ears all the words of the book and the King made a Covenant before the Lord to walk after the Lord and to keep his Commandments and his Testimonies and his Statutes with all their heart and with all their soul and all the people stood to the Covenant in vertue of which as it follows in that Chapter such a Reformation was made as had not been from the days of Moses to that time And such a Practice is very reasonable there being no other way likely to suppress Wickedness when it is grown to an head but for a considerable Body of such especially as are untainted with it to set themselves in open opposition and defiance to it Single Attempts will prove too weak in such a case whereas the joint and unanimous Endeavours of many who will encourage and assist one another will make Iniquity both asham'd and afraid to shew it self And upon this account I cannot but justify and commend your having form'd your selves into orderly and regular Societies for the more effectual carrying on that good Work which you have undertaken 'T is no other thing than what is constantly done without offence in Cases of Secular Concernment Prudence teaching and Experience confirming as Men of Business in the World do well know that no useful Design is so advantageously and thoroughly carried on by single Persons as by Companies How many Corporations are for that reason embodied throughout this Kingdom for the carrying on particular Trades and Professions Nay how many meer Voluntary Societies are formed Yearly in this City and assemble in this Church as you now do for the promoting good Correspondence and Friendship among Neighbours or Countrymen And why should we not be as wise and as zealous in promoting the Honour of God the Interests of Religion the Spiritual and Eternal Welfare of Mankind nay and the best Interests of the Kingdom we belong to as we are in promoting any of our Secular Interests or Designs No other reason that I know of can be assigned why we are not so but because the Children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light Nor can I see any just Exception to be made against your Societies in particular rather than against any of the rest since upon due Enquiry I am well satisfied that they are under the Encouragement and Direction of Persons whose Prudence as well as Piety is unquestionable and since your Proceedings are guided by the Laws both of God and Man But of that more under the following Observations 2. In the next place therefore I observ'd from the Text that the Israelites were influenc'd to take this Course and directed in their doing it by those who had the knowledge of God's Law a reverence for his Authority and a fear of his Power and Justice For so the Text says Let us make a covenant with our God according to the counsel of my lord namely of Ezra and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God It was by the Suggestion of Ezra and those who join'd with him in his Humiliation and Prayer that Shechaniah made this Motion and it was a thorough acquaintance with the Law of God which mov'd Ezra as it was a just fear of God's Displeasure and an awful reverence toward his Majesty express'd by trembling at the commandment of God which excited the Congregation And there can be no doubt but that all who were concern'd for this Reformation and thus excited to attempt it were ready to follow the Directions of Ezra and to be guided by the prudent Counsels of the wisest and best men among them in the prosecuting their Design They were the very same Principles which stir'd up Josiah in that other case I mention'd It was his reading the book of the Law which had it seems been utterly neglected and almost lost from among them that put the King upon sending to enquire of God what he should do 2 Kings 22.11 12 13. who in his Answer to him commends him for that his heart was tender and he humbled himself before the Lord when he heard what he had said in that Book ver 19. An awful regard for the Law of God and a tender-hearted humble and affectionate Concern for its being obey'd both by our selves and others are Dispositions highly commended in the sacred Writers To this Man will I look saith God by his Prophet Isaiah Isa 66.2 Even to him who is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word And 't is nothing but the want of such a Temper that can make Men either go on carelesly in violating God's Laws themselves or behold others doing so without using their Endeavours to reclaim them For God is infinitely above us and we are intirely at his disposal as being the Work of his Hands and under the constant care of his Providence so that 't is very fit that he should give us Laws and that we should reckon our selves under the strictest Obligations to be govern'd by them How can the wilful and obstinate Offender think to escape unpunish'd whilst he violates those Laws which are Establish'd by indisputable Authority backt with uncontroulable Power But that which should yet farther engage our Reverence towards them is That they are founded also upon the eternal and unalterable Rules of Justice and Equity 'T is true there were several positive Laws given by Moses to the Jews which are usually said to be therefore good because commanded though to that People and in those Circumstances God no doubt knew that it was good to give them and 't is remarkable that it was even one of those positive Laws which Ezra and the People that join'd with him shew'd such a regard to at that time How inexcusable then are we if we do not Reverence those Laws which God hath given us in the very Frame and Constitution of our Nature and which we can never transgress without contradicting the Reason and Sense of our own Minds and Violating our Consciences And such in truth are the Laws for the Execution of which you now contend Viz. Those whereby we are oblig'd to Reverence the Name of Almighty God to observe some certain fixt Times for his Publick Worship and Service to preserve our selves sober and chast free from those Defilements and Disorders of the Flesh which would be to our own great prejudice and the scandal of our Neighbours Who can doubt whether such Laws as these ought to be esteem'd sacred or not And consequently 't is not to be wonder'd at if those among us who daily converse with the Holy Scriptures as well as with their own Minds and are acquainted with the Precepts written both in the one and the other and have at the same time a regard for the Authority of Almighty God and tremble at his word should unite their Endeavours against the open and gross violation of them 3. But 't is farther observable in the Text That the Law of God and
