and will contend for the Truth and yet not one Rev. 11. 7. Iesuited HEL-HOWND it is a Kings word contending with a Cardinall not one Catholicke murderer in our Hoste so hee hath bin accounted in all times and places making no more conscience to out his Kings throat then to cut a peece of bread These Irish Romish Catholiques universally bloody and monstrous Savages all the world over so brawned in cruelties are accounted now the only loyall Subjects ever since the Lord Christ hath taken to Himselfe great Power reigning more visibly upon the Earth demanding His Rights there And His faithfull Servants are resolved to give these Rights unto Him Whose they are not with-holding a hoofe nor dishonourably compounding His matters so forfeiting Truth for Peace but resolving to maintaine both with honour or an honourable warre ever since this contestation for Christ and His Truth Rebellion which is as the sinne of Witchcraft against God and His Christ hath been accounted obedience and loyall subjection And a true sense of Dutie to God and man and to doe thereafter even what God commands and will have done is accounted Rebellion and Treason both The comfort is Wisdome is justified of her children yes and in this point of all that are not unreasonable and wicked men The Truth is I could not beare this at such a time as this being to render a THANK-OFFERING in the Churches Name but I must Preface to it against such contradictions of Sinners and render the THANK-OFFERING free and the Churches Servants as cleared of these blackes as was the Snow in Salmon And what is wanting here shall be supplied else where for I will goe on from this Preface to another Treatise where by the helpe of God And His Law I shall cleare this very way wherin the Nobles have walked so spoken against now and blasphemed as a way of Rebellion and Treason to be the very way wherein all the Nobles that ever were in the world have walked who walked uprightly with God dealt faithfully with His people not treacherously and as Traitors to King and Kingdome and their owne souls for I have a most comprehensive mercy to treat on and enlarge upon which I may call the Abridgement of this last yeares wonders containing as in a most fruitfull wombe all nationall blessings which the Nobles and Worthies have hitherto or their children after them shall travell with and bring forth to the Nation And this they are compleating and in so excellent a way as that though we shall never say of it in this world the worke is done and compleated of that comprehension it is yet I say they have so orderly proceeded in it by that line and plummet afore-said of all the truly Noble that ever were on the Earth as that it is fully to the Mind of the Lord and the heart of the Nation And now let the Devill rage and his Servants roare for in that they glory though by a wofull prolepsis here in sport for hereafter in earnest when they and their King of the bottomlesse pit shall roare there to all eternity Let the Arabian Dukes with their companies of Sabeans let the noble Monsters of these dayes so they were called anciently who are Gentile and noble in the root but monstrously degenerate in the fruit of their conversation d Nequitiae sordibus imbuta Nobilia portenta Valer Max. l. 3. c. 5. let these doe their worst rob spoyle pillage shed bloud to their power yet by the helpe of God and the Law the worke shall be carried on and the work-men shall prosper and overcome by the bloud of the Lambe e Rev. 12. 11. But what is our worke now Worke and Pray or pray and worke no matter which is first so both goe together Worke with hand and mouth and heart and all We have a noble paterne before us of Work men who blessings be upon them both from above and beneath have offered themselves willingly to this worke and will very gladly spend and be spent for us in this worke though they may reade on the more abundantly they love us the lesse they are beloved f 2 Cor. 12. 15. But we have our patterne and we see our dutie worke we as men who can very gladly spend and be spent for this cause for it is His cause Who did say indeed and did as He said for Hâ—â— zeale eat Him up He was a whole burnt-offering I VVILL VERY GLADLY SPEND AND BE SPENT for you so it was indeed the cause of the Lord Iesus Christ Who was made for us a curse once That He might make us as He is blessed for ever having such an example before us and such a cause in our eye we will worke now or never VVorke we now as we are able and let the Lord worke as He pleaseth He will worke like Himself Truly He worketh wonderfully in all His peoples sight But if He wrought in the dark as sometimes He doth if His foot-steps are in the waters as M Bradford expresseth it a man can see no prints where His Hand is or which way His feet goe whither towards us or against us yet said that good man My hand and my spirit should worke after Him for I am sure I am in the way though I see it not my God goes right though I discerne not the path Worke we I say as we can and let the Lord worke as He will He doth worke gloriously and in sight worke wee and pray too else our worke is vaine and to no purpose worke we but say BLESSED BE GOD first Blessed be Thy Name for the Governours among the people and for them that offered themselves willingly It was because Thou commandest and so it is the North gives and the South keepes not backe Sea and Land comes in for Thy Churches helpe peace peace be to her helpers to deliver us from the Heathen that we may give thankes to Thy holy Name and glory in Thy praise Amen Now Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall still prosper that love her Pray in Prayer pray earnestly our children shall reape the fruit thereof if we doe not now for now we have reaped what our fore-fathers have sowne the fruit of the prayers of many Generations Pray we That the Lord would owne His owne cause certainly He will and so He doth but He must be sought unto for this and enquired after That His eyes would be for good upon His Children and servants all over the world for their eyes and hearts are set stedfast towards Him and His Jerusalem here below and there they fix waiting what God will doe at such a time as this and hearkning what God will speake now It is their confidence He will speake peace and doe according to His owne word give His Servants the opening of the mouth that the enemies may know HE IS THE LORDs The Churches all over the â— Ezek. â—â— 21. world are resolved now to
give their Lord no rest till He shall give them rest The Lord hath given His people thâ— greatest mercies which they prayed not for ELECTION before time His SON in the fullnesse of time How can He with Him denie His people any thing They forsake not their confidence there ore they are importunate with their friends as they have beene in former yeares the day of Jacobs troubles and treading downe saying Pray pray pray Pray for the King That the Lord would deliver his soule from the snare of the Hunter And pray for the Parliament who have sought the peace of the King and his Kingdomes as their â—wne peace nay more then so they have preferred it before their owne And seeing 't is cleare to every man that will see that thus they have done They have sought and wrought effectually for the peace that containes all of their King or the Salvation a comprehensive blessing of King and his Kingdomes for maintaining this Ship RELIGION wherein our lives our liberties our estates our peace and the Churches all over the world and our Generations after us are bottomed and maintained seeing I say their Care Piety Zeale is manifest to all men in the maintaining this Ship And all this by the line of the Law the Plummet of right Reason the Rule of their Lords will Seeing we know it to be so and doe know also in all our hearts and soules That not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord hath spoken concerning His people Nor any of Iosh 24. 14. 1â— the evill things which He threatned against His enemies but all came to passe We will close with the word of the Lord which He hath spoken to the heart of all His faithfull Servants in all Generations I VVILL BLESSE THEM THAT BLESSE Gen. â—2 3. THEE and CURSE HIM THAT CURSETH THEE even so Lord let the curse they have called for fall upon the wicked but Thou hast promised this goodnesse unto Thy Servants Now therfore Let it please Thee to blesse the house of Thy Servants that they and their house may be before Thee for ever For Thou blessee 1 Châ— 17. 26 2â— O Lord and it shall be blessed for ever Amen and Amen THE CHVRCHES THANK-OFFERING To GOD Her KING and the PARLIAMENT CHAP. I. Recording thanking praising an high imployment who fit for it how great the engagement to it who the fountaine of mercies whence received thither returned SECT I. Thankes-giving and praise a sacred imployment THe old manner was that a certaine number were appointed to record to thanke and to praise the Lord God of Israel a 1 Chron. 16. â— These must bâ— Levites such as did minister before the Arke of the Lord. It was a sacred imployment a worke as some Psalmes are of Degrees To Record was the lowest and required little clevation of spirit To Thanke was an higher Degree and commanded more life of affection To Praiâ—e that it to sing the high praises of our God there comes in Selah a winding-up of the spirit to the highest It may be said What need all this Such a livelinesse of affection Such an activity of spirit to thank and to praise God It is as ordinary a thing and as easie a worke as is done in the world Kings of the Earth and all people Princes and all Iudges of the Earth both young-men and Maidens Old men and children b Ps 148. 11 12. All these doe as they are commanded they thanke the Lord and praise Him too if we could heare the afore-mentioned speaking one after another we should heare nothing but Thankes and Praise I am in health saith one I thanke God I am increased and prosper in the world saith another I praise God I have had many crosses and troubles in the world I blesse my God They have well spoken in all that they have said but ô that there were such an heart c Deut. 5. 29. All creatures praise God for so they are commanded Dragons and all deepes c. Beasts and all Cattell creeping things and flying soule all praise Him in their kind But man is a more excellent Creature he stands charged to doe it in a more excellent manner els as good not done he hath a tongue for that end and called his glory and yet the fewest of all doe praise God as they should and all because they thinke it so easie and ordinary a worke to praise Him whereas tongue and heart both must be well tuned for this work for it is the most heaven-like of all the services perform'd by Man here below As to Praise is comely so is it a clean pure heavenly lasting action None but the Righteous whose hearts are cleansed from sinne and emptied of Selfe they onely doe it the upright in heart d Ps 33. 1. Ps 119. 7 and what they doe now on Earth they shall doe hereafter in Heaven it is their worke to all Eternity SECT II. Who the Person is that is fit for this worke VVE must then find-out a fit person for this worke so high an imployment a person that can doe it to purpose decently and in order that ministers before the Lord continually they that walke with Him cleave to Him trust in Him the people of God such as feare Him onely serve Him onely so walking in his wayes These many are but one one House one Body so single they in conversation so usefull they in their communion each with other as members one of another And so I shall take them all under a single Notion as one person whom I shall properly call the Church The Church indeed e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having more then a name for that and no more is nothing She hath a Name that she lives and she doth live and this life is the more spiritfull and active because as light was brought out of the wombe of darknesse so her life from death She was dead but she is now alive and lives for ever her life being hid with Christ in God f Col. 3. 3. A very fit person for such a worke an heavenly worke an heavenly person who might she deliver her own words with her own mouth would doe it exactly well but howsoever she will doe it decently and in order after she hath told us her ingagement to the worke how she doth record it and to whom she payeth the tribute of praise and thankes SECT III. The Churches engagement to record to thanke to praise HItherto all fits very well the Person and the Worke. Now see the engagement thereunto that 's very strong and binding For behold how great the loving kindnesses are how rich the mercies how marvellous the workes which the Lord hath done for this Nation whereof in due place and conveyed to it through the hands of man It is God Who makes two of one mind in one house and the same God Who hath made two Houses one to goe together
be destroyed Counsels hid in the dark discovered and a Breach made-up great as the Sea so as the Lord alone shall be exalted in that Day THe people that doe know that is doe feare and rely upon their God shall be strong and doe exploits So it was in dayes of old Dan. 11. 32. So it will be to the end of the World Please you we will remember a sacred Story and consider it with our whole heâ—rt and with our whole soule Time vvas vvhen our Grand-fathers dwelt in seiled houses while they let the house of God lye waste Every man ranne after that is was very earnest in his owne affaires but the affaires of the Church no man regarded much vvorke was done but no Temple-worke The Lord by His Prophet Haggai admonisheth and reproveth for this correcteth and punisheth too bids them consider the order and method they tooke whether things vvere done decently and in order all for themselves their private wealth nothing for God and the Common gâ—od and how they prospered in their contrary way vvhither God vvalk'd not contrary to them also Shame devoured their labors a Ier 3. 24. there was a SWORD and a DROVGHT b â—er â—â— 38. upon all they had and upon all they did They vvere in a deepe consumption They eat and they dranke and yet pined away c Hag. 1. 1â— â—er 6. They laboured but in the fire Wages they earned but they put it into a bagg with holes much they did but nothing prospered After many â—ore and sharpe stroakes for man vvill not be made vvise but by blowes they began to looke up and consider their vvay vvhich vvas not right yet they thought to prosper in it but it was not possible At last they considered and thought thus if God does all and gives all richly to enjoy if He be the best and highest Master and payes the best vvages The greatest reason in the vvorld His vvorke should be done first and so like wise and considering Men they fell to Gods worke ranne as fast to His House as before to their owne This the Lord tooke very kindly as His manner is and ordered it so that is His manner too for His vvrath is quickly appeased when He sees Men but look STEDFASTLY to Him and His House that their own house should not fare the vvorse they should sensibly see now a strange alteration in things as a SWORD and a DROVGHT before upon every thing so now a BLESSING a shewer of BLESSINGS Yes but they must wait for it No no waiting now Behold presently a shewer of blessings that Gods people may for after times lift up their feet in Gods way observe good order and method there still to begin vvith God and temple-Temple-work call it vvhat you vvill Religion if you please From this Day that the Foundation of the Lords Temple was layed CONSIDER IT d Hag. 2 18. What must they consider It followes FROM THIS DAY WILL I BLESSE YOV from that moment of time when they minded Gods worke to doe it I WILL BLESSE YOU saith the LORD If ever GOD made good this Scripture to His people in after ages then now He hath fulfil'd it even in our days Every man can make application for from this Day the Lord hath blessed you you must prosper now and doe exploits for you goe on now in the strength of a COVENANT and in the strength of the prayers of all those that are in Covenant with you and that â—s an ALMIGHTIE strength Yâ—u have given forth your MALE the first Borne of your strergâ—h to manage the great things of HEAVEN assuredly from this Day the Lord hath blessed you You have found vvherein the strength and spirits of the businesse lyeth now these are contained in Religion very â—fficâ—ciâ—us in vvorking and a mighty binder as vvas said ye have bound yâ—ur selves to Gâ—d and God to you now ye shall gâ—e on as valiant men in the strength of God and with His increase and â—lâ—ssing Though you should heare in after time the multitude of many people a Esa 17. 