two but for all our lifetime thereafter The purposes vowes of obedience which we make in our Repentance must be practised and performed Though the act of Repentance indure not euer in it selfe yet the vertue of it remaineth constantlie in the godlie In Baptisme we are Sacramentallie changed and at the time of our effectuall calling wee feele that Sacramentall grace in justification and sanctification and all our following dayes vvee are bound to goe forward in them Since Repentance then is nothing but Sanctification contracted And sanctification all our life is nothing but Repentance inlarged and continued it will follow that if sanctification doe not kyth constant after our Fasting there hath beene no true Repentance in it Remission of sinne proueth the same For though Iustification and Sanctification be two seuerall graces in themselues and bring seuerall respects dispositions in vs yet they are inseparable for God neuer pardoneth the guilt of sin but iontlie therewith he slayeth sin originall As he washeth away the blot of all sinne so he woundeth deadlie the roote of sinning sin in vs And the cōscience of our washing in the blood of Christ doeth euer beget in vs a care to keepe these garments cleane which God hath cleansed Therefore if there be not after our Fastings a visible amendement of life neither haue wee repented nor God pardoned our sinne but we haue added greater and worse sinnes to the former and brought vpon vs a degree of judiciall induration and hardnesse of heart When Christ had healed the sicke man at the Poole of Bethesda hee commanded him Sinne no more lest a worse thing befall thee Ioh. 5. So when we are washed in the house of the Lords aboundantlie powred out mercie let vs keepe our selfe from sinne thereafter If God be with vs accept our Prayers then we may be sure of these following fruits 1. Of Remission of sinnes in Iesus Christ So when Dauid confessed his sinnes and said I haue sinned against the Lord hee was answered by Nathan The Lord hath also put away thine iniquitie he had a warrād more speedilie to absolue him thā he had to accuse him ◠Sa. 12. And whē the Publicane knocked on his breast said The Lord haue mercy on me a sinner he went home justified Lu. 18. And whē the forlorne Son came in Repentance to his Father he receiued him in his fauour house againe Luk. 15 He seeth no sin in Iacob nor transgressiō in Israel Our God pardeneth iniquitie passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his Inheritance hee retaineth not his anger for euer because hee delighteth in mercie Hee will turne againe he will haue compassion on vs hee will subdue our iniquities and thou wilt cast all their sinnes in the bottome of the Sea Mica 7. 18. 2. He will accept of our persons vnder his shaddow nothing holdeth vs out of that secrete refuge but our sinne because hee is of purer Eyes than hee can beholde sine and he pursueth sinne in all and can no more protect an impenitent sinner than hee can denie his justice But when the heart is purged from euerie euill conscience thē his refuge is open to vs. 3. As for our Enemies wee should consider their estate better than themselues they are in Gods worke for our punishment but neither in his fauour nor of his disposition They are more foolish than Sathan hee durst not hurt Iob without a Cōmission of God but they think all possible lawfull to them And when he set on to execute that Commission though malice blinded his desire yet not his minde for hee did fore see a disappointing because hee knew Gods loue to Iob by so manie pledges and testimonies of his sinceritie in Grace But our enemies are not so wise as hee They goe on without Cōmission sought obtained they expound their preuailing as Gods sentence approuing their cause and see not that all their businesse is a prouyding of a Coffine and beare-trees to carrie them out of this combate with shame confusion God will pleade his cause against them Hee hath giuen them a hard but a just commission against vs for our sinnes Assur is the rodde of mine anger I will send him against an hypocriticall Nation against the people of mine anger will I giue him a charge to take the spoile But they passed the bounds of their commission and satisfied their owne wicked heart vpon the people of God For Assur meaneth not as God doeth but his heart is to destroy and cutte off Nations Isa. 10. They say Let vs defile Sion but they know not the thoughts of the Lord neither vnderstand his Counsell Micah 4 12. And when God suffereth them to preuaile for the humiliation of his owne they sacrifice to their owne net and impute all this successe to their owne Idols Habak 2. 