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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87586	Parliament physick for a sin-sick nation. Or, An ordinance of Parliament explained, and applyed to these diseased times. Containing a catholicall medicine for all natures and nations, but especially, a generall receipt for all the sickly people in our English-hospitall, and Welch-spittle, compounded after the art of the apothecary, and according to Parliament prescription, as hereafter followeth. Wherein thou mayst see as in an urinal-glasse, the dangerous state of thy English mother, and the genius of the reforming physitians, in seeking her speedy cure, and lasting happinesse, unto all succeeding ages. / By Philo-Parl. Imprimatur, Ja: Cranford.	Joceline, Nathaniel.; England and Wales. Parliament. aut	1644 (1644)	Wing J757; Thomason E45_13; ESTC R21825	121,637	146

stood to it even to the hazarding of their owne Estates and Lives I am confident that never did any Parliament in England venture more desperately for the publike health of this Kingdom then this hath done witnesse the threats of Malignants and a Popish and a Delinquent Armie on foot in this Kingdome in opposition to the Parliament as appeareth by the Votes of both Houses at severall times and on severall occasions Fourthly They are not only faithfull but also Religious Physitians who make a conscience to keep a good 〈◊〉 towards God and all men Maii 5. 1641. Sept. 39. 1643. This appeareth by their 〈◊〉 and late Covenants and by this present Ordinance 〈…〉 Exp●anation and Application If I may write what I think● and thou mayst read what I write I am perswaded and let not my Pen know flatterie this this present though contemned Parliament is as Pious Loyall and charitable a Parliament as ever England had since it was a Habitation for reasonable creatures Pol. Virg. lib. 1. pag. 18. Guildas which was soone after the Flood of Noah as learned Historiographers thinke they are the more culpable who have perswaded our Soveraigne to absent himselfe from it Hinc illae 〈◊〉 chrymae which hath caus'd no little heart-smart in the Loyall breasts of King Charles his true though scandalized Subjects As I said before so I say againe these Physitians are Pious they are not heathen Physitians such as Chyro Aesculapius Apollo Hippocrates or Galen Ovid. lib. Motam who were the most ancient and inventing Physitians as their friends call them Obj. So are the York and Oxford-Physitians are not they many mightie faithfull Religious men and State-Physitians Sol. 1. This Ordinance wherein the onely remedie for these present Calamities is contained came from the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament and not at York or Oxford and was Printed at London by Order from the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament as you may see in the beginning of the same Sol. 2. Non ea est medicina quum sanae parti corporis scalpellum adhibetur integrae carnificina est ●●ta crudelitas Cicero pro Sest I will not be tedious and therefore I will conclude with Cicero that is no remedie when the Surgeons Instrument wherewith he letteth blood is put to the whole and health-full part of the bodie in stead of the part to be lanced no saith he this is the Physick of a Cruell hangman Fifthly They are most Loyall Physitians witnesse their Protestations Covenants and Messages They doe not onely labour to cure the stomack by purging the head but likwise to cure the head by cuting the stomack Parl. Ord. Prine and inferiour parts of the Body-politique witnesse this present Ordinance Ex●orting all His Majesties good Subjects to the dutie of Repentance that so at length we may obtaine a firme and happie peace both with God and man I know not wherein a Parliament should declare more Loyaltie to a Prince except they should fall from their owne stedfastnesse and so betray their trust which were the greatest Disloyaltie in the world Sixthly Nervus quidam à corde ad digitum medicinalem proficiscitur Macrob lib. ult S●o t Extract P. 7. They are most charitable Phystians witnesse their sparing Delinquents even unto publique hazard I beleeve their intentions are good I wish the successe may be answerable yet this Mercie to others must be bounded with publique safetie as appeareth by the Reasons given to Queene Elizabeth of happie memorie and that by the Parliament concerning the speedie execution of the Queene of Scots The which Reasons because they are verie necessarie for these times and not commonly knowne Anno 1586. Regni 28. give me leave to transcribe out as I find them in a short Extract of such Reasons as were delivered in a Speech by M. Serjeant Puckering Speaker of the lower Horse before the Queenes most Excellent Majestie the Reasons are eight or nine 