literally signifies the people of Ierusalem the Nation of the Jews whom God hath in his righteous indignation scattered over the face of the earth as chaffe before the wind these we may pray for I meane the remnant according to the election of Grace that God would gather them againe according to his promise And so all Israel shall be saved Rom. 11.26 But yet this is not that Ierusalem here meant neither The Ierusalem meant in this place is the Mystical Ierusalem that Ierusalem whereof this was but a type the new * Revel 21.2 which text seemes to referre to this of Isaiah speak the same language for as here ver 4.5 God saith The Lan I shall be married And God will rejoyce over Jerusalem as a bridegroome rejoyceth over his bride so here John sees this Ierusalem prepared as a bride adorned for her husband Ierusalem comming downe from God out of Heaven And so it implyes two things First the Church of God in the utmost latitude of it the whole Catholique Church dispersed over the world the generall assembly and Church of the first borne is unto us Mount Sion the City of the living God the heavenly Ierusalem Heb. 12.22 23. for which we are to pray that God would establish and make it a praise in the earth And secondly by Ierusalem Mysticall we are to understand that particular Church in which we live of which we are to which we stand in the same relation that the Iews did to Ierusalem for this we are to pray that God would establish and make it a praise in the earth And so I come to the second thing to be explained Secondly for what we must pray the subjectum quod or what it is we are to pray for Two things we find mentioned in the text first that God would establish secondly that God would make his Church a praise in the earth First that God would establish his Church First that God would establish his Church for though the Church hath a strong foundation and walles and bulwarkes strong yet it is in it selfe but a weake building Mat. 16.18 earthly tabernacles planted on a rock Isaiah 26 1. 2 Cor. 5. That which God speakes of the earth may be applyed to the Church Psal 75.3 The earth and all the inhabitants of it are dissolved I beare up the Pillars of it All the commissures and contignations of this great fabrick of the Universe would be loosned and disjoynted if God did not put under his everlasting armes and beare up and establish the Pillars of it So would it be in the Church of God therefore we must pray that God would establish his Church In two things and that in two things first in Truth secondly in Peace First in truth against all errors Secondly in Peace against enemies Fiâ—â—… in Truth First we must pray that God would establish his Church in truth The Church is said 1 Tim. 3.15 to be the pillar and ground of truth not as the Papists affirme as if truth were grounded upon the judgement and determination of the Church the Church is indeed the Pillar of truth not because it holds up the truth but because it holds forth the truth the metaphor is taken not from Pillars that are supporters of houses but from such Pillars as anciently were wont to be fixed in market places and other places of publique meeting upon which they hung their lawes as the leges 12. Tabularum at Rome that they might be publique to the view and notice of all men as amongst us Proclamations for the same end are pasted upon posts such a Pillar of truth we grant the Church is and ought to be a Pillar to hold forth the truth to the view of all men a Pillar to which all men resorting may read and know the truth it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Pillar and ground of truth the word in the Originall is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which in the first and native signification is a seat the Pillar and seat of truth the place of truths abode and residence its proper ubi where truth is always to be found this the Church of God is or ought to be Now though the Church of God should be thus yet we know there is no Church but it is subject unto error The Apostle tells us there must be Heresies 1 Cor. 11.19 and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and our Saviour tells us that there shall arise some such subtill masters of heresie that they shall seduce if it were possible the very elect of God Mark 13.22 Therefore we must pray that God would establish his Church in truth against all errors Ephes 6.14 Truth it is the Churches girdle A Church quae hanc Zo naÌ„ perdidit aut soluta est as the Latine proverb is a Church that hath lost this girdle of truth or hath this girdle loosed is an Adulterous beggerly Church therefore yee that are the Lords Remembrancers keep no silence give him no rest till he establish his Church in truth Secondly in Peace And as in truth so secondly in Peace Peace is one of the richest blessings of heaven a comprehensive blessing a circle of blessings I will not rhetoricate in the praises of it the want of peace hath made us know what peace is worth in the enjoyment of this rich desirable blessing we must intreat the Lord