hope will his head and hornes and heart perish did not God miraculously deliver us both in fire that hellish powderplot the devills master-peece and in water in 88. Isa 43. 2. Did he not doe as much three yeares agoe when two Israclites were contending together two sister Nations but I might in these be infinite if I looked on these two yeares last past years not as formerly of mercies but of miracles Therefore consider 2. Gods warnings to England warned us by the Ministery as to Ninoveh Ionah 3. 4. Warned us by others all the World almost on fire round about us nay warned us by visible wonders how did God warn Ierusalem ere its destruction and Germany ere its troubles with many marvelous signes and prodigies as you see of late in print and hath he not done as much for us and all these signes have voyces to warne us Exodus 4. 8. Was not that booke called the preparation to the Crosse taken out of a fishes maw at the Commencement time in Cambridge when many Ministers and others from all parts were met together a faire warning for England to prepare for the Crosse what spoke those extraordinary redoubled tides Strong birth at Stone-house neer Plymouth the exceeding strange thunders and lightning at Withcombe in Devon Octobr. 21. 1638. At Anthony in Cornwall on Whitsunday 1640. The severall stories are in print so at Chidlington in Hartfordshire at Wakefield in Yorkeshire and many other warnings from Earth Sea Heaven all c. Such as Amos 4. 6 7 9. 10 11 c. 3. Consider bleeding Ireland let that breake our hearts how many Husbands Wives Childrens Throats how many houses Families have our sinnes there cut ruined destroyed I have heard of one that espying a Woman that cut his Wife and childrens Throats he was in such exreme passion and rage that hee was struck dumbe and no wonder Oh thinke what wee have done if one from beyond Sea send any Armour or Amunition to ruine the loyall subjects and strength of England Oh how vexed and angry are we Alas wee have sent over our sinnes the worst Armour and Amunition against poore Ireland c. But the glasse is my saithfull monitor 4. Consider Englands grievous sinnes let them Iudg. 5. 8. Never was misery on the Iewes but idolatry was one or the onely Cause or as the Iewes spake in every calamity there was something of the golden Calfe melt us and now I am in a Sea I will onely heave up a drop or two 1. Grievous Idolatry a dividing sinne what caused God to divide the Kingdome of Israil into two Kindomes twixt Solomon his Sonne and servant but because Solomon divided Gods worship twixt God and idolls See 1 Kings 11. 6. 7 8. 11. Oh that we should suffer those Cananites and Perizzites of whom God hath so by fire and water warned us still to be pricks in our sides and themselves to be snares to us Iudge 2. 3. 2 Our great abuse of long peace Iudg. 3. 30. Of great plenty we waxed fat and kicked as Israel of great Gospell Rogers the first Martyr in Queene Maries dayes told Iohn Day fellow Prisoner with him and he that afterwards did print the Booke of Martyrs three strange things 1. Brother Day I shall burne at a Stake and you be delivered 2. Thou shalt live to see the Lady Elizabeth now in Prison to be Queen of England both these proved true and 3. Brother said he then tell my brethren in England unlesse they use the Gospell better then we have done there lies a heavier storme of vengeance over their heads then ever hung over ours they had six yeares Gospell in King Edward the sixrs dayes and as he said abused it so complained the exiles in Frank ford of that sinne and God sent them five yeares fiery tribulation in Queene Maries dayes we have had since eighty foure years of much more light of the Gospell Oh but I hasten to a third great sinne viz. Contempt and abuse of Gods faithfull Ministers and people is it not as in Elisha's dayes that Men Women yea little Children cry come up thou Round-head come up thou Round-head I should have said thou bald-Head 2 Kings â— 23. But take heed some she Beares or visible marks of Gods Anger seise not on thee and thine as verse 24. So abuse of Gods Ministers 2 Chronicles 36. 16. Christs Members Jewells Apple of his Eye c. Adde 4. Gur Sabbath breaking and that with Sabbath breaking was a ruâ—ner of Germany as thâ—mselves confesse and sure things never went well in England since Sabbath-breaking was tolerated and allowed authority as 2 Chronicles 36. 11. So 5. Not laying to heart the afflictions of Ioseph Amos 6. 6. And many more all these this banning damning cursing swearing whoredome with which I am loath to defile the Ayre and abuse your patience should break our hearts 5 Consider also Englands grievous rents and divisions to helpe to rend our hearts behold not onely a man of Israel and an Egyptian but Israelites coatending together of all Gods judgements Warre seems the worst and sorest witnesse Davids choyce 2 Sam. 24. 