sword hath rid circuit for above twenty yeares in Germany many Candlestickes of Truth thence removed that Paradise almost turned into a Wildernesse Poore Ireland is in danger to lose that Religion they had with their estates and lives Preachers hanged Professors murdered Bibles burnt and all with prodigious cruelty and blasphemy c. Yet sinfull England like Gideons fleece dry in comparison when others sleeped in their owne blood Observe I beseech you like wise Factors the seasons to trade for the setling true Religion It is true we are now full of sad distractions blacke and bloody clouds beginne to gather yet may not Faith through them spy out the Sunne of righteousnesse shining graciously upon unworthy England As Hag. 2. 7. I will shake all Nations and the desire of all Nations shall come and I will fill this House with glory saith the Lord of Hosts Historians report that about the yeare 1517. when Leò the tenth was making some thirty Cardinals there was such a terrible tempest in the Church that shaked the Babe out of the Virgin Maries armes and the Keyes out of Saint Peters hands which they interpreted as ominous and indeed so it proved shortly after Luther arose who so much battered the Popes power The sword is already shaken out of our great Church-mens hand by Parliamentall power the keyes doe not hang so fast under their girdle as they did c. We dare not but hope these are engaging providences of God earnest-pennies of some great payment yet behinde Oh therefore know and redeeme your Opportunities to Trade for Truth Activity to pursue occasions and follow all advantages If you would be fully possessed of the knowledge of the Truth you must seeke for her as for Silver and search for her as for hid Treasure Prov. 2. 4. By a most unwearyed industry search every Mine Plato calleth Merchants Planets that wander from City to City You will never trade for Truth in good earnest till you expresse an inquisitive active disposition in the cause of Religion knocking at every doore plying every Mâ—â—ket where you may purchase any acquaintance with the Truth First Goe not onely to the shop of Nature or the Schoole of Philosophy The candle which Nature affordeth us is good but it will be burnt out before we come to our journeyes end Philosophy may seeke Truth Theology findeth it Religion doth possesse it Philosophy is not the field wherein the pearle of Truth lyeth but rather a hedge and ditch about the field to defend it from the invasion of subtill Disputants Secondly Neither must we seeke Truth onely in the decrees of Councells in the Traditions and testimonies of the Church Councells are like Rivers of water very profitable so long as they hold themselves within the compasse of the banckes but if they swell and overflow as too often they have done they prove very hurtfull to the field of the Church even to Truth it selfe The Councell of Constance commeth in with a non obstante against Christs institution with-holding the Cup from the Sacrament Our Faith and Truth was at first delivered to the Saints Jude ver. 3. And we hold it still per Ecclesiam though not propter Ecclesiam by the Ministery of the Church though not for the Authority of the Church John 4. 42. All they who are genuine children of the Church not onely by the Mothers side but by the Fathers also will not onely beleeve as the Church beleeveth but as their Heavenly Father teacheth them and because he teacheth them Thirdly But in searching out for the Truth goe to Christ himselfe who is Truth it selfe John 14. 6. Jesus saith unto him I am the Way the Truth and the Life Attend upon Christ in the use of his Word which is a Word of Truth Prov. 8. 34. Blessed is the man that heaneth me watching daily at my gates Waiting at the posts of my doores If ever God ripen your Councells about a Synod we hope to receive the same direction from you that Constantine the Great gave the Councell of Nice Take the Resolution of things in question out of Divinely inspired writings Doe not onely bid us enquire what Reformation was in our Josiahs time King Edward the sixth nor what in our Deborahs dayes Queene Elizabeths though we must for ever blesse God for the light that appeared in those times Doe not onely put us upon inquiry what Ignatius said or what Cyprian did they must be very wise Children who know their Fathers faces and writings after so many of their adversaries scratches Rather bid us give you an account what Luke holdeth forth in his story of the Acts of the Apostles what Paul intimates in his Epistles that so divine Truth may triumph and we enjoy a Scripture Reformation In divine things we may attribute somewhat to antiquity yet in matters that concerne Church pompe and Church power we must be jealous how we trust the Ancient Fathers because good men they saw the mystery of iniquity but darkely and at a distance which wrought strongly not onely in corrupting Doctrine with errours but Divine Worship with Ceremonies and Church Government with tyrannicall usurpations Then and then onely is Truth like to triumph in Church-Assemblies when Gods Word is there advanced Cyrill saith in a Synod at Ephesus upon a high Throne in the Temple there lay Sanctum Evangelium the holy Gospell to shew that Christ was both present and president there Resolution to backe a publique Factors wise Activity This would make you willing to grapple with difficulties to expose your selves to troubles and hazzards