19.14 ver 18. Elijah an holier man then thy selfe was mistaken in this point I even I onely am left Yet see the Lords answer I have left me seven thousand in Israel all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal c. Put forth therfore and try it there may be many more in the deck and nearer at hand then thou dreamest An. 2. Howsoever one man may do much 1. Iam. 5.16 ver 17. In his Person and that both spiritually and politiquely The effectuall fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much And example is given in the next verse Elias was a man subiect to like passions as we are and he prayed earnestly that it might not raine and it rained not on the Earth by the space of three yeares and six monthes And he prayed againe and the Heavens gave raine and the Earth brought forth her fruit Thus one man may pray a whole Kingdome both into faire weather and into foule into happinesse and out of it Num. 25.6 7 8. Phineas also was but one and yet what service did he for his Country in one act of Justice ver 1â— Saith God Phineas the sonne of Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the Priest hath turned away my wrath from the children of Israel while hee was iealous for my sake among them that I consumed not the children of Israel in my iealousie Thus one Orthodox Athanasius in former times stood it out against a whole world of Arrians and at last the streame was turned In a word all number doth consist of Vnites Vnitas fundamentum numeri and therefore if all should say after thee I am but one what would become of all greatest publike affaires Take all drops out of the Sea and the whole Ocean will be drained take away pence or farthings and there will be no pounds take unites away and there can be neither thousands nor hundreds 2. One man by Example may do very much Brethren 't is a great matter to breake the Ice I mean holily and loyally in a publike businesse 2 Sam. 23.11 Look upon that which is recorded concerning Shammah And after him was Shammah and the Philistines were gathered together into a troope where was a peece of ground full of Lentiles ver 12. And the people fled from the Philistines But he stood in the midst of the ground and defended it and slew the Philistines and the Lord wrought a great victory 'T is spoken in a military case but I doe apply it to a politike and civill Shammah as I conceive got not that victory by himselfe alone but rather by his valiant example so that the people which were before afraid of the Philistines did now seeing his valour take heart and turne againe In short see the Counter-counsell of honest Hushai 2 Sam. 17.14 c. how it brake the neck of Achitophell and of his policy And that exemplary valour of Jonathan and his Armour-bearer how did it open and lead the way to a very great victory against the Philistines The multitude melted away 1 Sa 14.13 14. ver 16. ver 20. and they went on beating downe one another And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves and they came to the battle and behold every mans sword was against his fellow Moreover the Hebrewes that were with the Philistines before that time which went up with them into the Camp from the Country round about even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan ver 21. Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in Mount Ephraim ver 22. when they heard that the Philistines fled even they also followed hard after them in the battell All this I alleadge only to shew how farre one or two private men may by their Active Example promote holily and loyally a publick great good work 3. A meane private person in his activenesse may expresse as much faithfullnesse and sincerity as the greatest and most prosperous Instrument in the Kingdome As we say concerning faithfullnesse in a mans particular calling that a poore Wench in the Kitchin walking conscionably in her place may serve the Lord as sincerely as a King upon his Throne So here a meane private person though a Mechanick or underling giving faithfull information of what he knows amisse may promote the great worke as heartily as the greatest good Instrument in Parliament Remember this and say not I am but one 2. OBIECTION But J am not of a publike spirit Answ 1. We must bring our spirits to the times and occasions under which we live This Objection was moved by Moses when the Lord called him to go to Pharaoh â—od 4.10 but it did not serve his turne O my Lord saith he J am not eloquent but I am slow of speech and of a slow tongue ver 11. See the Lords answer Who hath made mans mouth or who maketh the dumbe or dease or the seeing or the blind Have not I the Lord But Moses replyeth ô my Lord send I I pray thee by the hand of him whom