this Petition could not be granted The Church of God was so obscured as it was not to be sought for in any external pomp in Publick places but in Prisons and Dens Non in tactis exteriori Pompa sed potius in Speluncis Carceribus Why then are a generation so angry and displeased like Jonah that did even Chide with God By now much the less we are in our Passive obedience by so much the more let us be in our Active Let that strength be laid out for Gods glory which might have been spent in suffering the Wrath of God or the rage and sury of wicked men And let us all be earnest with God for his Church That the Gates of Hell may not prevail against it That the Lord would make his People ten thousand times more then they are and increase their Graces as well as add to their number That all the Nations of the World may see the Salvation of God that the Lord Jesus may abundantly see of the Travel of his Soul and be satisfied That the Word of God may be as glorious and as much prized by us the people of England as ever it was by any Nation since the world stood That the Ordinances of God may be in so much Power and Purity Beauty Splendor and Glory that Godliness and the powerful Profession of it may be more Honourable then ever it hath been Contemptible That through the Power of the Gospel and our careful Government the Mouth of Wickedness and Prophaneness may be stopped and subdued and whatsoever is contrary unto sound Doctrine and unto holy Practice That the Lord would be pleased to bless our most dread Sovereign Lord the King with many and happy Dayes Enrich his Royal heart with many singular and extraordinary Graces make him as an Angel of God a man after his own heart and an Excellent Spirit of Government that he may still know how to go in and out before so great a People and may be the Wonder of the World in this Latter Age for Happiness and true felicity to the honour of the great God and the good of his Church That our Nobility may be Loyal and Faithful men of holiness and Religion sparkling with ten thousand Glories Vertues and Graces while they oblige their Servants Tenants and the Countrey round about them by their holy Example to the practice of Piety and the fear of God That our Judges may be as at the first and our Counsellours as at the beginning Isa 1.26 like Moses Joshua c. Impartially Execute Gods Judgments upon the Enemies of the Church and faithfully administer Justice among the People no unrighteousness in Judgment but run down as Waters and Righteousness as a mighty Stream Amos 5.24 That there may be no complaining in our streets That our inferiour Magistrates may be Able men such as fear God Men of Truth hating Covetousness Exod. 18.21 Our Gentry Sober Vigilant Temperate in all things That they may Run in that heavenly Race set before them in the Holy Scriptures and so obtain an Incorruptible Crown 1 Cor. 9.24,25 Our Ministers all as so many burning Lights Pastors after Gods own heart Our Right Reverend Bishops and Governours of the Church imitating Christ the Bishop of their Souls All the People receiving Gods Truth in the Love thereof and in the power thereof men of Integrity Innocency and Sincerity The gloss of Profession without Sincerity will off in a Storm when a man hath not the Root and principle of grace in him Mat 13.21 But where this is it obligeth a man close to his Duty both to God and Man If I am Regenerate and truely sanctified I do good Works how and whensoever occasion is offered As If I be a Minister of the Word I obey the inward Calling of the Spirit I accept the outward Calling of the Church I Preach Absolution of sins to every Penitent Soul I offer the Seals of Reconciliation to every Contrite spirit I Comfort the Broken-hearted If I be a Housholder I govern my Family I bring up my Children in the knowledge and fear of God If I be a Magistrate the Charge that is given me from above I diligently execute If I be a Servant I do my Masters business faithfully If I be a Subject I live in obedience unto my Prince For the same Commandement that binds and obliges unto the Fear of God bindeth also to Honour the King 1 Pet. 2.17 to give honour and obedience in a special manner unto the highest Magistrate so that he which hath not performed the latter of these Duties is not to be thought to have performed the other sincerely Duty binds us to give obedience to Evil Princes in Conscience of Gods Ordinance And as an Evil Subject serves God for his Princes sake so a good Subject serves his Prince for Gods sake Thus Obedience is given if not Principi yet Principatui if not to the Person yet to the Office Therefore in the fear of God let us give all due obedience unto Authority be men of meek and quiet spirits in imitation of Christ and according to his Command Mat. 11.29 who hath also intailed such a blessing upon such persons as imports all good things Mat. 5.5 Is it not infinitely better to be a peace Maker then a peace Breaker They that live in obedience unto Government have the Blessing Benefit and Protection of Government Whereas it is the property of wicked men to be unquiet restless such as are without true Peace in themselves and seek to disturb or molest others as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the first Psalm signifies And therefore the Laws of the Kingdom do oftentimes most deservedly take hold of them O how may such persons be ashamed to live and afraid to dye when the whole Creation may grone and travaile in pain by reason of their sins Set your hearts now unto these things for what is our Hope or Joy or Crown of Rejoycing are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his Coming Ye are our Glory and Joy 1 Thes 2.19,20 Weep in secret for all Abominations you see committed Let our Reverend Visitors now set their faces against all iniquity that no sin may be Countenanced to Eclipse the glory of this Solemnity so that with the glorious Company of the Apostles The goodly Fellowship of the Prophets The noble Army of Martyrs And the Holy Church throughout all the world We may arrive to that General Honourable and Glorious Assembly Heb. 12.23 to Celebrate the Praises of God and give him due thanks world without end Amen FINIS