The LORD is a man of Warre his name is Jehovah c. Deborah Iudg. 5.1 2 3 4 5 6. Barak the sonne of Abinoam sang a song of Praise for the peoples Victory Hannah 1 Sam. 2.1 praised God for her sonne Samuell It was S. Phil. 4.6 Pauls Exhortation to his Philippians that they should be Thankfull unto God And also to his Colossians Col. 2.6 7 that they should abound with Thanksgiving Thus Raguell praised God for the preservation of Tobias life Tob. 8.15 O God said he thou art worthy to be praised with all pure and holy praise therefore let thy Saints praise thee with all thy Creatures and let all thine Angels and thine Elect praise thee for ever It was the desire of wicked Balaam to have the Righteous mans Death Num. 23.10 But he would not live the Righteous mans life If therefore we desire to be happy with the Saints at our Death Let us endeavour to imitate them in our Life And one way whereof must be by being thankfull to God for his Blessings received Holy Davids thankfull heart unto God makes it his Quaerie Quid retribuam Domino What shall I give unto the Lord Psal 116.11 12. for all the benefits he hath done unto me I will receive the Cup of Salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. Yea the serious consideration of Gods Blessings caused David to stir up his owne soule to be thankefull unto God when he said Praise the Lord O my soule Psal 103.2 and forget not all his benefits And the same Princely Prophet foure times in one Psalme heartily wisheth that the people would praise the Lord and set forth his loving kindnesse to the world Psal 107.8 15 21 31. O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodnesse and declare the wonders that he doth for the children of men Our Thankfulnesse to God ought to be testified as far as Mortals may in a threefold duty In Corde In Affectione In Lingua In Professione In Vita In Actione In Affection Profession and in Action Cordially Verbally and Visibly 1. Thankefulnesse in Affection is when willingly we accept the Benefit and heartily think our selves indebted for it 2. Thankfulnesse in Profession is when we make publication of a benefit received to the praise of the Giver 3. Thankfulnesse in Action is when the party receiving a gift doth expresse a reality of gratitude gratifying thereby the Donor to the uttermost of his power So that our reall thankfulnesse must be by a constant cordiall and universall obedience to Gods commandements It should therefore be the care of every one who would be truly Thankefull to be the same all these three wayes viz. In Heart in Mouth and in Life Let us therefore call to mind my beloved Brethren how many Bonds of Thankfulnesse the Lord hath bound us in And also consider with our selves it was onely his free mercy towards us that we had not beene those children that were ripped out of their Mothers bellies 2 King 8.12 Or those young men that perished in the Battell Judg. 9. Or those women that ate their Babes to preserve their lives 2 King 6.29 Or that we were not Infidels Pagans Papists Atheists or Hereticks So that we may comfortably say with the Prophet David He hath not dealt so with every Nation Psal 147. ult Let therefore evermore the Praises of God be in our Hearts the Word of God in our Mouthes and the Gospel of Christ in our Lives And by how much the more we have tasted of the Lords Goodnesse above others so much the more let him tast of our Thankfulnesse above others And let us all in Gods feare pray continually for the Peace of England and the flourishing estate of this Church and Common-wealth wherein we live Use the meanes to keep it refuse the way to lose it and long yea for ever may they prosper that love it O Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem Thus much for the Subject of this Duty being the Third Considerable in our Text set downe in this word Peace From whence you may remember the Doctrine Doct. Peace is a pretious blessing of God well deserving the prayers of his faithfull servants And now let us come to the last Considerable in our Text viz. the Object of this Subject set down in the last word of our Text Jerusalem By which is meant the Church of God From the which word you may remember the Doctrine Doct. It is required as a due debt from the Children of God that they should pray for the peace of the Church their Mother O Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem And here I am not to speak of the invisible Church triumphant in Heaven but of the visible Church Militant here upon Earth and of that as briefly and orderly as I may The word used for Church in the Originall language of the New Testament is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to call for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was called of the Graecians an Assembly of the Citizens called from home by the voice of a Cryer to heare the Judgement of the Senate But the Jewes called their place of publique meeting for the reading of the Law and the Prophets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Synagogue that is a gathering together 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to gather together to bring together and to assemble together But the Christians that by the very name of publique meetings they might distinguish betweene their Christian meetings and the Jewish assemblies have used and kept the word Church for the Congregation of them that professe Christ So that the Church of God is the company of selected Saints being effectually called from the world by the Preaching of the Gospell and chosen before all Worlds to the Worship of God being also Justified and Sanctified in Christ Jesus through the Operation of the Holy Ghost who heartily desire to serve and earnestly endeavour to please their Creator in all things whilst they live here in this world and shall have the full fruition of Eternall happinesse hereafter in the world to come And from being Members of this Church none that are true Believers are excepted whether they be high or low rich or poore old or young noble or ignoble learned or unlearned simple or politique of what estate degree or condition soever they be For there is neither Jew nor Grecian Gal. 3.28 there is neither bond or free there is neither male or female but they are all one in Christ Jesus The Sapient Solomon describeth the Church as though it were a Stately Court Cant. 6.7 in which there are none but those that are of the Blood Royall viz. Kings Queenes and those that are Heires apparent to the Kingdome of Heaven So that the true essentiall Members of the Church being faithfull Believers in Christ Jesus are the most precious and Noble Persons that live upon the earth even
