proper indeed to Papal Fury but ill becoming the Professors of the same Protestantisme and that for a Rite a Shadow or Circumstance confest to be Indifferent So Jeroboam used God's Levites so dealt Ahab for Jezabel's sake with Elijah for which he fled so was Micaiah fed in Prison with Bread and Water for the truth for telling fatal News to Ahab of his Fall in Battle 1 King 22.22.28 which fell out as fatally v. 34 37. To mock Gods Messengers misuse his Prophets and despise his Words is to do as Jerusalem of old and so to fare 2 Chron. 36.16 which brought wrath remediless the first time without healing and a second time as hot as we see Mat. 22.5 as Roman Tyranny could make it See how fatal Examples of this both Scripture and History afford Zachariah the Son of Jehoiada was a brave Man of God Son of the High Priest advantaged not barely by Local Station but a Lordly Spirit and bold Testimony above the People as 2 Chron. 24.20 For God's Spirit cloathed him and his Charge is They had forsook God and were left of him the same Mat. 23.31 that Christ spake of the Son of Barachias that is the Lords Blessed One though some judge it another Zac. 1.1 Some a third Luk. 1.5 If so the Instance is double and trebble he is slain by a Plot the Conspiracy is now against Prophesy the King in it by his command he is stoned v. 21. as the Poet Nihil est violentius aure Tyranni The circumstance of time is saddest most probable at his Worship or after Sermon betwixt the Porch the Peoples place and Altar the Priests Station For here they wept for Sin and Judgement Joel 2.17 What follows he appeals to God prays Lord require it as some read prophesies God will require it it is fatal to stop a Prophets Mouth God heard the Appeal in that year that ingrateful King his flattering Princes Army Realm are after invaded by a few Syrians and routed he sore wounded diseased and tortured is left to his Servants by them slain in Conspiracy on his bed perhaps they that misled him did it and so executed Gods Judgments against Joash God never wants Tools to do Judgment nor did the flattering Princes escape v. 23. that marred a good King as one says Now Syrians before and Philistines behind both with open mouth as Isaiah 9.12 and 2 Kings 12.17 18. His sin was Rebellion against God the Punishment must be ignominious by Forreigners and Servants one says they upbraid him with Zachary's death and belike with more of his Brothers v. 35. Now for History to exemplifie this such Ingratitude was Muleasses King of Tunes guilty of to the Manifets and Mesnars by whose help he attained the Kingdom that his Envy could not suffer to live but tortured them to death to whom he was so obliged say a man is ungrateful you say all This is like Nero's Kindness to give Senecca a bloody Bath Or that of Alexander the VI. to Mancinelus and Savanarola whose free reproof of that Pope cost them Tongues Hands and Life as did Lambert Bishop of Trajectum or Vtrecht fare for reproof of King Pipin Epiphanius says after Zachery's Death God ceased to speak by Urim and Thummim Nor goes such guilt unrevenged One Mr. Genis an Irish Rebel murthered one Mr. Trug a Minister and his Ghost haunted him to the death for it Valerian one while was kind to the Christians but after corrupted by a Magician raged against them he tolerated before that the Cruelty of this eighth Persecution exceeded all the seven But Sapores King of Persia having took him Captive set his foot on his Neck as a Stirrop to mount his Horse by seven years and paid the Arrears after by violent Death nay Eusebius says by the pulling out his Eyes Arcadius banisht Chrysostome but was by an Earth-quake glad to send post for him Mamuca a Saracen for his Cruelty to the Church as Pharaoh with his Host was sunk At Vassie 1500 assembled for Worship on the Sabbath the Duke of Guise's Souldiers beset them and slew them without pitty he standing at door with a drawn Sword but he was soon after slain in the Siege of Orleance Phillip the II. of Spain and Charles IX of France both received the Doom of Persecutors the one by Lice out of his Ulcers the orher by Blood out of his Body issuing every way A cruel Bishop in Hungary tortured a Minister by tying Hares and Geese to his body to bait him with Dogs but shortly fell sick and ran mad dying raving A Gentlewoman of Paris got at a Meeting there and arraigned for it two bearing false witness against her they after fall out and stab each other Wolf Schuch A good Minister in Germany burnt for Religion by two Popish Judges soon after the two Judges suddenly died the one in great terror A Monk one Jo. de Roma used the Boot for a Torture full of Oyl ore a soft