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
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
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
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
necessary but it will bee quickly done I shall now dâ—ssolve a continued Discourse into a Dialogue The first Doubt to be resâ—lved is 1. Ob. I personate the Church here an excellent and glorious woman whose cloathing is as we reade a Rev. 12. 1. And is it not presumption in me the lowest and vilest of ten thousand to take upon me to be the mouth of the Church Ans No for first it could not be otherwise None but the upright b Ps 33. 1. 119. 7. in heart the Church can render a THANK-OFFERING acceptable to the Lord. The Divell and his servants neither can nor vvill They can curse and blaspheme that they can and vvill doe Thanke and Praise God that they will not they cannot doe The Churches heart is prepared she can arise and give thankes they and they onely can call upon all that is within them to blesse His holy Name c Ps 103. 1. And if they like good Stewards are not carefull at this point to maintaine their Lords Royalty and Right his Tribate and Impost their Lord will loose all Thankes and Praise both And that is all He lookes for for all His rich mercies and glorious workes done to the children of men Therefore His children vvill looke narrowly at this point That they faile not therein 2. Ob. I am here the mouth of the Church hee must have her spirit that knows her mind How doth silly man know vvhat the Church will say Ans Yes very vvell though in some cases the well is deepe and I have no bucket to draw and in this case I cannot dive into the bottome nor attaine to the height of her expressions being so filled with the Holy Ghost Yet I know her mind so farre that I can more then guesse at what she will say He that hath but a common light I doe not say I have more very ordinary abilities cannot but conceive the subject-matter of such a worke and the manner of prosecuting the same very well He must conceive also unlesse he hath put out all his eyes inward and outwaâ—d every one that the Church considers and ponders these marvellous workes in her heart wrought for her and conveyed to her by the hands of her Lord and King for what ever the conveyance is the Church lookes up to her Lords hand Surely he cannot but thinke and know that the Church accounts these workes wonderfull and her recording thanking praising all these must hold an answerablenesse too the man whose eyes were a little opened what oâ— him See how he was taken with the wonâ—erâ—ull administrations of God towards His people seeing none of his inchantments nor Divinations could take and heare his words How Numb 23. 23. goodly are thy Tents O Iacoâ— and thy Tabernaâ—â—es O Israel As the valleyes c. for it containes much He hath the strength of an Unicorne c. Blessed is he that blesseth Thee and cursed is he that curseth Thee d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 24 5 6. 8 9. Looke ye Balaam could â—ay this and yet his eyes were but a little opened and presently shut again Covetousnes had closed them he loved the wages of iniquity and yet the workes of God towards His Church dazeled his eies they were so glorious in his sight and made him breake out to admiration Certainly such have beene Gods workes so strange so wonderfull so glorious towards His Church this Yeare so as the blind and the lame and the foole must say now WHAT HATH GOD DONE Surely even These men must know that Thou Whose Name alone is JEHOVAH art the most High over all the Earth e Ps 83. 18. These are forced now to ascribe strength unto God saying His excellency is over Israel and His strength is in the clouds O God Thou art terrible out of Thy holy places the God of Israel is Hee That giveth strength and power unto His people Blessed be God f Ps 49. 34 35. It is no presumption then to doe as all should doe and as fools are forced to doe no nor boldnesse neither for secondly The Lord knowes with what care and diligence I have done this if it may be said it is done for he that comes after and does much more with more skill and more strength of parts will not haply say of such a worke as this it is done and yet I may say with care and labour enough and with feare too much least something should slip out unbeseeming a Thank-offering or the person presenting the same And not to belie the worke the Lord knowes with what SEEKING also out of myselfe unto HIM and when there was no answer in supply of strength then I wrought with the strength of a man and did drive heavily He will find it thus that reades over the worke and then finding something that is good he will saie THE