to fil his heart with grace to make a right and holy vse of this great and heauy losse that drawing neerer in humble submission obedience vnto his God he may be pleased to cheere vp his humbled soule with the inward sense and sweet feeling of his fatherly loue and with assurance of his mercy towards himself his gracious Queene and their royall seed that both their elder yeeres may bee crowned with long lasting happinesse in themselues and their seed after them continue as lights in our Ierusalem to weare the Diademe yea to bee the crowne of these Christian Kingdomes vntill Shiloh his second comming in glory And euen so let the Lord liue praised be our strength the God of our saluatioÌ„ be exalted Yea let the King reioice in thy strength ô Lord be greatly glad in thy saluation Giue him his hearts desire and denie him not therequest of his lips Preuent himwith liberal blessings keepe the crowne of pure gold vpon his head Yea ô Lord that hee may long continue our crown Adde to his yeers as to the daies of Hezekiah and let his glory be great in thy saluatioÌ„ increase of honour dignity now in his elder yeeres being laid vpon him Finally let him remaine in himselfe and his Progeny to vs and ours as blessings for euer Thou ô Lord making him glad with the ioy of thy louing countenance For why The King trusteth in the Lord and therefore in the mercy of the most high hee shal not miscarry For behold Gods hand shall finde out all his enemies c. Amen holy Father great King of glory as thou didst deale with gracious Queene Elizabeth whiles semper cadeÌ„ shee trusted in thee would not yeelde maugre so many mischieuous attempts against her sacred person one iot to Antichrist and as thou hast hitherto also dealt miraculously in preseruing thine annointed seruant Iames our gracious Soueraigne so deale with him we beseech thee still and still let all his enemies bee clothed with shame but vpon himselfe and his let the crown of these Kingdomes flourish that happy he may be for euer hauing thee the God of Iaacob for his aide and wee thy people happy and our land hauing thee for our God and thy Christ for our Soueraigne king and our Princes vnder him maintaining thy truth the sonnes of Nobles and our glorious Crowne HOS 6. 1 Come and let vs returne vnto the Lord for hee hath spoiled and hee will heale vs he hath wounded vs and he will binde vs vp Lamen 2. 13 Ierem. 3 23 Ester 9. 30 Psal 89. 19. 2. Sam. 23. 3 Gen. 17. 16 Gen. 24. 31 Ruth 4. 11 Gen. 24. 60 2. Chro. 34. 3. Ecclus 49. 1 1. Chro. 28. 9 Ierem. 5. 3. Mica 6. 9. Amos 3. 8. 1. Sam 3. 12. 2 King 4. 13. Psal 55. 19. Ierem. 2. 30. Ezek. 2. 10. verse 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 21. 3. Prou. 14. 28. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gen 49. 3. Basilic dor in epistola nuncupstor 2. Sam. 18. 3 1. Sam. 9. 20. 2. Sam. 21. 17. In Cyro paed In Basilic dor 1. King 5. 7. 2. Chron. 9. 3. 2. Chro. 34. 3. Luke 24 21. Psal 72. 6 vers 7. Isai 32. 2. 2. Chro. 34. 33 Psal 146. 3. 2. Sam. 3. 38. Gen. 5. 24. 2. Chro. 34. 28 Ezek. 21. 26. Verse 1. Vers 2 vers 4 verse 3. vers 9. ver 14. 16. verse 26. 2. Chr. 32. 25. Verse 15. Verse 16. Verse 16. Amos 9. 8. Leuit. 26 25. Hosea 4. 1. Acts 24. 14. Rom. 6. 17. The strait gate c. vpon Luk 13 13. 24 Ierem. 7. 8 Hosca 4. 1. Isai 5. 4. Hos 4. 2. vers 3 verse 4 Amos 5. 13 1. King 22. 8. verse 10 2. Chr. 36. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isa â—â— â—5 Zeph. 1. 3. Math. 24. 38. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iam 55. Isai 5. 22. 1. Pet. 4. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isai 8. 21. Prou. 21. 25. Deut. 15. 4. 2. Thes 3. 10. Amos 6. 1 ver 3 ver 4 Psal 104. 26 Iam. 5. 5 Iam. 5. 4 ver 6 Isa 5. 9 Mal. 3. 5. Col. 3. 25. Reu. 3. 16. Reu. 2. 20 2. Chro. 33 10 Isai 1. 5 Deut. 29. 18 verse 19. verse 20 Iudg. 5. 6 Isai 9. 13 Isai 28. 15 3. Chro. 28. 22 1. Cor. 11. 31 Iosh 7. 14. Iam 3. 21. 2 King 9. 22. Prou. 30. 20 Amos 5. 1 a Luk. 2. 35. 2. Chro. 34. 28 Ierem. 9. 1. 1. Sam. 30 4 Luk. 23. 28 2. Sam. 1. 20 Mica 7. 8. Lam. 4. 21 1. Sam. 4 21 Num 24 23 1. King 22 17 Isa 9. 12. Lam. 3. 65. Ruth 1. 20. Isai 28. 22 Isai 24. 11 Iob 30. 31 Psal 35. 27 Amos 8. 9 Verse 10. Iam. 4. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isai 22. 14. Zach. 12. 11. 1 Kings 20. 32 ver 13. verse 14 Lamen 5. 19 Psal 103. 19 Prou 8. 15 1. Sam. 2. 8 verse 9 Iob 29. 25 Isai 51. 12 verse 13 Deut. 33. 20 verse 29 2. Chro. 15. 2 Isai 62. 5 Isai 28. 5. 2. Sam. 22 51 Herodian l. 1 Non hoc Iudorum tempus ô Commode c. Amos 4. 12 2. Sam. 24. 16 Lament 3. 40 Ierem. 8. 6 Malach. 3. 16 Nehe. 9. 38 Ierem. 4. 13 2. Chr. 15. 22 verse 13 2. Chro. 34. 33 Reuel 9. 11 Isai 9. 15 Numb 33. 55 Gen. 27. 41 Gen. 31. 28 Iob 22. 21 2. Sam. 24. 14 Baruch 1. 11 1. Tim. 2 2 Tertul. in apologet cap. 30. vitam prolixam Imperium securum c. 1. King 11. 36 Psal 18. 46 Psal 21. 1 Psal 132. 10. Psal 146. 5. Eccles 10. 17.
