Petition of Two Sisters, Reason 7
The ſeauenth reaſon; This Incloſure with depopulation is a ſin whereof God ſhall make ſpeciall inquirie at the day of iudgement.
IT is written in the booke of Geneſis, Gen. 6.that the earth was full of crueltie, and that that was the principall cauſe of the drowning thereof; and it is to be feared that this ſhall be the cauſe of the burning thereof: as appeareth in the 25. of Math. verſe 42. 43.
The Prophet Dauid thus manifeſtly Pſal. 102. 16.propheſieth of Chriſts comming to iudgement. The Lord ſhall ariſe, and hauehave merciemercy vponupon Syon, for the áppointed time is come; for all thy ſeruants hauehave great pleaſure in her ſtones, and it pitieth them to ſee her in the duſt. And all nations ſhall feare thy name O Lord, and all the kingdomes of the earth thy glorie: for the Lord doth builde Syon and he will be ſeene in his glorie. He hath had reſpect vntounto the prayer of (Hangareger) as it is in the Hebrew; that is, of the poore afflicted; and he hath not deſpiſed their ſupplication. This ſhall be written (Ledhor acharon) for the laſt generation of the world. And the people created ſhall praiſe the Lord. Here we may marke firſt, that this Pſalm propheſies of our daies, and that this leſſon concernes vsus. The time is now come for God to ariſe to iudgement, and to hauehave merciemercy vponupon Syon. And then, is it not written for vsus that liue in the ende of the world? Oh that we would marke it! The leſſon is this; that all Gods ſeruants rather delight in the ſtones of Syon, that is, Raiſu.in the Lords ſhéepe and faithfull ſeruants, more than in their flockes of ſheepe, or in their braue walles and high Towres; and it pitieth them to ſee theſe ſtones troden vnderunder foote and lye in the duſt, and to be made no account off: And that in the Sun-ſhine of the Goſpell, when all nations ſhall feare the name of the Lord, and all the Kings of the earth his glory, by the preaching of his word. But God doth build Syon, and will be ſeene in his glorie. There be ſome as ſhould ſeeme that hauehave pulled downe Syon, and Gods Church, and theſe his ſtones: But God himſelfe will build it vp againe (ſaith the Prophet) and will be ſeene in his glory. Let all depopulators of townes themſelues build vp the Lords Syon and farmes againe, leaſt if that they ſuffer God to build them, when as he comes in his glorie, that his building be too coſtly for them, and coſt them not ſome hundreth pounds of money, which now perchance they are loth to diſburſe, but the damnation of their ſoules. For God hath a regard vntounto the prayer (Hangaregar) that is, of the poore afflicted that is trampled vnderunder foote and made no account of, but is as a broome, (as that word ſignifieth) and hath not deſpiſed their ſupplications. The iuſt men ſhould floriſh in Gods houſe like Pſal. 92. 12.to Palme trees: and we hauehave made them like broome, euen béeſomes to ſwéepe and make cleane our houſes. And doe we thinke, that God will not reuenge this? Who ſées not ſuch broomes almoſt in eueryevery place, that is, many good farmes pulled downe, and lye in the duſt, to ſwéepe and beutifie, and build, a new braue and ſtately houſe? Let all ſuch as make the Lords Palmes, their broome béeſomes to ſwepe their houſes with all, take héede: at the day of iudgement, God ſhall ſearch out diligently for all ſuch, and without ſpéedy repentance and planting his palmes againe ſhall caſt them into hell. This is written for the last generation as Arias Montanus tranſlates it: and doth it not concerne vsus?
And a people (Nicrah) created, ſhall praiſe the Lord. This word Nicrah alſo, that is, a people created, doth moſt manifeſtly portray out vntounto vsus our daies. The Church of God was not ſeene, was as no body, was in the wildernes: Apoc. 12. 14.and now God hath as it were created it againe, and brought it into light: and this people ſhall praiſe the Lord. Nay, to confound Popery, all Gods people are created againe to good works: there Ephe. 2. 10.is no naturall faculties remaining in them to doe good as the Papiſts teach. The people created ſhall praiſe the Lord. God ceaſed his creation of natural things the ſeauenth day as we reade in Geneſis. Gen. 2. 2.And therefore the Prophet Dauid no doubt meanes another ſpirituall creation and the regeneration of our Iohn. 3. 3.Soules: And to this place (for all Scripture hath a moſt pleaſant and ſweete harmonie Pſal. 19. 9.in it ſelfe (if any one doe marke it) doth Saint Paul allude, when as he Ephe. 2. 10.ſaith we are created in Ieſus Chriſt to good works.
