift up that attribute and thus he leads them from Bacha to Sion throw a Country of Gyants and harrennesse where their souls even melt through thirst and brought them to a mountain of sweete 4. When the Lord doth purpose to awaken those gifts and graces in their cryings in their belâ—evings in their patient wakings upon Jesus Christ he will comâ— delivering he will be sought unto by the house of Israel and loves to heare the lispings of his little ones You have known some Fathers in the Country that leave their Children the other side the Stile and help them over when they cry and seeming to leave them sometimes in a throng and then reach them the hand again upon their complaints The Lord loves to see Faith in its adhering and assuring acts 5. The Lord appears when deliverance may be sweetest and dearest and that in an exigent when one glance of his eye may be worth a whole world Who remembred us in our low estate for his mercy endureth for ever And thus sicknesse commends health poverty wealth the storme a haven and a sinfull wretched world commends heaven Oh how sweet will it be when all tears shall be wilped away all Temptations out-wrestled Devils and Sin and World and Selfe all conquered and we shall be with the Lord for ever To the Second which is How the Lord preserves I answer Many wayes but shall onely fix upon two 1. In Order to means 2. To Men For the former his greatest and most eminent preservations are by his own spirit and therefore the two Olive Trees shall supply the Pipes and the Lamps growing on each side the Golden bowle Naturally without any Artifice of mans and that appears thus 1. Means can do nothing without him the Streames are
drie unlesse the spring be full Even the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall But they that waite upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings at Eagles they shall run and not beweary and they shall walke and not be faint 1. Though meanes gaine strength yet they can act no further then he quickens them It was he that withered Jerobo 〈…〉 hand and knockt off Pharaoh's wheeles and laid six hundred Iron Chariots under the Cataracts of his displeasure He overthrew Pharaoh and his hoast in the Red sea son his mercy endureth for ever 2. Meanes though quickned yet they succeed not nor reach their purposed ends without him The Madianits shall sheath their swords in their own bowels their Webbs shall not become Garments neither shall they cover themselves with their works 3. The Spirit of the Lord can doe what it will without meanes he creates a shadow for thou hast been a strength to the poore a strength to the needy in his distresse a râ—fuge from the storme a shadow from the heate when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storme against the wall and that appeares thus 1. Sometimes against all meanes the waters shall be a wall to Israel and they shall passe through the great deep with dry feet and Jonab shall be kept from drowning in the sea by being thrown into the Sea 2. Sometimes beyond all Meanes else how should one chase a thousand and a fancy put many thousands to flight else how should the shaking of a few leaves and the blowing of Rams-horns do such terrible executions 3. It is the Lord that doth all that is done by meanes walk about Sion and go round about Her tell the Towers thereof mark yee well her Bulwarks consider her Palaces that ye may tell it to the generation following for this God is our God for ever and ever he will be our guide even unto death If you say that money answers all things yet you must heare the Lord say the gold is mine your silver is mine It is not the drug nor the bread that doth the work but the spirit of them both And for the second which is his manner of preserving in order to men yea destroying men his working shews it selfe usually in these four particulars 1. God oftentimes over-awes and overbears them that Laban shall have little to say to Jacob when he overtakes him Balaam had an opportunity and spleen enough against Israel but durst not vent it intreats Balacks Messengers to stay all night would faine be taking money but there was no Incantation against Jacob nor divination against Israel for the Lord was with them and the shout of a King was amongst them Esau shall rather kisse then kill for Jacob was a Prince and had prevailed with God and with man sc. had wrestled through all his fears that his brother must be his Servant the Lord putting a bit into his mouth 2. The Lord often takes away the occasion that the Sons of Belial cannot attempt what they intend If they in the Acts which swore Pauls death had kept their oaths they had never kept their lives but he never came within their reach Ahab sends to all places under Heaven to take Elias but the Lord sends him away before they came He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty 3. Oftentimes the Lord stops them in their practises Jeroboam will needs be striking the Prophet The Lord strikes him who is very sensible of the least touch of his anointed ones or any harme that befalls his Prophets 4. Lastly The Lord works by diversion When Saul thought he had made sure of David the Philistims brake in upon his Countrey and probably had spoyled him in the reare And that I take to be the meaning of the cloud Isaiah 25. 5. Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers as the heat in a drie place even the heat with the shadow of a cloud the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low The shadow of a cloud intervening betwixt the scorching Sun and the weary Traveller in a hot Countrey how doth it refresh God finds his enemies work abroad that his Saints may not be destroyed at home and since the whole world and all the Princes of it are but the servants of a few Saints he can put all into severall postures for his preserving ends To the third Quere Why God thus preserves the Saints I answer in these three particulars 1. Because of his righteousnesse and holinesse in the very dispensations of his judgements which occasioned this large offer to the men of Sodom and caused him to descend so low as ten righteous persons yea though they were but as righteous as Lot who was not without strong corruptions Who can say his hands are clean Yet such are called righteous and faithfull They are called in my Text even such as have candor upon their spirits such as take up and own right principles such as are contented in the main and in the Cause they have in hand to have glasse-windows made to their hearts even such as Heathens named Homines simplices apertos To such he sends his Angels to shew his tender affection which is better then his protection To be faithfull doth intitle us to preservation in the deluge of the greatest judgements that our work will be onely to look to duty which is ours and leave events to God which are his 2. God doth it for the glory of his mercy and therefore sends his Angels to draw forth Lingerers and such is his tendernesse that the righteousnesse of one Lot binds his hands that he can do nothing till the faithfull be preserved Come my people enter thou into thy chambers and shut thy door about thee hide thy selfe as it were for a little moment â—ntill the iâ—dignation be oâ—â—rpast When the birds of prey are abroad the Hen calls her Chickens under her wings When tumults are in the streets the tender Mother gets her Children into the upper chambers 3. Through his wise faithfulnesse or faithfull wisdom the Lord doth thus by his Saints and therefore hee saves every crum Nothing must be lost the Lord knows what to doe with crums and fragments and the saving of what was left must make the miracle If there be but a cluster the branch must not be cut down The Prophet is elegant Thus â—aith the Lord As the new wine is found in the chester and one sayth destroy it not for a blessing is in it so will I do for my servants sake that I may not destroy them all I beleeve a few clusters in the world have preserved such new wine in them that this day we taste the blessing Do not destroy the poore cluster therefore much lesse destroy it because there 's new
wine in it â—ill you see whether a blessing be with it Not a child of Abraham's but shall be blest It is an old Charter of a promise And hence it came to passe that he preserved the very off-scourings of the world to carry forth his Name to the world and maintain that which men call foolishnesse to bring wisdom to them that knew it not And thus farre I have made progresse in the clearing up the former part of that Truth I am to prosecute and hope by this time we are all agreed when and how and why the Lord preserved the faithfull and that he plenteously rewardeth the proud doers remains to be made good Therefore not to make forfeiture of your patience I shall onely apply my selfe to these two passages 1. W 〈…〉 the Lord rewardeth them 2. How he doth it The former of these two Questions hath taken up the heads hearts and pens of the Christian world for divers years many crying with those in the Revelation How long O Lord holy and true doest thou not judge and avenge our bloud on them that dwell on the earth Some enquiring after the downfall of Antichrist some looking to the prophesies that concern Gog and Magog some casting their eve upon the drying up of Euphrates and the way to be made for the Kings of the East some looking after the taking away him that letteâ—â— and most men disputing the â—â—ying of the two Witnesses as much condueing to Gods designe in bringing about what is piomised in the second and seventh of Daniel where the Kingdome is promised to the Saints of the most High supposing that to be the fifth Monarchy In all which I shall bee silent for the present and onely put you in mind of their usuall seasons wherein we may expect to see proud doers receiving their wages 1. When the Lord goes his progresse through the world and rides his circuit amongst the sons of men and puts a crown upon his glory great offenders are then brought forth and that was Pharaohs case who withstood all the miracles that God might be more glorious in his downfall And thus hee contracts many times the eyes of neighbouring Nations to see his vengeance upon some And he is