those that must take a liberty of controuling offenders Ye have well considered all thâ—s Ye have begun to reforme in your owne hearts and families This is the true method of proceeding â—ccâ—rding to the Order and a Statute in Israel Ye are the Lords Host His Warriours His Worthies They that fight his battels must keep themselves from every wicked thing a Deut. 23. â— That is the Order The judgement upon breach of that Order ye may reade â—ud â—o And he that reades and considers will conclude his Duty thence That a true and orderly Reformâ—r reformes at he me first and in his owne heart then his Family That the one may be kept as the Temple of the living God The other ordered as the Church of Christ And he that considers it not as amongst many more then one there may be This Scripture will have a keene edge against him which we may reade with some alteration in the words but none in the sence Thâ—u therefore who correct est another correct est thou not thy self b Rom. 2. 21. Thou who seemest to reforme abroad reformest thou not at home Certainly there the Reformer begins when he begins decently and in order Great and mighty reason there is that he should doe so and pressed upon you all by the Captaine of your Hoast The very same that was for the Hoast of the Lord going forth against the Lords enemies The Lord your God walketh in the midst of your Camp to deliver up your enemies before you therefore shall your Hoast your House your Court your Deut. 23. Camp your Fleet be holy that He see no uncleane thing in you and turne Ver. 14. away from you The Church hath told you your engagement now she will tell her engagement to you Great reason the Church should record your labour of Love worke of Faith patience of Hope for in all these you have been abundant The greatest reason in the world she should be exceeding thankfull for you have been exceeding carefull How you have oft refreshed her You were not ashamed of her Chaine when she was in Rome you sought her out very diligently and sound her h 2 Tim. 1. 16. Mat. 4. 1. The Churches prayer is The Lord grant that you and yours may find mercy of the Lord in that day What Day A Day that shall burne like an Oven nay more terrible then so A Day when the wicked shâ—ll be at their wits end for expectation and call to the Hils to fall upon them O it is a mighty matter to find mercy of the Lord in that Day that terrible Day that all searching all quickning all opening all manifesting Day I cannot expresse what a mercy it is to find mercy in that Day But so the Church prayes That you may finde mercy in that Day That you may lift up your heads with joy in that Day Behold Him in that Day Whom your soule loveth Whom you serve Whom you feare and Whose Rights you have maintained with all your might So the Church prayes And good reason the Church should pray so That you may find mercy in that Day for in this Day in how many things you have ministred to her her Lord knowes she knowes not but in very many that she knowes and she doth Record them with rejoycing And she wisheth you prosperity in the Name of the Lord that you may ride on with your honour and doe valiantly The greatest Reason that can be She should wish even so your prosperity for therein are involved Peace and Truth the safety and prosperity of the whole Kingdome I must observe as they call it decorum Personae The Church is never lavâ—sh or large in praises to Man She likes not to strike much upon that string least it should affect too much and make too sweet Musicke in the eare Yet She cannot but adde this and then She will put in for Caution That many Parliaments have done worthily Many very worthy deeds have been done for the Nation thereby but you have exceeded them all Indeed you have done so much so many worthy deeds that as was said wittily the Church may say truly You have made the Church the greatest Vsurer in the World for you have turned all her estate into Obligations Truly She hath nothing She dares call her owne all her Estate lyeth in Bonds indeed whereby She is tyed fast to her King and You. She thanks you heartily so well content is She with her Bonds her Estate is good enough and sure enough and rich enough her Bonds are her Freedome and her Riches both SECT IV. Abundant Thanks and Praise tickle the eare therefore the Church puts in Caution for that FOr Caution now and there is need of it For we low men can exalt man very high and give him high praises more then is comely We can say That Gods are come downe to us in the likenesse of men and we can offer sacrifice unto them such as is only due to God And so mighty men have fallen even by the applause of man as well as by the tickling of their owne hearts This is a dainty point man had need to looke on strait lest he trespasse upon Gods peculiar Right which he may doe before he is aware I will ascend above the heights of the clouds I will be like the most High so the great King of Babel thought and spake in the pride of his heart i Iâ—â— 1â— And yet we doe not conceive that he thought himselfe able to clamber up above the clouds and there set himselfe in the Throne of God He was not so brutishly confident as to thinke so We find him guilty but of stout words against the Lord and high thoughts and so we also may though we thinke not so ascend above the height of the clouds too For I borrow M. Perkins words which will explaine Perk. on Gen. â— 21. c. 5. sect 1. these we may doe all this two wayes First When we thinke we have power of our selves whereby we can match or countervaile the power of God This thought riseth in the heart very often when we trust in our Mountaine and it is a strong City and an high Wall in our conceit k Prov. 18. 1â— and in our counsell and strength that it shall prevaile against God Secondly When we take to our selves the honour of God and thinkâ— it our owne proper due Such thoughts as these rise very often in good hearts but upon wiser thoughts they put it from them as a cursed thing and give not place by subjection thereto no not for a minute They can consider with all their hearts how stout those words are we have read and how high and abominable such thoughts But yet we may note That the wisest have not alwayes these wise and considering thoughts before they be beaten into them first by some sore affliction whereby they are put into feare and know to purpose That they are
face for griefe of heart because she saw it's visage marred spit upon vilified trampled on more then any Day Oh it joyed her heart That you who next to God maintaine her spirits and life you accounted her Lords day honourable that was because you honoured the Lord of the Day And indeed how could you not For He is worthy and you looke to be honoured The Church will looke upon this mercy againe and againe and reckon the restoring to her the Sabbath among the chiefest and choisest of your good deeds which by Gods good hand upon you you have done Had the Adversary taken away the Sabbath as he had almost done tantum non he hâ—d taken away all The Word the Sacraments God and all All goeth when the Sabbaths are gone as you may see in our sister Churches What is left them now Lamentation and Mourning and Woe What heare they in their Temples now Howlings instead of Songs What are their Townes and Cities now Ruined heapes a Golgotha a place of dead Mens sculls or to speake as Salvian doth in the like Desolation d Omnis Civitaâ—â—ustum c. Sal. l. 7 210. Their Townes are like our new Church-yards scarce large enough to bury in The Lord hath stretched out upon the Land the like of confusion and stones of emptinesse They shall call the Nobles thereof to the Kingdome but none shall be there And all her Princes shall be nothing e Isa 34. 11 12. Wherefore hath the Wrath of the Lord burnt out against that people so fiercely Surely because the Land had greatly provoked the Lord of the same Where great Desolations are there are great provocations so we may conclude though Gods Judgements are as the great deepe And this we may say more That our English Commanders noted this still and it was to be noted with all observation That still on the Lords Day the Enemy got much ground And that which opened the floud-gate to all their misery fell out thrice upon the Sabbath Day The Lord pointing as with the finger to that sinne The prophanation of the Lords Day as to the Source whence all their Evills have issued I will take leave now for I must not passe over this lightly to note two things 1. The Priests Villany 2. Your Piety That they may remember and be confounded because of their shame And that you may goe on and doe exploits †1. The Priests Villany Is not that too heavy a word No It is the word of the Lord. The Priests heart hath wrought iniquity to practise Hypocrysie and to utter errour against the Lord to make empty the soule of the hungry and to cause the drink of the thirsty to faile h Esa 3â— 6. This is villany and they have spoken it before the Lord in His house where He hath said He will be sanctified and they have compelled others to speake it too even to utter errour against the Lord there in His House where they stand charged to deale faithfully To utter Truth To speake as the oracles of God They have committed villany in Israel a greater villany than they committed whom the King of Babel roasted in the fire i Ier. 29. 2â— They have not only committed Adultery vvith stocks and stones k but they have spoken lying words in Gods Name I KNOW AND AM A WITNESSE saith the Lord l Ier. 29. 23 Many villanies have been committed in Israel but none like this which the Priests have committed The giving liberty to prophane the Lords Day BY A LAW Nay a forcing thereunto Every Word of God shall meet with some who will turne head against it looke how many kinds of Precepts there are so many adversaries there are m Omnis sermo divinus habit amâ—los suos quoâ— genera praeceptorum sunt â—â—t adversariorâ—â— Salv. ad Ecc. Cath. l. 4. p 486. But let the superstitious Papists turne head against the second WORD Let the Licentiously Prophane oppose the fourth WORD Let the Athyst the Pagan who knowes not God blot out the first and the third WORD Take away all but let not the Priests doe it let not them oppose so holy so just so reasonable a command They know the Lord They minister before him But they did it even the Priests And for a Priest to turne this good Word out of Gods house and the Ministers after it if they would not speake errour against the Lord for him to blot out the Hard writing there this was villany sure never the like committed in Israel it exceeded the boldnesse of that Pagan King n Dan. 5. The Time must be enquired into When did the Priests commit this wickednesse Then At that time when the Lord called to mourning they called to Dancing * Nigra est incendio civitas in vultâ—â— festâ—vitâ—â—â— usurpaâ— Lugent cuâ—cta tu latus et Sal. de gub l. 5. p. p. 22â— To allude to that place Then the Priests proclaymed a liberty for sports on the Lords Day when the Lord proclaimed a Liberty in the Neighbours Church to the Sword to the Pestilence to the Famine m Ier. â—4 17. Salvian would expresse this a great deale better Then they consulted all this against the LORDS DAY when they saw Cities wasted and two Kings slaine if not in battell yet they were slaine The Priest did just like Ahaz they saw as hee a miserable destruction before their eyes yet they brought a patterne of that abomination which caused that desolation and as Vriah did set it up here by a Law * 2 King 16. The time must be noted and that our spirits may be raised high in praise the exceeding 2 Chro. 28. patience of a God must be noted also we did patterne after them vve vvere like them nay we exceeded in that prophanation yet the Lord did not patterne us He did not make us like them in desolations O exceeding patience that The patience of a God Truly when the Church heard this she was perswaded in her heart That the Lord would strip her people naked set them as in the day they were borne make them as a Wildernesse like a dry Land and slay them with thirst n Hos 2 3. Nay her sad thoughts rose higher she verily thought that the Lord would put a Cup of deadly wine into her peoples hand a Cup of pure wrath That is she thought her Lord would not have mercy upon her children And that is a Cup of deadly Wine â—ndeed of pure vvrath wherein there is no mixture of Mercy A people may be stript naked c. and yet there may be mercy in all that Truly the Church thought thus now the Lord will not have mercy He will turne His backe upon her people now for He beheld abominations in His House which His soule hateth and His Day was prophaned by a Law But see now That we may set our hope and our hearts upon the Lord and set-up a pillar an everlasting Monument
I heare the most part of it nay some say all that is properly called the Liturgie ariseth out of the corruptest sinke that is in the world the Popes Masse-book and that had it's originall spring out of mans brain 5. THAT SERVICE WHICH FLOWES NOT FROM HEAVEN IS ODIOUS TO HEAVEN Be it so then ODIOVS this Service must be for the Reason afore-said for the worst part of it flowes from the Priests mouth now and he derives it as was said from the most corrupt person and booke the â—ope and his Masse-book The Church now makes no conclusions from the premisses against some set formes of CONFESSION THANKES REQVâ—ST c. It being the judgement of the gravest and most learned Divines that such set-formes may be and must be Indeed the Doctours words seeme at the first view and more then seeme if they be narrowly looked into cleane against them set Formes I meane But the Church concludes nothing No she leaves all determinations and conclusions at the foot of her Lord and of His Word and under that authority she concludes her soule and she expects That all her Sonnes vvill in their consultations touching this great businesse stand like the stalke of a Ballance leaning to no side neither to the right nor left but just as the Churches Standard the MIND and WILL OF GOD expressed in the sacred Scripture shall sway them just so But for this Liturgie so distracted so mangled so like torne flesh so complying vvith the Masse-booke all along and so filling up the houre so as vvhen the Minister hath ended his Liturgie he thinkes he hath done service enough to the Church that part of the Day For this Liturgie the Church thinkes there can no sufficient reason be given for the continuance of it and therefore her Sonnes and Daughters will write this Day vvhen the weake overcame the strong and the fewest in number prevailed over the spirituall Lords even that Day the NINTH OF SEPTEMBER And that we may set a fuller marke yet upon that Day the Church would have us note two ACTS of the spirituall Lords very notable both and the consequence there-from The one bearing date from the 16. of Ianuary 1640 and issued forth by bill the ninth of September following for the feoffiâ—g this Liturgie by their last will and testament upon the Church her sonnes and daughters for ever wherein their spirits vvere so servent that they were consumed in their owne fire The other Act bearing date the â—9 of December 1641. whereby they would have made void â—ll that the Lords â—nd Commons more spirituall then they had done for the Church and Common-wealth Presently after their former Act so full of that we sometimes call Spirit This word SPIRITVALL was cast out of the bill we might reade it there this once and then no more for ever By theâ—r lâ—st Act â—f Subscription full of the same spirit also their LORDSHIPS were câ—st out of the house and with their owne hands Hâ—â—ein the Reâ—aliation of the Lord was wonderfull how He meeted forth unto them the portion of their measures because they forgot Him and trusted in false hood d Iâ—â— 13. 25. But this belongs to the yeare following we are to write this day even this same Day the ninth of SEPTEMBER for then the Church put-in a Caveat That the spirituall Lords last Will and Testament might prove null and of none effect The Church must name that Day also so she can and give it a very proper name as once it was when the Lord wrought wonderfully for His people Thus we reade That the Lords of the Philistines came up against Israel presently after Israel had powred out themselves before the Lord Then Israel cryed unto the Lord and to their Seer that hee would cry for them in the eares of the Lord So he did for he knew his duty and he cryed so long till he got a great Thunder out of Heaven upon the Philistines and discomfited them So they were smitten before Israel 1 Sam 7. Where we note in passage that Samuell is the man of warre and his Lord the God of Hosts all creatures serve Him great and small high and low Fire and Haile Snow and Vapours stormy wind which execute His Word b Ps 148. 8 It was so here The Seer hee prayes offers Sacrifice and then the Lord thundred And now that the Lord had made a Breach upon the enemy Israel pursues them and smote them untill they came unto Bethcar Now the Prophet hath his mouth as wide opened in praise as before in prayer and not onely so but he sets up a Monument to keepe in mind this admirable Deliverance he tooke a stone setting it up and called the name thereof EBEN-EZAR saying HITHERTO the Lord hath helped us His glory hath been a REREWARD c Isa 58. 8. hitherto This must be the Name of the Day a good Day and a good name HITHERTO The Church commands her Sonnes and Daughters to set-up quickly this Monument to His praise while the Mercy is fresh for as the Eele out of the hand so Mercies slip out the mind Wee have still need of Remembrancers and none like this To remember this Day and that HITHERTO the Lord hath helped us But because this HITHERTO is counted by some a small Mercy the Church will reason out the case with a bruitish people at this Standard turning her selfe unto her Lord. ¶ 1. A wonderfull mercy and must have everlasting praise That the Lord hath brought his Church HITHERTO IS this the manner of Man Lord God I must answer no Kings of the Earth will not do so If they be crossed yea but a little they will rage 2 Sam. 7. 19. very much shew much wrath they will be avenged if they can seven-fold yea seventy-and seven-fold Nay vve poore men low creatures vvormes of the Earth cannot beare injury and wrong our patience is tired-out presently and we will be avenged vve will not stick to say in our haste vengeance is ours we will repay Can two Men walke together except they be agreed b Amos 3. 3â— No for they will flie one in the others face presently There vvas a greate disagreement betwixt God and His people even now at this time yet behold He and they walke together HITHERTO We vvâ—lked most contrary He not so but most comfortably with us HITHERTO Wee maintained wâ—rre against God yet HITHERTO God hath helped us Wee thought He would have stâ—rred up all His vvrath and have consumed us utterly Hee stirred up all His bowells and so brought us HITHERTO for as we reade He is God and not Man * Hos 11 9. But to put this mercy home and to make it sinke down into our hearts The Church tels us more That as this is not the Manner of Man so nor of God neither The Lord hath wrought a new thing upon Earth amongst us in our Land It is not His Manner to use such patience
יהוה GOD IN THE FLAMING-BVSH EXOD. 3. 2. Moses looked and behold the Bush burned with fire and the Bush was not consumed EXOD. 3. 3. And he said I will now turne aside and see this great sight why the Bush is not burnt DEUT. 33. 16. Blessed of the Lord be His Land for the precious things of Heaven And for the precious things of the Earth and for the good-will of Him That dwelt in the Bush ESA. 63. 9. In all their affliction He was afflicted and the Angell of His Presence saved them Published for a memoriall of the first wonderfull yeare The day of the LORDS vengeance and yeare of Recompences for the controversie of Zion THE CHVRCHES THANK-OFFERING To GOD Her KING and The PARLIAMENT FOR Rich and ancient Mercies Her Yeares of Captivity Her first Yeare of IVBILE THAT IS For the Marvelous Deliverances Wrought with God the first Wonderfull Yeare since the Yeare 88 beginning at September 1640. and ending the ninth of the same Moneth following In all which time The Lord appeared for His Church as in the dayes of old out of the middest of the BVSH so the Church burn'd with fire and was not consumed In the PREFACE The THANK-OFFERING is vindicated and set free from all the Cavills and Charges against it Where also it is cleared To be as every Mans Duty so every Mans purpose To Offer Willingly now who doth not make full proofe that he falls short of Pagan Papist or Atheist and is wilfully resolved to walk crosse to the most SUPREME Law The HIGHEST Reason and The unquestionable WILL of GOD. 1 Chro. 17. 19. O Lord for Thy Servants sake and according to Thine own heart hast Thou done all this greatnesse in making known all these great things Psal 1â—6 17 I will offer to Thee the Sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call upon the Name of the Lord. Nehem. 5. 19. Thinke upon mee my God for good according to all that I have done for this people London Printed for T. V. at the signe of the Bible in Wood street 164â— TO THE LORD the most high GOD Possessour of Heaven and Earth TO IESUS CHRIST His only Son our LORD Prince of Peace King of Saints To the blessed SPIRIT the Truth and leading thereinto BLessed be Thy glorious Name which is exalted above all blessing and praise Thou alone workest wonders and in so doing hast magnified Thy Selfe and honoured man Thou shewedst signes and wonders upon Thy Adversaries for Thou knewest they dealt proudly against Thee So didst Thou get Thy selfe a Name as it is this Day and herein didst Thou use man as an instrument Dust and Ashes he is give him grace to magnifie Thee Blessed Saviour Rock of our Salvation Desire of the Nations Hope of Israel in time of trouble Thou wast content to be made of no esteeme that Thy people might be greatly beloved to be made a curse that Thy people might become a blessing content to be made low that Thou mightest exalt man So Thou hast done Thou hast exalted him even to sit in Thrones next to Thy selfe Give him an heart to exalt Thee to honour Thee to love Thee much for Thou art worthy Blessed Spirit Thou hast done great things and marvellous not by a Nihil aliundè mutuatur Deus ad Ecclesiae suae conservationeÌ„ ergò vult sibi Vni acceptam referri Ecclesiae satureÌ„ Cal. humane might nor by power but by Thy selfe b Zach. â— 6. Nec tamen omnia immediatè per se agit Deus sed tantum ostendere vâ—lâ— Ecclesiam erigi et conservari non humano vulgari modo sed mirabiliter praeter omnes spes sensus nostres Cal. in locum ô blessed Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts take to Thy selfe the Glory even all Almighty Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity unspeakably Three in One and One in Three One in Authority Will and Worship of all Three King of Kings Lord of Lords Spare Thy Servant according to the greatnesse of Thy mercy Thy hand-maid is recording Thy ancient thoughts of Grace and Peace towards Thy Servants her Sons and her Daughters Ancient mercies towards them when they lay in their blood for that was a time of love c Ezech. 16. 8. Mercies toward them exceeding Mercies when they were in the fornace of affliction for then Thou didst DWELL with them and they had ENOVGH Mercies towards her Land and People this former yeare strange Rescues wonderfull Deliverances admirable Discoveries what then can Thy Servant say now Even as Thou shalt be pleased to open her Mouth and give her inlargement She would take with her words d Hos 14. 2. but from Thy owne mouth and of Thy owne chusing Thou must give first for all things come of Thee and of Thine owne have we given Thee e 1 Chro. 29. 14. Thy servant must now speake Thy high Praises then Thou Lord must tune my spirit and raise it up else it will flag or like a Bird without wings now up and presently down How insufficient Thy Servant is for so high and excellent an imployment Thou knowest for Thou even Thou onely knowest the hearts of all the children of men f 1 Kin. 8. 39. At this present indeed now that I have some high thoughts of Thy glorious excellencies Thy Servant can speake as one brought downe to the ground whose speech whispereth out of the dust yet as one presently stolne away from her selfe she can with that Sorcerer thinke her selfe some GREAT ONE g Act. 8. 9. Lord rebuke this proud spirit and cast a spewing upon Selfe-glory h Hab. 2. 16. for truth Lord something it would be and something it would doe though a thousand experiences have told us that nothing it is nothing it can i Ier. 3. 5. but sinne against Thee Thy grace in us doth all no more power in selfe no more canning except the contrary way then can the instrument of late held in the worke-mans hand but now cast-out or lying by him Lord leave me not no not a little worke all in me and for me then worke by me for what we give to Thee is from Thy own hand to us first And though flesh and bloud would share here yet suffer it not but say where Thy voyce is there is power it shall not be so and so take to Thy self Thy proper right all the glory Let not so excellent a thing as the Spirit is so vast and capacious be lost in selfe which is nothing but let it runne forth to Thee and though it will be lost there also amidst such an Ocean yet there it finds a proportionable good even all in Thy self for Thou art All. Behold now I have taken upon me to speake unto my Lord that am but aust and ashes Thou wilt suffer this once and leade me into Thy Treasure-house to behold Thy mercies there which I am no more able to understand then I