Votiuae Lachrymae A VOVV OF TEARES For the losse of Prince HENRY IN A SERMON PREACHED in the Citie of Bristol December 7. 1612. being the day of his Funerall By E. C. Batchelar in Diuinitie and publike Preacher to that Citie 2. Chron. 35. 25. And Ieremiah lamented Iosiah and all Singing men and Singing women mourned for Iosiah in their Lamentations to this day and made the same for an ordinance vnto Israel and behold they are written in the LAMENTATIONS AT LONDON Printed by W. H. for William Welby and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church yard at the signe of the Swanne TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCES The most illustrious and hopefull Prince CHARLES Duke of Yorke the most renowned and vertuous Princesse the Lady ELIZABETH her Grace together with her espoused happy Husband the thrice-noble and worthy Prince FREDERIKE Count Palatine of Rheine and Prince Elector TO whom vnder God should these vowed teares humbly addresse themselues but vnto you three thrice excellēt Princes the neerest partakers and most hopefull repairers of the great and common losse that caused them A losse indeed common to vs the members of this State and Church with all the faithfull inhabitants of the Christian world But to expresse the greatnesse of it What shall wee take to witnesse for it what shall wee compare to it Whereto shall wee liken it A breach great like the sea who can heale it who can comfort vs in it But blessed bee the Father of mercies and God of all comfort that hath not onely preserued vnto vs of this age the royall root and stemme but also in you the princely branches reserued a treasury of hope comfort for the generations ensuing Only being taught by so heauy an hand that the hope of the hils and multitude of mountaines is but vaine except the Lord be sought vnto as the only health of Israel What shall we say but the Lord giue vs hearts so to repay vnto your Excellencies the arrerages of praiers and thanks wherein wee are behind hand to your Princely Brother that God may be pleased to repaire by you the losse that in him we haue sustained So may wee hope that the God of mercy the strength of Israel will answer vs with words of peace and truth saying Vnto our Soueraigne your royal father I haue laid help vpō one that is mighty I haue exalted one chosen out of the people c. Vnto you illustrious Prince Charles Thou sbalt beare rule ouer men being iust and ruling in the feare of God Vnto you gracious Lady I will blesse thee and thou shalt bee the mother of Nations Kings also of people shall come of thee Finally vnto you happie Prince and sent of God to increase our happinesse Come in thou blessed of the Lord for whom the choisest pearle in the Christian world is by God himself prepared The Lord make her like Leah and like Rahel which two builded the house of Israel Let her grow into thousand thousands and let her seed possesse the gate of his Enemies What remaineth most gracious Princes but that with humble suite for pardon of this boldnes and acceptance of this poore seruice offred in the name of this famous and loiall Citie vnto the honorable memory of your triumphant Brother and patronage of your Princely Graces I tender vnto your Highnesses two requests of an heart zealously deuoted both to your present honour and euerlasting blisse The first that you would alwaies set before your eies the Princely patterne of vertue and pietie so happily expressed in the example of that blessod Soule whom the world was no longer worthy to enioy who beginning as Iosiah did from his tender yeeres to seeke after the God of his fathers hath now left a sweet though mournefull memory of his graces amongst vs like the composition of the perfume made by the art of the Apothecary The second that you would often and seriously meditate vpon that hoauenly counsel giuen by the holiest King that euer raigned that man after Gods own heart vnto his sonne the wisest Prince that euer liued and therefore well be fitting your graces Greatnesse And thou Solomon my sonne know thou the God of thy Father serue him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all hearts and vnderstandeth all the imaginations of thoughts if thou seeke him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for euer Which if your Graces shall please to apply as spoken by God himselfe to each of you I haue all which my soule herein affecteth which shall neuer cease to call vpon the Lord for the continuance of the