Nehemiahs Tears and Prayers for Judahs Affliction, Sermon

Nehemiahs Tears and Prayers for Judahs Affliction · Sermon

p. 1A SERMON PREACHED Before the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS at their Monethly Faſt on April 24. 1644.

NEHEMIAH 1. 3, 4.

And they ſaid unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivitie there in the Province, are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Ieruſalem alſo is broken down, and the gates thereof burnt with fire.

And it came to paſſe when I heard theſe words, that I ſate downe and wept, and mourned certaine dayes, and faſted, and prayed before the God of Heaven.

THe firſt Verſe of the words read (if you look back to that next before) are the anſwer of Hanani and certain Verſ. 1.men of Judah unto a queſtion moved by Nehemiah being then in Shuſhan the Palace, the winterhouſe Lavater ex Athenaeo, lib. 1…. cap. 3. Antiquitar. lib. 10. cap. 5.of the Kings of Perſia: Joſephus relates the ſtorie thus: Nehemiah meeting certaine ſtrangers entring the gates of the Citie Shuſhan, perceiving them to have come a long journey, and hearing them ſpeaking one to another in the Hebrew tongue, he demanded of them whence they came, they anſwering that they came out of Judea, he puts a two-fold queſtion p. 2unto them, one how it ſtood with the people of the Jewes, that were returned out of the captivitie, and then in the province of Judea; the other what the condition of Jeruſalem: And in the former words of the Text they give anſwer to both (and it was a ſad anſwer) for the Jewes that came out of the captivitie, they are in a very miſerable condition, in great affliction and reproach, under many hard preſſures, full of ſcorne and contempt, and for Jeruſalem it remaines ſtill in its old ruines, the wals continue broken downe, the gates burnt with fire; and if we ſhall adde to theſe the time Nehem. 1. 1. 2. ….Neh 1:1Neh 1:2when this report was made, which will appeare by comparing the firſt verſe of this Chapter with the firſt of the ſecond, to have been in the twentieth yeare of Artaxerxes the King, we have, as I conceive, the ſumme of that which the former verſe holds out.

In the latter you may ſee how this ſad report affected Nehemiah, it put him alſo into a ſad condition, when he heard how it was with the people, how with Jeruſalem, he wept and mourned, and it was not a little ſuddain melancholick fit for a time, but it held out certain dayes; and to ſhew that this mourning of his was reall, did really affect him, that it came indeed from bowels of pitie and compaſſion towards the people and the citie, it put him upon thoſe meanes, that (if any) would miniſter reliefe to the citie and people, and make way for their freedome from former preſſures, and expedite the repaire of preſent ruines: And theſe are two, he faſted and he prayed, and in the latter you may conſider unto whom he prayes, to the God of heaven, if you looke to the laſt verſe of this Chapter, you ſhall finde Nehemiahs maine requeſt was to the King, that he might finde favour in his ſight, his ſuit was to a man on earth (ſo he calleth him in that verſe, this man) yet he goes to heaven for the obtaining of it, as knowing it would little availe him to goe unto the King, unleſſe he went firſt unto God to move the Kings heart, he had ſmall hope that his petition could ſpeed with man, which had not firſt been preſented unto God.

Here is ground you ſee for varietie of obſervations, I ſhall doe, as you uſe, when you goe to a ſhop furniſhed with choice of ſeverall wares, you will not take all that may be had, but only ſuch as beſt fit your occaſions; So ſhall I by Gods aſſiſtance out of this varietie obſervable from the Text, endeavour to ſingle out what I conceive will beſt ſuit with our preſent times▪ and ſomewhat further the duties of this day.

p. 3Obſerv. 1. Jer. …9. 10, 11.Jer 9:10Jer 9:11You ſhall heare the Lord before the Captivitie making a gratious promiſe by the Prophet Jeremiah unto the people of the Jewes; when 70▪ yeares are accompliſhed at Babylon, I will viſit you, and performe my good word towards you, in cauſing you to return to this place, for I know the thoughts, that I think towards you, ſaith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evill, to give you an expected end. Here was a pretious Promiſe made before they knew the miſerie, that ſhould make them ſtand in need of ſuch a Promiſe: And the Lord began to make this good, when in the firſt yeere of Cyrus, according to that Promiſe, the Lord ſtirred up the Ezra 1…, 2, ….Ezra 1:2ſpirit of Cyrus by Proclamation to grant free liberty unto all the people▪ to goe up unto Jeruſalem, and to build the Temple: And if ver. 5.you goe to verſe the fifth, you ſhall ſee how fairely the work proceeded, The Lord ſtirred up alſo the ſpirits of the chiefe of the fathers of Judah, and Benjamin, and the Prieſts, and the Levites, with all them whoſe ſpirit God had raiſed, to goe up, to build the houſe of the Lord, which is in Jeruſalem.

And yet many yeares after (as you ſhall heare in the following paſſages) comes this ſad report to Nehemiah, that all was at a ſtand for Jeruſalem, The remnant of the people that are left were in great affliction and reproach: the wall of the citie remained broken downe, and the gates thereof burnt with fire.

An expected end God had promiſed, and queſtionleſſe the people of the Jewes had long looked for the accompliſhment of this promiſe, but it muſt not come yet, they had more affliction to ſuffer, the wals of Jeruſalem muſt remaine longer in their ruines, and the gates in their aſhes.

Thus we ſhall find the Lord often dealing with his Church and people, they ſeldome injoy any great bleſſing, or enter upon the fruition of any ſpeciall promiſed merciemercy, but it coſts them deare: God made a mercifull Promiſe to Abraham, that he would give Gen. 15. 7.Gen 15:7him and his poſteritie that goodly land of Canaan, yet they muſt pay deare for this before they had it, Know of a ſurety, (ſaith God) that thy ſeed ſhall be a ſtranger in a land that is not theirs, and ver. 13.they ſhall ſerve them, and they ſhall afflict them foure hundred yeares. They muſt not look to have ſo pleaſant and fruitfull a land for nothing; No it muſt coſt them deare, many yeares hard ſervice, a great deale of affliction, they muſt go through an iron furnace, p. 4Deut. 4. 20. Gen. 15. 17. Gen. 37. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Pſa. 105. 17, …8. Divino ju l…io quod de…l…r are conatiſunt rea… tendo ſer…erunt, Greg Moral. l 6. c 1…. Ideò venditus eſt à …ra…r…b…s Ioſeph ne a…oraretur …ed …deò eſt adoratus, quia venditus, ſic div…um conſil…um du… devitatur, impletur, ſic bumanaſaptentia, du n reluctatur, comprehend t…r, Id ibid. Iſai. 65▪ 17, 18, 19. Rev. 21▪ 1, 2, 3, 4. 2 Pet. 3. 13.Deut 4:20Gen 15:17Gen 37:5Gen 37:6Gen 37:7Gen 37:8Gen 37:9Ps 105:17Ps 105:8Isa 65:17Isa 65:18Isa 65:19Rev 21:1Rev 21:2Rev 21:3Rev 21:42 Pet 3:13ſo is Egypt called, repreſented (as it may ſeeme) to Abraham in his viſion in that ſmoaking furnace: another inſtance may be that of Joſeph, who was aſſured that he ſhould have the honour which his dreames had promiſed, but it muſt coſt him his being ſold for a ſervant, his caſting into priſon, his feet hurt with fetters, he was laid in it on, or as the margent, his ſoule came into iron, and hitherto he was brought into a far lower condition, then he was at the time of his dreames, yet ſee the over-ruling Providence of the moſt wiſe God ſo diſpoſing, that every deſcent into a lower condition, was made unto him as a ſtaire to aſcend unto that honour which his dreames had promiſed.

To come neerer unto our ſelves, and that which concernes the Church in this latter age of the world, there was a glorious Promiſe made to the Church by that Evangelicall Prophet Iſay, Behold, I create new heavens, and a new earth, and the former ſhall not be remembred, nor come into minde. But be you glad and rejoyce for ever, in that which I create. And John the Propheticall Evangeliſt gives the Church ſuch aſſurance of this, as if he had then ſeene it performed, I ſaw a new heaven and a new earth: for the firſt heaven and the first earth were paſſed away. And I John ſaw the holy citie, new Jeruſalem comming downe from God out of heaven. And the Church expecteth the accompliſhment hereof, We, ſaith the Apoſtle, according to his Promiſe, look for new heavens, and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteouſneſſe. It is now the Churches expectation, we looke with John to ſee this new heaven, and new earth, and to behold that holy Citie comming downe from Heaven, we hope the Lord at this preſent is about this worke: but goe back to the former part of this prophecie, and you ſhall finde, that the Church muſt not have this new heaven and new earth, till it hath paid deare for them, you may ſee from the eighth Chapter to Rev. 12. 3, 4, 13, 15, 17.Rev 12:3Rev 12:4Rev 12:13Rev 12:15Rev 12:17this 21. what the Church paid for this before ſhe had it; I will inſtance only in the 12. and 13. Chapters, in the former you have a great red dragon, that is, as our beſt Interpreters take it, the Devill, and what miſchiefe he did to the Church, you may find in ſeverall paſſages of that Chapter, he ſtood before the woman, which was to be delivered, for to devoure her childe as ſoon as it was borne, not being able to devoure the childe, he perſecuted the woman which brought forth the man childe, caſting out of his mouth water as a p. 5floud after the woman, that he might cauſe her to be carried away of the floud, and when no prevailing againſt her, he went to make war with the remnant of her ſeed, which keepe the Commandements of God, and have the teſtimonie of Jeſus Chriſt.

Rev. 13▪ 1, 7, …1, 14.Rev 13:1Rev 13:7Rev 13:14In the next Chapter there is one beaſt riſing out of the ſea, having ſeven heads and ten hornes, the heatheniſh Romane Empire, And to him it was given to make war with the Saints, and to overcome them, ver. 7. in ver. 11. there is another beaſt riſing out of the earth, the Papacie, which had the power of the firſt beaſt, and did by many lying wonders deceive them that dwell on the earth; what the Church hath ſuffered by the crueltie and ſubtiltie of theſe two beaſts, the hiſtories of the Church doe abundantly manifeſt: It coſt the Primitive times the tortures and bloud of many thouſand Martyrs before truth and peace ſetled by Constantine and Theodoſius▪ I need not tell you what our owne Kingdome, Germanie and France paid for the beginning of Reformation.

If you would have my thoughts, why the Lord in his wiſdome ſelleth his choice mercies at ſo deare a rate, I conceive it may be, Reaſ. 1 1. To try what eſteem his Church hath of thoſe mercies it looks for; the Church of God in all places expects great mercies, we of this land at this time look for ſpeciall favours, we look for the Reformation of what is amiſſe in Church and State, for an eſtabliſhment of Truth and Peace, the Lord now would trie how we eſteeme theſe, how we prize them, what we are willing to pay for the injoyment of them, we will not give much for that which we value at little, large offers argue an high eſteeme: God is now trying the hearts of England, great matters are expected, but how doe we prize them? ſurely it cannot be better knowne, then by what we will give for the purchaſe of them: Will we part with all to injoy them? Doe we thinke our whole eſtates, our children, our neereſt friends, our deareſt bloud not too deare a price to pay for them? It is an undoubted evidence, that we highly prize thoſe things which we neither will nor can want whatſoever they coſt us, when all that we have, and more if we had it, ſhall freely goe for them, and queſtionleſſe that wiſe merchant could no way ſo fully manifeſt his Matth. 13▪ 46.Matt 13:46eſteeme of the pearle to be more worth then all he had, then when he ſold all that he had, and bought it.

