us from our own houses Wee cared not for the worth of peace God now shewes the worth by the want of it the price of many things are learn't carendo magis quà m fruendo Wee walked contrary unto him he now walkes contrary unto us Wee brake forth by lying stealing whoring one bloudy sinne touched another and now God hath had a long Controversie against all the Inhabitants of the Land and one bloudy punishment toucheth another Men by their Hell-hastening iniquities warred brake forth against the Lord and now God by Heaven-darting Judgements warreth against and breaketh in upon men Yea this heighteneth mens sinnes that they warre against the Lord yea friends against friends whiles God and man continue their warre against them both God in Justice men in hatred t is good as from God evill as from men I have spoken so much in this point it being a maine cause of halting in the people while they apprehend so much flattery in and contention among Ministers Let all Eliah's labour to preserve people from halting by occasion thereof Let them study to keepe the unity of the Spirit in the Bond of peace if there be any vertue any praise any profit in love in peace Elijah you see was bold and it mightily prevailed Can Ministers write after any fairer Copie can they walke after any more un-erring Rule Be strong and of a good courage was Gods Counsell to Josuah Iosh 1.6 and addes in the next verse onely be strong and the people close up their Counsell with the same Caution to him in the last words of the same Chapter because things last of all spoken Vers 18. commonly are best of all remembred onely be strong and of a good courage vers 18. As if courage boldnesse were the All in All required in the Leaders the Shepheards of Gods flocke as if it were the Quintessence that is most to be seene in the essence of all their ingagements and discharge of duties required by God and Man may they not by this their courage as Hannibal by sire over the Alpes make way over the mountaines of all obstructions all oppositions whatsoever Look what powder is to bullets a clapper to the Bell fire to the wood wings to a Bird sayles to a Ship winde to sayles wine to the spirits an edge to a Razor mettall to a horse the soule to the body vivacitie to any creature the same is Courage to any Christian much more to a Minister for his affection motion action Twelfth and last cause I mention of the Peoples halting 12. Cause between the two maine opinions in these times is The doubt of the successe of the Cause in Question which followes in the last not least place to be answered viz. these Doores of Hope ⧠DOORES OF HOPE WHat ever the issue and successe of these warres be yet Gods people should be of Joabs resolution 2 Sam. 10.12 Let us be valiant for our people and for the Cities of our God and let the Lord do as seemeth him good I am no Prophet nor the son of a Prophet ungainsayably to prognosticate the event his face hath never yet been seene nor tongue heard in a Pulpit that can thus Divine Therefore I will not professe so much ignorance or arrogance peremptorily to avouch These present warres suddenly shall end or that the Parliament side without any possible contradiction shall prevaile But this I affirme that there may be alledged many Arguments of probabilitie that God will shortly deliver this Land from Popery and slavery for the present and future time These Arguments I call Doores of Hope Of which Doores I shall but draw the Latches and set them a little ashoare and give you leave at your more leisure to goe into the severall roomes in your private meditations and view the materialls therein contained The first Doore 1. I bring you to is the Promise of God made to comfort his people 2 Pet. 1.4 Esa 25.8 These promises are said to be Gods gifts many great exceeding precious The Lord will wipe away teares from off all faces and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth Rev. 14.8 for the Lord hath spoken it Babylon is fallen Esa 55.10 is fallen Doubled as Phar dreame for the certainty of the thing Shall the Lord promise and shall he not performe Surely as the raine cometh downe and watereth the earth and makes it bring forth and bud that it may give seede to the sower and bread to him that eateth So shall my word be that goeth out of my mouth it shall not returne unto mee voyde but it shall accomplish that which I will and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it It s added in the next verse Vers 11. Ios 21.43 Therefore shall yee goe out with joy and be led forth with peace This Argument couragious Josuah proposed a little before his death to continue the people in constancy The Lord gave Israel all the land which he had sworne to give to their Fathers and they possessed it and dwelt therein Vers 44. Also the Lord gave them rest round about aocording to all that he had sworne unto their Fathers and there stood not a man of all their Enemies before them for the Lord delivered all their Enemies into their hand Vers 45. There failed nothing of all the good things which the Lord had said unto the house of Israel Vers 45. Ch. 23.14 but all came to passe And in the next Chap. 14. verse to the people You know in all your hearts as certainly as if things were in your bosome that nothing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God promised you but all are come to passe unto you nothing hath failed thereof The Lord commands his Prophets Esa 40.1 2 Comfort yee comfort yee my people speake comfortably unto Jerusalem and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished Where you see is a Charge and Commission given not onely by bare affirmation or command to Ministers but by Ingemination Comfort yee comfort yee yea by Triplication speake yee comfortably unto Jerusalem by Quadruplication and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished is i. it shall as certainly be accomplished as if it were already effected These comfortable promises Calvin on Esay must not be whispered softly in their eares saith Calvin but cryed out aloud that they may sinke into their hearts Let us make use of these promises in our prayers Psal 119.49 50. saying with David Remember thy promise made to thy servant wherein thou hast caused mee to trust It is my comfort in my trouble for thy promise hath quickned mee Gods Providence and Power in the Lands preservation Doore 2. What are the Mightie against the Almightie The Nations of the Earth are as a drop hanging on the Bucket of water What is a drop to the Bucket What the Bucket to all