1. From the danger of the overthrow of the true Religion It s most perillous to spare her that continually hath sought the overthrow and suppression of the true Religion infected with Poperie from her tender youth and bring after that a confederate in that Holy League when she came to age and ever since a professed enemie against the truth 2. A Popish Queene is very dangerous She resteth wholly and fully upon Popish hopes to deliver and advance her and is thereby so devoted to that profession that as well for satisfaction of others as for feeding of her owne humour she will supplant the Gospel where and whensoever she may which evill is so much the grea er and the more to be avoyded as that it slayeth the very Soule and will spread it selfe not onely over England and Scotland but also into those parts beyond the Seas where the Gospell of God is maintained the which cannot but be exceedingly weakned by the defection of this noble Iland 1. As the Lydians said Unum Regem agnoscunt Lydi From the peril of the State of the Realm duos autem tolerate non possunt So we say Unicam Reginam Elizabetham agnoscunt Angli duas autem toletare non possunt 2. As she hath alreadie by h●r Allurements brought to destruction moe Noblemen and their houses together with a greater multitude of the Commons of this Realme during her being here then she should have beene able to doe if she had beene in possession of her owne Crowne and armed in the field against us so will she still be the continuall cause of the like spoyle to the greater losse and perill of this estate and therefore this Realme neither may nor can indure her 3. Againe She is the only hope of all d●scontented Subjects she is the foundation whereon all the evill disposed doe build She is the Root from whence all Rebellion and Treacherie doe spring And therefore whilest this hope lasteth this foundation standeth and this root liveth they will retaine heart and set on foot whatsoever their devices against the Realme which otherwise will fall away dye and come to nothing 4. Mercie now in this case towards her would in the end prove crueltie against us all for there is a certaine Cruell-Mercie Nam est quae●am crudelis misericordia and therefore to spare her is to spill us 5. Besides this it will exceedingly grieve and in a manner deadly wound the hearts of all the good Subjects of your Land if they shall see a conspiracie so horrible not condignely punished 6. Thousands of your Majesties most Liege and loving Subjects of all sorts and degrees that in a tender zeale of your Majesties safetie have most willingly both by open Subscription and solemne Vow entred into a firme and Loyall Association So now and have thereby protested to pursue unto the death by all forcible possible means such as she is by just sentence now found to be can neither

o ●●abene yea doe but feel thine own pulse and thou shalt be soone and fully convinced that all is not well there is some change and distemper in the body politick whatsoever it is and is the cause of it This is the generall complaint of all men on both sides The one side calleth the sicknesse Tyrannie and Poperie the other side calleth it Omnia in malum ruere Ri. Bak. Chron. p. 162. Rebellion and Faction Sure it is that England is a sin-sick Nation and tendeth to ruine and destruction which is a Nations mortality so far from any appearance of any humane remedy that our onely Anchor must be confidence in God and Prayer Yet saith my Author our hope is it will be but a fit and the storme once past ●aetumque choro ●aeana ●ancmus R. Bak. Chron. faire weather again and fairer perhaps then it was before and then with joy we may rejoyce in a calme and quiet smooth sea In the mean time let us comfort our selves with the words of the Prophet David Psal 34.19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth them out of them all This Nationall sicknesse is twofold 1. Spirituall 2. Corporall First it is a spirituall sicknesse a Church distemper Many things have been brought into the Church contrary both to the Scriptures and the true Protestant Religion professed and taught in the Church of England Corpus confessionum fidei Cath. consensus Consensu 〈◊〉 Eccles Scotland and all the other Reformed Churches and Primitive times which will cleerly appeare by comparing these new Tenets following with the Harmony of Confessions and Catholique consent which will be impartiall Judges to end a great Controversie in this Land concerning the Protestant Religion which is in question Quid agitur in Anglia Consulitur de Religione The new Tenets are these especially 1. ●● Hun. That Bishops be they never so wicked are Jure Divino 2. That the Government of the Church of England as it now standeth by Arch-bishops Bishops c. is so holy a Government that it