Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	father_n	know_v	word_n	5,396	5	4.2358	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96886	The churches thank-offering to God her King, and the Parliament, for rich and ancient mercies; her yeares of captivity; her first yeare of iubile; that is, for the marvelous deliverances wrought with God the first wonderfull yeare (since the yeare 88) beginning at September 1640. and ending the ninth of the same moneth following: in all which time, the Lord appeared for his church, as in the dayes of old, out of the middest of the bush, so the church burn'd with fire, and was not consumed. In the preface, the thank-offering is vindicated, and set free, from all the cavills and charges against it; where also it is cleared to be, as every mans duty, so every mans purpose, to offer willingly now, who doth not make full proofe, that he falls short of pagan, papist or atheist; and is wilfully resolved to walk crosse to the most supreme law, the highest reason, and the unquestionable will of God.	Woodward, Ezekias, 1590-1675.	1642 (1642)	Wing W3484; Thomason E122_1; ESTC R18182	151,993	158

performe according to the PROTESTATION even the Lord shake him out and emptie him c Neh. 5. 1● The Lord grant thes● Malignants th●se sonnes or B●liall these troublers of Israel vvho will be bound by no other cord but by the cords of their owne sinnes may be cut off even all cut-off that trouble the Church those that love peace and pursue it These sonnes of Beliall cannot frame to pronounce an holy just and good Commandment ô that they vvere dealt vvith now as those persons vvere vve reade of in the Text Then they tooke him and sl●w him at the passages of Jordan d Iud. 12. 6. The Church knowes that there vvould be a greater slaughter then was that vve reade of and there fell at that time of the Ephramites fourty and two thousand Heere comes in a doubt and it will bee easily resolved The Obj●ction ●s Ob. The Church is a peaceable Mother in Israel her Father is the God of peace her Lord the Prince of peace her servants the children of peace then sure the Church doth not know vvhat spirit shee is of that prayes for Fire and Sword to come downe from Heaven Answ Yes the Church knows she hath the Spirit of God dwelling in her and by that Spirit she can and doth pray as afore-said ●nd will fight anon and be a peaceable vvoman for all this and a true Mother in Israel and follow the Lambe here also for in some cases and none riseth higher then this He even the Lambe hath wrath and that must be executed by her Sword Nay more as she prayeth for this thing so she can rejoyce to see this vengeance and to wash her feet c Ps ●8 10. in the bloud of the wicked and the whole City with her yea and to shout for joy d Prov. 11. 10. These are wicked persons professed enemies to God and His Christ Without naturall affection truce breakers false accusers inconti●c●t fierce despisers of those that are good Traitors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God not having so much as a forme of Godlinesse e 2 Tim. 3. 3 4 5. Pitty these vvicked Malignant persons and you destroy the Good shew mercy here you are cruell to the Church spare such and they will make havocke of Gods Servants as you see they doe and have done in all ages Wicked persons they and desperately bold and daring They would turne the Songs of the Temple into howlings f Amos 8. 3. She can rejoyce to see the vengeance yea and to wash her feet in the blood of these slaine And till this be done she never looks to have peace on the Earth for these are they who have taken peace from her Therefore she is resolved upon it now she vvill not onely pray but use her WEAPONS too Yes you will say PRAYERS and TEARES True for these are the Churches weapons and very prevailing nay commanding they are Prayers command God He is pleased to say so much and to yeeld g Esa 45. 11. so farre but the Church said she will fight too in a case wherein her Prince His State Crowne and Dignity is concerned for in all this the Church is concerned her Lawes Liberties Religion Life In such cases He vvill fight Let it goe it is good construction to apply a Masculine vvord to so Heroicke a spirit as I reade Queen Elizabeth did not well digest that Grammaticall nicety to be prayed for by the Title of DEFENDRESSE of the Faith DEFENDER vvas better concord in her Eares And indeed never any man Answered the Title better I was saying the Church hath another weapon which vvee call the Sword and she will make it drunke in the bloud of these Adversaries and yet doe no more then what she hath done in all Ages from the Primitive time downe-ward For though Prayers and Teares and these onely are her Sonnes and Daughters vveapons as they are private persons Yet as they are publike persons That alters the case and exalted in the Earth the Sword belongs unto them as their proper right and they stand bound to use it though then also They STVDIE TO BE QVIET h 1 Thes 4. 11. and know themselves CALLED VNTO PEACE so they may have TRVTH too i 1 Cor. 7. 15. The Church hath her Ioshaah's and they must not lye upon the face * Iosh 7. 10. wishing those even cut-off that trouble us k Gal. 5. 12. He must rise and cut-off those TROVBLERS it is his office so to doe The Church hath her Nehemiah's they may build with one hand and hold the Sword in another Shee hath her Davids the truest Subjects in the world as then hee was and yet their H●ast may be as his was as the HOAST OF GOD l and all for their owne safety and to maintaine as ● Chr● 12. ●2 David did their Masters peace The Church hath her Princes and her Nobles and her Worthies blessed be God for them all to whom the Sword belongs and they are charged to use it for the cutting off those that trouble her and are enemies to her Lords Crowne and Dignity They are charged to be of good courage and to play the men for their King and His people and the Cities of their God and the Lord doe that which seemeth Him good d 2 Sam. 10. 12. Then in the last place ¶ 4. Private Persons must make Supplications THe Church makes her Supplication to you That you would rise up and be doing that you would avenge her of these Adversaries who have done what they can to take peace from the Earth All is contained in your Covenant every whit Remember that and you remember all and the Lord remember His Covenant with you for the darke places of the Earth are full of cruelty e Ps 74. Doubtlesse the Lord Who keepeth Covenant and mercy for ever will not breake with you now Remember f Deut. 7. 18. WELL what the Lord your God hath done for you That will give you assured confidence for the time to come Onely deale couragiously g 2 Chron. 19. 11. stand to what you have said and what in you lyeth cause the Covenant to passe through the Land and doe as the good King did vvhat you can to make the people stand to it h 2 Chron. 34. 32. and the Lord shall be with the good i 2 Chron. 19. 11. Amen for they will make their prayer to Him which cannot be in vain k Esa 45. 19. being one of the most prevailing things in Heaven or Earth but it is reserved for the time when ye as Esther l Est 4 16. commanded Prayer then it will appeare how prayer commanded for you SECT IV. The engaging the heart to God engageth God to our Businesse then they slide-on the loftinesse of Man shall be bowed downe and the ●aughtinesse of Men shall be made low Idols and Idol-men and Idoll-garments and bloody Courts shall