FINGER OF GOD IS HERE and he will make much of it where he finds weaknesse for I will not call it bad or â—ll there he findes a man and no more no matter how he deales with him so he remembers himselfe and considers That in many things we offend all and he that offends not in his tongue especially when he speaks much the Pen is but the tongue in print is a perfect man And this may suffice to cleare the answer to the first Doubt That any man who hath common principles may know the mind of the Church at this point what her Sonnes and Daughters will doe now at this time now that their Lord hath dealt so like Himselfe so graciouslâ— with His people We have heard what Balaam said a vile person blinded with covetousnesse an Aliant from the Common wealth of Israel and a stranger to their joy Who knowes not then what the Church will say for whom her Lord hath wrought such Deliverances as these And now Reader supposing thee no Malignant one but alooker on the affliction in the day of calamity a Obad. 13. not knowing what side to turn to nor which way to take because of the Dilemma of the Time so thou saist for which way soever thou shalt turne a horne may meet with thee and push thee yea gore thy sides so thou sayest in effect Let me tell thee now in much love though in plaine English That thou dost not seeme to have so much Logick as a Dogge hath for when he comes to the place where two or more wayes meet his little Logick serves his turne and reselves him which way the Beast went I know thou hast more Logick but certainely thou hast made no use of it hitherto Try thy skill now and put Reason to it that is naturall Logick Aske thy selfe now which way goes the BEAST I meane the Pope and all his sworne sâ—rvants Thou needest not smell here though the savour of the Beast is very strong thy eye â—â— ill tell thee which way go all the Atheists and Papists all over the Christian world All the Prelates
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
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
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
God O! what an exceeding mercy is this at such a time as this vvhen she thought verily she should be termed also forsaken and her Land Desolate Her Lord said no But thou shalt be called Hephzi-bath and thy land Beulah e Esa 62. 4. Deliciae meae oblectatio mea for the Lord delighteth in thee and thy land shall be married What loving kindnesses are these how wonderfull how unutterable Againe The Church lookes over the land and Nation where we live and behold corruptions in Doctrines and manners have leavened the land from corner to corner and have eat and consumed the heart thereof as doth a canker whence it is that wee see strange vanities horrible impieties abominable Idolatries vile Priests and almost as uncleane a people All setting themselves and taking councell together against the Lord and against His annoynted saying let us breake their hands asunder and cast away their cords from us And yet see the exceeding goodnesse of the Lord they prevaile not with their number nor with their strength they assemble themselves and are broken they take councell and God turnes it into foolishnesse and their recompences upon their own head f Ioel â— 7. Thus the weake overcome the strong and the fewest in number prevaile We know not how but so it is the Lord hath set His King upon His holy Hill and if the Lord the Captaine of His Hoast march out before it matters not whether few or many of Gideons souldier march after but the fewer they are the more is the strong arme of the Lord exalted And vvhat cause hath this Church to speake good of the Name of the Lord and to exalt His Arme Who hath made her to stand upright and above her Adversaries with a Catalogue in her hand wriâ—â—eâ— vvithin and vvithout as afore-said and vvhich hightens the mercies at such a time as this vvhen her other sisters are recording their dayes of trouble she is recording the loving kindnesses of her God The Church here must stand still a little to behold the severity and goodnesse of God a Rom. 11. 