is a sinne to alter it 3. That the Discipline which the Prelats establish be it what they please is to be punctually observed 4. That all the Ceremonies of the Church of England bind the consciences of the people 5. That a Minister hath power to damne a man that is not conformable to the Ceremonies of the Church 6. That the Scriptures are not the onely Rule of the Church in appointing out the worship and service of God 7. That the word of God cannot assure us that it is the Word of God as some have taught 8. That a Minister or Priest hath power to absolve sin verily and indeed where according to his judgement he findeth a person to repent 9. That there is in Orders given an indelible character 10. That we ought to receive the Communion on an Altar 11. That the presence of Christ is visible in the Bread and Wine after Consecration 12. That Altar-worship is lawfull 13. That Latine Service is lawfull in Churches 14. That Sacraments do give and confer Grace and are as necessarie in their place and no lesse required then Belief it selfe 15. That Sunday is no Sabbath 16. That Man hath Free-will 17. That a man may doe works in themselves absolutely good and acceptable in the sight of God 18. That to be preserved from all sin in this life is not impossible 19. That the Church of Rome as it now standeth is the Family of Christ and some Members of that Church amongst us are the Kings best Subjects 20. That Idolatrous wicked Heretiques are Members of the visible Church if they be not excommunicated 21. That Christ is not originally God 22. That Images in Churches are lawfull 2. Secondly it is a corporall sicknesse a Common-wealth distemper as appeareth by the several votes of both Houses and their own Declarations and Remonstrances wherein you shall finde that the Parliament hath wrastled with great dangers and feares present miseries and calamities the various distempers and disorders of this Kingdom otherwise the malignant party had overwhelmed and extinguished the liberty peace and prosperity of this Kingdome the comforts and hopes of all his Majesties loving Subjects and exceedingly weakened and undermined the foundation and strength of his Royall throne Yea that Faction was growne to that height and entirenesse of power Remon●●●● the 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 d●e 〈◊〉 15. 〈◊〉 1641 〈◊〉 that they began to think of finishing of their work which consisted of these three parts 1. The Government must be set free from all restraint of Lawes concerning our persons and estates 2. There must be a conjunction betwixt Papists and Protestants in Doctrine Discipline and Ceremonies only it must not yet be called Popery 3. The Puritanes under which name they include all those that desire to preserve the Lawes and Liberties of the Kingdom and to maintaine Religion in the power of it must be either rooted out of the Kingdome with force or driven out with feare So that I may conclude with the Prophet Isaiah Chap. 1.5 c. and trouble you with no more quotations Whose words are these The whole head is sicke and the heart is faint from the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundnesse in it but wounds and bruises and putrifying sores they have not been closed neither bound up neither mollified with oyntment Your Country is desolate your Cityes are burnt with fire your land strangers devour it in your presence and it is desolate as overthrowne by strangers Except the Lord of Hoasts had left unto us a very small Remnant we should have been as Sodom and we should have been like to Gomorrah England is a Parliament Patient Now followeth the second part of this Aphorisme formerly named and necessary to be considered on The truth of this part appeareth plainly from what hath been said in the first Aphorisme and therefore I will refer thee thither curteous reader desiring thy right information and Christian consent to so seasonable and order preserving position as this is for if every private well-willer to Englands health may turne its Physitian I feare we shall have so many Mountebanks on the stage as will soon kill a weake and sickely Kingdom with their strange and disagreeing Physicke For my own part I thanke God for it my conscience beareth me witnesse I do desire a thorough Reformation in Church and Common-wealth and that according to the rule Gal. 6.16 Isa 8.20 Yet I desire it in an orderly manner which as I take it is a Parliamentary way according to the constitution of our government and to speake the truth I am perswaded that the indiscretion of some Parliament patients have been no little cause why out Parliament is so much a patient And therefore this great colledge of state Physitians do declare to their patients and the whole world Remonst of the state of the Kingdome die Merc.