breath of her nostrills and the life of her soule She doth professe unto you in the presence of her God that she hath but one meanes in her absence from Him whereby to seeke His face To know His mind concerning her and her conversation here below But one means to carry up all her wants and to bring down all her blessings for she accounts nothing a blessing which is not gained by Prayer and shee writes upon every thing she receives ASKT OF GOD But one meanes to hide her selfe in the clifts of the rock till the indignation be over For when the Lord sh●ll shut the Heaven and open His Armory against the earth a Ier. 50 25. bringing forth all the weapons of His indignation Then hath she but one meanes one shift but as one said its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a greate one and a sure one HE ARE THOV IN HEAVEN THY DWELLING PLACE AND FORGIVE AND DOE This is all her refuge SVPPLICATIONS TO HER GOD. The Church hath much to say at this point But she humbly thankes you that you did not thinke it fit to bind her strictly in her Publike Assemblies to formes of others making Alas they cannot reach her wants nor the boosome of her God The heart knowes its own bitternesse and can best indite her own sorrowes and make them known unto her God But yet the Church will not prescribe heere only she hopes you vvill consider how shee hath been dealt with very lately when a stout Prelate was so daring as to prescribe her a prayer and then cheate the world with her Name The Churches Prayer when indeed it was Lincolns Prayer so the prayers have been all this Time some private mens devotions and then called the Prayers of the Church But had this beene all she had held her peace Behold how her Adversary like an imperious WHO RISH WOMAN hath dealt with her these l●st yeares which surely her Lord will take as a FORCING His QVEENE before His Face It is notoriously known that the Adversary hath by his prescribed formes comp●●led her to blaspheme the Name of her God and her own Name to curse her best friends and to bl●sse her worst enemies In consideration of the premises she conceives great hope that if you allow not her children to choose their speakers yet to allow of your choise such an one who is sincerely honest understands their case the weight of his office and is sufficient to be their mouth to their LORD and to make knowne His meaning to them The Church is confident that if you shall well consider her Negotiations you will find them weigh more upon the ballance then those concerning the greatest Prince in the world and yet she will take the grant of this her request as a speciall favour and grace from you though not only a Prince but inferiour persons will challenge so much as their proper Right But she referres her suites to the Closet she is now giving in the tribute of thankes and praise and she blesseth God and thankes you with all her heart for all the labour of Love worke of Faith Patience of Hope towards her Sonnes and Daughters that you have brought them so farre even HITHERTO she sets a marke upon it for it requires speciall observation SECT III. The ninth of September a notable Day to be written and to be named both written because on that Day an unrighteous Decree To establish a Service odious to God one of their own being Judge was made Null and of none effect Named as in Dayes of old forthe same Reason HEre I have concluded the yeare almost in the middest of a Month I could not else have given up the full tale of wonders It was necessary I should goe to the ninth of that Moneth so farre that it might the more fully appeare how farre the Lord hath brought His Church working wonderfully for His people That Day the Worthies adjourned their Court for five weekes that so they might look over their private interests and then returne againe well refreshed for the Common-weale and Gods worke vvhich that Day late at evening had a notable close The Church seemes to heare a voyce now as one of her sonnes once did comming to her eares with a double charge Sonne of man write the name of the Day even of THIS SAME DAY * Ezek. 24. ● And the spirit suggests unto her the same Reason in effect which He did to the Prophet for so doing She remembreth well some there were who that same Day vvould have established the Liturgi● as now it is with all it's faults which all indifferent men doe find there not a few and acknowledge it to b● a Service which God never commanded neither ever ca●e it into His Heart He that pleads so hard for the Liturgy as now it is for that must be remembred still the continuance and est●blishment of it in the Church even the same man t●ls us it is a S●RVICE ODIOVS TO HEAVEN Doth he so Truly I th●nke so but j●dge you No that you w●ll not you will say for you are not a judge let the learned give judgement in these matters and let my spirit be subj●ct thereunto I confesse this is a point of w●sdome and of modesty both But I take judgement here in a vulgar construction and so we may judge for the eare can try words as the Mouth can taste Meat * Iob 12. 11. I will then give you out his wor●s by tale for we find a pretty parcell of them together Thus he saith first GOD WILL HAVE NO WORSHIP OF OUR D. Hals Com. l. 2 p. 138. DEVISING Then God will not allow of all our Liturgy for sure there is something of mans devising therein as no man vvill deny that is not all fore-head and dares deny that Snow is white or fire will burne 2. WE MAY ONLY DOE WHAT HE BIDS US Then we must worship the Father in SPIRIT and in TRVTH for the FATHER SEEKETH such to worship HIM 3. NOT BID WHAT HE COMMANDS NOT. Ioh 4. 23. Then the Curate must not bid Saints dayes to be kept holy for God commands them not He commands His Day to be kept holy which the bold Priest hath count●rmanded and such dayes vvhich are to the Church now as dayes of PVRIM vvere to the Church of old Dayes turned unto them from sorrow to joy and from mourning into a good Day b Est 9. ●● So also dayes of Atonement Fasting Dayes called also Sabbath Dayes 2. The Bishop must not bid his Curate reade all the Liturgy for then he will reade Arch-Angels which he ought not to doe for God commands him not to reade a lye we never heard or read of that word plurall but in the Liturgie 4 NEVER DID ANY TRUE PIETY ARISE OUT OF THE CORRUPT PUDDLE OF MANS BRAINE We believe it and withall that all is not true Piety that is contained in the Liturgy for the worst part of it

can the treasures of the snow and of the haile k Iob 38. 22. nor comprehend no more then I can measure the wind in my fist or Heavens with my Span for I must looke backe to the dayes of eternity and Thy ancient thoughts towards Thy Sons and Daughters before the foundation of the world And behold Thy wayes there as undiscernable as the way of an Eagle in the Aire or of a Serpent upon the Rocke l Pro. 30. 19. as is the path which no foule knoweth and which the vultures eye hath not seen m Iob 28. 7. But blessed be Thy Name though there in that darke path the soule can find no rest nor feels any bottome yet in Thy Christ * De praedestinatione d●sputaturu● incipe ● Christi vulneribus Mel. Ad. in vitâ Sta●●p Vera est ea poenitentia quae ab amore justitiae Dei incipit we have a foundation even according to the good pleasure of Thy will towards us in Him to the praise of the glory of Thy Grace n Eph. 1. 5. For Him we blesse Thee we praise Thee we adore Thee for Thy glorious manifestations secret inspirations immediate workings for all the meanes of conveyance whereby Heaven is pleased to condescend and to have communion with earthly creatures and earthly creatures have fellowship with the FATHER and the SONNE For Thy Sons sake all this therefore we blesse Thee for that unspeakable gift with Whom Thou givest all things a subduing of iniquity victory over sin sinne is not left to bring forth its owne cursed fruit an exceeding mercy pardon of sinne communion with Thy selfe joy in the Holy Ghost then the strongest when we are weakest and our sufferings the greatest Then the highest elevation of spirit then the floud of consolation runnes highest when the floud of wickednesse runnes over the head and seemes ready to swallow up This is that the world stumbles at nay we shrinke at too at sufferings at persecution though yet a thousand experiences tels us Persecution is the signe of a Thes 1. 7. the true Church and to them who are persecuted Rest with us and our Rest is in Thee and with Thee at last and then even in that houre of temptation then dost Thou administer abundant consolations even according as the sufferings are through fire yet not consumed through water yet not drowned o Esa 43. 2. Surely this is because Thou dost guide Thy Servants by Thy Councell we are not carefull whether we goe when Thou hast us by the hand being assured the end of the way is GLORY And now that the people may flow in hether cause them to turne aside and behold this sight why the BVSH burnes and is not consumed All that looke on must resolve it thus because Thy GOOD WILL DWELLS IN THE Esa 63. 