Diary of a Thankful Christian, Chapter 2

Diary of a Thankful Christian · Chapter 2

CHAP. II.

The matter whereof a Journall or Diar… is compounded, and firſt Nationall and publick.

IN the proſecution of this Subject in hand, I would do theſe two things:

1. Diſcover the materials whereof this Journall doth conſiſt.

2. Shew the manner how it is to be uſed. For the materials, they are twofold:

1. Either Nationall, and more publick.

2. Perſonall, and more private.

For thoſe that are Nationall, and of publick concernment, they may be reduced to theſe five heads.

1. Take notice what Kings and Princes, what Magiſtrates and Governors have ruled over us; for commonly, Such Prince, ſuch people. They that come of the yeelding Willow, and not of the ſturdy Oak (as a Marqueſſe of Wincheſter had wont to ſay) will yeeld with the Time, and ever be of the Religion of the King their Maſter: They can be Pagans under Di…cletian the Heathen p. 15…mperor, and Chriſtians under Conſtantine …he Reformer: Such again will turn Arians …nder Conſtantius the Heretick, Backſliders …nder Iulian the Apoſtate, and with Jovinianus …or preferment turn Orthodox. Hence the Ancients were wont to place the ſtatues of …heir Princes and Patriots neer their foun…ains; intimating thereby, that if their Magiſtrates were good, they were the ſpringheads of much happineſſe to the people; but if wicked, the originall of miſery and miſchief. If wicked Jeroboam ſet up idols,1 King. 12. 30.1 Kgs 12:30 Regis ad exemplum, all Iſrael are made to ſin through his example. If Hezekiah be forward2 Chr. 31. ….2 Chr 31 in reforming Religion, ſo are the People. When certain Embaſſadors praiſed the Lacedemonian Souldiers for their good order, in being well regulated by Martial diſcipline who were before mutinous and injurious; one of them anſwered, Nos iidem ſumus qui ut nuper, ſed alius nunc nobis eſt Dux: We are the ſame we had wont to be, but now we have another Generall. That Nation is happy, that can ſay of their chief Governor, as one of Saul's Courtiers ſpake of David, when he commended him to his Maſter, He is 1 Sam. 16. 1….1 Sam 16:1a cunning player on the Harp, a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters; a comely perſon, and (that which made all excellent) the Lord is with him. He is a great Souldier, and a good Scholar, like another Caeſar, that did as much by Arts as by Arms; he is a wiſe Stateſ-man, and as religious as noble; p. 16ſo ruling over men that he is juſt, ruling in the fear of God. Goodneſſe and Greatneſſe, when they meet together in the Grandees of the World, huge ſwelling titles in their Coyns and Charters are accompanyed with grace and godlineſſe, are like a ring with a rich Diamond, that raiſeth the price of it very high. Oh! how winning and prevalent are ſuch mens examples? He that carries a light in a dark evening in London, ſeldome goes alone; and that ſhip in the Navy that hath the Lanthorn, and ſets out the light, ſhall not want followers. It is ſo in a good example, though given by a mean perſon; but if the light of Magiſtrates ſo ſhine before men that they may ſee their good works, how do they glorifie God, and indevour by all means to walk in thoſe wayes? And the reaſon is, becauſe Subjects ſtudy the lives of their Princes more then their laws, and eſteem their examples as currant as their coyn: Hence it is, that as their perſonall virtues are publick ornaments, ſo their proper vices are a Kingdomes injuries.

2. Obſerve what that Religion is, that by thoſe Magiſtrates is imbraced, and how the truth is countenanced or oppoſed by them.

Charls the Great was wont to ſet his Crown upon the Bible, as Canutus ſometimes put his Diadem upon the Rood, both thereby intimating, that as all honor was due to p. 17…d, ſo true Religion was the beſt baſis for …overnment, and that Piety was the beſt …licy. The Lions that upheld Solomon's …rone were of pure gold. A Princes Reli…on ſhould be pure, not poliſht; it ſhould be …defiled before God, as well as pretended in e …ight of men. And indeed the beſt way … facilitate the affairs of State, for the beſt …vantage of a Common-wealth, is to carry … Religion, and ſeek the glory of God in …e firſt place. It is obſervable, that the Iſ…elites in their journey to Canaan, went no …ſter, nor no farther then the Ark. And when …ey returned from Babylon to their owneEzr. 3. 3. 4▪ 10.Ezra 3:3Ezra 3:4Ezra 3:10 and, they firſt ſet up the Altar, and offered …urnt-offerings, they kept the feaſt of Taberacles,Nehem. 3.Neh 3 and built the Temple before they ſet p the Wall. And had we in our generation …een as wiſe, and obſerved Gods and his peo…les method; that is, firſt ſought the King…ome of heaven, and the righteouſneſſe there…f, then all outward good things hadMatt▪ 6. 33.Matt 6:33 …een added to us. Had we ſought Gods glory …efore our owne grandure, we had better …rovided for our owne and the Kingdomes …afety. It is obſerved, that the Diſciples at ſea, … the abſence of Chriſt, by reaſon of a ſtorm, …owed ſlowly and dangerouſly; but as ſoonIoh. 8. 21.John 8:21 …s they willingly received Chriſt into the …ip immediately, they came to the land whi…her they intended. The moſt politick Pilots …hat ever ſate at the ſtern of any Common-…ealth, were never able through the depths p. 18of State to drive on their deſignes with ſucceſſe, unleſſe they took Chriſt along with them. They that truſt much to their own… pates and policies, without an eye to God are like Boys that ſtand on their heads, and fling up their heels againſt heaven; as thi… ſtanding is dangerous to the ſtate of the Body, ſo that truſting to carnall policies, with a neglect of Religion by ſome, and a contempt of reall oppoſition againſt the truth by others, are as deſtructive to the body of any State in the world. The Biſhop of Mo… Pulciano told Charls the Emperor in th… Councell of Trent, that it was one of the chief inſtructions Pope Paul the third ga… to his Legat, to commend to that Aſſembly That Principalities cannot be preſerved where Religion is loſt: And it was a good Law that … Daniſh King of this Land made, That at th… generall Court of every Shire, the Biſhop of t… Dioceſſe ſhould accompany the Sheriffe; that t… one might countenance Gods law, the other ma… Much like the practice of good Jehoſaph… whoſe heart was lifted up in the ways of t… 2 Chr. 17. 8.2 Chr 17:8Lord. He ſent with his Princes the Levite… to teach in the Cities of Judah. The Princ… are ſaid to teach; that is, either by the Levites, whom they did company, count… nance, and encourage in the work; or rath… the Princes taught the Laws of the Land, t… Levites the Law of God, and both did mutually help each other.

