be lightly passed over but put beyond all gain-saying I come now to the Use of it The Use that I shall make of this first Doctrin by it self is onely to provoke us all to a serious consideration of our Church and Nations dangers calling for our utmost help as also what help is possible and necessary for us to afford taking in Ireland also into our thoughts though I cannot at every turn name it but it must never be forgotten specially on these solemn dayes of seeking God their unhappinesse affording us the first advantage of enjoying this publike happinesse of these dayes of humiliation towards our own good as well as theirs Where we â—we help we must needs consider the need of help and the means of it The Churches dangers needing help are reducible to two heads Judgments and Sins Both together put us into the condition of Isreal Nehem. 9. 37. whose sad expression is We are in great distresse Indeed far greater then theirs was then as a comparison would fully clear but that I have no leasure for it neither shall I now say all that I intend on either Head because the following Points require a reservation of somewhat of each kind to re-inforce them But yet even to make further way for them and in the mean time for a brief discourse of the means of help somewhat also must here be premised of the Churches dangers both in regard of judgements and sins For our dangers in regard of Judgements I may thus recapitulate them First An attempt upon a deep-rooted long-projected designe to ruin Religion Gods true Religion our Laws and Liberties and in and for all this this present Parliament 2. An Army raised for this by Papists-counsels enemies to the true Religion and consequently to our State and Laws by which it is established Made up for the most part of men of desperate spirits enemies to Parliaments and Laws because themselves are Delinquents and resolve to be Libertines and men of desperate fortunes and therefore enemies to the propriety and true liberty of the Subject without the violation of which they cannot subsist in their broken condition 3. These enemies possessing the Person of our King abusing his minde by their wicked suggestions and counsels his Name to countenance all their lawlesse outrages and to cast all manner of reproaches upon the Parliament And particularly upon prime Members of both Houses 4. These enemies having prevailed in many places to rob and spoil houses villages towns countreys to carry away Prisoners and use them with more then barbarous cruelty to kill and destroy many in the field in open war some in cold blood if their boyling rage and malice can ever be said to be cold blood and not a few by worse then brutish usage in their Prisons to violence and violate mens consciences by forcing upon them the Protestation against the Parliament 5. These enemies being in themselves many in number and of great strength in divers places apparently stronger then we in all kinde of strength except spirituall and in the whole powerfull enough to put all into exceeding hazard by force and fraud arms and conspiracies witnesse Bristoll and the late damnable Plot against the Parliament and City specially considering the multitude of secret enemies seeming but Neuters intermingled every where with us specially in all considerable places the City is not the Parliament it self hath not been free and not a few even almost professed enemies let alone and suffered in the very City and much more in the Countreys and too many false and treacherous friends in the Armies and every where Besides multitudes of professed Neuters ready to fall to the enemies where ever they shall appear stronger and in the mean time affording as little help as possible they can the rather because the worst of the Parliaments exclaimed against severity is courtesie to the ordinary usage of their adversaries against any that have in the least opposed them 6. Our friends impoverisht daily without means of restauraration disheartened by mutuall jealousies divided by differences in opinion diminished by deaths and captivities without hopes of ransom and few grow up in their rooms 7. Forrain States and Countreyes at the best no friends while in the mean time Papists in severall parts afford great assistance to our enemies by contributions of Moneys and Arms And so have some of our pretended Friends done too whose consciences will one day pay them to the full for it on earth or a worse place or both as fighters against God and his true Religion and self-condemned in their own hearts for worse rebells if we be thought by them to be so at all then any rhetorick can make us 8. Ireland not onely affords us no help but helps to wast our Estates our Provisions Arms Ammunition while the Rebels there are in part furnisht from sorrain States and now at last threatning us also with an actuall Invasion and at least some of those Rebels being actually in Arms against us Lay now all these together and we must needs acknowledge that our danger is exceeding great and we all In great distresse in regard of the Judgments that lie upon and threaten our Church and Nation and Ireland with us And now it is time that we come to consider our Nations sins a little as the provoking Cause of all these Judgments For so the Prophet resolves the Question why the sword was sent against Judah Jer. 4. 18. Thy wayes and thy doings have procured these things to thee This is thy wickednesse because it is bitter and because it reaches unto thy heart To shew this we will scan first how many wayes a Nation may be called sinfull according to the phrase Esay 1. 4. and a people laden with iniquity And then see whether in all those respects our Land be not undeniably sinfull and laden with transgressions Five wayes a Nation may deserve the name of sinfull First when all sorts and ranks that is many in each of them are apparently tainted with sinne 2. When particular sins as ignorance drunkennesse swearing prophanenesse any one such notorious sin and much more if divers doe visibly taint the greatest number in a Nation every where according to the expression Ezek. 22. Thou hast done thus and thus 3. When any visible iniquity though practised but by some few is not at all punisht though there be law against it This comes under another phrase in the forementioned chapter Ezek. 22. In thee in thee have they set light by Father and Mother in the middest of thee have they done thus and thus We know the very not enquiring after Achan there having been a particular warning that one such man would make all Israel accursed made God charge his single fact upon all the Nation Israel have sinned and they have trangressed c. Ios 7. And accordingly he threatens not to be with the
