both continually remember carefully observe and constantly put in practice S. Paul's patheticall Exhortation to his Romanes If thine Enemy hunger feed him if he thirst give him drinke Rom. 12.20 And also that pious Precept of our blessed Saviour Christ Jesus in that holy Sermon of his in the Mount unto the people Love your Enemies blesse them that curse you doe good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefull use you and persecute you Mat. 5.44 What are we expresly commanded to be thus helpfull to our Enemies and shall we sit still contentedly and suffer our royall Friend our nursing Father yea our Gracious Soveraigne to remaine in Prison and not strive to rescue Him to lie in Misery and not labour to relieve Him Shall not His Extremity be our Opportunity and such a One also as He is of whom we may all truely and deservedly expresse this Encomium and Commendation without the least touch of pleasing Flattery that He is one of the Jewels of the Protestant Princes of Christendome for those rare incomparable and celestiall Endowments and Qualities that so illustriously at this day shine in His royall Person being as a perfect Patterne of Patience and pretious Pearle of Piety unto His People and amongst them to be remembred for the same even from Generation to Generation Loe here we Loyalists of this English Nation may all justly crie out against our selves and that with watery Eyes heavy Hearts convincing Consciences and sorrowfull Souls Oh superlative Remisnesse disgracefull Disloyalty and ineffable Ingratitude For We even We our selves in this Particular are at this day deeply guilty of too much Slacknesse and Negligence herein And how shall all those that are sworne to subjective Fealty be able to answer for this their perjur'd perfidious Remisnesse before Christ the just Judge both of quick and dead when he shall come in the Clouds at the latter day for to judge the World But although His Majesty in this present pitifull Predicament and extreame wofull Exigent is at this day by His seeming-loyall Subjects so remisly regarded and unnaturally neglected as to suffer His Majesties Continuation in Durance and His Adversaries still insultingly to triumph over Him yet let me tell them and also in them the whole World that a truely loyall-hearted Subject will constantly carefully and diligently out of his dutifull Obedience study with his best Endeavours to the uttermost of his Power though it be to his owne Prejudice for to helpe his Prince And here I will relate unto you one remarkable instance of a loyal-hearted Subject unto which you may all hearken with Admiration There was a right Noble and Valiant Knight whose name was Zopyrus who seeing Darius the King his Master could hardly surprize Babylon bethought himselfe of a wonderfull strange practice Domi se verberibus lacerari tote corpore jubet nasum Iabia aures sibi praecidi saith the Historiographer Justin lib. 1. in fine He went home to his owne house and caused his servants to rent his whole body all over with whipping him and also to cut off his nose his lippes and his eares And then speedily running to Babylon in such a fearefull and mortified manner he made the Assyrians believe that Darius the King had exercised this Cruelty upon him because he had spoken on their behalfe counselling him for to breake up his Siege and to remove his Army from assaulting their Citie The Assyrians hearing this report and the rather thinking it to be true because they saw him so shamefully dis-figured in his body were presently perswaded for to make him their Chiefe Captaine By which meanes he betrayed them all and surrendred both them and their Citie into his Masters hands O most faithfull loving and loyall Subject yea most worthy resolute and Couragious Heart who spared not the parts of his owne Body but voluntarily dismembred himselfe for to helpe his Prince I doe earnestly wish with the hearty desires of my soule unto God on our Dread Soveraigne His behalfe that His Sacred Majesty may find many such Subjects yea may see us all as true unto God faithfull to Himselfe and constant to our Country as Zopyrus was to his Prince Ob. But here peradventure some may object against me You are indeed very sharpe in your Reprehensions but we suppose milder passages might be more prevalent Ans Unto which I answer Every Minister of God is strictly obliged by the infallible Rule of Gods Word at all times to reprove Sinnes but more especially those sinnes that are most raging and predominant both when and where he preacheth otherwise he will prove but a false Prophet daubing deceitfully the walls of his spirituall building with untempered Morter to the great dishonour of God and utter destruction both of himselfe and many others And for mine owne particular herein as I hope to have communion with God in Christ I onely aime in the whole Current of this my Booke at the Glory of God and both temporall and spirituall welfare of this our English Nation that we may all unanimously worship God in the beauty of Holinesse and once againe enjoy Gods healing and comfortable Blessing of Peace in our Land And therefore dispence I pray you with my boldnesse and sharpnesse in reproving for wild Horses must have rough Riders and when milde Perswasions will not prevaile then sharpe Corrections must be used or else the wounded putrified and sinfull soules cannot be cured And thus as briefly as I could I have here hinted at some Markes of the true Members of the Church of Christ Motives Mot. 1 WE shall have the Prayers of all the true Members of the Church of Christ For when they pray they pray not Particularly for themselves alone but they pray generally even for all the sheepe of Christs Fold as well as for themselves So that although that most excellent necessary and holy prayer of Jesus called the Lords-Prayer containing in it both heavenly fulnesse of matter also exactnesse of order be at this day by some so much neglected I will not say censuring charitably despised Yet notwithstanding the true Members of Christs Church will never desert it but will ever highly account of it strictly observe it and frequently use it earnestly endeavouring and heartily desiring the welfare of others as well as their owne That God-man Preacher Christ Jesus our blessed Lord and onely Saviour who spake as never man spake Joh. 7.46 yea he was also without sinne 2 Cor. 4.21 and therefore he could not erre And shall that Prayer which he hath made for us be by us excepted against God forbid Yea farre be it from the Protestant English-Nation who zealously professe the Name of Christ to be guilty hereof Let not oh let not us I beseech you repute that holy and heavenly Prayer of our Blessed Saviour Christ Jesus to be ridiculous and as unnecessary triviall and frivolous being made by the wisdome of God published from the mouth of the Authour
to another Wherefore the Lord brought upon him and his people 2 King 21.16 the Captaines of the Hoast of the King of Ashur which tooke Manasheh and put him in fetters and bound him in Chains and carried him to Babylon And when he was in tribulation he prayed to the Lord his God and humbled himselfe greatly before the God of his Fathers and prayed unto him and God was intreated of him and heard his prayer and brought him againe to Jerusalem into his Kingdome So that what although thou hast formerly fallen into sinne and thereby greatly provoked the Lord to wrath against thee yet notwithstanding now at the last returne unto God and humble thy selfe before him Cast downe thy selfe before the Lord Psal 15.17 and he will lift thee up he will not despise the Sacrifice of a sorrowfull spirit He will not reject the sighing of a contrite spirit Esay 66.22 He will dwell with thre Esa 57.15 and revive thy humble spirit and give life to thy contrite heart And will heale thy backslidings Hos 14.4 and love thee freely and turne away his anger from thee 2. And for a Gospel-patterne hereof Luke 15. looke upon the Parable of the Prodigall Who by his riotous living greatly grieved the tender heart of his loving Father whereby also he vexatiously provoked him to displeasure against him yet notwithstanding when in Humility he returned unto his grieved and angry Father Loe then His Father received him joyfully imbraced him lovingly kissed him sweetly and forgave him freely And therefore prepare thy selfe in Humility for to meet thy God Amos 8.12 And also to walke humbly before him Mic. 6.8 And so shall we by the sorrowfull tears of penitential water quench through Gods gratious acceptance the furious fire of his fierce displeasure and have him to be unto us againe a reconciled Father in Jesus Christ And for the third viz. Casting away all our Transgressions We have Jehues Querie to Jehoram concerning the destruction of his Mother Jezabel 2 Kings 9.22 What Peace so long as the whoredomes of thy Mother Jezabel and her witchcrafts are so many Yea beloved and as for our Sinnes we must be so far from having Many as that we must not willingly reteine Any But deale with them all as Moses in another case once answered Pharaoh concerning the Israelites Cattell Exo. 10.26 There shall not an hoofe be left behinde Even so beloved for a speedy present and permanent prevention of farther future and greater mischiefes that by continuance in any one of our sinnes may befall us Every true Christian must have regard in the sincerity of his heart to walke in a constant cordiall and universall obedience to all Gods Commandements He must not foster cherish or keepe any one sinne whatsoever For S. Peter bids us lay aside not some but all malice 1 Pet. 2.1 and all guile and hypocrisies And S. Paul exhorts us to abstaine from all appearance of evill 1 Thes 5.22 And to cleanse us from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit 1 Cor. 7.1 And S. Jude would have us to hate even the garment spotted by the flesh Iude 23. And S. James tels us Iam. 2.10 Whosoever shall keepe the whole Law and yet faileth in one point meaning wilfully he is guilty of all Oh then let us all in Gods feare take heed of our Serpentine Delilahs Iudg. 16. and beware of our soule-destroying Herodias's viz. Mar. 6. Our bosome deare and darling sinnes And let none of us say of that sinne Gen. 19.20 as once Lot did