spare Ninive that great Citie wherein are six score thousand persons not discerning between the right hand and the left It is never in vaine to humble our selves and call upon the Lord the promise is o Psal 91.15 He will heare and deliver Those many good things which by this meanes the Saints have obteined may confirm us in the truth of it not to instance in Moses Joshua Samuel David and Salomon by this meane p 2 King 19.15 Hezekiah did turne that evill thought of Senacherib away from his Land and people by these very weapons St q 2 Cor. 6.6 Paul oppugned his enemies by this the good r Euseb de vira Constant lib. 1. c. 11. Constantius was said to strengthen his familie and Å¿ Lib. 4. c. 14. Constantine the Great his Son did hereby fortifie all his Empire How frequent were the primitive Saints in this meanes against the Propositions of Christ and his Gospell When Arrius the Heretique having an injunction of the Emperour for it would needs come to the Communion t Socrat. hist Eccles 1. c. 25. Alexander the good Bishop did betake himselfe to abstinence and fasting did pray Christ Jesus to take the matter into his owne hand which accordingly was graunted unto him to the destruction of the Heretique both in body and soule Long since this in later ages that worthy member of Jesus Christ Martin Luther perceiving the doctrine of the Gospell to be brought into a great streite strong opposition being made against it by the enemies thereof he flies to his God layes hold upon him by faith and offereth violence to him by prayer never leaveth wrestling with him untill he received coÌ„fort from him at length rising up cheerfully from his devotion comes out of his closet triumphantly to his fellow-labourers saying Vicimus We have overcome At which time u Ioh. Sleidan in Comment Sleidan observeth that there came out a Proclamation from Charles 5 that none should be further molested for the profession of the Gospell Every age affordeth many examples of Gods gracious assistance in the conscionable use of this meanes when great matters are to be effected Motives sufficient in these times to stirre us up to the performance of this dutie which is the first I here positively commend unto your Christian practice viz. A generall humiliation 2. By a particular Reformation when every man and woman in their own private persons shall endeavour to amend what they finde amisse and reform themselves in their personall corruptions so every one amending one it will be a speedie way to accomplish the reformation of all Now what these corruptions are you yourselves best know your own consciences being throughly acquainted with the sundrie passages of your conversation for my part I could be content not to tell them in w 2 Sam. 1.20 Micah 1.10 Gath nor yet declare them in the streets of Askelon but the Lord willeth that we x Isa 58.1 crie aloud and spare not that we lift up our voice like a trumpet and shew his people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins He hath somewhat against every inhabitant of this great Island even from y Which were the utmost Townes bounding the Land of Palestina from North to South Dan. viz. Ab Aquilone Bersheba versus Meridiem Petr. Martyr in 1 Sam. 3.20 Piscat Schol. in loc Dan to Bersheba from the point of Catnesse to the cape of St. Burien from the King that sitteth in the throne to the maid that grindeth at the Mill from the Cedar to the shrub from the Eagle to the Wren from the highest to the lowest from the youngest to the oldest from the richest to the poorest we have all z Gen. 6.12 corrupted our wayes Aegrotat humanum genus as a Serm. 6. de verb. Domini Austin speaks we are all sick with sin and overgrown with heaps of vices as was b Cicer. Tusc quaest lib. 5. Archimedes tombe with thorns when Cicero came to visit it I cannot rip up neither am I acquainted with all the particulars of our national sins time and your patience would prevent me if I should but reckon up so many as deserve our speediest reformation as our transcendent pride unmercifull oppression cruell extortion over-mercifull connivence to sin open prophanenesse wastefull prodigalitie insatiable avarice symonaicall sacriledge unbridled luxurie beastly drunkennesse bloodie treacherie slanderous detraction cunning fraud envious underminings ambitious temporizings and such like together with coldnesse in zeal contempt of Gods Word profanation of his Sabbaths neglect of his Sacraments and what not to name all were impossible We need rather tears to bewail them then a tongue to report them for every one of them threatens our destruction thwarts our hopes hinders our proceedings disturbes our peace heartens our enemies displayes our weaknesse and will in the end if not amended make us a fearfull spectacle of Gods justice Oh