The Point is true tho not universal and to it I say one way or other first or last most certain soon or late God stands up for his Service and Worshippers the Point is liable to Objection but not Contradiction the Exceptions are to be weighed the thing is 1. To be proved true in general 2. To be explained how in particular 3. Why God is so and the Use of all For the general proof I observe God having took knowledge of Jacob at Bethel in flight from Esau Gen. 28. does after at the same Place make a more than ordinary show of his care to defend a devot Bethelite in his way to perform his Vow not only by that double Host or Apparition of Angels at Mahanaim Gen. 32.1.2 but by the terrour that God put on the People all about him that they pursued him not Gen. 35.5.7 For as they had too just a Provocation at Shechem before so he and his little Family being some Females few and also some weak and dying v. 8. lay all exposed to fury at least to such Upbraidings as what doth this King-killing Race with us These Boutfews of the Age that by Promise hope to possess others Property in Canaan that by Worship are Dissenters from all the Gods and establisht Service of the Land that are Vagrants low and poor all true yet Gods terrour on them defended him so that no pursuit is made after his Sons Exod. 34.23 A Precept in the Law is given for all Males if they could but go up to Zion in their Fathers hand say the Jews thrice a year to appear before the Lord and not empty Quia Pater cupit filios videre as one says the Father loves to see his Sons about him to perform duty this was at the Pasche at Pentecost and at In-gathering If the last it was pritty hard to leave Harvest and not to leave a Male of 12 or 7 years at home to defend the Borders and to go 7 or 8 days Journy the Promise prevents fear A Stranger shall not destroy does it say Nay not desire thy Land * Dr. Willet citing Tostat Animae damna plusquam corporis vitanda sunt Soul-perils are most to be shunned And for the Land God preoccupates the doubt saying He should not desire or covet it God would restrain the Enemies very appetite to secure our Attendance from Distraction One says this Peace never was had but that is to call Truth it self in doubt yes he did so many years together and yet the Moral of it extends to our latter days for if legal Rites and Festivities were grac't by such Promises then Gospel Worship obtains far greater and better Promises and though they often had ill and envious Neighbours yet I doubt not one way or other God secured the Worshippers and at least defended it and all the means of it from violence or shortly plagued the violation of it But a fuller proof yet is in Isai 29.7 v. 1. predicts a Wo a distress threatned to Ariel and yet v. 7. is a Promise to it 1st distress by an Enemy Viz. the Assyrian that besieged the City and Mount of God as the Hebrew word is by some Or the Lion so Arr properly notes of God Oh but how is the Deliverance of Ariel The distress Vatablus says by the Assyrian or rather the Babylonian is predicted to be doleful Plurima cadavera circum Altare jacent Ar. Mon. Vat. note The City all full of Carcases and Quarters as the Altar in time of Offering both Altar and City share alike one part flaming the other all in gore full of parts mutilated as Psal 74.7.79.2 all so low and base as they should petition the Assyrian 2 King 18.14.26 Yet after all v. 6. a sudden Visit is promised upon the Assyrian for the City amplified by a Simile he threatens the Foes that a sudden storm should scatter them and God would fight for Mount Zion and become a Munition to defend them and his Altar Other Proofs occur in the sequel One more I cite Act. 18.9.10 Paul by Vision is incouraged by promised success in his duty 1. His Fears are allayed next is a promise of restraint that none should set on him to hurt him 3. The Presence of God is exprest a sweet advantage and a terrour to his Foes 4. God pleads title to his People not yet called the Gentiles Though he is thrust out of the publick Synagogue he gets Justus's private House Worships there and teaches and gathers a People to God So that by this it is clear God left that Church as National to a malicious persecuting of the Gospel and Paul does so too to enjoy Gods Presence for a defence in Gods Work and by the whole 't is manifest God is a Munition to his own Worship 2. To explain it more particularly both when how or by what means he doth it and why Now the Lord that best sees his own times methods and mediums by which to make good his promise protects his servants either First Before by way of Prevention or Secondly In the Act by powerful Protection Or. Thirdly After by punishing the Opposition on the Adversary and so restoring the Worship The subsequent Instances to be remarkt are reducible