Church door How many are there whose servants notoriously scorn that holinesse their Governours seem to professe or at least make not so much as a shew of regarding it Who have some Family-duties when they are at leisure and half their family absent and at such unseasonable times at night as more then half that half are asleep most of the time How many that never think of being so much angry that their servants offend God in any thing as when they offend them or putting so much weight upon Gods commands in any thing as they do upon their own How many whose children are very very little different in outward behaviour from those whose parents make no such shew of piety as they do in any sort The Daughters in idlenesse boldnesse pride and pomp The Sons in licentiousnesse according as their fancy leads them How exceeding few are otherwise I tremble to think and dare not because of the time enlarge my self to expresse what wofull deformities there are in Christians families and therefore how little help such afford the Church and specially what will become of the next generation if things hold on as they do But yet though but a little anywhere yet some there is doubtlesse of care to reforme families and keep sin under there But 2 May we hope the like of any endeavours towards friends We should have shewed the truest friendship to the soul not to suffer sin upon them at least have shewed our selves grieved to see them sin But will our consciences say we have done this Can we name those that have in this kinde been the better for us Or if some are had we power with no more Have we so much as tried in any whether they would endure a reproof Have we ever ventured to lose them rather then they should lose Gods favour or their souls or the comforts of a good conscience Have we ventured to have them say We hate them because we would not could not forbear to crosse them in their wayes of evill Alas alas where is this to be found And how little help hath the Church had from us in this regard Israel in their good temper would even fight with their brethren that had a great while fought for them rather then their sin should endanger the Church generally and offer also to give them a fifth part of their lands to hire them not to sin 3 3. What shall I say for my own profession God be mercifull unto us to the most zealous of us that we have afforded no more help publikely by crying down all sinne in our own Congregations or others Even upon dayes of Publike humiliations how little do we preach against sin And then for private Oh the wofull neglect among our own people at home or friends abroad We are afraid to provoke them to lose them to be losers by their disfavour to incur danger by their displeasure We are afraid to discourage men now if we should denounce Gods judgments for their sins and to arm Malignants with reproaches if specially we preach against the sins of Professors But did Gods Prophets for bear ever for either or both these causes Or is the Church helped by the courage of those against whom God is angry for their unreformed lives or credited by our silence when their misbehaviours make a loud noise I must say as he When we all have preached Repentance as much as we have preacht first Confidence and then Faith we shal be reformed and saved and I doubt not till then And that men receive it so ill from some few or are displeased with some few words from any it is because we all use them to so little and in all help the Church little whereas we of all others should be ever her principall helpers against sin 4 4. Finally Magistrates should have used their utmost Authority to suppresse sin which oppresses the Church I need not ask in most places whether this have been done I fall rather upon the second part of the necessary Application of our foregoing Doctrins concerning the duty of helping the Church and the sin and danger of neglecting it which is to call us all to a serious and sad Humiliation as many as have been remembred by their consciences of any neglects specially willing and most of all customary To humiliation I say as for our own most secret and personall sins so for all our guilt of not helping the Church as we might and ought and for all our Nations sins even those of our forefathers together with the judgments lying upon the Church and Nation and hanging over us We are to be humbled this day even for our want of humiliation hitherto wherein I much fear the best of us have been too defective This is a day of learning it God and man have commanded the preaching of it specially on these dayes as well as practising it and of practising it as well as learning it I have a little taught it this day and would now fain work the practise of it upon my own heart and yours Let us then I beseech you fix our mindes upon our sins personall and nationall and the desert of them that Gods glory may now be advanced by our thoughts of both quickned by the apprehension of our calamities as it hath been dishonoured by our former sinfulnesse Remembring specially the Apostles argument 1 Cor. 1. 31 32. spoken indeed of a particular case but one more neerly concerning our Nation then any other Reformed Church perhaps in all the Christian world as I shall touch by and by as undoubtedly appliable generally to all sins If we would judge our selves we should not be judged But when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world Let us then acknowledge for our selves and our Nation that according to the late Covenant ordered to passe through the Kingdom Our own sins and the sins of this Nation have deserved the judgments and calamities that lie upon it Which that we all may do the more heartily and humbly let me now present you with a brief Catalogue of some more capitall Nationall sins among us and then once more minde you somewhat further of Gods heavy wrath greatly declared against us in his judgment for these sins And then see whether we can chuse but be exceedingly humbled both for the one and the other now and hereafter Here I reckon to begin with against the first Commandement Idolatry Ignorance and Atheisticall scorning of all Religion conscience and civill honesty The first of these Idolatry the sinne that is most formall high treason against God is aggravated in our Nation and Kingdom since the Reformation by the continuall plottings of idolatrous Paâ—ists traytors unto our Kingdom which together with the great danger we have been in and are specially now at this day by their conspiracies are at
