how he had warned them here of before that if any would not worke being able hoe should not eat Howbeit I would to God there were not others guilty of this Sodomsinne of Idlenes that would be accounted as their place requireth of farre better reckoning yea euen of the greater ones the Nobles and gentrie of our Land especially yonger brothers liuing without any calling carelesly not a few who as those in Amos against whom God denounceth a fearefull woe liuing at ease in Sion and therefore putting away farre from them the euil day doe stretch themselues on beds of Iuory eating the lambes of the flocke and the Calues out of the stall singing to the sound of the Violl c. and drinking wine in bowles no man being sorrie for the affliction of Ioseph As if they had beene placed by God on earth to doe nothing else but what Leuiathan is made to doe in the sea euen to play and sport themselues as those rich ones in Iames against whom we read that indicement inough in the last day if there were none other to condemne them yee haue liued in pleasure vpon the earth Fourthly that there is amongst vs notwithstanding many wholsome lawes better then which no kingdome euer had in that behalfe cruelty and miserable oppression of the poorer sort insteed of strengthning their hands practised for maintenance of riot and Idlenes in the rich for idlenes must haue maintenance from others labors as in those idlers in Saint Iames that are noted to haue kept backe the Laborers hire and to haue condemned and killed the righteous that were not able to make their partie good against them let the racking of rents and raising of fines turning out of Tenants and decay of titlage by inclosures the greedines of hard-hearted Vsurers c. with the teares of many an oppressed fatherlesse and widdow beare witnes who if they bee not heard and their wrongs redressed God that alwaies hath an eare open to such complaints will come neere in iudgement and bee himselfe a swift witnesse against such wrong doers who shall receiue for the wrong that they haue done of him with whom there is no respect of persons Adde hereto finally that luke-warmnes both in profession and in practise ouer-spreading our Church sometimes reproued in Laodicea whiles we conceit but too well of our owne perfections and that conniuence and suffering too much as in Thyatira of the woman lezabel and her seducing shauelings together with the little reckoning and light regard that most make not onely as Manasses in his prosperity of instructions from the word of God but also as those in Isaiah of the corrections and rod of God that God may now despaire of vs and say as to his people Wherefore should yee be smitten any more for ye fall away yet more and more So dangerously are wee ouer growne with that roote bringing forth gall and wormewood that whether wée heare the words of Gods curse wee blesse our selues in our he iris saying we shall haue peace though we walke after the stubbornes of our owne hearts thus adding drunkennes to thirst till the Lord statly refuse to be any longer mercifull or whether wee feele the stroke of his hand smiting vs as hee hath done with pestilence famine inundations drought tempestuous weather and the rauening teeth of those wild beasts pernicious Pirates I meane who haue gathered head so that the seas are at this day like tho high waies of Israel in the daies of Shamgar and Iael unoccupied in manner and Trauailers forced to seeke out by-waies for their safetie wee are so farre from returning to him that hath smitten vs that wee rather seeke to enter couenant with death and with hel that vnder the refuge of falshood wee may auoid the scourge or howsoeuer persisting with branded Ahaz in the time of tribulation to trespas yet more against the Lord. All these laid now together vpon the heape alasse men and brethren what thinke you that wee may iudge of our selues or thinke you that it is not high time for vs as the Corinthians are aduised by the Appostle to iudge our selues that we be not yet farther iudged of the Lord yes verily neither shall we neede as Ioshua brought the tribes families and housholds of Israel so to bring forth and as it were cast lots vpon these our sinnes to find out the Achan that hath troubled Israel since all these sinnes where euer they house or harbour within the wauy confines of this I le they be the wretched Achans euery kind and one of them that haue by prouoking against vs Gods displeasure beene thus farre troublers and quenchers of the light of this our Israel Neither yet were it not for the Neuer failing compassions and faithfulnesse of the Lord might wee hope for future peace or safety whiles these witchcrafts and whoredomes of that Iezabel of naturall corruption are yet in so great number that if we as the adulterous woman should wipe our mouth and say we haue done none iniquity yet could the Lord of heauen earth euen the Iudge himselfe beare witnesse and reproue vs saying as in Amos I know your manifold trāsgressions your mighty sins To which therefore to conclude at length this second point let vs without either blaming supposed second causes or accusing God of too strict iustice in this behalfe learne in true humility to referre all our losse crying as heere our