in another case of Zoar Is it not a little one and my soule shall live Unto which I answer Though that sin in thy judgement seeme never so small yet the effect which it will produce unto thee will be that of Joabs Sword unto Abner viz. 2 Sam. 2.26 bitternesse in the latter end Resembling that little booke which S. John did eat Rev. 10.10 Though for the present it be sweet in thy mouth yet for the future it will be bitter in thy belly For the sweete meat of Sinne must have the sower sauce of Punishment And as Jonathan spake of the death of his body 1 Sam. 14.43 for the tasting of a little hony I did but taste a little hony with the end of the rod that was in mine hand and loe I must die So in like manner the exercising of thy sweet-darling-sinne though never so little and living and dying in it without repentance will be the everlasting destruction of thy soule So that If we desire the aversion of Gods bitter judgements of War from us and the comfortable enjoyment of his sweet mercies and blessing of Peace upon us then must we imitate the Widdow in the Gospel seeking that shee had lost Luk. 15.8 who swept her house to finde her Groat So in like manner we must sweepe purge and clense our hearts of all filthinesse and corruption if seeking we desire to finde Gods blessing of Peace Otherwise the terrible sword of Gods justice against us for our sinnes will still continue the Wars in our gates Alas beloved shall any of us of this English Nation who live in the heavenly Light of the glorious Gospel and also unto whom both the Law and Gospel have been for many years together both clearly plentifully and powerfully preached be so spiritually blind and full of unregenerate darkenesse as not to see that those unexpelled sinnes which lie lurking still in our soules cause the continuation of these unnaturall Wars in our Land Or can any of us be so blockishly senselesse or stupidly ignorant in our understanding as to have the least conception or thought in our hearts that the holy and righteous God will be so mercifull and friendly unto us as to remove the raging Wars from us while we retaine our crying sinnes with us which make us become enemies unto him calling continually and earnestly upon him to open the Vials of his fierce wrath and vengeance and poure downe his fearfull and terrible judgements in his great displeasure and indignation upon us to our utter destruction Observe with me I pray you the Lords former and just proceedings against the Violators of his sacred Lawes Was there ever any Transgressors of the Decalogue viz. the Ten Commandements of the Morall Law who continued in their sinnes and had not punishment from God inflicted upon them to their destruction Take a view with me of those particular Offenders against those Ten severall Commandements as for example The Idolatrous Israelites violating the First Commandement by making other Gods were so smitten by the hand of God Ex. 32.27 as that both brethren companions and neighbours contrary to all naturall affection sheathed their swords in each others bowels Superstitious Nadab and Abihu violating the Second Commandement by offering strange fire upon the Altar Lev. 10.2 were both of them both speedily and
the Old World Gen. 7.21 Then the Deluge took his part so he wrought their Destruction When He fought against the beastly Sodomites Gen. 19.24 Then the fire and brimstone from Heaven took his part and so he wrought their Destruction When He fought against the blood-thirsty Aegyptians pursuing the Israelites Exod. 14.28 Then the Red-sea took his part and so he wrought their Destruction When He fought against those Rebellious Persons Numb 16.32 Korah Dathan Abiram and their Complices Then the Earth tooke his part and so he wrought their Destruction When He fought against those cursed Amorites Iosh 10 11 12 13. warring against the Gibeonites Then the Sunne the Mooone and the Hailestones from Heaven tooke his part and so he wrought their Destruction And the Starres also in their courses fought against Sisera Iudg. 5.20 When He fought against those reviling Mockers of the Prophet Elisha 2 King 2.24 Goe up thou bald-head Goe up thou bald-head Then the Beares tooke his part and so he wrought their Destruction When He fought against those accusing Idolaters of the Prophet Daniell Dan. 6.24 Then the Lions took his part and so he wrought their Destruction Loe Thus the Lord hath not onely these but also all other Creatures in the world ready at his owne command to fight against wicked Persisters in sinne At the beginning the greatest and strongest Creatures were by Nature and Creation subject to Man but alas now not onely they but also all others both great and small are either become our Enemies or else our Conquerers And what must this then teach us but onely how Odious hatefull and abominable Sinne is in the sight of Almighty God Sinne It was forbidden by God It was condemned by Angells It is revenged by Beasts And punished by Divills It drave Adam out of Paradise It kept Moses from Canaan It destroyed the Inhabitants of Jerusalem And it hath also excluded infinite thousands from the Kingdome of Heaven It was wilfully committed by the disobedience of Man It was willingly redeemed by the life of Christ It was faithfully reproved by the death of Martyrs And yet still it is wickedly maintained by the practice of Multitudes Oh whose heart bleeds not within him to see such a wicked Monster made more account of then all other good things in the world which was hatcht by the Devill fed by the life of Soules and yet still raignes that it might winne Millions of Soules unto Condemnation Shall reasonable Men rescue it when unreasonable Beasts fight against it Every Creature in his kinde cries Vengeance against it It made the Angels Damnable It made the World Abominable It maketh the Beasts Corruptible And it maketh Men Miserable Miserable I say by Birth for they were borne in it Miserable by Life for they are vexed with it And most miserable by Death for then they shall be accursed by it Loe Thus doth the Earth cry woe unto Sinne for it cursed her Thus doth the Heavens hate it for it destroyeth her Children Thus doe the Starres fight against it for it dazleth their Light And thus doe the wilde-Beasts warre against it because it increaseth their Groanes It was the Jewes complaint in their extremity O Lord Ier. 14.7 though our Iniquities testifie against us deal with us according to thy Name for our Rebellions are many we have sinned against thee It was the Wickeds expression in their Calamity for sinne We roare all like beares Esa 59.11 12. and mourne like doves we look for equity but there is none for health but it is farre from us For our trespasses are many before thee and our sinnes testifie against us So that unlesse thou leavest thy Sinnes expect no Peace but look for mourning instead of mirth according to that Curse imposed upon the Jewes for their sinnes declared by the Prophet The Earth lamenteth and fadeth away Esay 24.4 5 6 7 the world is feebled and decayed the proud people of the earth are weakned The earth also deceiveth because of the inhabitants thereof for they transgressed the lawes they changed the Ordinances and brake the everlasting Covenant Therefore hath the Curse devoured the earth and the inhabitants thereof are desolate wherefore the inhabitants of the land are burned up and few men are left The wine faileth the vine hath no might all that were of merry heart doe mourne Thus beloved we see that Sinne is the Cause and Punishment the Effect So that Sublatâ Causâ tollitur Effectus The Cause being taken away the Effect ceaseth And untill then expect no Peace For so long as our hearts are full of Corruptions let us look to have our lives full of Afflictions Afflictions are divine medicines sent from God to correct our corruptions Yea they are Chastisements for sinnes that are past and also Preventions of sinnes that are to come like a Prophylacticke Phlebotomy or a Preservative Purgation And hence is that expression of Saint Paul 1 Cor. 11.32 We are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world So that we have here Life and Death set before us performe the Meanes prescribed and we shall live comfortably neglect them and we shall perish miserably Loe this truth the Author of all truth hath expressed Levit. 26.17.18 I will set my face against you and ye shall fall before your enemies and they that hate you shall reigne over you and ye shall flee when none pursueth you And if ye will not for these things obey me then will I punish you seven times more according to your sinnes Hence then we may learne that if the former punishments of Pestilence Famine and the Sword which lately have beene amongst us and upon us will not reclaime and reforme us then the Lord will send more and heavier judgements upon us untill we either are converted or confounded And now for a Prevention of Englands Confusion let me speake unto her as once the Lord did by his Prophet Jeremiah unto Jerusalem Jer. 6.8 Be thou instructed O Jerusalem lest my soule depart from thee lest I make thee desolate as a Land that none Inhabiteth So say I both freely and mournfully Be thou instructed O England learne righteousnesse and speedily be reclaimed from all thy wickednesse lest the righteous Lord in displeasure against thee suddenly depart from thee and so thou becommest a Desolation The which Desolation that we may all escape let every one throughout this whole Kingdome seriously examine his owne heart of all those sinnes wherein at this day he stands guilty before the Lord and search and try his wayes and speedily turne unto the Lord our God And for a prevalent Motive hereunto Let all Traitors against the King call to minde Gods just Judgements upon Ahithophell 2 Sa. 17.23 2 Sa. 18.14 1 Sam. 8.3 1 Sa. 4.18 2 Sa. 20.22 Ester 7.10 Rebels upon Absalom Corrupt Judges upon Samuels Sonnes Idle Ministers upon Eli Wicked Magistrates
