c. God cals to this office sometimes men of greater birth and estates as this Isaiah sonne of Amoz sometimes poorer as Amos a poore Neat-heard of Tekoah Amos 1. 1. which two names a Robustus fortis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Onustus durus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hie◠in Isa 1. differ much both in the Hebrew writing and signification Isaiah prophesied above sixty yeers to a stubborne people of the Jewes that profited little so did Hosea to Israel above seventy yeers yet would not leave off his Ministry to leave off ones Ministry because he cannot see it doe that good which he wisheth saith old Latimer is a naughty a very naughty deed After all his toile and paines he was sawne asunder by his neere Kinsman let us learne to be content though ill rewarded by men seeing this Evangelicall and noble Prophet was so used after so long and great paines for their soules good The summe of the Prophesie is a discovery of the abominations of the Jewes and of Gods judgements against the impenitent for those finnes together with a promise to the Elect and prophesie of the Lord Jesus Christ his birth life death resurrection ascension and intercession In this chapter the Lord holds out Christ full of beauty and bounty goodnesse and pitty ver 1. 10. exhorteth the Jewes to prize and praise him ver 10. 13. but foreseeing their contempt and rejecting of such an invaluable mercy he denounceth heavy judgements against them ver 13. to the end whereof my Text is part In which consider first the punisher the Lord secondly the punishment battell war with the fruits of it robbing firing spoyling c. And thirdly the punished not Heathens but the Members of Gods visible Church Jacob Israel fourthly the meritorious cause of this punishment sinne and disobedience neglecting Gods wayes fifthly the Peoples incorrigiblenesse and unprofitablenesse under all this they consider not nor lay it to heart I will graspe as much together as I can and collect some observations as suitable to the Text occasion and time as with conveniency I may And first this Observ 1. That warre with the fruits thereof robbing firing spoyling are very sad and heavy calamities yet such as may befall a Nation professing the true Religion Observ 2. That when such warres befall such a Nation it 's God that sends them and gives up a people to them Who gave Israel to the robbers did not the Lord Observ 3. When ever God sends such warres and calamities on such a Nation their sinnes and iniquities were the procuring and meritorious cause Observ 4. That when a people have such judgements poured upon them by God and yet doe not consider rightly thereof and lay it to heart it much provokes and angers God For the first that the strength of battell robbing firing and spoyling are sad calamities it needs no further proofe it 's too apparent already I may say of this as our Saviour Luke 4. 21. this day is this Scripture fulfilled in your eares yet that this point may prove more usefull to us let me a little cut it up and shew you the miseries of warre first by the precedents or occasions of it secondly the nature of it thirdly the consequents especially of a civill warre such as ours now is And first for the occasions of warre I will name some as it 's a sad thing when King a and people fall out and clash one with another till one weaken another and endanger the ruine of both thus Abimilech and the men of Sechem the Lord sent an evill spirit of dissention betwixt them Judg. 9. 22 23. after Abimilech had raigned a while ere long both parties took up armes so as no man could safely travaile on the high-way because of the Souldiers ver 25. the event of this warre was this first the people were ruined ver 44. the City destroyed and sowne with salt ver 45. the Tower a strong hold of Sechem burnt and a thousand men and women in it ver 49. and ere long the King was ruined and that dishonourably ver 53 54. a sad and heavy case to see a body tearing out its owne bowels to see a Kingdome like Judas or Achitophel making it selfe away when the Lord sends a spirit of perversities amongst a people Isa 19. 14. the Lord hath mingled a spirit of perversities c. Secondly it 's a sad thing when Courtiers and favourites of a King who much mind not any Religion yet come to Church and perhaps take a Protestation the better to please men and keep their places a while but as soon as they espie their time take advantage upon a King and labour to seduce draw his heart from God and his truth to idolatry and to raise up armes and make warre upon his Subjects and this hath been done see 2 Chron. 23. 16. in Jehojada's dayes the Courtiers and people entred into Covenant to be the Lords people and opposed idolatry ver 17. but assoon as Jehojada was dead 2 Chro. 24. 15. the flattering CGurtiers with their congies obeysance and cringes vowing they would serve King Joash for ever ver 17. and espying their advantage with the King wrought upon his nature and drew him away with them from the pure worship of God ver 18. but see what warres followed and what became of those Courtiers ver 23. Yea sometimes a Queen the wife of his bosome may draw a King away as Jezabel to Ahab that was an high addition to all his other sinnes that he took Jezabel to wife 1 King 16. 