to the dishonour of the attempting Reformers for will not after ages yea the present enemies be bold to put upon them that Proverbe in the Gospell concerning weake builders and say These mend id begin to build but they were not able to finish Lu. 14.30 So much for a first Motive A second meanes to stirre up Activity may be taken from our common interest in this worke Consider that thy selfe Motive 2 and all thine have a deepe share in this deek I meane if thou beest a true Protestant and a good Subject This was Mordecais first Argument to Queene Hester Est 4.13 Thinke not with thy selfe that thou shalt escape in the Kings House more then all the Iews So say I to every one that heareth me this day what Religion dost thou professe Art thou a Papist or a Protestant If a Protestant then I must tell thee Thinke not with thy selfe whersoever thou art that thou shalt escape more then all the Protestants for the Irish-Rebels the Traitours and Conspiratours in Scotland and England yea the whole Anti-Parliamentary guilty party in all three places are generally either Papists in tongue or Popish in heart Question But thou wilt say I am neither Papist nor Puritan the middle and moderated way is my desire Answer True wee have both Church-Papists and Masse-Protestants yea further if you will there are amongst us both meere Passive Protestants and Active ones the latter are accounted Puritans and the former are little better then men indifferent but to bee short art thou a Protestant indeed that is compleatly Orthodox in Doctrine and firmely conscientious in practice Then I tell thee once againe that thou art no better then an Hereticke yea a Puritan in the Definition and account of true Romanists How long therefore halt yee betwixt two wayes and opinions betwixt Popery and Purity Be assured Brethren there is no third Tract to be found and to convince you of this for wee had need of conviction in this point consider seriously these two grounds or reasons 1. First Christ himselfe doth make but two wayes and gates and two sorts of Travellers in and to them Enter yee in at the straight Gate Mat. 7.13 For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be that goe in thereat ver 14. because straight is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there bee that finde it There we have a division of all persons in the world into two ranckes Cursed and Blessed and he gives us two markes of the latter sort you may know them by their strictnesse in practise and pausity of number Againe our Saviour saith elswhere 〈◊〉 12.30 He that is not with me is against me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad therfore Christ himselfe doth make but two principall sides now amongst us 2. But if the Popish rebellious or Anti-Reforming party should now prevaile which God forbid they also would passe a Dicottomy upon us all they would make but two parts of all the people in England either we must turne Catholikes as they call it or else we shall be Heretiks and Puritans in their Kalender and therefore if there be any persons present or absent which doe dreame of getting safety by compounding and halfe-syding let those Batts know that their lot in the conclusion is like to be no better then was that of the wily Gibeonites which made a crafty lying league with Israel Josh 9.3 c. See the issue of their composition first they are both accursed and inthraled even by those with whom they made their league Saith Joshua to them when he had spied their Cap. Now therefore yee are accursed ver 23. and there shall none of you be freed from being bond-men and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the House of my God And afterward King Saul he doth massacre or slay them in his zeale to the children of Israel and Judah 2 â—am 21.2 Let all the English Gibeonites of these times looke for the like reward in the latter end and remember still that theirs was slavery and slaughter In a word the greatest favour that such Newters may expect can be but this they may finde so much favour as to be eaten last and to be served in for the murtherers second course That is the next Motive Thirdly Motive 3 Consider that the Lord can and will effect this great worke without us but then it shall be to our greater cost and damnage Est 4.14 This was another of Mordecais arguments to Queene Esther For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time then shall their inlargement and Deliverance arise to the Jewes from another place but thou and thy fathers House shall be destroyed Let me clap this spurr in the sides of every dull and unactive person that heares me this day the Lord will never be bassed in his worke but yet