Christ and the Church are one and have but one name Jer. 23. 6. with 33. 16. and 1 Cor. 12. 12. If we could see no Reason for this yet since he so often saith it we must not choppe logicke with Him and offer to deny it but if we would all logick and reason would confute us for 3. God is specially glorified upon earth or dishonoured according as His Church fares Israel is His glory Esa. 46. ult. The Church Christs spouse and His kingdome He is glorified in their welfare when their number encreases their sins are purged they freed from judgements and enemies and their prosperity advanced Therefore to endeavour this with our whole strength and utmost hazard is our duty as well as to love Him with our whole hearts and soules and minds and strength and to doe all things to His glory And we cannot faile in any thing but we faile so much in our love to Him and dishonour Him so much therefore 4. We pray for this for the Churches good when we understandingly pray as Christ hath taught us Hallowed be thy Name Thy kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven And we mock God if we so pray and endeavour it not with all cheerfull readinesse universall Fractice and constant continuance like the Angels in Heaven though we cannot reach their perfection nor are they put upon hazards because they have no sin and so no suffering to undergoe but 5. The very example of the Angels endeavours affords a distinct argument of our obligation They are sent forth to minister for their sakes that shall be the heirs of salvation Heb. 1. 14. It is not too mean an office then for the greatest on earth to endeavour the Churches helpe For 6. All things and persons are ordained for the Churches sake The very world continues that every one that in Gods Decree belongs to the Church should be converted and be brought to repentance 2 Pet. 3. 9. All gifts are bestowed for the Churches sake The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall 1 Cor. 12. 7. all for the Churches profit and so 1 Cor. 3. 21 22. All things are yours whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours All not only things but persons Apostles and Ministers Kings and Parliaments and all are every one of them intended for the Church God called this Parliament for his Churches sake and for his Churches sake it is that he hath so establisht and continued it And the Prophet tells how that it was for Jacob his servants sake and Israel his elect that God raised up Cyrus and gave him victories holding his right hand and subduing Nations before him and loosing the loynes of Kings opening the two leaved gates c. Esay 45. ver. 1. 4. And elsewhere that Kings should be nursing Fathers to his Church and Queenes nurses and that they should carry the Churches children in their armes and upon their shoulders and give them suck do even the meanest offices of help to them with all diligence and paines-taking and breaking their sleep as Nurses use for their nurslings for their good And all this Cyrus hath taught us to be not onely prophesies of what shall be but precepts of what ought to be For understanding of the prediction Esay 44. 28. that he should build the Temple he takes it to be a command given to him as he proclaimes to all the world 2 Chron. 36. Ezra 1. Thus all humane authority on earth is for the Churches good And which is farre higher and a most exceedingly admirable expression the very Authority of Christ in Heaven though ultimately for his own glory the glory of God yet is also intended for the Churches good So remarkeably and fully speakes the Apostle Ephes. 1. 22. God gave him to be the Head over all things to the Church How much more are earthly men so meant It is injurious therefore without question not to God onely but to the Church in point of right for any man on earth to withhold any thing from her whereby she may be helped or benefited For also 7. The comforts as well as Talents that we have received we may instrumentally thank the Church for them as our Mother that bare us and her children as our brethren and sisters that helped to bring us up both naturally and spiritually and doe still while we live more for us then we can possibly requite with our utmost endeavour and venturing our selves for them Thankfulnesse then ties us besides all former Obligations The rather because 8. Every one by their sins have sundry wayes endangered the Church and do almost continually provoking God and sometimes men against her dishearting the Friends and strengthning the Enemies by evill Words and Examples We owe then by way of satisfaction to her and repentance toward God to do henceforward our utmost to help and rescue and strengthen her every way This was Davids reason in the forementioned 2 Sam. 24. and Pauls provocation to his duty doubtlesse many a time This is the more strong because still 9. The Church hath many Enemies who do and will do their worst against her and are specially encouraged and advantaged by our neglect They get ground as much as we withdraw and give back And our valour makes them at least at a stand and