to establish Ierusalem his Church yee that are the Lords Remembrancers keep no silence give him no rest till he establish Ierusalem in peace And this peace is threefold Civill with the Nations Ecclesiasticall with its own members and spirituall or celestiall with its head and God First 1. Civill we must pray that God would establish his Church in peace among the Nations the Church of God is among the Nations Cant. 2.2 as the lilly among the Thorns the lot of Israel was among the uncircumcised Heathens so is the Churches yet hath her God promised peace in the middest of enemies Mic. 4.3 He shall judge among many people and rebuke strong Nations afar off and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks Nation shall not lift up a sword against Nation neither shall they learn war any more but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his figtree and none shall make them afraid for the mouth of the Lord of Hoasts hath spoken it You that are the Lords Remembrancers keep no silence give him no rest till he establish his Church in this peace Secondly there is peace Ecclesiasticall peace of the Church with its own members Secondly Ecclesiasticall peace in the bowels and bosome of the Church wee must pray that God would establish his Church in that that the Church may not languish and die of Antiochus his disease a torment in her bowels that there may be no incomposable divisions no irreconciliable rents no
them upon his heart for a memoriall before the Lord continually they were to be the Priests Remembrancers that he should be the Lords Remembrancer to put the Priest in mind of putting God in mind of Israel by praying for them this type is properly applyable to Christ who is the only high Priest of his Church yet so farre as the Ministers of the Gospel are Christs substitutes upon earth so farre this may at least by way of allusion be applyed unto them for so farre there ought to be in them the same disposition towards Ierusalem that was in Christ Iesus that as Christ wept over Ierusalem so should they as he remembred Ierusalem so should they as he prayed for Ierusalem so should they he by way of meritorious intercession they by way of Ministeriall intercession 1 Tim. 2.1 to bear Ierusalem upon their shoulders and upon their hearts continually when ever they addresse themselves into Gods presence Ierusalem is engraven upon the hand of God and therefore should be ingravâ—n upon the hearts of his Ministers and is if God hath layed his hand upon their hearts Yee know the story of that heathen Priest that being to offer sacrifice before a battle writ Victoria or some such like word in the palme of his hand and in unbowelling the sacrifice laid his hand upon the heart of the beast and left the characters of the same word there that what had been written upon the hand of the Priest was read upon the heart of the sacrifice Behold I have graven thee saith God to Ierusalem upon the palmes of my hands Isaiah 49.16 and look how many hearts there are of Nobles or Gentry or Ministers or others upon whom God hath layed his hand I doubt not but there is the same configuration upon them that is ingraven upon the hand of God that as God himselfe cannot forget Ierusalem as he sheweth there because it is engraven upon the palms of his hands so they cannot but remember Ierusalem because it is engraven upon their hearts that as Queen Mary said of Callice when I am dead rip me and you shall finde Callice at my heart so there is a many a godly man and many a godly Minister especially who might say when I am dead rip me and you shall finde Ierusalem at my heart That sacred name is deeply graven there If I forget thee O Jerusalem let my right hand forget her cunning All you that are the Lords Remembrancers you that have Ierusalem written in your hearts keep no silence give him no rest till he establish and till he make Ierusalem a praise in the earth If ever Men were called to this work Ministers are And if ever Ministers were called to this work theÌ„ more especially are you whom it hath pleased God by the Authority of the honourable Houses of Parliament to call together to debate and advise of such things as may be necessary or conducing to the establishment of Truth and Peace and Beauty in the Churches of Christ Jesus and doth it not then especiall lye upon you to keep no silence give the Lord no rest till he establish c. I say till he establish for except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it except the Lord reform the Church it is to no purpose to goe about to reform it except the Lord set up the Pillars of Peace and Truth in his Church and put the crown of Glory upon his Church it is labour lost to endevour it You that are called to this great work you of all men ought to keep no silence give the Lord no rest till he establish and till he make Ierusalem a praise in the earth I need not tell you how many eies and expectations there are upon this Assembly I speak it not as a matter of boasting but as a matter of trembling and lying low before the