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cause_n	adam_n	death_n	sin_n	5,480	5	6.3830	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93348	Great Britains misery; with the causes and cure. Described first, as it is from the justice of God the authour, who is now in controversie with the inhabitants of the land for sin: especially for eight capitall crimes, all which are aggravated by sundry circumstances. Secondly, the injustice and malice of the instruments of this misery, Satan and his agents: their main aime, and particular ends, moving them therunto. Vindicating, plainly and fully, (by way of answer to severall objections) the lawfulnesse and necessity of raising arms by the Parliament, and kingdom; for the defence of the King, kingdom, religion, laws, and known rights of the subject: against that viperous generation of papists, atheists, delinquents, and licentious men, who have at once invaded all. ... / By G.S. Gent. Imprimatur Ja. Cranford.	Smith, George, 1602 or 3-1658.	1643 (1643)	Wing S4037; Thomason E250_4; ESTC R212534	90,980	68

be no Peace when God calleth for War nor shall there be any War when God calls for Peace When he gives quietnesse who can make trouble and when he hideth Job 43. 29. his face who can behold him whether it be done against a nation or against a man onely War and Peace are at Gods beck so is all other calamities If he call for Pestilence or Famine in a Kingdom City or Family it shall come and cannot be hindred He hath now called for War upon the inhabitants of Isa 25 19. Great Britain and hath begun to bring evil upon the Kingdoms and Cities tha● are called by his Name and who but he can call the Sword back from us If God wound who can make whole when he troubles a nation who can give quietnesse if he have purposed to destroy us the whole world cannot deliver us out of his hand Every War is in its own nature destructive but a sedicious unnaturall War such as God hath now called for upon us is most miserable and most destructive one of the forest of all Gods Judgements and yet may prove more miserable in respect of the effects if God should as we have just cause to fear call for Famine and for Pestilence both which are the usuall companions of such a War So it was in Jerusalem as their seditious War increased Famine and Pestilence the companions of Civill-War Ios J●ws wars 1● c 11. Ios Jews wars l. 7 c 8. Euseb Ecclesiast hist l. 7 c. 21. so the Famine raged as a double fire it waxed hot that as Josephus reports the rich by stealth exchanged all their wealth for a measure of wheat the poor all they had for a measure of barley The Seditious Robbed Racked and killed those that had any food and hid it from them the mothers snatched the meat from the Infants mou●hes yea did slay and eat their own children And Eusebius relates the misery of Civill-Wars in Alexandria accompanied by the Plague of Pestilence so miserable that all houses were annoyed by the dead bodies no house free raging and infecting one another And thus it was in Germany by their late and still continued War Yet this doth not alwayes fall out because sometimes God forbids these two latter Plagues to enter when his hand is seen and acknowledged in the first and that he finde the hearts of men to se●k out the true remedy of cure for God brings not the first but when he is provoked nor will call for the latter if his anger be appeased by removing the causes For God openeth the ear to Discipline and commandeth to return from iniquity and the● who can say it shall be when the Lord commandeth it not Job 36. 10. Lam 3. 37. Job 12. 23. He increaseth the nations and destroyeth them he enlargeth the nations and straitneth them again The mightiest Monarchs Kingdoms and Cities have their Ebbs and Flows and their ●e●iods too God hath appointed their times of change and of ruine Ninevie once at the Preaching of Jonah was spared but Ninevie whose walls were in compasse 60 miles in height 100 foot the breadth able to receive three carts one meeting the other having 150 Towers of great height and strength yet was destroyed by the Caldees And that famous Citie of Jerusalem whose walls was trebble and bulwarks invincible was made an heap of stones And the Kingdoms of Judea destroyed by the Romanes Proud Nebuchadnezzar when he had felt the all disposing hand of God confessed That God doth all things what soever he will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants Dan 4 35 of the earth n●ne can st●y his hand or say to him What doest thou Thus much of the efficien● Cause In the next place we are to consider of the meritorious cause of all misery The meritorious cause is sin Rom. 6. 23. and of the misery of Great Britain at this day The meritorious cause is sin The wages of sin is death There was no misery no affliction no sorrow till there was sin Where sin entred it made way to misery by Adams sin all men became sinfull and by sin all men became obnoxious to all misery Sin is no creature God made it not nor is God the authour of sin nor of any evil except the evil of punishment which is the reward of sin nor is God delighted to punish or make his creatures miserable In the midst of Judgements Psal 73. 38. Lam. 3. 23. God remembers Mercy He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men but is afflicted in all their afflictions But God who is essentially Isa 63. 9. and eternally just rendreth punishment as the wages and due reward for sin All sorrow sicknesse pains pestilence famine war c. are the effects and rewards of sin Sin makes a separation between God and a sinner Isa 59. 2. Psal 66 13. it causeth God to turn away his face from him that he will not hear his prayers though he make many prayers yea the prayers of such a man as Isa 1. 15. Pro. 28. 