said to come out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity 2. When ever you see his Sanctuary troden upon and Holinesse slighted then he rends the Heavens and comes down to make his Name known to his adversaries that the Nations may tremble at his presence and that it was that brought the Lord forth to the ruine of the Jewish Church Your soule abhorred me and my soule loathed you Hence he destroyed three Shepheards in one day the Sadducees Scribes and Pharisees upon this he breakes his two staves of beauty and bonds Oh this undervaluing godlinesse in the power of it They were wont to say of Caius Seius he was an honest man but he was a Christian Poor Jews when Christ askâ— his price they valued him at thirty peeces of silver which in our account amounts to eighteen shillings and four pence and this was that which bought a field of bloud To slight that mercy that must save and shut the door of that onely Citie of Refuge that must protect from the pursuers of bloud to put indignities upon that Christ and injuries upon that Jesus by whose Name onely salvation is brought into the world The Lord hath set his Son upon his holy Hill and will crush those that have scorned him 3. When sinfull men shall have filled up their iniquities the Lord empties his full vials upon their heads that even the Saints must wait upon the sins of the Amoâ—â—tes for the fulnesse of them till they can be delivered Let us observe the Scripture setting forth this fulnesse and it will give us a 〈…〉 ling of God◠〈…〉 ing with the proud doers in order to time and that in these particulars 1. There is a fulnesse of magnitude when provocations grow very great Clamitat ad Coelum vox sanguinis Sodomorum 2. There is a fulnesse of number and multitude Bloud toucheth bloud and sins are fruitfull in their generations 3. A fulnesse of measure that Children may fill up the measures of their Fathers iniquity 4. There is a fulnesse of strength when the sinner grows strong and hath Cart-ropâ—â— to draw on vanity Behold the Princes of Israel every one was in you to their power to shed bloud when head and heart and hand are ingaged in mischiefe when all interests are improved to that end 5. There is a fulnesse of growth and now they sin more and more therefore they shall be as the morning cloud and as the early dew that passeth away as the chaffe that is driven with the whirlewind out of the floore and as the smoke out of the chimney 6. A fulnesse of age when men grow old in sin Behold every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee saying As is the Mother so is her Daughter and thus sinners grow gray in their transgressions yea sin must leave them before they leave it 7. There is a fulnesse of Dexterity there be some that be their crafts-masters in sinning who can spin threads of all sorts you have your Court sinnes Citie Countrey University sins men take their degrees in this sin-craft they have their severall dimensions depths and bredths 8. A fulnesse also there is of impudence when men cannot blush commit folly and yet wipe their mouths with Solomons harlot thus often sin meets you with a brazen fore-head it takes the wall of Christ and Religion and thrusts holinesse into the kennell This is that bold-fac't harlot that doth kisse and kill at once and these are the men that call great sinnes little and little ones none at all 9. When sin comes to a full period and then the proud doer hath done his work and receives his wages O let the wickednesse of the wicked come to an end but stablish the just for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reine The second Quâ—re is How God rewardeth the proud doer in which though the Lords proceedings be divers and many times his paths in the clouds and his judgements in the deep and the uttermost farthing shall be paid the proud doer at the great day yet so much of his mind he hath left unto us that even in this life he gives out something to the proud which he calls The day of Recompence which he commonly manifests in these particulars 1. By way of Retaliation for Adoni-bezek that would be cutting off thumbs had his thumbs cut off Satia te sanguine quem sitisti So the poor Jews that cried so loud Crucifie him crucifie him were so many of them crucified that if you beleeve Josephus there was not wood enough to make crosses nor in the usuall place room enough to set up