blame me not for discovering the wretched nakednesse of this sinfull Nation I know indeed complaints howsoever they may be just yet they are seldome pleasing but now not more unpleasing then necessarie and therefore I could yet be more particular Is it not before the Lord whom I speak Is not Gods hand in those judgements which hang over our heads Is it for nothing that we are circuled round with so many eminent dangers that the glory of this our Kingdom which not long ago was so resplendent that it dazled the eyes of such as were neer or about it hath been of late so darkly ecclipsed that God goes not forth with our Armies but suffers our enemies to prevail that our friends wonder and our foes rejoyce at our ill successe hissing and clapping their hands to see our glory swallowed up that our own swords are daily threatned to be drawn against us and the unnatural brood of our own nests readie to bite out our bellies All which are infallible tokens that God is highly displeased with us is there not a cause then that we enquire that I crie Do I alone speak of these things have not the Turtles of this land in every corner therof groaned out the sad tunes of woe and miserie Is it not the usuall subject of your publique Sermons in this Citie hath not God so guided the hearts and tongues of his faithfull Ministers that almost all of them even as one man do constantly crie out with that c Ioseph li. 7. â—e bell lud â—â— 12 Jesus the son of Anani a little before the destruction of Jerusalem wo to England and the Inhabitants thereof by reason of such outragious wickednes as doth every where abound amongst them These sad complaints occasioned by our presumptuous sins are manifest symptomes of some greater evill that will certainly follow as the cracking of the house is the fore-warning of his fall these be but the flashing lightnings the thunderbolt of destruction will come suddenly after unlesse by our
as to shuffle out ours and to bring all to theirs or at leastwise to set us together by the cares that so they may the better work their advantage Which was the plot of Julian the Apostata as St. u Augu. Epist 166. Augustine reports of him having a desire to set all Christendome in combustion cast a fire-ball of contention amongst them by proclaiming libertie to all heretiques and schismat ques to set abroach their damnable doctrine hoping thereby utterly to extinguish the name of Christians True it is we are too too faultie iâ— this kind and whether I may say through the subtiltie of our seducing adversaries or through the too much connivencie of those which hitherto have sate in the seats of Justice suffering the wholsome Laws and Statutes ordained for the suppressing of all heresie and superstition to rust as the w Habemus senatus consultuÌ„ velut gladium in vagina reconditum Cic. orat 1. in Catil Oratour speaketh like swords in the scabards and never draw them forth against the sworn enemies of our Church and State I say whether by means of either of these or as it s most likely by both of them so it is that if you would seek the religion of all Heretiques here you may find them in this Kingdom insomuch that England as sometimes a Member of the House of Commons in a Speech of his hath of late declared is like to turn it self into a great Amsterdam there is amongst us a confusion of religions as there was in Babel of languages Ah and alas that this Land which heretofore hath been a Sanctuarie for true Religion a refuge and shade in the heat of the day for persecuted professors who have been chased like Bees from their own hives should now become a common receptacle for Atheists Anabaptists Adamites Famalists Neuters Hypocrites luke-warme professors and Popish wanderers can he be safe in the tolleration of all these religions will the Lord hold any Prince or State guiltlesse which permit a pollution of his name as the worship of a false god or the false worship of the true God is a pollution of his Name as himself hath y Ezec. 20.39 declared He is a jealous God and will not endure any rivals z Theod. l. 6. ca. 4. Valentinian the Emperour when his Souldiers had chosen him consulted to have joyned another with him No faith he it was in your power to give me the Empire while I had it not but now when I have it it is not in your power to give me a partner God will have the whole and cannot endure that our hearts should be divided between him and another if we do he will cut us off from the land of the living as he threatneth Zeph 1.5 Is not our Religion the foundation that even beareth up the whole frame and fabrick of State and can it be possible for a building to stand upon three or foure foundations Religion it is the soul which animateth the great body of the Common-wealth and will not that body prove a monster