p. 193. Keep an account of the various and …angeable condition of the Times in …e Countrey where we live, either for roſperity or adverſity, with the fruits nd effects of both. Omnium retum eſt viciſſido. There are no ſublunary comforts but …e ſubject to change. We have ſometimes …n-ſhine, and ſometimes rain; we have ſomeme day, and ſometime it is night with us. …he Church of the Jews under the Old Teament had ſometimes War, and ſometimes eace. Jabin King of Canaan mightily opreſſed Iſrael twenty yeers; but the Lord iſcomfited Siſera his Commander in chiefJudg. 9▪ 4. & 3. 15. & 5. 31.Judg 9:4Judg 3:15Judg 5:31 with all his hoſt before Baruch, and the Land ad reſt forty yeers. How punctuall is the oly Ghoſt in obſerving the very circum…ances, not onelyonly of perſon and place, but f the very time, how long they had War, nd how much longer time they injoyed eace? Under the reign of Solomon, that eople enjoyed much peace. Judah and Iſrael …ere many, as the ſand which is by the Sea ſhore … multitude, eating, and drinking, and making 1 Kin. 4 2….1 Kgs 4:2…erry. But in the dayes of Abijah his Grandhilde, Iſrael and Judah fought one againſt …other, ſo that there fell down ſtain of Iſrael …ve hundred thouſand choſen men at that battle. challenge any man that is moſt verſt in2 Chro. 13. 17▪2 Chr 13:17 …iſtory, to give me a parallel.

The Church of the Jews under the Go…pel, about the time that Stephen was ſtoned, hrough the heat of perſecution was ſca…tered p. 20abroad, throughout the Regions of J… dea and Samaria: But when Saul became Pa… and of a Perſecuter turn'd a Preacher, T… Act. 8. 1. & 9. 31.Acts 8:1Acts 9:31had the Churches reſt throughout Judea and G… lee, and Samaria, &c.

This one thing amongſt other is record… in the ſacred Journall of the Iſraelites ſometimes they had plenty, and ſometim… they wanted bread and water; ſometim… they had peace, and ſometimes their enemi… made war againſt them; ſometimes th… enjoyed health, and ſometimes the plagu brake out amongſt them: And thus it ha… been in all the generations and ages … the world. England, that ſome have call… Terra Florida, or the fortunate Iſland, that, wi… Capernaum, hath been lifted up to heaven, … the enjoyment of peace and plenty, the Goſpel of peace, and the peace of the Goſp… together, for many yeers; ſo that enoug cannot be ſpoken upon this ſubject, to t… praiſe of God, the envy of our enemies, an… the blot of our ingratitude. But we ha… had our changes. We have ſinned away a… our comforts. Our peace brought plenty our plenty nouriſht pride, our pride beg… contention, our contention drew the ſword and the ſword a civill ſword, the ſharp… and ſoreſt of all Gods judgements, ha… turned our peace into war, our plenty into penury, our friends into enemies; … that our blood hath been ſpilt, and o… treaſure ſpent, and our glory ſtained p. 21moſt beyond all example. Where every …y, Marte cadunt ſubito per mu…ua vulner a fratres.

In a battle betwixt Sylla and Marius, both …omane Commanders, a Souldier having ain one, and afterward underſtanding that … was his Brother, in anguiſh of ſpirit …ruſt his ſword into his own bowels. Titus …eſpaſtan Emperor of Rome, wept when he …aw the deſtruction of Jeruſalem, and the great aughter of the Jews, chiefly occaſioned hrough their owne civill diſſenſions; but hat which hath heightned our miſery, and fear aggravated our ſin very much, we grew … that height of heat and bitterneſs, that we ejoyced over our brethren when we obtained ny victory againſt them. Pliny reports this …f the Dragon, that fighting with the Ele…hant, he got under the belly of that mighty …eaſt, where he ſuckt out the blood ſo far, …at at laſt the Elephant fell, but with his all cruſht the Dragon to death. He that wins moſt by a civill war, will be a great oſer at the laſt. Philip Duke of Burgundy his embleme of a flint-ſtone and a ſteel ſtri…ing one againſt another ſo long till both …re conſumed, doth lively ſet out the miſeries of that fire that is made by domeſticall …rms. A forain enemy cannot wiſh us a greater miſchief, nor themſelves a greater advantage, then our inteſtine wars. Hence p. 22the Turks uſe to pray unto God, to keep the Chriſtians at variance; which cauſed o… of their Emperors to ſay to his Councell diſſwading him from making war with the Germanes, becauſe of their multitude and fortitude; that he feared them not, becauſe (ſaith he) ſooner would his fingers be al… of a length, then their Princes be all of on… minde.