sure mercies of Dauid vpon our dread Soueraigne with our gracious Queene your roiall Parents and vpon your excellent Highnesses that you may long remaine the comfort of their roial Maiesties and crowne of vs their well affected subiects Your excellent Graces in all Christian seruice most humbly deuoted EDVVARD CHETVVIND ¶ To the Christian Reader IT was an old complaint vttered by a Prophet Thou haste smitten them but they haue not lorrowed would to God it were not verified in vs or that wee had learned to listen to that other Prophets counsell Heare yee the rod and who hath appointed it Then might our endeauour for reuiuing sorrow seeme at this present needlesse and impertinent were our hearts wrought to awfull feare at the lions roaring and not rather hardned as the Adamant stone against both the voice and rod of the Almightie But as on the one side the terrours of the Lord inforce so on the other side the loue of Christ and of his Church constraineth vs to be instant in season and out of season vpon this secure and sencelesse generation The Lord hath spoken who can but prophecie yea the Lord hath begun to strike who when hee beginneth will make an end and bring forth iudgement vnto victory whose eares can now but tingle or whose heart but tremble This may bee defence inough for a man otherwise well pleased to liue amongst his owne people to put the trumpet to his mouth if it may be to awaken such as sleepe secure in Sion of whom it cannot now bee said because they haue no changes therefore they feare not God but rather as of the desperate Iewes in vaine saith God haue I smitten your children they haue receiued no correction To speake plainely an heauie stroake of Gods hand is now vpon vs for our sinnes but that which giueth cause to feare that the same hand is stretched out still is that to our many other sins we adde this aboue all not to take to heart so grieuous a visitation A maine proppe and limme is rent from the body of this Church and state who considereth it Our sinnes haue vndoubtedly brought this maime vpon vs who finding the plague in his owne
the earth in whose daies the righteous should flourish and aboundance of peace be happily established of whom we promised our selues that he should be Isaiahs good King reigning in iustice and ruling in iudgement as an hiding place from the winde and as a refuge for the tempest as riuers of water in a drie place and as the shadow of a great Rocke in a weary land finally one of whom wee hoped what the Aduersary more then feared that treading in the steps of his religious Father our present gratious Soueraigne and going on where he should leaue as Ioshuah after Moses in subduing of the Canaanites he would Iosiah like compell all that were found in Israel to serue the Lord. Behold beloued these and many more not mentioned the conceiued hopes that we had in him who was expected in the succeeding age not without iust reason to become our Crowne The vnexpected losse of whom so suddenly Oh that wee should need so lamentable a document to make vs giue care to the Psalmists counsell Not to put trust in Princes c. Alas how hath it cast vs downe from the hopes which in him we conceiued and forcibly brought vs to acknowledge as in our text The crowne of our head to be fallen Surely not a great man onely in Israel as Dauid sometimes spake of Abner but the very crowne and glorie of our Israel who howsoeuer hee be taken away in Gods great mercy and loue to him no doubt as Enoch of whom is chronicled that hee walked with God and was no more seene for God tooke him away or as Iosiah to Whom was promised as a speciall fauour from the Lord that he should be gathered to his fathers and be put into the graue in peace that his eies might not see the euils which God purposed to bring vpon that place and people yet for ourselues well may wee dread lest this his taking away hath beene in Gods displeasure rather towards vs who were neither worthy of nor yet truly thankfull for such and so great a blessing Whom therefore God according to that threat in Ezelkiel of taking away the Diademe and the Crowne hath taken away from vs by the losse and misse to bring vs to conceiue more rightly of the worth of such a gift The Lord grant wee may take it to heart to make a right vse of it Since for the cause procuring so farre as it concerneth ourselues alas what may we reckon it but our sinnes deseruing iustly so great yea a greater iudgèment as in detestation of our selues therefore wee truely may and wil redily if once throughly humbled acknowledge in our Prophets wailing words Woe vnto vs that wee haue sinned Since if wee also shall more question of the cause or say in our heart wherefore are these things thus come vpon vs leremy our Prophet hath long agone made vs heereto answere Ierem. 