c. God cals to this office sometimes men of greater birth and estates as this Isaiah sonne of Amoz sometimes poorer as Amos a poore Neat-heard of Tekoah Amos 1. 1. which two names a Robustus fortis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Onustus durus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hie◠in Isa 1. differ much both in the Hebrew writing and signification Isaiah prophesied above sixty yeers to a stubborne people of the Jewes that profited little so did Hosea to Israel above seventy yeers yet would not leave off his Ministry to leave off ones Ministry because he cannot see it doe that good which he wisheth saith old Latimer is a naughty a very naughty deed After all his toile and paines he was sawne asunder by his neere Kinsman let us learne to be content though ill rewarded by men seeing this Evangelicall and noble Prophet was so used after so long and great paines for their soules good The summe of the Prophesie is a discovery of the abominations of the Jewes and of Gods judgements against the impenitent for those finnes together with a promise to the Elect and prophesie of the Lord Jesus Christ his birth life death resurrection ascension and intercession In this chapter the Lord holds out Christ full of beauty and bounty goodnesse and pitty ver 1. 10. exhorteth the Jewes to prize and praise him ver 10. 13. but foreseeing their contempt and rejecting of such an invaluable mercy he denounceth heavy judgements against them ver 13. to the end whereof my Text is part In which consider first the punisher the Lord secondly the punishment battell war with the fruits of it robbing firing spoyling c. And thirdly the punished not Heathens but the Members of Gods visible Church Jacob Israel fourthly the meritorious cause of this punishment sinne and disobedience neglecting Gods wayes fifthly the Peoples incorrigiblenesse and unprofitablenesse under all this they consider not nor lay it to heart I will graspe as much together as I can and collect some observations as suitable to the Text occasion and time as with conveniency I may And first this Observ 1. That warre with the fruits thereof robbing firing spoyling are very sad and heavy calamities yet such as may befall a Nation professing the true Religion Observ 2. That when such warres befall such a Nation it 's God that sends them and gives up a people to them Who gave Israel to the robbers did not the Lord Observ 3. When ever God sends such warres and calamities on such a Nation their sinnes and iniquities were the procuring and meritorious cause Observ 4. That when a people have such judgements poured upon them by God and yet doe not consider rightly thereof and lay it to heart it much provokes and angers God For the first that the strength of battell robbing firing and spoyling are sad calamities it needs no further proofe it 's too apparent already I may say of this as our Saviour Luke 4. 21. this day is this Scripture fulfilled in your eares yet that this point may prove more usefull to us let me a little cut it up and shew you the miseries of warre first by the precedents or occasions of it secondly the nature of it thirdly the consequents especially of a civill warre such as ours now is And first for the occasions of warre I will name some as it 's a sad thing when King a and people fall out and clash one with another till one weaken another and endanger the ruine of both thus Abimilech and the men of Sechem the Lord sent an evill spirit of dissention betwixt them Judg. 9. 22 23. after Abimilech had raigned a while ere long both parties took up armes so as no man could safely travaile on the high-way because of the Souldiers ver 25. the event of this warre was this first the people were ruined ver 44. the City destroyed and sowne with salt ver 45. the Tower a strong hold of Sechem burnt and a thousand men and women in it ver 49. and ere long the King was ruined and that dishonourably ver 53 54. a sad and heavy case to see a body tearing out its owne bowels to see a Kingdome like Judas or Achitophel making it selfe away when the Lord sends a spirit of perversities amongst a people Isa 19. 