Lord this day from all the parts of the Kingdome from all the parts of the Christian world the eies of all the people of God are upon you forrain Churches have their eies towards you waiting what you will advise for the more utter â—â—…tinction of Papery effecting of a more neer and fâ—â—â—â—â—…ion between us the rest of the Reformed Churches all the parts of the kingdome have their faces voyces towards you me thinks I hear a voyce from all the corners of the Land comming up to this Assembly to be by you reported to the honourable Houses of Parliament a voyce like that of the poore woman to the King upon the wall help help for the Lords sake help help us to better Ministers help us to better Ordinances help us to purer worship help us to better Discipline help us to remove those things that deterre us from the Lords table help our tender Consciences to more liberty c. I know it Brethren Gods people most of them look for help by this Assembly through your faithfull advice given to the Honourable Houses of Parliament And may not you answer as he did there except the Lord help thee whence should I help thee there is such an Augeae Stabulum of corruption confusion in Doctrine Discipline worship in all that verily unlesse that God who is able to remove the iniquity of the land in one day Zach. 3.9 and to cause the Prophet unclean spirit to passe out of the land Zach. 13.2 unlesse that great God set his hand to this great work it will never prosper and yet if it should not prosper the sin would be laid at your door and you would bear the reproach of it to all memory therefore great need to importune God to come down and own his work ô that thou wouldest rent the heavens and come down that the Mountains might flow at thy presence Yee among all the rest of the Lords Remembrancers keep no silence give him no rest till he establish and 〈◊〉 make Ierusalem a praise in the earth And ohe thing more what I know you have all taught others your selves now put in practice pursue your prayers with your indeavours what yee pray for contend for as yee pray that God would establish his Church in truth so with united indeavours labour to raise up and establish the decayed truth among us vindicating the truths of the Protestant Religion from all Popish Arminian Socinian Anabaptisticall Antinomian and all other errors whatsoever And as yee pray that God would establish his Church in peace so labour to work out the Churches peace 1 With God by endeavouring a removall of what ever pollutions or prophanenesses have turned God into an enemy to us And then 2 labour the Churches peace with its own members which certainly yee shall establish if denying your selves and laying by all pre-ingagements to your own opinions desires ways ye shall willingly and unanimously consent to that which upon just and pious debate shall be found to be the way and truth of God which I doubt not but through his grace ye shall all doe Beleeve it Brethren in your Union will be laid a happy foundation of Union through the whole Kingdome if yee agree in this Assembly I durst me thinks promise my self and you a happy agreement amongst all that fear God in the Nation And then we need take no thought for the third thing peace with our enemies God will either subdue them under us or make them be at peace with us only let neither the desire of peace with them nor of peace amongst our selves bribe us to tolerate any thing in the Church of God that might make him to be at war with us And lastly as yee pray that God would make the Church a praise so endeavour that also endeavouring that the Church of Christ may enjoy all those Liberties and Ordinances that are purchased for her by the bloud and bequeathed to her in the testament of her Lord Iesus that all her wayes may be ordered according to the rule of Gods word that the Gospell may runne and be glorifyed that those two great illuminating ordinances of Preaching and Catechizing which are as the greater lesser lights of heaven may have such liberty encouragement maintenance that all the earth may be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. Rom. 15.5.6 This doe and prosper and that you may thus doe the God of Patience and consolation grant you to be like minded one towards another according to Christ Iesus that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify God even the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ Amen Amen FINIS