11. When God hath humbled vs and pardoned our sinnes then their Commission expyreth and God will plague them in his furie for their own wickednesse in doing his work peruerslie And therefore he will turne him against them plead his cause saying I am verie sore displeased with the Heathen that are at ease For I was but a little displeased with my people the Enemies helped forward the affliction I was angrie with my people and polluted mine Inheritance and giuen them in thine hand But thou hast shewed them no mercie thou hast layed vpon the Auncient a verie heauie yocke Zach. 2. 16. Is. 47. 6. And in his due time hee will turne the rage of the enemie to his praise the remnant of their rage hee will restraine Psal. 76. Hee will stretch out his hand against the wrath of our enemies and his right hand shall saue vs. Psal. 138. 7. So that wee may iustlie say to them Reioyce not against mee O mine Enemie when I fall I shall rise when I sitte in darknesse the Lord shall bee a light vnto mee I will beare the indignation of the Lord because I haue sinned against him vntill hee pleade my cause and execute Iudgement for mee Hee will bring mee foorth to the Light and I shall behold his Righteousnesse Then shee that is mine Enemies shall see and shame shall couer her which said vnto mee Where is the Lord thy God Mine eyes shall behold her now shee shall bee troden downe as myre in the streete Mica 7. 8. 9. 10. They are nowe an instrument in his hand to execute his anger on vs but they shall be the Bute and marke of his greater anger 4. As for the Churches now desolate God will returne to them in mercie in his own time And this time is when they are purged from sinne and the sinnes and insolencie of the Enemie are come to an hight Then God will ryse and haue mercie vpon Sion For the time to saue her euen the sette time is come Psal. 102. 13. It is time for the Lord to worke when they haue made voyde his Law Psal.
it and so vnder Gods processe for our sins And it is a great mercie of God that hee hath spared vs so long and giuen vs so large a time of Repentance When hee might haue begunne his Iudgement at vs hee hath begunne at other that by their example we might turne in time preuent his heauie strok If forraine miseries beyond Sea will not moue vs to sorrow let our own home sins dāgers moue vs to repētance And for this ende wee haue to consider our owne state in this Land as the second cause of our Humiliation God hath blessed vs with his Law Gospel but we haue sinned against them both There is no precept of the Law whose breach is not shameleslie practised avowed 1. Euerie one maketh himselfe his owne god and seeketh themselues their owne glorie and gaine directing all their wayes from their own heart and turning all to themselues 2. Idolatrie once alluterlie banished is cropen in and setteth vp the head in this Land and manie who professed the Trueth are gone backe to Poperie They close their eyes from the shining light that is readie to resolue and reforme them And are so possessed by errors and darkenes that they abhorre the light which wold pull them out of their fleshly delights Their case is to be pitied who so wilfullie losse themselues refusing Saluation and running head-long to Hell 3. The abuse of the glorious Name of the Lord our God is growen a popular disease reigneth in all Estats the better sort out-run the common people in so grieuous a sinne And the rifenesse of it hath put it out of the respect of a sinne and hath turned it in the flower of their language as though all speech were but wersh and could neither fill the mouth of the speaker not the eare of the hearer except the Name of GOD bee profaned and God himselfe thereby thrust through If the flying Booke of the curse of God light vpon the house of euerie swearer to destroy the Timber and stone Zach. 5. How few houses shall escape the curse of God in this Land which groaneth vnder the multitude of oathes 4. The profanation of the Lords Day is vniuersall and no difference made betwixt the obseruation of it and other dayes But rather more libertie is taken in vaging in drinking chalmering wantonnesse in idle and profane speaking in it than in other days As if God had set it a part not for his owne honour but for the workes of the flesh Though wee bee not bound to judaize in the Sabbath yet are wee bound Christianlie to spend the Lords day in abstaining from euill and busying our selfe in the works of Pietie Charitie as the Sabbaths proper Exercise as a memoriall of the Resurrection of Christ our Redemption perfected thereby and a token of our eternall Sabbath rest in heauen 5 Disobedience to Superiours is a reigning sinne Though God for their further honouring hath placed the Precept that commandeth their obedience Next to the Precepts of Pietie and calleth the dueties of it by the Name of Pietie yet it is least respected Parents naturall are misregarded Pastours who beget and feede people in Christ are contemned And supreme Authoritie disobeyed of the most part 6. Innocent blood is shedde in many places as water and the Earth groaneth vnder it and the cry of it ascendeth to Heauen to bring down a judgement vpon vs all 7. Filthinesse hath layed off the former vaile of shame and is now impudent Fornication Adulteries Incests out-face the Light and multiplie out of number And the couenant of God in marriage is lesse respected and keeped then light promises amongst men Whereby thogh their were none other sinnes a way is made to ouerthrow families for God cannot blesse Inheritance in the hands of wrongous Heires 8. Secret and open hurting of the lots of men is a common practise and no man standeth in awe to make his Neighbours ruine a stepping stone to his owne exalting The most part without regarde of God Conscience or humanitie lose their Soule and quite the Heauen for the baggage of this life 9. And Calumnies are now so frequent that their is no godlie man who findeth not the scourge of the Tongue And no man almost who lendeth not to Sathan his eare to heare and his heart to belieue lies and his tongue to bee a scourge to his Neighbour 10. As for the abominations of the heart though they bee hidde from vs yet they are manifest to God and by these and the like fruites the world may see that the heartes of the most parte are voyde of God and are vyle puddles to defile themselues and ouerflow this Land with sinne These filthie fountaines are not seasoned with the salt of Grace but send out the deadlie waters of filthienes to burden this Land and make it spew vs out These and the like grieuous sinnes against the Law doe swarme in this Land But the sinnes against the Gospel are more grieuous both because of their kind and because they are sinnes against the remeede of sinne Faith a speciall part of our Euangelicall duetie is rare to bee found God day lie is offering Grace Saluatiō in the Gospel yet few do receiue it by Faith And so his greatest mercie in offering Christ is mett with greatest wickednesse on our parte in not belieuing Wee count Fornication or Thift or Murther to bee sinnes but Infidelitie worse than anie of them is counted no sinne and yet it is among the greatest pardonable sinnes This Infidelitie bringeth out all sortes of Disobedience When the heart by Faith is not purified and ioyned to God it is casten loose to all kinde of iniquitie without any restraint of euill or constraint to good Our hearing and reading is not mixed with Faith and so bringeth not out the obedience of faith if wee neither belieue the promised reward nor threatned punishment wee cannot obey the directing Precept With these sins is a fearefull Apostasie to Poperie in many partes of this Land Many these of the better sort are seduced and drawen away to Romish superstition and that because they were voyde of the Trueth of God and beeing ledde with their owne lustes they haue rendered themselues to that fleshlie Religion which giueth them libertie to sinne I speake of you and to you O seduced Papists how long will it bee ere yee open your eyes to see how your blinde Guides are leading you to damnation If yee will not try this matter by Conscience try it at the least by common sense see what sort of Guides these are who take you by the hand with this condition to close your eyes that yee neither inquire nor care whether they lead you Tell mee if you would commit your selfe in a dark Night to such a Guide as would close your eyes put out the Lanterne in your hand not suffer you to know how what way
