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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A64990 God's terrible voice in the city by T.V. Vincent, Thomas, 1634-1678. 1667 (1667) Wing V440; ESTC R24578 131,670 248

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hath put into their hands they have endeavoured the Reformation of the City whether as Gods under-officers they have improved their interest for the promotion of Religion in the zealous exercise of it yea whether they have put the Laws made in execution against Sabbath-breakers swearers drunkards endeavouring to find out and punish such offenders 4. Neglect of Church-reformation And is there no blame to be laid upon Church-officers hath there been that zeal for and faithful execution of Church-discipline according to the Rules of the word hath not the Lord Jesus Christ been affronted in his Kingly office by some who have imposed precepts of their own upon mens consciences instead of vigorously endeavouring the execution of his and taken the power of the Keyes out of the hands of those unto whom the Lord hath entrusted it hereby rendring the execution of discipline impossible according to the Laws of Christ have not the tender and most conscientious lain under the censures of some rather then the openly profane and scandalously wicked Neglect of Reformation am I speaking of nay have not many who call themselves Ministers endeavoured rather the overthrow then the promotion of it have they not had girds in their Pulpits at holiness and zealous profession which they have seconded by a conversation of dissoluteness malitious opposition and persecution of those especially who have been the most religious Sad neglects there have been of reformation in London and that when London lay under such obligations to reform as Christians they were obliged by baptismal and renewed vows as Protestants of the Reformed religion they were obliged to endeavour a reformation by Mercies they were obliged an● have they been under no other obligations And hath not the neglect of reformation notwithstanding all obligations rendred them guilty of disingenuity infideliy yea of perjury it self I verily believe this is the great sin God is scourging London for God is contending for a Reformation and if they do not endeavour it more vigorously the sooner I fear he will bring desolation upon them 7. A seventh sin of London is fearful Apostacy and a spirit of complyance with the sins of the times How many in London who formerly were great profestours have discovered themselves to be rotten hypocrites who casting off the sheeps clothing and laying aside all profession have given themselves up to dissoluteness and licentious living formerly they have seemed true penitents and to be washed from their iniquities but they have returned with the dogg to the vomit and with the Sow that is washed to the wallowing in the mire 2 Pet. 2. ult formerly they have been swept a little within and garnisht outwardly with a fair profession but the unclean spirit hath returned and without any great difficulty hath entered with seven worse spirits and defiled them more then before and made their last state worse then their first I speak not so much of those who worship God in this Mode or that Mode and of alterations herein but of those who sometimes professed religion and now do not worship God in any mode at all but wholly addict themselves to their lusts and are ashamed to be called or thought to be religious They would not now look like a Saint or speak like a Saint much less live like a Saint Thus have many in our dayes cast off all fear of God and devoted themselves with the Hell-hounds of the times to the service of the Devil resolving to do what in them lies to promote the interest of his Kingdom And if some are a little more aukward in his service and not altogether so like him and such apt Scholars presently as others whose education hath been in his School from their childhood yet they learn very fast and wonderfull is their proficiency in a short time and in regard of Apostacy they come neerer the Image of the Devil than those that have been alwayes tutor'd by him Now for any in London to forsake God that they might serve the Devil to draw off from the wayes of Holiness that they might walk in the wayes of Wickedness doth cast a great slurr upon God and his wayes They do in effect say That the Devil is a better Master than God and that the way of sin that leadeth to Hell is more eligible than the way of Holiness which alone can bring to Heaven The Lord threatneth that his Soul shall have no pleasure in such Apostates Heb. 10. 38. It is a Meiosis and we are to understand that the Lord is highly displeased with such persons See how God pleads with Apostatizing Israel Ier. 2. 9 10 c. Wherefore I will yet plead with you saith the Lord. Pass ye over to the Isles of Chittim and see and send unto Kedar and diligently consider if there be any such thing Hath any Nation changed their gods which yet are no gods But my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit Be astonished O ye Heavens at this and be horribly afraid be ye very desolate saith the Lord for my people have committed two great evils they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters and have hewen out unto themselves broken cisterns that can hold no water And hence follows v. 15. The young lions roared and yelled upon him and laid his land waste his Cities are burnt without inhabitant and v. 17. Thou hast procured these things unto thy self because thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and v. 19. Thy own wickedness shall correct thee and thy back-slidings shall reprove thee know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and that my fear is not in thee saith the Lord God of hosts And may not God thus plead with the Apostates of London and punish them as he did his people of Israel 8. The Eighth sin of London is deafning the Ear against all Gods Calls The Lord hath called upon London by his Ministers but they have been like the deaf Adder which will not hearken to the voice of the Charmer they have stopped their ears and turned away their shoulder and made their heart like an Adamant stone God hath called by his Mercies but this voice hath been too low and they have slept the more securely in sin God after other Means hath called by Afflictions first lighter then heavier and yet how many in London have and still do walk contrary unto God and will not return to him that hath smitten them They have been incorrigible under all Gods correcting Rods. When God spake by the Plague they were a little awakened but quickly dropt asleep again when the plague was a little over they return to their Trades again to their sins again but they do not return unto the Lord. And when the Judgement of the Plague was so much lost and ineffectual for their good this no doubt hath provoked God so quickly and unexpectedly to turn his hand upon them and
