4 5 6 7 8 9. yet the Lord threatned to set a plumbe line in the midst of them and then he would not passe by them any more so though there be some places which may escape this War I mean the miseries of it in the extreamest manner yet still let them feare for their sins retained a time will come when God will not passe by them any more What shall I say more let me beseech all in all places who as yet by Gods speciall favour towards them have not undergone these heavy burthens of sufferings which many of their brethren have suffered that they would consider the great kindnesse they thus long have enjoyed and endeavour to frame themselves to be unfainedly thankfull to the Lord for the same and strive to get themselves affected with a fellow-feeling of their brethrens calamities and miseries that with sorrow of heart they may grieve for them as their owne and with all manner of humble intercessions desire the Lord to remove his hand from these parts that are afflicted and still for his mercies sake divert and turne away the judgements that are on the Land from them that as hitherto they have so still they may enjoy his favour and if it shall please him to bring any other correction upon them that he would so stir them up to be prepared at all times that they may not murmur but take patiently all manner of afflictions and be made more ready to obey him calling upon them in what manner soever he speake unto them and withall while they enjoy this rest when their brethren are in troubles let them strive so to take warning by their sufferings that they doe what God calls for by afflictions the works of repentance and good works one towards another even so and as well as if they were afflicted this doing wil witnesse to themselves and the world that they are lowly and obedient children who tremble at the sight of the rod and therefore the Lord doth to them as in mercy he did to Iosiah for his tender-heartednesse even spare them that they may enjoy peace in their dayes the consideration of which may adde inward comfort to their outward tranquillity 2 Kiâ—g 22.18 19 20. and assure them that they are a peculiar people to the Lord. But on the contrary if this peace and immunity from punishments work in stead of repentance c. vaine security pride and an increase of evills and impieties they then may have cause to feare and all other may thinke without breach of charity that because they are suffered to have their swinge in pleasures and earthly contentments God hates them and that they are bastards and not sons Heb. 12.8 even men who are allotted to most fearfull punishments to their destruction I might goe on but so much shall suffice to have spoken concerning those who as yet have not suffered the miseries of this War Now to such as have by the strength of the Holds wherein they have remained been safe and free from those troubles which many of their brethren have undergone let this word of exhortation come and be acceptable beware of growing proud by your deliverance or to a cribe that to the instrument which is due to the Author think not because you were delivered that your strength preserved you but give glory to God and praise him for it was he that delivered you and likewise take heed you doe not againe provoke him to wrath for though you as yet have escaped though formerly your enemies durst not or could not meddle with you yet I say grow not secure for if he once send your foes against you though your holds seeme invincible Ezek. 28.8.9 yet will he deliver them and you both into your enemies hands if he but once say Sword goe against such a place it cannot be still untill it hath made it desolate therefore it is a dangerous thing to have God as an enemy to fight against a place for why he hath many wayes and meanes to bring down strong Fortifications yea the strongest that can be made Strong was the fort of Sion when it was held by the Jebusites against David they were so confident * Sam. 4.6 7 Willet ibid. Quest 6. takes that to be the meaning of the words of its strength that they thought the blinde the lame were sufficient to keep it against all Davids force for they thought David could not come thither yet notwithstanding of its strength it was delivered into Davids hands and the Lord tells the Inhabitants of Jerusalem which place while it was in prosperity all the Kings of the earth durst not looke at that though there should remain but wounded men of the Caldeans Army * Psal 48.5 6. Ier. 37.10 Isa 10.4 yet should they take it and burn it with fire so strong are weak armies sent and set a work by God against any place all the policy in the world cannot disappoint what God that is infinite in wisdome shall determine to be done upon a place for as many wayes as men have to build up so many and far more hath the Lord to pull downe Of mighty strength surely was populous No Nahum 3 8 9 that was scituate amongst the rivers that had the waters round about it whose Rampart was the sea and her walls was from the sea Ethiopia and Egypt was her strength and it was infinite c. Yet was she carried away Ver. 10. shee went into captivity her children were dashed in pieces at the tops of all the streets and they cast lots for her honourable men and all her great men were bound in chaines Now where among all those strong Holdâ— and Castles which hitherto have withstood the force of the enemy is there one stronger then populous No which you hear was thus destroyed why then should any place or people presume upon their strength or think they can feele no trouble because of it Alas you see there is no resistance where God will have his judgements to enter how strong soever your workes have been formerly if Gods wrath be against you they shall be but like Fig-trees with the first ripe figs Nahum 3.12 if they be shaken they shall even fall c. Observe the place even the strongest workes when the Lord shall shake them shall be but as ripe figs which the least touch causeth to fall downe moreover that none may put any confidence in men for their number or strength though Workes fall the Prophet tells them Ver. 13 14 15 c. That their people shall be as drunkenmen and as women and the gates shall be set wide open to their enemies and their bars shall be burned with fire Read the places in the Margent there you may see at large described how weak all strong holds are Obâ—d 3 4 5 6 c. Isa 26.5 6 27.10 to save men from the fierce anger of the Lord so that I say
pathes of his Commandements our breaking with him will cause him breake in pieces our greatest hopes and give us over to become a shame and reproach to them who would much rejoyce to behold it But that they may never see their desires let us use all good meanes to continue and increase the love and brotherly kindnesse already begun to this end let us begin to betake our selves to some setled course in Religion and be not alwayes like children carried about with every blast of vaine Doctrine Heb. 13.9 I know it is not onely lawfull but necessary to search as much as we are able for the truth but yet it were well that at length we could finde something whereupon we might pitch and not alwayes stand in a dubious way subject to be curried like a Feather with every winde in thus doing we declare our folly and makes it apparent that whereas we might for the time the Gospell hath been among us have been reachers Heb. 5.12 we stand need to be taught and gives not onely occasion to our enemies to speak evill of us but even causes many of our well-wishers not to know what to thinke of us or what to make of us would we once settle our selves in some way we should presently know who would take part with us and who would be against us so should we come to know our friends from our foes so should we give satisfaction to many whose eyes are now upon us so should we hinder Sects for increasing and errours from spreading which otherwayes will endanger to contaminate many whom it may come to be a difficult businesse to bring into a right temper againe so should giddy-headed persons be restrained whose delight it is to trouble the Church with needles idle and foolish though knotty questions in a word so would their plots and intentions be frustrated who secretly in these times of distraction gather fuell to encrease the flame of our dissentions and their hopes frustrated whose chiefest hate is against â—ll Government it is too much apparant that there among us who busily go about to raise not to quench divisions discentions because they fear to hear of Government as a thing contrary to their dispositions they being imployed in actions and walking in such courses as if they came to triall were unlawfull and shamefull Moreover if we were once setled this would give some satisfaction to our Brethren in Scotland who no doubt but heartily desire to see the Kingdomes as they are happily united under one King so to be as neere as conveniently they may of one Religion and grieve to behold the Churches in the Kingdomes so pitifully dilacerated by these increasing divisions when both they and we have sworne to do our endeavours to unite them I know the obstructions that have hindered for applying the remedy have causâ—â— the disease to be more desperate and therefore the more difficult to becured yet no doubt if wee would but use the meanes they used with as much celerity and so accurately as they did we should find as good successe as they found And were it any discredit for us to follow them as far as they followed the Word of God many say Why should the Scots be our Teachers why should we imitate them in their actions and order our Church according to theirs c. To these I answer why did not we who have alwayes been accounted a Learned Nation and have so long enjoyed peace and prosperity in a large manner begin the work that they might have followed us but suffer them a poore dejected and despised people to begin the worke and not only so but through our backwardnesse hollow-heartednesse and cowardlinesse be forced to stand neede of their help to aide us in it If there be any discredit it is in that but to follow them as far as they goe in a