to His Name there is mercy to her people they are yet the Lords people and the judgement is upon the Priests and they shall KNOW IT Surely some strange judgement the first borne of Death o Iob 18. 19. shall devoure their strength Now the Lord make them know it for their good That whatsoever strange punishment they feele here they may not feele the wrath to come So the Church prayes and every man will say Amen 2. The Church remembers your Piety now Blessed be You of the Lord you have rescued this day from out of the hands of Spoylers Yee have recovered Your Lords Right Yee have vindicated His Name So Ye have provided for Your owne peace and prepared a way for a blessing upon all You shall doe and for Mercy upon the Nation Peace be both to You and Peace be to Your house and Peace be unto all that You have The Church wisheth unto You a blessing which containes all blessings because You have restored unto her her Lords Day which next to her Lord Christ is the fullest and most comprehensive mercy Goe on and doe yet more and be more zealous Give all diligence and let Your zâ—ale boyle yet higher it cannot boyle over Thâ—s shall Yee doe in the feare of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart * 2 Chro. 19. 9. for it is for the Lord His Day His House His Worship Seeke Yee that first burne in Your zeale that way and other things will come on as they doe as east in upon You by an Almighty hand for the Lord will be with the Good and He will remember You for good for You remembred His Day and His worship on His Day He will remember You for good Amen SECT III. That You have advanced Christ in the Ministery of the Gospell how efficacious that is To promote the chiefe end the Glory of God and Your end Mans Salvation ¶ 6. 2. THe Church blesseth God that hath instructed You to discretion so as You have shewen Your zeale and given all Diligence to promote the Gospell The readiest and most compendious way to Your ayme and end to bring all the designes about which vve hope are all levell to the glory of Christ and Your owne glory vvith Him at the end And now great is the company of Preachers their mouth opened now who of late were used worse than the Oxe which treadeth out the Corne. They speake boldly now as the Messengers of the Churches and the Glory of Christ That which letted shall let no longer The Scepter of the Lord Christ is advanced and the people flow in unto it The Church thinkes her Sonnes and Daughters never had a more glorious yeare since the day her Beloved and Crowne of rejoycing ascended to His Glory Never since that Day when He was lifted up from the Earth was He so openly showne to the world as this last yeare Though there had beene no other very worthy deeds done unto this Nation by Your providence yet this she accepts alwayes and in all places wich all thankfulnesse accounting it an exceeding great mercy That by Your meanes she was respited and spared one yeare longer to lay in her provision and more fully to stocke her selfe against hard and deâ—re yeares This the Church accepts as afore-said for this is the way to doe and effect the greatest things Therefore this the Church accounts an exceeding mercy The blessing of blessings and she prayeth that the blessing of Him Who dwelt in the Bush may goe along with You in this Designe in making knowne the Arme of the Lord In advancing this Glory through the whole Land that they who walke in darkenesse may see a great Light They that dwell in the Land of the shadow of Death upon them this light may shine This is the onely way to doe good to the whole Land to make it a Land of visions wherein the Lord may delight and to make his people a willing people The Church will remember You here vvhat Luther her valiant Gideon spake to the businesse now in hand I will not said he trouble my selfe any more with the Cloysters the Monkes and Schollars there those Armies of Adversaries they mind their belly that is their god and the belly hath no eares Nor will I contest with the Pope any longer he had done it and was too hard for him and all his Cardinals let the Philistines alone with their Dagon They will finde wayes enough to breake themselves and their god he would not beat and buffet the darknesse so he said also as the foole did his shadow he would set up a light then the darknesse slinkes away I know not where it is for it is a privative thing but it flies away as the cloud before the Sunne or as the beasts of prey will doe when the Sunne ariseth there is a riddance it is gone and those beasts goe to their darke Dens You know his meaning and know it for the good of the Land He would advance Christ He would set up that Standard that was his meaning and his worke To use his own word he would promote the Arke then Dagon fals breaks himselfe to peeces head and hands both cut off the Head for councell hands for action â—ll gone That 's the way indeed So You have done and so You have succeeded already You will to that worke againe and joyne shoulder to shoulder for the advancing thereof That the Lord Christ may be showen openly His glorious excellencies made knowne specially in those places where CATHEDRALS are as barren in the Churches observation to the soules of men as the Surface of that Earth where the Mines of Gold and Silver are there no meat grows for man nor grasse for Cattell The Church intreats you to remember those barren places and those darke places all over the Land where the dead bury the dead and the blind lead the blind every Day Truly the Church is perswaded that the people for the most part are as ignorant as the Monks are of Christ to speak as Luther spake or as they were of the Holy Ghost they know not whither there be any Christ or no unles a Christ of their own framing in a Table They have heard of the name Iesus and the Monkes have taught them to bend the knee unto it and that is all their Devotion according to their knowledge O that the Name indeed the glorious excellencies of that wonderfull name were made knowne unto them certainly their Hearts would bend also Blessed be Ye of the Lord Ye have laboured herein and Ye will labour yet more to advance this STANDARD to set-up this Ensigne that the mountaines may melt before you and the people may flow in unto it To make knowne this Arme of the Lord for this makes us a willing people That I may speake all in our Lord and Masters words Ps 110. In so doing you shall doe as Christ did you will give eyes to the blind feet
is hers and She hath enough for He is all things All things in Heaven and in Earth worke for her good She looks abroad in the World and behold â—ercies before and behinde and on each hand Truly the Church cannot tell what to record next but much is to be recorded before She comes to that which is expected Indeed her good Lord blessed for ever hath dealt to her such a largesse of good things according to His rich bounty even in earthly matters under Moone comforts That She can resolve upon no other way but this being amidst a throng of Mercies which now presse in upon her even to Record Thanke and Praise the Lord for Hâ—s free grace towards her so abuâ—dantly shewed in this That He hath not charged upon her the dayes of her forgetfulnesse When She did not record and render backe according as She had received Her Lord hath forgiven much this way unto her and therefore She loveth much for how few of many Mercies are recorded and fewer yet had their full weight of Thanks and praise from her Mercies When She speaks of them She is confounded and as one in a maze Mercies cloathe her Mercies feed her Mercies uphold her every moment She lyeth downe with them riseth up with them Mercies privative Mercies positive Preventing Mercies Following Mercies Crowning Mercies Mercies to the outward man Mercies to the inward man How many Aske rather how many Sands there be and the number of the Starres But there is One for all A comprehensive Mercy indeed and the fountaine of all From Him that is from Christ All flow downe unto her and are a purchase of bloud And truly She saith heartily She is not thankfull for Christ not for that unspeakable gift not according as She hath received and that is her shame and trouble both It is her wonder and shame and sorrow all three That Mercies should be continually in her sence She sees them and tastes them and feeles them and yet so little in her mind O blessed be God Who hath not charged upon her the dayes of forgetfulnesse Recording Thanking Praising is the only Tribute Taxation or Impost which the Lord hath set upon all things He gives us richly to enjoy The Earth shall give in unto thee her fruitfulnesse not the least herbe there but is for thy meat or thy medicine So the Waters so the Ayre the variety of Inhabitants therein So the Heavens the Starres and influences there-from All shall give forth their strength besides their homage and Tribute to man their Lord But now he must remember this Tribute to God And yet how is that forgotten Heare what the Lord saith My flaxe and my Wooll all are His even the Beasts upon a thousand Mountaines are to cloathe thee My Oyle and my Wine to refresh Thee My Wheate and my Barley to be a stay and staffe unto Thee Only record these Mercies acknowledge the Giver and pay Him His Tribute Thanks and Praise Good Lord how short are we herein in rendring back Nay the Church doth say so and yet her Lord hath passed it over and in this way of loving kindnesse hath forgiven much She hath no more to say but this Therefore She loveth much And yet I must adde this for it is according to the mind of the Righteous They remember notonly Their forgetfulnesse of mercies but their unfruitfulnesse under them Their abuse of them Their security Yea and their rebellion also The more the Mercies were the more secure they were The fuller the Pasture was the more they kicked with the heele fighting sometimes against God with His own weapons But sith their God hath passed over all this Therefore they love much CHAP. III. Dayes of Affliction Dayes of blessing for so the Lord hath altered them and sweetned these to the Church SECT I. Afflictions must be reckoned among the Blessings ANd thus for Mercies which properly and in their owne Nature are so and sence can relish so Now the Church must record her afflictions and sorrowes for these She can call Mercies now Not so in their owne Nature but through the Mercy of her God so ordering her and them And this must be recorded for this She stands most bounden to Thanke and Praise She could surfeit on her sweets as we may with honey Her sorrowes allay'd the lushiousnesse thereof She expected an Heaven upon Earth her unquiet motions there told her it was not the place of her rest She had comforts upon the Earth and She would build Tabernacles upon them A Cloud overshadowed them and She feared She blesseth God for all this but more of this anon The Church then looks back and beholds Mercies and cals them so which the world cals evils Her God made them good to her and a blessing therefore must She blesse God for them in the first place accounting them fit matter to stir her up to Record and Thank Gall and Wormewood yeelded sweets to the Church She found Honey in the carkase of the Lyon Therefore She remembers the time when She said This is my death a Ps 77. 10. No indeed it was her mistake and she sees 〈…〉 â—â—r it was but her infirmity and wrought very effectually to thâ— stâ—engthning of her so that she can now glory in that she in her hâ—ste called her Death knowing that it wrought Patience and Patience Experience and Experience Hope b Rom. 5. 1 4. She recordeth the daies of her Widâ—w-hood She cannot leape over that time when she sate Desolate alone and as forsaken There she said well as forsaken for indeed there is but a sicut an as in all which she suffers and in all she enjoyes here below she weepes as though she wept not she rejoyceth as though she rejoyced not she possesseth as though she possessed not c 1 Cor. 7. 3. So also she knowes now by experience that there was but an as in her greatest sufferings as unkowne d 2 Cor. 6. 9 10. as dying as chastened as sorrowfull as poore as having nothing and so as forsaken but then God was with her working most powerfully for her establishment and most effectually for her comfort therefore she remembers that time even when she spake in griefe of heart as Iacob did All these things are against me e Gen. 42. 36. Ioseph is not and Simeon is not and yee will take my Benjamin also All these things are against me No indeed Iacob was deceived so hath the Church beene these ten times and now she sees her mistake and must record it that all these things were for her This deare child was snach'd away and this so sutable a comfort this staffe and this stay all gone and yet for all this as her long Captivity was all for her good f Ier. 24. 5. that the streame of her affections might runne the clearer to the Fountain That He Who alone is Worthy might have all all her Love and all her delight and all her joy as
performe according to the PROTESTATION even the Lord shake him out and emptie him c Neh. 5. 1â— The Lord grant thesâ— Malignants thâ—se sonnes or Bâ—liall these troublers of Israel vvho will be bound by no other cord but by the cords of their owne sinnes may be cut off even all cut-off that trouble the Church those that love peace and pursue it These sonnes of Beliall cannot frame to pronounce an holy just and good Commandment ô that they vvere dealt vvith now as those persons vvere vve reade of in the Text Then they tooke him and slâ—w him at the passages of Jordan d Iud. 12. 6. The Church knowes that there vvould be a greater slaughter then was that vve reade of and there fell at that time of the Ephramites fourty and two thousand Heere comes in a doubt and it will bee easily resolved The Objâ—ction â—s Ob. The Church is a peaceable Mother in Israel her Father is the God of peace her Lord the Prince of peace her servants the children of peace then sure the Church doth not know vvhat spirit shee is of that prayes for Fire and Sword to come downe from Heaven Answ Yes the Church knows she hath the Spirit of God dwelling in her and by that Spirit she can and doth pray as afore-said â—nd will fight anon and be a peaceable vvoman for all this and a true Mother in Israel and follow the Lambe here also for in some cases and none riseth higher then this He even the Lambe hath wrath and that must be executed by her Sword Nay more as she prayeth for this thing so she can rejoyce to see this vengeance and to wash her feet c Ps â—8 10. in the bloud of the wicked and the whole City with her yea and to shout for joy d Prov. 11. 10. These are wicked persons professed enemies to God and His Christ Without naturall affection truce breakers false accusers incontiâ—câ—t fierce despisers of those that are good Traitors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God not having so much as a forme of Godlinesse e 2 Tim. 3. 3 4 5. Pitty these vvicked Malignant persons and you destroy the Good shew mercy here you are cruell to the Church spare such and they will make havocke of Gods Servants as you see they doe and have done in all ages Wicked persons they and desperately bold and daring They would turne the Songs of the Temple into howlings f Amos 8. 3. She can rejoyce to see the vengeance yea and to wash her feet in the blood of these slaine And till this be done she never looks to have peace on the Earth for these are they who have taken peace from her Therefore she is resolved upon it now she vvill not onely pray but use her WEAPONS too Yes you will say PRAYERS and TEARES True for these are the Churches weapons and very prevailing nay commanding they are Prayers command God He is pleased to say so much and to yeeld g Esa 45. 11. so farre but the Church said she will fight too in a case wherein her Prince His State Crowne and Dignity is concerned for in all this the Church is concerned her Lawes Liberties Religion Life In such cases He vvill fight Let it goe it is good construction to apply a Masculine vvord to so Heroicke a spirit as I reade Queen Elizabeth did not well digest that Grammaticall nicety to be prayed for by the Title of DEFENDRESSE of the Faith DEFENDER vvas better concord in her Eares And indeed never any man Answered the Title better I was saying the Church hath another weapon which vvee call the Sword and she will make it drunke in the bloud of these Adversaries and yet doe no more then what she hath done in all Ages from the Primitive time downe-ward For though Prayers and Teares and these onely are her Sonnes and Daughters vveapons as they are private persons Yet as they are publike persons That alters the case and exalted in the Earth the Sword belongs unto them as their proper right and they stand bound to use it though then also They STVDIE TO BE QVIET h 1 Thes 4. 11. and know themselves CALLED VNTO PEACE so they may have TRVTH too i 1 Cor. 7. 15. The Church hath her Ioshaah's and they must not lye upon the face * Iosh 7. 10. wishing those even cut-off that trouble us k Gal. 5. 12. He must rise and cut-off those TROVBLERS it is his office so to doe The Church hath her Nehemiah's they may build with one hand and hold the Sword in another Shee hath her Davids the truest Subjects in the world as then hee was and yet their Hâ—ast may be as his was as the HOAST OF GOD l and all for their owne safety and to maintaine as â— Chrâ— 12. â—2 David did their Masters peace The Church hath her Princes and her Nobles and her Worthies blessed be God for them all to whom the Sword belongs and they are charged to use it for the cutting off those that trouble her and are enemies to her Lords Crowne and Dignity They are charged to be of good courage and to play the men for their King and His people and the Cities of their God and the Lord doe that which seemeth Him good d 2 Sam. 10. 12. Then in the last place ¶ 4. Private Persons must make Supplications THe Church makes her Supplication to you That you would rise up and be doing that you would avenge her of these Adversaries who have done what they can to take peace from the Earth All is contained in your Covenant every whit Remember that and you remember all and the Lord remember His Covenant with you for the darke places of the Earth are full of cruelty e Ps 74. Doubtlesse the Lord Who keepeth Covenant and mercy for ever will not breake with you now Remember f Deut. 7. 18. WELL what the Lord your God hath done for you That will give you assured confidence for the time to come Onely deale couragiously g 2 Chron. 19. 11. stand to what you have said and what in you lyeth cause the Covenant to passe through the Land and doe as the good King did vvhat you can to make the people stand to it h 2 Chron. 34. 32. and the Lord shall be with the good i 2 Chron. 19. 11. Amen for they will make their prayer to Him which cannot be in vain k Esa 45. 19. being one of the most prevailing things in Heaven or Earth but it is reserved for the time when ye as Esther l Est 4 16. commanded Prayer then it will appeare how prayer commanded for you SECT IV. The engaging the heart to God engageth God to our Businesse then they slide-on the loftinesse of Man shall be bowed downe and the â—aughtinesse of Men shall be made low Idols and Idol-men and Idoll-garments and bloody Courts shall