13. 22. For the multitude of thine iniquities are thy skirts discouered and thy heeles made bare For surely so as it is generally sin that brings shame and iudgement vpon any people as on the old world on Sodome and the Canaanites c. to the very rooting out of them from the earth so more particularly and for the purpose that it is for the peoples sins that princes are taken away witnesse that testimony Prou. 28. 2. For the transgression of a land there are many Princes thereof often changes of the Crowne being euermore dangerous to a Common-weale as wee may see for instance 1. King 16. In the disioynted state of Israel Yea farther not to vrge many proofes to this purpose looke but in Isaiah 3. How as a maine iudgement the Lord of Hostes threatneth to take away from Ierusalem and Iudah the stay and strength the strong man and the man of Warre the Ruler and the Prophet the Prudent and the Aged Appointing children to be their Princes and babes to rule ouer them But what may be imagined the cause of all this ruine It followeth after Doubtlesse lerusalem is fallen and Iudah is fallen downe because their tongues and works are against the Lord to prouoke the eies of his glory Yea the triall of their countenance testisieth against them they declare their sinnes as Sodome they hide them not and therefore Woe now vnto their soules for they haue rewarded euill vnto themselues And hee instanceth after in the end of the Chapter in two chiefe euils the tyrannous oppression of their gouernours and their womens want onnesse and pride The fruit of which and all the rest redounding to the ruine and subuersion of the state wee may read concluded in the last verse Therefore shall her gares lament and mourne and shee being desolate shall sit vpon the ground To bring no more for confirmation of this generall truth that it is the sin of the people that mooueth God to take away their Princes a thing which both Nehemiah and Daniel and here and elsewhere our Ieremy and all the faithfull in such cases truly humbled haue acknowledged haue not wee reason in this case to suspect our selues yea to conclude that for our sinnes God Almighty in his displeasure hath sent this losse of losses and made this breach vpon vs It may be to make coniecture for our great vnthankefulnesse in that God hauing affoorded vs heretofore many great and maruellous if not miraculous Deliuerances as to name but two most memorable from the inuasion of our professed enemies and their inuincible Armado in 88 and since from that hellish designe worthy a lasting monument for detestation of the Popish pioners wee haue not rendred according to the reward bestowed on vs but haue had our hearts lift vp for which therefore wee may iustly feare that this wrath is come vpon vs. Or may it not be for yet a farther degree of foule ingratitude that hauing beene blessed by God as much as euer any Nation with aboundance of long peace in a fruitfull Countrey wee haue giuen him cause to complaine of vs as in that song of Moses Deut 32. against his people that we that should haue beene vpright when we waxed fat haue spurned with the heele yea being fatte and grosse and laden with fatnesse haue either quite forsaken God that made vs or not as wee should regarded the strong God of our saluation but haue prouoked him to anger if not with strange Gods yet certainclie with many foule abominations and crying sinnes So that as the widowe of Sarephath when shee saw her childe breathlesse cried out in a passion vnto Elijab 1. King 17 O thou man of God art thou come to mee to call my sinne to remembrance and to stay my sonne So may wee acknowledge with humiliation vnder his hand that God is come vnto vs to call our sinnes vnto remembrance and therefore hath taken away our Prince And whether farther yet his purpose be to proceede against vs except by speedy turning
from sinne we stay his hand wee haue cause to feare But surely by this already done the Lord God hath more then manifested that his are vpon vs as of old he threatned Israel as vpon a sinful kingdome with whom he hath already entred action as meaning to auenge the quarel of his couenant and to maintain his controuersie against vs the same verily and none other which in Hosea he prosessed to haue with the inhabitants of the Land of Israel viz. for the crying sinnes of our Land prouoking the eies of his glory For howsoeuer by the mercy of God we haue wherewith to stop the mouth of the blasphemous Aduersary both in regard of our profession after the way which they cal Heresie worshipping the God of our Fathers