the Lord his Christ his Church When the Heathen rage and the people murmure saying Let us breake their Bonds and cast their cords away from us all is in vaine He that dwelleth in Heaven shall laugh c. and breake them in pieces c. The Ten Kings shall have one minde Rev. 17.1 to yeeld all their might to helpe the monstrous Beast that was and is not and yet is all these shall fight with the Lambe yet the Lambe shall overcome The Lambe overcome What is a Lambe to a Lyon to many Lyons The wrath of a King is as the roaring of a Lyon and is the messenger of death yet the Lambe shall overcome and a good Reason is rendred Vers 14. For he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are on his side are called and chosen and faithfull The Great Light of the Gospel and the many converted thereby Doore 13 The light shineth more and more till perfect day Cutting of Trees and Stones hewing of both a good signe God is about to build Act. 7.17 When the time of the promise drew nigh for Israels deliverance the people grew and multiplyed in Egypt Shall Gods fold be increased to fatten the sword of his enemies Gods sheepe may be affrighted must not be destroyed Hos 4.6 If barrennesse argueth destruction then fruitfulnesse signifies preservation Sing O Barren Esa 54.1 3 4 5. that didst not beare and breake forth on the right hand and on the left and thy seede shall inherite the Gentiles and make the desolate Cities to be inhabited Feare not for thou shalt not be ashamed Thou shalt not remember the reproach of thy widdowhood any more For thy maker is thy husband Chap 60.21 22. the Lord of Hosts is his Name Thy people shall be all righteous the Branch of my Planting the worke of my hands that I may be glorified A little one shall become a thousand a great augmentation and a small one a strong Nation â—say 66.9 I the Lord will hasten it in his time Shall I cause to travell and not bring forth Shall I cause to bring forth and shall it be barren saith thy God Reigne with Jerusalem c. When plants are put into Gods Orchard shall they not by him be preserved Shall the Church have many children Psa 127.5 as so many Quivers of Arrowes in her hand and shall she be ashamed of her enemy in the gate Gods daily Remembrancers Doore 14. both in private and in publick which are commanded by himselfe to give him no rest night or day till he make Jorusalem a praise on the earth Esay 62.7 God will bestow a mercy when he comes to be minded of it When the seventy yeares were nigh accomplished and deliverance fully to be wrought Dan. 9.2 â—er 29. God set Daniel on praying which was foretold by Jeremy Are not such prayers too pretious to be lost Shall such Watchmen be made a prey to the enemies Shall we imagine that God that raiseth such instruments for his Church and Common-wealth will suffer the same to be blasted Shall Moses and Phineas raised by God to stand up in the gap to save Gods people be unsuccessfull When Moses hands were lift up Israel prevailed when let downe the Amalekites prevailed 〈◊〉 17.11 If our sinnes blast not the blossomes of our Prayers they shall prevaile with God for our selves and others For hath not prayer been an Engine ordained by God himselfe to overcome himselfe Let me alone saith God to Moses a strength he had promised to yeild unto an authority he had promised to obey â—sa 45.11 Ask of me nay command ye me The Lord did according to the saying of Moses that Moses should doe according to the saying of the Lord had been but equall But that the Lord should doe according to Moses saying is wonderfully comfortable In Joshuah's time touching Sunne and Moon standing still he hearkened to the voyce of a man Prayer will over-rule God to any thing for our good 1 Kings 8.44 â—sa 14â— 18 19. Rom. 8. It will bow down his eare It will pull his hand out of his bosome the sword out of his sheath against his enemies put it up again when drawn against his people The Lord is at the call of his peoples prayers will fulfill the desires of those that feare him It is the work of Gods own holy Spirit made in heaven therefore true faithfull prayer never was never shall be lost Though God hide himselfe in a cloud this will scatter the cloud it will pierce the heavens and fetch God down If we wrastle with God by prayer we shall prevaile Hath not much been done with God in these warres by this weapon may not more also be done O pray pray pray Experience of Gods former favours shewed to persons Doore 15. families the kingdome which may encourage all to trust him upon triall David fought with a Lyon and a Beare and God delivered him from the danger of both Therefore will also out of the hand of the Philistine 1 Sam. â— 36 This encouraged Paul for time to come to relye on Gods help having had former experience and present supportment Lord thou hast been favourable to the Land Ergo wilt be Psa 85. Psa 22. Our Fathers trusted in thee and were delivered If we trust in him we also shall be delivered But Ergo. What God doth at one time he can doe at another Therefore he puts out himselfe in his greatnesse in his goodnesse that his people might trust in him at all times God in his justice may leave the land deformed but in his mercy reforformed because he hath given his people a taste of the first fruits already Men relye on a friend that hath never failed them in any extremity Psa 116.1 I will love the Lord there is good cause because he heard my voyce he hath inclined his eare therefore will I call upon him while I live Where Beggars speed well they will come again Can you blame them for it There is no particular person but hath experience that he hath his proper portion in the hope of the kingdomes publick peace The great sufferings and oppressions of Gods people Doore 1 Psal 12. â— foreshewes Gods help is at hand Now for the oppression of the poore and sighing of the needy I will up saith the Lord I will set him at liberty whom the wicked have snared Thou will keep and preserve him Gods tongue hath spoken it his hand will perform it God is our hope and strength and help in troubles ready to be found Psal 46.1 Vers 8. Vers 9. Come and behold the workes of the Lord what desolations he hath made in the earth In the next words is added He maketh warres to cease unto the ends of the world Wonderfull desolations usher in the cessation of Warres in the world Be still and know that I am