can the treasures of the snow and of the haile k Iob 38. 22. nor comprehend no more then I can measure the wind in my fist or Heavens with my Span for I must looke backe to the dayes of eternity and Thy ancient thoughts towards Thy Sons and Daughters before the foundation of the world And behold Thy wayes there as undiscernable as the way of an Eagle in the Aire or of a Serpent upon the Rocke l Pro. 30. 19. as is the path which no foule knoweth and which the vultures eye hath not seen m Iob 28. 7. But blessed be Thy Name though there in that darke path the soule can find no rest nor feels any bottome yet in Thy Christ * De praedestinatione dâ—sputaturuâ— incipe â— Christi vulneribus Mel. Ad. in vitâ Staâ—â—p Vera est ea poenitentia quae ab amore justitiae Dei incipit we have a foundation even according to the good pleasure of Thy will towards us in Him to the praise of the glory of Thy Grace n Eph. 1. 5. For Him we blesse Thee we praise Thee we adore Thee for Thy glorious manifestations secret inspirations immediate workings for all the meanes of conveyance whereby Heaven is pleased to condescend and to have communion with earthly creatures and earthly creatures have fellowship with the FATHER and the SONNE For Thy Sons sake all this therefore we blesse Thee for that unspeakable gift with Whom Thou givest all things a subduing of iniquity victory over sin sinne is not left to bring forth its owne cursed fruit an exceeding mercy pardon of sinne communion with Thy selfe joy in the Holy Ghost then the strongest when we are weakest and our sufferings the greatest Then the highest elevation of spirit then the floud of consolation runnes highest when the floud of wickednesse runnes over the head and seemes ready to swallow up This is that the world stumbles at nay we shrinke at too at sufferings at persecution though yet a thousand experiences tels us Persecution is the signe of a Thes 1. 7. the true Church and to them who are persecuted Rest with us and our Rest is in Thee and with Thee at last and then even in that houre of temptation then dost Thou administer abundant consolations even according as the sufferings are through fire yet not consumed through water yet not drowned o Esa 43. 2. Surely this is because Thou dost guide Thy Servants by Thy Councell we are not carefull whether we goe when Thou hast us by the hand being assured the end of the way is GLORY And now that the people may flow in hether cause them to turne aside and behold this sight why the BVSH burnes and is not consumed All that looke on must resolve it thus because Thy GOOD WILL DWELLS IN THE Esa 63. 9. BVSH In all their affliction Thou wast afflicted and the Angell of Thy presence saved them O blessed be the Father Son and Holy Ghost for Thy GOOD-WILL That dwels in the Bush O let not my Lord be angry and I will speake yet but this once we Thy people have said in our haste Our hope is cut-off we shall be termed FORSAKEN and our Land DESOLATE But we behold and wonder Thou hast shewen grace unto us to give us a nayle in Thy Esa 62. 4. Holy place and hast revived our hope That we shall be called HEPHZâ—BAH and our Land Beulah Truly Lord Thou hast comforted all my waste places Thou hast made my WILDERNES like EDEN and my DESERT like the Garden of the Lord ioy and gladnesse is found therin Thanksgiving Ezr. 9. 8. and the voyce of Melody * Esa 51. 3. But Lord why is it so Why such severity towards our sister-Churches and such goodnesse towards us and our Land Even so because it pleaseth Thee It is Thy good will so Be it so but we are over-charged with the consideration thereof and are silent Truly Lord we stand wondering at Thy works beholding terrible things r Esa 64. 3. which our Fathers saw not and we look'd not for The turning councels upside downe c. for had Thy Servant the tongue of an Angell she could not expresse it but at our selves we wonder most of all at the drossinesse the dregginesse of our spirits not yet resolved into a spirit of Thankefullnesse no not yet though we have seene such and such things above all such forbearance such a patient suffering our manners o Act. 13. 18. at such a time as this Why Lord God Thou didst send unto us Saviours we should have looked through them as through a thin covering to Thy arme made bare for our Salvation we did not so it was a thicke covering before our eyes it hid Thy Almighty Arme quite from us We did leane upon that Reed such is the helpe of flesh yet did it not pierce nor breake O wonderfull it is not Thy manner so the prop of flesh did not breake though we laid so great a weight of expectation thereupon notwithstanding it hath held c. for Thy Servant is overcome more she would speake to that point and is not able But she hath wherewith to answer Thy Adversaries as followeth The Enemy reproacheth Thy Name daily and asketh where is now your God Our God is in Heaven and thence Thou hast declared Thy selfe against Thy Enemies confounding them and for Thy people reviving their hope Thou hast exalted THY CHRIST before our Eyes and received Thy people into COVENANT these two things Thou hast done this last yeare And if Thou dost no more in our dayes yet thy Servants have ENOVGH And by Thy good hand upon them they have out-plotted all their enemies Thy Servants have no more to say but Remember Lord Thy Covenant and keepe the hearts of Thy Servants close with thee therein Thou art Lord of Lords and King of Kings and onely art able to make Thy Servants to performe the words of Thy Covenant and to STAND TO IT p 2 Chro. 34. 31 32. and then though the Enemy rage he shall not hurt though he conceives mischiefe he shall bring forth a lye God in Covenant defeates all their hellish counsels weakneth all their power answers all Arguments against Thy people or their Cause nothing shall doe them hurt every thing shall doe them good It is Thy Promise Lord I will not turne away from them to doe them good a Ier. 32. â—0 All shall worke together for their good losses in the World for their good troubles in the flesh for their good come what can come all is sanctified by all Thou wilt doe Thy children good Reproaches wants necessities Persecutions Captivities b Ier. 24. 5. All to doe them good even so Amen And yet Lord we remember Thou hast spoken good words and gracious concerning the Church for the time to come We humbly conceive now is the time when Thou art making good this good word to Thy people
not onely because they doe set their faces unto Thee to seeke by Prayer and Fasting c Dan. 9. 3. a great and good signe that Deliverance is comming-on that Thou art appearing in Thy glory d Ps 102. 16 17. because the Fatherlesse the Destitute pray unto Thee for this thing and are resolved to give Thee no rest But there are other Reasons why we should set our hope in Thee and that it is Thy meaning we should so doe which we shall speake of before Thee now and if it could be in the eares of all the Christian world for they are legible in all the peoples sight and most commanding we thinke to draw in others that are not willingly ignorant and to make them fall downe kisse Thy Sonne and trust in Him 1. We humbly conceive that Thine Adversary and Enemy shall proceed no farther Surely we say that is Thy meaning and purpose of Thy Heart because His folly is manifest unto all men e 2 Tim. 3. 9. 2. We conceive that Thy Adversary a Legion hath beene at the highest his verticall point and we see he is fallen thence Truth Lord he fals slowly now when his fall is like a milstone f Rev. 18. 21. with violence then it shall be mighty quicke and irrecoverable there is that in his fall now which in our haste we call slacknesse and we say in the same haste we may fall before him If so yet so as we shall rise with more strength and in more glory but he never to rise againe to that same point We conclude so for so Thy manner hath beene when the Adversary begins to fall he shall fall yet lower g Est 6. 13. when he ascends againe if he falls not low in humiliations it is up the Gallows h 7. 9. 3. The Adversary hath been proud as Moab VERT PROVD i Esa 16. 6. exceeding proud k Iâ—r 48. 29. as proud waters which went over the heads of the righteous We humbly conceive now they must be brought LOW VERIE LOW now they must be made Base EXCEEDING BASE even now 4. Prayer hath commanded wee looke above all meanes to Thy glorious Right-hand as strange a standing still of the starres in one place of the HEAVEN as was the standing still of the Sunne upon Gibeon and the Moone in the valley of Aialon l Iosh 10. 12. We humbly conceive Thy meaning thereby is and Thou wilt have it published to the whole Christian world That the great Court of Nobles and Worthies shall not arise from their place till Thou dost arise in all Thy peoples sight to avenge Thy selfe upon Thy Adversaries for all the dishonours they have done to Thy House Thy Day Thy Servants Thy Service c. Come Lord Jesu Thy Servants wait Thy comming Praise waiteth for Thee in Sion The souls under the Altar say COME multitudes we cannot number thousand thousand souls on the Earth wearied out because of these Murderers * Jer. 4. 31. all these say come The sighing of the needy and the oppression of the poore saith come Thy Day so prophaned saith come The spirit so grieved saith come Thy Spouse so often forced before Thy face saith come and because of the present feeling she doubles it Come Lord Jesus come quickly ease Thy selfe and Thy poore flocke of those Adversaries who have fed themselves and fleeced Thy Sheepe have made void Thy Law have taken peace from the Earth have valued precious soules no more then they doe old shooes * Am. 26. Come Lord Jesus come quickly and worke so that a man shall say verily there is a reward for the Righteous verily He is a God That iudgeth in the Earth Ps 58. 11. Thy Servant hath spoken doe Thou according to the greatnesse of Thy power and mercy for Thy words sake Thine owne sake Thy Names sake Thy Christ His sake Thy Churches sake His deare one the price of His blood His neare one as the Apple of His eye His only one His beloved one the Crowne of His sufferings the Glory of His shame and then will the Church ascribe power riches wisdome strength honour glory blessing to Him Who is worthy to receive all this for of Him and through Him and to Him are all things to Whom be glory for ever Amen TO THE HIGH COVRT OF PARLIAMENT The LORDS and COMMONS there assembled NOw the Church hath tendred Homage to her Lord you will give me leave to be her mouth to you and to neglect Titles when your workes render you truly Noble and Right Honourable so praising you in the Gates I know not how to give flattering Titles said Job a Iob 32. 27. for in so doing my Maker would soone take me away Since Thou wast precious in mine eyes Thou wast honourable b Esa 43. 4. saith the Lord and you will beleeve Him I cannot crave your Honourable Patience neither to heare me out let that be as your leasure serves I must doe my duty and being the mouth of the Church whose heart is full and thoughts not so composed I cannot so contract as I would others may reade who need information and receive benefit there-from while you worke Follow on your worke in Gods Name you worke for a good Master whose wages are sure and like Himselfe He gave an Heathen King for serving a great service no lesse then a great Kingdome the wages for his worke c Ezek. 29. â—8 You have done a greater service you may expect greater wages A Kingdome that cannot be shaken for so God will honour you We say surely you have honoured Him so blasphemed in the world so sleighted and dis-regarded there You have got your selves a Name Verily we conclude you have wrought singly and purely to advance the Glory and to get Christ a Name in the world which as it is the end so should it be the worke of the whole life Worke-on You shall prosper yet more though you have prospered already to a miracle and know for encouragement if you needed any That while You are so working not Man only but God also is Recording whose Records are never laid aside being ever in His eye While you are giving out for the publike Good all good people are giving in to you PRAYERS and THANKS great matters both The one turnes and wheeles about things to Admiration being the strongest engine in the world and the greatest stocke you have upon Earth alwayes gaining because always trading Heaven-ward Certainely the PRAYERS of the Church of all her Sons and Daughters all the world over are for you a mighty consideration these onely make Prayers the other party speake onely or curse rather they doe not pray And all their BLESSINGS as mighty and prevailing now as were the BLESSINGS of the Tribes that stood upon Mount Gerizzim are upon your heads and endeavours a Deut. 27. 12. shower of blessings Much may be gathered touching the strength and noblenesse of
great wrath The Enemy comes in like a flood with open mouth to devoure all REMEMBER the Lord Who is GREAT His Spirit will set up a Standard against them r Esa 59. 19. When the sonnes of Belial do as their Name imports breake bands and cast away coards then the Lord will laugh Å¿ Psal 2. And then said Luther well he would not cry like a child he would be merry as a Man and sing for joy of heart the 46. Psalm For he remembred the Lord WHO IS GREAT It follows and TERRIBLE To his Adversaries fury to them t Isa 59. 18. and He has them under His feete already like unto fine brasse u Rev. 2. 15. and He can stampe them to pouder but He is patient He will endure a little while their wrigling sooner then you can a worme under yours Nay you have had assurance ever since the dayes of Joshua x Josh 10. 25. That you shall set your feete upon them too It seemes the Lord is fulfilling this good word to you now nay doubtlesse He hath fulfilled it even now He hath done as He promised to His worme Jacob He hath taken you a company of wormes yee are no better worme-like men He hath given you armes of steele and feete like brasse and you have threshed the Mountaines like straw and have come upon the Princes as upon Morter and as the Potter treadeth clay y Isa 41. 15 25. Thus the Lord hath done Who is GREAT and TERRIBLE even now in all the peoples sight Remember Him you cannot be afraid And remember where you are And yet as one saith a Nihil interest ubi sitis in saeculo qui extra saeculum estis Tert. ad Martyres chap. â— no matter where you are in the world who have your thoughts above the world and managing the great things of Christ there But yet to tell you what you know and what your security is you are in Gods hand b Deut 33 3. Now put all together and consider on it God He is GREAT and TERRIBLE He is your God you are His by covenant you are in His hand your enemies under His feete nay under your foote The Result from hence is A Glorious Dependance upon this Lord Who is Great yea a TRUST FOR EVER in Him Who is EVERLASTING STRENGTH c Isa 26. 4. and that is a sure ground for EVERLASTING CONFIDENCE That though the earth should shatter to peeces and the mountaines be taken off from their everlasting foundations yet God is good to Israel you shall not be greatly moved your head may ake but you may repose it in the Lap of your EVERLASTING FATHER certainly He will sustaine you you may lay your selves downe in peace He will make you dwell in safety The enemy shall not be able to come neare you to doe you hurt no nor to sad your spirits who in all this time have not spoken one word whereby to sad the heart of the Righteous Yee must the promise is so d Isa 65. 13 14. reioyce when the Adversary shall be ashamed yee must sing for ioy of heart when your enemies must howle for vexation of spirit your Name must be a blessing theirs a curse This is glorious matter for faith to worke upon it will make you pray in the Holy Ghost You need not be entreated to take leisure for that it is the very breath of faith and it hinders nothing at all but sets forward businesses exceedingly it makes them glide-on I give my selfe to prayer said David e Ps 109. 4. when he was in the very case you are in f ver 2 3. He made prayer his worke what ever he was doing and so his worke slided-on he had an easie passe through all hee could leape over this wall and that mountaine was a plaine before him and his enemies were given into his hands for he gave himselfe to prayer What ever we omit we must not omit prayer It commands your Marke that betwixt the Kings Question to Nehemiah and his Answer there is a prayer his Answer was as ready as the Question was but he would pray first q Neh. 2. 4. A hint only is enough to wise men Your prayer shall be short you may lengthen it in your closset pray as Nehemiah did he beleeved as you doe and you have done as he did and you have as many enemies as he had and so envious against you They would make you afraid too they would weaken your hand from the work that it be not done pray now THEREFORE O GOD STRENG THEN OUR Ne. 6. 9. HAND AND REMEMBER US O OUR GOD FOR GOOD Now there is a voice gon up that never returnes in vaine and cryes aloud in the eares of the Lord like the sound of many waters saying AMEN Mercy and Truth be with you AMEN And the God 2 Sam. 15. 20. of both these give you favour in the eyes of the Man Amen wipe not out the good deeds that you have done for the Ne. 13. 14 22. house of your God and for the Offices thereof AND SPARE YOU ACCORDING TO THE GREATNESSE OF HIS MERCY AMEN AMEN The PREFACE clearing the way through this Treatise and the READERs understanding touching the proceedings in Parliament the clearnesse of the Lawes and Iustice therein his Knowledge also of the times and cleare WILL of GOD and what Israel ought to do notwithstanding the contradictions of sinners and crosse wils of Malignant Men. Reader IVnderstand well the use and Law of a Preface it should containe no more but what could not be put into the booke that is observed here And yet it will be very large and that I could not helpe I have an hundred sheets tending much the same way this Treatise goes If a Providence should call forth all or any part of it I might trouble thee with an Epistle but never more with a Preface How willingly I would have forborne it here I know and God knows but then I strongly conceived I had left thee in the darke but now I shall shew thee the way in much clearenesse if thou wilt not blind-fold thy selfe and render thee in the close a Thankefull man This is the tendency and purpose of all this And so that thou mayest reade with profit understanding what thou readest and then shew thy selfe an understanding man I shall endeavour to cleare the way before thee and give thee cleare resolution to the matters in debate some more easie and quickly resolved other some more hard and admitting more contention 1. Touching the Person who offers Thankes that is easily cleared 2. Then the Thank-offering there will be the knots for Collegiate men the Eyes of the Land these are set against it and some say the Law also we must examine their reasons and cleare the proceedings against these men and that will take up some time 3. In the last place the Method the clearing of that is very
is for we worke for a good Master * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. He shall have the greatest reward who workes not for a reward Isid pâ—ll l 2. p. 184. But I speak to them that will bargaine with their Lord and well know their wages else will dee no work I demand of these why should this Discourage them in their studies or cut them short in their hopes that some men with their Et ceteraâ—s shall not be â—uffered any longer to ingrosse or inclose the rich and fat pastures of the Earth to eat the fat and creame of the Land as those their Bâ—ethren before them Abby-lubbers evill-beasts flow-bellies have done while the good Schollars feed upon a poore pittance the while nay are almost starved I pray â—â—u might not good Schollars picke out many a good bit from such a place as â—auâ—s were it rid of these c. and their singing men And a very good riddance how well might they bee spared no fitter some of theâ— for a Church then a Swine for a Parlour And yet we doe not thinke that there ought to be an equall divident an equall dâ—stribution of honours and preforments in the Church but according to Desert and proportion in gifts yet we thinke the Proverbe hath some use here They are merry in the Haâ—l when beards wagg all And not when the one table have their full messes even to a surfitting and vomit the other none at all or in no proportion And so much to the complaint touching Church livings now touching Church-men Ob. a Titularis noÌ„ Tuâ—elaris Rex desuit non praesuit reipublicae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naz. complained that in his time they were made Bishops who made themselves the basest servants servants to their lusts ep 10. They cannot give thanks to the high Court for they have cast forth of the Church their Church-men Ans Church-men As the Iudges the chiefesto them were Common-wealths men they so sought their owne private-wealth that they left the poore subject nothing he could call hiâ— own but his misery So these Church-men they called out the Church the Church when they stabâ—ed her to the veâ—y heart Put we these together for they be Mâ—â—ches Church-men and Common-wealths men then you may saie worse of them then was said of Chilperickâ—d a bad King of Franâ—e my English will not be so good as the Latine but too good for them He was a nursing Father not in deed but inâ—rame so He was set over the Common-wealth as a golden head there but he did not the office of an head of a foot rather and so stamped the Common-wealth to powder These good men are cast-out and good reason for they were as unsavourie salt neither fit for the Land nor yet for the Dung-hill but men cast it out a Luk. 14. 34. as the unprofitable wood of the fruitlesse vine were they meet for any vvorke b Ezech. 15. 4. But who cast them out and how It is worth our labour the inquiring out Surely the Lord God did it the God of recompences for the controversie of His Zion c Esa 34. 8. He did it even by His owne right-hand But so and there we set a marke as their owne mischiefe did returne upon their owne head And Ps 7. 16. his violent dealing came dovvne upon his ovvne pate The conclusion is The Lord cast them out by the helpe and violence of their owne hands It is true and but equitable That we should give all dues to man here for he was a noble and glorious instrument in Gods hand for the effecting this worke and disburthening the Church of these oppressours but we must resolve all into Gods Hand and unto the violence that was found in their owne hand It was the Lord That BENT Judah d Zach 9. 13. for Himselfe and FILLED the BOWE vvith Ephraim we may fitly allude to that place He hath raised up thy sonnes from the North and from the South O Zion against thy false sonnes and made them as the SWORD of a mighty man against those mighty Adversaries His arrovv vvent forth as the lightning against them He went out with VVHIRLE-WINDS of the South and North a CONTINUING k Ier. â—0 23. Whirlevvind and it fell vvith paine on the head of the vvicked We may reade on The fierce anger of the Lord shall not returne untill He hath done it and untill He performe the intents of His Heart For see what the intents of these Church-men were against the Lord even to make His Land desolate and His Church forsaken To set Ephraim against Manasses and Manasses against Ephraim snatching on the right hand and on the left so eating every man the flesh of his ovvn arme And yet their wrath is not turned away no not yet The same e Ier. â—0 23. ver 24. Esa 9. 20. malice boyles still and runnes over This is their worke at this Dait and these the intents of their hearts That the sword may be bathed in our HEAVEN That the Land may be filled with blood from corner to corner Observe againe what they have done and how they have prepared their own way for the bringing in the Deluge of wrath They have let the vineyard of the Lord lie waste and have broken downe the Hedge now a Serpent has bit them according to the threat f Eccl. 10. 8. removed the ancient Land marke made the Heritage of the Lord as a speckled bird g Ier. 12. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vol. bom 31. exposed it to the spoyle of Foxes and to grievouâ— Wolves Here Chrysostomes words would astonish them were they well pondred on I will but point at them in the margent h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. in Ep ad 1 Cor. 3 Hom. 3. The same Father doth make it cleare to the whole world even now i That they have taught yea commanded Atheisme all over their Diocesses so Preachers doe saith the Father indeed they preach not at all when they spend an houre in a daie in Chrysostomes daies they preached every Daie in laying the Foundation of Repentance from dead workes and of Faith towards God k Heb. 6. 1. And the rest of the Day and whole weeke after turne their backes upon what they said in a lewd and wicked carriage This makes their hearers Atheists it commands l Suadeâ— lingua iubet vita Gen. 18 19. An example hath the vertue of a Command nay it is a Compulsion Cogi cos dicit qui exemplo Petri iudaiâ—abaâ—t Gal 2 14. Beza Atheisme and so we have a little of that much whereby the Father reproves the blasphemie of Ministerâ— in his Daies whose examples destroyed what their preaching built up and so they taught flat Atheisme Our Church-men have done so too as is cleare to all the world and their judgement will be as manifest Now the Lord is beginning with them noâ— is the yeare of Gods