that shall be informed with divers souls The Church and common-wealth have but one center every new motion therefore in the one must needs make a commotion in the other for as one a Revel 12.7 heaven held not Michael and the Dragon in peace nor one house the b 1 Sam. 5.2 3. Arke and Dagon nor one c Gen. 25.22 wombe Jacob and Esau nor one d Ioh. 2.16 Temple Prayer and Marchandizing nor one e Numb 5.2 lampe the clean and leprous nor one f Euseb Eccle. li. 2. ca. 22. bath John and Corinthus no more can this Kingdom an hotch-porch of religions when one Congregation shall be Jews another Samaritanes one Papists another Protestants some calling upon God some upon Angels and Saints creeping to Crosses bowing to Images and so burning in emulation for their severall services as fire and water shall sooner agree then these accord in their judgements and affections about a reformation It was therefore good advice and sage counsell which Maecenas gave to Augustus to punish severally all innovations in matter of Religion g Non solum Deorum causased quia nova quedam numina â—â—â—tales inducentes multos impellunt ad rerum mutationem Non solum Deorum causa c. not onely out of a regard of piety but also for reason of State And h Quod filentium â—ereticis indixerit Niceph l. 12. c. 15. Theodosius is commended for putting all Heretiques to silence Assuredly the body and state is then strongest when the multitude of beleevers like those in the Acts shall be of i Act. 4.32 one heart and of one soul Beware then of sundring and distracting your selves into many religions turn neither to the one hand nor to the other but keep you close to the true Religion I but in these troublesome times you desire to know which is the true I must confesse indeed that we may truly and justly complain with Calvin k Hoc nostrum seculum borrenda quedam sectarum portexta protulit Calvin in 1 Ioh. 4.1 This our age hath brought forth strange monsters of heresies and some none of the worst nor meanest neither out of their just and great hatred to Superstition have overshot themselves and run into extreames Now it is no slight stratagem of Satan as a l Dr. Featly Serm. in 2 Cor. 2.11 learned man yet living hath demonstrated to bring us from one extream to another and so by over reaching against heresie and superstition to wrong the true Religion as St. Augustine in his zeal against the Pelagians who sleightned Baptisme went too far in urging the necessitie thereof pronouncing all children that died unbaptized to be damned and how many are there amongst us saith mine Author who out of hatred of the Antichristian tyrannie condemne all Ecclesiasticall Hierarchy out of detestation of superstitious rites dislike even decent ceremonies in opposition to garish and idolatrous trimming of Temples are brought to disallow all cost in adorning and beautifying Christian Churches This is not the truth In medio consistit veritas errours in doctrine may be in both extreames and truth in the middle As men therefore when they passe over a narrow bridge if they be be not exceeding carefull when the body swayeth or the foot slippeth one way by hastily leaning too far the other they may irrecoverably fall therefore the m Medio tutissinius this middle way is the safest Even so in this case Tertullian to find out the true Religion would have us fix our eyes upon that n Quod Ecclesia ab Apostolis Apostoli à Christe Chrisus à Dâ—o didiâ—â—t Tertul. de praescript ca. 21. 37. which the Church hath received from the Apostles the Apostles from Christ and Christ from God This was that which our Church of England resolved upon in her first reformation in the dayes of Edward the sixth
DEMETRIVS HIS OPPOSITION TO REFORMATION A SERMON VERY NECESSARIE FOR THESE TIMES As it was delivered this last VVinter before a great Assemblie in the City of LONDON By John Tillinghast sometimes Rector of Tarring-Nevill now Rector of Streate in the County of SUSSEX LONDON Printed by T. P. and M. S. for Andrew Kembe at St. Margarets hill in Southwark 1642. TO THE TRVLY VERTVOVS RIGHT HONORABLE AND Noble Lady IS ABELL Countesse of HOLLAND And to the most Religious Right Honorable and truly Noble LETICE Lady PAGET Baronesse of Beaudesert RIght Honorable and gracious Ladies when importunitie had so far prevailed as to suffer this Copie to passe the Presse my resolution was to send it forth under the shelter of your Noble persons my presumption herein soaring so high in the dedication was not a little emboldned by the generall and constant Fame of your Honours Heroicall and Benigne dispositions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Laert. lib. 6. who according to that of Antisthenes that vertue and true Nobilitie go together labour to excell other in goodnesse of mind as greatnesse of