and as a bride tyreth her selfe with her jewells Beloved the serious consideration of this may serve as an Antidote to keep the Church of Christ from despaire for the yeare of her everlastaing Iubile will certainly come Oh what unspeakable joy and ineffable comfort doth this afford unto all the distressed Members of the Church of Christ considering that although the Church of Christ be subject to sorrows yet the Lord bestoweth upon her proportionable comforts Whereupon the Psalmist in the person of the Church experimentally confesseth In the multitude of the sorrowes that I had in my heart thy comforts have refreshed my soule Psal 94.19 And therefore let the Church continually comfort her selfe with this infallible confidence of Gods love and mercy towards her that as Christ put forth his hand and preserved Peter when he was in danger Mat. 14.31 So in like manner the Lord will never suffer those that are his to sinke in the bitter waters of Marah and sorrowfull Seas of this turbulent life so farre as to perish but will sanctifie all the dispensations of his providence unto them and sweeten all their sorrowes with the comforts of his blessed Spirit 1 Cor. 10.13 and will also give an issue in all their afflictions that they may be able to bear them And therefore let them comfort themselves together and mutually pray one for another O pray for the Peace of Jerusalem Exhortation Vse 5 THe last Use is for Exhortation and that is three-fold 1. To pitty the Church when she is in calamity 2. To labour to become true Members of the Church of Christ 3. To use the meanes to attaine the end for procureing the Churches Peace 1. To pitty the Church when she is in calamity And herein I shall speak 1. Generally 2. Particularly 1. Generally and that shall be concerning this whole Kingdome whereof we are all Members and wherein also we live And of that I say Be thou exhorted O England and seeing the Lords Judgements are now in our Land Let the Inhabitants thereof learne righteousnesse Esay 26.9 And speedily be reclaimed from all thy wickednesse and frequently faithfully and fervently pray unto the Lord to fill thy heart full of the rich Graces of his blessed Spirit and endeavour by the power of his grace and blessed Spirit to live the life of grace to subdue all thy naturall corruptions to resist all sinne and wickednesse whatsoever to deny all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Tit. 2.12 And heartily lament all thy sinnes fully forsake them and speedily turne unto the Lord our God Come thus to the Lord with confidence that he will receive thee and for his mercy and promise sake thou shalt be received for there is still mercy with the Lord Psal 130.4 that he may be feared and we are not as yet consumed because his Compassions faile not Lam. 3.22 And though our Sinnes have abounded Rom. 5.20 yet his Grace doth Superabound And therefore to us he will certainly be mercifull if we can be truly sorrowfull For although every sinne be damnable yet no sinne actually condemneth but the sinne of impenitency Therefore let my councell now be acceptable to thee O perplexed England Esay 55.6 Seeke the Lord while he may be found And call upon him while he is nigh at hand Draw neere unto God in Prayer in Faith and in humblenesse of heart that thou mayest be healed Come to the Lord prayingly confidently and humbly that thou mayest finde mercy Lest the righteous Lord in displeasure against thee suddenly depart from thee and so thou becomest both ruinous and desolate to thy utter Confusion 2. Particularly Beloved we know experimentally that in the Naturall body if any Member be wounded all the rest joyntly doe their best endeavours to succour and helpe it The Eare is open to hearken after a remedy for it The Eye looketh upon it The Hand toucheth it The Tongue calleth for a Chyrurgion to cure it And all the Members of the same body in a sympathizing way are ready to relieve it And shall not the Members of Christs Mysticall Body be as ready to pitty one another and to relieve each other when they are in distresse That were not onely a Sinne but also a Shame unto them What shall the promptnesse and practice of the Flesh condemne the dulnesse and slacknesse of the Spirit Shall a Naturall Sympathy out-strip a spirituall Congruity And shall Naturall Pitty transcend spirituall Piety 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God forbid It was Saint Pauls Exhortation to his Galatians Gal. 6.2 Beare ye one anothers burdens and so fulfill the Law of Christ Intimating thereby that there is mutuall love betweene those that are true Members of the Church of Christ So that if one of them be grieved all the rest that heare of it are afflicted for that party till he be relieved An instance hereof we have in the Churches practice on the behalfe of S. Peter Acts 12.5 when Herod had imprisoned Peter the faithfull Members of Christs Church met together and earnest prayer was made of the Church unto God for him Oh how greatly doth this condemne the practice of all those unnaturall Persons who hearing that the Members of Christs Church are in distresse doe wholly shut up their bowells of Compassion from them and will neither relieve their Bodies with their Purses nor their Soules by their Prayers 2. To exhort all those that are as yet without to labour to become true Members of the Church of Christ without which there is no salvation And for this cause S. Luke reporteth that the Lord added to the Church from day to day Act. 2.47 such as should be saved The Church of Christ is most excellent in her selfe because in her alone salvation is to be found and no where else Answerable unto that preservative Expression of S. Paul to the Centurion and the Souldiers concerning the Mariners Acts 27.31 Except these abide in the ship ye cannot be saved When the Lord destroyed the Old World by the generall Deluge of water none were preserved but onely those that were with Noah in the Arke Gen. 7.23 Which Arke was a Type and Figure of the Church of Christ And beloved thus shall it also be at the end of the world when Christ shall come in the Cloudes to judge both the quick and the dead none shall be saved from everlasting burning in the fire of Hell but onely those sheepe that are of Christs fold Mat. 25.34 even those that are true Members of the Church of Christ Now lest any should be deceived thinking themselves to be true Members of Christs Church and are not I shall briefly lay downe some Markes whereby they may try themselves whether they be or not And for brevity sake I will but onely Hint at some of them Markes 1. Peace 2. Holinesse 3. Love 4. Regeneration 5. Obedience 1. Peace Concord
fight under his Banner against Sinne the World and the Devill is now brought by the Providence and Permission of God into the fiery Fornace of Affliction for the firme triall of His saving Faith and profitable Christian Exercise of Gods heavenly graces within Him and also by probability extracted from fatall Conjectures in the very Twilight of His time betwixt the Day of Life Night of Death being now a PRISONER in Carishrooke-Castle in the Isle of Wight mournfully complaining unto God in these words Oh! my loving and compassionate God who by thy most holy wise and powerfull Providence dost continually preserve and governe all thy Creatures and all their Actions I humbly pray thee for Jesus Christ his sake to grant me Pardon and Patience thou that searchest the heart and triest the reines thou knowest the Sincerity of my Soules Service towards thee my constant Resolution for the continuation of the Protestant Religion the carefull Preservation of the Ancient Lawes of this Kingdome the rightfull Priviledges of Parliament the just Liberty of the Subjects the firme Settlement of Truth and Peace amongst the People and the Conscience I make of keeping that Oath administred to Me and also taken by Me at My Coronation for which things sake c. I am now deeply involved into great Misery and therefore O My tender-hearted God take Me into the safe custody of thy powerfull Protection and shelter Me under the preservative Wings of thy speciall Providence for the fierce Floods of popular Rage are risen up against Me the swelling Surges of mischievous malitious Adversaries looke big upon Me the rough Waves of the rude Multitude strive to overflow Me the proud Billowes of insolent insulting Enemies have almost overwhelmed Me and the violent Streames of the bitter waters of Affliction are also every day ready to swallow Me up all which I know thou canst if thou wilt suppresse at thy Pleasure who stillest when thou pleasest the raging of the Seas Psal 65.7 the