Reaſ. 2 The Lord doth this to worke a greater eſteeme of theſe mercies, p. 6when he is pleaſed to beſtow them: health is much prized by all, but more by thoſe that have lyen many yeeres upon the bed of languiſhing: Libertie is ſweet unto and deſireable of all, but moſt of thoſe that have knowne the hardſhip of a long impriſonment; the violence and danger of a ſtorme makes a ſafe harbour the more welcome: Mark 5. 25, 26, …7.Mark 5:25Mark 5:26Mark 5:7the diſeaſed woman that was cured of her iſſue of twelve yeares continuance, would have taken it for a great favour, if any of the Phyſitians ſhe made uſe of could have cured her, but when ſhe had ſpent all, and found her ſelfe not the better, but the worſe, then Chriſt to come and heale her without any further coſt or pains but only the touch of the hemme of his garment, could not but work in her a greater and more thankfull eſteeme of her cure: The Joh. 5. 2, 4, 5, 6, 7.John 5:2John 5:4John 5:5John 5:6John 5:7impotent man at the poole Betheſda, that had an infirmitie thirtie eight yeeres, would have been very glad if any man would have helped him into the water, when the Angel troubled it, and it was his complaint to Chriſt, that he could find no ſuch favour from any, now when after ſo long waiting, man would doe nothing for him, for Chriſt to come and heale him with a word, it could not but work in him an high eſteeme of that comfortable healing: Abraham much deſired a child, and ſo deſired, that when God told him, Gen. 15. 1, …. Gen. 17. 17. Gen. 21. 6, …8, 12. Riſerat pater admirans in gaudio, riſerat & mater dubitans in gaudio, ſed ſide confirmata ri…s …l…e non al irride… dum opprobr…i, ſed ad celebrandum gaudium pertinebat. Aug. de Civ. Dei, l. 18▪ c. 31.Gen 15:1Gen 17:17Gen 21:6Gen 21:8Gen 21:12I am thy exceeding great reward, he replies, Alas, Lord, What wilt thou give me, ſeeing I goe childleſſe? as if all that God could doe for him was nothing, till God gave him a childe: The Lord did at length give him a childe, but it was when Abraham and Sarah were out of all hope, and ſee how this affected both their hearts, the Text ſaith, Abraham laughed at the promiſe, he grew to ſuch an exceſſe of joy, that he could not containe himſelfe from laughter: and Sarah when the Promiſe was made good, and Iſaac borne, God, ſaith ſhe, hath made me to laugh: though her former laughter proceeded from unbeliefe, yet this from joy; and to ſhew the height of joy, whereunto this merciemercy had raiſed them, their ſon muſt beare the name of their joy, be called Iſaac, that is, Laughter, Gen. 21. 3.

It is ordinarie with us, what coſts little, we doe not uſually eſteeme much, and we can eaſily part with it; our common Proverbe, Lightly come, lightly goe: but ſuch an eſtate, ſuch an houſe coſt me ſo many thouſands the purchaſe, ſo much in building, ſo much in furniſhing, and other accommodations for my content, p. 7ſo that I laid out my whole eſtate, nay, hazarded my life in running through ſome dangers to compaſſe it, what part with this? No, I will rather part with my life then forgoe this: Surely, I am perſwaded, that Reformation, juſt Liberties, and Priviledges, with other Mercies we now expect, if the Lord pleaſe to give unto us our expected end; or if this favour denyed to us, yet vouchſafed to our poſteritie, I am perſwaded (I ſay) that we and they will farre more prize and eſteeme theſe, by how much more they coſt our fore-fathers and our ſelves ſuch loſſe in eſtates, ſo much bloud to purchaſe and obtaine them at Gods hand: Is not then that done for Religion, for Reformation, the aſſurance of juſt Liberties, and after Peace which we expect, and for which we have long pray'd, yea, and pai'd much alſo, ſurely it is to be feared, and we may probably conceive, that we are not yet come to Gods price, England and Ireland muſt both bid more and abide more, before they enter upon thoſe great deſired mercies. Hath it coſt us much of our eſtates alreadie? 'tis ſomewhat probable it muſt coſt us more, ſuppoſe our whole eſtates, nay, our lives, yet that pearle in the Goſpel, the Kingdome of God in its power and puritie will prove more worth then all.

Ʋſe 1 It is a wonder to ſee too many hazarding the loſſe of heaven to leave a great uncertaine eſtate to their poſteritie on earth, and ſhall we thinke much at the coſt of our purſes, nay, of our lives, if God call for them, to leave unto a Kingdome, to a Church, to ſucceeding ages a more cleare and prevailing way and meanes to that immortall inheritance, that is prepared and reſerved for the Saints in Heaven.

Souldiers will never grudge the hazard of limmes, of life, ſo they may get the victorie, and what ſhould diſhearten or diſmay any who…e hearts the Lord hath inclined to further the work in hand, willingly and cheerfully to lay out themſelves, and what they have in their power, whereby they may help the Lamb to overcome, and to ſet Chriſt upon his Throne, that this and all the Kingdomes of the earth may be his, who is the King of kings, and Lord of lords.

It is ſtoried of Epaminondas that having received by a ſpeare Aemilias P…cb… in vita Epaminond….his deaths wound in the battell betwixt the Thebans and Lacedemonians, the ſpeare head remained in the wound till he heard that his armie had gotten the victorie, and then he rejoycingly commanded p. 8it to be plucked out, his bloud and life iſſuing forth together, with theſe words, Satis vixi, invictus enim moriar, I have lived enough that die unconquer'd: and being told a little before his death that however he had loſt his life, yet his ſhield was ſafe, he cryes out by way of exulting, Vester Epaminondas cum ſic moritur, non moritur, your Epaminondas thus dying, doth not die.

Epheſ. 6. 16.Eph 6:16There is no ſhield like that of faith, and if the heart be right, he may die with comfort in that cauſe, which preſerves life in the doctrine of faith, leaves that ſafe and entire: Oh tell me, is it not an eſtate well weakned, that ſtrengthens the power of Religion? is it not a life well loſt, that helpes to ſave the life of truth? and yet a life ſo loſt (if we dare take Chriſts Word) is not loſt, but ſaved, Mark … …5.Mark 5Whoſoever ſhall loſe his life for my ſake, and the Goſpels, ſhall ſave it: ſince then we heare what Gods people have paid for ſuch mercies as we expect, if we have not hitherto received what we deſire▪ let us think, we are not yet come to that price which God lookes for, and which theſe great mercies muſt coſt before we have them.

Ʋſe 2 Again, when the Lord was about the raiſing up and imploying good Nehemiah for perfecting the worke of the Courts of the Temple, and repairing the ruines of the citie Jeruſalem, had that which was alreadie done coſt the people much affliction, many ſufferings, and doth there yet come a ſad report of the low, afflicted and deſpiſed condition of the Jewes then in Judea, let the conſideration hereof helpe to ſupport the ſpirits of Gods people in their moſt ſad dejecting times: you have heard there is a new heaven and a new earth promiſed, a Jeruſalem to come downe from heaven, a glorious building going up: And you know they which build large and great houſes, being to ſet them upon hollow and falſe ground (as we call it) are forced to dig very deep before they lay the foundation, and uſually when we ſee work-men digging very low for a foundation, we preſently conclude, here is ſome great building, a frame of more then ordinarie weight to be ſet up: I hope this is the Churches preſent caſe; it hath been brought very low in Germanie, in Ireland, in our own land, and we truſt the Lord is all this while digging the foundation, this is the work the Lord ſuffereth the Churches enemies to labour in, to prepare the ground-worke for erecting in his Church a glorious fabrick, that theſe at the worſt ſhall be but the Lords mattocks and ſpades, and p. 9if the Lord be ſtill pleaſed to continue them at their work in Ireland, in England, it is to be feared, that it may be, too many of the Iriſh hearts are yet to God-ward as rotten and hollow as their bogs, and we in England, though we have firmer ground, yet I doubt as falſe hearts, a great deale of hypocriſie, hollowneſſe, and rottenneſſe remaining, ſo that the Lord, though he have alreadie gone very deep, brought us low, is not yet come to firme ground, ſo may goe on to bring us lower in our affliction, to work us lower in our humiliation.

And I could wiſh our ſpirits in regard of humiliation alwayes ſolow as our condition, that when God throwes us on the ground, we would lye on the ground, put our mouthes in the duſt: but at no time to be low in diſtruſt, for our confidence in God, to have higheſt ſpirits in loweſt eſtates, as knowing that our raiſing up is then at hand: If a ſtranger one that never heard of the ebbing and ſlowing of the ſea, and of your river, ſhould come to your Thames ſide at an high water, and ſhould ſtay and obſerve how much it fals in ſix or ſeven houres, he might probably thinke, that your river would run it ſelfe drie; whereas you that are acquainted with your tides, know that when your ebbe is at the loweſt, the tide of a riſing water is returning, and truſt unto it the loweſt eſtate of the Church Oſiander Cent. 4. cap. 5. Sethu… Calviſius, anno Chriſti, … 8. Oſiand. Cent. 4. cap. 9. Idem Cent 4▪ cap 14. & 3….is moſtly an immediate fore-runner of its raiſing; the Church in the Primitive times found it thus, the moſt raging and violent of thoſe ten bloudie Perſecutions was that of Diocleſian, never the like tortures invented and executed, nor ſo many martyr'd and baniſhed, onelyonly in Egypt 144000. put to death, 700000. baniſhed, yea ſo violent his rage that his wife Serena (however a well deſerving Ladie) put to death, becauſe a Chriſtian; but this crueltie and rage of his followed with the milde and peaceable times of Constantius the father and Constantine the ſonne: And it is the Lords promiſe it ſhall be thus, and that upon a right and religious obſervation of dayes, of faſting and humiliation, Is not this the faſt Iſai. 5…. 6▪ 7▪ 8, 9, 10.Isa 5:6Isa 5:7Isa 5:8Isa 5:9Isa 5:10that I have choſen, to looſe the bands of wickedneſs? and in the cloſe of ver. 10. then ſhall thy light riſe in obſcuritie, and thy darkneſſe Pſal. 30. 5.Ps 30:5be as the noone day, thy darkeſt and ſaddeſt night of calamitie ſhall be followed with a gladſome and comfortable morning of joy, ſo cleared from after-clouds of ſorrow and diſtreſſe, as is the Sun at noon day, when it ſhineth in its full ſtrength.

p. 10Obſerv. 2.To proceed, are the wals of Jeruſalem broken downe, and her gates burnt with fire? Jeruſalem that had out-ſtood ſo many ſieges, from before which the confident, potent, and numerous armie Iſai. 37. 36, 37.Isa 37:36Isa 37:37of Zenacherib was forced to riſe and retreat with ſhame and loſſe of 85000▪ in one night, of whom the Pſalmiſt ſung after that 2 Chron. …0.deliverance as ſome think, or as others after that from that combination of thoſe many Kings that came againſt Jehoſhaphat, Compaſſe Pſa▪ 48. 12, 1….Ps 48:12Ps 48:1about Zion, goe round about, and tell the towers, mark well the wals thereof, behold her bulwarks, ſee if a ſtone ſhaken, or a turfe fallen in her out-works? what Jeruſalem, She that was princeſſe Lam. 1. 1. Calviſius ex Ioſepho.Lam 1:1among the nations, ſo ſtrong, ſo populous, as twentie hundred thouſand in it at the beginning of the ſiege, or as ſome above foure millions; in ſo ſeeming ſecure a condition, as the Kings of the Lam. 4. 12.Lam 4:12earth, and all the inhabitants of the world would not have beleeved that the enemie ſhould enter into the gates of Jeruſalem; the wals of this Jeruſalem broken down, and her gates burnt with fire?

Oh learne that former deliverances will not ſecure ſinfull Kingdomes, and ſinning Cities from after dangers and ruines; I will onelyonly commend unto you the inſtance of Nineveh made ſecure by the Lords turning away a former threatned judgement, and within 40. dayes of execution, yet then expoſed to a miſerable ruine, Art Nehum 3. 8, 9.thou better then populous No? from ver. 8. to the end of the Chapter, a fit reſemblance in many particulars of this land of ours, the Lord grant we may neither be like that in ſin, or deſtruction.

Ʋſe And it is the deſire of my ſoule, that this citie honoured hitherto with ſafety, with the diſcoverie and defeat of ſo many plots and attempts would ſeriouſly lay this to heart, that former deliverances might not beget ſecuritie, but more watchfulneſſe, both to drive out thoſe ſins which are the apparant in-lets to an enemie, and to diſcover and prevent the ſecret contrivances of falſe-hearted brethren, conſidering the continued vigilancie and unſatisfiable rage of the Churches enemies, and ſpecially of your citie: The fenced 2 Chro. 12. 4. Iſai. 36. 1, 2.2 Chr 12:4Isa 36:1Isa 36:2cities that belonged to Judah would not ſatisfie Shiſhak the King of Egypt, but he came up againſt Jeruſalem▪ the like of Zennacherib, the like certainly the enemies malice and furie againſt your city, and me-thinks I heare their Generals ſaying of yours, as once … King. 22. 3.Ahab of Ramoth in Gilead, Know ye not that London is ours, and be we ſtill, and take it not out of the hands of Rebels and traitours? p. 11(for ſo they call you) or as Haman once of Mordecai, all the Eſther 5. 1….Esth 5:1honour and favour I enjoy availes me nothing, ſo long as I ſee Mordecai the Jew ſitting in the Kings gate: That they have Bristoll in the Weſt, York in the North, with others, will not ſatisfie, unleſſe they had London alſo: And beleeve it, their taking of other places, is but to make way for the ſurprizall of this: You ſhall obſerve a workman ſent into a rough wood for the felling of ſome great Oke beſet with bryars or ſmaller ſhrubs, firſt cutting up theſe; but for what End? ſurely that nothing might ſtand in his way, which might hinder his full ſtroake at the Oke to cut that down, ſo aſſuredly their taking of what other places ſoever, is but to make way for their full (& if they could reach it) fatall blow againſt this Citie.

