his complaints but finding none he could only keep the people alarmed with the seditious Queries in the Text what is the cause This being the Sin forbidden in the Text I shall aggravate it 1. From the Causes 2. From the Effects of it 1. The Cause in general is the lusts of men Ex vitio malignitatis humanae vetera laudantur praesentia fastidio habentur Tacitus So S. Jude describes Murmurers to be such as walk after their own lusts ver 16. For when men are resolved to enjoy their lusts they will indure no restraint from God or man be their laws never so easie or equal every one of them hath the mind of an Emperor to live above the Laws themselves and to make their will a Law to others And hence it is that they would heap up Governours to themselves as they heap up Teachers or rather usurp both those Offices to themselves that it might be with them as when there was no King in Israel every one might do what seemeth good in his own eyes S. Jude v. 16. calls them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 complainers of their present condition as too narrow and uneasie for their great Souls which they think fit and able Intelligences to inform the highest orbs of Magistracy and Ministry 2. Aristotle says it proceeds from self-love and a fond conceit of our own parts and merits for no man thinks too highly of himself but he thinks too meanly of others I am not as other men says the Pharisee nor as this Publican Some respect such a person is content to allow the Worthies of former ages who are removed out of his his way and cannot rival him in his designs Sed nisi quae terris semota suisque Temporibus defuncta videt fastidit odit If virtue it self were incarnate among such they would look on her with an evil eye The Pharisees seemed much affected with the Sufferings of the ancient Prophets when at the same time they persecuted the Son of God by whom they were all inspired So the Poetasters in Virgils age publickly read the harsh Poems of Ennius despising him whom all ages since have deservedly admired And on this account Jeroboam and the Malecontents in his days magnified themselves as if they were those Lilies of the field to one of which Solomon in all his glory was not to be compared There is scarce a Potsherd though newly taken from the earth though empty and crazy but if it be not presently gilded over and made a vessel of honour is ready to expostulate with the Potter why hast thou made me thus 3. This humor proceeds not only from a mans supposed worth but from his real weakness It is impotentia spiritûs the want of power to govern our own spirits that makes us impatient of the government of others The shallowest rivers run with the greatest noise And in all nature the weakest things are most querulous and ungovernable Children will be froward as well full as fasting the weakness of their reason and judgment makes their desires and passions so extravagant and impetuous The Olive and the Vine can content themselves with their own fatness and the good man is satisfied from himself As Cincinnatus and the worthies of old Rome who could command as Generals in the Camp and advise as Oracles in the Senate and when their Countrey was safe return again to their little Cottages and the Plough It is the spiny bramble that is alway aspiring and in perpetual motion until it kindle a fire to consume it self and the Cedars in Lebanon Judges 9.15 4. Another ingredient is guiltiness which always makes men jealous and suspicious especially of such as are in Authority And as guilt causeth fear so fear produceth hatred of those whom they have offended i.e. the Legislators whom not being able to oppose by force they seek to undermine by fraud and secret practices As some malefactors that are pursued joyn themselves to the pursuers and by false suggestions and subtle insinuations raise suspicion on others to clear themselves The most guilty are most clamorous and complain first and feign themselves most diligent against the evils of the times which they themselves have caused and continued What is the Cause say they of the present troubles when they and their fathers house are those that trouble our Israel Which brings us to a second Aggravation of this Sin 2. The mischievous Effects of it for 1. as S. Paul tells us 2 Tim. 3.1 when men are lovers of themselves covetous boasters proud disobedient to parents unthankful c. then perillous times shall come Nothing doth more portend the displeasure of God against a Nation than when he permits popular clamours and tumults to invade the publick authority and the contumacy of those that break the laws to outbrave the courage of those that should execute them 2. St. Paul tells us of another effect Phil. 2.14 where he joyns murmurings and disputings Such men are ever more ready to censure and controll than to obey the laws of their Superiours They are starting of scruples and queries not so much to satisfie themselves being resolved never to be satisfied as to distract others And as Pliny observes of the Scorpion that he doth meditari vulnera dart forth his sting on every motion of his body lest any occasion of doing mischief should be omitted Et si non aliqua nocuisset mortuus esset In all companies upon every occasion some men shew their discontent by sowre looks and sullen