The Deprived and Silenced Ministers Arguments, Argument 17
XVII. ARGVMENT.
IN the next place (that I may heape vp many things together, and contriue many arguments into one) I do offer to your wiſe & godly conſiderations, the works of God amongst vsus: his workes of Iuſtice, & his works of mercy: together with thea)They miſtake the Ends: as thoſe Gentiles did, who offirmed, they were plagued, becauſe of the Chriſtians contempt of their Gods. ends for the which he hath wrought them before vsus and the vſes, which he would hauehave vsus to make of them. First therefore be yee pleaſed to call to minde, the late mightie and fearefull peſtilence wherby in all places (almoſt) of the land, but chiefly here in London, the Lord made heapes vponupon heapes. Doth the Lord chaſtiſe particular perſons, that he may teach them in his lawe, Pſal. 94, 12. drawe them neerer vntounto him, and make them more plentifully partakers of his holineſſe? Heb. 12.10. Yea, & that they may be more zealous & amend. Reuel. 3.19. And are not theſe as well the ends, why he chaſtiſeth whole States, Churches and kingdomes, as theb)It is true: the Lord correcteth vsus for our ſinnes, & the Refractary Miniſters, ſchiſme is no meane cauſe of our puniſhment. ſinnes of whole States, Churches and kingdoms are the cauſes that firſt moue him ſo to chaſtiſe them? Yea, is not this the more to be conſidered, becauſe this rod of God doth ſtill remaine and linger, as here in Londō, ſo alſo in divers other places of the land? for doth not the Lord hereby intimate vntounto vsus, that yet that is not performed by vsus, which he looked for frō vsus?
Againe, is it altogether to be neglected, that he hath ſo mittigated this his ſeverity toward vsus as he hath? And that he hath in part commanded his Angell to put vp his ſword, and not to ſmite ſo many as before he had done? And doth not the Lord by ſmiting vsus in ſuch ſort, threaten, that if for all this we ſhew no better fruites of amendment, he will plague vsus yet ſeaven times worſe? Levit. 26.18. By healing vsus alſo in part, doth he not admoniſh vsus, that if we do not yet repent, but continue ſtill to ſinne againſt him, a worſe thing ſhall come vntounto vsus? Ioh. 5.14. Oc)This Apoſtrophe ſhold hauehave bin more fitly applyed vntounto the Refractary Miniſters, yee that doe now repreſent the body of this land, conſider of this matter.
What ſhall I heere ſpeake of our late great danger by the late moſt bloudie, horrible, vnnaturall and monſtrous conſpiracie of the Papiſts; as againſt all in generall ſo ſpecially againſt you that are now eſſembled, in this high Court of Parliament? Would the Lord hauehave every perſon to prouoke his owne ſoule to praiſe the Lord, for redeeming his ſoule from the graue, Pſa. 103.4. And would he not have the whole land & ſpecially you that are now aſsebled in high court of Parliament, repreſenting the whole land and in ſpeciall maner delivered, to enter into ſerious conſultatiō & deliberatiō with your ſelues, what to render vntounto the Lord, for al his benefits towards you, Pſ. 116.12 Thoughd)I will not deſcant on the Suppliants meaning in alleadging this example. The wiſe may conſider it. Hezekiah hauing recouered health, wēt firſt into the houſe of God, and made there a Pſalme of thankeſgiuing for his recovery, which yet remaineth in holy writ, as an everlaſting monument of his thankfulneſſe; yet becauſe in other things, he was not generally ſo circumſpect and carefull, of all obedience to God as he ſhould hauehave beene, but his heart was lift vp within him, it is ſaid that he rendred not vntounto the Lord, according vntounto the reward beſtowed vponupon him; and that therefore wrath came from the Lord againſt him, againſt Ieruſalem, and againſt Iuda. 2. Chro. 32.25. So let this be conſidered, that yee may provoke your ſelues to the more publike teſtimonie of thankfulneſſe, for our late publike deliuerance. And becauſe mercy (even towards the bodies of men) is more deſired then ſacrifice, and that therefore mercy towards their ſoules, is much more acceptable vntounto God, for which cauſe it is there ſaid, that the Lord doth alſo more deſire the knowledge of God, then burnt offrings. Hoſ. 6.6. Therefore alſo, as God his goodneſſe towards the whole land is knowne to all the world, ſo let all the world know, and let all ages to come bee witneſſes, of our thankfulneſſe for the ſame, by your preſent mercy towards thee)To wit, by ſetling the ſtate thereof, and prouiding ſeuere lawes againſt hereticall Papiſts, and ſchiſmaticall Refractaries. Church. He that biddeth vsus to call vponupon him in the day of our trouble, and promiſeth to deliuer vsus, requireth alſo that wee ſhould glorifie him. Pſal. 50 15. How much more then ought we to glorifie him, being in the day of our trouble delivered before we called vponupon him?
