tell me who shall breake that cord it will be stronger then all the Covenants the sons of men can make either nationall or otherwise I am herein the bolder because the cursed world neerer hand and further off are projecting a breach here and some men within this City wals are ridden up and down by Jesuites to perfect this work and feel not their burden Would you go again to Egypt shall we give away our Bibles to Papists and our libertles to Locusts and Caterpillars Shall we deliver up the towns we have taken to them that are subtle to destroy Have we not heard of murthers and rapines enough Mind what Abner said to Joab Hath not the sword devoured enough will not the end be bitternesse Let us have but love at Westminster and London and we shall crown the day and derive something from this day to the childe unborne to give it matter of rejoycing If you shall object the work is not done we are now upon a Crisis I answer Your temptation is new this was the time of the year when Princes were wont to goe forth to war but now it proves a time wherein they sue for peace Blessed change and the truth is the Sun may sooner get off your Cloke now then the Storm could before the fawning world may do that the frowning never could I shall commend unto you two or three Scriptures The first the words after my Text Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart all ye that hope in the Lord The second shall be Eccles. 10. 4. If the spirit of the Ruler rise up against thee keep thy place Learn for ever to make good your experiences and let it blow high or low keep your places I humbly beseech you noble Speakers of both Houses keep your places as hitherto you have done Be not ashamed of that seasonable and wise Answer once made at that exigent You have neither eyes to see nor tongues to speak but by order from the house in such cases I desire my Lord Major and his brethren to keep their places and not to be dub'd out of them nor courted from your comforts and safety remember what we all fought for prayed for adventured all for let not all be lost in the kisse of a Royall hand nor suffer your eyes to be put out with Court-glitter and glory And I humbly beseech your Lordships not to lead us the way to that mischiefe for us Ministers truly we may be apt to catch at the old bait the Lord help us to keep our places also It would grieve your soules to be Court-scoffed after all Let me leave with you what Tacitus sayes of Caesar Quotis scunque e curia egrederetur in haec verba prorupisse ferâ—ur O homines ad servitutem paratos Etiam illum qui publicam libertatem nollet tam foede servientium patientiam taedebat Therefore every man keep his place and in so doing another objection is answered But our old laws and priviledges may again be struck at read the 8. v. of Eccles. 10. Who so breaketh a hedge a Serpent shall bite him an old hedge are old good laws and those that will break them shall finde a Serpent you can apply He that removeth stones shall be hurt therewith And though it should be that Shimei might escape for a time with his confinement yet in the next generation he will break his Covenant his neck and all and thus I thinke of many that have railed against heaven and earth who will be found out by divine Justice when your hand cannot reach them To close up my thoughts in this you have hitherto lived upon daily provideÌ„ce as you do upon your daily bread by providence I believe you are brought beyond your own first imaginations and I know the wisest man here cannot tell what will be next though in order of causes he may say this or that should be for who can tell what is in the womb of a day or what it will bring forth unto us This is certain when there 's darknesse in Counsels in promises the Lord is pleased to dissipate clouds and disperse mists by providence you shall not need to feare relying upon that Provident hand which hath left you with so many glorious experiences Onely these cautions I must commend to your wisdomes 1. That providence be not slighted and bestow that upon Fortune and Chance which is handed to you by Providence Sed nos Te facimus Fortuna Deam coeloque locamus 2. That you withstand not providence but accept and improve the offers of mercy 3. That you out-run not providence but be contented to want what the Lord is not willing to give not to over-hasten your deliverance for it can never come seasonably being wrought by friend or foe unlesse the God of your mercies have a hand in it and truly he that cannot freely trust God in his way upon what you have received already is not fit to receive more How good it is to live in his bosome and upon his hand who knows how to take measure of your wants and supply your needs and that out of an inexhaust fulnesse Lastly since feasts are seldome without beggars give me leave to be the first and if we had not been over-bold in detaining you already I should have been large even from my soule to beg help from this most Honourable Assembly in foure particulars 1. I beg for Soules 2. For Bodies 3. Estates 4. Names 1. And for the first I present you here the teares and cries of many thousands in the countries we have conquered who poor souls cry like prisoners at the Grate Bread bread for the Lords sake bread all you that passe by take