to one of these Besides he has sometimes ordinary ways to do it in common Providence and they not obtaining often he has superordinary or miraculous ways to effect it Yet once God may preserve the pure Worshippers in person as in Elijah's time in Caves when the Altars are all furiously dug up And so may he preserve his House Tent and Altar and yet expose the Ark and Priesthood as in Eli's sons day to Captivity Or may stop one Zachary's mouth not all or cast Altar and all off a while But usually he measures Altar Worship and Worshippers Rev. 11.1 2. for preservation and repair Now the first Defence is by Prevention of Evil intended God sits in Council among the Gods foresees detects and diverts them sometimes restrains the men or reproves them for his Prophets sakes So Gen. 20. he did Abimelech for Abrahams sake a righteous man and a Prophet as he 's called and Gods Friend So they that bordered Israel of old were kept from desiring their Land in times of solemn Worship or Feasts of the Lord. So Saul is diverted by a timous Providence Tydings comes of an Invasion of the Philistines 1 Sam. 23.26 27. else had he been caught But God gave a Selah or Rock of Diremption So Julian by the Parthian War And Charles the Fifth by the Turks Inrode to Hungary Mr. Fox tells that one Justice Gilford going up stairs force Mrs. Roberts to Mass was then took by a fit of the Gout and so tortured he swore he would trouble her no more The Prophet is sent for by two Captains and their fifties but yet they miss their morsel Elisha at Dothan to be seized by a Band of Horsemen as 2 King 6.18 but is by Angels saved
Now if so let us apply it four several ways It 1. Informs 2. Warns 3. Advises 4. Comforts us 1. Hence it Informs us of 5 Points 1. How dear and chary is God of right Worship Angels are called to it Adam must not be in Paradise without it the Jews say he was made the Evening before the Sabbath that he might begin his Rule over the Creatures in the Service and Contemplation of his Creator his true Rest his Laws for it that Rest and sweet savour that he took Gen. 8.21 in it all show the tender care he was about it his Precepts to set bounds for it and Promises to the due Performers the threats of all that violate it and Punishments so oft inflicted thereon do all evince the care he has of it and all that delight in it The Deliverances that he wrought of old for his People and Revenges on their Foes which oft concur were all in order to it all the motions of the Wheels of Providence of old or of late tend to shew his care and all the acts of intercourse betwixt God and Man his love to it There will I meet and bless thee said he Exod. 20.24 Which Altar typed the medium of access Christ Jesus Would he place him as Mediator by Office but to get and keep open the new way better than that old was to the Father Why seeks he such Servants to do it in Spirit and Truth but to hold up his Worship in the World why was our Lord sent the Gospel preached the Gentiles called but to show this nay the Devils Emulation to divine honour declares God's Right and Respect 2dly I infer exact Piety is extream perillous at times among men were it not God owns it I say not always so sometimes not at all but there are times when Religion called pure is perillous to pursue and the purer the more carnal Policy thinks it so where Piety is followed too close at the heels ten to one it may dash out his Brains No danger of being too High or too Rich but all the danger is in being too Godly Now it may suffer Odium at any time but 't is most dangerous in ill times when the Philistines that had an old hate to Israel are over them now 't is an offence to sharpen a Plowshare or to sacrifice to any God but Dagon a stock as well as to wear a Weapon or use it All that will be right Worshippers shall suffer a general Rule and Exceptions to it are rare if a man comply to bow in the Idol's Temple truckle under Dagon cajoule his Conscience adore a worldly Sanctuary consult carnal Policy Fashion Custome of Men he may escape yet not always so but if he rides a little faster and with Christ set his Face fully Luk. 9.51 towards Jerusalem turn the Back to Babel and look to Zion This is Schisme the other Heresy to hold to Birth right that is Blasphemy as Naboth's was the Boars Phanges or Tushes shall be sure to meet in the Name or Estate the Liberty or Profession of one that designs more precisenes than others 3dly Learn we what Worship we should own and practise in a time of Contest betwixt God and Baal the Ark and Dagon or Christ and Antichrist surely if any be right it is that God owns and such there were then have been since and is and will be till this Controversy is decided Now the Cause still depending no safer guide in the Night no clearer Pole Star to stear a right Course by