absolution and thereby are emboldned to renue the commission of it That Taxa poenitentiaria amongst the Papists that low rate which is put upon the greatest sinnes in the Popes Custome house so contrary to the word of Truth Rom. 6. 23. The wages of sinne is Death encourages people to the greatest prophannesse Ignorance of the Truth is a fruitefull mother and helpefull nurse both to prophanenesse of practice and to superstition in devotion See it at Athens Act. 17. 22 23. There they were fondly superstitious where their Altar had this inscription To the unknowne God Aquinas attributes the inchoation of Idolatry it selfe To the inordiâ—acy of our affection and our Ignorance of the true God Whence came superstition so much to swarme in the darke ages of the Church because they neglected the word of Truth and followed Tradiâ—ions Hence it is observed that Learning and Religion have falne and risen together When the light of Truth hath beene eclipsed by the decay of learning the heate of Religion hath much declined The weedes of superstition sponte nascuntur will grow of their owne accord in darke corners as having advantage of the soile so much connaturallnesse to peoples corrupt hearts The Popes Chaplaines need not take much pains to teach ignorant soules to be superstitious If Orthodoxe Preachers of the Truth be but suspended we shall soone have reason to complaine with that great man in the Councell of Lateran Piety is almost sunke into Superstition Beware of expressing any indulgence unto such or holding any complyance with them that sell the Truth The whole Tribe of Benjamin came to be extinguished except about sixe hundred onely for countenancing a few sonnes of Beliall in Gibeah who had abused a Levites Wife Judg. 19. and 20. chap. Christ was angry with some of the Churches not onely for being active in evill but passive of evill Rev. 2. 14. 20. The Wisedome of this great Councell hath beene inquisitive after monopolists or any that encroach upon the Common-wealth Give me leave to discover an unhappy Church-confederacy whereby Truth hath beene shamefully sold in many places There are foure sorts of persons herein deepely engaged First Scandalous apostate Professors of the Truth who alienate the Truth from themselves and alienate the mindes of others from the Truth They make the word of God blasphemed Tit. 3. 5. Such are described with blacke Characters by Jude verse 12 13. These are spots in your feasts of Charity when they feast with you feeding themselves without feare clouds they are without water carryed about of windes trees whose fruite withereth without fruite twice dead plucked up by the rootes Raging waves of the Sea foming out their owne shame wandring starres to whom is reserved the blacknesse of darkenesse for ever They are employed in evill workes and they receive answerable wages What unhappy markets such carnall Gospellers make for the Truth you may read in many stories amongst the rest an American Noble-man being perswaded to embrace the Christian Religion demanded First what place was ordained for such as were Baptized Answer was made Heaven and its joyes Secondly what place for them who were not Baptized Answer was returned Hell and its torments Thirdly which of these places was allotted for the Spanyards it was answered Heaven whereupon he renounced his intended Baptisme protesting he would rather goe to Hell with the unbaptized then be in Heaven with the Spaniards Many fall out implacably with the Truth because they finde many professors such unsavory salt Secondly Ignorant and vicious Ministers Some even idoll Priests like the Idols of the heathen The worke of mens hands they have mouthes but they speake not eyes have they but they see not they have eares but they heare not neither is there any breath in their mouthes they that make them are like unto them so is every one that trusteth in them Psalm 135. 15 16 17 18. And indeed it is too often true like Priest like People Ier. 5. 31. Such a creature is not to be found in Christs catalogue who gave some Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers No Prince ever sent dumbe Embassadors Bernard reckoneth up these foure as strange things Speculator caecus praecursor claudus praeco mutus doctor inscius a blinde Watchman a lame Harbinger a dumbe Cryer an ignorant Teacher And indeed a Minister of a vicious life though not grossely ignorant is as dangerous an enemy to true Religion if not sometimes worse as not barely with-holding but corrupting and perverting Truth like Elymas the Sorcerer Act. 13. 10. Yea like Eli his Sonnes 1 Sam. 2. 17. who made the Offerings of the Lord to be abhorred their ungodly lives are often such confutations of their owne and other mens Sermons that many thereby are hardned against the Truth Ezek. 9. 6. the destroying Angell was to beginne at the Sanctuary and there too often beginnes prophanenesse There hath beene long expectation as there is indeed great need of a Parliament visitation to finde out those Chapmen who will sell Gods Truth peoples soules Church-purity with State-liberty for the satisfaction of their lusts Thirdly Such Prelates as ordaine or support these ignorant and vicious Ministers I appeale to you what grosse betrayers of Truth they are How happy had it beene for the Church in England if they who pretend to succeed Timothy had walked by that rule which Paul commended to him 1 Tim. 5. 22. Lay hands suddenly on no man but alas many are aposcopi rather then Episcopi as Espencaeas by-seers rather then over-seers hence such swarmes in the Church of backe-friends unto truth If you enquire when so many grosse deformities crept into the Church Damasus will tell you even then when the Bishops put over the care and performance of Church affaires to others that they might take their owne ease like Harlots that put out their owne children to be nursed by others that themselves in the meane time might satisfie their lusts by such remissenesse Truth was much smothered with a multitude of weedes that overgrew the Church Fourthly Selfe-seeking Patrons are many times deepely accessary to the betraying of Truth in presenting most unworthy Ministers The Lord knoweth how many are so farre from considering the concurring consent of judicious Christians which was much valued in primitive times that they neglect their trust for the good of others and their own soules They will obtrude too often one of Jeroboams Priests one of the lowest of the people 1 Kings 13. 33. They would not chuse a Cooke to dresse their meate that were like to poyson them nor a Physitian though a Kinsman which would probably kill them but too often preferre a dawbing Chaplaine that will comply with their covetous or licentious humour though in the meane time the people be betrayed and the Truth be sold Will you please to consider what a sad meeting this unhappy fraternity will have at the day of Judgment if