is some discouragement to them Also 10. When any of Gods people shrinks he endangers to break the Ranks and disorder others and make them run away from their Colours as well as himself or at least sads their hearts weakens their hands and makes bare their sides and contrarily each ones vigour and valour adds strength to his companions every way We owe it to them then and to the profession we have made to stand to them and live and die with them And there are great examples both wayes of this 11. Finally By-standers and Neuters are much led like sheep by the eye and though fearfull yet are sometimes engaged by our courage But to be sure they learn fearfulnesse of us And if those see us backward any way whose interests seem to be more in the Cause then theirs they will easily think themselves excused And then their sins will prove ours This I speak to those that in a more peculiar manner professe themselves Gods people though others also are professed Christians at large there should be no such difference if all would come up to their duties But since all will not at least not readily we that are outwardly forwardest any way must be so every way else I say we discharge not our debt and duty and give ill example to those that are too too backward of themselves So I have done with the proof of the first Point which is the main foundation of all and therefore not to
of danger to be undergone for the Church would provoke God against them to their destruction Revel. 21. 8. The fearfull are in the forefront of those that shall be cast into hell And Mark 8. 35. Whosoever will save his life shall lose it And Phil. 3. 19. Their end is destruction who minde earthly things And 1 Tim. 6. 9. Covetousnesse drowns men in destruction and perdition So ambition sensuality envie and self-love have all their severall brands and threatnings sufficiently The refusall to have Christ to reign over them which is in the advancement of his Church himself calls enmity and dooms to damnation Luk. 19. 27. And plainly The Nation and Kingdom that will not serve the Church in prosperity shall perish Yea that Nation shall be utterly wasted Isa. 60. 12. How much more then any particular person and specially that will not venture themselves for her help in danger For also 4. Their fairest excuses The improbability of doing any good to the Church by their endeavaurs and probability of prejudicing themselves if stood upon are nothing but the sprouts of cursed unbelief dishonourable to God and to his Promises made to his Church and her helpers as the following Points will help to illustrate Mean time 5. This will particularly adde a confirmation That no man goeth at any time under so strong a guard as when he ventures himself to the utmost of duty for the Church They are then questionlesse in their way and He shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy wayes in their hands they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone Ps. 91. 11 12. And Ps. 34. 7. The Angel of the Lord encamps round about those that fear the Lord and delivers them To end this consider I pray what occasion was it that brought Elisha in danger for which he had an host of Angels to guard him 2 King 6. 17. The mountain full of horses and chariots of fire round about him But when he had done the people of Israel speciall service thereby had provoked the King of Syria namely by warning of his secret plots ambushes against Gods people for which he sent an Army to apprehend him Not but that after all a man may lose his life in the Churches Cause else also it were no such vertue or valour but as he is not hurt by that a Christian is not so may he as soon die in his bed and sooner which makes his sinne in refusing to venture his life so much the greater and his danger in time of danger so much the more deadly Besides a further danger afterward though both he and the Church escape for the present as our fist Point gives us to understand and to which I shall now proceed leaving the fourth till afterward because I will make the application of the second and third already dispatcht and of the fist all together and reserve the two other Points as the comfortablest parts with their Applications to the close of all The Point then to be now handled is this yet a destruction is owing to them and theirs that have neglected their utmost endeavour for her help This is a second blast of judgment against ungodly neglect of so necessary duty Before we heard That if the Church or any of her members fall such are in danger more then others rather then lesse to perish too But this is worse The Church may escape and shall infallibly to the utmost extent of Gods promises but however they and theirs shall perish that have been wanting to her This is most plain in the Text Plainly ratified by the curse denounced against Meroz Judg. 5. 22 even after the victory gotten and the enemies destroyed And by the vengeance executed on the Elders of Succeth and the Inhabitants of Penuel Judg. 8. also after the victory and deliverance And once more upon the Inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead for not helping in the execution of justice against the wicked delinquents of Gibeah and their abettors of Benjamin Judg. 21. and this also after the work done In this latter I deny not but there was too much cruelty used to the women and male children of Jabesh Gilead But all was just with God as besides that he never punishes any too much and yet he rules and over rules all the reasons of the Point will presently clear But first I must interpose a few words of Explication The 1. 1 is that by saying Destruction is owing to them Nothing hinders but God may take his own time for payment He may justly do it presently and is ever able when he hath a will to it and so in any time of their lives Or he may stay till their death and reckon with them once for ever which is worst of all for them according to 2 Pet. 3. 