The Healing of Israels Breaches, Sermon 2
ISRAELS CURE. The ſecond SERMON. March 2o.
PSAL. 60. Verſ. 2.
Heale the Breaches thereof, for it is ſhaken.
UPon this Text, I made an entrance the laſt day, being then led unto it by that *Publick Faſt. Solemn occaſion. We brake it into two parts, Davids
Requeſt.
Reaſon.
In the former of theſe, we tooke notice of three particulars. Iſraels
Diſeaſe.
Cure.
Phiſitian.
Upon the firſt of theſe we then inſiſted. Come we now to the ſecond, viz. Iſraels Cure.; which is the healing of her Breaches. Heale the Breaches Explic. what meant by Healing.thereof.
To Heale, properly you know what it is, viz. do a Cure upon the Body in healing the ſickneſſes or ſores thereof, whether in an ordinary way, by naturall means, Medicines, or Salves, as the Phiſitian or Chirurgion doth, or in an extraordinary and miraculous way, without means, as our Saviour and his Apoſtles did, who cured all manner of diſeaſes only by their a107. Pſ. 20. Math. 8. 8.word, bMath. 8. 3. 15.touch, cMath. 9. 20. Luk. 8. 44. Act. 19. 12garments, dActs 5. 15. 2 Chr. 7. 14.ſhadow. From the naturall body, it is transferred to the Politicall, or Eccleſiaſticall Bodie in a Kingdome, the Common-wealth, the Church. The remedying of the evills whereof, is ſometime in phraſe of Scripture called an Healing. If my people ſhall humble themſelves, and pray, (ſaith the Lord) I will heale their Land, i. e. Redreſſe and remedy the evills which lye upon it: Heale the breaches thereof, ſaith the Text, i. e. Repaire them, make them up. This it is that David here prayeth for; andDoct. The Healing of the Churches breaches, ſhould be the deſire of every Chriſtian.
This ſhould every true Iſraelite deſire and ſeek after, The healing, repayring, making up of Iſraels breaches. It was the firſt work that Nehemiah and the reſt of the Jewes did after their returne from Captivity; they ſet upon the repairing of the walls of Jeruſalem, which they began, as you may ſee in the 3. chap. of Nehem. and finiſhed chap. 6. not giving over, till there was no breach found therein, Neh. c. 3. c. 6.as you have it verſ. 1. of that 6. chap. What they did for the Typicall; this ought all true Iſraelites Verſe 1.do for the Spiritual Mysticall Jeruſalem, the Church of God upon earth, viz. ſeeke and endeavour what they can, the building up the Walls, the repairing the breaches thereof. This is Davids prayer elſewhere, Lord, buid up the walls of Jeruſalem: Pſal. 51. 18.Jeruſalem the Metropolis, both Civill and Eccleſiasticall of that Kingdome, the Head Citie of Iſrael, a Type of the Church viſible; For this David prayeth, that God would build up the walls thereof, repayre the breaches thereof; reſtoring to it, and eſtabliſhing in it Peace, and Prosperitie. And what himſelfe doth, he ſtirreth up others to do the like: Pray for the peace of Jeruſalem, i. e. Pſal. 122. 6.for the publicke tranquility and happineſſe of the Church; for the continuance of it, if enjoyed; for the restoring of it, if wanted; that it may not be troubled, whether without, by perſecuting Tyrants putting it into bloud; or within, by Schiſmes, and Hereſies, rending and tearing of it. Theſe are the breaches of the Church (as I have ſhewed you in the former Point) and both theſe every true Iſraelite ſhould defire to have healed, repaired, made up; that ſo there may be Peace within her Walls, and Prosp erity (or quietneſse) within her Pallaces, as it followeth verſ. 7. of that 122. Pſalm.
And great reaſon for it, why Chriſtians ſhould Reaſ. 1. All members of the ſame bodythus deſire and endeavour the healing of Iſraels breaches, they being all members of that mystical body: ye are the body of Chriſt, and members in particular, ſaith the Apoſtle to his Corinthians. The Church the body, 1 Cor. 12. 27.all true Chriſtians Members of that Bodie; and being ſo, they ſhould have a ſimpathie with the whole. So is it in the naturall body; If the body be wounded, or hurt in any part of it, there is never a part but is ſenſible of it: If the foot be wounded, the eye ſeeth it, the heart feeleth it, the tongue complains of it, the hand is ready to apply ſalves and Plaiſters to it, for the healing of it. So ſhould it be in the Mysticall bodie, and ſo it will be. If the Church be wounded, rent, torn, the eye of a true Iſraelite being a living member of that body, ſeeing it, his heart cannot but be affected with it, his tongue will be ready to complain of it unto God, his hand will be readie to apply ſuch healing remedies as God ſhall put into it. Chriſtian affection in the hearts of Chriſtians, it both ſhould, and will encline them to ſeek the Cure of Iſraels breaches.