His Sanctuaries kept cleane all filthinesse remooved thence and those that attend His services there to be purified and Holy ones That their Lord might see no uncleane thing there which might cause Him to turne away from them and turne His back upon His Sanctuaries The summe of their desires is That they may offer to the Lord an offering in Righteousâ—esse Then shall their offerings be pleasant unto the Mal. 3. 3. v. 4. Lord as in the Dayes of old and as in former Yeares The Church Remembers vvhâ—t you have done to promote these services so pleasant to the Lord and she must referre it to a speciall head of Praise and Thanks-giving CHAP. X. It is ordered that neither the Table of the Lord nor His Name be Idolized nor His Day prophaned nor Prayers restrained All this the Church Records with all Thankfullnesse The Time also when this was done and She sets her hope in God for after Time therefore She gives her selfe to Prayer SECT I. The Name restored Idols and Idoll Priests Cast-out The bold Chancellor rebuked the Lords Day rescued from those that offered violence thereunto BLessed be ye of the Lord you will have things called by their Name Cringing and bowing flat Idolatry The Table of the LORD a Table And His Name ye will not suffer to be made an Idoll neither nor His Day prophaned nor would you restraine prayer for next to her Lord Christ it is the life of her soule and more pretious then the breath in her Nostrills She will speake of these in order and to your everlasting praise ¶ 1. The Church accounts of but one feast during her weaâ—y Pilgrimage here and it is That her Lord Christ is pleased to invite her unto and make her partaker of at His own Table where She beholds admirable things an unspekeable gift which She cannot expresse but there She sees her Iesus Him Whom her soule loveth in Him and through Him exceeding riches of grace abundant mercy great love The Church is abundantly thankfull to you now That you have restored to her the Name and the use of That whereat She doth communicate and feast with her Lord She may call it a Table for so it is and not an Altar for that is a lye an abomination not to be once named in the Church of God who hath but one Altar as She hath but one Priest ¶ 2. The Church hath more thanks to give you before She can leave the Table That you have rebuked the bold Chancellor his turning of things upside downe which you esteemed as the Potters clay Let him order things at his own Table he had no more to doe in Church-vvork then Vzziah had to meddle with the Priests office Therefore the Lord going along vvith you hath set a note of disgrace upon him so notoriously transgressing the bounds of his office the pattent whereof he hath quite lost or willingly laid aside as manifest as was the Leprosy rising in the forehead Blessed be ye of the Lord that ye have so rebuked him and the vile Priest also who would make an Idoll of his Lords Name That WONDERFVLL NAME making one letter in that Name more excellent and honourable then another whereas every letter there is WONDERFVLL and infinitely glorious but so he did Idolize that Name there and every where bovving the knee at the hearing of it and in the meane Time mocking Him to His face The Church thanks you for this and that you remembred also that which was an offence and grief of heart ¶ 3. The INCLOSVRE the Railes there for vvhy should the Priests novv the vaile of the Temple is rent make the Chancell as the HOLY of HOLYES so making a difference in places vvhere God makes none or why should he stand alone there so like a sacrificing Priest as if the guift he were to distribute there were not common to all believers Now the Lord Christ is as a fountaine opened to the house of Judah the Church She is indeed a garden inclosed a spring shut up a fountaine sealed b Cant. 4. 12. Because the Church is seperated Optimâ fide castaâ— conservas â—â— tuos fructus intogros Iun. for her Lords use and all her fruit as from Him so all reserved for Him What her Lord Christ is what He hath all is for His beloved Therefore she is peculiarly His all she is and all she doth But her beloved is a common good to the whole Church to every part and member of the same The poorest weakest person hath the same right and interest in Him the same accesse to Him as the strongest Christian hath even as a beggar pleades the same interest to the Sun-shine and a common fountaine as a King doth for God hath made these things common Blessed be yee that you have broken down the Railes there and thrown-down those Mock-gods which did serve the Heathen in those darke times to keep their gardens and drive away the Crovves and may yet serve some to make sport with who in the Sun-shine their tender yeares wâ—ll excuse them doe ride upon a long reed and play vvith Râ—ttles These dung-hill goods ascending out of the earth you have ordered to be cast out to their place And some of the Priests you have whipped-out too more polluting the Temple then ever did the buyers and sellers there The Church accepts all this with all thankfullnesse and waites the time when you must doe more even avenge her of such Adversaries as these who have not only done as above-said but forced the prophanation of her Lords Day after an unheard of and heathenish manner Surely this bold and daring sin hath filled up their measures brimme full so as wrath is running over now and bearing them down as a mighty streame And this the Church remembers often the more to enlarge and heighten her spirit in thanksgiving and praise ¶ 4. That seeing she hath but one Day in seven her Lords Day therefore most honourable her soules Day therein she hath svveete communion vvith her Lord and finds rest to her soule Her market-Day then she layes in her provision expecting to live comfortably upon her gatherings all the weeke following Seeing I say she hath but one day she is dainty and curious thereof zealous according to knowledge and religiously covetous she would not have a minute of that sacred time wasted And now that you have rebuked the vile Priests and their brutish people for their horrible prophanation of this Day she accepts this with all thankfullnesse Surely the Day when you did this and the place where you did it shall be called GILG ALL for then and there you rouled away the reproach of Egypt This she accepts alwaies with all thankfullnesse but more abundantly if more Iâ—sâ— 5. â— can be would she be enlarged for that which followes SECT II. The Churches Prayers pretious and prevailing Shee entreates shee may speake for her selfe or chuse her spoakes-man THat you have regarded the
towards such sinners as we are He hath sworne in His vvrath against those that have not provoked Him as we have done and they are an astonishing example of Gods smoaking vvrath at this Day and written for our example vvho come the nearest to that Mother-Church in our receits and returnes I meane in mercies and sinnes But this example though an astonishing one is farre off and we are if not blinde yet very dimme-sighted We cannot clearly see into a judgement so farre-off though it is at this Day as that was c Numb â—6 10. Exemplum omniuÌ„ oculis expositum ut est erectum signum Trem. for a signe conspicuous to every eye as a banner displayed or as ensignes lifted up d Esa 57. 17 18. Consider we Gods dealing His Manner tovvards His people nearer hand but first His dealing towards us We went on very frowardly traversing our way What did the Lord doe Did He deale frowardly too No to the Admiration of Angels and men He did as he said even then He HEALED us He sent us Saviours He did terrible things against the Adversary which we looked not for He brought us HITHERTO How farre I cannot tell that Let it suffice to test farre beyond our Prayers and above our Hopes so farre He brought us as we can conclude it but possible to an Allmighty hand to bring us so farre HITHERTO Is this His manner to deale so graciously with such presumptuous sinners as we are No He did not deale so with Ireland that Land lyeth under the displeasure of an angry God full of the furie of the Lord the rebuke of thy God 'T is not His manner neither to deale so with our Sister-Churches O no! The Lord hath brought them to an HITHERTO of judgements I pray you nay I charge you before the Lord observe their HITHERTO and our HITHERTO compare them together and then consider on it I was saying the Lord hath given the dearely Beloved of His soule see how angry the Lord may be with His Beloved into the hand of her enemies * Ier. 12 7. He hath brought His people in Germany to a HITHERTO of judgements and how farre beyond this vve cannot tell He began with them twenty foure yeares agoe thereabouts He hath not ended with them HITHERTO no not to this Day The Sword is yet bathed in blood HITHERTO the Enemy hath prevailed and keepes the Sanctuary of the Lord in his possession O set we up a Monument here for establishing the Memory of this Mercy that God hath brought us HITHERTO We professe ô Lord God we feele our selves over-charged with this mercy that Thou hast brought us HITHERTO Truth Lord if Thou wilt bring us no further no not one steppe we doe indeed feare the reproach of Men that Thy great Name may suffer Their Manner is to open against Thee and to say as of old THOV ART NOT ABLE But we recover our selves again and upon second thoughts we are pretty vvell perswaded That thou canst worke out Thine owne glory in Thine owne vvayes by us unsearchable and past finding out And therefore ô Lord God we doe profeâ—â—e before the World Angels and Men That if Thou shouldest set up Thy Pillar here and write upon it Beyond this HITHERTO this PILLAR there remaineth no Mercy not a jot which you or your children shall live to see for you are a brutish sullen people a crooked Generation yee will not know That I have sent you SAVIOURS You fly from them as from Spoylers You account REFORMATION a killing a Ex. 2. and so you speake of it in my eares Therefore he that is filthy let him be filthy still b Rev. 22. 11. And for these Saviours I will take them away or put a cloud over them or an evill spirit into them so as they shall carry you backe againe to the Aegypt you mind so much and like so well yet the utmost of all evill c Deut. 28. 68. Iratum habemus Christum quòd â— iustâ Reformatione absumus sin redâ—erâ—muâ—â—â— voâ—â—tum quo furore in nos exardesces Bright iâ— stev c â— 11. v. 15. Quid reliquum est prater ultimum supplicium ubi conclamata est omnis emendatio Bright in Rev. 16. 10. even to your pollutions your MIRE and VOMIT where They sound you If Thou shouldest say to us even so and doe as Thou hast said yet thy Servants can find in their hearts to give Thee everlasting praise for bringing us SO FARRE and helping us HITHERTO for to the Confusion of our face and to the praise of Thy abundant Mercy be it spoken that Thou hast much the same inditement against us as of old against Thy Israel We have dealt so and so YET THOV DESTROYEDST THE AMORITE Bâ—FORE VS Thou broughtest VS also up from the Land of Aegypt BVT c. The same YET and the same BVT thou hast against us so as Thou art pressed under us as a Cart is pressed that is full of Sheafes d Amos 2. â— 12. Therfore what though Thou wilt not doe this in our dayes no nor in our childrens dayes our eyes must not see such Salvations What though we a foolish and gain saying people must by Thy appointment goe to the place of silence and our childrens faces also must be wrapt up within their mould yeâ— notwithstanding we can blesse Thee we can praise Thee with open Mouth and enlarged Hearts for that Thou hast done before our eyes this last yeare and for those glorious promises Thou hast made to Thy Church for a great while to come Which we see as in a Glasse clearly by that thou hast done this yeare are now fullfilling We can blesse Thee for all this for helping us thus farre for bringing us HITHERTO How many of our Brethren better then we vvould have rejoyced to have seene such a day as this and EBEN-EZAR that Name put upon it That they might have seen the good of Thy chosen have rejoyced in the gladnesse of Thy Nation and glory vvith Thine Inheritance But Thy pleasure was not so Thou hast provided better things for them where their sight is more cleared their joy more refined their glory more abundant blessed be Thy Name VVee blesse Thy great Name also and we can almost say We have enough that Thou hast spared us to this Day and brought us HITHERTO so vvonderfully vvorking for us and while wee have any BEING it is the full purpose of our Hearts to praise Thy Name and the Lord keepe it in the purpose of our hearts for ever Amen For what are we what are our persons or our Fathers House That Thou hast brought us HITHERTO â— Sam. 7. 18. ¶ 2 The Church hath strong Consolations because the LORD hath spoken good words and comfortable touching her house for a great while to come She gives her self to Prayer BUt yet ô Lord God as thou hast commanded us to Record to Praise to Thanke Thee for Thy Mercies HITHERTO So
יהוה GOD IN THE FLAMING-BVSH EXOD. 3. 2. Moses looked and behold the Bush burned with fire and the Bush was not consumed EXOD. 3. 3. And he said I will now turne aside and see this great sight why the Bush is not burnt DEUT. 33. 16. Blessed of the Lord be His Land for the precious things of Heaven And for the precious things of the Earth and for the good-will of Him That dwelt in the Bush ESA. 63. 9. In all their affliction He was afflicted and the Angell of His Presence saved them Published for a memoriall of the first wonderfull yeare The day of the LORDS vengeance and yeare of Recompences for the controversie of Zion THE CHVRCHES THANK-OFFERING To GOD Her KING and The PARLIAMENT FOR Rich and ancient Mercies Her Yeares of Captivity Her first Yeare of IVBILE THAT IS For the Marvelous Deliverances Wrought with God the first Wonderfull Yeare since the Yeare 88 beginning at September 1640. and ending the ninth of the same Moneth following In all which time The Lord appeared for His Church as in the dayes of old out of the middest of the BVSH so the Church burn'd with fire and was not consumed In the PREFACE The THANK-OFFERING is vindicated and set free from all the Cavills and Charges against it Where also it is cleared To be as every Mans Duty so every Mans purpose To Offer Willingly now who doth not make full proofe that he falls short of Pagan Papist or Atheist and is wilfully resolved to walk crosse to the most SUPREME Law The HIGHEST Reason and The unquestionable WILL of GOD. 1 Chro. 17. 19. O Lord for Thy Servants sake and according to Thine own heart hast Thou done all this greatnesse in making known all these great things Psal 1â—6 17 I will offer to Thee the Sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call upon the Name of the Lord. Nehem. 5. 19. Thinke upon mee my God for good according to all that I have done for this people London Printed for T. V. at the signe of the Bible in Wood street 164â— TO THE LORD the most high GOD Possessour of Heaven and Earth TO IESUS CHRIST His only Son our LORD Prince of Peace King of Saints To the blessed SPIRIT the Truth and leading thereinto BLessed be Thy glorious Name which is exalted above all blessing and praise Thou alone workest wonders and in so doing hast magnified Thy Selfe and honoured man Thou shewedst signes and wonders upon Thy Adversaries for Thou knewest they dealt proudly against Thee So didst Thou get Thy selfe a Name as it is this Day and herein didst Thou use man as an instrument Dust and Ashes he is give him grace to magnifie Thee Blessed Saviour Rock of our Salvation Desire of the Nations Hope of Israel in time of trouble Thou wast content to be made of no esteeme that Thy people might be greatly beloved to be made a curse that Thy people might become a blessing content to be made low that Thou mightest exalt man So Thou hast done Thou hast exalted him even to sit in Thrones next to Thy selfe Give him an heart to exalt Thee to honour Thee to love Thee much for Thou art worthy Blessed Spirit Thou hast done great things and marvellous not by a Nihil aliundè mutuatur Deus ad Ecclesiae suae conservationeÌ„ ergò vult sibi Vni acceptam referri Ecclesiae satureÌ„ Cal. humane might nor by power but by Thy selfe b Zach. â— 6. Nec tamen omnia immediatè per se agit Deus sed tantum ostendere vâ—lâ— Ecclesiam erigi et conservari non humano vulgari modo sed mirabiliter praeter omnes spes sensus nostres Cal. in locum ô blessed Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts take to Thy selfe the Glory even all Almighty Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity unspeakably Three in One and One in Three One in Authority Will and Worship of all Three King of Kings Lord of Lords Spare Thy Servant according to the greatnesse of Thy mercy Thy hand-maid is recording Thy ancient thoughts of Grace and Peace towards Thy Servants her Sons and her Daughters Ancient mercies towards them when they lay in their blood for that was a time of love c Ezech. 