wherein they themselves have offended as they have done unto others even so in like manner God himselfe doth unto them According to that dolefull Expression of Adoni-bezek concerning himselfe Iudg. 1.7 Threescore and ten Kings having their thumbes and their great-toes cut off gathered their meat under my table as I have done so God hath rewarded me And also answerable to that scornfull Exprobration of deriding Eliphaz to distressed Job I have seene Iob 4.8 saith he they that plow iniquity and sow wickednesse reap the same And therefore in the feare of God let every one of us who professe the Name of Christ alwaies doe unto others Mat. 7.12 as we would they should doe unto us For so to doe is the very Drift and Scope of the sacred Scripture Ever remembring those equall requiting words of our blessed Saviour Mat. 7.2 With what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you againe Loe thus the righteous Lord being the just Revenger of all Injuries but especially of Murther payed Joab home in his owne kinde According to that Law which God gave unto Noah after the Flood when he came forth of the Arke to replenish the Earth Who so sheddeth mans blood Gen. 9.6 by man shall his blood be shed Hence then let all those that are guilty herein tremble at the consideration hereof for if Cain will murther Abel then shortly after the blood of Abel will crie up into Heaven for Vengeance against Cain Gen. 4.10 So in like manner the blood of those innocent English Persons whose Bodies have beene lately murthered in our Land by the fierce Violence of their furious Adversaries cryeth up into Heaven against the Murtherers of them for speedy Vengeance to fall upon them like those faithfull Soules of the blessed Martyrs under the Altar who cried with a loud voice against their bloody Persecutors Apoc. 6.10 saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How long ô Lord holy and true doest thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the Earth Oh then that the serious Consideration hereof might so deeply take place in the hearts of all those that are guilty herein that they may speedily endeavour especially now in this time of Warre to make their Peace with God and the King whom they have offended lest Wrath breake forth to the uttermost against them speedily seize upon them and then there be no Remedy for them And for the speedy Reclamation and present Reformation of all such guilty Offendors I humbly intreat and also heartily desire them all in the bowels of Jesus Christ to consider diligently of the immortality of their Soules and that upon the short and weake Thred of this brittle and mortall Life dependeth the welfare or ilfare of their Eternity and also attentively to hearken to the vexing Instructions checking Dictates of their troubled Consciences which cannot chuse but be full of horrour although remorselesse And then answer me in their owne Soules if they doe not often heare to their great Terrour within them a powerfull divine convincing and condemning Eccho summoning them to appeare in the Cloudes at the Generall Assizes before the High-Bench Bench of the Lord Chiefe Justice of the whole World and Peeres of Heaven there to receive their just and deserved Doomes for their wilfull Disobedience unto lawfull Authority And therefore as all such Persons tender the glory of God and the everlasting welfare of their owne Soules let them stand no longer at a distance but let them mourne for their sins and speedily come in and lay hold upon the present Opportunity of being reconciled both unto God and Man that so they may be in the favour of God and love of their King that thereby they may have Mercy from God Peace in their owne Consciences the manyfold Distempers of our Kingdome cured and our Land enjoy againe her former pristine peaceable Condition for if ever they will make their Peace with God and the King in this particular Now is the time and therefore let them not neglect it lest their negligence therein turne to their utter Destruction For it is a Maxime in Divinity that to none belongeth the mercy of forgivenesse but onely those who are Desisters from sinne and Repenters of sinne And as for all the rest who constantly have fellowship with the unfruitfull workes of darknesse Ephes 5.11 they are justly reserved by the righteous Judgement of God to the blacknesse of darkenesse for ever Iude 13. And for the continuall preservation both of my selfe and all others who feare God and honour the King from that cursed and damnable Condition of Rebellion I shall ever pray with that Good Old Hebrew Patriarch Jacob as he did against the hainous and crying Sinnes of Simeon and Levi his wicked and bloody Sonnes Gen. 34. who were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Brethren Instruments of Iniquity Destinate for Division whose bloody Cruelty began with Craft prosecuted eagerly in crafty Blood-thirstinesse palliated with Religion and ended murtherously in the blood of the wounded Shechemites to their deadly Confusion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O my Soule come not thou into their secret Gen. 49.6 unto their Assembly mine honour be not thou Vnited The word here translated Secret is in the Originall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est Concilium vel Coetus Consultantium Wherein also according to Jacob's sense is implied Impiorum From which for ever Good Lord deliver us all The Sword of the Lord and Gideon is but one two-handed Sword and when it is wrested by violence out of the hands of the King then doth God take it into his hands and with it wound the head of his Enemies Psal 68.21 O consider this ye that forget God and the King and God in the King lest he teare you in pieces and there be none to deliver you Psal 50.22 Oh! whos 's Christian Sympathizing heart bleeds not within him at the deepe Apprehension and serious Consideration of the fatall and destructive Actions of the dismall Dayes in these mortiferous Times wherein we live Wherein also many thousands are so farre from yeilding either Active or Passive Obedience unto lawfull Authority as that they doe not onely wilfully reject it but also wickedly practice against it without any remorse at all towards their poore distressed over-oppressed and languishing Patients yea and so farre are they from sorrowing for those persons who so bitterly and sharply suffer by their so doing as that they rejoyce in it and also take delight in the perpetration of that hainous horrible black and bloody Sinne of Rebellion And yet such pestilent Agents being both the Church and Common-Wealths Disturbers doe oftentimes deceitfully expresse to the World that they earnestly desire to have Peace and heartily pray for a speedy Period to these present Troubles and also greatly mourne for so great store of Christian English blood which of late hath been so profusely fluently and
are not given particularly for the good of one but mutually for the good of one another viz. That others should reap the benefit of our Prayers the benefit of our Almes-deeds and the benefit of our good Councels and exhortations to godlinesse Therefore the Apostle exhorts us that we should exhort one another daily while it is called to day Heb. 3.13 lest any be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sin It was a good resolution of them had their tongues and their hearts gon together when they spake one to another every one to his brother Come and let us goe and heare the word of the Lord. When we are to come into the presence of God to looke our Joseph I meane our Jesus in the face 't is fit we should bring our younger brother with us And S. Jude exhorts us in his Epistle concerning weaklings that we should 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have compassion on some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 putting a difference Jude 22 23. And others to save with feare pulling them out of the fire meaning milde spirits by gentle admonitions and obstinate spirits by sharpe reprehensions endeavouring by all good meanes to the uttermost of our power to provoke them to obedience and the fear of the Lord as David here doth to Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem O Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem Loe thus have I plainly proved unto you this point of Doctrine by Scripture And now follow the Reasons to confirme the same viz. foure Reas 1 Because it is one end wherefore we are borne into the world and shall we not performe the end of our Creation The Heathen man could say non nobis nati sumus we are not borne for our selves Therefore by consequence we are to doe the best good we can for others And what better good can we doe for others then to provoke and stir them up to the service of God the reward of which service will be the full fruition of heavenly happinesse Reas 2 Because by our so doing we shall bring glory unto God Not that any thing which is finite can adde any thing to that which is infinite so that no finite creature can adde any glory to the infinite Creator but the greater number that walke in Gods service and obey him the more the Lord is glorified by them Reas 3 Because by our so doing we shall win soules unto God and save them from eternall destruction He which converteth the sinner from going astray out of his way Iam. 5. ult shall save a soule from death and shall hide a multitude of sins Reas 4 Because our so doing will be so acceptable to God that we shall shine like stars in the firmament of heaven They that be wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament Dan. 12.3 and they that turne many to righteousnesse shall shine as the stars for ever and ever By which the Prophet meaneth not onely the Ministers of Gods Word but also the faithfull who instruct the ignorant and bring them to the true knowledge of God And thus passe I from the Reasons of the Observation to the Application The Uses of this point are briefely foure 1. Vse of Examination 2. Vse of Exhortation 3. Vse of Reprehension 4. Vse of Consolation Examination Vse 1 TO Examine thy selfe whether thou hast been active herein and a proficient in this practice And whether thou hast done thy best endeavour to the uttermost of thy power to convert soules unto God But contrarywise hast thou at any time heard or beheld thy poore ignorant Brethren or any other wilfull wicked wretches perpetrating iniquity with violence and following their sins with eagernesse and as it were like Brands burning in the fire of their owne destruction and not done thy best endeavour and that with expedition to