Nation any more except they found him out and punisht him accordingly 4. When the Lawes are too weak and slack or altogether silent in the restraint of wickednesse This could not indeed be in the Jewish common-wealth because they had lawes of Gods own making to punish all manner of transgressions that God would have to be punisht But since other Common-wealths have taken to themselves I am afraid farther then God allowes a Liberty to count themselves free from his penal laws it is manifestly possible that they may be wanting in necessary laws to suppresse ungodlinesse then they make the Nation guilty of such sins as for want of good laws are practised In that the Authority that God hath given in a Nation to make laws for the observation of His divine Lawes is not put in execution sufficiently Authority I say sins in not making such necessary lawes and inferiours sin in not following them with petitions and importunities for the making of them And so all are sinfull the Nation is sinfull 5. Much more when any sin hath any kinde of countenance and allowance from Authority and specially from lawes and that offenders against Gods commandements can pleadmans approbation if not command in some sort of their practises This is the highest and worst degree of all not onely because it doth immediately taint the generality in point of practice but layes a cursed foundation of vilifying all Gods lawes in any thing when it appears to inferiours that superiours though men like themselves dare take upon them so to crosse Gods Authority with theirs And now if in all these respects our Nation is greatly guilty of transgression and sinne against our God and Heavenly King we are beyond all peradventure a sinfull Nation and a people laden with iniquity and for this for the present I onely appeale to every ones conscience that seemes to have any sense of conscience and to the generall complaint that there is every where of something or other in all these kindes Even they oft times that notoriously help to fill up the measure of a Nations wickednesse doe yet themselves complain aloud of the universality of corruption and sin of all sorts and in all sorts Let me then take them and all others at their own words in this and judge them out of their own mouths God will be sure to doe so one day that they have acknowledged our Land and Church to be not only a greatly endangered but a deeply guilty people and so in both respects needing abundance of help even the utmost that can possibly be afforded by any by all of us And that is the other consideration belonging to this Use what help is propor and possible to be afforded to the Church in this her need 1. Against the outward danger outward help is needed for our Nation and Church and Ireland also Counsels purses persons whatsoever is ours or can be justly procured by us is owing as the doctrine hath shewed us because it may be helpfull and may be needed one time or other for the Churches help 2. Against the whole of the danger Prayer may be helpfull and is altogether needfull constant humble penitent faithfull fervent prayer I need not insist on this you have heard it already this day abundantly and powerfully But of Humiliation not only as a companion of Prayer but also as a Parent or Nurse of it and so as a distinct means of help for the Church I must a little particularly speak specially this being a solemne day of Humiliation wherein both God and man require of us to urge this which I shall doe by shewing first what is the nature of it and then secondly the object of it to what it extends both as a duty and as a meanes For the nature of it Humiliation is a lying low and being abased at Gods feet for mercy making first a hearty confession and acknowledgement to God of 4. things 1. Of naturall extreame sinfulnesse and corruption and particular sins as many as are knowne or by enquiry can be found out with their aggravations 2. Of extremity of punishment thereby deserved 3. Of impossibility of escaping such punishment without Gods favour 4. Of impossibility of obtaining Gods favour without repentance and faith in Christ our surety 2. From all this making also an entire submission and yeelding to any temporall correction which God layes or continues without murmuring or offering to free our selves by sinning againe in any kinde All this is included within the nature of true humiliation Which as it is often called for in Scripture1 as a duty giving glory to God in all his providence and particularly in his Judgements mixed with mercies according to his Word and all his soveraigne dignities and titles of Creatour Preserver Ruler and King of all men and Creatures and all his glorious attributes of Just Holy Wise Gracious Powerfull True So2 is it also frequently both in generall and in the particular parts of it made and appointed a necessary meanes of helping a Nation one place shall now suffice for many Lev. 26. 40 41. If they shall confesse their iniquities and the iniquity of their Fathers with their trespasse whereby they have trespassed against me and that also they have walked contrary unto me and that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought them into the land of their enemies if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity Then will I remember c. And all this the rather because3 such a Humiliation is both most necessary and most effectuall to make us endeavour what ever else is conducible toward the Churches help as specially a holy Example and activity for Reformation of which afterwards Now for the object of Humiliation It concernes and would though we our selves were both altogether innocent and free from all personall danger 1. The sins of the Nation we live amongst endangered also by his judgements felt or feared But much more when our own being sensibly in danger as well as others calls us to remember our own sins and be humbled for them specially being some way guilty also even of the Nations sins as we shall see anon 2. This Humiliation for the sins of our Nation must extend to the sins of our Forefathers this we finde commanded by way of condition to a promise Lev. 26. 49. and every where practised in solemn Humiliations referring to a Nations good as Ezr. 9. Nehemiah 1. 9. Daniel 9. Ierem. 3. And the reasons of this are cleare 1. In that we as their heires are justly lyable to punishments temporall for their sins in former times Mens Justice requires debts of Heires namely the Landlords rents and for wastes committed against their leases God may much more This broke good Iosiahs heart melted it into teares when by the reading of the book of the Law