right way is no discredit except it be a shame to doe well We may remember that it hath been to our cost that we have been so backward in the work they led the way but it was in our Borders they managed the Field but it was our losse that got the victory they call'd for the Reckoning but we paid the shot shall we blame them or despise them for this Nay let us blame our selves and our owne sins which provoked God thus to debase us and moved him to make use of them to begin and goe forward with his work who were lightly esteemed of in the world and accounted no better then a base and barbarous people before this is not unusuall with the Lord to imploy the weake things of the world 1 Cor. 1.27 to confound the things that are mighty to cast down the proud and exalt the humble We are a proud and haughty Nation and therefore God hath set them above us whom we despised and given them the honour and made us bear the burthen yea even caused us to sustaine them in the worke and to pay them the charges they were at in bringing it forward yea now God hath made them the head and we the taile they have the honour of this great worke and we must now follow them if we as they have done attaine to peace Nay and if we murmure at this and grow proud and scorne yet to be tractable or forward to goe on with the work of Reformation c. we may justly feare that for our sins God will more humble us and exalt them and cause them still more to gain by our losses untill they be as wealthy and famous as we have been and we as despised as they were It is not the way to gaine peace to murmure at Gods dealings with us or to despise those whom formerly wee have stood need of let us submit our selves to God we may see by Gods dealings with us that he as yet is displeased with us we are not yet sufficiently humbled for other sins more especially for this backwardnesse to Reformation for we some of us account it as a good and holy act to stand as men yet having their Religion to chuse we are yet lukewarme and carelesse and therefore may justly feare God hath yet a scourge in store to drive us forward against our wills Let us therefore be more zealous in this good work then we have been let nothing grieve us so much as our backwardnesse in it as yet there is no cause to feare their disloyalty whom many I hope needlesly suspect in some things they have showne themselves more carefull of our Nations honour then many of its owne Inhabitants and untill we see their generall actions contradict their former vowes let us not feare to account of them and call them Brethren If they prove otherwise then wee at first tooke them for let us blame our owne backwardnesse in not endeavouring to perfect that which by their assistance is brought into good forwardnesse Errata PAg. 13. line 6. for rejected read respected pag. 15. line 9. for the read that pag. 23. line 17. for created read createth Pag. 24. line 32. for invincible read invisible Pag. 25. line 4. for free shot read shot free Pag. 40. line 15. for unholding read upholding Pag. 41. line 9. for hath reade have Pag. 43. line 8. for hath read have Pag. 43.27 for feaâ—full read secret Pag 51. line 3. for ever read even Pag. 52. line 35. for wound read wounded Pag. 53. line 25. for call read care Pag. 55. line 34. for would be read are Pag. 55. line 35. with rich men read rich men Pag. 58. line 13. for freely read briefly Pag. 58. line 36. for root read rush Pag. 35. line 4 for we that read that we Pag. 84. line 9. for is unknowne read is not unknowne Pag. 104. line 13. for seeme read see me Pag. 105. line 25. for safety read safely In the Margent Page 45. for Tropeis aposniasma read Tropes aposciasma Pag. 53. for torrent read terrent Pag. 53. for notesque read noctesque Pag. 55. for budizousi read buthizousi Pag. 56. for deficile read difficile Pag. ibid. for miserente read miseâ—ante Pag. 59. for ecphugousin read ecphugosin Pag. 63. for accumelamus read accumulemus Pag. 80. for oporteat read oporter Pag. 83. fâ—r excitat read excitet Pag. 91. for paroimois read paroicois ibid. foâ— paroimia read paroicia Pag. 95. for persequeretur read persequerentur The Heads of the severall Chapters of this Booke COncerning the occasion of writing this Booke Fol. 13 CHAP. I. That God hath variety of Judgements to punish sinfull and rebellious people withall Fol. 20 CHAP. II. Shewing why and when the Lord uses variety of Judgements Fol. 27 CHAP. III. Seeing the Lord hath many sorts of Judgements men ought to examine their Estates how they stand before God whether they may expect peace or dangers A discovery of many sins in these parts found out by a slender examination Fol. 43 CHAP. IIII. We cannot expect any Peace or Tranquillity or to be free from Gods Judgements or plagues as long as we continue in our sins Objections answered many secret plagues discovered Fol. 43 CHAP. V. We may no onely feare that God hath Judgements in store for us but that wrath in some sort shall shortly be powred down upon us Fol. 57 CHAP. VI. The folly of those who think to escape Gods judgements by departing for the present to any other place or that thinke they shall not at all suffer because they have escaped some dangers Fol. 63 CHAP. VII A particular warning to those places who as yet have not felt the punishment of Warre or because of their supposed strength feare it not seeing God may and can punish them either by it or by other plagues Fol. 69 CHAP. VIII Because God hath variety of Judgements it behoves all men to prepare at all times to suffer Fol. 77 CHAP. IX How to prepare against particular afflictions as War Pestilence c. and to undergoe them patiently Fol. 82 CHAP. X. The Conclusion of the Booke with a short Exhortation to all sorts of men Fol. 98 An Addition to the Faithfull Scout Fol. 107 FINIS
watchfulnesse and endeavour to answer his expectation who lookes now to finde and have some fruit from you whom so carefully he hath not onely suffered to stand but even manur'd about If he finde none take heed what follows he hath more judgements then one and knowes how to make this part that now flourisheth an astonishment and by-word to all the earth But I doubt not but as God hath hitherto been mercifull unto us in sparing us so likewise he will open our eyes to behold our sinnes with repenting hearts for them and raise us up from security that still he may delight to dwell among us That he may be thus mercifull unto us shall be my daily prayer and to stirre men up thus to meet him shall be my constant endeavour leaving the successe to God W. M. From my Study in Skipsey February 16. 1645. To the Reader concerning the occasion of writing this Booke ONce did I thinke to have with-held my Pen From writing ought to be for publike view Because I see mens labours with disdaine Rejected are receiving not their due Yet must I write although not having hope Then other men to be rejected more But in meere love to all men to lie ope What danger still this Countrey hangeth o're It may be that my words will counted be As idle as some mens before me were And those perhaps that blinded doe not see Will for my love my harmlesse musings jeere But let them do 't if they but some men rowse I le blame them not although they stir not thosâ—â— I see ' cause God in mercy towards this part A while hath stay'd his hand remov'd the Sword And doth as yet the Pestilence divert Which now in many places flyes abroad And suffers us if we with them compare In many places for to live in peace To heare of onely not to feele the Warre Which totally upon the Land doth ceaze That we in stead of giving thankes to God For his removall of the Plagues away And for correcting us with easie rod When otheâ—s beare the burthen of the day Goe on in sinne grow carelesse and secure Forget the troubles which our neighbours ' dure In truth I see and cannot hold my tongue Oppressions mighty still on every side Those men the first in doing all men wrong In whom the power of righting doth reside Yea some there are who should our wrongs redresse Who heavie burthens daily on men throw And with injustide poore men doe oppresse And boldly doe worke mischiefe by a Law Under pretence of publike good the State Is rob'd by some to serve their private ends And open Foes our Cause doth not defeate So much as those who seeme to be our friends Which makes some feare that some among us are Who meane more falsly then they let appeare Nor they alone our Ministers who should Be as our guides and leaders even they To cleave to their old courses still are bold And so to Reformation stop the way Yea still they stand for Superstitious Rites And betwixt God and Antichrist doe halt And still cry up to blinde the peoples sight Those Orders that apparent are in fault Like the Ephesians they doe stand for still Their old Diana to increase their gaine The Altars and the Groves on every hill By Arguments they stiffly would maintaine And like that flattering * Amaziah Amos 7.10 Priest of Bethel make Betwixt the Prince and people great debate Nay some of those who would Reformers seeme And ' gainst men backward in the worke doe cry These either of themselves too highly deeme Or else continue still in vanity As covetous as ever they remaine As carelesse still for ought but their owne ends Striving those whom they hate for to defame Mens ruine wishing rather then amends Walking before men so disorderly That many take offences at their wayes Too much addict to singularity Gods glory seeking not so much as praise Too busie factious rending Churches peace Denying that to which themselves they prease What honest heart doth now not grieve to heare The strange confusions that are us among What base impostors still there doth appeare The Countrey truth and Gospell still to wrong How few there are now zealous for Gods Cause But still Lukewarme and carelesse how things goe How many are there who are great in showes Who meerly for themselves their paines bestow Who for the publike Cause doth purely sight But have their actions mixt with private ends Or who doth stand so for his Countreys right As to oppose those who its freedome rends All looke for gaine all doe