for that were to tempt God Though the Apostle had an expresse promise that none of his companie should perish in the Storme yet when the Mariners minded to conuoy themselues away hee said Except these men abyde wee can not bee saued Act 27. Neither ought wee on the other part with Asa to put our trust in meanes as to rely on the reede of Egypt or the Arme of flesh for that is to prouocke God to Iealousie Both extremes make God our Enemie either in tempting him by neglect of meanes or prouocking him by trusting on them The midst is his ordinance which hee will euer blesse to wit the use of them in holie wisedome and confidence in God Our maine care should bee to bee at peace with him that so the Lord of Hostes may bee with vs and the God of Iacob may bee our refuge Psal. 46. In this case wee are inclosed in Gods pannall and he is set on his Throne to Iudgement and the decreete will come foorth in the sentence bring forth the own executiō except in time wee agree with our God Long hath hee spoken by his Prophets in his reforming directing and exhorting Word But wee haue neglected all that faire proceeding He is gone to an harder Word euen the worde of Iudgement and Processe And let vs assure our selues hee will not leaue off till hee bring it to some end When I beginne I will also make an end 1. Sam. 3. 12. And there is none end but one of two either our iust destruction or mercifull preseruation If wee dispute with him hee is righteous for we cannot answere to one of a thousand And wee cannot flee from him Whether shall wee goe from his Spirit Neither can we resist him for he is Almightie Since then we can neither answere to him nor flee from him nor resist him our onelie best is to flee to him with the forlorne Sonne and cast our selues in the Armes of his fatherlie mercie Thus God who knoweth best how to bee intreated commandeth vs. Come let vs reason together Isa. 1. 18. Call a solemne Assemblie sanctifie a Fast. Ioel. 2. Onelie acknowledge your iniquitie Ierem. 3. 13. And as hee commandeth so he promiseth a blessing Though your sins were as the Skarlet they shal be as the Snow Thogh they were as the Crimson they shall be as wooll If ye returne and repent Isa. 1. 18. And he will leaue a blessing behind him Ioel. 2. Call vpon mee in the day of thy trouble I will deliuer thee Psal. 50. And I will bee with him in trouble I will deliuer him I will glorifie him Psal. 91. 15. And as he promised a blessing so in all time hee hath performed it for his people did neuer sincerelie humble themselues before him but hee gaue them a visible blessing The Book of Iudges is full of this practise 1. Israel sinned against him 2. And hee gaue them ouer in the hand of some Enemie 3. And when they felt their miserie they cryed vnto God by Prayer Fasting 4. The Lord raised vp a Iudge or Sauiour who deliuered them When Niniuie was threatned with destruction and humbled themselues in Fasting and praying the Lord spared them Ionah 3. 4. And though Ahab was a wicked Hypocrite yet when hee put on Sacke-cloath and fasted the Lord said to Eliah Seest thou how Ahab is humbled before mee Because hee hath submitted himselfe to mee Therefore I will not bring this euill in his dayes 1. Kings 21. Prayers and Teares are the kindlie weapons of Gods Church which they use in all their necessities and dangers And that neuer without an euident blessing They ouercome God and bow him to mercie because hee hath bound himselfe to accept the Sacrifice of a contrite heart A contrite and a broken Spirit hee can not refuse Psal. 51. 17. And vvhen hee is reconcealed to vs in Christ and our sinnes pardoned hee becommeth our Friende and Protectour So long as sinne remaineth hee is our Aduersarie and our sinnes bind his hand that hee cannot helpe and stoppeth his eare that hee cannot heare Isa. 59. 1 But vvhen God is appeased then he becommeth our deliuerer frō all our dangers And though they seeme but vveake vveapons to the Naturall man vvho would haue his eyes filled with bodilie meanes yet they are most forcible against our enemies And Sathan himselfe is affraied of nothing more than solemne humiliation and Repentance Hee knoweth so long as God is angrie with his people hee will finde both great permissions large commissions against them to their hurt But when God and his people reason together and his mercie pardoneth their sinne then Sathans permissions are restrained and his commissions end and a certaine shame and disapointment is concluded against him There is neuer a solemne humiliation in the Church but it bringeth a notable ruine to his kingdome Our groanes and teares are as great Ordinances to batter and beate downe his building of iniquitie All the Armories in the world haue not so terrible Canouns to Satan as faithfull hearts grieued for sinne Neither so fearefull Bullets as feruent prayer and supplications sent vp with strong cryes and groanes to God Though such hearts bee broken in sending them vp yet they batter Sathans Kingdome and bringe health to themselues To these Prayers and Teares wee haue now a cleare calling As God in his word commandeth so he is by his worke applying that command to vs. 1. By the obseruation of all his Seruants the Prophets who