22. towards her sister Churches severity towards her people Goodnesse And that the may the more magnifie free Grace exalt the Riches therof the goâ—dnesse and exceeding patience of God All His excellencies the Church reasoneth out the case and asketh vvhy is it so vvhy such severity towards her sister-Churches And yet towards her people such goodnesse Did Thy vvrath burn-out against them because Thy Sabbaths vvere profaned there Here they vvere profaned too and more by a Law and Statute in Israel notvvithstanding a fire did not kindle in our gates nor devoure our palaces b Icr. 17. â—7 Was it because the people there turned Grace into vvantonnesse they slighted the offer and means of Grace they would have none of Thee they turned their backs upon Thee and the Gospell vvas it for this Heere vve sit downe astonished for here vve have done so too Was it because of their unfruitfulnesse under the meanes of Grace Hâ—re vve stand astonished considering hovv higâ— vve have bin lifted-up in respect of the meanes no Nation under the Sunne like to us and then thinking of our casting downe how lovv that vvill bee Was it because of their unthankfulnesse for and abuse of mercies Here also our Tables are full of vomit and filthinesse so that there is no place cleane c Esa 28 8. And vve reele and fall dovvne in the Streets at Noon-day Was it because the Messengers of the Churches and Glory of Christ d 2 Cor. 8. 23. Thy faithfull Ministers there vvere villanously used We heare of no such matter they vvere contemned in deed and of no account vvith them but vvith us they have beene used vvorse then Davids Messengers Their Beards and Garments were cut by halves * 2 Sam. 10 4. But here they vvere smit on the cheeks and as Svvine lug'd by the eares Were they bruitish Pastors f Esa 56 9. Ier. â—0 2â— 12. â— vvho broke dovvne the Hedge and laid open gaps vvhereat men after the manner of Beasts skillfull to destroy might enter in The same Pastors are with us vain men treacherous Prophets light Priests Was it because violence was done to the Law g Zeph. 3. 4. Because they did as they could to their power to shed bloud h Eze. 2â— 6. Because their Judges vvere as Evening i Nic 3. 11 12. Walves ravening the prey so it vvas here such judg'd here Why then is not our Zion plowed like a Field k Esa 9. 5 Why are not our garments rolled in bloud l Why are vve not long before this time dashed to peeces one against the other Brother against his Brother and Neighbour against his Neighbour in all our Cities and Countries in all places and corners of the Land Why is it not so She knowes the answer must be because is pleaseth the Lord it shall not be so * Amos 7. 2. â—aith the Lord It is His good pleasure so He loves the Land because He loves it He vvill rejoyce in shewing mercy and it may be will overcome us and lead us captive with loving kindnesses and give gifts to the Rebellious Be it so good Lord because it pleaseth Thee Amen Thiâ— is all the Church can say to all this SECT II. Some light Obiections blown away and a grave Obiection cleared BUt now there is something said against the Church that she need not be so bâ—ag of her mercies her tranquillity and peace for she may now looke to the end thereof her peace is taking from her she is sinking now downe downe downe she goes so her adversary boasteth so he puffeth at the Righteous g Ps 10. 5. The Church answers hereto in order and blows away this as you will a dust from your sleeve The Adversary saith first Ob. The Church may see now to the end of her mercies An. No but she cannot her mercies are the mercies of a God and they have no end 2. He saith Her peace is taken from her No that it is not â— her peace cannot be taken away it shall flow in like the Rivers and come-in unto her as the waves of the Sea h Esa 4818. Though the Assyrian should come in to her Land and tread in her Pallaces i Mic. 5 5. yet he cannot take away her peace When the enemie shall come in like a 〈◊〉 the Spirit of the Lord shall lift-up a standard against him k Esa 59. 19. 3. The Adversary saith That the Church is falling No The Adversaries flesh shall consume away first and his eyes consume away in their holes and his tongue consume away in his mouth l Zach 14 1â— but the Church shall not sinke nor fall away she is well under laid as well this present yeare as the last yesterday and to day and for ever The eternall God is her Refuge and underneath her are the everlasting Armes m
affected now as that Queen was at that time For behold a greater then Salomon is here and a greater Glory is put forth in His works now then could be seen in Salomons Court She must be in an amaze when she beholds the admirable strange and unsearchable wayes of Providence towards her this last yeare He made a path for her in a wildernesse turned the drought of her Summer into fresh Springs A poore blind b Isa 42. 16. Handmaiden She her Lord leads her in paths she could never have discerned never have spyed out with all her search by a way she knew not never thought of No as hid from her eyes as were the unsearchable wayes of her first Redemption Her Adversary led her more then once as they did her Lord to the brow of the Hill c Luk 4. 