in urable ruptures in the Church which is one of the greatest and saddest mischiefs and miseries can fall upon the Church or the Church fall under That God who makes men to be of one minde in a house as the greek reads that of the 68. Psalme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that God I say can make men of one mind in a Church in a Nation in Ierusalem and hath promised that he will doe it Ezek. 11.19 I will give them one heart and Zeph. 3.6 I will turn to the people a pure language that they may all call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one consent O happy happy we if God would fulfill these promises in us happy we if we could obtain this at the hands of God by our prayers yee that are the Lords Remembrancers keep no silence give him no rest till he establish his Church in this peace Thirdly Spirituall or Celestiall Thirdly there is spirituall or celestiall peace peace between God and his Church wee must pray that God would establish his Church in that also that God would so watch over and work in his Church that no sin may take hold and spread upon it which might cause a quarrell between his Church and him or cause the Lord to say Mine heritage is to me as a speckled bird Ier. 12.9 That God would so order all the wayes of his Church before him and towards him that he may never know her by any other then those precious and lovefull names of Ammi and Ruhamah Hephzibah and Beulah Yee that are the Lords Remembrancers keep no silence give him no rest till he establish Ierusalem his Church in this peace also Thus you see the first thing we are to pray for that God would establish his Church upon the two pillars of truth and peace as Solomon did the proch of the Temple upon those two brazen pillars Iachin and Boaz. The second thing we must pray for That God would make his Church a praise Yet there is one thing more that this Text commands us to pray for that is that God would make Ierusalem a praise Yee that are the Lords Remembrancers keep no silence give him no rest til hee establish and till he make Ierusalem a praise in the earth In the former we pray that God would fortifie his Church in this that God would beautify his Church make it cleare as the morning faire as the moon glorious as the sun terrible as an army with banners lovely as Tirzah comely as Ierusalem the praise of all the earth This God doth by five things Now God makes his Church a praise in the earth specially by these five things First by furnishing his Church with fulnesse of ordinances Secondly by ruling his Church according to his own orders Thirdly by filling his Church with abundance of light and knowledge Fourthly by improving this knowledge to the working of holinesse Fifthly by enlarging and encreasing his Church by these meanes First by furnishing it with ordinances First God makes his Church a praise in the earth by furnishing it with fulnesse of ordinances this was that which was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Apostle calls it Rom. 3. the preheminency of the Church of the Iewes above all other Nations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 first of all and chiefly it was this that to them were committed the oracles of God this is that which God himself tells his people should make them glorious and praise-worthy in the eyes of all the Nations of the world Deut. 4.6 7 8. This is your wisdome and your understanding in the sight of the Nations which shall hear all these statutes and say Surely this Nation is a wise understanding people for what Nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for And what Nation is there so great that hath statutes and judgements so righteous as all this law that I set before you this day Now when God bestowes his oracles and ordinances upon a people first his word and then appending ordinances seales Sabbaths censures administred in purity and in power then he makes them a praise Yee that are the Lords Remembrancers keep no silence give him no rest til he thus make his Church a praise Secondly 2. By ruling it according to his own orders God makes his Church a praise by ruling it according to his own order 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are the two great destroyers of the Church of God it is equally prejudiciall to the Church not to be ordered at all as to be ordered after the lusts wils of men God who is the God of order not the author of confusion but of peace as in all the Churches of the Saints 1 Cor. 14.33 would have all things in all Churches be done decently and in order v. 40. now when all ordinances and offices are administred in the Church according as God hath ordered then is that Church a praise in heaven and earth with God and Saints 1 Cor. 11.2 Now I praise you brethren that you remember me in all things and keep the ordinances as I delivered them unto you And on the other side disorder or deflection from the rule of Christ though but in one administration is a blemish and doth detract from the Churches praise as appears in the same chepter v. 17. Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not that you come together not for the better but for the worse and v. 22. What have you not houses to eat and to drink in or despise you the Church of God and shame them that have not what shall I say to you shall I praise you in this I praise you not one aberration from the rule of Christ in the administration of this one ordinance of the supper of the Lord casts a cloud upon this Churches glory and causes a great diminution of their praise therefore we must pray that God would help his Church in all things to keep the ordinances as they are delivered unto us Yee that are the Lords Remembrancers keep no silence give him no rest til he make his Church thus a praise Thirdly 3. By filling it with abundance of light and knowledge God makes his Church a praise when he fills it with abundance of light and knowledge when after a night of ignorance or error that had swallowed up and buried the Church of God the Church hath a resurrection and looks forth as the morning Cant. 6.10 cleare as the sun faire as the moon it ravisheth all eyes and fixeth them upon it selfe in admiration that men say Who is this that locketh forth as the morning Cant. 6.10 Yee that are the Lords Remembrancers keep no silence give him no rest til he make Ierusalem thus a praise remember him of that which he hath promised Isaiah 11.9 All the earth shall be filled
with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea Fourthly 4. By improving this light to the working of holinesse God makes his Church a praise by improving sanctifying this knowledge to the working of holinesse in the hearts and lives of his people this was the praise of Ierusalem it was a holy City this is the praise of the Church they are a holy people Deut. 26.18 19. The Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people as he hath promised thee and that thou shouldest keep all his Commandements and to make thee high above all Nations which he hath made and that thou maiest be an holy people unto the Lord thy God as he hath spoken Abundance of light unsanctifyed would make the Church if it were possible rather hell then heaven and make men but like the devills who know much but are the more desperately wicked therefore we must pray that God would sanctify that knowledge wherewith he filleth his Church that so the beauty thereof may be perfect Yee that are the Lords Remembrancers keep no silence give him norest till he make Ierusalem thus a praise Fifthly God makes his Church a praise 5. By encreasing his Church by encreasing his Church by enlarging the tents and extending the cords of it this is a blessing God calls his Church to rejoyce in Esay 51.1 2 3. Sing O barren c. break forth into singing c. enlarge the place of thy tent and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations spare not lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy stakes for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left and thy seed shall inherite the Gentiles and make the desolate Cities to be inhabited We are to pray that God would make his Church a praise thus also Thus you have Right Honourable Honourable Reverent and beloved in our Lord Iesus the sense of this doctrine as fully as my weak thoughts in the little time I had to bestow upon this work were able to comprehend it yee see for whom we are to pray Ierusalem the Church of God in generall our own in particular yee see what it is we are to desire for the one for the other truth peace and praise such a trinity of blessings as the blessed Trinity hath none better to bestow upon the dearly beloved of his soul while she sojourns upon earth I know I speak to an Auditory so rationall as I shal not need confirm this truth by reasons to so cordiall to the Church of God as I shall as little need to stir you up to the practice of this truth by application The point confirmed by examples else I might fill up a large portion of the time remaining in telling you how all the Lords remembranters in all the ages of the Church under the Law under the Gospell have exemplified this truth under the Law before the Captivity Moses Samuel David Isaiah Ieremy which of the Lords Prophets have not made the establishing and beautifying of Ierusalem the burthen of their prayers In the captivity though they had lost their Vrim and Thummim and the fire of the Sanctuary that came from heaven yet they had not lost this holy heavenly disposition of praying for Ierusalem see abundant evidence of it in Ezekiel Daniel Mordecai and after the captivity in Ezra Nehemiah and others And now in the times of the Gospell the same spirit still animates Gods children and enclines their hearts still to seek the good of Ierusalem how doe the Apostles in severall Epistles testify this disposition in them Rom. 1.9 God is my witnesse whom I serve with my spirit in the Gospel of his Son that without ceasing I make mention of you saith that Apostle to the Church of Rome alwayes in my prayers so Ephes 1.16 17. making mention of you in my prayers that the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of glory may give unto you c. Yea so much religion have the Saints of God before us placed in this duty of praying for Ierusalem that they have deprecated the neglect of this as a most abominable sinne 1 Sam. 12.23 As for mee God forbid that I should sinne against you in ceasing to pray for you nay have imprecated a curse upon themselves if ever they should be so wretched Psal 137.5 6. If I forget thee O Ierusalem let my right hand forget her cunning if I doe not remember thee let my tongue cleave to the roofe of my mouth if I prefer not Ierusalem above my