16. 8. Mercies toward them exceeding Mercies when they were in the fornace of affliction for then Thou didst DWELL with them and they had ENOVGH Mercies towards her Land and People this former yeare strange Rescues wonderfull Deliverances admirable Discoveries what then can Thy Servant say now Even as Thou shalt be pleased to open her Mouth and give her inlargement She would take with her words d Hos 14. 2. but from Thy owne mouth and of Thy owne chusing Thou must give first for all things come of Thee and of Thine owne have we given Thee e 1 Chro. 29. 14. Thy servant must now speake Thy high Praises then Thou Lord must tune my spirit and raise it up else it will flag or like a Bird without wings now up and presently down How insufficient Thy Servant is for so high and excellent an imployment Thou knowest for Thou even Thou onely knowest the hearts of all the children of men f 1 Kin. 8. 39. At this present indeed now that I have some high thoughts of Thy glorious excellencies Thy Servant can speake as one brought downe to the ground whose speech whispereth out of the dust yet as one presently stolne away from her selfe she can with that Sorcerer thinke her selfe some GREAT ONE g Act. 8. 9. Lord rebuke this proud spirit and cast a spewing upon Selfe-glory h Hab. 2. 16. for truth Lord something it would be and something it would doe though a thousand experiences have told us that nothing it is nothing it can i Ier. 3. 5. but sinne against Thee Thy grace in us doth all no more power in selfe no more canning except the contrary way then can the instrument of late held in the worke-mans hand but now cast-out or lying by him Lord leave me not no not a little worke all in me and for me then worke by me for what we give to Thee is from Thy own hand to us first And though flesh and bloud would share here yet suffer it not but say where Thy voyce is there is power it shall not be so and so take to Thy self Thy proper right all the glory Let not so excellent a thing as the Spirit is so vast and capacious be lost in selfe which is nothing but let it runne forth to Thee and though it will be lost there also amidst such an Ocean yet there it finds a proportionable good even all in Thy self for Thou art All. Behold now I have taken upon me to speake unto my Lord that am but aust and ashes Thou wilt suffer this once and leade me into Thy Treasure-house to behold Thy mercies there which I am no more able to understand then I
not onely because they doe set their faces unto Thee to seeke by Prayer and Fasting c Dan. 9. 3. a great and good signe that Deliverance is comming-on that Thou art appearing in Thy glory d Ps 102. 16 17. because the Fatherlesse the Destitute pray unto Thee for this thing and are resolved to give Thee no rest But there are other Reasons why we should set our hope in Thee and that it is Thy meaning we should so doe which we shall speake of before Thee now and if it could be in the eares of all the Christian world for they are legible in all the peoples sight and most commanding we thinke to draw in others that are not willingly ignorant and to make them fall downe kisse Thy Sonne and trust in Him 1. We humbly conceive that Thine Adversary and Enemy shall proceed no farther Surely we say that is Thy meaning and purpose of Thy Heart because His folly is manifest unto all men e 2 Tim. 3. 9. 2. We conceive that Thy Adversary a Legion hath beene at the highest his verticall point and we see he is fallen thence Truth Lord he fals slowly now when his fall is like a milstone f Rev. 18. 21. with violence then it shall be mighty quicke and irrecoverable there is that in his fall now which in our haste we call slacknesse and we say in the same haste we may fall before him If so yet so as we shall rise with more strength and in more glory but he never to rise againe to that same point We conclude so for so Thy manner hath beene when the Adversary begins to fall he shall fall yet lower g Est 6. 13. when he ascends againe if he falls not low in humiliations it is up the Gallows h 7. 9. 3. The Adversary hath been proud as Moab VERT PROVD i Esa 16. 6. exceeding proud k Iâ—r 48. 29. as proud waters which went over the heads of the righteous We humbly conceive now they must be brought LOW VERIE LOW now they must be made Base EXCEEDING BASE even now 4. Prayer hath commanded wee looke above all meanes to Thy glorious Right-hand as strange a standing still of the starres in one place of the HEAVEN as was the standing still of the Sunne upon Gibeon and the Moone in the valley of Aialon l Iosh 10. 12. We humbly conceive Thy meaning thereby is and Thou wilt have it published to the whole Christian world That the great Court of Nobles and Worthies shall not arise from their place till Thou dost arise in all Thy peoples sight to avenge Thy selfe upon Thy Adversaries for all the dishonours they have done to Thy House Thy Day Thy Servants Thy Service c. Come Lord Jesu Thy Servants wait Thy comming Praise waiteth for Thee in Sion The souls under the Altar say COME multitudes we cannot number thousand thousand souls on the Earth wearied out because of these Murderers * Jer. 4. 31. all these say come The sighing of the needy and the oppression of the poore saith come Thy Day so prophaned saith come The spirit so grieved saith come Thy Spouse so often forced before Thy face saith come and because of the present feeling she doubles it Come Lord Jesus come quickly ease Thy selfe and Thy poore flocke of those Adversaries who have fed themselves and fleeced Thy Sheepe have made void Thy Law have taken peace from the Earth have valued precious soules no more then they doe old shooes * Am. 26. Come Lord Jesus come quickly and worke so that a man shall say verily there is a reward for the Righteous verily He is a God That iudgeth in the Earth Ps 58. 11. Thy Servant hath spoken doe Thou according to the greatnesse of Thy power and mercy for Thy words sake Thine owne sake Thy Names sake Thy Christ His sake Thy Churches sake His deare one the price of His blood His neare one as the Apple of His eye His only one His beloved one the Crowne of His sufferings the Glory of His shame and then will the Church ascribe power riches wisdome strength honour glory blessing to Him Who is worthy to receive all this for of Him and through Him and to Him are all things to Whom be glory for ever Amen TO THE HIGH COVRT OF PARLIAMENT The LORDS and COMMONS there assembled NOw the Church hath tendred Homage to her Lord you will give me leave to be her mouth to you and to neglect Titles when your workes render you truly Noble and Right Honourable so praising you in the Gates I know not how to give flattering Titles said Job a Iob 32. 27. for in so doing my Maker would soone take me away Since Thou wast precious in mine eyes Thou wast honourable b Esa 43. 4. saith the Lord and you will beleeve Him I cannot crave your Honourable Patience neither to heare me out let that be as your leasure serves I must doe my duty and being the mouth of the Church whose heart is full and thoughts not so composed I cannot so contract as I would others may reade who need information and receive benefit there-from while you worke Follow on your worke in Gods Name you worke for a good Master whose wages are sure and like Himselfe He gave an Heathen King for serving a great service no lesse then a great Kingdome the wages for his worke c Ezek. 29. â—8 You have done a greater service you may expect greater wages A Kingdome that cannot be shaken for so God will honour you We say surely you have honoured Him so blasphemed in the world so sleighted and dis-regarded there You have got your selves a Name Verily we conclude you have wrought singly and purely to advance the Glory and to get Christ a Name in the world which as it is the end so should it be the worke of the whole life Worke-on You shall prosper yet more though you have prospered already to a miracle and know for encouragement if you needed any That while You are so working not Man only but God also is Recording whose Records are never laid aside being ever in His eye While you are giving out for the publike Good all good people are giving in to you PRAYERS and THANKS great matters both The one turnes and wheeles about things to Admiration being the strongest engine in the world and the greatest stocke you have upon Earth alwayes gaining because always trading Heaven-ward Certainely the PRAYERS of the Church of all her Sons and Daughters all the world over are for you a mighty consideration these onely make Prayers the other party speake onely or curse rather they doe not pray And all their BLESSINGS as mighty and prevailing now as were the BLESSINGS of the Tribes that stood upon Mount Gerizzim are upon your heads and endeavours a Deut. 27. 12. shower of blessings Much may be gathered touching the strength and noblenesse of
side why then we conclude first nay the experience of all ages concludes for us 1. That there on their side are all the Rebels against their King his Crowne and Dignity There are all the Traitors against the Church and Common-wealth For Papists have been the Fomenters the Actors of all Rebellions treasons murders massacres in all ages since that Church had an appearance on the Earth and so are they now and so will be till their great Prophet be cast into the great wine-presse of the wrath of God 2. That our Hoast is gone sorth whither God shall send them * 1 King 8. 44. against â— Revel 14. 19. His enemies which are the people of His curse and against whom we are charged to maintain warre for ever 3. This Host is gone forth in the strength I will say nothing of the Prayers of Gods Host abroad and at home but of the BLESSING of the ALMIGHTY Some may aske how doe I know that Very well and I would have the poore Country-man know it too for that is my ayme The Host is gone forth under the curse of his Holinesse the Pope I meane Now it hath been concluded as followes ever since there has beene a Pope in Roâ—e and a Papist in England Looke which way goes the Popes curse that way goes GODS BLESSING for they goe contrary as Christ and Anti-christ And this is enough to set the Country-man in his way if his guts be not in his head and his braines in his belly * Cuim cerebrâ—â—â— est iâ— ventro ingenium iâ— paâ—iâ—is Agr ep 2â— and if so yet he can discern which way the Papists go and that it is a cursed way 4 This Host shall be victorious that it shall for it is the Host of GOD and His CHRIST against Antichrist it must go on and do valiantly for the BLESSING of God goes with it and the curse of the Adversary Ob. At but the Hoast of God hath miscarried An. No never but so as to make them looke better to their carriage and to manage things more orderly in a way to a blessing They have miscarried so as to make them more victorious over themselves at present and over the enemie at the last True it is The Sword devoureth one as well as another d 2 Sam. 11. â—â— It may devoure Gods dearly Beloved e Ier. 12. 17. and as deare to us as the blood in our veines and yet it is His Host for all that who created the Smith that formed the vveapon f ver 26. I solemnely protest in the eares of the God of Hosts and could be content I could be heard over all the Christian world that if this Host were all wounded-men yet could I not doubt of the victory I may doubt e Iud 20. 23. nay I doe doubt That we have not wept enough nor prayed enough or if so I doubt it that may be wanting now which answers to burnt-offerings and peace-offerings f once I may doubt of all this but I cannot doubt of the victorie in the best Time Gods Time For it is Gods Host a slandered Host cursed by the Pope and his vassals therefore Gods blessing is there it must prevaile and be victorious And this is all the answer they shall get to this and it may suffice How can I give a direct and single answer to a double tongue and a double heart for their language is different No man can imagine That the Adversaries speake as they thinke for who can conceive that Noahs flood was sent upon the Earth to allay the dust there or that the Divell stirred up the Arabians Sabeans and Chaldeans to be a wall unto Job to safeguard him his children his house and goods And so I have done with these Collegiate men Removed the offence taken from their example answered their double charge and their notorious slanders And yet there is one Objection more which truly I had cleane forgot to answer in it's due place therefore it must be done now Ob. The title of honour is taken away from Church-men Ans That cannot be said to be taken from us which belongs not to us Will no title serve the turne but please your Grace or your Lordship therby quenching Grace Lording it over the consciences of men Another Title will serve better as a Rod also for Discipline and yet not made of Iron Let them Lord-it over themselves and their owne lusts which they have served and then they shall be Lords and Princes too nay most Prince-like men f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isid pel l. 2 Ep. 147. Why may not those Titles serve them which the Holy Ghost hath given I dare say though you reade much in the Fathers touching Titles of honour given to Church men and a Church-man of late but none now tels us the Bishops seat is a Throne g Pocklington Alt. Christ p. 33 95. Thronâ—â— propriâ— principi â—ribui solet non sâ—rvo Beâ— Heb. 18. yet none of all these have reached to that height of honour as those Titles doe which the Holy Ghost hath given them Stewards Embassadors c. To say all in two words Messengers of the Churches and the glory of Christ h 2 Cor 8. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Tim 4. 5. Let a Minister answer these Titles make full proof they belong unto him let him fill them up as the word implies and then I will not say what he shall be for he shall shine like the Sunne but what he is for the present the most honoured person that is in the world We must note now in the close two things one for our information the other to learne us our Dutie 1. Schoole-learning is not of virtue sufficient to unscale the eyes or unvaile the heart an annoynting from above does that Humane learning if not sanctified closeth the eye the â—aster it is a great snare and like an ignis fatuus a mocke fire a sancied light kindled by our owne sparkes l Esa 50. 11. and a busie leader in these Daies misleades strargely 2. We must learne our Duty now Though they revile we must blesse though they defame we must intreat though they persecute we must pray that the Lord would not deale with them as they have done there was none to guide the Church among all the Sonnes she hath brought forth neither vvere there any that tooke her by the hand We pray deale not so with them good Lord guide Esa 51. 18. them take them by the Hand that they may walke in strait pathes Though they did rise up against Thee yet doe not Thou rise up against them but pardon them according to the exceeding largesse of Thy abundant mercie which can multiply pardons as we have multiplied sinnes Lord cleanse those fountaines heale those bitter waters that such may runne thence which may refresh not poison the City of God Amen Now recall what was said at the beginning of this