than this alone to enquire where or on whose side God is not where danger and profit lyes but O where is the Lord on what side is he his part we will all take Jer. 2.8 Would Princes Priests and People say and do so the better side would still be the bigger but when as mostly it is Truth has the fewest only God and a few Underlings on its part and the foul end of the Staff and all others are great high rich noble now against these to bear up against the Tide and Wind is a good Course a sign of Life alas as the Prophets man or Antigonus's Souldier how apt are we to droop and say Oh how many all are against me but as both answered How many is a God More are with us than against us Could we then consult his Oracle Lord on what side art thou that side will I take it were sure light in the Case He in Worship that adheres to Gods part though hence stiled Heretick is on the right he that doth not is an Idolater or Erastian-sceptick and like white Paper yet to seek 4. See here what God is and how justly due is what is attributed to him were Scripture mute his Works declare his Essence and Attributes Immensity Infinity Aeternity Immutability out of the 9 or 10 Names the first Linguo gives God I here only infer If God defends His Omniscience Wisdom Power and Goodness too all do it Read Antients Fathers Philosophers or some Reverend Ones of late as Mr. St. Charnock pag. 420. on the Attributes the highest Heavens the lowest Leviathan that barred Serpent as the Hebrew stile is Job 26.13 are both arguments of his Power that strong and crooked Serpent some call the Dragon some the Galaxia more like to represent Gods Power in the first make and over-ruling of Devils as strong like the Barrs of a Whale as they be as crooked subtle and versatilous as they be the Power uncreated bounds and breaks them nay the head of Leviathan i. e. the Policy and Power springs of all his motion is broke by the Arm of this Almighty Psal 74.14 so called 70 times in Scripture pag. 421. A strong hand can beat a weaker back and reverberate the blow that is a strong defence give me such a Fencer as can at once vim vi rependere repellere ward off and wound too such a powerful defence is his the one hand repells the blow from the Worship and secures it the other retorts it to the head that sent it this comforts the Worshippers in the mouth of a Furnace Our God is able to save Dan 3.17 that is enough and again If not we are resolved that is two strings to the Bow then conform they would not burn rather than turn O brave Souls Oh resolution more than Royal they were above the King himself if God leave us yet we 'll not leave him and the Event did answer their Faith it quencht the force of Fire Heb. 11.34 Those two Elements have no mercy yet this had Elementa non gravidant suo loco Elements are not heavy in their place it is said and true here if ever they kept their place under the Law of their Maker to immerce and burn the pure is to go against God they singed not a hair O divine miraculous Faith had these three conformed the King had never been convict the Power of God is seen most when Rage is hottest means least and
Wonders and answer them by terrible things or in the secret place of Thunder Psal 81.7 65.5 Rev. 8.5 Then let their Enemies prevail But observe further whence he got an Ear vers 6. out of his Temple that was the Sanctuary he fled to his last Anchora sacra tho yet no Temple was and thence he got help and the end of all was as Moses to draw him out of many Waters ver 16. 8. One more fulminating Effort of Vengeance is reported on the Assyrian-siege of City and Sanctuary Isa 29.6 Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of Hosts with Thunder Earthquake Flame and Tempest c. i.e. God will defend his Altar from Asher by his Angels causing a Blast Tempest Clouds and all Elements to joyn Battel and salley out on the Besiegers and so send them home with a vengeance By all these it 's plain God did miraculously defend his Altar of Old and New Testament is not without some Instances of Thunder in witness to his Name and Service One is that glorious Voice answering Christ's Prayer in John Joh. 12.28 29. a little ere Christ's Passion when God gave so loud an Instance of his Love and Audience to Christ regard to his own Name and the Evincement of our Lord 's Mission and so loud and audible that it 's call'd Thunder or an Angel that spake God will give loud Answers to his at times that shall convince Nor is the last Prophesy void of Evidence to so great a Truth for the Gospel-times have found greatest Opposition to its Truths and Worship so that Prudence has not in a successive way been wanting thus to exemplify the Promise Apoc. 4.5 6.1 5.8 11.19 14.2 19.6 six times in the Revelations is Thunder foretold all which is not yet totally fulfill'd and