9. BVSH In all their affliction Thou wast afflicted and the Angell of Thy presence saved them O blessed be the Father Son and Holy Ghost for Thy GOOD-WILL That dwels in the Bush O let not my Lord be angry and I will speake yet but this once we Thy people have said in our haste Our hope is cut-off we shall be termed FORSAKEN and our Land DESOLATE But we behold and wonder Thou hast shewen grace unto us to give us a nayle in Thy Esa 62. 4. Holy place and hast revived our hope That we shall be called HEPHZ●BAH and our Land Beulah Truly Lord Thou hast comforted all my waste places Thou hast made my WILDERNES like EDEN and my DESERT like the Garden of the Lord ioy and gladnesse is found therin Thanksgiving Ezr. 9. 8. and the voyce of Melody * Esa 51. 3. But Lord why is it so Why such severity towards our sister-Churches and such goodnesse towards us and our Land Even so because it pleaseth Thee It is Thy good will so Be it so but we are over-charged with the consideration thereof and are silent Truly Lord we stand wondering at Thy works beholding terrible things r Esa 64. 3. which our Fathers saw not and we look'd not for The turning councels upside downe c. for had Thy Servant the tongue of an Angell she could not expresse it but at our selves we wonder most of all at the drossinesse the dregginesse of our spirits not yet resolved into a spirit of Thankefullnesse no not yet though we have seene such and such things above all such forbearance such a patient suffering our manners o Act. 13. 18. at such a time as this Why Lord God Thou didst send unto us Saviours we should have looked through them as through a thin covering to Thy arme made bare for our Salvation we did not so it was a thicke covering before our eyes it hid Thy Almighty Arme quite from us We did leane upon that Reed such is the helpe of flesh yet did it not pierce nor breake O wonderfull it is not Thy manner so the prop of flesh did not breake though we laid so great a weight of expectation thereupon notwithstanding it hath held c. for Thy Servant is overcome more she would speake to that point and is not able But she hath wherewith to answer Thy Adversaries as followeth The Enemy reproacheth Thy Name daily and asketh where is now your God Our God is in Heaven and thence Thou hast declared Thy selfe against Thy Enemies confounding them and for Thy people reviving their hope Thou hast exalted THY CHRIST before our Eyes and received Thy people into COVENANT these two things Thou hast done this last yeare And if Thou dost no more in our dayes yet thy Servants have ENOVGH And by Thy good hand upon them they have out-plotted all their enemies Thy Servants have no more to say but Remember Lord Thy Covenant and keepe the hearts of Thy Servants close with thee therein Thou art Lord of Lords and King of Kings and onely art able to make Thy Servants to performe the words of Thy Covenant and to STAND TO IT p 2 Chro. 34. 31 32. and then though the Enemy rage he shall not hurt though he conceives mischiefe he shall bring forth a lye God in Covenant defeates all their hellish counsels weakneth all their power answers all Arguments against Thy people or their Cause nothing shall doe them hurt every thing shall doe them good It is Thy Promise Lord I will not turne away from them to doe them good a Ier. 32. ●0 All shall worke together for their good losses in the World for their good troubles in the flesh for their good come what can come all is sanctified by all Thou wilt doe Thy children good Reproaches wants necessities Persecutions Captivities b Ier. 24. 5. All to doe them good even so Amen And yet Lord we remember Thou hast spoken good words and gracious concerning the Church for the time to come We humbly conceive now is the time when Thou art making good this good word to Thy people

great wrath The Enemy comes in like a flood with open mouth to devoure all REMEMBER the Lord Who is GREAT His Spirit will set up a Standard against them r Esa 59. 19. When the sonnes of Belial do as their Name imports breake bands and cast away coards then the Lord will laugh ſ Psal 2. And then said Luther well he would not cry like a child he would be merry as a Man and sing for joy of heart the 46. Psalm For he remembred the Lord WHO IS GREAT It follows and TERRIBLE To his Adversaries fury to them t Isa 59. 18. and He has them under His feete already like unto fine brasse u Rev. 2. 15. and He can stampe them to pouder but He is patient He will endure a little while their wrigling sooner then you can a worme under yours Nay you have had assurance ever since the dayes of Joshua x Josh 10. 25. That you shall set your feete upon them too It seemes the Lord is fulfilling this good word to you now nay doubtlesse He hath fulfilled it even now He hath done as He promised to His worme Jacob He hath taken you a company of wormes yee are no better worme-like men He hath given you armes of steele and feete like brasse and you have threshed the Mountaines like straw and have come upon the Princes as upon Morter and as the Potter treadeth clay y Isa 41. 15 25. Thus the Lord hath done Who is GREAT and TERRIBLE even now in all the peoples sight Remember Him you cannot be afraid And remember where you are And yet as one saith a Nihil interest ubi sitis in saeculo qui extra saeculum estis Tert. ad Martyres chap. ● no matter where you are in the world who have your thoughts above the world and managing the great things of Christ there But yet to tell you what you know and what your security is you are in Gods hand b Deut 33 3. Now put all together and consider on it God He is GREAT and TERRIBLE He is your God you are His by covenant you are in His hand your enemies under His feete nay under your foote The Result from hence is A Glorious Dependance upon this Lord Who is Great yea a TRUST FOR EVER in Him Who is EVERLASTING STRENGTH c Isa 26. 4. and that is a sure ground for EVERLASTING CONFIDENCE That though the earth should shatter to peeces and the mountaines be taken off from their everlasting foundations yet God is good to Israel you shall not be greatly moved your head may ake but you may repose it in the Lap of your EVERLASTING FATHER certainly He will sustaine you you may lay your selves downe in peace He will make you dwell in safety The enemy shall not be able to come neare you to doe you hurt no nor to sad your spirits who in all this time have not spoken one word whereby to sad the heart of the Righteous Yee must the promise is so d Isa 65. 13 14. reioyce when the Adversary shall be ashamed yee must sing for ioy of heart when your enemies must howle for vexation of spirit your Name must be a blessing theirs a curse This is glorious matter for faith to worke upon it will make you pray in the Holy Ghost You need not be entreated to take leisure for that it is the very breath of faith and it hinders nothing at all but sets forward businesses exceedingly it makes them glide-on I give my selfe to prayer said David e Ps 109. 4. when he was in the very case you are in f ver 2 3. He made prayer his worke what ever he was doing and so his worke slided-on he had an easie passe through all hee could leape over this wall and that mountaine was a plaine before him and his enemies were given into his hands for he gave himselfe to prayer What ever we omit we must not omit prayer It commands your Marke that betwixt the Kings Question to Nehemiah and his Answer there is a prayer his Answer was as ready as the Question was but he would pray first q Neh. 2. 4. A hint only is enough to wise men Your prayer shall be short you may lengthen it in your closset pray as Nehemiah did he beleeved as you doe and you have done as he did and you have as many enemies as he had and so envious against you They would make you afraid too they would weaken your hand from the work that it be not done pray now THEREFORE O GOD STRENG THEN OUR Ne. 6. 9. HAND AND REMEMBER US O OUR GOD FOR GOOD Now there is a voice gon up that never returnes in vaine and cryes aloud in the eares of the Lord like the sound of many waters saying AMEN Mercy and Truth be with you AMEN And the God 2 Sam. 15. 