chiefe joy it is one of the greatest judgements that can befall a Prophet to be silenced witnesse Zachary whose unbeleef God punished with this as an only judgement witnesse those amongst our selves that have had their mouths stopped by the violent hand of man who know what it is to have the word of God as a fire in their bones and no vent for it yet even to this doth the Prophet here curse himselfe If I forget thee O Ierusalem if I doe not remember to mourn for thee to pray for thee let me never pray more let mee never speak more if I forget to speak for thee let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth The good Lord be mercifull to every one of us and pardon all our forgetfulnesse of Ierusalem whom we have as much cause and reason to remember as ever any had Proved by Reasons For 1 is not Ierusalem a Heb. 12.22 the city of God the b 1 Tim. 3.15 house of God the c Psal 135.4 Titus 2.14 peculiar of God the d Isaiah 62.4 delight of God e Isay 62.2 the crown of glory the royall diadem in the hand of God is not f Cant. 5.2 the Love the dove the Spouse the sister g Eph 1.23 the body h Eph 1.23 the fulnesse i 2 Cor. 8.23 the glory of Iesus Christ and in all these respects doth it not deserve our prayers And secondly are not earth and hell up in armes against Ierusalem are not men and devils in league together to confound and destroy Ierusalem Psalm 83.3 4. They have taken crafty counsell against thy people and consulted against thy hidden ones They have said Come and let us cut them off from being a Nation that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance Geball and Ammon and Amalek c. And doth not Ierusalem in this respect now need our prayers And thirdly hath not the Lord made promises unto Ierusalem of these things we are to pray for of truth and peace Ierem. 33.6 I will cure them and reveal abundance of truth and peace unto them as also of praise v. 9. It shall be to me a name of joy a praise and an honour before all the Nations of the earth and Zeph. 3.20 I will make you a name and a praise among all the people of the earth And is not the Lord able to accomplish
these promises notwithstanding al their counter-machinations of his enemies Isay 46.10 My counsell shall stand and I will doe all my pleasure Yet fourthly It is not the Lords pleasure to accomplish these things unto his Church but in and by his peoples prayers Ierem. 33.3 Call unto mee and I will answer thee and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not Ezek. 36.37 I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel to doe it for them Doctrine applyed Sed quò feror some use I would gladly make of this point if I knew what I might afford variety of profitable instructions but it is not for me to presume to instruct so Honourable Learned and Religious an Assembly give me leave to apologize for my selfe with Elihu Iob. 32.6 I said I am of few days and yee are old wherefore I was afraid and durst not shew you mine opinion I said dayes should speak and multitudes of yeares should teach wisdome The Lord knows glad would I have been to sit at any of your feet to learn rather then to stand hereto teach and to receive rather then to give instruction therefore I decline that work For Reproof In the next place this truth might serve for reproofe and if such an application would not lead me besides my Auditory ô with what vehemency might a man from hence in the name and by the Spirit of our Lord Iesus Christ thunder indignation and wrath upon the heads of those who though they have usurped and possessed the place of such as should be the Lords Remembrancers yet in stead of performing the duty of this text have practised the cleane contrary in stead of praying that God would establish his Church in truth have endevored nothing but to undermine the truth to subvert adulterate the truth their folly as the Apostle speakes 2 Tim. 3.9 is manifest unto all men God hath unmasked them and all that will see may see their designe was to let in such an inundation of popery and Socinianisme as should have drowned the truth of God for ever in stead of praying that God would establish his Church in peace they have acted the part of those unclean spirits the frogs spoken of Rev. 16.14 stirring up the kings of the earth to battle against the Church of God first in Scotland who were the Incendiaries what the fuell of the war there And since that in England have not the warres of both kingdomes had the same fuell and fomenters and who are they but the Iesuitizing clergie of England who like the uncleane spirit we reade of Mark 9. fearing they shall now be cast out of their long possession rent and tear the kingdom and lay it wallowing not as he did the child there in its foam but in its bloud What shall I speake of such a clergie who in stead of praying that God would make his Church a praise have endeavoured nothing more then to rob the Church of all that might make it praise-worthy in stead of desiring that the Church might enjoy fulnesse of ordinances endeavouring to strip the Church