A Call to Humiliation for the Grievous Sin of Persecution, Text

A Call to Humiliation for the Grievous Sin of Persecution · Text

p. 1Luke 23. ver. 28. But Jeſus, turning unto them, ſaid, Daughters of Jeruſalem, weep not for me, but weep for your ſelves, and for your Children.

AFter Pontius Pilate had pronounced Sentence of Death againſt our Lord, he was led forth to Mount Calvary, the place of his Crucifixion; 'tis ſaid, v. 27. there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which alſo bewailed and lamented him. Our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, as the Great High-Prieſt, was now about to offer up upon the Croſs that Great Sacrifice, which was to take away the ſin of the World; and it was meet to be performed in the preſence of all the people. This was Dies Cippurim, the great Day of Expiation and Atonement, in which our Jubile began. A great multitude of people followed him. In which there might be ſome prefiguration too, that notwithſtanding all the malice and oppoſition of the World, the Amazing Love of Chriſt, in dying for ſinners, would in all Ages draw multitudes after him. When I am lifted up from the Earth, ſaith our Lord, I will draw all men unto me, ſignifying by what death he ſhould die, John 12. 32, 33. and Chap. 3. 14. As Moſes lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderneſs, even ſo muſt the Son of Man be lifted up. The Brazen Serpent was his Type, which healed all bitten of Serpents, that looked up unto p. 2it. The means was not likely, but weak and deſpicable, for what could a Serpent of Braſs do? Why not rather a Serpent of Gold? The Serpent of Braſs was Gods Ordinance, and by his Bleſſing healed, whiles the Golden Calves of Mans Invention bring both a ſnare and a curſe. There were alſo ſundry Women which bewailed and lamented him, either as an innocent, excellent perſon, unjuſtly condemned to die, or elſe from a Principle of Divine Faith and Love, knowing, that their ſins made his Croſs heavy, for their ſakes he was numbred with Tranſgreſſors, and was now going to lay down his Life upon the Mountain of Myrrh, and Hill of Frankincenſe. Our Lord, it ſeems, heard the voice of their weeping, (O let him hear the voice of England's weeping this day) and turning to them ſaid, Daughters of Jeruſalem weep not for me, but weep for your ſelves, and for your Children, foreign, which notes bitter weeping, with all the outward Expreſſions of inward trouble of Heart; Weep not for me, O ye Daughters of Jeruſalem, who am now going to triumph upon the Croſs, as well as to die; but weep for your ſelves, and for your Children, becauſe of the infinite miſeries, which will ſuddenly break in both upon Jeruſalem, and the Land of Judea. Thoſe ſore Judgments of Sword and Famine are coming to you upon the Wings of the Wind, this Generation ſhall not paſs away e're Jeruſalem, which was once the City of God, the Excellency of Beauty, the Crowned City, and Joy of the whole Earth, ſhall be made a hiſſing, and an abomination to all the Countreys round about, weep for your ſelves, and for your Children, for the days are coming in which the burren Womb and dry Breaſts ſhall be accounted Bleſſings; better the tender and delicate Women had never been Mothers, than through want and Famine to eat their Children of a ſpan long. When a Papiſt came to Biſhop Hooper at the Stake, ready for the Fire, with a pretence of compaſſion, ſaying, Sir, I am ſorry to ſee you thus, the Martyr replied, and haply in alluſion to this of our Lord, Be ſorry for thy-ſelf, man, and lament thy own wickedneſs, for I am well, I thank God, and Death to me for Chriſts ſake, is welcome. Weep for your ſelves and your Children. Jeruſalem was now become like the Cities of the Nations, like that Heatheniſh City of Nineveh, Civitas ſanguinum, p. 3a Bloody City, Nahum 3. 1. in her was found the Blood of all the Lords Prophets and Righteous Servants, the Blood of the Son of God, and Saviour of the World, whence 'tis that ſhe is compared unto a dry Tree, Luke 23. 31. as being fitted for that Fire, which the Juſtice of God would ſhortly kindle in it by the Roman Legions. From the words we obſerve,

1. The Saints preſent Sufferings deſerve not Tears in compariſon of the future ſufferings of cruel Perſecutors; there is no proportion between a Drop and an Ocean, a Moment and Eternity.

2. Thoſe that have Bowels of Compaſſion ſhould mourn upon the proſpect they have of the miſeries which will follow a National Oppreſſion, and Perſecution of the Truth.

In the opening of this point we ſhall conſider theſe five things.

1. The Ground of Perſecution.

2. When Perſecution is National.

3. The Law leſſens not the Guilt of Perſecution.

4. Perſecution brings ſore Judgments.

5. Perſecution calls for Mourning.

1. The Oppreſſion and Perſecution of the Truth proceeds from the Natural Enmity of Man againſt the Light of Truth and Holineſs, which ſerves only to vex the Conſcience when it doth not renew the Heart. The Prophets, Apoſtles, the Saints and Martyrs, were Burning and Shining Lights, ſhining in Holineſs, burning with Zeal; thundering in their Doctrine, lightning in their Life. The Two Witneſſes in their Sackcloth tormented them that dwelt on the Earth, Revel. 11. 3, 10. the Divine Light ſhining through their Sackcloth offended the tender Eyes of the Antichriſtian World: The Prophet Elias tormented Ahab, and Jezebel, who vowed his Death, yet was he taken up to Heaven in peace with a peculiar mark of Honour, 2 Kings 2. 11. John the Baptiſt tormented Inceſtuous Herod by naming his Herodias, Mat. 14. 3, 10, 11. 'Tis Death to touch the ſore place of Great Perſons, either in Church or State; becauſe the Two Witneſſes, who were Oyl and Light, Revel. 11. 4. were bold to ſay the Pope was Antichriſt, Rome was Babylon, the Religion there was Superſtition and p. 4Idolatry, it gave ſuch vexation to the Followers of the Beaſt, that they could not reſt nor be merry till they ſaw their dead Bodies lye in the Streets of the Great City, Revel. 11. 7, 8, 10. Cain who was of the wicked one, ſlew his Brother; and wherefore ſlew he him? becauſe his own Works were evil, and his Brothers righteous, 1 John 3. 12. The Targum on Geneſis ſays, wicked Cain denied the Providence of God, and the Judgment to come, and becauſe righteous Abel aſſerted both, therefore his Brother ſlew him. Cain is dead, ſays Bucheltzerus, he is dead, but he lives ſtill in his Heirs and Executors. Qui clavam ejus ſanguine Abelis rubentem circumferunt. Who carry about with them as a Holy Relique Cain's Bloody Club.

2. The Oppreſſion and Perſecution of the Truth may be ſaid to be National, when it hath wrought it ſelf into the Laws of the Land: And indeed Perſecution is never ſo brisk and lively, as when it hath the Law on its ſide: It hath ever been the wiſdom of thoſe, that erect Golden Images for Worſhip in the Plain of Dura, that is in their Generation, to procure a Decree from Nebuchadnezzar in favour of them, Dan. 3. 1, 7. there is ſuch a thing as framing miſchief by a Law, Pſal. 94. 20, 21. They were Jews, that ſaid, We have a Law, and by our Law he ought to die, John 19. 7. and when once a Law is paſſed, they gather themſelves together againſt the Soul of the righteous, and condemn the Innocent Blood. The Followers of the Lamb become Criminals, and the beſt of Men are made offenders for a word. This, the Holy Ghoſt calls weighing the violence of the hands, Pſal. 58. 2. Juſtice is wont to be repreſented to us with a Ballance in her Hand, and Palas (in the Hebrew) ſignifies not only to weigh, but to frame any thing by Rule and Line, ſo that the expreſſion of weighing the violence of the hands, notes profound exquiſite Malice and Oppreſſion under the ſpecious pretence of preciſe and accurate Righteouſneſs. The Thrones of Juſtice whiles Thrones of Ivory, 1 King. 10. 18. pure and white are honourable, but if they degenerate, and become Thorns of Iniquity, they are no longer under the care and regard of God, but are an abomination to him.