Pitty pitty of us we have lived upon husks time out of minde Men brethren and fathers whilest we are disputing here they are perishing there and going to hell by droves If I know any thing what you have gotten by the sword must be maintained by the Word I say the Word by which English Christians are made In other countries discipline makes them so drive them into a Church together and then dub them Christians you will find too much of this abroad and hence it comes to passe that most of their Religion lies in Polemicks which is the trade we are likely to drive if God prevent not I need not tell this Assembly that every where the greater party is the Orthodoxall and the lesser the Hereticks so once the Aâ—rians afflicted the sound Christians and they increasing requited it again to the Arrians It was once my lot to be a Member of that famous ancient glorious work of buying in Impropriations by which work 40 or 50 preachers were maintained in the dark parts of this Kingdom Divers Knights and Gentlemen in the Country contributed to this work and I hope they have not lost that spirit I wish exceeding well to preaching above many things in this world and wish my brethren
Pens and making Cockpits of Pulpits I make all haste to the work of the day and the Verse before the Text will be like a going down into a deep Well where we may discover Stars at noon Mercies are best observed from depths of Misery and set them off like Foyles the Diamonds I said in my haste I am cut off from before thine eyes or I said in my hastening 1 Sam. 23. David was in a running posture The Greek translates it in a trance or extasie and truly this is worth our thoughts this very day we have had our hasty times and trances when we thought we had been all cut off who are now left living monuments of rich mercy Many of us here were even upon the wing imbanking our Money and hastning after it And if you shal enquire after the rise of this temper or distemper of Spirit how David and other Saints prove so succumbent and sâ—attered I answer It hath three springs 1. From the Lord afflicting who puts more weight into the Scale then we minde and often makes a small affliction heavie yea they that could goe over a mountain at other times stick at a mole-hill as Jacob will not be comforted about a son as if he had neither a childe left nor a God 2. From the party afflicted and that in three cases First from a natural sense of pain more then of comfort Haman is more pinched with one crosse in Mordecay then pleased with all the contents in Court though you know few favourites fared better for a time and it is but a short time the best of that generation have poor Sun-dyals that are never minded in foggie and cloudy dayes Secondly from the over-weening some contents which causeth faintings to us in the losing them My son Absalon O my son my son cries David as if heaven and earth hed been wrapt up in his weighty locks Thirdly through inconsideratenesse and not searching the end of things for the Church came down wonderfully 3. From the pressures and afflictions themselves and that First from the multitude of them what one will not cannot do many may This Prophet at one time was the scorn of drunkards suspected by the godly abused by his own son betrayed by his friend Secondly from the greatnesse of them and that especially when they either fall upon an unsound part when Job was remembred of the sin of his youth not quite healed or upon a noble part the soul and conscience we know the brain heart and liver being toucht will soon complain Thirdly from the continuance of them The Church complains I was afflicted from my youth up To lie so long at Bethesda and to be bowed down eighteen yeers as the poor woman in the Gospel was will put the soul upon hastening as Davids but all these gusts are over-blown and the Lord shines in upon him as you see in the close of the Verse before the Text upon which smiles of Gods face he cries out as you here see O love the Lord all yee his Saints c. In which words there are many divine Conclusions but in these narrow limits of time I shall confine my self to One main Truth which I conceive will be the principal Work of this day and that will take up both Arguments used here by the Prophet to enforce the duty and in the end I shall make bold to take up the duty to enforce my designe And therefore to lay much in a little room this is that the Spirit of God commends unto you The faithfull have God for their preserver whilst the proud doer by the same hand receives wages proportionable to his work A witnesse or two will cast the cause Salvation belongeth to the Lord and thy blessing is upon thy people Selab O thou hope of Israel the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble O sing unto the Lora a new song for he hath done marvellous things his right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory To which Isaiah addes Lord thou wilt ordain peace for us for thou also hast wrought all our works in us From Genesis to the Apocalypse the Scripture gives in a general testimony to this Truth to which we may let in some more light by opening these three Casements 1. Quere When the Lord doth thus appear preserving the faithful 2. How he doth it 3. Why he doth it To the first I answer His