30. 19. And for any thing I know or any man else as we that are here before God this day do chuse even this day we may fare our selves and all our Israel with us at least in the Good the Blessing held forth But I Preface no longer THe words contain summarily The necessity and encouragement of utmost venturing for the Churches help in time of danger The Jews at this time Gods onely visible Church on earth were now in one of the greatest dangers that ever threatned a Nation The story is well known I cannot spend time to decipher it It is my great comfort in that and the whole of my Discourse that I speak to wise men else the multitude of matters to be crowded together within the allotted compasse of time for this holy Exercise would suffer prejudice among us by my necessary hast Therefore also I shall give you no other division of the Text then into the Points that thence offer themselves to our present instruction I will name them all together and shew you the Rise of the severalls as we go along The first Doctrine is Every one of Gods professed people owe their endeavours with the utmost hazard of themselves to help the Church in time of danger The second this Private self-respects prove great hinderances to most necessary duties The third Those whom private and self-respects hinder from the Churches help can have no assurance what ever seeming advantages they may hope upon that they shall escape more then others The fourth is Though those who are most hopefull to be instruments of the Churches help fail her in time of need yet deliverance shall not fail her some way or other according to Gods promises The fifth is Though the Church be delivered another way yet a destruction is owing to them and theirs that have neglected their utmost endeavour for her help The sixth is There is great hopes that those who are extraordinarily raised up to a speciall opportunity of serviceablenesse to the Church are intended by God to procure her help if they will themselves and be faithfull All these Points will appear to be most naturally raised from the scope and words of the Text and all of singular use for our edification according to the present condition of things among us As the sequell will shew The first Doctrin is this Every one of Gods professed people owe their endeavours with the utmost hazard of themselves to help the Church in time of danger Mordecai's former charge to Esther and this re-inforcement in the Text supposes this Doctrin fully It had been too presumptuous to put so great a Person too injurious to presse so dear a Friend to so desperate a piece of service if upon this generall ground it had not been a certain and indispensable duty It was hers therefore all others respectively all ours particularly Nothing could discharge her nothing can acquit us Consider and compare 1. Her Person and ours 2. Her perill 3. Her small likelihood of prevailing 4. And the certainty of the businesse to be done without her 1. Her Person Which of us even the highest matches her greatnesse how extreamly below are the most who hath so much to lose if we lose all as she Those we venture for are our equalls or neer it some of them and many are superiours to the most She was far above all her Nation of whom the best were distressed tributaries and multitudes little better then slaves She ventured alone none with her none for her wee have many engaged as well as far as we and we have cause to be glad of them as well as they of us If then it were her duty to endeavour and venture it is ours without all peradventure 2. What was the hazard she must rush upon or what is the utmost venture Death This was hers And what death more certain or usually more reproachfull then for breaking through the known Law of an Imperious Monarch This she must expose her self to While yet this charge and threatning of her tells us that it is no sinne but a duty of necessity to prefer the regard of a peoples of Gods peoples safety before any such formality of a humane Law Yet contrarily had she forborn this her danger in humane appearance had been none at all because though she were a Jewesse yet not known to be such And now can our hazard by endeavor be worse at the worst or more certain or more reproachfull though the reproach lesse just then hers or to any of us can there be lesse hazard if we forbear altogether any endeavour If then she must not forbear because of perill no more may we without the greatest perill of sinne 3. How unlikely was it she should prevail with one who in thirty dayes had not called for her though his wife and now pressing upon him against his Law and appearing in opposition to his so doted on Darling Haman and of a Decree already sent forth into all his Dominions which also by the Law of the Medes and Persians seemed unalterable and so the Case remedilesse altogether this way Is there any thing we are to Endeavour let it be what it will so unlikely to prosper as this undertaking of hers yet for this must she pawn her life And what may we then refuse 4. Was it not pity to drive her forward against such a Canons-mouth when though she sate still the Businesse should be done himself tells her so in which she might be lost and do nothing at all to it What greater certainty can we have or what equall that what we are called to Endeavour and Venture for will prosper if we do altogether nothing How many would then indeed resolve to do nothing and think themselves excusable too But so might not she nor so may not we without sin can be excused For it appears that according to the Doctrin Every one of Gods professed people owes c. Let us confirm it by a few other Examples and then by some Reasons 1 Joh. 3 16 We ought to lay down our lives for the Brethren Here is the Doctrin and Duty fully asserted The Brethren the Church have a right to our utmost endeavour with what hazard soever we owe it to them we ought to venture our lives and when the pinch comes actually part with them And here is an example beyond example in the words foregoing of God himself Christ God and Man both laid down His humane life for His Church Hereby perceive we the love of God towards us in that he layd down his life for us This ought to be Reason sufficient to us to hold our selves obliged to the same hazard in our measure in thankefulnesse to Him and imitation of Him and to testifie the truth of our love which we professe to bear to the Church as the Apostle was now exhorting to love Love denies nothing of endeavours ventures all things of
