Jewes Come Hos 6.1 and let us returne unto the Lord for he hath Wounded us and he will heale us he hath broken us and he will bind us up And let us heartily send up our Prayers into Heaven for the Remnant that is left Be uncessant Suiters to the Lord for Peace Let me intreat you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ to make your approaches to the beautifull Gate of Gods mercy and importune the God of Peace even for his deare sake who is the Prince of Peace that he would be pleased to looke once againe with his eye of pitty compassion upon the distressed estate of this Church and Kingdome And to take the matter into his owne hand and compose the divisions of Ruben for whose sake there are great thoughts of heart That he that maketh men to be of one minde in an house Psal 68.6 would unite the heart of King and People that in their happy Union Peace may flourish in our Land That he who maketh warres to cease in all the world that breaketh the bow Psal 46.9 and knappeth the speare in sunder and burneth the Chariots in the fire Esa 2.4 Mic. 4.3 would break our swords into plow-shares and our speares into mattocks and pruning-hookes that he would once more speake Peace unto his people that he would give unto his people the blessing of Peace O Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem Peace be within her walles Psal 12◠7 and plentiousnesse within her Palaces This is the way yea the onely way left that I know to Preavile with the God of heaven that he may be intreated for the Land Loe thus it remaines then on our part that by the breath of our prayers and windy sighs and groanes through Gods permission and acceptance we labour to blow away the dark and black cloud of Gods vengance that hangs over our heads and threatens a deluge of blood to fall upon us lest wrath break forth to the uttermost against us and there be no remedy for us And then he raine upon us in his displeasure snares fire and brimstone storme and tempest Psal 11.7 and make this our portion to drink From the which miserable forlorne wretched wofull and calamitous condition as we are the workmanship of thine owne hands For thy mercy sake Good Lord deliver us all And yet notwithstanding all this that hath been spoken peradventure it may by some Weakling be demanded What although I diligently use all the Meanes here prescribed viz. Pray Humble my selfe and cast away all my Transgressions for to procure the Churches Peace Yet I can conceive but little probability of prevailing for the true Members of Christs militant Church are but a little flocke Luk. 12. and their naturall strength is weak in comparison of the numerous multitude of the Church-Malignant and therefore how shall they be able to encounter with them when they doe oppose them My answer hereunto shall be that of Asa's in his humble prayer unto God for his assistance against the multitude of his Enemies 2 Chron. 14.11 It is nothing with the Lord to help with many or with no power the words in the Original are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against many without power The sacred Scriptures perspicuously and fluently declare unto us that God hath in all Ages performed great wonderfull and admirable Actions and that even by weak Meanes contrary to the expectation and also the conception of humane sense and reason as for example He overthrew the innumerable Army of the Midianites Iudges even by Gideons three hundred men He slew a Garrison of the Philistines 1 Sam. 14. even by Jonathan and his Armour-bearer He Conquered the Kings of Sodom Gen. 14. Gomorrah Admah Zeboijim Bela and diverse other Kings about them even by Abraham and his Family He surprised Goliah by David 1 Sam. 17. Sisera by Jael Judg. 4. and Abimelech by a woman Judg. 9. And who would ever have thought Iudg. 3.31 that Shamgar the sonne of Anath with an Oxe-goade should have slaine six hundred men And Samson with the Jaw-bone of an Asse a thousand Philistines Judg. 15.16 It was not possible that so great execution could be done onely by them being but weake Instruments to encounter with such puissant Adversaries there was more then so in those their Warlike Actions There was the Eternall Omnipotent Providence unto which all the Designes and Actions of all Mortalls have been subject from all Eternity Yea there was also the supernaturall and effectuall Concurrence of the divine and powerfull assistance against which all the forces in the world could make no resistance So that it is neither the number nor the meanes that the Almighty regardeth when he resolveth to get himself the Victory When once the Lord God Omnipotent is pleased to arise in his own strength all Nations in comparison of him are but as the drop of a bucket yea lesse then nothing and vanity it self Isay 40.15.17 all their forces united together are not so much for him to destroy as the Elephant to break the Spiders webbe Gods heavenly and unlimited Providence farre transcends the carnall eye of all humane discovery Who would ever have thought that Moses from the Bulrush-Cradle floating on the teares of the weeping river should thereby have derived his Princely title in Pharaoh's Court And that Pharaoh's daughter should preserve that vessell as a Cabinet of pleasure Exod. 2. which Moses Mother with an heavy heart at his last farewell bestowed upon him her poor innocent Infant as a mournfull Coffin Or that Pharaoh's tyrannous decree against the people of God in Aegypt Exod. 14. projected for his safeguard and their extirpation should have turned to Israels deliverance and Pharaoh's destruction Loe thus the Lord can when he pleaseth drive the Enemies of his Church into the ruinous Labyrinth of their owne Confusion And as the Lord in times that are past hath done great things for his Church even by weake meanes So in like manner Esa 59.1 his hand is not shortned but that he can doe as great or greater things by as weak or weaker means for times that are to come Oh then in Gods fear let us all walke as dutifull children before him our heavenly Father let us Pray unto him Humble our selves before him and cast away all our Transgressions from our selves that so we may be in his favour and have him to shelter us under the wings of his fatherly Providence in all Exigents that doe befall us and to be our Protector in our greatest danger Then shall we be secure from the violence of all adversary power though all the men in the world were mischievous Malignants against us and purposed with bloody malice to destroy us For If God be on our side who can be against us Rom. 8.31 Thankfulnesse Vse 4 TO TO be thankfull to God for that Peace we now enjoy and although it be not so compleat a
A REMEDY FOR THE WARRES OR Certaine Deplorable Expressions of the great Miseries and wofull Effects which the Horrid Bloody Cruell Domestick and Intestine Warres have lately produced amongst us in this our Kingdome of England Together with Spiritual Salves for the Cure thereof By JOHN TARLTON Preacher of GODS Word and Minister of Ileminster in the County of Somerset 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 LONDON Printed in the Yeare 1648. TO The Right Honourable RALPH Lord HOPTON Baron of STRATTON Grace and Peace from the Father Prince and Spirit of Peace Amen Right Honourable THe infallible mouth of the Arch Doctor of all truth hath told us that every Scribe which is taught unto the kingdome of heaven is like unto a housholder which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things both new and old Mat. 13.52 Answerable hereunto there hath beene in former ages of the Church and are also now in these latter times many able and Orthodox Divines whose hearty desire for the good of others have stirred them up to write for the advancement of true Religion and the benefit of the Church of Christ that through Gods blessing upon their writings they might win many soules unto God whereby being dead themselves they might still speake to those that are alive that so their holy DOCTRINE might be transmitted and propagated unto posterity after them Of which number my selfe being one although the meanest of all the rest labouring in the same Vineyard have thought it necessary to gather one handfull of Grapes and carry them to the Presse thereby to increase the water of life wherewith to refresh the Church of Christ when she is either sick or sorrowfull The which as the poor widdowes Mite will adde somewhat to the Churches treasury according to that Talent which the Lord hath lent me And in this Age there was never greater cause for Spirituall Physitians to provide restoring comfortable Cordialls for sick cast downe and dejected soules then in these present deplorable and calamitous dayes Naturall experiment tacitly tels us that the sad expression of woefull calamity can never be welcome to a truly Christian and sympathizing heart This Ioab the Generall of King Davids hoast knew right well and therefore he would not suffer Ahimaaz whom he loved to carry tydings to King David of Absaloms death 2 Sam. 18.20 The Sword of the late domestick unnaturall and intestine Wars hath eaten up many thousands of our English Nation yea hath swiftly snatched them away even as the Oxe licketh up the grasse so great have Rubens divisions beene in our Land My self also having borne a great share thereof almost as bitter as death it self For divers of us of the Tribe of Levi were imprisoned in one roome in the Metropolis of this Kingdome in which