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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90725	The duty & honour of church-restorers: set forth in a sermon preached to the Honourable House of Commons, Septemb. 30. 1646. Being the day of the monethly solemne fast, at Margarets Westminster. / By Herbert Palmer, B.D. minister of Gods Word at Ashwell in Hertfordshire, and a member of the Assembly of Divines.	Palmer, Herbert, 1601-1647.	1646 (1646)	Wing P230; Thomason E355_22; ESTC R201122	56,005	70

he would have done much more if we had not provoked him in being wanting to our duties Oh that it might sadly lie upon all our hearts as private persons as publike as Magistrates and Ministers Governours of families Parliament men Assembly-men or who ever we are that the particularities in the Doctrines as they have been opened might affect us with our failings in devotion justice charity desires and endeavours for the Churches restauration and prosperity If we would lay them seriously to heart we could not but find great cause of lamentation that there are such wofull cries of so many oppressed souls of so many bodies ready to perish and souls also for want of mercy shewen to them Besides is there not in many parts of the Kingdome still perpetual desolation Countries that have been for many generations most of them like a howling wildernesse in reference to any spiritual building or builders among them And in how few places are any foundations raised up or rather are they not in many places much shaken or even ready to be blown up and many a breach never yet repaired but rather more increased many leaving their paths and habitations so far from paths being generally restored to dwell in And are we not every one of us too much guilty of these things If I know my own heart or if I know any thing of religion I know no body that is able to excuse them wholly before God of all these things so that the complaint that God makes against Israel when he would have reformed them may certainly be applied to us God will apply it with but the change of the phrase Hos 7.1 When I would have healed Israel then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered and the wickednesse of Samaria So may he most justly say When I would have healed England then the iniquity of the body of the Country and the wickednesse of the chief City and chiefest Persons was discovered witnes the rottennes of her pillars and the brittlenes of her walls the unsoundnes of her foundations Who would have thought there had been among us so many unsound Professors as have discovered themselves so many self-seeking pretenders of zeal for the publike good who have only regarded their private interests so many ungrounded unstable souls who believe nothing but what they have not heard contradicted love nothing but what serves their fancies and humours with whom Parliaments Assembly Covenant Confederate brethren Ministers Sacraments Sabbath Scriptures Christ himself and the Holy Spirit are all nothing And yet such Opposers are sometimes and by some spared pleaded for if not hugged and loved beyond the most deserving Patriots and most faithfull builders If we consider the Fasts we keep have we not cause to be humbled for our untoward humiliations for with how many are our Fasts grown a burden if not a reproach And if they do keep them at all may it not be said in another sence then the Prophet means it in the Text that they afflict their soules for a day they afflict themselves that they are forced to such unpleasant penances and even vexe at the time wherein they seem to give attendance upon the duties of the day And do not many also usually on this day find pleasure which they will have after they are once gone hence and though I am not with them in their houses to see it yet God is and he sees it in many even men may see many things that make it very suspitious yea are there not many that do professedly eat and that in the middle of the day even without the least shew of necessity to excuse them and so do not fast at all and I much doubt that many also exact their labours of their servants whatsoever they do themselves of which our thin Congregations upon these dayes give a sad cause of jealousie And in fine how few are there that make shew of any thing of all that they seem to regard in their humiliation and devotions beyond a day And if this be the general account of most of us upon these dayes we have then no cause to brag of our Fasts And what shall I say about Justice and Charity or Mercy My heart trembles to think upon a sad Dilemma that will necessarily lye upon our spirits it cannot be denied but that there is a great cry of injustice and oppression and unmercifulnesse now either this cry is causelesse and then those clamorous complainers are guilty of most unthankfull injustice or if they be true then are those against whom they are made guilty of great unthankfulnesse to God and of injustice with a witnesse Let us therefore consider a little what those cryes mean as Samuel said to Saul when he would needs have justified himself 1 Sam. 15. What means the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the Oxen that I bear what mean the outcries against Committees every where against those that have the administration of justice in their hands God of old complains of his Vineyard that