Verily (most Honorable aſſembly) in this reſpect our deliueracce is the greater, then the deliverance either of the Iewes from the bloudy intent of Haman, or of our ſelues in the yeare. 1588. For the Lord did not worke thoſe deliverances without the meanes of prayer and faſting: but this, his owne right hand hath brought to paſſe, before that ever wee did open our lipps vntounto him in that behalfe. Yea, herein is our deliuerance alſo the greater, becauſe, though the miſchiefe plotted againſt vsus was but bodily, yet the miſchiefe plotted againſt ours and all poſterity was ſpirituall, even to hauehave reduced them to the former bondage of popiſh blindneſſe, ſuperſtition and Idolatry, ſo to hauehave periſhed everlaſtingly: and therefore wee that ſhould hauehave beene conſumed touching our bodies, and outward ſtates, in this intended maſſacre, (if it had proceeded) ſhould hauehave beene much better, then they that ſhould hauehave liued. As it belongeth therfore to all, at all times to glorifie God for this great deliverance, ſo ſpecially it belongeth to you that are now aſſembled in this high Court of Parliament
The Lord eareth not for any obſervation of a day onelyonly, in remembrance of his me eies, nor for bare words in commendation and celebration of his goodneſſe, except that otherwiſe we doe diſpoſe our way aright: For this is the beſt prayſe whereby hee is glorified. Pſal. 50.25. Yea even nowe, and at this Seſſion, doth the Lord require this of you. For hath not his hand of ſickneſſe in many places continued, and doth it not ſtill hoover o…er vsus from before the firſt ſummoning of this Parliament, to this preſent Seſſion? And did not God reveale his mercy in revealing the late treaſon, and delivering vsus from it, immediatly before the laſt Seſſion, that your meeting might be proroged, whereby in the time of Interim, ye might hauehave the more leaſure, the better to deliberate and conſult, what at this your aſſembly might moſt make for the glory of his name, and the good of his Church? And will ye now diſſolue your metting without doing of further matter inf)As if no good could be done vntounto the Church, but the Reſtitutiō of the Scumaticall Miniſters, which indeed is no good. that behalfe then yet ye hauehave done?
Againe, are not many of you auncient, and in that reſpect never againe like to be of any other Parliament? which alſo of the youngeſt and luſtieſt of you knoweth, either that he ſhall liue to an other Parliament▪ or to another Seſſion of this Parliament: Or if he ſhall liue to another Parliament, that he ſhalbe choſen to bee againe thereof? Or livyng to another Seſsion of this Parliament, that he ſhall hauehave health and ſtrength to be preſent thereat? Are not ſome worthy men, that were at the former Seſſions of this Parliament, now at reſt with the Lord? Yea, are not ſome other that were living and in health at the time of the laſt Seſſion, now alſo (before the beginyng of this Seſsion) gathered to their Fathers?
