and that is much by traveling on the Lords day which is the Market day of your Soules and do you think a wise man will be diverted from his Markets by trifling gewgaws especially when his livelyhood lyeth upon it another way how Persons break the Sabbath is by spending their time in needless adornments of the Body after Sermon either to stand gazeing at their Doores or talking impertinently contrary to the work of the day of worldly things of vain and lascivious things and how dost thou rest when thou art imployed with thy thoughts and tongue though thou art not with thy hands which is as it were one and the same for when the heart is gone from the service of God all your life is gone and there is little lest but a dead Carkase which is no Keeping of a day to the Lord. Another way how Persons break the Lords day that after several Gentry and others have carelesly heard the word then they must recreate themselves by walking in Grays-Inn walks or in the Fields with vain and unsavory discourses and so Sathan steales the word they have heard and they are never the better but as ready to go to their Lusts all the Week after and so drive a sad trade of Sin which brings great judgments Temporal Spiritual and Eternal I might urge many Scriptures both in the Old and New Testament and several Arguments might bâ— produced but famous Mr. Dod that worthy servant of Jesus Christ and others have done so learnedly that it is but the Widdows mite that I can cast into the treasury by way of confirmation of what hath been formerly spoken I shall end this particular with two things first to shew you briefly how the Sabbath ought to be kept and secondly speak somthing of the alteration of the day 1. How a Sabbath day of rest ought to be kept holy remember to keep holy the Sabbath day it is set a part from all servicable works but works of mercy and necessity may be done thou art to prepare to keep the Lords day Secondly begin in the Morning withprivate Prayers meditation pray for the presence of God in all his ordinances praise God for the great work of redemption and for the resurrection for in that day Jesus Christ rose from the dead and now sits at the right hand of that glorious place on high ever living to make interceâ—sion for all that believe Secondly bless God for his holy word and beg that it may be to thee as it was to David sweeter then hony and the hony-comb and that it may be so blessed that it may do thy Soul good and that the instructions of the word may teach thee and the reprehentions of the Word to weaken Sin in thee and that the exhortations may perswade thee and the consolations comfort thee and when thou hast been hearing the word thou must examine what word it was that met with thy Soul and make much of that and if thou wouldest spend thy time in hearing and praying and praising their would be no spare time for walking up and down unnessarily Now to you that are Masters of Families it is your duty to pray privately to your Families every day but begin with prayer on the Lords day in the Morning and then pray with thy Family and so bring thy Children and Servants to the hearing of the word powerfully preached and after repeat and so to Prayer and thus spend the Lords day in holy exercises then thou wilt undoubtedly be more sit to serve God in thy particular calling in the Week and then thou maist expect a blessing from heaven upon all thou hast for it is the blessing of God maketh rich and addeth no sorrow with it But those Scriptures that you have brought are for keeping of the seventh day It is true the seventh day was the Jewish Sabbath but we find a change of the day after the resurrection and the gospel ordinances were administred on that day it was that day in which Jesus Christ rose from the dead we see what Christ saith Math. the 12. from the 1. to the 9. Aâ—â—â— 20. 7. Rev. 1. 10. It is said that some greek Coppies do render it thus John was ravished in the Spirit on the Lords day being the first day of the Week but I am not now to intermeddle with that controversie but am fully satisfyed in my own mind that there is sufficient warrant in the New Testament for keeping the first day of the Week or Lords day in which we are to celebrate the praises of God in the great work of redemption 10. Sin Which is a Land destroying Sin is Covetousness and oppression first covetousness is a greedy desire of that which is none of their own secondly covetousness is against the righteous Law of God In Exod. 20. 17. Hebrews 13. and the 5. Let your conversations be without covetousness and be content with those things that you have 3. Col. 5. 6. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the Earth Fornication Vncleanness Inordinate affection evil concupiscence and covetousness which is Idolatry for which things sake the Wrath of God cometh on the Children of disobedience See Es 57. 17. For the Iniquity of his covetousness I was wrath and smote him Several Scriptures that reprehend this evil and Arguments might be urged but in regard many worthy Servants of Jesus Christ have demonstrated this evil of Covetousness at large I shall as it were but briefly touch upon it speak something to that which is obvious to the practice of the men of our age it very much reprehends some trades men and Userers that when men that have got into their debt they feed them with mony and so on a sudden call for their Debt and if the Debtor hath not mony to pay then they must have a Mortgage upon his Land and if it be not redeemed in such a fixt time then they cease upon the Land for half the worth of it and so they ruin them and their Posterity although it is very true that every man ought to pay his Debt but the Creditor must not raise it in a Sinister way Preying upon others necessities and taking advantage upon men when they are in a Low condition but it is honest to give every one the full value of his Land as any other Purchaser would do but they have clandestine wayes to eat up mens Estates before they are aware and so forcibly throw them out this is a horrible shame and a great fruit of covetousness and that which the Creditor gets by such ways will consume as Butter in the Sun for God will blast and not bless what is contrary to his will 2ly I shall briefly shew you how covetousness may be said to be Idolatry fâ—r whatever thou lovest or trustest in more than God that undoubtedly thou makest thy God For consider if a man have lost a beast or any outward thing how exceedingly will he complain and
