once and improving the miseries of the times by dilatory proceedings dead pay false musters betraying of advantages and letting opportunities of action slip with other stratagems and feates of pollicy very depths of Sathan profound as hell which I have not wit enough to reach If there be any such Judas's masked devills here let me informe them If their bosome intelligencer their Consciences I meane be asleepe perhaps it may arouse them a little that thunderbolt Esay 29.15 Wo unto them that dig deepe and seeke to hide their Counsell from the Lord and their workes are in the darke and they say who seeeth and who knoweth us and let them take that along with them too Esay 30.33 There is a Tophet prepared of old its deepe and large the pile thereof is fire and much wood the breath of the Lord like a streame of brimstone kindles it and let me tell them yet further If this fiery gulfe be not for such I do not know whether it can challenge any guests 5. There be others zealous in Religion but not enough they have like the Laodiccan Angell and Church some heate which makes them luke-warme but they are not violent their dram of zeale is tempered with so many ounces of discretion that the operation of it can scarce be discerned they are Orthodox in opinion not much exorbitant in conversation owne the great cause of the Kingdom set their faces towards heaven are not against Reformation but then they must not be over-driven you must not put them out of their owne pace they like not a Jehu's March It s good to be zealous but not too much say any what they will doe what they can their affected moderation will never suffer them to exceede the middle temper of that wise Statesman in Tiberius his Court who to be sure would not strike a stroke against the streame nor engage himselfe so far in any cause as might tend to his prejudice how-ever the world went he would be sure to save one Such is the polititian and wordly wise-man he will move no stone though never so needfull to be removed if he suspect that there lyes a Scorpion under it or if he apprehend the least feare that any part of the wall will fall upon himselfe well fare yet the Roman Consul that incomparable patriot who in his private and retired condition when he was removed from the Helme of the Common-wealth imployed all his force and strength to keep off those waves from the great vessell of the State which had well-nigh drowned the cock-boat of his owne private Fortunes 6. There be others zealous and violent for a while but they hold not out to the end The Philosopher sayes No violent thing lasts long It s true in Divinity as well as in Nature If the violent motion proceede from some externall artificiall cause and not from a rooted stirring principle within when that which is the cause is removed the motion arising from it ceaseth If our violent stirrings and heates of zeale be not from the right fountaine of heate the heart tract of time and other occurrances will be calm them by degrees and wear them out the stony ground set forward and put on with great animosity at the first but when difficulties and unlooked for dangers when a storme of persecution arose then they plucked in the tender horne their zeale cooled their courage abated their resolutions fell like leaves in Autumne In the beginning of this Parliament when the Lord tolled us on with fresh mercies and allured us into the wildernesse as the Prophet speakes that there he might give us the valley of Achor for a doore of hope when every day we were pasti miraculis as Cyprian speakes feasted with miracles in ordinary the Lord setting himselfe on purpose to ingage us firmely in his worke by divers rare and astonishing providences that all bridges might be cut off and that we might never thinke to retire backe againe At that time many that were not sound at the heart-roote joyned with us and who more resolute then they but when the wheele of Providence seemed to turne and many sad clouds began to gather and threaten a storme now they tacked about and set their sailes backe they were willing to follow us out of Egypt when they had seene the wonders and miracles of God at our departure thence but when they came into the wildernesse and met with Scorpions and fiery Serpents and great afflictions then their hearts fainted and they fell on murmuring as the unbeleeving Jewes and that mixed multitude did Numb. 11.4 A man might as well never own the cause of God as afterwards desert it whatsoever a man hath done and suffered for Religion and there be many that have done and suffered much It s al lost and forgotten when once he begins to looke backe Ezek. 18.24 Judas and Demas and Hymaeneus and Alexander the Copper-smith with other such flinchers what were they the better for all their hopefull beginnings when afterwards they declined their zeale-being all spent their violence tyred and all their alacrity lost It s not good beginnings but perseverance in Religion that takes this glorious prize and wins the garland Be faithfull unto the death and I will give thee a Crown of life Revel. 