with a pastorall heart and eye seeth the present iniquities of this Land and wrath hanging aboue our head This burden is layed on vs who are Watchmen to stand on our Watch and sitte vpon our Tower and see what God will say to vs Sonne of man if the Watch-man when hee seeth the Sword comming blow the Trumpet and warne the people Then whosoeuer heareth the sounde of the Trumpet and taketh not warning if the Sword come take him away his blood shall be vpon his owne head Hee heard the sound of the Trumpet and tooke no warning his blood shall bee vpon him But hee that taketh warning shall deliuer his Soule So thou O Sonne of man I haue sette thee a Watch-man vnto the house of Israel Therefore thou shalt heare the VVorde at my mouth and warne them from mee Ezech. 33. 2. 3 4. 5. 7. Vpon this heauie charge layed on vs and the care to saue our selfe and our people we cry a loude and spare not wee lift vp our voyce as a Trumpet to shew to Israel his sinne and to the house of Iaacob their transgression Isa. 58. 1. Therefore gather your selues O Nation not worthie to bee loued before the decree come foorth and yee bee as chaffe that passeth in a day before the fierce wrath of the Lord come vpon you before the day of the Lords anger come vpon you Seeke ye the Lord all ye meek of the Earth It may
bloodie persecution of Antichrist are cleare documents to vs in this Land commanding vs in time to turne to God lest the like or a worse befall vs. Wee can no wayes compare with these worthie Churches neither in Grace nor in the fruites of the Gospel And yet God hath begunne at them If hee haue done so to the greene tree what will hee doe to vs who are a dry and a barren tree God in our sight and hearing these eight years hath smitten seuerelie thogh justlie these Churches and that to teach vs Repentance But wee are as Iudah who mended not at the captiuitie of Israel VVhen I had put away backslyding Israel for all her iniquities and giuen her a bill of diuorcement then trecherous Iudah seared not nor turned not to mee with all her heart but fainedlie Ierem. 3 8. 9. Though euerie report of their calamitie bee Gods calling vs to sack-cloth and mourning yet for all the newes of their trouble wee are not turned to Repentance They were not the greatest sinners in Ierusalem on whome the Tower of Siloh fell neither were they the worst Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices They are not the worst Protestants whose blood is shed by this Romane Tyrannie and persecution but except we repent we shall all likwise perish Luk. 13. Their tryall is our lesson and their chastisement is our document VVee shall learne it and tak it out wiselie if their example turne vs to God But if we doe not so the heauier judgement abideth vs They haue drunken the brimme of the Cup of wrath â—â—t the dregges of the bottome are reserued for 〈◊〉 except in time wee repent Neither let vâ—â—â—inke that their affliction doeth not concerne vs because they are farre distant from vs For the communion of Saincts knoweth no distance of place and the Church of Christ which is his Bodie as it hath him for the Head so his Spirite for the life and that Spirit quickning all the Bodie indueth it with a fellow-feeling of others miseries If wee haue fellowship with them in Christ vve must feele their troubles and mourne with them If wee doe not so wee proue wee haue no fellowshippe with them Let such hard-hearted and sensles Christians reade their Doome and dittay in the Prophet Amos Woe to them that are at ease in Sion they put the euill day farre from them They lye on their beddes of Yvorie and stretch themselues on their beddes and eate the Lambes of the Flocke the Calues out of the midst of the stall They drink wine in bowles but no man is sorie for the affliction of Ioseph Therefore now shall they goe into Captiuitie with the first that goe captiue the sorrow of them that strech out themselues is at hand Amos 6. 1. 3. 4. 6. 