humbled Prophet Woe now vnto vs for we haue sinned and therefore loe the Crowne of our head fallen With which fall if yee desire to heare how wee ought to bee affected it commeth now to bee considered from the first words of the 15. ver The ioy of our heart is ceased For this being an vndoubted consequent of the feeling apprehension of their present calamitie accompanied with feare of farther miserie hence to 〈◊〉 enlarging may wee take direction how we also with our losse should bee affected how but as the holy Virgiue to whom the many sorrowes for her blessed son were as old Simcon compared thē a sword that should pearce through her soule A dangerous wound and deadly if not to the life yet to the ioy and comfort of the heart For verily those hearts must needs bee armed with stony yea adamantine hardnesse which are not pierced with this sword of sorrow which melt not as Iosiah his heart at the apprehension of Gods iudgement yea which with Ieremy wish not the head a cesterne of water and the eies as fountaines of teures to weepe day and night for the fall of their crowne The greatest cause of sorrow and most important losse excepting that one if that were greater which was so soone and graciously by God himselfe repaired of our last renowned Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth that euer in our age befell this flourishing state kingdome able
the earth in whose daies the righteous should flourish and aboundance of peace be happily established of whom we promised our selues that he should be Isaiahs good King reigning in iustice and ruling in iudgement as an hiding place from the winde and as a refuge for the tempest as riuers of water in a drie place and as the shadow of a great Rocke in a weary land finally one of whom wee hoped what the Aduersary more then feared that treading in the steps of his religious Father our present gratious Soueraigne and going on where he should leaue as Ioshuah after Moses in subduing of the Canaanites he would Iosiah like compell all that were found in Israel to serue the Lord. Behold beloued these and many more not mentioned the conceiued hopes that we had in him who was expected in the succeeding age not without iust reason to become our Crowne The vnexpected losse of whom so suddenly Oh that wee should need so lamentable a document to make vs giue care to the Psalmists counsell Not to put trust in Princes c. Alas how hath it cast vs downe from the hopes which in him we conceiued and forcibly brought vs to acknowledge as in our text The crowne of our head to be fallen Surely not a great man onely in Israel as Dauid sometimes spake of Abner but the very crowne and glorie of our Israel who howsoeuer hee be taken away in Gods great mercy and loue to him no doubt as Enoch of whom is chronicled that hee walked with God and was no more seene for God tooke him away or as Iosiah to Whom was promised as a speciall fauour from the Lord that he should be gathered to his fathers and be put into the graue in peace that his eies might not see the euils which God purposed to bring vpon that place and people yet for ourselues well may wee dread lest this his taking away hath beene in Gods displeasure rather towards vs who were neither worthy of nor yet truly thankfull for such and so great a blessing Whom therefore God according to that threat in Ezelkiel of taking away the Diademe and the Crowne hath taken away from vs by the losse and misse to bring vs to conceiue more rightly of the worth of such a gift The Lord grant wee may take it to heart to make a right vse of it Since for the cause procuring so farre as it concerneth ourselues alas what may we reckon it but our sinnes deseruing iustly so great yea a greater iudgèment as in detestation of our selues therefore wee truely may and wil redily if once throughly humbled acknowledge in our Prophets wailing words Woe vnto vs that wee haue sinned Since if wee also shall more question of the cause or say in our heart wherefore are these things thus come vpon vs leremy our Prophet hath long agone made vs heereto answere Ierem. 13. 22. For the multitude of thine iniquities are thy skirts discouered and thy heeles made bare For surely so as it is generally sin that brings shame and iudgement vpon any people as on the old world on Sodome and the Canaanites c. to the very rooting out of them from the earth so more particularly and for the purpose that it is for the peoples sins that princes are taken away witnesse that testimony Prou. 28. 