An Exposition of Hosea 4-7, Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 4 · Verse 1

An Exposition of Hosea 4-7 · Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 4 · Verse 1

p. 1VER. 1.

Hear the Word of the LORD, ye Children of Iſrael; for the LORD hath a Controverſie with the Inhabitants of the Land; becauſe there is no truth &c.

IN this Chapter we have 1. A ſuit commenced. 2. God declares. 3. Judgment is pronounced. 4. Exhortation to Jud…h to beware ſhe comes not into the ſame condition. 5. Execution, the giving up Ephraim to himſelf, and unto Gods wrath.

For the fi…ſt, Iſrael is cited, Hear ye the 1W…rd of the Lord, ye children of Iſrael]

The knowledge of any truth (hard and grievous to fleſh and blood) to be the Word of the Lord,Obſ. is a ſpecial means to prepare the heart to receive it with reverence and all due reſpect. It was a hard Meſſage that Hoſ… had to bring, to tell them of Gods Controverſie; he therrefore makes thi… preface. … p. 2Word of the Lord. Hard truths are hardly born; but when the Authority of the Infinite God appears in them, be they either making for us or againſt us, our hearts muſt bow to them; they lay bonds upon the conſcience and bind over to eternal death if you reject them. 2 Chron. 26.12. Zedekiah, a King, is charged that he did not humble himſelf before the Prophet Jeremiah. Though the Prophet be never ſo poor and contemptible in himſelf, yet if he brings the word of the Lord, Zedekiah the king muſt humble himſelf before him.

2Ye children of Iſrael] In this appellation God puts them in mind of the covenant he had made with them and the… with him; you are not Heathens you are the children of Iſrael, in covenant with me, a people neer to me, yet I have a controverſie with you.

Obſ.The neerneſs of a people to God exempteth them not from Gods contending with them for ſin: Neither ſhould neerneſs to us exempt any from our contending with them. Deut. 13.6. If thy brother, the ſon of thy mother, or thy ſon, or thy daughter, or the wiſe of thy boſom, or thy friend which is as thy own ſoul, intice thee ſecretly to worſhip a ſtrange god, Verſe 8. thine eye ſhall not pity him, neither ſhalt thou ſpare, neither ſhalt thou conceal him, but thou ſhalt ſurely kill him, thine hand ſhall be firſt upon him to put him to death.Controverſies between thoſe that are neare are very grievous, Quid dicturus es ò Propheta qui tanta diligentia vocas ut audiatur verbū Domini. Oecolōp. in locum.

3. The neerer the …lation is between any the more grievous is the controverſie, if there be a controverſie at all. Hear the Word of the Lord ye children of Iſrael. It is a ſad thing for one Nation to have a controverſie with another; much more for a people to be at controverſie with it ſelf; Yet more when when the controverſie comes nearer, into the family, between husband and wife, between father and child, between deareſt friends who were before to each other as their own ſouls, controverſies there are very ſore and grievous, Prov. 18.19. A brother offended is harder to be won than a ſtrong Citie, and their contentions are like the bars of a Caſtle. Wind within the body is moſt troubleſom and dangerous.

Hear ye.] O Prophet (ſaies Oecoloppdius upon the place) what is it thou haſt to ſay that with ſo much earneſtneſs thou p. 3calleſt to have the word of the Lord heard; This is the ſolemn meſſage of the Prophet to this people, The Lord hath a controverſie with the inhabitants of the land.

The word tranſlated Controverſie, ſignifies a debate,foreign his expoſtulatio judiciū The Sepuag in t foreign judicium. the ſame word trā ſlated by them alſo foreign. Iob 29.16. Miniſters muſt plead for God, take heed they plead not againſt him.Job 29:16 a contention, it comes of foreign Contendere vel privatim vel coram judice, to contend privately or to come before a Judge; ſomtimes a cauſe pleaded in Law. As Exod. 23.3. Neither ſhalt thou countenance a poor man in his cauſe. That's the ſame word with this here, a Controverſie. The Lord hath a cauſe to plead with this people, it is the controverſie of the Lord; the Prophet ſtands up for God in his Name to plead againſt them, he pleads for the King, the King of Heaven: So ſhould all faithful Miniſters be ſure they be on Gods ſide, pleading his cauſe; For all Miniſters are Gods Sergeants at Law, his Attourneys, his Soliciters. The Kings Lawyers are ſworn, they ſhall never plead againſt him, or take fee on the other ſide; And yet how many even in the exerciſe of their Miniſtry ſhew that they have taken fee on other ſide! How do many plead againſt God, againſt his Sabbaths, againſt his Ordinances, yea, plead ſomtimes againſt the power of Godlineſs, againſt thoſe things wherein the chief dignitie & glory of God conſiſts! ſomtimes perhaps pleading for them but pleading more againſt them at another time. The Devil hath not more cordial Solicitors and pleaders for him than thoſe who would be accounted the Prophets of the Lord.

The Lord.] As if the Prophet ſhould ſay, Know, you have not to do with me, nor with Amos (who was contemporary with Hoſea, & a Prophet to Iſrael) though you think you can make your parts good with me and with the other Prophets, know God will not now ſtand pleading with you ſo much by his Miniſters, he will take the cauſe into his own hand and will plead, by his Judgments he will now take up the controverſie himſelf. The Lord tells the people (Gen. 6.3.) that his Spirit ſhould no longer ſtrive with them: what's that? That is, it ſhould no longer ſtrive in the way of No…h's Miniſtry, but he would come and ſtrive himſelf after another manner, by bringing the flood upon them.

p. 4… Gods pleading is, the more dreadfull.It is moſt dreadful for ſinners for God to take the controverſe into his own hand to contend with them in a way of judgment; It is a fearfull thing to fall into the hand of the living God You think Miniſters are hard, they preach terrible things; but if you have to deal with God immediately, if he ſhould not ſpeak to you by man but come himſelf and plead with you, you would find it harder to deal with him. When Jobs friends were pleadi…g with him, he could eaſily make his part good with them, but Chap, 38. ver. 1, 2. God himſelf comes and ſpeaks out of the whirlwind, Who is he that darken…th counſel by words without knowledg? and ſo goes on in a chapter or two; Chap. 42. ver. 5. Job falleth down now and ſaith, I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye ſ…eth thee, wherefore I abhor my ſelf and repent in duſt and aſ…es. Pſal. 130.3. is a notable ſcripture for this purpoſe, If thou Lord ſhouldeſt mark iniquity, Oh Lord who ſhould ſtand? Mark the words, how Lord is twice here repeated, it would have been full ſenſe thus, If thou Lord ſhouldſt mark iniquity who ſhall ſtand? There would have been a mighty emphaſi… in the word Jehovah, who ſhall ſtand, for it is thou oh Jehovah; but it comes in again, to Note that herein lies the Emphaſis, if thou Lord ſhouldſt mark iniqity, Oh Lord who ſhall ſtand? This Oh Lord ſeems to be a pleonaſme, one would think that it breaks the ſenſe, but the ſcope is to ſhew that the ſight of having to deal with God in our ſins, is very terrible, If thou Lord ma…keſt,ſin cauſes a dreadful controvercy between God and man. then Oh Lord who ſhall ſtand?

But further, that which is the main thing in this, is, That ſin cauſeth a moſt dreadful controverſie between God and the ſoul, between God and a Nation: For this God comes to ſtrive, to contend for his glory, & the ſiner ſtrives & contends againſt God.

1It is God that is infinitely above the ſinner, who hath the controverſie wi…h him, Iſa. 45.9. Wo unto him that ſtriveth with his Maker. Let the potſ…e…rds of the earth ſtrive with the potſheards. Yet thus doth every ſinful impenitent ſoul, and every ſinful impenitent Nation, they ſtrive with their Maker. The Lord is above them: therefore to intimate the diſtance between God and us in this controverſie; ſaith the text, The Lord hath a p. 5controverſie with the inhabitants of the land, poor earth-creeping creatures that have dwellings here below whoſe houſes are h…uſes of clay, and God is the great God of Heaven and Earth.

The controverſy that God hath with a ſinner is a juſt controverſie, 2God ha h right on his ſide, and the injury is great that is done unto him.

Thirdly, It is a controverſie that we have begun, God did 3not begin it with us, but we began it with him, we have the worſt of it.

Fourthly, It is an old controverſie a controverſy of our 4forefather…, a controverſie that God hath had with one generation after another, and we as a wretched generation ſtand forth to hold up the old controverſy. As in England in formertimes there hath been wars for hundreds of yeers (as in the Barons wars) and when one generation was gone, the generation after ſtood forth to hold up that controverſie; ſo it hath been between God and man, God hath had a controverſy with the children of men ever ſince the fall of Adam, and one generation after another hath ſtood forth to hold up the controverſie, and thou wretched ſinner ſtandeſt up in thy generation in thy place to hold up the controverſie that mankind hath had with God ſince his calling out of Paradice.

Fiftly, It is ſuch a controverſie as ſtirreth up all the Power 5all the Wrath of God againſt a ſinner, if God have any power in him, it ſhall be put forth in making his cauſe good againſt a ſinner, Levit. 26. diver… places in that chapter, If ye walk contrary unto me I will walk contrary unto you, my Power my Wiſdom all mine Attribu…es are againſt you. A man that hath a controverſy with another imployes and improves all the ſtrength he hath againſt him that he is at controverſy with.

This controverſie is a deadly controverſie, it is ſuch as 6ſtrikes at our lives, at our ſouls, at our eternal e…ates.