behaviours their envyous grudgings and vindictive groans Their Fasting when they should feast and rejoycing when they should mourn Condemning the Laws which they should obey do manifest that the spirit by which they live and breath is a spirit of Contradiction The rude people says the Royal Martyr in his ch of Tumults are taught first to Petition then to Protest then to Dictate then to Command This was the method used in 43 as it is left on record in the Preface to the Covenant After other means of Supplications Remonstrances Protestations c. Now at last we enter into a Solemn League and Covenant And by this method the late Tumults in Scotland commenced into a Rebellion They sow the Seeds of Sedition in private meetings thence issue Petitions Remonstrances and at last the Conventiclers appear in armed companies and declare for the Covenant against the Oath of Supremacy and the Kings usurped power in Ecclesiastical affairs and condemn the observation of the 29th of May as Superstitious And too many in England were on Tiptoe to have danced after this Scotch Pipe And so we come 3. To the last effect of these murmurings which Moses hath observed numb 17.10 where he expresly calls them Rebels And we all know that murmurings were those winds which blew up and scattered those coals of jealousie which kept the whole Nation in a flame twenty years together and now threaten a new Conflagration For as the Learned Verulam
observes there is only this difference between seditious murmurings and seditious tumults that the one is the Brother and the other the Sister Tumults and Seditions are more masculine but Murmurings as malicious Which the Ancients have ingeniously described in the Fable of the Giants which the earth brought forth who for warring against the gods were smitten with Thunderbolts and to revenge their death the Earth laboured again and brought forth Fame The Moral is this The Common people are that Earth who opposing their Governours were subdued by force of Arms but to be avenged of them they brought forth Fame i.e. Seditious reports and slanders which had such secret motions and subtle evasions that the gods themselves i.e. their Governors could not silence them Which is the third thing proposed the subtle pretences by which this lust insinuates it self what is the cause c. As if they had said The present times are much degenerated from the former and are still growing worse Atheisin is increased and Godliness discouraged vile persons are exalted and such as are truly honourable despised and there are few or none that are valiant for the truth or shew their zeal for the Lord of Hosts In former times men were more active for Reformation of abuses both in Church and State there wanted not some that would tell King David his faults to his face and accuse him for a man of bloud and if he seemed not to hear the Curses of Shimei there was a Sheba to blow a Trumpet and proclaim Every man to his tents O Israel 1 Kings 12.16 Nay there was an Achitophel whose Counsel was esteemed as an Oracle of God that prevailed with Absalom to undertake to redress the Grievances of the people 2 Sam. 16.15 and these made their party strong enough to drive the King out of all his strong holds and chase him not only from one mountain to another but from one Kingdom to another and at last to bind the King himselfe in chains and his Nobles in fetters of Iron And this honour had those ancient Saints And as for Church Reformation we have the Examples of those Godly zealots that publickly protested against those Superstitious vanities and heathenish customs which David would have joyned to the Worship of God such as his bowing and dancing before the Ark his appointing several Orders of Priests and Levites with Vocal and Instrumenral musick for the Service of the Temple who were to praise God with the Psaltery and Harp and to stand every morning and evening to praise God for his mercy endureth for every 1 Chron. 23.30 1 Kings 12.28 And as for the costly ornaments the vessels of Gold and Silver the Painted and Carved works there were those that brake them down with Axes and Hammers and took to themselves the Houses of God in possession yea they propagated a more simple and purer Worship such as that of Jeroboam who brought their houshold-gods to their doors and set up Calves at Dan and Bethel making Priests of the meanest of the people who were contented with the free-will Offerings of their Brethren But now though this liberty of Conscience be denyed us and King Solomon hath established by a Law all that David intended though he have built and beautified the Temple and obligeth us to that publick place of Worship and enjoyns us to Worship and fall down and kneel as if God were there present Ps 95.6 Though he requires an Uniformity to all those Forms of Prayer and Thanksgiving which were composed by David and Asaph 2 Chron. 29.30 and to joyn with the Levites which were the Singers being arayed in white linnen having Cymbals Psalteries and Harps to make one sound in Praising and Thanking the Lord 2 Chron. 