tho Thunder in that Prophesy may intend a mystical or metaphorical Expression of God's terrible Judgments yet Experience in after-Ages shows it was verified in the letter also As Fr. Mirand said Non ignota cano In Marcus Aurelius's days Anno 181. a Battel was fought with the Quads and Northern Nations and at last Victory gain'd at the Prayers of Christians desired by him thus recorded Dio in vitâ M. Anto. Philos. Christiani flexis genibus Deum obsecrantes audivit c. subitò contra omnium spem largissimis imbribus profusis exercitus sitim orando fedatam Hostes fulminibus crebris caelitus prolapsis ignibus effugatos obtinent i.e. As the Ancients say Apollinar Tertul. Apol. Iren. the Christians by Prayer obtain'd great Showers to allay their Thirst and Fire with Thunder that so scorcht the Enemy that they were glad to let out Blood to quench it Euseb pag. 110. cap. 5. So the Romans by Prayer were both fed and sav'd What a two-edg'd Sword is Prayer and hence it was as after we may read that the Emperour to the Senate wrote for the Christians Liberty The like is recorded of two brave Romans duo fulmina Belli as the Poet Lucan So Ecclesiastical History tells us of Theodosius against Eugenius Euseb p. 261. that thus pray'd Tu nosti Omnipotens c. Lord thou knowest that in Christ's Name I took up this War in revenging thee of thine Enemies if not revenge it on me so reach out thy hand lest they say where is your God on which they fell to the Slaughter Agmina Hostium perrumpunt kill'd heaps of the Enemy incredible 't is that after that Prayer Ventus ita vehemens exortus est ut tela hostium retorqueret so vehement a Wind rose that it repell'd the Darts of the Enemies back on themselves they from Heaven Divinitus repulsis being beat and defeated Eugenius is took so ends his Life and Fight Other Examples of this with other kinds of Judgments in a miraculous way might be given to show the miraculous Defence that God has made for the Lovers of his Name but being so large in this I will not further add So this suffices to show the way and manner of God's wise and wonderful Defence of his Worshippers and therein of his Truth Name and Cause the Reasons briefly are as follow Now that it is so and how is plain why so is the thing next to be proved by five Arguments 1. From the glorious Dispensation of the Law which tho in Glory inferiour to the Gospel yet had its Defence then from that I argue from the less to the greater It was then so it must be now much more God is the same changes not in care and defence of his own Appointments of Matter or Forms some Change 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 7.12 12.27 may be Rei non Dei mutatio not of God's nature and that Change he makes is ever for better to a greater Glory 2 Cor. 3.9 10. but in his Essence Attributes moral Precepts Promises Protection of his People he 's immutable Mal. 3.6 and hence are we not consumed and yet live as a burning Bush not spent after thousands of Years in Men's Furnace see the wonder and this is the reason form it briefly so If the legal and less glorious Dispensation had a typical Defence so much more has the Evangelical in the truth of it but true is the former so then is the latter The Assumption is argued from Experience of all Ages the Consequence bears on God's Unchangeableness The Proposition I prove by the Types of the Law which was to them Gospel vail'd as it is to us now revealed For after the Church grew from Domestick to National and God had adopted Israel in Egypt and by 's Arm brought them out to dwell alone Num. 23.9 under his Wing and had delivered Laws of three sorts to them 1. Moral in ten words perpetually to rule Life 2. Judicial to order the State 3. Ceremonial to direct in Worship that Church while it was National he did in each especially the last sort put certain Rites and Forms of his own Will upon the moving Tent and after on the fixt Temple by which this Truth was typed out and resembled I instance in that over the Tent a glorious Type of our Safety now during our long wandring with the Woman in the Wilderness yet under God's Care and Conduct mixt with much Darkness to which Isa 4 5 6. and other places allude Also in the Doors of the Temple after to be of Brass so strong and massy that twenty four Men could but open them and again in those Cherubs and Palms on the Door Curtains and Vails and also in the two Cherubims with Wings over the Ark and Mercy-seat Types of God's Protection by Angels over all true Ministry and holy Mysteries of the Gospel But I confine the Proof to that of the Horns of the Altars both that of Incense at the Vail that of Brass for the Sacrifice and that Ezek. 43.15 all had their Horns and about them a Crown so had the Shew-bread-Table denoting in all the divine Authority put on God's Service that
