The Misery of a Deserted People, Title page – Dedication
THE MISERY OF A DESERTED PEOPLE. Opened in a Sermon Preached at Pauls before the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common-Councel, Decemb. 2. 1659. Being a day of solemn Humiliation by them appointed.
By EDWARD REYNOLDS, D. D.
LONDON, Printed by Tho. Ratcliffe, for George Thomason, at the Signe of the Rose and Crown in St. Pauls Church-yard, 1659.
To the Right Honourable Thomas Aleyn Lord Major of the City of London, the Court of Aldermen and Common-Counsel.
Right Honourable,
WHen I was by you called to bear a part in that seasonable and necessary service of your late solemn Humilition, I considered the sad condition whereunto these Nations were reduced, the many and great provocations which we have been guilty of, the miserable commotions and earthquakes, which have not onelyonly shaken, but even dissolved our foundations, and made them all out of course. I seriously looked back on the dark and gloomy providences of God amongst us, the untimely death of Princes, the dimidiating and dissolving of Parliaments, the frequent expirations and vicissitudes of Governments, the horrid Apostasie, Atheisme, Scepticisme, Indifferency, Prodigies of phrenetick and pernicious Opinions, whereby multitudes have played the wantons with as glorious a light of Orthodox Religion, as any Nation under heaven enjoyed; the defaming of Ministry, decrying of Ordinances, incroaching of many Romish doctrines under a disguize, and other like distempers, whereby we are become an hissing and astonishment to the Nations round about us. In a word, It seemed unto me, That the Scene of the ten Tribes was translated into these Nations, and that we were making hast to be a Jezreel, a Lo-Ruhamah, and a Lo-Ammi, as they once did.
And therefore, though my habitual disposition usually lead me to Arguments, which have more of mildnesse and gentlenesse in them, as remembring the counsel of the Apostle, to instruct in meeknesse those that oppose themselves: yet I thought it a duty, little lesse then absolutely necessary, in such a day of trouble and rebuke, to set the Trumpet unto my mouth, and to represent unto you, the doleful condition of a Deserted people, and withall the sad misgiving feares (whereunto the Symptomes of these sick and sinfull Nations did lead me) least the Lord were now departing from such a People, who after an hundred years possession of the Gospel, did still so wantonly abuse it, and walk so unworthy of it.
Yet if any man shall say unto me, that it shall not be so, that the Lord will still own us, and continue his presence with us: I shall answer as once the Prophet Jeremy did, Amen, The Lord do so, the Lord forbid that I should desire the wofull Day, or with Jonah be displeased with the patience and goodness of God. Farre may this Sermon be from a Prophecy or prediction, let it be onelyonly an Instruction, and a warning unto us. But certainly the maturity of our sinnes, and the face of our distempers do so farre threaten us, as that we ought thereby to be awakened to cry mightily unto God, and to hold him fast, least he be weary of repenting, and after so many despised mercies, take at last the plumb line into his hand, and refuse againe to pass by us any more.
If hereunto this weak service of mine may be any way useful either to City or Countrey, to Magistrates, Ministers, or people, I shall have abundant cause to blesse the Lord, to whose gracious presence and protection, in these dangerous times, I desire in my daily prayers to commend these three Nations, and this great City, and so to be
Your most humble and faithful servant in the work of the Lord, EDW. REYNOLDS. From my Study, Decemb. 10. 1659.