which heave and are provoked upon every civill intercourse with the men of the world a Publican makes not the meat worse so JESUS be at the table they sate down all yet wee heare no reproaches nor exprobrations from JESUS cast into their sawce we heare no table rebukes though the name of Publican gave occasion enough they sate and ate together it is unseasonable when your sawce is too sowre for your meat when your behaviours are too tart for your guests The Minstrels Matth. 9. 23 24. And when JESUS came into the Rulers house and saw the Minstrels and the people making a noise He said unto them Giue place c. Discovery I Discover here Jesus his even and impartiall demeanour he came into the Rulers house neither transported with the Ruler nor his house nor awed with the authority or state of either neither of these can silence him in a just occasion nor can the Minstrels or company play or tune Jesus into any consort or consent to their doings nor any allowance of their Revels hee said Give place he makes not a noise to out-sound the Minstrels nor will have his tune of reformation lowder then the offendours his checks and rebukes makes softer and stiller musick and if the house bee a Rulers his ayres shall not sound of violence Go out but Give place an increpation as full of mildnesse as syllables Give place indeed every Minstrell and worldly strain should give place to JESUS carnall musick must leave the roome to spirituall Give place one place cannot be for JESUS and the Minstrell and most commonly where JESUS is the musick is put out of doores Yee now therefore have sorrow but I will see you againe and your hearts shall rejoyce and your joy shall no man take from you Joh. 16. 22. Labourers few Matth. 9. 37. The Harvest is plenteous but the Labourers are few The Flame LOrd thou hast an Harvest I see indeed I heare of the seede the pretious seede thou hast sowne in the world and some of it fell by the way side and some upon stonie places and some among thorns Mat. 13. 4 5. I hear of thy seed time a wet watry seed time but they that sow in teares shall reap in joy and he that goeth on his way weeping bearing forth pretious seed shal doubtlesse come again with joy and bring his sheaves with him thy seede O Lord must be moistned and steep'd in showres of penitence and contrition Blessed are they that mourne Matth. 5. I heare of thy Plough too and hee that putteth his hand to this Plough and looketh back is not fit for this Kingdome and Hee that plougheth should plough in hope I heare of thy sowing too we have sowne unto you spirituall things 1. Cor. 9. 11. I heare of thy ground too thy severall tempers of earth the stonie ground that would receive no seede the thornie ground that choaked the seede it received the high ground that lay open to all dangers and pillage and of thy good ground that heareth thy word and understandeth it and beareth forth good fruit some an hundred fold some thirtie some sixtie Matth. 13. I heare of thy dung and manure too till I shall digge about it and dung it Matth. 10. 3. I heare of the rares and poples too the heresies and schismes which grow up with thy holy stalkes and eares of corne for the enemie came and sowed tares among the wheat I heare of thy reapers too the reapers are the Angels Matth. 13. 39. and of thy fickles the reaping engins thrust in thy sickle and reap Rev. 14. and of thy sheaves too gather the tares and binde them in bundles Matth. 13. 30. and of thy barnes gather the wheat into my barne Matth. 13. of thy gleanings too he that gathereth not with mee scattereth thus is thy Harvest ripened and accommodated but this Harvest of thine is great and the Autumne in thy Calendar long Lord how long Those that petition thee to fall on worke with thy Harvest and to crowne thy last day with autumnall joyes and triumphs say Thy Harvest is great for there are none of us but wee belong to thy Harvest we are either corne or tares we either cumber or advantage the ground we are in thy labourers are few few that labour some have too many fields to looke at too many acres for their Plough that while they labour in one field their other degenerates into weedes and tares some have but a small pittance over which the holy Ghost hath made them Overseers and yet they bestirre themselves little and are very late and backward in their husbandry the labourers are few how many O Lord maist thou finde in the market place with those thou rebuked'st Why stand yee here idle the labourers are few still where are the watchings fastings and travellings and toylings and warnings and repetitions and continuations of paines in labours often in watchings in fastings never ceasing to warne every one night and day with teares 2. Cor. 6. this was the toyle and travell of some of thy labourers And Lord Disciples and other holy Saints and Adherents and Fathers and Martyrs and Professours were labourers yet there are but few considering the extent and latitude of the fields of thy Church and the world Lord thou hast given mee a field even a goodly heritage give me a spirit toilsome and active finewes and members indefatigable that I may labour with my owne hands and drive the Plough my selfe and sow the seede and then happie shall I be for so is hee whom his Lord when he commeth shall finde so doing Beleeve yee Matth. 