3. When Oppreſſion and Perſecution, by the Craft and Arts of Bad men, gain the Countenance of the Law, that doth not Leſſen p. 5the Guilt, but Aggravate it. When Pilate boaſted of his power over our Lord, as tho it were within the compaſs of his Commiſſion, either to Crucifie, or Releaſe him, Jeſus anſwered, Thou couldſt have no power at all againſt me, Except it were given thee from above, therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the Greater Sin, John 19, 10. 11. Hence it apears, that Magiſtracy and Government is Gods Ordinance; The powers that be are ordained of God, Rom. 13. 1. for the defence of the Innocent, and the terrour of evil doers, ver. 3. and though man, exalted on high, preſumes to do his pleaſure, making his Will the meaſure of Juſtice, yet is he accountable to God, who never cloaths any perſon with ſo abſolute and unlimited Authority, as to acquit the Guilty, and condemn the Juſt. It gives a crimſon and ſcarlet dye to the wickedneſs of Perſecutors, when they ſerve their Malice upon Gods Ordinance, and make the Government a Covering for their Oppreſſion, therefore ſaith our Lord, He that delivered me unto thee, hath the greater Sin: He, that is, Judas, the Sanedrim, or the people of the Jews, have the greater Sin. Jezebel makes uſe of the Kings name and Seal, not without the Formality of the Law, and a Faſt too, to take away the vineyard and Life of Naboth, but her Judgment and deſtruction did not ſlumber, notwithſtanding her Complement, for of this Jezebel the Lord ſpake, The Dogs ſhall eat Jezebel by the Wall of Jezreel, 1 Kings 21. 23. this painted Queen is mentioned in the Revelation, as tho ſhe ſtill Lived and Reigned in the Churches, chap. 2. 20, 21. Thou ſuffereſt that woman Jezebel, which calleth her ſelf a Propheteſs to teach and ſeduce my Servants to commit Fornication, and to eat things Sacrificed unto Idols, and I gave her ſpace to Repent, and ſhe Repented not, ver. 22. Behold, I will caſt her into a Bed, and them that commit adultery with her into Great Tribulation, except they Repent of their deeds. ver. 23. and I will kill her children with Death, and all the churches ſhall know, that I am he that ſearcheth the reins and hearts, and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. It was a great blemiſh in the church of Thyatira to retain ſo much honour for this Jezebel, by whom it's likely ſome Naboth's ſuffered, though we might find the Prophets of the Lord in the name of Naboth; yet we ſhall content our ſelves to obſerve that every p. 6man as well as Naboth hath a vineyard, which is the Inheritance of his Fathers. The poſſeſſion of a good Conſcience, and they muſt not part with it to humor King Ahab, but muſt rather run all hazards, and fall a ſacrifice to this wicked Jezebel, who, when ſhe can with her Painted Beauty, ſteal away the hearts of Princes, will get the ſtamp of the Royal Authority, upon her bloody Contrivances, and deſtroy every Naboth, as a blaſphemer of God and the King, becauſe he will not alienate the Inheritance of his Fathers, nor ſuffer his Vineyard to be Converted into a Garden of bitter Herbs, 1 Kings 21. 2. Magiſtrates are ſaid to be Shields, rather than Swords, Pſal. 47. 9. their office is the Defence of Vertue and Holineſs, 'tis an accurſed piece of Sacriledge to take down the Golden Shields of the Temple, and beat them into Swords, and then conſign them to the Philiſtines, or to take the ſacred Horns of the Altar of the Lord, and adorn the Head of the Beaſt with them that with a better Grace he may Gore the Saints, to the Joy of the whole earth, or to entertain the Levites, who are Joyned to the Lord by a Covenant of Salt, with poiſoned wine in the Golden Bowls of the Sanctuary.

4. Oppreſſion and Perſecution of the Truth, though gilded with thoſe great Names of Law, Juſtice, Publick Safety, are always acompanyed with terrible Judgments. The Sin is very dareing and provoking, other Sins affront the Deity, but Perſecution brings to mind that of Caeſar, Miles faciem feri, it ſmites God upon the face, it wounds him in the Apple of his eye, Zech. 2 8. When Paul was mad againſt the Church like the ravening Wolf of the Evenings, for he was of the Tribe of Benjamin, Gen. 49. 27. Phil. 3. 5. our Saviour call'd to him out of Heaven, and bid him hold, for he ſet all his wounds a bleeding afreſh Acts 9. 4. There was a curſe, which fell upon the earth by the Sin of Adam, Gen. 3. 17. and man multiplyeth the curſe upon himſelf by his Implacable Enmity againſt the ſeed of God: whiles the Jews were the Segulla, the peculiar Treaſure of of the Lord, all ſorts of Plagues, did light upon the Egyptians, and the nations round about, for oppreſſing them; but when the Jews became Loammi, and ceaſed to be the people of God, all ſorts of Plagues befel themſelves, becauſe they perſecuted their Little Siſter, the anointed of the Lord. Where Chriſt apears p. 7in any of his Poor Followers, there is ſome Signature of his Kingly Spirit upon them, which the envious Spirit of man, not being able to endure, ſeeks to extinguiſh, that the Inheritance may be his; The Antichriſtian State and Church of Rome, which is ſet forth by Babylon for her Idolatry; by Sodom, for her filthineſs and Immoralities; by Egypt, for her oppreſſion and perſecution, is under this condemnation, that the time ſhall come; that there ſhall no more be heard in her, the voice of the Bridegroom, and the Bride, Rev. 18. 23.

1. There ſhall be no more of that cruel and bloody race; The Inquiſition hath made Spain poor, and the Dragoons have made France weak; Oppreſſion and Perſecution have broken in pieces all the four Famous Empires of the World, ſet forth in Daniel, c. 2. v. 32 by the Head of fine Gold, Arms and Breaſts of Silver, Belly and Thighs of Braſs, Legs of Iron, and Feet part of Iron and part of Clay, The Empires of the Aſſyrians, Medes and Perſiane, Grecians, and Romans. 'Twas no contemptible counſel which Tertullian gave Scapula a Bloody Perſecutor, Si nobis non parcis, tibi parce, ſi non tibi, Carthagini, if thou wilt not ſpare us, yet ſpare thy ſelf, if not thy ſelf, yet ſpare thy City Carthage. But it ſutes beſt with our Text to look a little, into that which befell the Jews after their Crucifixion of our Lord, they had many Prodigies, which did foreſhew their deſolation, and the deſolations did anſwer their Prodigies. A Star is ſeen over the City like a Flaming Sword, Armies of Soldiers ſeen in the Air, a Cow at the Altar Calves a Lamb, the Brazen gates of the Temple notwithſtanding their Locks and and Bolts, flew open in the night, Voices heard from Heaven (migremus hinc) let us go hence, one Jeſus, ſon of Ananias, went about four years, crying, Woe, Woe, Woe, to Jeruſalem. Now the Vengeance was every way correſpondent to the Tokens of it, one million of Jews ſlain by Sword, Famine, and Peſtilence, near one hundred thouſand made Captives and Slaves, the tender Mothers and delicate Women, Eat their own Children of a Span long; the Hiſtorian ſaith, that there was one Woman, that in the bitterneſs of her diſtreſs, ſlew and boiled her Son, and preſently Eat a part of him, we may ſuppoſe the Head, or an Arm, or a Leg, and then laid up the Remainder; p. 8not long after, ſome of the ſeditious Bloody Villains of the City came to her, threatning her with preſent Death, unleſs ſhe would bring forth what Proviſion ſhe had, who immediately brought forth that part of her Child which remained, at the ſad ſight whereof, even thoſe mercileſs wretches were ſmitten with ſudden horror and amazement, inſomuch, that the Mother ſpake to them, ſaying, What! will you be more compaſſionate than a Mother? Will not you Eat where I have Eaten? But of this we need ſay no more, becauſe the Hiſtory of the Deſtruction of Jeruſalem is in many of your Hands: Only obſerve that in the Prophet Amos, ch. 1. 9. Thus ſaith the Lord, for three Tranſgreſſions of Tyrus, and for four I will not turn away the Puniſhment thereof, becauſe they delivered up the whole Captivity to Edom, and remembred not the Brotherly Covenant, v. 10. but I will ſend a Fire on the Walls of Tyrus, which ſhall devour the Pallaces thereof.