noise of the Waves and the madnesse of the People And now ô Lord in this My great Extremity I flie unto thee who art Almighty with whom there is Helpe from whom there may be Reliefe upon whom dependeth My Hope and in whom resteth My Confidence one Deepe calling upon another Psal 42.9 the Depth of My Misery calling upon the Depth of thy Mercy craving thy present powerfull Assestance for My speedy and joyfull Deliverance And though for the present My Body from Liberty be restrained yet through thy Mercy towards me My Heart with grace from thee is greatly enlarged and Love in Me towards thee much increased thou hast often put the oyle of gladnesse into My heavy Heart and such sacred Influences of heavenly Comforts I daily doe receive from thee as that I nothing doubt of thy Mercy towards Me. Oh my deare God! thou hast beene graciously pleased to make Me thy Vice-gerent over three Kingdomes but woe and alas I am now deprived of all that Power which formerly I had in them all three abridged not onely of that sweet Society of My deare Consort but also of all My loving and tender-hearted Children who might in this My great Distresse as comfortable Cordials to My heavy Heart afford Me some Comfort those who formerly were and still ought to be My loyall Subjects are now risen up against Me have here Imprisoned Me and I am now become not onely as an Abject unto them but also the very Object of their Reproach Scorne Contempt and Derision and none of My Subjects in all My three Kingdomes will vouchsafe to rescue Me out of Mine Enemies hands And in this My great Distresse My teares have beene my meate day and night Psal 42.3 while Mine Enemies daily and hourly reproach Me and also craftily plot greater Mischiefes against Me not onely for the deadly destruction of My mortall Body but also for the utter Extirpation of Monarchicall Authority whereby My Royall Issue and their Princely Posterity should for future times be for ever abridged of all their just lawfull and Kingly Power in this Kingdome after Me for which My potent Adversaries so wickedly intending and cruelly practising against both My selfe and Mine I have often eaten the bread of Carefulnesse and mingled my drinke with weeping Psal 102.9 Now in this My deplorable captivated and calamitous Condition I beseech thee O My gracious God who breakest not the bruised reede nor quenchest the smoaking flax looke downe with thy favourable Eyes of fatherly Pitty upon me and let thy mercifull and loving Bowels of tender Compassion yerne towards Me Heare my prayer ô Lord with thine eares consider my calling hold not thy peace at my teares Psal 39.13 And if it shall please thee O my good God to deliver Me out of the hands of Mine Enemies whereby My Life may be preserved from their furie I shall ever praise thee for being so mercifull to Me but if otherwise in thy heavenly Wisdome thou hast decreed concerning the last Period and inevitable Expiration of My naturall Life that Martyr-like I shall deeply drinke with My blessed and sweet Saviour in his owne passionate Cup of bitter Death and so My mortall Body to perish and be destroyed by the Violence of the People yet shall I ever acknowledge thee to be righteous and will alwaies even to the last breath of My Life pray from the ground of My Heart Lord pardon whatsoever I have done amisse through the whole course of My Life and sanctifie all the Dispensations of thy Providence in these My great Sufferings unto Me forgive all Mine Enemies their cruell and unnaturall dealing towards Me lay not their Sinnes to their Charge and then Not my will but thine ô righteous Father for ever be done Loe these pittifull Passages proceeding from His Majesties greatly grieved Heart together with many others me-thinks I heare Ecchoing in mine Eares for which by way of Christian Sympathie as well as obliged subjective Duty towards His Majesty my heavy Heart Heaven is my Record doth often pray privatly and sorrowfull Soule mourne secretly on his behalfe and so in like manner all other loyall hearted Subjects ought for to doe as well as my selfe that thereby we might prevaile with the God of Heaven for our gracious Soveraigne His present Deliverance out of all His Troubles and speedy Re-establishment in His Throne of Righteousnesse The which over-joyous welcome Blessing to this perplexed and distracted King-dome our good God in his great Mercy grant to us all for the Glory of his great Name the Peace of this disquieted Land and the slourishing Estate of this English Church Common-wealth wherein we live and let all those who sincerely professe and faithfully love the Lord Jesus Christ truely searing the living God and heartily honouring their lawfull King say hereunto unfeignedly with my selfe even from the very ground of their HRARTS and SOULES So be it Amen Amen Oh! let us all in the filiall feare of God
tedious and burthensome yet notwithstanding to the faithfull Members of Christs Church they making a right use thereof it will be helpfull and profitable As for example Holy David was so greatly oppressed with troubles as that he complained in the anxiety of his soule The snares of death compassed me round about Psal 116.3 and the paines of Hell gate hold upon me What Adversaries are more horrible and Enemies can be more terrible then Death and Hell And yet notwithstanding he making a snactified use thereof they wrought in him most blessed and happy Effects the which he found experimentally in himselfe and therefore freely confesseth Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I keep thy word Psal 119.67 And Verse the 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I may learne thy Statutes And the Lord saith of the Israelites by his Prophet Hosea Hos 5.15 In their affliction they will seeke me diligently And the Prophet Isaiah speaking of the Faithfull in affliction saith Lord in trouble have they visited thee Esa 26.16 they powred out a prayer when thy chastning was upon them So that Afflictions being Gods Rods are his Childrens Remembrancers yea Troubles make many Returners and Seekers to God who formerly have been Revolters and Straglers from him as were the Israelites Manasseh the Prodigall Sonne and diverse others Yea beloved and to be continually without Crosses Troubles and Afflictions men may justly suspect themselves to be rather Members of the Devils Church Malignant than of Christs Church Militant St. Ambrose that godly devout and religious Bishop travelling with some others towards Rome went to a Rich-mans house resolving to lodge and remaine there till the next morning And after some short discourse he demanded of the man of the house how it went with him and in what case he stood concerning his present condition for the things of this Life Unto which the Rich-man replyed Sir my condition hath ever beene happy and fortunate I never tasted any kinde of Adversity I never had any sicknesse or losse of goods all things have hitherto beene with me even according to my hearts desire When Saint Ambrose heard this he said unto them that were with him Eamus hinc nam Deus non est hic Let us goe from hence for God is not in this place And immediately after they were departed from the Rich-mans house the Earth suddenly opened her mouth and swallowed up the Man together with his house and all that he had Intimating thereby to the World that God is not there in mercy present where the Crosse is continually absent Hence then Let all the Faithfull Members of Christs Church account it as an indubitable Aphorisme of infallible Truth believe it as an Orthodoxall Article of their Christian Faith and hold it as an undeniable Maxime in Divinity that as