of them all to abolish Sabbaths to bring the delight of dayes the Queen of dayes under the curse of Iobs birth day Let it not be joyned to the days of the year let it not come into the number of the months to excommunicate preaching and praying and cast them quite out of the Church to turn the sacrament of the Lords supper into a sacrifice of the altar In stead of praying that all ordinances and offices might be administred according to Christs rule and order would have all things in Gods house worship done according to their own fancy will lust humour What shal we say to such a Clergy they dote upon the name still Arist de Hist Anim. l. 8. c. 27. let them enjoy it Aristotle speaks of a little worm called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is pestilently noxious destructive to Bee-hives no lesse noxious and destructive hath our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the greatest part of them been to the true Church of God amongst us against whom the Church of God may powre out as sad complaints to her Lord Iesus Christ as sometimes she did Cant. 5. The watchmen the keepers of the wall found me they smote me they took away my vaile let such read their doom 2 Pet. 2 their judgement now of a long time lingreth not their damnation sleepeth not I had not turned aside to this reproofe for I look for none of this generation here this day had it not been to provoke my selfe and you to a more serious and deep humiliation for those abominations of the late times which though many of us have seen and observed even then and some of us have felt and smarted under the violences thereof yet few I fear amongst us have had our hearts so humbled for the iniquity of thē as they should have beene the Lord help us so to take to heart this day our own and other mens sins that he may forgive our iniquities and heal our Land But I return to my Auditory and the only boldnesse I shall assume brethren and fathers is but to do as much as Naamans servant did unto his Lord exhort you to doe that which you know God would have you doe pray for Ierusalem and I am confident I might spare even this it is your work daily but God having called me this day to speak unto you for Zions sake I cannot hold my peace Qui monet ut facias quod facis dum monet laudat The Doctrine applyed for exhortation Is it the duty of Ministers in a speciall manner to pray uncessantly that God would establish Ierusalem and make it a praise in the earth then let every one of us by solemn engagements to God to his Church bind our selves to the performance of this duty and surely brethren if ever there were times that called for this duty if ever there were men called to this duty this is the time we are the Men. First 1. Enforced from the time present for the time if ever there were time that did command the most importune and uncessant prayers of all Gods ministers and people for here I will take in all that they should cry mightily to the Lord night and day in the behalf of Ierusalem keep no silence give him no rest til he establish and make Ierusalem a praise in the earth if ever there were a time that did exact this Now is the time Had I art or grace enough to present before you the lively or rather gastly deadly face of Ierusalem the Churches of Christ Iesus at this time I know it would command tears and prayers from the most flinty heart in this congregation could I let you see Ierusalem like that man in the parable Luke 10.30 that went down from Ierusalem fallen among theeves and by them stripped and wounded and left halfe dead while
many too many with the Priest and Levite passe by on the other side of the way and will not see though they cannot but see the Churches bleeding miseries amongst all her lovers there is none to comfort her Lam. 1.2 Zion spreadeth forth her hands and there is none to comfort her Lament 1.17 Zion spreadeth forth her hands from sea to sea from one Nation to another people and there is none to comfort her there is none to guide her amongst all the sons whom she hath brought forth neither is there any that takes her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up Esay 51.18 O were I able to expresse this to the life unto you you would say if ever there were a time for you to shew your selves as the good Samaritane to bestow as he did your wine your oyle your money nay your teares your prayers your blouds upon the healing of the Churches wounds Now is the time Or could I let you see the Church Ierusalem as Iohn saw her in that Revelation which was given unto him by Christ Iesus chap. 12. in the same condition though not in the same cloathing a woman cloathed not as there with the sun but with a cloud not having the moon under her feet but a globe of flames a field of blood under her feet not as there with a crown of twelve starres upon her head but rather in Tamars dresse and posture 2 Sam. 13.19 who with ashes on her head and her garment of divers colours the ensigne of her Virginity and Royalty rent and torne and with her hands upon her head going