20. of both these give you favour in the eyes of the Man Amen wipe not out the good deeds that you have done for the Ne. 13. 14 22. house of your God and for the Offices thereof AND SPARE YOU ACCORDING TO THE GREATNESSE OF HIS MERCY AMEN AMEN The PREFACE clearing the way through this Treatise and the READERs understanding touching the proceedings in Parliament the clearnesse of the Lawes and Iustice therein his Knowledge also of the times and cleare WILL of GOD and what Israel ought to do notwithstanding the contradictions of sinners and crosse wils of Malignant Men. Reader IVnderstand well the use and Law of a Preface it should containe no more but what could not be put into the booke that is observed here And yet it will be very large and that I could not helpe I have an hundred sheets tending much the same way this Treatise goes If a Providence should call forth all or any part of it I might trouble thee with an Epistle but never more with a Preface How willingly I would have forborne it here I know and God knows but then I strongly conceived I had left thee in the darke but now I shall shew thee the way in much clearenesse if thou wilt not blind-fold thy selfe and render thee in the close a Thankefull man This is the tendency and purpose of all this And so that thou mayest reade with profit understanding what thou readest and then shew thy selfe an understanding man I shall endeavour to cleare the way before thee and give thee cleare resolution to the matters in debate some more easie and quickly resolved other some more hard and admitting more contention 1. Touching the Person who offers Thankes that is easily cleared 2. Then the Thank-offering there will be the knots for Collegiate men the Eyes of the Land these are set against it and some say the Law also we must examine their reasons and cleare the proceedings against these men and that will take up some time 3. In the last place the Method the clearing of that is very

neare as can be in this world That her Lord and Christ may be if not All in All yet above all Beloveds the chiefest of ten thousand Why then all those things She thought against her were for her promoting her good very much Therefore Shee doth record that time and speaks of it with rejoycing finding by many good experiences That there is no Condition how uncomfortable soever but what is ordered according to Righteousnesse and faithfulnesse This ce●tains much we will then proceed in it SECT II. As the Righteous now doe so have all done before them They have recorded Dayes of Trouble for that was a meanes to settle them the faster on their Rocke and have been thankefull for their Hell here for that made them looke for Heaven where it is THe Church must remember the former yeares when they called her Marah because the Almighty had dealt very bitterly with her d Ruth 1. 20. She cannot passe-over that Time as if a Time let forth like water to waste Plowing and harrowing time is as seasonable for the Church as it is for the fallow-ground and she doth record that time thankfully and with an heart full of Praises for the deeper the furrowes are and the longer the fuller the Sheaves will bee at the Harvest Chrysostomes words are remarkably notable Evermore in your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys Hom. 10. Col. 3. See ●hil 4. 6. prayers give thankes for knowne and unknowne mercies for mercies which appeare to you so to be and such which appeare not for mercies you received with a willing mind and for those which God did for you against your will be exceeding thankfull for them For your good things your comforts your refreshments your strange Deliverances your rich mercies yea and for your lucida intervalla for your well nights and your good daies Yes who would not be thankfull for all this All are not nay the fewest of many But the Father hath not rais'd up his children to the height of thankfulnesse yet You must be thankfull for your turbida intervalla sicke dayes and wearisome Nights for your aches and your paines for your troubles in and to the flesh the knotty racking Gout the tormenting Stone the bloudy torturing Strangury the burning Fever In a word you must be thankfull for your Hell here For Hell who can be thankfull for that they that are of another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Humb. 14. 24. spirit Their Hell here made them not to looke for Heaven here vvhich else they had done though they have their Lords expresse word for it In the world yee shall have tribulation in Mee peace e Ioh. 16. 33. Their Hell here made them to lift up their heads and stretch forth their necks * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8. 19. and to stand as it were on tip-toes so earnestly looking after things which are not seene And this earnest expectation of glory hereafter even to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the Land of the living this assurance of hope caused their very Hell here to seeme a very light affliction and its continuance very short but for a night an houre nay but for a moment a little small moment ● Cor. 4. 17. To conclude Their Hell here made them flee from the vvrath to come and that is hell indeed and the sense thereof raised up their thoughts and endeared Christ unto them the chiefest now of ten thousand O how precious are their thoughts concerning Chr●st A drop of vvrath burnt their flesh and vvas sore upon them though but for a night how are their he●rts enlarged after Christ vvho redeemed their soule out of all adversity and from the vvrath to come I have added a short paraphrase on Chrysostomes vvords he goes o● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ch●y● T●m 6. ●e 〈◊〉 judic and gives us an example I knew a man said h● a very pious Man he vvas vvho prayed thus as vve have heard and the first vvord vvas Thankes and that he first thanked his good God for vvas for his afflictions his Hell here So vve have that vve come for so fitted to this place vvhich is They put afflictions into the Catalogue or Register of Gods mercies and in the first p●●ce Indeed it is no ha●d matter to open the mouth in vvay of Thankefullnesse for the goo● things of this life as vve call them but to be thankefull for the ●vils that is an hard taske but yet the daily vvorke of a true Christian SECT III. The Church recordeth her evill Dayes when Shee saw Affliction HEnce we also may learne our Duty and see our patterne for according thereunto the Church Records and Thankes her Lord for her afflictions her pressures her tribulations her anguish her sorrows She gives thanks for her nights of mourning as wel as for her morning joy for her Aegypt in this life as well as for her Goshen here She thankes her God for her treading downe by the foot of Pride for that made her rise more victoriously for the blood vvas drawne from her because that vvatered her and made her more fruitfull She thankes her God for the Courts of Inquisition though bloudy Courts and all the Purgatory she lookes for because the oppression she felt therein and the violent perverting of Iudgement and Iustice pointed her eyes and set them stedfast towards Him Who is higher then the highest and made her to stay fixe and settle her selfe at that high Throne before vvhich the Judges must be judged and from which there is no appeale She gives thankes for her mockings Eccl. 5. 8. scornings revilings buffetings for all the hard vvords and deeds she heard and felt there O hovv thankefull is shee for all that thereby shee vvas made conformable to Her Lord and Head so Hee was dealt withall O how did She rejoyce at all this though perhaps not at that present all this makes their Crowne the more massy ●●d weighty It added muc● to their consolations which ● 2 Cor. 15 7. are ever ●fter the me●sure and is their sufferings are The Righteous doe conclude thus That after the rate of their sorrowes and sufferings shall their comforts and consolations be And by the measure of their shame and reproach for Christ here shall their Robe o● Glory be cut out hereafter wherewith they shall be vested in H●aven Therefore The Church thanks her God for her weakenesses and many infirmities They made her leane more st●adily upo● her Beloved That strong Arme For her sl●ps and fals too they made her stand ● Thes 1. 10. more strong in her God and in the power of His Might For her feares they pointed her to her rocke that is higher then her above all For her troubles without and her terrours within For now She can admire her Saviour the mighty God of her strength For her anguish of spirit and paines in soule when She travelled with her Christ first and now with her