Here we may obſerve, that though the Lord be Gracious, and Mercifull, and Long-ſuffering, bearing with Three ſins, many ſins; yet when it comes to the Fourth ſin, which is Perſecution, he will not pardon. Damaſcus fourth ſin was Perſecution, v. 3. ſo Gaza, v. 6. ſo Edom, v. 11. ſo Ammon, v. 13. ſo Tyrus, v. 9, 10. which delivered up the whole Captivity to Edom, there had once been a Brotherly Covenant, between Solomon King of Jeruſalem, and Hiram King of Tirus, but that it ſeems was forgotten, and the Tyrians became Treacherous and Cruel, for which the Lord did wonderfully chaſtiſe them by Nebuchadnezzar, who after a fourteen years Siege, made Tyrus Deſolate. Tyrus was a famous City, built upon a Rock in an Iſland in the midſt of the Sea, her Merchants were Princes, her Houſes were Pallaces but no ſtrength of any Place or People, by Nature or Art, or both, can ſecure againſt thoſe ſharp Arrows which God hath ordained for thoſe that inhumanely Perſecute their Brethren.

5. Thoſe that have Bowels of compaſſion, ſhould mourn upon the proſpect they have of the miſeries which will follow a National Oppreſſion, and Perſecution of the Truth.

Our Lord wept and lamented over Jeruſalem; O Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, that Killeſt the Prophets, and Stoneſt them that are p. 9ſent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy Children together even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings, and ye would not; behold your Houſe is left to you deſolate, Mat. 23. 37, 38. Luk. 19. 41. It eminently appears, that our Lords Love was great to Jeruſalem, in that after he aroſe from the Dead, when he charged the Apoſtles to Preach Repentance and Remiſſion of ſins to all Nations, he gave them particular Direction to begin at Jeruſalem, Luk. 24. 47. that that very place, that had drawn upon it ſelf the guilt of his precious Blood, might have the firſt offer of Salvation by its Merits. The Prophet Iſaiah tells us, that his Bowels ſhould ſound like a Harp for Moab, and his inward part for Kirhareſh, chap. 16. 11. this Kirhareſh was Heliopolis the City of the Sun, where the Sun was the Idol of Worſhip, but Moab is not blamed barely for her Superſtition and Idolatry, there is Perſecution laid to her charge, v. 4. Moab reproached the People of God, in their Captive ſtate as Outcaſts, and would give them no Protection, quite forgetting that the Jews were a-kin to Moab; thence the Prophet foreſeeing that the Golden Vial of Wrath, would be poured forth upon Moab, within three or four years, v. 14. crys out, that his Bowels ſhould ſound like a Harp for Moab, (i. e.) their Miſeries would be ſuch as ſhould touch the Bowels of all that ever heard of it.

Uſe 1. Exam. The Church of England profeſſes, at this day, before God, Angels and Men, to bewail her Sins, to take ſhame, and turn to the Lord our God, that he may have mercy upon us, and Heal our Land Now if we muſt Mourn for Englands Sins, 'tis fit that we ſhould know them; ſometimes the Sin of a Nation is ſo Open, notorious, and viſible that it may be found without ſecret ſearch, as the Prophet ſpeaks, Jer. 2. 34. but it is not always thus, for we read there was once, [Herem] Anathema, an Accurſed Thing hidden inter Supellectilia, among the Stuff, Joſhua 7. 11. Joſhua that famous Servant of the Lord, was owned by miracles, and crowned with Succeſs and Victory, till he came before the City of Ai, where Iſrael fled before their Enemies; whereupon the Hearts of all the people melted, and became p. 10as Water ver. 5. and Joſhua rent his cloaths, and fell to the earth upon his face, before the Ark of the Lord until the Even-Tide, he, and the Elders of Iſrael, and put duſt upon their heads, and Joſhua ſaid, Alas, O Lord God, wherefore haſt thou at all brought this people over Iordan, to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to deſtroy us? Would to God we had been content and dwelt on the other ſide Iordan. O Lord what ſhall I ſay, when Iſrael turneth their backs before their enemies? ver. 7, 8. And the Lord ſaid, Iſrael hath ſinned, and they have alſo tranſgreſſed my Covenant, which I commanded them, for they have even taken of the Accurſed thing, and have alſo ſtolen, and diſſembled; alſo they have put it even among their own Stuff, ver. 10, 11. It cannot be thought but that the Tribes of Iſrael were ſtained with thoſe Pollutions, which commonly accompany ſo great an Hoſt, ſuch as Lying, Swearing, Intemperance, Ʋncleanneſs, and the like, and yet the wrath of the Lord kindled among them at this time, for a hidden wickedneſs, which few or none took notice of, the Accurſed Thing, which provoked the anger of the Lord, was hidden among the Stuff. The Sins of England are many and great at this day, the Lord be merciful unto us; and to our whole Land. Pride, Drunkenneſs, Whoredom, Swearing and Prophaneneſs of every kind, reign every where, Conformiſt and Nonconformiſt have great reaſon to lye in the Duſt together, becauſe of theſe Abominations; But, beſides all theſe Sins, 'tis poſſible, there may be ſome Achan, ſome Accurſed thing amongſt us, which hath not been taken notice of; The children are come to the Birth, and there is no ſtrength to bring forth; more mens hands are upon their Loins, than upon their Swords: we are filled with the Alarms of War, and no one knows how long: Let none take that ill, which is done in Integrity, I muſt ſearch among the Stuff for the Accurſed thing, which is a work ſo hazardous, and unacceptable, that I could not ſubdue my ſelf to the undertaking, but by the ſence of my duty to God, and my Country.

The Stuff, which I ſuſpect, and muſt ſearch into, concerns our Eccleſiaſtical Affairs, and I will ſee by the help p. 11of God, whether the Accurſed thing, be not hid under the covering of Decency and Order, Penal Laws, Laws for Ʋniformity, Subſcriptions, Declarations, Liturgies, Articles, Laws for Ceremonies, and Forms of Prayer.

'Tis as clear as the Sun, that for near thirty years now laſt paſt, ſixteen hundred Miniſters of the Goſpel of Chriſt, if not more, have ſuffered very hard things upon the account of Conſcience, by reaſon of great Fines, long Impriſonments, ſome of thoſe who were wont to break the Spiritual Bread, have died for want of their natural Bread, both the Shepherds and the Flocks have been ſtarv'd in their ſeveral kinds. Many Thouſands of the Families of the Proteſtant Diſſenters have been ſorely diſtreſſed by Penal Laws upon the account of Religion. And if the ſufferings of our Brethren were written at large, as the ſufferings of the Saints at other times have been. Mr. Fox his book of Martyrs, would be but an Enchiridion in compariſon of it.

If any ſhall ſay that the Nonconformiſts and Proteſtant Diſſenters have been buffeted for their faults, in all this time, and that the Church of England is Innocent; that it was her duty, and became her Wiſdom, though it was not ſo agreeable to the ſweetneſs of her nature, and meekneſs of her diſpoſition, yet it became her Wiſdom, as the chaſt and tender ſpouſe of Chriſt to lay aſide the Scepter and the Dove, and to take into her hand the bloody Club of Cain to Martyr the Diſſenters into conformity: To this I reply, Let's have a fair hearing before we be Judged. The Oppreſſion and Perſecution of the truth is a great Sin, where e're 'tis found. The Church in her Prayers for this day ſeems not to make any confeſſion for this Sin, ſhe thinks her hands are clean, ſhe eats and wipes her mouth, and ſays ſhe has done no wickedneſs, Prov. 30. 20. and yet 'tis a Biſhop that ſays, though it was ſaid indeed before he was Biſhop, in his preface to the Relation of the death of the primitive Perſecutors, that they who let themſelves looſe, to all the Rages of a mad Proſecution of ſome poor undiſcreet and deluded People, ought ſeriouſly to profeſs their Repentance p. 12of this fury, in Inſtances, that may be as viſible and edifying as their rage hath been publick and Deſtructive, And now we proceed to Examine, whether ſome drops of Abels blood may not be found in the skirts of England, and ſearch into the Stuff, that we may know whether there be any Accurſed thing hid in it; That we may accordingly govern our ſelves in theſe days of Faſting and Lamentation.

The firſt thing we ſhall conſider, that was impoſed upon the Nonconformiſts is, the ſubſcription in the Act of Ʋniformity, with the Oath in the Oxford Act, in which are theſe words, I A. B. do declare, that it is not lawful upon any pretence whatſoever, to take Arms againſt the King.

Again, I A. B. do ſwear that it is not lawful,—We refuſed thus to declare and ſwear; and here obſerve theſe three things.

Firſt, a man may believe a Propoſition to be true, though it be diſputable, which yet he would not be willing to ſwear that it was true; As I believe the Pope to be Antichriſt, yet I am not willing to ſwear that the Pope is Antichriſt; I believe by Myſtical Babylon is meant Rome, I believe the Saints in Heaven know not our affairs here, yet I ſhould be unwilling to ſwear it.

