hearken to it but we will doe what is pleasing in our own Eyes to burn incense to the Queen of Heaven â—er 41.16 When his servants coulâ— not work upon them he sent his Son They will reverence my Son but they cast him out of the Vineyard too this is the Heyre let us kill him and the inheritance shall be ours God sets open a Fountaine for the inhabitants of Hierusalem to wash in for sin an for uncleanesse they scorne this fountaine as Naaman did Jordan Are not Abana and Pharpar rivers of Damascus better then all the waters of Israel nay they say to Christ who is this fountaine as St. Peter did though with a far worse mind thou shalt never wash my feet Joh. 13.8 God sends his Son to seeke and save the lost sheep of the house of Israel and these lost sheep these Sons of perdition will not heare the Shepheards voyce braine-sick Patients they run at the Physician that comes to cure them they stumble at the Corner-stone the rock of their salvation becomes a Rock of offence to them and here is their condemnation that light is come into the World the day Sar from on high hath visited them but they chuse darknes rather then light because their deeds are evill Joh. 3.9 They are not sensible of the day of their Visitation God hath given them a gracious visit indeed hee hath sent his beloved Sonne amongst them the promised Shiloh whom they had so long expected and not they only but also all the Families of the Earth who expected a blessing from him the desire of all Nations is come among them Ecce rextius vâ—an tâ—â— Behold thy King commeth unto thee meek and sitti g upon an Asses Colâ— as you may see in the verses before my Text and it is wâ—ll the Oxe knew his owner for he was born in a Stable and layd in a Manger and the Asse here his Masters crib for Israel did not knew his people did not consider they reje ed him as the legion of Devils did Quid nobis tecum what have we to doe with thee Mat. 8.29 Full often he would have gathered their Children together as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings but they would not they knew not the things that belonged to their peace Wherefore is there a price put into the hand of a foole saith Solomon seeing he hath no heart to it here was an invaluaâ—le price put into the hand of a foolish Nation but they had no heart to it the worth of it was hid from their Eyes they were so besotted with the pleasures of sin so purblind in discerning the things that concerned their peace the welfare and salvation of their soules that they had no list to close with those blessed opportunities which they injoyed and was not this a sad spectacle When he beheld the City he wept over it saying If thou hadst known even thou in this thy day c. Learn we then here by Christs example as to weep so when to weep where and for whom to bestow our teares for the back-sliding of Hiâ—rusalem when we see iniquity in the holy place the faithfull City become a Harlot when we see precious opportunities neglected pearleâ— trampled under foot by Swine that know not the worth of them when we see men regardles of their soules and the things that concern their peace obstinatly to persist in their sins without any remorse of conscience or feare o judgment then it is high time to set open the floud-gates of our Eyes with David Mine Eyes gush out with water because men keep not thy Law or with our Saviour here he beheld the City and wept over it saying if thou hadst known c. In the ninth Chap. of Ezech. Ver 4. We find a command to set a mark upon the forehead of all those that sigh and cry out for all the abominations that were committed in the middest of Hierusalem and indeed what Christian mans heart can chuse but bleed within him if he shall seriously lay to heart all the abominations that are committed before his Eyes how was righteous Lots soule vexed with the uncleane conversation of the filthy Sodomites 2 Pet. 2.7 8. We read of S. Paul that when he came into Athens and saw the City wholy given to Idolatry Commotus est Spiritus that his Spirit was moved within him Acts 17.16 To see the renowned City of Athens so famous formerly for learning now become so infamous for Idolatry communicating that honour and service which is due and proper to God alone to dumb Idols his spirit was moved within him and so far moved that though he were in a strange place yet he could not contein himselfe but cries aloud against those abominations David cries out it grieveth me when I see the transgressors because they keep not thy Law Psal 119.158 And the Apostle speaking of those loose livers in the primitive Church whose belly was their God and gloried in their shame saith thus of them I tell you weeping they are the Enemies of the Crosse of Christ Phil. 3.18 19. David could not behold the transgressors without grieving It grieveth me when I see the transgressors because they keep not thy Law nor S. Paul speak of it without weeping I tell you weeping they are the Enemies of the Crosse of Christ so tender hearted have Gods children ever been so ready to mourn for others sins as indeed there is a great deale of reason we should do so both in respect of God who is therby dishonoured in