9. 28 29. And JESUS saith unto them Beleeve yee that I am able to do this and they say Yea Lord Then hee touched their eyes Discovery Beleeve yee I Discover that JESUS will not meete the heat of their importunity with the heat of a favour this were to enflame them into a fevour of solliciting citing and obtaining but hee retards and puts their expectations about with enquiries and conditions and delayes and with these hee ripens his grant and favours and raises their rate and market when a hastie bestowing spoyles the estimate of the favour and lessens the authority of him that bestowes it JESUS saith unto them Beleeve yee This interrogatorie takes up a time first they must have time to beleeve and to know they beleeve ere they can informe another and then the grant is conditionated with their beliefe so that their hopes are yet but to a halfe part Beleeve ye if JESUS may bee sure of their beliefe they may bee sure of a favour it is safe bestowing thus a preamble of information does well to bestow one grace upon the knowledge of another they said Yea Lord then he touched their eyes JESUS went about Matth. 9. 34 35. But the Pharisees said He casteth out Divels through the Prince of Divels But JESUS went about all their Cities and Villages Discovery I Discover here that
holy discoveries of himselfe to the soule When hee was come out immediately there met him there should bee a meeting on our parts then as well as Christs a holy preparation and endeavour is a rising up a stepping forward a making towards Christ a meeting him There met him and where did hee meet him but when hee was come out of the Ship it is good taking Christ at his first landing with you at his first comming upon your borders or coasts when you heare him preached or when your heart and affections are touched with him and a little affected with his Gospel then hee is landed on your shore your senses and affections are the coasts and borders of your soule and there take him and meet him Immediately there met him The Daughter dead Mark 5. 35. Thy Daughter is dead Why troublest thou the Master any further Discovery I Discover how soon a carnall hope would give over how soon it despaires Thy Daughter is dead and why troublest thou any further as though all were at an end with the Daughter all life and spirit and expectation and importunity such faint spirits must ever have some principle some pulse or motion in a businesse to encourage them on if shee bee dead once they die too such looke not at Christ at his power at his life and word but at the Daughter that is dead they consider not how Christ is alive and how soon he may blow a spirit into her arteries and a soule into her body and a sparke into her ashes but the coldnesse in the body and emptinesse in the artery and incineration in the ashes every sleep is to them a death every obstruction a destruction every decay a ruine irreparable every dissolution an annihilation prayers and holy importunities are vaine troubles and hopelesse endeavours and redresse of impossibilities Why troublest thou the Master any further how soone a weake suggestion stops all the wheels and retards the businesse and amazes the proceeding how soon they are taken off with any period or clause Why troublest thou any further not any further probability or likelyhood not any further trouble or endeavour with them how easily is a carnall reason convinced how strong an Argument can nature make how soon is her word taken thy Daughter is dead Thy sword into his place Matth. 26. 52. Then said Jesus Put up againe thy sword into his place The Flame O my God even a Disciple to thy Jesus may draw his weapon in as much hast as another his passions may bee as soone unsheathed in defence of his Master hee is but cold that hath not so much heat as to be angry in Jesus cause nor so much courage as to weare a sword in his behalf that is hath something of power and authority about him yet Jesus bids Put up againe thy sword none of his shall have a sword drawn against the sword of authority if that be out his Disciple shall have command to put up againe a private weapon must not clash against a publick neither be drawne or at least appeare Put up thy sword that is let there be even no shew of resistance and Put it up into his place not into theirs not into the place of the Magistrate or Authority sheath it not there that is not his place but theirs the Kings the Princes and Governors it is to bee feared if the Disciples have their swords out they doe not heare when Christ calls to Peter in the name of the rest Put up thy sword againe into his place Pray yonder Matth. 