which they were so extremely prone and this he did by many express Laws to that purpose among which this was one Deut. 7.3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son This was judg'd so necessary for that People that such Marriages were not only utterly unlawful to be made by them but were null if they were made as appears by the History of this matter both in the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah And if God who is the Supreme Lord and Governor of the World saw it fit to give a such a Law there can be no dispute concerning their Duty to comply with it However this being only a Pofitive not a Moral Law it is obligatory to no other People but to those to whom it was given although perhaps it may not misbecome any Nation whatsoever professing true Religion to forbid Marriage with Idolaters by a Law of their own for fear of the ill Consequences of it As in one instance namely that of our Princes our Law makers have now thought fit to do after a long and dangerous Experience we have had of the Evils that attend such Alliances But that by the way It may suffice to our present purpose that the Jews had been guilty of a notorious Transgression of the Divine Law given to them and therefore were obliged to reform themselves in that particular But to come to the Words themselves as they may concern us as well as the Jews Now therefore c. You may observe in them these Six Particulars 1. That in the Case of publick and prevailing Transgression it was thought fit for the Israelites to associate and combine together to engage themselves and one another to endeavour a Reformation of the Manners of their Country Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God that is let us solemnly oblige our selves and one another as one Body thus to do 2. That they were influenc'd to do thus and directed in their doing it by those who had the Knowledge of God's Law a Reverence for his Authority and a Fear of his Power and Justice According to the counsel of my Lord that is of Ezra who was a Scribe of the Law of God and perfectly instructed in it and of those that tremble at the Commandment of God that is let us do thus according to the Advice thou hast already intimated to us by thy Humiliation Confession and Prayer with the concurrence of all such as have join'd with thee in humbling themselves and begging the Favour of God as being sensible of his Displeasure and fearing the effects of it 3. That the Law of God and of their Country was propos'd as the Rule by which their whole proceeding in this Case should be guided Let it be done according to the Law that is let the Law of God given by Moses be our Rule 4. That this Work of Reformation was reckon'd to be the more especial Charge and Business of those who presided and govern'd both in Church and State Arise for this matter belongeth unto thee as if he had said Thou art both qualified and commission'd to direct and command us in this business as having the Skill and the Authority both of a Priest and Magistrate 5. That the People also in their respective Stations and according to their several Capacities were resolv'd to assist and encourage their Governors in whatsoever Attempts they should make to this purpose We also will be with thee be of good courage He might well promise this for himself and seeing the behaviour of so great a Multitude he might reasonably presume the same for them that each of them would afford his assistance to Ezra in so good so laudable and so necessary an Undertaking 6. That open confessing publick Iniquities and Supplicating for the Mercy of God and for Grace to amend what was amiss was not thought sufficient to excuse either the Priests or the Magistrates or the People from doing their parts towards the obtaining what they desir'd Arise be of good courage and do it that is Having now kneel'd before God and offer'd up thy Supplications Arise stand up and do what farther becomes thee and let neither the Number nor the Considerableness of any Transgressors among us discourage thee thou wilt not want the Assistance either of God or Man The Time allotted for such a Discourse as this will not permit me to enlarge upon any of these Observations yet forasmuch as I think them all apposite to our present Design I shall endeavour briefly to illustrate each of them and as I go along apply them to the Purpose of this Assembly 1. It is observable That in the case of publick and prevailing Transgression it was thought fit for the Israelites to Associate and Combine together to engage themselves and one another to endeavour a Reformation of the Manners of their Country Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God There had been an open violation of an express Law of God of which several of all Ranks among them had been guilty Now in opposition to these 't is said That a very great congregation assembled unto Ezra out of Israel and Shechaniah speaking both for himself and them persuades to the entring into a solemn Obligation to amend what had been amiss among them And the like we find in other Instances in the Holy Scriptures Thus when there