side why then we conclude first nay the experience of all ages concludes for us 1. That there on their side are all the Rebels against their King his Crowne and Dignity There are all the Traitors against the Church and Common-wealth For Papists have been the Fomenters the Actors of all Rebellions treasons murders massacres in all ages since that Church had an appearance on the Earth and so are they now and so will be till their great Prophet be cast into the great wine-presse of the wrath of God 2. That our Hoast is gone sorth whither God shall send them * 1 King 8. 44. against â— Revel 14. 19. His enemies which are the people of His curse and against whom we are charged to maintain warre for ever 3. This Host is gone forth in the strength I will say nothing of the Prayers of Gods Host abroad and at home but of the BLESSING of the ALMIGHTY Some may aske how doe I know that Very well and I would have the poore Country-man know it too for that is my ayme The Host is gone forth under the curse of his Holinesse the Pope I meane Now it hath been concluded as followes ever since there has beene a Pope in Roâ—e and a Papist in England Looke which way goes the Popes curse that way goes GODS BLESSING for they goe contrary as Christ and Anti-christ And this is enough to set the Country-man in his way if his guts be not in his head and his braines in his belly * Cuim cerebrâ—â—â— est iâ— ventro ingenium iâ— paâ—iâ—is Agr ep 2â— and if so yet he can discern which way the Papists go and that it is a cursed way 4 This Host shall be victorious that it shall for it is the Host of GOD and His CHRIST against Antichrist it must go on and do valiantly for the BLESSING of God goes with it and the curse of the Adversary Ob. At but the Hoast of God hath miscarried An. No never but so as to make them looke better to their carriage and to manage things more orderly in a way to a blessing They have miscarried so as to make them more victorious over themselves at present and over the enemie at the last True it is The Sword devoureth one as well as another d 2 Sam. 11. â—â— It may devoure Gods dearly Beloved e Ier. 12. 17. and as deare to us as the blood in our veines and yet it is His Host for all that who created the Smith that formed the vveapon f ver 26. I solemnely protest in the eares of the God of Hosts and could be content I could be heard over all the Christian world that if this Host were all wounded-men yet could I not doubt of the victory I may doubt e Iud 20. 23. nay I doe doubt That we have not wept enough nor prayed enough or if so I doubt it that may be wanting now which answers to burnt-offerings and peace-offerings f once I may doubt of all this but I cannot doubt of the victorie in the best Time Gods Time For it is Gods Host a slandered Host cursed by the Pope and his vassals therefore Gods blessing is there it must prevaile and be victorious And this is all the answer they shall get to this and it may suffice How can I give a direct and single answer to a double tongue and a double heart for their language is different No man can imagine That the Adversaries speake as they thinke for who can conceive that Noahs flood was sent upon the Earth to allay the dust there or that the Divell stirred up the Arabians Sabeans and Chaldeans to be a wall unto Job to safeguard him his children his house and goods And so I have done with these Collegiate men Removed the offence taken from their example answered their double charge and their notorious slanders And yet there is one Objection more which truly I had cleane forgot to answer in it's due place therefore it must be done now Ob. The title of honour is taken away from Church-men Ans That cannot be said to be taken from us which belongs not to us Will no title serve the turne but please your Grace or your Lordship therby quenching Grace Lording it over the consciences of men Another Title will serve better as a Rod also for Discipline and yet not made of Iron Let them Lord-it over themselves and their owne lusts which they have served and then they shall be Lords and Princes too nay most Prince-like men f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isid pel l. 2 Ep. 147. Why may not those Titles serve them which the Holy Ghost hath given I dare say though you reade much in the Fathers touching Titles of honour given to Church men and a Church-man of late but none now tels us the Bishops seat is a Throne g Pocklington Alt. Christ p. 33 95. Thronâ—â— propriâ— principi â—ribui solet non sâ—rvo Beâ— Heb. 18. yet none of all these have reached to that height of honour as those Titles doe which the Holy Ghost hath given them Stewards Embassadors c. To say all in two words Messengers of the Churches and the glory of Christ h 2 Cor 8. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Tim 4. 5. Let a Minister answer these Titles make full proof they belong unto him let him fill them up as the word implies and then I will not say what he shall be for he shall shine like the Sunne but what he is for the present the most honoured person that is in the world We must note now in the close two things one for our information the other to learne us our Dutie 1. Schoole-learning is not of virtue sufficient to unscale the eyes or unvaile the heart an annoynting from above does that Humane learning if not sanctified closeth the eye the â—aster it is a great snare and like an ignis fatuus a mocke fire a sancied light kindled by our owne sparkes l Esa 50. 11. and a busie leader in these Daies misleades strargely 2. We must learne our Duty now Though they revile we must blesse though they defame we must intreat though they persecute we must pray that the Lord would not deale with them as they have done there was none to guide the Church among all the Sonnes she hath brought forth neither vvere there any that tooke her by the hand We pray deale not so with them good Lord guide Esa 51. 18. them take them by the Hand that they may walke in strait pathes Though they did rise up against Thee yet doe not Thou rise up against them but pardon them according to the exceeding largesse of Thy abundant mercie which can multiply pardons as we have multiplied sinnes Lord cleanse those fountaines heale those bitter waters that such may runne thence which may refresh not poison the City of God Amen Now recall what was said at the beginning of this
in the â—yer without a bottome Hee that builds without hands upholds without pillars So God doth man cannot doe so I am right thus farre Indeed the maine Question is touching the Method and the good stumble at it Why there is a Thank-offering for dayes of Captivitie I conceive there is great reason for that and had I failed at that Point I had no way answered the mind of the Church Therefore it was my chiefe care and I knew it was the Churches pleasure so To remember her Nights of Affliction for she never profited so much as in that Schoole though she sate in the darke her daies of e Zach. 1â— 10. Captivity for she never felt such enlargements as then The time when she sate as a widdow for then she remembers the Lord was a Husband unto her when she sate an Orphane fatherlesse and motherlesse nay childlesse for then she was in bitternese. A Father and Mother both are carried forth to the place of silence laid in their darke beds and little is said and lesse is done but for ostentation and show for the most part but the child is carried â—orth to that place and behold there is Lamentation and bitter mourning as Rachels was f Ier. 31. 1â— This sad time must be remembred too for the Church can say now That then the Lord was to her better then ten Sons The immediate comforts are the strongest comforts are then powred in when the vessell is emptied Creature comforts are denied or drained forth and self confidence is gone-out for then prayers are powred-out too g Isa 26. 16. at other times there was but a dropping a powring forth now when she is in bitternesse or a sufferer in bonds or imprisonment for the cause of her Christ c. Enquire of him or them that have been pillored for the cause of Christ it must still be remembred The cause makes the Martyr then separated to the winds these will tell us the same which my eares have heard that then came-in the greatest Spring-tide of comfort when they were at the lowest ebâ—e of distresse then their soules were ravished then they felt a joy unspeakable when the Adversary had made them a GAZING STOCK by Reproaches and afflictions d Heb 10. 13. A SPECTACLE to the world Angels and men e 1 Cor. 4. 9. It was so with our brethren as with the Apostles in ancient times when the Adversary stopt up every crevice that no light might come-in then behold a light shineth f Act. â—â— 7. when the Adversary layeth load upon the loynes and makes fast the barres then behold strange enlargements for God workes then all difficulties remove and the iron-gate opens g ver 10. Hab. 3. 18. When there is no supply from the Field nor from the Fold nor from the Stall Then God comes-in What then Then it followes I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my Salvation I could fill the Margin and line both and to some purpose but the casâ— is plaine and the duâ—y is evident The Church hath thrived best when 2 Chro. 28. 22. her pasture vvas shortest Adversity hath slaine a thousand and yet I cannot tell that for I reade but of one that was not bettered by it and that was King Ahaz his name is doubled for he rebelled under Gods rod in a time of distresse But prosperity hath slaine it's ten thousand perhaps more for I never read of any more then one that had his eyes opened by eating hony h 1 Sam. 14. 7. Few or none have bin battered by the sweets of prosperity many have bin undone But I forbeare only noting this He that feasteth upon the sweets the Creature yeelds taketh full liberty there is not acquainted with the righteous mans joy who then and never but then sceles rivers of living waters flowing-in flouds of bony and butter when he hath stop'd and dommed up in affection and judgement all his fresh springs from below And so much to cleare the Method at that point as the Church is preparing still for the houre of Temptation so they are joyfull in it and thankefull for it This is of great concernment to us who are at the heights in our joyes and at the depths in our sorrowes For the Remainder let it answer for it selfe Surely I stood bound to God and man both undertaking that worke fitter for another but another did it not till I was so farre as past hearing a callbacke to begin with that yeare and mouth when God did worke most wonderfully for then â—ee wrought alone His arme was bare there was no covering of flesh Thence I proceed to those vvorkes that man VVROUGHT vvith God and I bring them in as the bearers did the fruits of a good Land thrust and throngd together like Grapes in a cluster Yet so as all may see how pleasant the Land is our Nobles would bring us also to The meaning is you shall have but an Abstract here an abridgement of many particulars largely debated on in their place and there making up a full Volume which the Authour keepes entire knowing very well if there be cause of it He that suggested it and brâ—ught it to his hand will bring it forth in due time In the meane time he could not forbeare but he must send forth this Abstract in the Churches name For though Epitomies are deemed by a nobâ—e Schollar the Moates and Cankers of History yet considering the season that the time is quick and may be short they are the fullest in sense and quickest for use It is indeed in two or three hâ—ads too large for an Abstract but it is considerable whether there was not just and necessary reason I should give it enlargement there more then ordinary But whether it pleaseth or not I am not carefull I was carefull with all my care to doe my duty and I have done it according to my measure with all my strength and above it and if my heart deceives me not in truâ—h and uprightnesse I would not deny to man one graine weight of his dues Nor can I give him one graine more then what my soule can goe-out with in tendring unto him no not for a returne of a pound weight of his Favour I esteeme mans favour as the favour of a man can thank him for it and heartily And mans frowne as the frowne of a man can make use of it and yet neglect it If I might make a short Apologie for my long Preface it would be this The vile Priest and his brutish people did presse me with very hard words against them That have done us all the right that could be And Pamphlets from their side were stuffed with such contradictions such an inconsistency in matters such incongruities as these That all they who contend for the cause of Christ are Rebels and yet not one Irish amongst them hardned and brawned in villanies All Traitors who contend
give their Lord no rest till He shall give them rest The Lord hath given His people thâ— greatest mercies which they prayed not for ELECTION before time His SON in the fullnesse of time How can He with Him denie His people any thing They forsake not their confidence there ore they are importunate with their friends as they have beene in former yeares the day of Jacobs troubles and treading downe saying Pray pray pray Pray for the King That the Lord would deliver his soule from the snare of the Hunter And pray for the Parliament who have sought the peace of the King and his Kingdomes as their â—wne peace nay more then so they have preferred it before their owne And seeing 't is cleare to every man that will see that thus they have done They have sought and wrought effectually for the peace that containes all of their King or the Salvation a comprehensive blessing of King and his Kingdomes for maintaining this Ship RELIGION wherein our lives our liberties our estates our peace and the Churches all over the world and our Generations after us are bottomed and maintained seeing I say their Care Piety Zeale is manifest to all men in the maintaining this Ship And all this by the line of the Law the Plummet of right Reason the Rule of their Lords will Seeing we know it to be so and doe know also in all our hearts and soules That not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord hath spoken concerning His people Nor any of Iosh 24. 14. 1â— the evill things which He threatned against His enemies but all came to passe We will close with the word of the Lord which He hath spoken to the heart of all His faithfull Servants in all Generations I VVILL BLESSE THEM THAT BLESSE Gen. â—2 3. THEE and CURSE HIM THAT CURSETH THEE even so Lord let the curse they have called for fall upon the wicked but Thou hast promised this goodnesse unto Thy Servants Now therfore Let it please Thee to blesse the house of Thy Servants that they and their house may be before Thee for ever For Thou blessee 1 Châ— 17. 26 2â— O Lord and it shall be blessed for ever Amen and Amen THE CHVRCHES THANK-OFFERING To GOD Her KING and the PARLIAMENT CHAP. I. Recording thanking praising an high imployment who fit for it how great the engagement to it who the fountaine of mercies whence received thither returned SECT I. Thankes-giving and praise a sacred imployment THe old manner was that a certaine number were appointed to record to thanke and to praise the Lord God of Israel a 1 Chron. 16. â— These must bâ— Levites such as did minister before the Arke of the Lord. It was a sacred imployment a worke as some Psalmes are of Degrees To Record was the lowest and required little clevation of spirit To Thanke was an higher Degree and commanded more life of affection To Praiâ—e that it to sing the high praises of our God there comes in Selah a winding-up of the spirit to the highest It may be said What need all this Such a livelinesse of affection Such an activity of spirit to thank and to praise God It is as ordinary a thing and as easie a worke as is done in the world Kings of the Earth and all people Princes and all Iudges of the Earth both young-men and Maidens Old men and children b Ps 148. 11 12. All these doe as they are commanded they thanke the Lord and praise Him too if we could heare the afore-mentioned speaking one after another we should heare nothing but Thankes and Praise I am in health saith one I thanke God I am increased and prosper in the world saith another I praise God I have had many crosses and troubles in the world I blesse my God They have well spoken in all that they have said but ô that there were such an heart c Deut. 5. 29. All creatures praise God for so they are commanded Dragons and all deepes c. Beasts and all Cattell creeping things and flying soule all praise Him in their kind But man is a more excellent Creature he stands charged to doe it in a more excellent manner els as good not done he hath a tongue for that end and called his glory and yet the fewest of all doe praise God as they should and all because they thinke it so easie and ordinary a worke to praise Him whereas tongue and heart both must be well tuned for this work for it is the most heaven-like of all the services perform'd by Man here below As to Praise is comely so is it a clean pure heavenly lasting action None but the Righteous whose hearts are cleansed from sinne and emptied of Selfe they onely doe it the upright in heart d Ps 33. 1. Ps 119. 7 and what they doe now on Earth they shall doe hereafter in Heaven it is their worke to all Eternity SECT II. Who the Person is that is fit for this worke VVE must then find-out a fit person for this worke so high an imployment a person that can doe it to purpose decently and in order that ministers before the Lord continually they that walke with Him cleave to Him trust in Him the people of God such as feare Him onely serve Him onely so walking in his wayes These many are but one one House one Body so single they in conversation so usefull they in their communion each with other as members one of another And so I shall take them all under a single Notion as one person whom I shall properly call the Church The Church indeed e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having more then a name for that and no more is nothing She hath a Name that she lives and she doth live and this life is the more spiritfull and active because as light was brought out of the wombe of darknesse so her life from death She was dead but she is now alive and lives for ever her life being hid with Christ in God f Col. 3. 3. A very fit person for such a worke an heavenly worke an heavenly person who might she deliver her own words with her own mouth would doe it exactly well but howsoever she will doe it decently and in order after she hath told us her ingagement to the worke how she doth record it and to whom she payeth the tribute of praise and thankes SECT III. The Churches engagement to record to thanke to praise HItherto all fits very well the Person and the Worke. Now see the engagement thereunto that 's very strong and binding For behold how great the loving kindnesses are how rich the mercies how marvellous the workes which the Lord hath done for this Nation whereof in due place and conveyed to it through the hands of man It is God Who makes two of one mind in one house and the same God Who hath made two Houses one to goe together