fire but dyed of Vermin crying out Oh! who will rid me out of these pains A Wolf bit off the Nose of â—o Martin that slit the Noses of some good Ministers Sir Thomas Moor and Fisher sent John Frith and others for Protestants to death both were condemned after and beheaded Phillips that betrayed Tindal was eaten of Lice Damlip a Preacher in Calice condemned for Treason but Sir Ra. Ellerker suffered him not to clear himself for he said He would see his Heart out was after in a Skirmish cut in pieces and his heart pulled out Nec Lex est justior ulla Quam necis artifices arte perire suâ Trajan told Valence his Victory was lost by warring against God in persecuting the Christians Balasius riding his Horse turned head and so bit him and bruised him that in three days he died that persecuted pious Athanasius Arundel Bishop of Canterbury silenced many Ministers and starved poor Christians in Prison dyed of a black swell'd Tongue that let him neither eat nor speak and so is Morgan cut off and starved that condemned Mr. Farrer no Food staying in him A Palsey took Thornton a Persecutor for prophaning the Sabbath by bowling c. All which and many more shew how fatal Envy to Religon its Preachers and Professors proves and how justly God renders Tribulation to them that trouble his Servants 2 Thes 1.6 7. A 4th Demonstration may suffice 4thly Injury done to Gods Service is opposite to the Good and Salvation of Souls promoted by it the salvation and edification of which bears so much on the freedom of Divine Worship Souls may be saved when Worship and Christians are persecuted as Offenders and often are as he that was convict by sight of a Drunkard but the Doors of Gods House being shut up and the Lamps out the Covert for the Sabbath removed and the open Vision failing now the People perish Prov. 29.18 and sink by Shoals that one that durst personate the Devil might as one of old did in Phoca's
But to say In God is my Expectation Psal 62.5 7. is also a Glory and is pronounc't now blessed and that many times over tho its bliss is yet little felt or seen till after in the event 2. Saints Expectation ends well as to Enemies in nature we say a still serenity is a sign fore-running sore Tempests and shaking Earthquakes I look that the still hopes of the Saints may have sudden Hail Storms Earthquakes after yea and Heartquakes soon What follows on waiting Why God rises to the Prey to pour out some Cataracts of fury Zeph. 3.8 with pain on the head of the Wicked Jer. 23.19 There were Thunders that followed the ascent of Incense in Saints Prayers and a silence went afore half an hour Rev. 8.1 3. But I am sure the seven Trumpets will be loud in our Age v. 4 5. And the seventh of them sounds such a Thunder as will flash terrour in the Eyes and Hearts and Fire on the Throne of the Beast ch 11.13 For God hath said it Blessed are all they that wait for him Isai 30.18 3. Glory in your Shield and Shelter boast of it and walk suitable unto it the Shields of the Earth belong to God Psal 47.9 The foregoing Words mention the Gatherings of the People of the God of Abraham to note that God guides and weilds the Shields of the Earth for the guarding of the Seed of Abraham They that bear the Sword to punish the Evil should also have a Shield to protect the Good Hence good Judges were to defend the poor People so did Tola after Abimelech that Bramble is grub'd up Judg. 10.1 So is it given in Charge again Psal 82.3 That so they may be like God or else he oft recalls that trust if not truly stewarded and puts it in others or takes it in his own hand Now for God to grant a meanes of defence is a favour far more to be so and that when all humane Refuge is withdrawn This David own'd with Thankfulness All Refuge failed none cared for my Soul Psal 142.3 4 5 6. The Cryes of naked Dependance on God are most successful And again the kindness of divine Defence and Salvation most obliging to gratitude the exigence of the Case did exagerate the Care and Kindness of God He being now in the Cave as says the Title In another Psalm he admires the Bliss of them that know the joyful Sound Psal 89.15 i.e. of Aarons Bells and Pomgranates heard in access to the Altar-Service and of the shout that attended with the Silver Trumpets sound in Token of God's Acceptance that still was a joyful Sound and blessed to hear v. 17 18. for many reasons one is this for the Lord is our Defence and our King It is then a blessed thing to enjoy God over and in our Meetings for Worship to cover shield and defend them from all Distractions that Satan gives us within or Disturbance that happens without One Psalm more I urge that is his Appeal for Revenge