tragaedie alreadie begun 1. Pet. 4.17 already begun answereth the echo iudgement already begun at the house of God c. for our God is euen a consuming fire It is already kindled the flame or it be long will surely break forth if in the meane time we doe not quench it with the teares of repentance We haue had diuers faire-warnings and fore-warnings first and last which haue wrought verie litle impression in our senseles stony and hard hearts Two great plagues one vpon the first comming of King James to the crowne The other of King Charles manie thousands consumed as in the dayes of King Dauid God open our eyes as he did his 1. Chron. 21.16 2 Sam. 24.17 that we may see his destroying Angell standing betweene the earth and the heauen with his drawne sword in his hand c. and acknowledge our sins as he did It is I that haue sinned don euill indeed don wickedlie c. Two great falles the one of King Iames into the riuer at Theobalds horse all where after he died The other of King Charles then Prince in Enfielde chase not far off taken vp senseles and carried into a house hard by but came to himself againe God be praised The same God preserue him still long to suruiue to his glory Two great fires the one at New merket halfe the towne almost consumed where the Kings hunting house is the other at Whitethall the banqueting house burnt and consumed Besides many other great fires elswhere And euen in London it self the Kings Chamber Yea London bridge one of the wonders of the world a great part of the houses built vpon it verie latelie also burnt and consumed But all these faire-warnings and fire-warnings fore-warnings and fore-runners of further iudgements forgotten or slighted as ordinary and casuall as the Iewes did all those prodigious signes before the destruction of Jerusalem yea the Powder-plot or Papists cōspiracy as yet remayning in red characters in our almanaks among our other holy daies celebrated yeerly but what effect hath it wrought The Papists and Popish faction euer since increassed growne stronger and stronger euill men still worse and worse 2. Tim. 3.13 as the Apostle prophecieth of these last dayes these last times and in the end as I said before will vtterly ruine both our Church and state if they be not cut of I say if these faire-warnings one after an other and gentle visitations in great mercie sent beforehand from God to moue vs to repentance worke no effect nor make vs sensible of his iudgements already fallen vpon others which our sins haue lykewise deserued if not more we may feare or it be long to be made examples to others as others now are to vs. And see with feare and trembling Dan. 55. the finger of that hand writing vpon the wall Mene Mene Tekel Vpharsin c. The sentence is already gon forth long since denounced to Hezekiah Thou shalt die not liue and in him to all other Kings and Princes I haue said ye are Gods but ye shall die lyke men and fall lyke one of the Princes Psal 82.6 We see it executed before our eyes vpon others vpon other Princes and shall we thinke to escape scotfree Two lamentable examples The 5 of Nouember God onely threatned forewarned by the powder plot But the 6 paid vs home double by the death of these two Princes Prince Henry and the King of Sweden A great iudgement vpō his Church and very remarkable too lamentable indeed two good Princes taken away and that on the sodaine one after an other The King of Sweden the very same day of the moneth the 6 of Nouember old stile that Prince Henry died that hopefull Prince And the King of Bohemia immediatly after and will God spare others If he doe and they doe not not answereth the echo bring for fruits meet for repentance as Iohn Baptist admonisheth which God graunt we all may doe to be preserued from one iudgement is but to be reserued to an other a far greater whereof then we shall be sensible and complayne but too late and in vaine as that froward and stubburne heart complaineth * Pr. 5.12 how haue I hated instruction and my heart despised reprooffe c Our wilfull froward and stubburne hearts they can brooke no instruction or reprooffe Therefore ‡ Ps 18.26 Mat. 14.4 with the wilfull froward and stubburne will the Lord shew himself wllfull froward and stubburne c. as it is in the Psalme But indeed they that should instruct admonish and reprooue Kings and Princes all persons without respects of persons as Iohn the Baptist did King Herod it is not lawfull for thee c. our great Bishops and clergie men yea and States men too with reuerence be it spoken to the better sorte which is alwayes the least alwayes excepted they are flatterers and timeseruers namque hoc tempore obsequium amicos veritas odium parit all seeke their owne and none the things of Iesus Christ Amos 6.6 as the Apostle complaineth They are not grieued for the afflictions of Ioseph c As the Prophet also complaineth For the afflictions of Gods Church and Saints both vnder the Antichristian and Mahometan tyranny daily slaine and martyred and no man considereth in his heart Whose blood will one daye be required Let them looke to it whom it concerneth Kings Princes or others for to whom much is giuen Isa 30.33 of him much shall be required Tophet is prepared of old euen for Kings if they repent not They repent not answereth the echo that obey not Gods holy trueth and Gospell who either offend or doe not defend the same to the vtmost of their power against the enemies thereof Cicero lib. 1 Offic. Qui non populsat injuriam qui non defendit nec obsistit si potest injuriae c. he that doth not protect and defend the innocent and oppressed from iuiurie and violence offered tam est in vitio saith a heathen man as if he should forsake his parents or frends or countrie And it was one of their great commandements pugna pro Patria and is lykewise to euery true Christian pugna pro Ecclesia he thou faithfull vnto death c. Rev. 2.10 Much more to Christian Princes whom God hath made his Lieutenants and chieffe-iustices here on earth and giuen that honour to be nursing-fathers to his Church to protect and defend it against al◠iniuries and violence whatsoeuer and against all enemies whatsoeuer To protect I say and defend the widowes and fatherles Now especially those two comfortles Rachels the Queens of Bohemia and Sweden and their fatherles children those towardly yong Princes and all others oppressed by that tyrannous and ambitious house of Austria help them to their right As King Dauid admonisheth Psal 82.3 defend the poore and fatherles doe iustice to the afflicted and needie deliuer the poore and
