compell the honorable Houses of Parliament to passe what they pleased shall reproach them revile them shall thereaten their lives shall enter the House and order what the Speaker must propound to the question what the Glerke must write and after eight houres keeping them prisoners and using them at their pleasure when night was comming on the Members hardly to escape with their lives such an indignitie it was that I am perswaded if rightly understood many hundred thousands in this Kingdome of England would not count their dearest blood too great a price to vindicate or expiate and as if this were not enough against the next Friday Printed Bills set up to call all the company together againe and hereby the Speakers and many of the Noble Lords and Gentlemen compelled to flie so that they could not with safetie of their lives attend the publique serieve this you know was the Originall Secondly Consider the persons that were ingaged in preparation for a new warre First the Honorable Houses tooke both conscience and honour engaged to have this vindicated and their safety provided for The Generall and Officers of the Army hearing of the violence that was offered to the Parliament resolved to enable the Parliament to call it to an accompt or they would perish in it and thereupon the Army that was scattered almost 200. Miles within the space of one weeke was brought together to a Randezvouz which was within a few houres march of the Citie of London The Citie of London not to patronize or protect the insolencie offered against the Parliament for multitudes of them professe and protest an abhorrencie of it but apprehending that the Army would come and either plunder them or give Lawes to them are presently upon their preparation for defence the Army on the other side looking upon the Cities preparation judge that the Citie was resolved to protect this Insolency and Villany that was committed thus both make all possible preparations Thirdly take in the propinquitie of it how neere this was to execution so neere that I am perswaded most men that looked upon it did as to the judgement of man conclude it unavoydable wee must now dash one upon another so neere that the very night before the day wherein we might have been embrewitg our hands in one anothers blood there appeared no probability of right understanding between the two differing parties so neer that I thinke there was never any destructive worke so neere the execution unlesse it were the Gun-pouder plot And lo now in this nicke of time the Lord appeares in the Mount the cloud breakes the Citie will trust the Army they will open their works their gates to them the Army will trust the Citie they will march in peace quite thorough it from end to end no word or act of hostilitie betweene them both The Speakers and the Honorable Lords and Gentlemen who were driven away returne backe the Parliament fits in peace and safety and all this preparation for war and destruction ends in a calme all this hath God done but this will yet appeare more wonderfull if you take in the fourth consideration and that is The Consequents of it First What would have beene and must have been if God had not appeared And Secondly The Consequents that are and I hope shall bee upon this his mercifull appearing for us The Consequents that would have beene my tongue cannot expresse my heart cannot conceive how sad our condition would have beene if the Lord had suffered this neare engagement to have been brought to execution if he had permitted this child of blood to have been borne certainly either the Parliament that hath so dilligently and constantly consulted the good of the Kingdome Citie and Army must have been destroyed or the Army that hath fought so faithfully resolutely and successefully for Parliament for Kingdome and Citie must have been destroyed or the Citie which in the worst of our times hath so cordially with their state and blood adhered to Parliament and Army must have been destroyed and in the destruction of any one of these I am able to apprehend nothing but the ruine and destruction of them all wee should have seene a sad Catastrophy an end of all the expected hopes even the giving up the ghost of what wee have fought and contended for hitherto wee had seene the Embryo of Reformation strangled and made an end of we had seene all delivered up into the hands of that partie that was full with the expectation of such a day and now doubted not but all must be in their hands who hoped soone to give Lawes both to Parliament and Army Citie and Ministers to all godly people by what names or titles soever they bee called each should bee carved out what they would have alotted unto them In a word actum esset there had been an end of England for any good dayes that we should have hoped for but the Lord appearing hath prevented this and given us hopes of better things for already wee have that wch Phinehas took as a blessed fruit of his Embassage here in my Text We perceive this day that God is with us This day have we a further pledge that God is not wearie of the Parliament of England not weary of the Citie of London not weary of the Army but his interposing thus seasonably to take weapons out of their hands shews us new evidence of his watchfull eye of his