Newcastles Call to Her Neighbor and Sister Towns, Chapter 10

Newcastles Call to Her Neighbor and Sister Towns · Chapter 10

p. 203CHAP. X.

The Concluſion of the Motives, urging a ſpeedie performance of the duty of Humiliation, both publikely and privately; and that from the practice of the Heathen, in caſe of Peſtilence.

VVHat now remaines (the Premiſes cō ſidered) but that we, everie one in his place, ſet our ſelves to our duty.The Authors wiſh, that all would ſeek to appeaze this wrath. It is our caſe now: our Sins have provoked God, and he is ready to conſume us all as in a moment: yea, wrath is gone forth from the p. 204Lord, the Plague is begun among us. Wee have the Lords direction alreadie what to doe, (which wee ſhall conſider hereafter) as Moſes here had. How then is it to be wiſhed that Moſes did command Aaron to runne in with his Cenſer, that Authoritie, and the ſupreme Magiſtrat… did injoyne the Prieſts of the Lord, Aaron and his Sons, ſpeedily, without any longer delay, to run in; and that they, and all other, whether Magiſtrates or other, that have any Incenſe or other Sacrifice to offer, would accordingly, ſpeedily perform their p. 205Office, and uſe all poſſible meanes, with like haſte, to ſtay the further proceeding of this great wrath of God:Both Magiſtrates. The Magiſtrate by ſpeedy execution of Gods righteous judgements on the wicked, with noble Phineas (which,Pſal. 106.30.Ps 106:30 if it either had beene univerſally and unpartially performed; or yet were ſo done, we never needed to feare ſuch wrath from God, or the continuance of it:Miniſters.) The Prieſt, and Miniſters of the Lord, vvith Prayers and ſolemne Supplications in the publicke Aſſemblies, and vvith godly Inſtructions, Admonitions, and Directions p. 206given the people; yea, and the people, and generally all, by unfained Humiliation of themſelvs,And others and Reformation, in ſome good meaſure, of things amiſſe, and by ſuch means as ſhall, upon other Texts and Grounds of Scripture more particularly and fully be named, if God will.

Such things ſhould be done I knovv, during the time of Gods patience, for the prevention of his judgements: As the Iſraelites in Egypt, having cauſe to feare Gods plagues for their Idolatrie in Aegypt, Ezek. 20.7, 8. ſought to turne them away, namely p. 207Sword & Peſtilence, and to prevent them by Humiliation & Sacrifice (though not within the land of Aegypt for ſpeciall reaſon,Exod. 5.3.Exod 5:3 Exod. 8.25, 26, 27.) Yet if the Plague, and breaking out of wrath prevent our Humiliation,And that ſpeedily. we muſt deferre our Humiliation no longer: othervviſe, hovv ſoone may this ſpreading evill, and overflovving Scourge, or ſome other judgement ſent to back it, in Gods juſt wrath make an end of all (ſave that God will have a remnant in whom hee will glorifie his MercieMercy, and preſerve his Church.) This is as p. 208the breaking out of fire: or overflowing of waters, unto which, way and paſſage is not long to be given, leaſt the evill, which at the firſt, by a timely care, might have beene prevented, grow ſo great, that it exceed the power and ſtrength of man, to withſtand or reſiſt it.

Whatſoever wee then doe in this kind,Leſt wee come too late. it would bee done ſpeedily, and in time, otherwiſe wee may come too late, even when neither our own, nor other mens prayers (though never ſo holy) will be accepted for us, and when God p. 209will not be intreated for …s. See this in Gods dea…ing with the Iewes: Pray …ot for this people for their …ood, Ier. 14.11.12.Jer 14:11Jer 14:12ſaid the Lord to Ieremie. When they faſt, I will not heare their cry, and when they offer a burnt offering, and an oblation, I will not accept them: But I will conſume them by the Sword, and by the Famine, and by the Peſtilence. Ezek. 14.19.20.Ezek 14:19Ezek 14:20So in Ezekiel: If I ſend a Peſtilence into that land, and powre out my furie upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beaſt: Though Noah, Daniel and Iob were in it, as I live, ſaith the Lord God, they ſhall deliver neither page missing p. 212cleave unto the Lord according to his word in a perpetuall covenant. This the Lord expects from the whole nation, when his wrath is but toward them:Zephan. 2.1, 2,Zeph 2:1Zeph 2:2 Gather your ſelue together, yea gather together O nation not deſired before the decree bring forth, before the day paſſe … the chaffe, & 3.before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lords anger come upon you. Howſoever, if this be no… done publickly, it muſt no… be neglected in private by the meeke of the earth Seeke yee the Lord all y… meeke of the earth which p. 213hauehave wrought his judgements: ſeeke righteouſneſſe, ſeeke meekeneſſe: it may be yee ſhall be hid in the day of the Lords anger.