5.12 Yea though Solomon do stint the Spirit of prayer in Gods Ministers and forbids them to be rash with their mouths Eccles 5.2 and to let their tongues be hasty to utter any thing before the Lord as if our extemporary prayers were the Sacrifices of fools yet may we not complain or so much as Petition against these grievous impositions Nay what is yet worse we are required to renounce the Vow at Hebron and the Solemn League which Jeroboam and his godly party took with hands lifted up to heaven and instead of the Vow to God we are told we must keep the Kings command and that in regard of the oath of God ch 8.2 And we must also declare that against the King there is no rising up Pro. 30.3 upon any pretence whatsoever nor against such as are commissioned by him but if the spirit of subordinate Rulers rise up against us we may not go out of our places Eccl. 10.4 nor stir beyond our private callings and capacities but fear God and the King and not meddle with them that are given to change Pro. 24.21 though it be for a thorow Reformation And in a word Solomon would put such a gag in our mouths that we may not so much as demand What is the cause that the former days were better than these But I have saved these men the labour in summing up all the Causes of the pretended evils of their-times and how frivolous they are appears evidently by this that David appointed nothing for the publick Worship of God but what he graciously accepted And all that Solomon injoyned was immediately directed by the Spirit of God and stands recorded in the Holy Scriptures as general rules to be observed in the publick Worship of God to all succeeding ages Solomon well knew that the evils in his days were caused by the Complaints of those malicious men who were enemies to his Fathers Government as well as his own that they intended to bring his Person and Government into contempt and minded not the redress of publick grievances as much as of their private fortunes and if the times were evil they took a direct course to make them worse by endeavouring to overthrow all those Constitutions which both Solomon and his father David had well established He knew that if these Male-contents were permitted to sow these seeds of Rebellion they would like the Dragons teeth sowed by Gadmus spring up into Armed men that would destroy their Brethren God forbid that we should be insensible of our own sins or of the tokens of Gods wrath that are upon us That our Religion should be as Sion of old whom no man cared for or that we should suffer our selves to be led into Captivity as we were brought out of it as men in a dream It is our Interest as well as our duty to mourn for other mens sins as well as our own but we should do that in secret and take heed that under a pretence of reproving their sins we do not pour out reproach on their persons and government and by such art so spread abroad their infirmities as to make a cloak for our own iniquities We may also be instrumental in a
reformation but we should begin it at the right end our own wicked hearts and lives and not at the Heads of our Superiors to complain that the days are evil with a design by such complaints to make them worse to search after remote and secret causes and overlook those that are so near and obvious in our own bosoms and with the Harlot in Solomon having overlayed her own child to accuse a tender mother 1 Kings 3.20 and seek to deprive her of her living child is a subtle design but such as could not stand the Test of Solomon and a greater than Solomon will judge such men It was observed by the Royal Martyr that whoever intended to bring forth confusion in a Church or State have used the Midwifry of complaints and tumults By this Artifice Absalom stole the hearts of the people from his Father David See thy cause is right but there is no man deputed of the King to do thee justice 2 Sam. 13.3 when the design was O that I were judge in Israel And to facilitate his design he remembreth his Vow at Hebron that under pretence of Piety to God he might strengthen his party and the more impunely cast off his obedience to his Father By the like art Jeroboam had stoln the hearts of Solomon's Subjects and made a great part of Israel to sin with him For though the foundations of Solomons Government were such as might have made all Israel as firm as Mount Sion which could not be moved though in his days there was a confluence of all those blessings whereof one or two might have made another Nation happy yet by their whining murmurings and restless complaints of heavy yoaks and approaching Idolatry of the hainous sins and imminent dangers of the Nation they did tantum non fail but a little of subverting the whole frame of the best established Government in the world But Solomon had a jealous ear which heard all these things and was assisted with more than humane prudence and power to suppress them He crusheth this Cockatrice in the Egg and discovers the folly and impiety of it Thou dost not inquire wisely c. which brings us to the last part of the Text non ex sapientiâ Witty men there might be among such ingeniosi in malum publicum but they were neither wise nor good men in the sence of Solomon For whether by wisdom we understand moral prudence or as most Expositors true piety and the fear of God they who thus causlesly murmured against the King had neither they acted both against Reason and Religion First against Reason For what is more irrational than solicitously to enquire after the causes of those things that are not They might as