Deut. 33. 17. She is well underlaid then her enemies themselves being judges Ob. But it is said here is more need of Prayers then of praise● Things that seemed to be in so forward a way are now set back God now seems to stand still or if he goes forward it is in carrying His Church to the Mountaine of straits An. I might answer things are never in so good and setled an estate but there is matter for prayer nor never in so bad and low an estate but there is matter for praise as in the case of Iehosaphat d But this would not be to the mind and sense of the Obiection which is this That the Church should be so much taken up now with her streights that s●e might very well forget prosperity all the good that God hath shewn her these former yeares Now God forbid There be some indeed upon whom you loose all your formet courtesies unlesse you still follow them with new and fresh favours every day e Nonnulli ita comparati sunt ut antiqutora benefici● subvertas nisi nova posterioribus cumules quamlibe● sape obligati si quid unum tamen neges hoc unum meminerunt quod negatū est Plin. epist. 2 King 20. 19. Some there be who have an hundred blessings and with them but one Crosse but that one Crosse sowres all their sweets clouds and hides all their blessings from their eyes The Church not so Good is the word of the Lord said the good King which thou hast spoken What did he speake Heavy tydings yet saith the good King Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken Is it not good if peace and truth be in my dayes The good King was not carelesse what would befall the Church and His House when he must be taken thence and gathered to his Fathers O no doubtlesse those tydings went to his very heart touching those things which should befall to the House of God his house and his sonnes after him O it was bitternesse bitternesse but yet the Word of the Lord is good It was matter of Admiration and everlasting praise That God had shewen him so much good had wrought such Deliverances for him That his eye had seene such salvations That when his Father Abaz had wrought such abominations in Iudah yet his sonne should see such salvations in Israel and which is the vision indeed peace and truth all his dayes This was matter of wonder yea of praise and thanke both It is so with the Church they consider well of their straits now and that these may be yet greater and yet a signe for good They can consider that the Church is not cast so farre-backe yet but she may be cast yet farther even to the place of Dragons she hath not seene nor heard the worst yet so it may be nor is she carelesse of what she sees or heares No she feeles them and ponders things in her heart but so as she holds fast her confidence and she must shew her selfe exceeding thankfull for all the Good her Lord hath done for her the last year That when her people were ripe for judgement as the corne for the sickle yet there was not a cutting downe Truly when she doth but thinke of it she is as one in a dreame her spirits faile her But this she would say if Desolations should follow such salvations as these which she cannot believe if the Lord should send unto her sad tydings such as would make the hearers eares tingle Why yet The word of the Lord is good and He is good to Israel Blessed be His Name for His salvations notwithstanding for what He hath done for ever blessed be His name And because we have Peace and Truth ●n these dayes these fierce d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 8. 28. dayes these perillous e 2 Tim. 3. 1. dayes yet Peace an● Truth in these dayes But yesterday almost not a yeare agoe we thought that Truth was perished and Peace was taken from the earth We should never heare of that any more no more peace no more Truth in our dayes * 1 Sam. 4. 21. I-CABOD was in every mans mouth The Glory is departed yet not so Behold Peace and Truth even in these dayes You will say no Warres ●nd rumours of warres in these dayes True and yet Peace and Truth in these dayes The Church contends for Truth she maintaines it and will hold it fast till she dyes and not let it goe Why then Though the mountaines be removed and hu●led into the Sea yet her peace cannot be shaken Though the Kingdoms be moved she stands still Reader you and I may learne from thence Maintaine we Truth contend we for that and Truth will maintaine us Hold fast Truth and we keep Peace God hath joyned these together Man shall not be able no nor the Gates of Hell nor power nor policy to separate these they are still together they kisse each other And that is the Reason That when we are full of stirres a tumultuous people The Righteous at such a time stand still and are a quiet habitation But I recall my selfe Thus the Church concludes Though the Lord should make Desolations now in the earth Though He should stretch over us The line of Germany and the plummet of Ireland yet the Righteous stand bound to Record the Salvations He hath wrought The Righteous are not a sullen froward people as we are All the mercies we have are nothing in our eyes because there is something wanting as still there will be in the most accomplished the most completed condition here below But I say because it is so some want there is still therefore all our mercies so great so many lye buried in us under that clod of discontent As I said before so now The Church not so Though she should walke in the shadow of death Though she were stricken into the place of Dragons yet would they Record the yeare of the Right hand of the Lord when He wrought so wonderfully such salvations in Israel And this is the taske she is addressing her selfe unto but she cannot hastily recollect her spirits as she would doe for she would call upon all within and without to praise his Holy Name SECT III. The Church opens the Records begins to reade but must pause a little being taken off with Admiration THe Church is taken w●th the works of her God as the Queene of Sheba was with the wisedome of Salomon and the magnificence of his Court When she had seen all that There was no more spirit in her a 2 Chron 9. 4. Fame which creates somthing of nothing hath made whose Kin●doms and peopled them with her owne inventions reported not the halfe of Salomons wisedome It exceeded the Fame that was heard * 1 King 10. 7. Fame fals as short in these Transcendents which we are upon Therfore there is the same reason and greater That the Church should be so

affected now as that Queen was at that time For behold a greater then Salomon is here and a greater Glory is put forth in His works now then could be seen in Salomons Court She must be in an amaze when she beholds the admirable strange and unsearchable wayes of Providence towards her this last yeare He made a path for her in a wildernesse turned the drought of her Summer into fresh Springs A poore blind b Isa 42. 16. Handmaiden She her Lord leads her in paths she could never have discerned never have spyed out with all her search by a way she knew not never thought of No as hid from her eyes as were the unsearchable wayes of her first Redemption Her Adversary led her more then once as they did her Lord to the brow of the Hill c Luk 4. 29. thinking verily to cast her downe headlong But her Lord wrought gloriously for her escape For as her Lord then so She now passed through the midst of them and went away She wondred how she escap't and was at that time as one in a dreame but being well awakened and comming to her selfe she remembred her Lord whose she is and whom she serves He upheld her with His hand But what thanks and praise are due to her God Who let out the wrath of man and gave it the more Scope so as the more it was let out the more it might praise Him Who so ordered the worke of an imperious whorish woman d Ezek. 16. 