It is a wonderfull thing,Examples to move us, that now when Gods anger is ſo manifeſted, and his wrath revealed from heaven, men ſhould ſo little ſeeke to pacifie his wrath, and ſhould ſhew themſelves ſo little touched with theſe evident tokens of his diſpleaſure, never much ſeeking the meanes by which the cauſe of his wrath againſt us might be made knowne unto us, nay wholly impatient of ſuch diſcovery p. 214when by Gods faithfull meſſengers it is in ſome good meaſure made.Both of the Godly,

Shall I ſend ſuch to the godly examples of good and holy King David, 2 Sam. 21.1, 2, &c.2 Sam 21:12 Sam 21:2who in a famine of three yeares enquired of the Lord for what and whoſe ſinne it was ſent, which, when it was told him, hee puniſhed, and ſo put away the evill? or of tender-hearted Ioſiah, who conceiving by the booke of the Law, that wrath was due to his people, and towards them, preſently diſpatched honourable meſſengers to Huldah, 2 Chron. 34.19, 20, &c.2 Chr 34:192 Chr 34:20… propheteſſe to enquire o… p. 213the Lord for him and the people, concerning the words of the book which hee cauſed to be read in a ſolemne aſſembly, and renued his Covenant vvith God? If ſuch examples prevaile not with us, let us receive reproofe & ſhame (in this our ſloth and negligence) from the example of the very heathē.And of the Heathen. Illiad. 1.Homer the Poet brings in Achilles adviſing the Greekes, Who have, in caſe of Peſtilence, ſought to their Gods by ſolemne Supplications.in a time of a ſore Peſtilence, to enquire the cauſe thereof from God by ſome Prophet, or Prieſt, or Dreamer of dreams. (Theſe being footſteps of thoſe three waies, by which Iſrael of old had p. 214Oracles, or anſwers from God; namely by Dreames, by Vrim, that is the Prieſt, with Vrim and Thummim, Numb. 27.21. and by Prophets, ſee 1 Sam. 28.6, 7.

Liv. l. 3.And Livie tels us, that in caſe of common plague (or other danger) the Romans were by publick authority called out,— Ad id quod ſua mala quemque coge…ant. and cōmanded with their wives and children, to make ſupplication to their gods, for, & according to that, which their owne proper ſins and evils compelled them: and thus filling all their Temples, Stratae paſsim matres criminibus Templa verrentes, v… niam Irarum coeleſtium, … p. 215nem que peſti expoſcunt; their Matrons proſtrate on the ground, & ſweeping their Temples with the haire of their head, ſought pardon,And Sacrifices of their children. and the favour of their offended & angry gods, and an end to be put unto the Peſtilence. Many ſuch like things hath Livie concerning their Supplications, even for many daies together, upon occaſiō of war, …nd publike evils and dangers, as I ſhew**A word in Seaſon or Englands Summons, on Ioſh. 7. ver. 8, 9. Virgil: Aeneid. lib. 4. & lib. 3.Josh 7:8Josh 7:9 elſwhere. So Virgil: —Principiò de…ubra adeunt pacem que per a…as exquirunt. And elſewhere, —Exorant pacem Divum: id eſt, inquit No…ius, propitiationem.

p. 216The firſt thing they uſe to doe, is to frequent their Temples, and from Altar to Altar to ſeeke Peace, that is Propitiation. So Plautus. Plaut. in Mercator: Act. 4. ſc. 1.Acts 4So the Carthaginians, when they were plagued with Peſtilence Aris impuberes admoveru… pacem Deorum ſanguine c… rum expoſcentes, Iuſtin: lib. 18.as Iuſti… relates; That is, as th… Scripture expreſſeth th… like practiſe of the degenerate Iewes,Pſal. 106.37.Ps 106:37 They ſacrif… ced their ſons and daughter unto devils, ſeeking atonement with theſe their go… by the blood of their chi… dren: of which practiſe … the Heathen, in ſacrifici… p. 217their children to the devill; (in caſe eſpecially of diſtreſſe) more**Iſraels Idolatry, in ſacrificing their children, &c. on Pſalm. 106.37.Ps 106:37 elſwhere.

Now ſhall the Heathen …n caſe of Peſtilence, deſire to know from God the true cauſe therof, that they might offer him acceptable Sacrifice, and ſhal they accordingly by ſolemne Supplications, and all expreſſions of ſorrow and humilitie, ſeeke the favour of their gods, & that with the blood of their onelyonly children; and ſhall wee Chriſtians, in like caſe of Peſtilence, be ſo far from ſearching into the true cauſes of the ſame, as to take it ill, and not willingly page missing p. 220of his wrath, and averting of his judgements. If now wee aske what theſe Meanes or Remedies are (as it is moſt needfull wee be aright directed herein) I ſhall endeavour at this time, at leaſt in the generall, to ſhew. And becauſe we are all of us apt to uſe ſuch ſuch meanes as moſt agree with our owne liking and fancies, I ſhall ſtrive to give ſatisfaction in this point, both negatively and affirmatively.