thou and thine may be ruined for not conferring your help Our backwardnesse may hinder our selves though it be not an hinderance to the worke See an example to this purpose in the cold reward of fearefull Barak he had a faire prophesie and promise Judg 4. to incourage him to goe against Sysera the Captaine of Jabins army but he is timerous and durst not to adventure himselfe alone but will have Deborah a woman to goe with him or else he will not go ver â— Now what doth the Lord loose ver 5. or Barak gaine by this fearefullnesse Surely the Lords worke is done neverthelesse ver 23. For God subdued on that day Jabin the King of Canaan But Baraks wages they are much the lesse I will surely goe with thee saith Deborah notwithstanding the journey which thou takest shall not be for thine honour ver 9. for the Lord shall sell Sysera into the hand of a woman A just and proportionable punishment if Barak will play the woman by his fearefullnesse and will needs have a woman to goe with him most just it is that a woman should take the honour of the day from him Sam. 15. â— Take but one president more to fortifie this Motive the man is King Saul he is commanded to destroy Amalek utterly but he doth this work of the Lord negligently and spareth King Agag and the best of the spoyle What 's the issue ver 33. ver 28. Is Agags life saved by this meanes No but the sword of Samuell cuts him off Or is King Saul a gainer by his remissenesse No but it costs him his Crowne and Scepter So our cowardise and negligence about the publicke worke at this time though it cannot hinder the Lord yet may it prejudice and undoe both our selves and our posterityes Fourthly Motive 4. Consider the opportunity of this season and our honourable priviledge in being brought forth at such a time Est 4 14. This is Mordecais last argument
our fâ—ees to our feet Yea let us thus goe up seven times 〈◊〉 seven times a day and perhaps even our pray 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 may raise that cloud whose drops may refresh and make glad the City of God Thus there must be 1. Supplications 2. Prayers 3. Intercessions made for Kings c. but we must adde 4. Thanksgivings too These are a meanes to water all the former three branches and to cause them to grow and speed the better The Lord takes prayses for an honour Whoso offereth me thanks and praise he honoureth me Psal 50 〈…〉 1 â—â—m 2 v. 30. and those that honour him he will honour them againe But I have spoken of this particular before So much concerning the sorts of Prayer 2. The scope and matter both to be contained in those prayers of ours for them viz. 1. Godlinesse with Quietnesse Bonum spirituale c. 2. Honesty in Peace Bonum Politicum Civile 1. Bonum spirituale Ecclesiasticum Quietnesse with Godlinesse Follow peace with all men and Holinesse Heb. 12. v. 14. without which no man shall see the Lord. We must so follow peace as we may keep our selves in sight and within the limits of holinesse but no farther and sofarre we must follow it in the first place This must stand in the front of our prayers Pray for Kings first c. that they may be instruments of spirituall good unto us Religion is the very soule of our soules that one thing absolutely necessary and therefore the promotion and promoters of this doe both need and deserve the prime of our supplications And in the next place Honesty i. publique private politique morall honesty is to be remembred and furthered by our fervent and sensible petitions The sword of Civill justice doth guard our Religion as that flaming sword did keep the Tree of life in Paradise Gen. 3 v. 24. And he placed at the East of the garden of Eden Cherubins and a flaming sword which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life This office of the Parliamentary Cherubins must in the second place be promoted by our prayers So much touching Generall Lessons and Directions But by this time me thinks I see and heare diverse particular rankes of people flocking to me and enquiring of me Luk. 3. v. 10. veâ— 12.14 as the People the Publicanes and the Souldiers did of Iohn Baptist what shall we doe that is what speciall Lessons can you give us what distinct taskes can you set us that so each person may be holily and loyally active for the furtherance of the great good worke in these times of publique hope and hazard Brethren I shall endeavour as the Baptist did to give every one his portion and that streame of exhortation which hitherto I have carried in a common and generall Channell I shall now sluce out into diverse lesser and particular rivelets that so all ranks of persons may be watered and made fruitfull And 1. Let me have leave to speake