beleeuing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets and in regard of practise not being destitute of those who from the heart haue obeyed vnto the forme of Doctrine whereunto they haue beene deliuered yet so few in comparison are they that ioine these two together or willingly brooke the Narrow way to life as hath beene shewed in the treatise formerly written touching that Argument that vpon the body of our professors may iustly light that exprobration of the Propher Ieremy viz that they doe but trust in lying words when they cry so loud The Temple of the Lord The Temple of the Lord c. For alas show can it secure or profit vs before the Lord that we haue the vndoubted marks of a true visible church in soundnesse of Doctrine and forme of worship whiles the matter of cortroucrsie betweene God and vs remaineth no truth nor mercy nor found knowledge of God in the lands No but insteed there of for all the Lords care of his Vinoyard our paineful preaching and what then thinke you would be if the Lord should let fall his care if there were no preaching no planting of the best plants no plucking vp of the euill weedes A plentifull Vintage of those wilde and sowre grapes of impiety and vnmercifulnesse wherwith in Esaies time his teeth were set on edge and which by his Prophet Hosea hee casteth in the teeth of the wicked Israelites who by swearing and lying and killing and stealing and whoring are said to breake out and bloud to touch bloud And therefore no maruel if the land mourneth c. And yet behold we are by the same Prophet immediatly after directed to take knowledge of a sinne of lowder cry in the Lords eares then any of the forementioned where hee saith yet let none rebuke nor reprooue another as if he should say it is but lost labour for thy people are as those that rebuke the Preist An euill time indeed when the prudent shall bee aduised to keepe silence because as Ahab could not away with Micaiah so men hate him that rebuketh in the gate and abhorre him that speaketh vprightly So euill a time that where this sinne preuaileth it may bee feared the time of vengeance is not farre of as the Lord himselfe sheweth iustifying his seuere proceeding against his people in the captiuity of Babylon because they mocked his messengers despised his words misused his Prophets vntill the wrath of the Lord arose against his people and till there was no remedy or as the word imports no farther healing What shal I seeke for more particulars for those crying sinnes that pulled fire from heauen vpon Sodome euen those foure Cardinall crimes which the Prophet Ezekiel Ezek. 16. 49. expresly mentioneth viz. Pride Fulnesse of bread Abundance of idlenesse Cruelty in not strengthening the hand of the poore and needy Oh! that we could say our land were free from them But alas we cannot For first who seeth not that Pride that setteth it selfe out to euery eic in their outward habit proportionable neither to the body that weares it nor to the estate that should maintaine it nor to the sober liking of those that should approue it in al which regards it falleth vnder the same condemnation with the strange and disguised attire by the old Prophets so long agoe seuerely censured But there is yet another Pride that keepeth it selfe more out of view surking secretly in the heart yet not so secretly but either by the trial of the countenance and gesture or by words especially when there is occasion of boasting and contention or by port and affecting of high place or lastly by intruding into Gods office rashly passing censure vpon anothers seruants it doth more or lesse discouer it selfe to be that Pride of heart that God abhorreth Secondly for fulnes of bread comprehending not onely gluttonous eating but also that fowler abuse now a daies and more vniuersall deluge of excessiue drinking are not these the times which our Sauiour said should paralel the daies of Noah and we of this nation the persons of whom nothing is to be storied but that we are found as it were at racke and manger eating and drinking as if wee had no other care but to nourish our hearts as in a day of slanghter and God grant it bee not against the day of our owne slaughter So fearefully are wee ouerslowne with the inundation especially of the sinne of drunkennes that it is hardly beleeued that excesse in drinking and quassing is a sinne in such as can beare it away or stand vpright with it although the Prophet Esay hath left a special woe against them that are mighty to drinke wine and strong to poure in strong drinke And Th' appostle Peter among the lusts of the gentiles of all that truly professe Christ to bee abandoned reckoneth euen those drinkings and carrowsings the shamefull