26. 36 37. And saith unto the Disciples Sit yee here while I goe and pray yonder And he taketh with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee Discovery I Discover that Jesus teaches a decorum to his Disciples at Prayer Sit yee here hee places them and orderly Sit yee here doe not leane here or use any irreverent gesture but Sit yee here and not while I pray here neither but while I pray yonder thus he wisely distinguishes his duty and theirs if they sit here he will pray yonder they must keep a decent distance while he officiates they must bee here and he yonder not both here or both yonder but as though here he had appointed seats for them and yonder a pew for himselfe and sit yee while I goe that is quiet settle compose your thoughts passions stay them from wandering and straying Sit yee that is put your selves in a firme posture use your preparation while I use mine Sit yee while I goe that is my spirit my soule hath a journey to take yet beyond yours as far as a prayer Sit ye while I go and pray and sit yee while I goe as though here should bee the Congregation and yonder the Minister Sit ye while I goe while I move in the services while I I your Master and Minister and Bishop of your soules while I goe And hee goes not alone neither hee will have his holy assistants and co-adjutors as a grace and honour to the prayer and service though they do little and they shall not goe after him to this holy businesse neither but with him as it were beside him at the holy imployment And hee taketh with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee The Place Matth. 28. 6. Come see the place where the Lord lay The Flame O My God the very place where Jesus hath beene is good and gracefull to look at Come see the place the very place hath so much worth in it as will deserve a Come and see Come it is a good motion and setting forward to Religion to come where Christ hath been to see the place of him where he was either preach'd or taught or died or buried Christ hath more places then one every soule that hath had Christ a day or a night or a moneth or a yeere that hath had a forme of godlinesse and Christianity hath for that time been the place or tombe where the Lord lay where hee so journed and come and see how empty the place is without him how unfurnish'd now hee is gone and in Apostacies or fallings away you may see the place where the Lord lay for such soules are but his tombes for the time places where hee dies where his graces and vertue and power perish and these were places where the Lord lay for he never stood here never sate here in these soules their godlinesse was never in so firm and stout a posture but he lay the posture hee was in was a faint a feeble a declining a disable posture Jesus met them Matth. 28. 9. And as they went to tell his Disciples Jesus met them Discovery I Discover they that go upon Jesus businesse shall bee sure of his company sooner or later if not at their setting forward yet ere they come to their journies end as they went Jesus met them them that were seekers and followers of him them that had a longing and desire after him he met
soule is musicall when thou art with me every nerve sinew and string about mee is a Harpstring a string of harmony and rejoycing now I see in thy presence is fulnesse of ioy and thou hast made me glad with the joy of thy countenance Psal. 21. and now I am entered into the joy of my Lord Math. 25. and shall not I be merry and cheerefull when they earth O Lord and thy hills and lands dull and stupid and inanimate clay break forth in rejoycings Therefore thy servant warbles to thee Be joyfull in God all yee lands Psal. 66. and talke of joy yee hills Who can hold his fingers from his Timbrell or Cymball when his Saviour is beside him he that hath delivered our soules from death our eyes from teares and our feete from falling Psal. 116. 8. who can be sad that hath his salvation his reconciliation his redemption in the same roome with him who can mourne that hath him in presence who will supply all his necessities My God shall supply all your necessities Phil. 4. 19. who can mourne that hath him who takes care for him Cast your care upon him for he careth for you 1. Pet. 3. who can mourne that hath one to make peace for all his mutinies his indispositions his rebellions he hath made peace through the bloud of his Crosse Col. 1. 20. one to intercede for all his offences wee have an Advocate Christ Jeses and he is the propitiation for our sinnes 1. John 1. 