9. allows himself to live in sin is abomination to God Sin is that onely thing that God hates and why he is angry with his creatures Sin cast the Angels down from heaven to hell and Adam out of Paradise For sin the old world was destroyed by water Sodome and Gomorrah by fire The earth opened and swallowed up Corah Dathan and Abiram for sin And for sin Herod was Num. 16 32. eaten with Worms In a word By sin we war against God and for sin God maketh war against us Sin sets open a wide flood-gate for all judgements to enter and break in upon kingdoms and people Particular sins let in particular judgements Nationall sins nationall judgements Now if any ask What is sin The Apostle gives the answer Sin is the 1 Joh. 3. 4. The description of sin what it is transgression of the Law of God Whosoever leaves undone any thing that the Law of God commandeth or doth any thing that the Law forbiddeth he sinneth the sum of this Law is contained in the Decalogue or Ten Commandments Cursed is he that continueth not in all things that are written in the Gal 3 10. Book of the Law to do them This curse comprehendeth all misery in this life and in the life to come though but once committed The Angels sinned but once and that but in thought and were delivered to chains of darknesse to be 2 Pet. 2 4. Gen. 3 13. Levit. 10. 1 2. reserved unto further judgement Adam for our sin was punished in his own person and in all his posterity Nadab and Abiram consumed for once offering strange fire and the sword never departed from Davids house for one 2 Sam. 12 10. act of Adultery and Murder Now if any one sin but once committed deserve the whole wrath of God how much more when often itterated But there are some

GREAT BRITAINS MISERY WITH The Causes and Cure DESCRIBED First as it is from the Justice of God the Authour who is now in controversie with the Inhabitants of the Land for Sin Especially for Eight capitall Crimes all which are aggravated by sundry Circumstances Secondly the Injustice and Malice of the Instruments of this Misery Satan and his Agents Their main aime and particular ends moving them thereunto Vindicating Plainly and Fully By way of Answer to severall Objections The Lawfulnesse and Necessity of Raising Arms by the Parliament and Kingdom For the Defence of the King Kingdom Religion Laws and Known Rights of the Subject Against that Viperous generation of Papists Atheists Delinquents and Licentious men who have at once invaded all Showing The means how to appease Gods flaming wrath and suppresse these insolent disturbers of Britains Peace and destroyers of three late flourishing Kingdoms Also motives to use the Means and Incouragement to beleeve confidently and hope patiently for a seasonable deliverance from our present calamities with severall Reasons or Grounds of assured successe and glorious Sun-shine of Peace and Truth Isa 63. 17. O Lord why hast thou made us to erre from thy wayes and hardned our hearts c. Ier. 30. 17. I will restore health unto thee I will heal thy wounds saith the Lord c. Pro. 25 5. Take away the wicked from before the King and his throne shall be established c By G. S. Gent. Imprimatur Ja. Cranford LONDON Printed for Laurence Chapman and are to be sold at his Shop in Holborn at Chancery Lane end 1643. hands of the builders Thus it is now in the building of Gods Temple Reformation of Religion and of Laws For my self I freely offer my self a labourer to help forward the building willing to bear some burden to the work my will is good my ability is small but I know God will accept a willing minde and expects no more in performance then he hath given strength If with an honest heart I bring but an handfull of Goats hair to the building of Gods Talernacle or with the poor widow cast in my mite into Gods Treasury it shall be accepted with God Upon which assurance I have brought some rough materials not fit to face the Work as those Pieces wrought by men of art and skill but may serve to strengthen the fabrick in some places where they best fit My end is Gods glory my endeavour to satisfie thee if it be possible to undeceive the ignorant who are seduced and to establish the doubtfull that every one to his power may help forward Gods work and cure their own misery Thy misery thou feelest if thou have either estate or sence The Causes are laid down in the following Discourse and that truely without envy or flattery as also the Cure is prescribed which if thou read and read all thy little labour in reading shall sufficiently satisfie my much more labour in writing for it is done for thee It is my Duty to admonish my Brother and will be my Brothers greater Iev 19. 17. Jam. 5. 20. Misery if he refuse admonition My warrant is from Gods Word and Gods Word is also thy precept to hear and avoid sin It is true and I confesse it I am one of the weakest and most unworthy of all Gods Labourers but I am bound to do what I am able Now God requires it of all who expect any inheritance with Gods people My resolution is like that of Esther in the like case If I perish I perish I speak but truth and that for God the King Est 4. 16. his kingdoms and posterities and for the persecuted people and church of God which I am sure is no Treason but Dutie I do it with upright Conscience to God and Loyaltie to the King and if I perish in Gods Work I shall be freed from perishing I passe not for the judgement of mans Day God is the righteous Judge of me and of him who judgeth me If thou accept my endeavour and through Gods blessing it be any advantage to thee lend us thy Prayers who shall ever pray for thee and give the glory to God Thine G. S. Great Britains Misery WITH The Causes and Cure IF it be misery to lie under the afflicting hand of the Almighty God when his Wrath is kindled against a people to consume and to destroy Then is Great Britain miserable now lying under that revenging hand miserably afflicted by a seditious cruell and unnaturall War under which the whole land bleedeth and the inhabitants are daily cut off and consumed Which misery although all men see and feel yet few of all are truely sensible of their misery and that is the greatest of miseries It is true the inhabitants of England and Ireland see the bloody distractions of the Kingdoms and seel the P●sse of their Estates Liberty and Trading Their persons injured their moneys exhausted houses Plundered Towns Corn and Barns burnt Their goods and Cattell taken from them by violence Their friends