with a Deluge of Blood The Times are ever perillous during the Reigne of sinne But for the further opening of this first Proposition I shall do these two things 1. Shew what those special sins are which are Signs of Perillous Times 2. Consider the cases wherein such sinnes have in a special manner this Symptomatical significancy The first Enquiry What special sins make perillous Times FOr the Discovery of this What sins they are that speak the Times to be Perillous I shall not presume to make a Particular enumeration of all those sinnes which are Symptomes of evil Times or signes of approaching Judgements This would be a task perhaps too difficult and occasion a Discourse too tedious But onely instance in some of those special sinnes which I find in the holy Scriptures have been the procuring causes of those Calamities which have made the Times Perillous to Gods people Several other sins which have plentifully poured out the same malignant influence upon the Places and people under their Regency and dominion we shall have occasion to speak of in the following Symptomes For the present then take we notice of these subsequent sins as sad Symptomes and Presages of Perillous Times viz. The first Sin Atheisme and Irreligion THe Times are evil and perillous When Atheisme and Irreligion abounds When there is no * Hos 4.1 knowledge nor †Rom. 3.18 feare of God to be found in multitudes of People especially where the Preaching of the Word and the Means of Grace are plentifully afforded it s a sad sign of some sore judgement If God will poure out his Fury upon the Heathens that know him not and the Families of those Heathen Kingdoms that call not upon his Name * Jer. 10.25 with Psal 79.6 how much more upon those that are called Christians and yet are grosly ignorant of God and live in the constant neglect of this great Duty of Prayer For the more are the Means that are vouchsaft to any People and the greater the Obligations are that are laid upon them to any Duty the more heinous is their sinne the higher is their Provocation if they neglect it and the greater shall the Judgements be the heavier the punishments wherewith the Lord will at length plague such a sinning People And therefore does the Lord Jesus pronounce such a terrible woe against Corazin and Bethsaida and threaten them with such a dreadful Destruction because they were not amended notwithstanding the Mighty works he had wrought amongst them †Mat. 11.20 21. But sayes he * v. 22 23 24 I say unto you it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the Day of Judgement then for you And thou Capernaum which art exalted unto heaven shalt be brought down to Hell For if the Mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom it would have remained until this Day But I say unto you that it shall be more tolerable for the Land of Sodom in the Day of Judgement then for thee The greatest outward Priviledges will not exempt a sinning People from the sorest Judgements †1 Cor. 10 1-11 Nay the greater the Priviledges are we do enjoy the sorer shall our Punishments be if we improve them not if we abuse them Now how may we tremble with a just Fear of some fearful Judgement when we consider how much Darknesse there is in a Land of Light how Ignorance Atheisme and Ungodlinesse abounds amongst a People which may plentifully enjoy the Meanes of Grace How many thousands are there that know not Jesus Christ nor care to know him Yea how many thousand Families are there in a Land blest for above a thousand years with the Gospel that call not upon God! How many Millions of People may be seen every Lords Day in the streets of Cities in the Fields and Villages that make it their constant Practice to profane the Sabbath by Vanity and idlenesse besides those Children of Darknesse which are already in the Suburbs of Hell who are then at their Pots and Pipes in their Dens of Iniquity Now * Jer. 5.9 shall not the Lord visit for these things and be avenged on such a People as this When such a black cloud of Darknesse hath overspread the Land that men see not the Light of the Sunne at Noon-day how may we justly fear that the Thunder of Gods judgements will suddenly break out against us We read that when the King of Asyria brought in strangers into Samaria that feared not the LORD nor knew the manner of his worship the LORD sent Lions among them that destroy'd them †2 Kin. 17 24 25 26. Atheism and Irreligion in a Holy Nation a Nation call'd and consecrated to Gods Worship and Service is more provoking and sooner plucks down Judgement then in a Heathen Land Wilde Beasts may be secure and live long in a Large Forrest but they are soon taken and slain when once found in a Tilled Field This was part of the Charge which the Lord drew up against his people Israel before he cast them to be melted from their drosse in the Furnace of Babylon * Jer. 9.3 They proceed from evil to evil and they know not me saith the LORD And therefore saith he to his Prophet †Jer. 9.6 7 Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit through Deceit they refuse to know me saith the LORD Therefore thus saith the LORD of Hosts Behold I will melt them and try them For how shall I do for the Daughter of my People Ignorance is a damning sin◠a soul-destroying Evil It is a People of no understanding saith the Lord * Isa 27.11 therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them aad he that formed them will shew them no favour And againe †2 Thes 1 7 8 9. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his Mighty Angels in flaming fire to take vengeance as well on them that know not God as on them that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ And these also as well as the other shall be punisht with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his Power But now when ignorance is joyn'd with obstinacy as in those that refuse to know God or to learn the Mysteries of the Gospel it s a sinne more inexcusable and the punishment of it more intolerable Certainly if the knowledge and worship of God do open a gate for the bringing in of all manner of Blessings into a land Ignorance and Irreligion must needs open a wide doore to Destruction Before the first destruction of Rome by Brennus and his Gaules its observed by the Heathen Writers themselves that the People were grown altogether Carelesse and negligent in the matters of Religion The ancient Britans it 's the Observation of Bede a little before their Destruction by the Saxons were arriv'd at such a pitch of profanenesse as Odium
written in this Book shall lie upon him and the LORD shall blot out his Name from under Heaven If then multitudes of People shall be thus obstinate in their evil wayes is it not enough to bring down the most dreadful judgements of God upon the whole Nation So the Prophet Hosea having reproved the People of Israel for their multipli'd Abominations does thus represent their Refractorinesse and prophecy their Ruine yet saith he †Hos 4.4 5 let no man strive or reprove another q. d. let not men contend with them any longer with the Words of Reproof for God himself is now coming to plead his Cause against them with the Sword of Justice For this People are as they that strive with the Priest Opposition of Ministers as it proceeds from obstinacy in sinne so does it prognosticate Destruction from God For Therefore shalt thou fall in the Day and the false Prophet also shall fall with thee in the Night and I will cut off 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * or destroy thy Mother the whole Kingdom succidâ—m or the body of the Nation And when Impudency is joyn'd with obstinacy it aggravates the sin and more strongly sollicits the Justice of God to the speedy execution of Judgement upon such sinners For this does the Lord complain of the People of Judah and threatens a confounding Judgement †Jer. 3.3 Thou hadst a Whores Fore-head thou refusedst to be ashamed * Jer. 22.21 22. I spake unto thee in thy Prosperity but thou said'st I will not hear this hath been thy manner from thy youth that thou obeyest not my Voice The Winde shall eat up all thy Pastours and thy Lovers shall go into Captivity Surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy Wickedness But this sin is yet capable of a higher