had been a general defection from the Law of God immediately after it was given to Moses by the Peoples making and worshipping the Golden Calf Moses after he had severely rebuked Aaron for complying with the Peoples folly stood in the gate of the camp and said Who is on the Lord's side let him come unto me upon which 't is said that all the sons of Levi gather'd themselves unto him Exod. 32.26 'T is true the way in which they proceeded against the Transgressors is not to be imitated by us such Methods being proper for that People as are not for all others But the Levites joining together as one Body to do what God and Moses should direct them towards the suppressing the Idolatry which had so suddenly and so generally prevail'd was what very well became them and deserves our imitation I might again instance in what was done in the Reign of King Josiah 2 Kings 22.8 Upon the High Priest's finding the Book of the Law and sending it to the King he found by perusing it that the Nation had notoriously transgrest the Precepts given therein and were thereby exposed to the just displeasure of Almighty God upon which Chap. 23.1 2 3. He immediately sent and gathered unto him all the Elders of Judah and of Jerusalem and he went up into the house of the Lord and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him and the Priests and the Prophets and all the people both small and great and he read in their
that there are other Iniquities among us besides those which the Law reaches and such as are highly provoking to God and dangerous to the Kingdom particularly that base selfishness of Spirit which has so notoriously prevail'd and spread it self like a Leprosie in all Parties and in all Ranks of Men among us This is in great measure out of the power of the Law and the Magistrate and must be left to God alone to rectify though it be a publick and a very scandalous Sin But the Sins you have set your selves against you have found by Experience may be in some measure control'd and 't is worth the while for every good Man to carry the matter as far as 't is in his power And may that good God who hath already done so great things for us direct and prosper your farther Endeavours may he by the power of his Grace and good Spirit stir up all Orders of men among us to do their part towards the promoting the publick good in this and in all other cases May he continue Peace and Tranquillity both to our Church and State May he compose all our Differences and make up our Breaches May he bless and prosper his Church throughout the world delivering all its oppressed Members increasing Piety and Charity among all that profess the Christian Name And lastly May he cause Truth Righteousness and Peace the fear of his holy Name together with all Virtue and Goodness to be propagated in all parts of the Earth that his Kingdom may come and his will may be done on Earth as it is Heaven Grant this O heavenly Father for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake to whom with thee and the Eternal Spirit be all Honour and Glory now and for ever Amen FINIS BOOKS Printed for B. Aylmer at the Three Pigeons in Cornhill A Sermon Preach'd before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor the Aldermen and Citizens of London at St. Mary Le Bow on Thursday Nov. 5. 1696. on Rom. III. 8. By Samuel Bradford Rector of the said Church Family Religion Or the Exercise of Prayer and Devotion in Private Families By the late Reverend Dr. Paine late Minister of White Chappel In 24o. Price 2 d. A Sermon Preach'd at St. Mary Le Bow to the Societies for Reformation of Manners April 5. 1697. on Gal. IV. 18. By Lilly Butler A Sermon Preach'd at St. Mary Le Bow before the Lord Mayor c. upon a General Fast On Nehem. IX part of the 26th and 27th Verses A Sermon Preach'd at St. Lawrence Jury at the Election of the Lord Mayor 1696. on Prov. XXIX 2. A Sermon Preach'd at the Funeral of Mr. James Lordell March 27. 1694. on Rev. XIV 13. The Four last by Lilly Butler Minister of St. Mary Aldermanbury Six Sermons viz. Of Stedfastness in Religion Of Family Religion Of Education of Children Of the Advantage of an Early Piety By his Grace John late Archbishop of Canterbury Price 1 s. 6 d. A Persuasive to Frequent Communion in the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Also by his Grace Price bound 6 d. and stitcht 3 d. A Brief Exposition on the Creed the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments To which is added the Doctrin of the Sacraments By the Learned Isaac Barrow D. D. and late Master of Trinity College Cambridge This on the Creed never before Publish'd In 8o. Price 4 s. 6 d. Practical Discourses upon the Consideration of our latter End and the Danger and Mischief of Delaying Repentance Also by Dr. Isaac Barrow In 8o. Price 1 s. 6 d. The Four last things viz. Death Judgment Heaven and Hell Practically considered and applied By W. Bates D. D. In 12o. Price 2 s. Contemplations of Death and Immortality By the late Earl of Manchester The 15th Edition In 12o. Price 1 s. A Familiar Guide to the right and profitable Receiving of the Lord's Supper Wherein also the Way and Method of our Salvation is briefly and plainly declared By Theophilus Dorrington Price 12 d. A Conference with an Anabaptist In 8o. Price 12 d. A Theological Discourse of Last Wills and Testaments Price 12 d. A Seasonable Vindication of the Blessed Trinity Being an Answer to this Question Why do you believe the Doctrin of the Trinity Collected from the Works of the most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury And the Right Reverend Dr. Edward Stilling-fleet now Lord Bishop of Worcester In 8o. Price 12 d. These three last by Dr. Asheton of Beckenham in Kent Several small Books against Debauchery Prophaness Blasphemy Cursing and Swearing c. Also by Dr. Asheton Price 2 d. each but something cheaper to them that give away Numbers