Die Mercurij 26. April 1643. IT is this day Ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament that Sir Peter VVentworth doe from this House give thanks unto Mr. Greenhill for the great paines hee tooke in the Sermon hee preached this day at the intreaty of this House before the Commons at St. Margarets in the Citie of VVestminster being a day of publique humiliation and that he desire him to Print his Sermon And it is Ordered that no man presume to print his Sermon but whom the said Master Greenhill shall authorize under his hand writing H. Elsyng Cler. Parl. D. Com. I appoint Benjamin Allen to print my Sermon W. GREENHILL Αξινε Ï€Ïοσ τεν Ριζαν The Axe at the Root A SERMON Preached before the Honourable House of COMMONS at their publike Fast April 26. 1643. By William Greenhill MATTH. 3. 10. Now also the Axe is laid unto the root of the trees th erefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire LONDON Printed by R. O. G. D. for Benjamin Allen and are to be sold in Popes-head Alley 1643. TO THE Honourable House of COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT WHen the World was shaken by Adams sinne God secur'd it by the Promiseof his Son Gen. 5. When Canaan was distressed by the Midianites he sent Gideon to save Israel Iudg. 6. Now England is distracted and her foundations out of course He hath rays'd up you the Worthies of our Israel to repaire her breaches and settle her foundations we acknowledge the infinite mercy of God to raise you up at such a time and for such designes It's great hard work to save Kingdomes but Honourable whoever would not save a Kingdome is no more worthy to live in it then the Man seekes the destruction thereof Wicked men will venture all to get or ruine Kingdomes and shall not good men venture as farre to save Kingdomes Had men publique spirits they would doe it Heathens have so minded the publique as that they have forgot themselves Publius Decius the Romane Army being brought low rusht into the midst of the enemies demanded safety for his Country Death for himselfe and so occasioned an unexpected Victory Luc. Alvanius his Wife and Children being in the VVagon escaping for their lives in a common Calamity commands them downe and takes up the Vestall Virgins who had the care of their holy things he was proprior publicae Religioni quam privatae charitati the Publiquenesse of his spirit caryed him above private interests VVhere spirits are right set selfe is much forgotten Ji's domesticknes of spirit selvishnesse which is the great let to Armies Religions and Kingdomes good Esther was right when shee said if I perish I perish she would venture for the publique and for her God The * Rabbins give a good lesson for Men in publiqne employment They must doe their worke propter Deum Then neither difficultie of worke disappoinment in event nor ingratitude in People will disturbe the spirits of men Then nothing will be done against the Kingdome of Christ evidence of truth or liberty of Conscience If men be publique and act for God they are Eshbaals Ruling lights if private and selvish they will be Ishbosheths men of shame The Axe is at the root of our Tree wee hope your spirits are all unselvished that none are now unpublique Publiquenesse of dangers calls for publiquenesse of spirits Eminency of danger for speedinesse of helpe VVhen Ierusalem was brought low Asaph cryed to God for speedy prevention Psalm 79. 8. England Ireland are brought low the Asaphs cry to God and cry to you also for speedy prevention There be ill spirits abroad which teare us which cast us into the Fire and water to destroy us as the Mans Sonne in the Gospell and we say Masters if you can doe any thing have compassion on the Kingdome and help it help us keep backe nothing may save a Kingdome helpe by wayes ordinary and by wayes extraordinary You are * Rulers and our ruine is under your hand Vote our Resurrection nomine contradicente effect it quamvis mille repugnent and this shall be your Impresse Hoc Regnum est vere vestrum Yea other Kingdomes shall contribute to your praise and the Kingdome of Kingdoms be your reward Bestirre you they are active who would undoe us Thinke on the Rabbies words a little altered Dies brevis opus multum merces magna Pater familias urget operarij ne sint pigri This Epistle and Sermon had both lay on in the dark if your authority which commands Persons Pulpits Presses had not brought them forth accept the fruits of your owne power and blessed be the Lord for what you have done since you heard what is now presented unto you The Lord inable you to perfect all your intentions and undertakings which are for the publique good The Lord unite you Watch ever you fill you with his Spirit Prosper you All yours and accomplish yet greater things by You So Prayes Your most Vnworthy Servant and meanest in the worke of Christ WILLIAM GREENHILL A SERMON PREACHED Before the Honourable House of COMMONS at their publique FAST April 26. 