respect of the sinner for whom in common humanity we cannot but weep when we observe how greedily he runs to his own destruction what hast he makes to that place where shal be everlasting weeping and wayling and gnashing of teeth in respect of our selves who are indangered by other mens sins their sin is infectious I living among them may perhaps be drawn to cast in my lot to run with them to the same excesse of riot to partake with them in their sins their sin in offensive to God if God shall unsheath his sword and come to visit for their iniquities I living among them may perhaps be partaker of their punishment and therfore for my own sake I have cause to mourne for the sins of other men Tunc tua res agitur paries cum proximus ardet t is high time for thee to look about thee when thy Neighbours House is on fire And first we cannot but mourn for the abominations of Hierusalem the sins of other men in respâ—ct of God in zeale to his glory to see him dayly dishonoured his holy name blasphemed his Sabbaths prophaned his service neglected al his commandemants broken and that by the sins of other men this was it that made the Prophet Eliah complaine so mournfully 1 Kings 19.10 I have been very zealous for the Lord of Hosts for the children of Israel have forsaken thy Covenant thrown down thine Altars slain thy
and looked upon Peter and Peter remembred the words of the Lord and he went out and wept bitterly here he looked a long time upon Hierusalem he beheld the City and wept over it but Hierusalem is so setled upon her Lees. Zeph. 1.12 so grounded in security and hardnesse of heart that she cannot that she will not repent and therefore no marvell if her goods become a booty and her houses a desolation as it followes there at the 13. verse or as t is in the Text the dayes shall come that thy enemies shall cast a trench about thee and keepe thee in on every side c. Here you see the kind of her misery Hierusalem is exposed to the fury of her mercilesse enemies to the Sword the sharpest of Gods 3. Airewes shee hath not liberty to take her choyce as David had 2. Sam. 24.13 Wilt thou have 7. yeares famine come upon the land or wilt thou flee 3. moneths before thy enemies while they pursue thee or wilt thou that there be 3. dayes pestilence in the land but she is peremptorily designed to the Sword to be compassed about with armies that should batter downe her lofty Turrets her princely palaces lay them all even with the ground For the dayes shall come that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee c. It was a heavy sight to see Hierusalem blocked up in this manner so streightly and strongly beseiged that they were neither able to beat off their enemies nor could expect succour from their friends it had beene an uncomfortable fight to see some houses shut up in Hierusalem by the destroying Angell but to see Hierusalem it selfe shut up was both a strange and a sad spectacle where is the noble valour the heroick Spirit that was wont to be in this people time was when one of them could chase a thousand and two of them put ten thousand to slight when Israel lay downe like a Lion and couched like a great Lion and none durst rouze him up when other nations were glad to betake themselves to their fenced Cities because of them and there to fortifie their walles Barrocadoe their Gates against them as Hiericho and other Cities did or if they did venture to sally out against them one way they were forced to flee before them seven ways but what shall we say now when Israel turnes their backs before their enemies when they are forced to retreat into Hierusalem for shelter when the enemy pursues them to the very Gaâ—es intrench themselves round about the City and threaten to cut them all off eyther by the Sword or by the Famine which is sharper then a two edged Sword The dayes shall come that thine enemies c. It was strange that Hierusalem should be thus surrounded but more strange that it should bee taken that it should bee battered downe and laid even with the ground as it followes in the next words They shall lay thee even with the ground and thy children within thee this wâ—s strange indeed whether wee consider the scituation of the City or the protectour of the City for the scituation of it t' was feared uppon such high craggy inaccessible rocks or mountaines that it was even by nature made almost impregnable the Iebusites that held it till Davids time thought it so strong of it selfe that the blind and the lame were able to defend it against David and all his men of valour 2 Sam. 5.6 And to this strength of nature was added an artificiall strength of Forts and Bulwarks Psal 48.12 Walke about Sion and goe round about her and tell the Towers thereof marke well her Bulwarks consider her Palaces that you may tell them that come after now to see these strong Bulwarks these stately Palaces laid even with the ground was a sight no lesse wonderfull then lamentable The Kings of the earth and all the inhabitants of the world would not have beleeved that the enemy should have entred into the Gates of Hierusalem Lam. 4.12 Againe consider the Protector of the City it 's true except the