kinred neighbours and servants slain by the sword c. But this is not all The misery of Great Britain is more as will clearly appear when we consider the causes of it the ends aimed at and neglect of the remedy to cure it He that knows not his Disease seeks not for Cure And Diseases are best known by their Causes being knowne and removed the Cure is not difficult The efficient and first cause of all misery is God And the want of serious God onely is the cause of all misery and due confideration of this That Gods hand is in every affliction augments the Misery and hinders the Cure This very thing is complained of by the Prophet The people saith he turneth not to him that smiteth them nor do they seek the Isa 9 13. Lord of bests But such stupidity hath possessed the most of the inhabitants of Great Britain in this their miserable calamity that although they feel the stroke they consider not whence it cometh nor why it is either as it is from God or as it is from men We see the rod that 〈…〉 not the hand that holds it we 〈◊〉 a● the sma●● as a 〈…〉 and like C●i● complain of the punishment But we seek not God ●hat us We complain of secondary causes and cry out of other mens faults but no man saith of himself What have I done Jer. 8. 6. Some complain of the diversity of opinions in matters of Religion the many Sects and Schisines not suppressed but rather allowed to the great disturbance of the nation overthrow of Order and Government and cause of all these evils and distractions in the Kingdoms Some cond●mn the city of London and say The tumultuous multitudes that daily flockt to Westminster with importunate requests were the cause of all they made the King leave London and flee to York and to get first a guard for the safety of his person a●t●r an army to defend

slaughter or banishment not onely for their Idolatry but for their bloodie Treason But contrary we have cherished them made Leagues and Matches with them and mixed more of their Idolatry with the pure worship of God then ever before to the dishonour of God therefore they dishonour and ruine us When Ahab spared a people appointed to slaughter God told him His life and the lives of his people should go for theirs and it was so And is in part already made good upon us and is but the same that is threatned That if the people make graven Images and do evil in Gods sight he would soatter them among D●●● 6. 25 2● the ●●●ions When Israel served other gods of the nations God made the people of the nations rule over them Secondly for prophaning the Lords Day God hath shewed his displeasure Prophaning the Lords day continually by many particular Judgements as some writers observe the fall upon the Beargarden on that day is remarkable January 13. 1683. where See Stubb in Annatomy of abuse were slain and hurt many prophane Sporters Wee have had many warning Pieces of Gods displeasure now we have Volies of Musket and murdering Canon the execution of Gods wrath As we have sli●hted holy Ministers so are they justly driven from us into corners we have gadded from place to place after vaine sports and recreations on that day to Court Maskes and Playes all inventions either of profits or pleasure to Gods dishonor in prophaning the day of holy rest therefore it is just that the Land be layd wast left without men or cattle to till it That whiles it keepes such unhappy rest the people are driven to as unhappy wandring and heare no word behind them to tell them the Esay 30. 21. way That blessed day of Peace is become a bloudy day of Battle and Slaughter our Churches for holy Assemblies are become either recectacles of wicked seditious men or prisons of durance and misery to the godly and most justly for the irreverent contempt of the use of Churches by erronious Anabaptists suffered amongst us who esteem Churches no more necessary for prayer Vid. D. Wil●●● in Levit. 26 Conf. 3. then a Hogsty and say Christ may be better worshiped in Woods then in Churches Thus as we have all wandred from duty by disorder and sin God will drive us into order by punishments As we have erred from the way of mercy God will reduce us by way of Justice as is threatned I will do to them Ezek. 7. 27. after their wayes and according to their desires I will Judge them Pride is justly punished Thirdly for our pride rais'd up to the height of swelling ambition and disdainfull carriage in all apish behaviour imitating all Nations in fashions and sins God is now by the sword justly pulling it us down to the lowest humiliation or misery Gods blessings in plenty and peace made us fatt and wanton and we have like Jesurum kicked against God glorying in our abundance in all profussenesse Deut. 32. 15. and expence upon vanity in Buildings Furniture Ornaments Plate Jewels Apparrell Feastings c. every one above his degree to the dishonour of God Now God by answerable judgements afflicts the Nation and meets with this very sin in every one of us to punish us and spoyle our pride Our eyes see our stately buildings demollished the Monuments of our Ancestours in which we gloryed are spoyled before our faces our Plate Jewells Money costly Furniture and apparrell taken away by force God hath stirr'd malignity from the pride of our spirits to kindle a fire of contention to consume and destroy one another like those bloudy seditious Jewes who would See Jos●p in war Jews lib. 3. Chap. 14. have killed their Captain because they might not kill one another He that destroyes to day is himselfe destroyed to morrow pride and excesse saith Plato is the destruction of Kingdomes Pride is like a wild man whose hand is against every man and every mans hand against him It is the son of the Gen. 16. 12. Bond-woman envious at his brother and by it we find as judit●ous Seneca saith there is but a moment of time between Royalty and Captivity take notice Sencca in Tranq cap. 11 of it for God justly meets with this sin and makes pride the punishment of pride we have by pride fought against God and God by proud men fighteth against us and will assuredly before he sheath his sword destroy our pride or us As God made the rich and the poore of one mould So he is by these judgements bringing them into one condition as is threatned I Will marre the pride of Israel and the great pride of Jerusalem ●●r 13. 9. Fourthly Oppression we know this sin hath cryed long for judgement the cry hath been loud against this Nation and is now answered As the sinne Oppression justly punish'd hath been generall so the punishment is generall all feel it from the King to the Plough-man Naboths Vineyard hath been taken by force and fraud by the one the covering of the poor by the other and the Law that should relieve the oppressed was tyed up by money Law it selfe was but a Cypher and so nothing if more it was but a figure and so any thing our Judges were made on purpose to do injustly and unmade for doing justice They as all Officers of Judicatory bought their places deer and sold their attendance deerer They bought oppression by grosse sold it out by retail as their brethren the Patentees and so grownd the face of the very poor Now God by his judgements payeth us in our own coyn observe how the monyes received by oppression are spent in oppression and by that which men payed against Law they are oppressed to destroy Law those that gave monies to oppresse are themselves oppressed the Oppressor is oppressed the Spoyler is by spoyling spoyled The just oppressing sword of Gods wrath for unjust oppression is now in the Land and oppresseth all They that made the Law uselesse that they might destroy others have no Law to secure themselves from ruine We must needs acknowledge that the Lord is righteous in all his Wayes and holy in all his workes and I will with confidence beleeve that when God will in pitty sheath his sword that law which wicked men seek to destroy shal by the ministration Psal 145. 17. of Justice cut them off for their oppression and murder God will plead his peoples Cause and will spoyle the soule of the Spoyler And Prov. 22. 23. Ier. 51 48. Esay 14. 2. in the end make his restored people to rule over their Oppressors as hee hath promised Fiftly the Sin of Murder we know is the sin of Brittain The bloud unrevenged Murder is justly punished hath cryed to Heaven a long time and now God sheddeth the Kingdoms bloud by cruell murtherers because by foolish pitty the bloud

of them that wickedly shed bloud was not shed God punisheth the impunity of murder by murder As Jacobs sons stain'd the coate of their brother Joseph with the bloud of Kids so Brittains sonnes unnaturall brethren stain the garment of the earth with the bloud of men in every place God is provoked to use the sword of wicked men to punish these guilty Kingdomes The sin is made the punishment of the sin and the punishment will turne to sin upon the heads of the Punishers Absoloms sinne of Rebellion and defiling his fathers bed was the punishment of Davids sin yet it was not lesse then sinne in him The The blood of Queen Maryes dayes cry bloud of Queen Maryes dayes is now required which we have not lamented and therefore hath since then cryed against us The bloud of Queen Elizabeths time is not forgiven though some of those bloud-shedders were by Gods hand cut off shortly after who were guilty for the bloud of guiltlesse Essex and at their end some of them acknowledged Gods hand justly was upon them Other blouds of latter times are fallen in with the complaint of the Marian bloud and now must be avenged together The bloud of Germany puts in an Indictment against us for our neutrality the bloud of France pleads accusations The blood of latter times in the three kingdomes cry of treachery the bloud of all the three Kingdoms joyn in one complaint for impunity and treachery Some spilt in wrath others by conspiracy and false accusations some by poyson and other secret plots and some by causelesse Imprisonment c. The blouds of all thus shed complain with one voice that Justice hath been stopped corrupted and prevented The Avengers of bloud roughly dealt with beaten accused and wholly suppressed false evidences hath been admitted and true Testimony cast out The bloud of the poore is heard cry in Gods eares as well as the bloud of the rich the bloud of Princes and people cry and God is come down to see if it be according to the cry and will not respect the persons of men He is come to judge the earth and will do right to all men And now the bloody and deceitfull men shall not live Psa 58. 11. Gen. 18. 25. out their dayes This is the day of the God of Hoasts the day of vengeance in which he will be avenged on all his enemies He now makes inquisition for bloud Psal 55. 23. Ier. 26. 10. Eccle. 8 12. and will spare none when he hath used the rod to correct his people he will cast it into the fire to be burnt Sixtly Drunkennesse the English mother sin and master destroyer of souls The cause of Gods displeasure upon particular men and the whole Kingdom Drunkennes is justly punished and ye● more is threatned as have formerly been observed by many among other judgements upon the grain Barly severall times smitten by drought and wet lesser judgements are warnings and threaten greater if the cause remain but the sin remaines and still raigns and is at this day threatned with greater judgements just answering to the sin Famine is the companion of War and is now entring into the Land hasted forward by an Army of Spoylers worse then the Locusts of Egypt to devour and eat up the fruits of the Land as is threatned for this sinne Weepe and houle ye drinkers of wine the field is wasted the Land Exod. 10. 12. Ioel. 1. 5. 10. mourneth for the Corne is dryed up the abuse of Pl●nty must be punished with want Seventhly Whoredom a common sin of these Kingdomes secretly committed and openly known but not punished if punished it is the poverty of Whoordom is most justly punished the whoremonger not the sin The Noble so by Title have a tolleration by their greatnesse the rest by their money a sin punishable by Gods Law with death yet suffered by men to escape without correction It hath contracted a double guilt upon the Land the guilt of the sinne and the guilt of Impunity God sent the plague of pestilence among the people of Israell for this sinne and 1. Cor. 10. 