The Nail and the Wheel, Title page – To the reader
The Nail & the VVheel.
THE NAIL FASTNED by a Hand from Heaven.
THE WHEEL TVRNED by a Voyce from the Throne of Glory.
Both Deſcribed in two ſeverall SERMONS In the Green-yard at NORWICH.
By JOHN CARTER Paſtor of Great St. PETERS.
LONDON, Printed by J. Macock for M. Spark, and are to be ſold by WILLIAM FRANKLIN at his ſhop in the Market-place in Norwich. 1647.
TO the glory of her Sex; The Right Honorable, both by the firſt and ſecond Birth, the worthy and moſt religious Lady; the Lady FRANCES HOBARTE.
MADAM!
YOur Honor knows I have ever been afraid of the Preſs hitherto I have ſtood out againſt all importunity, and I was peremptorily reſolved never to have publiſhed any thing in Print: but now I am inforced, whether I wil or no, to ſend abroad theſe two ſmal pieces. And ſince they muſt out, I humbly preſent them to your Ladyſhip: Not for any worth that is in them: Not for your Honors protection of them; let them go forth at their own peril: nor yet for the ſubjects ſake; the matter of them in the general not ſo directly, and properly complying with your Ladyſhips condition: they are rather for the inſtruction of Magiſtrates: But I dedicate them to your Honor: becauſe they are your due. Whatever I can perform in the ſervice of God, and more by far then ever I am able to do, low to the gracious Lady Frances. To ſay truth, your Honor called for them, and here they are: take them with favorable acceptation. Something your Ladyſhip wil meet withal in both Sermons appliable and uſeful in regard of your ſelf. The NAIL (I mean the good Nail) wil give your Honor a freſh ſight of that Noble Gentleman, worthy Sir JOHN HOBARTE, your Honors lately deceaſed huſband. He was a gallant Nail: by the grace of God wel filed from all ruſt and ruggedneſs: He was a bright Nail, as burniſhed gold, ſhining more and more every day he lived (that I can teſtifie to the comfort of my ſoul) by a godly converſation. He was a great and a ſtrong Nail: His abilities were beyond the common pitch: He had a good head for wiſdom and underſtanding: He had a good heart; Faithful and zealous he was for God, for Religion, for his Country, for our Solemn Covenant: He was a fixed Nail not only in the Capitol, but alſo in the Sanctuary: his care and painful endeavors were layd out not only for the Common-wealth, but for the Church alſo: yea he himſelf was a little ſuncturary to the faithful Maniſters of Jeſus Chriſt. He was a ſtout Nail, ſteeled with Chriſtian reſolution and courage; not counting his life dear if he might have ſacrificed it (as partly he did) for the Kingdoms peace, his Countries ſafety and the Churches ſettlement. He was a Nail on which the Welfare and proſperity of our Sion did much depend. And for our ſins God hath plucked out this uſeful Nail. We ſee this great Nail turned into a little Wheel: and he is now rolled into the Houſe appointed for all the living. I wil not tel the world of your Ladiſhips immoderate ſorrow, and how you ſit diſconſolate, ſighing, ſobbing, and mourning like a faithful Turtle bereaved of her mate: I wil rather guide my ſpeech to your Honor, and direct your eye to the Wheel. Worthy Sir John Hobarte, he was a ſtately Wheel, he moved bravely in his time, and did much of Gods work with all alacrity; yea he counted that life worſe then death, when his motion was any whit ſtopped by infirmity of body, ſo as he could not be active in the Publick ſervice as he deſired. This Voluble, and ſwift Wheel, is now broken at the Ciſtern: and your heart Madam, was almoſt broken too. Oh! I beſeech your Honor, look up to the throne of glory; it is the voice of the Lord hath turned the Wheel: He hath ſpok…n, and hath done it. Submit, Submit with humility, patience, cheerfulneſs. Rejoyce rather: what a world of comforts may your Ladiſhip have in your loſs? He did worthily in his life, he dyed religiouſly: I ſaw him draw his laſt breath: but ſo much Majeſty, and peace in a dying countenance I never ſaw. A ſtranger would have thought he had been only in ſome ſweet-contenting ſleep, or taſting the heavenly joys. What an Honorable name hath he left behind him! Is it not as an oyntment powred forth, even as the fragrant ſpikenard? The Nail is pulled out of this lower wall, but it is not loſt: it's only advanced, and ſet up higher. He is faſtned in the wall of the New Jeruſalem, he ſhines, and ever ſhal ſhine bright in glory. And we all ere long ſhal roul after him; and then ſhal your Ladyſhip enjoy a better Communion with your huſband then ever. Be content to waite, is it not a little while?
