Race of cruel Haters to Israel And so Amalek bears up the Name witness his dogging the feeble among them in the Rear Exod. 17. ult And of that Stock was Agag how high his Kingly Throne was let Balaam say Numb 24.7 Doeg comes in next a Masquerade Worshipper he was before the Lord indeed but detain'd hid incluserat se in Tabernaculo not of good-will to Devotion but as you come to our Meetings to serve a Job for the Devil nor yet for Saul so much as Self and being his Herdsman if you will Butcher learn'd to be bloody Nob a whole City Women Infants with 85 Priests of the Lord he kill'd and ruin'd 1 Sam. 22.18 19. Josephus says he razed and burnt it and killed 385 Persons And which was sad tho Saul was anointed of God yet being annoy'd with that evil Spirit he by commanding it owns the Guilt tho his Footmen declin'd Obedience to that Command but this Dog obeyed quickly which they or he were better Subjects let Sense judg Rabbins say after he was that Armour-bearer that being too near Saul's Person found a Season to kill him after the Battel Others call him a Pastor to Saul's Flocks and some also a Judg Dr. Mayor but commission'd now for this Job as a chief of Saul's Servants 1 Sam. 23.9 His Successor is Haman the Agagite that struck in Esther at all the Race of Israel Esth 3.8 And the Line runs to Herod who slew 14000 Infants for Christ Nay to Judas of whom Mayor says Vol. 2. p. 316. Doeg was a Type so all are that intend Envy under the Mask of Piety To end this of the Rise of them I remind my Reader that some eight Years since Anno 1675. there came a stitcht Book to hand stil'd A Rebuke to our Informers in which the sober Author after the Perface first convicts them of their Sin secondly answers Objections thirdly makes some Inferences in all handles the Matter so gravely truly and strenuously that I judg that Piece of 84 Pages not only meet for a vicious Informer but any rigid Priest or Person that loves sober Truth But to follow my purpose I say it is no shame to us to suffer what Christ our Lord did nor any credit to our Accusers to do what Judas did the Top of all whose Kin is the Devil Secondly For the Course you run 't is pernicious and vile and that 1. To the King It is so far from serving his Interest that it loosens the Bands of Union and tempts the People to a Jealousy as if he meant to resign the Rule and Reins of a Prince to such petty Tyrants You diminish the Number and discourage the Trade of the Sedulous and so can never countervail the King's Damage Esth 7.4 as Haman pretends Esther denies If Solomon reason right Prov. 20.38 By Mercy and Truth is the King preserv'd his Throne is upheld by Mercy Mercy shew'd the Poor Dan. 4.27 Truth preach'd to the Erring so his Person or Power is upheld Then Cruelty Exactions and Falshood in Oaths weaken both You hurt him by his own Weapon in pretending Law 2. You injure Protestants in weakning them by Fines deterring them from their Religious Duties and the Exercise of their Gifts and Graces for others Good You propagate the Plot and serve the Papists in turning the Force of Laws in the harshest Sence to the disquiet of the Peaceable in the Land Psal 55.20 And so Protestants are set to vex each other Papists in the Interim divide all Divide Impera to serve your Rapine 3. You accuse Men that are innocent falsly as if Rebels to the King for obeying God's Command of Hereticks in the Church for adhering to Truth or seditious and factious to the State while you by Slanders are the Seeds-men of those Tares Schismaticks for dividing from Babel when our Bishop's Plea was No Peace with Rome Bishop Hall Nor know you Zealots well that so pursue our Conventicles what to define them If Minshew's Word may pass in the ill Sence a Conventicle is Conventus seditiosorum sceleratorum a Meeting of seditious and wicked Men. If Bishop Bridgman's be right reported to me 't is a little Meeting of Men out of several Precincts to consult on State-Affairs and the Doors shut for Secrecy Ours are not such 4. How many Towns Cities Families are endanger'd by you Some imprison'd or begger'd some forc'd out pious Ministers exposed to flee from their Families to escape your Raven for 100 l. Fine and sober Gentlemen hector'd by you that would not vex their honest Neighbours Tenants and Friends and Officers of Peace and whole Towns fermented