give their Lord no rest till He shall give them rest The Lord hath given His people thâ— greatest mercies which they prayed not for ELECTION before time His SON in the fullnesse of time How can He with Him denie His people any thing They forsake not their confidence there ore they are importunate with their friends as they have beene in former yeares the day of Jacobs troubles and treading downe saying Pray pray pray Pray for the King That the Lord would deliver his soule from the snare of the Hunter And pray for the Parliament who have sought the peace of the King and his Kingdomes as their â—wne peace nay more then so they have preferred it before their owne And seeing 't is cleare to every man that will see that thus they have done They have sought and wrought effectually for the peace that containes all of their King or the Salvation a comprehensive blessing of King and his Kingdomes for maintaining this Ship RELIGION wherein our lives our liberties our estates our peace and the Churches all over the world and our Generations after us are bottomed and maintained seeing I say their Care Piety Zeale is manifest to all men in the maintaining this Ship And all this by the line of the Law the Plummet of right Reason the Rule of their Lords will Seeing we know it to be so and doe know also in all our hearts and soules That not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord hath spoken concerning His people Nor any of Iosh 24. 14. 1â— the evill things which He threatned against His enemies but all came to passe We will close with the word of the Lord which He hath spoken to the heart of all His faithfull Servants in all Generations I VVILL BLESSE THEM THAT BLESSE Gen. â—2 3. THEE and CURSE HIM THAT CURSETH THEE even so Lord let the curse they have called for fall upon the wicked but Thou hast promised this goodnesse unto Thy Servants Now therfore Let it please Thee to blesse the house of Thy Servants that they and their house may be before Thee for ever For Thou blessee 1 Châ— 17. 26 2â— O Lord and it shall be blessed for ever Amen and Amen THE CHVRCHES THANK-OFFERING To GOD Her KING and the PARLIAMENT CHAP. I. Recording thanking praising an high imployment who fit for it how great the engagement to it who the fountaine of mercies whence received thither returned SECT I. Thankes-giving and praise a sacred imployment THe old manner was that a certaine number were appointed to record to thanke and to praise the Lord God of Israel a 1 Chron. 16. â— These must bâ— Levites such as did minister before the Arke of the Lord. It was a sacred imployment a worke as some Psalmes are of Degrees To Record was the lowest and required little clevation of spirit To Thanke was an higher Degree and commanded more life of affection To Praiâ—e that it to sing the high praises of our God there comes in Selah a winding-up of the spirit to the highest It may be said What need all this Such a livelinesse of affection Such an activity of spirit to thank and to praise God It is as ordinary a thing and as easie a worke as is done in the world Kings of the Earth and all people Princes and all Iudges of the Earth both young-men and Maidens Old men and children b Ps 148. 11 12. All these doe as they are commanded they thanke the Lord and praise Him too if we could heare the afore-mentioned speaking one after another we should heare nothing but Thankes and Praise I am in health saith one I thanke God I am increased and prosper in the world saith another I praise God I have had many crosses and troubles in the world I blesse my God They have well spoken in all that they have said but ô that there were such an heart c Deut. 5. 29. All creatures praise God for so they are commanded Dragons and all deepes c. Beasts and all Cattell creeping things and flying soule all praise Him in their kind But man is a more excellent Creature he stands charged to doe it in a more excellent manner els as good not done he hath a tongue for that end and called his glory and yet the fewest of all doe praise God as they should and all because they thinke it so easie and ordinary a worke to praise Him whereas tongue and heart both must be well tuned for this work for it is the most heaven-like of all the services perform'd by Man here below As to Praise is comely so is it a clean pure heavenly lasting action None but the Righteous whose hearts are cleansed from sinne and emptied of Selfe they onely doe it the upright in heart d Ps 33. 1. Ps 119. 7 and what they doe now on Earth they shall doe hereafter in Heaven it is their worke to all Eternity SECT II. Who the Person is that is fit for this worke VVE must then find-out a fit person for this worke so high an imployment a person that can doe it to purpose decently and in order that ministers before the Lord continually they that walke with Him cleave to Him trust in Him the people of God such as feare Him onely serve Him onely so walking in his wayes These many are but one one House one Body so single they in conversation so usefull they in their communion each with other as members one of another And so I shall take them all under a single Notion as one person whom I shall properly call the Church The Church indeed e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having more then a name for that and no more is nothing She hath a Name that she lives and she doth live and this life is the more spiritfull and active because as light was brought out of the wombe of darknesse so her life from death She was dead but she is now alive and lives for ever her life being hid with Christ in God f Col. 3. 3. A very fit person for such a worke an heavenly worke an heavenly person who might she deliver her own words with her own mouth would doe it exactly well but howsoever she will doe it decently and in order after she hath told us her ingagement to the worke how she doth record it and to whom she payeth the tribute of praise and thankes SECT III. The Churches engagement to record to thanke to praise HItherto all fits very well the Person and the Worke. Now see the engagement thereunto that 's very strong and binding For behold how great the loving kindnesses are how rich the mercies how marvellous the workes which the Lord hath done for this Nation whereof in due place and conveyed to it through the hands of man It is God Who makes two of one mind in one house and the same God Who hath made two Houses one to goe together
those that must take a liberty of controuling offenders Ye have well considered all thâ—s Ye have begun to reforme in your owne hearts and families This is the true method of proceeding â—ccâ—rding to the Order and a Statute in Israel Ye are the Lords Host His Warriours His Worthies They that fight his battels must keep themselves from every wicked thing a Deut. 23. â— That is the Order The judgement upon breach of that Order ye may reade â—ud â—o And he that reades and considers will conclude his Duty thence That a true and orderly Reformâ—r reformes at he me first and in his owne heart then his Family That the one may be kept as the Temple of the living God The other ordered as the Church of Christ And he that considers it not as amongst many more then one there may be This Scripture will have a keene edge against him which we may reade with some alteration in the words but none in the sence Thâ—u therefore who correct est another correct est thou not thy self b Rom. 2. 21. Thou who seemest to reforme abroad reformest thou not at home Certainly there the Reformer begins when he begins decently and in order Great and mighty reason there is that he should doe so and pressed upon you all by the Captaine of your Hoast The very same that was for the Hoast of the Lord going forth against the Lords enemies The Lord your God walketh in the midst of your Camp to deliver up your enemies before you therefore shall your Hoast your House your Court your Deut. 23. Camp your Fleet be holy that He see no uncleane thing in you and turne Ver. 14. away from you The Church hath told you your engagement now she will tell her engagement to you Great reason the Church should record your labour of Love worke of Faith patience of Hope for in all these you have been abundant The greatest reason in the world she should be exceeding thankfull for you have been exceeding carefull How you have oft refreshed her You were not ashamed of her Chaine when she was in Rome you sought her out very diligently and sound her h 2 Tim. 1. 16. Mat. 4. 1. The Churches prayer is The Lord grant that you and yours may find mercy of the Lord in that day What Day A Day that shall burne like an Oven nay more terrible then so A Day when the wicked shâ—ll be at their wits end for expectation and call to the Hils to fall upon them O it is a mighty matter to find mercy of the Lord in that Day that terrible Day that all searching all quickning all opening all manifesting Day I cannot expresse what a mercy it is to find mercy in that Day But so the Church prayes That you may finde mercy in that Day That you may lift up your heads with joy in that Day Behold Him in that Day Whom your soule loveth Whom you serve Whom you feare and Whose Rights you have maintained with all your might So the Church prayes And good reason the Church should pray so That you may find mercy in that Day for in this Day in how many things you have ministred to her her Lord knowes she knowes not but in very many that she knowes and she doth Record them with rejoycing And she wisheth you prosperity in the Name of the Lord that you may ride on with your honour and doe valiantly The greatest Reason that can be She should wish even so your prosperity for therein are involved Peace and Truth the safety and prosperity of the whole Kingdome I must observe as they call it decorum Personae The Church is never lavâ—sh or large in praises to Man She likes not to strike much upon that string least it should affect too much and make too sweet Musicke in the eare Yet She cannot but adde this and then She will put in for Caution That many Parliaments have done worthily Many very worthy deeds have been done for the Nation thereby but you have exceeded them all Indeed you have done so much so many worthy deeds that as was said wittily the Church may say truly You have made the Church the greatest Vsurer in the World for you have turned all her estate into Obligations Truly She hath nothing She dares call her owne all her Estate lyeth in Bonds indeed whereby She is tyed fast to her King and You. She thanks you heartily so well content is She with her Bonds her Estate is good enough and sure enough and rich enough her Bonds are her Freedome and her Riches both SECT IV. Abundant Thanks and Praise tickle the eare therefore the Church puts in Caution for that FOr Caution now and there is need of it For we low men can exalt man very high and give him high praises more then is comely We can say That Gods are come downe to us in the likenesse of men and we can offer sacrifice unto them such as is only due to God And so mighty men have fallen even by the applause of man as well as by the tickling of their owne hearts This is a dainty point man had need to looke on strait lest he trespasse upon Gods peculiar Right which he may doe before he is aware I will ascend above the heights of the clouds I will be like the most High so the great King of Babel thought and spake in the pride of his heart i Iâ—â— 1â— And yet we doe not conceive that he thought himselfe able to clamber up above the clouds and there set himselfe in the Throne of God He was not so brutishly confident as to thinke so We find him guilty but of stout words against the Lord and high thoughts and so we also may though we thinke not so ascend above the height of the clouds too For I borrow M. Perkins words which will explaine Perk. on Gen. â— 21. c. 5. sect 1. these we may doe all this two wayes First When we thinke we have power of our selves whereby we can match or countervaile the power of God This thought riseth in the heart very often when we trust in our Mountaine and it is a strong City and an high Wall in our conceit k Prov. 18. 1â— and in our counsell and strength that it shall prevaile against God Secondly When we take to our selves the honour of God and thinkâ— it our owne proper due Such thoughts as these rise very often in good hearts but upon wiser thoughts they put it from them as a cursed thing and give not place by subjection thereto no not for a minute They can consider with all their hearts how stout those words are we have read and how high and abominable such thoughts But yet we may note That the wisest have not alwayes these wise and considering thoughts before they be beaten into them first by some sore affliction whereby they are put into feare and know to purpose That they are
She will Thanke and praise her God to all eternity To conclude She receives all from Him She returnes all to Him She Records all for Him that He may have all the Glory So we have the bottome and foundation whereon to raise the Pile of Mercies and our Sacrafice of Thanks and Praise CHAP. II. The Church in Recording looks backe to the Ancient of Dayes and those ancient Mercies hid with Christ in God exalteth free Grace Thence receives all concerning this Life and the Life to come Then Recordeth her forgetfulnesse of Mercies and is humbled SECT I. The Righteous Nation advanceth free Grace God is to be praised for the least of His Mercies He is to be admired in the glorious wayes of Redemption THe Church cannot fixe the time where She begins to thanke and to praise no more then She can the just period or end thereof for her Thanks and her Praises are as her Mercies are from everlasting to everlasting But yet She may speake to our capacity and purpose here to shew us the method which She useth in Thanksgiving and where She begins Not as the usuall manner is at the present time only for Mercies in sight and for all the sweets and comforts to sence She is not all for present Mercies though She can be inlarged for them These move upon an everlasting foundation And in the vertue and by the strength of old Mercies She receives and carries on the new We must observe the order The Church then begins to Record to Thanke to Praise her God looking backe as far as her understanding can carry her and beyond it even to the dayes of Eternity before the foundation of the World There according to her measure beholds free Grace Mercy and Love Love to His because He loved them a Deut. 7. Grace because He will be gracious Mercy so free too even because it pleased Him b Eph. 1. 5. It was according to the good pleasure of His will What is â—reer then Grace and behold what Grace Is there any vaine boaster in the World Yes thousands She can confound him and them that they shall never open their mouth aâ—y more because of their shame c Ezek. 16. 63. If they will remember with her the Time when She as they lay in her bloud to the loathing of her Person and that her good Lord said even then this is a Time of Love b Ezek. 16. â— An admirable and free Love She was even as others by nature the children of wrath c Eph. 2. 3. in the same lump and transgression no difference there d Rom. 3. 22. Free Grace came made her to differ from another e 1 Cor. 4. 7. She was dead and then her eye was closed and her eare stopped to all that man could doe or say Say what you will the dead heare not But the dead can heare a creating and quickning voice and so her Lord was pleased to speake unto her with a strong hand f Isa 8. 11. as the expression is which speaks and drawes too and then She was obedient And as her Lord spake with a strong hand to her at the first so with the same hand hath He commanded in her ever since therefore She is not rebellious her Lord rules in her heart as he doth in the world in the midst of his enemies g Psal 110. 2. and through the greatnesse of that power shall those enemies submit themselves unto Him h Psal â—6 3. and be subdued in her But here is free Mercy still free Grace She is called by a very proper Name The Church Persons called and culled out not for any worth that was in them * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord cast aside a thousand on the right hand and ten thousand on the left as honourable as wise as good as they within and without the Pale pitched his Love upon her And now She is a select choice and peculiar people nay a more choice and peculiar people yet as one saith i Clem Alexandr Strom. 6 p 485. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which ingageth mightily to walke more peculiarly The Church hath another Name which me thinks is very significant and must keep her very humble all her dayes Thou shalt he called Sought-out k Isa 62. 12. Sought out indeed from amidst a refuse multitude when as She was no better then they as Children of the Aethyopians unto me saith the Lord l Amos 9. 7. Sought out as you seeke your Wheate amidst tares or covered over with â—n heap of Chaffe or as you seeke Fish in a Drag-net amidst rubbish and heaps of dirt * Phil. 3. 9. Thou shalt be called Sought out and it is her Glory That She is found in Christ She Records that and is humbled and so well fitted to Thanke and Praise wherein She is too much straitned But in this She is comforted That what She doth She doth heartily and what is wanting to that worke now shall be made up hereafter for it is the worke the Saints shall be imployed in to all Eternity SECT II. Common expressions suffice not to shew forth Rich and precious Mercies NOw the Church should Record her strong Consolations when â—â—r Beloved brought her to the Banquetting house when His left-hand was under her Hâ—ad and His right-hand did embrace Her Then I should come to Revelations cleare Manifestations of Cant. â— 4. 6. her Beloved unto her still with sweet distillations droppings of the Spirit upon her heart Then His hiding of Himselfe for that made her aske more earnestly after Him whom her soule loveth She Records all these and cals in all her sweet experiences gracious and rich Promises for these are the Pillars that beare her up her hands and her heart All these she doth Record for these she doth Thanke and Praise I leave her before her God and to her owne expressions for truly they are unspeakable they cannot be uttered by any other but her selfe Besides I should speake Parables and dazle my eye with an amaze We will conclude here That her vessell is filled and her house with the glory of the Lord as full as an habitation on earth can be so as the Glory of the World is darknesse to her and the fulnesse of the Creature there but emptinesse her mouth then is filled with praise and her heart shall be kept as a chaste Matron for her Beloved even as the Holy of Holies She will praise the Lord while She hath any being here and hereafter the high Praises of her God for ever SECT III. The Church overcome with the loving kindnesse of her Lord giving her all things richly to enioy chargeth her selfe with unthankefulnesse ANd now that this fountaine is opened this Well-head of Mercies â—nd loving kindnesses The streams flowing towards her therefrom doe carry her downe as into an Ocean of Love for now behold what a rich portion She hath All things are hers God