30. such was the Church in name so and her works such for she w●s impudently bold and past all shame whom they commonly called the Church to worke thereout good to his people To cause the summoning of a Parliament To make it hold and that a caution was put in for after-times What a confluence of mercies is in all this What abundant matter of praise And that when the Priests for the most part were brutish and the people but a little more reasonable as froward as that Israelite who co●nted reforming a killing * Exod. 2. 4. Y●t such a Parliament notwithstanding Who have layd a foundation of mercy for themselves and their posterity even for all the generations to come But I must not huddle up things so nor throng them together remembring That the greatest wonder which most engageth the hearts of the Righteous was wrought before the Parliament sate Therefore I shall take leave to begin according to my proposed Method and to set downe two Moneths which are not in our late Kalenders and then the Churches collections there-out in the same order Surely September there I shall begin it shall be to us the first beginning of Months the first Moneth of our Iubile to us For in that Moneth the Lord began to bring His Church out of Egypt with a mighty hand and to set His face against His Adversaries and toward His people And because He proceeded on toward the accomplishment of what He had begun and to make Himselfe knowne and to get a Name and everlasting praise all the Moneths after in allusion to the Spirits words touching Moses I will say of this yeare There hath not been a yeare since the Redemption like unto this yeare in all the signes and the wonders which the Lord hath done in the Land of Egypt To the Pope and to all his servants and to all his Land And in all that mighty hand and in all the great terrour which the Lord shewed in the sight of all Israel * Deu● ult ● CHAP. VI. September 1641. The Product thereof The Overtures and strange turnings of things therein SECT I. September The Product thereof AFter a strong commotion the waters will be sometimes swell'd and unquiet so likewise in our Sea This Moneth came in boysterously partaking very much in the malignancy of the Constellation then raigning The Souldiers for we must speak plaine English in the Countrey-mans eare busled after their manner but against all expectation The Priests high and low did more hurt good I should say yet no thanke to them for the good God ordered ●t so and produced it as He did the light out of darknesse for th●y were more cordiall then the souldiers they prayed against the Scots heartily and would set their people a praying too They would force the people to impossibilities To blesse God and curse Man perhaps because the Priests could skill in it Blesse with their mouth and curse inwardly * Psal 62. 4. But so the Bishops ordered it and so there was praying on both sides one side prayed in paper the other in prayer d Iam. 5. 17. And that the contrary side might pray in more faith the Scots were written Rebels upon every Post and Pillar by the Secretary himselfe It was time to rage and pray too for he had but a short time But when the cry against the Scots was great and the clamour against them very grievous it pleased the Lord to come downe and see whether they had done according to the cry and behold they had not But the oppression violence and wrong done against them was according to the cry So He stirred up the hearts of the Nobles and Commons both to fall upon their knees and petition God and their King That matters might be heard and a way thought on to stop the great wrath that was pressing in like a floud Then the Nobles went towards the North there the Clouds of bloud gathered and there the Heavens were darkest with a select company of the Commons And by the good hand of God upon the King and his good people a Parliament was resolved upon and newes thereof spread apace and came posted to London the 23d. of this Moneth About this time there were many meetings of Ministers every where and grave consultations about a new Oath and damn'd it was by every mouth to the very pit whence the Bishops with their c. digged it for there was a digging to Hell to hide their counsell c. At this time also the Bishop visited by his Chancellour and the new Oath was so corrupt that it made the old one very unsavoury So the businesse was carried in a great deale of heate and hurrey just as it is when two sturdy Rogues fall a swearing that which comes next to hand is their weapon and then no wise man Will come neare them Then the Chancellor with c. turned their backs and shifted Here began the troubles which shrowdly shaked the Hierarchy with c. Thus we have the product of this Moneth as it were in the grosse summe and how the end tended to a calme with them who heartily prayed for faire weather SECT II. The Churches Collections hence yeelding matter of praise and wonder in the strange Overtures and turning of things upside downe VVE were now full of stirres a tumultuous Nation indeed but the Church a quiet habitation still Notwithstanding the contrariety of wils and motions in the

World She could stand still waiting the salvation of her God though indeed she s●w plainly That she was in a wildernesse where she saw no path Then the Church remembred the Lord and was comforted He is wonderfull in all His Administrations but especially in these which He worketh in a wildernesse Now the Church could leane on her Beloved O how willingly did she reach forth her hand to Him who is given a Leader and Commander to the people a Isa 55. 4. Marke that He is a sure Leader to His Church Who The Lord Christ for He commands her The Church heares no other voice obeyes no other but as commanding from His mouth and leading unto Him This in passage But I say how willingly and confidently did the Church reach forth her hand to this Leader and Commander she did assure her heart a 1 Iohn 3. 13. He would leade her because He doth command her He could and is able to leade her because He maketh a way in the Sea and a path in the mighty waters He bringeth forth the Charet and the Horse the Army and the Power b Isa 43. 15 16. c. The Lord did the same thing now He made a way in the Wildernesse and Rivers in the Desart So He lead His people even those Ver. 19. that are commanded by Him The manner how commands our Marke He brought the blinde by a way He lead them in paths that they have not knowne He made darknesse light before them and crooked things straight These things He hath done unto them and not forsaken them c Isa 42. 16. Truly This Scripture is this day fulfilled in our eyes The Church commands us to observe it in these particulars wherein it will appeare That the Lords Thoughts Thoughts of Mercy and of Peace were as high above mine or yours nay above the Churches Thoughts as the Heavens are above the Earth It appeareth d Isa 55. 8. ● thus SECT III. What our Thoughts were how high the Lords thoughts were above the Churches thoughts ¶ 1. OUr eyes were in the Heavens as in such times it is our manner a Sol nisi cum de sicit spe●tatorem non ha● ● c. Sen. ●nd behold they were very darke and covered with thick clouds Our thoughts were and strait-way thus we said there will be a great storme So it was a Starme indeed haile-stones and coles of fire beating sore ●gainst all expectation upon the hairy scalpe of the wicked Man but a sweet shower to the City of God sweetely and seasonably refreshing them as the after-raine the parched ground We looked up againe to Heaven whether else should we looke for peace seem'd to be taken from the Earth but behold it was very red I purposely speake in the Almanack-M●kers Dialect strait way we said for such our Thoughts were it will be wind and so it was against all expectation and that which was threatned b Ier. 4. 11. a wind indeed but not a dry wind for it did fan and cleanse even a f●ll wind ●gainst high places scattering the wicked as with the breath of Gods mouth and so they did flee as the chaffe before the vvind or as they fled from before the Earth-quake c Zach. 14. 