thou wilt send See Gods answer againe ver 13. â—4 15 16 17 Is not Aaron the Levite thy Brother I know that he can speake well And thou shalt speake unto him and put words in his mouth and I will be with thy mouth and with his mouth and will teach you what ye shall doe And he shall be thy spokes-man unto the people In which words I find two answers more which I make my second and third Ans 2. The Lord can make thy spirit publique yea and he will doe so if thou wilt obey and try Now therfore goe and I will be with thy mouth â—er 12. and teach thee what thou shalt say So the Lord will quicken warme and enlarge thee Ans 3. God will raise up good seconds and fit consorts to draw with thee in the teeme as he did yoke Luther and Melancton in that great worke Like the Calidum and Humidum radicale the native heat and moysture in mans body which makes him vigorous and long-lived Ans 4. In a word there is no spirit so private but if imployed would make a knife or a whet-stone a shaft or a bolt Therfore stick not at this Objection 3. OBIECTION The want of one mans helpe can doe no great hurt Ans 1. Yes it may set back the scales If one vote in Parliament may carry a great work then the want of one elswhere may cause a great miscarriage Ans 2. The example of one mans dullnesse may draw many the same way because 't is down the hill Ans 3. Thou dost to thine uttermost for thy particular even hinder the whole worke for if it prosper no thanke to thee but if it sinck thou mayest be the sole cause 4. OBIECTION But I am a woman a weaker vessell and perhaps under covert barne and then what can I doe Answ I conceive that even those weaker vessels may now doe service yea double service 1. Immediately by and from themselves by their owne parts and purses if they are free from husbands Examples of the acts of that Sex even this way Iud 5. we find not a few in Scripture What is there recorded of Deborah and Iael in one Chapter But ye must know that such acts of their must not be imitated without like calling and warrant extraordinary Look also upon her of Tecoah what a strange thing did she effect for Absolom But above all these 2 Sam. 14. the wisdome of that woman of the City Abell is a famous example 2 Sam. 20. v. 16. to â—â— honour and encouragement to all her Sex She tooke off the head of Sheba and saved the whole City by her Prudence More testimonies might be brought but these are enough to prove that even the weaker vessels may doe much towards the publike great worke immediately 2. But perhaps they may do much more mediately and by others Perchance thou hast an Husband Father Brother or Sonne that is somewhat over-wary timerous Gen. 2 1â— 1 Sam. â—â— 37. slack or unactive then remember that thou wast given to be a meet helper It will be thy duty in such a case and time as this with thy choisest wisdome and humility to doe the office of a submissive Remembrancer in due place manner and season Yea thou art called to such a service Not only Abigail that had a Nabal did reason with him in a fit time and place concerning that which he had said to Davids servants But even the wife of Manoah it seems they were a godly paire she doth wisely support and quicken by her reasoning the timerous spirit of her husband in another case 〈◊〉 13.22 23 n. 4. â— 10 c. Also that good and great woman the Shunamite she did in love provoke her aged and indifferent husband in the behalfe of Elisha to entertaine him and prevailed with him to the great advantage of her Family In the last place therefore let us stirre up as many of this Sex as shall have opportunity to cast in their mite in-to the happy treasury of Hope they have souls too and children with precious souls to look after The good Lord give us understandings and hearts proportionable to the worke and to our hopes FINIS
as the wise man saith in another sence The tender mercies of the wicked are cruell that is when men will be so charitable to persons that they become cruell to Reformation and Justice Thus I cannot be so Vncharitable Nor can I be so Blind as to thinke that Popery was not their maine designe and desire Brethren will ye shall we believe our owne eyes and eares in the businesse then consider what things we have or might have seen this way to confirme us What Popish Discourses Pamphlets Sermons and Practises have passed the Presse and Pulpit with licence In short consider with your selves but these two particulars 1. In Doctrine what Innovations directly contrary to the Ancient Venerable Protestant Truthes Take a sip or two First the Pope wont to be Antichrist but now our new Preachers and Printers will tell us that 't is no such matter No now if we will have an Anti-christ we must goe seek him amongst