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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85664	Axinē pros tēn rhizan. = The axe at the root, a sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons, at their publike fast, April 26. 1643. By William Greenhill.	Greenhill, William, 1591-1671.	1643 (1643)	Wing G1848; Thomason E103_2; ESTC R17567	41,085	62

the golden girdle of Christ Some Expositors understand by righteousnesse and faithfullnesse righteous and faithfull men which are as neare and deare to Christ as his girdle a great and glorious ornament unto him There is much difference between those are for Christ and those are newters or against him in the 17. Rev. when the Kings of the earth shall give their power to the Beast and make warre with the Lamb the victory is the Lambs and they that are with him are call'd chosen and faithfull Let not a neutralizing or oppressing spirit be found amongst you shew your selves All now to be with and for the Lamb His cause His Churches His People and you shall have that honour as to be stil'd call'd chosen faithfull It 's good being with the Lamb when the Axe is at the root and having honour from Christ when contempt is powring down upon the heads of others Faithfull men have the blessings when others have blowes and curses Prov. 28. 20. A faithfull man abounds with blessings his blessings are without number he shall have the blessings of the present people the blessings of Generations to come the blessings of heaven the great God will powre forth his blessings upon such and say to them as to faithfull Abraham Gen. 12. 2. I will blesse you and make your names great and you shall be a blessing and those that blesse you shall be blessed the great God will powre forth great blessings upon you and mens curses shall never come neere you If emergents of time should prove such as that you should not accomplish what you intend yet you shall not goe without a blessing Psal 84. 5. Blessed is the man in whose heart are the wayes of God There is another observation for all in which I will be briefe it 's this That the way to save a dying Kingdome from ruine is by bringing forth good fruit Now the Axe is layd to the root of the Tree every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen downe and cast into the fire There is fruit unto Death Rom. 7. 5. this the Kingdome abounds withall and hath brought us under a sentence of death There is fruit unto Holynesse Rom. 6. 22. and fruit unto God Rom. 7. 2. these last are the fruits we must beare If our fruit be unto holynesse it's fruit unto God and will reprive us from death But to beare such fruit more then nature is requisite Semen naturae non consurg●● in fructum Gratiae It is not naturall abillities be they never so great and excellent it is not Morall principles and vertues which will suffice If a man have not aliquid ampl●●● all is nothing his fruit is sowre Rom. 8. 7. the wisdome of the flesh is enmity against God If you would bring forth fruit to save your soules and a Kingdome also you must get into Christ Iohn 15. 4. Labour to be rooted in him Col. 2. 7. who is the root of Iesse Rom. 15. 12. you must have divine faculties 1 Iohn 5. 20. divine habits Eph. 2. 8. divine motions and operations Phil. 2. 13. and after all this you must act by a divine rule and for a divine end and then your fruit is good even such as will keep the Tree from cutting down There is great difference in trees and fruits there is a Vine of Sod●me as well as of Sibmah De●t. 32. 32. Esa 16 8. both are Vines have their leaves and clusters but in the one is a blessing on the other is a curse Cain and Abel goe forth to Sacrifice the one is accepted the other despised the Pharisee goes to Prayer with the Publican the one is justified the other condemned The Egyptians went the same way with the Israelites but they were drown'd where the Israelites were saved looke narrowly to your selves therefore what trees you are what fruit you beare There will be distructum judicium and the waies seem right in a mans own eyes may prove death Prov. 14. 12. Let not flatteries and vaine pretences undoe you what if you have been baptised So was Simon Magus What if you keepe fasts So did the Iewes and yet not fast unto God If you heare the Word gladly and reforme in many things so did Herod if you pray Matth. 7. 