Wives and their Daughters many sad effects doth this sin of drunkenness produce it fits men to do all manner of evil and unfits them for any thing that is good either for Soul or body Now I shall shew you the Scriptures wherein the great God prohibits this beastly Sin to see that if by any means you may be prevailed upon to leave this silthy dirty abominable Sin See Es 5. 11. Wo to them that rise up early in the morning and follow strong-drink that continue till night till wine inflame them vers 22. Wo to them that are mighty to drink wine and men of strength to mingle strong-drink vers 23 24. Chap. 56. 12. Mica 2. 11. Nah. 1. 10. For while they be folded together as thorns and while they are drunken as drunkards they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry Joel the 5. Awake ye Drunkards weep and howl all ye Drinkers of Wine 1. Cor. 6. 9 10. Be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Idolators nor Adulterers nor Effeminate nor Abusers of themselves with Man-kind nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Revellers nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God Es 19 14 Luk. 21. 34 35. Rom. 13. 13. Let us work honestly as in the Day not in Rioting and Drunkenness not in Chambering and Wantonness not in strife and Envy There are several other places I might mention but these may suffice if God would be pleased to set any one of them with power upon the heart of a Poor Sinner Now I shall speak a few words to all those that in a great measure are the causes of the growth and increase of these evils and they are Magistrates Ministers and Parents and Masters of Families There are some Magistrates that are so far from punishing these Enormities that they are Presidents and ringleaders of all these vices as Swearing Whoring and Drunkenness nay they are like those spoken of by the Prophet Jer. 3. 12. Oh my Prophet they that lead thee cause thee to err and destroy the way of thy Paths vers 13 14. Surely they are most fit to be Magistrates according to the Scripture that fear God and hate Covetousness and every evil way Oh saith the meaner sort that would have Fig-leaves to cover their Nakedness use to such a Magistrate or Minister do such things and they are learned if it were so sinful they would not do it such kind of Magistrates and Ministers cause them to Sin extenuate and are great examples to encourage to evil Oh what a sad thing is this that men are not content only to go to Hell themselves but draw others after them therefore their condemnation will be the greatest at the great day of accompt 2 Ministers those that call themselves Ministers of the Gospel Oh what wickedness are they arrived unto that some of them reel in the Streets and make nothing of swearing cursing and uncleanness do not you think that Gods Soul will be avenged on such as you are who are like Jereboams Priests the vilest of the People you that pretend to be leaders of others should be such bad examples as to lead the people towards Hell what will your accompt be when both Ministers and Magistrates shall appear before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ what can you say here am I one of those have lead to Hell surely your condemnation will be very great that will not only answer for your own Sins but for others whom you have by evil examples drawn to Sin how can you bear the weight of this great burthen of Judgments that will certainly fall upon you if you repent not and turn to the Lord speedily here I might be very large but I shall forbear at this time hoping that some may be awakened which is the main end of this small discourse 3. To Parents and Masters of Families who are very bad presidents to their Wives Children Servants who are so far from instructing them in the ways of God according to gods injunction in the holy Scriptures that they are the Ring-leaders of them to all manner of evil Oh sinful Parents and Masters that should with all your might instruct your Children and Servants how will you how can you escape great condemnation when you shall be called to a strict accompt for leading your Children and Servants to great destruction how sad will it be with you when your Children and Servants shall curse you and say we might have escaped these flames had our Masters and Parents instrâ—cted us and had they not been wicked examples to us but now wo and alas we are tormented with the Devil and his Angels in everlasting burnings Now let me give you a few instâ—uctions to poor Sin-sinking England I beseech you hearken to the counsels of Gods holy word when he threatned destruction upon the People of Isarel Joel 2. from the 1. to the 22. vers Blow the Trumpet in Zion and sound an alarum in my holy mountain let all the Inhabitants tremble for the day of the Lord cometh for it is nigh at hand a day of darkness and gloominesâ— a day of clouds and thick darkness as the Morning spread upon the mountains a great People and a strong there hath not been ever the like neither shall be any more after iâ— even to the years of many Generations vers the 3. A