31. and there was none like him whom his wife Jezabel stirred up b 1 Kin. 21. 25 so Solomon's wives 1 King 11. 3 7 8. and rending his Kingdome followed upon it ver 11 13 14 c. so Ezra 9. 2. 14. thus the Sonne of godly Jehosaphat did evill because led away by a bad wife 2 Chron. 21. 6. we read 2 Chron. 22. 1. that the c So the people met to make Rehoboam King 1 King 12. 1. See Deut. 17. 14 15 c. people made Ahaziah King called Jehoahaz 2 Chron. 21. 17 and Azariah 2 Chron. 22. 6. but two things drew him away a bad mother and her bad kinred and Counsellours 2 Chron. 22. 3 4. if not a third 2 Kings 8. 27. and these cause warres and divisions Thirdly it 's a sad thing when some young flattering Courtiers be neer about the King that perswade him to stand upon his points and prerogative and not to condiscend to his Subjects petitions at all but either to rule by his own will an arbitrary government or else venture his Kingdom and all thus did Rehoboam's young Counsellours 1 King 12. Solomon was the wisest of meer mortals he had a thousand Wives and Concubines 1 King 11. 3. and yet had but one sonne and he foolish when his Subjects came humbly petitioning his Majestly Rehoboam takes the advice of Malignant young Counsellours who tell him would I have my neck
The three Kingdomes Case OR Their sad Calamities together with Their CAVSES and CVRE Laid down in a SERMON PREACHED AT A Publique Fast at Kingston upon Hull With some very remarkable Passages of Providence worthy of generall Observation By JOHN SHAWE M. A. sometimes of Christs Colledge in Cambridge and now Lecturer at Hull aforesaid JER 12. 10 11 12. They have made my pleasant portion a desolate wildernesse being desolate it mourneth unto me the whole land is made desolate because no man layeth it to heart the spoylers are come upon all high places through the wildernesse for the sword of the Lord shall devoure from one end of the land even to the other c. no flesh shall have peace Nullus ferè credit quod propter peccata nostra variis modus Deus animadvertat in homines hujus secule maior pars securè praeterit quaecunque profert Deus irae suae iudicia alii fortunae tribuunt quae videntur in orbe conversiones ac mutationes in summâ pauci sunt vel propemodum nulli qui manifesta dei iudicia expendant Aug. Plectimur à Deo nec flectimur tamen corripimur sed non corrigimur Salv. London Printed by T. B. for John Bartlet and are to be sold at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at the Signe of the gilt Cup under Saint Austins Gate 1646. To the Christian and wel-affected READER especially to my worthy and loving friends both the Inhabitants within the Town and Country of Kingston upon Hull and also the Parishoners of Bradfield in the West-riding of Yorkshire Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied Christian Readers and friends I Have looked with Elijah's servant more then seven times to see what would be the issue of these troubles 1 Kin. 18. 43. and I long since espied a great cloud bigger then his ver 44. yea like that ver 45 and trembled because of this matter and for the great 〈◊〉 Ez. 10. 9. my self have felt neither few nor small drops of these troubles as you know and truly stil if I did not see that the great and wise God had a speciall hand in carrying on and ordering al these wars and combustions I yet see so much malice private spleen even in those who return home and sit still such factions scisms and upon any occasion apostacies in a word so much of that many-headed Monster Selfe yet in the Kingdomes that I could hardly expect fair quiet sun-shine dayes of long but that the Lord raigneth and therefore may the earth rejoyce and this poor Island be glad thereof Psal 97. 1. I have in the ensuing lines opened and applied as I could what the word and sword my Text and times hold out unto you My Text tels of war plunderings spoilings which a In locum Hierom refers to the overthrow of Jerusalem after Christ by Titus because the Jewes rejected Christ the Son of God and salvation by him ostendens ferociam Romanorum saith he in populum Judaeorum qui idcirco punitus est quia Dei filium non recepit Piscator refers to the troubles of the Jewes by Zenacherib and the Assyrians Calvin to the plague famine wars and all such miseries laid on them by the Lord at severall times others to Nebuchadnezzars desolating wars and the Jewes seventy yeers captivity Musculus to the war and misery which Israel endured by the Philistines Idumaeans Amorites Moabites Syrians Assyrians c. notwithstanding all which troubles Israel could not be perswaded that sin was the cause but either chance or because they wanted their number of men and were not strong enough but the Prophet prophesieth sin to be the true cause and confesseth that he living among them had contracted sinne and guilt so as that he had a hand in bringing downe these Judgements we have sinned yet presently in the same verse changeth the person his sin not being so wilfull contemptuous and perserved in as theirs ver 24. they would not walk yet in these sad wars and combustions of ours in England like those in the Text I see some grounds of hope as first a budding generation comming up hungring and gasping after Christ and the means of grace a good signe that God is not leaving our land but that the time of the promise drawes nigh Acts 7. 