the same God that gives them victory over their enemies can and will doe the like to them if by their wayes they provoke him or plagne them with some other judgements as fierce and fearfull let the consideration of this move them to behave themselves humbly in the sight of God and to acknowledg that this favour which God hath done for them is not for their desert or worthinesse but onely of his free mercy towards his Church in freeing it from its enemies that alwayes have sought its ruine And let them not rejoyce with carnall joy I meane not onely because they have liberty to enjoy their estates c. but let the chiefe cause of their joy be in that God hath wrought for his owne glory and peoples deliverance and withall humbly and willingly confesse that God might as justly have given them into the hands of their enemies to have been in subjection under them as he hath given them into their hands and under their subjection and because all things are at his disposing humbly let them desire of him to perfect this begun work and to keep in subjection those that doe oppose Reformation and to divert those plagues which by their manifold failings by respects and selfeâ—ndâ— justly he might bring upon them chiefly that hee would be pleased if again he doe afflict them to let them fall into his owne hands and not in the hands of their former or any as bloudy and cruell enemies or if he doe that hee would furnish them with such a measure of patience that they might without murmuring undergoe it untill he sent them an happy and joyfull deliverance out of all their troubles Next let me intreat all Souldiers and those that are imployed in fighting the battels of the Lord both Commanders and others that they forget not to ascribe the glory of their many worthy victories to the Lord who teacheth their hands to War Psal 144.1 2 Psal 140.7 and their fingers to fight and covers their heads in the day of battel and subdues their foes under them Let them take heed of saying or thinking that their strength hath brought to passe this great worke neither let them rest so secure or perswaded that it is not possible for them to be removed or to loose what they have won or that because God prospers them that therefore they may continue 〈…〉 Drinking c. but let them sinner as Swearing if thus they continue in their vaine idle know that ly courses when the Lord hath performed his whore godby them against the Papists and popishly affected persons that then he will cast them his rod into the fire by bringing upon them some judgement which shall destroy them Let them therefore not be high-minded but feare and behave themselves as Souldiers under the banner of Jesus Christ blamelesse without offence that their civill and upright dealing may win love where ever they goe and so may honour their profession and Cause they stand for that none may have any just occasion to taxe them for any thing amisse Againe be likewise exhorted all you who are put in authority in these distractive times to dispose of the affaires of the Countrey in what kinde soever you especially who are in authority to call for and receive those taxations of what sort soever which in regard of present necessity are imposed upon and called from the Countrey for the maintenance of this un-civill War receive not such sumâ— with rejoycing but with a soule-grieving sorrow because you are forced to doe it and to this end consider that such rates are ever paid in to you with the bread and cloathing of poore labourers and helplesse children which I say although for the present it cannot be holpen ought to cause pity and compassion in you towards them to ease them of such burthens as soone as urgent necessity will give leave And in the meane time beware of looking for your owne private profits under pretence of a publique cause never looke to build your owne houses by the ruines of other mens especially the poore for that will occasion your ruine with a greater fall but as these are times of sufferings to all so be content to suffer with others and like good Nehemiah 〈◊〉 then you be to chargeable or cast 〈…〉 eate not the bread oâ— too great burthens upon the take onely maintenance for Governours or at even any gaine in or by those places it is a shame 〈◊〉 have had their beginnings and shall have or oâ—â—ends with these troubles which onely are conferr'd upon you because esteemed honest and just not that you should make a gaine of them but that in them you might further the publike Cause therefore carry your selves in them so uprightly and justly without covetousnesse or desire of private gaine that when you come to make up your accounts to the Publike you may say with Samuel Whose Oxe have we taken 1 Sam. 12.1 〈◊〉 whose Asse or whom have we defrauded or oppressed or of whose hands have we received any bribe to blinde our eyes therewith If your consciences can say as yet the people said to Samuel it will be great comfort unto you and then no doubt but the Lord will reward you But if on the contrary you make a gaine of the peoples losses if you aime not at the Publike but at your owne ends and exact with pleasure and delight these heavy taxations if you oppresse and defraud the Countrey or Publike c. then how ever you may escape for a while yet shal you not alwayes