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.
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
how he had warned them here of before that if any would not worke being able hoe should not eat Howbeit I would to God there were not others guilty of this Sodomsinne of Idlenes that would be accounted as their place requireth of farre better reckoning yea euen of the greater ones the Nobles and gentrie of our Land especially yonger brothers liuing without any calling carelesly not a few who as those in Amos against whom God denounceth a fearefull woe liuing at ease in Sion and therefore putting away farre from them the euil day doe stretch themselues on beds of Iuory eating the lambes of the flocke and the Calues out of the stall singing to the sound of the Violl c. and drinking wine in bowles no man being sorrie for the affliction of Ioseph As if they had beene placed by God on earth to doe nothing else but what Leuiathan is made to doe in the sea euen to play and sport themselues as those rich ones in Iames against whom we read that indicement inough in the last day if there were none other to condemne them yee haue liued in pleasure vpon the earth Fourthly that there is amongst vs notwithstanding many wholsome lawes better then which no kingdome euer had in that behalfe cruelty and miserable oppression of the poorer sort insteed of strengthning their hands practised for maintenance of riot and Idlenes in the rich for idlenes must haue maintenance from others labors as in those idlers in Saint Iames that are noted to haue kept backe the Laborers hire and to haue condemned and killed the righteous that were not able to make their partie good against them let the racking of rents and raising of fines turning out of Tenants and decay of titlage by inclosures the greedines of hard-hearted Vsurers c. with the teares of many an oppressed fatherlesse and widdow beare witnes who if they bee not heard and their wrongs redressed God that alwaies hath an eare open to such complaints will come neere in iudgement and bee himselfe a swift witnesse against such wrong doers who shall receiue for the wrong that they haue done of him with whom there is no respect of persons Adde hereto finally that luke-warmnes both in profession and in practise ouer-spreading our Church sometimes reproued in Laodicea whiles we conceit but too well of our owne perfections and that conniuence and suffering too much as in Thyatira of the woman lezabel and her seducing shauelings together with the little reckoning and light regard that most make not onely as Manasses in his prosperity of instructions from the word of God but also as those in Isaiah of the corrections and rod of God that God may now despaire of vs and say as to his people Wherefore should yee be smitten any more for ye fall away yet more and more So dangerously are wee ouer growne with that roote bringing forth gall and wormewood that whether wée heare the words of Gods curse wee blesse our selues in our he iris saying we shall haue peace though we walke after the stubbornes of our owne hearts thus adding drunkennes to thirst till the Lord statly refuse to be any longer mercifull or whether wee feele the stroke of his hand smiting vs as hee hath done with pestilence famine inundations drought tempestuous weather and the rauening teeth of those wild beasts pernicious Pirates I meane who haue gathered head so that the seas are at this day like tho high waies of Israel in the daies of Shamgar and Iael unoccupied in manner and Trauailers forced to seeke out by-waies for their safetie wee are so farre from returning to him that hath smitten vs that wee rather seeke to enter couenant with death and with hel that vnder the refuge of falshood wee may auoid the scourge or howsoeuer persisting with branded Ahaz in the time of tribulation to trespas yet more against the Lord. All these laid now together vpon the heape alasse men and brethren what thinke you that wee may iudge of our selues or thinke you that it is not high time for vs as the Corinthians are aduised by the Appostle to iudge our selues that we be not yet farther iudged of the Lord yes verily neither shall we neede as Ioshua brought the tribes families and housholds of Israel so to bring forth and as it were cast lots vpon these our sinnes to find out the Achan that hath troubled Israel since all these sinnes where euer they house or harbour within the wauy confines of this I le they be the wretched Achans euery kind and one of them that haue by prouoking against vs Gods displeasure beene thus farre troublers and quenchers of the light of this our Israel Neither yet were it not for the Neuer failing compassions and faithfulnesse of the Lord might wee hope for future peace or safety whiles these witchcrafts and whoredomes of that Iezabel of naturall corruption are yet in so great number that if we as the adulterous woman should wipe our mouth and say we haue done none iniquity yet could the Lord of heauen earth euen the Iudge himselfe beare witnesse and reproue vs saying as in Amos I know your manifold trāsgressions your mighty sins To which therefore to conclude at length this second point let vs without either blaming supposed second causes or accusing God of too strict iustice in this behalfe learne in true humility to referre all our losse crying as heere our humbled Prophet Woe now vnto vs for we haue sinned and therefore loe the Crowne of our head fallen With which fall if yee desire to heare how wee ought to bee affected it commeth now to bee considered from the first words of the 15. ver The ioy of our heart is ceased For this being an vndoubted consequent of the feeling apprehension of their present calamitie accompanied with feare of farther miserie hence to 〈◊〉 enlarging may wee take direction how we also with our losse should bee affected how but as the holy Virgiue to whom the many sorrowes for her blessed son were as old Simcon compared thē a sword that should pearce through her soule A dangerous wound and deadly if not to the life yet to the ioy and comfort of the heart For verily those hearts must needs bee armed with stony yea adamantine hardnesse which are not pierced with this sword of sorrow which melt not as Iosiah his heart at the apprehension of Gods iudgement yea which with Ieremy wish not the head a cesterne of water and the eies as fountaines of teures to weepe day and night for the fall of their crowne The greatest cause of sorrow and most important losse excepting that one if that were greater which was so soone and graciously by God himselfe repaired of our last renowned Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth that euer in our age befell this flourishing state kingdome able
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