Michael and his Angels Christ hath overcome the World Doore 23 Death Devill and shall these overcome him again Iohn 16.33 Col. 2.15 Rev. 17.14 It 's incredible impossible Be ye of good comfort in me ye shall have peace I have over come the world He hath openly triumphed over them on his Crosse This Lamb hath overcome all Lions Can Satan be stronger than God The efficacie of Christ his prayer Doore 24 He was heard on earth and shall he not be heard in heaven Rom. 8.33 1 Pet. 3.14 making intercession for his people Who is he that will harm you if ye follow that which is good Who harme us wicked ones will Yet blessed are you if ye suffer for righteousnesse sake Feare not their feare nor be ye troubled The conviction and conversion of Adversaries Doore 25 God enlightning them to see what they did not see before It is beyond the thoughts and expectation of man thae the Lord Inchequin seduced by the Jesuitical faction should be changed from a destroyer to Champion for God and a preserver of his cause The many cries Doore 26 prayers teares of Fathers Children Widowes for vengeance Doth not the Lord heare their cries and know their sorrowes The Lord heard the voyce of the Lad Ishmael Exod. 3.7 Gen. 21.17 Psa 146.9 weeping before him and will he not heare the voyce of thousands of Children for their parents and parents for their children wives for their husbands and friends for friends He relieveth the Fatherlesse and Widowes In whom can the Fatherlesse finde mercy but in him Hos 14.3 Luke 18.7 If an unrighteous Judge did the importune Widow justice against her adversary shall not God avenge his elect that cry day and night unto him The cry of the multiplicity of the blood that hath been shed Doore 27. Shall not the blood of so many Saints call for vengeance Gen. 4.10 Rev. 6.10 when the blood of one Abel cryed unto the Lord and he heard it The soules of the Saints slaine cry Dost thou not avenge our bloodâ— Groans are registred teares botled and shall not blood be booked Did God enquire for one Abel will he not for thousands The Relation of God towards his Church Doore 28. God sayth he is worse than an Infidell that provides not for his family 1 Tim. 5.8 Is not he a Father And will a Father give stones to children that ask bread He is to his Church a Husband a Master a Captain a King Sheepheard Creator Redeemer wise Builder He is a Sun and a Shield hath his Rod and his Staffe both for direction and preservation The great rage of Satan sheweth that his time is but short Doore 29. When the Devil was to be cast forth out of the dumb Rev. 12.12 Mat. 9.22.26 he casts him into the fire and into the water and rent him soare cryed and then came out of him Violent things continue not long in extremity especially such showers of blood The many differences between forraigne nations Doore 30. who would have joyned hand in hand against the Kingdome had they not been set together by the eares in their own lands This is none of the least of Gods mercies to our nation at this time they having enough to doe at home have the lesse leasure to be imployed as the Devils and Popes Armour-bearers abroad The prevention of many inconveniences which might ensue Doore 31. 1. Some godly ones might put forth their hands to wickednesse Psa 125.3 if the rod of the wicked should long lye on the lot of the righteous 2. That the wicked might not deny Gods power providence justice which they see executed here on earth 3. Truth of the Scriptures may not bee questioned Tribulation bringeth forth patience patience experience experience hope Rom. 5.4 Now lay all these considerations together that have been mentioned before and I beleeve they will administer joy in the times of sorrow and keep up mens hearts lesse to doubt the successe of the common cause 1. Considering God is a God of power able to finish what he hath begun 2. It stands with his wisdome the foundation laid to perfect his building 3. God is the God of order what confusion else would be 4. Kindnesse had been unkindnesse Better to have had no cluster of grapes than not to be brought into Canaan 5. Weak ones would suspect God used some stratagem to draw men out as the men of Ai to destroy them or as to gather Bees and to burn them 6. They would doubt God would not doe as much for his people now as he hath done heretofore Our Fathers trusted in him and were delivered but we have trusted in him and are not delivered 7. Gods friends would put forth their hands to wickednesse 8. His enemies blasphemies boastings cruelties would be the greater They would endeavour to build Babels to scale if possible the very walts of heaven 9. God spared the kingdome for a long season when sin was committed and with greedinesse acted Ezek. 22.30 and will he not spare it now when sinne is confessed lamented and many stand up in the gap to turn away his wrath and reform impieties according to his desire and promise 10. The courage of the Parliament Commanders Captaines Souldiers beyond ordinary expectation naturall Relations carrying Gods Ark towards Bethshemesh their wives children houses lands goods liberties lives being not deere unto them doe all confirme our hearts in the promises of the Lord that his help is at hand to deliver the Nation from slavery and Popery I beseech you by the many mercies of God that have been daily manifested and infallibly expected to lay out your selves to give up your bodies spirits estates your All for your selves posterity Cities and people of God It was dying Joshuahs argument to the Israelites to move them to a constant obedience to Gods commandements that they had experimentall knowledge in their hearts that nothing failed of all the good things that the Lord had promised to them all came to passe And have wee not as great a portion participation in Gods promises and performances as the Israelites had We may say of Gods mercies to Israel and England as one spake of Demosthenes and Tully Cicero effecit ne Demosthenes esses solus Orator Demosthenes ne Cicero primus foret The Israelites were the cause we could not be the first people whome God did so extraordinarily blesse and favour But we are the cause that they could not boast themselves to be the only people in Gods love And if Gods mercies in any age for height length depth breadth might be boasted of rejoyced in then in our dayes in this Parliament in these warres where good is fetcht out of evill light out of darknesse And if these things will be marvellous in the eares of all posterity shall they not in our hearts before whose eyes the same have been accomplished Wherefore I conclude as I began being high time to take my worke off the Loome Why halt ye so long between two opinions If Baal be God then follow him so shall you fall from sin the Suburbs into Hell it selfe the place portion expectation of all cursed neutralizing Balaaks for whom are reserved torments which are endlesse easelesse and remedilesse If the Lord be God then follow him so shall you come to see him that is invisible and shall change the society of men for Angels Earth for Heaven and the company of Lions for fellowship with the Lamb for ever Where shall be all light without any darknesse truth without error joy without sorrow health without sicknesse liberty without restraint peace without perturbation eternity without end where the Quire of Angels shall be musick to our eares where the fight of God shall be the object to our eyes where the joyes of heaven shall be the possession of our soules Unto the hearing of which Angellicall musick unto the beholding of which beatificall vision unto the possession of which celestiall joyes the Lord that is Author of all vouchsafe to bring us all let all Gods people say Amen And let the Lord Jesus Christ whose words are Yea and Amen put to his hand and seale and say Amen Amen I have now done for speaking you have now done for hearing his Chaire and Pulpit is in heaven that must perswade you to put in practice those things which I have delivered in precept which that he may doe unto him let us pray Soli Deo laus FINIS