be free for God will meet with you one way or other and recompence upon your heads your deceitfull dealings So likewise you that are placed in authority to guide the affaires of the Countrey and to rectifie what is amisse and to see he oppressed relieved and the needly â—eâ— free see you doe justly according to equity and give not the people cause to curse you for if you doe God will heare them but rather walke so before them that they may blesse you for that is the way to have the Lord prosper you in all your actions Take heed of making your wills your lawes but as you stand for the Law so be tuled by Law and let your proceedings be according to Law when you are forced to doe what you would not doe it with sorrow and alwayes grieve for the calamities which by force without remedy are brought upon the people by these unhappy divisions if thus you doe God will continue his kindnesse towards you and encrease your honour and not onely so but posterity that yet are to come shall honour your name as oft as they heare of you for your care pains and constant endeavours and your unpartiall justice and equity in managing the Publike affaires committed to your charge But if you doe contrary to this and neglect those you ought to succour then though now while you enjoy your pleasures you feare no danger in an houre
and in great distresse along time before he enjoyed it and after he had possessed it was banished for a while by his owne Son and brought into great straits And so when captivity was threatned to Hezechiah he was so patient that he said no more Isa 39.8 but good is the Word of the Lord for he knew there was no resisting the Lord and did not his owne people I mean the Israelites suffer captivity threescore and ten yeares in Babylon what shall I more say have there not been many of the deare children of God of whom the world was not worthy that have â—andred in deserts and in mountaines and in dens and in caves of the earth having no constant habitation Heb. 11.38 1 Cor. 4.11 but tossed from place to place from one Kingdome to another why therefore should we be affraid to suffer in this kind but rather let their examples stir us up patiently to heare of and abide what ever in this case shall be inflicted Lastly to comfort us let us assuredly know that though we be tossed from place to place and be deprived of those things which now we enjoy and strangers possesse what we have laboured for so that we have not where to lay our heads Rom. 8.17 c. yet let this comfort us if we doe truly beleeve in Christ that we are heires apparant to a kingdome that far suspasseth all the kingdomes in the world Psal 145.13 for it is an everlasting kingdome a kingdom that hath no end which cannot be taken from us by any Heb. 11.9 10 14 15 16. This is that kingdom which the fathers sought for which they endured so many afflictions even with joy because they knew that this momentary affliction which they suffered Rom. 8.19 was not worthy to be compared with the glory which they should receive in that kingdome The consideration of this Phil. 3.8 caus'd the Apostle to count all earthly things as dung in comparison of it and even willingly to suffer the losse of all things to obtaine it and no marvell seeing to have it is to have an assurance of all things that are good as our Saviour himselfe testifies Mat. 6.33 What neede we then take such care though we be destitute of dwelling seeing God himselfe is our dwelling place our rocke of defence and place of hiding Psal 90.1 though our cities be destroyed we have a city above of which we are Citizens though other get our treasure and wealth we have treasure in heaven which iâ— safe being without the reach of all our earthly enemies the consideration of which I say ought to make us patiently endure the losse of all things seeing we have an assured title to heavenly things which are better and more enduring substances Againe if God shall give us over to be oppressed by tyrants many or few domesticke or forraigne whether they tyrannize over us in our estate persons or consciences whether by heavy and grievous taxations or by bondage and slavery or by forbidding or hindring us in the practice of religious and holy duties the meanes to be used to prepare to suffer such afflictions patiently are First to reflect upon our selves and lay the blame on our owne sins which have provoked God thus to punish us by * See Judg. 2.13 14. 3.12 4.1 Isa 10.5 6. Neh. 9.26 27. oppressours our owne actions are alwayes the causes of our miseries why should we then murmur at that which our selves procure but rather patiently endure it and confesse we are punished lesse Ezra 9.13 then our iniquities deserve untill we doe thus we can never patiently suffer afflictions but there will be in us a fretting and a murmuring while we suffer when we are chastised We shall be like a bullocke unaccustomed to the yoake as Ephraim was Ier. 31.18 19. untill he beheld and considered the cause and end of his sufferings and then he was instructed and smote upon his thigh So if we but duly consider what we have done and how we have provoked God we shall be willing to suffer what ever he shall send upon us because we have deserved farre more then we endure Magna solet jucunditas esse quae manat ex optima