14. the Lord hath mingled a spirit of perversities c. Secondly it 's a sad thing when Courtiers and favourites of a King who much mind not any Religion yet come to Church and perhaps take a Protestation the better to please men and keep their places a while but as soon as they espie their time take advantage upon a King and labour to seduce draw his heart from God and his truth to idolatry and to raise up armes and make warre upon his Subjects and this hath been done see 2 Chron. 23. 16. in Jehojada's dayes the Courtiers and people entred into Covenant to be the Lords people and opposed idolatry ver 17. but assoon as Jehojada was dead 2 Chro. 24. 15. the flattering CGurtiers with their congies obeysance and cringes vowing they would serve King Joash for ever ver 17. and espying their advantage with the King wrought upon his nature and drew him away with them from the pure worship of God ver 18. but see what warres followed and what became of those Courtiers ver 23. Yea sometimes a Queen the wife of his bosome may draw a King away as Jezabel to Ahab that was an high addition to all his other sinnes that he took Jezabel to wife 1 King 16. 31. and there was none like him whom his wife Jezabel stirred up b 1 Kin. 21. 25 so Solomon's wives 1 King 11. 3 7 8. and rending his Kingdome followed upon it ver 11 13 14 c. so Ezra 9. 2. 14. thus the Sonne of godly Jehosaphat did evill because led away by a bad wife 2 Chron. 21. 6. we read 2 Chron. 22. 1. that the c So the people met to make Rehoboam King 1 King 12. 1. See Deut. 17. 14 15 c. people made Ahaziah King called Jehoahaz 2 Chron. 21. 17 and Azariah 2 Chron. 22. 6. but two things drew him away a bad mother and her bad kinred and Counsellours 2 Chron. 22. 3 4. if not a third 2 Kings 8. 27. and these cause warres and divisions Thirdly it 's a sad thing when some young flattering Courtiers be neer about the King that perswade him to stand upon his points and prerogative and not to condiscend to his Subjects petitions at all but either to rule by his own will an arbitrary government or else venture his Kingdom and all thus did Rehoboam's young Counsellours 1 King 12. Solomon was the wisest of meer mortals he had a thousand Wives and Concubines 1 King 11. 3. and yet had but one sonne and he foolish when his Subjects came humbly petitioning his Majestly Rehoboam takes the advice of Malignant young Counsellours who tell him would I have my neck
The three Kingdomes Case OR Their sad Calamities together with Their CAVSES and CVRE Laid down in a SERMON PREACHED AT A Publique Fast at Kingston upon Hull With some very remarkable Passages of Providence worthy of generall Observation By JOHN SHAWE M. A. sometimes of Christs Colledge in Cambridge and now Lecturer at Hull aforesaid JER 12. 10 11 12. They have made my pleasant portion a desolate wildernesse being desolate it mourneth unto me the whole land is made desolate because no man layeth it to heart the spoylers are come upon all high places through the wildernesse for the sword of the Lord shall devoure from one end of the land even to the other c. no flesh shall have peace Nullus ferè credit quod propter peccata nostra variis modus Deus animadvertat in homines hujus secule maior pars securè praeterit quaecunque profert Deus irae suae iudicia alii fortunae tribuunt quae videntur in orbe conversiones ac mutationes in summâ pauci sunt vel propemodum nulli qui manifesta dei iudicia expendant Aug. Plectimur à Deo nec flectimur tamen corripimur sed non corrigimur Salv. London Printed by T. B. for John Bartlet and are to be sold at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at the Signe of the gilt Cup under Saint Austins Gate 1646. To the Christian and wel-affected READER especially to my worthy and loving friends both the Inhabitants within the Town and Country of Kingston upon Hull and also the Parishoners of Bradfield in the West-riding of Yorkshire Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied Christian Readers and friends I Have looked with Elijah's servant more then seven times to see what would be the issue of these troubles 1 Kin. 18. 43. and I long since espied a great cloud bigger then his ver 44. yea like that ver 45 and trembled because of this matter and for the great 〈◊〉 Ez. 10. 