And Eſay alſo propheſieth in the ende Eſa. 24. 5.of the world of ſuch couetous worldlings. The earth alſo ſaith he, playeth the hypocrite, becauſe of the inhabitants thereof, for they hauehave tranſgreſsed the lawes, they hauehave changed the ordinances, and cuſtomes, and they hauehave broken the euerlaſting couenant: here is plainely ſet downe, why the earth doth not now of late, yéelde her accuſtomed increaſe: Becauſe the inhabitantes thereof, hauehave changed the ordinances of their Anceſtors and hauehave broken Eccl. 13. 16.the law of nature in not louing their like: nay, the euerlaſting couenant of God, in not louing their brethren, as Ioh. 13. 34. Oſe. 2. 15. 19.Ieſus Chriſt our moſt bleſſed Sauiour hath loued vsus.
But if that Incloſers will here attribute the barrenueſſe of the earth to other cauſes: yet let them marke what goeth before. Behold (ſaith the Prophet) Eſa. 24. 1.the Lord will make emptie the earth (Bokek) and hee will vnhedge and vnwall it. The nature of which word, Mercerus declareth vntounto vsus thus. Videtur Mercer. in lex. Pagn.ex locis in quibus inuenitur, ſignificare diſſipare ſeu effringere quod clauſum & munitum erat, vt omnium iniu…ijs pateat: It ſeemes by the places wherein it is found, to ſignifie to diſperſe and breake vp that which was incloſed and fenced, that it may now lie open to the iniuries of all things.
And doth not this moſt manifeſtly touch Incloſers and their hedges? Nay Eſay addeth (Vangiua Paneha) he ſhall make crooked her face: No doubt that was ſtraight before. For (ngaua) ſignifies to peruert or make a ſtraight thing ſeeme crooked. And may not this note alſo their ſtraight chaine lines drawen on the face of the earth? For otherwiſe the fare of the earth cannot bee made crooked.
And that the 24. Chapter of Eſay concernes vsus that liue in the ende of the world, and not the Jewes onelyonly but as types of vsus, theſe circumſtances may ſeeme to prooue. Firſt becauſe the Prophet ſpeaketh of the earth, and not of the land of Jewry. Then, that he ſaith, that the earth ſhall deceiue the expectation of the Tillers thereof, which I thinke was neuer more truely verified, than now in our daies. Then alſo becauſe the Prophet teacheth, That they ſhall breake in thoſe daies the euerlaſting couenant of God made to vsus in Jeſus Chriſt; which couenant wee hauehave broken, in not obſeruing Chriſtian charitie, 1. Tim. 1. 5.which is the onelyonly lawe thereof. Nay beſides all theſe, the Prophet addeth, The Lord God of Iſraell ſhall be praiſed in the Iſles of the ſea. And againe, From the vttermoſt parts of the earth, we hauehave heard praiſes, euen glory to that iuſt. And who is that iuſt, but Ieſus Chriſt? whom Steuen also honoureth with that Act. 7. 52.title, and by that name deſcribes vntounto vsus. The Prophet alſo ſaith, That the earth ſhall reele too and fro like a drunken man. And what is this elſe, but that which Saint Luke teacheth vsus, That Luc. 21. 26in the ende of the world men ſhall be at their wits ends, not knowing what ſhall come to paſſe in the world? And laſtly, The bl…ſhing of the Sunne and Moone, when the Lord of hoſts ſhall raigne in Sion, and in Ieruſalem, and glory ſhall be before his Auncients: what doe all theſe meane, but the comming of the true Sunne to iudgement? And the glorie Mal. 4. 2.of the newe Moone, that is of the Church triumphant, at whoſe preſence, our Sunne and Moone ſhall bluſh? And Mat. 25. 29what meanes the raigning of God in Sion, and in Ieruſalem, but that we all, both Jewes and Gentiles ſhall be one Ioh. 10. 16.ſheepefold vnderunder one ſhéepheard Ieſus Chriſt? And glory before his ancients, which they ſhall euer ſee: what is it elſe, but eternall glory? Sibylla alſo ſéemes herein to agrée with the Prophet Eſay, and to point at our hedges now in the ende of the world; who ſpeaking of the day of iudgement, and of the daies before it, writes thus:
foreign,
foreign.Sibyll. Orac. lib. 8.In Engliſh thus, The earth ſhall be equally common to all, without any walles or hedges. Neither being diuided foreign, then, (that is, in the daies before the iudgement) ſhall it yeelde more fruits.