sinne of our nation Oh! if some part of those huge healths that haue beene heaued vp as a supposed honour to our late renowned Prince had beene conuerted into humble and feruent praiers to God for his preseruation we might possibly haue had him now liuing amongst vs and God surely lesse offended at vs. Thirdly that there is no want among vs of Aboundant idlenes witnes the very liues that all men looke vpon of base vagarants who like those afflicted and assamished wretches spoken of by the Prophet are suffered too much euery where not for want of good lawes but of due execution to goe to and fro the countrie wandring about in swarmes to doe mischiefe and ready when they be hungry to freat themselues and curese both their King and God whiles they wilfully remaine in want because their hands refuse to worke hauing nothing but what they get by spoile or beggery from others to the shame of our christian common wealth and contrary to the prouision made by that old statute law in Moses That there should bee no begger in Isruel renewed and confirmed by Saint Paul as by a latter act of Parliament vnder the Gospell where he telleth the Thessalonians
to make all true hearted Subiects to weep til with Dauid and his followers at Ziklag we be able to weepe noe more If not for him somuch who was taken from our head to be translated into blisse yet as our Sauiour said to the daughters of Ierusalem for our selues and for our children who feele all the losse Whereat howsoeuer wee haue iust cause to grieue and somuch the more because we may easily conceiue how Gath and Ashkelon and the vncircumcised hollow hearted Philistines within our selues if not happily Moab Ammon and Edom some of our bordering euill neighbours also doe reioice to whom wee haue to answer with the Church in Micah Reioice not against me ô mine enemy though I fall c. For may not the cup also passe through vnto thee yet are wee not left destitute of most Princely hopes in those royal branches more thē one springing from the same blessed roots and now a third in lieu of that fallen off we trust by Gods owne hand for the increase of strength and honour to this kingdome happily into the same stocke to be inserted So happy a Match howsoeuer the il willers to Siō may maligne it that hardly could the Christian world for purity and parity of true Religion in all points fundamentall agreeing with our Church witnesse that worthy Palatine Catechisme expounded by learned Vrsinits affoard the like That yet we may haue good hope that Ichabod is not borne nor the glorie to depart from Israel for who shall liue when God doth this nor we to be left as Israel in Micaiahs vision scattered vpon the mountaines as sheepe without any Shepheard vnlesse as our vnthankefulnesse hath already defeated our first hope so the want of feeling of this heauy stroake cause the hand of God to bee still stretched out against vs till maugre our dulnesse and obstinacie he haue giuen vs sorrow of heart euen his curse vpon vs. but oh let it thus befall thine enemies and ours O Lord and such as reioice in our sorrow or refuse to sorrow with vs giue them sorrow in due time but without vs. As for vs whose names the Almighty hath changed from Naomi to Marah teaching vs not only by nature to lament the sorrowfull effect but also by grace to be humbled for the sinnefull cause let vs in the fourth and last place learne how to expresse and testifie our repentant sorrow as the meanes to turne away Gods anger and prcuent our farther danger from the practise of this holy Prophet and people of God professed in the last words of the 15 verse our dance is turned into mourning How could they yea how can wee better suite our selues to the hand and minde of God who calling to mourning chargeth men to bee no more mockers lest their bandes encrease then when all ioy is darkened and the mirth of the world is gone away to turne our Harpes into mourning and our Organs into the voice of them that weepe For howsoeuer the Lord delighteth not in the affliction and sorrow of his creatures being therefore to bee euer magnified because he loueth the prosperity of his seruants yet knowing best what is for our good and prouiding mercifully that by timely sorrow for sinne we may haue peace in our latter end he doth not cease both by voice hand to inforce this duty of humiliation vpon vs. One while with loud threatning hee crieth out as by our Prophet Ieremy 13. 15. 