to Magistrates I beseech all those which are in authority and office to heare me a few words patiently I would not presume to teach or prescribe any thing in your spheares above mine owne neither doe I peremptorily taxe you of any speciall default or transgression My full purpose and desire is so to carry my selfe in this Exhortation to you as young Timothy is licensed by Saint Paul to carry himselfe towards those Brethren 1 Tim 4.6 If thou put the Brethren in remembrance of these things thou shalt be a good Minister of Iesus Christ nourished up in the words of Faith and of good Doctrine So there is something of which to put you in remembrance I conceive it my duty The summe in short is this That all Magistrates and Officers in this place and elsewhere wauld be pleased to Countenance Promote and Second all Parliamentary Edicts and proceedings Brethren ye are unto the Common people at this time â—n respect of the Parliament as those spyes sent to Canaan were to the Congregation of Israel your relations and speeches may bring up either an evill or a good report upon that great Councell and their proceedings 〈◊〉 14 2. 6 7 8 9. You know how some of the spyes did cause a murmuring against Moses and Aaron whereas Caleb and â—oshuah because they had another Spirit and followed the Lord fully did endeavour to appease and satisfie them and for this faithfulnesse they had a great reward 〈…〉 2. In this Exhortation I doe not accuse you of negligence but rather doe commend all your former diligence herein Qui monet ut sacias c. He that exhorteth to a duty done already his exhortation is no lesse then a commendation And this I adde that ye cannot lightly be too zealous in this point O what a goodly sight is it Brethren when the Mountaines doe bring peace and the little hills righteousnesse unto the people Ps 7 2.3 The words are found in the old translation the hymne is intituled A Psalme for Solomon That is when David the sweet singer of Israel had resigned his Kingdome to his sonne Solomon and was going out of the world then Swan-like he warbled forth that Prophesy of Christ and direction of Solomon for governement Oh that all our Governours would thus obey it Now the Mountaines above those supreme highest Mountaines are bringing forth peace to the people what a blessed sight would it be now to see the little hills the subordinate hillocks of authority in every County City Parish to beare their severall extraordinary crops of Righteousnesse also Am. 5.24 To see judgement runne downe as water and righteousnesse as a mighty streame Nay Ps 133 2. to see it runne down like Aarons oyntment which being powred on the head ranne downe upon the beard and from thence to the very skirts of his garment But remember I said 1. Countenance 2. Promote 3. And Second I shall speake a word severally of each for your more cleere and full information 1. Countenance all Parliamentary edicts and proceedings True it is that that supreme Court of the Kingdome doth nor need nor feare in respect of it selfe the best or worst that all subordinate Officers or Authority can doe concerning it no 't is as farre above their reach as the Sunne in the Firmament is above all the Meteors here below but yet in respect of the lower region of people the Common multitude as I said so Magistrates and men in Office here may either cloud and blacken this sunne by their discountenancing or cleere and strengthen its beames by their well reporting of those proceedings to the vulgar As we said before concerning the spyes sent to Canaan some of them disgraced the land flowing with milke and honey Ye Magistrates and men in great places are betwixt people and Parliament as the Medium betwixt the eye and the object or as the glasse through which a man lookes out and beholds
which would have bin just as he said Plusquam civilia betwixt Brethren wars with those whose fidelity and loyalty we are now commanded to proclaime to all the world And on the other-side we may we must lay open all the Zibas Doegs and Hamans which were Incendiaries to those Commotions O give me leave here to digresse a little for joy is an excursive affection You know how Ziba by his slander upon Mephibosheth did gaine all his Lands for a while 2 Sam. 16.3 4. yea and Mephibosheth during that time is accounted by king David little lesse than a Traitor 2 Sam. 19.24 c. but at last truth that is strong doth prevaile the slander is discovered and the poore honest mortified loyall Mephibosheth is found to have bin the Kings constant good friend and true Subject So though Doegs villany did succeed a while to the destruction of many of the Lords Priests as conspiratours with David Psa 52. yet at