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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87586	Parliament physick for a sin-sick nation. Or, An ordinance of Parliament explained, and applyed to these diseased times. Containing a catholicall medicine for all natures and nations, but especially, a generall receipt for all the sickly people in our English-hospitall, and Welch-spittle, compounded after the art of the apothecary, and according to Parliament prescription, as hereafter followeth. Wherein thou mayst see as in an urinal-glasse, the dangerous state of thy English mother, and the genius of the reforming physitians, in seeking her speedy cure, and lasting happinesse, unto all succeeding ages. / By Philo-Parl. Imprimatur, Ja: Cranford.	Joceline, Nathaniel.; England and Wales. Parliament. aut	1644 (1644)	Wing J757; Thomason E45_13; ESTC R21825	121,637	146

Kingdome A true friend is a Magazine of much good suppose thy old friend hath some defects this new friend may prove more defective it is not with a friend as with a garment or a ship the newer the better this Rehoboam Solomons son found to be too true for his profit 1 Kings 12.6 c. when he forsook the counsell of the old men or Sanhedrin that had stood before his father to give advice and did choose and follow the counsell of young men a cabinet counsell against the great Senate Graves antiqui Senatores Pet. Mart. Et a conciliis fuerant Jun. which then was like our Parliament now in many regards as you have heard before do but read this chapter through and it will give thee a good hint for these Parliament-forsaking times All the world knoweth and England cannot but beare witnesse that Englands Parliament hath been Englands friend many generations Jewel def Apo. part 6. p. 522. even in the time of Popery yea even then the Pope his holynesse was clogged with Parliament Conditions And why we should now think that the Papists will rather defend the Protestant Religion in England then the reformed and reforming Parliament now sitting Monstrum horrendum Britannieum to me is no little wonder diverse come over into this Island to see strange sights I think there is none like this new wonder which many would perswade England the world to beleeve in these dayes to wit That a Delinquent and Popish Army should fight for the due execution of the strict Lawes of the Kingdom and the maintenance of the Protestant Religion in England yea and that against such a parliament as I am perswaded is the glory of the Christian world Ovid never fained such a Metamorphosis and the Legend of lies never fabled its like Certainly this is one of Satans lying wonders 2 Thes 2.9 who is a great friend to Antichrist 〈◊〉 en●m Satanae omn●a agat Heming Obj. as appeareth plainly in that verse and in this Yorke designe I should like well of your admonition may some man say were it not that the now present Parliament doth go about to bring in an alteration contrary to the minds and votes of the Bishops when they were members of the House of Lords I will give you the answer of Bishop Iewel to Master Harding a Papist in his time Sol. Jewel d●f Apo. p●t 6. p 521 522. whose words are these You see me herein to bewray some want of skill the wise and learned could soon have told you that in the Parliaments of England matters have evermore used to passe not of necessity by the speciall consent of the Arch-Bishops and Bishops as if without them no statute might lawfully be enacted but onely by the more part of the voices yea although all the Arch-Bishops and Bishops were never so earnestly bent against it And Statutes so passing in Parliament onely by the consent of the Lords Temporall without the consent and agreement of the Lords Spirituall have neverthelesse alwayes been confirmed and ratified by the Royall assent of the Prince and have been enacted and published under the names of the Lords Temporall At S Edmunds Bury Anno Do● 1296. Habitorex cum suis ●aronibus Parliamento Clero excluso statutum est In provistone de Mart. Anno Dom. 1272. Read the Statutes of King Edward the first there you shall finde that in a Parliament solemnly holden the Arch-Bishops and Bishops were quite shut forth and yet the Parliament held on and good and wholsome Lawes were there enacted the departing or absence or malice of the Lords Spirituall notwithstanding In the Records thereof it is written thus The King keeping his Purliament with his Barons the Clergy being shut forth it was enacted c. Likewise in the time of King Henry the third yea and that quite contrary to the expresse decrees of the Church of Rome Likewise in the time of Rich. 2. Anno 11. cap. 3. From whence Christian reader thou hast not onely an answer to the former Cavalier-cavill but also a learned confutation of the late Protestation of the Tower-Bishops but no more of this matter Give me leave therefore O England once more to perswade