13 14. therefore it s usually mentioned the first in the ranke Ezek. 6. 11. Jerem. 44. 12 13. where Famine and Pestilence are they oftentimes hold out the sword but where the sword goes usually it brings in both the other with it but of all warre my Letany is from Civill Warre among our selves good Lord deliver us as being of all other 1. most unprofitable nothing got by fighting among our selves 2. Most unchristian for men professing the same Religion to quarrell 3. The most unnaturall father on one side Sonne on the other side Father against Sonne Sonne against Father Brother against Brother 4. Most dangerous while we contend together all of us lye open to a common enemy never was any conquest of this Land but this way 5. Most hurtfull to others while we contend wee make our selves unhelpfull to bleeding Ireland and other Churches 6. Most scandalous what will the heathen what will our enemies say Cornelius de lapide may change his note on Isai 11. Alas are not we a house divided and a Kingdome divided against our selves If we bite and devoure one another shall wee not be devoured one of another Luk. 11. 17. Gal. 5 15. When God was wont to plague his worst enemies it was with sending the spirit of division one against another and so one ruining another Judg. 7. 2 Chron. 20. Midianites Moabites Ammonites c. Nay 2. consider what great things lye now at stake not our Estates onely but Liberties nay lives how many a gallant man already slaine and many more in danger my his sacred Majesties person is in danger the breath of our nostrills c. Lam. 4. 20. A certain man may draw a bow at a venture and as soone hit the King as another man 1 Kings 22. 34. Nay danger hence to all the Protestant Churches under
to shelter them that I say not my self under all your Patronage The blessing of him that appeared in the Bush go with them and be on you who shall ever have the ferventest prayers heartiest thanks and true affections of him who is At your command in and for the service of my Master Christs JOHN SHAWE Beverley Jan. 5. 1642. TO THE CHRISTIAN READER ESPECIALLY TO THE INHABITANTS WITHIN THE TOWNE and Parish of Rotherham and others to whom the Author hath had particular relation Christian and courteous Reader IF you aske mee why first this Sermon secondly at this time thirdly in such a plaine dresse homely garbe and phrase comes now to stand in white sheetes before the publique view take my answer to each in a word To the first thus When this Sermon was preached in this place where by the providence of God I am cast at present the watery eyes attentive eares and tongues of many most begged this Secondly among other notes whether safe or lost I well know not these on the sudden I thought not unsutable to the present times To the second thus I being now absent from home found some though but little time to write over these my thoughts Againe I thought hereby somewhat to recompence my necessitated absence from mine owne people this way To the third thus I was at the preaching hereof forty miles absent from my bookes and suddenly called to this worke and had time only once to write these notes over and that in the time of no small distractions and was willing to print it as it was preached as neere as conveniently I could else I could not well have called it the same Sermon moreover I thought the plainest phrase without all curious dresse did best become these times and the day and occasion of this Sermon God grant I may do that by printing and you by reading which may keep us both from sinning and further us in the way of heart-breaking If thou either bring a broken heart to the reading of those notes or hereby doest got one their plainenesse will downe the better if neither I much regard not thy censure How-ever if thy palate be too curious I shall commend the perusall of them to others in whom I conceive my self to have some more interest as being my speciall friends at “ As Cutthorp Somersall c. Brampton in Derby-shire at Chimloigh in a As Heanton Newplace Bury Collaâ—on Rashlâ—y and M. Ro. Sk. c. Devonshire Alhallowes on the pavement in Yorke Bradfield and b To some who in these times have fled hither for refuge as the Lady M. who hath been already plundered in York of a 〈◊〉 1000. pâ—unds and â—s yet out above 700 Ald V. and divers others inhabitants also Beverley and principally my tenderly affected stock at Rotherham in Yorkshire let oh let me prevaile with all you to set after heaven with a godly violence Matth. 11. 12. Feare not the present distempers combustions rubs and troubles it is one sign Antichrist is going down he rageth so sore Rev. 12. 12. no violent thing is permanent when one works exceeding hard we say he will get done quickly dolor si gravis brevis it is but nub cula cito transitura Cheare up and courage beloved as David did in the worst times when not onely friends and goods but wives and al gone yet God was not gone 1 Sam. 30. 