The Axe at the Root, Parliamentary order – Dedication
Die Mercurij 26. April. 1643.
IT is this day Ordered by the Commons aſſembled in Parliament, that Sir Peter VVentworth doe from this Houſe give thanks unto Mr. Greenhill for the great paines hee tooke in the Sermon hee preached this day, at the intreaty of this Houſe, before the Commons at St. Margarets, in the Citie of VVeſtminſter, (being a day of publique humiliation) and that he deſire him to Print his Sermon. And it is Ordered that no man preſume to print his Sermon, but whom the ſaid Maſter Greenhill ſhall authorize under his hand writing.
H. Elſyng. Cler. Parl. D. Com.
I appoint Benjamin Allen to print my Sermon.
W. GREENHILL.
Αξινε προσ τεν Ριζαν.
The Axe at the Root, A SERMON Preached before the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS, at their publike Faſt, April 26. 1643.
By William Greenhill.
MATTH. 3. 10.
Now alſo the Axe is laid unto the root of the trees, th erefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewen down, and caſt into the fire.
LONDON, Printed by R. O. & G. D. for Benjamin Allen, and are to be ſold in Popes-head Alley, 1643.
TO THE Honourable Houſe of COMMONS Aſſembled in PARLIAMENT.
WHen the World was ſhaken by Adams ſinne, God ſecur'd it by the Promiſeof his Son▪ Gen. 5. When Canaan was diſtreſſed by the Midianites, he ſent Gideon to ſave Iſrael, Iudg. 6. Now England is diſtracted, and her foundations out of courſe, He hath rays'd up you, the Worthies of our Iſrael, to repaire her breaches, and ſettle her foundations; we acknowledge the infinite mercy of God to raiſe you up at ſuch a time, and for ſuch deſignes. It's great hard work to ſave Kingdomes: but Honourable, whoever would not ſave a Kingdome, is no more worthy to live in it, then the Man ſeekes the deſtruction thereof. Wicked men will venture all to get or ruine Kingdomes, and ſhall not good men venture as farre to ſave Kingdomes? Had men publique ſpirits they would doe it. Heathens have ſo minded the publique, as that they have forgot themſelves. Publius Decius the Romane Army Valex…maxim, l. 5. c. 553.being brought low, ruſht into the midſt of the enemies, demanded ſafety for his Country, Death for himſelfe; and ſo occaſioned an unexpected Ʋictory. Luc. Alvanius his Wife and Children, being … Dein, lib. 1. c. 11.in the VVagon, eſcaping for their lives in a common Calamity; commands them downe, and takes up the Veſtall Ʋirgins, who had the care of their holy things: he was proprior publicae Religioni quam privatae charitati, the Publiqueneſſe of his ſpirit caryed him above private intereſts. VVhere ſpirits are right ſet; ſelfe is much forgotten. Ji's domeſticknes of ſpirit, ſelviſhneſſe, which is the great let to Armies, Religions, and Kingdomes good. Eſther was right when ſhee ſaid, if I periſh I periſh, ſhe would venture for the publique, and for her God. The *Quicunque occupati ſunt negotijs reipublicae debent hoc ipſum facere propter Deum Rabbi Gamel. in Paul. Fagio Capit. patrum.Rabbins give a good leſſon for Men in publiqne employment, They muſt doe their worke propter Deum Then neither difficultie of worke, diſappoinment in event, nor ingratitude in People, will diſturbe the ſpirits of men. Then nothing will be done againſt the Kingdome of Chriſt, evidence of truth, or liberty of Conſcience; If men be publique and act for God they are Eſhbaals, Ruling lights; if private and ſelviſh, they will be Iſhboſheths men of ſhame. The Axe is at the root of our Tree, wee hope your ſpirits are all unſelviſhed, that none are now unpublique; Publiqueneſſe of dangers calls for publiqueneſſe of ſpirits; Eminency of danger for ſpeedineſſe of helpe. VVhen Ieruſalem was brought low, Aſaph cryed to God for ſpeedy prevention, Pſalm. 79. 8. England, Ireland are brought low, the Aſaphs cry to God, and cry to you alſo for ſpeedy prevention. There be ill ſpirits abroad which teare us, which caſt us into the Fire and water to deſtroy us, as the Mans Sonne in the Mar. 9. 22.Goſpell, and we ſay, Maſters if you can doe any thing have compaſsion on the Kingdome, and help it, help us; keep backe nothing may ſave a Kingdome, helpe by wayes ordinary, and by wayes extraordinary. You are *Eſ. 36. ſiqua eſt miſerecordia & humanitas extremae noſtrae miſeriae ſ…ccurrere ne graveris Calvin.Rulers and our ruine is under your hand; Vote our Reſurrection nomine contradicente, effect it quamvis mille repugnent, and this ſhall be your Impreſſe, Hoc Regnum eſt vere veſtrum. Yea other Kingdomes ſhall contribute to your praiſe, and the Kingdome of Kingdoms be your reward. Bestirre you they are active, who would undoe us. Thinke on the * Rabbies Rabbi Shimeon in Paulo Fgio Capit. patrum.words a little altered Dies brevis, opus multum merces magna, Pater familias urget operarij ne ſint pigri. This Epiſtle and Sermon had both lay on in the dark, if your authority which commands Perſons, Pulpits, Preſſes, had not brought them forth; accept the fruits of your owne power, and bleſſed be the Lord for what you have done ſince you heard what is now preſented unto you. The Lord inable you to perfect all your intentions and undertakings, which are for the publique good.
The Lord unite you, Watch ever you, fill you with his Spirit, Proſper you, All yours, and accompliſh yet greater things by You, So Prayes▪
Your moſt Vnworthy Servant, and meaneſt in the worke of Chriſt. WILLIAM GREENHILL.