carefull heart to doe good to us all gives us a further proof that he hath waies of deliverance when wee have none and is not that a blessed consequence and this likewise we see already that the Parliament not only sits in peace and safety but hath an opportunity put into their hands to send some timely succors to Ireland that our Brethren there may have cause to blesse God with us and for us and to settle and make a comfortable close of the long calamities of England and the King and Parliament City and Army come to a better understanding each of other there may be such consequences and fruit of it if God please to blesse and guide the Parliament to improve it that the generations to come shall have great cause to praise God for appearing upon that day when he kept his people from imbruing in one anothers blood Now Honourable and Beloved is not this a mercy worthy of acknowledgments have we not cause to say this day Loe This is our God and we have waited for him and he will save us this is our God we will be glad and rejoyce in his salvation hath not the Lord done very mercifully when as beyond our expectation hee hath put this song of Praise into our mouths whereas this day we might have all been flying into caves or deserts or seeing our dearest friends blood pouring out and our selves given up for a spoil O if you understand these things aright give
they request them that if they thought their land was unclean because they had not among them those pledges of Gods presence the Arke and Testimony which their brethren had that they would leave that Countrey where they should be exposed to such temptations and with all their hearts they would part with a portion of their owne inheritance that they might live together as brethren To this the Tribes and halfe make answer First they doe solemnely call God to witnesse that they were farre from being guilty of that which was laid to their charge it never came into their thoughts to build an Altar to offer Sacrifice they pleaded not guiltie Secondly they tell them the true reason of that fact of theirs namely they were afraid lest the Generations to come might occasion their posteritie to fall off from the true worship of God when the rest of the Tribes should tell them that Jordan was the bounds of Gods peoples inheritance and so they bee cast off as people that were not within the Communion of Saints hereupon they resolved to build this Altar that it might be a pledge and that the generations to come might plead it that this was set up at the time when the warres ended to remaine as an evidence that they and their brethren were all one both in Nation and Religion Which as soon as the Commissioners heard they rejoyced they concluded God was amongst them and they returne home and acquaint their brethren with it who when they heard it were all well pleased The thing pleased the children of Israel and they blessed God and resolved they would have no warre with their brethren Here is the Summe of the Story and in this story there are very many excellent things for our instruction This Altar built on the bankes of Jordan is much debated of in the dispute of humane significant ceremonies in the worship of God or for religious use Whether such ceremonies may be justified by this example is very disputable but without any dispute here are many notable examples of Piety it was a great example of Piety in the two Tribes and halfe that they were so desirous to provide that their posteritie might not bee deprived of the Communion of Gods people in his Ordinances And a great example of Piety there is in this that they were so ready by not onely Protestations but Oathes to cleare themselves from any thought of corrupting the worship of God Wee have also a great example of Piety in the other Tribes that in such a cause as the case of Apostasie from Gods truth they would not have spared the lives of their owne brethren And a great example of Piety was in them that they were so desirous by all Arguments to take them off from any such sinfull way yea to have parted with their owne inheritance to them rather then they should bee exposed to temptations to Apostasie Here are notable examples likewise of justice amongst them justice in the Tribes that before they would beleeve any informations or apprehensions of their brethren they would send Commissioners to know the bottome of it to see whether the things were so and justice in the Commissioners that they did so faithfully relate backe to the Tribes the true state of the case and so to hinder as much as in them lay the effusion of blood Here are likewise some examples of humane frailtie that are not to bee excused it 's not to bee excused in the two Tribes and halfe that they would goe upon such a dangerous businesse which is disputable to this very day whether such a thing was lawfull to bee done to set up such a way of instruction or remembrance that they would goe about such a thing which might prove a stumbling block and not first acquaint their brethren with their intentions And as great or greater weakenesse was that in the nine Tribes and halfe that they would almost resolve upon a warre and make preparations for it upon a rash and wrong interpretation before they did so much as know whether there