themselves respect Gods glory and the Publike they neglect Nay and not onely so but men doe strive To vex us more new mischiefes they invent Themselves of Gods good favour they deprive And move him daily unto punishment Where is our mourning where 's humility What sins are yet repented of or left Who sees not pride oppression bribery With covetousnesse adultery and theft With prophanation of the Sabbath Day And still contemning of Gods Ordinance Seeking how one another may betray Their covetous desires to advance In every place sin still a bounds yet none Smites on his thigh or cryes what have I done Where are our dayes of Fasting when doe we One day among so many separate To seeke our God by true humility His plagues to turne away from Church and State When have we one Thankesgiving for this favour Of peace and plenty which we now enjoy Even in this time when as the Armies savour On every side our brethren do annoy We lie secure we nought respect this love Nor once acknowledge that it is from God We still within our wonted courses move Nor feares nor dreames of any future rod. We nought respect our brethrens miseries Nor pity take on their calamities For all our sins we still our selves perswade To live in peace without ' en danger more No threatning still doth make us once affraid Though we have found true what 's threatned heretofore Our confidence is in our Armies strong That they will from us keep all dangers cleare No plagues that may arise our selves among Or other dangers we no whit doe feare We thinke it is not possible that we In these our parts should suffer any way Because far from us now 's the Enemy Thus put we far from us the evill day And by our deep security doe dare The Lord againe to bring upon us War But doe we thinke thus to escape his wrath And live in sin without controll at all Thinke we it is not true the Scripture saith Which threatens wrath ' gainst men that thus doe fall Let us not thus deceive our selves our God Hath as much power still as he had before Thinke not fond people that he wants a rod To punish those who doe despise his power He still hath plagues in store though none we see His armory as yet not empty is Though now we doe enjoy tranquillity H'ath plagues to
vex us if we doe amisse War is not all he uses to chastise Those people with that doe his name despise Beleeve me I am sorry to behold And too to well I doe behold it now That such securenesse should this Land infold That nought mens hearts to watchfulnesse can bow In pity therefore least the plagues should come Before men be awaked I have writ And this my writing to the view have showne That every one may notice take of it Oh! let it now awake you Countrey-men Your selves deceive not judgements still are neere Rowse up your selves from sleepinesse agen See see how wrath doth round about appeare Prepare your selves for judgemens else will take In sinne you napping e're you be awake Let no untruth prejudicate affection Disdaine or hate which any ' gainst me beare Cause you to disrespect my sound direction Which stirs up and perswades you to prepare Disdaine me not what e're I seeme I may Now speake to purpose though I simple be Althâ—ugh my writing be not deek'd or gay I nothing write but needfull verity And none can taxe me that I ever writ Any to warne but what hath proved true Credit therefore my words may sooner get Seeing at this time needfull things I shew Not that I seeke to get my selfe applause But that I would advance the publike Cause I would be loath to see now War is gone A pestilent infectious disease To come our Townes and People now among To fetch them hence to death without release Or that the Lord should cause the earth deny To bring forth fruit our people to sustaine Or bring upon us dearth or penury Or vex us with some secret feare or paine Or that he should into our strong Holds send Or to our Armies death them to devoure Or vex us as he once did Egypts Land With plagues unknowne to any man before Or make this part envied by its foes A laughing-stock to all that by it goes I say I should be loath such things should come To light upon this Countrey to its harme And that because that I doe hold my tongue And doe's not men of what I feare forwarne Who knowes but God hath rais'd me up for this To write that men may warning take and rise From that securenesse which doth them possess And to amend of their iniquities In hope of this I write but if that still Men in their dull security persist And take no warning by what now I tell Surely with hardned hearts they are accurst And God a while his judgements takes away That he may plague them more another day But thus in writing I my duty shall Discharge by giving warning to prepare And though fierce judgements shall upon us fall To all the world I guiltlesse shall appeare And these my words shall once respected be And be observ'd by those that doe them read And other places though these will not see Shall warning take and fly their sins with speed And those that will not by them warning take Shall when as plagues shall fall upon them say That it was true which unto them I spake And wish they had been warned at this day And those in whom no watchfulnesse is seen Shall wish that they had far more watchfull been My prayer shall be that this may take effect And bring to passe that for which forth I send it I will not grieve although with disrespect I hated be by men through it offended For as I seeke not for to flatter any So neither I ' gainst private persons braule I send it forth for to awaken many To all therefore I write in generall What is amisse passe by that favour doe me If ought you reape that 's good give God the glory No greater praise or favour you can show me If not there 's nought that can make me more sorry Read o're the Booke observe and marke it well Awake from your security Farewell W. Meeke The Faithfull Scout Giving an Alarme to Yorkeshire especially to the East-Ryding and to all other places at this time freed from War CHAPTER I. That God hath variety of Judgements to punish sinfull and rebellious people withall IT was not without cause that the Apostle said It is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the living God Heb 10.31 For surely most miserable and wretched is their condition that by their evill actions have made God at senâ—ity with them it were better for such if they might so be free that a milstone were tyed about their neeks and they cast into the bottome of the Sea then that they should live to abide all the plagues judgements and miseries which the Lord hath to inflict upon them for who can name or reckon up all those sorts of punishments that he hath in his Amory ready at any time upon occasions to send to execute his fierce wrath upon those who walke perversly before him many severall sorts the Egyptians felt in their Land and them so strange as were never before that time heard of and yet the Lord threatens his owne people that if they would not be obedient but walk untowardly before him Deut. 28.61 hee would send plagues upon them which were not written in the Booke of the Law even new plagues which were never before sent upon any and yet if wee looke upon the curses threatned wee shall finde them many Deut. 28.15 63. Lev. 16.18 22. strange and fearfull for he not onely threatens to turne every Blessing into a Curse but if that will not serve to deterre them from their evill wayes he tells them he will bring seven-times more plagues upon them then before and if they would not be reformed by them but still walke contrary unto him then hee would walke contrary unto them and punish them yet seventimes more nay and if that would not serve he would plague them yet seven-times more Yea and if for all this they still would walk stubbornely before him he threatens that still hee would encrease his judgements Verse 29. and walke contrary to them in fury and chastise them yet seven-times for their sins By all which fearfull threatnings he would have us to observe what variety of plagues he hath to inflict upon stubborne and stiffe-necked people Dicit Propheta Deum aperire Thesaurum suum nempe quoniam habet varios multiplices modos qui humano sensu comprehendi nequeunt ubi vuli impios perdere Cal. in Jer. 50.25 Lob 5.14 Psal 18.26 Ps 7 11 12.13 who will not be reformed to walke according to his command seeing that every time he punisheth he can change his judgements and yet make them every time more fierce and fearfull then other well therefore may he be said to have an Armory stored with weapons of indignation and wrath when hee hath not onely one or two but many yea infinite severall sorts and them too so strange that no man can conceive of them for contrary to all expectation
