give us over to Popery hardnesse of heart Mat. 13.15 Acts 28.27.28 Luk. 3.20 Roma 21 24 26. Act. 19.9 or into a reprobate sence unnaturall uncleannesse bestiality open tyranny or to fall into Sects or Heresies c. for which these and the like crying sins he often punisheth the forenamed sins as by those places of Scripture in the Margent may appeare Againe let us not thinke that we shall escape punishment continuing in our sins seeing God may and many times doth punish men in and by those wayes and means which they take to be the comfortablest wherin they can walke as in and by their pleasures preferments wealth beauty c. yea making peace it selfe a plague and prosperity a a snare to catch them to their destruction for as one observes it is a plague to many that they are not plagued even the want of punishment is their punishment I know it is a thing desired of many to be rich and most men wish they may never be worse hurt but even wealth very oft pâ—oves no lesse hurtfull then the most fearfull plagues that ever are sent this the Apostle very well observes Those that will be rich saith he fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtfull lusts 1 Tim. 6.10 which drowne * budizousi In profundum objiciunt men in destruction and perditionâ— they suck in so much pleasure by them that they forget all other happinesse while in the meane time they are insnared by Sathan to their destruction which surely is a punishment greater then any earthly sufferings the consideration of this Pro. 30.8 9. caus'd Agur to pray so fervently that he should not be made rich for he feared wealth would exalt him cause him to forget his Maker and the Philosopher thought to make his enemies rich was the greatest displeasure he could do them indeed very oft abundance of wealth proves a great deale of trouble to the possessours of it Who would be in so much care trouble and perplexity as with rich men in these dayes of danger for in their height of pleasures feares of danger perplex them and they scarcely can take rest because of continuall molestation that so one need wish their enemy no more trouble then to be rich for they may be assured that by that meanes they shall not be without vexation Mat. 19.23 But besides the vexation riches bringeth with them on earth Defipile est stare in alta dignitate carere cogitationibus elatis Stella de contemptu mundi lib. 1. ca. 13 See Mal. 2.2 Psal 69.22 they are in danger to deprive them of those celestiall pleasures which as far surpasse those earthly vanities as heaven doth hell And what vexations doe often come by preferment and honour even when men have their whole desire in injoyment of pleasures and dignities they most commonly are either inwardly vexed or their envyed happinesse dâ—th procure unavoydable misery which likewise by God are inflicted as punishments upon them though it may be not perceived and therefore the more fearfull To be briefe who knowes but even this small time of tranquillity which now we enjoy may be made a plague unto us for if the Lord do by it give us over to security and carelesnesse we shall presently be in a very deplorable condition and yet not to be pitied because we shall not know wherein we stand need of pity thus may we be severely plagued Eccles 7.2 3. even with judgements wounding us deeply in and by the same meanes which we take to be our onely comforts and the lesse that any take notice of this the more is the plague upon him Miserius inihil est misâ—rose non miserente for sencelesnes of Gods judgments is the greatest judgement of all and how much more a man thinkes himselfe happy though he sinne and yet enjoyes all temporall pleasures so much the mo e miserable is he Let every one that reads this consider of it and observe and mark how the case is with him whether or no he perceive or finde any of these secret judgements creeping in upon him and while there is time let us all beware we doe not provoke God to send them upon us and above all let us observe how sin decreases or increases if we see men rather growing more bold in sinne eâ—ery day more then other other let us then assure our selves the plague of God is against us and just cause we may have to feare Isa 22.14 that such iniquities shall not be purged till we die Or if we see men every day more then other given over to security and pleasures and carelesse of threatnings denounced against them by the Ministers and servants of God let us then likewise feare that the Lords hand is stretched out against us But if we see none of these secret judgements nor open plagues but that we still live under Gods protection in peace and tranquillity yet let us not grow bolder in sinne See Psal 69.22 23 24 25 27 28. Let us take heed that none of those or such like judgements fall upon us but alwayes call to mind this point and feare to offend and in the midst of prosperity beseech the Lord that our table may not become a snareunto us but that we may so be delivered from curses that Gods blessings may be upon us and all we have at all times in all places upon all occasions this if we doe we shall enjoy with increase our already begun peace but continuing in sin may cause us to expect nothing but wrath for there is no peace to the wicked CHAP. V. Wee may not onely feare that God hath Judgements in store for us but that wrath in some sort shall shortly be powred downe upon us OUr unmatched security causes me to stand upon this Point longer then otherwayes I would and makes me breake order and method that if by any meanes it may this my Scout may be faithfull to give an alarm to all sorts of men that they may be stirr'd up either to prevent by unfained repentance or to prepare against further danger Let it not seeme strange to any that I more then any should be thus fearfull of that of which as yet there seems no likelihood of appearance or that I should continually strike upon this string for truly me thinkes they are either blinde or quite fearlesse or carelesse what come that see not as well as I still clouds of wrath hanging over us ready againe to dissolve into showers it pities me that so few see it or feare it and those who doe see it or at least feare it should no better take notice of it or so little take care to prevent it or prepare against it and therefore to put them in minde that forget and instruct those who know not or consider not and to let all men know the ground of my feares in this Chapter as freely as I
