mens gifts or their great and glorious effects but in Gods account q Luk. 16. 10 hee that is faithfull in that which is least is faithfull in much and r 2 Cor. 8. 12 if there be first a willing minde it is accepted according to that which a man hath and not according to that he hath not The Lord in his sacrifices accepted as well Å¿ Leu. 1. 2 14 5. 7. doues and pigeons from poore men as goats or bullocks from the rich likewise in the offerings for the tabernacle as well t Exo. 25. 3 4. brasse as gold and siluer and goats haire as wel as purple and scarlet Yea search the Scriptures and to your comfort you shall finde the u Luk. 21. 2. 3. poore widowes two mites morâ— in Christs acceptation then all the abundance of the rich and the w 2 Reg. 5. 10 c. words of Naamans seruants greater in operation then the words of that great Prophet Elisha And as Salomon speakes of x Eccl. 9. 14. 15. one poore man by his wisedome deliuering a citty beseiged by a great King so wee y 2 Sam. 20. 16 c. reade of one wise woman by her gratious words to preuaile against desperate Ioab for preseruation of another citty Arist Your mention of women mindes vs of one obiection more wherby some with great indignation would stop all womens mouthes from teaching admonishing Saith not S. Paul say they z 1 Tim. 2. 11 12. Let the woman learne in silence with all subiection And againe I suffer not a woman to teach or to vsurpe authority ouer the man but to learne in silence Arch. Such men are as good disciples of S. Paul as a Ioh. 9. 28 29. the Pharises were of Moses whom they alleaged and magnified not for any faith or credit they gaue him but to couer their malice in vilifying the Lord Iesus For if S. Pauls meaning should be as they vrge that no women might teach in priuate he should be contrary to himselfe and the Scriptures But plainly else where doth he expound himselfe Saying b 1 Cor. 14. 34. let your women keep silence in the churches And as for womens teaching in priuate were they not willfully blinde on that side they might see the same c Tit. 2. 1. 4. Apostle charging Titus to teach it as found doctrine that the aged women should teach the younger women c. Is it not also registred to the commendation of Salomons d Pro. 31. 1 c mother how what she taught him Yea and to womens praise the Scriptures witnesse that they haue taught what inferiors or equals onely nay as neede required they haue giuen a word of exhortation to their superiors and that not onely in the family as e 2 Reg. 4. 9 c. the Shunamite did to her husband but also in the Church and common-wealth as f Act. 18. 26. Priscilla did to Apollos a preacher and g 1 Sam. 25. 24 c. Abigail to Dauid the Lords annointed For sometimes h Gen. 21. 9 c. Sarah the weaker vessel may hold staunch when Abraham may faile and then what must Abraham doe In this case Abraham himselfe though Sarahs Lord is i Vers 12. commanded by God to hearken to Sarahs voice in all that she tolde him wherefore although the world set this as a brand of iust reproach vpon k 1 Tim. 5. 11 12 13. wanton idle and light huswifes that they are tatlers and busy-bodies yet when God sets forth the l Pro. 31. 10 price of a vertuous woman one of her excellencies whereby she is valued far aboue Rubies is this that m Vers 26. she openeth her mouth with wisedome c. and who is he then that should dare to shut it Arist You haue so fully satisfied vs in your first rule of direction that laying aside all blinde excuses and friuolous pretences we shall henceforth gird vp the loynes of our mindes and be more ready to this good worke of edifying whereunto the Lord stirre vp all whom hee hath sanctified and made meete for this his seruice be they male or female Helpe vs onward therefore wee pray with your further directions Arch. The second rule of direction is to take heed to that of the Apostle n 1 Pet. 4. 17 if any man speake let him speake as the oracles of God For it is o Act 20. 32. the word of Gods grace that is able as a fit toole or instrument to build vp new men as S. Paul saith being compared sometime to a p Ier. 23. 29. hammer sometimes to an q Mat. 3. 10. axe sometimes to a r Esa 28. 10. line and some times to a Å¿ Gal. 6. 16. rule This is that wee are called to looke vnto t Esa 8. 