pull them out for their preservation And if upon examination thou findest thou hast not then mourne for thy negligence therein for the time that is past and speedily reforme thy selfe thereof for the time to come Exhortation Vse 2 TO exhort us in Gods feare to doe our best endeavours in this particular viz. to provoke and stir up others to the service of God This is that pretious Balme that on our parts should never be wanting to the heads of others Hence then we are all to be admonished to lay hold upon every oportunity and to take all occasions that possibly can be offered for to edifie each other mutually in the knowledge of God according to that Prophesie of the Churches restoration by Christ as it was fore-told of these times Come ye Esay 2. and let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord to the house of the God of Jacob and he will teach us his wayes and we will walke in his paths And Verse the fifth O house of Jacob come ye and let us walke in the light of the Lord. The word here Light in the Originall is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à radice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est Lucidum fieri vel illuminari vel Lumen recipere So that as far as the Omniscient God is pleased to inlighten us impart the knowledge of his truth unto us we must to the uttermost of our power communicate it unto others never forgetting nor neglecting but ever remembring and also practising Christs Charge unto Peter When thou art converted strengthen thy brethren Luk. 22.32 Behold if any of us traveling abroad should espie a blinde man wandring without a Guide and drawing neere to a dangerous River into the which if he should fal he must certainly perish if uncharitably we should passe from him without either leading him from the danger or calling to him for his preservation so that he falleth therein and is drowned would not our hearts terrifie us and our consciences condemne us as being guilty of his Death doubtlesse they would unlesse they were cauterized So in like manner when those whom God hath indued with the light of knowledge and understanding shall see others walking in darkenesse and the shadow of death and wandering in the broad way that leads to eternall destruction and not doe their best endeavours to instruct them that they may come out of their errours to shew them the light of knowledge that they may arise out of the darkenesse of their ignorance and to lead them into the narrow path of eternall life that thereby they may escape the broad way that leads to everlasting death Their negligence I say therein will be laid as a foule fault and hainous sin to their charge For if it were a fault in Churlish Nabal as indeed it was Not to relieve out of his plenty fainting hearted David in the wildernesse 1 Sam. 25. And the rich Glutton Luke 16. out of his superfluity not to cherish the pined stomack of hunger-starved Lazarus Oh then how great a sin will it be unto those that abound in knowledge not to stir up others to the service
at the Altar with Prayers in our mouthes Have not many Souldiers who are out of this life departed fighting and dying in their owne blood cryed aloud in the ears of God and shall we be silent who are left as yet alive after them Shall not we Pray for the Churches Peace who living in the bosome of the Church have had our lives given us for a Prey in this time of War Can we be so senselesse carelesse both of our own and others present calamitou Condition That would not only be laid to our charge as a Sinne but also redound to our great Shame in succeeding Ages even from all posterity Loe this is a duty which we owe unto the Church our Mother and she may justly claime it at our hands The word here Pray in our Text is rendred by some orate and by others rogate but the word in the Originall is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the which being translated is postulate The Hebrew Radix is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth Rogavit Quaesivit precibus impetravit impetrare est quod petitur obtinere in petione effectum habere That is to importune God uncessantly and never to give him over by our Prayers untill he be intreated of us that the Church enjoyeth her Peace Behold our gracious God willingly accepteth uncessant Suters and also dearly loveth importunate Petitioners Yea the more earnestly he is desired of us the more sweetly he is delighted in us And therefore men of Israel helpe helpe with your Prayers Psal 121.2 for our helpe standeth in the name of the Lord who hath made Heaven and Earth So that it is He and onely He that can preserve the Churches Peace from disturbers Oh then let us flye and that speedily to the Lord of Hosts and importunately implore his assistance Let us be earnest suters to heaven and desire the Almighty to command his Angell to pitch his tents about his Church And for the preservation of her Peace Zecha 2.5 that his providence may be as a wall of fire round about her to surround and incircle her from the insurrection of wicked doers And thus whilst others digge out of the bowels of the earth powder and shot for our destruction let us fetch our Ammunition from Heaven let us looke up to the hils above and to the heavens above them from whence commeth our help Yea let us all resolve with holy David Psal 44.6.7 O Lord we will not trust in our bow it is not our sword that can helpe us but it is thou that savest us from our enemies and puttest them to confusion that rise up against us Vnto thee therefore do we lift up our eyes Psal 123.1 O thou that dwellest in the heavens O Pray for the Peace c. And now by the way of a necessary digression we are to pray not onely for the Church in generall but also for our selves in particular Art thou fallen into any sinne Then pray that thou maist recover thy foote out of the snarne of the Devil Doest thou stand upright in thine integrity Then Pray that thou maiest not be led into Temptation And thus upon every occasion we should repaire unto the Throne of grace to finde grace and helpe in the time of need that so we may have a speedy supply of assistance from heaven against all our infirmities At which Throne of grace our faithfull and fervent prayers will find acceptance and will be so prevalent both for our selves and others that we shall grow in the strength thereof from one degree of grace unto another untill we become perfect members in Jesus Christ And therefore let us not cease to pray particularly for our Selves and generally for the Peace of the Church O Pray for the Peace c. Reprehension Vse 3 TO reprove all those persons that doe not pray for the Peace of the Church My Charitable censure of this Congregation is that there are no such persons present here But if there be any then to them I say Oh Ungratious Children what are ye utterly void of all humanity Are ye stupified and become altogether senselesse of your Mother the Churches callamity Are ye wholly deprived of all naturall affection Is your Mother in misery and can ye not mourne for her Is Shee in adversity and can ye not pitty her Is she in distresse and can ye not pray for her Unto whom shall I compare you but unto that Widdow of whom S. Paul speaketh to Timothy who living in pleasure 1 Tim. 5.6 is dead whilst she liveth Or to the Angel of the Church of Sardis of whom the blessed Spirit of God saith Rev. 3.1 Thou hast a name that thou livest but thou art dead Loe thus such persons are frozen in the dregges of their owne impieties and will not suffer the heat of Gods blessed Spirit to enter into their hearts to dissolve them Whereby their hearts might relent and their bowels of Compassion yerne within them towards the distressed Church which they professe to be their Mother Oh how justly are those unnaturall Children to be reprehended Let therefore all such persons be ashamed for their neglect herein for the time that is past and make it their practice to pray for the Churches Peace for the time to come O Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem Consolation Vse 4 TO Comfort the hearts of all those persons that have conscionably performed this Christian duty of praying for the Peace of the Church for their reward is with God The God of the true Church for whose Peace thou hast prayed and whom thou hast greatly pittied when she was like a Lily amongst the Thornes will one day imbrace thee in the armes of his mercy And thou shalt see the Church in her perfect beauty and shalt with her from God receive a Crowne of immortall glory And therefore comfort thy selfe for having done the worke thou shalt be sure to have thy wages not as deserving any thing that is good at the hand of God but onely proceeding from Him ex merâ gratiâ having laboured faithfully by fervent prayer to procure the peace of the Church militant here upon earth Thou shalt be sure to reigne with her when she shall be gloriously Tryumphant in heaven Where all tears shall be wiped from her eyes and she shall sing Hallelujah Praise Rev. 5.13 and Honour and Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lambe for evermore And thus much for the exhortary Christian Religious Duty set downe in this word Pray O Pray for the Peace c. From which word you may remember the Doctrine Prayer to God is the onely salve to cure calamity and to continue the favour of God unto his people And now let us come to the next considerable in our Text viz. the Subject of this Duty set downe in the word Peace From which word you may remember the Doctrine Doct. Peace is a pretious blessing