and to be at any cost and charges that you may possesse your selves and the Kingdome of the true Religion Poore England hath long beene in a travelling condition felt many bitterpangs findeth now twins in her wombe Jacobs and Esaus wrastling for the birth-right high contestations betwixt Eliah and Baalls Priests now it is a day of trouble and astonishment Great things are come to the birth onely there wanteth strength to bring forth What will you resolve to lay out to possesse this dis-joynted Kingdome of the Truth Imagine the casting of the ballance the composing of all Church difference depended upon thee alone what wouldest thou contribute to purchase Truth Nazianzen put this price upon his Athenian learning wherein he was very famous that he had something of value to part withall for Christ Oh that you could say the same of your Honours and Estates reckoning this the goodnesse of all your good things that you are enabled to doe good with them in the cause of Christ and his Truth It was Heroicall zeale in Basill who for his constant and bold defending of the Truth against the Arian heresie being threatned death by Valens the Emperour answered {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Oh that I might dye for the truth I beseech you Noble Worthies by the many Petitions you have had from men by the solemne
and supporters of it set Truth at libertie Zachary 4. vers. 6. the great mountaine of opposition must be moved not by humane power and might but by the spirit of the Lord of Hoasts not only by his power but by his spirit because Church works must be carryed on in a way of enlightning and revealing the Truth Thus the wise providence of God wrought formerly when a Generall Councell though by many groaned after could not be obtained with the consent of the Clergy and Court of Rome to whom Reformation would be a certaine Ruine He stirred up divers Heroicall Worthies Waldus in France Wickliffe in England Luther in Germany Knoxe in Scotland to despise the light of Truth And Revel. 14. vers. 6. After the flying Angell having the everlasting Gospell to preach unto all that dwell on the earth then vers 8. there follows another Angell saying Babylon is fallen Doubtlesse the Pope must fall not only by the Sword of Princes but by the Sword of the Spirit 2 Thessalonians 2. vers. 8. That wicked One must be revealed and consumed with the Spirit of the Lords mouth If you would have the mystery of iniquitie unmasked see the Popes Triple Crowne tumble and the thicke mist of Popery vanish help forward the bright Sun-shine of Gods Word promote the libertie puritie and power of Truth You have had a discovery of some few sprigs growing upon this first Proposition let us in the Application gather the wholesome fruit which hangs upon them It is the good hand of God upon us when so many of our brethren in Ireland are still bleeding under their enemies crueltie that we are at libertie in this solemne Ordinance to plead with our God for mercie Oh that this day of Self-humbling might be to us in the use of it according to its nature a self-searching or soul-purging day My Commission is to hold forth the Glasse of Gods Truth before your eyes that you may may discover your spots and defects Let it be your worke to reade over your selves as well as your Bibles to speake and write retractations of your former errors and confessions of your miscarriages I wish we could all be Augustines herein The Lord knoweth what Volumes many of us might fill if we were but well studyed in our selves And together with the long Catalogue of all our other sins our neglect of Truth must come in as having a great influence into the rest for this we may blush and bleed yea rivers of teares are too little to bewaile this that in all our designes we have so little minded to purchase the Libertie the Puritie and Power of true Religion Adam and Eve began to make very bad markets to sell themselves and posteritie for the forbidden fruit Prophane Esau sold his Birth-right for a Messe of pottage Heb. 12. 16. How many with Absalom to humour their vain-glory will set the Peace of a Kingdome to sale How many with Haman to gratifie proud revenge will set a whole Church to sale Some with Iudas will set up their Saviour to sale for thirtie pieces Others with Diotrephes the first Cocke of the game that they may fill their sailes with Church-pompe and church-Church-power will set the Keyes of Church and Ordinances of Christ to sale Lay your hands upon your hearts To be purveyours for your lusts as the prophane Romanes 13. vers. 14. To be Merchants for the Pope as the superstitious Innovators To be Proctors for the Devill as Gospell-opposers what saith conscience Is this to buy the Truth Give me leave Honourable and beloved to come neerer you with three plaine Queres I study not alta but apta proferre Have you gotten your owne hearts possessed with the power of the Truth Hath Gods word a throne in your Consciences Colossians 3. 