Prison they all ended their dayes And about one month after all their deaths my selfe onely and that by way of exchange escaped alive like one of Jobs messengers to declare somewhat VIVA VOCE concerning those that are in their graves And as an Aggravation to my Affliction I have beene a long time and still remaine under Sequestration being deprived both of Living and Goods whereby my selfe and family are at this present destitute of the means of subsistence So that the premises maturely and seriously considered I thought it therefore my duty both unto God my heavenly Father and also to the Church of England my Spirituall Mother in this her present and sad condition to expresse to the world her wofull calamity together with a Remedy for the same For which cause I doe here humbly present unto your Honours this ensuing Treatise the which may not unfitly be termed A REMEDY FOR THE WARS Which through Gods blessing upon the holy Endeavours and Religious Practises of those persons unto whom it shall come there may be a present surceasing of these bloudy unnaturall and intestine English Wars and both Church and Common-wealth even speedily and happily enjoy their pristine condition Many thousands of us English Natives since these troubles arose amongst us have deeply suffered and still doe by a stupendious kind of dispersion in Opinion and Practice and yet how few there are who in lowlinesse of Spirit and humblenesse of heart truly repenting them of all their wickedness smite their breasts saying What have I done Jer. 8.6 And yet I hope the deep apprehension of these present Distractions amongst us doth exercise and that not unworthily the heads of many that are of great Wisdome and Policy to thinke how this distracted Church and Common-wealth may againe be re-united If ever we would have a wel-grounded firme and permanent Peace in this our Kingdome then must we sincerely performe these three particular Duties 1. Aversion from Sin 2. Conversion to God 3. Humble hearty and constant Prayer unto God to inable us by the power of his grace and blessed Spirit for the speedy and constant performance of both At the request and importunity of some who are more able both in gifts of Nature and Learning then my self who having had a sight of this Booke privately in my Study before it was fully finished I was prevailed with to present it to the publike view and at their instance being resolved so to doe I called to mind your Noble Lordship as in duty I am obliged who so willingly freely and speedily condescended to my Enlargement by the way of Exchange when I was in Prison humbly craving the peaceable Passage of this my Booke under the shelter of your Honourable Patronage and Protection being well assured that your Honourable Name and Noble Aspect casting an approbatious and indulgent eye upon it have such attractive power in them as that by vertue thereof they will set such a splendid luster upon this my weake Worke that thereby as by the efficacy of a Load-stone the eyes and hearts of many thousands will be drawne unto it whereby also it may take the deeper impression in their hearts for the reformation of their lives and the conversion of their soules unto God through Jesus Christ the which through Gods blessing upon it may greatly conduce to the glory of the God of Peace and the benefit and comfort of many poore disquieted soules I humbly intreat your Noble Lordships charitable and candid censure for my Super-audacity in this nature For through the fervent zeale which I have for the glory of God and hearty desire for the salvation of his childrens souls wishing also both the present permanent Peace and the speedy continuing Comfort of his distressed Militant Church in this our disquieted perplexed and distracted Kingdome I have in imitation of Saint Paul to his Romans somewhat boldly after a sort written for the benefit of the English Natives as one that putteth them in remembrance through the grace that is given me of God Rom. 15.15 I doe ingenuously and submissively confesse my great and over-boldnesse to Dedicate this weake worke unto your Honour yet I humbly beseech your Honour both to pardon this
sorrowfull sowrenesse When the Lord by his Prophet Ezekiel declared the Swords comming upon the Jewes for their sins He commanded him to say A Sword a Sword Ezech. 21.9 10. both sharp and furbished It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter and it is furbished that it may glitter How shall we rejoyce So in like manner our present wofull and hearts-convincing condition tacitely tels us that we have little to do with this Davids joy now in these sad times of War and Sorrow Can there be joy in our hearts whilst there is War in our gates Sackcloth and ashes becomes us better Davids case in the next Psalme before this save one suites better with our condition where he complaines Woe is me that I am constrained to dwell with Mesech and to have my habitation among the tents of Kedar Psal 120.4 5 6. My soul hath long dwelt among them that be enemies unto Peace I labour for Peace but when I speake unto them thereof they make ready to battell Loe This perverse practice of preposterous persons must needs greatly afflict a truely charitable and Christian-sympathizing heart who heartily desireth and earnestly endeavoureth both for himselfe and others to have the blessing of Peace The like also our Kingly David in these late times of our wofull War hath often solicited the sons of Mortals for a speedy setled firme and wel-grounded Peace not onely for Himself but also on the behalfe of many thousands more of our English-Natives yea even the whole Kingdome but alas the birth of all those His Solicitations as yet hath proved abortive Eminent and publique Persons placed in Authority above others ought above all others to make the Word of God the Rule and the Glory of God both the Aime and End of all their Actions But woe and alas may we at this day justly cry out that too many such persons of our English Nation have of late years wilfully rejected the holy Commandements of the righteous Lord and greedily followed the sinfull lusts of their owne gracelesse and wicked hearts for their Self Sinister and By-ends whereby utter ruine hath been wrought to the lives of many thousands that are already dead and also great detriment brought to this English Church and Common-wealth wherein still we live to the great grief and prejudice of our Gratious and Dread Soveraigne His Majesty and all His wel-affected obedient dutifull and loyal-hearted Party both in and also of this our divided and distracted Kingdome How many thousands of poor distressed destitute desolate disconsolate Women and almost hunger-starved Children have often submissively Petitioned and that according to the severall Ordinances pretendingly extant on that behalf with grieved hearts and watry eyes for some relief out of their owne Estates wherewith to preserve their languishing lives But alas their Petitioning hath been to no purpose insomuch as that they have not onely been perfunctorily neglected but also scornefully rejected Oh that those poor distressed creatures violent Adversaries might not too truely be termed Viri inexorabiles inflexibiles implacabiles immisericordes qui nullius precibus flectuntur I blush to expresse to the Vulgar in English the condition of such persons and the rather for the preservation of the Gospels purity because they have put upon their shoulders the Cloakes of Religion and yet deale thus cruelly with their Native Nationall and Christian Brethren The Orders Ordinances which have been made for the relief of such distressed persons are repealed at the pleasures of the Authors thereof and thus they practise Penelopes telam retexere viz. Doe and undoe assoone as they apprehend that their so doing will conduce to their owne advantage O Heav'ns be pleased in mercy towards us to helpe us speedily Or else the Kings Loyall-hearted party will perish suddenly The Scripture tels us For the Divisions of Ruben there were great thoughts of heart and for the Divisions that lately have been among our selves there have been great searchings of the heart Searchings indeed when the Sword point hath been imployed as the Instrument like a bloody inquisitive revenging Searcher to rip up the bosome and to make the scrutiny digging there untill the last drop of the heart-blood issued to the great griefe of heart and disturbance of the peace of Jerusalem the Church our Mother that her Children should deale thus unnaturally one with another Oh how justly may the Lord in these troublesome times complaine of England as once he did by his Prophet Jeremiah concerning Jerusalem As the fountaine casteth out her waters Ier. 6.7 so she casteth out her malice cruelty and spoile is continually heard in her before me with sorrow and stroakes So that England for the present in these particulars may undeniably be parallel'd unto Jerusalem And not onely so but also what great and just cause at this day hath our distressed Militant Church of England to complaine of her calamity with the church of Jerusalem expressed in the Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah She findeth no rest Lam. 1. all her Persecutors tooke her in the straits The Adversaries saw her and did mock at her Sabbaths Her Princes are become like Harts that find no pasture and they are gone without strength before the Pursuer Her Priests sigh her Virgins are discomfited and she