2.10 7. I may not passe over another sort without a gentle touch such I meane as are unfeinedly cordiall in the cause of God and zealous for it yet do not a little hurt to themselves and others and the Cause it selfe too through their indescreete and unwary managing of it they desire nothing more then this That Christ might raigne and weild the Scepter of his Kingdom according to his own hearts content in all the parts of the Land they are active in endeavours for Reformation and this deserves just praise but they step out of their bounds sometimes exceede the limits of their speciall calling in which the Will of God is they should containe themselves How happy were it for us if all would keepe within their proper spheare and wherein so ever they are called therein to abide with God 1 Cor. 7.24 But there be some that do {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} overstretch themselves beyond their line and Compasse 2 Cor. 10.14 They reach and straine after a perfect Reformation of the Church and that is well but they run before the Parliament and do anticipate the worke taking it out of those able and faithfull hands unto which God hath committed it and that deserves just censure That have a great zeale of God Oh that it were a little more according to knowledge We have all entred into the bonds of a Religious Conant with God in which among other things we have vowed our utmost endeavours to reforme Religion Worship Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches and withall to draw the Churches of God in the three Kingdomes to the nearest
we put him off with halfe a reformation 2. Let it be swift and speedy let it not alwaies thus sticke in the birth but give it quicke expedition and dispatch our Saviours rule is primum quaerite Mat. 6.33 Seeke first the Kingdome of God before and above all other things God takes it ill and shewes himselfe angry with the Jewes and chides them sore for neglect of this Hag. 1.4 Is it time for you to dwell in your cieled houses whiles this house lyes waste God gives us as he did them leave to have a due regard of our owne houses but his worke should alwayes in order preceede ours as it doth in worth and dignity Other causes may and must waite till that which is of greatest Importance be dispatched it was a worthy resolution that of Nehemiah when the enemies sent a Trumpeter as it were to beate for a parlee I am saith he about a great worke so that I cannot come down why should the worke cease whiles I leave it and come downe to you Nehem. 6.3 A word to the wise is enough I presse it no further 5. Remove all the lets Impediments and stumbling blockes which hinder the propagation and spreading of Christs Kingdom among us whether things or persons whatsoever cannot shew its pedegree from heaven out with it what should it do amongst us That which never came from heaven can never be a meanes to carry us thither the Temple of God may not be built with the materialls of Babylon we should not take a stone from thence for a corner nor for a foundation Jer. 51.16 And those persons too that pretend so high for their divine originall and cannot yet shew the Genealogy of it from the Scriptures They should be as polluted put from the Priesthood Neh. 6.64 But above all the other Impediments that which gives sourse and life unto them and is it selfe the greatest the faction I meane of Rome and Antichrist let that be removed If you be on the Lords side cast down Jezebel out at the windows when that mother of whoredome and all her merchants factors and retainers with all their Babilonish trash and trumpery the wares which they traffique in is sent packing away and cast like a mil-stone into the bottome of the Sea then and not before begins that victorious and triumphant Song of the Elders Revel. 19.6 Hallelujah the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth This is your worke oh ye worthies and to quicken you to it consider 1. How necessary it is if we let slip this opportunity in which the Kingdome of heaven seemes to come neere unto us and to knock at our doores for admission we are an undone people the Lord if not admitted now is like never to make us such another offer he will take his Kingdome from us and give it to some other Nation that will bring forth the fruits thereof Math. 21.43 The uncleane spirit which is in a good measure cast out will returne againe and bring along seven other worse ones with it to take possession of the whole Kingdome and so our condition will be worse then ever it was 2. It s a glorious prize that we are called to be violent for It is a Kingdome and who would not straine hard for such a booty which once obtained will more then countervaile all our care and cost our zeale and violence for it The heathen man thought it great reason to offer violence even to Justice and Conscience if it were for a Kingdome In other things he would have respect to just and right but if a kingdome lay at the stake and might be won he held it no discretion to be over conscientious I commend not his resolution in this our Rule is Fiat Justitia ruat caelum let Justice be done though the heavens fall we must be violent to keepe faith and a good conscience not to put them from us and this is the way to make us all Kings and Priests unto our God they are of the family of heaven and of the blood Royall that are thus affected Revel. 