16. Heare and giue eare and be not proud for the Lord hath spoken it giue glorie to the Lord your God before hee bring darkenesse and or euer your feet stumble in the dark mountaines c. Yea verse 18. Say vnto all high and low humble your selues sit downe for the crowne of your glory shall come downe from your heads Another while the former not predailing hee vndertaketh by strong hand to create a day or rather night of mourning In that day saith he by the Prophet Amos I wil euen cause the Sunne to goe downe at noone and I will darken the earth in the cleere day c. And I will turne your feasts into mourning and all your songs into Lamentations and I will bring sackloth vpon all loines and baldnesse vpon euery head and will make it as the mourning of an onely sonne and the end thereof as a bitter day One while he informeth vs how we must sit our selues so to draw neere vnto him that hee may drawe neere to vs Afflict your selues and sorrow and weepe yea let your laughter be turned into mourning and your ioy into a sad looked heauinesse Another while he lets vs vnderstand how indignely he takes it that when hee calles to mourning men should giue themselues to mirth and feasting It was declared saith the Prophet in the cares of the Lord of Hosts But what followeth Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till yee die saith the Lord of Hosts A doome sufficient if there were nothing else to awake and rouse vs vp to sorrowing to send vs to Iladadrimmon and make vs all to fall downe weeping and wailing as in the valley of Megiddon yea to present our selues before the Lord that mercifull great King of Israel like Benhadads seruants with ropes about our necks acknowledging what wee haue demerited For loe this the ready way to find compassion and abundant kindnes with the Lord who hath himselfe in Ioel 2. 12. directed vs vnto this course of renting our hearts and with fasting weeping and mourning to turne vnto him that is gracious and mercifull slow to anger and of great kindnes repenting of the euill For as it followeth who knoweth if hereupon he will repent and returne and leaue a blessing behind him especially shall we to this noise of mourning adioine the voice of feruent and humble crying as verse 17. they were directed both priest and people weeping between the porch and the altar and saying spare thy people O Lord and giue not thy heritage vnto reproch for wherefore should they say among the people where is their God for surely being thus once truly humbled before the Lord wee shall finde as there is added ver 18. that the Lord he will be iealous ouer his land and spare his people hee will not giue his heritage vnto reproch not suffer the enemie to say where is their God No for seeing the kingdome is the Lords who howsoeuer mortall Princes perish yet rein lineth for euer hauing prepared his throne in heauen and by his kingdome ruling ouer all being he onely by whom Kings doe raigne and to whom as Hannah sung belong the pillers of the earth who will preserue the feete of his Saints when the wicked shall be put to silence in the darke who dwelleth among vs as a King in the armie and as hee that comforteth the mourners saying I euen
I am he that comfort you who are wee that wee should feare any mortall man or the sonne of man who shall bee made as grasse forgetting the Lord our maker that hath spread out the heauens and laid the foundation of the earth c. Doubtles there is none like God O Iesehurun which rideth vpon the heauens for thine helpe and on the clouds in his glory nor any like vnto thee ô people saued by the Lord who is the shield of thine helpe and the sword of thy glorie Onely let our Asae with all Iudah and Beniamin heare the condition of amitie long agoe proclaimed by the Lords prophet The Lord is with you while you bee with him and if yee seeke him he will be found of you Then shall we be a crowne of glory in the hand of the Lord and as a roiall Diademe in the hand of our God yea he himselfe the Lord of hostes shall bee vnto vs for a crowne of glorie and for a diademe of beautie and to our King especially as to his seruant Dauid a tower of saluation shewing mercy to his annointed euen to his seruant Iames our Soueraigne and to his seed after him for euer Wherefore for conclusion to apply our selues both to that ancient counsell and the present hand of God this being as the Philosopher told the Romane Emperor no fit time for sporting when as not the sword of Perennius or any mortall enemy but the glittering sword of the immortall God may seeme to bee vnsheathed and shaken at vs let vs as many as desire to see the welfare of Ierusalem and peace vpon Israel so addresse our selues to mourning that we may prepare to meet our God comming out against vs who will no doubt be pacified towards vs and repenting of the euill will say to the destroying Angel it is sufficient hold now thine hand when hee shall behold vs humbling our selues before him in vnfained