A controverſy with God who is ſet upon it to h…ve ſatisfaction 7for all the wrong we have done to him, he will have it one way or other.

Such a controverſie as only the Lord Chriſt that great Mediator, p. 68that great Peace-maker is able to make up; None can reconcile God and a ſinner but Chriſt God-Man, He muſt ſtand before God to ſatisfie for the wrong the ſin of man hath done unto him.

9A controverſie with him who hath thee at infinite advantage, who hath thee under his feet and the point of the ſword of his Juſtice is at thy heart.

10A controverſie (that if thou look not to it) is like to prove an everlaſting controverſie. Pſal. 57.16. I will not contend for ever, neither will I alwayes be wroth, for the Spirit ſhould fail before me. This is ſpoken to thoſe that are in Covenant with God, in regard of the leſſer controverſies that after their reconciliation may be between God and them: But with thee if not reconciled to God in Chriſt who art yet in the great controverſie that God hath with ſinful man, (I ſay if thou lookeſt not to it) it may prove an everlaſting controverſie to thee: Certainly God will overcome thee, God will have the day of thee, the Lord will overcome when he judgeth. Julian ſtrove a great while againſt the Lord, but at length Viciſti Galilae viciſti, he was forced to acknowledg with his blood caſt up into the air, The Lord hath overcome, the Lord will overcome.

It is a vain thing for thee to ſtand out ſtriving with this great God. Job 40.2. Shall he that comendeth with the Almighty inſtruct him? So it is tranſlated in your books, but according to the words in the Hebrew, and ſo tranſlated by Pagnin and others, Is there any wiſdom, or any learning in contending with God? any knowledge ſhewed in that? No certainly there is no knowledge, no wiſdome, no learning in contending with the Almighty: Our greateſt wiſdome is to fall down, to be humbled before the Lord. The Lord hath appointed a certain period for thy coming in to make up thy peace with him, to ſatisfie him; if thou neglecteſt that time thou art loſt, undone for ever.

My brethren this is no time to have any controverſie with God, to ſtand out againſt him in waies of enmity. It is time now when ſuch blackneſs of darkneſs is upon us even ſtorms of blood hang over our heads, It is time now (I ſay) p. 7however, to be at peace with Heaven, to make our peace with God. Job. 36.18. There is wrath, beware therefore that he take thee not away with his ſtroke. The Lord is come forth from his place, he is pleading his cauſe, and now in the waies of his adminiſtration he declares that he will have glory from his creature, he hath ſworn by Himſelf and the word hath gone out of his mouth in righteouſneſs that every knee muſt bow to him and every tongue confeſſe his Name, he ſeems now to reſolve he will have it ſo indeed, he will have all to bow before him. It is no time therefore now for us to have controverſies with God, to have controverſies with God and man both, with Heaven, and Earth, and Hell, and with our own conſciences and all. What ſhall become us? Be not thou a terror O Lord unto me (ſaith Jeremiah) for thou art my hope in the day of evil. If God be a terror, and the daies be evil,Ier. 17.Jer 17 what will become of us? It is time to fall down and make peace with God.

Conſider of this you who are ſo often in controverſies with your Neighbors: Remember in all your controverſies that God hath a great controverſy with you; And ſatisfie not your ſelves in this that you are able to cleer your ſelves before men, what is that ſo long a… this controverſy continues?

It is a dangerous thing to go on long in this controverſy with God; it is wiſdom to make an end of it betime, Pro. 17.14. The beginning of ſtrife is like the letting out of waters, wherefore leave off contention before it be medled with. The beginning of ſtrife eſpecially with God is moſt dreadful, if thou goeſt on but a little while, thine heart may be moſt deſperately ſet againſt God and for ever left to ſtrive againſt him, never to come in and be humbled before him. This is the reaſon (I verily beleeve) of the moſt horred wickedneſs of ſome men amongſt us: we wonder at it that ever any man ſhould dare to venture upon ſuch horrid wickedneſſes, one after another; Surely here is the reaſon, at firſt it may be when they were young there was ſome dreadful breach between God and their ſouls, they fell (though the world perhaps knew it not) into ſome foul and abominable ſin, and having made ſuch a dreadful breach p. 8between God and their ſouls then, they now go on deſperately and fight againſt the God of Heaven in ſuch a deſperate manner as never any age can cell us any examples of ſuch deſperate fighting againſt God as is in this age. God hath a controverſie with Nations alſo for their ſin. Thoſe who are to ſuit for God may wel charge us, that the Lord hath a controverſy with the inhabitants of the land at this day. If ever he had a controverſy with a people he hath it with us. The Lord hath a fearful controverſy with us, he hath moſt fearful things to charge this land with, I might inſtance in ſome things that are more peculiar to this nation than to any other upon the face of the earth.

1As the hatred, contempt, perſecution of the power of godlineſs; No nation upon the face of the earth hath that guilt in this regard upon it that England hath, nor never had ſince the world began, Perſecution of faithful & godly Miniſters, of the ſame Religion holding all fundamental Truths, yea, all the Articles of Religion, every point of the Doctrine of Religion together with them; (I ſay) never any Nation was guilty of that perſecution as we of this Kingdom are; Silencing many for …rifles and toyes; Perſecuting for keeping the Sabbath: It is true, other countries are looſe in their practice or the Sabbath, but no country upon the face of the earth hath ever perſecuted the keeping of it as England hath done; and that by the c…untenance of thoſe in authority. We are ſi ner and others are ſinners, but the Lord hath a controverſy with us for theſe things in a more ſpecial manner than with any people upon the fac… of the earth this day.

2This controverſy the Lord hath againſt us, is an old controverſy too. I may apply that text Jer. 32.31. that God ſpeaks concerning the City of Jeruſalem unto us, This Citie hath been to me as a pro…ocation of mine anger and of my fury from the day that they built it even unto this day. So ever ſince the Reformation hath begun have we bin a provocation to the Lord.

3Thirdly, A general controverſy even with all ſorts, a controverſy with our Kings and Princes, with our Nobles, o…r Gentry, our Cities, Countries, Univerſities, Common p. 9people, with wicked people, with godly people, with the Saints, with all.

Fourthly, It is the moſt unkind controverſie in regard of 4our parts that ever was in any Nation; for God had dealt with us in ſuch a loving way as he hath not done with any Nation in the world beſides, he hath made us even as the dearly beloved of his ſoul, and yet for all this we have contended againſt him. This unkindneſs goes even to the very heart of God.

Fiftly, The Lord hath ſent many faithful Ambaſſadours 5to plead his cauſe with us. He never to any Nation upon the earth ſent more faithful Ambaſſadours that have pleaded his cauſe with more power and evidence of the Spirit than to us in England, yet we have ſtood out.

Sixtly, We have had as many offers of mercy as ever people 6had. Many a time we have been upon the brink of Judgment and the bowels of God have been towards us and he hath ſaid, it ſhall not be.

Seventhly, The Lord hath been as patient, he hath ſtaied as 7long as ever he did with any people before he came to execution. Where do we reade of any people that have had a hundred yeers peace? (Ours is not much leſs;) Never that I know of in all the Scripture.

Eightly, The Lord hath had us at advantages as much as 8can be; we have broke as many treaties as ever people broke. When we ſeemed to yeild unto God, we have but flattered him with our lips and dealt diſſemblingly with him.

Ninthly, God hath broken the backs of others with whom 9he hath had a controverſy. He hath had a controverſy with Germany, and how hath he dealt with them? Thus he beginneth to deal with us. It is reported that in Germany when the war was but twenty or thirty miles off them, they went on in their trading and followed their buſineſſes, buying and ſelling and hoped that they ſhould be ſafe; ſo it is with us, Is not ſome part of England at this day as deſolate as Germany it ſelf?

Tenthly, Thoſe that knew moſt of Gods mind, have been p. 1010ſo afraid of this controverſie that they have fled for fear of the wrath of God, and we have ſlighted, jeered them for it, thought it was their fooliſh timerouſneſs and melancholly conceit; The Lord now ſeems to juſtifie their fear.

The Lord is now for the preſent out againſt us in as dreadful a way of wrath as ever he was againſt any people of the earth. I never read in Scripture nor in Hiſtory of a more dreadful wrath of God againſt a people all things conſidered, than is againſt us at this day. Amos, 7.4. The Lord calls to contend by fire: Surely the Lord doth it at this day, he calleth to contend with England by fire, in a moſt dreadful way, and who knows what the end ſhall be? That he hath a moſt dreadful controverſy againſt England at this day, will appear if we further take theſe conſiderations.

1Firſt, That a people complaining of bondage heretofore, yet when God offered deliverance, ſhould be ſo far left of God as they ſhall now rather be willing to make themſelves and their poſterity bond-ſlaves. Surely God hath a dreadful controverſy againſt us, it were elſe impoſſible that ſuch a thing ſhould be in the hearts of men. Men love liberty, they groan under bondage: We did groan but a few yeers ago, and the Lord was coming to help us, and yet we are now ſo left of God that we even turn again to our former bondage, and would have our ears to be bored that we might be perpetual ſlaves,

2Secondly, It is not only that we wil turn again to bondage, but this is out of a ſpirit of enmitie againſt the yoke of Jeſus Chriſt. This is the very ground and bottom of it, in a great part of the Kingdom, whatſoever yoke they have upon them they are reſolved they will not have the yoke of Chriſt out of a ſpirit of enmity againſt the Godly party, who deſire and endeavor Reformation.

