a great deale broder by labouring too violently to rub it out All that I will further say unto thee shall lie in these words vel perlege vel neglige reade all or none I am thine as thou likest me JOHN BOND FEBR. 2. 1641. At a Committee of the House of Commons for Bookes and Printing It is this day Ordered that these Sermons be forthwith published in Print Edward Dering A DOORE OF HOPE ALSO HOLY AND LOYALL ACTIVITY PSALME 126.1 2. When the Lord turned againe the Captivity of Zion we were like them that dreame Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing THe Occasion of this Psalme is by the consent of Expositours conceived to be the gratious Edict and Proclamation of King Cyrus the Persian Occasion for the free return of the Iewes from their Babilonish Captivity after seventy yeares durance Of that Captivitie and their Deliverance see more fully in the book of Chronicles The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus King of Persia 2 Chron. 36.22 23. that he made a Proclamation throughout all the Kingdome and put it also in writing saying Thus saith Cyrus King of Persia The Lord God of Heaven hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem which is in Iudah Who is there among you of all his people Ez. 1 1 c. to 5 Jer 25.12 c. Jer 29.10 c. the Lord his God be with him and let him goe up And so in Ezra and Ieremiah By all which places me thinks we may see our state hitherto expressed in the Iewish as in a glasse and so may whet our attentions and affections upon the very threshold of the Discourse with this short Paralel 1. Were they Gods owne selected people so are we thus farre being the only Monarchy and Kingdoms of pure Protestants now standing upon the face of the Earth for all other people are either no Christians no pure Protestants or no Kingdome and Monarchy 2. Was their oppressour litterall Babylon whence came our late Apostasyes and distractions but from Babylon the mysticall 3. The only means that they had left were praeces lachrymae prayers and teares Ezr. c. 1 c 2. Dan. c. 9. Ps 137.1 2. besides a few poore despised but yet active Priests Prophets and Levites And were not our harps and hopes too hung up upon the willows but a while ago 4. The manner of their Deliverance it was by Retortion for the Iews were freed and Babylon her self became a captive and is it not so with us according to the saying of the Wise man That the righteous is delivered out of trouble Pro. 11.8 and the wicked cometh in his stead 5. Finally the end of their freedom was to build a Temple to their God and is it not the hope and prayer of all Saints amongst us that our Deliverance may end in a glorious reformed Church 1 Kin. 1.36 Amen the Lord God of my Lord the King say so too Thus the very Occasion of this Psalme and our Thankesgiving are Paralells So much for a whet upon the threshold But let us enter the house Division This short sweet Song doth consist of three parts 1. An Exhortation to joyfull thankfulnesse for their Deliverance begun and the greatnesse of that Deliverance is withall extolled v. 1 2 3. reading the words in the Future tense When the Lord turned c. 2. A Prayer for the increase and perfection of the work v. 4. Turn again our captivity ô Lord that is go on in turning 3. An Incouragement against those difficulties which they had did and might yet farther meet withall For their first returne was not compleate all the Iewes came not home with Ezra but some wanted will and others ability to return This incouragement is expressed by a comparison ver 5 6. They that sow in teares shall reape in joy He that goeth forth c. that is ye know the difficulties and hardships that the Husbandman doth meet withall in his calling his seed-time ordinarily is in the Winter-season and therefore he may then meet with many a blustering storme and pinching frost and so doth sow in teares but here is his comfort that the time of Harvest is a Sun-shine season and then he is like to reape a full crop in faire weather with joy So though the begining of our return and of this Deliverance may and doth meet with many opposites and oppositions with a Sanballat a Tobiah Neh. 6.1 c and other back-friends yet be of good cheere hold out the close of all will be both a cleare sky and a full crop This for Division of the Psalme The Text then hath in it the force first of an Exhortation to reall and verball thankfulnesse which may not only fill the heart but flow out at the mouth ver 2. And besides that here is secondly a Declaration of the greatnesse of that though but partiall Deliverance for it is said to be the turning of a Captivity of Zion even to the very astonishment of the captives themselves The substance of both these branches namely of this Exhortation and Declaration and so consequently of the whole Text may be resolved into this short sentence DOCTRINE That astonishing Deliverances doe crave accurate observation and remembrance To explaine it a little 1. By astonishing I meane such as were besides yea above and beyond hope nay contrary to it when men looked for nothing more then the quite contrary and therefore they stand amazed when the mercy comes upon them Act 12. Such a one was Peters freedome out of prison upon the prayer of the Saints ver 4. He had bin apprehended by King Herod put in prison delivered to foure quaternions of Souldiers to be kept ver 6. yea he was now sleeping betweene two souldiers bound with two chaines and the keepers before the doore kept the prison ver 7. ver 10. But see the wonder when the Angell comes his chains fell off from his hands he passeth securely the first and the second watch and at last the iron gate which leadeth to the city opened to him of his owne accord A strange Deliverance indeed ver 9. so strange that neither Peter himselfe could beleeve it when he felt it For he wist not it was true but thought he saw a vision Neither could the Church beleeve it when he was cast in upon them ver 13 14 15. as the fruit of their prayers but told the Damosell which reported his freedome that she was no better then mad This was an astonishing Deliverance And such an other was the present turning of the Iewes Captivity 2. By Deliverances understand chiefly Nationall because that is in the Text though Personall also may be taken in 3. Doe crave that is especially the Lord for them doth expect and require 4. Accurate that is exact compleat artificiall 5. Observations and remembrances by remembrances conceive both expositions and repetitions as also Records
and Mid-sommer out of Mid-winter this must needs be done by a divine power for Natura nihil agit per saltum Nature in all her workes doth proceed by degrees In a word when the wicked are taken in their owne pit Psal 7.15 16. that is in a pit of their owne digging so that themselves doe not or cannot avoid their owne workes I tell you this is the Lords doing 3. When there is a Concurrence of many casualties and accidents together Gods speciall providence is cheefely seene in such a case 4. When there is a great working upon mans spirits Ezra 1. v. 1. as it is said of this Jewish Deliverance that God stirred up the spirit of Cyrus 5. When there is a smooth harmony of helpfull Circumstances as in Hamans fall and defeat as 1. Esth 6 v 1. That the King Ahashuerus should be sleepelesse that night 2. Next that among many other meanes of passing the time he should make choyce of hearing the Chronicles read unto him 3. That in reading ver 2. ver 3. they should fall upon that story of Merdecaies good service 4. That the Kings thoughts should pitch upon such a reward for him to breake Hamans hopes and heart 5. ver 6 7. That Haman should then come in when the King was contriving how to honour Mordecai 6. Yea ver 4. that he should be comming in with such an errand to beg the hanging of the same Mordecai This consort of Circumstances doth declare cleerely a speciall providence 6. A proportion of Punishment upon the enemies of the truth As that Haman which would have hanged Mordecai should be payd in his owne coyne Esth 7. v. 10. Act. 23.2 3. and upon his owne gallowes That Ananias the smiter should also be smitten All these prints of a speciall providence are very legible in our present Deliverance Therefore let us all conclude concerning this first branch the Authour with the words of the Psalmist This is the Lords doing Psal 118. v. 23. it is marvelous in our eyes So much touching the Authour 2. The Misery Captivity But what is that he hath done Answ He hath turned our Captivity Why you will say we were never in bondage to any man Quest So said the Jewes indeed Answ though at the same time they were Tributaries Joh. 8. v. 33. nay vassals to Rome But to the point There is a two-fold liberty Religious and Civill 1. For the first who is ignorant that the free preaching of pure Doctrines the free exercise of powerfull practice have beene by some they were neither few nor meane ones hated persecuted suppressed Lectures destroyed Sabbaths trampled Worship innovated and what redresse was there to be had and then had we Religious liberty 2. The other is Civill or Politique The benefits of Lawes freedome from illegall burdens upon persons and goods liberty to oppose such impositions legally And I appeale to your selves what was become of this freedome too He that will be ignorant let him be ignorant Thus have we paralleld the Author and the Misery It would be too large a taske as I sayd to doe the like with the rest of the particulars I shall therefore now fall off into that method by which I conceive the choysest branches of our present Nationall Deliverance may be most exactly discovered If you aske me then How may we observe and remember accurately the wonderfull things done of late Quest and now doing for this still Beloved Isleland I answer Answ we may gather a lyst of the heads of them by these two generall Rules or Helpes viz. First if we looke upon the Evills which of late we felt and feared and here we gather three sorts or branches of Mercy I shall call them 1. Stoppage 2. Removall 3. Prevention 1. By Stoppage I meane the stanching or stopping of Mischiefes begun in Church and State 2. By Removall The taking away of that evill which actually lay upon us 3. And by Prevention I doe understand the keeping or holding off or away of such evills as were approaching and imminent These particulars we gather by looking upon our evills c. Secondly if we looke quite contrary upon the good things that we have and hope for Here we may fish out three other precious particulars and these I shall call 1. Continuance 2. Additions And 3. Probabilities 1. By Continuance I meane the Continuing even to this time of those mercies which we yeelded not long since for lost and desperate 2. By Additions I would signifie an increase or a casting in of much more then we had at best 3. And by Probabilities let us understand our possibilities hopes and likelihoods of future things yet greater then those additions These heads will appeare more clearly as we shall treat of them severally The Stoppage of Mischiefs that were begun amongst us THe fire was kindled that had like to have devoured us all the voines were opened by which we had like all to have bled our selves to death and all this no longer since then about a yeare agoe Now for the Lord to quench that fire and to stanch that bloud Brethren I tell you this was no ordinary mercy But you will aske me perhaps what sire Quest what veines were those I will instance but in two The one Civill Answ the other Ecclesiasticall I meane in State in Church 1. The Civill Mischiefe in State shall be that bloudy and more then Civill war which was not only come home to our doores but had one foot over the threshold Two Armies of Brethren were in the field ready to sheath their swords in the bowels of each other as those twelve men of a side before Jeab and Abner 2 Sam. 2. v. 16. They caught every one his fellow by the head ver 14. and thrust his sword in his fellows side And all this to play or to make sport before some Abuers our enemies O what a dismall sight or hearing was it if we were sensible to see Subject against Subject Protestant against Protestant yea Brother against Brother ready to dig out the bowels of each other We have read the History of Israels war against Beniamin eleven Tribes against the twelfth there the cause was very warrantable and yet how sad is the issue Judg. 21. v. 2. And the people came to the house of the Lord and abode there till Even before God and lift up their voyces ver 3. and wept sore And said O Lord God of Israel why is this come to passe in Israel that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel But it would have been far nearer and sadder to have had one Kingdome lacking in three yet I doe suppose the least and that which some men accounted the best but what if that the Scot in falling should have pulled downe our English Fabricke too as Sampson did the house on the Philistines Judg. 16.30 so that both Kingdomes should have clashed