vex us if we doe amisse War is not all he uses to chastise Those people with that doe his name despise Beleeve me I am sorry to behold And too to well I doe behold it now That such securenesse should this Land infold That nought mens hearts to watchfulnesse can bow In pity therefore least the plagues should come Before men be awaked I have writ And this my writing to the view have showne That every one may notice take of it Oh! let it now awake you Countrey-men Your selves deceive not judgements still are neere Rowse up your selves from sleepinesse agen See see how wrath doth round about appeare Prepare your selves for judgemens else will take In sinne you napping e're you be awake Let no untruth prejudicate affection Disdaine or hate which any ' gainst me beare Cause you to disrespect my sound direction Which stirs up and perswades you to prepare Disdaine me not what e're I seeme I may Now speake to purpose though I simple be Althâ—ugh my writing be not deek'd or gay I nothing write but needfull verity And none can taxe me that I ever writ Any to warne but what hath proved true Credit therefore my words may sooner get Seeing at this time needfull things I shew Not that I seeke to get my selfe applause But that I would advance the publike Cause I would be loath to see now War is gone A pestilent infectious disease To come our Townes and People now among To fetch them hence to death without release Or that the Lord should cause the earth deny To bring forth fruit our people to sustaine Or bring upon us dearth or penury Or vex us with some secret feare or paine Or that he should into our strong Holds send Or to our Armies death them to devoure Or vex us as he once did Egypts Land With plagues unknowne to any man before Or make this part envied by its foes A laughing-stock to all that by it goes I say I should be loath such things should come To light upon this Countrey to its harme And that because that I doe hold my tongue And doe's not men of what I feare forwarne Who knowes but God hath rais'd me up for this To write that men may warning take and rise From that securenesse which doth them possess And to amend of their iniquities In hope of this I write but if that still Men in their dull security persist And take no warning by what now I tell Surely with hardned hearts they are accurst And God a while his judgements takes away That he may plague them more another day But thus in writing I my duty shall Discharge by giving warning to prepare And though fierce judgements shall upon us fall To all the world I guiltlesse shall appeare And these my words shall once respected be And be observ'd by those that doe them read And other places though these will not see Shall warning take and fly their sins with speed And those that will not by them warning take Shall when as plagues shall fall upon them say That it was true which unto them I spake And wish they had been warned at this day And those in whom no watchfulnesse is seen Shall wish that they had far more watchfull been My prayer shall be that this may take effect And bring to passe that for which forth I send it I will not grieve although with disrespect I hated be by men through it offended For as I seeke not for to flatter any So neither I ' gainst private persons braule I send it forth for to awaken many To all therefore I write in generall What is amisse passe by that favour doe me If ought you reape that 's good give God the glory No greater praise or favour you can show me If not there 's nought that can make me more sorry Read o're the Booke observe and marke it well Awake from your security Farewell W. Meeke The Faithfull Scout Giving an Alarme to Yorkeshire especially to the East-Ryding and to all other places at this time freed from War CHAPTER I. That God hath variety of Judgements to punish sinfull and rebellious people withall IT was not without cause that the Apostle said It is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the living God Heb 10.31 For surely most miserable and wretched is their condition that by their evill actions have made God at senâ—ity with them it were better for such if they might so be free that a milstone were tyed about their neeks and they cast into the bottome of the Sea then that they should live to abide all the plagues judgements and miseries which the Lord hath to inflict upon them for who can name or reckon up all those sorts of punishments that he hath in his Amory ready at any time upon occasions to send to execute his fierce wrath upon those who walke perversly before him many severall sorts the Egyptians felt in their Land and them so strange as were never before that time heard of and yet the Lord threatens his owne people that if they would not be obedient but walk untowardly before him Deut. 28.61 hee would send plagues upon them which were not written in the Booke of the Law even new plagues which were never before sent upon any and yet if wee looke