fearefully consumed by fire The blasphemous Aegyptian Israelite violating the Third Commandement Lev. 24.16 by blaspheming the Sacred name of Almighty God was stoned to death The prophane and carelesse Stickgatherer violating the Fourth Commandement Numb 15.32 36. by gathering Sticks upon the Sabaoth day was also stoned to death Rebellious Absalom violating the Fifth Commandement 2 Sam. 18.9 14. by raising War against his Father David whom he ought both by the Law of God and Nature in all filiall duty to have obeyed was hanged upon an Oake in his owne haire and also thrust through with three Darts by the hand of Joab Blood-thirsty Cain violating the Sixth Commandement Gen. 4.8 15. by murthering his brother Abel was branded with the marke of Gods indignation Uncleane Zimri and Cozbi violating the Seventh Commandement Num. 25.8 by committing the filthy fact of Fornication were thrust through both their bodies with a Javeling by the hand of zealous Phinehas Avaritious Achan violating the Eighth Commandement Iosh 7.21 24 25. by taking a Babylonish garment two hundred Shekels of silver and a Wedge of gold Loe himselfe his sonnes his daughters his oxen his asses his sheepe and all that he had was stoned to death and burned with fire in the valley of Achor Dissembling Ananias and his wife Sapphira violating the Ninth Commandement Act. 5.5 10. by lying and dissembling concealing their Sacriledge were both of them through Gods displeasure about three houres the one after the other smitten dead at the feet of S. Peter And Covetous Ahab violating the Tenth Commandement 1 King 22.38 desiring and thirsting after Naboths Vineyard his blood was devoured by dogges Loe thus beloved we evidently see that the Transgressors of Gods Lawes continuing in their sinnes have punishments constantly attending upon them and also swiftly following after them to their ruine subversion and destruction And therefore for a speedy prevention of our owne Confusion let us all in Gods feare even speedily cast away all our transgressions Otherwise we may justly feare that the righteous Lord in his fury will fiercely come against us and draw forth his revengefull sword upon us and never leave us till he hath destroyed us for thus hath been his former practice against obstinate sinners continuing in their sins And this truth also holy David confesseth God shall wound the head of his enemies Psal 68.21 and the hairie scalpe of such a one as goeth on still in his wickednesse A notable fearfull Example hereof we have in the Lords righteous dealing against Jerusalē who had many fore-warnings both by the Lords Prophets in the time of the Law and also by Christ himselfe in the time of the Gospel to forsake her sins and by timely and true Repentance to turne unto the Lord But alas She still continued in them without Reclamation the which at the last turned to her owne destruction So that it may now truly be said of Her with great Griefe Shame and Reproach unto Her Jerusalem that formerly was a beautifull famous glorious and Sceptred City hath now bequeathed no other Monument to Posterity then the hatefull Character the odious Embleme and the disgracefull Example of her owne Shame and Infamy She who sometimes splendidly shone as the bright glorious Star of the East to the terrour of all her neighbour Nations and also the admiration of the whole world serves now but as a prodigious Signe or blazing Comet in the view of the world for to threaten all Nations sinfull Security That sacred Sanctuary wherein the holy God had set his rest and would have been the peoples delight and glory was afterwards not onely irreligiously profaned but also abominably prostituted to all Impiety Those stately Streets being full fraught with sumptuous Buildings wherein Pride was wont to vaunt her selfe with Ostentation are now become the stinking dunghills and noysome Receptacles of uncleane filthy and ugly Vermine Also the losse of divers hundred thousands of Lives by the Romane military Power together with the Persons remaining scattered Ruines who are as yet groaning under the worlds scorne and their owne Calamity Loe These were some of those wofull Miseries and cruell heart-breaking Calamities which Jerusalem justly suffered for her continuance in sinne But of this particular concerning Jerusalem more largely towards the end of this Booke So that the continuation of wicked mens perversenesse is the immediate fore-runner of Gods vengeance Continuance in our sinnes stoppeth the eares of God to our prayers Yea if our hearts have but an inclination to evill though our hands perpetrate it not yet the Lord will not hearken to our Prayers If I incline saith Daaid unto wickednesse with mine heart Psal 66.16 the Lord will not hear me And therefore according to the Apostles rule 2 Tim. 2.19 Let every one that calleth upon the name of Christ depart from iniquity As in the time of the Law the Lord commanded his Prophets to cry aloud in the peoples eares Ier. 6.1 and without sparing to tell them of their sinnes and also of punishments Esay 58.1 that for their sinnes without repentance would justly be inflicted upon them Ezeke 33. dealing with them as a mercifull and clement Combatant giving them a Caveat before he sendeth his Capias that so men being premoniti they may be premuniti being fore-warned they may be fore-armed hearing of punishments before they come they might thereby timely shunne and avoid the same So in like manner The faithfull and painfull Ministers of the Gospell have often fore-told to sinfull England that if She continued still in her Sinnes Mal. 2.2 the Lord would turne her Blessings into Curses But woe and alas She would not be reclaimed and therefore now the Lord hath justly taken away the sweet blessing of Peace from her and instead thereof sent the bitter Judgement of Warre upon her Beloved when wicked men will not cast away their Trangressions but still wilfully persist in their sinnes Loe then the just punishing sin-revenging hand of the Righteous God will draw forth the Sword of Justice and fight against them to their destruction If saith God I whet my glittering Sword Deut. 32.41 42. and mine hand take hold on Judgement I will execute vengeance on mine Enemies and will reward them that hate me I will make mine Arrowes drunk with blood and my Sword shall eat flesh for the bloud of the slaine and of the Captives when I begin to take vengeance of the enemie And for this cause hee is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord of Hosts as though he came with a mighty Army to fight against wicked men because of their Sinnes Yea the Lord hath all the Creatures in the world ready at his owne Command to execute his Judgements upon Obstinate sinners at his pleasure And it also hath been his practice even in all Ages for to act the same As for example When He fought against the vitious men of
Peace as we desire yet to rejoyce in it and to be heartily thankfull to God for it The Motives hereunto are many but I shall onely and briefly declare Six Motives Motive 1 BEcause of the Effects which Thankfulnesse produceth viz. it doth not onely retaine Gods favour for the present but also moveth him to bestow his Blessings upon us for the time to come So that Thankfulnesse for present Peace may not onely continue it to us as it is for the present but also for our greater comfort increase it for the future You know beloved that Thankfulnesse even Inter homines amongst men is not onely a meanes still to retaine their former Favours but also to purchase the fruites of their future Affections Now if Policy amongst men produceth this gratefull Effect ought not then Religion towards God to work it in us much more Certainly yea Oh then let us not be like those nine unthankfull healed Lepers in the Gospell who returned no thanks unto Jesus for healing their infirmity But let us be like the Tenth of that company that good Samaritane who thankfully for his cure turned back and fell on his face at Jesus feet and with a loud voice praised God Luke 17.15.16 Motive 2 Because it is Gods owne Injunction to his people Deut. 8.10 When thou hast eaten and filled thy self thou shalt blesse the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee And Psal 50.15 Call upon me saith God in the time of trouble so will I heare thee and thou shalt praise me Then contrarywise not to be thankfull is to disobey God and consequently to contemne his Command What Doth God Command and shall not man Obey Oh what is Impotent Man the Creature that he should oppose the Omnipotent God his Creator The Larkes and other little sensitive Birds that fly in the Aire doe after a sort in their language sing praises to their Maker And shall rationall Men whom God hath indued with understanding be more remisse in performing their Duty then they Let all Ingratefull men then blush for shame that those little sensitive Creatures should transcend them And learne to be more thankfull for blessings received and to make God the Object of their praises for the time to come Motive 3 Compare our present condition in this Land with other Countries beyond the Seas which have been visited with greater desolations and destructions then we our selves as yet have been So that their Wives like those of this Land are not onely Widdowes and their Children Fatherlesse but also their Cities Townes and Villages sacked and burned their Women ravished their Virgins defloured their Infants rosted their Goods plundred their Cattell destroyed and Country wasted So that by reports a man may travell many miles before he shall meet with any person for his travells farther direction or visibly discerne for his hungry and thirsty bodies repose and present refection a place of repast and supplying Habitation So that those places that formerly have been habitations for Christians are now become Nests for wild Birds Dens for favage Beasts and Receptacles for Toads Adders Snakes Serpents and such like Vermine Oh then what great cause have we to magnifie God that we are not as yet in their condition Motive 4 Consider what we are in our personall walking towards God even dissolute in our deportments and desperate Rebels against his Lawes Alas Beloved what are we but the spurious off-spring of our unhappy Progenitors from whose loynes we are polluted with originall cursed corruption which hath contaminated all the powers and faculties of our soules and defiled all the parts and members of our bodies and we have and still doe daily bring forth the fruits thereof in our conversations So that we justly deserve even present destruction And there is nothing but the free bountifull goodnesse and the admirable unparalleld longanimity of our gracious God that restraines his destroying Angel from seizing upon us to our utter confusion And have we not great cause then to praise him for our peaceable Preservation Motive 5 Let us reflect into our selves recollect our thoughts and seriously consider what we have deserved at Gods hands if