12 13. vvhich make a noyse like the Seas and a reshing like the rushing of mighty waters Then shall ye see also that God vvill rebuke them and they shall flee faire off and shall be chased as the chaffe of the Mounâ—â—ins before the vvinde and like a rowling thing before the whirle-winde c. For it followes but I forbeare for I must keepe my selfe within the bounds of this WONDERFULL YEARE This is but to shew that you have chosen a way to walk-in and a rule to walke by called the WAY of HOLINESSE the Lord keepe you in it and to it it is a cleare an holy a sâ—â—e an uneâ—ring way The way faring men though FOOLES shall not erre therin b Esa 35. Ye may fall into the straits there as was said ye may be troubled on every side yet not distressed perplexed ye may be but not in despaire c 2 Cor 4 8. as you reade ye may meet vvith a Lyon in that way persecuted ye may be but ye shall not be forsaken The Lord whose ye are and whom ye serve and have engaged your hearts so to doe the greatest security that Earth or Heaven can give is yours now will carry you through all His NAME His GLORY is engaged too and make ye more than Conquerours at the last But for the present we are to Record yet farther what GOD hath wrought by you or vvhat you have wrought with GOD this Day vvhere you will see and take good notice what an easie passe or slide you had unto businesse as they have whom God will lead and prosper from this very Day the Lord did blesse you Take a short view of the works in the same order they were done so the Church will render you an account and an acknowledgement together very short in these particulars ¶ 8. Then from that Day ye marched valiantly ye trod down strength ye had Dominion over the Mighty d Iud. 5. ye troubled the Troublers and the Destroyer was destroyed Then no power of the adversary could with-stand you from that Day ¶ 9. Then from that Day ye found out the treacherous Priests and their Babylonish garments then you were to the poore Ministers as your good God before you you took off the yoake on their jaws and to the people you laid meat unto them h Hos 11. 4. Then you pursued your Adversaries to their strong-holds and you beat them there with their owne weapons Indeed their owne weapons weapons of unrighteousnesse were as Goliahs Sword to the Giants of the Earth as M. Dearing called them long agoe who searched the Scripture whether things were so and would take poyson from no mans hand Ye found these men overcome to your hand bound fast with the cords of their owne sinne as a wild Bull in a Net the Lord give them to feele it for their good full of
great wrath The Enemy comes in like a flood with open mouth to devoure all REMEMBER the Lord Who is GREAT His Spirit will set up a Standard against them r Esa 59. 19. When the sonnes of Belial do as their Name imports breake bands and cast away coards then the Lord will laugh Å¿ Psal 2. And then said Luther well he would not cry like a child he would be merry as a Man and sing for joy of heart the 46. Psalm For he remembred the Lord WHO IS GREAT It follows and TERRIBLE To his Adversaries fury to them t Isa 59. 18. and He has them under His feete already like unto fine brasse u Rev. 2. 15. and He can stampe them to pouder but He is patient He will endure a little while their wrigling sooner then you can a worme under yours Nay you have had assurance ever since the dayes of Joshua x Josh 10. 25. That you shall set your feete upon them too It seemes the Lord is fulfilling this good word to you now nay doubtlesse He hath fulfilled it even now He hath done as He promised to His worme Jacob He hath taken you a company of wormes yee are no better worme-like men He hath given you armes of steele and feete like brasse and you have threshed the Mountaines like straw and have come upon the Princes as upon Morter and as the Potter treadeth clay y Isa 41. 15 25. Thus the Lord hath done Who is GREAT and TERRIBLE even now in all the peoples sight Remember Him you cannot be afraid And remember where you are And yet as one saith a Nihil interest ubi sitis in saeculo qui extra saeculum estis Tert. ad Martyres chap. â— no matter where you are in the world who have your thoughts above the world and managing the great things of Christ there But yet to tell you what you know and what your security is you are in Gods hand b Deut 33 3. Now put all together and consider on it God He is GREAT and TERRIBLE He is your God you are His by covenant you are in His hand your enemies under His feete nay under your foote The Result from hence is A Glorious Dependance upon this Lord Who is Great yea a TRUST FOR EVER in Him Who is EVERLASTING STRENGTH c Isa 26. 4. and that is a sure ground for EVERLASTING CONFIDENCE That though the earth should shatter to peeces and the mountaines be taken off from their everlasting foundations yet God is good to Israel you shall not be greatly moved your head may ake but you may repose it in the Lap of your EVERLASTING FATHER certainly He will sustaine you you may lay your selves downe in peace He will make you dwell in safety The enemy shall not be able to come neare you to doe you hurt no nor to sad your spirits who in all this time have not spoken one word whereby to sad the heart of the Righteous Yee must the promise is so d Isa 65. 13 14. reioyce when the Adversary shall be ashamed yee must sing for ioy of heart when your enemies must howle for vexation of spirit your Name must be a blessing theirs a curse This is glorious matter for faith to worke upon it will make you pray in the Holy Ghost You need not be entreated to take leisure for that it is the very breath of faith and it hinders nothing at all but sets forward businesses exceedingly it makes them glide-on I give my selfe to prayer said David e Ps 109. 4. when he was in the very case you are in f ver 2 3. He made prayer his worke what ever he was doing and so his worke slided-on he had an easie passe through all hee could leape over this wall and that mountaine was a plaine before him and his enemies were given into his hands for he gave himselfe to prayer What ever we omit we must not omit prayer It commands your Marke that betwixt the Kings Question to Nehemiah and his Answer there is a prayer his Answer was as ready as the Question was but he would pray first q Neh. 2. 4. A hint only is enough to wise men Your prayer shall be short you may lengthen it in your closset pray as Nehemiah did he beleeved as you doe and you have done as he did and you have as many enemies as he had and so envious against you They would make you afraid too they would weaken your hand from the work that it be not done pray now THEREFORE O GOD STRENG THEN OUR Ne. 6. 9. HAND AND REMEMBER US O OUR GOD FOR GOOD Now there is a voice gon up that never returnes in vaine and cryes aloud in the eares of the Lord like the sound of many waters saying AMEN Mercy and Truth be with you AMEN And the God 2 Sam. 15. 20. of both these give you favour in the eyes of the Man Amen wipe not out the good deeds that you have done for the Ne. 13. 14 22. house of your God and for the Offices thereof AND SPARE YOU ACCORDING TO THE GREATNESSE OF HIS MERCY AMEN AMEN The PREFACE clearing the way through this Treatise and the READERs understanding touching the proceedings in Parliament the clearnesse of the Lawes and Iustice therein his Knowledge also of the times and cleare WILL of GOD and what Israel ought to do notwithstanding the contradictions of sinners and crosse wils of Malignant Men. Reader IVnderstand well the use and Law of a Preface it should containe no more but what could not be put into the booke that is observed here And yet it will be very large and that I could not helpe I have an hundred sheets tending much the same way this Treatise goes If a Providence should call forth all or any part of it I might trouble thee with an Epistle but never more with a Preface How willingly I would have forborne it here I know and God knows but then I strongly conceived I had left thee in the darke but now I shall shew thee the way in much clearenesse if thou wilt not blind-fold thy selfe and render thee in the close a Thankefull man This is the tendency and purpose of all this And so that thou mayest reade with profit understanding what thou readest and then shew thy selfe an understanding man I shall endeavour to cleare the way before thee and give thee cleare resolution to the matters in debate some more easie and quickly resolved other some more hard and admitting more contention 1. Touching the Person who offers Thankes that is easily cleared 2. Then the Thank-offering there will be the knots for Collegiate men the Eyes of the Land these are set against it and some say the Law also we must examine their reasons and cleare the proceedings against these men and that will take up some time 3. In the last place the Method the clearing of that is very
necessary but it will bee quickly done I shall now dâ—ssolve a continued Discourse into a Dialogue The first Doubt to be resâ—lved is 1. Ob. I personate the Church here an excellent and glorious woman whose cloathing is as we reade a Rev. 12. 1. And is it not presumption in me the lowest and vilest of ten thousand to take upon me to be the mouth of the Church Ans No for first it could not be otherwise None but the upright b Ps 33. 1. 119. 7. in heart the Church can render a THANK-OFFERING acceptable to the Lord. The Divell and his servants neither can nor vvill They can curse and blaspheme that they can and vvill doe Thanke and Praise God that they will not they cannot doe The Churches heart is prepared she can arise and give thankes they and they onely can call upon all that is within them to blesse His holy Name c Ps 103. 1. And if they like good Stewards are not carefull at this point to maintaine their Lords Royalty and Right his Tribate and Impost their Lord will loose all Thankes and Praise both And that is all He lookes for for all His rich mercies and glorious workes done to the children of men Therefore His children vvill looke narrowly at this point That they faile not therein 2. Ob. I am here the mouth of the Church hee must have her spirit that knows her mind How doth silly man know vvhat the Church will say Ans Yes very vvell though in some cases the well is deepe and I have no bucket to draw and in this case I cannot dive into the bottome nor attaine to the height of her expressions being so filled with the Holy Ghost Yet I know her mind so farre that I can more then guesse at what she will say He that hath but a common light I doe not say I have more very ordinary abilities cannot but conceive the subject-matter of such a worke and the manner of prosecuting the same very well He must conceive also unlesse he hath put out all his eyes inward and outwaâ—d every one that the Church considers and ponders these marvellous workes in her heart wrought for her and conveyed to her by the hands of her Lord and King for what ever the conveyance is the Church lookes up to her Lords hand Surely he cannot but thinke and know that the Church accounts these workes wonderfull and her recording thanking praising all these must hold an answerablenesse too the man whose eyes were a little opened what oâ— him See how he was taken with the wonâ—erâ—ull administrations of God towards His people seeing none of his inchantments nor Divinations could take and heare his words How Numb 23. 23. goodly are thy Tents O Iacoâ— and thy Tabernaâ—â—es O Israel As the valleyes c. for it containes much He hath the strength of an Unicorne c. Blessed is he that blesseth Thee and cursed is he that curseth Thee d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 24 5 6. 8 9. Looke ye Balaam could â—ay this and yet his eyes were but a little opened and presently shut again Covetousnes had closed them he loved the wages of iniquity and yet the workes of God towards His Church dazeled his eies they were so glorious in his sight and made him breake out to admiration Certainly such have beene Gods workes so strange so wonderfull so glorious towards His Church this Yeare so as the blind and the lame and the foole must say now WHAT HATH GOD DONE Surely even These men must know that Thou Whose Name alone is JEHOVAH art the most High over all the Earth e Ps 83. 18. These are forced now to ascribe strength unto God saying His excellency is over Israel and His strength is in the clouds O God Thou art terrible out of Thy holy places the God of Israel is Hee That giveth strength and power unto His people Blessed be God f Ps 49. 34 35. It is no presumption then to doe as all should doe and as fools are forced to doe no nor boldnesse neither for secondly The Lord knowes with what care and diligence I have done this if it may be said it is done for he that comes after and does much more with more skill and more strength of parts will not haply say of such a worke as this it is done and yet I may say with care and labour enough and with feare too much least something should slip out unbeseeming a Thank-offering or the person presenting the same And not to belie the worke the Lord knowes with what SEEKING also out of myselfe unto HIM and when there was no answer in supply of strength then I wrought with the strength of a man and did drive heavily He will find it thus that reades over the worke and then finding something that is good he will saie THE FINGER OF GOD IS HERE and he will make much of it where he finds weaknesse for I will not call it bad or â—ll there he findes a man and no more no matter how he deales with him so he remembers himselfe and considers That in many things we offend all and he that offends not in his tongue especially when he speaks much the Pen is but the tongue in print is a perfect man And this may suffice to cleare the answer to the first Doubt That any man who hath common principles may know the mind of the Church at this point what her Sonnes and Daughters will doe now at this time now that their Lord hath dealt so like Himselfe so graciouslâ— with His people We have heard what Balaam said a vile person blinded with covetousnesse an Aliant from the Common wealth of Israel and a stranger to their joy Who knowes not then what the Church will say for whom her Lord hath wrought such Deliverances as these And now Reader supposing thee no Malignant one but alooker on the affliction in the day of calamity a Obad. 13. not knowing what side to turn to nor which way to take because of the Dilemma of the Time so thou saist for which way soever thou shalt turne a horne may meet with thee and push thee yea gore thy sides so thou sayest in effect Let me tell thee now in much love though in plaine English That thou dost not seeme to have so much Logick as a Dogge hath for when he comes to the place where two or more wayes meet his little Logick serves his turne and reselves him which way the Beast went I know thou hast more Logick but certainely thou hast made no use of it hitherto Try thy skill now and put Reason to it that is naturall Logick Aske thy selfe now which way goes the BEAST I meane the Pope and all his sworne sâ—rvants Thou needest not smell here though the savour of the Beast is very strong thy eye â—â— ill tell thee which way go all the Atheists and Papists all over the Christian world All the Prelates