upon the curses threatned wee shall finde them many Deut. 28.15 63. Lev. 16.18 22. strange and fearfull for he not onely threatens to turne every Blessing into a Curse but if that will not serve to deterre them from their evill wayes he tells them he will bring seven-times more plagues upon them then before and if they would not be reformed by them but still walke contrary unto him then hee would walke contrary unto them and punish them yet seventimes more nay and if that would not serve he would plague them yet seven-times more Yea and if for all this they still would walk stubbornely before him he threatens that still hee would encrease his judgements Verse 29. and walke contrary to them in fury and chastise them yet seven-times for their sins By all which fearfull threatnings he would have us to observe what variety of plagues he hath to inflict upon stubborne and stiffe-necked people Dicit Propheta Deum aperire Thesaurum suum nempe quoniam habet varios multiplices modos qui humano sensu comprehendi nequeunt ubi vuli impios perdere Cal. in Jer. 50.25 Lob 5.14 Psal 18.26 Ps 7 11 12.13 who will not be reformed to walke according to his command seeing that every time he punisheth he can change his judgements and yet make them every time more fierce and fearfull then other well therefore may he be said to have an Armory stored with weapons of indignation and wrath when hee hath not onely one or two but many yea infinite severall sorts and them too so strange that no man can conceive of them for contrary to all expectation
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
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
to the Lord to behold their actions the women of Jerusalem were never more haughty then ours are still compare their ornaments with the fashion of our Countrey and see if we doe not surpasse them in all manner of bravery fearfull were the judgements that the Lord threatned against them and let us not be high-minded but feare for he that is alwayes the same hath the like or worse still in store for us Againe the consideration of which may make us to tremble we are not as yet convinced for our oathes and vaine idle and wicked swearing and blaspheming and taking the Lords Name in vaine walke the streetes and without listening you may heare most horrid oathes and curses on every side and do we thinke the Lords Word is in vaine who saith He will not hold those guiltlesse that take his name in vaine And who knowes but for swearing formerly our Land was caus'd to mourne Ieâ— 23.10 and if still we continue in the same sâ—n we must needs looke for the same or the like punishment but many thinke they take not Gods name in vaine when they sweare by their faith troth by light or by bread c. but let not such deceive themselves for the◠〈…〉 God 's name in vaine and fearfully too as our Saviour tells us Mat. 5.34 35. Iam. 5.12 See Mr. Boltons Treatise call'd the Saents solfe-inriching examination Pag. 245 Ier. 5.7 Deus ostendit se quadem necessitate constringi ut tam severas poenas exigat de Iudeis c. Cal. praelect in Ier for they should not sweare at all neither by heaven nor by earth nor by Jerusalem nor by their heads c. for all these oathes are displeasant to God yea and to sweare by false gods or idolatrous things as the Masse c. is more abominable and displeasant to him and a sin which he will hardly pardon without inflicting punishments upon the offenders How shall saith the Lord I pardon thee for this thy children hath forsaken me and sworne by them that are no Gods as if he should have said There is a necessity laid upon me to punish you for should I not I should suffer my glory to be exposed to be a laughing stock to all men c. and therefore while thus we sin we may fear every moment some plague or other to be sent upon us To conclude in few words because it were too much to name all these sins that as yet are practised among us if we make but a slender search we may finde us in these parts guilty of so many crying abominations and so little true humiliation wrought in any among us that if the Lord hath variety of judgements to send among wicked and ungodly men we may conclude and thinke with our selves that he hath them in store for us for we are as yet of that number and cannot say we are free from those sinnes for which the Lord doth alwayes send sharpe and fearfull plagues 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 sinnes Objections answered many fearefull plagues discovered YOu have heard in what a slate and condition we are how that as yet it cannot be said that by the former corrections we have had we have any thing at all amended our wayes or humbled our selves before the Lord and that therefore we may thinke of our selves no better then to be in the number of wicked men for whom the Lord hath variety of judgements in store and not without cause may we thinke so seeing it is in vaine for wicked men to expect peace because the Spirit of God hath proclaimed openly that there is no peace to the wicked true it is it is the nature of wicked men to perswade themselves of peace though they walke according to the imaginations of their wicked wayes but that arises out of a false and ungrounded conceit that God will spare them because of some gracious promises which he hath made unto his people which presumptuously and falsly they apply unto themselves but the Lord observing this hypocrisie to be in men Deut. 29.19 denounces very fearfull judgements against them for it and saith That if there shall he such a man Ver. 20. that shall blesse himselfe in his iniquity and thinke he shall have peace though he walke c. He will not spare such a man but his anger and jealousie