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A43819 The season for Englands selfe-reflection and advancing temple-vvork discovered in a sermon preached to the two Houses of Parliament at Margarets Westminster, Aug. 13, 1644, being an extraordinary day of humiliation / by Thomas Hill ... Hill, Thomas, d. 1653. 1644 (1644) Wing H2027; ESTC R2603 33,390 45

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ten hornes that is ten Kingdomes into which the Empire in the time of the last head is rent This Dragon continually watched how to crush the Church of Christ like Pharaoh and Herod in the birth and infancy of it Hee well knows that the advancing of Christs Kingdome in the building of the Temple is the ruining of his usurped Dominion which exasperates him so much that hee will muster up all his Forces to hinder the progresse of it The Adversaries of Temple-work are very subtile and industrious to raise such prejudices against it as may cloud the glory of Reformation This is often whispered though most unjustly as if the Reformers would make not a Renovation but an Innovation and as if they would erect a frame of Church-Government opposite to Civill Authority What the Devill what the Jesuites with all the seed of the Serpent can devise shall bee throwne in as blocks in the builders way they will still do their utmost to cast mountaines of difficulty to keep off Zerubbabel from adding the top stone The cordiall Instruments to carry on Temple-worke are but ●ew in comparison of adversaries and some of them too often either grow weary and sloathfull if not treacherous or being swayed by earnall policy degenerate into selfe-seekings and selfe-servings and others from whom much is expected so miserably divided amongst themselves that in stead of combining against the common Enemy to advance the building of Gods House they fall into sharpe contestations one with another whereby Temple-work is most unhappily obstructed England is like to find the sad experience of this as well as Germany Power and Authority which have the great influence are seldom so happy as to bee imployed and improved readily for God which occasions many delays in Temple-work 1 Cor. 1. 26. Not many mighty men not many noble are called either to injoy Salvation in Heaven or to do great Services on Earth Cunning adversaries know how to flatter Princes to abuse their Greatnesse to hinder Goodnesse Diverse of the Persian Governours acted successively in an opposing or hindering the re-building the Temple before a Darius could be found who would resolutely promote the finishing of it There were many Generations of bloody persecuting Nerves amongst the Roman Emperours before one Constantine who would imploy his power to advance the building of the Christian Church God will be All in all and especially acknowledged in Temple-worke and therefore suffer it to bee carryed on through such delayes and difficulties that wee shall have evident reason to cry Grace Grace to the Lord of Hosts as in Zach. 4. 7. In the beginning of this Parliament the Counsels of Reformation did move very vigorously as if the work would have been suddainly done People began to eye the Creature too much and to set up some second causes too high advancing them even into Gods Throne The Lord hath since taken from us by death divers zealous and worthy Instruments and suffered so many intervening rubs to hinder our dispatch of Temple-work that we are taught to eye God more and now to speak this Language The zeale of the Lord of hosts will perform this Isai. 9. 7. If Temple-worke bee not easily not suddenly accomplished Then why should any bee offended with delayes and difficulties in the present work of Reformation Gods glorious works have ordinarily small beginnings are carryed on without externall pompe and for the most part make very slow progresse this possibly may offend carnall spectators but our Saviour pronounces all them Blessed who shall not bee offended in him Matth. 11. 6. How mean so ever hee appeare in his word or in his workes God hath laid the Foundation of a glorious Temple for himselfe in England The work indeed hangs long in our Zerubbabels and Joshuahs hands many are herewith much offended and discouraged Bee pleased to read over the Story of Gods Providences about the building and reforming of his Church from time to time you shall then finde the motion in Temple-work is seldome quick Great works as well as great bodies move but slowly By the good hand of our God upon us there is a beautifull Fabrick of his House as neere as wee can according to the Apostolicall pattern preparing amongst us and some such things are already done towards it as will bee of singular concernment both in reference to the Honour of the Lord himselfe and also to the comfort of the Inhabitants In stead of the High Commission which was a sore scourge to many godly and faithfull Ministers wee have an Honourable Committee that turns the wheele upon such as are scandalous and unworthy In the roome of Jeroboams Priests burning and shining Lights are multiplyed in some dark places of the Land which were full of the habitations of cruelty In the place of a long Liturgie wee are in hope of a pithy Directory In stead of Prelaticall Railes about the Table wee have the Scripture Railes of Church Discipline in good forwardnesse Where Popish Altars and Crucifixes did abound wee begin to see more of Christ crucifyed in the simplicity and purity of his Ordinances In stead of the Prelates Oath to establish their owne exorbitant power with the appurtenances wee have a Solemne Covenant with God ingaging us to indevour Reformation according to his Word yea and the extirpation of Popery and Prelacy it selfe Who could expect that such great matters should bee easily and suddenly effected Yet still you must make account the Devil will besti●re himselfe to ralise all the Forces hee can from Hell or on the Earth to hinder the progresse in this Blessed work and admit your hopes should yet hee deferred however suffer not your Spirits to sinke with discouragement In these delayes the Adversaries may have one designe hoping hereby to undermine the building before it bee finished but the wise God hath another designe herein hee knows how to take the wise in their own craftinesse and through their retardings to carry on Temple-work with great advantage All our delayes and difficulties may prove the Lords method to fetch off peoples Spirits to close more fully with his own work The businesse of Church-Reformation stuck here most of all even in the reluctancy of the peoples minds against it and their indisposednesse to comply with it as in good Jehosophats dayes The high places were not taken away for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their Fathers 2 Chron. 20. 33. Our Temple-work was no more forward because the hearts of the most of England have been so backward to it Behold here the admirable providence of God how hee hath improved the lengthening of our Troubles Hereby hee hath by little and little moulded peoples spirits to a more plyable disposition and made many much more ready to concurre in the building of the Temple in the Advancing of Reformation When the warres began thousands in England who in a