them and sent them away naked not sparing women with childe and giving sucke though of the best ranke mercilesly exposing them to hunger and cold in the midst of winter sometimes in raine sometimes in stormes and sometimes in snow whereby some hundreds may I not say thousands have beene starved or frozen to death Neither hath the house of God beene safe from their fury Quis talia fando Temperet à lachrymis So as we may say with David Psal 79.1 2 3. O God the Heathen are come into thine inheritance thy holy Temple have they defiled and made Ierusalem a heape of stones the dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat to the fowles of the aire and the flesh of thy Saints unto the beasts of the land their blood have they shed like water on every side of Ierusalem and there was no man to bury them Wherefore it is time for us to pray with him Verse 9. Helpe us oh God of our salvation for the glory of thy name For they have not onely slaine thy people and thy Priests but have blasphemed thy name torne thy sacred word trod it under foote rolled it up and downe in durty and mirie places and then cast it into the faces of thy Saints with disdaine and scorne And shall not we that are Christians endeavor to our utmost to preserve the house of God the people the Priests the word the name the glory of God from such wickednesse prophanation and blasphemie You that are the best Christians shew your selves most forward in this worke by your bountie shew your zeale to Christian religion to Christs deere servants to the Gospell of Jesus Christ to the name and glory of God almighty Give me leave to alter Saint Pauls words alittle and to say Non quaero vos sed vestra 2 Cor. 12.14 I desire you not to venter the spilling of your bloods or the losse of your lives but your charity your benevolence for the releife of your bretheren your poore distressed brethren in Ireland and this I begg for the Gospell sake for Jesus Christ his sake for Gods sake Now shew your faith by your works you that bost so much of your faith otherwise we may suspect the life of it for faith without workes Jam. 2. is but a dead faith Not circumcision Gal. 5.6 nor uncircumcision sayth Saint Paul but faith that worketh by love Faith that workes not by love can no more save your soules then a dead man can protect your bodies shew then your faith by your love and your love by your bounty to cloath and feede the distressed servants of Iesus Christ Besides what I have alleadged already for this purpose there is a motive sufficient in the latter part of the precedent verse We shall reape if we faint not Let us not bee weary of well doing for in due season wee shall reape if wee faint not And that is the last part of my Text a motive to excite and stir us up to a timely and season able benevolence We shall reap if we faint not So you see I desire nothing but what tends to your owne good He that is mercifull rewardeth his own soule Prov. 11.17 saith the Wiseman Hee doth himselfe a curtesie he placeth his estate there where the hand of the worst fortune or enemy cannot reach it He that hath money goods house or land Quantum non milvus oberret may in a short time bee as much necessitated as ever Iob was Riches have wings and flie from us if the element of fire or water prove our enemie and set upon us in an instant it may make us poor enough but the sword is the roughest gamester of all and that commonly sweepes away the whole stake at once without leaving us any thing whereby we may set up againe Quas autem dederis semper habebis opes So as we are sure of nothing but what we give away Math. 19.20 Lay not up therefore for your selves treasure upon-earth where the rust and moth doe corrupt and where theeves breake through and steale but lay up for your selves treasures in heaven where neither rust nor moth doth corrupt and where theeves doe not breake through and steale Hee that pittieth the poore Prov. 19.17 lendeth to the Lord and looke what he layeth out it shall be paid him againe Let therefore the light of your charity and bounty shine before men that others by your example may bee stirred up to workes of pietie that so your Father which is in heaven may be glorified and your poore brethren in Christ Jesus relieved Remember what the Prophet David sayes Psal 41.2 Blessed is the man that provideth for the sicke and needy for the Lord shall deliver him in the time of trouble And the greater provision you make for them the greater shall be your deliverance in your necessitie For Saint Paul sayes that he that soweth little shall reape little and he that soweth plenteously shall reape plenteously But yet let every man doe according as he is disposed in his heart not grudging or of necessity for God loveth a cheerfull giver 2 Cor. 6.7 Be ready then and forward to give almes of thy goods and turne not thy face from these poore soules and then the face of the Lord shall not be turned away from thee As therefore you love your brethren in Christ as you love the Gospel of Christ as you love the name and glorie of Christ Jesus as you love your owne soules 〈◊〉 a liberall manner extend your compassionate charitie for the reliefe of your poor distressed brethren in Ireland so you shall gather to your selves a good reward in the day of necessity and in due season reape the fruit of it by the mercy of our heavenly Father to whom with the Sonne and the Holy Ghost be ascribed all power might and majestie both now and for ever Amen FINIS