it is a sinning-sin as one calleth it Rebell is ●●at rebellione aeterna Vat. It is called Rebellion Ier. 8.5 it is a high aggravation of sin Mat. 11.20 Rev. 2.21 2. Because it is a Diabolicall sinne the Devils neither can neither will repent their impenitentiall hearts are so hardned 3. Because it is a wrath-treasuring sin Rom. 2.5 by it they treasure up wrath against the day of wrath 4. Because it is a Nation-unfencing sin Isa 5.2 5. It causeth God to pull up his hedge about his Vineyard and Church and so to fall to ruine and all kind of mischiefe 5. Because it is a Physick-rejecting sin Mat. 23.37 Ye would not come under my wings to be healed and refreshed Iohn 3.19 The contempt of Physick doth more displease the Physitian then the loathsomnesse of it doth trouble him 6. Because it is a sin-finishing sin Iam. 1.15 Then sin is finished when a man resolveth to live and lye in it though it cost him his life Now is thy sore without remedy 2 Chron. 36.16 There is no promise in the Word of God to an impenitent sinner that will not turne and live It is not so much falling into the water that drowneth but the lying in it So it is not so much the falling into sinne as the lying and continuing in sinne that damneth the soule Thirdly consider the Demonstration of this Position in-particular as it concerneth this Nation wherein we live To this end let us a little look over the foure great changes of England in former times and we shall finde that the sinnes of our fore-fathers which were not repented of were the meritorious cause of their long-since past miseries Lam. 3.39 The first great change was at the comming in of the ancient Romans into England which was a thousand years after the beginning of the fable of Brute and in the daies of Iulius Caesar Rich. Pak Chron. pag. 2. Bri●o de Britoni● Polyd. Virgil p. 27. Ang. hist Bede l. 3. c. 1. Now we cannot imagine but that then the Britains were under their Heathenish Government as so many Brutes like the ancient Romans before their calling to be Saints Rom. 1. worshiping and serving the creature more then the Creator who is blessed for ever Amen The second great change was at the comming in of the old Saxons Bede l. 1. c. 24. Hist Ang. Now Bede in his History doth plainly prove that their impenitencie was the cause of their punishments as a pillaging and a spoiling war c. They abused their quietnesse and plenty and grew to a loose and wanton living whereupon all manner of lewdnesse followed straight after especially cruelty hate of truth and loving of lies Insomuch that if any were gentler and more given to truth then others they would work him all the spight and hurt they could as a common enemy of the Country This did not onely the Seculars but also the Clergie it selfe and the heads thereof giving themselves over to drunkennesse pride contention envie and such other wickednesse casting utterly from them the sweet yoak of Christ In the meane time a bitter plague fell among them for their corrupt living consuming in short time such a multitude of them ut vivi mortuos sepelive nequirent that the quick were not sufficient enough to bury the dead And yet for all that they remained so hardned in sin that neither their friends death nor the feare of their own could cure the Morain of their soules Polyd. Virg. l. 3. P. 61. which daily perished through their sinfull living Whereby a greater stroke of Gods vengeance ensued upon the whole sinfull Nation as appeareth in the 15. Chapter of the same Historian whose words are to this purpose To be short the fire once kindled in the hands of the Pagans the old Saxons took just revenge on the wickednesse of the people not much unlike that fire of the Chaldeans which being kindled consumed the City of Jerusalem So also this fire of vengeance the wicked Conquerour kindling it or rather God the just Judge disposing it raged first upon the Cities and Countries next unto it B●de l. 1● 15. after from the East sea unto the West overwhelmed all the whole Island without any resistance made to quench it Both publique and private houses were over thrown to the ground the Priests were slain standing at the Altar the Bishops with their flocks were murdered without respect of their dignity neither was there any that would bury their slain Some of the miserable leavings being taken in the hils were there killed others being starved with hunger were fain to creepe out of their caves and buy their victuals at their enemies hands with sale of their liberty for ever if yet they were not killed out of hand others fled over the seas with a heavy heart others tarying still in the Country in feare of death and lack of food lived full miserably in the mountaines woods and cliffes The same authour saith in another place that among many other of their horrible doings ●●b 1. c. 22. which their own Historiographer Gildas doth lamentably set forth in