is for we worke for a good Master * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. He shall have the greatest reward who workes not for a reward Isid pâ—ll l 2. p. 184. But I speak to them that will bargaine with their Lord and well know their wages else will dee no work I demand of these why should this Discourage them in their studies or cut them short in their hopes that some men with their Et ceteraâ—s shall not be â—uffered any longer to ingrosse or inclose the rich and fat pastures of the Earth to eat the fat and creame of the Land as those their Bâ—ethren before them Abby-lubbers evill-beasts flow-bellies have done while the good Schollars feed upon a poore pittance the while nay are almost starved I pray â—â—u might not good Schollars picke out many a good bit from such a place as â—auâ—s were it rid of these c. and their singing men And a very good riddance how well might they bee spared no fitter some of theâ— for a Church then a Swine for a Parlour And yet we doe not thinke that there ought to be an equall divident an equall dâ—stribution of honours and preforments in the Church but according to Desert and proportion in gifts yet we thinke the Proverbe hath some use here They are merry in the Haâ—l when beards wagg all And not when the one table have their full messes even to a surfitting and vomit the other none at all or in no proportion And so much to the complaint touching Church livings now touching Church-men Ob. a Titularis noÌ„ Tuâ—elaris Rex desuit non praesuit reipublicae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naz. complained that in his time they were made Bishops who made themselves the basest servants servants to their lusts ep 10. They cannot give thanks to the high Court for they have cast forth of the Church their Church-men Ans Church-men As the Iudges the chiefesto them were Common-wealths men they so sought their owne private-wealth that they left the poore subject nothing he could call hiâ— own but his misery So these Church-men they called out the Church the Church when they stabâ—ed her to the veâ—y heart Put we these together for they be Mâ—â—ches Church-men and Common-wealths men then you may saie worse of them then was said of Chilperickâ—d a bad King of Franâ—e my English will not be so good as the Latine but too good for them He was a nursing Father not in deed but inâ—rame so He was set over the Common-wealth as a golden head there but he did not the office of an head of a foot rather and so stamped the Common-wealth to powder These good men are cast-out and good reason for they were as unsavourie salt neither fit for the Land nor yet for the Dung-hill but men cast it out a Luk. 14. 34. as the unprofitable wood of the fruitlesse vine were they meet for any vvorke b Ezech. 15. 4. But who cast them out and how It is worth our labour the inquiring out Surely the Lord God did it the God of recompences for the controversie of His Zion c Esa 34. 8. He did it even by His owne right-hand But so and there we set a marke as their owne mischiefe did returne upon their owne head And Ps 7. 16. his violent dealing came dovvne upon his ovvne pate The conclusion is The Lord cast them out by the helpe and violence of their owne hands It is true and but equitable That we should give all dues to man here for he was a noble and glorious instrument in Gods hand for the effecting this worke and disburthening the Church of these oppressours but we must resolve all into Gods Hand and unto the violence that was found in their owne hand It was the Lord That BENT Judah d Zach 9. 13. for Himselfe and FILLED the BOWE vvith Ephraim we may fitly allude to that place He hath raised up thy sonnes from the North and from the South O Zion against thy false sonnes and made them as the SWORD of a mighty man against those mighty Adversaries His arrovv vvent forth as the lightning against them He went out with VVHIRLE-WINDS of the South and North a CONTINUING k Ier. â—0 23. Whirlevvind and it fell vvith paine on the head of the vvicked We may reade on The fierce anger of the Lord shall not returne untill He hath done it and untill He performe the intents of His Heart For see what the intents of these Church-men were against the Lord even to make His Land desolate and His Church forsaken To set Ephraim against Manasses and Manasses against Ephraim snatching on the right hand and on the left so eating every man the flesh of his ovvn arme And yet their wrath is not turned away no not yet The same e Ier. â—0 23. ver 24. Esa 9. 20. malice boyles still and runnes over This is their worke at this Dait and these the intents of their hearts That the sword may be bathed in our HEAVEN That the Land may be filled with blood from corner to corner Observe againe what they have done and how they have prepared their own way for the bringing in the Deluge of wrath They have let the vineyard of the Lord lie waste and have broken downe the Hedge now a Serpent has bit them according to the threat f Eccl. 10. 8. removed the ancient Land marke made the Heritage of the Lord as a speckled bird g Ier. 12. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vol. bom 31. exposed it to the spoyle of Foxes and to grievouâ— Wolves Here Chrysostomes words would astonish them were they well pondred on I will but point at them in the margent h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. in Ep ad 1 Cor. 3 Hom. 3. The same Father doth make it cleare to the whole world even now i That they have taught yea commanded Atheisme all over their Diocesses so Preachers doe saith the Father indeed they preach not at all when they spend an houre in a daie in Chrysostomes daies they preached every Daie in laying the Foundation of Repentance from dead workes and of Faith towards God k Heb. 6. 1. And the rest of the Day and whole weeke after turne their backes upon what they said in a lewd and wicked carriage This makes their hearers Atheists it commands l Suadeâ— lingua iubet vita Gen. 18 19. An example hath the vertue of a Command nay it is a Compulsion Cogi cos dicit qui exemplo Petri iudaiâ—abaâ—t Gal 2 14. Beza Atheisme and so we have a little of that much whereby the Father reproves the blasphemie of Ministerâ— in his Daies whose examples destroyed what their preaching built up and so they taught flat Atheisme Our Church-men have done so too as is cleare to all the world and their judgement will be as manifest Now the Lord is beginning with them noâ— is the yeare of Gods
those that must take a liberty of controuling offenders Ye have well considered all thâ—s Ye have begun to reforme in your owne hearts and families This is the true method of proceeding â—ccâ—rding to the Order and a Statute in Israel Ye are the Lords Host His Warriours His Worthies They that fight his battels must keep themselves from every wicked thing a Deut. 23. â— That is the Order The judgement upon breach of that Order ye may reade â—ud â—o And he that reades and considers will conclude his Duty thence That a true and orderly Reformâ—r reformes at he me first and in his owne heart then his Family That the one may be kept as the Temple of the living God The other ordered as the Church of Christ And he that considers it not as amongst many more then one there may be This Scripture will have a keene edge against him which we may reade with some alteration in the words but none in the sence Thâ—u therefore who correct est another correct est thou not thy self b Rom. 2. 21. Thou who seemest to reforme abroad reformest thou not at home Certainly there the Reformer begins when he begins decently and in order Great and mighty reason there is that he should doe so and pressed upon you all by the Captaine of your Hoast The very same that was for the Hoast of the Lord going forth against the Lords enemies The Lord your God walketh in the midst of your Camp to deliver up your enemies before you therefore shall your Hoast your House your Court your Deut. 23. Camp your Fleet be holy that He see no uncleane thing in you and turne Ver. 14. away from you The Church hath told you your engagement now she will tell her engagement to you Great reason the Church should record your labour of Love worke of Faith patience of Hope for in all these you have been abundant The greatest reason in the world she should be exceeding thankfull for you have been exceeding carefull How you have oft refreshed her You were not ashamed of her Chaine when she was in Rome you sought her out very diligently and sound her h 2 Tim. 1. 16. Mat. 4. 1. The Churches prayer is The Lord grant that you and yours may find mercy of the Lord in that day What Day A Day that shall burne like an Oven nay more terrible then so A Day when the wicked shâ—ll be at their wits end for expectation and call to the Hils to fall upon them O it is a mighty matter to find mercy of the Lord in that Day that terrible Day that all searching all quickning all opening all manifesting Day I cannot expresse what a mercy it is to find mercy in that Day But so the Church prayes That you may finde mercy in that Day That you may lift up your heads with joy in that Day Behold Him in that Day Whom your soule loveth Whom you serve Whom you feare and Whose Rights you have maintained with all your might So the Church prayes And good reason the Church should pray so That you may find mercy in that Day for in this Day in how many things you have ministred to her her Lord knowes she knowes not but in very many that she knowes and she doth Record them with rejoycing And she wisheth you prosperity in the Name of the Lord that you may ride on with your honour and doe valiantly The greatest Reason that can be She should wish even so your prosperity for therein are involved Peace and Truth the safety and prosperity of the whole Kingdome I must observe as they call it decorum Personae The Church is never lavâ—sh or large in praises to Man She likes not to strike much upon that string least it should affect too much and make too sweet Musicke in the eare Yet She cannot but adde this and then She will put in for Caution That many Parliaments have done worthily Many very worthy deeds have been done for the Nation thereby but you have exceeded them all Indeed you have done so much so many worthy deeds that as was said wittily the Church may say truly You have made the Church the greatest Vsurer in the World for you have turned all her estate into Obligations Truly She hath nothing She dares call her owne all her Estate lyeth in Bonds indeed whereby She is tyed fast to her King and You. She thanks you heartily so well content is She with her Bonds her Estate is good enough and sure enough and rich enough her Bonds are her Freedome and her Riches both SECT IV. Abundant Thanks and Praise tickle the eare therefore the Church puts in Caution for that FOr Caution now and there is need of it For we low men can exalt man very high and give him high praises more then is comely We can say That Gods are come downe to us in the likenesse of men and we can offer sacrifice unto them such as is only due to God And so mighty men have fallen even by the applause of man as well as by the tickling of their owne hearts This is a dainty point man had need to looke on strait lest he trespasse upon Gods peculiar Right which he may doe before he is aware I will ascend above the heights of the clouds I will be like the most High so the great King of Babel thought and spake in the pride of his heart i Iâ—â— 1â— And yet we doe not conceive that he thought himselfe able to clamber up above the clouds and there set himselfe in the Throne of God He was not so brutishly confident as to thinke so We find him guilty but of stout words against the Lord and high thoughts and so we also may though we thinke not so ascend above the height of the clouds too For I borrow M. Perkins words which will explaine Perk. on Gen. â— 21. c. 5. sect 1. these we may doe all this two wayes First When we thinke we have power of our selves whereby we can match or countervaile the power of God This thought riseth in the heart very often when we trust in our Mountaine and it is a strong City and an high Wall in our conceit k Prov. 18. 1â— and in our counsell and strength that it shall prevaile against God Secondly When we take to our selves the honour of God and thinkâ— it our owne proper due Such thoughts as these rise very often in good hearts but upon wiser thoughts they put it from them as a cursed thing and give not place by subjection thereto no not for a minute They can consider with all their hearts how stout those words are we have read and how high and abominable such thoughts But yet we may note That the wisest have not alwayes these wise and considering thoughts before they be beaten into them first by some sore affliction whereby they are put into feare and know to purpose That they are
neare as can be in this world That her Lord and Christ may be if not All in All yet above all Beloveds the chiefest of ten thousand Why then all those things She thought against her were for her promoting her good very much Therefore Shee doth record that time and speaks of it with rejoycing finding by many good experiences That there is no Condition how uncomfortable soever but what is ordered according to Righteousnesse and faithfulnesse This ceâ—tains much we will then proceed in it SECT II. As the Righteous now doe so have all done before them They have recorded Dayes of Trouble for that was a meanes to settle them the faster on their Rocke and have been thankefull for their Hell here for that made them looke for Heaven where it is THe Church must remember the former yeares when they called her Marah because the Almighty had dealt very bitterly with her d Ruth 1. 20. She cannot passe-over that Time as if a Time let forth like water to waste Plowing and harrowing time is as seasonable for the Church as it is for the fallow-ground and she doth record that time thankfully and with an heart full of Praises for the deeper the furrowes are and the longer the fuller the Sheaves will bee at the Harvest Chrysostomes words are remarkably notable Evermore in your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys Hom. 10. Col. 3. See â—hil 4. 6. prayers give thankes for knowne and unknowne mercies for mercies which appeare to you so to be and such which appeare not for mercies you received with a willing mind and for those which God did for you against your will be exceeding thankfull for them For your good things your comforts your refreshments your strange Deliverances your rich mercies yea and for your lucida intervalla for your well nights and your good daies Yes who would not be thankfull for all this All are not nay the fewest of many But the Father hath not rais'd up his children to the height of thankfulnesse yet You must be thankfull for your turbida intervalla sicke dayes and wearisome Nights for your aches and your paines for your troubles in and to the flesh the knotty racking Gout the tormenting Stone the bloudy torturing Strangury the burning Fever In a word you must be thankfull for your Hell here For Hell who can be thankfull for that they that are of another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Humb. 14. 24. spirit Their Hell here made them not to looke for Heaven here vvhich else they had done though they have their Lords expresse word for it In the world yee shall have tribulation in Mee peace e Ioh. 16. 33. Their Hell here made them to lift up their heads and stretch forth their necks * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8. 19. and to stand as it were on tip-toes so earnestly looking after things which are not seene And this earnest expectation of glory hereafter even to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the Land of the living this assurance of hope caused their very Hell here to seeme a very light affliction and its continuance very short but for a night an houre nay but for a moment a little small moment â— Cor. 4. 