Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	church_n	profess_v	zion_n	18	3	8.5894	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91944	The figg-less figg-tree: or, The doome of a barren and unfruitful profession lay'd open. In an exposition upon that parable: a certain man had a figg-tree planted in his vineyard, &c. Luke 13. 6,7,8,9,10. / By Nehemiah Rogers, a minister of the Gospel of Christ.	Rogers, Nehemiah, 1593-1660.	1659 (1659)	Wing R1823; Thomason E973_1; ESTC R203371	458,183	541

the Church of God is the onely soyl for plants to thrive in And being so Have we not great cause to blesse God Vse for that the lot of our Inheritance is fallen in so good a soyle and to sing with David The Lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places Psal 16.6 yea I have a goodly heritage This was that One thing which he did with so much earnestne●s desire of God Psal 27.4 that he might dwell in God's house for ever Psal 24.4 The happinesse of such as have that priviledge he doth highly magnifie and set forth Psal 24.4 Psal 84.4 10. Psal 84.4 preferring a door-keeper's place in Gods house to all worldly pomp and dignity out of the bounds of the Church vers 10. It was not for nothing Gen. 9.27 that when Noah blest his Son Japhet for his filial affection and goodness in covering his nakedness he prayed onely that God would perswade Japhet to dwell in the Tents of Sem for in desiring that he desired the salvation of him and his posterity Out of the Church there is no salvation ordinarily to be had but salvation is in it The Tree of Life grew no where but in the midst of Paradise Nor is Christ to be found nor life eternal to be had other where than in the true Catholique Church of Christ His promises are only made unto his Church His Covenants only drawn up betwixt Him and the Church to be out of the Church is to be without the Promise Eph. 2.12 without the Covenant without Christ without God in the World and without these without happinesse without Salvation But the Papists say that they are the Catholique Church and that all others being out of their Church and communion Object must needs perish eternally Schismatiques and Seperatists they say that the true Church is amongst them and them only and that all other are but limbs of Antichrist false Churches and not the true one Indeed the Church of Christ whereof we confidently averr that we are members is crucified as Christ the head thereof betwixt two Theeves Resp Papists on the one hand and Schismatiques on the other and it stands us much upon and is of great concernment that we be able to justifie our standing and that we are indeed the true Church of God and that this is the true grace of God wherein we stand 1 Pet. 5.12 The safest and onely infallible way to find out the true Church is by the Scriptures as Austin shews The question is saith he Aug. de unit Eccl. c. 2. speaking of the Donatists who held their heretical and particular faction to be the true Catholique Church as the Papists at this day do theirs Where the Church should be What then shall we do shall we seek it in our own words or in the words of our Lord Jesus In my Judgment we ought rather to seek the Church in his own words for tha● He is the truth and knowes his own body Now we read John 4.22 in that conference that was betwixt Christ and the Woman of Samaria John 4.22 that our blessed Saviour thus determines that Question which was betwixt the Jews and the Samaritans viz. Which was the true Church of the two and who had the true worship Ye worship ye know not what saith Christ we know what we worship for salvation is of the Jews The reason that He brings to prove the Jewish worship true was this They had the word of God amongst them the doctrine of salvation giving them direction how to worship God savingly and that by salvation there is meant the word of God and the Ministery thereof appears in that it was the chief Prerogative which the Jew had above others as appears Psal 147.19 Psal 147.19 20. Rom. 3 2. 