9. my self have felt neither few nor small drops of these troubles as you know and truly stil if I did not see that the great and wise God had a speciall hand in carrying on and ordering al these wars and combustions I yet see so much malice private spleen even in those who return home and sit still such factions scisms and upon any occasion apostacies in a word so much of that many-headed Monster Selfe yet in the Kingdomes that I could hardly expect fair quiet sun-shine dayes of long but that the Lord raigneth and therefore may the earth rejoyce and this poor Island be glad thereof Psal 97. 1. I have in the ensuing lines opened and applied as I could what the word and sword my Text and times hold out unto you My Text tels of war plunderings spoilings which a In locum Hierom refers to the overthrow of Jerusalem after Christ by Titus because the Jewes rejected Christ the Son of God and salvation by him ostendens ferociam Romanorum saith he in populum Judaeorum qui idcirco punitus est quia Dei filium non recepit Piscator refers to the troubles of the Jewes by Zenacherib and the Assyrians Calvin to the plague famine wars and all such miseries laid on them by the Lord at severall times others to Nebuchadnezzars desolating wars and the Jewes seventy yeers captivity Musculus to the war and misery which Israel endured by the Philistines Idumaeans Amorites Moabites Syrians Assyrians c. notwithstanding all which troubles Israel could not be perswaded that sin was the cause but either chance or because they wanted their number of men and were not strong enough but the Prophet prophesieth sin to be the true cause and confesseth that he living among them had contracted sinne and guilt so as that he had a hand in bringing downe these Judgements we have sinned yet presently in the same verse changeth the person his sin not being so wilfull contemptuous and perserved in as theirs ver 24. they would not walk yet in these sad wars and combustions of ours in England like those in the Text I see some grounds of hope as first a budding generation comming up hungring and gasping after Christ and the means of grace a good signe that God is not leaving our land but that the time of the promise drawes nigh Acts 7. 17. Isa 49. 20 21. Secondly many active and eminent spirits raised up like Moses Aaron Phineas like Zerubbabel and Joshua for the work of the Lord in Church and State with boldnesse Hag. 1. 12 14. Jer. 50. 2. Micah 5. 5. Thirdly cleerer light shines in the Kingdom even by contentions which satan stirs up to overthrow the truth and in many dark corners Dan. 12 4. adde to these that the iron and clay break asunder daily Dan. 2. 41 42. and the stone cut out without hands growes more and more Dan. 2. 43 44 45. and I see all this carried on above and contrary to the power and policy of the subtillest heads by the mervailous hand of God Zach. 4. 6. let me to the only praise of the wonder-working God and the better to perpetuate the memories of his miracles of mercies to this Town of Kingston upon Hull which place if ever any is most infinitely indebted to God who hath shewed mercies indeed to other places but to this town miracles let me I say instance in some particular mercies which God hath afforded to this town wherein it appears that God himself hath bared his arme and saved it beyond and contrary to the wit and will of the subtillest enemies and seeming friends and made the very enemies to help on your safety and their owne ruine as appears first in that a little before these wars began your Castle and block-houses were out of repair and too much through long peace and dis-use unfit for service upon which pretence some of the Kings Coachmen begged them of the King and sued you for them whereupon you presently repaired them which Forts thus on this occasion repaired helped now to keep out the Kings party Secondly whereas formerly you had no draw-bridges to keep out an enemy Captain W. Legge and others of that party caused draw-bridges to be made about the Town on purpose to keep out our Brethren of Scotland when first they came into this land for our assistance but these bridges kept out Captain Leg and that party Thirdly Arms were also sent hither for above 20000. men under the managing of the said Cap. Leg after that a Garrisonof 1000. should here planted having not bin any here for many yeers before under the command of Sir Tho. Glenham by the direction advice of the Earl of Strafford for the same purpose aforesaid and yet all this turned to keep out that very party Fourthly in the dawning of these troubles Captain Leg being setled in this Town and having this strength and power aforesaid and the Earl of Newcastle being also sent hither by the King with his Commission to be Governour here