last a prayer full charged with curses and heaviest imprecations is let fly after the accuser and doubtlesse did overtake him in due time Est 3.8 9. c. because it proceeded from the Spirit of the Lord. But the example of Hamans sinne and punishment is for our purpose more remarkable then both the former He had accused bought and begg'd of King Ahashuerus the whole Nation of the Jewes his pretence was ver 12. because they were a scattered dangerous factious and rebellious people The Decree for their destruction was written by the Kings Scribes sealed with his ring and the letters for dispatch were sent by Postes into all the Kings Provinces ver 13. to destroy to kill and to cause to perish all Jewes c. But what 's the issue Est 6. Surely on Hamans part it is two-fold First Haman is commanded by the same King publikely to honour Mordecai in person ver 10. Then the King said to Haman make haste and take the apparell and the horse as thou hast said and doe even so to Mordecai the Jew that sitteth at the Kings gate let nothing faile of all that thou hast spoken Then tooke Haman the apparell and the horse and arraied Mordecai and brought him on horsback through the street of the City and proclaimed before him Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the King delighteth to honour ver 11. Let us but imagine with our selves how scurvily did Haman looke when like a page he did lacky along before Mordecai's horse yea and how faintly and unmusically did he sigh out that Proclamation Thus shall it be done unto the man c. This was the first issue But the second the Catastrophe of all was more sad Est 7.10 Est 8.2 for Haman supplieth the place of Mordecai upon his owne gallows whilst Mordecai fils up Hamans roome in the Court and favour of the King So true is that Proverbe of the Spirit of God by the wise man Pro. 11.8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble and the wicked cometh in his stead But to returne from this digression to my Antideliverances again and to expostulate the matter with them more fully I must tell them yet farther that they are guilty of a double transgression for 1. First they are ingratefull both to the Lord and to his choyce instruments they doe trample unparalel'd Nationall mercies under foot and so are unworthy to breath in these blessed times which we see Is this your thankfullnesse to the Lord the King and the supreame Councell of the Kingdome all which doe deserve your praises and selves for their protection wisdome and watchfullnesse over us or what els thinke you are not King and Parliament so wise so Orthodox so well affected to the publike good as your selves Shall the Lord shew his speciall providence in an astonishing Deliverance shall the greatest in the Land acknowledge it and shall publike command be given to proclaime it and yet will nay durst ye still to bite the lip to shake the head or to grumble secretly at such proceedings Brethren I speak to all true Protestants and cordiall Subjects I charge you by your thankfullnesse and by all the mercies lately received that ye observe marke out and pursue lawfully to the uttermost all such murmurers and repiners at the present blessings of Deliverance and Reformation They are Ingratefull in a high measure 2. Secondly they are no friends to our greatest good neither for who are they which doe now suffer but Delinquents and Delinquencies Who are they which do pursue but the justice of God and man Again what is it that is now laboured for by those great Steers-men above but to stablish and defend true Religion Soveraignty Laws Parliaments and Liberties And yet we have men who either expresly or about the bush dare tell the people of a kind of persecution afflictions hard times now and I know not what And indeed it is common with men-slayers and fellons to account the publike Assizes a time of afflictions Yea with all Delinquents the execution of Justice is nick-named a persecution and is it imaginable then that this Tribe can give hearty thanks for the present worke of Deliverance Note them out therfore for men of corrupt minds back-friends yea back-biases to the weal-publike and such to whom our gladnesse is but their sadnesse Rumpatur quisquis rumpitur invidia In a word do but marke my Brethren what persons Lay or Clergy are most dull and backward to the means and pieces of this Reformation as first To dayes of publike humiliation injoyned Next to the late Vow and Protestation and finally to this last duty of publike joy and thankesgiving but on the contrary are very quick free and forward to promote or favour Arminian Antisabbatarian licentious papers pamphlets or practises mark these and then ye have