17. Isa 49. 20 21. Secondly many active and eminent spirits raised up like Moses Aaron Phineas like Zerubbabel and Joshua for the work of the Lord in Church and State with boldnesse Hag. 1. 12 14. Jer. 50. 2. Micah 5. 5. Thirdly cleerer light shines in the Kingdom even by contentions which satan stirs up to overthrow the truth and in many dark corners Dan. 12 4. adde to these that the iron and clay break asunder daily Dan. 2. 41 42. and the stone cut out without hands growes more and more Dan. 2. 43 44 45. and I see all this carried on above and contrary to the power and policy of the subtillest heads by the mervailous hand of God Zach. 4. 6. let me to the only praise of the wonder-working God and the better to perpetuate the memories of his miracles of mercies to this Town of Kingston upon Hull which place if ever any is most infinitely indebted to God who hath shewed mercies indeed to other places but to this town miracles let me I say instance in some particular mercies which God hath afforded to this town wherein it appears that God himself hath bared his arme and saved it beyond and contrary to the wit and will of the subtillest enemies and seeming friends and made the very enemies to help on your safety and their owne ruine as appears first in that a little before these wars began your Castle and block-houses were out of repair and too much through long peace and dis-use unfit for service upon which pretence some of the Kings Coachmen begged them of the King and sued you for them whereupon you presently repaired them which Forts thus on this occasion repaired helped now to keep out the Kings party Secondly whereas formerly you had no draw-bridges to keep out an enemy Captain W. Legge and others of that party caused draw-bridges to be made about the Town on purpose to keep out our Brethren of Scotland when first they came into this land for our assistance but these bridges kept out Captain Leg and that party Thirdly Arms were also sent hither for above 20000. men under the managing of the said Cap. Leg after that a Garrisonof 1000. should here planted having not bin any here for many yeers before under the command of Sir Tho. Glenham by the direction advice of the Earl of Strafford for the same purpose aforesaid and yet all this turned to keep out that very party Fourthly in the dawning of these troubles Captain Leg being setled in this Town and having this strength and power aforesaid and the Earl of Newcastle being also sent hither by the King with his Commission to be Governour here
which was taken at Gainsborough as it was bringing to them and some bouses being on fire by the enemies Granadoes the Town was forced to entertaine a parley with the Earl who after some shamefull repulse and losse assured them under his hand that upon laying down their Arms they should have their estates lives and liberties safe but as soon as be entred fined imprisoned plundered many and as it seems had a speciall intent to ruine the Minister of that place aforesaid yet first that Minister went through the midst of the Town then so throng'd undiscerned by any secondly he hid himself in a vault of a bouse not inhabited after he heard of the enemies base unfaithfulnesse and cruelty which house the enemy pulling downe the Works about the Towne came into and kept as their main guard night and day and lay close by him which thing he neither did nor could suspect before-band thirdly the enemy proclaimed him traitor by a cryer throughout the Town yea and all others traitors also who knowing of him brought him not in to them within 24. hours in the aforesaid bouse the souldiers seeking him most diligently thrust their swords betwixt the Loards frequently yet neither found nor hurt him fourthly at last they looked up to a vault above their heads which lay visibly open to view by the space of three yards and more where himself and his man lay indeed and swore that he was there whereupon they instantly ran up their stairs which they kept broke open the door entring to the vault which they saw and where he was found it lockt and the key in the door on the in-side sought him five severall times the great windowes all open round about be and his man lying on their sides could have taken hold on them yet never found either of them no cause but that Jer. 36. 26 fifthly he having layen there on the stones most part of three days and nights viz. from Thursday May 4. 1643. when the Town was taken till Saturday evening May 6. could not stir scarce cough or spet left be should be heard and no friend meat drink or relief could come at him the enemy keeping the Town that house and stairs to the vault be resolved that night rather then starve to goe down and yeeld himself to their cruell mercies for be might hear them swear his death with many dammees presently that very afternoon they went away be cannot to this day learn any reason why for they came thither again the next day and staid there constantly long after as if they had meant as indeed the good and wise God did to give him just a fit time and space to get safe away for neither before nor after could be get away thence nor longer stay here sixthly when he was come down the stairs from the vault though the enemy be found removed yet were the doors lock but the enemy had caused a Carpenter to pull up two boards of the floor to seek for him in a hollow place underneath and left them unnailed down again through which space as if they had ment to have made him away forth be got out seventhly when he came forth Acts 12. 