shall smoake against him and all the curses that are written in the bocke of the Law shall come against him and lie on him and his name shall be blotted out from under heaven Observe the place I beseech you for it concernâ— all men that are buried in security as I feare too many in these parts are who blesse themselves oftner in their iniquity then they doe God for his benefits and puts farre from them the evill day as if for ever they should enjoy peace never looking into their owne wayes or perceiving that sin hath been is and will be the cause of their disquietnesse and misery nay they so behave themselves as if God were bound to continue this peace unto them or how ever as if there could be no warre or further trouble and because there is no appearance of danger therefore they feed themselves with foolish hopes of perpetuall tranquillity as if all judgements threatned against sinners were but in jest or as if men might goe on in their folly without controlment and in their sins without punishment But I would have such to consider what they doe and be not too presumptuous or secure for in a day when perhaps they little dreame of it will Gods judgements thunder about their eares to their terrour for sin cannot escape unpunished by one judgement or another Iob. 37.12 if men will not obey the Lord They shall perish by the sword and dye without knowledge saith Elibu but I know our people are fearelesse because as they suppose all danger is past nay but that will not serve to deliver them for so long as they sin so long may they expect punishments Isa 1.20 If they refuse and rebell they shall be devoured by the sword for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it saith the Prophet Ezek. 38.22 Psal 91.5 â— Ier. 14.18 But what though the feare of the sword should be gone yet be hath pestilence to plead against men withall which walketh in darknesse and is an arrow that hilleth at nome-day Nay and if they shall escape both sword and pestilence yet he hath famine that killeth many thousands where it enters and if they by any meanes escape all these he hath still in store feare pit and share if they seeke to fly from the feare Ier. 48.43 44 they shall fall into the pit and if they get out of the pit they shall be taken in the snare while they thinke to escape one judgement they run into * Incidit
Rom. 2.11 For God is no respecter of persons I Objection but will some say shall the Papists flourish againe among us Nay surely that they shall never doe for God hath threatned a finall overthrow to them which is in part executed against them in this part and if they doe not againe make head against us no other can harme us This Objection is a branch of the former Answer but we will answer it particularly at large because I finde in discoursing with men many too much addicted to thinke that as long as we can keep the Papists in subjection there is no feare nor danger of further misery as if God could or would punish us by none but them they I know hitherto have been the onely instruments of our miseries and indeed if they should continue among us in any power they would be so still but yet to thinke that God cannot or will not punish us by any other meanes then by them were presumption intollerable and yet why may not the Lord give them power over us againe because of our abominable sins and cause them againe to triumph this he may doe and yet have decreed their fall neverthelesse and I wish we doe not so far provoke him as cause him to do it the Lord had determined the fall of the Canaanites and yet gave them victory over his people more then once Though the Benjamites were to be destroyed by Gods owne command yet two dayes together they prospered in battle and slew the Israelites Judg. 20. and so it may be with us if we offend our God But though he should bring them downe every day more and more and suffer them no more to insult yet can he bring judgements upon us by other meanes he may let us pray he doe not cause disunity to arise among our selves which may breede us much misery he may bring in enemies by Sea upon us where a more fitting place in all the Kingdome considering our security nakednesse of weapons and unpreparednesse and withall the many open secret and unknowne enemies and disaffected ones and hollow-hearted luke-warme and men not earing which way things goe that are among us nay in authority and place ready to take part with any be they French Spanish Turks or Divels incarnate or what they will so they but oppose the Parliament they would be for them and these I say may work our ruine before ever we dream of them make our part o' th Countrey the seat of a more fearfull bloudy and destroying Warre then ever as yet either we or the Kingdome in any part have felt God in his mercy divert such judgements from us But if none of these punishments by War come upon us let us but call to mind the point we have in hand viz. That God hath variety of judgements c. and then continuing in our sins we can have but small hope to escape without punishment and the consideration of that may likewise answer that other objection namely that the maturity of our enemies sins as blasphemies c. may assure us of their destruction and so of our peace for we must know the Lord can both destroy them and us if we be wicked yea though them by us yet may we be destroyed by other meanes for in that we are made instruments to bring them to ruine it is no ground or signe that we shall not be destroyed Isa 10.12 See that place in the Margent But againe many say The Lord is a mercifull God and will not deale with us after our deserts Objection though we by our sins have and doe still provoke his incomprehenble