is in heavinesse Yea Mat. 2.18 She mourneth like Rachell for her lost Children and will not be comforted because they are not In so much as that not onely many thousands of the Vulgar sort of our English Nation have been lately slaine but also many Noble Worthy and Valiant Champions who were Loyall hearted Subjects have in the behalf of their King Country and Religion willingly exposed themselves not onely to the bloody pangs of uncertaine hazards receiving dangerous wounds in their Bodies but also to the mercilesse jawes of cruell Death whereby they have been deprived of their pretious Lives in this bloody English and unnaturall Quarrell If but a little while we recollect our thoguhts and imploy them in these Tragicall passages we shall coactedly conclude that we have all just cause joyntly to pray for the peace of this our Jerusalem For listen either East West North or South and you shall hear not only private whisperings of Multitudes who hastily fled from their lawfull habitations to escape the inraged Violence of outragious Souldiers in their fierce fury fearfully affrighting their disconsolate families left behind them and violently Plundering their lawfull goods unlawfully from them but also publique complaints of those that have lost their nearest and dearest friends whose dearest heart-blood hath been spilt like water on every side of Jerusalem Thus Death and Desolation have of late rid tryumphantly through many parts of our Kingdome and also made both visible and tragicall Expressions of their puissant and successefull Valour and magnanimity maugre all malignancy in their desperate attempts against all their Opposers swiftly cutting downe with their fatall swords of War divers of all sorts from
of God well deserving the prayers of his faithfull servants As I spake formerly of the Duty Pray so now I shall say of the subject Peace I purpose not to handle it Common-place way for then I must speake of Pacis externae Internae eternae of Peace Externall Internall and Eternall and so should I be copious in the prosecution thereof and consequently troublesome to your patience but through the assistance of Gods blessed Spirit I will observe the same method as I began This word Peace although it be but a short word yet it worthily deserves our Devotions and justly may bespeake our Prayers For it is the Mother yea and the Nurse too of all earthly Blessings without whose fostering and attendance like wretched Infants left to themselves they quickly dye and are turned againe to their dust And therefore cease not to Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem Peace is a word but of one sillable yet very pregnant in its signification and may not unfitly be parallel'd to that Cloud which Elijah's servant saw 1 King 18 44. The which although at the first sight it seemed no bigger then a mans hand yet it was full of water and quickly over-spred it selfe over the face of the whole heavens Loe such is the name of Peace a little Cloud to looke upon but very full of water for it conteines in it both the former and the latter raine of Gods mercy Peace may fitly be compared to Pandora's Box for it is as it were the Nest wherein all other good blessings are hatch't yea the summe complement and Epitomy of all earthly felicity Arts Sciences Lawes Trades Husbandry and all the good these bring us are formed in her wombe and suck the milke of her brest She first gives them life and afterwards gives them growth and perfection Whereas when War once invades the gates it deales with the Children of Peace as Herods Butchers did with the Infants of Bethlehem Mat. 2.16 It ravishes them from the sweet embracements of their tender Mother and cuts the throates of all her hopefull Progeny The time was that our English Nation thought themselves very secure singing nothing but Requiem's of Peace Peace unto themselves Ier. 6.14 as the Prophet Jeremy speaketh of the Jewes At which time Reason should have perswaded them not to be so lulled asleep and as it were bewitched with the sweet and charming name of Peace as utterly to forget the time of War It is no ill policy whilst the weather is calme to provide for a Storme for when once the Skie is obnubilate the Cloudes are growne thick and black the Tempest is up and the great drops begin with violence to fall upon us then it is necessarily high time for thin-cloathed persons to runne for a Shelter The former of these we have improvidently neglected in the time of Peace but alas the latter is now our present condition being greatly afflicted in this time of War And therefore Pray for the Peace c. Beloved If ever there be a time that the Sea doth rejoyce and the floods clap their hands for joy as David saith there is If there be a time that the Hils are joyfull together and all the Trees of the wood rejoyce before the Lord And if there be a time that the Vallies Psal 65.13 14. stand so thick with corne that they doe laugh and sing Surely it is no other then the time of Peace For if once Nimrod the mighty Hunter be up with his Kennell of Plunderers at his heeles they quickly make them alter their Note Loe then Ioel. 1.12 the harvest of the field is perished the Vine is dryed up and the figge-tree languisheth the pomegranate tree the palme tree and the apple tree even all the trees of the field are withered because joy is withered away from the sonnes of men And thus all the joy of the field is by the noise of Drums and the neighings of horses and the clashing of Armes quite dround and destroyed and so its mirth is turned into mourning And therefore Pray for the Peace c. And doth not Religion also owe much unto Peace for her Pupillage Protection Surely She spins the cloth for the Curtaines of Solomon Prov. 31. Take an example hereof Acts 9.31 Then had the Churches rest saith the Text throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria And what then follow'd They were edified and walked in the feare of the Lord and were multiplied by the comfort of the holy Ghost Good dayes Faire weather and Peaceable times make much for the Churches enlargement But tempora si fuerint nubila In the stormy winde and tempest Psal 32.6 In the great water-floods they will not come nigh her When the Earth is overwhelmed with a deluge of blood no marvell if Religion flutters like Noah's Dove hither and thither Gen. 8.9 and finding no rest for the sole of her foot returnes back to the Arke into the hand of God that sent her forth So that now we may plainely perceive all Blessings both of Church and Common-wealth as well Divine as secular are wrapt and folded up as it were in the bosome and lap of Peace As that Great ARTIFICER Phidias who made that famous BUCKLER for Minerva the Goddesse of the Athenians so contrived the same that he wrought his owne name in the Center of the BUCKLER which was so framed of severall pieces and minims that it was impossible to race or pick it out without destroying the whole worke So Almighty God the great Opifex rerum as the Poet styles him the Creator of the Universe hath so interwoven his owne name and attribute who is the God of Peace in the very heart and Center of the World that it is impossible to race or pick Peace out without the whole Series of Gods blessings fall to the ground And therefore Pray for the Peace c. Thus much for the proofe of the Doctrine arising from this word Peace viz. Peace is a pretious blessing of God well deserving the prayers of his faithfull servants And now follow the Reasons to confirme the same Reas 1 Because Peace is one of the fruits of Gods blessed Spirit and therefore a pretious Blessing of God well deserving the prayers of his faithfull servants The fruit of the spirit is love joy Peace c. Gal. 5.22 He that prayes not for it is altogether unworthy of it and may justly conceive he shall goe without it And he that prayeth for it and doth obtaine it let him not thinke there is any thing in himselfe that deserves it but that it proceedes onely from the free grace of the God of Peace Esay 9.6 through him who is the PRINCE of Peace Reas 2 Because the want of Peace is accounted as a Curse upon wicked men that have it not this is their portion in judgement allotted unto them to be tumbled and tossed vexed and perplexed It was Jezebels expression to Jehu