1643. MATTH. 3. 10. Now also the Axe is laid unto the root of the trees therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire THese words are part of a penitentiall Sermon Iohn Baptist the greatest Prophet borne of a woman yet the humblest that had to do with Christ Mat. 3. 11. Preaching repentance to the people v. 2. multitudes flocked to heare him upon that subject amongst others the Pharisees and Sadduces which were none of the best came to heare and these he exhorts also to bring forth fruit meet for repentance many arguments he used to presse on that duty and this Text is Argumentum â—â—gens a strong argument unto it Beside the Arguments of the Kingdome of God being at hand v. 2. and that there is wrath to come v. 7. he saith Now also is the Axe laid to the root of the Tree if the Kingdome will not draw you nor the fear of wrath after this life drive you 〈…〉 the present Axe that is laid to the root of the 〈…〉 draw and drive you to repentance In the words you have a description of divine severitie And first in the preparation to it The axe is laid to the root of the tree Secondly in the execution of it Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire First I shall open to you the words and then draw forth such truths and Observations as the words do naturally prompt unto you without any straining or fetching of blood By Axe we understand not Christ as Gregory nor the Gospell as some would have it but any Judgement that God useth to cut down a sinful people by The Roman forces under Vespatian and Titus were Gods Axe to cut down
the Nation of the Iewes by the warre they made upon them by the famine attended that warre and the dispertion followed it they were utterly cut downe I will a little shew you the resemblances between them and an Axe Because Gods judgements are called Axes First an Axe is a sharpe and terrible thing so are Gods Judgements Psal. 45. 5 Thine arrowes are sharpe in the heart of the Kings enemies Gods Arrowes are not onely his truths but also his judgements and they are sharpe at distance but especially upon the entrance when they come into the hearts of Christs enemies they wound and that dreadfully Ier. 5â— 20 〈…〉 called Gods battell Axe and that you know 〈◊〉 a terrible Instrument God by Babylon did break and terrifie Kingdomes he dealt sharply and roundly with them and his Judgements executed by Babylon were very dreadfull Psal. 119. 120. My flesh trembleth for feare of thee and I am affraid of thy Judgements David that was not affraid of the Beare of the Lyon nor of Gâ—liah yet was affraid of Gods Judgements If the giving of the Law made Moses and the people quake Heb. 12. 20 21. surely Gods Judgements which are lexanimata the execution of the Law will make Kingdomes to tremble At the entrance of the law Mount Sâ—na did smoak and when God shall avenge the breach of the Law Mount Sion will burne Lament 4. 11. When Ananias and Saphira were smitten great feare fell upon all the Church and all others that heard of it insomuch that none of them durst joine themselves with them Acts 5. 11. 13. So you see Gods Judgements are sharpe and dreadfull Secondly an Axe as its terrible so its strong and weighty and Gods Judgments have strength and weight in them Psal. 90. 11. Who knowes the power of thine anger there is power and strength in the wrath of God let him use the least creature to execute his judgements and there is strength enough in that creature to ruine any the raine is a weake thing but if God will use raine as a Judgment it is strong enough to drown a world Job 37. 6. It is called the great raine of his strength God can put that strength into a cloud into a few drops of raine that they shall conquer any opposite power the worms eate up Herod Act. 12. A humor in the feet tumbles down Asa 2 Chron. 16. a disease in the bowells consumes Iehâ—ram 2 Chron. 21. And Stories tell us small things have overthrowne men of great renowne a grape stone a flye some petty thing God can arme the weakest creature with that strength that no man is able to stand against it not the Princes of the earth Psal. 76. 1â— Hee cuts off the spirit of Princes Hee deales with Princes as men deale with a Vine an Axe is too strong for a cluster of Grapes or a sprig of a Vine it easily cuts them off so God by a Judgement easily cuts off the spirit of Princes they are not able to stand against the least Judgement of God when he puts strength into raine wormes or any other creature they fall Thirdly an Axe is an instrument to hew with wood and stones they hewed with Axes Esa. 10. 15. Shall the axe boast it selfe against him that heweth therewith God by His Judgements hewes Nations and Kingdomes He hewed Israel by forraigne Nations when Israel was under the Judges the Philistimes and others were Gods Axe to hew them After they had chosen them a King the Lord also hewed them 2 King 10. 