many Waters or Waves of the Sea Psal 93.4 3. Goodness is the strong inner Spring of all thy Congregation dwelt therein thou of thy goodness preparedst for the Poor Psal 68.10 'T is Christ's triumphant Psalm Goodness then is active to provide for the Poor Assemblies Nahum witnesses to this after his report of God's terrour Nahum 1.4 He concludes The Lord is good and it follows a strong Hold in the day of trouble and knows them that trust in him v. 7. i.e. Vejodeang chosei bo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 acknowleging them that hope in him as the Chicken under the Wing that word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speravit recipere se ut in loco tuto ibi secure conquiescere And oft joyned with a Wing as two or three Texts show Psal 18.31 and 57.1 2. So 91.4 Vnder the Shadow of thy Wings I trust till these Calamitice be past This was in the Cave and some read as if a Webb was woven ore the Caves hole that hid David and so once was a Martyr If God own any of his Servants those that run to his Protection are most likely they This is joyned with a Threat to Nineveh some 40 years after destroyed about the 15th year of Hezekiah's Lease given him of the Lord. vide Dr. Mayer Which I note to shew that he survived to see that Prince and City destroyed that besieged Zion the City of God and so it became a quiet Habitation as was promis't Isai 33.20 And Nahum's Prophesie in ch 1. ult was about 4 or 5 years after verified in their solemn Feasts after this Son of Belial was cut off Now this is the Buckler and these are the Bullwarks that did do and will defend all the Sons of Zion that run to them Having spoke to God's Attributes before I add no more to this A word to Promises Now 2dly for Promises they are Springs that empty themselves by golden Pipes in our dry Cisterns dayly to quench our Thirst and cool our Heat in Persecution and these allay our Fears before Troubles come which oft are worse than the Troubles and this do they in two Rivolets the one is the nature the second is their various matter a little to both especially the first the latter less being toucht before that I may avoid all prolixity and not bis cocta apponere 1. The nature and proper adjuncts of Gods Promises are food and fence to the pious Two Ingredients make them very cordial the Properties of God are the In-works of our Fort. The Promises as one says are the Out-works Jer. Dyke Righteous Man 's Tower P. 34. if we get into them that is our Safety and the Tower is the Safety of the Out-works and all that flee to them These are the Clefts of the Rock So he Oh my Dove thou art in the Clefts of the Rock let me see and hear thee there says Christ to his Spouse Cant. 2.14 15. And now take the Foxes to note our Safety in the Clefts of Promises from all Foxes and wild Beasts of Prey that should no more hinder them as Mayer observes in Duties of Piety and holy Feasts God's Doves being as Coneys feeble and fearful the Hawks pursue the one and ferrets the other are glad to nest and burrow in the Rock Now it is not the lot of the Spouse ever to be visible sometimes in Deserts and Dens as one says Hylay Non tect is exteriori pompâ but in plain Russet as when her Lord first espoused her Now the good of a Promise lyes in two things 1st It is suitale to our Case 2dly Sure and durable and in both great like the Author and pretious in their use to us For the first no Case can befall but some Promise or somewhat in the Promise obviates it Doth Zion mourn He will restore again Comfort both to Her and her Mourners Isai 57.18 Are her Assemblies scattered A Promise is of gathering Zeph. 3.18 Are Teachers in Corners They Eyes shall see thy Teachers c. Isai 30.20 Are they exiled to the Ends of the Earth Yet he will hiss for them and they shall come Zech. 10.1 And bring their Offering Zeph. 3.10 As one abroad at Queen Mary's death said in a Sermon and soon after the News of her death came and they were recalled home Promises are adapted to all the sad Cases of Zion's Sons 2. They are sure firm and perpetual Promises fail not far less for evermore 2 Cor. 1.20 A delay or suspense may be for the Sin of declining that may look as a Breach of Promise or turn to a Threat Numb 14.34 But 't is fulfilled with use to the next Age. As Justice stands bound for the Threat and