8 for it he hath sent severall plagues amongst us and smitten many thousands by death but no Phinehas hath stood up to execute judgement Adulterous marriage have been suffered and connived at and strange marriages with strange Numb 25. 7. Nations and strange religions and strange rebellious broods have followed and likely are crept into some of our greatest Families who usurp the names Strange and Adulterous Marriages are like to be some cause of our presens milery and inherit the Lands of those that never got them The old world was condemned for this the sonnes of God took them wives of the daughters of men of all that they would choose and there were Giants in the earth They made strange marriages such as we in England as that between Lord Mount-Joy and Lady Rich that between Lord Car and Countesse of Essex also secret whisperings of unnaturall Sodamy never questioned The sins conniv'd at in this Nation are such as Abimclech durst not commit nor suffer although he Gen. 20. 7. were a man subject to behold beauty with desire What absurdity were it to believe that the Off-springs of such kind of Matches and Broods have produced a generation to punish the Kingdom for this sin of Whoordom and that God should make them Instruments and Actors to aggrivate our misery at this day who set themselves to do mischief and are mocking Ismaels haters of the children of promise as unnaturall as Absolon who abused his fathers bed and Gen. 21. 9. 2. Sam. 16. 22 3. Sam. 13. 14. as Ammon who d filed his halfe Sister We see in nature that the creatures that generate by couples are tender of the good and preservation one of the other the young own the Male and the Male take care of them whereas among those that generate promiscuously the Male never ●●reth for the young or the yong never own him But we worse and more unnaturall then the bruit beast seek to ruine one another the father the son the son the father c. Surely Gods hand is plainly seens in the miseries now upon us answerable to this sin of Whoordom besides the former warnings we have had by lesser judgements That is ●ot he least that God hath a long time been silent which presaged great wrath as he said of Israel I will not visit your daughters when they commit Whoordom nor your Spouses when they commit adultery Impunity betokeneth Hosea 4. 14. destruction and now the dayes of visitation are come these are the dayes of rec●m●ence and England will know it and acknowledge it is justly punished Hosca 9. 7 Fightly Lukewarmnesse in Religion England above all Nations is guilty of this sin never people enjoyed so glorious means of knowledge nor never Lukewarme a great sinne and justly punish'd had any people more

encouragement to be zealous for God then England yet England blind naked poor miserable England is grosly ignorant or carelesly formale How shall God but spue thee out of his wouth for thy Lukewarmnesse that art neither hot nor cold for this sin the wrath of God is gone out against Rev. 3 16. us we have revolted from him We have pleaded for Popery as Israel for Baal we have swarved from the Covenant of our God and are not zealous for his Truth nor will not contend for the faith once given to the Saints And therefore because when wee knew God we glorified him not as God Rom. 2. 12. c. Therefore God hath given up our Lukewarme Gentry in every County with their Followers to vile affectious and a reprobate minde to be deluded and beleeve a Lie that while they professe to defend the Protestant Religion they 2. Thes 2. 7. c. lose their lives in the offensive War against it It is a strange mistery that Papists should Jeopard their lives to defend that they most hate but such is the mistery of iniquity that now worketh with the deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse in our Lukewarm though Learned Centry God hath for this sin given them up to a reprobate mind filled with all unrighteousnesse fornication Verse 10. wickednesse coveteousnesse maliciousnesse envy murdering debate deceit malignity haters of God c. to their own ruine and their lasting infamy to Rom 1. 29. 30. Posteritie to come consider it Oh ye Inhabitants of great Brittane for Gods hand is heavy at this day for this sin repent therefore and be zealous or God will spue us out of his mouth and seperate us from the Congregations of his people if for his own name sake he will preserve his Church yet he will dispeople the Land if we be not zealous in time Thus much of the second cause and of particular sins The third thing to be considered is the instrumentall cause of great Brittains Satan is the efficient cause of sin and the Instrumentall cause in punishment misery and that is either inward or outward The inward Instrumentall cause is the Devill working upon mens corrupt nature and drawing them to sin The Devill is the efficient cause of sin but the instrumentall cause of punishment He casts into mens hearts the seeds of all sins and sin as is before shewed brings all misery Why hath Satan filled thy heart saith Peter to Annanias Satan fills the heart with sin either by suggesting Acts. 5. 3. thoughts into the heart or bringing objects to the eye or eare By thoughts hee brought David to number the people and so brought misery 1. Chr 21. 1. hence it is that the Apostle bids that we give not place to the Devill that is to Eph. 4. 27. evill thoughts By objects to the eye he brought David to commit adultery and so brought misery By objects to the eare he tempted Eve by the voice of 2. Sam 11. 2. the Serpent and by the report of the Spies drew the people to murmour in the Gen. 3. 4. Wildernesse and so brought misery the Devill hath no power over the will of Num 13. 28. any man to compell him to sin his power is onely by such delusions to blind the mind and darken the understanding and his power is great by these meanes upon them that believe not the Gospell of Christ hence it is that hee is called 2. Cor. 4. 4. the God of this World and a Spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience Ephe. 2. 