the strange Woman The German Princes left the Emperour at the door going to Mass and the Samosetan Boys burnt the Ball that toucht the Arian Bishop's Cloven-foot Eusebius Men may call it stiffness and humour now but he that knows a Josiah's tender Consciece and has felt the peril of making bold with God and Guilt will fear a Spira's Lash and Rack more than a Bishops Cole-house or Curse 3. This Plea is a Chip of the old Block and as grand a Policy of Satan and Prop to declining Popery as can be and a Mantle to the Plot to save it from the Laws Justice as the wit of men can invent for by Divisions blown Animosities raised and rigour exerted among Christians the Plotters game is played well and thus the two Parties strive each with other for vain Traditions and divers futilous Rites and Roman Rags that are neither of the Esse nor bene esse of Religion for the Spouse of Christ was more beautiful the first two or three hundred years without them and Shadows being contended for so severely the Substantials of Religion are neglected and the Councels of Romish Jesuites followed Adam Compzen Politic. lib. 2. c. 18. the first of which was to suspend all Lecturers that will not constantly practice all Romish Ceremonies a very devilish Policy and closely followed A 2d is to foment those Quarrels among Protestants and help that Party that are nearest to Rome for says he Quis enim Puritanos in Angl. non redigat si Episcop approbationem ab iis extorqueat se now what a Jesuit said Who will not bring English Puritans Ubi supra S. 9. to order if he can but extort of them an approbation of Bishops A 3d. All private Conventicles and publick too are to be interdicted And is it not so A 4th Compell the Obstinate by severe Laws These four are a taste of many more Now it is a sure Rule of one Quanto magis rituum cumulo accedit tanto magis detrahitur â Christianâ Libertate Fide Christi So much as is given the heap of Rites so much is took from Christian-liberty Faith of Christ Sure it is easie to see by a Debate of Cardinal Sadolet with Bishop Andrews That to yield one Rite by the Churches Power at home brings all the Fardel in by the Churches Power at Rome A nee fresh suit Smectemunus Mr. Gilespy and others may be consulted One Objection more is in my way that is sixthly and lastly God leaves you now your Defence is departed the Lord has drawn off the Wing you lye open and now you are fallen you will rise no more Psal 41.8 To this I only say two words Viz. 1. To the taunting part of an insulting Adversary 2. To the truth of this departure of God For the taunt it is possible I wish it were incredible ye say our God is departed and has drawn off the Cloud of our Defence and now your Song is Where is your God Psal 42. 10. We ask again Is he come to you These Taunts are sharper than all your Sphears and Swords and cuts us far deeper But if you have got him and we lost him our sin was the Offence of our Defence let our loss be your gain much good may it do you with his Presence Oh prize it better than we did some of us grieved him that he is turned Enemy and fought against us Isai 63.10 Do not you so yet some can say as the Psalmist as Psal 44.17 19. They have not forgot God nor dealt falsely as you in his Covenants Though sore broke in the Place of Dragons We loved priz'd his Presence but little now he is gone to his Place it well behoves us to plead guilty though he hath torn us he will heal after two days Hos 5. ult and 6.1 2. Take heed how you entertain God in your Prosperity rejoyce not in our misery it is below humanity to insult over an Enemy If you consider your Successes may ruine you Prov. 1.32 and will if God be angry with you as with us for are there not with you Sins against him 2 Chron. 28.10 The Signs of God's Presence are with you it is true but sad ones as that of taking off the Chariot Wheels that caused the Host of Agypt to move slow Exod. 14.25 The Ark did truckle under Dagen but he fell was broken twice and they sick of that Ark and having tossed it about and the Priests of Dagon so admonishing them they are glad to return it to its place 1 Sam. 6.5 Do not you feel you are at a stop a fatal Dilemma Romes Sea is before you if you ride on if not Repentance is the best Psal 137.7 8. The Cup is before you Babel and Edom had the Taste Wo to you that must pledge them in the Dregs Lam. 4.21 And Jeremiah saith so must all the mingled People and Kings of the Isles too Jer. 25 20-22 He that loves to pity the miserable has also sworn to punish Invaders of his Throne Exod. 17. ult 2. I answer for the truth of God's Recess Though it is hard to say it of all Places and Times some have still the secret of his Protection and may say as in Jeremiah Jer. 36.26 The Lord hid him Yet it must in a great degree be owned that the Signs of