4. Keep a Diary of the ſeverall and mo… remarkable judgements that God hath i… our time inflicted upon notorious offende… whether perſons in high places, or ſuch … moved in a lower orbe. The holy Gho… takes ſpeciall notice of ſuch in the Scriptures. Few men went to the grave in peace, that by their monſtrous impieti… made war againſt heaven and his Church As, what became of Pharaoh the bloody▪ and Achitophel the crafty? of Balaam the covetous, and Corah the rebell? of Haman the proud, and Herod the fox? As their live were wicked, ſo their ends were fearful. I… like manner, what became of Abſalom the diſobedient, and Ela the drunkard? … Zimri and Cosbi the unclean? of Anani… and Saphira thoſe lyars? Were not all theſe taken away with a ſtroke in their ſin? Wha… became of thoſe Romane Nimrods, as Maxentius the Tyrant, and Julian the Apoſtate, with others, who hunted the Saints of God to death in thoſe ten perſecutions mentioned in Eccleſiaſticall Hiſtories? How few o… p. 23their hoary heads went to the grave in peace?

To come neerer to our owne times. What became of wily Wincheſter, and bloody Bonner, with many others that ruled the roſte in thoſe Dog-dayes of Q▪ Mary's reign? Few of thoſe bloody and deceitfull men lived out half their dayes: But when the ſcumme was at the higheſt, it fell into the fire; for though God did bear them up for ſome time in their eſſence, yet he would not bear them out at all in their malice. God hath leaden feet, but iron hands; though he comes ſlowly, yet he ſtrikes ſurely. It is good to mark the ends of men. Mark the perfect man (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) and behold the upright, for the end Pſal. 37. 37.Ps 37:37of that man is peace. Balaam did ſo as wicked as he was, which made him wiſh that he might dye the death of the righteous, andNumb. 23. 10.Num 23:10 that his latter end might be like his. In like manner mark the end of the tranſgreſſors, for they ſhall be deſtroyed together, the end Pſal. 37. 38.Ps 37:38of the wicked ſhall be cut off; that is, they ſhall not dye the common death of all men, but ſhall be cut off in the midſt of their dayes. If their lives be tragical, their deaths are ſeldome comicall. Zoroaſtes the inventer of Magick (as ſome Hiſtorians affirm of him) laught at his birth, but dyed a wofull, and a lamentable death, being baniſhed from his Countrey. Alphonſus Dyazius a Spaniard, a rigid Papiſt, procured a notorious cut-throat to mur…her his Brother John p. 24Dyazius, a ſincere Proteſtant, becauſe he could by no means turn him from the truth; but the righteous Lord would not ſuffer ſuch an unnaturall villany to go unpuniſhed; for not long after he was haunted by the terrors of his owne conſcience, that being at Trent when the Councel ſate there, (for he was one of the Popes Lawyers) he hanged himſelf about the neck of his owne Mule. How have ſome godly Divines taken good pains in writing the ſtories of God… judgements upon notorious malefactors, a… Drunkards, Swearers, Sabbath-breakers, and ſuch like? Would others be perſwaded in their generation, to take ſpeciall notice, and keep ſome account of ſuch memorable accidents, the benefit would be ſingular. The righteous ſhall ſee and fear (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) What ſhal they ſee? That God deſtroyed the mighty man, that boaſts himſelf in miſchief, that God takes him away, and plucks himPſal. 52. 5, 6, 7.Ps 52:5Ps 52:6Ps 52:7 out of his dwelling place, and roots him out of the land of the living.

A Servi…g-man being at a Tavern in Eſſex, and threatning to ſwear the Conſtable out of the Town, if he came there; in a drunken fit running after one to make him pledge him a pinte of ſack at a draught, fell down the ſtairs, and dyed inſtantly, Novemb. 1. 1626.

A Fiſher-man (that I knew) bringing Mackerell to a Port-town in Suffolk, where the people (becauſe they were new, and the p. 25firſt that came that yeer to Town) preſſing eagerly to buy them, and ſome againſt his will being entred into his boat, he took up a ſtone, and ſware by the name of God he would make them ſtand further off, inſtantly ſunk down, and ſoon after dyed.

How many in my time have I noted! Would others do the like, how would men conſider ſuch things, and underſtand the righteous judgements of the Lord?

5. Finally, conſider ſeriouſly, and obſerve very ſtrictly, what the Nationall Epidemicall ſin of the time and preſent generation may be. Where iniquity abounds, it is hard to determine, but queſtionleſſe every age hath a peculiar diſtemper. In times of commotion, when the bands of love are broken into ſeverall parties and factions, as they have been lately amongſt us, it is more eaſily diſcerned.

A noble Gentleman of ſingular abilities, and one much employed in affairs of State in his time (whom I knew well) adviſed his friends at ſuch a time to buy up all the Pamphlets that were printed, if of any conſiderable worth; for when people fall out, they commonly ſpeak out; and if they be once drunk with paſſion, and their diſtempers boyl to any height, the moſt ſecret venome will ſwim on the top: By which means you may eaſily ſeel the pulſe of the preſent time, and diſcover what is the Nationall and moſt predominant ſinne: p. 26and it will be worth our praiſe to know it.

Which that we may the better doe, let us look back a little to the generations behinde us.

1. Some times have been more notorious for drunkenneſſe. Scaliger in his Book de Lingua Latina, obſerves this of the Germans in his time, that their vivere was bibere, not only in their pronunciation, as he noted; but in their practice, as other well obſerved, who lived that they might drink.

Seneca foretold ſo much of ſome times, that men ſhould be ſo drowned with this ſin of drunkenneſſe, that plurimum meri ſumpſiſſe virtus eſſet, it ſhould be eſteemed a virtue to ſtrive with the Brewers horſe who ſhould carry more liquor; and with ſome it hath been of that eſteem, that not as drunk as a Begger, but as drunk as a Prince, hath been a kind of proverbial commendation of ſome.