1. Let us generally know that the meanes of pacifying Gods wrath,Difference of meanes. are no meanes of our owne p. 221preſcribing, or which mans wiſedom directs unto. There are meanes I know which may & ought be uſed, in caſe of Peſtilence (as of other publick evils) but ought not to be reſted in: there are againe Meanes which are meerly of mans deviſing; and therefore ſuch as may neither be reſted in, nor ſo much as uſed, eſpecially ſo as man preſcribes them, being in that regard leſſe or more ſinfull and unlawfull. Laſtly, there are meanes of pacifying Gods wrath, and of avoyding his judgements, or at leaſt of eſcaping the evill, ſting p. 222or hurt of them, which may and ought bee uſed, yea & being rightly uſed may be reſted in, ſo far as a bleſſing, by vertue of Gods promiſe, may be expected frō God one way or other.

1. Some meanes may be uſed but not reſted in.1. The common rule of the world, as alſo of Phyſicians in caſe of Peſtilence, is to flee, or to withdraw a mans ſelfe quickly from places infected,Peſtis tempore fuge citò, procul, …ardè revertaris. Marſil. Ficin. Epidem. antidot. cap. 1. yea to remove farre off, and not to returne haſtily, but at leiſure. This I deny not to be lawfull, yea neceſſary, where, and ſo far as mens callings, eſpecially publicke, will permit them. How farre publicke perſons, p. 223eſpecially Miniſters, who take themſelues charged with cure of ſoules, whether from God alone, or from man alſo, may withdraw themſelues in caſe of grievous and raging Peſtilence,Flight o… removall from pla… infected. I rather leave to caſuiſts and their owne conſciences to determin. Conſcience I ſuppoſe will not ſo farre, and ſo ſoone diſpence with ſome in this caſe as man will. Yet how farre God and conſcience will diſpence with humane fears, where hee either denies ſuch a meaſure of faith, or would overcome al feares and yet not preſume, or p. 224where hee both opens a way,…w far a …iſter …ing …eerly a Lecturer) may flee. and ſome other way cals a man out, and reſtraines him for a ſeaſon, from the ordinary and appointed place of Gods worſhip and exerciſe of his function; or how farr ſuch an one having otherwiſe no paſtorall charge, may both with faith and a good conſcience, during apparant hazard to his perſon, withdraw himſelf, and ſo reſerve himſelfe to better times, meerely out of reſpect to their good, who for the preſent ſeeme a while neglected; I leave this alſo to others judgement, leaſt in mine owne p. 225caſe I may ſeeme too partiall, who hitherto have been as much, if not more guided by the judgement, yea importunitie alſo of many godly and unpartial Chriſtians (and ſo, I take, by direction from God) then by mine owne, either judgement, or will at the firſt. OnelyOnly Davids caſe is made by many heere conſiderable of all Chriſtians, whether Teachers or others; who, in time of peſtilence was directed by God to purchaſe Ornans threſhing floore, 1 Chron. 21.14-18, 19,-26-28, 29, 30.1 Chr 21:14–181 Chr 21:19–281 Chr 21:291 Chr 21:30and there to build an Altar, and there to ſacrifice (for the preſent) and that acceptably page missing whilſt that hedg or breach is not made up, its in vaine to think, by bodily flight, to eſcape or flee from Gods wrath, when it is once gone out. We muſt either humble our ſelves for our Sins,Which is, to leave their Sins behind them. or never account our ſelves ſafe by fleeing. Peſtilence is ſent for our ſins, to ſeparate betweene us and them: therefore, if yee will flee, either leave your Sin behind you as a Sacrifice to that deſtroying Nemeſis, or to Gods vengeance, or looke not to eſcape. Redeeme the life both of body & ſoule by parting with your Sins, even ſuch as are deareſt p. 229moſt delightſome, moſt gainefull, or otherwiſe advantageous to you in worldly reſpects. And imitate herein the wiſdom of the Beaver, which, hunted for his ſtones (which formerly have beene accounted of more price than his skinne or wooll now) and finding himſelfe hotly purſued, bites off the ſame, and leaves them to the Huntſman, as a ranſome of his life. Now it is not our life which this Nimrod and purſuer, the Peſtilence, comes for; it is only our right eye of offence, or our right hand or foot, that is, ſom ſin or luſt p. 230yet unmortified, which is as deare to us as our right eye, or as gainefull as our right hand, or as uſefull otherwiſe in our ſinfull aymes, as our right foot. Let us but mortifie theſe, and utterly, in purpoſe of heart, reſolution of will, and in a true hatred, abandon them, then may wee with more comfort and confidence flee from the contagion of peſtilence, and more ſecurely caſt our ſelves into the armes of Gods providence; but not till then. It will