needie rid them out of the hand of the wicked c. Be wise now therfore O ye Kings Psal 2.10 be instructed ye iudges of the earth Serue the Lord with feare and reioyce with trembling Kisse the sonne lest he be angrie and ye perish c. Repent as Iohn the Baptist lykewise admonisheth for the Kingdome of heauen is at hand Mat. 3.2 Now is the axe laid to the roote of the trees And let vs all repent euen from the highest to the Lowest as did the Niniuites at the preaching of Ionas Ionah 3.4 yet fortie daies and Nineue shall be ouerthrowne And mourne not onely outwardly but inwardly for our sins which indeed are the chieffe cause of all these disasters which haue fallen vpon our neighbour churches countries yea Princes and great personages and may lykewise fall vpon vs how soone we knowe not Luk. 13.4 For were they onelie sinners aboue all others vpon whom the tower in Silo fell and slue them I tell you nay saith our Sauiour but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish And yet not to be lamented but our sins great losse thereby as before 1 Pet. 4.7 And was that euer renowmed and neuer sufficiently lamented King of Sweden that died in battaile as did Josiah The King of Bohemia that died immediatly after And that hopefull yong Prince his son that was drowned before sinners aboue other Kings and Princes their neighbours I tell you nay but except ye repent ye shall likewise perish Two Kings at once so sodainle to be taken away one after another the circumstance of time also before mentioned considered wee must needs acknowledge the very finger of God and iudgement of God therein to be admired and feared of all others For when iudgement begineth at the house of God as now it doth the house of Sued for Sued is Deus Gods house what shall be the end of them that obey not the Gospell of God They obey not the Gospell of God answeareth the eeho againe who either offend or doe not defend the Gospell of God to the vtmost of their power qui non propulsant iniuriam c. Or was the German nation or other our Neighbour nations vpon whom Gods heauy iudgements of war and other miseries are fallen greater sinners than we I tell you nay but except we repent we shall all likewise perish Isa 60.12 1. Sam. 12 25. Regnum quod non servierit Deo peribit that Kingdome which will not serue the Lord shall perish for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Repent therfore for the Kingdome of heauen is at hand at hand answereth the echo againe And so I conclude praying God to forgiue our sins which haue caused these iudgements and vpon our repentance to raise vp Sauiours and deliuerers of his Church as I hope he will more and more to his glory and the finall confusion of his enemies both open and secret Gog and Magog now in these last dayes Reu. 20.8 before the end of the world very neare approaching to be vtterly destroyed vtterly destroyed answereth the echo againe Amen Amen IHS IHS IHS Help vs to fight this day to the honour of thy name against these enemies of thy Church and Kingdome this legion of deuils deuils incarnat Psal 3.1 for they are manie manie answereth the echo that rise op against vs c. Manie and mightie And open our eyes the eyes of all those who are to fight thy battels as thou didst the eyes of that seruant of Elisha at his prayer 2 King 6 16. Lord I pray thee open his eyes that he may see c. That we may see the mountaine full of horses and charets of fire round about Elisha and say as he did 1 Chro. 32 7. as did also Hezekiah encouraging one an other feare not for they that be with vs are moe than they that be with them With them answereth an echo from heauen is an arme of flesh but with vs the Lord our God to help vs and to fight our battels And if God be with vs who can be against vs And O Lord our God shew a difference betwixt vs and them as thou didst betwixt thyne owne people the Jsraelites and the Egyptians and say to vs as thou didst to thyne owne people by thy seruant Moses Eeare ye not stand still and see the saluation of the Lord which he will shew to you this day Exod. 14.13 for the Egyptians whom ye haue seene this day yee shall see them againe no more for euer The Lord shall fight for you hold you your peace And O Lord open the eyes of all Christian Princes States more and more to see and detest the nakednes and filthines of that menstruous Rev. 17.2 and monstrous whore of Babilon with whom the Kings of the 〈◊〉 haue committed fornication c. spirituall fornication and put into their hearts with one consent to fulfill thy will to hate the whore make her desolate and naked to eate her flesh and burne her with fire and dash her children against the stones O daughter of Babilon who art to be destroyed Psal 137.8 happie shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast serued vs happie shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones both the open and secret enemies before mentioned Amen Amen FINIS