32. He cut Israel short in all their coasts the Hebrew word is to curtaile to cut off the ends Hazael was sent and smote them in all their coasts he took their coast Townes cut off the supplies and succors came from thence and much molested them Psal. 75. 10. The hornes of the wicked will I cut off the Lord will deale with them as men doe with Trees first loppe off one bow then another then a third and leave only the trunke so for wicked men God will loppe off their pride their strength their glory and leave them destitute Fourthly againe the Axe is destructive Trees are cut down by Axes and great woods The Lord by His Judgements cuts down Kingdomes and Princes Psal. 110. 5. In the day of thy wrath thou shalt smite through Kings God shall not only smite but he shall smite through Kings an Axe cuts and cuts through and Gods judgements cut through the greatest and throws them down Ezek. 14. 21. Gods Judgements are sore ones the Sword Famine Plague noysome Beast they are His sore Judgements to hew down People and Kingdomes hence it is that God is called a consuming fire not that He is so in his owne nature for he is nothing but love and delight but when He sends out his sore Judgements then GOD is fire and will be everlasting burning to the wicked The next thing to open in the words is what is meant by the Tree and the Root of it By Tree we are to understand the Jewish state principally they were called Gods pleasant plant Isa. 5. 7. God had digged dung'd watered and shined upon and done much for them they were a great and goodly Tree but now the Lord layes the Axe to the Root of this Tree and if God cut downe this Tree his pleasant Tree then no State no Family might ever after look to find Mercy that was in the condition of this Tree Every tree that bringeth not forth fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire For the Root of the Tree some make Man the Tree the life of Man the Root of it the Axe to be the sentence of Death and Death it selfe the cutting down of the Tree Others make the Root of the Tree to be whatever they built most upon and confided in they built upon their Temple Greatnesse Strength Chariots Horses and such things But I shall commend to you these 4. things wherin the Root of the Tree did mainly consist The First was that Covenant which they had with God they were the Lords People and he was their God and this was one Root which afforded much sap to this Tree God being theirs in Covenant He protected them provided for them and did wonderfull things among them Now the laying the Axe to the Root was the breaking His Covenant with them Zach. 11. 10. 14 v. there is the staffe of beauty and bands saith God I tooke my staffe Beauty and cut it asunder that I might breake my Covenant with all the people and when God had broken that it was not long before He brake that other staffe of Bands viz. the brotherhood between Israel and Iudah the ten Tribes were dispersed before but they had some communion with Iudah at Ierusalem but God would break the staffe of Bands he would disperse them at Ierusalem and so there should be no communion between Iudah and Israel for the future The Covenant being dissolv'd they were wounded
there was none of a publique Spirit that did execute Judgement in the broad places neither King Councellors Priests or Prophets did execute Judgement and therefore hee could not pardon when none appeare to cut down sin God will appeare to cut down sinners Isa. 5. 7. â— looked for judgement ludah was his pleasant plant he had hedg'd dig'd dung'd watered shined upon them and looked for Judgement but there was none therefore God would breake downe the hedge and lay them wast If God could have found 10 righteous persons in Soddom he would have spared it You may take the word righteous not onely for godly men but for men executing Judgement there were none such Lot could have no Justice from them and that inforc'd God to execute Justice on them 4. Blood oppression uncleannesse hatred of truth and such like which I put together because I cannot inlarge upon all particulars Hosea 4. 2. 3. By swearing lying killing stealing and committing adultery they breake out and blood toucheth blood Therefore shall the Land mourne God will destroy because of these sinnes Ezek. 36. 