Take a ſecond Reaſon, and that fetcht from the Reaſ. 2.Nature of theſe breaches, which are
1. Ʋnſeemly.
2. Dangerous.
1. Ʋnſeemly, not unlike a rent or breach in a Breaches in the Church unſeemly.Garment; which, becauſe uncomely, we will therefore get drawn, ſowne up: Or like a Harelip in a good face; which, though it be not a ſore, yet becauſe it is an eye-ſore, a blemiſh, we will therfore (if poſſible) get healed. Upon this ground ſhould Chriſtians ſeek the healing of Iſraels breaches. They are an eye-ſore, a blemiſh in this myſticall body. It was the outward Beauty of the Typicall Jeruſalem, that the buildings thereof were contiguous, and uniforme. Jeruſalem is builded as a Citie that is compact together. Ju…cta ſibi ſimul, Pſal. 122. 3.as Montanus renders the Originall, the Houſes not ſcattered, but joyning together. Even as it was with the Curtains of the Tabernacle, which were of one meaſure (ſaith the Text) and coupled together. Surely it is a peece of the viſible Churches viſible Exod. 26. 2, 3.beautie, her unitie, her breaches, her diviſions make the leaſt of them, make the beſt of them, they are a blemiſh, an eye-ſore; I, ſuch an eye-ſore, as friends cannot behold without grief, enemies with triumph, Neuters with ſcandall. And being ſo, were there no other reaſon; Chriſtians ſhould ſeek the Healing of them. But beſides this,
2. In the ſecond place, theſe Breaches are dangerous. Dangerous, beingDangerous to the Church; and that two wayes, being
1. Diſadvantagious to her.
2. Advantagious to her enemies.
1. To her diſadvantagious. In that, like Domeſticall Diſadvantagious to the Church.Breaches in a Family, which are great hinderances to all the buſineſſe in it; whether Civill, or Religious; for the moſt part hindring the groweth both of Grace, and Estate. So prejudiciall and detrimentall are theſe Breaches to the State of the Church, hindering the groweth of it, the increaſe of it. This Mysticall bodie being joyned, compacted and knit together, it increaſeth with the increaſe of God, ſaith Saint Paul to his Coloſſians; It maketh 2 Col. 19.increaſe to the edifying of it ſelfe in love, ſaith the ſame Apoſtle to his Epheſians. On the other hand, Eph. 4. 16being divided, rent, and torne, it withereth, wanzeth, it groweth not.
Not but that God can, and ſometimes doth bring good out of this evill, light our of this darkeneſſe; Note.making the truth (which is but one) againer by diviſion, improving distractions to the Churches benefit. But this is by accident, no thanks to theſe diviſions, diſtractions, for this gain; which being enemies to Ʋnitie, they are in their own nature no friends to the Truth, no friends to the Church, but enemies to it: Enemies hindering the growth of it; nay, threatning the ruine of it. Our Saviour hath ſayd it of a Kingdome, an Houſe if divided againſt themſelves, they cannotſtand. Theſe Marke 3. 24, 25.Breaches in the Church, are like wounds in the bodie, though not all mortall, yet in their own nature destructive, (as I ſhall ſhew you (God willing) in the latter part of the Text) ſhaking the Church, as well as hindering it. And in this reſpect, Chriſtians who bear good will to Iſrael, wiſh well to the Church, ſhould ſeeke the Cure, the Healing of them; they are diſadvantagious to the Church.
And Secondly, Advantagious to her enemies. In Advantagious to her Enemies.this, like Breaches made in the walls of a Citie, which are an In-let to the Enemie, giving him the advantage of entring, and taking poſſeſſion, if they be not either repaired, or looked to. Of ſuch dangerous conſequence are theſe Breaches in the Church, they are In-lets to the Adverſary.
In-lets (in the firſt place) to Sathan, that comon Adverſarie; who by theſe breaches, breaks in upon the Church; as by domesticall breaches, he breaks in upon a Family, hindering the affaires of it.
