multitude of unstable spirits in the land who change in their principles upon every occasion of whom ye are admonished to beware Prov. 24. 21. My son fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change Hearken not unto them have nothing to do with them that are every day devising a new cut in regard of religious and civil matters And he giveth you fix Reasons against this unsetledness of spirit and against intermedling with them that are so changeable in Verse 22. For their calamity shall rise suddenly and who knoweth the ruine of them both 1 Calamity shall be the portion both of these changlings and of those that meddle with them their calamity shall rise c. neither of them shall escape danger Gideous idolatry in making an Ephod putting it in his own city became a snare to him and to his house and to all Israel Judg. 8. 27. it brought much misery upon them 2 This calamity shall rise as a bird out of the bush unthought of by such ways and means as are not by us imaginable by some extraordinary hand of God As it fell out with King Uzziah who would needs invade the Priests office to burn incense in the temple but the Lord in a miraculous manner plagued him the leprosy even rose upin his forehead saith the Text 2. Chron. 26. 19. 3 It shall rise suddenly before it can be thought of Prov. 6. 15. Tberefore his calamity come suddenly suddenly shall he be broken without remedy They shall have no time to parley with it 4. This calamity shall end in ruine in a total destruction the misery of such persons shall be capital Thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked saith Habbakkuk in his prayer Chap. 3. 13. God will utterly destroy them 5 It shall be the ruine of them both They that are given to change and they that meddle with them shall fare both alike Not onely Korah Dathan and Abiram did perish for their innovation in matters appertaining to religion and civil government but also those two hundred and fifty princes that were ensnared by them and drawn into that mutany as you find Numb 16. 31-35 6 This ruine shall be unexpressible unconceivable Who knoweth it who is able to declare how great it shall be Ye shall not doubt have many giddy phanatick spirits fawning upon you who will seek to unsettle your judgments and to turn you out of the right and old way for these croaking frogs swarm in every corner Therefore stand your ground be well resolved in your own judgments And as you must be well settled in your judgments so you must take good courage to carry on the work before you and to withstand all difficulties you shall encounter with This befitteth your place Be strong and of a good courage saith the Lord to Joshua Ch. 1. 6 7 9. And stir up one another in the words of Joab 2 Sam. 10. 12. Be of good courage and let us play the men for our people and for the Cities of our God and the Lord do that which seemeth him good V. Lastly Ye must also be unanimous of one heart and of one spirit in your counsels and consultations else ye shall never be able to save the people from falling Though Counsellors be many and prudent yet if they fall to division among themselves and side into parties and make factions the people can have no hope of safety and protection from them but must needs be in continual fears and jealousies This was it that put the Israelites into very sad thoughts in the time of their war against Jabin the King of Canaan because that the Reubenites were divided from them in that enterprize and made more account of their own security than of employing themselves any way for the assistance of their brethren in that common danger Judg. 5. 15 16. For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart Divisions and factions in counsels are sad signs to a Land or to a particular person When that Ahitophel counselled Absalom to fall upon David while he was weary and weak-handed and on the otherside Hushai advised to protract the time untill a great army could be prepared to fight a set battel 2 Sam. 17. 1-13 you know what ruine it brought at last upon Absalom and his party It is strange to observe how great miseries and calamities befell both to Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal or Gideon and likewise to the men of Shechem after that God had sent an evil spirit of division between them Judg. 9. 23. they rested not till they had contrived and effected each others destruction But unity and oneness in counsels doth usually procure safety We use to say viâ— unita fortior and it is a truth Many arrows bound together are strong but being divided asunder they are weak and easily broken in pieces I know that I am speaking to such worthy Persons as are very sensible of the bitter fruits of divided counsâ—ls no people in any age have been more disturbed by factions and parties than we have been Wherefore I humbly beg two Petitions of you who are to be our Representatives in this great Council 1 That ye keep a full accord among your selves Fall not out by the way was the good advice of Joseph to his brethren Gen. 45. 24. Satan and his instruments will do their utmost to divide you watch therefore I beseech you against all temptations in this kind you cannot be too heedfull The Apostle Paul giveth excellent counsel which I also give unto you Rom. 16. 