conscientia Secondly if we be oppressed it will mightily strengthen our patience under oppression if we have so carried our selves towards all men of what degree or place what ever that we have given no just occasion of offence to any or cause to them to deale so rigorously with us a good conscience is an excellent companion in affliction such a conscience as is void of offence Acts 24.16 aproscopon suneidesin 1 Pet. 2.20 Mat. 5.11 that can testifie that wee have done harme to no man or wronged any man if we have such a testimony within our selves we shall even rejoyce with exceeding great joy that we should be accounted worthy to suffer after that manner This was Davids comfort when he was oppressed by Saul and wicked and bloudy men Neque iniquitas mea fuit in causa neque peccatum meum quare me persequeretur Raâ—er Snoyg paraphras in Psal 59.3 Rom. 13.7 that what they did it was without cause though they laid wait for his soule and gathered themselves against him yet his conscience told him that it was not for his transgression or his sin it was not for any fault that he had committed against them c. even so let us endeavour to give no offence either to one or other in any thing but render to every one what is their dâ—le Tribute to whom Tribute is due custome to whom custome feare to whom fear honour to whom honour and then if we be still oppressed it will be without cause and then as I said we shall be comforted which will encrease our patience to endure oppressions Againe See these places Iudg. 2.15 3.12 4.3 6.1.2 3 4 5 6. Ver 11. thirdly in this likewise let us consider that we are not alone how oft were the Israelites given into the hands of cruell oppressours even many yeares * Iudg. 13.1 1 Sam. 13.19 together and sometimes were in such bondage and feare that they were forced to hide themselves in holes of rocks and caves c. and forced to hide what they had in any place where they could to save it yea in such servitude that they had not a Smith among them And so likewise by taxations they were so oppressed that sometimes they were forced to take the hallowed things of the Temple 2 Kin. 12.18 17.3 Socrat. Eccles Hist lib. 3. cap. 12. and pay them to their oppressours to the end to pacifie them thus were the Christians in the time of Julian the Apostate taxed exceedingly this hath beene a common oppression among wicked men and if we be with others in such a condition let us endeavour to beare it patiently as others have done Or if we be
when you thinke not of it will destruction and misery fall upon you to your amazement and terrour You likewise who are Ministers remember to put in minde your people committed to your charges of Gods great favour towards them in this their enjoyment of peace and doe you walk so before them in uprightnesse of heart adorning your profession with good workes and as it becomes Ministers seeking Reformation take heed you give no cause to your enemies to say you carry your selves unbeseeming your callings or cause you stand for let not this small time of tranquillity lull you asleep in security but alwayes stand upon your watch and be as ready to suffer as to live in the time of Gods patience and long-suffering arme your selves for fiery trialls as yet God hath not so purified his Church as he intends to do Oh therefore prepare to suffer and doe the worke of the Lord with diligence that how ever iniquity may abound and the love of many waxe cold yet you may be zealous for Gods glory and carefull to save those soules to you committed and likewise by your examples may strengthen others to undergoe with you all manner of afflictions of what kinde or quality soever they be of take heed that security possesse not you for if the watchmen fall asleep the city is in danger of the enemies surprisall be therefore alwayes awake for unto you is committed the charge neglect not but give warning blow the trumpet betimes that all may put on their armour and be ready for an assault if you give warning your duties are discharged but if you neglect the bloud of all that is lost shall be required at your hands I know the Devill goes about busily as Mercury did with Argus by his alâ—uring pleasures and delightfull sounds to bring all your eyes asleep but let him not have his desire but endeavour to keep your eyes open and to this end disdaine not to let this my Scout give you warning and let me likewise entreat you that if any of you shall seeme forgetfull of what I put you in minde of to doe the same to me that I have done to you all in generall and your wholesome admonitions shall ingage me to bee thankfull Lastly let me exhort all sorts of people in these parts and all over the Kingdome to consider seriously what God hath done for them and let them not think of say as the most part of common people doe that if this War were at an end there were no danger of any other trouble and upon that grow secure and Carelesse how they live but let them know that as God formerly sent his spirit of disunity into the Kingdome for the sin of the Kingdome so if the same or like sins remaine he will againe send the like or some other as fearfull But if they would enjoy this peace let them learne to prize it as they ought Propter praesentem aliquaÌ„ conditionem prosperam non obliviscamur