2. For the transgression of a land there are many Princes thereof often changes of the Crowne being euermore dangerous to a Common-weale as wee may see for instance 1. King 16. In the disioynted state of Israel Yea farther not to vrge many proofes to this purpose looke but in Isaiah 3. How as a maine iudgement the Lord of Hostes threatneth to take away from Ierusalem and Iudah the stay and strength the strong man and the man of Warre the Ruler and the Prophet the Prudent and the Aged Appointing children to be their Princes and babes to rule ouer them But what may be imagined the cause of all this ruine It followeth after Doubtlesse lerusalem is fallen and Iudah is fallen downe because their tongues and works are against the Lord to prouoke the eies of his glory Yea the triall of their countenance testisieth against them they declare their sinnes as Sodome they hide them not and therefore Woe now vnto their soules for they haue rewarded euill vnto themselues And hee instanceth after in the end of the Chapter in two chiefe euils the tyrannous oppression of their gouernours and their womens want onnesse and pride The fruit of which and all the rest redounding to the ruine and subuersion of the state wee may read concluded in the last verse Therefore shall her gares lament and mourne and shee being desolate shall sit vpon the ground To bring no more for confirmation of this generall truth that it is the sin of the people that mooueth God to take away their Princes a thing which both Nehemiah and Daniel and here and elsewhere our Ieremy and all the faithfull in such cases truly humbled haue acknowledged haue not wee reason in this case to suspect our selues yea to conclude that for our sinnes God Almighty in his displeasure hath sent this losse of losses and made this breach vpon vs It may be to make coniecture for our great vnthankefulnesse in that God hauing affoorded vs heretofore many great and maruellous if not miraculous Deliuerances as to name but two most memorable from the inuasion of our professed enemies and their inuincible Armado in 88 and since from that hellish designe worthy a lasting monument for detestation of the Popish pioners wee haue not rendred according to the reward bestowed on vs but haue had our hearts lift vp for which therefore wee may iustly feare that this wrath is come vpon vs. Or may it not be for yet a farther degree of foule ingratitude that hauing beene blessed by God as much as euer any Nation with aboundance of long peace in a fruitfull Countrey wee haue giuen him cause to complaine of vs as in that song of Moses Deut 32. against his people that we that should haue beene vpright when we waxed fat haue spurned with the heele yea being fatte and grosse and laden with fatnesse haue either quite forsaken God that made vs or not as wee should regarded the strong God of our saluation but haue prouoked him to anger if not with strange Gods yet certainclie with many foule abominations and crying sinnes So that as the widowe of Sarephath when shee saw her childe breathlesse cried out in a passion vnto Elijab 1. King 17 O thou man of God art thou come to mee to call my sinne to remembrance and to stay my sonne So may wee acknowledge with humiliation vnder his hand that God is come vnto vs to call our sinnes vnto remembrance and therefore hath taken away our Prince And whether farther yet his purpose be to proceede against vs except by speedy turning
from sinne we stay his hand wee haue cause to feare But surely by this already done the Lord God hath more then manifested that his are vpon vs as of old he threatned Israel as vpon a sinful kingdome with whom he hath already entred action as meaning to auenge the quarel of his couenant and to maintain his controuersie against vs the same verily and none other which in Hosea he prosessed to haue with the inhabitants of the Land of Israel viz. for the crying sinnes of our Land prouoking the eies of his glory For howsoeuer by the mercy of God we haue wherewith to stop the mouth of the blasphemous Aduersary both in regard of our profession after the way which they cal Heresie worshipping the God of our Fathers beleeuing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets and in regard of practise not being destitute of those who from the heart haue obeyed vnto the forme of Doctrine whereunto they haue beene deliuered yet so few in comparison are they that ioine these two together or willingly brooke the Narrow way to life as hath beene shewed in the treatise formerly written touching that Argument that vpon the body of our professors may iustly light that exprobration of the Propher Ieremy viz that they doe but trust in lying words when they cry so loud The Temple of the Lord The Temple of the Lord c. For alas show can it secure or profit vs before the Lord that we haue the vndoubted marks of a true visible church in soundnesse of Doctrine and forme of worship whiles the matter of cortroucrsie betweene God and vs remaineth no truth nor mercy nor found knowledge of God in the lands No but insteed there of for all the Lords care of his Vinoyard our paineful preaching and what then thinke you would be if the Lord should let fall his care if there were no preaching no planting of the best plants no plucking vp of the euill weedes A plentifull Vintage of those wilde and sowre grapes of impiety and vnmercifulnesse wherwith in Esaies time his teeth were set on edge and which by his Prophet Hosea hee casteth in the teeth of the wicked Israelites who by swearing and lying and killing and stealing and whoring are said to breake out and bloud to touch bloud And therefore no maruel if the land mourneth c. And yet behold we are by the same Prophet immediatly after directed to take knowledge of a sinne of lowder cry in the Lords eares then any of the forementioned where hee saith yet let none rebuke nor reprooue another as if he should say it is but lost labour for thy people are as those that rebuke the Preist An euill time indeed when the prudent shall bee aduised to keepe silence because as Ahab could not away with Micaiah so men hate him that rebuketh in the gate and abhorre him that speaketh vprightly So euill a time that where this sinne preuaileth it may bee feared the time of vengeance is not farre of as the Lord himselfe sheweth iustifying his seuere proceeding against his people in the captiuity of Babylon because they mocked his messengers despised his words misused his Prophets vntill the wrath of the Lord arose against his people and till there was no remedy or as the word imports no farther healing What shal I seeke for more particulars for those crying sinnes that pulled fire from heauen vpon Sodome euen those foure Cardinall crimes which the Prophet Ezekiel Ezek. 16. 