against the Throne of Iniquity that gathered themselves to condemn the Guiltless Psal 94.20 How came that Appeal off Why v. 22. tells us But God is my Defence and the Rock of my Refuge Nothing that in perils God is the only last Refuge and the last verse is an Instance of God's last Revenge on his Enemies in cutting them off in their Iniquity v. 23. If God receive our appeal and be our Defence wo to them that give him and his the Offence Now that our boast herein may be great think thus with your selves How many persons are retired in Solitude Nay some Preachers that have Bands laid on them as Ezekiel had a long time in Babilon and that both by Men's Prisons and also by Providence God punishing oft the Peoples Sin in the Preachers silence That of their Sin is in one Chapter Ezek. 3.24 25 26. The other is cited ch 4.8 God lays this on him as a Type of Christ and a sign to both the Houses of Israel's and Judah's long Exile Many Days says Hosea without Priest c. Hos 3.5 Hence it follows They shall seek a Vision of the Prophet but the Law shall perish from the Priest Counsel from the Antients Ezek. 7.26 And next the King mourns and the Prince is clad with Desolation the one silenc't the other must sorrow But yet twice at least Ezek. 11. ult after a Promise is given him of an open mouth a revival of Prophesie ch 24.27 at the budding of Israel's Horn ch 29.21 Some observe a difference in the two Temples as to Prophesy the 1st had it 430 years the 2d had it but 40 years and after Malachi was only Bath-col the Daughter of a Voice Here I cite a Passage of a late grave good Man on this The Jews had five Megillaths Mr. Will. Greenhill on Ezek. 1. p. 4. 9. Vol. 1. two of which the 4th and the 5th were read that of Esther on Adar the Plot of Haman being then discovered and broke this of the Lamentation read at the end of July O pray our Lamentations begin not before for as he in another place says Our Sins quickly silence the Spirit of the Prophets and this Judgment may this Land fear the distance being so great betwixt the Word and our Lives but let us turn it to a Prayer to prevent it for if it comes Ut supra p. 380 it will be the dreadfullest that has been these 80 years in England If things go on that men design for one now silent or one bleating Sheep in solitude hundreds will soon follow till we are as a Beacon on a Hill Isai 30.17 So thankful should we be for present Peace And what a fellow feeling ought we to have for the dispersed Supplyants that know not where to bring their Offerings are drove from convenient places by force and find no Houses peceptive without hazard and Brethren morose timerous supercilious and so shy of their Places and Seats that some are glad to sit down silent and useless to avoid giving any let or trouble to others and so many hundreds are scattered for want of room to worship God in But I rather bless God that any are let in than complain of being secluded the Lot of some in suffering Times being still to be Forerunners to others and often the last may share deeper for the delay Howbeit ought not we that have more protracted Peace Christian Liberty quieter Vicinity stiller Sabbaths to return the Fruits of God's Vineyard let out to us by a far longer tenure than to others It will be soon known if men prosper a while whether any shall escape or we shall all stand or fall at once If that Dispensation of the two Witnesses or the Prelude to their slaughter be at hand how like is our Case to that prediction of one If these meaning Papists have their Wills Burr on Hosea 2.15 p. 516. and our Door of hope be shut expect Parliaments no more or never
Faith Fear Love c. And External Sacrifice Prayer Hearing and its due and done by Angels in all Praises and shall it be denyed by Men that pray perhaps five or six times a day Hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy Will be done And in the mean while prophane that Name not sanctifying it nor suffering them that would nay as Paul Acts 26.11 compelling others to blaspheme it or to offer what is robbed that God hates Isa 61.8 or at best torn and blind curst as Mal. 1.13 14. seeking to extinguish Celestial Fires better than the Vestals which was fatal once to Heliogabilus the Emperour to exttinguish That say Thy Kingdom come And propugne all the Ministry and means by which its power is propagated And say Thy Will be done and hinder them that preach or practise it that consult Gods will in their Worship and do their own This is against all the being of a Deity against Gods Immense boundles Supremacy and Soveraignty that wills not a confinement of our worship since his Temple's ruin but calls for it in Spirit and Truth every where as John 4.23 24. so 1 Tim. 2.8 House Ship Hill Grass or any place as the practice of Christ and the Apostles show 'T is against Majesty and Greatness to tye him to Stone-walls that men do consecrate as Hylard says Male Ecclesiam Dei tectis aedificijsque veneramini and yet exclude him from other places whereto Promise is given graciously and equally Matth. 