As therefore to raiſe up your hearts unto great thankfulneſſe, we may ſay of your Citie, as they of Laiſh, It is a place where there is Judg. 18. 10. ver. 7.Judg 18:10no want of any thing in the earth, ſo I beſeech you, let not that be …aid of you, which was of them in a former verſe, they ſaw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careleſſe, quiet and ſecure, and no greater provocations to an attempt then wealth and ſecuritie, the Danites preſently ſet upon them; let therefore the ver. 9, 11, 12.enemies rage and vigilancie for your ruine, double your circumſpection, and increaſe the firmer union of hearts affections and endeavours for your preſervation.

Obſerv. 3. Calviſius, & al…is.To go yet further in the report, when came it to Nehemiah? it was (as you heard) in the twentieth yeare of Artaxerxes the King, as our beſt Chronologers compute, about 146. yeares after their return from Babylon. So ſlowly for the moſt part goe up the repaires of Gods people, not alone in the Civill, but Eccleſiaſtique ſtate, the Temple whoſe foundation laid the ſecond yeere after their Ezra 3. 8, 6, 15.Ezra 3:8Ezra 3:6Ezra 3:15return, not finiſhed till 111. yeeres after, in the 6^th yeere of Darius, and for Temple-Service and Worſhip, Reformation of many things concerning the Sabbath, teaching the Law, and re-building the gates of the Courts of the Temple, not done till after this time Oſiander.by Ezra and Nehemiah: It was thus in the Primitive times, Philip the firſt heatheniſh Emperour that was baptized began ſome Reformation in the yeere of Chriſt 247. Constantine went on where Philip left in the yeere 310. Theodoſius 395. added what Conſtantine had omitted; ſo Reformation then an 150. yeeres growing to any meaſure of perfection.

p. 12Severall reaſons might be given why Temple and Citie worke went on ſo ſlowly in Jeruſalem, I ſhall intreat you to take notice of the moſt remarkable.

Reaſ. 1 The firſt, the violent oppoſitions of Jeruſalems enemies, (and we never finde any good worke begun for the welfare of Church and Nehem. 2. 10.Neh 2:10State, which the power and policie of Hell did not oppoſe.) It grieved exceedingly Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the ſervant of the Ammonite, that there was come a man to ſeeke the welfare of the children of Iſrael: and in theſe enemies, we may Ezra 4. 8.Ezra 4:8conſider firſt their qualitie, men of place and command, Rehum the Chancellour, or as Tremellius reads it, Praeſes Concilii, Preſident of the Councell, one that rul'd the Councell Table, and Shimſhi the Scribe, or as in the Margent, the Secretarie, or as Tremellius, Legis Ezra 5▪ 3.Ezra 5:3peritus the Lawyer; and to their aſſiſtance came Tatnai the Governour, or as the Geneva, the Captaine and his Companions, and to make them a ſquare number, a quaternion, you ſhall find Noadiah a Nehem. 6. 14.Neh 6:14Propheteſſe (the female ſex will be ſtirring) and other falſe Prophets appearing againſt the work, and the perſons imployed in it, and ſurely when any good work is intended or begun for Church & State, it would be a wonder, and the devill might ſeeme much to forget himſelfe, if he ſhould not make uſe of ſome ill affected, or diſaffected Churchmen to hinder and oppoſe it.

I will not ſtay you with their Methods, by ingaging the Kings of Ezra 4. 12, 13.Ezra 4:12Ezra 4:13Perſia in the oppoſition, by procuring Edicts and Letters, and Proclamations againſt them, and that upon falſe informations of rebellion, ſedition, not paying tribute, cuſtome, and endamaging the Kings revenue; nor will I trouble you with their manner of oppoſing, Nehem. 2. 19. 4. 2, 3, 8. 6. 10, 12.Neh 2:19Neh 2:4Neh 2:2Neh 2:3Neh 2:8Neh 2:6Neh 2:10Neh 2:12by ſcoffes againſt their perſons and their work, by combinations to take up armes, to hinder the work by the ſword, and by hire to corrupt ſome of thoſe that ſided with Nehemiah, either to betray him, or to put him upon ſome diſhonourable or hazardous attempt, all theſe are obvious to every eye that will but read the ſtory, and I preſume you often heare of them: ſo that whither you Judg. 15. 4▪ Cant. 3. 15. Iſai. 9. …5.Judg 15:4Song 3:15Isa 9:5conſider the varietie of the oppoſers, like Samſons foxes turned taile to taile and firebrands betwixt them (and I am ſure the Scripture affordeth ſome of them no better names) an aſſociation of Courtiers, Lawyers, Souldiers, falſe prophets; or their drawing in Kings to countenance, protect and authorize them, or laſtly, all their Methods p. 13and proceedings, you may diſcerne our times ſo paralelling thoſe, as if the preſent plot were drawne from theirs, and the modell fetcht from thence.

Reaſ. 2 A ſecond reaſon may be the ſmallneſſe of the number that returned unto Judea and Jeruſalem, but one of ſix, two tribes of twelve, Judah and Benjamin, and whether all of theſe a queſtion, their Nehem. 7. 67.Neh 7:67whole number with men and maid-ſervants under 50000. and thoſe that did returne, ſo much minding their owne houſes, the repaire of their own ruines, as the Temple and Jeruſalem neglected, ſo the Prophet, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled Hag. 1. 4.Hag 1:4houſes, and this houſe lye waſte?

What great hinderances have private intereſts been to the publique good, the breaches of Jeruſalem leſſe minded, becauſe too many too much mind their own, My houſe, ſaith the Lord, is waste, ver. 9.and why, ye run every man to his own houſe? It was that which Judg. 5. 17.Judg 5:17kept Aſher from joyning with Deborah and Barak againſt Siſera, Aſher continued on the Sea ſhore, and abode in his breaches, he dwelt in a ſea-towne much decai'd, had ſuffered alreadie by the enemie, and ſo had enough to do, to make up and make good his own breaches: Don Alfonſo King of Arragon, was wont to ſay, Fr. Ch. de Fonſeca.that if he had been Emperour when Rome flouriſhed, he would have built a Temple before the Capitoll, wherein the Senatours ſhould lay downe all private intereſts, and lay aſide their own particular benefits whenſoever any thing was to be done for the wealepublique, before they went to crave the aſſiſtance of their gods; And ſurely it is great pitie, that any mans private reſpect ſhould hinder the common good; nor will it be well with the body politique, where it is not with this as in the naturall, which will willingly looſe a great deale of bloud in ſome veine, many times unto fainting, will endure the cutting off a limme or two to preſerve the health and life of the whole.

And here give me leave to commend unto all, (whoſe hearts and deſires the Lord hath ſtirred up to further the publique good) theſe two ſhort directions: 1. So ſeriouſly to mind the publique good, as if in reſpect of that they minded nothing elſe; and 2^ly, to go about the publike work with united minds, ſee the fruit of theſe two both for Temple and State-work in the ſtorie of Ezra and Nehemiah, Ezra 3. 1.Ezra 3:1how ſpeedily went up the Altar and foundation of the Temple, p. 14Nehem 4. 6.Neh 4:6when the people gathered themſelves as one man to Jeruſalem: and for the cities repaire, So built we the wall, and all the wall was joyned together unto the halfe thereof: and he will tell you what cauſed this, the people had a minde to worke, a mind and union of mindes what will they not compaſſe?

Reaſ. 3 The greateſt number, even ten parts of twelve did chooſe rather to ſtay in Babylon to ſupport that, and keepe their eſtates there, then return into Judea, and afford their help for rebuilding Jeruſalem; And are there not too many that would willingly prop and keep up tottering Romiſh Babylon? too few whoſe hearts are reall to repaire the decayes of ſpirituall Jeruſalem, whereas if we cordially deſire that Jeruſalem may go up, we muſt in good earneſt endeavour that Babylon may come downe, for certainly Jeruſalem will never be in its beautie, whilſt Babylon is in her pride: And would we have incouragement to pull down Babylon, what greater, then that of the Pſalmiſt, which will as truly be verified of Babylon Pſal. 1…7. 8. Calviſ. anno Chriſti, 95. Rev. 18. 2.Ps 1:7Ps 1:8Rev 18:2in Italie, as once of Babylon in Chaldea, Babylon, who art to be deſtroyed: and this ſo certain, as an Angel neere 1600. yeares ago, ſpake of it, as alreadie downe, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and the time of her fall is we hope ſo neere, as me thinkes I heare the Lord ſummoning all the parts of his Church throughout the world againſt Romiſh Babylon, as once againſt that other, Put Jer. 50. 14.Jer 50:14your ſelves in aray against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, ſhoot at her, ſpare no arrowes: for ſhe hath ſinned against the Lord. Let me, I pray you have your leave and audience to preſſe this with ſome inlargement.

Rev. 17. 17.Rev 17:17The Lord long agoe fore-told, that thoſe ten hornes, which had formerly given their power to the whore, ſhould hate the whore, and ſhall not all be willing and readie to doe that, which God will have done, but muſt we go no farther, then to hate her, yes, this hatred muſt carry us on to the uſe of all meanes to make her deſolate, and naked; but why hate her and ſhoot at her? becauſe ſhe ſeekes our lives, plunders us of our eſtates, bereaves us of our peace? no look at the cloſe of the verſe in the Prophet, for ſhe hath ſinned againſt the Lord, robbing in moſt of her doctrines God of his glorie, Chriſt of his honour.

The Bow and Arrowes were in former ages the glorie of our Nation, many glorious victories gotten by our Engliſh Archers, p. 15never ſure more need to appeare then now, and the Lord now if ever calleth for them, and there is none in this Congregation from the greateſt to the leaſt, but God hath given him a Bow and Arrow wherewith he may ſhoot againſt Babylon.

Your Bow, noble and worthy Patriots, is that power which 1God, your juſt Priviledges, and the Lawes of this Land have put into your hands, it is a bow of ſteele, and I hope the ſtrongeſt arme of fleſh ſhall never be able to break it, you have a quiver full of pretious and piercing arrowes, your wiſdome, vigilancie, faithfulneſſe, zeale, courage, your votes, orders, ordinances, and which is the ſtrength of all, your bleſſed unanimitie; the morall of Scylurus the Plutarch. Moral. de ga…ru… tate.Scythian King his 80. arrowes given to his 80. ſons at his death, is I am perſwaded well knowne, and I deſire may be alwayes thought on, no ſtrength being able to breake them, whilſt bound up, and bundled together in the ſheafe; the Lord give you Joſephs bleſſing, and you, as he, have need of it, The Archers have ſorely grieved Gen. 4…. 23, 24.Gen 4:23Gen 4:24him, and ſ…ot at him, and hated him; is not your condition like? are not you thoſe againſt whom the workers of iniquitie bend their Pſal▪ 64. …, …, 4, 5.Ps 64bowes, to ſhoot their arrowes, even bitter words? but his bow abode in ſtrength, and the armes of his hands were made ſtrong, by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; The Lord alſo be pleaſed to give you all a double portion of Jobs honour, My glory (ſaith he) I…b 29. …0.was freſh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand, that is, ſay ſome, Let my power and authoritie be never diminiſhed, let me not Pineda.erre in judgement, let all my counſels be directed and proſpered by the Lord, or as others, let there be a daily increaſe of my ſtrength, to Mercerus.paſſe through all oppoſitions, and to overcome all difficulties, and the Lord keep that in the Pſalme far from every one of you; They Pſal. 78. 57.Ps 78:57turned back and dealt unfaithfully, they were turned aſide like a broken bow?