1 2. to give us every good gift for to which of you if hee aske a fish will hee give a Scorpion or if hee aske bread will he give a stone who can mourne that hath him to provide a place for him in his glory for in my Fathers house are many Mansions and I go to prepare a place for you Awake then Psaltery and Harpe I my selfe will awake right early and let us bee glad and rejoice for this is the day which the Lord hath made even this Lord this Bridegroome who hath his Wine-seller and Flaggons and Grapes and Gardens and Perfumes and Spices all things for the advancement of mirth I came into my Garden I have gathered my Myrrhe I have drunke my Wine drinke yee drinke abundantly O beloved Here is no weeping no teares for God is here and he shall wipe away all teares here is nothing but revellings and divine espousals here is the Bride-chamber here is the sweet celebration of the spirituall marriage here are the holy embraces of Christ and the soule the blessed recumbencies and reposings the interchange of sacred courtship Arise my faire one and let mee kisse thee with the kisses of my mouth And my love is white and ruddy the fairest among ten thousand here is no mourning no lamenting nothing but love-songs and sweet epithalamiums mutuall enjoyments admirations of each other Rejoce therefore in the Lord oh yee righteous again I say Rejoyce Phil. 4. The Synagogue Mat. 4. 23. And JESUS went about all Galilee teaching and preaching in their Synagogues Discovery I Discover that JESUS begins now to be more free of himselfe He went about before he was in the Desart hee then went out now he went about he went out and about and thus inlarges himselfe to his time and businesse he begins in private at Bethlehem he goes on in publike to Galilee he went and went about he was active and stirring in what he had to do employment should ever quicken us motion suits businesse better than a chaire and cushion hee went and about all Galilee Galilee a place neglected and disdained of the Jewes how the estimations of God and man differ how unequally their respects are directed about all Galilee that no part may complaine of neglect and in Galilee hee teaches and preaches hee keepes close to his businesse teaching and preaching Hee wastes not his houres in other diversions in impertinencies or vaine disports but teaches and preaches and in their Synagogues places appropriated and dedicated to that service Galilee Math. 4. 25. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee Discovery HEre I discover the vertue and power of Christs preaching and miracles there followed him even there where he had preached there where he had healed and cured and that from Galilee great multitudes from Galilee When JESUS or his Word prevailes with us wee shall soone leave our Galilees our worldly places and circumstances wee shall leave Galilee and go after JESUS that is neither Citie nor Countrey nor kindred nor acquaintance shall be able to keep us from following we shall go as this multitude for a multitude followed him and now we shall not go wrong if wee follow the multitude so long as they follow thus and follow him here in the Text even JESUS yet it is something strange to see a multitude following him for the way after JESUS is strait and few there be that finde it and his flock is little feare not little flock and yet a multitude are following but as many followed him so certainly they followed him many wayes the track where JESUS had gone could not suffer many upon it but some took other tracts though all in pretence of following and what though a multitude many are called and few chosen The Physician Math. 9. 12. The whole neede not a Physician but they that are sick The Flame LOrd I have a sick soule a distempered soule a languishing soule the spirits and faculties of it faint and droope for want of thy Influence of thy grace of thy sacred visits thou did'st hide thy face and I was troubled Psal. 30. troubled till I laid downe with trouble and watered my couch the trouble weighed upon my spirit till I was weary and heavie laden the spirit of a man may beare his infirmities but a wounded Spirit who can beare who can beare it and not lie downe under the burden Lord I have a sick soul sick unto death for while I live after the flesh I die Rom. 8. 13. and now that I am in so deepe and desperate distemper of spirit restore and renew me againe thou turnest man to destruction and thou saiest Come againe yee children of men say thou unto my soule Returne and that voice will quicken me againe and raise me to life that I may say with the Apostle as dying and yet behold I live 2. Cor. 6. 9. Lord how many are my spirituall diseases Lay thy hand upon the pulse of my soule the affections and passions which beat so violently for want of thee as the Hart panteth after the water brookes so panteth my heart after thee O God Psal. 42. looke O Lord upon the water of my Soule thou hast a Bottle even a holy Urinall put my teares into thy Viall Psal. 56. looke upon the complexion of my Soule how pale and wan having a forme or colour of godlinesse but denying the power 2. Tim. 3. Lord I acknowledge I have a sick soul and many are