well ask why the Sun had lost its light or the foundations of the earth were removed which were as true as that the former days were better than those of Solomon which will appear by a short view of the Church and State of Israel in the days of Solomon For 1. In riches and wisdom Solomon exceeded all the Kings of the earth that were before him 1 Kings 10.27 The Vessels and Utensils of Gods House as well as the Kings were of beaten Gold for Gold was as common as silver and silver as the stones in the streets of Jerusalem 1 Kings 9.28 And his Royal Navy commanded the Trade of the world and kept his Exchequer always full and running over bringing home 666 Talents of Gold at a time besides the rich merchandize from Tyre and Egypt There was also a general peace to injoy this great plenty for Solomon was in this a Type of Christ there was neither adversary nor evil occurrence 1 Kings 4. but all Judah and Israel which made a prey of each other in the days of David were united and dwelt safely every man under his own Vine and under his own fig-tree from Dan to Beersheba there was a general and perpetual peace all the dayes of Solomon ver 25. Which peace was the more admirable because that though Adonijah had usurped the Kingdom and strengthned himself by the heads of divers factions Joab among the souldiers and Abiathar among the Priests and Shimei chief of the Benjamites yet was he setled on his Fathers Throne without shedding of bloud or any opposition His League also with Hiram deserves a remark being a friend to the True Religion and the most potent and skilful in Sea-affairs But what is especially to be noted is that all these blessings were confirmed to him by a promise from God for his father Davids sake 1 Kings 11.12 2. His clemency did adorn his peace for he pardoned such offenders as could obtain pardon from themselves Adonijah that had usurped the Kingdom and Joab that had barbarously slain Abner and Amasa Captains of his Fathers Host and Abiathar a revolted Priest that had strengthned the hands of the Usurper and Shimei also who having got the upper ground of David spit his venome in his Royal face reviling him maledictione forti with all the virulence he could 2 Sam. 16.7 Yet 3. His clemency was seasoned with justice which was inflicted on incorrigible offenders without respect of persons high and low natives and strangers particularly on Shimei for that horrid fact on the person of his father whom he commanded to be slain by the hand of Benaiah and the kingdom was thereby established in the hand of Solomon 4. His Maximes of Government were of infallible and eternal verity such as these Mercy and truth preserve the King and by righteousness shall his throne be established Pro. 20.28 It is the honour of a King to search out a matter Pro. 25.2 In the multitude of Counsellors there is peace But where no counsel is the people fall 11.14 Righteousness exalteth a Nation but sin is a reproach to any people Pro. 14.34 And his men were suited to his Maxims men of gravity and experience of prudence piety and moderation such as would have secured the Crown to Rehoboam had he not rejected them and inclined to greener heads that were brought up with him All these blessings he dispensed with great wisdom having a heart as capacious as the sand on the Sea-shore Which wisdom he acquired partly by giving his heart to it but it was perfected by the gift of God This made his face to shine so as he attracted the admiration of all the Kings of the Earth and the Queen of the South came from far to be an Ear witness of it and envyed the happiness of his Subjects This wisdom he demonstrated to be better than strength by suppressing strife and contention in the first rise of it He carefully observed all the motions of the people and neglected not in times of peace to make provision for war He had many fortified Cities and 40000 stalls for the horses of his Chariots and 40000 horse and his people were as the sand as for number Notwithstanding all this preparation of Chariots
hearts of the credulous people their fears and jealousies their lyes and slanders their murmurings and discontent they would in a short time remove the well Established Foundations of Church and State The God of Peace Unity and Concord who stilleth the raging of the Sea allay the madness of such people And give us all that peace which the world cannot give that our hearts may be set to obey his Commandments and also that by him we being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour So daily prayeth Your Lordships most Humble and Obliged Servant THO. LONG A SERMON AGAINST Murmuring Ecclesiastes vii 10. Say not thou what is the cause that the former days were better than these For thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this THERE is nothing wanting to complete the Solemnity of this Day or indeed the happiness of the Whole Nation besides Thankful and Obedient hearts to God and the King for the many incomparable blessings which under them we now enjoy That character which the Royal Prophet gives Psal 144. of a blessed people agrees well with us for first which is the foundation of all we have the Lord to be our God v. last And our God hath given Salvation to our King ver 10. He hath delivered David his Servant from the peril of the