Thoſe unto whom the Lord hath given abilitie of bodie, their 2bow and arrow is their ſtrength, let them put out that, offer themſelves willingly, not need a preſſe, much leſſe hide themſelves from a preſſe, Gods people when ever God hath need of them are a willing people; Voluntiers in Gods ſervice are alwayes beſt accepted, Iudg. 5. 9.Judg 5:9My heart is towards the governours of Iſrael, which offered themſelves willingly, it would be very pleaſing unto God, if that might be found in them in the literall ſence, which the Pſalmiſt otherwiſe p. 16Pſal. 110. 3.Ps 110:3applyes, Thy people ſhall come willingly at the time of aſſembling thine armie, ſo the Geneva tranſlation reads it, and know you can never more honour God with your ſtrength, then by joyning with thoſe that fight the battles of this ſtrong Lord againſt Babylon.

3You unto whom the Lord hath given wealth and eſtates, your bow and arrow is your Purſe, ſpare not this, ſay not you have given or lent much already, and hope you may be now excuſed, and the rather, becauſe you feare all you have given is loſt, and for your parts here is ſuch daily calling for further Contributions and loanes, as you now know not, what is beſt to doe, give me leave to tell you what I conceive will be beſt, let not Gods cauſe want whilſt you have to give, let not that arrow which you may ſhoot, be hid in the quiver when God cals for it, and if you think all loſt that hath been formerly given, doe as thoſe which having ſhot two or three arrowes, which they thinke are loſt, they will ſo neere as they can ſhoot towards the ſame place one or two arrowes after the former to find them out, you know not whether what you give or lend now to further the preſent expedition, may not by Gods bleſſing be a meanes to bring in with advantage what hath beene alreadie given, or to preſerve what is left, if neither of theſe, yet O the comfort that this will one day bring unto your conſciences, when you can truly ſay, God gave me a great eſtate, and I thank my God, with comfort I can ſpeak it, and I bleſſe his Name for it, he gave me an heart, not to ſee his cauſe at any time want, what I had to give. Let 1 Chron. 29. 6, 7, 9.1 Chr 29:61 Chr 29:71 Chr 29:9me commend a worthy patterne unto you, of David and the chiefe of the fathers, the captains of thouſands and hundreds, and it was for Temple work, and they offered largely, Then the people rejoyced for that they offered willingly, becauſe with a perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord, and David the King alſo rejoyced with great joy.

4But it may be here is many an aged, a weake, a poore man, nay women and children, that have good hearts to be ſhooting againſt Babylon, if we could finde a bow and arrow that they were able to deale with, yes, I can fit you all, even the weakeſt arme in the Congregation, I ſhall commend a bow to you, which if uſed aright 2 Sam. 1. 22.2 Sam 1:22will be as ſucceſſefull, as that bow of Jonathan, that turneth not back from the bloud of the ſlaine, from the fat of the mightie, it is the bow of prayer, the ejaculations of an holy heart, ſhot up to heaven, p. 17theſe arrowes have ſteele heads, they will pierce and ſticke where they light, ſharpe and keen in the heart of the enemie, they are inviſible arrowes, the enemie can neither diſcover nor decline them, they will kill in the darke, this arrow will find a joynt in 1 King. 22. 34.1 Kgs 22:34Ahabs armour, draw this arrow as Jehu did againſt Jehoram with 2 King. 9. …4.2 Kgs 9:4your full ſtrength, and doubt not but it will in Gods time ſmite our Romiſh Jehoram at the heart, and ſinke him in his Chariot and chaire of pride; O that when ever our armies are in the field charging the enemie, a ſhowre of theſe arrowes of fervent prayers, a volley of this ſhot might light as thick on the enemies camp, as thoſe haileſtones at Bethoron, we ſhould I doubt not ſee more ſlain Joſh. 10. 11.Josh 10:11by this ſhowre of prayer then the ſword.

Reaſ. 4 Are the wals of Jeruſalem yet broken downe? it may be that which is the firſt work in repairing ruinous wals was not then done, the rubbiſh of the former decayes not yet removed, and this was the peoples reaſon and part of their complaint, there is much Neh. 4 10.Neh 4:10rubbiſh, ſo that we are not able to build the wall.

I pray you lay this to heart, you that deſire in any way to be repairers of our breaches, do repaires in Church and ſtate move ſlowly? Let me aske, is all the rubbiſh of our Church and State removed? God be bleſſed much is, but is there not too much remaining? are there no more oaths in our ſtreets, in our armies? no Achans in our camps, that either beare too great affection to ſome rags of Joſh 7. 21.Josh 7:21the Babyloniſh garments of Rome? or look more after our ſhekels of ſilver, and wedges of gold; more to the pay, then an end of the war and the welfare of Church and State? Is there no more drunkenneſſe in our taverns, no falſhoods in our ſhops, no whoredomes in our chambers, no exceſſe and vanitie in our attire? what means that coſtlineſſe and lightneſſe in apparell, it may be, even on this day of mourning,

Non est conveniens luctibus ille color:

Surely ſable colours will beſt ſuite with ſad times, when the people mourned upon the hearing of evill tidings, No man did put on him Exod. 33. 4.Exod 33:4his ornaments, or as the Geneva, no man put on his beſt rayment.

How doe I wiſh, that I might not juſtly take up that charge of the Prophet againſt Iſrael, with a little variation, and that to the worſe, The pride of Iſrael doth testifie to his face, too openly p. 18Hoſea 5. 5.Hos 5:5and manifeſtly declares it ſelfe in the faces of ſome, what meanes the continuance of paint, of ſpots, of nakedneſſe, are not theſe part of that rubbiſh, which God looks we ſhould remove? Let me reaſon a little with you, (if any ſuch here) is it not better for you to remove them your ſelves, then ſtay till God in wrath come to remove them? if you will not ſuffer your ſelves to be cured by admonition, God hath a cure for all theſe, which when it comes you cannot put off: They ſay there is white and red paint, oh waſh them off with teares of repentance, leſt God bring upon you that in Ier. 30. 5, 6.Jer 30:5Jer 30:6the Prophet, a voice of feare and trembling, and all faces gather Ioel 2. 2, 6.Joel 2:2Joel 2:6paleneſſe, either through feare or famine: and for black ſpots, think a day of blackneſſe may come too ſoone, wherein all faces ſhall gather blackneſſe; heare Jeremie lamenting this when it came upon Lam 4. 7, 8. 5. 10.Lam 4:7Lam 4:8Lam 4:5Lam 4:10them, Their viſage is blacker then a coale, even theirs who were purer then the ſnow, and whiter then milke, and whence came this? he will tell you in the following Chapter, Our skin was black like Iſai. 47. 3.Isa 47:3an Oven, becauſe of the terrible famine; and for this nakedneſſe of pride, one Prophet will tell you, that God hath a nakedneſſe of vengeance; and he hath an enemie as in another, that ſhall diſcover her nakedneſſe, ſhall take her ſons and her daughters, ſhall ſlay her Ezek. 23. 10.Ezek 23:10with the ſword and execute judgement upon her.

Much other rubbiſh and ſinks of ſin might be diſcovered in our perſons, in our families, you have Scavingers to cleanſe your ſtreets, well were it for your citie, if there was not more filth in many houſes and ſhops, then is caſt out into the ſtreets, happie would it be, if everie maſter of a familie (pardon the word) would play the Scavinger in his own houſe, in his own heart, that the inſide Matth. 23. 26.Matt 23:26of the platter might be made cleane alſo, and take we heed leſt the want of this beſome of reformation, bring not upon your houſes Iſai. 14 23.Isa 14:23the beſome of deſtruction.

Reaſ. 5 Laſtly, are the gates of Jeruſalem burnt with fire, and ſo continue? it may be the matter which kindled that fire is not yet removed: and will ye look that a fire ſhould goe out, whilſt the fewell remaines that feeds it: What kindled the fire in the gates of Jeruſalem, the Prophet will tell you, If ye will not hearken unto me, to I…r. 17. 27.hallow the Sabbath day, and not to beare a burden, even entring in at the gates of Jeruſalem on the Sabbath day: then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it ſhall devoure the palaces p. 19of Jeruſalem, and it ſhall not be quenched. And if you will goe to a following Chapter of this Book, you ſhall find Nehemiah complaining, Neh▪ 13. 17, 1…Neh 13:17Neh 13:1and charging the Nobles of Judah with this ſin of the people, what evill thing is this that ye doe and profane the Sabbath day, the profanation was by them, ver. 15. that trod wine-preſſes, and brought in ſheaves on the Sabbath day, yet the Nobles not hindering it are charged with it, and all the evils brought on their fathers and the citie aſcribed to this ſin.

They were my Meditations upon the comming forth of that book for that ſinfull Libertie on the Lords day, (and I did not forbeare to expreſſe them) when I too often heard in neighbouring Pariſhes drums beating up for a Morris or a May-poole on that day, we had juſt cauſe to feare, leſt the Lord ſhould puniſh that ſin, with beating up drums for a march on that day; and the Lord hath brought our feares upon us, how many marches have been on that day ſince the beginning of theſe wars; I have long thought it one of the higheſt provoking ſins of this land, and me thinks the Lord would have us take notice of it (as I preſume many did) that leading generall battell at Kineton on the Lords day, could it doe leſſe then lead this Kingdome to take notice of that generall leading ſin, the profanation of that day? But I hope thoſe many Ordinances for ſuppreſſing this profaneneſſe will be a good meanes through Gods merciemercy to quench our unnaturall flames, if to good lawes, which are the life of a State, be added carefull execution, which is the life of lawes.

I have done with the report, and proceed to that it wrought in Nehemiah, And it came to paſſe when I heard theſe words, that I ver 4.ſate down and wept, and mourned certaine dayes. One would think Nehemiah had little cauſe ſo to take on, at the report of the affliction of the Jewes, and Jeruſalems ruines, himſelfe then injoying all the honour and content that the favour of the King and the palace Shuſhan could afford: But alas, Gratious and Religious hearts Obſerv. 4.have compaſſionate and tender affections, and they cannot eaſily put off the common miſeries of Gods people; the Lord himſelfe is affected with them, that is a ſweet expreſſion in the Prophet, of the Lords love and pitie towards his people, In all their affliction he Iſai. … 9. Iudg 10. 16.Isa 9Judg 10:16was afflicted; but that in the book of Judges is beyond expreſſion, p. 20His ſoule was grieved for the miſerie of Iſrael, and ſurely there are none of the Lords people which are not in this partakers in part of the divine nature; I cannot omit that of Eſay, Look away from Iſai. 22. 4.Isa 22:4me, I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, becauſe of the ſpoiling of the daughter of my people: and yet this when he did but Dan. 10. 2, 3.Dan 10:2Dan 10:3foreſee and foretell the ſpoiling to come. So Daniel mourned three whole weekes, and did eate no pleaſant bread, found no ſweetneſſe or delight in any bread or food that he took, whilſt his brethren the Iſai. 30. 20.Isa 30:20Jewes fed (as Eſay expreſſeth it) with the bread of adverſitie, and the water of affliction.

I dare not adventure to give reaſons why it is, and ought to be thus, I ſhall only intreat you, before I apply, to take notice, that Two ſorts of Teares.there are two ſorts of teares required of Gods people, one of Compaſſion, another of Humiliation, the former for the miſeries of Gods people, the latter for the ſins of Gods people that brought thoſe miſeries; both which like two ſtreames falling into one channell met in good Nehemiah; I might for our imitation commend 1ſeverall inſtances of both, take one or two for the firſt, begin with that of Chriſt, even when he rode in ſtate and triumph towards Jeruſalem, he could not behold Jeruſalem, nor think of the Luk. 19. 36, 37, 38, 41. 2 Ki. 8. 11, 12.Luke 19:36Luke 19:37Luke 19:38Luke 19:41Luke 19:2deſolation comming upon it with dry eyes, When he beheld the citie, he wept over it: Adde that of Eliſha, when he did but looke upon Hazael, The man of God wept. And when Hazael ſaid, Why weepeth my lord? He anſwered, Becauſe I know the evill that thou wilt doe unto the children of Iſrael: their ſtrong holds wilt thou ſet on fire, and their young men wilt thou ſlay with the ſword, and wilt daſh their children, and rip up their women with childe.