Goodness for the Promises So is Gods Truth and Veracity for both Oh Zion beloved of God fear not look up thy King lives that was dead and he dyed not Intestate but now he lives to make good that Legacy of Peace here to his Followers Joh. 14.27 Besides the Inheritance at last Who will approve his Fidelity to his Word Promise and Oath and also to his Spouse So that I say to Zion as a faithful Witness once said to his Wife on his death bed before the Rebellion in Ireland 37 Thou that hast suffered so many things Mr. Jos Welch Script fulfill pag. 465. wherewith shall I comfort thee A Father of the Fatherless a Judge of the Widdow is God in his holy Habitation as God is God thou shalt never want nor thine but in all the sad days a coming you shall be Wonders of Mercy in all Places and not a hair of your head fall to the Earth And the Reporter survived to see it 2dly The matter of the Promises as 't is various so divers have wrote well on it and somewhat being done before less may now suffice save only to touch this point of Worship or what material Promises are in order to it or the defence of it or what Prophesies do incourage to hope for better things Truly there is nothing we are bid or bound to pray for but some prophesy backs and bottoms our hope in it As 1. a Promise is made of a divine Presence Ezek. 34 13. in the worst Times of the greatest dispersion and to that is subjoyned also a Prophesy of its Continuation ch 43.7.8 Nor is any thing of greater Import to the being and beauty of Worship and Church-state Power of the Keys Ministry in both the breeding feeding of Converts and to all holy Matters then a Shechina as the Jews calls it or a Divine Majesty or Glory attending If this be its self alone keeps up a sure defence over us puts a glory upon all lays a terrour on the Assailants or claps a Talent of Lead a fulminating bolt of Judgment on the head of that hairy Goat that dares God in his own ground and here lyes our defence If this be a wanting far more if it by our Provocation after long stay do make a
sake just as our Lord predicts to and of the Apostles so are we cast out and yet never were in but coercively and yet worse for his Name that is his Worship that is for calling on it or refusing to pollute it as Paul compelled some to blaspheme Acts 26.11 Now if any desire more see Jer. Burr Zion's Joy Isai 66.10 pag. 28.29 on the place glossing on that Let the Lord be glorified q. d. God's Glory Religion Union Peace pretended that is sorest Persecution they deem it a Service that God loves that is cultum prestare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joh. 16.2 So do the Papists and says he That Persecution by Trajan was the forest though he was a Pattern of good temper Thus blind are men as Oedipus killed Laius his Father for his Enemy but it dishonours God and disunites yea it shakes that Church which you say it settles 2. Do ye not symbolize with that Roman Church and is it not a brand of a Church Antichristian to persecute of the true Spouse to be persecuted It is a Cannon of the Thirdentine Faith to pursue the Evangelicks as Hereticks Scismaticks c. Sir Simon D'Eves pag. 1. out doing the Turks in that that says Conscience cannot be compelled and if it be it gains little the old Brittans Anno 466. wore out Pelagians by a mild Spirit and disputing for the Truth 3. Would ye so be dealt with your selves be expelled from Place and Use deprived of and proscribed from Kirk and Market suspended of Office and Profits exiled among Aliens and put as Musculus to weave dig or beg should Papists succeed and serve you as you have others which God forbid may you not say God is just to repay you in your Coyn Did not our Lord give more equal Rules to his Followers Mat. 7.12 and threatned a day unawares to him that smites his Fellow Servant and eats and drinks with the drunken ch 24.49 50 51. but if at a sacred Feast then 't is more criminal for with such though a Brother one may not eat 1 Cor. 5.11 4thly To ingross Trade is bad Bread is far worse but worst of all for any sort of men to confine the weighty significant Names of Church or chief Rulers Overseers universal Pastors to themselves c. and as such to authorate exauctorate suspend excommunicate and assume a Power Christ never gave exclusive of others his Servants Why should