Protestations you have made to God by his wonder-working Providence about you and by the dependance the Protestant cause abroad hath upon you stirre up your Resolution in the behalfe of Truth Would you have the name of this Parliament embalmed with everlasting perfume Improve your power for the true Religion Justifie our Magna Charta the grand Charter of Scripture truthes that doth entitle us to Salvation Confirme unto us our Petition of Right establish upon Pastors and Churches so much interest in the power and use of the Keyes as the Word of Truth doth allow them Maintaine amongst us a free course of trading for eternall happinesse set and keepe open those shops such Pulpits such mouthes as any Prelaticall usurpations have or would have shut up Secure to us not onely liberty of person and estate but also liberty of Conscience from Church tyranny that we be not pinched with ensnaring oathes clogged with multiplyed subscriptions or needlesse impositions which will rather increase then compose distractions Together with Priviledges of Parliament let us have Church-priviledges vindicated helpe us to purge out that old leaven whether of Doctrine of Disposition or Persons that we may have Sacraments more purely administred according to the rule of Truth let us be sure of this Militia inviolably setled the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God Ephes. 6. 17. Guard that Magazine wherein are laid up the weapons of our warfare that are mighty through God to the pulling downe of strong holds 2 Cor. 10. 4. So shall we be put into a good posture for Reformation Act undaunted resolution in the prosecution of these religious Designes then may you confidently expect Christs glorious and gracious presence amongst you Luther would assure you thereof Where the Word of Christ doth raigne saith he there are the eyes of Christ fixed on the holy Professors of Truth but where the Word of man reigneth although there were as many Popes as there be leaves in the wood and as many Cardâ—nals as graines of Corne c. As many Bishops as drops of water in the Sea and all of them glittering in Gold and Jewels Gemmati purpurati mulati asinati to maintaine their owne Lawes yet are Christs eyes turned away from them Truth though it must be bought yet it may not be sold The Wisedome of Scripture directs us to severall purchases Isai. 55. 1. Every thirsty soule is invited to Come and buy Waters Wine and Milke Seeke to Christ upon his termes for variety of sweet Soulemercies Rev. 3. 18. We are counselled to buy of Christ Gold tryed in the fire the pure graces of Gods Spirit and the purity of Ordinances Ephes. 5. 16. We must be redeeming the time not only taking opportunities of doing and receiving good when they are offered and seeking them when they are wanting but buying them at any price And indeed Christians should be Chapmen to buy rather then Salemen to sell We are commanded to buy that we may possesse the end of this possession is use what Spirituall commodities we have purchased we must Improve for God and our Soules but not alienate them from our selves There are three sorts of Hucksters will be ready to engrosse the Truth from you if you be willing to sell it Malignant persecutors are engrossing Huckesters who watch to interrupt the liberty of the Truth These even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses resist the Truth men of corrupt mindes Reprobates concerning the Faith 2 Tim. 3. 8. And indeed therefore resist the Truth because their mindes are so corrupt Such the Apostle cals {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} absurd men 2 Thess. 3. 2. Men compact of meere incongruities solaecising in opinion speeches actions and whole life yea unreasonable men For all men have not Faith ver. 2. Religion is the highest Reason nothing more irrationall then irreligion From such spirits arose those conspiracies against the Apostle endevouring to scotch the Charriot-wheeles of Truth when they began first to move No sooner did Steven plead for Truth but some were suborned against him Act. 6. 11. No sooner did Saul beginne to Preach the Truth but opposers began to consult to kill him Act. 9. 23. Though not long before he had beene a busie Apparitor and Pursevant to Arrest the Saints and dragge them to their High-Commission Act. 9. 1. A strange and suddaine change in them as well as in him Origen saith of the Devils No greater torment to them then to see men addicted to the Scriptures The same temper of spirit appeares in the devils agents upon the killing of the witnesses Rev. 11. 10. They that dwelt upon the earth shall rejoyce over them and make merry and shall send gifts one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwell on the earth And therefore they will adventure peace of Conscience and hope of Heaven yea the whole stocke upon it that they may buy up Truth out of the Churches hands and sometimes malice rises to such an height that even in England the Bible must be burnt as strange Doctrine Seducing Heretickes whose endevour is to corrupt the purity of Truth The great Apostasy from the Faith 1 Tim. 4. 1. is brought about by giving heed to seducing spirits The Pope hath many Emissaries abroad who joyne with the Devill studying a method of Soule-deceiving and Truth-betraying Compare Ephe. 4. 14. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} with Ephes. 6. 11. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} you shall find the devill and deceivers artificially methodizing their snares to draw us from the Truth 2 Pet. 2. 1 False teachers have alwayes practised to bring in damnable heresies The beginnings of grosse errours may be modest yea the foulest Heresies may at first appeare with faire faces The Serpent creepes into the Paradise of the Church by degrees as 2 Cor. 11. 3. his plot is to corrupt peoples mindes From the simplicity that is in Christ First he will puzzle them with a question as he did Eve put a command of God a knowne Truth to be disputed then helpe them to mint some distinctions which are not alwayes so happy in Divinity as in Philosophy thereby to relieve and helpe in an error And here it may be observed though these men have the same designe with malignant persecutors to engrosse the Truth yet cunningly they will buy it up by parcels that they may be the lesse discerned They will trade first in names then in things first habituate us to call our Ministers Priests our Communion Tables Altars before they impose superstitious gestures This was the Rhemists straine of policy Let us keepe our old words and wee shall easily keepe our old Faith This graduall Huckstering up the purity of truth is most cleare in Image worship At first Images and pictures of Saints were used in private for Memory History or Ornament onely Afterwards with like colour of
