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A93052
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The three kingdomes case: or, Their sad calamities, together with their causes and cure. Laid down in a sermon preached at a publique fast at Kingston upon Hull. With some very remarkable passages of providence worthy of generall observation. /
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Shawe, John, 1608-1672.
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1646
(1646)
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Wing S3030; Thomason E330_1; ESTC R200707
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29,664
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42
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c. God cals to this office sometimes men of greater birth and estates as this Isaiah sonne of Amoz sometimes poorer as Amos a poore Neat-heard of Tekoah Amos 1. 1. which two names a Robustus fortis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Onustus durus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hie◠in Isa 1. differ much both in the Hebrew writing and signification Isaiah prophesied above sixty yeers to a stubborne people of the Jewes that profited little so did Hosea to Israel above seventy yeers yet would not leave off his Ministry to leave off ones Ministry because he cannot see it doe that good which he wisheth saith old Latimer is a naughty a very naughty deed After all his toile and paines he was sawne asunder by his neere Kinsman let us learne to be content though ill rewarded by men seeing this Evangelicall and noble Prophet was so used after so long and great paines for their soules good The summe of the Prophesie is a discovery of the abominations of the Jewes and of Gods judgements against the impenitent for those finnes together with a promise to the Elect and prophesie of the Lord Jesus Christ his birth life death resurrection ascension and intercession In this chapter the Lord holds out Christ full of beauty and bounty goodnesse and pitty ver 1. 10. exhorteth the Jewes to prize and praise him ver 10. 13. but foreseeing their contempt and rejecting of such an invaluable mercy he denounceth heavy judgements against them ver 13. to the end whereof my Text is part In which consider first the punisher the Lord secondly the punishment battell war with the fruits of it robbing firing spoyling c. And thirdly the punished not Heathens but the Members of Gods visible Church Jacob Israel fourthly the meritorious cause of this punishment sinne and disobedience neglecting Gods wayes fifthly the Peoples incorrigiblenesse and unprofitablenesse under all this they consider not nor lay it to heart I will graspe as much together as I can and collect some observations as suitable to the Text occasion and time as with conveniency I may And first this Observ 1. That warre with the fruits thereof robbing firing spoyling are very sad and heavy calamities yet such as may befall a Nation professing the true Religion Observ 2. That when such warres befall such a Nation it 's God that sends them and gives up a people to them Who gave Israel to the robbers did not the Lord Observ 3. When ever God sends such warres and calamities on such a Nation their sinnes and iniquities were the procuring and meritorious cause Observ 4. That when a people have such judgements poured upon them by God and yet doe not consider rightly thereof and lay it to heart it much provokes and angers God For the first that the strength of battell robbing firing and spoyling are sad calamities it needs no further proofe it 's too apparent already I may say of this as our Saviour Luke 4. 21. this day is this Scripture fulfilled in your eares yet that this point may prove more usefull to us let me a little cut it up and shew you the miseries of warre first by the precedents or occasions of it secondly the nature of it thirdly the consequents especially of a civill warre such as ours now is And first for the occasions of warre I will name some as it 's a sad thing when King a and people fall out and clash one with another till one weaken another and endanger the ruine of both thus Abimilech and the men of Sechem the Lord sent an evill spirit of dissention betwixt them Judg. 9. 22 23. after Abimilech had raigned a while ere long both parties took up armes so as no man could safely travaile on the high-way because of the Souldiers ver 25. the event of this warre was this first the people were ruined ver 44. the City destroyed and sowne with salt ver 45. the Tower a strong hold of Sechem burnt and a thousand men and women in it ver 49. and ere long the King was ruined and that dishonourably ver 53 54. a sad and heavy case to see a body tearing out its owne bowels to see a Kingdome like Judas or Achitophel making it selfe away when the Lord sends a spirit of perversities amongst a people Isa 19. 14. the Lord hath mingled a spirit of perversities c. Secondly it 's a sad thing when Courtiers and favourites of a King who much mind not any Religion yet come to Church and perhaps take a Protestation the better to please men and keep their places a while but as soon as they espie their time take advantage upon a King and labour to seduce draw his heart from God and his truth to idolatry and to raise up armes and make warre upon his Subjects and this hath been done see 2 Chron. 