Church-state be appropriate to the Clergy alone or Synods take Denomination from the Ministers only and not the Fraternity too as that first and best did Acts 15.22 23. When People multiply in a Nation and Forreigners are freely admitted yea Lutherans Jews or Papists to the exercise of their Religion in their own way is it not hard it should be denyed Natives that God and the Law have naturalized Or why should Republicks abroad indulge all Dissenters more and fear them less than our Kingdom at home doth Monarchy being deem'd preferrable to all other sorts of Governments 5. As 't is impossible so 't is impracticable to make Convets by fear and force you may fright men in by civil Laws and uncivil Curses to a temporary complyance as one that gives a Thief the Purse to evite a greater Loss But will God reward your blind Zeal or theirs Will Christ thank them that for a sweet rational Luke 14.23 compelling in Guests use a belluine force You bring two bad Guests to the Feast the unworthy and the unwilling has the Church of England any comfort or her Sons Credit in putting in her hosome both Hypocrites Hereticks and Prophane you may so propagate Popery and fill Hell not the Church and make that a means of their Spiritual Death that Christ ordained for the food of eternal Life Some false Christians renouncing their Sacra told the Turk they had given their Name to Mahomet who aking their reason they said to escape Taxes and Oppressions on which the Grand Seignior rejected their forc't Conversion and continued the Taxes If Turks abhor such Votaries why should Christians hug them unless as Cheats and Pick-pockets do to filtch their Penny 6. What comes in by a cursed means is like to arrive at a cursed end Partus sequitur ventrem The Sons of Beor may hunt the Gain of Oppression Namb. 22.5 Deut. 23.5 Joshua 24.9 the Wages of Unrighteousness and overtake it by cursing the Israel of God but how ends it Nor could Baalam curse nor Israel be cursed without God's leave He that has said Bless and Curse not Rom. 12.14 knows how to avert the Curse causeless and to repell it to the Nest whence it took flight Prov. 26.2 And though some of Gods Flock may be driven from the Fields of their Pasture and pusht out nay Pinfolded shorn and shut in Prisons yet has not God promised the evil Beasts shall cease and that he will bless them that bless us and curse them that curse us Ezek. 34.25 Gen. 12.3 7. Suppose a Prince to make probation of his Subjects decree as once an Emperour did to try the constancy of Christians that all should for-go Command that would not quit Christianity and bow to Paganisme and many did so to keep their Places he quickly cashiered them alledging they were unworthy to serve a Prince that were unfaithfull to their God Kings hearts are deep and Interests vary and if a Nights unrest so contiguous an accident Esther 6.1 caused such a turn in the Persian Court and Law judged unalterable Who can tell what Providences lye in the Womb of a day Henry VII by Act helpt Dudly and Empson to do Violence on Peoples Rights and he as sadly repented it on his death And in Henry VIII time they were hanged for executing a Law against Property for the Ruine of the Poor for summum Jus may prove summa Injuria 8. The Plea of Dissenters has obtained in all places as the like has done of old abroad In what Court Church or Countrey has it not At Rome in Pagan-Nero's time Paul is though in Bonds permitted to dwell and preach in his own hired house and to receive all that came to him none forbidding him Acts 28.30 31. And were Pagan-Roman Officers civiller to a Prisoner that preacht down their Gods as false than Protestants are to them that own and invocate the same true God as they do In France it obtained even with Henry III. one of Kather. d' Medices Breed and teaching an utter foe to a hater and betray or of Protestants but a most impotent Prince and not to be convinct till James Clement a Monk had opened his Bowels by a fatal stab and then to his Commanders he gives charge to obey the King of Navar though a Protestant and know saith he that Religion instill'd into Souls by God cannot ' be enforc't by man It has also obtained in the Low Countries so that now 't is the Spaniards Interest to allow them and the Emperours too to preserve the Ballance of Europe