were cause or no But the greatest document of all the rest in the whole story is that which they made the ground of their warre which you 'le finde about the 23. Verse That if their brethren had played the Apostates from God in matters of his worship the wrath of God would presently fall upon the whole Nation unlesse they had joyned together to vindicate the glory of God All these severall other Lessons are worth the handling but I resolve to make a short Sermon and therefore wave them all and confine my selfe to that which is the result and event of the Treatie which was a solemne Thanksgiving to God They blessed God and they resolved not to go to warre against their brethren the words are cleare and I think need no interpretation they blessed God that their brethren had not committed the sinne that they were afraid they had done and that therefore the wrath of God was not like to bee kindled against them and as the close of both these that God had mercifully prevented that which they feared that they should have beene compelled to embrew their hands in one anothers blood they blessed God that there was no cause of fighting And from this I shall by the Lords assistance handle this and this onely lesson That it is a Mercy worthy of abundance of praises to God when God doth seasonably appear to prevent his peoples ingaging in one anothers blood when they are neare to doe it This lesson lyeth cleare in the words 1 In the 31. Vers as soon as Phinehas had heard their Apology hee tells them This day wee perceive the Lord is among us now you have delivered the Children of Israel out of the hand of the Lord And all this Congregation here in my Text blesse God and intend not to fight they rejoyced because the ground of a warre was prevented and for further proofe of it looke into a few plaine Texts of Scripture you shall finde one in the 1. of Samuel 26. about the 32. Vers It is an example of David who upon an unworthy usage of a Gentleman in the Countrey a great man one Nabal that had extreamely provoked him and abused him had sworne that hee would cut off his Family and not leave a man of them and in his heate was going to avenge himselfe but as hee was in the middest of his march Abigail Nabals wife meets him tells him the story infinuates into him by her excellent Counsell endevours to stop his hand from his enterprize now marke how David rejoyceth in it though the warre would have beene but against one Family where hee was to meete with no resistance Blessed be thou of the Lord and blessed be God that sent thee to mee and blessed bee thy Counsell that hath with-held my hand from shedding blood hee looked upon it as a wonderfull mercy that when hee was ready to engage
and is it not a mercy when God will prevent this But secondly Looke upon civill wars and you will judge them a greater judgement when brethrens Swords come to bee drawne against their brethren when a mans deadly enemies must prove those that were his old companions when Cities are divided among themselves and Countries among themselves and all the miseries of Warre come to bee inflicted by them that have beene acquaintance and deare to us when safety and shelter may as soon be expected among enemies as old friends let all men that have understanding say whether this doth not double or treble the miseries of warre had it been an enemy that had done mee this displeasure I could have borne it but tu Brute thou my friend and companion that these things should come from thy hand all men know how deepe this sinkes this teares the heart of man in peeces Solomon saith that a brother offended is harder to bee wonne then a strong City and they are like the barres of a strong Castle it 's hard breaking of them but when once they are divided they are more hardly joyned as wee say of a strong Cord made up of a great many threds it is hard to bee broken but when it is broken you 'le hard ever sew it againe to make it strong by how many arguments any did perswade their hearts that they should not receive plunder or spoile or mischiefe from such a man or family from so many arguments ariseth a difficulty if not impossibility to be reconciled and hence arise lasting grounds of animositie enmitie and hatred scarce ever to bee worne out when upon every meeting this thought is suggested This is the man who as an enemy entred my habitation and spoyled my wealth it may bee murdered my children or parents ravished my wife or daughter adde further that frequently in these civill broyles the victory ends not the occasion or ground of the quarrell nor takes away but increaseth the former misery the conqueror commonly proving insolent inhumane cruell and more grievous to the Common-wealth then the thing or persons were against whom men have fought that I may boldly set downe for a certaine the conclusion of a wise man that civill warres are not onely a Malady but a fiery sicknesse even a Frenzie to a State and how ever God sometimes brings good out of them as sometimes men have better health after a deadly sicknesse yet for the most part States are never made better but very often ruin'd by them and when once the seed of it hath tooke deep root in a Land if God from heaven doe not miraculously appeare that fire burnes till all is consumed And is