looke upon the names of the Commissioners of both sides so often me thinks there commeth into my minde the transaction and transactors of that businesse betwixt the Israelites Josh 22.10 11 12 c. and those other two tribes and halfe beyond Jordan it was concerning an Altar of Testimony which these latter had builded Great danger there was at first of a bloudy Religious-civill warre but afterwards by the prudence of the Commissioners on both sides they rightly understanding each others meaning all is concluded in a firmer peace then before the bone is stronger after setting then it was before the dislocation and the Altar is called Ed. a witnesse Some thinks we may write the word Ed. a witnesse upon every ensigne gunne speare and sword that hath bin lifted up on either side in those late Northerne expeditions and each weapon may be kept as a testimony of the Lords mercy our Soveraigns goodnesse the Parliaments wisdome and the Commissioners noble service on both sides Secondly There is the Act it selfe all the Demands Desires Articles with their severall Grants Answers and Conclusions Prov. 25. v. 11. like apples of gold in studds of silver and all this is closed and crowned Psal 46. v. 8. with a day of publique thankesgiving Let us adde those words of the Psalmist Come behold the works of the Lord what desolations he hath made in the earth In other Kingdomes desolations ver 9. but in ours He maketh warres to cease he breaketh the bow and cutteth the speare in sunder ver 11. he burneth the Chariot in the fire The Lord of hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge Selah Thirdly There is the Act of Oblivion a dramme of Lethe to close up all that so all Acts and Monuments of hostility may be buried in everlasting forgetfullnesse 2. Addition or messe of Deliverance already served in unto us is that Declaration of the Commons in Parliament last September containing these foure heads 1. For removing the Communion table taking away the Railes levelling of Chancells c. 2. For abolishing of Crucifixes Scandalous pictures of Persons of the Trinity Images of the Virgin taking away of Tapers Candlestickes Basons c. 3. Against Corporall bowing both at the name Jesus and towards the East 4. For Sanctification of the Sabbath c. I am forced by the generall neglect and contempt of this Declaration to make it my next Addition though it be in time one of the last I have but two things breefely to shew in this poynt 1. Gods great goodnesse to us in granting such an Order 2. Our vile and base unthankfulnesse shewed to him in the entertainement thereof First this Declaration was a great mercy for some of the things there to be removed were a part of our late Innovations they have bin some of the rocks and sands which have wracked multitudes of our conscientious and powerfull Ministers In short are they not at least some of them maine grounds of Papists hopes and other Protestants despaires touching communion with us and yet lo now by this Declaration a price is put into our hands to remove this rocke and to take away these sands to cause other reformed Churches to hope and the Romish to despaire of our returne towards them and is not this a precious advantage a wonderfull favour especially if we consider how strongly those superfluities of our Religion were back'd of late Why they were the rising Ceremonies the very roade to preferment from some he that could but fill his hands yea his Church with these was by them made a Priest of the High places and now to have such things abolished and downed by Authority from Parliament yea to have but free permission from all the Commonalty of the Kingdome to doe it I say 't is a thing which for a while since was incredible 2. But now how is this golden opportunity improved Brethren it doth even sicken my body and sadden my spirit to observe how dully nay how contemptuously this mercy of God and goodnesse of that Honourable House is entertained amongst us amongst us I say againe Some godly forward Parishes indeed there are in this place but I speake onely of the guilty Hath the Lord placed this City in the midst of our County as a Beacon upon an hill yea as the Center heart and head of the West and shall this beacon not blaze by it's example in every part when there is holy loyall refining fire put into it by so great Authority nay shall this heart and head of the West in great part convay nothing but dullnesse and drowsinesse to that whole body In a word are we the Redeemed people the Mayden City faithfull for ever to our King and doe many of us now thus requite the Lord that preserved us Are or can they be thus unthankefull to the King of Kings in this great trust and service Oh let all whom this concernes immediately and all others who may have any hand in it more remotely let them all take home these words of a grieved Minister with shame and sorrow yea let them goe home and sinne no longer But you will say you must first answer our doubts and Objections before you presse thus vehemently upon our consciences and affections and these our Objections are many 1. Obiect 1 Is touching the Authority of this Declaration it came not say they from both Houses and therefore is no constrayning Law I answer severally to both parts of the Obiection First Answ 1 Suppose that it came not from both Houses yet 1. Ye need not doubt but that there is Authority in it sufficient to beare out every man in the exact execution of that Order against any one that shall oppose him and the truth of this Answer I beleeve the vilest caviller durst not to question 2. The House of Commons which some doe ignorantly or basely nick-name the Lower-House they are our selves we in them in this sence and they in us so that we may say touching this self-nesse as the Tribe of Judah said to David they are as it were neere of kinne to us I meane that as our Votes were in their Elections so 't is fit that our Wills should be bound up in their Injunctions and Declarations 3. And where is he that durst to sow a jealous or evill surmise of disagreement betwixt the two Houses of Parliament concerning their Injunctions To that other clause Answ 2 that denyeth this Declaration to have any Constraining power I answer First And is it come to that now that we doe need force and constraint to make us reforme things amisse I had thought for a yeere agoe that bare permission and liberty to remove such things as these would have beene a sufficient inducement unto us all Little little did I then dreame that Protestants would have needed compulsion to such a reforming worke as this 2. But however know this ye that slight this Declaration as an
made knowne when their hypocrisie deceipts malice c. doe begin to be discovered then 't is very probable that they shall not proceed any further their market is marred And is it not so with our Enemies at this time their vailes vizards maskes and periwigs are plucked off so that men see them in their colours Secondly they are met withall and crossed even by a Divine hand in all their plots projects and conspiracies As the Prophet Elisha directed the King of Israel to meet with the King of Syria in all his stratagems 2 Kin. 6. v. 8. to ver 13. Then the King of Syria warred against Israel and tooke counsell with his servants saying in such a place shall be my camp And the man of God sent unto the King of Israel saying Beware that thou passe not such a place for thither the Syrians are come downe And the King of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of and saved himselfe there not once nor twise Therefore the heart of the King of Syria was sore troubled for this thing and he called his servants and said unto them will ye not shew me which of us is for the King of Israel And one of his servants said none my Lord ô King but Elisha the Prophet that is in Israel telleth the King of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bed-chamber Now when the bed-chamber counsels of traiterous Enemies doe come abroad 't is a signo that they are declining apace Exod. 14.24 ver 25. The Aegyptians we know were mirrours of incurable stubbornnesse against the Lord and yet even they when they saw that their hoast was troubled and that their Chariot wheeles were taken off so that they drave them heavily even they do confesse 't is time to flee from the face of Israel for the Lord fighteth for them against the Aegyptians And so 't is reported of those Spaniards that came against England in that Armado in Eighty eight that seeing the windes and seas and all against them they cryed out that God was turned Lutheran ô me thinkes the present factions of Papists Anti-Deliverancers and Anti-Reformists they might as well imagine now that the Lord God is turned Covenanter and Puritan I take the word so as those men doe usually abuse it Act. 14 14. And for mine owne part after the way which many persons doe call Puritanisme so desire I to worship the Lord God of my Fathers But this is a second signe of their tottering and of our standing upright Thirdly which followeth from both the former they doe grow weaker continually both in their party 2 Sam 3. v. 1. and in their spirits 'T is said There was long warre betweene the house of Saul and the house of David but David waxed stronger and stronger and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker Yea and in Sauls owne particular case 1 Sam. 28. v. 15 see how spirit-falne he is when his destruction approacheth And Samuel said to Saul why hast thou disquieted me to bring me up And Saul answered I am sore distressed for the Philistines make warre against me and God is departed from me and answereth me no more neither by Prophets nor by dreames ver 20. therefore I have called thee that thou mayest make knowne unto me what I shall doe And after hearing his doome from the Divell Then Saul fell straight way all along on the earth and was sore afraid because of the words of Samuel and there was no strength in him But you will say nay Ob. rather the Enemies now doe grow more desperate and couragious No Answ there is a vast difference betwixt desperatenesse and valour though for the first fit they may seeme to be alike There is great oddes betwixt the playing of Fishes in the pond and their frisking in the kettle though both may seeme alike Desperate attempts are sure badges both of a conquered man and a coward for though dead men cannot bite yet dying persons doe bite most deadly These are grounds of Probability from the Enemies But from the Church and the Reforming party Ground 2 we may gather Arguments quite contrary to all these three For 1. Their Counsells doe prosper like that of Hushai against Achitophel And Absalon and all the men of Israel said 2 Sam. 17. v. 14 the counsell of Hushat the Archite is better then the counsell of Ahitophel for the Lord had appointed to defeat the counsell of Ahitophel And 2. They are now more and more Honourable before all tollerable men as was Joseph Gen. 41. v 39. comming out of prison Dan. 6. v. 28. and Daniel out of the den of Lyons Yea the hand of the Lord is upon them for good as it was with the same Joseph and Daniel 3. In short both their party and their spirits doe in a comfortable degree increase and grow continuall as it was with the house of David before mentioned 3. Ground 3 Probable ground of Deliverance and Reformation are the Lords Ingagements in this businesse and these are of two sorts First his Ingagements to the worke it selfe as an helper Auxiliary or beginner and these ought to support our hopes not a little It is an Argument with which I find the Saints in Scripture doe much stay their hopes and presse the Lord in times of great provocation and perill As when they had committed that great sinne in making a Calfe and the Lord had a kinde of desire to consume them Exod. 32. v. 9. ver 10 11 12 yet Moses useth this Argument to appease wrath and to continue preservation and doth obtaine his request 2 Chro. 20.1 2 So when Jehoshaphat was in triple danger there were three Nations to one against him but he giveth himselfe to prayer and a maine argument of his prayer is set downe to be this ver 5 6 7. Art not thou our God who didst drive out the Inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever Lo with how many Relations and Ingagements doth he there presse the Lord His Relations doe lye in these wordes Our God thy people and the seede of Abraham thy friend The Ingagements in these words Thou didst drive out the inhabitants of this land and gavest it to the seede of Abraham c. Brethren let us in an humble and edifying way to the Lords honour the works promotion and our encouragement edifie one another with these sayings This is the Lords Ingagement to the work as an helper 2. Is his Ingagement against the Enemies as a Party or a Principall And this we may gather if we looke upon the great blasphemyes of the Enemies even against the Lord himselfe 'T is good newes for the Church when her Enemies are growne rancke in blasphemy when they are come so farre as to despight the power of godlinesse and to hate holinesse quatenus ipsam as