Jewes and Mahumetans Againe the Church of Rome was wont amongst Protestants to be accounted the Scarlet-Whore and mysticall Babylon but now marriage hath made her honest and she is become in a sence a true Church What shall I speake of published Popery in points of Justification Free-will Merit Sacraments c. yea by some Innovatours both the name and parts of the Masse are received 2. So in Worship what grossnesse of late about Altars Priests and Sacrifice in a sence what Images Pictures Duckings Basins Candle-sticks and the like Brethren what shall I say I should tire your patience my selfe the time to follow these wilely and wicked chased Foxes but my comfort is that I doe speake to them which are Christians Protestants reasonable living Creatures which have eyes and ears of their own to reade and heare and these may informe you sufficiently of this truth But for brevities sake if any desire to see more I shall direct him to these two helps for satisfaction 1. First the severall Petitions Charges Accusations Articles put into the Parliament against the severall Innovators 2. And next the Censures of them for the same as they have bin and shall be found guilty Ob. But suppose some few of the Innovators did drive at flat Popery yet we cannot but thinke that many others of them had not so grosse an ayme Sol. There was no good trusting of them He that will lye will steale we say and he that will steale a pinne will much more steale a pound Suppose some of the hindmost hunters did not so clearly see the game suppose some of the lower and lesser wheeles of the frame did not aime at the flat full and grosse lumpe of Popery perhaps that was too big for some of their consciences to swallow it whole at first but suppose that the lump had bin divided into bits morsels and pils which should have bin sized to their severall throats then I doubt much whither they would have stuck to take it downe Nay we know that they had generally let down many morsels already and 't is harder to resist the degrees then it was to with-stand the beginnings of Idolatry Therfore I cannot be so Blind as to think they Would not 3. Finally neither can I be so Vndutifull as to thinke it Vndutifull to that High and Honourable Assembly Doth not this Blessed Parliament know as well as we what was the ayme of that Innovating faction and they tell us in their Preamble to the Protestation of late bold frequent designes practised to undermine the true reformed Protestant Religion Also that divers Innovations and Superstitions have been brought into the Church And in another late Declaration they doe order to abolish and take away Crucifixes scandalous Pictures Images of the Virgine c. and divers other Innovations in or about the worship of God These and the like Declarations and Orders of theirs I cannot but in duty believe and subscribe unto them as arguments convincing us of the truth of this point in hand so that I shall now conclude this whole Discourse with those words of the Apostle If any man be ignorant let him be ignorant 1 Cor. 14.38 So much touching Prevention of Warrs Treasons Tyranny Popery That was the third Branch and the last of those which we gathered by looking upon the evils felt or feared The following Branches of our Deliverance did arise from the Consideration of that Good which we now have and hope for And so The fourth Head of this mercifull Deliverance is CONTINUANCE I meane an intire Continuance of all that good which we did enjoy but were upon the very nick of loosing it We say in our common Proverbe That a penny well saved is so much gotten and is it not so in mercies A mercy continued is as much as if it were new given us We say of Gods providence that Sustentutio est quasi continua creatio The Lords preservation of his creatures is as it were a new creation of them daily Now Brethren how many mercies have we yet still continued unto us which we did give over for a few months since for lost and desperate as to give an instance or two 1. First concerning our painfull and conscientious Ministers How much mony think we might have bin collected in England throughout all Congregations about a yeare and quarter since to have bought the certain Continuance of all godly Pastours amongst their people but till now doubtlesse there would much more have bin given then hath bin paid for Subsidies and Pole-mony since the beginning of this Parliament and yet how whinching were many in those payments And how few do consider this to be so great a favour O remember and go home musing upon this gracious Continuance Think with your selves and say to your friends and children O what invaluable goodnesse is this that the voyce of the Turtle instead of the shreeking