A SERMON Preached at Bugbrook in Northamptonshire May 15. 1642. upon the collection for Ireland Condemned in the Morning in the Church before the whole Congregation for Popery and in the afternoone there for having many lyes in it of a high nature Published by the Authour in a just vindication of himselfe from that unjust scandall Psal 101.7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house he that telleth lyes shall not tarry in my sight LONDON Printed by THO HARPER MDCXLII To the understanding Reader Judicious Sir I Protest I doe even blush to thinke how I shall bee censured for publishing in this printing time this tumultuary exercise of mine opus unius aut alterius diei longer time I could hardly afford my selfe it being my usuall custome to preach twice every Lords day as I did then but I am as it were forced to doe it in respect of my people committed to my charge and in tendernesse to mine owne reputation but especially for the honour of Gods truth and the Gospell of Iesus Christ For presently after I had read the Act for the contribution towards the reliefe of our poore distressed brethren in Ireland and en ded this Sermon concerning it before I came out of the Pulpit it was said that it might have been preached at Rome and after the end of my afternoones Sermon I was told that I had spoken many lyes that morning in the Pulpit of a high nature for which I should be made to bee ashamed Now if these words should settle a beliefe in any of my Parish which they might if I should silently passe them over I may aske the question with the Prophet Esay 53.1 Who will beleeve our report How can my doctrine edifie or my Sermons benefit my auditors or who will credit me how must I be disesteemed by those amongst whom I live Esay 9.15 For the Scripture saith That the ancient and honourable man is the head and the Prophet that telleth lyes is the tayle Lastly how is God dishonoured when his sacred Message shall openly be called a Lie If I should passe it over in silence were not this to suffer Gods glory to be turned into shame Psal 4.2 When you have read it which is soone done I beseech you tell me whether I have deserved such ill language as was given me publiquely for it or for such kinde of preaching to be called a papisticall Priest as they usually doe I have not added nor diminished a word of that I spoke in the Pulpit which if I should doe I must looke to heare of it with a witnesse for there are those who take notes of all I say God grant with better hearts then the Scribes and Pharisees heard our Saviour and not with purpose to have me arraigned as at the last day for every idle word I am sure of it when I have laboured in Gods vineyard with all my strength and sincerely taught the sacred truth of his holy word endeavouring to enfeeble the hands of wickednesse by exciting unto workes of holinesse piety and obedience to the Law The bold Antinomians have cryed me down for a false Prophet and all others who of late have walkt in the same path have beene condemned one of them called openly A cursed Preacher of the Law Besides when I have otherwise faithfully done my duty in my place according to the â—aw establisht I have publiquely in the Church beene rebuked and told of an Order to the contrary in the Parliament of whose wisedome and justice I have such confidence that I will ever be ready to pay unto it that duty and obedience which wee all owe unto it which they could not produce and upon search I have found that there was no such thing My usage hath beene such that some of my enemies have wondred how flesh and blood as I have beene informed was able to beare it and truly without the great blessing of God illius oneri succubuislem I have suffered so often and so many words of diminution and disparagement that they have beene the cloathing that I have every day put on I have publiquely beene used so contemptibly that in mee the profession suffereth And privately I have beene smitten by the tongues of those from whom I thought I had deserved encouragements My words have beene altered and changed some left out and some put in as much as would serve for a calumnie and no more and taught to speake a new thing from the scope of my intention and then fastned and fathered on mee as naughty persons lay their bastards at honest mens doores So I may truly say with David That is laid to my charge which I knew not And to heape up affliction upon affliction without any pitty to my weake and sickly body they unmercifully demand more then the sull tale of bricke and yet some of them afford me little Exod. 5 7.8 some no straw at all And not withstanding all this I have given all fitting respect to the persons of all although I have hated some mens indiscretions and errors I have done curtesies to some of them even against their wills that so by my well doing I might put to silence according to the advice of Saint Peter the ignorance of foolish men 1 Pet. 2 1â— And that I might make it appear to the world Act. 24.16 that I have laboured to have a cleare conscience void of offence both towards God and towards men that so at the last day when no colours shall do us good when no cloake of holinesse shall cover our malice and hypocrisie for we shall be judged naked by the merits of my Saviour and faith in his blood I might stand innocent before the great Tribunall of Iesus Christ in whom I shall ever professe my selfe to be Your servant G. I. A Sermon preached upon the benevolence for Ireland GAL. 6.10 As we have therefore opportunitie let us doe good unto all men especially to them who are of the houshold of faith OUr Saviour Christ doth reduce the ten Commandements unto two the love of God the love of our neighbour Luke 10.28 Saint Paul includes all in one word love as you may finde it in the 14. verse of the precedent Chapter All the law is fulfilled in one word even in this Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe But then this love must bee active and working not lazie and idle but practicall shewing it selfe in actions of charity without wearinesse And the Apostle gives a good reason for it in the verse that goes before my Text Let us not be weary in well-doing for in due season we shall reap if wee faint not As we have therefore opportunity let us doe good unto all men especially to them who are of the houshold of Faith In which words I observe these parts First an act Let us doe Secondly the quality of it Good Thirdly the object in generall tearmes Vnto all men In speciall