that good to us in Isa 14. 2. that Gods people take them captives whose captives they were and rule over their oppressors but the time warns me let this serve for the first point and I will dispatch the rest in few or else prorogue them The next is Observ 3 That when wars plunderings c. befall a Nation it 's God that sends them that gives up a people to them 2 King 24. 3. 2 Chron. 15. 5 6. Amos 3. 3. the enemies are Gods rod Isa 10. 5. Gods sword Psal 17. 13. Gods battle-Axe Jer. 51. 20. And this is not without reason if we look at Gods glory on his peoples benefit Reas 1 First at Gods glory he hereby manifests wisdome in discovering the cowardly trecherous and rotten-hearted the plots of open enemies and falshoods of seeming friends are in times of wars and plunderings much discovered many such visions like that Ezek. 8. 8. hath God revealed to us Secondly his power that he can make medicines of poysons bring light out of darknesse and much good to his people and Church by wars and losses 2 Chron. 12. 9. and in the first time eft times as worst as Isaac deliver them 1 Cor. 10. 13. 2 Pet. 2. 9. make devouring Whales and Lyons help and save them as Jonah Daniel Thirdly his love when the wars and spoilers have left them nothing but a God to live upon yet oft times then have they most enlarged full comfort as John in Patmos c. Apostles Acts 4. â—â—â— Reas 2. In regard of his people God suffers plunderers and that First hereby to put them in mind of their former abuse of their houses lands estates and liberties therefore suffers them to be plundered of them and to teach them to prize and value them better another time and God in them Secondly to prevent some spirituall disease or sore evil that he sees would else grow upon them perhaps pride carnal security loosnesse therefore he hedgeth their way with these thornes Hos 2. 14. 2 Cor. 12. 7. Thirdly to quicken them to duties with more heat to cry more heartily Hos 5. 15. to take away their scum Ezek. 24. 6. to make them shine brighter Dan. 11. 34 35. Isa 4. 3 4. Zech. 13. 8 9. Isa 1. 25 26. 27. 9. and other such good ends which I have formerly mentioned Vse 1. To apply it briefly first art thou robbed plundered spoiled look up higher then man as Job did Job 1. 21. 2. 10. as David 2 Sam. 16. 10. Psal 39. 9. not like dog at the stone Vse 2. Snarl not but learn patience it is God hath done it who is just and wise who may doe what he will who will doe what is best it 's a fathers cup and rod any thing on this side hel is mercy thou art no poorer yet then thou came in and must goe out of the world Consider first such a submitting patient frame of heart God loves and likes and looks for 2 Sam. 15. 26. secondly such a frame of spirit hath a promise of ease and delivery Levit. 26. 41 42. thirdly with such submission cast thy care on God and thou needest take no distracting care in the worst times 1 Pet. 5. 6. Phil. 4. 5 6 7. Vse 3. Is it God here is a cordial in the worst times he can take off these spoilers plunderers again who sent them when he will go to him he can hook back a Zenacherib bring down a Pharaoh Herod Haman when he pleaseth by Angels Stars winds rains above by Lyons Whales lice frogs c. below weak means contrary means no means Job 34. 20. when past hope in mans eye Deut. 32. 36 as Isaac Jonab c. wait on God then in these hardest times and comfort we our selves for first are there not a great number of Abels slain whose blood cries under the Altar Revel 6. 9 10. and will not God avenge his elect speedily Luke 18. 7 8. Jer. 51. 35. Secondly many Saints though dead have left prayers for these times and for this work who sowed what others must reap John 4. and laid the first stone of this work and these prayers are upon the fyle Thirdly there are many thousand Saints alive for whom God will doe much as for ten righteous in Sodom for the wheats sake yea many young ones comming on and we use not to execute a woman while great with child the Lord often blesseth a Potiphar a Labans house for a Joseph a Jacob's sake when the great men of a Kingdom be in a combustion yet the Saints then are the strength of a Land Zech. 12. 