repentance and hearty praier First in repentance For seeing the Lord hath himselfe begunne to search vs as he did this people and that wee suffer doubtles for our forenamed sinnes what should we but after their example search and try our waies and turne againe vnto the Lord who now assuredly hearkneth whether any speake aright repenting him of his wickednes and saying what haue I done which if he may heare behold a booke of remembrance shall bee written before him for them that feare the Lord and thinke vpon his name Oh thē let vs for our parts write our booke of Remembrance because of all this make a sure couenant with the Lord and we our Princes our Priests put hand and seale vnto it Into which whosoeuer shall refuse to enter and to say with vs woe now vnto vs that wee haue sinned shall certainly one day bee forced to cry out woe and alasse vnto vs for wee are destroied Yea further for a speciall proofe of our sincere and serious Repentance let vs with Asa and the people vnder him vpon the forementioned admonition ioifully enter into a league and oath of association not only our selues to seeke the Lord God of our fathers with all our heart and with all our soule but also whosoeuer will not seeke the Lord God of Israel but will cleaue to or plead for Baal and either become themselues or approue of that accursed Iesuited generation that account it merit orious to vndermine and blow vp Parliament houses to murder and massacre sacred Princes yea to kill young and old nocents as they reck on them and innocents all together their friends for company so their foes may perish shall I say according to the iustice of that law let them be staine whether great or small whether man or woman nay rather in charity I wish first for their good that they might be cōpelled to serue the Lord or otherwise for our Churches peace kingdomes safety that either they were exiled quite from among vs that they might infect no longer or so curbed at least that their number and strength might not encrease to endanger vs farther For surely to speake plainely howsoeuer it be good to repose our confidence alone in God of whose careful goodnes this land hath had so plentifull experience yet shall we as behoueth vs consider the continuall machinations and attempts of these Iesuitish Locusts possessed with the spirit of their Prince Abaddon or but looke vpon the wound that freshly bleeding in our neighbors sides the reward which that redoubted French King Henry the fourth receiued for taking downe the statue of reproch and admitting a-againe this viperous broode into the heart of his kingdome how can wee iudge it lesse then a tempting of God to relie still vpon miraculous deliuerances if wee suffer meane while to the preiudice of our head the taile of the false Prophet and popery to spread it self as a contagion thorough our land Surely if the swarmes of those Locusts fill euery corner and take liberty secretly to poison and infect both the mother the children if not to packe them ouer sea to Rome or Rhemes c. to be farther corrupted we are in danger neuer to want pricks in our eies and thornes in our sides to vexvs in the good land where we dwell or cruell Esaus that gape but for a mournfull day to take aduantage against their more blessed and therefore hated brethren The God of coūsell work in the hearts of them who are in chiefest place and power carefully to prouide for the welfare and safety of this Church and state especially of that light that maketh great Britain glorious that al the smoke of the bottomles pit may neuer dazle or eclipse his shining brightnes For vs the best part of our armour against these al both enemies euils what is it but which before was noted as necessary to be adioined to our Repentance to poure forth earnest and seruent praier vnto the Lord with whō hauing power wee shall vndoubtedly preuaile with men First for our selues and land in generall that our crying sins the causes of iudgement vpon our true Repentance being pardoned there may be an end put to the Lords cōtrouersie that the peace being renewed beween God and vs we may haue all prosperity or if the Lord shal see that we stand in need of farther chastisement he would be pleased yet to allow vs Dauids choise that we may fal into his hands with whō is mercy and not into the hands of vnreasonable and ruthlesse men Secondly and principally let our praier be vnto God for his royall Maiesty as to preserue his Princely person making his daies vpon earth as the daies of Heauen that vnder him we may leade a quiet peaceable life in all honesty and godlines wishing him what the ancient Christians did vnto their Emperors that God would grant him a long life c. so