NEVVES FOR NEWTERS OR The Check Cause Cure of Halting With 31 Doores of Hope for the good successe of the publick cause of the Kingdome Delivered in a Sermon November 27. 1644 in the Colledge of Glocester before that valiant and vigilant Governour Colonell Massy being the day of publick Humiliation By WALTER POWELL M. A. Vicar of Standish Est neutrale genus signans rem non animatam See the Contents after the Epistle LONDON Printed by Matthew Simmons 1648. To the much Honoured Major Generall MASSEY one of the Members of the Honorable House of Commons Renowned Sir TO none doth this Sermon more properly belong now printed then to your selfe that heard it preached After the relation of which newes against Newters you returned beyond my desert and expectation publick thanks in the face of that populous Congregation In those then siding-unsiding times this Text at that time was seasonable I yet beleeve though the sight of my person in the Pulpit at that time formidable perhaps to some there that had never heard me preach in their whole life One of which departing out of the then Congregation had he stayed you told me at your Table might have suspected himselfe to be like the Hedge-bogge I mentioned in my Sermon The truth of many of the particulars mentioned in my preceding Epistle you know to be true but I shall manifest the whole to be so if from the Honorable House I obtain my conceived just request to have liberty to examine the combination and unjust proceedings of my malevolent yet potent Committee-adversary Sir you beleeved and subscribed as much under your hand that this Sermon was preached with much zeale against newtralitie and in that subscription out of which I transcribe your own words at this instant having the copy now at Oxford before me you are pleased to approve of my then Doores of Hope for the successe of the Parliament cause In respect whereof you say further I then had merited and you beleeved I should find favour from this Parliament You beleeved also I had hard measure in my businesse and that this Sermon was some occasion of my harder usage though indeed the two poynts here touched concerning Countrey-Committees and flattering Ministers were not then bandled If you enquire after newes out of your once Glocester-shire I beleeve many that were but Newters in your time of abode there are in heart now most strong Malignants perhaps it is because too much savour hath been extended towards them The inlarged vast difference betweene those at home that should be reconciled friends to oppose the common foe makes many continue in a balting condition even to this day And those that were then seeming friends to become now enemies to the common cause That which was a fiction long agoe seems to be now put in action The Eagle they say bad a nest on the top of the Tree where she had her young the Beare had her Den where she had her whelps under the bottome of the Tree The Cat had liberty to run from the bottome to the top and to be a speedy messenger between the Eagle and the Beare tells the Eagle if she flye from her nest the Beare waits to devoure her brood and tells the Beare if she peepout of her Den the Eagle will make a prey of her whelps And thus perswades them to keep close in their holes to the starving of themselves and their young ones that all might become a prey to the crafty Cat. My professed Malignants and their Neighbour Newters Gallemoufrean hotch-potch-ambo-dexters time-serving weathercock-linsee-wolsie-turn-coats Jack on both sides or rather Nick on no side perswade the people in these most dangerous times that the rigid Presbyterians will keep them in more slavery then ever Bishops Government did and that the Independents will have all things common amongst them And this is the deepest policie that all the Devils in Hell could ever invent to prevaile with people to sit still at Marcus Cato and Metius Suffetius the Succoits and the Meroshites did that so professed Malignants might have the more easie opportunity to make the inhabitants of the land to be made meat for their gaping mouthes If God ever joyn the faithfull of the people together in a firme and sincere union to preserve the Kingdome from slavery and ruine he is little better then a Devill I am sure no friend to the Kingdome that endeavours to rend peoples affections asunder Sir I am in my journey therefore make bold to break off abruptly leaving you to the direction of him who hath been your protection Both which shall be the subject of the prayers of Your much obliged SUFFERING Servant WALTER POWELL TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE the Lords and Commons assembled in PARLIAMENT The Author imploreth freedome from Halting Wisdome in discerning Grace and Glory for Persevering Right Honorable and Noble Senators Qui advos audent scribere ignorant magnitudinem qui non audent humanitatem That which none are willing to owne most men have endeavoured to embrace and practice Hypocrisie All men if you will beleeve them will be for God at their death here and there one that will stand for his cause in the time of their life When in these wars men were called to come forth to the help of the Lord against the mighty most meal mouth'd Ministers had their lips sealed and fals-hearted people stood with their hands in their pockets not with their feet in the gap to make up the hedge before the Lord that he might not destroy the land then this Sermon in a publick place before an eminent and publick person * Colonell Mâ—ssiâ— that couragious vigilant and faithfull Governer of Glocester once a member of this honorable House was preached whose eye-observing diligent attention in hearing publick respect and thanks in the face of that populous audience immediatly after the delivery of this Sermon are not the causes of the publishing hereof but the disregard of one of Glocester Committee in his uncivill departure out of the Congregation before ever hee heard me either pray or preach pressed mee to commit this to the Presse who shewed disrespect to the Sermon for the persons sake when as he should have manifested respect to the person for the Sermons sake There was no necessity I beleeve no I am sure no humanity for any of that Committee to cause a Sermon to be preached in another Congregation at that very instant by that very Minister who then was sick and desired to be eased from preaching that turn and time in the Colledge of Glocester When this Sermon at a publique fast was preached how ever it may seem now unseasonable coming so late to the presse was welcome I am confident to most that heard it delivered in the pulpit The Sermon I confesse was somewhat long it was the businesse of the day that then required it But what is added in the point of Countrey Committees was not then specified for I