the Children of Israel went through many Troubles before they could come to the Earthly Canaan which was a Type of the Faithfuls Passage from Earth to Heaven So in like manner the Children of God must passe through many Afflictions before they can come to the Heavenly Jerusalem St. Paul desired to know nothing amongst his Corinthians but Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 2.2 and him Crucified And he also rejoyced in nothing so much as in the Crosse of our Lord Jesus Christ whereby the World was crucified to himselfe and himselfe unto the World Gal. 6.14 He also expresseth to the World that no man is Crowned except he fight lawfully 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Tim. 2.5 And also confesseth of himselfe I bear in my body the markes of the Lord Jesus Gal. 6.17 The lawfull and valiant fighting of earthly Souldiers for their King Country and Religion greatly reflecteth upon them with Credit and exceedingly redounded to their Honour they also account those Wounds that are given to their Bodies in Skirmish as Markes of their Magnanimity Cognizances of their Courage and Characters of their Valour intimating thereby to the World for whom they have fought how they have suffered and who they are Now for Application of this to our selves Heaven is appointed for none but onely Spirituall Conquerours viz. the valiant fighting Members of the Church of Christ against their Soules Adversaries surprizing subduing and conquering all their spirituall Enemies For they wrestle not against flesh and bloud but against Principalities Eph. 6.12 against Powers against the rulers of the darknesse of this World against spirituall wickednesse in high Places So that of necessitie they must be Fighters for without a Fight there can be no Conquest and without a Conquest there will be no Crowne And therefore they must not onely be Fighting Souldiers but also Conquerours upon Earth before they can be Inheritors of Heaven For a Man to be a Christian and not a spirituall Souldier is to falsify his promise at the Font of Baptisme For a Man to be a Christian and a spirituall Souldier and not to fight under Christs Banner both manfully and faithfully for Christ is the Cognizance of a pusilanimous spirited Souldier and Badge of an Hypocrite For a Man to be a Christian and a spirituall Souldier and to fight for Christ and not to Conquer is to lose the Reward promised to Conquerours But to be a Christian a spirituall Souldier a Fighter for Christ and a Conquerour of all his owne spirituall Enemies Loe that Man and onely he shall be a Partaker of the rich Reward promised even the full fruition of the heavenly Inheritance And therefore whosoever thou art that desirest to be a true Member of Christs Militant Church thou must resolve with thy selfe to live the life of a Christian to a be a spirituall Souldier a Fighter for Christ and also a Conquerour Hence then we may infallibly collect that none shall be crowned hereafter in Heaven but onely those that in some measure first endure a spirituall Fight here upon Earth that so they may become crucified Christians and thereby made conformable to Christ their Head Phil. 3 10. The which Conformity is the greatest Honour that this World can afford to the Sonnes of Mortals And to such spirituall Conquerours Christ Jesus himselfe hath made a large promise even of no lesse Reward then Eternall Life He that overcommeth shall be clothed in white raiment and I will not blot out his name out of the booke of life Apoc. 3.5 And ver 21. To him that overcommeth will I grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne And Be thou faithfull unto death and I will give thee a crowne of life Apoc. 2.10 and Jam. 1.12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tryed he shall receive the crowne of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him And what Fight is it that we should not willingly undergoe for to inherit Eternall Life And herein let Christ Jesus himselfe be
Hosts Iosh 1.2 Rev. 19.16 who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords had this exhortation from the Lord annexed unto it with a gratious promise unto his proceedings Iosh 1.8 Let not this booke of the Law depart out of thy mouth but meditate therein day and night that thou mayest observe and doe according to all that is written therein for then shalt thou make thy way prosperous and then shalt thou have good successe The which is recorded and still remaineth in force for succeeding Ages Hence then All Souldiers should learne that in all their Military Actions they ought to make the word of God to be their guide for the Omniscient and Omnipotent God is the great and universall Warriour of the whole world He it is who directeth every Bullet Sword Speare and Dart to the Person appointed And wherefore it commeth to passe that in the Battell some are wounded some out-right killed and some escape untouched is a secret lockt up in the bosome of God and therefore not to be pried into by the sons of men Every Souldier that putteth himselfe into Military service and doth execution upon others ought to have in his heart zeale for the glory of God without any by-ends or sinister-respects of his owne unto himselfe otherwise he is a Murtherer in the sight of God For the Lord saith by his Prophet Hoseah Hos 1.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will visit the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu That is I will be revenged upon Jehu for the blood that he shed in Jezreel for although God stirred him up to execute his judgements upon wicked persons yet he did that Military service for his owne Ambition thereby to satisfie the lusts of his owne proud heart and not for the glory of God The word there in the Originall is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth bloods intimating thereby to the world that the blood of every particular person that hath been so shed by a party not so qualified shall be reputed as Murther in the sight of God Oh then let every Souldier seriously examine his owne heart in what condition he standeth whether he be justly acquitted for what he hath done in that nature or standeth guilty as a Murtherer in the sight of God Object But happily some Souldier may here say in defence of himselfe who hath not chiefely and zealously aimed at the glory of God in the passages of his hostile service I have beene pressed to this service against my will and that which I have done in any Battell was but in mine owne defence and therefore if I have slaine any the guilt of that blood will lye upon those that compelled me so to doe my selfe shall be acquitted of it and they themselves responsible for it but howsoever I know assuredly that the Lawes of the Land can lay no hold upon me for it Answ Although thou maiest have security given thee from all Temporall Lawes and freedome from all corporall punishments yet notwithstanding Murther is such a cruell bloody hainous and horrible sinne as that the guilt thereof will continually wound thy Conscience and constantly will follow thee at the heeles as the Jaylor doth his Prisoner ever stinging vexing troubling and tormenting thee at the inevitable remembrance of the righteous judgements and just vengeance of the all-powerfull revenging God unto which by the sinne of Murther thou hast made thy selfe lyable every houre untill thou doest truly throughly and heartily repent thee of it And therefore whosoever thou art that takest upon thee the honourable calling of a Souldier examine thy condition by the word of God viz. The justice of thy cause the willingnesse of thy heart the lawfulnesse of thy calling the readinesse