and Memorials For the compleat handling of this Point we will shew 1. How Naturall 2. How Firme 3. How Vsefull a truth it is 1. How Naturall Here is an astonishing Deliverance accurately observed and remembred 1. That it was astonishing see in the last words it made the receivers of it like men in a dreame it was so sudden so free so great 2. It was accurately observed and remembred 1. Observed see in the expressions for here are set downe 1. The giver the Lord. 2. The receiver Zion 3. The misery Captivity 4. The mercy the turning thereof and making them like to those that dreame I do not force marrow out of these bones ye see that it drops of its own accord 2. That it was accurately remembred see this record for all this is registred for us by the Lords own finger to all posterity Thus the note is most Naturall 2. And 't is Firme too That is we have a whole Cloud of other witnesses to testifie the strength of this Maxime yea sufficient pillars to support it are growne upon this same Field even in the booke of the Psalms Ps 111. v. 2. The works of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein sought out explorata studied aggravated anatomized so that all the inner works of them are discovered and read upon It is one thing to view the bulke of a Watch that is the bignesse colour and case another to observe the Art of Wheeles ballance and spring and this observation is accurate But Ps 106. being one of the largest in the book beginneth at Aegypt travelleth home to Canaan with Israel and there it seems doth come home to its own time Psal 107. giving in a speciall Catalogue of the great Deliverances through those places and times but least any memorable particular should there be omitted lo the next Psalme goes it over again and brings after the gleanings In briefe finde me out any Psalme of praise through this whole book as most of these songs are such and I will shew you in the same Psalme a confirmation of this truth That astonishing Deliverances doe crave accurate observation and remembrance Ob. But yet all those are but the practises of particular persons or people you will say they are no precepts An. But those practises are grounded both upon former precepts and presidents As 1. The Institution of the Passeover and the continuall celebration therof This day shall be unto you for a memoriall Ex. 13.3 And Moses said unto the people Remember this day in which ye came out from Aegypt out of the house of bondage So their other chiefe Festivals were commemorative 2. 2. So that Altar and Booke in memoriall of Amaleks malice and their Deliverance Ex. 17.14 15. And the Lord said unto Moses write this for a memoriall in a booke and rehearse it in the eares of Ioshua for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under Heaven And Moses built an Altar and called the name of it Jehovah-Nissi 3. Josh 4.1 2 3. 3. Also those twelve stones in Iordan And it came to passe when all the people were clean passed over Jordan that the Lord spake unto Joshuah saying take you twelve men out of the people out of every Tribe a man and command you them saying Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan c. twelve stones and ye shall carry them over with you c. The application of it was These stones shall be for a memoriall unto the children of Israel for ever ver 7. Therefore Astonishing Deliverances doe crave c. And 't is as reasonable as true For 1. Reason This is one of the Lords chiefe ends in bestowing such great Deliverances Pro. 16â—4 The Lord hath made all things for himselfe yea even the wicked for the day of evill If all things even the wicked then much more all mercies and to his own people for himself that is for his own glory and honour Quest But then how may he have glory for a Deliverance Answ Ps 50.23 Why praise is glory in his account Who so offereth praise glorifieth me c. and what greater praise for a favour then to remember and observe it accurately But most clearly in these words Call upon me in the day of trouble ver 15. I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me That is the end that I expect from thee in a Deliverance saith God is mine owne glory and therefore the greater the Deliverance the more glory must I have 2. Reason Accurate remembrance and Observation doth keep the Deliverance still fresh and alive it gives it a continuall being Recordatio est re-creatio The remembring is the renewing of a mercy 3. And there is much equity in it too Reason 3 'T is but proportionable and the manner of men Luk. 12.48 To whom men have committed much of him they will aske the more Costly improvements doe expect a rich harvest 'T is true then 't is reasonable that Astonishing Deliverances doe and ought to crave accurate observation and Remembrance And thus the point is both Naturall and Firme And 't is as usefull as either 1. Vse To check a sort of Anti-Deliverancers amongst us Vse 1 men that care not to heare talke of any such great Deliverance that hath bin wrought for us but are up with their What how and wherein Tell them as here that the Lord hath done great things for us and they are angry presently and part companyes Tell them of a captivity of Zion that is turned and they laugh as much at the turning as at the Zion But are ye aware of their reason Quest Answ I conceive it to be this The men are delinquents perhaps in person or else in party and therefore should they acknowledge a Deliverance Next it will be enquired from what and whom we are delivered And the Answer to this Question might start new queres which may reflect upon themselves their friends or faction I therefore commend the pollicy of the men though neither their Piety nor Ingenuity 1. Not their Piety for had they piety either towards their Religion or Country they might see and could not but be sensible of the many great inrodes and invasions which have bin made of late upon both and those by no meane ones too as we see the justice of this Blessed Parliament doth daily discover more and more foundations out of course in Church and State 2. And their Ingenuity seemes as little too in that they deny or lessen that which the finger of God and the justice of the whole Kingdome representative have both found and poynted out But to stop the mouthes of such detracters by Authority therefore let them now know and see to their peril that Thankesgiving for Deliverance is in print commanded by the supreame Court and Councell of the Kingdome therefore we are delivered Quest From what or whom Answ From Warrs
not to war with Counsell for then we should have raged in cold bloud and upon mature deliberation But we have now escaped both these and all the war is concluded in a Parliamentary peace Brethren Exod. 14. v. 13. here let us stand still awhile and see the salvation of God let us even loose our selves in an unparallel'd wonder Call to mind all your readings in Scripture in Civill Histories new and old Greeke Latine English were all these particulars ever read or heard to concurre in one businesse since the day that God created man upon the earth I say all these particulars First that ever any Nation living in the same continent under the same Monarch and Religion with a Sister Nation was by that Sister I meane generally and publiquely preached against prayed against proclaimed disclaimed exclaimed against throughout all their Churches And that Secondly this Sister Nation was with an Army in the field skirmished withall even to bloud-shed in the bowels of her Sister Kingdome And yet Thirdly now marke the wonder that this people so called and used as traitors should anon bestiled and enacted Our Brethren by a Parliament and that their faithfulnesse and constant loyalty should be commanded by the King and supreame Court of the Kingdome to be proclaimed in the same places and by the same men which before proclaimed them the worst of enemies and all this shut up in a day of publicke thanksgiving 4. Nay and to make the wonder overflow in a word the greatest sticklers in this Commotion those which like Zedekiah the sonne of Chenaanah 1 King 22.11 did make themselves hornes to push most at these supposed Syrians they are caught by their owne hornes Gen. 22. v. 13. like Abrahams ramme in the thicket and are now like to be sacrificed in stead of Isaack I meane in in stead of the innocent party Let me conclude this wonder with those words of the Prophet Isaiah Isa 64. v 3. taken in our sence When thou didst terrible things O Lord which we looked not for thou camest downe the mountaines flowed downe at thy presence ver 4. For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the eare neither hath the eye seen a God besides thee which doth so for him that waiteth for him And was not this a great Removall But I am too narrow all this while in staying so long upon one though a great particular There are many many many evils removed from us Brethren I have thought with my selfe in this point upon the plagues of Egypt they were exceeding great you know and very many but what if we can paralell them all in both respects in those evils which are already in whole or in a great part removed from us Give me leave to enter upon a Collation or Comparison many of them I am sure doe fall in properly My method in every particular of the Collation shall be this 1. To set downe the Egyptian Plague 2. The English Paralel 3. The Parliamentary Removall But before hand take this my just Apology concerning this Collation In the following enumeration of Grievances and in all other like passages of these Treatises mine onely end and purpose is to magnifie the Lords mercy our Soveraignes goodnesse and the Parliaments noble service in freeing the Kingdome from these evils The fault and guilt doth rost wholly upon the Proiectors Procurers and Executioners and that offence is so much the more hainous in them because they have misinformed so gracious a Soveraigne and have abused those grants to the oppression of the Subiects which his Maiesty did vouchsafe under the notion of publicke benefits and did apprehend as commodities to his people and therefore I conclude mine Apology with some of those words of King Solomon to Shimei 1 King 2 cap. v. 44 45. Therefore the Lord shall returne their wickednesse upon their owne heads and King Charles shall be blessed and the Throne of his Father shall be established before the Lord for ever And in this sence I proceed to the Paralell 1. The first plague in Egypt was the turning of their waters into bloud Aaron did lift up his red and smote the waters that were in the river in the sight of Pharaoh Exod. 7. v. 20. and in the sight of his servants and all the waters that were in the river were turned into bloud And the fish that was in the river died ver 22. and the river stuncke and the Aegyptians could not drinke of the water of the river and there was blood throughout all the Land of Aegypt Now what are the waters of a Kingdome Quest I find in Scripture two sorts of them which are eminent Answ 1. Eze 47. v. 1.2 c. There are the waters of the Sanctuary which are the Ministry and preaching of the word these are the Ecclesiasticall waters And alas how were those turned into blood throughout the Land Instead of cleansing which is one use of waters they did defile and pollute For Popery Arminianisme Antisabbatarianisme c. they were the rising Doctrines generally vented in your golden Pulpits And instead of refreshing and quickning too for that 's another use of waters they did in many places grieve the hearts of the righteous How common a practice was it to preach downe preaching and to jostle out praying with prayers When poore soules asked or came to the Church for bread Mat. 7. v. 9. lo a stone was given unto them nay cast at their heads if they asked for fish ver 10. the waters were turned into blood the fish was dead and instead thereof too many Ministers gave them a Scorpion like unnaturall spirituall parents as they were Thus were the spirituall waters turned 2. There are Civill waters of Judgement in a Kingdome too Amos 5. v. 24. Let iudgement runne downe as waters and righteousnesse as a mighty streame Amos 6. v. 12. But alas againe how were these also turned into gall and hemlock yea into blood in diverse cases and places the potion it selfe became a poyson unto many for those very waters of our Lawes which were enacted to purge away the wicked like drosse and to refresh and releeve all loyall subjects these streames like Jordan were driven backward Psal 114. v. 3. upon the free holy loyall spirits of the Kingdome and our owne Ordinances were turned upon us This was ours Paralell to the first of Aegypts Plagues 3. But now behold the Removeall of this already in some comfortable measure Pure doctrine is againe let loose yea truth insteed of falling in the streets now lifteth up her voyce in the places of concourse and equity can also enter Unsound doctrines are suspended and extra-judiciall opinions are now judged themselves Reddita Roma sibi est England doth once more at present enjoy her English protestanisme and priviledges The second Aegyptian plague was the Frogs And the Lord spake unto Moses say unto