In-lets (in the ſecond place) to the Inſtruments of Sathan, Falſe-Teachers, Seducers; who make great advantage of theſe Breaches, to let in their owne pernicious errors by them: Even as by the Graecian Horſe, that fatall Engine was let and drawn in, by that Breach which the Trojans themſelves had made in their owne Walls, to the overthrow of their Citie. So dangerous are theſe breaches; diſadvantagious to the Church, advatagious to her Enemies: Great cauſe why Chriſtians ſhould deſire, and endeavour our the Cure, the Healing of them.
Dwell we no longer upon Confirmation, or Illustration: It is a truth (I ſuppoſe) which in Theſi, in the generall, will eaſily be granted, and yeelded at all hands. That which I principally ayme at, is the practicall part, the bringing it home, the ſetting it on by way of Application, which I ſhall direct theſe two ways; By way of
Reprehenſion.
Exhortation.
By way Reprehenſion, is this; The duty and practiſe of every true Iſraelite, to ſeeke the Healing Ʋſe 1. Reprehenſion.of Iſraels breaches; What then,
In the firſt place, ſhall we ſay to them, who inſtead of Healing, make them? Breach-makers; 1. To breach makers.whether in the Church, or State. To let paſſe the latter of theſe: State-Incendiaries, ſuch as have troubled and diſtracted the Politicke State of this In the ſtate.Kingdome, for their own private ends and advantages, that they might have the better fiſhing in theſe troubled waters.
Them I referre, together with the Cure of thoſe breaches by them made, to that wiſe and venerable Colledge of State Phiſitians, at the preſent aſſembled to that purpoſe. The Breaches which my eye is principally upon, are Iſraels breaches; Breaches in the Church, ſpecially thoſe wherewith the Church in this Kingdome is diſtracted, and torne. In the Church.And here give me leave briefly to tax, and cenſure thoſe which have been, or are either the makers, or maintainers of them, whether Principalls, or Acceſſaries.
Q: But who are they?
A. For Anſwer, I ſhall have recourſe to the Who they are, cleared from the Type.Type; who were they which made theſe breaches in Iſrael, which the Pſalmiſt here complains of? I have ſhowen you it already. They were either ſtrangers, or Iſraelites. Strangers, Enemies to their Kingdom, and Religion, Moabites, Edomites, Philistines, or elſe Iſraelites, that factious, ſeditious party, which cleaved to the Houſe of Saul, and ſo were enemies to the Houſe of David. Paralell Breachmakers amongſt us (as in Iſrael) of two ſorts.hereunto, behold we alſo in our Iſrael two forts of Breach-makers:
Strangers.
Iſraelites.
Firſt, Begin with the former. Strangers; I mean ſtrangers, and Enemies to our Religion: Such as 1. Strangers enemies to our Religion, Papiſts, &c.though they be amongſt us; yet they are not of us, Papiſts, and perſons Popiſhly affected. Amongſt whom, how ever I cannot think, but that there are ſome blindly zealous, poor miſguided ſouls, who follow after their Iſhhoſheth, Or Adonijah, with ſimplicity of heart, and ſo are both more quiet and innocent; Yet others amongſt them there are, and that many, very active and practicall in this worſt piece of Arithmatick, which they ſtudy more than anvother Diviſion. Dividing of Houſes, Cities, Parliaments, Kingdoms, States, Churches; Setting Subjects againſt Subjects. In this Helliſh Art, how many famous (I ſhould ſay infamous) Practitioners have there been amongſt them in all Ages? Witneſſe the Hiſtories of the late and frequent Iriſh Rebellions; Some of them Maſters in that Science, Proſeſſours in it. Thoſe devoted and profeſſed Incendiaries, the Jeſuites, and their ſchollers, Helliſh Engineers, who make it their work to be continually laying of Trains, and ſpringing of Mines, for the blowing up the gates and wals of our Jeruſalem, endeavouring to make Breaches therin, that themſelves and their party may re-enter and take poſſeſſion. It was the ſpeech of the Syrians, and others their Confederates: Let us go up againſt Judah and Iſa. 7. 6.vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us. What they determined againſt Judah, that do theſe Romiſh Conſederates practiſe againſt our Iſrael; continually vexing us by their wiles (as the Midianites did Iſrael) ſeeking to make a Breach amongſt Num. 25. 18.us for themſelves, their hopes being founded upon our diviſions. Upon them in the firſt place do we charge theſe our Breaches, both in this, and the neighbour Kingdomes; but charging them, we cannot diſcharge our ſelves.