once a just reward of our too much tolerating them from the very first but much more of late years and a strange symptome of strange lukewarmnesse in us to suffer such enemies to God and our selves so much while yet they so often and so desperately refused to suffer us to be at quiet in our condition notwithstanding The 2. Ignorance is very much aggravated by the innumerable multitudes tainted with that soul-killing sin in which of all others it is impossible for any to be saved And yet scarce a fist I may say a tenth man or woman through the whole Kingdom in a better condition as will be found to our incomparable grief and shame specially the Lawes and persons have been so extremly wanting to remedy this all this while when once an effectuall course comes to be taken to make this Land a Christian Nation in earnest by bringing the generality of our people to knowledge The 3. is a wickednesse unheard of I think in the world among any people of any religion whatsoever unlesse in Italy where yet it is not comparable to what is among us and most audaciously and uncontrolledly practised in our England every where even by no beggers neither And this I rank under the 1. Commandement though immediatly seeming to be against men because it is against men meerly for Gods sake because they shew some respect to his Law and Word and so most properly against God himself I know not whether a formall Atheist known to be so but keeping himself quiet would do the one half of that mischief that this Atheisticall scorner doth Against the second I name superstition and the heavy weight put upon ceremonies and circumstances and humane ordinances while the holy Ordinances of God have been shamefully neglected by an Ignorant-pluralizing-nonresident-carelesse and unsufficiently-maintained-Ministery and a prophane people that liked all this well enough and even loved to have it so Against the third 1. Vain oaths cursings and blasphemies in infinite multitudes 2. And either unnecessary oaths in Universities and upon Officers and Inquests and private persons Or 3. at least no regard of their observation in those that take them or in those that give them 4. Extream prophanenesse in the common-sort and others in the very publike Assemblies and the most solemn services of God by sleeping going out and in at their pleasure talking and laughing oft-times and no redresse of it by Officers care or Magistrates endeavour 5. A twisted cord of Simony and perjury for Benefices 6. Also a flood of riot and drunkennesse overflowing all places and bearing down all reproof 7. And finally the most horrid prophanation of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper by the unworthy receiving of ignorant and apparently godlesse persons The inexcusable fault of persons in authority and even of Laws too in suffering such pollution of so sacredan Ordinance Pollution I say to those prophane receivers of it to their own damnation though not to others who have no authority to keep them back And yet that heart-grief that they who are the most zealous for Christs honour and other mens souls herein have taken for such Prophanation and the grievous scandall that this hath continually given and doth give to this day to many thousands perhaps of weak ones whom this alone hath driven from our Church is a fearfull aggravation of this sinne of our Nation Against the fourth there hath been most notorious prophanations violations of the Sabbath the Lords day and notwithstanding the Doctrin of it more clearly among us even authorized then anywhere else in the world as also the practise of it more glorious here then anywhere and an answerable prosperity ever since Queen Elizabeths time according to the prophesie Esay 58. 13 14. yet the prophanation had been more impudent and outragious then anywhere else Men having undertaken to make void Gods holy Commandment as it were by a Law and even by persecuting all that would not consent to such violation Then which scarce so great affront was ever put upon God by any Nation professing his Name Against the fift Clandestine marriages without and against Parents consent for which the Lawes have no sufficient prevention nor redresse Against the sixt The fearfull guilt of innocent blood of the Martyrs shed of old in time of Popery and the fresh bleeding wounds though not to the extremity because power was wanting of Gods faithfullest Ministers and people persecuted to the utmost extremity of colour of law and oft a great way beyond law Many pincht themselves and families next to utter undoing if not altogether with sore wants by that means Thousands of late driven out of the Kingdom into America and threatned even theretoo And by and with all this That scarce at all feared or thought of but most prodigiously frightfull guilt of the blood of souls Thousands and Millions so far as can be judged by any rules of Scripture gone to hell out of this Kingdom even since the reformation for want of good lawes and through wicked Magistrates Civill and Ecclesiasticall and wicked Ministers and Neighbours in stead of good ones Millions I say now howling in hell in those infernall flames from whence there is no redemption damned through the undeniable defect of sufficient means of salvation in an ordinary way and through the damnable persecution made against all shew of godlinesse A wickednesse for which alone it is next a miracle that God hath not sunk the whole Kingdom into the bottom of the Sea long ere this Against the seventh The abominable filthinesse of whoredom and adultery specially never sufficiently shamed or frighted but of late years grown beyond all shame And the wickednesse of Play-houses suffered which though generally against all the Commandments one way or other yet for the most