as one man hand in hand heart with heart in the same way perfectly joyned together in the same mind and in the same judgement g 1 Cor. 1. 10. I shall then take these many under one single Notion also as one person and so goe on to tell the Churches engagement but to her God first As the King said if the Lord doe not helpe whence could he helpe out of the Barne-floore or out of the wine-presse h 2 Kin. 6. 26. The same may be said touching all created power if the Lord had not helped neither this nor that could have helped The proud helpers doe stoope under Him i Iob 9. 13. But when the yeere of Recompences for His Zion is come k Esa 34. 8. when He will be avenged of His Adversaries who have made voyd His Law when He workes salvations l 1 Sam. 11. 13. in Israel as He hath done this Day when He doth arise to judgement to save all the meeke of the Earth m Ps 76. 9. What then Then He breaks the Arrowes of the Bow the Shield ver 3. and the Sword and the battle aye God doth it and so doth it that all may say The hand of the Lord is here He hath done it of a truth Then he spoyles the stout hearted then he cuts off the spirit of Princes so as when they would oppose the way and worke of the Lord those men of might shall not find their hands but it shall be with them as once it was when the Charet and Horse were cast into a dead sleepe ver â— 6. and then the weake shâ—ll say They be strong n Ioel 3. â—0 their Armour though as contemptible in mans eyes as David and his Armour was is of proofe and shall doe exploits upon His Churches enemies He goes not unweaponed that carries the revenge of God along with him though he carries but a sling a scrip and a pibble * Sam 17. 40. Such despicable instruments are chosen of God whereby He will performe exploits so as He may have all the glory putting into them Heroicall Motions for atchieument Surely all this hath the Lord done for His people this last yeare all these Scriptures have bin fulfilled in our eyes How hath Hâ—e disappointed the Hopes and Helpes of the Adversary how did Hee rise uâ— against the helpe of evill doers p Esa 31. 2. how did Hee starve the gods of the Earth how did Hee make the faces of the wicked as flames q Esa 13. 8. And that this last may not be forgotten how did He set the face of the Righteous like a flâ—nt against the faces of them who turned thâ—ir backs upon God and went contrary to Him in all His commands Truly it is wonderfull in our eyes but behold we therin the Churches engagement to their God Surely if we shall well consider what deliverances the Lord hath wrought this yeare we must say of this day as was said in ancient dayes The Lord hath wrought Salvation in Israel But we shall r 1 Sam. 11. 13. find our Deliverance exceeding that Salvation and paralell with that Deliverance in the following Chapters where we reade thus That the Philistines had so beslaved Israel that they had neither weapon nor Smith left amongst them * â— Sam. 13. 19. And yet in this miserable low condition This naked peeled people marched on two leading the way and over-comming the difficulties therein for the terrour of the Lord went before and then no matter whether few or none followed after against a mighty Legion a numeâ—ous and well furnished Adversary thirty thousand Charriots and six thousand Horse-men and people in multitude as the â—aâ—d on the Sea shâ—re t â— Sam 13. 5. and returned from those adâ—ersaries laden with armâ—s and victâ—â—y â—oth The â—hurches victory over her Adversarâ—es this last yeare equals that in some things and exceeds it in other some There the Lord â—rmed a naked people with the revâ—nge of a God and behold they did exploits Here He did as much for He raised up the fallen spirits of a beslaved Kingdome also He wroâ—ght exâ—loits by a few chosen instruments and put into their heâ—res heroicall motions for atchievement so as a few went out against mighty Legion a numerous and proud adversary against light and treacherous Prophets against heards and droves of Priests and of Malignants as thâ— sands of the Sea-shâ—re are for multitude But being â—rmed with the revenge of a God they did explâ—its as appeares this day So farre the Salvation wrought then and now runne paralell Here now our Salvation exceeds for behold the Lord wrought the greatest Salvation by contrary meanes such as threatned a sore desolation and so onely a God can doe Who at the first brought light out of the wombe of darknesse By a most idolatrous Service-booke composed of purpose to establish that abomination hath he confounded that Idolatrous Service and cast it out By the works of an imperious whorish woman u Ezra 26. 30. such were the works of the Bishops hath he confounded them and their works By the strength of the Adversary He hath trod downe his strength By giving Scope to the foot of pride He hath spoyled the proud and stout-hearted By lawlesse men their violent deeds and devouring words He hath wrought forth the redemption of our Lawes and establishment of the same By a Popish Party a most malignant generation He hath confounded them and their abominations By sonnes of Belial who know no yoake nor will beare any He hath wrought for the vindication of our Religion Lives Lawes Liberties Thus Iehovah can doe The great and dreadfull God He can by most contrary meanes and Wils bring to passe the good pleasure of His owne Will He can by such cursed Instruments which threaten dâ—solation to a Land worke forth Salvations for the same Thus God can doe and no god besides Him For man to say that so he will doe by out-lawed men maintaine the Lawes were blasphemy in his mouth Thus far to shew the Churches engagement to their God The Church will tell her engagement to you but first she blesseth God Who hath instructed you to discretion That you doe so well understand your engagement to Him which is To walke before Him and to be perfect God hath wrought gloriously by you ye will walke honourably before Him The Church is confident you have engaged your hearts upon this thing x Ier. 30. 21. Ye are workers together with God ye will labour to be Holy as He is Holy What yee condemne in others ye will hate in your selves knowing well He that will cast a stone at an offendor must be free himselfe otherwise he condemnes and executes himselfe in anothers person Ye are as good Samuel was he did first cleare his owne Innocence ere he duist charge the people with their sinne y 1 Sam. 12. Innocency and uprightnesse becomes every man especially
She will Thanke and praise her God to all eternity To conclude She receives all from Him She returnes all to Him She Records all for Him that He may have all the Glory So we have the bottome and foundation whereon to raise the Pile of Mercies and our Sacrafice of Thanks and Praise CHAP. II. The Church in Recording looks backe to the Ancient of Dayes and those ancient Mercies hid with Christ in God exalteth free Grace Thence receives all concerning this Life and the Life to come Then Recordeth her forgetfulnesse of Mercies and is humbled SECT I. The Righteous Nation advanceth free Grace God is to be praised for the least of His Mercies He is to be admired in the glorious wayes of Redemption THe Church cannot fixe the time where She begins to thanke and to praise no more then She can the just period or end thereof for her Thanks and her Praises are as her Mercies are from everlasting to everlasting But yet She may speake to our capacity and purpose here to shew us the method which She useth in Thanksgiving and where She begins Not as the usuall manner is at the present time only for Mercies in sight and for all the sweets and comforts to sence She is not all for present Mercies though She can be inlarged for them These move upon an everlasting foundation And in the vertue and by the strength of old Mercies She receives and carries on the new We must observe the order The Church then begins to Record to Thanke to Praise her God looking backe as far as her understanding can carry her and beyond it even to the dayes of Eternity before the foundation of the World There according to her measure beholds free Grace Mercy and Love Love to His because He loved them a Deut. 7. Grace because He will be gracious Mercy so free too even because it pleased Him b Eph. 1. 5. It was according to the good pleasure of His will What is â—reer then Grace and behold what Grace Is there any vaine boaster in the World Yes thousands She can confound him and them that they shall never open their mouth aâ—y more because of their shame c Ezek. 16. 63. If they will remember with her the Time when She as they lay in her bloud to the loathing of her Person and that her good Lord said even then this is a Time of Love b Ezek. 16. â— An admirable and free Love She was even as others by nature the children of wrath c Eph. 2. 3. in the same lump and transgression no difference there d Rom. 3. 22. Free Grace came made her to differ from another e 1 Cor. 4. 7. She was dead and then her eye was closed and her eare stopped to all that man could doe or say Say what you will the dead heare not But the dead can heare a creating and quickning voice and so her Lord was pleased to speake unto her with a strong hand f Isa 8. 11. as the expression is which speaks and drawes too and then She was obedient And as her Lord spake with a strong hand to her at the first so with the same hand hath He commanded in her ever since therefore She is not rebellious her Lord rules in her heart as he doth in the world in the midst of his enemies g Psal 110. 2. and through the greatnesse of that power shall those enemies submit themselves unto Him h Psal â—6 3. and be subdued in her But here is free Mercy still free Grace She is called by a very proper Name The Church Persons called and culled out not for any worth that was in them * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord cast aside a thousand on the right hand and ten thousand on the left as honourable as wise as good as they within and without the Pale pitched his Love upon her And now She is a select choice and peculiar people nay a more choice and peculiar people yet as one saith i Clem Alexandr Strom. 6 p 485. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which ingageth mightily to walke more peculiarly The Church hath another Name which me thinks is very significant and must keep her very humble all her dayes Thou shalt he called Sought-out k Isa 62. 12. Sought out indeed from amidst a refuse multitude when as She was no better then they as Children of the Aethyopians unto me saith the Lord l Amos 9. 7. Sought out as you seeke your Wheate amidst tares or covered over with â—n heap of Chaffe or as you seeke Fish in a Drag-net amidst rubbish and heaps of dirt * Phil. 3. 9. Thou shalt be called Sought out and it is her Glory That She is found in Christ She Records that and is humbled and so well fitted to Thanke and Praise wherein She is too much straitned But in this She is comforted That what She doth She doth heartily and what is wanting to that worke now shall be made up hereafter for it is the worke the Saints shall be imployed in to all Eternity SECT II. Common expressions suffice not to shew forth Rich and precious Mercies NOw the Church should Record her strong Consolations when â—â—r Beloved brought her to the Banquetting house when His left-hand was under her Hâ—ad and His right-hand did embrace Her Then I should come to Revelations cleare Manifestations of Cant. â— 4. 6. her Beloved unto her still with sweet distillations droppings of the Spirit upon her heart Then His hiding of Himselfe for that made her aske more earnestly after Him whom her soule loveth She Records all these and cals in all her sweet experiences gracious and rich Promises for these are the Pillars that beare her up her hands and her heart All these she doth Record for these she doth Thanke and Praise I leave her before her God and to her owne expressions for truly they are unspeakable they cannot be uttered by any other but her selfe Besides I should speake Parables and dazle my eye with an amaze We will conclude here That her vessell is filled and her house with the glory of the Lord as full as an habitation on earth can be so as the Glory of the World is darknesse to her and the fulnesse of the Creature there but emptinesse her mouth then is filled with praise and her heart shall be kept as a chaste Matron for her Beloved even as the Holy of Holies She will praise the Lord while She hath any being here and hereafter the high Praises of her God for ever SECT III. The Church overcome with the loving kindnesse of her Lord giving her all things richly to enioy chargeth her selfe with unthankefulnesse ANd now that this fountaine is opened this Well-head of Mercies â—nd loving kindnesses The streams flowing towards her therefrom doe carry her downe as into an Ocean of Love for now behold what a rich portion She hath All things are hers God
is hers and She hath enough for He is all things All things in Heaven and in Earth worke for her good She looks abroad in the World and behold â—ercies before and behinde and on each hand Truly the Church cannot tell what to record next but much is to be recorded before She comes to that which is expected Indeed her good Lord blessed for ever hath dealt to her such a largesse of good things according to His rich bounty even in earthly matters under Moone comforts That She can resolve upon no other way but this being amidst a throng of Mercies which now presse in upon her even to Record Thanke and Praise the Lord for Hâ—s free grace towards her so abuâ—dantly shewed in this That He hath not charged upon her the dayes of her forgetfulnesse When She did not record and render backe according as She had received Her Lord hath forgiven much this way unto her and therefore She loveth much for how few of many Mercies are recorded and fewer yet had their full weight of Thanks and praise from her Mercies When She speaks of them She is confounded and as one in a maze Mercies cloathe her Mercies feed her Mercies uphold her every moment She lyeth downe with them riseth up with them Mercies privative Mercies positive Preventing Mercies Following Mercies Crowning Mercies Mercies to the outward man Mercies to the inward man How many Aske rather how many Sands there be and the number of the Starres But there is One for all A comprehensive Mercy indeed and the fountaine of all From Him that is from Christ All flow downe unto her and are a purchase of bloud And truly She saith heartily She is not thankfull for Christ not for that unspeakable gift not according as She hath received and that is her shame and trouble both It is her wonder and shame and sorrow all three That Mercies should be continually in her sence She sees them and tastes them and feeles them and yet so little in her mind O blessed be God Who hath not charged upon her the dayes of forgetfulnesse Recording Thanking Praising is the only Tribute Taxation or Impost which the Lord hath set upon all things He gives us richly to enjoy The Earth shall give in unto thee her fruitfulnesse not the least herbe there but is for thy meat or thy medicine So the Waters so the Ayre the variety of Inhabitants therein So the Heavens the Starres and influences there-from All shall give forth their strength besides their homage and Tribute to man their Lord But now he must remember this Tribute to God And yet how is that forgotten Heare what the Lord saith My flaxe and my Wooll all are His even the Beasts upon a thousand Mountaines are to cloathe thee My Oyle and my Wine to refresh Thee My Wheate and my Barley to be a stay and staffe unto Thee Only record these Mercies acknowledge the Giver and pay Him His Tribute Thanks and Praise Good Lord how short are we herein in rendring back Nay the Church doth say so and yet her Lord hath passed it over and in this way of loving kindnesse hath forgiven much She hath no more to say but this Therefore She loveth much And yet I must adde this for it is according to the mind of the Righteous They remember notonly Their forgetfulnesse of mercies but their unfruitfulnesse under them Their abuse of them Their security Yea and their rebellion also The more the Mercies were the more secure they were The fuller the Pasture was the more they kicked with the heele fighting sometimes against God with His own weapons But sith their God hath passed over all this Therefore they love much CHAP. III. Dayes of Affliction Dayes of blessing for so the Lord hath altered them and sweetned these to the Church SECT I. Afflictions must be reckoned among the Blessings ANd thus for Mercies which properly and in their owne Nature are so and sence can relish so Now the Church must record her afflictions and sorrowes for these She can call Mercies now Not so in their owne Nature but through the Mercy of her God so ordering her and them And this must be recorded for this She stands most bounden to Thanke and Praise She could surfeit on her sweets as we may with honey Her sorrowes allay'd the lushiousnesse thereof She expected an Heaven upon Earth her unquiet motions there told her it was not the place of her rest She had comforts upon the Earth and She would build Tabernacles upon them A Cloud overshadowed them and She feared She blesseth God for all this but more of this anon The Church then looks back and beholds Mercies and cals them so which the world cals evils Her God made them good to her and a blessing therefore must She blesse God for them in the first place accounting them fit matter to stir her up to Record and Thank Gall and Wormewood yeelded sweets to the Church She found Honey in the carkase of the Lyon Therefore She remembers the time when She said This is my death a Ps 77. 10. No indeed it was her mistake and she sees 〈…〉 â—â—r it was but her infirmity and wrought very effectually to thâ— stâ—engthning of her so that she can now glory in that she in her hâ—ste called her Death knowing that it wrought Patience and Patience Experience and Experience Hope b Rom. 5. 1 4. She recordeth the daies of her Widâ—w-hood She cannot leape over that time when she sate Desolate alone and as forsaken There she said well as forsaken for indeed there is but a sicut an as in all which she suffers and in all she enjoyes here below she weepes as though she wept not she rejoyceth as though she rejoyced not she possesseth as though she possessed not c 1 Cor. 7. 3. So also she knowes now by experience that there was but an as in her greatest sufferings as unkowne d 2 Cor. 6. 9 10. as dying as chastened as sorrowfull as poore as having nothing and so as forsaken but then God was with her working most powerfully for her establishment and most effectually for her comfort therefore she remembers that time even when she spake in griefe of heart as Iacob did All these things are against me e Gen. 42. 36. Ioseph is not and Simeon is not and yee will take my Benjamin also All these things are against me No indeed Iacob was deceived so hath the Church beene these ten times and now she sees her mistake and must record it that all these things were for her This deare child was snach'd away and this so sutable a comfort this staffe and this stay all gone and yet for all this as her long Captivity was all for her good f Ier. 24. 5. that the streame of her affections might runne the clearer to the Fountain That He Who alone is Worthy might have all all her Love and all her delight and all her joy as
neare as can be in this world That her Lord and Christ may be if not All in All yet above all Beloveds the chiefest of ten thousand Why then all those things She thought against her were for her promoting her good very much Therefore Shee doth record that time and speaks of it with rejoycing finding by many good experiences That there is no Condition how uncomfortable soever but what is ordered according to Righteousnesse and faithfulnesse This ceâ—tains much we will then proceed in it SECT II. As the Righteous now doe so have all done before them They have recorded Dayes of Trouble for that was a meanes to settle them the faster on their Rocke and have been thankefull for their Hell here for that made them looke for Heaven where it is THe Church must remember the former yeares when they called her Marah because the Almighty had dealt very bitterly with her d Ruth 1. 20. She cannot passe-over that Time as if a Time let forth like water to waste Plowing and harrowing time is as seasonable for the Church as it is for the fallow-ground and she doth record that time thankfully and with an heart full of Praises for the deeper the furrowes are and the longer the fuller the Sheaves will bee at the Harvest Chrysostomes words are remarkably notable Evermore in your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys Hom. 10. Col. 3. See â—hil 4. 6. prayers give thankes for knowne and unknowne mercies for mercies which appeare to you so to be and such which appeare not for mercies you received with a willing mind and for those which God did for you against your will be exceeding thankfull for them For your good things your comforts your refreshments your strange Deliverances your rich mercies yea and for your lucida intervalla for your well nights and your good daies Yes who would not be thankfull for all this All are not nay the fewest of many But the Father hath not rais'd up his children to the height of thankfulnesse yet You must be thankfull for your turbida intervalla sicke dayes and wearisome Nights for your aches and your paines for your troubles in and to the flesh the knotty racking Gout the tormenting Stone the bloudy torturing Strangury the burning Fever In a word you must be thankfull for your Hell here For Hell who can be thankfull for that they that are of another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Humb. 14. 24. spirit Their Hell here made them not to looke for Heaven here vvhich else they had done though they have their Lords expresse word for it In the world yee shall have tribulation in Mee peace e Ioh. 16. 33. Their Hell here made them to lift up their heads and stretch forth their necks * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8. 19. and to stand as it were on tip-toes so earnestly looking after things which are not seene And this earnest expectation of glory hereafter even to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the Land of the living this assurance of hope caused their very Hell here to seeme a very light affliction and its continuance very short but for a night an houre nay but for a moment a little small moment â— Cor. 4. 17. To conclude Their Hell here made them flee from the vvrath to come and that is hell indeed and the sense thereof raised up their thoughts and endeared Christ unto them the chiefest now of ten thousand O how precious are their thoughts concerning Chrâ—st A drop of vvrath burnt their flesh and vvas sore upon them though but for a night how are their heâ—rts enlarged after Christ vvho redeemed their soule out of all adversity and from the vvrath to come I have added a short paraphrase on Chrysostomes vvords he goes o◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Châ—yâ— Tâ—m 6. â—e 〈◊〉 judic and gives us an example I knew a man said hâ— a very pious Man he vvas vvho prayed thus as vve have heard and the first vvord vvas Thankes and that he first thanked his good God for vvas for his afflictions his Hell here So vve have that vve come for so fitted to this place vvhich is They put afflictions into the Catalogue or Register of Gods mercies and in the first pâ—â—ce Indeed it is no haâ—d matter to open the mouth in vvay of Thankefullnesse for the gooâ— things of this life as vve call them but to be thankefull for the â—vils that is an hard taske but yet the daily vvorke of a true Christian SECT III. The Church recordeth her evill Dayes when Shee saw Affliction HEnce we also may learne our Duty and see our patterne for according thereunto the Church Records and Thankes her Lord for her afflictions her pressures her tribulations her anguish her sorrows She gives thanks for her nights of mourning as wel as for her morning joy for her Aegypt in this life as well as for her Goshen here She thankes her God for her treading downe by the foot of Pride for that made her rise more victoriously for the blood vvas drawne from her because that vvatered her and made her more fruitfull She thankes her God for the Courts of Inquisition though bloudy Courts and all the Purgatory she lookes for because the oppression she felt therein and the violent perverting of Iudgement and Iustice pointed her eyes and set them stedfast towards Him Who is higher then the highest and made her to stay fixe and settle her selfe at that high Throne before vvhich the Judges must be judged and from which there is no appeale She gives thankes for her mockings Eccl. 5. 8. scornings revilings buffetings for all the hard vvords and deeds she heard and felt there O hovv thankefull is shee for all that thereby shee vvas made conformable to Her Lord and Head so Hee was dealt withall O how did She rejoyce at all this though perhaps not at that present all this makes their Crowne the more massy â—â—d weighty It added mucâ— to their consolations which â— 2 Cor. 15 7. are ever â—fter the meâ—sure and is their sufferings are The Righteous doe conclude thus That after the rate of their sorrowes and sufferings shall their comforts and consolations be And by the measure of their shame and reproach for Christ here shall their Robe oâ— Glory be cut out hereafter wherewith they shall be vested in Hâ—aven Therefore The Church thanks her God for her weakenesses and many infirmities They made her leane more stâ—adily upoâ— her Beloved That strong Arme For her slâ—ps and fals too they made her stand â— Thes 1. 10. more strong in her God and in the power of His Might For her feares they pointed her to her rocke that is higher then her above all For her troubles without and her terrours within For now She can admire her Saviour the mighty God of her strength For her anguish of spirit and paines in soule when She travelled with her Christ first and now with her