divided and perturbed 5. Lo what Guilt you incur by afflicting the Just offending Christ's little Ones that believe in him prohibiting the publication of the Word of Life profaning the Sabbath your selves by hindring others coveting to take the Spoil and Goods of the Poor taking Oaths and telling Lies and Tales for Gain smiting Fellow-servants Mat. 24.49 and Subjects by the Tongue serving the Devil in casting Men in Prison Rev. 2.10 6. This has been the Sin and has brought Misery on the Heads of others Marshal and Stroud in London of late you took no warning Obstinacy and Obduration is now aggerated on your Guilt you approach the Sin unto Death 1 John 5.16 that is not to be forgiven You dread not the Marks of Cain Doeg Judas Beware you feel not the Horror of a despairing Conscience like Spira Latomus Eccebolus that said Calcate me salem insipidum Porphyry c. That 's a Worm immortal 7. The Course you run is not like to obtain the Means answer not the End you attempt Impossibilities Can you stop the Tide hedg in the Birds imprison the Wind stay the Sun or bind Arcturus and loosen the Bands of Orion Nor can you damme or restrain the strong Stream of the Spirit extinguish Sun-Light or bind up the Gales of that Wind of the Word John 3.8 but in spite and sight of you and all your Persecutions the Gospel shall prosper and that by your very Opposition Quo magis furunt eò amplius procedo The more they rage the more I go on said Luther Thirdly Look to the End of your Course What is it but Hatred of God and Man Perhaps they that employ you may desert you to the Justice of the Vulgar and give you a Reprimand like that the Council and Priests gave Judas Mat. 27.34 What 's that to us see thou to that So will the Wages of Unrighteousness 2 Pet. 2.15 melt in your Consciences and make Hell-Fire sparkle and flash in your Eyes and be too hot to hold You have rid like Balaam and the Asses you bestride shall crush your Foot and cut your Consciences with the Rebukes that he had And the Gain you hunt shall fail you your Neighbours shall dread and decline you as Pests to Society you shall be driven from Light to Darkness and chased out of the World Job 18.18 As
An Apology for God's Worship And Worshipers BOTH In the Purity of the One and Liberty of the Other From the Gracious and oft Miraculous DEFENCE that God makes for them both when exposed to Violation or Violence Dedicated To all that desire to Worship GOD in Spirit and Truth John 4.23 24. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Obs Parei Adv. in 1 Sam. 7. p. 138. Adeo difficile est etiam bonis Magistratibus Doctoribus Idolatriam extirpare Vitia reprimere ubi semel invaluerunt Cultum instaurare ubi semel corruptus Rempublicam componere ubi semel turbata est London Printed for the Author Anno Dom. 1683. The Epistle Dedicatory TO THE READER TO all that desire to worship God in Spirit and Truth especiall to Dissenters that have any Conscientious Care to please God in it to whom these Pages come Men Fathers and Brethren Reverend and Beloved hear ye my Apology Acts 22.1 c. not for my self nor unto you so much as for you in your present Dissent Distance and Separation in Worship from the now legal Establishment 'T is a happy thing says Bishop Hall in his Contemplation on K. Josias's tenderness p. 1306 to be as a gentle Reed to God's Judgments rather than a stiff Oak for while that stands this is tore up by the Roots This tenderness best adorns Royal Breasts yet befits all that reverence Law or dread Wrath Divine the Case was sad with Israel now yet blessed in the tenderness of the Kings Heart 2 King 22.19 under impending Woes Raklebabeka Cor emolitum est He melted to Tears Instar cerae as Wax softens at the Sun Tenderness of heart is a Royal Grace in two things it is seen 1. In avoiding what in the least provokes Jealousie 2. In trembling both at Wrath inflicted and impending so Josiah did Royal Examples not in evil but good are set for Imitation of all That Judgments impend on us for old Guilt I need not say to you that feel the drops of the storm already falling all I note here is Did I not believe a tender Conscience lay at the Root of your Nonconformity I would not have run this adventure to plead your Cause in this perillous juncture The Light of Gospel Truth and Purity of Gods Worship are two Essentials