At the beginning of this Parliament, when we began to have hopes of ſome liberty and reformation, Oh what a joy was there generally in the Kindom! all men agreed together; but when thoſe that were wicked and carnal began to ſee that their godly neighbours rejoyced & that they bleſſed God for p. 11what was done that they had their minds; now they turn out of a ſpirit of malice againſt them, rather than they ſhall rejoyce, rather than they ſhall have their minds, we will turn back again to the bondage we were in before, and we will ſtand and oppoſe that which heretofore we rejoyced in. Certainly here is the very ground of ſo much contradiction as there is at this day; They have therefore turned Malignants againſt that Cauſe which a man would wonder that ever rational men ſhould be againſt; But there is a ſpirit of malice againſt Chriſt and his Ordinances, fearing a reformation; they would have their luſts, and they think if reformation come they ſhould not have them with that liberty they have had; here is the very reaſon that the Gentry and others in the country are oppoſite; Surely God hath a controverſie with us.

Thirdly, That men ſhould ſo vily deſert thoſe whom they 3have choſen and truſted who have been faithful, thoſe Worthies in Parliament, who have ventured their lives for them, baſely and unworthily now to deſert them; it is one of the greateſt judgments of God upon the hearts of men, and therefore upon a nation that ever was. If they complain of them now, they would much more have complained of them if they had complyed; ſuppoſe the Parliament had made up a patched reformation and a crazie peace that uppon any occaſion we had bin in danger to have had war broken out again, would not the people of the land have cried out of their unfaithfulneſs? But now they venture themſelves and labour ſo hard for a ſound peace, therefore to be deſerted? An unworthy generation, a generation that we have cauſe to fear is become the generation of Gods wrath and the people of his curſe. People are affected according as ſucceſs is, we complain of thoſe in Parliament becauſe of ſome difficulties that are in the work, yet if they had not done what they did they would have complained much more. So of Miniſters, ſometimes Miniſters ſpeak and ſtir up people becauſe their conſciences tell them they ſhould be unfaithful to their country and to the cauſe of God if they did not; now they cry p. 12out as they did of Luther, that they are the trumpets of ſedition and rebellion; whereas on the other ſide if they ſhould ſay nothing, then people would have cryed out that they had betraied their Country and that they were not ſo faithful in their places as they ſhould, therefore people were ſo bad as they were. Thus hard it is for God or man to pleaſe people.

Again. That not only people ſhould deſert them, but that ſo many of Nobles, and ſome Members of the Parliament themſelves ſhould deſert their Brethren there, and joyn with Papiſts, French, and Walloons; When as not long ſince a company of vile wretches being gathered together to fight againſt our brethren of Scotland, and yet thoſe vile people could not be brought to fight againſt them by any means; But now not the vile ones, but Nobles, Knights, and Gentry can be brought to fight againſt the Parliament their own Brethren; Is not here a mighty hand of God againſt us? Could this ever be if God had not a dreadful controverſie againſt England?

4Fourthly, That men ſhould be ſo blinded as to think the Proteſtant Religion ſhould be maintained by an Army of Papiſts, that the Laws and Liberty of the ſubject ſhould be maintained by an Army of Delinquents and ſtrangers, yea, that the King with Papiſts, Delinquents, French, and Walloons ſhould better maintain the Liberty of the Subject and the Proteſtant Religion, than with the Parliament; That people ſhould come to beleeve this, is not the hand of God upon the people of this land? Are they not infinitely beſotted? can we think that men indued with reaſon ſhould do this? Surely were not the Judgment of God fearfully upon their ſouls it could not be beleeved that ever this ſhould be done by people that had any rationality in them.

5Fiftly, God ſurely calls to contend fearfully with us in that he ſhould ſuffer ſuch an ill cauſe to proſper ſo as it hath done and to get to that height as it is. It is that which is the amazement both of England and the Countries about us that ſuch an ill cauſe ſhould get ſo high and proſper ſo much as it hath done; Surely the Lord is againſt us or elſe it could not have been.

p. 13Sixtly, When there ſhall be ſuch a deſperate deſign ſo long 6a hatching, drawn forth in ſuch a ſeaſon and ſo driven on and now breaking forth in ſuch violence and yet men cannot ſee it. The tract of the deſign is a… cleer as the Sun at noon day and drawn on from one ſtep to another, by comparing of one thing with another we may ſee it as apparantly as the light. Would you not think it a beſotting thing if there ſhould be a train of Gunpouder laied along in the ſtreets from ſuch a place to the Parliament Houſe to blow it up and yet that men ſhould paſs by and ſay they ſee no ſuch thing? Certainly the drawing on of the deſign againſt our Religion and State, to bring us under tyranny and ſlavery, the tract is as evident and plain as ever there was train of Gunpruder laid to ſuch a place that men would willingly blow up; and yet men ſee it not. Surely Gods hand is out againſt us.

Seventhly, That we ſhould have ſo little fruit of our prayers 7as we have at this day, yea, that God ſhould ſeem to be angry with the prayers of his people, This argueth a fearful controverſy, and in this one particular among others; what prayers in England have been ſent up to God for the Palſgraves children, and that now inſtead of anſwering our prayers God ſhould ſend two Arrows as it were out of thoſe loins to do us miſchief, that it ſhould come from them for whom England hath done ſo much to maintain them and ſent up ſo many prayers to God for them, and in recompence of all they ſhould come hither to make havoke of the Kingdom. Surely the hand of God is out againſt us.

Eightly, That our brethren ſhould be ſo ſpoil'd and our 8ſelves in ſuch danger of drinking the dregs of the cup, yet where are our hearts? The judgment of God is upon the hearts of men that they ſtir not and act not like men, but they ſee their Brethren ſpoild before them and in the mean time all that which keeps them quiet is only that they hope they ſhall be the laſt. Gods hand is upon the hearts of men this could not be elſe. Could one ever have thought that Engliſh men could have born this? If one had told them before that there ſhould be an Army of Papiſts riſe up with p. 14French, Walloons, and Iriſh to ſpoil the Kingdom, to deſtroy our Brethren, would one have ever imagined that Engliſh men ſhould have born it and ſtirred no more than they have done? You talk indeed of this and that and of going forth every fourth man, but all ſuch reſolutions and ſuch great words of men do uſually ſink and fall down and come to nothing, a… if men were willing and content to lay down their necks upon the block. Surely the guilt of the blood of our Brethren may juſtly come upon us, and God may have a controverſie with us for ſuffering their blood to be ſpilt.

9Ninthly, That God ſhould put ſo many opportunities into our hands and we neglect all, thoſe opportunities of mercy: this is the hand of God againſt us and a fruit of his controverſy with us.

10What ſhall I ſay more? That God himſelf ſhould take away our opportunities, that when we are nigh to deliverance that God ſhould drive us back, this is an argument of a heavy controverſie indeed. Numb. 13. when the people were come very neer to Canaan and were even ready to take poſſeſſion, God was reſolved againſt them, that none but Caleb and Joſhua ſhould enter, they were beaten back again: now Chap. 14.33. it is ſaid that the people when they heard this, mourned greatly, they ſaw the hand of God out againſt them. The truth is we have been even in Canaan, Oh what an opportunity God put into our hands in the Weſt, I ſay not we loſt the opportunity, but there Gods own hand ſhewed it ſelf againſt us; Briſtol then might have been ſaved, but God would not; And ſo when we were even at our deliverance God ſeemed to drive us back, as if he told us, well I like not the buſineſs in hand, for this generation, I have ſomewhat more to ſay to them, it may be to their young ones I may ſhew mercy afterward, but againſt this generation my wrath ſhall be let out. Surely we may be afraid in regard of the waies of Gods preſent adminiſtration leſt this ſhould be in Gods heart. Howſoever let us conſider it and mourn greatly before the Lord. God hath a controverſiy with the inhabitants of the land.

It is no time now to have controverſies one with another, p. 15to be wrangling one with another, for this opinion and the other opinion. It is time for us now to lay down all our private controverſies and fall to the making up the controverſie with our God. It is no time now for Brethren to ſtrive with Brethren, but to ſtrive and wreſtle with …od in prayer. If we have any ſtrength with us, let it not be ſpent in contending one with another, but let all our ſtrength be ſpent in ſeeking to make peace with our God. It is ſaid of the Romans that they had a Temple of Concord and none were to go to offer any further ſacrifice but thoſe that came firſt to offer in the Temple of Concord. The Lord looks it ſhould be ſo with us, we ſhould come and agr…e one with another, lay down all our own controverſies and then give up our ſelves as one man to this great work to make up our controverſie with him. If two Chickins be fighting and the Kite come neer, they will leave picking one another and run to the Hen for ſhelter. We ſtand picking and ſnarling one at another, and many men that ſay they will do thus and thus for the publick cauſe, but they take exception againſt this man and the other man, and at this thing and that thing, and now their private grudges come in and that draws them away and takes them off; Oh let us not be picking now, the Kite is coming neer, let us run and ſhelter our ſelve… u…der the protection of God, that cannot be but by making our peace with him.