London such a Plague was once saith Speed pag. 694. that above 50000 were in one Parish of the Cistertians or Charterhouse buried A. D. 1350 In Edward the Third's time What has been since in 65 or may be yet in 84 or 5 God knows Our green Winters are ominous moe People moe Sins Id. ibid If this shut the shop door no musick now but doleful Knels no wares but Corpses Mansions turn Pesthouses Church-yards are the Congregations Death serves Executions No Spot is seen at night to morrow God's Tokens are on us or a Carbuncle burns our Flesh The Servant goes away with thy Gold thy Life is at the mercy of a Nurse This is Horror and Terrour round about and few attend the Hearse And for the Sword says he to Lond-still Pag. 220. Julian because the Christians of Alexandria would not turn Heathen to worship Mithra wounded ston'd strangled and slew nay crucified their near Friends So did Hunricus the Goth in all places banisht 50000 in Orders So ye that have searcht out others with severity shall then be pluckt out of Corners in rigor to bend the Knee with one Leg or Arm cut off your Veins must weep as well as your Eyes your Sides be watred as well as your Cheeks your Sins shall shut up all the City Conduits and Veins save the Liver Conduit Your Polititians and Lecturers cannot help you You must meet at the Congregation of the Shambles your Breasts try the poynts of Spears your Heads the weight of Pole-Axes c. Oh what a Crimson City Crimson Sins make And for Estates your Properties are lost now is the Enemy Landlord Purchases Leases all 's lost to the Sword your blouding of Widows skining Orphans will with the Indigent poor and a suffering Gospel cry Vengeance against you and their Sins have made them Bankrupts p. 223. 4. For Papal Idolatry yet hear Jobs fourth Messenger You must Permute a God Conscience must be riffled and in fetters no conquest else You must be slave in Principles pour out Drink-offerings to other Sacrifices follow the Mistress of Witchcrafts learn Doctrines of Devils Corruption in Doctrine soon follows outward slavery Thus for outward respects men of no conscience shipwrack Faith and either with Nichodemus come to Christ by night or if with Daniel they open the Windows publickly to the Lyons Peter scarce is a Saint in the Judgement-Hall but for fear of a Damsel forswears his Master So far he Pag. 224. Thus I glide on into the second Effect of the Lords Recess from us and this City i.e. in Religious Respects Here I recur to the Threneticks of Jeremiah and without much diving we 'll there find matter de novo If God depart wo to us in five respects 1. Now is the City solitary her tone that of the Doves Lam. 1.1 Some tell of Jeremiahs Cave nigh to Acheldama Adrichom where in sight of that City he made this her Epitaph warbling out the doleful Dittay Oi na lanu chi chattanu Woe unto us that we have sinned Wo sure Lam. 5.16 For if God rests not on Zion in the Seat of his Worship he may try and visit the City Two removes he had at the House and so to the East-Gate his stay is not long tho he take the City in 's way for a third step Eze. 9.3.10.4 18 19 11.23 A fourth to the Mount top on the East side to stand and look back and drop a tear as the Lord did after Luke 19.42 43. But thence a fifth step quite away At each step off Judgement comes on says Mr. William Greenhil in loc Wo upon wo. Citys have their Achme's and Climaxes to rise to and after a many years that God numbers at the filling up of the Ephah their fatal Periods so had Jerusalem Capernaum Antioch Rome so Hippo Heydelberge c. And how long has Lo. been in the Declination Who can say Now its fatal time is come Seneca the Moralist observes it of one a second Author of another City in France Vna dies interest inter magnam nullam A City at Morn at night in Vrne As Trap in Lam. How sits this City late so Populous Thus solitary Like a Widow thus Empress of Nations Queen of Provinces She was but now she Tributary is But as the glory comes so it goes with God that lies in the power and kernel of Pyety which being lost as oft it is by divisions and formalities God has no long delight in the Shell Tent or outer Court and Shadow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apoc. 11.2 This is cast out so John is bid as no place fit for God but the heathen to tread in No Piety no Priviledge