The Robbing and Spoiling of Jacob and Israel, License 1 – Dedication
Die Mercurii 29. Novemb. 1643.
IT is this day Ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, that Mr. Stephens doe return thanks to Mr. Mewe for the great pains he took in the Sermon he preached this day at St. Margarets in Westminster at the intreaty of the House of Commons, being the day of publique Humiliation. And it is Ordered his said Sermon be printed.
H. Elsing. Cler. Parl. D. Com.
I Authorize Christopher Meredith or his Assignes to print my Sermon.
WILLIAM MEVVE.
THE ROBBING AND SPOILING OF JACOB and ISRAEL: Considered and bewailed, in A SERMON Preached at Westminster before the Honourable House of Commons, at the late solemn Fast, Nov. 29. 1643. BY WILLIAM MEVVE B. D. Rector of Eastington in the County of Gloucester and one of the Members of this present Assembly of DIVINES. Published by Order of that House.
ECCLES. 4. 1.
I considered all the oppressions that are done under the Sun, and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no Comforter, and on the side of the oppressors there was power, but they had no Comforter.
2. Therefore I praised the dead which are already dead, more then the living which are yet alive.
Printed at London for CHRISTOPHER MEREDITH dwelling at the Crane in Pauls Church-yard. 1643.
TO THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF COMMONS, now assembled in Parliament.
YOur reverend attention during the length of this service, together with a deportment suitable to the duty of the day, and matter in hand, gave me to conceive that your hearts were kindly warmed by a better spirit then yours or mine; and because you command a farther impression of this work, I …amfther instructed to conceive; 1. that besides the hearing ear, Prov. 20. 12.there is (you know) to be imployed A seeing eye, both which are the gift of the Lord; 2. that having bought the truth as tryed gold, the filings are not to be be lost; 3. that upon your tryall (what ever some say) you are willing the wise should judge whether you are taken with sounding brasse, or any thing rather then Crown gold.
These reasons (besides your command) are pressing arguments with me to make this Sermon publique to the whole (as well as to the representative) body of our Commonalty, and now I leave it to Gods blessing and your patronage, which I may the rather expect, because I have prayed for the former, and the latter is implyed in your command, to which I owe (and will yeeld) this kind of obedience though I were sure to be made a Sacrifice.
VponUpon your summons (Noble Senators) I appeared, knowing that God and his Vicegerents can make use of mean Instruments for high imployments, whereof had I not been convinced, I should have fled (with Jonah to my Country goord,Amos 7. 14. with the hazzard of a storm; or (with Amos) disavowed my function, rather then speak (so freely as I did) in the heard-mans language, and tell this (my) mother City, that for three great oversights, and for four, (to say no worse nor more) God hath a few things against her, which I complained of in this sad message.
As first, though she professes to hate the works of the Malignants, yet there are those (if not in her bosom, yet) on her skirts, that say they are true to Church and State, but are indeed of another Synagogue, and by their blasphemy proclaime it loud enough, that either they went out from us, or were never of us; and when the wine hath lightned their braines, they make light of our Parents nakednesse, discover it without shame or sorrow in the streets at noon-day; where the sad spoiles and robberies of our Nation, are made matter either of sporting Pamphlets, or merry discourse; to meet with these, I made it my first work to tell you in sadnesse, that the plundering and spoyling of a people was a sad and shamefull penalty.
Secondly, (though she own not the doctrine of Baal) yet she harbours such Doctors as Baalam, that peep, and mutter, and would amuse the Land with tales from the stars, and old-wives-fables, Esay 8. 19.as if the Planets had met in a Counsell of war, and (by an Arbitrary power of their own) condemned our present State to a fatall desolation; to meet with these, I was to give you Information from the Iudge of all the world (speaking to the case, and concluding) that what was done he did it, and did us but right in it.
Thirdly, though she have many golden heads, that appear active in subtle contrivances, she hath more leaden hearts, and (setting aside the great Councel) hath too few of those that consider her case aright, and lay it to heart: to meet with these, the last part of my message was to put home Christs counsell to that Church of Sardis that had a foot in the grave, yet a step there was betwixt death and us, if we timely took her cordiall (viz.) to remember what we have heard and received. This (if any thing) would quicken us to give the Lord a meeting, and thereby prevent the wrath to come.
These things (worthy Patriots) you have heard, and that you might the better reform them, and know how to behave your selves in Gods method, beginning with his own house, you have chosen an Assembly of such Counsellors as you and all may conside in: (To whom I should have thought it honour enough for me to have been a door-keeper) their peaceable conflicts and pious debates want nothing but his Majesties ears to make them hear well throughout the Land, being indeed a precious reserve, (such as the Lord promises to leave for hot service in the most conflicting times, Zeph. 3. 12. who doubtlesse will come up in the Rear, and doe worthily in Ephrata.
Former times have made a great noise about the Church or place of Gods worship, but these later (with Gods blessing upon your indeavours) may produce the power and purity of it. I shall pray that our Dread Soveraign may live to see and say of Gods house (as that Emperour did of Roome, Invenit lateritiam & reliquit marmoream) he found it thacht and over-topt with Lauds, Wrens, Cousens, &c. but will leave it adorned and paved with Whitakers, Prestons, and Sibses, cum multis aliis—The work is great indeed, but there is a great God that hath a great hand in it, and (as you have been told by a good providence more then once) wil send Auxiliaries from heaven, proportionable, at least, to the strongest oppositions. To this purpose the God of the heaven return an answer to your prayers, for the peaceable returne of our Soveraign, which is or should be the dayly suit of those that wish well to our publique wel-fare, and resolve to live or die in the pursuit of this blessing; Amongst whom you have to command, the ende avours, and prayers of
Chancery-Lane this 19. of Decemb. 1643. Your humble servant in Christs worke, WILLIAM MEVVE.