thee as thou lovest thy selfe and tenderest the welfare of thy posterity forsake not thy own friend and thy fathers friend I meane the Parliament of England which hath protested as deeply and ventured as magnanimously for the good of King and Kingdom as ever any did since King Inah his dayes and King Elfreds Regiment THE SECOND PART CHAP. III. A Preparative for this Physick THat flourishing Kingdoms have been ruined by impenitent going on in a course of sinning the sacred Story doth plainly tell us And how neere to such a ruine our sinfull Nation now is the present lamentable face of it doth too apparently shew Parl. Ordin P. And though we should feele the heavy strokes of God yet seven times more it is our duty to accept the punishment of our iniquity and to say Righteous art thou O Lord and just are thy judgements Yet because the Lord who is just is also mercifull and in his infinite mercy hath left the excellent and successefull remedy of Repentance to Nations brought neere to the gates of destruction and despaire O let not England be negligent in the application of it Humble addresses of a penitent people to a mercifull God have prevailed with him They prevailed for Niniveh when the sentence seemed to be gone out against her and may also prevaile for England Thus far the Preparative In which Preparative are severall Ingredients The first Ingredient is Necessity and that in a twofold regard Necessitie 1. Because Englands sicknesse is a mortall or deadly disease which is Impenitencie argued by these words That flourishing Kingdoms have been ruined by impenitent going on in a course of sinning 2. In regard of the neernesse of the mortality and ruine of this impenitent Kingdome implyed in these words And how neere to such a ruine our sinfull Nation now is the present lamentable face of it doth too apparently shew From whence naturally ariseth this Aphorisme That Impenitencie is a Nation-destroying sicknesse APHORISME 2. Impenitencie is a Nation-destroying sicknes Isa 6.10 11. Ier. 29 2 Kings 17. from the 7. to the 19. ver Ier. 8.6 Rev. 2.5 For the better understanding of this Aphorisme consider three things First consider what impenitencie is It is a going on in a course of sinning without repentance This description is in the beginning of the Ordinance Wherein consisider these parts 1. It is a sinne 2. It is a course or trade 3. It is a going on still without repentance for as Christ did destroy the works of the devill 1 Iohn 3.8 so doth Repentance destroy the worke of Impenitencie it is quite contrary to it Secondly consider the grounds of this Aphorisme in generall and these are in number sixe 1. Because it is a great sinne

it is a sinning-sin as one calleth it Rebell is ●●at rebellione aeterna Vat. It is called Rebellion Ier. 8.5 it is a high aggravation of sin Mat. 11.20 Rev. 2.21 2. Because it is a Diabolicall sinne the Devils neither can neither will repent their impenitentiall hearts are so hardned 3. Because it is a wrath-treasuring sin Rom. 2.5 by it they treasure up wrath against the day of wrath 4. Because it is a Nation-unfencing sin Isa 5.2 5. It causeth God to pull up his hedge about his Vineyard and Church and so to fall to ruine and all kind of mischiefe 5. Because it is a Physick-rejecting sin Mat. 23.37 Ye would not come under my wings to be healed and refreshed Iohn 3.19 The contempt of Physick doth more displease the Physitian then the loathsomnesse of it doth trouble him 6. Because it is a sin-finishing sin Iam. 1.15 Then sin is finished when a man resolveth to live and lye in it though it cost him his life Now is thy sore without remedy 2 Chron. 36.16 There is no promise in the Word of God to an impenitent sinner that will not turne and live It is not so much falling into the water that drowneth but the lying in it So it is not so much the falling into sinne as the lying and continuing in sinne that damneth the soule Thirdly consider the Demonstration of this Position in-particular as it concerneth this Nation wherein we live To this end let us a little look over the foure great changes of England in former times and we shall finde that the sinnes of our fore-fathers which were not repented of were the meritorious cause of their long-since past miseries Lam. 3.39 The first great change was at the comming in of the ancient Romans into England which was a thousand years after the beginning of the fable of Brute and in the daies of Iulius Caesar Rich. Pak Chron. pag. 2. Bri●o de Britoni● Polyd. Virgil p. 27. Ang. hist Bede l. 3. c. 1. Now we cannot imagine but that then the Britains were under their Heathenish Government as so many Brutes like the ancient Romans before their calling to be Saints Rom. 1. worshiping and serving the creature more then the Creator who is blessed for ever Amen The second great change was at the comming in of the old Saxons Bede l. 1. c. 24. Hist Ang. Now Bede