6. this made him and those blessed worthies to take joyfully the plundering of their goods Heb. 10. 34. heaven will pay for all ere long know that no affliction or crosse comes on us till there be great need of it for us 1 Pet. 1. 6. comes not without an everlasting knowledge and decree of God before time Act. 4. 28. Ephes 1. 5. and is ordered by Gods all-wise disposing providence in time not onely God takes care of things in heaven but on earth Psal 113. 6. not only of men on earth but beasts yea birds yea little birds yea poore sparrowes whereof two are sold for one farthing Matth. 10. 29. and five for two farthings Luk 12. 6. yea these poore birds move not hop not from bough to bough ibid. without Gods providence may takes not care only of mans essentiall or internall parts but of his very haires which are but excrements Matth. 10. 30. if a haire cannot fal from our heads without Gods providence much lesse our heads from our shoulders nor shall any of these crosses last longer then serves for our profit Hebr. 12. 10. My times are in thy hands not in mans or my enemies O Lord said David Psal 31. 15. When the sore is healed the plaster will fall off when the enemies have pushed us nigher heaven God will then knock off the horns Zach. 1. 20 21. burne the rod Isa 10. 5. What can sword or staffe do without an hand to guide it The end and issue will be happie Isa 3. 9. only be we mourners get Christs marke Ezek. 9. 4. He that hath delivered us from the Lion Rom. 8. 28. and the Beare will deliver us from this Philistine Let us pray heare reade c. but let all come from broken hearts lap up all in contrition of spirit T though we have sought long and still things seeme to go worse and worse yet see how Jacob at length not at first prevailed with the Angel Moses on the Mount Exod. 17. the importunate widow with the judge Luk. 18. 5. and 11. 8. After the Luke 11. 8. sharpest storme comes the sweetest sunshine God can make the valley of Achor for a dore of hope Hos 2. 15. Let me beg of every Christian Reader a prayer and a teare I have said let us both practise and God give a blessing Amen and Amen So prayes I. S. Jan. 6. 1642. PSALME 51. ver 16 17. For thou destrest not Sacrifice else would I give it thou delightest not in burnt Offerings 17. The Sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Wonder not Right worshipfull and beloved * A Christmas as poore people say against a good time that these times by the voyce of the multitude call'd good or the best times but by the practice of the most made the worst times wherein many use Christ worse then hellish Iudas or devilish Pilate they let him live till hee was above thirty three yeares old but many use him like a Babylonish brat dashing out his braines as soone as he is borne wonder not I say that these times too commonly made times of feasting and merriment are now become times of fasting and mourning yea not the sixth or seventh as Zach 7. but the twelvemonth fast our Saviour tels that when he Bridegroom should be takne away then should they fast in those dayes Now when our Bridegroome Christ seemes to remove from the Temple from the Cherub from the thrâ—shold to the Mountaine Ezek. 9. 10. 11. When our God
seems to be removed from our Land heretofore the glory of Lands the fortunate Iland by reason of our sinues witnesse our wars and divisions from his ordinances witnesse that want of former efficacy and power from his peoples feeling witnesse their feares and troubles and when his sacred Majesty also is removed so far alas too far from his great councell no wonder if we fast in these dayes I have read in our Chronicles though now I cannot on the sudden tell where being far removed from my study Bookes and papers that heretofore there was in England a Christmas kept called the silent and dumbe Christmas because of a great affliction of God upon this Land the people were silent from their wonted mirth and sports sure if ever this Land had cause now much more to keepe a silent and dumbe Christmasse It was a savory passage of Vriah 2. Sam. 11. 11. When the Arke and Israel and Iudab abide in Tents and my Lord Ioab and the servants of my Lord encampe in the Fields shall I then c. Take my lawfull liberty and David himselfe If I forget Ierusalem in my mirth c. Fasting and Prayer if rightly performed have a great prevalency with the great God a wrestling power and binding power Ex. 32. A commanding power Isa 45. 11. See in old Testament Iudg 20. There was a scareful civill War in the same Land amongst Gods people of the same religion by profession the cause was Benjamin would not suffer malignant delinquent parties to come to condigne punishment The eleven Tribes send first to know the truth whether there was such a fact done or no it s proved ver 3 4 5. Secondly they offer faire termes of peace to their brethren only let the delinquents be punished vers 12. 