21. It s not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven there is more then all these to be looked after you must be in Christ not have a name to be in him but see to it in truth that you be in him The great worke is to make out that you are in Christ most presume and are undone by it Gods judgement and mans differ much and you will finde it when you come to die his thoughts are not ours Many that thinke themselves figtrees will be found brambles and the fruit of many trees will bee found naught which hath now an excellencie upon it if you walke after the flesh and not after the spirit you are not in Christ and that man is not in Christ is Arbor ●amnab●lis a Tree for the fire I should now exhort all to be fruitfull time permits it not I will onely turne my speech a little unto you O Noble Senators seeing bearing of good fruit is a speciall meanes to save a Kingdome labour to abound in every good word and worke to beare much fruit and fruit answerable to your opportunities God hath planted you in this Parliament to beare some choice fruit If any should aske what doe you here Let your answer be We are zealous for the Lord of Hosts When Esther was advanced she would not loose her opportunities She will in to the King although contrary to a Law she will have the liberty of her people and Hamans head off and venture Her life to accomplish it If I perish I perish chap. 4. 16. Iosia Hezek●ah tooke their opportunities and make a thorough reformation in Iudah you know what great things Elijah did i●spiciente reluctante rege 1 Kings 18. Nehemiah and Ezra for all the enemies scoffing cunning complyances to build with them taking up Armes to subdue them they tooke their times improv'd their opportunities and brought forth fruit answerable to the expectation of heaven and earth they built up the Temple and walls of Ierusalem It was Ahabs sinne he lost his opportunity in letting Benhadaa go a man that God had appointed unto death and it cost him his life for it 1 Kin 22. 31. Men are snared in an evill time because they know not their time Eccl. 9. 13. You may be timeservers and observers without sin The richest opportunities that ever men had are in your hands observe them and serv the Lord in them It 's good fruit for a Parliament to set up a faithfull conscientious Ministry all the Kingdome over to have a care of all Schooles of learning that no corrupt opinions or practises be there it 's good fruit to abrogate ill Laws

Die Mercurij 26. April 1643. IT is this day Ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament that Sir Peter VVentworth doe from this House give thanks unto Mr. Greenhill for the great paines hee tooke in the Sermon hee preached this day at the intreaty of this House before the Commons at St. Margarets in the Citie of VVestminster being a day of publique humiliation and that he desire him to Print his Sermon And it is Ordered that no man presume to print his Sermon but whom the said Master Greenhill shall authorize under his hand writing H. Elsyng Cler. Parl. D. Com. I appoint Benjamin Allen to print my Sermon W. GREENHILL Αξινε προσ τεν Ριζαν The Axe at the Root A SERMON Preached before the Honourable House of COMMONS at their publike Fast April 26. 1643. By William Greenhill MATTH. 3. 10. Now also the Axe is laid unto the root of the trees th erefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire LONDON Printed by R. O. G. D. for Benjamin Allen and are to be sold in Popes-head Alley 1643. TO THE Honourable House of COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT WHen the World was shaken by Adams sinne God secur'd it by the Promiseof his Son Gen. 5. When Canaan was distressed by the Midianites he sent Gideon to save Israel Iudg. 6. Now England is distracted and her foundations out of course He hath rays'd up you the Worthies of our Israel to repaire her breaches and settle her foundations we acknowledge the infinite mercy of God to raise you up at such a time and for such designes It's great hard work to save Kingdomes but Honourable whoever would not save a Kingdome is no more worthy to live in it then the Man seekes the destruction thereof Wicked men will venture all to get or ruine Kingdomes and shall not good men venture as farre to save Kingdomes Had men publique spirits they would doe it Heathens have so minded the publique as that they have forgot themselves Publius Decius the Romane Army being brought low rusht into the midst of the enemies demanded safety for his Country Death for himselfe and so occasioned an unexpected Victory Luc. Alvanius his Wife and Children being in the VVagon escaping for their lives in a common Calamity commands them downe and takes up the Vestall Virgins who had the care of their holy things he was proprior publicae Religioni quam privatae charitati the Publiquenesse of his spirit caryed him above private interests VVhere spirits are right set selfe is much forgotten Ji's domesticknes of spirit selvishnesse which is the great let to Armies Religions and Kingdomes good Esther was right when shee said if I perish I perish she would venture for the publique and for her God The * Rabbins give a good lesson for Men in publiqne employment They must doe their worke propter Deum Then neither difficultie of worke disappoinment in event nor ingratitude in People will disturbe the spirits of men Then nothing will be done against the Kingdome of Christ evidence of truth or liberty of Conscience If men be publique and act for God they are Eshbaals Ruling lights if private and selvish they will be Ishbosheths men of shame The Axe is at the root of our Tree wee hope your spirits are all unselvished that none are now unpublique Publiquenesse of dangers calls for publiquenesse of spirits Eminency of danger for speedinesse of helpe VVhen Ierusalem was brought low Asaph cryed to God for speedy prevention Psalm 79. 