then imagined that such qualified persons were not in rerum naturae And what is inserted touching flattering Ministers that have betrayed the trust that God and man have committed to them was also unhandled both which are proper to the subject here in discourse as main causes of the people halting between those two different opinions in the then common Cause of the Kingdome Omnia dat qui justa negat he that denieth that which is just gives liberty to speak any thing If I have unjustly blamed one of the said Committee whose advice as another Achitophel in those parts was so highly accounted of as if a man had enquired at the Oracle of God in that censure against me before any witnesses in that cause were examined by me though many of the Committe by the procurement of one certified under their hands the contrary as grosse untruths as if they had subscribed that there is no light in the Sunne nor heat in the fire or that the Pope in person sits daily in the Parliament House to the great losse of my livelihood danger of my life and dishonour of the Parliament had I not been relieved let me suffer more in name person estate Whosoever knowes what hath happened unto me as many thousands have heard may guesse that I am necessitated to publish this Newes for Newters He that was once an eye-hearer of this Sermon beleeved in heart and subscribed with hand that I had the harder usage for the message sake else that Committee man could not have so posted out of the Colledge when hee saw me in the Pulpit unlesse he had almost as much feared my message whom he never heard in publique in his life as hee dreaded the roaring of the Cannon when he hasted out of the Citie immediatly before the Kings Army came to besiege the same What in publick I have spoken done and suffered for the common Cause hundreds have and thousands will testifie yet all praying preaching doing and suffering must be buried under the beastlike skin of Scandall to provoke and satisfie the greedy appetites of a New Committee man an old Hangman and a posted Malignant and a professed Newter I attended eleven dayes during part of which time this newes was related to see these hideous November-Articles I was to answer yet could not all that time have a sight of them till that quick-sighted much knowing justice Colonel Bromwich told the Committee it was a shame to make me wait so long for the said Articles Then had I December-Articles and those concerned the Committee themselves because they would be sure to strike a deadly blow against such a Traytor Then had I January-Articles preferred and had I not appealed to this Honorable Assembly I thinke I should have had February-Articles and so ad infinitum that no moneths malice might be left unattempted to ruine him whom the Parliament had published and declared 1643. to honour I was accounted by the Plundering warrants of Malignants at the siege of Glocester an aider to the Rebels meaning this Parliament and by the said warrants had my goods and Cattell taken away That the same Parliament Committee after I had appealed to the Parliament it selfe from them they under their hands denying me Copies of depositions taken against me and denying me to be present at the examination of witnesses was by the testimony of divers members of this great Assembly deemed unparallel As these things with the effects thereof to me have proved a burthen almost intollerable the scarre of discredit it being incurable so to all men may seeme incredible that a constant sider with the Parliament should unheard out of his living be ejected and himself and his family be to all misery exposed when that right-discerning and Parliament-promises-promoting Justice Mr. Anthony Clifford opposed in my absence the rest of my ruining unjust Judges If I should forbeare the stones would cry aloud in the eyes and eares of the world for justice against this matchlesse malicious abominable censure But the blessing of the Lord for ever be and abide on the heads and hearts of the honorable Committee for plundered Ministers and in particular on Mr. Millington Mr. Rouse Sir Arthur Hazelrig Mr. Tate who oft afforded me patience audience countenance If I should repeat every member of that Committee I might seeme to flatter if I should not mention you I should surely be ungratefull My Countrey-man Mr. Pury was one of the first that after my freezing and long waiting broke the Ice for my return and Mr. Edward Stephens and others quickly apprehended and couragiously reported the injustice of the proceedings against me Whereupon I had an Order of restitution to my Priviledges and Arreares till the matter be heard notwithstanding which Order of Restitution that active Committee man hath been an Instrument to place for my supplanting in my Chappell to enjoy those profits that are almost the one halfe of my little livelihood a Minister that hath been taken in Armes against the Parliament and hath beene ejected out of his living in Monmouth-shire for being contentious against his neighbours a common Drunkard a Rayler against the Parliament who also said since he was obtruded on my Cure a Cavaliere I was a Cavaliere I am and so I will continue Whether such a Committee man in permitting such a Malignant Minister that hath been so often active in Armes to be placed and officiate within three miles of Glocester Garrison hath thereby promoted the honour of the Parliament and the safety of that Citie let all men judge If I have been illegally proceeded against by this principall Agent in that Committee as my worthy constant free and faithfull friend Mr. Pryn hath by tongue and pen maintained I shall account it a great honour from this Honorable Assembly to have an Order and Commission to some Gentlemen I shall nominate to examine all proceedings of this Committee man and the combination of such malignant malicious persons as have been unjust practizers against me that I may receive such reparations from them as the merits of my cause and their cruelty shall require All which is committed to the serious consideration of this honorable Senate for the relief of Your faithfull Servant yet suffering supplicant WALTER POWELL Doctrines deduced DOct. 1. It is a great sin and shame to halt between God and Baal Truth and Error pag. 5 2. Those that are good will shew zeale for God pag. 5 3. People continue long in a lingring condition notwithstanding long and sharp reprehension pag. 6 4. Many are yet to seek who is the true God pag. 6 4. God alone is to be followed pag. 6 6. Men are oft convicted before they are once converted pag. 6 The first Doctrine prosecuted Uses 1. Of Information 2. Reprehension of Newters 3. The Causes with the cure of Halting pag. 7 8 14 Cause 1. Because many members of the Parliament have diserted the Parliaments cause pag. 14 2. The greatest part of the Great