23. 16. in Jehojada's dayes the Courtiers and people entred into Covenant to be the Lords people and opposed idolatry ver 17. but assoon as Jehojada was dead 2 Chro. 24. 15. the flattering CGurtiers with their congies obeysance and cringes vowing they would serve King Joash for ever ver 17. and espying their advantage with the King wrought upon his nature and drew him away with them from the pure worship of God ver 18. but see what warres followed and what became of those Courtiers ver 23. Yea sometimes a Queen the wife of his bosome may draw a King away as Jezabel to Ahab that was an high addition to all his other sinnes that he took Jezabel to wife 1 King 16. 31. and there was none like him whom his wife Jezabel stirred up b 1 Kin. 21. 25 so Solomon's wives 1 King 11. 3 7 8. and rending his Kingdome followed upon it ver 11 13 14 c. so Ezra 9. 2. 14. thus the Sonne of godly Jehosaphat did evill because led away by a bad wife 2 Chron. 21. 6. we read 2 Chron. 22. 1. that the c So the people met to make Rehoboam King 1 King 12. 1. See Deut. 17. 14 15 c. people made Ahaziah King called Jehoahaz 2 Chron. 21. 17 and Azariah 2 Chron. 22. 6. but two things drew him away a bad mother and her bad kinred and Counsellours 2 Chron. 22. 3 4. if not a third 2 Kings 8. 27. and these cause warres and divisions Thirdly it 's a sad thing when some young flattering Courtiers be neer about the King that perswade him to stand upon his points and prerogative and not to condiscend to his Subjects petitions at all but either to rule by his own will an arbitrary government or else venture his Kingdom and all thus did Rehoboam's young Counsellours 1 King 12. Solomon was the wisest of meer mortals he had a thousand Wives and Concubines 1 King 11. 3. and yet had but one sonne and he foolish when his Subjects came humbly petitioning his Majestly Rehoboam takes the advice of Malignant young Counsellours who tell him would I have my neck
are slain and then what pitty to see how Rachel weeps because they are not another cries my Husband is slaine another comes like Jobs messengers and cries thy goods are plundered sheep and Cattel c. gone by the Sabeans c. Job 1. another is shot to death but lockt in the saddle swags up and down another hath his arme off leg off nose off hand off c. ah alas ten thousand pitties Corn-fields burnt houses Churches burnt down Isa 64. 10 11. Psal 74. 4 7. thumbs and toes cut off as in Adonibezek's time Judg. 1. 7. swords make women childlesse as in Agag's time 1 Sam. 15. 33. cruelty used to living yea and to the dead also Psal 79. 2. which a very Tacitus would have abhorred Reas 3. In regard of our selves First our sins have had as deep a share in bringing these judgments as any and shall we not be affected then with them then are we worse then the old Prophet was 1 King 13. 30. he hurt the young Prophet but then mourned Davids sins hurt the people Actions the Army the peoples sin hurt Vzzah 1 Chron. 13. 10. a bad stomack hurts a good head and shall we not mourn then as Daniel did in the like case Dan. 9. 5 6. Secondly because that which lies on others to day may be our case to morrow ille bodiè ego cras as Bernards good old man said the cup may passe unto us Lam. 4. 21. we may be forced to drink round of Gods cup Jer. 25. 28 29. 49. 12. say not they are greater sinners then we that are sharplier chastized Luke 13. 4 5. but lay it to heart as if we were in bonds Heb. 13. 3. Gal. 6. 1. But I must break up an Use or two therefore shortly and I have done Vse 1. Of reproof to many herein nigh a kin 20 Jacob to Israel that though we are thus given to the robbers and spoilers yet consider not yet lay it not to heart these are of divers sorts First they that are glad of it enâ—â—â—es cry down with us down to the ground Psal 137. 7. seeming friends that say hereby they get their wealth Acts 19. 25. Newters of Gallio's temper or of theirs 2 Sam. 2. 14. Obadiah ver 12. Psal 35. 15. Secondly they that are sensible of Jacobs troubles but impute them to a wrong cause they say as Barbarians of Paul or Job's friends of him Surely Iacobs cause is naught be goes in a wrong way else had never been so given up to the spoilers and robbers but oh see ere thou judge Judg. 20. 21 25. Thirdly they who are sensible of and affected with the crosse and trouble not the sin Fourthly they that make it appear they are not affected with our miseries and sins no not upon our humiliation fasting and mourning dayes for first some come not cannot spare time from work secondly other game card sport this day which is much more needlesse then work thirdly others feast this day purposely set up an anti-fast as well as an antiparliament see Isa 22. 12 13 14. Fifthly others take occasion this day while you are shut up here mourning and weeping and praying to haunt Ale-houses and whordome and pour more oaths out and more cups in then we pour out tears like brazen-faced Zimri when all the Congregation was weeping Num. 25. 6. Sixthly they that come hither and sit here but are not affected mourn not fasting days should be weeping days fasting and weeping used to be joyned together Neh. 1. 4. Est 43. 1 Sam. 7. 