little avayle us to be ſpared and reſpited a while, ſeeing God, when we thinke all p. 231perils paſt,Otherwiſe there is no fleeing frō Gods wrath. can either call us to an after reckoning in the ſame kinde, or in ſome other. Looke we into the ſame Chapter, and wee ſhall ſee this verified. The whole Congregation of the children of Iſrael had made themſelves ſome way guilty in the rebellion of Korah, inſomuch as God was ready to have conſumed then in a moment, Numb. 16.21, 22,Num 16:21Num 16:22had not Moſes and Aaron interceded and prevailed for many of them; Well, the Congregation (according to Gods appointment) get them up from about the Tabernacle of Korah, 24, 26,Dathan p. 232and Abiram, 27,on every ſide: after which the earth opened her mouth and ſwallowed theſe up—who periſhed from among the Congregation. 32, 33,34,Now all Iſrael that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they ſaid, leſt the earth ſwallow us up alſo. Thus they flee further off, and ſeeme more ſafe then before. Yea, but they repented not of their ſinne, by which they had deſerved like deſtruction: they left not their rebellion behind them when they fled: and therefore though thus farr they were ſafe, yet obſerue what preſently followes; p. 233And there came out a fire from the Lord, 35,and conſumed the two hundred and fiftie men (who were Princes of the aſſembly— men of renowne) that offered incenſe. verſe 2.Loe theſe gained but little (but even a little time) by their fleeing from the former judgment: And what did many of the reſt of them, who alſo fled from the opening of the earth, and eſcaped this fire? firſt it is ſaid,verſe 41. On the morrow all the Congregation murmured againſt Moſes and Aaron: Loe, they carry their old ſinne of murmuring with them, and this brought p. 234new wrath upon many of them (al deſerving it) even the Plague in my text,45, in which there died foureteene thouſand and ſeven hundred, 49.after which, the reſt returning to their murmurings and other ſinnes, were all deſtroyed in the wilderneſſe,Num. 21.6.Num 21:6 what by fiery Serpents, what by other plagues.& ch. 25.9. God hath variety of plagues to meet with ſinners, with whom it ſhall be, As if a man ſhould flee from a Lyon, Amos 5.19.Amos 5:19and a Beare met him, or went into the houſe and leaned his hand on the wall, and a Serpent bit him, concerning whom the Lord thus threatens: p. 235I will ſlay the laſt of them with the ſword: & 9.1.2.3.4.hee that fleeth of them ſhall not flee away; and he that eſcapeth of them ſhall not be delivered: though they dig into hell, thence ſhall mine hand take them: though they climbe up to heaven, thence will I bring them downe: And though they hide themſelves in the top of Carmel, I will ſearch and take them out thence, and ſo on. Thus ſaith the Lord by Iſaiah: Iſa. 24.17.18.Isa 24:17Isa 24:18Feare, and the pit and the ſnare are upon thee, O Inhabitant of the earth: And it ſhall come to paſſe, that hee who fleeth from the noiſe of the feare ſhall fall into the p. 236pit, and he that commeth up out of the midſt of the pit, ſhall bee taken in the ſnare. The truth is, when God will accompliſh his fury, (as certainely hee will o… all obſtinate and impenitent ſinners:) It is not farneſſe off from places o… danger which will ſecure a man:Ezek. 6.12. & 7.15.Ezek 6:12Ezek 7:15 Hee that is farr of ſhall die of the Peſtilence and he that is neere ſhall fa… by the ſword, and he that remaineth and is beſieged ſhall die by the famine.

Thus wee ſee, whilſ… men by occaſion of God judgements, as now this e… Peſtilence, doe not humble themſelves for the… p. 237ſinnes, there is no ſafety to them by fleeing: which I have the more largely handled, becauſe this is that we moſt uſually, both flee to, and alſo reſt in. The like I may, and doe ſay concerning Antidotes, Preſervatives.Powders, Drinkes, and whatſoever other outward and lawfull meanes are uſed as Preſervatiues againſt the Peſtilence; and ſo concerning the diligence and …are of Magiſtrates, As alſo the care of Magiſtrates in outward things.in keeping the unclean from the …leane, in providing for …he reliefe of the poorer …ort, of ſuch as are infe…ted or ſo ſuſpected, & the …ike. This, though otherwiſe p. 238commendably practiſed, yet is not enough, it is not to be reſted in, unleſſe withall, and in the firſt place or chiefly other meanes (ſuch as ſhall bee named) be uſed. Care in the one is not ſo commendable, as negligence in the other is repreſenſible and blame worthy. All ſuch outward meanes uſed, i… but a beginning at the wrong end, and from effecting perfect and ſound cure, eſpecially if men care reſt there, & nothing elſe be done for the pac… fying of Gods wrath.