prÄ™teritae miseriae sed subinde ad eam oculos reflectamus Eâ— enim re fit ut melius sentiamus beneficii gratiae magnitudinem et ex sensu illo Deum magis glorificemus in eoque gloriemur Fit etiam ut inspecta superiori miseria in rebus prosper is nos submisse geâ—amus neque altum sapiamus Vnde existit hÄ™c superbia c. Nimirum ex eo quod non recordentur prioris suae conditionis quare vel hac causa ut humilis simus jumin sublimi aliquo loco constitutis nunquam recedere ab oculis nostris debet pristina misera noâ—â—ra condition Rolloc in lohaâ— Pag. 576 577. by being truely thankfull unto God for it and to this end let them alwayes beare in minde former miseries and be not puft up with pride or presumption because of their present happy condition but let them behave themselves as if they still were under the red and that will worke in them not onely thankfulnesse for this their happinesse but likewise feare to provoke the Lord to bring any more such judgements upon them as formerly they have felt for according to the old Proverb A burnt child dreads the fire so a people that have been smitten should feare to be in the like condition againe Thus fearfull was the holy man of God Moses when the Reubenites and Gadites came unto him Num 32. to desire him co suffer them to build tents and strong holds on that side Jordan he was fearfull that they had desired that for an evill end and therefore he puts them in minde of provocations wherewith their fathers had formerly grieved God and of the judgements they suffered for their rebellions to the end that they might feare to doe the like least such miseries should come upon them and their brethren this was likewise the practise of Nehemiah as you may see in that place in the Margent Neh. 13.17 18. And this ought to be the practice of all them that either desire to please God or live free from Gods judgements Likewise let them remember how in the time of distresse when the Sword was among them and death looked in at their windowes when there was no going out nor comming in safety but they lived continually in danger then what would they not have done for peace would not many as they said willingly have parted with halfe their estates so that they might have enjoyed a freedome from the calamities they then suffered Now hath God done for them even abundantly above what they could aske or thinke in sending peace that they againe may sit under their vines and under their fig-trees Now let them take heede that they bewray not their Hipocrisie and make it appeare to all the World that they are no better then that * This Fellow being in danger of shipwrack promised St Christopher that if he might but come sâ—fe to land he would offâ—r to him a waxâ—n-candle of an incredible highnesse another hearing him told him he was never able to perform his promise Hold thy tongue foole said he I doe not speak as I thinke Ifâ—l but once get to land I le not give him so muchas a tallow candle Erâ—s Coll. nauâ—â—agium Zelander whom Erasmus tells of who in a distresse promised largely but with an intent to performe sparingly if he attained his desire But honour God by their estates which he hath suffered them still to enjoy in doing good to the poore members of Jesus Christ as in feeding the hungry cloathing the naked releiving the oppressed and if need be in offering willingly some part of their estates to further the Cause of Christ thus doing God will blesse them and all they have and increase his favours towards them but if they forget what God hath donne for them and in the time of this peace which God hath granted them to see how they will behave themselves towards him take an occasion to goe on in their former courses
watchfulnesse and endeavour to answer his expectation who lookes now to finde and have some fruit from you whom so carefully he hath not onely suffered to stand but even manur'd about If he finde none take heed what follows he hath more judgements then one and knowes how to make this part that now flourisheth an astonishment and by-word to all the earth But I doubt not but as God hath hitherto been mercifull unto us in sparing us so likewise he will open our eyes to behold our sinnes with repenting hearts for them and raise us up from security that still he may delight to dwell among us That he may be thus mercifull unto us shall be my daily prayer and to stirre men up thus to meet him shall be my constant endeavour leaving the successe to God W. M. From my Study in Skipsey February 16. 