18. When the Brittains called in the Saxons to helpe them against the Scots and Picts God who hath power over Kingdomes and people made them his Axe to how and destroy the Brittains for they soone joyned with their adversaries and picked quarrels against the Britains and God so stirred up their Spirit against the Brittains that they spoyled them in many places drove them into corners of the Land made them flee into forraine parts and destroyed the Country with fire and Sword The a sinnes then observable were such as were not among the Gentiles hatred of the truth and the patrons of it drunkennesse contention crueltie uncleannesse countenancing of lies and the forgers of them respect to lewdnesse more then goodnesse the better things wrought most discontent all vice was in the Clergie and people Princes were Tyrannicall Murtherers Adulterers Soddomiticall and the last of the b Brittish Kings flying into France said woe to us for our great iniquities we had time to repent but did it not therefore justly now the wrath of Godrootes us out When the c Danes conquered England the Land was guilty of blood and uncleanesse it was in d â—theldreds time whose wayes were cruell miserable and shamefull his eares were open to accusers to calumniations and no mans life was in security When Roderick King of Spaine deflowred the Daughter of Count Iulian who in revenge stir'd up the Moores shewed them the way to get Spaine which they conquered and possest above 600. yeares At the Conquest by the Normans the sinnes were prophanesse ignorance uncleannesse neglect of Justice and Religion the people were a prey to the Nobles which made Edw the Confessor say before his death that England should be given into the hands of Divills and wicked Spirits You see what sins made the great changes in this Kingdome sins not unlike the Amorites which from Levit. 18. Deut. 2 12. are conceived to be Idolatry oppression and filthinesse which are destructive of Religion Justice and holynesse of life the onely bands of humane Societies and when these sinnes of theirs were full God cuts them off for when sinnes become destructive to Societies they whet Gods Axe and hasten it to the root and now you have heard what are the sinnes bring the Axe thither It followes that I shew you the third thing sets out the severitie of God and that is Thirdly the impartialnesse of God in the worke Every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire let it be an Olive Tree or a Bramble a Fig tree or a Vine no exception excuse evasion pretence or priviledge or plea is admitted but the axe is laid to the root of every one it referres to that in Deut. 20. 20. The trees thou knowest be not for meat thou shalt destroy such trees must not be spared though great and goodly In particulars you may see this truth more cleerly Looke at Kings they are tall Cedars Dan. 4. 14. Hew downe the Tree Nebuchadnezzar himselfe must downe Herod Pharaoh Belshazzer were cut off by the root Gods axe neither feares nor spares the proudest Psal. 76. 12. Not Prophets Balaam is slaine by the Sword Num. 31. 8. Not Priests 1 Kin. 18. Not Nobles Zimri and Cozbi are runne through Num. 25. Not Apostles Iudas falls headlong and bursts in pieces Act. 1. 18. Not Statists and great Counsellors Ahitophel is smitten a Sam. 17. Not Tribes Iudg. 21. 3. A Tribe was lacking in Israel afterwards ten were wanting Not Cities Sodom Ierusalem Babylon are layd wast Not a World 1 Pet. 3. 20. That is drown'd no priviledge will advantage Abrahams seed Children of the Kingdome are cast out Mark 8. 12. No place secures Ioab is taken at the hornes of the Altar Angels in heaven are thrown down 2 Pet. 2. 4. the Figtree in the Garden is not spared Luke 13. 6 That of Coniah is most observable Ierem. 22. 24. Though Coniah be as the signet on my right hand yet would I pluck him thence though he be much esteemed and very deare as Signets on Princes hands are yet it shall not priviledge him you may thinke his nearnesse and my affection to him may preserve him in his place but be not deceived as I live saith the Lord I will pluck him thence Thus you see the severity of God in his impartiallnesse towards every tree Now I come to make application of the point I might here first shew you that all Kingdomes have their Periods and learned writers tell us that there are no Kingdomes so great so glorious so powerfull that extend their duration above 500. or 600. yeares at most but are either ruinated and fall to ashes or else suffer some great change The Jewish State from Egypt to the Temple was 480. yeares from Saul their first King to Zedektah the last of Judah were 480. yeares and then they were led into Captivitie and after their returne within 500. yeares they were cut off by Vespasian and Titus the Axe in my Text and are not a Tree to this day And the ten Tribes after their division 260 yeares were carried away the Assyrian Persian Grecian and Roman Monarchies had their Periods and were cut downe by one Judgement or another the Britaines after 500 years were quit of the Romans tyranny in England and Athens from the time of its Monarchy to the time of its Democracy had 490. yeares The Lacedemonians flourished 491. yeares The Saxons had to do here 469. years The Danes 242. And then there was an end of them and it is known to all of you how long we have been since the conquest but I doe not desire to prophesie and foretell things to come all seasons are in the hand of God but its thought we are upon the Tropicks if we be not ruined altogether certainely there will be some great alteration