7 10. by that hollow aforesaid he came through the midst of the Town again to his house undiscerned and as he was stepping into the Hall not knowing now who lived there or in any other house there were seven Cavaliers billeted having formerly plundered him sufficiently amongst whom he was just stepping had not a friend of his pulled him by the shoulders into another Room next the Hall eighthly yet durst he not carry there but got to a vault in another house and lay upon an earthern floor the remainder of three weeks in the midst among them yet never got cold nor was the least sick no not so much as usually before ninthly after this he got safe to Manchester after some cumbers is safely returned to his nativeCountry for all which he entreats his friendly neighbours and readers that praises may be returned to the only wise God and sole and lively confidence put in him for ever and ever Which passages Christian Reader together with the ensuing notes bad I not been importuned to publish till I was in Elishah's case 2 Kin. 2. 17. nor thou nor I had had this trouble however if God may have glory his Cause any furtherance or any of his people profit by them I have all my aime and rest The unworthiest of the least of Gods mercies J. S. Hull Novemb. 17. 1645. The three Kingdomes CASE with their CAVSES and CVRE OR A SERMON Preached at Kingston upon HVLL ISA. 42. 24 25. Who gave Iacob for a spoile and Israel to the Robbers Did not the Lord he against whom we have sinned for they would not walk in his wayes neither were they obedient unto his Law Ver. 25 Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his Anger and the strength of battell and it hath set him on fire round about yet he knew it not and it burned him yet he laid it not to heart I Need not right Honourable and beloved to use any other motive to bespeak your attentions then the words immediately foregoing my Text verse 23. Who among you will give eare unto this who will hearken and beare for the time to come Only give me leave for the cleering of the words to acquaint you and that very briefly first with the Prophet secondly the time when thirdly persons to whom he prophesied fourthly the substance of his prophesie Divines use to cast the sixteen Prophets whose prophesies are recorded in the old Testament into three ranks first some prophesied before the Jewes seventy yeers captivity in Babilon as Jonah Hosea Isaiah and some others Secondly some of them gave cordials in the time of the captivity as Ezâ—â—iel and Daniel Thirdly others quickned them after the captivity and their returne as Haggai Zechariah Malachi Amongst these our Prophet is of the first ranke yet though his prophesie be ranked in the first place it s not probable that he was the first of them in time that prophesied but rather Jonab who prophesied before or at least in the beginning of the raigne of Jeroboam the second 2 King 14. 25 whereas Hosea though you grant him to be a Preacher seventy yeers began but in the latter end of his raigne Hos 1. 1. so in the new Testament its thought by the History in the Acts of the Apostles that not the Epistle to the Romans though placed the first but that to the Thessalonians was first writ also not the book of Malachi but Nehemiah was the last book in order of time and story in the old Testament This Prophet Isaiah was nobly borne by both births of nature and grace being of the royall blood both of Heaven and earth let no man think himselfe too good by reason of his birth or estate to be Gods Prophet see David Solomon Isaiah
under my Subjects girdles either rule at your own will and keep them under or adventure all 1 King 12. 6 7 8 9 10 11. and see what rents in the Kingdom followed ver 16. Fourthly it 's a sad thing when malignant Counsellours and parasites about the King who study the humours of Princes lye at watch to spye an advantage while they may take the King in a fit mood to perswade him to ruine the Church and people of God yea subtilly entrap the King and get his hand and seal or else signe it themselves and counterfeit his hand to a decree destructive to the honest party and by their deep plots draw the Kings heart away from them thus did the enemies of Daniel subtilly work upon King Darius and got a decree signed for Daniels ruine though against the Kings mind whose conscience told him that Daniel was a faithfuller and honester Subject then they Dan. 6. 5 6 9. they pretend they stand for the Kings honour and that this decree is only for the Kings greater glory ver 7. the King ere long saw himself abused by them but could not mend it ver 14. Fifthly it 's a sad thing when flatterers about the King perswade him that those who are Gods best servants and the Kings faithfullest Subjects are Rebels and Traitors and the Kings enemies thus they accuse Christ to be enemy to Caesar and that he would hinder his tribute and revenues of the Crown Luke 23. 