Secondly, That Barclay Grotius and others, who have written Largely in favour of the Prerogative of Crowned Heads, do yet allow that there are ſome caſes, in which it is lawful for the Subject to take Arms againſt the King, and if the King turns Tyrant, Governing not by Law, but by his own Will, he doth Excidere de jure, etſi haereditario.

Thirdly, All the Nobility and Gentry of England, all the Nobility and Gentry of Scotland, and all the Proteſtant Princes beyond the Seas in their Proceedings, againſt the late King James, have juſtified the Nonconformiſts in refuſing the Oxford Oath, Whoſe turn is it to take ſhame now?

The Second thing we muſt conſider, is that about Re-ordination in the Act of Ʋniformity, as though Ordination by Presbyters and Paſtors of Churches, were not ſufficient, p. 13without the laying on of the Hands of thoſe we now call Biſhops, Lords Biſhops.

To this I ſay,

1. That the Word of God, in the New Teſtament, makes no difference between the Biſhop and the Presbyter, or Paſtor of a Church. He that is a Paſtor of a Church of Chriſt, is a Goſpel Biſhop, Chriſts Biſhop, Act. 20. 17, 28. the ſame perſons that are called Presbyters in one place, or Elders, are in the other called Biſhops, or Overſeers. So Tit. 1. 5, 6, 7. Timothy was ordained by the laying on of the Hands of the Presbytery, 1 Tim. 4. 14. of this Judgment were Auguſtine, Jerom, Chryſoſtome, with many others among the Greeks and Latins.

2. All our Learned Divines at the Reformation from Popery, held that the Ordination by the Paſtors of Churches was valid and good, the 23 Article, of miniſtring in the Congregation ſeems to ſpeak as much; of this Judgment are the French Churches, Belgick and Helvetick Churches, beſides many others. I need not name the Church of Scotland, for Scotland hath juſtified all our Nonconformity, by reſtoring the ejected Miniſters to their places, as of old.

3. Our Dioceſan Biſhops may glory over us, as the Kings Biſhops, Biſhops of the State, but they muſt not pretend to be ſo near in Blood to the Scripture Biſhops, of the firſt two hundred years, as the Paſtors of ſingle Congregations; wherefore I ſay, that Ordination by the hands of the Paſtors of Churches, filled with the Holy Ghoſt, is much more eligible than by Dioceſan Biſhops.

The Third point we muſt conſider, is the Declaration in the Act of Ʋniformity, which is this; I A. B. do here declare my unfeigned Aſſent and Conſent, to all and every thing contained, and preſcribed in and by the Book, Intituled the Book of Common Prayer. Here we refuſe.

1. In the matter of Aſſent. Many things might be named, but one ſhall ſuffice; we can't Aſſent to that paſſage in the Creed, commonly called Athanaſius Creed, where 'tis ſaid, that every one that doth not keep that Faith whole, ſhall without doubt periſh Everlaſtingly. Now one Article of that Creed is p. 14about the proceſſion of the Holy Ghoſt from the Father and the Son, which the Greek Churches did not Believe nor receive; If I believe it was an Error in the Greek Churches, and that they ſee not clearly into that Myſtery, yet I muſt be very bold, if I leap into the Throne of Judgment, and pronounce them Loſt and Damned. The Proceſſion of the Holy Ghoſt from the Father and the Son, is a moſt profound Myſtery, and very much obſcured, by bringing in that word Proceſſion; Which the Scripture on that occaſion never uſes. The Church of Rome indeed ſolemnly Anathematizes the Greeks in Bulla Coenae every Maundy Thurſday, as ſo many Schiſmaticks and Apoſtates: 'Tis a conſiderable point of Popery, to curſe and deſtroy all that ſeem to differ from us in Opinion.

2. In the matter of conſent, we cannot conſent to every thing contained, and preſcribed in and by the Book, intituled the Book of Common Prayer. I intend not to ſpeak of the Ceremonies, the Croſs, the Surplice, becauſe all know they came from Rome, and when Rome falls they will fall too. Neither ſhall I look into the Prayers of the Church, though that is no very commendable paſſage, wherewith ſhe is ſo oft upbraided, in praying that the Late King James, a profeſt Papiſt, might perſevere in the Faith; but, that which I ſhall account for, is our Refuſal to Read the impoſed Form of Common Prayer, a point a little more difficult, but not leſs material than that of Ceremonies; and here pray judge between Ʋs, and the Church of England.

Firſt, During the Apoſtles time, and two or three hundred years after, there was no Liturgy uſed nor impoſed, neither did they direct for the drawing up of any, and inforcing it by Penal Laws; it hath been abundantly cleared by thoſe that have laboured in this controverſy, that the Paſtors of Churches in the primitive Times, did not foreign Read Prayers, de Scripto recitare: They did Read Pſalms, Chapters; but they did not Read Prayers, Acts 12. 5. The Prayer of the Church for Peter's Inlargement was foreign, Inſtant, Fervent, without ceaſing, but not by p. 15any preſcribed Form, as is agreed upon by all ſides; ſome have been ſo curious as to obſerve, that in the Primitive Times, the Saints uſually prayed with their Eyes fixed on the Mercy-ſeat, or cloſed, which utterly diſables Perſons for Reading Prayers.

2. The Paſtors of Churches in the Primitive Times, were under the teaching of the Anointing, and had the Spirit and Gift of Prayer. The foreign in Juſtin Martyr Apol. 2. is vindicated beyond all exceptions, by which it's moſt manifeſt, that they prayed not then in their Aſſemblies, by Book or Form, but from the Gift and Ability they had. So likewiſe that of Tertullian Apol. 1. Sine monitore, quia de pectore oramus, ſhews clearly, not only, that the Primitive way of Prayer was not by preſcribed Liturgies, but that it was the Heatheniſh way of Prayer: The Chriſtians prayed by Heart, the Heathens prayed by Book: The Heatheniſh Greeks, Perſians, Romans, had their Monitors, Prieſts, and Sacred Perſons, who were wont to ſay Prayers foreign, out of a Book. This is a matter well known, from the Authority of Apuleius, Pauſanias, Livy, Cicero, Lactantius.

3. When the Chriſtians were ſo numerous at Conſtantinople, that it was thought convenient to Diſpoſe of them in ſeveral Churches, that zealous Emperour Conſtantine the Great, writes to Euſebius, Biſhop of Caeſarea, for fifty Bibles, for the uſe of the Churches, but there is no mention of any one Common-Prayer-Book. Euſeb. l. 4. c. 34, 36.

4. When Forms of Prayer began to be uſed, every Church made uſe of what Forms they pleaſed; ſo Socrates Scholaſt. lib. 5. And it appears by the Epistles of Pope Pius the Fifth, and Gregory the Thirteenth, prefixt to the Breviarium Romanum, that the ſeveral Churches of the Roman Communion, had their ſeveral Liturgies, until that branch of the Churches Liberty was taken away by the Council of Trent. Here in England, before the Reformation, we had ſeveral Modes of Common-Prayer-Books, ſome after the uſe of Sarum, others after the uſe of York, Lincoln, which afterward were reduced to one for publick uſe, and impoſed by Law.

p. 165. 'Twas the Ignorance, Carnality, the Sloth and Lazineſs of the Clergy, together with their Pride, which firſt brought in, and impoſed Service-Books upon the Churches; as for thoſe Liturgies, which bear the Great names of St. James, Peter, Mark, Clemens, Baſil, and Chryſostom—they are known Forgeries. When the Church began to be an Harlot; when Biſhops were not Silver Trumpets, but Tinkling Cymbals, Clouds without Water, Bells without Clappers, and Breaſts without Milk; when the Biſhops in Councils, as of Epheſus and Chalcedon, profeſt they did Literas ignorare, and could not write their own Names to confirm their Canons, then came in our Liturgies.

6. 'Tis no part of our buſineſs to enquire whether in ſome caſes it may not be lawful to uſe a Set Form of Prayer; but I would ſatisfie you in this, that our way of Worſhip, without the Reſtraint of Set Forms, is moſt agreeable to the way of Worſhip, uſed by the Holy Apoſtles, and by the Primitive times, for many hundreds of years paſt before Set Forms were uſed, and many hundreds more before they were impoſed. Now I muſt deſire you to obſerve this one thing, that there is great difference between Ʋſing a Set Form, and Impoſing it, which I ſhall clear to you thus. We find Levit. 5. 7. that there was proviſion made for ſuch as were Poor in their Eſtates, that if they were not able to bring for a Treſpaſs-Offering, or Sin-Offering, a Lamb, or Kid of the Goats, he might bring Two Turtle-Doves, or Two young Pigeons, which the Lord would accept of; but if a Rich man, that had Flocks and Herds, had brought Two young Pigeons, the Lord would have abhorred it, and much more, if all the Rich men in Iſrael had agreed together, from a principle of Covetouſneſs, in making a Law, that it ſhould be penal for any man, be he Rich or Poor, to bring any thing for a Sin-Offering, beſides Two young Pigeons.