standing at the foot of the Mountaine of Straits and before a Sea of dangers and difficulties yet standing still notwithstanding calme and quiet in her spirit I say it is necessary we should note this for Though by the good hand of God upon our Worthies We have the great worke of Reformation as it were within ken and in sight yet this Mount of God is before us as a great Hill in the Travellers eye The Hill may be afarre off and he must take many a weary step before he comes at it so before the Church be thus exaltâ—d and set up as it were upon a Hill She may passe as through vallies low and dangerous bottomes so as She may be much obscured and almost hid there Before She be refined and purified in her worship and Ordinances She may passe through the fire But how perilous soever her passage be to her promised Land though through fire and water both over the Lyons den hole of the Aspe and Mountaines of Leopards how perilous soever her way is how strait foule thorney soever Though many changes in her and in her way yet no change in God His power wisedome love the same from everlasting to everlasting no change there Her Lord will bring her into a wealthy place that is certaine no doubt of that For the meanes and manner how and the time when The Church is not carefull about that She commits all this into the hands of â—er good God and faithfull Redeemeâ— She doth beleeve that her wealthy Lâ—â—d lyeth beyond as howling Wildernesse and the Red Sea And yet She is not carefull nor doth She say there is a Lyon in the way and he will devoure no her Lord hath commanded her saying be still Be still what can still her spirit then when a bloudy enemy is behinde her a devouring Sea before her Mountaines on each hand what can still her spirit now This and know that I am God a Ps 46. 10. A God That can stop the Lyons mouth He that made the Leviathan can make His sword approach unto Him even through his scales though they are his pride and to his heart though as firme as a stone yea as hard as a peece of the nether Milstone b Iob 41. And for the strong tyde of opposition against her passage She is not carefull about that neither She knowes God can divide the waters for the Adversary he thinks so wise were his thoughts once The Red Sea opened a way for him Yes that he may march on feircely and hopefully a little way and then in the midst of his way sinke into the bottome like a stone The Sea is divided for the ransomed to passe-over and so He made a path in the Seas so can He also through the fire the Church knovves it full well for she knowes whom she trusteth Ancient and present experiences hath assured her that wherein the enemie deales proudly therein the Lord ever hath been is and will be above them c Exo. 18. 11. And there the Church resteth her heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. A cold Winter makes the Spring more delightfull the yeare more fruitfull and the man more healthfull The Church is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dion de Reg. Orat. 3. not displeased with the daies because evill daies These make her the better now and when good come they will be the more pleasant and comfortable In this quietnesse and confidence is her strength she beholdeth what God hath done and gets assurance for after times and she is staied up with promises too as with strong consolation for these she sees even now fulfilling And so the Church addresseth her selfe to make her acknowledgment unto man for present deliverances which she takes as pledges to assure and ascertaine her the future what her Lord will doe in after time For though she boasteth of God all the day long and will praise His Name for ever yet she forgetteth not to return all that is due to man in full weight and measure through whose hands her God hath conveyed loving-kindnesse and mercy unto her CHAP. IV. The Church wisely considereth her two Sister-Churches The people amongst whom she dwels for the most part enemies to peace The straits that now are The Church lookes through all unto God SECT I. The Church remembers how it is with her Sister-Churches and Gods gracious dealing towards her which raiseth her spirit to prayse and Thankesgiving THe Church being now to give in a Catalogue of wonders cannot but remember her two Sister-Churches the Palatinat which hath been under wrath now these 24. yeares so long the anger of the Lord hath burnt against that people so long he hath stretched forth His hand against them and smitten them The Hills did tremble and their carcases were throwne in the midst of the Streets d Esa 5. 25. See Psal 77. For all this his anger is not turned away but His hand is stretched-out still This Church seemes to stand with her Records in her hand written within and without Lamentation and Mourning and Woâ— But the summe and abridgement of her sorrowes is contained in these two words her Sabbaths and her God both gone Time was when she hid her eyes from her God and from Hâ—s Sabbaths turning her backe upon both Now God turnes to them the backe and not the face and His Sabbaths are now hid from their eyes Her other sister the Church of Ireland speaks forth bitter complaints and supplications that her land is dunged with her carcases and watered with her bloud That whatsoever was pleasant in her eyes the enemy hath put into his hand and taken it away All this time the day of Iacobs trouble the Church of England stands still beholding and accounting the salvations of her God comming in unto her like the Rivers mercies over-taking mercies and loving kindenesses over-taking loving kindenesses Deliverance upon Deliverance and discoveries upon discoveries The Church is straitned in her selfe heere shee wants expressions but what engagements are there in all these How doth she stand bound to Record and Thanke and Praise her good God Who hath done all these things for her What a mercy is this How unspeakable That at such a time as this when the Lord hath beene to these sister-Churches as a Beare lying in wait as a Lyon in secret places He hath pulled them in peeces hath made them desolate hath bent his Bew upon them hath set them as a marke for the Arrow hath filled them with bitternesse and made them drunken with worme-wood so as now they are recording their afflictions and their misery the worm-wood and the Gall their soule hath them still in Remembrance and is humbled in them I was speaking that at such a time as this a time of treading downe and perplexity the day of Iacobs troubles yet now this Church should stand up with Records in her hand written within and without mentioning the mircies and loving kindnesses of her
God O! what an exceeding mercy is this at such a time as this vvhen she thought verily she should be termed also forsaken and her Land Desolate Her Lord said no But thou shalt be called Hephzi-bath and thy land Beulah e Esa 62. 4. Deliciae meae oblectatio mea for the Lord delighteth in thee and thy land shall be married What loving kindnesses are these how wonderfull how unutterable Againe The Church lookes over the land and Nation where we live and behold corruptions in Doctrines and manners have leavened the land from corner to corner and have eat and consumed the heart thereof as doth a canker whence it is that wee see strange vanities horrible impieties abominable Idolatries vile Priests and almost as uncleane a people All setting themselves and taking councell together against the Lord and against His annoynted saying let us breake their hands asunder and cast away their cords from us And yet see the exceeding goodnesse of the Lord they prevaile not with their number nor with their strength they assemble themselves and are broken they take councell and God turnes it into foolishnesse and their recompences upon their own head f Ioel â— 7. Thus the weake overcome the strong and the fewest in number prevaile We know not how but so it is the Lord hath set His King upon His holy Hill and if the Lord the Captaine of His Hoast march out before it matters not whether few or many of Gideons souldier march after but the fewer they are the more is the strong arme of the Lord exalted And vvhat cause hath this Church to speake good of the Name of the Lord and to exalt His Arme Who hath made her to stand upright and above her Adversaries with a Catalogue in her hand wriâ—â—eâ— vvithin and vvithout as afore-said and vvhich hightens the mercies at such a time as this vvhen her other sisters are recording their dayes of trouble she is recording the loving kindnesses of her God The Church here must stand still a little to behold the severity and goodnesse of God a Rom. 11. 22. towards her sister Churches severity towards her people Goodnesse And that the may the more magnifie free Grace exalt the Riches therof the goâ—dnesse and exceeding patience of God All His excellencies the Church reasoneth out the case and asketh vvhy is it so vvhy such severity towards her sister-Churches And yet towards her people such goodnesse Did Thy vvrath burn-out against them because Thy Sabbaths vvere profaned there Here they vvere profaned too and more by a Law and Statute in Israel notvvithstanding a fire did not kindle in our gates nor devoure our palaces b Icr. 17. â—7 Was it because the people there turned Grace into vvantonnesse they slighted the offer and means of Grace they would have none of Thee they turned their backs upon Thee and the Gospell vvas it for this Heere vve sit downe astonished for here vve have done so too Was it because of their unfruitfulnesse under the meanes of Grace Hâ—re vve stand astonished considering hovv higâ— vve have bin lifted-up in respect of the meanes no Nation under the Sunne like to us and then thinking of our casting downe how lovv that vvill bee Was it because of their unthankfulnesse for and abuse of mercies Here also our Tables are full of vomit and filthinesse so that there is no place cleane c Esa 28 8. And vve reele and fall dovvne in the Streets at Noon-day Was it because the Messengers of the Churches and Glory of Christ d 2 Cor. 8. 23. Thy faithfull Ministers there vvere villanously used We heare of no such matter they vvere contemned in deed and of no account vvith them but vvith us they have beene used vvorse then Davids Messengers Their Beards and Garments were cut by halves * 2 Sam. 10 4. But here they vvere smit on the cheeks and as Svvine lug'd by the eares Were they bruitish Pastors f Esa 56 9. Ier. â—0 2â— 12. â— vvho broke dovvne the Hedge and laid open gaps vvhereat men after the manner of Beasts skillfull to destroy might enter in The same Pastors are with us vain men treacherous Prophets light Priests Was it because violence was done to the Law g Zeph. 3. 4. Because they did as they could to their power to shed bloud h Eze. 2â— 6. Because their Judges vvere as Evening i Nic 3. 11 12. Walves ravening the prey so it vvas here such judg'd here Why then is not our Zion plowed like a Field k Esa 9. 5 Why are not our garments rolled in bloud l Why are vve not long before this time dashed to peeces one against the other Brother against his Brother and Neighbour against his Neighbour in all our Cities and Countries in all places and corners of the Land Why is it not so She knowes the answer must be because is pleaseth the Lord it shall not be so * Amos 7. 2. â—aith the Lord It is His good pleasure so He loves the Land because He loves it He vvill rejoyce in shewing mercy and it may be will overcome us and lead us captive with loving kindnesses and give gifts to the Rebellious Be it so good Lord because it pleaseth Thee Amen Thiâ— is all the Church can say to all this SECT II. Some light Obiections blown away and a grave Obiection cleared BUt now there is something said against the Church that she need not be so bâ—ag of her mercies her tranquillity and peace for she may now looke to the end thereof her peace is taking from her she is sinking now downe downe downe she goes so her adversary boasteth so he puffeth at the Righteous g Ps 10. 5. The Church answers hereto in order and blows away this as you will a dust from your sleeve The Adversary saith first Ob. The Church may see now to the end of her mercies An. No but she cannot her mercies are the mercies of a God and they have no end 2. He saith Her peace is taken from her No that it is not â— her peace cannot be taken away it shall flow in like the Rivers and come-in unto her as the waves of the Sea h Esa 4818. Though the Assyrian should come in to her Land and tread in her Pallaces i Mic. 5 5. yet he cannot take away her peace When the enemie shall come in like a 〈◊〉 the Spirit of the Lord shall lift-up a standard against him k Esa 59. 19. 3. The Adversary saith That the Church is falling No The Adversaries flesh shall consume away first and his eyes consume away in their holes and his tongue consume away in his mouth l Zach 14 1â— but the Church shall not sinke nor fall away she is well under laid as well this present yeare as the last yesterday and to day and for ever The eternall God is her Refuge and underneath her are the everlasting Armes m
Deut. 33. 17. She is well underlaid then her enemies themselves being judges Ob. But it is said here is more need of Prayers then of praiseâ— Things that seemed to be in so forward a way are now set back God now seems to stand still or if he goes forward it is in carrying His Church to the Mountaine of straits An. I might answer things are never in so good and setled an estate but there is matter for prayer nor never in so bad and low an estate but there is matter for praise as in the case of Iehosaphat d But this would not be to the mind and sense of the Obiection which is this That the Church should be so much taken up now with her streights that sâ—e might very well forget prosperity all the good that God hath shewn her these former yeares Now God forbid There be some indeed upon whom you loose all your formet courtesies unlesse you still follow them with new and fresh favours every day e Nonnulli ita comparati sunt ut antiqutora beneficiâ— subvertas nisi nova posterioribus cumules quamlibeâ— sape obligati si quid unum tamen neges hoc unum meminerunt quod negatuÌ„ est Plin. epist. 2 King 20. 19. Some there be who have an hundred blessings and with them but one Crosse but that one Crosse sowres all their sweets clouds and hides all their blessings from their eyes The Church not so Good is the word of the Lord said the good King which thou hast spoken What did he speake Heavy tydings yet saith the good King Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken Is it not good if peace and truth be in my dayes The good King was not carelesse what would befall the Church and His House when he must be taken thence and gathered to his Fathers O no doubtlesse those tydings went to his very heart touching those things which should befall to the House of God his house and his sonnes after him O it was bitternesse bitternesse but yet the Word of the Lord is good It was matter of Admiration and everlasting praise That God had shewen him so much good had wrought such Deliverances for him That his eye had seene such salvations That when his Father Abaz had wrought such abominations in Iudah yet his sonne should see such salvations in Israel and which is the vision indeed peace and truth all his dayes This was matter of wonder yea of praise and thanke both It is so with the Church they consider well of their straits now and that these may be yet greater and yet a signe for good They can consider that the Church is not cast so farre-backe yet but she may be cast yet farther even to the place of Dragons she hath not seene nor heard the worst yet so it may be nor is she carelesse of what she sees or heares No she feeles them and ponders things in her heart but so as she holds fast her confidence and she must shew her selfe exceeding thankfull for all the Good her Lord hath done for her the last year That when her people were ripe for judgement as the corne for the sickle yet there was not a cutting downe Truly when she doth but thinke of it she is as one in a dreame her spirits faile her But this she would say if Desolations should follow such salvations as these which she cannot believe if the Lord should send unto her sad tydings such as would make the hearers eares tingle Why yet The word of the Lord is good and He is good to Israel Blessed be His Name for His salvations notwithstanding for what He hath done for ever blessed be His name And because we have Peace and Truth â—n these dayes these fierce d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 8. 28. dayes these perillous e 2 Tim. 3. 1. dayes yet Peace anâ— Truth in these dayes But yesterday almost not a yeare agoe we thought that Truth was perished and Peace was taken from the earth We should never heare of that any more no more peace no more Truth in our dayes * 1 Sam. 4. 21. I-CABOD was in every mans mouth The Glory is departed yet not so Behold Peace and Truth even in these dayes You will say no Warres â—nd rumours of warres in these dayes True and yet Peace and Truth in these dayes The Church contends for Truth she maintaines it and will hold it fast till she dyes and not let it goe Why then Though the mountaines be removed and huâ—led into the Sea yet her peace cannot be shaken Though the Kingdoms be moved she stands still Reader you and I may learne from thence Maintaine we Truth contend we for that and Truth will maintaine us Hold fast Truth and we keep Peace God hath joyned these together Man shall not be able no nor the Gates of Hell nor power nor policy to separate these they are still together they kisse each other And that is the Reason That when we are full of stirres a tumultuous people The Righteous at such a time stand still and are a quiet habitation But I recall my selfe Thus the Church concludes Though the Lord should make Desolations now in the earth Though He should stretch over us The line of Germany and the plummet of Ireland yet the Righteous stand bound to Record the Salvations He hath wrought The Righteous are not a sullen froward people as we are All the mercies we have are nothing in our eyes because there is something wanting as still there will be in the most accomplished the most completed condition here below But I say because it is so some want there is still therefore all our mercies so great so many lye buried in us under that clod of discontent As I said before so now The Church not so Though she should walke in the shadow of death Though she were stricken into the place of Dragons yet would they Record the yeare of the Right hand of the Lord when He wrought so wonderfully such salvations in Israel And this is the taske she is addressing her selfe unto but she cannot hastily recollect her spirits as she would doe for she would call upon all within and without to praise his Holy Name SECT III. The Church opens the Records begins to reade but must pause a little being taken off with Admiration THe Church is taken wâ—th the works of her God as the Queene of Sheba was with the wisedome of Salomon and the magnificence of his Court When she had seen all that There was no more spirit in her a 2 Chron 9. 4. Fame which creates somthing of nothing hath made whose Kinâ—doms and peopled them with her owne inventions reported not the halfe of Salomons wisedome It exceeded the Fame that was heard * 1 King 10. 7. Fame fals as short in these Transcendents which we are upon Therfore there is the same reason and greater That the Church should be so