As for the controverſie that is this day between the King and us, we can in that appeal to God, that there is no juſt cauſe the King ſhould contend with us no hurt ever intended or done by us unto him. Only we deſire to deliver ou… ſelves from Tyranny and ſlavery. Our Priviledges and Libe…ties are deer to us, they are our Right as truly as his Honor is his. That which he inheriteth it was his for…fathers, & that which his forefathers, his predeceſſors inherited, it was at firſt from the People, they ſet up ſuch a family to rule and govern over them; and certainly they never ſet it up for any other end but only for the publick good, not for their miſery & ruin: We can appeal to God that we deſired nothing elſe but to l ve peacably and to ſerve God in our land, enjoying only w…at God p. 16and nature and the Laws of our land had made our own. We know the relation between him and us, and the bond it is mutual; and if there be any thing done now that perhaps cannot be juſtified by any poſitive explicite Law of the land, let men know that yet it may be juſtified by the very light of Nature and by the Law of Armes. It cannot be imagined but if thoſe that ought to be the protectors of the Law ſhould come againſt Law ſo hardly upon us, that we muſt have recourſe then to the Law and light of nature, it is impoſſible this ſhould be otherwiſe, and this God himſelf approves.

Whatſoever therefore becomes of this controverſy between him and us, whether reconciliation or not reconciliation, yet we have peace in this, that what we have done in the reſiſting of a deluge of miſery that was coming upon us, if we had not done it, our conſciences would have upbraided us, the generation to come would have curſed us, the Nations about us and our very enemies would have ſcorned us and derided us for our baſe cowardlineſs, for our ſordid ſpirits, for an unworthy generation that ſhould ſee it ſelf and poſterity ſinking into miſery and brought under ſlavery, and out of baſe fear and ſluggiſh litherneſs of ſpirit and effeminate ſoftneſs, ſhould ſuffer all to be brought into bondage to the humors and luſts of a few men. We can therefore with comfort and boldneſs ſtand at Gods Tribunal and plead the uprightneſs of our hearts and juſtneſs of our cauſe in this Controverſie whatever becomes of it. But in the controverſie that God hath againſt us, there we fall down at his feet and acknowledg our ſelves guilty before him, yea, we come with ſackcloath upon our loins and aſhes on our heads, with ropes on our necks, and plead only mercy for our lives. And this is the work that we have to do in all the daies of our humiliation, to ſeek to make an Atonement between God and our ſouls and the Land in regard of that dreadful controverſie he hath againſt us. Now bleſſed God, becauſe thou telleſt us in thy word, Becauſe I WILL do this, therefore prepare to meet thy God O Iſrael: Thou threatneſt hard, great and ſore evils, and thou calleſt now to us, becauſe Thou wilt do this, England, O England p. 17prepare to meet God; We come (Oh that this might be our anſwer) we come Lord and meet thee with our ſouls bowed towards thee, with our hearts bleeding that we have provothee to cauſe ſo much bloodſhed of our brethren amongſt us. O Lord our hearts are open to thee, and with trembling ſpirits we cry to the Lord, what wilt thou have us do? If thou proceedeſt againſt us in thy controverſie we are undone, we are undone, Oh Lord forgive, Oh Lord ariſe and be merciful we beſeech thee, for by whom ſhall Jacob riſe for he is ſmall? by whom ſhall the people ariſe? by whom ſhall the power of godlineſs and thine Ordinances be maintained?

How happy were we think ſome if the controverſie between the King and us were at an end, that we might have peace. Oh if the people were happy that were in ſuch a caſe, how happy the people that were at peace with the King of Heaven! If the controverſie between God and us were at an end we ſhould be happie indeed. The Lord and the Land is at a controverſie, and this controverſie makes us cry out unto God; but yet wo unto us, here is the miſery, we yet keep our ſins that make the controverſie. Jer. 35. Will the Lord reſerve his anger for ever? will he keep it unto the end? Mark what the anſwer is, Behold thou haſt ſpoken and done evil things as thou couldeſt. Thus you have ſaid, but what is the fruit of this? You have done evil as you could. We in the daies of our Faſts cry, Lord wilt thou reſerve thine anger for ever? wilt thou keep it unto the end? Behold thus we ſpeak, but yet we continue to do evil as we can. Iſa. 59.9. We looked for light (ſaith the text) but behold obſcuritie, for brightneſs but we walk in darkneſs, we grope for the wall like the blind: We indeed grope as if we had no eyes and we ſtumble at noon day as if it were night. Men to this day are ready to cry out and ſay, what ſhal we do? as if the way were not cleer before us what we ſhould do; The way is cleer enough if we had hearts, but we grope as if we had no eyes and we ſtumble at noon day as in the night. In many places of the Kingdom they roar out as bears, and they have cauſe to do ſo, For they are miſerably ſpoiled, their wives raviſhed, their houſes plundered, themſelves impriſoned; and p. 18for the reſt of us we mourn like doves night and day, and we look for judgment and there is none, and for ſalvation but it is far from us; Mark what follows, For our tranſgreſſions are multiplied before thee, (there is the ground of al the controverſie between God and us) and as for our ſins they teſtify againſt us, and our trangreſſions are with us. Surely my Brethren God is willing to be at peace with England again; the controverſy is great and ſore, yet we may confidently ſpeak that the Lord is yet willing to be at peace with England, and the ſufferings of England go as neer the heart of God as ours. Oh that we knew then what it is that is the great make-bate between God and us that we might get rid of it! Would you know it? 2. Sam. 20.21. ſaith Joab there, Deliver us Sheba the ſon Bichri and we will depart from the Citie and go every one unto his tent. If amongſt us Delinquents were puniſhed as they ought, if the hearts of people were prepared to have the remainders of ſuperſtition and Idolatry caſt out, if they were willing to receive Jeſus Chriſt as King among them, the ſound of retreat would ſoon be heard, the controverſie would ſoon be at an end; and except this be the foundation of our peace, either there will be no peace at all, or it will not hold long. In our raiſing of forces therefore to help our ſelves and our brethren (ſeing we pretend we will do more than before, and it is time we ſhould if we be not a people deſtinated to deſtruction and ruine) be ſure we begin here, let us do more than ever we did before to make up this controverſie with God. It is reported of Achior one of Holopherneſs his Captains that he counſelled Holopherneſs to enquire firſt whether the Jews had offended their God before he attempted to make war againſt them, for if they had, he then aſſured him that that would be their ruine and he might go up and overcome them, but if he could not hear that they had ſinned againſt their God it was in vain for him to ſtrive againſt them. Truly it concerns us neerly to make up our peace with God that when our adverſaries come out againſt us they may not indeed be made uſe of to avenge Gods quarrel upon us, for then they will eaſily improve all their advantages this way, and ſay indeed that they are not p. 19come out againſt us without the Lord; Every victory they now get they are ready to pleaſe themſelves in this and ſay that God fighteth againſt us, and God approveth them, they tell us the reaſon they prevail is becauſe God is againſt us, and ſo we know Rabſhekah did though a foul railer, yet ſaith he, Are we come up without the Lord? And the enemies of David Pſalm, 71.12. Mine enemies have ſaid, God hath forſaken him, now perſecute and take him, for there is none to deliver him: Thus they will be ready to ſay upon any occaſion, now the Lord hath left them, now let us take them: And certainly if the Lord ſhould ſuffer them to prevail many of them would think they do God good ſervice to ſlay and to root out that generation of Gods people that is here in England, and they would be confident that it is the mind of God that they ſhould be rooted out. Therefore we had need look to it to make up our peace with God that the controverſie between him and us may not prove to be their victory.

The Lord hath a controverſy with the inhabitants of the Land.

There are only two notes to be further obſerved hence. God having to deal with poor earthen creatures, he might preſently have let his wrath out againſt them and deſtroyed them: But Mark, God is willing to have his cauſe pleaded with vile creatures, ſo that all the while he is pleading there is time and ſpace for them to come in. This teacheth us this excellent leſſon:Obſerv. [That men ſhould be willing that the cauſe that is between them and their inferiours ſhould be pleaded, and not ſtand ſo much upon their ſuperiority, and ſcorn to humour an inferiour ſo much as to have any matter debated between them.] As husband and wife if a controverſie be between them, though the one be ſuperiour and the other inferiour, think it not much to debate it between themſelves with meekneſs and love, Job, 31.13. profeſt he did not deſpiſe the cauſe of his man-ſervent when he contended with him, but he would have that pleaded and made out. Jehovah, the mighty God condeſcendeth to put his cauſe to a ſuit, he will not paſs ſentence upon poor creatures til it come to a tryal. Be not ſurly and ſcornful towards your inferiours.

p. 20Another Note, [The inhabitants of the Land] lies a little more couched. The inhabitants of the Land, what Land? The inhabitants of the Land of Canaan, a controverſie with them. Mark, God fulfilled his promiſe in bringing them into the Land of Canaan, and now he pleadeth with them for the forfeiture of their promiſe. Pſal. 105.44, 45. he tells them that he had given them the lands of the Heathen, that they might obſerve his Statutes and keep his Laws, that was their condition. God fulfilled hi… part, he bringeth them into the land, but when they were in the land they minded not their part. You know God often gave them charge when they came into the land to do this and this, they promiſed they would do it, but when they were once brought into the land they forgot it, they forſook God. God now comes and pleads with the inhabitants of this land; As if he ſhould ſay, I have done my part in bringing you into the land, now I come to plead with you for breaking your promiſe and covenant. Take this note from hence. [Whatſoever mercy you have from God you are to look upon it as a fruit of Gods faithfulneſs to you (if you be Gods) and as a ground of your obedience to him, Obſerv.and his pleading with you if you walk not anſwerable to it.

The inhabitants of the Land.] Hierome hath another note upon it, but that is further off, I will only name it. Rightly ſaith he are they called to anſwer and to judgment that are the inhabitants of the land, and do not look upon themſelves as ſojourners and ſtrangers in the land; But he that can truly ſay with the Prophet, I am a pilgrim & a ſtranger here, ſuch a one can never do that which may cauſe God to have a controverſy againſt him. This is the reaſon men do that which cauſeth God to have a controverſie with them, becauſe they look upon themſelves as poſſeſſors of the land, and not as pilgrims and ſtrangers. But this is too far off.