17. To conclude Their Hell here made them flee from the vvrath to come and that is hell indeed and the sense thereof raised up their thoughts and endeared Christ unto them the chiefest now of ten thousand O how precious are their thoughts concerning Chrâ—st A drop of vvrath burnt their flesh and vvas sore upon them though but for a night how are their heâ—rts enlarged after Christ vvho redeemed their soule out of all adversity and from the vvrath to come I have added a short paraphrase on Chrysostomes vvords he goes o◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Châ—yâ— Tâ—m 6. â—e 〈◊〉 judic and gives us an example I knew a man said hâ— a very pious Man he vvas vvho prayed thus as vve have heard and the first vvord vvas Thankes and that he first thanked his good God for vvas for his afflictions his Hell here So vve have that vve come for so fitted to this place vvhich is They put afflictions into the Catalogue or Register of Gods mercies and in the first pâ—â—ce Indeed it is no haâ—d matter to open the mouth in vvay of Thankefullnesse for the gooâ— things of this life as vve call them but to be thankefull for the â—vils that is an hard taske but yet the daily vvorke of a true Christian SECT III. The Church recordeth her evill Dayes when Shee saw Affliction HEnce we also may learne our Duty and see our patterne for according thereunto the Church Records and Thankes her Lord for her afflictions her pressures her tribulations her anguish her sorrows She gives thanks for her nights of mourning as wel as for her morning joy for her Aegypt in this life as well as for her Goshen here She thankes her God for her treading downe by the foot of Pride for that made her rise more victoriously for the blood vvas drawne from her because that vvatered her and made her more fruitfull She thankes her God for the Courts of Inquisition though bloudy Courts and all the Purgatory she lookes for because the oppression she felt therein and the violent perverting of Iudgement and Iustice pointed her eyes and set them stedfast towards Him Who is higher then the highest and made her to stay fixe and settle her selfe at that high Throne before vvhich the Judges must be judged and from which there is no appeale She gives thankes for her mockings Eccl. 5. 8. scornings revilings buffetings for all the hard vvords and deeds she heard and felt there O hovv thankefull is shee for all that thereby shee vvas made conformable to Her Lord and Head so Hee was dealt withall O how did She rejoyce at all this though perhaps not at that present all this makes their Crowne the more massy â—â—d weighty It added mucâ— to their consolations which â— 2 Cor. 15 7. are ever â—fter the meâ—sure and is their sufferings are The Righteous doe conclude thus That after the rate of their sorrowes and sufferings shall their comforts and consolations be And by the measure of their shame and reproach for Christ here shall their Robe oâ— Glory be cut out hereafter wherewith they shall be vested in Hâ—aven Therefore The Church thanks her God for her weakenesses and many infirmities They made her leane more stâ—adily upoâ— her Beloved That strong Arme For her slâ—ps and fals too they made her stand â— Thes 1. 10. more strong in her God and in the power of His Might For her feares they pointed her to her rocke that is higher then her above all For her troubles without and her terrours within For now She can admire her Saviour the mighty God of her strength For her anguish of spirit and paines in soule when She travelled with her Christ first and now with her
after-birth For all this made their birth more vigorous strong and Man-like SECT IV. The Church returneth Praise and Thanks for all the good She received from That The World cals evill IT is not possible to reckon up the heads and particulars of the Churches accounts nor how She hath gained by her losses nor what â—ealings She hath had from her stripes nor how enriched by her poverties nor how enlarged by her straights But abundantly thankfull She is for former yeares and for all that which happened to her then and was as She thought against her being evill dayes and the yeares of her captivity for all that which happened to her then helped marvellously to cleare her vessell and She is as thankfull for that as for filling the same with Glory All that fitted made her meet a for after Glory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col. 1. 12. All that their Adversary did against them then his madnesse and rage his breathing out threatenings all tended much to their advantage These smitings of the hand and tongue hewed them polished them as the stoneâ— of the Temple in the out-Court so making them as lively stones built up a spirituall house These preparations These fittings This making meet for glory are more to the Church though these are blowes prisons inquisitions fire faggot sword and the like These I say are more and of more account with the Church then Glory it selfe Their way thither to Glory I meane sometimes hedged about with thornes and blocked up against them as with hewn stone This way is as pleasant to thinke on when it is passed over as is the Crowne at the end The Summe is The Church gives thanks unto the Father Who hath strengthened Her with all might according to His Glorious Power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse and so hath made her meet hath fitted hath prepared her to be partaker of the inheritance of her Brethren and Sisters the Patriâ—â—kes Prophets Apostles Disciples Martyrs of all the Saints by Calling while here below in this darke world now Saints in light And so the Church hath after her measure offered to her God the sacrifice of Praise and Thanks for His good and gracious dealing with her in former times the dayes of her captivity O what her enlargements then Their straights helpt to set their feet in a large place Their bonds made them free indeed Their wounds healed them Their distractions united them Their unquiet motions setled them Their â—eaths quickned them Their sorrowes comforted them The shâ—me for Christ is their Glory Their reproach for Him their Crowne Who would not serve this God Who would not feare Him He turneth sicknesse into health weaknesse into strength mourning into Songs of rejoycâ—ng The shadow of Death into the Morning * Amos 5. â— Who would not seeke this Lord Who would not feare Him This by the way we goe on This is written for our instruction whose minds are taken up with present things which fill us with so much hope as that we cast away feare oâ— with so much feare that we cast away hope We are in an extreame about them still either over-grieving or overjoying full of stirres we are a tumultuous people the Lord knowes A Gracious heart not so he can indite Psalmes not onely when out of â—fflictions but in the night of his sorrow even the deepest afflictions When flying before the enemy When persecuted and distressed When in darknesse of spirit yet then he can indite a Psalme Heman did so for he was the wisest man upon earth next unto King Salomon b 1 King 5. 4 31. but so sorely â—fflicted and suffering such terrours that in his sence he was distracted c Psal 88. 15. A Good heart can make the greatest sorrowes that he hath felt or doth feele matter of blessing and praise alwayes an hint for prayer How-ever it is to sense yet God is good to Israel still and doth good Therefore all the worke he hath to doe with his owne spirit is this To serve His God heartily and to submit to Hiâ— will patiently yea comfortably for many experiences have told him That the end will be good The Righteous know well That no Condition here below is like the Hill Olympuâ— some say wholly cleare a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without clouds No They expect windes and stormes both which when blowne over The aire is the clearer and wholsomer for it They have made application and counted their Cost and those happy who endure and so can wait patiently having seene the end of the Lord b Iam. 5. 1â— CHAP. IV. Before the Church can Record the late wonderfull Works wrought for her by the ministery of Man She will put some things to our Consideration which observed may make us wise and fit us for the Times how hard fierce and perillous soever SECT I. What the Church is most taken with Whom She looks unto in all administrations What settles and calmes her spirit in the greatest Commotions THus we have cleared That the former Dayes Dayes of trouble are to be recorded for Gods Deliverance out of them is wonderfull and they have yeelded the Church in all ages a peaceable fruit of righteousnesse Now before She can Record these fresh and late works of wonder wrought with God this Day The Church will give us some Considerations from her owne practise to take along with us first so shall we understand the works and our selves and the Church the better ¶ 1. One Work only wonderfull and to be admired THe Church can muse on the workes of God and ponders them in her heart She can call them wonderfull works and marvellous But She can admire nothing but the riches of Grace those hidden misterious and unsearchable wayes of her Redemption There is matter of admiration and there only for other Works She laboureth to search them out and her Thoughts thereon are very precious But in this light path which so dazleth her eyes and amazeth her She stands admiring and it is her Lords pleasure She should doe so d 2 Thes 1. 10. ¶ 2. A Gracious spirit is not much taken with under-moone matters IF at any time we finde the Churches mouth wide open to Praise and Thanks Then we must know her heart is much more enlarged About what yes that is a necessary Question so is the Answer Evermore about spirituall matters such as concerne the soule the welfare and prosperity thereof At that point She is enlarged She is not over-much taken as we of the common sort are with under-moone matters She is not taken with the flâ—wing in of Oyle and Wine nor with the recovery of Flaxe and Wooll of Soape and Salt and Leather and the like She observes the crooked wayes of men and carriage of things very well rejoyceth and mourneth in her measure but I say She is not taken with them as we are For we finde quicke flesh lively and stirring affections onely
them that so trusted that made flesh their Arme The answer is They that so trusted are brought downe and fallen But the Church remembring the name of the Lord and in that Name seâ—tiâ—g-up Banners she riseth and stands upright shee must needs have a firme standing for shâ—e hath a sure foundation she is well under-laid underneath the everlasting Armes Therefore Deut. 33. 27. though her outward House be battered downe over her head and about her eares yet according to the promise she is a quiet habitation k Esa 33. 20. How boysterous soever the vvindes are and troublesome the vveather is she is quiet notwithstanding Indeed vve may observe some times have beene so hard with her fierce * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat 8. â—8 and perilous * 2 Tim. 3. 1. that she hath complained My soule is bowed downe to the dust l Ps 44. 25. I am covered with the shadow of Death yet vve must observe from the same place how the Church beares-up her selfe by Experiences and Promises those great pillars staying up her Hands in Faith and then she resolves to beast in her God all the day long SELAH It is an high note and her voyce is greatly exalted in Praise and Thankesgiving Object Why then the Church is borne up by Experiences from Dayes of old vvhat God hath done And by Promises what God will doe in after times An. True but these Experiences have a bottome the Almighties arme they were wrought by Him Whose power is still the same an everlasting God And these Promises touching that the Lord vvill doe in after times have the same foundation too made unto her in and through Christ her Lord and everlasting Father There is her strength her staffe and her stay And now though the Pillars of the Earth are out of course and continue so yet the Church is where she was upon the same foundation She knoweth whom she hath trusted shee rowles her selfe upon God vvaiteth his salvation knowes Hee vvill come-in for her helpe in due time shee vvould not have it sooner and praise vvaiteth for Him in Sion Thus in Quietnesse and confidence is her strength m Ps â—46 10. She can now according to her Lords command Be still and know that I am God n Ps 46. She can stand still calme in her mind for she knowes that her God raigneth with Him is power and faithfullnesse o Ps 146. 6. He can He vvill nay with reverence be it spoken He must helpe His Church and seasonably too for He is bound so to doe He hath engaged His faithfullnesse upon it there 's the Churches confidence she bears her selfe up upon it and walks on by Faith And so we see the difference in our walking and place of confidence such and so great is the difference in our comforts and peace the Churches peace full and lasting ours but empty and momentany like the laughter of fooles for vve vvalke by sight wee must see or else vve cannot believe We cannot rest upon the Almighties Arme unlesse vve see it cloathed vvith flesh One God is not enough for us vve must see Many on our side and whole Countries come in for our helpe or else vve can see no hope of Victory though the Lord hath said The People are too many p Iud. 7. 4. We verily beleeve That the race must be to the swift the battell to the strong q Eccl. 9. 11. though a thousand experiences have told us the contrary when the battell hath beene against the Church Fooles as we are vvhen vvill vve be instructed We trust in meanes likelihoods and probabilities thereon vve bottome our selves therfore it is that we are in Deaths often our spirits are up and downe full of changes for such changes and tides of things there are in that vve place our confidences Our hearts are not fixed not up-wards vvhere they should be therefore wee must needs reele like a drunken man or a Ship in a tempest We doe not trust in the Lord therefore we cannot be established r 2 Chro. â—0 â—0 wee doe not beleeve Hâ—s Prophets wee shall not prosper nor see when good commeth s Ier. 17. 6. Had vve the arme of flesh with us then vve could beleeve nay that is not Faith for Faith is of things not seene My meaning is for I must speake like a foole to make otherswise Had we thirty thousand Chariots and six thousand horse-men and people as the sand on the Sea-shore in multitude all these comming in for our helpe And vvere vve to march-on against a feeble folke a peeled beslaved unarmed people that had neither Sword nor Speare nor shield O how confident would we be of the victory We would rush on as terrible as an Army with Banners and as fierce and fearelesse as the warre-horse O how we would boast The Glory of our nostrils would be terrible we would rush on upon such a people as thunder we vvould rejoyce in our strength mocke at feare and swallow them up with fiercenesse and rage A bruitish people vve for vve have not considered this in all this time that the Battell is neither yours nor ours but Gods t 2 Chron. 10. 15. And He hath taken all this strength before mentioned and given it into His peoples hand vvhen they vvere a feeble beslaved unarmed people these have houghed the Horses and burnt the Chariots in fire Iosh 11. that is The weake have taken all this prey u Esa 33. 2â— And all this hath the Lord done Why that Ionathan and his Armour-bearer the Lords Worthies may not be discouraged at the mountainâ— of straights Where there is a sâ—â—â—p Rocke on the one side and the same on the other The our sâ—ituaâ—â— North-ward the other South-ward * 1 Sam. 14 4 5. God doth drive His People to exigency That they may shew themselves what they are Then a man â—â—ves by faith in God when meanes dye and he is qâ—ite forsaken of them Certaine it is God will bring His Church to the Mountaine of Straits but they shall see glorious things there What God appearing in Hâ—s Glory His Arme made bare of flesh God is never seen so glorious as upon That Mount Then He lifts up Himselfe on high Then He appeares in all the peoples sight This is a mighty Consideration even now it followes SECT IV. How necessary the consideration hereof is at this time that our eyes may not faile with looking upward nor faint when we are corrected nor make haste when troubles are upon the heele ANd this was necessary to be noted here That we might behold the Churches stability and firme standing see our errour all this while and vaine confidence Correct our selves take off our hold and hasten to the Churches Rock that we may be as She is a quiet habitation also What troubles soever how strong soever the tyde of things is against her yet not greatly moved Though