it not then a mercy from God seasonably to prevent brethren when they are falling into civill warres thereby to devoure and destroy one another But thirdly which is nearest to my Text and indeed nearest to the occasion of our meeting The greatest misery of all miseries in the world is When Brethren of the same Religion when Gods people and servants come to bee so farre prejudiced against one another or mistaken that they come to imbrew their hands in one anothers blood this I say is the heaviest judgement that ever God powres upon his Church and people There is nothing so contrary to Christianitie the Lord Jesus Christ is the Prince of peace his holy Spirit is a Spirit of peace his children are all called the children of peace and by their Covenant and duty bound to live in peace if it bee possible they must live in peace with all men but among one another they must keepe the unity of this Spirit in the bond of peace there must nothing hurt or destroy in the Lords holy mountaine wch is his Church now when these that are one body have one spirit have one Father one Lord one hope one Baptisme one hope of their calling one everlasting inheritance prepared for them that these should so farre deny their Christianitie as to imbrew their hands in one anothers blood and not bee content to let one another live and breath on earth with whom yet they hope to live eternally and triumphantly in heaven O quâ—a dementia Quisialia fando temperet à lacrymis who is able to thinke of it without horrour what upon earth brings forth so cursed fruits as warre amongst the people of God Infinite dishonour to Gods name when his redeemed covenant servants walke so contrary to his rule Religion becomes a stumbling blocke a thing even therefore abominated by the enemies of it when the professors of it shall bee looked upon as factious seditious turbulent bloody hatefull and hating one another it overthrowes all power of godlinesse in their owne hearts when once the grace of Love which nourishes all good in the hearts of Gods people is overthrowne and the Spirit of God thus quenched in them grace decayes and the wofull fruites of Satan and sinne prevaile over them and now they grow corrupt in their mindes and conversation loose from their God bitter against their brethren companions with wicked men with whom they joyne against their brethren and so leave their Religion profession and name as a curse behind them Now to have all these prevented not onely warre and civill warre prevented but brethren in Religion who are the Lords people hindred from destroying one another when God seasonably apppeares to prevent all this Is it not a mercy worthy the acknowledgment To all this I might adde the excellency of the blessing of peace which is hereby preserved that blessing which is the Jewell of the world yea the unitie peace and love of the Church and people of God preserved by such a seasonable prevention which is such a mercy as no tongue or pen is able to expresse Behold how good and pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity This is like Aarons garment this is like the dew upon the mountaines of Sion which makes every seed and every plant of Gods planting to prosper where this is the Lord commands his blessing even life for evermore A large Volume would not contain what might be said of this precious Jewell which is hereby preserved But all this further cleares it that it is a mercy worth abundance of praise when God seasonably appeares to prevent his peoples engaging in Warre one against another I come now to the Application of it and there are but three Uses that I shall make of this Lesson First This Lesson doth speak very sadly against severall sorts of People If it be so great a Mercy when God will prevent his peoples destroying one of another then certain it is a great curse for any to bee guilty of making Gods people destroy one another that is clear Therefore al such are guilty as are the Moral causes of the destruction of Gods people in blood and war I mean who live in such sinnes as
glory to God who hath vouchsafed this Mercy to us Since the Lord hath appeared thus mercifully given us such a pledge as he hath done let us all endeavour to improve this mercy What shall I render to the Lord is the constant question of a thankfull heart so is this also How shall I use this mercy aright We must study therfore how to improve this great deliverance For our help herein I humbly commend two Directions one in generall which concerns all of us the other more particular which properly concerns you the Honourable Lords and Gentlemen of the two Houses of Parliament For all of us Besides all those Uses which should be made of every deliverance which are to teach us to turn to God to beleeve in him to trust him for time to come to tell abroad his wonderfull works which he hath done Besides all these methinks this mercy doth hint to all Gods people that God is very willing they should study to bee reconciled one to another for truly Brethren if we had gone to War now whatever might have been the pretended cause the reall truth had bin Gods people had gone to destroy one another They that have fought together against their common Enemies who have pray'd together mourn'd together lov'd one another liv'd as