he should enter into Judgement with us and deale in Justice against us Loe then we could looke for nothing but all manner of temporall punishments in this World and everlasting burnings in the World to come In which never-dying flames Cursings should be our Himnes and Howlings our Tunes Blasphemies our Ditties and Lacrymies our Notes Lamentations our Songs and Shreekings our Straines These should be our morning and evening yea mourning Songs there Moab should cry out against Moab Father against Sonne and Sonne against Father that ever he begat him And those infernall Torments should be unto us both Endlesse Easelesse and Remedilesse not onely for a Thousand yeares but also unto all Eternity Oh let us all then consider the mercifull dealing of our gracious God towards us in this Condition who still suffers us to live in this time of Grace and also in the bosome of the Church from whence the light of Truth shines most splendidly unto us and doth out of his goodnesse toward us suspend his Judgements from us and gives us time to repent of our Wickednesse and to cry unto him for the pardon of our Sinnes that so we may escape those intollerable Punishments which by our sinnes we have deserved Whereas it had beene just with God that our Bodies should long agoe have beene laid in their Graves and the Wormes gnawing upon them and our Soules cast into Hel-fire and the Devils tormenting of them What great cause then have we to magnifie God for giving us so gracious an Opportunity untill this Moment whereby we may endeavour our selves by Humiliation to pacifie Gods displeasure and have him become a reconciled Father to us in Jesus Christ Motive 6 Thankfulnesse to God hath ever beene the Practice of the Saints of God for all the Benefits he hath bestowed upon them whereof our selves can speake experimentally the blessng of Peace is not the least Noah after his deliverance from the Flood Gen. 8.20 built an Altar to the Lord in thankfulnesse and offered burnt offerings upon the Altar Abrahams servant when he found experimentally that the Lord had prospered his journey Gen 24.48 blessed the Lord for guiding him in his way Isaack Gen. 26.25 built an Altar to the Lord in Beersheba for his Blessings and there he called upon the name of the Lord. Moses and the people of Israel sang praises to God for their deliverance from Pharaohs fury And the Forme of their Thanksgiving was this Exod. 15.1 2 3. I will sing unto the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously the horse and his rider hath he overthrowne in the Sea The Lord is my strength and praise and he is become my salvation He is my God and I will prepare him a Tabernacle He is my Fathers God and I will exalt him
violently shed in this our Kingdome And yet notwithstanding all their faire Pretences patheticall Speeches and mournfull Expressions for Peace when once they plainely perceive that there is any Proposition really intended and seriously proposed for a firme settled and well-grounded Peace throughout this whole Kingdome Loe then they are as averse in disposition to Peace as Saul's Armour was to the body of David 1 Sam. 17.38 39. when he was to fight with the Gyant Goliath Loe thus like grosse and palpable Hypocrites they deceitfully professe that with their fallacious Mouthes which they never really purposed in their guilefull hearts also utterly deny the practice thereof by their vicious disquietfull and contentious Lives Rebellion stands this very day amongst us in this Kingdome at the Barre of Gods Justice expecting every houre the giving up of the bitter Verdict of due deserved Guiltinesse and from thence the irrevocable Pronuntiation of the direfull fatall sentence of Condemnation and that without Repentance to a perpetuall and datelesse durance of Damnation Oh fearfull and intolerable Rom. 13.2 Punishment And for the speedy Prevention hereof I doe here heartily wish that some patheticall Aposiopesis would modestly whisper and secretly suggest to each mans Conscience that is guilty thereof the intolerability of that Punishment justly due to the Sinne of Rebellion and that through the operation of Gods Grace and blessed Spirit in their hearts there may be a speedy Reformation in their lives that so the damnable Sinne of Rebellion may not Syren-like be unto them the subtle bewitching Inchanter and immediate fallacious Fore-runner of their both temporall and eternall Destruction And although there be at this day in our Land such violent Opposition against Kingly Authority yet notwithstanding a faithfull-hearted Subject will readily make expression as occasion is offered of his loyalty to his King And as farre as the King hath a lawfull Supreme power to Command the Subject ought to have a willing heart and ready hand to Obey forasmuch as the dignity of a King transcends the Subject so much is the Obligation of the Subject to his King Neither is the Duty lesse which we owe to our Soveraigne then the Safe-gard we claime by his Protection as the Center next under God from which we derive our Honours and to which we owe our Services and the same Kingly hand of beneficence power which dispenseth honours and safety unto the Subject pointeth out the lines of dutifull Obedience and obliged Loyalty to His Prince Our gracious Soveraigne hath formerly and also frequently cast his Princely Eyes of sweet Favour and loving Kindnesse upon many of his meane Subjects who were but of low Degrees and also freely raised them up unto high Dignities not onely by conferring great Honours upon them but also store of Wealth accordingly wherewith to maintaine them whereby they were almost become Companions of Princes Quest But what Requitals have many of them made His Majesty for His so Graciously dealing towards them Answ They have fallen off from Him Spoken hardly of Him Adhered to His rebellious Enemies against Him Raised up unnaturall Warre upon Him And also drawne by their verball Perswasions and personall Examples many thousands of this Kingdome after them for to effect those things which themselves with others projected against Him What Could Christian English Subjects be thus forgetfull of so great undeserved Princely Favours freely conferred upon them Did they receive such Kingly Courtesies from the beneficent Hand of a Royall and bountifull Benefactor And have they rendered Him no other Requitals for them but onely unnaturall Opposition against Him And to such a One also as He is being Constituted by the God of Heaven for to be their lawfull Soveraigne upon Earth And whose royall Person is sufficiently knowne to be of eminent Worth and Integrity who constantly beautifieth the Protestant Religion with the gracious Example of His holy Conversation and who hath also given most ample Testimony of His reall Affections to the Peace Good and Welfare of this our English Kingdome To whom also even out of Conscience by the Oath of Allegiance they are strictly obliged for to yeild Obedience Oh ineffable Ingratitude For whose unnaturall and ingratefull Requitals His Majesty may at this day both truely and also mournfully take up against them the Lords just Complaint against the Obstinate Jewes I have nourished and brought up Children but they have rebelled against me Isa 1.2 Loe thus woe and alas even David-like hath He been dealt with by them They rewarded him Evill for Good to the great discomfort of his Soule Psal 35.12 And as such pernitious Persons by those their rebellious Actions have publiquely evidenced to the World that they were His Majesties professed Enemies I doe heartily wish with the earnest desires of my Soule that it may not too truely be said of some others who were accounted His Majesties faithfull Friends and upon whose Fidelity under God His Majesty greatly depended being confident of their constant Loyalty towards Him that they have dealt treacherously with Him by abusing that Authority conferr'd upon them some of them being Selfe-Seekers corruptly executing His Majesties Commissions granted forth for His Majesties Military service Promotion betraying that Trust reposed in them by under-hand dealing sinisterly for their owne private Advantage receiving black Bribes secretly wherewith to minorate His Majesties rebellious Enemies pecuniarie Mulcts just deserved and assigned present Satisfaction Whereby wicked avaricious Policie being in the Front and corruptly commanding the Vaunt-gard hindered very unhappily the just and necessary furtherance of His Majesties compulsive Military Service in the Reare Nam pecunia est nervus Belli And others by delivering up unnecessarily those strong garrison Holds of Forts Castles Townes and Cities which longer with safety they might have kept had their pusilanimous Spirits beene magnanimously heroicall and perfidious Hearts subjectively faithfull by which their so treacherously doing they greatly weakened His Majesties Royall Power against His professed Enemies utterly ruined His Loyall-hearted Party in their outward Estates and wickedly inriched themselves with the cursed Mammon of Vnrighteousnesse Luke 16.9 So that of all such Judas-like Friends we may truely say with the Prophet Micah A mans Enemies are the men of his owne house Micah 7.6 All which detrimentall Effects together with many more have lately been unhappily produced amongst us in this our Kingdome which have proceeded from the deadly sinne of cursed Covetousnesse the which also have beene is and will be to the great prejudice of the Actors thereof themselves as well as others according to that true saying of an ancient Poet. Ipse cupido nocet multis cupidóque cupido Had such unconstant and false-hearted Persons both timely and carefully taken into serious Consideration had it been but for their alone particular Welfare but onely those unhappy and bitter Fruits which such cursed Trees of Treachery might have produced to themselves alone for their owne particular Ilfare