29. thinking verily to cast her downe headlong But her Lord wrought gloriously for her escape For as her Lord then so She now passed through the midst of them and went away She wondred how she escap't and was at that time as one in a dreame but being well awakened and comming to her selfe she remembred her Lord whose she is and whom she serves He upheld her with His hand But what thanks and praise are due to her God Who let out the wrath of man and gave it the more Scope so as the more it was let out the more it might praise Him Who so ordered the worke of an imperious whorish woman d Ezek. 16. 30. such was the Church in name so and her works such for she wâ—s impudently bold and past all shame whom they commonly called the Church to worke thereout good to his people To cause the summoning of a Parliament To make it hold and that a caution was put in for after-times What a confluence of mercies is in all this What abundant matter of praise And that when the Priests for the most part were brutish and the people but a little more reasonable as froward as that Israelite who coâ—nted reforming a killing * Exod. 2. 4. Yâ—t such a Parliament notwithstanding Who have layd a foundation of mercy for themselves and their posterity even for all the generations to come But I must not huddle up things so nor throng them together remembring That the greatest wonder which most engageth the hearts of the Righteous was wrought before the Parliament sate Therefore I shall take leave to begin according to my proposed Method and to set downe two Moneths which are not in our late Kalenders and then the Churches collections there-out in the same order Surely September there I shall begin it shall be to us the first beginning of Months the first Moneth of our Iubile to us For in that Moneth the Lord began to bring His Church out of Egypt with a mighty hand and to set His face against His Adversaries and toward His people And because He proceeded on toward the accomplishment of what He had begun and to make Himselfe knowne and to get a Name and everlasting praise all the Moneths after in allusion to the Spirits words touching Moses I will say of this yeare There hath not been a yeare since the Redemption like unto this yeare in all the signes and the wonders which the Lord hath done in the Land of Egypt To the Pope and to all his servants and to all his Land And in all that mighty hand and in all the great terrour which the Lord shewed in the sight of all Israel * Deuâ— ult â— CHAP. VI. September 1641. The Product thereof The Overtures and strange turnings of things therein SECT I. September The Product thereof AFter a strong commotion the waters will be sometimes swell'd and unquiet so likewise in our Sea This Moneth came in boysterously partaking very much in the malignancy of the Constellation then raigning The Souldiers for we must speak plaine English in the Countrey-mans eare busled after their manner but against all expectation The Priests high and low did more hurt good I should say yet no thanke to them for the good God ordered â—t so and produced it as He did the light out of darknesse for thâ—y were more cordiall then the souldiers they prayed against the Scots heartily and would set their people a praying too They would force the people to impossibilities To blesse God and curse Man perhaps because the Priests could skill in it Blesse with their mouth and curse inwardly * Psal 62. 4. But so the Bishops ordered it and so there was praying on both sides one side prayed in paper the other in prayer d Iam. 5. 17. And that the contrary side might pray in more faith the Scots were written Rebels upon every Post and Pillar by the Secretary himselfe It was time to rage and pray too for he had but a short time But when the cry against the Scots was great and the clamour against them very grievous it pleased the Lord to come downe and see whether they had done according to the cry and behold they had not But the oppression violence and wrong done against them was according to the cry So He stirred up the hearts of the Nobles and Commons both to fall upon their knees and petition God and their King That matters might be heard and a way thought on to stop the great wrath that was pressing in like a floud Then the Nobles went towards the North there the Clouds of bloud gathered and there the Heavens were darkest with a select company of the Commons And by the good hand of God upon the King and his good people a Parliament was resolved upon and newes thereof spread apace and came posted to London the 23d. of this Moneth About this time there were many meetings of Ministers every where and grave consultations about a new Oath and damn'd it was by every mouth to the very pit whence the Bishops with their c. digged it for there was a digging to Hell to hide their counsell c. At this time