Lord to help the Lord against the mightie Whom the Lord also himself in the end wil curse explode and euen spue out of his mouth for they that are not with vs are against vs Mat. 12.30 so to be accounted of euen as enemies Let them declare themselues as our Sauiour wisheth hot or cold for Religion or against Religion for the common libertie of their conscience and their country Reu. 3.15 or against it I would thou wert cold or hot saieth our Sauiour but because thou art lukewarme and neither cold nor hot I will spue thee out of my mouth And it is to be wished and prayed for lykewise by the whole Church of Christ for that is all we can doe to wish and pray and that we all ought to doe for we are all members of that his mysticall bodie and euery one hath an interest in the weale or woe thereof and may freely spend his voice We are all Hypocrates twins we must either laugh together or weepe together wept we haue a long time I say it is to be wished and prayed for lykewise that his Maiestie of Great Britainne who professeth himselfe Defender of the faith catexochen aboue all other Kings and Princes and long may he liue to maintayne it would now declare himself by summoning or calling quam timeo how doe I feare to name it I onely wish and pray for it a Parliament O that the name of a Parliament should now be so hainous and odious as no man dare once name it scarce thinke of it that high court of Parliament so named so reverenced in times past that great counsell of state of the whole Land assembled as one man to prouide for the good of the state and of the whole Church of God and oppugne the enemies thereof which counsell had his Majestie and royall father been pleased to haue embraced and not the counsell of those wicked Rohoboami pravis consultoribus impulsi impulsi answeareth the echo againe to dissolue and break it of from time to time one parliament after an other aliquam quae nunc †Buchanan in his Epist ded before his trag Bapt Nulla in comparison of our former famous and flouwrishing estate c. nulla est rempublicam haberemus both Church and state had still flourished as in the dayes of Queene Elisabeth of famous memorie since vtterly decayed the glorie gone from Israel and nothing prospered that we haue vndertaken nor lyke to doe till it please God to put into his Majesties heart to call it againe to bewished I say and prayed for continually By calling a Parliament I say and cutting of the Popish and Spanish faction I may not name them neither I dare not I need not their characters are written in such great and capitall letters as a man may read them running as it is in the Prophet That great Gordian knot or threefold cord not easie to be broken nor possible to be loosed but cutt in peeces by him that beareth the sword and I hope not in vaine our Great Alexander The Popish Rom. 13.4 and Spanish faction I say with their adherents flatterers and time seruers their vassals and creatures of all others most base and vnworthy creatures of creatures vassals of vassals worthy also to be cutt off as King Dauid denounceth Psa 12.3 The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips c. nostrì fundi callamitas the callamitie of this our once so famous and flourishing a Kingdome and of the whole Church of God and the reformed Religion which they haue endeavoured to ruine if it were possible by diverting his Majestie and Royall father King Iames Vt eos quos tutari debeant desertos esse patiantur from giuing that countenance assistance therevnto which in all honour in respect of that royall tytle and in their owne royall disposition otherwise they both ought and would haue don bound therevnto by a more particular obligation to their owne flesh and blood now lying a bleeding both the one and the other Both the cause of Religion her chieffe champion slaine and that distressed and comfortles Ladie the Queene of Bohemia and her royall issue like to suffer as she hath don hitherto beyōd all patiēce which yet in the end will ouercome all Whereof I say the Popish and Spanish faction which we nourish euen in our owne bosomes are the cause and in the end lyke vipers will eate out euen their owne mothers bowels and vtterly ruine this our famous Kingdome Church and state if they be not cut off Now is the axe laied to the roote of the trees Mat. 3.10 Trees in the plurall number euen the high and mightie Cedars of Lebanon Kings Caisars for with God there is no respect of persons No respect of persons answereth the echo 2 King 20 1. Set thyne house in order for thou shalt dye and not liue saith the Lord by his Prophet to Hezekiah King of Iuda and in him to our Hezekiah a lyke gentlie warned of late and to all other Kings and Princes God graunt they may all repent mourne and lament as he did that so many yeeres may be added to their liues here in this world and after eternitie of glorie in the world to come Gently warned I say by a lyke visitation immediatly after the newes came of the death of the two Kings verie remarkable A lyke visitation I saie pestilenciall The small pocks pestilentiall and inclyning to the plague commonly a forerunner and mortall too to many cosen german to that great visitation so called the plague which was as some hold the deadly disease of Hezekiah sick vnto death as it is in that place A faire warning if so taken and not slighted as an ordinary and casuall visitation as I feare we doe but the circumstances make it not casuall but extraordinary and as I said before verie remarkable No occasion at all of infection precedent but immediatlie from the hand of God and the verie finger of God therein A gentle visitation indeed God giue vs grace to make vse of it before the destroying Angell come with his sword drawne and cut downe all before him Now is the axe laid to the roote of the trees Kings and Princes they now see they are mortall and shall die like men Euen be sick wounded slaine and die lyke other men The words vsed at the buriall of the dead in the booke of common prayer and that they are but earth dust and ashes earth to earth ashes to ashes dust to dust c. And therfore the Prophet cryeth vnto them earth earth earth heare the word of the Lord. Now therefore let vs leaue off our revelling and daunsing our maskes and playes vnseasonable especially on the Lords day when the Lord calleth to prayer and fasting weeping and mourning When I saie the Arke of God is in campe against the Philistims For feare we doe not act the last part of the