Israels Call to March out of Babylon Unto Jerusalem, Title page – Dedication
ISRAELS CALL TO MARCH OVT OF BABYLON UNTO JERƲSALEM: OPENED IN A SERMON BEFORE The Honourable Houſe of Commons aſſembled in PARLIAMENT, Novemb. 26. 1645. being the day of Publique Humiliation.
By John Durye, a Member of the Aſſembly of Divines.
Publiſhed by Order of the Houſe of COMMONS.
LONDON, Printed by G. M. for Tho. Vnderhill, at the ſigne of the Bible in Wood-ſtreet. 1646.
Die Mercurij 26o. Novemb. 1645.
ORdered by the Commons aſſembled in PARLIAMENT, that Sir Gilbert Pickering, and Sir John Clotworthy, do give thanks from this Houſe to M. Durye, for the great pains he took in the Sermon he preached this day, at the intreaty of this Houſe, at St. Margarets Weſtminſter (it being the day of Publike Humiliation) and to deſire him to Print his Sermon. And it is ordered that none ſhall print this Sermon without being authorized under his hand-writing.
H. Elſynge, Cler. Parl. D. Com.
I Appoint Thomas Vnderhill to print my Sermon.
John Durye.
TO THE HONOVRABLE HOVSE of Commons aſſembled in PARLIAMENT.
THe great work of Reformation which is put into your hand, hath many and great advantages: That it is undoubtedly a work which God alone can bring to paſse: That he will in his own time accompliſh it: That it cannot be wrought any other way, then by the advancement of the Goſpel of Chriſt: That none can be instrumentall in it, but ſuch is are the trees ofIſa 6…. 3. 4. Righteouſnes, the planting of the Lord, by whom he may be glorified: That to ſuch the Lord hath promiſed, that they ſhall build the old waſts, and raiſe up the former deſolations: That none can oppoſe the work, but ſuch as hate to be reformed, and know not the joyfull ſound of his truth: That all ſuch as wait for God in the way of his judgements, can be helpers in it: That the decree is gone forth againſt Babylon, that ſhe ſhall be laid waſte: That theſe are pronounced bleſsed, who ſhall take and daſh her little ones againſt the ſtones; and that you are ſo deeply engaged in this work, that you can have no temporall ſafety nor ſubſiſtance, but ſo farre as you proceed in it; ſo that now you muſt either fall utterly, and draw with you into ruine the other reformed Churches; or elſe ſecure them and your ſelves by the building up of Zion: all theſe are exceeding great advantages, which I am perſwaded, you doe underſtand and can truly value. Therefore when I ſpoke unto you, I found a freedom of ſpirit, in love to the cauſe and to you, which opened my mouth, as without fear, ſo with an aſſurance of acceptance: and although the ſhortnes of the time would not ſuffer me to proceed and come to a full application; yet I hope that if the thing which hath been delivered, which in obedience to your Honourable command I have here publiſhed, (ſo neer as I can remember, both in ſenſe and words) be laid to heart, and rightly apprehended, the main matter of my meſsage will be in due time effected by the grace of God in your ſpirits, which is, to know the true relation wherein you ſtand towards the Church of God; what the mystery of Babylon is; and what you ought to aim at in raiſing up the walls of Jeruſalem within your ſelves. If time would have given leave, I ſhould have added ſomething concerning the extent of your building, that you muſt not make the walls of your Ieruſalem too narrow in compaſſe, but be mindefull that they ought to receive all thoſe that are going out of Babylon with you.
I mean, both your own and forreign Proteſtants, whoſe eyes are upon you, and whoſe peace and ſafety is wrapt up in your proſperity: and how farre ſoever you ſhall think good in due time to look with an eye of brotherly correſpondency towards them: (whereof to put you in minde is a part of my duty, and therefore I now deſire to crave leave, that at a convenient ſeaſon I may be permitted to offer the means thereof unto you) yet in the mean time I may have confidence and rejoyce in this, that the engagement which God hath put upon you by your Covenant, is ſuch, that you cannot poſsibly be reconciled unto Babylon, if you be faithfull to it. And in your faithfull reſolutions I dare promiſe unto my ſelf, that the Prophecie of Ieremy the Prophet ſhall be accompliſhed by your proceedings, namely, that they ſhall Ier. 5. 26.not take of Babylon any one ſtone for a corner, nor a ſtone for a foundation: but that it ſhall be deſolate for ever. If thus you are reſolved to depart and goe out from her, and anſwer effectually the call which is given, to touch none of her uncleannes; you may be ſure that the work of the Lord and his good pleaſure, ſhall proſper in your hand. You ſhall be exalted in his truth, and beautified with his holines, when he filleth Sion with judgement and Righteouſnes. And you may make ſure of the promiſe which followeth the words of my Text, that you ſhall not need to proceed in haſte, nor goe out by ſlight, becauſe the Lord will go before you, and the God of Iſrael will be your rereward. And that this may be ſo, I ſhall never ceaſe to make mention of you before the Lord at the Throne of Grace, as it becommeth
Your Honours Moſt humble and affectionate Servant in Chriſt, Iohn Durye.