patimur mala saevior armie Luxuria incubuit victumque ulciscitur orbem We could never have suffered so much by a forraign enemy as by our home-bred luxury and wantonnesse Oh call these ill times when a base messenger from a proud Prelate could shut up these doors stop the mouths of the most godly Ministers that the best noble-man here could not enjoy the worship of God freely and hardly his Bible without reproach I am bold to say you have heard more of Christ within these last foure yeares then you have for forty before call such dayes good And more especially to improve what I have spoken in the doctrinall part truly the Lord hath rightly timed his favours even when he might most advance his own wisdom power and mercy when he might stir up his gifts and graces in you if the enemy ask after our Prayers Fasts Tears yea our God as they were wont to do we have all these this day from Edge-hill and before even to this very hoare yea all these preservations have been so seasonable that what time we our selves would have chosen hath been Gods time that we may say as David in this Psalm Our times have been in thy hands O Lord And I humbly beseech you give the Spirit of the Lord its praise who hath done the work The Lord is willing you should have the mercy so he may have the prayse Potiphar lets Joseph hâ—â—e the use of all he hath onely keepâ— his wife to himself Pharaoh lets him have the Kingdom but he will keep the Throne Gods Spirit hath so appeared as we conclude means can do nothing without him but he can do all without meanes and what meanes doth is all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be it is that hath quickned and succeeded your counsels and executions he hath even gone against 〈◊〉 and beyond means for you he it is who hath spirited all your endeavours in Counsels and Armies raised help for you out of the very dust Externall motive he hath none from us who are not the loveliest people in the world he hath from himself over a wâ—d men powred contempt upon Princes taking away the occasions of many evils met the proud in their full career and wither'd their arm often kept them from us by strange diversions fill'd the world with tumults that you might not be a prey to strangers On the riches of his grace His own righteousnesse and holinesse have thus perswaded him to do the glory of his mercy hath been his argument his wisedom and faithfulnesse have been glorious in preserving crums and clusters The very Truths now profest have been rak'd up in contemptible ashes and now revealed to the world and they that are wise shall see the loving kindnesse of the Lord in all For the proud doer so called because a contemner of the faithful you see how the Lord hath resisted him and hath taken him in his moneth as the wilde Asse in Job you may remember how the Egyptian King out-lived many miracles but must perish in the Red-sea whether Red from the sand thereof or the blood of many he spilt I will not dispute You know how the Lord hath been provoked by the low price set upon his holinesse and his image in his Saints the peculiar sin of this Nation for travell where you will even from hence to the Garamants you shall never find but the Zâ—lots in other parts of the world are honored onely in England Ludibrium vulgo It hath long been a crime to be godly and he hath been a lost man that trades that way whilst a company of obsolete and beggerly rudiments and ceremonies have been billeted upon Gods ordinances and eat out the very heart of them double Service and no Preaching Nay you have lived to see Iniquitie in the fulnesse of it Oaths and blasphemies unparallel'd yea when one of our Troopers reproved one of theirs in Cornwal for swearing he was answered by that prophane mouth He would sweare as long as he was on horse-back he should have time enough to repent on foot nay they would serve the Devil now that he might use them kindly when they came to hell the very Sunne might even blush looking upon such miseâ—â—ants Of this fulnesse you have seen the magnitude multitude measure strength age growth d 〈…〉 ity impâ—dence and the good God grant we may see the period How the Lord hath paid them in their own coyn you have many witnesses They would have war they have it the sword must decide the controveâ—sie let God Angels and men give the verdict and let it be carried down to after-ages that God plenteously rewardeth the proud doer or that a Parliament and faithfull Councel to a State may live in the midst of the fury of an implacable Prince and his â—aâ—e wigs Adde this that you have been eare and eye witnesses of the prâ—ud mens disappointments after all their labour and travels their inventions have been many for mischief which have been cherified by affection formed by consultations and Junctoâ— and made ready for birth by many resolutions which have held as high as Brainford what inland and forreign conceptions of this kind have we met with Plot upon Plot designe upon designe Speak London hath it not been so Let us now remember the time of travelling could not be prevented Petition sent after Petition Declaration after Declaration nothing must prevaile but the acceptance of such a remedy as would prove worse then the disease And then before the birth what throwes and pai 〈…〉 Send to Denmark run to Holland fly to France Curse Digby imprison Hamilton c. and then all help is called in for midwifery intreat friends here and there pawn jewels break and close with Irish even in a breath any thing for help hazard posterity ingagein marriage and as she did roare out Give me a childe or Iâ—dle and that miscarriage we are this day to prayse God for and wonder at The summe totall of all these endeavours of the proud comes to nothing but vanity and emptinesse all these conclusions vanish into a liâ— the Parliament is not destroyed the