16. Let the word of God dwell richly in you If it dwell there First it must intrare then residere it must dwell and abide there exercising a soveraigntie over you ever drawing open into an humble familiaritie with it What fruitfull knowledge have you gotten in the mysterie of Doctrinall and Practicall Godlinesse They who know the Grace of God in Truth will bring forth fruit Colossians 1. vers. 6. Doth the Truth of your Religion appeare in your relations in the uniformitie of a Gospell conversation as Phil. 1. vers. 27. Aske your hearts whether in all your undertakings you move upon Religious grounds and for Religious ends God doth not onely number but weigh our actions and observes not onely what is done but why it is done The The word of Truth must be our judge therefore now let it be our Counsellor It is Philpots Glosse upon Iohn 12. vers. 48 The word that I have spoken shall judge him in the last day if the word shall judge us then much more ought it to be a judge of our doings now Have you set up Truth in your owne families It is most odious for a Minister of Christ to flatter to dawbe with untempered morter at any time but most abominable upon a Day of Humiliation You reckon your house your little Common-wealth by what law is it governed Doth the word of Truth the Scepter of righteousnesse beare sway there Whence then so much licentiousnesse tolerated in the servants so much dissolutenesse in the children so much oppression tyranny and too often other wickednesse in your selves and such distempers in family relations Psal. 101. vers. 2. David would walke in his house with a perfect heart Such as served him he would either finde them or make them Gods servants You would have others thinke your houses are Churches What thy house a Church to God and thou a covetous idolater Thy house a Church to God and thou an uncleane sonne of Belial What concord hath Christ with Belial what agreement hath the Temple of God with idols The argument is as strong for Magistrates as for Ministers 1 Tim. 3. 5. If a man know not how to rule his owne house how shall hee take care of the Church of God How can you be good Reformers both of State and Church unlesse you be first Reformers of your selves and your owne Families Light is a great advantage to an house especially the light of Truth The Father of Lights is not pleased to dwell in a darke habitation such a corner is fitter for Satan the Prince of darknesse It was a very honourable report which Melancthon giveth of Prince Anhalt Cubiculum ejus erat Academia curia Templum His Bed-chamber was an Academie a Court a Temple The Lord gives you a share in this honour Let not your Chambers be Academies onely for the advanocment of learning or Courts for the daily dispatch of publique affaires but Temples for the worship of God and calling upon his name Give the people not onely Rules but examples of Reformation Let Religion be first advanced in you it will the sooner bee setled by you Have you imployed and improved
Protestations you have made to God by his wonder-working Providence about you and by the dependance the Protestant cause abroad hath upon you stirre up your Resolution in the behalfe of Truth Would you have the name of this Parliament embalmed with everlasting perfume Improve your power for the true Religion Justifie our Magna Charta the grand Charter of Scripture truthes that doth entitle us to Salvation Confirme unto us our Petition of Right establish upon Pastors and Churches so much interest in the power and use of the Keyes as the Word of Truth doth allow them Maintaine amongst us a free course of trading for eternall happinesse set and keepe open those shops such Pulpits such mouthes as any Prelaticall usurpations have or would have shut up Secure to us not onely liberty of person and estate but also liberty of Conscience from Church tyranny that we be not pinched with ensnaring oathes clogged with multiplyed subscriptions or needlesse impositions which will rather increase then compose distractions Together with Priviledges of Parliament let us have Church-priviledges vindicated helpe us to purge out that old leaven whether of Doctrine of Disposition or Persons that we may have Sacraments more purely administred according to the rule of Truth let us be sure of this Militia inviolably setled the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God Ephes. 6. 17. Guard that Magazine wherein are laid up the weapons of our warfare that are mighty through God to the pulling downe of strong holds 2 Cor. 10. 4. So shall we be put into a good posture for Reformation Act undaunted resolution in the prosecution of these religious Designes then may you confidently expect Christs glorious and gracious presence amongst you Luther would assure you thereof Where the Word of Christ doth raigne saith he there are the eyes of Christ fixed on the holy Professors of Truth but where the Word of man reigneth although there were as many Popes as there be leaves in the wood and as many Cardâ—nals as graines of Corne c. As many Bishops as drops of water in the Sea and all of them glittering in Gold and Jewels Gemmati purpurati mulati asinati to maintaine their owne Lawes yet are Christs eyes turned away from them Truth though it must be bought yet it may not be sold The Wisedome of Scripture directs us to severall purchases Isai. 55. 1. Every thirsty soule is invited to Come and buy Waters Wine and Milke Seeke to Christ upon his termes for variety of sweet Soulemercies Rev. 3. 18. We are counselled to buy of Christ Gold tryed in the fire the pure graces of Gods Spirit and the purity of Ordinances Ephes. 5. 