5 6. Fourthly we have a thousand of wrastling prayers goe to God daily for this cause if one poor widow can so prevail with an unjust Judge Luke 18. one Jacob Gen. 32. 26. how much more the Armies of prayers that begirt Heaven the thing that we aime at that Christ may raign is the desire of the godly in all Nations Haggai 2. 6 7. Fifthly we have many sweet experiments tastes and beginnings of what we desire already the bush is not consumed two Kingdomes reconciled much done already many grievous yoaks we are freed from Sixthly Gods Name is much engaged in this work Exod. 32. 12. Numb 14. 15 16. Seventhly enemies sins ripen apace Gen. 15. 16. Zech. 5. 9. Ephah fils apace Vse 4. Learn to profit under Gods rod and that first by seeking our wayes more then formerly Haggai 1. 7. Lam. 3. 40. you hear my haste secondly accept the punishment meekly Micah 7. 9. Levit. 26. 41. thirdly learn obedience Heb. 12. 10. 5. 8. fourthly learn reformation Josh 7. Isa 9. 13 14. Hos 6. 1. fiftly prize mercies more hereafter and use them better For first this is Gods end when he sends these robbers and troubles Zeph. 3. 5 7. secondly it was the Churches way Davids Psal 13. 1. Isa 26. 9. thirdly then the plaster will fall off c. But to end it Vse 5. Lastly art thou thy friends or Church distressed look up at him for cure that made the wound meet God Amos 4. 12. seek his face 2 Chron. 7. 13 14. Psal 80. 3. yea cry to God for help now for first the enemies are very cruel Ps 83. 3 4. secondly Church in much need like a woman in travail ready to bring forth an excellent birth but a Dragon stands ready to devour it Revel 12. many are like those wicked spirits Mark 9. when they see they must be cast out they rend all though a Kingdom in pieces thirdly God expects thy cries for his sick Spouse Ezek. 36. 37. fourthly Church expects and cals for it Isa 51. 18. Lam. 1. 1 2 17. But may I but have leave to give you a brief of what I should have said to the other points and I have done Observ 3. Jacobs sins and iniquities are the procuring and meritorious causes of Jacobs punishment Micah 6. 9. Jer 9. 12. Lam. 3. 4. Isa 59. 1 2. and no wonder
Reas 1 first it 's but just that God should send plunderers and spoilers to rob us when we by sin doe what in us lyes to plunder God of his Sabhaths of his pure worship of his praise of his obedience of his goods our souls and body Secondly sin gives God the lye it is so saith God it 's not saith sin let me have my will saith God nay but I will have my will saith the sinner There is no peace to the wicked saith God I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of my own heart saith the sinner Such and such persons cannot be saved saith God 1 Cor. 6. 10. oh but they shall saith the sinner thirdly sin would take away Gods soveraignty a wicked wretch could with there was no God and will not have Christ to rule over him fourthly sin crosseth the nature of God he is not only holy but holinesse not onely righteous but righteousnesse Jer. 23. 6. but sin is unrighteousnesse it 's a very opposition to infinite truth and justice c. fiftly sin kicks God upon the bowels abuseth infinite kindnesse patience for which of my good works doe you stone me wherein have I wearied you c. no wonder then if this procure sore punishments A word or two of Application shall shut up this point Vse 1. See then whom to blame for all the miseries that have and still doe befall us all the Nations in the world could not have put us into that condition that our sins have and that justly we but drink as we brewed cleer God in all he hath done nothing without a cause Vse 2. It informs as also who is the greatest Malignant in all England Scotland Ireland c. truly sin there are bad Courtiers but sin is worse else all hel could not have made us thus miserable and distracted Vse 3. Let this shew us sin in a right glasse and hereby learn to hate and leave it we may say of this war as Zipporah of Meses a bloody war hast thou been unto me in which some have lost their husbands some their sons some their friends some their estates but then chiefly say oh bloody sins that caused all this