49. expresly mentioneth viz. Pride Fulnesse of bread Abundance of idlenesse Cruelty in not strengthening the hand of the poore and needy Oh! that we could say our land were free from them But alas we cannot For first who seeth not that Pride that setteth it selfe out to euery eic in their outward habit proportionable neither to the body that weares it nor to the estate that should maintaine it nor to the sober liking of those that should approue it in al which regards it falleth vnder the same condemnation with the strange and disguised attire by the old Prophets so long agoe seuerely censured But there is yet another Pride that keepeth it selfe more out of view surking secretly in the heart yet not so secretly but either by the trial of the countenance and gesture or by words especially when there is occasion of boasting and contention or by port and affecting of high place or lastly by intruding into Gods office rashly passing censure vpon anothers seruants it doth more or lesse discouer it selfe to be that Pride of heart that God abhorreth Secondly for fulnes of bread comprehending not onely gluttonous eating but also that fowler abuse now a daies and more vniuersall deluge of excessiue drinking are not these the times which our Sauiour said should paralel the daies of Noah and we of this nation the persons of whom nothing is to be storied but that we are found as it were at racke and manger eating and drinking as if wee had no other care but to nourish our hearts as in a day of slanghter and God grant it bee not against the day of our owne slaughter So fearefully are wee ouerslowne with the inundation especially of the sinne of drunkennes that it is hardly beleeued that excesse in drinking and quassing is a sinne in such as can beare it away or stand vpright with it although the Prophet Esay hath left a special woe against them that are mighty to drinke wine and strong to poure in strong drinke And Th' appostle Peter among the lusts of the gentiles of all that truly professe Christ to bee abandoned reckoneth euen those drinkings and carrowsings the shamefull sinne of our nation Oh! if some part of those huge healths that haue beene heaued vp as a supposed honour to our late renowned Prince had beene conuerted into humble and feruent praiers to God for his preseruation we might possibly haue had him now liuing amongst vs and God surely lesse offended at vs. Thirdly that there is no want among vs of Aboundant idlenes witnes the very liues that all men looke vpon of base vagarants who like those afflicted and assamished wretches spoken of by the Prophet are suffered too much euery where not for want of good lawes but of due execution to goe to and fro the countrie wandring about in swarmes to doe mischiefe and ready when they be hungry to freat themselues and curese both their King and God whiles they wilfully remaine in want because their hands refuse to worke hauing nothing but what they get by spoile or beggery from others to the shame of our christian common wealth and contrary to the prouision made by that old statute law in Moses That there should bee no begger in Isruel renewed and confirmed by Saint Paul as by a latter act of Parliament vnder the Gospell where he telleth the Thessalonians
I am he that comfort you who are wee that wee should feare any mortall man or the sonne of man who shall bee made as grasse forgetting the Lord our maker that hath spread out the heauens and laid the foundation of the earth c. Doubtles there is none like God O Iesehurun which rideth vpon the heauens for thine helpe and on the clouds in his glory nor any like vnto thee ô people saued by the Lord who is the shield of thine helpe and the sword of thy glorie Onely let our Asae with all Iudah and Beniamin heare the condition of amitie long agoe proclaimed by the Lords prophet The Lord is with you while you bee with him and if yee seeke him he will be found of you Then shall we be a crowne of glory in the hand of the Lord and as a roiall Diademe in the hand of our God yea he himselfe the Lord of hostes shall bee vnto vs for a crowne of glorie and for a diademe of beautie and to our King especially as to his seruant Dauid a tower of saluation shewing mercy to his annointed euen to his seruant Iames our Soueraigne and to his seed after him for euer Wherefore for conclusion to apply our selues both to that ancient counsell and the present hand of God this being as the Philosopher told the Romane Emperor