The ſecond part followeth. [God declareth.] A ſute firſt is entred againſt ſuch a man, when the Court day comes, there is calling for a declaration, the Lawyer declares: God doth ſo, and the Prophet is Gods Lawyer, and here are three Articles put in thi… declaration, Becauſe there is no Truth, no Mercy, no knowledg of God in the land.

p. 21Firſt in general, that there is a declaration, take theſe two uſeful notes from thence.

Firſt, God contendeth not with a people without a cauſe. How many are there that ſtrive and contend one with another without any cauſe at all! they vex and rage, contend and ſue and great controverſies there are, but if we come to examin the cauſe we can find nothing at all; great dull is raiſed but whence is it? if we look to the bottom and examin wherefore it is, we can ſee juſt nothing, they themſelves know no cauſe, they can give no rational account of all their pleading, one againſt another. As David ſaid to Eliah his eldeſt brother, 1 Sam. 17.29. when Eliah came and wrangled with him, ſaith David, What have I now done? is there not a cauſe? Eliahs ſpirit was up through his envy, chiding and wrangling with David; but what have I done ſaith David, have not I cauſe for what I did! Thus many have their ſpirits up, chiding and wrangling, but examin the cauſe, and they can ſhow none at all. How many are there of bitter ſpirits, who even go about like mad-dogs, ſnarling at every one, even at thoſe they know not, with whom they had never any thing to do, yet cry out againſt them, railing upon them every where! Ask them, do you know the man? can you prove any hurt againſt him? The truth is they know him not, they are not able to make good what they ſay, only there is a general noiſe of ſuch and ſuch men that they do thus and thus, and ſo they bite and ſnail, and rage againſt them, but when all comes to all they know no cauſe. Such and ſuch men they ſay diſturb the Kingdom and trouble the people, a grea… deal of cry but little wool, the foundations of the earth are out of order, but what hath the righteous done? You would think when you hear ſuch railings and cryings out againſt ſuch and ſuch men, that they were the moſt monſtrous men upon the earth, but examin what it is that they have done, there is nothing. God doth not ſo with you, God never contendeth with man but for a juſt cauſe.

Secondly, Becauſe there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledg of God in the land, but by ſwearing, and lying, and ſtealing &c. p. 22From whence in the general there is this, God contendeth not againſt a people for little things,Ob…. when God ſaith he hath a controverſie with the inhabitants of the land it is not for trifles, for ordinary infirmities, for dayly excurſions, but for great notorious things. Not that little things do not deſerve a controverſie, but it is from the vertue and fruit of the Covenant that this comes to paſſe; in others that are not in Covenant little things make a controverſie, but between Gods children and himſelf they are not little things that make a controverſie. But men are of froward ſpirits, every trifle is enough to make a controverſie between them. Yea, uſually th… greateſt controverſies between neereſt friends is ſome trifle or other. Is there a man and his wife live lovingly and ſweetly many yeers, do they fall out afterwards? Is there a bitter controverſie? Examin it, it is but about ſome toy. So between one brother and another. I could give you examples in Hiſtories of great and bitter controverſies that have been between neereſt friends upon ſmall and trivial grounds. I remember Camerarius tells us a ſtory of two brethren, theſe two walking out in a ſtar-light night, ſaith one of the brethren would I had a paſture as large as this Element, and ſaies the other would I had as many Oxen as there be Stars; ſaies the other again, where would you feed theſe Oxen? in your Paſture, replied he; what whether I will or no? Yea ſaid he whether you will or no; what in ſpight of me? yes ſaid he; and thus it went on from word to word till at length each ſheath'd his ſword in the others bowels. This verifieth that ſaying of James, Chap. 3.5. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth! So it is in many families, ſometimes perhaps a look is the beginning of a great controverſie, one thinks ſuch a one doth not look lovingly upon him, and then he begins to ſuſpect that things boil within him, perhaps afterward ſome words come forth that may ſeem to argue diſcontent, and then that word begetteth another, and that other a third, and ſo a miſerable breach cometh to be in a family. It is an argument that theſe people have Gunpouder ſpirits that a little ſpark of fire can ſo quickly blow them up. Truly the p. 23controverſie here in England the ground of it at the firſt beginning was little enough on our parts; Only were it not that there had bin a deſperate deſign in our adverſaries, it were impoſſible that ſuch a little beginning ſhould ever come to that height. But God doth not ſo, they are great things for which he hath a controverſie with the inhabitants of the land.

But what is it? what is the declaration? No truth, nor mercy, nor knowledg of God in the land. Theſe three eſpecially, the firſt doth exceeding neerly concern us.

Firſt, No Truth. God is a God of Truth, he is true in all his waies. He juſtly pleads with them that have dealt falſly with him. No truth; No reality in their Religion, that is ſomething, but that is not all. God comes upon them for the breaches firſt of the ſecond Table; for they ar… more convincing; we have greater advantage againſt a natural man to convince his conſcience in thoſe than in matters of Religion. If you ſpeak to them concerning ſins in matters of Religion, they will ſay they acknowledg the true God and they worſhip him. Well, therefore the Prophet begins firſt herein the matters of the ſecond Table, concerning the want of truth between man and man; As if he ſhould ſay, Talk what your will concerning your worſhiping of the true God, there is no truth between one another, you deal falſly and cruelly, and are mercileſs to your brethren, never therefore talk of Religion and of acknowledging the true God.Obſ. Thence the Note is this. [That it is in vain for any man to talk of his Religion, if he make no conſcience of the ſecond Table as well as the firſt.] For a man to talk of praying, and hearing Sermons, if he be cruel and hard hearted, and falſe in his dealings, the Lord rejecteth all let him talk what he will.

No truth in your dealings one with another. Firſt there is abundance of flattery amongſt you. You flatter one another in your ſin, you do not deal unfainedly one with another. You flatter your Princes, and your Princes have little truth in their Courts. It was once a ſpeech of one, All things were plentiful in the Court but only truth. And this is the unhappineſs of great men that thoſe that are about them uſually deal p. 24falſly with them. You ſhall ſeldom know one that deals truly with great men, they tell them that their bloodſhedding and ruining of Kingdoms is but the maintaining of their juſt Honor and Prerogative. I have read of Dioniſius his flatterers, that when he ſpit upon the ground they would lick it up and then tell him that that ſpittle was ſweeter than any Ambroſia and Nectar, the ſweeteſt that ever they taſted, meerly to pleaſe him: And ſo you have many that are neer to great men, though they ſee them do things never ſo abominable; things that make never ſo great breaches between God and them, between them and people, yet they tell them that they do more bravely than ever any of their Anceſtors did. There is no truth.

Truth here ſome take for Juſtice. Thus it is ſometimes taken in Scri…ture. Zech. 8.16. Speak ye every one the truth to his neighbor, execute the judgment of truth and peace. As if he ſhould ſay, you do not execute juſtice upon Malignants that are in your power; you ſpeak of raiſing Arms to fetch in Delinquents, but you execute not judgment upon thoſe that you have in your hands, you will have God in a ſolemn manner to be bleſſed becauſe he hath delivered you from them, but judgment is not executed in truth as it ſhould be. Nor No Mercy: That is, you ſhew no mercy to the innocent; you talk of indulgence, your indulgence to Delinquents is cruelty to innocents, Oh how many of our brethren in Oxford and other places ſuffer moſt dreadful things becauſe theſe here enjoy ſo much liberty and have ſo much favour as they have. So there is neither mercy to the Innocent not juſtice to the Nocent.

But the ſpecial thing here intended is, That you are not true in your dealings nor in the truſt committed to your charge; There is no equitie in your dealings. Iſa. 59.14. And judgment is turned backward, (it is turned upon thoſe that it ſhould not be executed upon) And juſtice ſtandeth a far off. If one be greater than another, the meaneſt ſhall come under the ſtroke of juſtice and be executed, and the greater not: And truth is fallen in the ſtreets; how comes that in? Thus, as if he ſhould ſay, It is true, they that are in place of Authority will not execute p. 25judgment and juſtice, but are not the common people faithful in their dealings one with another, No, Truth is faln in the ſtreets: this ſeems to refer to the multitude; And equity cannot enter; the word that is here tranſlated Equity, comes of a word that ſignifies a thing that is juſt before one; As if he ſhould ſay, thoſe very things that one would think were as plain (as we ſay) as the noſe on a mans face, things that are ſo evident, that are juſt before us, that have ſo much equitie and reaſon in them, yet thoſe things cannot enter, thoſe things cannot be entertained, there is ſuch a general confuſion amongſt the people, ſuch a corruption among them, they are ſo ſet upon wickedneſs, that things that are equal and plain according to common ſenſe and reaſon, yet it cannot enter into their hearts, they will not receive it. And is not this in a great meaſure our condition at this time?