part more immediatly against this Against the eighth The oppression usury racking of Rents Inclosures depopulations defrauding of Creditors by lands paying no debts and of Purchasers by preconveyances Perverting of justice Ingrossing commodities enhaunsing of prises every where cried out upon Against the ninth All kinde of lying and slandering And finally against all the Commandments The generall lukewarmnesse of all our Lawes against sinne either belonging to the first or second Table I cannot now instance in the particulars But if it be seriously considered it will be found as I say That scarce any one Law made since the Reformation for Religion or against any particular sin but hath a deep taint of Laodicean lukewarmnesse something is said as to restrain wickednesse but so weakly as there is much to be considered even about our best Laws But withall there hath been generally a great want of a godly Discipline for the Church all this while The government being left in the hands of men who were scarce so much as likely in reason to use that power they had according to God
I mean the Chancellours and Commissaries c. who managed all Men that usually bought their Offices and so most likely to sell the sinnes of the people And who had more reason for their gains-sake to be skilfull in the Popes Canon Law then in Gods Canonicall Scripture And who might usually do what they lift securely because all appeals were for the most part made to men of their own profession and like themselves and yet they had not so much power to do good as to do evill Finally the want of a publike care to breed up children the poor specially and neglect of visiting Schools and Vniversities whereby a seed of evill doers hath still sprung up to fill the Land with corruption And of all this there is scarce any thing but to a rationall observant man hath been and is notorious or may be soon made so and declared to be abominable in the sight of God For which we may well fear his speaking against us as against his people of old Jer. 5. 9. Shall I not visit for these things saith the Lord shall not my soul be avenged on such a Nation as this Doubtlesse he hath begun to visit us for these things besides many other our wickednesses and that his soul may not be avenged on us we had need exceedingly to affect and afflict and humble our souls with a holy fear of his displeasure already manifested unto us and proclaimed against us and namely by a tenfold Consideration of the dreadfulnesse of the judgment which we all lie under and are in extream danger of 1 1. The judgement in it self touched a little before A sword drawn against us with so much advantage for our enemies and disadvantage to our selves and with such desperate purposes of our utter ruine You have more then once heard of the calamities of warre therefore I insist no further upon that onely remember that when God is most angry he threatens that Esay 1. 20. and often else where 2 2. The kinde of the judgment a civill war or rather an unnaturall intestine war a war against our own bowells Scarce a family in the whole Kingdom that is not engaged against it self This is according to the heavy curse of filling Kings Princes Prophets inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem with drunkennesse Politick drunkennesse and dashing one against another the brother against the brother the fathers and the sons together Jer. 13.13 14. and observe what follows in the end of ver. 14. I will not spare nor have pity not have mercy but destroy them And if we be not all utterly destroyed yet manifold families will undoubtedly and those that remain will be such enemies to their neighbours and one to another in the same family as God alone knows when the direfull effects of that drunkennesse will cease even though the war be ceased 3 3. The occasion was most dreadfull That which was meant and hoped to have been our safety the setling of the Militia petitioned by all Countries acknowledged by the King necessary to be done seemed to be granted and then refused whereby the Parliament saw themselves forced to settle it This proved the pretence and occasion of all our unsetling Answerable to that heavie curse even against the enemies of Christ Psal. 69. 22. Let that which should have been for their welfare become atrap 4 4. The humane means of prevention seeming most sufficient yet rather causing and encreasing the mischief A Parliament sitting Chosen with the greatest care that ever the Countries took in any Age Never a choyser company of wise and good men seemed to be gathered together and all the wisdome of the Land besides contributing to the counsels of the one side and the other in Parliament and on t of Parliament and engaging themselves to the utmost and having a long time of debate by words and messages and writing space to see the wisdome and faithfull intentions of each other and to manifest their own and after all to agree in nothing but disagreement and confusion like drunken men as before what a wofull curse is this specially being fore-prophesied against Israel Esay 19 14. Behold I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people even a marvellous work and a wonder for the wisdome of their wise men shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid Many confounded that they gave nothing but mischievous counsell which onely was beleeved and others so confounded that their faithfull counsels were discredited as when God meant to bring a scourge on Rehoboâ—â— and vengeance on Absalom 5 5. All this aggravated by example of others finding that favour with God that we could not finde according to the difference between * Judah and Israel or Goshen and AEgypt Exod. 9. and 10. that we and they both could then be wise and prosperous and we so unhappy in and among our selves Our brethren of Scotland had much the same Cause God then let us be wise for them and our selves together and the danger of those warres between them and us after neer three years hazard ended with very little blood and with great peace and amity But God hath denied us this favour this wisdome so that his anger appears to be the more against us and we seem still the more filled with drunkennesse 6 6. The ground of the quarrell as held forth on both sides makes still the mischief a greater prodigie The honour dignity of the king the Priviledges of Parliament the Law of the Land the property and liberty of the Subject are fought for on both sides and which is most admirable the same Religion the true Religion Protestant Religion except onely that the Popish Army in the North are so honest or so impudent as to disclaim that Cause and professe to fight for their own Religion And all this is Protested before God and man heaven and earth all the world is called to witnesse of their faithfull purposes and intentions And is not here then a strange drunkennesse at least on one fide and a strange curse scarce the like ever heard of in the world What! are both sides hypocrites or one onely or neither Every way it is most dreadfull and wofull 1. If both sides bee generally hypocrites or the chief of both Can God but resolve to destroy us all as a most perfidious Nation unworthy to live in the world and deal with us as Esay 10. 