8. England Ireland are brought low the Asaphs cry to God and cry to you also for speedy prevention There be ill spirits abroad which teare us which cast us into the Fire and water to destroy us as the Mans Sonne in the Gospell and we say Masters if you can doe any thing have compassion on the Kingdome and help it help us keep backe nothing may save a Kingdome helpe by wayes ordinary and by wayes extraordinary You are * Rulers and our ruine is under your hand Vote our Resurrection nomine contradicente effect it quamvis mille repugnent and this shall be your Impresse Hoc Regnum est vere vestrum Yea other Kingdomes shall contribute to your praise and the Kingdome of Kingdoms be your reward Bestirre you they are active who would undoe us Thinke on the Rabbies words a little altered Dies brevis opus multum merces magna Pater familias urget operarij ne sint pigri This Epistle and Sermon had both lay on in the dark if your authority which commands Persons Pulpits Presses had not brought them forth accept the fruits of your owne power and blessed be the Lord for what you have done since you heard what is now presented unto you The Lord inable you to perfect all your intentions and undertakings which are for the publique good The Lord unite you Watch ever you fill you with his Spirit Prosper you All yours and accomplish yet greater things by You So Prayes Your most Vnworthy Servant and meanest in the worke of Christ WILLIAM GREENHILL A SERMON PREACHED Before the Honourable House of COMMONS at their publique FAST April 26. 1643. MATTH. 3. 10. Now also the Axe is laid unto the root of the trees therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire THese words are part of a penitentiall Sermon Iohn Baptist the greatest Prophet borne of a woman yet the humblest that had to do with Christ Mat. 3. 11. Preaching repentance to the people v. 2. multitudes flocked to heare him upon that subject amongst others the Pharisees and Sadduces which were none of the best came to heare and these he exhorts also to bring forth fruit meet for repentance many arguments he used to presse on that duty and this Text is Argumentum ●●gens a strong argument unto it Beside the Arguments of the Kingdome of God being at hand v. 2. and that there is wrath to come v. 7. he saith Now also is the Axe laid to the root of the Tree if the Kingdome will not draw you nor the fear of wrath after this life drive you 〈…〉 the present Axe that is laid to the root of the 〈…〉 draw and drive you to repentance In the words you have a description of divine severitie And first in the preparation to it The axe is laid to the root of the tree Secondly in the execution of it Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire First I shall open to you the words and then draw forth such truths and Observations as the words do naturally prompt unto you without any straining or fetching of blood By Axe we understand not Christ as Gregory nor the Gospell as some would have it but any Judgement that God useth to cut down a sinful people by The Roman forces under Vespatian and Titus were Gods Axe to cut down

there was none of a publique Spirit that did execute Judgement in the broad places neither King Councellors Priests or Prophets did execute Judgement and therefore hee could not pardon when none appeare to cut down sin God will appeare to cut down sinners Isa. 5. 7. ● looked for judgement ludah was his pleasant plant he had hedg'd dig'd dung'd watered shined upon them and looked for Judgement but there was none therefore God would breake downe the hedge and lay them wast If God could have found 10 righteous persons in Soddom he would have spared it You may take the word righteous not onely for godly men but for men executing Judgement there were none such Lot could have no Justice from them and that inforc'd God to execute Justice on them 4. Blood oppression uncleannesse hatred of truth and such like which I put together because I cannot inlarge upon all particulars Hosea 4. 2. 3. By swearing lying killing stealing and committing adultery they breake out and blood toucheth blood Therefore shall the Land mourne God will destroy because of these sinnes Ezek. 36. 