9. The Lord knows how to reserve the unjust to the day of judgment to be punished 2. 2 This as all other sins is pardonable and actually pardoned upon true repentance and faith in Christ our Surety and so the destruction may be altogether avoyded 3. 3 But if God do afford pardon he usually makes such who have been in any punishable degree guilty feel some smart of their untowardnesse whereby also he makes way for their repentance and warns others as he did for their neglect of building the Temple Hag. 1. 2. 4. 4 The destruction that the Familie and Friends of the offenders are enwrapped in is onely temporall unlesse they be guilty of the same sinne or the vengeance of God reckon with them also for their ungodlinesse in other respects And now the Reasons of the Point will set it out fully 1. The sins of those that have neglected to help the Church are no way lessened by Gods over-ruling grace delivering his Church another way nor by others faithfulnesse whom he hath made use of to deliver it Indeed upon repentance either and both are matters of comfort as Ioseph speaks of Gods over-ruling his brethrens wicked malice against him which was worse then neglect can be Gen. 45. 50. but both set out the more the shame of such neglect in it self because God meant to deliver his Church and others ventured themselves for it but they would not And so their destruction is a due debt to them who would not pay the debt of their endeavours 2. The Parable of the Vnprofitable servant dooms such most dreadfully Matth. 25. The Master lost nothing and the fellow-servants were diligent and gained with their talents yet his neglect cast him into utter-darknesse notwithstanding the imputation upon his Master of being an austere man which is retorted upon him and made an aggravation of his fault We shewed in the first Point that all gifts and abilities and authority and all are all Gods and are disposed by him and intended for his Churches
virtuall promise to England 3 3. But I take it for a much stronger ground and more undoubted That the word of God in the Story and in the threatnings together hath an epitome of all that God will do to his Church planted in my Nation And that God will never deal more severely with any Nationall Church then his Word which is every way most perfect relates or threatens Therefore if it cannot be found in the Scripture that God did ever bring destruction upon his Church planted in a Nation or transplant his Church wholly out of such a Land while they were in such a condition as ours is then will he not do it now But contrarily if he hath alwayes in such a case as ours is now afforded his Church deliverance this I beleeve to be a very strong promise that he will afford us the like now Logicians say that even one example of a thing and no instance to the contrary is a sufficient argument And if it hold not in Scripture examples when none of a divers kinde can be produced I know not what use can be made of the greatest examples of mercy as meer examples which yet were all written for our learning as all Scriptures are that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 15. 4. 4 4. In speciall If God did never destroy a Reforming Nation never wholly transplant a Reforming Church then will he not do so to us because we are such And for this there is speciall Reason whether we consider the Reformation to be the speciall work of God and little of the Nation in it as in Josiahs time God wrought it by a speciall work upon the King who saw all done himself and the people shewed little concurrence in it yet God would and did carry it through Because he that loved the people so wel being yet corrupted as to begin to reform them in a manner himself when he had begun it once would make somewhat of it and not let it altogether come to nothing OF whether God though he ever be the Author and finisher of all good yet act the reformation much by the peoples hands as it was in Hezekiahs Reformation 2 Chron. 30. 1. Here again the same reason holds He who loved the Nation so well as to put such a beginning of grace into them would not let that fail suddenly But he made the work prosper in their hands and no enemie hindred them And now to apply this to our selves 1 If ever a Nation or Church in affliction and danger were a reforming Church and Nation we are such and that in all the parts of Reformation 1. For purity and clearnesse of truth of Doctrine 2. Purity of Worship freed from all superstitions and mans devices and compleat in all the Ordinances of God 3. Purity of Church government and discipline according to the word and rule of Christ 4. Purity of life and conversation 5. Particularly the Sabbaths sanctification the greatest pledge of mercy to a Nation and to ours experimentally in speciall according to Esay 58. 