Yea further, becauſe divers of the miniſters deprived and ſilenced (being partly very aged, and partly conſumed withg)What godlineſſe is there in wilfull and malicious cō fronting the Magiſtrate, in repining at their brethren and ſuperſtitious forſaking their calling, liuings, flocke and all, to the vndoing of themſelues, their wiues, children and friends? Godly griefe,) not ſo much for their owne troubles, as for the deſolation of the Churches, both preſently ſeene, and for future times by the preſent to be prognoſticated, in as much as many moſth)A c…lumnicus Cenſure. vnworthy perſons are thruſt into their places, (in which conſideration, as Eliſha wept, by the ſpirit of prophecie, to foreſee the miſerable havocke that Hazael ſhould make of the people of Iſrael touching their bodies, 2 Kings 8.11.12. So what Chriſtian heart can refraine weeping and bleeding, to forethinke of the ſpiritual ſpoyle, that will be made in the Church byb)A manifeſt ſlander. But if it be ſo, wherfore do not the Refractary Miniſters ret…ine their places to keepe out ſuch? blind guides, corrupt teachers, & careles: yea wicked and vngodly Paſtors: becauſe (I ſay) many faithfull miniſters deprived and ſilenced, partly by age, and partly by Godly griefe, are ſo neere the finiſhing of their race, that the ground for their graue is in a manner already meaſured: therfore ye that are the Lords worthies, now aſſembled in this High and Honorable Court, do that, that is to bee done by you, for the glory of God, and comfort of his Churches and Miniſters, with the more ſpeed and expedition, that ſuch ſeruants of God as are ſo neere their end, may yet be ſomewhat reviued and comforted before their end, bleſſe you and yours before they die, and ſo take their leaues alſo of you and yours, with the more peace and ioye to their owne ſoules.
As your houſe of Parliament at the laſt Seſſion therof, ſhould paſſiuely hauehave beene the houſe of blood, yea the fountaine (in ſome ſorte) of blood, that even from thence ſhould hauehave flowed ſtreames and rivers of blood through out the whole land: ſo let it at this Seſſion bee actiuely the houſe of comfort yea a fountaine of comfort, that from thence may flowe a river (as it were the river of God) and a floude of ſpiritual comfort, icy and gladneſſe to al the land. To all the land▪ Yea to all Nations that know the Lord and cal vpō his name: yea to al poſterity. As the firſt day of the laſt Seſſion, ſhould hauehave bin, a day of darknes & of blacknes, a day of clouds & of obſcurity (as Ioel ſpeaketh ch. 2.2.) ſo let the laſt day of this Seſſiō be a bright and cleare ſunſhine day, a day of light, a day of comfort and refreſhing from the Lord. As the Lords enimyes, the bloody and mercileſſe Papiſts (mercileſſe to them ſelues, in murdering themſelues heretofore and of late, and therefore much more mercileſſe vntounto other) As theſe men would hauehave made themſelues as a fire to devoure all before them, and as a flame to burne vp all behind them. Ioel. 2.3. So be ye that are the Children of God, and ſhould therefore be mercifull, as your Father alſo is merciful, Luk. 6.6. Be ye (I ſay) as it were the rayne: even as the firſt and the latter raine, (Ioel. ….24) as their wrath ſhold hauehave bin like the roaring of a Lyon (as Salomon ſpeaketh of the wrath of a King) ſo let your favour be (as Samon ſpeaketh of the favour of a King) like the dewe vponupon the graſſe. Pro. 1.12.
By this mercy that hitherto I hauehave (as it were at the barre of your Iuſtice) pleaded for, and provoked you vntounto, yee ſhall not onelyonly treaſure vpa)The Suppliants ſpeak by contraries. comfort to your ſelues againſt the day of your death, when ye ſhall moſt stand in neede of comfort, but yee ſhall alſo make your old age the more honorable: yea after your dayes here ended, your name and memory will be honorable with all poſteritie. Whe…efore did Deborah ſay, that Iael the wife of Heber ſhould be bleſſed aboue other women, yea bleſſed aboue other women dwelling in tents? Iudg. 5.24. Becauſe with an hammer ſhee had driven a nayle ſo deepe into the head of Siſera ſleeping in her tent, that he did never awake.