which delusive Pretence of fighting for the Protestant Religion there hath been produced many unhappy yea cursed effects of late amongst us of which I will nominate a few viz. The Omission of the holy Prayer of Jesus Christ The not publishing of the Law of God The not reading of the Apostles Creed The not administring of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper The mixture of the Fancies Inventions and Corruptions of men with the pure and holy Gospell of Jesus Christ The deprivation of all the Lands Livings Goods and Estates of all the Nobility Gentry Clergy and Laity of this Kingdome that either are or were of the Kings Party The over-burdening of this whole Kingdome with intollerable Taxes The bitter fatall and deadly imprisonment of many for their Kingly fidelity in which Prisons some of them yeelded up their soules into the hands of their heavenly Father my selfe then being in the Metropolis of this Kingdome a Prisoner with them and at the deaths of divers of them These together with the losse of many thousands of the Kings faithfull adhering Subjects innocent lives have beene some of those woefull effects which the delusive specious Pretence of fighting for the Protestant Religion hath lately produced amongst us in this Kingdome God in mercy looke upon us and speedily deliver us all out of this destructive and calamitous condition War may not unfitly be compared to a cruell wilde Beast a Savage Tyger or a fierce Lion which at the best lookes gasht and grim even then when he is first rouzed out of his Den But nothing to that he will doe afterwards when he hath been well baited and chafed Oh then death sparkles through every looke And in the end he growes savage and teares and rents all that lies in his way God looke downe in mercy upon us and keepe us from those distastefull fruits of War that other Nations have tasted Sower fruits have they been unto them by which their teeth have been set on edge such as the Dishonouring of Matrons the Deflowring of Virgins the tossing of Children upon the pikes of remorslesse Souldiers the rosting of Infants Murthers Rapes Massacres and all Tragicall Pompe of bloody cruelty that useth to attend upon the inraged Sword And when the Sword hath acted his part awhile and the Drums sounded alarums to the Battell and the Trumpets blown preparatives for the War and the Cannons roared loud destruction from the one end of the Kingdome to the other Then steps up Famine for a new scene of Misery and this proves no lesse cruell and altogether as fatall as the former Then those over-gorged stomacks and full bellies that have been too much filled with dainty diets variety must be made a prey to the hungry jawes of pining Scarcity This sets forth the Prophets cry in the streets My leanenesse my leanenesse Esa 24.16 This brings the late fastidious over-curious palate to the loathsome diet of Horse flesh and Dogs flesh and vermine and excrements of Beasts yea of old shooes and leather trunkes Such a black Bill of distastefull dyet and surfeiting fare Josephus brings in of Gods owne people when Titus and Vepatian laied siege to the wals of Jerusalem The Children there cryed out unto their Mothers Lam. 2.12 Where is bread and drinke when they swoonded as the wounded in the streets of the City and gave up the ghost in their Mothers bosome Yea the Prophet complaines there of the peoples extreamity through Famine Behold O Lord saith he and consider to whom thou hast done this shall the women eat their fruit and Children of a span long Verse 20. The words in the Originall are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Little of educations What obdurate hearted Parents cannot mourne for their little Infants in so great extreamity Also the Famine in Samaria was so great 2 King 6.25 that an Asses head was sold at fourscore pieces of Silver and the fourth part of a Cab of Doves dung at five pieces of silver Yea in the extremity of Famine Mothers have eaten their owne Children which caused the woman to cry out against her neighbour unto the King Helpe my Lord O King The King said unto her What aileth thee And she answered this woman said unto me Give thy sonne that we may eat him to day and we will eat my sonne to morrow So we sod my sonne and did eat him and I said to her the day after Give thy sonne that we may eat him but she hath hid her son When the King heard this 2 King 6. he rent his clothes in token of humiliation Oh whose heart cannot relent within him at the consideration of this woefull condition That the hunger-starved and pined mother though compassionately affected and tender hearted to her Infant shall be driven to dish up her owne Childe for a Breakfast And thus a miserable Myriam sacrificing her sonne to famine shall be constrained to make the Wombe of her increase the Tombe of her posterity And so to turne the fruit of the Wombe into meat for the belly Beloved if it be a griefe to any to hear this what then will it be for them to see it and suffer it Loe thus have we heard of the woefull misery of Famine which War produceth And therefore let us all in Gods feare doe our best endeavours to procure the Blessing of Peace O Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem The word here Peace in our Text in the Original is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à radice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod significat pacem habere id est pace vel prosperitate frui which signifieth to have Peace that is to say to enjoy Peace or prosperity And would we not willingly enjoy Peace certainely yea Then let us now at the last learne the true and right way to remedy this our evill of War amongst us lest by our carelesnesse and continuance in wickednesse our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the house of God become unto us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the house of Affliction and our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Vision of Peace be made unto us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a most homely and unpleasant place and our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the house of Grace and Favour be turned against us into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the house of Anger and Displeasure and whereby also the Lords long-suffering turne against us into Wrath and consequently the Sword of War our lives into Death The Meanes then to attaine Gods blessing of Peace in this our disturbed Kingdome follow and they are these viz. The first is Prayer The second is Humiliation The third is casting away all our transgressions For a Man to be in Misery and not to Pray is an infallible Signe of his Infidelity For a man to pray and not to humble himselfe is an evident Token of his Hypocrisie For a man to pray and humble himselfe and not cast away all his Transgressions is an apparent Testimony of his Obstinacy And therefore
fearefully consumed by fire The blasphemous Aegyptian Israelite violating the Third Commandement Lev. 24.16 by blaspheming the Sacred name of Almighty God was stoned to death The prophane and carelesse Stickgatherer violating the Fourth Commandement Numb 15.32 36. by gathering Sticks upon the Sabaoth day was also stoned to death Rebellious Absalom violating the Fifth Commandement 2 Sam. 18.9 14. by raising War against his Father David whom he ought both by the Law of God and Nature in all filiall duty to have obeyed was hanged upon an Oake in his owne haire and also thrust through with three Darts by the hand of Joab Blood-thirsty Cain violating the Sixth Commandement Gen. 4.8 15. by murthering his brother Abel was branded with the marke of Gods indignation Uncleane Zimri and Cozbi violating the Seventh Commandement Num. 25.8 by committing the filthy fact of Fornication were thrust through both their bodies with a Javeling by the hand of zealous Phinehas Avaritious Achan violating the Eighth Commandement Iosh 7.21 24 25. by taking a Babylonish garment two hundred Shekels of silver and a Wedge of gold Loe himselfe his sonnes his daughters his oxen his asses his sheepe and all that he had was stoned to death and burned with fire in the valley of Achor Dissembling Ananias and his wife Sapphira violating the Ninth Commandement Act. 5.5 10. by lying and dissembling concealing their Sacriledge were both of them through Gods displeasure about three houres the one after the other smitten dead at the feet of S. Peter And Covetous Ahab violating the Tenth Commandement 1 King 22.38 desiring and thirsting after Naboths Vineyard his blood was devoured by dogges Loe thus beloved we evidently see that the Transgressors of Gods Lawes continuing in their sinnes have punishments constantly attending upon them and also swiftly following after them to their ruine subversion and destruction And therefore for a speedy prevention of our owne Confusion let us all in Gods feare even speedily cast away all our transgressions Otherwise we may justly feare that the righteous Lord in his fury will fiercely come against us and draw forth his revengefull sword upon us and never leave us till he hath destroyed us for thus hath been his former practice against obstinate sinners continuing in their sins And this truth also holy David confesseth God shall wound the head of his enemies Psal 68.21 and the hairie scalpe of such a one as goeth on still in his wickednesse A notable fearfull Example hereof we have in the Lords righteous dealing against Jerusalē who had many fore-warnings both by the Lords Prophets in the time of the Law and also by Christ himselfe in the time of the Gospel to forsake her sins and by timely and true Repentance to turne unto the Lord But alas She still continued in them without Reclamation the which at the last turned to her owne destruction So that it may now truly be said of Her with great Griefe Shame and Reproach unto Her Jerusalem that formerly was a beautifull famous glorious and Sceptred City hath now bequeathed no other Monument to Posterity then the hatefull Character the odious Embleme and the disgracefull Example of her owne Shame and Infamy She who sometimes splendidly shone as the bright glorious Star of the East to the terrour of all her neighbour Nations and also the admiration of the whole world serves now but as a prodigious Signe or blazing Comet in the view of the world for to threaten all Nations sinfull Security That sacred Sanctuary wherein the holy God had set his rest and would have been the peoples delight and glory was afterwards not onely irreligiously profaned but also abominably prostituted to all Impiety Those stately Streets being full fraught with