aggravation when men are so farre from being asham'd of their sin that they glory in their shame and boast themselves in their Impieties as the Thief in his cunning craftinesse to deceive and the Drunkard in his †Isa 5.22 strength to poure in strong Drink and bear it without distemper and the impious Politician in the successfulnesse of his wicked Designes But we know that the Judgement of God is just against those that do such things and that their * Phil. 3.19 end is Destruction whose glory is in their shame The fourth Case Remisseness of Magistrates and Officers in Punishing Offendors VVHen there is little or no Care taken for the Punishment of such prevailing Impieties by those that are intrusted with Authority and Power for this Purpose they must needs be evil and perillous Times When the Magistrate who is by his Office †Rom. 13.4 the Minister of God a Revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil shall bear the Sword in vaine and not draw it out for the execution of Judgement in the Punishment of sin and vice When the sins of Israel were multipli'd how oft doth God complain of the Defect of Justice in the Execution of Judgement how oft is this mention'd in that one Charge which is drawn up by the Prophet Isaiah against them * Chap. 59. None saith he †v. 4. calleth for Justice * v. 8. and there is no judgement in their goings And again †v. 9. Judgement is farr from us neither doth justice overtake us to vindicate us from the violence of our Oppressors and deliver us from the injuries of the wicked as it follows * v. 11. We look for Judgement but there is none for salvation but it is far from us And again †v. 14. Judgement is turned away backward and Justice standeth afar off * v. 15. And the LORD saw it and it displeased him that there was no judgement So God himself takes his Sword of Justice and comes forth for the Execution of Judgement upon these unjust Judges and this perverse and wicked People †v. 17 18. So also the Prophet Jeremy declares that it was because there was not any man that did execute Judgement * Jer. 5.1 2 c. that the wrath of God was kindled against the wicked Jewes to their utter destruction Whereas on the other side when the Israelites had provoked God to Anger with their Inventions and the Plague brake in upon them insomuch as there died in one Day three and twenty thousand †Num. 25 9. with 1 Cor. 10.8 Phineas stood up and executed judgement in slaying Zimri and Cozbi in the very act of uncleannesse and so the Plague was stay'd And that was counted to him for Righteousnesse unto all Generations for evermore * Psal 106 29 30 31. with Num. 25 6-15 And therefore does the Lord by the Prophet call the Judges Magistrates of Judah to the Execution of Judgement upon evil Doers in the Land for the Prevention of their utter Ruine and Destruction which was now ready to come upon them for their abounding sins and unpunish't Provocations And sayes the LORD to the Prophet †Jer. 21.11 12. touching the House of the King of Judah say Heare ye the Word of the LORD O House of David Thus saith the LORD Execute Judgement in the morning which was the Time of the Convention of their judiciall Assemblies when also the People were wont to repaire for Justice to the Places of Judicature * Exod. 18.13 Do it also as the phrase may import †See Psal 101.8 Seasonably Speedily Constantly and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the Oppressor lest my Fury go out like Fire and burne that none can quench it because of the Evil of your Doings For * Jer. 21.14 I will punish you according to the Fruit of your Doings saith the LORD Certainly when all manner of sinne and wickednesse abounds and yet Law Justice and Judgement is not executed in a Land it s a sad Symptome of some sore approaching Judgement if not of the utter Destruction of that Nation So the Prophet Habbakkuk complaines †Hab. 1.4 the Law is slacked and Judgement doth never go forth whereupon follows a terrible commination of a dreadful Judgement whereof the cruel Chaldeans should be the bloody Executioners to whom the Kings and Princes of Judah should become miserable Captives * ver 5-10 Now when Iniquity thus abounds and Judgement is not executed in the punishment of those Persons that are found guilty of such Enormities this makes these sinnes to become National sinnes which provoke the Lord to scourge the whole Land with National judgements as the Plague Famine or War Surely When sin reignes without Restraint Judgement must be expected without Relief But the Case is yet worse and the Provocation higher when Magistrates and Rulers that ought not to be a terrour to good works but to the Evil †Rom. 13.3 do tolerate the Evil and become a Terror to the Good That Nation is sure ripe for
destruction when such bitter and cursed fruits grow upon the top-most Branches of the tallest Trees in the Land So likewise when those that should punish sinne in others are themselves guilty of those sins which do deserve the sharpest Punishment When those that are intrusted with power for the execution of Justice upon Swearers Drunkards Adulterers Sabbath-breakers and such like are themselves guilty of these fearful sins and God-provoking Abominations This speaks the state of such a People to be desperate the disease of such a Nation to be deadly When there is Poison in the Plaister and the Physician himself hath the Plague upon him what hope of cure can there be for the Patient If those that should be the Healers of the Nation do wound it by their transgressions what can be expected but a sudden and inevitable Destruction Certainly corrupt Magistrates and Ministers of Justice are the Lands sharpest Scourges and the chief procurers of its sorest Judgements The fifth Case Incorrigiblenesse and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * i. e. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 VVHen men are not amended by Corrections but grow worse and worse under all the Dispensations of Divine Providence it 's a sure and sad Symptome of perillous Times a clear and undeniable evidence that the last dayes are come upon us and the Evil of them hath overtaken us For the Apostle fore-warning us that in the last Dayes perillous Times shall come tells us that in those Dayes †2 Tim. 3.13 Evil men and Seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived It 's a sad signe that judgement is at hand and Destruction is at the Doore when men grow worse and worse under all the meanes of making them bettâ—r When they are not reclaim'd by Judgements reduc'd by benefits reform'd by all the meanes of grace and Salvation Surely Incorrigiblenesse under judgements and customary continuance in Sin and a continual progresse in impiety from one degree to another notwithstanding all the meanes and mercies vouchsaft for their amendment is a Fore-runner of their inevitable ruine If the Tree be prun'd and digg'd about and dung'd and water'd and yet notwithstanding all this cost and paines after long waiting does not onely bring forth no good Fruit but much evil and every yeare worse and worse it shall certainly be cut down that it no longer cumber the ground * Luk. 13 6-9 If when the Lord might justly expect good Grapes from his Vineyard it bring forth nothing but wilde Grapes and these every Vintage worse and worse its just with him to pluck up the Fence thereof and lay it wast †Isa 5 1-6 God is wont by his Word his Rod and his Sword to proceed against sinners By his Word he calls them to repentance but if they will not be reclaim'd by that with his Rod he chastises them for sin he exercises them with several Afflictions if they will not hereby be amended he is ready with the Sword of his Justice to cut them off in the execution of his Judgements So by the neglect and non-improvement of the two former a sinning People come to experiment the severity of the last and sorest of these dispensations Thus does the Lord complain of Judah * Zeph. 3.2 She obeyed not the Voice she received not Correction and so hereby she provoked the wrath of God to her own Ruine and Destruction When men do commonly cast contempt upon the Word and Ordinances of God and are generally unprofitable under the meanes of grace its just with God to give them up to Blindnesse of