found them ten to one which I call Anti-Deliverancers Anti-Reformists 2. Vse Let this presse us closely even all good Protestants and Subjects to set our selves seriously upon this worke namely the Accurate observation and remembrance of our now astonishing Deliverances Those words of Moses to Israel Deut 4 32. may be mine to England touching our present mercies Aske now of the dayes that are past which were before thee since the day that God created man upon Earth and aske from the one side of Heaven unto the other all former times and all other places whether there hath beene any such thing as this great thing is or hath beene heard like it Did ever people heare the voyce of God speaking out of the midst of the fire the late kindled fire of Civill warrs as thou hast heard and live ver 33. ver 34. Or hath God assaied to goe and take him a Nation from the midst of another Nation a Nation of Protestants out of a Nation of Papists by temptations by signes and by wonders and by warre and by a mighty hand and by a stretched out arme and by
with Amalek in Rephidim though Moses Aaron and Hur were not with Joshuab in the battell yet their lives liberties and Religion lay at the same stake as much as his or any mans else in the Campe. And upon this ground it was 1 Sam. 30. that David returning with victory over those Amalekites which had spoyled Ziklag alotted as great a share to those which tarryed by the stuffe ver 24. as to them who went to battell As his part is that goeth downe to the battell so shall his part be that tarryeth by the stuffe they shall part alike Brethren this is a true rule concerning all publike hazards and contestations of or for the true Church whether by Armes or by Counsells every member doth share both in the good and evill successes This is the argument with which Mordecai doth presse Esther so closely to adventure her selfe for the deliverance of the Iewes Esth 4. v. 13. Thinke not with thy selfe that thou shalt escape in the Kings house more then all the Iewes i.e. True thou art the Kings wife but yet being a Iew the Iewish case concerneth thee also so as if the Iewes are cut off the destruction will find out thee even in the Royall Palace Thus the great Counfell of this Kingdome now assembled doth neerely concerne every member of the Church and State There is not the poorest Mechanick nay childe or servant that hath an estate a body or a soule but behold they all doe lye now at stake therefore it behoves every member to bestirre himselfe to the uttermost 2. They must sirre at such times Reason 2 because it seemes that then is Gods time when he is neere them for their good There is a time and a season saith the Preacher for every action and to misse that time is dangerous A time to kill Eccles 3. v. 1. to 8. and a time to heale a time to breake downe and a time to build up a time to get and a time to lose a time to keepe and a time to cast away Man also knoweth not his time as the fishes that are taken in an evill net Eccles 9. v. 12. and as the birds that are caught in the snare so are the sonnes of men snared in an evill time when it falleth suddenly upon them Thus not only private persons but even whole Nations and States have their good times in which helpe deliverance and reliefe are offered unto them from the Lord in which there is great likelihood of obtaining pardon and purging both in Religion and Lawes Beloved such a season is it for England every time that God and the King doth give us an happy and peaceable meeting in Parliament Pro 11. v. 14. Pro. 24. v. 6. as 't is said Where no counsell is the people fall but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety And by wise counsell thou shalt make thy warre and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety Joh 5. v. 4. Therefore that is one speciall season We reade of the poole of Bethesda that an Angell went downe at a certaine season into the poole and troubled the water whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had If a sicke man had stepped into that poole before the Angell stirred the waters he should have found none efficacy in them or if he had delayed long after then it would have bin too late the only proper season was first after the troubling of the water Such seasons are there for whole States to step in and be healed 3. Reason 3 Every true member must then bestirre it selfe because afterwards it may be too late to stirre When Esaus birth-right was sold Heb. 12. v. 16 17 Gen. 27. v. 3â— 37. his teares came too late When the blessing was gone then his prayers teares and venison came too late Thus a Nation also may overstand the day of their peace both in respect of