20. Rom. 3.2 and so is mentioned there by our Saviour besides it was that whereby the Jews knew how to worship God aright else there had bin no consequence in this Reason We worship that we know for salvation is of the Jews And Lastly The salvation spoken of is that which was to be derived from them to Gods people of all Nations the very same in effect with that of the Prophet Isaiah Chap. 2.3 Isa 2.3 The Law shall go from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem before Christ's coming in the flesh the Jews were the onely Church and all that professed the true Religion of God Est 8.7 Rom. 9.4 Math. 15.24 Luke 24.47 Acts 11.19 Rom. 1.16 Acts 2.41.44 Rom. 15.26 11 24. received it from them and joyned themselves unto them for to them pertained the giving of the Law Rom. 9.4 After Christ's coming in the flesh the Gospel was first Preached unto them Math. 15.24 Luke 24.47 Acts 11.19 And though many rejected the word yet many amongst them were the first that embraced it Rom. 1.16 Acts 2.41.44 And all Churches of the Gentiles gave special honour and respect unto the Church of the Jews as to their Mother Church Rom. 15.26 and were grafted into that stock Rom. 11.24 So then we cannot doubt but by Salvation in that place the Doctrine and means of salvation must be meant as it is in other places of Scripture Heb. 2.5 And from hence it is evident Heb. 2.5 that the Profession and Preaching of true Doctrine in all fundamental points is the onely proper and certain note of a true Church They of the Roman Church give us many Notes whereby the true Church may be known which they bring as Arguments to prove themselves to be the true Church and no other as Universality Antiquity Succession c. to the number of fifteen are given by Bellarmine De notis Ecclesiae supposing to do that with number which he could not do by weight but Christ doth not determine the question in the place before quoted nor else where by any of those marks but by this Note the Doctrine of salvation which was amongst the people It was a Church wherein salvation might be had and therefore the true Church of Christ This was the chief Badge and Cognizance of the Old Church whereby it was known to be the Church of God Rom. 3.2 Rom. 3.2 And this is the Cognizance of the true Church under the Gospel as appears AAs 2.42.47 Acts 2.42 47. where the Holy Ghost gives an exact pattern of a true Visible Church for all succeeding Ages to be examined by and conformed unto that if our state and standing in the Church were questioned true Believers might be able to justifie themselves and convince all false Churches whatsoever And that from the prime of the Primitive Church the first visible Church after our Saviour's Ascension and so a fit pattern for other Churches to be censured by Where the word of God is soundly and truly Preached Sacraments administred the Duties of Prayer to God and Love to our Brethren Religiously and conscionably practised there is a true Visible

his Serm. preached before the House of Parliament Ap. 5. 1628. p. 22. Trop in Math. 17. Vers 27. Mich. 6.9 and that to the Commons House of Parliament in a Sermon that he Preached before them at a publique Fast And his Observation upon it is That such a Book should in such a manner and to such a place and at such a time be sent when by reason of Peoples confluence out of all parts notice might be given to all places of the Land can be construed for no lesse then a divine warning and to have this Voyce with it England prepare for the Crosse And what may we think of the coming up of that fish of an extraordinary biggness almost to the City of London there taken and killed this year 1658. Surely the sending of this fish so near the City hath a voyce to the City The Lord give us wise hearts to hear it and understand the meaning Fiftly Our home-bred divisions and distractions civil Rents and garboyles factions and fractions in Church and State are no other then warnings of God's heavy displeasure Lament 4.16 1 King 12. The anger of the Lord hath divided them saith Jeremiah Lament 4.16 In Rehoboams Reign division amongst Councellours caused the rending of the Tribes ten from two and that rending ruined all So whilst Israel was hot against Judah and Judah against Israel the King of Syria came and smote both whilst the Frogg and the Mouse are fighting for the prey the greedy Kite devours both it and them In the Church who sees not and seeing laments not unlesse they be such as cry Raze it raze it even to the ground The difference in Judgment and Opinion that is amongst us which is carryed with such heat that like brinish lights we spit fire in the faces of one another and so it may be feared will continue till we be extinct and go out in a stinch and smoak In short not a City not a Town of note not a Village scarce a Family if any whitt numerous that is not divided the Husband against the Wife the Wife against the Husband Father against Child and Child again●● Father c. and can we look upon these divisions without great thought of heart doth is not cry aloud in our cars that a Kingdome a Church a Family divided against it self cannot stand Division is a thick black Cloud that threatens ●estruction what is divisible is corruptible Omne Divisible est corruptibile is a dictate in Nature And Religion teacheth that the Daughter of Division is desolation saith Nazianzene and holds true in