16. We must be redeeming the time not only taking opportunities of doing and receiving good when they are offered and seeking them when they are wanting but buying them at any price And indeed Christians should be Chapmen to buy rather then Salemen to sell We are commanded to buy that we may possesse the end of this possession is use what Spirituall commodities we have purchased we must Improve for God and our Soules but not alienate them from our selves There are three sorts of Hucksters will be ready to engrosse the Truth from you if you be willing to sell it Malignant persecutors are engrossing Huckesters who watch to interrupt the liberty of the Truth These even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses resist the Truth men of corrupt mindes Reprobates concerning the Faith 2 Tim. 3. 8. And indeed therefore resist the Truth because their mindes are so corrupt Such the Apostle cals {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} absurd men 2 Thess. 3. 2. Men compact of meere incongruities solaecising in opinion speeches actions and whole life yea unreasonable men For all men have not Faith ver. 2. Religion is the highest Reason nothing more irrationall then irreligion From such spirits arose those conspiracies against the Apostle endevouring to scotch the Charriot-wheeles of Truth when they began first to move No sooner did Steven plead for Truth but some were suborned against him Act. 6. 11. No sooner did Saul beginne to Preach the Truth but opposers began to consult to kill him Act. 9. 23. Though not long before he had beene a busie Apparitor and Pursevant to Arrest the Saints and dragge them to their High-Commission Act. 9. 1. A strange and suddaine change in them as well as in him Origen saith of the Devils No greater torment to them then to see men addicted to the Scriptures The same temper of spirit appeares in the devils agents upon the killing of the witnesses Rev. 11. 10. They that dwelt upon the earth shall rejoyce over them and make merry and shall send gifts one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwell on the earth And therefore they will adventure peace of Conscience and hope of Heaven yea the whole stocke upon it that they may buy up Truth out of the Churches hands and sometimes malice rises to such an height that even in England the Bible must be burnt as strange Doctrine Seducing Heretickes whose endevour is to corrupt the purity of Truth The great Apostasy from the Faith 1 Tim. 4. 1. is brought about by giving heed to seducing spirits The Pope hath many Emissaries abroad who joyne with the Devill studying a method of Soule-deceiving and Truth-betraying Compare Ephe. 4. 14. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} with Ephes. 6. 11. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} you shall find the devill and deceivers artificially methodizing their snares to draw us from the Truth 2 Pet. 2. 1 False teachers have alwayes practised to bring in damnable heresies The beginnings of grosse errours may be modest yea the foulest Heresies may at first appeare with faire faces The Serpent creepes into the Paradise of the Church by degrees as 2 Cor. 11. 3. his plot is to corrupt peoples mindes From the simplicity that is in Christ First he will puzzle them with a question as he did Eve put a command of God a knowne Truth to be disputed then helpe them to mint some distinctions which are not alwayes so happy in Divinity as in Philosophy thereby to relieve and helpe in an error And here it may be observed though these men have the same designe with malignant persecutors to engrosse the Truth yet cunningly they will buy it up by parcels that they may be the lesse discerned They will trade first in names then in things first habituate us to call our Ministers Priests our Communion Tables Altars before they impose superstitious gestures This was the Rhemists straine of policy Let us keepe our old words and wee shall easily keepe our old Faith This graduall Huckstering up the purity of truth is most cleare in Image worship At first Images and pictures of Saints were used in private for Memory History or Ornament onely Afterwards with like colour of
still they persist in truth-betraying Scandalous professors will curse their wicked Ministers whose examples poysoned them Wicked Ministers will cry woe woe upon such Prelates who were indulgent to their unworthinesse and doubtlesse the Prelates will be as ready to complaine of many Patrons who first made the livings scandalous by withholding maintenance and then by importunity thrust a scandalous Minister upon them Oh let it now appeare that you will not suffer Religion to be betrayed by the least indulgence to any of these evils Consider what Sigismond the Emperour said in the Councell of Constance where the Councell pretended to make a Reformation one stood up and said the Reformation must beginne at the Fryer Minorites No said the Emperour Non à Minoritis sed à Majoritis incipiendum est Let Reformation reach Patron and Prelate as well as Minister and People If you would discourage scandalous livers suppresse scandalous Ministers if you would prevent a succession of them regulate the power of the keyes tooke to ordination and jurisdiction though your Bill against scandalous Ministers were ripened and executed yet if the doore of admission into the Church continue as large as now it is the next age will swarme againe with the like Drones And for the Truthes sake that you may silence all clamours as if Reformation would discourage learning and undoe the Church make good your owne Orders For the support of an able Ministery let Patrons and others deny themselves to raise a sufficient and certaine