of right Christianity without the first the Profession is Heresy and without the second the Worship is but Idolatry though the Agent may be very devout in it both put together inferr a godly Life About right Worship after Doctrines are clear'd many are the Altercations that have happened ever since the Roman Apostacy obtain'd not only betwixt Papists and us but among Protestants themselves if about the Eucharist so many Opinious have been ventilated and that is but one part of Gospel Worship how many may be in all the Parts and Duties of it supposed and that both long and eager in both litigants And who can sufficiently condole the bad effects that have slowed from Gally Pens and Stomacks especially where Formality in the one Party and Sincerity in the other have been Competitors But in two Points about Worship Men's Concertings a late have most been conversant 1. About the Purity of the thing 2. The Liberty of the Door Against the first is Superstition that polutes it so alters its nature and Persecution hinders the latter Hence our late Debates and Animosities here have sprung in Brittain and other parts adjacent to the great decay of the power of Godliness and setting up that stump of a Formal Dagon half Man half Fish a mungril Profession above it And be the Profession never so refined in point of Doctrine if it only float in the Head and descend not to the Heart with power to the Life in Practice it makes the Professor but a meer Formalist an Erastian or Persecutor as Ismael of him that is born after the Spirit and often the more devout the more rigid so opens a back door for Hypocrisy Atheism and Apostacy as many that in Q. Mary's days were Papists in Q. Eliz. were advanc't to places and so became Protestant Persecutors and that of some unto death as were easie to instance This bitter water of Jealousie mixt with the dust of the Sanctuary not of its Essence has caused the Power to rot and Belly to swell of some Sham-Protestants against their Brethren for the sake of some Romish Rites not of the esse to Religion at all so that they do hazard a Reconciliation and return to Rome in defence of her Raggs rather than to build on upon the fair bottom of Reformation begun And hence is the occasion of this Discourse To which the Author had these Inducements 1. The Service of his Maker and Master for the Truth 's sake yet with us to witness to which all Christ's Followers are bound though unto death as he did Joh. 18.37 2. The silence of others more Able of deeper Reason and better Parts Reading Opportunities to apologize for themselves than I am 3. To help the doubtful settle the shaking and if it may be reduce the wandring that be tempted to do that in Worship that offends God wounds Conscience and makes a step unto a perillous recidivation and casts a blot on our holy Profession opening a Door to Popery 4. To corroborate the Faithful and uphold them in an even Vprightness in point of Worship being so thrust at to overthrow their Faith and corrupt them in the Worship os God a halting in which is so inconsistent with the Vprightness of the Gospel Gal. 2.14 5. The scattered Case and Solitude of many a precious Souls calls for it that dare not for their lives add or altar in a Pin a Nail a Thred of Christ's Seamless Coat or any point of Worship never so small These may find time to read the Book and mix what Sweets it affords with their sad Soliloquies Sighs and retired Tears not daring to sit in the Idol-Temple with the Assembly of Mockers but rather alone being for Hypocrisies fill'd with Indignation as Psal 26.5.6 Jer. 15.17 1 Cor. 8.10 6. My own Case and forced restraint was not a little cogent to this Witness being deprived by the Fury of some denyed by the unfriendliness of others cast out by Foes kept out by Friends from all places of publick or private Use though a Petitioner to some of note for the Gospel's sake and hundreds of scattered Souls to get a spare hour on the first day that my Talent such as 't is might not be shut up under a Bushel useless yet was denyed of more than two or three though others were admitted of Now that I might requite this Brotherly-kind Vnkindness in keeping out of a publick Pulpit I pay as I could my Brethren by the Pen in this Plea for them I confess 't is attended at this juncture with more than ordinary discouraging Difficulties both from the nature of the Testimony in it and shyness of most concerned that now are poor or afraid