Lord keepes the City the watchman waketh but in vaine but Hierusalem was the City of the great King God was well knowne in her Palaces as a sure refuge hee had his Temple there for thy Temples sake at Hierusalem nay and Hierusalem had experience of his protection formerly when it was beseiged by the Forces of Senacherib an Army supposed invincible yet the Lord being their Protectour raised the seige as you may read Esay 37.35 I will defend this City for my owne sake and for my servant Davids sake And that night the Angell of the Lord went out and slew in the Camp of the Assyrians 185000. But where is the God of Hierusalem now as Elishah spake when he came to the bank of Jordan where is the Lord God of Eliiah now 2. Reg. 2.14 surely the Glory is departed from Israel Israel hath rejected the Lord and gone a whoring after strange Gods they have walked extreame contrary to him in all their wayes and therefore the Lord hath at length justly with-drawne himselfe from them and left them as a prey to their enemies Climbe upon her walles and destroy downe with her battlements for they are not the Lords Ier. 5.10 And now our blossed Saviour as if he saw the wall not of Hiericho but of Hierusalem tumbling downe the Souldiers on every side entring the City beating all downe before them dashing the young infants against the stones torturing the aged and honourable deflouring the modest Virgins and chaste Matrons ransaking their houses with fire and Sword laying Hierusalem even with the ground and her children within her hee falls a weeping he beheld the City and weptover it As indeed it was a lamentable sight the Lord in mercy grant wee never see such a Spectacle in our Hierusalem no doubt Abraham was affected with sorrow when he saw the smoake of Sodome ascend like the smoke of a furnace though Sodom was a nest of infidels children of Belial whose sins câ—ied up to heaven for vengeance Gen. 13 13. young and old from every quartet were gathered together about Lots doore crouding and striving who should hee the foremost in that unnaturall and prodigious sin it cannot appeare that there was a Family or a Soule after Lot was gone which were not all most notorious sinners and yet it was a sad spectacle to see Sodom said even with the ground so in the 18. chap. of the revelation vers 9 10. and so forward t is prophecyed that the Kings of the earth and the Merchants and the Ship-masters shall weepe bitterly for the destruction of Babylon when they they shall see the smoak of her burning alas alas that great City Babylon that mighty City for in one houre is her judgement come in one houre is so great riches come to nothing alas alas that great City well then might our blessed Saviour weepe for Hierusalem where there was yet a Remnant according to the
this City are trampled upon with durty feet vilified pointed at loaden with infamous nick-names as Baals Priests Popiâ—h teachers Limbes of Antichrist wofull to relate and I wonder how any man that beareâ— but the name of a Ch istian dares vent such unsavoury invective speeches against their Teachers and that it may be for dissenting from them only in the use of a harmelesse significant Ceremony You know what happened to â—eroboam for stretching out his hand against the Prophet though he were a King 1. Reg. 13.4 And you remember the severity of Gods Anger against the young children for mocking the Prophet Elishah goe up thou bald head goe up thou bald-head 't is recorded that 42 of them were presently torn inâ—â—â—icâ—s 2. Reg. 2.24 Doth God punish foolish wanton children for such a fault think not that those of riper yeares shall escape this was the Bane of Hierusaleâ— once before 2 Chron. 36.16 They mocked the Messengers of the Lord and misused his Prophets untill the wrath of the Lord arâ— se against his people till there was no remedy ther fore he brought upon them the King of the Câ—â—dees who slew their young men with the Sword here 't was their bane again 't was one of those sins that armed the Romans against them and I pray God it doe not help to bane this City Lord lay not this sin to our charge Another of Hierusalems latter sins was their irreverent prophanations of Gods Temple they put no difference between that sâ—cred place set apart for the worship and service of God My House shall be called the House of Prayer and other ordinary places they carried burdens therough it they bought and sold in the outward Court of it till Christ forbad them Take these things hence 〈◊〉 make not my Fathers House a House of merchandize Beloved I must be plain with you we are too much guilty of this sin also there is a vile irreverent esteem of Gods House in the hearts of too many amongst us and out of the aboundance of the heart the mouth speaketh words which I am almost ashamed and afrayed to repeate that the Church is no better then an Ale-House or a Tavern nay then a Bawdyhouse I heard it spoken prophane wretches the Iewes came not neaâ—e these and yet Christ switched them out with a whip of small cords Huic aliud mercediâ— erit I feare these will be beaten with many stripes heavy strokes there is a golden meane if we could light on it between