13 14. All this Reformation we apparently labour for in our Church and so are doubtlesse a reforming Church and Nation and shall not be destroyed at this time 2 2. All this is striven for not simply for the liberty of private persons that they may be free from persecution but for the glory of God and the saving of others souls throughout the Nation Which disposition of his servants being much above all self-respects God doth highly esteem and so will blesse it with prosperous successe in the issue 3 3. This Reformation Gods servants have striven for and panted after Ministers and people eighty years together more or lesse and have appeared for it in a considerable party though not joyned and associated as now by the happy advantage of this Parliament and have been much persecuted even for it And therefore now when God hath given them to attempt further and with more hopes and greater beginnings then ever before He will not now at this time give them wholly over to enemies to ruin all utterly 4 4. The rather because the enmity of the enemies is specially provoked even by the desire and attempt of Reformation some in one point some in another They pretend as was noted before to fight for the true reformed Protestant Religion But except some ease about Ceremonies and the like to tender consciences they evidently oppose any further reformation then was in Queen Elizabeths time and reproach the Parliament as intending to alter Religion because they professe to purpose an endeavour of a through reformation Therefore God will not take his enemies part against his people but his peoples against his enemies in the issue at least in giving them the Reformation contended for 5 5. He hath shewed a greater spirtuall love to this Nation for eighty years and more together thou to any in the Christian world in raising up so many excellant Lights for powerfull preaching and for holinesse of life above all other Churches and given us above all others also the Doctrine and practise of his holy Sabbath And all this notwithstanding our Nationall grievous provocations fore-mentioned Therefore when now the Nation is working into the best way of being generally better he will not suffer them to become now irrecoverably for continuance worse But at least this time try the whole Nation with a generall Reformation 6 6. Himself hath mainly and manifestly given the first hopes of this and raised up not the desires onely but the expectation of his servants by wayes farre beyond their contrivances and wonderfully beyond their very thoughts ordered by himself And namely marvellous much by his very enemies plots and counsels turned upon themselves As 1. Their attempt against Religion and Liberties both together whereas if they had undertaken either alone they never in likelihood had had any considerable party appearing against them as now is by uniting the patriots and zealots both in one and shewing to either the necessity of such union 2. In their attempt against the two Nations at once England and Scotland so grasping at both they could hold neither 3. Yet beginning first with Scotland to impose Popish practises upon them the more manifestly who were more impatient of Popery then our Nation was and so provoking them to stand upon their guard link themselves suddenly in a Nationall Covenant against them which also much weakned their attempts upon us 4. Breaking the first Pacification with Scotland which forced them to prevent their being invaded with comming with a powerfull Army into this Kingdom and to refuse to be satisfied without an English Parliament our onely remedy too under God did ratifie the peace with them 5. Their frequence breakings of Parliaments rendring them justly suspected that they meant so by this as soon as the Peace was made counselled to
Reason 4. We pray for it in the Lords prayer Reason 5. Angels give us example Reason 6. All things and persons are for the Churches sake Doct. 1 Even Kings Esay 49. 21 22. 60. 16. And even the very Authority of Christ in Heaven Reason 7. Our comforts are from the Church Doct. 1 Reason 8. Our sins have endangered her Reason 9. Enemies do their utmost Reason 10. Friends fail or are strengthened by what we do Reason 11. So By standers in their degree Doct. 1 Vse Consideration 1. Of Churches dangers needing help 1. Judgments 1. Attempt against all this 2 Army raised against 3 Enemies possesse our King Doct. 1. Use Consider the Churches danger 4. They have prevailed far 5. Their strength enough to endanger all 6. Churches friends weak and few 7 Forrain States help not but hurt thence Doct. 1. Use Consider the Churches danger by sins Nationall 8. Ireland wasts and endangers 2. Churches danger by sins of Nation A Nation sinfull 5. ways 1. All ranks tainted much 2. The most tainted with any one kinde of sin 3. A few notorious sins altogether unpunisht though laws against them Doct. 1 Use Consider the Churches danger by sins Nationall 4. Laws silent or too weak to restrain sin 5. Sin countenanced or allowed by law Our Nation shewed sinfull by acknowledgments of all Doct. 1 Use II. Consider what help may should be afforded the Church 1. Outward 2. Spirituall 1 Prayer 2. HumiliatioÌ„ What it is Why required Doct. 1 Vse Consider how to help the Church by humiliation 2. How far it extends namely to 1. Sins of Nation 2. Sins of Forefathers for 5. Reasons 1. Tenants children lyable to pay Parents debts and forfeitures Doct. 1. Application Consider how to help the Church by humiliations for sins of forefathers 2. Enjoying fruit by their sinne 2 Kings 18. 3. Lest we approve or excuse sins because theirs 4. Or think it because they were not punisht for it 5. Or return to them again after a leaving them Doct. 1. Application Vse 1. Consider how to help the Church 3 Our own Though reforming or reformed N. B. 3. A holy example 4. An active endeavour of reformation Application Use 1. Consider how Reformation helps the Church Doct. 2. Grounded on Text Exemplified by Peter Doct. 2. Self-respects hinder most necessary duties The Jews neglecting the Temples building Confirmed by Reasons Reason 1. Selfe-love prevails in most Doct. 2. Taints all Reas. 2. Experience of backwardness profitable Reas. 3. Of forwardnesse hurtfull Reas. 4. Lazinesse and sensuality makes towards and negligent Reas. 5. So doth covetousnesse Doct. 2. Self-respects hinder most necessary duties Reason 6. Covetousness c. makes do work to halves Reason 7. Envie scorns to labour when others shall be thanked Doct. 2. Self-respects hinder most necessary duties Reason 8. Libertines spirits fear the Churches prosperity Reason 9. Earthly-mindednesse regards onely present and sensible thingâ— Doct. 3. Grounded on the Text Doct. 3. Self respecters not assured to escape Confirmed by Reason Reason 1. None can escape but by Gods leave Reason 2. Such provoke God more then ordinary sinners Doct. 3. Self respecters not sure to scape Observe this well Reason 3. Their base lusts deserve punishment at all times Doct. 3 Self-respecters not sure to scape Reason 4. Their fairest excuses are but sprouts of cursed unbelief Reason 5. None go under so strong a guard as in the Churches service Doct. 5. Though the Church be delivered another way Destruction owing to not helping the Church Grounded on Text Exemplified by the curse of Meroz And judgment on Succoth Penuel And Jabesh Gilead Explicated 1 1. 