open way of wickednesse Lord how easie is it to go in this broad way what freedome what liberty what room for disport is here what associating hearding is here what trooping every one will have a foot in this way If I would set forward to any lust or ambition or covetousnesse or any other worldly designe this way will lead me to it but Lord I wil think on my wayes and turne Psal. 119. 59. and I will take heede to my wayes for here is not onely a wide way to scatter and unloose my selfe in but a steepe way and descending way and if I once slide down this precipice the returne is painfull and the recoverie desperate but I will go stand in the wayes and see c. Ierem. 6. 16. and though the way be smooth and plaine and easie and pleasant the way of the world though it be strowne with flowers and roses and spread with carpets of plush for the pleasure and ease of my feet yet I will instruct them back unto thy strait way O Lord though thy way be gravell'd and causied and uneven yet I will go in thy paths for they lead to a new and living way Hebr. 10. 20. though they bee strait that is strict and severe and pinching and binde my behaviours to thee yet I will on though they be toilesome in their ascent so that I slip back and fall and decline in my advancements forward yet I will not go from thy wayes for the Lord is my helper Hebr. 13. 7 and he will give grace to helpe in time of need Heb. 4. 16. therefore into this strait gate will I enter Bee open yee everlasting gates that an heire of glory may come in I will enter though I reach but into the Portal for I had rather be a doore-keeper in the house of my God then dwell in the Tents of ungodlinesse Psal. 84. 10. therefore O Lord if any darknesse or clouds of ignorance or impiety would cast their shadow upon me in thy wayes to muffle or benight me direct my paths Prov. 3. 6. for thou art the God of light and in thee is no darknesse 1. Iohn 1. 5. The great Faith Matth. 8. 10. When JESUS heard it he marvelled and said unto them that followed him Verily I say unto you I have not found so great faith no not in Israel Discovery I Discover how punctuall and eminent JESUS is in his laudatives and applauses hee marvelled hee that had all the graces in more excellent measure and manner yet marvelled at the grace of the Centurion neither was this admiration of his this marvelling of his to himselfe in his owne bosome under his owne roofe but to others he marvelled and said the more deserts and parts are taken notice on and published the more they are encouraged and raised Commendation blowes a spirit into the artery of desert the marvellings sayings are the gratious aires which fan them and make them shed brighter and clearer yet what he said was not to the party he commended but to those that followed he would not speak too much in the face of desert he knew the modesty of vertue and grace how soone it would decline and disacknowledge and summon the bloud into the face to bespeak his silence therefore he said not to the Centurion but to them that followed him Verily I say unto you PETERS house Matth. 8. 14 15. Now when JESUS was come into PETERS house hee saw his wives mother laid and sick of a Feaver And he touched her hand c. Discovery I Discover Christ stayes not in ceremonies and complements but lookes how his businesse and necessitie cals and there he applies hee came into Peters house and there he takes no time with Peter but his mother who lay sick of a Fever he diverts not to curiosities or impertinencies to view his house or roomes though perhaps but homely neither or to examine the building or furniture but straight to his wives mother who lay sick her infirmity made suit for sanation and hee comes to her without any more interjections and pauses we should not bee too lingring in exigencies and dispatches And because his comming without healing had beene but a complement a promise from his demeanour and no redresse he therefore touched her hand her hand the onely part she layes hold with her onely part shee applyes with her part shee labours with the onely Organ of practice and employment about her and this having a touch and vertue from JESUS must needs bee holier in the actions after hee touched her hand JESUS gives us but a touch on our hands here below hereafter hee will take us by the hand and lead us in the way everlasting Psal. 139. 24. The Mote Matth. 6. 