18.19.20 the Church first was Domistick So in the beginning of the Gospel and may be so still as true and good as National though fewer 'T is against justice to deny what God and Nature allow Conscience and Culture are jura humanae naturae more than Food c. 'T is against Mercy that God desires above Lambs to pull the Orphants of God from the two Breasts of Scripture the nutriment of Gods Babes The greater the Object the grosser the Offence 'T is crimen Lusae majestatis to alienate Heavens Subjects far more to usurp or invade the jura regalia the Crown Throne and Scepter of God as Amaleck laid his Hand once on it but God proclamed perpetual War with his Off-spring for it Exod. 17. ult Of whose Spirit and Race some survive yet and are heirs of that Dukedom 2dly 'T is against the Gospel of the Lord Jesus and the whole design of it that is Salvation Of it Christ was first Preacher and then opposed it was and Histories are full of the fatal Fruits of that Enmity and to be wondered at it is that glad tydings fore-told Hundreds of Years before and by some of them waited for too should being brought and bought by his Blood find so ill Wellcome and that with Christs own the only Church then in being a Type I doubt of after Ages the Church in form still persecutes the Truth and its power and purity so 't was in all the Acts of the Apostles where ever came the Gospel into any City or Place but the Jews in that place if any bandied most against the Purity and Liberty of it and the devout most as we see Acts 13.50.14.2 Most sad to say worse to see the strictest Pharisee most zealous conscientious persecutors thus successively to our dayes Luther calls Persecution Evangelij genius So far the Gospel and it are concerned that if Persecution falls the Gospel rises and flourishes oft in the Root under it after in the Fruit. Now the Gospel and pure Worship are alway equal in their growth rise and fall together yea Friends or Foes of one are so to them both observe That as touching the Gospel they that is the Jews are Enemies for your sakes Rom 11.28 i.e. The glad news of the Gospel to you Gentiles makes you Enemies among the Jews themselves to whom it first was sent Or as Trap notes makes them accounted as common Foes 1 Thes 2.15 the Dutch they envy your being ingrafted and abhor that you confess the Gospel Rather as Parr on it Enemies Whose Gods and the Gospel and that deadly crucifying Christ also persecuting the Apostles and after chief causers of the Christians Persecutions Judaeorum Synagogae persecutionum fontes Tertul. of his times and he cites Polycarp for an Instance Also in Hierome's dayes then they stiled them Nazarens In Philip the long of France they hired Lepers to Poyson all the Springs In our Brittain they on Good-friday crucified Infants They are for their enmity to the Christian Name expelled Spain and occasioned that bloody Inquisition after turned against Christians As the Laws of Queen Elizabeth are against Protestants now so that it is foul guilt and consequently fatal thus to oppose pure Worship in that so doing men resist God Christ and the glorious Gospel of the blessed God that is called Eternal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Ages i. to last Apoc. 14.6 that no force of Hell or Earth can abolish 3dly 'T is against the liberty of Prophecy and free exercise of those gracious Talents and Gifts God has endued a sort of good men with in all Ages and most Nations the measure and character of which I take not by number and bulk far less by the Prelated Grandeur Wealth Pluralities and Oppulencies in this Life least of all by the rough or long Robe or the thin Crape-Gown-Doctrine taught by them that yet hangs in the Peoples lights but by the authority of their teaching Purity of Heart Simplicity of Truth Chastity of Life and not by a Lesson or Curse read Nor do I account all Non-conformists right but of and for them I say it that love Christ as he said to Peter that derive not of man to declare the will of God that hew not with a borrowed Ax or steal the Word out of others Books that fish not with strong Lines for Lucre and popular Applause that of all Persawsions simply seek to promote Christ and the good of Souls and weal publick Of such I say they are the Lights of those