spirituall and politke happinesses So Ierusalem Luk. 19. v. 42. If thou hadst knowne even thou at least in this thy day c. Whilst Prophets could and did prophesy in Ierusalem whilst men of Counsell and Armes remained in her and had liberty and encouragement so long she was in a faire way and then prayers humiliations informations c. might happily have done her some good but at last the case was altered for those able pillars were taken away Behold Isa 3. v. 1. ver 2. the Lord the Lord of hosts doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staffe The mighty man and the man of warre the Iudge and the Prophet and the prudent and the ancient the Captaine of fifty ver 3. and the honourable man and the Counseller and the cunning Artificer and the eloquent Oratour Whilest these great helpes remained with them perhaps as I said use of meanes might have done some good But now that the yron is cold 't is too late to strike Therefore pray not thou for this people Jer. 7. v. 16. neither lift up a cry nor prayer for them c. These three Reasons proove it sufficiently That in times of solemne Contestation c. 1. REPROOFE Application Vse 1 This doth command me to rebuke sharply divers sorts of Offenders against this rule but especially these two those that are Carelesse or Opposites in such a time 1. The Carelesse which scarcely take notice of such golden opportunities and seasons As the bruit-beasts know no difference betwixt working-dayes and the Sabbath but only by their ease and rest So there is a generation of bruitish people who take little notice or regard of Warrs or Parliaments but only so farre as may touch their present sensuall particulars Acornes they can taste like Swine but as for Oakes from whence they dropp those Trees are too high for their crooked and stooping thoughts to contemplate The state of Religion and the weale-publicke are things which the greater number of people thinke least upon but doe say that they must leave the former to Church-men and the latter to Counsellours of State just like those sottish Russians the common-people of Muscovy of whom it is said that if you aske them but an ordinary question touching their Religion or laws the answer is God and our great Duke doe know all things they can tell Brethren as I would not have meane men to go above their latchet as they say that is to seeke to know above that which is meet for them both in affairs of Church and Common-wealth so I beleeve that even private persons may sin greatly by too much ignorance of publike affaires especially in these times when as we hope the Carpenters are cutting off those hornes which have scattered Judah Those two Disciples going to Emmaus Zech 1.20 21. seemed to reprove our Saviour not knowing him to be our Saviour because he made himselfe ignorant of the great new affairs
silent Oration unto them and did signifie as much as this speech Looke hither O ye Hebrewes and beehold the Ensigne of the Lords presence and assistance this this is that rod which in my hand by his power did bring all those plagues upon Aegypt and at last paved your way and the Aegyptians Sepulchers Heb 1.12 in the waters remember therefore that the Lord is still the same and his yeeres doe not faile What is this Amalek more then Aegypt that they should be able to stand before this God this Rod this Israel So much for Explanation In the Division of the words two parts offer themselves Division First here is Moses his posture and this is set downe Positively the lifting up of his hand Privatively the letting of it downe Secondly the different issues or effects of both those for when Moses held up his hand Israel prevailed and when he let downe his hand Amalek prevailed Secondly the Doctrine which I called the Praecepta and it shall be the sap or quintessence distil'd out of all these branches thus unfolded it must be this DOCTRINE In times of solemne Contestation Doct. when the true Church lyes at stake every right member ought to bestirre it selfe in it's behalfe to the uttermost In the compleat handling of this point we ought to observe 1. The Explanation 2. The Confirmation 3. The Application thereof In times of solemne Contestation that is Explanation when there is any publike striving or bickering whether by warre as in my Text. Or by Counsells as in Parliament When David is against Goliah 1 Sam. 17. 