him and that there is now a Statute in Israel that all Iudah should meet together sing and rejoyce vvhen they tell forth the loving kindnesses of the Lord That according to this time it may be said of Jacob and of Israel What hath GOD WROVGHT What hath He wrouâ—ht Speake it out if yee can Truely Reader I cannot I can fill a sheet or two vvith the Records thereof but me thinkes it is an empty vvorke no vvay sufficient to set forth the vvonderfull worke of God therein So I leave it and leave thee Reader to muse upon it being resolved that this Treatise shall not cloy thee nor fill thy hand It is intended but to vvheâ— thy Appetite if thou haply meetest vvith these Heads largely treated on in time to come and to raise thy heart for the raising of a PILLAR to the everlasting Praise of the KNOWN GOD. There is one or two Observations more vvhich the Church chargeth us to gather-up from the scatterings of this Month. ¶ 5. THe Bishops had a Court They called it the High-Commission-Court Others the bloudy Inquisition Certainely The smartest Purgatory the sorest tyranny that ever the Church felt-upon Earth but her comfort is it 's all her Purgatory here and it ceaseth vvith the Earth This bloody Inquisition for so they perverted Judgement and Justice there turning such sweete blessings into Gall and Hemlocke a Amos 6. 12. received it's fatall blow this very Month languished the Month following and dyed shortly after We must enquire now vvho gave this Court this deadly blow The Answer is The Iudges there Yes that 's the Answer the enemies themselves being Judges With their owne hands they vvounded themselves and gave their Court that deadly blow I must correct my vvords a little I did but mistake the hand for the tongue there is a smiting with the tongue too I should have said vvith their owne tongues they smote themselves and destroyed their Court. See Reader how they brought the blow about but observe vvithall observation the Retaliation of the Lord What is that For it is not English how the Lord the Lord God of Recompences b Ier. 51. 5â— retal ated those Men that is returned their Recompence upon their owne head c Ioel 3. 7. But yet for the glory of this vvonderfull vvorke of Retaliation they themselves vvith their owne Tongues must retaliate as it vvere Eye for Eye Tooth for Tooth d Exod. 21. 24. they must vvith their owne tongues Returne Recompence upon their owne Heads for thus it vvas ¶ 6. THe Bishops had an Oath vvhich they forced upon the righteous in homage and meere duty to their Court and it was a gin and a trap and a snare to His people as a Serpent by the â—ay an Adder in the path that biteâ—h the Rider so that â—e fals back ward c Gen 4â— 17. The Lord Who commands us to sweare in Truth in Iudgement and in Righteousnesse * Ier. 4. â— look'd upon this oppâ—â—ssion and required it how They must Retaliate themselves now Oath for Oath Their chaine must be let out now the rope must be lengthned give some men rope enough they vvill goe neare to strangle themselves as in this case they must have full scope given them and vvhat must they doe Hammer out another Oath and that must be as the other vvas to the righteous a gin a trap and a snare to take their own foot in as a Serpent to make those Riders that marched so furiously to fall back-ward I hat Oath must retaliate them it must recompence all their evill upon their owne heads That Oath like a Mushrome that miracle in Nature for it growes and hath no root d In miraculis vel maxâ—mum est aliquid 〈◊〉 aut veveâ—e sine ulâ—aÌ„â—adice Tubâ—râ— haec vocantur c. Plâ—â— Hiâ— l. 19 cap. â— So this Oath that had no root neither in Nature nor in Grace neither iâ— Law nor in Gospell neither in Reason then nor in Religion sure This Mushrome-Oath this rootlesse thing must come in and helpe to carry out head and taile the Bishops vvith c. it must be a means to root out them and their Courts Take we all in two words and in Scripture language and then see the Retaliation of the Lord They had killed the Righteous there in that Court as they could they scorched him vvith the breath of their lips See now The Lord ordered it so That their owne breath as fire did devoure them h Esa 33. 1â— They spake devouring words indeed they swallowed up the Righteous there See now the Retaliation of the Lâ—rd and muse on the worke of His hands i Pâ— 143. 5. for so it was according to the saying The words of a Wise-mans mouth are gracious but their lips did swallow up themselves k Eccl. 10. 1â— They fell upon the righteous like a Mil-stone they vvould have ground him to powder See now They shall make their owne torgue to fall upon themselves l Ps â—4 â— So I have pointed at the Remarkables in this Moneth as befits an Epitomy or Abridgement The Et cetera s here are very notorious which I have reserved to a place vvhere they may take more Roome then they can doe in this Treatise vvhich I intend as afore-said So vve goe on CHAP. VII October The Product thereof Many Mercies and yet but one marvellous worke wrought for the Church at that time SECT I. October The imployment thereof NOw the Lord Keeper was busily imployed in issuing forth Writs to summon a Parliament which service he did more out of duty than affection to that high Court This Moneth was much of it spent in enquiring after or reading newes out of the North and in chusing Knights and Bargesses for the severall Counties Cities and Towns Where there were a poore people also who had no voices but in corners and there they might be bold to send up strong cryes to Heaven which furthered the businesse not a little Now the people having chosen a Man to stand for ten thousand they transmitted unto him the great Trust their Estates their Liberties their Lives their all that was theirs Religion and all And they who understood what they did prayed That the service he had to doe for his King and Countrey might be throughly thought on and accepted And that he might goe up and returne in the fulnesse of the blessing of God SECT II. Many Mercies in one Parliament A comprehensive Blessing Why called a Parliament The Honour and Antiquity of that High Court Long vacation there makes sinners impudent THis Moneth the Church heard the newes That a Parliament must be summoned againe Very comfortable newes That and another manner of sight then to see the whole world represented in a Mâ—p That 's but a dead representation In a Parliament we see the Body of a Kingdome not as sometimes you see in a Table head and shoulders onely and no more
was a woman once and that they may not be couzâ—ned the second time he must set upon a stoole so 't is related and before he must know himselfe to be Pope the stâ—â—ders by must know him to be Iohn not Ione And truâ—y buâ— thâ—t he goes to the stoole every day he would quite forget that he were a man for he is above the Sacred Scripture too This is the HEAD a monstrous Head he is MANY a Legion and more for I joyne the whole Body with this Head and all those Heads too be they Kings or be they Emperours or what heads you can thinke off who have given up their Head ship to this Head I meane their power unto the Pope have made themselves Servants to that SLAVE Slave What a word is that to give to such a tall Head The Pope in a voluntary humility gives himselfe that Title SERVVS SERVORVM What 's that In plaine English the basest Servant Sâ—ave for aâ— a Song of Songs is an excellent Song The God of gods is the true God the Lord of Lords is the excelling Lord thâ— Master of Masters is our Master in Heaven So a Servant of Servants is the lowest Servant the vilest basâ—st Servant a true Slave But there is the Head with all the appurtenances and adherents And see how he contrived and plotted to enlarge his Dominions to dethrone the Lord Christ to take from Him His possession not onely the ends of the Earth but the head of Kingdomes See I say how he wrought to establish mischiefe by a Law How hee sought to curse the people of God! For that purpose his Balaams were posted to every place and Altars built up there and all to curse those whom God had blessed and they must be blessed but considering the height the power the policie of this Head and yet hee could nor prevaile he could not curse that is the wonder and yet we heare not the halfe ¶ 2. VVE must descend to the TAYLE that Nadar that despicable part as that Earth is whereon the foot stands if it stands upon a muck-hill that stinging part the Text saith and we feele the sting is in the Tayle What is that the sacred Scripture interprets it The Prophet that teacheth lies he is the TAYLE b Esa 9. 15. Reader looke about thee and observe in passage where he or they are who teach Lyes They that doe so though they be dignified with Titles and Honours and Preferments though they have their Schooles and Colledges for their encouragement and to engage them the more to their God yet if they teach Lyes they shall not be called by Him Who giveth to every man his dues and right name not Seers not the Eyes of the Land but the TAYLE The Prophet that teacheth Lyes hee is the TAYLE And he is many too and how did he wriggle I cannot expresse my selfe how did he struggle and strive and contend to wriggle-in that Head the Pope to sting the Church and to curse those that stood on her side Truly this was told in Gath what What Prophets we have it was published in the streets of Askelon and the daughters of the Philistines did rejoyce and the uncircumcised did triumph True but their rejoycing was but short for the TAYLE could not sting His People Of the sting in the Taile and poyson in the mouth the Lord made a preservative a soveraigne medicine and Hee turned the curse into a blessing Blessed be His Name Now the Church prayes the Lord unscale the eyes and unvaile the hearts of those Prophets that they may see and consider what they have done and doe and pardon them according to the multitude of His compassions Amen ¶ 3. THat the marvellous workes of the Lord may be raised in our thoughts yet higher that we may have an high and honourable esteeme of them we must consider as followeth Here was a Head which thought to establish wickednesse by a Law here was Tayle-Prophets who taught lies and these prevailed so far that they brought the people on their side as the sand on the Sea-shore for multitude These made the People glad with their lyes and he was a Prophet unto them that could prophesie of wine and strong drinke a Mic. 2. 11. See here Councell and Strength is for the warre the Adversary had both and multitudes so many as we heard and yet see the over-ruling hand of the Lord Almighty these prevailed not neither by their strength nor by their councell nor by their multitudes as appeareth this Day There is the marvellous worke of God and a wonder To make the wonder yet more compleat we must take-in a third person the most chiefe and principall BEE LZEBVB their Prince and King the Angell of the bottomlesse pit hee keepes his nature still so he keepes his name still in the Hebrew ABADDON b in the Greeke APOLLYON b Rev. 9. 11. two names different in language and in sound but in signification one and the same A man slayer a Soule-devourer He hath his name so in the Hebrew because he is a mighty let to the comming-in of the Iewes no such offence to them in the world as your Images and Image-makers And hee hath his name so in the Greeke because the head of this faction mightily opposeth the compleating or filling up the number of the Gentiles For he opposeth with all his might the spreading of the Gospell the revealing that mighty arme of the Lord. We have the principall now the King and Prince we will put all together the Head the Taile the bulky-Body with the King over them What is the marvellous worke now what is the wonder This That the gates of Hell prevailed not Wisedome mighty for plotting and contriving was turned into foolishnesse Strength mighty for action was turned into weaknesse Multitudes did fall as drunkards had not so much power as women or as wounded men We have not all yet this must be considered also for this is our designe to advance the name of God in confounding such a Troope by such weake meanes The Righteous who seemed a very few a thin scattered people these spake often not only as in an evill time one to another â— but openly and to the Adversaries face These I say though Prudent men Mal. 3. 16. did not keepe silence no not in that time such an evill time * Am. 5. 13. I should goe on but here an Objection will thrust in upon me to take off from this wonder and to shorten if it could be the Arme of God even the right hand of the Almighty SECT V. The Obiection That the Arme of the People was strong here and the Arme of God not so glorious SEe the manner of Men before we heare them if we can see any cranny or chinke whereat light and comfort comes in unto us to that we will looke not minding the Sunne whose beam it is If our net be quite broken all to peeces we will scarce
cast it away we will thinke it may catch and hold something and so to our Net we will sacrifice that is to our owne strength and wisdome That did it God did nothing g Adrete reâ—â—rrâ—â— hoc est puâ—aâ—â— DiuÌ„ nihil esse Hab. 1 16. vid Calv. If the arme of flesh be strong we looke not after we regard not at all the Arme of the Lord the Right-hand of the Almighty But was the arme of flesh strong now nay was it considerable surely the Lord seemed now to cut Israel short h 2 Kin. â—0 30. Iacob was then very low as a worme now very small Surely it might be questioned now as once it was O Lord God forgive I beseech thee by whom shall Jacob rise for hee is SMALL i Am 7. 2. But see I say what hearts we have still warping nay still departing from the Lord. If there be any thing of the arme of flesh discernable whereat to take hold there we take our hold-fast and thereon we rest Just so wee did here Here wee saw Head and Tayle and multitudes and their King also all confounded Thanke the Country-man for this so they say and so they abate of the wonder and from the glory of the work We will examine the truth of that It is said the People in the Country were at this point wise enough and provident enough That 's true wise enough in their Generation wiser then the children of light and provident enough too for what For their owne private-wealth their particular interests Take them otherwise and in the lumpe and out of their owne tractes and they have little wisdome or providence at all True it is they were pinched now and that made them looke up from the ground wheron they are still poring They did howle because of their Task-masters which made them looke out for helpe and be a little more provident then ordinary They that pressed Ship-money should never have their voyces so they were resolved so tender they were in their owne ease and where it pinched but for the cause of Christ and His Church it is little in their thoughts I know the manner of men well enough by making enquiry into mine owne heart and the manners and customes there As our interests leade us and our relations stand there is the BIAS that way we goe and there we cast our voyce considering no more but that he is our most honoured Lord and Master Thanke the Country-man who will the Church will not till she heare of such an one who against his owne interest private-wealth and speciall Relation minded the Common-weale and so cast his voyce She will praise the Lord as vvell as she can and call upon all so to doe and blesse His Name for His good Servants vvhose voyces vvere sent up in corners And so we may count it a mercy that such a choyce was made but for the marvellous worke and the wonder we read it before and this that followes makes it yet more wonderfull That vvhen the Worthies came altogether and made a full Court then and there The Lord did so stirre-up their spirits as that they vvere carried some of them above themselves yea and I appeale to themselves against themselves I meane against vvhat they thought and intended vvhen they vvere entring the doores of the House Doubtlesse so it vvas else such things had not bin done as are done had it not beene even so But it is wonderfull in our eyes for it is the Lords doing Who when His vvorke is in hand vvill frame and mould the spirits of Men according to His good pleasure There is yet something more in it and greatly to be observed that the Lord sent forth a dry wind which sifted and sifted this Court now one was blown away anon another Now this man vvent his way and the other did flee away All this that it might appeare to all the vvorld that the Lord intended assuredly to doe His Church good by this Court with His whole heart and with His whole soule * Ier. 32. 