20. to the law and to the testimony which must be carefully heeded as v Verse 16. bound vp and sealed among the Lords Disciples though cast aside of all others and if men speake not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Wherefore it is not humane Philosophy morality or politie though accommodated with History and adorned with Poetry not the edicts and statutes of Kings and Parliaments â—o nor the decretals and Canons of Popes and Councels that are fit and complete instruments for the edifying of soules either for conuerting or peruerting them For this is a speciall prerogatiue that God hath reserued to his Law and holy Scriptures aboue all the glorious workes of his owne hands according as it is written w Psal 19 7. The Law of God is perfect conuerting the soule and x 2 Tim. 3. 15. 17 the holy Scriptures are able to make the man of God perfect and wise vnto saluation For this cause the Scriptures beare the title of y Pro. 8. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chiefetaines or Leaders and of z Eccl. 12. 11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lords of collections as the Hebrew words import because they are as Leaders and Lords paramount aboue all other words and writings of men that euer were collected into volumes which are not onely to bee made subordinate vnto them but no otherwise to be admitted for vse then as attendants and seruants vnto them And this preheminence is to be giuen to the holy Scriptures first in regard of their discent a 2 Tim. 3. 16. being all giuen by inspiration of God and b 2 Pet. 1. 21 holy men of God speaking therein as they were moued by the holy Ghost secondly in respect of their authority they being authentique of themselues and teaching c Mat. 5. 21. Mark 7. 14. like Christ of their owne inbred authority all others teaching by commission and authority from them and thirdly in regard of their vse and extent being d Psal 19. 7 perfect and e Psal 1â—9 96. exceeding large as well for
right scope for his eye sight to glorifie God and edifie their brethren will looke with a cleere and temperate eye both to the fault and to the offender so that nâ—ither his compassion to the person shall sâ—ake his zeale against the sinne nor â—is zeale against the sinne shut vp his compassion from the person but hee will learne of Christ to b Mark 3. 5. looke angerly and mourne too for the hardnesse of mens hearts in great offences Finally some sinnes are priuate and more secret these as our b Mat. 18. â—5 Sauiour teacheth must bee reproued priuately and more secretly some are publique and before all these are to bee c 1 Tim 5. 20 rebuked before all that others also may feare as d Mat. 16. 23 Christ and e Gal. 2. 14. S. Paul reproued S. Peter and S Augustine Hierome Chrysostome Ansâ—lme Caluin Aquinas and others doe proue ouâ— of â— Tim 5. 20. and Gal. 2. 15. For as he is a defamer and betrayer of his brethren as sâ—me of those Fathers â—â—en say rather then a reprouer and a corrector that insteed of priuate rebuke blabbeth abroad vnnecâ—â—sarily or openly reproueth his neighbours secret or priuate faults so when S. Augustine saith a publique scandall needeth a publique remedy and cannot be cured priuately as S. Ierome saith let mee for the loue of our heauenly Father intreate men to consider whether it bee not a betraying of Gods name and honour which is f Eze. 20. 39 polluted and g Rom. 2. 24 blasphemed by publique hainous offences to wrap vp all with a priuy check or reproofe in secret Aqu. But say men discretion would that wee should first deale priuately with publique sinners for feare of exasperating them and making them worse especially if they be great men in respect of their credits and auoyding scandall and to this purpose many vrge vpon mens consciences that rule of our Sauiour tell him his fault betweene thee and him alone So did many vnder faire pretence vrge circumcision in the Apostles times but what out of conscience of Gods command No but out of a h Gal. 6. 12. desire they had to make a faire shew in the flesh onely lest they should suffer persecution for the crosse of Christ I speake not this to accuse or shame any of my brethren but as my beloued I beseech them to be warned that when they speake for directing and pressing mens consciences they speake i 1 Pet. 4. 1â— as the oracles of God as S. Peter saith and not out of the wisedome of the desh which is as k Rom. 8. 6. damnaâ—le to men as l Vers 7. opposite to God and his Law that they may haue where-with to answere the m Reu. 12. 9. 10. accuser of our brethren the diuel I meane when in the euill day he may heauily lay these things to their charge And when S. Paul professeth that n Gal. 1. 