them that so trusted that made flesh their Arme The answer is They that so trusted are brought downe and fallen But the Church remembring the name of the Lord and in that Name seâ—tiâ—g-up Banners she riseth and stands upright shee must needs have a firme standing for shâ—e hath a sure foundation she is well under-laid underneath the everlasting Armes Therefore Deut. 33. 27. though her outward House be battered downe over her head and about her eares yet according to the promise she is a quiet habitation k Esa 33. 20. How boysterous soever the vvindes are and troublesome the vveather is she is quiet notwithstanding Indeed vve may observe some times have beene so hard with her fierce * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat 8. â—8 and perilous * 2 Tim. 3. 1. that she hath complained My soule is bowed downe to the dust l Ps 44. 25. I am covered with the shadow of Death yet vve must observe from the same place how the Church beares-up her selfe by Experiences and Promises those great pillars staying up her Hands in Faith and then she resolves to beast in her God all the day long SELAH It is an high note and her voyce is greatly exalted in Praise and Thankesgiving Object Why then the Church is borne up by Experiences from Dayes of old vvhat God hath done And by Promises what God will doe in after times An. True but these Experiences have a bottome the Almighties arme they were wrought by Him Whose power is still the same an everlasting God And these Promises touching that the Lord vvill doe in after times have the same foundation too made unto her in and through Christ her Lord and everlasting Father There is her strength her staffe and her stay And now though the Pillars of the Earth are out of course and continue so yet the Church is where she was upon the same foundation She knoweth whom she hath trusted shee rowles her selfe upon God vvaiteth his salvation knowes Hee vvill come-in for her helpe in due time shee vvould not have it sooner and praise vvaiteth for Him in Sion Thus in Quietnesse and confidence is her strength m Ps â—46 10. She can now according to her Lords command Be still and know that I am God n Ps 46. She can stand still calme in her mind for she knowes that her God raigneth with Him is power and faithfullnesse o Ps 146. 6. He can He vvill nay with reverence be it spoken He must helpe His Church and seasonably too for He is bound so to doe He hath engaged His faithfullnesse upon it there 's the Churches confidence she bears her selfe up upon it and walks on by Faith And so we see the difference in our walking and place of confidence such and so great is the difference in our comforts and peace the Churches peace full and lasting ours but empty and momentany like the laughter of fooles for vve vvalke by sight wee must see or else vve cannot believe We cannot rest upon the Almighties Arme unlesse vve see it cloathed vvith flesh One God is not enough for us vve must see Many on our side and whole Countries come in for our helpe or else vve can see no hope of Victory though the Lord hath said The People are too many p Iud. 7. 4. We verily beleeve That the race must be to the swift the battell to the strong q Eccl. 9. 11. though a thousand experiences have told us the contrary when the battell hath beene against the Church Fooles as we are vvhen vvill vve be instructed We trust in meanes likelihoods and probabilities thereon vve bottome our selves therfore it is that we are in Deaths often our spirits are up and downe full of changes for such changes and tides of things there are in that vve place our confidences Our hearts are not fixed not up-wards vvhere they should be therefore wee must needs reele like a drunken man or a Ship in a tempest We doe not trust in the Lord therefore we cannot be established r 2 Chro. â—0 â—0 wee doe not beleeve Hâ—s Prophets wee shall not prosper nor see when good commeth s Ier. 17. 6. Had vve the arme of flesh with us then vve could beleeve nay that is not Faith for Faith is of things not seene My meaning is for I must speake like a foole to make otherswise Had we thirty thousand Chariots and six thousand horse-men and people as the sand on the Sea-shore in multitude all these comming in for our helpe And vvere vve to march-on against a feeble folke a peeled beslaved unarmed people that had neither Sword nor Speare nor shield O how confident would we be of the victory We would rush on as terrible as an Army with Banners and as fierce and fearelesse as the warre-horse O how we would boast The Glory of our nostrils would be terrible we would rush on upon such a people as thunder we vvould rejoyce in our strength mocke at feare and swallow them up with fiercenesse and rage A bruitish people vve for vve have not considered this in all this time that the Battell is neither yours nor ours but Gods t 2 Chron. 10. 15. And He hath taken all this strength before mentioned and given it into His peoples hand vvhen they vvere a feeble beslaved unarmed people these have houghed the Horses and burnt the Chariots in fire Iosh 11. that is The weake have taken all this prey u Esa 33. 2â— And all this hath the Lord done Why that Ionathan and his Armour-bearer the Lords Worthies may not be discouraged at the mountainâ— of straights Where there is a sâ—â—â—p Rocke on the one side and the same on the other The our sâ—ituaâ—â— North-ward the other South-ward * 1 Sam. 14 4 5. God doth drive His People to exigency That they may shew themselves what they are Then a man â—â—ves by faith in God when meanes dye and he is qâ—ite forsaken of them Certaine it is God will bring His Church to the Mountaine of Straits but they shall see glorious things there What God appearing in Hâ—s Glory His Arme made bare of flesh God is never seen so glorious as upon That Mount Then He lifts up Himselfe on high Then He appeares in all the peoples sight This is a mighty Consideration even now it followes SECT IV. How necessary the consideration hereof is at this time that our eyes may not faile with looking upward nor faint when we are corrected nor make haste when troubles are upon the heele ANd this was necessary to be noted here That we might behold the Churches stability and firme standing see our errour all this while and vaine confidence Correct our selves take off our hold and hasten to the Churches Rock that we may be as She is a quiet habitation also What troubles soever how strong soever the tyde of things is against her yet not greatly moved Though
World She could stand still waiting the salvation of her God though indeed she sâ—w plainly That she was in a wildernesse where she saw no path Then the Church remembred the Lord and was comforted He is wonderfull in all His Administrations but especially in these which He worketh in a wildernesse Now the Church could leane on her Beloved O how willingly did she reach forth her hand to Him who is given a Leader and Commander to the people a Isa 55. 4. Marke that He is a sure Leader to His Church Who The Lord Christ for He commands her The Church heares no other voice obeyes no other but as commanding from His mouth and leading unto Him This in passage But I say how willingly and confidently did the Church reach forth her hand to this Leader and Commander she did assure her heart a 1 Iohn 3. 13. He would leade her because He doth command her He could and is able to leade her because He maketh a way in the Sea and a path in the mighty waters He bringeth forth the Charet and the Horse the Army and the Power b Isa 43. 15 16. c. The Lord did the same thing now He made a way in the Wildernesse and Rivers in the Desart So He lead His people even those Ver. 19. that are commanded by Him The manner how commands our Marke He brought the blinde by a way He lead them in paths that they have not knowne He made darknesse light before them and crooked things straight These things He hath done unto them and not forsaken them c Isa 42. 16. Truly This Scripture is this day fulfilled in our eyes The Church commands us to observe it in these particulars wherein it will appeare That the Lords Thoughts Thoughts of Mercy and of Peace were as high above mine or yours nay above the Churches Thoughts as the Heavens are above the Earth It appeareth d Isa 55. 8. â— thus SECT III. What our Thoughts were how high the Lords thoughts were above the Churches thoughts ¶ 1. OUr eyes were in the Heavens as in such times it is our manner a Sol nisi cum de sicit speâ—tatorem non haâ— â— c. Sen. â—nd behold they were very darke and covered with thick clouds Our thoughts were and strait-way thus we said there will be a great storme So it was a Starme indeed haile-stones and coles of fire beating sore â—gainst all expectation upon the hairy scalpe of the wicked Man but a sweet shower to the City of God sweetely and seasonably refreshing them as the after-raine the parched ground We looked up againe to Heaven whether else should we looke for peace seem'd to be taken from the Earth but behold it was very red I purposely speake in the Almanack-Mâ—kers Dialect strait way we said for such our Thoughts were it will be wind and so it was against all expectation and that which was threatned b Ier. 4. 11. a wind indeed but not a dry wind for it did fan and cleanse even a fâ—ll wind â—gainst high places scattering the wicked as with the breath of Gods mouth and so they did flee as the chaffe before the vvind or as they fled from before the Earth-quake c Zach. 14. 5. So they did flee but hearken what the Lord such He that fleeth of them shall not flee away and he that escapeth oâ— them shall not be delivered d Am. 9. 1 2 3. Thus the Lord hâ—th said for after-time and thus He hath done now ever blessed be His Name ¶ 2. VVE heard of warres and nothing but rumors of warres preparation thereto on every side strait way we said for our thoughts were The Sword will be bathed in Heaven e Esa 34. 5. it will be made drunke vvith the bloud of the slaine And so it was in part but it was in the bloud of the Men of blouds that were to call forth to battle and to be leaders thereunto A wonder this also and wrought by Him Who spake of old and made it good now Behold they shall surely gather together but not by Me whosoever shall gather together against Thee shall fall for thy sake f â—sa 44. 15 16 17. c. ¶ 3. VVE beheld here a Troope and there a Troope straight-way we â—aid Lord these are called forth to destroy Thy Iudah and to curse Thy Israel And it was so in the intention of the Adversary and a â—â—kely choyce he had made for they were of that number and choyce ones for that purpose to vvhom their spirituall Fathers so they will be called because they savour so much of the Spirit gave an Advousion of liberty and choyce of sports cryed downe by the Heathen g Aug. de civ Dei cap. 31 32 33. vvhich they might take on the Lords-day Certainly said Dion h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dion Orat. 79. speaking of Liberty Hee made bad Lawes indeed he gave a wicked Liberty and writ grievousnesse who prescribed such Decrees and gave such a Liberty which could please none but the bad Such a Liberty was this on the Lords-day which the Bishops gave to the people And see the luck of it the Bishops grant was too large it gave the people more scope then in manners they would take on the Lords-day and so thus they requited their great Dons vvhen it vvas expected that these people vvho had such an Advousion of Liberty as this from the hands of their good Lords should now gratifie the said Lords in fulfilling the whole pleasure of their will they did cleane contrary for vvheras they were called out to curse even these in their manner blessed altogether i Num. 23. 11. and threw-out vvhat the Bishops had brought-in the Rails and Mock-gods there What this people did more needeth not my Relation â—t is vvell known every vvhere all the Land over and vvell observed it vvas even as a vvonder in the eyes and ears of all ¶ 4. VVE saw some of these Troopes hasting towards the North gathered into a mighty body there Instruments of cruelty prepared and sent downe All meanes used vvhich Achiâ—ophel could suggest vve remember vvhat his councell vvâ—s even to make an irreconcileable difference betweene Father and Sonne all to set Ephraim against Manasses and Manâ—sses against Ephraim both against THY IVDAH And so it vvas in the intention of the Adversary But to say so now as one hath done vvhen he praid too vvere a bold arrogant and impious speech if not blasphemous for behold to the admiration of the vvorld Angels and Men the Breach made up a peace concluded and so concluded That it is a Statute now and an Ordinance in Israel That Iudah must rejoyce and Israel must be right glad So they vvill and they vvill tell it to their children and so down-ward and not barely so and no more but they vvill speake thereof vvith rejoycing vvhat the Adversary intended how the Lord disappointed
they might remember that deliverance and be encouraged He that gave them such a Deliverance as was that would not suffer them to sinke now That which God hath done was a cordiâ—ll unto them in their fainting fits Verily verily That God Who had so delivered would never never leave them nor forsake them s Heb. 1◠◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Five Negatives Thus the Church concludes now from the premises which she cals experiences God Who did deliver from so great a death and doth deliver in Him they doe trust that He will yet deliver t 2 Cor. 1. even so Amen ¶ 1. This we must adde to the former Conclusion as we must learne to trust in Him to set our hope upon Him a Ps 78. 7. Who is Mighty So also to set our heart upon Him He is Mighty and hath done for us mighty things therefore vve must serve Him vvith all our Mâ—ght He hath done His Church good assuredly with His whole Heart and with His whole Soule b Ier 32. 41. that we might serve Him so with our whole heart and with our whole soule He hath not like a warfaring c Ier. 14. 8. man stayed with His Church for a night and then away No He hath made His abode with her He dwels in the flaming-bush He sets up His rest there because there His soule delighteth All this that wee might be stedfast with Him and turne backe no more in the Day of Tryall of battell It is much to be thought of that God dwels in His Church when they are as a flaming Bush in the fornace of affliction then Hee dwels with them vvhich mightily engageth His people to Dwell to delight themselves in the Lord Who so regarded them in their low estate He followed His Church vvith mercies after mercies and deliverance after deliverance and discoveries against discoveries these followed hard and over-tooke one the other Why so That vve might follow after righteousresse d Esa 51. 1. that vâ—e might follâ—w on to know the Lord e Hos 6. 3. That our souls might follow hard after the Lord f Ps 63. 8. and not cease till we have taken hold of Him resolved to cleave unto Him to close with Him in all His Commands and Promises And so to say of the Lord as He hath said Who hath chosen Zion The Lord is our Rest for ever here will we dwell for we have desired it g Ps 132. 14. The poore man that was possessed with a Legion of Divels but now delivered and in his right mind prayed the Lord Christ that he might be with him h Mar. 5. 18. he remembred his old bondage how the case was with him when under the power of that cruell Lord and feared the like againe if he should depart from Christ or Christ from him I will repeat the former conclusion and joyne this with it for we find them together Because thou hast beene my helpe therefore in the shadow of Thy Wings will I rejoyce My soule followeth haâ—d after Thee Thy Right hand upholdeth me i Ps 63. 7. 8. SECT III. This will serve to cleare the Churches Innocency as the Noone-Day THe Church hath beene so and so delivered after such a sort They have beene in Deaths often yet behold she lives is confident and strong in her God and power of His Might Nay the Church hath bin as the Bush that 's her Type all in a flame and yet as then so now vvhich appeareth this day not consumed Let us turne aside and see this great sight Certainly then we must behold GOD IN THE BVSH When I say GOD then I have said all the Love the Wisdome the Power of God all exceeding towards His Church the sonnes of Iacob in whom He beholds no iniquity neither hath He seene perversnesse in Israel g Num. 23. 21. If we shall well consider this and ponder it in our hearts we shall be well able to cleare the Churches innocency I meane if this vvhich hath been said shall sinke downe into our hearts it will be more cleansing then Fullers-sope to wash-off a foule imputation a notorious slander cast upon the very face of the Church and to render her as white and cleare thereof as the Snow in Salmon or as raiments white as the Light so as no Fuller can white them It is said her people are enemies to their King they seek not his peace they have driven him from them Nay the slander riseth higher as high as that of Saul against David That imputation then and this now runne together like paralell lines We will see then how David cleares his innocency and how God cleares him and then vve shall see the very same thing done now Thus David vvas slandered That he conspired against his Master That he lay in wait to catch him in a h 1 Sam 22. 8. Snare c. See how David cleares himselfe Now the Lord forbid that I should doe this thing unto my Master the Lords annoynted seeing he is the annoynted of the Lord i 1 Sam. 24 6. Moreover my Father see see here a good token yea see the skirt of this robe in my hand had an uncircumised a Jesuited person come so neare thee he would have taken away thy head and have rejoyced when he had done for wickednesse proceedeth from the wicked as saith the Proverbe But my heart throbs within me because I have cut-off the lap of thy garment Know thou now and see that there is ver 13. neither evill nor transgression in my hand So David cleares himselfe Yes if a mans owne words vvill cleare him vvho vvill not ver 11. appeare innocent True but here are more then vvords yet they are cleare and simple here is more then a single proofe for here are deeds too as we may reade if we will peâ—use the Story But the maine thing and to our purpose here is this How doth God cleare him Thus And David behaved himselfe wisely in all his wayes and God was with him k 1 Sam. 18. 14. Was that the clearing of Davids innocency Yes none like that David behaved himselfe wisely and God was with him he could strengthen his hand in God he could encourage himselfe in the Lord his God l 1 Sam. 23 16. 30. 6. A wicked person cannot doe so if he doe it is presumption and an unwarranted confidence God vvill not take part with the wicked He vvill not shine upon their councels Yes He doth and so He iâ— said to doe m Iob. 10. 3. True and we will answer that by the way God may shine upon the Councels of the wicked and crosse the proceedings of the just commanded and warranted from His owne Mouth He may doe the first as to make them confident so to ripen the designe and to hasten it's ruine and to make Himselfe more glorious in confounding them and their designes He hath done the latter more
then once to quicken up His servants to more caution about themselves and their worke and the manner of performing their Masters charge But here is the point we drive unto vvhen Deliverances come-in unto His people with the seale and impression of the wisdome and power of God upon them this is ever because they are His people He delights in them there is innocency in their hearts and their hands are pure from that great evill suggested against them Such Salvations the Lord wrought for David They had the impresse of the Almighties hand upon them Saul hunted him like a Partridge God would not deliver him into his hands Hee rescued him here and there and every where It had not beene so if innocency had not beene found in his hands and integrity in his heart towards Saul his peace and dignity for he was the Lords annoynted The Text is plaine it needs not my Comment but I 'le apply it comparing the Salvations then and now together for their accusation is the same crimes objected the same their defence or apology the same and God the same in rescuing them and clearing their innocency as the Noon day The servants of the Lord are thus accused at this day they are enemies to their King they seeke his hurt they have driven him away c. These servants of the Lord answer God forbid for who can doe so against the Lords annoynted and be guiltlesse They seeke the hurt of their King their consciences beares them Record and God also they seeke God for the King and are not weary Grace Grace unto him Peace Peace unto him and that is all Peace bee both to him peace to his house and peace be to all that he hath a 1 Sam. 25. 8. peace peace unto him and peace be to his helpers for their God helpeth them b 1 Chro. 12. 18 They enemies to their King the Lords annoynted So they are to their own souls for so they pray for him They have driven him away from them As a man drives away the candle vvhen he is in the darke and must walke but would not stumble They quench the light of Israel As they would the light and influence of the Sunne vvithout vvhich they could not move the least finger As they would quench the light and motions of Gods Spirit in them without which they sit in miserable darknesse and move not or move to their owne destruction They secke his life They doe indeed heare them in the Church or in the Closet O King live for ever The eternall God be thy Refuge and underneath the EVERLASTING ARMES Deut 33. 27. They deliver their King up into his enemies hands they set him in the Front of the battell As they would set themselves at the mouth of a Cannon or thrust themselves into the mouth of a Lyon or Beare bereaved of her whelpes which will teare the Cawle of their hearts So they cleare themselves and their innocency at this point Ai but a man is not justified by the words of his own mouth Well be it so that their owne vvords cleare them not See how the Lord cleares them How They behave themselves wisely and God is with them They proceed on and doe exploits as Men made wise by the wisedome of God and mighty in the strength of His power They can strengthen their hand in God They can encourage themselves in Him He hath made an hedge about them and about their house and about all that they have on every side He hath blessed the worke of their hands and prospered the very thoughts of their hearts These were to promote Christ the Glory for He is worthy He hath constantly shin'd upon their counsels He or they that can observe and can speak by the Spirit must say concerning this people as Amasai did concerning David Thine are we thou blessed of the Lord and on thy side thou daughter of Zion Peace peace be unto thee and peace be to thine helpers for Thy God helpeth thee d 1 Chro. 12. 18. Indeed He doth and in all the peoples sight They can see the Salvations of a God comming in unto them with the seale impresse and inscription of the Wisdome Power Majesty of a God upon them These servants of the Lord can say as David did My soule was among Lyons but the Lord shut the mouth that Devourer could not swallow-up e Ps 57. 4. They did lye among them who were set on fire yet their garments did not smell of the smoake But for the wicked it shall not be so with them not so with them that seeke the hurt of their King They may triumph for a short time and joy for a moment but how oft is their candle put out how oft commeth their destruction upon them f Iob 21. 17. God distributeth sorrowes in His Anger The wicked shall be as stubble before the wind and as chaffe that the storme carrieth away The Lord rewardeth the wicked and they shall know it Thus and thus shall it be to the wicked but thou Lord Ps 5. 12. wilt bâ—esse the righteous with favour wilt thou compasse him as with a shield That 's the Conclusion That the salvations of God great salvations are evermore the portioâ— of the Church the Israel of God who seeke the pâ—ace and life of their King and so they can commit their righteous cause unto a righteous God Whose eyes are upon the Truth and will blesse those that are children of blessing even according to the innocency of their hands and integrity of their hearts in this matter even so Amen ¶ 1. I shall passe-over now a chiefe thing vvhich must be concluded also from the premises and containes much I shall name it only and no more and so put a Marke upon it for observation †1. That the Lord hath a time to bring downe Hâ—s Adversaries When Then when they are a float when the flood of their pride riseth to the highest When they say in their hearts They will climbe up above the heights of the clouds and be like the most high d Esa 14. 14. They had an arme like God such were their proud thoughts Who changeth the times and the seasons ramoveth and setteth up a Dan. 2 21. they could slâ—y whom they would and whom they would they could keep alive They could set up whom they would and whom they would they could put down b Dan. 5. 17. When their heart was thus lifted up then they came downe mightily then the Lord was above them in all wherein they dealt proudly c Exo. 18. 11. and made them know that they are but Men d Ps 9. 10. Vehementissimèag nâ—scant Iun. But this knowledge is too high for them they will not know in good earnest that they are but Men. For truely wee are a stubborne Generation as our fore-Fathers vvho vvhen they saw their fellowes killed vvith plagues yet they Repented not of the workes