all States and Societies whatsoever Sixthly Innovation alteration and change of a good Government for a worse either in Church or State Isa 3.1 9. Explained Vers 2.3 is a Testimony of God's heavy displeasure So we read Isa 3.1 9. I will take away from Jerusalem the stay and the staff an● what he means there by stay and staff he shews vers 2.3 The m●ghty man and the man of War the Judge and the Prophet and the Prudent and the Antient c. such as are as stakes in the hedge and keep it from reeling and shall substitute in their room Children and Babes to Rule as you have it vers 4. that is Vers 4 such as are inept and unexperienced for Government Then followes as the effect of this Oppression and Sedition one neighbour shall oppress another every one his Brother the Child shall behave himself proudly-against the Antient and the Babe against the Hunourable Vers 5 vers 5. no respect shall be had of mens callings and conditions every one shall seek to have Magistrates after their own hearts and not after God's and choose to themselves Governours when they best fancy thinking thereby to repair their ruins and have their Liberties restored Vers 6 vers 6. the turbulencies and discontentments of the People shall be such as that none shall be found either fit or willing to take upon them the administration of the Kingdome and the Government of so head-strong and seditions a people vers 7. when it is thus with a Nation and Oh that it were not so with ours Vers 7 then this presageth the fall of that People and their ruine is at hand Vers 8 as you have it vers 8. Jerusalem is ruin'd and Judah is fallen because their tongues and their doings are against the Lord to provoke the eyes of his glory I may not say that it is thus with us but this I may say Our present condition is as like it as if it were the same God hath taken from us our chief staff and stayes our principal Go●ernours gravest Judges wisest Counsellours ablest Divines and that within these few years a sad presage that some great evil will befall us Isa 57.1 Isa 57.1 God seldome beheads a State but it is for Treason The Heart Plotts it the Hand Acts it but it is the Head that payes for it How weary were we growen of a good Monarchical Government under which we prospered and flourished for many years which indeed is the best forme of Government under Heaven You weary said Themistocles to the Athenians of receiving so many Benefits by one man Indeed we were weary and longed for a change we had it and were as soon weary of that we longed for as Ammon was of his Sister Thamar after he had enjoyed his longing or lusting rather And now as Sampson did by the jaw bone of the Asse Judg. 15.17 19. which he flung away after he had slain therewith many of the Philistins he being a thirst and ready to dye for want of water upon Gods command returns to his jaw-bone again and thence hath water to refresh him we are returned to that Government which we despised from which if ever we look for comfortable refreshment we must find it and yet still we are a discontented people nothing will please us and who can but look upon this as an evident token of God's heavy wrath and displeasure against us When Bees make a great humming noyse it is likely they will forsake their Hives and are about to take their flight Seventhly and Lastly God hath warned us by many lesser and lighter Judgments that have befallen us 1 Sam. 20.20 which are like to the lighting of Jonathan's arrows one beyond the other and call upon us to provide with all speed for our own safety God dealeth with man herein after the manner of men he usually taketh a distress by gentle and fatherly corrections before he takes out an Execution by greater Judgments God was unto Ephraim as a moth in the Garment and unto the House of Judah as a worme in the Tree which caused rottennesse before he was to Ephraim as a Lyon Hos 5.12.14 Explained and as a young Lyon to the House of Judah to teare and go away with the prey Hos 5.12 14. The moth in the Garment and the worme in the Timber are but small Creatures yet