10. if he did yet please men he should not be the seruant of Christ iudge in your selues I pray whither that discretion they talke of could be so well pleasing vnto men o 1 Cor. 2. 14 naturall men I meane to whom the things of the spirit of God are foolishnesse if it well serued the Lords turne to stayne the pride of flesh that the p Esa 2. 17. loftinesse of man might be depressed and the haughtinesse of man abased and the Lord onely exalted Nay when Christ himselfe tels his disciples Woe be vnto you when all men speake well of you for so did their Fathers to the false Prophets and when God chargeth his Prophets r Ier. 1. 17 to speake all that he commands Å¿ Eze. 2. 7. whither men will heare or whither they will forbeare that is whither they will be the better or worse and not to be dismayed of mens faces lest he confound them were not this a goodly discretioâ— to winne mens applause with Christs curse cleaning to it and to f Mat. 10. 28 feare them which kill the body and not him which is able to destroy both body and soule in hell Secondly concerning the words of Christ which they make their shelter the meaning of them being restrayned to secret offences they will finde that couering too narrow to wrap themselues in For it being the same Lord as S. Augustine well obserueth that saith by S. Paul u 1 Tim. 5. 20. them that sinne rebuke before all that out of his owne mouth saith w Mat. 18. 15 tell him his fault betweene thee and him alone God forbid that our construction should make discorde betweene the words of the Prince of peace seeing x Pro. 6. 16 19. he is an abhomination to God that soweth discorde among brethren Wherefore as there was a time when the Lord himselfe sayd y Gen. 17. 11 euery man-childe whose flesh of his foreskinne is not circumcised the same soule shall be cut off from his people and a time when the z Heb. 10. 1. very image or substance of things shadowed being come the Lord saith by S. Paul â— if ye be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing so heere distinguish the times saith S. Augustine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 mini in Mat. 18. 〈◊〉 26 and the Scripture is at concord Some sinnes saith â—e are committed before all they are to be reproued before all and those are to be reproued more secretly that are more secretly committed The same distinctioÌ„ puts Mr. Caluin auouching Calum â—â—st lib. 4. c. 12. s 3 that Christ speakes of secret offences and S. Paul of publique and saith that those words of Christ if thy brother sinne against thee cannot otherwise be vnderstoode vnles thou wilt be a Cauiller then in thy knowledge so that others be not priuy thereto Thirdly touching the pretence of scandall they are quite besides the Cushion as S. Chrysostome Chrysost in 1 Tim. 5. 20 auoucheth for as he well saith men are rather scandalized if being not ignorant of the sinnes they see no grieuance inflicted For as impunity in sinning makes many delinquents so if sinnes be punished many addict themselues to vertue Therefore rebuke saith he not perfunctorily or for fashion as wee say but seuerely for so also others will feare And this reason S. Ierome yeeldeth why Hier. in Gal. 2. 14 S. Paul reproued S. Peter before all because a publique scandall cannot be cured priuately And as Anselme saith if S. Paul Ansel in Gal. 2. 14. should haue said those things to S. Peter alone the Iewes and gentiles had lost the benefit of his reproofe therefore before all he spake that he might profit all Fourthly concerning the credit of men and especially of great ones as S. Iames chargeth vs a Iam. 2. 1. not to haue the faith of our Lord Iesus Christ the Lord of glory with respect of persons so S. Paul to remoue all personall respects from hindering publique reproofe which he had