When Aeſchines commended Philip King of Macedon, for a Joviall man, who would drink freely; Demoſthenes being by, told him, that this was a good quality in a Spunge, but not in a Prince.

Drunkenneſſe is a ſin that layes men open to all iniquity more then any ſin. Ebrietas in ſe culpas complectitur omnes. What ſin is notProv. 23 33.Prov 23:33 a Drunkard ſubject to? Their eyes ſhall behold ſtrange women, (ſaith Solomon) and their hearts ſhall utter perverſe things. And a ſin it is that God hath more frequently and ſuddenly p. 27plagued with death in the very act then any other ſin.

Edgar a King of England, obſerving in his time that exceſſive drinking abounded in the Land, through the example of the Danes that dwelt in divers parts of the Kingdome; to prevent that evill, ordained that their cups they drank in ſhould have certain pins or nails put in them, beyond which if any drank at one draught, he ſhould pay ſo much money.

2. Some generation hath been more infamous for that ſin of Swearing, and that by the name of God, even at every word here in England. Inſomuch that a family in this Land, and that no mean one, was ſo notorious for this ſin, that they had the name of the Bygods given them, and were ſo uſually called.

I remember, Mr. Fox in his Hiſtory of the Acts and Monuments of the Church, reciting many evidences whereby he proved the antiquity of Prieſts Marriage, ſets down the copy of a Releaſe made by William Bygod, Lord of Little Bradley, to Henry Denardeſtone Clerk, and Alice his Wife; and queſtionleſſe that name of Pigot was originally the ſame, though in ſucceſſion of time, and very wiſely it was changed: Omne peccatum ſuam habet excellentiam: Every ſin hath ſome peculiar vileneſſe, wherein it may be ſaid to excel other. There's not any ſin that doth more plainly diſcover the great profaneneſſe of p. 28the heart, as common ſwearing, eſpeciallyMat. 12. 34.Matt 12:34 by the name of God, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth ſpeaketh.

3. Some times that are gone over our heads, and therefore far behinde us, have been infected with an itching humour after Superiority, wherein perſons not content to abide in the calling that God ſet them in, have indevoured to go beyond their proper line, and ſo broke their ranks. Thus Abſalom was not content with the place of a Son, nor Hazael with the rank of a Subject, nor Jezabel with the condition of a Wife, whoſe deſires ſhould be ſubject to her Husband, whoſe right it was to rule over her. Thus the loweſt of the people under the countenance of Jeroboam would be Prieſts, and it was a ſmall thing in the eyes of Corah and his company, that God had brought themNum. 16. 9.Num 16:9 nigh unto himſelf to do ſervice, but they muſt ſeek the Prieſthood alſo. Thus Jeroboam the Servant of Solomon is not contented,1 Ki. 11. 26. unleſſe he may lift up his hand againſt his Maſter. How ſad was that time amongſt the Scythians, who whileſt they made their third Expedition into Aſia, and tarryed ſeven yeers (as Juſtin in his Hiſtory reports) were turned out of their beds and poſſeſſions by their ſervants that were left behinde to keep their cattle, and at their return were kept out by force of Arms by thoſe ſlaves who had taken their Wives, and poſſeſſed their goods. Not much unlike that of the p. 29people of Iſrael, ſervants ruled over them,Lam. 5. 8.Lam 5:8 and there was none to deliver them.

Caeſar riding one day through a Towne, was asked by one, whether there were any ſtriving for offices and places of honour in that place, anſwered that he had rather be the chief man in that little Village, then the ſecond perſon in Rome; an itching humour it is after greatneſſe, that hath run in a blood from Adam and Eve to this day, who were not content with their ſtanding, but would be as Gods, knowing good and evill: Now as the root of this humour is extreme pride, ſo the fruit is confuſion; firſt I ſay pride is the cauſe, there are none that are ſo low in their deſerts, but are very high in their thoughts; even the bramble hath great thoughts and high words too of his ſhadow,Judg. 9 15.Judg 9:15 and it was but a ſhadow. Abſalom, and Hazael, and Iezebel, and Ieroboam thought they could manage the affairs of a Kingdome better then David, or Benhadad, or Ahab, or Solomon. Every ſimple Cobler thinks he can go beyond his Laſt, and preach far better then his Prieſt: Ye Sons of Levi (ſaith he) take too much upon you: But the fruit of ſuch ambition is miſchief and confuſion.

Some Countrey Peſants that behold the ſtars to gliſter in the horizon on the top of a mountain, think if they were there they could reach the heaven, & order the ſtars, but being exalted on that mountain, they are as far to ſeek as before. What became of Abſalom p. 30the Rebel, and Hazael the Traitor, and Iezebel the Proud? of Ieroboam the Servant, and Corah and his company? As none did ſo ill, ſo none ſped worſe, their miſchief lighted on their own heads, and (like to Phaeton) their violent dealing on their owne pates. Thoſe Scythian ſlaves, though their Maſters could not beat them with their weapons, yet at the ſight of their Maſters rods and whips ran all away, and at laſt periſhed.

But you will ask me, What may be the ſin of this time? Somewood is more apt to breed worms, and ſome cloth more ready to breed moths, and ſome times have their peculiar ſins. But, what is the ſin of this age? which is more conſiderable for us, then the looking back to the times that are paſt.

