Tears for Jerusalem, Title page – Dedication
TEARS FOR IERVSALEM; OR The compaſsionate Lamentation of a tender hearted Saviour over a rebellious and obdurate people.
A ſubject entered upon on the late day of ſolemn Humiliation, December 6. 1655. afterwards proſecuted, and now publiſhed, as uſeful at all times, but very ſeaſonable for the preſent.
By John Brinſley, Miniſter of the Goſpel at Great Yarmouth.
Daughters of Jeruſalem, weep not for me, but weep for your ſelves, and for your children, Luke 23.28.
LONDON, Printed by J. L. for Tho. Newberry, 1656.
To the Mourners in Sion, Such as being truely ſenſible of, are cordially affected with the preſent ſad and calamitous condition of the Church of God in the Iſland of Great Britain.
(Much eſteeemed in the Lord.)
THe laſt year, I ſent forth a Groan, a Groan for Iſrael; I now here ſecond it with Tears, Tears for Jeruſalem. And whether there be cauſe for both theſe, I appeal to you, whom God hath in any meaſure made ſenſible of the preſent ſtate of the land of your Nativity, and ſpecially of the Church therein. When Nehemiah heard that ſad report concerning Jeruſalem, that the remnant which were left therein were in great affliction and reproach, and that the Wall thereof was broken down, &c. It came to paſſe (ſaith he) when I heard theſe words, that I ſate down and wept, and mourned, Neh. 1.4. And is not this the Condition of the poor Church of God among us in this Nation at this day? Is not the Wall thereof broken down? All Church-Government levelled? By reaſon whereof all kind of dangerous and damnable Errours and Hereſies, and enormious practiſes, with unbrotherly and unchriſtian diviſions, have broke in upon us, to the rendring of us a ſcorn and deriſion to the Nations round about. Thus doth Englands ſore run in this night of her Affliction, and ceaſeth not, her calamity every day increaſing. And yet (which is no ſmall addition to her miſery,) how few are there who ſo lay it to heart, as to ſeek out for cure and remedy? Nay, how many who refuſe it being offered? not induring to hear of any ſuch thing as Church-Government. Inſomuch as the ſervants of God, ſome and many of them, may take up the like complaint concerning this Nation, that Babylons friends once did concerning her (Jer. 51.9.) We would have healed her, but ſhee is not healed. Nay, that which is far worſe, ſhee refuſeth ſo to be. So deplorable, and almoſt deſperate, is her condition now become. Now in this caſe what ſhall Sions friends, do? What? deſert and forſake her? This indeed is the reſolve of Babylons friends there. Let us forſake her (ſay they,) and let us goe every man into his own Countrey, for her Iudgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up unto the skies; They will give her over, and every one ſhifteth for himſelfe. But far be ſuch thoughts from all the ſervants of God in this Nation. How ever (it muſt be acknowledged) they have cauſe enough to feare the event, having ſo many ſad ſymptomes before their eyes, yet (not knowing but that there may be hope in Iſrael concerning this thing) let them not in the day of her adverſity forſake their Mother, in whoſe womb they were conceived, and whoſe breaſts have given them ſuck; But let them with faith and patience, yet looke out, look up (for from thence muſt come Englands cure,) being importunate with the God of Iſrael, that he who hath in his juſt judgment for our unfruitfulneſſe, broken down the hedge of his Church amongſt us, ſo as the Boar out of the wood doth waſte it, and the wild beaſt of the field doth devour it, would in his free grace and mercy, return and look down from heaven, and viſit this vine, and the vineyard which his own right hand hath planted. Which that all may be excited to do, is the deſign of this ſmall Treatiſe. To which end if it may be in any degree ſerviceable to any. I have that I aimed at. In the hopes whereof I reſt,
Your Brother and Companion in the Kingdome and Patience of Jeſus Chriſt, John Brinſley. Great Yarmouth, Feb. 2. 1655.