idolizing of a Temple and vilifying of it between doing reverence to it and irreverent prophaning of it We have warnings enow to look to our feet when we come to the House of the Lord you know what a breach was made upon Vzzah for a small miscarriage as is may be conceived about the Arke and how many thousands of the Bethshemites were cut off for prying irreverently into the Arke I am sure Christ never exprest more anger then in that passage about his Fathers House and I doe believe 't was one of the sins that brought this judgment upon Hierusalem for you shall read in the verse after mâ— Text. Ver. 45. That as soon as he had uttered this complaint If thou hadst I known even thou in this thy day c. He presently went into the Temple and cast out them that sold therein and them that bought saying it is written my House shall be called the house of Prayer but ye have made it a den of thieves and Lord lay not this sin to our charge A third sin of Hierusalem in her declining are was the Sects and divisions that were among them we read of Pharisees and Sadduces and some other Sects that they were rent and divided into what a tumult and an outcry there was between the Pharises and the Sadduces Acts 23. The Captaine was affraid least Paul should have been â—orne 2. peices by them they were so violent And beloved are not we conscious to our selves of this sin also fractions and divisions it is a question not easily answered whether there be more Sects or wards in London and what tumults have been occasioned by these Sects and sidings not only in the sâ—â—eeâ—s but even in the House of God what shoutings and clamours to the dishonour of God and the disturbance of the Congregation Lord lay not this sin to our charge Oh that we would take out that golden Lesson of the Apostle To keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace that we would give credit to that undeniable sailing of our Savious A Kingdom or a City or a House divided against it selfe cannot stand there was a time when Hierusalem was at unity within it selfe Psal 122.9 And then she was not ashamed to speak with her Enemies in the gate but now being at cryâ—â—l jarres and dissensions among themselves they become a prey to the Romans neither could their private differences be composed till the Enemy took away both their lives and their livings and made Hierusalem â—â—celdanaâ— a field of blood Enquo discoâ—dia cives pâ—rduxit â—nisâ—â—os And God grant this sin of Hierusalem doe not bring Hierusalems punishment upon us that our private dissensions doe not incourage and give opportunity to the common Enemy to cast a trench about us you see Hierusalems sins are come over into England and therefore it 's too too probable that her punishment may follow For the dayes shall come that thy Enemies shall cast a trench about thee and lay thee even with the ground c. But that my Sun may not sit in a cloud I shall ad one word more that though it be possible nay though it be probable the premisses considered that the Sword may come yet it is not necessary there is mercy with the Lord that he may be feared Noâ—â—â—â—e amâ—â—vâ—â—â— sed â—â—iteatiam God is infinitely more delighted in the conversion then in the confusion of a sinner why will ye dye O house off Israel turn ye turne ye from your evill way break off your sins by repentance and live he that confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall have mercy Proverbs 28.13 Confession and conversion or humiliation seconded with reformation hath sometimes reversed the sentence that hath gone out against a Nation as in the case of Niniveh yet forty dayes and Niniveh shall be destroyed Niniveh in the meane time repents of the evill she hath committed and God repents also of the evill he hath intended had Hierusalem done so too had Hierusalem known the things that belonged to her peace Ilia nunc staront Priamique urbs alta manâ—ret for ought we know it might have stood until this day Niniveh had but forty dayes Hierusalem had forty yeares respit to repent in and to make her peace So I say now if we shall even we in this our day labour to make our peace and attonement with God whom we have offended by discerning and lamenting all our former transgressions by resolving and indeavouring to walke
more circumspectly for the time to come to walke worthy of those great mercies which we injoy to bring foorth fruits meet for repentance no doubt he will accept of us still and receive us into favour againe what else is the meaning of those Parables 〈◊〉 Luc. 15. Of the Woman rejoycing with her Neighbours when shee had found her lost Groate of the Shepheards hugging this stray Sheep and bringing it home with joy of the Father welcomming and embracing his prodigall Sonne upon his submission but to intimate unto us the will â—gnesse of Almighty GOD to be reconciled unto sinners upon their true Repentance the Father doth not question with his Sonne Vbi fuislâ—â— â—ubâ— suâ—t â—â—e tulistiâ— saith Chrysologus where haâ—e you been What is become of all that portion you carried hence how is it that you are returned thus poore thus naked but he cals for the best Robe and Shooes for his Feete