I intended a very ſhort Epiſtle, but my pen begins to be free, and eager of its way. I can hardly hold it in: it would fain be dropping out ſomething of your honors goodneſs. I wel know how little your Honor affects the praiſe of men (your praiſe is in the Goſpel) and your Ladiſhip wel knows how much I abhorr baſe flattery. And God he knows, my deſign is not to make you proud by ſpeaking your vertues to your face, but only this; I would moſt gladly take occaſion to publiſh ſomething to the world of thoſe eminent Graces, which the Lord hath wrought in your Honor by his holy ſpirit: that your Ladiſhips example may be propounded as a pattern to all Chr…ſtian women, which they may ever look upon, and follow. Elect Lady! I could tel them, how I have ever found you walking in the truth, even in the moſt perilous and ſeducing times: with what obedience you have always heard the word, reſigning up your wil to Gods Command: How your deportment was to your Noble yoke-fellow: the heart of your huſband did ſafely truſt in you: All that were but lookers on, did ſee t…e entireneſs of your heart, the intention of your love, your loyalty, and faithfulneſs, joyned with all diligence, and care. You made in your ſtudy and work, to do him good in regard of his body, in regard of his eſtate; but eſpecially, and above all in regard of his ſoul. I could take occaſion by this my dedication to tel the world: That even whileſt you are on earth, your converſation is in heaven. I can truly teſtify that your Ladiſhip is a widow indeed, continuing in faſting, and prayer, and reading, and meditation; and that this is your work night and day in the temple, in your cloſet, in your family: That's remarkable; in your family you obſerve Davids houres. Every morning, every noon, and every night you have prayer, Scripture read and expounded (and that by an able, and a called Minister of the Goſpel) beſides repetitions of Sermons, ſinging of Pſalms, and conſtant Catechiſing (a moſt neceſſary work) the Noble Olive-plant, your precious daughter anſwering with the firſt, with all readyneſs, and cheerfulneſs, to her immortal honor. I confeſs hearing the anſwers of young Mrs. Philip Hobarte, and the reſt, I could not but think thus with my ſelf: This day is that Propheſy fulfilled in mine eares. I wil powre out of my ſpirit uppon all fleſh, and your ſons, and your daughters ſhal Propheſy, and your young men ſhal ſee Viſions; and on my ſervants, and on my hand-maids wil I pour out of my ſpirit, and they ſhal Propheſy.
Madam! Wil not your honor be offended if I ſhow my folly, and boaſt a little to the world? You are my glory, my Crown, and my rejoycing: the comfortable Harveſt, and precious Seal of my Miniſtry. And this is diſcerned by others, as wel as by my ſelf. Your paralel is not to be found: or at the leaſt, ſcarcely was ever any Chriſtian ſeen, who did thrive, and grow ſo faſt in Grace as your Honor hath done, eſpecially of late years. Now, if either your Honor or any others that ſhal caſt their eye on theſe my free expreſſions, and think me indiſcreet in writing thus to your Honor: I Apologize for my ſelf in the words of Chriſt when he prayed vocally, and loud at Lazarus his grave; Not for your ſake Madam! but becauſe of the people which ſtand by, I ſaid it. I propound a pattern to other Chriſtians, and other families: and my ſole aim is, the glory of God, and the provoking of many to a holy emulation.
The God of heaven and earth; the God of my father bleſs your Honor, and your noble and hopeful daughter. I beg for you the upper and the nether ſprings. The God of all Grace perfect all Grace in you: be filled with the Spirit, with inward peace and joy of the Holy Ghoſt. Be the Lords darling. Beleeve me Gracious Lady! The tongue ſhal cleave to the roof of my mouth, and my right hand ſhal forgets its skil: before I ſhal ceaſe to bear your Honors name at my heart: and to preſent it unto the Lord as often as I appear at the throne of Grace.July 23. 1647.
Be ſure Madam! I am Your Honors moſt humbly Devoted ſervant for ever. Thankful for your Superlative favour, bounty, and care. And
As under God your Honor raiſed me from the grave. So (if I can beleeve mine own heart) I am your Honors faithful Paſtor: who if God ſhould call him to it, would willingly lay down his life to eſtabliſh your Ladiſhip in the truth and grace of Jeſus Chriſt, and to further your eternal Salvation.
IOHN CARTER.
To The whole World.
O WORLD!
THou ſeeſt what Contradiction theſe poor weak Sermons have met withall; how they have been, and are accuſed of falſhood, envy, malice, peeviſhneſs: that the Magiſtrates are ſlandered in them; and very lies uttered in the face of City, and Country. I am neceſſitated to appeal to God, and the World. O World! I hold forth unto thy view faithfully all that was ſpoken, nothing omitted. I call unto thee, to be my true and impartial witneſs: and let the God of Truth be Judg!
THE Nail hit on the head: AND Driven into the City and Cathedral Wall of NORWICH.
By JOHN CARTER Paſtor of Great St. PETERS in that City.
At the Greenyard June 17. 1644. Being a preparative to the Guyle-Solemnity the day following.
EZRA 9. 8.
Grace hath been ſhewed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to eſcape, and to give us a nail in his holy place.