in his History doth plainly prove that their impenitencie was the cause of their punishments as a pillaging and a spoiling war c. They abused their quietnesse and plenty and grew to a loose and wanton living whereupon all manner of lewdnesse followed straight after especially cruelty hate of truth and loving of lies Insomuch that if any were gentler and more given to truth then others they would work him all the spight and hurt they could as a common enemy of the Country This did not onely the Seculars but also the Clergie it selfe and the heads thereof giving themselves over to drunkennesse pride contention envie and such other wickednesse casting utterly from them the sweet yoak of Christ In the meane time a bitter plague fell among them for their corrupt living consuming in short time such a multitude of them ut vivi mortuos sepelive nequirent that the quick were not sufficient enough to bury the dead And yet for all that they remained so hardned in sin that neither their friends death nor the feare of their own could cure the Morain of their soules Polyd. Virg. l. 3. P. 61. which daily perished through their sinfull living Whereby a greater stroke of Gods vengeance ensued upon the whole sinfull Nation as appeareth in the 15. Chapter of the same Historian whose words are to this purpose To be short the fire once kindled in the hands of the Pagans the old Saxons took just revenge on the wickednesse of the people not much unlike that fire of the Chaldeans which being kindled consumed the City of Jerusalem So also this fire of vengeance the wicked Conquerour kindling it or rather God the just Judge disposing it raged first upon the Cities and Countries next unto it B●de l. 1● 15. after from the East sea unto the West overwhelmed all the whole Island without any resistance made to quench it Both publique and private houses were over thrown to the ground the Priests were slain standing at the Altar the Bishops with their flocks were murdered without respect of their dignity neither was there any that would bury their slain Some of the miserable leavings being taken in the hils were there killed others being starved with hunger were fain to creepe out of their caves and buy their victuals at their enemies hands with sale of their liberty for ever if yet they were not killed out of hand others fled over the seas with a heavy heart others tarying still in the Country in feare of death and lack of food lived full miserably in the mountaines woods and cliffes The same authour saith in another place that among many other of their horrible doings ●●b 1. c. 22. which their own Historiographer Gildas doth lamentably set forth in writing that they never took care to preach the Gospel of Christ unto the English and Saxons which inhabited amongst them in the land Also in another place he saith Lib. 3. c. 1. they that is the old Britains were defiled with the filth of Idolatry The third great change was at the comming in of the Danes who did in time much hurt in this kingdom as appeareth by the Acts and Monuments of our Church I will give you the testimonies of two sufficient witnesses An ancient writer H●sto Cariana In A●g orum quidem Ecclesia Primitiva Religio clarissi meresp●enda● ita ut Reges ac Reginae Principes ac Daces Consules Barones c. in an old Manuscript saith to this purpose concerning the invasion of the Danes into England In the primitive Church of the Englishmen Religion did most clearely shine in so much that Kings Queenes Princes and Dukes Consuls and Barons and Rulers of Churches incensed with the desire of the Kingdom of Heaven labouring and striving among themselves to enter into a solitary life and voluntary exile forsooke all and followed the Lord But in processe of time all vertue decayed among them so much that in fraud and treachery none seemed to be like them neither was any thing to them hatefull and odious but piety and justice Neither any thing in price and honour but civil war and shedding of innocent blood wherefore Almighty God sent upon them pagan and cruell Nations like swarmes of bees which neither spared women nor children as Danes Norwegians Gothes Suevians Vandals and Frisians who from the beginning of the reigne of King Ethelwolfe till the comming of the Normans by the space of 230. yeares destroyed this sinfull land from the one side of the sea to the other from man also to beast for they invading England oft