5. So they did flee but hearken what the Lord such He that fleeth of them shall not flee away and he that escapeth o● them shall not be delivered d Am. 9. 1 2 3. Thus the Lord h●th said for after-time and thus He hath done now ever blessed be His Name ¶ 2. VVE heard of warres and nothing but rumors of warres preparation thereto on every side strait way we said for our thoughts were The Sword will be bathed in Heaven e Esa 34. 5. it will be made drunke vvith the bloud of the slaine And so it was in part but it was in the bloud of the Men of blouds that were to call forth to battle and to be leaders thereunto A wonder this also and wrought by Him Who spake of old and made it good now Behold they shall surely gather together but not by Me whosoever shall gather together against Thee shall fall for thy sake f ●sa 44. 15 16 17. c. ¶ 3. VVE beheld here a Troope and there a Troope straight-way we ●aid Lord these are called forth to destroy Thy Iudah and to curse Thy Israel And it was so in the intention of the Adversary and a ●●kely choyce he had made for they were of that number and choyce ones for that purpose to vvhom their spirituall Fathers so they will be called because they savour so much of the Spirit gave an Advousion of liberty and choyce of sports cryed downe by the Heathen g Aug. de civ Dei cap. 31 32 33. vvhich they might take on the Lords-day Certainly said Dion h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dion Orat. 79. speaking of Liberty Hee made bad Lawes indeed he gave a wicked Liberty and writ grievousnesse who prescribed such Decrees and gave such a Liberty which could please none but the bad Such a Liberty was this on the Lords-day which the Bishops gave to the people And see the luck of it the Bishops grant was too large it gave the people more scope then in manners they would take on the Lords-day and so thus they requited their great Dons vvhen it vvas expected that these people vvho had such an Advousion of Liberty as this from the hands of their good Lords should now gratifie the said Lords in fulfilling the whole pleasure of their will they did cleane contrary for vvheras they were called out to curse even these in their manner blessed altogether i Num. 23. 11. and threw-out vvhat the Bishops had brought-in the Rails and Mock-gods there What this people did more needeth not my Relation ●t is vvell known every vvhere all the Land over and vvell observed it vvas even as a vvonder in the eyes and ears of all ¶ 4. VVE saw some of these Troopes hasting towards the North gathered into a mighty body there Instruments of cruelty prepared and sent downe All meanes used vvhich Achi●ophel could suggest vve remember vvhat his councell vv●s even to make an irreconcileable difference betweene Father and Sonne all to set Ephraim against Manasses and Man●sses against Ephraim both against THY IVDAH And so it vvas in the intention of the Adversary But to say so now as one hath done vvhen he praid too vvere a bold arrogant and impious speech if not blasphemous for behold to the admiration of the vvorld Angels and Men the Breach made up a peace concluded and so concluded That it is a Statute now and an Ordinance in Israel That Iudah must rejoyce and Israel must be right glad So they vvill and they vvill tell it to their children and so down-ward and not barely so and no more but they vvill speake thereof vvith rejoycing vvhat the Adversary intended how the Lord disappointed

integrity obedience more beautifying then a Crowne performed to Gods command in sincerity This will doe it even all the fore-mentioned And we are convinced hereof by a common light and naturall principles and can conclude therefrom when we are our selves that vve should give out our strength and be most active for the first and last thing in the PROTESTATION To maintaine RELIGION in it's purity and the BROTHER-HOOD in Sincerity for therein are contained the very strength and spirits of the Covenant as hath been said and cannot be to often thought upon But now vvhat blunts the edge of our indeavours and affections this way comes now seriously to be considered on ¶ 3. Our Priests who pretend to lead us mislead us destroying all that the Church doth for our building up to the subverting of our soules and the putting out of a common light by their common and unclean conversation The Church points us to a more excellent way VVE are naturally blind and cannot see farre off * 2 Pet. ● 9. We are not instructed to discretion not so discerning as to approove the things that are excellent much lesse to contend for them And a great cause hereof is we are naturally stupid and blind a spirit of infirmity naturally boweth dovvne but I say a chief cause is without us in our guides and leaders for the most part blind and yet they leade us Many of them preach once in a Yeare perhaps some of them once a Moneth and not a sound word of Doctrine then comes from them but their TEXT Their practise is as bad it corrupts like a canker We observe that and nothing else we see they oversee nothing amongst us with any care or diligence but their Easter-booke and their Tythes all the yeare after That hath been the complaint against Bishops from Dayes of old to this present Day a See Hist of the Councel of Trent 2. p. 252. p. 216. Non magis de pāscen●o grege cogi tant quam sutor de arando Pastors now a dayes the werst part of the think no more of feeding the flock then a Cobler do's of the plough Cal Ins 4. cap. 5. Sect. 1● 13. And if our SEERS doe so we think and are perswaded we may do so too mind Earth and do well enough for Heaven for they do so and yet they know better and see farther then wee can see for they are called Seers The Lord unscale their eyes and unvaile their hearts and deliver His people from these murderers because of whom the Churches soul is wearied b Ier 4. 31. The Lord stirre up your hearts to pitty the Countryes round about yet more For vve are in a sad condition if we saw it Our Teachers are as you heare and the People content to have it so Truly had not the Oppressor touched us in that we make our god outward profits and Priviledges vve should never have complained what violence the Priests had done to the Law of God to the House of God to His vvorship there we regarded not but what violence the Judges did to the Laws of Man that we regarded and then vve could howle Truly we mind not what bands you have broke nor what yoakes c Facile est quicquid in praesenti seculo nocet illud grave illud perniciosum quod in aeternitate iugulabit Salv d● Eccl. Cath. l 2. 410. you have taken off the necks of Ministers Nor that you have advanced the Scepter of the Lord Christ and that worship which is according to the Rule and mind of God these things we mind not No nor that you have troubled the troublers the Achans That you have searched their Tents and found out the Babilonish garments We regard these things no more then Gallio did the beating of Sosthenes for so we are instructed Our Prophets for the most part prophesie to us of wine and strong drinke which pleaseth the sense well and our walking is thereafter we regard only our Oyle and Wine And yet upon sadder thoughts vvhen we think as men we are halfe convinced That this our walking is not right That rivers of Oyle and wine i. e the marrovv and fatnesse and fullnesse of the world is but emptinesse and will ●ot satisfie All this reacheth but to the body no farther and vvill leave us or vve them on this side the grave We can consider sometimes that vve have a Spirit within us vvhich is called the soule a vast large and capacious thing It can measure and graspe all the fore-mentioned all the things in the world and when all is done find but an emptinesse in all We are able to consider That the vvorld cannot satisfie this soule no more then can the East-wind the stomach It is Heaven and the great things there which can satisfie this great capacity vvhich can vviden and stretch forth it selfe like the Heavens The soule may goe from creature to creature as the Bee from flower to flower and be as restlesse still and as unquiet in its motion as is the needle not pointed right and so must be till it be pointed stedfast to Heaven All this vve can consider and upon due consideration approove the things that are excellent But then we behold our Priests and are quite off againe seeing them vvalke like men nay many of them more like be●sts I would rather my tongue were silent in darknes then it should cast a note of contempt upon outward civility These have not so much but as beasts could they phancy happines would place it in fat pastures and sweet waters so do these droves and heards of men This is a mighty snare unto us lead not so much by rule as by example * Persuade● lingua iubet vitae Athan. ad Monachos The Tongue perswades the life commands We consider not what ought to be done but what is done by our betters and thereafter we practise as our leaders do as if what they did vvere well done and as if outvvard things could inwardly satisfie This digression is necessary declaring how our minds stand Now I must shew That the Church is of another mind and so make vvay to the scope ¶ 4. The Church desires to prosper as her soul may prosper Contends for the advancing of Christs Kingdom prefers inward enlargements before outward priviledges ESaues ENOVGH a Gen. 33. 