1645. To the Reader concerning the occasion of writing this Booke ONce did I thinke to have with-held my Pen From writing ought to be for publike view Because I see mens labours with disdaine Rejected are receiving not their due Yet must I write although not having hope Then other men to be rejected more But in meere love to all men to lie ope What danger still this Countrey hangeth o're It may be that my words will counted be As idle as some mens before me were And those perhaps that blinded doe not see Will for my love my harmlesse musings jeere But let them do 't if they but some men rowse I le blame them not although they stir not thosâ—â— I see ' cause God in mercy towards this part A while hath stay'd his hand remov'd the Sword And doth as yet the Pestilence divert Which now in many places flyes abroad And suffers us if we with them compare In many places for to live in peace To heare of onely not to feele the Warre Which totally upon the Land doth ceaze That we in stead of giving thankes to God For his removall of the Plagues away And for correcting us with easie rod When otheâ—s beare the burthen of the day Goe on in sinne grow carelesse and secure Forget the troubles which our neighbours ' dure In truth I see and cannot hold my tongue Oppressions mighty still on every side Those men the first in doing all men wrong In whom the power of righting doth reside Yea some there are who should our wrongs redresse Who heavie burthens daily on men throw And with injustide poore men doe oppresse And boldly doe worke mischiefe by a Law Under pretence of publike good the State Is rob'd by some to serve their private ends And open Foes our Cause doth not defeate So much as those who seeme to be our friends Which makes some feare that some among us are Who meane more falsly then they let appeare Nor they alone our Ministers who should Be as our guides and leaders even they To cleave to their old courses still are bold And so to Reformation stop the way Yea still they stand for Superstitious Rites And betwixt God and Antichrist doe halt And still cry up to blinde the peoples sight Those Orders that apparent are in fault Like the Ephesians they doe stand for still Their old Diana to increase their gaine The Altars and the Groves on every hill By Arguments they stiffly would maintaine And like that flattering * Amaziah Amos 7.10 Priest of Bethel make Betwixt the Prince and people great debate Nay some of those who would Reformers seeme And ' gainst men backward in the worke doe cry These either of themselves too highly deeme Or else continue still in vanity As covetous as ever they remaine As carelesse still for ought but their owne ends Striving those whom they hate for to defame Mens ruine wishing rather then amends Walking before men so disorderly That many take offences at their wayes Too much addict to singularity Gods glory seeking not so much as praise Too busie factious rending Churches peace Denying that to which themselves they prease What honest heart doth now not grieve to heare The strange confusions that are us among What base impostors still there doth appeare The Countrey truth and Gospell still to wrong How few there are now zealous for Gods Cause But still Lukewarme and carelesse how things goe How many are there who are great in showes Who meerly for themselves their paines bestow Who for the publike Cause doth purely sight But have their actions mixt with private ends Or who doth stand so for his Countreys right As to oppose those who its freedome rends All looke for gaine all doe themselves respect Gods glory and the Publike they neglect Nay and not onely so but men doe strive To vex us more new mischiefes they invent Themselves of Gods good favour they deprive And move him daily unto punishment Where is our mourning where 's humility What sins are yet repented of or left Who sees not pride oppression bribery With covetousnesse adultery and theft With prophanation of the Sabbath Day And still contemning of Gods Ordinance Seeking how one another may betray Their covetous desires to advance In every place sin still a bounds yet none Smites on his thigh or cryes what have I done Where are our dayes of Fasting when doe we One day among so many separate To seeke our God by true humility His plagues to turne away from Church and State When have we one Thankesgiving for this favour Of peace and plenty which we now enjoy Even in this time when as the Armies savour On every side our brethren do annoy We lie secure we nought respect this love Nor once acknowledge that it is from God We still within our wonted courses move Nor feares nor dreames of any future rod. We nought respect our brethrens miseries Nor pity take on their calamities For all our sins we still our selves perswade To live in peace without ' en danger more No threatning still doth make us once affraid Though we have found true what 's threatned heretofore Our confidence is in our Armies strong That they will from us keep all dangers cleare No plagues that may arise our selves among Or other dangers we no whit doe feare We thinke it is not possible that we In these our parts should suffer any way Because far from us now 's the Enemy Thus put we far from us the evill day And by our deep security doe dare The Lord againe to bring upon us War But doe we thinke thus to escape his wrath And live in sin without controll at all Thinke we it is not true the Scripture saith Which threatens wrath ' gainst men that thus doe fall Let us not thus deceive our selves our God Hath as much power still as he had before Thinke not fond people that he wants a rod To punish those who doe despise his power He still hath plagues in store though none we see His armory as yet not empty is Though now we doe enjoy tranquillity H'ath plagues to
