divisions of Gods people there should be great thoughts of heart as for the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts and great seachings of heart It is to be lamented with the teares of us all to see brethren agreeing in all substantials serving one God having one Father and Hope c. yet for some circumstances in matters of Discipline their contentions are as the barres of a Castle and the heat is increased as betweene Guelphs and Gibellines Honourable Senators here your Wisdome yea a Divine Wisdome from above must be obtained for you would shine if you could repaire all these breaches and compose things so that brethren might with peace of conscience dwell together in unitie then we should see that the Lord would delight over us to goe on to doe great things for us and the graces of God would then shine in his servants when they would in the spirit of meeknesse yeeld one to another so that the unitie of the spirit might be kept in the bond of peace This onely I adde If ye bite and devoure one another Gal. 5. take heed that ye be not consumed one of another Fourthly when we have had mercies showring down from heaven we have slackt our hands in prayer when Moses hands fell downe Amalek prevailed and so through our slacknes coldnesse in this dutie and others more then through the slacknesse of our Armies the enemies who were not long since even prayed downe have strengthened themselves to our reproach and danger Fifthly Selfe-love which sets us upon selfe-seeking and selfe-ends is so predominant that the publique concernments are not so promoted If we had publique concernments are not so promoted If we had publique spirits our endevours would have had a further influence into the publique good then yet they have had And many provocations there are amongst us to bewaile many Achans amongst us many cursed things not onely hid in the tents but brought forth in the sight of the Sunne they declare their sinne as Sodome and hide it not much cause of humiliation these are unto us all this day and we must not looke to see Gods work-perfected till we All mourne and repent for the many evils in the midst of us How long shall I see the Standard and heare the sound of the Trumpet Jer. 4.21 It is answered in the next words by the Prophet My people is foolish c. Junius reads it So long as my people is foolish and sottish and wise to doe evill And Honoured Worthies I beseech you to admit of me that I may use boldnesse This burden concerns all and cals upon all it is for admonition to all but especially You When Israel had provoked the Lord by their spell and bodily uncleanesse the people were plagued in a fearefull manner there fell in one day foure and twenty thousand Moses was not blamed Num. 25. but the Heads of the people Hang up the heads of the people that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel Why the Heads of the people They should have lookt better to the people in governing so to prevent sin or they should have beene more swift to execute judgement when they fell into sinne It is not enough that you are not grosse sinners that you are reformed so long as there are in the midst of Citie and Kingdome even where your Power also reacheth many abominations there are as Ezekiel speakes Ezek. 22. in thee in thee much excess many profanations horrible uncleannesse I speake what I know even abominable incest not onely acted once or twice but continued in to the just provocation of Gods anger against you and all of us and there is no course for redresse none to punish or put them to shame there is in the midst of us oppression and crueltie there are in the midst of us many Innocents whose faces are ground and their bones crusht and broken most injuriously they cry for reliefe they stretch out their hands to you for helpe O releeve the oppressed and judge the cause of the helplesse lest the Lord heare their cry and it be sinne unto you Delay not make speed to seeke judgement to bring the wheele upon the wicked put not off such things the delaying of which delayes all your hopefull proceedings delay not one day to trouble those that trouble Israel but as Ioshua said so doe ye God shall trouble thee this day These and many such things lye upon you therefore provoke your spirits to zeale and courage feare not faint not if Christ had fainted in the worke of our Redemption what had become of us he fainted not not was discouraged till he set judgement in the Earth do ye likewise Observe how the Lord describeth the Horse Iob 39. His neck is cloathed with thunder he paweth in the valley and rejoyceth in his strength he goeth out to meet the armed man the quiver rattleth at him the glittering speare and the shield he saith among the Trumpets aha and doth God care for horses glorifie God in the creature and learne courage from him break through all like lightning as in naturall motion so the neerer you come to your haven where you would be let your motion be swifter The Lords beginnings engage him to finish ye are Gods as Psalme 82. Follow God the Lord hath beene very zealous for you and us take heed of coldnesse in this heat labour