of edifying especially will proue be other to him that is a great waster Heerein albeit some may say of me as of the Prophet t Eze. 20. 39 Doth he not speake parables Yet this I aâ—de that our soules may weepe in secret places to fore-thinke how wee prâ—fessors euen euery one of vs that hath v Reu. 2. 4. 5 left his first loue and zeale in whetting vp each other to loue and good workes vnlesse wee remember from whence wee are fallen and repent will be found among those great wasters and night-walkers that prouoke and hasten God to remoue our candlesticke out of his place and to lay waste his goodly vineyard amongst vs. Wherefore w for Sions sake hold not your peace and for Ierusalems sake rest not till the righteousnesse thereof goe forth as brightnesse and the saluation thereof as a lampe that burneth For he must x loue Ierusalem whosoeuer he be that loues to prosper and as in word wee pray Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy pallaces so not onely for our brethren and companions sake but chiefly because of the house of the Lord our God wee must indeede and in truth seeke her good And there being not y 1 Cor. 12. 3. cap. 13 14. a more excellent way to be shewed for this then by charity to speake to the edifying each of other I say to euery one that loueth and prayeth for the peace of Ierusalem as z Ezr. 10. 4. Shecaniah said to Ezra Arise for this matter belongeth vnto thee wee also will be with thee as many as loue Sion be of good courage and doe it And if therein thou râ—ceiue any helpe from this treatise following remember the vnworthy Authour when thou art in thy feruent prayers that vtterance may be giuen vnto him with the tongue of the learned to speake forth the words of truth and sobernesse as he oughâ— to speake Farewell A DIALOGVE Prouing and enforcing the necessary vse of mutuall exhortation and the orderly performance thereof Archippus a Minister Aristarchus Aquila two priuatmen Aristarchus NEighbour Aquila as I wish you may prosper euen as your soule prospereth so I cannot but aske what meaneâ— those cheekes of yours so bedewed with teares Aquila Alas brother is not this the time euen of Iacobs trouble you heare how great the affliction of Ioseph is abroad and you know the reproach that lyeth on vs at home and how inâ—quity getting the vppeâ— hand doth with a Esay 48. 4. the iron sinew brow of brasse so out-face beare down the b Heb. 13. 22 word of exhortation thaâ— now as in the Prophet Hoâ— sea his time c Hos 4. 4. no man may striue nor reproue an other for this people are as theâ— that striue with the Priest yea they d 〈◊〉 5. 10. hate him thaâ— rebuketh in the gate anâ— abhorre him that speaketh vprightly Hauing therefore so great cause to feare that e Amos 8. 10. the end hereof may be as a bitter day euen the f Hos 4. 5. destruction of our Mother as the Prophet speaks is it not better to weepe in Sion for keeping out of Babel then in sitting downe by Babels riuers to weepe for Sion Arist I confesse that as this is a g Esa 22. 1â— day wherein the Lord God of hoast cals to weeping and mourning and wherein hee that h Psal 122. 6. 9. loueth Sion and seekes her good should with good i Neh. 1. 4. Nehemiah and k Psal 109. 136. Dauid weepe and mourne so if men will not bee l Amos 6. 6. grieued for the affliction of Ioseph nor m Eze. 9. 4. mourne for the abhominations of Ierusalem the Scripture marketh them out as with a blacke cole or a n Amos 7. 8. plumbe-line for o Amos 6. 7. slauery or for p Eze. 9. 5. 6. the slaughter But shall tel you how in this very day they that loue to play the good fellowes saying q 1 Cor. 15. 32. lot vs eate and drinke for tomorrow wee dye talke of vs r Esa 61. 3. mourners in Sion Oh say they let them according to the Scriptures s Iam. 4. 8. cleanse their hands and purge their hearts as well as mourn weepe and so t Iool 2. 13. turne to the Lord as well as rent theit hearts else what is all their mourning better then v Heb. 12. 17 Esaus blubbering or their hearts-renting then vv Mat. 27. 3 Iudas his repenting Let x Luke 4. 23 the Physitians therfore heale themselues say they and let them y Mat. 3. 8. bring forth fruits worthy of repentance in dealing their bread to the hungry and couering the naked c. or else the z Esa 58. 5. 6 7 Prophet tels them that all this afflicting of their soules for a day with their heads bowed downe like bul-rushes and sackecloath and ashes spred vnder them euen all their fasting and mourning is as plaine a mockery as our merriment and fast-eating Aqu. Though a Pro. 26. 18 19 mad men make sport in casting firebrands and arrowes and death and the b Psal 11. 2. vpright in heart be the speciall marke such mad fooles priuily shoote at out of the very c Esa 26. 11 enuy they haue against Gods people whereof they shall one day be ashamed yet this reproach stickes as a d Psal 42. 10 sword in my bones and it may e Psal 69. 20 breake our hearts to thinke how many of vs that are large in shewes of humiliation are too strait laced in workes of mercy and f 2 Sam. 12. 