were certainly going But to remove that deceit of heart consider these particulars 1. First that some were utterly and actually already gone and driven out and this both East and West can too truly testifie Looke Eastward into Holland and how many of our choyce and extraordinary Teachers were driven thither and durst not shew their heads here untill this Parliament for fear of Prisons and Pursevants and all for scrupling at a few Ceremonies confessed by the Innovators themselves to be indifferent Look but upon the books of those Ministers which they have sent over since their banishment Looke upon their Sermons and services done for us besides the damnage to cloathing occasioned by their departure and then you cannot but acknowledge that many of our choise Ministers were driven away actually into the East to our great damnage But the West can tell us of a farre greater number now wandring in the Deserts of America One man of God is a precious Jewell in a Kingdome and may doe much for the publick safety and Reformation of a whole Land in time of need as we see in Elijah and Elisha 2 Kin. 2.12 what a losse is it then to one poore Island to have scores of such Chariots and Horse-men driven away at a clap 2. Others if not quite gone yet were going apace How many honest Kenites were packing up their Fardels 1 Sam. 15. v. 6. how many powerfull Pastours in England were just now upon the hiding point Some for Ceremonies others for faithfullnesse in their Ministry were fain to fly from chamber to chamber to hide themselves These beginnings of Ministers banishment may ensure and convince us sufficiently that the Continuance of those that remain is a mercy yea a favour Superlative Secondly and as of Ministers so for the continuance of all other Spirituall and Nationall good things which I say again stood a tiptoe and were as it were upon the wing they are all new given unto us We may say of them all as the father of his returning Prodigall Lu. 15. v. 24. They were dying and are alive againe they were losing and are found Hast thou an estate of Lands or houses goe home and new date thy leases let them all run from the yeare 1640. I say againe One thousand Six hundred and fourty for then was thy tearme renewed I mean that very yeare might thy lands have been Aceldama the stage of warres and thine houses fewell for wilde-fire In a word hast thou but a wife children yea a life of thine owne to lose I tell thee man all these are new given thee too in the same yeare 1640. And therefore as the Lord by Moses said to Israel concerning the Moneth Abib Exod. 12. v. â— This moneth shall be unto you the beginning of moneths it shall be the first moneth of the yeare to you So may I say of this very yeare unto us all and especially to Ministers of the moneth November in this particular that this deserves to be accounted the beginning of our yeares and moneths In a word in them we received our second first being Consider therefore to close this point how all our old good things are now become new 5. Head of this Deliverance we called Addition or Increase The present great worke of Mercy is so full of rich particulars that 't is like a speciall messe of meat which we may turne againe and againe and still find in it another choise or delicate morsell and therefore though we have heard of Stoppage Removall Prevention and Continuance already yet there is a fifth list of Additions now to be spread before your eyes In setting them forth I may chance to touch upon some instances or particulars which have been named before but if I doe it shall be under another Notion and to a different end How common an objection is it especially amongst Atheists and Delinquents that they see no such great things already done for us by this present Parliament Object as some over-working heads doe seeme to intimate I answer first to the Persons Sol. perhaps those men doe look through the wrong end of the Perspectiveglasse and then great things may seem very little unto them Perhaps their Organ is vitiated their judgement is corrupted and then they put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter But secondly to the point it self I answer he that hath the heart of a Protestant the mind of a good Subject or the eyes of a reasonable Creature and doth not wincke with those eyes that he might not see he must both see and say that the Lord hath done many great things for us already for which we have cause to rejoyce If any man ask me for an exact Enumeration of them I answer as he Oceani fluctus me numerare jubes In Scripture phrase they are more then J am able to expresse I must give them in by heaps We heard before of a Paralell to all the ten plagues of Aegypt but what if I should now shew a Catalogue of great works of this Parliament out-stripping yea doubling that number I will not over-lay your attentions before hand with a promise of prolixity but let us observe some famous particulars done already and those for the Glory of our God the perpetuall Honor of our dread Soveraigne and the lasting praise of this Parliament 1. The first observable Addition must be that Act for the Confirmation of the Treaty of Pacification I cannot but set it in the fore-front of my catalogue as the first lincke in this golden chaine and the basis of all the rest of our late mercies The whole Act is true 't is large but to me so much the sweeter let him that can for me reade it over with dry eyes I meane for joy for I thinke that Act is looked upon by diverse sorts of men as was the foundation of the second Temple among the Jewes 'T is said that Many wept with a loud voyce and many shouted aloud for joy Ezr. 3.11 12. So doubtlesse all that wish well to our Zion and Jerusalem to Church and State they cannot but rejoyce in reading thereof but as many as are contrary-minded like enough doe repine and howle in secret to see so blessed a close of so perilous a businesse Brethren let me commend the serious reading or hearing of that Act to every judicious and fit Protestant and Subject now present and also if they please to all those which have bin so loud fierce and active heretofore against our Bretheren of Scotland Oh let these latter reade blush repent and change their minds with shame and sorrow but the former let them be confirmed and lifted up in their holy loyall intentions and proceedings The substance of the whole Act or Statute may be reduced to these three heads First there are I doe not trifle away holy time about secular things the Commissions upon which that treaty at Rippon was grounded As oft as I reade them over and doe
Arrow without an head know I say that ye are like to feele a penalty for your neglect You which are resolved it seemes to try the power and authority of that Honourable Assembly and will needs see what they can doe let me warne you that there may be such a sting in the end of this your contempt upon Certificate thereof as may pierce thorow your beloved estates even in this world besides that other sting of Conscience which may for ever goare you in another world for scorning such an opportunity of Reformation Scruples of Conscience are pretended Obiect 2 We stick in Conscience say they concerning some of these particulars whether it be lawfull and fit by Gods word to abolish them And have you more wisedome to judge of such Scruples or more Conscience to sticke at them then hath that great Answ 1 grave religious Assembly which have enjoyned this abolition or then all the reformed Churches in the world which have long since abolished those remainders as Superstitious and Popish 'T is well if that Conscience of yours doth also stick at other things which are notoriously abhominable doe you also sticke at oathes at Sabbath breaking and at Usury 't is well if you doe But my Brethren commonly these mens Consciences are true taper-wax as we say that is if they are small and straight at this end then ordinarily they are very broad at the other end But to descend to particulars Answ 2 Where is it I pray you that your Consciences doe stick so tenderly what 1. Is it at removing the Communion Table taking away the Railes and Levelling the Chancells c. All these things are but Innovations and Superstitious attendants of tran and consubstantiation of which I could shew you the whole pedigree but this in short and to our purpose First forscoth the Chancells must be separated from the body of the Church and so be made a More holy place for the seating and burialls of more sacred persons for the Clergy only Next the Table was brought up to them as belonging most properly to the Priests Then let them alone for Mounting Altaring Railing Crucifixes Bowing and at last there is made up a Sacrifice to sort with the Priest and the Altar And doe your consciences scruple to remove these things 2. Or is it at taking away of Crucifixes scandalous pictures c. Of Tapers Candlesticks Basons that you stick These are attendants and promoters of the Masse they are against the Second Commandement and are abolished in other reformed Churches 3. Or cannot you find in your Consciences to forbeare bowing what towards the East I answer that is Will-worship forbidden in the second Commandement and it is too well like unto that which is called the greater abhomination by God to Ezekiel Ezek. 8.15 16 Or what else is it corporall bowing at the name Jesus Yes here is the Scruple And why because forsooth the Scripture commands it that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow Phil 2.10 c. I answer the Text from the Text for in that verse as they reade it I find a Mis-Englishing a Mis-sencing and an Absurdity 1. A Mis-Englishing for how comes the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Originall to be translated at whereas it doth properly signifie in and is so rendred in other places But you will say in and at are both one Then 't is both one to say in that place of Mathew Lord Mat. 7. v. 22. Lord have we not prophesied at thy name and at thy name cast out Divels c. 2. There is a Mis-Sencing of that word name the name of Jesus for who knowes not that in Scripture by the names of God or of any person of the Trinity is commonly meant their essence Brethren you can all say the Lords prayer what is meant there by hallowing of Gods name You can also say the Ten Commandements what is meant in the third by taking Gods name in vaine But 3. There is also an Absurdity in their reading of that verse of S. Paul for what knees have Angels good and evill how can Birds Beasts and Fishes bow the knee corporally And therefore some of the wisest of that tribe of Word-worshippers have given over this text as improper for their purpose and doe fly to an ancient and laudible custome to hold by To which I answer 1. Antiquity without verity is but an inveterate error 2. And this being but a humane invention how can it be true and pure worship That 's enough to satisfy your