mercy in the world to come that shewes no mercy in this life One of the reasons why Hamon King Assuerus great favorite found no pitty in Queen Hesters nor the Kings brest though he begged it on his knees with teares in his eies was for that he had plotted such a mercilesse villanie as to destroy all the Iewes Hest 1.3 both men women children at one blow and therefore hee was thought to deserve no favor Nathan propounding unto David that parable of him that having many sheepe of his owne had robbed his neighbour of his onely sheep having no more besides in all the world was so incensed against this so great an injurie that he held him for the present unworthy of pardon 2. Sam. 12. As the Lord liveth he shall die The word of God cannot faile Heaven and earth shall passe away Matt. 24.35 but my words saith our Saviour shall not passe away And the Prophet Amos threatneth cruell persons with most severe punishment Am. cap. 4. cap. 6. And Salomon saies that the hard heart shall have many a shrewd pang when hee lies upon his death bed But our Saviour bestowes a blessing upon those that are ready to do good and to shew mercy unto others Mat. 5.7 Blessed are the mercifull for they shall obtaine mercy As we have therefore opportunity let us doe good to all men especially to them who are of the household of faith And so I come to the particular object the houshold of faith especially to them who are of the houshold of faith It was the custome of the primitive Church to have their goods in common that the necessities of every man might be supplied As many as were possessors of lands and houses sold them Act. 4.34.35 and brought the prices of the things that were sold and laid them down at the Apostles feet and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need But now men are so farre from doing so that distribution might be made according to the wants of other men that they doe not only rob them but the Apostles also nay God himselfe Will a man robbe God sayes the Prophet in the Lords name Yet ye have robbed me Mal. 3.8 but ye say wherin have we robbed thee in tythes and offerings Mark what followes Ye are cursed with a curse for yee have robbed me I make no application of what I have said if any man here present be guilty of this sinne let him take heed that he partake not of the curse The words are Gods Yee are cursed with a curse the reason is Mal. 3.8.9 because yee have robbed the Lord and it is plainly set downe wherein yee have robbed him ye have robbed him in tythes and offerings Saint Paul sayes that they which minister about holy things live of the sacrifice and they which wait on the Altar are partakers of the Altar even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.13.14 And here in my text hee doth enjoyne us to doe good unto all men especially to those who are of the houshold of faith preach the Gospel and faith in Jesus Christ All are to be relieved especially the faithfull It is a cruell hard-heartednesse to see a Christian in want and not to relieve him If I should see a true professor of faith in Christ Jesus beg his bread or walke unclothed and should not feed him and with mine owne garment cover his nakednesse I were worthy to eate the bread of affliction and drinke the water of bitternesse and to want a worse garment then Adam had to cover his nakednesse But alasse charity now adayes is cold Probitas laudatur alget Where are the Hospitals and the goods bestowed in pios usus which were frequent heretofore Where is hee that cryes out with Zacheus Behold Luke 19.8 if J have done any man wrong I am ready to returne him satisfaction and halfe my goods I give unto the poore What followes hereupon but the blessing of all blessings salvation Verse 9. And Iesus said unto him this day is salvation come into thy house Therefore while we have opportunity let us doe good unto all men especially to those that are of the houshold of faith While we have opportunity Why not to day To day if you will heare his voice harden not your hearts This is the day wherein you may exercise your charity and shew your love to the Gospell doe not neglect it for perhaps you may never have the like We are not sure to live another day Luke 1â— 20 Remember how the foole in the Gospell was deceived in his expectation And therefore I exhort you to do it to day while it is yet called to day lest yee dye before to morrow And truly I never knew greater reason for it Res ipsa loquitur if I should bee silent the knowne wants of our poore brethren in Ireland were motive sufficient to put heat and life into a cold and dead pitty into a frozen benummed and soulelesse charity Now is a time to shew your love to the Gospell you that in shew are the great professors of it now you have an opportunity to manifest your love to Christ Jesus and your zeale to his flocke to the people of his pasture and the sheepe of his hands who have not onely lost their greene pastures and waters of comfort but their wooll skin and flesh by the pawes and teeth of the papisticall Jesuiticall Irish Wolves I feare we are not all so valiant as with our swords with David to endeavour to rescue and deliver these harmlesse Lambes out of the mouths of these Romish Beares and Lions 1. Sam. 17.35 to take them by the beards and smite them as he did yet let us labour by supplies maintenance by our benevolence to preserve those from the sword and hunger and cold that have escaped their fury I have read many sad stories of the miseries of Christians but never the like to this of our brethren in Ireland Whole families nay whole parishes nay whole townes nay whole Counties and in them besides thousands of the Plebeians and poorer sort many of the Gentry and some of the Nobilitie and best ranke have been robbed and tortured and murthered nay worse then this for there is a cruelty beyond death their naked bodies have beene throwne out into the open ayre no man being suffered to bury them and left a prey for Swine Wolves Dogs Vultures and Crowes and other beasts and birds of raven and prey Nay I can tell you greater cruelties yet for there may be more cruelty shewed to the living then to those that are murthered in a usuall way either at their death or after their death When they have spoiled the professors of the Gospell of all their goods who were worth thousands a little before they have stript and ravisht and whipt