Majesty and so deserve no other favours then continuall miseries yet for his Names sake and Covenants sake c. he will spare us and suffer us still to enjoy peace and quietnesse Answer Passim caelebratur paterna ejus bonitas voluntas ad benesicientiam proclivis sed exempla traduntur severitatis quae justum scelerum ullo rem esse ostenâ—â—nt praesertim ubi tolerantia-sua contra obstinatos nihil proficit Cal. Inst lib. 1. cap. 10 Sect. 1. Isa 48.11 That God is a mercifull God this Kingdoms experience may at large testifie and that he spares and will spare men deserving wrath for his owne sake the Scripture doth * witnesse as likewise that he is a just God a true God a God that will not suffer the least sinne to goe unpunished especially when men continue in sin and yet expect favour such men will suddenly cause the Lords patience to be out of date for he cannot endure that they should commit ill and expect that hee should patronage them for their ill by such meanes he is inforced to strike when he would not otherwayes he would be accounted as one of * them or such a one as they are ever Psal 50.21 co-partners with them in sin I could wish he had not the like cause to strike in this Countrey but I feare we by our sins have so far stir'd up his wrath that there is almost no remedy but that his ever-loving mercy must give place to justice in that the time of mercy hath not wrought those effects that he expects for it is alwayes expected that patience and long-sufferance should lead men to repentance which seeing we have altogether in a maner neglected not onely so but by his long-forbearance are lull'd asleep in security and in a strange manner because God hath formerly beene mercifull unto us perswade our selves that therefore he can or will be no otherwayes thus heaping up more sinnes in and by the same meanes which should draw us to repentance these our doings therefore I say duely marked may rather cause us feare that there is wrath laid up for us and that it shall suddenly be revealed against us then that the Lord will any longer continue his mercy and loving kindnesse unto us to spare us by diverting those plagues from us that he hath not only in store but in part executed upon many of our brethren who though their offences to mans sight seemed lesse then ours have already suffered more then we have done and therefore while we now see wrath against them notwithstanding of their former sufferings let us never flatter our selves with hope of immunity seeing we are in as great if not greater fault I le say no more but that I would have every one to know that God is mercifull but yet let them know that it is to such as hate or at least have a desire to hate and leave off sinning which when I see but in some reasonable manner practis'd among us I will then hope to see the Lords mercy not onely continued but encreased to us in the meane while I will trust in Gods mercy and hope the best but I will prepare and advise all I can to prepare to be ready at all times to undergoe what ever it shall please God to inflict upon
all this considered may serve to beat down those presumptuous vain thoughts of safety because of strong holds or any other temporall defence whatever But let us suppose that Walled Townes may free men from the stroake of War if it should be so that God should no more send the sword against those places that have already escaped have they for that cause to boast themselves in their iniquity or to presume upon freedom from punishment nay let them not doe so for God hath not his quiver so poorly furnished that he hath but one arrow or his armory so empty that he hath but one judgement but he hath many other which may by him be inflicted upon them although they escape the judgement of War how many places are consumed by fire which have escaped the ruine attending on War and seeing these things are daily heard of except they make a sanctified use of these examples they themselves are in danger to be made examples to others therefore let them take heed of security and vaine confidence in the arme of flesh seeing they know not what is reserved for them it may be when God hath given the cup of his fury to others to drink up that he will give the dregs to them to suck out most commonly those whom he long spares and on whom he hath bestowed the greatest favours those I say suffer the sorest when his judgements are once let loose against them however while men continue in their sins even the least creature is ready if commanded by God to rise up in armes against us and the least plague is sufficient punishment if but sent by God therefore let none desire againe to see the day of the Lords vengeance for it will be a gloomy day a day of darknesse and not light a day of sorrow and griefe to all that see it and feele it A fearfull thing it is to fall into the hands of God if he be provoked to wrath men may be withstood but who is able to withstand or stand before the Lord when he is angry little therefore doe they know what they doe who in a boasting manner vaunt of their strength as if they were not at all to be medled with when alas they are weak and easie to be throwne downe while they harbour within them their sins for they undermine their foundations weaken their strength and layes them open to all the miseries that fly abroad they unfortifie more then they can build up and make all the means and indeavours which are used to prevent dangers instruments to further what they should prevent they bring back againe the troubles past they cry aloud for vengeance to be poured down upon those who delight in them and at the last cause the most famousest places to be destroyed with utter destruction and