17. Mark them which cause divisions and offences and avoid them have nothing to do with such men 2 That ye also hold a full correspondence in your counsells with your brethren in the other nations that live under the same government with you and particularly with the Parliament of England now so mercifully restored to their freedom and with those that they shall leave in Government during the interval of Parliament From them you have received eminent assistance in your national distress O let it never be forgotten by you The Islands of great Brittain and Ireland are like two bottles swimming in the water if they clash they break or rather they are like a gallant ship and a small boat floating in the Ocean if they dash one against the other by reason of winds and tempests the boat is in great danger to be sunk or split in pieces Think not that you are able to stand alone in taking advice with England will be your honour and safety and a threefold cord is not easily broken as Solomon observeth Eccles 4. 12. Some of you have already made a Covenant and league of friendship with them with hands lifted up to the most high God you must not onely vow but pay your vows to God most high Psal 50. 14. Having thus spoken concerning the Qualifications of Counsellors that would save a Nation I am
are defective Secondly If ye would have true Religion to thrive and flourish then ye must also set upon the doing of those things which may promote and advance Religion I will instance onely in five things which if done would magnify our Religion wherein I become your most humble Petitioner in Christs stead 1 There is nothing can exalt Religion so much as a godly learned orthodox and painful Ministry It is said of good King Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. 17. 6. that his heart was lift up in the ways of God As if the Holy Ghost had said thus of him He did most zealously seek to promote and advance the true religion of God But what course took he to advance it That you shall see in the three next verses He provided carefully that all his people might be taught and instructed in Religion he sent teaching Levites and able Ministers into all parts of the land and Magistrates also with them to protect and encourage them in their Ministry And it is said of King Josiah that he encouraged the Priests and Levites to the service of the house of the Lord 2 Chron. 35. 2 3. That was the way he made use of for the settling of Religion Therefore I intreat That persons unordained to that great work and who despise that great Ordinance of Christ may not be admitted into any Ministerial employment in this Church and Nation That such Ministers ordained as are ignorant scandalous or unsound in judgment in the fundamentals of Religion may not be admitted to any pastoral charge in the Land That those who are already crept in may upon due proof be suspended from their places and in case they reform not ejected That all good endeavours be used to store every congregation with such a soul-saving Preacher as may seed them with knowledg and understanding And That timous care may be taken to encourage such Ministers least themselves and their families starve for want of outward necessaries whilst they deal forth their spirituals to others 2 The settlement and due administration of that Discipline or Cburch-Government which Christ hath appointed to be in his Church is of singular use to pluck up the weeds that the wheat may flourish This is that fence of Gods vineyard spoken of Isa 5. 2. that serveth both to keep in the godly and to keep out the ungodly The want of this holy discipline is a great ground of lamentation Herein I intreat That forasmuch as the matters of Church Government are of so great weight and importance ye would please therein to walk hand in hand with our Brethren in the other parts of these Dominions and That all such matters may be concluded of by a Synodical Assembly of the three Nations 3 The due administration of all Christs holy Ordinances and Institutions makes much to the flourishing condition of Religion in the Land especially of those that are the sealing Ordinances and the misusage or non-usage of those Ordinances is our great reproach in all the reformed Churches These are the food of our souls I therefore pray That all such Ministers as have the care of Congregations may be required to administer all Christs Ordinances even the sealing Ordinances to duly qualified persons within their precincts though as yet the Government of the Church be not setled Methinks it is sad that any of the Lords people should be deprived of their spiritual food and so famish whilst we are contending which is the best way of carving it out unto them And That none be permitted to administer any of the sealing Ordinances save in the parishes whereof they are Pastors unless it be by the consent of the Minister in whose Parish they desire to administer them 4 Catechising in the principles of Religion is also an excellent way and mean to propagate Religion and cause it to flourish This is milk for babes in Christ And it is for want of the due performance of this by Ministers Parents and Masters of Families that there is so little found knowledge and understanding in the Land My request therefore is That ye will by all due ways and means shew your approbation of the way of Catechising and That ye will as ye have opportunity stir up all sorts of persons in their several places to a consciencious performance of their duty therein 5 Lastly Schools of Learning do also contribute much to the flourishing state of Religion Those are the nurseries wherein grow up many plants for the use both of Church and Commonwealth May you therefore please to take this also into your serious thoughts and to provide That the University near this City and all such Schools as are already erected and founded may be nourished and maintained That fit Schoolmasters may be provided and well encouraged and That other Schools may also be erected as occasion shall require These things amongst many others that might have been mentioned I have been bold to mind you of from the Lord that so by your counsells ye may prove to be the blessed Physicians of this languishing Church and Nation I shall conclude with that speech of David to his sonne Solomon when he was to build the house of the Lord 1 Chron. 