14 giue great occasion to the enemies of the Lord thus to blaspheme Arist And for my own part when I consider what g Hos 10. 1. empty vines many professors are in these respects and how much fruit they beare to themselues as the Prophet speakes and how according to the goodnesse of our Land they make goodly idols of backe and belly of purchases and buildings whereunto they sacrifice the first fruits the fat and bloud of all their substance and increase in excessiue superfluities when in the meane time the Lord Jesus to whose h Proâ— 3. 9. honour these should be dedicated in more i Heb. 13. 10 pleasing sacrifices is suffered to lye in his poore members harbourlesse here hungry and there naked yea sicke and imprisoned and yet vnfrequented and vnuisited when I thinke on these things I say my k Hab. 3. â— belly trembleth to conceiue how speechlesse many a professor will be found in that great day of reckoning when l Math. 25. 35 account wil be exacted of these very particulars Aqu. The Lord therfore graunt that in the meane time the reproches of those that m Ier. 20. 1â— watch for our haltings may serue vs as n Tit. 1. 13. cutting rebukes to make vs sound in the Faith the o
our vse is to be limitted according to the same For z Mat. 12. 30 hee that is not with Christ the great Counseller of his Church is against him And therefore whatsoeuer the subtill serpent or the world or thy owne carnall wisedome by peeping and muttering shall say against it remember I praâ— that they are all dead in sinnes and trespasses and hearken to the liuing GOD that saith Should not a people a people that hath tâ—e a Esa 8. 16. tâ—sâ—imony bound and the laâ— sealed among them as the Lords Dâ—sciplâ—s should n 〈…〉 such a people b Vers 19. 2â— seeke vnto their God from the liuing to the dead To the law anâ— to the 〈…〉 imony if they speâ—ke not according to this Word it is because there is no light in them Ah my brethren why should any Disciple be here so amazed as tâ— say c Iohn â— 60 This is a hard saying who can beare it Why should any cry out of d Psal 2 3. bands cords like those e Luk. 19. â— enemies that would not haue Christ to raigne ouer them Aâ—aâ— why should the f Pet 2. â— chieâ—â— corner stâ—â—â— elâ—c◠〈…〉 bee â—adâ— a 〈…〉 bliâ—g that stuâ—blâ— at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being 〈…〉 unto a 〈…〉 〈◊〉 g Esa 30. 1. 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 〈…〉 ous childâ—e◠〈◊〉 saith the Lord that take counsell but not of me h Verâ— 8. c gâ—e now write it before them in a table and note it in a booke that it may be for the â—ime to come for euer and euer that thiâ— is a rebellious people lying children children that will not heare the law of the Lord which say to the Seers see not and to the Prophets prophecy not vnto vs right things speake vnto vs smooth things prophecie deceits get yee out of the way turne aside out of the path cause the the holy One of Israel to cease from before vs. O what amazement will that bee to all that despise thiâ— Word when i Verse 12 13 14 this iniquity shall be to them as a breach ready to fall swelling out of a high wal whose breaking commeth sodainly at an instant and shall bee as the breaking of the potters vessell that is broken in pieces without sparing so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sheard to take fire from the hearth or to take water withall ouâ— of the pit Thirdly therefore concerning suspence and amazements I answere k Esa 8. 11. be thou instructed not to walk in the way of this people l Pro. 3. 7 be not wise in thine own eies but m Esa 33. 16 shut thine eyes from seeing euill and n Esa 45. 22. looke vnto Christ thy Counseller and then o Esa 8. 12. 13. 14 feare not their feare nor bee afraid Sanctifie the Lord of hoasts himselfe and let him bee thy feare and let him bee thy dread and hee shall bee for a Sanctuary vnto thee and in the waste howling wildernesse of this world where thou knowest not which way to take hee will goe before thee as p Exo. 13. 21 22. the cloudy pillar by day and the fiery pillar by night to leade thee in the way to q Deut 32. 10. to instruct thee and keep thee as the apple of his eye as r Vese 11 12. an Eagle stirreth vp her nest fluttereth ouer her young spreadeth abroad her wings taketh them beareth theÌ„ on her wings so will the Lord leade thee It was an olde tricke of sinners in Sion and of hypocrites that would not humble themselues to walk with God when they were Å¿ Esa 33. 