Doth not the plainely héere name hedges? yea, and that which Incloſers voe hope for, that the ground ſo incloſed ſhall not yéeld more fruits?
Sibylla alſo propheſies moſt truly of Jeſus Chriſt, and of his Croſſe, and of his comming to iudgement, in thoſe her moſt famous Arroſtick verſes, which ſhe made concerning him, as no man can deny: and doe we thinke that the reſt of her propheſies, eſpecially the remnant of thoſe her Acroſticks, concerning the ſtate of the world before the day of iudgement, not to be as true? In thoſe her verſes of the condition and ſtate of the world before that day, ſhe writes thus:
foreign,
foreign.Sibyll. Orac. lib. 8.In Engliſh thus: When as the earth in ſweating, ſhall be a ſigne of the iudgement, &c.
And here firſt let vsus marke that ſhe ſaith, that the earth by ſweating, ſhall giuegive a token of the iudgement. Let couetous Landlords and Incloſers, which ouerburthen their tenants take héede, that they be not the cauſes of this her ſweating: for otherwiſe, the earth properly cannot be ſaid, to ſweate of her own nature, being of conſtitution the brieſt element; nay drier than any dogge, which as both Philoſophie and experience teacheth, doth neuer ſweate. And after ſhe propheſieth thus:
foreign.In Engliſh thus: All the whole world ſhall be vntilled, and ſhall be turned into a briar or thorne. And may not héere the firſt worde, foreign, vntilled, ſéeme to touch Incloſers that will not till the earth?
And ſecondly, whereas ſhe ſaith, That the world ſhall be a Thorne or Briar, as Caſtalio tranſlates it: doth ſhe not plainely ſignifie men, who ſhall become like to thornes and briars, which ſhall pricke mens handes that deale with them, and ſhall catch vntounto themſelues all that they can get, and ſhall euen pul mens coates from their backs? For as concerning materiall briars and thornes, the world was neuer ſo cleanſed of them as at this day; which eueryevery man is carefull to roote vp for hurting their ſhéepe. But thoſe other ſpirituall briars which Sibylla meaneth, growe in many places very plentifullie. But let all ſuch briars take héede, that they be not burned in hell fire.
Nay, to let Sibylla paſſe, doth not our Sauiour himſelfe propheſie of the daies of the ſonne of man, before the ende of the world? And doth he not plainely teach vsus, That they ſhall bee like the daies of Noah, and of Lot, before the deſtruction of the olde world, Luc. 17. 26.and the burning of Sodome? How that they ſhall eate and drinke, and marry, and build, and plant in thoſe daies? and the word foreign, which Saint Mathew vſeth, teacheth vsus; that not the vſe, Mat. 24. 38.but the extraordinary abuſe of all theſe things is héere ſignified. And thoſe words, foreign, which S. Luke vſeth, Luc. 17. 30.plainely prooue that according to theſe particulars, and not a generall ſecuritie onelyonly (as ſome would faine hauehave it) is meant by all theſe. And are not our hedges now extraordinary? Now liued all our Anceſtors without them?
And our Sauiour in this his doctrine, may ſéeme to agrée with the Prophet Ioell; who of the day of iudgement, Ioel. 2. 3.and of the eſtate of the world at that day moſt manifeſtly propheſieth thus. The earth ſhall be as the garden of Eden before him, but behinde him it ſhall be a deſolate wildernes. What doth th… garden ſignifie, but that the earth then ſhall hauehave great coſt beſtowed vponupon her; and ſhall be hedged in as we vſe to doe our gardens If the Lord when he comes ſhall deſtroy the garden, let the gardiners take heede; for their deſtruction ſhall be without all doubt the greater. Let them willingly throwe open their gardens and cloſes againe, that God doe not throw them into hell.