Imperiall hiſtorie, Pedro Mexia tranſlated by Edward Grimſtone in the life of Iulius Caeſar. The ſame in the life of Charles the 5. Turkiſh hiſtory, Kn…es.I might acquaint you with inſtances of compaſſion, even towards enemies, Julius Caeſar purſuing Pompey into Egypt, and there preſented with Pompeys head, he wept, and at his returne to Rome, refuſed to triumph for that victorie, becauſe over Citizens of Rome, though in armes againſt him: the like of Charles the 5^th upon his great victorie over the French King at the ſiege of Pavia, he ſtrictly forbade all ringing of bels, bonefires, or any expreſſions of joy for his victorie, becauſe againſt Chriſtians, though his enemies; yea, even the Scythian Tamerlane, when he walked amongſt the ſlaine after a bloudie victorie againſt the Muſcovites, p. 21he accounted thoſe Princes unhappie, which by the deſtruction of their own kind, ſought to advance their owne honour, proteſting himſelfe to be grieved even from his heart to ſee ſuch ſorrowfull tokens of his victorie.

And for teares of Humiliation, how theſe in the dayes of ſolemne 2faſting required? how the faſts of Gods people recorded in his Iſai. 22. 12. Joel 2. 12. Judg. 20. 26. 1 Sam. 7. 6. Eſth. 4. 3. Luk. 10. 37.Isa 22:12Joel 2:12Judg 20:261 Sam 7:6Esth 4:3Luke 10:37book have been watered with theſe, and what ſtreames of merciemercy have iſſued from them, hath been at large in a very fruitfull Sermon delivered in this place, I will cloſe both theſe with that of Chriſts upon the Samaritans compaſſion to the wounded man, Goe and doe thou likewiſe.

Ʋſe 1 And for the firſt we cannot want objects for teares of Compaſſion, whether we look upon the plundered, fired, and bleeding condition of our brethren in Germanie, Ireland, and the moſt parts of our own Nation: or (which ſhould more melt us) the lamentable ſoule diſtreſſes of the remoter parts of our land, thoſe … Wales and the Counties adjoyning, wherein there are … that in reſpect of the knowledge of God, of … way to ſalvation, know not the right hand from the left; now the good Lord incline your hearts to a ſeaſonable and ſpeedie proſecution of that work which the Lord in merciemercy hath begun in ſome of thoſe parts.

Nor if we look into our own boſomes, our families, our cities, our 2countries, our armies, can we want objects for teares of Humiliation, cauſes too many for every ſoul, every familie to mourne apart, and ſurely did our land weep more for …in, it would bleed leſſe; teares are the ſoules bloud, did th…ſe run as they ought, they might help to ſtay or turne the iſſue of bloud in our bodies, ſo often a bleeding wound is ſtanched by opening a veine and turning the bloud another way; and I am perſwaded was Gods houſe on theſe dayes of Humiliation more moiſtened with unfained teares of penitents, our fields and dwellings would not be ſoaked and watered with ſo much bloud of the ſlain, they are the expreſſions of Eſay Iſai. 34. 7. Ezek. 32. 6.Isa 34:7Ezek 32:6and Ezekiel, full of awakening terrour if you pleaſe to read them, and the Lord bring it to your hearts.

Ʋſe 2 And let me intreat you to make uſe of your teares of Compaſſion for the miſeries of this land, to draw from you teares of Humiliation p. 22for the ſins of this land: How melting are many of us at the reading of ſome dolefull and lamentable relation, which yet can read over and over the ſad ſtorie of their owne and the kingdoms ſins without ſhedding a teare? whenſoever then your hearts are affected to expreſſe teares of compaſſion, …et them help to draw out teares of Humiliation: do for this, as thoſe, that coming for water to a Pump out of order, firſt caſt in water to fetch up water; let your ſoules take in teares of compaſſion, that they may be the apter to iſſue forth teares of Humiliation; And ſurely, I feare we have all cauſe to be more abundant in theſe of Humiliation, if for no other ſin, but this, our want of teares of reall compaſſion for thoſe former 2 King. 8.2 Kgs 8miſeries the Church hath long endured; remember what fetcht teares from that man of God, when he lookt on Hazael, it was not for any thing at the preſent done, all runs in the future, the evill that thou wilt do: their ſtrong holds thou wilt ſet on fire: and yet could … have thoughts of this in his heart without teares in his … were then our teares of compaſſion for Germanie and Ireland? wherein we have heard all theſe and worſe have beene done, their ſtrong holds have been ſet on fire, their young men have been ſlaine with the ſword, their infants have been daſhed in pieces, and their women with childe ripped up, and many more unheard of cruelties: have we read theſe with drie eyes? with unrelenting hearts? O labour we to ſee what great cauſe we have that our tears of Humiliation ſhould be many, if for no other reaſon but this, becauſe our teares of compaſſion have been ſo few: That you may have both, pray unto the Lord to give unto you tenderneſſe of affection; a tender skin will bleed at the touch of a needles point, Be Rom 1… …0, 15Rom 1kindly affectioned one towards another with brotherly love, weep with them that weep: beg alſo broken hearts and wounded ſoules, … 1. 9. 1.a wound in the heart will uſually bleed at the eye, if the heart be full of bowels of pitie within, like full veſſels a ſmall touch or ſhake will Fo…s … eſt …or …punctum & do…ens Cornel▪ à l…p. in …oc. ubi ….make them run over without: water in the head and heart will have a fountaine of teares in the eyes: We, upon ſuch dayes as theſe offer (as we think) much to God, offer our lips in prayer, our eares in hearing, our perſons and preſence in attendance of almoſt a whole day in his houſe and ſervice; but would you know, why the Lord hath not hitherto ſo fully manifeſted his acceptance of theſe p. 23offerings, in giving us what we have deſired, nay, ſeem'd by withholding that, to reject the other; let me tell you, I am afraid, there hath been too little of that offered, which I am ſure the Lord will not refuſe, what that is David upon his owne experience will tell you, The ſacrifices of God …re a broken ſpirit, ſacrifices in the plurall Pſal. …1. 17.Ps 1:17becauſe this in ſtead of all, and all without this nothing, and he goes on, a broken and a contrite heart, O Lord, thou wilt not deſpiſe: We of this land may truly complaine with the Prophet, with ſome ſmall variation, We have ſeen the breaches of our Kingdome, Iſai. 22. 9.Isa 22:9that they are many, breaches in our counſels, in our armies, in our affections, in our eſtates, & I am perſwaded all our breaches yet remaine great, becauſe our hearts are ſo little broken for thoſe great ſins that made them; take we heed then leſt the with-holding our teares of compaſſion from our brethrens diſtreſſes, doe not cloſe Gods bowels of compaſſion towards our ſelves, and leſt our land ſhedding ſo few teares for ſin, looſe not yet much more bloud, as the juſt puniſhment of our impenitencie, and want of Humiliation for ſinne.

Obſerv. 5.But did Nehemiah reſt in his teares for the afflictions of the people, and the ruines of Jeruſalem? was his pitie only verball? like that merciemercy rejected by the Apoſtle, when to a brother or ſister naked and deſtitute of daily food, one ſhall ſay unto him, Depart in Iam. 2. 15, 16.Jas 2:15Jas 2:16peace, be you warmed and filled: and yet give them not thoſe things which are needfull for the bodie: had they only a returne of good words from Nehemiah? I am ſorrie to heare of your affliction and reproach, that your wals yet remain broken downe, and your gates burnt with fire; but be of good comfort, build your wals, repaire your gates, I wiſh it were in my power to relieve you, and further the work. No, Nehemiahs heart was ſo really affected with their miſeries and ruines, as it put him upon the uſe of thoſe means, which if any would prevail for redreſſe of their miſeries, and theſe are two, Faſting and Prayer; ſuch as never failed, when uſed aright.

For incouragement to the firſt, I might commend unto you the 1confidence that Gods people in all exigents placed in this, and their Faſting▪comfortable ſucceſſe; that of Jehoſhaphat ſet the enemies to kill one another; that of Esther changed the heart of the King and reverſed 2 Chron. 20. E…ther 4. & 5.2 Chr 20a bloudie decree neere execution; Ezra more truſted to this for a p. 24Ezr. 8. 21, 22, 23 1 King. 21. 27, 28, 29. 2 Chron. 12. 7, 9, 1…, 14.Ezra 8:21Ezra 8:22Ezra 8:231 Kgs 21:271 Kgs 21:281 Kgs 21:292 Chr 12:72 Chr 12:92 Chr 12:12 Chr 12:14ſafe convoy, then to a band of the Kings ſouldiers: Ahabs hypocriticall faſt put off the judgement to his ſons dayes: Rehoboam and his princes halfe humiliation (as I may call it) brought ſame deliverance, Shiſhak King of Egypt had onelyonly power to plunder him of his treaſures, not altogether to destroy him, our owne comfortable experience ſince our laſt faſt (bleſſed be our God) will ſpeake, though we be ſilent.

And pitie it is, that ſo powerfull a remedie, through our miſcarriage in it, ſhould looſe its power, that our monethly uſe of it, ſhould make it, like the ſame Phyſick often uſed, uneffectuall to us: Give me leave therefore in few words, to give you the principall heads of the doctrine of faſting, and becauſe in this, I may deliver nothing which is not knowne to the moſt here preſent, theſe may pleaſe, whilſt I ſpeake (it may be) to ſome for information, to ſuffer their thoughts to goe along with me in a way of examination, remembring Joh. 13. 17.John 13:17that of Chriſt, If ye know theſe things, happie are ye if ye doe them.

1The day of our Fast ſhould be obſerved as an holy day, an holy Levit. 2…. 27, 28, 30, 31, 32. Numb. 29. 7. Joel …. 14. Nehem. 9.Lev 2:27Lev 2:28Lev 2:30Lev 2:31Lev 2:32Num 29:7Neh 9convocation, no work to be done on that day, it is called a Sabbath, and in all reſpects to be kept with as much, if not more ſtrictneſſe then the Sabbath, ſanctified and ſet apart for holy duties, as praying, reading, preaching, hearing, confeſſion of ſin, renewing of Covenants, as in that whole Chapter of Nehemiah.

2The continuance of the Faſt, a whole day, from Even to Even: Lev. 23 31. Joſ. 7. 6.Lev 23:31Josh 7:6Joſhua and the Elders kept it till eventide.

3All perſons of all ages and conditions to obſerve it; in Jehoſhaphats 2 Chro. …0. 13. Jon. 3. 5.Jonah 3:5faſt all Judah ſtood before the Lord with their little ones, their wives and their children. In Ninevehs faſt, all from the greatest to the least.

1The outward ſpeciall duties are 1. Abſtinence from food, ſo farre Ezra 10. 6. Eſther 4. 16.Ezra 10:6Esth 4:16as ſtrength of nature will beare; Ezra in his faſt did neither eate bread, nor drink water; In Eſthers faſt a charge not to eate nor drink.

2Abſtaining from marriage comforts, Let the bridegroome got Joel 2. 16. 1 Cor. 7. 5.Joel 2:161 Cor 7:5forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her cloſet, that of the Apoſtle makes it cleare.

3Forbearing better apparell, the Eaſterne parts uſed upon the p. 25dayes of their faſt to lie in ſackcloth, in Nehemiah's faſt, in Davids, Nehem. 9. 1. Pſal. 35. 13. Ionah 3. 5.Neh 9:1Ps 35:13Jonah 3:5in that of Nineveh, with other inſtances that might be added.

Abatement of our ordinarie ſleepe, ſo that of Esther applyed by 4our Divines, requiring the continuance of the faſt three dayes, night Eſth. 4. 16. Ioel 1. 13.Esth 4:16Joel 1:13and day, as alſo that of Joel, lye all night in ſackcloth.

And wherefore all theſe, but to further the main dutie of the day, the humbling and afflicting of the ſoule; a dutie of ſuch neceſſitie for that day, as whatſoever ſoule it be, that ſhall not be afflicted in Lev. 23. 29.Lev 23:29that ſame day, he ſhall be cut off from among his people: And what will more humble the ſoule then the ſerious conſideration of its unworthineſſe to receive pardon of ſin, great mercies for the Church in generall, for it ſelfe in particular, then by its abſtinence from all even the leaſt outward comforts, to profeſſe its unworthineſſe of any the leaſt of theſe: and ſurely we might by ſuch meditations as theſe, help to put our ſoules on the day of our Humiliation into an humbled frame: We come, Lord, to beg this day pardon for our own ſins, and the ſins of our Nation, reconciliation for our ſelves, for Kingdomes, to intreat thy Majeſtie to give beautie for aſhes, the Iſal. 61. 3.oyle of joy for mourning, the garment of praiſe for the ſpirit of heavineſſe, and we acknowledge theſe every way ſo needfull for our ſpirituall life, as food and raiment for our naturall, but, Lord, we profeſſe our ſelves moſt unworthy the leaſt of theſe, and ſhall we not be humbled to think, that we are altogether unworthy of any greater favour? I have given you a ſmall hint, your private thoughts may more fully inlarge.