and a Ring for his finger c. Quis iâ—lâ— Pâ—tâ—r saith Tertullian sweetly who is this Father that so lovingly entertaines his penitent Sonne who is this Father 〈◊〉 scilicet God is this Father we are these Prodigals let his enterteinment incourage us to returne to acknowledge our own vilenesse Father we have sinned against Heaven and in thy sight and are no more worthy to be called thy Children and he will receive us graciously a broken and a contrite heart he can not he will not despise â—iâ—riâ— noâ— potestâ—â—â— silivâ— istarum lâ—chrymarum â—percatâ— said Saint Ambrose to Monica bewayling her Sonne Austin be of good cheere Woman it cannot be that the Sonne for whom thou dayly sheddest so many Teares should perish so I dare say to every Soule that bedewes it selfe with the Teares of true Repentance Fieri non poiâ—st ut aâ—â— â—â—a istarum laâ—â—rymarum pereat it cannot be that the Soule for which so many Teares are shed should perish it is a groundlesse expostulation that is taken up by them Malac 3. â—4 What profit is it that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hostes I answer very great profit for these Teares il they proceede fâ—om a truly broken and contrite heart they will prove like Sauls Sword or lonathans Bow they will never returne empty not one of these Cristalline Pearles fal's to the ground God puts them all into his Bottell Psalme 56.8 See how it fared with good Hezechiah Esay 38.1 The Prophet is sort to acquaint him that the time of his dissolution is at hand Set thy House in order for thou shalt dye and believe it Death is a grimme Surjeant that will not easily be staved off however the good man betakes himselfe to his Prayers and mingles some â—eares with his Prayers and see what this produceth Verse 5. Thus saith the Lord I have heard thy Prayers I have seen thy Teares I will adde unto thy dayes fifteene yeares and I will deliver thee and this City out of the hand of the King of Assyria I need not tell you that are Parents how far the Teares of your children will plead and prevaile with you though you be much offended and what saith the Psalmist Psal 103.13 Like as a Father pittieth his own children so is the Lord mercifull to his children when his anger is kindled against them their Teares will soon quench it again look in the 31. of Ieremy Verse 18. There you shall finde a breach between God and Ephraim Ephraim is stubburn God is angry at it and begins to correct him Ephraim feeling it smart fals a weeping he repents and smites upon his thigh Verse 19. And God presently takes notice of it I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himselfe and what followes at the 20. Verse Is Ephraim my deare Sonne Is he a pleasant child for since I spake against him I doe earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy upon him saith the Lord I can be no longer angry with him saith God now I see him weep my bowels doe even yearne towards him I will surely have mercy upon him c. It puts me in mind of that story of Esau Genesis 27. He brings in his venison and comes very confidently to his Father for a blessing before his Death the dimme old man amazed and perceiving at last how he was deluded for Jacob had cunningly supplanted him you know the story he tells him that he was come too late Thy brother came with subtilty and hath taken away thy blessing Verse 35. With that he falles a begging and complayning and is very importunate Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me blesse me even me also O my Father Isaac tels him I have given all his brethren to him for servants I have given him Corn and Wine to sustayne him what can I doe for thee my Sonne Hast thou but one blessing my Father saith Esau blesse me even me also and Esau lift up his voyce and wept Verse 38. And those Teares fetched a blessing presently his Father answered Thy dwelling shall be the fatnesse of the Earth and the dew of Heaven from above and thou shalt serve thy Brother and it shall come to passe that in processe of time thou shalt breake his yoke from off thy necke c. Teares are lowde Oratours with an Earthly Father much more with our Heavenly Father because hee is infinitely more pittifull then any Earthly Father If you beeing evill know how to give good gifts to your children 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how much more shall your Heavenly Father Matthew 7.11 If you that have but a Rivulet of mercy bee so moved with Teares 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how much more will your Heavenly Father who hath a boundlesse bottomlesse Ocean of mercie Wee may bee the more confident that the Teares which we shed upon Earth are regarded in Heaven because as the Apostle speakes wee have a mercifull high Priest there Hebrewes 4.15 For wee have not a high Priest that cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like unto us sinne onely excepted Christ tooke not on him our nature onely a reasonable Soule and humane flesh but also condescended to take on him the infirmities of our nature the infirmities of the body as to be hungry to be thirsty to sleepe to be weary and the infirmities of the minde as to be