places God sets them in to shine the glory of a Land the Charriots and Horse-men of a peoples Government and few as they be simple as they seem void of all Crafts or Adulations all Rents or Court-favours all Moneys or Moyen the dealing well or ill with them is the rule and measure to compute and divine what will the fate of Persons or Prelates of Powers or People be God has had Prophets and Seers both of old and of late in all Ages though less noted in Call Spirit and Use than the first in Israel now by these Councils have been detected and defeated Dangers prevised and prevented Enemies devict War turned into Peace and many Blessings have been obtained But now these disobliged deposed exiled and ejected silenc't and sought hated and hunted cited and spited Bands of men sent to seize them Captains and their Fifties to pull them down Officers to guard them out Doegs to slay burn and ruine their Nobs is an Usage
Wonders and answer them by terrible things or in the secret place of Thunder Psal 81.7 65.5 Rev. 8.5 Then let their Enemies prevail But observe further whence he got an Ear vers 6. out of his Temple that was the Sanctuary he fled to his last Anchora sacra tho yet no Temple was and thence he got help and the end of all was as Moses to draw him out of many Waters ver 16. 8. One more fulminating Effort of Vengeance is reported on the Assyrian-siege of City and Sanctuary Isa 29.6 Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of Hosts with Thunder Earthquake Flame and Tempest c. i.e. God will defend his Altar from Asher by his Angels causing a Blast Tempest Clouds and all Elements to joyn Battel and salley out on the Besiegers and so send them home with a vengeance By all these it 's plain God did miraculously defend his Altar of Old and New Testament is not without some Instances of Thunder in witness to his Name and Service One is that glorious Voice answering Christ's Prayer in John Joh. 12.28 29. a little ere Christ's Passion when God gave so loud an Instance of his Love and Audience to Christ regard to his own Name and the Evincement of our Lord 's Mission and so loud and audible that it 's call'd Thunder or an Angel that spake God will give loud Answers to his at times that shall convince Nor is the last Prophesy void of Evidence to so great a Truth for the Gospel-times have found greatest Opposition to its Truths and Worship so that Prudence has not in a successive way been wanting thus to exemplify the Promise Apoc. 4.5 6.1 5.8 11.19 14.2 19.6 six times in the Revelations is Thunder foretold all which is not yet totally fulfill'd and tho Thunder in that Prophesy may intend a mystical or metaphorical Expression of God's terrible Judgments yet Experience in after-Ages shows it was verified in the letter also As Fr. Mirand said Non ignota cano In Marcus Aurelius's days Anno 181. a Battel was fought with the Quads and Northern Nations and at last Victory gain'd at the Prayers of Christians desired by him thus recorded Dio in vitâ M. Anto. Philos. Christiani flexis genibus Deum obsecrantes audivit c. subitò contra omnium spem largissimis imbribus profusis exercitus sitim orando fedatam Hostes fulminibus crebris caelitus prolapsis ignibus effugatos obtinent i.e. As the Ancients say Apollinar Tertul. Apol. Iren. the Christians by Prayer obtain'd great Showers to allay their Thirst and Fire with Thunder that so scorcht the Enemy that they were glad to let out Blood to quench it Euseb pag. 110. cap. 5. So the Romans by Prayer were both fed and sav'd What a two-edg'd Sword is Prayer and hence it was as after we may read that the Emperour to the Senate wrote for the Christians Liberty The like is recorded of two brave Romans duo fulmina Belli as the Poet Lucan So Ecclesiastical History tells us of Theodosius against Eugenius Euseb p. 261. that thus pray'd Tu nosti Omnipotens c. Lord thou knowest that in Christ's Name I took up this War in revenging thee of thine Enemies if not revenge it on me so reach out thy hand lest they say where is your God on which they fell to the Slaughter Agmina Hostium perrumpunt kill'd heaps of the Enemy incredible 't is that after that Prayer Ventus ita vehemens exortus est ut tela hostium retorqueret so vehement a Wind rose that it repell'd the Darts of the Enemies back on themselves they from Heaven Divinitus repulsis being beat and defeated Eugenius is took so ends his Life and Fight Other Examples of this with other kinds of Judgments in a miraculous way might be given to show the miraculous Defence that God has made for the Lovers of his Name but being so large in this I will not further add So this suffices to show the way and manner