fire devoureth before them and behind them a flame burneth the land is as the Garden of Eden before them and behind them a dâ—solate Wilderness yea nothing shall escape them and so forward to the 12. vers but consider in the 12 13 14. verses you have that blessed counsel given to them as the only means to escape this dreadful judgment where you have very much of the bowels of Gods compassion expressed like a tender hearted Father unwilling to strike if it may be avoided Therefore also now saith the Lord turn ye even unto me with all your heart and with Fasting and with Weeping and with Mourning vers the 13. And rent your hearts and not your Garments and turn unto the Lord your God for he is gracious merciful slow to anger and of great kindness and repenteth him of the evil vers the 14. Who knoweth if he will return and leave a blessing behind him even a meat offering and a drink offering to the Lord your God and so you may read unto the end of the Chapter These latter verses have in them contained the forcible arguments to press on and enforce the exhortation surely there is no other way for England to escape total ruin but by following the blessed advice very wholesom counsel of repenting and turning to the Lord with your whole hearts and who is able to give us counsel that may do us good but God whose counsel shall we adhere unto that may be effectual but his but if we obstinately persist in the rebellions against the great God of heaven he will surely plague us seven times more for our Sins and so may root us
out from being a people now the Cup of trembleing by our neighbour nations who knows but we may drink the dregs and bottoms of the Cup that such a stubborn impudent brazen-fac'd rebellious People as have sined against so much light and love we know that ingratitude is counted one of the worst evils as your Latin Phrase is Si dixeris ingratum est omne malum There is no true Christian desires the evil day but doth pray earnestly to your Lord for the aversion of his judgments from the Nation and however they are lightly esteemed amongst men and called Phanaticks yet they are the pillers of the Earth and the best friends to the King and Kingdom allthough they are slighted and persecuted for cleaving close to Gods word which they dare not nor will not swarve from what ever they suffer and knowing the terror of the Lord we do perswade men to turn from their evil ways to the Lord that so they may not bring ruin upon themselves and others surely it will be a very terrible day upon all those that persecute the people of God and I pray you what do you persecute them for I conceive you do not understand what is written against those that sit at ease and eat the fat and drink the sweet and think they do well if they can procure the Ministers of the gospel and Christians to be put in Prison But all you that are of that spirit to worry the pretious harmless Lambs of Jesus Christ I would not be in your cases for ten thousand worlds mark what our Lord Jesus saith to such Mat. 18. 6. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which beleive in me it were better a mil-stone were hanged about his neck that he were drowned in the depth of the sea Mar. 9. 42. Luk. 17. 1 2. And thus I conclude with my earnest prayers to the God of all grace and mercy beseeching him rather to glorify his mercy in the reformation of this poor sinful Island then his Justice in the confusion and desolation of it now as I was concluding I was looking for that place of Scripture In Jer. Where the Prophet saith Lord thou knowest I do not desire the evilday These Scriptures were presented unto my view Jer. 18. from the 9. to the 12. vers And at what instant I shall speak concerning a Nation and concerning a Kingdom to build and to plant it vers the 10. If it do evil in my sight and obey not my voice then will I repent of the good wherewith I said I will benefit them vers the 11. Now therefore go to speak to the men of Judah and to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem saying thus saith the Lord behold I frame evil against you and devise a device against you return ye every one from the evil of his way and make your ways and your doings good Chap. 13. 18 19. Say unto the King and to the Queen humble your selves sit down for your Principalities shall come down even the Crown of your glory vers the 19. to the end of that Chapter The Citys of the South shall be shut up Judah shall be carryed away Captive all of it shall be wholly carryed away Captive Thus you see the denuntiation of Gods threatnings of terrible judgments against a rebellious People that walketh in a way that is not good after their own thoughts Oh therefore I humbly beseech you hear and fear and turn to the Lord with your whole hearts 9. Sin That is a Land destroying Sin is Sabbath breaking which is first a breach of the 4th Commandment Exod. 20. 8. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy This is the law that was given in thundering and lightning Exod. 19. 16. And it came to pass the third day in the Morning that there were thundrings and lightnings so that all the people that were in the Camp trembled One reason may be why the Law was given in that terrible manner that the people might fear to break that righteous Law for that God which shewed himself terrible in the giving of the Law can also shew himself as terrible on them that violate this righteous Law which appoints a time for his worship in pouring down his wrath and indignation upon Nations that break this righteous and just Law so that if there be a God to worship as doubtless there is and certainly there is a time that he hath set apart which ought to be kept holy then wo be to all those that dare adventure to prophain his holy day as in this well govern'd City and in the Suburbs thereof is Coster-Mongers and others selling their fruit on that holy day and other things on that day Friends it is not altogether so much the matter done which maketh the breach of the Sabbath as any thing done which ought not to be done picking of sticks was but a small business and yet see how God was displeased see that he destroyed those that did it nothing but works of necessity and mercy Nehem. 