preservation looks cut and discovers it self specially in five cases 1. When he intends to advance his own wisedom he then befools all the counsels of the sons of men and his Saints shall onely be engaged to him for counsel and thus the poor man shall save the City and thus Paphnutius shall save the Councel at Ephesus by the counsel of God whose singer writ folly upon that learned Age 2. When he intends to exalt his own power he comes in more immediately for the Saints preserving and proclaims to the world its own feeblenesse and weaknesse and then Jâ—el shall do more against Sisera then an Army of men 3. When he glorifies his mercy he leaves the Saints to extremities to reach an opportunity to lift up that attribute and thus he leads them from Bacha to Sion throw a Country of Gyants and harrennesse where their souls even melt through thirst and brought them to a mountain of sweete 4. When the Lord doth purpose to awaken those gifts and graces in their cryings in their belâ—evings in their patient wakings upon Jesus Christ he will comâ— delivering he will be sought unto by the house of Israel and loves to heare the lispings of his little ones You have known some Fathers in the Country that leave their Children the other side the Stile and help them over when they cry and seeming to leave them sometimes in a throng and then reach them the hand again upon their complaints The Lord loves to see Faith in its adhering and assuring acts 5. The Lord appears when deliverance may be sweetest and dearest and that in an exigent when one glance of his eye may be worth a whole world Who remembred us in our low estate for his mercy endureth for ever And thus sicknesse commends health poverty wealth the storme a haven and a sinfull wretched world commends heaven Oh how sweet will it be when all tears shall be wilped away all Temptations out-wrestled Devils and Sin and World and Selfe all conquered and we shall be with the Lord for ever To the Second which is How the Lord preserves I answer Many wayes but shall onely fix upon two 1. In Order to means 2. To Men For the former his greatest and most eminent preservations are by his own spirit and therefore the two Olive Trees shall supply the Pipes and the Lamps growing on each side the Golden bowle Naturally without any Artifice of mans and that appears thus 1. Means can do nothing without him the Streames are
but of two of the whole Army infected all the yeare 28 And mercy it is that in the Army there hath been no breath that through Grace Religion growes there and growes apacet yea this is your safety that what is desired in the Parliament by the most faithfull is there consulted and acted as God gives opportunity 29 The Lord hath made this Army often more then Conquerours the Roman conquerours rode boasting in their triumphant chariots here no boasters 30 God hath often extorted confessions from the Enemy that some have been forced with Juliun to cry out Vicisti Galilâ—â— 31 Providence carried out Army the other side Exeter even by the sicknesse in it and barrennesse of our quarters and the Enemies advance toward us where how the Lord helpt at Dartmouth stormed without losse and in other places is fresh in memory 32 Their debau 〈…〉 ery in all places made way for our welcome that if the cause should be judged by their instruments a very stranger must passe a sad verdict upon it 33 Such horror possest them every where in pursuit of them at great distances that the Lord seemed to send a hornet before us and Magorâ—issabiâ— they were a terror to themselves and this is remarkable that after they had felâ— our Horse or Foot they had no list to close with uâ— again though they took much time to recruit their spirits 34 The work of a Summer hath been done this Winter where I learned this lesson That faithfull honest English Christians assisted from Heaven can do and suffer more then the most gallant heathen Roman What mountains of Snow and Ice have been marcht over this winter what Rains and Winds have been gone through even to silence the Posting Hannibals or Cunctating Fabii 35 All the Enemies actions and counsels have turned to our advantage and we have been gainers by our losses generally As in the losse of Bristol we found the way to it by the losse at first view we saw it was not tenable with so little force which easily acquits that wise and valiant Gentleman that surrendred it Yea their idol Princes God hath made usefull to us many wayes by sleeping when they should fight and fighting when it had been better they had slept 36 That in all the harrased and plundered Countries God hath fed your Army and at Dartmouth fish brought in to us from the sea to miracle the Country acknowledging that generally we have been welcome where we came many with teares have parted with us at their doors 37 The influence the Justice of the Army hath had upon all forts most observable For instance when the Lieut. Generall had taken Langford house and promised safe convoy to the Enemy to Oxford six of our troopers brake the articles and in the convoy took four or five pound from some of them for which one was presently to be shot and the lot fell upon the first attempter who was put to death and I hope is in heaven being godly as farre as could be discerned the other five