And that this propheſie of Ioel concernes vsus & our daies, and not onelyonly the comming of the Aſſirians againſt the Jewes. Firſt, that cōmandement in the Ioel. 2. 1.firſt verſe of this ſecond chapter ſeemeth very euidently to proue, where the Prophet ſaith, Blow vp the trumpet in Syon. Syon is taken vſually for Chriſts church as we reade. Eſa. 2. v. 3. Pſ. 87. 2. And the trumpet ſignifies the preaching of the Goſpel, as appeareth by thoſe ſenē Angels which did blow their trumpets from Apoc. 8. 6.Jeſus Chriſts aſcenſion to his comming to iudgement. No doubt as Syon is not Apoc. 10. 7.heere to be ment literally: ſo neither the trumpets. But that which Ioel here ſaith, Blow vp the trumpet in Syon for the day of the Lord is at hand, is all one with that which our Sauiour ſaith in the Goſpell, The Goſpell ſhall be Mat. 24. 14.preached, and then ſhall the ende come. Nay, Saint Peter in the Acts applieth ſome part of Ioels propheſie to Chriſts Act. 2. 17.firſt comming, as the ſending downe of the holy Ghoſt vponupon the Apoſtles; & ſome part thereof to the day of iudgement, when as the Sunne ſhall be darkned and the Moone turned to blood. And ſhall we ſay, that this propheſie concernes not vsus? Nay we in our faſts apply the turning to the Lord with faſting Ioel. 2. 12.& wéeping vntounto our daies, which is as as it were the medicine: And ſhall we not apply the ſinne and ſore which Ioel there toucheth, and that garden of Eden alſo to our daies? Nay, Saint Paul telleth vsus plainely that all things 1. Cor. 10. 11.chanced to the Iewes typically, and are written for our learning, on whom the ends of the world are come. And will any man ſay then, that this propheſie of Ioel concernes vsus not? Shall we not learne ſomething thereby? And alſo the ſame reaſon may be alleaged concerning the 13. Chap. of Eſay, which hereafter I alſo alleage.
And here let all the Lords watchmen giuegive theſe Incloſers and gardiners Heb. 3. 13.warning before, while it is called to day, leaſt they repent to late with Diues in hell. So their blood ſhall be Luc. 16. 24. Ezec 3. 14.vponupon their owne heads, for ſurely Gods word is truth. And as the land ſhall be moſt aſſuredly a garden before the face Ioh. 14. 6.of the Lord at that day, ſo there ſhall be ſome gardiners.
The Goſpell alſo condemnes this Incloſure. Our Sauiour propheſieth, Mat. 24. 12.that in the ende of the world, the charitie of many ſhall waxe colde, which argueth a precedent heate. And may not theſe Incloſers fulfill this propheſie, who hauehave ſome charitie in them; but not the charitie of their anceſtors? But Gal. 5. 6.he that continues to the ende in the faith of the Goſpell working through feruent and Chriſtian charitie (ſuch charitie as Chriſt himſelfe ſhewed towards vsus and 2. Ioh. 4.alſo commanded) he ſhall be ſaued, ſaith our Sauiour, and none elſe. Therefore Ioh. 13. 34.let Incloſers take héede which hauehave not this charitie.
Saint Paul alſo propheſieth thus of the latter times; that in the laſt daies 2. Cor. 8. 9.ſhall be foreign, that is, dogged times: for as Gellius notes, foreign, is referred to Gellius lib. 4. cap. 15.the moſt keene and fierce nature of dogges: And he willeth Timothie to know this, 2. Tit. 3. 1.as a thing moſt certaine. And doth not this touch Incloſers, who catch and ſnatch all they can from their brethren for their owne lucre ſake?
But although this had béene enough to hauehave declared them vntounto vsus, yet that which followes paints them vntounto vsus liuely: for many ſhall be (ſaith Saint Paul) foreign, that is, louers of themſelues, and louers of money. By what two marks, could he hauehave expreſſed Incloſers more manifeſtly? theſe two loues raignes in them, but the louelove of their brethren is quite baniſhed out of their harts. Nay, theſe Incloſers are (as it followes alſo in the Apoſtle) diſobedient to their parents: in not obeying after their deaths, their charitable cuſtomes which they commaunded, and in their liues obſerued. So did not the Ier. 35. 6.Rechabites.