all down to Quakers To that I say were I of none or all Religions it were to be abhorred but to plead for all to have the Rights of Justice allowed the Body and of Religion allowed the Conscience is far from Scepticisme I am not one in Faith and Worship with all that I yet dare plead for to give them the freedom of the Consciences till God opens their eyes to see and do better I am far from them that will deny their Christian Name to any that desire to deport suitably 'T is better to pray for them that are out of the way than persecute any in for that makes them but Hypocrites in God's Service Persecution is but Antichrists Broom and it will never clean or fill up Christ's House Do any alledge Peril or Charge in publishing such displeasing Subjests I say For the 1st 't is an honourable Choice to hazard Purse or Person Life and all for the Truth-sake and in this the Author is loath to expose any with him and he has not launc't out I hope past the Lines of Modesty and Truth This is not a Witness Saleable so much as a free Dedication to the now dispersed as for the Charge if Brethren be ingrateful for it it is but the loss of what is laboured hard for and the loss of others in like publick Service and very like the Age we live in If I am ask't who called to this Apology I answer God and the Truth and a wise King Prov. 31.8.9 That twice bids Open the mouth for the Dumb the Sons of destruction Poor Needy This Plea becomes Kings to make for the Opprest as Theodoric in Caffiod that ought Non tam armis quam judiciis sieri clariores That they should not be more famous by Arms than Judgments Truth has as one says of the Rubie two rare Properties it is found not in the day but by its lustre in the Night and that is such that whatever aray covers it it shines through all Truth shines best in the dark and under the blackest Garb or Odium men can cloath it with It is to be bought and valued above Rubies and if none call to or accept a Witness to it yet 't is reward and comfort sufficient to appeal to Christ that owns it and will all its Lovers If any say But all 's about a Controversy I yield true but it is a just Cause a long depending Plea and 't is the Controversy of Zion and for purity of Worship and to get keep out Roman Rites and humane Ornature that do alter its nature by Additions and Traditious Admit the Serpents Head the Body easily winds in after the Difference is but gradual not specific 'twixt Romes Rites and Home-Rites the Plea of the Church-Authority and Headship the same 't is Treason to steal or alienate a Gemm or so rich a Rubie as Christ's Supremacy is Not to plead this is to desert Christ's Cause and Truth and lay our own Profession Assemblies and Countreys open to a gaping Dragon Now if any say this Plea is too late the People you plead for are gone all the Flocks scatter'd I answer to any so insulting and say as Paul to us all Are they broken off Boast not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ne cervicem jactare instar equi Strut not with Necks up as proud Horses Rom. 11.18.21 Be not high minded against the Branches lopt with terrour you have the same Rod in steep for you and may come to taste what you have gathered for us the Out-works took your Fort next is beat down you send us in a Storm away you 'll feel the brunt or else be beat back to Rome and yet all are not gone God still reserves a Remnant and some Flocks are fed still in the Woods But for you Mourners I add two words 1. A Concession possibly by God's Sufferance you poor of the Flock may prove a Flock of slaughter and your Possessors may slay you and hold themselves guiltless nay be inrich't by it Zach 11.4 5 9 11. But will God hold them so The Jews sold Christ for Barrabas and chose Caesar and that Roman Caesar they gloried in God gave them up to their Curse should give us Caution besides for this how were they after that unchurch't Scatterings are finishing filling up and compleating Dispensations as Dan. 12.7 in them men fill up their Sin and God fills up the measure of their Enemies Fury and his own after that he seals up the Vision There is a Ne plus ultra Thus far no further that God ever sets to boundless willful Rage once God is said to