2 2. 3 3. 4 4. Doct. 5. Confirmed by Reasons Reason 1. Their sins not lestened by Gods grace or others faithfulnesse Reason 2. They are unprofitable servants Doct. 5. Destruction owing to not helping the Church Reason 3. They that forsook the Church in extremity are unworthy to rejoyce with her in prosperity Reason 4. Vnlesse converted they will betray again Reason 5. They will doe no faithfull service the while Reason 6. God jealousy will not beaâ—e with them Doct. 5. Destruction owing to not helping the Church Observe this well Reason 7. They sin for their children c. And corrupt them and are punisht in them Vse 1. Examinations how far we have helped the Church in her distresses or neglected it and why Application Vse 1. Examination about helping the Church 1. What outward help we have afforded Or doe yet resolve if need be or think much to think of 2. How we have prayed 3. What example we shewed Application Examinat Three sorts guilty 1 Professed Libertines 2 Scandalous Professors of Religion 3 The best in some degree give some â—â—l example Application Vâ—â— Examination what example we have shewed Mischiefs of it to the Church 1 It multiplies sins 2 Reproaches religion 3 Hardens self flatterers 3. What endeavour of reformation for the Churches help 1 Domesticall Application Examination Gen. 18 18. Josh. 24. 15. Psal. 101. Rom. 16. Col. 4. In reference to servants To children 2 By authoririty of friendship Application Vse 1. Examination What help to the Church by endeavouring to reform Levit. 19. 17. Josh 22. 3 By Ministers Publikely Privately Remember this 4 By Magistrates Application Vse 2. Humiliation for helping the Church so little Specially this being a main duty of the day And there being so much cause Application Vse 2. Humiliation for Nationall sins 1. For our Nations sins against the 1. CoÌ„mandment Idolatry Ignorance Atheisticall scorning of religion and all honesty Application Vse 2. Humiliation for sins against the 2. Com Against the 3. Commandm As also the monstrous prophanation of that sacred Ordinance of Excommunication made to lacquy for fees or persecute godliness Against the 4. Commandm Application Vse 2. Humiliation for Nationall sin Against the 5. Commandm Against the 6. Commandm Note this well Note this specially Against the 7. Commandm Against the 8. Commandm Application Vse 2. Humiliation for nationall sins Against the 9. Commandm Against all generally Lukewarmness of Laws Observe this well The discipline of the Church in ill hands Neglect of children and youth For great wrath manifested in Gods judgements in 10. considerations Application Use 2. 1 The judgment it self a devouring sword Esay 1. 20. 2 The kinde Civill war by drunkennesse Jer. 13.13 14. 3 Occasion the Militia hoped to be our setling 4 Sufficient means of prevention vain wise men confounded Esay 29. 14 Application Use 2. Humiliation for Gods heavie wrath 5 Example of others and our selves in others case blest with more wisdome and successe * Hos. 1. 6 7. Exod. 9. 10. 6 The ground of the quarrel Both protest for the same things Application Use 2. Suppose both side hypocrits Esay 10 5 6. Or one side 2 Sam. 15. 11. Or both sides meaning right 2 Chro. 20 23. 7 The time in civill respects when in hopes of setling Jer. 18. 9 10. 8 The
be lightly passed over but put beyond all gain-saying I come now to the Use of it The Use that I shall make of this first Doctrin by it self is onely to provoke us all to a serious consideration of our Church and Nations dangers calling for our utmost help as also what help is possible and necessary for us to afford taking in Ireland also into our thoughts though I cannot at every turn name it but it must never be forgotten specially on these solemn dayes of seeking God their unhappinesse affording us the first advantage of enjoying this publike happinesse of these dayes of humiliation towards our own good as well as theirs Where we â—we help we must needs consider the need of help and the means of it The Churches dangers needing help are reducible to two heads Judgments and Sins Both together put us into the condition of Isreal Nehem. 9. 37. whose sad expression is We are in great distresse Indeed far greater then theirs was then as a comparison would fully clear but that I have no leasure for it neither shall I now say all that I intend on either Head because the following Points require a reservation of somewhat of each kind to re-inforce them But yet even to make further way for them and in the mean time for a brief discourse of the means of help somewhat also must here be premised of the Churches dangers both in regard of judgements and sins For our dangers in regard of Judgements I may thus recapitulate them First An attempt upon a deep-rooted long-projected designe to ruin Religion Gods true Religion our Laws and Liberties and in and for all this this present Parliament 2. An Army raised for this by Papists-counsels enemies to the true Religion and consequently to our State and Laws by which it is established Made up for the most