22. 16. Arise therefore and be doing and the Lord be with you The Second Sermon Jude verse 19. These be they who separate themselves sensual having not the Spirit THat it is a duty appertaining to the Ministers of the Gospel to preach the Word of God soundly and sincerely in doctrine shewing incorruptness is a thing that none will deny It is commanded that they use sound speech that cannot be condemned Tit. 2. 8 9. But that is not all that Ministers have to do they stand bound also to preach seasonable Truths otherwise they shall be found wanting in their duty toward the people of God We are informed that the right timing of a thing is that which setteth a lustre upon it Eccl. 3. 11. Every thing is beautiful in its time fruit is the best when it is ripe words though they may be truths yet lose their beauty if unseasonably spoken And therefore Solomon hath an excellent Proverb for this Prov. 25. 11. A word fitly spoken or upon its wheels as it is in the margine with a due concurrence and observation of all its circumstances Is like apples of gold in pictures of silver pleasant as apples profitable as gold and silver When the Apostle Peter observed the giddy humours of Sectaries Apostates from the faith which once they had professed he makes this the work of that time by all good means to confirm the Saints in the truth against those phantasies and to that end writeth an Epistle to them 1 Pet. 5. 12. Exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein they stand So when Paul observed that the City of Athens was wholly given to idolatry he bendeth himself to this seasonable doctrine even to declare to them that God whom they did ignorantly worship
Act. 16. 23. Ministers must preach such points as may be of most use for the present occasion Now the special work upon Fasting dayes is to humble the soul for sin God requireth that on the tenth day of the second month which was the aniversary day of humiliation to Israel they should afflict their souls Lev. 16 29. 31 and threatneth Chap. 23 29 that whatsoever soul it shall be that shall not be afflicted on that same day shall be cut off from among his people Hence it is that the word of God ought to be preached upon the Fasting day that so the people may be brought to sound repentance and humiliation for sin and so made more fervent in their supplications to God for pardon As appeareth by that direction the Prophet Jeremiah giveth to Baruch Jer. 36. 6. 7. Go thou saith he and read in the roll which thou hast written from my mouth the words of the Lord in the ears of the people in the Lords house upon the Fasting day it may be they will present their supplication before the Lord and turn every one from his evil way But how should we mourn for our sins unless we know them That which brought David to true sorrow and heart breaking for his sin was the certain knowledge he had of his own sinful condition I know or acknowledge my transgressions saith he Psal 51. 3. and my sin is ever before me And how should we know our sins so as to mourn for them unless Gods Ministers do their endeavours to discover them to us David of whom mention was made before never repented or mourned for his sins of Adultery and Murder until Nathan the Prophet came unto him and took pains with him in the discovery of them as is clear Psal 51. title you may read the whole history a Sam. Cap. 12. To this end it is that the Lord calleth upon every one of us who are his Heralds Isa 58. 1. Cry aloud spare not lift up thy voice like a trumpet and shew my people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins This alone is the usual way that God taketh for the discovery of sin Yet to make an exact and particular discovery of sin is a thing altogether impossible to be done by any Minister in the world For who can know his own errours Psal 19. 12. how much less the errours that other men are overtaken with Wherefore the Ministers of Christ have used to do in this case of the discovery of sin as he that draweth the Land-skip of a Country or Kingdom who because he cannot describe every bush or tree or house doth therefore take notice onely of the most eminent cities and towns and rivers therein Nathan takes notice of Davids great spots stains onely 2 Sam. 12. 9. Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword and hast taken his wife to be thy wife he speaketh of his great sins So the holy Prophets in their discovery of sin take notice of the foulest as of Ingratitude against God Hypocrisy Covetousness Murder Drunkenness Idolatry Lying Pride Contempt of Gods word Security in sinning and the like The greatest sins are especially to be taken notice of Upon this account that I may discharge my duty aright upon this our Fasting day I have singled out the sin of Separation as the foulest sin of this age and generation and therefore most seasonable to be spoken of that we may be humbled before the Lord our God I know indeed that it is the part of the Lords messengers to cry out against and to endeavour to bring others unto a godly sorrow for all the abominations of the Land for all that gross ignorance superstition and damnable prophanness that is rise amongst us And I doubt not but my brethren that are to beat a part in the work of this day will endeavour to acknowledge all our iniquities and transgressions before the Lord and wrestle with the Lord for the pardon of them But I must ingenuously profess that I conceive the sin of Separation to be the Achan the great abomination of these Lands upon diverse accounts of which I shall speak anon and therefore most to be laid to heart by the Lords people this day To which end I have made choice of this Text These are they who separate themselves c. And before I proceed any further I must first shew the dependance of these words upon those that go before The subject matter of this Epistle is a vehement exhortation of the Apostle Jude to all the godly in all ages That they contend earnestly for the faith which was once committed to the Saints as you see in the third Verse and That they suffer not themselves to be drawn from the faith and belief of the Gospel by those false teachers who were crept in among them unawares in the fourth Verse The arguments by which the Apostle persuadeth with these believers to beware of these seducers are of two sorts I He argueth from the punishments that the Lord hath inflicted upon those sins to which these false teachers endeavoured to seduce them which judgments he layeth down before them in three examples 1 Of the destruction of the people of Israel for their unbelief in the fifth Verse 2 Of the everlasting ruine of the reprobate Angels for their pride in the sixth Verse 3 Of the vengeance of God upon Sodom and Gomorrha for their fornication and buggery in the seventh Verse II He also argueth from the personal vices that raigned in these seducers Whence it was altogether unfit that they should be leaders of these believers and also unsafe that these believers should be followers of them The sins that these seducers were guilty of are reckoned up under thirteen heads in this Epistle two of them are comprised in this Verse viz. 1 Schisme they were such as made a rent in and separation from the Church of God that is laid down in these words These are they who separate themselves 2 Steering their course by sense and carnal reason and not by the Spirit of God in these words Sensual having not the spirit Mine intention is to speak of the first of the sins mentioned in this Verse to which these false Teachers were addicted and which did evidence them to be seducers they were such as did separate themselves from the Church and people of God Where it is to be noted how the Apostle pointeth them out as it were with the finger 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As if he should have said thus Behold observe and mark these men to be vile and pernicious persons for they do willingly cut themselves off from communion with the Church of God The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Estius noteth upon the Text signifieth to lead or allure beyond the bounds of the Church to break the pale thereof A term which I am not ashamed to use though it have been much flouted a◠of late These are they that single
Two Sermons Preached at Christ-Church in the City of Dublin before the Honourable the General CONVENTION of IRELAND The first on Prov. 11. 14. At the first meeting of the said Convention March 2. 1659. The second on Jude v. 19. At a publique Fast appointed by the said Convention March 9. 1659. By Sem Coxe Minister of the Gospel and Pastor at St. Katherines in Dublin DVBLIN Printed by VVILLIAM BLADEN Anno Domini 1660. TO THE HONOURABLE The General CONVENTION of Ireland Worthy Patriots YOur desire which I interpret in the nature of a command hath caused me contrary to mine own disposition and inclination to appear in publique I can behold nothing in these my poor Labours that may deserve your acceptance onely this I can say That I have endeavoured in these two Sermons to discharge a good conscience to God to his Church and to You in particular in which I do and shall find comfort It is no small mercy That plain preaching of seasonable Truths which was formerly stifled by Sectarian spirits is now revived and countenanced through your Patronage this will stand upon your account for good at the great day of the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ I am not ignorant of the rash censures of unstable spirits that have passed upon me for preaching these Sermons because I have medled with their Diana and I expect much more unfriendly dealing now they appear to publique view but I shall say with the Poet Hic murus aheneus esto Nil conscire sibi c. I can speak it in sincerity That I have not intended to bespatter any mans person but to set out the loathsomness which is in the Tenets of those men that have studied under the specious pretence of piety and Christian Liberty to enslave these three nations of England Ireland and Scotland yea and which is worse to unchurch them It is now above thirty years since my reverend and learned Tutor Mr. Arthur Hildersam whose name and praise is yet fresh in the Church of God being in his life time accepted of all the godly though differing in judgment as Fuller witnesseth in his History of Britain Cent. 17. Book 11. did frequently advise me and others to beware of separation from the Church of England which errour began then to be busie in