nor Presence 2. God leaves his own institutions and not without a sign of Wrath. If the sin of one good Woman Miriam Numb 12.9 caused the Cloud to depart and out breaks on her the Leprosie What may the provocation of all the Lords Sons and Daughters procure us Was the Temple of old or Shiloe dear or any other place ever so priviledged that God might not be provok't away Let all that now glory in our new built fair adorned Oratories a late purged by Fire fear to reincense Roman Flames for though it is pity Mass should be said in them yet if no Spirit be found in them how can we hope but that Roman Eagles Mat. 24.28 will soon prey on our Carcases that so gyres and hovers over us And it is observed Eagles use to hover about Armies joyning Battle our love to the small Fibres of Popery in Rites Shadows Festivals gives Rome hopes we begin to look that way If sacred things by us profaned cause God's Remove sure Execrations and Curses one against another for Circumstances will never invite his stay though we say Prayers in Latin If God go he is soon hid from us and then long may he be sought ere we find him again yea from Sea to Sea to seek the Word Amos 8.12 So Moab went to his Sanctuary but preveailed not Isai 16.12 So did the Priests but Vision failed no Answer from God Mic. 3.7 Nor is any covert from that Storm sacred Orders excuse not if the Persons be unsuitable to them If Men petition for Sanctuary as the Priests to Titus Vespatian his Answer is ours Viz. It is meet the Priests should suffer in and with the Temple so both were burnt Such Priviledges are no shelter but make death more terible God's Recesses are most seen afterwards 't is beter to retain him while present than as one says by the sad Rivers of Babel to mourn in remembrance of once sweet enjoy'd Zion 4. Lights go out with him and People being left in the Dark can foresee no stumbling block before them but dash uuawares on them Or as Ships at Sea in a storm dash or divide that is a sad Comnplaint the Anger of the Lord has divided them he regards them no more Lam. 4.16 No sadder sign of wrath than to be resigned up to
Race of cruel Haters to Israel And so Amalek bears up the Name witness his dogging the feeble among them in the Rear Exod. 17. ult And of that Stock was Agag how high his Kingly Throne was let Balaam say Numb 24.7 Doeg comes in next a Masquerade Worshipper he was before the Lord indeed but detain'd hid incluserat se in Tabernaculo not of good-will to Devotion but as you come to our Meetings to serve a Job for the Devil nor yet for Saul so much as Self and being his Herdsman if you will Butcher learn'd to be bloody Nob a whole City Women Infants with 85 Priests of the Lord he kill'd and ruin'd 1 Sam. 22.18 19. Josephus says he razed and burnt it and killed 385 Persons And which was sad tho Saul was anointed of God yet being annoy'd with that evil Spirit he by commanding it owns the Guilt tho his Footmen declin'd Obedience to that Command but this Dog obeyed quickly which they or he were better Subjects let Sense judg Rabbins say after he was that Armour-bearer that being too near Saul's Person found a Season to kill him after the Battel Others call him a Pastor to Saul's Flocks and some also a Judg Dr. Mayor but commission'd now for this Job as a chief of Saul's Servants 1 Sam. 23.9 His Successor is Haman the Agagite that struck in Esther at all the Race of Israel Esth 3.8 And the Line runs to Herod who slew 14000 Infants for Christ Nay to Judas of whom Mayor says Vol. 2. p. 316. Doeg was a Type so all are that intend Envy under the Mask of Piety To end this of the Rise of them I remind my Reader that some eight Years since Anno 1675. there came a stitcht Book to hand stil'd A Rebuke to our Informers in which the sober Author after the Perface first convicts them of their Sin secondly answers Objections thirdly makes some Inferences in all handles the Matter so gravely truly and strenuously that I judg that Piece of 84 Pages not only meet for a vicious Informer but any rigid Priest or Person that loves sober Truth But to follow my purpose I say it is no shame to us to suffer what Christ our Lord did nor any credit to our Accusers to do what Judas did the Top of all whose Kin is the Devil Secondly For the Course you run 't is pernicious and vile and that 