place Indeed I must confesse when I duely consider the greatnesse of your excellent persons and the sublimitie of your unspotted Honors I much condemne my self of boldnesse but on the other side recounting the magnificence of your bountie and the humanitie of your Noble dispositions I cannot but blame my self of slownesse in not labouring sooner to expresse my thankfulnesse I have long purposed to offer unto your Honors some poore token of that dutie which that underserved favour conferd upon me by both your Noble persons absque ullo commerito without any desert in the world tyes me unto the remembrance whereof cannot be buried in silence without the just aspersion of shamefull Ingratitude and should ere this time have been more really manifested in some present of far greater value if mine abilities would have reacht unto it â—orat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—azianz â—cra gratulaâ—o reprehendi â—n solet 〈◊〉 c. Epist 7. 〈◊〉 2. but alas the best requitals that we poore Ministers can make to our Noble deserving friends for their undeserved favours Sunt verba voces as the Poet speaks in another sense are our papers and our prayers this is all we can exhibite as Nazianzen writeth to Sophronius and this kind of gratulation though it come somewhat late yet I hope shall find a candid acceptance with your Honorable persons according to the modell of the offerer not the magnitude of the receiver May it please your Honors to grace this poore piece such as it is with your favourable Patronage and to let it passe under the testimony of your pious approbation I shall have great cause to rejoyce in your devoted eminencie and never cease to enlarge my thoughts towards heaven for the continuance of the welfare and felicitie of your temporall spirituall and eternall happinesse together of all those flourishing branches and hopefull plants derived from both your Noble persons And this shall be the prayer of Your Honors most obliged and humble servant IOHN TILLINGHAST TO THE WORSHIPFVLL AND HIS MVCH RESPECTED Unkle Mr ROBERT TITCHBOURNE Deputy-Alderman in the Citie of LONDON WOrthy Sir Besides importunitie of friends that stale and common Apologie which by many is made for their appearing in Stationary view there is something else which hath cast mee on the censure of these over-criticall times in the publication of this poore Sermon and that is the unjust acception as I doubt not but the understanding Reader will so conceive it to be which was taken by some disaffected persons at the delivery of it who in open streete immediately so soone as the Sermon was finished were not ashamed to affirme that I were a mainteiner of Popish Superstition and an hatefull enemy to the Reformation upon what ground the Lord knowes if there be any just cause of offence given let them judge who shall be pleased to take the paines to reade over this following Discourse wherein so farre as I can remember I have not omitted any one thing of what was then delivered Some few passages indeed here and there are added as being forc't to cut off part of what I had determined to expresse because it was fit I should proportion my speech as neere as I could to the houre which notwithstanding upon entreatie were fully handled before another Congregation in the afternoone and so all that was at the first projected was in either of these places as you finde it here at large delivered Concerning which whatsoever the sharp and uncharitable censure of some may be I take God to witnesse whom I serve in my soule that in all singlenesse of minde out of an earnest and as I hope sincere desire and tender regard of the peace of the Church and quiet prosperitie of this Common-weale I addressed my selfe to the worke First invocating the great Name of God in my private devotions that it would please him so to sanctifie mine endeavours that something might be spoken in season for that purpose wishing unfeinedly that all wee who live in the visible Communion of the same body as brethren might also as brethren so farre as were possible a Rom. 15.6 With one minde and with one mouth glorifie God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ And therefore I shall not thinke I have laboured in â—aine seeing I assayed and endea voured to have profittâ—â— For 〈…〉 it may be with mâ—n yet sure I am with God it is as Cuptian spâ—aketh if Cyprian that b 〈…〉 Not the fruit of their Labours but the affection of mens hearts gets them respect with God And yet I am not lâ—ft altogether hopelesse of any profit that might be reaped by thâ—se â—y weake endeavours since without any affectation of publick notion or vaine glory be it spoken that which had so unjust an aspersion cast upon it by ill affected Spirits with a great deale more noise I hope then there