1. Some ſay our great diviſions, our moſt bitter contentions, and that amongſt Brethren, is the ſin. And indeed this evill is grown to that height, that they that ſhould dye one for another, can hardly live one by another. Surely ſuch diviſions amongſt thoſe that profeſſe godlineſſe, cauſe great thoughts of heart, for the neerer the union is, the more dangerous is the breach; broken bones are not ſo ſoon healed, nor ſinews that are cut ſo ſoon knit, as great gaſhes in the fleſh may be cured; if a cable rope be broken, it is very hardly tyed together. If the Father and the Son, if the Husband and the Wife fall out, they are hardly reconciled; p. 31and, as Solomon ſaith, A brother offended Pro. 18. 1….Prov 18:1is harder to be won then a strong City. We do not finde that Paul and Barnabas ever met together again after they parted aſunder,Act. 15. 39.Acts 15:39 through their ſharp contention. Which made Coſmus a Duke of Florence ſay, We are commanded to forgive our enemies, but we never read that we are bid to forgive our friends. And that which makes our contention ſo much the more grievous, is, that one ſpeciall means that God hath appointed for the uniting of Brethren, is become a ground of the greateſt quarrell. The Lords Supper is a feaſt of Loves, a communion ordained to nouriſh union, and yet at this feaſt we have found a bone of contention, and an apple of ſtrife. And it is obſervable, that when any liſten to ſeducing ſpirits, and ſeparate from this ordinance, they grow ſowre and ſullen to their deareſt friends. Our Saviour Chriſt foretelling the evills of the latter dayes, gives this as a badge of the laſt and worſt, the old and cold age of the world: Iniquity ſhall abound, and the love of many ſhall grow cold. But what is the cauſe of both? Many falſe Prophets ſhall ariſe, and ſhall ſeduce many; and ſurely the difference of judgement will ever cauſe a diſtance in affections. Firebrands though they doe not ſmoak more when they are out of the chimney, yet I am ſure they offend more, and may prove dangerous. The novel opinions of theſe times kept within dores do too much harm; but p. 32ſpread abroad by the boutefewes of theſe times through their burning charity are ready to ſet all on fire. And moſt people either out of ignorance or eaſineſſe, are like foot-travellers, who when they come to a ſtile that ſtands neer a gap, leave the ſtile and go in at the breach; take up any error that cauſeth diviſion, rather then take the pains to try the ſpirits, to prove all things, and keep that which is good. Unity is the higheſt myſtery in heaven, and would be the greateſt happineſſe on earth, could we enjoy it▪ Union is from God, diviſion from the Devil, who where he comes with his cloven feet, ſeparates chief friends; and ſurely ſuch are factors for hell that cauſe diviſions, that obſerve Machidvel's rule, they divide that they may rule; but ſurely the end of ſuch wayes will be their owne confuſion. The champion Mile when he thruſt his hands into the clefts of an Oak, thinking thereby to make the breach the wider, was caught, and there held till he was devoured by wilde beaſts. God grant that ſuch envyous perſons, that do ſow the tares of diviſion, may reap the fruit of ſuch labours, even confuſion. HeJer. 32.Jer 32 graciouſly fulfill his promiſe, and give us one heart and one way; He hear the prayersJob. 17.Job 17 of his dear Son, and grant that we may be one; He turn our heart-burnings into heart-breakings, and unite us faſt together in the unity of the ſpirit, with the bond of peace. This I conteſſe is one of the ſickneſſes of theſe p. 33times, which alone is enough to make a gracious heart weary of his life, and long to be at home in heaven, out of the reach of …o miſchievous an evil. Melanchthon, when he lay on his death-bed, diſcovered not only much willingneſſe to dye, but much joy …t the thoughts of his approaching end; and being asked by one the reaſon of it, anſwered, that it was becauſe he ſhould then ſee Chriſt and his Church above, where he was ſure there was no ſuch contentions amongſt brethren, as was here, which he often …amented with tears. This I ſay is our ſickneſſe, but yet my finger is not upon the plague-ſore.

2. Some peradventure will think Hypocriſie to be that ſin; and indeed much profeſſion of Religion without the power of godlineſſe is common in theſe dayes, wherein men have learned the art of looking one way, and rowing another; pretending one thing, and doing the quite contrary. Theſe are like not onelyonly Apothecaries boxes, that have golden titles, and nothing in them, but like painted ſepulchres, full of rotten…eſſe and noyſome filthineſſe. There are ſeven abominations in ſuch mens hearts. Theſe men are like curious pictures of men and women, drawn to life; but if you look behinde them, you may ſee ſtore of duſt and cobwebs. Or, they are like to ſome of our Innes in Market-towns, where you may ſee a Crown for the Signe, and a Begger p. 34for the Hoſt; an Angel at the dore, and a Devil for the Hoſteſs: who under the glorious profeſſion of ſanctity, dare act the… Ki. 10. 16. greateſt villany. Jehu his pretence is zeal for the Lord of Hoſts, but his plot is the1 Ki. 12. 13. Kingdome. Ahab and Jezabel proclaim a Faſt, pretending the puniſhment of blaſphemy, but they intend thereby to take away Naboth's both life and vineyard. And though all hypocrites have not attained to this height of helliſh iniquity, yet they are like ſome children that are ſick of a diſeaſe they call the Rickets, who have great heads, and big bellies, but ſhrimpled hands, and weak knees. They are men of great parts, but no gifts, not one of many are given to good works whileft they live; and when they dye, ſomething is given to the poor by their Teſtament, but not by their Will.