There is no Truth, they are falſe in the truſt committed to their charge. Oh here is a controverſie indeed that God may have againſt us. Was there ever a time that either England or any other country knew when there was ſo much falſneſs in men in the truſt committed to them? All things in Iſrael at this time were come to that confuſion, that through the falſneſs of men any thing of the greateſt conſequence that might be was betrayed. It is a ſign of Gods fearful wrath upon our Nation that there is no truth in men, when people are leſt to the treachery and perfidiouſneſs of others; that ſuch whom one would think one might be confident of their truth, nay venture their lives upon it, yea, ſuch as a long time before were truſtie; yea, truſtie to admiration, yet at laſt when they think they may ſuffer, [their own ends are not ſo clear to attain to as at firſt] they will betray all that truſt that is committed to them and venture even their own undoing rather than endure further hazard in that way of truſt. Such curſed ſelviſhneſs is there in the hearts of men that have not the grace and true fear of God to ballance their hearts; they will even betray God himſelf and a whol Kingdom for their own private ends. But what an unworthy thing is this for men to betray publick truſt when ſo much miſchief may come p. 26upon it meerly for their own ends; It is as if a man ſhould ſet an houſe on fire to roaſt an egg: what are mens own particular ends in compariſon of a Kingdom? not ſo much as an egg in compariſon of an houſe. This was the complaint in Micah's time of Judah as well as of Iſrael here, Micah was contemporary with Hoſea, Mic. 7.5. Truſt not in a friend, put ye no confidence in a guide, keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy b ſom: A mans enemies (ver. 6.) are the men of his own houſe. But though there are many of them thus corrupt and there is no truth in them, you cannot tell how to put any truſt in them, are there not ſome of them better? Mark the 4. verſe. The beſt of them is a bryar, the moſt upright is ſharper than a thorn hedg. In evil times you ſhall find thoſe whom you moſt confide in to be ſo froward in ſome of their waies, ſo perverſe, that if you go to them for ſhelter, they will prick you; even thoſe men that you cry moſt up, thoſe whom you think to receive moſt from, yet when evil times come their ſpirits will be ſo ſtirred that if you come to them for ſhelter you ſhall find them extream perverſe: And this indeed is the day of the perplexity of a Kingdom, what ſh…ll we do in this caſe? Mark the 7. verſe Therefore will I look unto the Lord, I will wait for the God of my ſalvation, My God will hear me; As if he ſhould ſay, If I look unto man I have little help there, little comfort there, the beſt of them is a bryar, if I truſt in men and look for any help from men, I ſee what they will do, verily every man is altogether vanity; therefore our condition is very ſad and miſerable, Lord what ſhall we do? I will look to the Lord, I will wait for the God of my ſalvation, My God will hear me; Men cannot ſave me, God will hear me though they will not.

Obſerv.Gods controverſie with Covenant-breakers, with thoſe that betray their truſt, is very dreadful. I will ſhew you an example or two out of the Scripture and out of Hiſtory.

Firſt that notable place in 2 Sam. 21. when there was a famin in the daies of David three yeers together, David would know what the matter was, God gave him this anſwer, That twas for Saul and his bloody houſe, becauſe he ſlew the Gibeonites; p. 27Becauſe Saul would not keep that truſt to the Gibeonites that was promiſed them, God therefore brings a famin upon the whol Land for three yeers together: And I beſeech you mark the aggravation here of Gods diſpleaſure againſt any that break truſt; firſt this promiſe was not made by Saul, but by Sauls Progenitors, and it was made above three hundred yeers before his time, And then to whom was it made? unto a Heatheniſh people, to the Gibionites; And this promiſe they got deceitfully, they deceived Joſhua and ſo got it by craft; further it was a promiſe made them without asking counſel of God, ſo the text ſaith, Joſh. 9.14. Again, this promiſe was againſt the mind of the congregation, verſe 18. All the congregation murmured againſt the Princes: Again, Saul when he ſlew the Gibeonites he did not do it out of a perfidious ſpirit, but out of a good intent, for ſo the text ſaith, 2 Sam. 21.2. He ſlew them in his zeal to the children of Iſrael, becauſe he thought that the Gibeonites remaining amongſt them would perhaps prove ſome hinderance to the good of Iſrael. Further, this work of God comes not upon Saul then when he broke the truſt, but upon his poſterity afterward, and that ſhews it to be greater wrath. Laſtly it comes ſo upon them as it will not be appeaſed till it hath their lives: you may ſee then how God is ſet upon it to revenge promiſe-breakers.

Another example as notable as that, is in Ezek. 17 15. when Zedekiah the King of Judah had made a Covenant with the King of Babylon, and broke it, he rebelled againſt him in ſending his Ambaſſadours into Egypt that they might give him horſes and much people; Shall he proſper ſaith the Lord? ſhall he eſcape that doth ſuch things, or ſhall he break the covenant and be delivered? This covenant was made with a wicked man with a Tyrant, and yet God calls it his Oath and his Covenant, ver. 18. And then with what an Emphaſis doth God ſpeak this. He deſpiſed the Oath by breaking the Covenant when lo he had given his hand yea ver. 16. God profeſſeth it ſhall coſt him his life, Surely ſaith the Lo d, in the place where the King dwelleth that made him King, wh…ſe Oath he deſpiſed, a…d whoſe Covenant he brake, even with him in the middeſt of Babylon ſhall he dye: yea further, p. 28God ſweareth againſt him and that by his own life, ver. 19. Therefore thus ſaith the Lord God, at I live ſurely mine Oath which he hath deſpiſed, and my Covenant which he hath broken, even it will I re…ompenſe upon his own head: Then further, God tels him that all the ſtrength that he had got to him and all his policie and all his cunning devices ſhould not help him, ver. 20. I will ſpread my net upon him and he ſhall be taken in my ſnare, and I will bring him unto Babylon and will plead with him there for his treſpaſs that he hath treſpaſſed againſt me: And laſtly, the wrath of God ſhall not only be upon him, but upon all thoſe that joyned with him and a bet him in the breaking of this covenant, ver. 21. All his fugitives with all his hands ſhall fall by the ſword, and they that remain ſhall be ſcattered towards all winds. I know not two ſcriptures more full for Gods being ſet to contend with men for breach of promiſe. Oh take heed all you that are intruſted in any publick truſt that you break not covenant.

And as you have examples of this in the Scripture, ſo there is alſo an example or two in Hiſtory which are exceeding full for this purpoſe. I ſuppoſe that is known unto you of Rodolphus, who having ſet his hand to a Covenant with Henry the fourth which he afterward brake, and his right hand coming to be cut off, his conſcience accuſed him, Oh ſaith he, This is that right hand that ſubſcribed the Covenant, and now God revengeth the breach of it upon this right hand. But above all that is the moſt remarkable that is in the Hiſtory of the Hungarians, concerning Ʋdiſlaus the King of Hungary, and Amurath the great Turk; they report that Ʋdiſlaus making war with Amurath, having before promiſed the contrary; in a battle between them the Turk had the worſt of it, AMURATH being there and having with him the Covenant made between the King of Hungary and him, and ſeeing himſelf put to the worſt, he plucked forth the Covenant out of his boſom and with his eyes fixed toward Heaven he ſpeaks thus, This Oh Jeſus Chriſt is the Covenant that thy Chriſtians have ſtruck with me, O holy Jeſus they have done it in thy Name and ſworn by thy Majeſtie, and yet they have violated it, they have perfidiouſly denied their God; Now Oh Jeſus if thou beeſt a God as they ſay and as we gueſs thou art, revenge this wrong that is done unto me and unto thy p. 29ſelf upon theſe that have violated their faith and promiſe, and do thou ſhew unto us that do not know thy Name that thou art an avenger of ſuch as betray their truſt, and then we ſhall know thee to be a God. Now juſt upon this God ſo ordered it that the Hungarians having the better of the day, they through covetouſneſs of the prey broke off the fight & fel upon the loaden Camels, whereupon the Turks totally routed the Hungarians, Ʋdiſlaus their King was ſlain, and a famous Victory left unto Amurath.

Thus you ſee how God will be avenged for the breach of truſt, certainly God will follow thoſe that have been guilty of it; we ſee it apparantly how God follows them already. And indeed if we have to deal with men that are popiſh**As Rodolphus & Vdiſlaus were. how is it poſſible that we can confide in them in any thing they promiſe, in any thing they agree to? For we know it is their very opinion, that fides non ſervenda hereticis, faith is not to be kept with hereticks; This Is their opinion they hold, that for the Catholick Cauſe they may break al their truſt, promiſes and covenants. Certainly that people are beſotted that ſhal ſo depend upon thoſe that are Papiſts and carried away by Papiſts, as to lay their lives, their liberties, and their outward comforts at their feet, at their mercy; for certainly there is no truth in them. The Nations of the earth are even beſotted in this, that they will ever make any covenant, any league with Papiſts who hold ſuch an opinion that they may break all their Covenants for the Catholick cauſe. What a caſe ſhould we be in if we lie down at the mercy of thoſe that have no truth in them, when afterwards we ſhall find they break aſſunder al their bonds of agreement and all their covenants, & then we our ſelves know that this was their opinion before, and that they would enter into league and make peace with us meerly to ſerve their own turns, and when they have what they would have then to make our eſtates, lives, and liberties to be a prey to them? But we muſt let that paſſe, only this in a word added to it.