World She could stand still waiting the salvation of her God though indeed she sâ—w plainly That she was in a wildernesse where she saw no path Then the Church remembred the Lord and was comforted He is wonderfull in all His Administrations but especially in these which He worketh in a wildernesse Now the Church could leane on her Beloved O how willingly did she reach forth her hand to Him who is given a Leader and Commander to the people a Isa 55. 4. Marke that He is a sure Leader to His Church Who The Lord Christ for He commands her The Church heares no other voice obeyes no other but as commanding from His mouth and leading unto Him This in passage But I say how willingly and confidently did the Church reach forth her hand to this Leader and Commander she did assure her heart a 1 Iohn 3. 13. He would leade her because He doth command her He could and is able to leade her because He maketh a way in the Sea and a path in the mighty waters He bringeth forth the Charet and the Horse the Army and the Power b Isa 43. 15 16. c. The Lord did the same thing now He made a way in the Wildernesse and Rivers in the Desart So He lead His people even those Ver. 19. that are commanded by Him The manner how commands our Marke He brought the blinde by a way He lead them in paths that they have not knowne He made darknesse light before them and crooked things straight These things He hath done unto them and not forsaken them c Isa 42. 16. Truly This Scripture is this day fulfilled in our eyes The Church commands us to observe it in these particulars wherein it will appeare That the Lords Thoughts Thoughts of Mercy and of Peace were as high above mine or yours nay above the Churches Thoughts as the Heavens are above the Earth It appeareth d Isa 55. 8. â— thus SECT III. What our Thoughts were how high the Lords thoughts were above the Churches thoughts ¶ 1. OUr eyes were in the Heavens as in such times it is our manner a Sol nisi cum de sicit speâ—tatorem non haâ— â— c. Sen. â—nd behold they were very darke and covered with thick clouds Our thoughts were and strait-way thus we said there will be a great storme So it was a Starme indeed haile-stones and coles of fire beating sore â—gainst all expectation upon the hairy scalpe of the wicked Man but a sweet shower to the City of God sweetely and seasonably refreshing them as the after-raine the parched ground We looked up againe to Heaven whether else should we looke for peace seem'd to be taken from the Earth but behold it was very red I purposely speake in the Almanack-Mâ—kers Dialect strait way we said for such our Thoughts were it will be wind and so it was against all expectation and that which was threatned b Ier. 4. 11. a wind indeed but not a dry wind for it did fan and cleanse even a fâ—ll wind â—gainst high places scattering the wicked as with the breath of Gods mouth and so they did flee as the chaffe before the vvind or as they fled from before the Earth-quake c Zach. 14. 5. So they did flee but hearken what the Lord such He that fleeth of them shall not flee away and he that escapeth oâ— them shall not be delivered d Am. 9. 1 2 3. Thus the Lord hâ—th said for after-time and thus He hath done now ever blessed be His Name ¶ 2. VVE heard of warres and nothing but rumors of warres preparation thereto on every side strait way we said for our thoughts were The Sword will be bathed in Heaven e Esa 34. 5. it will be made drunke vvith the bloud of the slaine And so it was in part but it was in the bloud of the Men of blouds that were to call forth to battle and to be leaders thereunto A wonder this also and wrought by Him Who spake of old and made it good now Behold they shall surely gather together but not by Me whosoever shall gather together against Thee shall fall for thy sake f â—sa 44. 15 16 17. c. ¶ 3. VVE beheld here a Troope and there a Troope straight-way we â—aid Lord these are called forth to destroy Thy Iudah and to curse Thy Israel And it was so in the intention of the Adversary and a â—â—kely choyce he had made for they were of that number and choyce ones for that purpose to vvhom their spirituall Fathers so they will be called because they savour so much of the Spirit gave an Advousion of liberty and choyce of sports cryed downe by the Heathen g Aug. de civ Dei cap. 31 32 33. vvhich they might take on the Lords-day Certainly said Dion h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dion Orat. 79. speaking of Liberty Hee made bad Lawes indeed he gave a wicked Liberty and writ grievousnesse who prescribed such Decrees and gave such a Liberty which could please none but the bad Such a Liberty was this on the Lords-day which the Bishops gave to the people And see the luck of it the Bishops grant was too large it gave the people more scope then in manners they would take on the Lords-day and so thus they requited their great Dons vvhen it vvas expected that these people vvho had such an Advousion of Liberty as this from the hands of their good Lords should now gratifie the said Lords in fulfilling the whole pleasure of their will they did cleane contrary for vvheras they were called out to curse even these in their manner blessed altogether i Num. 23. 11. and threw-out vvhat the Bishops had brought-in the Rails and Mock-gods there What this people did more needeth not my Relation â—t is vvell known every vvhere all the Land over and vvell observed it vvas even as a vvonder in the eyes and ears of all ¶ 4. VVE saw some of these Troopes hasting towards the North gathered into a mighty body there Instruments of cruelty prepared and sent downe All meanes used vvhich Achiâ—ophel could suggest vve remember vvhat his councell vvâ—s even to make an irreconcileable difference betweene Father and Sonne all to set Ephraim against Manasses and Manâ—sses against Ephraim both against THY IVDAH And so it vvas in the intention of the Adversary But to say so now as one hath done vvhen he praid too vvere a bold arrogant and impious speech if not blasphemous for behold to the admiration of the vvorld Angels and Men the Breach made up a peace concluded and so concluded That it is a Statute now and an Ordinance in Israel That Iudah must rejoyce and Israel must be right glad So they vvill and they vvill tell it to their children and so down-ward and not barely so and no more but they vvill speake thereof vvith rejoycing vvhat the Adversary intended how the Lord disappointed
him and that there is now a Statute in Israel that all Iudah should meet together sing and rejoyce vvhen they tell forth the loving kindnesses of the Lord That according to this time it may be said of Jacob and of Israel What hath GOD WROVGHT What hath He wrouâ—ht Speake it out if yee can Truely Reader I cannot I can fill a sheet or two vvith the Records thereof but me thinkes it is an empty vvorke no vvay sufficient to set forth the vvonderfull worke of God therein So I leave it and leave thee Reader to muse upon it being resolved that this Treatise shall not cloy thee nor fill thy hand It is intended but to vvheâ— thy Appetite if thou haply meetest vvith these Heads largely treated on in time to come and to raise thy heart for the raising of a PILLAR to the everlasting Praise of the KNOWN GOD. There is one or two Observations more vvhich the Church chargeth us to gather-up from the scatterings of this Month. ¶ 5. THe Bishops had a Court They called it the High-Commission-Court Others the bloudy Inquisition Certainely The smartest Purgatory the sorest tyranny that ever the Church felt-upon Earth but her comfort is it 's all her Purgatory here and it ceaseth vvith the Earth This bloody Inquisition for so they perverted Judgement and Justice there turning such sweete blessings into Gall and Hemlocke a Amos 6. 12. received it's fatall blow this very Month languished the Month following and dyed shortly after We must enquire now vvho gave this Court this deadly blow The Answer is The Iudges there Yes that 's the Answer the enemies themselves being Judges With their owne hands they vvounded themselves and gave their Court that deadly blow I must correct my vvords a little I did but mistake the hand for the tongue there is a smiting with the tongue too I should have said vvith their owne tongues they smote themselves and destroyed their Court. See Reader how they brought the blow about but observe vvithall observation the Retaliation of the Lord What is that For it is not English how the Lord the Lord God of Recompences b Ier. 51. 5â— retal ated those Men that is returned their Recompence upon their owne head c Ioel 3. 7. But yet for the glory of this vvonderfull vvorke of Retaliation they themselves vvith their owne Tongues must retaliate as it vvere Eye for Eye Tooth for Tooth d Exod. 21. 24. they must vvith their owne tongues Returne Recompence upon their owne Heads for thus it vvas ¶ 6. THe Bishops had an Oath vvhich they forced upon the righteous in homage and meere duty to their Court and it was a gin and a trap and a snare to His people as a Serpent by the â—ay an Adder in the path that biteâ—h the Rider so that â—e fals back ward c Gen 4â— 17. The Lord Who commands us to sweare in Truth in Iudgement and in Righteousnesse * Ier. 4. â— look'd upon this oppâ—â—ssion and required it how They must Retaliate themselves now Oath for Oath Their chaine must be let out now the rope must be lengthned give some men rope enough they vvill goe neare to strangle themselves as in this case they must have full scope given them and vvhat must they doe Hammer out another Oath and that must be as the other vvas to the righteous a gin a trap and a snare to take their own foot in as a Serpent to make those Riders that marched so furiously to fall back-ward I hat Oath must retaliate them it must recompence all their evill upon their owne heads That Oath like a Mushrome that miracle in Nature for it growes and hath no root d In miraculis vel maxâ—mum est aliquid 〈◊〉 aut veveâ—e sine ulâ—aÌ„â—adice Tubâ—râ— haec vocantur c. Plâ—â— Hiâ— l. 19 cap. â— So this Oath that had no root neither in Nature nor in Grace neither iâ— Law nor in Gospell neither in Reason then nor in Religion sure This Mushrome-Oath this rootlesse thing must come in and helpe to carry out head and taile the Bishops vvith c. it must be a means to root out them and their Courts Take we all in two words and in Scripture language and then see the Retaliation of the Lord They had killed the Righteous there in that Court as they could they scorched him vvith the breath of their lips See now The Lord ordered it so That their owne breath as fire did devoure them h Esa 33. 1â— They spake devouring words indeed they swallowed up the Righteous there See now the Retaliation of the Lâ—rd and muse on the worke of His hands i Pâ— 143. 5. for so it was according to the saying The words of a Wise-mans mouth are gracious but their lips did swallow up themselves k Eccl. 10. 1â— They fell upon the righteous like a Mil-stone they vvould have ground him to powder See now They shall make their owne torgue to fall upon themselves l Ps â—4 â— So I have pointed at the Remarkables in this Moneth as befits an Epitomy or Abridgement The Et cetera s here are very notorious which I have reserved to a place vvhere they may take more Roome then they can doe in this Treatise vvhich I intend as afore-said So vve goe on CHAP. VII October The Product thereof Many Mercies and yet but one marvellous worke wrought for the Church at that time SECT I. October The imployment thereof NOw the Lord Keeper was busily imployed in issuing forth Writs to summon a Parliament which service he did more out of duty than affection to that high Court This Moneth was much of it spent in enquiring after or reading newes out of the North and in chusing Knights and Bargesses for the severall Counties Cities and Towns Where there were a poore people also who had no voices but in corners and there they might be bold to send up strong cryes to Heaven which furthered the businesse not a little Now the people having chosen a Man to stand for ten thousand they transmitted unto him the great Trust their Estates their Liberties their Lives their all that was theirs Religion and all And they who understood what they did prayed That the service he had to doe for his King and Countrey might be throughly thought on and accepted And that he might goe up and returne in the fulnesse of the blessing of God SECT II. Many Mercies in one Parliament A comprehensive Blessing Why called a Parliament The Honour and Antiquity of that High Court Long vacation there makes sinners impudent THis Moneth the Church heard the newes That a Parliament must be summoned againe Very comfortable newes That and another manner of sight then to see the whole world represented in a Mâ—p That 's but a dead representation In a Parliament we see the Body of a Kingdome not as sometimes you see in a Table head and shoulders onely and no more
cast it away we will thinke it may catch and hold something and so to our Net we will sacrifice that is to our owne strength and wisdome That did it God did nothing g Adrete reâ—â—rrâ—â— hoc est puâ—aâ—â— DiuÌ„ nihil esse Hab. 1 16. vid Calv. If the arme of flesh be strong we looke not after we regard not at all the Arme of the Lord the Right-hand of the Almighty But was the arme of flesh strong now nay was it considerable surely the Lord seemed now to cut Israel short h 2 Kin. â—0 30. Iacob was then very low as a worme now very small Surely it might be questioned now as once it was O Lord God forgive I beseech thee by whom shall Jacob rise for hee is SMALL i Am 7. 2. But see I say what hearts we have still warping nay still departing from the Lord. If there be any thing of the arme of flesh discernable whereat to take hold there we take our hold-fast and thereon we rest Just so wee did here Here wee saw Head and Tayle and multitudes and their King also all confounded Thanke the Country-man for this so they say and so they abate of the wonder and from the glory of the work We will examine the truth of that It is said the People in the Country were at this point wise enough and provident enough That 's true wise enough in their Generation wiser then the children of light and provident enough too for what For their owne private-wealth their particular interests Take them otherwise and in the lumpe and out of their owne tractes and they have little wisdome or providence at all True it is they were pinched now and that made them looke up from the ground wheron they are still poring They did howle because of their Task-masters which made them looke out for helpe and be a little more provident then ordinary They that pressed Ship-money should never have their voyces so they were resolved so tender they were in their owne ease and where it pinched but for the cause of Christ and His Church it is little in their thoughts I know the manner of men well enough by making enquiry into mine owne heart and the manners and customes there As our interests leade us and our relations stand there is the BIAS that way we goe and there we cast our voyce considering no more but that he is our most honoured Lord and Master Thanke the Country-man who will the Church will not till she heare of such an one who against his owne interest private-wealth and speciall Relation minded the Common-weale and so cast his voyce She will praise the Lord as vvell as she can and call upon all so to doe and blesse His Name for His good Servants vvhose voyces vvere sent up in corners And so we may count it a mercy that such a choyce was made but for the marvellous worke and the wonder we read it before and this that followes makes it yet more wonderfull That vvhen the Worthies came altogether and made a full Court then and there The Lord did so stirre-up their spirits as that they vvere carried some of them above themselves yea and I appeale to themselves against themselves I meane against vvhat they thought and intended vvhen they vvere entring the doores of the House Doubtlesse so it vvas else such things had not bin done as are done had it not beene even so But it is wonderfull in our eyes for it is the Lords doing Who when His vvorke is in hand vvill frame and mould the spirits of Men according to His good pleasure There is yet something more in it and greatly to be observed that the Lord sent forth a dry wind which sifted and sifted this Court now one was blown away anon another Now this man vvent his way and the other did flee away All this that it might appeare to all the vvorld that the Lord intended assuredly to doe His Church good by this Court with His whole heart and with His whole soule * Ier. 32. 