fear as in this Book I note Deut. 32.26 and it is of this 〈…〉 vent it punish the Doers and collect us again 2. A comfortable Gathering follows for little Ones as Zac. 13.7 Little in Number Estate Esteem or Stature the Vision being sealed up now follows the anointing of the most Holy to his Kingdom Dan. 9.24 This gathering is from all four Winds Mark 13.37 as that Voice was from the four horns of the Golden Altar of Incense before God typing the Incense of Prayer ascending by Christs Intercession pulling on the second Woe in the Turks Inrode which though terrible at first pulls Wrath down in answer to Prayer which some deem now acting over again or to be acted under the sixth Vial Compare Rev. 9.13 with ch 16.12 which if we are so far on of the Vials makes Dr. Th. G's notion on the Rev. p. 190. 1st Part more comfortable and wellcome to all the Godly For the Jews Call with the Rise of the Witnesses as they need not so they 'l have no ordinary means or preparations to them no previous appearances of them but be as a Nation born on a day so that Faith needs not be put off the things may come long ere we are aware to expect them For the Heads of the Book the Form and Method the Authors cited the close Passages and Rebukes hinted the Scope and Aim with the modest reserve of the Authors Name are all left to the Readers Candor in judging of the whole I conclude with a word of Advice to the poor of the Flock scattered 1. Lament the Sins that procure it and that provoke the great Shepherd not only to set on dogs to lugg but Wolves to tear the Flocks nay Bears to grub up the Vine-Roots 2. If days of Prayer together be denyed you for Places grow scarce and Houses are shye let two or three apart joyn hands lift up to God one Jacob Elijah one Bazil Saba Luther Larmouth may by right wrestling obtain and that 's a famous Congregation where God is a Bethel and as fearful to the Adversaries 3. As you may not scatter without a Force so being forc't submit not to the Wickedness of Men so much as to the wise Will of God so David did 2 Sam. 15.25 Carry back the Ark if so and so If not here I am If Absalom's ambition for
got at last the Blessing by it the other prized it but as a Mess of Pottage so prophane yet God gave it Jacob and Esau for it hated him and this old hate lives still in the N. T. The very first Persecutor Herod was an Idumean Mat. 2. and that Race lived in Steven's in Peter's in Paul's Time Acts 7. Ch. 12.2 till the Womans Persecution and to her Seed Apoc. 12. ult And so I derived it ab Origine Some say the Papists hold the Unction of Priests a more sacred one than that of Kings and if they and their Kings both be Persecutors that Unction is of the Oyl of Scorpions 2. But a further account of its Rise may be took thus from the Light of Truth and Beauty of Holiness and Purity of Worship own'd some Truths are of a biting nature Noah condemned the Old World Heb. 11.7 and Lot Judged Sodom Gen. 19.3 and that could neither of them bear nor can it but irritate where ever it comes 3. Also from the Ignorance of Men's Minds that are purblind and easily misled by a Zeal not according to knowledge Rom. 9.2 3. This Paul after his Eyes are open confesses against himself 1 Tim. 1.13 and that he verily thought he ought to do so against the Name of Jesus Acts 26.9 Ch. 13.50 14.2 but in mercy God shewed him better things after 4. But it oft flows from devout Zealots and Semi-Christians Phil. 1.15 that by prejudice and mistake that way they set cause many of the Vulgar to bandy with them and so do raise Persecution against any they fancy to have a new way to Heaven 5. Besides the Priesthood are mostly in the Van both of the O. T. and the N. These do blow the Coals of Envy and vulgar rage and seek to blow out the fire of God's Altar The Sons of the Prophets are Enemies to Prophesy and they that should nourish Light hate it Amos 7.10 6. Also needless Divisions and Animosities do oft conduce to it not a little if the best vary and part in Judgment Affection and Way it corroborates the Minds and Hands of all that long to extinguish the whole Party Oft our Alterations and Scuffles bring the Ball to the Foot of them that say Divide Impera 7. Sometimes Affairs change also and the Wheel of Providence rowls about turning under all that were upmost afore and those that lay at the foot