angry to be sad to weepe c. Christ hath beene experimentall in all these hee hath tasted of every one of these Cups and therefore knowes how to pitty and to succour those that labour under any of these infirmities are wee sorrowfull so hath CHRIST beene a man of sorrowes and acquainted with griefe doe wee weepe so did Christ hee beheld the City and wept over it and though hee doe not weepe for our Hierusalem yet hee is sensible of our weeping and makes intercession for us at the right Hand of his Father and therefore heere is a great deale of comfort to those that mourne in Sion and a great deale of incouragement to those that have not yet beene Mourners if they shall now at length see the errour of their wayes and beginne to weepe for the abominations of Hierusalem Let us therefore all of us awake betimes out of our sinnes before that vengeance awake and the judgement which yet sleepeth seeke the Lord while hee may bee found whilest with the Father of the Prodigall hee is ready to meete us and to embrace us let us turne to him with all our hearts with fasting and with weeping and with mourning there is â—oy in the presence of the Angels over one sinner what joy will there bee over a whole Nation that repenteth Luc. 15.10 while God holdes his peace these things hast thou â—oue and I held my peace Psalme 50.21 Let us speake â—nd sue unto him for mercy and say spare us good Lord â—pare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious bloud and bee not angry with us for ever And let the Priests the Ministers of the Lord weepe betweene the Porch and the Altar and say be favourable O Lord and give not thine heritage to reproach Joel 2.17 Wherefore should they say among the Heathen where is now their God FINIS Errata PAge 1. lin 15. for assad reade assaied p. 3. l. 2. for estalish reade establish p. 8. l. 2. for of death read of her death p. 9. l. 2. for ale read able p. 9. l. 25. for finde read feede p. 12. l. 43. for Daysar read daystar p. 13. 12. for did not knew his people read did not know his people p. 14. 20. for it read them p. 20. l. 33. for Domini read Domine p. 21. l. 31. which in his own mouth deleatur in l. 33. for these read the p. 27. l. 9. for Irelan read Ireland p. 28. l. 26. for have read hath p. 34. for this read his
Election of grace which were like to be involved in the common calamity the righteous with the wicked Templum Domini the Temple of the Lord together with their seiled houses O God the Heathen are come into thine inheritance thy holy Temple have they defiled and made Hierusalem a heape of stones the dead bodyes of thy Saints have they given to bee meat unto the foules of the ayre and the flesh of thy Servants to the beasts of the land Ps 79.1.2 This made the Prophet Ieremy wish Oh that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountaine of teares that I might weepe night and day for the slaine of the daughter of my people Iâ—r 9.1 this made our Saviour here when he beheld the City to weepe over it saying if thou hadst knowne c. for the dayes shall come that thy enemies shall cast a trench about thee and lay thee even with the ground and thy children within thee Beloved our Saviours example must be our direction all along he weepes for Hierusalem we must also weepe for the miseries and desolations of Hierusalem the Church and people of God abroad in the world and for the miseries that hang over our Hierusalem and threaten us with ruine unlesse God in mercy be pleased to open our eyes that wee may at last be able to know that is to take notice of the things that belong to our peace And first the miseries of the Church abroad call for our teares Hierusalems misery here was but a comming the dayes shall come Christ saw the cloud arising it was 40. yeares after before the storme fell and yet he could not forbeare weeping how can we look upon the ruines of Hierusalem and other famous Churches with look upon the ruines of Hierusalem and other famous Churches with dry eyes Thy Servants thinke upon her stones and it pittieth them to see her in the dust saith the Psalmist Ps 10â— 14 to see thornes come up in her palaces Nettles and Brambles in her fortresses that she is become an habitation of Dragons and a Court of Owles a most forlorne desolate place Es 34.13 the words which her enemies uttered in scorne Lam. 2.15 we should utter with teares is this the beauty of perfection the joy of the whole earth alas alas that great City And who can sufficiently bewaile the sad desolations of other Churches when we call to mind the inroades and incroachments that the wilde Bore of the Forrest the Turk hath made into Christendome and is daily threatning indevouring to swallow up more of it to devoure Iacob lay waste his dwelling place to root out the Church and people of God that the name of Israel may he no more in remembrance and when we consider how that Skarlet whore of Rome hath made her selfe drunk with the bloud of the Saints Rev. 17.6 Pitty the breaches of Bohemia the Palatinate Germany c. Whose f need Cities many of them are turned into â—â—inous heaps laid even with the ground and their fields watered with the bloud of Christians Their bloud