41. We must learne now from all these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 great things vvrought these two Months these vvonderfull administrations and picke out great lessons therefrom CHAP. VIII Certaine Uses or Conclusions from the premises clearing forth unto us The Church by the DEFENCE that is still upon the GLORY their stability and innocency then our duty from all SECT I. Wee know the Malignant Church by their envy at the People the true Church because they are the But against whom Malice bends her Bow and yet is not able to over-throw them They are delivered still after that sort c. ¶ 1. THis will helpe us to decide a greâ—t controversie There are two parties both say They are the Church not in name but in deâ—d whom may we believe Enquirâ— and vve shall have full satisfaction What party have a Malignancy in them both you will say that 's true enough but I meane a professed enmity against God and goodnesse If vve can resolve our selves in this point Who these are We may take full satisfaction to that question It is said There are no Malignant persons in our Church none that have a professed Malignancy in them No! Is there no Malignancy in that monstrous Head nor in it's appâ—â—rtenancies and adherents None in that Tayle those lying Prophets Is there no Malignancy in their ungodly deeds and hard speeches None in those words which corrupt and eat as doth a Canker k 2 Tim. 2. 17. None in all this Perhaps it will not be granted that there is a Malignancy in the Divell who is their King and hath the keyes of the bottomlesse pit But in courtesie I demand and let them answer me as Men actions we say make the fullest discovery what spirit we are of was not that a fruit of utter enmity of desperate Malignancy madnes to hurry thâ— Church to drag her to the very brow of the Hill there shocking her againe and again that she might 3 Kingdoms at one shock fall down head-long from that precipice or pinnacle Certainly this must be granted to be a fruite of Cankered Malice Surely then by the fruits you shall know them to be no Church but in name so and that name is a Malignant Church Wickednesse â— 1 Sam. 24. 13. proceedeth from the Wicked as saith the Proverb and that 's the first Conclusion clearely evidencing Who is That Church and Who is the Church indeed And now I proceed to make further Discovery at this point Who is the True Church ¶ 2. We must enquire Against whom doth Malice bend her bow with full strength and shootes her Arrowes Against whom doe these Malignants bend their hand Vâ—godly Deeds and their Tongues hard words and their hearts destructive intentions Who is the Butt The white the Marke Who are they against whom in the puâ—suance of their most Destructive Designes these Malignants do carry all their ungodly Words
they might remember that deliverance and be encouraged He that gave them such a Deliverance as was that would not suffer them to sinke now That which God hath done was a cordiâ—ll unto them in their fainting fits Verily verily That God Who had so delivered would never never leave them nor forsake them s Heb. 1◠◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Five Negatives Thus the Church concludes now from the premises which she cals experiences God Who did deliver from so great a death and doth deliver in Him they doe trust that He will yet deliver t 2 Cor. 1. even so Amen ¶ 1. This we must adde to the former Conclusion as we must learne to trust in Him to set our hope upon Him a Ps 78. 7. Who is Mighty So also to set our heart upon Him He is Mighty and hath done for us mighty things therefore vve must serve Him vvith all our Mâ—ght He hath done His Church good assuredly with His whole Heart and with His whole Soule b Ier 32. 41. that we might serve Him so with our whole heart and with our whole soule He hath not like a warfaring c Ier. 14. 8. man stayed with His Church for a night and then away No He hath made His abode with her He dwels in the flaming-bush He sets up His rest there because there His soule delighteth All this that wee might be stedfast with Him and turne backe no more in the Day of Tryall of battell It is much to be thought of that God dwels in His Church when they are as a flaming Bush in the fornace of affliction then Hee dwels with them vvhich mightily engageth His people to Dwell to delight themselves in the Lord Who so regarded them in their low estate He followed His Church vvith mercies after mercies and deliverance after deliverance and discoveries against discoveries these followed hard and over-tooke one the other Why so That vve might follow after righteousresse d Esa 51. 1. that vâ—e might follâ—w on to know the Lord e Hos 6. 3. That our souls might follow hard after the Lord f Ps 63. 8. and not cease till we have taken hold of Him resolved to cleave unto Him to close with Him in all His Commands and Promises And so to say of the Lord as He hath said Who hath chosen Zion The Lord is our Rest for ever here will we dwell for we have desired it g Ps 132. 14. The poore man that was possessed with a Legion of Divels but now delivered and in his right mind prayed the Lord Christ that he might be with him h Mar. 5. 18. he remembred his old bondage how the case was with him when under the power of that cruell Lord and feared the like againe if he should depart from Christ or Christ from him I will repeat the former conclusion and joyne this with it for we find them together Because thou hast beene my helpe therefore in the shadow of Thy Wings will I rejoyce My soule followeth haâ—d after Thee Thy Right hand upholdeth me i Ps 63. 7. 8. SECT III. This will serve to cleare the Churches Innocency as the Noone-Day THe Church hath beene so and so delivered after such a sort They have beene in Deaths often yet behold she lives is confident and strong in her God and power of His Might Nay the Church hath bin as the Bush that 's her Type all in a flame and yet as then so now vvhich appeareth this day not consumed Let us turne aside and see this great sight Certainly then we must behold GOD IN THE BVSH When I say GOD then I have said all the Love the Wisdome the Power of God all exceeding towards His Church the sonnes of Iacob in whom He beholds no iniquity neither hath He seene perversnesse in Israel g Num. 23. 21. If we shall well consider this and ponder it in our hearts we shall be well able to cleare the Churches innocency I meane if this vvhich hath been said shall sinke downe into our hearts it will be more cleansing then Fullers-sope to wash-off a foule imputation a notorious slander cast upon the very face of the Church and to render her as white and cleare thereof as the Snow in Salmon or as raiments white as the Light so as no Fuller can white them It is said her people are enemies to their King they seek not his peace they have driven him from them Nay the slander riseth higher as high as that of Saul against David That imputation then and this now runne together like paralell lines We will see then how David cleares his innocency and how God cleares him and then vve shall see the very same thing done now Thus David vvas slandered That he conspired against his Master That he lay in wait to catch him in a h 1 Sam 22. 8. Snare c. See how David cleares himselfe Now the Lord forbid that I should doe this thing unto my Master the Lords annoynted seeing he is the annoynted of the Lord i 1 Sam. 24 6. Moreover my Father see see here a good token yea see the skirt of this robe in my hand had an uncircumised a Jesuited person come so neare thee he would have taken away thy head and have rejoyced when he had done for wickednesse proceedeth from the wicked as saith the Proverbe But my heart throbs within me because I have cut-off the lap of thy garment Know thou now and see that there is ver 13. neither evill nor transgression in my hand So David cleares himselfe Yes if a mans owne words vvill cleare him vvho vvill not ver 11. appeare innocent True but here are more then vvords yet they are cleare and simple here is more then a single proofe for here are deeds too as we may reade if we will peâ—use the Story But the maine thing and to our purpose here is this How doth God cleare him Thus And David behaved himselfe wisely in all his wayes and God was with him k 1 Sam. 18. 14. Was that the clearing of Davids innocency Yes none like that David behaved himselfe wisely and God was with him he could strengthen his hand in God he could encourage himselfe in the Lord his God l 1 Sam. 23 16. 30. 6. A wicked person cannot doe so if he doe it is presumption and an unwarranted confidence God vvill not take part with the wicked He vvill not shine upon their councels Yes He doth and so He iâ— said to doe m Iob. 10. 3. True and we will answer that by the way God may shine upon the Councels of the wicked and crosse the proceedings of the just commanded and warranted from His owne Mouth He may doe the first as to make them confident so to ripen the designe and to hasten it's ruine and to make Himselfe more glorious in confounding them and their designes He hath done the latter more
face for griefe of heart because she saw it's visage marred spit upon vilified trampled on more then any Day Oh it joyed her heart That you who next to God maintaine her spirits and life you accounted her Lords day honourable that was because you honoured the Lord of the Day And indeed how could you not For He is worthy and you looke to be honoured The Church will looke upon this mercy againe and againe and reckon the restoring to her the Sabbath among the chiefest and choisest of your good deeds which by Gods good hand upon you you have done Had the Adversary taken away the Sabbath as he had almost done tantum non he hâ—d taken away all The Word the Sacraments God and all All goeth when the Sabbaths are gone as you may see in our sister Churches What is left them now Lamentation and Mourning and Woe What heare they in their Temples now Howlings instead of Songs What are their Townes and Cities now Ruined heapes a Golgotha a place of dead Mens sculls or to speake as Salvian doth in the like Desolation d Omnis Civitaâ—â—ustum c. Sal. l. 7 210. Their Townes are like our new Church-yards scarce large enough to bury in The Lord hath stretched out upon the Land the like of confusion and stones of emptinesse They shall call the Nobles thereof to the Kingdome but none shall be there And all her Princes shall be nothing e Isa 34. 11 12. Wherefore hath the Wrath of the Lord burnt out against that people so fiercely Surely because the Land had greatly provoked the Lord of the same Where great Desolations are there are great provocations so we may conclude though Gods Judgements are as the great deepe And this we may say more That our English Commanders noted this still and it was to be noted with all observation That still on the Lords Day the Enemy got much ground And that which opened the floud-gate to all their misery fell out thrice upon the Sabbath Day The Lord pointing as with the finger to that sinne The prophanation of the Lords Day as to the Source whence all their Evills have issued I will take leave now for I must not passe over this lightly to note two things 1. The Priests Villany 2. Your Piety That they may remember and be confounded because of their shame And that you may goe on and doe exploits †1. The Priests Villany Is not that too heavy a word No It is the word of the Lord. The Priests heart hath wrought iniquity to practise Hypocrysie and to utter errour against the Lord to make empty the soule of the hungry and to cause the drink of the thirsty to faile h Esa 3â— 6. This is villany and they have spoken it before the Lord in His house where He hath said He will be sanctified and they have compelled others to speake it too even to utter errour against the Lord there in His House where they stand charged to deale faithfully To utter Truth To speake as the oracles of God They have committed villany in Israel a greater villany than they committed whom the King of Babel roasted in the fire i Ier. 29. 2â— They have not only committed Adultery vvith stocks and stones k but they have spoken lying words in Gods Name I KNOW AND AM A WITNESSE saith the Lord l Ier. 29. 23 Many villanies have been committed in Israel but none like this which the Priests have committed The giving liberty to prophane the Lords Day BY A LAW Nay a forcing thereunto Every Word of God shall meet with some who will turne head against it looke how many kinds of Precepts there are so many adversaries there are m Omnis sermo divinus habit amâ—los suos quoâ— genera praeceptorum sunt â—â—t adversariorâ—â— Salv. ad Ecc. Cath. l. 4. p 486. But let the superstitious Papists turne head against the second WORD Let the Licentiously Prophane oppose the fourth WORD Let the Athyst the Pagan who knowes not God blot out the first and the third WORD Take away all but let not the Priests doe it let not them oppose so holy so just so reasonable a command They know the Lord They minister before him But they did it even the Priests And for a Priest to turne this good Word out of Gods house and the Ministers after it if they would not speake errour against the Lord for him to blot out the Hard writing there this was villany sure never the like committed in Israel it exceeded the boldnesse of that Pagan King n Dan. 5. The Time must be enquired into When did the Priests commit this wickednesse Then At that time when the Lord called to mourning they called to Dancing * Nigra est incendio civitas in vultâ—â— festâ—vitâ—â—â— usurpaâ— Lugent cuâ—cta tu latus et Sal. de gub l. 5. p. p. 22â— To allude to that place Then the Priests proclaymed a liberty for sports on the Lords Day when the Lord proclaimed a Liberty in the Neighbours Church to the Sword to the Pestilence to the Famine m Ier. â—4 17. Salvian would expresse this a great deale better Then they consulted all this against the LORDS DAY when they saw Cities wasted and two Kings slaine if not in battell yet they were slaine The Priest did just like Ahaz they saw as hee a miserable destruction before their eyes yet they brought a patterne of that abomination which caused that desolation and as Vriah did set it up here by a Law * 2 King 16. The time must be noted and that our spirits may be raised high in praise the exceeding 2 Chro. 28. patience of a God must be noted also we did patterne after them vve vvere like them nay we exceeded in that prophanation yet the Lord did not patterne us He did not make us like them in desolations O exceeding patience that The patience of a God Truly when the Church heard this she was perswaded in her heart That the Lord would strip her people naked set them as in the day they were borne make them as a Wildernesse like a dry Land and slay them with thirst n Hos 2 3. Nay her sad thoughts rose higher she verily thought that the Lord would put a Cup of deadly wine into her peoples hand a Cup of pure wrath That is she thought her Lord would not have mercy upon her children And that is a Cup of deadly Wine â—ndeed of pure vvrath wherein there is no mixture of Mercy A people may be stript naked c. and yet there may be mercy in all that Truly the Church thought thus now the Lord will not have mercy He will turne His backe upon her people now for He beheld abominations in His House which His soule hateth and His Day was prophaned by a Law But see now That we may set our hope and our hearts upon the Lord and set-up a pillar an everlasting Monument