when he looked for judgement behold oppression and for righteousnesse and behold a try Esay 5. Whatsoever there be he beholds and sees it and if there be any cry he hears it though men minde it not as himself tels us in the verse that follows the words lately quoted from Hos 7. For thus he saith Vers 2. And they consider not that I remember all their wickednesse now their own doings have beset them about they are before my face Let us therefore consider it I beseech you and particularly that which I cannot forbear remembring the loud clamours of poor men that say they have served the State of Souldiers and even Commanders their Wives Children Widowes Friends those that tell how they have ventured and given and lent and afforded their commodities and done service and are now ready to perish If there be any truth in these cryes and that there should be any supply found for them there is doubtlesse a great deal of cause to be humbled for it specially by all those that lay Gods Word to their hearts must we not remember and if we do can we chuse but tremble to think of it what the Apostle James speaks cap. 5. v. 4. It is a sad expression against the rich men of his time Behold the hire of the labourers which have reaped down your fields which is of you kept back by fraud crieth and the cries of them which have reaped are entred into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath If the hire of any hath not been kept back by fraud in one sense yet it may be in another if any have been paid only with promises or with delayes where means hath been to help them this is fraud specially to tell them there is no means to help them or promise them and fail so if there be means for others wh● need it lesse at the present and perhaps deserve it lesse and nothing be to be had for

and why he preserves it in beeing to build his Church in it the world and all things in it were made for the Church and are continued for the Church and therefore to be serviceable to the Church herein is to be imployed in Gods greatest designe which is worthily to be esteemed a great mercy Also it was Christs great work for which he came into the world to build his church throughout the world And though he doth it in a manner infinitely transcending our weaknesse yet he being pleased to take men as instruments into his hand and even to call men fellow workmen together with him 1 Cor. 3.9 and 2 Cor. 6.1 And Builders and even Saviours and Gods This is a very great favour and mercy that he doth afford unto such to set them awork about it and to prosper them in it Secondly R. 2 It is the End of all a mans life next unto a mans immediate attendance upon God and taking care of his own salvation to promote the Churches good in building and restauration God did not bring any of us into the world to enjoy honours or pleasures or to live to our selves but to be serviceable to the Church of God the very Heathens esteemed that a mans countrey challenged a main part of his life the Church may challenge much more of every Christian as a childe of hers and a member For God therefore to direct a mans imployment to a speciall serviceablenesse unto this great end of his life and to let him see his blessing withall that he doth really live to be profitable unto his Church is clearly a great mercy Thirdly R. 3 It is also the end of all offices relations gifts which God invests a man with And of all of these Eph. 4.11 12. He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists some pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministerie for the edifying of the bodie of Christ and 1 Cor. 12.7 The manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit withal which holds in proportion and degree in all those that are members of the Church who have every one of them somewhat whereby the Churches edification may be advanced what they have they have received it to this very end Therefore Prophesying is by the Apostle 1 Cor. 14.1 preferred before speaking with tongues as being more proper to edifie the Church withall and charitie as that which is the greater builder or the great spirit of the builders is made best of all Now to have a heart so filled with charity and with zeale as to improve all the gifts relations and offices unto Gods ends here must needs be a great mercy and so also to see an answerable successe Fourthly Reason 4 therefore also the memory of such as have been in such a manner serviceable to the Church hath been sacred as Iehojadahs and Hezekiahs and Iosiahs and Nehemiahs and others as we shall touch more anon when as the name of wicked men who have done hurt to the Church is rotten and doth stink as Ieroboams for instance who is scarce ever named in the holy story after his death but he is called Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat who made Israel to sin Now no man will question but it is a great mercy to have an honourable name both living and dying And this may suffice for the general meaning of the point Now for the particular reasons which relate to the several phrases Particular Reasons First it is a speciall mercy to be imployed in building the old waste places because doing such a good to a Nation generally or to particular places in a Nation which was never done before or not time out of minde is an act of marvellous compassion to men and after times of greatest