2. The Devill is the father of all Sedition the originall of Envy and all contention he is the tempter to all wickednesse first he set man at variance with Gal. 5. 20. lames 3. 15. his maker and so all the creatures one against another for this cause God hath put an everlasting enmity between him and the seed of the woman and the same Gen. 3. 15. enmity is between wicked men and the godly By the seed of the woman is meant Christ and his children therefore in Scripture those that are of Christ are called the Children of God and all wicked men they are called the children 1. Joh 1. 12. Iohn 3. 44. of the Devill and his works they do Wicked men are the Devills souldiers to make War against the Children of God against all the seed of the woman who keepe the Commandements of God and have the Testimony of Rev 12. 17. Jesus Christ So then the outward cause is wicked men the seed of that old serpent the The outward cause of our misery is wicked men Devill These are naturally stirred up to envy and hatred against the godly they hate purity and holinesse as that which is contrary to their very being there is a direct Antipathy between their practise and holinesse as contrary as darkenesse is to light They are therefore called the children of darknesse and Ephe. 5. 8. 3. Thes 5. 5. the godly Children of light then what agreement between light and darkenesse between God and Belial These are the Devills instruments that at this day warre against us and cause our misery some act by violence some act by 2. Cor. 6. 16. counsell all are doing and will do till God take them off some are like Achisopbell when he counselled Absolon to lye with his fathers Concubines some 2. Sam. 2. 621 like the counsellors of Rehoboam set the King against his people some like the Ziphits to flatter with Saul they make complaints and use treachery against 1. King 12. 20. 1. Sam. 26. 1. innocent David some by wicked actions as the Prophet told Ahab that he 1. King 13. 18. troubled Israel by forsaking the Commandements of God Thus Athalia the Queen daughter to idolatrous Ahab she insinuated into Joram the King and Vide Iosep an tiq lib. 9. ●ha 1. taught him to do many mischiefs among the rest to adore strange gods and afterward she her selfe slew all the seed Royall We see the words of Solomon verified the things that hath been is that which shall be and we see no ne● 1. King 11. 1 thing under the sun We cannot say this is new c. Besides all this the Devill Eccl. 1. 9. 10. hath other instruments to make Gods people miserable by robbing spoyling killing c. Thus the Sabeans and Caldeans were his instruments to afilict Iob Iob. 1. 12. 14. so soon as he had obtained Commission to afflict he presently hath his instruments to act it the Devill worketh in them at his will so he hath the winds Ephe. 2. 2. and the waters the ayr fire c. which he can use for his instruments to afflict Now that it may clearly appear who they bee that are the instruments of Britains misery I will divide them into seven sorts when devided they may be easily known First a woman it is pitty it

of your fast ye finde pleasure and exact all your Labours you fast for strife and debate and smite with the fist of wickednesse is it such a fast that I have chosen will you call this a fast and an Esay 58. 3. acceptible day to the Lord God accounts of such services although for matter they be the same that God requireth but as if we slew a man or cut off a verse 5. dogges necke or offer Swines blood all which he abhorreth and hath expressely Esay 66. 3. forbidden Therefore it highly concernes every man to examine his owne heart how Man must examine their hearts in the duties of Fasting whether they doe it to God or for their owne benefit Ier. 14. 10. and why he keepe his dayes of fasting whether it be in humility of soule humbly to seekes God by repentance and reformation of sinne or formally onely to remove the evill of punishment that is present upon him for then we fast to our selves not unto God and so we may Fast and Pray call and cry but God will not heare us to doe us any good but will punish us more for our impenitencie God told his owne people that thus fasted When ye Fast I will not heare your cry I will not accept of your offerings and oblations But I will consume you by the sword and by the Pestilexce The Fast that God hath chosen is to repent and to be humbled for our sinnes and to make our Peace and reconciliation with him to cease from evill and to doe good and exercise the duties of mercy and charity to renew our covenant and seeke him by prayer Thus God requireth to be enquired of And this the Parliament Esay 58. 6. 7. Ezek. 36. 37. 2 Chron. 15. 15. like good Asa in their late Covenant drive at as the meanes to obtaine mercy and to be healed of our misery for God will be thus sought unto even for those things which he promiseth to give God hath shewed thee O man what is good and what he requireth of us to doe justly to love mercy and to Mica 6. 8. walke humbly To this end he commanded the terrours and threatnings of Iudgement for sinne to be read upon Fasting dayes unto all the people to See Ier. 39. ver 2. 3. 6 7. move them to Repentance and to make humble supplications for mercy if we thus keepe our fasting dayes with vowes and Covenants to God Almighty we may assuredly expect a blessing and a healing of our misery and our remisse carelesse and formall observing of our Fast dayes is a cheefe cause that hath so long hindred our deliverance Gods hand is not shortned that he Esay 49. 1. 21 cannot save nor his eare heavie that he cannot heare but your iniquities have separated betweene you and your God and your sinnes have hid his face from you that he will not heare the Prophet tells us plainely your iniquities and your Ier. 5. 