forth crying such may we conceive the dresse and posture of the Church of Christ to be she now as there Revel 12. cryeth travelling and pained to be delivered in this pained condition the Church hath been now almost these three years ever since the beginning of this Parliament the Church of God amongst us hath been in travell crying and pained to be delivered and all this while as there the great red dragon stands before the woman to devour the child as soone as it is born O! the sight of the Church in such a sad condition might force a teare from a stone a prayer from a speechlesse heartlesse man but from Ministers from those that are the Lords Remembrancers me thinks it might draw tears enough to rince the earth from bloud and prayers enough to offer violence to heaven But not to speak parabolically but plainly I say again if ever there were a time that did command the most importune and uncessant prayers of all Gods ministers and people now is the time was there ever time wherein the Church of God was more shaken more in danger to have both her pillars of truth and peace broken reduced to dust to nothing then at this time The enemies of the Church have a long time sought to undermine the truth but now they raise Armes against the truth they plant open battery against the truth And for our peace where is it Terras reliquit it hath taken to it self the wings of a dove and forsaking earth is fled to heaven frighted hēce with the sound of the trumpet the alarum of warre and the cryes of bloud We may chronicle of our age that which the Prophet Azariah spake of some ages of Israel 2 Chron. 15.5 6. In those times there was no peace to him that went out nor to him that came in but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries And Nation was destroyed of Nation and city of city for God did vex them with all adversity Never was this poor Church people in a more broken distressed condition in regard of peace civill nor scarce ever worse in regard of peace ecclesiasticall now when there are so many swords in England and in Ireland drawn against the Protestants ô that we should be even at daggers drawing one against another O the bitter divisions and digladiations of Protestants amongst themselves in these bleeding times For the divisions of Reuben there are great searchings of heart for the divisions of Reuben there are great searchings of heart Holy Ridley and Hooper though in the times of the peace liberty of the gospell they could never agree about black and white but had many wrathfull bickerings yet in time of persecution for the gospel they could as their own expression is agree in red when God came to put them together in tears and sufferings and bloud they could forget all differences of judgement then and love and live and die together as brethren Doe those know what spirit they are of that at such a time as this when all the true hearted Protestants in England are put in one calamitous suffering bleeding condition are yet quarrelling about their own opinions weakning the Protestant party by sub-divisions which if united is scarce enough to withstand the common adversary should this be if we had not lost our peace with God As the Holy Ghost speaks of the calamities of the Church in Iuda 2 Kings 24.3 so may we say of the calamities upon the Church of England Surely at the commandement of the Lord came this upon England and the Lord grant the Lord grant that the following words be not verified in their time the Lord grant this be not come upon us to remove England out of his sight but however we may take up the Churches lamentation Lam. 3.17 Thou hast removed me far from peace Ey and as far from praise The crown is fallen from our head Lam. 5.16 we are become a reproach to our neighbours a scorn a derision a by-word a shaking of the head those few of us that adhere to the Protestant Religion and cause are represented to the world at home and abroad as Sectaries Anabaptists Rebels that if ever there were a time for us to cry to God to scatter those clouds of bloud confusion contempt that cover the face of the Church to bring forth our judgement as the light and our righteousnesse as the morning now is the time Yee that are the Lords Remembrancers keep no silence give him no rest till he establish and till he make Ierusalem a praise in the earth A second enforcement of this duty from the persons present And if ever Men were called to this work we are called to it 1 as Ministers 2 as Ministers selected from the rest of our brethren to this present service whereunto we desire to sanctifie our selves this day ½ As Ministers it doth ex officio belong unto us to be the Lords Remembrancers to put the Lord in mind of Ierusalem you know what order the Lord took that the Priests the Ministers of the Lord under the Law might continually remember Israel the Church of God unto the Lord the high Priest was to bear the names of the twelve tribes upon his shoulders engraven in two stones and upon his breast engraven upon twelve stones Ex. 28.12.29 that he might bear