3. How wilt thou say to thy brother Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye and behold a beame is in thine owne The Flame O God how curious are we in the infirmities of others how officious how industrious with our eyes to discerne with our hands to touch with our tongues to publish O that we should be such intelligencers to others and such strangers at home so busie abroad and sedentarie at home that wee should light our Tapers for others faults and infirmities and put them out for our owne such curious Forreigners and such incurious Domesticks with what partiall eyes do we looke on our selves so willing to over-look what is amisse what mercifull Courts and Consistories do we keepe for our owne offences and what severe censures and examinations for others how deceitfull are our glasses The blemishes and spots which are in our selves shed a shadow upon our neighbours and makes us beleeve they are in them how many are the blots and moles in our bodies and yet how pure and cleare are all our owne representations and thus we seeme to be religious and deceive our owne hearts and our religion is in vaine Iam. 1. 26. Oh my God how ancient is this errour how common every religion and heresie and schisme and professor hath a finger for the eye of his neighbour for every way of man is right in his owne eyes Prov. 21. 2. and there is a generation that are pure in their owne eyes Prov. 30. 12. this generation is our generation and of this generation one passeth and another commeth How direct how forward are our eye beames how single how intent how percussive which shoote and beate full upon the eyes of others never comming back nor doubling nor reflecting upon our owne weaknesses and offences how diffusive and shedding and spreading is this little light in our bodies how freely disbursed upon other objects and how darke at home how dull to its owne Organ and if the light that is in me be darknesse how great is that darknesse Math. 6. 22. how inquisitive how finely sighted are wee even to a mote or atome in another Lord cleare up my sight with some eyebright water of contrition that I may see my
they had seene the miracle that Jesus did said This is of a truth that Prophet Discovery I Discover how soone any thing of wonder strikes the true beleevers into devotion and protestation when they had seene the miracle they said This is of a truth that Prophet when they had seene they said Wee must have a sight before wee will say any thing and of a truth before wee will affirme any thing or avouch any thing Our eyes are the only sense of credit and employment with us and they must be spoken to first when they had seene the miracle our Saviour bespeakes their sight and that will soone make report of it to their judgement and affections and winne him a partie soone in a soule if he get but the eyes to consent the other parts will be easily perswaded when they had seene the miracle they said and then the parties that see are observable if they bee as they were here those men there is more hopes those men when they had seene now those men were people of meane ranke and fashion and when they had seene they said This is that Prophet but the richer and greater and wiser men the Pharisees and Scribes they saw the signes and miracles but no better for the fight they said not This is that Prophet but he is a Samaritane and hath a Divell Willingly received him John 6. 21. Then they willingly received him into the Ship and immediatly the Ship was at the land whither they went Discovery I Discover that having Jesus wee have our desires and with dispatch too for having received him the Ship was immediately at the land whither they went immediately without any crosse winde or wave of impediment if we be then embarqued upon the Sea that is engaged or tossed in any worldly affaire or trouble let us make all haste we can to receive Jesus and we shall be at land immediately and the Ship was immediately at the land yet many receive Jesus into their Ship or fraile barque of their souls and meete with many a high Sea and rough storme which keep them from whither they would go but then they receive him not as these here they willingly received him there must bee a willing receiving a free-hearted open receiving neither must we receive him so much for our selves and our present redresse and successe as for himselfe many receive him and willingly too but their owne need and extremity or desire prompts them and then they receive not him him as pure Christ as only Redeemer but him as a present Fautour or Deliverer and such willingnesse may bee rather a remora and retard then facilitate To make him a King John 6. 