maintenance at least open a vent to others Pietie and Charity who will concurre with you to afford oyle for burning and shining lampes by reviving the hopeful designe of the Feoffâ—es or what other wayes your zealous wisdome shall suggest A great Civilian telleth us how Church-maintenance came to be appropriated to the Cloysters of Monkes and how such lands as they held in sundry Parishes were freed from the payment of tithes to the Ministers thereof namely it sprang from this roote they insinuated that Preaching was not so necessary for the salvation of mens soules as their Praying in their Religious Houses Preaching they said breedeth Schisme Disputes in Religion c. It lyeth as a blot upon them That by their undervaluing Preaching many Congregations were robbed of their Ministers maintenance Let it be Your Honour who have expressed such a high esteeme of Preaching to endevour the re-endowing those places with such meanes as may encourage faithfull witnesses unto the Truth To awaken Your compassionate affection towards many persons and places where truth is chaffered away Religion is a riddle a paradox yea a reproach among them We should appeare this day as publique mourners laying to heart not onely personall but State evills even Parliament sinnes Is not this just matter of griefe that in so many former Parliaments the liberty the purity and the power of Religion hath beene so much neglected Ancient Lawes have established Church pompe Power Dignity and Revenues these are twisted into the severall Statutes as if they would put in a politicke caveat against after alterations without shaking the very Foundation which is now one of the great objections against Reformation Yea how much hath Truth suffered by the indulgence that Old Parliament Lawes have expressed to Non-residency Pluralities and Insufficiency of Ministers It hath beene enough if Legit ut Clericus if he can say the Confession in Latine he must be betrusted with soules Allow something to the necessity of these darker times yet now the very reason of such being altered God forbid that truth should any longer be betrayed by an unwarrantable latitude Oh pity your many thousands of expecting Petitioners who have had many yeares of sad Sabbaths and sit downe still in much sorrow complaining for want of Truth You may heare their groanings in the words of the Prophet Jeremiah chap. 8. 22. Is there no balme in Gilead Is there no Physitian there Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered What cannot will not the Parliament heale us It was a strange and dolefull vision that Ezekiel had from God at Hierusalem when he saw so many sinfull spectacles an image of jealousy Baals Idoll Ezek. 8. v. 5. then a company of grave ancient men every one in the Chamber of his Imagery ver. 11 12. the Jewish High-Commission according to some in those times deepely corrupted poore Women weeping for Tammuz ver. 14. weeping for the death of Osiris King of Egypt and idolatrously adoring his image which Isis his wife had advanced and worships towards the Sunne ver. 16. Would it please you in your serious thoughts to runne over this Church this Kingdome you might see in many places such objects that Your eyes would much affect your hearts Though in all abominations wee doe not runne parallell with Hierusalem in Ezekiels Vision yet such wofull fruites of truth-selling and truth-betraying as may stirre up your affection and awaken your Parliament actions First Cast your compassionate eyes upon the Schooles of the Prophets the Churches Nurseries Doe not petitions informe you that divers have there chaffered away Truth for errors were Whitaker and Reinolds then in vivis doubtlesse they would blush to see Bellarmine and Arminius justified by many rather then confuted If no Chambers of imagery be there yet are there not some Chappels polluted rather then adorned with Images Altars and Crucifixes If no worshipping of the Sunne there yet doe not too many pleade for and practise an ungrounded worshiping toward the East It cannot be thought unnaturalnesse in a Sonne to represent the distempers of his Mother to a Colledge of Physitians especially when the experience of the deepe infection which some of your beloved Sonnes got there of the corruption of judgements prophanenesse and superstition of practise which many of your Ministers brought thence will witnesse the same that Truth hath beene shamefully betrayed by too many in the Universities Munster reporteth That the Jewes were banished out of many Countryes of Christendome principally for poysoning Springs and Fountaines All Friends to Truth had need pray that God would either remove or heale such as have poysoned the Schooles of the Prophets the Fountaines of the Land Our hopes are that God will put upon you Noble Senators the spirit of Elisha and helpe you to cast into those waters such salt that the Waters be healed that there be not from thence any more barrennesse or causing to miscarry 2 King 2. 19 20. In Exod. 15. 23 24 25. when the people were come to Marah They could not drinke the waters for they were bitter and murmured agaâ—nst Moses saying what shall we drinke ver. 25. The Lord shewed him a tree which when he had cast into the waters the waters were made sweete Plant and uphold wholesome Lectures in the Pulpit as well as in the Chaire A Service worthy of the Wisdome and Power of a Parliament Such Trees will sweeten the waters there and