Consciences And now the same staffe is in my hand yea let me presse it upon your Consciences if they are so tender and charge you to give over your unwarrantable devised and partiall worship of God I call it partiall both because it seemes to give more honour to the second Person then to the rest and in the second Person it bestowes more worship upon one name of his then upon another Thus as I conceive all colourable Objections and Pretences are quite blowne off But now are these orders obeyed is all this done No but this Order though according to the expresse Word of God though comming from so Honourable and Blessed a Court though pressed so earnestly with Reasons and Scripture by our faithfull Pastours yet this Order I say still is neglected in most Churches wholly in others partially even in despight of God Governours and Ministers The Pictures in the windows do still out-face us in our Pulpits The Railes or Tables stand as they did and the bowings are continued Is this our requitall to the Lord for late Deliverances Is this our forwardnesse to Reformation so long desired What hath God stopped so many bloody issues hath he remooved so many Aegyptian plagues Hath he prevented so much Treason in both Kingdomes and is this our fruit our Requitall for all these wonders Cannot we yet finde in our hearts to pull down a scandalous Puppet to breake an Idoll or to give over a superstition for his sake yea and that even then when we have Authority on our side O stubborne ingratefull uncapable Nation a people I had almost said incurable Sure I am that many amongst us doe hate to be reformed What can I say more but only to sly and cry to the Lord for his pardon and assistance O thou the just and jealous God that visitest the iniquities of Idolatrous Parents upon their children to the third and fourth generations pardon this great sinne unto us and our posterity and lay it not to our charge in the day when thou shalt visit our sinnes upon us neither let it hinder good things from us c. Brethren let me speake freely there is not any one thing that doth make me so much to feare what will be the issue of the present good worke of mercy and to doubt least this faire weather may be over-cast againe with bloudy showers then doth this Epidemicall generall backwardnesse to take the opportunities
and execute the Orders which are sent downe for Reformation Turn we sadly to that place of Ezekiell Eze 24 12 13 14. She hath wearied her selfe with lies and her great scum went not forth out of her Her scum shall be in the fire In thy filthinesse is lewdnesse because J have purged thee and thou wast not purged thou shalt not be purged from thy filthinesse any more till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee I the Lord have spoken it it shall come to passe and I will do it I will not goe backe neither will I spare neither will I repent Let me apply these words to the present times yea to this Kingdome Country City in respect of divers Parishes and persons Because I have purged thee and thou wast not purged that is I have offered unto thee may the Lord say many faire lawfull Opportunities and Advantages of Reforming As 1. I have given thee liberty and incouragement to enter into a sacred Obligation and Protestation against Popery but thou hast not accepted it in one Parish of twenty through the Ringdom 2. I have given thee an Order for due Observation of the Sabbath but generally thou hast not spread nor read it 3. I have sent to thee a Declaration in which I gave thee authority to take downe Crucifixes c. but there they stand to this day Thus thou wast not purged And therfore may God say Now thou shalt not be purged from thy filthinesse any more till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee Go drinke and be drunken and spue and fall and rise no more Go take your bellies full of Images and Altars and Cringings and Masse and all Let your beloved nest-eggs hatch and bring forth Cockatrises let your darling relicts and decoi-ducks bring in the whole swarm and flock of Idols and Idolathites after them Farewell England incorrigible England And now let me goe try the naked Indians and barbarous Blackamoores whether or no they will prove so rebellious as thou after so much meanes goodnesse and patience So much touching the Declaration And thus by my largenesse in these two Branches of Additions you may guesse how much time all the rest of these twise ten particulars might take up but I must therfore contract my very contractions and am resolved to do with the rest as they use to doe at your sumptuous over-flowing Feasts and Banquets they put two Phesants in a dish and doe serve in double sweet-meats for every guest So shall I serve in the rest of these Additions even by clusters by pairs and couples and those very succinctly too We have had one paire already viz. 1. The Act for confirmation of the Treaty c. 2. The late Declaration 2d. Paire let be those two Acts of Parliament concerning Parliaments 1. One for a Trienniall Parliament 2. The other for the Continuance of the present Parliament These two mercies are too good and great to be served in in one dish and yet thus I am forced to contract Brethren the former of these A Trienniall Parliament I do look upon it as the poole of Bethesda There an Angell came downe at a certaine season Joh. 5. v. 4. and made the waters compleatly medicinall so here is a certaine season appointed by that Act for the cure of all our Nationall discases But I may compare the latter Act for the Continuation of the present Parliament to that blessed Oyle and Meale of the perishing Widow which out-lasted all the time of the famin 1 Kin. 17. v. 14 Or unto the multiplied Oyle of that other poore indebted widow which continued running till all her Vessels were filled 2 Kin. 4.4 5 6. her debts payd and enough remaining to sustaine her selfe and children But the dullest Vulgar doth conceive this Paire to be a great mercy Pro. 11.14 Pro. 15.22 Pro 24.6 yea even those which are insensible of spirituall favours I shall therfore conclude it with the words of the wise King Where no counsell is the people fall but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety Yea again and againe he saith it 3d. Paire of Additions are those other two Acts which have taken away that Pair of Arbitrary Courts namely 1. The Starr-Chamber and 2. Next the High-Commission With the taking away of the former another mighty Court is regulated and with the fall of the latter all Consistories like lesser neighbouring trees or shrubbs are broken downe under it so farre it seems as doth concerne their maine Coercive power so that this paire is a twin of twins foure in two Brethren this is such a mercy as that for some months since we durst not for our Eares to have wished publikely for it and I thinke some godly persons amongst us had not the courage at least they had not the thought as to begge these great things in their very prayers but now they are freely cast in upon them unbought unsought and unthought Fourth Paire shall be those other Acts. 1. Against vexatious Knighthood and 2. Ship-mony A paire of Grievances which did distresse and compasse us both by Sea and Land as well in our merchandize as husbandry Brethren we were generally sensible of these pressures and yet perhaps all our sufferings under them hitherto might have bin but the beginnings of sorrow in comparison of that which did remaine O let us then be as generally sensible of their perpetuall Removals Fifth Paire or Messe would be two Statutes which are more speciall for some particular Counties and places above the rest The 1. of them for Certainty and Bounds of Forrests This is as welcome to divers other Shires as the 2. Next against Stannery Incroachments and Oppressions is well pleasing to us and our * Cornwall Westerne Neighbour County You know Brethren and have felt it how of late especially Isa 1.22 Our Westerne silver to borrow the words of the Prophet was become tinne ver 25 26. and our wine was mixed with water But now it hath pleased God by these Statutes to purge away our drosse and to take away our tinne to restore our Judges as at the first and our Counsellours as at the beginning And thus you have the first five Paires of Additions all of them excepting one are Statutes enacted Sixth Paire are 1. That blessed though neglected Protestation and 2. The Order for due Observing of the Sabbath These are a golden paire indeed and were they so well executed as they are wisely and piously ordained doubtlesse they might proove unto us some of the chiefest master-pieces amongst our late blessings I shall conclude touching these with the Word of the Lord to Israel when they had good Commandements and spake good words of them but did not act and practise Deut. 5.29 O that there were such an heart in this people that they would feare me and keepe all my Commandements alwayes that it might be well with them and with their children for ever
But 't is a Proverbe upon the English Law and we may apply it to our Law-makers in this case that They have good Wills but bad Executors the meaning is that the will of the Law is just and good but the Executioners of it are dul and evill So here the Will and intention of that Honourable House of Commons in publishing these Orders was good and holy but many Executors or Executioners of them in the Country are very bad yea most ingratefull Seventh Paire Adde next to these that paire of Orders old and new 1. One long since for informing against scandalous and insufficient Ministers Yet not so long since neither but that me thinkes many mens hearts should yet continue aking for their bloudy cowardise negligence and unfaithfull dealing in that businesse 2. The other very lately it was for setting up of Lectures in every Parish in England and Wales These two opportunities put together might have made up a compleate spirituall Nationall mercy For this indeed is the right end to begin at 't is one hinge of Reformation and of all the rest of our blessings Psal 81.13 ver 16. The Lord might say to us concerning this paire as he doth to Jsrael in that Psalme O that my people had hearkened unto me and Israel had walked in my ways I should then have fed them with the finest of the wheat and with hony out of the Rocke should I have satisfied them Eighth Paire are Proclamations 1. For the Banishment of Priests and Iesuites and 2. For the Disarming of Papists O what a double stabbe were these if well set home to all the Popish Faction in England This would be a two-fold dis-arming to them even a spirituall and a corporall yea it might have brought them to such a strait 1 Sam. 13.6 ver 19 10 21. as Israel was brought into by the Philistins when both their Smiths and their weapons were taken from them But these Wills too have had bad Executors or Executioners as it seemes and therefore here againe I might take up those other verses of the fore-cited Psalme Heare ô my people and I will testifie unto thee Ps 81.8 ver 14 15. O Israel if thou wilt hearken unto me I should soone have subdued their enemies and turned my hand against their adversaries The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him but their time should have endured for ever For the ninth Paire let us joyne together 1. The downing of so many Monopolies by Proclamation as they came up and 2. The Command for a publike Thankesgiving in which all Ministers were required to publish to their people the loyalty integrity and faithfullnesse of our Brethren of Scotland and that all Declarations Proclamations Acts Books Libels and Pamphlets made against them should be suppressed Who durst for feare of his life to have prophecied such a thing for a yeare or two agoe Nay what Minister soever at that time should have spoken but a charitable word in publike of that people and of their proceedings he might have met with enough Captaines which would have bin ready to deale with him as Captain Irijah dealt with Jeremiah He tooke Jeremiah the Prophet Jer. 37.13 saying thou fallest away to the Chaldeans Then Jeremiah said it is false But he hearkened not to him but brought him to the Princes ver 14. ver 15. ver 16. Wherefore the Princes were wroth with Jeremiah and smote him and put him in prison and cast him into the Dungeon Then was not this a choyce Addition of mercy But now how grossely this day of Thankesgiving hath bin neglected we doe all know But let this satisfie to be said of those neglecters their forwardnesse to the warre may be sufficiently seen by their