symbolize at least with Roman 〈◊〉 in which they are not to participate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Papists say the Body of Christ transubstantiates the Bread Lutherans it consubstantiates and so may well adore it you say neither and yet kneel to 't as to God Well may they separate 5. They find you own another Headship than Christ's giving what you well took from the Pope to Man which is not competible or due to any Mortal save Christ only 6. They lisp out as they dare that you look too luscious or asquint to the old Mother Some Sons of the Church plead for a Peace with Rome Rites are a sure Sign I could urge Martial Lumine luscus Rem magnam praestas Zoile si bonus es Or that of the painted Peacock's Property Angelus aspectu pede latro voce gehenna She 's like an Angel plum'd so choice with a Thief 's Foot Hell in her Voice Truly a Voice all Curses is like Hell not the Church of Christ so that one may say Were the Pope's Bull and P Curse As sharp in Conscience as the Purse Both high and low in this our Nation Might dread a Priest's Excommunication 7. But lastly I say for them they cannot in Conscience come and receive you have so many Additions to God's Word Prov. 30. 6. your Posts by God's Ezek. 43. 8. that it alters the thing to which the Addition is put as Civilians say Additamentum rei naturam â—ollit Now I would only ask from that Text 1 Cor. 11. 28. cum sequent Let a Man examine himself and so eat with what follows Did the Apostle concern or intend us You say Yea Then is each worthy Receiver to mind that the Church which he receives with as one Bread be after the Apostolick not Apoâ—â—atick Patern as well as his personal Fitness And I ask also Does the Apostle write to the Pastors or the People or rather both Sure all will yield to both Then I say the delivering of so sacred Symbols by or into unwashen hands that nor can nor do examine their own Fitness nor do the Priests help them is to profane the thing to take God's Name in vain and to be your selves accessary to the Receivers Guilt and Ruine a Charge as heavy to answer to Christ as lightly assumed of late in a futilous vain and pernicious Pamphlet printed Child's 2d Argument p. 3. 6thly Not forgetting the Office of an Insormer to them I only say three things 1. Touching your Race 2. Course 3. Conclusion First For your Rise and Race It may be derived high Cain is the Root of your Blood Envy the Root of your Actings the Devil Father to both Envy the Source Avarice the Channel it runs in that breeds the Act this feeds the Agent Trace it along from the beginning First the Devil accuses God to Evah then he propagates his Seed by Cain in killing Abel next by the Giants Race after by Tubal-Cain and all the Pipers and Musicians who being all immers'd in the Flood Job 22. 16. Nimrod is next of that Stock a mighty Hunter Gen. 10. 9. and do we think he wanted these Beagles and Setters of the Game As Nimrod a mighty Hunter before the Lord A Rebel as his Name denotes These may lie in the same House as Isaac and Ishmael in the same Womb as Jacob and Esau and yet the one persecute the other and that for God's sake Go on to Esau's Dukes all a 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 Preface 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
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 maâ—es 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 fieri 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 Traditions 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 uâ— all Are they broken off Boast not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ne cervicem jactare instar equi Strut noâ— with Necks up as proud Horses Rom. 11. 18. 21. Be not high minded against the Branches â—optâ— 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 be 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 scattering So well may we but he can soon prevent 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. 27. 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
a distance and tho the way and time of God's Warfare is unknown yet is he oft in the Field for Zion's cause and Sons and secretly draws a Bow or at adventure lets one do 't that sends going the proudest Ahab and if his Tools be but a Shepherd's Bag 1 Sam. 17. 49. a Sling or a smooth Stone of Prayer as ver 15. that as once on Goliah shall bring the most railing Wretch groveling to the Foot Our great Shepherd Jesus is the same as that Angel Josh 5. 14. A Captain of the Lord's Host am I now come saith he One Metaphor more I 'll urge for this and so proceed that 's the Defence of a Sollicitor 7. The Lord puts on the place and title of an Advocate or Intercessor to plead and solicite the cause of his Worship and People adhering to it in its Purity In this Testimony are many now concern'd 't has been a Controversy depending ever since Abel less or more while Priesthood was in the first-born as in Cain and many hundreds of Years after it was and Worship domestick Oft the Priests were Presecutors oftner Neglecters of its divine Purity as Eli's two Sons and Abusers of the Observers When God chose Zion the more exact and express the Laws of God were more remiss were some and opposite others were in preserving its Bounds from all Violation