encrease of the Land of Seed and Fruit of great and small Cattle Levit. 27.30 Besides Lev. 27.30 Lev. 27.26 27. Exod. 13.13 they had the First-born of all sorts of C●rtle as of Sheep Beevs and Goats and the price of the rest which were to be redeemed according to the Priests estimation Levit. 27.26 27. and more plainly expressed Exod. 13.13 Numb 18.13 14 15 16 17. Neh. 10.36 Num. 18.13 c. Neh. 10.36 Lev. 32.10 Lev. 23.17 Numb 15.20 Numb 18.12 Numb 18.18 Deut. 18.3 Num. b 18.9 10 11. Numb 18.8 9. And the First-fruits of four other kinds as of the Sheaf Levit. 32.10 Secondly Of their Bread two wave-Loaves at the Feast of Pentecost Lev. 23.17 Thirdly The First-fruits of their Dough Numb 15.20 Fourthly The First fruits in general of all things which the Earth brought forth then payable when men had gathered in their Fruits Numb 18.12 They had certain portions appointed them out of all kind of Sacrifices either the Shoulder Breast or Skin Numb 18.18 Deut. 18.3 c. The Meat-Offerings the Sin Offerings the Trespasse Offerings the Heave-Offerings and the Wave-Offerings were all theirs Numb 18.9 10 11. All Votive and Vo●untary Ob●●tions and Consecrations and every hallowed thing was theirs Num. 18.8 9. In case of Restitution to be made upon a fraudulent Act committed If neither the Party wronged were living nor any Kinsman known of his Num. 5.2 8. the Restitution was performed to the Priest Num. 5.7 8. They had 48 Cityes for their Habitation and two thousand Cubits of ground from the Wall on every side for the Suburbs for Gardens and for a gleib for their Cattle Num. 35.2 Numb 35.2 which Cityes were next to the best and in many places the very best of all when the greatest of the other Tribes had but 19 Cities Add unto all this that whereas the Tribes were to appear thrice every year before the Lord they were not to come empty handed Exod. 23.15 17. Now if we consider the Tythes Exod. 23.15 17. Offerings and Oblations the Cities and other constant revenues that were coming in to the Levites and put all together it will appear that though they were but about a quarter as many as one Tribe yet they had about three times the revenues of one Tribe All which was payd them very freely and willingly by the People Philo lib. de Sacerd. honor Ezek. 44.30 Mal. 3.10 as Philo the Jew who was well acquainted with the Customs of his Nation tells us being confident that it was the onely way to be rich to tythe well and that the blessing of God would follow such as did so according to that Ezek. 44.30 Mal. 3.10 This Substance was theirs which Moses prayes for and desires that God would blesse unto him and encrease he did not grudge it him and say It is too much for Levi a lesse portion by far would serve his turn It will make him proud How comes it then to passe that the Ministers of the Gospel are grudged that maintenance which both the Law of God and the Land hath allotted them for their painful labours Is their Ministry lesse glorious That it is not if the Scriptures may be judge in that case 2 Cor. 3.8 9. 2 Cor. 3.8 9. Mar. 11.11 And doth not our Saviour prefer the Ministers of the Gospel before the other when he telleth us that they are greater than John the Baptist Math. 11.11 And yet nothing is more enviously grudged than the Livings of the Clergy The Gentry hath got into their hands already near upon three parts of the Ministers maintenance and have left the Church but one Quarter and yet there are those that would eat her heart with Salt as we say because she hath so much Many Edomites there are amongst us that say of the Church as they did of Jerusalem Raze it Raze it even to the ground Psal 137.7 Psal 137.7 Ps 83.3 4. Geball and Ammon and Amalek conspire against it and consult how they may destroy it Psal 83.3 4. But how shall this be effected Why Let us take the houses of God into our possession Ver. 12 ver 12. No such ready way as that that is the speeding blow So Psal 74.9 they say in their hearts Let us make havock of them Psal 74.9 And to lay a foundation for that Let us burn all the Houses of God in the Land The Hony cannot be had but by burning of the Bees nor Church-means but by destroying of Church-men and smoaking them out of their Hives This God be praised we are not yet come unto All the Houses and Synagogues of God in the Land are not burnt up and consumed with fire yet but few of our Churches and Temples which have not been robbed plundred and prophaned in a very high degree With God's House men began before they went unto their Neighbours And the desires of many look still that way hoping to see no not one stone left upon another nor one sheaf left for the maintenance of the Ministry Such is the praying we make for Levi's Substance But take away his Substance and maintenance you overthrow his Calling and take away his Calling what becomes of Religion The free passage of the Gospel is to be prayed for 2 Thes 3.1 2 Thes 3.1 Now the passage of the Gospel must needs be hindred when Levi's maintenance is with-held he thereof defrauded In this respect it was that the Persecution which the Church suffered under Julian was esteemed greater than that under Dioclesian Dioclesian's Persecution was against Presbyters intending thereby to root out all Religion as Eusebius speaks But Julian's was worse in that it was against the Presbytery their whole race and revenew livelyhood and maintenance He took away their Inheritances and dissipated them into so many hands as that without a miracle they might never return again to their right owners as if he had vowed saith a Worthy of our times B.B. King to sow Church-lands with Salt so that it might ever after remain barren and never bear any more fruit to Prophets or Prophets Children But I shall not strike any longer upon this string Lastly Their Persons are prayed for by Moses Smite through the loyns of them that rise against him and of them that hurt him that they rise not again Protection and deliverance is to be craved of God on their behalf Rom. 15.30 31. Rom. 15.30 31. 