the land assuring me That Separation was likely to be the bane both of Church and State How prophetick his words were the wofull experience of diverse years by past hath sufficiently informed us And therefore whilst he suffered much trouble and restraint under the exorbitances of Prelacy he acted both by preaching and writing against this bitter weed of Separation insomuch as the learned Dr. VVillet in his Epistle dedicatory to Christs College before his harmony upon the first of Samuel stileth him Schismaticorum qui vulgò Brownistae malleum What difference there is between the Brownists formerly and our Separatists now I yet descern not both of them in words and deeds denying to hold communion with our Church save onely that these later have put a fairer dress upon this Monster that it may appear more amiable Being warned by this divine Oracle most consonant to Scripture I have endeavoured ever since the Lord counted me faithful putting me into the Ministry to bear my weak testimony against this general errour of the time both because it is the fruitful mother of manifold Heresies depriving the Church of all means to suppress them and also because from this Church-separation hath proceeded State-separation even to the depriving us of all our birth-privileges as subjects if Gods mercy had not seasonably interposed Now God almighty direct you in those great affairs that are before you and help you in the strength of his holy Spirit to contend earnestly for the faith once committed to the Saints both against schism and heresy on the one hand and also against all prophaness and ungodliness on the other hand That ye may be called the repairers of the breach made in the Church of God the restorers of paths to dwell in that so at the last the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ may be advanced in the power and purity of his Ordinances among us and Ireland may be indeed Insula Sanctorum So still shall pray Yours and the Churches Servant in the work of the Gospel SEM COXE From my study in St. Thomas-street in Dublin March 1659. March the 3. 1659. By the General Convention of Ireland ORdered That Sir Paul Davys Sir Theophilus Jones and Doctor Dudley Loftus be and are appointed a Committee to return the thanks of the Convention to Mr. Coxe for the Sermon preached by him before the Convention yesterday and to desire Mr. Coxe to cause his Sermon to be printed And it is also Ordered That Mr. Coxe be desired by the said Committee to attend the Convention every morning to pray with them before the Sitting Signed by Order Ma. Barry Clerk of the General Convention of Ireland The First Sermon Proverbs 11. 14. Where no counsel is the people fall but in the multitude of Counsellors there is safety THe Proverbs of Solomon the son of David King of Israel are usually methodized under three heads viz. His Ethicks his Politicks and his Oeconomicks His Politicks contain the Doctrine of the Government of Kingdoms or Commonwealths Wherein Solomon treateth of four sorts of Persons that compleat such a Government and make it happy viz. 1 A King or supreme Governor 2 Counsellors of State 3 Nobles Favorites or Courtiers 4 Subjects Where such a Government is the people flourish otherwise they cannot be happy Our Text and our present Occasion lead us to speak concerning Counsellors and their counsels of persons that are called to consult de arduis Reipublicae upon which account ye Noble Senators are convened this day Concerning Counsellors Solomon acquainteth us 1. With the Necessity of them 2. With their Qualifications The first our Text speaketh of wherein the second will also be included So we shall come to the words themselves Where no counsel is the people fall but in the multitude of Counsellors there is safety That this divine Sentence may have the deeper impression upon our hearts let us seriously consider who hath delivered it This shall be laid down in two particulars 1. Solomon who wrote this golden sentence was the wisest man in the world The Holy Ghost informeth us 1 King 4. 30 31. That his wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the East country that is of the Arabians or Chaldeans and all the wisdom of Egypt which was very great as appeareth by that commendation given to Moses Acts 7. 22. that he was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians that he was wiser than all men than Ethan the Ezrahite and Heman and Chalcol and Darda the sons of Mahol None that write of civil politie are to be compared with him Now upon this very account his judgment is to be diligently harkened unto A
Of this the wise man admonisheth Eccl. 3. 1. That to every thing there is a season und a time to every purpose under the sun And verse 11. Every thing is beautiful in its time To time a business aright is the excellencie of wisdom Upon the wisdom or the mistakes in counsels there doth usually follow answerable events Wherefore when the Lord intendeth to destroy a People he doth usually in the first place infatuate their counsels according to that of the Prophet Isa 44. 25. He frustrateth the tokens of the lyers and maketh diviners mad he turneth wise men backward and maketh their knowledg foolish And hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 1. 20. You see then what an extraordinary measure of knowledg you had need to have to capacitate you for this great buisiness Daniel was judged meet to be called unto the Kings Council because the spirit of the holy God was in him even an excellent spirit in knowledg and understanding and wisdom Dan. 5. 