also the Bishop visited by his Chancellour and the new Oath was so corrupt that it made the old one very unsavoury So the businesse was carried in a great deale of heate and hurrey just as it is when two sturdy Rogues fall a swearing that which comes next to hand is their weapon and then no wise man Will come neare them Then the Chancellor with c. turned their backs and shifted Here began the troubles which shrowdly shaked the Hierarchy with c. Thus we have the product of this Moneth as it were in the grosse summe and how the end tended to a calme with them who heartily prayed for faire weather SECT II. The Churches Collections hence yeelding matter of praise and wonder in the strange Overtures and turning of things upside downe VVE were now full of stirres a tumultuous Nation indeed but the Church a quiet habitation still Notwithstanding the contrariety of wils and motions in the
was a woman once and that they may not be couzâ—ned the second time he must set upon a stoole so 't is related and before he must know himselfe to be Pope the stâ—â—ders by must know him to be Iohn not Ione And truâ—y buâ— thâ—t he goes to the stoole every day he would quite forget that he were a man for he is above the Sacred Scripture too This is the HEAD a monstrous Head he is MANY a Legion and more for I joyne the whole Body with this Head and all those Heads too be they Kings or be they Emperours or what heads you can thinke off who have given up their Head ship to this Head I meane their power unto the Pope have made themselves Servants to that SLAVE Slave What a word is that to give to such a tall Head The Pope in a voluntary humility gives himselfe that Title SERVVS SERVORVM What 's that In plaine English the basest Servant Sâ—ave for aâ— a Song of Songs is an excellent Song The God of gods is the true God the Lord of Lords is the excelling Lord thâ— Master of Masters is our Master in Heaven So a Servant of Servants is the lowest Servant the vilest basâ—st Servant a true Slave But there is the Head with all the appurtenances and adherents And see how he contrived and plotted to enlarge his Dominions to dethrone the Lord Christ to take from Him His possession not onely the ends of the Earth but the head of Kingdomes See I say how he wrought to establish mischiefe by a Law How hee sought to curse the people of God! For that purpose his Balaams were posted to every place and Altars built up there and all to curse those whom God had blessed and they must be blessed but considering the height the power the policie of this Head and yet hee could nor prevaile he could not curse that is the wonder and yet we heare not the halfe ¶ 2. VVE must descend to the TAYLE that Nadar that despicable part as that Earth is whereon the foot stands if it stands upon a muck-hill that stinging part the Text saith and we feele the sting is in the Tayle What is that the sacred Scripture interprets it The Prophet that teacheth lies he is the TAYLE b Esa 9. 15. Reader looke about thee and observe in passage where he or they are who teach Lyes They that doe so though they be dignified with Titles and Honours and Preferments though they have their Schooles and Colledges for their encouragement and to engage them the more to their God yet if they teach Lyes they shall not be called by Him Who giveth to every man his dues and right name not Seers not the Eyes of the Land but the TAYLE The Prophet that teacheth Lyes hee is the TAYLE And he is many too and how did he wriggle I cannot expresse my selfe how did he struggle and strive and contend to wriggle-in that Head the Pope to sting the Church and to curse those that stood on her side Truly this was told in Gath what What Prophets we have it was published in the streets of Askelon and the daughters of the Philistines did rejoyce and the uncircumcised did triumph True but their rejoycing was but short for the TAYLE could not sting His People Of the sting in the Taile and poyson in the mouth the Lord made a preservative a soveraigne medicine and Hee turned the curse into a blessing Blessed be His Name Now the Church prayes the Lord unscale the eyes and unvaile the hearts of those Prophets that they may see and consider what they have done and doe and pardon them according to the multitude of His compassions Amen ¶ 3. THat the marvellous workes of the Lord may be raised in our thoughts yet higher that we may have an high and honourable esteeme of them we must consider as followeth Here was a Head which thought to establish wickednesse by a Law here was Tayle-Prophets who taught lies and these prevailed so far that they brought the people on their side as the sand on the Sea-shore for multitude These made the People glad with their lyes and he was a Prophet unto them that could prophesie of wine and strong drinke a Mic. 2. 