sumptuous Buildings wherein Pride was wont to vaunt her selfe with Ostentation are now become the stinking dunghills and noysome Receptacles of uncleane filthy and ugly Vermine Also the losse of divers hundred thousands of Lives by the Romane military Power together with the Persons remaining scattered Ruines who are as yet groaning under the worlds scorne and their owne Calamity Loe These were some of those wofull Miseries and cruell heart-breaking Calamities which Jerusalem justly suffered for her continuance in sinne But of this particular concerning Jerusalem more largely towards the end of this Booke So that the continuation of wicked mens perversenesse is the immediate fore-runner of Gods vengeance Continuance in our sinnes stoppeth the eares of God to our prayers Yea if our hearts have but an inclination to evill though our hands perpetrate it not yet the Lord will not hearken to our Prayers If I incline saith Daaid unto wickednesse with mine heart Psal 66.16 the Lord will not hear me And therefore according to the Apostles rule 2 Tim. 2.19 Let every one that calleth upon the name of Christ depart from iniquity As in the time of the Law the Lord commanded his Prophets to cry aloud in the peoples eares Ier. 6.1 and without sparing to tell them of their sinnes and also of punishments Esay 58.1 that for their sinnes without repentance would justly be inflicted upon them Ezeke 33. dealing with them as a mercifull and clement Combatant giving them a Caveat before he sendeth his Capias that so men being premoniti they may be premuniti being fore-warned they may be fore-armed hearing of punishments before they come they might thereby timely shunne and avoid the same So in like manner The faithfull and painfull Ministers of the Gospell have often fore-told to sinfull England that if She continued still in her Sinnes Mal. 2.2 the Lord would turne her Blessings into Curses But woe and alas She would not be reclaimed and therefore now the Lord hath justly taken away the sweet blessing of Peace from her and instead thereof sent the bitter Judgement of Warre upon her Beloved when wicked men will not cast away their Trangressions but still wilfully persist in their sinnes Loe then the just punishing sin-revenging hand of the Righteous God will draw forth the Sword of Justice and fight against them to their destruction If saith God I whet my glittering Sword Deut. 32.41 42. and mine hand take hold on Judgement I will execute vengeance on mine Enemies and will reward them that hate me I will make mine Arrowes drunk with blood and my Sword shall eat flesh for the bloud of the slaine and of the Captives when I begin to take vengeance of the enemie And for this cause hee is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord of Hosts as though he came with a mighty Army to fight against wicked men because of their Sinnes Yea the Lord hath all the Creatures in the world ready at his owne Command to execute his Judgements upon Obstinate sinners at his pleasure And it also hath been his practice even in all Ages for to act the same As for example When He fought against the vitious men of
the Old World Gen. 7.21 Then the Deluge took his part so he wrought their Destruction When He fought against the beastly Sodomites Gen. 19.24 Then the fire and brimstone from Heaven took his part and so he wrought their Destruction When He fought against the blood-thirsty Aegyptians pursuing the Israelites Exod. 14.28 Then the Red-sea took his part and so he wrought their Destruction When He fought against those Rebellious Persons Numb 16.32 Korah Dathan Abiram and their Complices Then the Earth tooke his part and so he wrought their Destruction When He fought against those cursed Amorites Iosh 10 11 12 13. warring against the Gibeonites Then the Sunne the Mooone and the Hailestones from Heaven tooke his part and so he wrought their Destruction And the Starres also in their courses fought against Sisera Iudg. 5.20 When He fought against those reviling Mockers of the Prophet Elisha 2 King 2.24 Goe up thou bald-head Goe up thou bald-head Then the Beares tooke his part and so he wrought their Destruction When He fought against those accusing Idolaters of the Prophet Daniell Dan. 6.24 Then the Lions took his part and so he wrought their Destruction Loe Thus the Lord hath not onely these but also all other Creatures in the world ready at his owne command to fight against wicked Persisters in sinne At the beginning the greatest and strongest Creatures were by Nature and Creation subject to Man but alas now not onely they but also all others both great and small are either become our Enemies or else our Conquerers And what must this then teach us but onely how Odious hatefull and abominable Sinne is in the sight of Almighty God Sinne It was forbidden by God It was condemned by Angells It is revenged by Beasts And punished by Divills It drave Adam out of Paradise It kept Moses from Canaan It destroyed the Inhabitants of Jerusalem And it hath also excluded infinite thousands from the Kingdome of Heaven It was wilfully committed by the disobedience of Man It was willingly redeemed by the life of Christ It was faithfully reproved by the death of Martyrs And yet still it is wickedly maintained by the practice of Multitudes Oh whose heart bleeds not within him to see such a wicked Monster made more account of then all other good things in the world which was hatcht by the Devill fed by the life of Soules and yet still raignes that it might winne Millions of Soules unto Condemnation Shall reasonable Men rescue it when unreasonable Beasts fight against it Every Creature in his kinde cries Vengeance against it It made the Angels Damnable It made the World Abominable It maketh the Beasts Corruptible And it maketh Men Miserable Miserable I say by Birth for they were borne in it Miserable by Life for they are vexed with it And most miserable by Death for then they shall be accursed by it Loe Thus doth the Earth cry woe unto Sinne for it cursed her Thus doth the Heavens hate it for it destroyeth her Children Thus doe the Starres fight against it for it dazleth their Light And thus doe the wilde-Beasts warre against it because it increaseth their Groanes It was the Jewes complaint in their extremity O Lord Ier. 14.7 though our Iniquities testifie against us deal with us according to thy Name for our Rebellions are many we have sinned against thee It was the Wickeds expression in their Calamity for sinne We roare all like beares Esa 59.11 12. and mourne like doves we look for equity but there is none for health but it is farre from us For our trespasses are many before thee and our sinnes testifie against us So that unlesse thou leavest thy Sinnes expect no Peace but look for mourning instead of mirth according to that Curse imposed upon the Jewes for their sinnes declared by the Prophet The Earth lamenteth and fadeth away Esay 24.4 5 6 7 the world is feebled and decayed the proud people of the earth are weakned The earth also deceiveth because of the inhabitants thereof for they transgressed the lawes they changed the Ordinances and brake the everlasting Covenant Therefore hath the Curse devoured the earth and the inhabitants thereof are desolate wherefore the inhabitants of the land are burned up and few men are left The wine faileth the vine hath no might all that were of merry heart doe mourne Thus beloved we see that Sinne is the Cause and Punishment the Effect So that Sublatâ Causâ tollitur Effectus The Cause being taken away the Effect ceaseth And untill then expect no Peace For so long as our hearts are full of Corruptions let us look to have our lives full of Afflictions Afflictions are divine medicines sent from God to correct our corruptions Yea they are Chastisements for sinnes that are past and also Preventions of sinnes that are to come like a Prophylacticke Phlebotomy or a Preservative Purgation And hence is that expression of Saint Paul 1 Cor. 11.32 We are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world So that we have here Life and Death set before us performe the Meanes prescribed and we shall live comfortably neglect them and we shall perish miserably Loe this truth the Author of all truth hath expressed Levit. 26.17.18 I will set my face against you and ye shall fall before your enemies and they that hate you shall reigne over you and ye shall flee when none pursueth you And if ye will not for these things obey me then will I punish you seven times more according to your sinnes Hence then we may learne that if the former punishments of Pestilence Famine and the Sword which lately have beene amongst us and upon us will not reclaime and reforme us then the Lord will send more and heavier judgements upon us untill we either are converted or confounded And now for a Prevention of Englands Confusion let me speake unto her as once the Lord did by his Prophet Jeremiah unto Jerusalem Jer. 6.8 Be thou instructed O Jerusalem lest my soule depart from thee lest I make thee desolate as a Land that none Inhabiteth So say I both freely and mournfully Be thou instructed O England learne righteousnesse and speedily be reclaimed from all thy wickednesse lest the righteous Lord in displeasure against thee suddenly depart from thee and so thou becommest a Desolation The which Desolation that we may all escape let every one throughout this whole Kingdome seriously examine his owne heart of all those sinnes wherein at this day he stands guilty before the Lord and search and try his wayes and speedily turne unto the Lord our God And for a prevalent Motive hereunto Let all Traitors against the King call to minde Gods just Judgements upon Ahithophell 2 Sa. 17.23 2 Sa. 18.14 1 Sam. 8.3 1 Sa. 4.18 2 Sa. 20.22 Ester 7.10 Rebels upon Absalom Corrupt Judges upon Samuels Sonnes Idle Ministers upon Eli Wicked Magistrates