I know not but me thinkes the Churches affaires among us go very slowly forward one maine cause of our former miseries was the want and negligence of Pastours many places whose stipends were sufficient to have maintained able Ministers have through the covetousnesse of men formerly in authority beene deprived of all teaching which hath occasioned great inconveniencies And still this is no whit amended for those in authority can be content to looke over these things vvithout reforming them nay even to take the in-comes of such places and yet never looke to provide any to teach the people a fearfull neglect for I dare say untill people be better instructed vve shall finde our desires longer in performing then vve expect and if this be the vvay to instruct the ignorant it is a nevv one vvhich none of the faithfull ever knevv of and I beleeve good Nehemiah vvould have scorn'd to have done it for his chiefest care vvas to provide teachers for the people Neh. 13.10 11. and maintenance for them and for that contended vvith the Rulers and vvhy should not the like be done by us vvho pretend Reformation Besides the sloathfulnesse of Pastours vvould be looked too that they be not idle and negligent as formerly they vvere this vvas Josiahs care 2 Chron. 35. to stirre up the Priests and Levitee to the worke and this ought to be the care of men in authority but as yet it hath been carelesly neglected vvhich makes so many Ministers as yet continue in their former sloathfulnesse So likevvise hovv many prophane or ill-affected Ministers are removed have vve not still drunkards câ—rders swearers and all manner of levvd livers and scandalous persons in the Ministry though they vvallovv in impiety and by their lives and conversations might shame even honest Heathen men though by them the people can learne nothing except all manner of sinne and vvickednesse though their doings are so evill that they vvere more fit to be cast out from hearing then be set in the place of Teachers yet even such as these are still in the Ministry uncast out nay unreproved Againe those that have had a great stroake in raising these Tumults vvho have beene great sticklers in unholding the Popish Army vvho have adventered estates and lives vvith the adverse party I meane Malignants and Papists against the Gospell of Jesus Christ and those vvho have stood for it these are not onely admitted to have their liberty among us but to enter our Pulpits againe to sovv sedition among the people vvithout restraint or rebuke And as in restraining of these so in neglect of Church Discipline and the keyes for the correction of manners we are as greatly to blame every mans will is his law which makes our Assemblies full of disorders and scandalizeth our profession not a little and truely now when we have this opportunity nay and have bound our selves in a Covenant to doe it and still neglect it I know not what to thinke but truly we may justly feare that such doings will bring upon us other miseries besides these which we have already undergone for how can we but thinke that now when according to our desires the Lord hath granted us opportunity to reforme what is amisse or displeasant to him and yet we doe it not that againe he will send upon us such woefull times that if we would we cannot I wish it may not be so but I assure you we may have cause to feare it * To this adde our breach of our Covenant which we have so solemnly taken almost I thinke I may say altogether in every point the fearefulnes of which may appear by these and the like places Isa 24.1 to the 13. 33 8 9. See the Addition to the faithfull Scout Moreover with these sins already named we may put in our prophanation of the Lords-Day as a sin which unrepented of will bring other of Gods judgements upon us it is the opinion of many good men in this Kingdome that the prophanation of that Day hath beene one of the chiefest causes of our miseries and indeed to prevent this I see our Nehemiahs hath taken care * In the Directory for publike Worship Neh. 13.17.18 Si unquam futurum sit ut haec Domini nostri in externo ministerio suo praesentia auferatur id accidat propier mundi istam ingratituaâ—uem Rol in Joh. p. 579 Isa 30.9 10 11 12 13 14. but that as yet hath taken small effect among us for we as much prophane it as ever even in times of greatest liberty by drinking playing revelling riding talking of earthly affaires and doing our owne pleasures upon it c. To these parts I le say no more then Nehemiah did to the inhabitants of Jerusalem What evill thing is this that you doe and prophane the Sabbath day did not you fathers thus and our God brought all this evill upon us and upon this part of the Countrey yet ye will bring more wrath upon us by prophaning the Sabbath And as the prophaning the Sabbath so the contemning of the Word preached will help to bring forward more wrath upon us we do not secretly whisper but even openly speake against the Ministers of the Gospell despising them that are sent of the Lord and the Word preached by them carelesly refusing to heare it as if it nought concerned us hence come our seldome Lectures dayes of humiliation or Thankesgivings our sloathfulnesse at Sermons and desires to have them over c. these do testifie we contemn Gods Word and our security and loathing to heare of any thing against our pleasures proclaime that we desire not the knowledge of the Lord or any thing that may bee good for us but rather that our teachers should sooth us up in our vilde courses and speake unto us smooth things and prophecie