to hasten Reformation in the Church that it may be the gladnesse of Gods people to goe to the beautie of holinesse that the Tribes may goe up to the Testimony of Israel and for the better governing the Common-wealth let there be set thrones of judgement in all places as Psal 122. And to conclude Let us all put to our helping hands armes purses counsell encouragement for the helpe of the Lord against the mightie let the Ministers of Christ be carefull to maintaine unitie to provoke Christians to peace to unite against the common Enemie on some have compassion making a difference and others save with terrour pulling them out of the fire O let all be humbled before our God this day and put our mouthes in the dust and then our prayers will be very prevalent with God our legions would be thundering legions as Christian armies of old dreadfull to the enemie let us all helpe with our constant prayers be the Lords remembrancers give him no rest till he refine his Church and pull it out of the fire he that hath neither purse nor weapon nor hands nor counsell to helpe hath a heart O poure it out in prayer give not over till the Lord hath made Ierusalem a praise in the earth It is usuall to put words into a Delinquents mouth whereby he is delivered from death The Lord deales thus with us he bids us take words and he also suggests words whereby we may be delivered from iniquity received graciously Hos 14.2 So Ier. 3.19 He deviseth a way for us how we should obtaine the lengthening of our tranquillitie It is the Lord that asketh the question How shall I put thee among the children and give thee a pleasant land even a goodly heritage of the hostes of nations And I said thou shalt call me My Father and shalt not turne away from me This then is the Lords way that he would have us take to cry Father Abba Father to pray to devote our selves to God and never to turne from him No people ever had more encouragements and more needs then we have to wrastle with God O wrastle with God leave him not till he blesse us give him not over till we prevaile when we are Princes and prevailers with God then shall we see Mercy and Truth meeting Righteousnesse and Peace kissing then would the Lord be with us in these fires or pull us as brands out of the fire and then and not till then we shall be prevailers over men FINIS
Cant. 8. many waters cannot quench this love c. In wrath he remembers mercy and will not contend for ever lest the spirit should faile before him Isa 57.16 and the soules that he hath made The Lord will repent himselfe for his servants when he seeth that their power is gone and there is none shut up or left Deuteronomie 32.36 The tender mercies of the wicked are cruell their malice is endlesse but the Lord in wrath remembers mercy When his people are humbled his repentings are kindled his bowels are troubled and acknowledgeth that Jerusalem hath received double at his hands for all their sinnes Isa 40.2 Duplum in Christo Junius And so one addes an Argument besides those I have set downe out of these words which may silence the Devill and all implacable enemies Thus This people is sufficiently punisht therefore God is not to be urged to adde to their punishment Sanctius Fourthly the enemy shall not alwaies blaspheme the Lord will stop the mouth of iniquitie he will still the enemy and avenger Deut. 32.26 27. the Lord would have scattered the Israelites into corners and caused the remembrance of them to cease from among men were it not that he feared the wrath of the enemy Fifthly thus the Lord takes course for his own Name although not for our sakes yet for his owne Names sake he will worke for us that his Name be not polluted And so Ioshua pleads Josh 7. Chap. 7. that for this reason the Lord would not leave his people in the enemies hand for then What saith he wilt thou doe unto thy glorious Name Fourthly here is implied that if the Lord beginne in mercy he will finish Psal 102. Psal 138.8 when the time to favour Sion the set time is come then the Lord will perfect his worke concerning us he will doe it in despight of all Devils and Antichristians though there be mountaines before his Zerubbabels God will make them plaines and bring forth the head-stone of his worke with shouting He can make the hardest resistance as Clay or Wax to the Signet the greatest impediment shall give place as Euphrates did to Cyrus that he might take the old Babylon He saith to the deepe Isa 44. Be drie and so will the Lord doe that he may be avenged on Rome Revel 16.11 Yea things adverse shall not onely yeeld but concurre The Lord will make away in the wildernesse and rivers in the desert the beasts of the field shall honour him the Dragon Isa 43.19 20 21. and the Owles c. As the beginnings of the ruine of the wicked evidenceth their certaine totall ruine If Haman begin to fall he shall not faile but fall so the beginnings of deliverance from our Romish enemies are pledges of compleat deliverance the beginnings of the repairing of Gods Temple evidence the certaine finishing of it beginnings of woe were signes to the Iews of the extremitie of woe and beginnings of blessednesse