It is ſaid that Iſaac digged more Wells, and found more water then Abraham; and queſtionleſſe the knowledge of moſt men is this latter age of the world, exceeds that ofIſa. 11. 9.Isa 11:9 former times; The earth is full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters that cover the earth: Nay, mens knowledge is profound,Ezek. 47.Ezek 47 like waters that came out of the Sanctuary; it is grown deeper, from the ankles to the loyns; but it is to be feared, the water… of the Sanctuary have put out the fire that ſhould burn in the Sanctuary, and that our great knowledge hath quite drowned our zeal, ſo that all thoſe mens religion is run p. 35out of the heart into the head. The world2 Ki…. 10 8. is full of ſuch, who are like the heads that Jehu cauſed to be laid at the gate of Jezreel, a great many heads, but never an heart amongſt them all. The Toad ſome ſay hath a pearl in the head, I am ſure it hath poyſon in the belly. Theſe ſpeak like Cato, but live like Lucullus. Leah had bad eyes, but ſhe was fruitfull; Rachel had a better ſight, but ſhe was barren. Our Fathers ſaw leſſe, but did more; theſe men profeſſe they know God, but in works …deny him, being abominable, and unto every good Tit. 1. …lt.Titus 1work reprobate; ſuch knowledge will end in …utter darkneſſe, and this tree of knowledge rob them of the tree of life. Quis non iraſeatur (ſaith St. Aug.) videns homines ore Deum confitentes, negantes moribus? Quis non iraſeatur videns homines ſecuio verbis & non factis renunciantes? Who can chooſe but be angry, that ſhall ſee men that confeſſe God with their lips, and deny him in their lives; that ſhal ſee men renounce the world, and the luſts thereof, inAug. in P…. 30. words, but not in deeds? Such men are like rogues that uſe to lye in the Church porch, whileſt others make it but the way to their attendance upon divine ordinances, and religious duties. Theſe men reſt in an outward profeſſion of religion, and a very form of godlineſſe, and go no further. I wiſh ſome men were called as theſe be Hypocrites; or be as they are called, ſolid and judicious Chriſtians: But queſtionleſſe many ſuch are miſcalled, they have a name to live, but are dead. p. 36Like many of the Popes of Rome, if the man were a Coward, they called him Leo; if a Clown, Ʋrbanus; if a Tyrant, Clemens. Such hypocriſie is hated of all.

The Cardinal of Lorreign a bitter enemy to Geneva, and the reformed Churches, when Bernardinus Ochinus offered him his ſervice in writing againſt the Proteſtants, ſlighted him with the greateſt ſcorn, becauſe he knew he had diſſembled and played the hypocrite. And Trajan that wiſe and worthy Emperor, profeſſed, that he had reaſon to hold himſelf diſcharged of all debts to thoſe, that offended more by prevarication, then they ever deſerved by induſtry: But yet this is not the ſin.

3. There are others that will ſay, that Apoſtaſie is the ſin of this age; and certainly there may be ſome reaſon for it, for we are a people given to backſliding; and how hath the ſecret hypocriſie of many broken out into open apoſtaſie in theſe times? Theſe are like gallant ſhips with glorious titles, as the Bonaventure, the Triumph, &c. but in a ſtorm are ventorum ▪ludibrium; if the temptation come from the fears or flatteries of the Times, they are taken with many fooliſh luſts, which drown men in deſtruction and perdition, and ſo they make ſhipwrack of faith and a good conſcience.

There are three ſorts of perſons that are moſt dangerous, I wiſh all to take great heed of them.

p. 37Firſt, ſuch as might have been good, but are not; as, the children of religious parents, ſervants that have lived much in religious families, and people that have lived long under a powerfull fruitfull Miniſtery, but are not bettered.

Secondly, ſuch as ſeem to be good, but are not; that can transform themſelves into the ſhape of Saints, who have the voyce of Jacob, and the hands of Eſau; that ſpeak like the Lamb, but are ravening Wolves. Oh! how hath Religion ſuffered under the pretence of Religion in later times?

Thirdly, ſuch as have been good (at leaſt in the hopes of many) but are not. Theſe are trees whoſe fruit withereth, without fruit, Jude v. 12.twice dead, and plucked up by the roots.

The firſt are civill perſons that have no faith, too good for the Devill, but not good enough for God. The Lord deliver us from ſuch, for they may prove unreaſonable, becauſe they have no faith.

The ſecond ſort are Hypocrites, and the third Apoſtates, the moſt bitter enemies to …olineſſe, and the power of godlineſſe. Such was Iulian the Apoſtate.

It is ſaid, that tame Foxes, if they break looſe, and turn wilde, will do more miſchief then any. Iulian was once a Chriſtian, and a forward profeſſor, but turning back to Heatheniſme, drew more from the Faith by fraud, then any of his predeceſſors did by force. Baldwine and Bolſack turned Apoſtates, and were hired by the Papiſts to write p. 38the Life of Calvin, and proved deſperate adverſaries to the truth. Parſons and Harding had ſometimes a taſte of the truth, but falling away, proved moſt bitter enemies to the Church of God. The greateſt enemies that any man can have, are thoſe of his own houſe. He was of the ſociety of Jeſus that betrayed him. Such Apoſtates are not onelyonly injurious to others, but in concluſion are the greateſt enemies to their owne ſouls. To fall backward is more dangerous to the body, and to apoſtatize is moſt dangerous to the ſoul. What became of Iulian the Apoſtate his Viciſti Galilaee? which taking a handfull of blood and flinging it up into the air againſt Chriſt, told all the world thatHeb. 10. 38.Heb 10:38 his end was miſerable. If any man draw back (ſaith the Apoſtle) my ſoul ſhall have no pleaſure in ſuch.

Henry the fourth, King of France, after his revolt to Popery, was perſwaded by a great Duke about him, not to readmit the Jeſuites into the Land, who had been juſtly baniſhed by the State. He anſwered, Give me then ſecurity for my life: and thereupon admitted them, and gave them one of his owne houſes for a Colledge; but did that ſecure him? certainly it did not; the Jeſuites would never truſt him, for firſt one by their procurement ſtab'd him in the mouth, and after that another to the heart, and that was the end of ſo great an Apoſtate. And ſurely he that draws back from p. 39the God of truth muſt needs embrace error; if from the God of wiſdome, will be a fool; if from the God of happineſſe, cannot but be miſerable.