25. sinnes have holden good things from you thus much for the inward meanes of cure Secondly God cures his people of their oppression and outward miseries by outward meanes this hath beene usuall in all times that when the people We must use outward meanes to be cured of our misery have humbled themselves and cryed to God in their misery he ever had compassion on them for his owne Name sake and raised them up deliverers armed private man with publicke Authority enabling them by place courage and power to be deliverers of this people to subdue their enemies and to afflict their afflictors Thus we know he stirred up Moses Othniel Ehud Samgar Deborah and Barak Gideon Iephtah Samson Z●rubbabel Nehemiah and the like God hath for us at this day by his owne hand in compassion to his people in an unexpected way almost miraculous called a Parliament together in England established them with Soveraigne power by the Lawes of the Kingdome and stirred up the King by his owne Act to confirme them The Parliament a Soveraigne power of command which the people ought to obey The Parliaments faithfulnes and courage Esa 45. 22. Exod 17. 2. Exod. 15. 24. Exod. 16. 13. Num. 14. see the Chap. The people must trust in God and wait by fifth with patience Iudg. 4. 3. and Authorize their sitting during their owne time till by their Wisdomes with Gods blessing they re-establish the perishing and long decaying principalls of the Kingdomes Fabricke and God hath put into the hearts of them to be of faithfulnesse and courage for Gods glory and the Kingdomes lasting welfare to hazard their lives and fortunes for defence of their Religion and the peoples rights and libertie against the malice and opposition of the mighty at this day combined against God and his people and by this Parliament he will deliver Great Britaine of their misery if we looke but upon them as Gods Instruments nothing in themselves or if we like the Rebellious Israelites provoke not God to more wrath by our unbeleefe and murmurring against God and them and will but waite by faith with patience while our deliverance is working or that we as too many of us are be not like some of the Tribes of Israel who proved traitors and cowards in the worke of their deliverance The Jews were under the oppression of Iabin and Sisara the Captaine of his Host twenty yeeres and the people cryed unto the Lord for their oppression was great and their oppressors strong nine hundred Charriots of Iron and a multitude of men Now God heard their cry though it seemes it was more for the misery of their bondage then for sorrow and sense of their sinnes but God had compassion of them and stirred up Deborah and Barack to deliver them and of all the ten Tribes of Israel they tooke an Army of ten thousand out of the Tribes of Nephtali and Zebulun vers 6. against the strength power and multitude of Iabins Army for their hearts Iudg. 5. 18. The base cowardlines of the people a great discouragement verse 16. God had made willing and ready to hazard their lives to the death in the high places of the field expecting all the rest of the Tribes would come in to their assistance because the enemy was strong and mighty but they basely therefore absented themselves which caused great thoughts of heart some few out of other Tribes came and the Princes of Issachar came and joyned with Barack but Ruben disserted the cause altogether he tooke no further care but for his owne flockes and therefore stayes at his sheepefolds to heare the bleating of the sheepe let them fight that would he would sleepe in a whole skin Gilliad takes example by Ruben and kept within his owne borders beyond Jordan that was safety enough to him let his brethren sinke or swim Gilliad will not crosse the water to helpe them Dan gets a Shipboard and there he remaines till his brethren fight for his safety upon

owne cause and his servants working his worke and in his owne time will make their worke prosperous in their hands as he did to Nehemiah Nehe. 6. 15. 16. Thirdly God hath afflicted Britaine for these sinnes and a multitude of other transgressions and doth still continue to afflict us for our impenitencie but it is observable that he whips us because he would convert us and yet he preserves us from destruction because he would not totally destroy us therefore hath wonderfully discovered the Plots of the enemie and blasted their bloody designes when they had prepared them as they thought ready to destroy us former mercies are engagements of future deliverance hence I conclude from the confidence of Manoahs wife when an Angell had told her she should beare a 1 Sam. 17. 37. sonne that should begin to deliver Israel her husband seeing the Angell assend Iudg. 13. 22 23 up in the flame sayd we shall surely dye because we have scene God if saith she the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have shewed us these things Fourthly I finde by all Stories Divine and Humane that ever I read that before God destroyed a people or Kingdome he hath taken away his Prophets Iudges and righteous men or they have beene rarely found or else he hath taken Esay 57. 1. Exod. 32. 10. Ier. 7. 16. Ier. 14 11. off their affections and spirits from prayer for that people or Kingdome I confesse this hath in part beene made good to England some have beene over awed their mouthes stopped some banished others destroyed and many forced to flie to other Countries for shelter Yea the two Fountaines of Religion and holinesse as well as the Courts of justice were exceedingly corrupted all which presaged a storme comming and now it is come But consider Gods Isay 1. 26. Ministers are restored increased and many returned from their Exile righteous Iudges are set up and good men put in Authority The affections of the godly and that of many thousands are moved with zeale to God exceedingly and their hearts stirred up to earnest constant prayer and unwearied labours have seene some gracious returnes of their prayers and fruit of their labours and waite Mica 7. 9. by faith with patience till the Lord plead their cause and execute Iudgement for them Besides notwithstanding the corruption of the fountain God hath from thence produced pure streames planted fruitefull vines in his Orchard When were more young able godly Ministers in England then now When were men stirred up with zeale for God to lift up their voyces like Trumpets to tell Israel Esay 58. 1. Act. 4. 36. 1 Thes 5 14. Psal 147. 1. Esay 8. 11. c. Esay 10. 14. vers 15. 