Edom and Amaleck had a more special Enmity from the first to the Throne of the Lord and persisted in 't to many Ages as in all the Scripture Chronicles to Isa 34. and after to the Persians times yea to Daniel and Maccabees days may easily be seen in the Story of the Old-Testament And of that Stock is Herod the first said to be in Mat. 2. who wrote his Enmity in red Letters to the death say some of 14000 Infants all Martyrs for Christ's sake in Bethlehem which makes that Reverend Dr. Tho. Taylor Dr. T. Taylor his Romish Edomite to make them Types of our Romans Nor does that bloody Religion want a Duke in any Age to draw the same red and bloody Lines to latter days witness D' Alva D. Guise and Savoy c. Now when Popery is up and all-a-mode and protesting or earnest open witnessing pleases not hence rises a Controversy call'd Zions whose Laws must obtain God's or Baal's Christ's or Antichrist's Bethel's or Belial's this is the lis dependens still and after Truths are cleared pretty well as in late days that of Justification was yet the Laws and Canons of pure Worship are still sub Judice and tho sometimes the Throne the Field the Bench have attested and the Pulpit oftner obtested in its behalf yet it has mostly been held at the Bar and Staves end and which is observable it has thence or thereby won I mean by Sufferings all the ground and hold it has and more then by all Help or Power humane Now when the Wisdom of God suffers the Will of Man to obtain against pure Worship and to keep or call to the Bar or Prison any Professors or bold Confessors thereof that by preaching writing separating do declare against the Fibres of Superstition or for Reformation and own the Authority of God in 's Word Christ in the Law of the Gospel and dare not being forbid it to conform Rom. 12. 2. to this World in Wickedness in Words or Worship being redeem'd from it Gal. 1. 4. and it 's vain Conversation receiv'd by Tradition 1 Pet. 1. 19. These are the exposed ones either to Calumnies in Name as Hereticks Schismaticks or worse Seditious Rebels nay to Confiscation Fines Spoils in States and often to Deaths for God's sake or what is worse in a sort to be proscribed silenced and banished and rendered useless to Christ and Souls Hence God the Judg of all comes also to the Bar as witness or pleader for the Prisoner his Client and runs in as that word Intercessor signifies wondering that none would espouse a forlorn Cause that sues to Men in formâ pauperis for Law and Right for God's sake due to the vilest tho denied or delayed the best This is discerned by the manner of his Plea i. e. sometimes more mildly and if needful more strangely or severely As now 1. When Mildness will do God by some Division or hot Debate mixes after a time a perverse Spirit in Abimeleck's Courtiers Judg. 9. 23. and by that weakens all Resolves of Fury for its just Fire should be cast in their Councels that kindle a Fire in Zion's Palace Or 2. By perplexing and involving Debates or Resolves while some of Pharaoh's Archers the Magicians Jannes and Jambres withstood Isa 19. 14. 2 Tim. 3. 8. Moses and Isracl's Freedom no doubt the sober sort plead Exod. 10. 7. and say let them go Sacrifice if Pharaoh's Disease the Stone in the Heart had not preponderated it 3. Possibly the matter is swayed by Profit or Loss Interest steers for or against Piety too much Haman deserved his Preferment at home for abusing the King's Ears Est 3. 7 8. Chap. 7. 4. 8. 5. and got it at last when the King was better inform'd 4. Perhaps a providential Contingency tho as casual as a Night's sleep Est 6. 1 3. or the opening of a Book of Records and the Recognition of some true Discovery made of a treasonable Plot serves to awake Ingenuity to gratitude and so veres matters about for the best 5. So may natural Conscience prickt by regret touch'd with a love to a wise Courtier and old Servant or trusty Counsellour disturb one that is candid and break the Sleep and Brain too having been over-drove by precipitant ends or clancular Advice so sending the King to the Den with an Outcry to relieve Daniel Dan. 6. 7 20 23 24. 6. Nor is Satan able to stifle Experience of Mens undoubted Fidelity and long abearance Laban found by Experience as Gen. 30. 27. or as the Hebrew by Serpentine Divination 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Nachash a Serpent God had blest him for Jacob's sake and so hurt him not Diabolical Augures must sometimes own Truth Ex suo commodo argumentatur he arfrom his own Profit Pareus 7. By a Dream Sometimes God pleads by some Terrour or a Fright thundering in the Conscience as with Abimelech Gen. 20. 6. for the Prophet Abraham and caused him send him away and Sarah too in Peace and Wealth so did some of the Emperours as Dioclesian lay down the Robe and Scepter for a Retirement being terrified with Thunder and not able to rule longer Now all these and many more ways God has to plead mildly with the Minds of Men in whom Religion sways not to abate the Rigour of Persecutions against Piety and pure Worship but he has if need be some sharper and more severe judicial ways As to instance how did the Terrour of God sting Cain for Murther of Abel in the cause of Worship that he cries out his Punishment was greater than he could bear Gen. 4. 13.