1. To the King It is so far from serving his Interest that it loosens the Bands of Union and tempts the People to a Jealousy as if he meant to resign the Rule and Reins of a Prince to such petty Tyrants You diminish the Number and discourage the Trade of the Sedulous and so can never countervail the King's Damage Esth 7.4 as Haman pretends Esther denies If Solomon reason right Prov. 20.38 By Mercy and Truth is the King preserv'd his Throne is upheld by Mercy Mercy shew'd the Poor Dan. 4.27 Truth preach'd to the Erring so his Person or Power is upheld Then Cruelty Exactions and Falshood in Oaths weaken both You hurt him by his own Weapon in pretending Law 2. You injure Protestants in weakning them by Fines deterring them from their Religious Duties and the Exercise of their Gifts and Graces for others Good You propagate the Plot and serve the Papists in turning the Force of Laws in the harshest Sence to the disquiet of the Peaceable in the Land Psal 55.20 And so Protestants are set to vex each other Papists in the Interim divide all Divide Impera to serve your Rapine 3. You accuse Men that are innocent falsly as if Rebels to the King for obeying God's Command of Hereticks in the Church for adhering to Truth or seditious and factious to the State while you by Slanders are the Seeds-men of those Tares Schismaticks for dividing from Babel when our Bishop's Plea was No Peace with Rome Bishop Hall Nor know you Zealots well that so pursue our Conventicles what to define them If Minshew's Word may pass in the ill Sence a Conventicle is Conventus seditiosorum sceleratorum a Meeting of seditious and wicked Men. If Bishop Bridgman's be right reported to me 't is a little Meeting of Men out of several Precincts to consult on State-Affairs and the Doors shut for Secrecy Ours are not such 4. How many Towns Cities Families are endanger'd by you Some imprison'd or begger'd some forc'd out pious Ministers exposed to flee from their Families to escape your Raven for 100 l. Fine and sober Gentlemen hector'd by you that would not vex their honest Neighbours Tenants and Friends and Officers of Peace and whole Towns fermented divided and perturbed 5. Lo what Guilt you incur by afflicting the Just offending Christ's little Ones that believe in him prohibiting the publication of the Word of Life profaning the Sabbath your selves by hindring others coveting to take the Spoil and Goods of the Poor taking Oaths and telling Lies and Tales for Gain smiting Fellow-servants Mat. 24.49 and Subjects by the Tongue serving the Devil in casting Men in Prison Rev. 2.10 6. This has been the Sin and has brought Misery on the Heads of others Marshal and Stroud in London of late you took no warning Obstinacy and Obduration is now aggerated on your Guilt you approach the Sin unto Death 1 John 5.16 that is not to be forgiven You dread not the Marks of Cain Doeg Judas Beware you feel not the Horror of a despairing Conscience like Spira Latomus Eccebolus that said Calcate me salem insipidum Porphyry c. That 's a Worm immortal 7. The Course you run is not like to obtain the Means answer not the End you attempt Impossibilities Can you stop the Tide hedg in the Birds imprison the Wind stay the Sun or bind Arcturus and loosen the Bands of Orion Nor can you damme or restrain the strong Stream of the Spirit extinguish Sun-Light or bind up the Gales of that Wind of the Word John 3.8 but in spite and sight of you and all your Persecutions the Gospel shall prosper and that by your very Opposition Quo magis furunt eò amplius procedo The more they rage the more I go on said Luther Thirdly Look to the End of your Course What is it but Hatred of God and Man Perhaps they that employ you may desert you to the Justice of the Vulgar and give you a Reprimand like that the Council and Priests gave Judas Mat. 27.34 What 's that to us see thou to that So will the Wages of Unrighteousness 2 Pet. 2.15 melt in your Consciences and make Hell-Fire sparkle and flash in your Eyes and be too hot to hold You have rid like Balaam and the Asses you bestride shall crush your Foot and cut your Consciences with the Rebukes that he had And the Gain you hunt shall fail you your Neighbours shall dread and decline you as Pests to Society you shall be driven from Light to Darkness and chased out of the World Job 18.18 As