backwardnesse to give thanks for this blessed peace Tenth Paire sinally must be 1. The Returne and Release of our innocent sufferers and 2. Instead of them the slight and punishment of the guilty O the exact and wonderfull Justice of the Almighty To see poor men which were adjudged to severe sufferings and perpetuall exile yet fetcht home againe and released by publike Votes and Acclamations Nay and which doubles the wonder then to see some of their Censurers to become Prisoners and exiles in their roome But I am too narrow in speaking of persons only here is the wonder of Miracles to see a whole Nation banished at once and yet at last published loyall and dutifull in that other Nation whence they were banished while their enemies meane time are fame to fly lye and dye as traiterous Incendiaries I shall close up this point and so the whole double decad with that Proverbe of Salomon Pro. 21.18 The wicked shall be a ransome for the Righteous and the transgressor for the Vpright So much be spoken concerning Additions The Sixth and last observable head in our Deliverance I called PROBABILITIES This head doth answer somewhat to that third Branch of the former ranke which we named Prevention because it doth concerne good things as that did evils approaching And by it I doe understand all Likelyhoods or Grounds of hope for more good and mercy then we have yet received either by continuance of old favours or by the Additions of new ones Quest But you may aske me What meane you by those more good things and what are the Grounds of our hopes for them Answ 1. By those good things I meane the increase of all the five former Branches in more eminent degrees as more Stoppage more Removall more Prevention yea longer Continuance and more Additions But if you would have it in short I meane a compleate Deliverance and a thorow Reformation 2. By the Grounds of our hopes I meane those topicks or common places of hope which may be gathered and observed for our incouragement and these are three Some we may gather by observing the carriage and condition of the Enemy others we may gather from the Church and the third sort from the Lord himselfe and his engagements 1. Common-place or Ground of our hope of a perfect Deliverance and compleate Reformation is gathered Ground 1 by observing the Enemies at this time And this doth yeeld us divers particulars as First in that the Lord doth Discover and Disgrace the enemies of Deliverance and Reformation Act 8.9 ver 10. ver 12. ve 21 22. c. As Simon Magus was discovered by Philips preaching He had used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria for a long time saying that he himselfe was some great one to whom they all gave heed but at last he is unmasked and then his time is but short 2 Tim. 3.9 This also is the Argument that Saint Paul giveth to Timothy for the Probability of cutting off those Heretikes of whom he speaketh But they shall prevaile no further why for their folly shall be manifest to all men So then when the folly that is the wickednesse and witlesnesse of the enemies are
to the dishonour of the attempting Reformers for will not after ages yea the present enemies be bold to put upon them that Proverbe in the Gospell concerning weake builders and say These mend id begin to build but they were not able to finish Lu. 14.30 So much for a first Motive A second meanes to stirre up Activity may be taken from our common interest in this worke Consider that thy selfe Motive 2 and all thine have a deepe share in this deek I meane if thou beest a true Protestant and a good Subject This was Mordecais first Argument to Queene Hester Est 4.13 Thinke not with thy selfe that thou shalt escape in the Kings House more then all the Iews So say I to every one that heareth me this day what Religion dost thou professe Art thou a Papist or a Protestant If a Protestant then I must tell thee Thinke not with thy selfe whersoever thou art that thou shalt escape more then all the Protestants for the Irish-Rebels the Traitours and Conspiratours in Scotland and England yea the whole Anti-Parliamentary guilty party in all three places are generally either Papists in tongue or Popish in heart Question But thou wilt say I am neither Papist nor Puritan the middle and moderated way is my desire Answer True wee have both Church-Papists and Masse-Protestants yea further if you will there are amongst us both meere Passive Protestants and Active ones the latter are accounted Puritans and the former are little better then men indifferent but to bee short art thou a Protestant indeed that is compleatly Orthodox in Doctrine and firmely conscientious in practice Then I tell thee once againe that thou art no better then an Hereticke yea a Puritan in the Definition and account of true Romanists How long therefore halt yee betwixt two wayes and opinions betwixt Popery and Purity Be assured Brethren there is no third Tract to be found and to convince you of this for wee had need of conviction in this point consider seriously these two grounds or reasons 1. First Christ himselfe doth make but two wayes and gates and two sorts of Travellers in and to them Enter yee in at the straight Gate Mat. 7.13 For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be that goe in thereat ver 14. because straight is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there bee that finde it There we have a division of all persons in the world into two ranckes Cursed and Blessed and he gives us two markes of the latter sort you may know them by their strictnesse in practise and pausity of number Againe our Saviour saith elswhere 〈◊〉 12.30 He that is not with me is against me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad therfore Christ himselfe doth make but two principall sides now amongst us 2. But if the Popish rebellious or Anti-Reforming party should now prevaile which God forbid they also would passe a Dicottomy upon us all they would make but two parts of all the people in England either we must turne Catholikes as they call it or else we shall be Heretiks and Puritans in their Kalender and therefore if there be any persons present or absent which doe dreame of getting safety by compounding and halfe-syding let those Batts know that their lot in the conclusion is like to be no better then was that of the wily Gibeonites which made a crafty lying league with Israel Josh 9.3 c. See the issue of their composition first they are both accursed and inthraled even by those with whom they made their league Saith Joshua to them when he had spied their Cap. Now therefore yee are accursed ver 23. and there shall none of you be freed from being bond-men and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the House of my God And afterward King Saul he doth massacre or slay them in his zeale to the children of Israel and Judah 2 â—am 21.2 Let all the English Gibeonites of these times looke for the like reward in the latter end and remember still that theirs was slavery and slaughter In a word the greatest favour that such Newters may expect can be but this they may finde so much favour as to be eaten last and to be served in for the murtherers second course That is the next Motive Thirdly Motive 3 Consider that the Lord can and will effect this great worke without us but then it shall be to our greater cost and damnage Est 4.14 This was another of Mordecais arguments to Queene Esther For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time then shall their inlargement and Deliverance arise to the Jewes from another place but thou and thy fathers House shall be destroyed Let me clap this spurr in the sides of every dull and unactive person that heares me this day the Lord will never be bassed in his worke but yet thou and thine may be ruined for not conferring your help Our backwardnesse may hinder our selves though it be not an hinderance to the worke See an example to this purpose in the cold reward of fearefull Barak he had a faire prophesie and promise Judg 4. to incourage him to goe against Sysera the Captaine of Jabins army but he is timerous and durst not to adventure himselfe alone but will have Deborah a woman to goe with him or else he will not go ver â— Now what doth the Lord loose ver 5. or Barak gaine by this fearefullnesse Surely the Lords worke is done neverthelesse ver 23. For God subdued on that day Jabin the King of Canaan But Baraks wages they are much the lesse I will surely goe with thee saith Deborah notwithstanding the journey which thou takest shall not be for thine honour ver 9. for the Lord shall sell Sysera into the hand of a woman A just and proportionable punishment if Barak will play the woman by his fearefullnesse and will needs have a woman to goe with him most just it is that a woman should take the honour of the day from him Sam. 15. â— Take but one president more to fortifie this Motive the man is King Saul he is commanded to destroy Amalek utterly but he doth this work of the Lord negligently and spareth King Agag and the best of the spoyle What 's the issue ver 33. ver 28. Is Agags life saved by this meanes No but the sword of Samuell cuts him off Or is King Saul a gainer by his remissenesse No but it costs him his Crowne and Scepter So our cowardise and negligence about the publicke worke at this time though it cannot hinder the Lord yet may it prejudice and undoe both our selves and our posterityes Fourthly Motive 4. Consider the opportunity of this season and our honourable priviledge in being brought forth at such a time Est 4 14. This is Mordecais last argument
which then had happened in Jerusalem Lu. 14.17 18. What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another as ye walke c. And Cleophas said unto him Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem and hast not knowne the things which are come to passe there in those dayes veâ— 19 20. c. He checks him for his ignorance of the publike affaires of the Church and afterward relates unto him the newest newes that was going But how many are there amongst us which are persons of quality and yet are grosely ignorant of the things which have come to passe here of late dayes Phil. 2.21 Thus every one careth for his owne things but how few doe care for the things that are for God To all such I conclude with the threatning of the Psalmist Ps 28.5 Because they regard not the works of the Lord nor the operation of his hands he shall destroy them and not build them up That to the Carelesse 2. Reproofe to such as are active the quite contrary way If every true member ought to bestir c. in such a time then what members may we account them who are so farre from this that they doe the quite contrary Bestirre themselves they doe 't is true yea and for a thing which they call a Church too but indeed it is an Anti-church rather a Diana of their owne making the Priest he makes the Church and that Church it makes the Priests againe As the Romane Priests they make their breaden god and that god doth fill both their panches and their purses A Church in these mens definition what is it else but the greater number of such Clergy as are most richly Beneficed yea though loose in life and in opinion and practise fomenting a bundle of politike heresies and dangerous formalities 1 Tim 3.15 But Saint Pauls definition of a Church is farre different he saith The Church of the living God the pillar and ground of Truth A pillar saith one Non more Architectionico not in the Masons language to build upon as infallible and unerring but More forensi in the Lawyers phrase that is as the pillar or publike poste of a Guild-Hall or Market-house upon which the Word and Sacraments are so held out as we use to hang up a Proclamation to be read of all But these mens Church is little better then a signe-Poste with a ballet pasted against it Brethren we have had strange definitions of a Church of late yeers some make it little different in structure from that of Rome which resolves it selfe into a consistory of Cardinals and the Pope their Supreame and unerring Determiner But blessed be God they have shewed lately by their unlawfull decrees that such a Church may erre Let us examine that former definition of a Church a little further if the greatest number of richest Clergy and most dignified doe make a Church may we not say that Baals â—rophets and their adherents 1 Kin. 18.19 20 were the Church of Israel in Elijahs time Suppose those foure hundred and fifty Prophets of Baal and those other foure hundred Prophets of the Groves suppose those 850. all