Minde and hardnesse of Heart and then according to the ordinary Methods of his Justice to second these Spiritual Judgements with a Temporal Destruction and so for the Vnprofitablenesse of the People to lay the Land desolate Of this Import is that dreadful commission which the Lord gave unto the Prophet Isaiah concerning the People of Israel Go sayes He to him †Isa 6 9-12 and tell this People hear ye indeed but understand not and see ye indeed but perceive not Make the heart of this People fat and make their eares heavy and shut their Eyes lest they see with their eyes and hear with their Eares and understand with their Heart and convert and be healed Then said I Lord how long And he answered Untill the Cities be wasted without Inhabitant and the Houses without man and the Land be utterly desolate and the LORD have removed men far away and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the Land Of the very same import is the Criminatory Complaint and Prophetick Commination of the Prophet Jeremy against the men of Judah and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem in the Name of the Lord. This thing commanded I them saith the LORD * Jer. 7 23-29 concerning their Fathers whom he had brought out of the Land of Egypt saying Obey my voice and I will be your God and ye shall be my People and walk ye in all the wayes that I have commanded you that it may be well unto you But they hearkened not nor inclined their Eare but walked in the Counsels and in the Imagination or stubbornnesse of their evil Heart and went backward and not forward Thus they became worse by the meanes used to make them better Since the Day that your Fathers came forth out of the Land of Egypt unto this Day I have even sent unto you all my servants the Prophets daily rising up early and sending them Yet they hearkened not unto me nor inclined their eare but hardened their Neck they did worse then their Fathers Therefore thou shalt speake all these words unto them but they will not hearken to thee Thou shalt also call unto them but they will not answer thee But thou shalt say unto them this is a Nation that obeyeth not the Voice of the LORD their God nor receiveth Correction Truth is perished and is cut off from their Mouth Cut off thine Hair O Jerusalem and cast it away and take up a Lamentation on high Places for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the Generation of his Wrath. And what follows †ver 34. Then will I cause to cease from the Cities of Judah and from the streets of Jerusalem the Voice of Mirth and the Voice of Gladnesse the Voice of the Bride-groome and the Voice of the Bride for the Land shall be desolate But yet before the Lord proceeds to the utter Destruction of a People he is wont to try them by lesser Judgements lighter Afflictions whether they will return to Him by Repentance or no. These lesser Judgements are his Warning peeces which he shoots off to see whether they will make their Peace with him before he levels against them his Battering Ordnance and discharges upon them his Murdering Cannons his dreadfull destroying Judgements Lighter Afflictions therefore are to be improved for the Prevention of heavier Judgements For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nocumenta Documenta
bands they snap them in two like * Judg. 16.9 threads of Flax when they touch the Fire As the Demoniack which was bound with Chaines and Fetters but he brake all the bands wherewith he was bound †Luk. 8.22 You may call such LEGION for many Devils are surely entred into them to try their strength in them The Laws of men are chaines of Iron the commands of God are chaines of Gold Oaths and Covenants added thereunto are chaines of Adamant If Satan once be so strong in men as that they break all these chaines we may well expect perillous Times For what desperate wickednesse will not such men attempt What horrid and unheard of Villanies will not such men commit as bid defiance to God in the breach of the most sacred bands of Duty and solemne Obligations to obeObedience Woe be to the Inhabitants of the Earth when such Furies of Hell shall be let loose upon them This sin of Perjury and Perfidiousnesse of false-hood and lying unto God in the violation of Vowes and Covenants is a sinne which exceedingly incenses Heaven and provokes the Lord of Hosts the King of glory whose sacred name is hereby profan'd to execute his fiercest judgements upon such a People and therefore is a sad Symptome of perillous Times and fearfull Presage of following Judgements Thus when Saul out of his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah as the Scripture tells us sought to destroy the Gibeonites as being strangers to the Common-wealth of Israel God punisht the Violation of that League which Joshuah had * About four hundred years long before made with them †Josh 9.3 16 17. by bringing a Famine upon the Land for three years uncessantly in the dayes of David * 2 Sam. 21 1 2 Though the Gibeonites deceit was the foundation of this Covenant and Sauls Zeal the principle of the prosecution of them contrary to it yet is the violation hereof severely punisht by the plague of Famine Though it be the Fire of Zeal that burns in two these sacred bands yet will the Fire of Gods wrath be kindled against them that shall voluntarily violate them So the LORD threatned Captivity and very sore Judgements against the Princes and People of Israel for their violation of their Covenant of granting a Manumission to their Hebrew servants and the Punishment answer'd the Prognostick Observe the Lords Charge and Commination the sting of that Prophecy wherewith Jeremiah was sent unto them †Jer. 34 13-22 Thus saith the LORD the God of Israel I made a COVENANT with your Fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the Land of Egypt out of the House of Bondmen saying At the end of seven yeares let ye go every man his Brother an Hebrew which hath been sold unto thee and when he hath served thee six years thou shalt let him go free from thee But your fathers hearkened not unto me neither inclined their eare And ye were now turned and had done Right in my sight in proclaiming every man Liberty to his Neighbour and ye had made a COVENANT before me in the House which is called by my Name But ye turned and polluted MY NAME and caused every man his servant and every man his Hand-maid whom he had set at Liberty at their pleasure to returne and brought them into subjection to be unto you for Servants and for Handmaids Therefore thus saith the LORD Ye have not hearkened unto me in proclaiming Liberty every one to his Brother every man to his Neighbour behold I proclaime a Liberty for you saith the LORD to the Sword to the Pestilence and to the Famine and I will make you to be removed into all the Kingdoms of the Earth And I will give the men that have transgressed my COVENANT which have not performed the words of the COVENANT which they had made before me when they cut the Calfe in twaine a Rite signifying so let it be done to him that shall violate his Covenant and passed between the Parts thereof the Princes of Judah and the Princes of Jerusalem the Eunuchs and the Priests and all the People of the Land which passed between the Parts of the Calfe I will even give them into the hand of their Enemies and into the hand of them that seek their Life and their dead Bodies shall be for meat unto the Fowles of the Heaven and to the Beasts of the Earth And Zedekiah King of Judah and his Princes will I give into the hand of their Enemies and into the Hand of them that seek their Life and into the Hand of the King of Babylons Army which are gone up from you Behold I will command saith the LORD and cause them to return to this City and they shall fight against it and take it and burne it with Fire and I will make the Cities of Judah a Desolation without an inhabitant Thus for this sinne of Covenant-breaking may God break in pieces a perfidious People with the Iron Rod of War and lay a flourishing land desolate For this sinne does the Lord by the Prophet Amos draw up a Charge likewise against Tyrus * Am. 1.9 10 Thus saith the LORD For three transgressions of Tyrus and for four I will not turn away the punishment thereof because they delivered up the whole