Nor no Mercy.] The Merciful God ſets himſelf againſt Unmerciful men, and hath a dreadful controverſie againſt them; And when this controverſie cometh to be pleaded, Unmerciful men will be confounded before the Lord; For God will p. 30lay his plea thus, What you that ſtood in ſo much need of mercy every moment to keep you out of Hell; You that lived upon mercy continually as you breathed in the air; You who are begging at my gates every day? You who are undone for ever it you had not mercy ſupplied every hour, and yet You unmerciful to your brethren? This plea wil ſtop the mouths of all Unmerciful ones. It was the controverſie that God had with Sodom it ſelf, bec…uſe they were Unmerciful: Much more than hath God a controverſie with the inhabitants of the land of Iſrael if they be unmerciful. Ezek. 16.49. there God laies his charge, his plea againſt Sodom, That they did not ſtrengthen the hands of the poor. Unmercifulneſs it is a ſin againſt the very light of nature. Joſephus in his 15. book of Antiquities, Chap. 12. reports this of Herod that wicked and ungodly king that we reade of in the Goſpel, That there being a great famine in Judea, he melted all his movables of Gold and Silver that were in his Pallace, he ſpared nothing of his Plate either for the preciouſneſs of the matter, or for the excellency of the faſhion of it, no not ſo much as thoſe veſſels wherein he was daily ſerved at his table, but he melted them all and made money of them, and ſent this money into Egypt to buy Corn, which Corn he diſtributed unto the Poor, and he appointed Bakers to provide bread for ſuch as were ſick, and he provided raiment for the naked, becauſe the ſheep were likewiſe dead and the poor had no work; yea he ſent to his neighbors the Syrians Corn that might be Seed-corn for them to ſow the ground with. This was that wicked Herod, and yet in time of publick calamity thus merciful was he to the poor. Surely God muſt needs have a controverſie with Iſrael then, with Chriſtians then that have received ſo much mercy from the Lord if they ſhall be unmerciful in times of common calamity. And if ever unmercifulneſs were a vile ſin and provoked God againſt a people, it muſt needs do now at ſuch a time as this, when there are ſo many objects of pity and commiſeration daily preſented before us: If this ſhould but prove to be our charg, that there is no mercy in the land at this day, God muſt needs have a fearful controverſie againſt us. The p. 31whole land cannot be ſaid to be charged now as at ſome time it might have been. Not long ſince in England there hath been crying out of violence and wrong, thoſe which ruled over us have ruled over us with violence, rigour, and cruelty, according to that complaint Ezek. 34.4. With cruelty and force have ye ruled my people. They have turned judgment to wormwood, Amos, 5.7. Their Courts of Juducature that ſhould have been for right judgment have been turned into bitter wormwood and have been full of cruelty. What have many of them cared for the lives, for the comforts of thouſands, for the extremitie of all miſery they ſhall ſuffer, ſo be it their own humors and their own luſts might be ſatisfied, as if all other men were but as dogs except themſelves? The Lord doth at this day charge this upon ſome of them, and will charge it more. I remember once a ſpeech of a reverend Divine in this, Citie, now with God, whom you all honored when he was alive, being put into that Court, the high Commiſſion, when he came home one day from thence he tells this ſtory of what he obſerved there. I heard (ſaith he) crying out much of Grace, and pleaſe your Grace, and much crying out of peace, if there were any noiſe, then peace peace, but I ſaw no MERCY th…re ſaith he, nothing at all but Cruelty.

Jer. 50.17. you may ſee in what indignation God doth take it, for men though the greateſt upon earth to be cruel to his people, This Nebuchad rezza… King of Babylon hath broken his bones; Who was this Nebuchad rezzar? A mighty great Prince, yet God looks upon him with indignation when he ſees him breaking the bones of his people. We have amongſt us thoſe who as Pſal 27.12. breath our cruelty, and indeed they act nothing leſs, there is cruel hatred in their hearts and waies, according to that Pſalm, 25.19. No marvel therefore though heretofore our brethren left the Kingdome, becauſe they found ſuch cruelty here there was no mercy in the land; they did but according to that which the Church calleth the members of it to, Cant. 4.8. Come with me from Labanon from the Lyons dens, from the mountains of the Leobards. When they went from us, they went from the Lyons dens, and from the mountains p. 32of the Leopards; No marvel now the Lord is ſo ſevere againſt our Land, becauſe there hath been ſo little mercy in the land. That is the ſecond Article againſt Iſrael, That there was no Mercy.

The third is, Nor no Knowledg of God in the land.] In the Hebrew it is, And no knowledg; but now Vau that is there for And, it ſignifies ſometimes quia, as well as et; And ſo it may indeed be well rendred here, Becauſe there is no knowledg of God in the land; the reaſon why there is no mercy is becauſe there is no knowledg of God: The knowledg of God will make wicked men to be merciful men. Cruel men know not God. Theſe two are put together and joyned moſt elegantly in Pſal. 74.20. The dark places of the earth are ful of the habitations of crueltie (ſaies the text.) The knowledg of God will make men civil and humane at leaſt, but when there is no knowledg of God men grow cruel and ſavage. And do we not find this to be true at this very day? From what places are men that do now riſe up to be plunderers, to ſhed blood, to be cruel in moſt deſperate outrages, from what places are theſe men beholden for their aſſiſtors and abettors this way? Are they not beholden to places where they are in ignorance, where they have no knowledg of God, where there is no preaching? In the Countries round about obſerve thoſe Pariſhes, thoſe Towns, where there hath been leaſt or worſt preaching, where they have had leaſt knowledg of God, there you have moſt malignants, that are bloody and cruel. No mervail then that our adverſaries are ſuch enemies to the faithful preachers of the word of God; no marvel then they are made the But of their malice; for indeed if they bring the knowledg of God into the land they will bring humanitie, civilitie, they will bring mercy and love, and there wil be few or none that will be fit for their turns. Indeed it is their complaint of the Parliament that they ſet ignorant men in places, but certainly this complaint is but a pretence, for it were better for their turns that all the congregations in England had but ignorant men, had no men to bring the knowledg of God amongſt people; but they know well enough what ever they ſay, that p. 33thoſe that are ſent are ſuch as do bring the knowledg of God among people, and there is nothing does them more hurt than this knowledg of God.

No knowledg of God.] This is a heavy charge indeed: Powr out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not, Jer. 10.25. Though they be Heathens and yet know not God, the wrath of God is to be poured forth upon them, ſurely then Gods wrath muſt be upon Iſrael that know not God. And Iſa 2….11. They are a people of no underſtanding, therefore he that made them will not have mercy upon them, he that formed them will ſhew them no favour. 2 Theſ. 1.8. The Lord Chriſt ſhall come in flaming fire to render vengeance upon thoſe that know him not. What no knowledg of God? what glory then can God have from ſuch a people? God hath done great things in the world, he hath manifeſted himſelf an infinite and a glorious God, and his end in all that he hath manifeſted himſelf in is, that Angels and men might behold this, might adore, admire, worſhip, fear, and praiſe him; but where there is no knowledg of God, there all Gods glory paſſeth by and there is no notice taken of it, to what purpoſe is the world made? ſuch an one can never ſanctifie the Name of God in any duty of worſhip. in the uſe of any creature: where there is no knowledg of God, there al good is kept out, there the unclean ſpirit a ſpirit of darkneſs dwels: when the Crow hath picked out the eyes of the Lamb then it makes a prey upon it; As in dark vaults there are toads and filthy creatures, ſo in dark ſoul there are crawling and filthy luſts; As in blind Alehouſes there is abundance of diſorder, ſo in a blind heart, there is abundance of diſtemper and diſorder.

No knowledg of God.] The Septuagint turn this word Knowledg **foreignby a word that ſignifies acknowledgment, there is no acknowledgment of God in the land. People ſhould walk ſo in all their waies as to hold forth the glory of that great God they do profeſs. If they know God to be ſuch as he is revealed in all his Attributes and works, they ſhould in their lives (I ſay) ſo walk as to hold forth this before the children of men. I appeal to you in this: Perhaps ſome of you can p. 34ſpeak concerning God, and tell us what God is, and concerning his Attributes, yet are your lives in your families, in your converſations, ſo as that one beholding them may ſee written the glorious Attributes of God upon them, that you hold forth theſe glorious Attributes, that in all your waies you carry with you the glory of the great God holding forth your fear of this God, your love of this God, and giving up your ſelves to this alſufficient God who is worthy of all. There ſhould be thi… acknowledgment of God as well as knowledg, and God hath a controverſ…e with a land with a-familie, with a particular ſoul when there is not an acknowledgment of God in their waies.

But no knowledg of God in the Land.] In the land, here is the Emphaſis. Oh this is a very ſad thing: What not in the land of Iſrael no knowledg of God? Pſal. 76.1. In Judah is God known, his Name is great in Iſrael. It is expected that God ſhould be known in their land, and for God not to be known there; he was not known to any people in all the world but Judah and Iſrael; and here ten Tribes are charged for not having the knowledg of God in their land. Surely they refuſed to know the Lord, they ſhut their eyes againſt the knowledg of God, they ſay to God, depart from us we deſire not the knowledg of thy waies. Men may live where there is the means of knowledg and yet be ignorant all their daies. How many men of excellent parts in reſpect of all outward affairs, in the country and Citie, come and ſpeak to them about matters of State, they will ſpeak underſtandingly about them, they have deep reaches for State affairs; ſpeak to them about the affairs of Merchandize, of their trades, they will ſpeak underſtandingly; but ſpeak to them about God, about Chriſt, about the things of eternal life, how poorly, how weakly, how childiſhly, how ſottiſhly ſhall you have them ſpeak about thoſe things! Men of parts and living under much means yet may be very ignorant of the knowledg of God. Howſoever the want of knowledg may ſeem to be a little matter, even in pl…ces where there is means, yet let men know that it is a fearful brand of reprobation for people to live under the p. 35means and not to have the knowledg of God, 2. Cor. 4.3. If our Goſpel be hidden, it is hidden to thoſe that are loſt. And it is pronounced as a great curſe for a man to live without knowledg, Job, 36.12. They ſhall periſh by the ſword, and they ſhall die without knowledg. Oh how many at this day do periſh by the ſword and die without knowledge? It concerns us now to get the knowledg of God becauſe the ſword may be neerer us than we are aware of, and what will become of us if it fall out to be our portion to periſh by the ſword and to die without knowledg?