11. See here Councell and Strength is for the warre the Adversary had both and multitudes so many as we heard and yet see the over-ruling hand of the Lord Almighty these prevailed not neither by their strength nor by their councell nor by their multitudes as appeareth this Day There is the marvellous worke of God and a wonder To make the wonder yet more compleat we must take-in a third person the most chiefe and principall BEE LZEBVB their Prince and King the Angell of the bottomlesse pit hee keepes his nature still so he keepes his name still in the Hebrew ABADDON b in the Greeke APOLLYON b Rev. 9. 11. two names different in language and in sound but in signification one and the same A man slayer a Soule-devourer He hath his name so in the Hebrew because he is a mighty let to the comming-in of the Iewes no such offence to them in the world as your Images and Image-makers And hee hath his name so in the Greeke because the head of this faction mightily opposeth the compleating or filling up the number of the Gentiles For he opposeth with all his might the spreading of the Gospell the revealing that mighty arme of the Lord. We have the principall now the King and Prince we will put all together the Head the Taile the bulky-Body with the King over them What is the marvellous worke now what is the wonder This That the gates of Hell prevailed not Wisedome mighty for plotting and contriving was turned into foolishnesse Strength mighty for action was turned into weaknesse Multitudes did fall as drunkards had not so much power as women or as wounded men We have not all yet this must be considered also for this is our designe to advance the name of God in confounding such a Troope by such weake meanes The Righteous who seemed a very few a thin scattered people these spake often not only as in an evill time one to another â— but openly and to the Adversaries face These I say though Prudent men Mal. 3. 16. did not keepe silence no not in that time such an evill time * Am. 5. 13. I should goe on but here an Objection will thrust in upon me to take off from this wonder and to shorten if it could be the Arme of God even the right hand of the Almighty SECT V. The Obiection That the Arme of the People was strong here and the Arme of God not so glorious SEe the manner of Men before we heare them if we can see any cranny or chinke whereat light and comfort comes in unto us to that we will looke not minding the Sunne whose beam it is If our net be quite broken all to peeces we will scarce
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
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
the most part vvhich vvill be considered as vve passe-on For after vve have rendred our heartiest thankes to you for rescuing us from under those hands The Church will reason out the case with the Iudges will point to the root of our evils then she will show â—s a more excellent way SECT V. No oppression to the oppression of a Ruler or Judge offering violence to the Law we howled under that oppression The Lord remembred us in our bondage and sent us Saviours who disburthened our Shoulder of our grievous pressures and oppressours THen from that Day you rescued a poore peeled people from those that are as EVENING WOLVES c Zeph. 3. 3. Who are they The Prophet meanes by an ordinary figure IVDGES and we meane not the like but the same for they ravened the prey they gnawed the very bones they devoured and consumed the COMMON-WEALTH but to heighten their vvickednesâ—e they first KISSED her LIPS pretending the PVBLIQVE GOOD These men of the Earth denyed to free Subjects their Catholicoâ— that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 1. 19. vvhich is every free-mans birth-right 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which the child receives from his Father though be â—â—â—he youngest and his Father the poorest The Judges denied us this our proper inheritance they imprisoned the freest thing that is in all the vvorld and that which is most innocent As the Bishops Lorded it over the King of the Church offering violence to His Lawes So these Lorded it over the Catholicke Rule of the Common wealth I had almost said the most Catholicke King in the world but we â—ubmit here for we are not learned we thinke that the sacred Scripture saith as much That the Law is the highest power on earth And we remember well that Rom. 13. a mighty Emperour tels us that the LAW was his MASTER The LAW IS EVERY MANS MASTER d Mar Aurel An. l 10. Mediâ— 25. Pag. 71. said he then he could not exempt himselfe from out of that universality it was his MASTER too This Catholique Master was trod under foot by it's Servants e Servientes ad legem fortiscue so we thinke Judges are called And then all fals to the ground and is trod under foot when the Master is under f Nihil sequens stat cum principale non steverit Salv. when the Servant is on Horse-backe and rideth his Master then he oppresseth very sore as we reade He oppresseth the poore like a sweepiâ—g raine that leaveth no food g Pro 28. 