Captivity to Edom and remembred not the BROTHERLY COVENANT which was formerly made between David and Solomon Kings of Judah and Hiram King of Tyre who being Brethren by identity of Office as Kings and mutual Amity as Friends did hereby knit the Bands of Brotherhood with a faster knot †2 Sam. 5.11 1 King 5.1 and 9.13 But I will send a Fire on the Wall of Tyrus which shall devoure the Palaces thereof God himself takes an Oath and solemnly swears by his Life that he will punish the King of Judah with Death and his People with Destruction for his violation of his Oath and Covenant with the King of Babylon See how severely the Lord proceeds against him for this Sin Say now to the Rebellious House sayes the LORD to the Prophet Ezekiel * Chap. 17 12-21 Know ye not what these things mean Tell them Behold the King of Babylon is come to Jerusalem and hath taken the King thereof and the Princes thereof and led them with him to Babylon And hath taken of the Kings seed and made a COVENANT with him and hath taken an OATH of him he hath also taken the Mighty of the Land that the Kingdome might be base that it might not lift it self up but that by keeping of his COVENANT it might stand But he rebelled against him in sending his Ambassadours into Egypt that they might give him Horses and much People Shall he prosper shall he escape that doth such things Or shall he BREAK THE COVENANT and be delivered As I live saith the Lord GOD surely in the place where the King dwelleth that made him King whose OATH he
however otherwise acomplish't with Princely Virtues he made no account of keeping his Oaths but swore and unswore as might stand best with his Interest How justly may we expect that God will root out the Posterity of perjur'd persons from the Land however they may at present flourish in their worldly prosperity Though †Eccl. 11.2 all things at present come alike to all yea though he that sweareth and violateth his Oath be more successeful then he that feareth an Oath yet there is a day of account to come wherein God will bring every work into judgement * Eccl. 12.14 and then dreadful shall the estate be of forsworne Atheists Certainly a sword hangs over the Head of every perjur'd Person and all his worldly greatnesse shall not shield him from the danger as over the head of Damocles in the Palace of Dionysius a sword was hung by a haire which when he perceived he could take no Pleasure in all the sumptuous Preparations which the Tyrant had made to give him a momentany tast of his worldly greatnesse and felicity The Lord hath said that †Mal. 3.5 he will be a swift witnesse against the false swearers and though they say to God Depart from us the LORD hath said I will come near to you to judgement The perjur'd person shall not be able to keep that * Zech. 5.1 flying Roll out of his house which shall bring in with it that curse of God which shall consume his dwelling place For †Zech. 5.4 I will bring it forth saith the LORD of Hosts and it shall enter into the House of the Thief and into the House of him that sweareth falsly by my Name and it shall remaine in the midst of his House and shall consume it with the Timber thereof and the Stones thereof All the precious substance of perjur'd Persons shall be but as Stubble when the wrath of the Lord like Fire shall be kindled against them Personal sins shall have Personal punishments But when a sin is become common and National justly may we feare some National judgement How justly may God spread a thunder-cloud over a whole Land for the punishment of the sinne of falsehood and perjury in the violation of sacred Oaths and Covenants Shall not the LORD have a Controversie with the Inhabitants of the Land when there is no TRUTH nor mercy nor knowledge of God in the Land When by swearing and forswearing the Land is polluted may we not justy feare that the Land shall mourn and that every one that dwelleth therein shall languish * Hos 4.1 2 3. Will not the Lord hew that people in pieces by the sword and consume that City with the Plague that shall break the sacred band of a solemn Covenant Thus saith the LORD by Moses to his people Israel concerning this sin †Lev. 26.25 I will bring a SWORD upon you that shall avenge the QUARREL of my COVENANT and when ye are gather'd together within your Cities I will send the PESTILENCE among you and ye shall be deliver'd into the hand of the Enemy Thus Perjury and Covenant-breaking brings in War and Destruction upon a Land and so must needs be a Prognostick of perillous Times And more sad and fearful yet it is when this sin is twisted with the sin of Treason and Rebellion and committed under pretences of Religion The souldiers of Alexander called * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Argyraspides because by Alexanders gift they wore Silver Shields as Plutarch relates of them were grand TRAYTORS to their GENERAL to whom they had bound themselves by many solemne OATHS and PROTESTATIONS insomuch that Antigonus with whom they had treacherously comply'd against their Prince the sonne of Alexander and their General Eumenes whom they had deliver'd up bound into his hands so perfectly hated them for this their perfidiousnesse that he burnt one of their Colonels and slew the other and engaged the rest in such desperate services in forraigne Countreys that not one of them return'd alive home When men under the silver shields of Religious Pretences presume they shall be secure in the guilt of the detestable sinnes of Perjury Treason and Rebellion they shall be sure not to escape punishment by the Iron sword of Justice But now when such hateful vices as these lift up their heads and proudly outbraving all opposition usurp the Throne of the most Heroick Virtues we may safely conclude the dayes are come which the Apostle hath foretold us shall be perillous times For these are those very black brands and marks of Infamy wherewith the Apostle hath stigmatiz'd those sinners which how Saint-like soever they should appear in their Disguise of formal godlinesse should by their diffusive wickednesse make the dayes Evil the Times perillous For in those Daies he hath told us men shall be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †2 Tim. 3 1-4 Truce-breakers Traytors Rebells such as make no conscience of keeping their Covenants but violate the most solemn Obligations religiously ratifi'd such as betray the Persons or Interests of those that have reposed Trust in them and to whom they are oblig'd by solemne Oaths and Protestations of fidelity such as are disobedient to their Natural or Political Parents who rise up in Rebellion against their lawful Princes and Governours to whom they have sworne Alleagiance or at least made solemn Protestations of subjection and service with hazard of their Lives and Estates Such perfidious Persons make perillous Times A further and fuller Description of such men we have in the Prophet Hosea if we rightly understand the place for which purpose I shall produce the interpretations of some of the most solid pious and judicious Divines who may deservedly be reckoned amongst the best Expositors The words of the Prophet are these * Hos 10.2 3 4. Their Heart is divided now shall they be found faulty he shall break down their Altars he shall spoile their Images For now they shall say We have no KING because we feared not the LORD what then should a King do to us They have spoken words SWEARING FALSELY in making a COVENANT thus Judgement springeth up as Hemlock in the Furrows of the Field The Interpretation of this Scripture is given thus Their heart is divided Or as it is in the Margin he hath divided their heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 viz. Having taken away the Spirit of Peace and concord from them he hath given them over to Divisions Factions and frequent Murthers of Princes which will cause the utter ruine of the Kingdome * Diodati For now they shall say We have no King Within a very short time God shall take away their King c. This taking away of a King is a remarkable Evidence of Gods Wrath †Lam. 4.20 and convincing the same even to a people obdurate in sin that would faine deny Gods hand to be in it * Engl. Annot. Or