City stands the Gospel is preached we do not yet heare the scretches of defloured damosels nor the cries of abused matrons we hear not the ratling of their arms nor the neighing of their horses in our streets Oh my Lords you are not at Oxford led up and down as Sampsâ—n to be looked at by children nor are you crying as poore Belifalius Date obolum Belisario date obolum Nor you Gentlemen of the other House crying at a prison grate to some mercifull man for a penny Nor you my Lord Major and your Brethren under a great ransome for your freedome Nor You that your Teachers are forced from you but you can yet look upon them And you my reverend Brethren who have been part of the divided spoile you feele that mercy that gives them a loud lie But to raise the ground-work of our praises
but of two of the whole Army infected all the yeare 28 And mercy it is that in the Army there hath been no breath that through Grace Religion growes there and growes apacet yea this is your safety that what is desired in the Parliament by the most faithfull is there consulted and acted as God gives opportunity 29 The Lord hath made this Army often more then Conquerours the Roman conquerours rode boasting in their triumphant chariots here no boasters 30 God hath often extorted confessions from the Enemy that some have been forced with Juliun to cry out Vicisti Galilâ—â— 31 Providence carried out Army the other side Exeter even by the sicknesse in it and barrennesse of our quarters and the Enemies advance toward us where how the Lord helpt at Dartmouth stormed without losse and in other places is fresh in memory 32 Their debau 〈…〉 ery in all places made way for our welcome that if the cause should be judged by their instruments a very stranger must passe a sad verdict upon it 33 Such horror possest them every where in pursuit of them at great distances that the Lord seemed to send a hornet before us and Magorâ—issabiâ— they were a terror to themselves and this is remarkable that after they had felâ— our Horse or Foot they had no list to close with uâ— again though they took much time to recruit their spirits 34 The work of a Summer hath been done this Winter where I learned this lesson That faithfull honest English Christians assisted from Heaven can do and suffer more then the most gallant heathen Roman What mountains of Snow and Ice have been marcht over this winter what Rains and Winds have been gone through even to silence the Posting Hannibals or Cunctating Fabii 35 All the Enemies actions and counsels have turned to our advantage and we have been gainers by our losses generally As in the losse of Bristol we found the way to it by the losse at first view we saw it was not tenable with so little force which easily acquits that wise and valiant Gentleman that surrendred it Yea their idol Princes God hath made usefull to us many wayes by sleeping when they should fight and fighting when it had been better they had slept 36 That in all the harrased and plundered Countries God hath fed your Army and at Dartmouth fish brought in to us from the sea to miracle the Country acknowledging that generally we have been welcome where we came many with teares have parted with us at their doors 37 The influence the Justice of the Army hath had upon all forts most observable For instance when the Lieut. Generall had taken Langford house and promised safe convoy to the Enemy to Oxford six of our troopers brake the articles and in the convoy took four or five pound from some of them for which one was presently to be shot and the lot fell upon the first attempter who was put to death and I hope is in heaven being godly as farre as could be discerned the other five were sent to the Governour of Oxford to put to what death he pleased who entertained them nobly sent them back and desired their lives and profest in his letter which I read it was the highest peece of gallantry he had met with c. This very act with the many civilities of the Army hath been very conquering Justice exalteth a Nation Et Caesar in hoste probat Call to any County and ask what wrong your Army hath done them have you any scrols of complaints come up against them 38 And which is much to be remembred this day all Cornwall upon the matter is yours without blood and 5000 horse with their riders disbanded and as if this were not enough Ashley rai 〈…〉 ng a new force is crushed in the egge 39 And this is worth noting that the inhumanity our former Army met with in Cornwal was requited by the Turk fetching away many from Foy neer two hundred and divers taken away by sicknesse at Lestithiel that had abused our poor Souldiers 40 Nor is it a little that all the Nations round about us should be engaged in war and whilst they hoped this Civil combustion might so weaken us that it would not have been hard for them to fall upon the stronger party the Lord hath made us warlike awaked us throughly out of our effeminacie and we are become formidable to our neighbours Especially remember Denmark 41 Hereunto I adde what was not thought on in the appointment of this Day being the second of Aprill The second