zeale for God as to place faithfull Ministers where none have been of many years perhaps never since the Reformation many such people desire it not thinke not of it rather refuse it to them therefore it is a high piece of charity and a most eminent service to God If a Traveller lye for dead in the high way and hath not so much sense in him as to call out for help such a compassion as the Samaritan shewed Luke 1e was very great and much more it is to do a man good who is not willing to receive it as to send a Physitian to cure a distracted man so also when no time can prescribe against that which may be for Gods honour and the Churches good but that men will be the more forward to build those old wastes because they have layen so long desolate this argues singular zeale for God and it is a great mercy to have such a heart and a great blessing to prosper in such an endeavour Secondly so it is to be imployed with successe in raising up the foundations of many generations for this is both to have the faithfulnesse to pay our Ancestors debts which they acknowledged to be due but were not able to discharge and to have the happiness to be heirs of their praiers hopes and endeavours and if they were now alive they would greatly rejoyce to see their intentions perfected as David did before he dyed to foresee that Solomon would build the Temple after he was gone for though David did not actually lay so much as one stone for a foundation yet virtually he did by the great preparation of materials and the directions he gave Solomon for it and Solomon expresses it more then once to be his glory and his joy that he was allowed to do that which his Father was not able to effect It is therefore a speciall mercy so to be set a work and see the work go on to perfection by his endeavours Thirdly the same is also manifest of being made a repairer of breaches as being the noblest revenge upon enemies to make up their evill in such sort as it may afterward be forgotten by putting all things again into that good frame wherein they were before the breach was made And likewise being ordinarily the most sonsible kindness unto friends men are not alwayes so sensible of old wastes but can be content to let them lye desolate still and so for the foundations of many generations they take not al. wayes much thought for them but breaches lately made in things have often made great breaches upon mens spirits to heale therefore those evils by filling up again that which the enemies malice hath destroyed and to make that as strong and beautifull as it was before which they have violated and weakned gives great contentment to the Churches friends and therein proves a special mercy to those that have laboured in it It was Esthers great suit and endeavour to Asuerus that the breach which Hamans malice had made might be made up Esther 8 v. 3. c. and her happiness to prosper in it 4. Finally the like is also true of being made a

businesse Is not this the Fast that I have chosen v. 6. c. And after he had promised great things to it is not satisfied but is over with it again and again and then makes new promises to it v. 9. 10. do you also put weight upon it I beseech you It is good to be of Gods minde where God puts any emphasis upon Duties it concerns us to do the like You use to meet after the Publick services ended on these solemn dayes would it not be a happy thing if you would call one upon another and enquire one of another what speciall acts of justice and mercy have been done this last moneth or what further there were to do for those that hunger and thirst after righteousnesse or reliefe and accordingly give orders upon it Such reports as these from Committees and even from private Members might greatly advantage both Justice and Mercy and produce abundance of good and might not the calling for Reports from every such Committee as have been made upon special Petitions or Motions upon a limited day or if by that day they could not dispatch it then to set them a new day with a renewed charge to to be diligent and expedite it might not this exceedingly quicken Justice and Mercy both and either confute or prevent the clamours that are now so rife That if a businesse be once referred to a Committee unlesse they have a particular affection to it it is lodged there no man knows how long and they cannot be gotten to meet scarce with any importunity even though persons that are interessed have been at great charges to bring up witnesses and perhaps made long journies and fee'd their Counsel and all is lost perhaps to a poor mans undoing well nigh if not altogether when after a long attendance he is forced to return with shame and disappointement I will not presse the phrale for the time of the day in businesse referred to Committees but I beseech all to consider Gods meaning in that place Jer. 21.11 12. And touching the house of the King of Judah say hear ye the word of the Lord. Ok house of David thus saith the Lord execute judgement in the morning and deliver him that is spoyled out of the hand of the oppressour lest my fury go out like fire and burn that none can quench it because of the evill of your doings Certainly he intends hereby to forbid all unnecessary delayes and I need not tell you what our Laws and our great Charter speaks to this purpose I know there are multitudes of causes and businesses