4. Riches are of little uſe here.4. To tell rich men the world, that the p. 239wealth will not ſecure them from Gods wrath, whilſt they live in ſinne, in oppreſſion, in riotous courſes, or the like, without repentance, I hold it needleſſe. I ſuppoſe their owne conſciences tell them ſo much (unleſſe wholly beſotted:) man perhaps by gifts and bribes may bee pacified, as Eſau towards Iacob, &c. but not God: when God hath to doe with rich men;Ezek. 7.19.Ezek 7:19 They ſhall caſt their ſilver in the ſtreets, and their gold ſhall be removed (or be for a ſeparation or uncleanneſſe:) their ſilver and their gold ſhall not bee able to deliver p. 240them in the day of the wrath of the Lord. Great men then, in their ſinnes are no more ſecure or ſafe from wrath then others.

2.2. Some meanes are neither to be reſted in nor uſed. Of the ſecond ſort of meanes, the popiſh manner of pacifying Gods wrath, is firſt briefly to be noted, and to bee taken heed of. They ſeek to pacifie the wrath of God by workes of penance of their owne deviſing, as by whipping of themſelves,…. As pop…ſh works of penance going barefoot, or on bare knees, by wearing hairy ſhirts, going on pilgrimage and the like. So by offering ſummes of money at ſuch or ſuch religious places, p. 241&c. of ſome of which their Councell of Trent ſaith,Seſſ. 14. cap. 8.9. that there was never any ſafer way found out in the Church for the averting of Gods vengeance; as I find obſerved alſo by an other on this my text.

2.2. Heatheniſh ſacrif… ces of chi… dren. Much leſſe will heatheniſh practiſes (too much imitated of old by Gods people) ſtay Gods hand when it is ſtretched out. For wee heard how the heathen in caſe of Peſtilence, & of Gods diſpleaſure, did betake themſelves to their Idole gods, not with prayers only and ſupplications, proſtrating themſelves, & with other p. 242ſacrifices, but with the ſacrificing of their owne children.

But of this later ſort of meanes, the Lord may, and doubtleſſe will ſay to hypocrites, When yee come to appeare before me, Iſa 1 12. Ier. 7.21.20.23.Isa 1:12Jer 7:21Jer 7:20Jer 7:23who hath required this at your hand to tread my courts? And— put your burnt offerings unto your ſacrifices, and eate fleſh: for I ſpake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them, concerning burnt offerings and ſacrifices: no? who did then? but this thing commanded I them (that is, this thing chiefly without which, the other was but as a dead carkaſſe) ſaying, p. 243Obey my voice—and walke yee in all the wayes, that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.

3.3. Meanes to be uſed on which we may expect a bleſſing. If then indeed wee would be aright directed what to doe at ſuch times, when wrath is gone out againſt us, let us receive our direction from God himſelfe, and from his word, where he makes his mind known unto us, for otherwiſe,Rom. 11.34.Rom 11:34 Who hath knowne his mind? Such is our blindnes and ignorance, that we cannot know what ſervice is pleaſing to him, unleſſe he himſelfe make his will knowne unto us. As then p. 244we cannot ſee the light of the Sun by any other light than that which the Sun it ſelfe affords us; no more can wee know what will pleaſe or appeaſe him being angry, further than he hath been pleaſed to make it known unto us. And this is but reaſon: for wee expect the like from our owne Servants, that they doe what ſervice wee appoint them, and as we will have them doe it, and not what, and as they pleaſe themſelves.

Theſe are ſuch as God himſelfe directs unto.Now God, partly by Precept, & by way of Condition, partly by way of Reproofe, whileſt he complaines p. 245of the neglect of what he expects, (beſides the examples and practiſe of his Saints on earth in like caſe) lets us know what we ſhould doe when his hand is gone out againſt us, whether by Peſtilence, as now with us, or otherwiſe. To which end I ſhall ſet before you ſome pregnant places of Scripture ſcatteringly, out of which wee will bring the chiefe duties to a Method, Here propounded, 1. Sea… r…lywhich here we will onelyonly propound, (not lading this Text with more then it will naturally beare) but proſecute, if God will, on more proper and particular p. 246Grounds of Scripture.