of their hands neither of their murders nor of their Sorceries nor of their fornication nor of their thefts e Rev. 9. 20 2â— When men have ascended to that pinnacle and height of wickednesse seldome do we reade that they have repented But then we reade as vve now see they have beene tumbled downe thence even then and great must their fall be when the time comes that God must ease Himself of His Adversaries †2. God hath a time to raise up His People When Then when Iacob is very lâ—w very small little in all mens eyes and lesse in his owne Then when the Worme Jacob lying at the mercy of the foot of pride trampled upon insulted over Then vvhen the Gyants and proud men of the Earth said to Iacobs soule Bow downe that we may goe over and he laid his body as the ground and as the street to them that went over f Isa 51. 23. Then God raised Iacob up then He makes them Israel for then His people vvill ascribe Salvations to their God to His right-hand all the glory The Earth mourneth and languisheth Sharon is like a Wildernesse now will I rise saith the Lord now will I be exalted now will I lâ—ft up My Selfe g Isa 33. 9 10. For the oppression of the poore for the sighing of the needy now will I rise I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him h Ps 12. 5. I should be larger here wheras I have set but a marke for observation upon it ¶ 2. Now the poore Captives who beleeve will not hasten that they may be loosed i Isa 5â— 14. They can wait now Gods time for He waits the fittest time to give Deliverance when His children are fittest to receive it and to let it sinke downe into their hearts vvhich they never doe till they are emptied of self confidence If Deliverance came not vvhen they would have it yet they did not die in the pit nor did their bread faile Rescues and Deliverances did come at such a time when they vvere most sweet and seasonable Blessed is the man that maketh the LORD his trust And respecteth not the proud not how many nor how fierce they be he respecteth the Promise and waites Gods time in confident assurance that God will Ps 40. 4. come bring Deliverance with Him in His owne time that is seasonably ever the fittest time And so I pâ—sse on unto other Uses and certain Conclusions here from SECT IV. We cannot partake of the Churches Priviledges but we must be free of her Corporation NOw we will be on the Churches side too for we expect such salvations We will lay hold on her and will be called by her Name and expect the sâ—me Almighty hand to be put out for us and against our enemies Surely this is a good resolution to come under this shadow for here is safety notwithstanding all the noyse hurry and trâ—ubles that are abroad This is the sure side her Redeemer is strong He will give rest to her Land and He will disquiet the Inhabitants of Babylon * Ier. 50. 34. The Church shall stand still and behold the salvation of the Lord that is certaine notwithstanding all the shockes they shall stand notwithstanding all the contrivings and policies to bring them to the Brow of the Hill they shall escape and the nearer she is brought the more glorious vvill her Deliverance be It is our wisdome to joyne our selves to the Churches side for it is the sure side Peace Peace unto her and Peace be to her helpers for their God helpeth them But stay a little Let us not runne away with the comfort as our manner is and neglect the duty the Lord hath wrought and doth vvorke great Salvations as becommeth a great God and seasonably in the day of trouble For vvhom for His Church yea and for me and thee for His Churches sake But our comfort will be small and of small continuâ—nce if we doe not our Duty as the Church doth She hath beene delivered I say marvellously delivered that is true enough but see she prayed for this thing she vvas importunate she gave her Lord no rest Indeed He told her He would be enquired for that thing d Ezech. 36. 37. so they wrestled and wept too and prevailed as we see this day Hâ— doth guide her by His Councell Whether For that she is not carefull whethet through thicke or thin as we say vvhether through rough places or plaine she is not carefull for that her Lord hath her by the hand that 's enough Hee guides her and will bring her to glory she is sure of that Glory is the end of her way what troubles so ever are in the middle of the way and in that her heart is assured Take all with it He guides Her He leades her yes and He commands her a LEADER and COMMANDER to His people that is the point and our lesson of everlasting use Would we be a protected people would we be guided by His hand He is a sure Guide would we be carried as upon Eagles wings We must then heare His voyce we must obey Him He must command us and no other but as they command from Him and lead to Him He is a LEADER and COMMANDER to His People Take we this comfort and feed upon it but remember the duty too a LEADER and COMMANDER to His people We would be as the Church is for we would be in as safe a condition and harbour as the Church is Ai but surely a VELIETY a would so will not serve the turn There is not a Balaam in the world not such a sluggard but he hath a veliety a would so he would have plenty and peace both he would have protection and safety he vvould have it now but at his end vvhen he must be taken from the Earth then he would in good earnest No matter for plenty then but for peace O but let him lay this to heart and muse upon it vvhen he turnes upon his bed like the doore upon it's hinges expecting that salvation will come unto him and drop into his mouth If he would have peace for that containes all he must up and be doing he must stirre up himselfe with all his might he must come out of himselfe and thrust out his Idoll whether one or many his ease his profit and his pleasure His excuse will not serve the turne that there is a Lyon in the way a difficulty he cannot overcome therefore he will not indeavour it If he saith so and is resolved to be lazy and sit still I pronounce against him this Day from the mouth of the Lord That Peace shall not bâ— his portion but the contrary When he expecteth peace behold trouble he shall have wrath with his sicknesse Tribulation Eccl. 5 17. and anguish shall come upon him like an armed man and when hee vvould solace his soule with peace vvhen he would see the
Rivers the Flooâ—s the Brookes of Hony and Butter f Iob 20 17. he shall see the contrary that which shall amaze and astonish him if his heart be not as a stone vvithin him Heaven above him shut against him the grave open to receive him His soule lanching forth into the Ocean of Aeternity vvhere he must vvallow in the streames of brimstone and flames of fire how long The answer thereto sinkes the spirit for it is the very Hell of Hell FOR EVER and EVER We have not a thought that can â—each halfe way to the bottome of that Ocean But this thought of perishing FOR EVER of everlasting burnings shall drinke up the spirits of a Man and be within his bowels as the gall of Aspes But the serious thoughts thereof now now this present time the acceptable time and day of Salvation mâ—y be very effectuall to awaken him that lyeth downe NOW as in the midst of the Sea or as he that sleepeth upon the top of a Mast g Pro. 23. â—4 To stirre him up to arise and call upon his God if so be that God will thinke upon him that he perish not h Iona. 1. 6. FOR EVER punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the LORD and from the glory of His power i 2 Thes 1. 9. The Conclusion is if a Man vvould fly from the wrath to come if he would assure his heart that everlasting consolation shall be given unto him if he vvould have peace now vvhich all the Malignants in the vvorld cannot take from him if he vvould have a defence a shield over his head now vvhich the most fiery darts cannot pierce through if he vvould have assured confidence of all this if he be in earnest and will have it indeed He will get assurance that he shall stand now and hereafter as the everlasting Hils and perpetuall Mountains if this be his will indeed if this be the very purpose and resolution of his heart then he will give all diligence to the full assurance of Hope * Heb. 6. 11 12. that proves his will whether true or not to do as the Church doth to obey heartily to trust perfectly to be guided by Him to walke before Him and to be perfect So the Church doth doe and if we doe as she doth vve shall be as she is though the Raine desceâ—d and the floods come and the winds blow and beat upon her house yet a QVIET HABITATION notwithstanding SECT V. We cannot expect to be delivered AFTER THIS SORT unlesse we walke in THIS WAY the way of Gods Commandements LAstly learne we from hence to keepe our selves in Gods way there is safety in those pathes the Angels carry us we cannot dash the foot therein We are sure of protection so farre as wee keepe our selves in that path though it seemes over-clouded with the shadow of death In that darke path the Church can walke on boldly and considently though through fire and water for she walkes under the shadow of the Almighty and in the feare of God all the Day long a Pro. 23. 17. Therefore she finds comfort even where she sees no light But if she doth find comfort and light both yet then she feares the Lord and His goodnesse b Hos 3. 5. She feares at all times she presumes at no time she walkes boldly but humbly shee doth not lead her selfe into temptation no she is lead to the Brow of the Hill or forced rather but then she is sure the Adversary cannot force her downe We may note this by the way it is one thing when a man is driven upon straits and another thing when he drives himselfe upon straits It is one thing to be brought to the brow of an hill and another thing for a man to bring himselfe to such a precepice I may be câ—st into the armes of God and be assured to be held up by them but if I presumptuously rush-in upon them I shall not find those arms underneath I shall not be held up by them To presume that God will keepe me when I walk not in His way is as if a man should hang himselfe in hope that one would come and cut the halter To close up all We find safety no where but in Gods way for therin with Iacob we find a Command and a Promise both these are still together The Lord which said unto me Returne unto thy country and Gen 32. 9. to thy kindred and I will deale well with thee The Conclusion then is if in this way Esau a bloudy persecutor will come out against the Church he shall not be able to do them hurt though his wrath should not abate but â—t may be the Lord wâ—ll so over-power his spirit that he shall not dash against the Church but meet them as becommeth a Brother with embracings SECT VI. An Apology for this digression if it seemes so And a short view or recollection of what was last said I May seeme here to have digressed not a little in discontinuing the Calender by these Uses or Conclusions so largely insisted upon If so it seemeth to the Reader I would desire him to consider this and then if he thinks it a digression he will think it necessary also first †1. Thaâ— which was intimated before God wrought then like Himselfe 〈◊〉 wonderfully before man was called forth to helpe Him against the Mighty He alone doth wonders but they are not wonders in our eyes unlesse He workes alone Though we have not many to worke with Him though but a few yet these few take off much from the wonderfulnesse of His workes * Miramâ—r si nobis coelestis manus aliquâ— non prastet cui quicquid prastiâ— terit derog 〈◊〉 Sal. de gub l. 7. p. â—47 such a regard we have to the arme of flesh though a weake arme and often broken in all the peoples sight But I say before the Parliament was summoned He wrought alone and then vvas the Adversary confounded his snares broken then vvas the Church pluck'd three Kingdomes at once as a brand out of the fire a Zach. 3. â— then at that time the Church passed from the brow of the Hill through the middest of her Adversaries and went her way The Lord knowes how she escaped for she knows Luk. 4. 30. not but she passed through the middest of them and went her way A flaming Bush then as once she was But see this great sight The Bush burned with fire and was not consumed Then came helpe from Heaven vvhen there vvas none from the Earth Then rowled-in streames of consolation floods of hony and butter when the enemy and adversary had stopt and dam'd up all her fresh springs below Then came in the spring-tide of Deliverance when she vvas brought to the lowest ebbe of Distresse See the vvorkings of a God * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys Tom. 4. ep 1. I could not passe-over this and not set
markes upon it for it clears forth unto us as the Morning light no such demonstration as this vvho are the Church indeed who but in name so and that the MALIGNANT Church It cleares the Churches innocency also as the Sunne beame and cleares our duty to walke exactly as a peculiar people if we looke to be delivered how So miraculously after THAT SORT that all must say The Right-hand of the Lord did This. †2. The Reader may consider that in the following Month I met with that ROOT the PARLIAMENT I mean which beares all our sweets here below our Religion our Lawes our Liberties our Lives by the good hand of God upon that High Court the KING and PARLIAMENT accursed be they that divide them and accursed be they also that strike at that Root we gather all the fore-mentioned for our selves and our children after us even all that blessed fruit for there it is as in a common root Therfore I staid the longer upon that fundamentall blessing Now I can goe on apace for I am but to bring in these after fruits as they did the Grapes all in a cluster but we must view over the lessons vvee tooke forth last and make a short collection thereof 1 The Lord hath triumphed gloriously Hâ—s right Hand hath dashed to peeces the enemy In the greatnesse of His excellency He hath over-thrown them that rose up against Him 2. We have seene the Salvations of God great Salvations therefore the Israel of God is here amongst Exod. 15. 7. us a people greatly beloved Saved by the Lord for whose helpe Herideth upon the Heaven and in His excellency on the Sky Deut. 33. 26. Lastly Would vve be so saved then vve must be guided as the Church is according to her Lords WILL and so commanded by Him if we would be carried as upon the wings of Eagles then we must bee found walking in His way Thus we have seene the strange Overtures and turnings of things in these two Moneths and vvee have observed the certaine Uses and Conclusions there-from Now vve goe on to set downe the Heads of the after proceedings ¶ A Transition to the next Chapter Hitherto vve have observed vvhat God hath vvrought vvorking alone and by His own Arme bringing Salvations Now vve must observe vvith the same observation vvhat Salvations Man hath wrought with God the following Months as strange as vvas that Salvation vvhich Ionathan vvrought for Israel a 1 Sam. 14. 45. I have treated thereon severally not according to the excellency thereof but after my measure as I vvas inabled and am resolved not to mutilate or maim that continued Story by taking any part thence But which is more sutable to this place and my scope to set downe the Heads therof in as narrow a compasse as may be and as the matter can be contracted to give an abstract only leaving the specification of the set time vvhen the Salvations were vvrought the Month and the day to those Diurnals vvhich are vvritten before me vvhere also I blotted a few sheets of paper but specially to the vvorthy pains of good M Vicars vvorthy all acceptation So I proceed CHAP. IX The Heads of proceeding the following Months to the end of the first Jubile holding forth the wrath of God fury to His Adversaries His marvellous workes of Grace to His people breaking bands and taking off yoakes and bringing them into the band of a Covenant engaging His Church for ever to Record to Thanke to Praise SECT I. The Church blesseth God for you That you did not ioyne your selves with the Men of the Earth nor after the manner of Men forsake her in her low estate That you did not establish iniquity by a Law that yee read her petitions and heard her complaints that you opened her prisons and mouthes of the Ministers And had Dominion over the Mighty NOVEMBER a Month specially to be observed The third Day the High Court assembled things vvere done after the Manner c. At this point others begin and here I shall not breake off but dissolve a well continued Story into some chiefe Heads vvhich vvill containe the chiefe workes of wonder and so yeeld us matter enough of praise to God and thanks to Man The Lord tune our spirits to the setting forth the high praises of the Lord. The first Head will lead-in all the test for it containes much a Ezek. 23. 32. therefore that we may begin right the Church would have us consider That her enemy and adversary the Head and the Tayle who these are is now fully manifested and declared before had wrought effectually in the children of disobedience They had carried all before them levell to their owne mark They had levened the Land they thought from corner to corner with most impure Doctrines and as uncleane practises Indeed as was said they had vvrought very effectually as appeareth this day They had prepared their owne way made it so strait plaine and levell so as they thought verily they could find no rubb no opposition none at all they might goe on smooth away the Angell of the Lord could not meet with them at least could not stop controll nor crosse them in the way no not with the Sword in the hand They had now set the BVSH on fire round about I meane the Church a flaming Bush was her Embleme once and it must be her Embleme there you see the Church to the Worlds end They had set the Church all on a flame and thought verily if Gods dwelling were there which they thought not of they could if not thrust Him out of His House yet they could fire Him out for they looked wistly when His House would sinke downe and fall into ashes Indeed this is notable by the way and engageth the Church mightily That God dwelleth vvith her when she is all on a flame in the fornace of afflictions then He DWELS in the BVSH therefore it consumes not But the Adversary and enemy thought not of this they looked when the House should fall as aforesaid and hastened vvhat they could the Ruine thereof They would put to more wood and make the burning yet greater This then is the first Head for this the Church blesseth God and thanks you ¶ 1. That you did not joyne with the stronger side I meane in appearance That you did not joyne strength to strength and adde more fuell also to make the flame the more fierce and raging for this is the manner of men To oppresse the oppressed to add to the affliction and like Mice as to runne out vvhen the House is on fire So to judge of Gods workes before they bee ripe I meane before the FIFT ACT and that is against the Rule b De operiâ—us Dei 〈◊〉 quintum actuÌ„ 〈…〉 If a storme lye upon the Ship of the Church and she be tossed with tempests men will not waite till the fourth watch commonly so long the Lord deferrs His comming but