of April last yeare this Army advanced and was the first day of entertainment They say it is April â—b aperiendo from opening the Earth the Lord then opened a way to your deliverance the same hand open your hearts now to praises and thankfulnesse 42 Hereunto I might adde the Cities sweet compliance with the Parliament yea what oyle the footsteps of God have dropt within the wals of the Parliament houses what providences and blessed hints in your Militia and Common-Councel what in your Assembly is better known to your selves then me and what in the North and other parts I might even tyre you with the repetitions of what you have felt and tasted from the hands of mercy You have done like your selves to constitute Chronologers and you need have good testimonies for Ages to come will look upon many passages aâ— incredible and I beleeve the yeare 45 will stand parallel with 88. In a word You have the Army you wished for and the Successes you desired Oh the blessed change we see that can travell now from Edenburgh to the lands end in Cornwal who not long since were blockt up at our doors To see the high-wayes occupied again to heare the Carter whistling to his toiling team to see the weekly Carrier attend his constant mart to see the hils rejoycing the vallies laughing Nay me thinks I see Germany lifting up her lumpish shoulder and the thin-cheekt Palatinate looking out a prisoner of hope Ireland breathing again that not only lay bedrid but the pulse beating deathward the over-awed French Peasant studying his long lost liberty the Netherlanders looking back upon their neighbouring England who cemented their wals with their blood and bought their freedome with many many thousands of good old Elizabeth shillings Indeed me thinks all Protestant Europe seems to get new colour in her cheeks Dumb Rhetorick is best I could even stand silent and give you time to wonder And this God is your God and I trust will be your guide for ever I could name men but cannot read one word that way in my Commission from the Army who like the covered stals in your chief street of this city are willing to beare the rich Plate but themselves must be vailed else I could tell you of Men yea such as if you had a Blank sent from Heaven and leave given to have written what names you would have had of men for your
object mortall short-breathed and short-lived alas what waking dreames are honour beauty friends c Nay you shall find it non-satisfactory all the excellencies under the sun leave the soule to complaints of vanity and vexing and lastly you shall find it but partially not universally good Why will you lay out your money for that which is not bread all these things will but prove gravel under your teeth When David had reckoned mercies not a few he sayes upon the totall I will love thee dearly O Lord my strength I beseech you bethink your selves this day what lesse can you do then kisse the hand that hath preserved you Love climbes after more union with the object would you not be neerer to him who hath made such approaches and addresses to you that who so beholds not with wonder and joy is either stupid or envious Therefore O love the Lord yee his Saints 5. Love is an obliging affection and drawes forth much of God continually to the creature when the Lord by his servant Moses charged that people to love the Lord their God with all their heart and all their might he will fill up all the rest with heaps of promises of what he would doe for them enemies of all sorts should be subdued mercies of all kinds should be brought in deliverances preservations protections illuminations and what not Hosea seemes to delight to particularize the joyncture Gods people shall have in this case And it shall come to passe that I will heare saith the Lord I will heare the heavens and they shall beare the earth and the earth shall heare the corn and the wine and the oyle and they shall beare Jezreel and I will sow her unto me on the earth and I will have mercy on them that had not obtained mercy and I will say unto them which were not my people Thou art my people and they shall say Thou art my God And if that bee too little I will be as the dew unto Israel hee shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his root as Lebanon his branches shall spread and his beauty shall be as the olive tree and his smell as Lebanon they that dwell under his shadow shall return c. Nothing can greaten a Nation as this nothing can maintaine what you have gotten but this and you will find Non minor est virtus quam querere parta tueri Therefore O love the Lord ye that feel mercy 6. You shall find that this is a strong and powerfull I was about to say omnipotent affection Much water cannot quench love it is strong as the grave If Paul would give an account of some undertakings he will tell you love carries constraint with it it lessens difficulties answers hard questions removes impediments over-powers feares cares doubts dangers makes wash-way of all Upon this the Apostle throwes the gantlet of famine want persecution principalities powers above beneath nay it will wait and