unto us deceits c. like those stubborne and rebellious Jewes whom Isaiah speakes of against whom for that sin very fearefull judgements are threatned and without doubt this now will provoke the Lord against us for there is scarcely any sin which doth so much displease him as to have his Word and Messengers despised as I could show by many examples of his wrath executed upon divers places for this sin but I have writ of this at large in another Treatise * Called Brittaines Hicrophanta Part. 4. Chap. 21. which I purpose God assisting me to send abroad when I have a fitting time to it therefore I refer you Neither are we free from Pride which alwayes cryes loud for vengeanee for pride alwayes goes not long before destruction and the efoâ—e what wee may expect let any judge Pro. 16.18 who still carry our selves as haughtily as ever especially in those places who as yet have not felt the rage of the enemy men and women of all sorts doe there behave themselves so prou lly towards their neighbours Isa 3.16 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 as if it were pleasant
pathes of his Commandements our breaking with him will cause him breake in pieces our greatest hopes and give us over to become a shame and reproach to them who would much rejoyce to behold it But that they may never see their desires let us use all good meanes to continue and increase the love and brotherly kindnesse already begun to this end let us begin to betake our selves to some setled course in Religion and be not alwayes like children carried about with every blast of vaine Doctrine Heb. 13.9 I know it is not onely lawfull but necessary to search as much as we are able for the truth but yet it were well that at length we could finde something whereupon we might pitch and not alwayes stand in a dubious way subject to be curried like a Feather with every winde in thus doing we declare our folly and makes it apparent that whereas we might for the time the Gospell hath been among us have been reachers Heb. 5.12 we stand need to be taught and gives not onely occasion to our enemies to speak evill of us but even causes many of our well-wishers not to know what to thinke of us or what to make of us would we once settle our selves in some way we should presently know who would take part with us and who would be against us so should we come to know our friends from our foes so should we give satisfaction to many whose eyes are now upon us so should we hinder Sects for increasing and errours from spreading which otherwayes will endanger to contaminate many whom it may come to be a difficult businesse to bring into a right temper againe so should giddy-headed persons be restrained whose delight it is to trouble the Church with needles idle and foolish though knotty questions in a word so would their plots and intentions be frustrated who secretly in these times of distraction gather fuell to encrease the flame of our dissentions and their hopes frustrated whose chiefest hate is against â—ll Government it is too much apparant that there among us who busily go about to raise not to quench divisions discentions because they fear to hear of Government as a thing contrary to their dispositions they being imployed in actions and walking in such courses as if they came to triall were unlawfull and shamefull Moreover if we were once setled this would give some satisfaction to our Brethren in Scotland who no doubt but heartily desire to see the Kingdomes as they are happily united under one King so to be as neere as conveniently they may of one Religion and grieve to behold the Churches in the Kingdomes so pitifully dilacerated by these increasing divisions when both they and we have sworne to do our endeavours to unite them I know the obstructions that have hindered for applying the remedy have causâ—â— the disease to be more desperate and therefore the more difficult to becured yet no doubt if wee would but use the meanes they used with as much celerity and so accurately as they did we should find as good successe as they found And were it any discredit for us to follow them as far as they followed the Word of God many say Why should the Scots be our Teachers why should we imitate them in their actions and order our Church according to theirs c. To these I answer why did not we who have alwayes been accounted a Learned Nation and have so long enjoyed peace and prosperity in a large manner begin the work that they might have followed us but suffer them a poore dejected and despised people to begin the worke and not only so but through our backwardnesse hollow-heartednesse and cowardlinesse be forced to stand neede of their help to aide us in it If there be any discredit it is in that but to follow them as far as they goe in a right way is no discredit except it be a shame to doe well We may remember that it hath been to our cost that we have been so backward in the work they led the way but it was in our Borders they managed the Field but it was our losse that got the victory they call'd for the Reckoning but we paid the shot shall we blame them or despise them for this Nay let us blame our selves and our owne sins which provoked God thus to debase us and moved him to make use of them to begin and goe forward with his