still they persist in truth-betraying Scandalous professors will curse their wicked Ministers whose examples poysoned them Wicked Ministers will cry woe woe upon such Prelates who were indulgent to their unworthinesse and doubtlesse the Prelates will be as ready to complaine of many Patrons who first made the livings scandalous by withholding maintenance and then by importunity thrust a scandalous Minister upon them Oh let it now appeare that you will not suffer Religion to be betrayed by the least indulgence to any of these evils Consider what Sigismond the Emperour said in the Councell of Constance where the Councell pretended to make a Reformation one stood up and said the Reformation must beginne at the Fryer Minorites No said the Emperour Non à Minoritis sed à Majoritis incipiendum est Let Reformation reach Patron and Prelate as well as Minister and People If you would discourage scandalous livers suppresse scandalous Ministers if you would prevent a succession of them regulate the power of the keyes tooke to ordination and jurisdiction though your Bill against scandalous Ministers were ripened and executed yet if the doore of admission into the Church continue as large as now it is the next age will swarme againe with the like Drones And for the Truthes sake that you may silence all clamours as if Reformation would discourage learning and undoe the Church make good your owne Orders For the support of an able Ministery let Patrons and others deny themselves to raise a sufficient and certaine maintenance at least open a vent to others Pietie and Charity who will concurre with you to afford oyle for burning and shining lampes by reviving the hopeful designe of the Feoffâ—es or what other wayes your zealous wisdome shall suggest A great Civilian telleth us how Church-maintenance came to be appropriated to the Cloysters of Monkes and how such lands as they held in sundry Parishes were freed from the payment of tithes to the Ministers thereof namely it sprang from this roote they insinuated that Preaching was not so necessary for the salvation of mens soules as their Praying in their Religious Houses Preaching they said breedeth Schisme Disputes in Religion c. It lyeth as a blot upon them That by their undervaluing Preaching many Congregations were robbed of their Ministers maintenance Let it be Your Honour who have expressed such a high esteeme of Preaching to endevour the re-endowing those places with such meanes as may encourage faithfull witnesses unto the Truth To awaken Your compassionate affection towards many persons and places where truth is chaffered away Religion is a riddle a paradox yea a reproach among them We should appeare this day as publique mourners laying to heart not onely personall but State evills even Parliament sinnes Is not this just matter of griefe that in so many former Parliaments the liberty the purity and the power of Religion hath beene so much neglected Ancient Lawes have established Church pompe Power Dignity and Revenues these are twisted into the severall Statutes as if they would put in a politicke caveat against after alterations without shaking the very Foundation which is now one of the great objections against Reformation Yea how much hath Truth suffered by the indulgence that Old Parliament Lawes have expressed to Non-residency Pluralities and Insufficiency of Ministers It hath beene enough if Legit ut Clericus if he can say the Confession in Latine he must be betrusted with soules Allow something to the necessity of these darker times yet now the very reason of such being altered God forbid that truth should any longer be betrayed by an unwarrantable latitude Oh pity your many thousands of expecting Petitioners who have had many yeares of sad Sabbaths and sit downe still in much sorrow complaining for want of Truth You may heare their groanings in the words of the Prophet Jeremiah chap. 8. 22. Is there no balme in Gilead Is there no Physitian there Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered What cannot will not the Parliament heale us It was a strange and dolefull vision that Ezekiel had from God at Hierusalem when he saw so many sinfull spectacles an image of jealousy Baals Idoll Ezek. 8. v. 5. then a company of grave ancient men every one in the Chamber of his Imagery ver. 11 12. the Jewish High-Commission according to some in those times deepely corrupted poore Women weeping for Tammuz ver. 14. weeping for the death of Osiris King of Egypt and idolatrously adoring his image which Isis his wife had advanced and worships towards the Sunne ver. 16. Would it please you in your serious thoughts to runne over this Church this Kingdome you might see in many places such objects that Your eyes would much affect your hearts Though in all abominations wee doe not runne parallell with Hierusalem in Ezekiels Vision yet such wofull fruites of truth-selling and truth-betraying as may stirre up your affection and awaken your Parliament actions First Cast your compassionate eyes upon the Schooles of the Prophets the Churches Nurseries Doe not petitions informe you that divers have there chaffered away Truth for errors were Whitaker and Reinolds then in vivis doubtlesse they would blush to see Bellarmine and Arminius justified by many rather then confuted If no Chambers of imagery be there yet are there not some Chappels polluted rather then adorned with Images Altars and Crucifixes If no worshipping of the Sunne there yet doe not too many pleade for and practise an ungrounded worshiping toward the East It cannot be thought unnaturalnesse in a Sonne to represent the distempers of his Mother to a Colledge of Physitians especially when the experience of the deepe infection which some of your beloved Sonnes got there of the corruption of judgements prophanenesse and superstition of practise which many of your Ministers brought thence will witnesse the same that Truth hath beene shamefully betrayed by too many in the Universities Munster reporteth That the Jewes were banished out of many Countryes of Christendome principally for poysoning Springs and Fountaines All Friends to Truth had need pray that God would either remove or heale such as have poysoned the Schooles of the Prophets the Fountaines of the Land Our hopes are that God will put upon you Noble Senators the spirit of Elisha and helpe you to cast into those waters such salt that the Waters be healed that there be not from thence any more barrennesse or causing to miscarry 2 King 2. 19 20. In Exod. 15. 23 24 25. when the people were come to Marah They could not drinke the waters for they were bitter and murmured agaâ—nst Moses saying what shall we drinke ver. 25. The Lord shewed him a tree which when he had cast into the waters the waters were made sweete Plant and uphold wholesome Lectures in the Pulpit as well as in the Chaire A Service worthy of the Wisdome and Power of a Parliament Such Trees will sweeten the waters there and