our President Who for the joy that was set before him endured the Crosse despising the shame and is set downe at the right hand of the throne of God Heb. 12.2 Oh what a comfortable and joyfull day will that be to thy immortall and pretious Soule when stepping forth of her earthly Prison and speedily conducted by the blessed Angels to the Tabernacle of Heaven she shall rejoycingly be there received by the honourable Companies of that heavenly Consistory viz. with all those blessed Spirits mentioned in the holy Scriptures viz. Angels Arch-angels Vertues Powers Principalities Dominations Thrones Cherubims and Seraphims also with the holy Patriarches Prophets Martyrs Innocents Confessors and Saints of God together with the blessed Apostles and Disciples of Jesus Christ all which shall then greatly triumph and exceedingly rejoyce at her Coronation and Glorification Yea and farre more Happinesse she shall enjoy than all this viz. the Knowledge of the invisible Nature of the most blessed Trinity The All glorious and Beatificall VISION the sight of God which maketh us happy of which St. Augustine saith Haec sold est summum bonum nostrum This SIGHT of God is our onely and chiefest Happinesse in which consisteth the Soveraigne Good and Life of the Soule which no mortall Eye hath seene nor Eare hath heard neither hath it entred into the Heart of Man The which SIGHT of God is the full Beatitude and totall Glorification of Man Loe this is the Happinesse which the Soule of a Christian Spirituall Fighting Conquering Souldier shall for ever enjoy Where she shall sing Hallelujah Praise Rev. 5.13 and Honour and Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lambe for evermore Quest But here peradventure some may demand What shall I doe when I have been a long while under the grievous and weighty pressure of many Troubles great Crosses and heavy Afflictions and still continue under them seeing as yet no probability by sublunary assistance of ease in them no likelyhood of freedome from them or Deliverance out of them Answ If this now be or at any time hereafter shall be thy deplorable Condition Loe then I beseech thee in the Bowels of Jesus Christ as a Sympathzing Brother of thy sorrowes murmur not thereat but acknowledge God to be righteous and that thou sufferest justly for thy sinnes and be not sorrowfull because thou sufferest but for the Cause of thy suffering which are thy sinnes which thou hast committed According to that complaining Querie of the Prophet Jeremiah Wherefore is the living man sorrowfull man suffereth for his sinne Lam. 3.39 And also labour for to live by Faith and not by Sense For the Just shall live by his faith Hab. 2.4 Ever being mindfull of and also constantly depending upon the Providentiall name of God amongst the Hebrewes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which denoteth unto us the speciall Prodience of God towards his children in all their distresses resolving also constantly in thine owne Soule without wavering that whether longer continuance of Life or speedier seizing upon by Death shall befall thee yet notwithstanding according to that comfortable Expression of the Apostle Antid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All things work together for good to them that love God Rom. 8.28 The continuall Consideration hereof should serve as a spirituall Antidote to preserve thy afflicted languishing Soule for ever from Despaire And God Almighty who is the onely Physitian both of Soule and Body and can at his pleasure apply a Remedy to every Malady according to each particular Persons severall wants and necessities give a speedy comfortable helpfull healing Blessing to the divine Operation thereof within thee Of which my selfe can speake both comfortably and experimentally who being fast lock't in Prison for my Kingly Fidelity with diverse others of the ministeriall Function and having not any corporall Sustenance allowed us for above forty dayes together wherewith to preserve our languishing naturall Lives they all ended their dayes in the same Prison and shortly after all their Deaths my Body was from Prison enlarged and Life from Death under God thereby preserved Loe thus farre the speciall Providence of God extended unto me when I was wel-nigh brought to the Period of my Life and almost cast into the cruell jawes of devouring Death Blessed be the God of my Life and Liberty for it for ever Beloved a Valiant and Couragious hearted Souldier will not be discouraged at the roaring of Cannons the clashing of Armes the clattering of Weapons or the hideous noise of furious Enemies comming siercely upon him although that military Service be never so sharp or dangerous unto him because he expects to receive some rich Booty to himselfe when the Battell is ended so in like manner a true crucified Christian who hath the blessed Spirit of God in him which is the only Spirit of all true Valour and Courage will not be daunted or dismayed at the comming on of Troubles Crosses or Afflictions how great or many soever they be because he is not left to himself alone as a Souldier in the field when all his pusilanimous spirited fellow-Souldiers have deserted the Service and forsaken him but hath the All-powerfull Lord of Heaven with him compassing him about with his speciall Providence as a never-failing Shield and defensive Buckler to preserve him from perishing onely bringing him into the Field that so he may fight against his Enemies and thereby have the great Glory and rich Reward of a magnanimous spirited and valiant Conquerour In earnall Judgment and the fleshly Eye of humane sense and reason the rich Gluttons case was desirable Luke 16. and poor Lazarus condition despicable but the poor Man was received to Mercy and the rich Man rejected to Judgement And herein beloved we may behold the great grosse and palpable Errour of the carnall mens Judgement of this World who conceive their chiefest Happinesse consisteth in creature Comforts and esteeme it their greatest Delight to swim in the Confluence of all outward good things and account it their principall Felicity to be in the present possession of outward Pomp and earthly Prosperity Loe thus blind erroneous and ignorant are carnall-minded men in their naturall Condition But the Children of God to whom the heavenly light of Truth hath appeared who have been often exercised in Troubles Crosses and Afflictions being crucified Christians living unto God and not to themselves are of a contrary Judgment knowing assuredly that Afflictions are necessary physicall Potions for their Soules to purge out their sinfull Corruptions to try and exercise their Faith and to refine their Soules whereby they may be the fitter Receptacles for the Spirit of God Although the Heaven of Heavens be exceeding High yet notwithstanding the Gate thereof is very Low and none but humble hearted and lowly spirited Persons being crucified Christians shall enter therein Beloved we may not think to goe to Heaven in beds of Downe we must in this Vale of misery passe through an
violently shed in this our Kingdome And yet notwithstanding all their faire Pretences patheticall Speeches and mournfull Expressions for Peace when once they plainely perceive that there is any Proposition really intended and seriously proposed for a firme settled and well-grounded Peace throughout this whole Kingdome Loe then they are as averse in disposition to Peace as Saul's Armour was to the body of David 1 Sam. 17.38 39. when he was to fight with the Gyant Goliath Loe thus like grosse and palpable Hypocrites they deceitfully professe that with their fallacious Mouthes which they never really purposed in their guilefull hearts also utterly deny the practice thereof by their vicious disquietfull and contentious Lives Rebellion stands this very day amongst us in this Kingdome at the Barre of Gods Justice expecting every houre the giving up of the bitter Verdict of due deserved Guiltinesse and from thence the irrevocable Pronuntiation of the direfull fatall sentence of Condemnation and that without Repentance to a perpetuall and datelesse durance of Damnation Oh fearfull and intolerable Rom. 13.2 Punishment And for the speedy Prevention hereof I doe here heartily wish that some patheticall Aposiopesis would modestly whisper and secretly suggest to each mans Conscience that is guilty thereof the intolerability of that Punishment justly due to the Sinne of Rebellion and that through the operation of Gods Grace and blessed Spirit in their hearts there may be a speedy Reformation in their lives that so the damnable Sinne of Rebellion may not Syren-like be unto them the subtle bewitching Inchanter and immediate fallacious Fore-runner of their both temporall and eternall Destruction And although there be at this day in our Land such violent Opposition against Kingly Authority yet notwithstanding a faithfull-hearted Subject will readily make expression as occasion is offered of his loyalty to his King And as farre as the King hath a lawfull Supreme power to Command the Subject ought to have a