of thy obedience to Gods commands as to strike when he biddeth and to forbeare when he forbiddeth Have regard unto this I humbly pray thee as also not to Rob nor Plunder nor Kill nor fight but against a lawfull Enemy ever remembring and constantly practising that Religious exhortation of Moses Deut. 23.9 unto Souldiers when they goe to War When the Hoaste goeth forth against the enemies then keepe thee from every wicked thing And so shall thy service bring glory to God Credit to thy Person and comfort to thy Conscience And as Souldiers in a skirmish if they keepe not Ranke and File they will be in danger of their bodies destruction So in like manner if Souldiers observe not these Rules they will be in danger of perishing their Soules But alas all Souldiers observe not these Rules for many times in the Wars there is Gaine instead of Godlinesse Courage instead of Equity Blood-thirstinesse instead of Valour Policy instead of Justice and which is also greatly to be lamented in many Souldiers no Religion for seldome doe they pray till they be in danger of Death And yet how carefull ought they to be to have grace in their hearts who carry as it were their lives continually in their hands But O how defective are many of them of what they ought to be being full of fierce fury enraged Violence cruell Hatred cursed covetousnesse thievish Plundering swinish Drunkennesse beastly Whoredome abhominable Oathes horrid Blasphemies hellish Curses impure Discourses terrible Threatnings false Accusations filthy Communications c. The consideration whereof greatly grieveth the soules of Consciencious men and frequently maketh their hearts to tremble within them Can such irregular Souldiers to the Lawes of God hopefully expect in mercy a Blessing from God upon their Military Designes and Actions Certainely no but rather in judgement fear a Curse where by there shall be to themselves nothing but Ruine Confusion And therefore I heartily wish that all Souldiers would henceforth carry themselves in all their thoughts words and Warlike Actions so Religiously towards God as that they may be constantly in favour with him and consequently have him for their Protectour in their greatest danger and not resolutely to follow the wicked wayes and leud lusts of their owne corrupted hearts to the great dishonour of God in this world and the everlasting and just condemnation of their owne soules in the world to come But here peradventure some may Object Object We fight for the maintenance and continuance of the Protestant Religion Unto which I answer Answ Religion as it is in truth and sincerity is highly and greatly to be esteemed being a Divine honouring of God according to his holy will revealed in his word but woe and alas may we all justly cry out as it hath beene formerly so it is now in these disasterous dayes especially the delusive specious Pretence the deceitfull dangerous Masker and the dazling golden outside of all Rebellion And to the great griefe both of our Dread Soveraigne and all His faithfull Subjects the very Load-stone to draw and attract the Iron hearts of many thousands of this Kingdome into unnaturall unchristian and horrid Rebellion against all just Regall and lawfull Authority Under
to free our selves from the guilt of Infidelity Hypocrisie and Obstinacy let us speedily put in practice the Meanes here prescribed viz. Prayer Humiliation and Casting away all our Transgressions Concerning the first of these viz. Prayer I shall not need to say much because I have spoken so largely thereof already yet notwithstanding in regard Prayer is one of those Meanes here prescribed for the Aversion of the judgement of War from us I shall therefore speake a little more thereof Prayer is the great prevailing Ordinance of God both for a prevention from our falling into evils and also for our speedy deliverance out of them being fallen into them The Saints of God have ever made Prayer the Alpha and Omega of all their Actions The good and right use of holy Prayer amongst devout and Religious persons hath alwayes been esteemed both the first and last Remedy in our greatest dangers as being most prevalent with God for our speedy deliverance For when all earthly Policy and worldly Stratagems are fled from us and all our former fast friends shrinkingly from us have forsaken us and Death stands at our elbowes ready to seize upon us yet still Prayer is left with us as a gracious Oratour and an effectuall Advocate to intercede for us And unto this we have Gods owne Injunction Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the day of trouble so I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me And here also we must remember that our Prayer must be cordiall if it be prevalent Non vox sed votum non musica cordula sed cor clamat in aure Dei It s not the voice but the vote not the musicall harmony but the heart that cryeth in the eare of God Thus Hannah prayed 1 Sam. 1.13 she spake in her heart her lips onely did move but her voice was not heard Yea Prayer hath also beene the Practice of the Saints of God in the time of their calamity as for example David Prayed to the Lord when he was in trouble Psal 120.1 and the Lord heard him Hezekiah Prayed to the Lord to send him aide against the King of Ashur 2 King 19.15 16 17 18 19. 2 King 6.18 And he prevailed Elisha Prayed to the Lord to smite his enemies with blindnesse that were sent to apprehend him And he obtained Jehoahaz 2 King 13.4 Prayed to the Lord being surprized by the King of Aram And he was delivered Asa 2 Chro. 14 Prayed to the Lord for aide against his enemies And the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah and the Ethiopians fled Jehoshaphat 2 Chro. 20 Prayed to the Lord for helpe against the Ammonites Moabites and inhabitants of Mount Seir his enemies that came against him to destroy him And the Lord laid ambushments against them and they fought one against another and when the Ammonites and Moabites had destroyed the men of Mount-Seir then every one helped for to kill each other The Israelites cryed to the Lord when they were in trouble Exod. 2. Iudg. 6. Psal 107. and he heard them and delivered them Loe thus the Lord hath formerly heard the Prayers of his servants being in afflictions and also granted their requests for his glory and their comfort and still he is the same God his hand is not shortned Esay 59.1 And therefore let us not neglect to practise this duty of Prayer it being the great prevailing Ordinance of God either to prevent us of falling into troubles or else to free us out of them being fallen into them For the Second viz. Humiliation We have Gods Querie to the Prophet Elijah concerning the Aversion of Gods judgements from Ahab Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himselfe before me 1 King 21.29 Because he humbleth himselfe before me I will not bring the evill in his dayes but in his sonnes dayes will I bring the evill upon his house And when God by his Prophet Jonah threatned the Ninevites adhuc quadraginta dies Nineve subvertetur Yet forty dayes and Nineveh shall be destroyed Yet notwithstanding upon their Humiliation that threatning was reversed and the Nirevites preserved And God saw their workes Iona. 3.10 that they turned from their evill waies and God repented of the evill that he had said that he would doe unto them and he did it not What were the sinfull Ninevites spared from Destruction through Gods mercy towards them upon their Humiliation Oh then how ought we in this our present and deplorable condition to make expression of our Humiliation with zealous Nehemiah Neh. 1.4 who when he heard of Jerusalems Calamity He sate downe and