Heare then, firſt how God anſwers hypocrites,According to ſeverall texts of Scripture. and ſuch as pretend themſelves to be vvilling to be at any coſt, and to doe any thing to pleaſe and appeaſe him when hee is angry.Michah. 6.….7. Wherewith ſhal I come before the Lord, and bow my ſelfe before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a yeare old? Will the Lord bee pleaſed with thouſands of rammes, or with ten thouſands of rivers of oyle? Shall I give my firſt borne for my tranſgreſsion, the fruit of my bodie for the Sin of my ſoule? Now heare Gods anſwer: Hee hath ſhewed thee O man what is good, Verſe 8.and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to doe juſtly, and to love merciemercy, and to walke humbly with thy God; (or to humble thy ſelfe to walke with thy God.) And then it followes, (ſhewing this was to be done eſpecially when God ſhewed his diſpleaſure againſt them.) The Lords voice cryeth unto the Citie, Verſe 9.and the man of wiſdome ſhall ſee thy name: heare yee the rod, and who hath appointed it.

See againe what God requires of us in ſuch caſe of his judgments, whether p. 248threatned or inflicted. —I will reprove thee ſaith God, &c.Pſal. 50.21.22.Ps 50:21Ps 50:22 Now conſider this, yet that forget God, leſt I teare you in pieces, Hagg. 1 5.6.Hag 1:5Hag 1:6&c. And elſwhere, Conſider your waies: yee have ſowne much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough, &c. thus ſaith the Lord of hoſts (againe) conſider your waies.Mich 6.7.Mic 6:7

Conſider againe, upon what condition God promiſeth merciemercy, and deliverance from captivitie: If they ſhall confeſſe their iniquitie, Levit. 26.40.41.42.Lev 26:40Lev 26:41Lev 26:42and the iniquitie of their fathers, &c. And that alſo they have walked contrary unto mee, and that … alſo have walked contrary p. 249unto them, & have brought thē into the land of their enemies: If then their uncircumciſed harts be humbled, & they thē accept of the puniſhment of their iniquitie: then will I remember my cocovenāt with Iacob, &c. and I will remember the land.

Now, upon conſideration, and confeſsion of ſin, the Lord looks alſo, we ſhould turne to him, by true and heartie Sorrow and Repentance, according to that his exhortatiō by his Prophet Ioel; Therefore alſo now, Ioel 2.12.13Joel 2:12Joel 2:13ſaith the Lord, turn you even to me with all your hart, and with faſting, and with weeping, and with mourning: p. 250and rent your heart and not your garment, and turne unto the Lord your God. The want hereof, in time of Gods judgments, the Lord both complaines of, and alſo further threatens: — For all this, Iſa. 9.12, 13.Isa 9:12Isa 9:13his anger is not turned away, but his hand is ſtretched out ſtill: for the people turneth not unto him that ſmiteth them, neither doe they ſeeke the Lord of Hoſts. Amos 4.10, 11,Amos 4:10Amos 4:11So elſwhere, I have ſent the Peſtilence among you, after the manner of Aegypt, your young men have I ſlain with the Sword, &c. yet have yee not returned unto mee ſaith the Lord — & 12.Therefore thus I will doe p. 251unto thee, O Iſrael: and becauſe I will doe this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Iſrael.

In turning to God, hee would have us turne from our vvicked vvaies, and ſeeke his face and favour, not returning again to our former evill waies, but renuing, and alſo keeping our Covenant of Faith, Obedience, and a more holy walking with him than formerly, taking it ill when it is otherwiſe.Ier. 8.6.Jer 8:6 I hearkned and heard, but they ſpake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedneſſe, ſaying, What have I done? Every one p. 252turned to his courſe, as the horſe ruſheth into the battell. Therefore, that hee may ſhevv us merciemercy, hee will firſt have us Caſt away from us all our tranſgreſſions, Ezek. 18.31.Ezek 18:31whereby wee have tranſgreſſed, and make us a new heart, and a new ſpirit. Otherwiſe, he ſhould ſeeme to favour us in our Sins: Therfore, when God meant to deliver his people out of the hand of the Philiſtines, he thus ſpeaks to them by Samuel the Prophet, If yee doe returne unto the Lord with all your hearts, 1 Sam. 7.3,1 Sam 7:3then put away the ſtrange gods, & verſe 4, 5, 6,and Aſhtaroth from among you; and p. 253prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and ſerve him onelyonly: and hee will deliver you out of the hand of the Philiſtines. This they did, and withall, wept abundantly, faſted, and prayed, and confeſſed their Sins, and were accepted. So before the Lord would grant de…iverance by Gideon, hee would have him Deſtroy Baals altar which his fa…her had, Iudg. 6.25, 26.Judg 6:25Judg 6:26and cut downe the …rove that was by it, and …uild an altar to the Lord.

The reaſon is, God will …hew merciemercy, favour and …eliverance to none in …heir Sins. Hee heares not …inners; Yet he alſo looks, p. 254that in our afflictions wee doe call upon him;Pſal. 50.15.Ps 50:15 Call upon mee in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee. And,Iam 5.13.Jas 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray.