There are four glasses wherein I would shew you the basenesse of sin First in the rise and spring of it it 's a bastard whereof the Devil is the father mans naughty heart the mother who would nurse such a brat c. Secondly in the nature of it it 's a thwarting and crossing God and his law to his face Thirdly q See two clean Birds by way of comparison dirt poyson crosses Devill hell are nothing so ill as sinne but shadowes of it c. fourthly in the effects of it see what misery it brought upon Angels Secondly Adam thirdly Sodom fourthly old world fiftly what troubles on Jesus Christ sixtly on all the world to this day it 's a make-bate and break-peace every where in Heaven earth and hel Vse 4. Exhorts us as ever we would have war removed sword sheathed wounds healed break off our sins by repentance would you like it to see your Town robbed and spoiled your channels run with blood your houses plundered if not forsake your sins that procure these then first acknowledge 1 Iohn 1. 9. Hos 5. 15. thy sinne Psal 32. 5. and thy worthinesse to perish forthy sin come before the Lord like Benhadad with ropes about your necks say Lord if thou wilt condemne me here I am thou shalt need no other witnesse acknowledge thy sins national personal inside and out-side Secondly break off thy darling sin that is a main work this fasting day Isa 58. it 's not consessing like Judas or sackcloath with Ahab will serve without this Isa 1. 11 15. Thirdly doe the contrary good Matth. 21. 29. repenting was expressed in the sonnes doing the contrary to his former finnes Fourthly mourn lend a tear to a poor sick mother when we are almost robbed of our God of our King of our Religion and our liberties of our estates of our friends and lives and 〈◊〉 still in many 〈◊〉 the growing hand should we now make 〈◊〉 1. Ezek. 21. 6. be not insensible but a word of this in the next point and an end Which is Observ 4. That when God pours these sore calamities of war spoiling c. aforementioned upon a people he expects they should be sensible of affected with them and mourn under them and is very angry and displeased if they doe not lay them to heart and no wonder for first God cals for this mourning temper when he afflicts a people Isa 22. 12. Rom. 12. 15 16. secondly Church cals for it have pitty upon me have pitty upon me Job 19. 21. Lam. 2. 18 19. thirdly God complains when we are not affected with the rod when we lay it not to heart Hos 7. 9. Amos 6. 6. Obad. v 12 13. so doth the Church also complain for want thereof Lam. 1. 12. fourthly the Saints of God have laid Gods rod sore to heart when it hath layen on their brethren though themselves have been free thus Nehemiah though he had provision wine c. enough and was servant in ordinary to the highest Potentate on earth Neh. 1. 3 4. 2. 2 3. so Daniel one of the highest subjects on earth see how he is affected with the Churches calamities Dan. 10. 3. so Jer. 9. 1. witnesse his Lamentations see Vriah 2 Sam. 11. 11. see Elisha when he but foresaw the miseries that would come on Israel 2 King 8. 11 12. above all see Christ over Jerusalem Luke 19. 41 41. And reason good if we look at first God secondly our Brethren that suffer or thirdly our selves Reas 1. In regard of God it 's he that strikes his rod his work his strange work and should we not be affected then if a father lash one child smite another chide a third shall not the rest lay it to heart a child of God trembles at his word Isa 66. 2. much more at his blows and judgments the Church trembled and were all afraid when but one or two were smitten Acts 5. 11. how much more when God strikes down thousands David cryes he was afraid of Gods judgements Psal 119. 120. Secondly in regard of God also because in plundering fighting robbing times there is much wickednesse committed against God see in our times what open wickednesse against both Law and Gospel what professed Atheisme against the first Commandement like him that was advised to leave sin else there was hel for him cried Tune credam cum illuc venero or that Souldier that on the one side of his shield as he fancied pictured the image of God with these words under it Si tu non vis on the other side the Devil and under it these words Isle rogitat if God will not the Devil will that was all that he cared So what open Idolatry against the second Commandement Atheists and Papists being combined