But are theſe outward obſervances, and inward afflicting of the ſoule ſufficient? doe not we heare ſome in the Prophet complaining? Wherefore have we faſted, and thou ſeest not? wherefore Iſai. 58. 3.Isa 58:3have we afflicted our ſoules, and thou takeſt no knowledge? here you ſee is both faſting and afflicting, yet no acceptance, what's more then to be done? the Prophet will there tell you, it is a forſaking of ſinne (for I will inſtance only in that) without which whatſoever is done upon the day of our faſt, will neither have power with God, nor bring comfort to our ſelves: The Ninevites were very punctuall in the out-works of their faſt, The King came down from his throne, put off his robes, clothed himſelfe with ſackoloth, there was crying mightily to the Lord, neither man nor beast took p. 26any food, queſtionleſſe God took notice of all this, yet when the Prophet comes to ſet down, what moved the Lord not to bring upon them the deſtruction threatned, he over-looks, as it were all Ionah 3. 8.Jonah 3:8the reſt, and faſtens upon this, God ſaw their works, that they turned from their evill way, and ſo he repented of the evill that he ſaid he would doe unto them, and did it not; and beleeve it our faſts will never doe that work, for which we keep them, till this be done; now our ſoules are then truly afflicted for ſin, when ſin is in our ſoules, like a thorne in the joynt, that will give no reſt, till it be out, and ſurely were our putrified ſores of ſin once throughly cleanſed, I doubt not but the wounds of our land would ſoon be healed, had the ſtrong Phyſick, which the Lord hath given our nation emptied it of the foulneſſe and fulneſſe of ſin, we ſhould ere long have cordials of truth and peace, and deliverance miniſtred unto us; to conclude this, could the Lord ſee England and Ireland turning from their provoking ſins, I doubt not, but England and Ireland ſhould alſo ſee God turning from the fierceneſſe of his wrath.

Obſerv. 6.The time haſtens me to that other meanes of Nehemiahs helpe, his Prayer, (another main duty required on this day of Humiliation) 3. Incouragements to pray.and I might be very large in ſhewing what ſeverall great incouragements we have to uſe this helpe of Prayer in the behalfe of the Church, I ſhall reduce them to three, 1. in reſpect of God. 2. of Prayer. 3. of our ſelves.

1In reſpect of God, the Lord commands it, nay, looks for it, for however God be willing to give, yet it is his will, that we ſhall aske what we deſire to receive, his promiſes of giving are made upon the condition of asking, as that knowne place, of Chriſt, Aske, and it Matth. 7. 7.Matt 7:7ſhall be given you. The Lord knowes what England and Ireland want, and what every one of us ſtand in need of, for our particular neceſſities, and God wants not will to give us, his Church, what mercies he ſeeth wanting, but yet he will be ſought unto: Indeed Pſal. 21. 3.Ps 21:3we have cauſe to bleſſe God, that of his free goodneſſe he often prevents us with liberall bleſſings, (ſo reads the Geneva) gives many unſought favours, yet it is not ſafe to ſtay, till God beſtow mercies without asking: many gratious promiſes are made in the Ezek. 36. 37.Ezek 36:37former verſes to Gods people, but thus ſaith the Lord God, I will yet for this be enquired of by the houſe of Iſrael, to doe it for them: You p. 27have not, (ſaith the Apoſtle) becauſe you aske not, and aſſuredly James 4. 12.Jas 4:12we want many bleſſings from God, becauſe the Lord hath not our Prayers for them.

The ſecond incouragement is drawn from Gods power, I prayed 2to the God of Heaven, this aſſures, that what Gods love makes him willing to do, his power inables him to doe, when you ſeek to God in prayer, what ever your neceſſities be, for ſoule, for bodie, for the Church, for your ſelves, you goe not to a weak God, that hath not where withall to ſatisfie your deſires, but you go to the God of Heaven, that whatſoever is in Heaven, or in the earth, he hath it at his command to give.

I proceed to thoſe incouragements that Prayer it ſelfe gives to 2all thoſe that will make uſe of it, and I hope by Gods bleſſing, they may be ſome provocations to put us more upon prayer, we all (I hope) deſire to helpe ſomewhat towards the cauſe of God, let me tell you, a little to quicken your attention, there is no ſuch way, whereby every one may help as this of Prayer.

Firſt, it is an help of the largeſt extent, other helpes can goe no farther then your counſels, perſons and purſes can reach, but the help of Prayer can extend to the redreſſe of the miſeries and diſtreſſes of Gods people in the fartheſt parts of the world; David Pſal. 1…9. 7, 8, ….Ps 1:9Ps 1:7Ps 1:8in his Meditations travelled through Heaven, earth, and the ſeas, and where ever he went, he ſound God preſent▪ I am ſure Gods Church and his ſervants at one time or other have found the like, and their Prayers have in all places met with God, on the land (as more anone) on the ſea, as Jonah; the breath of the Churches prayers Jonah 2. 1.Jonah 2:1hath raiſed up ſuch ſtormes in this, as hath ſcattered and diſtreſſed invincible navies of their enemies, as Englands prayers did that Spaniſh Armado in 88. they have alſo ſtirred up proſperous gales to bring ſhips for the Churches reliefe in ſtrait ſieges to their deſired haven, they did it for late beſieged Tredah in Ireland: in a word Pſal. 107. 30.Ps 107:30where ever God is there Prayer can come, and you know God is everie where, as the Lord himſelfe, Am I a God at hand, ſaith the Jet. 23. 23, 24.Lord, and not a God afarre off? Doe not I fill heaven and earth?

Secondly, Prayer is a ſpeedie help, many places miſcarry and are 2loſt, becauſe helpe comes too late, and many friends would helpe ſooner, if they could tell how ſooner to convey helpe: all other helps p. 28of men, armes, ammunition, money, &c. require time for raiſing and conveying, whereas this of prayer is a quick, a ſpeedie and preſent help, our prayers (if ſuch as they ſhould be) are no ſooner out of out mouthes, nay, in our hearts, but they are in Heaven, and no ſooner in Heaven, but the benefit of them may be with the diſtreſſed Church many thouſand miles diſtant, Daniel found this, Whiles I Dan. 9. 21, 22, 23.Dan 9:21Dan 9:22Dan 9:23was ſpeaking in prayer, the man Gabriel being cauſed to fly ſwiftly, informed me and ſaid, at the beginning of thy ſupplications the commandement came forth, &c.

3Thirdly, Prayer is an inviſible help, many would willingly ſend reliefe to friends in diſtreſſe, if they knew how to convey it with ſafetie and without danger of intercepting, but there lye armies in the way, Scouts, ambuſhments, and many other hazards, now Prayer can avoid all theſe; it can goe to God and bring ſuch helpe from Heaven, as the enemies Scouts can neither diſcover nor ſtop, no ambuſh can way-lay or ſurprize it.

4Fourthly, no ſuch univerſall help in all extremities as Prayer, It 1 Kin. 8. from 33. to the end of 39. & from 44. to the end of 50.1 Kgs 8is Salomons Catholicon, whatſoever plague, whatſoever ſickneſſe, war, want of raine, peſtilence, famine, cities beſieged, enemies prevailing, yet if they pray, and make ſupplications, turne from their ſin, when thou afflictest them: then heare thou in Heaven, and forgive, and doe, and give to every man according to his wayes; I might ſingle out many incouraging inſtances, Prayer can give victorie Exod. 17. 11.Exod 17:11in doubtfull battels, as in Iſraels againſt Amalek, ſometime Amalek prevailed, but in the end Moſes hands lift up in Prayer, not Joſhua's ſword, got the victorie: It can recover loſt Judg. 20. 26.Judg 20:26battels, as in the Civill war betwixt the eleven tribes and the Benjamites, after two battels loſt, wherein were ſlaine fortie thouſand Iſai. …7. 1…, 36.Isa 7:1Isa 7:36of the Iſraelites, Prayer in the third obtain'd the victorie: Prayer can raiſe a ſiege even a dangerous and confident one, as was that of Sennacherib againſt Jeruſalem: Prayer can turne the plots and wiſdome of the greateſt State-Polititians into fooliſhneſſe, and for them on to twiſt an halter for their own execution, the Prayer of … Sam. 15. 31. 17. …4, 23.David did it againſt Ahithophel: I might adde many other both out of forraigne and our own Hiſtories, the victorie againſt Cedwall Fox. Martyr. vol. 1. 151, …98▪ 18….and Penda in the time of the Saxons aſcribed to the Prayers of Oſwald, the like againſt Su…no the tyrant, and Alluded againſt the p. 29Danes, I remember an obſervation I have read of Constantine, that after God had bleſſed and honoured him with many victories, whereas the Effigies of other Emperours was engraven upon their loynes triumphing, he would be ſet in a poſture of Prayer, kneeling, to manifeſt unto the world, that he attributed all his victories more to his Prayers then his ſword: what was ſaid of the wicked, their Pſal. 57. 5. 59. 17. 149. 6.Ps 57:5Ps 57:59Ps 57:17Ps 57:149Ps 57:6tongue is a ſharp ſword, ſwords are in their lips, may be truly ſaid of the tongues and lips of Gods people in prayer, they are as twoedged ſwords in their hands to execute vengeance, and ſurely Gods enemies have often found the power of this ſword of Prayer, and thoſe which are the Lords people may ſay of this, when uſed as it ought, as David once of that which was Goliahs, There is none like 1 Sam. 21. 9.1 Sam 21:9that, give it me.

To conclude this, ſuch is the prevalent power of Prayer, that what is it, which God can doe, that Prayer hath not, or cannot do? I had almoſt ſaid, that God cannot doe that which the Prayers of his ſervants will not have him doe, and I may ſay it, for the Lord Exod. 32. 10.Exod 32:10himſelfe hath ſaid as much to Moſes, Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot: and me thinks I heare Moſes anſwering, Lord, who lets thee? and God replying, My hands, Moſes, are tyed from executing wrath, whilſt thine hands in Prayer are lift up for merciemercy.

I come to the laſt incouragement in reference to our ſelves, 3Prayer is,

Firſt, a very ſafe helpe, many are kept from appearing in the 1Churches behalfe, becauſe afraid of danger, they may hazard the loſſe of their places of honour or profit, their eſtates, it may be, their lives: whereas Prayer is ſuch an help, that you may uſe it againſt the enemie, and for the Church, even when you are in the enemies quarters, in the enemies dungeon, and that without all danger, nor can thoſe fetters, that may chaine your hands and feet, tye your hearts, your tongues; yet give me leave to tell you, I feare, that ſuch as are not willing to appeare openly in the cauſe of God, when they may doe good, will never heartily pray in private for the Churches good.

Secondly, it is an eaſie help, he that can do nothing elſe may pray, 2the French have a Proverb, He that hath no money in his purſe, let p. 30him have honey in his mouth: if you have not abilitie, eſtates enabling you to contribute, or lend towards the maintainance of an Armie, you may yet contribute your Prayers, and lay out theſe for the Lords bleſſing upon the Armie: you ſhall heare ſome of the meaner rank ſay, were we in ſuch a condition, had we ſuch an eſtate as theſe and theſe men have, we would doe this and that, which theſe and other rich men doe not, take heed, we have deceitfull hearts, I would have you try them by this, what doe you in that condition wherein you are, even in this of Prayer? Doe you herein what you can? are you often on your knees? earneſt with God to pardon the ſins of the land? that his cauſe may proſper, that the expectation of the Churches enemies may be diſappointed, that the Lord would give hearts unto all thoſe, to whom he hath given abilities to lay out their utmoſt for the furtherance of Gods worke? certainly if ye be wanting in this, let me tell you, had you greater eſtates you would not do much, I cannot thinke, that he which will not uſe his tongue, will to any purpoſe uſe his hands or purſe.