10. 13. And if the people of the Land bring ware or any victuals on the Sabbath day we will not buy it we will not buy of them on the Sabbath or on the holy day Chapt. 13. from the 15. to the 23. Where good Nehemiah testifyed against them that sould victualls vers the 17. Then I contended with the Nobles and said to them what evil thing is this that ye do and prophane the Sabbath day vers the 18. Did not your Fathers thus and did not our God bring all this evil upon us upon this City yet ye bring more wrath by prophaning the Sabbath See the Zeal of a good Governor he contended against evil and encouraged them in that which was good which is the duty of all Magistrates but è contra with us in England there be some Magistrates that discourage vertue and encourage vice what a sad thing is this those Magistrates that do so are not appointed nor set up Exod. 16. 23. Chapt. 31. 15. Six days may work be done but in the 7th is the Sabbath of rest holy to the Lord whosoever doth any work on the Sabbath he shall surely be put to death so in the 14. vers Chapt. 35. 2. Levit. 23. 2. Num. 15. 32 34. vers the 35. And the Lord said unto Moses the man shall be surely put to death and the Congregation shall stone him with stones and vers 36. And they stoned him with stones and he dyed as the Lord commanded Moses Deut. 5. 12 13 14. John 20. 19. Es 56. 2. 6. And thus you see the Scriptures Enjoyning us to keep the Lords day and the denuntiation of threatnings against those that break this holy day although the day be altered from all the Scriptures you may safely conclude that there is a time set a part by God for his worship and service and if the least breach were punished with death what shall be the violation of the whole day
A Warning Piece TO ENGLAND OR THE WRATH of GOD Revealed against SINNERS His Judgments being already entered upon the NATION By S. T. G. A Lover of Peace and Truth Psal 40. 10. I have not hid thy righteousness within my Heart I have declared thy faithfulness and thy Salvation I have not concealed thy loving kindness and thy truth from the great Congregation London Printed for D. Newman at the Kings Arms in the Poultry 1676. THE PREFACE Christian Reader AS far as the Author knows his own heart the main end of righting this small Treatise is that God may have all the glory and this Sin sinking Nation may have some benefit and so undoubtedly they will if they hearken to Gods Counsel to repent and turn from their evil ways to the Lord with their whole heart the consideration of the present confused state of this poor Nation caused me seriously to mind the next way how they might be brought into a better condition and I know no other way that God hath shewed us but by humbling our sâ—lves before the Lord to escape destruction and ruin For God will not always bear but then the Anger of the Lord will break forth in fury if a people do not amend their ways and doings which are not good God hath been earnestly calling unto us and lifting up his voice and by his Word and Dispensations perswading us to return unto him He hath tryed all sorts and all ways both Mercies and Judgments Surely it is very sad that the hand of the Lord hath been so greatly lifted up and that England should be so blind as not to take notice of his displeasure in afflicting us with Sword Pestilence and Fire and threatning Famine but gratiously holding his hand like a tender-hearted Father unwilling to destroy us except by our persisting in Sin we as it were force him utterly to consume us from the face of the Earth I humbly beseech you seriously to read and ponder what is said in this little Book And let not Satan perswade you to throw off those wholsom Exhortations and Instructions contained therein So with my earnest prayers at the Throne of Grace for Rulers and Ruled that the God of all Grace and Mercy would enable us to see the filthy nature of every Sin to repent of all our false ways as David saith in in the 119. Psal Through thy Precepts I get Understanding therefore I hate every false way I remain thine in all truth and righteousness S. T. A Warning piece to England or the wrath of God revealed against Sinners his judgment being already entred upon the Nation IT is very certain out of the Scriptures of truth that sin brings the judgment of the great God upon Nations Families and Persons Sin crys aloud for Vengeance Wrath and Desolation upon wicked and ungodly men Oh! let every one seriously consider the dreadful effects of sin it destroyed the old world Gen. 6. 5 6 7. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the Earth and that every Imagination of his heart was only Evil continually Vers the 6. And it repented the Lord that he made man on the Earth and it grieved him at his heart Vers the 7. And the Lord said I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the Earth both man and beast and the creeping thing and the fouls of the air for it repenteth me that I have made man Likewise those five Citys in the plain were destroyed by fire Gen. 18. 20. And the Lord said because the cry of Sodom is great and because their Sin is very grievous Chap. the 19. 24 25. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven he overthrew those Citys and all the plains and all the inhabitants of the Citys and that which grew upon the ground Consider what desolations and depopulations sin did bring upon Gods beloved People as you may read Lament 1. 