2. A ſecond ſort of theſe Breach-makers are to 2. Iſraelites, Proteſtants profeſſing the ſame Religion with us. Iud. 12. 6.be found amongſt our ſelves: Iſraelites, men profeſſing the ſame Religion, Protestants by name; who to approve themſelves ſuch, can readily pronounce the Protestants Shibboleth, willingly ſubmitting to the late Protestation; wherin amongſt other things, they have vowed and promiſed to praeſerve and maintaine the union and peace of the three Kingdoms; and yet they either are, or have been Breach-makers, breaking the peace of the Church. Of theſe, we may take notice of two ſorts; (Pardon my plain and home-dealing, in proſecuting of this charge.) The deſigne which I aym at, is the Healing of Iſraels Breaches: Now a wound (you know) that it may be Cured, it muſt firſt be ſearched. This I ſhall do with as tender and gentle and hand, as poſſible I can; that whileſt I go about to make up Breaches, I may not make any.
Two ſorts of perſons there are amongſt our Amongſt them, two ſorts of Breach-makers.ſelves, upon whom theſe Breaches of our may, and muſt be charged.
Some, who have turned aſide after error.
Others, who have followed the Truth.
Deale we firſt with the former, as having the greateſt ſhare in this buſineſſe; ſuch as have turned 1. Such as have turned aſide after Error.aſide after error. In this ranke muſt we reckon all thoſe Schiſmaticks, and Sectaries, who have departed from the truth of God, profeſſed amongſtus; or elfe have renounced all communion with us; Anabaptiſts, Familiſts, (of Chriſtians the worſt) Antinomians, Socinians, Arminians, Browniſts. I cannot reckon all, neither will I go about it. Upon theſe muſt we charge a great part of our homebred Breaches, which are cauſed by their Diviſions, dividing and cutting themſelves off from the unitie of the Faith, or the unitie of the Church. Theſe are obvious Breach-makers, to whom we wiſh (with the Apoſtle) that God would give them Repentance, to the acknowledgement of the 2 Tim. 2. 25.Truth; turning their feet into the wayes of peace.Luk. 1. 79.
And to theſe muſt we joyn (not as acceſſaries, but as principalls) thoſe late Superſtitious Innovatours; Superſtitious Innovatours.who, not contented with the ſimplicity of the Goſpel, would have put a new dreſſe, and that a garniſh one, upon the face of our Religion: together with thoſe unhappy and unfaithful Engineers, whether Maſters of the Ordinance, or their ſubordinate Officers, who being be-truſted with the Churches Artillerie, have turned the mouth of her own Canons againſt her ſelfe, battering her Bulworks, Hab. 2. 1.beating her watchmen from their Watchtowers, making Breaches in her Walls, driving out her Inhabitants, by laying taxes and impoſitions upon their conſciences. This (if I miſtake not) was the firſt ground of that firſt Breach, made in the firſt Church under the Goſpel; for the healing whereof, that firſt Synod was called, and Congregated at Jeruſalem, Acts 15. Some there were, Act. 15. 1.who being converted from Judaiſme to Chriſtianitie, they ſtill hanging upon the old haunt themſelves, they would needs have impoſed ſome burdens upon the conſciences of the converted Gentiles, Putting a yoake upon their necks (as Saint Verſe 10.Peter layeth it down) which (ſaith he) neither our Fathers, nor we were able to bear. What yoake was this? A yoake of legall Jewiſh Ceremonies, then antiquated and aboliſhed; a voake of Carnall Ordinances (ſuch as the Authour to the Hebrews ſpeaks of) which were impoſed on the Jews, untill Heb 9. 10.the time of Reformation. This yoake would they have put upon the Gentiles necks, preſſing and obtruding upon them ſome things offenſive, others not neceſſarie. And this it was which made that Breach; I will not ſpend time in making the Application thereof to our own Church, and times. I know your thoughts therein, run before me; my deſire only is, and my prayer ſhall be, that as our diſeaſe is not unlike theirs, ſo we may in Gods time finde a like Cure, by a like means, (a lawfull Synod, other means I know none) after the like manner; (Impoſing upon the Conſciences of men, no burdens Act. 15. 28but what are neceſſary.)