writing that they never took care to preach the Gospel of Christ unto the English and Saxons which inhabited amongst them in the land Also in another place he saith Lib. 3. c. 1. they that is the old Britains were defiled with the filth of Idolatry The third great change was at the comming in of the Danes who did in time much hurt in this kingdom as appeareth by the Acts and Monuments of our Church I will give you the testimonies of two sufficient witnesses An ancient writer H●sto Cariana In A●g orum quidem Ecclesia Primitiva Religio clarissi meresp●enda● ita ut Reges ac Reginae Principes ac Daces Consules Barones c. in an old Manuscript saith to this purpose concerning the invasion of the Danes into England In the primitive Church of the Englishmen Religion did most clearely shine in so much that Kings Queenes Princes and Dukes Consuls and Barons and Rulers of Churches incensed with the desire of the Kingdom of Heaven labouring and striving among themselves to enter into a solitary life and voluntary exile forsooke all and followed the Lord But in processe of time all vertue decayed among them so much that in fraud and treachery none seemed to be like them neither was any thing to them hatefull and odious but piety and justice Neither any thing in price and honour but civil war and shedding of innocent blood wherefore Almighty God sent upon them pagan and cruell Nations like swarmes of bees which neither spared women nor children as Danes Norwegians Gothes Suevians Vandals and Frisians who from the beginning of the reigne of King Ethelwolfe till the comming of the Normans by the space of 230. yeares destroyed this sinfull land from the one side of the sea to the other from man also to beast for they invading England oft

true contrition and a living to righteousnesse Poenitentia est qua vera contritione morinur peccatis fide e●igimus nos●e peccatis Sarc loc com d● poenit Peccata sua corrigunt Just Mart. quaest a Gent. Sed etiam damnare omma ●a in quae prius confis●s est by faith Mark 1.15 In this definition of Repentance are two parts First a mortification of sin in our members Col. 3.5 a crucifying of the old man Secondly a Vivification to righteousnesse Eph. 4. The same Author saith To repent is not onely to depart from evill but also to damne all those things wherein we have formerly trusted As sin would send an impenitent sinner to hell so a penitent sinner sendeth sin to hell yea his idolized duties wherein he trusted to make God some part of amends for his trespasses Every unregenerated man is a naturall though not an artificiall Papist Repentance is not onely an aversion and turning from sinne in regard of the sorrow of heart it bringeth with it but also it s a conversion to God ●ed multo magis conversio ad Deum tanquam verum peccati medicum Pet. Ramus depre●●t l. 3. p. 238. as the onely sin-curing Physitian 2 Kings 20. Ionah 3.10 Every sinner is borne into the world with his back towards God and heaven but Repentance turneth his face towards God and heaven-ward To repent is to bewaile sins past and for time to come not to commit sinne bewailed ●●st mala prae●●ta plangere plangenda ●e●um non committere Amb. Greg. Pet. Lumb 4 Sent. dist 14. It is to grieve for sin and not to commit sin grieved for Many other definitions I might give you but I will content my selfe with that in the Ordinance which is this that followeth and it containeth within it virtually what hath been or can be said concerning Repentance Repentance is such a bitter griefe of heart for all the sin and miserie of this polluted and afflicted Nation with such a preparednesse for a through Reformation as God may be pleased graciously to accept Parl. Ordin M. E. Wherein consider these parts or Positions 1. Repentance is a bitter griefe of heart 2. This griefe it is a generall griefe 3. This Repentance it is accompanied with a preparednesse for a through Reformation 4. It s a God-pleasing Repentance 5. It s a humble Repentance 6. It s a proportionable and sutable Repentance Of these in order First this Parliament repentance it s a bitter grief of heart This appeareth by the first words in the definition wherein two things are remarkable 1. The truth of it in that it is called grief of heart 2. The measure of it in that it is called a bitter griefe First then it must be a reall and hearty sorrow Poenitentia in corde s●●a est Calv. God in all things hateth hypocrisie but especially in the work of Repentance Ioel 2.13 Thus saith the Lord Turne ye unto me with all your heart and rent your hearts and not your garments Rab. Ab. Ezra ut intelligat veritaten Rab. Kimchi Id enim praec●punmest Si quando ex animo resipiscamus Vat. By the renting of the heart we are to understand the sincerity of this sorrow God requireth repentance in secret for this is the best repentance most free from hypocrisie Then God is most willing to forgive when