Die Mercurii 27. Iuly 1642. IT is this day Ordered by the House of Commons now Assembled in Parliament That Sir Christoper Yelverton doe returne thanks to Mr. Hill from this House for the great pains he took in his Sermon this Day Preached at the Intreatie of this House being the Day of Publique Fast at Saint Margarets Westminster And that he doe likewise intreat him from this House to print his Sermon And that no man presume to print it till the House shall take further Order but whom he shall appoint H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. Dom. Com. I appoint Iohn Bellamie Philemon Stephens and Ralph Smith to Print my Sermon THOMAS HILL THE TRADE OF TRUTH ADVANCED IN A SERMON PREACHED to the Honourable House of COMMONS at their Solemne Fast Iuly 27. 1642. By THOMAS HILL B. D. Pastor of the Church at Tychmersh in the Countie of Northampton Published by Order of that House IOHN 17. 17. Sanctifie them through thy Truth thy word is Truth 2 COR. 13. 8. For we can doe nothing against the Truth but for the Truth LONDON Printed by I. L. for Iohn Bellamie Philemon Stephens and Ralph Smith 1642. TO THE HONOVRABLE HOVSE OF COMMONS NOW ASSEMBLED in PARLIAMENT WHen I first heard that I was designed for this solemne service being conscious of my own insufficiencie to Preach to so awfull an Assembly I couldnot entertaine it without trouble yet resolved with Luther rather to undergoe others censures then to be reproved for ungodly silence in such times when the Lord suffereth And now I have as much reason to be full of blushings to thinke that this plaine Discourse should be exposed to more publique view but herein I must resigne up my self unto your disposings to whom I owe quod possum quod non possum much more then my meanenesse can performe This Sermon such an one as it is I humbly tender to your Gracious Acceptance who have adopted it I put it into your Honourable Protection who have listed it I commend it to your Practicall observation for whom I intended it heartily desiring Gods Blessing upon your spirits in the perusall of it that you may read and act it turning words into works that you may repeate it over in your lives which is the best repetition of Sermons Our present breaches call for a contribution from every one for the repairing of them but much is expected from you who are called to be publique Counsellors and thereby obliged to expresse a publique frame of spirit which is the beautie and strength of a Great Councell swallowing up your private interests in the publique Welfare Not with Baruch seeking great things for your selves which is most incongruous to Stormy times but rather resembling Melancthon who professed though he had many Domesticall troubles yet the publique wounds of the Church most deeply afflicted him England is more bemoaned by many with that language in Austin over the poore man Quomodo huc cecidisti Alas how camest thou into these distractions She may answer as the poore man there standing in more need of reliefe then discourse Obsecro cogita quomodo hinc me liberes Thinke how I may be rescued out of thâ—se troubles Towards this blessed Worke I have cast in my two mites moving in the proper sphaere of a Divine as an Agent for the Truth perswading you who are betrusted by others and have farre engaged your selves in the Reformation of Religion that with all your might you would promote The Trade of Truth It is not for me to suggest a Methode in the execution of your counsels He whose name is Counsellour guide you yet I shall still pray that in your Intention the purging the setling the advancing of True Religion may be most Dear unto you It is one maine end and a pretious fruit of government that wee may lead peaceable and quiet lives in All Godlinesse and honestie This is well worth peoples wrastling prayers and your most active endeavours The stabillity of all our blessings must come by the True Religion Gods presence is the best security who is most powerfully present where there is most power and purity of Religion Would you have a flourishing Kingdome advance the Kingdome of Christ in it Let the State maintaine Religion and Religion will blesse the State could you settle all our State liberties yet if the Arke of Truth bee taken from us Our glory is departed we may write these mourning characters upon all our Comforts ICHABOD where is the glory It is too high a complement in the Lord Cordes a French Commander who often said that he would willingly lie seven yeeres in Hell so that Callice were in the possession of the French againe We blesse God for that reall selfe-denyall and activity ye have expressed abating so many personall and family contentments in your long attendance upon publike affaires Be not weary of well doing in due season ye shall reape if you faint not Never had any PARLIAMENT more work to do Ireland still bleeds the affaires thereof find unhappy obstructions To subdue Rebellion to plant Religion there are great matters England is very much out of frame The Church cals for Truth the State cryes for Peace they who sowed in hope reape in feare out sickles are turning into swords Now to effect an happy correspondence betwixt our Soveraigne and his people a blessed compliance betwixt England and Religion here 's work for the strongest shoulders Never had any PARLIAMENT greater opposition As Nehem. 4. 17. our builders worke with one hand and hold a weapon with the other Achitophels plot Rabshekahs raile Sanballats mocke Yea since councels of Reformation there is a more malignant antipathy appears against truth in many places As 2 Tim. 3. 13. evill men and seducers waxe worse and worse deceiving and being deceived Yet be encouraged Worthy Sirs Never had any PARLIAMENT so many Thundring Legions of praying Christians to assist them when others insult and blaspheme Iacobs posterity are wrestling with God for you resolving not to let him goe till he blesse you And whilst you are pursuing peace allow this plaine Sermon that humble boldnesse as to whisper you in the eare beseeching you still to maintain your former zeale in the cause of Truth When did your counsels prosper more then when you were most active about religion When you were building the Lords House For hee builded yours as Hag. 2. 19. from this day I will blesse you Be pleased therfore more and more to engage your selves for the Truth so shal you engage God for you let your cause be His cause then his Attributes will be yours his providence will work for you his spirit wil work in you then will you have more with you then against you though the Devill and the Pope combine Do your owne work trust God with his duty is ours Events successe are his Commit the keeping of your soules of the Church of the state