The Apoſtle Saint Peter of the day of iudgement writeth thus: The end of 1. Pet. 4. 7.all things is at hand, be yee therefore ſober, and pray; (not on the day time only, but euen with our bleſſed Sauiour in the night) but aboue all things hauehave feruent Luc 6. 12. 1. Pet 4 8.louelove among you; for Chriſtian charitie (as an effect of faith) ſhall couer a multitude of ſinnes. For the faithful, and mercifull mens ſinnes are couered and Mat. 25. 34, 35, 36.not mentioned, as appeareth in the Goſpel. But to goe on with our Apoſtle; Let eueryevery man as he hath receiued the gift, ſo miniſter the ſame as good Stewards of the manyfold graces of God. Why 1. Pet. 4 10.ſhould Saint Peter here make mention of Stewards but that as ſh… ſéeme he did foreſée in the ſpirit, that some at the ende of the world, ſhould forget themſelues to be ſtewards; and deale here with the earth, and earthly things, as though they were chiefe Lords of them: whereas Saint Peter telleth them heere p…a…ely, that they are but péere Stewards. And Dauid himſelfe though a king acknowledged the ſame: That the earth is the Lords and all that Pſal. 24. 1.therein is. Nay, Cyrus that great Persian Monark confeſſeth, that the Lord God of heauen hath giuen him all the Eſd. 1. 2.kingdomes of the earth, as to a frée-holder, or Steward. Let all Landlords learne this leſſon, and remember it wel, againſt the the day of Judgement; and deale like ſtewards, and not like Lords, with Gods people. God no doubt ſhall make enquirie at that day how they hauehave dealt with them.
But to conclude that of this ſinne of depopulation of townes, ſhall be eſpeciall inquirie made at the day of iudgement.
The Prophet Eſay ſpeaking of that Eſa. 13. 9.day writes thus: Behold the day of the Lord commeth, cruell with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the earth waſte. And he ſhall deſtroy her ſinners out of her. What ſhould the Prophet meane by thoſe (Chatteah) her ſinners but theſe Incloſers, who are too much in louelove with the earth? Nay ſaith God, I will cauſe the arrogancie of the proud to ceaſe (Gaauath Ngaritſim) the pride of theſe terrible men, that no man durſt ſpeake againſt, or ſpeake vntounto. And I will make a man (ſaith God) more precious than fine gold, euen a man aboue the wedge of the gold of Ophir. There ſhall be ſome at that day of iudgement, as appeareth by this place, that ſhall make no account of men, which ſhal depopulate townes. God telleth all ſuch, that he will make a man, euen one man (whereas they hauehave thought it a light matter, to depopulate townes and to roote out many men) more pretious, than a wedge of gold. And what is all their wooll-money to a wedge of gold? One man is more worth than a wedge of gold, much more then, than all their wooll-money; God himſelfe hath ſpoken it.
Wherefore if Incloſers and depopulators of townes, meane to be ſaued at the day of iudgement: let them willingly caſt open their cloſes againe, and reedifie the farmes, they hauehave decayed. It makes no matter for the charge of hedging (which they ſhall looſe) that they hauehave beene at. And let them baniſh their ſhéepe out of their paſtures, and let them fill the Lords townes and ſhéepefolds, with his ſheepe againe, and that ſpéedily, leaſt the Lord comming to Judgement doe condemne them, as cruell and Ioh. 10. 27.couetous tyrants. Fnd let them now preferre euen one man, before a wedge of gold, leaſt hereafter God doe teach them this leſſon in hell, when it ſhall be too late for them to learne.
And here I moſt humbly deſire in the Lord, that all Gods children would beware, that they be not giltie of that woe which Eſay proclaimeth. Woe to them Eſa. 5. 20.that ſpeake good of euill, and euill of good, which put darknes for light, and light for darkneſſe, that put bitter for ſweete, and ſweete for bitter. And that all Gods faithfull ſeruants, would remoue that great ſinne farre from them, which Ieremy layed to the charge of the Iewes: Ier. 9. 3.that they would not bend their tongues like bowes, to maintaine lies: but that they would (that which Saint Iames teacheth them) lay a part all filthineſſe, Iam. 1. 21.and ſuperflu…tie of wickedneſſe: that is, that they would not ſinne, when they néede not ſinne. But that they would receiue with meekeneſſe the word that is grafted in them which is able to ſaue their ſoules. The Lord Jeſus open the eyes and turne the hearts of all Incloſers, Epheſ. 1. 18 Pſal. 85. 4.that they may let the gréeuouſneſſe of this the… ſinne, and repent with spéede, while it is called to day: (Leaſt with thoſe … and c…tous tyrants which Hebr. 3. 14. Eſa. 13. 11.Eſay ſpeaketh of, they he viſited of God, that is, hauehave … workes looked into, and be …ely puniſhed at the day of Judgement) for his glorious name ſake: to whom with the Father and the holy Ghoſt be all praiſe honor and glory now and for euer
Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Francis Trigge, Petition of Two Sisters (1604)