9. Gen. 6. will not content the Church though that be much or a great deale Iacobs ENOVGH b Gen. 33. 9 1● only contents her which inwardly satisfies and fills up the vast capacity of the soule This God alone doth Who is Iacobs ENOVGH for HE is ALL. The Churches Sons and D●ughters looke after those things which may further them in their way Heaven-ward such things as will make their soules to prosper are to their mind and heart They looke after spiritu●ll enlargements they would have their Lord Christ to be highly ●d●anced in the world It would rejoyce them at the heart to see

I heare the most part of it nay some say all that is properly called the Liturgie ariseth out of the corruptest sinke that is in the world the Popes Masse-book and that had it's originall spring out of mans brain 5. THAT SERVICE WHICH FLOWES NOT FROM HEAVEN IS ODIOUS TO HEAVEN Be it so then ODIOVS this Service must be for the Reason afore-said for the worst part of it flowes from the Priests mouth now and he derives it as was said from the most corrupt person and booke the ●ope and his Masse-book The Church now makes no conclusions from the premisses against some set formes of CONFESSION THANKES REQV●ST c. It being the judgement of the gravest and most learned Divines that such set-formes may be and must be Indeed the Doctours words seeme at the first view and more then seeme if they be narrowly looked into cleane against them set Formes I meane But the Church concludes nothing No she leaves all determinations and conclusions at the foot of her Lord and of His Word and under that authority she concludes her soule and she expects That all her Sonnes vvill in their consultations touching this great businesse stand like the stalke of a Ballance leaning to no side neither to the right nor left but just as the Churches Standard the MIND and WILL OF GOD expressed in the sacred Scripture shall sway them just so But for this Liturgie so distracted so mangled so like torne flesh so complying vvith the Masse-booke all along and so filling up the houre so as vvhen the Minister hath ended his Liturgie he thinkes he hath done service enough to the Church that part of the Day For this Liturgie the Church thinkes there can no sufficient reason be given for the continuance of it and therefore her Sonnes and Daughters will write this Day vvhen the weake overcame the strong and the fewest in number prevailed over the spirituall Lords even that Day the NINTH OF SEPTEMBER And that we may set a fuller marke yet upon that Day the Church would have us note two ACTS of the spirituall Lords very notable both and the consequence there-from The one bearing date from the 16. of Ianuary 1640 and issued forth by bill the ninth of September following for the feoffi●g this Liturgie by their last will and testament upon the Church her sonnes and daughters for ever wherein their spirits vvere so servent that they were consumed in their owne fire The other Act bearing date the ●9 of December 1641. whereby they would have made void ●ll that the Lords ●nd Commons more spirituall then they had done for the Church and Common-wealth Presently after their former Act so full of that we sometimes call Spirit This word SPIRITVALL was cast out of the bill we might reade it there this once and then no more for ever By the●r l●st Act ●f Subscription full of the same spirit also their LORDSHIPS were c●st out of the house and with their owne hands H●●ein the Re●aliation of the Lord was wonderfull how He meeted forth unto them the portion of their measures because they forgot Him and trusted in false hood d I●● 13. 25. But this belongs to the yeare following we are to write this day even this same Day the ninth of SEPTEMBER for then the Church put-in a Caveat That the spirituall Lords last Will and Testament might prove null and of none effect The Church must name that Day also so she can and give it a very proper name as once it was when the Lord wrought wonderfully for His people Thus we reade That the Lords of the Philistines came up against Israel presently after Israel had powred out themselves before the Lord Then Israel cryed unto the Lord and to their Seer that hee would cry for them in the eares of the Lord So he did for he knew his duty and he cryed so long till he got a great Thunder out of Heaven upon the Philistines and discomfited them So they were smitten before Israel 1 Sam 7. Where we note in passage that Samuell is the man of warre and his Lord the God of Hosts all creatures serve Him great and small high and low Fire and Haile Snow and Vapours stormy wind which execute His Word b Ps 148. 8 It was so here The Seer hee prayes offers Sacrifice and then the Lord thundred And now that the Lord had made a Breach upon the enemy Israel pursues them and smote them untill they came unto Bethcar Now the Prophet hath his mouth as wide opened in praise as before in prayer and not onely so but he sets up a Monument to keepe in mind this admirable Deliverance he tooke a stone setting it up and called the name thereof EBEN-EZAR saying HITHERTO the Lord hath helped us His glory hath been a REREWARD c Isa 58. 8. hitherto This must be the Name of the Day a good Day and a good name HITHERTO The Church commands her Sonnes and Daughters to set-up quickly this Monument to His praise while the Mercy is fresh for as the Eele out of the hand so Mercies slip out the mind Wee have still need of Remembrancers and none like this To remember this Day and that HITHERTO the Lord hath helped us But because this HITHERTO is counted by some a small Mercy the Church will reason out the case with a bruitish people at this Standard turning her selfe unto her Lord. ¶ 1. A wonderfull mercy and must have everlasting praise That the Lord hath brought his Church HITHERTO IS this the manner of Man Lord God I must answer no Kings of the Earth will not do so If they be crossed yea but a little they will rage 2 Sam. 7. 19. very much shew much wrath they will be avenged if they can seven-fold yea seventy-and seven-fold Nay vve poore men low creatures vvormes of the Earth cannot beare injury and wrong our patience is tired-out presently and we will be avenged vve will not stick to say in our haste vengeance is ours we will repay Can two Men walke together except they be agreed b Amos 3. 3● No for they will flie one in the others face presently There vvas a greate disagreement betwixt God and His people even now at this time yet behold He and they walke together HITHERTO We vv●lked most contrary He not so but most comfortably with us HITHERTO Wee maintained w●rre against God yet HITHERTO God hath helped us Wee thought He would have st●rred up all His vvrath and have consumed us utterly Hee stirred up all His bowells and so brought us HITHERTO for as we reade He is God and not Man * Hos 11 9. But to put this mercy home and to make it sinke down into our hearts The Church tels us more That as this is not the Manner of Man so nor of God neither The Lord hath wrought a new thing upon Earth amongst us in our Land It is not His Manner to use such patience