2 Thes 3.2 I beseech you Brethren strive with me that I may be delivered from them that do not believe And again Brethren pray for us saith the same Apostle 2 Thes 3.2 that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men or as the words may be rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from absurd fellows and from their malice and treachery from such men whose Industry and labour is spent in bringing labour molestation and vexation upon those who are the Ministers of the Gospel nor do they care

Army of 100000 was utterly defeated not a man of the Romane side slain no not so much as wounded The power of Prayer is so well known and ratified by experience that there was never any State Christian or Gentile but they have acknowledged it Plut. in vit Numae O admirabilem plarum Precū vim quibus coelestia cedunt Hostes terret manus illa quae V●ctoriae suae trophaea in ipsis coeli orbibus figit Bucholcerus Insomuch that Infidels in their Idolatry and Hereticks in their Schism have had recourse unto it Yea Turks and Barbarians at this day enjoyn Prayer and religious Service to their Idols before they go out to Warr and for the security of their State 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 said Numa Pompilius a Heathen King of the Romans to one that brought him news that his Enemies were at hand to surprize him What tell you me of Enemies I am about sacrificing to God no danger could make them forbear superstitious Rites Oh! the admirable power of godly Prayer saith one to which heavenly things give place That hand terrifyeth the Enemy which fastneth the tokens of its Victory in the Celestiall Orbs. Plutarch in the life of Pyrrhus saith of Cyneas a Thessalian Oratour that he overcame more by words and Speeches than Pyrrhus by the Sword One Prayer is more powerful to obtain a Victory than ten Swords In that famous battle of Israel against the Amalekites Exod. 17.11 the Prayer of Moses gave a sensible advantage to Israel's side and indeed the Victory For when his hands were up then Israel prevailed but when they were down then Amalek prevailed 1 Chr. 5.20 And again we read that when some of the Israelites warred with the Hagarites in the midst of the battle they cryed unto the Lord and he heard them and gave their enemies into their hands and all that were with them because they put their trust in Him saith the Text 1 Chron. 5.20 An Army of Prayers is as strong as an Army of men yea one man praying may do more than many fighting Jer. 17.5 But cursed is he who maketh Flesh his Arm and trusteth not in the Lord his God To the truth of which Verdict the greatest Potentates of the World have subscribed with their own blood Nebuchadnezar trusted in his City Babel and it was his Confusion Xerxes trusted in the multitude of his men and his multitude encombred him Darius in his wealth and that sold him Ps 28.7 8. Rehoboam in his young Counsellours and his young Counsellours lost him Casar in his old Senators and his Senators conspired against him Hi curruum illi equorum c. these trust in Charriots and those in Horses But let us remember the Name of the Lord our God So when they are brought down and fallen Vse 2 we shall rise and stand upright And as this should bring Prayer into greater request with us so it should cause praying Christians to be more respected by us especially God's Ministers the Dressers of God's Vineyard for these are the Chariots and Horsemen of Israel Nux ego juncta viae quae sum sine crimine vitae A populo sa●is praetereun●e petor Ovid. Exod. 8 9. Explained But men commonly deal by these as Boyes do by Wall-nut Trees in faire weather they cudgel them but in foul weather they are enforced to run to them for shelter So Themistocles said of himself that the People dealt with him as they dealt with the Plane-Tree in faire weather every passenger did crop him but in a Tempest in Thundring and Lightning they got under his boughs Thus Pharoah sends to Moses when God's Judgments were on him and desires his Prayers Glory over me said