Sermon Preached 27 August 1645, Title page – To the reader
A SERMON PREACHED Before the Right Honourable the House of LORDS, In the Abbey Church at Westminster, upon the 27th. of August. 1645. Being the day appointed for solemne and publique Humiliation. Whereunto is added A BROTHERLY EXAMINATION Of some Passages of Mr. Colemans late Printed Sermon upon Job. 11.20. In which he hath endeavoured to strike at the root of all Church-Government. By George Gillespie Minister at Edenburgh.
Hieron, in Epitaphio Fabiolae.
Alie sunt leges Caesarum, aliae Christi: aliud Papinianus, aliud Paulus noster praecipit.
LONDON: Printed by F. Neile for Robert Bostock dwelling in Pauls Church-yard at the sign of the Kings Head. 1646.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
I Have in this Sermon applied my thoughts toward these three things; 1 The soul-ensnaring Errour of the greatest part of men, who choose to themselves such a way to the kingdom of Heaven as is broad, and smooth, and easie, and but little or nothing at all displeasing to flesh and blood; like him that tumbled down upon the grasse and said, utinam hoc esset laborare. 2 The grumbling and unwillingnesse which appeareth in very many, when they should submit to that Reformation of the Church which is according to the minde of Jesus Christ;Isa. 30.10. Psal. 2.3. like them that said to the Seers, See not;Psal. 2.3. and to the Prophets, Prophecy not unto us right things; speak unto us smooth things; and again, Let us break their lands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 3 The sad and desolate Condition of the Kingdom of Scotland, then calling for our prayers and tears, and saying,Ruth 1.20. Call me not Naomi (pleasant) call me Morah (bitter) for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. We were pressed out of measure,Cor. 1.8, 9, 10, 11. above strength, and had the sentence of death in our selves, that wee should not trust in our selves, but in God which raiseth the dead; who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver, in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; Our Brethren also helping together by prayer for us, that for the mercy bestowed on us by means of the prayers of many,Psal. 18.46. thanks may be given by many on our behalf. The Lord liveth, and blessed be our rock, Exod. 15.2.and let the God of our salvation be exalted. He is our God, and we will prepare for him an habitation; our Fathers God, Psal. 72, 18, 19and we will exalt him. Blessed be the Lord God the God of Israel, who onelyonly doth wondrous things: and blessed be his glorious Name for ever, and let the whole earth befilled with his glory. Isa. 62.3, 4.Scotland shall yet be a Crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, Ezek. 16.63.and a royall Diademe in the hand of our God, and shall be called Hephzi-hah and Beulah. Only let us remember our evill wayes, and be confounded, and never open our mouth any more because of our shame, when the Lord our God is pacified towards us. Now are both Kingdoms put to a triall, whether their Humiliations be siliall, and whether they can mourn for sin more then for Judgement. And let us now hear what the Spirit speaketh to the Churhes, and not turn again to folly. New provocations, or the old unrepented, will create new woes; therefore sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto us.