then He comes That you did now as wise-men strike in to helpe to quench the burning to helpe the Lord against the mighty that you did regard the Church now as the Lord regarded you once in a very low estate for this she blesseth God and thanketh you To speake in plainer English for this she blesseth God and you That having but one Priest one Altar one Sacrifice you did not defile all this at this time making many Priests setting-up many Altars commanding many Sacrifices all this as the statutes of Omri by a Law That when many Altars the same of other provocations were made to Sinne Altars were not made by you unto the whole Nation to Sinne c Hos 8. 15. That when the ROD of the wicked lay heavy upon the backe of the Righteous you did not turne it into a Scorpion and when bloud was upon the Earth upon the Church falsly so called you did not FEOFFE it upon HEAVEN the true Church So you might have done and have left the Church as a Widow forsaken in the Earth and comfortlesse there That all this was not done but the contrary she accepts in all thankfulnesse alwayes and blesseth God Who kept you from the pathes of the destroyer d Ps 17. 4. If this be not plaine enough this vvhich followes will make it as plaine as can be Ireland did contribute mony toward the WARRE What warre A Warre that vvould have ruined Scotland a Warre that would have sheathed a Brothers Sword in the heart of a Brother Ireland contributed mony toward such a WARRE Behold now The Sword is hathed in that HEAVEN it is drunke with the bloud of those slaine who contributed money to maintaine that WARRE Their Land is now full of the fury of the LORD the Rebuke of Thy GOD. You would not contribute therto no not 20â— for it had bin too heavy upon the loynes of the Church by a pound weight Behold now this Kingdom hath weathered-out the storme lies at Anker cast upward and is the very miracle of Gods patience to all the world I have heard that some say for some vvill be vvillingly ignorannt What great matter have you done I thinke verily no man is so foolish so forsaken of all his wits but he may receive satisfaction herein anon I will answer but this now What ye have not done Ye have not engaged the Kingdome in that Warre vvhich vvould have dashed the people one against another even the Father and the sonnes together a Ier. 13. 14. Blessed be your Councell and your Wisedome and blessed be you of the Lord for what ye have not done for it hath cast a sweet savour over all the Churches in the world But vvith your good leave I vvould rather ascribe all to your good God glorious in holinesse fearefull in praises doing wonders b Exod. 15. 11 He councelled you His right Hand vvas upon you therefore your feet were kept from the path of the DESTROYER The Church vvould make her acknowledgement very full at this point That though there are strange vanities c. as was said yet not countenanced by law Though the Tayle-Prophets as they are and the Priests as they will be called both high and low are most vile and have made themselves and the people so having leavened the whole Land from corner to corner with poysonous and cursed corruptions in their Doctrines and practises though so yet there are no Statutes for all this but Orders against it Praise be to her good God for all this and all due thanks to you So also ¶ 2. That you received the Petitions from all Quarters of the Land heard the groanes of the oppressed made to serve under cruell Taske-Masters that you rebuked their Lordships tooke off their yoake from off the jawes of the Ministers and People that you opened the prison doores and mouths of the Ministers This the Church could record with more words but not vvith more thankfulnesse yet you shall heare more of it anon ¶ 3. That by your Wisdome and Providence the Church had such freedome the last yeare and such communion and fellowship with Iesus and His Disciples more the last yeare then 20 years before Time was and but as yesterday when they that feared the Lord spake often one to another but so as their voyce might not be heard for it was an evill time The Messenger of Satan was abroad buffering the Servants of the Lord in every place his eare was under their window Mal. 3. 16. and his foot at the doore and the sound of his Masters feet behind him So as it vvas the hardest thing to serve God without feare for it was a crime to be godly * Si fuerit sublimis fiâ—despicabilis si fuerit splendidissimus fit vilissimus si fuerit totus honoris fit totus iniuria Sal. de gub lib. 4. p. 113. Vnder whom it was alwayes unsafe to d ee well Tâ—â—it sup This the Church acknowledgeth with all thankfulnesse and behold the benefit you have commanded Prayer Prayer shall command for you for now this followes which the Church recordeth with all thankfulnesse and some wonder ¶ 4. That the mountaines have flowne downe before you and the Hils did melt and tremble My intent was but to name things yet the Church commands us to stay a little here and behold the great high lofty ones they are Mountaines and Hils fast upon their bottome behold the Lord hath shaken them given power to His Servants to over-top them to have Dominion over the mighty and to tread downe strength f Iudg. 5. 13 21. I say the Church commands us to observe all the peeces of the Lords providence here looke upon them apart then put them together She saith and is confident That this being done you shall see the most admirable worke that ever was wrought since the Creation and that AMAZING worke of REDEMPTION Next place to these two works this worke will take and in every good order for it is most fruitfull and big with mercies and brings forth every Day Had You not over-topt the Mountaines and the Hils and over-shadowed them You began well You shall goe on and prosper You could never have refreshed the vveary and parched vallies for those high places kept off Raine and Dew and Sunne-shine altogether But now that these are taken downe behold a shower of blessings upon the Land by your care conscience and vigilancy all this followes first SECT II. The Lords Day a comprehensive blessing to a Nation Indignation and wrath from the Lord against the prophaners of it And yet the Priests most notorious this way Your Zeale for it how necessary it should be fervent ¶ 5. 1. THe Church records and thankes That ye rouled away the reproach of Egypt and restored to her sons and daughters their Lords Day That she sees That Day againe in it's beauty and in honourable account from which the wicked hid their eyes and she her
to His Name there is mercy to her people they are yet the Lords people and the judgement is upon the Priests and they shall KNOW IT Surely some strange judgement the first borne of Death o Iob 18. 19. shall devoure their strength Now the Lord make them know it for their good That whatsoever strange punishment they feele here they may not feele the wrath to come So the Church prayes and every man will say Amen 2. The Church remembers your Piety now Blessed be You of the Lord you have rescued this day from out of the hands of Spoylers Yee have recovered Your Lords Right Yee have vindicated His Name So Ye have provided for Your owne peace and prepared a way for a blessing upon all You shall doe and for Mercy upon the Nation Peace be both to You and Peace be to Your house and Peace be unto all that You have The Church wisheth unto You a blessing which containes all blessings because You have restored unto her her Lords Day which next to her Lord Christ is the fullest and most comprehensive mercy Goe on and doe yet more and be more zealous Give all diligence and let Your zâ—ale boyle yet higher it cannot boyle over Thâ—s shall Yee doe in the feare of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart * 2 Chro. 19. 9. for it is for the Lord His Day His House His Worship Seeke Yee that first burne in Your zeale that way and other things will come on as they doe as east in upon You by an Almighty hand for the Lord will be with the Good and He will remember You for good for You remembred His Day and His worship on His Day He will remember You for good Amen SECT III. That You have advanced Christ in the Ministery of the Gospell how efficacious that is To promote the chiefe end the Glory of God and Your end Mans Salvation ¶ 6. 2. THe Church blesseth God that hath instructed You to discretion so as You have shewen Your zeale and given all Diligence to promote the Gospell The readiest and most compendious way to Your ayme and end to bring all the designes about which vve hope are all levell to the glory of Christ and Your owne glory vvith Him at the end And now great is the company of Preachers their mouth opened now who of late were used worse than the Oxe which treadeth out the Corne. They speake boldly now as the Messengers of the Churches and the Glory of Christ That which letted shall let no longer The Scepter of the Lord Christ is advanced and the people flow in unto it The Church thinkes her Sonnes and Daughters never had a more glorious yeare since the day her Beloved and Crowne of rejoycing ascended to His Glory Never since that Day when He was lifted up from the Earth was He so openly showne to the world as this last yeare Though there had beene no other very worthy deeds done unto this Nation by Your providence yet this she accepts alwayes and in all places wich all thankfulnesse accounting it an exceeding great mercy That by Your meanes she was respited and spared one yeare longer to lay in her provision and more fully to stocke her selfe against hard and deâ—re yeares This the Church accepts as afore-said for this is the way to doe and effect the greatest things Therefore this the Church accounts an exceeding mercy The blessing of blessings and she prayeth that the blessing of Him Who dwelt in the Bush may goe along with You in this Designe in making knowne the Arme of the Lord In advancing this Glory through the whole Land that they who walke in darkenesse may see a great Light They that dwell in the Land of the shadow of Death upon them this light may shine This is the onely way to doe good to the whole Land to make it a Land of visions wherein the Lord may delight and to make his people a willing people The Church will remember You here vvhat Luther her valiant Gideon spake to the businesse now in hand I will not said he trouble my selfe any more with the Cloysters the Monkes and Schollars there those Armies of Adversaries they mind their belly that is their god and the belly hath no eares Nor will I contest with the Pope any longer he had done it and was too hard for him and all his Cardinals let the Philistines alone with their Dagon They will finde wayes enough to breake themselves and their god he would not beat and buffet the darknesse so he said also as the foole did his shadow he would set up a light then the darknesse slinkes away I know not where it is for it is a privative thing but it flies away as the cloud before the Sunne or as the beasts of prey will doe when the Sunne ariseth there is a riddance it is gone and those beasts goe to their darke Dens You know his meaning and know it for the good of the Land He would advance Christ He would set up that Standard that was his meaning and his worke To use his own word he would promote the Arke then Dagon fals breaks himselfe to peeces head and hands both cut off the Head for councell hands for action â—ll gone That 's the way indeed So You have done and so You have succeeded already You will to that worke againe and joyne shoulder to shoulder for the advancing thereof That the Lord Christ may be showen openly His glorious excellencies made knowne specially in those places where CATHEDRALS are as barren in the Churches observation to the soules of men as the Surface of that Earth where the Mines of Gold and Silver are there no meat grows for man nor grasse for Cattell The Church intreats you to remember those barren places and those darke places all over the Land where the dead bury the dead and the blind lead the blind every Day Truly the Church is perswaded that the people for the most part are as ignorant as the Monks are of Christ to speak as Luther spake or as they were of the Holy Ghost they know not whither there be any Christ or no unles a Christ of their own framing in a Table They have heard of the name Iesus and the Monkes have taught them to bend the knee unto it and that is all their Devotion according to their knowledge O that the Name indeed the glorious excellencies of that wonderfull name were made knowne unto them certainly their Hearts would bend also Blessed be Ye of the Lord Ye have laboured herein and Ye will labour yet more to advance this STANDARD to set-up this Ensigne that the mountaines may melt before you and the people may flow in unto it To make knowne this Arme of the Lord for this makes us a willing people That I may speake all in our Lord and Masters words Ps 110. In so doing you shall doe as Christ did you will give eyes to the blind feet
to the lame you shall cleanse the Lepers make the deafe heare nay you shall raise the dead You will sticke most at this last though the other as this are all the workes of the Almighties Arme and all is effected when the poore receive the Gospell If then you will order it so that the poore people may have the Gospell preached unto them you shall doe all the fore-mentioned workes which are so wonderfull for all these miracles are wrought by the Ministery of Man the Hand of the Lord going along with that ministery so we understand it as the Lord dealt with His Servant Ezekiell so He must deale with every man upon whom these workes are wrought eyes opened eares boared dead heart raised The word of the Lord came expressely to Ezekiel and the hand of the Lord was there upon him when the hand of the Lord comes along Chap. 1. 3. with the word for the word comes but to the eare The hand of the Lord carries it to the heart then the eyes of them that are borne blind are opened feet bound-up as with fetters of yron and brasse are enlarged the dead are raised c. The blessing of the poore and thirsty soules be upon you and upon your house and all that you have for you have and will pitty these poore people yee will thrust out the dumbe and the ignorant the light Priest and treacherous Prophet the lame and the blind that are hated of Davids 2 Sam. 5. 8. soule And you will send forth Ministers unto those places such as are indeed the Messengers of the Churches and the glory of Christ Mat. 11 5. Then behold these marvellous workes wrought The blinde receive their sight and the lame walke and the Lepers are cleansed and the deafe heare the dead are raised up and the poore have the Gospell preached to them Amen SECT IV. The PROTESTATION how wonderfully the Lord brought it about Though Yee shall doe exploits yet nothing to be wondered at now The reason But one head or charge is handled here and that is RELIGION a great Binder The Method in giving-out this abstract ¶ 7. THe Church blesseth Gods wonderfull worke in you and by you and for you That you have protested to take the Lord for your God So you have provided for the Churches security what ever times may come for you have brought her into COVENANT with her God I know that is a thing the Church doth mind every Month I may say every Day and can doe it without you but not in such a way as you have done it in a Nationall way which you and none but you can doe You could make a Covenant betweene GOD and betweene all the People that they should bee the LORDS PEOPLE a 2 Chro. 23. â—â— The Church will put a Question to you now not to pose you for you are wise and she knowes the Answer before hand and would have you know it yet better She would know How you brought this worke about Your answer is Not by your strength nor by your wisdome but by the good hand of God upon you so you brought it about and so you shewed mercy to your soules and to the whole Nation And thereby the Lord would make you know That He intended by you to doe the Nation good assuredly with His whole heart and with His whole soule The Church hath heard and understands well all the exploits you have done ever since such as seeme marvellous workes and wonders in the eyes and eares of the multitude yet to her they seem great mercies indeed but no strange matters no wonders at all No no 1. The Church knowes you had a liberty granted to continue your Session as long as you will that is till you have done Gods will for Hee procured that grant unto you this Grant though shee counts it an exceeding mercy Yet she doth not count it a wonder 2. The Church knowes that you marched valiantly and trod down strength You rent a Lyon without hands as easie as a man with both his hands can rent a kid and yet this the Church accounts no strange thing neither 3. The Adversary and enemy had made a breach great like the Sea b Lam 2. 23. We asked Who can make it up Who can heale it You could and you did it and yâ—u shall be called the Repayrers of the breaches You stood in that Gappe and you made it up the greatest worke that ever was done by Mâ—n since that Breach was made up betwixt God and Man since that PACIFICATION made by the MAN CHRIST IESVS And yet this worke doth not seem strange to the Church Nay should any one of you tell the Church That since the Day you entred into the Protestation the Adversary made great breaches upon your soule and the Lord made them all up Temptations came-in upon you like a flood The Spirit of the Lord set-up a Standard against them c Esa 54 19 they could doe you no hurt but good a great deale should you tell the Church so she would not thinke it strange Should your thoughts stray a little from out this yeare vvhere vve suppose we are unto the next when some say but they are much mistaken or see and will not see that God did nothing for you but against you and then should you tell the Church what she knowes well That your Soule was amongst Lyons and yet not devoured That you did lye amongst those that were set on fire and yet not consumed none of all this could the Church call wonderfull or thinke strange Nay to expresse it as fully as I am able Were all the wild-fire in England the Church heares the Land is well stâ—red with it now and â—he expects it shall be hurled in her face and throwne into her bosome she is the But and White against which the Malignants levell all this this she knowes but she is fearelesse were all this I say gathered up and rowled together into one Ball and then with 500. hands nay with the whole Arme of flesh hurled into your Court and the Church should be told that the fire tooke not not one sparke kindled there not one haire of any head there vvas touched the Church could not count this vvonderfull neither no such strange matter Why Because you have protested to take God for your God You are a peâ—ple in Covenant vvith Him you are sworne Servants to Him He must protect His sworne Servants when you are brought to the brinke of destruction to a precipice so we must understand it some exâ—gence some knotty businesse that all the fingers in the world cannot undoe such a strait as this when at one shocke three kingdomes must be cast downe if God helpes not * Nodus vindice dignus When the Gibbet is up Mordecai designed to it the next day then it 's Gods tâ—me to workâ— it is â—or His Glory tâ— deferre â—o long and for the â—lory of
be destroyed Counsels hid in the dark discovered and a Breach made-up great as the Sea so as the Lord alone shall be exalted in that Day THe people that doe know that is doe feare and rely upon their God shall be strong and doe exploits So it was in dayes of old Dan. 11. 32. So it will be to the end of the World Please you we will remember a sacred Story and consider it with our whole heâ—rt and with our whole soule Time vvas vvhen our Grand-fathers dwelt in seiled houses while they let the house of God lye waste Every man ranne after that is was very earnest in his owne affaires but the affaires of the Church no man regarded much vvorke was done but no Temple-worke The Lord by His Prophet Haggai admonisheth and reproveth for this correcteth and punisheth too bids them consider the order and method they tooke whether things vvere done decently and in order all for themselves their private wealth nothing for God and the Common gâ—od and how they prospered in their contrary way vvhither God vvalk'd not contrary to them also Shame devoured their labors a Ier 3. 24. there was a SWORD and a DROVGHT b â—er â—â— 38. upon all they had and upon all they did They vvere in a deepe consumption They eat and they dranke and yet pined away c Hag. 1. 1â— â—er 6. They laboured but in the fire Wages they earned but they put it into a bagg with holes much they did but nothing prospered After many â—ore and sharpe stroakes for man vvill not be made vvise but by blowes they began to looke up and consider their vvay vvhich vvas not right yet they thought to prosper in it but it was not possible At last they considered and thought thus if God does all and gives all richly to enjoy if He be the best and highest Master and payes the best vvages The greatest reason in the vvorld His vvorke should be done first and so like wise and considering Men they fell to Gods worke ranne as fast to His House as before to their owne This the Lord tooke very kindly as His manner is and ordered it so that is His manner too for His vvrath is quickly appeased when He sees Men but look STEDFASTLY to Him and His House that their own house should not fare the vvorse they should sensibly see now a strange alteration in things as a SWORD and a DROVGHT before upon every thing so now a BLESSING a shewer of BLESSINGS Yes but they must wait for it No no waiting now Behold presently a shewer of blessings that Gods people may for after times lift up their feet in Gods way observe good order and method there still to begin vvith God and Temple-work call it vvhat you vvill Religion if you please From this Day that the Foundation of the Lords Temple was layed CONSIDER IT d Hag. 2 18. What must they consider It followes FROM THIS DAY WILL I BLESSE YOV from that moment of time when they minded Gods worke to doe it I WILL BLESSE YOU saith the LORD If ever GOD made good this Scripture to His people in after ages then now He hath fulfil'd it even in our days Every man can make application for from this Day the Lord hath blessed you you must prosper now and doe exploits for you goe on now in the strength of a COVENANT and in the strength of the prayers of all those that are in Covenant with you and that â—s an ALMIGHTIE strength Yâ—u have given forth your MALE the first Borne of your strergâ—h to manage the great things of HEAVEN assuredly from this Day the Lord hath blessed you You have found vvherein the strength and spirits of the businesse lyeth now these are contained in Religion very â—fficâ—ciâ—us in vvorking and a mighty binder as vvas said ye have bound yâ—ur selves to Gâ—d and God to you now ye shall gâ—e on as valiant men in the strength of God and with His increase and â—lâ—ssing Though you should heare in after time the multitude of many people a Esa 17. 12 13. vvhich make a noyse like the Seas and a reshing like the rushing of mighty waters Then shall ye see also that God vvill rebuke them and they shall flee faire off and shall be chased as the chaffe of the Mounâ—â—ins before the vvinde and like a rowling thing before the whirle-winde c. For it followes but I forbeare for I must keepe my selfe within the bounds of this WONDERFULL YEARE This is but to shew that you have chosen a way to walk-in and a rule to walke by called the WAY of HOLINESSE the Lord keepe you in it and to it it is a cleare an holy a sâ—â—e an uneâ—ring way The way faring men though FOOLES shall not erre therin b Esa 35. Ye may fall into the straits there as was said ye may be troubled on every side yet not distressed perplexed ye may be but not in despaire c 2 Cor 4 8. as you reade ye may meet vvith a Lyon in that way persecuted ye may be but ye shall not be forsaken The Lord whose ye are and whom ye serve and have engaged your hearts so to doe the greatest security that Earth or Heaven can give is yours now will carry you through all His NAME His GLORY is engaged too and make ye more than Conquerours at the last But for the present we are to Record yet farther what GOD hath wrought by you or vvhat you have wrought with GOD this Day vvhere you will see and take good notice what an easie passe or slide you had unto businesse as they have whom God will lead and prosper from this very Day the Lord did blesse you Take a short view of the works in the same order they were done so the Church will render you an account and an acknowledgement together very short in these particulars ¶ 8. Then from that Day ye marched valiantly ye trod down strength ye had Dominion over the Mighty d Iud. 5. ye troubled the Troublers and the Destroyer was destroyed Then no power of the adversary could with-stand you from that Day ¶ 9. Then from that Day ye found out the treacherous Priests and their Babylonish garments then you were to the poore Ministers as your good God before you you took off the yoake on their jaws and to the people you laid meat unto them h Hos 11. 4. Then you pursued your Adversaries to their strong-holds and you beat them there with their owne weapons Indeed their owne weapons weapons of unrighteousnesse were as Goliahs Sword to the Giants of the Earth as M. Dearing called them long agoe who searched the Scripture whether things were so and would take poyson from no mans hand Ye found these men overcome to your hand bound fast with the cords of their owne sinne as a wild Bull in a Net the Lord give them to feele it for their good full of