41. We must learne now from all these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 great things vvrought these two Months these vvonderfull administrations and picke out great lessons therefrom CHAP. VIII Certaine Uses or Conclusions from the premises clearing forth unto us The Church by the DEFENCE that is still upon the GLORY their stability and innocency then our duty from all SECT I. Wee know the Malignant Church by their envy at the People the true Church because they are the But against whom Malice bends her Bow and yet is not able to over-throw them They are delivered still after that sort c. ¶ 1. THis will helpe us to decide a greâ—t controversie There are two parties both say They are the Church not in name but in deâ—d whom may we believe Enquirâ— and vve shall have full satisfaction What party have a Malignancy in them both you will say that 's true enough but I meane a professed enmity against God and goodnesse If vve can resolve our selves in this point Who these are We may take full satisfaction to that question It is said There are no Malignant persons in our Church none that have a professed Malignancy in them No! Is there no Malignancy in that monstrous Head nor in it's appâ—â—rtenancies and adherents None in that Tayle those lying Prophets Is there no Malignancy in their ungodly deeds and hard speeches None in those words which corrupt and eat as doth a Canker k 2 Tim. 2. 17. None in all this Perhaps it will not be granted that there is a Malignancy in the Divell who is their King and hath the keyes of the bottomlesse pit But in courtesie I demand and let them answer me as Men actions we say make the fullest discovery what spirit we are of was not that a fruit of utter enmity of desperate Malignancy madnes to hurry thâ— Church to drag her to the very brow of the Hill there shocking her againe and again that she might 3 Kingdoms at one shock fall down head-long from that precipice or pinnacle Certainly this must be granted to be a fruite of Cankered Malice Surely then by the fruits you shall know them to be no Church but in name so and that name is a Malignant Church Wickednesse â— 1 Sam. 24. 13. proceedeth from the Wicked as saith the Proverb and that 's the first Conclusion clearely evidencing Who is That Church and Who is the Church indeed And now I proceed to make further Discovery at this point Who is the True Church ¶ 2. We must enquire Against whom doth Malice bend her bow with full strength and shootes her Arrowes Against whom doe these Malignants bend their hand Vâ—godly Deeds and their Tongues hard words and their hearts destructive intentions Who is the Butt The white the Marke Who are they against whom in the puâ—suance of their most Destructive Designes these Malignants do carry all their ungodly Words
markes upon it for it clears forth unto us as the Morning light no such demonstration as this vvho are the Church indeed who but in name so and that the MALIGNANT Church It cleares the Churches innocency also as the Sunne beame and cleares our duty to walke exactly as a peculiar people if we looke to be delivered how So miraculously after THAT SORT that all must say The Right-hand of the Lord did This. †2. The Reader may consider that in the following Month I met with that ROOT the PARLIAMENT I mean which beares all our sweets here below our Religion our Lawes our Liberties our Lives by the good hand of God upon that High Court the KING and PARLIAMENT accursed be they that divide them and accursed be they also that strike at that Root we gather all the fore-mentioned for our selves and our children after us even all that blessed fruit for there it is as in a common root Therfore I staid the longer upon that fundamentall blessing Now I can goe on apace for I am but to bring in these after fruits as they did the Grapes all in a cluster but we must view over the lessons vvee tooke forth last and make a short collection thereof 1 The Lord hath triumphed gloriously Hâ—s right Hand hath dashed to peeces the enemy In the greatnesse of His excellency He hath over-thrown them that rose up against Him 2. We have seene the Salvations of God great Salvations therefore the Israel of God is here amongst Exod. 15. 7. us a people greatly beloved Saved by the Lord for whose helpe Herideth upon the Heaven and in His excellency on the Sky Deut. 33. 26. Lastly Would vve be so saved then vve must be guided as the Church is according to her Lords WILL and so commanded by Him if we would be carried as upon the wings of Eagles then we must bee found walking in His way Thus we have seene the strange Overtures and turnings of things in these two Moneths and vvee have observed the certaine Uses and Conclusions there-from Now vve goe on to set downe the Heads of the after proceedings ¶ A Transition to the next Chapter Hitherto vve have observed vvhat God hath vvrought vvorking alone and by His own Arme bringing Salvations Now vve must observe vvith the same observation vvhat Salvations Man hath wrought with God the following Months as strange as vvas that Salvation vvhich Ionathan vvrought for Israel a 1 Sam. 14. 45. I have treated thereon severally not according to the excellency thereof but after my measure as I vvas inabled and am resolved not to mutilate or maim that continued Story by taking any part thence But which is more sutable to this place and my scope to set downe the Heads therof in as narrow a compasse as may be and as the matter can be contracted to give an abstract only leaving the specification of the set time vvhen the Salvations were vvrought the Month and the day to those Diurnals vvhich are vvritten before me vvhere also I blotted a few sheets of paper but specially to the vvorthy pains of good M Vicars vvorthy all acceptation So I proceed CHAP. IX The Heads of proceeding the following Months to the end of the first Jubile holding forth the wrath of God fury to His Adversaries His marvellous workes of Grace to His people breaking bands and taking off yoakes and bringing them into the band of a Covenant engaging His Church for ever to Record to Thanke to Praise SECT I. The Church blesseth God for you That you did not ioyne your selves with the Men of the Earth nor after the manner of Men forsake her in her low estate That you did not establish iniquity by a Law that yee read her petitions and heard her complaints that you opened her prisons and mouthes of the Ministers And had Dominion over the Mighty NOVEMBER a Month specially to be observed The third Day the High Court assembled things vvere done after the Manner c. At this point others begin and here I shall not breake off but dissolve a well continued Story into some chiefe Heads vvhich vvill containe the chiefe workes of wonder and so yeeld us matter enough of praise to God and thanks to Man The Lord tune our spirits to the setting forth the high praises of the Lord. The first Head will lead-in all the test for it containes much a Ezek. 23. 32. therefore that we may begin right the Church would have us consider That her enemy and adversary the Head and the Tayle who these are is now fully manifested and declared before had wrought effectually in the children of disobedience They had carried all before them levell to their owne mark They had levened the Land they thought from corner to corner with most impure Doctrines and as uncleane practises Indeed as was said they had vvrought very effectually as appeareth this day They had prepared their owne way made it so strait plaine and levell so as they thought verily they could find no rubb no opposition none at all they might goe on smooth away the Angell of the Lord could not meet with them at least could not stop controll nor crosse them in the way no not with the Sword in the hand They had now set the BVSH on fire round about I meane the Church a flaming Bush was her Embleme once and it must be her Embleme there you see the Church to the Worlds end They had set the Church all on a flame and thought verily if Gods dwelling were there which they thought not of they could if not thrust Him out of His House yet they could fire Him out for they looked wistly when His House would sinke downe and fall into ashes Indeed this is notable by the way and engageth the Church mightily That God dwelleth vvith her when she is all on a flame in the fornace of afflictions then He DWELS in the BVSH therefore it consumes not But the Adversary and enemy thought not of this they looked when the House should fall as aforesaid and hastened vvhat they could the Ruine thereof They would put to more wood and make the burning yet greater This then is the first Head for this the Church blesseth God and thanks you ¶ 1. That you did not joyne with the stronger side I meane in appearance That you did not joyne strength to strength and adde more fuell also to make the flame the more fierce and raging for this is the manner of men To oppresse the oppressed to add to the affliction and like Mice as to runne out vvhen the House is on fire So to judge of Gods workes before they bee ripe I meane before the FIFT ACT and that is against the Rule b De operiâ—us Dei 〈◊〉 quintum actuÌ„ 〈…〉 If a storme lye upon the Ship of the Church and she be tossed with tempests men will not waite till the fourth watch commonly so long the Lord deferrs His comming but
to His Name there is mercy to her people they are yet the Lords people and the judgement is upon the Priests and they shall KNOW IT Surely some strange judgement the first borne of Death o Iob 18. 19. shall devoure their strength Now the Lord make them know it for their good That whatsoever strange punishment they feele here they may not feele the wrath to come So the Church prayes and every man will say Amen 2. The Church remembers your Piety now Blessed be You of the Lord you have rescued this day from out of the hands of Spoylers Yee have recovered Your Lords Right Yee have vindicated His Name So Ye have provided for Your owne peace and prepared a way for a blessing upon all You shall doe and for Mercy upon the Nation Peace be both to You and Peace be to Your house and Peace be unto all that You have The Church wisheth unto You a blessing which containes all blessings because You have restored unto her her Lords Day which next to her Lord Christ is the fullest and most comprehensive mercy Goe on and doe yet more and be more zealous Give all diligence and let Your zâ—ale boyle yet higher it cannot boyle over Thâ—s shall Yee doe in the feare of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart * 2 Chro. 19. 9. for it is for the Lord His Day His House His Worship Seeke Yee that first burne in Your zeale that way and other things will come on as they doe as east in upon You by an Almighty hand for the Lord will be with the Good and He will remember You for good for You remembred His Day and His worship on His Day He will remember You for good Amen SECT III. That You have advanced Christ in the Ministery of the Gospell how efficacious that is To promote the chiefe end the Glory of God and Your end Mans Salvation ¶ 6. 2. THe Church blesseth God that hath instructed You to discretion so as You have shewen Your zeale and given all Diligence to promote the Gospell The readiest and most compendious way to Your ayme and end to bring all the designes about which vve hope are all levell to the glory of Christ and Your owne glory vvith Him at the end And now great is the company of Preachers their mouth opened now who of late were used worse than the Oxe which treadeth out the Corne. They speake boldly now as the Messengers of the Churches and the Glory of Christ That which letted shall let no longer The Scepter of the Lord Christ is advanced and the people flow in unto it The Church thinkes her Sonnes and Daughters never had a more glorious yeare since the day her Beloved and Crowne of rejoycing ascended to His Glory Never since that Day when He was lifted up from the Earth was He so openly showne to the world as this last yeare Though there had beene no other very worthy deeds done unto this Nation by Your providence yet this she accepts alwayes and in all places wich all thankfulnesse accounting it an exceeding great mercy That by Your meanes she was respited and spared one yeare longer to lay in her provision and more fully to stocke her selfe against hard and deâ—re yeares This the Church accepts as afore-said for this is the way to doe and effect the greatest things Therefore this the Church accounts an exceeding mercy The blessing of blessings and she prayeth that the blessing of Him Who dwelt in the Bush may goe along with You in this Designe in making knowne the Arme of the Lord In advancing this Glory through the whole Land that they who walke in darkenesse may see a great Light They that dwell in the Land of the shadow of Death upon them this light may shine This is the onely way to doe good to the whole Land to make it a Land of visions wherein the Lord may delight and to make his people a willing people The Church will remember You here vvhat Luther her valiant Gideon spake to the businesse now in hand I will not said he trouble my selfe any more with the Cloysters the Monkes and Schollars there those Armies of Adversaries they mind their belly that is their god and the belly hath no eares Nor will I contest with the Pope any longer he had done it and was too hard for him and all his Cardinals let the Philistines alone with their Dagon They will finde wayes enough to breake themselves and their god he would not beat and buffet the darknesse so he said also as the foole did his shadow he would set up a light then the darknesse slinkes away I know not where it is for it is a privative thing but it flies away as the cloud before the Sunne or as the beasts of prey will doe when the Sunne ariseth there is a riddance it is gone and those beasts goe to their darke Dens You know his meaning and know it for the good of the Land He would advance Christ He would set up that Standard that was his meaning and his worke To use his own word he would promote the Arke then Dagon fals breaks himselfe to peeces head and hands both cut off the Head for councell hands for action â—ll gone That 's the way indeed So You have done and so You have succeeded already You will to that worke againe and joyne shoulder to shoulder for the advancing thereof That the Lord Christ may be showen openly His glorious excellencies made knowne specially in those places where CATHEDRALS are as barren in the Churches observation to the soules of men as the Surface of that Earth where the Mines of Gold and Silver are there no meat grows for man nor grasse for Cattell The Church intreats you to remember those barren places and those darke places all over the Land where the dead bury the dead and the blind lead the blind every Day Truly the Church is perswaded that the people for the most part are as ignorant as the Monks are of Christ to speak as Luther spake or as they were of the Holy Ghost they know not whither there be any Christ or no unles a Christ of their own framing in a Table They have heard of the name Iesus and the Monkes have taught them to bend the knee unto it and that is all their Devotion according to their knowledge O that the Name indeed the glorious excellencies of that wonderfull name were made knowne unto them certainly their Hearts would bend also Blessed be Ye of the Lord Ye have laboured herein and Ye will labour yet more to advance this STANDARD to set-up this Ensigne that the mountaines may melt before you and the people may flow in unto it To make knowne this Arme of the Lord for this makes us a willing people That I may speake all in our Lord and Masters words Ps 110. In so doing you shall doe as Christ did you will give eyes to the blind feet