the golden girdle of Christ Some Expositors understand by righteousnesse and faithfullnesse righteous and faithfull men which are as neare and deare to Christ as his girdle a great and glorious ornament unto him There is much difference between those are for Christ and those are newters or against him in the 17. Rev. when the Kings of the earth shall give their power to the Beast and make warre with the Lamb the victory is the Lambs and they that are with him are call'd chosen and faithfull Let not a neutralizing or oppressing spirit be found amongst you shew your selves All now to be with and for the Lamb His cause His Churches His People and you shall have that honour as to be stil'd call'd chosen faithfull It 's good being with the Lamb when the Axe is at the root and having honour from Christ when contempt is powring down upon the heads of others Faithfull men have the blessings when others have blowes and curses Prov. 28. 20. A faithfull man abounds with blessings his blessings are without number he shall have the blessings of the present people the blessings of Generations to come the blessings of heaven the great God will powre forth his blessings upon such and say to them as to faithfull Abraham Gen. 12. 2. I will blesse you and make your names great and you shall be a blessing and those that blesse you shall be blessed the great God will powre forth great blessings upon you and mens curses shall never come neere you If emergents of time should prove such as that you should not accomplish what you intend yet you shall not goe without a blessing Psal 84. 5. Blessed is the man in whose heart are the wayes of God There is another observation for all in which I will be briefe it 's this That the way to save a dying Kingdome from ruine is by bringing forth good fruit Now the Axe is layd to the root of the Tree every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen downe and cast into the fire There is fruit unto Death Rom. 7. 5. this the Kingdome abounds withall and hath brought us under a sentence of death There is fruit unto Holynesse Rom. 6. 22. and fruit unto God Rom. 7. 2. these last are the fruits we must beare If our fruit be unto holynesse it's fruit unto God and will reprive us from death But to beare such fruit more then nature is requisite Semen naturae non consurgâ—â— in fructum Gratiae It is not naturall abillities be they never so great and excellent it is not Morall principles and vertues which will suffice If a man have not aliquid amplâ—â—â— all is nothing his fruit is sowre Rom. 8. 7. the wisdome of the flesh is enmity against God If you would bring forth fruit to save your soules and a Kingdome also you must get into Christ Iohn 15. 4. Labour to be rooted in him Col. 2. 7. who is the root of Iesse Rom. 15. 12. you must have divine faculties 1 Iohn 5. 20. divine habits Eph. 2. 8. divine motions and operations Phil. 2. 13. and after all this you must act by a divine rule and for a divine end and then your fruit is good even such as will keep the Tree from cutting down There is great difference in trees and fruits there is a Vine of Sodâ—me as well as of Sibmah Deâ—t. 32. 32. Esa 16 8. both are Vines have their leaves and clusters but in the one is a blessing on the other is a curse Cain and Abel goe forth to Sacrifice the one is accepted the other despised the Pharisee goes to Prayer with the Publican the one is justified the other condemned The Egyptians went the same way with the Israelites but they were drown'd where the Israelites were saved looke narrowly to your selves therefore what trees you are what fruit you beare There will be distructum judicium and the waies seem right in a mans own eyes may prove death Prov. 14. 12. Let not flatteries and vaine pretences undoe you what if you have been baptised So was Simon Magus What if you keepe fasts So did the Iewes and yet not fast unto God If you heare the Word gladly and reforme in many things so did Herod if you pray Matth. 7. 21. It s not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven there is more then all these to be looked after you must be in Christ not have a name to be in him but see to it in truth that you be in him The great worke is to make out that you are in Christ most presume and are undone by it Gods judgement and mans differ much and you will finde it when you come to die his thoughts are not ours Many that thinke themselves figtrees will be found brambles and the fruit of many trees will bee found naught which hath now an excellencie upon it if you walke after the flesh and not after the spirit you are not in Christ and that man is not in Christ is Arbor â—amnabâ—lis a Tree for the fire I should now exhort all to be fruitfull time permits it not I will onely turne my speech a little unto you O Noble Senators seeing bearing of good fruit is a speciall meanes to save a Kingdome labour to abound in every good word and worke to beare much fruit and fruit answerable to your opportunities God hath planted you in this Parliament to beare some choice fruit If any should aske what doe you here Let your answer be We are zealous for the Lord of Hosts When Esther was advanced she would not loose her opportunities She will in to the King although contrary to a Law she will have the liberty of her people and Hamans head off and venture Her life to accomplish it If I perish I perish chap. 4. 