have they shed like water on every side of Hâ—er sâ—em and there was no man to bury them Ps 79.3 Pitty the sad condit on of Irâ—an say with the Spouse Cant. 8.8 What shall we doe for our little Sister Lamentable are the scritches and complaints that have been heard out of that Kingdom by reason of the fury of the oppressour sparing neither Age nor Sex pillaging and firing and laying all even with the ground where ever they prevayle and is this nothing to you all ye that passe by have ye no fellow-feeling of their miseries can ye for all this stretch your selves upon your beds of ivory and eat the Lambs of the flock and the Calves out of the stall and drink your Wine in bowles and chaunte it to the sound of the Violl and never consider the afflictions of Joseph S. Paul commands us to weep with those that weep as N â—â—imiah did for the miseries of his Brethren at Hâ—erusalem when himselfe was in prosperity in the Court of Artaxerxes the Members of Christs mysticall Body should be like the members of a naturall body where if one Member suffer all the rest suffer with it 1 Cor. 12.26 Pitty then that bleedding Kingdom pitty and pray for them pitty and succour them first pitty and pray for them importune and wrastle with God in behalfe of that Kingdom by uncessant and earnest Prayer let teares run down like a River night and day give him no rest till the Vengeance of the Protestants bloud that is shed be openly shewed upon their barbarous and cruell Enemies Secondly pitty and succour them let your aboundance now be a supply for their want let England be to Ireland as a refuge from the storm as a shaddow from the heate untill this Tyranny be overpast there are a many poore distressed soules forced to forsake that Kingdom and to slee hither for reliefe and some that had faire estates till those Sabaeans feazed upon them it may be two bands with â—acob though they have brought nothing but a staffe over Jordan with them now if you will keep the fast aright that it may be an acceptable day unto the Lord you must observe the Lords own directions Es 58 7. Is not this the fast that the Lord hath chosen to deale thy bread to the hungry and that thou bring the poore that are cast out into thy house the poore that are cast out as many of them have been cast out of house and home and when thou seest the naked that thou cover them and for certain many of them have been stripped naked not so much as their clothes left to cover their nakednes or to defend them against the injuries of the weather fit objects of your pitty And while we remember Ireland and other Churches wasted with misery we may not forget our selves as our blessed Saviour ad monished the Women that bewayled him Luc. 23.28 Weep for your selves ye Daughters of Hieruâ—alâ—m and for your Children for the dayes are comming wherein they shall say blessedare the barren and the Wombes that nover bare and the paps that never gave suck Beloved for my own part I am not privy to the decrees of Heaven neither am I willing to presage ruin to this â—urch either by the Sword famin or Pestilence long may she slourish and continue to he the joy and prayse of the whole Earth evâ—n so long as the Sun and Moone indureth till Shiloh come to judgment Yet I must tell you first that it is possible that this Church of ours may be dischurched our Hierusalem be made a heap of stones England may not say as David sometime did foolishly Psal 30.6 I sayd in my prosperity I shall never be removed he was deceived thou didst turn thy face from me and I was troubled and so may we nor with the malignant Church Reva 8.7 I fit as a Queen and shall see no sorrow no our Candle
stick may be removed our Vineyard that have been fenced so many yeares by the providence and protection of the great Husbandman may have its hedge trâ—den down there is no Church priviledged from drinking of the cup of Gods Wrath. Where is the King of Hamâ—th and the King of Arpad and the King of Sepharuaim as he sayd what is become of those famous Eastern churches those golden Candlesticks Ephesus Smyrna Pergamos Thyatira c. Nay Hierusalem it selfe layd even with the ground and that many hundred yeares agoe and if God spared not the naturall branches we have no reason to be high minded but to fea rt what saith God to the Nations Jer. 25.29 Doe ye refuse to drink of my Cup behold I begin to bring evill upon the City that is called by my Name you must not think to goe unpunished we must not expect more favour then the Ieâ—res found admit we have Tamolum domius the Temple of the Lord the Symbol of Gods presence amongst us so had they we have many faithfull pastors and teachers according to Gods own heart they had Prophets and Apostles men extraordinarly inspired nay they had the Lord of the Prophets we have the Word of God had not they the voyces of the Prophets were heard among them every Sab at h day Acts 13.27 But we have Maunah in greater aboundance then they had more plenty of preaching our destruction may be the nearer for that for our sins will be the sooner ripe the hotter the Sun shines the sooner the tares will be ripe and ready for the sire but we have our monthly fastes and dayes