What dreadful Dayes may we yet live to see if the Lord should deal with us according to our Deservings How soon may the Clouds of heaven which were wont to drop down Blessings on our heads be dissolv'd into showers of Blood Ah my Beloved have you not read in the holy Scriptures what dreadful Judgements the Lord hath executed upon Cities Nations Kingdomes his own People yea the whole World Know you not that God turn'd the whole Earth into a Sea and destroy'd all Flesh save the Family of Noah with a Flood How he pour'd a Flood of Fire and Brimstone upon the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and consum'd them with Flames and turn'd that pleasant plain that was as the Garden of God * Gen. 13.10 into a noisome Lake How that God was wroth with his own people the children of Israel whom he had chosen to himself out of all the kindreds of the earth and slew them in the VVildernesse so that onely Joshua and Caleb of all those that came out of Egypt entred into Canaan And how often after they were possest of the Land of Canaan he sold them into the hands of their enemies that opprest them in the Time of the Judges How in the dayes of Eli he deliver'd them into the hands of the Philistines who slew them with a great slaughter insomuch that in one battel there fell of Israel thirty thousand Foot-men †2 Sam. 4.10 How the Lord sent a Pestilence amongst them in the dayes of David which raged so exceedingly that in three dayes space there dy'd of the people seventy thousand men * 2 Sam. 24 15 How the Lord brought the King of Babylon into Jerusalem who burnt the Temple of the Lord the Palace of the Prince and the Houses of the Nobles with Fire brake down the Wall thereof and utterly destroy'd the City carry'd both Princes and People Captives into Babylon where they endur'd a hard Bondage for threescore and ten years †2 Hing 25. and 2 Chro. 36.14 ult Now know you not that all these things happened unto them for ensamples unto us and that they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the World are come * 1 Cor. 10 6 11. Oh do but consider seriously with your selves what were the Causes of all these fearful Judgements which God who is the Father of Mercies brought upon the men of the world yea upon his own People Were they not the sinnes of the Times whereby men pluckt down upon their own heads these Plagues and Punishments Now pause a little and consider seriously Are not the same sinnes that drew down Judgements upon them to be found amongst us Is not the Pride Luxury Lasciviousness Licenciousness Atheism Impieties of the old World to be found amongst us Are there not †Gen. 6.4 Mighty men Giants in worldly Greatness who employ their might in fighting against God in these our Dayes Are not the sins of Sodom to be found amongst us Is not the City and Land polluted with the vilest Impurities and Pollutions Are not the Murmurings Cruelties Injustice Oppressions Falshoods Covenant-breakings Revoltings neglect of Gods Worship Contempt of his Ordinances Hypocrisies of Israel to be found amongst the people of England Have we not then cause to tremble in the Apprehension of the judgements which hang over our heads especially if we seriously consider that those sinnes which severally in them drew down such dreadful judgements are to be found jointly in us and that notwithstanding the Light of the Gospel and the Meanes of grace plentifully enjoyed by us which are most fearful Aggravations of this dreadful guilt Nay is not the guilt of many horrid Blasphemies and hellish Impieties which have not been heard of in former Ages to be found amongst us Does it not make your hearts to tremble to consider that so many crying sins so many provoking impieties so many bloody Abominations should abound and reigne amongst us when for any one of them so reigning so abounding the whole Land might be involv'd in miseries and Confusion and Blood Are not these then perillous Times Surely it is of the LORDS mercies we are not consumed and because his compassions faile not * Lam. 3.22 But who knows how soon the Lord in his Justice may proceed to the execution of his Judgements upon us and so turne our Chephzibah a Land of Beauty the Lords Delight into an Acheldama a Field of Blood What then is to be done by us Christians for the Prevention of the Lords Judgements on a sinful Land O come and bring every one your two Buckets and pour them out before the Lord for the quenching of the Fire of the Lords wrath which is kindled against a sinful Nation Fasting and Weeping and Mourning hath been a way which hath proved very effectual for the turning away the sorest Judgements the diverting of the nearest Destruction Thus was the destruction of Jerusalem delay'd in the time of Josiah †2 King 22.19 20. the destruction of Nineveh in the Days of the Prophet Jonah * Jon. ch 3 This is that to which God calls at such a time as this in a Day of Danger and Distresse When the Lord had threatned terrible Judgements against Zion this was the duty to which by his Prophet he call'd the Inhabitants of Jerusalem †Joel 2 12-19 Therefore also now saith the LORD Turn ye even to me with all your Heart and with FASTING and with WEEPING and with MOURNING And rent your Hearts and not your Garments and turne unto the LORD your God for he is Gracious and Merciful sloâ— to Anger and of great kindnesse and repenteth him of the Evil. Who knoweth if he will returne and repent and leave a blessing behind him even a meat-Offering and a drink-Offering to the LORD your God Blow the Trumpet in Zion sanctifie a FAST call a solemne Assembly Gather the People sanctifie the Congregation Assemble the Elders Gather the children and those that suck the Breasts Let the Bride-groom go forth of his Chamber and the Bâ—ide out of her closet Let the Priests the Ministers of the LORD weep between the Porch and the Altar and let them say Spare thy People O LORD and give not thine Heritage to reproach that the Heathen should rule over them Wherefore should they say among the People Where is their God Now mark what follows Then will the LORD be jealous for his Land and pity his People Yea the LORD will answer and say unto his People Behold I will send you Corn and Wine and Oyle and ye shall be satisfi'd therewith and I will no more make you a reproach among the Heathen Now how great an encouragement should this be to us in perillous Times to seek the Lord solemnly seriously with Fasting and Prayer Do you ever remember that the Judgements of the Lord came upon his people while they were Fasting and Weeping and Mourning No when sinnners are Feasting
the young King Antiochus in the snares of Deceit presently put him to Death and usurpt his Kingdome and so by setting the Crown upon so cursed a Head he became the cause of no small calamity upon the whole Land * 1 Mac. 13.31 32. Thus a Traitor is a Publick Plague and the proper Parent of perillous Times But seldome hath the Righteous God suffer'd such Treasons and Parricides to escape Punishment We read of a wicked Treason and a cursed Parricide which the Servants of Joash the King of Judah committed upon him pretending for the justification of so horrid a murther his guilt of Innocent blood †2 Chron. 24 25. that so a cruel piece of private Revenge might put on some appearance of an Act of Justice But God chastis'd that bloody Crime by the hand of Amaziah his sonne who reigned in his stead For sayes the Scripture * 2 Chron. 25.3 It came to passe when the Kingdome was established to him that he slew his servants that had killed the King his Father We have another memorable Example in the Holy Scripture of the Execution of Judgement upon Traitors wherein we have many hands lifted up for the bringing down the stroke of Justice with the greater strength 'T was upon Amon King of Judah that this Treason and Murder was committed by his own Subjects For it 's said †2 Chron. 