wept and mourned certaine dayes and fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven Humility is the first helpefull step by which we ascend the heavenly Throne of Gods sacred Majesty for mercy and also the first raising Round of Godly Jacobs long reaching Ladder by which like swift Angels our pretious Soules climbe up to God in Heaven and his holy Angels and heavenly blessings descend downe to us upon earth Loe thus the most great and glorious God whose habitation is in the highest Heavens Esa 57.15 yet also vouchsafeth his gratious presence to dwell amongst humble minded men here upon Earth in the lowest hearts Therefore one of the meanes to obtaine mercy in this our present misery is in by and through Humility But admit thou canst not by thy Humiliation obtaine at the hands of God the deliverance of a Nation from a Generall calamity yet notwithstanding thou shalt thereby procure for thy selfe the Marke of the Servant of God Ezek. 9.4 And although our Humiliation be not the cause of healing our Lands distempers yet notwithstanding it is one of those meanes which God hath ordained for procuring the Cure thereof and therefore it must not be neglected by us for God hath commanded us to use the meanes to attaine the end And using the meanes as we ought there will be no cause for us to doubt of Gods blessing upon them Despaire not then of helpe in thy greatest dejection for there is yet Balme in Gilead and Hope in England And as Shechaniah once said unto Ezra in another case Yet now there is Hope in Israel concerning this thing Ezra 10.2 The which I hope may not unfitly be applyed to us English Natives in these many present and great distractions amongst us For God is more mercifull then we have been sinfull if we can be truely sorrowfull And for the proofe hereof I will declare unto you two examples in the holy Scriptures The one in the time of the Law And the other in the time of the Gospel 1. That in the time of the Law shall be that of Manasseh the King of Judah He was a notorious Malignant against the Lord He committed many horrible and hainous abominations wherewith the Lord was wrathfully displeased against him He shed so much innocent blood till he had filled Jerusalem from one end
upon Sheba Proud persons upon Haman Fornicators Nu. 25.8 Nu. 15.36 upon Zimri and Cozbi Prophaners of the Lords Sabbath upon the Stick-gatherer Ion. 1.15 Disol edient persons upon Jonah Swearers and Blasphemers Lev. 24.16 upon the Aegyptian-Israelite False witnesses upon those wicked Elders Susanna's Accusers Susan 62. Iosh 7.25 Covetous persons upon Achan Murtherers upon Joab 1 K. 2.34 Despisers of the Gospell Ministery Word Sacraments and all true Religion Act. 8.23 upon Simon Magus And all Thievish Blood sucking Cursed Intruding Vsurpers contrary to all Law and Justice into the Rights Estates and Possessions of others both Clergy and Laytie upon greedy covetous and avaricions Ahab 1 K. 21.19 who wrongfully took away Naboths Vineyard And the Lord in mercy towards us grant so much grace unto us that the consideration of their punishments may worke so effectually in our hearts as that it may cause our speedy amendments And that thereby all Magistrates may leave their Connivency and too much Winking Men of eminent Places their Partiality and too much Favouring Patrons their Theevery and too much Church-robbing Ministers their Soothing up and too much Flattering Lawyers their Subtiltie and too much Delaying Courtiers their Policie and too much Dissembling Citizens their Pride and too much Deceiving Gentlemen their Racking and too much Oppressing Country-men their Lawing and too much Contending And also every one of us forsake our deare darling and bosome Sinnes whereby we may amend our Conversations by casting away all our Transgressions greatly grieving and heartily lamenting that we have lived so long in them that so we may ascape Destruction and Desolation which the Sword of Warre at this day in our Land being shaken against us threatneth to bring upon us to our Confusion Oh then let the serious Consideration hereof sink so deeply into our hearts as feelingly to move us and also speedily to make us put in practice these ensuing Exhortations of the Lords Prophets and Apostles viz. Esay 1.16.17 Wash ye make you cleane put away the evill of your doings from before mine eyes cease to doe evill Learne to doe well seeke judgement relieve the oppressed judge the fatherlesse and defend the widdow And Ezekiel 18.31 Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed and make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will ye die O house of Israel And Jam. 1.21 Lay a part all filthinesse and superfluitie of naughtinesse and receive with meeknesse the engrafted word which is able to save your soules And 2 Cor. 7.1 Let us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the feare of God And 1 Thes 5.22 Abstaine from all appearance of evill Upon all which places of holy Scripture my Inference shall be that of the Lords Prophet Isaiah If ye consent and obey Isa 1.19 20. ye shall eate the good things of the land But if ye refuse and be rebellious ye shall be devoured with the sword for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it So that my Exhortation then in this Use of Exhortation to you all shall be that of the Lords Prophet Daniel unto Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babell O King Dan. 4.24 let my counsell be acceptable unto thee and breake off thy sinnes by righteousnes and thine iniquities by mercy towards the poore Loe let there be an healing of thine errour That is cease to provoke God to displeasure by thy sinnes and suffer the former errours of thy life to be redressed We lye under the pressure of an heavy affliction and that which makes the Burthen the more intollerable is That it is not an open enemy that hath done us this dishonour for then we should have borne it But it is thou my Companion Psal 55.14 15. my guide and mine owne familiar friend wee tooke sweet Councell together and walked in the house of God as friends But woe and alas this is now our wofull Condition that those who formerly have lived friendly now altogether voide of humanity sheath their swords into each others bowells and so mutually worke each others Destruction Beloved as you desire to Preserve your Selves your Lives your Wives your Children your Brethren and Companions your Cattell and Substance yea and the whole Kingdome from Destruction speedily performe the meanes delivered But alas the Meanes here prescribed is by many too much neglected and the contrary too fluently and frequently practiced Beloved I doe heartily wish on the behalfe and for the welfare of our English Nation that there may never be justly objected against them the Lords complaint against the Obstinate Jewes And in that day did the Lord God of Hoasts call unto weeping and mourning Esay 22.12.13 and to baldnesse and girding with sackcloth And behold joy and gladnesse slaying oxen and killing sheep eating flesh and drinking wine eating and drinking for to morrow we shall die But I greatly feare there are too many thousands at this day in England that are foully faulty herein and deeply guilty hereof who little or nothing at all lay to heart the wofull miseries of these present sad and calamitous times never calling their sinnes to minde and smiting their breasts saying What have I done Ier. 8.6 or using any of these Meanes here declared whereby to pacifie Gods displeasure that so he might have mercie upon us and speedily be intreated of us whereby we might also once againe sweetly enjoy from him his former Comfortable blessing of Peace inour Land Such carelesse yea impious Persons by their Prophane Carnall and Pernitious Practices hasten to draw downe Gods Just and heavy Iudgements both upon themselves and many others to the ruine of their bodies in this world and without Repentance the everlasting destruction both of bodies and soules in the world to come Now the three Salves that I have prescribed for the Curing of these Sores viz. Prayer Humiliation and casting away all our Transgressions are all summed up By the blessed Spirit of God in the former part of one verse in the holy Scripture If saith God I shut the heaven that there be no raine Chron. 