of Zim Ohim is yet heard in our Land the Bels of Aaron and not the Hawksbels doe still ring in our cares Blessing and praise be to the Lord who alone doth wondrous things Ps 136. v. 4. Brethren I would have you that are hearers to look upon all your conscientious Ministers those which you think nor could nor would have taken that oath as upon men raised up from the dead and come out of their graves again and therfore me thinks you should hearken to them with fresh and double attention You know what Dives said to Abraham in the Parable Luk. 16.30 Nay father Abraham but if one went unto my Brethren from the dead they will repent Let us not be worse then Dives his Brethren but let us look upon and hearken to all such Ministers as Messengers twise given us sent from the dead and as preaching rather out of Coffins then Pulpits But here is a main cause of our generall insensiblenes of this mercy because our Shepheards were not utterly actually and locally removed and gon from us therfore we can scarce believe and conceive that they
our fâ—ees to our feet Yea let us thus goe up seven times 〈◊〉 seven times a day and perhaps even our pray 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 may raise that cloud whose drops may refresh and make glad the City of God Thus there must be 1. Supplications 2. Prayers 3. Intercessions made for Kings c. but we must adde 4. Thanksgivings too These are a meanes to water all the former three branches and to cause them to grow and speed the better The Lord takes prayses for an honour Whoso offereth me thanks and praise he honoureth me Psal 50 〈…〉 1 â—â—m 2 v. 30. and those that honour him he will honour them againe But I have spoken of this particular before So much concerning the sorts of Prayer 2. The scope and matter both to be contained in those prayers of ours for them viz. 1. Godlinesse with Quietnesse Bonum spirituale c. 2. Honesty in Peace Bonum Politicum Civile 1. Bonum spirituale Ecclesiasticum Quietnesse with Godlinesse Follow peace with all men and Holinesse Heb. 12. v. 14. without which no man shall see the Lord. We must so follow peace as we may keep our selves in sight and within the limits of holinesse but no farther and sofarre we must follow it in the first place This must stand in the front of our prayers Pray for Kings first c. that they may be instruments of spirituall good unto us Religion is the very soule of our soules that one thing absolutely necessary and therefore the promotion and promoters of this doe both need and deserve the prime of our supplications And in the next place Honesty i. publique private politique morall honesty is to be remembred and furthered by our fervent and sensible petitions The sword of Civill justice doth guard our Religion as that flaming sword did keep the Tree of life in Paradise Gen. 3 v. 24. And he placed at the East of the garden of Eden Cherubins and a flaming sword which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life This office of the Parliamentary Cherubins must in the second place be promoted by our prayers So much touching Generall Lessons and Directions But by this time me thinks I see and heare diverse particular rankes of people flocking to me and enquiring of me Luk. 3. v. 10. veâ— 12.14 as the People the Publicanes and the Souldiers did of Iohn Baptist what shall we doe that is what speciall Lessons can you give us what distinct taskes can you set us that so each person may be holily and loyally active for the furtherance of the great good worke in these times of publique hope and hazard Brethren I shall endeavour as the Baptist did to give every one his portion and that streame of exhortation which hitherto I have carried in a common and generall Channell I shall now sluce out into diverse lesser and particular rivelets that so all ranks of persons may be watered and made fruitfull And 1. Let me have leave to speake to Magistrates I beseech all those which are in authority and office to heare me a few words patiently I would not presume to teach or prescribe any thing in your spheares above mine owne neither doe I peremptorily taxe you of any speciall default or transgression My full purpose and desire is so to carry my selfe in this Exhortation to you as young Timothy is licensed by Saint Paul to carry himselfe towards those Brethren 1 Tim 4.6 If thou put the Brethren in remembrance of these things thou shalt be a good Minister of Iesus Christ nourished up in the words of Faith and of good Doctrine So there is something of which to put you in remembrance I conceive it my duty The summe in short is this That all Magistrates and Officers in this place and elsewhere wauld be pleased to Countenance Promote and Second all Parliamentary Edicts and proceedings Brethren ye are unto the Common people at this time â—n respect of the Parliament as those spyes sent to Canaan were to the Congregation of Israel your relations and speeches may bring up either an evill or a good report upon that great Councell and their proceedings 〈◊〉 14 2. 