and puritie are like signes of perfect blessednesse and puritie First for the Lord hath chosen Ierusalem and his beginnings declare what he hath decreed If God hath decreed to deliver to build to beautifie the place of his Foot-stoole and make it glorious who can hinder the Lord God hath purposed and who can disanull it Isa 14.24.27 he hath stretched forth his hand and who can turne it back Secondly It stands God upon for his honour to goe on in mercy when he begins in mercy his Truth his Wisdome and Power are ingaged Moses therefore was much affected when the Lord threatened to destroy Israel as one man after he had puld them out of the Egyptian burnings Exod. 32.12 Lord saith he why doth thy wrath waxe hot against thy people which thou hast brought forth out of the Land of Egypt with great power and with a mightie hand Wherefore should the Egyptians speake and say for mischiefe did he bring them out to slay them in the mountaines Num. 14.15 16. And now if thou wilt kill all this people as one man then the Nations which have heard the fame of thee will speake saying Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into Canaan he hath slaine them in the wildernesse The Lord would not have us such unwise builders as beginne and cannot finish such builders are exposed to scorne and shame therefore the omnipotent onely wise God will not doe so The Lord also is tender of his servants honour he will still the enemie Psal 8. Sanballat Tobiah and Geshem will laugh Nehemiah and other Worthies to scorne Neh. 2.19 20. What is this thing that ye doe Neh. 4.2 3 4. Will ye rebell against the King What doe these feeble Iewes will they fortifie will they sacrifice Then his fellow Even that which they build if a Foxe goe up he will breake down their stone wall but Nehemiah and such may be confident and say The God of heaven will prosper us therefore we his servants will arise and build and make all knowne to God who careth for your persons your names and honours Heare O our God for we are despised and turne their reproach upon their owne head The reproach of his servants he will wipe away Isa 66.5 The Lord will appeare to your joy when they shall be ashamed Thirdly God is constant so is his love and resolution to doe us good he is not as the sonne of man that he should repent Num. 23.19 Mal. 3.6 1 Sam. 12.22 he is God and changeth not The Lord will not forsake his people for his great Names sake because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people Therefore when the Lord beginnes he goeth on as Naomi said of Booz The man will not be in rest untill he finish the things this day Men are mutable discouraged weary but the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not Natura not dilassatur opere as the heavens are never wearie the Sunne after millions of revolutions continueth still rejoycing as a mighty man to runne his race much lesse is the God of Nature and the God of these Heavens weary shall the Lord then begin and not finish Shall I bring to the birth Isa 66.9 and not cause to bring forth saith the Lord The Lords care over his Church is also a constant care his eyes are continually upon it upon one stone that is Christ Iesus the Corner-stone on whom we are built there are seven eyes that is many eyes the Lords eyes are upon Gods House Populi causam Deus semel tucudan suscepit ac proinde qua est constantia â—â—nquam deseret cam Drusius his chosen and so shall be till all be perfected concerning his people They may be in the burning but they shall certainly be rescued and if so perfectly delivered The constant zeale of the Lord of Hosts will performe this First sympathize and pity Ireland almost burnt Vse 1. Levit. 10.6
dysaster or for any present weaknesse or miserie we are in the Lord carrieth on the worke of restitution and salvation of his Church and people in a mysterie when we are at the top of misery the Lord will be seene Iehovah iireth the Lord will be seene or will see even in the Mount his footsteps are hardly knowne the Sunne ariseth and shineth upon Sodome then the Lord rained fire and brimstone from the Lord out of heaven Gods people lie as buried or burnt up in Babylon then the Lord sends from heaven and saveth them from those that would swallow them up This is the season not for shrinking but for zeale 1 Chron. 14. the Lord hath gone out before you and broke in upon the enemies as the breaking in of many waters therefore now bestirre you Those of Issachar are commended because they had knowledge and understanding of the Times 1 Chro. 12.32 and knew what Israel ought to doe This will be your wisdome to take notice that to hazard that Christs kingdome is in by Enemies abroad and Schismes and Divisions among our selves in this season requires all your diligence skill and power to bring present healing and aide And so now when Babylons rage crueltie is at the height it is the time it is the time to render to her double as she hath done to you In this season we are in straits as when the children are come to the birth and there is no strength to bring forth Is it not time for us then to stirre in these straits