were sent to the Governour of Oxford to put to what death he pleased who entertained them nobly sent them back and desired their lives and profest in his letter which I read it was the highest peece of gallantry he had met with c. This very act with the many civilities of the Army hath been very conquering Justice exalteth a Nation Et Caesar in hoste probat Call to any County and ask what wrong your Army hath done them have you any scrols of complaints come up against them 38 And which is much to be remembred this day all Cornwall upon the matter is yours without blood and 5000 horse with their riders disbanded and as if this were not enough Ashley rai 〈…〉 ng a new force is crushed in the egge 39 And this is worth noting that the inhumanity our former Army met with in Cornwal was requited by the Turk fetching away many from Foy neer two hundred and divers taken away by sicknesse at Lestithiel that had abused our poor Souldiers 40 Nor is it a little that all the Nations round about us should be engaged in war and whilst they hoped this Civil combustion might so weaken us that it would not have been hard for them to fall upon the stronger party the Lord hath made us warlike awaked us throughly out of our effeminacie and we are become formidable to our neighbours Especially remember Denmark 41 Hereunto I adde what was not thought on in the appointment of this Day being the second of Aprill The second of April last yeare this Army advanced and was the first day of entertainment They say it is April â—b aperiendo from opening the Earth the Lord then opened a way to your deliverance the same hand open your hearts now to praises and thankfulnesse 42 Hereunto I might adde the Cities sweet compliance with the Parliament yea what oyle the footsteps of God have dropt within the wals of the Parliament houses what providences and blessed hints in your Militia and Common-Councel what in your Assembly is better known to your selves then me and what in the North and other parts I might even tyre you with the repetitions of what you have felt and tasted from the hands of mercy You have done like your selves to constitute Chronologers and you need have good testimonies for Ages to come will look upon many passages aâ— incredible and I beleeve the yeare 45 will stand parallel with 88. In a word You have the Army you wished for and the Successes you desired Oh the blessed change we see that can travell now from Edenburgh to the lands end in Cornwal who not long since were blockt up at our doors To see the high-wayes occupied again to heare the Carter whistling to his toiling team to see the weekly Carrier attend his constant mart to see the hils rejoycing the vallies laughing Nay me thinks I see Germany lifting up her lumpish shoulder and the thin-cheekt Palatinate looking out a prisoner of hope Ireland breathing again that not only lay bedrid but the pulse beating deathward the over-awed French Peasant studying his long lost liberty the Netherlanders looking back upon their neighbouring England who cemented their wals with their blood and bought their freedome with many many thousands of good old Elizabeth shillings Indeed me thinks all Protestant Europe seems to get new colour in her cheeks Dumb Rhetorick is best I could even stand silent and give you time to wonder And this God is your God and I trust will be your guide for ever I could name men but cannot read one word that way in my Commission from the Army who like the covered stals in your chief street of this city are willing to beare the rich Plate but themselves must be vailed else I could tell you of Men yea such as if you had a Blank sent from Heaven and leave given to have written what names you would have had of men for your
were not under these Tithing-temptations but that the State had itâ—neranâ— preachers in all parts of the Kingdom by which you may reach most of the good ends for this State designed by you Let poore People first know there is a God and then teach them the way of Worship The Prophet sayes When the husbandman hath plowed harrowed and broken the clods then sow your timely seed when the face of the earth is made plain Indeed I think our work lies much among clods I wish the face of the earth were cavened I fear whilest we are striving for an Eldership clothed with authority we shall want five thousand Ministers to preach that if you get an Eldership in London and think you have done much you have neither Minister nor Elder to be had in half the Kingdom and so you do nothing a true Eldership is easier wished for than gotten I know not why the Parliament may not try and examine men and send them out to preach and take cognizance of the successe I wish that Committee for plundered Ministers to cast in their help I once read a story of a Chairman setting forth a Century of base Priests I wonder what is become of the second third and fourth Century I wish under the abuse of the Covenant they be not crept into their old dens for mischief If you shall preserve the Gospel the Gospel will preserve you It would not be amisse even in this City and other places to turn two or three Meetings to one and so there might be room in publick for those that are forced into corners and so suffer under the name of Schismaticks If this great work