of God's wise and wonderful Defence of his Worshippers and therein of his Truth Name and Cause the Reasons briefly are as follow Now that it is so and how is plain why so is the thing next to be proved by five Arguments 1. From the glorious Dispensation of the Law which tho in Glory inferiour to the Gospel yet had its Defence then from that I argue from the less to the greater It was then so it must be now much more God is the same changes not in care and defence of his own Appointments of Matter or Forms some Change 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 7.12 12.27 may be Rei non Dei mutatio not of God's nature and that Change he makes is ever for better to a greater Glory 2 Cor. 3.9 10. but in his Essence Attributes moral Precepts Promises Protection of his People he 's immutable Mal. 3.6 and hence are we not consumed and yet live as a burning Bush not spent after thousands of Years in Men's Furnace see the wonder and this is the reason form it briefly so If the legal and less glorious Dispensation had a typical Defence so much more has the Evangelical in the truth of it but true is the former so then is the latter The Assumption is argued from Experience of all Ages the Consequence bears on God's Unchangeableness The Proposition I prove by the Types of the Law which was to them Gospel vail'd as it is to us now revealed For after the Church grew from Domestick to National and God had adopted Israel in Egypt and by 's Arm brought them out to dwell alone Num. 23.9 under his Wing and had delivered Laws of three sorts to them 1. Moral in ten words perpetually to rule Life 2. Judicial to order the State 3. Ceremonial to direct in Worship that Church while it was National he did in each especially the last sort put certain Rites and Forms of his own Will upon the moving Tent and after on the fixt Temple by which this Truth was typed out and resembled I instance in that over the Tent a glorious Type of our Safety now during our long wandring with the Woman in the Wilderness yet under God's Care and Conduct mixt with much Darkness to which Isa 4 5 6. and other places allude Also in the Doors of the Temple after to be of Brass so strong and massy that twenty four Men could but open them and again in those Cherubs and Palms on the Door Curtains and Vails and also in the two Cherubims with Wings over the Ark and Mercy-seat Types of God's Protection by Angels over all true Ministry and holy Mysteries of the Gospel But I confine the Proof to that of the Horns of the Altars both that of Incense at the Vail that of Brass for the Sacrifice and that Ezek. 43.15 all had their Horns and about them a Crown so had the Shew-bread-Table denoting in all the divine Authority put on God's Service that
willing to bite had there been any morsel fit food for his black hunger but as yet the multitude have not had a Mind to destroy us I hope are as Elijah said King 18. in heart turned about For the Inferiour Ministers of Law and Church-Power into whose hands by God's wise Sufferance we are fallen Zach. 11.6 It will not I hope offend any sure it ought not to plead our Innocency with Honorable Judges wise and Worshipful Benchers and Commissioners in Peace for some Mercy Lenity and Moderation since no Princes that would be Patres patriae Fathers to the People under them can believe it their Interest to undo crush or diminish the Subjects and dispell the Laborious into Prisons or Exiles voluntary or violent A People numerous and oppulent are Princes Glory but a poor People make poor Princes 1. Consider generous Gentlemen not only the Families and Names reserved to you since the Conquest some and the Honour of Knight-hood which some had of old in Obligation every time they heard the Gospel to stand up and lay hold on their Swords or to draw in defence thereof and shall it be a blot in your Schutcheon intaled on your Successors that you drew the Sword to the Offence of that Gospel by which you hope to be saved or to the Terrour of any that love its Liberty or abhor Popery Are you Commissioners for Peace and would you provoke and tempt as Nahash to War 1 Sam. 11.2 Think not that violent Courses serve God the King or your own Interest 2dly For the Letter of the Law you go by I only beg the Favour of such a Sence as conconsists with not only the Preamble of the Statute and the Reason of it with the End of all Law the Peoples Good but also with the Dignity of the Legislators and yours the Executors thereof For I shall very hardly impose a Sence far less would you that interferes either with the Veneration of a Parliament the Rights of an ancient Charter the Sence of the Commons in Parliament