5 6 Even send a forrein enemy to take the prey and take the spoil and to tread us all down like the mire of the streets 2. If one side be faithfull and the other not yet is it not most dreadfull that God should let hypocrites so far prevail as first to seduce many well meaning people as Absalom under pretence of a vow he had made carried away 200. honest Citizens of Ierusalem who went with him in
speciall weight comes to be put upon the meer using it And while a root of superstition is nourisht in men Idolatry will soon be graffed upon it with a little help Besides that a little of this leaven will greatly sowr Mens Consciences and in stead of the power of godlinesse leave nothing but a Form I may not amplify this but I hope it will be considered and consulted of 5 5. Make all men feare an Oath 1 by a more ready and certain penalty for rash swearing 2 by taking away unnecessary Oaths My soul blesses you blesses God for you for the taking away the Oath of Churchwardens as well as that Ex Officio and the late Canonicall Oath Oh doe the like to other Officers and in Universities and Corporations and Courts by causing a review to be made what Oathes are unnecessary and how the use of them may be other wayes supplyed 3 And what Oathes you see necessary to be continued or added make them dreadfull Let them be administred ever in an awfull manner that they may consider what they doe when they pawn their souls and all things else that they speak truth and will doe as they say 4 And let no ignorant person be trusted to swear more then a childe But of that a word more anon I will use no other motive then that one Jer. 23. 10. Because of swearing the Land mourneth the pleasant places of the wildernesse are dryed up and their course is evill and their force is not right So that you do not help the Church if you remedy not this what you can if you did all things else 6. Make a Law for preaching There was never any yet that I could ever hear of in this Kingdome since the Reformation which is such a prodigy such a peece of Laodicean Lukewarmnesse as I beleeve the like was never heard of in a Reformed Christian Kingdom or Church unlesse Ireland perhaps too What the effects have been of the want of it all the world fees And to me it sounds among the worst of Omens that I have heard of some disputing against such a law I will say but this 1. If God have not had dishonour enough by some mens preaching against Preaching because our Law commanded it not and by all the reproach cast upon his faithfullest Ministers for their double diligence which hath also been prohibited thē by those that ought to have promoted it And 2 if the people of God have not by this been sufficiently scattered abroad as sheep without a Shepheard and torn by dogs for seeking their food abroad when they had none provided for them at home And 3 if enough have not gone to hell under unpreaching Ministers in more then eighty yeares And 4 finally if God have not put more weight upon this one ordinance under the N.T. then all other Ministeriall works together to teach all that have Authority under him to doe the like to make them beshrew themselves that preach not the Gospel Then let there be still no law to enjoyn it nor for any thing else belonging to the worship of God and mans salvation by as good reason But if all be contrary then once more let me call to Humiliation for this neglect these eighty yeares and upward and promise my selfe that a Reforming Parliament will not cannot but compose such a law as shall be abundantly sufficient for ever hereafter 7. Make Simony impossible To swear the Clerk is to swear the buyer to prevent a dearth It is to forbid those that fear an Oath and set open the door to those that dare be wilfully false And the present penalties of the statute doe seldome reach cunning chapmen This I will be bold to say if every Minister that hath the charge of soules and discharges that duty conscionably be not worthy of all that due which the law anywhere allowes him take it away in Gods name and employ it to a better use if you can find it out But if he be worthy of it by the sentence of God and man both a high way-robber or one that breaks into a house at midnight is not so great an offendor as a Simoniacall Patron whether he presents a man otherwise worthy or one that is altogether unworthy and if you make not as sufficient a law against the one as the other I say not for the penalty but which may be as effectuall or rather more and so it may be I durst undertake you will no more answer it to God then if you made not a sufficicient law against those outrages if there were none 8. Make Clandestine Marriages impossible They are so in the Reformed Churches in France they may be so here when the King and you please It is meer humane law the common law among us not Gods law that calls it a marriage if two be joyned by a Minister a Popish Priest hath served the turne in any house or room or place and at midnight or any time if with such and such words Why is such a wilde Authority given to robbe Parents of their children and Masters of their Apprentices and children of themselves against Gods expresse word and no Penalty that I know of in our law upon such a Minister or such Parties How many Noble Families besides others have been by this Licence and that which hath been next door to it in use the Licences of Ecclesiasticall Courts which last to this day where such disobedient children will goe seek them shamed and grieved and mischiefed This may be remedied instantly if the law ratify no marriage