was cause was yet notwithstanding highly applauded in the judgement of the best able hearers in the Congregation whose commendation I doube nâ—t but the judicious Reader will better c Malâ—â—â—me loâ—uuntur sed mali Movere 〈◊〉 me â—m â—ite sâ— Lelius sapiâ—â—s si duo Sâ—â—â—iones ista Loâ—uerentur nunc malis displicere laudâ—ri est Sen. de rem fort approve of then the others dispraise Besides the much solicitation of deserving persons for the making of them more publicke may give mee to thinke that they are not though weake and undigested yet altogether worthlesse whose importunitie I should have easily resisted as being conscious of mine owne meannesse and withall the great dispariritie twixt a d Haâ—er nescio quid latentis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 viva vox Hier. lively voyce and breathlesse lines had not the vindication of my Religion and profession upon so foule a scandall cald mee to it Sir J know there are a kinde of people whom the
4 5. last dayes perillous times such as the golden age never knew wherein men shall be lovers of themselves covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankefull unholy without naturall affection truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of those that are good traitors heady high minded lovers of pleasures more then levers of God Having a form of godlinesse but denying the power thereof There was indeed a time when this Kingdom fell so fast to commit wickednesse that to be ignorant of sinfull crimes was held to be a crime as q Geruasius Dorobanensis one living in those times affirmeth r Camden Britan hist Darnorum the Common-wealth was full of an infinite sort of vices the Priests were idle the people given to riot and loose life but pride above all whose waiting maid is destruction was come to a mighty head Oh that our times might not as sometime Jerusalem did Sodom justifie those times that our Nation were not the Pontificiall seat of sin where these abominations are never non-resident but such is the continuall concourse of all kinds of people from other countreys that all manner of iniquitie by a generall confluence meets here as the lines at the center Idolatry from Rome whoredomes from Venice Atheisme from Turkie drunkennesse from Germany the ambition of Spaine the pride of France and what not insomuch that I scarcely perswade my self that Sodom lieth in ashes for a greater offence then hath been found amongst us within these few dayes Whither shall a man turn his eye into what place what Profession what calling and not behold that which may truly t 2 Pet. 2.8 vex his righteous soul All these fight against Reformation and therefore the more and greater the vices are to be reformed the stronger will the opposition be 4. Last of all I would to God this work were not opposed and in some regard hindred even by some persons who I verily beleeve seek and desire it For observe it alwayes in the Churches reformation there are certain publique persons appointed and set apart by God for that purpose by whose prescripts and rules the rest of the people are to be ordered and governed as Josiah Nehemiah and others in the reformation of the Church of the Jews who made a great alteration in the face of the Church purging the Idolaters changing the office of the Levites commanding a Passe-over and under these there was an election of some eminent and able ones to further this work as in the dayes of Josiah Hilkiah was the high Priest and executed these things under him and whatsoever he enjoyned was done juxtapraeceptum Josiae c. Now then if any private person out of a forward though a misgoverned zeal as w Robert Sanderson Serm. 2. ad Clerum 3. ad Magistratum one calls it shall take upon him to reform what he thinketh amisse either in Church or State as to refuse with the publique congregation to partake in the Sacrament because some unclean persons presume to come unto it to deny the ordinary administration of it in that regard though it be probable that our Saviour suffered Judas whom he knew to be a thief and a traitor to partake of it with his disciples not to bury the dead to marry with rings and such like especially things of indifferencie which in the judgement of a great x Omnia indifferentia in Ecclefiae libertate posita sunt Calv. instit lib. 4. ca. 17. Sect. 43. Divine ought not to be ordred by one or two private persons but wholly left to the disposition of the whole Church I say for any private man to refuse these before such time as Authoritie which first enjoyned them have again repealed them I see no warrant for this their forwardnesse what is it but to execute and perform the office of a Magistrate and so go before them in this work of Reformation who are appointed for it That fact of y Numb 25.7.8 Phinehees