6. Joel 2. 12. many are very eager and earnest in buying in selling trading hunting coursing only mighty carelesse mindlesse in hearing praying and when they should be weeping Seventhly others weep mourn for a day but hold not out are not like wrastling Jacob or the importunate widow or like mourning Jeremy Lam. 3. 50. till God look down and heal his Church Now this insensiblenesse in these sad days this not laying these things to heart is first a walking contrary to God Isa 22. 12. Levit. 26. 40. secondly it argues much folly and blindnesse of mind Jer. 5. 3 4. thirdly much hardnesse of heart worse then Pharaoh Manasses Prodigall they in times of crosses relented Exod. 9. 27 28. 2 Chron. 33. 12. Luke 15. fourthly it 's a despising God let him smite and doe what he will saith the sinner I will not yeeld like Balaam will not turn back for all sword and miracle Numb 22. fiftly it argues a mervailous love of sin as the child that is whipping for playing with rattles will still play with them while he is on the knee whipping sure he loves them dearly as Balaam did the wages of unrighteousnesse so as word and sword could not turn him 2 Pet. 2. 15. sixtly it argues want of love to Christ 1 John 3. 17. 4. 20. seventhly want of love and zeal to Gods Cause Psal 74. 18 19. 79. 10 11. Vse 2. The second Use should have been for tryall whether we are rightly affected with Jacobs troubles first are we as much affected with them now as we were at the beginning of these wars secondly how are we afflicted on dayes of humiliation Levit. 23. 27. Ezek. 7. 16. thirdly are we affected with sin the cause of all these troubles fourthly doe we turn from our evil vvays and reform Jonah 3. 10. Vse 3. But to end lastly be exhorted this mourning day to consider and lay to heart Jacobs troubles as first the scattered dry bones of Germany secondly the Acheldema and tortures of Ireland thirdly the divisions of Scotland fourthly the plunderings in England fiftly the fury of battle and sword hacking hewing amongst us sixtly the destroying Angel the noysome pestilence in many places of our Land and Country seventhly the scisms rents old new errours in the Church eightly the encrease of sin daily of all kinds as light encreaseth there vvas light and knovvledge in King Edward the fixt his dayes more in Queen Elizabeths more still in King James his most in King Charles his dayes yet still sin encreaseth yet some doe not see some vvill not see some pretend to see that vvhich is not to be seen ninthly God dravvs neerer and neerer vvith his judgements and vvarnings begins novv to make his approaches intrench and make his batteries he began in Germany came on to Ireland then to Scotland then to England then to Yorkeshire then to the gates of Hull and that first mildlier vvhen the King came to the gates in April 1642. then sharplier in the first siege then more terribly in the second siege from vvhich you vvere delivered Octob. 11. 1643. bevvare the fourth time novv God knocks at the gates vvith a fear of the plague the King called in Anno 1642. the King of Kings knocks novv in 1645. tenthly the danger of continuing these troubles till all be dasht in pieces and many such like evils Qu. What should vve do Ans first ponder sadly the lands miseries the particulars the quantity the quality of them Psal 41. 1. secondly ponder thy ovvn evil vvays as sadly Psal 4. 4. Ezek. 36. 31. Lam. 3. 40. sift thy self for thy sins as the word is Zeph. 2. 12. when God sifts the Land Amos 9. 9. doe as the Prodigall return to thy self Luke 15. 17. thirdly clear God in all this and condemn thyself Ezra 9. 13. though thou art no rebel against the King yet against the Kings King thou hast been fourthly have a fellow feeling of thy brethrens miseries Heb. 13. 3. so as to pitty them in thy heart Jer. 4. 19 20. Lam. 3. 51. and pray for them with thy heart and tongue Isa 62. 3. help them in thy life mourn for them Neh. 1. 4. and look not only on them as Priest and Levite did but to thy power be a good Samaritan thirdly you that have power punish wickednesse and vice let it not be now when the Kingdom bleeds as a godly Divine saith as hard to pull down a base Ale-house Mast Bol. as to win Dunkirk c. Motives might be many but I will only hint at one or two and conclude First to lay to heart Jacobs troubles with the cause thereof is the way to save us in time of danger Ezek. 9. 4. when King Zedekiah would juggle on all sides mourning Ieremy speaks home and plain yet finds more favour from the Chaldeans heathen Army then Zedekiah and all the Nobles Jer. 39. 6 7 11 12. so Ester 4. 14. Secondly we have set apart this day to lay to heart Jacobs troubles let us doe the work that we came for Thirdly consider how Jesus Christ was and is affected with the churches miseries Luke 19. 41. Acts 9. 4 5. Fourthly how great things now lye at stake not an Army only new moulding but Kingdom c. but I to case you and myself break off with the sad complaint of mourning Jeremy Lam. 3. 48 49 50 51. Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people mine eye trickleth down and ceaseth not without any intermission till the Lord look down and behold from Heaven mine eye affecteth my heart because of all the daughters of my people FINIS Decem. 26. 1645. Impri JOSEPH CARYL