the Lord may no more speake unto us after that manner Exod. 20.20 or in such terrible sort but rather by our actions say with those godlesse men When will the day of the Lord come Let it make haste that wee may see it Isa 5.19 c. which doth evidently demonstrate unto us that as yet we are in the number of those stubborne ones for whom the Lord hath many fearfull plagues in store And as our fearlesse carriages so our untameable actions notwithstanding of Gods judgements threatned and executed doe testifie to our faces that we are as yet a stubborne and rebellious people even surpassing men and places of extreme wickednesse Idolatrous Ahab a Tyrant and a brazen-fac'd Varlet at the denouncing of judgements against him by Elijah at the length humbled himselfe in sackcloath and ashes 1 King 21.25 26 27. Ionah 1.2 3.5 6 7 c. and became some what like a repentant Nineveh a wicked city and a place of all manner of heathenish Idolatry pride and oppression c. yet at the preaching of Jonah repented and no doubt but for a while they somewhat amended of their former courses But we have not onely plagues denounced and threatned against us but for our abominations executed upon us and yet have not we left our evill wayes nay not so much as humbled our selves for them but still look as high as ever and oppresse and tyrannize over the poore and guinde their faces by extortions and squeeze them like spunges to fill our owne bottles and proudly presume upon our owne wayes to follow them at our pleasure without controllment but in very deed such deeds as these will proclaime us wicked and will cry loud unto the Lord to cause him arise to heare the sighings and teares of the needy Psal 12.5 and come down in wrath upon us to deliver them and in the meane time while we retaine them unrepented of we may assure our selves that by them we are liable to other of Gods judgements which he hath in readinesse to powre downe upon us when he pleaseth Againe â—â—uly it is a token of small amendment when men after they have been corrected still proudly and undecently carry themselves towards the people of God and such as desire to live blamelesse amidst a crooked and froward generation I wish by examination wee could finde none such among us but there stands need of no candles to sâ—arch in corners for them seeing they are assoone to be found as flyes in Summer for daily wee may hear them railing upon nick-naming scornefully using and deriding such whose care exceeds the common sort in religious performances and what is this but a mocking of God himselfe and shamefully making it appeare that yet our hearts are estranged from the truth and that our love is yet far short of what the Lord requires towards himselfe or people for while we thus despise our brethren whom we do see how can we love our God whom we see not Alas 1 Iohn 4.20 it iâ—â—â— câ—â—â—pity that the forme corrections which we have had have wrought no more love in us or how ever have no better reformed us but that as yet we should make mocking stocks of those whom God loves O me thinkes the woefull effects that followed Ishmaels mocking of holy Isua should have deter'd us from this sin Gen. 21.9 much more when we had both his example and Gods judgements to affright us but still I say it hath not but as much bitternesse and hate is against them as ever as little love or affection to them as ever as much striving to defame them as ever as much mocking them for their holy performances as ever therefore assuredly thiâ— sin among the rest will be a further provocation to cause the Lords wrath to arise to send some other plagues besides those we have already felt upon us And if we looke againe upon our wayes by unpartiall examination we shall finde unthankfulnesse for our deliverances which God hath wrought for us among the rest of our sins which can never escape without further punishment the Lord hath in some good measure caus'd our enemies to fall from among us and hath let us see our desires upon them in a word the limbs of Antichrist are cut off and brought into subjection as much or more with us then in any place of the Kingdome yet we forget to rejoyce with an holy joy Rev. 18.20 because God hath avenged us of them or to ascribe or render salvation and glory and honour and power unto the Lord our God whose judgements are true and righteous Chap. 19.1 2 and who hath judged the great Whore and her adherents and hath avenged the bloud of his servants at her hands this wee have so fane neglected to doe that some among us are sorry it is done and few I feare esteeme of it as such a blessing as indeed it is which cannot chuse but be very displeasant to God who alwayes expects at the least thankfulnesse from those for whom he workes deliverances and ever takes notice how they doe show their thankfulnesse and if they neglect he will punish their ingratitude with other punishments Thus the Lord made a promise to David and his seed he promised that the enemy should not exact upon him c. and that he would beat dawne his foes before his face and plague those that hated him Psal 89.22 Yet saith he if his children forsake my Laws and walke not in my judgement Ver. 23. c. then will I punish their transgressions with the rod and their iniquity with stripes And that which the Lord promised there in favour Ver. 32. wee may justly expect to be performed aganist us in wrath even because we forget to render to the Lord due thankfulnesse c. that he will come upon us with other plagues to visit our neglect severely for nothing more certaine then that such a sinne at one time or other shall be punished Moreover we are to know that it is no small provocation to cause the Lord bring upon us other judgments when as now while we have time and fit opportunity without interruption or hinderance we doe not reforme those abuses in Church and State which have so long been displeasant to God and offensive to good people and for to have liberty to doe which we have so long stood ingaged in military affaires I am loath to give the least occasion of wrangling to those who hatefully and scoffingly aske what we have been doing all this time and for what did we fight c. because that Reformation which we have so long expected is not perfected But this I must needs say that I much marvell that so many needfull things which might in these parts that are freed from all apposites that are able to resist be performed are so long left undone to let passe many things and instance in one whose neglect it is
I know not but me thinkes the Churches affaires among us go very slowly forward one maine cause of our former miseries was the want and negligence of Pastours many places whose stipends were sufficient to have maintained able Ministers have through the covetousnesse of men formerly in authority beene deprived of all teaching which hath occasioned great inconveniencies And still this is no whit amended for those in authority can be content to looke over these things vvithout reforming them nay even to take the in-comes of such places and yet never looke to provide any to teach the people a fearfull neglect for I dare say untill people be better instructed vve shall finde our desires longer in performing then vve expect and if this be the vvay to instruct the ignorant it is a nevv one vvhich none of the faithfull ever knevv of and I beleeve good Nehemiah vvould have scorn'd to have done it for his chiefest care vvas to provide teachers for the people Neh. 13.10 11. and maintenance for them and for that contended vvith the Rulers and vvhy should not the like be done by us vvho pretend Reformation Besides the sloathfulnesse of Pastours vvould be looked too that they be not idle and negligent as formerly they vvere this vvas Josiahs care 2 Chron. 35. to stirre up the Priests and Levitee to the worke and this ought to be the care of men in authority but as yet it hath been carelesly neglected vvhich makes so many Ministers as yet continue in their former sloathfulnesse So likevvise hovv many prophane or ill-affected Ministers are removed have vve not still drunkards câ—rders swearers and all manner of levvd livers and scandalous persons in the Ministry though they vvallovv in impiety and by their lives and conversations might shame even honest Heathen men though by them the people can learne nothing except all manner of sinne and vvickednesse though their doings are so evill that they vvere more fit to be cast out from hearing then be set in the place of Teachers yet even such as these are still in the Ministry uncast out nay unreproved Againe those that have had a great stroake in raising these Tumults vvho have beene great sticklers in unholding the Popish Army vvho have adventered estates and lives vvith the adverse party I meane Malignants and Papists against the Gospell of Jesus Christ and those vvho have stood for it these are not onely admitted to have their liberty among us but to enter our Pulpits againe to sovv sedition among the people vvithout restraint or rebuke And as in restraining of these so in neglect of Church Discipline and the keyes for the correction of manners we are as greatly to blame every mans will is his law which makes our Assemblies full of disorders and scandalizeth our profession not a little and truely now when we have this opportunity nay and have bound our selves in a Covenant to doe it and still neglect it I know not what to thinke but truly we may justly feare that such doings will bring upon us other miseries besides these which we have already undergone for how can we but thinke that now when according to our desires the Lord hath granted us opportunity to reforme what is amisse or displeasant to him and yet we doe it not that againe he will send upon us such woefull times that if we would we cannot I wish it may not be so but I assure you we may have cause to feare it * To this adde our breach of our Covenant which we have so solemnly taken almost I thinke I may say altogether in every point the fearefulnes of which may appear by these and the like places Isa 24.1 to the 13. 