to the lame you shall cleanse the Lepers make the deafe heare nay you shall raise the dead You will sticke most at this last though the other as this are all the workes of the Almighties Arme and all is effected when the poore receive the Gospell If then you will order it so that the poore people may have the Gospell preached unto them you shall doe all the fore-mentioned workes which are so wonderfull for all these miracles are wrought by the Ministery of Man the Hand of the Lord going along with that ministery so we understand it as the Lord dealt with His Servant Ezekiell so He must deale with every man upon whom these workes are wrought eyes opened eares boared dead heart raised The word of the Lord came expressely to Ezekiel and the hand of the Lord was there upon him when the hand of the Lord comes along Chap. 1. 3. with the word for the word comes but to the eare The hand of the Lord carries it to the heart then the eyes of them that are borne blind are opened feet bound-up as with fetters of yron and brasse are enlarged the dead are raised c. The blessing of the poore and thirsty soules be upon you and upon your house and all that you have for you have and will pitty these poore people yee will thrust out the dumbe and the ignorant the light Priest and treacherous Prophet the lame and the blind that are hated of Davids 2 Sam. 5. 8. soule And you will send forth Ministers unto those places such as are indeed the Messengers of the Churches and the glory of Christ Mat. 11 5. Then behold these marvellous workes wrought The blinde receive their sight and the lame walke and the Lepers are cleansed and the deafe heare the dead are raised up and the poore have the Gospell preached to them Amen SECT IV. The PROTESTATION how wonderfully the Lord brought it about Though Yee shall doe exploits yet nothing to be wondered at now The reason But one head or charge is handled here and that is RELIGION a great Binder The Method in giving-out this abstract ¶ 7. THe Church blesseth Gods wonderfull worke in you and by you and for you That you have protested to take the Lord for your God So you have provided for the Churches security what ever times may come for you have brought her into COVENANT with her God I know that is a thing the Church doth mind every Month I may say every Day and can doe it without you but not in such a way as you have done it in a Nationall way which you and none but you can doe You could make a Covenant betweene GOD and betweene all the People that they should bee the LORDS PEOPLE a 2 Chro. 23. â—â— The Church will put a Question to you now not to pose you for you are wise and she knowes the Answer before hand and would have you know it yet better She would know How you brought this worke about Your answer is Not by your strength nor by your wisdome but by the good hand of God upon you so you brought it about and so you shewed mercy to your soules and to the whole Nation And thereby the Lord would make you know That He intended by you to doe the Nation good assuredly with His whole heart and with His whole soule The Church hath heard and understands well all the exploits you have done ever since such as seeme marvellous workes and wonders in the eyes and eares of the multitude yet to her they seem great mercies indeed but no strange matters no wonders at all No no 1. The Church knowes you had a liberty granted to continue your Session as long as you will that is till you have done Gods will for Hee procured that grant unto you this Grant though shee counts it an exceeding mercy Yet she doth not count it a wonder 2. The Church knowes that you marched valiantly and trod down strength You rent a Lyon without hands as easie as a man with both his hands can rent a kid and yet this the Church accounts no strange thing neither 3. The Adversary and enemy had made a breach great like the Sea b Lam 2. 23. We asked Who can make it up Who can heale it You could and you did it and yâ—u shall be called the Repayrers of the breaches You stood in that Gappe and you made it up the greatest worke that ever was done by Mâ—n since that Breach was made up betwixt God and Man since that PACIFICATION made by the MAN CHRIST IESVS And yet this worke doth not seem strange to the Church Nay should any one of you tell the Church That since the Day you entred into the Protestation the Adversary made great breaches upon your soule and the Lord made them all up Temptations came-in upon you like a flood The Spirit of the Lord set-up a Standard against them c Esa 54 19 they could doe you no hurt but good a great deale should you tell the Church so she would not thinke it strange Should your thoughts stray a little from out this yeare vvhere vve suppose we are unto the next when some say but they are much mistaken or see and will not see that God did nothing for you but against you and then should you tell the Church what she knowes well That your Soule was amongst Lyons and yet not devoured That you did lye amongst those that were set on fire and yet not consumed none of all this could the Church call wonderfull or thinke strange Nay to expresse it as fully as I am able Were all the wild-fire in England the Church heares the Land is well stâ—red with it now and â—he expects it shall be hurled in her face and throwne into her bosome she is the But and White against which the Malignants levell all this this she knowes but she is fearelesse were all this I say gathered up and rowled together into one Ball and then with 500. hands nay with the whole Arme of flesh hurled into your Court and the Church should be told that the fire tooke not not one sparke kindled there not one haire of any head there vvas touched the Church could not count this vvonderfull neither no such strange matter Why Because you have protested to take God for your God You are a peâ—ple in Covenant vvith Him you are sworne Servants to Him He must protect His sworne Servants when you are brought to the brinke of destruction to a precipice so we must understand it some exâ—gence some knotty businesse that all the fingers in the world cannot undoe such a strait as this when at one shocke three kingdomes must be cast downe if God helpes not * Nodus vindice dignus When the Gibbet is up Mordecai designed to it the next day then it 's Gods tâ—me to workâ— it is â—or His Glory tâ— deferre â—o long and for the â—lory of
His faithfulnesse to deâ—er no longer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys Tom. 4. Epist 1. I say in such an exigence God must helpe He stands bound to it You have protested to take Him for your God He hath protested to take you for his people You have sworne and by the good hand of God upon you you vvill stand to the Oath and He hath sworne by what By Himself by all that is in Himselfe and He is all You vvill stand to your Oath that 's supposed He vvill stand to His Oath that must not be doubted You rejoyced at the Oath He vvill rejoyce over you to do you good It must be so ye have strucke hands together Ye may say The Lord must remember me How with the favour He heareth unto His people d Ps 106. 4. He must visit me now with His Salvations that is with a great Salvation When I am at the pits brinke one shocke throwes me downe then vvith reverence be it spoken He must deliver me He must come-in at the fourth-watch when there is no helpe from Earth then the Arme of the Lord must be revealed from Heaven I am His and He my God a God in Covenant The OATH of GOD is betwixt us by His good hand upon me I will stand to it and then He must stand by me I am thine â— save Ps 7. 1. me It vvâ—s Davids argument and prevailed still SAVE me for I TRVST in THEE The Church saith it had beene a vvonder if God had not done for you even so for you are His sworne Servants The Church commands me now to proceed on in declaring this wonderfull worke vvhich the Lord so strangely and as graciously by your meanes brought about To bring your selves and the Nation into Covenant with Himselfe I shall not meddle vvith the severall heads or charges in the same vvhich vvould take up more roomth then herâ— can be allowed Religion is the chiefe head there are the spirits and a great binder it is it bindes a people to their God and God to the people I proceed herein in this order first 1. What this PROTESTATION is to you and all that stand to it 2. What a discovering note it is to your Adversaries 3. The Church will put-up a short prayer to her God 4. Then a Supplication to you In all this you shall have but an Abstract out of a large Volume or Theame rather nothing taken thence but an addition thereunto ¶ 1. A Rocke of DEFENCE to the Righteous THis PROTESTATION is to you and all that have taken it and will stand to it b 2 Chron. 34. 32. a SELA-HAMMAHLEKOTH c 1 Sam. 23. 28. a Rocke of Separation betwixt you and your Adversaries nothing shall be able to reach you to doe you hurt Should the Lord fill all the Inhabitants of the Land even the Kings and the Priests and the Prophets with drunkennesse so He hath done for the sinnes of a Nation as He threatneth d Ier. 13. 13. Should He dash them one against another even the Fathers and the sonnes together e ver 14. for so He threatens also in the same place Why yet you should be safe none of all these shall come neare you to hurt you Why so Because you are a people in covenant with your God and He with you Looke you to it how ye stand to it for this followes TROVBLED ye may be on every side f 2 Cor 4 8. no doubt of that and so you may say you shall say withall yet not DISTRESSED PERPLEXED ye may be not knowing what way to take or what to doe but not in DESPAIRE PERSECVTED yee shall bee but not FORSAKEN CAST-DOWN ye may be but not DESTROYED ye may be set as on fire round about ye shall not be consumed Why so The same answer and it answers all Arguments even the Jesuites their fire and sword the hardest words and most violent deeds ye are in covenant with your God nothing shall come unto you to doe you HVRT No Plague shall come to your dwelling as a plague Though great Letters are written upon your door yet the Plague is not there for all that God is with you even YOVR GOD He will save you even from that Destroyer it shall but reach your body at the furthest The time will come when you will say your head akes and your heart too nay it fainteth and yet heare what the Lord saith The Inhabitant shall not say I am SICKE g Esa 33 24 Why so The people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity h I beare any thing now my sins are pardoned Mâ—â— ad in vita Lutheri p. 168. â— â— Ps 73. 2â— Looke ye there My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever â— That stils and quiets all God at peace with me and all is peace God in Covenant with me in Christ reconciled to me if so I am not SICKE my sinnes are forgiven all is well with me for God is with me and HE is ALL health strength riches All. See how efficacious this Covenant is if we STAND to it nothing shall stand against us nothing shall come unto us to do us HVRT that is first ¶ 2. As Sibboleth to the Wicked It discoveres the Priests and their People It hampers the Malignant though like possessed Men No Cords will hold the Papists Their obstinacy in Gods house how to judge of the Legality of an Oath THis PROTESTATION or sacred covenant is a Destinguishing character Thereby you shall know who is a true English-man Who a Treacherous Priest Papist or Malignant person Give it to a right English-man a True Israelite in whom is no guile He goes cleare and smooth away with it He takes it with all his heart and stands to it rejoyceth at the Oath k 2 Chro. 15. 15. that is he pronounceth it right Give it to the Priests they will refuse it or fumble at it they cannot frame to pronounce it right â— Present it to the Papist you shall see vvhat he will doe anon This is to the Priests the two Armies of them to the Papists also as SIBBOLETH to the Ephraimites l Iud. 12. â— Now you shall know whose eyes are evill against you because your eye is good and you are resolved to doe the thing that good is Now yee shall see who they are that puffe at you deride you blow their nose at you b Luk 16. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Because you vvould have them protest to take God for their God and not their bellies to bind themselves in covenant with Him as the very word Religion imports But see how their mind and affection stands They protest to take God for their God! no not they Their belly ease profits pleasures are their gods these and other Lords have ruled over them and they shall rule by their meanes So now you know them their
the fury of the LORD the Rebuke of Thy GOD i Esa 51. 10. Then from that Day ye proceeded against them and their Courts so that the Church may reade her Deliverance now in that vvhich the Lord wrought for her people in dayes of old So the terrible one is brought to naught k Esa 29. and the Scorner is consumed and all that watch for iniquity and they that made a man an offender for a word and laid a snare for him that reproveth in the Gate and turned aside the just for a thing of nought all these are cut-off for where is the fury of the oppressours and the jurisdiction of their Courts Where is it She remembers this with all thankfulnesse and she remembers you in all earnestnesse before the high Throne as was said before for she can reade on Now l Esa 29. 19. the meeke shall encrease their joy in the Lord and the poore among men shall rejoyce in the Holy One of Israël for how you eased the Churches shoulders and cheared her heart when you tooke off those yoakes the two insnaring Oaths and bloudy Courts she and you know very well and she accepts vvith all thankfulnesse but she gives glory to her God ¶ 10. Then from that Day you could trace the footings in the dark the turnings and windings of the crooked Serpent in his crooked pathes Then the Lord made darknesse light before you and crooked things strait Then you had discoveries upon discoveries for what a discovering God have you How easily did He defeate His enemies Their turning of things upside downe He esteemes as the Potters clay for He turned them and their vvorke upside downe as easily as the Maid doth the Dish which she vvipes or the Potter the clay vessell he frames m Esa â—9 16. Vid. Cal. in loc ¶ 11. Then you quenched the SONNES of the COALE and though they sparkled in your face yet they could not kindle notwithstanding the wrestling of the Adversary you held and maintained the staffe of BEAVTY and of BANDS n Zach. 11. and so made firme the Brotherhood betweene Iacob and Israel And it was like the making of twaine one so making peace a Ephes 2. 15. as the causing the envy of EPHRAIM to cease and the cutting-off the Adversaries of IVDAH b Esa 11. Ephraim shall not envy Judah and Judah shall not vex Ephraim but they shall be as one sticke in the hand c Ezek. 37. 19. that so with united force they may fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines I will say no more of it here for it fills a volume But according to this time it shall he said of Jacob and of Israel WHAT HATH GOD WROVGHT Num. 23. â—3 In all this last mentioned the Church turnes to her God renders praise and glory to Him for he only workes wonders She will ascribe all to her God so the Church may doe and yet make all due acknowledgement to man whom the Lord is pleased to honour as an instrument Man stood in the GAP and he shall be called The REPAIRER OF THE BREACH but God made it up even Esa â—8 12. by His owne Right-hand for it was great as the Sea Hee did it who hath taken the wicked in their owne Snare consumed them with their owne breath swallowed them up with their owne lips fallen upon them with their owne tongues bound them fast with their owne cords HIGGAION SELAH d Ps 9. 