ones have adhered to the adverse part pag. 16 3. Misprision of prerogative pag. 17 4. Most of people siding with the contrary rather than the Kingdomes Cause pag. 19 5. The great pressure by payments pag. 21 6. Feare of being plundered pag. 22 7. Selfe-seeking with neglect of the publick pag. 24 8. Vndesire of change for feare of changing for the worse pag. 25 9. Estimation of Parliament-power too great pag. 27 10. Injustice and oppression by Countrey-Committees pag. 28 11. Flattery in and divisions between Ministers pag. 30 12. Doubt of the successe of the cause in hand make men halt herein pag. 35 Which last rub is removed in briefly opening many Doores of Hope for the good successe of the Common Cause pag. 35 36 37 to the end Errata's For 1 Kings 19. read 18. PAG. 1. in the magent for use 1. and use 2. read verse p. 2. l. 5. for pursuane r. perseverance p. 2. for use r. verse 4. and verse 5. p. 2. l. 27. for Daobolum r. Da obolum p. 3. l. 19. for liezure r leisure p. 3. l. 21. make a period between yea and plain p. 5. l. 3. for there r. these p. 7. l. 23. for nor r no p. 7. l. 35 after Pastors make no period p. 8. l. 18. in Margent read use 2. p. 8. l. 22. for defendant r defendit p 14. l. 2. after sharp but very exemplary put president p. 15. l. 7. for strangely r. strongly p. 16. l. 7 for the r. this p. 20. l. 27. for belluae r. Bellua p. 20. l. 31. ptt out they before say p. 26. l. 23. r. an after p 29. l. 7. for torror r. terrour p. 29. l. 9. for have r. had for I think some Committe-men have bought more land since then they sold before they were preferred to their Committeships p. 31. l. 3. unto seduce strayable people adde and pesecute Gods zealous ministers P. 38. l. 2. for he r. Shammah p 42. l. 4. for reigne r. rejoyce p. 47. l. l. 34. for And r. Are these duties p. 48. l. 11. in stead of an evill cause read and will not he regard the voyce c. Newes for Neuters OR The Checke Cause and cure of HALTING 1 King 19.21 And Elijah came unto all the people and said How long halt ye betweene two opinions If the Lord be God follow him but if Baal then follow him and the people answered him not a word THE Fountain or Well-head is farre from whence floweth my Text It is twenty steps off Judges 7. Give me leave with Gideons Souldiers to lap a mouthfull as I run along by the streame Before I come to my station to view these words This Chapter containes a Dialogue or Commemoration of many historicall passages 1. Betweene the Lord and Eliah Vse 1. Goe shew thy selfe to Ahab Meane ones must not be affraid to deliver messages to the Mighty Doct. Vse 2. Ch. 17.2.5 Chap. 19. Doct. 2. Eliah's ready obedience to the word of the Lord. There is a time when Eliah must flye from Ahab and Jezabell if the Lord command him Where God hath a Tongue to speake there man must have an eare to heare There is a time to flye Doct. and a time to stay God may be glorified sometimes more by flying than by staying When the force of the enemie may be too strong Mat. 10.22 and the Faith of the persecuted may be too weake When they persecute you in one City flye into another When you may glorifie God more in the place to which then in the place from which you flye You may take leave to depart from men when first in given by God Mat. 10.23 And this counsell is given Doct. When they persecute you into one City flye into another After the command of pursuance Mercies and miseries are oft mixed together Chequer worke is a daily Trade in these times God promised raine when there was a great famine in Samaria Great peace may ensue these great wars And Ahab called Obadiah who feared God greatly Some raised up to be good in a generall Apostacy from God Doct. else woe were to the Kingdome in these times Obadiah tooke a hundred Prophets Vse 4. and hid them by fifty in a Cave Wherein appeared his zeale and care This hath encouraged Londoners to entertaine Strangers in these times of danger The names and actions of the godly shall be had in everlasting remembrance Doct. A groane shall be registred A cup of cold water remembred Teares shall be botled and shall not blood be booked He feedeth them with Bread and Water Those that feare God Doct. he will shew succour to them in time of need Gods dearest Saints may be brought to a morsell of bread Doct. to a cup of cold water Bellissarius a great Commander came being blinde to stand on the high way with a Daobolum Bellissario Give one half-penny to poor blinde Bellessarius Another wrote to his friend to send to him a Spunge a Harpe and a loafe of bread A spunge to dry up his teares A harpe to solace his minde And a loaf of bread to satisfie his hunger Ahab's command to Obadiah for the preservation of grasse for the lives of the Horses and Mules Vse 5. Was Ahab so carefull for grasse how carefull should our King be for Corne and Cattle Laws and liberties persons and Kingdome Bodies and Soules of living men that all be not lost Ahab was carefull to seeke for sustenance though it was upon an if so be a peradventure to finde or not Ioabs resolution was Let us be valiant for our people 1 Sam. 10.12 and for the Cities of our God and let him doe as seemeth him good Let men doe as God commands and let God doe as he hath decreed How carefull how earnest should men be for Grace for heaven These may be sought and found Verse 6. upon certainties without peradventures shews their policie and care the King to goe one way and Obadiah another Policy to direct the best course and care to put it in execution Policy may be used so piety be not suppressed Doct. Gods providence seene in bringing together Eliah and Obadiah Verse 7. Behold Eliah was in the way Saul went to seeke his Fathers Asses and found a Kingdome Obadiah went to seeke water and grasse and behold he findes a way and meanes to bring salvation to people He went in obedience to the command of a King on Earth and meetes with an unerring command of the King of Heaven Doct. Gods providence over-rules all actions Text. persons times things fell downe on his face c. The Messengers of God find favour from those that are good Doct. 1. Doct. 2. Doct. 3 Good Christians will know one another in times of adversity Good men desire to be resolved of their doubts Obadiah thought that it was Eliah yet labours to be assured thereof And he answered