6 7 8 9. You know how some of the spyes did cause a murmuring against Moses and Aaron whereas Caleb and â—oshuah because they had another Spirit and followed the Lord fully did endeavour to appease and satisfie them and for this faithfulnesse they had a great reward 〈…〉 2. In this Exhortation I doe not accuse you of negligence but rather doe commend all your former diligence herein Qui monet ut sacias c. He that exhorteth to a duty done already his exhortation is no lesse then a commendation And this I adde that ye cannot lightly be too zealous in this point O what a goodly sight is it Brethren when the Mountaines doe bring peace and the little hills righteousnesse unto the people Ps 7 2.3 The words are found in the old translation the hymne is intituled A Psalme for Solomon That is when David the sweet singer of Israel had resigned his Kingdome to his sonne Solomon and was going out of the world then Swan-like he warbled forth that Prophesy of Christ and direction of Solomon for governement Oh that all our Governours would thus obey it Now the Mountaines above those supreme highest Mountaines are bringing forth peace to the people what a blessed sight would it be now to see the little hills the subordinate hillocks of authority in every County City Parish to beare their severall extraordinary crops of Righteousnesse also Am. 5.24 To see judgement runne downe as water and righteousnesse as a mighty streame Nay Ps 133 2. to see it runne down like Aarons oyntment which being powred on the head ranne downe upon the beard and from thence to the very skirts of his garment But remember I said 1. Countenance 2. Promote 3. And Second I shall speake a word severally of each for your more cleere and full information 1. Countenance all Parliamentary edicts and proceedings True it is that that supreme Court of the Kingdome doth nor need nor feare in respect of it selfe the best or worst that all subordinate Officers or Authority can doe concerning it no 't is as farre above their reach as the Sunne in the Firmament is above all the Meteors here below but yet in respect of the lower region of people the Common multitude as I said so Magistrates and men in Office here may either cloud and blacken this sunne by their discountenancing or cleere and strengthen its beames by their well reporting of those proceedings to the vulgar As we said before concerning the spyes sent to Canaan some of them disgraced the land flowing with milke and honey Ye Magistrates and men in great places are betwixt people and Parliament as the Medium betwixt the eye and the object or as the glasse through which a man lookes out and beholds
the Heavens according to the colour of the â—lâ—ss so doth the Heaven seeme to be coloured Your judgements affections countenances touching that Court doe give aime and copies to them all both for their opinions speeches actions Therfore let it be your care to Countenance 2. Next Promote Parliamentary edicts and proceedings That is put on publish prosecute and execute all such new Edicts Orders and Commands especially touching Reformation as are sent and issued from them To instance there is a Vow or Protestation commended unto us by their practice and approbation there is An Order for the due observing of the Sabbath c. Now the promotion of all those and the like doe lye upon your charge and consciences in the first place and the neglect of them amongst us when once granted to you will be required at your hands Ye are our Civill watchmen see your duty Ezok. 33. each of you according to his place is our Moses to take the Lawes at their mouth and to declare them unto us that we may heare and doe them This is one weighty duty 3. Next Second them That is whilst they doe endeavour above to set right the great body of the Kingdome ye should labour here below to reforme your petty and particular Jurisdictions this would be no little furtherance to that great worke As petty brooks doe make up a River and many Rivers fill a Sea so Family-reformations make up Parishionall and all Parishionall ones doe fill up a Nationall and Vniversall 'T is a Proverb as true as ancient The way to have a cleane street is for every one to sweepe his owne doore So let the Magistrates and Officers in every County City Corporation Parish now sweepe their own severall Jurisdictions and then the great publike work of Nationall clensing will more easily succeed