If ſuch a ſentence of bleſſedneſſe were prophecied of Iael, for making away onelyonly an outward enimy of the outward ſtate of the Church, howe much more ſhall ye be bleſſed: yea bleſſed aboue many former Parliament men, if as ſome hauehave made a beginning of the deſolation of the whore of Rome in theſe landes ſo ye ſhall make perfect that beginning, and vtterly take away whatſoever of herl)We muſt wiſely diſtinguiſh between ſuch things as are proper vntounto the Papacie and what they hauehave by vſurpation, but are proper vntounto the true Church of God. ornaments yet remayning, wherwith ſhe and her Prieſts were wont to be decked, and are yet decked, and wherwith alſo her Idols were wont to be worſhipped, and are yet worſhipped? And if as other hauehave already (in ſome ſort) begunne to driue the naile into the head of the Archenimy (next vnderunder Sathan himſelfe) of the ſpirituall ſtate of the Church, ſo ye ſhall alſo driue the ſame further? Yea if likewiſe as the Papiſts comforted themſelues touching their contrived and hoped for deſtruction of our perſons, and of our religion, ſaying (in dreaming ſort) among themſelues, as Moſes ſaid to the Iſraelits, theſe men and this religion which yee hauehave hitherto ſeene, ye ſhall never ſee againe: ſo likwiſe ye by the ſword of the word of the Lord, and of your authority, (as it were) by the ſword of the Lord and of Gideon, Iudg. 7.20. if (I ſay) ye ſhal ſo cut of the tayle of the ſaid whore of Rome, and (as it were) her branch and ruſh, that there ſhalbe no more hope left to her lovers here amongeſt vsus, of ever committing the like ſpirituall fornication with her hereafter, that heretofore they hauehave done: that ſo we may comfortably apply the former words of Moſes to our ſelues and to our children, touching the Romiſh religion and all them)Proper therevnto. appurtainance thereof, which wee hauehave ſeene, that we ſhall never ſee them againe, Exod. 14.23.
Yea, let the late conſpiracie of Papiſts before mentioned, prouoke you ſo much the more carefully, and firmly, to aboliſh their whole religion, to the leaſt hem of every garment and Ceremony thereof, as alſo the more ſurely to eſtabliſh the Goſpell with all things appertaining therevnto, and every holy meanes for the beſt ſupporting thereof, by how much more, the curſed fruites thereof hauehave proclaimed it, and daily do proclaime it, to be odious and abhominable in the ſight of God. Laſtly, though they were then diſappointed, yet your wiſdome is ſuch, that I hope yee need not be admoniſhed, either not to thinke that they will hereafter be idle and giuegive over their occupation, of wicked and treaſonable imaginations, or not to neglect, by all good meanes poſsible, to prevent whatſoever future treacherie and conſpiracie, yet they ſhall in their darkeneſſe, further practiſe againſt vsus.
Reſolution of the 17. Argument.
In this Argument the Suppliants, heaping (as themſelues profeſſe) many things together, and contriving many Arguments into one, do certainly verie worthily and Chriſtianly diſcourſe, as of ſundrie other things, ſo eſpecially concerning the Lords great mercies, in the miraculous deliverance, as of your Honourable Houſe of Parliament, ſo alſo conſequently of the whole State and Kingdome, thereby redeeming both our Bodies from corporall, and our Soules from Spirituall intended captiuitie of that bloodie Man of Sinne, the childe of Perdition. Which verily ſhould prouoke every good Chriſtian to ſpeciall thankfulneſſe vntounto our heauenly Father, to repentance for our former tranſgreſſions, to preſent diligence in our ſeverall vocations, and ever hereafter to keepe a more vigilant and watchfull eye over the perfidious and treacherous Aduerſarie. But let vsus examine how the Suppliants applie theſe things to their purpoſe.