which often hinder one another and am far from thinking all complaints of delayes to be just and true but I may and must again beg of you and in the Name of God exhort and charge you to set your wisdome faithfulnesse and compassion awork to finde out a way to help this and accordingly effectually to remove all needlesse delayes as a great part of the duty God requires from you as Judges and remember withall that sometimes a speedy dispatch of a businesse even a deniall of a suit or Petition or a sentence against a man is both more justice and more mercy then a long delay or at least lesse injustice and cruelty I beseech you therefore set your hearts upon this and let not this Exhortation be in vain 3. Study I pray the latitude of the phrase in this Chapter for justice and charity and draw them out into practice I cannot if I had time speak to all because I am ignorant of many Laws and Customes yet let me point at some If any cause come before you or any of you wherein inferiour Judges have done notorious wilfull injustice being corrupted by bribery and partiality or any great man be complained of who is too potent to be rectified by inferiour Courts consider and remember what is prophesied of Solomon and of Christ Psal 72. that he should judge the people with righteousnesse and the poor with judgement v. 2. and v. 4. Iudge the poor and needy and save the children of the needy and break in pieces the oppressour Mark those last words and think how much of that belongs to you There was a time that some Courts among you were severe enough against great men by fines and imprisonment when they were found in any fault Those Courts because of their arbitrary power and acts of tyranny many times you have worthily taken away yet doubtlesse it belongs to you in whose hand the Supream justice of the kingdom is intrusted both to be a refuge to the oppressed and to break in pieces the oppressour in a fitting and righteous manner I take not upon me to prescribe wayes nor degrees but your wisdome and justice must needs think the thing lyes upon you that you may verifie that which David delivers from God among his last words 2 Sam. 23.6 He that rules over men must be just ruling in the fear of God Oh what an honour will it be to our Parliament when men shall say of you that you fulfill those prophesies spoken of Solomon and of Christ and what a voice of blessing will it be to you when God shall fulfill to you that which is promised Jer. 31.23 They shall yet use this speech in the land of Iudah the Lord blesse thee oh habitation of justice and mountaine of holines All the Armies in the world cannot make you so strong or so secure as such a blessing from God and such an encouragement from his faithfall people even from all sorts of people whom nothing wins so much as a free and unpartiall execution of justice and compassionate exercise of Charity and Mercy And on the other side nothing brings the curse of God or of men sooner then oppression and unmercifulnesse This is that which gains or loses mens hearts generally above all other things that when Magistrates are like gods indeed in doing justly and loving mercy and so bear his image in their foreheads and faces and actions he then vouchsafes them such a gracious blessing by putting somewhat of his Majesty upon them with the impression of awe wherewith he affects their inferiours that they cannot but give them exceeding great reverence even with love and affection whereas on the contrary if they neglect to use aright or abuse their power and authority God oftentimes withdrawes in his just judgement the stamp of his image out of their faces and so out of the hearts of people and then they are as much despised as the meanest Peasant and hated into the bargain Oh be zealous then for Justice at all times and let not those that have spent their estates and ventured themselves to maintain your just authority be at any time sent away ashamed unheard or unredressed when they have recourse to you in a righteous cause and present nothing but just desires 4. Look upon that phrase in the text to lose the bands of wickednesse and consider whether there are not

to death as also all Seducers to Idolatry the sutablenesse of these lawes to the law and light of nature shewes they cannot be tipycall or meerly Indiciall lawes considering how necessary they are both for the honour of God and for the safety of others soules what ever may become of the offenders themselves for shall the murthering of mens bodies or the stealing of their good be capitall and shall not the stealing away or murthering of soules be so much rather neither is this sevarity unfitting the times of the new Testament when Zachary prophesying of the fountaine opened unto the house of David which is the bloud of Christ expresly saith that even parents should 〈◊〉 to death a false Prophet chap. 13. besides other insinuations even in the new Testament it selfe concerning the the Magistrates duty to draw the sword against evill doers neither is the plea of conscience any thing in this matter as well because no mans conscience can be knowne in these things as also for that mens consciences are not medled with but their outward evill deeds for which if any pretend conscience the Magistrates must shew their consciences in suppressing such mischiefs Goe on therefore in the prosecution of this