but Publike after Banes with Parents or guardians consent or some higher Power if they should be Tyrannicall and altogether unreasonable I am amazed that the Gentry having so smarted by this licence to their children to be disobedient have not long since in Parliament taken an order for it But I hope God hath raised up you at last to do him this piece of service among a great many others I may not enlarge my self upon any more particulars I will sum up all the residue that I have thought of in almost as few words as there be matters 9. Keep all the holy Ordinances of God from prophanation the Word read and preacht prayer singing Sacraments punishing sleepers and all other rude persons 10. Secure the Lords day fully from working and playing and buying or selling and as much as may be from apparent idlenesse 11. Encourage a faithfull Ministery particularly with sufficient maintenance for wives and children 12. Secure youth in the Universities and Schools with the utmost of care and even in Parents houses what you can specially the poorer sort The young ones are the hopes or the bane of the Church and State in the next 20 or 10. or 7. years 13. Represse drunkennesse by a better composed Law then any yet is extant and the haunting of the shops of that wickednesse 14. Suppresse
Reason 4. We pray for it in the Lords prayer Reason 5. Angels give us example Reason 6. All things and persons are for the Churches sake Doct. 1 Even Kings Esay 49. 21 22. 60. 16. And even the very Authority of Christ in Heaven Reason 7. Our comforts are from the Church Doct. 1 Reason 8. Our sins have endangered her Reason 9. Enemies do their utmost Reason 10. Friends fail or are strengthened by what we do Reason 11. So By standers in their degree Doct. 1 Vse Consideration 1. Of Churches dangers needing help 1. Judgments 1. Attempt against all this 2 Army raised against 3 Enemies possesse our King Doct. 1. Use Consider the Churches danger 4. They have prevailed far 5. Their strength enough to endanger all 6. Churches friends weak and few 7 Forrain States help not but hurt thence Doct. 1. Use Consider the Churches danger by sins Nationall 8. Ireland wasts and endangers 2. Churches danger by sins of Nation A Nation sinfull 5. ways 1. All ranks tainted much 2. The most tainted with any one kinde of sin 3. A few notorious sins altogether unpunisht though laws against them Doct. 1 Use Consider the Churches danger by sins Nationall 4. Laws silent or too weak to restrain sin 5. Sin countenanced or allowed by law Our Nation shewed sinfull by acknowledgments of all Doct. 1 Use II. Consider what help may should be afforded the Church 1. Outward 2. Spirituall 1 Prayer 2. HumiliatioÌ„ What it is Why required Doct. 1 Vse Consider how to help the Church by humiliation 2. How far it extends namely to 1. Sins of Nation 2. Sins of Forefathers for 5. Reasons 1. Tenants children lyable to pay Parents debts and forfeitures Doct. 1. Application Consider how to help the Church by humiliations for sins of forefathers 2. Enjoying fruit by their sinne 2 Kings 18. 3. Lest we approve or excuse sins because theirs 4. Or think it because they were not punisht for it 5. Or return to them again after a leaving them Doct. 1. Application Vse 1. Consider how to help the Church 3 Our own Though reforming or reformed N. B. 3. A holy example 4. An active endeavour of reformation Application Use 1. Consider how Reformation helps the Church Doct. 2. Grounded on Text Exemplified by Peter Doct. 2. Self-respects hinder most necessary duties The Jews neglecting the Temples building Confirmed by Reasons Reason 1. Selfe-love prevails in most Doct. 2. Taints all Reas. 2. Experience of backwardness profitable Reas. 3. Of forwardnesse hurtfull Reas. 4. Lazinesse and sensuality makes towards and negligent Reas. 5. So doth covetousnesse Doct. 2. Self-respects hinder most necessary duties Reason 6. Covetousness c. makes do work to halves Reason 7. Envie scorns to labour when others shall be thanked Doct. 2. Self-respects hinder most necessary duties Reason 8. Libertines spirits fear the Churches prosperity Reason 9. Earthly-mindednesse regards onely present and sensible thingâ— Doct. 3. Grounded on the Text Doct. 3. Self respecters not assured to escape Confirmed by Reason Reason 1. None can escape but by Gods leave Reason 2. Such provoke God more then ordinary sinners Doct. 3. Self respecters not sure to scape Observe this well Reason 3. Their base lusts deserve punishment at all times Doct. 3 Self-respecters not sure to scape Reason 4. Their fairest excuses are but sprouts of cursed unbelief Reason 5. None go under so strong a guard as in the Churches service Doct. 5. Though the Church be delivered another way Destruction owing to not helping the Church Grounded on Text Exemplified by the curse of Meroz And judgment on Succoth Penuel And Jabesh Gilead Explicated 1 1. 2 2. 3 3. 4 4. Doct. 5. Confirmed by Reasons Reason 1. Their sins not lestened by Gods grace or others faithfulnesse Reason 2. They are unprofitable servants Doct. 5. Destruction owing to not helping the Church Reason 3. They that forsook the Church in extremity are unworthy to rejoyce with her in prosperity Reason 4. Vnlesse converted they will betray again Reason 5. They will doe no faithfull service the while Reason 6. God jealousy will not beaâ—e with them Doct. 5. Destruction owing to not helping the Church Observe this well Reason 7. They sin for their children c. And corrupt them and are punisht in them Vse 1. Examinations how far we have helped the Church in her distresses or neglected it and why Application Vse 1. Examination about helping the Church 1. What outward help we have afforded Or doe yet resolve if need be or think much to think of 2. How we have prayed 3. What example we shewed Application Examinat Three sorts guilty 1 Professed Libertines 2 Scandalous Professors of Religion 3 The best in some degree give some â—â—l example Application Vâ—â— Examination what example we have shewed Mischiefs of it to the Church 1 It multiplies sins 2 Reproaches religion 3 Hardens self flatterers 3. What endeavour of reformation for the Churches help 1 Domesticall Application Examination Gen. 18 18. Josh. 24. 15. Psal. 101. Rom. 16. Col. 4. In reference to servants To children 2 By authoririty of friendship Application Vse 1. Examination What help to the Church by endeavouring to reform Levit. 19. 