to the lame you shall cleanse the Lepers make the deafe heare nay you shall raise the dead You will sticke most at this last though the other as this are all the workes of the Almighties Arme and all is effected when the poore receive the Gospell If then you will order it so that the poore people may have the Gospell preached unto them you shall doe all the fore-mentioned workes which are so wonderfull for all these miracles are wrought by the Ministery of Man the Hand of the Lord going along with that ministery so we understand it as the Lord dealt with His Servant Ezekiell so He must deale with every man upon whom these workes are wrought eyes opened eares boared dead heart raised The word of the Lord came expressely to Ezekiel and the hand of the Lord was there upon him when the hand of the Lord comes along Chap. 1. 3. with the word for the word comes but to the eare The hand of the Lord carries it to the heart then the eyes of them that are borne blind are opened feet bound-up as with fetters of yron and brasse are enlarged the dead are raised c. The blessing of the poore and thirsty soules be upon you and upon your house and all that you have for you have and will pitty these poore people yee will thrust out the dumbe and the ignorant the light Priest and treacherous Prophet the lame and the blind that are hated of Davids 2 Sam. 5. 8. soule And you will send forth Ministers unto those places such as are indeed the Messengers of the Churches and the glory of Christ Mat. 11 5. Then behold these marvellous workes wrought The blinde receive their sight and the lame walke and the Lepers are cleansed and the deafe heare the dead are raised up and the poore have the Gospell preached to them Amen SECT IV. The PROTESTATION how wonderfully the Lord brought it about Though Yee shall doe exploits yet nothing to be wondered at now The reason But one head or charge is handled here and that is RELIGION a great Binder The Method in giving-out this abstract ¶ 7. THe Church blesseth Gods wonderfull worke in you and by you and for you That you have protested to take the Lord for your God So you have provided for the Churches security what ever times may come for you have brought her into COVENANT with her God I know that is a thing the Church doth mind every Month I may say every Day and can doe it without you but not in such a way as you have done it in a Nationall way which you and none but you can doe You could make a Covenant betweene GOD and betweene all the People that they should bee the LORDS PEOPLE a 2 Chro. 23. â—â— The Church will put a Question to you now not to pose you for you are wise and she knowes the Answer before hand and would have you know it yet better She would know How you brought this worke about Your answer is Not by your strength nor by your wisdome but by the good hand of God upon you so you brought it about and so you shewed mercy to your soules and to the whole Nation And thereby the Lord would make you know That He intended by you to doe the Nation good assuredly with His whole heart and with His whole soule The Church hath heard and understands well all the exploits you have done ever since such as seeme marvellous workes and wonders in the eyes and eares of the multitude yet to her they seem great mercies indeed but no strange matters no wonders at all No no 1. The Church knowes you had a liberty granted to continue your Session as long as you will that is till you have done Gods will for Hee procured that grant unto you this Grant though shee counts it an exceeding mercy Yet she doth not count it a wonder 2. The Church knowes that you marched valiantly and trod down strength You rent a Lyon without hands as easie as a man with both his hands can rent a kid and yet this the Church accounts no strange thing neither 3. The Adversary and enemy had made a breach great like the Sea b Lam 2. 23. We asked Who can make it up Who can heale it You could and you did it and yâ—u shall be called the Repayrers of the breaches You stood in that Gappe and you made it up the greatest worke that ever was done by Mâ—n since that Breach was made up betwixt God and Man since that PACIFICATION made by the MAN CHRIST IESVS And yet this worke doth not seem strange to the Church Nay should any one of you tell the Church That since the Day you entred into the Protestation the Adversary made great breaches upon your soule and the Lord made them all up Temptations came-in upon you like a flood The Spirit of the Lord set-up a Standard against them c Esa 54 19 they could doe you no hurt but good a great deale should you tell the Church so she would not thinke it strange Should your thoughts stray a little from out this yeare vvhere vve suppose we are unto the next when some say but they are much mistaken or see and will not see that God did nothing for you but against you and then should you tell the Church what she knowes well That your Soule was amongst Lyons and yet not devoured That you did lye amongst those that were set on fire and yet not consumed none of all this could the Church call wonderfull or thinke strange Nay to expresse it as fully as I am able Were all the wild-fire in England the Church heares the Land is well stâ—red with it now and â—he expects it shall be hurled in her face and throwne into her bosome she is the But and White against which the Malignants levell all this this she knowes but she is fearelesse were all this I say gathered up and rowled together into one Ball and then with 500. hands nay with the whole Arme of flesh hurled into your Court and the Church should be told that the fire tooke not not one sparke kindled there not one haire of any head there vvas touched the Church could not count this vvonderfull neither no such strange matter Why Because you have protested to take God for your God You are a peâ—ple in Covenant vvith Him you are sworne Servants to Him He must protect His sworne Servants when you are brought to the brinke of destruction to a precipice so we must understand it some exâ—gence some knotty businesse that all the fingers in the world cannot undoe such a strait as this when at one shocke three kingdomes must be cast downe if God helpes not * Nodus vindice dignus When the Gibbet is up Mordecai designed to it the next day then it 's Gods tâ—me to workâ— it is â—or His Glory tâ— deferre â—o long and for the â—lory of
I heare the most part of it nay some say all that is properly called the Liturgie ariseth out of the corruptest sinke that is in the world the Popes Masse-book and that had it's originall spring out of mans brain 5. THAT SERVICE WHICH FLOWES NOT FROM HEAVEN IS ODIOUS TO HEAVEN Be it so then ODIOVS this Service must be for the Reason afore-said for the worst part of it flowes from the Priests mouth now and he derives it as was said from the most corrupt person and booke the â—ope and his Masse-book The Church now makes no conclusions from the premisses against some set formes of CONFESSION THANKES REQVâ—ST c. It being the judgement of the gravest and most learned Divines that such set-formes may be and must be Indeed the Doctours words seeme at the first view and more then seeme if they be narrowly looked into cleane against them set Formes I meane But the Church concludes nothing No she leaves all determinations and conclusions at the foot of her Lord and of His Word and under that authority she concludes her soule and she expects That all her Sonnes vvill in their consultations touching this great businesse stand like the stalke of a Ballance leaning to no side neither to the right nor left but just as the Churches Standard the MIND and WILL OF GOD expressed in the sacred Scripture shall sway them just so But for this Liturgie so distracted so mangled so like torne flesh so complying vvith the Masse-booke all along and so filling up the houre so as vvhen the Minister hath ended his Liturgie he thinkes he hath done service enough to the Church that part of the Day For this Liturgie the Church thinkes there can no sufficient reason be given for the continuance of it and therefore her Sonnes and Daughters will write this Day vvhen the weake overcame the strong and the fewest in number prevailed over the spirituall Lords even that Day the NINTH OF SEPTEMBER And that we may set a fuller marke yet upon that Day the Church would have us note two ACTS of the spirituall Lords very notable both and the consequence there-from The one bearing date from the 16. of Ianuary 1640 and issued forth by bill the ninth of September following for the feoffiâ—g this Liturgie by their last will and testament upon the Church her sonnes and daughters for ever wherein their spirits vvere so servent that they were consumed in their owne fire The other Act bearing date the â—9 of December 1641. whereby they would have made void â—ll that the Lords â—nd Commons more spirituall then they had done for the Church and Common-wealth Presently after their former Act so full of that we sometimes call Spirit This word SPIRITVALL was cast out of the bill we might reade it there this once and then no more for ever By theâ—r lâ—st Act â—f Subscription full of the same spirit also their LORDSHIPS were câ—st out of the house and with their owne hands Hâ—â—ein the Reâ—aliation of the Lord was wonderfull how He meeted forth unto them the portion of their measures because they forgot Him and trusted in false hood d Iâ—â— 13. 25. But this belongs to the yeare following we are to write this day even this same Day the ninth of SEPTEMBER for then the Church put-in a Caveat That the spirituall Lords last Will and Testament might prove null and of none effect The Church must name that Day also so she can and give it a very proper name as once it was when the Lord wrought wonderfully for His people Thus we reade That the Lords of the Philistines came up against Israel presently after Israel had powred out themselves before the Lord Then Israel cryed unto the Lord and to their Seer that hee would cry for them in the eares of the Lord So he did for he knew his duty and he cryed so long till he got a great Thunder out of Heaven upon the Philistines and discomfited them So they were smitten before Israel 1 Sam 7. Where we note in passage that Samuell is the man of warre and his Lord the God of Hosts all creatures serve Him great and small high and low Fire and Haile Snow and Vapours stormy wind which execute His Word b Ps 148. 8 It was so here The Seer hee prayes offers Sacrifice and then the Lord thundred And now that the Lord had made a Breach upon the enemy Israel pursues them and smote them untill they came unto Bethcar Now the Prophet hath his mouth as wide opened in praise as before in prayer and not onely so but he sets up a Monument to keepe in mind this admirable Deliverance he tooke a stone setting it up and called the name thereof EBEN-EZAR saying HITHERTO the Lord hath helped us His glory hath been a REREWARD c Isa 58. 8. hitherto This must be the Name of the Day a good Day and a good name HITHERTO The Church commands her Sonnes and Daughters to set-up quickly this Monument to His praise while the Mercy is fresh for as the Eele out of the hand so Mercies slip out the mind Wee have still need of Remembrancers and none like this To remember this Day and that HITHERTO the Lord hath helped us But because this HITHERTO is counted by some a small Mercy the Church will reason out the case with a bruitish people at this Standard turning her selfe unto her Lord. ¶ 1. A wonderfull mercy and must have everlasting praise That the Lord hath brought his Church HITHERTO IS this the manner of Man Lord God I must answer no Kings of the Earth will not do so If they be crossed yea but a little they will rage 2 Sam. 7. 19. very much shew much wrath they will be avenged if they can seven-fold yea seventy-and seven-fold Nay vve poore men low creatures vvormes of the Earth cannot beare injury and wrong our patience is tired-out presently and we will be avenged vve will not stick to say in our haste vengeance is ours we will repay Can two Men walke together except they be agreed b Amos 3. 3â— No for they will flie one in the others face presently There vvas a greate disagreement betwixt God and His people even now at this time yet behold He and they walke together HITHERTO We vvâ—lked most contrary He not so but most comfortably with us HITHERTO Wee maintained wâ—rre against God yet HITHERTO God hath helped us Wee thought He would have stâ—rred up all His vvrath and have consumed us utterly Hee stirred up all His bowells and so brought us HITHERTO for as we reade He is God and not Man * Hos 11 9. But to put this mercy home and to make it sinke down into our hearts The Church tels us more That as this is not the Manner of Man so nor of God neither The Lord hath wrought a new thing upon Earth amongst us in our Land It is not His Manner to use such patience
dost Thou take pleasure in those that hope in THY MERCIE f Ps 1â—7 11. for after times Good Lord what a good word is that Thou takest pleasure in those that HOPE in Thy Mercies This word is to Thy people sweeter then the Hony-combe They keepe it as a sweet Morsell under the tongue Sith it pleaseth Thee so well They will hope in thy Mercie that they vvill It is the manner of the Church I will looke unto the Lord I will wait for the God of my Salvation my God will heare me * Mic. 7. 7. It is the Churches confidence Thou wilt heare But if thou seemest to slumber she will waken Thee with Importunity she will give Thee no rest her Sonnes and Daughters vvill be Thy Remembrancers for they remember all that Thou hast done HITHERTO is That they might set their hope in Thee for after times g Ps 78. 7. They doe Lord they doe and they will give Thee no rest touching this thing even that Thou wouldst goe with thy Church yet farther even till the enemy be subdued and come no more into the coast of Israel to destroy there And they will trouble with their importunity those thou hast sent to heale us when we thought 2 Chro. 10. there was no remedy they shall have no rest neither Thou lovest an humble violence till they bring this people yet farther if but to that place where though there will be weeds many yet they shall not keepe downe the good Corne though Bryars there be yet they shall not choake it nay though Scorpions be there yet they shall not sting in Thy holy Mountaine Why Lord God as if this which Thou hast done were but a small thing Thou hast promised to goe with Thy people yet a great way farther for thou hast spoken good and comfortable words touching Thy Servants for a great while to come Thou art beginning we hope and Thou wilt not goe backe with us till thou hast finished we dare not make haste for some faith we have concerning this That Thou wilt hold the sanne in Thy Servants hand till the floore be throughly purged as becommeth a floore on Earth that Thou wilt root out them whom Thy right Hand never planted set Thy face against them who turned Their backes upon Thee walking so contrary That Thou wilt thrust out that which thou never commandedst nor ever came it into Thy heart ô Thy Servants thinke they have very strong arguments when they can plead the case before thee with Thy owne Thou hast said Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted Mat. 15. 13. up we know they have taken root but not by Thee and hâ—ld possession but not in right from Heaven Wilt not Thou judge them O Lord God and remove them from being Over-seers unto Thee Thou hast broken downe what Thou didst build and pluckt up vvhat thou didst plant k how much more those who h Ier. 45. have built themselves up with their owne hands and planted themselves upon their owne bottome Thou hast said Thou wilt be served in spirit for that service onely reacheth unto Thy bosome and that hath been the manner of all Thy Servants true worshippers Whom I serve in spirit saith Thy Servant i Rom. 1. 9. What hast thou to doe with a feare taught by the precepts of men Thou hast rejected them who did reject the commands of God that they might keepe their owne traditions k Mark 7. 9. Thou art the same jealous God stâ—ll Thou dost looke into Thy Temple still with the same eye and beholdest the abominations there both persons and services and we hope Thou wilt arise now and avenge Thy-selfe of Thy Adversaries who have made voyd Thy Law and the offering vile who have given Thy children stones for bread and foâ— a fish a Serpeâ—t Surely Thou wilt be avenged of such murderers Thou hast given Thy Servants a sure and gracious word of Promise Aske what you will and iâ— shall be done l Thy sâ—â—vants 〈…〉 aske nothing but according to Thy m will and it is thâ—â— confidence that Thou hearest them It is Thy will that we 〈◊〉 pray for the peace of Ierusalem Thy will that they should prosper that love it Thy will that the zeale of Thy House should consume Thy Servants and that the abominations there should vex their righteous soules for such are as smoake in Thy nose and a fire which burneth all the Day It is Thy wâ—ll Lord Thy Servants should pray Ease Thy selfe of Thine Aâ—versaries Thy Servants are assured they doe not aske amisse they aske according to Thy owne will Thy own command for Thine own glory that Thou mayest have a pure and cleane Sacrifice offered unto Thee that Thou mayest be the King in Thy Church and rule by Thine owne Lawes there they aske nothing in or for behalfe of their lusts but against them altogether that Thou wouldest be King in their hearts as well as in their Churches That Thou wouldest take all Thine and our enemies which would not have Thee for their King and slâ—y them before their eyes We doe not aske wickedly therefore we will never leave asking we will trouble Thee day and night with importunity and give Thee no rest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iam. 4. 3. till Thou shalt hearken and heare us and grant our request till Thou shalt perfect what Thou hast begun performe the word to Thy Servants wherein Thou hast caused them to trust till Thou shalt bring Thy Church THITHERTO to a safe place where Iacobs face shall waxe pale no more shall be troubled and tossed and vexed no more shall heare Thy Name blasphemed no more see Thy worship defiled no more Thy Day prophaned no more Anti christian Rights base beggarly Rudiments prevailing no more Thy Ministers villanously used no more Thy Servants thrust into corners no more and because of Aegyptian burdens and illegall pressures Thy people howling no more nor any breach betwixt Iudah and Israel any more where Ierusalem shall be a QVIET HABITATION where she shall looke from the top of AMANA from thâ— top of SHINAR Isa 29. 2â— â—o 33. 20. and HERMON from the LYONS DEN from the MOVNTAINS of the LEOPARDS then we shall â—â—ng the high praises Cant 4. 8. of our God Then Jacob shall rejoyce and Israel shall be right glad saying HALLELV-IAH Salvation and Glory and Honour and Power unto the Lord our God Amen HALLELV-IAH FINIS