work who were lightly esteemed of in the world and accounted no better then a base and barbarous people before this is not unusuall with the Lord to imploy the weake things of the world 1 Cor. 1.27 to confound the things that are mighty to cast down the proud and exalt the humble We are a proud and haughty Nation and therefore God hath set them above us whom we despised and given them the honour and made us bear the burthen yea even caused us to sustaine them in the worke and to pay them the charges they were at in bringing it forward yea now God hath made them the head and we the taile they have the honour of this great worke and we must now follow them if we as they have done attaine to peace Nay and if we murmure at this and grow proud and scorne yet to be tractable or forward to goe on with the work of Reformation c. we may justly feare that for our sins God will more humble us and exalt them and cause them still more to gain by our losses untill they be as wealthy and famous as we have been and we as despised as they were It is not the way to gaine peace to murmure at Gods dealings with us or to despise those whom formerly wee have stood need of let us submit our selves to God we may see by Gods dealings with us that he as yet is displeased with us we are not yet sufficiently humbled for other sins more especially for this backwardnesse to Reformation for we some of us account it as a good and holy act to stand as men yet having their Religion to chuse we are yet lukewarme and carelesse and therefore may justly feare God hath yet a scourge in store to drive us forward against our wills Let us therefore be more zealous in this good work then we have been let nothing grieve us so much as our backwardnesse in it as yet there is no cause to feare their disloyalty whom many I hope needlesly suspect in some things they have showne themselves more carefull of our Nations honour then many of its owne Inhabitants and untill we see their generall actions contradict their former vowes let us not feare to account of them and call them Brethren If they prove otherwise then wee at first tooke them for let us blame our owne backwardnesse in not endeavouring to perfect that which by their assistance is brought into good forwardnesse Errata PAg. 13. line 6. for rejected read respected pag. 15. line 9. for the read that pag. 23. line 17. for created read createth Pag. 24. line 32. for invincible read invisible Pag. 25. line 4. for free shot read shot free Pag. 40. line 15. for unholding read upholding Pag. 41. line 9. for hath reade have Pag. 43. line 8. for hath read have Pag. 43.27 for feaâ—full read secret Pag 51. line 3. for ever read even Pag. 52. line 35. for wound read wounded Pag. 53. line 25. for call read care Pag. 55. line 34. for would be read are Pag. 55. line 35. with rich men read rich men Pag. 58. line 13. for freely read briefly Pag. 58. line 36. for root read rush Pag. 35. line 4 for we that read that we Pag. 84. line 9. for is unknowne read is not unknowne Pag. 104. line 13. for seeme read see me Pag. 105. line 25. for safety read safely In the Margent Page 45. for Tropeis aposniasma read Tropes aposciasma Pag. 53. for torrent read terrent Pag. 53. for notesque read noctesque Pag. 55. for budizousi read buthizousi Pag. 56. for deficile read difficile Pag. ibid. for miserente read miseâ—ante Pag. 59. for ecphugousin read ecphugosin Pag. 63. for accumelamus read accumulemus Pag. 80. for oporteat read oporter Pag. 83. fâ—r excitat read excitet Pag. 91. for paroimois read paroicois ibid. foâ— paroimia read paroicia Pag. 95. for persequeretur read persequerentur The Heads of the severall Chapters of this Booke COncerning the occasion of writing this Booke Fol. 13 CHAP. I. That God hath variety of Judgements to punish sinfull and rebellious people withall Fol. 20 CHAP. II. Shewing why and when the Lord uses variety of Judgements Fol. 27 CHAP. III. Seeing the Lord hath many sorts of Judgements men ought to examine their Estates how they stand before God whether they may expect peace or dangers A discovery of many sins in these parts found out by a slender examination Fol. 43 CHAP. IIII. We cannot expect any Peace or Tranquillity or to be free from Gods Judgements or plagues as long as we continue in our sins Objections answered many secret plagues discovered Fol. 43 CHAP. V. We may no onely feare that God hath Judgements in store for us but that wrath in some sort shall shortly be powred down upon us Fol. 57 CHAP. VI. The folly of those who think to escape Gods judgements by departing for the present to any other place or that thinke they shall not at all suffer because they have escaped some dangers Fol. 63 CHAP. VII A particular warning to those places who as yet have not felt the punishment of Warre or because of their supposed strength feare it not seeing God may and can punish them either by it or by other plagues Fol. 69 CHAP. VIII Because God hath variety of Judgements it behoves all men to prepare at all times to suffer Fol. 77 CHAP. IX How to prepare against particular afflictions as War Pestilence c. and to undergoe them patiently Fol. 82 CHAP. X. The Conclusion of the Booke with a short Exhortation to all sorts of men Fol. 98 An Addition to the Faithfull Scout Fol. 107 FINIS