no fit time for sporting when as not the sword of Perennius or any mortall enemy but the glittering sword of the immortall God may seeme to bee vnsheathed and shaken at vs let vs as many as desire to see the welfare of Ierusalem and peace vpon Israel so addresse our selues to mourning that we may prepare to meet our God comming out against vs who will no doubt be pacified towards vs and repenting of the euill will say to the destroying Angel it is sufficient hold now thine hand when hee shall behold vs humbling our selues before him in vnfained repentance and hearty praier First in repentance For seeing the Lord hath himselfe begunne to search vs as he did this people and that wee suffer doubtles for our forenamed sinnes what should we but after their example search and try our waies and turne againe vnto the Lord who now assuredly hearkneth whether any speake aright repenting him of his wickednes and saying what haue I done which if he may heare behold a booke of remembrance shall bee written before him for them that feare the Lord and thinke vpon his name Oh thē let vs for our parts write our booke of Remembrance because of all this make a sure couenant with the Lord and we our Princes our Priests put hand and seale vnto it Into which whosoeuer shall refuse to enter and to say with vs woe now vnto vs that wee haue sinned shall certainly one day bee forced to cry out woe and alasse vnto vs for wee are destroied Yea further for a speciall proofe of our sincere and serious Repentance let vs with Asa and the people vnder him vpon the forementioned admonition ioifully enter into a league and oath of association not only our selues to seeke the Lord God of our fathers with all our heart and with all our soule but also whosoeuer will not seeke the Lord God of Israel but will cleaue to or plead for Baal and either become themselues or approue of that accursed Iesuited generation that account it merit orious to vndermine and blow vp Parliament houses to murder and massacre sacred Princes yea to kill young and old nocents as they reck on them and innocents all together their friends for company so their foes may perish shall I say according to the iustice of that law let them be staine whether great or small whether man or woman nay rather in charity I wish first for their good that they might be cōpelled to serue the Lord or otherwise for our Churches peace kingdomes safety that either they were exiled quite from among vs that they might infect no longer or so curbed at least that their number and strength might not encrease to endanger vs farther For surely to speake plainely howsoeuer it be good to repose our confidence alone in God of whose careful goodnes this land hath had so plentifull experience yet shall we as behoueth vs consider the continuall machinations and attempts of these Iesuitish Locusts possessed with the spirit of their Prince Abaddon or but looke vpon the wound that freshly bleeding in our neighbors sides the reward which that redoubted French King Henry the fourth receiued for taking downe the statue of reproch and admitting a-againe this viperous broode into the heart of his kingdome how can wee iudge it lesse then a tempting of God to relie still vpon miraculous deliuerances if wee suffer meane while to the preiudice of our head the taile of the false Prophet and popery to spread it self as a contagion thorough our land Surely if the swarmes of those Locusts fill euery corner and take liberty secretly to poison and infect both the mother the children if not to packe them ouer sea to Rome or Rhemes c. to be farther corrupted we are in danger neuer to want pricks in our eies and thornes in our sides to vexvs in the good land where we dwell or cruell Esaus that gape but for a mournfull day to take aduantage against their more blessed and therefore hated brethren The God of coūsell work in the hearts of them who are in chiefest place and power carefully to prouide for the welfare and safety of this Church and state especially of that light that maketh great Britain glorious that al the smoke of the bottomles pit may neuer dazle or eclipse his shining brightnes For vs the best part of our armour against these al both enemies euils what is it but which before was noted as necessary to be adioined to our Repentance to poure forth earnest and seruent praier vnto the Lord with whō hauing power wee shall vndoubtedly preuaile with men First for our selues and land in generall that our crying sins the causes of iudgement vpon our true Repentance being pardoned there may be an end put to the Lords cōtrouersie that the peace being renewed beween God and vs we may haue all prosperity or if the Lord shal see that we stand in need of farther chastisement he would be pleased yet to allow vs Dauids choise that we may fal into his hands with whō is mercy and not into the hands of vnreasonable and ruthlesse men Secondly and principally let our praier be vnto God for his royall Maiesty as to preserue his Princely person making his daies vpon earth as the daies of Heauen that vnder him we may leade a quiet peaceable life in all honesty and godlines wishing him what the ancient Christians did vnto their Emperors that God would grant him a long life c. so