Moses to him that is jear me reject me yet thou must be beholding to me for my Prayers or thou art like to lye under that plague for all that thy wizards can do to thy relief and help So did Jeroboam when his hand was withered he was glad to submit and desire the Prophet to intreat the Lord for him 1 King 13.6 that his hand might be restored 1 King 13.6 Plagues and Judgments bring Prophets and praying Saints into request and favour The drowning man will reach out his hand to that bough which he contemned whilst he stood safe on shoar When the Sword Famine or Pestilence is amongst us or the snares of death do compasse us about when the wrath of God falls upon the naked Soul and the conscience is wounded within as the body is pained without Oh then send for that good man that Godly Minister desire his earnest Prayers on my behalf Now these are in request credit with us whom before in the daies of our prosperity and peace we passed over as superfluous Creatures of whom there was little Use But if you desire that they should pray for you in your extremity do not sleight them nor wrong them in the daies of your prosperity Hearken to that advice which God gave Ab●melech Gen. 20.7 and follow it Go to Abraham saith God and restore him his wife that he may pray for thee for he is a Prophet of the Lord So go to God's Ministers and faithful Servants make your peace with them in time satisfy them for the wrongs and injuries done unto them that they may pray for you Job 40.8 and prevail with God on your behalf And remember what God said to Job's friends Go to my Servant Job and submit your selves and my Servant Job shall pray for you for him I will accept otherwise I will deal with you after your folly Vse 3 Lastly If the Prayers of the Godly be so powerfull with God as hath been shewed then let all such as have any Interest in God improve it and stirr up themselves to take hold on God Look on the present Estate of the Church and Nation and you must needs confesse that this Exhortation is a word in season Judgments have not onely been threatned against us but in part executed upon us and the Axe is still at work hewing and hacking at the very Root What is become of Religion Lawes Liberties that we have stood out so much for Is not all in a confusion and combustion as yet both in Church and State Help with your Prayers Tears they are your best weapons lay hold on God let him not go till his Indignation be over past give him no rest till he establish peace and make our English Nation once more a praise upon the Earth The Prayer of one Dresser may do much with God Coit coeius Tertul. Apolog. c. 19. How much more the Prayers of many yea of the whole Church of God were they united What Judgment cannot many hands together if in time lifted up bear off What Blessings are they not able to pull down from Heaven on us If one Prisoner in a J●y●e cryes out for bread we pity him if the whole Jayle begg of us we cannot

it were for despising God's greatest mercy they were plagued with greatest severity A sufficient proof to clear the poynt That greatest severity attends upon desp●sed mercy The use that we should put this unto is this in short Take heed how we despise God's grace and goodnesse that should lead us to repentance Use As there is Plentitudo Gratiae so there is Plentitudo irae Plenty of mercy and Plenty of wrath too As God is a God of Mercy so he is a God of Vengeance And it is for his honour sometimes to magnifie himself in that respect Nahum 1. These titles given to himself and appertaining to justice could not belong to Him if he should for ever suffer his goodnesse to be despised The Lord is known by executing Judgment and will be known that way by all despisers Psal 9.16 as well as the other way by shewing mercy Psal 9.16 And let our own Figg-Tree this Land and Nation look about it yet in time with us God hath born long to the Admiration of all Neigbour-Nations many a time the Axe hath bin up yet layd down again As in 88 the Powder plot c. Yet a longer time hath bin granted us for fruitfulnesse but we are growen rotten at heart and doted dying if not dead what can be now expected but to be hewen down and made fuel of that the Axe should be so layd to the Root that we should be fell'd so as never to rise more A miserable deceit it is to think We may despise God's bounty yet pertake of mercy in the End Judgment and Mercy with God are like Jacob and Esau in their Mother's Womb when Judgment like rough-hair'd Esau strives to issue out first Mercy takes it by the heel and with Jacob endeavours to pull it back but Esau at length will out though Jacob have fast hold on his heel Judgment will follow although mercy struggle mightily to stay