were attended abroad we should not need to be quarrelling at home I am not so fully acquainted with the use this great Councell hath for my Brethrens advice but surely I know the people are desperately ignorant and prophane abroad and from prophane Priests and ignorant people you know the other party have fomented this war and may begin it again if the Word prevent not the Sword Secondly I have something to beg for the bodies of men you have had strong cries from widowes and fatherlesse children whose husbands and fathers have spent their heart-bloud in this service you have many maiâ—ed men which puts me in minde of an expedient for them if improved I mean that famous royall Foundation of the Charter-House or Suttons Hospital they say worth 5 or 6000 l. per annum I humbly beseech your Lordships not to be offended if I put you in minde of the intentions of the Donor It is pitie that so gallant a work should prove a nest of unclean Birds methinks it was built for this time and God may be much honoured by turning the givers intentions into the right chanell many faithfull souls will blesse your care and tendernesse The streets also are swarming with poor which I refer to the Senators of this Citie that is glorious many wayes why should it be so beggarly in the matter of beggars I leave to your wisdome de mâ—do Yet let not my request dye I have lived in a Countrey where in seven years I never saw beggar nor heard an oath nor lookt upon a drunkard why should there be beggars in your Israel where there is so much work to do and if this designe were well minded and managed in the City there would be little place left for such Excentrick motions The third boon I beg is for mens estates Justice exalteth a Nation but sinne is a shame to any people I would beseech all sorts whom it concernes to speed justice it were better for a man to dye once then often You reverend Fathers of the Law put in some help here can there not yet be found a shorter way to further justice must that badge of conquest still lye upon us the Lawes I mean in French Can there not an expedient be found out in plain English whereby every one may soon come to his own Must such members of the most Heroick spirits be spending their brave heats and heights in Westminster-Hall was it not a project to in-gown our gentile English for feare they might be looking abroad to see how their interests lye may there not be two or three friend-makers set up in every Parish without whose labour and leave none should implead another I crave pardon There is one evill I have seen under the Sun a poor man kept in prison for debt whereby his spirit is debaucht and he utterly disabled to pay It is not so abroad Let those that lent you freely in this war and suffer now be first thought on I know many have adventured more then all for you your promise made good for the sale of Delinquents lands will doe it Fourthly and lastly I beg something for mens names and though I know no publique person but ought to carry a spare Handkerchief to wipe off dirt yet certainly blasting mens names in print is not the way to cleare a cause in dispute Yet I have learnt this of my noble Generall Let us look to our duty and the Lord will care for our reproaches but I leave it to your wisdomes I need not to tell you you have Heralds of Armes to keep up mens names that have done worthily though that spirit breath not in this Army But I shall shut up all with these Scriptures Phil. 2. 1 2 3. If there be therefore any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the spirit if any compassion and mercy Fulfill my joy that yee be like minded having the same love being of one accord and one judgement That nothing be done by contention or vain-glory c. Phil. 4. 8. Furthermore brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are worthy love whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue or if there be any praise think of these things These things do and the God of peace shall be with you Amen FINIS This fourty-fifth great yeer of wondrous worth Lord grant it may Great Brittain's peace bring forth Wollchius Gen. 18. â—1 Josh. 1. An Epist. to a Sermon After t 〈…〉 England hath long long enjoy'd you At length returne to him who here imploy'd you Gen. 37. 35. Esth. 3. 2 Sam. 19. 4. Lam. 3. 9. Psal. 38. Doct. Psal. 3. 8. Jer. 14. 8. Psal. 98. 1. Isa 26. 12. Psal. 107. 6. 19. Psal. 136. 23. Zach. 4. 6. Isa. 40. 30 31. Psal. 136. 15. Isa. 95. 6. Isa. 25. 4. Jonah 1. 17. Psal. 48. 12 13 14. Numb. 25. 23. Acts 25. 12. Kings 1. 19. Psal. 91. 1. 1 Sam. 23. 27. Gen. 18. 32. Gen. 19. 6. Isa. 26. 20. John 6 1â— Isai. 65. Gen. 12. 2 3. Rev 6 10. Isai 26. 21 Isa. 63. 18. 64. 2. Zach. 1â— 8. Acts 4. 12. Psal. 2. Gen. 15. 16. Ioel 3. 13. Ezek. 7. 23 Mat. 23. 23 Ier. 3. Ezek. 22. 6. Hosea 13. 2 3. 2 Tim. 3. 13. Ezek. 16. 43. Ier. 42. Ier. 3. 3. Zeph. 3. 5. Psal. 7. 9. Iudg. 〈◊〉 7. Psal. 57. 6 Psal. 7. 14. 15. Acts 25. Acts 9. Psal. 107. ult. Rochester Bridge Earl of Essex c. Sir Tho. Fairfax his Motto Ioh. 3. 16. Psal. 48. ult. Josh. 25. 12 13 14 15. Cant. 4. 9. 1 Cor. 13. Isa. 55. 2. Psal. 18. 1. Hos. 2. 21 22 23. Mr. Tho. Goodwin in a Sermon so called Amos 1. 2 3. Psal. 107. ult. Jer. 20. 1. Hos. 5. 1. Col. 1. 19. Psal. 2. Dan. 2. Psal. 65. 1. Job 30. Hos. 2. Isa. 2◠☞