Paſſe we from hence, to what may happily more neerly touch and conſcern ſome of our ſelves.
A ſecond ſort of Breach-makers amongſt our ſelves, are ſuch as have followed the Truth (it may 2. Followers of Truth, but notbe) but they have not done it.
1 In Love,
2 with Wiſdome.
Firſt, ſome who have done it in love; This they 1. In Love. Eph. 4. 15.ſhould have done, ſpeaking the Truth in Love, (faith the Apoſtle.) foreign: Ʋeritatem lectantes, following the Truth in love, ſo the old vulgar Tranſlation readeth it; not without ſome warrant from the Originall. In Love, viz. To
the Truth it ſelfe,
Our Brethren.
To the Truth followed; To our Brethren, followers of the Truth with us. Thus ſhould the Truth be followed, but thus ſome have nor followed it, do not follow it; they follow the Truth (it may be.)To the Truth is ſelfe.
But Firſt, not out of love to the Truth it ſelfe, but rather out of ſelf-love; drawen by ſome By and ſiniſter reſpects, and inducements; led and carried (it may be) rather by the examples of others, whoſe perſons they have in admiration (happily) becauſe of advantage, (as Saint Jude ſpeaks) then by Iude 16.the dictates of their own judgements: Thus following the truth, not in love to the truth, but to themſelves, their own credits, reputations, advantages. Or,
Secondly, Not in love to their Brethren, followers of the truth, as well as they: Hence are thoſe To their Brethren.unchriſtian jealouſies, and heart-burnings, diſdainfull thoughts and ſpeeches, mixed (it may be) with uncharitable Conſures; which ſome are ready to paſſe upon thoſe, who in any thing are otherwiſe minded then themſelves: Inſomuch as they cannot walk with any, unleſſe they be in all things agreed; The leaſt Difference breedeth a Diſtance, the leaſt difference in Judgement, ſevers them in their Affections: Plain evidences againſt them, that they do not follow the truth in love; which if they did, it would certainly cover a multitude of weakneſſes and infirmities, 1 Pet. 4. 8.in thoſe whom they walk with, ſpecially they being ſuch, as they have no cauſe to think but that they are followers of the truth, according to light received, as well as themſelves. Others there are
In the ſecond place, which do not follow the truth with wiſdom. Thus ſhould the truth be followed: 2. Not in wiſdome.Wiſdom being the Pilate which ſhould ſtear, and direct the whole Courſe of a Chriſtian; regulating all his actions, which if they be not ordered by wiſdom, though materially, (and in themſelves never ſo good, yet) they looſe their grace and acceptation both with God and man. Now there are ſome amongſt us, which in following after the truth, looſe this ſtearage; whoſe aimes, and Intentions, happily are good in what they do, or ſeek after; but their Actions are unadviſed, raſh, heady, unwarrantable. Such was that act of Ʋzzahs, in putting forth his hand to ſtay the Ark of God, 2 Sam. 6. ver. 6.when it was ſhaken: The intention good, but the action evill, becauſe unwarrantable; he having no calling to do what he did: Whereby it came to paſſe, that whilſt he went about to prevent a breach, he made one: God ſmiting him for his errour, (or Raſhneſſe, as the Margin readeth it:) So making a ver. 7.breach upon him, which gave the denomination to the place, thereupon called (Perez-Ʋzzah) i. e. ver. 8.The breach of Ʋzzah. And even thus fareth it with ſome amongſt us, who beholding the Ark of God ſhaken, the religion of God (as they apprehentd it) endangered, they preſently ſtep forth, putting their hands (being private hands) to the work of Publicke Reformation; not ſtaying for them to whom that work properly belongeth, but they will ſtep forth before them in an irregular, and unwarrantable way. By this means inſtead of healing or preventing a breach, making one. You know the ſtory Gen. 38. of Tamars twins: She being in her travell, the one putteth forth his hand firſt, about Gen 38 29.which the Midwife tyed a ſcarlet thred, as a token or mark of the firſt-borne; the Purple or ſcarlet colour alſo, well agreeing to the birth-right, Orelderſhip, (as Muſculus noteth upon it. Notwithſtaning this, the other breaks forth before him, not tarrying his time: Whereupon Tamar wondring at it, and enquiring after the cauſe or reaſon, of this ſtrange, and extraordinary birth: She breaketh forth into a paſſionate expoſtulation with her ſon, ſaying unto him, How haſt thou broken forth, This breach be upon thee; from thence giving him his name Pharez, i. e. a breach. And is it not the caſe (my brethren) of ſome amongſt us, who waiting, (or rather not waiting,) thinking long for the Churches delivery, they will not tarry their time (Gods time,) but they will be breaking forth in a prepoſterous and inordinate way: I, notwithſtanding that God hath brought deliverance to the birth, ſo as they ſee an hand put forth already, an hand with a ſcarlet thred about it, the Nobles and Senatours of the Kingdom (to whom that colour Lam. 4. 5. Dan. 5 7.moſt properly agreeth) reaching forth their hands, being at work for the reforming of what is amiſſe, and the ſuppying of what is wanting; yet they will anticipate them, out of a raſh and prepoſterous zeal ſtepping forth before them. To ſuch let me ſay (and if there be any here preſent; as happily there may be: I ſhall ſay it unto them) ſpeaking in the language of Tamar to her ſon, how have you broken forth? This breach (alſo) be upon you: We cannot but charge you amongſt others as acceſſaries to theſe breaches, if not to the making, yet to the increaſing of them of them: And being thus charged, ſee you to it how you can diſcharge your ſelves, either before God, or man.