18. When the Brittains called in the Saxons to helpe them against the Scots and Picts God who hath power over Kingdomes and people made them his Axe to how and destroy the Brittains for they soone joyned with their adversaries and picked quarrels against the Britains and God so stirred up their Spirit against the Brittains that they spoyled them in many places drove them into corners of the Land made them flee into forraine parts and destroyed the Country with fire and Sword The a sinnes then observable were such as were not among the Gentiles hatred of the truth and the patrons of it drunkennesse contention crueltie uncleannesse countenancing of lies and the forgers of them respect to lewdnesse more then goodnesse the better things wrought most discontent all vice was in the Clergie and people Princes were Tyrannicall Murtherers Adulterers Soddomiticall and the last of the b Brittish Kings flying into France said woe to us for our great iniquities we had time to repent but did it not therefore justly now the wrath of Godrootes us out When the c Danes conquered England the Land was guilty of blood and uncleanesse it was in d ●theldreds time whose wayes were cruell miserable and shamefull his eares were open to accusers to calumniations and no mans life was in security When Roderick King of Spaine deflowred the Daughter of Count Iulian who in revenge stir'd up the Moores shewed them the way to get Spaine which they conquered and possest above 600. yeares At the Conquest by the Normans the sinnes were prophanesse ignorance uncleannesse neglect of Justice and Religion the people were a prey to the Nobles which made Edw the Confessor say before his death that England should be given into the hands of Divills and wicked Spirits You see what sins made the great changes in this Kingdome sins not unlike the Amorites which from Levit. 18. Deut. 2 12. are conceived to be Idolatry oppression and filthinesse which are destructive of Religion Justice and holynesse of life the onely bands of humane Societies and when these sinnes of theirs were full God cuts them off for when sinnes become destructive to Societies they whet Gods Axe and hasten it to the root and now you have heard what are the sinnes bring the Axe thither It followes that I shew you the third thing sets out the severitie of God and that is Thirdly the impartialnesse of God in the worke Every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire let it be an Olive Tree or a Bramble a Fig tree or a Vine no exception excuse evasion pretence or priviledge or plea is admitted but the axe is laid to the root of every one it referres to that in Deut. 20. 20. The trees thou knowest be not for meat thou shalt destroy such trees must not be spared though great and goodly In particulars you may see this truth more cleerly Looke at Kings they are tall Cedars Dan. 4. 14. Hew downe the Tree Nebuchadnezzar himselfe must downe Herod Pharaoh Belshazzer were cut off by the root Gods axe neither feares nor spares the proudest Psal. 76. 12. Not Prophets Balaam is slaine by the Sword Num. 31. 8. Not Priests 1 Kin. 18. Not Nobles Zimri and Cozbi are runne through Num. 25. Not Apostles Iudas falls headlong and bursts in pieces Act. 1. 18. Not Statists and great Counsellors Ahitophel is smitten a Sam. 17. Not Tribes Iudg. 21. 3. A Tribe was lacking in Israel afterwards ten were wanting Not Cities Sodom Ierusalem Babylon are layd wast Not a World 1 Pet. 3. 20. That is drown'd no priviledge will advantage Abrahams seed Children of the Kingdome are cast out Mark 8. 12. No place secures Ioab is taken at the hornes of the Altar Angels in heaven are thrown down 2 Pet. 2. 4. the Figtree in the Garden is not spared Luke 13. 6 That of Coniah is most observable Ierem. 22. 24. Though Coniah be as the signet on my right hand yet would I pluck him thence though he be much esteemed and very deare as Signets on Princes hands are yet it shall not priviledge him you may thinke his nearnesse and my affection to him may preserve him in his place but be not deceived as I live saith the Lord I will pluck him thence Thus you see the severity of God in his impartiallnesse towards every tree Now I come to make application of the point I might here first shew you that all Kingdomes have their Periods and learned writers tell us that there are no Kingdomes so great so glorious so powerfull that extend their duration above 500. or 600. yeares at most but are either ruinated and fall to ashes or else suffer some great change The Jewish State from Egypt to the Temple was 480. yeares from Saul their first King to Zedektah the last of Judah were 480. yeares and then they were led into Captivitie and after their returne within 500. yeares they were cut off by Vespasian and Titus the Axe in my Text and are not a Tree to this day And the ten Tribes after their division 260 yeares were carried away the Assyrian Persian Grecian and Roman Monarchies had their Periods and were cut downe by one Judgement or another the Britaines after 500 years were quit of the Romans tyranny in England and Athens from the time of its Monarchy to the time of its Democracy had 490. yeares The Lacedemonians flourished 491. yeares The Saxons had to do here 469. years The Danes 242. And then there was an end of them and it is known to all of you how long we have been since the conquest but I doe not desire to prophesie and foretell things to come all seasons are in the hand of God but its thought we are upon the Tropicks if we be not ruined altogether certainely there will be some great alteration