Many perſons in the Churches may be poor in Parts, and in Gifts, and may need the help of a Set Form of Prayer, but to Impoſe by Law a Set Form upon all, be their ability for Prayer never ſo great, is to bind us up to the offering of Doves and Pigeons, when we are able to bring p. 17before the Lord, Lambs, Kids and Bullocks; this were a Law to be diſliked: Or thus, whereas the condition of ſome that are Lame and Impotent, requires the help of Crutches to go to Market, and they are to be pitied under their Infirmities, yet if a Law were made, that every man that comes to Market without Crutches, ſhould loſe one of his Ears, you would all cry out, that it was an unequal and unrighteous Law: Some may need and uſe Set Forms, but to Impoſe them upon all under ſevere and terrible Penalties, is that which hath no warrant from Scripture, nor the firſt and beſt Ages of the Church.

A Fourth Point we are to look into, is, that Branch of the Subſcription, required by the Act of Ʋniformity, which concerns the Covenant; it runs thus, I do declare, that I do hold there Lies no obligation upon me, or any other perſon, from the Oath commonly called the Solemn League or Covenant, to endeavour any Change or Alteration of the Government, either in Church or State, and that the ſame in it ſelf was an unlawful Oath, and Impoſed on the Subjects of the Realm, againſt the known Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom. We have Refuſed to Renounce this Covenant; now conſider what we ſay for our ſelves.

1. There are many uſeful Preachers, and Men of good Learning, that never read a Law-book in their Lives; they know nothing of Magna Charta, Bracton, Littleton, Cook, Common Law, Statute Law—Is it reaſonable then to require them to Declare the Covenant is contrary to known Laws and Liberties, which they are utterly unacquainted with?

2. Though I am one of thoſe that never took the Covenant, yet when I conſider, That the King, Lords and Commons of England and Scotland, have taken it, 'tis a very ſtrange thing, if it ſhould bind none of them, not one of them: A man had need ſpend ſome years in Caſuistical Divinity, and read all the Books which are Extant De Obligatione Juramenti, before he abſolve two or three Kingdoms, and declare underſtandingly that no one man is bound by that Oath, which almoſt every man took.

3. By the Covenant all perſons were bound in their places p. 18to endeavour a Reformation of the Church, according to the Scriptures, and the Examples of the Beſt Reformed Churches; is this an unlawful Oath? if a man ſhould ſwear, that in his Place and Calling he would endeavour with all his might to caſt every Idol out of the World, we ſee our King, the Lords and Commons of Scotland, have caſt off Prelacy, and Eſtabliſhed Presbytery: But I will ſpeak no more to this Subject. By what you have heard, you may judge whether we have been ſtraining at Gnats, or other men have ſwallowed Camels.

The Fifth Point, and the Laſt we ſhall take notice of, is that paſſage in the Liturgy concerning the Commination, or Denouncing of Gods Anger and Judgments againſt ſinners, which begins thus, Curſed is the man, that maketh any Carved or Graven Image to worſhip it; Curſed is he, that curſeth his Father and Mother: Curſed is he, that removeth his Neighbours Land-mark; And all the People are to ſay, Amen. In the Preface to this Commination we have words to this purpoſe, That until the Godly Diſcipline of the Primitive Church may be reſtored again, which is much to be wiſhed, it is thought good, inſtead thereof, to Read the general ſentences of Gods curſing againſt impenitent ſinners, and that the People ſhould anſwer to every ſentence, Amen. Upon this occaſion I have theſe things to preſent to your meditation.

Firſt, That thoſe Excellent Perſons our Reformers, and Compilers of this Book of Common-Prayer, had no full ſatisfaction in what was then done; They ingenuouſly confeſs, they came ſhort of the Godly Diſcipline of the Primitive Times, and that the Reformation ſhould have been carried on higher, if the Times would have given leave, and yet they had then their Government by Biſhops, Arch-biſhops, Chancellors, Registers, Arch-deacons, Surrogates and Proctors, as we have at this day. But as Moſes gave the Licenſe of Divorces, becauſe of the Jews hardneſs of heart, but from the beginning it was not ſo; in like manner our Reformers direct to this way of Commination and Curſing, inſtead of the Antient Diſcipline, allowing that from the beginning it was not ſo, Matth. 19. 8.

p. 19Secondly, 'Tis more than a hundred years ſince theſe Good men firſt recorded their hearty deſires and wiſhes, for a higher, and more compleat Reformation, in theſe words, Ʋntil the ſaid Diſcipline may be reſtored again, which is much to be wiſhed; and it is enough that the Church carries her Good Wiſhes with her through all Generations. The Biſhop of Sarum in his excellent Sermon upon Pſal. 144. 15. before the Houſe of Commons, calls upon them to carry the Reformation higher, as they deſire to ſee the Church and State to proſper. You can concur in giving the laſt finiſhings to our Reformation, many of the old Corruptions do yet remain among us in practice, and the Adminiſtration of the Eccleſiaſtical Authority is liable to great Objections. I will not run out into farther particulars, for it will be eaſie to find them, and if you once ſet about it, you will ſoon ſee what work there is before you. Now if after all, there be nothing done for the Lord and his Houſe, then will theſe wiſhes of our Reformers ſtand as a Teſtimony againſt our Prelates for ever.

Thirdly, Many of the Prophets, Apoſtles and Holy Men of old, fell into great Trouble by ſtanding up in their places for a Reformation. Idolatrous Ahab and Jezebel made Elijah weary of his Life. Iſaiah the Prophet was (as Dorotheus ſaith) ſawn aſunder for oppoſing the Corruptions of his time: The Holy Apoſtles were charged by the Jews, though moſt falſly, that they turned the World upſide down, Acts 17. 6. and accordingly they ſought their Deſtruction. Our Lord Jeſus Chriſt came in the time for Reformation, Heb. 9. 10. and purſued it ſo cloſely, that the rage of the Jews, the Prieſts, Scribes and Phariſees was kindled againſt him, and nothing but his Blood ſhed by falſe Accuſation upon the Croſs could quench it: We may compare John 2. 15. with Mat. 21. 12. where we find him cleanſing the Temple, And he made a Scourge of ſmall Cords, he drove them all out of the Temple, and the Sheep, and the Oxen, and poured out the Changers Money, and overthrew the Tables—In p. 20this Nehemiah ſeems to have been his Type, ch. 13. 8. and it grieved me ſore, therefore I caſt forth all the Houſhold-ſtuff of Tobiah out of the Chambers of the Houſe of the Lord; 'tis a dangerous, yet a needful work to Cleanſe and Reform: Our Lord Chriſt owned it, and upon that which our Lord Chriſt did of this kind, we may make theſe Remarks.

1. That with this Reforming work, our Lord began, and ended his Miniſtry, not once but twice, did he caſt the buyers and ſellers out of the Temple, Diſeaſes are apt to return upon the Eccleſiaſtical body.

2. He ſcourged them out as ſo many Beaſts, to ſhew that he was a Lion as well as a Lamb.

3. That in that neceſſary work he had no regard to his own ſafety, the zeal of the Lords Houſe eat it up.

4. Men will never part with their gainful corruptions, till conſtrained by the rod.

5. The Lord makes a ſcourge for thoſe that were wont to make a ſcourge for others, that diſliked their Corruptions in worſhip, Matth. 10. 17.

6. Thoſe are vile and baſe, and as ſo many Beaſts in our Lords account, that are enemies to Reformation.

Fourthly, That which the Nonconformiſts of theſe Three Kingdoms, have Written for, Preached for, and Suffered for, is, that the Godly Worſhip, and Godly Diſcipline of the Primitive Church may bereſtored, which is much to be wiſhed, So it was ſaid by our Fathers, ſo it is now ſaid by the Liturgy, and ſo we alſo ſay at this day; It was no crime heretofore, nay 'tis no crime now, when the Church-men ſay we need a farther Reformation, and it can be no crime in us neither; why then ſhould we be afraid? That p. 21expreſſion about the Godly Diſcipline ſtands in the Liturgy as well for the Juſtification of the Nonconformiſts as for a Teſtimony againſt the Prelates.