I have done with the firſt Ranke of thoſe who come within the compaſſe of this juſt reprehenſion; ſuch as are ſo far from ſeeking, and endeavouring the healing of Iſraels breaches, that they make them, 2. Breach-maintainers, whetheror elſe (in the ſecond place) keep them open, keep them from healing; being means, or occaſions to hinder the making up of theſe breaches, which they do either purpoſely, or unadviſedly.
Purpoſely fome. So do the enemies of God, and his truth, the Malignant party amongſt us, who Purpoſly.cannot indure that the Breaches amongſt us, ſhould be made up. In that like Sanballat and Tobiah, and Nehe. 4. 7. 8.their confederates, who when they heard that the walls of Jeruſalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be ſtopt, they were very wroth (ſaith the text) and ſo conſpired altogether to come fight againſt foreignJeruſalem, and to hinder it, (or to make an errour in it) as the Margin in our new Tranſlation readeth Errorem.it according to the Originall. Such back friends to the peace of our Jeruſalem, there are many amongſt us at this day, who cannot endure that the breaches amongſt us ſhould begin to be ſtopped: And therefore they do what they can, to hinder the work; ſtill caſting in new jealoſies, and new obſtacles; thinking thereby either to hinder the work, or to make an errour in it: That ſo our breaches either may not be healed or elſe ſlightly healed: as the Lord complaines againſt the falſe Prophets Jer. 6. They have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people Ier. 6. 14.ſlightly: So healed, as that they may ſoon break forth again: which they do for their own advantage. In this like water-foule in a froſt, which by their continuall padling, keep open a weake in a river, not ſuffering it to freeze over, that ſo themſelves may have roome to ſwim and fiſh in: Or like ſome wretched Surgeons, who keep open a wound for their own gaine.
Others do the like, but unadviſedly, beſides their intention. I ſpare them, and haſten toOr unadviſedly.
A third ſort, who come under Reprehenſion here. Such who, as they have no hand (as they think) in Such as will be no Healers.the making of theſe Breaches, ſo they will have none in the Healing of them. It is that which the Lord ſaith of the Jewes, in that great confuſion which ſhould befall them; every man ſhould reſuſe to be an Healer. When a man ſhall take hold of his Brother, &c. In that day he ſhall ſweare, I will Icr. 3. 6, 7.not be an Healer. And is it not ſo with ſome amongſt us at this day? They are not, they cannot be ignorant of the breaches which are made amongſt us in this, and the neighbour Nation; Breaches ſhaking and endangering both Church, and State, and vet they decline this Chriſtian office, They will be no Healers; No, their reſolution is for a wiſe, and wary Neutrality; they will be ſtanders by, and lookers on, to ſee what will become of things. Like men ſtanding upon the ſhoar, and looking upon others in a ſtreſſe at Sea, to ſee what will become of them, whether they ſhall ſinke or ſwim; In the mean time they will not put forth an hand, a finger to the making up, the healing of theſe breaches. Truth is, they are not at all affected with them, ſo themſelves may but keep their own heads whole, and ſleep in a whole skin (as we ſay) they care not what breaches there be in the Church, whether at home, or abroad. In this, not unlike ſome ſimple man at Sea; who, ſo his own Cabin be but tight, he cares not what leaks there be in the Ship he ſayles in. Surely, ſuch there are, ſome amongſt us, and I wiſh the evidence were not too ſtrong, too clean againſt them. Whence is it, that ſome amongſt us are ſo loth, ſo backward in parting with any thing, for the making up of any of theſe breaches? not willing to part with a little earth to fill them up. It is a caſe which Divine Providence at preſent putteth into my hand, let me not over-looke, or neglect it.