of late voted least of all that crosses the Prerogative of the Prince if he please to indulge as formerly and Interest leads For in that he either did well or ill If ill dare you say 't since what the King does still pleases the People 2 Sam. 3.36 If well what has been may be again The Breasts of a true Prince yield not Blood but Milk and contain more Acts of Grace than one Papers have not been wanting to give of those Penal Laws that touch Phanaticks a favourable Construction if you that sit in Judgment will admit If not our Patience postpones Hope that Times may roll and arduous Affairs will necessitate them to sit again and give their own Sence if Popish Counsels prevent not and then those that have invaded Right by pretence of Law may repent flee or dread Take ' im Topping Many old Laws in Force have been found inconvenient and why not these too If Vice be tolerate the Vertuous punish't Preaching and Praying breaks Law only so Sycophants that serve as Doegs for Spoil are the Executioners of Law To God only we appeal as he 2 Chron. 24.22 Lord see to 't and require it 3dly We beseech you for your Maker's sake let Divine Laws in the Word obtain more if not with you yet with us He that has magnify'd his Word above all his Name Psal 138.2 and will yet make it far more glorious Isa 42.21 will not allow it subject to the Placits of Men and those that desire to obey it to a tittle to be accused and destroy'd for reverence to it To command prohibited Things forbid what is commanded is both an Arrogancy equally insolent and derogatory to the Divine Honour to which we owe all our Homage There are two binding Commands on us that no Humane Law may relax or discharge from The first is the Law of the Sabbath the second is that of Assemblies or publick Gatherings to some one or other known Place for the visible Exercise of Devotion The one enjoined in the Law of the Sabbath or fourth Commandment Exod. 20. which is as binding on us as that of the Jewish Sabbath was on them and seal'd too not with an Humane Sanction only but witness'd by three Divine Paterns in the New Testament Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.2 Apoc. 1.10 and since by visible Judgments exhibited in all Ages by God's own hand on all sorts of Violations and Prophaners Dr. Beard Mr. Clark The other is expresly enjoin'd by the Apostle to the believing Hebrews Heb. 10.25 Not forsaking your Assemblings or Synagogues as the manner of some is And that Sect of the Nicodemites held That a Man might retire from Observation of Persecutors very lawfully yet retain his Peligion God-wards But a Dispensation allow'd once against the Divine Law is to break God's Hedg gratify fleshly Force or Fear and to make the rest of God's Laws as did the Pharisees with the fifth Command by their Corban all of none effect Now for the first O ye Nobles Knights c. hear my Plea for God's Sabboth Had I the Spirit of a Nehemiah to contend with Rulers I would say as he Nehem. 13.15 17 19 21. What Evil is this ye do to prophane the Sabbath They did ill to tread Wine-Presses these worse that tread on the obedient Sanctifiers of that Day They ill in lading of Asses that ought to rest that Day you worse in loading Mens Estates with Fines Persons with Force and their Souls with Disturbances of armed Men on Women and Children feeding and resting on God's Promises They did ill in not defending the Sabbath from profaning by shutting the Gates we worse in opening the Flood-Gates of Force perverting that Weapon drawn first against Popery to the Service of it and its younger Sister viz. Slavery and Debauchery O London shall it be chronicled to thy Infamy in the Records of succeeding Ages that thou hast done thus Was it not a Glory to thee of old to own Religion to honour God on his Day and count it a delight and glorious so to do And went it not well with this City for the City of God's sake But now O now the Tide is turn'd and the Wind blows sharp and high North to the discouragement of such as pretend any trembling at the Word or Tenderness of Conscience Reverence to God's Day or witness against Roman or Pagan Feasts If a Man stand for Rites he 's Christian enough and good enough tho he drink and drab and walks out holy Time in Dr. Green's or Moorfields-Walks talk of What News or sit in Council and guide Secular Mattters instead of Piety If Princes are unconcern'd says T. Shepherd Theses Sabbat p. 311. part 4. p. 313. in the first Table and give liberty to profane the Sabbath why doth Jeremy call on them to the contrary with promise of preserving to them their Crowns and Successions to the last in so doing from Fire and Blood and threatning