17. Josh 22. 3 By Ministers Publikely Privately Remember this 4 By Magistrates Application Vse 2. Humiliation for helping the Church so little Specially this being a main duty of the day And there being so much cause Application Vse 2. Humiliation for Nationall sins 1. For our Nations sins against the 1. CoÌ„mandment Idolatry Ignorance Atheisticall scorning of religion and all honesty Application Vse 2. Humiliation for sins against the 2. Com Against the 3. Commandm As also the monstrous prophanation of that sacred Ordinance of Excommunication made to lacquy for fees or persecute godliness Against the 4. Commandm Application Vse 2. Humiliation for Nationall sin Against the 5. Commandm Against the 6. Commandm Note this well Note this specially Against the 7. Commandm Against the 8. Commandm Application Vse 2. Humiliation for nationall sins Against the 9. Commandm Against all generally Lukewarmness of Laws Observe this well The discipline of the Church in ill hands Neglect of children and youth For great wrath manifested in Gods judgements in 10. considerations Application Use 2. 1 The judgment it self a devouring sword Esay 1. 20. 2 The kinde Civill war by drunkennesse Jer. 13.13 14. 3 Occasion the Militia hoped to be our setling 4 Sufficient means of prevention vain wise men confounded Esay 29. 14 Application Use 2. Humiliation for Gods heavie wrath 5 Example of others and our selves in others case blest with more wisdome and successe * Hos. 1. 6 7. Exod. 9. 10. 6 The ground of the quarrel Both protest for the same things Application Use 2. Suppose both side hypocrits Esay 10 5 6. Or one side 2 Sam. 15. 11. Or both sides meaning right 2 Chro. 20 23. 7 The time in civill respects when in hopes of setling Jer. 18. 9 10. 8 The
time in spiritual respects when we expected reformation and desired it Ezek. 24. 13 14 Application Use 2. Humiliation for Gods heavie wrath 9 Willingness to obey in helping Ireland refused Esay 31.3 10 Spirituall means to make our peace fruitlesse Prayer Psal. â—â— 4. Application Use 2. Fasting Jer. 14. 12. Some Reformation Jer. 5. 9. ReinforcemeÌ„t of our Humiliation Application Use2 Speciall application to the Parliament Application Vse 2. Speciall Application to the Parliament Application Use 2. Speciall application to the Parliament 1 Chro. 13. 15. 2 Sam 21. Application Use 2. Observe this specially Vse 3. Exhortation to help the Church by all wayes possible Application Use 3. Exhort to help the Church all wayes possible Speciall Exhortation to the ParliameÌ„t To help against sin 1 Banish Idolatry 2 Dispell ignorance Application Use 3. Exhort to help against sins 3 Conjure down the Atheistical Devill 4 Cure Superstition 5 Make all fear an Oath Application Use 3. Exhort to help against sins 6. Make a law for Preaching Application Use 3. Exhort to help against sins 7. Make Simony impossible 8. Make Clandestine marriages impossible Application Use 3. Exhort to help against sin Sundry particulars briefly mentioned 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. Application Use 3. Exhort to help the Church according to the late Covenant Relating specially to the Parliament Application Vse 3. Exhort to help the Church according to the late Covenant Relating to the Kingdom Speedily to consult with the Assembly for some remedy of Ignorance Improve the Assembly 1. By propounding all things to them that are the Churches grievances 2 By engaging the Ministers to keep to Gods word Application Exhort to help the Church by forwarding the Assembly 3 By a liberty of Petition to discusse any thing omitted Doct. 5. Who ever fails the Church Gods promised help fails not Grounded on Text Confirmed by Reason Doct. 5. Reason 1. Al Gods words are pure words Reason 2. He can create Deliverance by an Almighty power Reason 3. His love is not weakned by others failings Vse Enquiry after a promise for our Church in this Nation The question stated 1 Negatively 2 Positively Doct. 5 Application Enquiry after a promise for our Church in this Nation Answered partly Negatively No such promise as the Jews had Positively yet a sufficient promise at this time Grounds By example particular Doct. 5. Application Enquiry after a promise for our Church 3 No Church more severely dealt with then the word expresses 4 A reforming Church never wholly transplanted Doct. 5. Application Enquiry after a promise for our Church The grounds applied 1 We are a reforming Church in all parts of reformation 2 This laboured for for all the Nation 3 Striven for above 80. years 4 Enemies enmity against reformation specially Doct. 5. Application Enquiry for a promise for our Church 5 We have been his darling Church 6 God hath himself given the hopes Particularly by turning enemies plots against themselves 7. wayes Doct. 5. Applications Enquiry of a promise for our Church Answer 1 1. 2 2. Doct. 5. Application Enquiry after a promise for our Church 3 3. 4 4. Object 2. Answ 1 1. 2 2. Object 3. Answ 1 1. 2 2. Doct. 6. Doct. 6. Hopes that extraordinary Instruments shall be used to help the Church Grounded on the Text in Scripture phrase Confirmed by Reasons Reason 1. From Gods wisdome Though he cast aside warping Instruments sometimes Reas. 2. From Gods unchangeablenesse Greatly manifested in over-looking sundry failings Doct. 6. Hopes that extraordinary Instruments shall be used to help the Church Reason 3. To encourage such and others by them Reas. 4. The promises to the Churches helpers belong first to such Doct. 6. Reas. 5. No disappointment recorded but some cause assigned 1 Chro. 13. 15 Vse Encouragement to the Parliament to be faithfull to the Church 1 1. From what God hath already done for you 1 In your authority given Doct. 6. Application 2 Preserved 3 Your persons preserved 4 Speciall victories 5 Helps at a dead lift 6 Spirituall helps 7 Armies of prayers 8 Growth in zeal by all 2 From what God hath done by you always profpering effectuall meanes Doct. 6. Application Encouragement warning to the Parliament Therefore fear not enemies so as to comply with them But keep to the Protestation and Covenant Specially consult with them in any Treaty Doct. 6. Application Encouragement and warning to the Parliament Asking Gods consent about pardoning Delinquents Heb. 13.3 And helping those that are in prison for helping you the Church The victories under the old TestameÌ„t may make us confident of the like if we will be faithfull