false Prophets had met in Convocation surely they were then both the most and greatest Clergy of Israel by farr and would have carried any decree before them smoothly but had not this bin a tite Church One Orthodox Elijah weighed them all up 1 Kin. 18.40 and did afterward destroy them all Or suppose once more those other foure hundred flattering Prophets that perswaded King Ahab to goe up to warre against Ramoth Gilead 1 Kin. 22.6 suppose that all those together with their little Pope over them I meane Zedâ—kiah the sonne of Chenaanah ver 7. that forward Prophet that made himselfe hornes of yron to push the Syrians to confusion Suppose I say all those to have decreed that warre and to have given an Ecclesiasticall contribution towards it was this the Church then and had such a Canon bin binding under penalty of a box on the check No no ver 24. ye know that one honest Micaiah that disswaded from the warre was better then all that rabble so called a Church And yet Brethren to drive home this Reproofe we have amongst us many hundreds of those which do bestir themselves to the uttermost even for such a Church 1. One he preacheth for it foolishly or falsly I am sure confusedly enough The Church the Church ô the Church and the pillars therof goe to the ground it is rent and torne on every side c. And perhaps the quotient and truth of all this noy se is that some Fox is caught in a ginne some Woolfe or other is fast in a trap where they are like to pay for all their old bloud-sucking and woorying 2. Another of the faction complaineth of strange proceedings and blesseth himselfe to heare of such turning of things upside downe in the Church Q. And what is the cause of all his chattering too A. Why surely the nest is found the nest of Cormorants and Cockatrises and so all their Eggs are likely to be blowne upon or bruised to pieces In a word strange it is but too true that there are many amongst us both of the Clergy and Laity which spare not the uttermost labours and abilities of their hands heads hearts and tongues for an Anti-church I had almost said an Antichrist in this Land Let me say unto all this Tribe of transgressours as Joash to the men of his City Judg. 6. v. 31. Will ye plead for Baal will yee save him he that will plead for him let him be put to death whilest it is yet morning If he be a god let him plead for himselfe because one hath cast downe his Altar So say I will ye plead for I dolatrous unlawfull innovating things persons and acts if the faction be innocent let them plead for themselves because their Priests Images and Altars with all the rest of their trumpery is like to be cast into the mire Nay higher yet let all such sticklers know that they sinne directly against God 2 Chro. 19.2 the King and this truth of God in my Doctrine For they helpe the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord Isa 5. v. 23. Therefore is their wrath upon them from before the Lord. They justifie the wicked for reward and take away the righteousnesse of the righteous from him ver 24. therefore as fire devoureth the stubble and the flame consumeth the chaffe so their root shall be rot tennesse and their blossome shall goe up as dust c. In a word ye opposites are guilty of two great sins in so doing 1. Hainous and horrible Ingratitude for great and wonderfull mercies and Ingratum si dixeris omnia dixeris 2. Of Jewish and abhominable murmurings instead of thanks ye returne repinings against the Lord his choyce servants and your best friends My prayer and wish is this that
after a while his drink faileth him ver 7. ver 9 10. And it came to passe after a while that the brooke dryed up c. Now the Lord provideth him another Hostesse at Zarephath and she is as unlikely a Cater as the former ver 11 12 13. for she had but an handfull of meale in a barrell and a little oyle in a Cruse Yet see rather then this precious realous v. 13 14 15 16. publike spirit shall want a miracle shall be wrought The barrell of meale shall not waste neither shall the cruse of oyle faile c. So provident is the Lord for such persons Ob. But now miracles do cease An. Yet the same providence doth still continue and wonders are wrought for such persons to this day doe we not see it Ps 105. v 17. ver 18. Have not some such active spirits of late bin like Ioseph as it were sold for servants and exiles Whose seet they hurt with fetters they were laid in irons But what 's the issue May we not goe on ver 19. Vntill the time came that their cause was known the Word of the Lord tried them ver 20. The King sent and delivered them the Peeres and the people let them goe free And hath the Lord done thus in our times already Then let all holy loyall active publike spirits know this that hee is still the same and his yeares doe not faile What need wee any more examples Psa 37 28. I conclude this Consolation with those words of the Psalme The Lord loveth iudgement and forsaketh not his Saints they are preserved for ever 3. Vse 3 EXHORTATION The third Generall Exhortation last and greatest Vse is a vehement Exhortation which must be divided into two parts the first Generall the last Particular 1. Generall Let all reall Christians and loyall Subjects bestirre themselves to the uttermost now or never to imitate these Israelites in my Text and Chapter 1. In the Chapter as before there is Ioshua and the chosen men being lawfully thereunto called fighting with idolatrous and implacable Amalek in the vally ver 9. 2. In the Text and bordering verses Moses ver 10 11 12. Aaron and Hur clime up to the top of the hill to pray and to encourage the rest Thus every one doth further the great publike worke either by himselfe or by others either immediately and directly or remotely and by consequence and so let us all set our selves against Amalek By Amalek I mean all spirituall and politike all forraigne and domestike all open and secret enemies of our God our Religion our King Kingdome Lawes and Reformation Loe here in my Text are both old and young high and low no age therfore no condition that is able may be exempted Exo. 7. v. 7. Exo. 33.11 For Moses Aaron and Hur they were aged men Moses was fourescore yeers old and Aaron fourescore and three when they spake unto Pharaoh Ioshua he was a young man Againe Moses was chiefe Magistrate Aaron the High-Priest there are both Nobles and Clergy and Hur with Ioshuah and his souldiers 1 Chro 2. â—0 may not unfitly represent the Commons the Army the Artificers and all For Hur was grandfather unto that famous Bezaleel Thus all estates and ages are representatively present and all present are active learne wee therfore this heart-lesson from the Text. Quest But how and what may we doe to be active and to hold up our hands to purpose against Amalek Answ In this generall part of mine Exhortation I shall prescribe some generall lessons meanes or directions to be observed If we would further the great work against Amalek then 1. Meanes 1 Looke we backe with shame and sorrow upon our former cowardize and pollutions Brethren these Ecclesiasticall and Civill Amalekits the popish and tyranicall faction have a long time bin unto the best of us but as those ensnaring Midianites to Israel While Israel abode in Shittim Num. 25.1 2 3 the people began to commit wheredome with the daughters of Moab which called the people unto the Sacrifice of their gods and the people are and bowed downe to their gods And Israel coupled himselfe unto Baal-Peor wherefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against Israel And thereupon command is given ver 17 18. to vex the Midianites and smite them for saith Moses they trouble you with their wiles wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor and in the matter of Cozbi c. We have eaten too much of their broth and have had our fingers many of us too deepe in the pye as they say by our connivance silence cowardize c. I speake this both to Ministers and people They have vexed us with their wiles wherewith they have beguiled us in the matter of 1. Of the Sabbath by their Antisabbatarian doctrines and commands and we have many of us yeelded too farre unto them both within booke and without It was the fashion you know of late to dismoralize the fourth Commandement that holy just and good law so strongly centered in the very heart of the Decalogue and so providently fenced and marked in the fore-head with a Memento Remember that law hath bin of late repealed by wicked men and then Antisabbaturianisme was become a stirrop to preferment But alas alas here lyes our shame and sorrow we have basely as it were held that stirrop to those men as that Emperour did to the proud Pope whilst they have mounted themselves into the saddle of prophanenesse Oh that ever the sincere and powerfull Ministers of the Gospell Gal. 2.11 12 13 14. should so farre be led away with the error of the ungodly that ever like Peter James and Barnabas they should walke with a limping or crooked foote and destroy againe the things which they had builded Well Brethren let us 1. Sit downe and pick these thornes out of our consciences Râ—v 16.15 2. Let us henceforth watch better and keepe our garments lest we walke naked and men see our shame 3. Let every one that hath bin thus seduced by feare or flattery let him Sampson like now revenge himselfe in an holy and loyall way upon those Midianitish-Amalekitish-Philistines for his eyes which they have put out let him put up one fervent prayer the more daily against them Let him presse if a Minister one Text one Sermon one â—â—se at least the more towards a pure and thorow reformation And as the Romane history faith of that Empresse when her husband Domitian was slaine she dealt one blow amongst the rest and said take that for the death of my Paris she spake and did that most unlawfully but let us as we may in a most loyall and Christian way give one stabbing prayer protestation exhortation the more against the wickednesse of such ungodly mâ—n and say lo that for your Antisabbatarianisme take this for the fourth Commandement Brethren this is the way to draw good out
the Heavens according to the colour of the â—lâ—ss so doth the Heaven seeme to be coloured Your judgements affections countenances touching that Court doe give aime and copies to them all both for their opinions speeches actions Therfore let it be your care to Countenance 2. Next Promote Parliamentary edicts and proceedings That is put on publish prosecute and execute all such new Edicts Orders and Commands especially touching Reformation as are sent and issued from them To instance there is a Vow or Protestation commended unto us by their practice and approbation there is An Order for the due observing of the Sabbath c. Now the promotion of all those and the like doe lye upon your charge and consciences in the first place and the neglect of them amongst us when once granted to you will be required at your hands Ye are our Civill watchmen see your duty Ezok. 33. each of you according to his place is our Moses to take the Lawes at their mouth and to declare them unto us that we may heare and doe them This is one weighty duty 3. Next Second them That is whilst they doe endeavour above to set right the great body of the Kingdome ye should labour here below to reforme your petty and particular Jurisdictions this would be no little furtherance to that great worke As petty brooks doe make up a River and many Rivers fill a Sea so Family-reformations make up Parishionall and all Parishionall ones doe fill up a Nationall and Vniversall 'T is a Proverb as true as ancient The way to have a cleane street is for every one to sweepe his owne doore So let the Magistrates and Officers in every County City Corporation Parish now sweepe their own severall Jurisdictions and then the great publike work of Nationall clensing will more easily succeed So much to Magistrates 2. Partiular Lesson may be to Ministers Brethren I confesse my selfe one of the last and least of all your Tribe but yet so cleere and necessary is this lesson that the meanest Embassador may nay must presse it upon us at this time suffer therefore the word of exhortation Now or never is the nick of time in which we ought to play the trumpeters Ezek. 33.3 c. to stirre and call men up to the helpe of the Lord in this great worke who knowes but that that God which did throw downe flat the walls of Jericho by the trumpets though meane ones of seven Priests going before the Arke I say Josh 6.20 who knowes but he may also be pleased to doe great things now by our poore