a sickly posterity after their owne image Gen. 5.3 So is sinne contrary to nature created regenerated and restored to its pris●nat perfection in some measure Eph. 4 24. 2. A disease doth vitiate and paire the actions of men Primo viti●ns actionem quare cum actio vitiata non fuerit morbi nomen non meretur Galen and this it doth two waies especially as the learned Physitian faith 1. by corrupting an distempering the first qualities Secondly by dissolving the Union betwixt the humours of the body So sinne doth corrupt the qualities of the soule and dissolving and breaking the Union betwixt the faculties of the mind doth corrupt and make worse the powers of the soule and body and hence come all vitious or sinfull actions therefore originall sinne is called originall corruption In Psal 51.5 Hugo Hieron Glosa Grego lib. 12. Moral and from this originall corruption and pravitie of nature floweth all the corruption in the world 2 Pet. 1 4. corruption in the world through lust Psal 51.5 David discovereth the fountaine of corruption in his life and actions to be his conception in originall corruption and sinne God created man righteous but man found out many inventions to corrupt and undoe himselfe Eccl. 7.29 3. A disease doth weaken the body so doth sinne Rom. 7. Morbus imbecillitas me exanimat Cic. A●tic lib. 11. Ex morbo pravitas membrorum deformitas Cicero Paul could not doe what he would he wanted power Rom. 7.18 4. A disease doth not onely weaken but also deforme the bodie it doth deprive the lovely face of its beauty c. So doth sinne like the Pox deforme a man that was most amiable in his first creation it hath robbed him of the beauty of holinesse sinne is Deformitie 5. Every disease is deadly if it be not cured Morbus morti proximus though some are more mortall then others So is every sinne mortall Rom. 6.23 6. A disease is an enemy to the whole body though it be but in one part Morbum esse 〈◊〉 corporis 〈◊〉 Tull. 〈◊〉 4. Tus● so doth one Achan trouble all Israel Joshu 7. Adams sinne did corrupt the whole world Gen. 3. Rom. 5. Davids numbring the people did wrong to his Kingdome CHAP. XXII Application of this Aphorisme THe Consideration hereof is of use by way of Information If Englands sinnes and diseases be infinite never wonder England is so sick and ill at ease as it is the Lord helpe us but rather stand and wonder that its no worse with the Nation then it is this day The wages of one sinne is death yea all kind of death the merit of the least sinne is the greatest punishment Englands sinnes are not onely infinite but hainous in nature more heavie then the sands on the Sea-shoare yea they are aggravated with many circumstances and are subjectated in the whole Kingdome there is not one man that sinneth not No not one Psal 14. And therefore stand and admire O all yee Nations at Gods favourable dealing with England we with Capernaum have beene exalted to Heaven and therefore have deserved to be brought downe to Hell because of our Impenitencie Ideo vos caedā durissimis flagellis ut ingratis convenit Lyran. Mere. Math. 11 23. God must say to us as to his people of old Amos 3.2 You onely have I knowne of all the Families of the earth therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities Because you have beene more ingratefull to me then others that have not enjoyed so many mercies from me Therefore I will punish you more sharpely then any other Nation But blessed by God we cannot find by his actions that he hath said such words against this Land and Nation If Englands sinnes be Englands diseases then that Parliament that Armie that Discipline that are most against sinne and sight most against Poperie that Parliament that Armie and that Discipline are most sutable to Englands necessities and are likely to be the best Physitians and Surgeons to cure and heale a wounded and sin-sick Nation for when the causes are removed then the effects will cease * Quapropter in adeundis periculis consu●tudoö miranda medicorum est qui leviter aegrotantes leviter curant gravioribus autem morbis periculosas curationes ancipites adhibere coguntur 〈◊〉 Amb. Cal. If Englands sinnes be so many so great and dangerous as you have heard then blame not that Great Colledge of Physitians for their using more then ordinary Remedies for so desperate a cure as the Kingdome hath put into their hands It s the usuall custome of Physitians so to doe in dangerous diseases and doubtfull cures If every sinne is a disease Venienti occurrite morb● then deale with every sinne as with a dangerous and mortall distemper Stop it in the beginning runne to the Physitian acquaint the learned Doctor with it and follow his direction this is the next way to have a sound body and a Kingdome in conjunction Smiling sinnes are flattering diseases when with Judas they kisse us and cry Haile master then take heed to thy selfe they will give thee up into the hands of death as Judas did Christ into the hands of P●late If this Aphorisme be true which doubtlesse it is then see from hence a ground for Christian-stricknesse and precisenesse as the world calleth it Sinnes are distempers distempers are dangerous to the sicke partie and infectious to others The plague of the heart which is sinne is like the plague of Leprosie its dangerous and infectious Levit. 13. And therefore we are to shunne grosse sinners and not to come nigh their dwellings Prov. 4 14 15. Eph. 5 11. 