Fifthly, It was the Glory of Moſes that he was faithful in the houſe of God Heb. 3. 5. He did all things according to the pattern in the Mount, it was alſo the Glory of King Solomon, that in building of the Temple, and ordering all things about the Porch, Courts, Chambers, the Altars, Lavers, Tables and golden Candleſticks, he kept preciſely to divine direction, as in 1 Chron. 28. 11-19. The Lord made me underſtand in writing by his hand upon me. Even all the works of this pattern; now if this were the Glory of theſe great men to keep to the Rule, it can never be our ſhame to walk in their ſteps, and follow their example, preſſing continually to have all things in Gods Houſe according to the Pattern in the Mount: Having this occaſion to make mention of Solomon, and the Magnificent Temple, which he built, 'tis our preſent concernment to ſtand ſtill a little and make ſome ſhort reflectiosn upon it.

1. I ſay, the firſt fixt place for ſolemn worſhip that ever God appointed was Solomons Temple; The Tabernacle of Moſes was indeed the Place for Divine Service, to which the Tribes were to reſort: But then the Tabernacle was a walking Temple, ſometimes at Shilo, ſometimes elſe where; For the ſpace of about 500 years from Moſes to Solomon, there was no fixt Place for worſhip, as afterwards the Temple was.

2. That the only fixt place for ſolemn worſhip by the immediate deſignation and appointment of God, was the Temple at Jeruſalem; to the beſt of my knowledge there was never any before, or ſince, John 4. 21. Jeſus ſaith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye ſhall neither in this mountain, nor yet in Jeruſalem worſhip the Father; God is a Spirit, and they that worſhip him, muſt worſhip him in Spirit, and in truth, ver. 24.

p. 223. Though there had been many Temples in the land of Canaan, uſed by the Natives in Honour of their falſe Gods; yet the Lord would make uſe of none of them, but directs they ſhould be all demoliſhed and a new one built, Deut. 12. 2. Ye ſhall utterly deſtroy all the places, wherein the Nations which ye ſhall poſſeſs, ſerved their Gods, upon the Mountains, and upon the Hills, and under every green Tree; The Land of Canaan was a place of learning before Iſrael came into it, and of Religion too; but it was corrupted with ſuperſtition and Idolatry, in Joſh. 15. 15, 42. We read of Kirjath Sepher, Kirjath Sanna Cities of Books, of learning or the Law called Deber, as the Oracle for Wiſdom, Eloquence, and Acuteneſs; theſe Temples were Rich and pompous, ſo far as we can gueſs by the remains we have of the Hiſtory of thoſe Times; yet the Lord in his Jealouſie would have none of them ſpared, for Synagogues or Houſes of Prayer, becauſe they had been ſet apart for Idolatrous purpoſes.

4. Let's obſerve, the Nature and Condition of the Place, which the Wiſdom of God ſingles forth out of all the world, where his Holy Temple ſhould be built, 'twas Ornans Threſhing floor, 2 Chron. 3. 1. with the 2 Sam. 24. 18. Then Solomon began to build the Houſe of the Lord at Jeruſalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his Father in the Place that David had prepared in the Threſhing floor of Ornan the Jebuſite. There were many places at that time, where the Holy People were wont to Sacrifice, as Gilgal, Shilo, illa omnia poſt-ponit, but the Lord ſlights all theſe, and chooſes the Threſhing floor of Ornan the Jebuſite, it's likely that this Ornan was of Princely deſcent as he had a Princely mind, which could readily part with any worldly Intereſt for Gods Service and Honour; his mind was as great as his Birth, and his devotion equal to both, there might be ſome myſtery in this choice, which the Lord made of the Threſhing Floor of Ornan, to ſhew,

p. 231. That Temple-Work is hard work, 'tis Threſhing.

2. That Temple-Work is to ſeparate between the Chaff and the Wheat, the precious and the vile.

3. That the ſeparation will not be perfect, till the end of all things, mali in area nobiſcum eſſe poſſunt, in horreo non poſſunt. The wicked may mingle with us in the Floor, they ſhall not in the Garner.

5. And Laſtly, Let's conſider what the Heathen would ſay of this Temple at Jeruſalem, which was the moſt magnificent and ſtately ſtructure in the World, excelling in glory: no doubt but they would load it with Reproaches, and ſay, This Temple upon which King Solomon ſpent a hundred thouſand Talents of Gold, and a thouſand thouſand Talents of Silver, is after all but Ornan's Threſhing-floor; 'tis but a Barn; our Temples are Holy Places, and to be preferred before that at Jeruſalem. Now I have great aſſurance that King Solomon with all his wiſdom was able to vindicate the Houſe of God which he had built, and upon a fair hearing, to confound all thoſe that diſgraced it, King Solomon could tell thoſe Heathens, that all their Temples were ſtained with Superſtition and Idolatry, which Ornan's Threſhing-floor never was: All their Temples were places of Spiritual Whoredoms, they were Erected by Idolaters, and Conſecrated for Idolatrous uſes, and that his Temple at Jeruſalem did as much excel all the Temples of the Heathen, as a pure ſpotleſs Virgin doth an old wrinkled Harlot.

We ſhall now quit this Uſe of Examination, and ſearch no further into the ſtuff. The Proteſtant Diſſenters dare not flatter the Prerogatives of Princes, to their Deſtruction; they dare not Aſſent and Conſent ſolemnly to that which they inwardly diſlike; they dare not depart from that Ordination, which is according to the Scriptures, p. 24and the practice of the pureſt Churches; they dare not offer to the Lord that which coſts them nothing, nor ſubmit to thoſe Forms of Prayer, which quench the Spirit of Prayer; they dare not renounce Covenants, as contrary to the known Laws, when the Laws to them are utterly unknown; they dare not but appear humbly in their places for the Reſtauration of the Godly Diſcipline of the Primitive Church, ſince all allow 'tis to be wiſhed for; they dare not but with Moſes and Solomon, keep to the pattern in the Mount, notwithſtanding the Inventions and Commandments of Men; and if in all theſe things the Nonconformiſts are in the right, and have in their Sackcloth witneſſed to the Truth, then ought the Church of England to hang down her head, ſmite upon her breaſt, and walk ſoftly, becauſe ſhe hath been cruel like the Oſtrich in the Wilderneſs, the Tongue of the ſucking Child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth, for thirſt, the young Children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them; they that did feed delicately, are deſolate in the ſtreets; they that were brought up in Scarlet, embrace Dunghills, Lam. 4. 3, 4, 5.

We come now to the Second Uſe, which is for Exhortation, and here let me beg and beſeech you to lay aſide all conſideration of our own and our Brethrens Sufferings, and, as the Elect of God, put on bowels of compaſſion, Col. 3. 12. It will be ſome evidence to us, that we are the elect of God, if we can put on bowels of Mercy, if we can ſay in ſincerity, as I hope we ſhall, O that our head, were Waters and our eyes fountains of tears that we might make our Meeting Place a Bochim, Judg. 2. 5. A place of bitter mourning, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the Valley of Megiddo, Zech. 12. 11. Becauſe of all the Provocations, and Abominations of England, Scotland and Ireland; the cry of our Sins is gone up to Heaven againſt us, O let us endeavour by the cry of our Prayers and Tears, to ſilence the cry of our Sins, O Lord God, put bowels of mercy into every one of us; in the Hebrew language one word, (Rahem) ſignifies both Bowels and Mercy, and by a Metatheſis of the Radical Letters, is p. 25made (herein) which ſignifies Anathema, to ſhew, that if we are without bowels of Mercy in this day of our Kingdom's Diſtreſs, we are under the Curſe, and none of the Elect of God. It is a Cain's mark upon Judas, he loſt his bowels, Acts 1. 18. and upon King Jehoram too, that he was diſeaſed in his bowels, 2 Chron. 21. 15. O! let us mingle our hearts and our prayers, no leſs than our Faith, with the holy Word of God as we go along, and cry aloud, that the God of all Grace, and Father of Mercies, would pleaſe to heal the diſeaſe which is in our bowels, and in the bowels of England, Scotland and Ireland. There is ſomething peculiar in the Judgments, which have been armed againſt us of this Generation, here in England. There was in our Metropolis of London ſuch a conſuming Peſtilence, as our Fathers never ſaw, there they died by thouſands, where now they walk by thouſands; there was ſuch a devouring Fire as our Fathers never ſaw, a Fire, which had not learnt to diſtinguiſh between ſacred and prophane, between the Bible and the Comedy, between places of common Exchange, and more Divine Commerce; And for all this his Anger is not turned away, but his hand is ſtretched out ſtill, Iſa. 5. 25. Our condition at this day is ſomewhat prodigious, we are, and have been, for almoſt two years under the Influence of two Suns, Alas for the Miſeries and Deſolations of Ireland, there is the ſound of the Trumpet, the Alarms of War, there is the devouring Sword, there are Garments rouled in Blood; Alas for diſconſolate and deſolate Ireland; her Towns are Burnt, her Houſes are Spoiled, her Virgins Raviſhed, all places filled with Confuſion and Slaughter. Ireland is now an Aceldema, a Field of Blood. But Glory, Glory to him, that ſits on the Throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever, the Virgin Daughter of Scotland begins to awake, and ariſe out of the Duſt, to ſit and ſing as in the days of her Youth, as in the days when ſhe came up out of the Land of Egypt, Hoſ. 2. 15. Now is fulfilled that which was ſpoken by Iſaias the Prophet, ſaying, The Land of Zebulun, and the Land of Nephthalim, by the way of the Sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people which ſate in p. 26darkneſs ſaw great light, and to them which ſate in the Region and Shadow of death, light is ſprung up, Mat. 4. 14, 15, 16. This is no new thing in the courſe of Divine Providence, that thoſe who were firſt in Trouble ſhould be Relieved firſt.