serve in heats and colds as Jacob for Rachel I must professe Excellent Senators I know not how you will continue your wearying toyling incessant travels but by this cordiall it is this onely can oyle your wheeles and cheere your hearts pay you your wages after all expences of time estates spirits If a stranger should look upon your travels the bread of carefulnesse you eat your early risings long sittings late goings to bed can you give account of any thing but That you love Truly I know nothing so heavie but love can lift nothing so high but it can reach nothing so deep but it can fathom Love to this Cause I would rather say to this God hath quieted your Army often drawn out the deepest bloud of many emptied the purses of the rich drawn forth the teares of the poor and their sighes to heaven when they could doe no more Union with God the end of this love is the issue of all our labours Therefore O love the Lord yee that feel mercy But you may ask wherein it consists or how would I desire this affection should be manifested I answer 1. There is a love in imitation and indeed those we love most we make our copies to write after Then he pleased to mind the Text again He preserveth the faithful and plenteously rewardeth the proud doer there is your pattern imitation calls upon you to preserve the faithful to reward the proud doer And these two look like the main interests of this State the former a revereÌ„d brother under that name hath commended unto you worthily I am bold to adde the latter to it For if you hear Polititians abroad what they say even Roan to Richlien they tell us of this double interest which some think expired with Queen 〈◊〉 viz. that Wee should have continued the patrons of the Protestant cause as the King of Spain of the Catholique and so have preserved the faithfull which Germany and Rochel would have thanked us for And secondly We should have rewarded the proud i. e. kept our war at a distance even where shee left us ingaged and by this time it may be we might have dried up Eâ—â—phraâ—es I mean possest the whole West-Indies which with little time and help from these parts may bâ— accomplished The words that follow in that Treatise are That England is a great Animal and cannot be destroyed but by it selfe which injury we are still as likely to put upon our selves as any people in the world One Chapter in Amos hath bred me some sad thoughts of heart where he 〈◊〉 you of two Visions the one of G 〈…〉 ppers that devoured every greene thing which made the Prophet cry out By whom shall Jacob arise for he is small and those Caterpillers were swept away The other Vision was a contention by fire for which he useth the same prayer By whom shall Jacob arise for he is small It seems contentions yea fiery contentions may lay a State as low as Caterpillers the Lord sprinkle the bloud of his Son upon this fire and quench it 〈◊〉 Doubtlesse much love of imitation will be shewed to God in recovering these two Interests abroad and if I might not be thought a designer I wish it at home Why should not the faithfull be preserved For the love of God doe it I speake not for my selfe for with Simeon I could even desire to depart in peace now mine eyes have seen so much of the Salvation of God Nor do I bring any Petition from your Army they never have nor ever will be burden some to you by Petitions but since you have trusted them with your own lives and estates they are contented willingly to trust you again with their libertiâ—â— It brings to minde that issue of a Combate whereof Livie is the reporter when the three H 〈…〉 i and the three 〈◊〉 had by the sword decided the quarrell betwixt the 〈◊〉 and their enemies and only one Hâ—â—arius survived 〈◊〉 〈…〉 ning met his sister the wise of one
tell me who shall breake that cord it will be stronger then all the Covenants the sons of men can make either nationall or otherwise I am herein the bolder because the cursed world neerer hand and further off are projecting a breach here and some men within this City wals are ridden up and down by Jesuites to perfect this work and feel not their burden Would you go again to Egypt shall we give away our Bibles to Papists and our libertles to Locusts and Caterpillars Shall we deliver up the towns we have taken to them that are subtle to destroy Have we not heard of murthers and rapines enough Mind what Abner said to Joab Hath not the sword devoured enough will not the end be bitternesse Let us have but love at Westminster and London and we shall crown the day and derive something from this day to the childe unborne to give it matter of rejoycing If you shall object the work is not done we are now upon a Crisis I answer Your temptation is new this was the time of the year when Princes were wont to goe forth to war but now it proves a time wherein they sue for peace Blessed change and the truth is the Sun may sooner get off your Cloke now then the Storm could before the fawning world may do that the frowning never could I shall commend unto you two or three Scriptures The first the words after my Text Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart all ye that hope in the Lord The second shall be Eccles. 