viz. Kingdome Religion Law Libertie and Posteritie I said in actions good and commendable they must not ayme at their own ends The man that was in the Boate where the Kings Crowne was and the Crowne occasionally falling into the water he leaping after it and recovering it to save himselfe and it putting the Crowne upon his own head that so he might swimme the better to the Boate or Shoare though he was thanked for his adventure yet was he blamed for his boldnesse in putting the Crowne upon his own head Christs Crowne is now fallen as it were into the water and is in danger of sinking labour to preserve it but not for thy own praise or profit sake much lesse must his Crowne be set upon the footstoole and Kings Crowne yea private mens reasons and respects set upon the Throne The 24. Elders Revel 4. threw downe their Crownes at the foote of Christ the King of Kings You know Vriah Nehemiah and others denied their own comforts and contentments Court-favours company of wife yea to change their own Cloaths for the Publique sake It is an undeniable truth he that will lift up one that is fallen must stoope himselfe He that loves father or mother more than Christ is not worthy of Christ Christ still called his Mother Woman as one observes Woman what have I to doe with thee Woman not Mother to shew that in matters of Religion wee are to know no relations Were this beleeved and observed the warres by Gods mercy quickly might be ended thinke on it and thou wilt halt no longer between thy private seeming and the publique certain good The eighth Cause of Halting is undesire of change for doubt of dangerous tumults or of changing for the worse 8. Cause The wicked feare and flie when no man pursueth but the righteous is bold as a Lyon The feare for the present touching what will be for the future is moe than the hurt it selfe that shall be Many will be content to abide in darknesse and slavish conditions for feare of shadowes they may meet with in an altered estate Like the Israelites punished a little with want towards Canaan they wished themselves in Aegypt againe to enjoy their Leeks and Onions instead of their Manna Angels food Men are now on their march towards spirituall and heavenly Canaan and will they desire to returne unto Aegypt againe It is then just that they should never enter into Gods rest Will not men endure change of Masters and change of servants so it be for their profit change of horses change of dogges so it further their pleasure change of aire change of dyet so it tends to their health May men desire new Masters new servants new Ministers new Magistrates change of apparell dyet houses and shall they onely dreame of danger in new reformation in change of manners The Apostle commands Fashion not your selves like to this world Rom. 12.2 but be you changed inwardly in minde and outwardly in manners else you cannot prove or approve what is the acceptable will of God or what is the reasonable service required in man towards God who is a Spirit and must be worshipped in Spirit and in truth Are those obstinate Jewes Ier. 44. thinke you to be followed who said The Word that thou hast spoken unto us wee will not heare but will doe whatsoever is good in our own eyes for then wee had peace and plenty of all things but since wee lest off to worship the Queene of Heaven wee have had troubles warres dearth and scarcitie of all things Many desired our little great Will I meane Bishop Laud to be changed and taken out of the way and will they desire many great little Wills to be Hierarched and set up in the place thereof such a change may be from bad to worse You have heard of the old Woman I beleeve when all other people prayed for the removall of a Tyrannicall Prince shee onely prayed for his continuation being asked the reason thereof why shee prayed for his continuing when all others prayed for his removall Shee replyed such a Prince was bad and people desired his exchange and the next was worse and the next worse than he and this worse than that and if this be changed quoth shee I thinke the next will be the Devill himselfe So prone naturally are people to imagine that all changes shall be for the worse Men know not what may be in and after therefore desire an abode in the present condition Which have occasioned many mens halting stumbling falling which might have been preventable by a change Is it not better to change from bad to good than from bad to worse Seeing every man by every action steps neerer to Heaven or to Hell I beleeve one of the Causes of so many sad changes in our outward condition hath been new fangled conceits touching changeablenesse in Religion For when they chose new Gods Iudg. 5.8 then warre was in the Gates Therefore a change from new Gods to the true God will procure peace in our gates Can it be imagined any danger to have unprofitable Trees dregges of Popery which God did never plant to be removed out of his Orchard and his own Plants to be set in the place thereof What hurt hath been by the change of Monkes and Fryers Abbots and Pryors Hermits and Nunnes Shall their persons be removed and their profession be retained If there hath been no occasion of repentance in the Land for casting out those Locuster what repentance should be feared by inacting new reformation and abolishing old Traditions Aske all the Reformed Churches whether ever they grieved but rather daily rejoyced to have their Religion of Idolatry and Superstition to be banished out of their Coasts I know the thoughts of the change of Episcopacy is a great trouble and a cause of halting to many men but let them remember the high Commission Bishops Courts in Counties and the strange monstrous Concomitances attending the same they will scarce desire or plead for the reintertainment of them againe It cannot be denied but that Episcopacy hath been a great supporter of Papacie where the one falls the other cannot long stand Pluck up but this one weed in the Antichristian Kingdomes over Sea let Bishops onely be removed from Italy and Spaine Germany and France as they are likely to be from Britaine the Pope can no more stand there hereafter than a head can without his body The Maxime was false No Bishop no King but its certain No Bishop no Pope The Bulles from Rome bred so many Calves in Britaine that there was a necessitie of Cessation or sacrifice of them before Gods wrath can be expected to be pacified toward the Nation Was not a Reformation desired long in the Land by the Record of the very Common-Prayer-Booke as wee reade in the Presace before the Commination appointed to be read in the beginning of Lent Brethren in the Primitive Church there was a