and even in them they are sweyed by some carnal Motives which are the secret spring to the wheel of all external services And O how abominable is all such Worship in the sight of God Hath not Formality in Worship been one sin of London which hath helpt to fill up the Ephah when the means God hath appointed for the turning away of his anger is used in such a manner that it self becomes a provocation no wonder if his wrath break forth without remedy 5. A fifth sin of London is Division amongst Professors different perswasions have made wide breaches and divisions in London and through Divisions have arisen great animosities and contentions unto the shame of Christianity and the Protestant Religion and hath not God been provoked to anger hereby hath not he contended with Professours and by the common scourge he hath brought upon them called aloud unto them for a union and more hearty accord and affection then formerly they have had and hath not he given them liberty and opportunity had they minded and cared to make use of it for meeting together in order unto healing but have professours of different parties been sensible of Gods meaning in the scourge upon their backs have they hearkened unto Gods call have they laid hold of and improved opportunities for closing up their wide breaches I hope some closing in affection there hath been amongst some but how rarely hath it been to be found and when there are such breaches still amongst us is it not just with God to make further breaches upon us as he hath done by his judgements 6. A sixth sin of London is neglect of Reformation Neglect of 1 Personal 2 Family 3 City 4 Church Reformation 1 Neglect of Personal reformation in Heart Life 1. Who in London have seriously and very diligently endeavoured the Reformation of their hearts when so unclean and polluted who have laboured to get them washed when such roots of bitterness have been springing forth and such weeds of Lust have been growing there who hath endeavoured to pluck them up outward neatness there hath been in London washing and rincing rubbing and scowring but O the inward sluttishness they who have had clean houses and clean garments and clean faces and hands have had foul hearts who have taken care every day to rince and scowre their inside to bring their hearts to the fountain set open for sin and uncleanness and to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit that they might arrive every day unto greater perfection in holiness they who have been careful to dress their bodies every day have been very careless in dressing their hearts neglecting to put on the white robes of Christs righteousness which alone can cover their spiritual nakedness and deformity and to get the jewels of grace which alone can adorn the soul and render it amiable in the sight of God Heart work is hard work and it is so hard that most have let it alone they have been discouraged with the difficulty the opposition of Sathan and Lust to this work hath been so strong that they have been quickly overpowered upon their first attempts and endeavours after a change and rectifying of the disorders which they have perceived Heart work is secret work many have employed themselves in the more open work of religion few have taken pains with their hearts in secret many take heed to their tongues what they speak and before whom to their hands what they do to their feet whither they go but few take heed to their hearts Murder Adultery Theft and the like sins have been committed in the heart by many who would have been afraid and ashamed of the outward acts O the unwatchfulness there hath been in London over the heart Citizens have watched their gates and watched their streets and watched their houses but how few have watched their hearts what cometh in and what goeth forth how few have set a watch before the door of their lips and ears and other senses which are the inlets of sin and upon their hearts from whence are the issues of sin how few have kept their hearts with all diligence how few have laboured to govern their thoughts to rule their passions to subjugate their wills to Christ and to deliver up all their affections to his dispose and obedience Heart reformation hath been much neglected 2. Who in London have endeavoured Life-Reformation as they should how few have there been effectually perswaded to put away the evil of their doings from before the eyes of the Lord to cease from evil and have learned to do well How few have broken off their sins by Repentance and throughly amended their ways measuring out their actions by the Rule of the word how few have got the Law of God written in their hearts and the transcript thereof in their lives exemplifying the precepts thereof in their conversations how few in London have been like so many Epistles of Christ in whom the will and grace of their Master might be read who have troden in Christs steps walking as he walked and followed him in the way of obedience and self-denyal who have shined like so many lights in dark places and times adorning their profession and living as becometh the Gospel Great irregularities there have been in the lives of most Londoners little Gospel-reformation little making Religion the business little holy exact living If a stranger had looked into our City and observed the lives of the most and not known them to have had the name of Christians would not he have judged them to be Heathens yea many of them in their dealing to be worse then Turks and Infidels Thus Personal Reformation hath been neglected 2. A great neglect there hath been of family reformation in London How few have with Ioshuah resolved and accordingly endeavoured that they and their houses should serve the Lord how few have set up Religious worship in their families have not many hundred houses in the City been without family-prayer in them from one end of the week to the other and is it strange that the Lord hath burned down those houses wherein the inhabitants would not vouchsafe to worship him And where there hath been some prayer in many families it was but once a day and that so late at night and when the body hath been so tryed and sleepy and the soul so dull and unfit for Gods service that the prayers have been no prayers or lost prayers such which instead of pleasing him have provoked him to anger how few did labour to instruct their families Catechize their children and servants to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord hath not God threatned to pour out his wrath upon irreligious families Ier. 10. 25. 3. Neglect of City-reformation have not the Magistrates of London been faulty here let them ask their own consciences whether to the uttermost of their power according to the trust and opportunity the Lord