14 surprised with fearefulnesse to cry out who shall dwell with the deuouring fire â— who among vs shall dwell with euerlasting burnings And sure t Heb. 10. 31 a fearefull thing it will bee to fall into the hands of the liuing God for any man that with such v Ier. 12. 8. hatefull out-cries shaâ— turn w Heb. 12. 25 away from him thaâ— speaketh from heauen For x Luk. 19 27 those mine enemies saith hee that would not haue me to raigne ouer them bring them hither and slay them before mee And those that will not binde vpon their hearts his law and testimony louing darkenesse more then light y Esa 8. 16. 22. shall be driuen to darknes where they z Verse 15. shall stumble and fall and bee broken and bee snared and be taken and so goe a Psal 49. 19 to the generation of their Fathers and neuer shall see light Yea seeing they refuse him in whom is all b Ioh. 1. 16. fulnesse that c Eph. 1. 23. filleth all in all without whom all creatures are as huskes without graine subiect to vanity and emptinesse therefore euen in earth where they will d Iam 5. 5. liue in pleasure and nourish their hearts as in a day of slaughter they shall e Hag. 1. 6. eate and not bee satisfied they shall f Pro. 14 13. laugh but their hearts the while shall bee sorrowfull and they g Esa 8. 21. 22. shall passe through it as hardly be-sted as hungerly vnsatisfied and their consciences being awakened whether they look vpward or looke to the earth they shall in desperate discontentednesse curse their God and their King whom they haue preferred before the Lord Iesus who will h Mat. 21. 44 grinde to powder all that fall on him as a stone of stumbling and rocke of offence But what of all this Is not Christ yet still the i Pet. 2. 6. 7 chiefe corner-stone elect and precious to all beleeuers Yea by all meanes as k Heb. 13. 8. yesterday and to day so the same for euer and as l Ioh. 1. 16. of this fulnesse wee haue all receiued so m 1 Pet. 2. 6 hee that beleeueth in him shall not be confounded God forbid therefore that any beleeuer should here in amazement cry out with Peter n Luk. 5. 8. Depart from mee for I am a sinfull man O Lord but seeing hee is our Councellor though wonderfull let vs in the midst of all back-sliders say with Peter when hee was better aduised being put vnto it o Ioh. 6. 68. Lord to whom shall wee goe thou hast the words of eternall life And therefore howsoeuer the p Esa 11. 4 rod of his mouth his word whereby he will counsaile and rule vs in things indifferent as in all things else may seeme at first terrible to bee thought on in respect of the perfection and extent thereof and Sathan would faigne perswade vs to keepe aloofe off as q Exo. 4. 9. Moses fled from the rod of the Lord when in his sight it became a Serpent yet at r Pro. 4. 13. Gods commandement let vs lay fast hold on it as Moses did on that and we shall finde and feele it not onely free from the sting of death and so
saued What shall the Marriner obserue his winde and tide the Lawyer his Tearm the Chapman his Market Nay shall the y Ier. 8. 7. Storke the Turtle the Crane and the Swallow know their appointed times and obserue them and shall not Gods people z Luk. 19. 44. know the time of their visitation but bee snared 〈…〉 an euill time a Eccl. 9. 12. 〈…〉 ken in an euill 〈…〉 birds caught 〈…〉 GOD forbid 〈…〉 as wise builders 〈…〉 bserue their sea 〈…〉 〈…〉 lding so b Gal. 6. 10. while 〈…〉 pportunity wee 〈…〉 ood to all espe 〈…〉 he houshold of 〈…〉 fying each other 〈…〉 faith by exhor 〈…〉 other whiles it is 〈…〉 ay because the 〈…〉 nmeth as Christ c Ioh. 9. 4. 〈…〉 oman can work 〈…〉 say some the day 〈…〉 el hath bin long 〈…〉 s and blessed be 〈…〉 still to continue 〈…〉 y among vs. As the Prophet 〈…〉 in a like case so 〈…〉 en the Lord doe a Ier. 38. 6. so and the Lord for his great names sake prolong this day of the Gospell among vs euen to the day of the Lord Iesus But what saith the Lord by his Prophets b Esa 28. 23. c. Giue ye eare and heare my voyce hearken and heare my speech doth the plough-man plow all day to sow c c Amos 6. 12 shal horses runne vpon the rocke or will one plow there with Oxen for yee haue turned iudgement into gall and the fruit of righteousnesse into hemlocke d Ier. 5. 26 c. For among my people are found wicked men with their houses full of deceit as a cage is full of birds they are waxen fat they shine they ouerpasse the deedes of the wicked they iudge not the cause the cause of the fatherlesse nor the right of the needy shall I not visit for these things saith the Lord shall not my soule be auenged on such a nation as this A wonderfull and horrible thing is committed in the Land the Prophets prophesie falsly and the Priests bare rule by their meanes and my people loue to haue it so and what will ye doe in the end thereof Againe e Hos 4. 