a gradual Recess are on us and that is the boast of our Foes our loss Now let this be for a Lamentation That holy boast of the Spies may lye fair betwixt the two Answers here say they of the Canaanites And all their walled Towns and tall Gyants their Defence is departed the Lord is with us fear them not Numb 14.9.10 Had we the Crums of Caleb's Faith and good Heart O how should we trample on all Insulters But alas how may we say as Job 29.2 3. Oh that it were with me as in Times past when the Almighty was with me c. Now to turn this 2d Answer of the 6th and last Objection to Lamentation Four things are to be bewailed 1. The Power of the Enemy 2. The Poverty of the Saints 3. The Provoking Cause 4. The perillous effects of the Lords recess in Matters of Worship and that chiefly 1. The Power of Adversaries when God is displeased with his own he sets up the horn of their Adversaries Lam. 2.17 as when he is pleased with them he finds Tools to break them Zach. 1.21 Two sad Complaints 1. To cause the Enemy to rejoyce over Zion 2. To set up their Horns Sad Insultings as to words and insolent Actings This makes a tender heart cry and call on the Wall for a River of Tears you may see Stones sweat upon approach of moisty bad weather so now must Zion's Wall do though delapidate Adversaries to be chief and Enemies prosper and spread out the hands Ch. 1.15 on all her pleasant things natural or divine v. 10. to see her Sighs the matter of their Songs v. 21. Now may the
dividing Principles or to the cloven pens of pernitious boutefeus 5thly and lastly his Departure takes both the Beauty and Bull-works away the one lamented Lam. 1.6 the other ch 2.6 7 8. He had destroyed the Places of Assembly the great Court is called Gnazarah 2 Chron. 4.9 from a word that notes Help for hence Help came to them that fled here for Sanctuary Psal 20.2 Here came their Answers to the People Now to have no Place to assemble in was a loss of Word Sacrifice Altar Priests and Sabbaths as ch 17. c. 2.6 9. And an occasion of the Adversaries Taunts the Jews say five things were so lost as not restored by the Captivity three of them are the Holy Fire Vrim and Shechina i.e. the Glory or Majesty of God and in this third all the rest are included Now of all the Premises a double Use may be partly to answer them that reproach us for if our Defence is departed that is to our Sorrow and Loss but it may prove your Wo also if you provoke him as the Philistines did and partly to call all that love God to condole his recess both the Sins procuring and signs of it and to cry for his speedy return That is the second use A third is Exhortation Here I deal with two sorts 1. The Offenders against it 2. The Befrienders of it and Attenders to it As for the first sort I find Gods Holy Worship has had unfriendly usage from two sorts 1. From the more Supreme 2. From subordinate and inferiour Rulers To the first of these the meanness of my Circumstances reads me a Lecture of Modesty and the grandeur of the Mighty such a picture of Majesty that I am easily silenc't else I should make address as once Israel to Pharaoh Exod. 5.15 for some ease Or else preach Jonas's Street-Sermon to Nineveh Jonah 3.6 Or make a Petition as that Noble Captain Terentius did to Valens the Arrian Emperour for a freedom to Orthodox Christians which when rejected and rent he takes up his rent shreads and petitioned no more yet since it is expected Thus would I make Supplication not in my own Name but for God's Sake nor to one Protestant Potentate alone but to all Popish Princes that govern by that Florentine's Maxim Machiavel That Princes ought rather to be feared than loved and to seem pious rather than really be so And to these with all the Noble Lords that counsel or attend them Thus would I say O ye Demy-Deities Princes and Potentates of this mortal vain and mutable World you that personate God should you not be like him that Rule by his Sovereign Deputation Ought you not judge and fight for him Shall a Worm under your feet as Jacob is call'd Isai 41.14 mussitate or whisper in your Ears Do not slight the Plea or at least hear it clemently O take not the Place of God in the Soul of Man let his Lordship in the Conscience alone let Worship be free not forc't let God preside there and Scripture guide Let Law and Reason with Power sit at the Helm is Force found the best Weapon-Salve to cure Infidelity or create Faith God calls for Sincerity and would you rather hale Hippocrites in or make men to sacrifice an Abomination to God themselves or others as all obedience is that is not spontaneous and ox animo Is it Policy or Prudence to provoke the desperate to favour Vindex as Nero did that Roman Knight that sought by a Plot his Death is it good Physick to cure a Phrenzy by Decollation or the Vertigo by an Opiate