16. Iosia Hezekâ—ah tooke their opportunities and make a thorough reformation in Iudah you know what great things Elijah did iâ—spiciente reluctante rege 1 Kings 18. Nehemiah and Ezra for all the enemies scoffing cunning complyances to build with them taking up Armes to subdue them they tooke their times improv'd their opportunities and brought forth fruit answerable to the expectation of heaven and earth they built up the Temple and walls of Ierusalem It was Ahabs sinne he lost his opportunity in letting Benhadaa go a man that God had appointed unto death and it cost him his life for it 1 Kin 22. 31. Men are snared in an evill time because they know not their time Eccl. 9. 13. You may be timeservers and observers without sin The richest opportunities that ever men had are in your hands observe them and serv the Lord in them It 's good fruit for a Parliament to set up a faithfull conscientious Ministry all the Kingdome over to have a care of all Schooles of learning that no corrupt opinions or practises be there it 's good fruit to abrogate ill Laws
had bin formed according to the mind of God we should not have had such stirs and troubles in these daies if any therefore have built up Hay Straw and Stubble let your fire burne up such combustible matter if bryars and thornes do grow in the Sanctuarie let your Axe cut them downe 2 Chron. 14. 3. 5. When Asa tooke away Altars high places brake the Images cut downe the Groves then had the Kingdome quiet before him it s such trash as Altars Images Ceremonies and inventions of men which do disquiet Kingdomes Churches Consciences Mens thoughts are that removall of them will breed disturbance it s their standing not their taking away doth it When we go in Gods way breaking and banishing out of Gods worship the needlesse scandalous and accursed things God overules spirits which are opposite and a Kingdome is at rest Asa tooke the Images and high places out of all the Cities of Judah and yet the Kingdome was quiet the more exact in the things of God the better successe God would not have the names of Idols and superstitious things left amongst us Hos. 2. 16 17 18. Thou shalt call mee no more Baali Baalim must be no more in their minds or memories It was a good p name but because abus'd to Idolatry God would not endure it A great name is no great matter in mans judgement it was much in Gods and hee would have a perfect Reformation not tollerate the least evill and thereupon he makes a Covenant with all creatures for them and promises to breake the bow sword battle out of the earth and to make them lye down safely You see a through reformation is the readiest way to greatest security The q Papists hope by names and termes of theirs to worke in their faith amongst us they call our words novitaâ—es vocum and keep the old termes Penance Priest Masse Altar Sacrifice c. These words say they will bring us to the faith of our first Apostles I beseech you therefore to dash their hopes take away these names and dayes they so confide in Neast-eggs yea cockatrice eggs they are and may r breed Serpents tread them under your feet shew your selves children of that Father who hates superstitious names times things and loves a perfect worke Esa. 1. 25. I will turne my hand upon thee and purely purge away thy drosse and take way all thy sinne God will not endure drosse and sinne in the Shekells of the Sanctuarie those things dim the glorie and imbase the substance they must out and because there be many adversities and great opposition to works of Reformation therefore saith God in the vers. before I will ease mee of mine adversaries doe they hinder so needfull so good so great and so glorious a worke ah I will ease my selfe of such adversaries and if men will not do the worke my hand shall do it and do it throughly It's mans wisdome to do that aforehand which God will doe by his judgements In this 3 of Math 12. Christ is presented with his Fanne in his hand and resolution to purge it to purpose The Jewes would not part with their Mosaicall Worship they stuck to the Ceremonies and Rites of the Temple but because they would not purge out the corruptions crept in nor part with the shaddow for the substance now come therefore Christ fann'd them by a terrible judgment destroy'd them their Temple and all the Formalities of it setting up pure and Spirituall Worship which had they admitted their destruction might have bin prevented Luke 13. 