overthrow Consider of this you that have been saved by your strong hold as hitherto and if you would not have your houses destroyed your wives ravished your daughters defloured your estates wasted the fire of God to consume you the pestilence to cut you off terrour to affright you in any of your habitations then repent and bewaile your sins and take warning by what you have already seen and by what you heare others doe feele and so iniquity shall not be your ruine which otherwayes will make your famous places as much disrespected as now admired and bring downe their glory Micah 6.16 and make them as a by-word and an hissing to all the earth for God will have a controversie with you Terra Sodomitica o lim tam fructibus quam substantia civitatum fortunata nuncautem omnis exust a at que habitatorum impietate fulminibus conflagrasse memoratur Josep de bellis Judaicis lib. 5. cap. 5. Luke 13.3 and will not show pity towards you as long as you harbour such a guest as he hates and will not show favour too or pity viz. Sin Thinke not to be spared for any splendour or outward beauty Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities about them were scituate in pleasant and fruitfull places yet for their sins were destroyed for the famousnesse of places is not regarded by God as long as within they are full of ravening and wickednesse we daily see how the sword and other of Gods judgements devoures as well one place as another and without partiality lies full low as well the lofty pallace as the humble cottage populous cities are spared no more then peoplelesse villages what therefore can more men to thinke of immunity To concludes me thinke that Doctrine laid downe so plainly without exception by him who being Truth it selfe cannot die viz. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish should be a sufficient warning to all men to stir them up from sin and security for if men would but seriously ruminate upon it there could no objection or thought arise concerning hope of freedom from punishment which the very repeating it over would not answer and beat back how and by what meanes it is not fet downe that men may be prepared at all times and upon all occasions but if they continue in their sins without repentance that they shall perish nothing more certaine who then can say we shall escape who can promise safety to himselfe and Countrey let none cry peace when there is no peace nor let any hearken to a voyce of peace so long as the cry of sin is so loud for my part I wish this Countrey peace and I wish that all places that have not suffered may still enjoy peace and those that are free from sufferings may continue free but as yet I dare not promise to them that peace I wish them I dare not say the Lord hath said you shall no more heare the sound of the trumpet the alarme of War c. or if I could yet durst I not say the Lord had no more judgements in store for you I say I dare not say it for neither I nor any have assurance of it but rather the contrary because of the abounding of sinne in every place why should I flatter any to make them think they were in an happy condition when they are miserable why should I nuzzle men in security or make them put far from them the evill day when it may be neare at hand what I have said and will say is to stir up men from security and therefore feare the Lord for he hath still judgements in store to punish if men by their sins offend and provoke him CHAP. VIII Because God hath variety of Judgements it behooves aâ— men to prepare at all times to suffer Videntur omnia repentina graviora Tuscul Quest lib. 3. Multa sunt incommoda in vita quae sapientes commodorum compensatione leniunt Cie Sent. lib. 1. num 14. THat is alwayes the sharpest and hardest to be borne that comes suddenly before men be aware sudden falls unforeseene and feared breed great confusions and miserable events
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
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
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
with delight then shall even this mercy become one way or other a judgement unto them either by hardning their hearts to their destruction or by it to take away all occasion of excuse that so way may be made either to bring some other judgements upon them or else Warre againe in a more fearfull manner which God in his greaâ— mercy divert Amen AN ADDITION TO THE FAITHFULL SCOUT HAving long since finished the foregoing Treatise being hindred by some occasions from publishing of it then now since I brought it to the Presse it pleas'd God to dispose of our Affaires in these Northerne parts that Feares have taken hold of many that which I in the foregoing Treatise give warning of that in some sort seemes to be approaching Now therefore seeing I have begun to give warning although I have neither â—easure nor meanes to doe what I would and these actions were fitter Subjects for more learned pens yet I will say something to the Kingdom concerning these second Northerne Expeditions for though the eye of my judgement be but dim me thinkes to me they are as a Prospect-glasse whereby I see things as yet far off which have some reference not onely to this part but to the whole Kingdome and that concerning no meane matter but the welfare or woe of the Kingdom either an happy conclusion by a settled Peace or a bloudy confusion by a new waged War For my part as I never did so now I doe not much fear the Disloyalty of our Brethren but yet what God may do by them for the correction of us for sin I know not our abominations may so far incense him against us that he may make our dearest and most faithfull friends our deadly enemies and raise