33.24 His servants conspired against him and slew him in his own House Base Rebels Must the Royal Palace be the stage of your Princes Ruine by your wicked Parricide Bloody Butchers Must the Royal Palace become the Slaughter-house of your Sovereigne But what follow'd Had this King no Loyal Subjects in the Land that would dare to rise up for the Revenge of his Murther upon these wicked Traitors that the Throne of his Son might be established with the more security Yes he had For it 's said †ver 25. the People of the Land slew all them that had conspired against King Amon and the People of the Land made Josiah his sonne King in his stead And hereupon there is none so ignorant of the sacred story but he knows how happy the Land was under the Government of the Good King Josiah So for the Traitor Judas we all know he came to a miserable End * Mat. 27.5 with Acts 1.18 Thus we see Traitors are pernicious Persons who make the Times perillous but they shall not carry their Treasons out with Impunity nor for ever escape Gods righteous Judgements The sixteenth Character 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Protervi †Vetus Praecipites * Bez. Syr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur temerarius inconsideratus sumpta Metaphora ab Avium pullis qui implumes dum volare conantur humi decidunt †Aretius 16. Heady Such as are inconsiderate in their undertakings froward rash and over-forward in their Attempts and Actings Who like birds that will adventure to flie before they are fledg'd run head-long upon desperate designes whereby they often hazard both their own and others Ruine These are still running forward when they hardly know whither they go nor what will follow They are such Qui non vident 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who look not both forward and backward both before and behinde as a Wise and Prudent man will do before he undertakes any weighty VVork or attempts any great Designe For * Eccl. 2.14 The wise mans Eyes are in his Head but the Fool walketh in Darknesse 'T is good counsel that of the Poet †Pythag. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Consult before thou enterprize He that failes in this Point of VVisdome shall soon see a proof of his own Folly Wise Counsel is the soul and strength of great undertakings For says that Oracle of Wisdome Without Counsel purposes are disappointed * Prov. 19.22 but every purpose is established by counsel †Prov. 20.18 And therefore sayes he * Prov. 24.5 6. A wise man is strong yea a man of knowledge encreaseth strength For by wise Counsel thou shalt make thy War and in multitude of Counsellors there is safety But now on the other side inconsideratenesse leads to Confusion and Rashness is the fore-runner of Ruine The seventeenth Character 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tumidi †Vetus Inflati * Beza 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 animi est Tumor Arrogantia prae se alios contemnentis dum homines amore studio sui occupati sunt †Aretius in locum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non modo inflatum sed in Genere dementatum fanaticum significat * Victorin Strigel in N.T. 17. High-minded Such as are puft up with pride and even swell'd like Toades with Poyson This High-mindednesse is that Pride of Spirit and Arrogancy of an aspiring Minde whereby men do contemn all others in Comparison of themselves and centre all their Affections and Endeavours in themselves being wholly taken up and busied about their own private and personal Concernments The †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Word imports such a lifting up of the Minde as unhinges Reason and opens a wide door to folly and madnesse to enter in So 't is used by Physicians to signifie Madnesse and Phrenetick Distempers High-mindedness is a kind of spiritual Phrensy and Madnesse of the Minde Ambition Pride and Self-love are the Ingredients of this strong Drink which strangely intoxicates the minde of man and if it be but mixt with some drams of Popular Applause and worldly Glory it ordinarily produces this Spiritual or if you will Moral Madnesse That famous Mutinist Masianello of Naples was not able to bear the new wine of his disproportion'd worldly Greatnesse What Phrensy what Fury possest the minds of Haman of Herod when they had drunk deep of the Worlds Golden Cup of Glory The one would sacrifice many thousand Lives to his Revenge for want of the bowing of one mans knee * Esther chap. 3. the other to outvy him in the desperate Madnesse of an audacious enterprize would plant his Engines higher and attempt to kill God himself to murder God incarnate †Matth. chap. 2. Man's head cannot beare too great heights but it s presently fill'd with giddiness and prone to Precipitation A small ship is soon overturn'd by the windes when it carries too great a Saile 'T is then an excellent admonition that of the Apostle * Rom. 11.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be not High-minded but Fear High-minded men are usually very Pusillanimous and low-spirited in the most Noble undertakings They are but empty Bladders that are thus swell'd with the Wind of vanity The eighteenth Character 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Elegans est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Voluptatum amantes potius quam amantes Dei †Beza 18. Lovers of Pleasures more then Lovers of God They with the busie Wasp that little Epicure are
those that are called to govern were not at all ambitious of Government must needs be best govern'd and freest from sedition and the contrary is to be concluded concerning that City which hath Magistrates of a contrary Disposition Experience is a sufficient Comment upon this Text. The Orators Observation may sufficiently verifie the Philosophers Conclusion Sayes he Complures se seclere contaminarunt imperii cupiditate * Cicer. Offic. l. 3. Many out of an inordinate desire of Rule have contaminated themselves with the guilt of wicked attempts And do we not know that many have attempted the murder of Princes yea and have accomplisht their wicked and bloody Designs that they might make a seizure of the Supream Power and possesse themselves of the chief seats of Government Hath not such a Fire of Ambition been kindled in some mens Breasts as that nothing would quench it but the Life-blood of their lawful King Is not this it for which the LORD complaines of the People of Israel the children of Ephraim †Hos 7.7 They are all hot as an oven and have devoured their Judges all their Kings are fallen there is none among them that calleth upon me That is sayes a learned and Pious Expositor * Diodat Their rage discovers it self chiefly in their seditions frequent conspiracies and murthers of their Kings Thus did Baasha conspire against Nadab King of Israel and slew him and reigned in his stead and so in his Blood founded his most wicked Government yea and for his greater security therein he slew all the Royall Family insomuch as he left not alive any that breath'd †1 Kin. 15 25-34 Then after his Death when Elah his son began to reigne over Israel Zimri his servant Captaine of half his Chariots conspired against him and flew him and reigned in his stead * 1 King 16 8 9 10. Thus he that had taught Subjects Treason and Rebellion by cutting off the Family of his Prince for his own establishment had his own Family presently after his Death by the like act cut off from the Government which he had usurpt Thus The Lord is known by the judgement which he executeth †Psal 9.16 Thus we read that when Zachariah the sonne of Jeroboam was made King over Israel Shallum the sonne of Jabesh conspired against him and smote him before the People and slew him and reigned in his stead * 2 King 15 8 9 10. And when Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reigne and had reigned a full moneth in Samaria Menahem the sonne of Gadi went up from Tirzah and came to Samariah and smote Shallum the sonne of Jabesh in Samaria and slew him and reigned in his stead †v. 13 14 This bloody Menahem to maintain his security in the possession of an usurpt Kingdom laid heavy Burdens upon all the rich men of Israel exacting a summe of money from all the mighty men of wealth for the raising of a thousand Talents of silver to engage the Forces of the King of Assyria to confirme the Kingdome in his hand * v. 19 20. By this means he held the Kingdome for the space of ten years and then by the King of Terrours who would not be bribed with gold he was at once deprived of his life and Kingdom Yet did his sonne Pekahiah reigne in his stead But by that time he had reigned two years Pekah the sonne of Remaliah a Captaine of his conspired against