strive and extend your selves to get Gods children and the Lords worke drawne out of the wombe let not that be your spot which was the spot of Ephraim in the like case the sorrowes of a travelling woman are upon him He is an unwise sonne for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children Hos 13.13 Now we are in the fire let your zeale hence be enkindled take fire from this fire Every man especially Reformers Repairers Deliverers must be salted with fire as every sacrifice was seasoned with salt Mar. 9. be ye therefore thus seasoned with this heavenly fire of zeale without which all will be unsavorie that you may goe on in promoting the great workes you have in hand Further to provoke you I adde some further incentives First Observe that the builders and reformers had as many discouragements as are now they had a great worke before them many enemies about them and the Kings Authoritie and expresse command against them Eâ—â—a â— 2 yet they went on and prospered there were Mountains before them Zach. 4.7 8 9. but God made all plaine in a strange way of providence Not by Army nor Power but by my Spirit saith the Lord He will doe the like for you Onely as it is said to Ioshua Be of good courage The Lord can rebuke the Devil and all his Instruments with a word and make them as still as a stone Secondly If ye faint and grow cold ye lose all that hath gone before ye Worthies ye have done much in pulling downe Poperie a Tyrannous Hierarchie and the strength of Babylons Armies ye have begun a glorious Reformation and your Zeale hath set you upon high undertakings and effected such things as we through our basenesse of spirit neither looked not hoped for you suffered as much as did ever any Parliament hazarding your Persons Estates and Families indured much contradiction of sinners and many reproaches ye have had many acknowledgements and thankesgivings from Citie and Countrey O then lose not all that hath gone before let your last be more then the first Will ye do will ye suffer so many things in vaine Thirdly Ye worke with God and the Lord will work with you It is an honour to the noblest to put their necks to this worke The Sonne of God appeareth upon a Red Horse going out in a fiery appearance against the enemie He is among the Myrtle trees that is in the midst of his people who are his delight and with him there are Red Horses also Michael hath his Angels to take vengeance on the Dragon and his angels also there are speckled Horses usefull every way both for defence and offence Fourthly The great oppositions you have should stirre up zeale the god of the world is against you Antichrist and all that have the marke of the Beast upon them are against you You are ingaged in the greatest worke that ever lay upon the children of men therefore there is required strong endeavours O be strong ye Zerubbabels he for the Lord of Hosts who hath beene zealous for you and withall take notice that your opposition is from devilish and malignant spirits Satan and his Instruments who stand at your right hands to resist Then up and be doing goe on your cause cannot but be good Firfthly Take courage and goe on else ye open the mouth of iniquitie you will be tried with cruel mockings by those that looke and gape to see your spirits flat and cold Oh how will they of Gath and Askelon insult this will pierce as a sword Saul chose rather to fall on his owne sword and die then to be mocked by the uncircumcised Philistines and Zedekiah would not yeeld but let come on him whatsoever it was because he feared to be scorned and mocked And consider I beseech you that we have made out boast of God and gloried in such instruments let not our confident boasting make us ashamed Sixthly Thus if you goe on you and we may leave happinesse to our posteritie if through our slacknesse and pusillanimitie the enemie prevaile we shall have nothing left to bequeath but Slavery and Popery Sevently Antichrists end is neere Babylon is and that shortly to be destroyed therefore faint not you have given her a deadly wound follow on your stroke let that wound never be healed the Beast roares and struggles and bestirres her selfe she recollects spirits but it is but as in a dying man naturea ultimus conatus which we call a lightening before death then now is the time to extend your selves to make a full end of the Whore to dispatch her with swords as the Prophet speakes and to burne her houses with fire Then keepe your spirits up fall not to an indifferencie or base neutrality They that be not with Christ are against him They that come not out to the help of the Lord suppose they be inoffensive moderate men are cursed with a double bitter curse Judg. 5. The history of the men of Iabesh Gilead may be for our learning on whom these sad times are come They assisted not the Beniamites in protecting those Delinquents sonnes of Belial nor associated with the Tribes of Israel in their just Warre which was as this Warre now to bring such wretches to judgement and punishment Vpon inquiry these being found Neuters were dealt withall as utter enemies they were all smitten with the sword both