19.26 Christ at his last comming to destroy Antichrist is said to have his Name written not onely upon his vesture but upon his thigh too King of Kings and Lord of Lords What 's this 〈◊〉 a name Written upon his thigh somewhat an unproper sâ—ituation what should a man do with a name written upon his thigh But t is the place of generation Jacobs 70. soules are said to come out of his thigh and those choyce violent spirits that follow Christ in his warres against Antichrist as those Armies of heaven did spoken of before vers. 14. They all came out of his thigh were discended and propagated from him by a divine worke of Regeneration the Spirit of Jesus Christ refines the blood of the meanest persons and creates them a Regall pedegree 3 It s an honourable thing to be violent for the honour of our God and the good of a whole Kingdome to do good to one is honourable said the Philosopher but to do good to a City or Nation this is heroicall how much more when the honour of God and the happinesse of three Kingdomes that I may not say of Christendom too is infolded in one another Saint Paul saies It s good to be alwayes zealously affected in a good thing Gal. 4.16 Alwayes good It was intended no doubt as a marke of honour that Name which our Saviour for this cause imposed upon one of the Apostles when he called him Simon Zelotes Luke 6.15 The more zeale we have the more honourable we are at all times but to be zealous for God as Elias was in evill times to owne his cause in an adulterous and sinfull generation this is honourable indeed yea and I had almost said meritorious but howsever t is thank-worthy to be sure in an eminent degree Luk. 22.28 29 Ye are they that have continued with me in my temptations and what then I appoint unto you a Kingdom that ye may eate and drinke at my Table and sit on thrones c. You see how well our Saviour takes it when his servants cleave close to him and will stand for him in his temptations If the right hand place in his Kingdome be reserved for any more then others it shall be kept for such 5 The contrary disposition is of it selfe base and unworthy yea and of all other the most loathsome and abominable Revel. 3.15 16. Better key cold then onely lukewarme It s an argument we neither value God nor his Kingdome when we are so dull and heartlesse in our desires and endeavours as if the purchase we are about would not quit the cost nor be worth the paines that is required for it When Callidius a Roman Orator pleaded a cause very faintly and made no shew of affection Tully told him that sure he was not in earnest otherwise the tide of passion would have beene up In
like manner when men are so lazie and languishing so cold and slack in dealing for a Kingdome It s a shrew'd argument against them that sure they are not in earnest they do but play with Religion the precious treasures of heaven are set before them and they resent them not at all or but a very little make no great haste are not a whit sollicitous take no paines about the matter as if the things were of no great importance they are very moderate and delicate in making towards them neither that high hand that holds th for t h nor that blood that bought them nor that worth that is in them workes much but all is slighted God comes waiting upon them with calls and calls and with gracious offers and is not regarded hence no doubt is this black cloud risen which darkens the heavens over us The glory of God and the Salvation of our soules we do nothing many of us but jest and dally with them I have read of Anastatius the Emperor that he was by the hand of God shot to death with a hot thunder-bolt because he was luke-warme in the Catholique cause and not zealous against the Arrian faction 6. In other things where the least overture of gaine honour pleasure appeares how eager are we panting after the dust of the earth as the Prophet speakes and ready to run our selves out of breath for it if a rich purchase may be made a profitable bargaine driven an honourable and wealthy match gotten or any such other secular Commodity which we are affected with oh then we are all upon the spur upon the wing no haste no alacrity no labour or diligence is thought too much or but enough now there is violence upon violence all oares and sailes must now be plyed and shall we be thus earnest for frivolous unconcerning low things which we may have and be never the better want and be never the worse and yet carry our selves in matters of eternity as if we were all Stoicks and had no passions about us Ferventissimi in terrenis frigidissimi in caelestibus shall we be red hot as fire for earth and key cold as any Ice for heaven 7. If all this will not move looke upon wicked men how violent a bent have they to sinne Their hearts are fully set to doe mischiefe Eccles. 