15. When JESUS therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force to make him a King he departed againe c. The Flame O My God wilt thou accept of no Crownes here below no Scepters indeed their Crownes are but of thornes here and their Scepters of reeds how many wounds do these Crownes make who ever wore an Empire or Kingdome about his temples and complain'd not of the scratching and tearing and rending and bleeding and cried not out with the Shunamite my head my head Such O Lord are the troubles and distractions of State who ever held a Scepter and complain'd not of the weaknesse how like a reed it would shake at every winde and aire of trouble or commotion and therefore did'st thou depart when they came and would make the a King or else wert thou so low and humble that thou would'st not suffer thy head nor thy hand to be guilt with soverainty was this thy exinanition O my God give the same humility to thine that as thou wert God and came downinto man wert Lord of all and took upon thee the forme of a servant so we may make it our highest pinacle to bee lowest our throne to bee on a foot-stoole our greatest honour to bee serviceable to others for I am among you as he that serveth and that all may know they are but men within in their composition and principles and onely endorsed with the superscription of gods I have said yee are gods but yee shall die like men and that all may know their Kingdome is not altogether of this world A Kingdome divided Matth. 12. 25. Every Kingdome divided against it selfe is brought to desolation Discovery I Discover that division is the way to desolation Divide and rule then is no Aphorisme here discord does well in any musick but the musick of Soveraignty whatsoever the Kingdome then or Empire bee that wee have let us keepe it from being divided nothing spoiles our Kingdome of nature so much as factious humours and distempers and bruisings and breakings for these set up unwholsome stares and infect and corrupt the good Provinces and Shires of our flesh and bloud and by this wee are soone brought to desolution or if our Kingdome be a Kingdome of grace that wee have let us keepe it from being divided nothings brings this Kingdome to desolation sooner then a law in the members warring against the law of the minde for in every Kingdome there should bee a continuity and concatenation and consolidation and where the Kingdome is divided there must needs be a dissolution and parting of the parts continued and a breaking and rupture of the links the lawes and firme combination and now all is divided and there are so many flawes and chinkes that any thing may flow in division is the leekes of the Kingdome and where these are open there may soon spring in a tide which may drowne all Nation against Nation Mark 13. 8. For Nation shall rise against Nation and Kingdome against Kingdome and there shall bee Earthquakes in divers places The Flame LOrd what combustion what commotion is here Nation against Nation and Kingdome against Kingdome Spokest thou this onely to Judea and Jerusalem or hath not thy speech a latitude and influence into our times are not our Nations within the territories of this Nation are not our Kingdomes within the liberties of this Kingdome here Nation against Nation and Kingdome against Kingdome even now thy words were a Kingdome against it selfe and now it is one Kingdmoe a gainst another Lord now I see thy word fulfilled I am not come to send peace but the sword but how does this suit with thee the God of peace Peace was sung at thy Nativity on earth peace and peace was thy onely blessing peace be unto you from whence then O my God is this war is it not enough that wee have warre in our selves and fight against principalities and powers and spirituall wickednesse but we must call new forces and set up new standards and above our Sheild of Faith and Helmet of Salvation and Brest-plate of Righteousnesse put on other armour Must it be Nation against Nation and Kingdome against Kingdome O thou that art the God of peace from whence is this Nation against Nation and Kingdome against Kingdome from whence come these warres and fightings come they not hence even of your lusts Jam. 4. 1. your lusts and desires are inordinate irregular and exorbitant and they cause these Earth-quakes in divers places our feares and tremblings are these Earth-quakes when not onely the earth wee tread on shakes but the earth we are Our opinions and waverings and giddie motions are the cause of these quakings for we are tossed to and fro with every winde of doctrine We our earth our selves do shake with a winde and vapour of faction and sedition that is got into our veines and arteryes but the foundation of God standeth sure 2 Tim. 2. 19. and O God fixe us and settle us upon thy foundation and give our Nations and Kingdomes peace thou that made peace through the blood of thy Crosse and let the peace of God rule in our hearts that we may pray for the peace of Jerusalem FINIS Cant. 5.