10. 4. If the spirit of the Ruler rise up against thee keep thy place Learn for ever to make good your experiences and let it blow high or low keep your places I humbly beseech you noble Speakers of both Houses keep your places as hitherto you have done Be not ashamed of that seasonable and wise Answer once made at that exigent You have neither eyes to see nor tongues to speak but by order from the house in such cases I desire my Lord Major and his brethren to keep their places and not to be dub'd out of them nor courted from your comforts and safety remember what we all fought for prayed for adventured all for let not all be lost in the kisse of a Royall hand nor suffer your eyes to be put out with Court-glitter and glory And I humbly beseech your Lordships not to lead us the way to that mischiefe for us Ministers truly we may be apt to catch at the old bait the Lord help us to keep our places also It would grieve your soules to be Court-scoffed after all Let me leave with you what Tacitus sayes of Caesar Quotis scunque e curia egrederetur in haec verba prorupisse ferâ—ur O homines ad servitutem paratos Etiam illum qui publicam libertatem nollet tam foede servientium patientiam taedebat Therefore every man keep his place and in so doing another objection is answered But our old laws and priviledges may again be struck at read the 8. v. of Eccles. 10. Who so breaketh a hedge a Serpent shall bite him an old hedge are old good laws and those that will break them shall finde a Serpent you can apply He that removeth stones shall be hurt therewith And though it should be that Shimei might escape for a time with his confinement yet in the next generation he will break his Covenant his neck and all and thus I thinke of many that have railed against heaven and earth who will be found out by divine Justice when your hand cannot reach them To close up my thoughts in this you have hitherto lived upon daily provideÌ„ce as you do upon your daily bread by providence I believe you are brought beyond your own first imaginations and I know the wisest man here cannot tell what will be next though in order of causes he may say this or that should be for who can tell what is in the womb of a day or what it will bring forth unto us This is certain when there 's darknesse in Counsels in promises the Lord is pleased to dissipate clouds and disperse mists by providence you shall not need to feare relying upon that Provident hand which hath left you with so many glorious experiences Onely these cautions I must commend to your wisdomes 1. That providence be not slighted and bestow that upon Fortune and Chance which is handed to you by Providence Sed nos Te facimus Fortuna Deam coeloque locamus 2. That you withstand not providence but accept and improve the offers of mercy 3. That you out-run not providence but be contented to want what the Lord is not willing to give not to over-hasten your deliverance for it can never come seasonably being wrought by friend or foe unlesse the God of your mercies have a hand in it and truly he that cannot freely trust God in his way upon what you have received already is not fit to receive more How good it is to live in his bosome and upon his hand who knows how to take measure of your wants and supply your needs and that out of an inexhaust fulnesse Lastly since feasts are seldome without beggars give me leave to be the first and if we had not been over-bold in detaining you already I should have been large even from my soule to beg help from this most Honourable Assembly in foure particulars 1. I beg for Soules 2. For Bodies 3. Estates 4. Names 1. And for the first I present you here the teares and cries of many thousands in the countries we have conquered who poor souls cry like prisoners at the Grate Bread bread for the Lords sake bread all you that passe by take Pitty pitty of us we have lived upon husks time out of minde Men brethren and fathers whilest we are disputing here they are perishing there and going to hell by droves If I know any thing what you have gotten by the sword must be maintained by the Word I say the Word by which English Christians are made In other countries discipline makes them so drive them into a Church together and then dub them Christians you will find too much of this abroad and hence it comes to passe that most of their Religion lies in Polemicks which is the trade we are likely to drive if God prevent not I need not tell this Assembly that every where the greater party is the Orthodoxall and the lesser the Hereticks so once the Aâ—rians afflicted the sound Christians and they increasing requited it again to the Arrians It was once my lot to be a Member of that famous ancient glorious work of buying in Impropriations by which work 40 or 50 preachers were maintained in the dark parts of this Kingdom Divers Knights and Gentlemen in the Country contributed to this work and I hope they have not lost that spirit I wish exceeding well to preaching above many things in this world and wish my brethren