are slain and then what pitty to see how Rachel weeps because they are not another cries my Husband is slaine another comes like Jobs messengers and cries thy goods are plundered sheep and Cattel c. gone by the Sabeans c. Job 1. another is shot to death but lockt in the saddle swags up and down another hath his arme off leg off nose off hand off c. ah alas ten thousand pitties Corn-fields burnt houses Churches burnt down Isa 64. 10 11. Psal 74. 4 7. thumbs and toes cut off as in Adonibezek's time Judg. 1. 7. swords make women childlesse as in Agag's time 1 Sam. 15. 33. cruelty used to living yea and to the dead also Psal 79. 2. which a very Tacitus would have abhorred Reas 3. In regard of our selves First our sins have had as deep a share in bringing these judgments as any and shall we not be affected then with them then are we worse then the old Prophet was 1 King 13. 30. he hurt the young Prophet but then mourned Davids sins hurt the people Actions the Army the peoples sin hurt Vzzah 1 Chron. 13. 10. a bad stomack hurts a good head and shall we not mourn then as Daniel did in the like case Dan. 9. 5 6. Secondly because that which lies on others to day may be our case to morrow ille bodiè ego cras as Bernards good old man said the cup may passe unto us Lam. 4. 21. we may be forced to drink round of Gods cup Jer. 25. 28 29. 49. 12. say not they are greater sinners then we that are sharplier chastized Luke 13. 4 5. but lay it to heart as if we were in bonds Heb. 13. 3. Gal. 6. 1. But I must break up an Use or two therefore shortly and I have done Vse 1. Of reproof to many herein nigh a kin 20 Jacob to Israel that though we are thus given to the robbers and spoilers yet consider not yet lay it not to heart these are of divers sorts First they that are glad of it enâ—â—â—es cry down with us down to the ground Psal 137. 7. seeming friends that say hereby they get their wealth Acts 19. 25. Newters of Gallio's temper or of theirs 2 Sam. 2. 14. Obadiah ver 12. Psal 35. 15. Secondly they that are sensible of Jacobs troubles but impute them to a wrong cause they say as Barbarians of Paul or Job's friends of him Surely Iacobs cause is naught be goes in a wrong way else had never been so given up to the spoilers and robbers but oh see ere thou judge Judg. 20. 21 25. Thirdly they who are sensible of and affected with the crosse and trouble not the sin Fourthly they that make it appear they are not affected with our miseries and sins no not upon our humiliation fasting and mourning dayes for first some come not cannot spare time from work secondly other game card sport this day which is much more needlesse then work thirdly others feast this day purposely set up an anti-fast as well as an antiparliament see Isa 22. 12 13 14. Fifthly others take occasion this day while you are shut up here mourning and weeping and praying to haunt Ale-houses and whordome and pour more oaths out and more cups in then we pour out tears like brazen-faced Zimri when all the Congregation was weeping Num. 25. 6. Sixthly they that come hither and sit here but are not affected mourn not fasting days should be weeping days fasting and weeping used to be joyned together Neh. 1. 4. Est 43. 1 Sam. 7. 6. Joel 2. 12. many are very eager and earnest in buying in selling trading hunting coursing only mighty carelesse mindlesse in hearing praying and when they should be weeping Seventhly others weep mourn for a day but hold not out are not like wrastling Jacob or the importunate widow or like mourning Jeremy Lam. 3. 50. till God look down and heal his Church Now this insensiblenesse in these sad days this not laying these things to heart is first a walking contrary to God Isa 22. 12. Levit. 26. 40. secondly it argues much folly and blindnesse of mind Jer. 5. 3 4. thirdly much hardnesse of heart worse then Pharaoh Manasses Prodigall they in times of crosses relented Exod. 9. 27 28. 2 Chron. 33. 12. Luke 15. fourthly it 's a despising God let him smite and doe what he will saith the sinner I will not yeeld like Balaam will not turn back for all sword and miracle Numb 22. fiftly it argues a mervailous love of sin as the child that is whipping for playing with rattles will still play with them while he is on the knee whipping sure he loves them dearly as Balaam did the wages of unrighteousnesse so as word and sword could not turn him 2 Pet. 2. 