part of men of desperate spirits enemies to Parliaments and Laws because themselves are Delinquents and resolve to be Libertines and men of desperate fortunes and therefore enemies to the propriety and true liberty of the Subject without the violation of which they cannot subsist in their broken condition 3. These enemies possessing the Person of our King abusing his minde by their wicked suggestions and counsels his Name to countenance all their lawlesse outrages and to cast all manner of reproaches upon the Parliament And particularly upon prime Members of both Houses 4. These enemies having prevailed in many places to rob and spoil houses villages towns countreys to carry away Prisoners and use them with more then barbarous cruelty to kill and destroy many in the field in open war some in cold blood if their boyling rage and malice can ever be said to be cold blood and not a few by worse then brutish usage in their Prisons to violence and violate mens consciences by forcing upon them the Protestation against the Parliament 5. These enemies being in themselves many in number and of great strength in divers places apparently stronger then we in all kinde of strength except spirituall and in the whole powerfull enough to put all into exceeding hazard by force and fraud arms and conspiracies witnesse Bristoll and the late damnable Plot against the Parliament and City specially considering the multitude of secret enemies seeming but Neuters intermingled every where with us specially in all considerable places the City is not the Parliament it self hath not been free and not a few even almost professed enemies let alone and suffered in the very City and much more in the Countreys and too many false and treacherous friends in the Armies and every where Besides multitudes of professed Neuters ready to fall to the enemies where ever they shall appear stronger and in the mean time affording as little help as possible they can the rather because the worst of the Parliaments exclaimed against severity is courtesie to the ordinary usage of their adversaries against any that have in the least opposed them 6. Our friends impoverisht daily without means of restauraration disheartened by mutuall jealousies divided by differences in opinion diminished by deaths and captivities without hopes of ransom and few grow up in their rooms 7. Forrain States and Countreyes at the best no friends while in the mean time Papists in severall parts afford great assistance to our enemies by contributions of Moneys and Arms And so have some of our pretended Friends done too whose consciences will one day pay them to the full for it on earth or a worse place or both as fighters against God and his true Religion and self-condemned in their own hearts for worse rebells if we be thought by them to be so at all then any rhetorick can make us 8. Ireland not onely affords us no help but helps to wast our Estates our Provisions Arms Ammunition while the Rebels there are in part furnisht from sorrain States and now at last threatning us also with an actuall Invasion and at least some of those Rebels being actually in Arms against us Lay now all these together and we must needs acknowledge that our danger is exceeding great and we all In great distresse in regard of the Judgments that lie upon and threaten our Church and Nation and Ireland with us And now it is time that we come to consider our Nations sins a little as the provoking Cause of all these Judgments For so the Prophet resolves the Question why the sword was sent against Judah Jer. 4. 18. Thy wayes and thy doings have procured these things to thee This is thy wickednesse because it is bitter and because it reaches unto thy heart To shew this we will scan first how many wayes a Nation may be called sinfull according to the phrase Esay 1. 4. and a people laden with iniquity And then see whether in all those respects our Land be not undeniably sinfull and laden with transgressions Five wayes a Nation may deserve the name of sinfull First when all sorts and ranks that is many in each of them are apparently tainted with sinne 2. When particular sins as ignorance drunkennesse swearing prophanenesse any one such notorious sin and much more if divers doe visibly taint the greatest number in a Nation every where according to the expression Ezek. 22. Thou hast done thus and thus 3. When any visible iniquity though practised but by some few is not at all punisht though there be law against it This comes under another phrase in the forementioned chapter Ezek. 22. In thee in thee have they set light by Father and Mother in the middest of thee have they done thus and thus We know the very not enquiring after Achan there having been a particular warning that one such man would make all Israel accursed made God charge his single fact upon all the Nation Israel have sinned and they have trangressed c. Ios 7. And accordingly he threatens not to be with the