Race Ch. 3. 2 5. So the Fall not only broke a bone but lost a Faculty and that of the Eye not of the Body but Mind too And yet the Root is deep God put Enmity betwixt the two Seeds never yet irradicated and the dispute is early about Worship so soon as two Brothers came they talk differ in Worship Gen. 4. 2. 7. Cain the High Priest is sleighty Abel gives God the Fat the first and best Cain being outdone kills for Conscience sake 1 Joh. 3. 12. Here is a Map of what hath been ever since it is a Priesthood that derives of Cain to kill for seeking to please God better than himself did so it is now Nimrod a Rebel as that word derives holds up the Race a Hunter that is of Souls before the Lord Gen. 10. 9. that is in Gods Presence and for Worship So did Ishmael after the Flesh to Isaac Ch. 21. 9. born after the Spirit though in a lower kind Gal. 4. 29. It is called but a Mock as you forsooth are a Separate a Son of the Promise I hate that and Hatred is Murder and Persecution Nor are Joseph's Brethren quit of this Envy Gen. 37. 4. 5. Acts 7. 9. They plot his Exile and Conscience is struck at for his Prophetick Dreams and telling his Father their ill report and the way they took verified all he said and more This Enmity is writ indelebly in the Race But of all Types the Allegory of Sarah and Hagar and that of Jacob and Esau are aptest Resemblances of the two Churches the false that genders to Bondage and the free Covenant-Seed the Race of Seekers Psal 24. 6. For as Sarah was the true Wife but seized by Pharaoh's Court for her Beauty Gen. 12. 15. and so in hazard of forcing but Hagar only a Concubine and at the last she and the Lad cast out for Disobedience So fares it with Christ's Spouse her Spotless purity lays her open to every black Pharaoh or Abimelech that hath power to seize her who not yielding to defilement is liable to force As to the two Sons Jacob and Esau they were both of Isaac lay in one Womb at once strove for Primageniture yet one got it Jacob took Esau by the heel Hos 12. 3. And all along they were at odds and varied Esau games in the Field Jacob is a plain Man at home that of a rough threatning Spirit Speech and Hand this of a tender Spirit an Exile in Condition a Wrestler in Prayer one oft in Bethel with God Gen. 32. 24. So it is now in all Points fee the disparity in nothing more than in Religion this was still Jacob's study and glory and he 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. â— 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
If yon confider 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 caufed the Host of Aegypt to move slow Exod. 14. 25. The Ark did truckle under Dagon 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 Rampart and Wall lament ch 2. 8. Such a Wo was incredible to all Kings about her ch 4. 12. 2. The poor low state of Jacob not only in Estate but Esteem and which is worse in Spirit We are brought very low says Psal 79. 8. And the Glory of Jacob thin Isai 17. 4. And says the Prophet by whom shall he rise Amo. 7. 3. It is said in Ahaz his days the Lord made Judah low because of him 2 Chron. 28. 19. Why if the Sin was his must the Subjects suffer Yes because by both God suffered especially in his House and Worship and the People let him as Isai 7. 20. shave the Virility and Glory off their civil and sacred Rights by the Assyrian And they like Women durst not gainsay that is a low state when Power and Courage is gone It is a sad Complaint the Prophet has The Lord has delivered me into their hands from whom I am not able to rise up Lam. 1. 14. No less forrowful was that Prediction of the Jews as ill deserved but just I will give every one of into the hands of his Neighbour Zach. 11. 6. but the King will surely relieve them Nay into the hands of his King if some rightly apply it unto the times of Christ's Passion it denotes the Justice of the Roman Lash upon them for rejecting Christ to have Caesar and crying Not this Man but Bâ—rrabas a Murderer and i follows too Out of their hands I will not deliver them And so i proved for they that sold their Saviour for thirty pence were after sold 30 for a penny by the Romans 3. The provoking Cause of all is the Root of the Lamentation Lam. 1. 14. No Yoak like that of the Transgression and twisted by our Selves bound and wreathed by his hand This can never sit easie and the provoking of Children is the saddest Deut. 32. 12. That is Gods Complaint and that will be ours at last else it will cut deep How oft is made the dolesul Ditty of the Song The Crown is fallen Now Wo to us that we have sinned Lam. 5. 16. If Sin struck off Josias's and all his Successors Crowns and Lines that no twig of that Race remained to hold Scepter Ezek. 19. 14. and yet he the best and tenderest of Kings what may they expect who are hardened If God hide his face he may soon see our end Deut. 32. 