another Spirit of disunity among us and cause us to scourge one another untill we be destroyed one by another As to set Ephraim against Manasseh and Manasseh against Ephraim and they both against Judab untill a finall desolution overthrow us Isa 9.22 without recovery I know there are Jealousies and Feares in the Kingdome of our Brethren the Scots least they should revolt from that constancy which was supposed to be in them what I thinke concerning this matter I shall briefly declare and because I cannot expresse it better use the Words of one Writing upon the same Matter and these they are That If they be faithlesse Mr. Withers Vox Pacifica Cant. 2. pag. 57. and we shall be true God shal with shame vengeance send them home If we unfaithfully our Vowes pursue Possessors of out Land they shall become In spight of all our Policies and Power Here they shall settle whither they were set To doe the work of God who will take care For to requite the kindnesse we forget But if without hypocrisies and guiles We Brethren-like shall strengthen one another In setting up his Throne within these Isles By and in whom we seeme now knit together Both shall thereby that happinesse enjoy Which all the Powers on earth shall not destroy God hath been pleas'd to make way to bring in many blessings by their meanes to this Nation and likewise to correct many in these parts severely by them they being as a two-edged sword have cut both wayes destroying our enemies and correcting our friends if wee have but thankful hearts for the blessings we have received by them and with all take warning by those sufferings we have undergone by their being among us we need not feare bu all will be well that God will perfect the begun work and settle us in peace to our everlasting joy But on the contrary if wee either ascribe the honour due to God to them or murmure for those corrections which have been sent upon us or forget them and grow proud and secure now they are over we may by these doings greatly provoke the Lords wrath against us even perhaps to make them Instruments to consume at the least sharply to correct us We and they are entred into a Solemne League and Covenant binding our selves one to another as much as lies in us not onely to continue but to increase brotherly love and amity betwixt the Nations this Covenant is no triviall thing seeing it was taken so solemnely before the Lord of heaven and earth whom we call'd to witnesse with our hearts our reall intentions herein Let us take heede that in businesses of such weight we mocke not God beware least we breake it upon any pretence what ever for if it were contrary to Gods Word or needlesse why were we so bold as to attempt it if it were and be agreeable to the Word of God how dare we neglect it or how dare any thinke it a piece of piety not to take it as too many doe yet indeed better it is not to take it Eccles 5â—5 then not to make conscience of keeping it when it is taken as alas to our great shame and I feare woe at last many thousands have done among us which will be a strong provocation to move the Lord against us for the breach of this will be an aggravation to all our other sins for as much as we entred into this Covenant to the end to keep us from sin and yet notwithstanding of it continues in sin if we doe it without repentance we may justly expect God will raise up some as I said before perhaps those that are joyned in Covenant with us to revenge the dishonour done unto him by our mocking him for if we wilfully breake our Covenant why may not he justly breake the unity betwixt us Oh therefore if ever we desire to see the Kingdomes continue In a firme and irrefragable unity let us both repent unfainedly and that speedily of our breach of Covenant and likewise for the time to come endeavour to be more carefull and more zealous to keep it then heretofore we have been Me thinkes the bitter malicious and wicked taunts of our bloud-thirsty enemies should be sufficient to cause us to beware how we doe any thing which in the least manner may tend to breake this unity doe we not yet see how by the occasion onely of these supposed feares which scarcely can be said to be reall jealousies they seem to gather heart and in a scoffing manner can say See now the trustinesse of your Brethren in whom you put so much confidences c. Oh! what cause of rejoycing would it be to the enemies of the Truth to see the knot of amity broken betwixt us how ardently they long after it what base wicked and untrue slanders are raised if it be possible to effect it the Divell all his instruments bestir themselves to bring it to passe it is now their maine designe yea of both the open enemy and the secret Papist and Schismatick for if the unity hold they know there is small hope for them to prevaile there is no better way to keep it undissolvable then to keep our selves close to God by walking in the
