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work_n	bring_v	good_a	tree_n	9,027	5	9.0012	5	true

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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

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