3. 1 Sam. 14 1â— Then we lay like the Hebrewes oppressed by the Philistines in our holes brought very low downe to the ground and our speech scarce whispered out of the dust Complaints were vaine and to no purpose or made our burthen heavier for the Servant was the Master and what pleased him was the Law So they turned judgement into gall and the fruit of Righteousnesse into Hemlock h Amo. 6. 1â— Then we were afflicted indeed fleeced and peeled the flesh was torne from the bone and then we howled Nay the oppression was so heavy that some of us vvere madd oppression makes wise men so g Eccles 7. 7. and we spake as madd men so unadvisedly with our lips accounting the proud happy for they that vvorke wickednesse were set-up and they that tempted Goâ— were even delivered h Mal. 3. 15. and we were made as the little fishes as the creeping things that have no RVLER over them i Hab. 1. 14. But notwithstanding vve provoked Him so the Lord looked downe from Heaven saw our burthens and that they were very sore sent Saviours unto us blessed be His Name and blessed be ye in the Name of the Lord. We might complain now and be heard and complaine we did as an oppressed people before us k Neh. 5. 5. Our flesh is as the flesh of our Judges and Rulers just the same their 's no better ours no worse Our children as their children not so gay but as good and as free borne as theirs And we are brought into bondage our sonnes and our daughters to be servants to them who professe themselves to be Servants to the Law But these Servants over-ruled their MASTER and so enthralled us And when you heard this cry and these words you were very angry for the whole body was pinched where there vvas quicke flesh Then you consulted vvith your selves and rebuked the Judges and the Rulers who dealt so treacherously so like evening Wolves ravening the prey And you disburdened the Common-wealth of her pressures too many to reckon and grievous oppressours as the Squire of the Body still attending such Judges a company of sharks proging fellowes pests vipers grievous vermine vvorse then the Aegyptian froggs which devoured every greene thing You eased the Land of those Adversaries abominable filth is cast into their faces their names â—ot and their arme is withered And this is all which ye have done terrible things vvhich vve looked not for We doe not diminish one grain vve thinke it very much vvhich you have done though vve out-runne you in our expectation But vve must give great bodies leave to move slowly they meet vvith many rubbs in the vvay to deliberate long upon the case where it reacheth to the precious life of a man vvhen that thred is cut life runnes out from a bottome that hath no end Wee are pretty vvell satisfied in this that vve are rescued and taken as a prey out of their teeth We vvould have the Iaw-bone broken too vvee vvish sometimes and not in our haste that they vvho so troubled us offered such violence to the Lawes of God and man vvere cut-off Indeed vve cannot thinke our selves secure vvhile they are and are not made examples though one is fled and another is fast by the heeles and all are put to shame being pointed at vvith the finger These are they more unrighteous then was the unjust Iudge For though he feared not God nor regarded man yet he was gained with importunity to doe right These not so The HOWLING of the widdow and TEARES of her Orphanes These they regard not no not these the Lord grant they may knovv all this for their good and be confounded and turne unto the Lord before the first borne of Death d Iob 18. 1â— some strange judgement consumes their strength and the curse that is written fall upon themd. ¶ 1. The Church argueth the case with the Iudges bids them marke the old way which wicked men have trodden adviseth them to an humble confession of their fault and to leave proud Apologies for there the Law leaves them and is cleare against them ZOphar spake well though he applyed it ill Knowest thou not this of old since man was placed upon Earth that THE TRIVMPHING OF THE WICKED IS SHORT e Iob 20. 4 5. So Elephas a little after f 22. 15 16. Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden
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
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