2 3 4 5 7 8. verses She weepeth sore in the night and her tears are on her cheeks among all her Lovers she hath none to comfort her all her friends have dealt treacherously with her they are become her enemies Judah is gon into captivity because of affliction and because of great servitude she dweleth among the Heathen and she findeth no rest all her persecutors overtook her between the straits the ways of Sion do mourn because none come to her solemn feasts All her Gates are desolate her priests sigh her virgins are afflicted and she is in bitterness Her adversaries are the chief and her enemies prosper for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions her children are gone into captivity before the enemy and from the Daughter of Sion all her Beauty is departed her Princes are become like Harts that find no Pasture and they are gon without strength before the pursuer Jerusalem remembred in the days of affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old when her People fell into the hand of the enemy and none did help her the Adversaries saw her and did mock at her Sabbaths Jerusalem hath grievously sined therefore she is removed all that honoured her despise her because they have seen her Nakedness yea she sighed and turned backward her filthyness is in her skirts she remembreth not her last end therefore she came down wonderfully she had no comforter Chapt. the 2. 1 2 3 4 5 6. verses and 3 4 5. Chapters of the book of the Lamenta as in the 5. Chapt. 16 vers The Crown is fallen from the head and wo to us that we have sined I might multiply Scriptures to shew the displeasure of God against Transgressors and after those many premonitions when they would not be forwarned God cast them off making them a by-word to all the Nations round about Oh England hear and tremble for the fiery anger of the Lord will burn like an Oven and none shall be able to quench it see Malachi 4. 1. For behold the day cometh that shall burn as an Oven and all the proud yea and all they that do wickedly shall be stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of hosts that it shall leave them neither root nor branch Qu. What sins bring National judgments Ans 1. Slighting and rejecting the Law and the Prophets and especially Jesus Christ in the time of the Gospel 2. The sins of Rulers 3. Idolatry 4. Adultery 5. Pride 6. Swearing and Cursing 7. Murder 8. Drunkenness and excess 1. Sin Slighting the Law and the Prophets which God complains of in the 1. of Es 2 3 4. vers I have nourished and brought up a People but they have rebelled against me The Ox knoweth his owner and the Ass his Masters Crib but Israel hath not known me Ah sinful Nation a people laden with iniquity a seed of evil doers children that have
corrupted themselves So the judgments are threatned in the ensuing verses and God makes very great complaints of them in several of the Prophets as Jer. and Ezek. c. and they proceeded to reject Jesus Christ in the Gospel and this is a very great sin and brings desolation upon all those to whom it is sent and they reject it Heb. 2. 2 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation and when Israel slighted Jesus Christ and his words they were left to the hardnes of their hearts and the blindness of their minds That hearing they shall hear and not understand and seeing they shall see and not perceive and then God wholly left them and sent his Ministers to the Gentiles Lo we turn to the Gentiles saith the Apostle 2. Sin Is the sins of Rulers as David numbring the People Sometimes God plagues the people for the Rulers sake 2. Sam. 24. 11 12. The word of God came to Gad the Seer saying go and say unto David thus saith the Lord I offer thee three things choose thee one of them that I may do it unto thee vers the 13. So Gad came to David and told him and said shall seven years of Famin come untothee in thy Land or wilt thou flee three Months before thy enemies while they pursue thee or that there be three days pestilence in thy Land vers the 15. So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from morning even to the time appointed and there dyed of the people from Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand men Now God plagues a people for the sins of the Rulers especially when the people follow the sinful examples of Rulers Oh my people they that lead thee cause thee to err as Jeroboam the Son of Nebat which made Israel to sin which was a great brand of infamy recorded to after ages so Ahab that sold himself to do wickedness and Manasseth and all those wicked Kings that provoked the Lord 2 King 21. from the 9. to the 14 vers to bring desolation upon the people Oh then let Rulers be wise and serve the Lord with fear Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the right way if once his wrath be kindled but alittle blessed are they that put their trust in him Psal 2. 10 11 12. Let all therefore consider both Rulers and Ruled in this Nation that if God spared not the old world nor those citys in the plain that were destroyed by fire nor his beloved people Israel when they sined against him how then can England escape when they follow the same way of sining nothing can be expected but desolation God can quickly hiss for his three executioners which are the sword pestilence and Famin. 3. Sin Is Idolatry which strikes at the very Being of God how full of wrath was God against Israel for their Idolatry 3. Iudg. 7 8. and the Children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and forgat the Lord their God and served Baalim and the Groves therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim King of Mesopotamia Deut. 13. 