him and smote him in Samaria in the Palace of the Kings House with Argob and Arieh and with fifty men of the Gileadites and he killed him and reigned in his roome †v. 23 25 Thus was the Scepter ravish't by the Sword and the Soveraignty deflour'd by the Souldiery Thus was the Palace polluted with the Blood of a Prince or rather it was wash't from Pollution with his Blood who by the Effusion of Blood had polluted it Thus was an Vsurper slain and dispossest of his Kingdome by the hand of a Traitor But what became of the bloody Parricide Pekah Is it not strange that he that waded to the Throne in Blood and rul'd the Kingdome rather by the Sword then Scepter should for * v. 27. twenty years together sit upon the Throne of Israel But yet at length behold the Sun of his Soveraignty sets in a cloud of Blood For it 's said †v. 30. Hoshea the sonne of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the sonne of Remaliah and smote him and slew him and reigned in his stead Thus we have open'd a bloody Scene and shew'd you the Treasons Murders Cruelties Exactions Revenge which are the terrible Attendants that continually wait upon this State-Fury AMBITION which is maintain'd in the world by the Breath of Honour and the Blood of Kings Now who will not judge these to be perillous Times to the People of God But when Iniquity thus Reignes then does God at length come in as a Righteous Judge and executes his just Judgements upon such perfidious Traitors and unjust Judges For * Psal 82.1 2. God standeth in the Congregation of the Mighty he judgeth among the Gods How long saith he will ye judge unjustly and accept the Persons of the wicked The Injustice of men sollicits the just Vengeance of God His Judgements hang like mighty weights upon slender wires over the heads of such a provoking People He in his wise and holy Providence suffers wicked men for a time to be set up but at length by his hand of Power and Justice he casts them down And therefore Tolluntur in altum Ut lapsu graviore ruant They are but lifted up on high that they may have the greater Fall as the Eagle carries the shell-fish up into the Aire that so letting it fall it may break in pieces upon the Rock The Wisdome Power and Justice of God is wonderfully seene in the punishment of the wicked when he turns their cruel designes against the righteous to their own destruction I shall therefore conclude these Political Observations with holy Davids Prophetick Representation of the Practice and Punishment of the Profane Politician with the Praise which he therein returnes unto God Behold sayes he †Psa 7.14 17 he travelleth with Iniquity and hath conceived mischief and brought forth falshood He made a pit and digg'd it and is fallen into the ditch which he made His mischiefe shall return upon his own Head and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own Pate I will praise the LORD according to his Righteousnesse and I will sing praise to the Name of the LORD most high The fifth Symptome Perjury and Covenant-breaking THe Times must needs be perillous When the most sacred Tyes of Conscience Oaths Protestations Vowes and Covenants are made no account of in cases of Loyalty and Religion When they are but as Spiders webs which entangle the smaller Flies but the greater break through and escape When as Sampsons
made the state of the Jews desperate and deplorable This the Lord charges upon them as a higher Provocation then their Idolatries for which therefore he visited them with remedilesse punishments This this was that sin of the Jews for which God deliver'd them up into Captivity and brought an utter destruction upon the City Jerusalem For thus does the Lords charge stand upon perpetual Record against them in holy Scripture * 2 Chron. 36 14-20 Moreover all the chief of the Priests and the People transgressed very much after all the Abominations of the Heathen and polluted the House of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem And the LORD God of their Fathers sent to them by his Messengers rising up betimes †That is saith the Margin continually carefully and sending because he had compassion on his People and on his dwelling place But they MOCKED the MESSENGERS of God and despised his words and MISUSED his PROPHETS until the wrath of the LORD arose against his People till there was no REMEDY Therefore he brought upon them the King of the Chaldees who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their Sanctuary and had no compassion upon young man or maiden old man or him that stooped for age he gave them all into his hand And all the vessels of the House of God great and small and the Treasures of the House of the LORD and the Treasures of the King and of his Princes all these he brought to Babylon And they burnt the House of God and brake down the wall of JERUSALEM and burnt all the Palaces thereof with Fire and destroy'd all the goodly Vessels thereof And them that had escaped from the Sword carry'd he away to Babylon where they were servants to him and his sonnes until the Reigne of the King of Persia Thus great were the calamities sore were the Judgements with which God plagued the people of Judah for the contempt reproach and scorne which they cast upon his Prophets and Messengers which he sent in his mercy to them Abuse of Ambassadours is a high Crime of State a barbarous villany violating the LAW of NATIONS Princes are wont to write such Crimes in the Blood of the guilty unlesse where an Arme of Power is wanting to weild the Sword of Justice The contempt and reproach which is cast upon Ambassadours reflects upon the King that sent them Abuse of the Lords Ambassadors is a high offence a fearful Crime committed against the LAW of GRACE The contempt and reproach cast upon them reflects upon God himself He that despiseth them despiseth CHRIST despiseth GOD * Luk. 10.16 Now it 's just with God in this case to call home his Ambassadours and to denounce WAR against those his †Luk. 19.27 ENEMIES which have abus'd them or being in place and Power have suffer'd the abuse to go unpunisht When David thought to shew kindnesse to Hanun and sent his Ambassadours to comfort him after the Death of his Father and they were shamefully treated and villanously abused by him David raised WAR against him and his people to destroy them * 2 Sam. 10 The Gospel is a Letter of Comfort which God the King of Heaven sends by the hands of his Ambassadours the Ministers of the Gospel to poore miserable sinners involv'd in manifold sufferings and sorrows upon the Death of their Father ADAM with Commission to comfort them and to this end to invite them to a sumptuous †Isa 25.6 FEAST richly furnish't with the choicest Dainties which he hath provided for them But now when these unthankful wretches shall abuse and vilifie the Lords Ambassadours how do ye think will he deal with them But perhaps you 'l think this is so high a degree of Basenesse and Ingratitude that it s not to be imagin'd that any men should be found so void of all virtue and humanity as to be guilty of it Hear then a true Relation from the Lords own mouth of that Reception which some of these sinners gave the Lords Ambassadours and of the sad effects and consequents thereof The first messengers being shamefully repulsed * Mat. 22 4-7 Again he sent forth other servants saying Tell them which are bidden Behold I have prepar'd my Dinner my Oxen and my Fatlings are killed and all things are ready Come unto the †Marriage FEAST but they made light of it and went their wayes one to his Farme another to his Merchandise and the Remnant took his servants and entreated them spitefully and slew them But when the King heard thereof he was wroth and he sent forth his ARMIES and destroy'd those MURDERERS and burnt up their City Thus ill do men requite the Lord for his love thus severely does the Loâ—d revenge the reproach and wrong offer'd to his Servants the Ministers of the Gospel When the Lord of the Vineyard sends his servants to the Husbandmen to whom he hath left his Vine-yard and they abuse them how will he deale with these Husbandmen He will miserably destroy those wicked men and will let out his Vineyard unto other Husbandmen which shall render him the fruits in their Season * See Mat. 21 33-14 For