7.13 14. or if I command the grashopper to devour the land or if I send pestilence amongst my people If my people among whom my name is called upon doe humble themselves and pray and seek my presence and turne from their wicked wayes Then will I hear in heaven and be mercifull unto their sinne and will heal their land So that if we performe these three things then the Lord hath promised that he will heare us and help us and heale us Thus beloved if carefully and faithfully we use the Meanes here prescribed we shall certainly have Gods blessing upon our endeavours therein as he hath promised whereby our sorrow will be turned into joy our mourning into mirth and our Warres into Peace Oh then let us speedily put in practice the Prophet Hoseas exhortation to the
Jewes Come Hos 6.1 and let us returne unto the Lord for he hath Wounded us and he will heale us he hath broken us and he will bind us up And let us heartily send up our Prayers into Heaven for the Remnant that is left Be uncessant Suiters to the Lord for Peace Let me intreat you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ to make your approaches to the beautifull Gate of Gods mercy and importune the God of Peace even for his deare sake who is the Prince of Peace that he would be pleased to looke once againe with his eye of pitty compassion upon the distressed estate of this Church and Kingdome And to take the matter into his owne hand and compose the divisions of Ruben for whose sake there are great thoughts of heart That he that maketh men to be of one minde in an house Psal 68.6 would unite the heart of King and People that in their happy Union Peace may flourish in our Land That he who maketh warres to cease in all the world that breaketh the bow Psal 46.9 and knappeth the speare in sunder and burneth the Chariots in the fire Esa 2.4 Mic. 4.3 would break our swords into plow-shares and our speares into mattocks and pruning-hookes that he would once more speake Peace unto his people that he would give unto his people the blessing of Peace O Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem Peace be within her walles Psal 12◠7 and plentiousnesse within her Palaces This is the way yea the onely way left that I know to Preavile with the God of heaven that he may be intreated for the Land Loe thus it remaines then on our part that by the breath of our prayers and windy sighs and groanes through Gods permission and acceptance we labour to blow away the dark and black cloud of Gods vengance that hangs over our heads and threatens a deluge of blood to fall upon us lest wrath break forth to the uttermost against us and there be no remedy for us And then he raine upon us in his displeasure snares fire and brimstone storme and tempest Psal 11.7 and make this our portion to drink From the which miserable forlorne wretched wofull and calamitous condition as we are the workmanship of thine owne hands For thy mercy sake Good Lord deliver us all And yet notwithstanding all this that hath been spoken peradventure it may by some Weakling be demanded What although I diligently use all the Meanes here prescribed viz. Pray Humble my selfe and cast away all my Transgressions for to procure the Churches Peace Yet I can conceive but little probability of prevailing for the true Members of Christs militant Church are but a little flocke Luk. 12. and their naturall strength is weak in comparison of the numerous multitude of the Church-Malignant and therefore how shall they be able to encounter with them when they doe oppose them My answer hereunto shall be that of Asa's in his humble prayer unto God for his assistance against the multitude of his Enemies 2 Chron. 14.11 It is nothing with the Lord to help with many or with no power the words in the Original are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against many without power The sacred Scriptures perspicuously and fluently declare unto us that God hath in all Ages performed great wonderfull and admirable Actions and that even by weak Meanes contrary to the expectation and also the conception of humane sense and reason as for example He overthrew the innumerable Army of the Midianites Iudges even by Gideons three hundred men He slew a Garrison of the Philistines 1 Sam. 14. even by Jonathan and his Armour-bearer He Conquered the Kings of Sodom Gen. 14. Gomorrah Admah Zeboijim Bela and diverse other Kings about them even by Abraham and his Family He surprised Goliah by David 1 Sam. 17. Sisera by Jael Judg. 4. and Abimelech by a woman Judg. 9. And who would ever have thought Iudg. 3.31 that Shamgar the sonne of Anath with an Oxe-goade should have slaine six hundred men And Samson with the Jaw-bone of an Asse a thousand Philistines Judg. 15.16 It was not possible that so great execution could be done onely by them being but weake Instruments to encounter with such puissant Adversaries there was more then so in those their Warlike Actions There was the Eternall Omnipotent Providence unto which all the Designes and Actions of all Mortalls have been subject from all Eternity Yea there was also the supernaturall and effectuall Concurrence of the divine and powerfull assistance against which all the forces in the world could make no resistance So that it is neither the number nor the meanes that the Almighty regardeth when he resolveth to get himself the Victory When once the Lord God Omnipotent is pleased to arise in his own strength all Nations in comparison of him are but as the drop of a bucket yea lesse then nothing and vanity it self Isay 40.15.17 all their forces united together are not so much for him to destroy as the Elephant to break the Spiders webbe Gods heavenly and unlimited Providence farre transcends the carnall eye of all humane discovery Who would ever have thought that Moses from the Bulrush-Cradle floating on the teares of the weeping river should thereby have derived his Princely title in Pharaoh's Court And that Pharaoh's daughter should preserve that vessell as a Cabinet of pleasure Exod. 2. which Moses Mother with an heavy heart at his last farewell bestowed upon him her poor innocent Infant as a mournfull Coffin Or that Pharaoh's tyrannous decree against the people of God in Aegypt Exod. 14. projected for his safeguard and their extirpation should have turned to Israels deliverance and Pharaoh's destruction Loe thus the Lord can when he pleaseth drive the Enemies of his Church into the ruinous Labyrinth of their owne Confusion And as the Lord in times that are past hath done great things for his Church even by weake meanes So in like manner Esa 59.1 his hand is not shortned but that he can doe as great or greater things by as weak or weaker means for times that are to come Oh then in Gods fear let us all walke as dutifull children before him our heavenly Father let us Pray unto him Humble our selves before him and cast away all our Transgressions from our selves that so we may be in his favour and have him to shelter us under the wings of his fatherly Providence in all Exigents that doe befall us and to be our Protector in our greatest danger Then shall we be secure from the violence of all adversary power though all the men in the world were mischievous Malignants against us and purposed with bloody malice to destroy us For If God be on our side who can be against us Rom. 8.31 Thankfulnesse Vse 4 TO TO be thankfull to God for that Peace we now enjoy and although it be not so compleat a