the fury of the LORD the Rebuke of Thy GOD i Esa 51. 10. Then from that Day ye proceeded against them and their Courts so that the Church may reade her Deliverance now in that vvhich the Lord wrought for her people in dayes of old So the terrible one is brought to naught k Esa 29. and the Scorner is consumed and all that watch for iniquity and they that made a man an offender for a word and laid a snare for him that reproveth in the Gate and turned aside the just for a thing of nought all these are cut-off for where is the fury of the oppressours and the jurisdiction of their Courts Where is it She remembers this with all thankfulnesse and she remembers you in all earnestnesse before the high Throne as was said before for she can reade on Now l Esa 29. 19. the meeke shall encrease their joy in the Lord and the poore among men shall rejoyce in the Holy One of Israël for how you eased the Churches shoulders and cheared her heart when you tooke off those yoakes the two insnaring Oaths and bloudy Courts she and you know very well and she accepts vvith all thankfulnesse but she gives glory to her God ¶ 10. Then from that Day you could trace the footings in the dark the turnings and windings of the crooked Serpent in his crooked pathes Then the Lord made darknesse light before you and crooked things strait Then you had discoveries upon discoveries for what a discovering God have you How easily did He defeate His enemies Their turning of things upside downe He esteemes as the Potters clay for He turned them and their vvorke upside downe as easily as the Maid doth the Dish which she vvipes or the Potter the clay vessell he frames m Esa â—9 16. Vid. Cal. in loc ¶ 11. Then you quenched the SONNES of the COALE and though they sparkled in your face yet they could not kindle notwithstanding the wrestling of the Adversary you held and maintained the staffe of BEAVTY and of BANDS n Zach. 11. and so made firme the Brotherhood betweene Iacob and Israel And it was like the making of twaine one so making peace a Ephes 2. 15. as the causing the envy of EPHRAIM to cease and the cutting-off the Adversaries of IVDAH b Esa 11. Ephraim shall not envy Judah and Judah shall not vex Ephraim but they shall be as one sticke in the hand c Ezek. 37. 19. that so with united force they may fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines I will say no more of it here for it fills a volume But according to this time it shall he said of Jacob and of Israel WHAT HATH GOD WROVGHT Num. 23. â—3 In all this last mentioned the Church turnes to her God renders praise and glory to Him for he only workes wonders She will ascribe all to her God so the Church may doe and yet make all due acknowledgement to man whom the Lord is pleased to honour as an instrument Man stood in the GAP and he shall be called The REPAIRER OF THE BREACH but God made it up even Esa â—8 12. by His owne Right-hand for it was great as the Sea Hee did it who hath taken the wicked in their owne Snare consumed them with their owne breath swallowed them up with their owne lips fallen upon them with their owne tongues bound them fast with their owne cords HIGGAION SELAH d Ps 9. 16. Rem meditandam summè a matter HIGHLY to be considered on Therefore with your good leave the Church ascribes all to her good God Blessing Honour Power Wisdome Thanks all the glory unto Him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lambe for ever and ever And the Church makes account that so yee will doe also yee doe call this yeare and your Court BAAL-PERAZIM for at this time the Lord smote His enemies there and hath broken forth upon them before you as the BREACH of WATERS Therefore ye call this yeare and that place BAAL-PERAZIM e 2 Sam. 5. 20. giving glory to the Lord for HE IS WORTHY ¶ A Transition to the next Section THus I have made as short a collection and given-in as briefe a Catalogue as I could of Gods dealings His wonderfull Administrations His strange dispensations of Wisdome and Providence towards His Church this yeare so full of Grace and Power all these contracted here into as narrow a roome as possibly might be considering how comprehensive some of the Heads were else where I have given them more enlargement but I looke and heartily expect that my paines will be prevented by some others pen that hath more leisure and a larger portion of gifts and abilities for the compleating such a History which so much advanceth the Name of God and the hope of Israel in the time of His distractions The Remembrance of what God hath wrought this former yeare vvill be to the Church in after times and in all her fainting fits as vve reade a Deut. 7. 18. for the consolation is the same and the grâ—und thereof the same Thou shalt not be affraid of them Tâ—ou shalt WELL remâ—mber what the LORD thy GOD did unto PHARAOH the Pope and unto all his helpers The c Another great Worke you have vvrought in the close of the yeare concerning Gods immediate worship and service which must be recorded in order with reverence to the time when these workes were done I say workâ—â— for it is plurall a comprehensive worke and containes mâ—ch Thouâ—h it may suffice very well that the Lord hath registred them and will reward them A Cup of cold water b Mat. 10 4â— given to His Church He will thinke upon and reward for that is His manner He will not be in arere with any man much lesse with His faithfull Servants if He seemes to delay the time or to forget it is for your advantage and that he may remember you in the fittest time as in the case of Mordecai A Cup of Water shall be remembred how much more your labour of love patience of hope your workes of Faith such vvorkes vvhich you have done and are written in the records of Heaven and Earth both for they concerne His pleasant Sacrifices vvhich He hath commanded such as were in the dayes of old and as in former years * Mal. 3. 4. But before the Church can record all this she must record with all thankfullnessâ— what you have done for her Land her people there breaking our bands and taking-off our yoaks also and rescuing us from cruell Taske-masters This the Church accepts alwayes in all thankfullnesse But we account this rescuing us and the Law from out of the hand of cruell Lords the chiefest among your many worthy deeds being most taken with outward priviledges and so vve may prosper in the vvorld we care not how our soules prosper such our teaching is and so blind our guides are for
His Sanctuaries kept cleane all filthinesse remooved thence and those that attend His services there to be purified and Holy ones That their Lord might see no uncleane thing there which might cause Him to turne away from them and turne His back upon His Sanctuaries The summe of their desires is That they may offer to the Lord an offering in Righteousâ—esse Then shall their offerings be pleasant unto the Mal. 3. 3. v. 4. Lord as in the Dayes of old and as in former Yeares The Church Remembers vvhâ—t you have done to promote these services so pleasant to the Lord and she must referre it to a speciall head of Praise and Thanks-giving CHAP. X. It is ordered that neither the Table of the Lord nor His Name be Idolized nor His Day prophaned nor Prayers restrained All this the Church Records with all Thankfullnesse The Time also when this was done and She sets her hope in God for after Time therefore She gives her selfe to Prayer SECT I. The Name restored Idols and Idoll Priests Cast-out The bold Chancellor rebuked the Lords Day rescued from those that offered violence thereunto BLessed be ye of the Lord you will have things called by their Name Cringing and bowing flat Idolatry The Table of the LORD a Table And His Name ye will not suffer to be made an Idoll neither nor His Day prophaned nor would you restraine prayer for next to her Lord Christ it is the life of her soule and more pretious then the breath in her Nostrills She will speake of these in order and to your everlasting praise ¶ 1. The Church accounts of but one feast during her weaâ—y Pilgrimage here and it is That her Lord Christ is pleased to invite her unto and make her partaker of at His own Table where She beholds admirable things an unspekeable gift which She cannot expresse but there She sees her Iesus Him Whom her soule loveth in Him and through Him exceeding riches of grace abundant mercy great love The Church is abundantly thankfull to you now That you have restored to her the Name and the use of That whereat She doth communicate and feast with her Lord She may call it a Table for so it is and not an Altar for that is a lye an abomination not to be once named in the Church of God who hath but one Altar as She hath but one Priest ¶ 2. The Church hath more thanks to give you before She can leave the Table That you have rebuked the bold Chancellor his turning of things upside downe which you esteemed as the Potters clay Let him order things at his own Table he had no more to doe in Church-vvork then Vzziah had to meddle with the Priests office Therefore the Lord going along vvith you hath set a note of disgrace upon him so notoriously transgressing the bounds of his office the pattent whereof he hath quite lost or willingly laid aside as manifest as was the Leprosy rising in the forehead Blessed be ye of the Lord that ye have so rebuked him and the vile Priest also who would make an Idoll of his Lords Name That WONDERFVLL NAME making one letter in that Name more excellent and honourable then another whereas every letter there is WONDERFVLL and infinitely glorious but so he did Idolize that Name there and every where bovving the knee at the hearing of it and in the meane Time mocking Him to His face The Church thanks you for this and that you remembred also that which was an offence and grief of heart ¶ 3. The INCLOSVRE the Railes there for vvhy should the Priests novv the vaile of the Temple is rent make the Chancell as the HOLY of HOLYES so making a difference in places vvhere God makes none or why should he stand alone there so like a sacrificing Priest as if the guift he were to distribute there were not common to all believers Now the Lord Christ is as a fountaine opened to the house of Judah the Church She is indeed a garden inclosed a spring shut up a fountaine sealed b Cant. 4. 12. Because the Church is seperated Optimâ fide castaâ— conservas â—â— tuos fructus intogros Iun. for her Lords use and all her fruit as from Him so all reserved for Him What her Lord Christ is what He hath all is for His beloved Therefore she is peculiarly His all she is and all she doth But her beloved is a common good to the whole Church to every part and member of the same The poorest weakest person hath the same right and interest in Him the same accesse to Him as the strongest Christian hath even as a beggar pleades the same interest to the Sun-shine and a common fountaine as a King doth for God hath made these things common Blessed be yee that you have broken down the Railes there and thrown-down those Mock-gods which did serve the Heathen in those darke times to keep their gardens and drive away the Crovves and may yet serve some to make sport with who in the Sun-shine their tender yeares wâ—ll excuse them doe ride upon a long reed and play vvith Râ—ttles These dung-hill goods ascending out of the earth you have ordered to be cast out to their place And some of the Priests you have whipped-out too more polluting the Temple then ever did the buyers and sellers there The Church accepts all this with all thankfullnesse and waites the time when you must doe more even avenge her of such Adversaries as these who have not only done as above-said but forced the prophanation of her Lords Day after an unheard of and heathenish manner Surely this bold and daring sin hath filled up their measures brimme full so as wrath is running over now and bearing them down as a mighty streame And this the Church remembers often the more to enlarge and heighten her spirit in thanksgiving and praise ¶ 4. That seeing she hath but one Day in seven her Lords Day therefore most honourable her soules Day therein she hath svveete communion vvith her Lord and finds rest to her soule Her market-Day then she layes in her provision expecting to live comfortably upon her gatherings all the weeke following Seeing I say she hath but one day she is dainty and curious thereof zealous according to knowledge and religiously covetous she would not have a minute of that sacred time wasted And now that you have rebuked the vile Priests and their brutish people for their horrible prophanation of this Day she accepts this with all thankfullnesse Surely the Day when you did this and the place where you did it shall be called GILG ALL for then and there you rouled away the reproach of Egypt This she accepts alwaies with all thankfullnesse but more abundantly if more Iâ—sâ— 5. â— can be would she be enlarged for that which followes SECT II. The Churches Prayers pretious and prevailing Shee entreates shee may speake for her selfe or chuse her spoakes-man THat you have regarded the
towards such sinners as we are He hath sworne in His vvrath against those that have not provoked Him as we have done and they are an astonishing example of Gods smoaking vvrath at this Day and written for our example vvho come the nearest to that Mother-Church in our receits and returnes I meane in mercies and sinnes But this example though an astonishing one is farre off and we are if not blinde yet very dimme-sighted We cannot clearly see into a judgement so farre-off though it is at this Day as that was c Numb â—6 10. Exemplum omniuÌ„ oculis expositum ut est erectum signum Trem. for a signe conspicuous to every eye as a banner displayed or as ensignes lifted up d Esa 57. 17 18. Consider we Gods dealing His Manner tovvards His people nearer hand but first His dealing towards us We went on very frowardly traversing our way What did the Lord doe Did He deale frowardly too No to the Admiration of Angels and men He did as he said even then He HEALED us He sent us Saviours He did terrible things against the Adversary which we looked not for He brought us HITHERTO How farre I cannot tell that Let it suffice to test farre beyond our Prayers and above our Hopes so farre He brought us as we can conclude it but possible to an Allmighty hand to bring us so farre HITHERTO Is this His manner to deale so graciously with such presumptuous sinners as we are No He did not deale so with Ireland that Land lyeth under the displeasure of an angry God full of the furie of the Lord the rebuke of thy God 'T is not His manner neither to deale so with our Sister-Churches O no! The Lord hath brought them to an HITHERTO of judgements I pray you nay I charge you before the Lord observe their HITHERTO and our HITHERTO compare them together and then consider on it I was saying the Lord hath given the dearely Beloved of His soule see how angry the Lord may be with His Beloved into the hand of her enemies * Ier. 12 7. He hath brought His people in Germany to a HITHERTO of judgements and how farre beyond this vve cannot tell He began with them twenty foure yeares agoe thereabouts He hath not ended with them HITHERTO no not to this Day The Sword is yet bathed in blood HITHERTO the Enemy hath prevailed and keepes the Sanctuary of the Lord in his possession O set we up a Monument here for establishing the Memory of this Mercy that God hath brought us HITHERTO We professe ô Lord God we feele our selves over-charged with this mercy that Thou hast brought us HITHERTO Truth Lord if Thou wilt bring us no further no not one steppe we doe indeed feare the reproach of Men that Thy great Name may suffer Their Manner is to open against Thee and to say as of old THOV ART NOT ABLE But we recover our selves again and upon second thoughts we are pretty vvell perswaded That thou canst worke out Thine owne glory in Thine owne vvayes by us unsearchable and past finding out And therefore ô Lord God we doe profeâ—â—e before the World Angels and Men That if Thou shouldest set up Thy Pillar here and write upon it Beyond this HITHERTO this PILLAR there remaineth no Mercy not a jot which you or your children shall live to see for you are a brutish sullen people a crooked Generation yee will not know That I have sent you SAVIOURS You fly from them as from Spoylers You account REFORMATION a killing a Ex. 2. and so you speake of it in my eares Therefore he that is filthy let him be filthy still b Rev. 22. 11. And for these Saviours I will take them away or put a cloud over them or an evill spirit into them so as they shall carry you backe againe to the Aegypt you mind so much and like so well yet the utmost of all evill c Deut. 28. 68. Iratum habemus Christum quòd â— iustâ Reformatione absumus sin redâ—erâ—muâ—â—â— voâ—â—tum quo furore in nos exardesces Bright iâ— stev c â— 11. v. 15. Quid reliquum est prater ultimum supplicium ubi conclamata est omnis emendatio Bright in Rev. 16. 10. even to your pollutions your MIRE and VOMIT where They sound you If Thou shouldest say to us even so and doe as Thou hast said yet thy Servants can find in their hearts to give Thee everlasting praise for bringing us SO FARRE and helping us HITHERTO for to the Confusion of our face and to the praise of Thy abundant Mercy be it spoken that Thou hast much the same inditement against us as of old against Thy Israel We have dealt so and so YET THOV DESTROYEDST THE AMORITE Bâ—FORE VS Thou broughtest VS also up from the Land of Aegypt BVT c. The same YET and the same BVT thou hast against us so as Thou art pressed under us as a Cart is pressed that is full of Sheafes d Amos 2. â— 12. Therfore what though Thou wilt not doe this in our dayes no nor in our childrens dayes our eyes must not see such Salvations What though we a foolish and gain saying people must by Thy appointment goe to the place of silence and our childrens faces also must be wrapt up within their mould yeâ— notwithstanding we can blesse Thee we can praise Thee with open Mouth and enlarged Hearts for that Thou hast done before our eyes this last yeare and for those glorious promises Thou hast made to Thy Church for a great while to come Which we see as in a Glasse clearly by that thou hast done this yeare are now fullfilling We can blesse Thee for all this for helping us thus farre for bringing us HITHERTO How many of our Brethren better then we vvould have rejoyced to have seene such a day as this and EBEN-EZAR that Name put upon it That they might have seen the good of Thy chosen have rejoyced in the gladnesse of Thy Nation and glory vvith Thine Inheritance But Thy pleasure was not so Thou hast provided better things for them where their sight is more cleared their joy more refined their glory more abundant blessed be Thy Name VVee blesse Thy great Name also and we can almost say We have enough that Thou hast spared us to this Day and brought us HITHERTO so vvonderfully vvorking for us and while wee have any BEING it is the full purpose of our Hearts to praise Thy Name and the Lord keepe it in the purpose of our hearts for ever Amen For what are we what are our persons or our Fathers House That Thou hast brought us HITHERTO â— Sam. 7. 18. ¶ 2 The Church hath strong Consolations because the LORD hath spoken good words and comfortable touching her house for a great while to come She gives her self to Prayer BUt yet ô Lord God as thou hast commanded us to Record to Praise to Thanke Thee for Thy Mercies HITHERTO So
dost Thou take pleasure in those that hope in THY MERCIE f Ps 1â—7 11. for after times Good Lord what a good word is that Thou takest pleasure in those that HOPE in Thy Mercies This word is to Thy people sweeter then the Hony-combe They keepe it as a sweet Morsell under the tongue Sith it pleaseth Thee so well They will hope in thy Mercie that they vvill It is the manner of the Church I will looke unto the Lord I will wait for the God of my Salvation my God will heare me * Mic. 7. 7. It is the Churches confidence Thou wilt heare But if thou seemest to slumber she will waken Thee with Importunity she will give Thee no rest her Sonnes and Daughters vvill be Thy Remembrancers for they remember all that Thou hast done HITHERTO is That they might set their hope in Thee for after times g Ps 78. 7. They doe Lord they doe and they will give Thee no rest touching this thing even that Thou wouldst goe with thy Church yet farther even till the enemy be subdued and come no more into the coast of Israel to destroy there And they will trouble with their importunity those thou hast sent to heale us when we thought 2 Chro. 10. there was no remedy they shall have no rest neither Thou lovest an humble violence till they bring this people yet farther if but to that place where though there will be weeds many yet they shall not keepe downe the good Corne though Bryars there be yet they shall not choake it nay though Scorpions be there yet they shall not sting in Thy holy Mountaine Why Lord God as if this which Thou hast done were but a small thing Thou hast promised to goe with Thy people yet a great way farther for thou hast spoken good and comfortable words touching Thy Servants for a great while to come Thou art beginning we hope and Thou wilt not goe backe with us till thou hast finished we dare not make haste for some faith we have concerning this That Thou wilt hold the sanne in Thy Servants hand till the floore be throughly purged as becommeth a floore on Earth that Thou wilt root out them whom Thy right Hand never planted set Thy face against them who turned Their backes upon Thee walking so contrary That Thou wilt thrust out that which thou never commandedst nor ever came it into Thy heart ô Thy Servants thinke they have very strong arguments when they can plead the case before thee with Thy owne Thou hast said Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted Mat. 15. 13. up we know they have taken root but not by Thee and hâ—ld possession but not in right from Heaven Wilt not Thou judge them O Lord God and remove them from being Over-seers unto Thee Thou hast broken downe what Thou didst build and pluckt up vvhat thou didst plant k how much more those who h Ier. 45. have built themselves up with their owne hands and planted themselves upon their owne bottome Thou hast said Thou wilt be served in spirit for that service onely reacheth unto Thy bosome and that hath been the manner of all Thy Servants true worshippers Whom I serve in spirit saith Thy Servant i Rom. 1. 9. What hast thou to doe with a feare taught by the precepts of men Thou hast rejected them who did reject the commands of God that they might keepe their owne traditions k Mark 7. 9. Thou art the same jealous God stâ—ll Thou dost looke into Thy Temple still with the same eye and beholdest the abominations there both persons and services and we hope Thou wilt arise now and avenge Thy-selfe of Thy Adversaries who have made voyd Thy Law and the offering vile who have given Thy children stones for bread and foâ— a fish a Serpeâ—t Surely Thou wilt be avenged of such murderers Thou hast given Thy Servants a sure and gracious word of Promise Aske what you will and iâ— shall be done l Thy sâ—â—vants 〈…〉 aske nothing but according to Thy m will and it is thâ—â— confidence that Thou hearest them It is Thy will that we 〈◊〉 pray for the peace of Ierusalem Thy will that they should prosper that love it Thy will that the zeale of Thy House should consume Thy Servants and that the abominations there should vex their righteous soules for such are as smoake in Thy nose and a fire which burneth all the Day It is Thy wâ—ll Lord Thy Servants should pray Ease Thy selfe of Thine Aâ—versaries Thy Servants are assured they doe not aske amisse they aske according to Thy owne will Thy own command for Thine own glory that Thou mayest have a pure and cleane Sacrifice offered unto Thee that Thou mayest be the King in Thy Church and rule by Thine owne Lawes there they aske nothing in or for behalfe of their lusts but against them altogether that Thou wouldest be King in their hearts as well as in their Churches That Thou wouldest take all Thine and our enemies which would not have Thee for their King and slâ—y them before their eyes We doe not aske wickedly therefore we will never leave asking we will trouble Thee day and night with importunity and give Thee no rest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iam. 4. 3. till Thou shalt hearken and heare us and grant our request till Thou shalt perfect what Thou hast begun performe the word to Thy Servants wherein Thou hast caused them to trust till Thou shalt bring Thy Church THITHERTO to a safe place where Iacobs face shall waxe pale no more shall be troubled and tossed and vexed no more shall heare Thy Name blasphemed no more see Thy worship defiled no more Thy Day prophaned no more Anti christian Rights base beggarly Rudiments prevailing no more Thy Ministers villanously used no more Thy Servants thrust into corners no more and because of Aegyptian burdens and illegall pressures Thy people howling no more nor any breach betwixt Iudah and Israel any more where Ierusalem shall be a QVIET HABITATION where she shall looke from the top of AMANA from thâ— top of SHINAR Isa 29. 2â— â—o 33. 20. and HERMON from the LYONS DEN from the MOVNTAINS of the LEOPARDS then we shall â—â—ng the high praises Cant 4. 8. of our God Then Jacob shall rejoyce and Israel shall be right glad saying HALLELV-IAH Salvation and Glory and Honour and Power unto the Lord our God Amen HALLELV-IAH FINIS