There are two ways which I ſhall propoſe, wherein we ought to ſhew forth our Bowels of Mercy, for theſe Kingdoms.

1. By our perſonal Reformation; we Proteſtant Diſſenters, are more eſpecially obliged to caſt away every Idol of Gold and Silver to the Moles, and to the Bats, Iſa. 2. 20. 'Tis ſaid among the Heathen, the Lord hath done great things for us, and indeed the Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad, Pſal. 126. 3, 4. He hath broken the Horn of the wicked, the Teeth of the ungodly; he hath looſed our Bands, taken the Burthen from our Shoulders, and ſet our Feet in a large place The Lord hath turned again our Captivity, and it is as the Streams in the South, which wonderfully revives and comforts thoſe that have born the heat of the day. We have often heard, that if there had been but four or five more holy Perſons in Sodom, Sodom had been ſpared, and not deſtroyed by Fire and Brimſtone from Heaven; Gen. 18 32. Methinks I hear England, Scotland and Ireland crying to us with a loud voice, If ye Love us, and have any Compaſſion for us, then turn unto the Lord unfeignedly, live like ſo many Nazarites, keep your Covenants, pay your Vows, and perfume your Houſes with the Morning and Evening Sacrifice of Prayer and Praiſe. Dearly beloved in our Lord Jeſus, ſhall it be written down by the Angels which attend our ſolemn Aſſemblies, that this Man and that Woman were Born amongſt us this day? Amen, Amen, Pſal. 87. 6.

Secondly, By Importunate and Fervent Prayer both for Church and State.

Firſt, That God would Anoint the Eyes of England with Eye-ſalve, that ſhe may ſee into thoſe things which concern her peace, Revel. 3. 18. Let's chuſe rather to fall a Sacrifice for England ▪s Proſperity, than ſow Pillows under her Elbows, Ezek. 13. 18. leſt ſhe ſleep the ſleep of Death, p. 27and become the ſcorn of Nations; Lord enlighten England, that ſhe may ſee her ſins, and acknowledge them. He that covereth his ſin ſhall not proſper, but whoſo confeſſeth and forſaketh them ſhall find mercy, Prov. 28. 13. The word is (Peſha) Piaculum, his greater ſin, for we can readily enough confeſs our leſſer ſins, but 'tis our greater ſin, we are apt to cover, deny, excuſe or leſſen: 'Tis Death to reflect upon Herodias; England hath touched the Lords Anointed, and oppreſſed the Followers of the Lamb. She muſt not content her ſelf to bewail on theſe days of Solemn Faſting and Prayer her Debaucheries, though they are abominable, but ſhe muſt add to her Litany, which ſhe hath hitherto forgotten; From all the ſore Judgments of the Sword, Famine and Peſtilence, which are wont to follow the Oppreſſion and Perſecution of the Truth, Good Lord deliver us. Lord open the Eyes of England to look into her Laws, and ſee if there be none that are written in Blood; Lord open the Eyes of England to look into her Courts of Judicature, and ſee if Juſtice and Judgment have not been turn'd into Gall and Wormwood.

To look into her Armies, and ſee if there be no Achans, and Sons of Belial there.

To look into her Cathedrals, and ſee whether that Pompous Worſhip be according to Goſpel Rule. To look into her Parochial Conſtitutions, and ſee whether Wolves and Dumb Dogs are not ſet to watch over the Flocks, and whether there be any thing of the Godly Diſcipline of the Primitive Church reſtored which was much wiſhed for, when our Fathers firſt caſt off the Iron Yoke of Popery.

Secondly, we ſhould earneſtly pray that the Lord would pleaſe by the Effuſion and Conviction of his Spirit, to work a National Repentance among us, that as we have ſeen a change in the State, we may be ſo happy as to ſee a change of Heart and Life: Wo be to us, if England be the door which turneth upon his hinges, Prov. 26. 14.

Lord God, give us a National Repentance like to that of Nineveh, Jonah 3. 5, 10. So the People of Nineveh believed God, and Proclaimed a Faſt, and put on Sackcloth from p. 28the greateſt of them even to the leaſt of them; and God ſaw their works, that they turned from their evil ways, and God Repented of the evil, that he ſaid he would do unto them, and he did it not. Ninevehs Repentance was quick upon the firſt Sermon and Warning, ver. 4. at the motion of a Stranger, it was general King, Princes, Nobles High and Low, Rich and Poor, all in Sackcloth, nay the very Beaſts, the Herds, the Flocks, were mourners too, it was ſerious and unfeigned, they cryed mightily unto God, [ver. 8.] and Reformed their Lives, it was upon a Peradventure, [ver. 9.] like to that in Joel 2. 14. Who knoweth if he will return and Repent, and leave a Bleſſing behind him, even a meat Offering and a Drink Offering unto the Lord your God. Such a Repentance, as this would help us, as it did them when they were within fourty Days of Deſtruction.

God forbid, that the Men of Nineveh ſhould riſe up in Judgment againſt us of England, Matth. 12. 41.

1. Let us cry to the Lord on the behalf of the Court, that old Sins may not be found in our new Court, that the blemiſhes of King Charles the Second and King James the Second, may not be the ſtains of our King William the third and Queen Mary the ſecond. That the Scepter in the Hand of our King may be a Scepter of Rightouſneſs, that our Queen may be all Glorious within, that our Princes may be Iſrael, the Princes of God, that the meat of their Tables, the ſitting of their Servants, the attendance of their Miniſters, their Apparel, and their Cup-bearers may for the Beauty of Holineſs, become the wonder of the world and the Joy of Angels, 1. Kings 10. 5.

2. Let's cry unto the Lord on the behalf of the Church, the Church of England, that the Godly worſhip and Diſcipline of the Primitive Church may be reſtored, that ſhe may be cleanſed refined, and Adorned, with meekneſs, that no Italian ſcent may be diſcerned in her worſhip. That no Leprous ſpot be ſeen upon her Children, Amos 5. 12. That all her Prieſts may be cloathed with Righteouſneſs, and all her Angels become Angels of Incenſe, that ſhe may at length burn all her bloody Rods, and be deeply humbled for Joſephs Bloody Coat, Gen. 37. 32. That ſo p. 29the Bleſſings of thoſe, that have been ready to Periſh may come upon her, and ſhe may look as though ſhe came down for Heaven, as a Bride adorned for her Husband, Rev. 21. 2.

3. Let us cry unto the Lord on the behalf of our Cities, that there may ſuch a ſtream of Righteouſneſs rund down their ſtreets as may Carry away all falſe weights and meaſures, Amos 5. 24. That there may be as much care to Spiritualize Trade as to Enlarge it, that our Citizens may be wiſe Merchants ſelling all to buy the goodly Pearl, of Greateſt price, Matth. 13. 45. 46. That our Cities might by their Virtue, Juſtice and Holineſs, acquire to themſelves the new name in the Prophet, Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there. Ezek. 48. 35.