7. These are twinne branches of a senslesse and carelesse heart in the day of the Churches affliction First they put the euill day farre from themselues maka couenant with Death as though it neuer should nor would come neere to them Next they put the affliction of their Brethâ—eÌ„ far from their feeling and affection as a thing that concerneth them not The first is a fleshlie dreame of their owne immunitie The other a senslesse mis-regarde of their Brethren and both of them a just cause and certaine presage of a grieuous ruine to come vpon them who are so graceleslie disposed But the godlie are otherwayes affected with the troubles of Syon For they take pleasure in the stones and delight in the dust thereof Psal. 102. Though Nehemiah was in the fauour of his King and great prosperitie yet when he heard that the Iewes were in great affliction and reproach and the wall of Ierusalem broken downe and the gates thereof burnt with fire hee sate downe and weeped and mourned certaine dayes and fasted and prayed before the God of Heauen Neither could all his courtlie happinesse smoother the griefe of his heart But when the King perceiued the sadnes of his countenance and asked the cause of it he said VVhy should not my countenance bee sadde when the Citie and House of the Sepulchre of my Fathers lyeth waste Nehemia 1. If hee was so grieued for the violation of the Sepulchres of the dead Shall not the cruell murther of the liuing Temples of the holie Ghost moue vs more And Ieremiah though hee was at libertie among the people and well looked to by Nebuzaradan yet when hee saw Ierusalems desolations For these thinges I weepe mine eyes casteth out water because the Comforter that should refresh my Soule is farre from mee my Children are desolate because the enemie preuaileth Lame 1. 16. Beside the respect of their persons their cause should also moue vs to this holy griefe The Gospel of Christ true Religion in them is persecuted and oppressed And if wee haue found grace and comfort in that Gospel should we not be grieued wheÌ„ so glorious a meanes of grace is obscured and the cause of our good God borne downe by his enemies God hath lighted that candle to discouer the darknesse of Sathan and destroy his worke And when the prince of darknesse preuaileth so farre as to put out that Candle and to cast downe the Candle-stickes on which it shined if wee bee the Children of Light wee must sorrow for that change Therefore if vve feele not their sorrowes wee declare wee haue no communion with them in the Bodie of Christ and no part in the grace of the Gospel which in their handes is persecute No feeling no Communion and no Communion no vnion with them and Christ If wee haue no griefe for the Light put out vvee haue no part in the Life and Grace that the Light carrieth We ought then a brotherlie compassion to them vnder their trouble because they are Brethren and fellow members of Iesus Christ and the more because their affliction is not for ciuill or common causes but for Religion As wee are commanded to mourne with them that mourne so much more with them that suffer for the Gospel Bee partaker of the suffering of the Gospel according to the power of God 2. Tim. 1. 8. Shall Sathan make errour and heresie so forcible in his Supposts as to joyne their heartes and hands to giue their power to the Beaste to fight against the Lambe And shall not Trueth and Charitie in the Children of God procure at least a brotherlie compassion of the griefes of other The first is a wonder to see the Spirit of diuision make such an union among his adherents But it is a greater wonder not to see that compassion in them who are one Spirit in Christ Iesus But though wee would in the hardnesse of our heart cutte our selues off from all feeling of their miseries that would not secure vs from punishment but rather double our sinne and hasten a double punishment vpon vs Wee stand in that same case with them In a true Religion in the abuse of
119. 126. So long as sinne remaineth in the Church the commission giuen to our enemies is in force If wee moue the question O thou Sword of the Lord how long will it bee ere thou bee quiet Put vp thy selfe in thy Scabbard and bee still It will be answered How can it bee quyete seeing the Lord hath giuen it a charge And the charge will lest till sin bee repented When sin is pardoned the Lord will speake to his reconcealed people Feare not thou worme Iacob I will helpe thee saith the Lord and thy Redeemer the holie One of Israel Feare not for I am with thee I will vphold thee with the right hand of my Righteousnesse Behold all they which were incensed against thee shall bee ashamed and confounded and they that striue with thee shall perish Isa. 41. 10. 11. For I know the thoughts that I thinke towards thee sayeth the Lord euen thoughts of peace and not of euill to giue you the exspected end Ier. 29. 11. He will build vp the Tabernacles of Dauid that are fallen downe and make vp the breaches thereof and repaire the ruines thereof as of old Amos. 9. 11. And will say I am returned to Ierusalem with mercie mine House shall bee built in it sayeth the Lord of Hostes and a line shall bee stretched out vpon it Zach. 1. 