to cure a Cataract by putting out the Eyes or a gouty Leg by mutilating the other Are not Rulers called Healers Isai 3.7 to shew what skill they must use in Lenitives as well as Corrosives Would Rulers have People be submiss loyal faithful to them to give them quaecunqne hominis Caesaris sunt vota what they can desire and any not poor Underlings call for your Compassions Nec Philosophia nec Authoritas tollit affectum Nor Wisdom nor Authority takes away Affection Our Petition is not for Crowns or Scepters for Powers of Places for Rents or Revenues let us only go to Mispeh Bethel or Shiloe in Peace let others take their Profits and Honours only let us believe and Worship so as by the Word and Conscience we may hope to please God Heb. 11.5 as Abol did and it suffices us for our present Passport out of an evil World to a better I have no commission to personate others from any of the Dissenting Party no Interest to invite to it yet for the sake and good of the Whole I presume to crave what has been asked of Antient Kings once by Esther a noble Queen Esth 4.16 and by Command was granted and by the same Motives that not our Lives but what is dearer our Religion may be given at our Request ch 7.3 4. for why should there be wrath aginst the Realm Ezra 7.23 Or how can we endure to see the ruine of our Native Land and Religion wounded through the Sides of all Parties professing it and it may be a lengthening of your Tranquility Dan. 4.27 Nor is this a private Interest turn the Tables but a little and it may become shortly the request of all that resolve to live or dye Protestants none of that number and really so may justly grutch us that which they in time would be glad of do we in pity receive the Persecuted from abroad and yet use all Severities on the same Profession at home Is not the Distance far greater betwixt the Papists and Protestants in Principle than betwixt Protestants and Dissenters at home were our Spirits as condescending as in late years when indulgence obtained why is it thought the fittest time now to pursue when distress of Nations in Europe is like to be so great by barbarous Turks by weakening one another in lesser heats how easlly do we become a Prey to any that wait but a fit opportunity But being under the Tyes of not only Misery but Modesty I will rather addreses to those of inferiour Rank and of those I find two sorts 1. Those of the vulgar acted by Malice 2. Or those in Commission acting by Might For the vulgar I confess the Saying true Neutrum modo mas modo vulgus Common People are white Paper just as they are drawn as in Christ's time the Priests feared them so prevailed not in Council against Christ for that time Joh. 7.30 31 34. But a while after turned their Hosanna's to crucifie him as fancy and those that Presided let them I say little to these only they having had oft opportunity to frequent the Assemblies of Dissenters when open may bear witness of what they heard in their Discourses or saw in their Carriage contrary to sound Doctrine and Evangelick Truth and Piety and no doubt but in great Conventicles the Observers Eye hath been curious to an height and as wakeful to bark as he is
was seminally in one Abel Ecclesia est aliquando uno Abelo Enocho Vt Aug. Or in a Family as Jacobs or under the Brickes as in Aegypt 430 years in hot Flames of Persecution 110 years or about it In the Wilderness 40 years fed who can tell how and descend by the track of the well nigh 4000 years of the O. T. and come on to the N. T. Times some small lucid Intervals excepted See the Woman 1260 years in sad solitude destitute afflicted and tormented Or as Luther aptly resembles her to a poor sad forlorn Maid stript of all Raiment Sehlter or Defence so exposed among Lions Wolves and Foxes in Deferts Woods and Caves Non Pompâ externâ delituit in Cavernis non in primariis scdibus Vt Hylar cont Auxent Not visible in outward Pomp and Grandeur and so void of all Food and Friends lifting up her pure and milky hands not without surrow'd Cheeks if not tears of blood distilling at every Lip and Vein and her bleared Eyes still looking up with most ravishing Love and Longings to her Beloved and Crys for his second Return Such a prospect would cause any serious thinking Person with whom Religious Sentiments have in the least obtained to seek a Place or an Hole as Joseph to weep and wipe and then come out to joyn issue in her Crys Then on the other hand to see her clad and fed tended by Angels defended of her God adorn'd with a glorious Presence Acts 7.38 Her Tears wip't off as Babila's Sweat by the hand of Angels her bloody Wounds quot vulnera tot ora as so many mouths all washt suppel'd and cured her Children restor'd increas't and united he must of all this take up a Wonder and turn aside to see a Bush so long in Flames