to be over the head both in Pride and Power insulting though the vilest Abjects with God and Men over the best of Persons for Parts and Place as the fly the Wheel O what dust these raise till God rowles them off 8. But no Womb more productive of Fury against Religion than turns in the Rulers and Regiment of this World as all subsolar Affairs do naturally toss roule and fluctuate all that precide being mutable in Judgment and Mortals so oft they vary their Courses and Councils as the Wind whose Points are many and emergent Interests vary When that Roman Emperial Dragon for three or four hundred years swayed O what Seas of Christian Blood was spilt by ten fierce Persecutions and some rose from the Odium Nero put on the Christian Name burning Rome and laying that on them and so cryed Christiani ad Leones Thus he first dedicated Christian blood on the Altar that yet crys HOW LONG Apoc. 6.9 And let an ill Name be true or no if Grandees say it the Sufferer has no Relief but Patience and Crys to God And in Places where Idolatry and Paganisme obtain nothing but rage is to be expected and which is pity where the Christian Name only is pretended under the vain glorious Titles of the most Catholick or most Christian Alas how is Power made the Lacquey to all the Papal Slaughters that the Inquisitors the Priesthood and their flyes can possibly cause and the Rulers themselves subjected to the Lusts of them that make rage their reason the Kingdoms as Shambles and Authority a naked Cleaver or Lictor to execute their Fury But where Protestancy is profest and upon its Declination how many high and low that had tasted of its Light are there that were never inebriated into the Love of its Truth nor the Power of its Piety and Purity that if a subtile Jesuit gets their Ear or an envious Haman their Favour can easily be wheedled to renounce that Profession and for their holy Fathers Blessing espouse their own Fathers Curse and Gods too by Apostacy from the God of their Fathers Now if a great Man falls out of the Saddle or be kickt off by a natural Death and another mount and get the Reines as has oft been O how easily will the hand of the Rider reine about with the Head the whole Body being jaded first to profess a new Faith and persecute the old Now here among the Shelves and Syrts I am betwixt Sylla and Charybdis under fear of Paul's Euroclydon and glad to cry to the Helm No near as the Mariners do least I fall as once the Royal-Oak split on those Rocks the Bishops and Clarks I will therefore lore Top-galon and sail gently only say that Satan's cloven Foot is to be trac't in all the Persecutions from Abel's and Job's by Brethren to that of the Dragon this of the Pope and all the Roman Bishops succeeding in his Spirit And thus the Rise is seen it rests to open next the unreasonableness of it Now 2dly Persecution thus deriving Who that will bear the Christian Name or follow the Doctrine Worship and Practice of him that was crucified on a real Roman Cross would joyn hands with Rome to persecute for Conscience sake Here let me a little reason it out with some of this Spirit and then remove Allegations urged for it 1. What is that we call properly Persecution Is it not an eager pursuit of Brethren in the Cause of Religion for not yielding to that in Worship that in Conscience is judged Sin or doing that which you account against Law In both Branches this is the Dissenters Case and all agree that Fides verbis suadendae est non verberibus cogenda Faith is not to be forced and the like now is urged for Worship too they account it Sin to conform you judge it their Sin to meet apart and prosecute we say persecute 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one word fits both If any say it is no more a Persecution then that of Fellons is by just Laws here comes in the appeal to God who will at last decide in the mean time we alledge that of the Prophet Your Brethren cast you out for my Name sake Isai 66.5 You say that Compellation is not due to us yet if God allow it us who will deny it What Brethren be it by Name Kin Nation Vicinity Society and yet they hated you that is the sad old Root of bitterness and interpreted Killing Mat. 5.22 1 Joh. 3.15 Sure that is a Persecution And cast you out Unchurch you Why for my Name
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