The Militant Church Triumphant, License – Errata
Die Jovis 27. Julii, 1643.
IT is this day Ordered by the Lords in Parliament, that Master Hill hath hereby thanks given him from their Lordships, for the great paines taken by him in his Sermon he made in Saint Margarets Church Westminster before the Lords and Commons on Friday the 21. of this instant July, at the publike Humiliation; And he is hereby desired to cause his said Sermon to be forthwith Printed and Published.
John Browne Cleric. Parliamen.
Die Veneris 21. Julii, 1643.
IT is this day Ordered by the House of Commons, that Mr. Salloway doe give thanks to Mr. Hill, who at the desire of the House this day Preached before the Commons at St. Margarets, Westminster, it being an extraordinary day of Publique humiliation, and that he be desired to Print his Sermon. And it is Ordered that no man shall Print his Sermon, but whom the said Mr. Hill shall Authorize under his handwriting.
H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com.
I appoint John Bellamie and Ralph Smith to Print my Sermon.
THO. HILL.
THE MILITANT CHVRCH, TRIVMPHANT OVER THE DRAGON AND HIS ANGELS.
Presented in a SERMON, Preached to both Houses of Parliament assembled on Friday the 21. of July, 1643. BEING An extraordinary day of publik Humiliation appointed by them, throughout London and Westminster, that every one might bitterly bewaile his own sins, and cry mightily unto God for Christ his sake, to remove his wrath, and heale the Land.
By THO. HILL, B. D. sometimes Fellow of Emman. Coll. in Cambridge, and now Pastor at Tychmersh in the County of Northampton.
Published by Order of both Houses of Parliament.
In their affliction they will seeke me early. Hos. 5.15. I said not unto the seede of Jacob, Seeke yee me in vaine. Isa. 45.19. I said I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men, were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy. Deut. 32.26, 27.
LONDON, Printed for John Bellamie and Ralph Smith, and are to be sold at their shop, at the three golden Lions in Cornhill neare the royall Exchange. 1643.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE HOVSE OF LORDS, AND THE HONORABLE HOVSE OF COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT.
I Never delighted in Pulpit Apologies, else I might have prefaced with an excuse from the extreame shortnesse of the warning to performe this solemne service. Your Christian attention in hearing, and candide acceptance of my meane endeavours, hath now likewise prevented my Apologizing Epistle. Let rather my pen second my tongue in provoking you and my selfe to blesse the Lord, who invites poore sinners to seeke to him in the day of trouble. Psal. 50.15.Now (will blasphemers say) they are glad to runne to their prayers, we are indeed; desiring humbly to rejoyce that we have such precious promises, sealed with the bloud of such a Mediator, in whose Name we may boldly seeke our heavenly Fathers face, even when he hath a rod, a sword in his hand. We would shame our selves for our many sinnes, and justifie God who is glorious in holinesse, in all the judgements that lie upon us. If this be to be vile, we will with David (when Gods hand cals for it) be more vile then thus. 2 Sam. 6.22.Let stupid Atheists take that portion, Isa. 26.11. Lord when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see, but they shall see and be ashamed for their envie toward thy people. If God stile himselfe a God hearing prayers, Psal. 65.2.good reason we should runne unto him as a people making prayers.
Let us now therefore approve our selves Christians indeed, not multiply groundlesse jealousies, which are almost as troublesome in the State as unsound opinions in the Church, not quarrell discontentedly with the defects of second causes, but meekly improve the hand whereby the first cause disposes all events. Nothing comes to passe in time, but what was decreed from Eternity. Luke 12.6, 7.If a few Sparrowes cannot fall to the ground, then surely Armies, Cities, Countries, cannot be lost without his providence. If he condescend to number his childrens haires, then certainely much more their heads. He who hath a bottle for their teares, a booke of remembrance for their words and thoughts upon his Name, will not forget his owne promises unto them:Mal. 3.16.18. but when discriminating times come, then shall ye returne and discerne between the righteous and the wicked, betweene him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not.
There are now many veines opened in England, it is in the body Politick, as in the Naturall, much bad bloud cannot be let out,Isa. 23.9. but we shall lose some good. The Lord of Hoasts hath purposed to staine the pride of all our glory. Much honourable bloud hath beene shed amongst us since these sad troubles began. When the judgement comes by Famine or Pestilence, ordinarily most great persons escape, the vulgar sort of people fall by such Arrowes. God hath now sent a sword, which hath done execution upon divers of our Nobles, and many of our Gentry. The good Lord helpe you▪ and all whom it most concernes, to heare what this rod, this sword saith, and who hath appointed it. Micah 6.9.We all acknowledge it was drawne for the sinnes of this Nation; and will it be sheathed againe without repentance?
It was a strange prophesie of Robert Grosthead, that great Bishop of Lincolne in H. 3. time, who prying much into the abominations and spirit of Popery, said a little before his death, The Church shall not be delivered from the servitude of Egypt, but by violence and force, Nec liberabitur Ecclesia ab Egyptiaca servitute nisi in ore gladii cruentandi, Matth. Paris. See Foxe Martyrolog.and with the bloudy sword. We have found this too true as well as other Churches. Is there not a generation amongst us, who, rather then they will have Christ raigne over them, rather then Doctrine, Worship, Government, and Discipline, should be reduced to the simplicity that is in Christ, will hazzard King and Kingdomes, involving one after another in bloudy troubles.
Me thinkes we may heare groaning England speaking the language of the woman of Tekoah, 2 Sam. 14.4. Helpe O King, and upon her ground; her two sonnes strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other and slew him, v. 6. It will be your High Honour (O Noble Worthies) to be so faithfull to your Saviour, and to your Soveraigne, as to put hereunto your helping Heads and Hearts, Counsels and Prayers. When God suffered his Church to be brought very low, to be a flocke of slaughter, Zach. 11.7.yet then he took unto him two staves, the one he called Beauty, and the other he called Bands, and he fed the flock. Be pleased to improve your utmost now as good followers of the Lambe. Call for the helpe of the Reverend Assembly, who will study to advise you according to the Testimony of Jesus. Church-Reformation may prove a compendious way to compose State-commotions; Hereby poore distracted England may yet finde two supporting Staves, Beauty and Bands, a Beautifull union established in Church and State.
The Lord delight to imploy you to these happy purposes; so shall our mourning be turned into Hallelujahs.
Your Honours to serve You faithfully, for the honour of the Lambe. THOMAS HILL.
Errata.
PAge 18. line 11. for puls read puts, pag. 23. l. 5. and all maintaine r. and all to maintaine, pag. 23. l. 19. for Papists read pupils.