in zeale to God and his peoples good only let not any evade by varying the phrase it having ever been the practise of hereticks to attempt to conceal their errours by denying those expressions that were commonly received in the Church under pretence of their not being found expresly in Scripture although apparantly they carried no other sence then that which the Scripture did evidently hold forth therefore were taken up by the Church to be characteristicall notes who they were that held the Orthodox truth and who rejected it 5. Moreover towards the churches restauration Stop and prevent divisions another thing is to cause contentions to cease and prevent any further divisions among the builders among brethren this is a necessary worke else the building will be like to fall againe soon whatever hands be used in the raising of it and it is a notable worke who ever God shall make able to accomplish it they will be called to their very great honoure the repairers of the breach according to the language of the text Doe therefore I beseech you what you can in this also Some thinke a tolleration is the way if it were so God forbid but we should all plead for it and it must be only those that neither love God nor men that would be against it I shall speak my sense and my heart freely and fully in it and that which I have been able to attain by my most serious thoughts these many years As I take it for granted that our brethren and we agree that All persons and things are not to be tollerated nor so much as connived at so I for my part professe that I believe some things and persons ought to be borne with and that I do subscribe with my soul and desire to make it appear practically that I do so unto that of James 3 17 18. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated full of mercy and good fruits without partiality and hypocrisie And the fruit of righteousnesse is sown in peace of them that make peace But first pure So that all the question about forbearance is Who What and How Concerning which I have only two things to say first let us resolve formally and clearly who must not and settle that second for the residue set those that desire to be borne with but shew us how their desires may be granted them without the hazard of truth and peace the Christian peace of Congregations and Families and how any government can be maintained in our Churches if any gap be left in our Walls or our Doors or Gates be left open for their sakes without a manifest danger of letting out the houshold unfittingly or letting in robbers and evill minded persons dangerously if this I say can be shewed let all mankind reproach us as enemies to peace if we consent not to them 6. Finally Take care of Families Look to the foundations not only of things but persons and that in three particulars First Families 2. Schools 3. Universities In Families by making strict Laws for the prevention of ungodly Marriages these as to this consideration are specially of two sorts first Clandestine marriages without or against the consent of Parents about which above all other things I stand amazed that nothing is done since each one of you that hath any Childern unmarryed is in perpetuall danger of it The other is Incestuous marriages an abomination which even the Prelates would not indure and I beseech you let not any wickednesse be lawfull or unpunished now which was not then 2. For Schooles Schooles There is a great deal to be done for their reformation both having fit persons set over them and fitting orders setled in them that they may train up youth in piety as well as in learning and teach them the knowledge and fear of God as well as languages which is extreamly wanting every where specially in pub like Schooles Yet without this there will be a generation that will soon grow up and undermine all your building what ever it be that you set up for prophanenesse will generally be bred in the bone and then as our proverb is it will hardly dui of the flesh as long as they live 3. For the Vniversities Universities though there is a happy beginning in the one and a hopefull expectation of the other yet there is much to be done But I beseech you consider whether in this scarcity of Ministers that we groan under there be not much time lost things being but weak when they are at the best by reason of some Statutes which are deficient and others that are great burthens and hinderances I will not presume to prescribe the manner but I heartily pray to God and beg of you that somewhat may be done speedily toward it which will not more become your prudence and care then prove your glorie I will instance in no more particulars of duty at this time but only desire of you that according to the wisdome that is given you you will consider from time to time what is further to be done according to the Text and for the Churches good And now spare me I beseech you a few minutes longer Vse 3 to adde a word of Consolation and I have done Consolation the Text is full for it and you have need of it as well as of any exhortation whatsoever and upon the termes forementioned you shall be sure not to fail of it First God will still imploy you and honour you in the restauration and building of his Church and of the Nation also It was an excellent encouragement that God afforded Zerubbabel when he set the second time upon the building of