being but a private man and no Magistrate so often objected in such cases as these makes nothing for this purpose He was indeed of the Tribe of Levi of the sons of Aaron and so of the family and linage of the high Priest therefore not to meddle in matters of Judicature either to give sentence or to do execution His fact notwithstanding approved of God and rewarded with aâ— z Vers 12.13 everlasting Priesthood it was a Psal 106.31 accounted to him for righteousnesse Yet we are to know and it is the common opinion of the learned that he had an extraordinarie notion and a peculiar secret instinct of the Spirit of God powerfully working in him and prompting him thereunto Id fit afflatu peculiari Divini Spiritus as b Simlen in Exod. 32.19 Simlenus speaks of that fact of Moses in breaking of the Tables it was done by the peculiar notion of Gods Spirit Now those opera liberi spiritus as Divines call them c Non sunt exigenda ad regulas communes nec trahenda in exemplum vitae Chytr in Gen. 14. and in Exod. 32. they are not to be measured by common rules of life nor to become exemplary unto others they were never intended either by God that inspired them or by those worthies that did them for that purpose Therefore the errour will be dangerous from the priviledge examples of some exempted ones to take libertie to transgresse the common rules both of life and of laws Let no man think I speak this to quench any mans zeal no my desire is rather to increase it and I would to God that all the sons of Levi were more earnestly zealous for the Churches pure reformation then they are that so the true worship of God may be performed without the mixture of humane corruption But what I say in this case is rather to regulate and keep us within the due bounds of Christian sobrietie and our particular callings that we may not disadvantage the truth nor this work of Reformation by an over-hastie and unseasonable zeal I know there are some who are not afraid to say though for my part I desire to judge more charitably that these men presume too much upon their own zeal and through an affectation of singularitie preach and commend themselves unto the people though in the mean time by consequence and an underhand judgement they do not onely give an occasion of an uncharitable censure upon the rest of their brethren that they are overcold in religion but also upon the Magistrate and such as are put in authoritie for the Reformation that they are too slack and unmindfull of Gods affairs Nor is it my private opinion but the opinion of the learned whose judgement in this case is not to be sleighted that such men who inconsiderately will run before those who are put in authority to effect the Reformation may as well take upon them to establish Laws raise powers administer justice execute
but reasonable take not advantage of any mans necessities and so thrust your wares upon him which have stood longer by you then the yeers of an Apprentiship watch not opportunitie to abuse the simple plainnesse of your honest customers whose apprehensions come far short of yours in the driving of a bargain But in all your trading so carry your selves as in the parting with your commodities you may still keep the peace of a good conscience You that are Masters of families and petty Kings and Priests in your own houses look to your charges with David w Psal 101.6 fix your eyes upon the faithfull in the Land that such may dwell with you and serve you Be there within the compasse of your own regiment a x 2 King 5.25 lying Jehazi or a y 2 Sam. 16.3 backbiting Ziba an z Luk. 16.6 7. unjust Steward or a a Matth. 25.26.30 wicked and unprofitable servant an Atheist a Papist a swearer a prophaner of the Sabbaths a swaggerer an uncleane person or such like endeavour by admonition and correction to reclaim them and if they prove incorrigible with b Gen. 35.2 Jacob cleanse and purge your families of them doe not suffer such to c Psal 101.7 dwell in your house Let no corruption be within your compasse connived a◠nor yet unpurged beware of giving ill example unto such as are under your charge through your loose conversation but rather endeavour to the utmost of your power by family-duties d De salute corum qui in domo tua sunt solicitus ac pervigie exist as quia pro omnibus tibi subiectis rationem Domino reddes Aug. de salut do cum ca. 29. to seeke their spirituall edification e Deut. 6.7 talke of the Lawes of GOD when you sit in your house and with f Gen. 18.19 Abraham command your children and servants to keep the way of the Lord so shall you not onely love their bodies here on earth but one day meet their souls in heave In a word Let every one that loves his Nation that favours Religion that wisheth continuance of the Gospell the prosperous proceeding of Parliament