Sword And again he hath delivered him from the hand of strange children whose mouth speaketh of vanity and their right hand is a right hand of falshood And now our Sons grow up as young plants and our daughters are as the polished corners of the Temple our Garners are full affording all manner of store our Sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets There is no decay of Trade no leading into Captivity Only we cannot say there is no complaining in our streets This sin lyeth as an indeleble reproach upon our Nation We English-men never know when we are well But what shall we say when the most prosperous raign of Peaceable Solomon was disturbed with the Murmurings of Male-contents it is no wonder if it be so with us Every ear is filled with the hissing of such Serpents and the noise which they make among the Thickets of the people but it will require the wisdom of Solomon to charm them and he did it so effectually that though they did some time hiss at him yet they could never hurt him for there was peace all the days of Solomon And that it may be so with us I shall follow the method prescribed in the Text where First We have a Royal Prohibition Ne dicas say not thou Secondly We have the sin described against which the Prohibition lyeth which by consent of the best Expositors is a murmuring and repining at the present Dispensations of God and the Administration of Publick affairs by our Governors Thirdly We have the secret and subtile pretences by which it insinuates it self to the hearts of the people What is the cause and a false and odious comparison between the former and the present times The former times were better than these And Fourthly The folly and impiety of such secret and mischievous Arts Thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this First Of the Royal Prohibition Say not thou that is Though you question the King's Prerogative yet quarrel not with the Prerogative of God by whom Kings Reign and Princes decree judgment as if he did not set fit Governours over us or did not still retain a power over them who hath the hearts of all Kings in his hands and disposeth of them to his own wise and gracious ends either for the punishment or prosperity of a Nation If the former days were better it was God's will to have them so and the present are not so bad but we by our ingratitude deserve to have them worse If we will not submit to Solomons rod God may send a Rehoboam to chastise us with Scorpions Know therefore that this sin doth not terminate in the persons or government of our Princes but invades the Throne of God as Moses told the Israelites your murmuring is not against us but against the Lord. Ex. 16.8 And therefore Solomon strikes a blow at the root of this sin the ne dicas is ne dicas corde admit not a discontented thought for as where the Serpent gets in his head he easily skrews in his whole body so where the heart is sowred with a little of this Leaven it ferments and envenometh the whole man infects the neighbourhood and troubleth the whole Nation Solomon expounds the ne dicas in the Text by ne maledicas ch 10.20 for to murmur is secretò maledicere and we are not to speak evil of the Rulers of the people ne in Conscientiâ not under a pretence of Conscience because we must submit for Conscience-sake we may not do it in scientia not speak the evil we know by them It is not fit to say to a King Thou art wicked Job 34.18 Much less maist thou do it in conclavibus among thy Confidents in private meetings It is probably conjectured that Solomon had respect to Jeroboam and his confederates 1 Kings 12.26 Dixit corde He said in his heart now shall the kingdom return to the house of David He had learnt by Shimei's punishment not to rail or conspire openly against the King but contrived secretly for though it be said that he lift up his hand against the King it was not in open rebellion for there was no war in Solomon's days but the phrase signifyeth juramento se obligavit he and his confederates entred into a Covenant against the King the mischievous effects whereof though they were supprest by the wisdom of Solomon all his days yet they brake out in the days of his Successor and they complain even of Solomon himself Thy Father made our yoke grievous 1 Kings 12.4 Now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father and his heavy yoke which he put upon us lighter And yet we read not of any contribution except for the building of Gods house or the necessary support of his own to both which the people for the most part offered willingly Nevertheless this gracious and peaceable Prince had many enemies who hated him as Davids enemies did without a cause 1 Kings 2.15 They acknowledged that God as well as his father designed him for the Crown and setled it on his head against all opposition for Adonijah usurped the kingdom Abiathar Joab and Shimei abetted the Usurpation and were all defeated God appearing for Solomon not once or twice for the preservation of him from such enemies was a daily miracle But Jeroboam Solomons servant whom he had preferred and greatly honoured was his most dangerous and implacable enemy who filled the peoples hearts with fears and jealousies and their mouths with complaints of his Government and very industrious he was to find out some real cause for