2. 4. by swearing and lying and killing and stealing and committing adultery they breake out c. yet let no man striue nor reproue an other c. f Mâ—c 3. 10 11. yet will they leane vpon the Lord and say is not the Lord among vs none euill can come vpon vs. Therefore g Hos 4. 5. shalt thou fall in the day and the Prophet shall fall with thee in the night and I will destroy thy Mother h Mich. 3. 12 therefore shall Sion for your sake be plowed as a field and Ierusalem shall become heapes and the mountaine of the house as the high places of the forrest Now i 1 Cor. 10. 11 these iudgements happened to them for ensamples and are written to admonish vs vpon whom the ends of the world are come For k Acts 10. 34 God is no accepter of persons but they that will be l Reu. 18. 4. partakers of Babilons sins must receiue of her plagues and if m Hos 5. 5. Iudah will be in the same iniquity with Israel and Ephraim Iudah also shall fall with them and if n Ier. 7. 14. Ierusalem bee wicked as Shilo God will doe to his house there as hee did to Shilo he will cast them out of his sight and cause o Eze. 10. 18. his glory to depart from it Wherefore as the Lord saith p Ier. 7. 12. Goe yee now vnto my place which was in Shilo where I set my name at the first see what I did to it for the wickednesse of my people so say I goe now see what God hath done to the Churches of the Pallatinate of Bohemia of France c. what was the Lords had shortened that it could not reach vs as well as them or suppose yee that their abhominations were greater then ours or haue wee beyond them all q Pro. 22. 3. seene the plague and hid our selues and r Amos 4. 12 prepared our selues to meete the Lord with fruits worthy amendement of life so that his wrath is pacified and his fierce anger turned from vs whereby we rest as a centre quiet amidst them all whiles they haue beene whirled about with such wofull stirs and bloudy tumults Ah my brethren should Å¿ Amos 6. 9. men of wisedome see Gods name as the Prophet saith heare the rod and who hath appointed it Or may not men that t Hab. 2. 1. stand vpon their watch and will watch to see what the Lord saith by proportion of sinnes and iudgements discursiuely see v Amos 7. 8. Amos his plumb-line w Eze. 2. 9. 10. Ezekiels roule of lamentation mourning and woe with x Ier. 1. 11. Ieremies rodde of an Almond tree and y Ioel. 3. 13. Ioels sickle commanded to bee put in and the full presse and fat ouer-flowing because the haruest is ripe and the wickednesse great Surely vnlesse wee take forth the Prophets lesson to z Esa 26. 9. learne righteousnesse while the iudgements of God are thus in the earth round about vs vnlesse we a Luk. 13. 3. repent as Christ saith we shall all likewise perish Nay when wee remember these exaggerations of the Prophets b Esa 26. 10 Let mercy bee shewed to the wicked yet will hee not learne righteousnesse c. And c Dan. 5. 18. 22. thou his son O Belshazzar hast not humbled thy selfe though thou knewest all this c. to wit the iudgment of God vpon his Father d Eze. 16. 56 and thy sister Sodome was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride as in these respects our prouocations haue exceeded the iniquities of our sister-Churches so because we e Lam. 1. 9. remember not our last end may not our Church as Ierusalem come downe wonderfully And what though the shadowes of the euening that began to stretch themselues ouer vs seeme to bee well blowne ouer yet if we giue not glory to the Lord our God before he cause darkenesse may not hee cause our f Amos 8. 9. sunne to goe downe at noone and darken our earth in the cleare day and g Ier. 13. 16 while wee looke for light may not hee turne it to the shadow of death and make it grosse darkenesse * Ioh. 12. 35 Yet a little while the light is with you walke saith Christ while ye haue the light lest darkenesse come vpon you Againe though the day of the Gospell be prolonged yet our h Iam. 4. life being a vapour that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away nay our determined dayes i Iob 9. 26. passing away as the swift ships and as the Eagle hastening to the prey k Verse 25. swister then a Poste or a l Iob 7. 6. Weauers