willing heart and ready hand to Obey forasmuch as the dignity of a King transcends the Subject so much is the Obligation of the Subject to his King Neither is the Duty lesse which we owe to our Soveraigne then the Safe-gard we claime by his Protection as the Center next under God from which we derive our Honours and to which we owe our Services and the same Kingly hand of beneficence power which dispenseth honours and safety unto the Subject pointeth out the lines of dutifull Obedience and obliged Loyalty to His Prince Our gracious Soveraigne hath formerly and also frequently cast his Princely Eyes of sweet Favour and loving Kindnesse upon many of his meane Subjects who were but of low Degrees and also freely raised them up unto high Dignities not onely by conferring great Honours upon them but also store of Wealth accordingly wherewith to maintaine them whereby they were almost become Companions of Princes Quest But what Requitals have many of them made His Majesty for His so Graciously dealing towards them Answ They have fallen off from Him Spoken hardly of Him Adhered to His rebellious Enemies against Him Raised up unnaturall Warre upon Him And also drawne by their verball Perswasions and personall Examples many thousands of this Kingdome after them for to effect those things which themselves with others projected against Him What Could Christian English Subjects be thus forgetfull of so great undeserved Princely Favours freely conferred upon them Did they receive such Kingly Courtesies from the beneficent Hand of a Royall and bountifull Benefactor And have they rendered Him no other Requitals for them but onely unnaturall Opposition against Him And to such a One also as He is being Constituted by the God of Heaven for to be their lawfull Soveraigne upon Earth And whose royall Person is sufficiently knowne to be of eminent Worth and Integrity who constantly beautifieth the Protestant Religion with the gracious Example of His holy Conversation and who hath also given most ample Testimony of His reall Affections to the Peace Good and Welfare of this our English Kingdome To whom also even out of Conscience by the Oath of Allegiance they are strictly obliged for to yeild Obedience Oh ineffable Ingratitude For whose unnaturall and ingratefull Requitals His Majesty may at this day both truely and also mournfully take up against them the Lords just Complaint against the Obstinate Jewes I have nourished and brought up Children but they have rebelled against me Isa 1.2 Loe thus woe and alas even David-like hath He been dealt with by them They rewarded him Evill for Good to the great discomfort of his Soule Psal 35.12 And as such pernitious Persons by those their rebellious Actions have publiquely evidenced to the World that they were His Majesties professed Enemies I doe heartily wish with the earnest desires of my Soule that it may not too truely be said of some others who were accounted His Majesties faithfull Friends and upon whose Fidelity under God His Majesty greatly depended being confident of their constant Loyalty towards Him that they have dealt treacherously with Him by abusing that Authority conferr'd upon them some of them being Selfe-Seekers corruptly executing His Majesties Commissions granted forth for His Majesties Military service Promotion betraying that Trust reposed in them by under-hand dealing sinisterly for their owne private Advantage receiving black Bribes secretly wherewith to minorate His Majesties rebellious Enemies pecuniarie Mulcts just deserved and assigned present Satisfaction Whereby wicked avaricious Policie being in the Front and corruptly commanding the Vaunt-gard hindered very unhappily the just and necessary furtherance of His Majesties compulsive Military Service in the Reare Nam pecunia est nervus Belli And others by delivering up unnecessarily those strong garrison Holds of Forts Castles Townes and Cities which longer with safety they might have kept had their pusilanimous Spirits beene magnanimously heroicall and perfidious Hearts subjectively faithfull by which their so treacherously doing they greatly weakened His Majesties Royall Power against His professed Enemies utterly ruined His Loyall-hearted Party in their outward Estates and wickedly inriched themselves with the cursed Mammon of Vnrighteousnesse Luke 16.9 So that of all such Judas-like Friends we may truely say with the Prophet Micah A mans Enemies are the men of his owne house Micah 7.6 All which detrimentall Effects together with many more have lately been unhappily produced amongst us in this our Kingdome which have proceeded from the deadly sinne of cursed Covetousnesse the which also have beene is and will be to the great prejudice of the Actors thereof themselves as well as others according to that true saying of an ancient Poet. Ipse cupido nocet multis cupidóque cupido Had such unconstant and false-hearted Persons both timely and carefully taken into serious Consideration had it been but for their alone particular Welfare but onely those unhappy and bitter Fruits which such cursed Trees of Treachery might have produced to themselves alone for their owne particular Ilfare
which he had no Right for it properly belonged to his Brother King Solomon But what became of him for his Usurpation Lo the just Judgement of God seized upon him insomuch as that although Himselfe was of the Blood-Royall His dayes were ended in blood 1 King 2◠25 And here my Heart compells my Hand to iterate these tragicall Words as a Christian Caution to all the obstinate Rebells of our English-Nation whereby to deterre them from any such godlesse and gracelesse Usurpation HIS DAYES WERE ENDED IN BLOOD God give them Grace to amend their Lives in this Particular least as bad or a worse End befall them for the like Usurpation at this day practiced by them For in the hainous Sin of bloody Rebellion there lieth secretly wrap'd up the just Vengeance of the righteous God and when the Sin of Rebellion is throughly ripe then the due deserved Punishment of it will certainly break forth and fiercely fly upon the Committers thereof to their inevitable and deadly Destruction Insomuch as that those pernitious Persons whose Heads at this day project whose Hearts affect and whose Hands act the Sin of Rebellion against their lawfull Soveraign the Prophet David who was inspired with the blessed Spirit of God plainly tells them Psal 62.3 They shall be slain all the sort of them yea as a tottering wall shall they be and like a broken hedge And yet notwithstanding all this methinks I hear some obstinate and incorrigible Rebell who desperately desiteth though against both the Word of God and the Laws of this Land to continue still in his own present and cursed Condition to persist in his perverse Paths and to walk in the wicked Wayes of his own rebellious Heart say unto me What necessity is there for so much to have been spoken of concerning Monarchicall Authority Must we subject our selves so strictly thereunto Can we not evade it but must we inevitably be obedient to it Quest What although in Antient time the Old Testament under the Law required such Obedience to Kings as you have here declared yet notwithstanding we who are Believers doe conceive that we are not obliged to such Obedience to Kings now in the New Testament under the Gospel and therefore why should Obedience to Kings be so earnestly preached unto us and so strictly pressed upon us in these daies Doth the New Testament binde us to such Obedience Answ Unto which I Answer The holy Apostle S. Peter who was himselfe a Gospel Preacher called immediately to that sacred Office by Jesus Christ and also inspired powerfully with the Holy Ghost and according to that heavenly and blessed Inspiration expresly commanded the Jewes and in them also all Christians to the End of this present World in these very words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 2.17 the which words being translated are Feare God Honour the King He there links God and the King together as justly he may for there is such a neere Relation and close Connexion betwixt God and the King as that the true Feare of God and due Honour of the King are Individuals they are Inseparables never to be divided but constantly dwell together in one and the same syncere Heart of a faithfull Servant to God and loyall Subject to the King Hence then let none deluding the World fallaciously say they have Gods true Feare before their Eyes who have not really the Kings due Honour in their Hearts And if the Kings due Honour be in their Hearts then it will both constantly and perspicuously appeare in their Lives for every Tree is knowne by its fruits Mat. 7.20 If Men truly feare God then will they also faithfully honour the King in God and for God whose Vice-gerent He is Which due Honour of the King consisteth in the Peoples Love and Obedience to Him viz when as His People shall obediently Love Him and lovingly Obey Him The which Feare of God and Honour of the King in such a People so qualified will inevitably worke in them a constant cordiall and universall Obedience to all the Commandements of God as also an hearty wel-wishing towards their lawfull Soveraigne by frequently faithfully and fervently praying to God for Him and also a continuall wel-speaking of Him constantly vindicating His Honour by boldly contradicting all those that falsly and malitiously speake against Him and also helping Him to the uttermost of their Abilities