But though they had ſome means of knowledg, yet their means did grow very ſhort. And there are two ſpecial reaſons why Iſrael at this time was without knowledg, why there was no knowledg of God in the land of Iſrael.

Firſt, Becauſe that Jeroboam had in the defection of theſe ten Tribes of Iſrael, ſet up the loweſt of the people in the place of the Prieſts Office. Any man that deſired to be a Prieſt though never ſo baſe and vile, Jeroboam would ſet him up. In the 1 of King. 12.31. there you ſhal find it, He made an houſe of high, places, and made Prieſts of the loweſt of the people which were not of the ſons of Levi; no mervail then they had not the knowledg of God amongſt them. Thus it hath been in Ireland, and therefore no mervail ſo little knowledg of God there, any tradeſman that ſcarce underſtood right reaſon, leſ… divinity, he was ſet up there to be a Prieſt, and what horrible cruelty hath been there! So in England: howſoever ſome of them complain of ignorant men that are in the Miniſtry, the truth is they have ſet up men of far leſs underſtanding in former times: for a little money to a Biſhops Clark might not any tradeſman, any caſt butlar from a gentlemans houſe, any caſt ſervingman, might they not come into orders and reade their prayers and ſo become a Prieſt? This hath been the cauſe of much ignorance. How many caſt Servingmen have had places in doing what they can do, when as learned and godly Divines muſt be caſt out of the Kingdom and denied to have any libertie to preach the knowledg of God unto his own people! Here is the reaſon of our ignorance p. 36even that which was Jeroboams ſin, the letting of the loweſt of the people in the Miniſtrie; And now that there is an examination of men, we find what abundance of vile men there are in places, and thoſe people in thoſe places are alike to them, ſuch Prophet ſuch People, and the truth is people love to have it ſo. That which is complained of, in 2 Chron. 15.3. that for a long ſeaſon Iſrael had been without the true God, and without a teaching Prieſt. This Iſrael includeth both Judah and Iſrael, for ſometimes it doth ſo in Scripture. Iſrael had been (ſaith he) without the true God and without a teaching Prieſt: thi… was a ſad condition indeed that Iſrael ſhould be without a teaching Prieſt, and without the Law; And mark how they are joyned, and without God; A people are without God that are without a teaching Prieſt, without the Law. If they have not means to inſtruct them in the knowledg of God they are a people without God. But now ma…k what follows upon this, ver. 5. In th…ſe times the…e was no p…ace to him that went out, n…r to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries, and Nation was deſtroyed of Nation, and City of City, for God did vex them with all adverſity. Truly our condition comes to be almoſt like to the condition of Iſrael at that time. And here we may ſee what the fruit of this controverſie was, they were without a teaching Prieſt and without Law, and in thoſe time; there was no peace to him that went out and to him that came in, but great vexation there was, Citie deſtroying Citie, and Nation deſtroying Nation, for God did vex them with all adverſity. Oh how doth the Lord even vex us at this very day! and this as a fruit of Gods controverſie with us, becauſe there is ſo little knowledg of God in the land.

And the ſecond reaſon why there was ſo little knowledg of God in that land at that time, is this, Becauſe the pure Worſhip of God and his Ordinances were ſ…ut out of doors, and mens inventions were brought in in the ro…m of them. For ſo it was, after the ten Tribes defection from Judah, then they left the right worſhip of God, to worſhip in the Temple at Jeruſalem, and they ſet up their Calves in Dan & B…thel, and ſo brought in their own p. 37inventions inſtead of the true worſhip of God; And no mervail though there came diſmall darkneſs upon the land when this was. That is certain my brethren, When ever the pure Ordinances of God and the right way of his worſhip is ſhut out from a Kingdom, there will come wofull darkneſs upon that Kingdom. The right knowledg of God vaniſheth when mens inventions in his Ordinances come to be honored. As painted glaſs in your windows hindereth the light, you may daub your glaſs by paint, but you will have the leſs light by that; ſo the more inventions of men there are in Gods worſhip the leſs light comes into the heart of the people. As ſome not contented with ordinary plain letters they make ſuch flouriſhes about them that you can ſcarce tell what they are; you ſhall have ſome write their names with ſuch flouriſhes that you can not tell what to make of them; ſo many men that will not content themſelves with plain Ordinances, with the Ordinances of Chriſt, but they muſt have flouriſhes of their own inventions, at length you know not what to make of them, they come to darken the right underſtanding of the mind and truths of God. To the Law and to the Teſtimony, (ſaith the Prophet) if they ſpeak not according to theſe it is becauſe there is no light in them. If they will leave the Law and the Teſtimony and will go according to their own inventions in Divine Worſhip, it is becauſe there is no light in them, they are in darkneſs, and they will bring darkneſs upon the people. Coloſ. 2.22. it is ſaid of the rudiments of the world and the Ordinances of men, th…t they periſh in th… uſe: that is, there is no efficacy at all in them to do any good unto the ſouls of men. Our adverſaries call Images and Pictures lay mens books to teach them; but the Scripture tels us they teach a lye; And if they be lay mens books, there are many Errataes in them, they are full af Errataes in every Page and more Errataes than true lines. The beſt that we can ſay of any Ceremonies brought into the Church by men, (becauſe people would ſtrive and ſtudy to excuſe the firſt Reformers) that they thought at that time there was ſome uſe of them in reg…rd of the dulneſs of men, for ſo they ſay in the Preface to p. 38the Common Prayer Book, that it was to ſtir up the dull minds of men. But mark, if it could poſſibly be imagined that there could be any uſe of them at the firſt, in the firſt Reformation (which indeed there was not, but rather they did hurt and made mens minds more dull, as I dare appeal to you, thoſe that have lived continually under ſuch inventions of men in Gods worſhip.) But if poſſibly (I ſay) there could be imagined any uſe of them at the firſt, the beſt is that they were but as Horn book, and fiſtcue… for the childhood and infancy of the Church. They ſay themſelves that they needed ſuch things, but to put the beſt gloſſe on them, they needed them but as children need Horn books and fiſtcues. And is it ſeemly alwaies to learn upon them? what knowledg ſhall be got if when you ſet your children to learn to reade they ſhall be kept ten, twenty, or thirty years to their Horn books? Now thus would our Prelates have debaſed people to keep them continually to learn the knowledge of God by their Horn-books and fiſtcues.

Now take theſe two reaſons together, Unteaching Prieſts, and Mans Inventions, they keep out the knowledge of God from a people; And they are brought on purpoſe to bring blindneſs, becauſe that is moſt fit and ſutable to the deſign that men have to bring people under ſlavery. So it was here, Jeroboam at that time when Hoſea propheſied, his deſign was to bring the people under ſlavery, to keep them from the houſe of David to be his ſlaves, and what courſe doth he take? He firſt ſets up the baſeſt and loweſt of the people to be their Prieſts: and ſecondly he introduceth falſe worſhip, and that brings in blindneſs and ignorance, and ſo by this means he knew he ſhould ſoon bring them under ſlavery. And nothing is more cleer than this, that it hath been the deſign of many that would have been Rulers of the Church, they have labored with al their might, (as ſervicable unto others) to b…ing blindneſs and ignorance into the Land, that ſo they might bring the land under ſl…very and there is nothing hath vexed them more, than that there is ſo much knowledge in the land, therefore their ſpiries were ſo enraged at peoples flocking p. 39unto Sermons? it was even matter enough to ſilence any Miniſter to have people flocking to hear him preach; ſo they were enraged at peoples repeating of Sermons in their private families, becauſe it was a way to bring in knowledge. Any thing that was a way to bring in knowledg, their hearts were enraged againſt it, why? Becauſe they knew knowledg would keep men that they would never bear ſlavery; And truly it is a very ſtrange thing, that though in ſome Countries (as in Wales and in other places) where men have not knowledge they are contented to come under ſlavery; but that in theſe parts where there is, though not ſo much as ſhould be, yet ſuch a degree of the knowledg of God as there is, one would think it impoſſible that men ſhould ſuffer themſelves to be brought into ſlavery here; and that they fear moſt. We reade of the Philiſtims that when they had taken Sampſon, they put out his eyes, and then they made him to grind in the Mill. So theſe men would fain make us to grind in the Mill, (as it is ſaid ſome have threatned to make the Dames of London to work for a peny a day in Bridewel) They would fain make you al ſlaves, but firſt they would put out your eyes, they would take away knowledge and then they know they ſhall ſoon make you ſlaves. Well, the Lord hath promiſed, Iſa. 25.7 That he wil deſtroy the face of the covering caſt over all people, and the vail that is ſpread over all Nations; And mark: In that day (ver. 9.) it ſhall be ſaid, Lo, this is our God, we have waited f…r him, and he will ſave us. O come Lord Jeſus, come quickly and deſtroy the covering, the vail that is upon the eyes and hearts of a great part of the people of this Lrnd. The work would ſoon be done if the Lord would but deſtroy the vail of darkneſs that is upon the eyes and hearts of people, and we ſhould triumph in our God and ſay, Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will ſave us, yea he hath ſaved us. And thus much for that third Charge of this people here, That there was no knowledge of God in the land. Now we come to the ſecond Verſe.