Now with our prayers, and purpoſes of reformation wee muſt renue Covenant with God, and bee carefull for ever after to performe it. This we are taught by the godly example of Nehemiah and the Iewes; who, by the mouth of the Levites, having made a religious confeſſion, as of Gods goodneſſe, ſo of their wickedneſſe; and having in the… owne perſons ſeparate… p. 255themſelves from all ſtrangers,Nehem. 9.1, 2, 3-Neh 9:1Neh 9:2Neh 9:3 and confeſſed their Sins, they conclude all by …ntring into ſolemne co…enant with God, ſaying …n their great diſtreſſe in which they were,& 38. And be…auſe of all this, wee make a ſure Covenant, and write it, …nd our Princes, Levites …nd Prieſts ſeale unto it. And the reſt of the people — who had underſtanding, & chap. 10.28, 29, 30, &c.ſeparated themſelves from the people of the lands, unto the Law of God, clave to their Brethren, their Nobles, and …ntred into a curſe, and into …n oath, to walke in Gods Law — and to obſerve and …oe all the Commandements p. 256of the lord. Now the points of their Covenant were▪ Not to joyne in marriage with the people of the land, not to buy ware or victuall on the Sabbath day, and to charge themſelves yearely with the third part of a ſh… kell for the ſervice of the houſe of God, and concerning firſt fruits and othe… offerings.

Thus King Hezekiah when the wrath of th… Lord was upon Iudah an… Ieruſalem, and that he ha… delivered their fathers … trouble,2 Chron. 29.8, 9, 10.2 Chr 29:82 Chr 29:92 Chr 29:10 &c. Now, ſaith he it is in mine heart to make covenant with the Lo… God of Iſrael, that his fier… p. 257wrath may turne away from …s. Oh worthy example,See alſo c… 30.6, 7, 8. …ven for the beſt & grea…eſt Chriſtian Kings, in …ke caſe to imitate.

But what? doth God …ooke that, in caſe of evils … troubles of the Church …nd Common-wealth, we …nly mind our own good …nd ſafety? no: hee will …ave us alſo, according to …ur ſeverall places, cal…ngs, gifts, to become In…rceſſors to him for others …lſo, and to helpe to turne …way wrath from others, …nd our ſelves. This God …oked for (though in …aine) of his people, and …his he lookes for from us p. 258now:Ezek. 22.30.Ezek 22:30 And I ſought for … man among them (ſaith the Lord) that ſhould make … the hedge, and ſtand in the gap before me for the land that I ſhould not deſtroy it but I found none: therefore hauehave I poured out mine indignation upon them, 31.I ha… conſumed them with t… fire of my wrath,

2. According to Method.From theſe places … Scripture wee ſee wh… kind of duties the Lo… expects from us, when … vill is upon, or yet but … wards us; and what he … this time of Peſtilen… expects more eſpeciall from us of this place; y… and nation generally, eve… p. 259from ſuch as being otherwiſe of the ſame body of our Church and nation, are yet free from the infection of this noyſome diſeaſe. Which duties I may,The meanes appointed of God to be u…ed in caſe of Peſtilence, &c. are by God himſelfe brought to foure duties. for method and memories ſake, reduce unto thoſe foure which God expects from us in caſe of Peſtilence as neceſſary conditions, without which ſeverally and joyntly in ſome good manner performed, we can expect no hearing of our prayers, nor healing either of our ſoules in and by the pardon of our ſinnes, or of our land and place (in mercy at leaſt) by taking away this plague. p. 260The words runne thus, which God utters by way of anſwere to King Solomons godly & wiſe prayer, at the dedication of the Temple (which was a type of Chriſt in our nature, in whom onelyonly & for whom all prayers are ſavingly heard.2. Chron. 7.13.14.2 Chr 7:132 Chr 7:14) If I ſend Peſtilence among my people: if my people which are called by my name, ſhal humble themſelves and pray, and ſeeke my face, and turne from their wicked wayes; then will I heare from Heaven, and will forgive their ſinne, and will heale their land.

The duties here are foure: 1. Selfe-humbling. p. 2612. Prayer. 3. Seeking of Gods face and favour, in and by prayer, more then any thing elſe: ſeeing many pray againſt the outward evill of plague, who not caring much for Gods diſpleaſure, otherwiſe never ſeeke his face. 4. Turning from ſin. VntoUnto theſe foure all (or moſt of) the forenamed duties are reducible: which foure alſo may bee reduced to theſe two heads: Turning firſt to God, ſecondly from ſinne. In one word there is required Turning or Converſion, which according to the two termes or points, 1. to what or whom, and 2. from p. 262what or whom, is a converſion or turning, firſt, to God and his wayes, ſecondly, from our owne ſinfull wayes.

The firſt three Duties belong to our turning unto God. 1. Selfe-humbling.1. Selfe-humbling: Now to ſelfe-humbling, there are three things required, if they may not be called parts thereof.