16. Rem meditandam summè a matter HIGHLY to be considered on Therefore with your good leave the Church ascribes all to her good God Blessing Honour Power Wisdome Thanks all the glory unto Him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lambe for ever and ever And the Church makes account that so yee will doe also yee doe call this yeare and your Court BAAL-PERAZIM for at this time the Lord smote His enemies there and hath broken forth upon them before you as the BREACH of WATERS Therefore ye call this yeare and that place BAAL-PERAZIM e 2 Sam. 5. 20. giving glory to the Lord for HE IS WORTHY ¶ A Transition to the next Section THus I have made as short a collection and given-in as briefe a Catalogue as I could of Gods dealings His wonderfull Administrations His strange dispensations of Wisdome and Providence towards His Church this yeare so full of Grace and Power all these contracted here into as narrow a roome as possibly might be considering how comprehensive some of the Heads were else where I have given them more enlargement but I looke and heartily expect that my paines will be prevented by some others pen that hath more leisure and a larger portion of gifts and abilities for the compleating such a History which so much advanceth the Name of God and the hope of Israel in the time of His distractions The Remembrance of what God hath wrought this former yeare vvill be to the Church in after times and in all her fainting fits as vve reade a Deut. 7. 18. for the consolation is the same and the grâ—und thereof the same Thou shalt not be affraid of them Tâ—ou shalt WELL remâ—mber what the LORD thy GOD did unto PHARAOH the Pope and unto all his helpers The c Another great Worke you have vvrought in the close of the yeare concerning Gods immediate worship and service which must be recorded in order with reverence to the time when these workes were done I say workâ—â— for it is plurall a comprehensive worke and containes mâ—ch Thouâ—h it may suffice very well that the Lord hath registred them and will reward them A Cup of cold water b Mat. 10 4â— given to His Church He will thinke upon and reward for that is His manner He will not be in arere with any man much lesse with His faithfull Servants if He seemes to delay the time or to forget it is for your advantage and that he may remember you in the fittest time as in the case of Mordecai A Cup of Water shall be remembred how much more your labour of love patience of hope your workes of Faith such vvorkes vvhich you have done and are written in the records of Heaven and Earth both for they concerne His pleasant Sacrifices vvhich He hath commanded such as were in the dayes of old and as in former years * Mal. 3. 4. But before the Church can record all this she must record with all thankfullnessâ— what you have done for her Land her people there breaking our bands and taking-off our yoaks also and rescuing us from cruell Taske-masters This the Church accepts alwayes in all thankfullnesse But we account this rescuing us and the Law from out of the hand of cruell Lords the chiefest among your many worthy deeds being most taken with outward priviledges and so vve may prosper in the vvorld we care not how our soules prosper such our teaching is and so blind our guides are for
His Sanctuaries kept cleane all filthinesse remooved thence and those that attend His services there to be purified and Holy ones That their Lord might see no uncleane thing there which might cause Him to turne away from them and turne His back upon His Sanctuaries The summe of their desires is That they may offer to the Lord an offering in Righteousâ—esse Then shall their offerings be pleasant unto the Mal. 3. 3. v. 4. Lord as in the Dayes of old and as in former Yeares The Church Remembers vvhâ—t you have done to promote these services so pleasant to the Lord and she must referre it to a speciall head of Praise and Thanks-giving CHAP. X. It is ordered that neither the Table of the Lord nor His Name be Idolized nor His Day prophaned nor Prayers restrained All this the Church Records with all Thankfullnesse The Time also when this was done and She sets her hope in God for after Time therefore She gives her selfe to Prayer SECT I. The Name restored Idols and Idoll Priests Cast-out The bold Chancellor rebuked the Lords Day rescued from those that offered violence thereunto BLessed be ye of the Lord you will have things called by their Name Cringing and bowing flat Idolatry The Table of the LORD a Table And His Name ye will not suffer to be made an Idoll neither nor His Day prophaned nor would you restraine prayer for next to her Lord Christ it is the life of her soule and more pretious then the breath in her Nostrills She will speake of these in order and to your everlasting praise ¶ 1. The Church accounts of but one feast during her weaâ—y Pilgrimage here and it is That her Lord Christ is pleased to invite her unto and make her partaker of at His own Table where She beholds admirable things an unspekeable gift which She cannot expresse but there She sees her Iesus Him Whom her soule loveth in Him and through Him exceeding riches of grace abundant mercy great love The Church is abundantly thankfull to you now That you have restored to her the Name and the use of That whereat She doth communicate and feast with her Lord She may call it a Table for so it is and not an Altar for that is a lye an abomination not to be once named in the Church of God who hath but one Altar as She hath but one Priest ¶ 2. The Church hath more thanks to give you before She can leave the Table That you have rebuked the bold Chancellor his turning of things upside downe which you esteemed as the Potters clay Let him order things at his own Table he had no more to doe in church-Church-vvork then Vzziah had to meddle with the Priests office Therefore the Lord going along vvith you hath set a note of disgrace upon him so notoriously transgressing the bounds of his office the pattent whereof he hath quite lost or willingly laid aside as manifest as was the Leprosy rising in the forehead Blessed be ye of the Lord that ye have so rebuked him and the vile Priest also who would make an Idoll of his Lords Name That WONDERFVLL NAME making one letter in that Name more excellent and honourable then another whereas every letter there is WONDERFVLL and infinitely glorious but so he did Idolize that Name there and every where bovving the knee at the hearing of it and in the meane Time mocking Him to His face The Church thanks you for this and that you remembred also that which was an offence and grief of heart ¶ 3. The INCLOSVRE the Railes there for vvhy should the Priests novv the vaile of the Temple is rent make the Chancell as the HOLY of HOLYES so making a difference in places vvhere God makes none or why should he stand alone there so like a sacrificing Priest as if the guift he were to distribute there were not common to all believers Now the Lord Christ is as a fountaine opened to the house of Judah the Church She is indeed a garden inclosed a spring shut up a fountaine sealed b Cant. 4. 12. Because the Church is seperated Optimâ fide castaâ— conservas â—â— tuos fructus intogros Iun. for her Lords use and all her fruit as from Him so all reserved for Him What her Lord Christ is what He hath all is for His beloved Therefore she is peculiarly His all she is and all she doth But her beloved is a common good to the whole Church to every part and member of the same The poorest weakest person hath the same right and interest in Him the same accesse to Him as the strongest Christian hath even as a beggar pleades the same interest to the Sun-shine and a common fountaine as a King doth for God hath made these things common Blessed be yee that you have broken down the Railes there and thrown-down those Mock-gods which did serve the Heathen in those darke times to keep their gardens and drive away the Crovves and may yet serve some to make sport with who in the Sun-shine their tender yeares wâ—ll excuse them doe ride upon a long reed and play vvith Râ—ttles These dung-hill goods ascending out of the earth you have ordered to be cast out to their place And some of the Priests you have whipped-out too more polluting the Temple then ever did the buyers and sellers there The Church accepts all this with all thankfullnesse and waites the time when you must doe more even avenge her of such Adversaries as these who have not only done as above-said but forced the prophanation of her Lords Day after an unheard of and heathenish manner Surely this bold and daring sin hath filled up their measures brimme full so as wrath is running over now and bearing them down as a mighty streame And this the Church remembers often the more to enlarge and heighten her spirit in thanksgiving and praise ¶ 4. That seeing she hath but one Day in seven her Lords Day therefore most honourable her soules Day therein she hath svveete communion vvith her Lord and finds rest to her soule Her market-Day then she layes in her provision expecting to live comfortably upon her gatherings all the weeke following Seeing I say she hath but one day she is dainty and curious thereof zealous according to knowledge and religiously covetous she would not have a minute of that sacred time wasted And now that you have rebuked the vile Priests and their brutish people for their horrible prophanation of this Day she accepts this with all thankfullnesse Surely the Day when you did this and the place where you did it shall be called GILG ALL for then and there you rouled away the reproach of Egypt This she accepts alwaies with all thankfullnesse but more abundantly if more Iâ—sâ— 5. â— can be would she be enlarged for that which followes SECT II. The Churches Prayers pretious and prevailing Shee entreates shee may speake for her selfe or chuse her spoakes-man THat you have regarded the
breath of her nostrills and the life of her soule She doth professe unto you in the presence of her God that she hath but one meanes in her absence from Him whereby to seeke His face To know His mind concerning her and her conversation here below But one means to carry up all her wants and to bring down all her blessings for she accounts nothing a blessing which is not gained by Prayer and shee writes upon every thing she receives ASKT OF GOD But one meanes to hide her selfe in the clifts of the rock till the indignation be over For when the Lord shâ—ll shut the Heaven and open His Armory against the earth a Ier. 50 25. bringing forth all the weapons of His indignation Then hath she but one meanes one shift but as one said its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a greate one and a sure one HE ARE THOV IN HEAVEN THY DWELLING PLACE AND FORGIVE AND DOE This is all her refuge SVPPLICATIONS TO HER GOD. The Church hath much to say at this point But she humbly thankes you that you did not thinke it fit to bind her strictly in her Publike Assemblies to formes of others making Alas they cannot reach her wants nor the boosome of her God The heart knowes its own bitternesse and can best indite her own sorrowes and make them known unto her God But yet the Church will not prescribe heere only she hopes you vvill consider how shee hath been dealt with very lately when a stout Prelate was so daring as to prescribe her a prayer and then cheate the world with her Name The Churches Prayer when indeed it was Lincolns Prayer so the prayers have been all this Time some private mens devotions and then called the Prayers of the Church But had this beene all she had held her peace Behold how her Adversary like an imperious WHO RISH WOMAN hath dealt with her these lâ—st yeares which surely her Lord will take as a FORCING His QVEENE before His Face It is notoriously known that the Adversary hath by his prescribed formes compâ—â—led her to blaspheme the Name of her God and her own Name to curse her best friends and to blâ—sse her worst enemies In consideration of the premises she conceives great hope that if you allow not her children to choose their speakers yet to allow of your choise such an one who is sincerely honest understands their case the weight of his office and is sufficient to be their mouth to their LORD and to make knowne His meaning to them The Church is confident that if you shall well consider her Negotiations you will find them weigh more upon the ballance then those concerning the greatest Prince in the world and yet she will take the grant of this her request as a speciall favour and grace from you though not only a Prince but inferiour persons will challenge so much as their proper Right But she referres her suites to the Closet she is now giving in the tribute of thankes and praise and she blesseth God and thankes you with all her heart for all the labour of Love worke of Faith Patience of Hope towards her Sonnes and Daughters that you have brought them so farre even HITHERTO she sets a marke upon it for it requires speciall observation SECT III. The ninth of September a notable Day to be written and to be named both written because on that Day an unrighteous Decree To establish a Service odious to God one of their own being Judge was made Null and of none effect Named as in Dayes of old forthe same Reason HEre I have concluded the yeare almost in the middest of a Month I could not else have given up the full tale of wonders It was necessary I should goe to the ninth of that Moneth so farre that it might the more fully appeare how farre the Lord hath brought His Church working wonderfully for His people That Day the Worthies adjourned their Court for five weekes that so they might look over their private interests and then returne againe well refreshed for the Common-weale and Gods worke vvhich that Day late at evening had a notable close The Church seemes to heare a voyce now as one of her sonnes once did comming to her eares with a double charge Sonne of man write the name of the Day even of THIS SAME DAY * Ezek. 24. â— And the spirit suggests unto her the same Reason in effect which He did to the Prophet for so doing She remembreth well some there were who that same Day vvould have established the Liturgiâ— as now it is with all it's faults which all indifferent men doe find there not a few and acknowledge it to bâ— a Service which God never commanded neither ever caâ—e it into His Heart He that pleads so hard for the Liturgy as now it is for that must be remembred still the continuance and estâ—blishment of it in the Church even the same man tâ—ls us it is a Sâ—RVICE ODIOVS TO HEAVEN Doth he so Truly I thâ—nke so but jâ—dge you No that you wâ—ll not you will say for you are not a judge let the learned give judgement in these matters and let my spirit be subjâ—ct thereunto I confesse this is a point of wâ—sdome and of modesty both But I take judgement here in a vulgar construction and so we may judge for the eare can try words as the Mouth can taste Meat * Iob 12. 11. I will then give you out his worâ—s by tale for we find a pretty parcell of them together Thus he saith first GOD WILL HAVE NO WORSHIP OF OUR D. Hals Com. l. 2 p. 138. DEVISING Then God will not allow of all our Liturgy for sure there is something of mans devising therein as no man vvill deny that is not all fore-head and dares deny that Snow is white or fire will burne 2. WE MAY ONLY DOE WHAT HE BIDS US Then we must worship the Father in SPIRIT and in TRVTH for the FATHER SEEKETH such to worship HIM 3. NOT BID WHAT HE COMMANDS NOT. Ioh 4. 23. Then the Curate must not bid Saints dayes to be kept holy for God commands them not He commands His Day to be kept holy which the bold Priest hath countâ—rmanded and such dayes vvhich are to the Church now as dayes of PVRIM vvere to the Church of old Dayes turned unto them from sorrow to joy and from mourning into a good Day b Est 9. â—â— So also dayes of Atonement Fasting Dayes called also Sabbath Dayes 2. The Bishop must not bid his Curate reade all the Liturgy for then he will reade Arch-Angels which he ought not to doe for God commands him not to reade a lye we never heard or read of that word plurall but in the Liturgie 4 NEVER DID ANY TRUE PIETY ARISE OUT OF THE CORRUPT PUDDLE OF MANS BRAINE We believe it and withall that all is not true Piety that is contained in the Liturgy for the worst part of it