2 5 6 7 8 9 10. with diverse other places which I shall not mention because it will make it larger than I intend this Warning-piece But certainly Idolatry is a land-destroying sin which above all sins will draw down the wrath of God upon a Nation to root it out and utterly to destroy it for he is jealous of his name and his glory will he not give to another not his praise to graven Images 4. Sin Is Pride Here I might write a large volumn but to omit several particulars in relation to this sin I shall speak of that which is more obvious to the sence as first Pride in apparel Can the oldest man remember such excess of apparel especially in this great City yet notwithstanding the eminent hand of the great God hath been so lately upon them that most part of this City was consumed into ashes that the inhabitants are but poor to what they have been heretofore yet what a fair outside do they make when the Nation is sinking Oh what horrible folly is this it is like one that Paints his pots and trims up his shop and suddainly it is shutup Secondly pride in their houses in their furniture and how costly is it with very much excess so that the superfluities in clothing and dyet and furniture would refresh the bowels of the poor which are some of them ready to perish for want of bread few seriously consider the great distresses and wants of the poor some that heretofore could have administred to the necessities of others are forced to beg their bread consider what God saith in the 2. of Isaiah from the 10. to the 18. vers Enter into the rock and hide thee in the dust for fear of the Lord and the glory of his Majesly The lofty looks shall be humbled and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day for the day of the Lord of Hosts shall be upon every one that is proud lofty every one that is lifted up he shall be brought low and upon all the Cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up and upon all the Oaks of Bashan upon all the high Mountains that are lifted up upon every tower and upon every fenced wall and upon all the ships of Tarshish and upon all the pleasant pictures vers the 17. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down the haughtiness of man shall be laid low and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day Chapt. the 3 from the 16. to the end Moreover the Lord saith because the Daughters of Sion are haughty and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes walking and mincing as they go and making a tinkling with their feet vers the 17. The Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the Daughters of Sion In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet and their cauls and their round tires like the Moon c. vers 26. And her gates shall lament and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground The 5. Sin is Swearing and Forswearing likewise Cursing which are Sins of a very high nature very much displeasing to the great God and provoke him to bring swift judgment upon the Nation especially that wicked divelish Oath of the Dam'es that desire God to damn their souls whereas God and Jesus Christ would have them to be saved See the 1 of Timoth. 2. 4. Who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledg of the truth Dost thou desire God to damn thee oh poor miserable Sinner that my heart could bleed for thee that art so ignorant dost thou consider what it is to be damn'd to be damn'd is to be separated from the
presence of the Lord and the glory of his Majesty and for ever to be cast into that lake that burneth with fire and brimstone in those easeless endless remediless torments where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth Math. 25. 41. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Isa 66. 24. And they shall go forth and look upon the carkases of those that transgress'd against me for their worm shall not die neither shall their sire be quench'd and they shall be an abhorring to all flesh 1. Vain Swearing when men so commonly swear that they cannot ordinarily discourse but they must swear nay it is the fashion to swear and if a man cannot swear he is not fit company for some Gentlemen Oh poor miserable man is it thy common practice delight to blaspheme and take the great and dreadful name of God in vain Oh what wilt thou do when thou shalt appear before him at the last Day as thou certainly must surely thou wilt tremble desire mountains and rocks to fall upon thee to hide thee from him that sitteth upon the throne and from the Lamb Revel 6. 16. See those Scriptures that prohibit vain Swearing James 5. 12. But above all things my brethren swear not neither by Heaven neither by the Earth neither by any other Oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest ye fall into condemnation Mat. 5. from the 33 to the 38 verses Surely such words are nothing but the speakings of the Devil in thee 2 Sort of swearing is for-swearing thy self when thou art call'd before a Magistrate this is a great sin that brings judgments upon the Nation for oaths the Land mourns How many poor creatures are hired to for-swear themselves and how many do it to pleasure great men and others wickedly for-swear themselves for to get their Neighbours goods and to defraud their neighbour of his right Levit. 6. 3 4 5. chap. 5. 1. Jere. 23. 10. For the land is full of Adulterers for because of swearing the land mourneth the pleasant places of the wilderness are driedup and their course is evil and their force is not right Hose 4. 1 2. Hear ye the word of the Lord ye children of Israel tel for the Lord hath a controversie with the inhabitants of the land because there is no truth nor mercy nor knowledg of God in the land By swearing and lying and killing and stealing and committing Adultery they break out and blood toucheth blood Chap. 10. vers 4. They have spoken words swearing falsly in making a covenant Zach. 5. 