unburnt a Bird of Paradice and yet on the Wing a Beauty so scortcht and yet in her Glory a Fort besieged and yet still inviron'd by a Wall of Fire on all sides May he not say and sing as the Psalmist The Lord preserves the Faithful Psal 31.23 37.28 Yea and for ever and will at last again restore the Preserved of Israel Isai 49.6 But since this comfortable Subject multiplies in the breaking I will shut it up with a Scripture and an Instance or two The Scripture is that of the Women helped by the earth against all the Floods of Slander Heresy Idolatry and Persecution cast out by the Dragon against her and her Seed with cruel Edicts Laws Decrees Cannons and Ecclesiastical Curses and Excommunications Now comes in the help of the Earth VIZ. 1. By pleading the Womans Cause against all the salse Calumnies of the Enemies cast on their Assemblies as Plinius 2. Reinerus the Inquisitor c. that helpt her 2. By casting a Bone among the Enemy as Paul 'twixt the Pharisees and Sadduces about the Resurection A. D. 1526. Dr. Taylor Apoc. 12.16 Warr with the Dragon p. 810. Carl. 5. and Franc. 1. joyn Forces to root out Lutharisme and yet the Pope intending other ends breaks that League gives the Emperour in Italy such Work as diverts him from the Protestants that else had perisht So Anno 1530. Charl. 5. past a cruel Edict against the Professors of the Gospel that feared would swallow them all up at the Dyet of Ausperge but lo the Earth helpt the Woman for now the Turk as if he had been carryed by the hair of his head invades the Empire and Austria so now instead of Peace to ease them of that Edict hee 's glad of their Aid against the Turk a thing acting again now by the Turk but in what Fitness the Emperours 50000 is I see not to give battle to thrice that number Now the Turk has got occasion by the Forelock and the Hungarian Protestants so disoblieged that a Barbarian Infidel gives better truce and terms to Christians then they allow one another So rampant is the Spirit of Persecution now in Europe but I note it for Support to show that some sad Sights may bode to good Signs and Evils per se may prove good by accident for the Godly in the issue It seems an Allusion to the Ark of Noah God for a years time and some odd days was Pilot himself by his Providence till at last it rested on the Mount Ararat and the Earth by little and little drunk up that Flood so God doth by Earthly Men Means and Aims help his Holy Ark till at last some Dove returns with an Olive Leaf of Peace with good Tydings For Christ our Head being far above all the Floods hence it is his Body cannot be drown'd the Waters that drown'd God's Enemies yet sav'd his Israel Daniel's Lion and Jonah's Whale were Types of this That by which we look for Ruine is God's means to set us on dry Ground So the Troubles in Spain find the Emperour of Germany work in 1521 when his Fury is so raised against Luther at last the States met at Norinberge as here Samuel at Mizpeh and so mitigate that Edict and helpt the Gospel Waldo's Exile and his Followers was of use to the spreading of the Gospel ore Europe in the darkest Times of Popery for the Earth brings it up again as good Seed Hear a Prophesy from that forecited grave and learned Dr. Dr. Taylor Apoc. 12. p. 818. not given to Enthusiasme Your selves O Persecutors shall drink the Rivers of blood intended against the Woman and shall root out your selves that the Gospel which you fight against may find footing in the most Popish Countreys and the Time and their Pride hastneth Veritas est Filia Temporis Truth is called the Daughter of Time and it is great and will prevail over all Opposition There were on the first Captivity some Brethren by Nation like ours insulting over them in Ezekiel's Time Ezek. 21.15 who went into Babylon and challenged all the Land and Temple to themselves instead of looking to share alike with them after as they did v. 16. To these first Sufferers is that Promise made of a little Sanctuary q.d. though as one glosses Parei Adv. in Loc. p. 532. Aspectabili careatis Sanctuario i.e. Ye may want the great visible House for Worship tamen rem ipsam vobis significatam prestabo Yet I will grant you the thing signified my Presence in all Places to which I drive you Oh how sad is that and so be twitted of Brethren for it Yet how tweet is this to have God our Ark and Sanctuary As Jacob had a little Bethel Gen. 28.12 13 18. And Oh! what an awful and full Convocation was it where God was For as one says Though they had no Temple yet Exiguae domunculae supersunt in quibus congregatis adero Little Houses shall remain to which Assemblies I will come Aecolamp W. Greenh in Loc. p. 312. 3. Vol. I will dwell with a few if but two or three and if one Jacob alone be but there yet if a Convocation of Father Son and Spirit and all the