we doe seriously and indeed grieve for our sins heart and hands must goe together Lam. 3. ver 41. What God hath joyned let no man put asunder Secondly it must not onely be a hearty and true griefe but likewise a bitter griefe Ioel 2.12 it must be with fasting weeping Lucerate cor Jun. and mourning and our hearts must be rent or cut in pieces and not onely rased or pricked Mediocris poenitentia non sufficit quum vos tot sceleribus sitis mihi obstricti Cal. Therefore Calvin saith very well to this purpose God doth not onely require the truth of godly sorrow but the degree of it for a little is not enough seeing we have committed many great sins against God Therefore Saint Iames Chap. 4.9 Be afflicted and mourne and weepe let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into heavinesse If ever a mourning weed were in season sure it s now in fashion though too few weare it It is with most men as with those in Amos 6.6 or like those Mat. 11.17 Qui nullis argumentis ad veram poenitentiam permovemini Aretius who did not suit themselves with the times They were called to Repentance but no arguments would prevaile with that pertinacious people They would not mourne to those that mourned to them but like the unconverted Romans who did not onely sinne against knowledge but also had pleasure in those that did sinne together with themselves Rom. 1.32 2. Parliament repentance is a generall griefe and that in two regards 1. In regard of sinne it must be for all sinne 2. In regard of punishment it must be for all the misery of this polluted and afflicted Nation First it must be for all sinne Ezek. 9.4 They are marked on their foreheads who sigh and cry for all the sinnes that be done in the middest of the City There is good cause why we should do so Peccato nihil rependitur nisi mors Pet. Mart. Fabius because the least sin is committed against a great God and the smallest wages that is due to the least sinner is death Rom. 6.23 Death temporall and death eternall though all sinnes are veniall inregard of God yet no sin is veniall in regard of its littlenesse Lastly because every sinne is a publick enemy though committed in private as Achans stealing and hiding the Wedge of gold and Babylonish garment Iosuah 7. Sin is an accursed thing Deut. 27.26 Every sinne is a Peace-breaker and Incendiary of war yea the least sinne is a great make-bate betwixt God and Man Gen. 6.5 Evil thoughts in man caused God to have evil thoughts to wards man sinne in thought causeth God to punish sin indeed as the least leake in a ship may drowne all the passengers so the least sinnes may destroy man kinde the eating of one Apple did cause all the rest in the Garden of Paradise to rot the least sinne and the youngest sinner do contribute toward the great stock of Nationall sinnes As the Sea consisteth of single and small drops of salt-water so doth the sea of misery of single and small sinnes Secondly it must be for all the misery of an afflicted Nation It is not enough for a man to grieve for the punishment of his own iniquities Proximorum damna ut pro pri● ●●ntit fidelis Lyran. but he must grieve likewise for the afflictions of Ioseph Amos 6.6 We are to lay to heart our neighbours losses as if they were our own By Ioseph we are to understand the people of God Joseph ●d ●l ●egni 〈…〉 Mere. and by affliction the sicknesse

of a State or Kingdom now all the members of it are to be affected with it there is a naturall sympathy which is good and moveth compassion so there is a spirituall sympathy which is the ground of spirituall affection 2 Cor. 11.29 And this is necessary amongst Christians at all times especially in these suffering times Who is weake saith Paul and I am not weake Who is offended and I burne not therefore we are commanded to weep with those that weep Rom. 12.15 If ever the counsell of our blessed Saviour was in season it is now in season Luke 23.28 Daughters of Ierusalem weepe not for me but for your selves and for your children The want of this godly sorrow and heart-smart not onely for those that are our Country men but likewise for all Christian Churches in Europe speake harsh things against us Amos 6.7 8 c. Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed The Lord God hath sworne by himselfe I abhor the excellency of Iacob and hate his palaces therefore And it shall come to passe if there remaine ten men in one house that they shall die For my own part if I may speake my own thoughts I do not so much feare the destruction of England because of the greatnesse of its sins as because of the littlenesse of its repentance and compassion to Germany and Ireland our neighbouring and neighbourly Countries Duo crimina accusat Amos in proceribus utriusque regni Calv. We put farre away the evil day and cause the seate of violence to come neere as Amos saith Amos 6.3 In which verse the Prophet doth reprove the very Nobles of both Kingdomes Iudah and Israel for two great sinnes 1. Because they did not avert by repentance but provoke Gods anger against them by their proud and tyrannicall government over Gods heritage overthrowing all equity and square dealing with the people of God 2. Because they did live in security Vana terriculamenta and would not beleive the threats of the Prophet but did reject them as vaine and meere Scar-crowes and so they were not touched with any sorrow for their own sins or the miseries of both Kingdoms and so by this meanes Non tanguntur ullo sensu Cal. Solium violentiae Vatab. even their impenitency they did cause the throne of violence to come neere Surely if we compare the state of our Israel with that of old we may say with Solomon there is no new thing under the sunne Eccles 1.9.3.15 Praemium condignum rependentur Vatab. I saw under the sun the place of judgment that iniquity was there and the place of righteousnesse that iniquity was there and what followed the throne of violence but the judgment of God verse 17. They shall be justly and sutably punished Beleeve it brethren there is good cause why the Lord doth punish Justus Dominus rectum judicium ejus etiams● non semper nobis videtur Ferus in Jos 7. not onely subjects but also Kings and great ones in the season of the universal apostasy wherein faith is so rare that it can scarcely be found on earth men are so well acquainted with the artifice of Reservation Equivocation and Elusion For my own part I have often thought that that in Saint Luke 18.8 is now in fulfilling the words are these Neverthelsse when the Son of man commeth shall he find faith on the earth I am sure on 't there is too little in many of our late Protestations and vowes Quid verba audiam cum facta videam if not in our own hearts 3. This generall griefe it is accompanied with a preparednesse for a thorow reformation It must be with us now as it was with the people of God in Ezra his time Ezra 10.1 2 c. They did not onely pray confesse and cast themselves down before the house of God but the people did weepe very sore A great weeping but here is not all there was in them a preparednesse for a thorow reformation verse 3. Now therefore let us make a Covenant with our God to put away all the strange wives and such as are borne of them according to the counsell of my Lord and of those that tremble at the commandement of our God and let it be done according to the Law In which words a thorow Reformation is aimed at as it appeareth by these particulars Die Mer● Mai. ● Anno 1641. 1. They desired to bind themselves in Covenant with God that they might be tyed the more strictly to it As in the Parliament Protestation 2. It was to put away all and not onely some of their wives though never so deare unto them 3. In that it was to put away all their children though themselves multiplyed if they were borne of strange women 4. In that they were willing to do this according to the counsell of the most holy and scrupulous Reformers According to the Counsell of my Lord and of those that tremble at the commandement of our God 〈◊〉 ju●ta ●●gent Vat. tender conscienced men 5. Because they desired that the law of God might be the rule of their Reformation In which preparednesse for a thorow Reformation take notice by the way of two or three things very considerable in these Reforming times 1. Take notice of their Integrity and uprightnesse towards God in that they desired a thorow Reformation according to his word and not according to their own fancies 2. Take notice of their Humility in that they did refer themselves for a Reformation to such as were most able to judge of controversies in regard of learning and piety this was the summe and substance of their desires that all things might be done according to the Law 3. Take notice that this their preparednesse for a Reformation being in conjunction with bitter sorrow for their sinnes was a door of hope to Shecaniah that God would spare his people Israel And truely for my own part Nos quidem Peccatores sumus at Deus noster misericor● es●●esipiscentibus ad Dominum convertentibus Fran. this is all the ground of my hope that God will spare England and not destroy it totally and finally I cannot read that God did ever destroy a Kingdom in the act of a deep Humiliation and a thorow Reformation now I hope God will not make Englands ruine a new president of his more then ordinary justice seeing not onely many of the vulgar sort but also the Parliament and Assembly of Ministers do desire to practice the Ordinance set forth for the same purpose wherein not onely a bitter griefe for all sinne but also a perfect reformation is desired and required in the whole Nation Now therefore let us enter into Covenant with the Lord as the Parliaments and Assemblies of Ministers in both Kingdomes have lately done and as the people of God did in Ezra his time when