to him in well doeing as unto a faithfull creator Truth will yet Triumph Babylon and all her Crutches must downe the fight of faith is a good fight because such souldiers are sure of the victory The kingdome of Christ shall prevaile though second causes be impotent yet the zeale of the Lord of Hoasts will perform this Isa. 9. 7. When Hierusalem is restored it will be a city of Truth Zach. 8. 3. O that all our Parliament worthyes might bee so valiant for the Truth that England might become a kingdome of Truth following Chronicles will then give you a share in that Honour of being the Churches Saviours as Obad v. 21. and God will put Zerubbabels high dignity upon you making you as Signets Hag. 2. 23. The Good Lord guide unite act and blesse your counsels And think upon you for good according to all you have done or shall doe for his people So prayes He who desires to be found Your faithfull servant for the Truth THOMAS HILL A SERMON PREACHED AT the Fast before the Honourable House of Commons PROVERBS 23. 23. Buy the truth and sell it not THE eternall Happinesse of our immortall souls is to be found only in union and communion with Iesus Christ Religion is that which gathers and binds up the spirit to close fellowship with Him This bond is twisted out of those materials which the severall pen-men of Holy Scriptures have prepared Wise Solomon hath contributed a good share to this blessed work in his three Books Proverbs Ecclesiastes Canticles I will not confidently with Hierome and others entitle Salomons three books to his three Names As he was Salomon peaceable say they he scattered Proverbiall sentences among young men to discipline them in wayes of righteousnesse and peace As he was {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Ecclesiastes the Preacher he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes a pithy Sermon teaching men of riper yeers the vanitie of vanities in all worldly excellencies As he was Iedidiah 2 Sam. 12. 25. Beloved of the Lord he acquainted greatest proficients with the sweet communion betwixt Christ and his Spouse in the Song of Songs But of this I am sure The book of Proverbs is sutable to its Title worthy of Wise Salomon the sonne of David king of Israel Prov. 1. 1. In the first book of Kings Chap. 3. vers. 9. 11. Salomon was an earnest suiter unto God for understanding and because he sought it from God and for God so much doth the Lord love to see a publike spirit in our private prayers He gave him a large portion of wisdome with an overplus of other rich advantages he obtained both the wisdome of a Prophet and of a King whereby he spake both Propheticall and Kingly sentences So much the Originall word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} rendred Proverbs seemes to import raiguing commanding sentences being so full of wisdome gravity and authoritie and that stile of being Master of the Sentences may well be translated from Peter Lumbard unto King Salomon who was the Author of so many Master-sentences Much of the wisdome of a Nation is oft found in their Proverbs and much of Salomons in this book of his Proverbs it being a cabinet of such Jewels as is fit for the closet of so wise a King full of short and pithy sentences like Jewels indeed containing magnum in parvo much value vertue and lustre in a little roome And for the better discovery of their excellencie it is observable that herein they differ from most other Scripture Their Harmony is in discord their beautie in a kinde of contrarietie If you would understand our Saviours parables minde the scope if you would reach many other places of Scripture attend the dependance but if you desire distinctly to apprehend the Proverbs in them consider the opposition which though it appeare not so full in this my Text as in many other of these Proverbiall sentences yet here you may finde two disagreeing parts First an Injunction Buy the Truth Secondly a Prohibition Sell it not This opposition such as it is begets two Propositions 1. All the sons of wisdome must be carefull to buy the Truth 2. Though all must be buying yet none may sell the Truth I will follow the method of the words beginning with the first proposition All the sonnes of wisdome must be carefull to buy the Truth Herein by Gods gracious assistance I will take a view of severall branches enquiring by way of explication and confirmation 1. What is the commoditie it self this Truth that must be bought 2. Into the nature of the purchase with the price of it 3. What Reasons may engage us to trade in this commoditie And then ioyntly shake them altogether in the application trying what seasonable fruit they will affoord this grave Assembly on this solemne Day Every one will be euquisitive concerning the commoditie it self What is this Truth I answer Not a Metaphysicall Truth that 's for Speculation only not a Logicall Truth that 's chiefely for disputation nor a Morall Ethicall Truth that 's but one sprig of speaking veracitas rather then veritas Salomons Truth here must needs be Theologicall And that not veritas 1o prima God himself no creature can compasse so great a purchase if God were willing to sell it but veritas 2o prima derived from that first Truth this may and must be bought This is veritas objectiva as it lyes in the Scriptures both in the principles of it and conclusions deduced from it Truth Originall and Truth Derived And veritas subjectiva seated in us which we sucke from the word of Truth Indeed Truth of Religion in us grounded upon the Holy Scriptures the Rule of Truth which comprizeth Truth in our Iudgements when soundly informed Truth in our wils and affections when obedientially conformed Truth in our conversation when seriously reformed according to the word of Truth There are things in Truth well worth our Buying first libertie of Truth that the True Religion may have free passage and not be imprisoned in corners or clogged with difficulties Veritas nihil erubescit praeterquam abscondi Truth blusheth at nothing so much as to be concealed Paul desireth the Thessalonians to pray for him Sylvanus and Timotheus that the word of God may run and be glorified It is a disparagement to Christ and his Gospel when that hath so much adoe to creepe which should run and ride in triumph from congregation to congregation from kingdome to kingdome But a most beautifull and honourable sight to see Christ at the opening of the first Seale with a bow and a crowne going forth conquering and to conquer subduing the Heathenish world to the obedience of his Gospel by the preaching of the Apostles What though a river be full of good water yet if frozen if not an open passage men may die for thirst It is the motion of the Sun of righteousnesse that disperses