So much to Magistrates 2. Partiular Lesson may be to Ministers Brethren I confesse my selfe one of the last and least of all your Tribe but yet so cleere and necessary is this lesson that the meanest Embassador may nay must presse it upon us at this time suffer therefore the word of exhortation Now or never is the nick of time in which we ought to play the trumpeters Ezek. 33.3 c. to stirre and call men up to the helpe of the Lord in this great worke who knowes but that that God which did throw downe flat the walls of Jericho by the trumpets though meane ones of seven Priests going before the Arke I say Josh 6.20 who knowes but he may also be pleased to doe great things now by our poore service therefore let us up and be doing and if we doe need spurres in our sides because the way seems somewhat cragged let us consider these two or three Motives First looke we upon the eminent examples of our most ancient and famous Scripture-Predecessors in like times and cases I meane let us turne over the Histories of Deliverances and Reformations in Judah and there we shall find that their Prophets Priests and Levites were some of the greatest and most active instruments in both they were as it were the holy bellowes to blow up the refiners fire Let us take an instance or two to kindle us First in that Deliverance and Reformation in the beginning of young King Jehoash his raigne 2 Kin. 11. There good Jehojada the high Priest being thereunto called is the very primum mobile ver 4 5 c. the founder and finisher of that great worke yea that tripartite Nationall Covenant to which the Lord the King and the people were parties was contrived and perfected by his meanes 2 Chr. 29.3 So secondly in King Hezekiahs Reformation as the first thing that he beginneth withall is the Temple so the first persons that we find him consulting with ver 4. ver 5. they are the Priests and Levites He brought in the Priests and Levites and gathered them together into the East-street and said unto them Heare ye me ye Levites sanctifie now your selves c. Yea and for furthering that Covenant which he made these must be the cheefe men in the businesse ver 10. ver 11. Now it is in mine heart saith he to make a Covenant with the Lord God of Israel My sonnes be not now negligent for the Lord hath chosen you to stand before him to serve and that ye should minister unto him and burne incense 'T is no meane honour Brethren to be made some of the prime and immediate Ministers of the Lord in such great workes and yet alas I speake it to mine griefe and to the generall shame of our Tribe who more backward to set on Deliverance and Reformation now then are many of us The Protestation the Declaration for abolishing of Images c. how slowly how faintly are they executed Yea and the more dully I beleeve in many places because the execution of them partly depends upon the Minister Let all the true Embasâ—adours of Christ think upon this and be kindled 2. Another Motive may be this Our very Callings doe presse us hereunto Ezek. 33.2 c y Sam. 9.9 Isa 58.1 We are said to be Watchmen we are Seers yea we are called trumpeters as before and what is meant by all these but that it is our duty to descry publike evills and dangers to discover opportunities of good and so to call men off from the one and onward to the other 3. Thirdly this is a meanes both to settle and prosper us all in our functions and to entaile them and a blessing upon our posterities See how the Tribe of Levi came by their Ministeriall prerogative Exod. 33. When Aaron and the people had made a Calse for this great sinne justice must be executed ver 26. and Moses calleth for it Then Moses stood in the gate of the Camp and said who is on the Lords side let him come unto me And all the sonnes of Levi gathered themselves together unto him Being called they doe promote justice Hereupon see what a Reward and Blessing followed ver 27 28. Num. 3.5 6. First a Reward And the Lord spake unto Moses saying Bring the Tribe of Levi neere and present them before Aaron the Priest that they may minister unto him Deuâ— 33.8 Secondly a Blessing And of Levi he said let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one ver 9 whom thou didst prove at Massah c. Who said unto his Father and to his Mother I have not seene him neither did he acknowledge his brethren nor knew his owne children c. They shall teach Jacob thy Judgements ver 10. ver 11. and Israel thy Law they shall put incense before thee and whole burnt Sacrifice upon thine Altar Blesse Lord his substance and accept the worke of his hands smite thorow the loynes of them that rise against him and of them that hate him that they rise not againe There is a blessing with a witnesse See