33 8 9. See the Addition to the faithfull Scout Moreover with these sins already named we may put in our prophanation of the Lords-Day as a sin which unrepented of will bring other of Gods judgements upon us it is the opinion of many good men in this Kingdome that the prophanation of that Day hath beene one of the chiefest causes of our miseries and indeed to prevent this I see our Nehemiahs hath taken care * In the Directory for publike Worship Neh. 13.17.18 Si unquam futurum sit ut haec Domini nostri in externo ministerio suo praesentia auferatur id accidat propier mundi istam ingratituaâ—uem Rol in Joh. p. 579 Isa 30.9 10 11 12 13 14. but that as yet hath taken small effect among us for we as much prophane it as ever even in times of greatest liberty by drinking playing revelling riding talking of earthly affaires and doing our owne pleasures upon it c. To these parts I le say no more then Nehemiah did to the inhabitants of Jerusalem What evill thing is this that you doe and prophane the Sabbath day did not you fathers thus and our God brought all this evill upon us and upon this part of the Countrey yet ye will bring more wrath upon us by prophaning the Sabbath And as the prophaning the Sabbath so the contemning of the Word preached will help to bring forward more wrath upon us we do not secretly whisper but even openly speake against the Ministers of the Gospell despising them that are sent of the Lord and the Word preached by them carelesly refusing to heare it as if it nought concerned us hence come our seldome Lectures dayes of humiliation or Thankesgivings our sloathfulnesse at Sermons and desires to have them over c. these do testifie we contemn Gods Word and our security and loathing to heare of any thing against our pleasures proclaime that we desire not the knowledge of the Lord or any thing that may bee good for us but rather that our teachers should sooth us up in our vilde courses and speake unto us smooth things and prophecie unto us deceits c. like those stubborne and rebellious Jewes whom Isaiah speakes of against whom for that sin very fearefull judgements are threatned and without doubt this now will provoke the Lord against us for there is scarcely any sin which doth so much displease him as to have his Word and Messengers despised as I could show by many examples of his wrath executed upon divers places for this sin but I have writ of this at large in another Treatise * Called Brittaines Hicrophanta Part. 4. Chap. 21. which I purpose God assisting me to send abroad when I have a fitting time to it therefore I refer you Neither are we free from Pride which alwayes cryes loud for vengeanee for pride alwayes goes not long before destruction and the efoâ—e what wee may expect let any judge Pro. 16.18 who still carry our selves as haughtily as ever especially in those places who as yet have not felt the rage of the enemy men and women of all sorts doe there behave themselves so prou lly towards their neighbours Isa 3.16 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 as if it were pleasant
prescribes and so preferre their owne wisdome before Gods He saith this it best for you they say hayâ—â— he bids them stand if they would be safe seeing he that sâ—â—kes to save his life shall loose it and he that seâ—kes to loose his life shall finde it but they say to the contrary so calling good evill and evill good extolling their owne wayes before those whom God hath set before them to walke in and if no other danger might follow but what this would prâ—cures it were sufficient for God tuâ—nes such wisdome into folly and catches such wise men in their owne craftinesse and in their supposed safety throwes them down into many troubles By these things it may appeare their folly is great and their offence not little who thinke to escape punishment by flying and as theirs so likewise they are much to blame who because they have escaped some dangers presume upon perpetuall immunity and feare no other dangers many there be infected with that disease the root of which I take to be an inconsideration of the variety of Gods judgements and a presumptuous and unwarrantable conceit of Gods mercy towards them which causes them to thinke that all is well when onely one storme is past but as the Mariner growing secure and carelesse after a storme to provide against another may suddenly be overwhelmed before he be aware even so may these to their discomfort and terrour be drowned in perdition and destruction or ever they know from whence their overthrow commeth for it is no sure token of freedome from danger because they have escaped once or twice no more then to conclude it shall never be raine because some clouds passe over but rather as after a long drought wee make our selves surer of raine so ought men after long escaping to assure themselves of punishment if not by one meanes yet by another for as much as God hath many waves to bring to passe what he will have performed and long may he suffer men to live in prosperity and yet at length meet with them in wrath when once the appointed time of recompencing comos It was Ahabs overthrow that because he had formerly been delivered twice therefore he would goe to Ramoth-Gilead assuring himselfe he should as safe returne from thence as he had done formerly but there destruction met with him strangely as you may read in the story And let none among us be overtaken with this fault to thinke wee shall for ever escape because those miseries which by Warre we suffered are removed from us and we for the present live in peace but rather let us thinke and know that his judgements will not be slacke against such presumptuous ones and let our peace in stead of making us high minded cause us to provide to suffer take heed that because sentence is not pronounced against us speedily Eccles 8.11 therefore wee will take liberty to offend or perswade our selves of peace for though it be not at first yet assuredly it shall not goe well with us Ver. 13. if we offend and prouoke the Lord to wrath Abimelech for a long time escaped many dangers Judg. 9.53 and yet at last was slaine by the hand of a woman and though perhaps he thought his evill had been forgotten which he committed in slaying his brethren in that he was so long spared yet the Text saith That God rendered the wickednesse of Ahimelech which he did unto his father in slaying â—is seventy brethren Ver. 56. and so assuredly will he doe to us if we repent not although we escape not onely this but many other CHAP. VII A particular warning to these places who as yet have â—â—t felt the punishment of Warre or because of their supposed strength feare it not seeing God may and 〈◊〉 punish them either by it or by other plagues AS there are many who hope to escape by flying so are there likewise many who confidently presume upon the strength of the place where they remaine and so will not be brought to feare any thing and some of these either being in places where they have not seen the miseries which are the companions of War or at most so seen them that they have been onely presented to their eyes without the least feeling of them upon that grow so proud and presumptuous that they both forget others and themselves as if they had assurance of continuall peace now such men as these would I have alwayes to have in minde what hath been so often spoken in this Treatise namely how that God is not without variety of judgements to meet with them and therefore perhaps he hath spared them hitherto that he may reserve them to a further tryall and sharper sufferings the feare of which ought rather to cause them to prepare to suffer then to be proud or fearlesse to suffer I say for now can they assure themselves of a free enjoyment of tranquillity in a time or generall disquietnesse they must expect that the overflowing scourge will passe over them Isa 28.15 19. as well as their brethren yea though they seem to have a covenant with death an agreement with hâ—ll yet all that shall do them no good but even among the rest shall they be troden downe the time is uncertaine it may be that God hath reserved them the last to be devoured by the sword now raging or some other perhaps as yet the charge is not given against them because their sins are not yet ripe or their measures not yet full but when the appointed time shall come they as well as others shall have their share Gen. 15.16 and it may be act their parts in this wofull Tragedy Or if they as the Giâ—eonites among the Ganaanites escape the sword they yet cannot assure themselves from some misery or other iâ— not appearinges ill yet to them may it prove as ill or worse then War being armed with the fiercenesse of Gods wrath for who knowes what God hath intended or prepared for them seeing his armory is stored as it is therefore it behooves them to be ever carefull and ready that at what time or after what manner soever he come they may be prepared to undergo all with patience Let never security in what manner or form soever it disguise it self have any entertainment in such places what pretended ground of assurance soever of liberty peace or immunity there may be shown yâ—t alwayes let them have in mind that powerfull hand that alwayes is ready and carefull to doe justice upon offenders and never let the least thought of assured safety enter untill there be a perfect and certaine reconciliation made betwixt the offenders and the party offended for till then it is not the forbearance or want of any judgement executed for a small time that can promise a full certainty of continuall immunity for though the judgements of Grashoppers and fire were by Amos prayer diverted from Israel Amos 7.1 2 3
all this considered may serve to beat down those presumptuous vain thoughts of safety because of strong holds or any other temporall defence whatever But let us suppose that Walled Townes may free men from the stroake of War if it should be so that God should no more send the sword against those places that have already escaped have they for that cause to boast themselves in their iniquity or to presume upon freedom from punishment nay let them not doe so for God hath not his quiver so poorly furnished that he hath but one arrow or his armory so empty that he hath but one judgement but he hath many other which may by him be inflicted upon them although they escape the judgement of War how many places are consumed by fire which have escaped the ruine attending on War and seeing these things are daily heard of except they make a sanctified use of these examples they themselves are in danger to be made examples to others therefore let them take heed of security and vaine confidence in the arme of flesh seeing they know not what is reserved for them it may be when God hath given the cup of his fury to others to drink up that he will give the dregs to them to suck out most commonly those whom he long spares and on whom he hath bestowed the greatest favours those I say suffer the sorest when his judgements are once let loose against them however while men continue in their sins even the least creature is ready if commanded by God to rise up in armes against us and the least plague is sufficient punishment if but sent by God therefore let none desire againe to see the day of the Lords vengeance for it will be a gloomy day a day of darknesse and not light a day of sorrow and griefe to all that see it and feele it A fearfull thing it is to fall into the hands of God if he be provoked to wrath men may be withstood but who is able to withstand or stand before the Lord when he is angry