16. her transgressions and Iudah of her sinnes When were more sonnes of consolation to comfort the feeble minded But if God graft new siens and plant young Vines in his Vineyard he is not about to destroy it but rather to gather his own together that he may destroy the wicked by themselves Fifthly no story of any age or people can give a president that ever God destroyed an humbled praying people notwithstanding the irreligiousnesse of a multitude of godlesse men amongst which they live whom God can cut off Mat. 13. 30. some other way or reserve to greater wrath but if a considerable number of repenting reformers have beene found God hath for their sakes spared such a people or Nation therefore this Church and Nation Onely we must consider Tim 2. 19. God lookes for a greater number in Great Britaine than in any other Nation or Kingdome God would have spared Sodom for ten righteous sake yet seven Luk. 12. 48. Gen. 18. 32. 1 King 19. 18. thousand in Israel was too few although God tooke notice of them all and surely twice seven thousand cannot save England but if those in England who have given their Names to Christ be found to be truely repenting praying and reforming their evill wayes with resolution to perseveere undoubtedly England 2 Chro. 7. 14. Iohn 17. 19. shall be saved for their sakes The example of Judea and Jerusalem in the time of Josiah nor the present condition of Germany are no objections of validity against this truth except we resolve to cherish our base lusts seeke our private ends love our selves so as to neglect God and the meanes he hath in mercy freely 1 Chron. 28. 9. ult given us to save us this is to forsake God and then God will forsake us and cast us off for ever and it shall be said of England as once of Babel we would have Jer. 51. 9. healed Babel and she would not be healed c. 6ly Although for these sins now raigning in this Kingdome namely Idolatry prophanation of the Sabboth oppression c. God hath destroyed whole Kingdomes layd them mast and given up his owne people with the wicked into his Ier. 24. 5. enemies hands Yet you must consider it was when generally or wholly the people were willing to yeeld to such sinnes as it was before and instantly after Iosiahs time Besides when those men so given into captivitie have beene sold Dan 6. 6. verse 23. 24. Esth 8. 7. Neh. 4. 8. c. Nehe. 6. 15. 16 1 King 18. 24. to destruction and appointed to slaughter by their enemies maliciously to destroy the Church of God God hath for his owne Names sake given them a glorious deliverance much more will he deliver at this time being now invocated on both sides and called to be Iudge of the truth as in the time of Eliah Yet I say not but England is punished for these sinnes and may be brought very low and into great straights because of unbeleefe lukewarmenesse and impenitencie before she see a full deliverance which if it be so the fault is our owne Hos 13. 9. Seventhly it hath beene usuall with God when admonitions have beene rejected and easier chastisements slighted to lay great and heavie Iudgements upon Deut. 28. 29. his owne people and of long continuance and in these Iudgements to take away many of his children till his people returne and earnestly seeke God and till Hos 5. 15. Ezek. 5. 13. the time of his indignation be accomplished great sinnes and long continued in bring great and long Iudgements except there be proportionable humiliation to prevent it but glorious deliverance to Gods people will come and wonderfull Deut 7. 23. destruction to their enemies will be seene to all the world and assuredly deliverance will come to Britaine if we waite by faith and patience with diligent use of the meanes without murmuring at the miscarriages and accidents in things failing of men or Armies confided in or be discouraged at the seeming unprosperous successe of our Armies or the successefull enterprises Psal 73. 18. Psal 76. 10. of the enemie in all which God hath a secret way of providence and will make to the manifestation of his glory Nor let any man thinke that he shall be delivered by another mans faith and repentance or escape by other mens cost and industry for although enlargement come and the Kingdome be delivered yet Esth 4. 14. the unbeleeving and mammonist may be cut off before or after Consider what became of that great Lord on whose hand King Iehoram leaned because he beleeved not the Word of God Besides at the great day of account Christ may say to such ● King 7. 17. I know you not depart c. You that were not with me were against me Therefore let every one conscionably doe his owne part and duty and then depend Mat. 25. 40. 41 Mat 12. 30. upon God for a glorious and comfortable deliverance which God grant for his Names sake But there are foure evills that exceedingly hinder the worke of Britaines deliverance which must be removed Two concerne private men two concerne the Publicke Magistrate the evills in private men are first neglect of selfe-examination every ones not judging and condemning his owne sinne Secondly our forwardnesse and rashnesse to censure and condemne the faults miscarriages or neglects of others Parliament Armies Commanders c. whom we are bound to pray for as they are the Instruments of God for our good The evills in the publicke Magistrate are first not clensing Gods Armies of knowne Achans who seeke the wedge of Gold and the Babilonish Garment these Iosh 7. 11. 12. hinder God from going out with our Armies cause the mouthes of ill affected men to be opened against our just cause and discourage many well affected people and is an occasion Why our Armies turne the backe upon the enemie secondly the nourishing of flattering Zibas and traiterous Iudasis who take pay of our money are maintained in excesse and riot at our costs while the common Souldiers want necessaries yet like Iudas betray our cause and sell us for gaine Let us pray and our Parliament and Generalls endeavour to have these evills removed And God will be seene to goe out with our Armies and will undoubtedly worke our worke for us save our King and destroy his and our enemies Let all Glory be given to God FINIS