3 4. Mal. 3. 5. And I will come near to you in judgment and will be a swift witness against the Sorcerers and against the Adulterers and against the false Swearers Doubtless this is a very great sin that brings judgment upon the nations families and persons 3. That wicked sin of Cursing parents cursing their children servants some children curse their parents servants curse their Masters Nay I have heard wicked men curse themselves their cattel Oh how common is it for men to bid the pox take them Foolish ignorant persons they cry out with pain and anguish several of them yeild up the ghost and if they do not repent go quick down to hell they that curse themselves and their cattel at last bring a curse upon all they have Math. 15. 4 For God commanded saying honour thy Father and Mother and he that curseth Father or Mother let him die the death Rom. 3. 14 15 16 Whose mouth is full of cursing destruction and misery are in their ways and the way of peace have they not known vers the 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes Jame 3. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing my brethren these things ought not so to be Several other places of Scripture I might produce but these may suffice Oh what mad blindness is this that rational men and those that have lived under the sound of the Gospel so long shou'd be so ignorant and wicked as to desire the plagues of God to be poured upon them and theirs Oh that my head was water and my eyes a fountain of tears that I might weep night and day for the sins and sorrows of poor distressed sin-sinking England 7. Sin is Adultery and had I time and a heart I might be very large to enumerate the multitude of transgressions of this nature surely this sin is grown so common that it is open before the Sun and men plead for it and very much extrenuate it Nay I question whether some are not so notoriously wicked to urge Scripture for their abominable uncleanness Know O thou prophane Atheist the Scriptures give thee no liberty but will judg thee for thy sins at the last and great day of account when you shall certainly give an account for all your actions done in the body and how will you answer the taking your neighbours wife from him it may be thou wilt instance David's adultery but consider if thou wilt commit David's sin then thou must expect David's punishment which was very severe See Psal the 32 from the 1 to the 6 vers vers the 3 When I kept silence my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long vers the 4 For day night thy hand was heavy upon me my moisture is turned into the drought of summer vers the 5. I acknowledg my sin unto thee and mine iniquity have I not hid I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Psal 51. from 1 to the 13. vers Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindness according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out all my transgressions vers the 2. wash me throughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin for I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me vers the 4. Against thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest and clear when thou judgest vers 5. Behold I am shapen in iniquity and in sin did my Mother conceive me vers the 7. Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean wash me and I shall be whiter than snow Make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones that thou hast broken may rejoice vers the 9. Hide thy face from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities vers 10. Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me vers 11. Cast me not out of thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me vers 12. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free Spirit See what misery this sin of Adultery brought upon King David that made him cry out in the bitterness of his soul and allmost
bewail his loss but when thou losest the presence of God and the enjoyment of communion with himself thou makest no matter of that which is the cheifest good and surely this is a clear demonstration that thou lovest these creatures more than the Creator blessed for ever 2ly That which thou art so much cast down in the absence and so exceedingly lifted up and rejoycing in the presence of and in the enjoyment must needs be thy chiefest delight and so closest with thy Idol instead of the true God and in this thou art certainly to blame 2ly Oppression when men oppress the poor and needy Psa 12. 5. For the oppression of the Poor for the sighing of the needy now will I arise saith the Lord I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him The rich oppress the poor as Masters oppress their servants and prentices and Magistrates oppress their subjects Then Masters oppress their servants when they do not that which is equal to them they break the Royal Rule do as you wou'd bedon by For Masters to detein their servants wages and not to give that which is necessary and convenient for them this is a great oppression See Job 35. 9. By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry they cry out by reason of the arme of the Mighty Eccles 4. 1. So I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the Sun and behold the tears of such as are oppressed and they had no comforter and on the side of their oppressors there was power but they had no comforter Is 33. 