little therefore doe they know what they doe who in a boasting manner vaunt of their strength as if they were not at all to be medled with when alas they are weak and easie to be throwne downe while they harbour within them their sins for they undermine their foundations weaken their strength and layes them open to all the miseries that fly abroad they unfortifie more then they can build up and make all the means and indeavours which are used to prevent dangers instruments to further what they should prevent they bring back againe the troubles past they cry aloud for vengeance to be poured down upon those who delight in them and at the last cause the most famousest places to be destroyed with utter destruction and overthrow Consider of this you that have been saved by your strong hold as hitherto and if you would not have your houses destroyed your wives ravished your daughters defloured your estates wasted the fire of God to consume you the pestilence to cut you off terrour to affright you in any of your habitations then repent and bewaile your sins and take warning by what you have already seen and by what you heare others doe feele and so iniquity shall not be your ruine which otherwayes will make your famous places as much disrespected as now admired and bring downe their glory Micah 6.16 and make them as a by-word and an hissing to all the earth for God will have a controversie with you Terra Sodomitica o lim tam fructibus quam substantia civitatum fortunata nuncautem omnis exust a at que habitatorum impietate fulminibus conflagrasse memoratur Josep de bellis Judaicis lib. 5. cap. 5. Luke 13.3 and will not show pity towards you as long as you harbour such a guest as he hates and will not show favour too or pity viz. Sin Thinke not to be spared for any splendour or outward beauty Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities about them were scituate in pleasant and fruitfull places yet for their sins were destroyed for the famousnesse of places is not regarded by God as long as within they are full of ravening and wickednesse we daily see how the sword and other of Gods judgements devoures as well one place as another and without partiality lies full low as well the lofty pallace as the humble cottage populous cities are spared no more then peoplelesse villages what therefore can more men to thinke of immunity To concludes me thinke that Doctrine laid downe so plainly without exception by him who being Truth it selfe cannot die viz. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish should be a sufficient warning to all men to stir them up from sin and security for if men would but seriously ruminate upon it there could no objection or thought arise concerning hope of freedom from punishment which the very repeating it over would not answer and beat back how and by what meanes it is not fet downe that men may be prepared at all times and upon all occasions but if they continue in their sins without repentance that they shall perish nothing more certaine who then can say we shall escape who can promise safety to himselfe and Countrey let none cry peace when there is no peace nor let any hearken to a voyce of peace so long as the cry of sin is so loud for my part I wish this Countrey peace and I wish that all places that have not suffered may still enjoy peace and those that are free from sufferings may continue free but as yet I dare not promise to them that peace I wish them I dare not say the Lord hath said you shall no more heare the sound of the trumpet the alarme of War c. or if I could yet durst I not say the Lord had no more judgements in store for you I say I dare not say it for neither I nor any have assurance of it but rather the contrary because of the abounding of sinne in every place why should I flatter any to make them think they were in an happy condition when they are miserable why should I nuzzle men in security or make them put far from them the evill day when it may be neare at hand what I have said and will say is to stir up men from security and therefore feare the Lord for he hath still judgements in store to punish if men by their sins offend and provoke him CHAP. VIII Because God hath variety of Judgements it behooves aâ— men to prepare at all times to suffer Videntur omnia repentina graviora Tuscul Quest lib. 3. Multa sunt incommoda in vita quae sapientes commodorum compensatione leniunt Cie Sent. lib. 1. num 14. THat is alwayes the sharpest and hardest to be borne that comes suddenly before men be aware sudden falls unforeseene and feared breed great confusions and miserable events
and scorned by the Lord our God And the rather we ought to doe so because we are so continually warned there is not one day wherein we hear not of some affliction oâ— misery which in one place or other our brethren doe suffer all which are as so many exhortations to stir us up to duty of preparation shall God give us so many warnings and shall we still be carelesse shall he let us see so many objects of his fierce wrath and shall we not feare shall the lion roare â—ound about us and yet we not tremble shall he let us see how hardly afflictions goe with other places for want of due preparation and shall not we prepare let us beware of this otherwayes our miseries shall be greater and so harder to bee borne then ever hitherto by any have beene suffered For alwayes it is ordinary not to pity those who might have prevented by their owne industry what through their negligence comes upon them so for us who have time to fly unto the Lord before the flouds of great water encompasse us if we do not in the time of affliction what pity can we expect therefore that our neighbours round about us may not have cause to laugh at our folly let us prepare to meet our God either by repentance to prevent or else by patience to endure what it shall please him to inflict upon us this will not onely be usefull and great comfort to our selves but pleasant to God and exemplary to our neighbours to stir them up to doe the like and likewise of great joy to the people of God and our brethren who will rejoyce to see us with patience undergoe the Lords afflictions thus rejoyced the Apostle Paul that the Hebrewes could with such patience under goe the spoyling of their goods Heb. 10.34 c and this would be of excceding great comfort to all those whose eyes are now upon us to see how vve vvould behave our selves in afflictions and let us the rather remember to doe this because there is no hope of escaping when once the flouds of afflictions doe encompasse us God will not be entreated to spare us after the time of mercy be once over and we shall finde patience if not formerly sought for hard to obtaine in the midst of misery let this therefore stir us up to prepare if nothing else will that we may with Eli say It is the Lord let him due what seemeth him good and vvith patient Job though the Lord kill us yet will we trust in him that come vvhat vvill nothing may be able to separate us from God but that vve may cleave close to him in the midst of affliction and make a sanctified uâ—e of all his corrections to our comfort in this and the world to come CHAP. IX How to prepare against particular affliction as Warre Pestilence c. to undeâ—gâ—e them patiently WHat afflictions the Lord may lay upon us we know not no how soone we know not therefore as I have before said it stands us in hand to prepare our selves for all conditions and because perhaps some would and cannot others can and will not to instruct the one and leave the other without excuse I will breifly lay down how and after what manner men may prepare themselves for all estates and conditions whatever And first to undergo patiently the burthen and misery of warre which for ought we know the Lord may againe bring upon us It is necessary that we repent us of and forsake all our sins which formely have Insium et tenaâ—em propositi virum non civium ardor prava jubentium nâ—n vultus instantis tyranai mâ—â—â—e quatit sâ—lidâ—â— c. Hâ—râ— lib. 3. Od. 3. or againe may provoke the Lords wrath against us and alwayes remember that this must be a principall generall rule in preparing against all other afflictions that so though our enemies should rise in a tumult against us yet they may not be aided against us by the Lord as set a worke by him to punish and destroy us but onely fatherly to chastice us and we being reconciled unto God through Christ haveing that inward peace of conscience may by such corrections be rather made better then worse for an outward war is never grievous to a man that hath inward peace as long as men are reconciled to God and at peace with him an earthly enemy may hardly entreat them but cannot utterly dismay them for they fear not them that can but onely kill the body but him that can cast both soule and body into hell So I say if we doe but truely repent what afflictions soever come they will not be as punishments to take * Psa 1 19.12 vengeance on us for sin but as fatherly chastisements to warn us from sin which will not seem intolerable and hard but light and easie to be borne and instead of making us murmure against God we shall say with holy * There is in afflictions vindicta divina castigatio paterua Vindicta divina est poena qua Deus ulciscetur peccata improborum eos destruet Castigatio paterna est poena qun Deus electos proprer peccata corripit ut cos ad resipiscentiam excitat corrigat cautiores tardioresque ad peccandum in postâ—rum reddat utquesiceos â—rudiat ne cum hoc mundo condemnentur Afflictions to the godly are not timoriai but paideiai not Revengements but Inftructions Polan Sintag lib. 6. cap. 4. pag. 340. col 2. Calvin Instit lib. 3. cap. 4. Sect. 31 32.33 34. Where you may reade of this at large David It is good for us that we have been afflicted when on the contrary the judgement of Warre comming upon men in their sins and so at enmity with God will be a heavy judgment and so will cause them to fret and repine and murmure against God to the further hardning of their hearts to their destruction for they are so farre from being amended by afflictions or taking any profit by them that rather by such beginnings they are prepared for hell which at length abideth for them saith Master * Instit lib. 3. cap. 4. sect 32. Calvin Secondly if men will be prepared against War c. let them get themselves disingaged from earthly pleasures profits c. for while their hearts are set upon such things they never can without a great deale of grief and inward trouble think of the comming of such times wherein they must loose them all a man with patience will never undergoe any hardship as long as he hath any way to free himselfe from it nor can one ever thinke of affliction as long as he hath all delights about him and to such as have placed their delights in temporall transitory things will the besome of destruction which sweeps all away seeme trouble some Isa 14.23 how hard would it goe with a man whose delight is in wealth and worldly riches to have them before