3Thirdly, it is a laſting helpe, thy ſtrength, thine eſtate may faile, thou maiſt be many wayes diſabled from yeelding that helpe in other wayes, which thou deſireſt, nothing can diſable thee from this, whilſt thou haſt an heart thou maiſt pray.

4Laſtly, in what place ſoever you are, you may by your Prayers … Tim. … 8. Epheſ. 6▪ 18.Eph 6:18helpe the Church, I will that men pray every where, ſaid the Apoſtle; thoſe Chriſtians which have put upon them that piece of Armour Prayer may uſe it in their beds, in their chambers, in their ſhops, in their privateſt cloſets; in a word, that ſouldier, which fights for the Church with his Prayers, (and all may be ſuch) where ever he is, he ſtill keeps file, cannot in any place be out of his rank.

Well then ſeeing Prayer is of ſuch excellent uſe, and that whereby every one may help the Church, let me ſpeake to all of this, as in Iſai. 65. 8.Isa 65:8the Prophet one once did of that Cluſter, Destroy it not, for there is a bleſſing in it, O deſtroy not your Prayers, by not uſing them aright, it is a Cluſter from whence may be preſſed many ſweet and comfortable bleſſings, take we heed then, leſt by our not uſing them as we ſhould they prove uſeleſſe to us, and to the Churches cauſe for which we uſe them: the pooreſt and meaneſt amongſt you may be inſtruments by this of great mercies to the people of God, p. 31and to your own ſoules, be carefull then what ever you doe, not to deſtroy your prayers by your ill uſage of them; to helpe you herein, give me leave to preſcribe ſome few ſhort and plain directions, for the right uſe of Prayer, and for your better improvement of this ſo excellent an helpe, to the beſt advancement of the cauſe of God.

Firſt, Prayer that would prevaile with God, muſt goe up with an 1humble and ſorrowfull confeſſion of ſins, and well grounded reſolution to forſake them, for certainly he that prayes to day, and returnes to his former ſins to morrow, unprayes his prayers, and they which faſt and confeſſe their ſins to day, and fall to the practiſe of them to morrow, though they may ſeeme to faſt unto God to day, yet indeed they feaſt the devill to morrow; the Lord looketh for at our hands, not alone the words of prayer, but (as I may call them) the works of prayer, and though on this day, We may cauſe Iſai. 58. 4.Isa 58:4our voice to be heard on high, yet not caſting off our iniquities, our works of ſin will outcry our words of prayer: Let every one then, I beſeech you, ſearch into his owne ſoul, and find out the ſins …e ſtands guiltie of, and whenever he goes to prayer, to preface unto his ſoule with that of the Pſalmiſt, If I regard iniquitie in my Pſal. 66. 18.Ps 66:18heart, the Lord will not heare me; and not forget that of the Apoſtle, I will that men pray every where lifting up pure hands, for 1 Tim. 2. 8. Iſai. 1. 15.1 Tim 2:8Isa 1:15undoubtedly, If God ſee impuritie in our hands, we ſhall find little prevalencie in our prayers.

Prayer muſt goe up with fervencie, heat and ardencie of affection, 2Let my prayer come before thee as incenſe, ſaid the Pſalmiſt; and Pſal. 141. ….Ps 141this never went up without fire, you know who ſaid it, and upon what occaſion, The effectuall fervent prayer of a righteous man James 5. 1….Jas 5:1availeth much, effectuall and fervent joyned, to teach us, that our prayers the more fervent they are, are alwayes the more effectuall, the Geneva reads, The prayer of a righteous man availeth much if it be fervent, the more fervencie, the more prevalencie in our prayers; The ſouldiers of this Citie are commended for good firemen, that there be powder and ſhot in their muskets will doe no execution unleſſe they give fire well. O that we which are this day fighting with our prayers, would labour for this fervencie in our prayers, if they be nothing elſe but words, they are but as the powder p. 32and ſhot in a Piſtoll, let there be no fire, no fervencie of ſpirit, they will never go off, ſo as either to reach Heaven, or the Churches enemies: of all the foure Elements, that of fire is neereſt Heaven, the more fire in any thing, the higher it aſcends heaven-ward; cold ſluggiſh prayers have ſo much earth in them, that like the Graſhopper, if they mount a little upward, they are preſently downe again, fall ſhort of Heaven: of all warlike engines your Grant does and fire-works are moſt deadly, of all prayers, thoſe that have moſt fire, moſt fervencie, are moſt killing.

3A third requiſite in Prayer is Conſtancie and Perſeverance, not eaſily upon the Lords delay, or ſeeming deniall, beat off, importunitie which is often offenſive to man is alwaies pleaſing to God, commended Luk. 11. 5, 8. 18. 1, 5.Luke 11:5Luke 11:8Luke 11:18Luke 11:1it was by Chriſt in thoſe two Parables of the friend at midnight, and the widow with the unjuſt Judge; We may not ſay of our approaches to God, as Salomon of our neighbour, withdraw Prov. 25. 17.Prov 25:17thy foot from thy neighbours houſe, or as in the Margent, Let thy foot be ſeldome in thy neighbours houſe, lest he be wearie of thee, and hate thee; no the oftener with God in his houſe, in our own houſes, the more welcome, the Lord will not ſay, here is an unreaſonable man and woman, I can never be rid of them, never at reſt for them, they are ſtill following me, praying, and crying, and ſeeking with every day a new ſuit, they came to me the other day for power againſt oaths, I gave it them; they came the next for ſtrength againſt uncleanneſſe, I heard them; they come againe for power againſt pride, ſtabilitie to ſubdue ſinfull paſſions, I denyed not, &c. and ſo what grace ſoever they want, they come to me for it, they askt an humbled and broken heart, I gave it them; a tender conſcience, they have it; love of the word and helps to profit by it, I beſtowed it, yet ſtill they are following me, they cannot reade a Chapter, ſing a Pſalme, heare a Sermon, not receive food, undertake any buſineſſe, but I am ſought unto for a bleſſing: O no God will never caſt it into thy teeth, that thou maiſt reſt ſatisfied with what he hath done for thee, and trouble him no further, that thou comeſt too Iſai. 43. 24.Isa 43:24often; we ſhall indeed heare God complaining, thou haſt wearied me with thine iniquities; but never, that he was wearied with the prayers of his people, when ſuch as they ought, no ſuitours ſo welcome to God, as thoſe which are moſt importunate, Gods people p. 33may be upbraided with their unbeliefe, and hardneſſe of heart, never Mark 16. 14. James 1. 5.Mark 16:14Jas 1:5with their too often praying, heare the Apoſtle, The Lord giveth liberally to all, and upbraideth not; Let me then ſpeake to all thoſe, whoſe ſpirits are readie to faile, and their hearts neere ſinking, becauſe after many prayers they have not what they deſire, that if they will with Jacob hold God to it, not let him goe except he Gen. 32. 26. 1 Joh. 5. 14.Gen 32:261 John 5:14bleſſe, ſuch is the goodneſſe of God, they, that asking according to his will, will take no nay, ſhall have no nay, but may be aſſured, that what they ſtrive by earneſtneſſe and holy importunitie, to wreſt (as it were) out of Gods hands, he will at length in his own good time give into their boſomes. The Canaanitiſh woman found it, who faſtning the more upon Chriſt, by all thoſe meanes where with he ſeem'd to beat her off, had at length, the utmoſt, if not more then ſhe ſought, Be it unto thee even as thou wilt.Matth. …5. 2….Matt 5:2

Obſerv. 7.In the laſt place, conſider we unto whom Nehemiah goeth in Prayer, it is to the God of Heaven, I prayed before the God of Heaven. I have told you, that the maine buſineſſe he went about, was that he might find merciemercy in the ſight of the King, ſo the cloſe of the laſt verſe of this Chapter will tell you, and all the words following, till we come to that, are a continued prayer for this: He knew it was in the kings power to give libertie and aſſiſtance, for reliefe of the peoples miſeries, and the repaire of Jeruſalems ruines, that if there was a probable way on earth to doe it, it muſt be done by the King, yet obſerve his firſt ſtep was Heaven-ward: he had a place of great truſt and favour with the King, ſo he ſaith of himſelfe, Nehem. …. 11.I was the Kings Cup-bearer, or as others, Pragustator, his taſter, which might have incouraged him firſt to make knowne unto the King the condition of the People and Citie, and his own heavineſſe of heart for their affliction and decayes, but he durſt not relye on that, therefore he begins with God, and prayed before the God of Heaven.

Ʋſe I know the deſire of all our ſoules hath long been and is, that (if God pleaſe) our Parliament, and thoſe which adhere unto it, and the cauſe of God, Religion and lawfull Liberties and Priviledges, which they deſire to preſerve, might find grace and merciemercy in the ſight of our King▪ learne we from Nehemiah's practiſe, what is the Obſerv.likelieſt way to have our deſires in this ſatisfied: In the following p. 34Nehem. 2. 2, 4.Neh 2:2Neh 2:4Chapter you ſhall heare the King asking Nehemiah, Why is thy countenance ſad? for what doſt thou make request? What would'ſt thou have me doe? one would thinke here was incouragement enough to put him upon the preſent making knowne all his deſires to the King, yet he firſt goes to God, So I prayed to ver. 4, 5.the God of Heaven, and I ſaid unto the King. He had no hope that his petition would find acceptance with man, which had not been firſt preſented unto God: you ſhall heare the like of old Jacob in that great famine of Canaan, his ſonnes at their firſt ſending into Egypt found a great deale of rough and hard both words and deeds from Joſeph the governour, Simeon was left in priſon behind them in Egypt, and they muſt not returne for further proviſion into Egypt, except they brought Benjamine with them, their good aged father was now in a wonderfull ſtrait, the Gen. 42. 36.Gen 42:36famine increaſed, their former corne eaten up, heare Jacob lamenting, Me have ye bereaved of my children, Joſeph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamine away, all theſe things are against me, but what was Jacobs way for helpe in this ſtrait? he had no hope of reliefe, but in the Governours favour, and what courſe did he take to win it? He doth not omit other 43. 11.meanes, If it must needs be ſo now, do this: take of the beſt fruits in the land in your veſſels, and carrie downe the man a preſent, but did Jacob truſt in this, or the returne of double money in their ſacks, and the ſending of Benjamine with them? which laſt was all that Joſeph deſired: No Jacob reſted in none of theſe, he had a former comfortable experience, which might help to Gen. … 9, 10, 11, 28.Gen 9:10Gen 9:11Gen 9:28leſſon him in this, it was not the preſent he ſent to Eſau, but the Prayer he put up to God, which gave him favour in the ſight of 43. 14.Eſau, it is this that he now truſts unto, God Almightie give you merciemercy before the man, and it was this that wrought it: and certainly, let us reſt aſſured, there is no ſuch prevailing way to regaine the heart of our King, (which ſhould have a chiefe place in the petitions of this day) as to beg it of God by Prayer.

Reaſ. That knowne place of Salomon gives ſufficient ground for this, Prov. 21. 1.Prov 21:1The heart of the King is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of waters, he turneth it whitherſoever he will: I might be large in giving, though but a ſhort touch upon the ſeverall tranſlations p. 35and Interpretations of thoſe words [rivers of waters] every 1one whereof may commend ſome uſefull Meditation; the Italian Deodate.reads it ſmall ſprings, Sanctes Pagninus and Vatablus, rivuli, ſmall prils, alluding to the cuſtome of thoſe which uſe to draw ſmall ſprings, or brooks over drie and barren ſoyles, which they eaſily turn with an hand plough, which way they pleaſe, ſo eaſily is the heart of the King inclined this or that way, as ſeemeth good to the Lord, inſtances Ahaſuerus, Esth. 3. 11. 8. 8. Darius, Dan. 6 7, 8, 9, 26.