peradventure that Consideration might have been as a Bridle to have restrained them viz. the outward just disgraceing and due deserved publique vilifying of their Reputations and Persons after the pestilent Perpetration of such Treacherie though never so eminent in the eyes and esteeme of others before the Discoverie the inward discontentments and vexations of Minde deeply wounding themselves with the unappeaseable Horrour of their guilty Consciences which will continually gripe gnaw and terrifie them unlesse they be cauterized but most of all the everlasting Damnation of both their Bodies and Soules for ever to the darke and unconceiveable tormenting Pit of eternall Perdition the which without true Repentance will at the last Judgement day certainly be their Portion Oh! that such guilty Persons had timely layd to heart even in those their daies the Felicity of Fidelity and the Misery of Treachery so might they faithfully have performed their loyall Promises which might have conduced to their owne both Temporall and Eternall Peace but woe and alas the former of these is to them already past and God grant the latter be not too late I shall not censuring charitably doome such guilty Persons being Selfe-servers for such their treacherous black-Workes to the Land of Eternall Darkenesse for so to doe farre transcends both the Power and Knowledge of any Mortall but I will speake both of them and to them by way of Interrogation for their present Convincement and future Animadversion What could seeming-loyall Subjects deale thus disloyally with their King Did He preferre them to honourable Places above others depending upon their Fidelitie and have they requited His loving Kindnesse with no lesse then damnable Treacherie Were they so farre intrusted by Him and have they dealt thus deceitfully with Him Did they pretend themselves as faithfull Friends to helpe Him and have they proved His perfidious Enemies for to hurt Him Oh treacherous Dealing This is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 indeed Simulatio ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est Occultatio judicii Malum sub specie boni celatum It is Iniquitie in a Mysterie even masked Vngodlinesse a Thes 2.7 Et dum non cognoscitur non cavetur and being in their blacke Breasts not descried it could not be declined The which treacherous Iniquitie being most detestable abominable and double Impietie cryeth aloud in the Eares of God for Vengeance to fall upon the pernitious Perpetrators thereof I greatly tremble at the serious Consideration hereof and therefore let none that are guilty herein falsly flatter themselves in their corrupt hearts with deceitfull hopes of perpetuall Impunity for assuredly such Hypocriticall Treacherous Malefactors for such their Notorious Perfidious and cursed Malefactorship cannot without great Repentance escape the heavy Wrath and just Judgement of the sin-punishing just-revenging righteous God but it will follow after them overtake them and seize upon them to their Destruction Fidelitie and Treacherie are ever at Enmitie they are like two great Warriours in one and the same Heart stisly striving violently opposing and fiercely fighting against each other for Mastery And as they are Heterogenean in Conditions so in like manner as they prevaile they produce contrary Effects viz. Fidelitie Joy and Comfort But Treacherie Sorrow and Terrour As for Example Fidelitie seeketh no Corners but shineth splendidly as the bright Beames of the glorious Sunne in the firmament of Heaven at Noone-day when he is in his chiefest Brightnesse fullest Splendor and greatest Luster to the great comfort of the Actors thereof and all others concerned therein But Treacherie lyeth in Obscuritie ever fearing the Light and alwaies trembling at the remembrance of the Touch-Stone of Truth the which may not unfitly be compared to that thicke blacke tangible Aegyptian-Darkenesse sent as a Punishment upon Pharaoh for his Disobedience Exod. 10.21.22 The sharpe Smart whereof hath lately beene bitterly felt by too many thousands in this our Kingdome to the great terrour of Conscience to the Committers thereof and sorrowfull utter Ruine of many others thereby Fidelitie desireth heartily though it be to her Hinderance the full performance of that Trust reposed in her but Treacherie laboureth craftily for her owne Advantage to falsifie her Promise to those that intrusted her Fidelitie wisheth lovingly the wel-fare of others as well as her owne but Treacherie endeavoureth secretly but onely for her owne safety not careing for the Ruine of all others Fidelitie being rightly principl'd is syncerely guided by the blessed Spirit of God who is the King of Glory and he sweetly affects her and lovingly leads her in the delightfull and pleasing Paths of Obedience Truth and Righteousnesse and at the End of this World he will certainely remunerate her with the full Fruition of Eternall Happinesse but Treacherie being falsly grounded is corruptly guided by the cursed Spirit of the Devill who is the Prince of Darkenesse and he leads her on blindly in the deceitfull Wayes of Disobedience Errour and Unrighteousnesse and for her sinfull Service he will surely reward her at the End of this mortall Life with the bitter and cursed Wages of Everlasting Death Fidelitie Larke-like rejoyceth at the Light and desireth to be publiquely Exemplary to all others singing praises to God with a comfortable Conscience because her workes are wrought in God but Treacherie Batte-like being an uncleane Bird flyeth not abroad but onely in Darkenesse Lev. 11.19 desiring no Notice to be taken of her for when once the Light approacheth she keepeth her selfe close in a Corner as not daring to appeare in the Light of Truth because her Workes are not wrought in God but onely by the Subtilty Instigation and Power of the Devill Loe thus we evidently see that there is as great an Antipathie Contrarietie Disparitie Difference between FIDELITIE and TREACHERIE as is between Light and Darkenesse Truth and Errour Obedience and Rebellion Peace and Warre Life and Death Heaven and Hell God and Satan So that no marvell although our perplexed Kingdome be at this day so greatly divided having lately had therein the damnable Sinne of Treacherie so frequently practiced Those that have done such treacherous Workes may justly challenge to themselves their due deserved Wages which Workes of Treacherie must have the Wages of Iniquitie the which Saint Paul expresseth in that Theologicall Aphorisme of his to the Romanes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The wages of sinne is death Rom. 6. ult Death temporall to the Body in this life and without repentance Death eternall to both Body and Soule in the life to come And therefore now as a spirituall Physitian for the speedy and perfect Curing of sicke fore and wounded Englands great Distractions and manifold Distempers my Soule sincerely desireth and Heart also earnestly wisheth as a Christian sensible and sorrowfull Sympathizer of Englands wofull Distresses that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the strong Omnipotent God would Graciously be pleased in much Mercy and tender Compassion towards this bleeding sinfull English-Nation for to set
which he had no Right for it properly belonged to his Brother King Solomon But what became of him for his Usurpation Lo the just Judgement of God seized upon him insomuch as that although Himselfe was of the Blood-Royall His dayes were ended in blood 1 King 2◠25 And here my Heart compells my Hand to iterate these tragicall Words as a Christian Caution to all the obstinate Rebells of our English-Nation whereby to deterre them from any such godlesse and gracelesse Usurpation HIS DAYES WERE ENDED IN BLOOD God give them Grace to amend their Lives in this Particular least as bad or a worse End befall them for the like Usurpation at this day practiced by them For in the hainous Sin of bloody Rebellion there lieth secretly wrap'd up the just Vengeance of the righteous God and when the Sin of Rebellion is throughly ripe then the due deserved Punishment of it will certainly break forth and fiercely fly upon the Committers thereof to their inevitable and deadly Destruction Insomuch as that those pernitious Persons whose Heads at this day project whose Hearts affect and whose Hands act the Sin of Rebellion against their lawfull Soveraign the Prophet David who was inspired with the blessed Spirit of God plainly tells them Psal 62.3 They shall be slain all the sort of them yea as a tottering wall shall they be and like a broken hedge And yet notwithstanding all this methinks I hear some obstinate and incorrigible Rebell who desperately desiteth though against both the Word of God and the Laws of this Land to continue still in his own present and cursed Condition to persist in his perverse Paths and to walk in the wicked Wayes of his own rebellious Heart say unto me What necessity is there for so much to have been spoken of concerning Monarchicall Authority Must we subject our selves so strictly thereunto Can we not evade it but must we inevitably be obedient to it Quest What although in Antient time the Old Testament under the Law required such Obedience to Kings as you have here declared yet notwithstanding we who are Believers doe conceive that we are not obliged to such Obedience to Kings now in the New Testament under the Gospel and therefore why should Obedience to Kings be so earnestly preached unto us and so strictly pressed upon us in these daies Doth the New Testament binde us to such Obedience Answ Unto which I Answer The holy Apostle S. Peter who was himselfe a Gospel Preacher called immediately to that sacred Office by Jesus Christ and also inspired powerfully with the Holy Ghost and according to that heavenly and blessed Inspiration expresly commanded the Jewes and in them also all Christians to the End of this present World in these very words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 2.17 the which words being translated are Feare God Honour the King He there links God and the King together as justly he may for there is such a neere Relation and close Connexion betwixt God and the King as that the true Feare of God and due Honour of the King are Individuals they are Inseparables never to be divided but constantly dwell together in one and the same syncere Heart of a faithfull Servant to God and loyall Subject to the King Hence then let none deluding the World fallaciously say they have Gods true Feare before their Eyes who have not really the Kings due Honour in their Hearts And if the Kings due Honour be in their