have every day a piece so greatly was he beloved of God that even when all the City was in want and he hated of all in the City yet was he provided for now these and the like examples of Gods kindnesse towards his people in such distresse may imbolden us to suffer with patience seeing God is the same he was and as carefull over his people as ever formerly and will assuredly relieve those that are in distresse if they doe but truly confide in him Suppose two men were to goe to prison or to such a place where they were sure to finde want of all things the one he knowes of a friend that will relieve him in necessity and therefore he with better heart and more comfort enters the undelightfull place the other he knowâ— of none that will at all help be his want never so extreem and therefore sorrowfully enters and with bitter griefe undergoes such unwelcome wants It is even thus with Gods people and ungodly men with men that have faith and unbeleeving persons those who trust in the Lord they feare not to heare of famine they know of a friend who will one way or other relieve them 1 King 17.6 the ravens shall feede them if men will not or cannot in prison they shall have bread when men that have liberty shall want pulse shall make them fat and faire Dan. 1.15 when others shall idye because they cannot undergoe hardnesse one handfull of meale shall hold out to preserve them when full barnes shall waste and be empty in a word 2 Kin. 17.14 Psal 34 1â— they know that God will provide for them and therefore they feare not but considently and constantly relye upon him On the contrary wicked and unbeleeving men in time of dearth know of no succour 2 King 6.27 if the Barne floore or the Wine-presse faile them they are at a stand they know not which way to turne themselves and so the very thought of famine terrifies them and to undergoe it seemes intolerable therefore I say let us put our confidence in God and consider what favour other of Gods servants have had in such distresses and let that worke in us an assurance of Gods favour towards us and then having that assurance we shall be ready to undergoe with patience this or the like calamity Againe if none of these forenamed judgements do molest us but that the Lord hath decreed that we shall be destroyed by Forraine Foes let us pray night and day to the Lord to keep them from us or led Captives from our own land to strange places 1 Pet. 1.11 c. to prepare to suffer this patiently os paroimois c. Vita nostra eleganter dicitur paroimia id est Peregrinatio nam Deus nobis hic Domicilium non habitandi sed commorandi de dit let us remember that we are but strangers and pilgrims here on earth we no continuing * Heb. 13.14 city here we are not now at home but even while here we live we are in a strange Countrey where onely for a while we must abide to endure afflictions that we may have algreater desire to be fetched home to that city above which is the mother of us all have we any more to doe then holy men before us have had and they counted the time which they spent upon earth but as a pilgrimage and themselves as strangers in the earth what assurance or title soever they had of or to what they did possesse therefore we are no more now to strangers all places are alike they can be as well content in one place as another Gen 47.7 12.10 Heb. 11.13 should it not then be so with us although we should be driven or carried away our God is in all places and to him we may have free accesse in all places seeing in every place those that lift up pure hearts and hands to God Sapiens ubicunque est perigrinatur are accepted his watchfull eye of providence lookes upon us in all places and he is ready to assist all that call upon him with necessaries therefore what need we care whither we be carried if God have so decreed that it shall be so for let us not doubt but he will provide for our safety even in greatest extremity Psal 90.1 let us not feare but he that gave Jeremiah favour in the sight of his enemies Jer. 40.4 so that in a time of generall captivity he had free liberty â—o goe whither he would and likewise Gen. 39.4 Dan. 2.48 caus'd Jeseph and Daniel to finde such favour in strange landâ— that they were advanced to places of trust and dignity and in the time of the greatest bondage blessed his people with all manner of blessings in a strange land Exod. 1.7 but the same God will provide for us likewise if we put our trust and confidence in him as they did for the Lord hath alwayes a speciall care over his servants chiefly in the time of dangers so that how ever it goe with the wicked it shall goe well with them To be briefe let us take the words speken to Ebedmelech as spoken to us and that may cause us stand firme against all approaching danger Jer. 39.16 17 18. But yet perhaps it may seem an hard thing to be borne with patience to many to see strangers enjoy their labours lands houses and what was theirs and they themselves either be as slaves to them or forced to fly for their owne safety or carried by force to places where there is no hope of safety This indeed may seeme hard to flesh and bloud therefore let all men as I before shewed endeavour to draw their love and delight from them and withall consider that of all we do possesse we are but tenants at will and shall we not be as well content to suffer the Lord to doe what he pleaseth with his as that our temporall Landlords should dispose of theirs as they please it is nothing to us to whom an owner of land lets or gives it why therefore should we repine at what the Lord doth The earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof he may therefore dispose of it as he pleaseth which thing seriously considered of should teach us to lay our hands upon our mouthes and not murmure though all we had we taken from us and given to others But againe if it should be so leâ— us consider to further and procure in us patience to endure it that we are not alone in such a condition but even the dearest of Gods children have been in the like Abraham Gen. 15.13 the Father of the faithfull had a Land promised to his seed for an inheritance but it was possessed by strangers foure hundred years before they enjoyed it nay in the most of that time they suffered hard and cruell bondage in Egypt David by the Lord was chosen King of Israel but he lived in exile
when you thinke not of it will destruction and misery fall upon you to your amazement and terrour You likewise who are Ministers remember to put in minde your people committed to your charges of Gods great favour towards them in this their enjoyment of peace and doe you walk so before them in uprightnesse of heart adorning your profession with good workes and as it becomes Ministers seeking Reformation take heed you give no cause to your enemies to say you carry your selves unbeseeming your callings or cause you stand for let not this small time of tranquillity lull you asleep in security but alwayes stand upon your watch and be as ready to suffer as to live in the time of Gods patience and long-suffering arme your selves for fiery trialls as yet God hath not so purified his Church as he intends to do Oh therefore prepare to suffer and doe the worke of the Lord with diligence that how ever iniquity may abound and the love of many waxe cold yet you may be zealous for Gods glory and carefull to save those soules to you committed and likewise by your examples may strengthen others to undergoe with you all manner of afflictions of what kinde or quality soever they be of take heed that security possesse not you for if the watchmen fall asleep the city is in danger of the enemies surprisall be therefore alwayes awake for unto you is committed the charge neglect not but give warning blow the trumpet betimes that all may put on their armour and be ready for an assault if you give warning your duties are discharged but if you neglect the bloud of all that is lost shall be required at your hands I know the Devill goes about busily as Mercury did with Argus by his alâ—uring pleasures and delightfull sounds to bring all your eyes asleep but let him not have his desire but endeavour to keep your eyes open and to this end disdaine not to let this my Scout give you warning and let me likewise entreat you that if any of you shall seeme forgetfull of what I put you in minde of to doe the same to me that I have done to you all in generall and your wholesome admonitions shall ingage me to bee thankfull Lastly let me exhort all sorts of people in these parts and all over the Kingdome to consider seriously what God hath done for them and let them not think of say as the most part of common people doe that if this War were at an end there were no danger of any other trouble and upon that grow secure and Carelesse how they live but let them know that as God formerly sent his spirit of disunity into the Kingdome for the sin of the Kingdome so if the same or like sins remaine he will againe send the like or some other as fearfull But if they would enjoy this peace let them learne to prize it as they ought Propter praesentem aliquaÌ„ conditionem prosperam non obliviscamur prÄ™teritae miseriae sed subinde ad eam oculos reflectamus Eâ— enim re fit ut melius sentiamus beneficii