The Septuagint, foreign, impetus aquae, the violence of waters, 2or violent waters, ſo the verbe comming of this in the New foreign, morus violentus & impetuoſus, St ph. foreign. Pſal. 29. 10.Ps 29:10Teſtament is tranſlated running or ruſhing violently, Matth. 8. 32. Act. 19. 29. implying, that let the Kings heart be ſet never ſo violently on this or that reſolution, yet the Lord that ſitteth and ruleth on the flouds, that can calme the greateſt tempeſt, is able at his pleaſure to quiet the moſt violent ſpirits of Princes: and ſome from hence referre it to the ebbing and flowing of the ſea, to aſſure, that God who hath ſet barres and doores to the ſea, and ſaid, Hitherto Job 38. 10, 11.Job 38:10Job 38:11ſhalt thou come, and no further, and here ſhall thy proud waves be ſtayed, or as the Pſalmiſt, Thou ruleſt the raging of the Pſal. 89. 9.Ps 89:9ſea, and when the waves thereof ariſe, thou ſtillest them, the ſame God hath ſet the counſels and power of Kings their bounds and limits, which they ſhall not paſſe, and can eaſily, and if he pleaſe, ſuddenly calme their rage: what a full and comfortable evidence hereof is that of Nebuchadnezzars rage and fury againſt Shadrach, Dan. 3. 13, 14, 19, 20.Dan 3:13Dan 3:14Dan 3:19Dan 3:20Meſhach, and Abednego, ver. 13. full of fury, 19. yet ſee how quickly God calm'd him, ver. 26, 27, 28, 29. the place is worth your reading, and obſervation; you ſhall ſee how ſuddenly Nebuchadnezzars blaſpheming God, ver. 15. turned into his bleſsing God, ver. 28. his decree for worſhipping the golden image, ver. 10. changed into a decree for the honour of the true God, ver. 29. his rage and furie againſt Shadrach, Meſhach, and Abednego, ver. 15. converted into his promoting them, ver. 30.

The vulgar Latine reads diviſiones aquarum, the diviſions of 3waters, referring this either to the clouds thoſe waters above, the bottles of Heaven, which the Lord is pleaſed to emptie on this Job 38. 37. Amos 4. 7.Job 38:37Amos 4:7place, and not on that, as in the Prophet: Or to the river Nilus, p. 36whoſe overflowings ſometimes fruitfull, ſometimes hurtfull, ſo the Lord one while inclines the hearts of Kings to the good of his people, according to that of the Pſalmiſt of a good King, He ſhall come Pſal. 72. 6.Ps 72:6downe like raine upon the mowen graſſe: as ſhowres that water the Exod. 15. 23.Exod 15:23earth: another time to the hurt of their people, ſuffering them to be like the waters of Marah full of bitterneſſe, and which is worſe, 7▪ …0, 21.like the waters in the rivers of Egypt turn'd into bloud, inſomuch as there was bloud throughout all the land of Egypt: Others following the vulgar referre theſe diviſions of water, to the Lords dividing the red ſea, that when Pharaoh and his ſervants repenting of that libertie they had given to Iſrael for their paſſage out of Egypt, purſued them with their whole ſtrength: as the Lord in that great ſtrait of his people, made a diviſion of the waters in the ſea for their ſafe paſſage, but cauſed them to returne upon and drowne Pharaoh and all his forces; ſo the Lord can turne the counſels and purſuits of ſuch Kings, as ſet themſelves againſt God and his people, as to the good of his people, ſo to the ruine of themſelves and their adherenes; but in this the Lord be mercifull to our Soveraigne for his ſafetie, and if nothing will calme the rage of the ſons of Belial, that then all the ſtormes and waves which their malice and furie hath raiſed may returne upon their own heads, and overwhelme themſelves.

Ʋſe 1 To cloſe all with ſome ſhort Application, give me leave to expreſſe my thoughts, what is the beſt and likelieſt way to have that merciemercy which Nehemiah here ſought, that we might at the length find favour in the ſight of our King; You have heard that the heart of the King is in the Lords hand, and if ever we have it to out comfort, we muſt have it from thence; Now a prevailing way for this Neh▪ …. 3, 5, 7, 8with God is: Let the Lord in our Prayers for the Kings heart, ſee in us Nehemiah's ſpirit, he was all for the publike, as will appeare in ſeverall verſes of the ſecond Chapter, not one word for his owne particular; let the Lord then ſee that our deſires for the return of our King are for the generall good of Church and State, that Gods cauſe, Reformation may be advanced, that we may behold Jeruſalem Prov▪ 29. 26.Prov 29:26in its beautie, Religion in its Power and Puritie: Many (ſaith Salomon) ſeek the rulers favour, but for what, ſurely moſt for 1▪ Sam. 22. ….1 Sam 22that of Saul, He will give every one of you fields and vineyards, p. 37and make you all captains of thouſands, and captains of hundreds. Are not too many of our hearts too much after ſuch as theſe? ſo we may ſit under our owne vine, we little care what becomes of Gods vineyard, let the wilde boare make what ſpoile and havock he will in this, it little troubles us, ſo we can keep him out of our own; Jerome reports of Nebridius the Empreſſe ſiſters ſonne, a great Hieron. ad Salvinam de viduitate ſervanda.Courtier, and in ſpeciall favour with Princes, that he never put up any ſuit but for others, chiefly the poore, and ſuch as were in diſtreſſe, inſomuch as Princes uſually granted his petitions; upon this ground, what we give unto him, we give to many; certainly it would much work with God, to give us our Kings favour, if he did ſee, that we would improve it for the common good, eſpecially for Religion, when we much care not how it goes with us in our particular, ſo that may be ſafe and proſper: David an excellent pattern, 2 Sam. 15. 1…, 14, 2….2 Sam 15:12 Sam 15:142 Sam 15:2when things were at the worſt, as in ſeverall Verſes, yet what was the chiefeſt of Davids care, for himſelfe, or his own ſafetie? No, he ſo much lookt to the publique, the ſafetie of the Arke, which was Iſraels glorie, as he overlooks himſelfe, ſaying in that 1 Sam 4. …2. 1 Sam. 15. 25, …6.1 Sam 4:21 Sam 15:251 Sam 15:6extremitie of his to Zadok, Carry back the Arke of God into the Citie, let that be ſafe, and for my ſelfe, and mine own ſafetie, I leave that to God, If I ſhall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me againe, and ſhew me both it, and his habitation. But if he ſay, I have no delight in thee: behold, here am I, let him doe to me, as ſeemeth good unto him.

Ʋſe 2 That God may be pleaſed to give us our Kings heart, let us in truth and ſinceritie give God our hearts, be cordiall in his cauſe, look chiefly at his glorie, many in theſe times may be for the common good, but it is for ſuch things, as if we have them by meanes of our Kings favour and preſence, we cannot truly ſay, it is that favour which God gives; And I am perſwaded the Lord hath juſtly with-held our King from us, becauſe in our deſires for his returne, we have too little lookt to God, to Religion, too much unto other things; What's the common voice? had we the Court amongſt us, our full Parliament, our uſuall termes, how would all profeſſions begainers, our former trading goe forward, and profits come in? I muſt in this leave every one to the ſcrutinie of his owne heart, and to that God, who is the ſearcher of all hearts, he p. 38knoweth in this what our deſires are, and at what we look in our deſires, certainely had the Lord and his cauſe more realitie in our hearts, we ſhould finde more intereſt in the heart of our King.

Ʋſe 3 Muſt we goe to God for all favour that we would have from our King, ſuch indeed as will bring comfort with it, and that becauſe the Kings heart is in Gods hand, let us not ſeeke to take it thence by any indirect or unwarrantable way, let us be ſure, that what is given us by our King, is given in Gods way, and by ſuch meanes, as we know the Lord will owne; let us not deſire that favour from our King, which we cannot truly ſay, we received from Gods hand, and which we know cannot ſtand with Gods honour to give; Let then, I beſeech you, in the Name of our God (whom this concernes) be carefull That no Propoſitions for Peace be tendered to our King, but ſuch as firſt in your ſerious thoughts Iſai. 9. 6.Isa 9:6have beene preſented to Chriſt the Prince of Peace, finde out firſt the minde of Chriſt, before your minds made known to the King, for undoubtedly there can be no comfortable aſſurance of eſtabliſhing that peace on earth, which hath not alſo its ſanction in Heaven.

We are all for Peace, we daily pray for it, our Armies fight for it, yet not for Peace upon any termes, not a Peace diſhonourable to God, but for ſuch a peace, as may beſt further and keepe our peace with God (and I doubt not but the deſires of all our worthy Patriots ſoules are for this▪) And here give me leave to minde you Plutarch. Pyrrhus.of Appius Claudius his carriage in the Treatie for Peace betwixt Pyrrhus and the Romanes, Pyrrhus fought three battles againſt the Romanes, in the two firſt he got the victorie, but with ſuch great loſſe of his men in both, that it was ſaid of him for the firſt, he might gloriari, non gaudere, brag of his victorie, not rejoyce; for the ſecond himſelfe was heard to ſay, that if he got ſuch another victorie, he was undone; after the firſt, Overtures were made by Cine…, Pyrrhus his Ambaſſadour in the Senate for Peace, and many were apt to incline unto it, as diſheartened by Pyrrhus his late victorie, and feare of a ſpeedie ſecond attempt, whereof Appius Claudius having notice, being blind, very aged, and who had devoted himſelfe wholly unto privacie, yet the noiſe of peace with Pyrrhus ſo wrought with him, as he cauſed himſelfe p. 39to be carried in his Couch unto the Senate houſe, and preſently breakes out, Worthy and noble Patriots and Senatours of Rome, I have hitherto with ſome griefe indured the loſſe of my ſight, but now that I heare your conſultations and inclinations to decree a Peace ſo unworthy and diſhonourable to the glorie and renowne of this Citie of Rome, with Pyrrhus your profeſſed enemie, it now moſt troubles me, that I am only blind, and not alſo deafe, that mine eares might not heare ſo great an infamie and reproch to Rome. I know unto whom in this I ſpeake, I ſhall leave the application to their own thoughts.

Ʋſe 4 Laſtly, will not the Lord be pleaſed to give us the favour of our King in a lawfull and warrantable way? cannot we yet obtaine that from him, which we may with confidence and comfort ſay, the Lord hath given? let this be the ſupporting cordiall of Gods people, that though they cannot have the Kings heart, yet God hath it in his hand, and why ſhould we ſeeke to take it out of the Lords hand, otherwiſe then he will give it, can it be any where better? hath any more wiſdome then God, to guide and ſteere it? can it be with any that beares more truth and tenderneſſe of affection to the Church then God doth? ſhall it not ſatisfie, that there is not a thought in the heart of any King, but what is diſpoſed of by the Lord? doth not that of Salomon hold true even of Kings? The preparations of the heart of man, and the anſwer Prov. 16. 1.Prov 16:1of the tongue is from the Lord: as alſo that in a following Chapter, There are many devices in a mans heart, nevertheleſſe 1…. 21.the counſell of the Lord that ſhall ſtand: aſſuredly, we may ſay of all the Kings on earth, as Balaam once of himſelfe, they cannot doe either good or bad of their owne mind, Numb. 24. 1….Num 24:1but what the Lord puts into their hearts and hands. It will give us a great deale of ſatisfaction, when we heare of a powerfull man, one that may doe us much hurt, and that wee know beareth us no great good will, yet wee are aſſured, that we have a faſt friend, which hath his heart and hands in his power, and can turne and winde it (as wee ſay) at his pleaſure, and we are confident, that he neither will nor can doe any thing againſt us but what our truſtie faithfull friend will give way unto: This is the Churches condition, and in this its happineſſe, p. 40and may keep up the ſpirits of Gods people, that how ever ſonnes of Belial, and of violence have had, and ſtill keep our Kings perſon, and it may be ſometimes obtaine his hand, yet God ſtill keeps his heart in the power of his hands, to diſpoſe of it, as his love and wiſdome ſeeth expedient, and there let us be content it may reſt, till the Lord is pleaſed in his owne way, and his owne time to give it unto the prayers of his people, and thoſe other meanes which the Lord ſhall pleaſe to owne and further.

I dare lead you no farther then to the Throne of Grace, to crave a Bleſſing upon what the Lord hath given you attention and patience to heare, and unto my weakneſſe ſtrength to deliver.

Amen.

FINIS.

Errata.

DEdication page line 11. read juſſu veſtro. page 7. li. 10 in the margent put Ʋſe 1. p. 8. li. 2. read m…rior. p. 11. marg. r alii. p ibid. after Ezra 3. 8. in marg. Chap. …. 15. pa. 19. l. 13. r. May-pole. p. 2…. l. 4. r. coynes. ibid. marg. Pſal. 59. 7. p. 32. l. 25. r. abilitie. p. 34. l. 13, 17, 24. r. Benjamin. pa. 38. l. 12. r. I beſeech you then.

End of the text · John Greene, Nehemiahs Tears and Prayers for Judahs Affliction (1644)