1 Cor. 5 11. It s dangerous to sit at the same table and drinke of the same cup with them Now as my Author saith Peccator ver● leprosus est primo enim in corde corruptusest d●inde tetrum foetorem emittit insuper ali●s inficit dignus est qui ejiciatur Ferus in Num. 12. a sinner is like a Leprous man in divers regards First because he is corrupt in heart Secondly because he stinketh like a Leper he hath a most grievous stinking breath Thirdly because he doth infect others Fourthly because he is worthy to be cast out of the Church and societie of the Saints whether he be then fit to come to the Communion judge yee Now if it be commendable to shunne infectious companie sure its praise-worthy to keepe thy soule from spirituall infection as much as thou canst Lastly Solemne League and Covenant 1643. p. 5. be exhorted to approve of the Solemne League and Covenant betwixt the three Kingdomes to endeavour two things of great moment for the cure of this Leprous-Nation The first is to endeavour the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdomes of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the Example of the best Reformed Churches Secondly to endeavour the

discharge their love nor well save their Oathes if your Majestie shall keepe her alive of which burden your Majesties Subjects are most desirous to be relieved as the same may be if Justice be done 7. Lastly Your Majesties most loving and dutifull Commons doubt not but that as your Majestie is duly exercised in reading the Booke of God so it will please you to call to your Princely remembrance how fearefull the examples of Gods vengeance be that are to be found against King Saul for sparing King Agag and against King Achab for saving the life of Benhadad both which were by the just judgement of God deprived of their Kingdomes for sparing those wicked Princes whom God had delivered into their hands of purpose to be slaine by them as by the Ministers of his Eternall and Divine justice wherein full wisely Solomon proceeded to punishment when he tooke the life of his owne naturall and elder brother Adonias for the onely intention of a marriage that gave suspition of Treason against him Christian Reader pardon this Digression and make a right use of these nine Reasons against Cruell-Mercie They may cure thy minde of many prejudicate opinions and thoughts about the present Parliament for the publique safetie of the three Kingdomes For thou seest that the Parliament of England this yeare 1643. doth no more against Malignants now then the Parliament 1586. did against a Popish Queene then and that upon the very selfe-same Reasons as appeareth in their Writings Christian Reader I cannot let thee goe without acquainting thee with the Queenes Answer to these Reasons much sweetnesse may be sucked out of every word Her Answer is this verbatim As touching your Councels and Consultations I conceive them to be wise honest and conscionable so provident and carefull for the safetie of my life which I wish no longer then may be for your good that though I can never yeeld you of Recompence your due yet shall I endeavour my selfe to give you cause to thinke your good will not ill bestowed and strive to make my selfe worthie of such subjects And now for your Petition I shall pray you for this present to content your selves with an Answer without Answer Your Judgement I condemne not neither doe I mistake your Reasons but pray you to accept my Thankfulnesse excuse my Doubtfulnesse and take in good part my Answer answerlesse Wherein I attribute not so much to my owne Judgement but that I thinke many particular persons may goe before me though by my Degree I goe before them Therefore if I should say I would not doe what you request it might peradventure be more then I thought And to say I would doe it ●ight perhaps breed perill of that you labour to preserve being more then in your owne wisdomes and discretions would ●eeme convenient circumstances of time and place being duly considered Here Christian Reader thou seest how Queene Elizabeth did speake to her great Councell of State very respectfully thankefully and humblie though they did enter into a firme Loyall Association and Protestation without her knowledge and did some things against her mind as elsewhere she declareth unto them This may teach all the Malignants and Neuters in the Kingdome to speake more honourably to and of the Parliament of whom no dishonourable thing is to be thought or spoken according to the good and old Maxime and Rule for Parliament-language Seventhly They are most likely to cure the distempers and soares of this great-spittle and sin-sick Kingdome I say though its possible for them to erre being men and not guided by an Infallible spirit yet it s more likely they should not erre then other Councellors of State though very wise and learned men because they are not onely in their proper place Matth. 