both with Persons and Purses as Necessities require and Occasions are offered So that if disobedient to the King then fearlesse of God and if fearlesse of God then ready to run into all Impiety and that with as much Violence Eagernesse as the Horse rusheth into the Battel Jer. 8.6 Of which our distracted England of late hath sorrowfully tasted by wofull Experience But woe and alas the quite contrary Effects to those which the true Feare of God and due Honour of the King produce have not onely beene formerly but are also still both too fluently and frequently practised by too many thousands amongst us in these Dismall and Disastrous Daies Insomuch as that If sturdy Tumults arising and violently proceeding by the which driving our Dread Soveraigne through feare from His Royall Habitation be honouring of Him then at the beginning of these Troubles He was Honoured If furiously chaseing His Majesties Royall peaceable and innocent Person from place to place circumventingly pursuing Him and craftily hunting after Him even Saul-like towards David as a Partridge upon the Mountaines be honouring of Him then He hath beene Honoured If Raising Forces upon Him and taking up Armes against Him whereby to suppresse His Regall Power be honouring of Him then He is Honoured If Separation of His lawfull and Royall Consort to gether with all those Olive Branches His Deare and Princely Children from Him be honouring of Him then He is Honoured If Deprivation of all His just Rights Priviledges Prerogatives and Revenues unjustly from Him be honouring of Him then He is Honoured If the Imprisonment of His Royall Person abridging Him of His Princely Liberty and falsly calumniating His Candid and Royall Reputation be honouring of Him then He is Honoured Loe these are a few of those many inhumane Injuries and barbarous Indignities which formerly have been and still are most injuriously perpetrated against Him Oh pitifull Condition into which at this day He is deeply involved Is this that Legall Active Obedience which all Loyall-hearted Dutifull Subjects who rightly feare God and heartily honour the King owe to their Just and Lawfull Soveraigne God Forbid And the Lord in much Mercy with his tender Eyes of loving Pity looke downe from Heaven and speedily deliver this our distressed guilelesse faithfull and true hearted Israelite out of all His Troubles Me-thinks I heare His Majesty in the Anxiety Anguish and Bitternesse of His Soule with great Solicitude Sadnesse and Pensivenesse of Spirit whose pious Affections through Gods grace moving Him to follow Christ His Captaine and as a faithfull spirituall Souldier manfully to
fight under his Banner against Sinne the World and the Devill is now brought by the Providence and Permission of God into the fiery Fornace of Affliction for the firme triall of His saving Faith and profitable Christian Exercise of Gods heavenly graces within Him and also by probability extracted from fatall Conjectures in the very Twilight of His time betwixt the Day of Life Night of Death being now a PRISONER in Carishrooke-Castle in the Isle of Wight mournfully complaining unto God in these words Oh! my loving and compassionate God who by thy most holy wise and powerfull Providence dost continually preserve and governe all thy Creatures and all their Actions I humbly pray thee for Jesus Christ his sake to grant me Pardon and Patience thou that searchest the heart and triest the reines thou knowest the Sincerity of my Soules Service towards thee my constant Resolution for the continuation of the Protestant Religion the carefull Preservation of the Ancient Lawes of this Kingdome the rightfull Priviledges of Parliament the just Liberty of the Subjects the firme Settlement of Truth and Peace amongst the People and the Conscience I make of keeping that Oath administred to Me and also taken by Me at My Coronation for which things sake c. I am now deeply involved into great Misery and therefore O My tender-hearted God take Me into the safe custody of thy powerfull Protection and shelter Me under the preservative Wings of thy speciall Providence for the fierce Floods of popular Rage are risen up against Me the swelling Surges of mischievous malitious Adversaries looke big upon Me the rough Waves of the rude Multitude strive to overflow Me the proud Billowes of insolent insulting Enemies have almost overwhelmed Me and the violent Streames of the bitter waters of Affliction are also every day ready to swallow Me up all which I know thou canst if thou wilt suppresse at thy Pleasure who stillest when thou pleasest the raging of the Seas Psal 65.7 the noise of the Waves and the madnesse of the People And now ô Lord in this My great Extremity I flie unto thee who art Almighty with whom there is Helpe from whom there may be Reliefe upon whom dependeth My Hope and in whom resteth My Confidence one Deepe calling upon another Psal 42.9 the Depth of My Misery calling upon the Depth of thy Mercy craving thy present powerfull Assestance for My speedy and joyfull Deliverance And though for the present My Body from Liberty be restrained yet through thy Mercy towards me My Heart with grace from thee is greatly enlarged and Love in Me towards thee much increased thou hast often put the oyle of gladnesse into My heavy Heart and such sacred Influences of heavenly Comforts I daily doe receive from thee as that I nothing doubt of thy Mercy towards Me. Oh my deare God! thou hast beene graciously pleased to make Me thy Vice-gerent over three Kingdomes but woe and alas I am now deprived of all that Power which formerly I had in them all three abridged not onely of that sweet Society of My deare Consort but also of all My loving and tender-hearted Children who might in this My great Distresse as comfortable Cordials to My heavy Heart afford Me some Comfort those who formerly were and still ought to be My loyall Subjects are now risen up against Me have here Imprisoned Me and I am now become not onely as an Abject unto them but also the very Object of their Reproach Scorne Contempt and Derision and none of My Subjects in all My three Kingdomes will vouchsafe to rescue Me out of Mine Enemies hands And in this My great Distresse My teares have beene my meate day and night Psal 42.3 while Mine Enemies daily and hourly reproach Me and also craftily plot greater Mischiefes against Me not onely for the deadly destruction of My mortall Body but also for the utter Extirpation of Monarchicall Authority whereby My Royall Issue and their Princely Posterity should for future times be for ever abridged of all their just lawfull and Kingly Power in this Kingdome after Me for which My potent Adversaries so wickedly intending and cruelly practising against both My selfe and Mine I have often eaten the bread of Carefulnesse and mingled my drinke with weeping Psal 102.9 Now in this My deplorable captivated and calamitous Condition I beseech thee O My gracious God who breakest not the bruised reede nor quenchest the smoaking flax looke downe with thy favourable Eyes of fatherly Pitty upon me and let thy mercifull and loving Bowels of tender Compassion yerne towards Me Heare my prayer ô Lord with thine eares consider my calling hold not thy peace at my teares Psal 39.13 And if it shall please thee O my good God to deliver Me out of the hands of Mine Enemies whereby My Life may be preserved from their furie I shall ever praise thee for being so mercifull to Me but if otherwise in thy heavenly Wisdome thou hast decreed concerning the last Period and inevitable Expiration of My naturall Life that Martyr-like I shall deeply drinke with My blessed and sweet Saviour in his owne passionate Cup of bitter Death and so My mortall Body to perish and be destroyed by the Violence of the People yet shall I ever acknowledge thee to be righteous and will alwaies even to the last breath of My Life pray from the ground of My Heart Lord pardon whatsoever I have done amisse through the whole course of My Life and sanctifie all the Dispensations of thy Providence in these My great Sufferings unto Me forgive all Mine Enemies their cruell and unnaturall dealing towards Me lay not their Sinnes to their Charge and then Not my will but thine ô righteous Father for ever be done Loe these pittifull Passages proceeding from His Majesties greatly grieved Heart together with many others me-thinks I heare Ecchoing in mine Eares for which by way of Christian Sympathie as well as obliged subjective Duty towards His Majesty my heavy Heart Heaven is my Record doth often pray privatly and sorrowfull Soule mourne secretly on his behalfe and so in like manner all other loyall hearted Subjects ought for to doe as well as my selfe that thereby we might prevaile with the God of Heaven for our gracious Soveraigne His present Deliverance out of all His Troubles and speedy Re-establishment in His Throne of Righteousnesse The which over-joyous welcome Blessing to this perplexed and distracted King-dome our good God in his great Mercy grant to us all for the Glory of his great Name the Peace of this disquieted Land and the slourishing Estate of this English Church Common-wealth wherein we live and let all those who sincerely professe and faithfully love the Lord Jesus Christ truely searing the living God and heartily honouring their lawfull King say hereunto unfeignedly with my selfe even from the very ground of their HRARTS and SOULES So be it Amen Amen Oh! let us all in the filiall feare of God