13. Thirdly when these faire proffers were rejected then resolve they to goe and fight with their brethren some of them to fight and others to be sutlers for the Army Vers. 9. 10. And forth they goe 400000 of Israel against 26000 of Benjamin so that the people of Isarel had far more men a far better cause and a good warrant the Command of God himselfe Vers. 18. 23. Yet lost they in two Battells far more men then the enemy had in all even 40000 Vers. 21 25. But when they went to fasting and prayer which before they omitted Vers. 26. Then they beate downe all before them till themselves fell a weeping for the losse of a Tribe Iudg. 21. 23. Mat. 17. â—1 So in New Testament some devills are not cast out by Prayer only and other good meanes but by fasting and Prayer See how fasting turned quite about the heart of the greatest King in the World to hate malignants and to affect Gods Church though against his owne decree and purpose one night above all the rest Abashnerus could notsleepe he calls not for company but a booke no booke but booke of Chronicles would serve no page in that wherein Mordecaies good fact was mentioned Est. 6. But see how Esther first prevailed with God Cap. 4. 16 17. So when a Kingdome was upon the knee within forty dayes of giving up the Ghost yet Fasting and Prayer was one helpe to bring all safe back againe Ionah 3. 5 6 7 8. I might be large this way I onely shew how needfull this worke is even now Onely that we may doe it aright know its not abstaining from meate and drinke for a day so far as our bodily health and infirmities will admit and from workes of our calling sports and costly apparell so indeed sackcloth and ashes might better become us this day if it were the custome of Isa 58. 5 6 7. Fast day should be spent as a Sabbath Lev. 23. 28. Isa 58. 13. our Country then costy apparell Ionah 3. 5. all this is but the outward the least part but the main work of a fast stands in three things 1. Heart-breaking humiliation called a day to afflict a mans soule in Levit. 23. 27. Soule-pricking sorrow Secondly to endeavor after and beg reconciliation and peace with God things can never goe well hence it s called a day of attonement Levit. 23. 27. Thirdly Reformation to amend in Persons Families Congregations Kingdomes what is amisse so far as in us lies else let Ioshua and Elders weep rent their cloths and fast it will not do till cursed persons and cursed things be removed Iosh 7. 6 7 10 11. Isa 58. Neh. 9. 38. 10. 28 29. 5 6. Fasts used therefore to be closed up with a Covenant Neh. 9. 38. Now that we may performe this inward and maine part of a holy Fast this day I have grasped up some few thoughts such as in this want of Bookes in this distracted condition I can which may helpe us in this heart-breaking and soule-reforming worke a thing alwayes needfull but for the salving of distressed Ireland and cementing distracted England a very None such out of Psal 51. This is Davids maine penitentiall Psalme which Psal 51. after he had so fouly sinned with Bathsheba beene guilty of the murder of Vriah made his servants accessary c. And Secondly after almost a whole See the story of it in 2 Sam. 11. 12. yeares lying in this sinne Nathan had both covertly and openly reproved him and Thirdly God had smitten his Conscience and given him true repentance when he penned this Psalm 1. Wherein he heartily and exemplarily expreseth Psalme hath two parts concerning himselfe in ver 18. concerning the Church till end his Repentance in three things 1. Confession and that First Of his sinnes in generall how many and hainous they were Vers 1 2 3. Secondly of his particular sinnes he was in especiall guilty of Ver. 14. Thirdly of the fountaine spring and roote of all this mischife Ver. 5. 2. Petition and that of three things in all the World most necessary First Justification or free pardon of sinnes Vers 1. 2. Secondly of Sanctification or healing and renewing grace Vers 10 c. Thirdly of assurance which is the wel-being of the soule Vers 8. 12. 3. Resolution what David would doe upon this Viz. Serve and praise God better Vers 15. The manner how David would hereafter praise God is set out in my Text two wayes 1. Negatively not with Sacrifices nor burnt Offerings 2. Affirmatively but with a broken and contrite heart for the first why he would not doe it with Sacrifices c. Hee gives two reasons 1. A priori God never desired them aforehand 2. God never delighted in them afterward For the second why hee would serve God with a broken heart c. He implies in these words three reasons 1. A broken heart is Sacrifices in the plurall number i. e. Wheras there were five sorts of Sacrifices in the old law viz Burnt-offering Meate-offering Peace-offering Sin-offering and Trespasse-offering this broken heart is instar omnium as good nay better then all 2 Sacrifices of God i. e. The