service therefore let us up and be doing and if we doe need spurres in our sides because the way seems somewhat cragged let us consider these two or three Motives First looke we upon the eminent examples of our most ancient and famous Scripture-Predecessors in like times and cases I meane let us turne over the Histories of Deliverances and Reformations in Judah and there we shall find that their Prophets Priests and Levites were some of the greatest and most active instruments in both they were as it were the holy bellowes to blow up the refiners fire Let us take an instance or two to kindle us First in that Deliverance and Reformation in the beginning of young King Jehoash his raigne 2 Kin. 11. There good Jehojada the high Priest being thereunto called is the very primum mobile ver 4 5 c. the founder and finisher of that great worke yea that tripartite Nationall Covenant to which the Lord the King and the people were parties was contrived and perfected by his meanes 2 Chr. 29.3 So secondly in King Hezekiahs Reformation as the first thing that he beginneth withall is the Temple so the first persons that we find him consulting with ver 4. ver 5. they are the Priests and Levites He brought in the Priests and Levites and gathered them together into the East-street and said unto them Heare ye me ye Levites sanctifie now your selves c. Yea and for furthering that Covenant which he made these must be the cheefe men in the businesse ver 10. ver 11. Now it is in mine heart saith he to make a Covenant with the Lord God of Israel My sonnes be not now negligent for the Lord hath chosen you to stand before him to serve and that ye should minister unto him and burne incense 'T is no meane honour Brethren to be made some of the prime and immediate Ministers of the Lord in such great workes and yet alas I speake it to mine griefe and to the generall shame of our Tribe who more backward to set on Deliverance and Reformation now then are many of us The Protestation the Declaration for abolishing of Images c. how slowly how faintly are they executed Yea and the more dully I beleeve in many places because the execution of them partly depends upon the Minister Let all the true Embasâ—adours of Christ think upon this and be kindled 2. Another Motive may be this Our very Callings doe presse us hereunto Ezek. 33.2 c y Sam. 9.9 Isa 58.1 We are said to be Watchmen we are Seers yea we are called trumpeters as before and what is meant by all these but that it is our duty to descry publike evills and dangers to discover opportunities of good and so to call men off from the one and onward to the other 3. Thirdly this is a meanes both to settle and prosper us all in our functions and to entaile them and a blessing upon our posterities See how the Tribe of Levi came by their Ministeriall prerogative Exod. 33. When Aaron and the people had made a Calse for this great sinne justice must be executed ver 26. and Moses calleth for it Then Moses stood in the gate of the Camp and said who is on the Lords side let him come unto me And all the sonnes of Levi gathered themselves together unto him Being called they doe promote justice Hereupon see what a Reward and Blessing followed ver 27 28. Num. 3.5 6. First a Reward And the Lord spake unto Moses saying Bring the Tribe of Levi neere and present them before Aaron the Priest that they may minister unto him Deuâ— 33.8 Secondly a Blessing And of Levi he said let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one ver 9 whom thou didst prove at Massah c. Who said unto his Father and to his Mother I have not seene him neither did he acknowledge his brethren nor knew his owne children c. They shall teach Jacob thy Judgements ver 10. ver 11. and Israel thy Law they shall put incense before thee and whole burnt Sacrifice upon thine Altar Blesse Lord his substance and accept the worke of his hands smite thorow the loynes of them that rise against him and of them that hate him that they rise not againe There is a blessing with a witnesse See
19.14 ver 18. Elijah an holier man then thy selfe was mistaken in this point I even I onely am left Yet see the Lords answer I have left me seven thousand in Israel all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal c. Put forth therfore and try it there may be many more in the deck and nearer at hand then thou dreamest An. 2. Howsoever one man may do much 1. Iam. 5.16 ver 17. In his Person and that both spiritually and politiquely The effectuall fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much And example is given in the next verse Elias was a man subiect to like passions as we are and he prayed earnestly that it might not raine and it rained not on the Earth by the space of three yeares and six monthes And he prayed againe and the Heavens gave raine and the Earth brought forth her fruit Thus one man may pray a whole Kingdome both into faire weather and into foule into happinesse and out of it Num. 25.6 7 8. Phineas also was but one and yet what service did he for his Country in one act of Justice ver 1â— Saith God Phineas the sonne of Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the Priest hath turned away my wrath from the children of Israel while hee was iealous for my sake among them that I consumed not the children of Israel in my iealousie Thus one Orthodox Athanasius in former times stood it out against a whole world of Arrians and at last the streame was turned In a word all number doth consist of Vnites Vnitas fundamentum numeri and therefore if all should say after thee I am but one what would become of all greatest publike affaires Take all drops out of the Sea and the whole Ocean will be drained take away pence or farthings and there will be no pounds take unites away and there can be neither thousands nor hundreds 2. One man by Example may do very much Brethren 't is a great matter to breake the Ice I mean holily and loyally in a publike businesse 2 Sam. 23.11 Look upon that which is recorded concerning Shammah And after him was Shammah and the Philistines were gathered together into a troope where was a peece of ground full of Lentiles ver 12. And the people fled from the Philistines But he stood in the midst of the ground and defended it and slew the Philistines and the Lord wrought a great victory 'T is spoken in a military case but I doe apply it to a politike and civill Shammah as I conceive got not that victory by himselfe alone but rather by his valiant example so that the people which were before afraid of the Philistines did now seeing his valour take heart and turne againe In short see the Counter-counsell of honest Hushai 2 Sam. 17.14 c. how it brake the neck of Achitophell and of his policy And that exemplary valour of Jonathan and his Armour-bearer how did it open and lead the way to a very great victory against the Philistines The multitude melted away 1 Sa 14.13 14. ver 16. ver 20. and they went on beating downe one another And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves and they came to the battle and behold every mans sword was against his fellow Moreover the Hebrewes that were with the Philistines before that time which went up with them into the Camp from the Country round about even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan ver 21. Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in Mount Ephraim ver 22. when they heard that the Philistines fled even they also followed hard after them in the battell All this I alleadge only to shew how farre one or two private men may by their Active Example promote holily and loyally a publick great good work 3. A meane private person in his activenesse may expresse as much faithfullnesse and sincerity as the greatest and most prosperous Instrument in the Kingdome As we say concerning faithfullnesse in a mans particular calling that a poore Wench in the Kitchin walking conscionably in her place may serve the Lord as sincerely as a King upon his Throne So here a meane private person though a Mechanick or underling giving faithfull information of what he knows amisse may promote the great worke as heartily as the greatest good Instrument in Parliament Remember this and say not I am but one 2. OBIECTION But J am not of a publike spirit Answ 1. We must bring our spirits to the times and occasions under which we live This Objection was moved by Moses when the Lord called him to go to Pharaoh â—od 4.10 but it did not serve his turne O my Lord saith he J am not eloquent but I am slow of speech and of a slow tongue ver 11. See the Lords answer Who hath made mans mouth or who maketh the dumbe or dease or the seeing or the blind Have not I the Lord But Moses replyeth ô my Lord send I I pray thee by the hand of him whom thou wilt send See Gods answer againe ver 13. â—4 15 16 17 Is not Aaron the Levite thy Brother I know that he can speake well And thou shalt speake unto him and put words in his mouth and I will be with thy mouth and with his mouth and will teach you what ye shall doe And he shall be thy spokes-man unto the people In which words I find two answers more which I make my second and third Ans 2. The Lord can make thy spirit publique yea and he will doe so if thou wilt obey and try Now therfore goe and I will be with thy mouth â—er 12. and teach thee what thou shalt say So the Lord will quicken warme and enlarge thee Ans 3. God will raise up good seconds and fit consorts to draw with thee in the teeme as he did yoke Luther and Melancton in that great worke Like the Calidum and Humidum radicale the native heat and moysture in mans body which makes him vigorous and long-lived Ans 4. In a word there is no spirit so private but if imployed would make a knife or a whet-stone a shaft or a bolt Therfore stick not at this Objection 3. OBIECTION The want of one mans helpe can doe no great hurt Ans 1. Yes it may set back the scales If one vote in Parliament may carry a great work then the want of one elswhere may cause a great miscarriage Ans 2. The example of one mans dullnesse may draw many the same way because 't is down the hill Ans 3. Thou dost to thine uttermost for thy particular even hinder the whole worke for if it prosper no thanke to thee but if it sinck thou mayest be the sole cause 4. OBIECTION But I am a woman a weaker vessell and perhaps under covert barne and then what can I doe Answ I conceive that even those weaker vessels may now doe service yea double service 1. Immediately by and from themselves by their owne parts and purses if they are free from husbands Examples of the acts of that Sex even this way Iud 5. we find not a few in Scripture What is there recorded of Deborah and Iael in one Chapter But ye must know that such acts of their must not be imitated without like calling and warrant extraordinary Look also upon her of Tecoah what a strange thing did she effect for Absolom But above all these 2 Sam. 14. the wisdome of that woman of the City Abell is a famous example 2 Sam. 20. v. 16. to â—â— honour and encouragement to all her Sex She tooke off the head of Sheba and saved the whole City by her Prudence More testimonies might be brought but these are enough to prove that even the weaker vessels may doe much towards the publike great worke immediately 2. But perhaps they may do much more mediately and by others Perchance thou hast an Husband Father Brother or Sonne that is somewhat over-wary timerous Gen. 2 1â— 1 Sam. â—â— 37. slack or unactive then remember that thou wast given to be a meet helper It will be thy duty in such a case and time as this with thy choisest wisdome and humility to doe the office of a submissive Remembrancer in due place manner and season Yea thou art called to such a service Not only Abigail that had a Nabal did reason with him in a fit time and place concerning that which he had said to Davids servants But even the wife of Manoah it seems they were a godly paire she doth wisely support and quicken by her reasoning the timerous spirit of her husband in another case 〈◊〉 13.22 23 n. 4. â— 10 c. Also that good and great woman the Shunamite she did in love provoke her aged and indifferent husband in the behalfe of Elisha to entertaine him and prevailed with him to the great advantage of her Family In the last place therefore let us stirre up as many of this Sex as shall have opportunity to cast in their mite in-to the happy treasury of Hope they have souls too and children with precious souls to look after The good Lord give us understandings and hearts proportionable to the worke and to our hopes FINIS