18.20 where God doth usually meet his Servants that are about his Work Potestates precibus sanstorum tanquam sustenta●ules indigent Hemming but also they are prayed for by the Kingdom more then all in the Kingdom besides who are not called to this great Worke that the Parliament hath in hand Now there is great power in prayers God hath sanctified the ordinance of prayer for the private good of persons and publike good of Kingdomes 1 Tim. 2 2. Psal 65 2. Jam. 5.16 Eighthly Because they are Authorized Physitians Ut deinceps quicquid ad Ren publ bene gerendam ejusque conservationem deliberandum foret illud ad concilium referretur Pol. Virg. l. 11. they have the Kings broad Seale to their Writ by vertue whereof they are called together not onely to consult how to governe but also how to preserve the Common-wealth in health and safetie So that upon the matter the end of their meeting is that the Common-wealth may take no damma●e I am informed that the Writ whereby the Parliament is congregated together runneth after this manner before mentioned To summe up all in a word Nuxquippe Indica 〈…〉 refertae in societate servatur quam cunens tum temporis gloriabundus mihi ostendebat qu● Regi exemplo 〈◊〉 parabitur Pharmatum Romes Master-piece pag. 18 19. thy Physick must come either from London or Oxford Now consider with thy selfe but doe it seriously in which is it most likely the best and most trustie Physitians are to be found I hope thou wilt not looke for good Physick from such as would have poysoned Queene Elizabeth and would have killed King James 〈◊〉 have 〈◊〉 up his Parliament I hope thou canst not expect it from Politique Neuters as side with such as have prepared an Indian 〈…〉 most s●●●pe poyson for the King after the example of his Father if he will not consent to the Papists now in Armes in England and Ireland O Lord preserve King Charles who is now in great danger amongst the Papists Lord so blesse me as I desire thee to blesse my King CHAP. XXXI An Answer to some Objections made against this great Colledge of Physitians BEcause discontented men cannot for shame cavill against Parliament Physick which is Evangelicall Physick and men must denie the whole Bible if they gaine-say Repentance Therefore they fall a cavilling against the Physitians being unwilling to take their Physick but this shift will not serve their turne in the day of death and Judgement Their Objections are many but to little purpose I will name one or two of them which seeme to have most reason and strength in them 1. Obj. This Parliament is a Schismaticall Parliament in going about to Reforme that Government in the Church which other Parliaments did establish Sol. For Answer First by the same Reason all the Reforming Parliaments and Synods in the world may be called Factious for they did Reforme things amisse established by Law Secondly Solemne League and Covenant p. 5. They doe but desire to Reforme the Church according to the Word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches as they have suffiently declated to the world upon their Oathes 〈◊〉

God and there thou shalt heare the voice of Wisedome directing thee what to doe for thy spirituall good Prov. 8.34.35 The place of Instruction it s the House of God and there he is especially to be found who is our Life And therefore by way of encouragement they are pronounced blessed who heare Wisedome speaking to them But marke to whom Wisedome speaketh it s to such as watch daily at her gates and wait at the postes of her doores That is to such as neglect not the publique Ordinances of God M. Cotton giveth a good reason for it and its this M. Cotton on the first Viall Pag. 8. 9. Because the Lord doth more clearely reveale himselfe by his Spirit in the publique Administrations of the Church there he doth delight to poure out all his fresh springs Psal 87 last vers For the Lord commanded the blessing even life for evermore Psal 133 3. Eternall life doth he give in the publique fellowship of his Saints there doth he confirme their callings to them looke unto the Lord therefore for his blessing in this way Therefore if ever you perceive any vice or Spirit to take off a man from publique Ordinances and cause him to sleight them then ever looke at it as a manifest delusion For ever dispensation of God doth but enkindle a more earnest lo●ging that the Lord should confirme the same by his broad Letters-Patents the publique Word and Sacraments in the Church Yea so farre doe the Saints of God stand hereupon that whatsoever is in private brought unto them to beleeve they will find much adoe to rest satisfied in it untill they see it confirmed in the publique also As men will not content themselves with the Privie-Seale but labour to have the Broad-Seale also Shall men be so carefull for the world and for temporall patrimonies and shall Christians take up every motion in