Nation any more except they found him out and punisht him accordingly 4. When the Lawes are too weak and slack or altogether silent in the restraint of wickednesse This could not indeed be in the Jewish common-wealth because they had lawes of Gods own making to punish all manner of transgressions that God would have to be punisht But since other Common-wealths have taken to themselves I am afraid farther then God allowes a Liberty to count themselves free from his penal laws it is manifestly possible that they may be wanting in necessary laws to suppresse ungodlinesse then they make the Nation guilty of such sins as for want of good laws are practised In that the Authority that God hath given in a Nation to make laws for the observation of His divine Lawes is not put in execution sufficiently Authority I say sins in not making such necessary lawes and inferiours sin in not following them with petitions and importunities for the making of them And so all are sinfull the Nation is sinfull 5. Much more when any sin hath any kinde of countenance and allowance from Authority and specially from lawes and that offenders against Gods commandements can pleadmans approbation if not command in some sort of their practises This is the highest and worst degree of all not onely because it doth immediately taint the generality in point of practice but layes a cursed foundation of vilifying all Gods lawes in any thing when it appears to inferiours that superiours though men like themselves dare take upon them so to crosse Gods Authority with theirs And now if in all these respects our Nation is greatly guilty of transgression and sinne against our God and Heavenly King we are beyond all peradventure a sinfull Nation and a people laden with iniquity and for this for the present I onely appeale to every ones conscience that seemes to have any sense of conscience and to the generall complaint that there is every where of something or other in all these kindes Even they oft times that notoriously help to fill up the measure of a Nations wickednesse doe yet themselves complain aloud of the universality of corruption and sin of all sorts and in all sorts Let me then take them and all others at their own words in this and judge them out of their own mouths God will be sure to doe so one day that they have acknowledged our Land and Church to be not only a greatly endangered but a deeply guilty people and so in both respects needing abundance of help even the utmost that can possibly be afforded by any by all of us And that is the other consideration belonging to this Use what help is propor and possible to be afforded to the Church in this her need 1. Against the outward danger outward help is needed for our Nation and Church and Ireland also Counsels purses persons whatsoever is ours or can be justly procured by us is owing as the doctrine hath shewed us because it may be helpfull and may be needed one time or other for the Churches help 2. Against the whole of the danger Prayer may be helpfull and is altogether needfull constant humble penitent faithfull fervent prayer I need not insist on this you have heard it already this day abundantly and powerfully But of Humiliation not only as a companion of Prayer but also as a Parent or Nurse of it and so as a distinct means of help for the Church I must a little particularly speak specially this being a solemne day of Humiliation wherein both God and man require of us to urge this which I shall doe by shewing first what is the nature of it and then secondly the object of it to what it extends both as a duty and as a meanes For the nature of it Humiliation is a lying low and being abased at Gods feet for mercy making first a hearty confession and acknowledgement to God of 4. things 1. Of naturall extreame sinfulnesse and corruption and particular sins as many as are knowne or by enquiry can be found out with their aggravations 2. Of extremity of punishment thereby deserved 3. Of impossibility of escaping such punishment without Gods favour 4. Of impossibility of obtaining Gods favour without repentance and faith in Christ our surety 2. From all this making also an entire submission and yeelding to any temporall correction which God layes or continues without murmuring or offering to free our selves by sinning againe in any kinde All this is included within the nature of true humiliation Which as it is often called for in Scripture1 as a duty giving glory to God in all his providence and particularly in his Judgements mixed with mercies according to his Word and all his soveraigne dignities and titles of Creatour Preserver Ruler and King of all men and Creatures and all his glorious attributes of Just Holy Wise Gracious Powerfull True So2 is it also frequently both in generall and in the particular parts of it made and appointed a necessary meanes of helping a Nation one place shall now suffice for many Lev. 26. 40 41. If they shall confesse their iniquities and the iniquity of their Fathers with their trespasse whereby they have trespassed against me and that also they have walked contrary unto me and that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought them into the land of their enemies if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity Then will I remember c. And all this the rather because3 such a Humiliation is both most necessary and most effectuall to make us endeavour what ever else is conducible toward the Churches help as specially a holy Example and activity for Reformation of which afterwards Now for the object of Humiliation It concernes and would though we our selves were both altogether innocent and free from all personall danger 1. The sins of the Nation we live amongst endangered also by his judgements felt or feared But much more when our own being sensibly in danger as well as others calls us to remember our own sins and be humbled for them specially being some way guilty also even of the Nations sins as we shall see anon 2. This Humiliation for the sins of our Nation must extend to the sins of our Forefathers this we finde commanded by way of condition to a promise Lev. 26. 49. and every where practised in solemn Humiliations referring to a Nations good as Ezr. 9. Nehemiah 1. 9. Daniel 9. Ierem. 3. And the reasons of this are cleare 1. In that we as their heires are justly lyable to punishments temporall for their sins in former times Mens Justice requires debts of Heires namely the Landlords rents and for wastes committed against their leases God may much more This broke good Iosiahs heart melted it into teares when by the reading of the book of the Law