peace prosperitie unto the Kingdome reforme himselfe in his conversation and consecrate his own hands to the pulling downe of the Kingdom of sin Downe with it down with it even to the ground And this is the second positive dutie which wee must endeavour to performe if we desire to further the Reformation viz. A particular amendment in every person But now I feare me through too much prolixitie of speech I have over-boldly entrencht upon your patience the time is more than past it is most fitting we should draw to an end The zeale of Gods glory and the heartie desire of my Countreys welfare hath hitherto enlarged my discourse further then I had thought against the transgressions of the time the maine enemies of God and this Kingdome Let mee crave your attendance but to one thing more and so I shall dismisse you for this present and that is this Suppose the question which once was made by the Prophet David should now be propounded in this great Assembly g Psal 34.12 What man is he that desireth life and loveth many dayes that he may see good or that he may see good dayes as the h 1 Pet. 3.10 Apostle expresseth it following the Septuagint i.e. good and quiet dayes i Aynsworth Annotat. in Psal 3.4 dayes of prosperitie pleasure and comfort c. Such dayes wherein your consciences shall be no more enthralled to the ordinances of men wherein your zeale shall be rectified by sound knowledge wherein your Religion shall be reformed by statutes of the highest God Such dayes wherein peace being once more setled amongst us we may k 2 Sam. 7.1 every one without feare sit under our own Vines and Figtrees Such dayes wherein our Merchants may chearfully trade abroad bring home l Psal 104.15 Wines to glad our hearts and Oyle to make our face to shine Such dayes wherein our Artificers may sit at home and sing in their shops wherein our husbandmen chearfully following the plough may m Iames 5.7 sow their Corne in hope and reape with joy Such dayes wherein our n Psal 144.12 sons may be as plants growen up in their youth and our daughters may be as corner stones polished after the similitude of a Palace Such dayes wherein our o Vers 13.14 garners may be full affording all manner of store wherein our sheepe may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets wherein our Oxen may be strong to labour wherein there may be no breaking in nor going out no complaining in our streets c. I say if the question should be demanded Who would desire to see these dayes I doubt not but wee should suddenly heare a whispering noise proceed from the joyfull hearts of many here assembled I would sayes one I would sayes another yea a loud cry with an unanimous consent of all your voyces even from the Magistrate in the Pew to the Water-bearer in the Bell-fry I I I defire to see it Be silent then a while you have heard how this may be done be not covetous nor superstitious nor licētious nor yet run before those appointed in the reformation Labour to be setled in the true Religion be not divided in your affections dissent not about your Teachers humble your selves mightily before God by fasting by prawer amend every one your evill wayes Then will the Lord be mercifull to this Land he will quickly turne the sower looks of an angry and sin-revenging Judge into the smiling countenance of a mild and gentle Father he will take the rod which he hath prepared for us and burne it in the fire he will stay the stroke which is now begun in Ireland and restore to them and us our helpes againe All things shall prosper with us and nothing shall stop the current of his blessings from us he will confound our enemies by disappointing their hopes and breaking their power in sunder he will wash away all the dreggs of Popery and superstition which now oppose trouble the state of the Church of Christ he will subdue Antichrist with all his Adherents and so overthrow his purposes that his very memory shall be had in confusion Of his liberall goodnesse he will give us more of such ayde and helpe as shall be needfull to work the through reformation of our State in generall and of every one of us in particular He will goe on with that blessed worke begun in Parliament and increase the good gifts of his holy Spirit upon the happie Members of both Houses furnish them with such a measure of knowledge zeale diligence holy constancy as that they shall cleare the passage of the glorious Gospell of Jesus Christ from all disturbance build up the profession of Gods pure Religion in sinceritie and stablish the civill regiment of this Common-wealth in peace equity The which God of Heaven grant for his mercies sake Jesus Christ the righteous for his merits sake the Holy Ghost the comforter for his names sake to whom be all praise power and glory now and for ever Amen FINIS