and supporters of it set Truth at libertie Zachary 4. vers. 6. the great mountaine of opposition must be moved not by humane power and might but by the spirit of the Lord of Hoasts not only by his power but by his spirit because Church works must be carryed on in a way of enlightning and revealing the Truth Thus the wise providence of God wrought formerly when a Generall Councell though by many groaned after could not be obtained with the consent of the Clergy and Court of Rome to whom Reformation would be a certaine Ruine He stirred up divers Heroicall Worthies Waldus in France Wickliffe in England Luther in Germany Knoxe in Scotland to despise the light of Truth And Revel. 14. vers. 6. After the flying Angell having the everlasting Gospell to preach unto all that dwell on the earth then vers 8. there follows another Angell saying Babylon is fallen Doubtlesse the Pope must fall not only by the Sword of Princes but by the Sword of the Spirit 2 Thessalonians 2. vers. 8. That wicked One must be revealed and consumed with the Spirit of the Lords mouth If you would have the mystery of iniquitie unmasked see the Popes Triple Crowne tumble and the thicke mist of Popery vanish help forward the bright Sun-shine of Gods Word promote the libertie puritie and power of Truth You have had a discovery of some few sprigs growing upon this first Proposition let us in the Application gather the wholesome fruit which hangs upon them It is the good hand of God upon us when so many of our brethren in Ireland are still bleeding under their enemies crueltie that we are at libertie in this solemne Ordinance to plead with our God for mercie Oh that this day of Self-humbling might be to us in the use of it according to its nature a self-searching or soul-purging day My Commission is to hold forth the Glasse of Gods Truth before your eyes that you may may discover your spots and defects Let it be your worke to reade over your selves as well as your Bibles to speake and write retractations of your former errors and confessions of your miscarriages I wish we could all be Augustines herein The Lord knoweth what Volumes many of us might fill if we were but well studyed in our selves And together with the long Catalogue of all our other sins our neglect of Truth must come in as having a great influence into the rest for this we may blush and bleed yea rivers of teares are too little to bewaile this that in all our designes we have so little minded to purchase the Libertie the Puritie and Power of true Religion Adam and Eve began to make very bad markets to sell themselves and posteritie for the forbidden fruit Prophane Esau sold his Birth-right for a Messe of pottage Heb. 12. 16. How many with Absalom to humour their vain-glory will set the Peace of a Kingdome to sale How many with Haman to gratifie proud revenge will set a whole Church to sale Some with Iudas will set up their Saviour to sale for thirtie pieces Others with Diotrephes the first Cocke of the game that they may fill their sailes with Church-pompe and Church-power will set the Keyes of Church and Ordinances of Christ to sale Lay your hands upon your hearts To be purveyours for your lusts as the prophane Romanes 13. vers. 14. To be Merchants for the Pope as the superstitious Innovators To be Proctors for the Devill as Gospell-opposers what saith conscience Is this to buy the Truth Give me leave Honourable and beloved to come neerer you with three plaine Queres I study not alta but apta proferre Have you gotten your owne hearts possessed with the power of the Truth Hath Gods word a throne in your Consciences Colossians 3. 16. Let the word of God dwell richly in you If it dwell there First it must intrare then residere it must dwell and abide there exercising a soveraigntie over you ever drawing open into an humble familiaritie with it What fruitfull knowledge have you gotten in the mysterie of Doctrinall and Practicall Godlinesse They who know the Grace of God in Truth will bring forth fruit Colossians 1. vers. 6. Doth the Truth of your Religion appeare in your relations in the uniformitie of a Gospell conversation as Phil. 1. vers. 27. Aske your hearts whether in all your undertakings you move upon Religious grounds and for Religious ends God doth not onely number but weigh our actions and observes not onely what is done but why it is done The The word of Truth must be our judge therefore now let it be our Counsellor It is Philpots Glosse upon Iohn 12. vers. 48 The word that I have spoken shall judge him in the last day if the word shall judge us then much more ought it to be a judge of our doings now Have you set up Truth in your owne families It is most odious for a Minister of Christ to flatter to dawbe with untempered morter at any time but most abominable upon a Day of Humiliation You reckon your house your little Common-wealth by what law is it governed Doth the word of Truth the Scepter of righteousnesse beare sway there Whence then so much licentiousnesse tolerated in the servants so much dissolutenesse in the children so much oppression tyranny and too often other wickednesse in your selves and such distempers in family relations Psal. 101. vers. 2. David would walke in his house with a perfect heart Such as served him he would either finde them or make them Gods servants You would have others thinke your houses are Churches What thy house a Church to God and thou a covetous idolater Thy house a Church to God and thou an uncleane sonne of Belial What concord hath Christ with Belial what agreement hath the Temple of God with idols The argument is as strong for Magistrates as for Ministers 1 Tim. 3. 5. If a man know not how to rule his owne house how shall hee take care of the Church of God How can you be good Reformers both of State and Church unlesse you be first Reformers of your selves and your owne Families Light is a great advantage to an house especially the light of Truth The Father of Lights is not pleased to dwell in a darke habitation such a corner is fitter for Satan the Prince of darknesse It was a very honourable report which Melancthon giveth of Prince Anhalt Cubiculum ejus erat Academia curia Templum His Bed-chamber was an Academie a Court a Temple The Lord gives you a share in this honour Let not your Chambers be Academies onely for the advanocment of learning or Courts for the daily dispatch of publique affaires but Temples for the worship of God and calling upon his name Give the people not onely Rules but examples of Reformation Let Religion be first advanced in you it will the sooner bee setled by you Have you imployed and improved