15. So when Governors of Nations lay any heavy burthens upon the people contrary to the rule of Gods word and contrary to the Law of the Nation this is great oppression as Pharaoh made the people make Brick without straw See Exod. 5. from the 7. to the 19. vers 15. Then the Officers of the Children of Israel cryed unto Pharaoh saying wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants there is no straw given unto thy servants and they say unto us make Brick and behold thy servants are beaten but the fault is in thy own people vers 17. But he said ye are idle ye are idle therefore ye say let us go and do sacrifice unto the Lord. ver 18. Go therefore now and worke for there shall no straw be given you yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks Job 15. 20. With many other places I might alledge So that you may see how oppressors have been formerly so are to this day and how the holy Scriptures condemn that sin and it brings judgments upon the guilty on them and their posterity Therefore repent of this great unlovely uncharitable self-destroying sin for else it will bring the swift judgments of God upon all those that practise this abominable evil both upon them and their posterity See Job 57. from the 13 to the end of the chapt This is the portion of wicked men with God and the heritage which they shall receive of the Almighty if his children be multiplied it is for the sword and his off-spring shall not be satisfied vers the 15. Those that remain of him shall be buried in death and his widdows shall not weep vers the 20. Terrors take hold on him as waters a tempest stealeth him away in the night 21. The East-wind carrieth him away and he departeth and as a storm hurleth him out of his place 22. For God shall cast upon him and not spare he wou'd fain flee out of his hands 23. Men shall clap their hands at him and shall hiss him out of his place And this is the portion of wicked men from the Lord. I beseech you let every one examine himself whether he be not guilty of this sin Prov. 3. 31. and 28. 16. Jer. 21. 12. and 22. 3. And see the danger of and avoid it and turn to the Lord from every evil way that so iniquity may not be your ruin 11. Sin is the sin of Professors that profess Religion and do not practise what you profess Surely when we make a scrutiny into our own hearts and behold the practise of other Professors it is evidently to be demonstrated that there is so little love to God and Jesus Christ that have deserved all our love that we may be ashamed See what little love there is to Saints that bear the Image of Christ Surely we are fallen into the latter days that our Lord Jesus speaks of Math. 24. 12. And because iniquity abounds the love of many shall wax cold The great reason that Christ gives why the love of many waxeth cold is because iniquity abounds Therefore now it must needs wax cold because there was never greater abounding of iniquity in all sorts as at this day There is no man that loves God aright but he must love his Image where ever he see it 1 Joh. 2. from the 9. to the 12. Loving our Brethren is made a certain character of a Christian 1 Joh. 3. 10. and 4. 20. that Epistle is spent in treating of Faith and Love And therefore I desire all Christians seriously to read and weigh those five chapt of 1. of John it doth very much reprehend our defects in this thing especially and exhorts all to believe Oh examine thy heart and be earnest at the throne of grace that God wou'd make thee sincere that thou mayst avoid the evils of the day thou livest in and do the duties of the day which is especially 1 Love to God and Jesus Christ 2 Love to the Saints 3 Watchfulness and keeping thy garments clean lest thou be found naked I shall end with this Scripture which is our Lord Jesus's reprehension of and counsel to the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2. 4 5. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do thy first works or else I will come against thee and remove thy Candlestick out of his place except thou repent Oh let us every one consider what is said and the Lord give a right understanding in all things Oh the lukewarmness and want of love to God and Christ and Saints Oh the carnality of Professors a Laodicean frame is the worst frame in professors Mark what the spirit of God saith in the 3 of the Re. 3. And unto the Angel of the Church of Laodicea write these things saith the Amen the faithful and true witness the Beginning of the Creation of God vers 15. I know thy works that thou art neither hot nor cold so because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot I will spue thee out of my mouth Are not your expectations very great the accomplishing of all those faithful promises which God hath made in these latter days and therefore Christians should be diligent and be up and doing and be servent in the spirit serving the Lord with much vigilancy and sincerity preparing for the day of the Lord which draweth nigh And blessed are all those servants whom their Lord shall find doing their Masters will he will make them sit down and he will serve them Take heed of spiritual pride for that poysons Angelical perfections Take heed of a carnal formal frame of spirit for that will make thee unfit for doing or suffering Oh awake thou that sleepest and rise from the dead and Christ shall give thee life for thou hast a great work to do and a very little time to do it and therefore up and be doing and the Lord be with thee Labour to exercise faith and patience faith in God and love to God and very much longing and ardent desire after God 2. A patient wayting for God For he that shall come will come and will not tarry but the Just shall live by faith but if any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him Heb. 10. 35 36 37 38. Now with my earnest prayers at the Throne of grace for you desiring the God of all grace and rich mercy to preserve us blameless and to keep us by his mighty power through faith to salvation that we overcome to the death and so enjoy a Crown of life which the righteous Lord will assuredly give to all those that love and long for his appearance FINIS