5. As for vs whom as yet in mercie hee hath spared from cruell persecution hee is now crying to vs Come my people enter into thy Chambers and shute thy doores about thee Hide thy selfe as it were for a little moment vntill the indignation be ouerpassed The Lord will ordaine peace for vs when hee hath wrought all our workes euen the workes of true Repentance and Conuersion in vs. Isa. 26. 12. 20. If wee repent truelie the Riuer of his Grace will flow among vs and the Streames of it will make vs glad Hee will dwell in the midst of vs and helpe vs tymouslie Psal. 46. Hee will be a fierie wall round about vs and a glorie in the midst of vs. Zachar. 2. 5. This is the summe of all That wee returne to the LORD our GOD and seeke him vvhen hee may bee found euen in this acceptable time vvhen hee is seeking vs That wee afflict our Soules for sinne and call for remission of them vvithout which wee cannot be saued That euery one of vs forsake our euill wayes and renew our Couenant with him And among the rest let vs mourne for this madnes that wee offended such a GOD who as hee hath power to destroye vs so also hee hath that Grace in his hand vvithout the vvhich vvee cannot repent our sinnes at once both pulling downe destruction and closing the doore of his Grace vpon vs except his vnspeakable mercie open it vnto vs againe The LORD our GOD the Father of Lights from whom euery good Gift and perfect Donation commeth downe And who hath the hearts of all men in his hand worke in vs all in this and all other Humiliations that which may bee acceptable to him That by his Grace wee may bee enabled to offer the sacrifice of a contrite and a broken heart and obtaine at his hand full pardon and remission of all our sinnes And the good LORD pardon all our sinnes and the verie infirmities of that our Repentance for sinne And bee mercifull to euerie one that prepareth his heart to seeke the LORD GOD of his Fathers though hee bee not cleansed according to the purifications of the Sanctuarie 2. Chr. 30. 18. 19. Through IESVS CHRIST our LORD AMEN FINIS The summe of the former TREATISE THe dutie of Watch-men Numb 1 Scotlands Pastours giue warning 2 A Fast appointed 3 1. Cause The Churches affliction 4 It is Antichrists persecution 5 But hee colloureth it with ciuill respects 6 Why God afflicteth his Church 7 Their trouble is our lesson 8 VVee should mourne with them 9 For their Persons 10 And for the Gospel 11 And for our home dangers 12 2. Cause The sinnes of this Land 13 Sinnes against the Law 14 Sinnes against the Gospel 15 1. Infidelitie 16 2. Vniuersall Disobedience 17 3. Apostasie 18 Papists admonished 19 4. Atheisme 20 5. Breach of Brotherlie Loue. 21 6. Contempt of the Word and Preachers 22 7. Sacriledge 8. Impenitencie 23 Foure signes of a deadlie Disease in this Land 24 Gods controuersie with this Land 25 3. Cause Our Kings Ma. Royall affaires 26 Remouall of the Gospel to bee feared 27 An idle conceate refuted 28 Vse of discouerie of the new World 29 The Sword to bee feared 30 God our best defence 31 Right use of lawfull meanes 32 God hath impannelled this Land 33 None escape but by Repentance 34 God commandeth it 35 Prayers and Teares our kindlie weapons 36 Sathan is most affrayd of them 37 How vvee are called to them 38 VVee must fast 39 Not the Hypocrets Fast. 40 Nor the Papists Fast In 41 But the Christians Fast which standeth in 42 1. Inquirie vvhere sinne is 43 And that not laying it on another 44 But taking it to our selues 45 Not to waite on others Repâ—ntance 46 But repent our selues 47 2. Next in renting our hearts 48 The reasons of that renting 49 3. In amendement of life 50 4. In confidence of mercie 51 Fine Grouâ—ds of it from God 52 From his Couenant 53 From Experience 54 How to processe our selues 55 Foure reasons of bodilie Fasting 56 Base Apparrell to bee used 57 Large Almes to the Poore 58 Sixe godlie Exercises ioyned 59 All must repent 60 Pastours duetie in Fasting 61 Peoples duetie in Fasting 62 4. Reasons for publicke Humiliation 63 5. Reasons of priuate Humiliation 64 1. Preparation for Fasting 65 2. Disposition in it 66 3. How vvee close it 67 New obedience a proofe of Repentance 68 True Repentance findeth 1. Remission 69 2. Accepting of our persons 70 3. Punishment of our Enemies 71 4. Releauing of his distressed Church 72 5. Continuance of our Peace 73 A Prayer for Repentance and Remission 74 And for pardon of the faults of our Repentance 75 FINIS 1. 2. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 10 12 13 15 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 59 57 58 59 60 61 2 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75