4. Let's cry to the Lord on the behalf of the Camp, that our Officers and Soldiers may lay aſide all Weapons of unrighteouſneſs and do violence to no man; that they may not fight under the Banner of the Prince of Darkneſs nor carry the mark of the Beaſt in their Foreheads, nor in their Hands, that they may put on the whole Armour of God, and take to themſelves the golden Shield of Faith, with the Sword of the Spirit, Epheſ. 6. 16, 17. Triumphing victoriouſly over all the legions of Antichriſt.

5. Let's cry to the Lord for the Country, that he would awaken the ſecure, and quicken every man to ſet his hand to the right plow without looking back, Luke 9. 62. to dreſs his own Vine and Fig-tree, that this whole Land may become the Garden of the Lord, that there may be no more plowing with an Ox and an Aſs, or ſowing our Fields with divers ſeeds, or wearing Garments of woollen and Linnen, or mingling a prophane life with profeſſion of Godlineſs, Deut. 22. 10, 11.

6. Let's cry to the Lord on the behalf of the Papiſts, that he would pleaſe to call them out of Babylon, Revel. 18. 4. That they no longer worſhip the golden Calves of Dan and Bethel, that they may Renounce all ſubjection to the Man of Sin, and heartily ſubmit to the holy Laws of the Son of God, who is wont to receive into the vineyard of his favour, all thoſe, whatever they have been, that come to him at the eleventh hour of the day.

p. 307. Let's cry unto the Lord on the behalf of the Proteſtant Diſſenters, that for one tear, their Brethren drop for their own Sins or the Sins of Zion, they may drop ten, nay an hundred for one. That they may be Exceeding humble under the Honour they have been called to in carrying the Croſs of Chriſt, and in giving Teſtimony to the oppreſſed Truth of the Goſpel. That they may be gentle, and quiet under all the Scorn and Indignation of the Iſhmaelites. That they may conſtantly carry their enemies in the Arms of their Prayers before the Lord, Deſiring him to forgive and bleſs them; that their profeſſion may be Crown'd with perſeverance, that their Sackcloth may be kept clean and unſullied that they may at length arive ſafely in that holy Land, where love hath the the Throne, and reigns for ever, there can be no greater happineſs deſired than to ſtand eternally before the Throne, and before the Lamb, with white robes, and with palms in our Hands, Rev. 7. 9.

Thirdly, having earneſtly deſired the Lord to give England, Repentance Let us with an equal fervour, Implore his pardoning Grace, let us all ſay with the Pſalmiſt, God be merciful to our Sin, for it is Great, Pſal. 25. 11. The grace of God teaches thoſe that are in Covenant with him to draw Arguments for mercy as well from the greatneſs of their Sin, as from the greatneſs of their miſery, knowing, that where Sin abounds, Grace delights to abound much more, Rom. 5. 20. But then becauſe God is merciful to us, who are Sinful, we muſt not continue to be Sinful becauſe he is merciful. Englands Sin is great; God be merciful, and forgive it; when we deal with men we urge the ſmalneſs of an offence, as a motive to Forgiveneſs, but when we have to do with God 'tis otherwiſe, God be merciful to our Sin, for it is great; Englands Sin is great, it is exceeding Sinful. Light hath ſhined among us, but we love Darkneſs; Chriſt doth not Reign, his Government is refuſed: 'Tis often ſaid in the Pulpits, and in the Prints, that the Church of England is the beſt Church in the world; O what a horrid thing is it then, if the People of England be the worſt Livers, and the greateſt Perſecutors of their Brethren in the world! Whither muſt we go to find out greater Swearing Drinking, Whoreing under a brow of Braſs than in theſe Kingdoms? Where ſuch prodigious Pride, ſtrange Apparel, general Prophaneneſs, Unthankfulneſs for the Goſpel, p. 31unfruitfulneſs under it, and which is to be Lamented with Tears of Blood; an unaccountable ſcoffing at all ſerious Holineſs, as is to be found among our ſelves? O let's joyn moſt heartily in our humble Supplications now and at all times, that theſe Kingdoms may be waſhed all over in the Blood of the Covenant; that the deſtroying Angel may not break in upon us, which is the next thing to be ſpoken unto.

Fourthly, We ſhould wreſtle with the Lord, that he would pleaſe to Remove our Judgments, and prevent our Deſolations Jer. 17. 16. I deſire not the woful day the Lord God knows, but if we turn not from our Idols, the woful day will come, I beſeech you let's ariſe, and ſtand in the Gap, by Faith, and Prayer, and Holineſs; had not Moſes the Servant of the Lord ſtood in the Breach, the fury of the Lord had broke in like a flood upon the Tribes of Iſrael, Pſal. 106. 23. with Exod. 32. 10. The Goodneſs of God had ſet up a Fence round about the Church in the Wilderneſs, but the golden Calf, which Aaron made, made a breach in that Fence, at which divine vengeance was ruſhing in, but Moſes haſtned, and ſtood in the breach, and ſaved Iſrael.

We have ſome Arguments humbly to plead before our God.

1. Theſe Kingdoms are Eſpouſed to the Lord, and their Name was once Hephziba and Beula, Iſa. 62. 4. The Lords delight, O Lord leave us not, we are called by thy Name.

2. The Lord as we have heard loves not putting away, Mal. 2. 16. but always Betrothes to himſelf a people in great faithfulneſs, he is always firſt in making Covenants of Love, but never firſt in departing from them, if he ſhould give to our Mother libellum repudii a Bill of Divorce, Iſa. 5. 1. we ſhould find it written there that our Mother had firſt play'd the Harlot with many Lovers.

3. We have a gracious Promiſe, That if a wicked Backſliding people repent and return, they ſhall be received to favour, Jer. 3. 1. They ſay if a Man put away his Wife, and ſhe go from him and become another Mans, ſhall he return to her again, ſhall not that Land be greatly polluted? But thou haſt play'd the Harlot with many Lovers, yet return again to me, ſaith the Lord. O let us tell the Lord upon our Knees this day, that now, even now we will return to him, and to give an aſſurance of it, England hath put on her Garments of Mourning.

p. 324. The Name of the Lord is concerned in England's Mercy, Deliverance, and Eſtabliſhment, the Eye of all Europe is fixt upon us, and waits to ſee the Iſſue of our Affairs, whether Chriſt ſhall Triumph or Antichriſt, Michael or the Dragon, whether the Rod of Aaron will ſwallow up the Rod of the Magicians, or the Magicians Rod devour the Rod of Aaron; and let us ſay as Joſhuah did, Lord, what wilt thou do unto thy great Name? Joſh. 7. 9.

5. We have had experience of the kindneſs of God to a worthleſs people, he hath delivered and doth deliver in Scotland, (Glory to his Grace for our good News out of the North) and we humbly hope he will deliver in Ireland and England too, 2 Cor. 1. 10. He who ſaved us from Paganiſm of old, from Antichriſtianiſm of late, is able to ſave us from our ſelves; to Heal our Diviſions, to Remove our Offences, to Unite our Hearts, and to ſet up the Government and Kingdom of Chriſt in Glory among us.

I ſhall now conclude with this only Motive to excite us to this Duty of Prayer, upon which we have been diſcourſing, They who pray for the peace of Jeruſalem ſhall proſper, Pſal. 122. 6. Tranquilli, felices, ſine cruce, as he that can forgive a Brother will find God forgiving him, ſo he that can pray for the Proſperity of Church and State, will find peace ſpiringing up in his Soul, they ſhall proſper that love thee, they ſhall have marks of Mercy put upon them, when the deſtroying Angels walk about the Streets with ſlaughter Weapons in their Hands, Ezek. 9. 2, 4. in comparing this with that, Exod. 12. 7. I have only this to obſerve, that mark of mercy in Exodus was put upon the Door-poſts, to ſhew that God would then ſave by Families; but in Ezekiel 'tis put on the Forehead, that we may learn from thence, that the Lord now in an evil day undertakes only for the ſafety of ſingle Perſons. My Brethren, let me prevail with you in this thing; go home, ſowin tears, you ſhall reap in joy: Be found among the Mourners, and not among the Sinners in Zion, ſo ſhall we be Proſperous here and Glorious hereafter. Amen, Amen.

FINIS.

End of the text · William Woodward, A Call to Humiliation for the Grievous Sin of Persecution (1690)