This is a great ſin, but not that ſin.

4. So that if I may take liberty to expreſſe my thoughts, with humble ſubmiſſion to better judgements, I am of opinion, that not onelyonly an unwillingneſſe to ſubmit unto, but a moſt violent oppoſition againſt the Kingly government of Jeſus Chriſt in his Church, by his owne officers and ordinances, is the ſin of this preſent generation. It is very obſervable, that the offices of Chriſt have met with ſtrong oppoſition, ſome in one age, and ſome in another, more apparently.

Some times have been more notorious for the oppoſition that was made againſt his Propheticall office, as when the Circumcellians defaced and burnt the Scriptures: So did the Papiſts, who made it death for any Proteſtant to have and read any part of the Old or New Teſtament. The ſame grand Hereticks have made their Injunctions, Precepts, Traditions, of equall authority with the Word of God: So did the Councel of Trent at their fourth Seſſion.

Some times have been more infamous for the oppoſition that was made againſt the Prieſthood of Chriſt, who made peace for us by his Death, and ſtill maintains our peace by his Interceſſion. Thus the Papists have mightily p. 40oppoſed Chriſts Prieſthood, by their doetrine of Juſtification by Works, their figments of Purgatory, works of Supererogation, prayers to Saints. Every man (ſay they) muſt ſuffer for his owne particular; yea, the works of one may ſuffice for another: So ſay the Rhemiſts in their Annotations, Rom 8. 17. Col. 1. 24.

But theſe times are ſuch as do more cleerly fight againſt the Kingdome of Chriſt; and herein cunningly they ſtrike at the root, and undermine all his offices, the end whereof, viz. his Kingly office, being to ſupport the Prieſthood and Propheſie of Chriſt in their vigour and efficacy, that as a Prince and Captain of ſalvation to the Elect, he might bring them to God. A practicall, vigorous, open oppoſition of Chriſts Kingly office exerciſed in his ordinances, was never more eminent then in theſe days. Wherein there are ſo many Gallioes, or Gadarens; Gallioes, that care not for thoſe things, as either too far below their greatneſſe, or too heavy a yoke to put their necks under; or Gadarens, who ſay plainly, We will not have this man reign over us, but deſire him to depart out of the Countrey; who are not only an unwilling, but a rebellious people in the day of his power.

The reverend and learned Miniſters of London met together in their Provinciall Aſſembly, in their Vindication of this government, to uſe their owne words, ſay as p. 41much: We are not ignorant that this government hath many adverſaries. The ignorant perſon hates it, becauſe it will not ſuffer him to go blindfold to hell; the profane perſon hates it, becauſe it will not ſuffer him to eat and drink his owne damnation, by unworthy coming to the Lords Supper; the Heretick hates it, becauſe after two or three admonitions it rejects him; the Jeſuite hates it, becauſe it is an invincible bulwark to keep out Popery; the Schiſmatick hates it, becauſe the main deſigne of it is to make all the Saints of God to be of one lip, one heart, and one way. And above all, the Devill hates it, becauſe if rightly managed, it will in a ſhort time blow up his Kingdome.

And indeed, hence are all our miſeries and miſchiefs. Church-diſcipline is like the hem to the garment, rend off that, and how ſoon will all Religion ravell cut to nothing? It is like the hedge to the Vineyard, if that be pluckt up, how ſoon will the Boar out of the Wood, and the wilde beaſts of the field devour it? What a company of Hereticks and Schiſmaticks break in upon it? all that paſſe by the way pluck it: Antitrinitarians, Antinomians, Antiſcripturiſts, Socinians, Familiſts, Quakers, &c. would dig up this Vineyard by the very roots. How are Chriſts ordinances deſpiſed, the authority of the Scriptures queſtioned, Gods faithfull Miniſters miſuſed? They were never p. 42more learned, more pious, or more painfull; and yet never more ſcorned and undervalued then at this day. All Sectaries and Schiſmaticks, though they differ much amongſt themſelves, yet agree all in this, an irreconcileable hatred of, and a bitter oppoſition againſt a godly faithfull Miniſtery.

But it is no wonder, for if the Cartwheel turn round, it is impoſſible that the ſpokes ſhould ſtand ſtill; if the Church and her diſcipline ſuffer under ſo many turnings and changes, ſurely her officers can have no reſt.

Now, if any ask what the reaſon is that this government, formerly ſo much commended, ſo much deſired, is now ſo mightily oppoſed, as the moſt tyrannicall.

I anſwer: It is not becauſe we have attained to more light then our Forefathers had, as is pretended; but,

1. Partly, becauſe the inſtruments are changed, the actors upon the ſtage that oppoſe it are new men. It was notable advice that Benhadad's Councel of War gave him after that Ahab had beaten him in that firſt battle. Take the Kings away every one out 1 Ki. 20. 24.of his place, and put Captains in their roomes. It is an old and a moſt politick device, If a deſigne receive a check, it may eaſily be driven on by changing the inſtruments, and hath often prevailed, where God hath not ſtept in and prevented it, as he did here. That which is unſufferable in a Prince, may be commendable in a Captain. The ſame errors that were formerly taught, and as generally loathed, becauſe the broachers of them were Prelaticall, are now embraced gladly, and ſwallowed downe greedily, becauſe taught by ſuch as have a name of Sanctity. Take away the Biſhops every one out of his place, that ſo mightily oppoſed this diſcipline; and ſet up ſome rare gifted men in their room, that ſhall as much perſecute and oppoſe it; and then the ſame people that earneſtly laboured for this government, will now as violently reſiſt it.