11 12. III. Ye ought to be men of publique spirits and must be such if ever ye intend to be a protection and safety to the people Private self-seeking men are not fit to be employed in publique counsels When God called Solomon to bear the Kingly Office in Israel it is said 1 King 4. 29. That he gave him largeness of heart even as the sand that is on the sea shore he was not of a straitned self interested temper I crave leave to enlarge my self in a few particulars 1 Ye must resolve to serve your Country though ye cannot profit your selves at all thereby but should rather waste your own outward estates Nehemiah for twelve years together did not eat the bread of the Governor when the people were in distress as the former Governors had done Neh. 5. 14 15. An excellent pattern Covetousness pursuing after a private profit in publique matters may well be called pestis Reipublicae this is a special thing to be avoided by them that are to judg others Deut. 18. 21. they must hate covetousness 2 A publique spirit will not suffer injuries of any sort to be put upon the people he beareth with and putteth up private in juries with patience but that wrong that is offered to the publique goeth to his heart he cannot brook it It was a noble virtue and a publique spirit in Saul that when a private despite was done unto himself yet he did hold his peace and was silent 1 Sam. 10. 27. But when he heard of the wrong done to his Subjects the men of Jabesh-Gilead by Nahash the Ammonite the Text saith that the spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard these tidings and his anger was kindled greatly 1 Sam. 11. 6. and he rested not till he had relieved them 3 A publique spirit is more sensible of the peoples sufferings and afflictions then of any private mercies that concern himself onely See this in good Nehemiah although he was in high honour cup-bearer to a great King yet he minded not that but his countenance was sad and his heart full of sorrow when he heard of the great affliction and reproach that was befallen his country-men Why should not my countenance be sad saith he Neh. 2. 2 3. when the city the place of my fathers sepulchres lyeth waste and the gates thereof are consumed with fire So also Uriah denieth his own private content upon a publique account 2 Sam. 11. 11. The Ark and Israel and Judah abide in Tents and my Lord Joab and the servants of my Lord are encamped in the open fields shall I then go into my house to eat and to drink and to ly with my wife as the Lord liveth and as thy soul liveth I will not do this thing 4 A publique spirit will not stick at his own private danger though it be apparant but will venture his own person to the greatest hazzard so that he may further the publique interest He will use his sword aswell as his tongue if necessity require it David did fight the Lords battels 1 Sam. 10 17. When religion is in danger he will not spare himself but venture life and limb to uphold it Excellent was the resolution of Queen Esther in this case Chap. 4. 16. I will go in unto the King which is not according to the Law and if I perish I perish He knoweth that he is not born for himself but for his country also and can willingly dye in the service thereof He can say as that reverend Bishop did Moriar ego modo me moriente vigeat Ecclesiae 5 He that hath a publique spirit desireth rather to be useful in his generation then to be great When the Lord puts Solomon to his choise what he would have 1 King 3. 5. He beggeth nothing but a publique spirit Verse 9. Give thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people that I may discern between good and bad for who is able to judge this thy so great a people He asketh not honour and grandure in the world but that he might be useful to the people of God over whom he was placed 6 I will adde but one thing more A man that hath the publique upon his heart will lay aside all private animosities put up all private wrongs and differences rather then endanger the publique peace and settlement of the people When there was some private difference between Abraham and Lot occasioned by their herdmen whence the Canaanite and Perizzite who dwelt in the land might have taken an opportunity to have done hurt to both of them we find that Abraham passeth over that difference and would take no notice of it to the publique disadvantage Gen. 13. 7. 8. 9. Let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee and between my herdmen and thy herdmen for we be brethren Is not the whole land before thee seperate I pray thee thy self from me if thou wilt take the left hand then I will go to she right or if thou depart to the right hand then I will go to the left If the mariners fall out the ship must needs be in jeopardy If private grudges be in the heart the publique concernments are like to suffer I have the rather pressed this duty of publique spiritedness upon you worthy Patriots because you know as well as I that private interest and self seeking in publique affairs have for a long time by past destroyed all our national counsells and consultations IIII Ye ought to be of settled and well resolved spirits and full of courage for God and your country To this end ye have your swords girt How shall ye be able to persevere in seeking the good of Gods house or of the Nation if ye be not resolved and grounded in your Religion and in the Laws of the Land And especially is it requisite at this time that ye be full of immoveable resolution because there is such a