inclined to comiserate dust and ashes his body was delivered from incumbent horrible dangers his feet set on a Rock all the waves and windes could not overturn it his goings were ordered men or Devils could not make him slide or goe out of Gods paths His tongue had occasion to trumpet out Gods praise The wicked that saw it were convicted the godly confirmed to trust in the Lord. Who for his patient waiting had delivered his soule from death his eyes from teares and his feet from falling how for all this could he doe lesse than praise the Lord in the land of the living Men shall say in that day Lo this is our God we have waited for him he will save us They read over their Title to him again in the same words This is the Lord we have waited for him We have waited for thee in the way of thy judgements Esay 25.9 chap. 26 8. Verse 3. chap. 30.18 Ergo Trust in the Lord for ever for in the Lord God is strength to deliver his Church for evermore yea the Lord waits in the beginning of the verse to be gracious unto man Blessed are those that wait to receive mercy from him The path of Gods present proceedings Doore 20. is a pledge of his good providence for future time in the kingdome His judgements seeme to be judgements of expostulation with rather than of extirpation of the kingdome Though these dayes seem to be as that day the Prophet mentioned Zach. 14.6 7. wherein was no clear light but it was dark it was neither quite day nor night but about the evening time it shall be light God will at the last which is with the Lord but as the length of a day send a faire and cleare evening of joy and comfort to his distressed servants We read Exod. 4.24 that God being angry with Moses for not circumcising his sons it came to passe by the way in the Inne the Lord met him and sought to kill him Sought to kill him 'T is strange Did God seek to kill him and not kill him Speak Lord speak to the fire and it shall with flâ—shings consume him to the aire and with pestilent vapours choake him to the waters and with deluges it shall overwhelme him to the earth and with yawning chops it shall devoure him Well the meaning is God sought to kill him that is in some outward visible manner whereof Moses was apprehensive God manifested his displeasure against him that so Moses might have notice and leasure to divert his anger by removing the cause thereof He that said to us Seek and ye shall find doth himselfe seek and not find And good reason for he sought with an intent not to find Thus may we say God for these many yeares sought to destroy the Kingdome manifesting an unwilling-willingnesse if men in any reasonable time will take up the matter and compound the difference by repentance The loving Father shakes the Rod over the Child not with an intent to beat him but to make him beg pardon Such hitherto hath been the Lords dealing with our Nation that he even courts and wooes us to repentance as loath to punish us if we would understand the voyce of the Rod and why it is shaken over us At what time the Lord threatneth to pluck up root out Mich. 6.9 Jer. 18.8 and to destroy it If this Nation against whom I have pronounced turn from their wickednesse I will repent appearing so to mans judgement of the plague I thought to bring upon them If men wash their hands and hearts in teares of repentance Deut. 21.7 as Israel in the blood of the Heifer all the blood that hath been or shall be shed in these warres it shall never be laid to their charge by the Lord. If thou make Conscience thy Castle let Drummes beat Trumpets sound Pikes push Bullets flye Cannons roare Death Warres Devils doe their worst thy life is hid with God and thou shalt be in safety Thus have I brought you to twenty severall Doores and have a little opened them that you looking into the roomes might have some light of comfort even on this day and in this formerly sorrowfull place for the good successe of the kingdomes cause I have a few more doores to lead you to but I must be speedy in my passage by them and give you leave but to peep into them whiles your ears attend my tongue The Saints sorrow for the Churches miseries Doore 21. and love for her prosperitie Where these duties are performed great dignities are peomiled Isa 66 10 11 12. Rejoyce ye with Jerusalem and be glad with her all ye that love her Rejoyce for joy with her all ye that mourn for her that ye may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations that ye may milk out and be delighte I with the brightnesse of her glory because I will extend peace over her like a floud Peace prosperity shall come speedily and in great abundance Pray for the peace of Jerusalem They shall prosper that love thee What 's added Ps 122.6 Peace be within thy walles and prosperity within thy palaces And these duties enjoyned by the Lord and practised by his people upon his command and shall not he blesse his own commanded meanes God bids remember those that are in bonds as if we were bound with them else we cannot have a fellow feeling of their miseries Surely such precepts have obliged many to weep in secret watch fast and pray in publick for the Churches miseries as if they had been their owne It 's Gods own cause and can that ever miscarry Doore 22 Hath not he maintained it with an high hand and stretched out arme in all ages Keep not silence Psa 83.1 Vers 5. O God implying it 's as easie for God to hush all wars as it is for man to speak Thine enemies make a tumult and hate thee They have consulted in heart and made a league against thee Hath not God pleaded the cause of his Saints as if he and they were one Psa 35.1 Else David would not have been so bold with him saying Plead my cause O God In Joshuahs time the Lord fought for Israel Ios 10.14 't was his owne cause made therefore the Sun and Moon stand still untill the people avenged themselves of their enemies In his own cause he hearkened to the voyce of a man but in an evill cause will regard voyce of many Johs Acts 9.4 Samuels Daniels Angels Saul Saul Why persecutest thou me in my members on earth now I am in heaven Be not afraid said the propheticall Levite unto Jehosophat and the people for this great multitude 2 Chro. 20 15. for the battell is not yours but Gods The Dragon and his Angels fought against Michael and his Angels Rev. 12.7 8. but the Dragon and his Angels were cast out of heaven unto the earth because they fought against