I ſuppoſe there are none of you here preſent, but take notice what a great and fearfull breach is Benevolence, and Loane for Ireland pr…ſſed.made upon the neighbour Nation, our Brethren in the Kingdome of Ireland; where, through the open Rebellion of a Romiſh Confederacie, rending and taring of that Kingdome, the State therein tottereth, and the Church lyeth a bleeding. For the repairing and making up of this breach: It hath pleaſed Authoritie (that Authoritie which may Command it, the King, and his Parliament) to requeſt, and deſire from you, either by way of gift, or Loane, a little of your earth, (your Gold is no other, no better, Red-earth, thick-clay, as the Prophet Hab. 2. 6.Habakkuk phraſeth it.) This they deſire for the filling, and making up of this Breach; by ſuccouring your Brethren which are driven from thence, and relieving thoſe which do ſtand in the breach. But (alas) how unwillingly, how cravingly, how ſparingly doth it come from ſome aamongſt us? Surely (my Brethren) thus it would not be, if the Towne wherein we now are, were beſieged, and a Breach made in the Wals of it. In this caſe (I ſuppoſe) there is none of us but would be ready both to carry baskets of earth, and to lend our Wool-packs or Featherbeds (if we have them) for the ſtopping, the making up of that Breach. And ſhall we not do a little for the Church of God in that Kingdome; the welfare whereof, is of ſo great and neere concernment to our ſelves? Inſomuch as ſome wiſe Stariſts have thought theſe two Kingdoms to be like Hypocrates his Twins, the one whereof could not ſubſiſt, at leaſt not well, without the other. Surely (my Brethren) ſuch Parſimonius ſpirits, may be conceived to be far from the reſolution of that noble Roman Marcus Curtius, whom the Hiſtories of Liv. lib. 6 Oroſ. 3. c. 5. Plutarch. vit. Ariſtid. paral. Val. max.thoſe, and after Ages have rendered famous to the World, for his unparaleld affection to his Country, and in ſpeciall, to the Citie of Rome whereof he was a Member: Wherein, when by reaſon of an Earthquake their happened a prodigious Chaſma, a great Gulpb, or opening of the earth in the midſt of the Market-place; and the Oracle had ſignified to them, that there was no way to fill up that breach, but by caſting the beſt thing in their Citie into it: He thereupon preſently mounting his Horſe in compleat Arms (which was then the Acceptam a Patria vitam, eidem impendere non dubitavit. Liv.chiefe glory of that Citie and Nation) caſt himſelf into the Breach for the making it up; ſo yeelding up his life (ſaith my Authour) to, and for his Countrey, from which he had received it. This did he with a Roman reſolution. And the like ſhould Chriſtians be ready to do in a Chriſtian way for the Church of God, in caſe that God ſhall be pleaſed to call them to it, even caſt themſelves into the breaches thereof, for the filling, making them up; not thinking their naturall lives too dear for her, to whom (under God) they owe their ſpirituall. How far then do they fall beneath themſelves, beneath Chriſtians, who will not ſo much as part with a little of their ſuperfluities in ſuch a caſe? It is no more that is deſired from you; not the Widowes two Mites, her whole livelihood, all that ſhe Mark. 12. the laſt.had: but a little foreign of your abundance, your ſuperfluitie. And hereof, he that will not ſpare a little to ſo good a work, muſt pardon me, if I leave him where I finde him, within the verge and compaſſe of this juſt Reprehenſion, charging him to be in the number of thoſe, that will not be an healer of Iſraels breaches.
I have done with the firſt of theſe Ʋſes, which maketh way to the latter. An Uſe of Exhortation, wherein I ſhould excite and exhort you, and all true Iſraelites, even all the Lords people amongſt us, that they would firſt deſire, ſecondly endeavour the healing of Iſraels breaches. But this I muſt defer till another occaſion.