20. And if they that hate Godliness rule over the Godly Lev. 26. 17. we may and ought to see the Cause that makes the pleasant Land desolate Fourthly and chiefly doleful is the effect of God's Recess and withdrawing the Cloud of his Presence and our Protection from not ours but his own Tabernacle This is the great thing to be bewailed The Jews knit the last of Jeremiah and Lamentations together so the Septuagint and read them on the 9th of June call'd â—â— the City then being taken by the Caldees Jer. 52. 7. After when the Romans took it in the time of Pasca then Austin says three Millions were in it and Josephus says more than 1100000 perish't by Sword and Famine 100 thousand led to Rome in Triumph On Jeremiah's Lamentation one says that he could not read without Tears Two things may suffice here The 1st effect of God's Recess bears on Civil Rights and Matters the 2d upon Spiritual or Religious for it matters not which is toucht first only their Rise Prosperity and Decay do contemporate 1. If God depart from us onr Humane Civil Rights and Properties and publick Franchises are not like to stay long Two Scriptures have a sad threatning Aspect on us that way 1. That of Spiritual Judgments Isai 6. 9. And what heavier than to be hardned â—o have a Heart fat Now it follows v. 11. 12. Till your Cities be waste and Houses void of Man Some will never feel a Spiritual Loss well their Eyes must be tore
Impera to serve your Rapine 3. You accuse Men that are innocent falsly as if Rebels to the King for obeying God's Command or 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 or 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 you have abused Religion so its Comforts shall abandon you The Hornet of Cain's Horror shall sting you the Heavens shall reveal your Iniquity and the Earth rise up against you Job 20. 27. And happy is that Man that God and better Times favour with Repentance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or After-Wit this is your best Game tho rare One tells Conformists Plea 4th Part but of a single Instance of this and blessed he that so comes off saying to and of his guilty Soul I have sinn'd in betraying the Innocent accusing Vertue for a Vice and Religion as Rebellion come you to pray for me that I wrong'd and I promise not to do the like And if the Sorrow be right such is the Peace that follows it O blessed Issue If not it is an Earnest of full Payment and but a drop of that Sea of Hell a Taste of that unmix'd Cup of pure Vengeance and the River of Brimstone that you are lanch'd into And as you ride ore the Bridg of your Life your Horse as one did of old may take a leap and you cry desperately Horse and Man and all to the Devil Now to put you all together I beseech you for Lenity Put on Spectacles the Night is dark you soon may run on the dark Mountains and repent too late Had I the Wealth of Dionysius or Craesus the Glory of the Hill Amara all the Cash and Mines of both the Indies I would in Humility deposit it for our quiet Sabbaths and the Freedom of Religion and a good Conscience and for my Brethren and Companions sake would say and so should you that desire to be Zion's Sons Let Peace be to her Psal 122. 8. As therefore you love God pity Religion tender the Weal of Princes or People favour a woful sinning sinking Kingdom and the Glory of your new-built Church and City go not on the Pikes of Peril ride not o're your own Fields and Franchises to your undoing drive not your Head as if you were blind to precipitant Courses He may understand his own Affairs better than most think yet as wise as Solomon or Solon may as he cry out too late O Solon Solon You drive at antiquating Parliaments and municipal Bounds and so French Laws all of one that 's no Religion that you 'll never get Or if by Disuse and long Suspense of Parliaments you make them frightful and uneasy the Remedy if it comes that way will be the painfuller to bear in the effect So you prove but Servants and Guides to your Master as they that led Henry of Luxenburgh Emperor of Germany who hearing that Charles of Bohemia and Philip of Valois the French King were joining Battel against the English and being unfit for War because blind would take part with the French and so commands his Men of War to mount him and guide him into the Fight to give one blind Blow to the English they far blinder than he fearing to cross his Will and yet to lose him in the Preass tie him fast to the Reins of their Bridles so as they meant all to perish together and so 't was they coupled him so that they all were found dead and fast bound Horse and Man the Battel lost at Cressy the French King lost 15 Princes of the Blood 80 Colours 1200 Knights and 30000 Men. Dr. Beard out of Froishart Vol. 1. cap. 30. If you will perish alone be not so blind Guides to fall under the Ruines of others Yet