brethren contributed borne burthens done all with one heart and one spirit now under the pretence of I know not what must have sheathed their swords in one anothers bowells And when they were so neare it and their Father would not permit them Is it not a voice from heaven Children you must be reconciled Doth it not speak to them as Moses to the two Israelites Sirs you are brethren doe not fall out one with another Do not wrong one another Had God for our sins left us under this judgement to help to destroy each other and then the remainder of us given up into the hands of other adversaries they would have taught us to be at peace one with another wee should have agreed in prisons or in banishment or in the shadow of death O that the Lord would fix it upon the hearts of all that feare him to make this collection from this great Mercy that the people of God must study to be reconciled and united together and to bear one with another every one to indeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace More especially my Lords and Gentlemen this dealing of God toward you seems to call for some notable duties at your hands Let me freely speak a few things unto you 1 That God hath oftentimes cast reproach upon you and humbled you heretofore but in this last abasement the Lord hath set such a stigma such a mark of scorne suffering you to bee spit in the face after that manner suffering the young to beare themselves insolently against the Ancient and the base against the Honorable that I cannot but say there was some high displeasure of God either to your persons or to the Kingdome whom you represent or both I doe therefore most humbly pray you that you would search your own hearts and enquire whether there be not some cause why our gracious God did thus abase you certainly a Father uses not to spit in the face of his Childe if there bee not some speciall cause for it And I cannot think that the Lord would ever have let such an ignominious act that carryes so much abomination in the face of it to bee offer'd to a Parliament if he would not thereby put them to search for somewhat for which they ought to lay themselves low in secret before him When Shimei did curse and revile David David presently reflected upon himself So-let him curse since God bids him curse David hee presently remembred how hee had dishonored God in the matter of Uriah and therefore looked at this reproach as righteously inflicted by the hand of God how culpable-soever Shimei was in it I commend it to your serious thoughts whether as men or Parliament-men or whether as Houses of Parliament the honour and glory of God have not been slighted by you and therefore the Lord hath suffered this slight and scorn to bee cast upon you enquire whether there bee not as much cause why the God of heaven let this reproach bee cast upon you as you have to appoint a Committee to enquire who they were that have done it I blame not your care in that but I humbly pray that you would be carefull of this As I would fain have you learn somewhat from the disgrace which God cast upon you So Principally I desire you to improve the deliverance that now God hath afforded he hath now vouchsafed in his mercy to bring you to sit in Parliament in safety that you may consult the welfare of this Kingdome my most humble suit unto your Lordships and you Noble Gentlemen is consider more seriously then ever heretofore what a task lies upon you you have a very sick Patient of the Kingdome of England to cure it is almost ready to give up the ghost at your doore and in your hand now for the Lords sake if ever any of you have before-time thought of any private interest of your own lay it a side and now attend wholly to the publick now God hath given you one opportunity more try whether possibly you can save the Kingdome or no and in your endeavours I commend onely these two Heads to your serious consideration First Know for certain you can never save this Land without God If the Lord will not work with you you can work nothing Except the Lord build the House they labour but in vaine who build it But if you will work for Gods interest the Lord will work with you and carry on your own interests so far as yours is good Now the Lords interest in the Kingdome is Religion his Worship his Truth his Saints his People let them have the deepest part of your care you will but set up a wall without morter Arena sine calse Sand without lime if you do not take God along with you preserve Gods Truth in the first place buy not Peace with the selling of the Truth of God 2 Look to Gods Worship let that be set up and preserved in purity and take all rubbish and filth from it 3 Let the Ministers be encouraged with countenance maintenance provide that every Flock may have a Shepheard and that they may be helped forward look to Universities those Schools of the Prophets out of which may be sent laborers into the Lords vineyard you have begun many good things in this kind but you have bin hindred by many intervening accidents and the work still hangs the Reformation still sticks in the birth now make it your great work be faithful in building Gods house God wil build your house but if you shall be slight in it know for certain you shal never be able