2. and they that favoured him were no friends to Caesar that word struck deep John 19. 12. thus the three childrens enemies perswade the King that they are enemies and rebels against him Dan. 3. 12. so did Daniels enemies Dan. 6. 13. thus At halia cryes treason treason but who was the Traitor so foul-mouthed Rabsbekah cryes rebellion rebellion 2 King 18. 20. thus Courtier Haman would preswade King Ahasuerus that the Jewes Gods best servants and the Kings best subjects whereof one Mordecai had done more faithfull service to the King then an hundred flattering Hamans were a factious perverse people regarded not the King nor his lawes and were against his profit Ester 3. 8. Sixthly it 's a sad thing when those that are neer a King not only whisper and tell lyes and tales to draw his heart away from his best Subjects but also use all means yea adventure purse and life and all to ruine such Balaam the Witch Josh 13. 22. Numb 24. 1. would seek to Heaven and Hel to ruine Israel Moabites and Midianites were content to make their daughters whores to ruine them so desperate is the old Serpents malice see Numb 25. 1. Rev. 2. 14. thus Haman who would never give a penny to a good cause not only makes the King glad with his lyes Hos 7. 3. as before but will give ten thousand talents to the Churches ruine Ester 3. 8. so that cursed Edomite Doeg a stranger but now made a Courtier not onely lyes against the honest party and sets on the King who of himself was eager enough against them Psal 52. 3. but himself when the rest refused playes the Butcher not onely slaying the Priests as he was bidden 1 Sam. 22. 18. but also man woman and child beyond his commission ver 19 and so brings much crying guiltlesse blood upon the King and his owne head Seventhly it 's a sad thing when Ministers that should be men of God advise and harten a King on to such a warre as a matter of conscience thus Zedekiah with four hundred Prophets or rather satan by them 1 King 22. 21. perswades Ahab to go up to a battle which proved destructive to himself 1 Kin. 22. 11 12. and how bitter was Zedekiah against the true Prophet ver 24. a godly Minister hath not a worse enemy in the world then a wicked wretched Minister see Jer. 26. 8 11. with ver 16. hence followed a war that ruined King Ahab Eighthly it 's a sad thing when some bloody minded men even force a King for their own safety gain or ends beyond his own inclination Let me put a case I can tell you of a King that had two Nephews his own sisters sons the elder of these was General of the King his Uncle's Army he was a furious bloody-minded man yet oft times the King his Uncle could not restrain him but at last the King and he fell out and the blood that he shed fals in time upon his own head my meaning is David the King had a sister called Zerviah d 1 Chron. 2. 15 16. she had two sons for the third was dead 2 Sam. 2. 18 23. Joah the elder of these was David's his Uncles General of his Army he was bloody very bloody 1 King 2. 5. yet his Uncle sometimes could not rule him 2 Sam. 3. 39. at last they fell out 1 King 2. 5 6. and his cruelty is revenged upon him 1 King 2. 32 34. Ninthly it 's a sad thing when there is emulation and envy amongst Commanders in Armyes or betwixt chief persons of the same side so that out of envy some desert the cause leave off or turn to the other side how did Aaron and Miriam envy Moses Numb 12. thus great General Abner makes Ishbosheth King 2 Sam. 2. 9. as the great Earl of Warwick said it 's more honour to make then be a King Ishbosheth afterwards reproves this Souldier for whoring 2 Sam. 3. 7. presently Abner takes this in snuffe and revolts to the other side and loseth Ishbosheth his Kingdom 2 Sam. 3. 9 10. ere long Joab and Abner two great Commanders envy one another and Abner is slain ver 27. see Achitophel and Hushaâ—s clashings Tenthly it 's a sad thing when Souldiers make but a play of war and killing men 2 Sam. 2. 14. Let the men arise and play before us and care not how long the wars last or what ruine is done so they may thrive saying with Demetrius by this craft we get our wealth Acts 19. 25. all these are sad things which are but the beginnings and occasions of war But the point will further appear if we consider war it self especially ours and that but in a word for I at once consider my time and your occasions Therefore Secondly view a little what a sad thing war is first of all judgments war seems to be the sorest by David's choyce 2 Sam. 24. 14 c. secondly of all wars civill wars e Graud Saâ—â—ifice are wont nothing got but grating one upon another like mil-stones without grist as I have shewed elswhere f Summum Brute nes as Civilia bella satenuer Ceto apud Claud. 1. 2. in many particulars at large thirdly of all civill wars English war is g Bella pox Emitheos plus quam Civilia Campas. See Mark 3. 24 25. the worst see the Barons war compared with forraigne troubles fourthly of all English wars these present wars is worst if we consider first the truell bloody minds of the adversaries who