private and sleight publique Ordinances be not deceived whatsoever is brought by the Spirit of God unto you in private will cause you to seeke for more cleare evidence from his loud voice in publique where his voice goeth on more strongly and powerfully convincing the Conscience and breaking downe all temptations and discouragements that might hinder the comfort of Gods people Thus farre and farther goeth that exiled Saint CHAP. XXXIII The Conclusion of the whole Worke. HItherto something hath beene spoken concerning a Personall-Reformation which is required in the Ordinance as it hath beene declared wherein let Christians be very sc●pulous and herein let them shew as much Zeale as they can this is the right channell for thee to runne in nothing is lost but what runneth beside this is the best Method in Reformation to begin first with our selves and then to proceed on the perfection Heb. 6 1. This is according to that of our Saviour Matth. 7 5. and the Ordinance requireth a Personall Reformation in the first place Parl. Ord. N. Therefore my counsell is that every one would labour to walke in all well-pleasing Col. 1 10. First in all well-pleasing to God Heb. M. Bis●●● on Colossi cap. 1. pag. 82. ● 12 28. 1 Cor. 7 31. Secondly in all well-pleasing to man either in the Family Church or Common-weale Thirdly in all well-pleasing to our selves preserving the rest and goodnesse of our Consciences Act. 23 1. heb 13 18. But for thy more full satisfaction herein I referre thee Christian Reader to my Author in his learned and Orehodox Comment on the Colossians It remaineth that something be spoken in way of exhortation to a Publique and National-Reformation according to these words in the Ordinance And likewise the necessitie of a Nationall Reformation and shall publish this Ordinance concerning the same I have shewed you in the 17 Chapter what this Reformation is and wherein it consisteth now give me leave to use a few Motives to helpe forward the grand designe this day on foot in the Christian world but especially in England Scotland and Ireland I will be very briefe 1. Bonum quo Communius eo melius Apporve of and helpe forward the much desired Reformation because its better then a private Reformation Every good thing is so much the better by how much its more common Now then if a personall Reformation be good then a Nationall is better for its more common As he that is an Atheist that denyeth a personall Reformation so he is little better then a Papist that opposeth a Nationall Reformation in these Cassandrin-dayes 2. Appolonio ●●●sus ad Reformandum velut ad re-coquendum se dedit Quintil. lib. 12. Quid pro Quo Helpe forward the Reformation because of the nature of it its to seeth againe or to re-cooke The spirituall Food of the Church of God was parboyled in Henry the eighth his time it was but halfe-sodden in Edward the sixth his time it was reboyled but in the Marian-dayes as of old so of late it hath been handled with foule fingers many poyson●ll Doctrines have beene mixed with the pure Word of God 〈◊〉 the pretence of a Purgation and cooked out after an Italian and French-fashion Insomuch that the Papists themselves did brag and boast that we were come to them and not they to us and that there was now a visible Church in England To speake the truth and to shame the Divell In Cam. Where Bishop Wren was Master all things in our chancells were prepared even for that abominable Idoll of the masse I have often thought that Peter-house-Chappell might have bin presented to the Pope for a new-New-yeares gift with much acceptation in Rome it selfe This Reformation is a change for the better Reformare est in meliorem forman redigere otherwise it would prove a Deformation the word signifieth to polish anew Thinke not that the Parliament of England with such a learned and Pious Synod as England hath not knowne its second will doe any thing as neere as they can which shall tend to the dishonour of God or disgrace of Religion 3. Be willing with a thorow Reformation Superstitio damnatur Aquinas in Mar. for whatsoever is not of God in his worship is in vaine and to no purpose It will neither please God not profit the soule Matth. 15.9 mark 7 6 7. In vaine doe they worship me teaching for Doctrines the commandements of men In which words our Saviour doth send all Superstition to Hell all outward Ceremonies and washings are to no effect without his Benediction which onely goeth along with his owne Ordinances What wise patient will lay out his money for and spend his time in taking Apothecarie Drugs that have no healing vertue in them we use to say As good never a whit as never the better Consider that place Col. second Chapter vers 22. Which all are to perish with the using after the Commandements and Doctrines of men Take Samuels councell and turne yee nor aside from God and his Word for then should yee goe after vaine things which