VntoUnto which belong 1. Conviction.Firſt, Conviction upon a due Conſideration: 1. Of Gods Iudgements upon us, in the 1. Author. 2. End. 3. Nature. 4. Cauſe, which is our ſin: and ſo 2. Conſideration of our ſinne, or ſinnes, as Cauſes of the evill which is incumben… p. 263upon us: which is a very large, uſefull, and fundamentall point to conſider of.

2. Confeſsion of ſinne found out.

3. Contrition, 2. Confeſſion.or true inward and hearty Sorrow expreſſed outwardly by all fit and lively ſignes of it, as by faſting, weeping,Outwardly expreſſed, by al ſignes of Humiliation. proſtration of the body, vile apparell, and the like, which may teſtifie truely without diſſimulation, the inward condition and ſtate of the ſoule, which not excluding the former two, may more properly come under the name of Selfe-humbling.

p. 2642. Prayer.2. The ſecond dutie is Prayer, and Invocation of Gods name.

3. Reconciliation with God.3. The third is, Seeking of the face of God, and Reconciliation with him.

4. Turning from our wicked wayes, which implyes, 1. Reformation of life.4. The fourth dutie is a Turning from our wicked wayes: which implyes, 1. Reformation of our lives and of things amiſſe and out of order, by bringing all right againe, both in matter of Doctrine, and of life, according to the only rule of Gods word.2. Renuing of covenant. 2. Renuing of our Covenant with God by ſolemne promiſe, vow,3. Keeping of covenant. vvhy not Oath? at leaſt ſerious purpoſe and proteſtation. 3. Ratifying p. 265and confirming of the ſame by a ſpeedy and alſo conſtant performance of Covenant, without returning to our former evill wayes and provocations againe.

With all theſe we muſt all of us, (as God may require it at our hands, according to our ſeveral places and abilities, or as wee are in favour with his heavenly Majeſtie) labour to become Interceſſours, To which add 5. Interceſſion for others, or a ſtanding in the gap, which muſt be done, 1. By Magiſtrates.and to ſtand in the gap for the land, or place where wee live, to turne away wrath from it: vvhichwhich muſt bee done

1. By Magiſtrates, chiefe and ſubordinate, who muſt p. 266both inquire into offences and puniſh the ſame. Good Magiſtrates have a chiefe ſtroke in keeping off, or in removing of wrath from a people. God never publikely judgeth by Peſtilence or otherwiſe, but Magiſtrates firſt neglect their dutie in judging. If they did unpartially execute Gods judgements, God would not ſo immediatly with his owne hand judge us, or give us into the hand of mercileſſe men, to bee judged vvith their judgements.

2. By Miniſters.2. By the Miniſters of the word: who muſt ſtand in the gap, by a right diſcovery p. 267of ſin and danger, and many other waies, and not bee like the Prophets of Iſrael, which were like the Foxes in the deſerts: ye have not, ſaith the Lord, Ezek. 13.4….5.Ezek 13:4Ezek 13:5gone up into the gapps, neither made up the hedge for the houſe of Iſrael, to ſtand in the battell in the day of the Lord: yet thus much the Lord requires of his Miniſters.

3. By All: 3. By all How?which wee muſt all ſtrive to doe, making up the hedge (for our ſelves and others.1. By rightteouſneſſe.)

1. By becomming righteous our ſelves, Iob 22.30. Gen. 18.32. and by ſeeking righteouſnes, Zeph. 2.3.

p. 2682. Mourning.2. By mourning for and bewayling the ſinnes and dangers of the time and place where wee live, Ezek. 9.4.

3. Prayer.3. By earneſt prayer and interceſsion: ſo Abraham prevaled for Lot, Gen. 18. Lot for Zoar, Moſes for the Iſraelites often, Iob for his friends, and David and his Elders for Ieruſalem; the deſtruction of which, after the death of ſeventy thouſand elſe where, was by his repentance and interceſſion prevented, 1. Chron 21.14.15. &c.

Theſe particulars are large, and muſt bee handled, God aſſiſting, on their p. 269ſeverall and more proper grounds of Scripture: I will not farther burthen this ſhort text with them, contenting my ſelfe onelyonly here to point unto them, ſeeing the text it ſelfe implyeth the uſe of ſuch meanes as God hath appointed for the pacifying and averting of his wrath. Now the Lord give us hearts, wiſedome and grace to make uſe of theſe meanes in time, both for his glory, and our own ſafety, bodily and ſpiri…uall. Amen.

FINIS.

The number of thoſe that died at New-caſtle, within the liberties, from the 7. of May, till December, 31. of the Plague, as followeth. 1636.

Buried in Garth-ſide in New-caſtle this preſent yeare, 1636. as followeth.

End of the text · Robert Jenison, Newcastles Call to Her Neighbor and Sister Towns (1637)