of humiliation had not they Zach. 7.5 When ye fasted in the fifth moneth and in the seventh Moneth those 70 yeares did ye fast unto me all these proved vaine confidences to them they could not keep off the stroke from them and therefore notwithstanding all these it 's possible that our Church may suffer as they did Nay I must goe one step farther It is not only possible but it 's probuble too we have just cause to feare that the time may come and speedily to wherein our Enemies may cast aâ—tâ—â—nch about us and lay our Hierusalem even with the ground because the Leaven of the Iewes is unhappily fallen into the lump of the Gentiles and the abominations that were committed in Hierusalem are flowen over into England nay I feare our sins doe outvy theirs all things confidered as far as theirs outvied the sins of Sodom Ezech. 16. What sin was ever charged upon Hierusalent that may not be sampled in England there was halting between two opinions hath there not been the like heere 't was yrkesome to them to observe the Sabbath day strictly and religiously when will the new Moon be gone that we may sell corn and the Sabbath that we may set forth wheate Am. 8.5 Tell me hath it not been so here the Prophet Micah complaines of them for the scant measure the wicked balances and the bag of deceitfull weights Mich. 6.10.11 Examin your shops hath it not been so here there were great corruptions both in the civill and Ecclesiasticall state their Princes were rebellious and companions of theeves that is their magistrates did too much countenance oppression and in justice and their Priests were many of them dumb dogs lying down and loving to slumber lazy watchmen that suffered the people to perish for want of warning Aarons Bels had lost their clappers beloved I appeale to you have there not been such faults in the Magistracy and Ministery of England in some of each 〈◊〉 their Land was greatly polluted with swearing and blaspheming because of swearing the land mourneth Jer. 23.10 And doth not our land and this City by name groan under this fin also what hideous Oathes and desperate imprecations are heard in our streets They were strong to drink strong drink and when they had sate till the Wine inflamed them then they assembled themselves by troupes in the Harlots Houses and how doe these beastly sins of rioting and drunkennesse of chambering wantonnes reign in this Kingdom and more especially in Hâ—â—â—â—â—â— this populons City in a word should a man be serious and with Solomon Pro. 7.6 look out at the casement of his window and observe the behaviour of people in the streets he might behold not only the young wanton with his Minion marching along to the Steâ—es but also the angry Ruffian justling for the wall tâ—e swinish drunkard stumbling and tumbling in the mire the hard-hearted Vsurer catching his neighbour by the throate and haling him to the prison the proud phantastick more gloriously arrayed then Solomon in all his royalty and heare such vaine bablings such proud boastings such clamorous raylings such cursed blasphemies as might make him not only to weep but also to wonder at the patience of God that he hath not long before this time made London like Hierusalem a heap of stones In the second Chapter of the Râ—â—â—aâ—iâ— Christ threatens the Asian Churches to remove their Candlesticks because he â—ad somewhat or a few things against them neverthelesse I have a few things against thee remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent or elseâ— will remove thy Candlestick out of his place and alas beloved 't is not a few things that God hath against us we have walked contrary to him in every thing what may wee feare I will but touch upon two or three of Hierusalems latter sins and leave you to judge whether we have not overtaken hereven in them One was her disrespect her cruelty to the Lords Prophets Math 23.37 O Hierusalem Hierusalem that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are font unto thee c. And Ver. 34. Behold 〈◊〉 send unto you Prophets and wise men and scribes and some of them ye shall kill and crucify and some of them you shall scourge in your Synagogues and persecute them from City to City That upon you may come all the righteous bloud shed upon the Earth from the bloud of Abel to the bloud of Zacharias the Son of Barachias whom yee slew between the Temple and the Altar they counted them their Enemies for telling them the truth they hated the light because their deeds were evill and believe it this is a provoking sin touch not mine annoynted and doe my Prophets no harme and as he that receives a Prophet in the name of a Prâ—phet shall receive a Prophets reward â—o he thaâ— contemnes and abuseth a Prophet one of Goâ—s messengers and Embassadors Christ tells him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha at the day of judgment 〈◊〉 then for that party or that City if it be a City Matth. 10.15 And yet beloved we cannot hide it England â—s in a high degree guilty of this sin the Prophets of the Lord the most zealous painfull learned Ministers have been too much slighted opposed derided and at this day the most solid juâ—iâ—ious Divines about