to settle the Kingdom in Civill peace and Libertie when Jehu cut God short in matter of Reformation God cut the Civill State short in matter of authoritie libertie and wealth and gave them up to be like the Summers threshing 4. As you should regard his truth worship Ministry so you must love countenance and incourage his people let your eyes bee upon the godly in the land consider their sad condition at this time they are not onely hated by wicked men but extremely divided among themselves bee you pleased to reach forth a healing hand try whether God will honour you so far as to helpe to reconcile the divisions that are between Gods people that those things that rund and divide their hearts and affections one from another may be taken away make it your care and God will administer not onely occasions but will help you to do it Begin it first in your houses set an example to others to follow you Oh that God would perswade you to beleeve that God hath shewed you the mercy of this day for this very end that you are as Joshua the High Priest Zach. 3. 2. so many brands shatcht out of the fire that you might keepe his charge and build his house I am sure Gods portion in the land hath been your safety hitherto and if you be faithfull in this work it will bee your security for time to come Religion is Gods glory it will bee your glory and the Lands glory yea the Lands security The Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Sion and upon her assemblyes a cloud and smoak by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall bee a defence let this then bee your first and greatest care to look to Gods interest in the Kingdome 2 For setling the Kingdom in matters of civill liberty and Peace that you would remember it is unity of hearts and not power of Arms that must settle England and had you an Army ten times as good and great as it is unlesse you carry your affaires so as to satisfie the hearts of honest men of men that will be satisfied with Reason though you may carry things on while your force compels men yet things so set up will not long continue the kingdom will be divided and you divided with them and we shal be in danger to be ruined all together therfore I beseech you let the interest of men who will bee satisfied with honesty truth justice c. be consider'd in their due place carry things so that no moderate men may wish they had power in their hands to dissolve or cut in pieces that peace and establishment which you shall make yea I could wish that even such as are lyable to just exceptions might be gratified with favors so far as there is hope that they may be won Desperatio fasit audaces ac fortes he was a wise Statesman who said Saevitia victoris sape facit magnas seditiones ex parvis Severity of Conquerors oftentimes makes great seditions to arise out of small ones But these things I onely mention you are wise and know what is best in things of this nature This I am sure of stand you for God and he will guide and honor you study to settle Truth Peace and Unity in the Kingdom and that God who hath now given you such a deliverance beyond your expectation doth well know how to repair your Honor to take away your reproach out of the land in one day to make you the most honorable and renowned Parliament that ever was and can make all these things that have been your discouragements and abasements to prove so many scales or degrees to raise you higher in the thoughts of God and man Consider what I say and the Lord give you understanding in all things FINIS Introduction Shewing the suitablenesse of the Text to the occasion The sum of this Chapter from verse â—0 to the end A discord between the two Tribes and half and the other Tribes Wherein two things 1 The originall of this quarrel 2 The making up of this breach or quarrell Some generall observations our of this story Doct. It 's a great mercy when God seasonably appeares to prevent his peoples ingaging in war one against another 1 Sam. 26. 32. 2 Sam. 20. Esay 9. 19 20. 21. Ier. 13. 14. Prov. 6. 19. Matth. 5. 9. This Doctrine further cleared by shewing three things 1 2 3 1 Warre is a sore judgement 2 Civill warre a greater judgement Prov. 18 9. 3 Warre of Gods people one against another the greatest of all judgements Rom. 12. 18. Ephes. 4. 3. Esay 11. 9. Psal. 133. per torum Application 1 For Reproof of three sorts 1. Of such as live in such sins as bring down judgements 2. Of such as are Physicall causes who endevor to engage Gods people in War one against another Gen. 49. 56. 3 Nor are they to be excused who praise not God for the mercy of this day Iudg. 21. 3. Vse 2. To provoke to blesse God for the mercy of this day 1. 2. The greatnesse of this deliverance appeares by considering foure things 3 4 1 The sad occasion of it 2 The persons ingaged in the preparation of a new war 2 3 3 The nearenesse of our danger 4. The consequents of it 1. 2. 1. Vse 3. 3 Exhort to improve this deliverance to right ends 1 To all who fear God to study peace and reconciliation since our Father is so unwilling we should fight 1 More especially it concerns the Parliament to imprâ—ve it 1 To search why God thus abased them Esay 35. 2 To attend their great worke now he hath thus restored them In making Religion their greatest care 2 King 10. 30. Zach. 3. 2. Esay 4. 5.