drop such fruite as will much promote the trade of Truth abroad How many living stones yea how many Builders did famous Perkins hew by Preaching a Lecture in Cambridge many Children and Fathers begotten by his Ministery in a few yeares to the great advancement of the Truth Secondly Behold with the same compassion Cathedrall Churches and the wofull effects of selling the Truth in too many of them The strange Vestures and Gestures Images c. in some of their Quires intimating too much affinity with those Chambers of Imagery in their abominations mentioned Ezek. 8. 10 11 12. Former Reformations left such nettles growing there that have since unhappily seeded many other Churches yea left so much dust not onely behinde the doore but even in the very Quire as hath beene easily blowne about into many corners They glory in being called the Mother Churches but they have too often proved Step-dames to their Daughters engrossing the maintenance that should provide the word of Truth for their Soules What pity is it that Cathedrall Societies which might have beene Colledges of learned Presbyters for the feeding and ruling City Churches and petty Academies to prepare Pastours for neighbour places should be so often Sanctuaries for non-residents and be made Nurceries to many such Drones who can neither Preach nor Pray otherwise then reade say or sing their Prayers and in the meane time Truth much obscured in a Non-edifying pompe of ceremonious service It was a notable designe of those Bishops at Bononia that gave Pope Julius the third this very Counsell how to establish the Roman Religion Let the people say they have pompous Prayers Images Tapers Organs and divers musicall instruments in their Temples These are things with which the people are much delighted and being taken up with these they almost forget that doctrine which is so destructive to us Let your compassion move you to counter-worke all such plots as Church-deformers sought to corrupt Cities and places of confluence so let those that professe themselves Church-Reformers when the Harvest is greatest expresse the greatest care to send forth most faithfull Labourers for the Truth Matth. 9. 36 37. This were to resemble your Saviour Thirdly Behold with weeping eyes the many hundreds of Congregations in the Kingdome where millions of Soules are like to perish for want of Vision Truth is sold from amongst them either by Soule-betraying-non-residents Soule-poysoning-innovators or Soule-pining-dry-nurses In too many places the very Image of jealousie the Idoll of the Masse is set up yea the Comedy of the Masse acted because there wanteth the light of Truth to discover the wickednesse and folly of it Do not some of you that live on the Welch coasts cry out with your Neighbours Woe is me that I sojourne in Meseck and that I dwell in the tents of Kedar Psalm 120. 5. Doe not some of you inhabit the North parts where you may complaine in the word of Nicholas Clemang pag. 15. How many Priests came to their Benefices not from the Schooles and their study but from the Ploughes and servile Occupations which could neither Reade nor Understand Latine Where in many miles not a Minister that can {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Preach and live Sermons I wish every Parliament-man had a map of the Soule-misery of the most of the Ten thousand Churches and Chappels in England I hope it would draw forth your compassions and stirre up your endevours to rescue Truth out of their hands who would sell it and set up the trade of Truth in poore darke Countries Had I the favour to preferre a Petition unto You in the name of Universities Chiefe Cities Country Congregations yea the whole Kingdome and were sure of a propitious eare from you I would summe up all in this clause in this one breath Improve Your Power to helpe forward the Word of Truth that it may runne and be glorifyed This would maintaine love and loyalty to our Soveraigne Where hath he most hearty Prayers but where Truth most prevailes This would teach men to justifie the power and comply with the Authority of Parliaments Who have more undermined and maligned Parliaments then such Ministers as first betrayed Truth This is the way if any to reduce seduced Papists Humane Lawes will pinch their purses Send divine Truth amongst them that may satisfie their consciences This is the most Soveraigne meanes to compose Church-differences Why doe we contend saith Augustine are we not Brethren Our Father dyed not intestate let his Will be publiquely produced and all men will be quiet This is the best way to make the Reformation thorow and lasting because this would engage the peoples hearts 2 Chron. 20. 32 33. Jehosaphat did that which was right in the sight of the Lord Howbeit the high places were not taken away for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their Fathers Josiah a good King did much yet because the peoples spirits were not wrought to concurre with him the worke soone vanished and Gods Judgements brake in upon them Goe on therefore Honourable Worthies improving your influence to prevent the selling of Truth First Provide that every Congregation may have an able Trumpet of Truth Secondly Especially let great Townes places of confluence have Lectures Markets of Truth Thirdly Afford any faithfull Paul and Barnabas incouragement yea Power if Sergius Paulus desire to heare the Word of God to goe and Preach though Elymas the Sorcerer should be unwilling such ambulatory exercises have brought both light and heate into darke and cold corners Fourthly What if there were some Evangelicall Itinerant Preachers sent abroad upon a publique stocke to enlighten darke Countries Thus might you reape glorious fruits of all your Counsels teares prayers and paines in seeing Dagon fall downe before the Arke of truth I have endevoured though in much weaknesse with words of Truth and sobernesse to plead the cause of Truth I must end as an importunate Sollicitor O sell not the true Religion upon any termes Much of my Rhetoricke to perswade you is within you I speake to your selfe-love as you are Men to your conscience as you are Christians to your Wisedome as you are States-men to your Honours as you are Noble Be alwayes buying but never selling the Truth England hath had an happy taste of your zeale for Truth and against the corrupters and betrayers of the true Religion The Lord from Heaven hath appeared mightily for you when you appeared much for him in the cause of Truth God forbid that ever this Parliament should lose any of it's first love to Religion and the Reformation of it then may you expect to drinke of Solomons bitter cup The Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel which had appeared to him twice God forbid that Rhehum the Chancellor and