33. 34. What corruptions are got into the worship of God is not unknowne to you the Worthies of our Israel turne your hand upon us and purely purge out all the drosse is there If things be not evident to you make an exact scrutinie and whatever you finde without Christs superscription is adulterate he will not owne nor blesse it Ius divinum is his stampe and what hath that Christ will owne O suffer nothing to be in his House which hath not a divine impression upon it which is not after Christ Col. 2 8. and for the future let nothing be brought in which is after men and not after Christ let no worldly rudiments approach his presence when Nadab and Abihu brought strange fire into the worship of God fire went out from the Lord and made them a Sacrifice there was nothing against their fire but this was it they had no Warrant for it God commanded it not Levit. 10. 1 2. Let some fiery law go forth from you that may scorch all such as shall hereafter dare to joine their posts with Gods and mingle their chaffe with his Wheate and let not any lawes be of force that may countenance such evills uphold suspected things or prejudice the liberty of tender consciences yea wayes of worship which may prove snares to you or your Posterity put the Axe of your power unto them and hew them down There is another thing yet and very desirable you have been faithfull to the Kingdome hitherto go on still to be faithfull you are Ambassadours of the greatest King the great things of heaven and earth are committed to your care the glory of Iehovah the Gospel of Christ the welfare of Churches the good of Kingdomes and in some respect of the whole Christian world is in your hands Olives and Figgetrees will not let go their fatnesse and sweetnesse do not you let goe your faithfullnesse put forth your selves and do what you can for the glory of God the Gospel the Churches the Kingdome the world All these waite and expect much at your hands Prov. 13. 17. A wicked messenger falleth into mischief but a faithfull Ambassadour is health Messengers of a State have power to doe great things if men will be byassed with feare promises and selvish respects importunities of friends and the like they shall fall into mischief God hath said it and well it shall not be with them but a faithfull * Ambassadour he is health health to his own conseience he is health to a Kingdome health to the Churches health to all God calls to you to help Him against the mighty the Churches call to you to help them against corruptions Innovations impositions this Kingdome Ireland cryes to you for help against distractions oppressions bloud ruine now shew your selves Helpers and Healers In Prov. 25. 12. it 's said A faithfull messenger refresheth the soule of them that send him It 's not the head but the soule the heart is refreshed by such a man the Hebrew is He causeth the soule of his Lord to returne and we may truly say to your comfort and honour that the soule Religion and the Kingdome hath you have caused it under God to returne We were dying Religion and Kingdome were dying and you have given us a little reviving the Lord reward you fully for it go on and shew your faithfullnesse bring it to perfection Esa. 11 5. faithfullnesse is
Let Religion and truth be pretious in your eyes they are of m such consequence as that without them is little peace or safety to Kingdomes That state preserves truth will the God of truth preserve When Ieroboam gave way to plausible inventions he layd the foundation for his own and the Kingdomes ruine 1 King 14. The Church of Philadelphia had a speciall care of Gods word Rev. 3. 10. and found the fruit of it because thou hast kept the word of my patience not onely in their hearts in their practise but also because n they had kept it from being taken away from corruption therefore God would keepe them from the houre of temptation Gods word is in danger oft by Haeresies Schismes Persecutions if we will ingage our selves for it GOD will ingage himselfe for us but if we desert the truth both God and truth will be against us * The Danish Prelats stood not for pure Religion but chiefly for that was their own and therefore were cast out by Prince and people in the yeare 1537 God priseth his truth at a high rate he will destroy Nations for the safety of his people Es. 43. 3. and he will destroy heaven and earth for the safety of his truth Mat. 5. 18. that he Magnfies above all his name Psal. 148. 2. This whole Creation this visible name of GOD is little to his eternall Truths Let truth therefore be gracious with you and contend with all your might for the faith that it be not pul'd from us The onely wise God bids you by the wisest of men to buy the Truth and not to â—ell it Proverbs 23. 23. it 's worth all mens labours liberties and lives it cannot be over bought loose Religion and Truth and we have lost all that is considerable where these go the Blessing goes Ier. 31. 