2. Becauſe of the wickedneſſe and perverſneſſe of mens ſpirits, this being the laſt and worſt age of the world, and we are faln upon the very dregs of time. This government is very ſtrict, and mens ſecure lives will not eaſily ſubmit to Chriſts ſevere laws: We are become their enemies, becauſe we tell them the truth.

3. But chiefly, becauſe of the croſſe and froward diſpoſition of moſt men: If they be commanded any duty, they peremptorily reply, There is no hope, we will walk after our Jer. 18. 1….Jer 18:1owne devices, and we will every one do the imaginations of his evill heart. If they be forbidden any thing, nititur in vetitum, they eagerly purſue what before they ſtubbornly refuſed: Let people be denyed what is petitioned, they grow the more boldly importunate, even to a kinde of violence; let their deſires be granted, they not onelyonly loath what before they liked, but grow higher in their demands.

Whence Franciſcus Sodorinus Cardinall of Preneſte was heard to ſay to Pope Adrian the ſixth, that to grant to ſome people their petitions was but the way to ſlight the grant, and prepare for more. How many inſtances may we give of this?

When God commanded Circumciſion, though under the ſharpeſt penalties, how unwillingly did people ſubmit to it? TheExod 4. 24, 26.Exod 4:24Exod 4:26 neglect whereof had wel-nigh coſt even Moſes his life. And now the Lord hath taken it away, both Jews and Gentiles will be circumciſed.

Time was when Chriſtians met in Lanes and Woods to hear the Word, even with the perill of their lives, being wholly reſtrained from all places of publick meetings. Oh! how much did they deſire that Temples might be granted to them! And what coſt were they at, when they had liberty given them to enjoy them! But in our dayes, when we aſſemble freely in ſuch publick places, every thing is too much that is beſtowed on them; with Judas and Jeroboam we cry out, What needs this waſte? and, It is too much. And with what ſcorn and contempt do many turn their backs againſt thoſe places, and creep into corners?

The ſame people, when they were reſtrained from hearing Sermons, eſpecially the p. 45Sermons of ſome men; How did they then flock to our Congregations, as Doves to the windows? they went from ſtrength, notwithſtanding the many penalties they endured: But now they have liberty to attend the ſame perſons and places, they ſay, Depart from us, we deſire not the knowledge of thoſe wayes.

Time was when Baptiſme was willingly and generally embraced by moſt, provided that their children might not be baptized with the ſigne of the Croſſe, which was then enjoyned; but now when that offenſive ceremony is removed, many of theſe care not whether ever their infants be admitted into the Church by that Sacrament or no.

Heretofore people came moſt willingly and frequently to the Lords Supper, provided they might not be brought up to the Rail, at which moſt ſtumbled, and be diſpenſed with as touching their geſture; but now, when what was deſired is granted, and that burthen (that neither we nor our Fathers were able to bear) is removed, they loath that ſpirituall Manna, and ordinarily turn their backs upon that royall feaſt and company.

Theſe people, when they were ſorbidden to meet together in private, where they uſed to afflict their ſouls before the Lord, for their own ſins, and the evils of the times, by prayer and faſting; and that notwithſtanding the ſevereſt cenſures of thoſe in power, who condemned p. 46duplicate page p. 47duplicate page p. 42duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page p. 45duplicate page p. 46ſuch meetings as unlawfull Conventicles; yet did meet, and that frequently, and (it is hoped) fruitfully: Now having free liberty granted, ſo to aſſemble themſelves, ſeldome come together for ſuch a purpoſe. Martyrs have formerly gone more willingly to the ſtake to be burned, then theſe to this excellent ordinance, where their hearts may be warmed and refreſhed.

Even ſo, when this government was ſtrongly oppoſed by the State, and all hopes of enjoying it, altogether fruſtrate, how did our Fore-fathers pray for it, preach for it, diſpute for it, print for it; yea, ſuffer even to bonds and impriſonment for it? Inſomuch that divers loſt their liberties, and ſome hazarded their lives. Amongſt the reſt, Mr. Ʋdall a learned and godly Miniſter, was at a generall Aſſizes condemned to dye for writing in defence of it: the Story of whoſe Impriſonment, Examinations, and Arraignment, I have ſeen: Yea, of ſo high account it was with ſome in thoſe days, that the King of Denmark and the King of Scots wrote their Letters in his behalf to Queen Elizabeth, requeſting that he might not ſuffer for that Cauſe: Yea, King James then King of Scotland, in a Speech of his to the Generall Aſſembly, told them that he bleſſed God that he was born in Scotland, and was a member of ſuch a Church; his reaſon was, becauſe the Church of Scotland excell'd other Churches in diſcipline; England p. 47had true doctrine, but wanted true diſcipline. And now that we may enjoy it, the State in a full Parliament declaring for it, men loath and abhor it as the moſt tyrannicall and Antichriſtian, and cry out, Not him but Barabbas, and chooſe rather to put their necks under any heavy yoke, then ſubmit to this gracious diſcipline, formerly ſo much deſired.

Now the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt advance the Kingdome of his dear Son, that he may be Governor amongſt us, that he may rule in us, and reign over us; even he that is the Prince of peace, that came into the world with a ſong of peace, that going out of the world left us a legacy of peace, whoſe government is a government of peace, whoſe Miniſters are Embaſſadors of peace; whoſe wayes are wayes of pleaſantneſſe, and all whoſe paths are peace. He unite our hearts together in the unity of the Spirit, with the bond of peace. That God that could find out a way to make peace betwixt himſelf and mankind, He that can never come too late in any danger, that can never be to ſeek in any ſtraight; heal our wounds that grow ſo deep, repair our breaches that grow ſo wide: He in his good time give us one heart, and one way, that we may fear him for ever; for the good of us, and our children after us.

Amen.