the Lord may no more speake unto us after that manner Exod. 20.20 or in such terrible sort but rather by our actions say with those godlesse men When will the day of the Lord come Let it make haste that wee may see it Isa 5.19 c. which doth evidently demonstrate unto us that as yet we are in the number of those stubborne ones for whom the Lord hath many fearfull plagues in store And as our fearlesse carriages so our untameable actions notwithstanding of Gods judgements threatned and executed doe testifie to our faces that we are as yet a stubborne and rebellious people even surpassing men and places of extreme wickednesse Idolatrous Ahab a Tyrant and a brazen-fac'd Varlet at the denouncing of judgements against him by Elijah at the length humbled himselfe in sackcloath and ashes 1 King 21.25 26 27. Ionah 1.2 3.5 6 7 c. and became some what like a repentant Nineveh a wicked city and a place of all manner of heathenish Idolatry pride and oppression c. yet at the preaching of Jonah repented and no doubt but for a while they somewhat amended of their former courses But we have not onely plagues denounced and threatned against us but for our abominations executed upon us and yet have not we left our evill wayes nay not so much as humbled our selves for them but still look as high as ever and oppresse and tyrannize over the poore and guinde their faces by extortions and squeeze them like spunges to fill our owne bottles and proudly presume upon our owne wayes to follow them at our pleasure without controllment but in very deed such deeds as these will proclaime us wicked and will cry loud unto the Lord to cause him arise to heare the sighings and teares of the needy Psal 12.5 and come down in wrath upon us to deliver them and in the meane time while we retaine them unrepented of we may assure our selves that by them we are liable to other of Gods judgements which he hath in readinesse to powre downe upon us when he pleaseth Againe â—â—uly it is a token of small amendment when men after they have been corrected still proudly and undecently carry themselves towards the people of God and such as desire to live blamelesse amidst a crooked and froward generation I wish by examination wee could finde none such among us but there stands need of no candles to sâ—arch in corners for them seeing they are assoone to be found as flyes in Summer for daily wee may hear them railing upon nick-naming scornefully using and deriding such whose care exceeds the common sort in religious performances and what is this but a mocking of God himselfe and shamefully making it appeare that yet our hearts are estranged from the truth and that our love is yet far short of what the Lord requires towards himselfe or people for while we thus despise our brethren whom we do see how can we love our God whom we see not Alas 1 Iohn 4.20 it iâ—â—â— câ—â—â—pity that the forme corrections which we have had have wrought no more love in us or how ever have no better reformed us but that as yet we should make mocking stocks of those whom God loves O me thinkes the woefull effects that followed Ishmaels mocking of holy Isua should have deter'd us from this sin Gen. 21.9 much more when we had both his example and Gods judgements to affright us but still I say it hath not but as much bitternesse and hate is against them as ever as little love or affection to them as ever as much striving to defame them as ever as much mocking them for their holy performances as ever therefore assuredly thiâ— sin among the rest will be a further provocation to cause the Lords wrath to arise to send some other plagues besides those we have already felt upon us And if we looke againe upon our wayes by unpartiall examination we shall finde unthankfulnesse for our deliverances which God hath wrought for us among the rest of our sins which can never escape without further punishment the Lord hath in some good measure caus'd our enemies to fall from among us and hath let us see our desires upon them in a word the limbs of Antichrist are cut off and brought into subjection as much or more with us then in any place of the Kingdome yet we forget to rejoyce with an holy joy Rev. 18.20 because God hath avenged us of them or to ascribe or render salvation and glory and honour and power unto the Lord our God whose judgements are true and righteous Chap. 19.1 2 and who hath judged the great Whore and her adherents and hath avenged the bloud of his servants at her hands this wee have so fane neglected to doe that some among us are sorry it is done and few I feare esteeme of it as such a blessing as indeed it is which cannot chuse but be very displeasant to God who alwayes expects at the least thankfulnesse from those for whom he workes deliverances and ever takes notice how they doe show their thankfulnesse and if they neglect he will punish their ingratitude with other punishments Thus the Lord made a promise to David and his seed he promised that the enemy should not exact upon him c. and that he would beat dawne his foes before his face and plague those that hated him Psal 89.22 Yet saith he if his children forsake my Laws and walke not in my judgement Ver. 23. c. then will I punish their transgressions with the rod and their iniquity with stripes And that which the Lord promised there in favour Ver. 32. wee may justly expect to be performed aganist us in wrath even because we forget to render to the Lord due thankfulnesse c. that he will come upon us with other plagues to visit our neglect severely for nothing more certaine then that such a sinne at one time or other shall be punished Moreover we are to know that it is no small provocation to cause the Lord bring upon us other judgments when as now while we have time and fit opportunity without interruption or hinderance we doe not reforme those abuses in Church and State which have so long been displeasant to God and offensive to good people and for to have liberty to doe which we have so long stood ingaged in military affaires I am loath to give the least occasion of wrangling to those who hatefully and scoffingly aske what we have been doing all this time and for what did we fight c. because that Reformation which we have so long expected is not perfected But this I must needs say that I much marvell that so many needfull things which might in these parts that are freed from all apposites that are able to resist be performed are so long left undone to let passe many things and instance in one whose neglect it is