peradventure that Consideration might have been as a Bridle to have restrained them viz. the outward just disgraceing and due deserved publique vilifying of their Reputations and Persons after the pestilent Perpetration of such Treacherie though never so eminent in the eyes and esteeme of others before the Discoverie the inward discontentments and vexations of Minde deeply wounding themselves with the unappeaseable Horrour of their guilty Consciences which will continually gripe gnaw and terrifie them unlesse they be cauterized but most of all the everlasting Damnation of both their Bodies and Soules for ever to the darke and unconceiveable tormenting Pit of eternall Perdition the which without true Repentance will at the last Judgement day certainly be their Portion Oh! that such guilty Persons had timely layd to heart even in those their daies the Felicity of Fidelity and the Misery of Treachery so might they faithfully have performed their loyall Promises which might have conduced to their owne both Temporall and Eternall Peace but woe and alas the former of these is to them already past and God grant the latter be not too late I shall not censuring charitably doome such guilty Persons being Selfe-servers for such their treacherous black-Workes to the Land of Eternall Darkenesse for so to doe farre transcends both the Power and Knowledge of any Mortall but I will speake both of them and to them by way of Interrogation for their present Convincement and future Animadversion What could seeming-loyall Subjects deale thus disloyally with their King Did He preferre them to honourable Places above others depending upon their Fidelitie and have they requited His loving Kindnesse with no lesse then damnable Treacherie Were they so farre intrusted by Him and have they dealt thus deceitfully with Him Did they pretend themselves as faithfull Friends to helpe Him and have they proved His perfidious Enemies for to hurt Him Oh treacherous Dealing This is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 indeed Simulatio ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est Occultatio judicii Malum sub specie boni celatum It is Iniquitie in a Mysterie even masked Vngodlinesse a Thes 2.7 Et dum non cognoscitur non cavetur and being in their blacke Breasts not descried it could not be declined The which treacherous Iniquitie being most detestable abominable and double Impietie cryeth aloud in the Eares of God for Vengeance to fall upon the pernitious Perpetrators thereof I greatly tremble at the serious Consideration hereof and therefore let none that are guilty herein falsly flatter themselves in their corrupt hearts with deceitfull hopes of perpetuall Impunity for assuredly such Hypocriticall Treacherous Malefactors for such their Notorious Perfidious and cursed Malefactorship cannot without great Repentance escape the heavy Wrath and just Judgement of the sin-punishing just-revenging righteous God but it will follow after them overtake them and seize upon them to their Destruction Fidelitie and Treacherie are ever at Enmitie they are like two great Warriours in one and the same Heart stisly striving violently opposing and fiercely fighting against each other for Mastery And as they are Heterogenean in Conditions so in like manner as they prevaile they produce contrary Effects viz. Fidelitie Joy and Comfort But Treacherie Sorrow and Terrour As for Example Fidelitie seeketh no Corners but shineth splendidly as the bright Beames of the glorious Sunne in the firmament of Heaven at Noone-day when he is in his chiefest Brightnesse fullest Splendor and greatest Luster to the great comfort of the Actors thereof and all others concerned therein But Treacherie lyeth in Obscuritie ever fearing the Light and alwaies trembling at the remembrance of the Touch-Stone of Truth the which may not unfitly be compared to that thicke blacke tangible Aegyptian-Darkenesse sent as a Punishment upon Pharaoh for his Disobedience Exod. 10.21.22 The sharpe Smart whereof hath lately beene bitterly felt by too many thousands in this our Kingdome to the great terrour of Conscience to the Committers thereof and sorrowfull utter Ruine of many others thereby Fidelitie desireth heartily though it be to her Hinderance the full performance of that Trust reposed in her but Treacherie laboureth craftily for her owne Advantage to falsifie her Promise to those that intrusted her Fidelitie wisheth lovingly the wel-fare of others as well as her owne but Treacherie endeavoureth secretly but onely for her owne safety not careing for the Ruine of all others Fidelitie being rightly principl'd is syncerely guided by the blessed Spirit of God who is the King of Glory and he sweetly affects her and lovingly leads her in the delightfull and pleasing Paths of Obedience Truth and Righteousnesse and at the End of this World he will certainely remunerate her with the full Fruition of Eternall Happinesse but Treacherie being falsly grounded is corruptly guided by the cursed Spirit of the Devill who is the Prince of Darkenesse and he leads her on blindly in the deceitfull Wayes of Disobedience Errour and Unrighteousnesse and for her sinfull Service he will surely reward her at the End of this mortall Life with the bitter and cursed Wages of Everlasting Death Fidelitie Larke-like rejoyceth at the Light and desireth to be publiquely Exemplary to all others singing praises to God with a comfortable Conscience because her workes are wrought in God but Treacherie Batte-like being an uncleane Bird flyeth not abroad but onely in Darkenesse Lev. 11.19 desiring no Notice to be taken of her for when once the Light approacheth she keepeth her selfe close in a Corner as not daring to appeare in the Light of Truth because her Workes are not wrought in God but onely by the Subtilty Instigation and Power of the Devill Loe thus we evidently see that there is as great an Antipathie Contrarietie Disparitie Difference between FIDELITIE and TREACHERIE as is between Light and Darkenesse Truth and Errour Obedience and Rebellion Peace and Warre Life and Death Heaven and Hell God and Satan So that no marvell although our perplexed Kingdome be at this day so greatly divided having lately had therein the damnable Sinne of Treacherie so frequently practiced Those that have done such treacherous Workes may justly challenge to themselves their due deserved Wages which Workes of Treacherie must have the Wages of Iniquitie the which Saint Paul expresseth in that Theologicall Aphorisme of his to the Romanes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The wages of sinne is death Rom. 6. ult Death temporall to the Body in this life and without repentance Death eternall to both Body and Soule in the life to come And therefore now as a spirituall Physitian for the speedy and perfect Curing of sicke fore and wounded Englands great Distractions and manifold Distempers my Soule sincerely desireth and Heart also earnestly wisheth as a Christian sensible and sorrowfull Sympathizer of Englands wofull Distresses that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the strong Omnipotent God would Graciously be pleased in much Mercy and tender Compassion towards this bleeding sinfull English-Nation for to set