gratiae magnitudinem et ex sensu illo Deum magis glorificemus in eoque gloriemur Fit etiam ut inspecta superiori miseria in rebus prosper is nos submisse geâ—amus neque altum sapiamus Vnde existit hÄ™c superbia c. Nimirum ex eo quod non recordentur prioris suae conditionis quare vel hac causa ut humilis simus jumin sublimi aliquo loco constitutis nunquam recedere ab oculis nostris debet pristina misera noâ—â—ra condition Rolloc in lohaâ— Pag. 576 577. by being truely thankfull unto God for it and to this end let them alwayes beare in minde former miseries and be not puft up with pride or presumption because of their present happy condition but let them behave themselves as if they still were under the red and that will worke in them not onely thankfulnesse for this their happinesse but likewise feare to provoke the Lord to bring any more such judgements upon them as formerly they have felt for according to the old Proverb A burnt child dreads the fire so a people that have been smitten should feare to be in the like condition againe Thus fearfull was the holy man of God Moses when the Reubenites and Gadites came unto him Num 32. to desire him co suffer them to build tents and strong holds on that side Jordan he was fearfull that they had desired that for an evill end and therefore he puts them in minde of provocations wherewith their fathers had formerly grieved God and of the judgements they suffered for their rebellions to the end that they might feare to doe the like least such miseries should come upon them and their brethren this was likewise the practise of Nehemiah as you may see in that place in the Margent Neh. 13.17 18. And this ought to be the practice of all them that either desire to please God or live free from Gods judgements Likewise let them remember how in the time of distresse when the Sword was among them and death looked in at their windowes when there was no going out nor comming in safety but they lived continually in danger then what would they not have done for peace would not many as they said willingly have parted with halfe their estates so that they might have enjoyed a freedome from the calamities they then suffered Now hath God done for them even abundantly above what they could aske or thinke in sending peace that they againe may sit under their vines and under their fig-trees Now let them take heede that they bewray not their Hipocrisie and make it appeare to all the World that they are no better then that * This Fellow being in danger of shipwrack promised St Christopher that if he might but come sâ—fe to land he would offâ—r to him a waxâ—n-candle of an incredible highnesse another hearing him told him he was never able to perform his promise Hold thy tongue foole said he I doe not speak as I thinke Ifâ—l but once get to land I le not give him so muchas a tallow candle Erâ—s Coll. nauâ—â—agium Zelander whom Erasmus tells of who in a distresse promised largely but with an intent to performe sparingly if he attained his desire But honour God by their estates which he hath suffered them still to enjoy in doing good to the poore members of Jesus Christ as in feeding the hungry cloathing the naked releiving the oppressed and if need be in offering willingly some part of their estates to further the Cause of Christ thus doing God will blesse them and all they have and increase his favours towards them but if they forget what God hath donne for them and in the time of this peace which God hath granted them to see how they will behave themselves towards him take an occasion to goe on in their former courses
with delight then shall even this mercy become one way or other a judgement unto them either by hardning their hearts to their destruction or by it to take away all occasion of excuse that so way may be made either to bring some other judgements upon them or else Warre againe in a more fearfull manner which God in his greaâ— mercy divert Amen AN ADDITION TO THE FAITHFULL SCOUT HAving long since finished the foregoing Treatise being hindred by some occasions from publishing of it then now since I brought it to the Presse it pleas'd God to dispose of our Affaires in these Northerne parts that Feares have taken hold of many that which I in the foregoing Treatise give warning of that in some sort seemes to be approaching Now therefore seeing I have begun to give warning although I have neither â—easure nor meanes to doe what I would and these actions were fitter Subjects for more learned pens yet I will say something to the Kingdom concerning these second Northerne Expeditions for though the eye of my judgement be but dim me thinkes to me they are as a Prospect-glasse whereby I see things as yet far off which have some reference not onely to this part but to the whole Kingdome and that concerning no meane matter but the welfare or woe of the Kingdom either an happy conclusion by a settled Peace or a bloudy confusion by a new waged War For my part as I never did so now I doe not much fear the Disloyalty of our Brethren but yet what God may do by them for the correction of us for sin I know not our abominations may so far incense him against us that he may make our dearest and most faithfull friends our deadly enemies and raise another Spirit of disunity among us and cause us to scourge one another untill we be destroyed one by another As to set Ephraim against Manasseh and Manasseh against Ephraim and they both against Judab untill a finall desolution overthrow us Isa 9.22 without recovery I know there are Jealousies and Feares in the Kingdome of our Brethren the Scots least they should revolt from that constancy which was supposed to be in them what I thinke concerning this matter I shall briefly declare and because I cannot expresse it better use the Words of one Writing upon the same Matter and these they are That If they be faithlesse Mr. Withers Vox Pacifica Cant. 2. pag. 57. and we shall be true God shal with shame vengeance send them home If we unfaithfully our Vowes pursue Possessors of out Land they shall become In spight of all our Policies and Power Here they shall settle whither they were set To doe the work of God who will take care For to requite the kindnesse we forget But if without hypocrisies and guiles We Brethren-like shall strengthen one another In setting up his Throne within these Isles By and in whom we seeme now knit together Both shall thereby that happinesse enjoy Which all the Powers on earth shall not destroy God hath been pleas'd to make way to bring in many blessings by their meanes to this Nation and likewise to correct many in these parts severely by them they being as a two-edged sword have cut both wayes destroying our enemies and correcting our friends if wee have but thankful hearts for the blessings we have received by them and with all take warning by those sufferings we have undergone by their being among us we need not feare bu all will be well that God will perfect the begun work and settle us in peace to our everlasting joy But on the contrary if wee either ascribe the honour due to God to them or murmure for those corrections which have been sent upon us or forget them and grow proud and secure now they are over we may by these doings greatly provoke the Lords wrath against us even perhaps to make them Instruments to consume at the least sharply to correct us We and they are entred into a Solemne League and Covenant binding our selves one to another as much as lies in us not onely to continue but to increase brotherly love and amity betwixt the Nations this Covenant is no triviall thing seeing it was taken so solemnely before the Lord of heaven and earth whom we call'd to witnesse with our hearts our reall intentions herein Let us take heede that in businesses of such weight we mocke not God beware least we breake it upon any pretence what ever for if it were contrary to Gods Word or needlesse why were we so bold as to attempt it if it were and be agreeable to the Word of God how dare we neglect it or how dare any thinke it a piece of piety not to take it as too many doe yet indeed better it is not to take it Eccles 5â—5 then not to make conscience of keeping it when it is taken as alas to our great shame and I feare woe at last many thousands have done among us which will be a strong provocation to move the Lord against us for the breach of this will be an aggravation to all our other sins for as much as we entred into this Covenant to the end to keep us from sin and yet notwithstanding of it continues in sin if we doe it without repentance we may justly expect God will raise up some as I said before perhaps those that are joyned in Covenant with us to revenge the dishonour done unto him by our mocking him for if we wilfully breake our Covenant why may not he justly breake the unity betwixt us Oh therefore if ever we desire to see the Kingdomes continue In a firme and irrefragable unity let us both repent unfainedly and that speedily of our breach of Covenant and likewise for the time to come endeavour to be more carefull and more zealous to keep it then heretofore we have been Me thinkes the bitter malicious and wicked taunts of our bloud-thirsty enemies should be sufficient to cause us to beware how we doe any thing which in the least manner may tend to breake this unity doe we not yet see how by the occasion onely of these supposed feares which scarcely can be said to be reall jealousies they seem to gather heart and in a scoffing manner can say See now the trustinesse of your Brethren in whom you put so much confidences c. Oh! what cause of rejoycing would it be to the enemies of the Truth to see the knot of amity broken betwixt us how ardently they long after it what base wicked and untrue slanders are raised if it be possible to effect it the Divell all his instruments bestir themselves to bring it to passe it is now their maine designe yea of both the open enemy and the secret Papist and Schismatick for if the unity hold they know there is small hope for them to prevaile there is no better way to keep it undissolvable then to keep our selves close to God by walking in the