it Oh! think of what hath bin related of Jerusalem's misery And make the Case our own It may be our own and is like to be our own if speedy Repentance prevent not either Ficus or Focus Fruit or Fuell no remedy the chipps flye let our Tears flow before the Tree be down We are burnt in the Hand already what Psalm of mercy shall we call for yet mercy may be had whilst the Figg-Tree stands there is hope If notwithstanding all that hath bin sayd we will go on in our wickedness we shall but inhaunce and improve God's wrath And who can but pitty us when God's soarest and severest Judgments do befall us So far will those that have Interceded for us be from speaking any more in our behalf as that they will stand out of the gap and give way to the stroak take hold on the hand of Vengeance no more but rest contented with God's proceedings As the Dresser here promiseth to do After that thou shalt cut it down From the practise of this Dresser Text. we may learn our Duty To rest satisfied and contented in the just and deserved condemnation of those who remain unfruitful under the means albeit they are such as we dearly affect Doct. When we have done our Duty to bring a People to Repentance and it will not be we must rest satisfied in their cutting down and stubbing up after the example of this Dresser Who albeit he did much respect this Figg-Tree and bear a great and good affection to it yet if after all his pains bestowed on it it remains fruitless he sits down and intercedes no more in the behalf of it but gives way to the Execution of that severe sentence before denounced against it Cut it down When Israel was carryed into Babylon and became Captives to them God commands them to seek the Peace of the City Jer. 29.7 and pray for it Jer. 29.7 which accordingly they did both by Instruction laying open their errors and discovering their impietyes Dan. 4.24 6 10. and by their Example practising their own Religion even before their faces and likewise by their prayers as they were commanded They were not wanting in bringing Balm to cure her desperate wounds but they found her to be incurable We would have healed Babylon but She is not healed Jer. 51.9 saith the Church Jer. 51.9 Why how so She would not be healed She contemned the means scorned their Religion as appears Psal 137.3 and did cast away the good counsel which the Israelites gave them Or She could not be healed as some read Psal 137.3 in regard of the wound which God's wrath had inflicted on Her they saw and knew that the device of the Lord was against Babylon to destroy it because it is the Vengeance of the Lord the Vengeance of his Temple verse 11. Now what doth the Church in this Case Upon the consideration of her obstinacy and incurableness they abandon Her and leave Her to the Revenge of the Almighty and will lose no more labour upon Her Let us forsake Her say they one to another and go every man to his own Country The Prophet Amos speaking of the woful fall of the Virgin of Israel Amos 5.2 Amos. 5.2 that is of the Israelitish Commonwealth for whose mighty sins God had cut them down with his mighty Judgments and Executions of Sword Famine and Pestilence whereby he had wasted their multitade from thousands to hunderds from Hundreds to Tens but they being no whit● bettered hereby the Prophet foretells them of worser times and more evil that shall befall ●hem but what shall the godly do when they see those foretold Calamities befall Israel Amos 5.13 Explained Why The Prudent man shall keep silence in that time verse 13. As if he should say Those that are prudent and wise shall as that time lay their hands upon their mouths in an humble silence and acknowledgment of God's justice in those events and rest therewith contented and satisfied And such a prudent man was Aaron whose two sons Nadab and Abihu being consumed with fire from the Lord for that they offered Incense with strange fire fire not taken from the Altar Levit. 10.3 whereat Aaron could not but be much perplexed and it may be shew some passion but when Moses came un●o him and put him in mind of what the Lord had said I will be sanctified in them that draw nigh me and before the People I will be glorified then Aaron held his Peace Levit. 10.3 that is he troubled himself no further for there is more in th●t word than meer silence of Speech it implyes the silence of the heart and a staying of the Motions thereof His Children were dear un●o him but the Glory of God was dearer and in that respect he did rest satisfied Yet lest he and his sons might forget themselves and preferr carnall respects to God's glory Moses gives them a further Charge Vncover not your Heads neither rend your Cloathes lest you Dye Verse 6. verse 6.