2 Sam. 17. and Hushai against Achitophel then when all this lyeth at stake and the game is playing as it were it behoves every true naturall spirituall sonne to lay about him in the use of all Religious or Politike meanes lawfull to helpe heave or draw a pound for raising of the Bell and for evening of the Scales To the uttermost That is he must leave as we say no stone unturned no poole unfished no meanes unassayed that might further the worke of deliverance Whatsoever his heart head tongue hand or relations can doe holily loyally that must he try use and improve with all his might Thus was it with those in this Text and Chap. Joshuah and his chosen men being fit for warre they doe fight against Amalck in the Valley Moses Exod. 7. v. 7. a man too old for Armes being now above fourescore yet thinks himselfe not too aged to pray and give aim but up he climes to the top of an hill and there shakes a Rod though he cannot brandish a sword Next Aaron and Hur a paire of aged fathers though unable to fight nor may they hold up the Rod yet something they will be doing for the furtherance of victory they will helpe him that helps Joshua they will assist at the third hand and doe stay up the hands of Moses when they had put a stone under him We may see it proved in Scripture in case of divers Domestick factions arising against the truth Confirmation Looke we first upen that faction of Saul against David It was an hot persecution of the Hauke and his fawning Spannills against a poore Partridge in the Moutaines David and his adherents are taken for a pack of Rebels and the priests of Nob though innocent are executed as Conspirators with him 1 Sam 22. v. 13 yet the famous faithfull ones of the land did stand to David and for him even in his lowest ebbs and estate 1 Sam. 19. v 18 1 Sam. 22. v. 5. 1 Sam. 20. Samuel himselfe doth shelter him then at Naioth in Ramah Gad the Prophet giveth him counsell Yea true hearted Jonathan himselfe doth against his owne profit covenant with him and affords him continuall helpe and intelligence So in the time of Absolons treacherous combination against King David and the loyall party that were with him how neere had they carried it having on their side Achitophel the Oracle stout Amasa the generall and other able heads hearts and hands But even then 2 Sam. 15.19 ver 23. ver 24 32. 2 Sâ— 17.27 c. 2 Sam. 19.24 there was many a faithfull Israelite that did bestirre himselfe to the uttermost as Ittai the Gittite and all the Country thereabouts also Zadok Abiathar and the Levites Hushai the Archite with Shobi Machir Barzillai and Mephibosheth But a more cleere instance was the condition of the Church of Israel in the time of the faction of Baals Prophets they carried all smoothly before them it was hard for a man to find a knee that had not bowed unto Baal 1 King 19.10 1 King 18. In a word Elijah orthodox and zealous Elijah now thought himselfe left alone but therefore how doth this Eliiah bestirre himselfe to the uttermost ver 38. he doth as it were tunne through sire and water he brings downe fire upon the Altar he procureth raine from Heaven ver 44. Yea in that Chapter he is the death of Eight hundred and fifty false Prophets 450. Prophets of Baal ver 40. and 400. Prophets of the Grove Our last instance let be the case of the Jewes in Esthers time their condition was little better then desperate Esth 3.10 11 12 13 c. proud Haman had beg'd or rather bought the whole people of the Jewes the decree for their execution is signed and sent by posts c. But now how doth every true member in Shushan and else where bestirre themselves Esth 4. v. 1. ver 3. ver 7 8. ver 13 14 First Mordecai at Shushan Next the rest of the Iewes in other Provinces doe the like Also Mordecai informeth Queene Esther by Hatach and presseth her vehemently untill he obtaineth Yea Esther her selfe how doth she though the weaker vessell adventure upon the wrath of a King Pro. 19. v. 12. which is as the roaring of a Lyon Thus in times of publike Comestation that is of hope and hazard perill and possibility every true member ought to bestirre it selfe to the uttermost This truth may be confirmed and bound with no lesse then a three-fold cord of Argument which may not easily be broken 1. Reason 1 Is because every true member hath a share in that publike stake when the Church is in Contestation By Church still I meane that party whether many or few rich or poore which hold fast the purity of Doctrine and powerfull practice of godlynesse Jude v. 3. Jude calleth salvation the common salvation It is true of the doctrine of salvation that is to all true Christians as a Common field to all the tenants in a Parish or Mannor every Free-holder or Copy-holder hath his share and portion therein Quaedam universitatis sunt saith the Civil Law somethings are every mans as the sea-shore the fish of the sea and the like good reason therefore that every true member should bestirre themselves to the uttermost for this common inheritance When Israel fought