23. The Lord blesse thee O habitation of Iustice and Mountaine of Holynesse Where the Laws are executed and pure Religion is maintained there is a habitation of Justice a Mountain of Holynesse and the blessing of God upon them both If you love blessings and would avoyd curses keep Religion in it's own lustre and rather let Men and Kingdomes then Truth fall to the Earth yet the way to make earthly Kingdoms happie is to uphold the Kingdom of heaven Fourthly The godly in the Kingdome Magistrates Ministers and people let them be preserved they are the root of a Kingdome it was Ioseph preserved Egypt and the Kingdome of the Egyptians when the Israelites were driven out of Egypt the Egyptians were quickly destroyed and their Kingdome ruined for Pauls sake all the soules in the Ship were kept alive Act. 27. Moses kept Gods hand in Heaven that he did not destroy his people on earth Exod. 32. 10. A godly man is of great worth Elijah did more good by his fasting and Prayer by opposing Ahab and destroying Baals Priests then the Chariots and Horsemen of Israel The godly are the Forts and Magazines of a Kingdome It was Lot upheld Sodome when he was gone the brimstone came and the City was turned into ashes the place is very remarkable Gen. 19. 22. Hast thee escaped to Zoar I cannot doe any thing till thou comest thither what the righteousnesse of one Lot to preponderate the Iniquities of all Sodom where were thousands O wonder O the weight of one Saint away Lot escape to Soar I cannot doe any thing till thou comest thither but were not their sins great and many be it so yet I cannot doe any thing till thou comest thither but were not their sins full Yes they were yet I cannot doe any thing till thou come to Zoar. I but Lord art thou not come downe to execute Judgement without mercy Its truth yet I cannot do it till hou come to Zoar my hands are tyed fire and brimstone will not come downe from Heaven while Lot's in Sodome Thou art the man that hinders all Bee gone hast to Zoar but Lot lingers and will not make hast then I must linger also saith God if he stick my Judgements must sticke till he be gone I cannot doe any thing Here 's the worth and excellencie of a righteous man he keepes off Judgements even brimstone Judgements from a City and a Kingdome Great things will God doe for a good mans sake 2 King 2â— 6. I will defend this City for mine owne sake and for my servant Davids sake God joynes David with himselfe and puts great honour upon him it s â—swell for his sake as for Gods that Ierusalem is defended The Saints are deare to God he doth much for them and for their sakes and shall they not be deare to you there is a choice Prophecy in 1 Zach. 12. 5. the Governours of Iudah shall say in their hearts the Inhabitants of Ierusalem my strength in the Lord of Hosts their God they were newly come out of Babylon their enemies that opposed them in the worke of the Temple and Reformation were many the number of the godly was few yet their eyes were upon them The Governours of Iuaah said in their heart the Inhabitants of Jerusalem my strength in the Lord of Hosts their God every Governour looked at all the godly in Ierusalem and account of them as his strength in particular and they look't not at the godly in themselves as poore few weake and despicable but they looked at them in the Lord of Hosts their God They saw that those persons had interest in the Lord of Hosts that he was their strength and defence Whereupon they own'd them clos'd with them and countenanc'd them knowing that these men and their God would bee assured strength and sufficient defence unto them You that are the Governours of our Iudah cast your eyes upon the godly and say in your hearts these are our strength in the Lord of Hosts their God these have bin faithfull unto us and wee will be shields unto them for so the word Ruler signifies Hos. 4. 18. * Victor Vicensis tells of one that had a vision of a Tree that reached up to Heaven and spread its branches farre so that all delighted in the greatnes and beauty of it but suddenly there came a wild beast and rub'd at the root of it and overthrew the same This Tree was the Church which spread through all Affrica Hunnerick an Aâ—riaâ— Prince was the wild Beast who banished and martyred the Orthodox amongst them and laid all waste where the Godly are driven out there Judgements are drawn in if mens Axes cut downe the trees are green Gods Axes must and will cut down the Trees are dry Thirdly The next thing I humbly desired of you is that seeing God layes his Axe to the root of the Tree that there may be a through Reformation of all evills in the Kingdome but especially in the worship of God partiall reformation makes way for a future desolation Our Reformation was conceived heretofore in sinne and now hath brought forth Iniquity if it