9.3 They inflame themselves with Idols Esay 57.5 They are as swift Dromedaries traversing their waies Jer. 2.23 Their whole force is evill and their course not right Jer. 23.10 How violent were the Israelites for their Idolatry when they offered their sonnes and daughters unto Devills Deut. 32.17 Had they so much devotion for Idols and have we so little for the true God what care did they not take what cost did they not cast away when they made haste as David hath it to poure out meate and drink offerings to another God Psal. 16.4 and shall we esteeme our true God and Religion at such a low under-hand rate as if gold and silver were too deare and precious then to be offered up upon the sacrifice and service of them as if hell and lyes were pearles never over-bought but truth and heaven meere trash and nothing worth since they would doe any thing for the one and we nothing for the other 8. Looke upon your enemies how more then Hyperbolically violent they are in carrying on their designe of Rome and Hell how furious is their march how resolute are their spirits how quick their endeavours how do they compasse sea and land to Spaine France Holland Denmarke whither do they not dispatch their Emissarie what vaste treasures do they not lay out what expence of blood do they stick at what stones do they not roll what conclusions do they not try what project have they not hammered what corner of the earth have they not searched even till hell from beneath was moved to meete them and all to drive their desperate and pernicious designe to cast downe if it were possible Jesus Christ out of his Throne and to set up Belzebub in his roome hedging fencing planting watering what could they have done more for that wilde vine that false Antichristian Religion and Church which is the vine of the earth and not of heaven it having no rooting growth nor blessing thence Rev. 14.11 If there be any to whom the Syrens voyce sounds sweete Heark what Father Campian professeth of himselfe and his fellow Jesuites Quamdiu vel vnus quispiam e nobis supererit qui Tiburno vestro fruatur fruatur that is his word whiles there was any of them left to enjoy a Tyburn tippet as old Bishop Latimer was wont to speak whiles any of them remained for the gallowes torment and imprisonment they vowed never to desist nor let fall their weather-beaten cause and what shall we be coole and moderate when they are so extreame violent Acrius illi ad perniciem quam nos ad salutem Shall they be more zealous to procure their owne and others destruction temporall and eternall then we for our owne and others Salvation 9 If we be resolute we shall prevaile and carry away the prize which we are contending for This should have been a doctrine entire of it felfe I onely touch it and but lightly too as a motive to quicken us up What will not men do upon uncertaine and often most unlikely hopes to advantage themselves but we have this hope as an Anchor sure and stedfast That if we be violent for it this Kingdome is ours none can hinder us of it such as sell all shall have the pearle Mat. 13.44 Those that shrinke not from Christ in his temptations for feare of the Crosse when he comes in his glory they shall sit upon thrones and raigne with him Luke 22.28 and for the publique cause now depending whiles we continue faithfull with and stout for God feare not the issue let the oppositions be what they will all those great Mountaines before Zerubbabel shall become a plaine Zach. 4.8 The Lord reignes though the earth be never so unquiet he will bring about his designe when men and devills have done their worst What though the pillars of the Land tremble and all the foundations of it shake as in an earth quake what though we be in danger whiles we are so violent for heaven to lose all we have on earth as the Orator sometimes told the Athenians yet we shall not have an haires harme If we serve our God with reverence and godly feare we shall receive a Kingdome that cannot be shaken Heb. 12.28 Unto the which God of his infinite mercy bring us through the Merits of Christ Jesus who hath purchased it for us To whom c. FINIS Die Mercurii 29. Maii. 1644. IT is this day Ordered by the Commons Assembled in Parliament That Mr Harman do from this House give thankes unto Master Hall for the great paines he tooke in the Sermon he preached this day at the