Shimshai the Scribe should outstrip Zerubbabel That Tobiah and Sanballat should outbid Nehemiah in any cause of God Rather let the malignancy of malignant opposers enflame your zeale for the Truth O that we could now all close this day of humiliation with the proper worke of the day covenanting with our God making it our sealing day Nehem. 9. 38. At a solemne Fast Princes Priests and Levites did make a sure covenant write and seale unto it Let us this Day not onely give earnest for the purchasing of Truth by the fixed purposes of our hearts but even give as it were hands and seales that we will never sell the liberty purity or power of Religion upon any termes Wâ—ll you please to these particulars First That you will not sell Truth out of carnall feares you have a good 〈…〉 it Rev. 21. 7 8. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} he that is over-comming not he that hath overcome shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my sonne But the fearefull and unbeleeving shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone Read over the story of Francis Spira with trembling who out of such feare betrayed the Truth After he had gon to Venice to the Popes Legate with whom out of carnall feare he complyed craving pardon of him and yeelding to recant that religion he had publickely prosessed when he returned to his house he could not rest an houre no not a minute nor feele any ease of his continuall anguish from that night he was much terrifyed with horror and as he confesseth He saw plainely before his eyes all the torments of hell and the damned and in his foule did heare the fearefull sentence being drawne before the Judgement seate of Christ Hold fast the Truth let faith triumph over feares If Peter will deny and forsweare his Master at best he must returne by weeping crosse many are irrecoverably smitten with that Thunderbolt from the Lord Heb. 10. 38. If any one draw backe my soule shall have no pleasure in him Secondly That you will not sell Truth for your own private advantages It was a wretched carriage in Demetrius and his fraternity who out of love to their owne gaine did combine and consult how they might undermine and betray the Truth Sirs ye know that by this craft we have our wealth This made them so zealous for their Diana and so fierce against the Gospell If Truth doe prevaile Diana must downe and then farewell their profit Resolve rather to resemble Moses then Demetrius who Heb. 11. 25. Chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God then enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season His Faith did so rightly enforme his Judgement that he counted the Reproaches of Christ which seeme the bitterest thing in Christianity greater riches then the treasures in Egypt ver. 26. How much did he then preferre the Consolations which come by Religion before all worldly excellencies Such a spirit was in Luther who when he was offered to be Cardinall if he would be quiet replyed no Not if I might be Pope He had an holy scorne to be put off from his Religious designes by such withering petty things Thirdly Sell not Truth for politicke State ends When you come to settle Religion doe not deale onely like politicians but like Christians Worldly wisedome in the things of God is a rule too short too crooked too partiall yea foolishnesse with God Ieroboam would play the politician in Religion he sold the true worship of God for his State ends and for ever inherits this as a blot upon his name 1 King 15. 30. Because of the sins of Jerohoam which he sinned and which he made Israel to sin by his provocation wherwith he provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger Most renowned was the zeale of King Edward the sixth for the Truth when upon reasons of State he was pressed by Cranmer and Ridley to give way to the Masse he refused it with so much resolution with so many teares that they acknowledged he had more divinity in his little finger then both they In things about meum tuum that concerne our owne interest we may be more liberall but in Church affaires the word of truth must guide us It is not in our power quicquam hic aliis dare aut in aliorum gratiam deflectere we may not therein gratify one another Fourthly Sell not Truth for pretences of Church peace I confesse the name of peace smels very sweete and now especially in the midst of such Church distractions and such wantonnesse of opinions were to be purchased at any rate except with the losse of Truth It is a most lovely sight to see unity of peace imbrace unity of faith to behold the household of faith the family of love O that we could all observe the present breaches with the same affectons that Augustine did the differences betwixt Hierome and Ruffine Woe is me that I cannot find you both together I would fall downe at your feete with much love and many teares I would beseech you for your selves and for one another and for weake Christians for whom Christ dyed that you suffer not these dissentions to spread c. But in the meane time we must not be such reconcilers as to bring in a Samaritan Religion an Interim an uncomfortable mixture We must not receive Babylonish inmates into the Lords House Light and darknesse Truth and error will never long dwell quietly together Fifthly Sell not Truth for the pompe of humane Ceremonies Admit that Ceremonies were first let into the Church with the faire intention of the guiders and leaders and entertayned by the credulity of well-meaning people before the mystery of iniquity was much knowne yet since being so superstitiously abused by the Pope and his party and so rigidly pressed for the upholding the pompe of Prelacy with no small disadvantage to the Truth let us part with them rather then sell any sparke of Truth for them Never say they are ancient Jesus Christ is my antiquity saith Ignatius We must look for antiquity of Institution not onely of Custome Never say they are indifferent If indifferent onely and not expedient they may the better be spared Others will say our Doctrine takes off the Scandall of the Ceremonies However better have the stumbling blocke removed out of the way then to have a monitor appointed to give you warning of it he may fall asleepe and then you are in danger Many tender consciences wish the same successe about our Ceremonies that was in King Edward the sixth his dayes about the Images Some people contending for one Image others for another gave occasion that the King tooke downe all Who knoweth whether God hath called you to this Parliament to accomplish this amongst other services If you doe fully come off to give in your hands your hearts yoursealing actions