this sin after the return of the rebellious Jews from the Babylonish Captivity wherewith God had severely scourg'd them for full †2 Chro 34.21 threescore and ten years for this sin did the Lord utterly and finally destroy the City Jerusalem and lay the whole land desolate Heare the Lord Jesus Christ for this making that most pathetical Lamentation over this rebellious City and foretelling its ruine O Jerusalem Jerusalem sayes he * Mat. 23.37 38 39. thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a Hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not Behold your house is left unto you desolate For I say unto you ye shall not see me henceforth till ye shall say Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. When King Philip had besieged Athens and put the City into much distress he promised to raise his siege if they would give him in hostage ten of the ablest Athenian Orators But Demosthenes to divert the Athenians from answering his desire by closing in with this Overture made use of this Apologue The Wolves said he desired a League with the Shepherds upon this condition that the cause of their strife might be taken away which was the Shepherds Mastiffs This granted and the sheep deprived of their Guard the ravenous Wolves feasted their cruel hunger and satisfi'd their thirst of blood at the shepherds cost by a fearlesse preying upon the poore slaughter'd sheep Just thus said he would Philip deal with you if once you should yeeld to deliver unto him your vigilant Watchmen your faithful Orators Alas we are taught by a more certaine Oracle that if the Shepherds be smitten the
the establishment of Truth and true Religion amongst us And is it not most reasonable which I plead for when those I speak to are profest Christians and that I plead for is the Cause of Christ Why may nor the Ministers of the Gospel be as well heard to plead for the Worship and Ordinances of Christ as the profest Enemies of the Gospel-ministry to plead against them by whom these Ordinances of Worship according to the order of the Gospel are to be administred Give me leave then to reason with you and plead the Cause of God Why stick you at the Establishment of the Worship of God in the Land and the punishment of such rebellious Atheists as obstinately refuse to worship him What think you is there a God or not If there be a God and but one God is he to be worshipt or no If he be to be worshipt whether are you still to seek how he is to be worshipt and still in doubt what are the Ordinances of his Worship What are not the holy Scriptures the Word of God Is not his Will therein plainly and clearly reveal'd touching the Ordinances of his Worship Well then are not the Word Sacraments and Prayer undeniably the Ordinances of his worship Have they not been so receiv'd and reverenc't by the Churches of Christ in all Ages Ought not this Worship then by the Civil Sanction of the Christian Magistrate to be establisht in the Land Ought not they that are in Gods stead for Government to see that God be worshipped Ought not then Ministers of the Gospel rightly call'd to that sacred Office according to express Gospel-Rule to be placed maintained and protected in every City Town and Parish where there is a competent number of people to attend the service of God for the administration of the Ordinances of his Worship Ought not all the People of these places to be Authoritatively enjoyn'd to give dilgent constant reverent Attendance upon the Publick Worship of God in these holy Ordinances and that under some Penalty for every Wilful Neglect which might be conveniently imploy'd for the Relief of the Poor in such places And ought not those that obstinately refuse to worship God in these his holy Ordinances and much more those that cast Reproach upon them and them that do attend them to be chastiz'd as the worst sort of * Rom. 13.3 4. Evil doers being open Rebels against the God of Heaven with some severer punishment Shall not they that neglect their Duty in this kinde be guilty of all the dishonours that are done to God by all those that neglect contemne and reproach the Ordinances of his Worship Was the Scripture silent does not the Light of Nature clearly discover an Obligation as to the substance of this duty to lie upon those who are called forth by Divine Providence to Governe for God to whom alone pertaines by original Right the Government of the World I shall leave these things to your Consideration onely minding you that you shall be call'd to account at the Judgement Day for whatsoever Power you are intrusted with how you have obtain'd imploy'd and improv'd it for God and setting before you the excellent Example of an Heathen Prince even Artaxerxes King of Persia who releast the children of Israel from their Captivity in Babylon and gave order for their return to Jerusalem and the setting up and establishment of the right Worship of the true God by the special Direction and Conduct of the Spirit of God A special passage of his Commission or Letter of Trust to Ezra the Scribe as is recorded in the holy Scripture †Ezra 7.25 26 27. we have in these words And thou Ezra after the wisdome of thy God that is in thy hand set Magistrates and Judges which may judge all the People that are beyond the River all such as know the Laws of thy God and teach ye them that know them not And whosoever will not do the Law of thy God and the Law of the King let judgement be executed speedily upon him whether it be unto death or to Banishment or to Confiscation of Goods or to Imprisonment And that this Counsel was of God it appears from the Words of Ezra hereupon Blessed be the LORD God of our Fathers which hath put such a thing as this in the Kings Heart c. Now what 's this but a branch of the Moral Law requiring the right worship of the true God explain'd in the Edict of a Heathen Prince whose hand was herein guided by the Spirit of God and his Example recorded to be approved of God and so consequently of perpetual obligation to all people and at all times as well under the New Testament as the Old But the Robbery of the wicked shall destroy them because they refuse to do judgement * Pro. 21.7 It much concernes also inferiour Magistrates and Officers who are intrusted with Power for the Punishment of Offendours to be faithful in the discharge of their Duty By this means a good stop might be put to many of the spreading Abominations of the Times Drunkennesse and Râ—velling Swearing and Sabbath-breaking and such like vile enormities and God-provoking sins might in a great measure be restrain'd if those persons in every Town and Parish to whom it pertaines by vertue of their Office to take cognizance of these and such like Crimes were but as Vigilant and Active as they might and ought to be to bring those that are found guilty of them to condigne punishment But through the sloth and regardlesnesse of Officers such Offendours grow bold and such Crimes become common such Abominations are exceedingly multiply'd But oh that such would consider that all the sins of those Places and Persons which they have received Power to restraine or punish and exercise it not are justly chargeable upon their heads and they stand guilty of them in the sight of God For 't is a sure Rule Malum qui cum potest non prohibet facit He that may hinder an Evil and doth not is guilty of it And if according to this Rule all the Oathes Curses Drunkennesses and Profanations of the Lords day which might have been prevented or punished by Persons invested with Authority and Power for that purpose be justly chargeable upon them for their neglect of their Duty in this Case we may surely say without any slander Many of our Magistrates and Officers however they may seeme sober and religious persons are the greatest Swearers Cursers Drunkards and Sabbath-breakers in the Land And doubtlesse many shall be indicted and condemned for these sinnes at Gods Tribunal in the Day of Judgement because they have not exercised the power wherewith they were intrusted in their Places for the punishment of them in others Oh therefore stir up your selves with Zeal and Faithfulnesse to the Execution of your Office the discharge of your Duty in this kinde that you may restraine Sin in others and keep off Guilt