Hearts then it will both constantly and perspicuously appeare in their Lives for every Tree is knowne by its fruits Mat. 7.20 If Men truly feare God then will they also faithfully honour the King in God and for God whose Vice-gerent He is Which due Honour of the King consisteth in the Peoples Love and Obedience to Him viz when as His People shall obediently Love Him and lovingly Obey Him The which Feare of God and Honour of the King in such a People so qualified will inevitably worke in them a constant cordiall and universall Obedience to all the Commandements of God as also an hearty wel-wishing towards their lawfull Soveraigne by frequently faithfully and fervently praying to God for Him and also a continuall wel-speaking of Him constantly vindicating His Honour by boldly contradicting all those that falsly and malitiously speake against Him and also helping Him to the uttermost of their Abilities both with Persons and Purses as Necessities require and Occasions are offered So that if disobedient to the King then fearlesse of God and if fearlesse of God then ready to run into all Impiety and that with as much Violence Eagernesse as the Horse rusheth into the Battel Jer. 8.6 Of which our distracted England of late hath sorrowfully tasted by wofull Experience But woe and alas the quite contrary Effects to those which the true Feare of God and due Honour of the King produce have not onely beene formerly but are also still both too fluently and frequently practised by too many thousands amongst us in these Dismall and Disastrous Daies Insomuch as that If sturdy Tumults arising and violently proceeding by the which driving our Dread Soveraigne through feare from His Royall Habitation be honouring of Him then at the beginning of these Troubles He was Honoured If furiously chaseing His Majesties Royall peaceable and innocent Person from place to place circumventingly pursuing Him and craftily hunting after Him even Saul-like towards David as a Partridge upon the Mountaines be honouring of Him then He hath beene Honoured If Raising Forces upon Him and taking up Armes against Him whereby to suppresse His Regall Power be honouring of Him then He is Honoured If Separation of His lawfull and Royall Consort to gether with all those Olive Branches His Deare and Princely Children from Him be honouring of Him then He is Honoured If Deprivation of all His just Rights Priviledges Prerogatives and Revenues unjustly from Him be honouring of Him then He is Honoured If the Imprisonment of His Royall Person abridging Him of His Princely Liberty and falsly calumniating His Candid and Royall Reputation be honouring of Him then He is Honoured Loe these are a few of those many inhumane Injuries and barbarous Indignities which formerly have been and still are most injuriously perpetrated against Him Oh pitifull Condition into which at this day He is deeply involved Is this that Legall Active Obedience which all Loyall-hearted Dutifull Subjects who rightly feare God and heartily honour the King owe to their Just and Lawfull Soveraigne God Forbid And the Lord in much Mercy with his tender Eyes of loving Pity looke downe from Heaven and speedily deliver this our distressed guilelesse faithfull and true hearted Israelite out of all His Troubles Me-thinks I heare His Majesty in the Anxiety Anguish and Bitternesse of His Soule with great Solicitude Sadnesse and Pensivenesse of Spirit whose pious Affections through Gods grace moving Him to follow Christ His Captaine and as a faithfull spirituall Souldier manfully to
of God Let us all therefore in Gods feare to whom God hath given a greater Talent of knowledge then to others deale with their souls as holy Job did with infirmed bodies who was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame Iob. 29.15 Labour to make the deafe to heare the ignorant to understand That so we may strengthen the weake armes and feeble knees in the service of God and bring home those weake and blind Wanderers into the sheep-fold of Christ Reprehension Vse 3 TO Reprove all those persons that take a quite contrary course who instead of stirring up others to the practise of holinesse and piety they provoke them to profanenesse and impiety Who pray over daily the black-booke of damnation that say one to another Prov. 1.11 Come with us let us lay wait for blood let us lurke privily for the innocent without a cause Or with those Epicures that say one to another Wis 2.6 7 8 9. Come and let us enjoy the pleasures that are present c. But those beastly belly-Epicures rest not themselves satisfied with this their voluptuous living frequenting the Schools of Drunkennesse and Temples of Bacchus and putting in practice Sardanapalus Epitaphe Ede bibe lude post mortem nulla voluptas Eate drinke and be merry for after death there is no pleasure But they goe one step farther in their impiety reviling righteous men for not runing into the same excesse of riot with themselves Vers 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21. Come say they let us defraud the righteous man for he is not for our profit he is contrary to our doings He checketh us for offending against the Law and blameth us as transgressors of discipline c. But will you read the doome of those men by their owne confession in their mentall alteration justifying others whom they have condemned and condemning themselves whom they have justified Then shall the righteous man stand with great boldnesse before the face of him that hath tormented him Wis 5.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. and taken away his labours c. Certainely beloved if they that doe their best to convert soules and draw them to the service of God shall shine like stars in the firmament of heaven Dan. 12.3 then they that make it their worke to pervert soules and seduce them shall shine too But not as stars in the firmament of heaven above but as firebrands in the region of darkenesse and shaddow of death in hell beneath And therefore woe will it be with all such persons at the last judgement day Consolation Vuse 4 TO comfort the hearts of all those who have been diligent in the conversion of the soules of others Cheere up thy heart my beloved brother for there are degrees of glory in heaven and the greater number thou doest convert and bring to the true knowledge of God here upon earth the greater degree of glory shalt thou have hereafter in heaven Almighty God is a bountifull Benefactor his service never goeth unrewarded He seeth in secret Mat. 6.4 and will reward his servants openly Loe this S. Paul knew right well the which caused him rejoycingly to say I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crowne of righteousnesse 2 Tim. 4.7 8. which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me onely but to them also that love his appearing And therefore up and be doing 2 Chron. 19. 1 Cor. 15 58. and the Lord will be with thee and thy labour shall not be in vaine in the Lord. Thus much for the Particle or Interjection O which stands here in the Front of our Text as a patheticall Preface to some ensuing weighty Declaration not onely craving our diligent attention but also our best assistance for our Mother the Churches Consolation O Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem And thus having passed through the Portch let us now enter into the Temple The next considerable in our Text is the exhortary Christian Religious Duty set downe in this word Pray O Pray From which word you may remember the Doctrine Doct. Prayer to God is the onely salve to cure calamity and to continue the favour of God unto his people O Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem By Prayer I do not meane after the manner of Rhetoricians an Order of speech throughly laboured by art which the Graecians call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but I meane according to Divinity a holy speech or talke with God not so much of the mouth as of the heart which also in other termes according to the Originall of the New Testament we call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est invocare implorare to call upon and to request quod propriè de eo dicitur qui in periculo constitutus Dei subsidium cum clamore petit which is properly spoken of him who being in danger desireth the helpe of God with a crying out Hinc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pro toto Dei cultu accipitur hence by a Synecdoche it is taken for the whole worship and service of God Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved Act. 2.21 Whereby S. Peter teacheth that Prayer is the remedy to avoid the wrath of God and to obtaine Salvation The severall parts or kinds of prayer are foure 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deprecatio whereby we desire the aversion of present punishment or imminent evill 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Petitio whereby we desire those things that make for the glory of God and the benefit of our selves 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Intercessio whereby we intercede mediate for others Acts 12.5 as the Church did for Peter when he was in prison 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est gratiarum actio wherein we give thankes unto God for benefits bestowed both upon our selves and others All which foure parts or kinds of Prayer are set downe in one Verse by S. Paul to Timothy I exhort therefore 1 Tim. 2.1 that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thankes be made for all men But beloved if thus I should handle this word Prayer Common-place way then should I walke in so large a path as would tire your patience and therefore for brevity sake I shall herein reduce my self unto these two particulars together with the Reasons of the Doctrine and the Application viz. 1. Orationis Necessitas 2. Orationis Dignitas 1. The Necessity of Prayer 2. The Dignity of Prayer And upon these two considerations as upon the two wings of Prayer I desire your soules may flye aloft unto the hill of the Almighty O Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem And First for the Necessity of Prayer Certainly a great Necessity of Prayer lyeth upon every one of the sons of Adam whose whole composition is nothing else but wants and