15. sixtly it argues want of love to Christ 1 John 3. 17. 4. 20. seventhly want of love and zeal to Gods Cause Psal 74. 18 19. 79. 10 11. Vse 2. The second Use should have been for tryall whether we are rightly affected with Jacobs troubles first are we as much affected with them now as we were at the beginning of these wars secondly how are we afflicted on dayes of humiliation Levit. 23. 27. Ezek. 7. 16. thirdly are we affected with sin the cause of all these troubles fourthly doe we turn from our evil vvays and reform Jonah 3. 10. Vse 3. But to end lastly be exhorted this mourning day to consider and lay to heart Jacobs troubles as first the scattered dry bones of Germany secondly the Acheldema and tortures of Ireland thirdly the divisions of Scotland fourthly the plunderings in England fiftly the fury of battle and sword hacking hewing amongst us sixtly the destroying Angel the noysome pestilence in many places of our Land and Country seventhly the scisms rents old new errours in the Church eightly the encrease of sin daily of all kinds as light encreaseth there vvas light and knovvledge in King Edward the fixt his dayes more in Queen Elizabeths more still in King James his most in King Charles his dayes yet still sin encreaseth yet some doe not see some vvill not see some pretend to see that vvhich is not to be seen ninthly God dravvs neerer and neerer vvith his judgements and vvarnings begins novv to make his approaches intrench and make his batteries he began in Germany came on to Ireland then to Scotland then to England then to Yorkeshire then to the gates of Hull and that first mildlier vvhen the King came to the gates in April 1642. then sharplier in the first siege then more terribly in the second siege from vvhich you vvere delivered Octob. 11. 1643. bevvare the fourth time novv God knocks at the gates vvith a fear of the plague the King called in Anno 1642. the King of Kings knocks novv in 1645. tenthly the danger of continuing these troubles till all be dasht in pieces and many such like evils Qu. What should vve do Ans first ponder sadly the lands miseries the particulars the quantity the quality of them Psal 41. 1. secondly ponder thy ovvn evil vvays as sadly Psal 4. 4. Ezek. 36. 31. Lam. 3. 40. sift thy self for thy sins as the word is Zeph. 2. 12. when God sifts the Land Amos 9. 9. doe as the Prodigall return to thy self Luke 15. 17. thirdly clear God in all this and condemn thyself Ezra 9. 13. though thou art no rebel against the King yet against the Kings King thou hast been fourthly have a fellow feeling of thy brethrens miseries Heb. 13. 3. so as to pitty them in thy heart Jer. 4. 19 20. Lam. 3. 51. and pray for them with thy heart and tongue Isa 62. 3. help them in thy life mourn for them Neh. 1. 4. and look not only on them as Priest and Levite did but to thy power be a good Samaritan thirdly you that have power punish wickednesse and vice let it not be now when the Kingdom bleeds as a godly Divine saith as hard to pull down a base Ale-house Mast Bol. as to win Dunkirk c. Motives might be many but I will only hint at one or two and conclude First to lay to heart Jacobs troubles with the cause thereof is the way to save us in time of danger Ezek. 9. 4. when King Zedekiah would juggle on all sides mourning Ieremy speaks home and plain yet finds more favour from the Chaldeans heathen Army then Zedekiah and all the Nobles Jer. 39. 6 7 11 12. so Ester 4. 14. Secondly we have set apart this day to lay to heart Jacobs troubles let us doe the work that we came for Thirdly consider how Jesus Christ was and is affected with the churches miseries Luke 19. 41. Acts 9. 4 5. Fourthly how great things now lye at stake not an Army only new moulding but Kingdom c. but I to case you and myself break off with the sad complaint of mourning Jeremy Lam. 3. 48 49 50 51. Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people mine eye trickleth down and ceaseth not without any intermission till the Lord look down and behold from Heaven mine eye affecteth my heart because of all the daughters of my people FINIS Decem. 26. 1645. Impri JOSEPH CARYL